Hello Everyone!
(How about that two chapters in one day! Must be your LUCKY DAY!)
Anyway
Love you all.
3
We are finally to the end of Book 1!
(How exciting! Roughly a third of the way through the whole fic!)
Thanks for any reviews and comments! Love yoU!
Light From the Shadows
Chapter 21
Kakashi
A few weeks, or maybe a month had passed since Katara had finally been allowed to join Master Pakku's waterbending classes. (The days had started running into each other.) He and Sakura were finally getting the hang of navigating the city. That morning they were watching Katara face off against various other waterbending students and getting their asses handed to them left and right.
"Nice try, Pupil Sangok. A couple of more years and you might be ready to fight a sea sponge."
Master Pakku turned to the rest of the students, all of them slumped down and looking away.
"Would anyone care for a rematch with Katara?"
They all shook their heads. The old man smiled.
"Katara, you have advanced more quickly than any student I have ever trained. You have proved that with fierce determination, passion and hard work you can accomplish anything." He looked over his shoulder with contempt at Aang, "Raw talent alone is not enough."
Kakashi followed the man's gaze and saw Aang lazing around on the ground, floating Momo around on an airball, both lounging rather lazily.
"Pupil Aang!"
The airball dissipated and Momo fell on Aang's head.
"Yes, Master Pakku?"
"Care to step into the sparring circle? I figure since you've found time to play with house pets you must have already mastered waterbending."
Aang got to his feet, "I wouldn't say 'mastered', but check this out!" The boy proceeded to turn himself into a snowman, and Momo knocked him down. Kakashi was sure everyone observing wore his same expression of disdain. Master Pakku shook his head in disgust. Next to Kakashi, Sakura was scribbling away in her notebook, taking down diagrams and making doodles of Katara's moves and Master Pakku's demonstrations. It was all very advanced stuff and how she kept up with the lessons, he didn't know. Peeking over her shoulder, he saw her writing was tiny and cramped. There only a few pages left in her book, and they had been sewn in after she had filled in the original books capacity.
"It seems to me, that you may need a new book."
"Not yet." Her words were clipped, she was too focused to pay him any attention right now.
She didn't even look up. Kakashi leaned back on his gloved hands. The sky was overcast, Like it might snow. Wait, what is that… A small white cloud was flying around the city.
Appa?
He frowned, but as the bison circled, he swore he could see two people in the saddle. Only people who know how to fly Appa are here… and Sokka. Classic, using Appa to get chicks. What a Sokka thing to do.
Don't pretend you don't wish you had thought of it first.
The tranquility of their day was short-lived. A snowflake landed on Kakashi's shoulder. Then another. Sakura looked up as one fell on her notebook. Except hers was greyish black in color.
"That's not snow." She whispered.
The second she said it, he understood. It wasn't snow. It was ash. The Fire Nation had followed them to the North Pole. The air slowly took on the filthy stench of burning. In the distance, Kakashi could hear a gong being rung. Master Pakku gathered the group and told the students to go home and find their families, while the Avatar and the rest of their party rushed to the palace.
Kakashi and Sakura stood against a pillar near the back of the vast hall. Chief Arnook was addressing his people.
"The day we have feared for so long has arrived. The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe. But they will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence," the chief rose his arms to the heavens, "I call upon the great spirits! Spirit of the Ocean! Spirit of the Moon! Be with us!"
He lowered his arms and continued his address, "I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission."
Sokka stood, "Count me in."
Kakashi sighed, well fuck. "Me too." He rose his hand in response.
Sakura tugged his sleeve, "Hey. What are you doing?"
"Someone has to make sure he doesn't get himself blown up."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right." She let go of his sleeve.
Several others were standing in the crowd now.
"Be warned. Many of you will not return. Come forward to receive my mark if you accept the task."
Before he could move, Sakura poked him in the ribs, "Just make sure you don't get blown up either, okay?"
