Special props to Lunarain137, who once again has seen through my thin veil of suspense, which means either I'm getting predictable or she's just a genius! Great job, Luna-chan! I salute you!
So, yeah—this is essentially an intro chapter with not much action, but I think you'll like it anyway! Please enjoy!
"Can't you hear the music? That's a 4/4 string ostinato in D minor! Every sailor knows that means death!"—Mr. Krabs, Spongebob Squarepants (episode "Clams")
Chapter 7: Return of the Sensei
In the gray before dawn, Riku was standing at the stern—well, standing in the academic sense. He was bending forward with his elbows on the rail and his head bowed, weighed down with memories of his little Lenne—the first time she looked in his eyes, the first time he heard her say "Dadada," a time she came crying to him with a skinned knee, her laughs and giggles whenever he tickled her, her sweet voice murmuring "I love you, Daddy," and her smile—always her bright, beautiful smile.
The sea breeze swept his bangs across his eyes like the delicate branches of a willow tree and he began to feel a presence around him. It wasn't Nik—he could always tell if it was his guardian angel/father-in-law. This one felt softer, more innocent, and very familiar. He could only think of one person.
"Wind Child?" he asked quietly, "Is that you?" He knew better than to use a spirit's true name (Ame's a half-spirit, so it's okay); spirits could be temperamental about their names when they wanted to be, and Riku remembered how dangerous the powers of the Son of the Wind could be.
"Hi, Riku," whispered the child's voice on the wind. He materialized on the rail, between Riku's elbows. Riku looked up expecting to see him smiling; instead his rainbow eyes, always changing color, looked sympathetic behind his fluffy white hair.
"Why are you sad, Riku?" he asked gently, "This is the first time I've seen you in a long time and I find you like this. Why are you so sad?" Riku stood up.
"My daughter's been taken away from me, Your Divinity," he said, "Ame and I are on our way to get her back." Shitaro gasped and hovered on his fingertips with his little angel wings.
"Your daughter?" he exclaimed, horrified, "Your pretty little water baby? Why?"
"The Water Tribe is trying to force her to get married," he answered darkly, "Our yacht has been damaged, so we won't even get there for a whole other day."
"Don't you worry, Riku," said the spirit, touching the man's arms supportively, "I love you and Ame-chan, and your whole family! You helped me, so I'll help you now!" His eyes were narrowed and red.
"Thank you, Your Divinity," Riku blinked, "What did you have in mind?"
"I'll keep an eye on Lenneko for you," he promised, "There's not much I can do about mortal affairs, but I'll do what I can for her, I promise!" Riku smiled and laid his hand on the beautiful child's head.
"Thank you again, Spirit of the Wind," he said with gentle reverence, "You're a true friend." Shitaro smiled back and looked past his old friend.
"Ame-chan!" he chimed, disappeared, and reappeared in Ame's arms in a puff of wind. She looked pleasantly surprised.
"Good morning, Shitaro!" she beamed.
"Good morning, Ame-chan!" he said, "Riku told me everything, so I'm going to watch over your daughter for you until you get there, okay?"
"You are?" she said and looked at her husband and back, "Well, thank you very much, Shitaro! You've always been so kind to us."
"Chibi Ame," he said lovingly, "I loved you from the moment your mother put you in my arms as a baby. I've watched you grow up and fall in love. I saw your wedding and kissed you on the sea breezes when you were pregnant. I am your friend forever, and I'll do anything for your child." He turned back to Riku.
"You too, Riku," he smiled, "You may be Mizuki-chan's champion and Ame-chan's husband, but you're my hero, ever since you defeated Kohor for me. You're the only mortal ever to enter my storm cloud; you wouldn't have been able to if you weren't worthy. You're a good person with a strong heart, and I will defend anyone you ask me to." He flitted up between the married couple.
"So don't give up, Mr. and Mrs. Hakari!" he held up fists of encouragement, "I will carry your love to her on the wind!" A gust of wind swept down the deck and Shitaro disappeared like a cowboy swinging into the saddle as the sun began to awaken the sea.
Lenne was snuggled tightly in her luxurious first-class bed with its fur covers shining in the thin sliver of the morning sun that was peeking through the blue curtains. She was dreaming about her daddy—his strong arms that whirled her over his head, his crystal clear eyes that spoke volumes of love, and his warm, kind voice that often lulled her to sleep, secure in the knowledge that Daddy was there and Daddy loved her.
A soft breeze came sliding over the ice and through the curtains, gently caressing the girl's face and fluttering her bangs.
"Lenne," came the faintest whisper, "Wake up." Lenne unconsciously pulled the covers further up in protest.
"It's time to wake up now, Lenneko," it continued, still faint, "There's a lot to see." The wind and voice stopped seconds before her eyes crept open; she had no memory of any special promptings.
