A/N: Another nice long chapter for you! Enjoy! And please review! Please! I got three reviews last chapter... It's not like I don't know you're there. hahaha :) We get more Kei, hopefully you find him an interesting character. Because he's actually one of my favorite OCs.
"Oversight of a Child"
6 Years Later
Iroh sighed from behind the counter of the Jasmine Dragon. His server was late once again. He knew the girl had other duties to attend to, school and training, but she had made the commitment to work for him too. As he readied another pot of tea for afternoon customers, he heard heavy breaths from behind him.
"I'm here, Iroh!" she said between gasps. He turned to face his employee. Her long side braid was falling apart, and there was a twig sticking out of the top. Her green uniform had mud splashed up the side, probably from her run over here. He raised his eyebrow, a little concerned.
"Roku, please, call me Uncle Iroh. Even 'Uncle' is fine." he said. "Go clean up out back quickly..."
"Oh, oops..." Roku pulled the twig out of her hair. "Don't know how that got there..." she grumbled as she disappeared into the back. Iroh smiled. The little girl he had met several years ago had become a beautiful young woman. Her straight brown hair reached the middle of her back, and her golden eyes were clearly from her Royal blood, as were her long eyelashes. She resembled his nephew even more now than she did as a child. With the resemblance came some of his traits, both undesirable and desirable alike. She did end up inheriting a better sense of humor, thank goodness.
"Uncle Iroh..." she said, sliding behind the counter, tying her undone braid into a half ponytail, leaving most of her hair to flow past her shoulders. "Looks like we're not very busy today..." She motioned to the empty tea shop.
"With all the news on the Civil War in the Fire Nation, many people are staying home in fear that the Earth Kingdom will be attacked next. Several of the colonies have already had riots, forcing many of their citizens to leave. This is a time of great fear, Roku. We are lucky to be living in such a well maintained city." Iroh said, saddened.
"Aren't you from the Fire Nation?" Roku asked.
"Yes. And I have family there that I'm deeply worried about." he mumbled. "But I can't go to them and they can't come to me..."
"I knew they weren't letting anyone out of the Fire Nation, but they're not letting people in either?" Roku wrapped her fingers around her necklace.
"They stopped allowing people in over a month ago." Iroh said softly.
"I'm sure he's okay." Roku put a hand on Iroh's back. "The Fire Lord is doing everything he can, I'm sure."
"Yes. He is." Iroh frowned.
"Oh! Look a customer!" Roku said, throwing on her apron. Iroh looked up to see a man and woman holding hands. They sat at a corner table, looking into each others eyes. If only everyone's life could be that simple.
"Oh, and I forgot to tell you... My mom and I are going down to the South Pole for a week or so. We were planning on leaving tonight with Aang and his family... Is it alright?" Roku asked, tying her apron behind her neck.
"I don't see why not. I'll just have Hao cover you. You will have to make it up to him though." Iroh nodded.
"Thank you!" she grinned, kissing Iroh on the cheek, before hurrying over to the couple in the corner.
Kei felt Jinto's presence to his right. The much larger man patted him roughly on the shoulder, making his knees buckle.
"Good job, kid. Seems like you know what you're doing." Jinto's hot sour breath blasted Kei in the face. "Get ready to do your thing." He disappeared behind him.
"My thing. Right." Kei sighed. He looked over the edge of the dried up stream bed he and Jinto hid behind. There was a small camp before them, a family of three gathered around the fire. A father, a mother, and a young son no older than ten. They were smiling over their bowls of stew. Kei had found this next 'target' as his Right of Passage into Jinto's group, who he so proudly name the Fire Bandits. Jinto was many things, but creative was not one of them. This night wasn't very different from most heists they pulled. Joh, Karu, Sun and Jinto would take up spots surrounding the camp, while Kei entered with his firebending, startling the targets. The only difference tonight was that Kei got to locate the target.
Kei started breathing, allowing a warm sensation fill his stomach, removing all nervousness that once took home there. Once the heat was strong enough, he faced the camp. The didn't suspect a thing. Weren't they afraid of Loyalists? These days, more and more innocent lives were taken in their attacks, ever since that bombing in the Capital six years ago. If you didn't join them, you died. At least Jinto allowed survivors.
As he watched the mother squeeze her sons shoulder with a laugh, he felt a pang of regret. They didn't deserve this. But Sun had informed them they were almost out of money, and from the gold trim on this family's red robes, they had plenty to spare. Especially in this hard time, every copper piece counted. Be it stolen or fairly earned.
The warmth in his stomach had slowly risen to his chest. He was ready to prove himself to Jinto and the others. Whatever that took.
