Hakoda: The Demon Barber of Ba Sing Se (Rated T-M)

"Then what do you suggest we do," Toph asked. She was a little upset that they couldn't beat up Hakoda.

Ozai

Ozai bared his teeth at the girl and raised his hand, as if to strike her. But he lowered it after a few seconds and tried to calm himself.

"I understand. This is all too much for you to take in at once. I will return later, when you have had time to dwell on the matter."

Ozai left her room before Katara could reply.

Sokka

"Okay, okay, well, we can beat him up, but first don't you think we should, you know, go to his barber shop?"

Zuko

Zuko was relieved to finally be alone and could find a place to practice his bending. As much as he wished to speak more with his mother. But he had to accomplish what he came out her to accomplish.

Hakoda

Hakoda allowed the boy to leave, his mind already beginning to plan how he would keep Katara and make sure she was safe.
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Katara

Katara stood still in silence, shocked at what had just happened. "I don't need a Protector..." She muttered before turning around and heading back towards her window.

Ursa

"What did he talk about?" Ursa asked curiously, coming up the stairs into Hakoda's apartment.

Hakoda

Hakoda was sitting on a cheap chest, sharpening his shaving knives as Ursa walked in. "He knows where my Daughter is. I think the boys in love with her." Hakoda commented as he looked up.

Ursa

"Oh? That's mighty interesting. Does he plan on rescuing her?" Ursa asked.

Aang

Aang continued through the streets, trying to locate Judge Ozai's house again. It was not difficult to find. It wasn't too different from the other houses on the street, but it was still quite distinguishable. But now, how to get Katara out... that was the next step...

Hakoda

"He does. And then he intends to drop her off over here while he figures out what to do next." Hakoda stated as he suddenly stopped sharpening the razor. "I think I'll let him do all the work, then get rid of him."

Ursa

"Sounds good to me. Wouldn't be that hard to do, either. Well, things are certainly looking well for you! Soon, Ozai will be dead, and then you'll have your daughter back!" Ursa said cheerily.

Hakoda

"Aye. But I still don't know where my Son is." Hakoda pointed out as he jumped off of the Chest. "Anyways, enough about my journey and plans. Know what you're going to do with the cash?"

Ursa

"Hopefully it's enough to buy some better meat for a day or two. Prices raise every day, it's hard to get enough money to buy even a piece of moderately rotten meat." Ursa complained, sighing.

"What I wouldn't give for some cheaper source of meat."

((Bato may go to Hakoda's now. I imagine he may have over heard where he had his shop, or checked to see where Ursa lived.))

((Sorry that took me a while. D:))

Aang

Aang neared the house, and he spotted her in his window again. She looked beautiful just the same as earlier. But now, something seemed absolutely wrong.

"Katara..." he said, quietly, urgently, knowing that they should not be seeing each other from the moment he walked over.

Katara

Katara looked down at Aang, surprised to see the boy so soon. "Aang, what are you doing here?!" She asked, practically hissed, as she immediately felt terrified about what might happen if someone saw him. Again.
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Hakoda/Bato

Hakoda smirked as an extremely dark thought came to his mind, though it was cut off as he heard a knock at the door. "Yes!?" He shouted.

Though he received no answer, as the door simply open, Bato flying through it.

Ursa

"Can we....help you?" Ursa asked, eyeing Bato with a suspicious look. Great, that fraud from before was back. Couldn't he learn to just accept failure and move on? After all, that couldn't have been the first time he'd lost to another barber. Right?

Bato/Hakoda

"I just wanted to offer my...congratulations, to Mr. Hakoda, for winning. And perhaps, a moment we could have to speak as well?" Bato asked as he eyed Ursa.

"Ah, of course Sir Bato." Hakoda replied, almost sarcastic as he said sir. "Ursa, mind leaving us two alone for a few minutes?"

((*gorey throat slashing here?*))

Aang

Aang cringed, knowing this probably wasn't his best idea.

"I... I'm sorry, Katara. When is a better time for me to come back?" he whispered, quickly.

Sokka

"Why don't we start walking?"

He didn't wait for an answer, as he headed in the direction of Hakoda, and from what he knew, Bato.

"Sounds like a plan," Toph said. She was glad that they could beat him up. Not that she beated up a lot of people. Only those who deserved it.

Katara

"...Aang I don't know. Ozai's been weird lately. He wants me to marry him!" Katara informed Aang, hissing the last part again. "I told him no, and he...didn't take it well."

Ursa

"Of course. I'll tend to my shop." Ursa replied, quickly ducking downstairs. She glanced up the staircase before shutting the door to Hakoda's apartment behind her.

Hakoda/Bato

After Ursa had left, Bato sighed loudly before looking back at Hakoda, a crooked smile on his face.

"What do you want, Sir Bato?" Hakoda asked as he looked at the rival Barber.

"Well for one thing, you can stop calling me Bato. My name is Ahmed. I doubt that you'd remember me, but I know you very well....Nanuk." Ahmed replied, an extremely smug smile on his face as he spoke. "I used to work with you in the Guard, I looked up to you quite a bit, you know. You were such a great man, with such a wonderful family..." Ahmed continued on as he slowly walked around the Barber shop.

Hakoda stood in place, shocked and frightened of Bato, no, Ahmed. The look in his eyes was one similar to that of a wild animals. "Is that all you came here to tell me?" Hakoda finally asked.

"No...I want my money back. Not just that, I want you to know that we, are in business together. Unofficially of course. But, I will be receiving half of all of your profits. Share and share alike, right?" Ahmed stated, causing Hakoda to grip onto his Razor tightly.

"And if you don't...well then I'll just have to go see my old friend Zhao, I'm sure he'd be interested to hear that you, Nanuk, is back in town." Ahmed said right as he turned around.

Hakoda bolted towards Ahmed, knife in hand. He quickly stabbed Ahmed in the chest, taking the man by surprise. He then pulled the razor out of his chest, gripping onto Bato's head by his hair. Without even waiting for a second, Hakoda quickly took the Razor, and slashed Ahmed's throat.

Ursa

Ursa rushed upstairs at all of the commotion. She flung opened the door and came inside. Ursa froze in her tracks at the sight of Bato's still bleeding body. Her eyes went from Hakoda to Bato back to Hakoda.

"Have you lost your mind?!"

Hakoda

Hakoda rolled his eyes as he heard Ursa's nagging. "He knew who I was. He was going to tell the Police Chief." Hakoda stated as he moved Bato's body away from the front door, towards the chest he had been sitting on. "We wouldn't want that now, would we?"

Ursa

"Oh?" Ursa questioned. "Well. that's certainly different. What do we do if those two kids of his come poking around? I imagine he told his wards where he was going."

Hakoda

Hakoda gripped onto his knife as he contemplated Ursa's words. "Even kids could use a nice shave."