The Tailed Beast Festival: Final Part

Azula found it odd that the locals wore strange masks of different animals. She noted that everyone were headed to the same direction. She and Tenten agreed to follow them out of curiosity.

"Hey, Azula?" Tenten suddenly asked.

"Hm?"

"What was it like being a princess?"

Despite Azula's overall unfriendliness, Tenten wanted to take the chance to know her better. However, Tenten felt like she had gotten closer to her since their previous talk. Azula raised an eyebrow at her random question but answered anyways, "Well, being a princess does have its perks."

"Like?"

"Oh, you know," Azula brushed her bangs to the side. "Servants, spas and world-class cuisine. The sort of things that commoners can't enjoy."

"So, you enjoyed being one, right?"

"I suppose so," Azula simply answered. "Other than the tyrannical ruler that is my father."

"Is that why you ran away with Naruto?"

"Look, Tenten, as much as I want to idly chit-chat with you, let's just focus on finding Naruto and Suki," Azula demanded. She rather not talk about the past with her.

Tenten puffed out her cheeks, not satisfied with the sudden end of their conversation. However, she decided to heed to Azula's demand for now. They both arrived at the festival, glancing around with curious eyes. Azula certainly found it strange for the locals here to celebrate a bunch of strange creatures. Who were she to judge, the Fire Nation does celebrate some questionable things.

"You think they're in there?" Tenten asked.

"We won't know unless we find out," Azula walked further into the crowd. "Now, come on."

Azula saw something that warranted her attention. In an open area near the vibrant sea laid a wooden stage situated above the seated crowd. Two actors, a man and a woman, stood on stage. Behind them were various set pieces such as fake trees and rocks. Out of interest, Azula head towards the play to watch.

"Uh, Azula?" Tenten's words fell on dead ears.

The male actor wore a fox mask and had nine tails behind him. The actor held the actress close to him, staring into her eyes. The actress wore a elegant, green dress fit for an Earth Kingdom noble, whereas the man wore rugged clothing fit for a commoner.

"Sona, my love," The man clutched her hands. His voice was soft and soothing as he spoke. "I don't know how long I will be able to hold the beast within me."

"No, Menma, you musn't give up!" Sona pleaded him. She clutched onto his shirt, her eyes forming tears. "You have to fight it!"

Some shouted from the crowd for Menma to fight on. Tenten watched the play with a deadpanned face. How could people like this cheesy romance was beyond her. Seriously, even their acting was way too over the top. Tenten glanced at Azula and saw her awestruck face.

'Well, that was entirely unexpected,' Tenten groaned to herself. Out of all the people, Azula had to be one of those people.

Azula was quickly enraptured by their performance. Her eyes closely focused on the actors exaggerated movements as they spoke. Their acting, their passion; Azula was amazed by it all. It reminded her of the plays she watched with her mother.

"I-I don't know if I will be able to," Menma backed away. "I could feel it eating up at my soul; it's trying to take over."

"Please, Menma! Don't let it take you away from me!" She pleaded.

Azula gripped her pants with anxiousness while Tenten fiddled with her thumbs out of boredom. It hadn't been even five minutes, and Tenten felt like she wanted to end everything already.

"Aren't we suppose to find Naruto?"

"Shh!" Azula held a finger against her mouth. "This part is important!"

"Ugh..."

*****

Naruto and Suki went on a small 'food tour', going from stall to stall to try various food. However, most of the time, it was Suki who tried to feed him herself. Naruto realized how clingy Suki was. They had been exploring the festival for a while, and Suki never let go of his arm. He subtly tried to pull away, but it only made Suki hold onto him even tighter.

"Uh, Suki?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, Naru?" Suki teasingly said. She had started calling him by that nickname and was going to stick to it even if it annoyed him.

Naruto pretended that he didn't hear Suki call him that, even if it was a tad bit annoying.

"You're kinda crushing my arm."

"Whoops," Suki giggled, loosening her arm around him. "Sorry."

Naruto chuckled in response before a silence ensued between them. Naruto didn't know what else to talk about, and the awkward silence was killing him. Naruto wrapped his head around anything that he could think of as a good conversation starter, but most topics he had in mind were mainly about ramen.

"Naru?" Suki suddenly stopped.

"Uh, who? Uh, yeah, what's up?" Naruto stumbled over his words. He quickly stopped himself in front of Suki.

They stood by the brilliant sea as their elongated shadows casted over the street below. The setting sun came with a sky of fire that clashed against the ocean's blue. Suki brushed her brunette hair against the sea breeze.

"I just wanted to thank you," Suki said.

"What for?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"For coming along with me," She explained. "I really enjoyed myself with you."

Ever since Naruto came into her life, she never felt more happy. Despite their rough encounter, despite running from the Fire Nation or their arduous journey to Ba Sing Se, Suki didn't regret it one bit. Naruto had something in him that drew Suki in ever since she first saw him. She didn't know if it was his bright personality or his unassuming charisma.

"I had fun, too!" Naruto shined a grinned at her. "To be honest, I don't really mind if we do this again, Suki."

Suki couldn't hide the blush that formed on her face. She could feel her heart beat hammering against her chest as she gazed into his eyes. And his lips. She wanted to kiss them so badly. However, her conscience held her back. Suki knew that Naruto loved Azula. He practically carried his heart on his sleeve. Another part of her wanted to take Naruto for herself. Suki suddenly felt a clash of conflicting emotions aching at her heart.

"Suki, is something wrong?" Naruto said with concerned.

Suki quickly shook her head and gave him a smile, "No, it's nothing. I'm just really happy."

"Oh, I thought I made you sad or something," Naruto laughed it off.

"N-no, that will never happen," Suki quickly replied.

Naruto scratched his head again; a habit that he recently picked up on when things get awkward.

"Ya wanna call it a day and head back, Suki?"

"Yeah, I'd like that."

"Great!" Naruto smiled again. "I wonder if Azula and Tenten are back at the inn!"

*****

The crowd gasped as the actress, Sona, collapsed onto the stage floor. Holding as she fell was Menma, his nine tails missing, and his fox mask removed which revealed a handsome man with jet black hair.

"Sona, please don't leave me," He sobbed his words words out, quickly clutching her hand.

Sona raised her arm up to his face and gently caressed his cheek. "Promise me that you'll always be happy, Menma." She softly spoke.

"I promise!" Menma shouted. "Just please stay with me!"

Sona simply smiled. Her voice grew faint and raspy with each word she spoke, "Menma... I will... always... love...."

Her voice grew quiet as her arm fell limply onto the ground.

"Sona!" Menma wailed in agony. The play ended as red curtains obscured the whole stage. Murmurs rang out from the crowd. Some clapped while others sobbed.

"What the hell kinda ending was that!" Tenten shouted with anger. Despite the fact that she hated overdramatic romance plays, she was unexpectedly invested in this one. However, Tenten found that ending to be such bullshit; all that interest she had went down the drain.

"It was indeed unfortunate that Sona had died," Azula agreed. "But, overall, it was a very heartfelt play."

"Are you kidding me? That was so..urgghh!" Tenten fumed in anger. "I can't even think straight now!"

As Tenten unleashed her frustration at empty air, Naruto suddenly called out to them.

"Azula, Tenten, what are you guys doing here?"