Kakashi nodded then followed Sokka to the Chief. Men lined up for him to paint three thick red lines on their foreheads. Kakashi pushed his hair up off his forehead and accepted the Chief's mark when his turn came. He let the white strands fall afterwards. They are getting quite long aren't they. Maybe I'll ask Sakura to trim them after all this is dealt with. He followed Sokka and the other warriors to the top of the main gate, each watching the horizon for the ships they all knew were coming. The ash was accumulating in thick piles around them. Their white wonderland was slowly turning grey and bleak. The acrid smell of burnt coal filled the air. It reminded Kakashi of another time, a time when he would have been on the other side of this fight. He shook his head and focused on the task at hand.
In the distance Kakashi picked out a ship, "There!" It launched a fireball directly at the center of the city's outer wall. It struck the water crest on the center of the gate and blasted right through it. Many of the warriors with them were blown back by the concussion of the blast, along with huge shards of ice and debris. The snow and ice underneath them quaked from the shock of the blast.
Sakura proceeded to dig out Katara from a nearby snowdrift along with any wounded, and offered medical assistance where needed.
Kakashi watched as Aang flew out on Appa toward the naval fleet. The Fire Nation had a surprisingly large water presence for their elemental prowess. The Avatar jumped off of Appa and started sabotaging the catapults on each vessel, rendering them harmless. The only problem with that was just how many vessels there were. And you could guarantee every single one of them was capable of launching the retched fireballs.
A second fireball followed closely after the first, flying through the air and exploding in the middle of a canal, throwing water everywhere, setting any wood buildings on fire and filling the area with smoke. Another shot hit the right side of the city wall, blowing a large chunk out of it. The faraway sound of civilian terror shook him. I'll do everything in my power to protect them.
Kakashi and Sokka joined the rest of the warriors for the Chief's special mission briefing. Chief Arnook stood tall in front of the group of volunteer soldiers.
"Men, you'll be infiltrating the Fire Nation navy. That means you'll all need one of these uniforms," He waved to an arrogant looking young man wearing the oldest Fire Nation uniform Kakashi had ever seen. Wow, that was even before me… holy crap! Kakashi couldn't help a chuckle, which he quickly stifled with a hand.
The arrogant boy looked up at him, "What's your problem?"
"Fire Navy uniforms don't look like that," Kakashi said, pointing at his massive shoulder spikes.
"Of course they do. These are real uniforms captured from actual Fire Navy soldiers."
Sokka elbowed him in the side, "When, like a hundred years ago?"
Chief Arnook replied plainly, "Eighty five."
Sokka approached Mr. Arrogant, and poked at his shoulders, "The Fire Nation doesn't wear shoulder spikes anymore. The new uniforms are more streamlined."
He fiddled with the shoulder spike, to the obvious annoyance of the other soldier.
Young-soldier-man leaned into the chief's ear, "How do we know we can trust this guy? Such bold talk for a new recruit."
The chief didn't seem to be bothered by his talk, "Sokka is from our sister tribe, and Kakashi has been traveling the world with them. They are capable warriors and I value their input."
Kakashi scratched his neck nervously, while Sokka gave the soldier a smug look.
The chief resumed his address, "Now, our first objective is to determine the identity of their commanding officer."
"His name is Zhao." Kakashi said.
Sokka added, "Middle-aged dude, big sideburns, even bigger temper."
Chief Arnook turned to the two of them, "Sokka, Kakashi, I want you two to tell everything you k now to Hahn, he is leading this mission. Hahn, show them your respect. I expect nothing less from my future son-in-law."
Kakashi cocked an eyebrow at that. So this douchecanoe is the one stealing Yue from Sokka. Hahn flipped his hair out of his eyes. When Kakashi looked at Sokka, his eyes were the size of dinner plates.
"Princess Yue's marrying you?" He could tell Sokka was trying to keep the incredulous tone out of his voice.
"Yeah, what of it?"
Sokka turned away, his tone devastated, "Nothing, congratulations."
He took up an axe and walked up to a sharpening wheel. Hahn, being an oblivious bastard, took the wheel next to Sokka. Kakashi watched them sharpen their weapons and thought about doing the same, even if he sharpened his blades every morning.
"Let me tell you, Sokuh, I've courted a lot of girls, but Yue is the finest—and she comes with the most perks."
