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Blue Mask	By : PatPat Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality > Het- Male/Female Views: 11083 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Blue Mask, Two Swords, and Sozin's Comet
Self-Doubts
By Pat Squared
________________________________________

Tonight was a good night for the Blue Spirit.

The moon made its appearance in the afternoon, visible in the blue sky. Later, it would go down just after darkness fell upon the guildhalls and trading emporiums that was Chongqing, and just in time for the Blue Spirit to do his deed.

The Blue Spirit smiled behind the mask that sired a legend.

The lengthening afternoon shadows would allow him to approach his destination with very little difficulty. No one would notice another masked figure among the troops of actors making their way to the homes of the wealthy and more importantly the corrupt.

The Blue Spirit had no issues with the honest labor or young merchant who earned an honest profit by undertaking great risk. However, the Blue Spirit had issues with those who deliberated enriched themselves off of human misery.

Daifu Kwan Wu was by the laws of the Earth Kingdom a gentleman.

The youngest son of Hou Kwan Zhi, the marquis of the Seven Hills District and the local magistrate, and Hou Kwan Zhi's favorite concubine - Kwan Wu was effectively above the law and used his position to extort money from the merchants and craftsmen who needed his father's good graces.

Bribery and connections were a way of life for merchants on both sides of the border.

However, imprisoning and raping a craftsman's only daughter because the craftsman couldn't pay the extortion, went beyond any reasonable use of one's power and connections.

The worse of all villains in the eyes of the Blue Spirit were rapists. His mother's life was ruined by a rapist and a part of him wished that he could have done something to save her.

In the Fire Nation, there was a remedy above the corrupt law. Unless the offender was a royal prince, the girl's father would call for an Agni Kai and most young fire benders would fight each other to the death just to have a chance to char the rapist to ashes. The Fire Nation always had that mechanism to burn out corrupt officials and restore honor to both the bench and the victim. There were some lines that you did not cross.

However, the Earth Kingdom had nothing that allowed the wrong to challenge the corrupt administrators. The local law would not deal with the crimes committed by the Kwan family so it was up to the Blue Spirit to deliver a message both to the Kwan family and the other corrupt magistrates of the town. The message was frightfully simple: Get out of town or you will be next!

The legend of the Blue Spirit will be known in this corner of the Earth Kingdom and more importantly, the Blue Spirit will collect his fee from the Kwan family's ill gotten wealth.

Living on the run was very expensive.

Bribes, identity papers, and letters of credit all cost a great deal of money. Is was ironic that it took more money to live in anonymity than it cost for him to live when he was still hunting the avatar.

The Blue Spirit had spent two weeks scouting out the neighborhood. The magistrate's corrupt son lived in a compound built off the wealth the judge extorted from the virtuous. Inside was a monument to debauchery. The walls butted up against their neighbors to allow the biggest building possible. However, in doing so, the owners built a highway for thieves such as him.

It was spring and the rich were out going on their hunting parties. Here wild game was the province of the rich, and unlike the Fire Nation, only those with hunting privileges could hunt the meek roe deer and kangaroo-springboks that hid in the forests or traveled the plains. In the Fire Nation, the prey was much more exciting and so anyone willing to be possibly hunted themselves could hunt.

Too bad these social butterflies did not have to deal with the sadistically cunning dragon-tiger, evil tempered wild three horned rhinos whose skin was immune to our flames, or the intelligent man-hunting rock apes with their clubs and slings, all of which which I had to dodge so I could enjoy my first taste the flesh of the armored bison. That is why the Fire Nation troops are superior, not because Agni pampered us, but because he gave us challenges and made us deal with them ourselves instead of cowering behind little rock walls like these mud flingers. Their nobles...a nine year old fire bender from the slums has more value than those parasites.

During his travels, the Blue Spirit found more nobility and honor among the craftsmen and peasants, than among the social class he had left behind.

