I didn't get quantity, but great quality in responses. This next chapter was already in the works before the show aired, I am so happy it worked well into my plans.
As an aside, I very much dislike Asumi. Korra and Mako, not Bolin y.y.
Anyway, here goes nothing, enjoy the ride!
Discloser: Song Rin-Li belongs to Kurono-Angel, Li Na Chou belongs to Pochee, Haru Shouzinma and Rei Shouzinma belongs to Vnight. Koto belongs to me and everyone else belongs to the series creators.
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Off the edge of the, Koto hit the ground hard. She landed in a lump on the ground, her butt and back getting the worst of the fall. Wincing, she rubbed at her lower back and just happened to lean back at the right time. A flame shot forward, close enough that she could feel the intense heat. The flame jetted passed her face but it did cause fear. There was only one person it could be, this was an anti bending rally after all. "Song, it's me.", the person behind the flame had introduced herself in much the same way when they first met. Neither time had her as the target, at least she hoped. Song made a disgruntled noise before a tanned hand came through the thick steam. Reaching up with her own, she allowed Song to help her up. The outline of her companion was easy to see, but the steam was so thick it was hard to make out known details.
Song inquired, "Did you see the chi-blockers? There is a man with a mask that need crisping." It was clear by her voice she wasn't happy. Koto knew why, Song hated backing down from a fight, she never gives up when she picks a target. "Sorry, Song, I think someone else grabbed their attention. By the sounds of it, everyone is gone."
The frustrated exhale was strong enough to move the steam clear reveling dark green eyes and a scowl. At the same time, Song used an index finger to pull her black scarf down to rest below her chin. Her facial expression lightened a little and she remarked, "Well, I don't know how much support you won or lost but who ever made this building needs to be fired. It is a hot water problem." There was a chuckle on both sides of the steam as the two started out of the building.
"Why did you create the steam anyway? I was doing just fine." Who else would have done it? Song's answer never came, for the moment after Koto asked, they were greeted by a jet of flame just inches away from their face. Both had stopped short, one because she could burn and the other from surprise. Koto glanced sideways at Song and muttered, "And you told me this wasn't a traditional firebender greeting." For the second time that day she had up close and personal view of fire passing right in front of her face. This is the same way she had met Song, and even back then she asked if this was normal way for firebenders to introduce themselves. Song had said no, well, Koto was now disagreeing. Either that or she just attracted fire, another point to her being a firebender.
The person behind the flame looked just as surprised as they, obviously they were not her intended target. The girl's blue eyes grew wide and she started to apologize, "Sorry about tha-" Said apology was cut short as Song took that as a personal affront. "Who do you think you were shooting fire at? I don't take lightly to challenges." Song looked ready to fight, the heat radiating off of her as the fires were primed told Koto plenty.
And this is where Koto's trust in Song came out in full force. Before the other firebender could even get a scowl going, Koto stepped forward putting herself between the two firebenders. Not exactly a common tactic, but at a place like this, and the events that just happened, it was hard to believe the other firebender was a threat. "What is another bender doing here? I didn't see you on stage like the other hostages. I am Koto." She reached out her hand to the suntanned assailant.
In turn, the surprised bender alternated between a relatively warm expression to Koto, and an irritated glare to the fuming bender behind her. "I am Li Na Chou, I came to see how much of a danger Amon was. Impressive how you stood up to him. I had a good view from the back, you've quite the stage presences. I would like to help you with your goal." Li Na reached out her own hand to meet Koto's, who returned the shake with much more enthusiasm.
"Great! I have two fire bending teachers! Thats what I want to be, a fire bender." Two had to be better than one, though Song was the strongest she knew, this girl could either be better and teach them both, or need more practice and give Song someone else to correct. Speaking of, the fire bender wasn't going to stay quiet, she was much claimer after Li Na expressed approval of Koto and offered to help. "Hold fast, what was with the steam trick back there?" Since she didn't do it and Koto couldn't have, maybe it was this girl who felt the need to intervene before Koto got hurt.
