Elements Joined
Chapter 7
Written by: DP and FK
Hello once more! Welcome to the seventh part of our fair story. Hope you like it!
NOTE: This chapter is more fluff than action, but expect some interesting battles after this.
OoOoO
Kaji, Kaze and Kidate walked in a compatible silence, only broken by the occasional squawk of a bird. Kidate's head looked around franticly, taking in the path and environment.
"Uhh…" She began, sounding awkward. "Do either of you guys have a map? I forgot mine back…at my house."
"Nope." Kaze said cheerfully, kicking at the path to make the most amount of dust scatter. Kidate gave him an annoyed look, but didn't comment.
"I do." Kaji said calmly, pulling out a crumpled, pathetic looking piece of paper.
Kidate took it, raising an eyebrow skeptically. She opened it, to find that it might have had use in the past. Now doodles blotched out the names of cities; not to mention 'Kaze was here' in large, bold letters.
"Thanks a lot, Kaze. You just blew off our only map." Kidate threw the map behind her in a crumpled up ball. Kaji scrambled after it.
"What are you doing? At least it has some value!" He asked angrily.
"Don't look at me! Airhead over there is the one who drew all over your map."
"Hey, look. I happen to know that there's another Earth Kingdom village ahead of us- just about one mile. We can get a map there." Kaze said, still kicking up dust.
"I'm impressed. You're actually progressing." Kaji nodded.
"In what?" Kidate snorted.
"Well I beat you in sparring didn't I?" Kaze exclaimed, at the same time Kaji told her, "He is improving. I actually have to use two hands now."
Kidate scowled at them both, before turning on her heal, muttering how she just needed to train more, then she'd beat him. Kaze followed her, snickering at his 'victory', and Kaji trailed behind, coolly taking in the surroundings.
"Why don't you two stop arguing and pay attention. You never know when danger will find us." Kaji said, glancing at the forest around them.
"On edge, huh, Kaj?" Kaze smirked.
"I always have been. At least since…" He trailed off- blurting out suddenly. "Well, if I wasn't, you two would most likely be dead."
"At least since what?" Kidate asked nosily.
"Nothing." Kaji snapped. Putting on speed, he pushed his way to the front, elbowing both his comrades in the process.
"What was that for?" Kaze's face twisted up angrily. "I didn't say anything!"
Kaji sighed, resting his sword on his shoulder. "My past is my business. It doesn't concern either of you."
"Fine." Kidate glanced at him, expression cynical. "Don't ask, don't tell right?"
Kaji gave her a small stare, unsure of what she meant. Instead of answering, he shook his head. "Let's go. That village can't be more than five more minutes away."
Silence reigned once more, for neither earth, air, nor fire bender could think of something to say. Neither Kidate nor Kaze wanted an angry Kaji in their face, and Kaji didn't know what to say after his outburst.
Luckily for them, Kaze's prediction was correct. In four minutes they had reached the village. Happy Earth peasants roamed the small town, and the marketplace was large- full of colorful booths.
"Okay, let's start looking for that map!" Kidate said, eyes taking in each small sales cart.
"Let's try here." Kaji said, shrugging as he walked into the nearest stall. Inside, an old man sat, surrounded by a vast selection of weaponry.
"Hello!" The old man croaked, eyes lighting up greedily at the sight of the three benders. "Welcome to my humble weapons shop. Do you see anything that pleases you?" He asked, rubbing his wrinkled hands together.
"Sorry sir. Kidate said, shaking her head. "We're actually looking for a ma-"
"Kidate, why don't we look here first- I just want to see the selection." Kaji said, holding up a hand to stop her denial.
"You already have a sword!" Kidate nearly whined. "We need the map! How are we supposed to go up to 'north', as you so eloquently put it, if we don't have any directions?" She glared forcibly.
"We have plenty of time, Kidate! I'm just looking."
"Fine." Kidate huffed, glaring around her.
