Chapter 8
An old friend and new ones
Man, am I writing this quick or what? Uh-huh go me go me! Yeah and I know I've messed up on some words so sue me. Um never mind don't sue me.
Last time:
"Well, since we have to work for this guy no one else seems to be making his life a living heck so that means it is up to us," she said with a smile. Kane smiled back and nodded.
They heard foot steps and General Kin and his guards walked into the room.
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John held her breath. Kane looked at her and whispered, "What are you doing?"
John smiled trying not to laugh, "I don't know!"
General Kin walked in the room and looked at John and Kane smiling like chipmunks. "And what do you find so funny?"
John's smile got bigger and Kane almost laugh. Oh No! She is not going to do what I think she is? But she did.
"Do you really want to know?"
"Yes!"
"Well, come here and I'll tell you, it's a secret."
General Kin smiled and walked up to John and leaned in so far that his ear was right next to John's mouth and she could feel his breath.
"We were wandering if your butt was as big and blue as a Baboon's!" Kane and John burst out laughing. General Kin got mad and hit John over the head with a club reopening her gash.
"OUCH!" Kane's anger built up with each motion of the blood's drop.
"You think you're so tough huh! Tying girls up and hitting them over the head with clubs so they can't fight back! You're not a man; you're a baboon just like your damn father!"
This got him really angry. He walked up to Kane and undid her chains. She fell to the floor in a heap. Instantly he started to kick her and the guards joined him with flames flashing at their feet.
The John's blood began to boil. "STOP IT! WE'LL DO ANYTHING IF YOU JUST STOP AND STAY AWAY!"
General Kin looked satisfied with what was going on and smiled. "Fine, you will be bonded into your new fashionable gold bracelets. And get into your slave clothes and work like you enjoy it. The bracelets are Bending proof, meaning you can't get out of them or do any Bending."
General Kin looked down at Kane struggling to get up and smiled as she looked up. Her hair was getting caked with mud and blood and the blood was going into her eyes. But his smile quickly vanished as he saw the fire burning brighter than ever in her eyes. He bent down and looked further into them. What he saw scared him. He saw a fire dragon flying around in them and he could have sworn he saw the dragon turn, look at him, and lunge out. General Kin feel down surprised.
"Unbind them and put on their bracelets and give them their clothes, they start work tomorrow," he left but John caught the look in his eyes and saw fear, satisfaction, and something that she couldn't tell what it was. They were put into their bracelets and were told that someone would bring them their clothes later on.
The two girls were given their own tent and John started doctoring and washing the blood out of Kane's hair. Once she was done she looked at her arm. "Is it broken?"
"No, it's just a sprang it will feel better tomorrow. Here let me take care of your head."
John felt Kane gently touch her head and wash it. It felt different from when other people wash it. Kane realized what John was thinking and smiled. "Even though I can't do Bending the water still answers to me."
"Oh." She saw the look on Kane's face a few minutes later and worried. "What?"
"That gash is big; I might have to sew it."
"WHAT?"
"Don't worry it won't hurt you one bit. I've had to get it done to me many times before."
Kane searched around for a needle and thing copper wire. She found them in a little box and began to work on John's head. Going in and out, in and out.
John winced every now and then when the needle went into her skin. She sighed when Kane paused for a while dabbing some water on the wound. Then a guard came into the room and saw them. The guard had to be only the age of eighteen. He was a very good looking guy. His eyes were a pretty amber and his hair jet black and pulled up into a ponytail. He had a great build and looked like he worked out a lot with a sword and a bow. He had a knife scar on his left eye and he looked real serious look on his face. John saw the symbol on his armor and knew he was a Fire Bender.
He looked at john and then at Kane and saw what they were doing. He walked over and laid their clothes done and sat in a small chair that was in the corner and jus stared at them. The two girls stared back at him and wondered what he was doing. John saw a butterfly fly by and took interest in that wondering what it was thinking, of all things.
