Expansion
Chapter Fifteen: My Money is on You
Norio Saga stood on the deck of the small, sturdy Fire Nation ship and watched as Tokoma Island came into sight. He held up his hand, and shaded his eyes from the bright sun. It was a rocky looking place, like many of the islands in the archipelago that formed his nation. He spotted a patch of green and the dock that stretched out into the deep blue of the ocean water.
"Must be where this school is," he muttered to himself.
As the ship drew closer he could make out the grey stone of the buildings and a small cluster of people waiting on the dock. Norio waited patiently for the gangplank to drop and then sauntered off the ship. He wasn't a sailor per se, but had been on many ships in his time and enjoyed the feel of one moving through water, enjoyed the caress of gentle waves or the pounding of wild ones. He felt a brief sense of loss as his feet touched the wood of the dock and he moved forward, toward the green of the field in which the school was situated.
His eyes scanned the small group of people, looking for the young woman who would give him the letter for Fire Lord Zuko. A man approached him instead. A second man walked a few paces behind the first, much like a vassal would stay behind his lord.
"I'm Headmaster Oono," the man introduced himself curtly.
Norio felt a vague sense of unease as he looked into the headmaster's piercing grey eyes. The man was ordinary looking in most respects but carried himself like a king, a king who tolerated nothing going wrong during his reign. His face was hard and his voice was harder. Oono didn't introduce the other man. Apparently he wasn't important enough.
"Norio Saga," Zuko's man introduced himself. "We've got a shipment of food for you and I'm expecting a list of needed supplies."
"Well, you did come here on a ship. I expect you've got something for us. Where are your papers?"
Norio produced his official papers which Oono read over carefully.
"You'll do," he said offhandedly. "Get your men to carry the crates up the hill and into the kitchen's storeroom. Someone will guide you to the correct building."
"Yes, sir," Norio replied flippantly.
"I don't like your tone," Oono stated coldly. "Show proper respect or you'll be replaced."
"Sorry, sir," Norio corrected himself. In his mind he said something not quite so polite. "Alright men, unload the cargo and carry it up the hill."
Four men, two per container, began unloading crates of rice, tea, sugar, meat, vegetables and fruits. They lugged them up the hill and Norio watched the men until they were out of sight. Oono turned to leave. He caught a glimpse of Maho waiting hesitantly.
"Do you have the list for Mr. Saga, here?" he snapped. "Do I need to stand by and watch you do your job or can you manage on your own?"
"I can manage," Maho replied tersely.
"Good," Oono spat.
He walked back up the hill and Maho heaved a sigh of relief. Her eyes turned to Norio and she took in the handsome man. His good looks weren't delicate or regal but rather rough around the edges and perhaps a bit unkempt. The skin around his whiskey colored eyes had tiny lines and stubble covered his chin and cheeks. He had an easy smile, however, and bestowed one upon the young woman.
"Hello," he began. "Aren't you a lovely young lady? Too bad you're stuck in a place like this."
"Um, right," Maho replied awkwardly.
She was waiting for the man to say the code word chosen by Zuko. Norio shifted from one foot to the other and waited for Maho to hand him the list. It was a standoff. Suddenly remembering, Norio slapped a scarred hand against his forehead and began to laugh.
"I know what you're waiting for. 'Tasukete'," he declared.
Maho looked around nervously as if someone up the hill might hear the secret word and know it for what it was. There was no one else about and she relaxed.
"Skittish, are you?" Norio asked and laughed again.
It was a friendly laugh, hearty, full of fun and good humor. Maho decided right then that she liked this man very much.
"If you worked here, you would be skittish too," she replied. "Now, here's the list."
She handed over one scroll and he took it from her, stuffing it inside his nondescript red tunic.
"Here's the letter for Lord Zuko," she whispered, half expecting Norio's face to suddenly change into something awful and flames to engulf her.
This scroll the man handled carefully. He tucked it into a large pocket, adjusting his clothing and the letter so that it was almost impossible to notice.
"I can't tell you just how important it is that the Fire Lord gets this news. His life may depend on it, and the lives of his family."
"He'll get it," Norio stated confidently.
His face was serious now and he looked about him, up the hill to the dreary school building.
"Anyone could see that this place isn't a happy one. And that headmaster guy needs a complete personality overhaul."
Maho giggled but cold sweat broke out on her forehead as she thought about what Oono was planning.
"Do you know what's around that outcropping of land?" the sometimes sailor asked.
"What do you mean?" Maho asked.
"Is there anything else on this island? I can't see beyond that bit of land that juts out there."
"Yes, there is, but I'm not supposed to know that. It's in the letter."
"Mmm, we were given very specific instructions to dock here and not go beyond this point; weird."
"Best if you do that," the young woman suggested. "I need to get back to work. Good luck."
"You take care of yourself. The world can't afford to lose a beautiful young woman like you."
Maho rolled her eyes at the comment but felt heat pool in the pit of her stomach. In a different situation, she might just do something very unladylike.
"Perhaps I'll see you next week," was the best she could manage.
