A/N: I know this chapter is really long, and has lots of stuff happening, but I hope it's not too much. Thank you to everyone who did review, and to all those who haven't, but have alerts, please review! I need criticism and maybe some ideas! So please, R&R, and here is the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Chapter 12 Leaving and Arriving
Katara didn't hear anything from Toph's bed as she gripped her dagger, but heard a muffled curse from the figure as a drawer in the dresser was opened.
"Toph?" Katara asked as she sat up, still holding onto her dagger.
"Damn dress," Toph muttered as she shut the drawer. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."
Katara giggled as she laid her dagger down. "Need help?"
The figure that was Toph turned and her shoulders sagged. "Yes," the earthbender sighed.
Katara smiled and got up, turning the knob on a lamp to light the room and saw Toph in her undergarments struggling with a dress much like the one she had worn in Ba Sing Sae. She held the dress out to Katara and the waterbender took it.
"Turn around," Katara instructed as she straightened the dress and readied it.
Toph did as she said and raised her arms over her head as Katara threw the dress over the earthbender's head. She slid the dress over Toph and straightened it, moving around Toph to tie the shoulder knots, securing and tightening the dress. She then saw a comb and moved back behind Toph, starting to brush her hair.
"You know we're leaving today, right? After dawn," Katara said as she brushed Toph's stubborn hair straight.
"Yeah," Toph replied, "But I wanted to do this before we left. Kinda like a surprise."
Katara heard a smile in the earthbenders' voice and was sure Toph was grinning. She finished undoing the last tangle and Toph's hair fell smoothly to her waist, looking like black silk. Katara moved around and saw some makeup on top of the dresser. She picked it up and started applying it delicately to Toph's face.
"There," Katara said as she finished. "You look beautiful."
"Really?" Toph asked, almost hesitantly.
Katara looked over Toph and thought Toph looked even prettier than when they had dressed up and gone to the palace in Ba Sing Sae. She looked like a fine lady with pale skin, beautiful, long black hair, and just the right amount of makeup to accentuate her features.
"Yes, if it were yesterday, I think you'd knock him unconscious again," Katara said, starting to grin. "Let me change and I'll join you. I'd like to see his expression."
Toph smiled up at Katara and went to sit on her bed, waiting patiently. Katara changed quickly into her water tribe clothes and put her daggers at her waist as she opened the door for Toph. She noticed with a wry smile that though Toph was dressed and painted as an elegant lady, she was still barefoot.
They saw Aang exit his room sleepily as Katara closed the door behind them, and he stopped and stared as he spotted Toph and Katara. He hurried over to them, smiling as he rubbed the last of the sleep from his eyes.
"Going to surprise Zuko?" he asked them.
"Yep," Toph said, starting to blush. "C'mon, I don't want the whole city to see me before he does."
Aang nodded and let Toph lead the way as he fell in beside Katara as they trailed Toph to Zuko's room next to the infirmary. Toph took a detour before they went into the large hall, obviously knowing another way into the room. Toph opened the door and Katara saw Zuko on his side with his back to them as they entered the room.
"Good morning, Sunshine," Toph said softly as she went to him, laying a hand on his shoulder.
Zuko turned and opened his eyes as his head turned to her, but stopped and stared as he caught sight of the small earthbender. His jaw dropped open as he stared at Toph. Aang and Katara giggled as Toph stood there, smirking as Zuko just stared.
"Wow," was all the prince said after staring for a minute.
He seemed to become aware of Katara and Aang's presence as he sat up, still looking at Toph. He blushed before he gave them a stern look.
"Could you, uh, leave us alone for a minute?" he asked.
Katara nodded and pulled on Aang's arm, leading him outside of the room and closing the door behind them.
"Wait, what's going on in there?" Aang asked, disappointed that they had to leave.
"This," Katara said, landing a quick kiss on his lips before leading him to the dining hall. "But we need to get ready. Let's grab something to eat. Knowing Sokka, he's already eating, and will eat almost all our supplies before we get to Gaoling."
Aang nodded, grinning, and quickened his pace so that he was walking next to her, holding her hand as they hurried to the dining hall. From the light coming in, Katara knew it was dawn as they entered the room, and sure enough, Sokka was already there, eating.
He swallowed as they sat, looking at them. "Where's Toph and Zuko?" he asked Katara.
Aang started laughing, but tried to hold it in. Katara smiled at her brother and his jaw dropped as she told him.
"They're in his room, next to the infirmary. She's paying off her debt. They'll probably be here soon."
