A/N: Sorry I missed the Friday update. NaNoWriMo was just wrapping up, so I decided to focus on that. But I just finished, so here's a new chapter to celebrate!
This is now my most reviewed and most subscribed story, so thank you so much to anyone who's done both/either!
Disclaimer: I don't own A:TLA, just Mira and any non-canon events.
Chapter Twenty
Know Thine Enemy
Never before had Mira experienced a stronger sense of déjà vu then when they were piled on Appa, leapfrogging from island to island. As soon as he'd taken to the sky, and Aang and Katara had whipped up some cloud cover, the questions started.
Mostly they were minor things about Mira's life growing up, or specifics about what happened when she left. Zuko stayed quiet for most of the conversation, but did ask one question near the end. "What were you talking about before, with the swamp?"
"We all got lost in the Foggy Swamp one day, and we started hallucinating," Mira said, playing with the edge of her cloak. "For me, it was mostly things I felt guilty about. I thought I heard my mom, and I thought I saw…you." She left out the thug she'd killed in Ba Sing Se. That was still a card she wanted to play close to the chest. "Well, not you exactly, but, uh…your corpse."
"You thought I was dead?"
"What? No! I knew you were alright after the Agni Kai." She swallowed down the lump in her throat; this was the hard part. "It took me a week to leave Caldera, after I ran away. I heard rumors about the whole thing, but I knew you were alright, and that you were alive."
Mira didn't say the next part aloud. She didn't tell him how guilty she'd felt after leaving him, or how many sleepless nights she'd spent wondering if she'd done the right thing. She didn't tell him she saw his burned corpse because she blamed herself for his scar. If she'd been there, could she have stopped whatever had motivated Ozai to burn him? Zuko hadn't given her the specifics, and she knew better than to ask this early. Still, she remained convinced that if she had stayed behind, she could have saved him.
If you had, would he be with you now? What kind of person would he be? Would you be? All these questions gave her a headache, so she spent the next hours in silence.
While it'd be easier to fly straight for the Black Cliffs (the rendezvous point for the invasion), it wasn't practical. The island was on the northern tip of the Fire Nation, while they were on the southeastern island chain. Appa could theoretically fly them straight there, but it was risky to do so within spitting distance of hostile territory. Better to skip from one island to another in short bursts, to lower the chances of being seen.
Hence the giant game of leapfrog.
"I think I see a cave below." Aang squinted from his position at Appa's neck, and with a nudge of his foot, the bison began to descend.
The island they were landing on was craggy with little cliffs and drop-offs, and the beachfront was littered with boulders of all sizes. This was typical Fire Nation topography. The islands were known for their shiny black rock and sheer cliffs, and Mira felt a sudden surge of homesickness. Not for her actual home, of course, but for the places in the Fire Nation where she'd actually felt safe. It was strange how mere rocks could remind her of those places, but then again, stranger things had happened.
Sokka shushed everyone loudly as they landed and the cloud dispersed. He leaped to the ground, squinty-eyed and head whipping back and forth. "Great job with the cloud camo, but next time, let's disguise ourselves as the kind of cloud who knows how to keep its mouth shut." He hid behind a large boulder and peered over the top, as though there were legions of Fire Nation soldiers just waiting to catch a peek of them.
Toph rolled her eyes as Mira helped her down. "Yeah, we wouldn't want a bird to hear us chatting up there and turn us in."
Sokka took her sarcasm as a personal affront. "Hey!" he said sharply. "We're in enemy territory. Those are enemy birds."
The birds in question were gathered on the rock face, until one particularly brave one hopped down onto Sokka's head. Mira laughed and waved it away. "Birds are birds are birds, Sokka. You'd be surprised how similar we are to everyone else."
Sokka harrumphed and crossed his arms, but didn't reply. He turned and left the cover of the rock behind to scout out the cave Aang had pointed out before. "Well, this is it. This is how we'll be living until the invasion begins. Hiding in cave after cave…after cave…after cave…" His shoulders slumped as the full meaning of his words sank in.
"Sokka, we don't need to become cave people," Katara said. "What we need are some new clothes."
"No one's really going to look twice at you if you're wearing Fire Nation red." Mira regarded Sokka and Katara carefully. "And I suppose we could pass you off as colonials with that tan."
"Blending in is a lot better than hiding out," Aang chimed in.
"Plus, they've got real food out there. Does anyone really want to sit in the dirt and eat cave-hoppers?" Toph slammed her fist against the cave wall, and bugs erupted from the ground.
Mira sidestepped a particularly enthusiastic hopper. "You may want to stick to caves, Sokka, but I can tell you right now that you won't get me in one. If I never see another cave again, it'll be too soon."
Sokka threw his hands up. "Fine! Let's get some new clothes."
It didn't take too long to find the perfect mark. The island they'd landed on was small, but still contained plenty of people. One of the larger houses lying on the outside of town had just finished doing laundry, and several strings of clothes lay flapping in the wind.
"I don't know about this," Aang said uncertainly. "These clothes belong to somebody."
Mira shrugged, eyes already poring over the clothes. "Look at the house, Aang. Do you really think these people won't be able to afford replacements?"
"Well, I guess they won't miss them too much." He brightened up. "I call the suit!"
Mira stuck with Zuko while the others whizzed by, snatching up clothes and trying to find the right sizes. "You'll have to keep the cloak," she said, fingering a frilly shirt.
"I know," Zuko said. "I figured as much."
"It's not so bad, wearing the cloak all the time. I did it for three years and turned out all right. Plus, there's something about it that makes you look all mysterious and badass." She gave him a sideways look. "Not that you need a cloak to help you do that."
His lips twitched only slightly, but it was a start.
Mira discarded the clothes she'd found on the ship (which were obviously meant for someone who outweighed her by at least forty pounds) in favor of ones more fitting for her size and gender.
She found a small, form-fitting red top that hugged her chest and cut off right above her midsection. A knee-length, diaphanous sarong skirt the same color was paired with it, alongside deep burgundy tights that ran all the way to her ankle. Thin red slippers hugged her feet and the vermillion ribbon Sanji had given her years ago was tied around her left ankle.
It felt good, wearing red again. She'd miss her old outfit, certainly, but there was something to be said for reclaiming her identity as a Fire Nation citizen. Or maybe it was the appeal of finding something new to wear. Whatever the reason, Mira felt a little lighter as they cautiously wandered into town.
Although Zuko's hood earned a handful of wary looks, the teens were otherwise left alone. Mira tapped on Sokka's shoulder. "See? Wear the clothes, and no one cares who you are."
"Yeah, okay," Sokka grumbled.
They split up once they entered the shop, Katara drifting towards the necklaces and everyone else spreading out to find hair accessories. Zuko looked rather bored with it all; Mira couldn't blame him, really. His hair was still too short to pull back into a topknot, and it probably wasn't wise for him to do that anyway. All royal portraits depicted him with a topknot, so wearing his hair down, while not the Fire Nation custom, would be yet another part of his disguise.