Kane blinked as the guy just sat there and looked at them. He felt her staring and looked and held her stare. John felt something warm start coming down her forehead and looked between her eyes to see that her blood was running down.
"Um…yeah… a little help please."
Kane snapped out of her trance and began going back to work on her forehead while mumbling, "Sorry." She began working and John went back to flinching every time the needle contacted with her skin.
"It would be better if you put alcohol on that while you sewed it back together," the guard finally said after a few minutes.
"OH MY GOD, HE SPEAKS!" John said. Kane and the guard looked at her and John looked away and said, "Stupid aliens."
"OK whatever," Kane said and then she looked up at the guard. "I wasn't born last year I know it will help but I don't have anything with me at the moment."
He smiled. "Sorry I just thought you might want to know you could use that."
Kane thought a moment and smiled. "Will you do me a favor?"
"What?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
Kane tore off some of hr sleeve to help stop the bleeding and looked back up at the guard. "Will go out side and there is a flower by the tent called Corydalis, bring them in please. They look kind of yellowish."
The guard stood up and walked out side. He came back a few minutes later and held them up. "Are these them?"
"Yup, now come over here and hold this right here," she said. He walked over and put his hand gently on hers; she felt heat in her cheeks and knew she was blushing.
"Right here?"
"Um…Yeah, now hold it there while I grind this up."
"Ok."
Kane ducked under his arm and went over to a cup by the flap. She picked up a stick and began to grind the flowers into the cup and then put some water in it. She walked over to John and started putting the cream on her head.
"Thanks, I think I can take care of the rest from here."
"No problem. Call me any time you need me. I'm Huo."
Kane stopped working on John's head and just stared at the wound. John turned her head slightly and looked at Kane. She saw surprise and hurt. Huo stood there for a moment and then said, "It is polite to say your names back to me."
"I'm John and this is…"
"Kay."
John looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Huo bowed and walked out; he turned around and then said, "I'm your bodyguard and handler. You deal with me if you try to escape and you if someone tries to harm you they deal with me. Got it?"
"Yeah," John said rolling her eyes. Huo gave them a nod and walked out. Kane walked over and peeked out. She saw him go to his tent. She let out a sigh and went back to work on John's head.
"Ok, spill, what it is with you and Huo?"
"He use to be in our village, part of Jude's gang. He left a week before we were attacked. He had said he was going to join the war. I didn't think he would join the Fire Nation army though."
"Talk about having an off week. Finding out that your best friend is now your enemy, you get kidnapped, put into slavery, and then your friend from the village is now an enemy. No wonder you didn't tell him your name," she said. She thought for a moment. "How was he part of Jude's gang if he was a Fire Bender?"
"He didn't tell them. He worked out in secret with me and Yumi. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone. Maybe I should have."
"What about his parents, why didn't they stop him?"
"They died. He was one of the orphans in the village."
They sat there quietly with nothing else to say. Finally Kane tied the wire together and wrapped John's head up in a bandage. "Well I think that is the best I've ever done if a do say so myself." John walked over to the mirror. She unwrapped the bandage and saw a black wire in her head. "Um, yeah, that is why I covered it with the bandage. In two weeks I'll take it out for you."
"Thanks," she said rewrapping her forehead. She looked at the clothes that they had to wear and sighed. "We might as well start putting on our clothes." Kane nodded. John looked around and found a blanket and hung it between them so they could change. She took of her clothes and began putting on the fire nation clothes. She turned around and saw her self in the mirror.
She wore a red tunic with a gold collar. Her britches and long sleeved shirt were back like her gloves and boots. She turned around and saw that Kane was wearing the same thing. John looked down at her wrists and saw that the design on the bracelets was the Fire Nation symbol only the middle flame did a half circle around it and there was a ruby in the middle.
They heard a knock at the door and there stood General Kin. "Well, well, well, looks like you will be doing your first task as my slaves."