Katara grabbed a melon and had started eating as Toph and Zuko came in, Toph still in her dress with her and Zuko's packs over her shoulder and Zuko in his fire nation clothes, his arm still in a sling. He was walking without assistance, though he was holding the earthbenders' hand and they were both blushing. Katara also noticed that Toph's hair wasn't as straight as it had been.
They spotted Sokka staring at them, his mouth open and they dropped each other's hands, blushing even more as Sokka stopped and shook his head before turning back to his food.
"If I don't see it…" he muttered to himself as he dug into his steak and eggs.
Katara smiled at her brother before turning her attention back to her food. Breakfast went quietly after that, Sokka pointedly ignoring Toph and Zuko, but mostly Toph before hurrying to his room to get the rest of his belongings.
Once they were finished, the four went to Appa, Aang easily airbending the saddle back onto the bison, Momo gliding in to land on the Avatar's shoulder as Toph earthbent a platform for Zuko to get onto the saddle more easily.
"You know, you're going to get used to this, and then I won't be able to fight at all," Katara overheard Zuko say to Toph as he sat down at the rear of the saddle.
She saw Toph smirk as the earthbender turned to lower the earthen platform before going to sit next to Zuko. Zuko was smiling at Toph as she sat down next to him. Sokka came running out with his sword and a pack with several papers sticking out of it. He climbed onto Appa as Bumi and several members of the society came out.
"Good bye, Aang, and good luck. I hope I will see you in a few weeks," Bumi said to them.
Aang nodded and waved goodbye as he flicked the reins. "Yip Yip, Appa. Time to go to Gaoling."
The society waved goodbye and Sokka and Katara waved until they were out of sight. Katara then turned to Zuko and saw that he was a little pale and gripping the saddle rim tightly as Appa leveled off.
"You ok?" she asked Zuko smugly. "Or is flying still hard for you?"
The prince opened his eyes and sent a glare at her as he swallowed hard before answering.
"Yes. How do you put up with this constant up and down?"
"I love it," Katara said, grinning.
Toph turned a sympathetic look towards Zuko. "I hate it still, not Appa, just flying. At least you didn't have to travel underwater. That's far worse."
Zuko gave her a grateful smile before turning his gaze away from Katara. She eyed his arm and a thought entered her mind.
"How long are you going to be in a sling?" she asked Zuko.
Zuko looked back at her with surprise before glancing at his arm.
"The healer, Kalaya, she said to not use it for at least a week if I can. And unfortunately, Toph heard, so I'm almost useless for another four days."
"Five days," Toph said. "Today's just begun."
Zuko sighed before smiling at the earthbender. "All right, you win."
He leaned back and relaxed as Toph snuggled against his good shoulder. Sokka sighed as he brought out some paper and ink and started writing. Katara turned to watch the scenery as they headed towards Gaoling. Sokka started complaining about being hungry around midmorning, so Katara got up and passed out fruit, reminding her brother that he had to make it last until later that day.
They flew higher above the clouds as Aang spotted a fire nation patrol. Aang stayed on Appa's head, keeping a sharp lookout for the fire nation as they continued on until the sun started to set. Katara felt Appa start to descend as darkness started to cover the land and soon saw Gaoling below them.
"There," Sokka said, pointing to a small house with a light green roof and a walled courtyard, just large enough to fit Appa comfortably. "Suki said it was a small house in the shape of a T with a courtyard that could fit Appa easily."
Katara looked more closely and decided that Sokka was right. Appa landed in the courtyard and soon Suki and The Duke were hurrying out of the door, followed by an elderly man. Suki ran to Sokka as he jumped down from Appa, and jumped onto him, kissing him before hitting him in the stomach.
"You said next weekend, you big oaf, not this weekend," she said, stepping away from the warrior and placing her hands on her hips.
Sokka stared at her. "But I said this next weekend. That means now, not the following weekend."
"This is this, next is a week from now. Get it?"
Sokka stared at his feet and nodded, humbled. "Yes," he muttered. "I'm sorry."
He looked up at her and Katara followed his gaze and saw Suki smiling as she stepped in to hug Sokka again. Katara grinned and jumped down as Toph jumped as well, followed by Zuko. The prince laid his free hand onto Toph's shoulder to steady himself as he landed. Aang used airbending to lift the saddle off of Appa and set it gently next to the bison.
"Your highness," the elderly man gasped from the door as Zuko stood up straight.
