-1Demon Rivalry
Ch 21
The morning moon was setting closer and closer to dusk showing the morning sun would soon rise to take it's place. In a hidden cave the voices of rage could be heard echoing through the cave making anyone shy away in fear. Ronin stood in front of a kneeling Kei staring at the ground hoping she wouldn't have to look her master in the eye as both Kane and Zinan kept a safe distance from the two. Their master glared at her his hands looking like they were about to grab her by the throat. "I told you to bring her here alive did I not? Well didn't I!" whispered Ronin, Kei slowly looked her mater in the eye praying he would show mersey. "Yes. But please understand I didn't mean for it to happen… we were fighting and she…" "You killed her, you've explained this already! She was vital and now with her gone…!" Ronin cut her off sheathing with rage, He was having trouble finishing his sentence and preparing to kill her by snapping her neck. Kei knew what was going to happen and remembered something that could save her maybe. "But she was not one of a kind we can use another." she said desperately, Ronin looked at her with a confused expression and lifted her up by placing his finger under her chin and making her rise to eye level. "Are you sure? You wouldn't lie to me would you?" he whispered, looking deep into her eyes never blinking almost causing her to fall too pieces back her body went numb she was so scared. Kei shook her head furiously, "No I wouldn't lie, she arrived here same as the Avatar!" Kei quickly said, Ronin walked away as if contemplating something and finally turned to face the three. "We will worry about her last for now what of the Avatar and Zuko? He asked Kane walked and stood beside Kei ready to report his findings. Kei relaxed and started to feel more relaxed glad she now had one more shot. "The Avatar needs work. He still thinks with as pure of a heart as a human can poses. He thinks not of death or pain but sees the world through naïve eyes. He needs to be tainted and I know how… please let me work on him I promise he will be ready for us to use soon." Kane reported, Ronin nodded in approval and turn to face Kei once more causing her uneasiness again almost forgetting about her other mission. "Zuko farther along than we thought, he already has a clouded heart and mind if not for his uncle he might have joined us. I need to work on him a little longer though." Kei answered, Ronin began to calm down after hearing their news and sat in his chair. "Good, things may still work on schedule after all, just make sure nothing happens to them." Ronin said, as he finished Zinan stepped forward and bowed before him. "Master have we not spent enough time here, Kane will work slowly… too slowly. The Avatar doesn't need that much molding done let me handle this." Zinan asked, Kane began to protest be was silenced by Ronin raised hand. "What makes you think you can do it faster than him?" asked Ronin,
"Simple I don't think playing mind games with the child is needed all we need to do is kill one or two of his friends in front of him and make sure he feels he did every thing he could to save them that will do it." Zinan explained, " or course you see no need for mind games your not intelligent enough seeing that you got rocks in your head." Kane mocked, Zinan ignored him and waited for his masters answer. Ronin looked at him then at Kane then a grin formed on his face, Kane looked at him confused then began to grin as well as if sharing a secret. "Very well, but if you fail I'll kill you… do you understand?" Asked Ronin, "Yes." Zinan answered, he then stood up proud as if he won a great victory. "Leave and get to work I want to leave as soon as possible." Ronin said waving then away, The three walked out the door Zinan pushing his way to the front giving Kane a grin of superiority as he passed. As the three walked through the cave Zinan couldn't help but gloat to Kane about stealing his assignment and turned his head to look at his face but saw him not despairing but grinning smugly which really annoyed him. "Tell me Kane how's it feel to loose the masters favor? You were in trusted to break the Avatar so we could use him and now we know how the master sees you… a failure." mocked Zinan, but Kane's expression didn't change but his grin seemed to widen. "Zinan my stature here has not been damage… your just to blind to see it. Look at you your just a pitiful minion while Kei and I and Ronin's right and left hand demons while you are next to nothing… a minion." Kane said, Zinan was getting angry his fist now tight fists and shaking in furry. And now turned completely around standing in front of him giving his darkest glare. He hated when someone thought they were better than he was and refused to listen to it. " You think your better than me? You serve him as well your no different than me!" Zinan shouted, "Oh but I am, haven't you notice how I can call him by his name or master while you have to call him only master? Kei and I are given the greatest assignment while you are stuck with the grunt work plus our ideas are listened to and given consideration while yours are ignored and why is that? You are not clever nor are you resourceful and you can't think further than a few hours. You can't come up with a clever plan and well I could go on for an hour. But to put it plainly you were only chosen to join because you …" Kane was cut off as Zinan threw his arm out in a attempt to slam him into the wall but Kane quickly ducked out of the way and stood his ground not moving form his spot.