"And what pray tell is that?" John asked batting her eyes.
Oh crap, we're going to get killed before the day even ends if she keeps this up! Kane thought with a groan.
"Your first task is to amuse my special quests. They are here for… business you might say."
"Fine what ever you say when should we be ready?" Kane asked with a roll of her eyes.
"Well, it's already 8 P.M. so how abou...NOW!"
"Someone is touchy. Did they not give you your banana today?" John asked putting her hands on her hip.
"THAT IS ENOUGH GET A MOVE ON NOW!"
John and Kane could feel the flame in his eyes and quickly ran out of the tent. John looked at Kane and asked, "Do you have your sword?"
"No nothing will happen with these bracelets on. No worries."
The arrived at the main tent and saw Huo standing out side. He waved at them and they ran over to him. "That is his quest," he said when they came up and pointed at a girl with red hair and eyes and pure white skin.
John's mouth opened, "Is she his fiancée or somethin'?"
"Yeah she is. And yes she is an albino," he answered when he saw the look on her face.
John smirked, "Isn't that cute? A Monkey and a rabbit!"
"How did you know what her name was?" Huo asked.
"Wha?" John said confused.
"Her name is Rini."
"Awesome!"
Huo shook his head and saw Kane with her head down. "Come one, head up. You're up now so smile and act happy." But John saw the worry in his eyes. "What do you want us to do?"
"Just sing while they serve the food." John smiled and gave him two thumbs up.
She entered with her arms wide and sang
"Ma chere, Mademoiselle. It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you tonight.
And now we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as the dining room proudly presents - your dinner!"
Kane put on a smile and began to sing along with her, her hands in the air facing John.
"Be our guest! Be our guest!
Put our service to the test
Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie," They did a cartwheel over to them and tied their napkins around their necks.
"And we'll provide the rest
Soup du jour
hot hors d'oeuvres
why, we only live to serve
try the gray stuff
it's delicious!" Kane sang holding up some of the chief's gravy, Rini stuck her finger in it and nodded in approval.
"Don't believe me? Ask the dishes!
They can sing, they can dance
After all, Miss, this is base," John sang twirling around the room with her arms out wide.
"And a dinner here is never second best
go on, unfold your menu
Take a glance and then you'll
be our guest
Oui, our guest
Be our guest!" They sang and went into a back hand spring to the flat of the tent where the chiefs were coming to bring their food.
"Beef ragout
Cheese soufflé
Pie and pudding "en flambé"" All the food came out just in that order to even their own surprise.
"We'll prepare and serve with flair
A culinary cabaret!
You're alone
And you're scared" they pointed out, as the waved their hands to indicate all the guards and no family.
"But the banquet's all prepared
No one's gloomy or complaining
While the flatware's entertaining
We tell jokes!
I do tricks
With my fellow Treetop Climber," Kane sang putting an arm around John.
"And it's all in perfect taste
That you can bet
Come on and lift your glass
You've won your own free pass
To be out guest
If you're stressed
It's fine dining we suggest," John sang pouring Rini a glass as Kane poured General Kin a glass.
"Be our guest! Be our guest! Be our guest!
Life it so unnerving
For a servant whoas not serving," Kane sang as John acted out like she was begging for work.
"She's not whole without a soul to wait upon
ahh those good ol' days when we were useful
suddenly those good ol' days are gone
10 years we've been rusting," John sang as Kane laid down looking lazy.
"Needing so much more than dusting
Needing exercising a chance to use our scheme
Most days we just lay around the castle
Can't be fat and lazy you walked in and oopsiedaisy," they sang pulling her chair out and dancing around her with General Kin looking panicked.
"It's a guest! It's a guest!
Sakes alive, well I'll be blessed!
Wine's been poured and thank the Lord
I've had the napkins freshly pressed
With dessert, she'll want tea
And my dear that's fine with me," John sang serving her tea.
