Two updates in two days, yeah! I came home pepped up and kept writing and writing and didn't stop for ages, and this came out! I opened for a local fashion show today and came home so full of nervous energy I couldn't stop writing, and you gys get to reap the benefits!

As the Earth King's party for his pet bear convened, three unknown beauties slipped from an alleyway and made their way to the crowd waiting to get in. They all wore lavish, floor-length green robes, fans fluttering in front of their delicately painted faces. They moved with small, graceful strides and held their shoulders high and confident.

One was small, with dark hair pulled tightly into shoulder-length braids hanging to her shoulders on either side of her pale face. Haunting pale blue eyes stared from under blue lids, giving her face an air of mystery. She was petite, her small waist shown by a sash draped elegantly at the smallest part.

The second was curvy, of medium height. Her dark chocolate hair was swept up around a hair decoration, curls dropping elegantly around her face. Her movements were graceful and flowing. She seemed to glide, small silk slippers poking from under her robes with each step. Brown eye makeup played up the dusky hint of her dark skin.

The last was tall and statuesque, with eyes the color of ice. Her movements were purposeful, but restrained, each step confident and sure shoulders thrown back. The hand gripping her fan was slim and dainty. Her cheeks were rouged with a color to play up her own dark skin. Her black hair was swept back from her face and up into a high chignon, held with a green clip.

"I feel ridiculous," Katara hissed behind her fan as they made for the door.

"Just remember if you believe you belong here others will too," Toph coached.

"Invitation," barked the guard at the door.

"I think this will suffice," Toph said confidently, pulling out the paper that identified her as a Bei Fong.

"No admittance without an invitation," the guard said coldly. "Step out of line please."

"Look," Toph snapped. "The Pang's and the Yum Su Han's are in there waiting for us, and I'm going to have to tell them who didn't let us in."

"Step out of line," the guard said, placing one threatening hand on his sword.

Katara and Kyuri escorted Toph away as a carriage rolled up and a man got out. Two guars bowed, showing deference. Kyuri narrowed her eyes and glanced back at the door guard. Soldiers tended to show more loyalty to their actual commanders than the monarchy itself, a fact many military leaders had exploited in history. Was this man a general, perhaps, or some other high-ranking officer?

Katara seemed to have the same idea, because she grabbed Toph and Kyuri and dragged them over to the man.

"Excuse me sir?" she said innocently, all girlish sweetness. "I'm sorry to bother you, but my cousin lost our invitations. She's blind," Katara said, leaning forwards and whispering confidentially. "Our family's inside and I'm sure they're very worried," she fretted.

"It would be my honor," the man said in a smooth, low voice. He gave them a small bow and led them to the door. The guard let them pass with barely a glance, bowing deeply to the man.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he commented as they entered the room where they party was being held. Kyuri looked around with the eye of an architect. The molding was beautiful, and the columns were placed at precise points so as never to obscure a view of the king's seat on a raised dais. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Long Feng, a Cultural Minister here in Ba Sing Se."

A Dai Li, Kyuri thought.

"My name's Kwa Mi, and this… Dung," Katara said, glancing at Toph and restraining giggles.

"And I'm Kida," Kyuri said, subtly reaching over and stepping on Katara's toes. She shot her a glance that said, this is serious, no playing.

"Now where is your family?" Long Feng asked. "I'd like to meet them."

"I don't see them now, but I'm sure we'll find them soon!" Katara chirped quickly. "Thank you for all your help," she said, clamping down on Toph's arm and dragging her away. Long Feng appeared in front of them again.

"No, please," he said kindly. "As your escort it would be dishonorable of me to leave you before you find your family. We'll keep looking."

"He knows."

"I think you're right."

"Or he could just be a good Samaritan," Sangilak mused. "Or he thinks you're three pretty, unattached girls."

"Sang, don't be vulgar."

"I wasn't, but he might be,"

"I can handle myself," Kyuri huffed, her hand going to the hilts of the two knives concealed beneath her robes on the outsides of her thighs.

