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ANNOUNCEMENT:
More Chapters & New stories Incoming:
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I also got to start studying again, and have you all to thank for that.
CHAPTER 16
Green and yellow lantern lights hung from the high ceiling, and the stone walls looked more like fine marble with detailed yet simple designs. Pillars were painted in gold at the bottom with abstract shapes molded in. Although the room was full of guests, the grand hall was still not at its capacity. There was a large table set up in the middle with all kinds of foods Sakura had never seen before. At the end of the table, it was slightly overturned with spills of food due to its occupant and what had to be the reason for the party. The pet bear that the earth king had boasted this event for in the first place. It was nonchalantly at its place of honor, devouring everything set on the table, and paying no heed to the people around it. There were even some noblemen on both sides, one complaining that they wouldn't be getting any food at this feast.
'Wow...' Sakura was so taken in the sight of the palace, that she had nearly forgotten that she needed to ensure she wasn't pointed out as common or unused to luxury.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" the man asked gesturing to the palace "By the way I'm Long Feng. I'm a cultural minister of the king."
"I'm Quwamei and this is Doph and Zakura" Sakura and Toph yanked Katara down by the tassels hanging on her headpiece, as retribution for giving them the stupid names.
"Where is your family? I'd like to meet them."
As it turned out, getting into the party was going to be the easy part of this mission, but finding a good excuse to relieve the eyes of their trojan horse was going to be another matter.
"Well this is a large area, but we should be able to find them from here," Sakura said smoothly.
Katara nodded, linking her arms with Sakura and Toph's "That's right; thank you very much for your help."
The girls attempted to leave but Long Feng stepped in front of them, arms neatly folded behind him and yet somehow felt like a bloackade to their goal. "Don't worry; as your escort it would be dishonourable to abandoned you ladies without finding your family first. We'll keep looking."
'Crap' Sakura cursed under her breath glancing nervously between Katara and Toph who both appeared stumped with what to do next. Long Feng continued to trail with them. But Sakura came to a countermeasure. She hooked her arms under the girls and excitedly rushed them towards a table brimming with sweets and pastries.
"This isn't the time for dessert," Katara said.
Sakura didn't give a response because Long Feng was already closing in, but still out of hearing distance. "Here's what we're going to do. 'Qamei' and I will rush in different directions, pretending we see family. Daph you have to make sure that guy can't follow us, trip him up, and then dash on your own. You got it?"
"Why do you have to call us those stupid names?" Toph hissed.
"Got it?"
"Yeah,"
"Yes," Katara nodded. They had just finished the conversation before Long Feng caught up to them. The girl's each took someone from the table, while Sakura and Katara grabbed a pastery, Toph went for a cup.
"Have you had any luck finding them?" Long Feng asked, glancing around.
Sakura and Katara gave each other a look to signal, and a discrete tug on Toph's sleeve. The two girls looked in opposite directions.
"Oh, over there!"
"Finally, I see them!" Sakura and Katara moved before Long Feng could verbally barricade them, stepping quickly and with calm excitement.
"Hold on ladies-
When Toph felt him shifting, she went ahead and made her move, "Wait! I can't see!" and stumbled forward, spilling her drink on Long Feng as he moved to assist her. She knew how to play the helpless blind girl perfectly, but this element of deception added to the recipe made it a lot sweeter for her and a lot more fun.
She heard Long Feng try to hide his discontent, as he wiped himself off. "Excuse me, a moment young lady. I will send an attendant for you shortly while I take care of this,"
"Oh, alright. Thank you very much," Toph folded her arms and gave a polite bow in the wrong direction. She felt Long Feng move further away from her and took a turn around a corner going down a hall, further out of sight.
She gave a small pump, 'Yes!'
With the length of her dress, Toph could hide her feet, unlike Katara and Sakura who wore shoes, she chose to go barefoot, allowing her to see better with her earth bending. She was looking for her friend's and managed to catch four instead of two.
'How did they get in here?' Toph went over to Aang and felt him holding up something under his hand. 'Oh, so they took my advice,'
Just as easily as she found Sokka and Aang, Toph was able to feel out Sakura and Katara. They were standing high on alert while trying to search for the Earth King. Toph collected them both quickly, ignoring their questions about how she managed to get away from Long Feng.
"We still haven't seen the Earth King though,"
"No but guess who I found?" Toph pointed to the two boy's standing awkwardly with tray's dressed in server uniforms. They muffled their mouths full of mirth before shuffling over to the two boy's in the matching blue coats and hats.
"They actually went as busboys," Sakura muttered, impressed.
"At least they got in," Toph said as they walked towards them until she was beside them.
"Another crab puff please," Toph said, holding up her fan elegantly.
Aang turned to Toph with relief, "You found us!"
"I'd recognize your footsteps anywhere twinkle toes," she said before taking a crab puff from Sokka's tray. Sakura and Katara also joined them.
"Thanks for letting us in," Sokka said sarcastically.
"Sorry, but the guy who let us in wouldn't let us out of his sight. We just managed to get away," said Katara.
