. Not to mention the fact that I can't keep Kiki off of my mind since the night I kissed her…Kiki where are you now? Katara returned from where she was and sat down staring out into space, "Are you ok Katara?" I asked she turned her head in my direction and shrugged slightly,
"I don't think so…I mean I can't stop the feeling that something's wrong…I mean we have Suki back, I've forgiven you…but something's still not settling right with me" she said. I patted the ground beside me and she came over and sat down we both leaned back against Appa watching our group members,
"Maybe you feel uneasy about not knowing where Kiki is" I suggested turning my stare towards her. I watched as she tensed up,
"That's it...Oh my god, Zuko that's it…I can't sleep at night I try to not think about what could be happening to her" she said all in one breath. "I mean she's out there right now by herself because of me…what if she's hurt" she turned facing me I could see she was close to slipping into hysteria I grabbed her by her shoulders but not tightly,
"Katara calm down, we can't think of stuff like that...I mean think about it actually take a second and breath, do you honestly think that Kiki…Our Kiki can be hurt that easily?" I tried to make myself sound more convincing then I actually felt. The truth of the matter was I was worried sick about her too, I watched as my words actually sunk into her head,
"yeah…your right, she's a strong bender not to mention the fact that she's a great hand to hand combat person too…so you honestly think she's fine Zuko?" I smiled.
"I honestly think she is perfectly fine" I said it was then that I had noticed Toph and Aang was watching us and listening, I was hoping that Toph wouldn't blow my cover about me not being sure if Kiki was truly ok, I waited holding my breath as she nodded her head slightly,
"Give off it drama queen Kiki's fine stop all your worrying and put yourself to good use and help twinkle toes here with some water bending…though it's still not better then earth bending" she said smirking. I watched as a spark ignited within Katara as she jumped to her feet and started towards Toph,
"What did you say?" she hollered loudly I watched laughing and shaking my head as they got into a argument about the better element, I have to remember to thank Toph for the distraction later I thought to myself.
(Kiki POV)
"Alright…the comet is in 2 days…by foot it will take us about a day in a half to even reach Ba Sin Sey who has any ideas?" I was watching Iroh talk with the others as I lay down in my canopy bed I made. That's right…we're going to have the biggest fight of our lives in 2 days tops…I wonder how Mema and Rouki are doing, I hope their safe I turned my attention back to Iroh,
"I know for a fact that they are holding king Boomie there but I also know for a fact that he can escape with a moment's notice and battle at our side if we go there first to attack" I explained not looking at anyone except for the night filled sky.
"Ok good idea Kiki" I nodded my head and rolled over onto my side, "Alright everyone get some rest…or at least try we leave early tomorrow for the earth kingdom," I heard them moving and getting into their beds as I had my back to them. I closed my eyes dozing off only to be awakened from a dream, I sat up rubbing my eyes and released a sigh of aggravation and climbed out of my bed and walked to the fire and sat down. I stared into the flames my arms wrapped around myself as I watched the flames dance in a rhythm of their own, "Couldn't sleep?" I didn't jump I simply turned my head looking to find Iroh taking a seat beside me.
"No" I said shaking my head, he nodded as he put some more wood on the flames making them grow bigger the warmth caressed my body,
"Want to talk about it?" he asked, I shrugged slightly, "You remind me of my nephew when you do that…Kiki do not shut out the world, it will turn even the most beautiful flower into a poisonous one" he said.
"…it's just…I'm worried Iroh, I mean what if we can't stop this, or what if we do and I can't find my family…I left them alone…UNPROTECTED." I said, he nodded his head
"But you left to protect them did you not?" he asked, I nodded my head "And we will stop this one way or another this will not be accepted" he said,
"I can't sleep at night…I haven't been sleeping for the past couple of weeks ever since I seen Zuko again…Nngh I can't keep him off of my mind either. I feel like my brain's going to explode if it's not thinking about the comet then it's thinking about Zuko, I…I just don't know what to do I mean he lied to me Iroh…he lied to all of us, betrayed all of us" I said looking down at the ground now.
"My nephew are many of things…and stupid is one of them, but you have to remember in the end he has chosen the right side everyone has the power to forgive the other person it's up to you to either open your heart and allow the forgiveness to freely come out or ignore it and leave him stranded." My heart slammed against my rib cage as I thought about this, "What is your heart telling you?" I looked at Iroh
"My heart…my heart is telling me that I love him…that I love Zuko for who he really is the kind person that helped protect me, that helped me escape from his sister that cared for me when I was wounded. I love him but I want to hate him…I want to hate him for the heart break he's caused me" I say tears beginning to swell. I felt Iroh's hand on my shoulder trying to console me I allowed the tears that have been building up fall freely.
