A/N: I am on VACATION! Finally. I cannot even express how much homework I had last week, which is really why I was not able to update until now. But the chaoter is long so hopefully that makes up for it. I don't feel the love! No reviews! Why?! Was it something I said? *Tears* On a happier note, this story is now over 100,000 words- by far by longest- and has more than 3,000 views- second most out of my stories and definitely the most if I consider time-wise. So thank you all who have been reading but please review. It sustains me when sugar and chocolate just don't cut it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except Kaji and the other OC's. They are MINE, Mwahahahaha. Ha, umm, moving on.
Previously on Events Unexpected…
"We have to get to Inzei," Kaji stated. The panic was clearly evident that time. "Now."
Kaji's body burst over the table with her fire propelling her under her feet. She was frozen mid leap, stretching her clawed hands toward the waterbending man. His hands had pulled back into his hip, bringing his water whip with them. The tiniest hint of ice was beginning to appear on the very tip of the segmented liquid. In the corner, Aroostook was clutching at the bloody hole by his face where his ear had been melted into the side of his head.
Kaji had reached Karak and his body had gone rigid before convulsing in a series of flailing movements. During her acrobatic jump over the dining table, Kaji had summoned up her lightning and, as her pointer and middle fingers made contact with Karak's body, the torrent of electricity had jettisoned itself into his body. Kaji's triumphant smirk soon dropped into a look of disbelief as she turned to look at the form of the Fire Lord. Inzei's bronze eyes that had held the internal warmth of his fire were dull and cold. His head hung down, droplets of blood coming from his mouth in a waterfall of red. Korra turned to see the last heave of the man's breast before he ceased moving, the ice shards sticking out of the mass of red at the front of his tunic were nearly invisible in the darkening fabric.
"Inzei's dead," Korra was able to croak out while Kaji just hid her face in her shoulder.
The city in the center of the volcanic mountain was quiet. It was not the quiet that could be found on a warm summer afternoon or a particularly chilly winter day that only occasionally swept through the southernmost continent above the South Pole. The streets had been cleared of all residents. Children that had once run along the cobblestone roads were shadows of memory, echoes of a brighter time. The venders that had held claim to the main streets leading from the outer ring of the Capital into the wealthier inner ring had closed their small shops. The metal blinds had been drawn over the colorful wares; then they too had been covered by long flowing curtains. The flags draped from their metallic holsters were no longer the extravagant and outstanding vermilions and sun-yellows that normally graced the city of Agni. In their place hung flowing white fabric inlaid with no adornment other than a fine pearly rim. The winds that somehow slipped through the protective dome of rock that jutted to encircle the silent city had also disappeared, afraid to disturb the fine dust of yesterday and the day before. The dust that lay there, the memories that should have stayed instead of passing into mourning; all stood still. The white laces that clothed the buildings and flagpoles made the entire atmosphere resemble a ghostly mirage of a dead metropolis, slowly vanishing in its own shock and grief.
The people missing from the deserted homes and businesses were not, however, restless spirits in search of their salvation. Rather, they had all been gathered before the large building, jutting out of the Eastern Wing of the palace. The fore of the courtyard had been reserved for the nobility and the wealthy merchants who had earned their places through monetary title. The back was taken up by the rest of the population. Before, in the time of the sprawling Fire Nation Empire, the death of a Fire Lord was attended bearing the finest crimson robes a man could buy. Large banisters of red satin would be held in the hands of those who were worthy enough whilst others held smaller flags of a matching coloration. The purity of white had been reserved for the members of the Royal Family alone, distinguishing their blood ties with the deceased and Agni from whom they came. After the war's end, Fire Lord Zuko had established a differing tradition. His motivation had been to bring the ruling monarchs closer to their subjects by allowing any who wished to wear the royal garments of mourning to do so. His attempts had somewhat backfired on him in the end, however. To the people of the Fire Nation, young and old, rich and poor, sharp and dull; the Fire Lord was not, and had never been, an ordinary person. The line of their rulers was one that was traced to divinity. Agni's children through a direct link. The first to be molded and taught the art of fire wielding by the dragons of ancient times. As such, the white worn by every member present in the large clearing before the palace was not something done to express power near the line of Agni, but to show reverence to the fallen demigod, no god, that lay in the gilded golden coffin atop the pyre.
Inzei had not been of the direct lineage, however he had been seen fit to rule for as long as he had. This, for all who stood beneath him in the social pyramid, was as good an omen as any of divine acceptance and ascendance. Thus the citizens wept for him as they would for any other Fire Lord. They wept tears that had been shed for Zuko, Azulon, Sozin, and all before, with not a hint of apathy.
The wailing and moaning of the spectators stilled as a tall figure approached the pinnacle of the towering stairway leading to the outcropping structure standing above the still body of the Inzei. The Prince looked only for a moment, at the face of his father, before turning away to stop the tears threatening to spill. The wrinkles that had adorned the aging man's face were now smooth. His eyes had been shut with a small spattering of wax, covered by an artist's fine brush to conceal the small ridges. If anything, Inzei looked more at peace than he had in a while. His robes were of the softest silk, pearl and gold with a small Fire Nation insignia embroidered on the breast. His hands were folded neatly over his heart, holding a replica of the crown he had worn for so many years. The bed he was lying in was also cushioned with silk and the finest of cottons. There were no flowers; it was not with tradition to adorn the inside of the coffin. The golden box had been elevated on a pile of wood, meticulously placed to uphold not only the carrier of the body, but also the four long poles holding the top of the grave. Twin dragons curled their tails outward into twin circles on the corners, their heads meeting in a flurry of sparks. The rest resembled a normal Fire Nation roof in style, but held the added flourish of the gold it had been molded out of. It was indeed an architectural masterpiece, and it was almost as much a shame to turn it into ashes as it was the man held inside.
