Dying To Survive
Chapter 18 – Moving On
"Like it, or love it, or… leave it… You decide." –Aly & Aj
..::-::..
As the winds gathered slowly, Katara drifted off to sleep. She had carried the boat for hours, but her strength waned and she couldn't continue any longer. Daybreak approached and the dark shadows lifted as if hot water splashed on ice creating steam. Hyana awoke first to see the brilliant hues of a sunrise. The water churned with a deep orange glow as the sun rose from behind them. She blinked and saw the sleeping bodies before her. A smile dawned on Hyana's face as she spotted the two in the front. Katara slept curled up next to Zuko. Their chained hands almost touched, and they faced each other with calm faces. She shook her head and looked towards the horizon. There was land ahead, and in a few hours, they would reach it. Hyana sighed and gently stroked Hyoku's hair. Her puffy eyes gave away her age, yet she felt renewed and fresh sitting next to her offspring.
She sat peacefully, careful not to disturb anyone as they drifted towards the mainland. The stretched out arms of the sunrise rose in a more vertical level as the time passed. A new day had begun and the past was lost somewhere in the previous night. Even though bitter feelings still lingered, with a few more nights of rest, those feelings would surely disappear. Katara stirred as the rays of light drew on her face. She scrunched her nose and leaned in closer to the warmth next to her. Zuko's eyes twitched and he moved his arm across in front of him so that it rested along Katara's abdomen. Hyana's eyes sparkled and she suppressed a chuckle. Even though fate had been cruel to them, a time would come when they'd be a team once again.
Jet rolled around in his place; his head leaned back and within his dream, he flung his arm out. It fell down and splashed into the lake's freezing water. He awakened with a jerk and screamed as needles prickled his arm. Everyone jumped out of their sleep at once. Laia flung her arms out wide and ended up hitting Jet in the face. He held his nose and shivered. Hyoku clutched his flute and all the way at the front, Zuko bumped his head on Katara's. She shrieked and immediately touched the bruise on her forehead.
"Zuko! What are you doing?" she asked furiously. He sat up groggily, also rubbing his brow. Katara's sleepy face hung low as she waited for an explanation. Zuko rolled his shoulders back and cocked his head to the side.
"I'd like to know the same thing."
Laia looked from one to the other nervously, fearing that they would be served a handful of bickering for breakfast. She chuckled and then gasped dramatically.
"Look everyone! It's the City of Yukaki!" she exclaimed. Jet forgot about his red nose and freezing fingers as his jaw dropped in astonishment. Zuko and Katara turned to see if it was true, and the sight that welcomed them also sent a foreboding feeling to their stomachs. The shore of docks were lined with boats and ships. Little figures of people crammed into clouded groups and they could hear the bustling noise even from so far out in the lake. Lee stood up cautiously and peered out with his hand at his brow.
"Hmm… I think that's everyone from the mountains! They all came back to the city," he explained. Zuko gazed over the spectacle curiously and began to assess Lee's hypothesis. It was rather odd that everyone would have left at the same time. Everyone's silence meant that they each were in deep thought, but as the wood croaked, a loud grumble roared from the front of the boat. The kids and adults turned their heads to Zuko and Katara, who each had a rosy face. They looked away from each other, embarrassed. Laia laughed and nodded.
"Don't worry. We're all a bit hungry, aren't we?" she asked. Jet sighed deeply and patted his stomach.
"You just read my mind," he told her. They shared a warm smile as Hyana smirked. She knew exactly why Zuko and Katara were the hungriest of them all. Traveling to the Spirit World was a large feat, and after spending such a long period of time there, where eating wasn't necessary, their bodies had been drained of anything nutrient oriented. Zuko frowned and carefully faced Katara. His voice was low but not as demanding as the previous night.
"Can you get us over there?" he asked. Katara turned back quickly, surprised that he was actually asking her to do it. Her face fell, however, when she saw the brooding stare Zuko had. He looked towards the city and the gleaming ships with their puffy grey clouds coming out of the tall round stacks. It reminded him all too well of the ship he had spent almost three years of his life on searching for the Avatar. That's how it all started. His life as it was now. Katara had been a crucial part of that, and now she was sending him away to find a new life. He had dwelled too long in the past, thinking about how he could run from it and yet change it at the same time.
"Okay," she answered quietly. Katara raised both of her arms and spread her hands to the sides. The water made a clear passageway and suddenly she stood up. The chain, not long enough to reach the distance between where she stood and where Zuko sat, made him stand up next to her. With more liberty than before, Katara used her waterbending to push the boat faster towards Yukaki. Murmurs blurred behind them as the water splashed against the wooden rowboat. Their friends were talking, possibly about what they would do in the city, but as Zuko stood next to Katara, he saw the outline of her wound. There was no blood left, but a scar remained. A chiseled line with round edges along it, stood out from her smooth skin. Zuko almost reached to touch it, but instead spoke his thoughts out loud.
"How did you get that injury?" he asked. Katara was the only one able to hear him. She raised her eyebrow and shrugged.
"I think it was when Mayuri was bending the mountain out of shape. I lost my balance and my back slid across a pointed edge on a boulder." She looked at him, his hazy yellow eyes, and sighed. "But why would you care?" Katara looked away abruptly and focused on the water in front of her. The city's outline was growing and she could smell the spices mixing with the lake's crisp air. Zuko glanced away to his left and folded his arms. The chain dangled between them and swayed as the water sprayed drops of water on it.
"I don't. I was just curious," he said to himself. The grudge he bore against Katara had shaped itself, but Zuko suddenly found himself questioning if he had dreamed it all. He knew it was true though; Katara's scar proved it happened. The idea of Katara being so cruel just didn't sink into his head. It was as hard to believe as if someone had told him he wasn't really a firebender. The city reached them within the hour and a group of tourists gathered around the boat as Katara rowed it into a dock. A little child threw down a ladder and one by one everyone got out. The last ones were Zuko and Katara. She stayed put though, wondering how it was going to be possible for them to climb the ladder together. Zuko realized the dilemma as well and sighed. He went up first and let his right arm dangle. Katara squinted, not understanding why he was suddenly being so polite. Yet the tight grasp on her leash proved otherwise. Zuko was still bitter, and with every step that she took, she sensed it in his quick pulls. When she finally got to the dock, Katara looked around, thoroughly confused. Old men with gray hair, and women with their children, stood gaping at them all.
"What are they looking at?" Laia asked Jet. He shook his head and shrugged.
"Maybe they think we're rich nobles?" he suggested. Katara looked at him and smiled sarcastically.
