I know it's been a while since I last updated. I'm focussing right now on my other stories becaus for this one I still only have some vague ideas but not a real plan yet... But I won't abandon it!

Enjoy reading!

Rule no 3: Always expect that someone unexpected may show up

(Somewhere in the Earth Country)

"Is that everything you've got, you drunken bastard?!" The muscular big earth soldier yelled at the drunken man who had slumped down against a house wall after he had received a hit in the chest.

A crowd surrounded them, whispering and pointing at the figure and the soldier.

The soldier stepped closer to the mess of dirty clothes while unsheathing his sword, his chest was swollen regarding the audience he surely had now.

Groaning the drunken man rose to his feet stumbling, using the wall behind him as support. He chuckled.

"Wanna more?" he asked raising his fists and making some unsteady box moves while trying to keep his balance. The soldier narrowed his eyes and pointed his sword at his opponent.

"In the name of the Earth Kingdom, surrender you thief."

The drunken disturber looked at him confused. "I'm no thief. Just enjoyed that good beer, drowning my sorrow *hick* in alc. What's ya problem?" He giggled and stumbled, falling once again onto his butt and into the dirt. The crowd laughed in amusement and the soldier grinned, slowly stepping forward rising his sword.

"In the name of the Earth Kingdom, I will arrest you because of robbery… Don't you struggle or I have to force you."

The man just grinned from his spot on the ground. No one saw though that he had taken out a pocket knife from his pants, waiting for the right moment to attack the soldier.

"Force me? How you gonna force me? *Hic*. With this tiny sword?" he pointed at the blade and laughed. The soldier narrowed his eyes and growled in anger.

"You damn little-!"

Suddenly a little bomb exploded in between them, throwing the soldier off his feet and pushing the drunk farther into the wall. Dust rose, covering everyone's vision, making the sudden scared people cough and run away while the soldier looked around frantically, searching for the attacker.

Although when the dust vanished no attacker was in sight… as well as none drunk man.

A few alleys away said disturber was slammed into a wall and the tip of his own knife was pressed against his throat.

"You are more of a mess than I thought you would be" the person in front of him said. He was dressed in a dark cloak, a hood covering his face.

"It surely *hic* wasn't necessary for that action, mister. I had everything under control" the drunk said grinning, completely unfazed by the dangerous scene and the sharp blade at his throat.

"Drop that act, Leo, I know that you're actually not drunk. Or at least not that drunk" the attacker said growling.

The not quite so drunken man grinned. "So you know my name" he said with a sudden sober and clear voice "and you punched me out of that scene to drag me into that muddy little street… What do you want and who are you?"

"My name is unimportant. I and some friends of mine-"

"You have friends?!" Leo interrupted him with faked disbelief and laughed.

"-are business partners of your sister" he ended ignoring the interruption.

"Oh, my sis… How is she doing? I haven't seen her in a while." He grinned.

"She had a mission and a deadline but disappeared without completing the mission."

"Hm, that's unlike her. You probably didn't offer her enough money."

"Listen closely: Our organization is none to mess around with. If your sister won't finish the job within a week we will find and end her."

"Are you really foolish enough to threat the world's best assassin?" the young man growled.

"It's not a threat… It's a warning." The blade suddenly left the throat and the cloaked figure was gone within the blink of an eye. The young man picked up his knife with a sigh and brushed his clothes.

"Damn you sis, why am I always be drown into your jobs?" he mumbled while leaving the alley and the village.

Two days after the incident with the failed assassination and the appearance of the strange woman Zuko and Aang as well as their own personal guards came back to the palace. Of course the others instantly told them what had happened after promising that they were fine. However, when Zuko said he would gladly meet the woman to thank her, Toph threw in that they could visit the next Earth Rumble match as The Assassin had promised her to wait for her. And even though Katara wasn't fund of the idea to watch again some bulky men throwing stones at each other, they all agreed on it at the end.

In the same evening the group walked to where the tournament was set place. It was exactly where The Assassin had told them it would be. They took seats in one of the boxes which were placed in the middle of the ranks. Zuko and Aang had disguised themselves and had sneaked out of the palace without their guards noticing them to do so. Trying to hide their features they were dressed in long cloaks with hoodies which they had pulled deeply into their faces. They didn't want to get attraction as they only wanted to see and thank the woman who had rescued their friends.

"Do you see her?" Aang asked, gazing like everyone else around the arena for the stranger except for Toph who firstly was blind and secondly was still sulking about the fact that she wasn't champion anymore.

"Nope" Sokka stated "but I can't await the matches to start!" His sister only rolled her eyes about his enthusiasm.

Suddenly a man jumped down into the middle of the arena, earning him yelling and cheering from the ranks until he managed to calm the people down with his hands held up.

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the royal underground battle! My name's Li and I have a great surprise for you! Today we've got a special guest, someone who came a long way and is greeting us now in our small arena. Fans of Earth Rumble, may I present you, the one and only, world's champion, The Assassin!" For a moment it was dead silent, everyone just stared at the figure that suddenly appeared next to Li from under the earth, wrapped in a smooth looking dark green cloak. But then she threw it away, revealing that it was indeed the woman who had saved their lives. She wore the green belt around her waist and was dressed in a long green shirt and dark pants. She also was bare foot and her expression was determined and self-conscious.

