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Book I: Water

Chapter XI﹕The Kyoshi Warriors

Part IV꞉ Farewell Kyoshi Island

Kyoshi Island

The next morning.

Kuzon woke up the next morning and groaned. He tried to stand up.

Katara quickly pressed a hand on his chest pushing him back down. There was a stern look in her eyes. "Hey. Easy. I just patched up your leg. You're going to tear the bandages."

Kuzon met her eyes and nodded. "R-Right! S-Sorry!" He then leaned back with a groan. The pain in his leg wasn't as intense as it first was but it still hurt. "Man. That hurts. I can't believe I injured my leg tripping over a damn rock. So irritating."

Katara turned to him and smiled warmly. She rested her chin on her hand, "Accidents happen. You should have seen what happened to Zuko after I chose to intervene. Kuzon turned to her with a look of surprise. "What did you do?" She smirked and caressed his face in her hands. "I broke both his arms. Froze the skin and just…snapped them at the elbow. He won't be firebending for some time."

Kuzon blinked. "I…woah…I don't know what to say. I confess that I didn't think you had the heart to hurt him like that " She then batted her eyes at him and lightly laughed, She rolled her eyes at him and gave him a knowing smile. "Perhaps I've learned that exceptions can be made. He is our enemy. It's quite obvious to me that he doesn't intend to show us mercy. I've decided to not show him any in return." She then grabbed his face and pressed her lips against his own.

He blinked.

She then pulled away and smiled, "Maybe I've decided some people in my life are worth almost killing for."

Kuzon blinked. He had to admit he was again in awe of the waterbender. He didn't think she'd have the will to go through with such a dark task. It made him see her differently…in both a positive and a negative way. He admired her tenacity to protect those close to her…himself included. The other part of him was frightened. He realized he was seeing a darker side to her now. A more vicious and cold side. He then grabbed her face, Have I caused her to…change in a sense? Or is it the circumstances? I'm not sure. But I don't like it one bit.

Katara just smirked as she put her hands over his. "You know sweetie…I just had a thought. If you and I ever make it out of this war alive…We'll have to get married." She then tapped her chin humming to herself happily, "We'd probably…have to have the wedding in my home village…that or Agna Qel'a." Her expression darkened, "I have a feeling someone would try to assassinate you if we held it in the Fire Nation."

Kuzon nodded. "That's a good call. You really think we'd be ready for that though? You know how dangerous my life is. I can't promise anything."

Katara smiled, "Luckily for you…I crave danger." Kuzon nodded, "That you do." Kuzon's stomach then grumbled. She laughed out loud and took his hands into hers. "I forget. You haven't eaten in days. Come on. Let's see if breakfast is ready." She gave him one last kiss on the cheek, smirking, "Let me help you to the room." Kuzon blinked as his face reddened, "Thank…you." She giggled as she helped walk him to the room. "Anytime sweetie."

Suki and Sokka both exchanged glances.

Sokka smiled, "I think he's awake. He and Suki then got up and walked over, opening the doors.

Kuzon was there with his arm around Kuzon's shoulders. She smiled as she guided his steps. "There we go. One step at a time." She then led him to the chair pulling out the chair for him. "Take a seat and rest. Your right leg is still in rough shape. I'll get your breakfast."

Kuzon just nodded, grunting with a nod. The strain from walking on his right leg was killing him. "Thank you. I hate being a burden like this."

Katara just grabbed his chin with a hand, smiled, shook her head, closed her eyes, and kissed him on the cheek. "Oh sweetie. You're never a burden to me. You're my everything. If anything…It is my job to take care of you." She then let out a full-bodied giggle. "You are so silly and melodramatic sometimes." She then walked off. "I'll be just a moment."

Suki smiled as she tilted her head at Kuzon, "It's still so strange."

Kuzon turned to her with a knowing eyebrow. "What is?"

Suki beamed at him sweetly. "Watching you and Katara." She then scoffed with a laugh, "I'd have wagered that the next Avatar would fall with some stuffy Fire Nation noblewoman or some Earth Kingdom noblewoman from the Occupied Territories.. I wouldn't have wagered a village girl from the Southern Water Tribe."

Kuzon just nodded in understanding and crossed his arms. He shrugged, "War and personal trauma have proven to be weird matchmakers in my life." He just scoffed, "Plus being the most wanted terrorist in your people's history doesn't give you a lot of fan girls back in the motherland." He grunted and sighed ruefully, "Strangely and much to my chagrin…my efforts in fighting my home nation have garnered female attention from…outside my home nation." He then shook his head in irritation, "It is…a headache since I've dedicated myself to Katara's side."