"Funny, Jet. We definitely look like nobles," she retorted. Their clothing was ripped and splotched with dirt. Creases of dry blood were etched into their skin. A little child started crying and the mother had to walk away from the scene to calm it down. Zuko sighed irritably and waved his hand.
"Could you kind people please let us through?" Zuko asked.
A tough looking male came forward and poked him in the chest so that Zuko swayed back. Katara stood her ground, not wanting to fall back into the lake with Zuko attached to her.
"Are you kidding? We ain't letting any of you through!" The crowd became alight with enthusiasm and they raised their arms in the air.
"Yeah! We're not letting the plague come to Yukaki! Go back to your filthy island!" a woman shouted. Laia gawked at them.
"I was… right?" she asked incredulously. Her assumption the night before seemed to have been correct. Everyone had fled the island to ensure that they wouldn't be plagued. Zuko puffed out his chest and looked at the man square in the eye.
"We're not plagued. All of us are healthy, and so, if you'll excuse me, we have some business to attend to," Zuko stated. He lifted his arm and Katara lifted her arm, startled. The man observed the chain and laughed suddenly.
"You've got yourself a slave? And now you want to get rid of her?" He turned towards Katara and stroked his beard. His clothing resembled something of a bum and a pirate's, but yet it shined of gold. Katara edged away from the man's leering gaze as he chuckled. "I can take her off of your hands if you want."
Zuko's temper flared and he stepped in front of Katara.
"She's not my slave."
"Oh? So how do you explain that?" he said and pointed to the chain. Jet's muscles twisted inside of his gut and he grew impatient. He withdrew his swords and swiftly leapt in front of Zuko. With one hook, he grabbed the middle of the chain and started to pull Zuko and Katara forward. As he walked through the crowd, Jet waved his other sword in the air. The elders parted and the children stared in awe.
"Sorry people, make way."
Laia smirked and followed Katara close by, hand in hand with Lee. Hyoku and Hyana took the rear of the procession and soon enough they passed them. The streets of Yukaki brimmed with trade. Everywhere they looked, merchants were once again bargaining with their customers for a little extra profit. Hyana stared at the arrays of booths and gadgets that lined the street. She saw the temple's gleaming rooftops up ahead, but what fascinated her the most were the small sharp tools on display. They were similar to the knife that her son had, and at once, a man's grinning face flashed in her mind. Hyoku tugged on her sleeves and she looked down after tearing herself away from the grip of human emotion.
"Mom, we need to go to the temple. Everyone's getting ahead of us!" She pat his head and gave him a hug.
"All right. Let's go then."
Jet continued leading the two quarrelers until Zuko finally tapped Jet on the shoulder.
"You can stop doing that now," he said.
Jet sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Fine, but I could use a simple thanks you know."
Katara smiled and nodded. "Yes, thank you, Jet." He bowed and put away his weapons. Laia joined him as Zuko led Katara through the maze of scattered citizens. The marble steps of the temple seemed to have gotten brighter in the one day that they had spent away from it. They all rushed up the stairs, their torsos wringing with the thirst for food. Katara knocked on the door and at once the oak doors spread out in a fan. A familiar face glowed happily. Her smile was whiter than before, and her long aging hair swished around like a bellowing scarf. Oraka laughed joyously and lifted her arms in the air.
"You're back! All safe and sound! Please, please! Come in!" she beamed. Zuko scratched his head and twitched as he slid past the gate keeper. Oraka lowered her gaze as he passed by and her smile faded slightly. However, she quickly went back to cheerful self and waved everyone inside. Hyana looked around in awe and jumped when the door shut behind her. The darkness overwhelmed her and she held onto her son tightly as they walked on. Hyoku choked and shook his mom's hands off of him.
"Mom! Let go! It's starting to hurt," Hyoku exclaimed. Her mouth dropped open as she let go of him. The crowd scurried into the temple, where the light began to shine from the courtyard in the middle. The floors widened all around them, and Katara felt a chill run up her spine as she looked at the peaceful nature before her. She didn't understand how it could be so undisturbed by everything. Just then, a pair of squirrels started to fight beneath a bush. Their scuttle made Katara realize with a frown, that even nature wasn't always perfect. Oraka quickly rushed to the front of the group and clapped her hands together merrily.
"So what do you folks want first? Some grub, a warm bath, new clothes?" She stood next to Laia and took a sniff of the air. Oraka cringed and shivered. "Oh, that's just not going to do. You all need a bath, that's that. Then we'll talk about food. I'm sure you remember where to go. If not, Lee, Hyoku, could you please escort your friends? I've got some grub to go cook up!" Her long hair swished again as if she was a princess thoroughly enjoying existence doing a maid's work. Katara and Zuko eyed each other. He cleared his throat and stopped Oraka from leaving.
"Wait, we… can't really do anything before someone gets this chain off," Zuko said quietly. His face flushed slightly and Katara looked at him oddly. He had been so steamed last night. She questioned his timid expression, and that was when she understood. She too, blushed; they had been tied to each other's side for only a night, but it never occurred to her that there were certain actions she couldn't do near Zuko. Oraka chuckled as the chain swung lightly in between them. A certain spark entered her already shining eyes and she nodded quickly.
"I see. Well, there's no need to tell me how this happened in the first place, but…." Oraka dragged out the last bit of the sentence and smirked. Katara's face reddened deeply and she pulled Oraka forward by the edge of her collar. She growled and spoke through clenched teeth.
"Look, it's bad enough as it is, you don't have to make up stories in your head about it!" Katara let go of the gatekeeper as Oraka clicked her tongue in Zuko's direction.
"Feisty, isn't she?" Oraka chuckled and sighed. "All right, all right. We'll have someone deal with that first and foremost. Hyoku, why don't you take everyone else to their quarters. Lee, you can come with us. Keep an eye on them two. We don't want anymore brawls happening!" Hyoku nodded and started the procession towards the west side of the temple. Zuko sighed deeply, fed up with the extra weight he carried around with him. The sooner he was away from Katara, the sooner he could start his life over again, as it seemed, for the umpteenth time. They passed through the spacious corridors and turned many times. Lee and Oraka both joked around, and their laughs only gave Zuko and Katara reason to sulk even more. Oraka had opened about twenty doors by the time she found the right one. She stuck her head in and then popped out a few seconds later with a beaming smile.
"All right, you can go in now. We'll be waiting out here for you," Oraka said. Zuko waved his hand as if to dismiss them, but Katara halted momentarily.
"Thank you, I…" The chain yanked her inside before she could finish. As Katara's figure disappeared behind the closing doors, Oraka's smile fell and her eyes swelled with a deep misery she had been holding back. She grabbed Lee's hand and squeezed it without saying a word.
