Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. I own Koima.
Chapter 20
Hatus and Akiro
(Ha-toos) (A-keir-ro)
The jeweler, Hatus, closed up his shop and I followed him to his home which wasn't far from the market. My curiosity was piqued wondering why a healer was needed so badly. Hatus gave me the necklace before we left; he said that his family could not even afford the cheapest of healers.
"What is wrong with your son?" I questioned as I tried to keep pace with the man's fast stride. Was there even a son? Or was this just a scheme used to lure away young girls with jewelry? This was all very likely, but something about the man banished those thoughts.
Hatus beckoned me to walk faster, "It's his arm; he broke it falling off the house when he was up there fixing a hole. Nobody knew how to set it, and now he moans from the pain and has a high fever."
"How long ago did this happen?" I asked. A broken arm shouldn't cause a fever. But what Hatus said next explained it: "He broke it about a month ago."
The bones had healed wrong, causing immense pain; he would never be able to use it again if it is kept that way. The fever was the body trying to heal itself.
We arrived at Hatus' house; a small home next to some Pompun fields. Hatus opened the door and led me inside. Inside there was a young girl about six at a table, clutching a small doll and eating a small bowl or rice.
"Daddy!" She cried, jumping up and giving Hatus a big hug. It jerked at my heart, just seeing them reminded me of my father and I.
"Akina, this lady here is going to help Akiro get better." Hatus told his daughter. Akina smiled up at me, "Thank you."
I smiled back faintly. What is I couldn't help him…. What if he's too bad to cure? I shook those thoughts out of my head; I have to believe that I can. Hatus led me into a back room. The atmosphere suddenly grew heavier and it became hard to breathe. The odor of sweat and sickness was nauseating. A middle-aged woman, no doubt Hatus' wife, sat beside a bed that a young man laid in. The woman looked up when she heard us enter.
"Hatus, why aren't you at work? Who's this?" She looked at me.
I bowed formally, "I'm Koima, ma'am."
"She's a healer, Risa. She's going to heal Akiro." Hatus said, ushering me to the bed. Risa smiled in relief, but was worried, "But we can't pay her. I'm sorry, "She said to me, "But we don't have the money."
"That's already been worked out."
I went over to the bed, the young man was around 17 or so, with brown hair that was soaked with sweat and he was as pale as the sheet that was covering him, he was panting and sweating horribly. Occasionally he would mumble something then moan, tossing his head from side to side.
It was his right arm that was broken. The forearm was bent, but not a lot, and was very swollen. Risa bit her lip anxiously, "Can you help him?" she asked. I looked at the arm critically. Col had taught me how to set broken bones when one of the crewmember's broke his own arm while showing off for his friends. Yes, Komodo Rhinos DO get pissed when you wave red blankets in their faces.
I nodded, hoping that I could do it, "I'll have to get some supplies I can't do without. I will be back, I promise you." I untied the necklace and handed it to Hatus, "Hold this, I will come back." Risa took my arm, "How far away? Which ship are you a healer on?" She asked.
"The small one, on dock thirteen: Prince Zuko's ship."
Hatus and Risa gasped, "Y-You're a healer on the Prince's ship?"
"Yes. I'll be back soon. I'll hurry." I bowed to them both, "Can you get a bowl of hot water and clean rags out for me please?" They both nodded dumbly, still taking in the information that the Prince's own healer is going to help their son. I left quickly, running back to the ship with all hast.
It was late afternoon when I reached the ship. Zuko greeted me when I ran on board, "Koi, what's the rush." He grabbed my arm, bringing me up short. I breathed easier, "I'm going to be out late tonight, I'll be back for dinner probably. I need to get some supplies."
Zuko's eyebrow rose, "What's going on?"
"A boy broke his arm and his family can't afford a healer. I'm there to help." I summarized it in two sentences. Zuko frowned, but nodded, "Okay, just don't stay out long. Be safe."
I nodded and flashed him a quick smile before running off to the infirmary. Icharu and the others looked up when I ran in. Ichi smiled, "Koi, Col already changed our bandages and its not dinner time yet…" He looked at me quizzically, wondering why I was there with no obvious purpose.
"I need to get some supplies, Ichi. I'll be back later tonight." I grabbed a sack and put a vial of Laburnum, Asprina in it also the splints, "COL!" I called out for the doctor.
"Yes?" He came from the other room, yawning. I must have woken him from his normal afternoon nap.