He emerged from the darkness of the forest around them, coming into the light of their fire. The mother gasped, and grabbed her son. The father stood, as if to protect them. Kei stopped several feet in front of them. He saw the man going for his dagger beneath his robe. Kei lit a fire in his palm, the shadows of the new flame playing across his thin face.
"Loyalists..." the man mumbled, no longer going for his dagger.
"Try again." Kei said darkly, in a voice that even made him want to run and hide. Jinto and Sun emerged from the East and West, while Joh and Karu became visible from the south of where Kei stood.
Roku had flown on Appa before. Aang used to take her and his son, Luan, up many times. Just a short trip around Ba Sing Se. But she had never slept on the bison's saddle. She had just managed to get her eyes closed when the sting of smoke filled her nostrils. She heard her mother cough besides her. She sat up, and saw Luan and his little sister Lin in a corner of the saddle, hugging their father.
"Mom..." Roku mumbled.
"It's okay, Roku." Katara smiled. Even at the rather young age of 31, Katara looked tired and worn. Like she hadn't slept in months. "Go back to sleep."
"Where are we?" Roku asked, looking over the edge of Appa's saddle. The bison was descending towards a small village that was, for the most part, on fire. People were scurrying around, throwing water at their homes. "What's happening?"
"It looks like the colony of Nan Hu was attacked." Aang answered softly. "We're going to help them."
Appa landed far enough away from the town to stay safe. Aang and Katara hurriedly hopped off the animal, taking off towards the town. Toph reluctantly stayed with Luan and Lin. Aang was more worried about her delicate condition, since the Earthbender was several months pregnant.
"Mom, let me come with you!" Roku called.
"No, Roku, you can't help these people." Katara turned to her daughter, putting up her hand for her to stay put.
"Why?" Roku shouted.
"Because you're a firebender." Katara answered hotly. Roku winced, and shoulders fell. While her mother was correct, a firebender couldn't help with the current situation, the tone her mother had used sounded disgusted and mad. Like being a firebender was something to be ashamed of.
"Roku, she probably didn't mean..." Toph began. Twelve year old Luan and six year old Lin sitting besides her.
"No, it's fine." Roku frowned, hugging her knees to her chest.
"We'll be back on track in no time." Toph assured them.
"Who did this?" Roku asked.
"Loyalists." Toph answered. "They started attacking colonies in the Earth Kingdom a few days ago."
"Dad isn't coming to the South Pole is he, mom?" Luan asked. His black hair and green eyes reflecting the dying flames off in the distance.
"No, buddy, I don't think so." Toph sighed.
"It must be hard, being the wife of the Avatar..." Roku mumbled.
"It wouldn't be as hard if he didn't keep knocking me up with airbenders. This one better earthbend or I'll be one unhappy lady!" Toph grumbled, a hand on her round abdomen.
Roku smiled sadly. Not that the thought had never crossed her mind, but it was a little more evident now that maybe her mother wasn't so accepting of her firebending daughter. Maybe she had been a little upset that Roku wasn't a waterbender like her. It certainly gave the young teenager something to think about as she watched her mother and Aang save the town of Nan Hu.
Once they had gathered everything of value, Kei turned to leave the campsite as quickly as possible. He never liked raids, and was often the first to leave. But Jinto's large hand encircled his entire wrist, pulling Kei back in a jolt.
"But we're done..." Kei mumbled. He looked at the family they had just terrified, the boy looked at him angrily.
"No, not yet. You still have one test to pass, kid." a wicked smile came to Jinto's blocky features. He threw Kei towards where the father had been tied up. He stumbled, landing on his knees in front of the man. "Kill him." Jinto said.
"NO!" the mother screamed, only to be kicked by Sun.
Kei felt himself become white as a ghost. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears, getting louder and louder. He didn't stand, just turned to look at Jinto. "You never said..."
"All of us have killed someone, kiddo. Do it." Jinto scowled.
"I can't..." Kei shook his head, standing on wobbly knees. He felt a muscled arm find its way around his throat, and Joh's voice in his ear.
"You better listen to him..." Kei could hear his smile in his voice. Joh had never been his biggest fan, and now he was delighted that Jinto was mad at him.
"I said no." Kei choked.
"You dare to disobey me? My own son?" Jinto's eyes narrowed. Kei stared at him in disbelief. Is that what Jinto saw him as? His son?
"I am not your son. I am the son of Admiral Zhan and his wife Mai Lin!" Kei fought against Joh, but his scrawny body was not trouble for the burly man to contain.
