Avatar: The Red Dragon

Chapter 10: The Troublesome Firebender - Part 2

Part 2: Eleven Years Ago

They arrived at the Royal Fire Academy and the captain called out to a small teacher standing guard in the main courtyard during break time. Nanami saw him and stiffened.

Crap, that's Toh!

"Excuse me, sir. We've found this student of yours, fighting in a park nearby." He explained slowly, pointing at Nanami, who was looking down at her feet so as not to meet Toh's eyes.

Toh's face turned red from excessive anger when he saw his problematic student being brought back by the Royal Army.

"You again!" He shouted, unable to contain his rage. "To the Headmaster's office immediately!" He turned to the officer and said in a calmer voice, "This way, please."

Everyone looked at Nanami. She was escorted by the army, the captain's hand on her shoulder as if she was a prisoner. Shuu was surprised to see his little sister at school and when he saw her being brought by the army, a worried expression came over his face. Iroh experienced the same anxious feeling as he watched Nanami walking towards the main building with Toh and other men.

Miya, Saki and Hiroki were sitting at the fountain and the latter couldn't help but facepalm when he saw his friend – who was supposed to be at home. Saki spotted someone she knew very well and ran to them, followed by Miya and Hiroki.

"Dad!" She called. "What are you doing here? What happened to my friend?"

"Saki!" The magistrate exclaimed. "Your friend? Are you telling me that this savage is your friend?" His face turned red just like Toh's did earlier.

❁

Nanami was standing for the second time of her life in front of the intimidating Headmaster Kaito – and she felt that it wouldn't be the last time. His hands were clasped in front of his face, his elbows resting on the desk. Everyone stood straight and the fact that he was the only one sitting made it look like he was a judge.

A heavy silence pervaded the office. Nanami was stuck between Toh and Oku, the captain of the Royal Army, her hands behind her back and waited nervously for someone to break the unbearable silence.

"To what do I owe the honour of the visit of a magistrate and the captain of the Royal Army?" Kaito asked, his deep voice resonating in the office. "As well as a Fire Sage?"

"This young girl here had caused some trouble in the park," the captain explained.

"Hey! I didn't do anything wrong! He's the one who started the fight!" Nanami vehemently protested, pointing at Dao, Saki's father.

Toh glared at her which made Nanami gulp and she immediately simmered down.

"A fight again, Miss Nanami?" Kaito asked her. "What happened?"

"This cheeky girl set fire to a tree in the park!" Dao chimed in and accused her.

"No, that's not true! It was you!" Nanami argued back and added, looking at the Headmaster, "It couldn't have been me. It was not my fire."

"Of course it was you! Luckily, the Royal Army was nearby and they could put out the fire quickly! Else, the whole park would have burned because of your mistake!"