Light From the Shadows

by eeearnest

Kakashi is a deserter from the Fire Nation, living in hiding with Sakura on Kyoshi Island. They lived out their days in peace, but everything changed the day Aang arrived. The character tags only let me tag four, but rest assured, Sasuke, Naruto, Iroh, Zuko, Sokka and everyone else will be involved in this fic. Most characters from both fics are mentioned if they are important.

8. Chapter 8

Light from the Shadows Chapter 7

Sakura

Their group was still in the village half destroyed by Hai-Bei. It was the middle of the night, and Sakura was looking out the window of the second floor of the meeting hall. She heard someone come up behind her.

"Is that Aang trying to leave with Appa?"

Sakura sighed and rested her chin on one upturned hand, "Yep. He's trying to leave in the middle of the night so he doesn't bother anyone. He feels 'protective' of Sokka and Katara and doesn't want to get them hurt while he goes to the Fire Nation to speak to Roku."

"Should we go with him?"

"I mean we could…"

"But leave the other two here."

"Definitely."

They looked out the window at Aang struggling, "Let's go Appa! Come on, boy!"

The bison wasn't budging. It was as if Appa had told him, 'where are your friends?'

"Look, I'm sorry, but the others aren't coming to the Fire Nation with us. If they got hurt, I'd never forgive myself. So get your big butt off the ground and let's go!"

Sakura watched Aang try one more time to pull Appa, which just resulted in him falling to the ground. It was quite amusing. She walked up to the bison and put a hand on his side.

"I think his big butt is trying to tell you something."

Kakashi was with Sakura to begin with, they had agreed to go with Aang, but at that moment Katara and Sokka also came out of the meeting hall.

Katara came up to Aang and pleaded with him, "Please don't go, Aang. The world can't afford to lose you to the Fire Nation. Neither can I."

Sakura's eyes widened. Ooo… Katara be makin' a move! She looked at Kakashi and he seemed to be smirking with mirth. Several of the village members joined them.

"But I have to talk to Avatar Roku to find out what my vision means. I need to get to the Fire Nation Temple before the sun sets on the Solstice. That's today."

He jumped up on Appa's back and look at them all hesitatingly. Their group moved in front of Appa, and Sakura put her hands on the bison's head, "We are not letting you go into the Fire Nation, Aang."

Kakashi joined her and spoke to Aang, "At least, not without us. You need friends to help you out and we have your back."

The four of them got on Appa's back and were about to head out, the chief of the village handed them a large parcel.

"It's a long journey to the Crescent Island. You'll have to fly fast to have any chance of making it before sundown. Good luck."

Aang turned to the man to express his thanks, "Thank you, for your—"

"Go!"

They took off.

…

"Come on boy, we have a long way to go! Faster!

They flew for hours and seemed to be making some progress, but not enough. Sakura and Kakashi constantly checked over the side of Appa's saddle. Once they got to the ocean, a Fire Nation ship had tailed them. Luckily it hadn't started shooting at them yet, but they were inching ever closer and the border to Fire Nation was creeping upon them.

Sakura turned away from her watch and warned Aang,

"Aang, the ship that's been tailing us is gaining ground rapidly. They'll be within firing distance soon."

Katara looked over the edge of the saddle on the other side of her. Sakura pointed out the ship and her friend squinted her eyes. She backed away from edge, a glint of anger in her eyes.

"Zuko."

A flaming ball shot at them from the ship. Kakashi yelled out a warning.

"Looks like we are in range now! Fire ball headed this way!"

"I'm on it!"

Aang pulled hard on Appa's reigns and the giant beast swerved just in time. The fireball missed them, but its stench sure didn't. Katara covered her nose with her hand and flapped the air around her.

"We have to get out of Zuko's range before he shoots another hot stinker at us!"

Sokka looked like he was choking on the fumes, "Can't you make Appa go any faster?"

Aang held his shirt over his nose, "Yeah, but there's just one little problem."

