Book 4 Air

Chapter 85 Underneath

Leaning against the bed post of her bed, Toph fiddled with her fingers as she noticed the small traces of dirt still stuck underneath her nails. The earthbender sighed, now that she's seen her appearance. The overwhelming thoughts of self-image make her feel vulnerable. She never had to worry what she looked like…But now, she felt a little uneasy. Toph then subconsciously brushed her hair with her fingers as the tangled knots came undone, the girl closed her eyes.

Just then the door opened. Toph placed her hands down on her lap and sat up straight. As the door opened wider a servant was seen walking in with a tray of food. Toph relaxed at the sight as the servant bowed to the girl. "Avatar Aang requested that you eat your meal. He has also apologizes for not being here to join you. Avatar Aang was sent on an urgent errand to meet Imperial Ryuan." The girl servant said as she placed the tray on Toph's lap.

Toph sighed…Of course it was too good to be true. Aang was the Avatar, he had duties to attend. Reality then hit the earthbender…

'He doesn't have time to wait on me hand and foot. He has more important things to worry about. I should have never encouraged him.' Toph thought as she then shut her eyes.

Hitting the side of her pillow Toph startled the servant girl. The servant stepped away, taken back by the seemly sweet girl's aggressive and sudden behavior.

"Tell him not to come back!" Toph shouted as the servant quickly bowed, "Uh…Yes miss. I'll be sure to inform Avatar Aang." The servant girl said as she then shuffled out the room.

Toph then calmed down as she then stared down at the tray. It was a bento box decorated with a fine polished wood. The design of red ivy leaves were painted along the right hand corner of the black squared lunch box. Lifting up the lid, Toph pouted her lips.

Looking down on the tray Toph noted the separate compartments filled with food. In the center was musubi, stuffed rice rolls with what looked like komodo chicken wrapped in nori. Gazing to her left, she noticed in the next bigger cubicle was autumn lamb stew with soybeans mixed in. The dish carried a strong scent of lemon and spices. Toph then turned to her right and saw a smaller compartment stuffed with takoyaki, rolled up octopus balls neatly set in the box with garnish decorated nicely.

"Idiot…It's all meat…" Toph said out loud as she remembered how she complained she wanted more meat in her meals. But this was ridiculous…Every dish was meat!

'It's not like I'm Sokka…I enjoy my greens every now and then.' Toph thought as she picked up chopsticks and plucked a takoyaki ball and popped one in her mouth.

"Idiot..." Toph mumbled as she bit down on the chewy meat.


"Wait! Zuko!" Katara cried out as Zuko was pushed back as the girl nearly tripped from their practicing the dance for nearly two hours straight.

"What?" Zuko called out frustrated as Katara huffed out, pulling up her long hair into a messy pony tail. "You stopped me for that?" Zuko said growing aggravated by the delays.

"I'm sorry, but it's so hot. I can't dance like this!" Katara said as she fanned herself.

"Hm…Then I'll open a window." Zuko said as he then walked over to the far end of the studio and opened the latch releasing the glass upward. Setting in the bar to hold up the window, Zuko then turned to see Katara stretching.

"Ready now?" Zuko asked with amusement in his tone. Katara then turned her pony tail swayed to the side as she huffed out. "Yes."

Zuko then stepped towards her making a new stance. Katara then followed as they held hands then performed a slow pace of each step before Katara's accidently locked in Zuko's.

"Hey, watch it…You'll make us trip!" Zuko said loudly as he grew tired of messing up.

"Well I wouldn't have to if you kept looking down at your feet!" Katara said back in a loud tone.

"What does that mean?" Zuko said starting to get mad at the girl.

"Not only are we suppose to get the steps right. We need to get into character too! I don't think the great Agni wooed his lover by gazing at her toes…" Katara said in a mocking tone as Zuko then gripped her hands, "Let's do it again…" Zuko said as he tried to keep his temper down.

Katara then smirked as they both continued the dance. Step by step they improved both until Zuko felt Katara pushing more aggressively. "Stop that!" Zuko said as he released her hands and stepped back.

"What?" Katara said in a frustrated tone.

"I'm the one who leads…You follow, remember?" Zuko said in irritated tone as he took a breath, "You're supposed to be graceful and elegant, not pushing me back like some komodo rhino!" Zuko said as Katara pouted her lips angrily as though the Fire Lord's statement hurt and embarrassed her.

'I'll show him graceful and elegant…' Katara thought as she stepped in front of Zuko's face before forming into her stance. "Let's go…" Katara said as she dared the young man to continue.