Mira scanned the racks before her, unimpressed. "There's nothing here."
Zuko rolled his eyes. "Yes, there is. Could you just pick one so we can go?"
Mira turned on him, scowling. "Don't get uppity with me. Do you see anything here that'll hold all this?" She grabbed a chunk of her hair and waved it at him. "I don't think so."
"Then don't get anything."
"I can't go around with it down! It'll get in the way, not to mention if we get into a fight. You ever try taking someone down when you're busy spitting strands of hair out of your mouth? Not easy."
"So then find something and let's go."
Mira threw her hands up. "Agni, you're worse than a bored three-year-old! Go wait outside if you want; just stop bothering me."
Zuko rolled his eyes and left, leaving Mira to peruse the shelves in front of her once more. A strand of glittering gold caught her eye, drawing her hand forward to pluck it off the rack.
The piece was a series of golden threads woven together to form a round cage just the right size to hold a braided bun. Two thin hairpins slid through the base of the cage to secure it to the head, and as Mira examined the pins, a clever little idea popped into her mind…
"You're really scary, you know that?" Sokka eyed her warily and stepped away.
"I know." Mira tried to ignore the little voice that wondered if he truly was afraid of her. "I'm a genius."
"Who's a genius?" Katara asked, new necklace wrapped around her throat. They were gathered in the alley next to the store, putting the final pieces on their new outfits.
Katara was dressed similarly to Mira, although her clothes were colored a darker shade of red. Her shirt only had one strap, and she wore two layers of skirts down to her calves. Her hair was much too thick to be tied up all together, so half was pulled back into a top knot while two sections were left to drape down over her shoulders. The rest cascaded down her back.
Toph was dressed in more masculine clothing. A red sleeveless top and matching loose pants made up the basics of her outfit. A maroon and gold stole was draped over her shoulder and was tied at the waist with a belt. Soleless shoes and a decorative headband completed her ensemble.
Sokka wore a long, belted tunic and black pants that gathered at the knees. A high red collar flared out to his shoulders and his hair was tied back in a topknot. Thick leather cuffs replaced his Water Tribe gloves.
Aang was covered head to toe, out of necessity. His airbender tattoos traced their way from his back down his arms, so he'd chosen a black and gray suit with red trimming. The sleeves were a little long on purpose, to cover the backs of his hands. The belt meant for the waist was tied around his forehead, to hide the blue arrow tip that peeked out from underneath.
Zuko wore a belted tunic similar to Sokka's, though his was a deep brownish red, and trimmed with a deep gold. He wore a baggy red shirt and pants underneath, and sturdy black boots. A deep red cloak with a large hood was draped over this to hide his face.
Everyone's outfit was complete, with the exception of Mira. And that was what she was showing them now.
"Tell her your idea," Toph urged.
Mira held out her hairpiece. "It's a clip to hold my braid." She turned to show off the hastily fastened bun on the back of her head. "Only, since it's got all these holes, I figured it'd been a really good place to keep these." A little pile of darts filled her hand, tips filed like needles and winking in the sunlight. "Here, I'll show you." Mira settled the cage against her bun and used the two hairpins to secure it, then started poking darts into her hair. The filigreed hairpiece held them in place as Mira held her arms out. "See? Instant arsenal."
"It's scary sometimes, how your mind works," Sokka said simply.
Mira shrugged. "Hey, I don't have my belt anymore. I gotta make do somehow."
A strange growling noise sounded through the alley, and Toph raised her hand. "I don't know about you guys, but I say we find lunch."
No one disagreed, so they ventured out from the alley and wandered through the bazaar. Open air shops threw open their doors to the streets outside, wares hanging from hooks drilled into the wood. Cart vendors were placed at sporadic intervals, voices raised to draw in customers. Groups of people shopped together, talking loudly and pointing animatedly at shops. A loud clanging issued from an open blacksmith's shop as a hammer met metal. Voices slipped over each other like salmon in a stream. The low rumbling of the occasional cart passing by pervaded the air, adding to the low din of the market.
Two images and two markets overlapped in Mira's mind. One, a broken-down spiderweb of streets that still managed to prosper, despite overcrowding and rampant poverty; the other, a thriving pinnacle of business, filled with healthy and happy families who seemed so far removed from the war as to not be aware at all. It was funny: in the city where no one was supposed to know about the war, everyone did; in the nation responsible for the war, no one looked too terribly aware of it.
Just as a dark forest sometimes needs a closer look to pick out a single shadow, so too did this bazaar require a closer look. Under the surface, there was so much more going on than there seemed.
The shops that were exploding with wares were exploding a little too much. It was impractical to stock more than you could sell, meaning that perhaps it wasn't the shopkeepers' faulty sales predictions, but the lack of transactions that were to blame for the overstocks. And while the market was crowded, there weren't very many cloth shopping bags hanging from hands.
It was hard to see, but if you squinted, you could almost make out the same purpled eyes and pinched faces that marked the perpetually tired mothers of the Earth Kingdom. There was a disturbing lack of young men, as those of age would be drafted into the war first thing. Fathers gripped their sons hands a little too tightly, children did not stray as far from their parents' side. They were just as affected by the war, the only difference being that they weren't allowed to show it.
Mira felt a sudden surge of kinship with her people. They were not isolated or unaffected. This war took as much out of them as it did the Earth Kingdom, though it was not so apparent. She would see this war end, for them. She had to.
Aang took in the bazaar with wide, excited eyes. "I used to visit my friend Kuzon here a hundred years ago. So everyone just follow my lead and stay cool. Or as they say in the Fire Nation: 'Stay flamin'!"
Mira shot Zuko a sideways look and mouthed Aang's words in bemusement. Zuko shrugged and Mira turned to Aang. "Um, Aang? No one says that anymore. Not since I was born, anyway."
Aang looked crestfallen. "Really?"
"Pretty sure. How about you let the ones who were born here take the lead?"
Aang looked disappointed, but stepped to the side. Mira smiled at him as she passed. "It's alright. You haven't been here in a hundred years. Everything's changed since then. But you don't really need to know any special slang. Just act normal and no one will give you second glance."
Aang nodded. "I guess that makes sense." His put out tone was understandable. If Mira'd been asleep for a hundred years, she'd be looking for anything to connect her to the era she'd left behind too.
Sokka spotted a promising butcher's shop selling kabobs and steered the group in that direction. Aang stopped short as he took in the slabs of meat hanging from the window. "Oh. We're going to a meat place?"
"I think I saw a produce stall down the street," Zuko said, finally speaking up.
Aang looked at him in surprise, then smiled. "Thanks! You guys go ahead, I'll meet you here when you're done." He turned and disappeared around a corner.
Mira poked Zuko in the side. "That was kind."
"I was just sharing an observation," he grouched.