Sokka half-grinned, "Ah. Quit being dramatic kid. It's honestly hilarious how women fawn and blush over you. Seriously…You have more game than me. And that's saying something."

Suki smirked as she turned to smile at him. "You mean someone actually finds your lame jokes appealing?"

Sokka then crossed his arms as he glared at her. His voice sounding defensive. He scoffed, "Of course. She happens to be the Princess of the Northern Tribe. Y'know…royalty and all that."

Suki smirked, "I see." Everyone laughed. Suki then turned to Katara with a knowing smirk.

Katara smirked back, "What?"

Suki then sideline glanced at Kuzon and then back at Katara. "What do you like about Kuzon? I'm honestly curious." She then joked, "Is it just because he's the Avatar? Did you have some devious plan to bag the most powerful bachelor in the world?"

Kuzon blinked as his face reddened. He then returned to eating his food trying hard not to blush any harder than he already was.

Katara giggled as her face reddened. She then put her arm around him to calm him. "Not at all. I actually fell in love with him before I even knew his true identity."

Suki blinked at her, "You mean you didn't know beforehand?" She then shook her head. "No. He accidentally told me." She then smiled, "I can understand how you'd think I'm dating him for his power but I'm not some prissy noblewoman from the Fire Nation or the Earth Kingdom." Her smile got even wider. "My reasons are a lot more earnest and humble. I love Kuzon for his heart, his compassion, his fiery determination to defend the world against his own countrymen…" She then let out a loving sigh. "As well as those golden eyes that make me melt into a puddle everytime I see them. The Avatar part..is just a bonus for me."

Suki smirked back at her. "Beautiful. I do love a good love story." She then turned to the blushing Avatar with a smirk. "Your turn Kuzon. Don't leave me hanging."

Everyone then turned their eyes on the Avatar.

Katara turned her azure eyes to Kuzon. A smirk graced her face as she spoke in a flirtatious voice. "Well sweetie? Don't tell me you're going to go quiet on me now."

Kuzon met her gaze and nodded. He then faced everyone and cleared his throat. "It's…rather simple. Katara charmed me from the beginning. Her looks played a part of course. Especially the eyes. Everytime I stare into them…the carefully put up walls around my heart crumble. But her personality was what really drew me in. She is courageous and brave. She fights for those who can't fight for themselves. She's a warrior…not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She is my rock honestly. I believe I've become a better person because of her."

Suki smiled, "Aww! How sweet!"

Sokka grinned, "Smooth kid. Very smooth."

Kuniciro smiled, "Ah young love is truly a beautiful thing."

Katara then tilted her head at him smiling, She then grabbed his face and smirked, "And once again…you make my heart swoon." She then softly pressed her lips against his own. She then sat down.

The group then continued to eat their fill.

Kuzon fastened the last of his belongings to Ranna. He then closed his eyes and rested his head against hers. "Well…here's to another long trek…You up for this?"

She snorted, giving her approval. He smiled slightly, "That's my girl." The sound of squealing fan girls then rang in both their ears.

Kuzon groaned as he rested a hand over his face. "Great. The cavalry's here." He then turned around coming face to face with a number of young girls smiling at him.

The lead one batted her eyes at him. She then pouted in an attempt to garner some sympathy. "Aww. You really weren't going to say goodbye Kuzon?"

Kuzon took in a deep breath through his nose and through his mouth. He was running out of patience with his popularity amongst the ladies. "For the record…I wasn't." He said through gritted teeth, "Allow me to state it one last time….I'm taken…and not interested. Go find someone else." His warning, however, fell upon deaf ears.

The lead one smiled at him sweetly, "Aww. Come now. I know you don't mean that. I mean. Come on. You're the Avatar. You are the most eligible bachelor in the world. You know you enjoy the attention."

The other girls giggled behind her.

Kuzon then closed his eyes and took in a deep sigh. He then turned his back to them and ignored them. The lead girl smiled, "Come on…sweetie. Come give me a kiss."

Kuzon growled "Please leave."

The sudden irritation in his tone shocked the girls.

The lead one blinked and growled, "You are rude! I grace you with the honor of kissing me and you yell at me? You really are ashmaker trash!" The slur then set him off as he glared her down.

His eyes suddenly glowed white as he grit his teeth. The air from under him suddenly whipped up. His voice deepened. "How dare you!"

The girl jumped back in shock.

Katara and Suki who were talking to one another noticed all the commotion.

Katara let out a long sigh. "We need to get over there. Now."