Iroh II slowly got to his knee. His hands struck the floor in twin fists as he grit his teeth against the opening and closing of his throat. His robes folded out over his arched back, falling onto the ground by his skyward heel. If there had ever been a time when he wished that his hair had been longer, it was then. If he could only had the privacy to weep for his lost father, for his final parent on the Earth that had been taken. Duty and the honor of his father compelled him to shut his eyelids against the stinging droplets of water amassing out of his tear ducts. Movement beside him had his attention turn slightly from the aching in his heart and the burning in his lungs. Beside him knelt the other Royal Family member. The only one left besides him. Her dress was akin to his. The long robes reached to the floor, the ripples in the front obscured by her raised knee tucked against her chest. The yellow sash tied around her waist brought out the fabric above and beneath it ever so slightly. It accentuated the thin frame hidden under the bulk of the garment. Two folds of fabric stretched down from her shoulder to meet in points at her center line. His own folds were crushed beneath his hunched body, pressed tightly around him in an embrace lacking in any comfort. Her head was bowed, as his was, in deference to the passing of the great lord to their left, but her eyes continually scanned the area around them. Iroh did not know whether it was paranoia from Aroostook's attempt on her life, or something else, hidden from his knowledge. Either way, he couldn't help the rising wrath within him at the slight show of disrespect. It was not the time to be thinking of anything but the pain that came with the death of a loved one. He inwardly growled, thinking that Kaji shouldn't even have been there. She had not known Inzei, she had not been his child, and yet she was allowed to kneel beside him. It was only after quelling his rampant rage that Iroh conceded that Kaji was as much a child of Agni as he was, even if she had not been Inzei's child.
The Fire Sages had finally appeared from the shadows cast by the glistening tomb. Their large pointy hats and flowing clothing were the only splattering of color amidst the sea of pallid ghosts. The red, so close to the blood that had left the corpse's body in the final beats of the heart, was more of a stain upon a shining sheet of purity than a respectful representation of Agni's beckoning arms. Iroh hated the uncaring looks on their faces. The three came to stand in a triangle facing outwards, their voices ringing out across the silent observers and piercing into the clammy body of the prince.
"Inzei, Fire Lord to our nation for twenty brief, peaceful years. You were our fearless leader in the wake of political struggles with the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes, proud savior of the councilmen of Republic City in their hour of need, and benevolent ruler of the citizens of the Fire Nation. You were father of Iroh the second. Husband of former Fire Lord Arina, now passed. Uncle of Kaji. We lay you to rest."
The two adjoining priests shot a flurry of flames into the piles of wood and fine silks. The casket immediately ignited, leaving nothing to be seen of the inside but shadows of the ever blackening body and its surroundings. The gold melted under the intense heat of the fire and, as the wooden beams splintered, the top of the coffin was slammed shut and fused together under the pressure and energy of the blazing inferno. Iroh could not watch any further as the wall of fire engulfed the remainder of his family, the last of his bloodline, excluding his estranged cousin of sorts who had stood up and was now standing before the head Fire Sage. The man bowed his head, indicating that Kaji was to kneel once more. Her eyes moved her body in a small half-circle, until she was facing the hundreds of faces looking upon her in awe. The flames behind her back gave off warmth that cut through the chill of the event and cast shadows upon her high cheek bones. Her bangs had been pulled into a bun, but the remaining luscious expanse of straight ebony locks was allowed to hang free against her shoulders and back. Each strand was meticulously brushed and tucked so as to leave not a single hair out of place. She had to be flawless, the epitome of the god she represented, the patron of the Land of Kindling Flame.
The sage's voice resumed its bolstering crescendo as he lifted the gleaming five-pronged crown above Kaji's bowed head. "As was your wish, you are now succeeded by Azula's progeny. Hail Fire Lord Kaji!"
The crown pierced her neat bun, striking her scalp so that a thin line of blood dripped down her neck from a scratch where the gold had contacted her skin. The bead was lost in the thick carpet of black hair and Kaji's eyes held no indication of the small prickling discomfort caused by it. This was her time now. As the entire city bowed down to her, she fought to keep the smile from adorning her ruby lips. Kaji straightened to her full height. Her golden gaze swept over the prostrated bodies before her, lined by two rows of fire lit candles. The smoke from the funeral pyre that was turning the last of Zuko's influence into ashes wafted lazily into the sky where, far above in the stratosphere, it was finally caught by the wind and carried to rest in the sea. Below, Kaji relished in the feeling of her victory. She had succeeded, fulfilled the wishes of her grandmother and reclaimed the honor lost in Azula's fall from grace. The crown was hers, the Fire Nation was hers, and soon, soon the world would be as well.
