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CHAPTER 15
With their host close in toe, the group set out to explore Ba Sing Se and search for Appa. They were ready to scour Ba Sing Se, with their spirits high as the walls surrounding them, even with their respective unwanted guide. They started off at pet stores, questioning the owners however those efforts came to naught. But it didn't go unnoticed how quickly the owners were to shut down any conversation to do with Aang's Bison. Sakura found it odd. Although these businesses were legit, it was unlikely that no one was aware of any underbelly activity taking place in this industry. What's more, they showed little interest in the idea of a bison existing, a supposedly extinct creature, yet they barely wanted to hear anything about him. All eager to chase the teens out of their stores. There was no sense of hostility, but rather resistance and nervousness without source.
Then they went to the University of Ba Sing Se, where they went around questioning students, receiving disappointing results. But this was when Sakura made a new discovery. They were out in the courtyard speaking to one of the students, hunched over as he sat near a pillar. They had barely been speaking for a minute before he was breaking out into nervous sweats.
"I've never seen any sand benders or nomads around here; you should ask Professor Zei; he teaches the class on desert cultures."
"Right" trailed Sokka, leaning in towards the student. "And which of your professors can we ask about the war with the fire nation?"
The student started to become nervous, looking over to Joo Dee. The woman shook her head again, keeping a stiff smile.
"I...I don't know I'm not a political science student-I have to get to class." The student stumbled over his feet and dropped his scrolls, as he attempted a hasty exit. Sakura glanced back at Joo Doo who kept that smile. She wasn't wrong with what she saw then either.
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The rest of the day went up with everyone returning hunched over with heavy shoulders, filled with disappointment. The day had bore no fruits to their labors, and finding Appa was going to take more than just a day in the city. However, Sakura was more weary of their guide, and she was relieved when they waved her off in the carriage when they returned to their residents.
Sakura didn't waste time, "She's hiding something,"
"Huh?" asked Toph.
"What do you mean?" Katara inquired.
"That woman," Sakura folded her arms as she said the words like she was tasting lead on her tongue. "Every time we went up to someone, they'd look at her and break out into nerves and sweats. She's making sure they keep quiet."
"About Appa?" Aang stepped over to her, "Do you think she knows something about him?"
"I'm not sure if it's about him, but whenever you brought up the war, they'd all go stiff and glance at Joo Dee. Next time we shouldn't let her follow us,"
Sokka rubbed his head, "Are you sure? I get that she's a little….."
"Annoying," Toph finished for him candidly.
"Yeah that, but do you think she's been sabotaging us?"
Katara held her chin in skeptisism. "It does seem like a bit of a stretch,"
"Trust me, something really weird is going…." Sakura trailed, her chin lifting. Her friend's eyes followed her gaze, directed at the house on the opposite side of the road. Sokka waved his hand in front of her face but Sakura just pushed passed him and started walking.
Sakura knocked on the door, and a little too soon someone was at the front opening. The man at the threshold gave a polite smile to the group.
"You're the avatar!" he exclaimed looking at Aang "I heard you were in town; I'm Pao."
"Nice to meet you, Pao." Replied Aang with a smile.
"So Pao what's going on with this city?" asked Sokka. He figured if this person was listening in on their conversation, he could spare any courtesy and get straight to the point. They needed an answer to these questions and without Joo Dee around to interpret it was time to put Sakura's theory to the test. "Why's everyone so scared to talk about the war?"
Pao looked around nervously again as if they were being watched but Sakura couldn't sense any presence that wasn't visible.
"War? Scared?" he asked, his eyes darting around, "What do you mean?"
"I can feel you shaking," Toph stated
Pao started looking around again and whispered "Look I'm just a minor government official; I've waited three years to get this house. I don't want to get into trouble."
"In trouble with who exactly?" asked Sakura
Pao shushed them "Listen you can't mention the war here and whatever you do stay away from the Dai Li!"
With that, he closed the door leaving the group with many more questions.
"Now what?" asked Katara shifting her eyes from one person to the next.
"I don't know," Aang said.
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The quiet was loud. Sakura lay in her new bed, unable to drift even as all the lanterns had been put out and the air ran cool around her, she couldn't even hear her new companions, not so much as the smallest snores since their new home had been refined in luxury that included thick walls to ensure discretion. Sakura tossed, as she felt the space around her, picturing her cramped little room, filled with her untidy touches and belongings.
Here she could fit herself in the closet and call it home. As she reminisced about her room, she thought about the rowdy neighbors, an elderly couple who would still bicker with each other in the mornings, or the cats that would rattle the roof sheets at night, and the way she could always tell what time of the morning it was based on the commotion outside her window from the bustling streets.
Here there was just silence. And that became a breeding ground for the thoughts she had pushed to the back of her mind. Aang was the bridge between the two worlds and was her only lead to returning home but he didn't have the answers laid out either.
She wondered what her friends were doing now. Was it a night there too? Did Tsunade get angry seeing she was missing?
She looked at the sky beyond her window, it was the same as her world, and just for a while, she pretended that she was still under the same sky as her parents, her teacher, and her friends.
And then there was one particular image that made her eyes shut as pain contracted in her chest. A big grinning face, as bright as the sun and as warm as spring sunshine, took away her troubles.
'Naruto....'
What would his thoughts of her become if she didn't return? Would be he worried, angry, or hurt? He made a promise to her, and she made one to him. They were meant to get stronger apart, and then come together to finally bring back Sasuke, and reunite their team. That was their oath, stronger than any pact. She couldn't just walk away from it, regardless of the reasoning. Even being trapped in another world didn't feel like a justifiable excuse to her.
Sakura closed her eyes; tomorrow was a new day and she was going to do her best.
'I'll never give up. I'll never lose hope,'
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The day started early for the friends in their new lodgings, they were nearly up with the sun. Drifting around the house, preparing for the uncertain day ahead. There was a clear goal in mind, but they were lacking any resources or foundation to follow. Everyone was settled in the sitting area, along the banister, and pillows. They were all slumped forward, wracking their heads while they remained still. No one could think of a conversation aside from finding Aapa and getting to the Earth King.
Katara was expected to join in the bemoan atmosphere after fetching the mail, however, she was bursting through the doors with bright energy, completely different from the half-away girl that walked out of the house. She waved around a piece of parchment.
"I know how we're going to see the Earth king!"
"How can we do that? One doesn't just 'pop in on the earth king!" Toph said, stiffening giving a stiff smile, with her blank eyes to imitate Joo Dee. Even though she didn't actually see the woman's expression Toph had already mastered her imitation.
Sakura snickered before her face turned to stone, "Toph's right. We can't just go walking through the front door for an audience right?" If they could they would've done that yesterday.
Katara smirked with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, "Or can we?" She unfolded the mail, reading through the page "The king is having a party tonight for his pet bear."
"You mean platypus bear?" Aang asked hanging on the edge of the banister.
"No," Katara said looking at the papers to double check "It just says bear."
"Certainly you mean his pet skunk bear?" asked Sokka
"Or his armadillo bear" added Toph
"Gopher bear?" Aang asked
"It just says bear...." trailed Katara.
Putting aside the questionable fauna, Sakura cleared her throat to ask, "How are we going to get into this party? A palace event sounds lavish,"
"We can sneak in with the crowd,"
"There's no way we're sneaking in there," Toph said throwing herself back in the pillows.
"Why not?"
"Well no offense to you simple country folk but a real society crowd would spot you a mile away; you've got no manners." Ironically, Tophtthen took a cream puff on the platter and bit into it with an unhinged jaw, crumbling some of its contents onto the floor.
"Says the girl inhaling her food," Sakura shot back as Toph let out a belch.
Katara raised an eyebrow at the earthbender "Yeah. You're not exactly lady fancy fingers."
"I learned proper societal behavior and chose to leave it." Toph through the remainder of the puff to the side, barely missing Sakura who leaned back. "You guys never learned anything and frankly it's a little too late for that."
Sokka jumped up, "But you learned it. You could teach us!
Aang nodded jumping off the banister, "Yeah; I'm mastering all four elements. How hard could manners be?"
