Elements Joined

By: DP and FK

Chapter…14?

Hey, everyone! Yeah, we're late again. FK gave me his strep throat, so he couldn't come over and work. /sigh/ We got it all planed out though. We're ending the 'introduction' arc in a couple of chapters. Next is the- /gets hit to shut up/ Right! The chapter.

OoOoO

"Thanks, Harry! Thanks, James! See you guys later." Kidate laughed happily as she watched the gates close behind them. Omashu stretched before them, the carts, buildings, and people bustling about their business. The four travelers stood, awed at the amount of movement.

"I need a drink." Kaji announced suddenly. He turned and walked into the crowd.

"Wait, Kaji! Ramen!" Kaze jumped up. But before he could follow the firebender, Ame grabbed his arm.

"No, Kaze. I know I haven't been with the group long, but even I could see that Kaji's loss to Shino really shook him up. He may need a little alone time." The waterbender released him.

"I suppose." Kaze conceded. "I'll just go get some ramen on my own." The Airbender jumped up, landing on the roof of a nearby building, before disappearing.

Silence reigned for a few moments, before Ame spoke up. "I'm gonna have a look around." Kidate nodded and the healer walked away.

…

"Now where was Uncle's house again?"

OoOoO

Kaji smirked slightly, as he found what he was looking for. A bar. The firebender walked into the small, corner side building. Inside, the lighting was dim, and the sounds of both laughter and arguing drowned made it impossible to hear one's self think. This, in hindsight, was also the point of the alcohol.

The firebending loner entered the building, and walked up to the bar. "Tender. One shot." Kaji placed a coin in front of him. The bartender nodded, and pulled out a glass of the amber colored liquid.

Kaji was sipping his drink when a commotion caught his attention. "You wench!" A large, burly man growled. He picked up a woman by her upper arms and pushed her against a wall. The man was beyond drunk.

"I-I'm sorry! I…I just tripped! I didn't mean to bump into you." The woman wriggled free, and scrambled away. The man stumbled after her, swinging his fist angrily. But before he could, a shining blade blocked his path.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's impolite to hit a woman?" Kaji asked, Kasai settled in his hand. The man narrowed his eyes, daring this stranger to oppose him.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that little boys should play with knives?" A burly hand reached out a snatched Kasai out of Kaji's hand. The family sword flew across the room, where it landed with a resounding clang. The bar was silent.

Crimson eyes narrowed. "That," Kaji stood up and took a fighting stance, "was a huge mistake." The drunk growled at the firebender's words, and charged the smaller man.

Kaji merely smirked that the attempt to take him down. Most would find the man's attack intimidating. But Kaji saw a weakness.

When the drunk was almost on top of Kaji, the warrior jumped. Landing heavily behind the man, Kaji kicked him in the back. The drunk tumbled over the bar, crashing into a stack of bottles and glasses.

Kaji snorted at the mess of a man, before turning and picking up Kasai. Without a word, the firebender stalked out of the bar.

OoOoO

Kidate hummed as she walked the streets of Omashu. How nice it was to be home! But as she turned a corner, the sounds of a scuffle drew her attention. At a nearby bar, a large, burly man was fighting- Kaji?

As she watched, Kaji jumped over the man and kicked him over the bar. As he turned around, Kidate ducked away, trying to act casual behind a newspaper she picked up. Sneaking just for the fun of it, she ducked her head behind the paper.

Kaji walked by, sparing a single look at her. "Hey, Kidate." He greeted.

Kidate dropped the paper. "No fun." She pouted, crossing her arms. Kaji was surprised. In all his time with the Earthbender, he had never seen Kidate look this carefree.

There was silence for a moment, before Kaji turned and stared into his bar, right at his half-empty drink. Kaji sighed longingly.

"No, Kaji. Going back in there would be a really stupid idea." Kidate said with a sigh, grabbing his shoulder and turning him away from the bar. Kaji grumbled a bit, but didn't resist.

As Kaji walked the other way, he threw a quick 'Bye', before returning to him grumbling. "Are there anymore bars around here?" He asked allowed. "That shot was good."

Kidate sighed as she continued along. It had been so long- a lot of things seemed different. She couldn't quite remember how to reach her Uncle's home. She knew the general direction, but after that…

The redhead ambled along, stopping occasionally at different signs, carts, and events. So much to see, so much to do! How much she had missed her home- here with her Uncle. Not her 'parents', nor her sisters.

As Kidate turned the corner, she found her self at a familiar landmark. "Finally. The city park!" The large, green field extended for yards. Trees, flowers, and many species of both animals and insects roamed free. It was one of Kidate's favorite places in the whole city.

Kidate sat on a bench in the center of the park. In a nearby tree, a chirrel () twittered at her. The Earthbender gazed at her surroundings, trying to figure out where to go.

