A/N. From here on out, the story is going into war crime territory. Enjoy…
Stretching her back by pushing his fists into it as she straightened, Katara couldn't help but sigh. It was midday, or just after that. And there was no change whatsoever… Aang was still burning up, but the heat radiating from his body didn't produce any sweat, making her think that whatever was happening to him wasn't a fever. She had checked, checked and checked again, but there shouldn't be anything wrong with him…
And yet, there was. The voice, that she thought had been Gyatso, had said so. Physically, Aang was alright, or at least, better than could be expected from someone who had been stabbed not twenty-four hours ago. But spiritually, it was not alright…
What if the voice, who had sworn that it wasn't that Szeto, had been exactly that? What if whoever was plotting against them from the Spirit World was doing that at this very moment?
Walking from the bed on which Aang was lying towards the wall opposite them, she turned around and paced back. And again, and again. Wringing her hands together, the waterbender knew that somewhere, Aang was doing Spirit knew what… And that she couldn't help him, or even know if he needed help… Instead, she was stuck here, in Kirashi… Tui and La, why had Aang come? Well, she had the answer to that question. She would have done the exact same thing…
Orsu had gone to a council meeting, but he had not come back yet. Apparently, Azula would be at the council meeting, and they would discuss what to do now that the monsoon was here… Looking up to the beams supporting the tiled roof, Katara heard the persistent rain drops fall onto it. Inhaling deeply, she could feel the water all around her. In the air, on the ground, high into the clouds… Everywhere. And even with all that, she was powerless… Powerless to do anything about being stuck here, powerless to help Aang…
As she walked towards the opposite wall, she heard a soft knock on the door of the stables.
"Yeah?" She shouted to be heard above the rain.
"It's me!" On Ji's voice called back, opening the doors with an elbow, as she was balancing a plater between her hands. On it, there were three bowls, "I brought some food…"
Realizing that she had not eaten all day, Katara smiled tiredly. On Ji wasn't at fault for Shoji's actions…
"Thanks." She sighed, returning to the stool standing beside Aang's bed. Watching the airbender's chest rise slowly, before falling down, she couldn't help but smile a little. The paleness that had haunted him the first hours or so after being stabbed was slowly going away, being replaced with his healthier-looking skin colour… And apart from the new scar, a small point on his chest a few inches above his heart, he seemed… Well, not changed at all.
There were older burn scars, probably those he had earned during his fight with Ozai… Tui and La, she would finally hear what had happened. He had probably not talked about with anyone… Knowing him, he would have acted as if it wasn't a big deal… But people should know what he did. Even though he didn't want to be recognized for what he had done…
"Thanks." She nodded as one of the bowls was handed to her, and, without looking at On Ji, she sipped the warm soup inside. As the hot liquid ran down to her stomach, Katara's smile widened slightly. It was all going to be alright… The Avatar and Gyatso were going to make sure Aang was alright, his body was doing more than alright, and they had not been found. All in all, the situation could a lot, a lot worse.
"What is there to smile about?" On Ji asked, her voice coming from the other side of the bed. Looking up, the waterbender saw the irritated look on the girl's face as she tasted the soup too, sitting on the chair next to the bed.
"Nothing." Katara sighed, "I was just thinking about how bad the situation could have been."
"It is already quite bad." On Ji grumbled.
"Except that Azula doesn't know that Aang or I are in the town. The town is still standing, and Aang isn't dead. It could have been worse, believe me." Holding the bowl with one hand, Katara let her free fingers slide over the airbender's cheek. Still hot… But for some reason, it seemed as if cold and warmth was battling to be the frontrunner of the young man's skin. What seemed odd to her.
Frowning, she put the bowl on the small table next to the bed. Lifting up one of Aang's eyelids, the grey was still rolled upwards, revealing only the white, shot through with red. Feeling his forehead, she realized she had not imagined it. One moment, he seemed burning hot, and just for an instance, the skin cooled.
"What is it?" On Ji sounded concerned.
"I don't know." Katara answered, feeling her own heartbeat quicken. There was something wrong. The fever had been worrying, but at least it had been logical. It had been normal. But this… This wasn't normal.
Putting a hand on Aang chest, she felt his heart pound like a maniac.
