Chapter V - A Rough Day

"Aang, calm down-" Katara said crossing her hands while Aang paced around on the saddle while they flew on Appa towards Yu Dao's police station.

"She's my sister, I get it, and I love her, and I respect her opinion, but sometimes-!" Aang tried to say angrily but Toph cut him.

"Sometimes she gets on your nerves so much you feel like a twisted tree trunk," Toph added.

"Exactly!" Aang said and he rubbed his forehead with his hand. "I've said so many times, don't kill! Killing people, bad thing, using other methods, good thing!"

"Okay, okay, we get it. But the guy seemed way more evil than any other victim of Iris's past. I mean, June mentioned that he killed everybody in her tavern just to get to her," Sokka said.

"Agreed, if we'd set him free, worse things could have happened," Toph said.

"But look what happens now. Talia will be trialed and punished for something that wasn't even her fault," Katara said.

"It was her fault, she did kill that man," Aang insisted.

"Would you rather set him free back in the streets and let him take out whoever he might've wanted!?" Katara asked frustratingly.

"No! But we could use other ways to prevent that!" Aang shot back at her.

"Not everybody is like you, Aang! You have no idea what these women got through that even killing for them seems normal. One of them is your sister. When Iris and I worked together under the Red Shadow Demons I learned everything about what had happened. You can't even imagine how many scars she-" Sokka cut himself before he said anything more.

He'd seen all of Iris's scars in each part of her body. Even the memory made his heart ache. Aang couldn't even imagine what Iris had been through.

Toph raised an eyebrow. How the hell did Sokka know about Iris's scars?

When they landed right outside the Police Station, Iris was already there waiting for them. She had crossed her arms and she was resting her back on the column the same way she had let her staff. Her gaze was focused on the floor.

"Let's go," Katara said as they all jumped from the saddle and they started walking inside with Iris following from behind.

Toph wrapped Sokka and they stayed behind everyone so they couldn't hear them. The others entered the Police Station and she kept him outside.

"There's something you're not telling me," Toph said.

"No there isn't. What gave you that idea?" Sokka asked.

"We both know that you're lying," Toph said, "How the hell did you see all these scars on Iris's body?"

"That's none of your business, Toph," Sokka said and he tried to walk away from her, but she wrapped his hand and kept him there.

"None of my business?! You're my friend!" Toph exclaimed.

Sokka sighed "You're right, I hide something. It's best if it stays that way," and he tried to walk away but Toph kept him there.

"Two people, running away from their true identities and lives, staying away from everything they knew, for a long time... in a world surrounded by danger and enemies, having nothing but each other. Those two people do not remain friends-" Toph tried to say and he cut her.

"Fine! Maybe you're right! Maybe for some time, we were something more than that. It's over now. For the sakes of our lives, it is best that we act as if those months never happened-" Sokka burst out.

"How many months? Nine?!" Toph asked.

Sokka sighed deeply and he started walking away "Just let it go, Toph,"

"Can you let it go?" Toph asked stopping him for a moment but then he walked right into the building trying to forget.

Toph sighed as well and she followed closely behind. Next thing Toph felt was the familiar vibrations of anger radiating from her friends' contact on the stoned floor.

"What do you mean execution?!" Iris shouted angrily.

"What about the other regulations?" Katara asked.

"The judge's decision was made clear. According to our truth see-ers, the witnesses were being sincere. She killed a man, she will be punished by the same act," The Chief of Police said.

"Please, there's no need for spilling more blood. There must be another way," Aang said.

When the Chief's gaze fell on Toph he bowed immediately respectfully "Sifu Toph!"

"You're expelled," Toph said shooting him a deadly look.

"What?! But Sifu, it's not my fault that-" The Chief tried to say but Iris cut him.

"I need to see her,"

"Defender Iris, I'm so sorry, but I can't let any-" He tried to say but Toph cut him.

"If you won't do as she says, you're officially expelled," Toph said with a smirk and crossed her arms.

The Chief sighed "Five minutes,"

He led Iris towards the cell. He let her in and he closed the door behind. Before Iris was even able to make a step further she felt fingers wrapping tightly around her neck. She gasped as her back hit the stoned wall behind as her old friend pinned her, tightening the grip around her neck.

"I've been waiting all night for this!" Talia shouted and she left a loud cry of frustration and both pleasure "Guards! Come in! Stop me from killing her!!!" she shouted.

Iris gasped for air. She knew they wouldn't hear her. The walls were large, filled with fat stones, pretty soundproof all around the place.

"Tell me... sister... did you come in here to watch me rot?! Mmm?!" Talia asked hatefully.