Two Weeks Earlier
The sea was calm, something completely unexpected for the turbulent winter months around the North. The Fire Nation Vessels had been compelled to continue toward the heart of the Northern Water Tribe in a burning fit of vengeance against the atrocity committed upon the lead ship. The captains and men were all shouting for the blood of their perceived enemies in atonement for each stain on the carpet of the former Fire Lord's carpet. The body of Karak had been inspected for any trace of who he had been. His clothing, skin, even entrails had been examined to discern his origin. Nothing of compelling evidence had been retrieved and all they had was his obvious involvement in the Fire Lord's death and his affiliation with Aroostook. The councilman had, unfortunately, not been alive for much longer than an hour after he had made the attempt on Kaji's life and she had reversed the dagger to plunge into him. That left speculation and nothing more. The three other members of the International Council of Republic City were also not in any state for coherent speech. The Earth Kingdom man's condition was not improving in the least and it took all of Katara's skill to keep him breathing. The Southern Water Tribe man had been lost in his own mind since he had awoken aboard the vessel, talking to entities that were not there and pleading the names of all the spirits he knew. His search for salvation had not been answered as he had yet to come out of his shell. The Fire Nation woman had lost six of her toes and one finger to the gangrene that had taken her. Water had been dripping into her cell because of unconscious waves of heat coming from her body to attempt to regain homeostasis within her core. Unfortunately, it had only served the purpose of corroding her skin and freezing over the flow of blood that had come from the remaining nubs. Apart from that, she slept away the sickness and fatigue coursing through her old body. Katara held the ferocity of a mother dragon in her protectiveness over her patients. The crew members had fearfully and affectionately dubbed her the 'Water Serpent' due to her biting refusals to their attempts at interviewing anyone. The only one left then, was the young heir to the throne. Kaji had been the one to actually demand the ships direct their course southward. Amid protestations the girl had platonically stated that the Fire Lord deserved a proper Fire Nation burial and that she would not be responsible for holding the body in its sealed room while it festered. The crew had silently bowed their heads in shame and abided by her wishes.
To preserve the tissue as long as possible, Kaji had requested that Korra freeze the room. The salt water was brought forth in buckets so that the round window in the emptied barrack would not have had to be welded open. The only thing in the desolate grey room had been the bed of steel that held Inzei aloft from the ground. Korra moved her arms in rigid arcs, sending the water around the entire room in a whirlpool-like fashion before bringing down the temperature and freezing the liquid to the walls. Her breath came out in misty gasps even though her body was not tired; her mind had been put under enough duress to leave her winded. A light pressure on her shoulder pulled her out of the room and the portal leading into it was closed, locking the precious treasure away from the eyes of those who were looking. The room would have to be refrozen every few days, then in increasingly shorter intervals as they neared the equator and beyond. Having secured the body as well as they could have, the men returned to their tasks. The neutral laws of buoyancy and physics did not give reprieve to those who held the leaden feeling of sorrow in their hearts. The coal still had to be shoveled into the burners and the fires kept alight so the massive floating beasts of metal kept moving in their steady paths across the wide sea. The formation had to be kept, the triangle maintained in its spearhead shape so that it may strike through the waves with the most efficiency and grace.
Kaji stood staring at the door after all had left. She did not know why, but a strange feeling had crept into her being when her vision of the dead man had been blotted out by the solidity of unbending purified iron. It was not burdensome like that of the soldiers who had pledged their allegiance and their lives to the man behind the wall. No, it was different. She did not want to call it light, because she could sense the relative heftiness of it, but it was neither the shine of victory nor the dark abyss of guilt. There was something mystifying in the afterimage of the rigor mortem overtaking the arms and legs, locking them into position better than any mortal chains. She did not know how to explain it other than the relative pity that came with the demise of a good man who happened to be an unfortunate piece placed in an unfortunate position by some higher hand. Despite herself, Kaji had grown to like the previous Fire Lord. He had not been naïve or stupid in politics as Aroostook had been; at the same time, he had also not been ruthless and conniving in his affluence. Such men were always a breed in danger of extinction and it was almost a shame that Kaji had been forced to take his life. It was akin to the murder of a divine animal simply because she had been the hunter and it had jumped in front of a bullet aimed for something else.
Her thoughts were broken by two arms snaking around her waist and pulling her into a warm embrace. She hadn't even noticed that Korra had slipped her shoulder out of her grasp and moved behind her. The mask of stone slipped from her face to shatter at her feet as she turned to lean into the crook of Korra's neck. The slight sheen of sweat that clung to the tanned skin of her lover made her eyes sparkle with barely concealed lust. Kaji knew that it was not prudent to let her acting slip for a moment's pleasure, but still; the taste of Korra's flesh, so ingrained in Kaji's memory, was enough to make her knees weaken and her spine tremble. Korra's arms tightened, the girl taking Kaji's shivers as a sign of grief rather than arousal. Korra pressed her cheek into Kaji's forehead, relishing in the returned heat beneath the firebender's flesh. The unnatural coolness that had pervaded her lover was now a distant nightmare in a string of nightmares and, for the moment, it was enough to let the happiness of holding Kaji in her arms overcome the depression of the other events.
"Kaji-" Korra bit her lips. She didn't know what to say, but she also didn't want to prolong the silence. Her princess was ailing, shocked and broken despite her best efforts to appear otherwise, and Korra wanted nothing more than to bring her back from the precipice.
"Hmm?" Kaji's breath against Korra's exposed skin drew a tingling between Korra's legs which she immediately reprimanded herself about. Korra could not afford to let her rampaging hormones cloud her mind with such desires when her love was in pain. Not now, not in this moment of tension.
"I- I just-" Korra stopped. Kaji's lips had come to press gently against her collarbone. Her intake of air was sucked in through clenched teeth. Kaji's tongue gently ran along a small trail of perspiration until she reached the junction between the Avatar's neck and jawbone. Korra stifled the moans clawing their way out of her exposed trachea. The vibrations were enough to give her away to the firebender who was holding her against the cold wall of the ship's corridor. Korra hadn't even felt them step back until her back hit the metal.