Kei stood back a few steps and leaned against a wall expecting a good show. Zinan brought his other fist down straight into the ground as Kane stepped gentle back wards never letting his grin fall. "Like I was saying not smart at all. If you can't win a argument you resort to violence's show just how simple you are." Kane mocked, Zinan charged at swinging both arms at him trying to land a punch but each blow was easily avoided, after a few seconds Kane grabbed one of Zinans arms and flipped himself over the giant and stood ready for another attack. Zinan turned and went to attack again only this time slowed his pace and began to fight with a bit more control. As he threw another punch Kang easily dodged it only to be caught off guard as Zinan threw his foot behind Kane causing him to fall to the ground. Zinan quickly brought his knee down along with his elbow to the side trying to crush his rival, Kane rolled to the side then rolled backwards barley dodging each blow. Zinan stood up quickly a little short of breath, only this time looking at Kane and began to laugh at what had been happening. " What? Why do you not fight back? Guess it's hard to seeing is you can't hurt me… must be difficult now I see why you only attack me with words and you think nothing would happen you should only insult those who you can beat like Kei or maybe a mouse." Zinan said, Kane only laughed at this causing Zinan to confusion. "You forget about what I can do. Another sign of your ignorance." Kane said, Zinan paid no mind to it shaking it off. "I haven't forgotten I know you can't hurt me with your poison. I have no flesh remember?" Zinan asked, just as he said it Kane ran straight at him now both hands glowing and swing quickly at Zinan. The giant blocked both attacks with his arms pushing them to the side and brought his leg up to kick him. Kane grabbed both arms and pulled himself up wards and used his legs to kick off the rock demon and flip backwards. Zinan looked at his wrists and then quickly jumped backwards after relishing something that happened. He looked down and saw both of his wrists were burnt. When he looked up again Kane was quickly moving side to side trying to confuse him barley noticeable to a demons eyes, Zinan moved backwards trying to smack each attack away as Kane made shot after shot trying to claw him to pieces and for once Zinan began to get nervous not knowing how this fight would turn out. Zinan began to return the attack as he threw punch after punch missing each time as Kane made a few small burnt cuts as Zinan barley dodging his opponents attacks. Each time Zinan found himself against a wall while trying to hit Kane only to ether miss or escape his opponents attack. Kei stood against the wall enjoying every moment of this fight mainly betting Kane would win she hated Zinan. It wasn't just one thing she hated everything about him and wished for someone to kill but Ronin would not be pleased.
("Someone needs to break this up. I'd love to see Zinan put in his place but if Kane kills him Ronin may kill him and Kane's not to bad.") Kei walked over in between the two when they separated mainly Zinan gaining distance beginning to get a little afraid. "Ok boys enough I think you've tried to prove who's is bigger but now I think we all should get going. You got a Avatar to break and Kane you can't expect him to do his job all cut up do you?" Kei asked grinning at Kane completely approving everything and winking at him. Kane smiled and walked out the cave leaving Kei and Zinan alone. "I could have handled him! You didn't need to step in to save him I hasn't going to kill him!" Zinan yelled, Kei turned and frowned at him trying not to get in a fight with him as well. "I wasn't saving him or you mainly ending the fight so you each can do your jobs I want off this island sooner than later. Oh for the record he would have killed you." Kei said, Zinan growled at her and walked towards her till he stood right over her. "You don't know what your talking about and how could you? You're the weakest of us all and no matter what race a women understands nothing but what is expected of her. In fact you should be warming our master rather than going out on a mission or is your idea of fulfilling your mission by sleeping with that human if so then your doing it well ha-ha-ha." Zinan whispered, It took all of Kei's will power and more from killing him right. She had been in many battles and proved she was a warrior, perhaps a better one than he. Zinan only grinned at her and pushed by her followed by Kei each going in different directions.
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Everyone woke up early and scared, Katara was still shaky after her conversation last night and not getting over it quickly. When she walked down stairs everyone was waiting on her though not easily showing dredging their new plan. New and repaired weapons were held in everyone's hands and sat on the couner was a new sword since hers were dull but was shocked to see Cho armed as well. "Are you coming with us Cho?" Katara asked, "Yes I was begged to come." Cho said, Katara noticed she looked at Zuko while she said that he pretended not to hear, she couldn't help but smile. But she couldn't get what happened out of her head and tried not to show. Aang and Sokka notice a grim look on her face and began to worry. "You alright Katara you look a little strange?" Asked Aang, Katara came to her since and looked at Aang putting on her most convincing face she could. "Yeah I'm fine just a little nerves I guess. So why did Cho decide to come with us now anyway?" said Katara changing the subject, "Beats us we came down here, told us she was coming and that was it." answered Sokka, Katara turned and eyed her and Zuko then secretly smiled starting to figure out what happened. "Ok now that everyone is awake lets head out before it gets to late." Yelled Iroh, everyone grabbed they're weapons and headed out as Cho lead the way followed by Zuko earning him a few grins and chuckles from the others.