Light from the Shadows Chapter 11
Kakashi
The group was grounded in a lovely clearing in the middle of a large deciduous forest. It was the picture of serene. The sky was a pale blue. The trees making up the forest were full of leaves in fiery red and orange. There was just a hint of green left in one or two. He twirled an orange and red leaf between his fingers. The scene was alive with the chirps and whirrs of insects. Kakashi watched a small yellow beetle scuttle from the backside of a branch down the trunk. Momo flew in to catch the beetle but the beetle's carapace opened and it flew off. The lemur peeked under his paw to see if he caught it. When he discovered he hadn't, Momo leaped after it. They landed on the neighboring tree and Momo ran around the trunk of the tree as he followed the beetle. He lost sight of the lemur and looked back toward the others.
Sakura and Katara were discussing the best way to sew a hole in one of Sakura's shirts, without completely ruining the shirt. He knew how to repair clothing and supplies, but was not interested in joining their conversation. Aang was feeding Appa their last apple and Sokka was sharpening his boomerang.
After giving Appa the apple, Aang looked around the clearing.
"Where's Momo?"
Momo's shrill chitter could be heard echoing through the forest. Kakashi dropped his leaf.
The group all got up and went after Momo's distressed cry. They found him just a few minutes later in another clearing. Just below canopy level in the forest were three snare traps containing animals. One had Momo inside, and the other two carried large hog monkeys. Their barking was loud and obnoxious. They held on to the slats of the circles and pulled on them.
Aang airbended to reach Momo quicker, leaping up the tree trunk and bouncing off of nearby branches.
"Hang on Momo!"
Kakashi recognized the traps. They were made up of small winches attached to the trunk of a tree. A rope entered the winch from lower down on the trunk, then continued to an eyeloop bolt attached to the underside of the tree branch, before handing straight down, and ending with the circle cage.
Aang sat on the tree branch and flipped over it to dangle beneath it like an acrobat in a circus. He grabbed the rope and released the latch on the winch, carefully feeding it more line.
When it reached their outstretched hands, Sokka and Katara eased the snare down to the ground between them and pulled the squeaky metal slats apart just enough for Momo to be released. The lemur hopped out and ran in front of Kakashi to finish his handful of nuts. He seemed undeterred by the drama that just occurred to him. If only humans forgot things so quickly. Aang jumped down from the tree and looked back up. Kakashi followed Aang's gaze to the other two snares still hanging from the branches.
The hog monkeys inside them moaned pleadingly. Their traps were suspended near each other on a branch across from Momo's.
"All right—you too."
Aang crouched, then sprang up in a spiraling column of airbent wind carried him up to the cages.
"This is going to take forever."
Sokka threw his boomerang and in on fluid motion cut both ropes from the other cages. They came crashing to the ground and fell open like clamshells.
"That works."
One hog monkey disappeared between the framing trees of the canopy and the other climbed up the tree nearest to its left. Sokka walked up to one of the snares and kneeled to examine it.
"These are Fire Nation traps—you can tell from the metalwork. We'd better pack up camp, and get moving."
Great. I'm supposed to be hiding from the Fire Nation guys... yet everywhere we go we seem to be followed by them.
…
Kakashi had his gear packed up and was ready to start stowing everything on Appa. Katara handed a roll of gear up to Aang, who was sitting on Appa's head. Sokka saw them, left his roll on the ground and walked over to them.
"Ah-ah... no flying this time."
"What?" Katara put her hands on her hips in a sassy response.
Aang handed the roll to Sokka, who put it on the ground.
"Why wouldn't we fly?"
"Think about it. Somehow Prince Zuko and his merry band of followers and the rest of the stupid Fire Nation keep finding us. It's because they spot Appa—he's just too noticeable!"
Katara crossed her arms and stood in front of Appa, "What! Appa's not too noticeable!"
"He's a gigantic fluffy monster with an arrow on his head-it's kinda hard to miss him!"
Kakashi put up a hand, "I do agree with you Sokka, but what do you propose we do instead? It's going to really suck walking with all of our supplies. And we definitely won't be leaving them here."
Sakura mumbled under her breath, "Just because you don't want to leave any of your precious perv books..."
Appa turned his head and groaned at Sokka. Aang looked down at Appa and patted his head.
"Sokka's just jealous 'cause he doesn't have an arrow."
Annnd... thanks for ignoring me. Good to know I'll just disappear into the scenery one of these days and you wouldn't. Even. Notice.
"I know you all want to fly, but my instincts tell me we should play it safe this time and walk."
"Who made you boss?"
"I'm not the boss—I'm the leader."