"Kiki…you must go…follow your heart you don't want to be here" said Iroh I looked at him not in shock not even in anger I couldn't argue with him,
"It doesn't matter if I want to be here I have to be here" I said blinking through tears to see his face correctly. He gave my shoulder a soft squeeze,
"No…Kiki I'm telling you to follow your heart you want to be with your friends not here with a bunch of old men" he said I was having trouble holding back the new tears threatening to choke me. "Now go…go help my nephew and the avatar they're going to need your help" I threw my arms around Iroh hugging him tightly as he hugged me back,
"Thank you Iroh" I whispered I pulled back as another tear fell from my eyes,
"Kiki remember trust your instincts they are always right…and watch over Zuko for me?" I nodded and turned and ran off into the darkness of twilight as I ran nothing was on my mind but getting to Zuko and throwing my arms around him and telling him how sorry I was for everything. I ran until dawn was approaching, I was panting heavily bent over with my hands on my knees I had sweat glistening on my forehead as I was fighting exhaustion. I have to keep going…I have to find them I thought to myself,I pushed myself forward I didn't know how far I had gotten from the camp but all I know is that I could hear the sound of waves. I stumbled to the edge of the land throwing myself face first into the ice cold water; I pulled my head out gasping for air feeling more awake and alert. I spotted a fire nation ship heading in my direction, I can use this to my advantage I thought to myself as I made sure that the men seen me. Once the ship was pulled over to me and a guard was glaring at me I threw my plan into action,
"I am a member of the Fire Nation I was being used by Princess Azula as an undercover agent to search out her brother and to alert her the minute I found him. I need access to any kind of communication device you have" I said with a serious face the guard, glanced me over,
"How do I know you are fire nation and you aren't just saying it" he asked tilting his head slightly, I released an aggravated sigh as I threw a fist out punching him in the chest with flames which bounced off of his armor as he stumbled backwards. "Ok fair enough come aboard we are heading East to team up with the nation as it ships out for the comet we'll gladly take you with us to see the Princess" he says I smile climbing aboard staying on alert at the same time. Once I was on board and we started sailing off again I walked the ship it was very similar to Zuko's minus the fact that the Prince himself was not aboard. I was now at the stern of the ship when the captain of it approached me, "So tell me…what is this information you have for the princess" I glanced at him out of the corner of my eyes,
"The Prince has teamed up with the Avatar and has been teaching him fire bending…they plan to attack Fire Lord Ozai as soon as possible, I need to get back and arrange for a better squad to be assisting the Fire Lord so that in our conquest of world domination he is not distracted with not only fighting the Avatar but his group of useless kids" I heard myself say. As I thought of Aang and the others my heart slammed hard and painfully against my chest,
"Well you're just a kid yourself aren't you?" he asked I turned quickly pressing my face almost against his,
"I am not a kid I am the same age as the traitor Zuko and I am just as skilled at Fire Bending as you if not better" I hollered enraged. He smirks at me, "I am Princess Azula's personal assassin" I hollered I was surprised at how easy it was for the lies to just come out of my mouth, I was hoping that I sounded more convincing then I felt. His eyes narrowed at me,
"Alright I'm sorry jeez, I shouldn't have pushed you so hard…it's just Princess Azula doesn't like mess ups and since she's being crowned new Fire Lord I really don't want to mess up" he said quickly,
"I know that" I said quickly and sternly, Azula's becoming the new fire lord? This is bad…this must have been what Iroh was talking about when I was zoning out that night…I have to get there if I know Zuko that's where he's going to be heading. I thought to myself, "We need to increase our speed I need to get to Princess Azula with this information before tomorrow night" I said, he nodded his head and signaled to a guard. As he spoke to the guard I turned my back to him and watched the ocean as I let myself slip into deep thought about everything that has happened. I don't remember when I had left the spot I was standing at or when I had entered the room but I know found myself in a room on the ship I laid on the bed staring at the ceiling unsure of that I should be doing at this point in time with the information that I had just gotten with thoughts colliding in my head I closed my eyes drifting off to sleep. When I awoke, I knew something was wrong right away it was too quiet on the ship and we weren't moving, I sat up quickly tugging my shoes on and rushing to the door I pulled it open and was momentarily blinded by the sun then everything was happening so fast. I see flames and smoke coming from the front of the ship I realized that we weren't stopped because we were parked at a dock we were stopped because we were being ambushed. I ran through all the commotion that was happening on the ship I dodged fire blasts as I ran towards the front of the stern. I was slammed into being tackled to the ground I rolled with the person I had enough instincts kicking in that I tightened my grip on the person and rolled us again so that I was now on top of them and had my blade pressed against their neck. I glared down into ice blue eyes that glared right back at me; I glanced around and noticed that it was water tribe members that were battling the fire nation guards. I glanced around looking for an exit rout not once removing the blade from the guys neck, he grabbed my wrist and tightened his grasp and quickly lifted and twisted me so that I was now on the bottom of him and he had my blade pressed to my own throat I glared up at him with my teeth clenched in anger. He had war paint on his face but something about his eyes kept ringing an alarm off in my head, he had short brown hair with a, single bread hanging from it and the rest pulled into a ponytail stub. Then it hit me why his eyes looked so familiar and before I could stop myself from saying her name it came out, "Katara" I didn't know how he could possibly have heard me all the commotion but his eyes hardened and the blade was pressed to my neck even more.
