Aomine was at the rail bouncing subtly as they slowly, slowly docked in Republic City, holding Momoi in the circle of his arms and looking at the skyline with her, eyes dark and wondering. They weren't the only ones out there, looking at their future.
Kagami looked at Republic City and decided it hadn't changed much. "No place to stay, nothing to eat, no jobs, no skills, and vanishingly little money," he said to Kise and Kuroko.
"We've got a dog," said Kuroko.
"And," said Kise, throwing an arm around both their shoulders. "We've got each other!"
"Kise-kun constitutes a net loss," said Kuroko.
"We can crash at Air Temple Island for the first night," said Kise, ignoring this. "Airbenders never turn away a hungry guest."
They filed off the ship with their baggage- Aomine picking up the day's newspaper with an airy wave at Kagami to pay the man- and then ducked through customs and wound up wandering the streets, heading first for the park, because 'the closer to meal time we turn up, the more likely sempai won't have too much time to hit me'.
"This is nice," said Kuroko, letting Nigou down to run about the grass.
"Isn't it?" said Kise, beaming at them. Aomine settled down under a tree with his paper and opened it. Momoi sat next to him, snuggled in and read under his arm. Kagami ran a jaded eye over Republic City. He'd been much younger the last time he was here, but it didn't seem to have changed much. After a long time out in the sticks with the rest of them however, the smells of Republic City clanged in his head.
"Nicest part," said Kagami, scratching his head. Where had he stayed, last time? There was an embassy in this place; he knew that. He supposed he'd have to look into it, or the noise from home would not be pleasant.
"I like Air Temple Island," said Kise. "Also there's the giant statue of me, that's cool too."
"You would, though," said Kagami. "You're biased. And it's not of you. It's of Avatar Aang."
While Kagami and Kise casually fenced over geography, Kuroko wandered over to Aomine and Momoi were and sat down next to them in the shade.
"I'm glad we decided to come out here," said Aomine to him.
"Yes, Dai-chan," said Satsuki absently. Her fingers traced the words on an advertisement for the police force. Fighting skills? She had those. Did they really only take benders, though? She'd have to find out.
"Certainly," said Kuroko, and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of solid ground. He was already looking better. Aomine liked to say to him that he was more earth than water, deep inside, and his sea-sickness carried that out.
A shadow fell over them, and they all looked up at once.
"Well, hi there," said a squinty-eyed guy in slick, black clothes, leaning on the tree. "New in town?"
Kuroko and Aomine blinked at him. Momoi said brightly, "Yes! Just off the boat."
He smiled at them. Kuroko and Aomine blinked at him again, this time in slow, suspicious union.
"Ah could tell," he said, beginning to grin as he took them in. Momoi's hands automatically tightened on her belt fans when the guy extended his hand to them to shake.
She took it, since he was clearly aiming at her. "I'm Imayoshi," he introduced himself. "Nice t'meet y'all."
They introduced themselves in turn. Imayoshi nodded and ran his eye over each of them. "Ah like to be appraised of newcomers," he said. "If you're ever looking for some work, Ah'm sure Ah could find something that pays well enough for you. Ah like to be helpful," he explained. "So many of you new folk- you just look so lost."
"I'm going to become a pro-bender," said Aomine, folding his newspaper. "Any help with that?"
Imayoshi's eyebrows lifted even as his eyes stayed closed. Neat trick. "Mosta those types end up working second jobs," he said. "Need ta stay out of trouble between bouts, and the bouts don't pay for themselves. In fact, my organization might have a place for a big strong bender like you, if you're interested."
Aomine's chest puffed out. They didn't need work, obviously, but yeah, getting to the pot might take a bit. Wouldn't hurt to-
Kagami came over and loomed, his arms folded across his chest. "Gotta problem?" he said, gruffly.
Imayoshi flicked his eyes over Kagami- noted the Avatar signing autographs behind him- and shrugged. "No problem," he said. "Just making conversation."
"Make it somewhere else," suggested Kagami.
"All right," Imayoshi said, conciliatory. He dropped another smile at Momoi and Aomine as he left, all gleaming assurance. "Look me up anytime, if y'all interested in my organization."
Kagami made a growling noise as Imayoshi left them. "I can't leave you alone for a second," he said to Aomine.
"Tetsu and Satsuki are here," Aomine pointed out, not unjustly. Momoi continued to tap her fingers on her belt fans, thinking.
Kagami sighed. "I leave you alone for a second," he said. "And you let yourself be chatted up by some low-life gangster looking for dumb muscle?"
"Was that a gangster?" said Kuroko, interested.
"Was he promising you easy money?" said Kagami.
"Yeah," said Aomine, standing and stretching. His bones cracked out. "Invited us to look into his organisation."
"How does that not sound suspicious," said Kagami, throwing up his hands. "How does it not?"
"Do I look like dumb muscle?" said Aomine, pulling Satsuki up.
Kagami eyed him. He had to admit that Aomine really did not. Muscle, yes. Dumb? Certainly. Hired thug material? Sure. Henchman, no. Aomine ran the show or there was no show at all. Kise jogged up- slightly out of breath from dodging fans- and said, "What?"
"I think we should get to Air Temple Island," said Kagami. "Before Aomine can get us all thrown in jail, or something equally implausible and ridiculous."
"Like the Unagi?" said Kuroko.
"You promised we would never talk about the Unagi," said Kagami.
Kise smiled his bright, blinding smile. "No need," he said. "Well, yes need, but-" he spread out his hands, and showed them an array of paper. Aomine tilted his head and squinted.
"What do those say?" he said.
Kise flourished them. "Tickets to tonight's match!" he said. "Courtesy of those lovely young ladies over there just now."
"I can't believe you being the Avatar is actually useful for something," said Aomine, snatching them from Kise's hands and looking at them with his face aglow. "This is like the first-ever time."
"Yes," said Kuroko. "Kise-kun, well done." Nigou, in his arms, barked.
"Yay, Ki-chan!" said Momoi, throwing her hands up into the air.
"You're all so me-an," mourned Kise, pouting at them.
"Did you scam those girls out of their tickets," said Kagami, cutting right to the point.
"I didn't need to," said Kise, with dignity. "Kagamichi, just because we're in the city now, there's no need to get all suspicious and-"
"I don't care," said Aomine. "What time is this match?"