Katara stumbled and knocked into a tall drawer chest. She glowered at Zuko and felt the heat growing within her. She hadn't seen the rest of the room; all she cared about was unleashing her fury on him.
"Just because I did something wrong, doesn't mean you can treat me like this! We're only minutes away from being rid of each other, and yet you still pull me around like some animal. I have feelings too!" She panted and wiped her moist lips as she waited for him to face her. As he did, Zuko's face glowered. Katara stood back for a moment as the flickering flames caught her by surprise. The room was darkened except for a few torches standing in the corners of a square . They stood in the middle of the room, surrounding one large basin of flames. The light flickered on Zuko's scar, and Katara's throat squeezed in; just like his scar, the flames tightened all of her emotions into a coarse, untouchable patch of skin.
"There were two people in the entire world I could trust. I knew I could rely on them. Now… there's only one. Don't speak to me about your feelings, liar." Katara's jaw dropped and she would have stayed still like stone if Zuko hadn't pulled her forward again. There were sculptures of twisted vines and earth on top of the drawers and chests that lined the walls of the room. Zuko stepped in front of the flames with Katara next to him, as from the shadows, the one who had helped them before came forth. It was Domei, Master of the Temple in which they stood. Katara's mouth tightened as she remembered the ritual they had formed before. The echoes of Domei's footsteps stopped and faded into the empty space of the room. Domei's face looked grim, and he closed his eyes as he clasped his hands together.
"I have been told of your dilemma. It is sad to see what has become of you two. Why… not only a mere day ago, we had made such progress…"
"What's in the past no longer is the present. Things have changed, and I don't want to be tied to her- to what has happened- a moment longer," Zuko said firmly. Domei grunted and nodded.
"As you say. Katara, is this your opinion as well?" he asked.
She looked up at Zuko's determined face. Its still creases bore no mark of forgiving, and yet there were misgivings written in his stare. Everything they had gone through seemed to have happened overnight, but there was so much history between them. The act of losing that bond, the actual physical form of it bestowed in the chain, would shatter her belief in the world. For her entire life, Katara tried to make peace with the various people she had met. The pinnacle of it all was when she met the Prince of the Fire Nation. He was the one person she could hate without causing her to falter in the belief that everyone should be treated the same. Various reasons caught her up in the whirlwind of propaganda; Zuko was no different than the nation he would one day lead. He was ruthless, cruel, just like his father. She had learned otherwise, and the journey to learning every other genuine quality about him would prove her idea wrong. Even so, she had never let go of the feeling that he would become a replica of Ozai. In the end of it all, her mistrust of Zuko's character had cost her one of the most reliable friends she had made in her life. Zuko's life was filled with people judging him, and she had been one of them. Tears sprang into her eyes as she nodded silently.
"Yes."
"As both of you are agreed, I would like you to step forward, one on each side of the flames, with your arms raised. The chain must burn within the fire, otherwise this will not succeed. It might sting, but it is the only way to release such a strong bond."
Katara didn't turn her head as she walked forward. She had spent her life trying to be such a kind person, but she had failed. Katara raised her arm and the chain straightened as the distance stretched from Zuko, through the flames, and to her wrist. All of that time she had spent trying to strengthen her belief, she had spent just as much sharpening the dagger that aimed through them. She had cut into the dark parts of her mind and brought out all that she loathed and instilled it within herself. Zuko had done nothing wrong, he hadn't done anything to deserve the way he had been treated, but it had happened. He turned his head and saw Katara's tight face caught up in her own thoughts. Her clenched jaw seemed to snap shut, almost as if she was preparing for the worst possible torture but didn't want to show her apprehension.
Zuko took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had given her too many chances, and as Taiko had said on the mountain before his death, she had weakened him. He had kept his guard alert for everyone except her. Katara stretched her fingers out in her right hand and then relaxed her arm. The weight was beginning to strain her left arm, but she held it firmly. The heat was spreading through the crackling fire and into the metal of the chain. It was then that Katara and Zuko realized that it was no ordinary fire. Domei stepped forward and placed his hands above it, where the hiss curled around his fingers.
"Do you both swear to let go of all pain that ties you to this earth?" Domei asked.
"I do," they answered.
"Are you willing to leave behind what has happened, so that the scars of the past never haunt you again?"
"I am," they answered.
Katara cringed, wanting to let go of the tears in her eyes. She couldn't yet though, because her heart was swelling within the ache of her chest. She had to feel it in her very core. If she wanted to start over, give Zuko a clean slate to make new friendships with, if Katara wanted a new life, she would have to accept it with the knowledge that he wouldn't be there. She didn't want to remind him every time he saw her face of what she had done to him. Katara needed to cleanse her mind, and to do it, she had to stay away from him.
"Do you promise to forget each other's existences, to, after today, never set sight on each other's faces?"
There was silence. The question had been spoken, yet Zuko and Katara didn't answer. Their heartbeats pounded slowly, the heat in the chain reaching towards each wrist that it encircled. Zuko winced. Domei had changed completely; he was harsh and to the point, unlike before. He didn't understand what had happened. What was the seriousness for? All he wanted was to get rid of the chain, but now he was forbidden to see her again? Zuko narrowed his eyes and gripped his fingers into a fist. The chain swayed slightly and Katara gasped as she felt the sparks on her hand. She flinched as the sweat trickled down her face. The air was becoming dryer, and she couldn't bear it for much longer. Her mind was already made up, and she didn't mind the consequences of getting rid of that bond, if it meant their lives would be better off.
"I do," Katara answered firmly. Zuko twisted his head to the side and stared at her incredulously. Katara didn't move, and in that moment, he saw the formality in her stance. If she wanted to leave him forever, it wouldn't be a problem with him. He clutched onto the fire that spread to his hand and nodded.
"I do," he stated. The words were the end of it. Katara's eyes widened as Domei picked up an axe from behind his back. Both of them leaned forward, startled at the weapon's sudden appearance. Katara stood back and breathed deeply. Zuko's eyes broadened as the blade caught the fire's gleam on its face. A slightly upturned line appeared, almost as if a smile. Domei roared and brought the axe up into the air. The fire blinked and a white flame shot up through the chain. The axe fell swiftly and sliced the chain through the middle. At once, Katara and Zuko fell to the side as the chain dissolved. Domei hunched forward and laid the axe down. Zuko pushed himself off of the ground and stared at the Master in disbelief. Katara too got up and sat on her heels as she raised her head. Zuko didn't understand anything that had happened.