"Should you…" On Ji began, but her words died on her throat as Katara pulled the water standing beside the bed to her hands. Letting her water-coated fingers slide over Aang skin, there was nothing that would suggest he was doing badly. The pressure in his veins seemed normal, his organs were working, the air coming into his lungs went out of them as slowly as it always did… Nothing would even suggest the rapid heartbeat. His whole body was acting normally… Except his heart and his temperature.
"Fucking Spirit World." She muttered. That had to be it. Of course, there was something happening there, and Aang's body was responding to it.
"Excuse me?" She heard On Ji's voice mutter from far away, but she didn't answer. There would be another time to explain the whole bridge between our world and the spirits.
"Nothing. He is burning up, then turning cold as stone. I don't know why." Katara sighed, releasing the water back in the bucket and wiping her hands off her skirt. It didn't make any sense… But she couldn't do anything more than check if he was doing alright. Spirits, she hated this. Hated being powerless to help Aang, having to rely on what a voice had said to her in her head. Even if that voice had been someone with good intentions.
"Ehm… I talked to Shoji when my Father left for the council meeting." On Ji spoke quietly, and Katara looked at the girl, who was nervously wringing her hands.
"What did that idiot have to say for himself?" The waterbender spoke through gritted teeth. Did On Ji not understand that she didn't want to talk about the person responsible for this whole mess?
"That he didn't mean to… Well, he didn't know who he tried to stab."
"And that makes it better? On Ji, he is clearly deranged. He stabbed someone in the back, because he thought it was Kuzon. Because he thought it was someone you liked." Katara sighed, rubbing her temples. Aang breathing sounded between them, reinforcing the silence that settled as she finished speaking. For a few moments, that was the only sound in the stabled turned hospital.
"You told me you killed that captain after the Av… Aang was injured. How is that any better? He had not done anything to you except exist, and being a representation of everything you hate." On Ji broke the silence.
"That's…" Katara began, but the words died in her throat. She had wanted to say that that was different. It was war, the crew had to die if their ruse was going to work. But even Sokka and her father had been shocked by her actions. She had never told Aang… At least, not personally. She had the suspicion her brother had told the airbender, but he had never chastised her about that.
"Shoji did something unforgivable, yes. But don't tell me you never killed without reason. Don't be a hypocrite." On Ji bit back.
A hypocrite. To be honest, Katara never thought of herself as one… But the girl in front of her wasn't all that wrong… Still, the idiot had tried to kill Aang. And if being called a hypocrite was the worst that happened, Katara accepted that with all her heart. Let her be a hypocrite, as long as the airbender lived through this ordeal.
As she thought that over, a groan could be heard from the bed. Lifting her head immediately, she looked at the face she loved so much. Aang was frowning, but seemingly not in pain… But rather, a sad frown. A frown she knew all too well…
"Shh…" She whispered, caressing his cheek with her fingers. She had heard the words he had spoken just after being stabbed.
"I… I didn't know… I'm… I'm so s-sorry…"
"J… Ji… I didn't know…"
Ji… Katara had some idea of whom he had spoken, but she didn't dare think about that.
"It was never your fault Aang…" She spoke as quietly as she could, "Never. Wherever you are, whatever you said sorry for… It wasn't your fault."
As she looked at the airbender's face relax once more, she saw, for the first time, that he had lost weight. His cheeks were hollower than the last time they had seen each other, and underneath his eyes were dark stretches of skin. He had not been taking care of himself… He had looked like himself, head shaven and wearing his half tunic… But On Ji had told her that they had met outside the gate. Had he donned these clothes just for that? Had he cleaned up just to be recognizable? How had he actually looked?
The airbender seemed to settle back into a more relaxed position, she kept her eyes on her husband. Tui and La, that was still so new and so… Well, weird wasn't the right word. She wasn't used to it, but she didn't regret it in the slightest.
"It stopped raining." On Ji sounded surprised, "That doesn't happen often. At least not at the beginning of the season."
"It doesn't?" Katara asked, trying to move past the fact that On Ji was using the weather to talk about more… civil things.
"No… It's weird to be honest. But then again, the whole year has been bad. This summer was terribly hot, my father says the harvest has been very disappointing…" The girl seemed distraught at that, and no wonder. Katara had never needed a harvest, but she imagined that to people relaying on it, a bad one must be a catastrophe.
