Banning Tea


September 12th, 2010


Huyu breathed calming through his nose, aware of the tip of the sword against his back; he decided not to do anything stupid.

"Release him!" The man shouted.

Huyu crunched his grip on the man's wide throat, digging his fingers into the skin.

'Oh how simple this would be.' Smashing the guy's head to wall would satisfy him without ends.

Still, he reluctantly loosened his hold, moving his arms to his sides.

The owner pressed the blade harder; Huyu would be ticked if he ribbed a hole in his robe.

He was spun around slowly; the owner jerked his hood to uncover his face, somehow knowing from the face with a scowl.

"I heard a master had been trouble on the last ship over here. Real suspicious and all. Didn't think he'd have the nerve to come into MY shop." His eyes narrowed as with a glance at Huyu's hair, "Don't even try to fool us. Actin all human. It's just pitiful."

Benjiro didn't get it.

So he could change his hair…that meant what?

It's not a big deal.

Guys dyed and cut their hair all the time at his old school.

Of course…that was with a stylist and all…but still.

Did it make such a difference?

Huyu didn't even blink as his hair went spike; he felt the sword move to his neck.

The man wouldn't have the nerve to do it.

He could see that.

It was just a bluff.

One he wouldn't act on.


~Two Minutes Ago~


"GET THE HELL OUTA HERE!" The man was threatening a sword.

Aeka had been watching this for a few minutes, but now it had everyone's attention.

The man couldn't have been younger than fifty, wrinkling skin with his last few strands of black hair before turning grey would completely dominate. Golden eyes of fear and anxiety, his burgundy robes were clearly Fire Nation.

"I'm sorry sir, I was only looking for my grandson and I th-"

"WHAT THE HELL MAKES YOU THINK WE'D LET HIM IN HERE?" The shop owner pointed to the sign near the door, "CAN YOU NOT READ?"

'NO FIRE NATION ALLOWED'

The elder man backed up.

"I'm s-sorry I was just checki-"

A muscular Earth Nation man blocked his exit, pushing him to the ground.

"You got a lot of guts thinking you can just waltz in here. Specially after all that's happened. Some may think you were trying to spy on us." He growled, cracking his knuckles.

"N-No! I was just tr-" The grandpa didn't even try to get on his feet, now shaking.

"YOU JUST THOUGHT YOU COULD COME IN HERE AFTER EVERYTHING? AS IF YOU'RE NOT TO BLAME?" The owner slammed his hands on the counter.

"I h-hav-"

"YOU'RE FIRE NATION! THAT'S ENOUGH TO PUNISH YOU!"

The elder man was shaking; the earthbender grabbed him and threw him on the floor.

"P-Please s-"

He spat on him.

"DON'T GIVE US ANY OF YOUR CRAP! THE LEAST YOU COULD DO IS PAY FOR YOUR SINS!"

"I-I-"

"You thought you could act as if you're like the rest of us? As casual? What with you trying to take over were supposed to serve you without a word?" The earth nation man's face was fuming.

"N-No I-"

"WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR EXCUSES!" The counter man had circled to the front, about ready to make an even bigger scene.

"Alright!" Huyu had slipped silently away from the group, coming in at the opposite angle; no proof of him having been associating with them.

His hood still drawn, they couldn't get a good view of his face as he made his way to center stage.

"First of all, anyone in need of hearing you is within ten feet, no need for the shouting. It's getting on my nerves." He directed towards the owner, "Secondly, there's a Fire Nation settlement within walking distance of here. Contrary to your beliefs, not all of them are working with their homeland. So why don't you calm down, huh?" Huyu's hands were shoved in his pockets.

"HE'S A TR-"

"Indoor voice pops." Huyu reminded him, a toss of his head Emi recognized to remove his hair, only without the actual knowledge it could be seen as a cocky gesture.

'What is he doing?' Benjiro wanted to smack him, 'Must he always go after attention?'

Honestly shouldn't he know when to sit low and let things play out?

Aeka moved to stand when Eita snatched her arm.

"Don't do anything stupid." She hissed.