Sakura moved from her perch to the opposite side of the saddle with Aang and Katara. The sight in front of her wasn't pretty. All along the border to the Fire Nation were a line of Fire Navy ships, armed and ready to defend.

"That's a blockade. Not good. If they throw the same things that Zuko is we'll all die from the stench before they actually hit us."

Aang put out an alternative, "If we fly north we can go around the Fire Nation ships and avoid the blockade. It's the only way."

Kakashi looked forward at their group, "Don't we have to get there by sundown? It's already midday, there's not enough time."

"This is exactly why I didn't want you all to come. It's too dangerous."

Aang sounded like he was sore that they had come along at all. Sakura wasn't having any of that.

"I think we can decide for ourselves whether or not it's too dangerous, thank you very much."

Kakashi put a hand on her back and leaned over Sakura's shoulder to talk to Aang.

"It's also why we are here. Even if it is too dangerous, what kind of friends would we be if we let the Avatar rush in alone and get killed?"

Sokka pumped his fist in the air, "Let's run this blockade!"

Aang looked forward, "Appa! Yip! Yip!"

Appa growled and surged forward, throwing Sakura and Kakashi to the back of the saddle. A few seconds later fire balls some soaring through the sky, aimed directly at them. They were trialed by thick smears of smoke, smogging up the air and making it unbreathable around their group.

"What an excellent welcoming party." Kakashi told her as they hung on to the saddle's handles.

Appa swerved and dipped and dived to avoid the fireballs. It was like a deadlier version of dodgeball. Adrenaline coursed through Sakura's veins as Aang tried to help Appa avoid the fireballs. One grazed Appa's back. Sakura beat the flame out with the help of Katara, Momo and Kakashi. The poor beast growled in anger and pain.

Appa growled, in what could only be said to be a determined way. Kakashi put a hand on her shoulder and turned her around.

"Sakura check it out. The ones that missed us, look where they're headed." He had a smile on his face and was pointing at the ship below.

It seemed like fates were with them today, one of the fireballs actually hit Zuko's ship. Sakura laughed.

"Serves him right," she shook her fist in Zuko's general direction, "Karma's a relentless bitch! She'll bite back!" Sakura realized her words, and saw a slight blush on Katara's cheek.

"Ehh... sorry." She grinned guiltily. Their attention turned back to the action at hand, Appa had taken them higher, up through a layer of clouds.

Even up higher, the fireballs came through the cloud layer and were getting closer with each projectile. Aang would avoid one, and another would show up even closer. One got particularly close and Appa had to dive to avoid it. Two fire balls collided right in front of Appa. He bucked up and Sakura was falling out of the saddle, she managed to catch Kakashi's hand and he pulled her back in but Sokka had actually fallen from the saddle.

"Sokka!" Appa dove to Sokka and got beneath him. Katara reached out her hand and pulled Sokka back onto the bison's back. They touched down on the ocean surface and bounced back up into the air. A fish flopped into the saddle, hitting Sokka in the face before Kakashi caught it in a bag and tied it shut.

Sakura looked at him like he was crazy. How did he? Just? What? The bag flopped a bit as he tied it to the saddle.

"What? Now we have something for dinner later." She shrugged and looked back at the scene in front of them. Appa was still pretty close to the surface of the water, and weaved back and forth to avoid fireballs. The missiles were coming constantly. Right as she looked forward a final missile was launched toward them, aimed for a direct hit. Aang jumped off of Appa's head and met the fireball head on with a blast of air from his foot. The force was enough to blow the giant projectile to pieces. They flew through the smoke and debris halo caused by the impact and Aang flopped back onto Appa's head. Sokka and Katara held him there, just in case he were to accidentally fall off.

They made it through the blockade.

Aang looked back and saw that they had passed and the Fire Navy wasn't following them. He threw a fist in the air, "we made it!"

The rest of them weren't as enthused.