Perks!? This conversation was not any of his business, but Kakashi couldn't help feeling angry on Sokka's behalf.
"Perks!? What does that mean?" Sokka asked him, his voice laced with anger.
"I mean, Yue's nice and everything, but the points I'll get with the Chief aren't bad either."
Sokka gritted his teeth, "Princess Yue is wasted on a self-absorbed weasel like you!"
Kakashi could feel the tension growing. You don't marry a girl to get in good graces with her father. I mean, obviously you can, but that's low. Dishonorable, even. He narrowed his eyes at the pompous Hahn.
"Whoa. Hang on. What do you care? You're just a simple rube from the Southern Tribe. What would you know of the political complexities of our life? No offense."
Kakashi leaned in to stop Sokka, he was right within reach, but Sokka was too fast. He pounced on Hahn and they started fighting.
"You're just a jerk without a soul! No offense!"
"Sokka this isn't going to settle things!" Kakashi tried to reason with him.
The two ignored him and proceeded to roll around punching each other. Chief Arnook approached the two.
"That's enough! Sokka, you're off the mission." It was not stated but the implication was loud and clear that Kakashi was to leave with him.
"All right, fall in men! Everybody listen to what I say and we'll take out this Admiral Jo in no time."
Sokka turned back, "It's Admiral Zhao!"
"He's not worth your time Sokka, You and I both know he's a dick and I hope he dies."
"Well aren't you blunt."
"..." Kakashi gaged Sokka's reaction for a moment, maybe that was a touch excessive...
"I like it."
Hahn and the rest of the men left on their mission while Sokka and Kakashi stayed behind in the armory.
Chief Arnook approached them, "Is something wrong, Sokka?"
"Oh no! Hahn's out there on the top secret mission while I'm here sharpening my boomerang. Everything's fine!"
The chief put a hand on Sokka's shoulder, "Listen to me. I took you off the mission for selfish reasons. I have a special task in mind for you two."
Sokka turned to him, his boomerang coming to a halt on the wheel, "What? You want me to scrub the barracks?"
"I want you to guard my daughter, Princess Yue."
Kakashi was floored. Holy shit. Sokka scrambled to his feet, struggling to calm the look of excitement on his face, "er, sure. That shouldn't be too hard."
The chief turned and left. Kakashi got up and clapped Sokka on the back, "See Sokka, now you get an even better task! Make sure she knows how you feel!"
Sokka drooped, "She knows how I feel. But she's engaged to Hahn."
"We're hoping he dies remember?"
Sokka gave him a watery half-smile, "That is so horrible."
Kakashi shrugged, "Oh well. I've done worse," He put an arm around Sokka's shoulder, "Now to find Princess Yue!"
…
They found Princess Yue. But it wasn't exactly the happy reunion they were after. In the time they had been trying to find the girl, Zuko had infiltrated a secret soul spring and taken Aang's body. They tried to stop Zuko, but trying to hurt him only put Aang in further danger. Katara was pacing back and forth debating what to do. Sakura was sitting cross-legged by a koi pond. Kakashi walked up to join her.
"Hey."
"I can't believe we lost him."
"You did everything you could." Kakashi put his arm around her shoulder.
Sokka looked back at them, "Yeah, and now we need to do everything we can to get him back! Zuko can't have gotten far, we'll find him. Aang's gunna be fine."
She refused, "I need to stay here just in case his spirit comes back."
Katara turned at her statement, "What good will that do?"
"I can see him in that form." Sakura replied.
Katara quirked an eyebrow, but nodded at what she said. Katara accepted it without question. Kakashi frowned, but now wasn't the time to question her motives.
Kakashi didn't move from his spot next to Sakura, "Okay, you three go after Aang's body, take Appa, it might make finding him easier. I will stay here with Sakura."
They nodded and left.
...
A few hours passed, and Kakashi was getting antsy. The longer it took for Aang to be reunited with his body, the worse his chances were to making it back alive.
"This is taking too long."
Sakura didn't budge from her meditative pose.
"Kakashi, can you stop pacing now. You're wearing a hole in the grass."
He promptly sat down.