She gave Norio a wave and walked reluctantly toward the buildings of Sacred Flame Academy.
Mai felt and looked exhausted. The little confrontation with her mother had taken a lot out of her. Ursa heard about Akira's removal from the palace and, concerned for Mai, came to see what damage the woman had left behind.
"I'm ordering rest for you," Zuko's mother said with complete seriousness. "Sometimes I think you forget that you're pregnant, Mai."
The knife thrower placed her hands on her belly. "Trust me, I don't forget," she remarked dryly.
"Well, try to avoid stress, if you can. I know it's difficult with two young children….."
"And monstrous parents," Mai added.
"Yes," Ursa sighed. "I'll watch the twins. And I'll have dinner for you and Zuko sent to your room."
"I don't want you missing a date with Hideo," Mai said with concern.
"He's busy tonight," Ursa replied quickly. "And I love spending time with my grandchildren. Go to your room and lie down."
"Okay, okay, then," Mai replied gratefully.
She left the double room occupied by the twins and began walking to her own just down the hall. Mai paused and took a quick peek inside the nursery. The bassinet was set up and infant toys along with stacks of diapers and pins sat atop the dresser. The rocking chair called to Mai and she decided to sit there instead of lying down on her bed.
She shut the door behind her and dropped gently into the rocking chair, adjusting the pad so that it fit against the small of her back. Little aches plagued that part of her body. She reached around and rubbed the sore area with the heel of her hand. Zuko's heat would come in handy but he was still working and wouldn't show his face for another hour at least.
Giving up on making the persistent throb go away, she leaned back, closed her eyes and began a soothing rocking motion that soon had her asleep. As she slipped deeper into slumber, the tranquility left and vague, shadowy images emerged from somewhere in her mind, infecting her rest with a sense of terror. The fear was unspecific and that made it all the more potent. Mai's heart rate increased and a thin film of perspiration covered her face. She twisted in the chair and it moved jerkily. She felt as though she were buried alive and she tried desperately to claw her way out of the nightmare landscape. Mai was dimly aware of someone beside her, a warm hand on her arm, shaking persistently. A raspy voice called her name over and over. The voice was comforting and made her fight harder. Finally she broke free and opened her eyes. She looked into Zuko's scared, wide open ones and grimaced.
"You had me terrified, Mai. I couldn't wake you up."
"Try being inside the horrible dream," she snapped back. "It was like I was stuck in quicksand and couldn't get out."
"What were you dreaming about?"
"It wasn't anything in particular, just raw fear. I feel so uneasy, Zuko, like something awful and heavy is going to drop on us at any minute."
"I know what you mean. I feel it too. Look, my mother said something about your mother coming here and causing a scene. What happened?"
Zuko was stroking Mai's arm, running warm fingertips up and down its length. She could feel the heat through the fabric of her robe and it soothed her. Giving him a wan smile she recounted the story of Akira's visit.
"Our daughter is quite spirited," Mai remarked with her usual understatement. "I'm so proud of the way she stood up to my mother."
"She was protecting her mommy," Zuko added.
"Yes," Mai agreed. "If she keeps up like this, she'll be fierce when she's an adult."
"Don't mess with Mai and don't mess with Miyako," Zuko joked.
"So, your mom said something about dinner in our room. I'm feeling hungry now."
Zuko held out a hand and Mai took it, letting her husband pull her up and out of the chair. They left the nursery and entered their room where dinner waited on the low table that sat in front of the sofa. Instead of sitting there, Mai got some big cushions and tossed them onto the floor. She lowered herself onto one and leaned her back against the sofa. Zuko joined her on the floor and gave the food a quick reheating. The couple ate in the comfortable silence of those who know every habit, every tic of the other person, every mood, every like and dislike. It was the ease borne of years together and years spent thinking about the other even when distance kept them apart.
When she finished, Mai stretched deliciously and threw her head back looking every bit a pampered feline. She pushed her bowl away from the edge of the table and reached for her cup of tea.
"Mmm, that was good," she declared.
"Yes, here, let me fill your cup," Zuko responded.
He poured the piping hot tea into the delicate green cups decorated with tiny yellow flowers. The tea set was a gift from Iroh, one of many that revolved around his favorite leaf.
"You forgot to send Iroh a letter, didn't you?" Mai asked, the tea set prompting thoughts of the beloved man.
"Ohhh, yeah, I forgot," Zuko confessed.
"Well, that's okay, because I remembered. We should get a reply soon."
"Thanks, Mai. Sometimes my mind gets cluttered with too much stuff."
"You are the Fire Lord."
"Thanks for reminding me," Zuko replied teasingly and placed a quick kiss to the tip of Mai's lovely nose.
Mai chuckled, a low gravelly sound that made Zuko's groin tighten. He leaned in again, this time giving her lips a slow sensuous kiss. She placed her small, deceptively delicate looking hands at the back of his neck and pulled him in closer, increasing the pressure of the kiss. Mai broke away first, her eyes sparkling with lust and love.
