Chapter Four:

"Isuel, there is a problem." said Qing. "Akio and the rebels are escaping, there just barging down the road."

"Then stop them!"

"We are trying." Qing added. "They are pushing right through us. They are nearing Agni Kai territory."

This absolutely infuriated Isuel. He charged down the street, with Qing trying to keep up. He soon came across fellow Triad members on the ground. "Get up!" he shouted. "If the Agni Kais catch the rebels, we are screwed."

The triads awkwardly stood up. Isuel could see electrical burns and ligature marks on them. He had little patience or sympathy for them though, given how much was at stake. "What happened?" Qing asked them.

"It was Kuma Beifong." one of the gangsters said. "She was unstoppable."

"So we get Akio and Kuma." said Isuel.

Isuel and his group continued down the road, but were unable to catch up with the rebels. "Uh, I think we should turn back." Qing awkwardly noted. "I think this is the Agni Kai's turf."

Isuel turned around and looked back down the road back to his gang turf. He could just give up, admit defeat. He was sure that Jiang and Arashi would give him some credit.

No, he thought to himself. He was not giving up. He turned back around and moved deeper into Agni Kai territory. He was going to find Akio and Kuma and bring them in.

As the group moved on they found themselves surrounded by Agni Kai gangsters. They glared at Isuel and his fellow triades. Isuel looked around and saw them looking nervous.

"What are you doing here?" asked one of the Agni Ki gangsters. "You were the one telling us to stay off you turf."

"He's got a point." Qing nervously whispered to Isuel.

Isuel ignored him. "Listen up you flamers, I am not leaving until I get my prizes." he declared. "You will stay out of my way if you know what's good for you."

The Agni Kai gangsters were not deferred by this threat, and instead moved in closer. Most of the Red Monsoon triads grew timid, but Isuel continued to glare at them. As of the Agni Kais approached him, he formed a water whip and lashed out at him.

The gangster jumped back, then formed fireballs in his hands. He and his fellow Agni Kai opened fire, and the Red Monsoon's lifted up water to defend themselves. Being already weary, they backed off as they struggled to defend themselves. "Don't give up." Isuel barked as he swung his whips at the Agni Kais.

Despite his determination Isuel's blows were being batted down, and they attacked back harder and harder. He reluctantly allowed his men to back off, but not a full retreat. The Agni Kais advanced forwards, but begun to let up the offence. They still threw a few blasts to not look soft. "That's right." one of them taunted. "You better run."

"Get out and stay out." another voice added.

Isuel and his group awkwardly slinked back towards there territory, with the Agni Kai gangster continuing to jeer. They had quit attacking, no longer seeing Isuel and his men as a threat.

Eventually, the Red Monsoon gangsters reached there own turf. The Agni Kais halted there advance, but the verbal abuse continued. Isuel steamed in rage, but there was nothing he could do. He just stood there, waiting for it to stop, hoping they would grow bored.

Eventually the Agni Kais started to head off. Only one young gangster remained, continuing the stream of taunts. Isuel finally had enough, his anger boiled over. He charged at the young gangster.

The gangster looked side to side, then behind himself. He suddenly panicked began backing off. Isuel threw a shot of water that went between the young gangster's leg. He breathed a brief sigh of relief, only to slip on the now frozen water.

The young gangster crashed to the ground, and Isuel circled around him. A flame appeared in his hand, but Isuel cracked a whip down on it, putting it out. Seeing his escape cut off, the gangster dashed off into an alley.

Isuel followed the gangster, he lifted up water to block a fireblast, then retaliated by whipping the young gangster. Isuel then closed in on the gangster's prown form, lifted him up, and slammed him against the wall. "Time for a lesson."

Isuel held water of the young gangster's mouth and nose. The gangster tried to struggle, but Isuel pushed the water deeper into his lungs. The young gangster's movement grew weaker, and sharp terror on his face grew dull.

Kuma, Akio, and I walked down the steps into our home base, and Katashi greeted us. He first embraced his brother, then thanked Kuma and I. "It was nothing." I said. "I should be thanking him."

"C'mon, you did a good job out there." Akio replied, he turned to his brother. "So has anything changed since I was gone."

"I wish that was a joke, but yes. The gangs are causing a lot more trouble" said Katashi. "Previously they have always been forced to air on the side of caution."

"Unlike now where they burn down whole buildings." I remarked.

"Exactly, my point." Akio said. "I have dealt with protection rackets when I was a cop. They would often vandalize businesses, but would prefer to keep them running so they could still pay up."

"Right now the money they get from other businesses is enough to cover the costs." Kuma added. "In addition, they can build more profitable businesses in the new locations."

A resistance member stepped into the room. "I have spotted Agni Kai Triads surrounding a local business." he said. "I think this one is going down."

We all stepped out onto the street and followed the man to the business. It was surrounded by Agni Kai gangsters and a few Triple Threats too. The owner was begging on his knees. "Please please please!" he pleaded. "I will pay in full!"

The leader gangster bent down in front of him. "Well now you've come around." he said. "A little late for that."

"I have always paid your fees." insisted the owner.

"You used to." the gangster noted. "But recently you told me you thought I was asking for too much. That hurt my feelings."

"I couldn't feed my family and pay you." said the owner.

"To bad for your family." the gangster stood up. "Light it up boys."

The firebenders produced flames in there hands, and the earthbenders got to work on the foundation. I hurled a bola at the gang leader, but he turned and dodged it. "Now what are people doing here meddling with my business."

Kuma unsheathed her sword and lunged at the group of gangsters. The leaders eyes widened when he saw her. "It's Kuma!" he roared. "Get her! Now!"

With a deft swing, Kuma produced a curved wall in front of herself. Blasts of fire impacted on it, but it did not crumble. As the gangsters were distracted we threw rocks and bolas at them. A bola I threw tied up a gangster who collapsed.

Kuma made a few slices and sent chunks of the wall towards the gangsters. The earthbenders in the group tried to block the rocks but we threw more and more attacks at them.

A earthbender charged at Kuma wearing thick rock armor. She ducked under a large punch, then swung her sword at him. He caught it with his thick rock gauntlets, and the two pushed and shoved against eachother.

Kuma and the earthbender pushed back and forth, as she tried to cut through his thick armor. She dropped the sword and he grabbed her wrists and started pushing her back. The earthbenders armor stiffened up, and Kuma lifted him up.

She swung the earthbender around and around and threw him down the street. The gangster jumped out of his way when he flew at them and into a building.