"Speaking of your father, shouldn't he be back?" She asked instead of going into the discussing about harvests and the weather. Small talk had no place here for the moment.
"Perhaps he is already. I should ask my mother… I left Shoji with her, but I didn't explain what… well what happened. She thinks I'm in here, so you can explain the workings of a hospital…" On Ji's voice was clearly tinged with shame, for lying to her mother.
"Is that something you would like to learn?" Katara asked, trying to steer the conversation away from their horrible situation.
"Maybe… Someday. I couldn't do what you do… How did you do it?" The girl looked at her with those big ember eyes.
"Did what?"
"Heal him." She gestured towards Aang, "You love him, but you didn't hesitate a second, putting his life into your hands."
At that, Katara couldn't help but laugh aloud.
"Weeks and months of practice On Ji. The first time his life depended on me, I was terrified. I knew that if I did something wrong, it would be over. Not only would the world lose its only chance at peace, but I would have lost him."
"How come you aren't afraid now?"
"I am terrified." Katara heard the tremble in her own voice, "Terrified of what is going to happen. Is he going to wake up? Is his lung still working like it should be? Did I miss something? All these things… It is horrible to be responsible for the life of the person you love. But I wouldn't trust anyone else with his."
That made her pause. She wasn't that possessive normally… But the idea of someone else treating Aang… How would she know he was alright? How would her own sanity be kept intact if it was someone else healing him. No, she couldn't even imagine that. Glancing at the pale airbender, still lying on his bed, she was surprised to see his expression… Well, soften. It had been sad, afraid and pained… But now, he looked… Spirits, she didn't know. She needed to see the expression in his eyes to be sure of what he felt. Aang was so easy to read… But apparently, that depended on his eyes.
"Do you smell that?" On Ji spoke up, confusion clear in her voice. Looking away from the airbender, Katara saw the concerned expression on the girl's face. Inhaling deeply, she didn't smell a thing, except the damp earth and the wood from which the stables were built.
"No, what is it?" She asked.
"Smoke." On Ji sniffed, "Definitely smoke."
The Fire Nation girl stood up, propped her chair against the wall and stood on it. High above them, narrow, long windows made light enter the stables, but now, On Ji was trying to look through them.
"I can't see a thing…" She spoke, but now, Katara was the first to remark something.
The shouts.
There was shouting coming from the north side of the town. Shouts that sounded terrified, shouts that were all too familiar.
"Fuck." She cursed, jumping up, "On Ji, get your mother, quickly."
The shouts were those she had heard in Ba Sing Se. The cries of pain and of terror she had heard during the siege of the North Pole. The shouts that had resounded throughout her village when… When… when the Southern Raiders had paid them a visit, all those years ago.
"Why?" On Ji asked, sounding terrified. Looking up at the girl standing on the chair, Katara gritted her teeth.
"Get her, now. Bring her here… And Shoji too." Whatever he had done, he didn't deserve what probably happening right now in the northern part of town. Had Piandao breached the walls? No, the northern part was where the harbour was. Perhaps he had used ships to ferry soldiers onto the docks? It seemed the most logical explanation…
But Piandao would never allow his soldiers to kill and pillage. That, she couldn't believe. No, the townspeople were probably just panicking… But the cries sounded too real. Not those of panicked people, but rather of people in pain and shouting for their lives.
"Katara… What is happening?" On Ji came down from the chair, her hands trembling visibly.
"On Ji. Now!" Katara shouted, not answering the girl. There was no need to make her more scared than she already seemed.
"But… But my mother… She doesn't know about…" The trembling hand gestured towards Aang.
"It doesn't matter, she should know anyway! Get them, now. One minute, you hear? One. And then you are back here. Otherwise, I'm coming to get you." Katara grabbed the girl by her arm, shoving her towards the door. On Ji looked at her for one instance, and whatever she saw moved her into action. The waterbender turned around, hearing the door open and close.
"Spirits, fuck. Sorry my love." She quickly grabbed the bloody tunic that was still lying on the ground, and pulled Aang up from the bed in a sitting position. Fuck.
"Please, this would be a really good moment to wake up Aang." She spoke hurriedly as she pulled the tunic over his head, adjusting it. It looked terrible, and it was as clear as day who Aang was…
The cloak. He had worn a cloak! Turning to the door, she saw the dark fabric lying next to it.