"Come on, I want to say goodnight to the kids."
"Aww," Zuko pouted, looking disappointed.
"We have all night," Mai chastised the man.
"Fine," he said and got up from his red silken cushion, offering his wife a hand again.
They walked along the dimly lit hallway, wall sconces giving it a subdued yellowy glow and making their shadows flicker as they moved. The days were short now that winter was upon them and the entire palace shimmered ethereally in the evening darkness.
Ursa sat with her grandchildren, one on each side of her, their bodies pressed tight against hers, and read them a story. It was the funny tale of a miniature boy, about the size of a finger, his adventures, eventual triumph and his reward, which was becoming the size of a normal boy.* The twins giggled as Ursa read and looked down at the illustrations with wonder. Mai and Zuko hung back, letting Ursa finish. When she closed the book with a flourish and declared it bedtime, all three of them looked up and spotted the couple.
"Mommy, Daddy," Ryuhito called and ran over for his hugs.
"Do you remember that story, Zuko?" Ursa asked with a twinkle in her eye.
"I do," he replied. "It was one of my favorites."
Miyako pulled on her father's robes and he looked down into her intelligent golden eyes.
"You like stowy, Daddy?"
"Yes," he answered.
Zuko then bent down and pulled her into his arms. He hung her upside down, holding onto her heels and swung her back and forth rhythmically until she was red in the face and breathless from laughter.
"Your turn, Ryu," he called to his son once Miyako's feet were back on solid ground.
The little boy waited with anticipation. Zuko grabbed him gently, giving him a warm hug before turning the boy upside down and moving him back and forth. Ryuhito took the ride more thoughtfully than his sister had. The motion soothed rather than exited him and he was almost lulled into sleep.
"There you go," the Fire Lord said, placing the boy down on the carpet. "Are you both ready for bed?"
"I clean my teeth and wash my face already and see, I got sleep pants on," Ryuhito said proudly.
"I'll tuck you in then," Mai volunteered. "Say goodnight to Grandma."
Ryuhito placed a sweet kiss on Ursa's cheek and whispered good night. He reached out for Mai's hand and she took it, walking with him into the next room. He arranged himself comfortably in the bed, favorite stuffed animal tucked in beside him and closed his eyes.
"Good night, sweetie," Mai said softly. "Daddy will be in to say goodnight in a minute."
With bedtime rituals over and both children soundly asleep, Mai and Zuko bid goodnight to Ursa and retreated to their own quarters again for a relaxing evening. Mai decided to wash up and slip into her oh so comfortable sleep pants and tunic. The flowing and soft satiny fabric felt good against her skin and draped generously over a belly that appeared to have grown larger overnight.
"Do I look bigger to you?" Mai asked completely out of the blue.
Zuko looked up from the sink where he was having a quick shave and stared at Mai. She stood in the doorway, waiting expectantly for his answer, eyebrows arched imperiously. Zuko swallowed hard. There was probably no right answer to that question. He did his best.
"You look beautiful," he began evasively.
"That's not what I asked," Mai said tartly. "Have I gotten bigger?"
Zuko felt cornered and a completely unreasonable sense of panic filled him.
"You look the same to me," he tried.
"So you're saying that you don't pay any attention to what I look like because I'm positive that my stomach's bigger than it was."
"Of, of course I pay attention," Zuko stammered. "Maybe you're just a bit bigger."
"So now I'm fat?"
"No!" Zuko exclaimed. "I'm not saying anything else. You're being, you're being….."
Mai glared, waiting for the next word to leave her husband's tongue.
"What? Silly, over emotional?"
Mai knew she was being completely and utterly unreasonable but she couldn't stop herself. Her mouth along with a small part of her brain, no doubt influenced by the changes that pregnancy wrought, had taken on a life of its own, separate from that of her rational mind.
"I'm going to bed," she announced suddenly and turned on her heel.
Zuko stood with his mouth open. Shaving lather dropped slowly from his face into the sink.
"What the Agni was that all about?" he asked his reflection.
Tomiko's sleep was restless. He hadn't slept well since he arrived at Sacred Flame Academy. Truth be told, he didn't sleep all that well for days before arriving there either. He expected Jiro, snoring away in his bed on the opposite side of the room, to do something, anything to hurt him or get him in some kind of trouble. Of course, his opportunity for payback was now, as the bully lay sleeping peacefully, no doubt dreaming about the next day's torment of Tomiko. Mai's brother smirked as he imagined tying the sheets around Jiro's ankles and watching him fall onto the floor as the wakeup call came. Smearing ink across his homework scrolls would work too. But he didn't do anything. Somehow, the fault would come back to him and he would be punished again.
His palm still stung. No one had taken him to the school nurse. His wound wasn't deemed serious enough. Tomiko wondered why it hurt so much then. Unconsciously, he rubbed the thumb of his left hand across the red slashes on his right. Lying there thinking, eyes open in the dark, only the outline of Jiro's body and the few pieces of furniture that the room held visible, Tomiko felt both anger and despair. He wiped away a few tears. Once he got started in earnest it would be difficult to stop crying.
