Sorry this was a bit late, I was on vacation in Chicago
Ty Lee never liked the thought of having a bodyguard, not to mention two bodyguards. But there was Katara and Haru, following her at a distance as she did her daily tasks. No one else on the island seemed to notice that she was constantly guarded. They probably just thought these were two close friends that couldn't stand being apart from her. Oyaji had thought it best not to tell them about Azula. Having the people in a frenzy would not help the situation at all.
She turned and gave a small glare in their direction. Katara was paying attention to something else and didn't catch the gesture, but Haru did. His face became downcast as he continued walking.
It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the fact that everyone was so worried about her. She just didn't need constant surveillance. She could take care of herself. She had taken down Azula on her own not so long ago, or had they all forgotten that? It was like she wasn't even a credible warrior; just a little porcelain doll that could be easily broken. She was anything but a doll.
She would rather have Hasoka watching her, or someone else she was more accustomed to. But Hasoka had over-enthusiastically volunteered to monitor the cargo ships along with Nikumu, who wasn't quite as excited.
"Dontcha worry, Ty." Hasoka had said, "I'm gonna keep you nice and safe!"
Sure, but would she be making her happy? She had already lost track of Mai, who was forced to return to the Fire Nation. What would she do without being with either of her best friends for an extended time? Well, she would see Hasoka, just not as often. And, for all she knew, Katara or Haru might have to pat her down or something before she was allowed to talk to her.
She kept on walking through the middle of the village, suddenly unaware of what she was supposed to be doing anyways. Some job, of course. But what had it been again? She shook her head and sighed. She was becoming more absent-minded by the second. Or else, more distracted.
Why shouldn't she be? Even though she could take Azula in a fight, she didn't want to. She didn't want to be pushed into another conflict with her former friend. To watch her suffer. To know that it was her fault she was like this. She would rather just let Azula kill her, or torture her, or whatever she planned to do.
Azula has been a fugitive for nearly a month now, Mai giving them this piece of news days ago. Who knew where she could be, if in fact she was coming to Kyoshi? No, she was coming here. Ty Lee was sure of it. Somewhere, deep inside, she knew.
"Ty Lee! Ty Lee!"
She was brought back to reality by Koko, who was pulling on the hem of her uniform. As usual her group of girls was right behind her.
"Oh, hi Koko." She said with a small smile. "Do you need something?"
Koko motioned for her to lean down, closer to her mouth. Ty Lee obliged, sinking down and putting her hands on her knees. She could remember wanting to speak face-to-face with older people when she was that age too. Especially since she was rather short.
Koko bent forward, cupping her hand over Ty Lee's ear. "What are you doing with that floozy?"
Ty Lee blinked, not sure who she was talking about. Then she saw Koko casually look towards Katara, a glare similar to the one Ty Lee gave earlier, if not darker.
"Showing her around the island." She lied.
"She's already seen the island." Koko insisted. "Many times."
"Don't ask me. She was the one who asked me to take her-"
"Why is she here and not Aangy?" She asked, revealing her true intentions. Her groupies behind her and well in earshot nodded, expressing their will to know as well.
"Aangy- I mean Aang- is the Avatar, remember? He's off doing….Avatar-y stuff. Y'know. Saving people. Bringing world peace. Those kinda things."
"But he could be doing that here!" Koko protested.
"Well, I suppose so…but…"
She was relieved when suddenly Hasoka appeared, interrupting the conversation. Once again she was Ty Lee's savior of sorts.
The look on her face told her this interruption wasn't a good one.
"Ty Lee!! Come quick!!" She cried, panting. "The dormitory!"
Ty Lee let Hasoka grab hold of her arm and drag her toward the dormitory, not sure what all of the hubbub was about. Her bodyguards were on her tail. She could hear their hastened footsteps close behind. It wasn't until they passed taller buildings that she saw the smoke rising in the air.
She had become rather accustomed to fire. It was something in the Fire Nation that happened rather often. Whether it just is a small flame on the wick of a candle to a burning heat in the large hearths. Ty Lee actually enjoyed the heat that often caressed her face when she stood in front of a bonfire.
But this was different. This was the scary kind of fire, blazing like crazy, eating away at the dormitory they had worked so hard to fix. Ty Lee cried out in horror when she realized what was happening. With a crack she could hear sections of the second floor collapse inside. No! She had put so much time and energy into this! How could this be happening!?
For the first time she was grateful for having Katara and Haru as her minders. Instantly, Katara whipped out her supply of water, carefully working to extinguish the flames without burning herself. Haru was doing a similar job, killing flares by sprinkling earth over them, taking away their supply of oxygen.
Ty Lee watched, mesmerized, as their hands moved gracefully and with beautiful precision. She had always been enamored with benders. How they displayed such control over things that they didn't even have to touch. Without them here, now, the dormitory would no doubt have been completely consumed.
"How did this happen?" Ty Lee asked.
"Dunno. I was at the port and then I smelled the smoke." Hasoka said.
A new voice piped up. "I can guess who did it."
It was Nikumu. She had her arms crossed, looking oddly happy for witnessing the near-destruction of her future home.
"We don't want to hear anything from you." Hasoka snapped.
"You just don't want to hear the truth."
Ty Lee gulped, knowing exactly what she was referring to. But this was just a fire. Anyone could have set it. It didn't have to be a bender. Didn't have to be that bender.
Soon the flames were out. It didn't change the pitiful appearance of the dormitory. It was burnt and charred black, most of the work they had done reversed. They would have to work hard to fix that. Her spirits dampened. But at least it wasn't irreversible. It would just take longer for her to sleep in a real building instead of the dojo.
Katara ran over, holding a piece of scorched wood in her hand.