Aeka shot her look that caught her in surprise. The child's dark eyes beating straight through in a silent threat, the kind that would be played out if needed, Eita withdrew her grasp. Aeka's gaze dropped to the floor, regrettably folding her hands in her lap as she remained seated.

'Senpai hadn't wanted me involved. I had told him that I can't be seen. If I draw eyes…someone might mention it and were anyone to question them….they could draw the lines that it was me. If they catch up they'll take me back. Does Senpai know this? Or does he just not want me involved?' She tossed the variables around.

Either way, she couldn't get herself known.

"Who the hell are you anyways? Defended a traitor? How do we know you're not Fire Nation as well?" The shop owner growled.

"Because were I from the Fire Nation; I'd have killed all of you and been done with it. Taking the time to stand up for him would have been too much of a pain. Silent assassination is much easier. Had HE been a traitor; he wouldn't be wasting his time in a tea shop. Unless you have something of greatest importance to hide I see no reason for you to be so difficult with those of differing nations." Huyu explained.

"The Fire Nation deserves no mercy from those of us who suffer. Some might say they are in our debt for even allowing them to live from their last failure."

"Are you really holding a grudge from three hundred years ago? I'd be more focused at the problem a hand rather than some history lessons from a book. Neither of course, could be linked to this man." Huyu stood between the large earthbender and the crouching victim.

"We are dealing with the problem! Making sure their kind knows their place!" The owner certainly had a few of a class system.

"Which is what? Banned from tea?"

"BENEATH THOSE OF US WHO SUFFERED!" His voice rose again.

"Mhmmm…" Huyu nodded his head, "Yeah if you weren't there three hundred years ago can you really qualify as "suffered"?"

"You think you're so bad ass?" The earth nation man had enough of this, grabbing Huyu and jerking him forward.

Huyu allowed his smirk to be seen, not particularly enjoying this but the hatred of him he could feel through the steadiness of the guy's grip.

"I was just making a point."

Tugged closer, the man was at least twice his size, his breath steam on the waterbender's skin.

"You sure you wanna go here big boy?" Huyu lifted his head just enough for the guy to catch his smug eyes.

Combined with the assured leer his lips had formed, anyone would have been tempted to prove him wrong.


"You gonna do that? Like it or not pops but that'd be a pretty dumb move." Huyu had let the anger surpass him, replacing with a leniency that was faked with a convincing act.

"Why? I heard one of your friends joined the army. Heard she's camped out over the mountains ready to be the final blow. I don't see how getting rid of you here would hurt our chances."

Huyu rolled his eyes.

"Automatically grouping us in one huh?"

"No reason I shouldn't."

"Actually yes. Think about this. If you kill me; how were planning on countering someone of her strength?" The man's jaw set into place as he continued, "The way I see it, unless you got some suburb bending to counter your poor swordsmanship," Huyu suddenly twisted from the way, bringing his leg behind the man's knee cap, they buckled unwillingly.

Huyu brought his knee to his stomach as the man lurched forward, twisting the man's wrist into a release, he took the sword for himself.

The cheap materials used to create it were clear when he gripped the handle.

"-I doubt you could take a Master." He finished, holding the weapon away, nothing that could be seen as a threat.

'Is he stupid?' Benjiro could have recalled Huyu had mentioned hating his master status being known.

The owner shook as he was on his knees, covering his head; words weren't even forming in his mouth.

'Freakin coward. Can't even back a threat. Not worth the time.' Huyu tossed the sword to the floor, it rattling as he knew the next thing would be a yelling to get out.

He helped himself to that part, slamming the door behind him.


"What the hell was that in there?" Eita was screaming before Benjiro had a chance to.

She grabbed Huyu's shirt and pulled his face into hers for him to get the full view of her rage.

Of course she had the speed advantage. Benjiro had been the one left to carry Aeka out. Not that she was heavy, but the extra weight made his walk a bit awkward.

'What's with the earth nation and grabbing peoples' clothes and shoving their face in yours?' Huyu picked her hand off his clothes, standing up straight as he dusted it off as if she'd left a mark.

"The guy was getting on my nerves. You live here don't you? You should know the whole racism with firebenders." Huyu pointed out.