Tomiko groaned as he realized that he needed to use the bathroom. Quietly he slipped off his bed, bare feet silent on the cool wooden floor, and opened the door a crack. The man who patrolled the hallways at night was not in sight. Tom tiptoed out into the corridor and walked toward the boy's bathroom. He used it quickly and pushed the door open. He could hear two voices and they were getting closer. Afraid of reprisals, he stayed inside the bathroom with the door barely opened and listened hard as the men came into sight.
"From what I hear, Zuko's going to be in for a big surprise if he shows up."
The other man snickered and sounded like a sick hogmonkey. Tomiko's eyes widened. What could the men be talking about?
"Yeah, he won't be around much longer and neither will his family. Hail Fire Lord Ozai."
They both laughed then, a cruel, heartless and hollow sound. As soon as their voices disappeared, Tomiko opened the door just wide enough for his body to fit and ran back to his room.
"Where were you?" Jiro asked, eyes shining with glee in the darkness.
The Capitol City harbor was busy despite the late hour. Norio fidgeted impatiently as he waited for the ship to dock. He couldn't wait to hand the important letter off and head to a tavern for a much needed drink. The ladies strolling along the stone roadway and eyeing all the sailors suggestively also appealed to his carnal side. He deserved a little relaxation. Play acting was straining work and he would have to do it all over again in about a week; unless the Fire Lord got things at that school straightened out beforehand.
The boat bumped gently against the wooden dock and deckhands tied it off securely. The gangplank was lowered and Norio practically ran down the angled piece of solid metal, made a little jump and landed on the road. He looked around casually for the young man who would take the letter to the palace. After ten minutes of pacing, cheeky exchanges with several women and the arrival of two other boats, Norio spotted him. He approached slowly, wrapping a friendly arm around the man, Ichi, and led him down the road, out of both earshot and visibility.
"Ichi," he exclaimed. "How are you doing? I've got a little something for you."
"I know. That's why I'm here," the young man replied humorlessly.
"The girl said that it's really important, so go now. Don't try to be all proper and wait until morning."
"I'll go. Where is it?"
Norio reached inside his tunic. His eyes roamed the immediate area and his ears were sharply tuned. He plucked out the still neatly rolled scroll and passed it over to Ichi.
"Don't screw up," he warned as the young man left at a leisurely pace.
The older man watched until Ichi finally began to move faster and eventually was gone from sight.
"Hope all this helps, Fire Lord," he whispered quietly to himself.
Norio turned around and headed to the closest tavern, pushed open the door forcefully and ordered a drink.
Mai and Zuko were both asleep when a sharp insistent rap on their door awoke them. Groggily, Mai wiped at her eyes and then yawned. Rather than getting up, she dropped her head back down onto the green silk covered pillow and groaned in complaint.
"You get it. It's easier for you to get up than it is for me," she ordered, giving her husband a sharp nudge.
"Coming," Zuko slurred, trying to wake up completely.
He had been dreaming of making love to Mai and the eroticism of said dream still suffused his brain. He looked down at his wife and swallowed, willing himself to cool down. He was ready after a few minutes and another few sharp raps. When he opened the door Toph pushed her way across the threshold while Ichi held back and gave his lord a deep and respectful bow.
"My lord, I have the letter you've been awaiting."
Zuko looked over at Toph and wondered why exactly she was standing in his bedroom in the middle of the night. He turned back to Ichi and took the letter.
"Thank you, Ichi. You may go now."
The young man bowed again before setting off down the hall slowly and noiselessly. He took in all that he could of the palace, a place not many citizens of the Fire Nation ever got to see.
"You guys really need to open your door a little faster. I was enjoying my sleep when that guy started hammering away."
"Yeah, well, we were asleep too," Zuko retorted hotly.
"Hurrumph," Toph growled. "That letter better be important."
"Oh, the letter; Mai, wake up," he called as he approached the bed.
She had fallen back into a light sleep and Zuko had to shake her alert.
"Mai," Zuko called again. "Ichi delivered the letter."
"Don't just stand there barking at me. Read it….out loud," Mai demanded crisply and sat up, placing two plump pillows behind her back.
Toph and Mai waited for Zuko to begin.
Maho stretched out on her narrow bed and read one of the two books she had brought with her. It was difficult to concentrate with all that she had seen and heard swirling around in her mind. Besides that, her roommate kept looking at her knowingly, doing everything but winking.
Finally, Ume spoke up. "So, how's your young man?"
"My what?" Maho asked in reply.
"Your young man; you were gone the other night so I assumed you met up with one of the men and spent the night with him instead of here."
"Oh, that….yes, he's, uh, well, he's fine."
"I'll bet he's handsome," Ume continued.
An image of Norio popped into Maho's head and she shook it back and forth as if trying to dislodge the invasive presence.
"Actually, he is," Maho agreed. "But I don't want to talk about him. Thanks for not reporting me, by the way."
"I wouldn't stand in the way of love. There's not enough of it in the world."
