Book I, Act V: Elementary (2/3), Chapter I

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book I, Imbalance

Act V: Elementary, Part II

Chapter I:

As Katara had left to help Sokka recover from his lost competition and Toph had called it a day, only Zuko, Aang and Mai remained.

Zuko broke the silence. "I told him."

Aang chuckled. "Yeah, he never listens."

"So, uh…" Zuko, sitting alongside Mai and across from Aang in his office, scratched his head. "How have you been lately? Anything new from Roku?"

Aang thought for a moment then shook his head. "No, not really. He says he will finally rest in peace when the world is balanced, so… not much else."

"I see… That is… very good."

"Yeah. So, I noticed you made a lot of changes to the place huh?" Aang's eyes shifted towards the walls and ceiling.

"Uh… no, I don't think so." Zuko eyed him, confused.

Mai rolled her eyes and stood up to leave. "I think you two need some time alone."

"No, no. It's alright, Mai."

"I'll see you around, Zuko."

There was a moment of silence between the two, both avoiding each other's gazes; but after a moment, they both tried to speak at the same time. Aang waved Zuko on.

"Aang, I just wanted to say, I don't want things to feel weird between us. I know I asked a lot of you that day, but I just had to make sure. I don't know what I would..."

"...I… I tried not to think about it. it's just I don't know why I'd have to…"

Zuko's eyes turned melancholic. "If… If I'm too far gone… then taking my bending away won't fix the problem, Aang. There is no way out of this. I'm all the Fire Nation has right now; this is not like last time. Last time, I was there to replace my father. Who would replace me, then? My uncle? He was the rightful heir to the throne, and he refused to take it. Or maybe my sister, who proposed to burn the Earth Kingdom to the ground? Or… my father. Trust me, Aang; I've spent sleepless nights thinking about this–now more than ever. I cannot even begin to imagine what would have happened had I died that day… Who would have taken my place? Can you imagine?"

"Zuko, it's not like that. They would neve–"

"And what do you know about the Fire Nation, Aang? Do you think everybody loves me here; that everyone wants peace; that I cannot make any mistakes? My own Overseer wanted me dead for crying out loud! You have to understand, Aang–if I am the only choice of a ruler the Fire Nation has, then there is no way–no way–I'm allowed to live if I ever become like my father. If the Avatar doesn't stop me, then who will? Do you know what happened with Sozin and Roku, Aang?"

"Yes…" Aang sank into his seat.

"Then you have your answer. We cannot make the same mistakes from the past. You have to find the strength within you for the greater good. I dread that it may one day happen, Aang. So now, I'm hoping you understand, and if the time comes to pass, you know what to do."

The door creaked open. "Sorry… we didn't mean to interrupt." Katara entered the room alongside Sokka, with her hand on her wrist.

Zuko rose from his seat. "It's fine… that's all I had to say." He left them without saying another word.

Sokka scratched his head, oblivious of the situation. "Huh… Hey, where are you going, Zuko?"

How could he be so irresponsible? When will he understand? When it's already too late? He hastened his pace to his room, but Katara ran up to him.

"Zuko, what did you say to him?!"

"He had to know, even if he likes it or not, it's the only way."

"Haven't you thought for one second how it would make him feel? He has gone through a lot, too."

"He was spared the grim reality of the war. Do you want to know how many airbenders died on the first day? You have no idea how it feels. One mistake I make may cost lives; I walk on a tightrope with every decision I take. You have to understand it isn't easy; and no matter how hard it is for him to understand, he must come to terms with it. It is his responsibility as the Avatar to put the world's well-being before everything else."

"Zuko… that's no way to treat your friend. Aang doesn't take well to things like this."

"Then help him, Katara! Help him understand what's at stake."

"Fire Lord, I have urgent news." Mak marched up and handed Zuko a scroll. The Fire Lord read it with great urgency, and a small smile formed on his lips.

"I have to go, Katara; I need Sokka's help."

"I'm guessing this is about your 'case'?" Her countenance shifted into what Toph called her "Momtara look." "Please don't get into trouble. Just, come back soon."

He smiled confidently. "We will."