"W-wait. We shouldn't be-" Korra's protests were lost when her sapphire eyes met Kaji's dark gold ones. The wetness along the Fire Princess's lower eyelids broke through Korra's resolve so quickly that the girl had to wonder why she even attempted to say 'no.' So much had happened, so much that had kept them apart for what seemed like eons. To feel Kaji against her, with no separations, was something Korra had been craving for some time.
"Please," Kaji's veiled whisper was all it took to liquefy Korra's waning defenses. The overwhelming need exemplified by the slight crack in Kaji's voice held such fragility, as though baring her soul in that one word. 'Please.' Korra could not think of refusing her. Not now; not when they were finally together; not when the entire world had just about collapsed over their heads; not when Kaji was this close and there were no guarantees of the future.
"I-" Korra began before Kaji crashed their lips together. Korra's exasperation at not being able to finish any of her sentences was lost below the fire coursing within her. Her muscles bunched together, propelling her arms up so that her hands could cup around Kaji's cheeks and then into her hair. Their tongues did not battle for dominance, rather moving in sync along every crevice of the other's mouth and lips in order to re-familiarize with each other. Kaji ran her hands over the hard muscles of Korra's back, sheathed in the rough wool of her coat and all the layers underneath.
The moment they broke away from oxygen-deprivation was the moment that Kaji took Korra's hand into hers and started running down the hall. They climbed the stairs in a haste expressed only by those with uncontrollable desperation. Korra held no inkling as to where they were or where they were going, so she contented herself in allowing Kaji to lead her as she had every time before. This time, however, it was hopefully toward a happier happening. Their journey ended as they swerved into a vacant room and Kaji slammed the door shut before bolting it. Her chest moved frantically as her lungs filled with air and dispelled it; her hair hung down over her face, hiding her eyes but not her open mouth; her hand slid from where it was holding the locking mechanism of the door to grip her waist. Korra licked her lips, tasting the wetness still clinging to the soft skin.
Beyond this point there is smut. If you do not wish to read, scroll down to the other writing in bold that signals the end of the lemon. You have been warned.
Kaji practically tackled Korra to one of the lower cots of the room. The room had been a reserve barrack, uninhabited for that particular voyage, as distinguished by the lack of sheets, pillows or other furnishings indicative of life. However, it had a mattress and that was all that was necessary. Kaji held no complaints as Korra flipped them over so that she was sitting atop Kaji's flexed stomach. Korra pulled at Kaji's top, the traditional shirt held by buttons that moved from the center at the neckline to just in front of her left hip. The infernal straps were set in their claim of the small copper pieces holding the fabric together. Korra growled in frustration at the utter stupidity of the design. Kaji's smile was reward enough to calm the overeager Avatar. The older girl helped slip each small engraved circle under the fabric and loose it from its holding. After the third one, Korra was beginning to get impatient again. Her hands unfolded the top piece of the shirt and slipped underneath to cup Kaji's breasts. The nipples hardened immediately under her touch and Kaji arched up letting out a groan. Korra closed her eyes in revelry at the sensation of holding her beloved in her hands and eliciting such sounds from her. Her left hand continued in its rubbing and worshipping of Kaji's right breast while she took the left one in her mouth. The taste of saltiness at the pinnacle of the hard nub sent Korra reeling. Her teeth bit down sending a wave of electricity through Kaji. Her hands gripped at the mattress beneath her in an attempt to hold onto her sanity. Korra's mouth was so hot against her, leaving a steamy wetness with each flick of her tongue. When she drew back, Kaji whined with the sensation of cool air hitting the area. Korra's eyes darkened to indigo as Kaji ground her hips into the Avatar. They were both panting by that point.
Kaji suddenly took hold of Korra's arms and dragged her forward so that they locked into a passionate make-out session. Korra felt her jacket and shirt being lifted from her head, breaking the two girls apart for only a second as it was removed. Then she was back to biting Kaji's lower lip and pushing against her bare chest. The friction caused by skin rubbing against skin sent shockwaves down their bodies, amassing in the pools of wetness between their thighs. Korra felt the need intensify until she was grinding haplessly against Kaji's body, groaning like some kind of beast and not caring one bit. It had been too long and she felt like she would die if the energy within her was not released. Kaji's hands moved to Korra's pant-line, slipping her thumbs below the hem and pulling down. The feeling of Kaji's sharp nails tracing down her hips then thighs sent Korra to Cloud Nine. Kaji lifted her leg to catch the piece of clothing and bring it the rest of the way down to Korra's ankles. The slight elevation of her hipbone hit Korra's center in such a manner as to bring a scream from Korra's flushed lips. Kaji's lips stopped it halfway, muffling the other girl by taking in the ecstasy and dispelling it throughout her own body.
Korra was now completely naked, writhing under the fiery touches of the girl underneath her. Kaji took Korra's breasts into her mouth and hand while slipping the free one down the rub against Korra's clit. The fluids spilling out of her coated Kaji's fingers in the Avatar's slick euphoria, lubricating her entrance in anticipation. Kaji felt Korra tightening; she would not last that long. Wanting to fulfill her lover's needs, Kaji slipped two fingers into Korra's folds. Korra rocked into her hand, pushing Kaji even deeper into her. Her walls tightened with the impending orgasm until Kaji curled her digits into the spongy muscle and released the spring holding Korra's body taut.
"Ah, Kaji!" Korra yelled into the firebender's neck before biting into it as the orgasm rocked through her. The intense pleasure begotten from Kaji's presence within her was so raw that it threatened to consume Korra into oblivion. There was nothing like it, nothing she had ever experienced that felt that good.
