The Smell of Hotness

Four: Betrayal

Previously on Avatar: -"What happened to all the grass around here?" Katara asked Kiame.

"Oh, it just died after a while, well at least after our earlier leader passed away… It just seemed like everything went downhill after that…" Kiame explained. She stopped next to a few houses located on her left. They looked as if they'd been standing for way over a few decades.

-"Doesn't matter anyway, because Zuko loves me." Mai smiled with confidence.

"I think I kicked you in the head too hard, because he's in love with me." Ty Lee argued.

"You didn't kick me at all! And I think you've been standing on your head too long!" Mai literally bumped heads with Ty Lee and static grew between their two faces.

"Why you—" Ty Lee began and then turned. Her face grew depressed upon the sight. Mai turned and grew quite morose as well. They both scratched their heads.

"Where did he go?" they asked in unison.

-"My plan is going magnificently, so far. This will defiantly get him banned for life, and me a chance back in the spotlight…" Azula smiled…

¤ ¤ ¤

"So, this truly is our little town." Kiame smiled as she had basically given them the entire tour.

"What about that house over there?" Aang asked, pointing to a rather, large home.

"Don't you mean, mansion? That place is enormous." Katara pointed out. It was the only real thing that stood out from their little town. It was nicely built compared to everything else; it actually looked like someone took out the time to give it some decent architecture. It was made of dark wood, possibly one from a mangrove tree of some sort. It was painted a navy color that looked nearly black at sundown. It had an actual door, unlike the other homes that used cloth. The door could be considered the focal point of the home. It was a dingy red and had a large, brass knocker on the front, in the shape of a lion. However, no doorknob was seen. The home only had two small windows, located towards the front of the house, next to the door. They were outlined in a faded gold, with glass that looked nearly broken, yet stable.

"Oh that? That's nothing. It's just an old house that no one lives in; it's completely empty." Kiame kept a smile on her face, which just made her look suspicious.

"Um okay." Aang just shrugged.

"Why don't I show you where you will be sleeping tonight, huh?" Kiame smiled and gestured for them to follow; "Follow me." She turned and walked them only a couple houses down and stopped.

They stopped in front of what just looked like another commoner's home. It was built with thin, breakable-looking wood, but still – surprisingly – held sturdy. After the others caught up with Kiame, she walked in and held open the sheet hanging from the doorway, so they could clearly enter. Katara entered first with Toph and Aang close behind, Sokka was last, of course he seemed to be paying attention to Kiame more than the house she was trying to show them.

"Well, it's pretty cozy, hehe…" Katara smiled and rubbed the back of her neck.

"Yes it is. This is actually where I reside; but I'll just stay with Mr. Carper tonight." Kiame bowed.

"We really don't want to impose." Katara said.

"No, no, please— it's my pleasure; I assure you." Kiame smiled. She turned for the door and prepared to head out.

"Wait!" Sokka shouted. Everyone turned towards him as his face turned red; "Um— what I meant was… what exactly are we— going to sleep on? Yeah!" Sokka smiled, nervously.

"Oh right. Please excuse me." Kiame smiled, "There are some sheets and blankets over in the corner; the pillows are in the back room. Please, sleep well; I wish you good dreams." Kiame bowed once more and opened the sheet in the doorway, to leave.

"This isn't bad." Aang smiled and dusted the floor off with his air bending. Everyone stared at him with beady eyes as to the fact the dust went all over them. "Oh, sorry guys." Aang smiled, and you just couldn't help but to forgive him…

¤ ¤ ¤

"What's wrong with those girls; they're crazy." Zuko complained while cleaning out his ears with the damp, red towel he grasped at hand. He was back in his room after taking a shower. He was able to slip into the bathroom earlier, to escape from Mai and Ty Lee. Soon he heard a knock at the door.

"What do you want?" he yelled calmly, yet firmly.

"Calm down, it's just me brother." Azula answered. Zuko walked over to the door and opened it.

"What?" he asked with a slight sign of attitude in his voice.

"Oh, I just wanted to see what you were up to?" a slight smirk appeared upon her face. Zuko raised his right eyebrow a little in suspicion.

"That's good… oh and uh, I meant to ask you— what was up with Mai and Ty Lee this morning? They seemed a little, juvenile, wouldn't you agree?" she grinned. Zuko said nothing as she just walked off. Zuko watched as she turned the corner and entered into another hallway.

"Whatever." He said and shut his door again.

When Azula turned the corner, a smile soon grew on her face. She continued down the hallway a little further until she saw the back of Mai and Ty Lee's head. Ty Lee seemed to be sitting on the floor, rubbing her head; she seemed to be quite bewildered. Mai on the other hand, was standing and examining the room. She seemed to be utterly frazzled. Azula came up to the back of them, within their distance.

"Hello girls. What are you doing?" she asked in a discreet manner.

"Huh?" Ty Lee bent back her head while doing a back bend to see Azula's face. Mai just turned towards her.

