I hate being the writer of stories. I wish I was the reader, so I could experience the thrill of suspicion and mystery… Arrgh.

Hope you like it!

Disclaimer; Me no own Avatar. Sniff. *sheds tear*

Xxx

AVATAR; THE LAST AIRBENDER

The Unknown Elements: The Spirit in Azula

Chapter Three; Wedding Dresses and Confessions

I still hadn't confessed.

The cut reaching from my shoulder down my forearm stung horribly. Tears streaked my face, and the warden was wiping the blood from the dagger he had used to slice me with.

He tucked his bloody handkerchief in his pocket. "So," he said nonchalantly. He leaned down in front of me, his huge nose inches from mine. My nose was filled with the sardine in his breath. I tried my best not to gag. "Are you going to tell me why, in fact, you were trespassing in my prison?"

I couldn't. They would hurt Yuna.

So what did I do? I rolled all of the saliva I could muster into my mouth, and spit it into his field of frown lines.

He gasped, and snapped backward. He clawed at the liquid on the eyes, and the glared at me, his silver irises gleaming with hatred. "You ignorant little brat!" He brought his hand back, and swung it toward my face.

Slap.

My head was thrown to the side from the impact, and I muttered some extra-colorful words before pivoting my skull back into its original position. My cheek burned, and I tried to hide my grimace. "Like I said… I'm no tattletale."

He growled at me, and turned on his heels toward the guards behind him. "Take her to her cell. I'll interrogate her some more later." He looked over his shoulder and smirked at me, and then faced the guards again. "In the meantime… cut her food supply in half."

I sent a hard stare to the back of his head, refusing to act weak. No way was I going to back down.

The guards bowed to him. "Yes, sir."

The next thing I knew, they were throwing me back in my cage, and slamming the barred doors with a slam. Then one of the guards tossed half a burnt roll to me.

"Bon appetite," he snickered, before turning back to his friend and doubling over in laughter.

I crawled back into a corner, and stared at the bread in the floor. They think they can play dirty?

Well, guess what?

So can I.

Xxx

Iroh wrapped a blanket around the girl, who was lifting her frail hands toward the roaring fore in front of her.

"Warm enough?" the old man asked.

The girl gave him a small smile. "Y-yes, sir." She licked her cracked lips. "Thank you so much."

"Any time." Iroh sat down on the rug next to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "What's your name, little one?"

"Tenma."

He patted her back. He noticed she was still shivering. "What a pretty name." He glanced over at her glowing silver eyes. "Would you like something hot to drink?"

Her hands were so close to the flames, the wisps of heat were barely touching her fingers. "I… I would love some."

Iroh signaled to the waitress, who rushed to the kitchen. "So why have you come knocking on my door?"

Tenma fidgeted. "Well… it's kinda a long story."

The old man gave her a sympathetic look. "I have time for a long story."

Xxx

Katara was nearly bouncing up and down in excitement. "Mai, have you got it on?"

"Almost." He voice echoed from behind the changing curtain. "I just have to fasten a few more buttons…"

Toph puffed at a strand of jet-black hair. "So, tell me, why exactly am I here?"

"Because we need your opinion." Katara shot her a Look.

She rolled her glazed eyes. "Oh, yeah, because I'm of such service in that area of dire need." She waved her hand in front of her face with a huge, fake smile adorning her features, indicating her lack of sight.

The waterbender beside her smiled sheepishly. "Oh… oh yeah, sorry."

"Bah, whatever." Toph waved it off with one hand. Then she turned to Mai's direction. "Almost done, Grumpy?"

"Yeah. I'm done." She stepped out from behind the curtain.

Katara's eyes widened, and a grin exploded on her face. "Oh, Mai! It's so pretty! If Ty Lee were here, she would be squealing!"

It was simple and beautiful. Crème-colored long sleeves that seemed to float around her arms were hemmed with red silk, and a fat satin crimson ribbon adorned her waist. The skirt was light and flowy, billowing around her like puffs of ivory cloud. Red ruffles peeked from under the silken fabric, innocent… yet so Mai.