The Blue Spirit flexed his fingers in anticipation of tonight's events.
________________________________________

"Holy bison droppings! The Oni Challenge. I can't believe that this Jian (Master) Li is crazy enough to pull off only the most deadly stage trick in the world. We got to see it."

Aang was bouncing around like a rabarooh. Toph was bouncing around because Aang was bouncing around. Sokka was too distracted staring at some Earth Kingdom brothel wenches wearing something so transparent that Katara wonder why they even bothered to put on anything.

That left Katara with the only functioning brain in the group.

"Deadly perhaps, but aren't you and Toph suppose to be dodging your in-laws Aang."

Aang suddenly looked like someone sucked the life out of him.

"Shucks. The Oni Challenge only the most legendary fire stunt in the whole universe. It is the trick that even fire benders are afraid of. The magician drinks the juice of the golden horsehair root so he can't bend and then he sets himself on fire and..."

"Don't worry, you can see it again."

"It's four hundred years old, at least before I was frozen. Only three magicians survived pulling off the trick. Only one has done it successfully. The last time I saw it with my old friend Kozun from the Fire Nation, the magician did not live. However, it was exciting."

Katara snapped, "Do you think watching some fool turning himself into a human candle is exciting? I have new for you Aang...it hurts. Even Zuko got burned by fire and he is a fire bender. Playing with fire...I thought you learn your lesson from Jeong-Jeong when you burned me. Fire is not some toy, Aang! It destroys. It corrupts. Fire binders bend because they are born to burn in hell!"

Toph snapped back, "Sugar Princess, stop with the patriotic bison droppings. Aang is going to watch that show even if Ozai, himself, is in attendance. Aang is my husband and not your little child. If you want to boss around somebody, stick with trying to reform Sokka or find some man to lay with you and give you your own child to boss. I am blind and even I can see you still have some issues with Angry Boy."

Katara vowed to never forgive Toph for that remark. Katara could feel her face heat up as it erupted into a blush. She wanted to be a fire bender that moment and lash out at the smart mouth bitch.

"Fine, you three go and have a good time, tonight. I got some errands to do such as buying food and finding us a place to stay. Somehow I will find you, later."

Katara would once have been proud of Toph for standing up for her husband, but Toph's words cut into her soul. Sokka had no problems finding a bed warmer, even if she cost him two silver eagles a night. Toph and Aang had each other. What did she have?

A dream about a dead boy who sneered at me and called me a Water peasant.

Katara knew that she was attractive. She knew that she had the curves in the right places and that Jet and Hahn had a thing for her, but her heart was not there. The only man that excited her was her worst enemy.

Getting married would have meant a lifetime of yelling spoiled brat and hearing stupid peasant. The only good thing would be watching Ozai's face as he has a heart attack the moment that his son was marrying a Water Tribe peasant.

Worse, surrendering to her desires would have meant betraying her family and her friends. She had sacrificed everything and they spite her wisdom. She had dreamt of a time after the war. With Zuko's death, those dreams and her trouble visions of a twisted future were gone. Maybe someday, she would be able to fall in love. Maybe she would have some kids. However, she would never forget the prince who stole her first kiss.

Crap, I can't believe that I have all that crap inside of my head.

Katara, why do you have to crush on Zuko of all people. He was just another one of those damn fire bender responsible for ruining everything. Your mom, your people and yet you dream of him sweeping you off your feet. If he was alive, he would just use you. He would bed you and leave you to raise his fire bending, psychopathic brats alone when some noblewoman offers him some political alliance. You would be nothing but just another concubine fat and ugly with his brat.

Face it you are just jealous. If you let it take over, you will end up bedding just about anyone to spite Toph and Aang.

Katara turned around and decided to vent her frustrations by exploring the nighttime marketplace. In the past, she was the good girl and saved her coins for the good of the group. Tonight she was going to treat herself and if the group did not have enough coins, Sokka can grow up and work for them.

Great warrior my ass! Let's see if he can work an entire day without someone punching him in his big mouth.
________________________________________

With a leap, a pull, and a tuck and roll, the Blue Spirit found himself on the tiled roof of the Kwan compound.

