Ty Lee bit her lip as she placed a clean layer of bandages on Azula's chest wound, grimacing at her pale skin and the raspy breathing that came from her chest injury.
In all honesty, she was thankful that Toji spared her friend with a non-lethal stab, but at the same time, she hated him for taking away another without remorse.
Outside, she could hear the waves crashing against the sides of the steam cruiser they were in. Other than herself and Azula, the only other person on the ship was Zuko, who was busy sailing the ship on his lonesome.
Mai's body was also with them stored in the lower decks, Ty Lee having wrapped her in a Fire Nation banner herself since she didn't trust the others to do so.
Her fingers trembled as she looked back at Azula, staring at her unconscious form before she rolled the blankets back up to cover her up to her neck.
Standing up and closing the door behind her, she made her way to the bridge, dumping out the bloodied bandages and filthy water out one of the windows.
When she reached it, she opened the door and frowned at the sight of Zuko. He looked frustrated and tired as he stood hunched over the controls.
One hand gripped the wheel while the other rubbed harshly at his feet, his upper body bare as Ty Lee noticed the blood dripping from his own bandages.
"Zuko," she began, but sighed when he didn't turn. "Zuko, look at me."
He did, letting out a soft sigh as she stepped towards the medicinal cabinet. Taking out rolls of sterile gauze, she peeled off the ones on him and frowned at the cauterized wound on his abdomen.
"Zuko..."
"I need to focus, Ty Lee," he replied and she shook her head, applying the new gauze bandages around his stomach. "Besides, he missed all the fatal spots. I guess he just wanted me to suffer."
"Sure," she murmured, tightening the gauze before he glanced to her as she wrapped her arms around him. "Don't say anything. Just...let me breathe."
"...Fine," he replied, wrapping an arm around her while steering the cruiser with the other.
For a moment, the two stood in silence, the only sound being that of the waves cracking against the sides of the cruiser. Ty Lee pressed her forehead against his chest as he rubbed her back, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the warmth of his body against her own.
"Don't think about it," Zuko was the first to cut the silence, making Ty Lee look at him with a frown.
"Think about what?"
"You'll drive yourself mad if you think about the what-ifs or the things that could have been. Mai died, Azula was nearly killed and you almost lost your life. Same as with me.
These is what happens when you go to war against a man that doesn't feel any remorse for anyone that he doesn't care for."
"And what do you do about this?" she asked and he chuckled, giving her a soft kiss. It was tender, exactly what she needed to calm her nerves as he pulled back and smiled.
"Simple. I just have to make sure my girlfriend and sister live to see another day."
"Oh, so I'm your girlfriend now?"
"Considering that I don't have to worry about my bloodthirsty father trying to kill you because he didn't choose you for me, I'd say it's about time I made you mine."
"So, I'm the spare choice, hmm?" she asked in a teasing tone, making Zuko roll his eyes at her words.
"W-Well, isn't this...lovely?" They both stiffened at the voice, both looking to the door to see Azula struggling to stand straight.
Neither said anything as they just stared at Azula, but both Zuko and Ty Lee immediately rushed over when she slipped and fell to the floor.
"Hah, f-fuck," the sound of her cussing threw both Zuko and Ty Lee for a loop, but they just looked at each other and nodded.
They'll continue their discussion for later. For now, they needed to make sure she survived.
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"Well, this is boring," Toji murmured with a sigh as he lounged atop the cliffside that overlooked the sea connected to Wulong Forest.
He was bored from observing the seas in front of him since he arrived, having expected the Fire Nation to feel bold enough to send soldiers after him.
Unfortunately, it appears that he's scared them shitless since he had not seen a Fire Nation ship or fleet since the last fleet he destroyed.
Iron let out a snort at his words as the rhino lounged against a tree, Toji shifting his weight slightly as his fingers traced the rim of Szeto's ring.
"Figures, they learned the hard way and now they're smart to avoid me," he grumbled, turning his head and shaking it at the sight of Wormy's massive head peeking out from the treeline.
The spirit seemed to trying to eat one of the spirits flying overhead, its massive serpentine body coiled in a relaxed pose. He then turned his head to Iron, rolling his eyes at the komodo rhino's snort.