And thus, Katara, Toph, and Kyuri found themselves trapped by social obligation. Long Feng followed them diligently, pointing couples out and asking if they were their parents. Kyuri tried to sneak away to let Sokka and Aang in through the side door, but Long Feng appeared beside her from seemingly nowhere, asking where she was going. Kyuri told him she was looking for the bathroom. He informed her it wasn't wise to wander around unescorted and she was returned to Toph and Katara's sides, looking appropriately chastened.

"Another crab puff please," Toph said. Kyuri turned and let loose a small smile. There was Aang, dressed as a busboy and bearing a decanter of wine. Sokka stood beside him in the same disguise, holding a tray of food.

"You found us!" Aang grinned.

"I'd know your dainty footsteps anywhere Twinkle Toes," Toph grinned, taking a crab puff as Katara walked over.

"Thanks for letting us in," Sokka said pointedly.

"Sorry," Katara apologized. "But the guy that escorted us in won't let us out of his sight!"

"What guy?" Sokka asked, looking around. The girls turned, looking for Long Feng, but he was gone.

"What are you doing here? You must leave or we'll all be in terrible trouble!"

Joo Dee, however, was not.

"Not until we see the Earth King," Sokka said, fending her off with a tray.

"No you really must leave!" Joo Dee insisted, grabbing for him. Sokka stepped away from her, banged into Aang, who stumbled and sent wine flying from the jug. It sloshed all over a woman in light blue and yellow robes.

"I'm sorry," he apologized profusely. "No, don't shout!" He bent a jet of air towards her. Her robes and hair stretched out comically behind her and stayed that way, makeup smeared across her face.

"Oh, the Avatar!" she blinked at Aang and smiled, seemingly unaware of her state of dress. "I didn't know the Avatar would be here!"

"Avatar?"

"Avatar, did she say?"

"The Avatar?"

"The Avatar?"

"Where?"

Aang was suddenly the center of attention in the room.

"Keep them busy while we hunt for the Earth King," Sokka advised.

"Hey everybody, look at this!" Aang called. He jumped up onto a table, balancing on top of a slim bottle and twirling colored drinks in a sphere over his head. The crowd awed and clapped, surrounding the table and pleading for more. The bear climbed up on the table and clapped delightedly as Aang continued performing.

Half the crowd turned as a gong rang and a figure was carried in on a palanquin. The litter was surrounded on all four sides by soldiers. Kyuri caught the glint of glasses and the peak of a crown on the head of the figure as it was lowered to the ground.

"Aang, the Earth King!" Sokka called, pointing.

"Greetings your Majesty!" Aang chirped, rolling down the table on an air scooter. Several people jerked up their plates as he passed. The guards advanced and the palanquin was hastily removed as Aang came forwards.

Toph yelped slightly and so did Katara. Kyuri watched as stony hands clasped over their mouths and hands and yanked them backwards through the crowd. A stony hand closed across her mouth, another one gripping her wrists, and she was yanked off her feet and dragged into the shadow of a corridor, into the waiting grasp of a Dai Li agent.

The Dai Li man, Shung, had made a big mistake. He'd left Kyuri's legs free.

She showed him this mistake by kicking one foot up and nailing him right under the brim of his wide hat. He staggered back, but the stone around her did not yield. She spun and dragged her foot along the ground, raising it at the last possible second and hooking it. She nailed the man directly in the kidney. He yelped and the stone dropped away as his concentration broke in a flood of pain. Kyuri lunged at him, fists and feet flying, hitting a stream of points along his arm and clicking off his bending. He raised his hands, intending to bend, but nothing happened.

Four more Dai Li suddenly rushed from the shadows. Kyuri screamed in rage as hands clamped around her individual hands and ankles, stretching her limbs out and lifting her slightly off the ground. She was completely immobile. A fifth hand closed over her mouth, cutting off her scream as she was ferried through the corridors and into a dimly-lit library.

"Kuyri!" Katara shouted when she saw her. The Dai Li pulled Kyuri towards a stone column and the hands blended in seamlessly, holding her in rock shackles. Katara, Sokka, and Toph were free.

"Are you okay? Why'd they restrain just you?" Katara fretted.

"She's the biggest threat," Toph snorted, flicking her hands. The rock fell away and Kyuri was free. "Idiots."