Mai tucked a strand of ink-black hair behind one ear. "Thanks."

"What flowers will you use with it?"

Mai fidgeted. "Uh… about that, Katara… I wanted to have…" She licked her lips, and looked down at the ground.

"Mai…?" the waterbender's smile melted at her expression.

Mai swallowed. "Fire Lilies."

Katara's face fell. "Oh…" Her voice was barely a whisper. "Oh." Flashes of old witches sucking the water from those innocent blooms shot through her mind.

"I don't have to if-"

The waterbender shook her head, and managed a smile. "No, it's okay. It's your wedding."

"You sure?"

Katara gave her a reassuring grin. "Positive." She stood, and brushed off her shirt. She cocked an eyebrow at the bride-to-be. "Now, are you going to show us our bridesmaid dresses, or are we going to have to force you to?"

Mai smiled; a rare, yet worthwhile gesture. "Yeah! I think you'll like them."

Toph scowled. "Itchy getup." She huffed. "Great."

Xxx

"Hey, lazy!"

The man looked up, wiping the drool from his chin.

I smirked. "Yeah, you. Don't you think you should be watching me, instead of sawing logs?"

He rubbed his sleep-filled eyes. "Wha…"

"I said, don't you think you should be guarding instead of honking your way through your shift?"

The exhaustion in his eyes immediately transformed into rage. "Why, you-" His hand drifted to the knife sheathed at his thigh.

I lifted a finger. "Nuh-uh-uh." I snickered. "No maiming prisoners, remember? That's the warden's job."

The man growled at me, and his fingers wrapped around the dagger's handle, nonetheless. "Oh… the warden doesn't have to know about this."

"Really? Well, if you cut me, he would notice. I'm due for an interrogation any minute now. If he didn't make those wounds…" I tapped my chin in mock wonder. "Who did?"

The guard gave me a glare that could wilt flowers. "You're lucky, you little brat." He swallowed, and narrowed his eyes. "But next time when you smart-mouth me, I won't be afraid to cut off your tongue."

"Whatever you say."

He plopped back down onto the stone floor, and covered his eyes with his helmet in defeat.

What? I said I would play rough. So I am.

xxx

Iroh watched Tenma sip her tea. "Wow. That's just…"

"Horrible?" Tenma gave him a small smile. "Yeah. The Yu Yan archers weren't very merciful."

"But to just kill someone because of a loaf of stolen bread… is cruel!"

Tenma shrugged, and looked toward the fire. "But ever since they shot my father, I've been on the run ever since."

Iroh patted her back affectionately. "Well, young one… what goes around, comes around." He smiled at her. "They will reap what they sow."

"But ever since the war ended, the Avatar kept them in order. They are still a group…"

The old man beside her cocked one eyebrow. "I know the Avatar personally… and I will tell you, that Aang can keep them under control."

Tenma drank her tea, and handed the empty cup to Iroh's awaiting hands. "Thanks." She stood, and wrapped the blanket on her shoulders tighter. "I appreciate the advice… but I must be moving on."

Iroh grabbed her arm, and shook his head. "No… I insist that you stay until you are in full health."

"Really?"

The old man nodded. "Truly." He managed to stand upright, and gestured to the waitress. "Quan, make this girl a cot in the back. She will be treated as an honored guest."

The woman bowed, and hurried to the long hallway in the back.

Tenma looked over at Iroh gratefully. "Thank you, sir."

The man nodded, smiling, and turned to go back to the kitchen to make some more tea.

When he disappeared behind the door, Tenma sat back down on the rug, and watched the flames in the fireplace flicker and wave.

A small smile crept onto her face.

Ah, gullible old men. So easy to fool.

Xxx

Ooh… is Tenma not as innocent as we thought? We'll see… in the meantime, REVIEW!