Suddenly, Kaze shouted from the weapons rack. "Hey Old Man! Where did you get this little beauty?" He held up a beautiful longbow, with light wood and green emeralds sparkling within the hilt ().
"Would it kill you to show some respect?" Kidate asked, sighing hopelessly. Kaze shrugged, still examining the bow.
"I don't mind young lady, not to worry." The man said, green and blue robes flying out behind him as he rushed over to Kaze's side. "That, young lad, is a bow fit for a King! Guaranteed to be the best bow you ever use. It's only twenty gold pieces, and comes with matching arrows- free of charge!"
Kaze eyed the longbow critically for a moment, before tossing both it and the arrows up, where Kidate caught them. "I'd like 'em if I was the bow kinda guy." He said.
Kaji looked up at this point. "Kaze, do you have twenty five gold pieces?" He asked, holding up a large katana- almost the twin of his own, but with the red and black of the hilt switched. "My specialty is duel sword fighting."
"Naw, only enough for supplies." The Air bender said, waving his hand slightly in apology.
"Let's go then." Kaji said dejectedly. He placed the katana down, shaking his head sadly. "Ready, Kidate?" He asked. Looking up, he saw the female handing the old man a number gold coins. "What are you doing?"
Kidate spun around, blushing slightly and holding the bow and arrows to her chest. "I-I used to use both naginata and longbows at home, but I could only bring one with me, and I saw this one…" She trailed off.
"Fine, whatever. Let's just go get that map." Kaji said walking out of the story. Kaze followed behind, eyes bright as he looked around. Kidate trailed behind, eyes glued to her new bow.
"Oh, RAMEN!" Kaze yelled, pulling Kaji in a crème colored booth with him. Kidate followed them in after a moment.
The two boys had somehow, in the course of one minute, gotten into a ramen eating contest.
"We're never gonna get a map…" Kidate moaned. She shook her head. "Guys, I'm getting the map. You just stay here, and don't blow up from eating too much." The female's tone was incredibly dry, as she raised a sarcastic eyebrow at them.
Both males nodded absently, intent on glaring, and trying to out eat the other.
"Why do I even bother?" Kidate left, the stall, muttering about immature boys and their stupid contests.
OoOoO
An hour later, Kidate returned, carrying a map, and the supplies needed for their journey. Kaze and Kaji had finished their contest, with Kaze being the winner.
"You barely beat me." Kaji said arrogantly, waving his hand.
"I beat you by three whole bowls!" Kaze replied in like.
"Three bowls? Out of what, fifty? That's not a lot."
"Three bowls is a lot when your stomach is about to explode! And the fact still stands that I won."
"Would both of you shut up? God, is this what it's like when Airhead and I fight? And why did you two eat so much! Your ramen guts are disturbing." Kidate snapped at the both of them. The two boys had eaten one hundred and three bowls of ramen between them- needless to say both their stomachs had expanded.
"Well-" Before Kaze could rant back, a loud horn blew in the distance, and dark plumes of smoke rose lazily into the sky.
"Fire Nation." Kaji growled angrily, ramen belly suddenly disappearing.
Kidate nodded, turning to look at him. She cocked an eyebrow. "What happened to your ramen gut?" She asked.
Kaji and Kaze shrugged, and the three raced towards the attack- and the memories that would be unlocked because of it.
OoOoO
Looks up was that a cliffhanger? Or is it just my imagination? Meh
Now, before I go, I would like to give a big thank you to FK, who poked and prodded at my muse until it woke up and actually worked (lazy bum). Oh, and you might have noticed this is out early. Well,since this chapter was mainly fluff, we figgured we'd post it early. The action chapters- well, those will still be a week. Unless we get to 40 reivews for this update, and the next one. Then well see, hmm?
() Is that what the wooden part of the bow is called? 'Cause I got no clue. First one to tell me the answer get's a cookie, and a chapter dedicated after them.
Toodles and review. I still have Zuko's fan girls here.
DP