"Mm-hm," Mira hummed knowingly.
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
The scent of cooking meat clogged Mira's nose as they stepped into the butcher's shop, and her stomach rolled unpleasantly. Somehow, meat cooked over a campfire had never managed to smell quite that greasy. Everyone else didn't seem to mind, but the thought of eating the meat producing that smell sent a wave of nausea down her throat. Begging a queasy stomach, Mira exited the shop to search for Aang and his produce stall.
While the produce stall in question was easy to find, Aang was not. A crease appeared in Mira's brow as she looked around. The bright red headband could not be found bobbing among the people crowding the streets, and Mira turned to the vendor. "Have you seen a little kid, about this high," she held her hand up, "with dark brown hair and a red headband?"
The vendor shook his head. "Haven't seen anyone like that, sorry."
Mira turned and left without a word, worry twisting her stomach more than the greasy butcher's shop had. Not one to give up easily, she combed the streets around the stall, checking alleys and shops along the street.
The others ran into her outside the butcher's shop, stomachs full. "Did you find the stall?" Katara asked.
"Yeah, but no Aang," she said tersely. "He's disappeared. I don't know where he is. Again." For the love of Agni, this better not become a habit.
"What do you mean, he disappeared?"
"Oh no. We are not doing this again," Mira snapped. "All I know is, I go try to find him, and he's not there. The fruit vendor says he never saw him. I looked everywhere!"
"Maybe he just got lost," Toph suggested.
"When is it ever as simple as that?" Sokka said. "This is us we're talking about."
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Katara said, stepping in. "We'll search the bazaar, and then we'll go from there."
Mira and Zuko were tasked with searching the east side of the market, and they did so quietly and efficiently. He had yet to say anything about Aang's disappearance, and for some reason, that grated on her nerves. "I bet you wish he'd pulled something like this when you were chasing him. Woulda made your job that much easier."
"Zam," he said sharply. "I'm here, aren't I?"
Mira closed her eyes and exhaled heavily. "Yeah. You are. I'm sorry. I'm just really worried about him."
"I know."
They turned a corner to find two boys lounging against an alley wall, talking. One of them caught sight of Mira, nodded to the second one, then turned to face her. The second boy melted into the shadows, leaving the first behind. He smiled at Mira, and though he sent a warning shiver down her spine, she held her ground. Aang was more important than a seedy boy.
"Hey there, girlie," he said, baring crooked teeth. His canines were sharper than normal, giving him a bit of a lupine look.
"Have you seen a boy around twelve, with short dark brown hair and a red headband?" Mira asked, holding his gaze defiantly. "He's my brother, and he's lost, so if you've seen him…"
Wolf Boy pretended to think, then shook his head. "No, can't say that I have." His eyes wandered over to Zuko, and he frowned. "Tell you what, though, you ditch your boyfriend and I can take you to some of my friends. I bet they'll have something for you."
Mira snorted. "I'm not an idiot, and I'm not interested. I'm just trying to find my brother." She turned to leave.
Wolf Boy was surprisingly fast, and before Mira could take a step, she felt his hand wrap around her bicep. Stopping short, she gave him a venomous look.
"It wasn't a request," he said, his voice low.
"This is," she said. "Let me go, and I might consider not hurting you."
"Ooh, you're a little spitfire, aren't you? That's okay, I like 'em feisty."
"Oh, good," Mira said, a sadistic little grin on her face. "Then you're gonna love me." With one quick motion, she rabbit-punched him in the nose. He howled, hands flying to his face to stem the flow of blood. Before he could recover and retaliate, Mira snatched his wrist and pinned it behind his back in a hold just like the one Azula had used on her. "Now tell me," she said calmly, mouth by his ear, "Have you seen my brother or not?"
"What the hell?!" he shrieked, struggling against her grip.
Mira tweaked his arm as she turned him to face Zuko, who looked like he was fighting back a grin. "I'd seriously consider answering the question," she said. "Because my friend here, well, he's in a bit of a foul mood, and he's looking for someone to take it out on." Zuko straightened up and wiped the smile off his face. Suddenly, he looked about five times more threatening than he normally did, and that was saying something. "Now, normally I'd be able to hold him back, but what do you know, I'm all the way over here."
"Alright, alright, I saw him!" Wolf Boy's voice was about an octave higher than normal.
"Saw him where?" Mira asked sharply. "And when?"
"In the market square, a couple hours ago. A couple guards saw he had a school uniform on and took him back to the Academy!"
Mira released him and Wolf Boy stumbled away, blood still oozing from his nose. He turned and snarl at him, but one look at Zuko's palm of fire sent him scrambling around the corner.
"He picked a school uniform," Mira groaned. She pressed the heels of her palms into her eyes, then took a deep breath and dropped them. "Well, at least we know where he is. Can't exactly pull him out without raising suspicion, but we know he's okay."
Zuko turned to let her out of the alley. She gave him a sideways look as she passed. "Thanks for the help back there.
"You had him and you knew it. You didn't need my help."
Mira considered it and shrugged. "True.
It wasn't too hard to find the others and tell them where Aang was. After some conferring, they decided to stay the night in the cave they'd touched down by. Despite their new clothes, they still needed a place to sleep at night, and it wasn't likely that they'd find something in the town. Thankfully, Aang knew where the cave was, so he'd know where to find them.
Mira had said she'd never set foot in a cave again, but she was able to make an exception for their new hideout. The little grotto was carved out of a cliff right by the water, so it wasn't entirely underground. The sea breeze could still be felt within the cave, and maybe that was why Mira felt comfortable enough to sit inside. She could still see the sun, and that was all she needed.
Not much was said in the hours that passed during their wait for Aang. Some trivial conversation was tossed around, but there wasn't really much else to do. As night fell, Mira started a fire with a flick of her hand while Sokka looked on.
"How come you didn't do that when you were with us?" he asked, gesturing into the flames.
"Who says I didn't?" She sat down next to him, remembering suddenly that this was the first one-on-one conversation they'd had since the cave incident.
"You—what?"
"I told you I could start a fire anywhere with anything. I wasn't lying, you just thought it was because I'd been on my own for so long."
"But…you used spark rocks."
"Eh…they were kinda dull. I just…enhanced them a little bit."
Sokka shook his head and leaned back. "I keep combing over everything you told us, and things suddenly make more and more sense. I don't know how I didn't put the pieces together before." He looked at her sharply. "I'm still peeved you didn't say anything."
"I know. And I should have. But…can you blame me?"
"Yes."
Mira blinked. "Um…okay. I guess I deserve that. But I'm here now, still helping you."
"I suppose I'd be more comfortable if it was just you, but…" Sokka looked over to where Zuko sat meditating. "I don't trust him. He gives me the heebie-jeebies."
"Then trust me about him. And know that if he does betray Aang, I will be the one to kick him out myself."
Sokka peered closely at her and seemed to take the sparks in her eyes as genuine. "Okay," he said uncertainly. "But I'm still keeping an eye out."