Zuko rushed to get ready as Sokka shot up when he told him that they had found another clue on the missing manufacturer. They didn't pack anything and decided to head straight to a farming town where Tegakari had been last sighted, only a few hours by carriage to the west of the caldera. They had remained silent for most of the journey, but he noticed Sokka had put on his hat as he puffed his pipe.

"Do you really have to wear that thing again?" There was a hint of discomfort in his voice.

"But of course, my dear Zuko, I always do when I am on a case."

Zuko took a moment to entice his friend with an offer he knew wouldn't refuse. "I will give you free seal jerky for life if you stop saying that."

"A tempting offer, but I will kindly refuse, my good hotman." Sokka continued puffing his pipe much to Zuko's annoyance.

"...Fine."

Sokka raised an eyebrow. "I deduce your sour mood to be a consequence of your conversation with our bald acquaintance."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine by me… don't you want to know how I knew?" Sokka raised an eyebrow.

"No." He hoped that he got the message.

"Really? I mean it's very interesting… You wouldn't want to keep guessing… right?" Sokka eyed him estranged, expectant for an answer.

"I don't care."

"Interesting…" Sokka continued to puff his pipe, some of the bubbles he blew landing right on Zuko's face. He had finally lost his patience and snatched it. "Hey, that's mine!" Sokka snatched at it.

Zuko held him back with one hand. Creaking open the side window, he tossed it out. "Was."

Sokka sighed, defeated. "Very professional, Your Majesty." He pouted and sat back, crossing his arms.

Zuko sighed. "Let's just focus on the case."

"By all means, for this will help us tie loose ends and probably find the merchant as well."

Zuko leaned back, looking at the roof of the carriage. "I sure hope so; it won't be long until the Fire Days Festival. All those involved must be arrested."

Sokka leaned forward, interested."So, you say someone saw this Tegakari fellow?"

"Apparently, yes."

"Hmm… Don't you find it strange? If I was this man, I would have run away from the Fire Nation as fast as I could. Why stay? Why be close to the Capital?"

Zuko shrugged. "Maybe he thought that would be the last place we'd look for, or something happened, and he couldn't leave, or maybe he didn't plan this at all."

"Hmm… Well, remember what I said about theorizing without all the data? Don't jump to any assumptions, my dear Zuko. I'll make a good detective out of you yet."

"I will keep it in mind…"

"Did you bring the map?"

"Sure, here it is." Zuko pulled out a map of the province. It didn't show the town on the map, being too small for consideration. Instead, a path to its location was scrawled on the paper. The town had an odd placement, locked in between the caldera and surrounded by mountains. Its only water source available was underground. It used to be a mining town, but once the iron deposits were depleted, some of the workers decided to settle and farm the fertile ashen soil.

Sokka pointed at a spot near the roads on the map. "So, he was sighted near these hills…"

"Yes. Apparently, a traveler saw a man by his description walking up the hills in the direction of Hikagenoki all alone only a few weeks ago."

"There's nothing that guarantees our good fellow stayed there; but since the man is no ghost, surely, the locals must have seen him. People from small towns know each other pretty well and remember the faces of strangers even better. I'd know."

"Then let's hope we find something promising."

They had been on the dirt road for a while before they began to catch a glimpse of endless barren farm plots. Beyond, they could only see towering mountains. As they neared the center of the town, clay houses came into view, some in a very sorry state next to others decorated with vibrant red and gold. The street lamps could be counted on one hand, illuminating the town center. It led to a dead end lined with a smattering of houses buzzing with the din of village life. The carriage stopped.

Zuko muttered, "This can't be it."

"Map says we're here." Sokka opened the door and jumped to the dirt street.

Zuko followed behind, looking around the tiny dimly lit town square. All he could hear was the rustle of the wind, like there was nothing alive there. "This looks more like a ghost town."

Sokka shrugged. "Maybe the villagers here are just shy." He inspected a sign on one of the lampposts and took out another bubble pipe from his pocket. Zuko massaged his forehead. "What? I've got a spare one, just so you know." After puffing his pipe, he inspected the sign closer, wiping off some dust. "Ah, yes! This will do: 'Mountain Prairie Inn.' Come, let's stay for the night; it's quite late already." Zuko turned to reply, but Sokka had scampered over the zig-zagging cobble-stone path to the door. Zuko slowed his pace to admire the flowerbeds flanking the path. Sokka slid the door open and sauntered inside without waiting.

Stepping inside, Zuko noticed only a few candles and a fireplace lit the house, providing a pleasant warmth to the atmosphere. The elders played Pai Sho with their dinner, not sparing a glance. Sokka was chatting with the innkeeper, asking for a place for the night and, of course, about the menu. Zuko decided to sit near the fire, enjoying the crackling of the flames. He reached into it lazily, feeling the life flowing from the blaze.

Shortly after, Sokka sat next to him, and the innkeeper came behind, holding steaming bowls. "Hello, my name is Shanhu. Hope you like our cabbage and rice; it's a home grown produce… That's all there is on the menu here." She handed them the bowls and went straight back to work.

Sokka glanced at the colorful dish with a bit of disgust; but after smelling it a bit, it didn't take long for him to start devouring it.

Zuko grit his teeth. "I thought we came here to ask for Tegakari, not to stay and eat out."

"Pafens, we're alwewy doin thah."

"How?"

Sokka gulped a big chunk of food and pointed around with his chopsticks. "This is the only place where he could have stopped. Do you see many rooms for rent around? There's just farms and this inn."

"And how can you be so sure he stopped here? He could have just kept going."

"Not exactly; I thought you had already checked the map. Our friend indeed chose the most puzzling place to run away to. As you have already seen, there is absolutely nothing around here–no forests, no towns, no ports. Just empty farmland and mountains all around. The only way he could have gone somewhere else was by running back to the Capital; and for all we know, he didn't. He is trapped here."

"Maybe he never planned this at all. He just ran as far as he could or–"

"What did I say about early theorizing, my dear Zuko?"

Zuko pointed at him with his chopsticks. "Stop it already, or you'll lose another pipe."

The old innkeeper came, holding a broom fresh off of sweeping. "Your room is ready if you want to go."

Sokka put down his bowl. "Thank you… By the way, madam, we're looking for a man as well. We think he came here some time ago. Shaggy black hair, skinny, with dark brown eyes?"

"Ah, you must mean Lee, a sweet young lad. He helped fix my stove when he was staying here. Poor thing was exhausted when he came here. Very anxious, too. He was waiting for a friend of his to show up."

Sokka eyed Zuko with an 'I told you so' look.

"Oh, is he still around?" Sokka grinned.

"No."

"That's great s– Wait, what do you mean, 'no'?"

"No, he must have left a month ago; said he'd go meet his friend and never came back. He was in such a rush he even forgot a few things."

"Oh… I see. Well, thank you." Sokka gave a polite smile and turned to the fire. They finished their meal in silence and retired to their room. The place was spartan, having only two beds with a pair of chests and a lamp. Sokka jumped on his bed and looked at the ceiling, muttering, "The plot thickens..."

Zuko gave him a thoughtful look as he lay down. "What? Look, maybe he is back in the city. We have to go back as early as possible tomorrow."

Sokka jumped up. "Haven't you listened to anything she said? She said he left a month ago, yet there is a report of him being here only a few weeks ago. She must be lying."

"Or maybe someone just wanted to claim the reward and gave a false tip."

"No, he was here; he must have been. There is only one way we'll know for sure--we find the missing belongings and go from there."

"Come on; we'll be wasting our time on a trick."

"We have nothing to lose; we're already staying here for a night. I'll distract her; you sneak into her room. See if you find Tegakari's belongings there."

Zuko sighed. We should have stayed. "I'm already regretting letting you come along."

Sokka stepped downstairs to speak with the innkeeper, who was talking to the men playing Pai Sho. Zuko took his chance and crept behind the counter into the kitchen. There was a stove burning. An opened sack of rice was leaning against the wall by a wooden box full of cabbages. Shanhu slept similarly to the guests, for there was a bed and a chest almost identical to their room's. What caught Zuko's attention were some stairs leading to a cellar. Ghosting down the steps, he found shelves of rice and vegetable sacks and preserves. On a dust-covered shelf, he had found what they were looking for: a stained overall with patches of the Fire Nation and the Royal Taramaguro District Factory. Unmistakably; those stains seem really difficult to clean.

Next to the overall was a dusty tool belt with a variety of wrenches, a hammer, and screwdrivers. It's like he ran away in the middle of work. Doubt he liked to carry this stuff around.

Satisfied, he carefully replaced the items and snuck out. He reached their door.

"Zuki, come over!" He tried not to glower at Sokka, who continued chatting lively.

Shanhu smiled at him. "Your friend told me how worried you are about your cousin. Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Sokka patted his back. "Ah, he's just a shy guy; that's why I always bring him along on my adventures: it helps him open up."

Zuko ignored that, doing what everyone told him he did best: act awkward. "...Uh… Yes, I've been so… worried about him. I…"

She took Zuko's hand, giving him a comforting smile. "It's fine, dear; I'm sure he is safe with his friend."

His friend? "Oh… but did he tell you where they were going? I don't think he ever told me about this friend?"

"Well, Lee mentioned his friend getting him a job in the Colonies. He was so excited to go and was very nervous about the whole thing. He had been so helpful around that I even offered him a job here before; but that young man was eager to leave. You youngins cannot stay put for a second." She sighed. "I understand, though. Who would want to stay in a place like Hikagenoki? It's just old people around. The young just abandon their family farms for fancy city jobs or to join the army. Can't say I blame them. That day, I even waved him goodbye. His friend was already waiting there. He seemed friendly enough, but had one of those tattoos that scare you, you know?"

"This must be a new friend of his. A tattoo, you say? What kind of tattoo?"

"Oh, you truly are putting the memory of an old woman to the test... I think it was an animal... a rat-viper on his arm. I know you probably won't believe me, but it was the first time I've seen such a thing…" There was a small silence before the old woman grabbed the broom and rose back up. "Well, I think that's enough with the laments of an old woman. You boys, be sure to say 'hi' to Lee from me when you see him again. Oh, and I almost forgot: also, can you give him back his things?"

"Sure, we'd be glad to." The woman went back to her room and brought back Tegakari's belongings. Handing them to Zuko, she said goodbye to them before turning in for the night.

As they walked to their room, Zuko elbowed Sokka. "Why didn't you say you'd talk her into it?"

"Ouch! I didn't think it would work. Anyhow, we've got the stuff and some new clues."

"That he was here and ran away to the colonies?"

''Yes and no, my dear Zuko. It was clear he was waiting for someone. We've got a new suspect, but I don't think he left. He was seen recently. I think he is hiding. They tried to trick us into thinking he is long gone, so we would look elsewhere, allowing him to escape unnoticed."

"What makes you think that?"

"The spot where Tegakari was last sighted was near the outskirts of the village. This place is just a handful of farms, with the exception of the 'town center'--if you can call it that– which consists of this collection of small farms and the inn. Now, she mentioned that many had abandoned their farms…" Sokka tapped his fingers against the frame of his bed, then his eyes lit up.

"This is what I think happened. The day of the attempt on your life, Tegakari must have been at work. I doubt he had any prior knowledge of who the weapon would be used on, since he made no preparations to escape, judging by the clothes and tools especially. Once the news hit the city, he fled in a panic. The guards must have swarmed everywhere. His apparent salvation laid on the only clear road that led to this forsaken town. He probably realized he was trapped too late and must have been too afraid to come back. somehow he was contacted, or he contacted his 'friend'."

"The merchant?"

"No. Just… don't interrupt me. So, this friend knew he made a mistake and realized it was only a matter of time before someone found Tegakari. I think they must have either lied or convinced Tegakari to leave with them just so it could be made apparent that he left, only to be relocated nearby in an abandoned farm, waiting for someone to come check in here and leave to follow a false clue. So, I think his friend also told Tegakari to leave some of his things at the inn on purpose. I mean, would you be able to forget anything in this room?" He extended his arms as if to make a point.

"They didn't take into account that a nervous and restless Tegakari would show his head, botching the whole scheme. So, we can assume the place where he is hiding now is near those hills. We only have to find a place that meets all conditions, and we'll find our man."

Zuko had listened attentively. Maybe Sokka was right; it made sense in a way. But if they couldn't find him, they'd need to go back as soon as possible to see if Tegakari had managed to reach the Capital. "It's worth a shot, but if we don't find him tomorrow, we're

going back."

"Fine by me; just be ready for anything."