"We got into the Fire Nation…" Sokka's shoulders slumped, "Great…"

Sakura looked at Kakashi, wanting to know how he felt about them being in Fire Nation. Kakashi was looking out over the water, silent as usual, yet he seemed more tense than usual. He thumped his fingers on the saddle and there was a rigor to his frame that wasn't normally there when they traveled. Then again I can't blame him. I don't want to be in Fire Nation, so why should I expect anyone else to be happy about it?

The hours passed silently. No one was willing to speak, lest they break the silence and jinx their luck. No more ships had appeared to attack them after they got past the blockade.

Mid-afternoon passed.

Then the sun started to set, the sky around them turned a beautiful pale yellow. We need to get there now or we'll never get Aang to the island before the solstice. Appa was getting tired. As they flew, his legs and tail drooped more and more. Sakura was about to fall asleep next to Kakashi when Aang cried out, "There it is! The island Roku's dragon took me!"

Sakura and the rest of the group sat up and looked out. Great. We are literally landing on an active volcano. How… safe. The island below them was indeed crescent shape. Fire and steam flowed from the cone of the volcano. Appa landed near the temple, and Aang patted his head lovingly.

"You did it buddy. Nice flying." The giant bison rolled onto his side and put one of his giant six legs over his face. Sakura shared his sentiments.

"I hear ya, Appa, that's enough excitement for me too." Sakura laid back against Appa for a moment before stroking the shorter fur next to his nose. It had become something of a ritual for Sakura, when she would get off Appa and he was having a particularly death-defying day, she would scratch the little hairs next to his nose on either side. She was sure they itched all the time, but since his paws were so big he couldn't accurately scratch the area himself.

Katara walked up to Appa and started to rub his tummy. Looking sideways, Sakura saw Sokka stretching in the background. Katara was making soothing noises to Appa.

"Oh! You must be so tired!"

Sokka, being the self-absorbed idiot he was, thought Katara was talking to him, "No," the boy grunted and stretched out, "I'm good."

He started jogging in place. "Refreshed and ready to fight some firebenders. Sakura looked to Kakashi on the other side of Appa, he was taking a Katana out of his pack and strapping it to his back. He was smiling at Sokka's antics but made no move to correct them.

No worries though, Katara did it herself, "I was talking to APPA."

Sokka stopped his silly jog, "Well. I was talking to Kakashi."

Katara looked at him, "Oh really. He looks so engaged in your conversation. Don't let me stop you. The silence is so riveting." She turned back to Appa and gave him a few more rubs.

…

The way up the path to temple was anxious. Aang led the pack, walking confidently with Momo right behind him. Katara and Sokka were in front of Sakura, each constantly looking back and forth, expecting an attack any second. Sakura had a hand on her fan, just in case. She looked back at Kakashi and he had a hesitant hand on his own weapon.

She looked forward again at the temple. It was a beautiful place, with many floors and elegant traditional architecture. The sweeping, multilayered roofing with many upturned edges spoke of the importance of the structure. Each point was gold on the underside, red on the outside and was tipped with the fire nation insignia. The outlooking floors had beautiful golden patterns emblazoned on their sides. The entryway was a giant fire symbol, a red spiky outer layer, with a gold one on the inside. Large pillars held up the structure, with intricately carved capitals. Upon closer inspection, they held phoenix and lion motifs, along with more traditional fire insignias.

Their group hid behind a low wall in front of the temple and discussed their game plan.

Sokka turned to them, "I don't see any guards."

Kakashi peeked over the edge of the wall, extremely suspicious, "just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they aren't there…"

Katara put in a hopeful no, "Maybe the Fire Nation abandoned the temple when Avatar Roku died."

Aang looked out at the sunset with a worried expression. "It's almost sundown. We'd better hurry, guards or no guards."

Aang leaped over the wall, and the rest of the group followed. They ran into the temple, then started slowing down, tiptoeing to try and avoid anyone that might hear them. Sokka stopped for a second.

"Wait… I think I heard something."

Sakura turned around and blocking the main doorway were five elderly men in red robes. The middle man, with a shorter beard and a stringy moustache spoke.