Slithering just below the ridge as not to silhouette himself, he tracked the moments of the guards. Unlike most other noble houses in Chongqing, these he chusheng zajiao de zanghuo (filthy fornicators of livestock) had to have their own sentries to protect them from the righteous wraith of those the Kwan¡¯s wronged.

Justice was overdue for the goushi dui (dog excrement or persons who behave badly). The Blue Spirit fingered the handles of his twin dao (broadswords).

Crawling up next to the shuttered window, the Blue Spirit heard female laughter devoid of joy. Tonight Kwan was renting out some sao hou (lewd commodities). A youth filled with battle taught the Blue Spirit to take advantage of the moment and get some rest.

He closed his eyes and let his soul wander.

He instinctively opened his eyes at the proper moment to act.

The prostitutes were gone and the guards were too tired to be alert for one such as him.

The Blue Spirit unrolled a small pouch of tools he had carefully crafted when he surrendered the remnants of his honor and became a thief. His fingertips slide along each one of the tools and automatically selected a thin strip of metal. Wiggling it into position he triggered the catch and unlocked the wooden shutters. He carefully returned the metal strip to his pouch and rolled it back up. He placed the pouch back into its pocket in his dark blue and grey dark suit and secured it shut.

He was in the mistress' quarters. One door would lead into the closets. Another would lead into the maid's quarters. However the door he selected would lead into the main hallway.

He secured the wooden shutters with a length of butcher's twine so the wind would not slam the shutters open and close. He spotted a small glass cup on the lady's bedside stand. It was sticky with old plumb wine but the Blue Spirit simply poured the wine into another half empty glass. He then wiped it with the sleeve of his dark suit.

Carefully, placing the rim of the glass on the walls, the Blue Spirit placed his ear on the bottom of the glass. There were no vibrations of movement. Just the snores of Kwan Wu.

The Blue Spirit slipped the glass into a pouch and slide silently out into the hallway.

He slipped into Kwan Wu's room. This was the rapist bastard who would be tonight's object lesson to the other corrupt officials of Chongqing. There were two bodies lying in the bed. One was Kwan Wu. The second was Kwan Wu's victim. She was whimpering in her tortured sleep. She was just a child, maybe even too young to bleed. She should have been playing with her dolls and making eyes at the boys instead of being forced to sate this cao (fornicator) lust.

The Blue Spirit gently awoke the child.

"I cannot take back what he did to you. I cannot cut off his privy parts publicly. However, I can ensure that he won't harm you or anyone else again. I need you to remain silent. Once I am done, you and your family must vacate the city tonight and be far away before the Kwan's know that Wu and his family is appearing before the celestial judge and the kings of hell. I have other souls to save and others to collect for judgment. The gods have heard your prayers. Live the rest of your life virtuously. Do what is right and follow the commands of the gods and be kind to others and you will have thanked the gods for their kindness."

The child slid out of the bed and slipped into her rags.

The Blue Spirit carefully explored the room collecting all the coins and gems. He dropped them into two bags. The coins and some of the lesser gems, he gave to the girl. The others stuff he stole tonight was his fee.

The Blue Spirit reached into the tunic of his dark suit and withdrew a flask. He carefully poured a chemical around the body of Kwan Wu.

"It is time. Go out. Turn right. Next door on your right enter. There will be a window tied off with twine. Go out the window. It's a short leap from the roof to the top of the wall. Do it. Head south. The outside should be to your left. You will see a rope. Slide down the rope and make your way back to your father. Tell him that the Blue Spirit was sent by the gods. Tell him what happen and that your family must flee. The Kwan Wu and his corrupt sire will be dealt with tonight. However, the Kwan's have cousins who might want revenge.

"Inside that pouch are enough coins and gems to start a new life. You have survived a hell that breaks many of its victims. Do not let yourself be destroyed by the memories. You are a beautiful girl with many talents, Gong Li, do not let anyone tell you that you are not. Go now and may the gods bless you. It is time for me to collect the souls of the Kwan family."