The first thing she saw was her music box on a bedside table; it was made of wood, and that surprised her. She figured everything would be made of ice, then thought of the complications of ice furniture in a waterbender's home. One might accidentally destroy it!
Lenne giggled at the thought and sat up with her blanket pulled tightly around her—"sub-zero tundra," indeed!
Quick as she could, she scrambled into her clothes, slipped into her beautiful dressy coat ('How come it doesn't have any buttons?' she thought), and pulled on her light silver and white fur boots. She sat back and looked at them, holding them in the air and tapping the toes together with her head cocked; they reminded her of her Aunt Talni's favorite hip-hop song that she always danced to, and she was good at it. She could move like she was playing with a hula hoop!
Lenne sighed and stood at the mirror to do her hair; this time she put it in a ponytail at the nape of her neck, then left her apartment suite.
She wandered down a grand staircase along the wall and headed to the cafeteria—a huge, beautifully decorated room with rich furnishings and wonderful food.
As she ordered breakfast, she thought this place was more like a hotel than an apartment building. Her waitress gave her a shallow blue bowl of water to entertain herself with while she waited. She made a little chickadee that fluttered around her and gently came to land in her cupped hands. She giggled.
"Excuse me, young lady," said an elderly female voice. She looked up to see a very old woman—maybe in her 80's—standing across her table. Her silvery white hair was pulled back in a bun and her face was lined with age; her eyes were bright crystalline blue, but hard like flint. She didn't look much taller than Lenne herself.
"Would it be all right if I joined you?" she asked pleasantly.
"Sure," she nodded with pink cheeks, "Thank you. You're the second citizen to speak to me that's not on the Royal Council, or a fascinated fanboy that thinks I'm pretty."
"I see," the old lady chuckled, "It is true, though; you are a very beautiful young woman. Are you new here to the Poles? We've had many new arrivals here over the years, but few of them were put up here in the Plaza. You must be born of either nobility or the aristocracy, correct?" Lenne blushed red; she'd never thought of herself as either a noble or an aristocrat, but it was true.
"I don't know about that, ma'am," she said modestly, "but I am a daughter of the Megami family."
"Ah, yes," nodded the woman, "Very important family, the Megamis. What a fortunate girl you are to be born to Ame Megami-Hakari. She was so accomplished at your age."
"Oh, she still is," Lenne smiled, "She's the most wonderful mother ever, and the best waterbending master. I'm very proud of her, and she's always saying she's proud of me." Her companion smiled softly; Lenne had a soft pink blush to her cheeks again.
"That must make you very happy," she said.
"Yes, ma'am," Lenne nodded with a shy smile.
"Who knows?" the lady shrugged, "You may even beat her one day."
"No way," Lenne laughed with her hands up, "My mom's the greatest waterbender in the world—no one can beat her!"
"Oh I don't know," she said, "Every teacher's greatest hope is for their students to surpass them. At least…it was mine for your mother." Lenne stared at her, a little confused at first as her small water bird pecked at nothing in her hands.
Then suddenly, it hit her: It was no coincidence that this sweet old lady had singled her out, no mere chance that they were discussing her mother. That one statement had revealed her identity.
The forgotten bird melted in her hands as she stared at the smiling old lady, who chuckled and took the water from her with a twirling finger.
"Now I know she taught you better than that," she said, "because I taught her better."
"Master Hana," Lenne breathed, "You're Master Hana!" The old one chuckled and sat back with her elbow comfortably poking off the back of her chair, swirling the water around the air with her other hand.
"Not anymore, dear," she said, "Not for a long time. To your mother, I was Master Hana, or sensei. To you, I am your approved parental representation. That snake Hopa decided it wasn't worth the fight."
"You mean they're letting you act as my guardian?" Lenne asked with a renewed sense of hope.
"Mm-hmm," Hana nodded, "Got the seal of approval this morning. I'm gonna walk you through the engagement process and at the same time, fight it tooth and nail."
"You are?" Lenne straightened up, "How?" Hana laughed.
"Honey, I've got even more connections than your mother!" she said a little deviously, "I'm not afraid to use them, either." Lenne grinned.
"Mom told me you were political," she said. Master Hana chuckled as she swirled the water over her fingers.
"Did she also tell you what I once did to your father when they were teenagers?" she asked with a glint in her eye. Lenne looked surprised.
"No," she said with a curious arched eyebrow, "Why?"
The master smiled again and was about to tell her when someone shouted from the lobby, "Wedding party!" Almost immediately people were running outside.
"What's happening?" asked Lenne.
"A wedding party's heading this way," said Hana as she replaced the water, "Come on, let's go see. It'll give you a little taste of Water Tribe culture."
"Okay!" Lenne followed her mother's former guardian out into the crisp morning air, where a crowd was gathering on the sidewalk; Don had his boat docked there, to Lenne's delight.
"Hi, Don!" she waved. He saw her, smiled, and made his way over.