"We are the Fire Sages. Guardians of the temple of the Avatar."

She turned to Aang with a puzzled look on her face. If they say they are guardians of the temple of the 'Avatar', then why do they have such killer intent? Aang seemed to have missed what she saw and stepped forward.

"Great! I am the Avatar."

"We know."

The sage lifted his hands to his chest and punched out at them, sending several fire blasts across the room. Aang deflected them with his airbending.

"I'll hold them off. Run!" Sakura stood her ground, as did Kakashi. They weren't going to leave him. Sokka and Katara ran down the hall opposite the Fire Sages.

Sakura and Kakashi back away from Aang and the sages. Aang swiped his leg in an arc, sending a blast of air across the room. It knocked all of the Sages down and the three turned to follow Sokka and Katara. Aang was faster on his feet than Kakashi and Sakura and almost lost them several times. They found the other two of the group, Aang of course before them.

"Follow me!"

Sokka ran after him, "Do you know where you're going?"

"Nope!" Sakura got to the corner of the hall just as Aang was rounding the next one. He came back full speed.

"Wrong way!"

A Fire Sage was right behind him!

"Come back!"

Their group continued to race around corner after corner to attempt at losing their pursuer. At long last they ran down a corridor that turned out to be a dead end. Without an escape they had to face the Fire Sage. As he approached he had his hands up.

"I don't want to fight you. I am a friend. My name is Shyu."

Sakura looked at the rest of her group, they were all ready to fight the man, even if he looked harmless. Kakashi had drawn his katana and was ready to fight along with the rest of them. He had a fierce determination in his eyes.

Sokka responded to the man, practically spitting, "Firebenders aren't our friends."

The Sage moved slowly towards them, then dropped to his knees and placed his hands on the floor in front of Aang. Sakura relaxed slightly. The man's actions were surprising to say the least, compared to the other Sages.

"I know why you're here, Avatar."

Aang seemed surprised at this and relaxed, "You do?"

Shyu stood up and faced Aang, "You wish to speak to Avatar Roku. I can take you to him."

"How?"

He turned the light fixture next to them on the wall, behind it was a small hole which the Sage shot fire threw. Fire framed a panel in the wall. It slid back and to the right to reveal a secret passage. A long staircase carved into the rock of the mountain disappeared into the darkness below. It gave Sakura a slightly creepy feeling. To her it felt like the dungeon of a fire demon.

The Sage gestured toward the passageway, "This way."

A voice from down the hall made its way to their ears, "Find them."

Shyu in front of her looked around quickly and nervously before turning back to their group.

"Time is running out. Quickly!"

They all looked at Kakashi, he nodded slightly and they entered the secret passage, with the Sage following behind them. Sakura looked back and he shut the wall.

She walked with her group deep down into the volcano, walking along caverns and stairways carved from the very magma itself. It was an impressive labyrinth of pathways and turns. On the right oozing magma flowed, the heat was almost unbearable and she was sweating.

The Fire Sage started talking to them, "Avatar Roku once called this temple his home. He formed these secret passages out of the magma."

Aang caught up to the Sage and looked up at him, "Did you know Avatar Roku?"

"No. But my grandfather knew him. Many generations of Fire Sages guarded this temple long before me. We all have a strong spiritual connection to this place."

"Is that how you knew I was coming?"

Shyu nodded, "A few weeks ago, an amazing thing occurred. The statue of Avatar Roku, its eyes... began to glow!"

Katara responded, "That's when we were at the Air Temple. Avatar Roku's eyes were glowing there too!"

Sakura looked at them, "How weird, Kakashi and I were at the Kyoshi statue that day, and her eyes were glowing too!"

Kakashi spoke up, "Maybe all of the Avatar statues around the world lit up at that very moment?"

"That's interesting... I wonder how many others know about us because of random statues all over the world?"

"Yes. At that moment, we knew you had returned to the world."