The young woman nodded thoughtfully. Ume didn't know just how right she was.
"I can't argue with that," Maho said agreeably enough.
Her roommate glanced around furtively and whispered, "The people who run this school are bad men. I heard that they hurt a little boy just for making a noise in line. I thought those days were behind us."
"I heard about the boy," Maho stated neutrally.
The young woman was cautious. For all she knew, her roommate could be a spy herself, checking up on other workers and using leading statements in an attempt to get these workers to express an opinion unpopular at Sacred Flame Academy.
"I just want to do my job," Maho continued.
That wasn't a lie, at least. She did want to do her best, both for Fire Lord Zuko and for Toph, someone she felt a lot of affection and respect for.
"Yes, all of us need money, don't we?" Ume stated.
"How long do you plan on staying here?" Maho asked.
"I signed up for a year. By the end of my time, I'll have a lot of money saved."
"Good luck with that," Maho thought. "Hopefully this place will be just a bad memory by then."
"Mmm, yes," she said aloud. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm tired."
"Of course, dear, you need your sleep. Sometimes I don't know when to shut up."
Maho blew out the lamp that sat on her bedside table and turned over to face the wall. She felt uncomfortable in her own room now and her skin itched as Ume's eyes bore into her back.
"Please get me out of here soon, Zuko," she chanted silently.
"I had to use the bathroom, Jiro. Did you want to come with me?" Tomiko sneered.
"Suuuure," Jiro drawled. "I'll bet you were sneaking around."
"I don't care what you think," Tomiko replied wearily. "Just leave me alone."
"Hmmmm, no, it's fun to get you in trouble."
"You'll be the one in trouble soon," Tom threatened vaguely.
"What's that mean? Are you gonna get your sister to save you? Or the Fire Lord? They're both losers."
Tomiko's instinct was to jump the boy and beat him senseless. He settled for looking at Jiro with an infuriatingly knowing smile that made the bigger boy squirm.
"Stop it," he hissed, "or I'll punch you."
"Stop what?" Tom asked innocently.
"You know what I mean?"
"No, I don't," Tom replied, continuing his torment of the boy.
After a few more minutes, Jiro leapt across the room, moving quicker than Tomiko thought possible. He punched the smaller boy in the stomach and Tomiko gasped for breath. His face maintained the smile through it all, however, even when Jiro grabbed his right palm and raked his nails across the still fresh wounds.
Zuko cleared his throat and began to read.
Fire Lord Zuko,
Oono et al want to eliminate Roku's bloodline. He plans to kill you, Mai and your children.
Zuko's hands shook and he dropped the letter.
"Toph, stay with Mai," he ordered and ran out of the room.
"Give me the letter, Toph," Mai demanded.
"What am I, your personal servant?" she asked but her voice had no bite to it and her face was ashen.
Mai read the rest of the letter, aloud so that Toph was privy to everything too. Her voice was low and angry and her fingers gripped the paper tight.
"The children," Mai breathed. "They want to kill our babies."
She covered her mouth with a hand and closed her eyes. Her other hand rested protectively over her belly. Mai tried to process the information. She tried to imagine someone who was willing to slaughter tiny children and a pregnant woman all for the sake of returning a nation to the outdated and cruel ways of its recent past. Her anger grew and so did her terror. How long was this plot in the making? How many people supported this Oono? Were there traitors in the palace? Were her children safe? And Zuko?
She felt the bed dip down and looked up to see Toph sitting beside her. The tough earthbender reached for Mai's hand and gave it a hard squeeze.
"Mai," she said with great seriousness. "I'll do everything I can to help you and Zuko. I'll fight for you and for the kids. This Oono bastard is going down if I have to kill him myself."
Mai put her arms around Toph. She rested her head on the younger woman's shoulder and shuddered. Awkwardly, the earthbender patted Mai's back.
"We'll stop them, Mai. I promise you."
"Yes," Mai agreed.
Her voice was as sharp and cold as the blades she carried. Getting up from the bed, she walked to her wardrobe and pulled open its doors. She opened another compartment and pulled out a box that was hidden inside.
"What are you doing?" Toph asked.
"Getting down to business," Mai replied as she pulled out her full arsenal and began to strap them on. "I'm not taking these off except to have a bath, not until this whole thing is over."
"Okay," Toph acknowledged, the story of Mai's triumph at the Boiling Rock Prison running through her mind.
Zuko burst through the door a few minutes later carrying both Miyako and Ryuhito. They were only partly awake but terror was still evident on their faces. Shinji along with four other guards milled about in the hallway.
"Please have a chat with them, Toph," Mai asked, all coolness and calm now.
Toph strutted out into the hallway eagerly and interrogated each of the guards, listening and feeling for the tell tale signs of deception. They were all intimidated by her powerful presence but none of them were lying.
Zuko lay the children down in the big bed and did his best to comfort them. They fell asleep again quickly enough, their father never taking his eyes off them.
"Um, guys," Toph called hesitantly. "I hate to say this, but have you thought about Ursa and Azula? They're part of Roku's line too. Oh, and the guards are all loyal."