Korra's body went limp in the final throws of her release. Her hands trailed Kaji's sides from the underside of her breasts to the annoying cloth keeping Kaji hidden from her. The firebender arched into her, begging for the same release that she had provided for Korra. The Avatar was happy to oblige her. She lifted herself up so that she could swiftly remove the rest of Kaji's shirt and then her pants. Lowering her head, Korra took Kaji into her lips. Her tongue swirled over the princess's entrance before moving up and sucking on her sensitive clit. Kaji sunk her feet into the bed so that she could push herself deeper into the younger girl's lips. The clenching of her muscles only helped to bring her closer to coming. Korra's tongue darted into her nether lips, lapping up all of the wetness that she had caused. Her face relaxed into a smile as she felt Kaji's release unleash around her. Her lover's screams were glorious, beautiful, musical, and it was her name that was coming forth in a mantra. It was Korra who made Kaji feel this way, no one else, and Korra felt an extreme sense of satisfaction at knowing that Kaji was hers. However, once was simply not enough. Kaji brought Korra up to her again, kissing her so that she could taste a mixture of herself and her lover in one. Korra moved to wrap herself around the firebender, pushing for more.
Okay, for all you innocents. It is over. You may commence in reading. :) For everyone else, hope you enjoyed.
Lying in each other's arms, completely spent from their prolonged lovemaking, Korra and Kaji gazed at each other. Korra had pushed herself up so that, even though Kaji was the taller of the two, Korra was looking down at her precious one. Their foreheads were connected, almost as though they were sharing their thoughts through pure diffusion.
"It's going to be okay," Korra whispered, hoping to sound convincing for the both of them.
Kaji inwardly cringed at Korra's misplaced concern for her. The young Avatar would have enough to deal with in the coming months without having to worry about Kaji's 'broken heart' over Inzei. She pulled a small, genuine smile over her lips and replied softly, "I know. I have you."
They were a week away from Republic City. The Earth Kingdom man was showing signs of progress, though not much, but it was enough to lift the moods of Katara and the entire medical staff. The Fire Nation woman was expected to awaken at any moment, as discerned by Katara's extensive knowledge of the body's condition through her healing. The Southern Water Tribe member was still, somewhat aloof, but his mental state was nevertheless better. No one was yet permitted into the ward without specific instruction from the Southern Water Tribeswoman but Katara was slowly beginning to thaw her frosty barricade. The captains and soon-to-be Fire Lord Kaji were anxiously awaiting the full recovery of all. Or at least, that was what everyone who saw the young monarch would have believed.
In truth, Kaji was upset that the conditions of the holding cells had not killed the Earth Kingdom citizen and Fire National. The Southern Water Tribe councilman was always meant to survive to make her own rescue seem less suspicious. Unfortunately, the constitution of the others was proving to be a hindrance to her plans. It was not particularly the people themselves that were a threat. Moreover it was that Kaji had been planning the death of the Earth Kingdom man as incentive to pull the Earth Kingdom to arms and, as for the woman, Kaji was in need of allies as her representatives in the Council, not a neutral party.
"It is such a relief that all of the captives are coming around, no?" a smooth voice came from behind her as she sat at her desk in the quarters given to her. Kaji had been offered the Fire Lord's suite, but had refused in a show of deference and remorse.
"Quite. We must be thankful for the foolishness of Aroostook's prison guards and assassins," Kaji replied evenly, turning to face Izuru Kain. She had grown accustomed to the silent entrance of the Dai Li agent and had even begun to notice the slight warnings of her presence.
"Mm," the tall, pale earthbender nodded her agreement. "Perhaps we should not get too excited though. As things stand now, anything could happen."
The implied question brought a smirk to Kaji's face. Her dark lips curled back to reveal gleaming white teeth. If Izuru had been anyone else, she may have cringed away, but she knew that Kaji needed her. Then again, she had needed Karak as well and that had not ended quite so well for the waterbender. Izuru made a note to keep her guard up.
"Yes, I suppose it could," Kaji replied nonchalantly, checking her pristine nails. They were growing back well from the abuse they had gone through over the past few weeks. "Well, there is no use in speaking of such things. Fate will decide them." The unspoken consent was picked up by Izuru, who nodded again lightly.
"Yes. What, then, shall we talk about?" the leader of the Dai Li moved to sit on the bed tucked away to the right wall of the room. It had been fastened between the floor and side so as to not move with the constant sway of the sea. The soft sheets were meticulously folded with a military efficiency. It made the spy smile. Small details of her mistress's habits were the only indications of Kaji's personality and lifestyle and Izuru held much enjoyment in assessing them.
"I am interested in the investment I made a few years ago with your underground. Now that I am to be Fire Lord, I wish to make it more… mainstream."
"The product has been taken well. The king in Ba Sing Se is still somewhat weary, but his courtiers will soon bring him around. They want nothing more than a return to the weak line of ascendancy that characterized Kuei's rule seven decades ago."
"Very well. I expect to form close ties over trade with Ba Sing Se. It will be beneficial to both our nations I believe," Kaji lowered her voice before adding. "How do you think the tragic passing of the Earth Kingdom's representative would affect good King Daoguang?"
"They were close as boys. I do believe our great King would be very displeased by the Northern Water Tribe's atrocities were he to pass," Izuru patted an Earth Kingdom lullaby into the cotton bedspread with her fingers. Kaji watched her scrupulously.