"You're the leader? But your voice still cracks! If anyone should be the leader, Kakashi should. He's the oldest."
Sokka gave Kakashi a death glare. It sent a clear message of: If you weren't here, I would have every right to be leader. Kakashi put up his hands and scratched his neck nervously,
"Come on, I don't even want to be the leader. Aang should be the leader, he is the Avatar and this journey is all about him learning the four elements."
Sokka got even angrier with Kakashi, "Are you kidding!? He's just a goofy kid!"
Aang was dangling from a tree branch upside-down by his hands with his legs sticking out into space. Appa was looking at him rather unimpressed.
"You know, he is right..."
Sokka hauled is pack up onto his back. Kakashi already had his on and put the last of their bag of rice bundled up into the top of his pack.
Katara attached her sleeping roll to the top of her pack and turned to Sokka as she threw it on her own back.
"Why do boys always think someone has to be the leader?"
Kakashi smiled as he patted on Sokka's shoulder, "I bet he wouldn't be so bossy if he'd kissed a girl."
A vision of himself kissing Sakura filled his mind, but Kakashi banished it in a second. Whoa. Where the hell did that come from? Why did I even get involved in this conversation?
Sokka blushed, "I-I've kissed a girl—you... guys just haven't met her."
He nodded at the boy and responded, "Of course I haven't we met just a month or two ago."
Katara laughed, "Who are you talking about? Gran-gran? I've met Gran-gran."
Sokka pouted, "No! Besides Gran-gran. Look, my instincts tell me we have a better chance of slipping through on foot and a leader has to trust his instincts."
Sakura finished patching the shirt she and Katara had been discussing that morning, then folded it and placed it in the side of her pack.
"Okay, we'll try it your way, but if it turns out bad, it is all your fault."
Aang stepped into their little group, now wearing his own backpack. Momo was sitting on top of it.
"Hey you guys. Who knows? Walking might be fun."
…
Their walk was most definitely not fun.
Sokka led the slow trudging group as they walked through the forest. Appa was at the back of the group.
So here's an idea. Why don't we just ride Appa while he walks along on the ground? It can't be that much different than flying, could it?
Aang complained as he walked, "Walking stinks! How do people go anywhere without a flying bison?"
Katara seemed just as sore about the subject, "I don't know Aang. Why don't you ask Sokka's instincts—they seem to know everything."
Sokka tried to act undisturbed. "Haha. Very funny."
"I'm tired of carrying this pack."
Sakura put up a finger, "Ooo! I know! You know who you should ask to carry it for a while!? Sokka's INSTINCTS."
Aang smiled at her, "Hey that's a great idea! Hey, Sokka's instincts, would you mind-"
Sokka stopped them as they came to a bush, "Okay, okay—I get it. Look guys, I'm tired too. But the important thing is that-" He pulled the bushes in front of him apart, then focused his attention on their group, "we're safe from... the-" He turned back around to see beyond the bushes.
"Fire...Nation..."
Kakashi crouched down to the side of the group and walked a few feet away from them, he met eyes with Sakura and urged her to do the same. A large tree next to him was a perfect getaway, he climbed up the tree and watched the scene unfold from above.
Phew that was close, I cannot be seen by any sort of important general or anyone like that. I spent too much time in war meetings and as a teacher to go unrecognized by Fire Nation troops. The only way they wouldn't know me is if they were new recruits.
He watched Sokka, Aang and Katara walk into a clearing with a Fire nation encampment in it. On the opposite end of the clearing were three Pavilion tents, an active fire pit with felled logs as the benches on two of its sides. The camp was occupied.
Most of their reactions were surprise. A good portion of them were seated or crouched near the fire with bowls in their hands. A couple of the soldiers were seated close to the tents. They were made of a thin material with the Fire Nation emblem emblazoned on their door flaps. One of those soldiers had a patch over his left eye.
Just like I used to.
Sokka yelled for them to run, and the three kids dropped their packs. They turned to leave and the soldiers in the camp leapt up from the logs, swords drawn. The one with the eye-patch launched a fist full of fire at them. It was a near miss but set the bushes on fire, thus blocking their exit.
"We're cut off!" Kakashi saw that Sokka's sleeve was on fire. Oh god someone please tell the idiot that he's on fire.
"Sokka! Your shirt!"
Kakashi heard his panicked yell, but wasn't watching them anymore. The Fire Nation camp soldiers were edging closer every second.
The kids put their backs together to fight off the soldiers.
"If you let us pass, we promise not to hurt you."