"That's it. I'm sick of your outbursts! I'll show you what happens when you disobey me!" Jinto withdrew his sword, the sword he had taken from Kei when he was boy. His father's sword, with his family named inscribed on the blade. Jinto grabbed his right wrist and straightened the arm. No matter how hard Kei fought, both the men holding him were too strong. He kicked flame into the air, but it dissipated quickly due to his lack of air. He felt the cold blade of the sword against the inside of his wrist and the pain of the tip puncturing his skin. In the madness of agony, Kei felt Jinto drag the blade to the outside of his forearm to the tip of his elbow. He felt the warmth of his own blood covering his arm, dripping onto the forest floor. Joh pushed him away, letting him fall to his knees again. Kei clutched his arm to his body, the curved cut wasn't bleeding enough to be life threatening, not yet at least. Jinto grabbed his collar, lifting him to his face.
"You refuse an order like that again, I'll cut your whole arm off." he shouted. "Now do it, or I'll leave you here to bleed to death!"
"How do you suggest I kill him without a weapon?" Kei snarled. At such a close proximity to Jinto, he was worried Jinto might bite him.
"You have a talented weapon, kid. Use it."
"You want me to burn him to death?" Kei's eyes widened.
"Anything less and I'd be disappointed. Now do it!" Jinto lifted him to his feet, and faced him towards the man. Kei looked around the camp, his eyes begging for help. But Sun had a smile on her face so broad it was almost unnatural. And Karu was certainly going to be no help. His arm continued dripping blood into his already soaked shirt. He looked down at the man he was being forced to murder. He looked oddly calm, as if he had accepted his fate. Tears stung Kei's eyes, as he lifted his hands, balling them into fists.
"I am so sorry..." Kei whispered.
"Dad!" the boy shouted behind them.
"Do it coward!" Joh hissed.
With everything he had, he punched the air, an orange and yellow burst of flame engulfed the innocent man. Kei crumpled to the ground, covering his ears with his hands as the mans screams echoed through out the forest. His wife and son's screams mixed with them, forming a harmony that would haunt Kei every night for years to come. He focused on the feeling of the blood trickling down his arm, the sting of the cut his father's sword had left. The boy was screaming threats at him, until Sun managed to knock him and his mother out. Kei felt the heat of the flames die down, and the scent of burning flesh fill his nostrils. He didn't even try holding back the contents of his stomach right before everything became black. The last thing he heard was Jinto's laugh.
Roku watched Aang and Appa fly off towards the Fire Nation. He would be back in a week or so to bring them all back to Ba Sing Se. He had to go see if he could help the torn nation in any way, it was his job after all. Toph wasn't happy about being left in the South Pole with just their children, but she promised her husband she would manage.
The fourteen year old firebender had no idea how bad it had gotten in the Fire Nation. She had heard Iroh speak of it, but she had always thought he was overreacting. She found herself fiddling with the necklace that man had given her years ago. His face terribly scared, causing him to appear rather unapproachable. She remembered how he smelt like a fire that had just been put out and She hoped he was alright, who ever he was.
"Roku, is that you?" she heard someone say behind her. She whirled around to where her mother and Toph were talking to those who had come to greet them. A familiar bearded face was smiling at her.
"Papa!" Roku smiled, running to her grandfather. Hakoda wrapped his arms around her tightly. He smelled the same way he had when she was twelve.
"Look at how much you've grown!" Hakoda grinned. "Has it only been two years?"
"Almost three. Her fifteenth birthday is tomorrow." Katara said besides them. Roku was a little surprised. Had she really forgotten that her own birthday was tomorrow?
"You're just as beautiful as your mother when she was your age!" Hakoda put his hands on Roku's shoulders, in order to get a better look at her. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I like what you've done with your hair."
"Really?" Roku mumbled, gathering it in her hands. She had been wearing it only half up for the trip, mainly because she liked the feeling of her hair being controlled by the wind. "I didn't think it was anything special..."
"Hey!" another male voice shouted. "Doesn't your favorite Uncle get a hug?"
Roku's smile grew as Sokka approached them. He had finally managed to maintain a beard like most Water Tribe men, after years of it not growing properly. His wife, Suki, and their four children stood behind him. She wrapped her arms around her Uncle, then her Aunt.
"You've grown up so much!" Suki smiled. She held their youngest, five year old Atka, the only son Sokka had after three girls. Roku smiled at the compliment. She made eye contact with her cousin Kya, and found herself in an extremely tight embrace.
"I missed you, Roku!" Kya said. Roku found herself unable to breath against Kya's fur lined parka, and pushed her cousin back, gasping for air. "Oh, sorry." Kya giggled.
"It's alright, you're just a little stronger than I remember." Roku said.
"Probably because my mom is training me like a Kyoshi Warrior..." Kay shrugged as if it was nothing. "You know, while Yue and Niu train in Waterbending and all." she spoke of her two younger sisters, Yue, ten, and Niu, seven. Roku was about to congratulate her best friend when her mother grumbled something to her Uncle.
"How did you end up with all the waterbenders?" Katara asked.
