#the sokkla shippers in the house know this to be straight facs

[willsimpforazula]

Drabble rabble that got out of hand, I s'pose

So there I was, patiently waiting for Jigokuraku (Hell's Paradise) to air ever since I saw the trailer about a year ago and having just watched the first ep...I thought yeah a Sokkla dynamic would work pretty neato for this AU So here it is ig.....might revisit this AU when at least the anime is done airing but we shall see...the Jigokuraku that nobody asked for but was living in my noggin rent free like a thieving bastard feedback is welcome (except when it comes to sokkla criticism, they are best ship and no, i will not elaborate) ____________

Courtyard

It was supposed to be a standard affair, as far as executions went. Granted, it wasn't every day one got to watch a shinobi get executed. After all, they were supposed to be nigh uncatchable, with their ability to get out of impossible situations attributed to some form of trickery or otherworldly means. That being said, the one now kneeling in front of him clearly used up all his luck and seemed resigned to his fate.

On the other hand, the girl standing in the back with a brush and book in hand puzzled him slightly. She was from the Yamada Clan, of that he was sure, but her reasoning for being there was not revealed to him (not that he cared, of course). Turning his attention back to the execution at hand, he expected the former shinobi's head to be rolling on the ground.

However, what he did not expect was a sigh that could only be interpreted as a bored eye roll as his head remained firmly attached to his neck with nary a scratch. Thinking that he must be hallucinating, the executioner swung his sword over and over again, but instead the blade shattered. Shocked, the judge quickly called off the event and had the prisoner sent back to his cell. Meanwhile, the Yamada Clan girl merely jotted down some observations in her book. ---------

Prison Cell

Why can't I just die?

I don't have anything left to live for.

So why?

Lost in his thoughts, Sokka didn't hear the door open, nor did he look up at his visitor. In fact, he thought of her as a nuisance, a persistent bug much like the mosquitoes who, absent the lack of ability to be squashed by his palms courtesy of his chains, would not stop pestering him with question after question.

"Your name is Sokka, correct?"

"Last I checked it was, I think. Unless you've somehow found a different name that I don't know about."

"You were raised since childhood to be a shinobi, correct? I heard that for every ten boys who undergo the training process, only three make it out alive."

"Your point?"

"Those who survived develop superhuman bodies. Like being able to break blades with your own flesh."

"Big deal. Besides, you and I both know that swordsman was a complete fucking amateur. I didn't even have to use ninjutsu."

"You can use ninjutsu? Could you show me some of your techniques?"

"And here I thought you were here for my good looks. I'm hurt." he replied, making sure to double up on the sarcasm.

"Perhaps in a different life, I suppose. Unfortunately, you do not interest me in the slightest in your current iteration. In any case, you did not answer my question."

"What could ninjutsu from a condemned shinobi possibly be of use to you?"

"Research, I suppose. It's not every day you get the chance to interview a shinobi."

"Nope, not a chance lady. My secrets die with me and that's the end of it."

_______________

The next day…..

"Look, I promise you, I really am not trying to resist. If anything, I wish you'd kill me instead of those half assed jokers."

"Mmm."

"If you're gonna look away, then why not ask the guards to give me a fresh change of clothes?"

When she ignored him, Sokka responded "Oi, I'm talking to you. Didn't your parents teach you to look at someone when they're talking to you?"

"Mmhmm." she replied as she scribbled some more observations in her book.

"And?"

"I'm here to record the events as it unfolds. Your present state of undress is of no concern to me."

"And yet here you are averting your gaze. Afraid of being seduced?"

Choosing to ignore his question, she instead asked "Tell me more about your background."

"Here we go again. For the one hundredth time, I've told you my background isn't interesting."

"I have a job to do."

"Ugh..fine. No wonder you're not engaged yet, I pity the fool who has to marry you."

"My current relationship status is of no concern to you." she replied, a bit too quickly.

"Nailed it." he smirked.

"I swear by the spirits you're just like my bro-never mind. Tell me about your background."

Deciding that her unwittingly letting slip that she had a brother was sufficient exchange for his information, he obliged her.

"To be honest, I don't know much. I was told that the chief killed them and adopted me and my sister. As for dreams, nope, I don't have any. Shinobi like us aren't to concern ourselves with the bigger picture, merely to concern ourselves with the killing of whoever the chief deemed needed to be eliminated."

