Goodbye and Hello Ba Sing Se!: Part Two

Thumps and clangs echoed across the empty room. Each loud thump only irritated Suki even more, letting out a soft groan of displeasure. However, the incessant noise finally woke the sleeping beauty up.

"Ugh~" Suki groggily opened her eyes. An empty ceiling greeted her, and she felt the warmth of the soft futon. She was alive? Wait... she was alive!

'Ah, you're awake."

Suki looked at an old lady in traditional green robes, pounding away with her motar and pestle. The Kyoshi warrior could smell whiffs of herbs permeating throughout the room.

"Ngh!" Suki groaned in pain; her head felt like it was being smashed by a hammer multiple times.

"You should lie back down. Your body is still healing," the village doctor said.

"Who are you? How long was I out for?" She asked, obviously confused. This was the first time she saw this old lady.

"Three days," the old doctor replied curtly.

That long?! Suki was shocked to say the least.

"What about my friends? Where are they?"

"Yours friends are guarding the bridge until Tazuna's finished completing it; they should be back any minute."

"Oi, granny!" Naruto brushed past the curtains in perfect timing. "Is Suki awake ye-" Naruto suddenly paused. His blue eyes roamed towards the beautiful brunette across the room. "Suki!"

He rushed towards her like a lost child who found his mother. He slid down to his knees and wrapped the girl in a bear hug.

"I'm so glad that you're finally awake!" He said I'm pure happiness.

"You're! Hurting! Me! You dork!" Suki squeezed her words out.

"Whoops," Naruto finally loosened his hold on her. "I was just happy, ya know; you don't know how much I was worried about you."

Suki's face reddened when she heard his sickly sweet words. She gazed up at his innocent, grinning face, and her heart raced a mile a minute. He was so close to her.

"Are ya feelin' alright? Are ya still hurt anywhere?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Suki tried to calm him down. But, it was cute how he was so concerned for her. Suki could just clobber Naruto up.

Looking at Naruto again, he didn't look injured at all. His body was weird, afterall - able to heal rapidly for some unknown reason, at least to Suki's knowledge.

"So, uh, are those guys... y'know, dead?" Suki asked. She was curious to know what happened after she passed out.

"Nah, they aren't. Zabuza and Haku actually help us beat Gato - so, that guy's outta the picture. You shoulda seen how awesome I was." Naruto said excitedly, making Suki giggle.

"Pfft. Yeah, right. Not in a million years, Foxy," Azula snorted, crossing her arms.

"Suki~!" Tenten burst right into the room just as excited as Naruto, hugging her best friend. "I'm so happy that you're okay."

"I'm -ow- just glad that everyone's okay , OW!" Tenten finally let go of Suki. Curse these cuddling creatures.

"Well, it's good to see you in bright spirits after the stunt you pulled off. Honestly, it was utterly foolish, reckless and frankly idiotic," Azula said.

"Suki saved your life, Azula," Tenten frowned.

"In turn, she nearly lost hers," Azula said.

"Azula-"

"It's alright, Tens," Suki interrupted her. "Azula, it might be reckless and idiotic, but if I had the choice to risk my life to save yours, I would do it again."

Azula's face flushed red in embarrassment, turning her head away to face the wall instead in faux anger. However, her heart spoke differently.

Crossing her arms again, Azula quickly blurted out in a haughty manner, "I-I suppose I should t--t-thank you; for saving me even if I didn't ask you to."

Suki only smiled at her. Naruto was also grinning from the sideline. He knew how hard it was for Azula to show gratitude. He was glad that she did it anyways.

* * * * *

Another three days passed since their fight with Zabuza and Haku. It was peaceful. Tazuna and the other villagers were working hard to finish the last sections of the bridge, but it would be done in no time.

Suki's wounds weren't fully healed, but she was able to stand up and walk, albeit slowly. Although, she still needed help with basic routines like eating, bathing and changing clothes. But, Tenten, Yulah and surprisingly Azula helped her.

But today, Naruto was tasked to feed Suki. Tenten, Iroh, Rock Lee and Azula were on guard duty for Tazuma.

Inari went to help his grandfather as well. He wanted to become a carpenter just like his grandfather, so he decided to come along with Tazuna.

Yulah and Tsunami were out to grab groceries for tonight's dinner, and Temujin was somewhere out in bum-fuck nowhere getting drunk again. So, it was up to Naruto now.

Naruto blew into the spoon and lifted it towards Suki's mouth, "Open up."

Today was simple rice porridge.

"Aah~" Suki opened up. She felt giddy when her favorite blonde was finally feeding her this time. Besides, poor, little her could barely lift up a spoon. Wink.

"Do you really have to do that?" Naruto asked with a bright face. "It's kinda embarrassing."

"What's there to be embarrassed about, Naru? Now, feed me," she demanded. Empty room, not a single person in sight!

Naruto hesitantly spoonfed her, red blush still present on his whiskered face.

"Mmm~" Suki moaned in delight. Was it her or did this rice porridge taste better than usual?

Honestly, she wished it would last forever, but sometimes, reality doesn't work that way. Suki knew that she can't stay with Naruto and Azula for too long. As much as she wanted to stay here with them, she had to go back home to Kyoshi Island.

Her people were still there, and she still have to protect them.

* * * * *

Two days more passed, and the bridge was finally completed. Cheers echoed as everyone celebrated their path out of poverty. With this new bridge, trade will boom and more travelers will come visit.

"We did it, we did it!" Inari hopped around in happiness.

"This truly calls for a beautiful celebration!" Bushy Brows struck a pose that made everyone around him cringe.

Rock Lee moved like the wind and knelt in front of Suki, holding a hand out to her, "I would live nothing more but to celebrate with a beauty like you. Suki, if I remember correctly?"

"Uh, ew... no thanks," Suki turned him down quickly, a bit repulse by the pink aura glowing around him.

Not one to feel defeated, he moved to the cute girl with hair like odangos, "What about a beauty like you? Care to celebrate with a man like me?" Rock Lee gave Tenten a little wink.

"No way, freak!" Tenten sent Rock Lee flying with a hard kick.

Naruto was even more happy than ever. He didn't have to do that boring guard duty ever again.

"Yatta!" He bearhugged Azula and spun her around.

Tenten and Suki giggled and cheered along with them. Suki's were getting better; although they weren't fully healed, she was able to walk again without support.

"Hey, old man Tazuna, what are you gonna name this bridge?" Naruto asked.

"As a way to commemorate the day you saved our village, this will bridge will be named, The Great Naruto Bridge!" Tazuna said proudly, gathering cheers from the villagers.

Everyone gathered around Naruto and lifted him up in the air. Naruto couldn't but laugh as they cheered and hollered.

As everyone celebrated together, Iroh brought Azula closer to him for a private conversation.

"What are you guys planning to do next?" Iroh asked.

"We're planning to seek refuge in Ba Sing Se," Azula answered.

"The Impenetrable City..." Iroh said with a soft smile.

The city was not named that for any reason, withstanding the Fire Nation's attacks for a century. It was also his greatest failure as a General. A bad memory that the old General wishes to forget.

"I would have done the same thing if I were you. Maybe open my own tea shop there as well!" Iroh chortled.

Azula glanced back at her beloved idiot who laughed with the people of this village. She wondered what her life would be like in Ba Sing Se with him.

Azula couldn't wait.