"Do you do this kind of thing often? There's no other use for this room," Zuko noted. Domei turned his head and smiled softly.
"It is a sad thing when two people of this earth come to break free of a bond." Zuko gave him a quizzical look. "To put it simply, that chain was your bond with her. It only appears when trouble arises and threatens that bond. Sometimes, it works to restore balance. Others… end up like you."
Zuko looked at Katara and tilted his head curiously. She stared at the ground, a trail of tears spilling down her face. The strangest part was that she wasn't sobbing and her eyes didn't swell. Her emotion was blank, making her facial features out to be a flat canvas. Suddenly, his heart pounded softly and his aggression towards her faded. The heaviness had disappeared with the chain, and when he looked at Katara, he felt nothing. Domei helped Katara stand up, and she walked over to Zuko gradually, her shoulders hunching inside while her head drooped. Domei gave a hand to Zuko and he accepted it thankfully. Zuko looked at Katara and shook his head.
"I feel like… I don't know you, and yet I do," he said quietly.
She blinked and smiled half-heartedly. "Me too."
Domei sighed sorrowfully as his eyes moistened. "I warn the both of you. You must, after this day, never see one another again. Once you do, the feelings of animosity will return. If you want to live your lives without remembering the suffering you have gone through, make it clear to yourself that it is only that goal that must be fulfilled in your life."
They bowed their heads simultaneously and walked out of the room. Domei sighed and shook his head.
"Zuko, one more thing." The firebender turned and raised his eyebrows. "Once you return from your lunch that Oraka will prepare, there will be a letter waiting for you in your quarters. I received it this morning by messenger hawk." There was a pause as Zuko nodded. "That is all."
They turned and walked into the bright light of the outdoors. Each raised their arms to shield their eyes, and as they became adjusted, they saw Oraka's saddened face. At once, the feelings roared distantly in their minds. They looked at each other in confusion, not sure if it was a dream or not. Oraka sighed and took their hands.
"Your feelings will be erased once this day is done. We have much to accomplish, but first some food, yes?" she asked.
Katara's stomach growled and she held it soberly. Zuko surveyed his wrist and felt around it with his left hand. The chain was most definitely not there anymore. He eyed Katara and swiftly turned away. Somewhere in his heart, the pain still lingered, if only faintly.
"Hyoku, please go with Zuko. I'll take Katara to her room." The boy nodded and ran after him. Oraka put her hand on Katara's shoulder and wiped her damp cheeks. She smiled and hugged Katara tightly.
"It will be all right. I promise." Katara sighed and let her head fall on the woman's shoulder.
"I hope you're right. I'm just so tired of all of this."
They walked on further and turned a corner. Hyoku tugged on Zuko's sleeve and looked up at him warily.
"Oraka told me what you two did. Are you sure you made the right decision?" Lee asked.
Zuko looked down at him and ruffled his hair without smiling. "I'm sure. My life will be better off without her in it."
..::-::..
The smell of cooked chicken with steamed vegetables and rice floated through the air in the kitchen. A small room set aside for casual eating among the staff was off limits except for the visitors. Laia, Jet, Hyoku, Hyana, Lee and Katara were all seated at the table with bowls of the hot food. They laughed and shared each other's company as Oraka came in and out of the room with more food. Katara sat at the end, smiling cheerily as Laia nudged her. After her meeting with Domei, Oraka had taken her to a warm bath. She had combed out all of the tangles in her hair, dried it thoroughly and plaited it in a long braid. A new blue kimono awaited her and once she put it on, the fabric slid over her soft skin, making her feel truly fresh, though she would never feel the cotton on the scarred skin of her left shoulder blade. So Katara sat there, awaiting a new day when she could forget the past for good.
Zuko had taken a small bowl of food and sat down cross legged in the corner. He didn't dare look at any of them. Even though it had been Katara who betrayed him, Zuko felt like just being around the merry bunch would make the pain linger. He finished his bowl and got up to bring it to Oraka.
"So then, a whole bunch of us found these cricketfrogs in the pond!" Hyoku exclaimed.
"Yeah, there were a bunch of them! They were tiny, but the wings buzzed so we could find them easily," Lee added. Hyana had taken a liking to Hyoku's friend just as much as her own son. She had never known how much love she could bring to a being by just being there for them.
"So then what?" she asked curiously.
Jet smirked and pointed his chopsticks at her. "Don't you know what happens when a guy finds a cricketfrog? He catches it with his bare hands and eats the bug right then and there!"
Laia squirmed and shivered as she held onto Katara's arm.
"Isn't that just gross?" she asked.
Katara chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, it definitely is." She lifted her eyes and saw Zuko standing by the door to the kitchen, waiting for Oraka to come out. Her heart fluttered and the pain arose, but it was quieted as she looked back to the kids. The swish of the door caught her attention and when Katara looked up again, she gasped. Oraka had bumped right into Zuko. The tray of soup that Oraka was carrying spilled into the air and Zuko leaned back, astonished. Katara sprang up and ran towards them. Her fingers flicked the air and with a snap of her wrist, the hot liquid slipped back into the bowls. Katara took a deep breath and turned when she heard instant laughter. Oraka clapped Zuko on the back as he sulked. Katara had managed to get rid of the boiling sloth, but the vegetables had fallen in heaps onto Zuko's head and shoulders. He picked them off individually and let them drop to the ground. Zuko handed his bowl to Oraka and murmured a small thank you. Oraka stuffed her giggles as did Laia. Jet leaned on his hand and watched Zuko leave the room. He clicked his tongue and sighed.
"I wonder what's wrong with him? He's been so sulky since…"
Laia put her finger to her lips and tilted her head towards Katara. Jet sighed again and shook his head. Katara suddenly left the room as well and didn't say a word.
"See what you did?" Laia said. She smacked Jet on the head and scowled. He moaned and narrowed his eyes.
"It's not my fault the two of them are so emotional, is it?" Jet retorted. Laia folded her arms and shook her head. Oraka passed the plates of sloth down the table and frowned. Hyana noticed her demeanor and smiled.
"It's all right. We can eat the soup like this," she said.
Oraka smiled at the mother and shook her head. "No no, that's not why I…"
Laia narrowed her gaze. Oraka had been acting suspicious ever since they had come back from the Kuusu Mountains. Once she had passed the food around the table, she stood next to Laia, staring off into the distance. Everyone had quieted down and started slurping their soup. Laia looked at the thick chartreuse liquid and scrunched her nose. She had suddenly lost her appetite. Jet munched down the soup quickly and Laia began to think about everything that had happened. Since Oraka was the gatekeeper to the temple, perhaps she would know something.
