Kemurikage

"spirit"

- Supposedly, when children misbehave, the Kemurikage come and snatch them away in the middle of the night.

The Kemurikage are spirits from Fire Nation legend feared by children from Mai's village, as they supposedly abduct young individuals who misbehave.

Legend
In order to build character and deter misconduct among their children, parents from Mai's village told the story of the Kemurikage, a group of spirits residing in the mountains who abducted children that misbehaved. Michi was told of this fable as a child and familiarized her children with the legend many years later.

Following the Hundred Year War
The Kemurikage appeared before Ukano on the eve of Yu Dao's inaugural celebration and berated him for his failure as the Governor of New Ozai. They proceeded to offer him a chance at redemption and emphasized that "safety is born from strength", urging Ukano to depose Fire Lord Zuko in order to guarantee the stability of the nation and the safety of his family. The Kemurikage proceeded to declare themselves as "the truth" before vanishing in a cloud of smoke, leaving behind a distraught Ukano who mobilized the New Ozai Society shortly thereafter.

After the New Ozai Society failed to coerce Fire Lord Zuko into renouncing the throne, the Kemurikage appeared before Ukano once more in the organization's meeting chambers, declaring that the Fire Nation noble must suffer for failing to redeem himself. Ukano pleaded with the spirits to give him an additional month to depose Zuko, prompting the Kemurikage to issue him a final warning: the spirits vowed to take away all "that was dear" to him if Ozai was not reinstated as Fire Lord within the month.

A month later, the Kemurikage raided Mura's flower shop and abducted Tom-Tom in order to punish Ukano for failing yet again. They were pursued by Mai, who demanded to know who they were and what they intended to accomplish. After turning slightly to show that Tom-Tom was in their possession, the spirits declared that they already had what they wanted before vanishing in a cloud of smoke.

Abilities
The Kemurikage are spirits capable of flight and great speed, having been able to abduct Tom-Tom with relative ease from Mura's flower shop. They can appear and disappear at will, leaving behind a trail of white smoke in their wake.

Trivia

 * 'The title of 'Smoke and Shadow'' is a direct reference to the Kemurikage.