"How do you know about my daughter?" he asked angered I couldn't help the shock that coursed through my body,
"You're…daughter?" I asked in reply he pressed the blade dangerously close to my neck and I turned my head slightly, "I...I'm her friend" I stammered.
"My daughter wouldn't be friends with someone like you….well there is Zuko but he's fighting with us" at the mentioning of Zuko my heart fluttered quickly. I used the distraction to my advantage and slammed my open palm into his chin knocking him off of me and rolled backwards pulling out the my sword and watching him closely, he looked down at the dagger he was holding and recognized the carvings. "You took this from some water tribe member didn't you? After you killed them" he was angrier than before, we danced in a circle prepared for the other to attack never once taking our eyes away from each other's.
"You're wrong…That was given to me by my grandmother…you are misunderstood I am not fire nation scum" I said the look he gave me was one that held disbelief. "I swear I am on the avatar's side, I am the one that has been helping them Sokka, Katara, Aang, Toph…" I explained naming them quickly.
"Anybody can know their names" he said quickly he glanced around making sure nobody was trying to jump him from behind,
"My name is Kiki…Look I'm on my way to the fire nation now hoping that I can help stop Azula before she becomes the new fire lord…you have to believe me the longer I'm here the more likely that they can be hurt or in danger…we are just kids we have to stick together" he looked like he still didn't believe me. I started to get angry, I opened my mouth to shout at him but my voice was caught in my throat when I noticed that there was a guard right behind him aiming an attack at his head. I kicked off the ground my brows narrowed I held the blade tightly in my hand he was ready…but for the wrong person, he leaned forward to strike out with the dagger I slid to the left slightly letting myself get sliced with the dagger on my arm. I flinched slightly as I slammed the sword into the fire nation guard impaling him, he coughed up blood and Katara's father turned slowly his eyes were wide when he took in what had just happened. I yanked the blade out of the guard as he fell to the deck floor, I turned glaring at Katara's father, "You see if I was on the fire nation side you would be dead, no questions asked but instead you live. Do you deny my truth now?" I asked in anger, he shook his head holding out my dagger to me I snatched it from him and slid it back into its sheath at my hip. "I have to get to the fire nation…how much farther is it from here?" I asked quickly.