"Oraka?" She blinked out of her trance and smiled at Laia. "Something happened when we went to the mountains." Jet suddenly placed the bowl on the table and looked at Laia seriously. She nodded and touched his hand before looking back at Oraka. "You see… while we were doing our missions…"
"Those crazy masters showed up!" Jet exclaimed. Laia dropped her jaw but didn't say anything. Oraka's eyes grew wide and she placed her hands on the table as she leaned forward.
"And?"
"And they're dead now…" Laia said hesitantly. Oraka's face paled. She gripped the edge of the table and closed her eyes. Hyana hummed and then chuckled.
"I'm actually the one that killed him. He deserved it," she said. Oraka let out her breath in one swift move.
"And how did you do that?" Oraka asked.
"Simple. I just shot him with a lightening bolt," Hyana said. She closed her eyes and went back to eating her soup. Laia tugged on Oraka's kimono and whispered.
"She claims to be the Spirit of Storms. I believe her."
Oraka looked at the group grimly and shook her head. "This is unexpected news. I have to go talk to my brother, Nako. If you're still hungry, Hyana will get the food. It's in the kitchen." With that said, she left the room in a dash. Lee slumped and hit his head against the wooden table.
"Why does everyone keep disappearing?" he asked. Jet scratched his head and his nose before picking Lee's head up.
"That's what happens when you'll get older. You'll run around everywhere, but nothing will get done." Hyoku sighed and picked up his flute. He began to play a sweet song with lush notes that were held tenderly in the air. They all sat and ate, not knowing what would happen next.
..::-::..
Katara had left the kitchen in a rush to catch up to Zuko. She wandered after him, down the open corridors. As she passed by the grandiose paintings, she thought she saw one of Oraka and Mayuri, but she quickly shrugged the feeling off and focused on following Zuko. He was far ahead, but not so far that she couldn't see his movements. His dark brown robe twirled the dust on the floor and she set foot in it after him. Within a few minutes, he had walked into a room and closed the door. Katara narrowed her gaze as she approached his room. The heavy oak doors seemed like they would be barred on the inside, but she decided to wait a while before knocking. She wanted to say something to him, what exactly she didn't know, for her mind was clouded and Katara's true feelings were shrouded in the mist.
Zuko closed the door quietly. His room was as he left it; a small cot in the corner with a desk and mirror to the left. A small tapestry hung on the dark cherry walls and a small circle of candles lit the entire room so that it glowed romantically. Zuko sat down on his bed and stretched his head back. His entire body seemed strained beyond what he had ever felt before. Once he looked at his room again, a small cream envelope caught his eye. Zuko strode over to the desk and picked up the note. His fingers fumbled through it as he remembered what Domei had told him. The piece of parchment folded out with the creases deep within the paper. The ink smudged slightly against his thumb, and it was then that Zuko realized the letter had been recently written.
'Zuko of the Fire Nation,
It is upon the request of the current Fire Lord Iroh that this message is being sent to you. This information is sent by a royal messenger hawk of the Fire Nation, and thus it is of extreme urgency that you respond to this summoning as soon as possible.
Recently, the Fire Lord's health has declined. It is very sudden and the healers here at the Palace are doing everything in their power to aid him. Even so, the Fire Lord has spoken of but one request- to find his nephew and bring him home.
Since his Highness isn't up to his normal stature, it is I, his scribe, who writes this urgent message to you. Please return to the Palace at once. The Fire Lord's life lies in your hands.
Sincerely,
Utasu, Scribe of Fire Lord Iroh'
He read the short letter over a few times, but the meaning still didn't sink in. Zuko gripped the edges of the paper as a knock on his door tore his eyes away from the news.
"Zuko?"
It was Katara's voice. His gut twisted and all Zuko could do was stare at the doors speechlessly. His lungs tightened and his eyes dried up, as his world started to crumble underneath him. The pain a human such as himself had to go through was ridiculous. After thinking that the worst was over, Zuko thought nothing else could happen. The news of Iroh's declining health sickened him; Zuko had only thought of himself all of these years, trying to find his own path, but his true reason for living had been in the Fire Nation all along. He snarled his teeth silently at his own stupidity.
Katara stood blankly outside his room. There was no answer. She knocked again, and this time the door opened slightly.
"Zuko? I'm coming in," she said. Katara pushed the door ajar and gasped when she saw the curling fury in Zuko's face. In his hand was a letter, but the words were written on his face. Whatever it was, the news surely wasn't good. "Zuko, why didn't you answer?" she asked ignorantly. Katara expected an answer to her simple question, after all, it was like she was meeting Zuko for the first time, no emotions or thoughts to back her up. Zuko closed his mouth and let the letter fall onto the desk. He turned away and let his hands fall to his side limply.
"Leave. You have no reason to be near me. Besides, I was just informed that my uncle's health is deteriorating," he commented. Katara stared at his back and suddenly, her feet moved forward. The things she wanted to tell him, the reason why she had followed him, had vanished, but in their place was a renewed sense of duty. Katara slowly walked over to him, and as the soft glow of the room filled her eyes, she closed off her vision and wrapped her arms around his torso. Katara rested her cheek against his back as Zuko's eyes widened. She held onto him more tightly and then let go. Zuko turned around, his eyes dark and misty. Katara's gaze was blank, but her words felt warm against Zuko's ears.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Iroh is a good man. You should probably… go back home," she said. Zuko watched her full face turn to look at the letter, concern and overwhelming sadness lining her pale lips. His eyes widened as the memory of a kiss spread through his vision. Zuko grabbed his forehead and shook his head. Katara reached out to him and helped him stand straight up. He looked at her and narrowed his eyes. Zuko didn't know why, out of all the things he could think of, he thought of kissing her at that moment, but consequently, the stirrings of hatred seethed back into his mind. Domei was right; he had to get away by the end of the day. Zuko suddenly grabbed Katara's wrist and pulled it down so that he look her straight in the eye.
"I'm leaving, tonight. You should leave too. Go back home. It's for the best," he said. Katara stared at him and nodded.
"Okay… I agree," she said. Zuko let go of her and immediately began to pack what little belongings he had with him. Katara watched as he fumbled with his dirty brown bag. A slight smile creased her lips as she remembered seeing it from the first few days at the temple where fate had brought them to each other again. Zuko blew out the candles and dragged Katara out of the room. When they shut the doors, both of them jumped.
"I was just going to get you!" Oraka exclaimed. Katara put a hand to her chest and sighed deeply.
