Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Scott Fellman.
Miyamura vs. Hebert. The final fight. Both S-ranks. And… Shusui, Hebert was using a national hunter's sword… what was happening? Miyamura had also changed; he'd lost his glasses, and his hair was tied up. He was handsome.
The fight shook me completely. Was it possible to be that strong at our age? No, they were younger, around Azula's age. The swordsmanship they both displayed was terrifying and beyond belief. It was undoubtedly a fight between S-Ranks. Even if they were students, they were on a completely different level.
In the end, even poisoned and weakened, Miyamura won the tournament, a landslide victory. He had won all three festival events, crowning himself the undisputed winner. But Hebert? Hebert was something else.
According to the announcer, she seemed to know she was at a disadvantage and made plans to fight Miyamura head-on. Even when she lost by fainting, her body was still moving and attacking, terrifying. Was Japan that terrifying, or were these two just an exception?
Still in complete disbelief from the fight we witnessed, we watched the next match: Azula vs. Todoroki for third place.
During the fight, Azula played more defensively. And I can't say it didn't work. Azula noticed that her opponent would tire much more quickly the more she used her Quirk, and she constantly urged her opponent to use it vigorously. Eventually, Azula approached Todoroki and completely paralyzed her.
"She won!! She came in third place! Go big sister!! " Kiyi squealed excitedly as she watched Azula retreat from the arena.
"I... I think she's probably too busy to answer us right now," Mom tried to say with a shaky smile. A lovely way of saying she wouldn't answer us anyway.
"Call her!" Kiyi insisted with a pout. Mom sighed, pulled out her phone, and dialed Azula's number. She immediately put the phone on speakerphone.
"The number you are calling is not available" Oh shit.Mom blinked a couple of times at the automated message she received. She quickly checked her phone number before a completely hurt look crossed her face.
"she blocked me," Mom said, the pain palpable in her words. I bit my lip hard. Damn Azula.
"Let me try." I sighed tiredly, already knowing exactly what would happen.
"This is Azula's voicemail, Princess of the Fire Nation. Please leave a message after the tone… If you're Zuko, don't leave a message. I won't listen, and don't call back." I squeezed my eyes shut. Damn you Azula.
" I'll go get my phone! She said I can call her whenever I want!" Kiyi grumbled as she stood up and ran out of the room.
"Wait! Kiyi!" Noren tried to stop her as she chased her. I sighed.
"Let me call Toph," I sighed. I dialed Toph's number and sighed in relief when the dialing sound went through normally. Luckily for us, the call connected immediately.
" -stupid thing, who designed this to have no buttons !" Toph's grumpy voice came from the other end. " Hello?! IS This thing on !?" Toph yelled.
"Hi, Toph." I greeted her immediately. The growling stopped.
" Hey, hotman! I wasn't exactly expecting a call from you ." Toph snorted. " This stupid thing doesn't have any buttons. I need to go to those brainiacs at the support department to get it adapted for the blind because, obviously, they wouldn't think a blind person would use it ." Toph snorted. What was she talking about?
"Hi Toph! This is Sokka! We're all here!" Sokka approached the phone. Toph snorted once more.
" Were you watching me get my ass kicked?" Toph asked dryly. " I hope you didn't just call to tell me how awesome I lost," Toph said slowly and menacingly.
"Not at all. Congratulations on making it to the final event. It's still impressive," Aang said softly. Toph snorted.
" Of course I am. I'm that amazing!" Toph exclaimed confidently. "But the others are monsters," Toph grunted, but she sounded delighted.
"I'm glad you're having fun," Katara said with a smile.
" Yeah, yeah, yeah, real fun, I get to kick all these strong people's asses in the name of training. I'm having a blast," Toph said simply.
"Actually, we were calling to ask about my sister," I chimed in before she could continue. Toph's voice trailed off before she snorted.
" Don't tell me, Sherlock, let me guess, she blocked them all." Toph snorted amusedly. I sighed.
"Half of us, sure. The other half she just ignores." I said long-sufferingly. Toph let out a snort.
" I expected as much!" Toph laughed happily. " Now that she has that pretty boy as a boytoy, I'm unsurprised! I'd ignore everyone else too, if I could have fun with someone like him!" Toph exclaimed happily. I blinked a few times and did a double-take at what Toph had just said.
