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The Order

The demon once again was making his way through the rooftops of the city, he stopped and swung inside a window, inside was a simple room, a cot for a bed and a chest for his belongings. On the edge of the cot perched a black bird which squawked happily upon the return of his master.

"Hello Kuro." The demon whispered as he removed his cloak and mask and threw them on the bed. Under the mask he was revealed to be young man who couldn't have been more than 15 with unkempt brown hair that despite his age was already beginning to gray. He looked at the bird with calm and caring eyes that were gold in color however his right eye was faded and less brilliant; however the most striking feature was the scar that ran from above his right eye down across it and ended at the middle of his cheek at the same level as his mouth. As he removed his shirt a tattoo was revealed, emblazoned across his back was the visage of a crow with wings spread wide and spewing a spout of flame from its beak. He changed into simple green and brown clothes, he stood and the crow flew to his shoulder. "Come Kuro, we best get down stairs." He walked down the stairs into a tavern.

"Ahh Kumori I didn't realize you were asleep; it's about time you got up the night life is starting." The bartender said in a drunken slur.

"I know I am sorry." He walked closer to the bartender.

"Aw don't worry about it." The bartender waved his hand in what appeared to be dismissive and drunken manner, but to Kumori an entire statement had been made in that small gesture.

"I will go get some more barley from the cellar." Kumori nodded, bringing his hands together and bowing in a formal manor, sending another message only the bartender picked up on.

"You do that Kumori, you do that." Kumori descended into the basement and walked over to the wall. He tapped on it twice in one spot, three in another and once in a final spot.

"May the Crow's flame continue to burn." He said to apparently no one and from the other side of the wall a muffled reply came.



"May the Tiger prowl the earth always." The wall opened to reveal a man in the same black armor and cloak he wore earlier. "Master Kumori welcome back." Said the cloaked man. "The Stone Shadow has been waiting for you."

"Thank you." Kumori walked down the long stairs deeper into the darkness of the secret cave, lit only by dim torch light. He entered a large chamber better lit than the others, there were seven people; five were more cloaked men who stood constantly on guard. The sixth was a girl who wore a simple green dress, she was very attractive and looked about 16, but to Kumori she would always be Ishizue his cousin.

"Well, well the great and powerful Kumori returns; I'm glad you could grace us with your presence."

"That's enough Ishizue." Issued the final man who was seated on an earthen throne was a man wizened and ravaged by time, he was winkled and his head nearly bald and a long white beard. This was Iwakado Myou head of the Myou and the Stone Shadow and Kumori's maternal grandfather. Kumori bowed before the man.

"Lord Iwakado."

"Master Kumori Kage, so tell me have you succeeded in your mission?"

"No Lord Iwakado, Princess Azula was not at the castle; she was warned of my attempt and had left only an hour ago."

"She was warned?" Iwakado said only showing the slightest bit of worry. "By who?"

"Kouseki." Kumori stated flatly he did not need to say more, there was no one in the room who did not know that man's name, the man who betrayed the Order to Fire Lord Ozai and had driven the Kage family from the Fire Nation as it fell from grace.

"Kouseki told her, be that as it may someone had to tell Kouseki; I've had enough of traitors; all right who told him." Ishizue shouted as two long needles flew into her hands from her sleeves.

"Ishizue, calm yourself; rash behavior will not help in this situation; it pains me to think it Kouseki may still have contacts within the Order we always knew it was a possibility." Iwakado stood. "Kumori Kage the Burning Chill." He looked to his granddaughter. "And Ishizue Myou the Needle Rain; the both of you have been acknowledged by the Order as the strongest benders of your element and so you have become a part of the most honored Triad, of which in my younger days I was also a part of. And so I ask of you not as the Stone Shadow; but as another member of the Order; will you do the task I am about to assign you."

"Yes." The both stated.



"Fire Lord Ozai seeks the destruction of the Order, and with the Avatar's death we must do whatever we can to wound him; Azula could not have gotten far, track her down and take he out along with Zuko and any who get in your way."

"I will Lord Iwakado." Said Kumori bowing

"You bet grandpa." Exclaimed Ishizue.

"Then both of you may leave." Iwakado sat back on his throne. Kumori stood and Ishizue went to his side and they both exited without a word.

An hour later

Outside the walls of Ba Sing Se; Kumori and Ishizue rode as fast as they could astride an Eel Hound while Kuro flew above. Kumori had changed back into his armor and cloak, the mask and gloves were stored in his pack. Ishizue who sat behind him holding onto him, she was dressed in a modified version of the armor of the Order, it had long black sleeves that concealed her hands, a large sash tied around her waist.

"Isn't this exciting Kumori, the two of us could change the whole world!" She said excitedly

"This is not a game Zue." Kumori said in a stern voice. "We have been given a most important assignment."

"Well it may be nothing to you; you always get the cool missions. I always get spy missions, sure their fun sometimes if the guy I'm trying to seduce information from is cute; but I want something a little more exciting."

"You mean gathering information from known enemies in their territory with few weapons for self defense is not exciting?"

"Fine when you put it that way."

"Just remember we are going against Azula who is ruthless; and Zuko who killed the Avatar."

"I doubt that, I doubt Zuko did that." She said flatly.

"What make you say that?"

"I may have only gone on one date with him but I gleaned enough from him that he would never kill in cold blood like that."

"You actually fell for him did you not?" he looked back to her and saw her blushing slightly.

"Well he was different from most targets; not as stuck up. So maybe Jin had a little crush on him; but I'm not Jin anymore."



"I know." Kumori sped the Eel Hound up. "Lord Iwakado knows who the leak is."

"WHAT?" she exclaimed. "Why didn't grandpa tell us?"

"To keep us safe, that is why he sent us out of Ba Sing Se, tonight the traitor will strike."

"Good then grandpa can teach him a lesson." Kumori sighed

"I do not think he will survive the night." He whispered to himself