The rest of their conversation was drowned out by the crackling of the fire. The man with the eye patch said something, but before Kakashi could make it out, something struck the man and he collapsed.
Another party was fighting them. Kakashi looked around in the trees around the clearing and made out other people. They looked to be very young, most likely their group's age. A figure dropped down from the tree, landing with his feet on the backs of two soldiers. He was young, dressed in a red vest and dark green clothing. He had very little armor, just a couple of shoulder caps and thigh guards, all mismatched. His hair was shaggy and knotted, and he held a twig in his teeth. His weapons were shuang gou, twin hook swords, held one in each hand. Impressive. I never really liked those when I worked with them. I prefer the katana blade…
Kakashi saw Sakura hop down from her tree and start fighting back, along with Aang, the mysterious boy and his merry crew of bandits. He hopped off of his branch and drew his Katana. The oldest of the other party took out two soldiers as they approached him, Sakura smashed one with her rocks, and Sokka and Aang took out a couple with waterbending and airbending.
Kakashi fought one with his katana, slicing precisely and quickly to end the soldiers he was fighting. He came across an older man and an icy feeling ran along his spine.
I recognize this man. His opponent hesitated as they fought.
"Kakashi?" Luckily his voice wasn't too loud, the others didn't hear.
"You must have me mistaken with someone else." Kakashi didn't hesitate and ran his sword through his opponent. The man's body weighed down on Kakashi and he lowered it to the ground before removed the sword and wiping it on the man's clothing. He turned around and saw the rest of their group fighting other opponents. On his right another Fire Nation soldier approached, Kakashi slashed his throat and the man slumped to the earth.
He sheathed the katana, everyone was dead or knocked out. Arrows flew from one of the unseen vigilantes and there was a small pile of bodies growing next to one of the tents. At the bottom of the body pile was the soldier with an eye patch. Kakashi squatted in front of the pile and debated taking the eyepatch.
Another body was added to the pile.
The fighting was over as soon as it started.
Katara knocked out one with waterbending. Aang used his airbending to drag two soldiers in a dusty circle around them.
The rest of the people fighting with them turned out to be children. All of them were children. The oldest boy was the one with the hooked swords, and he had to be Sokka's age, not a moment older. Kakashi felt strange about a bunch of kids led by a teenager taking out an entire squadron of Fire Nation soldiers. It was a bit unsettling. How can they stomach the gore? The violence?
Their leader was standing next to Katara and Aang was walking up to him.
"You just took out a whole army almost single-handed!"
Sokka scoffed. "Army? Pfft. There were only, like, twenty guys!"
Their leader turned to Aang and the rest of the group.
"My name is Jet, and these are my Freedom Fighters. Sneers, Longshot, Smellerbee, The Duke and Pipsqueak."
He gestured to them all as he spoke, and surprising the small one was not named Pipsqueak, it was the large boy next to him.
Aang walked to the Duke and Pipsqueak.
"Pipsqueak... that's a funny name."
It was aimed at the smaller of the two boys and Kakashi scratched his neck nervously. Oh god. Please don't kill him Pipsqueak.
Sakura walked up behind him.
"Why are you hiding out next to a pile of dead bodies?" She had her hands on her hips. Kakashi looked up and smiled at her.
"Ah. Just making sure they were all out. No need for anyone to follow us."
A little while later the 'Freedom Fighters' had raided the camp and found anything of value. They loaded up weapons and supply crates onto a cart near the edge of the camp.
Jet leaned on a tree at the edge of the camp, aloof and indifferent as his cronies raided the camp. Katara walked up to him. Oh no. I know that awkwardness. She likes him. Fuck.
"Um... Thanks for saving us Jet. We were lucky you were there."
"I should be thanking you. We were waiting to ambush those soldiers all morning... we just needed the right distraction. And then you guys stumbled in."
"We were relying on instincts."
"You'll get yourself killed doing that."
Honestly Katara? Do you not think that we could have handled them? Sokka didn't even get a chance to fight, Sakura and I only had a chance to take down a few guys a piece and there were only 20 total.
Sokka was near enough to the two of them to hear their conversation and his head hung low, he closed his eyes in frustration and walked away from them. Across the camp, Pipsqueak and the Duke were investigating the inside of a barrel. The Duke pulled out a finger covered in green goo. He sniffed it.
"Hey Jet—these barrels are filled with blasting jelly."
"That's a great score."
Pipsqueak held up a box, "and these boxes are filled with jelly candy!"
"Also good. Let's not get those mixed up."
Kakashi and Sakura stood away from the camp and watched the kids finish loading up the cart.
"We'll take the stuff back to the hideout."