"Yeah, I know, bud. You want some action," he spoke with a wave of his hand. "However, we're still waiting on Aang, Katara and Toph to return from the Eastern Air Temple. Once they do, we're going to end this stupid thing once and for all."
"My, my. That is quite the wording to use," Toji turned his head as he heard a familiar voice, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Iroh, Piandao, Jeong-Jeong and a man in the same White Lotus clothing as them with long silver hair and moustache.
'...I know him, right?'
"Hey, Iroh. What's up?"
"Well, I've been hearing rumours that my nephew was forced to flee after you nearly killed him and Azula. Any truth to that?" he asked and Toji leaned back on his hands while nodding.
"Yep, true."
"I see," the man muttered, Toji moving over to let the man sit beside him. "I suppose I should be glad you didn't kill them, then."
"I wanted to, but I've been told to give others a second chance before doing so."
"The Avatar?"
"Nope, his cute earthbending teacher."
"Ah, yes. The one you can't keep silent about," Iroh replied with a chuckle, Toji nodding with a smile. The two stayed silent as they continued to look out at sea, the other members of the White Lotus glancing at the spirit and komodo rhino staring back at him.
"Toji Fushiguro, do you remember me?" the unknown one of the group asked, sitting down along with the others as Toji glanced back.
"Can't say that I do, though don't take that badly. I'm very bad when it comes to remember other guys."
"Right. Do you remember the Battle of Agna Qel'a Bay two years ago?"
"With the waterbenders and their ice sh-Pakku! You old shit!" Toji spoke with a grin as he turned to stare at the old man. "How you been? Your leg, to be specific."
"As well as it can be," the man spoke, lifting up his left pants leg to reveal the jagged cut stretching from above his ankle to his lower outer thigh. "It is only thanks to your mercy that the blow was not higher up."
"Nah, I might act arrogant, but I know when to give someone credit and it was hard as shit to fight you," Toji said with a nod. "Although, I will take the praise. After all, I did almost kill you after killing half of your army."
"Ah, the cockiness of youth. I remember the days that girls were wooed by such words," Piando spoke with a chuckle, making the others smirk as Toji raised an eyebrow at him.
"Really? You got girls?"
"Master Piandao here might not look it, but he is considered to be the greatest swordsman in Fire Nation history," Jeong-Jeong replied, making Toji raise an eyebrow.
"And yet, I can replicate his skills. Would that mean I'm the best now?"
"Being skilled with one move does not equate to the experience and skills one would need to be the best," Piandao spoke up and Toji smirked at the man's challenging tone. "If anything, the move you showed that day was nothing but pure power with very little skill or finesse."
"Wanna test that?"
"I wouldn't mind seeing that," Iroh replied, Toji and Piandao standing up as the others made a small area for them. Iron stood up and walked over, letting Toji unsheathe the Split Soul Katana while Piandao unsheathed his own blade.
Tossing his scabbard to the side, neither said anything as Toji stood in a basic kendo stance while Piandao settled for holding his jian low to the ground and his free hand stretched out with two fingers pointed to the sky.
"Strange opening stance. I have not seen it being used."
"It's my own original," Toji replied, shifting his footing as Piandao hummed. Then, the young man vanished, reappearing in front of the master swordsman with a swift swing.
It was aimed for his neck, Piandao stepping back whilst parrying the blow away. He twisted his wrist, flicking the blade back before swinging down at Toji's leg.
The man stepped back while slashing down, parrying the strike and delivering a slight nick to Piandao's wrist. However, the man stepped before it could get deep enough, narrowing his eyes as Toji twirled his katana with a smirk.
"Predictable openings protected by unpredictable counters. An interesting style," the man replied, lunging in with incredible speed. Toji countered with a wide arc, flicking the jian to the side as Piandao stepped back.
Then, the young man spun under the next strike, kicking the ground and pushing out a cloud of dust that blinded Piandao for a brief moment.
That was all Toji needed as he moved forward once more, Piandao parrying his attack before countering with a flurry of rapid jabs and slashes.
As he expected though, Toji's eyes were able to track each attack, parrying and deflecting them all away. He then stepped back, but raised an eyebrow as Toji pressed his own attack.