"Don't you ever greet anyone normally? You always pop up out of the blue!" Katara said.
Oraka's facade fell as she noticed the expression on Zuko's face. Katara narrowed her eyes, it being the first time she saw Oraka looking depressed. The gatekeeper took them by the hands and dragged them down the corridor.
"What are you doing?" Zuko asked. Katara stared at the woman suspiciously. "Oraka, let go of us." She stopped and did as she was told. Oraka didn't turn around until she had taken a few deep breaths. Katara folded her arms and shifted her weight to one leg.
"Why don't you tell us where we're going?" she asked. Zuko scoffed and pushed past both of them.
"I don't have time for this. I have to go home," he said quickly. Oraka clutched his wrist, and he turned to face her, stunned.
"You'll get there faster if you keep your mouth shut and listen to me." Katara gasped as she saw a dark line flash through her eyes. Zuko stood motionlessly as Oraka looked up at him. Her jaw held firmly against her clenched teeth. "Listen boy, the Masters are dead now. Yes, I know what happened. The others told me before. Now, there's an empty temple left behind, and I have to do something about it, but first, the two of you need to come with me. Jet and Laia will come too."
Katara gawked at her. She would have never thought that Oraka could turn out to be such a lioness, commanding them with so much dignity in her voice alone. Its resolve held firmly and it was only when she heard Jet's voice that Katara snapped out of her daze.
"What about Laia and me?" he asked. They had appeared from around the corner, each holding a bag of food and belongings. They boys and Hyana stood with them. Oraka chuckled to herself and nodded.
"Looks like the two of you are smarter than these buffoons."
Katara opened her mouth as if to retort. Zuko raised an eyebrow in question, but Oraka flicked her wrist and started walking.
"Come on. Follow me."
"What do you mean buffoons?" Katara asked as they all walked hurriedly down the corridor. Oraka sighed and turned to face her.
"You know what you did. I would have thought that Master Domei could have stopped you two, but you chose to sever the actual bond you two had made. Now, all that's left is to go back to the other temple," Hyana said.
Laia gasped as she walked behind Zuko. She tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to face her.
"Is that true? Did you and Katara…" she asked timidly.
"Yeah."
A simple smirk cut across Jet's face as he shook his head. "See, what did I tell you? Too emotional. Now look what's happened. They act as if they don't even know each other." Laia's dashing spirit crashed into the ground as they walked around the temple. A few more minutes had passed in silence as Katara and Zuko both contemplated the course of their actions. Instead of feeling a whirlwind of emotions, they felt nothing towards each other. Only slight moments of remorse seeped back into Katara's heart, the anger back into Zuko's. The sun had finally passed its mark of noon and Oraka found the room at last. Oraka turned to Hyana and put a hand on her shoulder.
"We won't be back. Make sure that you take care of these two boys for me, will you?" the woman asked sincerely. Hyana stood tall and confused, but nodded nonetheless. Laia's eyes widened and she gawked at Oraka.
"What do you mean we'll not be back?" Laia asked. Oraka held her gaze for a moment and rushed inside the room with an irritated glare, as if she didn't have enough time for foolish questions.
"Say your goodbyes and shut the door, Laia!" Lee and Hyoku looked at each other curiously and shrugged, shaking their heads. Laia quickly hugged both of them at once and when she turned to Hyana, she just smiled awkwardly and bowed her head.
"It was nice meeting all of you!" she said.
"Laia! Get in here!" Oraka's voice bellowed. Laia hurriedly ran into the room and shut the doors behind her as she was told. The room was empty except for a small stack of pillows and futons. Zuko looked around the spacious setting and shook his head angrily.
"I said I have to go home. Why are we here?" he inquired. Oraka smirked suddenly and sighed.
"You wondered about me a lot, haven't you, Zuko?" A slight tinge spread across his cheeks but he looked away before anyone noticed. "It's all right. Jet has as well. Perhaps all of you have. It's true, I was the gatekeeper for Masters Taiko and Mayuri, but I am also the sister of Nako. He taught me a few tricks back in the old days, and I'm about to show you one of them now."
Oraka cleared her throat and slid her hand along the walls of the room. Jet became numb as Laia gripped his arm. The trail left behind by Oraka's fingers was leaving a soft blue glow. She did this around the entire room once, leaving the four of them spellbound. Oraka walked over to Zuko and patted his shoulder.
"I'm sorry about the news you received. Hopefully, the journey home will be quicker now," she said earnestly. Zuko backed away and shook his head.
"I don't see how this glow is going to help us," Zuko said. Katara's eyes widened as she started to feel lightheaded. A cool spark tickled her toes and left a sprinkled imprint of static in her legs. Her arms lifted effortlessly into the air and Katara stood, bewildered, as she watched her friends display the same reaction. Oraka sat down on the pile of pillows and clasped her hands together. She closed her eyes and called out to them softly.
"Imagine where this all started. We were in the Second Temple of the Sanoroi, where the Masters hid behind closed doors and let none see their faces. The courtyard sang with the silent flashes of fireflies, and the lessons seemed to never end. The brick walls surrounded the peaceful insides, as friendships began. Now, we are there again, in heart, body and soul."
Her mystifying words sent chills up Katara's spine. Her head tilted back as for a moment, her feet lifted off the ground completely. She heard the distant awes of Jet and Laia. Zuko had fainted into the trance long before, and as Katara's eyes drooped, she saw a flicker of Oraka's always playful smile.
Suddenly, Oraka snapped her fingers and the glowing line from the walls sliced across the room through everyone. Katara's mouth hung open, and the room darkened completely for a second. She could no longer feel anything; her body had vanished, and only her thoughts accompanied her through a zooming landscape of blurred images. Another snap echoed through Katara's head, and at once she felt the hard ground beneath her feet again. Gravity pulled her down into the grassy fields of a courtyard where the sun was shining brilliantly. A creepy ring of emptiness wound around Katara's head as she adjusted her vision to the brightness. Around her, everyone had also fallen to the ground without warning. Oraka stood in the middle of them all, looking around sadly.
"We're back."
Zuko rubbed his forehead and moaned as he stood up warily.
"What?"
"This is… this is the Second Temple! We're really back!" Jet exclaimed in disbelief. Laia crossed her arms and blinked randomly as she looked over to Katara.
"I'm dreaming, right?" she asked. Katara stood up and walked over to Laia. She gave her a hand and they both stood next to each other's side as they stared at Oraka.
"No, you're not, Laia," Katara replied. Zuko glanced at Katara and turned away immediately. She sighed and looked around the old railings and levels. She could still see the shady hues of white and gray doors to all of the classrooms. Laia nudged Katara in the side and tilted her head.