Li Na again looked confused, "I didn't do it, so you didn't either?" It would have made since to her, if Song had done it. The other fire bender seemed to know Koto and might have done so to protect her friend. However, if neither did it, then who had. As Li Na reached a hand up to scratch a spot in her light brown hair as an absentminded gesture as she pondered, the bandages caught Koto's eye.
Concerned, Koto stepped closer and asked, "What happened to your arm, Li Na? And your leg? Were you burned? I have the best cream for it, happens to me enough as it is." She would not let the unwilling patient of hers get away without answers, but before her protests had to be more vocal, Song came to the unwitting rescue. With a smirk she hit the easiest button of them all, "Why that is awfully water bender of you." Need a laugh, that one works the best.
And it did, Koto tensed up and turned, glaring at Song. Her mental image of herself had Koto surrounded by flames so hot and strong that it sent Song's auburn hair flying back and sweat to appear. However, the reality was Song wasn't even impressed with the glair, fell flatter then water out of a bucket. It was amusing though, and her laugh continued.
They may have started in another argument, but at that moment a huge white polar bear dog ran past them. It was caring a man in her mouth and had two others on its back. The man looked like one of the ones cowering on the stage. Beyond that, she didn't get much time to view them before they barreled past, both Koto and Li Na winding up being physically tossed to the side.
Song was far enough back that a quick step to the side saved her form anything worse than getting a few strains of hair in her face. Koto on the other hand landed against the metal building with a thud. No harm done but she was stunned enough to stay where she was until Song helped her up, again. This time no flame passing her face, an improvement. Li Na was not so slow, she hoped up so fast it almost looked like she bounced up. The second she was up, the fire bender sent out a jet of flame from her right hand in retaliation. The polar bear dog was far ahead and probably didn't even know anything had happened. Still, Li Na felt a little better.
Recovering enough, Koto dusted off her brown pants and temporally forgot about Li Na's injuries. "Well, no one seems to be following that group, guess we missed the rest of the party. We better get back home, chasing ratgaters in the dark never goes well." It was disappointing, to have missed the fight. However, she wasn't all that concerned, sharp contrast to her companion.
The missed fight was a bit irritating to Song, like a bug caught between her shoulder blades inside of her red shirt. It didn't steal all her attention, Li Na's fire display had her focus. They would need to test it out, but at the moment Song felt she was the stronger of the two and that was reassuring in of itself.
Koto walked off, heading east towards the house they were renting with earned money. A kind old lady let them stay there for a lot cheaper than anywhere else in the town. The only thing she asked beyond a little bit of rent was no fire bending in the house. Given that the old lady lived on the second floor, neither of the residents could blame her much. Song walked to her left following her stride while Li Na followed behind. Given that she was the only one who had no clue where they were headed, there was no problem following.
In doing so, she had chance to really look at the two ladies. Seems everyone got some of the same message. Those two both had sleeveless shirts, no one told her of the requirements. There was too much the same between the now three and just enough off to almost make it seem they all read the same 'what to wear' guide and just got mixed up. For instance, all three of them had their hair in ponytails. Koto's was a few shades darker then her own light brown hair and came down to her shoulder blades. Song's was a brilliant shade of auburn and was inches longer reaching all the way to her elbows. Li Na wondered if they had the same hair style before meeting or after. They didn't look like sisters, while both had green eyes, Song was shades darker than the paler Koto. Come to think of it, so was she, but hers was as much sun as natural skin tone.
They both wore sleeveless shirts, another message Li Na did not get. However, she got the color right. In this respect she was similar to Song in that they were both wearing red shirts. Song also had black bottoms, but was not wearing shorts but rather long pants like Koto. Neither of the other females spoke on the walk, at least in that way she didn't feel too much like an intruder. Still that comfortable silence between the two spoke of familiarity, she felt more like she was taking up the same space rather than being part of the group. Since Koto already had a fire bender to look out for her and train her, how much was Li Na really needed? Before she could become disgruntled with everything, they stopped. In front stood a rust color two story house with a chimney already smoking.