"It's not far just 4 miles up that way" he said pointing up the water, I nodded and started to turn away, "Take one of my boats we are taking this one…Kiki be careful and take care of my daughter" I nodded my head and ran off diving over the ships railing and landing down into a water tribe boat I quickly stared it away from the fire nation ship. Using my water bending so that I wouldn't draw too much attention to myself as I let it quickly drift away from the ship, once it was a good distance away I quickly stood up on it holding my balance and brought my arms out to my sides taking in a deep breath and releasing it slowly before moving my arms in a circular motion slowly at first. As my arms picked up speed the boat moved faster through the water my mind raced as I stared the boat closer and closer to my destination, Kiki watch over Zuko for me Iroh's words bounced around in my head. "Zuko…please don't do anything reckless until I get there to help" I said to myself as I continued to make the boat go faster and into the bend of the river. As I went around the bend I caught sight of a fleet of Fire Nation ships, I clenched my teeth as I thought of what to do. I don't have time to deal with any trouble I have just a couple of hours left until tomorrow and the comet gets here I released a sigh, Dammit…looks like I'm doing this the difficult way. I thought to myself as I dove off of the boat and into the water bending it so that I didn't make too much sound when I dove in I swam past the first two ships quickly and slowly broke the surface next to the third. I glanced around and then quickly spun myself up with a spiral of water to the ship I dropped landing quickly and bended the water out of my clothes. I walked slowly around the ship glancing around cautiously; I held up my left hand and brought my right hand to my side in a clenched fist ready for anything. The ship was quiet I continued looking around as I walked waiting to see if there was anyone on board I was just about to walk into a room when I heard a yell. My head whipped around in the direction and ran jumping over the edge of the ship freezing the water into ice before I landed on it. I ran off in the direction of the scream running onto land and shoving myself through bushes, I didn't know why I was running so hard but something about that scream had made my skin crawl. I burst through another brush of bushes and threw myself right into a middle of a scuffle; My heart seemed to have stopped when I saw what was happening. Standing there in the middle of a fight was my Mema being held tightly by two Fire Nation guards why 4 of them surrounded someone I couldn't see but knew it had to have been Rouki. A guard shifted sideways and I caught sight of Rouki, he seemed to have gotten older even though it has only been a couple of months since the last time I seen him, he seemed taller too and stronger I could see blood falling from a gash above his left eye. He was holding a sword tightly in his left hand as his eyes scanned around him they looked wild; I knew he wasn't going to get captured easily without a fight I also knew that he was going to do everything he could to get Mema free. I could picture everything that would happen to them and all the rage, hurt and horror that I've been feeling burst from me in a yell of anger,
"NO!" I screamed enraged. I kicked off of the ground and charged at the guards as I ran I reached behind me and grabbed the single blade I slid it apart breaking it into two blades. I jumped up and spun kicking out sending a ball of flames from my foot as two of the guards turned around quickly from my scream of rage my fire slammed into the guard's helmet bouncing him back. I landed sliding to a stop the second guard brought his fist out at me shooting flames I blocked them with the blades and brought my right leg up quick slamming it into his chin. I spun and then brought both my open palms into his chest blasting him with flames and sending him flying back into another guard my thumbs were the only thing holding my blades tightly to my thumb as I slid into a standing position and regrasped them firmly with the rest of my hand. My hair was hiding my face slightly as I stepped back slowly to join Rouki's side squaring off with the other two guards,
"Who the hell are you?" demanded a guard I didn't answer just glared up at him, "You're a fire bender you should be helping us not attacking us, wait until Princess Azula hear about this" yelled the same guard. I laughed a mirthless sound,
"I can't wait to tell her…cause as I tell her…she'll be falling to me, I'm coming for her I have a score to settle and I won't stop until I have accomplished that task" I said smirking. I lifted my head fully my hair falling back behind my shoulders,
"K-Kiki" I heard Rouki said shocked,
"I fight for them because they are my family and you will not hurt them again…I will kill you before you lay another hand on them" I said darkly. I glanced around checking my surroundings and noticed that not too far away there was a small pond I smirked, "Whose first?" I asked, sliding in front of Rouki.
"Kiki let me help" Said Rouki; I ignored him as I squared off with the first guard who seemed to be in charge, "Kiki"
"No" I said cutting him off, "Go get Mema free, leave these guys to me" I said watching as the other two got back up to join the two I was now facing off with.
"But…"
"You trust me right?" I asked not looking at him, I didn't really need to ask him that question I already knew the answer to the question, without further questions he turned away putting his back to me. The first two charged at me one swung his fist at my head as the other went for my legs, I threw myself backwards bringing my hands up to my head letting go off the blades. I dodged the attack landing on my back but quickly pushed off of the ground with my hands shoving myself up I shot flames out of my feet at them they jumped to the side dodging. As I landed on my feet I spun kicking flames from my right foot pushing them back, I caught sight of the other two coming at me I brought my arms out and quickly spun water rushing from the pond crossing over my body and slamming into them slamming them into a tree I continued to slam water into their body until they were pressed against a tree and I quickly froze it there. The remaining two guards stopped confusion clearly on their face,
"D-Did you just" stammered one,
"Water bend? Yes" I said smirking, as I slammed my fist into his chin knocking him off of his feet, "that's the thing about me, the fire nation took away both of my parents I despise you and this war, My parents were in love…they didn't care if they were of two complete different elements and nations, THEY WERE ABOVE ALL OF THIS I'M BETTER THEN YOU CRAP. THEY CARED ABOUT ME AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT LIVED WITH US AND YOU TOOK THAT FROM ME!" I screamed enraged I slammed my fists into the guys gut flames completely engulfing him as he went flying he landed a few feet away unmoving. I was breathing heavily still enraged I turned around quickly just in time to see Rouki knock out the last guard and hug Mema, I ran to them and threw my arms around them tightly hugging them as tears wet my face. "I'm so thankful you're ok" I said quickly,
"Kiki…I didn't know you could Fire bend too" said Rouki smiling at me I smiled back he had gotten bigger he was a lot taller than the last time I seen him and he had gotten more handsome as well. I smile and then it quickly faded as I caught sight of the gash on his head again,
"Come on Rouki let me heal that for you" I say grabbing his hand and tugging him towards the pound he followed me looking at me shocked,
"You can heal now?" he asked, I smiled and nodded,
"You have no idea what I can do now, I've been practicing a lot of water bending and fire bending…I've met a lot of new great people and I've been to a lot of new places" I say as we kneel by the pond. His eyes lit up with excitement,
"Really? Where?" he excited I held my left hand out over the water and bended it into the air pressing it against his head where the gash was. The water began to glow slightly as the cold properties of the water began to heal the wound instantly, "Wow…you've gotten really good" he said smiling.