Aang suddenly entered with Long Feng, who took a seat by the fireplace. Instantly, they were all on him and shouting.

"Why won't you let us see the king?" Sokka demanded. "We have vital information that could help win the war!"

"His majesty is much too busy with preserving the cultural heritage of the city, his top priority, to deal with the day-to-day minutia of the military. He has no time for political squabbles."

"This could be really important!" Aang insisted.

"His time is devoted to decrees on that very subject. I am in charge of the other things, including the military."

"So he's just a figurehead," Katara realized.

"He's your puppet!" Toph accused.

"Oh no!" Long Feng protested, seeming insulted. "His majesty is an icon, a god to his people! He can't sully his hands with the hourly changes of the war."

"But we found out about a solar eclipse that could leave the Fire Nation defenseless!" Sokka insisted. "You could mount an invasion, and-"

"Silence!"

Long Feng rose and Sokka took a step back, stunned. "Enough! I have no interest in your petty plans! It is the strict policy of Ba Sing Se that the war not be mentioned. Constant news of an escalating war could throw the citizens into a state of panic. Our economy would be ruined, our peaceful way of life, our traditions would disappear. In silencing talk of conflict, Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful, orderly utopia, the last one on earth."

"You can't do that!" Katara said, appalled and angry. "You can't keep the truth from all those people."

"I'll tell them myself if I have to!" Aang said furiously. "I'll make sure everyone knows!"

"Until now you have been treated as honored guests," Long Feng said, bending over so that he was nose to nose with Aang. "But now you will be followed by Dai Li agents at all times. If you mention the war, you will be expelled from the city. I understand you're looking for your bison. It would be a shame if you couldn't complete your mission. Joo Dee will escort you home."

A woman scurried inside, bowing.

"What happened to Joo Dee?" Katara demanded, recoiling. Because no matter what Long Feng said, this was not Joo Dee. This woman was completely different. They didn't even have the same hair color, Kyuri noted. She glanced at Long Feng, who was smiling in satisfaction.

"I am Joo Dee," the woman said, with the same eerily constant smile the real Joo Dee had worn. "I will be your hostess as long as you are in our lovely city."

()()()()()()()()()()()

Kyuri reported to Pao's the next day with dark circles under her eyes. They hadn't gotten to bed until very late the night before. She hadn't even had a chance to tell the others that Zuko and Iroh were in town after all the commotion died down. They'd all passed out around the table talking about the new developments and what that meant for them. When they woke up, Kyuri had been dressed in Kida's closed and sent off to work by a bleary-eyed Katara and Toph.

"Rough night?" Iroh asked sympathetically when she stumbled in with dark bags of skin hanging under her eyes.

"You've no idea," Kyuri muttered as she pulled on her apron.

"That's not the arm hole," Iroh said, smothering chuckles.

"Oh," Kyuri yawned, fixing the apron around.

"So what happened?" Iroh asked teasingly. "Part of a secret rebellious gang? Got into a fight in an alley?"

"I snuck into the party the Earth King had last night and was kidnapped by agents of the Dai Li," Kyuri said, her face completely serious. Iroh burst out laughing.

"You have an interesting imagination, Kida!"

"You know, I think I like him."

"Oh hush, or I'll start plucking scales instead of waiting for them to shed."

A mental wince. "That's not funny."

Kyuri began taking orders. She moved among tables skillfully. She found the job boringly monotonous, but she did indeed hear things. Soldiers came in discussing what they'd been up too. Frequently this involved breaking up fights. Sometimes businessmen and people from the middle ring came in too, and it was then that Kyuri found out about the struggles in the trade industry. It was nearly noon when Kyuri realized the place was much more packed than it had been the day before.

"Where'd all these people come from?" she finally asked Pao.

"It's Mushi!" Pao beamed. "That man's a genius with tea leaves! The word spread like wildfire!"

"Ah," Kyuri nodded.

"Hurry up, hurry up, we need more table," Pao said, waving her towards a pair of soldiers that had just come in.

"Can I take your orders please?"

"I'll take a jasmine, I hear that's the specialty," one said.