Suki nodded, "Right behind you."

The two then rushed over.

Suddenly a wall of water formed between the firebender and the group of fan girls.

Katara then rushed down and pulled Kuzon into a deep hug. He was trembling and shaking in her arms. She then began whispering in his ear. "Shhh. Calm down. Calm down. She's not worth it." He growled, "She called me an ashmaker! She…"

Katara then grabbed his face in hers and kissed him on the cheek. "I know sweetie. I know." She hugged him again. "I've got you. Just don't let go."

He then began sobbing. Katara felt her heart break as she held him. She then turned to Suki with probably the coldest look the warrior had ever seen. There was venom in her tone. "Handle them Suki…before I do."

He sighed and held onto her.

She just sighed and held on him whispering in his ear, "I've got you. I've got you."

Suki just let out a sigh of relief. Whew. That was almost a disaster.

The lead girl turned to her, "Captain! I'd like to have the Avatar arrested!"

Suki then turned to her with a cold look in her eyes, She then smirked, "On what charge?"

Oshi grunted, "Harassment and assault!""

Suki's smirk grew wilder. "Oh of course. I'll do just that." She then forced the young woman's hands behind her back and cuffed her with metal handcuffs.

Oshi protested in indignation, "What? What are you doing? I'm innocent!"

"Hin Wi!" She called out loudly.

Hin Wi then rushed over. "Yes Captain!"

Suki turned to her with a cold look, "Lock her up."

Hin Wi just nodded quietly with a steely look. "Yes ma'am!" She then grabbed Oshi by her cuffs and started pulling her along, "Let me go! Let me go!"

Suki then sighed as she ran a hand over her face and she narrowed her eyes at the rest of the group, "As for you all! Disperse before I have you arrested!"

The flock of girls all nodded and rushed off without a word. She then turned to her left.

Kuzon was taking deep breaths as Katara rubbed his back smiling, "There we go. You're calming down now."

He just nodded as he rubbed his eyes. Suki then sighed as she walked over, "Sorry about that you two. I should have secured the perimeter. You okay Kuzon?"

Kuzon just nodded, "Yeah. Just embarrassed. I..shouldn't have lost my temper like that. That was…dishonorable."

Katara shook her head as she took her face in his, "Hey. Don't blame yourself for being human. She called you a slur just because you rejected her advances. She brought all that on herself." She then put an arm around him as she kissed him on the cheek, "You have nothing to apologize for."

Suki nodded in agreement, "She's right Kuzon. We both saw the whole thing. You weren't at fault." She smiled, "Don't worry. The next time you come to visit…I will personally escort you where you need to go. We'll keep the crazed fangirls off of you."

Kuzon nodded as he rubbed his eyes. "Thank you."

Outskirts of Kyoshi Island, Kyoshi Island

Suki then smiled as she hugged Katara, "Katara. I have to say. You are one hell of a warrior. Be safe out there and stay alive."

Katara chuckled as she hugged her back. "You too Suki. Be careful."

Suki laughed, "You too." Suki then hugged Kuzon next, "Take care of yourself Kuzon. Be safe. We're all riding behind you to end this war. Send us a messenger bird when you need us."

Kuzon just blinked but returned the gesture. "Thank you Suki. I will do my best."

Suki smiled and held him at arms length, "The Kyoshi Warriors are behind you all the way." She then met Sokka's gaze. She smiled and blushed a bit, cocking her head to one side smirking, "So…I guess this is goodbye huh?"

He chuckled with a grin nervously rubbing the back of his head, "Heh. I guess so."

She then pulled him into a hug. He blinked as his cheeks went red. He had to admit…Suki was pretty. She was bold. She was a warrior. She had a fiery spirit." The idea of having a relationship with her was somewhat tempting. He then closed his eyes and shook his head. No. Yue is my everything. I can't do that to her. Granted…I admit I like Suki. She's great but I got Yue in my heart. I'm Water Tribe to the core.

Suki chuckled, "Take care not to get yourself killed alright?"

He nervously chuckled, "Heh. I'd say the same for you."

She then held him at arms length and half-smirked, "Oh. I can take care of myself." She then took a few steps back and got in front of the Kyoshi Warriors. She then spoke in a booming tone, "Warriors! Salute Formation!"

All of the girls saluted with a foot stomp as they put their hands behind their back. "Yes ma'am!" They held their heads up high.

Kuzon then pulled up his hood and smiled slightly. Katara smiled as she crossed her arms at them. Sokka grinned as he put a hand on her shoulder.

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