"Yeah I have and to answer your question…I've been to the southern water tribe but not for long, I've also been to the mystical swamp, the legendary library…which unfortunately took many of its secrets with it back under the sand, I also was in Basin say" I said. I bended the water back into the pond,
"Kiki…where have you gotten all of this from?" asked my Mema looking at me, "And the blades" she said pointing to the two swords that still lay on the ground.
"I…have been traveling with the avatar" I heard Rouki gasp and my Mema's eyes went wide, "He is real…his name is Aang and he's 12 just a kid but he is very strong…I helped train him in water bending along with a northern water tribe girl named Katara, she is also traveling with him, and her older brother Sokka…he's a goof ball but can be really useful when it comes to making plans. Then there's Toph Beifong she's a blind girl that has been teaching Aang how to Earth bend she can see…sort of through the vibrations in the ground with her feet. So needless to say she walks around everywhere barefooted, she's really tough and really good at what she does…I actually think she is the best earth bender in the water" I said happily.
"No way" said Rouki,
"No I'm serious…she's the first Metal Bender EVER" I said quickly, "but we'll have more time for these stories later right now I need to go…look where are you heading?" I asked them climbing to my feet.
"Kiki…you can't go" started Rouki,
"She must…she has a heavy burden on her shoulder's which she must lift and she will only do that once she has fulfilled her mission" my Mema said I smiled and hugged her softly kissing her cheek.
"Head in that direction I know for a fact that the fleet of Fire Nation that was there was defeated by water tribes….and please be careful," I say hugging Rouki he nodded hugging back.
"Kiki…what's so important that you have to go right now?" asked Rouki,
"…There's a friend that I have to protect…and it's not because I need to…but because I want to. I want to be by their side incase anything goes wrong…I should have never left their side to begin with but" I stopped taking a deep breath.
"But he hurt you and you were angry…you are in love with him aren't you?" I glanced at my grandmother and nodded my head, "Who…who is this young man"
"…Zuko…Prince Zuko of the fire nation…he isn't what he seems at all…he's saved me a lot…and I abandoned him when he needed me the most I refused to accept what he did…he betrayed me but I see now that if I talked to him instead of giving up on him maybe I could of changed everything that has just happened. But I can't change time all I can do is, try and set everything right by my next actions…and I know that he is definitely going after his sister Azula." I said quickly, Rouki was looking at me in both disbelief and amazement,
"Be careful Kiki" said my grandmother hugging me I hugged her back smiling, "I will pray that the spirits watch over you on this mission" I stepped back giving her hands a soft squeeze.
"Thank you Mema and I will be safe…Rouki" I said turning to face him, "Take care of yourself, if you can hold out until this war is over safely I want you to make your way to Basin say where I can find you guys when I'm done" I say hugging him as well he nodded his head as well hugging me back and then we released each other, "I promise I'll find you" I say smiling and then I was turning and running off back to where the ships were, I jumped back onto the ship and quickly made my way back on course. It took me the remaining day to finally reach just outside the palace walls in which the attack would definitely starting from and where my gut was telling me Zuko would be coming. I set up a little camp like area that was well hidden from guards that were too busy celebrating for the comet coming tomorrow to even realize that I was there by checking properly. I found food to eat and then settled down watching the night sky as I watched the stars I counted everything that was morally important to me at this point in time and everything I was going to do to make sure that Azula wasn't going to get what she wanted the most in life. No matter what happened to me tomorrow I was going to protect the ones I loved the most, I let a smile slide over my face before closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep