Web of Lies [Kataang][Maiko][Sokkla]

[masterwb]

Yay, I started to believe this wouldn't ever get updated. *karma*

[firefists101]

Okay.....it's been a long time. CAN YOU PLEASE UPDATE THIS THING???

[RadiantBeam]

Eheheheheheh..... *nervous laugh*

Okay.... due to MASSIVE computer issues at home (my whole system basically.... CRASHED..... aaaggghhh.....) WOL is on temporary hiatus until my system's up and running again....

SORRY!! *sweatdrop*

[firefists101]

*Headdesk* Okay......

[RadiantBeam]

Chapter 10

“I can’t believe it.” Ty Lee laughed, her eyes sparkling as she pulled away. “I really can’t believe it!”
Mai laughed. “Join the club,” she teased. “It’s good to see you again.”

Ty Lee grinned; then she paused, looking over her shoulder. She smiled, held out her hand. “Anika, Tyro,” she coaxed gently. “Come here. There’re some people I’d like you to meet. They’re my friends.”

The girl came first, with small timid steps; she had the same light brown hair and build of her mother, but her green eyes belonged unmistakably to her father. She tilted her head up and smiled at Azula and Mai. “Hi,” she said. “I’m Anika. I’m seven years old. That’s my little brother Tyro,” she added, gesturing to the little boy that came to stand on Ty Lee’s other side, holding her hand tightly, with shaggy dark brown hair that fell into his gray eyes. “He’s only four though, so strangers kinda scare him.”

Definitely your daughter, eh Ty Lee? Azula chuckled. Mai smiled. “That’s very wise of him,” she murmured. “I have a daughter just about your age.”
“Really?” Anika’s eyes lit up with curiosity.
“Really. Her name’s Kaiya.”

Ty Lee smiled. “A pretty name. I approve,” she said with a laugh. She looked over her shoulder. “Haru?”
“Yeah, don’t worry.” Haru walked easily to her side, scooping Tyro into his arms and taking Anika’s hand. “I’ve got them. You go with Azula and Mai. It’s been a long time.”

Ty Lee’s eyes shone; unable to resist, she stepped closer and kissed her husband. Tyro buried his face into his father’s neck, still young enough to be a little grossed out by the show of affection; Anika giggled. She pulled away and smiled at her old friends.
“Shall we?”

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They walked; it wasn’t like they had anything to ride as it was, and walking to long enough for them to catch up. Ty Lee grinned, tilting her head back. “Mai, I’m assuming Kaiya is the child you and Zuko have together.”
“You would be correct.”
“Spill, please.”
Mai laughed. “Well, there isn’t much to spill. She’s seven years old, like your Anika. She has my eyes and black hair, she’s a Firebender like Zuko, and she’s the sweetest kid. She couldn’t hold a grudge even if she wanted to.” She gave Azula a gentle nudge. “Azula is quite the aunt, as a matter of fact.”
“Mai, shut up.”
“Oh, it’s a compliment.”

Azula scowled. Some part of her still didn’t like being called on for her affection to her niece, but Ty Lee’s eyes were laughing and she relaxed. “And what about your Tyro, Ty Lee? Named after Haru’s father, if I recall. How does he feel about that?”

A beat of silence stretched; after a moment, Ty Lee looked away, gazing up at the sky. “He doesn’t know,” she murmured at last. “Tyro—Haru’s father, not my son—died only a few weeks after we learned I was pregnant again, four years ago. He had been sick, and it just… in the end, he wasn’t strong enough.” Her voice trailed off as a stricken look darkened Azula’s eyes.
“I didn’t know.” Her voice shook.
“It’s all right.” Ty Lee’s voice was soft. “He knew you would have been there…”

Mai looked between her two friends, obviously lost; Azula sighed, running her hand through her hair. “I never told you,” she murmured at last. “When Ty and I came her, Tyro… he kind of took me in, I guess. Like the father Ozai never was. He made me think about things, forced me to, really… and in the end, I suppose I was thankful for it.” She sighed. “How’s Haru holding up?”
“He’s strong.” Ty Lee smiled slightly. “He always has been, though you’d never think it.”
“Mm. And you’re madly in love with him.”
“No denying that.”

Azula smiled, and Mai laughed. “I needed this,” she said. “We both… needed this…”
“What’s going on in the Fire Nation?”
Always quick to the point, with a quiet sense sparkling in those gray eyes; yep, that was Ty Lee. Mai and Azula exchanged uneasy glances; finally, Mai sat down, taking Ty Lee’s hand.
“You might need to sit down, Ty Lee…”

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“Hmm… sounds like when we were fifteen.”
“Doesn’t it?”
Ty Lee smiled, shaking her head; but the smile slowly faded as she looked at her friends. “Can you do it, Mai? Do you really think you can do it?”
Mai met her gaze steadily. “Yes. I know I can do it.”
The former acrobat sighed, closing her eyes for a moment; Azula gently rested her hand on her shoulder. After a moment, she laughed softly.

“Well, if you know you can do it… then that’s good enough for me.”

End chapter 10

This chapter.... gah.... (head-bang)

[siri]

This is really great Radiant Beam! I love how well developed the characters are! How long did it take you to get all this?

[RadiantBeam]

siri said:

This is really great Radiant Beam! I love how well developed the characters are! How long did it take you to get all this?

All of it? Well, actually, I just need a basic idea for something and then I run with it wherever it takes me. ^^;;

[siri]

That amazes me. I wish I could write *pouts*. Oh, and karma btw.

[zukoxme]

More Radiant!!

[firefists101]

This is awesome!!!! Good job! *Exalts* Karma and cookies for you!!!! *Hands invisible cookie*

[superdoglac]

Wow I havn't reviewed in over a month XD Great chapters, update soon! *karma cuz its fun XD*

[RadiantBeam]

Chapter 11

“Don’t wait so long to visit next time.” Ty Lee hugged Mai tightly, then turned to Azula. “Both of you. It was nice.”
“Yeah.” Azula hugged her old friend, smiling a little. “It was.”

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The flight back to the Fire Nation was uneventful and, if Azula was completely honest with herself, slightly boring after the first time out. Leaving Mai, who sat in the corner of the saddle and was currently gazing down onto the countryside below, she cautiously crawled out onto Appa’s head. “Sokka?”

He looked over his shoulder, smiling. “Hey, Azula. Watch it. You get kind of dizzy up here.”
“I’m all right.” Cautiously she settled beside him. “I just wanted to thank you. For doing that.”
“Well, you sounded like you really missed her.” Sokka shrugged. “I thought it’d be nice for you to see her again.”
“It was nice. Thank you.”
Another shrug, and silence fell. Sokka tugged gently on Appa’s reins, guiding the massive animal through the air as though he was a feather from a bird.

Azula made no move to go back onto the saddle. Sokka noticed, and realized he kind of liked it.

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“Don’t miss this time, Longshot.”

Jet’s words ringing in his head, the young man crouched once again in the tree, gazing at the young Fire Nation Princess as she let the baby turtleducks nibble on her fingers. The old Dragon of the West was enjoying a cup of tea with the blind Earthbender, but Longshot kept his eyes trained on the youngster.

“Don’t miss this time, understand? I can make you regret it. You know I will.”

With trembling fingers, Longshot drew an arrow from his pack and strung it along the bowstring. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the small form before him. He lowered it so that the tip of his arrow would slash across her throat.

“Don’t miss this time.”

The sunlight glimmered weakly off the dark blue ribbon of the Water Tribe necklace she wore; a gift from her aunt. Longshot steadied his hand.

“Don’t miss.”

He closed his eyes.

“Forgive me, kid,” he whispered.

The arrow whistled silently through the air without a sound, without warning.

As the young girl’s shriek pierced the still air, Longshot leaped from the tree and ran.

Forgive me.

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Sokka held Azula’s wrist to steady her as she slid off Appa’s back; she grunted a little when her feet made contact with the ground, causing a small jolt to ripple through her body. She turned away, smiling at him briefly, before helping Mai down. “That was fun,” she decided. “We should find a way to meet Ty Lee again.”
“I’ll ask Zuko about it.” Mai brushed loose strands of black hair out of her eyes, smiling.

The shouts of a servant had all three of them looking up; the frantically waving arms caused Appa to snort and shy a little, and Sokka grabbed the reins to steady him. “Easy,” he murmured, his eyes focused on the running figure.

“Lady Mai! Thank Agni you’re back!” The servant was panting heavily from the run, but didn’t double over to catch his breath; her eyes hardening to the color of steel instead of their usual silver, Mai swept past Azula and Sokka to stand before the servant. “What is it?” she asked. “What’s wrong? Did something happen while I was gone?”
“It… (pant) It’s the Princess, Lady Mai…”
“Kaiya?” Mai’s voice was just a whisper.
“Yes… someone…”

It was too late. The Fire Lady was already running down the hall, a blur of dark red and black, much like when she’d been young. Azula raced after her, calling her name, but nothing could stop her now.
When her child was in trouble, there was nothing in Mai’s way.

“Kaiya!”

End chapter 11

Jet's baaack...

[Ulu]

Wow, this is great! I love how detailed you make things. I can't wait till chapter 12!

[firefists101]

Oh.......poor Mai......AWESOME FIC!!!!!!

[zukoxme]

YESSSSSS!! MOREEEEE!!!