Everyone turned their attention to the man as Zuko stepped forward, his hand leaving Toph's shoulder. Katara studied the man and hopefully pressure point specialist. The man was about sixty, with grey hair pulled back into a ponytail and a receding hairline. He had dark eyes and wore bifocals, but walked straight and proud as if he was twenty.
"Oh, this is Master Shawn Lin," Suki said. "He's been helping Liz recover and he's been teaching me a little. Master Shawn, this is Sokka, Avatar Aang, Katara, Toph, and I guess you know about Zuko."
Katara was almost surprised at the venom in Suki's voice as she said Zuko's name, but remembered that Zuko had burned down her village once, and that they had separated at the temple, before even she could had completely forgiven Zuko.
"How do you know me?" Zuko asked.
Master Shawn looked surprised, but glanced around, before gesturing inside. "I will tell you once we're inside. There are ears out here, and I'm sure you would all appreciate a hot meal."
Sokka nodded enthusiastically as Suki led them inside. Katara was curious and followed the newly re-united couple into the house. Aang and The Duke followed her, followed by Toph and Zuko. They came to a large table where Liz, the other Kyoshi warrior, was seated at the far end, her leg sticking out, splinted and wrapped in bandages.
Suki and The Duke hurried off to get more cushions for the newcomers to sit as Master Shawn went to Zuko.
"May I have a look at your arm?" he asked the prince.
Zuko looked puzzled, but nodded, holding out his left arm for the specialist to inspect. Master Shawn looked at the still bandaged arm for a while, inspecting it before poking Zuko's bicep once. Zuko appeared to brace himself for a pain that didn't come. Instead he stared at his arm as he moved his fingers after the Master had touched him.
"Thank you, what did you do?"
Master Shawn stood up and smiled at the firebender. "Whoever healed you did a good job. I merely took the pain away for a day by telling your nerves that your arm had healed. Just keep it in that sling and you'll be fine."
The master turned to Katara as Suki and The Duke brought in cushions and Sokka helped them arrange them around the table.
"And you, my dear. My old friend, Robert, wrote to me about your condition. You're very lucky to be alive."
"So I've been told," Katara said quietly.
Master Shawn nodded and gestured to the table. "I'll examine you after the meal, if that's all right. I'll need to do a more thorough examination."
Katara nodded and sat at the table. Aang and Sokka sat on either side of her, giving her encouraging smiles as Suki served out soup. They all started eating, save Zuko. He was studying the master, and Shawn noticed, setting down his bowl.
"I guess you want to hear it now, don't you, your highness?" he asked Zuko.
Zuko nodded. "Yes, and just call me Zuko. I'm no longer a prince."
Shawn nodded and stroked his chin. "So I've heard. You were ill for a time when you passed by a small island after you first received your scar. Do you remember?"
Katara set her bowl down and looked at Zuko and noticed everyone else follow her example. Zuko's brow furrowed and he nodded as he brought his free hand up to absently touch his scar.
"Yes, an infection had set in, and the ship's physician could not help. Uncle told me he had brought a special doctor on board from the island and that he had healed me."
Shawn nodded. "Yes, I knew your uncle from our boyhood. We were friends at the academy, but he followed his father's path for him while I was called to medicine. It was a surprise to see him, looking old and asking for help, but when I saw you, I understood. He loves you like a son, you know."
Zuko nodded gravely. "I know," he said, solemnly before looking up to the master. "Have you seen him? Recently, I mean."
Shawn shook his head. "No, but the ladies and this young man told me about how they had met him in the prison and then met with you and Avatar Aang. I'm glad to see you and he have finally turned out to be all that you should."
Katara and the others had followed the exchange, and she smiled as she saw Zuko relax and be more at ease as he bowed his head to the master before picking up his bowl and starting on his dinner. Suki and The Duke took turns filling in everyone on what had happened with them from when they had separated as Aang told them what had happened with them.
Apparently Teo was working on some new inventions with some of the men form Kyoshi Island and Haru had gone out with some other Kyoshi warriors to spread the word. Men and women had been arriving at the Island, helping Teo and the others since just before Suki had left.
After dinner, Shawn had The Duke show everyone to their rooms as Suki took Katara to a side room. Katara followed the Kyoshi warrior into a room and found an elongated, padded table with a circular headrest with a hole in the middle of the headrest.
"Take off you your outer clothing and lie face down, please," Suki said as she turned to exit. "Master Shawn will be in a bit."
Katara nodded and waited until Suki left before removing her shirt and outerwear until she was only in her wrappings. She hesitantly lay down on the table with her face through the hole of the headrest and heard Master Shawn and Suki enter as she relaxed.