"Good morning, Lenne!" he said brightly, "You're looking sunny today!"
"Thanks," she blushed cutely, "Do you know Master Hana? She was my mother's teacher and guardian!" He looked at the old woman with wide-eyed awe.
"Master Hana," he bowed respectfully, "It's an honor and a privilege."
"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, young man," she smiled, "You seem to know me, but I don't know you."
"My name's Don Faria, Master," he answered, "I'm a cab rower."
"He's also my friend," added Lenne, "He helps me feel better about being here. (She lowered her voice.) He's also looking out for Mom and Dad for me."
"Are you?" she looked at the tall young man suspiciously, "May I ask why?"
"Because I've always respected Ame, and you," he said sincerely, "And I believe the two of you can stop the Council from closing their fingers around our throats." Lenne held Hana's wrinkly old hand.
"He's telling the truth, Master," she said, "I can tell." Master Hana knew about Ame's hereditary celestial magic, so she nodded.
"Come on," said Don as he took their hands, "I'll let you watch them pass from my boat!"
"Sure!" Lenne nodded. There were definite advantages to being friends with a cabby!
The boat was parallel-parked, so they knelt sideways and watched the approaching party. The leading boat was white and lavishly decorated with flimsy white streamers that looped along the railing; a young man and woman, probably not much older than Lenne, were seated together in the back, arm in arm and waving.
The girl was very pretty, Lenne thought; she was wearing a white coat of polar bear fur with rabbit trim and a big white feather on a cord around her neck that hung on the front. Her hair was a rich brown and was done up like a duchess, with the very front parts swooping down the sides and joining in a half-heart at the back of her neck and the rest pulled up to the middle in a bun, leaving the last little bit to hang down like streamers. To complete it, a wreath of white flowers settled just so on her head.
The young man next to her was in a white fur coat too, with what looked like raccoon tails hanging on each side of the front, also white. He had neatly trimmed brown hair and a strong face hardened with honest work yet a laughing twinkle in a pair of kind eyes.
As they passed Don's cab, Lenne leaned on the side, waved to the bride, and called, "Congratulations!" The girl looked at her with her beautiful brown eyes and held them as the boat glided by in slow motion. She was then compelled to face forward, but Lenne stared after her, ignoring the rest of the party.
'Why do I suddenly feel like I've said something wrong?' she thought with her stomach on the floor as she sat back.
"Master," she asked, "Are they arranged?"
"I don't know," Hana shook her head.
"They are," said Don, "The groom's name is Michael. I used to work with him. He's as good a guy as you'll ever meet, but I've never seen that girl before, and I don't think he has, either."
"They look so happy together," Lenne mused, "like they're really in love."
"That's how they get you," said the master with her arms crossed, "They carefully review your information, measure your compatibility, and pair you off with someone you would have fallen for anyway."
"That doesn't make it okay," Lenne blushed irritably.
"No, but a lot of people think it does," Hana frowned, "They think, 'Oh! As long as it's someone I'll be happy with, then that's okay. They're the Royal Council; they must know what they're doing.'"
"Oh, they know what they're doing, all right," said Don darkly.
"Come," Master Hana touched Lenne, "Let's go back and have breakfast. Would you like to join us, Don?"
"Thanks, but I've eaten already," he bowed, "Cabbies are early risers, you know, and I've got to resume my post."
"Stay here, then," said Hana as she handed him a coin, "I want to give Lenne the grand tour after we're done."
"Yes, ma'am!" he nodded and helped them out, "It'll be my pleasure!"
"Nice young man, isn't he?" said Master Hana as they walked in.
"Yeah, I think he's cool," beamed Lenne.
"Don't let a Councilor hear you say that or you'll end up marrying him," she said blandly.
Lenne wasn't sure whether to laugh or not.
Author's Review:
First off, I haven't given a proper description of Don. He has shaggy black hair, a tan, and dark happy eyes. I modeled him after John Gage from the old Emergency show ('cause he's freakin' hot!)
Second, this is where the Royal Council are similar to the leaders in "The Giver," where they match you up with what you like, which seems okay, but you don't have a say-so in the matter!
Anyway, yeah—Luna-chan hit the nail right on the head with this one! She knew it was Master Hana, and it was! Let's all give her a big hand! And props for Shitaro-kun and all his adorableness!
By the way, I named Don Faria after two people—Donny Osmond and Father Faria, the priest from The Count of Monte Cristo. I decided Don the cabby is Italian!
Oh, and that thing I said about Talni and the hip-hop song? Yeah—her favorite hip-hop song is "Low" by Flo Rida, because every time I hear it, it makes me think of Talni! I have no idea why, 'cause she doesn't wear furred boots or Apple Bottom jeans. She just loves to boogie!
That's all I can think of until next time; the next chapter will include a Little River Band song I've been listening to a lot lately because the miserable summer heat sends me running to songs having to do with water! You'll see what I mean!