Aang got up and looked at the kids excitedly, "You guys have a hideout?"
"You guys wanna see it?"
Katara slid up to Jet, her hands were clasped together and she was practically begging.
"Yes we wanna see it!"
The group left and Kakashi made up the back of the group along with Sakura. She leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"Is it just me, or is this Jet kid kinda full of himself?"
"He does seem that way to me. But Katara has her rose-tinted glasses on. I don't trust him, seems like a smooth talker. And his freedom fighters? He's definitely leading a cult right now."
"You really think it's that bad? It looks like a bunch of damaged kids to me."
"Well they are definitely not right in the head, that's for sure."
They were silent for the rest of the way to the hideout. Pipsqueak pulled the wagon next to Appa. The trunks of the trees in the forest were massive enough to make even Appa look small. Perfect for treehouses.
A short distance in front of them, Jet stopped.
"We're here."
Sokka huffed, "where... there's nothing here!"
"Hold this." He handed Sokka a rope with a loop fashioned into the end. It was attached to somewhere above them.
"Why... what's this do?"
The loop ended up around Sokka's wrist and without warning he was pulled up by the arm into the canopy. Jet offered a second rope to Aang and Momo.
"Aang?"
The boy waved him off, "I'll get up on my own."
Momo jumped off of Aang's shoulder and Aang followed with a giant leap. Jet passed off the rope to him and Sakura.
"Here ya go, you two take this one."
Kakashi took a hold of the rope and Sakura walked up. She put her arms around his neck and he put his free arm around her waist to hold her to his chest tightly. The rope seemed like it took forever to haul them up. Kakashi looked around them, at the fading light turning the brilliant reds and oranges in the leaves into deep purples and rich yellow-orange. It was a beautiful scene and he wished it never had to end. Sakura felt good in his arms and if he was being completely honest he didn't want to let go.
Once they reached the platform, Kakashi let go of Sakura and the rope. He scratched the back of his neck and laughed nervously. Sakura's cheeks were a bit pink and she looked away from him as well. Katara and Jet appeared right after them through the hole in the platform, luckily breaking the awkward silence with their arrival.
The treehouse hideout was massive. There were several cabin-like rooms in the trees, each surrounded by a type of platform and connected by massive bridges. There were booby traps and ladders everywhere. Lookout towers and rigging from every tree. It was really an ingenious setup and Kakashi was impressed that these kids managed to create this place out of nothing. Sure the structure was a little rough in areas, but the craftsmanship was far beyond what Kakashi would expect from such young kids.
Aang dropped into the scene off of a rope connecting to the next tree.
"Nice place you got!"
And he was off again to the next platform.
At least someone is having fun. Suppose I should have expected that after Omashu.
Jet and Katara started walking across the bridge next to them.
"It's beautiful up here!" She was gazing at the boy and he was practically indifferent to her existence.
"It's beautiful. And more importantly, the Fire Nation can't find us."
Smellerbee released his rope and landed near them.
"They would love to find you. Wouldn't they, Jet?"
"It's not gonna happen, Smellerbee."
Katara looked at Jet as he gazed into the distance, watching the sunset. Is this kid really wanted?
"Why does the Fire Nation want to find you?"
"I guess you could say I've been causing them a little trouble. See, they took over a nearby Earth Kingdom town a few years back."
Pipsqueak walked behind Katara and Jet but in front of Kakashi and Sakura, he looked over his shoulder at them.
"We've been ambushin' their troops, cutting off their supply lines, and doing anything we can to mess with 'em."
Sokka was hopping up and down behind them, Kakashi could feel the bridge shake slightly every time he jumped.
"One day, we'll drive the Fire Nation out of here for good and free that town."
"That's so brave." Oh dear lord, Katara.
The jumping bean behind him squeezed in between him and Sakura, then around one side of Pipsqueak to get to the two at the front.
"Yeah, nothing's braver than a guy in a treehouse." I kind of agree with him, Katara. There's just something off about this guy.
"Don't pay any attention to my brother."
"No problem. He probably had a rough day."
"So, you all live here?"
Sokka sulked back to the rear of the group. Kakashi patted his shoulder as he passed. They exchanged a look and Kakashi knew Sokka understood that there was more going on here than they truly knew.
"That's right. Longshot over there?" Jet looked toward the Duke and Longshot on a lookout platform just to their left, "His town got burned down by the Fire Nation. And we found the Duke trying to steal our food. I don't think he ever really had a home."
"What about you?"
Jet stopped. Pipsqueak and the rest of the small group but him, Sakura and Katara moved on.