"I found this by the side of it." She said, "I…I think it explains a lot…"
On the wood was burned a message. Ty Lee stepped back on reading it.
I'm coming for you, Ty Lee.
Princess Azula was definitely on Kyoshi Island.
Ty Lee stepped carefully into the forest, feeling the mossy ground with her bare feet. She hadn't had time to slip on her shoes. That was okay; she liked the softness of the moss and wet grass. It somewhat soothed the sores on her ankles because of her constant work. Refreshing.
She was glad to be out of the sight of Katara or Haru. They had been especially annoying ever since the fire. They no longer stayed behind her at a distance: they were right at her shoulders. At one point she could feel their breath on the back of her neck. She needed her personal space! They were going to suffocate her if they stayed that close! Then Azula wouldn't need to kill her. She'd already be dead.
She fumbled with her hair as she grew nearer to the clearing in the middle of the woods. She wanted to look slightly presentable, even though Sokka was always aware that she slipped out of the dojo after pretending to be asleep. Her bangs tended to mat when she lay down. Fortunately, today they seemed to be cooperative as she attempted to fix them up.
She smiled as she saw Sokka, sitting on their special rock in the clearing. Waiting for her. Slowly she sat on the rock and scooted over.
"Hey, cutie."
He smiled at her. "Hey." He wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face into her neck. "So what was my Pokey up to today?" He gave a chaste peck to that one spot right by her jaw and Ty Lee promptly forgot all about Katara and Haru's smothering, along with everything else in her day.
"Well… um… I fed the Unagi, a… a bit ago." Her face was burning. Why did it always have to burn and turn such a clashing red color? Even though Sokka had told her that he found it cute, the color itself was still embarrassing.
Sokka chuckled and nuzzled her. "You told me that last night, remember?"
"Oh, yeah…" She tried to laugh, but the heat seemed to have spread to her neck and constricted her airways. Her hands gripped his shirt, grateful for his strength that was alone keeping her sitting up. Oh, the effects that his slightest touch had on her were ridiculous.
"I don't care," he whispered, and then he was kissing her lips. Oh, Agni, how she loved his kisses…
Her hands snaked up to cradle his face and his arms pulled tighter around her thin waist. Then, they were in her hair. And hers were in his. How was it that she felt that, even as close as they were, she still wasn't close enough?
They continued like that for a bit, or at least for as long as one can when not being able to breathe, then Ty Lee drew back, chest heaving. Why did this always have to be so exhausting? Her heart wanted to continue, but her lungs were desperate for a break. She leaned back on the rock, staring up at the stars.
"Look, Sokka!" She said wistfully, "A full moon!"
He didn't reply, looking sadly up at the anomaly she was pointing at. Ty Lee had always been taught to despise the moon, considering it was the source of the Water Tribe's power and they, being fire's polar opposite, were the Fire Nation's biggest yet quietest threat. Of course, Ty Lee was never one for going with the crowd. The full moon was so beautiful, silver and shining. Stars twinkled next to it, giving the appearance of crying.
"… I can't do this anymore…" Sokka muttered.
"What?"
He stood up. "I… I can't do this anymore."
"What do you mean?" Ty Lee asked.
"You. I can't… be with you anymore." He answered.
Ty Lee felt her heart skip a beat.
"You can't mean that!" She cried, her face flushing in anger and surprise and sadness and confusion and every other feeling she was feeling at that moment. But most of all, betrayal. He had told her he loved her. On several occasions. Had that all been a lie!?
"I'm sorry. I have to do this…" He started to walk away, back through the woods. Back to his bed. She jumped to her feet, almost screaming in frustration.
"So you can go back to Suki!?" She shouted. "Why!? Because she's prettier? She's smarter? She's not a circus freak!?"
He stopped and turned around. "It's not because of her."
"Then why!? Why!?" She bawled, "At least tell me why you lied to me!"
She felt like going up and slapping him. More than once. Many times. Enough to make his face red and bleeding. Did he think he could just toy with her? That she was just a stupid girl that he could use? She was a Kyoshi Warrior, and she would not let him do this to her!
"I… I need to keep you safe…" He said softly, "And I never lied to you…I do love you…"
"Safe? How does this keep me safe!?"
"Well… I talked about it with Katara and…"
"You told her about me!? You promised never to…" She stopped, not wanting to go off topic. She would remind him of this later. "Of course Katara told you to break up with me! She would rather you be with Suki! I saw how happy she was when she saw you two together!"
"That's not it! Would you just calm down and listen to me!?" He shouted.
Several birds that had previously been sleeping were sent into the air by the sound, screeching and complaining the whole way. She wouldn't be surprised if it woke up someone in the village. Ty Lee winced, tears springing up in her eyes. She had never seen him get this angry before. Not with anyone. Especially not with her.
"I'm doing this for you, Ty Lee… everyone I've ever gotten involved with has always gotten really hurt. And now with Azula here…I can't let anything happen to you. You have to understand this!" He explained.
"Suki went to the Boiling Rock. Big whoop. That was partly because of me, remember? Hardly any real danger, not even life-threatening. I can take care of-"
"Yue died."
Ty Lee blinked. "What?"
"Yue… I met her at the North Pole… we were really close… and she died…" He looked up distantly at the moon and sighed, "If I caused that to happen again… to watch a girl I cared that much about die again… it would be unbearable."
Ty Lee's breath caught in her throat. She felt like she was going to throw up, either because of Sokka's confession or still because he was leaving her
"B-But…"
"I'm sorry, Ty Lee. This is for the best."
And with that, he walked out of the woods, not looking back. She watched him leave, finding herself slumping over on the rock. She felt faint. Then, overcome with emotions, she let it all out.
She cried herself to sleep that night.