"I see. Do you know why you were caught?"

"Hmm….it was a set up. I tried to leave and word got out to the chief I suppose. No one can be allowed to leave our village."

Keeping her golden eyes fixed on his, she asked "Why did you try to leave?"

Unfortunately, she did not get an answer, only being met with a long silence. Deciding that she had probably overstayed her welcome, she got up and left.

________________________

A few days later…

Staring at the sky, Sokka busied himself by picking out shapes of clouds in the sky while the magistrate's men worked to attach ropes to his legs to two bulls, whilst the magistrate himself, a rotund bald man with an ego larger than his body size would allow for, cackled with delight as he was worried that news would get back to the shogunate that he was not capable of a performing a simple execution and thus, risk his neck being the one on the chopping block.

Alas, his efforts came to naught as instead, a tug from Sokka's ankles brought the bulls crashing into each other instead of splitting him apart. At this, the magistrate lost his temper and began to bark orders to his men.

"Don't you think it rather strange?" the girl approached him, her now signature notebook and brush in hand poised to record more notes.

"No, why?" Sokka asked

"It seems to me that despite your statements of wanting to die, your actions contradict them. Why would someone with no reason to live, clin-never mind. You never did answer my question the previous day."

"Who gives a shit about your questions, just kill him already!" the magistrate fumed.

Waving her hand, she replied "I'm working."

"What about the-"

"Later. Now, would you answer my question or not?"

"Tsk, so demanding. Fine, whatever."

"I'm listening."

"I was the best shinobi in the entire village. I had his word that my sister would be well taken care of while I remained his best blade. Surprisingly, he kept his word. Still, keeping her ignorant of the wider world for much longer was not an option, as was seeing her married off to some shinobi like me who has only seen the ugliest the world has to offer. That is no way to live. As her only surviving relation, how can I do that to her and still claim to be the protective big brother? I'd be spitting on my parents' grave if I did so.  And so that's how I ended up being captured, set up by the chief who forbade anyone from venturing beyond our village. There you have it. Happy now?"

"Thank you for your answer."

_______________________

Later that night….

"Perhaps it's not my place to say, but a young pretty woman like yourself should not get any closer to someone like him." one of the magistrate's men commented as they made their rounds.

"Thanks for your concern, but I can handle myself. I am from the Yamada clan, afterall."

"Do you know his name?"

"Of course, it would be silly if I hadn't. His name is Sokka, former shinobi of Iwagakure."

"I mean his other name. Sokka the Hollow. An emotionless monster, he slew twenty men when he was arrested. Rumour has it that the shinobi of Iwagakure drink some sort of potion of immortality, that's why they are unkillable. That potion comes from Shinsenkyo."

"Potion huh…." she pondered, her golden eyes.

"Forget I spoke such nonsense. In any case, he's a dangerous man and you would be wise to be on guard."

"If he really is as hollow and emotionless as you say he is, then why did he fight back so hard as he did? You don't fight like that, not unless you have something to live for."

A week later…

When the attempt to condemn Sokka to death via boiling oil failed once more, this time with casualties to his own men, the magistrate was on the verge of tears and was about to snatch the sword in his office and either kill Sokka himself or commit seppuku.

"You know, I'm ready any time." she reminded him.

At this, the magistrate's expression changed, as if he had suddenly stumbled upon an epiphany.

_________________

Two days later

"So, what's it going to be this time? Explosives? Poison? Or maybe…a combination of both?" Sokka sarcastically asked as he was escorted to some form of room at the end of a tunnel.

"You'll see."

Entering the room, Sokka saw her seated, her hands resting on her thighs while her face wore an expression of meditation. When she looked up, she untied the ribbon from her shoulder and redid her hair before standing up.

"What is this, are you going to fuck me to death or some shit? This has got to be some sick joke, stop fucking around."

"Oh ho, you think she's just some inspector from the shogunate huh? No, she is no mere inspector, she's a sword tester sent here straight from Edo." As he said this, he could see her draw her katana from her scabbard, her familiarity with the weapon evident.

"She is the executioner Yamada Asaemon Azula. Her family has served the shogun as sword testers and executioners for generations. All of their clansfolk are trained in the art of swordsmanship."