Sakura folded her arms, her lip curled as she started to see the sharp points in Toph's argument. "Harder than you think. I've had to impersonate people before, and highborns are the worst. But we're not exactly rich in options,"
"I'm sure we can do it." Aang was grabbing one of the curtains, yanking it from its pegs. He threw the fabric around himself like a robe, squared his shoulders, held his nose in the air, and bowed to them. If they didn't know this was pretend it would seem mocking. "Good evening Mr Sokka Water Tribe; Miss Katara Water tribe; lord Momo of the Mono dynasty; Sakura of the otherworldliness,"
Sokka grabbed the other curtain and started to copy Aang as they bowed their heads. Thickening his voice and pulling it to create a pointed accent that was apparently 'high-class'.
"Avatar Anag, how do you go on…"
Both boys started bowing their heads, heavily throwing them forward after each other.
Sakura held out her hand "You two should stop that before you-
BOINK
"Too late" Sakura sighed as Sokka and Aang lay on the ground having bumped their heads together. Sakura looked back at Toph, "Okay, I see your point now."
Toph stood up, standing next to Katara and near where Sokka and Aang were still lying, "The girls might be able to pull it off but you two will be lucky to pass as bus boys."
"But I feel so fancy" Sokka whined.
Clicking her tongue, Sakura turned to Toph, "So the three of us should get some dresses?"
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In those remaining rigorous hours, the girls went shopping, relying on Toph to define the taste of high society. Katara wasn't familiar with Earth kingdom fashion, and Sakura wasn't familiar with any sense of fashion in this world. Her friends even warned her about her shirt, wearing such a deep stain red. It might have been her favorite color, but it apparently wouldn't do her any favors here. She made a small purchase for a change in wardrobe as well while they were out. There were also some stares she received for her odd hair color.
Katara assured her she looked fine, but when Toph remembered this, she wanted Sakura to stay back from the party. Her hair color would stand out too much and risked drawing attention to them.
"Don't worry, I can take care of this," Sakura said running a hand through her hair.
They returned with simple, elegant conservative dresses, with simple designs, makeup, and accessories that took the better half of the afternoon to put on. Neither three were into dressing up impractically beautiful, wearing jewelry that could break or be ripped off in fights, or wearing makeup that could smear in scuffles. Katara didn't have many options in the cold of the South Pole to enjoy those leisures, Toph had them thrust upon her too early that the experience was sour to her, and Sakura's occupation as a medic and kunoichi didn't benefit from playing with those things.
Although Toph was truly the only one desultory about putting on the act. She had done so her entire life until joining the group. But putting on a mask for one night was better than putting it on for 12 years. Toph had to also give the girls a crash course in Earth kingdom etiquette for nobles.
The afternoon sun filtered through the gauzy curtains of their borrowed home. The room smelled faintly of jasmine soap and fresh linen, the aftermath of an hour-long bath that had left the three girls—Katara, Sakura, and Toph—fresh-faced and somewhat frazzled.
"You'd think dressing up would be easier than fighting," Sakura muttered, frowning as she studied her white dress in the mirror, ensuring there were no wrinkles in place.
Katara sighed, stepping in to help. "Hold still," she said, tugging at the fabric to right it.
Toph snickered from her seat near the vanity, where she was absently tapping her fingers on the polished wood. "This is a taste of my life,"
"Your life involved a lot of silk,"
Eventually, Sakura's dress was on correctly, a high-collared, ankle-length gown of pure white, trimmed with delicate green floral lace around the collar, sleeves, and hem. It was conservative but elegant. Katara's dress followed a similar design, though hers was dark beige with green cloud patterns painted along Toph, wore a cream-colored gown with diagonal stripes of dark gold and light brown stretching across her chest. Once the dresses were settled, it was time for makeup—an ordeal that quickly turned into a comedy of errors. Eventually, they managed to get that done too, with Toph giving more instruction.
"Okay, I'll guide you," Toph said, waving her hand dismissively. "But I'm not touching anyone's face."
Katara raised an eyebrow. "You know a surprising amount about makeup for someone who's never seen it."