"This is bad. Oh fuck, this is really bad." She muttered as more cries could be heard. Her heart cracked at the idea of her side committing crimes like that, but she knew that in war, no side was completely innocent. But still… Sokka, Toph and Suki were with that army. They would never tolerate such behaviour. And they were more than a match for anyone who would try to do it anyway.
Running to the door, she fetched the dark cloak. As she straightened, she threw the door open, seeing On Ji come out of the house with her mother and Shoji. The young man saw her and seemed to freeze for an instance before regaining his wits.
Whatever was happening on the north side of town, they were not getting Shoji. No. No one would get to kill him. Not the soldiers, not Hide, not the governor, not anyone. If Aang died because of his idiocy, she would kill Shoji with her bare hands if needed.
"Come on!" She shouted at the three people, who began to run towards the stables. The shouts and cries of anguish were clearly audible now. And all three seemed terrified. And rightly so. The smoke On Ji had smelled was visible in the distance now as she looked over the roof of the house. And Katara knew only one thing that could burn wet wood quickly enough. Firebenders.
As the three joined her at the door, she saw that Shoji stood a few steps behind the two women.
"Get inside." She waved them in. Inside or outside would make no difference if what she thought was happening was truly happening, but better to be somewhere where she could control the space around her.
"They breached the wall, didn't they?" Shoji was the first to speak, which surprised her to be honest, as he closed the door behind them.
"I think so." She hated to admit it.
"Sapphire, what do you mea…" On Ji's mother began to talk, but the words died in her throat as she saw the bed on which the airbender lay.
"Agni above." The woman staggered, "Is that…"
"Masi." Katara spoke, remembering On Ji's mother's name, "Listen to me. Yes, that is the Avatar. I'm Katara, from the Southern Water Tribe. All that doesn't matter at this moment. The town is probably being sacked. And believe me, I know what that looks like, I have heard and seen enough. The best thing is to stay together. I can protect you, and On Ji is a firebender. If we stay together, we have a shot."
She sugarcoated it as best as she could. Katara had heard stories from the refugees they had met on the road to Ba Sing Se, the parents of baby Hope, what a sack of a town looked like… And without someone to protect these people, they were sure to die… but not… well, not before horrible things happened.
"Y-you…"
"Masi, this is really not the time to argue. I don't want any of you to die. Not even you…" She looked at Shoji, "at least, not as long as he is alive". She gestured towards Aang.
"Mother, please listen to Katara. She knows what she is doing." On Ji had apparently understood the danger they were in, as the waterbender saw the fear in those big ember eyes.Turning around, Katara thought about it. If the soldiers that were attacking the northern part of town would come to this side of the town, they would go into the house, as it looked rich. They would probably ignore the stables, but she couldn't bet their lives on that suspicion.
"Is… my husband told me he thought that we were on the losing side." On Ji's mother sounded shaken, but not afraid, "Orsu knows?"
Katara looked over her shoulder. Masi had squared her shoulders, looking determined. To be honest, the waterbender had not expected that from On Ji's mother. She nodded.
"Well, if he trusts you, I do too. So, what do we do?" Katara couldn't help but feel slightly better seeing how Shoji and On Ji both looked astonished at the woman.
"They will be going door to door. Is the gate closed?" The waterbender asked, but before anyone could answer, a loud crash could be heard just outside. Holding her hand up to signal that the other had to stay quiet, Katara listened. There was no sound close enough to be a threat, but what she could hear was that the cries and shouts were clearly closer than they had been a few minutes ago. She saw Shoji open his mouth, but she quickly waved at him, gesturing to be quiet. Tui and La, was he that stupid?
"This is Orsu's home." A voice she recognized spoke from the courtyard. What was Governor Kantuno doing? And more importantly, if he was here, calm and in charge, that meant that the town was not being attacked. At least, she doubted it. If the town was really being sacked, then Kantuno would surely be with the soldiers, trying to defend his town…
Frowning, Katara didn't understand. The noise was clearly one of a city being attacked, and the smoke would suggest that there was a fire going on… But it didn't make any sense.
"Good."
Her blood seemed to freeze in her veins. Katara knew that voice. And knew perfectly well what that meant.
Azula.
