All but a Sixth Sense
The rolling of fog coated the floor, static of lightning the air.
Hotaka blocked his face as the pressure of power was worse than wind, pushing the bangs from his forehead.
Shin'ichi narrowed his eyes, lifting a single hand to separate the energy being released.
"Ok, why does all this happen?" Benjiro didn't get it.
Why couldn't masters all strong and powerful like this to begin with?
Why do the whole transform thing?
"Do you even know what they do to enter Master's state?" Shin'ichi questioned.
"Uh…yeah they just did it. You clap your hands and yell 'RELEASE' as epically as you can and go all weird looking." Benjiro imitated the previous five seconds.
'Idiot.' Hotaka sighed.
"They're releasing their seal."The avatar rolled his head.
…
"But I thought that's supposed to keep them from letting the power go to their head?"
"It's to keep energy from overtaking their conscious, which is why this is a dangerous form for them. And the environment is affected by the sudden surge in energy, to explain your previous question." Shin'ichi said.
Benjiro bobbed his invisible head.
"Ok. Then why the hell do they change clothes?"
"Are you still going on about that?" Hotaka couldn't believe.
"You never answer me and I don't freakin get it!"
"Who the hell cares?"
Shin'ichi shook his head.
He didn't admit that was a question he didn't have the answer to.
Glancing back, he felt the temperature drop another twenty degrees; by now they had to have made it to the negatives, his breath never before seemed so visible.
Huyu.
From the distance every detail was a bit difficult to make out, but most were not missed.
His hair, longer, spiked and seemed to literally be made of snow or ice. Skin lighter, paler, every vein could be seen and traced. The dark blue robe, outlined in white. The sword, long, perhaps now over four feet, a needle top. The paint on his forehead; a crescent white moon that had a thin stroke run down his cheek and to his neck…his entire body was radiating a white glow.
Everything Kaimu had described.
"NOW YOU TELL ME WHEN IN THOSE TEN SECONDS HE HAD TIME TO GET INTO A NEW ROBE!"
Hotaka jumped, his arms shaking when he moved to cover his ears.
"It's interesting how he tries to block out the sound when in technical terms you're speaking inside of him." Shin'ichi pointed out.
"If I'm speaking inside him why the hell can you hear me?" Benjiro folded his arms.
The avatar adjusted his glasses.
"I have a talent when it comes to spirits." He drifted back to the Masters.
Nao.
Her black hair length wasn't what caught his attention. It was the wildness of it, shaggy and messy, just passed her shoulders. Beneath, the locks her paint was uniquely fashioned, a cerulean sun with jagged rays, as though the star was shooting lightning. They were short, the longest reaching the bridge of her nose, two went to the corner of her eyes, accenting the natural colors.
The black lipstick turned blue, the fanged teeth had grown even large; long enough for the tips to be seen on the bottom lip while the mouth was closed.
The eyes seemed darker, outlined harsher but retained their normal color. Like Huyu, her veins bulged, visible and tinted a sapphire though most were hidden beneath her robe.
The same black as before, it retained the trait of lacking sleeves, a dark wrap across her waist to ensure it was closed, the bottom swept just above the ankles.
Across the chest, the mark was playing tricks. At one moment, the Fire Nation symbol was glimmering as though navy gems had been bedazzled for attention.
The next, it was gone.
Black gloves covered her arms, all the way up to the shoulder, leather by guess.
If anyone thought her seal had looked like a lightning strike before, one look now would have that notion seem ridiculous.
It was literally electricity. A shaking cobalt static that didn't seem to remain still.
Hotaka wouldn't have tried to hold that if you paid him.
It pulled him.
Huyu gasped, realizing this may have been a mistake.
Strong.
Loud.
Calling, Nao was higher than Aeka, the energy beating in a pulse it was a wonder how he didn't feel it before.
His hands shook in a tremble he could harshly control.
'No…its ok. I can take some. This time…just this time…' Yes.
He'd take her energy.
And win, cure his thirst, it would fit.
Just one touch…
Nao appeared at his side; her speed being greatly improved from before, Huyu still had the advantage.
He put ten feet between them before she even finished her attack; he didn't even blink as five water tentacles of impossible size shot out of the snow.
She held out her seal, the lightning sparks sent a bolt to each arm, crashing the water to the floor; bringing both hands to it, a lightning wave exploded from the ends.
A tsunami of electricity; had Huyu's hair not been standing up it would be now.
Swinging his sword, he released enough energy to have it equal, the two crashed in blinding impact before fading away.
Nao held out the bow, the end extended in a stabbing spear, the ground it covered was half the speed of light; it pierced Huyu in the arm.
Electricity his body that burned the insides, hurting a thousand times worse, he jerked involuntarily to the left.
Shooting out his seal, the water from the air around her froze against her empty hand, giving almost immediate frost bite.