"What else would I need for broken arms?" Col looked at me oddly, "Why do you need to know?"
"There's a boy with a broke arm in the village. Can you tell me what else I need?" Col saw that I was in a hurry and came to my side and helped put supplies in the bag, "Did you get splints?"
I nodded, he got the bandages to hold the splints in place and some other supplies, "That should be it. Good luck." I caught him, giving the look.
"Col. You said there's no such thing as luck, only skill."
He smiled brightly, "I've taught you well." He looked like a teacher that just had a pupil outsmart him. He was proud. I hefted the bag over my shoulder, "See you later." I ran off the ship, running through the market back to Hatus' house.
'May Agni be with me.' This was the first time being on my own with something as serious as this. I entered the home without knocking, knowing that they wouldn't care, "I'm back!" I said, coming back into the room. Hatus smiled, "He's awake."
I looked to the bed, Akiro was awake, his eyes were open and looking at me, he was barely conscious. "'ello." He said weakly. It was a great effort for him to talk apparently. I sat in the chair by the bed,. Risa had gone to the jewelry stand to take over. I smiled at Akiro kindly and opened my bag to take out the medical supplies. "Hello Akiro. I'm Koima, but my friends call me Koi." My friends on the ship, they were all I had. I took out the nightshade. Rebreaking bones would be too painful for him to be awake; this would knock him out cold for a while.
"May I call you Koi?" I could barely hear him; I nodded, "Yes. Hatus, can you hand me a towel and the bowl of hot water?"
He handed them to me, I soaked the towel in the water, "This might hurt." I told Akiro.
"Not anymore than it already does."
I settled the rag on his arm, "It will help bring down the swelling." Akiro winced as the heat settled on his injured arm. I made the nightshade tea, careful not to add too much, too much and he would go into the deepest sleep and never wake up. "Drink this slowly. It will put you to sleep."
"What will you do when I'm asleep?"
I swallowed, "Reset your arm, So that you'll be able to use it again and be better."
Akiro closed his eyes and I tipped the cup into his mouth and he drank it slowly.
"Thank you." He said. Five minutes later and he was dead to the world. I turned to Hatus and his daughter Akina, "You should leave the room. I'll come get you when I'm done." Hatus nodded and looked to his young daughter, "C'mon Aki, lets go see Kino." Akina jumped up happily, "Kitty!" Hatus led her out but before he closed the door he spoke to me, "Thank you, and good luck." He closed the door.
I turned back to Akiro, murmuring, "No such thing as luck, only skill." I got out the splints and bandages, "This will hurt Akiro." I said even though I knew he couldn't hear me. I checked his pulse; it was strong, I didn't use too much Nightshade. Thank Agni.
I brushed aside the rag and felt along the arm for the break point. I found it. It hadn't healed together much, another month and it would've taken two people to rebreak it. I stood up and took the hand in mine and held the elbow down firmly. I would have to be quick, a slow breaking would split the bone to the marrow lengthwise…. That would be bad...very bad.
I took a deep breath and jerked the arm forcefully. My whole body shuddered when I both heard and felt the bone break. Akiro jumped involuntarily in his sleep, then settled back, silent once again. I pulled the arm and felt along the bone ridges for the original settlement. I would have to work fast before the swelling made it more difficult to set it. I felt the bone set in like a lock and key.
"Thank you." I breathed. I got the splints and bandages, it was easy work compared to the breaking and soon it was done. I wrapped more hot rags around the arm to bring down the swelling and made Laburnum tea. I looked down at my unconscious patient and smiled, "You'll be better before you know it." I said happily. Akiro was not bad looking, he had a nice, kind look about him that would make any woman look twice. I took a cool cloth and wiped his forehead to get rid of the sweat.
"Hatus." I called.
Hatus came in, "How is he?" He asked anxiously, "Did everything go alright?"
I nodded, "He will live. His arm is set and he will be able to use it again soon." Hatus looked at his soon, he had gone moist at the eyes, "I can't thank you enough," He said huskily, "I thought we were going to lose him, Without him, the whole family would be out on the streets, but that means nothing to us if we lost Akiro. Thank you Koima." He handed the promised necklace back to me. I tied it around my neck. I held out the moneybag Zuko had given to me, out to Hatus, "Here, it will partially pay for such a beautiful piece of artwork, you need the money, it would be wrong not to pay you with what I have." Hatus didn't know what to say, but he took it. He bowed, "Would you like to stay for dinner, Miss Koima? It would be an honor."