As they moved across the wood floor, Zuko led Katara down the path as he then spun her around before turning behind her and grasping underneath her breasts. Katara tilted her head to the side as her eyes closed, running her hands down pass his palms then down her hips. She then darted forward pulling away from his hold as she then turned and gestured her hands slightly before Zuko charged at her. They circled one another; their gaze was intense as Zuko then wrapped his arm around the girl's waist then pulled her in. Katara lowered her head back as Zuko run his fingertips down her side.

He then pulled away as Katara pushed forward.

They continued on, rehearsaling their steps as they panted from the quick moves.

To push and pull like the waves on the beach…To burn like the blazing sun with passion…

Everything seemed to fall in place before Katara lost her footing then fell onto the floor. As she landed on her bottom and cried out Zuko quickly ran to her side. "Are you alright?!" Zuko asked as he kneeled on his leg. Katara's cheeks turned red as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. She was embarrassed and angry at herself. Pushing herself up the waterbender ran out of the room, hiding her tears from the young man. Zuko slowly stood up and sighed. Just then Iroh walked in, "Having some trouble my nephew?" Iroh asked as Zuko sighed again, "No, just taking a break…" Zuko said as he walked over and grabbed a spare towel and cleaned off the sweat from his face.

"You and Miss Katara are doing fine…You don't have to learn everything on the first day." Iroh said hoping his nephew would not push himself so hard.

"It's three days away uncle! We have no choice but to practice everything as soon as we can." Zuko said as the soreness in his muscles started to affect him as well as the stress weighting him down mentally.

"Hmm…Come with me for some chilled tea. You need a break as well." Iroh said as he led the young man out of the studio and to the dining quarters.


Pacing herself down the hall, Katara tried to stop herself from crying as she continuous wiped away her eyes as her brows furrowed down.

"You're supposed to be graceful and elegant, not pushing me back like some komodo rhino!"

Remembering the young man's mean words, angered Katara further as she then started to stomp down the hall as her emotions flared.

'At least I don't look down at my own two feet like some sacred little kid.' Katara thought as she gripped her hands into two tight fists.

Nearby servants' coward in fear bowing to the floor as the waterbender continued down the hallway unaware of their actions of mercy.

"Miss Katara!" Miki called out as she saw the woman pass by the hall. Katara turned and faced the woman. The servant girl stepped back afraid as if the native young woman of the Water Tribe might unleash her rage upon her. 'I am certain they said she was a waterbender…But those eyes bare the fiery gaze of a firebender…' Miki thought as she then bowed her head in respect.

"My Highness wishes to speak with you." Miki said as Katara calmed down, "You mean Zuko's mother?" Katara asked as Miki nodded her head. "Yes…Please, come this way…" Miki informed as she walked down the corridor of the western wing.

Katara blinked as she wondered what the mother of the Fire Nation wanted from her.


Passing by the fire Nation capital of the palace district, Sho hastily made his way to the Fire Sages Capital Temple. Entering into the center of the temple where the passageway was seen of a golden lotus. The man fire bended into the center of the flower design and opened the spiral stairwell.

Stepping down into the secret tunnel Sho then walked into the Dragon Bone Catacombs. Sho then torched a ball of fire in his hand as he traveled into the dark narrow hallway covered with spider webs and dust. The former general soon found the First Testament of Sozin neatly placed in front of dragon skull and coffin.

"My apologizes, Lord Sozin…I need this…" Sho said as he picked up the scroll ravenously.

"Haha…At last! The scroll!" Sho said out loud as he then tucked the old paper underneath his robe.

Just then the man heard footsteps and a voice, "Who's down there?" the voice called out as Sho quickly ran down the opposite end of the hallway.

Running away as he frantically made his way to a dead end. Sho soon started to panic as he looked for a way out.

Feeling for the walls, he found a small latch in a deep crack. Twisting the knob, the wall then opened into a secret tunnel leading into pitch darkness.

Sho stopped trying to think through going into the tunnel. Jus then the voice called out again, Sho hastily ran inside the tunnel as the wall closed up behind him.

Shortly after the wall closed, two Sages walked up to the stone wall. "Are you sure you heard someone?" one Sage asked as the other rubbed his chin. "I swore I heard something…" the man said as the other turned his back, "Well no one is here. Come on, the councils are waiting for us." The first Sage said as he turned and started to the leave while the other Sage hesitantly followed.


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