Koto turned around and smiled, "Welcome to our home, we are only renting the place for a small while. After I visit Aang's memorial we should be on our way." Turning back, she walked through the door Song had just opened. The house was nice enough, no fire in the fire place so the smoke had to be coming from a fire place on the second floor. The lay out was pretty strange, one overly large room held everything. The small kitchen lay to there left at one end of the room. A stove with a small white icebox and one counter plus a metal island four feet from the counter space which had four stools. Not one looked the same as another. The other end of the left wall had a green curtain that blocked of what Li Na assumed was some sort of room.
In the middle was a green tattered sofa and two chairs facing the empty fireplace. There was just too much room for what little was in there. It felt like such an odd space. Instead of question that, Li Na asked Koto "Why are you going to the memorial island?" While she was asking, she wasn't looking at Koto but watching as Song vanished behind the curtain.
Poking her head out from the open ice box, Koto replied while chewing on something she had found within, "My plan to become a bender starts with meditating at Aang's memorial. I am hoping if I ask the Avatar, he might help unlock my ability. Roku is who I want, being a fire bender first; however, I feel Aang is the most recent incarnation and asking him first might help with Roku." As Koto went back to hunting, Li Na was sorry she asked. The answer she received answered absolutely nothing. Still, if thats what they thought would help, then that was where she'd go too.
Walking over to the couch, she just sat down looking at the bangs she could now see. They had the gear, so they had to be serious.
Koto walked over and handed Li Na a warmed meat bun and she herself took a large bite out of the one she had. Li Na made the mistake of reaching out with the arm that was hurt. Once again it became for front of Koto's attention. "Oh, I forgot about that. Here hold on a minute." Turning around she went over to the leather bag that must have been hers. As she moved things around, she pulled out a sack. The sack looked harmless until Koto got closer and she could smell it. The fishy odor was enough to almost enough to make Li Na lose interest in what she was eating.
"I'll pass, that smells horrid!" No one helped her, the offer of assistance now by a stranger didn't sit well either. It may not have been an offer, though, because her refusal hadn't stopped Koto. "Trust me, I use this all the time, it will help heal the skin." No fire bending was needed to stop the attempt at helping, Song once again had good timing. The fire bender emerged, hair now down and dripping from a bath and she was now dressed in loose sleeping cloths.
Getting up, Koto called out, "Next!" and ran to the bathroom for her own bath. At least Song's state answered an unasked question, behind the curtain was water. With Koto out of the room, Li Na decided to try asking her other question again, "Why are we going to Avatar Aang's memorial island? How is that supposed to help Koto learn to bend?"
Song finished drying her hair with the towel and responded, "Koto thinks it will help. I am actually wanted to see Roku's memorial so that will be interesting. However, I know the way for her to really learn to bend."She was being cryptic for a reason, and Li Na walked right into it. "What is that?" With a laugh, Song responded, "Oh, you'll see tomorrow early. We can't go to the memorial for a few days due to tourists." The laugh set Li Na off a little, there was something foreboding about it but she couldn't put her finger on it.
Koto came back out with two bundles in her arms, "Your turn, Li Na, here is your sleeping bag too. Better hurry up, you have a long day ahead." Her smile was unwavering, but Li Na didn't trusted, something was up. Watching the two a moment, she went and bathed as well. Coming out to a quite room, both ladies already tucked in for the night. Shrugging, she went to bed as well, not comfortable whatever waited her in the morning.
For several days after that fated day, most of their days were take up by training. It was clear why the room was so strange, it was left open for bending practice. While Koto was the main target, Li Na got hers too when her grace failed her and she fell. Song was not above it either, she practiced every move with them never asking something of them that she could not do herself.
When the time came, the three got on a boat and were taken out to Aang's memorial island. It appeared they had picked a day no one would be there. It was bizarre why it was so quite. Koto expected more people to be here, at least care takers. Still, that was better for her. Together the three walked into the inner sanctum without hesitation. Koto walked forward and crossed her legs as she sat down. With eyes closed she tried to meditate to beg for help.