A flame lit in the palm quick enough to save it, the glove was fire resistant.
As the seal withdrew, Nao focused her energy elsewhere.
The crack was worse than a whip, the ceiling was broken through as a dark cloud formed in the sky; the four combatants defended themselves from the falling ice.
Nao crunched her nose.
'Oh hell no…' Huyu's eyes widened.
Nature sent one itself.
No.
Nature was forced to.
The bolt was stronger than anything he'd ever seen, flashing down within a blink of the eye; Huyu held both hands on the seal, and defended.
The sword vibrated as he used his energy to balance out the 100,000 bolts coming at him, the minute it succeeded, he had the far side wall wash downward, opening the battlefield to the outside completely. Nao gasped as she was suddenly drowned beneath thousands of gallons of water.
'Yes; let's just destroy the place. It's not like there's anyone else to worry about.' Hotaka spread his arms apart, having the water divide around him.
Shin'ichi took a deep breath; his eyes shimmered on the edges before he clasped his hands together.
Creating his own little bubble, anything that came near automatically dropped, sucked of its energy.
"NO FAIR!" Hotaka screamed.
"You have your strengths, and I have mine." Shin'ichi shrugged, taking the moment to rest.
'Stupid energybender…' Hotaka grumbled.
A patch evaporated, turning to a heavy mist, lightning bolts by the thousands exploded.
The glow across Huyu brightened, icicles shot from the floor, intercepting every on threatening to hit.
"Can't he get them all?" Hotaka was playing dodge ball with those that went astray, ducking, dipping, diving, rolling, jumping, and crouching.
"What's the matter? I'd have thought you'd love this opportunity to show off you speed?" Shin'ichi laughed at his misery from the safety of his little zone.
"Shut up!" He was out of breath when they slowed.
Nao was at Huyu's side in an instant, closer range, the electricity was triple the size, Huyu harshly had time to block.
Throwing his sword at an angle, his energy burst to deflect hers, the two mixed together before countering off to the side.
"OH COME ON!" Hotaka made a leap twenty feet in the air.
Nearly catching his foot, it took about half a minute of hang time until he allowed himself to fall.
"If I didn't know any better I'd say they were doing it on purpose." Shin'ichi was enjoying this.
Hotaka gave him a death glare, Benjiro was surprised.
He wasn't an expert at judging but he'd say Hotaka was right up there with Mamoru and Shin'ichi at these.
A wall of fire flashed across the floor, Hotaka jumped back to avoid.
'Maybe they'll just take of him for me…' Shin'ichi sat down, ensuring his heart rate was slowing.
Rings of water rose from the snow, razor sharp they could cut Nao in half.
One lift of her finger and everything turned to steam, too hot to continue.
Huyu was at her side nearly having a chance to grab her when she jumped back, commanding a lightning strike between them, Huyu was out of the way before it hit, splitting the floor in half, the crack extended beyond eye site.
Nao clenched her hand.
Why was she even stalling?
No; when in benders state, there was no time to stall.
If you took too long, the power will sneak up on you.
Take you over and then your only hope is that you actually come out of.
No.
This time there was no wait.
Straight to victory.
"I'll try to spare you precious face." Nao held the seal in front, closing her grip tighter and tighter.
Huyu narrowed his hands, taking a step, he almost made.
Already drawing his sword back to attack, there was less than a foot between them.
The bow broke.
The lightning weapon, straight down the middle, as simple as a twig, energy burned from inside.
Electricity shot out from the ends, zapping Huyu in the chest.
The light.
Bright blue to near white, her power turned the edges black.
It hit.
But…didn't.
The flash was close enough that he couldn't see, but didn't feel pain.
Everything around him…faded to black.
The floor. The walls. Everything.
It was as though that bolt had transported him.
To nowhere.
Looking around.
Nothing.
Darkness.
Emptiness.
"This is a trick." He said out loud as a test.
He knew he said it.
He knew he had forced it from his throat.
But he couldn't hear it.
Not even himself.
He stepped.
No echo.
No ruffle of clothes.
'No senses…' He figured.
Nao.
Where was she?
The sword was still between his hands.
He had to remind himself not to let it go.
No feelings, but he knew it was there, he had never released it.
'Be ready.'
She would come.
Looking was useless. He had to rely on instinct.
Protective stance.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Static.
He moved to stop it when he realized it wasn't in front of him.
Shaking, he dropped to his knees, unable to stop, it was pulsing through him. Burning on his shoulder, there was a gash in his stomach.
When his head hit the floor he became aware of the snow.
All the details settled back; and when he could taste the blood he coughed up he knew the senses were sane again.
'How…how did she…' When did she attack?
Within that small half a second window before he felt it?
There's no way she could have.
She's too slow.
His pants were of pain, he could see her black boots, her boots where blood had spotted the ends.
His blood.