Mira shrugged. "Up to you."
They were silent for a moment, until Sokka said, "One thing I don't get."
"And that is…?"
"You spent a couple hours down in the cave with Zuko. If you guys were so close growing up, then why didn't he realize it was you?"
Toph, who was apparently listening in on their conversation, chimed in. "Yeah. I've been wondering that too."
Mira snuck a look at Zuko. He cracked an eye open and met her gaze. "You'd have to ask him, really," she said, nodding to him. "And it's not like we were talking face-to-face. But I'd guess it's because I didn't hit my growing spurt until I left. Last time he saw me, I was maybe six inches shorter and my voice was at least an octave higher. I wouldn't have recognized myself."
Sokka nodded slowly. "I guess that makes sense." He quieted and looked down at his hands before saying, "You should have told us. You should have told me."
The true impact of her lies hadn't occurred to Mira until that moment. She'd anticipated anger, yes, but hurt and disappointment? Somehow, this felt worse. She almost wished he'd go back to being angry with her. That, at least, she could handle.
A low shuffling filtered into the cave. Mira turned to see Aang standing sheepishly by the entrance, rubbing his neck. Soot and burn marks covered his skin and uniform, but other than that, he looked none the worse for wear.
"School, huh?" Mira raised an eyebrow.
Aang jumped. "You knew where I was?" He sat down by the fire and began to brush himself off.
Mira snorted. "Please. We'd have torn the town apart if we didn't."
"What I'd like to know is why you stayed," Sokka said, an expectant look on his face.
"I couldn't just leave! The guards would have noticed me."
"Okay, fine," Katara said, stepping in. "But you're here now, so let's just go."
"No. I'm staying. For a day or two, at least."
"Excuse me?"
"Are you crazy?"
"You want to do what?"
The cave was filled with angry voices, but Aang stood firm against the barrage. "I'm learning a lot about the Fire Nation and its people." He turned to Mira with pleading eyes. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I wanted to keep you safe, and not right under the nose of Fire Nation officials." But as she was saying the words, Mira felt a worm of doubt. Damn Aang and those soft gray eyes of his.
"Aang, I'm trying to be mature and not immediately shoot down your idea," Sokka said slowly. "But it sounds…really terrible."
"I'm the Avatar," Aang said. "I need to learn about all the elements to do my job, and that includes the nations too. I know about the Air Nomads, the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom…but I don't know anything about the Fire Nation. Shouldn't I learn all I can while the whole country thinks I'm dead? No one will think it's me, so it's my best chance!"
Mira scrubbed her face with her hands and sighed. Kid had a point, actually. It was all well and good for him to travel in the Fire Nation, but if he kept to the caves and shadows, he wouldn't really understand the country, or the people. Mira wasn't exactly the Fire Nation poster child, and Zuko…well, let's just say it's be better if Aang met some normal kids. And if everyone thought he was dead, there really wouldn't be a lot of suspicion directed towards him. "Well, when you put it like that…"
"Mira?" Sokka looked at her in disbelief. "I really wouldn't have pegged you for the first one he convinces."
"You've got to admit, he's got a damn good argument."
Sokka opened his mouth, closed it, then huffed. "Fine. We'll stay a few more days."
Aang cheered and punched the air. "Flamey-o, hotman!" He ran off deeper into the cave.
Mira looked at Zuko. "Flamey-o?"
He shrugged. "Don't look at me. I'm still not convinced anyone ever actually said that."
"Um…we have a problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"I sort of got in trouble at school and now the headmaster wants to talk to my 'parents'."
"…Dammit, Aang! We've been here one day. One bloody day."
Aang winced and looked down, rubbing his neck in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. It's just so different here, I never know what to do. And the instructors are really strict…"
"Welcome to the Fire Nation."
"I'm sorry," he said, finally looking up. "But I really need your help."
Mira sighed and rolled her eyes. "I know."
Sokka piped up. "So a couple of us just need to act like your parents, big deal. Katara and I can do that."
Mira cocked an eyebrow. "And they're supposed to believe that two people as tan as you two produced that kid?" She pointed at Aang, whose light skin seemed to glow brighter against the dark color of his uniform. "One of the parents is going to have to be pale, and it can't be Zuko because any Fire Nation official worth their salt will recognize him in a heartbeat. Nah, it's gotta be me and Sokka." She gestured to the Water Tribe siblings. "Can you run into town and find some disguises? I'll stay here and work on our cover stories."
They nodded, gathered up some money and left. Mira turned to Aang again. "You so owe me."
"I know."
Mira found a sunny patch in the clearing in front of the cave and sat, scattering various hairpins around her. Their hiding spot may have been one of the better caves Mira had encountered, but even so, open air was ideal for her.
Soft footsteps crunched the grass behind her. Mira knew who it was without turning around. "Can I help you?"
Zuko took a seat next to her and picked up a hairpin. He fiddled with it, but remained silent. Mira unclasped her hairclip and unpinned her braid, letting it fall down her back. She worked the leather strip holding it all together free and finger-combed the strands, wincing as they got caught in the occasional snarl.
"I remember when you used to braid anything into your hair. Ribbons, feathers, beads, charms…anything you could get your hands on."
"Bit hard to sneak around when your hair makes more noise than you do," Mira remarked.
"I suppose." He paused. "It's—hard to reconcile the girl I see with the girl I knew."
Mira snorted. "You're telling me."
His hand unconsciously drifted to his scar. "I see."
Mira sighed and rolled her eyes, snatching the pin out of his hand. "That's not what I'm talking about, dumbo." She gathered a section of her hair and began braiding it tightly. "I'm talking about how you act. The boy I left was serious, confident, and more often than not had a smile on his face. And now look at you." She jerked her head in his direction. "Now…you're angry. You're angry, and guilt-ridden, and I have yet to see a full smile on your face." She slid the pin into place and lowered her hands, head tilted. "I'm not the only one who's changed."
Zuko began shredding the grass in front of him. "I know," he said. "It's just—easier for people to see the scar. That's what they see first."
"I don't," she said gently, picking up another hairpin. "And you know me. You know I'm not lying."
He looked like he wanted badly to protest, but he didn't. Instead, he asked, "Why did you agree? To the Avatar's plan to stay in school, I mean?"
"His name is Aang," she reminded him. "And he did have a point, about learning." She poked at her newest braid, then started on another section. "He can't go up against Ozai thinking that the entire Fire Nation is his enemy. We're not. But we can't just tell him that; he has to see it for himself. Why not with kids his own age?"
"But what if he's discovered? Isn't it better to hide completely until the invasion?"
Mira laughed. "You don't know Aang very well. Yes, it might be smarter, but that's not how he does things. Remember, he is only twelve. That part of him wants to see the world, wants to have fun…doesn't really think through the consequences. He's going to pull stunts like this even if we forbid him, so I've found it's often better if I just go along and plan for the best."