"So, you don't remember your feelings for Zuko, now that we're back?" she asked quietly.
Katara smiled and leaned her head back while chuckling. "What feelings? You must be mistaken, Laia." She said it with such unwavering confidence that Laia just stared. She couldn't believe what had happened. Seeing to it that Oraka was somehow responsible, Laia walked over to the woman and tapped her on the shoulder, fuming.
"What did you do to them? First, you tell us some kind of bond between them is now broken. Then you miraculously bring us back to the temple as if we were just teleported…"
Oraka's eyes glinted as she laughed. "Well, of course it was teleportation! That was the trick my brother taught me. Mind, don't you go and try it! I've got many years of experience doing it, and not many know how in the first place. I guess that's why it's a good thing I'm the new Master here."
The blades of grass stopped crunching from far away. Zuko stopped at the edge of the courtyard and turned back to stare at Oraka. Katara hung her head as Jet leaned against a tree.
"I knew it. All of this time, she wasn't telling us how powerful she really was. Ha, I should've known…" he said.
"Oraka, is this true? Did you trick us?" Katara asked. Oraka sighed and waved her hand in the air, catching the sunlight on her skin.
"I didn't mean to. There really was no reason to tell you about my lineage. Besides, whatever the Sanoroi wants, it will happen. I've known it all along. I never worry about what should or shouldn't be told. It all comes out into the open whether you like it or not," she said. Zuko shifted uneasily and glanced away from her. Oraka looked at him and smiled warmly. "Fate hasn't been a good friend to you, Zuko. But I guess this is meant to be. Farewells are never easy." She walked over to him and suddenly lunged at Zuko with her arms wide open. Oraka wailed as Zuko pulled away from her, forcing the woman off of him. Katara suddenly smiled, her body feeling no burden, the sun letting her know that it was okay to smile now.
"What is it with you? Why do you treat me as if I'm related to you?" Zuko asked, breathless. Oraka leaned forward and whispered into his ear.
"I was there when you were born. I knew your mother, Ursa. She was a dear friend too… so now leave, and make sure you never leave Iroh's side again," she said with an encouraging smile. Oraka scurried away at once and began to fret over the dust on the walls and floors. Katara looked from the woman to Zuko's almost horrified face. She didn't know what Oraka had said to him, but something stirred inside of her. Her jaw fell open as the grassy courtyard before her vanished and a blood stained horizon jarred her body forward. The ice was melting and she couldn't breathe. Suddenly, she was jerked out of her trance and the birds chirped once more as Laia shook her.
"Katara, are you all right?" she asked. Oraka was jogging away and Zuko stood still, watching her with a gaping mouth. Katara looked at Laia as her shoulders began to tremble. She fell into her friend's arms and started to weep. The vision of pain that she herself was enveloped in still haunted her. The vision of her homeland's life, massacred, because of the change inside of her, caused her body to lose its strength. Zuko shifted and noticed Katara's limp body hanging onto Laia. He simply stood and watched for a moment as his eyes met Jet's strict gaze.
"Laia… I'm a horrible person. I thought I could forget everything, but it's still inside of me. I'm a monster!" she cried out. Laia patted her friend's back and pushed her off slowly, holding her shoulders firmly.
"Listen, Katara! You aren't a horrible beast. So you made a mistake, but that's not something to lose yourself over! I don't care if Zuko won't accept that, what I care about is you, my friend, being hung up over such a small thing. I won't let you treat yourself like dirt, got it?"
Katara blinked and the tears halted. Laia's stern amber eyes softened as she smiled. Katara's spirit lifted slightly as she embraced her friend again, this time, not hanging onto her like a feeble child.
"Thank you, Laia, for being such a good friend to me," she said. They gripped each other's hands and laughed. From far away, Oraka's voice beckoned to them all.
"You all better get a move on! I didn't transport you all here so you could stand around all day!"
Jet sighed pointedly as the lady waved her arms dramatically in all directions. Katara's wet eyes dried as the sun shined on her darkened soul. A friend's deep words had cut through her sorrow and self-moping. Oraka had never once told them of her stature, and yet they had simply been transported over miles of land, back to where everything began. Such a mysterious friend had found it in her heart to help her even though she knew many things about them all. Katara sighed and turned to see Zuko leaving. Laia grabbed Katara's hand and dragged her along. Jet smirked and ran up to Zuko as they left the temple. Katara took one last look into the courtyard, and found herself smiling.
The infinite sky tumbled through the open lands as Katara's heart spilled out into the canvas. She was beginning to see the new beginning toward the horizon. Her eyes caught the sight of the looming tower in the distance, the one that she had always watched from her view in the room at the temple. It stayed at the port, a tour guide for everyone who would come and go across the ocean. Katara's heart constricted and she held her hand at her chest as she felt it tug her forward. Zuko was already out the doors as Jet caught up to him, but Laia stayed behind to walk with her friend.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Nothing… I just feel like I should go that way. Go home." Laia stared into the distance, where the fields roamed carelessly. Zuko and Jet looked like they were already quarreling, but Jet wouldn't stop. Katara noticed that Zuko caved into whatever they were arguing about. Suddenly, he looked back at her and narrowed his eyes before looking away quickly. Laia saw this too and sighed.
"It's a shame, really. The two of you would have been one heck of a couple," Laia remarked. Katara's eyes widened with her mouth as she was about to knock Laia on the head.
"Laia! What gives you that idea? Zuko and I would never be a couple. Besides, one of us always ends up betraying the other. I've learned that now. He made a mistake before, now I'm the one that did. We're just too different to trust," she said.
Laia smirked and shook her head highly. "Well, from the looks of it, you both are depressed somewhere deep inside, and that's definitely not different." The surge of heartache wound up in Katara's heart again and she clenched her fingers as the memories flooded back through her mind. Katara always thought herself to be a saint, but this time, she found out that there was a dark hole inside of her. It had awakened, and she couldn't forget the pain she had caused. Nonetheless, she held her head up high and walked forward. The distance was filled with dirt roads, soft grass, and a small port city where her future would take her. There would be a ship, and she would finally be able to sail away from her misery.
Up ahead, Jet glanced over to Zuko and shifted his head slightly to point back.
"You know, back when I first told you to not hurt Katara, I thought you would do it, even when you said you weren't like that anymore." Zuko walked on in silence, not wanting to talk about the past. "But it was the other way around. I'm just glad it was you and not me."