"I do believe we have run out of topics," Izuru mused. "I will be returning to Ba Sing Se as soon as we land at Republic City. I am sure I will hear from you soon, Fire Lord Kaji."
"As soon as the crown is mine," Kaji affirmed. Izuru stood and glided away, her steps muffled by the carpet lain over the hard ground.
A winded errand boy burst into the bridge room at the top of the tower, almost tripping over his own feet in the process. His eyes flickered over the bewildered faces of his higher officers and the Fire Princess and Avatar themselves. He bowed down to them, falling to the floor in the presence of his new ruler.
"Speak," Kaji gave him permission. Korra was flustered by the show of fealty, but held her tongue. Kaji was to be Fire Lord soon, considered a god in human flesh, and was naturally to be shown respect. Still, it did bother her how Kaji did not even blush at the boy's fervor. Had it been her, and it had been many, many times, she would feel awkward.
"My L-Princess," the boy stuttered over whether he should refer to the Fire Princess as Lord yet, or wait for her to be crowned. Kaji's eyebrow raised but she said nothing to chastise him so he continued, "the representative of the Earth Kingdom was found dead this morning and the Fire Nation councilwoman has been diagnosed as comatose with very small hope of recovery. Master Katara has no explanation-"
He was cut off by Kaji shoving past him and making her way down the stairs. Her red kimono swirled behind her, bouncing each time she stepped down. Korra quickly followed, sparing the poor flustered boy an apologetic glance before disappearing.
The hospital wing was bustling with commotion. The staff was running around like headless chickens, or more so than they had before. Katara was in the process of practically drowning the cadaver of the Earth Kingdom councilman in glowing water. Her hands shook with the effort of expending that much energy at one time. Korra ran forward to catch the elderly waterbender as her legs gave out and she fell back. Kaji would have been content to let the water witch fall, but alas her Korra held familial loyalty to the Master. Instead, she sufficed herself by yelling in a disbelieving voice, "How did you allow this to happen?"
Korra and Katara both looked at the fuming firebender. The rest of the doctors and nurses were frozen in place by the resounding yell from their monarch. It was rather comical, how they were frozen in mid-step or mid-grab of something. Their copper and brown eyes were all fixed upon the girl in the bright crimson robes staring daggers at the waterbender propped up in the Avatar's arms.
"How did YOU let this HAPPEN?" Kaji repeated herself. Her face was set in a frown but she enjoyed every delicious moment of turmoil her outburst caused.
"Me?" Katara growled, "I was helping them. I had them on the road to recovery. I was curing them. The question is what did YOU do? You vile snake; killing Inzei and then these people. What is your game?"
Kaji's inner smile faltered. She was unsure as to whether Katara was simply yelling out convictions or whether she actually suspected. It was probably a little bit of both. Not allowing her façade of fury to break, Kaji put on her best incredulous voice and shouted back, "Don't you DARE imply that I was involved in this. Inzei was my Fire Lord, the representative of Agni! I would rather be skinned alive than go against my ruler! And what perverse logic would lead you to believe that I could harm a member of my nation? In case your addled senile brain failed to comprehend this, the Fire Nation councilwoman is in a COMA!"
"Silence yourself, impudent child!" Katara's voice rang out causing everyone but Kaji to flinch. Korra tightened her hold on Katara's shoulders to keep her from pouncing on Kaji. The tiny, empty hospital bed separating them was not nearly enough of a bulwark for the poor firebender if she let Katara go.
"I will not. Tell me what happened! You removed all of the medical staff in stubbornness to prove that you could still use your healing water as you did in your youth. Now my representative is in a vegetative state and the Earth Kingdom man is dead! Do you know how badly that reflects on the Fire Nation? That he died on MY ship, in MY care!" Kaji growled and expelled a small stream of fire from her mouth. The blue fire licked at the air around her before flickering out as she calmed down.
"Oh yes, because reputation is what is important. Do you hear yourself? Just like that vile monster of a grandmother you had! Never caring about anything but the objective," Katara jeered. Korra watched as Kaji's eyebrows raised and then sharply dipped down into a snarl of pure hatred.
Kaji felt her blood boil. What had begun as a play of emotions had quickly escalated to a miniature volcanic eruption in her head. The peasant bitch had not just insulted her grandmother. Azula was worth a hundred of her, a thousand! She was not getting away unscathed with that comment.
With a guttural roar that sounded Draconic at the very least, Kaji sprang forward, clearing the bed with little effort, to stand inches before the Tribeswoman and Avatar. Katara twisted her arms out of Korra's grasp and converted the water from a bedside bowl into a shield just as Kaji's fist connected. The blue fire broke the ice shield into a thousand small particles. Kaji's other hand came with unnatural speed created by the burst of blue fire coming from her wrist. Katara pushed Korra out of the way before ducking herself. The fist sailed past them and collided with another bed, thankfully empty, and broke it into smithereens and flying splinters. Kaji turned and was about to unleash a chain of kicks and roundhouses had her body not become frozen in place. Her eyes frantically moved from side to side, trying to understand why her limbs suddenly felt as though they were not hers. Her fire extinguished itself and her arms went to wrap around her throat. Her legs gave out and she toppled to the ground. The palms dug into her trachea, closing off her windpipe until she was gasping for air. Stars blurred her vision and the only thought she could formulate was one that consisted of panic and one word: bloodbender.