Iris took out her dagger from her one hand and she created a cut on her friend's thigh. Talia left a cry of pain and she released her. Talia started laughing. It was a sickening laugh. An ironical one. Iris coughed a few times taking deep breaths to ease the insistent ache in her lungs.

"What are you laughing at?" Iris asked.

"I hate the Fire Nation' you said 'I'd kill them all if I could' you said. And now?" Talia asked and she laughed "...now... the bitter irony that you're their queen-"

"Things have changed, Talia, the war is over!" Iris said.

"Yeah right... the war is over..." Talia said and she chuckled ironically "...did you know when and how Herla, my sister, died?"

Iris did not answer. She didn't know. She remembered all those terrible things Talia had mentioned about her sister's death but she didn't know when it happened.

"The Red Shadow Demons came searching for you... you know what the funny thing was? They were fire benders... Fire Nation Citizens that searched to kill their Queen..." she laughed, sickly once again "...they threatened to kill one of us, we were alone in the teashop and they were many..."

"...I told them where they could find you alone and unarmed... but I didn't know you were the Fire Lady. Nobody ever said anything. Last thing I had heard from you was that you were in the South Pole. So they came back... raped my sister in front of me and she died..." Talia said bitterly and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Iris shut her eyes sealing the tears back and she gritted her teeth.

"...and this was after the war had ended. But you know what? It makes sense now... you're a criminal, a murderer just like me, and you're the Queen of the most blood-thirsty Nation, it suits you. Do your people know the real you? Because if they did, you'd join me tomorrow at the execution," Talia said.

Iris stared at her for a moment. She wasn't angry... she was sad and ashamed. Her friend was right. In the name of justice, Iris should be executed too. She had done a lot more than what Talia could ever imagine.

"You're right, they don't know me. I'm just someone who... tries to make up for her cruel past by her actions at the present," Iris said.

"You'll never make up for what you've done!" Talia spat hatefully.

"Time's up," Heard the voice of a man behind the door as he opened and allowed Iris out.

She paid one last glance at Talia. This was probably the last time she'd see her old friend's eyes. They'd shared so many things together, and there she was, accusing her, hating her.

"In the name of Oma, I curse you, Iris! For you are the woman with mine and my sister's blood on your hands. Curse you! You will never find peace!" Talia's shouts echoed in the entire building.

She maybe was right. Iris was never meant to find peace.

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Next morning was the execution. The whole gang was there and Zuko was on his way. People had gathered, waiting for the executioner to do his job.

"3"

"2"

"1"

The spear fell and cut the throat as if it was a knife cutting a slice from butter. The head fell down, blood flowed around. Iris felt sick. She had seen people die so many times before, but this time, she couldn't stop accusing herself. She should have killed that man herself. They would never intend to execute the Fire Lady.

Iris turned around and she started running away. She reached the Fire Nation's Royal Family's home in Yu Dao where she knew she'd find Zuko. But it was something else that put her in such a rush. Once she entered the familiar building she'd been living in the last few days, she vomited at the first pot she found.

It maybe was because of what she had just seen, but she recognized that feeling. This was something she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Iris?"

She heard a familiar voice. That was definitely Zuko. She wiped her mouth and she turned around. He cupped her face, clear worry in his eyes. He must have heard her.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"How can I be okay? It only took a second when they... they cut her head off and-" She tried to say but she couldn't go on. Her tears slipped from her eyes to her cheeks. They were the tears she'd been denying the whole night.

Zuko pulled her into a tight hug and he kissed the top of her forehead soothingly saying "Ssh... it's okay. There was nothing we could've done," Zuko said caressing her back, her hair.

She nuzzled in his neck and she wept silently. "There was, I could've killed him myself, I could've helped her somehow, it was my fault that she-"

"Hey..." he cut her cupping her face and looking at her "...we can't save everyone. We just can't, we-we're not gods, we're just humans... you're a human too, it's normal to feel that way," Zuko said.

"I know... I know, but those people died because of me... I can't just accept from one moment to the other... the guilt is just too much," Iris sobbed.

He wiped her tears "Then let's share it. Open up to me, Iris. I know it's difficult for you. I know you never let anyone in. But, please, let me. I just want to be there for you," Zuko said.

"You are, Zuko... you are," And she hugged him once again, cuddling in his arms.

It took a long moment when they stood there. Zuko knew her better than anyone. Of course, he had understood that something was wrong. He knew that she was still keeping secrets from him, he knew that it was in her character, and he had accepted it. He didn't want to push her. He knew he should wait. He didn't mind. He loved her.

"Come on, let's return home,"

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OMG! I did it! I updated!!! Sorry, guys, we're nearing the last examinations at school and things are busy.

I hope you liked it!!! Please Vote and Comment!

Can anybody guess what's wrong with Iris (why did she vomit)? Dragonking13, do not spoil it XD!!!