"Mom," Zuko cried and slapped a hand to his forehead.
He took off out of the room again, down the hall to his mother's. He banged on the door until she opened it sleepily. Without giving her an explanation, he grabbed her arm and pulled her down the hallway into his and Mai's room.
"What is going on?" she asked forcefully.
"Read this," Zuko replied, thrusting the scroll at her.
Her eyes grew huge with shock and disbelief.
"Oh, Zuko," she sighed. "I never imagined anything like this."
"Azula may be in danger too, Mom. I'll send a hawk and have extra guards posted. That's all I can do for now."
"How are you, Mai?" Ursa asked with concern as she spotted her daughter-in-law pacing a quiet corner of the room.
"I don't know," she snapped in reply. "I'm angrier than I've ever been and I'm petrified. Yeah, I think that sums it up."
"Well, you guys can't spend the rest of your lives in here," Toph stated reasonably. "What are your plans?"
"I'm going to accept Oono's invitation and bring along some friends," Zuko replied with a steely, determined voice.
He looked at Toph and the earthbender grinned.
"Oh, yeah, I'll crack some heads for you and we'll bring along my latest group of trainees."
"Thanks, Toph. You don't have to come, you know. It's not really your fight. It's a Fire Nation thing and I need to take care of it."
"You guys are my best friends. I love you and I won't see any of you hurt, not if I can help at all."
"Alright, then, I appreciate your help," Zuko stated.
He moved to the desk and composed a quick letter to Oono, accepting his invitation and estimating their arrival for one week later. He also wrote to Doctor Tochihara at the asylum, warning him about possible assassins. A servant took the letters and ran them to the messenger hawk tower.
"Now, we need to prepare as best we can. Oono has at least 100 fighters of unknown skill. They could be top level benders or archers for all we know. It won't be easy."
Mai itched to go along but knew that she couldn't. Her place was at the palace with the twins, protecting them.
"When you're gone, who's going to help protect us?" Mai asked.
"I haven't figured that out yet, but I will," Zuko replied.
He looked worried and worn but a sort of calm had settled over the Fire Lord too. There was a job to be done. It could very well be a costly and dirty job, but do it they would.
"If the kids and I don't show up with you, they'll try to kill us here."
"Yes," Zuko agreed. "But they won't succeed."
Mai's parents lay awake in bed. They didn't sleep together that often anymore, but the excitement and worry about their roles in Zuko's removal from power, their part in this grand collusion, gave them a real sense of togetherness.
"So after all that, do you think Mai will visit Sacred Flame?" Hoshi asked his wife.
"I don't think she will. She was suspicious of me and then, well, it doesn't matter anymore. Perhaps when Zuko is gone, she'll see everything more clearly. Perhaps she'll even come home to live with us. We'll find her a decent husband who can teach those children properly."
"Time will tell. She'll regret being here when the palace is overrun with traditionalists and she and the children are led out in front of everyone."
"Might take her down a peg or two," Akira smirked.
"You realize my dear that if somehow Zuko triumphs, we'll be deemed traitors and might very well get executed."
"I know that. I'm willing to take the risk. Nothing good happens unless you do. But, I have utter confidence in Oono and his men. He will win."
"Yes, I'm sure of it too. Our nation will be again what it once was and what it should always be."
The royal bedroom was filled with quiet, serious talk for most of the night and well into the morning. The group discussed whether a ship or airship was the best method of traveling to Sacred Flame. An airship could get shot down. Then again, there could be a huge welcoming party at the dock as soon as their ship arrived. It was decided that a large metal ship offered more protection and if all else failed they could make a retreat back out to sea. Once an airship was shot down, there was no going back.
The children and innocent workers at the school presented a problem. Heaving fireballs could well kill students rather than the enemy. The fight would have to be contained to a small area if at all possible.
"Do we have a map of Tokoma Island?" Zuko asked. "There must be one somewhere."
A servant was dispatched to the library and came back with a map of the outer islands. Tokoma Island was mainly volcanic rock, a huge wall of it covering the north side of the island. The south side had two flat areas of land, obviously the locations of the school and the army camp. There was no choice but to land at one or the other.
"We'll be right in the mooselion's den," Zuko stated, brushing his messy dark hair back from his forehead.
"It's either that or sit here and wait for an attack," Mai added. "I don't want you in danger, but in this case, I don't think there's a choice. These people have to be crushed. And my money is on you."
"We have one thing going for us; they think we don't know about their plans. They will expect us to be unprepared. Heh, they won't know what to do with Toph."
"I'll give them an experience that they'll never forget," Toph agreed with a smirk.
Eventually, as the sun rose, everyone dozed off briefly, trying to fit a night's worth of sleep into an hour. When servants brought in enough breakfast for everyone, a letter was given to Zuko too.
"It's from Iroh," he said excitedly and opened the scroll.
He read to himself, lips moving along with his eyes. When he got to a particular spot he read aloud.
I contacted a certain sword master and told him you might need a little help stamping out a rebellion.