"While the cups do their soft-shoein'
I'll be bubbling, I'll be brewing
I'll get warm, piping hot
Heaven's sakes! Is that a spot?
Clean it up! We want the company impressed," Kane sang cleaning a drop of tea John spilt.
"We've got a lot to do!
Is it one lump or two?
For you, our guest!
She's our guest!
She's our guest!
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Our command is your request
It's been years since we've had anybody here
And we're obsessed
With your meal, with your ease
Yes, indeed, we aim to please," John and Kane sang as John stepped into Kanes hands and pushed off doing a flip in the air.
"While the candlelight's still glowing
Let us help you,
We'll keep going
Course by course, one by one
'Til you shout, "Enough! I'm done!"
Then we'll sing you off to sleep as you digest
Tonight you'll prop your feet up
But for now, let's eat up
Be our guest! Be our guest!
Be our guest!
Please, be our guest!" They stopped doing flips and cartwheels and went into a high V. Rini clapped very amused.
John and Kane quickly got out and left for their tent and went to sleep.
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Zuko was restless about going in circles and not finding the Freedom Fighters. "This is a one time deal and I'm being punished by it. WHERE ARE THEY!" he said angrily.
"Hey scar face," Toph said, shut up or I'll stuff this rock down your throat.
Zuko glared at her and said through gritted teeth, "What rock?"
Toph smiled and instantly a tock came hurling at Zuko. Zuko stood up, flames coming out of his fists, "You think you're so tough?" Katara got up and put a hand on Zuko's shoulder.
"Zuko, I know you're tired, you want to find Kane and John and get out of here quickly and capture Aang, but that doesn't mean starting fights and complaining 24/7!"
Zuko grumbled and sat down. John, Kane, please don't do anything stupid…Kane please don't let John do anything stupid.
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That night Kane had pulled her cot next to John's out f fear of the guards constantly passing by their tent and stopping every now and then pulling back the flap. One even walked in.
When John woke up she looked at Kane. "Did you know that you snore and you sleep like a rock?" Kane said.
"Did something happen?"
"Yeah guards kept walking by and coming in!"
John laughed and said, "You need a little buddy besides me. I'll be keeping you up with my snoring."
"Don't worry, you did that last night. I'm surprised that it wasn't an earthquake." John laughed.
They got up and began doing chores that were assigned to them. Kane walked back from the town with food and thought aloud. "Maybe John's right. Maybe I do need a little buddy."
Just then there was a loud crash and three little kid screams. Kane put the bag over her shoulder and ran towards the scream.
She arrived at an ally and there were Fire Nation soldiers surrounding three small girls. The girls looked up at Kane with fear and huddled together and then back at the guards.
"We finally found you. Don't worry you'll be seeing your parents real soon…" his words were cut off by a rock hitting his back. "What the…" He turned to see Kane with rocks in the fold of her shirt and one in her hand.
"Leave them alone."
"Get out of here. We don't need to take you on. These kids are heirs to a rich family that was ordered to be killed," another guard said to her.
They turned around and were about to shoot a fire ball at them. The kids screamed but they felt no burn. In front of them was the girl with her arms out wide trying to protect them. Then Huo was in front of her reflecting the fire ball back.
Kane looked down at the kids and cheeked them out. Two were twins at the age of seven and the other was four. The twins had jet black hair and one had green eyes and the other had brown eyes. The youngest had brown hair and green eyes. Kane smiled at them and said, "Don't worry, I'm here. Nothing bad will happen to you, I promise."
All three of the girls stuck out their pinkie fingers and Kane grinned and pinkie promised them. Huo got done talking to the guards and saw them off. He came back and the girls put their arms around Kane their eyes full of fear.
"Don't worry, that knucklehead won't hurt you," Kane said smiling up at Huo. Huo held his hand out to show that he was friendly. "What are your names," Kane asked.
The twin with green eyes piped up, "I'm Tawny."