The crowd exploded. They cheered, yelled, and laughed; the whole arena was shaking from the enthusiasm. Toph slammed Sokka into the wall as he was about to join the cheering, still pissed off.

"This is her?" Zuko asked and Katara nodded with a frown.

"We're changing today's matches a little bit. Everyone who wants can try to battle the Assassin. Now then, who will be her first opponent?" Just then something let the arena shake when a big figure jumped down opposite to the woman.

"The Boulder will be your opponent, woman."

"Wait, even that guy knew that here's an arena?! And he didn't inform me?!" Toph said angrily. "Bastard."

"Alright, I want a fair fight. Get ready… Go!"

It didn't take a minute and The Boulder was out, making Sokka almost faint as he was still a great fan from him. He was still having The Boulder's autograph he got on the day when Toph and Aang were kidnapped; a long long time ago.

The next opponent, and the next, and the next; every one of them quickly found their ways out of the arena. The cheering became louder and louder, and Toph angrier and angrier.

The woman was still having that straight expression screaming victory and skill. She enjoyed the attraction but didn't let herself being carried away from it. She was concentrating, analyzing quickly her opponent's strengths and weaknesses, and like Toph she was waiting until she stroked. She surely was skillful and Aang as well as Sokka watched her with their mouths wide open. Even Katara were watching the fights curiously.

After the eighth round was finished, The Assassin suddenly whispered something into the host's ear and his eyes widened before he turned to the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I just received the news that we have another special guest in the arena today" he spoke quickly and excited. In the box Team Avatar exchanged a confused and worried look.

"Not only is the current champion in the arena today, but also the previous one. The Blind Bandit!"

"Hey Toph are you-" Aang stopped midsentence when he had turned around but Toph wasn't there anymore.

"She's already in the arena" Sokka said grinning. "Go Toph! Avenge The Boulder! Kick her ass!" he yelled making Katara smack him.

"Stop that!"

The Assassin who had a slight smirk on her lips stared at Toph. "I'm glad you came. I was already looking forward to that little match."

"I'm going to throw you out of the ring in the first millisecond" Toph replied pointing at her opponent with a grin.

"Is this really a good idea letting them fight each other?" Aang asked worried. This woman had saved his friends, he wanted to thank her and not that Toph started to battle her. But Sokka only shrugged.

"Why not, it surely will be fun to watch" he only said.

"Fight!" Li yelled, jumping back. Both of the fighters sent a column of stones at each other, they clashed in the middle and the force made the arena shake. Spears of earth pierced through the surface, stones were thrown and changed into dust, and the ground was turned into sticky sand. It was a brilliant battle, the crowd was about to flip out along with Sokka, when suddenly smoke bombs were exploding in the middle of the arena, creating a thick shield of dust.

Toph frowned. She had heard something exploding and then The Assassin was suddenly gone. She couldn't even detect her as the woman had a really light step, almost as light as Twinkletoes'. Did she quit the fight? Coward.

Aang, Zuko, Sokka and Katara jumped down from the box landing next to Toph, not caring if anyone would see them as the arena was still covered in dust anyway.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Toph asked confused about the disruption. Where was that damn woman?

"Three smoke bombs just have exploded, we wanted to see if you're okay" Katara answered.

"Well apparently I am but that Assassin is gone."

"Where is she?" Sokka asked.

"Gone! I just said that! But there's a passage right in front of us, she only could have disappeared this way."

The Assassin was slammed against the wall; a knife was placed at her throat. In the meantime though, an earth spear was pointing at her attacker's neck.

"Oh sis; tempered and quick like always" the figure said and then looked up at the woman grinning.

The Assassin narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you want, Leo?" she hissed without removing the spear.

The man called Leo shrugged. "I wanted to come by and see you again. It's been ages since we last met. And I wanted to know in what kind of a mess you're in now. Such a guy located me recently and told me that you messed up a job and now he and his organization are pissed. Also you've got a week to finish this mission or they will track you down. He sounded pretty serious but more importantly: What happened that you messed up a job?"

The woman sighed. "Leo… couldn't you have come by at another time? I was in the middle of a freaking battle!" she growled angrily without answering his question.

Leo shrugged. "I could have but this way it was more fun. Did you notice that even the Fire Lord and the Avatar were watching the fight?"

"Yes. The blind girl, my opponent, is one of their friends and I'm sure that they will come around this corner every second so get out of my sight!"

"Not so fast. First you tell me about the job."

She stared at him before she sighed and explained: "My next targets are the Avatar, the Fire Lord and their friends. I had the chance to finish off the friends but I didn't and now my purchasers are slightly upset I guess."

"Why didn't you kill them then? It's impossible that you missed."

She smiled. "Thanks for the compliment, brother, but the reason is none of your concern. Maybe I will tell you later but now you have to go. They will be here in any second. Don't worry; I will take care of this."

With a sigh Leo removed the knife from her throat and she let the earth spear fall to the ground again.

"Hit me. Please."

Leo grinned. "You don't have to say please to me for doing that." He hit her hard in the stomach and then in the face, knocking her on the ground. Giving the woman one last gaze the young man turned around and left just when Team Avatar came around the corner.

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