Unfortunately I am an adult, and some adult responsibilities are going to cause a temporary interruption in the updates to my story. More than likely I won't be able to update it for several weeks. But I promise I will be back just as soon as I can, I've been having too much fun with this to just stop. Thanks for reading my little fanfic!
A Typical Island P...Oh who am I kidding, there's nothing typical about it."Sukka, can you hand me one of those pastries with the yellow frosting?" I asked. Without a word Sukka leaned across the table to fetch the tempting treat. Apparently the one she grabbed was a little too close to Tokka, causing him to turn away from her with a loud "Humph!"
"He still hates me," she pouted as she handed the pastry to me.
"Don't worry", I tried to assure her, "He'll get over it. He's not mad at me any more."
"Yeah but you're his sister, he expects you to bug him."
"Actually he made me do all his chores, including his laundry, for two whole weeks." Just the thought of Tokka's dirty underwear almost ruined my appetite. Almost. I bit into the soft dessert anyway. "This is sooooo good!" I exclaimed. "Maybe this wont be so bad after all."
"This is gonna SUCK!" Maiko announced as she plopped herself down at the table across from me.
"Have a pastry." I suggested, holding out to her the half eaten one in my hand.
"Uhhh", she sneered, "I'm not hungry." A sinister grin crept across her face before adding, "Hey Kat, your boyfriend is here!"
Everyone at the table quickly turned around to see Haruki walk through the door accompanied by his family. I turned back to Maiko blushing madly. "Maiko!" I yelled with a whisper, "He's not my boyfriend. Don't say that so loud."
"But you like him don't you?" she asked not bothering to watch her volume.
Suddenly Tokka's interest was perked. He leaned in on the table towards me. "You like Haruki?" He asked with an eye brow raised. Coming from him, that look is never good. It usually means he has a nasty prank cooking in his brain. He shot a hand into the air and yelled, "Hey Haruki! How's it going?" I dropped the pastry and slowly turned my head so I could catch a glimpse of Haruki's reaction. Haruki was seated far enough away that I couldn't hear what he was saying, but it was obvious he was excusing himself. Then he began to make his way towards us. I turned toward Tokka.
"I did all your laundry, even your underwear, why are you doing this to me?" I asked shaking.
"You missed a sock." he stated simply.
Sukka and I gave each other a scared smile, bracing ourselves for Haruki's arrival, and as we both took a deep breath I hoped to Agni that Tokka wouldn't embarrass me too much.
"Haruki," Tokka smiled while shaking his hand, "So we were wondering how come we didn't see you at school today. Well, mostly Kat was wondering."
Haruki gave me a very surprised look that left me at a loss for words. I looked around the table, every brother and sister save ‘Tara and Dukoph were looking at me waiting for my answer. I could hear Maiko snickering quietly. I glanced back up at Haruki who was still looking at me with wide eyes.
"I...uhhh...well...," I sounded so stupid. I had no idea what to say. If I ever did decide to tell Haruki how I felt, it certainly wouldn't be here at this table surrounded by most of my siblings. But if I didn't say something soon he might think I didn't care. I really wanted to reach across the table and smack Tokka upside the head. But just as I was about to say whatever came to my mind first...
"Haruki, sweetheart."
"I'm so glad to see you're not sick."
I had never been so glad to hear the Okk... I mean my cousin's voices. They had successfully taken all the attention off of me and turned it onto them. I sighed with relief as they each grabbed one of his arms and began escorting him over to the table were my Uncle and Aunt were taking a seat. I shot a glare at Tokka.
"Hey, now we're even!" He announced with both hands in the air. I contemplated throwing what was left of my pastry at him, but dropped that idea as soon as I saw Zutara and my Mother, with Dukoph on her hip, entering the room. ‘Tara looked amazing, even more so than usual. Her hair was down except for her beloved loopies hanging just off her face. She had on a fancy short sleeved water tribe robe... With no pants on underneath. Leave it to Zutara to dress as skimpily as possible even in the dead of winter. As they made their way to the front of the room I could hear people saying things like, "Oooohhh, doesn't she look lovely," and, "Spitting image of her mother." I looked around the room at the sea of girls sitting at the tables, with a few parents and boys sprinkled throughout. The entire village had turned out. The room broke out into a roaring applause as my Dad joined Mom and Zutara at the front of the room.