"Excuse me, what... pretty boy?" Mom asked, almost shocked. Toph remained silent. Before bursting into laughter once more.
" Hahaha!! she didn't tell you she's dating pretty boy!?!?" Toph asked cheerfully as if she'd just been given the best Christmas present. I flinched back in my seat like I'd been hit, and I wasn't the only one.
That whole joke weeks ago wasn't a joke?! That time, I called Azula about the strange bank statements and the voice behind her. I thought Azula had somehow set it up to upset me. Turns out she hadn't?!
" I -is she dating someone?" Ty Lee asked, devastated.
" She's, with that Miyamura guy, the one who came in first place, " Toph said lazily. My eyes widened. I felt myself blanch at the implication.
"Wasn't he engaged to the girl with the insect quirk? I'm sure the host said so," Suki quickly chimed in.
" Yep, Miyamura is dating Bug Girl and Petal Girl too." Toph confirmed, and my eyes widened slightly.
"Azula?! She's dating a guy, and she shares him with two other girls?! The same Azula who tried to kill us, and she's still threatening us with death?!" Sokka asked, completely incredulous, which was something she shared with all of us. Toph laughed lightly.
" Oh yeah! And they're disgusting, I saw them kiss," Toph said with a gagging sound. I paled; more than one of us certainly looked like we were about to faint.
"Is she trying to use him in some way?" Uncle Iroh asked worriedly. Toph snorted.
" Did you see what he can do? Because I didn't. Ha!" Toph said amusedly. " Stupid jokes aside, Miyamura is stupidly strong. Do you think she can manipulate him like that?" Toph asked dryly, and I grimaced.
"He's a boy," Mai pointed out dispassionately. "Azula would be more than capable of seducing the boy without him realizing it and using him for her own purposes," she added with a shrug.
"I-Is there anything else you can tell us about Azula and that Miyamura?" I asked cautiously. Toph fell silent before snorting.
" You know, your sister thinks you, Lord Hotman, put me here to keep an eye on her and tell you about her every move, right? While I don't mind letting the princess think whatever she wants, in fact, I'm happy to see her lose her mind over it. You're not helping her paranoia; after all, it isn't paranoia if she's right," Toph chided dryly. We all shuddered violently.
"Please, Miss Beifong... she doesn't answer our calls or tell us anything..." Mom pleaded, biting her lip. Toph fell silent before moaning loudly and sighing.
" Fine, fine, fine! But I won't be doing this often! I may not like the princess, but I'm not a snitch! I came here to escape my parents, not to be a fucking spy! AAAAAH! Did you know it was your sister's fault they tried to compromise me!? I take it back, I'll be your fucking spy! That bitch owes me for what she did!" Toph growled, my eyes going wide.
"Wait! Azula was the one arranging marriage contracts in your name and giving them to your parents?" Sokka asked incredulously. Toph grunted in agreement, and Sokka started laughing. Mai covered her mouth with her hand and looked away.
" This isn't funny, fuck! I ran to another country to escape them, and I ran into the princess all boastful while she rubbed it all in my face!" Toph growled angrily. I made a face of sympathy but couldn't help but feel happy. Thanks, sis, for being as irritating as always and making enemies so easily. Now, we could get information from her and not just the crumbs she dropped the few times she answered calls and texts. " Let's get this over with. What do you want to know ?!" Toph growled.
"Anything," I said immediately. Toph snorted.
" I don't know much. We're in different classes and dorms, so most of what I know is secondhand stuff. Like the USJ attack and all that," Toph said simply.
"Attack where? What's the USJ?" I asked, confused. Toph remained silent before sighing.
" Of course, you wouldn't know. You know what, never mind, look it up on the internet later. It made national news in Japan ." Toph grunted. " Besides that, I don't have much. I see her from afar, and she's always with Miyamura and his two other girlfriends. They seem to get along. They train together, eat together, study together, everything."
"From what I understand, Miyamura is a damn genius with a sword. Everything you saw during the entire festival was self-taught. He designed his own sword styles and you saw how terrifyingly effective they were. Not only that, but he now freely teaches them to others. Specifically his girlfriends."
