Elements Joined

Written by: Oh, look up

Chapter 12

DP: Howdy! Welcome to the next chappy, meh?

FK: Stupid American

DP: Hey! You're my next door neighbor! You can't talk!

FK: Well, who cares about that? Well, if you reviewed and left your email, you've read a bit of this chapter already.

DP: And you've BETTER have reviewed!

FK: Yes, well…On to the fic!

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"So, where to Kaji?" Kaze chirped, tone as cheerful as always. Kaji glared at him, never the morning person. Kidate shared his perspective.

"You are not human." She stated matter-of-factly. "There is no way a mere mortal can be that cheerful so early." She took a sip from her tea, which had been kindly prepared my Ame- who was an early riser herself.

"Mornings are one of the best times. Everything is so nice and peaceful- and a lot of good healing herbs bloom in the early morning." Ame said quietly, patting her medicine bag warmly. Both her and her herbs had done wonders for Kaji's wound- it was now but a scar.

"So, where to?" Kaze insisted, now seated on a fallen log. He poked Kaji repeatedly, seemingly delighted at how angry he could make the fire bender. Kaji merely, waved his hand, a small flame appearing there, effectively warding off offending finger. "Mean!" Kaze whined, holding his threatened hand protectively.

"Well…" The firebender mumbled, "I'm not sure what were doing. We've wasted so much time…"

"I know one thing. I must be leaving- you need to move on, and I may be needed somewhere also. I bid you farewell." Ame stood, bag slung across one shoulder.

"No! You have to stay. We need a waterbender, for one thing. And plus, knowing these two and they're knack for picking up trouble, we'll need a healer again soon." Kidate jumped up, and put her hand on Ame's shoulder.

"I agree." Kaji stated, picking up his sword. "We are up against the Fire Nation. Injury is going to happen. We'll need a healer to see this through.

"Well…" Ame said, sounding unsure.

"Please?" Kaze cried, silver eyes wide and pleading.

Ame smiled. "Alright, I'll stay. For now, at least."

"Whoo-hoo! I'm not the only girl anymore!" Kidate cried, jumping into the air.

"Right…so where we heading?" Kaze asked, throwing up his arms in annoyance.

"Well…we need a place we can train…and learn more about the terrain…and get some supplies, I suppose." Kaji said.

"Omashu!" Kidate stated, as she grabbed her pack.

"Omashu?" Ame asked, tilting her head to one side. "Why there?"

"It has one of the biggest archives in all the nations- which means maps, and lots of them- supplies are easy to get, and lots of people train there everyday. It has lots of dojos. Plus, that's where my Uncle lives- we can stay with him. Uncle always has some spare rooms!" The Earthbender rambled.

"Alright." Kaze said, seeming happy to go…well…anywhere. "So, who is your Uncle? You never said."

"My Uncle? Well, you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?" Kidate replied, and smirked. Oh, this was going to be fun. For her, anyway.

"Right. So, east we go." Kaji dictated, walking strait into the forest.

"Hey! Shouldn't we take the path?" Ame ran to catch up with the firebender, Kidate and Kaze right behind her.

"Why. This is east." He said simply.

"Typical Fire bender logic. It's not worth the breath to argue." Kidate muttered under her breath.

"For once, I agree with you." Kaze murmured right back. For a second, all was silent, then "What the…did we just agree on something?" Both let out sounds of disgust, jumping as far apart as possible.

"If you two are finished, we could go now?" Kaji waved his hands toward the thick brush. Both lit up with flame. It got much darker up ahead.

"Fine, fine." Both muttered, as Ame giggled at the two.

The quartet wandered through the forest, with only Kaji's hands to guide them. Needless to say, it was hard to see what they were doing.

"Owww! Kidate, that was my foot!" Ame said, pushing the redhead off of her.

"Well, Kaze keeps pushing me! I can't help it."

"Thorns, thorns, owww." Kaze muttered, trying to protect his face, but just getting his sleeves caught.

"I give up on all of you." Kaji stated, quickening his pace. As he moved farther away, the light dimmed for the others.

"Wait up Kaji! We can't see with out you!" Kaze dashed forward, jumping over a fallen log.

Kidate and Ame rushed forward to catch up. Unknown to them, their footsteps were not the only ones around them.

OoOoO

As the four benders traveled, the forest seemed eerily silent. Suddenly, a small crack rang through the air- too sharp a sound to be an animal.

Kaji stopped dead in his tracks. Kaze attempted to keep walking, but Kaji held out his arms. "Stop," he commanded, "and listen." He unsheathed Kasai, blade ringing clearly in the stillness. Another crack, this time softer, muffled almost, sounded out.

Kaji wasted no time, jumping into the undergrowth. The sound of battle began almost instantly, but without the light Kaji had provided, the remaining three were left blind to the fight.

"What-what's going on?" Kaze asked, slight panic seeping into his voice. The other two stayed completely still, eyes wide with fear, but ready for battle.

With a suddenness that nearly stunned the remaining travelers, a burst of flame jumped out of the darkness. Briefly, the forest was illuminated enough to make out the vague silhouettes of two other fighters. Both Kidate and Ame dashed for the fighters- the same fighter.

"Oww! I had him!"

"I was fine on my own!"

Another flame shot out of the forest, ending the quarrel. Again, the fighters could be seen, this time closer. Ame shot a few ice shards at where she had seen the figure, hoping to hit the shape she had spotted. On the other side, Kidate did the same with rocks.

Suddenly, Kaji appeared, setting a few twigs on fire, and throwing down a black clad warrior. "Assassin." He growled, holding up a dagger and small vial of poison. "Did you get the others?"

"We saw two more." Ame told him, sounding professional. "But, they disappeared before we could get them."

"Dammit." Kaji cursed, throwing down the dagger into the soft earth. It stood strait up in the ground. The firebender turned to the assassin, holding out Kasai. The killer scrambled away, only to be cornered by a tree. "There's no where to run. So don't try it. I'll only say this once. Who do you work for?"

The killer trembled, but answered. "I-I didn't see his face." His voice was weak with fear.

"Liar!" Kaji spat, pressing Kasai harder towards the assassin's throat.

"It's true! H-he was a firebender. He must have been good to- he had lots of metals on his coat…and he has lots of men working for him. There out to kill you and any companions you may have. But that's all I know, I swear!"

Kaji turned to Ame and Kidate, voice heavy.

"Shino."

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DP: OMG! We're actually done! May you all sing our praises!

FK: Or you could review.

DP: That too. Sorry about the lateness- busy.

BOTH: Bye and review!