…
What seemed like an eternity later, Sakura opened her eyes and looked up. She smiled, nodded, even spoke a couple of times.
"Zuko took it, the others are out searching for you."
Kakashi looked up, there could be only one invisible person she was talking to.
"He's here?"
She nodded.
"Good luck, Aang."
A flash of blue light flew out of the oasis. Wait, I could see his spirit?
"Why could I see that flash of blue?"
"You did? I have no idea. The spirit world is an amazing place. Aang did mention one very important thing."
"Yeah?"
"The koi fish in the pond?"
Kakashi looked toward the circling black and white fish.
"They're the ocean and moon spirits. In the flesh."
"You have got to be kidding me."
"He also said someone is going to try and kill them."
He combed his fingers through his hair, "Things just got serious."
"No kidding. I don't know about you, but I don't exactly want an invaluable spirit's life in my hands."
Kakashi nodded without responding, he had a very bad feeling about their predicament. A heavy weight settled on his chest. This isn't going to end well. The wooden door leading to the oasis was kicked in, Zhao and several men on rhinos strode into the oasis.
"Well well! What do we have here? Looks like we might have a little fight after all. Not like it will be much of a one." Zhao looked over the both of them before taking a fighting stance.
Sakura stood up and scowled at the Fire Nation Admiral, "I was just about to say the same thing."
She sprang into action, pulling up and pillar of earth underneath Zhao, knocking him up into the air, before throwing a second boulder at him. Kakashi unsheathed his sword and went after Zhao's cronies. Damn it, without using my bending this is going to be difficult.
They blasted fireball after fireball at Kakashi, unfortunately keeping him on the defensive. As long as I can keep them occupied, maybe Sakura can handle Zhao. He made the mistake of looking away from them for two seconds to check on her. She was fine, for the moment, but while he was turned away, one of his opponents blasts struck him in the chest and he was thrown backwards, his clothing smoldering from the heat. UGH! Kakashi got up to his feet before the soldiers could strike him on the ground and jogged to the opposing side of the oasis, as far away from Zhao and the pond as they could get. While he thought he could fight them off, it turned out to be a losing battle. Kakashi had just one sword and some throwing knives. While the knives were long distance weapons, his opponents had the upperhand; their fireblasts were a terrifying weapon at both short and long ranges. Kakashi was easily outnumbered and as much as he hated to admit it, outmatched. He put up as much of a fight as he could, slicing as many as deeply as he could with at least three going down; one bleeding out through his femoral artery.
Kakashi was backed into a corner, and as a last resort resorted to complete defense. He stuck to taking the fireblasts in the best way possible, blocking with the thickest armor and skin, protecting his abdomen and neck. He tried to see how Sakura was doing but it didn't look good, the earth rumbled less and less as her attacks dwindled. No, not her too… His vision turned fuzzy at the edges and he fell to the ground. He was losing too much blood. From his new vantage point he saw Sakura put up her last block before she too, fell. Just as he was about to black out, Kakashi saw Zhao plunge his hand into the pond and pull out the Moon spirit. Everything went red and the man, if you could call him that, raised his fist in the air.
"I am… a legend now! The Fire Nation will for generations tell stories about the great Zhao who darkened the moon! They will call me Zhao the Conqueror! Zhao the Moon Slayer! ZHAO THE INVINCIBLE!"
Momo jumped onto Zhao's head and started pulling at his sideburns and face, chittering.
"Get it off!"
The men who had been attacking Kakashi tried to chase Momo, but he landed on someone's arm. Aang's arm. Oh good, Aang's here… He looked ready to fight. Where's Zuko?
"Don't bother!" Kakashi forced himself to look at Zhao. He was now holding a knife to the bag with the Moon Spirit in it. The fish was visibly flailing inside, everything was getting a little darker, even the red color surrounding everything had faded to a grey.
"Zhao! Don't!" The boy tried to reason with him.
He sounded like a crazed maniac, "It's my destiny… to destroy the Moon… and the Water Tribe."
Aang dropped his staff and raised his hands in surrender.
"Destroying the moon won't just hurt the Water Tribe. It will hurt everyone—including you. Without the moon, everything would fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world."
