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

Aang

Aang scanned the city for any place that looked interesting. Then he remembered something he saw when he'd been wandering... a zoo, near the entrance of the city. Gently, he began gliding them toward the ground. He glided above the area for a moment, fascinated by what was below them, before landing carefully on the ground. He let go of Katara cautiously, putting away his staff.

Katara

Katara let go of Aang and studied the area around her. She was fascinated by all the animals, but still, a part of her was very sad by the sight. "Aang?" She asked.

Ursa

"You're most welcome, dear. Say, what were your names again?" Ursa asked, giving a bright smile.

Ozai

"How long have you been in Ba Sing Se, Hakoda?" Ozai asked curiously as the man spread the lather over his face. Azula continued to stay by his side, remaining silent. She observed Hakoda's actions rather carefully.

"It's Rao," Toph said, not trusting the woman, Ursa, enough to give out her real name. She gave her a small smile too.

Aang

Aang saw the mix of sadness and fascination on Katara's face, and he immediately understood why. He felt the same way she did, or so he assumed, staring at all the beautiful animals caged inside.

"Yes?" he answered, quietly, already mentally formulating a plan.

Sokka

"Sokka," he replied. It was the name Bato had given him. He could scarecely recall the name that he'd had before this one, though he knew there had been one.

Hakoda

"Just a few weeks, Sir. I used to live in the Fire Nation, but the weather wasn't very agreeable with my allergies." Hakoda replied as he finished putting the lather on Ozai's face.
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Katara

Katara bit her lip as Aang replied. "..nothing, it's stupid..."

Aang

Aang shook his head.

"No, no, I'm sure it's not," he said. He shared a meaningful look with one somber looking creature, before turning back to Katara, expectantly. He already had plans, but he wanted to know if Katara agreed with them.

Katara

"...It's just... don't you think that these cages are a bit...small, for these animals? I mean, that one over there is bigger then my room, but it barely has any space to walk around. And over there...the birds. There's nothing as sad as caged birds...."

Aang

Aang nodded.

"Well... there is something I could do," he said. With this, he looked serious and smiled at the same time, as he used his bending to lift the doors from each cage. A man attending the animals stared, wide-eyed, as some of the animals began to stampede from their cages. Others stood there, tentative to test what could possibly be their freedom. Aang urged them to go on.

He smiled more genuinely, as he grabbed onto Katara again, and started to lift them to the skies to see as the animals all ran free...

Katara

Katara's eyes grew wide as she flew into the air with Aang, the animals all running and flying free below them.

((So, CS, mind having Aang take Katara to Ursa's shop now? I don't want Hakoda to kill Ozai off too early.))

Ozai

"Ah. I hear the Fire Nation is lovely this time of year, especially Ember Island. Hm...have we met before, sir? You seem familiar. Perhaps we crossed paths in the Fire Nation? I go there on vacation a few times a year." Ozai said, looking up to closely study Hakoda's face.

Ursa

"Well, it's nice to meet the both of you." Ursa said. Her eyes went back over to Zuko, remembering that he was here.

"Rao, Sokka, this is my son Zuko."

Hakoda

"Hmm, we might have. MY Cousin has a shop on Ember Island, I would visit there and help him out the third and seventh months of every year? Were you there around that time?" Hakoda lied as he began to the Judge's face.

((Sure, no problem.))

Aang

Aang smiled as the animals ran and flew free below them, and at the look of wonder on Katara's face. Both were beautiful. He continued flying, almost regretting having to take her back to Hakoda's barber shop. He wanted more time with her, just like this. But, it had to be done, in order for them to be safe.

Sokka

Sokka gave a half-hearted smile to Ursa, and nodded. Then he looked over at Zuko. Somehow, the boy seemed oddly familiar, though he couldn't understand why.

"Nice to meet you as well, Ursa," he said. "And you, Zuko."

Zuko

Zuko looked over at the boy, Sokka, who was also strangely familiar. He nodded, offering a handshake to him. After a moment, they let go, and he turned toward the girl. Rao. Somehow, that name did not suit her, and he knew it was fake.

"A pleasure to meet the both of you," he said.

Ozai

"Yes, I was. Perhaps we met then." Ozai said. Azula, after remaining stoic for so long, finally gave a yawn and said,

"Well, this is boring. I think I'll go down stairs, see how bad Mother's pies are."

Azula went over to the stairs and began to climb down. A few seconds later the door opened and shut as she entered Ursa's Meat Pie Shop. Now Ozai and Hakoda were alone.

Zuko

Zuko stareed over at the entrance, and saw his sister walk in. Immediately, he scowled and looked away from her. This was quite the inconsistent day for him so far. He decided to focus his attention elsewhere. His gaze fell on "Rao". He now noticed that she was blind. How could she navigate so well when... he pushed the thought from his mind. She had the strong build of an earthbender. Maybe that helped her...

He looked around the shop now. It seemed very... for lack of a better term, worn down. The pies on display were most certainly not very pleasing to see. He hoped his mother would be able to fix it up. Maybe he could help her.

[i]No,[i] thought Zuko. He was leaving. He was not staying in this city, not for any reason... even Ursa. The rest of his family made up his mind.