Try to was key, Song and Li Na were busy talking to one another. "I still say she is waterbender material." Li Na disagreed, as fresh fishy smelling bandages were to attest, "No, earthbender, she is too stubborn." Koto had finally succeeded to her treatment when she wore Li Na down to the point where she didn't have the strenght to resist. She had the healers nature of a waterbender maybe, but was unmovable in a different way. Not quick and flickering like a flam but steady and predictable. There was something comforting about, but it still made her uneasy. No one helped her before and accepting it from someone else was just unnerving.
Koto was not all gentle, as evident by the anger flair up as she spun in her position to face her friends, "F I R E, fire bender!" To which Li Na and Song responded one after the other, "Oh look," spoke Li Na with a small smile. Following her, Song responded with a grin of her own, "She can spell!" Both laughed at the shared idea, and Koto's responding snarl. In the passing days they had gotten more comfortable around each other. There were plenty of fights, usually because one or the other firebender insulted the other's bending, Koto always stepped in and seemed to lower the hostility to a workable level.
They had chosen a late time to come but Koto was determined to stay the night and mediate. The peace was shattered before she even knew what happened. One moment she was meditating, the next something connected against her head and the world went bright. The bright light died away and all there was, was darkness.
Sun, Song's raven hawk woke Koto. He had found them and his sharp calls were enough to pull Koto out of her darkness. As she got up, the sun met her eyes and caused sharp pain. Reaching one hand up she felt the back of her head, there was a large bump. "What happened," she asked groggily. Sun cawed in the most unhelpful of manners, seeming to shrug when he adjusted his wings.
A better answer came behind her from a smoldering Song, "We were ambushed." Her words were bitter and seething, there was a fight and she was taken out of it almost before she knew it was happening. Her pride was hurt more than her body. "Chi blockers came from the ceiling, Li Na and I were blocked completely the same time one of them bashed you upside your head. It happened so fast I couldn't even yell." The memories of the helplessness and indication flared up in her belly.
Beside her an equally perturbed Li Na remarked, "There was no warning, after I felt the fingers blocking my bending, I was knocked out as well." Koto was lucky she didn't have a clue what was going on. To have your bending just taken without even a chance to fight was the worst feeling she could think of. That was not a light statement, she knew some very bad feelings like rejection from her family and still this was the worst she could think off.
Koto wasn't able to get up right away, the world was spinning too much but she had to look her friends. Their hair was a mess, but otherwise on the outside they looked grumpy but alive. They had matching sour expressions, both sitting up with their knees to their chest, arms folded and chins on their arms watching her. It is obvious they had been awake longer then she had, perhaps they had been worried for her?
She was just as worried for them and asked, "Your bending?" It was a hard question, she was terrified for them. While her bending could not be taken because she didn't have it, they did. The affects of having their bending taken away was too horrible to contemplate. The Triad members who had theirs taken during revelation had all committed suicide two days after their bending was taken forever.
Li Na responded first, creating a small fire in her palm. Right after creating it, she closed her hand. She was far too angry to keep the fire stable at this moment. Likewise, Song did the same thing. Her flamed flared up in her hand several times before she finally banished it. Why were they targeted? Why did Amon not take their bending? One thing was clear, he would roast for the indignity they faced.
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I am just going to introduce Song and Li Na for right now, need to make sure I have them right before bringing in more characters, but next chapter they will meet the Shouzinmas. If I need to make a lot of edits and this chapter isn't as long as I think it will be, then I will add them in. If not, next chapter I promise!
If you can't tell, this is based after episode four. They weren't the targets, Korra was, but were dispatched before Amon ambushed Korra that night.
Please let me know what you think. I especially want to know if my pacing was alright, if the chapter was too long/short and if I gave Li Na and Song equal attention to Koto's attention. Comments welcome!