" Everything Bug Girl knows, Miyamura taught her; he also taught Petal Girl things, and from what I saw through my vibration senses, he's also teaching your sister. I don't know what the hell he's teaching her, but somehow it made her fire stronger, hotter, and just... more ."
My eyes widened at the confirmation we needed. Azula had found a way to come back stronger at the expense of her classmate. It was all too likely she was using him for her own ends.
"Wait, what's he teaching her? Miyamura uses swords! Azula doesn't use swords, and she didn't use them at the festival," Uncle Iroh asked quickly. Toph snorted.
" I have no idea," Toph snorted. " From what I understand, his sword styles are called Breathing Style or something like that, something about breathing much more efficiently to get an adrenaline rush? I have no idea. It sounds too unrealistic. All I have is information like... fifth or sixth form. I heard it from someone who heard someone, and you guys get the picture," Toph snorted.
"Breathing… maybe. Our Quirks are based on breathing, but… what kind of breathing could enhance Azula's fire? Her breathing is practically perfect, better than everyone else's in the family, including Ozai." Uncle Iroh said solemnly. I grimaced.
"What about Miyamura's quirk? Is there anything we can do to help it improve?" Aang asked suddenly. Toph snorted.
" You can't. From what I understand, his quirk includes food, it has nothing to do with combat. There's a reason they treat him like a genius, literally his entire fighting level is totally achieved by himself ." Toph said, amazed and impressed. Which was quite understandable. I was also incredulous at that. Being able to reach that level without any combat quirk? Incredible, I would even say impossible.
"there's something-"
"I'M BACK!!" Kiyi exclaimed, bursting through the door and making us jump. She had her phone in her hand, holding it up high as if she were showing off a trophy.
" I have to go. I don't have any more information to give you. Ask her. If she answers ." Toph snorted before hanging up. I sighed and saw Kiyi approaching with Noren behind her with an apologetic expression.
Kiyi slumped in her seat, quickly flipped her phone, dialed Azula, and placed it on speaker. I didn't let the sour expression show on my face when the phone didn't go to voicemail immediately. My mother only shuddered even more. We stared at the phone in silence, our tensions high.
"Kiyi, I don't think-" the line finally connected, interrupting Mom.
" Kiyi, what happened?" Azula's voice was light as if she were happy.
"Sis!! I saw you on TV!! You were amazing!!!" Kiyi squealed immediately. Azula giggled lightly.
" Of course, little sister, after all, I am amazing. I couldn't show a pitiful side of myself. I am a princess." Azula said with her usual arrogance.
"You are!!" Kiyi squealed happily. "Even though you came in third." She added with a pout. Azula snorted in amusement.
" Don't worry, I knew I couldn't defeat Izumi and Taylor. They were too strong for me right now ." Azula said lightly, as if she didn't mind showing weakness in front of others. Kiyi laughed.
"So they have to come in and then beat up your boyfriend?!" Kiyi laughed amusedly. Azula giggled.
" You understand, little sister." I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Mom had paled considerably.
"Kiyi… you knew about Miyamura?" I couldn't help but ask in disbelief. I froze, realizing what I had just done. I could feel my stomach drop. Kiyi turned to look at me and blinked in confusion.
"Huh? Azula's boyfriend? Yeah, she told me weeks ago!" Kiyi exclaimed easily.
" Kiyi. " I flinched at the cold voice coming through the phone, which wasn't even directed at me. Kiyi stopped and paled considerably, realizing what she had just done.
"B-big sister, it wasn't on purpose, I promise!" Kiyi said quickly. I could hear the sigh through her phone.
" Don't worry Kiyi, I'm not mad at you ." Azula said much calmer. " But I am with Zuko. Didn't your mother teach you not to listen to other people's conversations, Zuzu?" Azula asked virulently. I shuddered. Yes, there was the Azula I know.
"Don't be cruel, Azula. We were watching you participate in the festival. We tried calling you, but you only answered Kiyi." I said bitterly. Azula laughed, not lightly anymore, but with a more mocking and cruel smile.
" Well, I thought you'd get the hint about me not wanting to talk to you," Azula said dryly. I grimaced.
"Congratulations on third place." I tried to congratulate her with a shaky smile.