"Bitch." She whispered, earning a confused look from On Ji. She had told the girl she hated the princess, but she had clearly not made the connection. And how could she? Katara was the only one who knew what that… that horrible, horrible bitch… sounded like.
"Burn it all. That should teach these traitors a lesson." At that, footsteps resounded throughout the courtyard outside the stables. An instant later, Katara heard the crackling sound of firebenders creating flames. Fuck…
They couldn't stay here. If one of the firebender even burned a part of the stables, they would be discovered. If the smoke didn't kill them, the fire would. And Katara also knew that, however much she wanted to, she couldn't fight her way through Azula and, however, many soldiers she had. Balling her fists, the waterbender inhaled deeply, blowing the air out of through her nose. She needed to remain calm… But every sense in her body was screaming to get out there and wring her hands around Azula's neck. That bitch was responsible for everything! The siege, the war that was meant to be over but wasn't, everything! She had tried to kill Aang.
And Katara had spared that bitch's life once. But she wouldn't make the same mistake.
"Is there another way out?" She whispered towards On Ji's mother, who shook her head. Fuck, fuck and fuck!
"There is a loose panel at the back." On Ji murmured quietly, "I used it when I was little to sneak out." At that, she glanced an apologetic look at her mother, who just raised her eyebrows.
"Show me."
On Ji walked as silently as possible towards the other end of the stables, as the soft crackling of fire began to be audible from their left. From the direction of the house. Glancing at Masi, Katara saw the pained and confused look in the ember eyes. She didn't understand why her house was burning… And was probably being torn between going out there to save whatever she could and stay her, where apparently, it was safe. At least, safe enough for now.
"Don't even think about going out there." Katara dared to speak a little louder. The noise of the fire was beginning to sound like an inferno, so she doubted that anyone in the courtyard could hear them.
"They are burning me home. Why is Kantuno doing that?" The woman sounded on the verge of tears.
"Azula is doing that." Katara answered, earning a wide-eyed look of pure fear.
"T-the Princess?"
"She was the one ordering them around. We need to get out of here, now! If she finds us, she will know you helped me. And I doubt Azula is going to be in a forgiving mood, seen as I froze her in a block of ice the last time we saw each other. And stole her chance to be the ruler of the Fire Nation."
Not bothering to look at the reaction that piece of information earned, she walked to the bed where Aang was still lying unconscious.
"Come on my love… Wake up." With Aang, they would stand a chance. She and him would be able to fight off anyone that would try to attack them, and they would be able to help the people of the town. Alone, Katara knew she could do one or the other… But she had a duty to the group under her care. On Ji and her mother had been kind and had given her shelter, even though they had not needed to do so. Even Shoji… Even he didn't deserve to die in a fire. Impaled on a big chunk of ice, perhaps… But not by fire.
But the airbender's eyes remained closed. Groaning aloud, Katara looked back. On Ji had managed to pull a part of the wall inwards, the planks of wood bending in such a way that it looked like they could break any moment. But it apparently opened into the alley behind the house, and that was all that was needed…
Turning to On Ji's mother and Shoji, Katara gritted her teethe before gesturing at Shoji.
"Help me with him. And I swear to all the Spirits, if you even think about dropping him and running, I will kill you." She said as threateningly as she could summon at this moment. The young man came to her side without a word, and slid his arms underneath the airbender. Surprised, Katara took a step backwards, seeing how Shoji straightened with Aang in his arms.
"I won't drop him." The young man whispered, sounding as if he was putting all his energy in carrying the airbender.
Hating the fact she was relieved, Katara nodded. It would be a great help, her hands would be free to bend… But still, she hated it.
"Come on then. We need to go." She waved at the hole in the wall.
"And go where? If Kantuno is burning Orsu's house, he would have ordered Hide to keep the gate shut." Shoji spoke through gritted teeth.
"Aang came in through a tunnel, On Ji told me. If he used it to get in, we can use it to get out."
Ducking through the hole, she stepped into a smoke-filled alley, shouts of pain and fear everywhere.
Answers:
Jjsmith103: That is good to hear! For some reason, I'm afraid my writing has been off now that I have to relay on my own imagination lol! But this is the part I "enjoy". I had to write nearly 34 chapters to get here, but we are at the important part lol! And yeah, Gyatso is, in my eyes at least, the one person except Katara that can truly help Aang. So, to have him lead Aang out of the fog was quite fitting!