"You-you're an Asaemon?"

"Yes, that is correct. Sokka the Hollow, you said you wished for your execution. Today, I shall grant you that very wish." she answered, her golden eyes narrowing to a singular focus, that being the removal of his head from his body.

Well fuck me to tears, this girl's the real deal, his mind told him. Instinctively, he flexed his his wrists and broke the chains that bound his hands, shattering them into mere firewood.

"Azula-dono, kill him!" the magistrate screeched.

With a lunge, she thrust forward, landing a nick on his neck as he dodged and rolled away to the side.

"Why did you dodge my blow?" Azula asked, her voice quizzical.

"I-" Before he could respond, she leapt at him once more, forcing him to leap away to safety.

Do..Do I really not want to die? Sokka thought to himself, as she took a deep breath and reset herself.

"I've executed many criminals throughout my time. Some put up a brave front, right up till just before their death. Some beg for mercy, others deceive themselves and say they have accepted their fate. Sokka the Hollow, I can sense that the void in your heart is indeed larger than anyone here in this room, of that I am sure. But you still want to live, that I am sure."

At this, memories of his sister flashed into his mind, making him see red. In a flash he snatched a katana from one of the guardsmen and lunged at her before the hapless man knew what had happened.

"Admit it, you kept on living for her." Azula calmly responded, as their blades clashed and gold eyes met blue.

"And yet you lie to my face every single time I visit, telling me that you have no attachments to this world and that you're ready to face death."

"Shut the fuck up! You know nothing about me! Nothing!" he screamed, before launching into a series of vicious strikes that caught her off guard and had her on the defensive, only just being able to parry the multitude of strikes that would have dealt any lesser swordsman a killing blow multiple times over, as echoes of his promise to his sister just before he left on that fateful mission repeated over and over like a broken record.

"LISTEN TO ME, THERE IS A WAY OUT!" she shouted, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Unfurling a scroll, she showed him the decree "This is an official pardon, straight from the shogun himself. With this, you are a free man and are untouchable; not me, the magistrate or your village chief could harm you. On one condition."

"And that is?"

"You will travel to the Underworld and retrieve the Elixir of Immortality."

"What do you mean, travel to the Underworld? Doesn't that mean you'll just kill me? How does that work?"

"No. For centuries there was believed to be a land free from pain and suffering, a land teeming with abundance and joy, far to the southern seas. For centuries sailors and explorers have scoured the far oceans for such a place, and now, they have found it, just as the scripts have described it. There, it seems, one can find this immortal life giving elixir. Many have tried on orders of the shogunate in Edo, but none came back alive. Those that did return, looked barely human at all."

"That sounds like a bunch of mythical bullshit you feed to toddlers."

"That's what I thought too…until I saw the bodies first hand. I came here, looking for candidates with a burning passion to live and skills to back it up. On my way here, I heard that your sister is still in Iwagakure, waiting everyday by the village entrance for you."

"I….."

"One last thing, you will not be going in solo. There are other Asaemon pairs who are also jockeying for a chance at redemption.Thus, I now offer you this choice; accept this mission and win not only freedom for yourself, but also for your sister or die a criminal's death here and now."

"This is ridiculous. The shogun couldn't possibly have issued this decree. He is but one of many, what makes him so special? Guards!"

Closing his eyes, all Sokka could see was the face of his sister, waiting anxiously at the village entrance for his safe return.

Katara…I'm coming back…I promise…

In a small voice, he asked "Azula….remember when you asked if you could see ninjutsu?"

"Yes?"

"Then watch and learn." he calmly replied, his mind moving into a trance like state as flames emerged from his body, the heat causing her to raise her arms while the brightness made her blink as she heard him whisper: Ninpo - Ascetic Blaze.

In a flash of light and smoke, six charred bodies lay in a pile, atop which Sokka sat as small embers danced on his fingertips.

"Impressive. I hope that you would be willing to teach me some of your tricks during our travels."

"Sure, whatever you say. Where do we go from here?" he replied as she resheathed her katana.

"Edo."

"What? Why not head straight there?"

"You do as I say or the deal's off."

"Alright alright, calm down, I'll do as you say."

"That sounds more like it." she replied, a small smile gracing her lips that told Sokka she was definitely going to be handful on their trip