"And I'll try the raspberry," the other said. Kyuri nodded.

"I'll have it here in a minute," she said, returning to the kitchen.

"Jasmine and raspberry," Kyuri said to Iroh as she entered.

"You're doing very well," Iroh praised. "You aunt must be pleased with all the tip money."

In truth, Sokka was happy. At least they wouldn't be scrounging for food money when they left Ba Sing Se.

"It's helped a lot," Kyuri agreed.

"Tell me something Kyuri."

"What?" Kyuri asked without thinking, and froze. She turned to face Iroh, her head held high. Iroh was looking at her in amusement.

"Are you going to tell anyone?" Kyuri asked, raising an eyebrow challengingly.

"No," Iroh said. "What purpose would that serve?"

"Fine," Kyuri nodded. "Then your secret's safe with me too."

Nothing more was said. Iroh was not Zuko. He would not attack her. He would keep her secrets to herself because he was a man of unquestionable honor, no matter where he came from.

The door banged open.

"I'm tired out waiting!" shouted a young male voice. Kyuri frowned as she and Iroh walked out into the tearoom to see what the commotion was, standing beside Zuko. Kyuri inhaled sharply when she saw who it was.

"These two men are Firebenders!" Jet shouted, pointing at Zuko and Iroh. He drew his swords and stepped forwards. "I know they're Firebenders! I saw the old man heating his tea!"

"He works in a tea shop," said the soldier who had ordered jasmine tea, looking at Jet quizzically. "That's what he does."

"I know they're Firebenders!" Jet insisted. The two soldiers rose, narrowing their eyes.

"Drop your swords boy," one said, his voice a strictly no-nonsense tone. "Nice and easy!"

"You'll have to defend yourselves," Jet said, stepping forwards. "Then everyone will see what you can do. Go ahead, show them what you can do."

The soldier moved a hand to the sword scabbard at his side, but Zuko just stalked forwards, swept the sword from the guard's scabbard, and separated them it into dao broadswords.

"You want a show?" he demanded. "I'll give you one!"

With one foot he hooked a table and sent it flying towards Jet with a kick. Jet jumped over the table and came at Zuko, who jumped back onto another table. Jet sliced through it, leaving Zuko to balance with a foot on each half as it teetered. Jet swiped out on half of the table and Zuko balanced on a single half for a moment before jumping u to avoid a swing from a hook sword. Jet jumped back from Zuko's retaliatory strike. He raced forwards and the two locked swords.

Kyuri grabbed two table legs from the wreckage and jumped forwards, smoothly separating both pairs of swords and inserting herself between the two. Jet's eyes bugged when he saw her. He'd seen her without her face paint. He knew what she looked like.

"You!" he shouted accusingly. "You're defending him? He's a Firebender! They killed your parents!"

Kyuri cursed Katara for being so smitten and foolishly open with Jet. She dropped one table leg. The other cut through the air and smashed down on his head, sending him to the ground, dazed.

"Anybody else want to start something?" she demanded, staring around at the tea room suspiciously and tapping the piece of wood against her palm threateningly. If Jet was here, Smellerbee and Longshot should be too, or at least one of the old gang. But she saw no one she recognized, only patrons shaking their heads quickly. "Good." She swept down and grabbed Jet callously by his fluffy hair, dragging him over and dropping him at the soldiers' feet. "I believe you'll be wanting this."

"Nobody will try anything with these two working here, Pao," one of the soldiers said with a weak laugh as he dragged Jet upright. Zuko wordlessly held the swords out to the other soldier, who took them with a small laugh.

"What a mess!" Pao huffed as the soldiers escorted Jet out. He scurried forwards with a dustpan and broom. "It'll take ages to clean this up!"

"Sorry for the trouble," Zuko apologized gruffly.

"Not mad at you!" Pao insisted, waving a hand irritably. "You have a right to defend yourself. What was the fool thinking, accusing my teamaker of being a Firebender?" he scoffed.

"Best teamaker in the city!" called someone at the back of the room, and levity returned to the shop as Iroh blushed as gave his thanks. Kyuri, Zuko, and Iroh returned to the kitchen to take a moment before taking more orders.