"And you're fine with that?"
Mira shrugged, tucking a strand of hair into place. "Not really. But there's only so much I can do. Plus," she added, "some of Aang's detours have turned out for the best. It's how we know about the eclipse, for one."
Zuko squirmed a little. "About that. Have you thought about what that means? The sun will be out, but…no bending." His eyes were haunted. "We'll be powerless."
Mira gathered up all her hair and began twisting it into a bun. "You will, maybe. I didn't bend at all for three years, remember? Give me some knives and a club and I'll be fine. Besides, you trained in the dual dao swords, right? You any good?"
Zuko lifted a shoulder. "I'm alright."
"Which is Zuko-speak for 'I'm fantastic'," Mira ribbed. "So just bring a pair of dao swords and you'll be okay."
"I've been meaning to ask—" He broke off and shook his head. "I've been saying that a lot lately."
"Things are moving quickly, we don't always get the time to catch up. Anyway, you were saying…?"
"What is it like, suppressing your bending? I can't imagine denying that part of myself."
Mira went still, fingers frozen near the base of her neck. She swallowed, hands falling to her lap to play with her skirt. "It was…the hardest thing I have ever done in my life," she said, speaking in stops and starts. "The first month was the worst. The fire in my stomach was going out, but I couldn't do anything to heal it. I started…seeing things. I thought I was going crazy. Or dying. Maybe I was.
"An old healer found me wandering in the woods, muttering nonsense. She took me in, nursed me back to health. She warned me—I couldn't deny my bending forever. Suppressing it was only temporary. There was a way, though, that I could stop bending and not go out of my mind. My inner fire would be hibernating in a sort of deep sleep. I would keep it at the lowest spark, and it would be safe."
"And you woke in the cavern."
"And I woke it in the cavern."
"There's been no consequence for not using it?"
"Well, I'm rubbish at firebending now, if that's what you mean." He shook his head, but then again, Mira had figured that. "I feel fine, if that's what you're asking." She took a deep breath in, her inner fire crackling in delight. "I feel great, actually. Better than I have in years. But yes, I'm about three years behind on my training." She gave Zuko the side-eye. "Mind training me?"
He jerked in surprise. "What?"
She rolled her eyes and resumed work on her hair. "Oh, come on. I can start Aang on the basics, maybe, with breathing and meditation, but we both know I'm not the best bender here. It's got to be you."
"I—don't know…"
"You say that a lot, don't you?" Mira smiled to show him she was teasing. "Think about it, though. You trained with Iroh for three years. I was focusing on hand-to-hand combat. From what I've seen, you're damn good. Enough to teach Aang."
"You're crazy if you think Sokka will let me anywhere near Aang with a flame."
"Okay, now you're just looking for excuses. But, then again, that is a good point." Mira slid one last pin into her hair. "Alright, I'll talk to him. But promise me you'll think about what I said?"
Zuko didn't look too happy about it, but he nodded.
Excellent."
Mira ran a hand through her hair for the millionth time and muttered, "Just let me do the talking."
"But—,"
"Don't make me take the beard away."
A sideways glance showed Sokka sputtering. "I…oh, alright."
"Now remember, your name is—,"
He rolled his eyes. "Daifu Bosetsu, and you're Reido. I know, I can do this."
Mira softened a bit and tugged at Sokka's fake beard. "I know, and I'm not saying you can't. We're just about to walk into a Fire Nation official's office and lie our asses off. You can't blame me for being nervous."
"We'll be fine," he said confidently. "We look the part, don't we? No one will catch on."
At least he was right in that respect. Katara had done well in choosing clothes that bolstered their apparent age. Sokka's beard, while a little silly-looking, did actually give him the look of a man much older. For Mira's part, her hair (done in an elegant braided chignon) and makeup skillfully transformed her face into one at least ten years older. They wouldn't stand up to extremely close scrutiny, but hopefully they'd pass from across a desk.
"Glad to hear you think so," Mira said quietly. She looked behind her. "C'mon, Aang, keep up! You're the reason we're here, anyway."
The school was located just off the main square in the center of town. A squat building with three stories, its doors opened out into the plaza, where its students often spent lunch. Aside from a few decorative columns and an elaborately carved roof, the Academy was very utilitarian in design, as most outlying Fire Nation buildings were.
The headmaster's office was squirrelled away in the front corner, down the hall from the main entrance. Mira, Sokka, and Aang were shown inside, and the door slid shut behind them.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. and Mrs…"
"Bosetsu," Mira finished. "Daifu and Reido Bosetsu." She gestured to Sokka and herself, making sure to put Sokka's false name first. As much as Mira hated it, the Fire Nation was very much a patriarchal society, and Mira needed to adhere to tradition if she wanted to fool the headmaster.
"Mr. and Mrs. Bosetsu, your son has been enrolled here for two days, and he's already causing problems. He's argued with his history teacher, disrupted music class, and roughed up my star pupil."
Mira laid a hand on her chest and looked wide-eyed at Aang. "Goodness," she said, pushing her voice up a little higher. "That doesn't sound like Kuzon."
"That's what any mother would say, ma'am," the headmaster replied in an indulgent tone. Mira could feel her hands twitching into fists and quickly smoothed her skirts instead. "Nonetheless, you're forewarned. If he acts up one more time, I'll have him sent to reform school…by which I mean the coal mines. Are we clear?" His eyes were on Aang now, who squirmed.
"Don't you worry, Headmaster," Sokka said smoothly. "I'll straighten him out." He turned to Aang and said, "You're looking forward to the punishment of a lifetime when we get home, you mark you words, boy."
Mira had to fight a snort of amusement…at least, until she turned and got a good look at the Headmaster. He was watching the display with a barely subdued sadistic grin as he said, "That's what I like to hear."
Mira couldn't get out of there fast enough.
"They send them to the coal mines, Zuko, can you imagine?" Mira was leaning forward, cross-legged, a scowl on her face as she unbraided her hair. "Sending a twelve-year-old to a coal mine. I mean, we don't even draft for the army until eighteen. At least," she said suddenly, a troubled look on her face, "that's what my father said. It's not that hard to imagine he was lying to me. What if they do send kids our age. Eurgh, I think I'm going to be sick."
"No, it's eighteen," Zuko said. "I passed through an Earth Kingdom village a while back, and some people there confirmed it was eighteen."
"Oh thank Agni," Mira sighed. A hairpin clattered to the stone floor of the cave as she detangled her hair. "I still love my country, but I'm not sure how many injustices I can take before I switch nationalities."
Zuko sent her a sharp look. "You don't mean that."
"No, I don't. I don't think I do, anyway. I've seen so much good and so much bad, I don't know which outweighs the other anymore. But I'm not the only one who's thought this. Admit it, sometimes your thoughts strayed into treasonous territory."
Zuko clammed up faster than a startled turtle-duck.
