Elements Joined
Chapter 10
By: DP and FK
DP: Welcome back! I'm very surprised at the lack of reviews. We have over 500 hits, and NOT EVEN FIFTY REVIEWS!
FK: Now, DP…you know what? I'm mad too! REVIEW!
DP: YEAH! Oh, by the way, this is a flashback, just bear with us. It's necessary. So…onwards!
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"Well done." Shino praised, clapping his hands slowly. A young Kaji beamed- it wasn't often the great Admiral Shino congratulated anyone. Especially not a fourteen year old.
"I believe that you're ready." He continued. He nodded towards the two chairs in the room- which had been pushed against the wall to avoid getting in the way (or scorched). "Come, sit." He sat down, motioning to the chair in front of him.
"What is it, Admiral?" Kaji asked crimson eyes wide and innocent. What could be so big that it would make Shino be so sincere?
"Well, my young apprentice, the Fire Nation has a long history of trying to overtake the other nations." Kaji nodded- such things were studied in classes. Recently, they had started going over what the Fire Nation had done wrong, and what they should have done.
"Now, have you heard of the Great Fire Comet?" Kaji shook his head no. "It is a giant, flaming comet, with vast storages of elemental power. We, as fire benders, can tap into this power. And with it, we could destroy all the other nations."
"So, what's your point?" Kaji asked, disliking where this conversation was heading.
"Dear, naïve little Kaji. It means we plan to rule the nations- it has always been our destiny. And you, young one, with your power, you could have a position among the top ranks. The best of the best, I've always said." A slight chuckle escaped his lips. Shino looked up, expecting to see delight upon his student's face. But what he saw in Kaji's eyes was pure fear.
"B-but why? Why would the Nation do such a thing? We are at peace, ever since Avatar Aang defeated the former Fire Lord, Ozai!"
"The 'Avatar' was a fool!" The word 'avatar' was spat out like a curse. "He defeated a great leader- right before his victory! Fire's destiny is to rule, to destroy, and to CONQUER!"
Even in his fear, this sparked anger in Kaji. "How could you say that!" Not wanting to continue this political battle, Kaji slowly backed away.
"Well, if you are not with us, you are against us!" Shino spat, fist flaming.
Unsure of what to do, or where to go, he eyed the twin broad sword hanging on the wall. They were antiques- rumors had it that they had once belonged to Ozai's son, Zuko, who had helped defeat his father.
"Now, now, Kaji. We wouldn't be thinking of attacking your mentor, now would we?" Shino lashed forward, fire flickering just behind his eyes.
"Sir! What's the commotion down here?" Three guards slammed to door open with force, shaking it on its hinges.
"Fools! Get hi-!" Before he could say the rest, Kaji swung his foot around, and caught Shino in the temple, fire flaring heatedly. Shino was knocked down by the surprise attack, and tumbled over the chair he had occupied beforehand. He lay there- completely stunned.
Kaji stared for a moment, immediately regretting what he had done. He had struck his own master- and with such a cheap blow too! He had struck on instinct, nothing more.
The guards stood immobile with shock. With an angry cry, one soldier launched himself at Kaji. The warrior jabbed the blunt end of his spear into Kaji's stomach. Kaji grunted as the forced drove him into the wall. Growling, he sprang up, and dodged the sword of the second guard.
Kaji knew he couldn't escape this place and face these fighters. As much as his pride protested, he would have to run. Kaji dodged the last fighters flame blast, and darted under the man's arms, towards the ancient swords. With a hop, he grabbed both handles, and slashed downwards, blocking the spear's second jab. With a blazed backslash, he blocked the sword sent the fire onto the man's hands.
Screeching in pain, the fighter dropped his sword and ran into the two other fighters, knocking them all over.
"That worked nicely." Kaji commented lightly, before turning and darting out the door…
…and into a large group of fighters, all armed and extremely dangerous looking. Kaji's thoughts briefly turned traitorous on him. What if he couldn't defeat them?
Then, inspiration struck. He couldn't defeat them, but did he need to. Kaji sprinted towards the group, and jumped as high as he could. With a flourish, he sent a blast of fire down towards the fighters. This scorched and momentarily blinded his enemies, and propelled him right in front of the door. Kaji opened the door, and arrogantly strutted out into the sunlight.
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Kaji bolted down the crowded street, dodging the occasional food cart. He knew he was being pursued- his every instinct screamed such. So, he continued down the worn road to his home. He lived just past this bend.
Kaji stopped, dead in his tracks, surveying the grisly scene with unabashed horror. From his house rose plumes of thick, dark smoke. What used to be his home was now smoldering ash. Kaji walked next to where his room had been, tears falling unnoticed, where they made small indents in the smoky dust. In here, his father lay, dead. Scorched from head to toe, his back rested against what had once been a support beam. He sat, cradling his father's head in his lap.
It hurt. It hurt so much to know that the man that had raised him- his only true parent, as his mother had disappeared long ago; leaving him with only his father and a few foggy memories- was truly dead. It all seemed like a horrible dream. One he would wake up from and run into his father's room, as he had done when he was a small child. He would sob into his father's nightshirt, choking out the dream to him. His father would be so kind, so understanding…
A black and red katana was propped up next to his father. Its name was Kasai, the family sword. It had a power, a deep legacy that could not be more powerful. Kaji picked it up, feeling- or maybe simply hoping- that some of his father's spirit resided within.
But, nothing about this scene hurt more that the fact that both his home and his parent had been destroyed by the element he possessed. Maybe…maybe this was fire's destiny. To destroy. And with that knowledge, Kaji swore upon the remains of his father and home. That he would never fire bend, unless completely necessary.
And with that, Kaji walked down the lone path of a wanderer.
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DP: This is a good chapter, I think. Now(points at FK) GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! It's NINE O CLOCK AT NIGHT AND YOU'RE STILL HERE!
FK: (asleep) Zzzz...
DP: (Smirks and pulls out several markers and a can of shaving cream) Hahaha! Now, review people- we're serious about Zuko's fan girls- next it's ZULA'S fan girls. (Dun Dun Dun)
Toodles,
The two idiots who write this thing