"My wife and I would like to thank you all for joining us this evening." Which was as far as my Dad got before Foamtara and her frothing Father were forcibly escorted outside. My father quickly regained his composure from the messy outburst and continued, "Please help yourselves to the pastries; dinner will be brought out shortly. Some kind of fish...er...something." He nervously looked over at my mother who commanded him to continue by waving one arm repeatedly, the other arm holding the baby. My dad cleared his throat and pulled his already loose collar away from his neck as if it was cutting off the flow of blood to his brain.
"As you all know," he continued, "My daughter Zutara turns sixteen today, so she is now...." Again he glanced at my mother, and again she waved at him to continue,"...of marrying age." The crowd immediately began to whisper. I swear I heard a young man's voice say "YES!" and my Dad must have heard it too, because he quickly blurted out, "And any marriage proposals need to go through me first!"
A special table was reserved for my parents and ‘Tara. As soon as they sat down trays of smoked fish and steamed vegetables began making their way around the room.
"What's he doing?" Teoph asked, pointing toward the back of the room. We all whipped our heads around to see Tyru walking slowly toward the front, nervously fiddling with something in his hand.
"Am I crazy, or is that a betrothal necklace?" Tokka asked.
"Of course you're crazy!" Maiko answered. "And yeah, I think it is a necklace." Tyru didn't get far before Teong stood up, also holding something in his hand. They both froze for a second eyeing each other before Tyru picked up speed and continued toward the table where my parents were sitting. Teong grabbed one of Tyru's arms, pulling Tyru behind him. Tyru reached out a hand to do the same to Teong, when Toko was suddenly standing in their way causing them both to stop in their tracks.
"Get out of the way," Tyru demanded, "this doesn't concern you."
"It most certainly does!" Toko announced holding something of his own in his hand.
"You and Zutara broke up months ago." Tyru announced as he attempted to step around Toko. At this point the entire crowd was aware of the commotion making its way toward the front of the room. Other than the servers who continued to bring the food around, the room was almost silent as Toko put out his arms and stopped the other two from going any further.
"Don't make me...." Tyru began.
"Don't make you what?" Toko interrupted, "I can take both you pansy pretty boys on, no problem."
I glanced over at my parents and ‘Tara and was surprised to see four other guys who had already successfully made it over to the table. Where were all these guys coming from? It was like they all materialized specifically for this event. My parents looked nervous; but Tara was obviously having the time of her life. In the corner of my eye I caught sight of a fist flying through the air, drawing my attention back to Toko and his rivals.
"Now Toko," Teong chimed in with both hands in the air, "I don't want to get into a..." He never got to finish because at that moment he accidentally bumped one of the servers, causing an entire tray of food to spill on the woman sitting directly behind him, a rather large woman in my opinion, causing the most enormous man I've ever seen to stand up. He towered over the three young men, causing even Toko to gulp.
"The Bouldoph takes issue with you spilling food all over his wife, Combusty Lee!" The large man bellowed.
"Dear lets just go home, I'm having one of my headaches," the woman pleaded, completely covered in...what was that? Fruit salad?
"Hey! No fair!" Tokka whispered, "We didn't get any fruit salad over at our table."
"Shut up!" Maiko whispered while kicking him under the table.
At this point The Bouldoph was cracking his knuckles and walking foreword causing Toko, Teong, and Tyru to back up toward the middle of the room. I noticed my Uncle and Aunt making their way toward the fight. No doubt they wanted to help break it up before anyone got hurt. I wondered why my Dad wasn't stepping in and as I looked where my parents had been sitting I got my answer, my parents had a fight of their own to deal with. Apparently the four, now five, guys over by Tara, had broken out into a brawl which was also making its way to the room's center.
Sokue began to cry. Teoph looked very nervous. Maiko seemed annoyed and maybe a little bored as well. Tokka had his hand on his mouth attempting not to laugh. I looked over at Tara and couldn't believe what I saw, she had her hands on her hips and she was scowling, but not in the direction of the fight. She was glaring at Hakozai who was chatting it up with Jetko, and not paying any attention to the craziness building around him.
More and more people began entering the fight either to join in or break it up. When suddenly, in the midst of all the commotion, Zukaang stood up on his table and yelled, "Can't we all just get along?!" A few crickets chirped for a second before the fight continued. I noticed a boomerang flying around the room, and I swear I saw a water whip out of the corner of my eye. And just when I thought things couldn't get any crazier, the Kyoshi warriors came storming in from the windows and doors and started whipping their fans all over the place. Yeah, I don't think we'll be allowed to host a birthday party again any time soon.
End Chapter SevenIn honour of Zutara's sweet sixteen, I drew this picture of her:
