Blades and Fans

The Storyteller

A few days had passed since dealing with Gow and the town. Suki was still a little frustrated with how they were treated. She had never been called a traitor before and those words had stung deep. She tried her best now to simply forget the place and its people. Zuko reminding her that what they thought didn't matter and she agreed. All that matter was what her sisters and her brother thought of her. And now that her arm was mostly healed she and Zuko began their early hunting trips again, something she dearly missed.

Zuko too indeed missed going hunting in the morning. The time they had together, alone amongst the trees. Where there was no war, no problems, it was just them. And he loved it. Although that wasn't the only time Zuko was happy. When he wasn't hunting or traveling with the caravan, he spent his time enjoying being with his new family. When night came and the refugees were asleep, he began telling his new sisters stories. Reciting plays off by heart over the campfire. Telling them tales from his homeland.

"Who knew the scary Blue Spirit was such a poet. What next are you gonna sing a few ballads or how about a few haikus," Kikki joked as the rest of the girls giggled along.

"Definitely not brave enough for that," Zuko said shaking his head.

"Come on, give us a few bars. I'm sure you're not as bad as Aikio she can't hold a tune to save her life," Kikki snickered.

"Hey watch it, or your life would be the one that needs saving," Aikio said as she folded her arms staring the young warrior down.

"Hahaha I can't tell if you are joking or not," Kikki chuckled making Aikio's glare grow even more intense. "Welp, I'm gonna shut up now," she said with a nervous gulp making the others laugh.

"Hey Aikio, couldn't you have done that sooner, haha," Tam said laughing at her friend's expense. "But seriously Blue, sing for us or tell us another story, a scary one this time," she squeaked.

"Well, I think I have a scary one I could tell you," he said as he settled himself next to the campfire. "But this one is a true story. Still wanna hear it?" he asked curiously.

The Kyoshi warriors became intrigued by the idea of hearing a scary story. "Sure why not, could be interesting," Aikio said interested to hear what could scare the people of the Fire Nation.

Even Suki was quite eager to hear another tale. "Yeah Blue tell us."

"Okay let me see how shall I start this," Zuko said thinking carefully trying to remember as many details as he could. "Well, this started many years ago, while I was a young Prince. We recently were getting reports of disappearances from a village, near a Hauringu mountain. Traders, merchants who were bringing supplies to the town would vanish, leaving their carts abandoned in the middle of the road. We thought it could be bandits but the supplies were untouched. Then more started disappearing men, women, children, young, old they would just vanish, all during a full moon," Zuko explained watching as the sisters were hanging on his words.

"My father sent a scout to investigate the disappearances and he would send back weekly reports of what he found. At first nothing, everything was normal. Then one day during a full moon the scout watched as a few kids were playing in the street. Then suddenly they froze. The kids dropped everything as their bodies twisted and contorted like they were possessed, and then they started to walk into the woods. The scout was confused and quietly followed from a distance. He then said he could hear the boys crying, begging for help. The scout tried to catch up to them, but it was too late they were gone. Then everything was silent, the only thing he could hear was his own beating heart," he said his voice getting low and eerie as a shiver began to crawl up the girls' spines.

"What did the scout do next?" Ami asked as she held up her knees to her chest.

"The scout continued to investigate. Even though he feared for his own safety, he was determined to find the truth. He waited till the next full moon and watched the town. This time he saw a man closing up his shop for the night when he too became possessed. The scout followed closer this time watching where the man went, before losing track of him once again. But this time the scout noted just after losing track of the man, he noticed what he believed was a woman walking alone in the woods. And again the next full moon when a young girl was taken he saw the same woman in the distance, just out of sight. He believed whether this woman was a spirit, a demon, or simply a witch he believed she was the cause of all this."

"Did... did he find out if it was her," Aikio asked, she too felt a bit scared from the story.

"No, his last report was him stating he was getting closer to finding out who, or what she was. Then nothing. After a few weeks, my father sent another scout to go find him, but all they found was his bow laying in the dirt and an arrow sticking in a tree. After that, they ended the investigation and put up a curfew around the area. No one to leave their homes during a full moon. But once in a while, people will still disappear when the moon is full. People will still be taken by the witch in the woods."

"BOO!" Kikki yelled as she leapt up, making everyone jump and squeal in fright. Even Zuko fell back from the outburst. "Hahahaha, you should see your faces, hahaha," Kikki laughed uncontrollably hugging her sides as she rolled on the floor.

"Kikki!" everyone yelled in unison as they glared down at her.

"Oh come on, that was funny hahaha," she said as she started to calm herself down.

"Captain, do I have your permission to flay her?" Aikio asked as she got ready to draw her katana.

"Jeez, it was just a joke. Right cap, you get it?" Kikki asked Suki who had her arms crossed with Ami peeking out from behind her. "Right?"

"Hmmm give her a few minutes head start. It wouldn't be fair otherwise," Suki said making Aikio smirk as Kikki's eyes go wide in horror.

"You don't mean that... right cap?" she asked but quickly gulped as she saw Aikio drawing her sword while Suki said nothing. And without even hesitating she bolted from her spot and ran as Aikio chased after her.

"Hahaha it actually was a bit funny, to be honest," Suki admitted as she whispered to Zuko. "Now I think we all should head to bed now, it's already getting late and we have another early ride tomorrow," she said as everyone else agreed. Tam and Ami said their goodnights and headed off to their tents. Zuko then walked Suki to her's to part for the night.

"You know if this whole mysterious warrior thing ever falls out, maybe you should become an actor. You really do have a knack for the theatrical," Suki said poking fun at him.

"No thanks," Zuko said with a chuckle.

"I'm serious you really have a talent for it," she said with a bright smile. "If not act maybe write one. I would love to see a play written by my very own brother."

"Haha oh really. You'd come to see my play?" he asked as they both leaned into each other.

"Yeah I'd love too," she said as a thought came to mind. "Hmmm, maybe you could write one about yourself. It could be about your journey as the masked warrior the Blue Spirit, there would be adventure, love, and action," she said getting herself excited by the idea.

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah why not, it could be fun."

Seeing her smile and how excited she was Zuko actually started to consider it. "Oh and pray tell what should I name my new play?" he asked quite curious.

Suki thought for a moment and quickly came up with an idea. "How about Blades and Fans?" Suki chimed. "I think that sounds like a catchy title don't you?"

"Haha yeah very catchy," Zuko said shaking his head a bit but decided to humor her.

"Glad you see it my way," she said as she leaned up and pecked his lips kissing him softly. "Goodnight Zuko."

"Goodnight Suki," Zuko smiled against the quick kiss but quickly gave her another after she pulled away. "Are we going hunting in the morning," he asked curiously though she shook her head.

"No, but next time we will. I promise," she said as she pulled away to head into her tent. "Night Zuko."

"Night Suki," he said as he headed to his own tent, heading to bed.