"Oh, come on," she said, rolling her eyes. "Who'm I gonna tell? Whether you're angry at me or not, you know you can trust me."
He relaxed bit by bit, as if he had to tell each muscle individually to uncoil. Finally, he said, "Maybe…late at night…I wondered why there was so much fighting if our way of life was best. I wondered why our enemies would resist sharing out success, and maybe…I even wondered if we were going about things the right way."
Mira sat still, hardly daring to breathe, as if Zuko was some sort of wild animal that she was afraid of scaring off. "This is why he exiled you, you know."
"What?"
"You're a true prince. You learned from your elders and then started thinking for yourself. It scares Ozai. It's why Azula was always his favorite; he could control her. But you were independent and curious and stubborn. You're a threat to him, so he tried to get rid of you the best way he knew how."
Zuko looked stunned. "No. No, he wouldn't do that."
Mira got the idea that maybe she was treading on thin ice with him, so she backed off with an easy shrug. "Eh, what do I know? It's just how I saw it, is all."
With that, she left him to his thoughts and joined everyone else by the campfire, where Sokka (still in his false beard) waved a nagging finger at Aang. "I don't care how much you're learning; no more school for you!"
"I'm not ready to leave," Aang said stubbornly. "I'm having fun for once, just being a normal kid. You don't know what it's like, Sokka. You get to be normal all the time."
Toph snorted and Mira shrugged. "Normal's overrated."
"Listen, guys, those kids at school are the future of the Fire Nation. If we wanna change this place for the better, we need to show them a little taste of freedom." He was pleading with them now, and Mira's eyebrows inched upwards on her face. If he was using this tone, he'd be asking for something he knew the others wouldn't approve of. Well, it couldn't be worse than attending a Fire Nation school, could it?
"What could you possibly do for a country of depraved little fire monsters?" Sokka asked skeptically. Without taking her eyes off Aang, Mira reached over and yanked on his beard as hard as she could. "Ow!" he shrieked. He glared at her, and Mira glared right back.
"Depraved little fire monster here," she said, scowling. Sokka made a little noise in the back of his throat and didn't say anything.
"Anyway…you were saying, Twinkletoes?"
"I want to throw them a secret dance party." Aang threw in a little tap dance flourish, but the others were too busy staring at him in disbelief.
No, scratch that. This was much worse than school.
"No."
"Are you insane?"
"Aang, that's a really bad idea."
"Actually, make that a hell no."
"Go to your room!" This last one came from Sokka, who was maybe taking his role as parent a little too far.
"Guys, guys, guys!" Aang was shouting near the end, waving his arms in an attempt to quiet everyone down. "I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out."
His audience was not very receptive, but they agreed. Aang took a deep breath and said, "All their lives, these kids have been following the rules. They don't know any better. But now, I want to give them a chance to have a taste of freedom, to see what breaking those rules feels like. They're the next generation of the Fire Nation, so I think we should show them a new way of thinking."
Mira was the first to break the silence. "Dammit."
"Oh no. Don't tell me you agree with him." Sokka looked at her, appalled.
Mira shrugged helplessly. "They're my countrymen. Of course I want to give them freedom, even if it's just for a night. Even if it's risky."
"The old Mira would never have agreed." Sokka sounded sulky as he crossed his arms.
"The old Mira's real name was Mirala and was from a small village in the Earth Kingdom," she replied coolly. "She died, back in the cave. You're meeting the real me now, the one who wants nothing more than to help others, even if it's something as simple as showing these kids another way of life. If it means taking a risk, then…" She shrugged. "We've attempted riskier for a lot less."
"If Twinkletoes thinks it's a good idea, and Mira agrees, then I'm with them," Toph shrugged. "Besides, if things go south we can always cut and run."
Sokka looked to Katara. "C'mon, sis, help me out here."
Katara chewed on her lip and wouldn't meet his eye.
Sokka threw his hands in the air. "Oh, for the love of—" He turned suddenly, towards the back of the cave. "You think it's a bad idea, right Zuko?"
Zuko stepped forward towards out of the shadows. "You've got to be desperate, looking to me for backup," he said dryly. "But yes, I don't think it's a good idea."
"See?!" Sokka cried. He paused. "I can't believe I'm teaming up with Angry Jerk over this."
Mira elbowed him. "Play nice."
He ignored her. "This isn't a good idea," he repeated. "Too many things could go wrong."
"If you really want to help the Fire Nation, there are better ways to do it," Zuko added.
"More practical ways, maybe, but this is something that'll pay off better in the long run," Mira argued.
"If we show them freedom now, it might change the way they think," Aang said, eyes blazing with an infectious excitement. "Like the monks used to say, it only takes a small drop of water to carve a canyon. We'll be the drop!"
Sokka took in the faces surrounding him, and slowly deflated. "I'm not going to win this, am I?"
"Probably not," Katara admitted.
"How about this," Aang proposed. "You'll be on the lookout for anything bad. You don't like how things are going, you can decide it's time to leave."
Sokka mulled the proposal over. "As long as my opposition to this plan is noted, I'll take it."
"Noted and ignored," Mira said cheerfully.
Hours later, and the cave no longer resembled the small little shelter they'd been camping in. Some fancy Earthbending by Toph meant that they now had a large dance hall on their hands, complete with a dais for the band Aang had procured. Stone tables lined the edges of the cave, leaving an empty space to serve as a dance floor. Behind the bandstand, a large tunnel would serve as their getaway, should the need arise. Eyeing the too-small space, Mira fervently prayed that it wouldn't come to that.
Once Aang had gotten the word out, news of the impending party had spread like wildfire. Despite Zuko's prediction that no one would show up, the hall was near bursting by the time full dark fell.
As Aang took center stage to start the festivities, Mira slid into a seat next to Zuko. "I know this'll be really hard for you, but do try and have some fun."
"You're so patronizing."
"And you're so serious." Mira shook his arm a little. "Lighten up! You can brood all you want tomorrow and no one will stop you."
Zuko yanked his arm back and shot her a venomous look.
"Oh, damn, I really pissed you off. Sorry."
"I really don't understand the point of all this," Zuko said, gesturing around the cave. "There's a war going on, we don't have time for dance parties." His voice was rough and scathing, and suddenly Mira was glad that Aang was not there to hear him.
"Maybe now's exactly the time, because there's a war on." Mira tried to catch his eye. "Are we all supposed to deny ourselves the joys in life simply because the world's engulfed in war? No more children playing games, no more holding hands with the one you love, no more indulging yourself? I'm sorry, but that's not a world I want to live in."
"I wasn't raised like that," Zuko said, shaking his head. "Politics came first in the palace."
"I know," Mira reminded him none-too-gently. "I was there, remember? That's how I was raised too."
"But you still believe in all that."