Aang looked confused, "If this is the Avatar's temple, why did the Sages attack me?"

"Things have changed. In the past, the Sages were loyal only to the Avatar. When Roku died, the Sages eagerly awaited for the next Avatar to return. But he never came."

Their young Avatar friend leaned against the wall of the tunnel, "They were waiting for me."

Sokka put his arm around Aang's shoulders, "Hey, don't feel bad. You're only a hundred years late."

Sakura saw Kakashi narrow his eyes, "Not funny, Sokka."

"They lost hope the Avatar would ever return. When Fire Lord Sozin began the war, my grandfather and the other Sages were forced to follow him."

The man shook his head in dismay, "I never wanted to serve the Fire Lord. When I learned you were coming, I knew I would have to betray the other Sages."

Aang bowed to the man in thanks, "Thank you for helping me."

The Fire Sage turned and smiled warmly at Aang. Their group started climbing upstairs in the tunnel.

"We'll follow these stairs to the sanctuary. Once you're inside, wait for the light to hit Avatar Roku's statue. Only then will you be able to speak to him."

Their 'man-on-the-inside' brought them to the end of the tunnel and pushed up on the ceiling. It turned out to be a trap door to the next floor. He walked out of the tunnel and their group followed. Shyu put his hands to his head in exasperation.

"No!"

"Shyu, what's wrong?"

"The sanctuary doors! They're closed."

Katara crossed her arms and looked at him questioningly, "Can't you just open them with firebending? Like you opened that other door?"

"No. Only a fully realized Avatar is powerful enough to open this door alone. Otherwise the Sages must open the doors together with five simultaneous fire blasts."

Sakura saw Sokka looking thoughtfully on her left, "Five fire blasts, huh?" His face lit up with an idea.

"I think I can help you out."

Sokka flipped his bag off his back and onto the floor. Out of it he took several small sacks, a skin of lamp oil, and some twine.

"This is a little trick I picked up from my father. I seal the lamp oil inside an animal skin casing, Shyu lights the oil soaked twine and tada! Fake firebending!" He held out the small bomb in his hand.

Kakashi took it and looked it over.

"You've really outdone yourself this time, Sokka."

Even Shyu admitted, "This might actually work."

Sokka created four more animal skin bombs and stuffed them into the mouths of the five lion heads attached the doors of the sanctuary. The group backed away from the door to account for the blast.

"The Sages will hear the explosions," Shyu explained, "so as soon as they go off, you rush in."

Katara turned to Aang, "It's almost sunset. Are you ready?"

He looked forward with a determined, grim face. "Definitely."

Shyu sent a small stream of fire past the five lion heads. The twine ignited and Shyu joined Aang behind one of the columns lining the middle of the hall. Sokka was crouched behind Katara and was holding tightly to her skirts. Sakura was with Kakashi behind a third column. The small bombs went off and smoke filled the chamber. Kakashi had moved in front of her during the blast.

Aang ran toward the sanctuary doors and pulled on the handles. They did not open.

"They still locked."

Shyu came out from behind the column and looked dejected, "It didn't work."

Aang sank to the floor. The sun was setting. They were running out of time. They all moved out from their hiding places. Aang angrily hurled air blasts at the locked doors.

"Why. Won't. It. Open! Aargh!"

Katara grabbed his arm to stop him, "Aang, stop! There's nothing else we can do."

Aang hung his head. "I'm sorry I put you through all this for nothing."

Kakashi walked up behind Aang and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Aang we chose to come here with you. Nothing has happened to us yet that you should feel the need to apologize for. We are all here on our own volition, no one forced us to be here. We are here as your friends, your support system. Buck up, buttercup, you're stuck with us, no matter what you do."

"Thanks, Kakashi."

Sokka was inspecting the door, wondering why his ingenuity didn't work.

"I don't get it. That blast looked as strong as any firebending I've seen."

It clicked in Sakura's brain, "Sokka you're a genius!"

Aang looked at her like she was an idiot, "Wait, how is Sokka a genius? His plan didn't even work."

Sokka looked pompous and rubbed his chest, "Come on Aang, let her dream."

"You are right. Sokka's plan didn't work... but it looks like it did."

Kakashi looked at her, one eye-brow raised, "Did the definition of 'genius' change since I last checked?"

"No. But listen. We'll have Shyu..."

…

Sakura hid behind the same column as before, also with Kakashi. Aang, Katara and Sokka were behind the column next to them. Shyu was hurrying down the hall, the other four Fire Sages in tow.

"Hurry! The Avatar has entered the sanctuary."

"How did he get in?"

"I don't know. But look at the scorch marks and down there!"

Sakura imagined at that point they were pointing to the shadow on the floor that Momo was supposed to be making. His tiny form had fit through one of the tubes of the door and he had managed to get inside.

"He's inside! Open the doors immediately before he contacts Avatar Roku."

Sakura looked at Aang, he was perched on the dragon's tail wrapped around his column. He slowly got down to the floor, readying himself to run the minute the Fire Sagers opened the doors. The Sages blasted the door and the temperature of the room flashed at least 20 degrees warmer. Sakura peeked around her column and watched as smoke appeared around the door jambs. The lock mechanism on the face of the door began to creak as the fire blasts made their way through the pipes. The light from the interior of the sanctuary was blinding, but as it dissipated, the Fire Sages noticed it was just Momo sitting on the floor. Their lemur sneezed and looked quizzically at the old men.

"It's the Avatar's lemur! He must have crawled through the pipes! We've been tricked!"

Momo leaped at the Fire Sage's face, and knocked him down. Katara and Sokka jumped from behind their column and grabbed the two nearest them. They pulled their capes over their heads. Sakura and Kakashi grabbed the last two Fire Sages. It was part of their plan to make it look like Shyu was not in on it.

Kakashi yelled out after he had 'taken out' Shyu, "Now, Aang!"

"Aang! Now's your chance!" Katara added.

From behind the column that was supposed to have Aang behind it, Zuko crept out. He had taken Aang prisoner and was holding his arms behind his back tightly.

"The Avatar's coming with me!"

Close to the door to the secret passage, another person appeared, he had medium length dark hair, cut in a spiky 'duckbutt' sort of do. He seemed just as arrogant and assholish as Zuko. Sakura was not impressed. Just another Fire Nation soldier that I'll inevitably end up kicking the ass of. Kakashi let go of Shyu and went to confront Zuko. It wasn't part of their plan but things change when a psycho ex-communicated prince capture your friends.

He drew his katana and faced Zuko, "Let him go, Zuko."

"Make me."

The tables were turning in their struggle, Momo flew off of his Sage, the two Sokka and Katara had captured twisted themselves out of their grasp and the one in Sakura's arms flipped her over him and shook her grasp off of his arms. Shyu tried to help her, but she knew that he was incriminating himself with every second. Sakura looked back towards Kakashi, and she was caught, the Sage had her wrists and bound her, along with Katara, Sokka and Shyu. Zuko was steadily backing away with Aang towards the opening in the floor the other man had come through.

He shouted at the Fire Sages, "Close the doors! Quickly! Sasuke! Deal with him!" Zuko was obviously talking about Kakashi. The other man pulled out a katana strangely similar to Kakashi's and they started fighting. Aang looked over his shoulder back at them as he went with Zuko. They reached the opening to the secret passage and he made a slew of airbending moves with his feet to knock Zuko off balance. Zuko tumbled down the stairs with a grunt, and Aang ran towards the doors of the sanctuary that the Sages were pushing closed.

Katara wiggled next to Sakura, "Go! Aang! Go!"

Aang ducked left and jumped into the air to avoid a fire blast aimed at him from one of the Fire Sages. He jumped off of a couple of different Sages' shoulders and flipped his way into the sanctuary. His foot barely passed through the door as they ground shut and locked with a satisfying metal shhink!

"He made it!"

Sakura looked back at Kakashi who was still fighting Sasuke. They seemed to be circling each other more than actual fighting.

A blast of bright white light caught her attention. It came from behind the sanctuary doors. Zuko had climbed back up the stairs and was walking to the door. He and the rest of the Sages shot simultaneous fire blasts at the doors. This time the locking mechanism stayed shut. Zuko growled.

"Why isn't it working? It's sealed shut!"

The main Fire Sage that had greeted them when they came in spoke, "It must have been the light. Avatar Roku doesn't want us inside."

The rest of the Fire Sages came up to the prisoners and untied Shyu. They retied his hands behind his back and forced him to kneel on the floor. They stood behind him as Zuko talked to him.

"Why did you help the Avatar?"

"Because it was once the Sages' duty. It is still our duty."

Sakura noticed the sound of sword fighting had stopped. Kakashi and Sasuke were nowhere to be seen. The sound of one pair of hands clapping cut into the silence.

"What a moving and heartfelt performance. I'm certain the Fire Lord will understand when you explain why you betrayed him."

One of the Fire Sages bowed at the unnamed man, "Commander Zhao..." So his name is Zhao. Just another entry on my shit list. The commander was flanked by several troops.

"And Prince Zuko, it was a noble effort. But your little smoke screen didn't work. Two traitors, in one day, the Fire Lord will be pleased."

Zuko was grabbed by a Fire Nation soldier, and taken into their fold, Sakura saw Sasuke was also being held by them. But where was Kakashi? How did he manage to get away while Sasuke was captured? He struggled and fought back against Zhao's men.

"You're too late, Zhao. The Avatar's inside and the doors are sealed."

"No matter. Sooner or later, he has to come out." Kakashi rolled in silently through the window and hid behind their column, luckily out of sight of both the soldiers and the Fire Sages.

"Shh... I'll help you out of here, once we have an opening."

Luckily no one's focus was on them. The Fire Sages were all focused on Commander Zhao, and his focus was on his troops and ordering them around. He stood behind as a wall of his troops waited for Aang to leave the sanctuary. They all stood grounded, ready to shoot a fire blast at the unsuspecting Avatar.

"When those doors open, unleash all of your firebending power."

Sakura looked at Kakashi, "How is Aang going to make it out of this?"

He met her eyes, the red one burning while the other was a smoldering grey.

"How are we going to get out of this? That's the question," Kakashi sheathed his weapon and stood as close to the column as possible to avoid detection. He took Sakura's hand and squeezed.

"But don't worry. It seems that with Aang we always have a way out." Kakashi looked over his shoulder out over the water and noticed several ships waiting on the water.

"Though I must admit this is a tough opponent."

They're view was drawn to the sanctuary door. A flash of white light came from inside the sanctuary. The Fire Nation soldiers and Commander Zhao were silhouetted against the bright light. Smoke billowed out into the entryway from the bottom of the door. The Fire Sages backed away from the door and were cowering in shock and fear. The light continued to grow, and Sakura had to look away to shield her eyes. Her arms were still tied.

"We have to get you unchained now! As soon as Aang starts attacking, I'm going to slash the lock and get it off you. Be ready to run!"

Sakura saw that Prince Zuko and Sasuke were tied to another column across the way and were also looking away from Aang's blinding light.

"Ready…" It was Zhao, he was still expecting to fight.

The light stopped and the doors began to fully open. The only thing visible were two large glowing eyes in the darkness of the sanctuary. Smoke continued to flow out onto the floor. Sakura and her companions struggled against the chains.

"Kakashi!"

"Only once he starts attacking! Stop squirming!"

Kakashi rested a hand on her shoulder and she stopped moving.

"No! Aang!" Katara shouted. The Fire Nation will kill him the second he steps foot out of that chamber.

"Fire!"