"And I don't know how long that's going to last," Sakura said glancing around. "We have to act quickly,"
There was another obstacle about to plant itself in their path, and Sakura saw them coming hastily. Joo Dee, who usually held that stiff smiling mask had her mouth turned when she noticed the group. "What are you doing here? You have to leave or we'll all be in big trouble!"
Sokka frowned, holding up the tray vertically to act as a shield against Joo Dee when she tried to push him, ignoring the crab cakes on the floor. "Not until we see the earth king"
"You don't understand; you must go."
Joo Dee tried pushing Sokka who ended up bumping into Aang who spilt the entire jug of juice he was carrying onto one of the female guests; effectively ruining her clothes and makeup and creating distress as well as attention.
"Sorry-no don't shout" Aang used his bending to try and remedy the situation by drying the drinks out of the women's clothing. The wind that blew out the juice stains also blew the top off Aang's identity. Catching the attention of all the nobles and staff. The appearance of the avatar was such a delight to the woman Aang spilled the drinks on, she didn't even mind that his bending dried her makeup after pushing it into a smudge on her face, nor that her hair was no longer as dignified as her station.
"So much for blending in," Sakura said, looking at the crowd that had gathered around Aang,
Sokka went over to Aang and whispered to him, "You keep their attention while we look for the king."
Their new plan was in affect immediately. It was impressive how well they could coordinate together with such little instruction. Sakura noticed this when they met, but this group worked well together even in the straints of conflict and difficulties. She wondered how long they must've known each other to reach that point of harmony. From the stories she heard, not that long. But they had a lot of trust in one another.
Aang was entertaining the entire ballroom, through a host of airbending tricks, that would get him scolded by the monks. He also mixed in water bending, reminding everyone of who he was, taking the different drinks from cups and bending them into a sphere of colors.
Sakura, Katara, Sokka, and Toph continued their search for the Earth King. But something was amiss with Sakura. This might've been a new world, but she knew that when it came to higher-ups, you could always spot them amongst the masses even in a sea of nobles. They always had a way of showing off their symbols, be it the symbols weaved into their clothing or the crowns atop their heads, there was always a tell. But Sakura was sure that any other noble at this party had entered through the gates of the palace, instead of lingering in what would essentially be the royal's dining room.
Sakura went back to Katara and Toph, "A thought just occurred to me; wouldn't the king be heavily guarded? Or at least stand out from the crowd? However high-class everyone here might be, wouldn't he be noticeable still?"
"You might be right, of course, I can't exactly vouch," Toph pointed out,
"Heavily guarded?" Katara questioned in thought,
"That's usually the case with the lords back in my world; even at special events they are never unguarded."
"You mean like that?" Katara said, looking to the side.
The whole room seemed to go quiet, as several dozen guards entered the room from a side. There was a line-up of guards and then behind them, several more came in carrying a golden sedan with a green roof, there was transparent material acting as the drapes, revealing a silhouette sitting in the sedan.
"Yes." Sakura said nodding "Exactly like that."
Sokka went to alert Aang on the Earth King's appearance and the boy immediately attempted to reach him, by airbending his way on the table towards the heavily protected sedan but then the guards picked it up and carried the Earth King out.
"He's leaving!" Sakura rushed to intercept, but she felt a wave of hostility. Her hand reached out to strike first, creating debris as pieces of rock fell in front of her, they were moulded like hands, she could tell from pieces of broke fingers at her feet. She looked around and saw Toph and Katara being dragged away by Dai Li.
"Hey!" Sakura rushed to help her friend's as they were pulled away from the crowds. Aang was further away, his focus on reaching the earth king who was heavily guarded that he didn't notice Sokka going missing either. They were being pulled aside by Dai Lee, who now had Katara and Toph in their hold, hands restrained so they had no way of bending. They were dragged out into a hall, free from the eyes of the nobles.
Her muscles stretched as she filled them with chakra, and appeared materializing in a flash too fast for their eyes to follow. She was behind the two agents, hitting their necks with solid side chop, that knocked them unconcious.
"You guys okay?" Sakura said going to break apart their restraints. When she was overcome by a hostile presence. She looked up and saw several more Dai Lee agents hanging on the edges of the walls above, their earth bending manipulating the rock underneath the palace walls.
"Crap!" Sakura grabbed her friend's under her arms as they landed, sliding across the floors. More agents came up from behind. Seeming to cage them in, and from the expression on Sakura's face it would seem that was her concern however she had been taken to wonder what her next move should be. If she took down all these agents, she might draw attention to all of them, and that could jeopardize their chances of getting the Earth King's ear. She hoped that Aang managed to reach him.
A snap of the fingers and the Dai Lee agents who were standing with hostility switched postures, straighting, their hands falling to their sides, shoulder's turning square. Sakura turned and saw Long Feng walking poised towards them with Aang in toe.
"Aang,"
Long Feng didn't seem detered by his guards on the ground, "I appologise for my agents poor treatement. I only meant to gather you for a private meeting. Please, if you'll follow me?"
Sakura looked at Aang and he wanted them to follow, so the kunoichi lowered her fists. For now.
..