"I'm going to be poking some areas, please let me know if there is any pain or discomfort," Master Shawn said.
Katara could tell from his voice that he was approaching the table and saw his feet from the headrest as he came to her. Suki's boots appeared next to the masters and Katara felt Suki give her right shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"I'm here for you," Suki said. "Master Shawn has been teaching me, but if you need us to stop, let me know."
Katara nodded and wet her lips with her tongue nervously. "Get on with it," she told them.
She felt the master's hands gently touch her left shoulder and move around the area the assassin had grabbed before poking several areas. Katara didn't feel any different until he poked the area the assassin had grabbed gently. She let out a cry as pain engulfed her shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Master Shawn said as he moved his hands to her lower back. "I had to check."
Katara nodded, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to fall as Shawn poked several more areas before stopping.
"You can get up now, young lady," he said after he had stopped examining her back.
Katara nodded again as she sat up, sitting on the table and looking expectantly at Shawn and Suki.
"So what now?" she asked them.
Shawn sighed. "I will have to do several treatments to remove the damage. What this assassin did in one touch will take days or even weeks to reverse the damage done. We will start tonight with some acupuncture. Suki, can you get the needles."
Suki nodded as she left the room and Katara felt herself go rigid.
"Needles?" she asked, hesitantly.
Shawn smiled at her, trying to reassure her. "They won't hurt. The acupuncture will help tell your systems to start healing and return to normal. Now please, lie down again, face down."
Katara nodded and lay down as Suki came back in with a tray, followed by Aang.
"Everything ok?" Aang asked.
Katara looked up at Aang and tried to smile at him, but it only was a half hearted smile.
"Yeah, ok."
Suki smiled at Aang as she laid the tray down on a table and Shawn picked up a few needles. Aang paled as he saw the needles and Katara laughed at his expression.
"Master Shawn is going to start my treatments tonight. Maybe it would be better if you waited outside," Katara said, smiling at Aang.
"Yeah, that sounds good," Aang said, swallowing nervously as he saw Shawn pick up a bottle of antiseptic.
The Avatar nodded and exited through the door quickly as Shawn chuckled.
"Is he always like that?" the master asked her as she lay down again.
Katara smiled as she stared at the floor. "Just with blood and such," she said.
Shawn let out an affirmative sound before moving a swab over several points of her back.
"This may be uncomfortable at first, let me know if there is any hint of pain, ok?"
Katara nodded and braced herself as she felt Shawn touch the points he had wiped. He covered most of her back and shoulders. Katara waited and a few minutes passed after the master had stopped whatever he was doing.
"When are you going to start?" she asked, starting to rise.
"Don't get up," Shawn said before she could move. "The needles are in place. Just relax and lay there, and then I'll remove them and we'll begin again tomorrow."
Katara nodded and made herself relax. She eventually relaxed and almost fell asleep before Shawn moved back to her and started removing the needles. Surprisingly, there was no pain again, but she felt better as he moved over her back, wiping the points with the swab again.
"Ok," Shawn said when he was done. "How do you feel?"
"Surprisingly, better," Katara said as she sat up, before stifling a yawn.
Shawn and Suki smiled at her, Suki stifling a yawn of her own.
"You ladies had better get to bed," he said to them. "It's ok Suki, I'll finish up here. Please show Katara to her room, and I'll see you both in the morning. Also the Avatar has already retired for the night."
Suki and Katara nodded before Suki opened the door as Katara picked up her outerwear and followed the warrior out through the door and through the hallways to a large room. She saw Liz and Toph already asleep on beds as two more empty beds awaited them.
"Night," Suki whispered as she made her way to one of the empty beds.
"Night," Katara whispered as she made her way to the other bed, sinking onto it gratefully, falling asleep instantly.
Katara awoke to Suki shaking her shoulder lightly. The light told her it was just before dawn, but Suki was already up and dressed in her normal garb, minus the ceremonial makeup.
"C'mon," Suki whispered. "Your next treatment is ready."
Katara sighed and got up quietly to follow Suki to the room she had been examined in the night before. Master Shawn was waiting there with more needles, and repeated what he had done the night before, but also added a massage to her shoulder.
"There," he said as he wiped his hands with a towel once he was finished. "I heard that Miss Ba Fong wanted you all to be present when she meets her family, but I want to see you again afterwards."
Katara nodded and hurried back to her room to freshen up and change into her water tribe clothes again. Toph was just getting up and getting dressed in her usual garb while Liz was watching.
"Are you coming?" Toph asked Suki when the warrior entered the room a few minutes after Katara.
"No," Suki replied, smiling as she headed over to Liz. "And Sokka said he won't either. I'm going to help Liz to breakfast, but I'll see you afterwards."
Toph smiled at the Kyoshi warriors as Suki helped Liz out, acting as a crutch, and sent a glance at Katara. Katara giggled as she finished getting dressed, placing her daggers at her hips.
"Seems like they want their own alone time," Katara told Toph, still giggling.
Toph nodded, smiling as a faint blush came onto her face. The earthbender then stood up straight and sighed.
"The guys are waiting. I guess now or never."
Katara moved in front of Toph and looked at her, placing her hands on the smaller girls' shoulders.
"Toph, are you sure you want to do this now? Face your father?"
Toph turned her misty gaze to 'look' at Katara and Katara saw that her expression was set.
"Yes. I need to do it, soon. He should have already heard that I'm here and I need to face him. But with Hothead, Twinkle toes and you at my side, it'll be easier. Thanks Katara."
Toph smiled slightly at Katara and Katara smiled back, moving aside and opening the door for Toph. Toph nodded and headed to the front door, Katara trailing. They found Aang and Zuko waiting, Aang in his clothes from the invasion and Zuko in his fire nation clothes with his arm still in a sling.
The firebender smiled at the girls and Katara was surprised to find that he had pulled his hair back into a topknot and that he was actually kind of handsome without his hair all over the place. Zuko held out his arm for Toph as Aang did the same for Katara. The girls took the proffered arms, and with a final sigh from Toph, they headed out into the city.
The four drew many strange looks from the beginnings of a crowd, but Toph and Zuko, being in the lead, ignored them all and made a bee line straight for the Ba Fong estate. Aang and Katara followed and they only stopped when they had reached the massive wooden door with the flying boar above it. Toph knocked on it loudly and they waited.
Katara saw that Toph was about to knock again when the door opened. A middle aged man in a black servants' robe with the flying boar on his chest opened the door and stared in shock at the four teens standing before him.
"Miss Ba Fong," he gasped. "Um, your father is expecting you, but, uh, will only see you alone. He will not permit the Avatar or his companions into his house again."
Katara saw Toph and Zuko both tense as Toph answered the man.
"I am one of the Avatar's companions, Shen. If my father won't see them, then he won't see me."
Shen gulped visibly and moved aside, gesturing them into the courtyard.
"Of course, my lady. Please, wait here in the courtyard, while I tell your father that you have arrived."
"Much better," Toph said as she and Zuko moved into the courtyard.
Katara could tell form the earthbenders' voice that Toph was smiling as she and Aang followed them into a small courtyard. Shen shut the door behind them, bowing to Toph as he hurried past them and into the house.
"There may be trouble," Aang whispered to Toph.
Toph glanced back over her shoulder and smirked at him.
"Of course there's going to be trouble, but it'll be my kind of trouble, on my terms."
Katara was about to question Toph more when Shen came back out, looking flustered. He bowed to them and motioned for them to follow him. He led them to the meeting area where they found Lao Ba Fong waiting for them on his normal chair with a thin, stuck up teen of about fifteen sitting in a chair that Toph had once sat in.
Toph's father was looking angry as they entered and Katara studied the teen, keeping her gaze away from Lao Ba Fong. He had thin black hair held back into a simple ponytail, light green eyes and a large nose. He was wearing green, silken robes and he had his nose in the air as if the four of them were beneath him.
"I said I wanted to see my daughter alone," Lao said sternly to Shen while the boy turned to look at them, glancing at Toph as if she were a trophy that he wanted to lay his hands on.
"I am one of the Avatar's companions," Toph said to her dad. "You see me, you see my friends."
Lao studied his daughter as the boy in the corner looked askew at Zuko.
"And who are you supposed to be?" the boy asked arrogantly, looking Zuko up and down, still down his nose at them.
Aang quickly turned a laugh into a cough as the boys' voice broke into a higher pitch at the end of the question. Katara and Aang came up next to Toph, and Katara saw Zuko send a glare at the boy, but Toph took her arm out of his and slipped her hand into his, giving it a squeeze. Zuko glanced at Toph and sighed, squeezing her hand back.
"This is Aang's new firebending teacher, Zuko, prince of the Fire Nation, and…my boyfriend," Toph said smugly to the boy.