She had stabbed him, and wasn't quick enough to move away from the drops that spilled over.
But he didn't see her.
Or even feel her.
Because pain was feeling. Feeling was a sense.
'Idiot!' He screamed to himself.
That was her bender state trick.
She took away everything.
Including his feeling, so when she attacked, he wouldn't know. He wouldn't know until it dispended…and then all of them piled on top each other to make the pain unbearable.
It was perhaps the worst thing he could be up against.
He refused to give in; pulling his legs beneath him, there was a slash across the right thigh.
Blood seeped across his arm, warning him a gash that had closed was open again.
Nao was grinning.
"The more you continue the worst it'll get." She warned.
Jab.
Jab.
Duck.
Kick.
Punch.
Counter.
Flip.
Throw onto the floor.
Drag the other down. Bang on each other until one got the upper hand and the other was forced to bend them away.
The first blocks; giving the other time to get on his feet.
Repeat.
Benjiro didn't know what bugged him more.
The fact that the spirit who was supposed to be all badass couldn't defeat the nerdy avatar.
The fact that the avatar who seemed to think he was all superior couldn't land a sufficient blow on a dead boy.
Or that they seemed to be moving in such a rhythm after two more times Benjiro could copy it.
Hotaka preformed the perfect tornado kick; Shin'ichi recognized the form immediately and evaded, swinging his leg around to trip him when only one foot was planted.
Hotaka caught himself before completely falling, rolling perfectly, he was on his feet.
Benjiro had to give it to him.
He was like a tenth degree black belt.
And the two seemed to have some kind of agreement.
As far as he could tell; neither were aiming to kill.
Despite Hotaka's previous mention, he didn't have that murder eyed look. And whatever form one started; the other copied.
Shin'ichi would bend, Hotaka would follow and it'd become a test of skill. Hotaka would move in for close range and it became a karate match with any other assistance being considered cheating.
Snarky remarks from the spirit; an annoyingly calm comment from the avatar, there seemed to be a lot of inside jokes that worked as a knife with the other.
It bugged him.
Why did the two seem so…routine?
His suspicion radar jumped to about fifty, but he didn't dare intervene.
The fact that he was keeping Shin'ichi at bay was more than enough for him.
He glanced to Huyu, immediately noticing something was wrong.
The fact that his eyes were closed was the major give away…but he was jumpy.
He'd spin around, holding out his seal and would slash at nothing.
Was it panic…or just reactions?
Nao.
She moved in random motions, circling him to taunt and then would strike.
It wasn't complicated enough that Huyu couldn't defend…but he never moved to block, or even show sign of pain.
Benjiro easily concluded that since he was just a spirit; he didn't have senses, which meant whatever trick Nao was using didn't affect him.
Could he help?
Moving.
It suddenly occurred to him that he wasn't on his leash anymore.
Hotaka didn't stop once he was going…but Benjiro hadn't moved from his spot.
Focusing all his will, he took a step.
…
"Can you teach me to fly?" He asked Hotaka.
Shin'ichi cheated; using bending during the hand to hand moment; the fire singed the spirit across the exposed section of his midriff, it was light enough to ignore.
Heavy enough to curse at.
'I'm a little busy right now!' He obviously blamed being distracted for taking the hit.
Huyu got to his feet, looking the worst he ever had during a battle.
The third time Nao had broken her word and sliced his face. Just above the eye to have the blood half blind him, she had made a cut or wound multiple times on each limb and was beginning to shred his torso.
Wiping the blood, from his mouth, he was aware of the fact that his muscles were incapable of holding still.
After five lightning strikes in a row, they tend to get a bit jittery.
"You just don't give up." Nao observed.
The black sheet covered him; Huyu was almost scared of it.
'No…focus. Focus. Focus. Focus.'
The more he told himself the harder it became.
One shot.
He had to focus.
He had a plan.
A cruel, sad plan that any other time he'd consider too harsh to consider.
But now he couldn't take his own pity into the consideration.
Finding her was easy; turns out when all your senses are gone and you happen to have a sixth, it'll burn brighter than any light you could wish for in a tunnel.
But tracing her...to picture her figure and the movements...it was like sorting through a giant blob...and she released energy so carelessly it was troubling.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
NOW!
Before she had a chance to withdraw, he caught her by the throat.
Everything flooded back to him, a strike she'd made in his leg almost made him trip, his weight and the oddness the shock forced him to fall on top of her.
A specific enemy's words were pouncing around in his head, ones that he would use, that he'd decided were the only way to win.
Before she could move, he flooded her.
As much energy as he could, it swarmed into her mixing in with her own, the seal was still released, meaning there was no defense. The markings on her head glowed, seeming to shatter before fading to the skin. Overtaking her mind and conscious, she wasn't even awake when her entire body began to shake, sparking with electrical currents washing over. When the lightning struck this time, it came at her, and then all hell was unleashed.