"Well, you are my sister, so it was bound to happen." Sokka stroked his beard, even though it was far to close to his face to be stroke-able. "It's only two out of four. Maybe you'll get lucky someday."
"Oh, right. I'll just go find Zu-" Katara caught herself, and glanced at Roku. Thankfully the teenager had turned her attention to her cousin and Luan, who had begun to go find something more interesting to do. Instead of finishing her sentence, she hit Sokka in the chest.
"I didn't say anything about Zuko..." Sokka croaked, rubbing where she had punched him.
"She's still pretty sensitive about it, snoozles." Toph grumbled besides him.
"No kidding." Sokka grumbled. He looked down at the earthbender's baby bump. "Since when were you pregnant?"
"Wow, you're smooth, you know that?" Toph frowned, punching him in the arm before following Katara. Sokka looked over at his wife, who rolled her eyes and shook her head. Propping Atka up on her hip before following them as well.
"I just can't catch a break today." Sokka sighed, looking at Hakoda. His father shrugged.
From the height of the flames in the throne room of the Royal Palace, Admiral Xian knew the Fire Lord was under a great amount of stress. He spotted Zuko pacing the floor on the level below his throne, his boots clacking against the black tile. The Admiral bowed in front of his leader, at the same time alerting Zuko to his presence. The high wall of fire died down a bit.
"Admiral Xian," Zuko mumbled. "Has there been an update from the colonies?"
"As far as they are aware, they had managed to capture more than half the Loyalists living in the colonies." Xian said confidently.
"But..." Zuko said.
"But..." Xian swallowed. "The Earth King wants all Fire Nation citizens to be forced to return to the Fire Nation, as a way to stop any Earth Kingdom people from getting hurt in 'our problems'." Zuko shouted in anger, the wall of fire growing once again.
"Doesn't he understand that it's even more dangerous here!" Zuko balled his fists. "I've already cut off my people from leaving, as a way to protect the other nations... But how am I supposed to force people who have called the colonies their home since before my own mother was even born, to come to one of the most dangerous places in the world!"
"I don't know sir..." Xian lowered his head.
"Have there been anymore attacks since the last one?" Zuko frowned.
"No large scale attacks, no." Xian said. "Just small ones. A man was burnt to death in front of his family in the woods near Rinji Lake. But they called them bandits, not Loyalists."
"Great. Now my people are mugging and robbing to survive."
"We all know this can't be easy, my lord..." Xian began when the doors to the throne room opened abruptly.
"Zuko!" the shadowed figure said, as it walked towards them. As he came into the light of the fire, Zuko's features went from worried to relieved.
"Aang, what are you doing here?" Zuko asked, walking past Xian.
"I've come to see if I can help... My family and I were on our way to the South Pole when Katara and I helped put out a fire in Nan Hu. I can't just sit back and watch any more."
"Aang, I told you..." Zuko growled.
"I know you said this was your problem!" Aang snapped. "But stop being an idiot and let me help! It's my job!"
Xian cringed. Did he just call the Fire Lord an idiot?
"Did you just call me an idiot?" Zuko stared at the younger man in confusion, as if reading the Admiral's mind.
"It's what you're being right now by refusing my help." Aang's brows furrowed.
"Fine." Zuko crossed his arms in front of his chest. "There is a meeting tonight. You can come and find out about what's going on."
"Thank you." Aang bowed his head.
"So you and Katara put out the fire in Nan Hu?" Zuko asked softly.
"Yes."
"How is she and..."
"They're fine. They're in the South Pole right now with Toph and my family." Aang's scowl softened.
"Good." Zuko said. "That's good."
"She misses you. Even if she doesn't say it, I can tell."
"I haven't seen her in almost seven years..." Zuko mumbled. "She stopped her letters months ago."
"You never responded to the last half of them..."
"Things got a little busy." Zuko frowned. A grumble came from Aang, and the airbender clutched his stomach.
"Heh, sorry. I haven't eaten anything is hours." Aang smiled sheepishly.
"Would you like to join me for lunch?" Zuko offered. "I can have Admiral Xian fill you in on everything."
"That would be great." Aang nodded.
"Admiral, would you mind if you joined the Avatar and I for a quick meal? You could fill him in on the events of these past few days." Zuko turned towards the older man.
"It would be an honor, Fire Lord Zuko." Xian bowed his head.
As Zuko led the way to the dining room, Aang couldn't help but notice how unhealthy the Fire Lord looked. His face was gaunt, and he had dark circles under his eyes. He appeared thinner than usual, even under his Fire Lord robes and shoulder piece. His skin even had a gray tint to it. It was clear to anyone who had known him as long as Aang had that he wasn't sleeping, and even eating, well. How could he when his nation was tearing itself apart?