"I was a selfish little brat and you know it." He started to protest, but she cut him off. "No, don't deny it. I only cared about me and you, and that's it. I put myself before others, so of course I believed in the simple things. You, however…you always thought of others before you considered yourself. It's a good thing, Zuko, but sometimes, you do need to put your own needs before others. It's a balance that's hard to strike—I should know, I've been practicing for years."
"It's why you started stealing, isn't it?" His gaze was thoughtful, and a little too perceptive for her taste. Mira scraped at the edge of the table with her fingernail and didn't say anything. "You should probably listen to your own advice, you know."
He was getting a little too close to hitting upon a sensitive topic, so Mira resorted to an old defense mechanism: anger. "Are you calling me a hypocrite?"
But dammit, Zuko knew her too well to fall for it. "Yell at me all you want, it doesn't change the truth."
Mira rolled her eyes and huffed irritably. "Remind me why I wanted you to come along so badly?"
"The overwhelming guilt, probably," he said.
Mira froze, unsure how to interpret his words. They seemed caught between an attempt at humor fallen flat and total seriousness, and suddenly, Mira was overwhelmingly reminded of every obstacle that stood between them. She bit her lip and looked away, her ears turning red. It was like this every time she tried to find that easiness that used to exist between them. She would try to establish rapport, toss off a few teasing remarks, but then he'd say something that slapped her in the face with the truth of their situation: no matter how much she wanted it, they could not return to the way they were.
Hopefully, that left the open road before them. Before Mira could really question the wisdom of her decision, she was turning to Zuko to say…what, she wasn't really sure. But she couldn't leave things between them the way they were.
Aang bounded up to their table and Mira snapped her mouth shut. In part, she was relieved the airbender had interrupted them. Something told her that whatever she'd wanted to say might have gone over wrong. Words like this needed time to ripen. With a smile to smooth over the confusing bubble of emotions in her chest, she turned to Aang. A feverish excitement sparkled in his eyes, and soon, Mira's smile was genuine. "I think they're finally getting it!" he said. He pointed towards the dance floor, where several students were attempting to dance. Most just looked like suffocating fish.
Mira snorted. "Yeah. They're real pros, alright."
A dangerous glint sparked in Aang's eyes. "Well, then, why don't you show them how it's done?"
Too late, Mira realized her mistake. Aang watched her smugly as she opened her mouth to berate him, but Zuko had already latched onto his words.
"What are they talking about?" he asked, flummoxed. He too, seemed to have swept aside the discomfort of their conversation.
"Mira spent a year with gypsies, didn't she tell you?"
If possible, he looked even more confused. "What's that got to do with dancing?"
Mira sighed. There probably wasn't any getting out of this one. "You live with the gypsies, you perform with them. For me, that meant dancing."
"You. Dancing." He lifted an eyebrow. "Sure."
Now that was just insulting. "What, you don't believe I can?"
"No, I'm sure you can." His tone, however, was thoroughly unconvincing.
Mira slammed her palms down on the table and stood up, mouth twisted in a scowl. "That's it." She stalked towards the dance floor to the cheers of Aang and Katara.
The students seemed to sense her intent and gradually pushed back into a circle, giving Mira plenty of room. She took her position in the center, head tilted up, one arm crossed in front of her, the other curved above her head. The beat wasn't quite right, so she waited for a change in tune.
As the song finished, another started up, and Mira immediately knew this was the one for her. A sinuous, haunting melody drifted through the air, and suddenly, Mira was back with the caravan, surrounded by people draped in beads and colorful fabric. Secretly, she'd wondered if the dancing would return to her, or if she'd end up looking a fool in front of everyone. But it seemed that the skill didn't disappear easily.
Gypsy dancing was slow and sensual, full of rippling movements and long extensions. The hands were elegant, the hips languid and flowing, the feet stomping to the beat. Mira had loved it from the first moment she'd seen it.
The first notes were low and rippling, and Mira's arms drifted through the air in time, wrists twisting and fingers curled in elegant positions. One swept up as the other swept down, then twirled around her waist and met together in the air, wrists crossed. Her stomach, exposed in her red top, moved in a dreamy wave-like motion. Three heavy beats struck the air, and Mira's hips moved suddenly, hitting left, right, and left again. Her isolations were a little sloppy (and if Sanji had been there she'd have been pursing her lips with disapproval), but it suited her audience just fine.
The song slowed for a moment, then picked up at a faster pace. Mira flung her arms out and whirled, stomping her feet in time. The crowd was a blur as she spun, skirts flaring out. The notes dipped into a bass region, and Mira slowed, hips and stomach moving faster than the rest of her. The muscles there burned with the work of the isolation, but the effect was mesmerizing. Mira grinned slyly at her audience, hands moving down her body to emphasize the undulating skin of her stomach and the quick blur of her hips.
Every worry, every anxiety she'd been holding onto, seemed to slip away like water. Even the audience seemed to grow a little hazy, until there was just her body and the music. The burn in her muscles was a welcome reminder of the pulse beating within her skin. Aside from fighting, there was nothing quite like dancing to remind yourself that you were so vibrantly alive. For a girl who hadn't yet mastered the art of discovering who she really was, dancing was a form of self-expression she'd taken an instant liking to. She could embrace her femininity while still retaining the steel reflexes she treasured so much.
Like bending, she'd forgotten how much she'd missed this.
The thud of a drum took over the song, and with every strike, Mira's hips popped one way or another. She took one step forward, hips hitting the left, then another, hips hitting the right. Her hands hovered over them, pretending to push or pull. Invisible strings connected them, emphasizing the independence of each movement.
She threw her hands up, twisting in the air, as her hips continued to move with every beat. Her hair had come loose from its braid, and she ran her fingers through it, letting the strands cascade down her back.
The song lightened, and without ceasing the motion of her hips, Mira began to walk around the circle. Her hands and arms swam in the air, lazy and graceful as they twisted. She caught the eye of an older boy about her age near the edge of the crowd, his cheeks pink as he watched her. A wicked idea popped into her mind, and she slid closer to him.
His eyes widened, but he didn't move as she stood before him, still moving to the music. A long red sash was tied around his waist, giving form to his shapeless tunic. Mira's hands drifted down, bringing a flood of color to the boy's face. With a flick of her wrist, she untied the silk and whipped it away, leaving a peck on the boy's cheek before returning to the center of the circle.
The ends of the sash trailed behind her, and as the music picked up, Mira twirled again. Her feet stomped out a steady rhythm and her hands were flung back, the scarf billowing out behind her. She was a whirl of black hair and red skirts, until the music slowed and a trilling drum beat overshadowed the beat of her feet. She let the sash go, and it floated to the ground behind her. Her hands drifted back to their original position over her head as her hips resumed the work. Three heavy beats, and her hips moved right, left, center.
The tempo dropped off, as did most of the instruments as the song wound down. Mira bent backwards, falling to her knees until her back lay against the floor, arms outstretched above her head. She smiled, chest heaving as the music faded.