The pressure suddenly released and her arms became her own. Kaji's throat was sore and stung as though slashed with a hundred sharp needles. Her lungs convulsed and she found herself wracked with coughs as she tried to get some air. She was able to get onto her arms and knees, but was too weak to go further. Her eyes went up to where Katara was being held up by Korra. The old woman's hands hung limply to her sides, but her eyes made it clear that it had not been her intention to stop. Beside both Korra and Katara stood Izuru Kain. Her mouth was pressed in a thin line and she was looking at the waterbender with disdain. In her hands she held four small needles, akin to those used in acupuncture. The rest, now that Kaji was able to control her eyes and take a closer look, were imbedded in Katara's shoulders and, one only, in her neck.
"Now, I don't want to be in the middle of a war," Izuru would have chuckled at the irony had she not been in public, "because you two happened to have a misunderstanding. Master Katara, I am going to take out the pins. However, you have to promise me that you won't attack Kaji. Kaji, same goes for you once you've recovered."
Kaji grunted, unable to form any words due to her throat. Her hands rubbed at the new bruises that were forming where her fingers had been closing around her throat. Her own hands, betraying her for the whim of that filthy water peasant scum. It made her want to be sick. Katara's own growl was no more civilized and that, that she had control over her tongue. She did not know what it was about the girl kneeling between the two empty white beds that made her so angry. Well, perhaps she did know. The similarities between Kaji and… her were astounding and it brought back memories that Katara did not want to relive. Still, she had to keep her head. There would be no good to come of assaulting Kaji because she happened to unlock a corner of Katara's mind that she had kept hidden for so long. The Dai Li woman was right; war was too high a price to pay for anything.
"Great," Izuru smiled, though it did not reach her eyes. "I'm happy we can get along cordially."
"Master Katara!" a new voice burst in to their circle. Katara's eyes moved, but she still held no control over her body neck down, keeping her from turning her head. "It's the Fire Nation councilwoman… she… she isn't breathing!"
"Get me over there," Katara ordered Korra, who was still petrified over Katara's usage of her bloodbending. The Avatar snapped out of her stupor, carrying her teacher to the bed where the Fire National's body was convulsing in a seizure-like motion. In the back of her head, Korra would make sure to reprimand both of the feisty women she loved over hurting each other, but now was not the time.
"Kain!" Katara called. "Get me my limbs back, she needs a healer."
"I'm afraid I do not know how to reverse the effects-" Izuru began but was cut off by Katara's frustrated growl.
"Korra, you are the only waterbender here other than me. You're going to have to do it," Katara motioned for the young girl to leave her at the chair sitting next to the patient's bed.
"Me, but I haven't; I mean I never learned to do that; I can't," the protests came forth from Korra's mouth in a stream, words stumbling over each other in their attempt to get out. Korra's cerulean eyes widened in fear. She could not be held responsible for someone's life, especially for the life of such an important personage. Katara had indeed taught her the healing arts, but anything above a broken bone or two was way beyond her at that point. To attempt to cure the mind, the entire body, it was unthinkable.
"Do it!" Katara ordered. Korra immediately sheathed her hands in the fluorescent waters and placed them, first over the woman's chest to slow her frantic heart and relax the rupturing walls. Next she traveled, closing her eyes to concentrate further, up to the center of the wrinkled forehead. The brows relaxed with the entry of the water into the nostrils and ears. Korra's hands sensed the clumps of tangled chi and blood flowing irregularly through the old woman's brain. The capillaries had burst, filling the cavity with blood. The brain was losing blood quickly, with each throb of the heart. Korra's eyes watered as she realized that the damage had been done; the increased heartbeat and pressure had ruptured too much. Even if she closed off the ends of the blood vessels, the tissue would never recover.
Her eyes opened and the tears came down. She had never actually felt someone's life slipping through her fingers before. The feeling of actually sensing the spirit lift away as the body ceased to function could not have been explained or compared to anything. It was… it was death, but Korra felt it as though it were her own.
"Korra," Katara's voice reached her. "Korra, it wasn't your fault."
Korra whipped her head to face her Waterbending Master. How could she say that? Had she known? But then, why? Why had she made her enter into the dying firebender's head? Why had she been forced to experience that empty vacuum as the essence of the person left?
Kaji watched as Korra's eyes hollowed. At first, a sense of panic gripped her; unsure as to what had occurred to have taken the light from her love's eyes. Then she heard it. The last breath being exhaled. What startled her was that Korra had undoubtedly seen death before. Kaji had seen the corpses of a few of the 'assassins' lying in the red snow. This was somehow different than that though. Tears streaked down Korra's cheeks, pale and lacking in any blush. Kaji was frightened, unsure as to what had happened to the Avatar. She longed to grab Korra and hide her in her arms, to not let anyone lay a finger on her. The pain of looking at Korra's hurt expression as she looked at the old crone and to not have the ability to do anything about it was almost too much.
"Korra, I am sorry," Katara began. "I didn't know until it was too late."
Kaji's anger broiled again. Her fingers itched to shoot a bolt of lightning through the tribeswoman for hurting her Korra. Said person stood up from where she had been bending over the cold corpse. At first, no one, not even Korra herself, knew what she was going to do. Then she ran. Korra didn't even know where she was going, nor did she care. Someone was following her but she didn't want to turn and look. They could all just go to hell. Her breathes were coming out in hyperventilating gasps when she reached the top of the ship. Her eyes fell over the railing and she felt the contents of her stomach rise up in an unstoppable wave. Her feet barely carried her fast enough before she emptied out her gastro vascular system overboard. The bile stung and her eyes continued to drip tears even when the sadness had transformed to a dull throb of apathy. Once she had choked up everything she had, Korra moved to sit with her back to the eternal ocean surrounding them. She couldn't care less about the scenery, so she closed her eyes.