"Where is Uncle's house?" Kidate groaned, stamping her foot angrily. Small stalagmites grew around the limb. The red-hair traveler looked up, sighing. Then, her eyes lit up. "That's it!" Jumping up, Kidate zipped through the park, down the road, and past a large, purplish-blue tent. One that held a certain blonde waterbender

OoOoO

"Yes, my dear, I can see your future quite clearly. Just hand me a silver coin and I'll tell you all about it." A wrinkled old woman sat behind an overly decorated table. In front of her sat a crystal ball, red mist puffing inside.

"Look, lady." Ame sighed, exasperated. "I don't want my fortune told. I just want directions to the nearest supply booth."

"Ahhh, my ignorant one, do not be afraid of the future! Know its secrets- only then can you find true happiness!" The fortune teller's voice rose to a startling pitch.

"I know my future- it's to buy some food for the road, maybe a couple of trinkets. I don't need you to tell me that. I don't need you at all, in fact. Leave me alone." Ame glared at the old woman. "Everyone knows fortune telling is a bunch of lies and cheats anyways. All mirrors and tricks, I tell ya."

"Now, dearie, no need to get upset. But wouldn't be nice to just know a bit of what is going to happen?"

"No. Look, I'm just going to go now. Go scam someone else." Ame ripped open the curtain door and stalked dramatically out the door. As she walked down the street, looking for a supply cart- where are they hiding those things in the city! - She thought she heard a voice shouting happily. And as it turned out, above her were the Omashu slides.

OoOoO

Kaze slurped his noodles happily. He had ramen, the day off, a place to stay for the night- the Airbender was happy. As he wandered aimlessly, Kaze began to hear shouts of merriment. As he followed the sound, the traveler found himself at the Omashu slides.

"Hi there! Are you here for the slide?" An Earth Kingdom soldier asked, as he stood nearby.

"Eh, sure. Why not?" The Airbender replied, throwing away the remains of his ramen.

"Wonderful! Just walk through here," the soldier motioned towards a small gate to their right, "and join the fun!"

Kaze began to walk towards the gate, but paused. "How much are they paying you to say all that?"

The soldier stared at him for a moment, before replying, "A good amount."

Kaze entered the gate, to find he was above the city. The wind whistled by, making the footing seem more dangerous. The Airbender gulped. "Long way down."

"Now, don't tell me you're afraid of heights?" Another solider said, walking up to the traveler.

"Of course not! I'm an Airbender."

"Well then, 'ere you go!" He shoved a small towel onto the slide, and pushed Kaze onto it. It slowly crept forward.

"Is this ride saaaaa-"Whatever could have been said was cut off when the towel slipped off the ledge and onto the track. The Airbender speed forward, hair and clothes pushed strait back.

First screaming in fear, then in excitement, Kaze raced down the slides. The world around him seemed to blur, and he couldn't what was beside him. The only clear thing was the slide.

It took two minutes for the ride to fully end. By then Kaze was completely disheveled. Helped out of the slide by yet another soldier, Kaze took a few shaky steps, and nearly lost his balance. "That," the Airbender breathed "was the single GREATEST ride I have ever been on. Oh, I'm doing that again."

But, it was not to be. For before Kaze could reach the top again, he was intercepted by his companions.

"C'mon, Kaze, I found my Uncle." Kidate called, waving him over.

"But…the slides!"

"Kaze, we can go on the slides later. For now, we need to get a place to stay." Kaji attempted to placate the whining Airbender.

"Fine." He grumbled, and began to follow the rest of the group. Kidate lead purposefully, as she wove through the streets, leading them strait up to the center of the town- the palace.

"Why are we here?" Ame asked softly.

"I don't know. Maybe her uncle works here?" Kaji answered in the same tone.

"Hiya, Ron. Is Uncle accepting visitors?" Kidate greeted one of the guards happily. The guard chuckled.

"Even if he wasn't, you know you'd still be allowed to see him! Go ahead- I don't think I need to show you where he is." Kidate nodded, said her goodbyes, and lead the group through the winding halls of the castle.

Soon, they reached a short hallway, where thumping sounds could be heard through the door to the right. And as Kidate reached for the door and knocked on it, Kaji realized something.

"Kidate, is your Uncle-"He was cut off by the door opening, and there in the doorway stood the man that could only be a relation of Kidate.

King Bumi the Third.

OoOoO

DP: Woo-Hoo! Finally done!

FK: You can say that again- but don't. Please.

DP: Well, it's a bit of a cliffhanger. King Bumi (all hail him) has had a son, who in turn had two sons- Kidate's father and uncle.

FK: For the purposes of this fic, if nothing else.

DP: Well…it's been fun writing this chapter. Lately life has been bad- FK here gave me his strep throat, and I caught the flu at the same time (So the doc tells me- I have to take medications for both. Blegh!) .

FK: Well, review, for our new arc is coming! And it's gonna be great.

DP: Yup! So review, and enforce our love for this story.

Review

The two twits