" I have to go. Don't try to call me again Zuzu." Azula said, and I bit my lip.
"Wait!" Mom exclaimed. Oh no, this is going to end badly.
" Who are you? I don't know you." Azula said coldly, Mom shuddered.
"It's Mom, Azula. Please stop bothering her." I couldn't help but defend her. Azula laughed lightly.
" Ah, Ursa, I'd say it's a pleasure hearing from you again, but that wouldn't be true. And Zuzu doesn't like it when I lie. You see, Zuzu? If I can be good and tell the truth," Azula mocked. I shuddered. "Azula always lies." Those words echoed in my head.
"Azula, please." I begged, only to receive a mocking laugh through the phone.
" And why should I answer a question from someone I'm not in a relationship with, Zuzu? I'm too busy," Azula said playfully. Mom shuddered.
"Azula..." Mom tried weakly. "Are you... are you seeing someone?" she asked weakly. I frowned slightly. Was that... was that important? The line went silent.
" That doesn't matter to you," Azula said simply. "But since the cat's out of the bag, yes, I'm dating Izumi. We've been together for weeks. Is that a problem?" she asked dryly as if she didn't care what anyone was going to say, and knowing her, she actually wouldn't. Mom bit her lip.
"You... please... don't be like your father and be nice to him." Mom begged. I shuddered and went completely pale. She just didn't-
"What did you just say?" Azula hissed. We could hear the hatred coming through her voice. "Way to show you care, Ursa. I never expected anything from you, but you still managed to anger me in ways no one else could. And you wonder why I hate talking to you." Azula hissed. Mom paled completely and looked down. "Don't call me again. I won't let you ruin this moment," Azula snapped. "Kiyi, see you later. Call me when you're completely alone." She added it as a last-minute comment before the line went dead.
"Yes... big sister." Kiyi said to herself as she looked down, looking like she was about to cry. Mai stood up abruptly beside me, glancing at Mom in disgust before hurrying out of the room. Ty Lee immediately followed her. Mom looked like she was about to start crying and was being comforted by Noren. I bit my lip.
Putting aside the disaster that was the call, there was only one thing I could think about.
Why? Why Kiyi? Why was she nice to Kiyi and not us? Was this some kind of plan by Azula? A way to make us hold resentment towards each other? Some way to make us hate and resent Kiyi for choosing her to bond with and not us? Does she want to separate us and break us? How do we separate her and Ozai? Is it all revenge, and is Kiyi the means to achieve it? Would Azula be capable of being so cruel?
I bit my lip hard. I didn't want to think about it or even want to consider it. It was a downward spiral. Kiyi had nothing to do with Azula. And I would cling to the possibility that Azula cared about Kiyi.
I just hoped my hopes weren't misplaced, no matter how low the odds are.
The awkward silence lasted a long time as we watched Azula accept her medal with a proud smile as if she'd never had a conversation with us. As if we didn't matter to her. I hated all of this.
Author's Notes: Okay... Spoilers! If you don't want to read them, you can skip all of this! Although it's not something that will become relevant for a long time and it's not that important either!
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So, I felt bad for one of the last paragraphs! So I just want to clarify, Azula doesn't have anything planned with Kiyi, she actually cares for her, it's all in Zuko's head (he has very preconceived, and mostly accurate, ideas about Azula). When Azula was released from the mental institution, she was basically under house arrest in the Fire Nation castle, and Azula kept hearing voices in her head.
So she started doing things to distract herself; training and trying to get back to her strongest point was one of them, studying for UA was another. But one of them was also interacting with Kiyi. While, for Azula, Kiyi is the result of her mother's love for someone else after she ran away and left her completely alone, and then gave her all the motherly love she never received, she also knows that she's innocent.
She may not recognize Ursa as her mother, but she does recognize Kiyi as her sister. In fact, Azula recognizes Kiyi as the only one in the family who didn't "betray" her like all the other members, so she's the only one she can and wants to bond with in a normal way. So no, Azula doesn't have anything planned involving Kiyi beyond being a good sister to her, surprisingly.
A/N: If you liked the story, join my patreon, patreon.com/Camellya_Addams, there are up to 10 chapters in advance, thank you. Or you can also visit my Ko-Fi, ko-fi.com/camellya_addams.