Ba Sing Se

"Uncle!" Lee exclaimed.

"Here, here," he cried, passing a full tray of tea to his nephew.

"Mushi!" a man called.

"Coming boss," said the old man as his nephew came back with more orders.

Mushi ran over to his boss and then back to Lee, panting.

"He says… we've got delegates… from the palace… coming… tomorrow… so we... have to work extra hard…" he wheezed.

"Uncle," Lee smiled, "have a rest. I'll make the tea for the rest of the day."

"But I -"

"Mushi, let me do this"

"Okay," he nodded and walked out the back door of the shop.

"You've worked hard…" Lee whispered.

"Here's the last of them," I said, putting the boxes down and taking my gloves off.

"Thank you, Jaya." The women standing next to me said. "Here's your salary for the week."

I took the money and started counting it. "Hang on, this -"

"I gave you five more," she said, "I think you earned it."

"I can't -"

"Take it," she smiled, "you deserve it more than anyone."

I sighed. "But -"

"I know, I know, you're leaving," she said, "That means this is the best time to give you a raise. I sure will miss your hard work though. I don't think I'll ever find someone like you again," she whispered, almost as if it was to herself. "You're a lovely girl."

"Thank you, you're very kind," I said quietly, before turning away.

"Goodbye," she whispered.

Walking home, I was trying not to think of what had happened. So I didn't notice when I banged into someone right in front of me.

"What was that for!" the girl screeched.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I cried, "I wasn't looking where I was going, please forgive me." She stared at me.

"You give a good apology," she said.

"Thank -"

Suddenly, a boy came whizzing past us, almost hitting me.

"Aang!" the girl shouted. I flinched. Her voice was so loud. The boy stopped and ran back.

"Sorry Katara," he said solemnly.

"You better be! You almost knocked this nice girl over."

The boy turned to me and apologised.

"Good." Katara said, "What's your name?"

"Jaya," I told her, "it means victory."

"Awesome," said the boy, stepping into the lamplight.

I gasped, frozen. "You're -" another boy's face popped into my mind, one of joy and love. I shook my head and the image disappeared.

"The Avatar? Basically." The boy grinned. There was an arrow on his head, the symbol of an airbender…

"Say how would you like to come over sometime? I could use some girl company," Katara asked, looking at me.

"I was just about to leave this city, but I suppose…" I stopped and looked at the Avatar.

"I know someone who would really love to meet you," I said guardingly.

"For an autograph?" he grinned.

"Something like that," I whispered.

Walking home after work, I could only think of who I had just seen. And all I could do was wish with all my might that he wouldn't find Aang. He was one of the nicest and most energetic boys I'd ever met. I don't even dare to think of how Katara would feel.

I know if he knew I was thinking this, he would almost burst with anger.

"Don't you want me to be cleared?" he would shout, "So I can come home!"

But he doesn't know what happened to me after he left. With no-one left to care for me, they threw me out with no more than a word.

I can't imagine what he would do to his father if he found out. If he knew that when he went home, that I wouldn't be there…

He'd never been angry with me before. He was always gentle and kind. I so wish I could see him. But he's probably far from here…

I stopped. My legs couldn't move at all.

What if he was here? 'I have to leave.' I thought, 'I have to protect myself and Aang…'

But what if I can protect him, what if I can protect both of them? They sent me to him because of my talent, right, so…

Even he doesn't know what I can do. What would he do if he found out? I dread to think of his reaction.

If he knew that I was his protection…

No, I have to leave. Aang and Katara know what they're doing. I have to leave today.

"Wasn't she nice?" Katara stated, "I think we should get to know her"

"You just think she was nice because you want some girl company," Sokka said, and burped.

"You are just disgusting," Katara sniffed and walked over to Aang. "What do you think?"

"She was cool, but -" Aang replied.

"You think everyone is Aang," Sokka cried, "you need to get a filter in that brain of yours. Let me demonstrate."

Sokka pointed to Katara, "Bad," then he pointed to himself, "good!"

Katara gasped, and lunged for her brother.

"Wait!" Aang shouted, "I wasn't finished!"

The two grew quiet and sat down.

"I don't think you should trust her Katara," Aang said, "Did you see her scar -"

"You can't judge anyone by a scar!" Katara cried. Silence fell as the trio thought of someone else they knew who had a scar…

"I know Katara," Aang said calmly, "But…" he narrowed his eyes, "she was Fire Nation."

Katara jumped up and stared at Aang. "Really?" she whispered.

"Yeah," Aang affirmed.

"How do you know?" Sokka asked.

"Did you see her hand?" Aang inquired.

"It had a… mark on it," Katara answered, "like four little fires around a diamond…"

"I've seen it before," Aang whispered, "and it's not a scar, it's a tattoo,"

"What do you mean?" Sokka said, "Is there something wrong with tattoos?

"It's not that," Aang said reluctantly, "but there's something wrong with this one."

"Why?" Katara cried, "just tell us already!"

"It's a mark that the Fire Nation puts on particular people"

"But why?" Sokka asked, "Is that the sign of a soldier or something?" He gulped.

"No. It's the sign of a -"

"SLAVE! Come back here you!"

I jumped and just managed to get out of the way a young boy ran past me, clutching a handful of apples. He had a green headband pushed up high on his head. The slave.

Suddenly an old lady ran into me, and I fell to the ground.

"Now look what you've done!" she screeched, "He's getting away!"

I flinched as she screamed in my ear. This felt very familiar. I laughed without humour. The lady stared at me.

"What are you laughing about?" she growled. She stepped towards me, took my shirt in her hand and-

"What's going on here?" a smiling old man walked slowly towards us.

I stared, startled. Suddenly I saw his face. Him!

Jumping up, I grabbed my veil from my bag and threw it over my face.

"Aren't you that worker from the tea shop?" the lady grumbled, "help me teach this girl a lesson."

"And why should I do that?" he answered calmly.

"Because she got in my way of course!" she screeched, "Honestly, the people here... fine then I'll let you go for now, but if I catch you again..." the old lady pushed off from the ground and limped in the direction the little boy had gone.

There was silence as I slowly stood up, brushing the dust off my clothes. I didn't dare look him in the eyes. What if he recognised me?

"Are you okay?" he asked kindly, "my name's Mushi, if you want you can come to the tea shop I work at. I can get you a cup of tea to help you relax."

"Thanks, but I don't really drink tea" I said quietly.

"Nonsense! Everyone drinks tea!" Mushi said cheerfully, grabbing my arm and taking me in the direction of his workplace.

What have I got myself into now? I thought.