Zhao shot a fire blast into the sanctuary. The rest of the troops followed suit and it looked dire for their friend. The fire was not entering the sanctuary. It was in fact just being held at the door and swelling into a gigantic ball of swirling fire. It began to open and in the middle of the ball of fire was Avatar Roku, his eyes glowing. Sakura wanted to do something, anything, but all she could do was stare. That's. That's. THAT IS. THAT- THAT IS AVATAR ROKU. RIGHT HERE. IN MY PRESENCE. I am in the presence of greatness.

Sakura couldn't see Zhao's face, as the man was just as enthralled with the ancient Avatar as she was, but based on his appearance, she knew his jaw was slack and he was shocked into silence.

Shyu whispered aimlessly, "Avatar Roku!"

Avatar Roku drew the fire ball back toward himself and shot it out into the room. Zhao and the rest of his cronies were knocked to the floor. The heat of the blast melted the chains holding them to the columns. Kakashi sheathed his katana, grabbed Sakura's hand and moved to flee out the window.

Sakura hesitated. She looked at Zuko's column and he and Sasuke were now gone. She looked at Avatar Roku and his entire body was glowing, his gaze fell on the cowering Fire Sages. They were frightened by his presence and ran for their lives.

"Avatar Roku's going to destroy the temple! We have to get out of here!"

Katara walked away from them determinedly, "Not without Aang!"

Kakashi turned to her, Sokka and Shyu, "All right you three make sure Aang and you guys make it out safe, Sakura and I will go get Appa and pick you up on the way out."

Sakura took her friends hand and they jumped out the window.

"Think you can earthbend us some stairs or a slide?"

"I think I can manage," she replied. She drew up the earth with major effort, the landscape was more fire than earth. It was harder to manage than good old soil. She created a fire-rock slide and they slid down it. Sakura turned and destroyed the creation.

"Don't want those Sages or Fire Nation troops to follow us, yeah?"

"Definitely not. Let's go."

They ran down the steps to Appa. He was already up and ready to go. The great beast had sensed Aang's distress and was pacing the ground where they had left him. Sakura threw all of their luggage back onto the saddle and Kakashi got in the driver's seat.

"Appa! Yip Yip!" The bison was in the air in seconds and they were off to the temple to pick up Aang and the others.

Sakura tied down their luggage as they waited for the others. When they arrived, Aang was just finishing beating the crap out of the firebenders. The dust and fire sucked back into Aang's being and he was completely shrouded in smoke. While it dissipated, Aang stood in the doorway to the sanctuary. His eyes were glowing. He closed them, groaned and sank to the floor. Katara and Sokka helped him up and out of the temple. They slid down one of the temple's peaks to the bison's back.

Kakashi asked them, "Where's Shyu?"

"I don't know," Aang answered honestly.

As they flew away from the Fire Temple, molten lava poured down the sides of the island. Smoke billowed away from the bottom corners of the temple, then it began to sink. Lava reached all but the top steps of the temple. After they had put a sufficient distance between themselves and the temple, it exploded. Sakura noticed Momo had stolen one of the Fire Sages hats.

We should keep it, maybe sell it somewhere, could get us a little money. Goodness knows we need it around here. Kakashi is good with the money and manages to stretch it pretty far, but there's only so much you can do with a childlike Aang using what money you give him on the silliest things.

They flew off into the night, surrounded by a sea of fluffy clouds. They were the complete opposite of the Fire Nation they floated above. Sakura was content to lie down on Appa's saddle and nap as they flew under the full moon's light. She did see Aang was depressed, he had pulled away from them all, as if he learned something new that really bothered him. That was how it usually happened with them. Aang learned something new about their journey, and it just got harder as they went.

Sokka and Katara moved to comfort the boy and Sakura laid back down on her rolled up sleeping bag. Kakashi tried futilely to read by the light of the moon, but it wasn't enough to clearly see what he was reading, so he snapped the book shut and put it away. He joined her in looking at the stars as she drifted to sleep.

What an excellent way to spend the night with friends.

Thanks for reading everyone!

Thanks to Llama for your editing lovely.

3

see you next week!