The Blue Spirit decided to give the child two hours before he announced his judgment upon the Kwan family. During that time he stole every coin, gem, and antique scroll. He spotted an exquisitely carve set of jade Pai Sho pieces. Normally he would have left it behind. Tonight, the Blue Spirit would send Zuko's uncle, Iroh, a message that only he would understand.

The Blue Spirit prayed that his uncle would forgive him for the deception.

Carefully, the Blue Spirit prepared Kwan Wu's pyre. The east wing of the Kwan compound would burn to ashes. That was all that was needed to punish the guilty.

Kwan Wu awoke to find himself tied down upon his own bed. The stench of spilled plum wine saturated the room. However, he was not alarmed. Sometimes the girls tied him up before playing their little sex games. He closed his eyes trying to remember what he did the evening before. All he remembered was two ladies and his little project.

He smiled remembering the look in her eyes as he took her virtue and force her to sate his unquenchable lusts.

However, a male voice broke his train of pleasurable thoughts.

"Kwan Wu, the Blue Spirit has judged you and you are found wanting. You have dishonored your ancestors with your actions. You have stolen from the poor. You have violated any code of honor that can be asked of any gentleman. You have sunk so low that any thief or slave monger would be disgusted by your behavior. Die, Kwan Wu. Tell the gods that the Blue Spirit has sent you to the hell that you have earned by your actions."

The Blue Spirit's hand lit up. He cast down the flames engulfing the room. The Blue Spirit merely waited. Fire was his ally. Fire was his gift. He merely exhaled and fire made way for him before closing off and attacking the flesh of the condemned.

Kwan Wu's screams echoed as the Blue Spirit paid Wu's father, Hou Kwan Zhi, the magistrate, a visit.
________________________________________

Katara saw the glow of the fire from a distance. Instinctively she made her way to it. The locals were blocking the way staring at the fire.

"The gods have truly punished the Kwan's."

"I guess that Hou Kwan won't need all that money were he is going."

"Too bad that the gods were a little slow paying the Kwan's a visit."

Katara could not believe what she was hearing from the onlookers. People were actually cheering as people burned to death inside. She had to save them. It was her duty as a water bender and a healer.

Suddenly someone tapped her on the shoulder.

Turning around she saw a man where white and gold body paint handing her the money pouch that was suppose to be under her tunic..

"Ma'am, be weary of cutpurses. Thieves love it when someone starts a fire. People gawk at the pretty flames and make easy marks. I sent our little lords of fleas off with a notice that he needed to improve his skills in identifying marks before he tries to lighten another pocket."

Katara somehow knew that she met this man before.

However, she could not place him.

He was slim, and yet muscular. He wore a linen loincloth, white leather sandals, and carried two curved swords on his back. His hair was dark but cut very short. His eyes were golden. His body was painted in white with abstract gold patterns that matched his eyes. Here was a man who was so conspicuous that she couldn't figure out where she encountered him before.

"Thank you. I am Katara and you are..."

"Jian, or master magician Li."

Then it clicked. This was the magician on the posters. The one Aang went crazy over.

"My friend is crazy about magic. He is already married, but he's such a little kid sometimes."

"Your husband?"

Katara blushed, "No, the husband of my younger sister. I haven't found my red string soul mate yet."

He visibly relaxed.

"Many folks are at some stage in their life. When I started, my parents considered it just another childhood phase. They figured that if someone taught me, that I would soon grow sick and tired and would go into other phase. However, I never really outgrew the magic bug."

Jian Li reached into his bag and removed four tickets.

"Here are four tickets, however, I expect you to be at the show tomorrow evening at seven. I was trying to drum up some business. Unfortunately, I have to leave. I am heading back to Guild Row. Would you like an escort back to your lodgings?"

Katara pocketed the tickets that she did not want. The young man performed an intricate midair twirl and landed in the three point warrior bow.