"But that's no reason to go pickin fights! They get that all the time! Just let them grow a backbone and defend themselves!" Eita put her hand on his hip.

"Racism?" Benjiro didn't know that existed here.

Huyu looked to Eita, figuring she could explain this much.

She waited for him.

"Want me to clarify?" Aeka offered in her innocent voice.

"After the hundred year war people were pretty easy on trust and all; they believed with Fire Lord Zuko and his descendants that it'd all go smoothly. Then after this war started and all; basically everyone turned on the Fire Nation in general. Anyone with Fire Nation blood is like the enemy for betraying everyone twice." Eita ignored Aeka.

"But like with the settlements and all…why go after the firebenders? Isn't everyone at fault in a way?" Benjiro asked.

"It's no secret the Fire Lord's first followers were firebenders. Basic knowledge. Many of the settlements were against it originally and the contact with their home lands was desperate to get out."

"What happened?"

"No one really knows…there are a lot of rumors and all, but the next thing they knew were that boats sent from any of the settlements in the Fire Nations were filled with soldiers attacking their own kind." She sighed, "You know you really should brush up on your history."

"So just because they were the first to turn makes them th-"

"The target to get all the crap." Huyu completed for him.

"People find it hard to accept any of them; of course it's basically segregation. There are some for it and some completely against the very idea." Aeka thought of her run ins…being acquainted with a firebender had given her an idea of what they'd been through.

Particularly in what they were doing and in the Ba sing Sea.

Not the most accepting place.

Loosening her grip, Aeka slid to the floor, walking as best she could to Huyu, he hardly even reacted. Kneeling down, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he stood up.

'Benny-san's short.' Of course she knew that.

But seeing the difference with her head peering over his shoulder compared to Huyu…it just stood out more.

"But you didn't need to make such a s-" Benjiro began.

"No. I shouldn't have. YOU should have." Huyu said crossly.

The easiness was out of his expression now, fully business.

"Huh?"

"It's the avatar's job to maintain balance in the worlds. That doesn't just limit to the whole spirit world issue. You're supposed to work with the nations and keep peace. Solving feuds and all that stuff. Not sitting in a corner waiting for some assholes to stop threatening an innocent man. I stepped in because letting that shit go on isn't going to help anyone." Huyu somehow put this on him.

"B-b-but…why didn't you tell me?" Benjiro wasn't sure what he could have done anyways.

"If I'm wasting time telling you; why not just take care of it myself?"

'Senpai's lying…' with the two boys glaring at each other; she could tell that much.

Of course she was sure he had a reason behind it.

But not one as simple as that.

Despite the rest of the group's hypothesizes, he wasn't just playing hero.

"You know you're going to be notorious by the end of the day right?" Eita literally split the two up, walking between the while pushing back each on the chest.

"Yeah…like I wasn't already." Seeing how fast the word was already getting around; he wondered how long it'd be until people would recognize him from a distance.

Aeka watched people buzzing around.

Noticing one stopping to stare at the group.

Following his line of site, it was on Eita.

'Who's that?'

There was a smirk as Aeka scanned over him to memorize the details; he walked to Eita's blind side, not that she was paying attention.

'Does he know her or just checking her out?' She thought of his facial expressions and postures, remembering her notes.

"You're going to make it impossible for us to associate with you if you go on with this." Eita argued.

Being caught with a Master wouldn't be good for the rest of them.

Put them in danger of suspicion.

"Awww. Sad you won't be able to see my beautiful face as often?" Huyu sneered.

Eita curled his fingers to a fist as she was about to threaten.

'He's brave.' Aeka gave the guy credit right then and there.

The boy had been successful in his sneak attack, getting close behind Eita, he reach in front and wrapped his arms around her breasts, whispering, "You've grown in many ways since I last saw you."

Huyu even back off as Emi was startled, Benjiro practically flew a hundred yards to the safety zone.

Eita's face flushed, not blushing, but anger as she knew the voice immediately.

Still that'd offer no mercy.

Her already charged punch, with half a step back, a full blow hit went smack in his face; were it an anime he'd have flown in the air and "blasted off again".