From somewhere further away, a familiar voice called out, "He is right, Zhao!"
It was General Iroh. Kakashi's eyelids were too heavy to look around for the older man. He didn't know whether to be glad or enraged at his arrival. On one hand he was the enemy, but on the other he was a long-standing friend, and an important ally. Kakashi decided he was too tired to care.
"General Iroh, why am I not surprised to discover your treachery?"
"I'm no traitor, Zhao, the Fire Nation needs the moon too. We all depend on the balance," Iroh paused, hoping Zhao would listen to him, "Whatever you do to that spirit, I'll unleash on you ten-fold! Let it go, now!"
For a moment it looked like everything would be all right. For a moment it looked like Zhao released the fish back into the water. But only for a moment, before he betrayed everyone and struck the moon spirit. Everything went black, but Kakashi hadn't lost consciousness not yet at least.
He watched as Iroh launched himself at Zhao. Kakashi wasn't aware of how strongly Iroh felt in this matter. He pushed the Admiral back with blast after blast of perfectly aimed fireballs. Zhao managed to block one, while being forced back. Iroh dealt with Zhao's henchman with an ease Kakashi felt an inkling of jealousy for. In a moment of weakness, Zhao's face turned to fear and horror as his men were wiped out like nothing. He fled.
Iroh let him go, instead focusing on the fallen guards who were struggling to get up. Kakashi felt like his limbs were filled with lead, he hadn't the energy to even sit up. The old man was now bent over the pond looking on at the floating fish, a huge gash down its side. Iroh gently lifted the fish out of the water, his expression solemn. Zhao's men left without another word. Kakashi wanted to see if Sakura was all right. He looked to where she had fallen in her fight with Zhao, her pink hair still splayed on the ground underneath her.
For a moment, Kakashi considered the worst. He forced his legs to move, to pull his body back together just long enough to get to her side. Please, no. Kakashi got to just a few feet away before his knees gave out beneath him. He fell, but was now close enough to see… to see if she… he couldn't bring himself to think about what he would do if she were to die. Kakashi pressed two fingers to her neck, and felt a torrential wave of relief, she was alive. Her heartbeat was still regular, even if a bit faint. He let out the breath he hadn't known he was holding and slumped on the ground beside her. The oasis had been partially destroyed around her, pieces of earth strewn everywhere with random pillars and boulders lying around now. Kakashi looked back to the pond, where the rest of the group had gathered.
"There's no hope now. It's over." Princess Yue put her head in her hands and cried for the Spirit.
Aang's tattoos glowed white, he was in the Avatar state.
"No, it's not over." His voice was that of what Kakashi would call a god, deep and powerful. Not of this world.
Aang walked into the pond. Katara moved to follow him, but was stopped by Iroh. Kakashi watched in silence as Aang stood in the middle of the pond, as if praying. Sakura groaned next to him, and slowly sat up. They watched as Aang sank into the pond. It was as if the bottom had dropped out. He disappeared. The water in the pond as well as the ways flowing out of the oasis and through the North Pole began to glow with blue and white hues. Something was coming out of the water, but it was too large for the oasis. Kakashi helped Sakura up and they limped together to the broken door. He could have sworn his jaw hit the ice. Before them a massive wave creature rose from the depths. It dwarfed everything.
The head of the being seemed to be fishlike, with catfish-like barbs. If he squinted Kakashi could almost pick out what he thought was Aang's body in the middle of its abdomen, his arms spread wide. The creature followed Aang's movements. As it passed mixed parties of Water Tribe and Fire Nation, those who bent before the creature were spared and those who didn't were wiped out with a wave of Aang's hand. Some of the Fire Nation tanks tried to fight back in the main city's square, but their ammunition had no effect, many were swallowed whole by its massive body.
Once Aang, and what Kakashi realized was most likely the Water Spirit, reached the canal wall, they sank into the water again, rising on the other side. Aang was about to take out the Fire Nation's Navy. While it was a sight he wanted to remember forever, he looked back to see how they were faring with the Moon Spirit.