"Jian Lee, your bodyguard reporting for duty, Lady Katara."

Fool, you just have to play with fire. You just had to introduce yourself to her of all people. Stop thinking with your xiao didi (little brother that grows between your legs). You call yourself a man, Zuko. You are nothing but that legendary, stupid little kid that wants to light off forest fires just to see if you are strong enough to bend the flames.

"Lady Katara, here are your lodgings. May your stay in Chongqing be a pleasurable and profitable stay."

He gave her a quick bow.

As he started to turn to leave, Katara grabbed his wrists.

"Let me introduce you to my friends."

Oh shit!

"I'll be honored," he replied.
________________________________________

Three hours later, the former Fire Nation Prince came to several conclusions.

Avatar Aang was in no shape to face off with Ozai. The little baldy was just...too nice to ever slice a throat.

Sokka, Katara's brother, was his usual bothersome self. If Sokka knew what he was thinking, the magician would have to explain to Katara why he killed her annoying sibling.

Toph was so connected to Aang that if anything happened to Aang, it would probably be Toph that would flatten Ozai with a mountain.

Lastly, he knew that any possible relationship with Katara would die the moment that he revealed his true identity to her.

Katara liked Jian Li. She was obviously charmed by him.

Jian Li was the charming rascal. Jian Li could quote the appropriate lines from obscure romance stories. Jian Li was the one who brought a smile to Katara's face.

He wanted to be Jian Li. He wanted to be the one that Katara like. He wanted to be the one that Katara would dream of tonight.

He knew that it would all be a lie.

Just like everything he ever was a lie.

Katara hated the Fire Nation. They had killed her mother. The Fire Nation had brought war to this one peaceful world. Looking back at even his own actions, he would agree with her.

Jian Li was just another persona that Zuko created during his banishment. Jian Li did not have the baggage that Zuko carried in his heart.

The real Zuko was a failure.

I failed to die as a child when his death would have done my family the most good. If I died, Azula would not have to become so twisted. If I died, Mai would have not been made to suffer. If I died, mother would not have to sacrifice herself for my sake. Mom could have had another son, a perfect son who had the love of both his parents, instead of contempt.

That morning, Jian Li returned back to his wagon.

"I am going to sleep, do not wake me until an hour before the show." he informed his fellow performers.

He staggered in and locked the door.

Carefully, he removed the make up that hid his scar from the world.

Jian Li was gone and the scar he hid from the world lashed out at him through the mirror.

You are such a pathetic little boy!

You think that these acts of saving the innocent will redeem you somehow.

All you do is hurt people.

You did not save a little girl last night. All you did was sentenced her to a life as a fugitive. She will never be innocent. All you did was indulged your bloodlust. You are so like your father, Zuko. You enjoyed it when you burnt him. You enjoyed it when you burnt that first assassin when you were twelve. You had him captured and yet you deliberately burnt him until his corpse stunk up the entire place.

Look at yourself.

Your father did you a favor when he cast you out. You at the helm of the nation ¨It is like the time you were six and tried to wear your fathe's battle armor. You trapped yourself and cried until the servants could cut you out.

You don't have what it takes.

Confidence... that was just an act to cover up for the little sickly brat you really are.

Intelligence... your sister got the highest marks without opening a book and you had to spend all those sleepless nights rereading the chronicles of your nation to be able to answer the simplest questions.

Determination... that was supposed to be your great gift. All it was is just the stupidity not to know that you are a failure.

Look at yourself. You are a monster. You have fallen so far that even Katara and her lug of a brother is above you. What will she say when the truth will come out? She hates you. She will freeze some icicles and drive them into your flesh. She despises you Prince Zuko. You are Prince Zuko the failure no matter how many times you play Jian Li or the Blue Spirit.

Zuko smashed the mirror with his fist. The blood dripped off as he lowered his fist. He wondered what he did in his past life to deserve this fate. Whatever it was, it had to be pretty bad.
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Blue Mask