With reality, he was only thrown multiple feet back, landing on his back with his hand covering a bloodied face, she had gotten his nose in a clear shot.

"WHAT THE HELL? I ALREADY GOT THAT PERVERT TO PUT UP WITH I DON'T NEED YOU TURNING ALL WEIRD ON ME! AND IT'S SEXUAL HARRASSMENT WITH A DUDE AS OLD AS YOU ARE!" She was stomping towards him already ready for a second strike, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE ANYWAYS?"

'Look who's going to be notorious now…' Huyu watched all the people point and stare.

He took a few precautions steps back, more for Aeka's sake than his; he considered covering her eyes from seeing this.

Aeka noticed some giving second glances at Senpai.

She moved one hand free to pull his hood over his head; he smiled at her gesture, her grin back showed their understanding.

"Should…we be concerned?" Emi had subconsciously crossed her arms; hugging her elbows, partly defending her chest.

Benjiro jumped back over to them, hiding behind Huyu.

"Hell has no wrath like a woman's scorn." Hotaka recalled this from somewhere.

'I'll back that…'

Eita snatched the guy's shirt and pulled him into her face with practically steam from her nostrils.

His response…

Laugh his ass off.

No giggles.

Or chuckles.

Pure hysteric laughter as his red stained face was still leaking blood.

"Same old Eita…it was a JOKE!" She still punched his gut enough to choke the easiness, "…OK…got the picture…."

She kicked him.

"….seriously?"

And another stomp.

"ONEE-SAN! Don't be mean!" Aeka called out a bit loud for Huyu's ears.

Eita pursed her lips as she seemed done, the poor guy rolled over, to ice his sore spots in the snow.

"She knows him." Huyu felt the need to clarify that.

Of course they figured that much out.

"I think you broke my nose….man when did you start forgetting mercy?" He tested the tenderness on his face, rubbing the blood with some ice to clear a bit.

He was not particularly tall…perhaps an half an inch shorter than the average height, he had a build that was pretty sturdy, dark brown hair, onyx eyes, his skin had an earthbenders tan, just enough to add a fair amount of color…or that might just be the red.

His hair was to his chin, a stubby beard as if he'd forgotten to shave for a while, casual Earth Kingdom clothing with a long sleeved faded green tunic with over a darker emerald robe, something Benjiro almost mistook as a dress.

About eighteen or nineteen, he didn't have a fully mature adult taken look, like he was still capable of pranking around, clearly just demonstrated.

About…average. Much like Eita, he wasn't super star gorgeous, not ready to be signed for a model deal at first glance. But he did have particularly striking features such as his sharp cheek bones, a decent mouth with an "L" shaped nose, it was only slightly too large for his face, but at least not broken.

"You're lucky I didn't throw you to the Fire Nation!" She shook her fist.

He laughed.

"Oh oh? Suddenly you think you can take me on? Gotten a bit cocky have we?"

"Says the man nearly beaten to a pulp." Benjiro murmured.

"Anyone for ditching her?" Huyu asked while she was distracted.

Emi shot him a look.

"Hey. It's automatically two on two. I'm just seeing if either of you want to tip the scale."

"I get no vote?" Aeka tilted her head curiously.

"You pretty much go wherever I go." He pointed out.

She shrugged.

"True."

Still he didn't move, probably because he didn't see any place to actually go to.

"So who got stuck with you?" The man turned to address them.

"More like I got stuck with them." Eita grumbled.

"Onee-san's only here because she's following me!" Aeka raised a hand high, wrapping her other a bit too tight around Huyu's neck.

A small gagging noise escaped his throat

"Ooops." She quickly lightened her grip.

'Looks like her arm isn't limited to throwing.' He wasn't sure…but did she have muscles?

Tiny and invisible, of course, but her arms were a bit hard, not the jiggling a lot of kids had.

"Onee-san?" The guy repeated, finding it interesting as he looked at Eita.

"Nickname." She shrugged.

He raised his eyebrow, but still gave a proper bow as a greeting.

"Well…not really sure who you guys are, but I'm Nakajima. That thing's," He jerked his head in Eita's direction, "superior rival."