Aang

Aang flew through the skies, high above the city, until they were close to the street Hakoda's shop was on. As he did this, he slowed gradually and carefully, so as to land on the platform before the shop. It was on the second level of Ursa's Meat Pie shop. He smiled at her as let slowly let go of her again.

"Here we are... this is where we will hide for the time being."

He pulled open the door, and peaked inside.

"Hakoda, we're here_"

He realized he had a man in the shop... an odd, distinguished man, with a very strange and dark demeanor. Something was wrong here...

Hakoda

Hakoda couldn't help but smile in relief as Azula walked out of the room. Though that expression quickly turned into a pleased smirk as he continued to shave Ozai. As the troubled Barber finally finished the Judge's neck, he turned the blade so he could finally get his revenge. And then, Aang burst through the door, ruining everything.
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Katara

Katara stood on the platform and waited as Aang ran into Hakoda's shop. But a smell caught the Girl's attention, as it wafted out of the shop below. It was disgusting, she had to admit. But still...she was very hungry at this point. The Girl quickly and quietly walked down the stairs before staring at the street. It wasn't a very interesting sight, she had to admit. But just being among the people themselves, that was a nice feeling. But Katara's attention quickly left the street as she turned and entered the meat pie shop. She was surprised to see so many Children in it, and she wondered if it was an orphanage or not. But then she realized that Zuko and Azula were two of the people inside, and Katara realized that she was probably in trouble.

Ozai

Ozai bolted right up from his chair, sending Aang a withering glare. "You! What are you doing here, brat?!"

Azula bounded up the stairs, dragging Katara alongside him. After noticing Aang, she quickly put two and two together.

"She probably decided to run off with that boy, father."

Ozai's expression turned into one filled with fury. "I knew I should have been more careful! You've seduced Katara, and tried to steal her away from me! And you!"

Ozai whirled around to Hakoda, jabbing a finger at him. Whisps of flame started to become visible among his left hand.

"You know that boy, the one who tried to steal my Katara away from me! Oh, the Spirits have truly smiled upon me today. I will never return to this shop! You are friends with a con artist, and I shall not stand for that! You will never hear from me again, Hakoda! I will see to it that your establishment is shut down! Azula!"

Glaring one last time at Aang, Ozai stormed over to his daughter. "We are leaving, now."

Azula let go of Katara and let Ozai take her, grabbing her by the forearm. He dragged his ward down the stairs. Azula quickly followed him.

Hakoda/Katara

Hakoda's eyes grew wide as he saw Katara, even if it was just for a few seconds. But the Barber didn't go after Ozai. And instead he simply stood in place, shocked at what was going on.

Katara struggled against Ozai's grip. "Let go of me Ozai!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Toph said, nodding in their general directions. She knew where they stood, but she didn't want to give too much away about herself. She still didn't know if she should trust them.

Aang

Aang stood there for a few moments, also shocked. And as Ozai, his daughter, and Katara started away from the shop, he took a risk, aiming his bending to make Ozai let her go. He knew the man was a firebender, most likely incredibly powerful from the looks of him. Regardless, he had to get Katara away from him.

Zuko

Zuko nodded over to "Rao". She seemed somewhat wary of him and his mother. He didn't blame her. He would be, if he didn't know her. Outside, he began to hear some commotion...

Ozai, Azula

The blast tore Ozai away from Katara, and sent him crashing into a wall. He growled in fury was rushing toward Aang in flash. He sent a powerful punch to his gut and watched as the boy collapsed.

"Consider yourself lucky, boy! Strike me again and I will not hestitate to scar you."

Ozai stormed back to Katara, who was being held in place by Azula. He grabbed her again and, despite her failed attempts to break free, dragged her down the stairs. He flung open the door into Ursa's shop and began to storm out. He paused in confusion for a moment when he saw Zuko, but he quickly resumed his pace, not caring at that moment what his son was doing there. He and Azula led Katara out of the ship, and headed back toward their home.

"You will be my wife, Katara!" Ozai hissed into her ear. "I will make sure of it. And because of your actions today, you will never go outside of your room again. No....you'll simply escape again. I'll make sure to put you in a place where no one will ever find you again, until you are ready to be mine."

Hakoda

Hakoda stood in place, seething in rage. The Barber gripped his blade before suddenly throwing it at the wall beside him.
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Katara

"I will not!" Katara shrieked back at Ozai, tears streaming out of her eyes. Her life was over now, there was no point in trying to maintain dignity now...

Aang

Aang collapsed the ground, arms over his stomach. He heard them walking away, and felt utter failure as they did so. He had to save Katara... he had to. Struggling to stand, he gripped a wall and got to his feet. He made his way to street, but saw that he had missed them.

He would find her again... he would find her. He was determined.

Ursa

Ursa heard the commotion upstairs and watched as her ex-husband and daughter dragged of a mysterious girl. She glanced back upstairs before turning to Toph, Sokka, and Zuko.

"I'll be right back. You kids are welcome to help yourself to some gin." she quickly blurted. Ursa rushed upstairs (closed the door behind her, so the children wouldn't hear) and cautiously approached Hakoda.

"What happened?"

Hakoda

"Your Husband showed up. I was this close to killing him... This close!" Hakoda shouted as he ripped his knife out of the wall. "And then that kid came back, with my Daughter! And of course everything went to hell from there."