"The servants used to talk about how they'd apply makeup on me, and talk about colors as if I could see them." That wasn't even the most impractical part for Toph, but the fact that she didn't even leave her parent's home or interact with other nobles. The same for stuffy clothing. Their cheeks were flushed red with blush, Toph's lips were painted a light pink while Katara and Sakura went for red. Their eyebrows were filled with black for shape (Of course, Sakura was excluded from this as her eyebrows were pink). Then each had to paint their eyelids in a colour to suit their complexion, Toph and Sakura went for a lightly grey-tinged blue and Katara went for a heavy blue.
After a few hours, all that was left was their hair, which was proving to be the real challenge. Katara's hair was wavy and soft, but she was easily able to pull it straight when she styled it around the headpiece and placed a large artificial pink flower in front of it.
"Can someone braid my hair?" Toph asked. When her hair was loose, Toph's hair actually reached down her lower back and after a thorough wash and rinse, it was easy to comb through.
"I'll do it," Katara said coming over to Toph, who explained how she wanted her hair.
Sakura sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror, tugging at the ends of her short now black hair. She decided to take a mixture of indigo to change her hair color and even her eyebrows. It would be easier for her to move around when she wasn't getting stares for her unique hair color. This did make her green eyes stand out.
'It's like Sasuke's now,'
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There was a long line of elegance and vanity surrounding the palace walls, as nobles waited to be let in through the golden gates. Sakura, Katara, and Toph were standing in wait as well. Sokka and Aang were also there, blending into the shadows, waiting for the girls to create an opening for them to sneak inside.
As they approached the gates, the enormity of the palace struck them. Lanterns hung from every corner, their warm light reflecting off the polished stone. Guests arrived in luxurious carriages or on foot, dressed in shimmering fabrics and adorned with glittering jewels.
The group paused near the entrance. A line of people extended toward the grand gates, each clutching a finely embossed invitation.
"By invitation only," Sakura muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Of course."
Katara sighed. "We'll figure it out. Let's just stay calm."
When it was their turn, Toph stepped forward with her usual confidence. She handed over her documentation, proof of her status as a Beifong, just as she had done to secure their passage on the ferry to Ba Sing Se.
The guard studied the papers, his face impassive. Then, to their dismay, he shook his head. "You can't enter without an invitation,"
Toph attempted to play the role of an arrogant heiress, displaying discontent for being turned away over what a spoiled noble would consider a petty matter of invitation. With status, there was never a need to wait in line or hold out a piece of paper for proof of belonging. However, it did not go their way. Toph huffed, and the three girls stepped out of line, regrouping nearby.
"What now?" Sakura asked.
Katara spotted someone coming in a white carriage on the side; judging by the way the guards bowed to him; he was clearly someone important. The man was middle-aged with long dark hair tied back in a braid and a goatee; he appeared very strict-laced with his fine black and green robe.
"I have an idea; follow my lead," Katara said as they walked up to the man.
"Excuse me, sir. I'm sorry to bother you but our cousin lost our invitations...she's blind." Katara whispered the last part, "Do you think you could help us? Our families in there and they're probably very worried."
All three girls remained unwavering and certain outward despite their panic on the inside of what would happen if they were denied access to the palace.
The man glanced at the three girls, before giving a wide smile and bowing slightly, "I'm honored; please come with me."
Toph, Sakura, and Katara followed behind the man, giving the same smiles of victory and blowing a soft raspberry at the very guard that refused to let them in when they passed with the man who he bowed to.
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EARLY CHAPTERS FOR MEMBERS NOW: BUYMEACOFFEE
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes chapter (99, 100, 101, 102)
-Kunoichi amongst Pirates chapter (44, 45, 46,)
-Crossroads of Fate chapter (36, 37, 38, 39)
-Through the Looking Glass chapter (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
- (Bleach crossover) Kunoichi amongst Reapers: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
-Commission: Demon slayer x My hero academia (PART 1 & 2)
- Kunoichi amongst Benders (Avatar x Naruto crossover) (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-Kunoichi amongst Heroes WHAT IF SPIN OFF: Dorms and Exams
-SPECIAL HALLOWEEN CHAPTER: Shinigami amongst Shinobi
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