Her twin with brown eyes looked serious and said, "And I'm Midori, but you can call me Mi!"
Kane looked at the youngest one. She shuffled her feet and spoke really softly her name, "Oneida."
"What pretty names. Let's go back to our place." Kane got up and began to walk with Huo and then she felt one hand hold on to her right and another on her left. She looked down to see the one twin holding onto her arm and the other holding onto her hand and Oneida holding onto her other hand.
Huo looked at Kane and smiled at the sight. "Let's go home."
Kane walked ran into John on the way and John's mouth feel open. "What happened? Who are they?"
"Um these three will be our new roommates!" Kane said with a nervous smile.
Huo looked at John and said, "I'll go get their clothes and bracelet. John why don't you take them in yours and Kane's tent and Kane will help me get their sizes and cot." John looked at Kane and sighed. "Ok you guy s come with me and let's get to know each other."
Huo and Kane went over to the supplies tent and got the clothes and a huge cot. As they walked over Huo told Kane how nice it was for her to do that. "I use to know a girl, she was from the water tribe mainly, and she did a lot of stuff like that. But I've always been one for the Fire Nation."
He smiled and looked at Kane. He saw her eyes down cast and she looked very sad and hurt. "Kay, is there something wrong? Do you need some medicine?"
"No. I was just remembering someone I liked." They reached her tent and Huo set the cot down. He smiled at her and said, "He must be very lucky if you had liked him Kay. I bet John has a guy too. I bet if they knew I was talking to you two they'd kill me."
"I wouldn't say I have someone. I had special friends to me," she said remembering how she, Yumi, and Huo would always work on their Fire Bending together. "But it appears those you think are kind, think only of themselves in the end." She clutched Yumi's necklace and felt her own burning her skin under her shirt.
Huo walked off, "I hope I didn't give that girl the wrong impression. I liked her like a lot. That is why I told her to wait for me in the woods to practice Fire Bending that day. I thought I would do something kind to her."
"You mean to let her regret someone dying and she could've helped?"
"I've never thought of that. I always wanted to go back and see if she is still there." Huo began to walk off.
Kane said in a whisper, "Part of her is still there waiting for everyone to come back. Waiting for it to be a dream, to wake up and when she had walked upon the sight, she still felt like everyone will walk out of the woods and 'Gotcha'." And just as Huo passed by her thinking of what she had said he heard her say, "You once were kind back then. I can tell that little kid is still trying to get back out and practice with Yumi and me." She ran inside and Huo just stood there for a while trying to realize what she had just said.
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Night fell down upon Zuko and Rao. "Look, don't worry about anything. We'll keep looking in the morning. John and Kane are tough girls nothing will happen. So will you put away the flame?" Rao said.
Zuko looked down at his hands and sighed, "I'm just so aggravated." They sat there in silence. "I need to take a walk." Zuko got up and walked around and down to the river. He sat down on the beach and looked up at the moon.
Rao was going to go after him but Katara laid a hand on her shoulder and sat down next to her. "I think he needs to cool off for a while. He probably is kicking him self for letting them be in his sight and then the next second they get kidnapped."
Rao nodded and said, "I know you're right."
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As soon as the girls went to sleep John looked at Kane and said, "Why did you bring them, they are now slaves."
"Well at least they aren't dead."
"I now you're right."
"Besides you said I need a little buddy."
"I was thinking more along the lines of a dog or a cat not three kids!"
"Oh well they're here now."
They climbed into their own cots which the girls had pushed up against theirs. All three of the little girls snuggled up next to them and Kane smiled and went to sleep with Tawny bending into Kane with one hand on Kane's hand and the other on her cheek. Oneida was in the middle as stiff as a board and Midori bent into John with her hand on John's hand. All of them were asleep but John.
She looked at all of them and smiled. Maybe this isn't as bad as I thought. And she drifted off to sleep.
Finally done! Yes, please review for this, it took me a while but hey I got it done! Hope you enjoyed it!