"That guys seemed to know you," Zuko said, looking at the waitress pointedly. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and busied herself with straightening the menus.

"We all have our pasts," she said cryptically. "After my village was raided and my parents killed I fell in with his Freedom Fighters. I found out what they were really like though, and I left."

Kyuri smiled slightly. It was true, every word, however so severely edited as to be almost meaningless.

"And how did a village girl learn to fight like that?" Zuko asked doggedly. Kyuri turned and locked eyes with him. She was actually enjoying this a bit, playing with Zuko like this. Maybe it wasn't healthy, but it made her pulse race a bit and made her feel warm and almost… flirtatious.

"How did a village boy learn to use dao broadswords?"

"How does as village girl know what they are?" Zuko continued.

"How does a village boy learn to wield dual swords? Two, that's tricky."

"How does a village girl know how hard it is to use dual swords?"

"How does a village boy forget that this village girl was once part of a rebel group so quickly?" Kyuri asked with a small smile.

"How does a village girl get involved with a rebel group?"

Kyuri paused. He had her there. She'd gotten caught up and pushed too much, and now Zuko was thinking. She didn't need him to be thinking, because he might figure it out. He wasn't stupid.

"I have orders to take," Kyuri said softly, leaving the kitchen.

She was glad to get home that night, and spent dinner telling her friends what they'd learned.

The next morning she rose with the sun and went out into the backyard with Yoshio's diary. She hadn't spent much time with Sangilak lately. Things had been too hectic. But now she lay back against his comforting scales, scratching under his chin, and opened the book.

Sozin is everything I could have ever dreamed of. Fire Lord, wealthy, attractive. He is a powerful bender and does not make any allowances for my gender when we spar. There was a time when that was all I desired. But now I have my general, and I know that this is what true love means. With Sozin is a pale shadow of what I have with my general.

I remember how I blushed and tittered girlishly when I met Sozin. I lost my head. With my general I do none of that. I have my sense about me and no need to blush or titter for I know he loves me just as dearly as I love him, no matter what loyalty he has to the Fire Lord.

It's like fire in my heart. It keeps me warm in the darkness of my marriage. It makes my body warm when I touch my general and when I hold him. I feel with him the safety of my element, a heat in our relationship which was not present with Sozin. I know that heat comes from love and knowing I am loved in return. I think in my heart I always knew that Sozin did not love me, and so I could never have that fire with him. With my general, I can.

With my general, I can have anything I desire. With him, I have the strength to do things I would not have had the courage for before. My strength becomes his, and his becomes mine. His support takes my fear of the unknown from me. Now my only fear is the loss of him.

Kyuri closed the book.

"Yoshio always wrote passionately."

"It's beautiful," Kyuri said weakly. "To feel something like that…"

Sangilak laughed. "You silly girl. You already feel love."

"For Katara, Sokka, Aang, and Toph, yes. The love of family, or friendship, yes. This kind of love, for a man, I do not feel."

"Look for heat."

"What?"

"Look for heat. Around whom does your blood heat? Find him, and then you'll have your love for a man. Just make sure he doesn't try anything, or I'll-"

Images of bloody carnage filled Kyuri's mind and she winced. "Sang…." She groaned.

"Just kidding. But in all seriousness Kyuri, watch for heat."

"Kyuri?" Katara called out the door. "Are you out here?"

"Over her," Kyuri replied.

"Oh," Katara said, walking over. "Toph and I were thinking of having a girl's day. You know, go to a spa, have some pampering. What do you think?"

Kyuri blinked at her. "Do I have to?"

"That's what Toph said too," Katara sighed, shaking her head. "Come on, it'll be fun. Joo Dee already called a carriage to take us to a spa and said that we have a charge account that will be covered for us. We can do whatever we want. Won't it be nice to relax for a while?"

"I suppose," Kyuri submitted, and followed Katara out to meet Toph in the waiting carriage.

"The Fancy Lady Day Spa," Toph said dully when they arrived. "Sounds like my kind of place."

Kyuri watched the pair of girls exiting, dressed in silk robes, faces powdered to perfection, not a hair out of place. "I don't think I can do this."