They opened into a threatening glare when she felt something brush against her. Her head turned in the opposite direction of the person sitting beside her. She knew it was Kaji; the jasmine and cinnamon scent wafting with the sea breeze was unmistakable by that point. Still, she was in no mood to be around anyone.
"Hey," Kaji whispered. Korra was surprised at the uncertainty in her voice. Kaji was usually so sure of herself. To hear her stutter in discomfort was… unforeseen. "We don't have to talk… but I wanted to apologize."
Korra moved her head to look confused at the bowed head of the firebender. Kaji's face was hidden behind a curtain of silky hair that cascaded over her shoulders and arms, which were resting against her knees. One of her legs stretched out so that it was flat against the deck of the ship. Her foot moved from the left to the right and then back while she fought to fine the right words. Korra beat her to it, "For what?"
"For losing my temper; for not stopping Katara when she was pressuring you to heal my citizen; for not understanding any of your mystical waterbender powers so that I can find out what went wrong," Kaji bit her lip. She had never really felt such a compulsion to protect someone like she did now. Even with Azula it was always out of respect and… love, but a different form of love. With Korra, it was something completely revolutionary.
Korra's giggle brought her head around so that she could see her lover. A small part of Kaji was worried that the girl next to her had snapped under all the duress. Korra continued to chuckle at the stupefied look on Kaji's face. Finally she was able to mumble, "Mystical waterbending powers."
Kaji let out a sigh of relief before nudging Korra with her shoulder. "Stop laughing at me. I am very lacking in experience when it comes to waterbending techniques. It's not my fault I never found them to be useful."
Together they sat, under the noon sun beating down on the metal deck. It did not warm it; it was too cold where they were for that even though they were pretty far from the poles by then. Still, it seemed much warmer since they were together.
Republic City's harbor stretched before them. Korra hated to see it. She rephrased that; she hated that she would have to disembark and leave Kaji on board. That and the disapproving scowl she knew Tenzin would give her and it was a recipe for a not-very-happy Korra.
The statue of Avatar Aang greeted them with his youthful face. His grey eyes seemed to follow the entourage of ships as it returned to the metropolis. The people came to greet them with palpable excitement, just as they had the first time. The mood was soon dampened, however, as the Avatar and Master Waterbender descended the gangplank. Their solemn faces, and then the following ensemble of men carrying a gurney with a white sheet covering the body on it, foretold of events that would certainly bring about mourning throughout the world.
Tenzin was the first to come for them. Following him was Lin. She had been called back from her search of the Earth Kingdom when Inzei had started for the Northern Water Tribe. She had made it back in time for the news that Korra had been found and was on board Inzei's ship. They had heard, from Katara's letters, of Inzei's death, but not the death of the others.
"Korra, thank the spirits," Tenzin sighed before embracing the Avatar. Korra was pleasantly surprised that he hadn't gotten to the chastisement immediately. "You are safe."
"Yeah Tenzin," Korra replied. She stepped aside so that Katara could greet her son. Lin gave her a concerned look, but Korra only had eyes for her firebender. Kaji had disembarked with them to petition to give her nation's councilwoman a Fire Nation burial. Lin watched as Korra's eyes never left Kaji as she talked with the tall airbender. A soft look passed over the stern metalbender's features. They had seemed very close when she had first met Inzei's heir.
"Thank you for your understanding," Kaji bowed her head to Tenzin before turning. She wanted to wish Korra goodbye with a kiss; she wished that she would not have to say goodbye at all. The world had other plans for them and so, all she could do was stretch out her hand and give Korra a cold handshake.
Korra felt something slip from Kaji's long sleeve into her own hand. It was scratchy, like and envelope that had been folded to become small enough to put in her hand. She looked up at Kaji, confused. The Princess just smiled and turned to go back onto the head metal ship. She would soon be returning to the Fire Nation to receive her birthright. Still, it was hard to not look back at those brilliant, loving blue eyes that she knew were watching her as she moved away. The ships bellowed steam as would a volcano bellow ash as they turned and moved away from the largest continent on Earth.
Left behind, Korra unfurled the small slip of paper from her death grip on it. It was indeed an envelope. Checking that everyone was too busy with the latest news and mortuaries, she opened the small wax seal. It was heavy, as if something other than paper was in it. Paper, was the first thing to slip out into her palm. It was a simple note, small and concise, reading:
I may not be well informed about Water Tribe tradition, but this is for you as a token of my feelings.
K.
Korra slipped the note back into the folds of the white parchment container. Her hand dug into the little pouch until it touched something cold. It was smooth, but not a rock. It had ridges that felt like metal, but the majority of the surface was something familiar. Korra gripped the small medallion and lifted it out to where she could scrutinize it with her eyes. It was a small circle, similar to the ornament adorning Katara's necklace. The one given to girls as a gift of engagement, a token of the other person's heart. This one, instead of being light blue and emblazoned with the crest of the Water Tribes, was a dark torrent of blue mixed with white to match Kaji's flames and had the Fire Nation crest entwined on the surface in silver. Another piece of paper was stuck to the back groove of the metal. On it read:
I expect mine soon.
Korra smiled at the sentiment and hugged the jewel to her chest. Perhaps the future held something benevolent for her after all. One could hope.
P.S. review PLEASE! I shall send virtual chocolates! I shall send virtual unicorns! I shall send virtual whatever it takes to get some feedback. This took me all day! That is how much I love you guys. :)