Awed silence filled the cave, followed soon after by thunderous applause. Mira smirked as she drew herself up and walked off the dance floor, students parting before her as she moved. Excited chatter followed her back to her seat, where she found Zuko staring at her. The expression on his face was the closest he ever got to stupefaction, and Mira relished the picture.
"Told you I could dance," she said smugly, sliding into the seat next to him.
He blinked twice and shook his head a little. "I thought maybe you could dance, but I didn't think you could dance."
Mira clapped slowly. "The next Fire Lord, everyone."
He colored. "Shut up. What I meant was…I didn't think you were that good."
"I think that was a compliment."
He glared at her, not bothering to reply.
"I'm just kidding. Thank you." She inclined her head, a small smile on her face. "Though I'm not sure my teacher would agree. I haven't practiced in years, so it was a little sloppy."
Zuko motioned towards the crowd. "I don't think they noticed."
Mira followed his gesture to a group of girls who stood huddled not too far away, whispering furiously. One of them caught her eye and whipped her head away instantly, her face a beet red. Her friends giggled and one of them pushed at her, ignoring the heated protests directed her way.
Mira raised an eyebrow, causing the girl to flush an even deeper color. The girl took a deep breath, caught the wrist of a friend, then started forward. Mira watched them approach, a faint hint of amusement on her face.
"Can I help you?" she asked as they drew level.
One girl nudged the other, and after another round of whispers, the first one said, "My name's Haiyu, and this is Jiten. We saw your dancing, and, well…" She bit her lip and trailed off.
"Could you teach us?" her friend chimed in eagerly. "I mean, just show us how to move like you. We've never seen anything like that before, and you looked so good doing it—we just want to know how to move like that, just a little bit."
"Shut up, Jiten!" Haiyu hissed. "If you keep rambling on, she won't want to show us anything!"
Mira laughed and held up a hand. "It's fine. I trained for a year with the gypsies, so you're not going to be as good as me immediately. But I can show you a couple moves. Is that alright?"
The girls nearly feel over themselves in their haste to accept. Zuko raised one eyebrow at Mira, who shrugged back as if to ask, "why not?" She felt like a new person, still trying to figure herself out. For some reason, that seemed to make her more open. That, and these girls had never experienced dancing in their life. Why not open their minds to something new?
She herded them back towards the wall, away from the hustle and bustle of the dance floor (though it seemed that Aang and Katara had commandeered it for their use). Once they were standing an arm's length apart from one another, she stepped back and examined them carefully.
Both girls were wearing their traditional school uniform, but Mira could tell from their tightly cinched belts that both were of slender frame and lithe physique. Teaching them to dance wouldn't be too hard.
"Different types of dancing focuses on different motions and different body parts," Mira started. "I've only trained in gypsy dancing, so that's the only thing I can teach you. That form relies on the hips and the stomach, paired with a few arm motions. I'll just give you some pointers on the hips, since that's the hardest part."
She brought her hands to her sides and slowly began to demonstrate the motions she'd been displaying on the dance floor while explaining how it was done. "That make sense?" she asked, looking up.
Jiten nodded vigorously, but Haiyu didn't look as sure. "Why don't you try it out?" Mira suggested, dropping her hands and stepping closer.
She focused on Jiten first. "Don't move them so much," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "Try and keep tension in your stomach, and keep your torso as still as possible." She pushed her hands one way, then another. "Feel that?" Jiten nodded. "You want to try and get your muscles to do that without my hands being there. You may need to guide them on your own at first as you strengthen your core. A stronger core is essential in isolating those motions."
Haiyu was next. "Not bad," she said thoughtfully. "Try to get rid of the jerkiness. You want your hips to flow like water over a bed of rocks." She placed her hands on Haiyu's hips and guided them in a smoother motion. Haiyu blushed a bright red and stuttered, eyes glued to the floor. Mira softened her smile and caught her eye, then winked. Haiyu giggled and relaxed, just enough for Mira to demonstrate the motion again. "And the same goes for you: find exercises to strengthen your core, and these movement will come easier." She released Haiyu and stepped back. "Show me again?"
They obeyed, intense looks on concentration on their faces. Mira smiled gently. "And try not to look so serious! Dancing's supposed to be fun, or else no one would do it."
Jiten laughed aloud, and Haiyu smiled crookedly. "It's hard," she admitted.
"Nothing worth doing ever comes easy," Mira said.
"I suppose not," Haiyu said, looking a little lighter.
Mira gave them a few more tips on how to move their hips, along with arm motions to pair with the dance. Both girls thanked her profusely and scurried off to show their friends what they'd learned.
Mira watched them go, a pensive look on their face. Teaching them to dance may have seemed like a silly thing to do—something that both her former identities would have scoffed at. Zamira, because neither of the girls were very good at it, or likely to become very good anytime soon; Mira, because what good did teaching them a silly thing like dancing do? Sure, she enjoyed it, but skills like fighting and sneaking around were much more important things to know.
She was not entirely sure why she'd agreed to tutor them. The only reason she could come up with was that it'd been fun. Haiyu and Jiten's excitement had been contagious, and Mira had even enjoyed herself, watching their progress. Sure, she could argue and say it was about teaching these girls a new way of thinking, but the truth of it was Mira liked teaching others.
The idea of simply doing things because she liked them was novel, and something Mira wasn't entirely sure she was comfortable with.
And as she rushed along the tunnel with the others, away from the Fire Nation officials who'd arrived to break up the party, she allowed herself a small smile. For the first time in her life, she could do something just because she liked to, without having to explain it to others—or herself.
The feeling was terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time.
A/N: I imagine gypsy dancing to be a blend of belly-dancing and flamenco dancing. There's a video that I modeled Mira's dance after, so I'll include a link for those of you who wish to see a visual version (it's been modified/blended with another video, but 85% of Mira's dance is in there): watch?v=XbVWEyvDkiE (the stupid youtube part won't work, so just type in youtube for the URL and add this part after a slash)
Please review and let me know what you think! Even if you're a silent reader who favorites or subscribes, thank you so much for your support. I'm just glad to have readers who come back for more!
Also, a question: I've been writing the cave scene from Zuko's point of view, just so I can get inside his head and write him accurately in the coming chapters. The thing is, it really started taking off. Would you guys be interested in a story that told Book Three from Zuko's perspective? Since I've planned this one out strictly in Mira's POV, some crucial Zuko scenes will be left out. So, show of hands (reviews)…would there be an audience for a first-person Zuko story? I've got a great title for it and everything.
…Aw, who'm I kidding? I'll post it anyway even if no one says they'll read it. I'm having too much fun with it to leave it on my computer.
An excerpt from next chapter:
"I probably should have told you, I'm useless with plant identification. Ate a funny mushroom once and puked my guts out for the next two days. Still can't remember what the little bugger looked like." She scowled into the night air, as though the mushroom floated just beyond the reach of darkness, taunting her.