"Come on you guys, get ready for some serious pampering!" Katara cheered.

"Fine," Toph submitted. There was no arguing with Katara when she got her mind set on something. "As long as they don't touch my feet."

They went in and were given robes to wear throughout their treatments and a list of all the treatments offered. Katara picked some for them all to do together, and insisted they pick a few things to do individually.

The first half of the day, they stayed together. First, they got manicures and pedicures. Toph struggled with having her feet touched and kicked her pedicurist through a wall. Kyuri, who's nails were in a perpetually ragged state due to her lack of caring, took a lot longer than Katara. Next, they stripped down and got into a bath of hot mud and relaxed, listening to soothing music. Last, they trooped into a sauna and relaxed with their hair up in towels, letting the steam soak in.

Then, they separated. Toph wanted a bath in volcanic mud, saying she was curious about how it was different than regular mud. Then she decided on some sort of mud-mask cleansing treatment. Katara went off for some sort of hair-care regimen that made her hair shinier and fluffier, before getting a deep-tissue massage, where she found Kyuri with an irate masseuse who claimed, "Even her knots have knots! It's insanity!" Kyuri, meanwhile, had had her hair cut shorter and styled.

They joined up again to close out their day with makeovers. The woman working on them seemed to have fun working with Kyuri and Katara's darker complexions, saying it required 'a whole new color palette than we're used to!' In the end, Katara and Kyuri's eyes were shadowed in blue, as were Toph's, and lined in deep black kohl. Their lips were shiny and plump and their cheeks were rosy.

"I have to say, that wasn't so bad," Toph admitted as they walked home. "It's not really my type of thing, but I actually feel… girly."

Kyuri had slowly gotten used to the application of makeup after their exploits in Ba Sing Se and playing 'Kida' and work, but she'd never had anything this intricately done. "I agree with you Toph."

"It's about time we all got out and did something together," Katara agreed as they crossed a bridge. Halfway, they met a trio of girls.

"Great makeup," one said slyly.

"Thanks," Toph smiled, oblivious, while Kyuri tensed and waited for the follow up.

"For a clown!"

Toph lowered her face and paused at the edge of the bridge.

"Let's just keep walking," Katara coaxed. Kyuri turned and lounged against the bridge rail, watching the girls with narrowed eyes. One made eye contact with her and quickly looked away uncomfortably.

"I think she looks cute," one cooed. "Like that time we put a sweater on your pet poodle monkey."

"Good one Star!" cheered the twittering girls.

"Let's go Toph," Katara said, looking at the girl coldly.

"No, no!" Toph said shakily, turning to face the girls. "Like a poodle monkey, hah! You know what else is a good one?" The stomped and the girls dropped into the water below as the bridge vanished out from under them.

"Now that was funny," Katara laughed.

Kyuri cocked her head and looked down at the girls. They looked like melting cakes in their layers of sopping silk. "I take delight in the fact that one day you will irritate someone who won't hesitate to beat you black and blue. Perhaps a less-restrained Dragora than I," she said pointedly, adding a wolfish grin. The girls paled as she waved her hands in sync with Katara and the river washed them, shrieking, downstream.

"Those girls don't know what they're talking about," Katara said as she and Kyuri caught up with Toph.

"It's okay," the blind girl answered carelessly. "One of the good things about being blind is that I don't have to worry about appearances. I'm not looking for anyone's approval. I know who I am," she said, pausing. A tear fell down her cheek.

"That's what I really admire about you Toph," Katara said softly. "You're so strong, and confident, and self-assured. I know it doesn't matter, but you're really pretty."

"I am?" Toph asked quietly.

"Yeas," Kyuri nodded. "And not just your features. I remember when I was little I looked at an older girl in the tribe, and told my mother that I wished I was pretty like her. My mother told me that she was one of the ugliest people she'd ever seen. I couldn't believe it; I asked her why. My mother told me that it was because her attitude made her ugly. All these foul words poured out and stained her pretty appearance. You are not only pretty in appearance, but in personality, and that is more important than looks."

"Thanks guys," Toph grinned. "I'd return the compliment, but I have no idea what you two look like."