"What do you mean, what are we doing? We're in the hallway…" Mai answered in a grumpy manner.

"I'm not quite sure why I'm here." Ty Lee began while doing a handstand; she seemed to be quite carefree about the matter. "I mean— I had this really weird dream… I guess I was sleepwalking."

"That's funny. Why would you sleepwalk in here?" Azula played along.

"Whatever. I don't sleepwalk." Mai stated and began to walk away.

"How do you know if you sleepwalk or not, silly. You're asleep." Ty Lee smiled and stood up properly on her feet.

"A dream?" Azula raised her eyebrow.

"Yeah." Ty Lee turned to face her, "For some strange reason, I was— hugging Zuko… weird huh? Oh well. It was just a dream." Ty Lee smiled and shrugged. Mai seemed to stop in her tracks as she about turned the corner. Azula saw her out of the corner of her eye. The newly tiled white floors reflected her appearance as she stood there.

"Is something the matter, Mai?" Azula smirked during her question.

"It's nothing." Mai stated, and went on.

I had the same dream… except I was fighting with Ty Lee over Zuko… Mai thought as she went down the hall, where is Zuko?

¤ ¤ ¤

Everyone settled in their blankets and laid their heads upon the pillows they had gathered from deep inside the home.

"I could get used to this place." Sokka smiled and rested his hands behind his head.

"Yeah, only because Kiame's our tour guide…" Katara smirked and placed her hands underneath her head to get comfortable. Sokka gave her the "just-shut-up" look.

"This place is pretty cool though. I get a tingly feeling in my toes," Toph wiggled her feet out of the bottom of her blanket, "There's something about the ground here that I really like."

"It's just ground to me." Aang smiled.

"Let's just get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us and I don't want you to be lagging behind tomorrow." Sokka said and rolled over on his right side and facing away from everyone else.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want to miss a second of you drooling over Kiame." Katara commented sarcastically. Sokka gave her, the look, again…

Later that night, everyone seemed to fall asleep pretty easily. Sokka passed out within the first five minutes, and the others gradually fell asleep within the hour. That is, everyone except Aang. He couldn't help but just think about everything Kiame showed them that day. This all intrigued him in a way— a way that just made him more and more curious about the large building in the town. Kiame said it was nothing, but Aang believed different.

Momo popped up from underneath Aang's blankets and purred.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to just go check out the town a little more would it buddy?" Aang smiled mischievously at Momo. Momo tilted his head at Aang. Aang jumped up from under his blankets and smiled big.

"Come on Momo, we're going to go inside that building!" Aang ran outside the home with Momo following closely behind. Aang quickly backed up against a nearby house inconspicuously; making sure no one was in current view. Everything seemed to check out okay so he moved to the next house and pushed his back firm against it; Momo flew up beside him doing the same thing. Aang peeped around the corner and saw no one again; so he made his way over to the, rather large, center statue of the town with the golden plaque. Aang tiptoed by it and walked up to the building with its dingy red double door of elegance. Aang stood up on his toes and examined the brass knocker located on the top of the door, which resembled a lion's face.

"If no one lives here, why is there a door knocker?" Aang scratched his head. He peeped around the door and stared in through the right window. It had dirt and grime around it, which made the vision a little blurry, but it was still seeable. It looked quite empty and very mysterious. Aang's curiosity got the best of him.

Aang looked around one last time, making sure no one was watching, and he began to open the door slowly, in anticipation. It made a squeaky, cringing sound as it opened. Dust flew out onto Aang's face, making him cough a couple times. He sniffed and took a few steps in through the doorway. His shoes tapped against the wooden floor, making small echoes through the corridors of the building. He stopped, taking a look around. The place looked quite old, yet strangely capacious. The walls were a dark red and were plastered with many paintings. Some seemed to be of Fire Nation battles, both wins and losses. Some were of women who seemed to be of high proxy, and others of "fire" symbols. The building looked quite large outside, but it was only one big room.

The room had its welcoming feel, and Aang seemed to be drawn in. He wasn't sure if it was because of curiosity or what. Aang walked in further and further, and something at the end of the room caught his eye. He walked up to a square glass container that held what seemed like a precious item inside. It was a beautiful rock. The moon's glow from the window made it look like a rainbow. It was perfectly smooth in all areas. Part of it looked like it had been broken off; it looked perfectly cut out so it still kept its smoothness. However, how could a knife cut through something like this? This made Aang wonder.

Boom!

Aang quickly turned around because of a loud noise behind him. The door had shut. Aang ran up to the window and peered outside. No one was around.

"That's strange…" Aang said to himself. Momo popped up over his shoulder and stared out as well; "I think we should leave here." Aang suggested. He took one last glance over at the stone and pushed open the door, making his way back to Katara and the others…

Oh yes, the action and mystery continues!!! I think I've figured out what couple I'm going to use, but I'm not telling! ;-) You'll have to keep reading to find out. Anyways, as always, please review!!!