..
..
The air was thick with unease as the group was led into a dimly lit library, the heavy double doors shutting behind them with an ominous thud. The only source of light in the vast room came from the eerie green-tinged fire burning behind Long Feng, its unnatural glow casting distorted shadows along the towering bookshelves. The flickering flames painted his silhouette in shifting hues, making him seem both regal and menacing as he sat calmly before them, his expression unreadable.
Sokka went straight to voicing the questions they all wanted the answers to, "Why won't you let us talk to the king? We have information that could help defeat the Fire Nation."
"The earth king has no time to get involved with political squabbles and the day-to-day minusher of day-to-day activities." Long Feng stated as if he had made a solid case despite how baseless it was in front of them.
"This could be the most important thing he's ever heard." Aang attempted to convince the minister, attempting to keep a polite air however it was clear that he was struggling after watching his friends get handled through the doors. But they had a mission to complete, and for the time being, it was more important than settling any slights.
"What's important to his royal majesty is maintaining the cultural heritage of Ba Sing Se; all his duties relate to issuing decrees on such matters."
Sakura crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Long Feng, quick to put the pieces together in a familiar political puzzle that did not have a good picture at the end."And let me guess; politics and military resources are in your control?"
"It is my duty to oversee the rest of the city's resources," Long Feng corrected her. Although they saw no difference in the implications.
"So the king is just a figure head" Katara said, with wide eyes as realization dawned on her and the rest of her friends.
"He's your puppet!" exclaimed Toph, throwing her hands down and delivering a glare through her blank eyes.
Long Feng held up his hands feigning innocence and shock, "Oh no; no! His majesty is an icon; a god to his people. He can't sully his hands with the hourly changes of an endless war."
"So the king doesn't know about the war at all!" Sakura exclaimed with a frown. That had to be the case if he was not involving himself in it. She would imagine that any leader's goal would be to protect the people they ruled over, and if the Earth King knew of the danger the Fire Nation posed to his people.
"As I said it is not his duty to oversee such matters" Long Feng pressed. He was clearly determined to walk around their statements to keep them on their feet.
Sokka stepped forward, "But we found out about a solar eclipse that will leave the Fire Nation helpless! You could lead an invasion-
"Enough!" Long Feng sternly spoke; standing up from his seat. His decent façade lost, "I don't want to hear your ridiculous plan. It is the strict policy of Ba Sing Se that the war not be mentioned within the walls. Constant news of an escalating war would throw the citizens of Ba Sing Se into a state of panic. Our economy would be ruined; our peaceful way of life; our traditions would disappear. In silencing talk of conflict Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful; orderly utopia; the last one on earth."
By now everyone had a horrified look on their faces.
"You can't keep the truth from all these people; they have to know," Katara said
"I'll tell them" Aang warned "I'll make sure everyone knows!"
Long Feng stepped over to Aang, leaning down to meet his eyes, "Until now; you have been treated as our honored guest but from now on you will be watched every moment by Dai Li agents; if you mention the war you will be expelled from the city." He then moved away and went towards the fireplace, "I understand you have been looking for your bison; it would be a shame if you were not able to complete your quest."
Everyone gave Long Feng a deadly look at the threat.
"Now Joo Dee will show you home."
The door opened and a woman came walking in, she was dressed as Joo Dee and had the same seemingly 'sown on' smile as Joo Dee, but it was not Joo Dee.
"What happened to Joo Dee?" asked Katara
"I'm Joo Dee; I'll be your host as long as you are in our wonderful city." The women said with the same wide smile as the previous Joo Dee.
Everyone stared at the women with wide eyes, even Toph knew that the person who walked through that door was not the Joo Dee that had been pestering them when they arrived in the city.
Sakura covered her mouth with her hand, 'Something is very wrong with this place,"
Hey, love
So, you just read that chapter.
And now you're sitting there. Staring at the screen. And thinking about bookmarking till the next update?
Well you don't have to wait.
Right now, over on my Ko-fi, there are 3-6 chapters ahead of what's publicly posted. That means that moment you're dreading or hoping for Sakura? It's already written. Sakura has already walked through what comes next and I promise you, she does not disappoint.
What's waiting for you over there:
The chapter directly after this one
The plot reveal I've been building toward since chapter one
3–6 full chapters to binge
And coming soon: My author notes-the unhinged behind-the-scenes commentary only Ko-fi readers get.
I write this story because I love Sakura the way you love Sakura.
If this story has lived in your head rent-free, made you feel things you weren't ready for, or made you want to throw your phone across the room in the best possible way the early access chapters are for you.
Thank you for reading.
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EARLY CHAPTERS FOR MEMBERS NOW: BUYMEACOFFEE https://ko-fi.com/katsura369/tiers
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter (102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter (47, 48, 49)
-Crossroads of Fate chapter (38, 39, 40, 41)
-Through the Looking Glass chapter (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
- (Bleach crossover) Kunoichi amongst Reapers: (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia (PART 1 & 2)
- Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi
THANKS FOR TUNING IN BUT NOW I'VE GOTTA TUNE OUT