Gradual Changes

Duel Of The Century

Duel Of The Century

"So how are things going with the tea shop?" Toph asked. "I haven't heard the old man so excited about anything since I told him Aang moved."

"Uncle says things are going pretty fast," Zuko answered. "He's on the phone with your dad every night making plans. Sounds like The Jasmine Dragon is going to be opening up sometime in March."

Toph merely nodded as she and Zuko observed the club members. For once she was not actually in the mood for a match and had opted instead to assist Zuko in his instructing. He had done a splendid job shaping these kids, but the students were far from ready for Qiang's "big tourney." As one of the students took his stance to resume his sparring session, Toph interrupted.

"Your stance is all wrong."

"How would you know?" he asked haughtily. "You don't even study Shaolin."

"I don't care what you're studying!" Toph growled as she approached him. "If I can do this . . ." she said with a jab into the boy's arm, throwing him off balance and knocking him to the ground, "then your balance is weak and your stance is all wrong!"

The boy clambered to his feet and bowed an apology to her. Toph dismissed the gesture and returned to Zuko shaking her head. She was not sure if the lack of respect was due to her lacking attendance, but Toph was determined to get respect out of these club members if she had to beat it into them.

While Toph wondered just what he had been teaching the club, Qiang was smiling at her from across the gym. She was always so amazing and confident. So much so that he simply could not help but be drawn to her. The most incredible thing about her was that she never compromised herself in anything. She never pretended to be anything other than herself. Watching her he was reminded of how he had learned this.

Sitting of to the side of the crowd, Qiang could see Aang sitting in silent meditation. That or he was sleeping. To put it politely, Qiang referred to the kid as "interesting." There was something about him that Qiang just could not describe. The longer Qiang thought about it, the more irritated he would become. Somehow this oddball was more to Toph than he could ever be, and he knew that it was because of that something. It was not until Thanksgiving that he found out what it was.

He still did not know exactly how to describe it, but now Qiang was aware of that "something" that made Aang so unique. Because of this, he was finally able to see what it was that drew Toph to him in the first place. Ever since that day in the mall when he had received Aang's kind gesture of a handshake and "Merry Christmas", Qiang's respect for him had done nothing but grow. However, there was still a question that itched in the back of Qiang's mind.

The first time the question ever entered his mind was on the day that they had met. It was posed again on Halloween night when they had met at the party. After that meeting, Qiang was not so sure of the answer. When he confronted Aang in the hallway days later, his confidence had returned as did the question. It was not until Zuko gave his opinion that Qiang had decided that there was only one way to get his question answered. Today, right now was the time to get that answer.

Qiang marched purposefully over to Toph and waited patiently for her to grant him her attention. When she finally turned towards him with her far away gaze he asked for her permission.

"Would it bother you if I stole your sparring partner today?"

"Knock yourself out," she said with a shrug. "I'm not using him."

Qiang's focus now returned to the tall boy sitting on the ground just a few paces away. He knew that it was wrong of him to ask such a thing, but he needed to know. It was not just his competitive spirit, nor his feelings for Toph that drove him. He just needed to know.