Iroh placed the dead spirit fish back into the pond. He and Katara stared at the pond, concerned looks plastered on their faces.
"It's too late. It's dead." Katara mumbled.
The three sat by the pond as they mourned the spirit. Iroh looked at Princess Yue and a thought popped into his head.
"You have been touched by the Moon Spirit. Some of its life is in you!"
"Yes, you're right. It gave me life. Maybe I can give it back."
She walked forward to the pond's edge. Sokka tried to stop her, grasping her hand desperately.
"No! You don't have to do that!"
Yue refused to meet his gaze, "It's my duty, Sokka."
Sokka took her hand and held tight, "I won't let you! Your father told me to protect you!"
She looked away, "I have to do this."
Yue released his hand and walked to Iroh, who held the dead fish in his hands. She put her hands over the Moon Spirit and it began to glow. She closed her eyes, exhaled a final breath and fell into Sokka's arms. It was tragic. Kakashi's heart pulled as he imagined himself in Sokka's situation, a dead Sakura in his arms. We were all too close to that reality tonight. Kakashi couldn't help but be filled with guilt-ridden relief that it had not been Sakura. If only we had been just that much stronger... we could have stopped him.
"No!" Sokka yelled in despair. He placed a hand on her cheek and looked away.
"She's gone," he hugged her body tightly to his chest, his voice was heavy with grief, "she's gone."
Kakashi and Sakura walked to a railing still intact nearby and leaned on it. Aang was wiping out the Navy, cutting right through ships, and upending others. With one massive wave, he destroyed many and pushed the rest far out to sea. It gave him an odd sense of satisfaction to watch his former comrades be wiped out like that. They returned to the spirit oasis.
Sokka was still cradling Yue's dead body, while Katara and Iroh watched the fish in his hands. Yue glowed briefly, yet bright enough Kakashi had to turn his eyes away. When he looked back her body was gone. The fish in Iroh's hands glowed with life and he dropped it back in the water. The pond glowed white and a ghostly figure rose from the waters, it took on a form of Yue, now dressed in flowing white robes. Her hair floated in the air. She was even more beautiful in this form.
When she spoke to Sokka, her voice echoed on itself, "Goodbye, Sokka. I will always be with you." Her spirit leaned in and kissed him, holding her hands to his face. She faded away, but in the sky, the moon shined bright. She saved the world.
And with the realization that it was all over, Kakashi decided to take a seat. His body was one big bruise. After he had hit the ground fighting Zhao's henchmen, they had kicked and beat on him until they found something better to do. He figured there was at least three ribs cracked, if not broken. Sakura sat down next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder. Within minutes they fell asleep.
…
When he awoke next, Sakura was still next to him, but she wasn't asleep. She was scribbling on what had to, had to, be the last page of her notebook, in the tiniest writing Kakashi had ever seen. He stretched his arms above him, and his back popped. It was not pleasant. He had forgotten about the repeated kicks to his ribcage and immediately brought his arms down with a wince of pain.
"Really, Sakura, you need a new notebook."
"And where do you suggest we get one? I'm fairly certain all the shops are closed today."
"Not to mention we will probably be leaving today. Ugh I am so sick of the cold and damp. Maybe we can find you a notebook on our way out."
…
Their group took a couple of hours to pack their things and load up Appa. Iroh and Zuko were gone, along with any remnants of the Fire Nation Navy. They met up with a sendoff party at the docks to the city.
Master Pakku was among them, "I've decided to go to the South Pole. Some other benders and healers want to join me," He turned to Katara, "It's time we helped rebuild our sister tribe."
"What about Aang?" She responded, "He still needs to learn waterbending."
Master Pakku turned to her with a grin of satisfaction, "Well then, he better get used to calling you, Master Katara."
"Thank you for everything, Master Pakku."
She turned to Aang and they hugged as well, Sokka joined their embrace along with Momo. Kakashi felt a tiny urge to join them, but decided against it. Sakura slid her arm behind his back and her responded with an arm around her shoulder.
"Hey." He said.
"Hey."
"Glad you didn't die."
She giggled next to him, "yeah, you too."
...
Thanks for reading yall! Have a nice day!