I nodded, "I would love to. Akiro will awake in an hour or so, he'll need the tea and I need to see if the arm swells."
When Risa came home, she saw that Akiro was okay and his arm was bandaged. She hugged and cried on my shoulder, calling me a saint and saying that they are forever grateful. We ate a great dinner of rice, bread, meat, and Pompuns. Akiro woke up not long after Risa arrived, he was still feverish but….
"I-I can move my arm." He said as he raised his arm about two inches above the blanket. I gave him the tea, "This will bring down the fever by morning. I wouldn't move your arm, keeping it still will let it heal faster." Akina helped her brother drink the tea.
"How long will it take to heal?" Hatus asked. I made a rough guesstamation, "A month and a half at the least, it will take time to build the muscle back. Take the cast off at five weeks, then until he can lift a rock above his head keep it in a sling. It will ache from time to time, that's why I'm giving you this-" I handed them the vial of Tylena, "A drop of this in his food and it will lessen the pain in about 15 minutes."
Risa took the vial and smiled, "Thank you."
"I will come back to check on him in a few days or so to check if it is healing straight." I said before leaving. Hatus and Risa stood in the doorway, waving, "Don't you want someone to walk you back?" Hatus suggested. It was dark, but I could find my way back. I shook my head, "No thanks. I'll be fine. I'll see you in a few days, and thank you for the great meal and the necklace." I waved and started back through the market to the ship.
Sorry it's been awhile. The Blue Spirit will come. I'm telling you. I made Hatus a good guy, because in later chapters, it will play an important part. I'm going to my lil bro's Soccer game…..joy. Oasis Soccer. I don't want to go! The last day of school for me is the 19th! Yes! I'm exempt from a few exams! It's awesome.
Shaun from my school, he's Hispanic and a Junior, He is super tall more than six feet. He's like a big brother to me. This was a problem. He pulled my new boyfriend, Brandon, away from me, claming that they need to have, 'The Talk.' I was like, "Oh my God! Shaun stoppit!" It was so funny though. I couldn't hear what they were saying. But Brandon told me afterwards that Shaun asked him what his 'intentions' were with me, and if Shaun sees anything he doesn't like, he will kick Brandon's ass. And I quote! "If you ever hurt her in any way; Make her cry, Make her sad, Even cause physical harm to her, I will pummel you into the dirt and ask if 'you got that'!"
Its kinda cool having a brother that really cares about you. Shaun is a sweetie and one of my best friends.
What really made me go "WOW!" Was when Brandon saw my bookmark that I use to remind me where I left off in my stories, A picture of Zuko with a funny look on his face. Brandon was like, "Awesome! Prince Zuko!" Both Liz's jaw and mine hit the floor. I was like, "You know who he is? How?" (This was before we started going out.)
Brandon said that it is his favorite show on Nick. He watches it all the time. He started telling me names of the people he knew, "King Bumi, Jet, Cabbage Man, Foaming mouth guy, Suki, Sokka, Aang, Katara, Uncle Iroh, Zhao…." That boosted him up a whole lot in my opinion. Now we have a common interest. SO now we talk about it all the time, I remind him when its on and stuff like that. Brandon was the last person I expected to know who Zuko is. In Vet Med we got on a computer and watched, "The Cave of Two Lovers" On google video.
Brandon also watches Naruto…. Another common interest. I have a Kakashi key chain, Village in the sand headband and the Naruto wristband. My friend Stephanie has Naruto gloves that I am bent on trying to steal. LOL. But its weird, it seems A LOT of people from my school watches Avatar! Its insane!
I saw the new episode last night, "Zuko alone." I hated the ending. I wanted to pummel Lee into the ground, he shouldn't hate Zuko for who he is. Zuko couldn't control what he was born as! It makes me angry.
Hey, does anyone know that girl that's one of Azula's friends? Not that Mai girl that likes Zuko, but the other one that's good at the flips and stuff. Long braid, use to be in the circus until Azula made her quit. If you have the name…please tell me. Zuko looks so cute when he was little! If anyone has any spoilers about future episodes, can you tell me, you'll get a cake! I'm sorry about these long messages….I'm waiting for my dad to get off the phone so I can get on the internet and post this. I have dial up. IT SUCKS!
Thank you all so much for the reviews! They're awesome!
I hope you all have a good weekend. Please review!