"Piandao," both Mai and Zuko breathed reverently.
"He's awesome," Toph agreed.
"What's one man going to do?" Ursa asked.
"He's not an ordinary man," Zuko replied. "He once defeated one hundred Fire Nation soldiers all by himself."
"That's true," a relaxed and smooth voice called from the doorway. "But this time I brought some help."
Headmaster Oono was up early again. He enjoyed the quiet of sunrise and the slow but sure strengthening of his power that it brought. He was in the training area going through some firebending moves. Oono was better known as a military strategist, but his bending skill was impressive. It was a secret he liked to keep, a skill he could pull out when needed, something to shock those around him. A great military mind was one thing, but combine it with powerful bending and you made an impressive figure.
He thought about Zuko and how good it would be to burn him to a crisp or watch as someone else ran him through with a blade or took him down with a well placed arrow. Oono was grinning as he punched outward with his fists, sending controlled bursts of fire into the air. He wanted badly to kill Zuko himself but would be grudgingly content if someone else got the job done.
"So this is where you go in the morning," Akagi declared. "You invade my territory."
"Everything here is mine," Oono warned. "My school, my plans, my employees," he added.
"Of course," Akagi agreed.
His sycophancy was sickeningly obvious.
"I was fantasizing about killing Zuko," Oono confessed. "It was very enjoyable."
"I can't wait to see it. Oh, I hope he decides to come here. Our army is itching to fight. They'll slaughter Zuko and his little group of guards."
"We've waited more than six years, Akagi. Another few days should be easy. Now, let's get back to the school for breakfast. Perhaps the Matsuo idiot will provide entertainment again."
Both men laughed heartily at the thought.
Tomiko eyed Jiro warily as he pulled on the pants of his school uniform. He expected more brutality from the bully but it didn't happen. Jiro was oddly subdued. He put on his own uniform, sat down on his bed and waited for the breakfast signal to sound. The boy's quiet was almost more unsettling for Mai's brother than his loud derisive comments and physicality.
"What's wrong with you?" Tomiko finally asked, curiosity overcoming his self preservation instinct.
"Just shut up, Matsuo."
Tomiko shrugged and continued dressing. The bell rang and the two boys left the room, joining the marching group of students. In the cafeteria, Tom ate heartily while watching his roommate pick away at his food. He decided that whatever was bothering Jiro, he didn't care. Tomiko shoved the last spoonful of rice into his mouth and leaned back in his chair. He was pleasantly full.
Then he recalled the words overheard just a few hours earlier. Zuko was in trouble and so was Mai. He felt completely powerless and anger flared up in his chest. Silently he wondered if his mother and father knew anything about this trouble. Tomiko felt sick suddenly and made a run for the bathroom. The last thing he wanted to do was vomit in front of the entire school population.
Maho placed towels on the counter of the boys' bathroom situated just outside the cafeteria and made sure there was plenty of soap. She normally did the bathrooms in the actual school building but the staff was shorthanded today. A flu bug had attacked three workers and Maho was taking up some of the slack. She was surprised when the young boy barged in despite the 'cleaning' sign on the door and began to throw up his breakfast. Finally recognizing Tomiko, she helped the boy, rubbing his back and whispering soothing words as continued heaving. When he finally stopped, Maho gave him a damp towel to clean his face.
"Rinse your mouth out," she suggested and Tomiko obeyed.
"You're her, the girl Zuko sent."
"Yes, my real name is Maho, but here I'm Izumi. You need to leave soon before someone wonders what happened to you."
"Wait, do you know that they want to hurt Mai and Zuko?"
Maho nodded and her face darkened. "I know all about it and I've sent news to the Fire Lord."
"Good," Tomiko nodded and began to cry.
"Hey, it will be okay. The Fire Lord is strong. Your sister is strong. They'll take care of all this and then you'll be able to go home."
"I don't wanna go home to them," he snarled. "Not my mom and dad."
"Well, I can't help you there, Tomiko. But I'm sure this school will be finished soon. How's your hand?" she asked as she recalled the story of the boy's punishment.
Tomiko held it out for Maho to inspect. She frowned and shook her head.
"That must really hurt."
The boy nodded.
"I have nothing for it, Tomiko. Just keep it clean and try not to use your hand too much. Wait, you write with it, don't you?"
He nodded again.
"Bastards," Maho hissed.
Tomiko's eyes widened at the curse. Not sure what to say, Maho decided on a "hang in there kid," before sending Tomiko on his way. If the school administrators tried anything else on the boy, however, Maho would have to step in, no matter the consequences to herself.
Piandao, dressed in black and gold robes, graying hair in a topknot and sword across his back, stepped into the bedroom, gave Zuko a perfunctory bow and then smiled at everyone.
"Seems this room is where all the action is. Do you usually have meetings in your bedroom, Lord Zuko?"
"No, this time is a first," the Fire Lord replied and returned Piandao's bow. "You may as well read this letter now."
Zuko handed the sword master the scroll. Dark eyes took in all the information.