As he blocked the low swing however, his eyes widened as Toji spun and lashed out with a spinning heel kick that cracked against his shoulder.
The blow pushed him off-centre, but he caught himself, moving back when Toji swung upwards and barely missed clipping his nose.
"What was that?"
"Battle," Toji replied with a smirk. "I'm a fighter. Never said I was an honourable swordsman."
"...That is true," the swordsman murmured, shifting into a new lowered stance. This one was a lot more offensive looking with the blade pointed at his foe. It was held high twith the index and middle fingers of his free hand resting on the back of his sword arm's wrist.
'Oh, that's a change?' Toji thought, readying himself as Piandao exploded forward with a speed that did not fit his age.
His jian flashed with a precise slash aimed for Toji's throat, who intercepted it with the Split Soul Katana. He moved with a counter, a low thrust that Piandao avoided with a backstep.
To his credit, the older fighter moved in immediately, thrusts and slashes swung within milliseconds of each other. Yet, Toji was able to match each one, twisting and twirling his sword with the skill of someone that was bron with it.
He ducked under a horizontal slash while lunging forward, diving into Piandao's guard and delivering a sharp elbow to his ribs. Piandao twisted just enough to avoid most of the damage, but the force from the attack still pushed him back.
He rolled with the push and looked at Toji, but found nothing but empty air as a blade rested against his throat.
"Have to admit, old timer. You're pretty good," Toji spoke with a smirk as he pulled back the Split Soul Katana, Piandao letting out a soft exhale before looking at Toji with a smirk.
"Were you not trying?"
"Near the end, I was. You started going all-out so I only reciprocated," Toji replied, Iron walking over to let him sheathed the blade in the scabbard once more.
Piandao caught the scabbard Jeong-Jeong threw at him and did the same with a hum. "I see. Well, I can say that you are skilled with the blade, if anything else."
"Jack of all trades and a master of none, but better than a master of one," Toji replied with a smirk before turning to Iroh. "What's your plans for this war? You should know by now that when Aang gets here, we're ending this once and for all."
"First, we are going to help our final comrade escape the reach of the Fire Nation on the day of the eclipse. After that, we'll be on our way to Ba Sing Se to liberate it once more.
Afterwards, I will go looking for my niece and nephew. After all, with my brother gone, a new Fire Lord will have to take his place."
"And who will that be?"
"Zuko. Of course, he will hold resentment to you for what you've done just like many others would, but I do not believe that he would neglect the fact that the other nations and the Fire Nation need to make amends for the atrocities committed."
"Understood," Toji nodded with a smirk. "I'll let them know and you all can take it from there."
"With the war ending, you will be losing a job, would you not?" Iroh asked, chuckling as Toji scoffed.
"Of course, but I've already gathered enough wealth to live comfortably for a hundred lifetimes. Right now, I just want to walk around in peace."
"That is understandable," the man spoke with a smile as he walked away, the other masters of the White Lotus following after him. It didn't take them long to vanish from Toji's sight, though his other senses helped keep track of them until he focused back on himself.
"Well, wasn't that fun?" he spoke with a smile, chuckling at Iron's grumbles. "You fighting him wouldn't have been as fun or as easy considering you'd lose within the first second."
The beast snorted and stood up, Toji pushing his head away as Iron swung it at him. He knew that the beast was mindful of his horn, not that he needed to considering it would take Iron charging at full speed to pierce his skin.
"Oh, that's how you wanna play this?" he spoke with a grin, Iron letting out a snort before he charged forward. Toji grunted as he caught the beast by his horn, twisting and pinning him to the cliffside.
"How's tha-Wormy? You traitor!" he exclaimed as the spirit wrapped around his limbs, slithering away just as Iron dropped down onto his body. "Urgh! Y-You traitors."
With a wheeze, Toji lifted the rhino off of him, the three lying on the cliffside right before he noticed the blot in the distance.
His supernatural eyesight crossed the distance within mere seconds, a smile spreading across his face as Appa's form began to fly down towards him.
Well, looks like the time for rest is over.
A/N: And we end it off here~! Mostly because the next couple of chapters/ arcs might be the final ones. Well, that's another story almost done.
Next chapter: War Tactics.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!