Zuko closed his eyes and kicked a rock gently. "Yeah, otherwise, you wouldn't care the least bit, just like I do now." Jet's expression gave up; he lowered his head and pushed his hands into his pockets. It had started out so peaceful, but now, only a dust road was left, the memories gone for good.
..::-::..
They had walked for miles. Their throats were parched, and at last, Jet, Zuko, Laia and Katara, stood beneath the tower's immense shade. It loomed over them, thin yet stories high. The city port bustled with noise as the last trades of the day were being closed. The sun, its shining glory, faded within the vast density of the sky as to the west lay glimmering burnt water. Katara stood next to Zuko and shivered; there was no warmth in the gap between them. Laia ran back from the ticket booth and smiled happily.
"So it's settled. The man at the booth said that he just sold me the last three tickets available."
Laia handed a ticket to both Zuko and Jet. Katara cradled her arms to her chest and smiled.
"So the ship for the Water Tribe?" she inquired.
"It's free as always," Laia commented. Katara nodded and sighed, peering through the crowds to the south. A ship with rough blue sails swayed in the water while furs streamed on the sides of them. Her feet stayed put, even though her heart wanted to run back to her safety net. Jet eyed Laia and shifted his stance as he looked at her.
"So… you're going back to the Fire Nation too?" he asked her, slowly.
"I'm going back with Zuko. I haven't been home in so long…" she looked away and her smiling grace slipped through her facade. Laia jumped when she felt Jet's hand on her arm. He smiled at her and whispered into her ear.
"It's okay. I'm going with you. I won't let you get into trouble, sounds good?" he asked. Laia's eyes moistened as she squeezed his hand. Katara saw them looking at each other so lovingly, and then in the background, against the strained hues of the sun, she saw Zuko, his face and soul scarred. The ship set to sail for the Fire Nation docked and let out a puff of steam. She walked up to Zuko and reached out her hand.
"I hope Iroh gets better," she said.
Zuko looked down at her and shook her hand with a sigh.
"I hope so too," Zuko said.
Katara gaped at him as his fingers lingered in the palm of her hand. Once in her life, Zuko had been a stranger, yet then he turned into the enemy. They blossomed into friends, but they became enemies, and strangers all over again. Though it was unintentional, her mistakes in the past couldn't be rewritten. Standing there in front of him, she felt exposed, as if he could see through her into the very core that pulled her life closer to his every so often, like the swimming tide. Confused by their history together, she didn't move. Suddenly, Laia attacked Katara from the side and hugged her tightly. Katara gawked as her hand floated away from Zuko's ever so gradually, like the moments of each other's existence caught in the rays of sunlight not wanting to fade away. Katara let go of Zuko's gaze as his eyes wavered slightly. Laia smiled and looked at Katara with determination.
"I'll see you again, right?" she asked.
Katara smiled and hugged her once more. "Of course you will. You can visit any time you want. Remember, it's a free ride!" The two laughed together but all too soon, Jet pointed to the ship and waved his ticket in the air.
"Well, it won't be free if you don't get on that ship," Jet said. Katara turned to him and gripped his arm. She felt the tears stinging her eyes as the strength of their friendship soared above them, into the sky. He rolled his eyes and gathered her into a quick hug before she walked away.
"Thanks, Jet," she whispered. Laia smirked and looked over at Zuko. He was shifting uneasily, not being able to pick his head up, his gaze from the ground. Katara sighed and clenched her bag strongly. She walked away, letting the ginger haze from the sun fall upon her face like the memories that would soon escape her heart. Her steps dragged, her arms hang loosely to her side, and with each stride, the ocean called to her, like the truth she had searched for. Katara then ran, unable to resist it any longer. When her feet lifted off of the ground, Zuko picked his head up with a gasp. He staggered in place and watched her braid swing from side to side as she vanished from his vision. She quickly climbed into the Water Tribe ship and it was then that Zuko truly felt her absence. Jet and Laia sighed while walking away from the sunset, their friend, and the wonderful adventure they had lived through together. Zuko, on the other hand, had found his sentiments again. He gawked as the pain clutched his heart after a full day of nonexistence.
"What have I done?" he asked himself, almost afraid of the lack of feeling he had towards the waterbender. Laia looked at him with concern from a few feet away, but Jet just shook his head and motioned her forward. Zuko gripped his chest with his ticket in hand. His mind was a whirlwind of furious yet agonizing thoughts. She had betrayed him, but for the first time, Zuko realized it hurt so much because he cared about her, and to have fallen into the trap of such deep friendship, he had caused its own demise. As he looked again at the ship and its flapping sails, it started to drift away. Zuko gasped, seeing Katara appear at the railing. He took a step forward, and then another, quickly coming to a jog. The ship took on more speed and as he reached the shoreline, she had drifted too far away for his voice to carry. Zuko stared at the ship's diminishing shadow against the bitter, hot sunset. With each second he stood there, his anger calmed, and the fury at his own actions steamed to a low hiss in his throat. After a while, he could no longer see her, and the sun seemed to lose its glow. The wind whistled into his ears, carrying Laia's impatient shouting with it. He looked away progressively, away from the pain, yet also from his heart.
As soon as Zuko glanced away, his feelings deadened again. He didn't know what he was doing standing near the lapping water. The firebender heard his name again, and ran towards the ship dressed in bright red banners, with the symbol of his future etched into the fabric of his life. It was what he was born into and yet had abandoned, but with his head held up high he came forward proudly, ready to set out for the life he had always meant to live.
"I'm coming, uncle. I'm coming home."
..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::.. ..::-::..
-THE END OF PHASE 1: DYING-
A/N: COMMENT PLEASE! I'm really running out of options of how to ask. It really helps me get through to the next chapter. And I was this close to not finishing this chapter... along with the rest of the book. But it's finally here... after me going through TURMOIL to finish it. I had the help of some good friends and loyal readers... so to those of you (you know who you are) thank you for your support!!
soo... is this the end?? It originally was. ;P haha... yup, at first when I thought of the plot... I planned on them leaving each other at this part... or coming back to their senses... but I've come up with an... "extension" ;P how long?? oh, about another 15 or so chapters:D :D so it could be a sequel... but I'm just continuing this story I guess...
So be on the lookout for Phase 2: Living coming soon... and Chapter 19 is the first of that phase
It was awkward for me around the middle of the chapter... with Hyana and Hyoku and Lee... I don't plan to have them back so you know... and maybe that's why I kinda rushed it?? I just didn't have a need for them anymore but they were there :P but now I'm really excited, because I've got an excellent plot for you guys!! so keep me encouraged and talk about any little thing in this chapter!! It seriously does help me keep the motivation going!! -hugs and kisses!-
-Monika-