"Well, now, you do have a problem, don't you?" he asked.
"You could say that," Mai said tartly.
"Please excuse me," Piandao began. "I forgot to greet the rest of you; Fire Lady Mai, Toph."
"I'm Zuko's mother," Ursa introduced herself.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Ursa. I've heard a lot about you from Iroh."
Ursa smiled. "He does love to talk."
"Miyako, Ryuhito, come meet Piandao," Zuko said to the twins.
They approached cautiously but were soon won over by the man's friendly smile and warm demeanor. Piandao bent down and rubbed their heads, saying a few quiet words to each child.
"You have big sword like Daddy," Ryuhito observed, noticing the sheathed blade resting against the master's back.
"I do. Perhaps one day when you're older I can give you a few lessons."
Ryu's eyes shone and he looked over to Zuko.
"It's alright by me; Piandao's the best. You'll learn a lot from him and not just about swords."
"What about me?" Miyako whined.
"You're welcome too," Piandao reassured the little girl.
"I'm going to get these guys washed up. Zuko, I think you have some serious talking to do," Ursa told her son.
The woman rested her hand lightly on Mai's shoulder as she passed by, a gesture of comfort and encouragement. Mai mouthed a thank you and then turned back to Piandao.
"So, Zuko and you and Toph and whomever else you can get to help, need to take down Oono and his followers. They don't know that we know their plan. Chances are they will send assassins after me and the children and Ursa here at the palace and Azula at the asylum. Oh, and no doubt someone's ready to break Ozai out of prison. That sums up everything," Mai stated in a flat tone.
"Yes," Piandao agreed. "That help is out in the hallway. I have twenty extraordinary people, all of them students of mine at one time or another and all of them highly skilled with weapons. A few of them are firebenders as well. I propose that five stay here with Mai and fifteen come along on the trip to this school."
"Five with Mai," Zuko repeated. "Can they keep her safe, really?"
"I think so, yes. And Mai is not exactly helpless herself, though there are children to worry about."
"Maybe we could send them away somewhere," Zuko mused.
"No," Mai said sternly. "I want them here with me. If there are traitors milling about the city and even inside the palace, they will know that the twins are leaving and kill them en route. I know this palace quite well now. It's my territory and I will defend myself and my children here."
"It would be a good idea to share that knowledge with your five new guards," Piandao suggested. "And Zuko, we need to come up with some sort of plan, some strategy to defeat Oono."
"Let's not forget the twenty or so soldiers that I've been working with. They're so sharp and alert now, nothing could get by them," the earthbender interjected. "And you could send for Aang."
"Yes, Toph, that's right. We'll need them. I hope they're ready for some real fighting. As for Aang, I won't use him in this situation. These people obviously hate avatars and probably think Ozai was defeated unfairly. I want to take care of this. It's my fight. It's me and my family they want to kill. Oono isn't threatening the world."
Zuko looked over at Mai as if asking for her agreement or approval. She gave him a slight nod meeting his eyes with her own. She understood.
"Okay, I get it. As for my trainees, there has to be a first time for them," Toph replied. "I know they'll be great. And we've got Maho there already."
"We've only got a few days," Zuko reminded everyone. "Let's get to work."
The school day was over and Headmaster Oono enjoyed a glass of finely aged firewhiskey in his office while going over some paperwork. He was rechecking an important inventory list. Grinning bearwolfishly, he stared at the words 'blasting jelly.' Barrels of the substance would be planted at strategic locations throughout the school grounds. Should Zuko and his crew decide to fight, a whole lot of children might just get blasted into oblivion.
He sat sipping at his whiskey for at least an hour, musing dreamily about the near future and how glorious it would be. Isa's deferential knock broke the spell and he growled at the man.
"What the bloody Agni is it?"
Isa opened the door warily, barely poking his head inside. He half expected a fire blast or a sharp projectile to come his way. Oono just looked at him with disdain and waited impatiently.
"A letter, sir; It just arrived."
The assistant placed it on the desk in front of Oono and waited for further instructions. He got them.
"Get out of my sight," his superior barked.
"Yes, sir," Isa replied and backed out of the room.
Oono knew it was from Zuko. The letter bore the royal seal.
"It won't be his seal for long," the headmaster purred to himself.
He opened the letter and his smile grew larger.
"Heading right into a trap," the man said triumphantly. "It's time to warm up the men for real. We've got a fire lord to kill."
*Japanese folk tale called 'Issun-boshi or 'The One Inch Boy'
A/N: I can't believe I finished this chapter so quickly. There will be hopping around for the next few chapters too. In fact, next time there will even be another location.
I had to bring Piandao in. I think he's pretty darn awesome and would be amazing in battle. Zuko's lucky to have him. So Iroh sort of came through.
The big fight won't be next time, but the time after that.
Hideo shows up again next chapter.
I don't have much else to say for now, except thanks for reading and reviewing; it's inspirational.
Oh, and Firelord Lionheart, Oono's name was not inspired by Apollo Ohno (who?).
Alabaster