"Fire Nation killed my parents. I was only eight years old. That day changed me forever."
"You're not the only one." Jet looked over his shoulder at Kakashi. Honestly he hadn't meant for that to slip out but it did. Sakura looked at him. She hadn't heard this part of his backstory before.
"When I was young, my mother died from an illness, though we think she was slowly poisoned, and then my father was forced to kill himself by the Fire Nation."
"That's rough."
Sakura gave him a small understanding smile, and rubbed his upper arm.
"My parents disappeared into the Si Wong desert. The only thing I have of them? A letter of condolence after their 'death'. I didn't even get to go to a funeral as there were no bodies. Who else could have killed them but Fire Nation?"
Katara looked out over the opposite side of the bridge, her voice was solemn, "Sokka and I lost our mother to the Fire Nation."
Jet looked at her seriously, "I'm so sorry, Katara."
Kakashi was reminded of everything that had happened to his parents and the rage slowly boiled in his gut. The years he had spent trying to bury those feelings and they were slowly writhing out of the black box he had locked them away in. Sakura took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. I feel bad for Katara though, if I had done things differently, I would have been at the invasion of the South Pole. I could have been the one that killed her mother… but you weren't. No reason to hold things you didn't do on your conscience…. Even so, I used to belong to the Nation that killed her mother. Shouldn't I feel something?
A flock of cawing birds flew out of the canopy above them as Appa found a place to rest in the leafy canopy. Kakashi couldn't help a small chuckle at the giant bison's mirth. He gripped Sakura's hand and took them along what he hoped was the same path the rest of the group had taken to the main hideout.
…
As they all sat around a campfire, their hideout was lit by ropes of glowing lanterns handing through the branches. Sentries were posted at several upper platforms while the rest of the group sat at the banquet table on the main giant platform of the treehouse. They were indulging themselves on the food they had rescued from the Fire Nation camp.
Jet stood and climbed onto the table. Kakashi removed his bowl to be sure nothing weird got into it from the boy's boots.
"Today, we struck another blow against the Fire Nation swine."
The entire group gave out a cheer. Even Kakashi raised his cup. Well… Sokka was sulking in the corner, but everyone else joined in on the festivities.
"I got a special joy from the look on one soldier's face, when the Duke dropped down on his helmet and rode him like a wild hog monkey.
The Duke without his helmet was sitting on the platform between Longshot and Smellerbee. He stood, and joined Jet on the table. Amid the cheers he took a victory walk around the fish platter.
"Now, the Fire Nation thinks they don't have to worry about a couple of kids hiding in the trees."
He brought his cup to his lips to take a drink, but paused as he reached his mouth, "maybe they're right."
A loud 'boo' resounded through the hideout.
"Or maybe… they are dead wrong."
The light on Jet's face was an angry red from the lanterns surrounding the group. The rest of the group cheered wildly, but Kakashi stayed quiet this time. But really if you think about it… if you're killing the Fire Nation to get rid of them, aren't you stooping to their level and being just as bad? Murder is wrong on all counts, but if I have to do it to survive I will. And that's me. I've killed so many times there is a special ring of hell for me. But these kids? I'm sure they've never actually killed anyone… have they? They just knocked them out earlier… right?
Right?
Jet was coming down from the platform to sit between Sakura and Katara. Kakashi mulled around in his own thoughts and listened to their conversation.
"Hey Jet, nice speech." Katara.
"Thanks. By the way, I was really impressed with you and Sakura today. That was some great bending I saw out there."
Katara laughed nervously, "Well, she's great. And Aang's the Avatar. I could use some more training."
Kakashi could practically hear the blush in her voice. His mentioning Sakura made him uncomfortable. His grip on the cup in his hands tightened. Of course Sakura is amazing. I wish I had the kind of talent she does. An amazing learner, always reading books, practicing her bending and tactical fighting. She's even a nice person. How often do you meet one of those? If she never improved upon her earthbending I would still consider her a master of the art. The only thing I can do is destroy, and I've been hiding it for years, I'm sure I've become very rusty over the years.
"Avatar huh? Very nice. What do you think Sakura?"
Sakura stayed silent, she was prodded by Katara a couple of times before saying anything.
"I suppose I'm okay. I'm better at hand to hand combat than earthbending, but you never know when you'll need it in a pinch. We are on a journey though, and Aang does need to get to the North Pole as soon as possible. We'll probably be going soon."
Way to go, Sakura! Shut him DOWN!
Jet seemed to ignore what Sakura said.
"So I might know a way that you and Aang can help in our struggle." He said this bit to Katara.
Sokka got up from his corner and walked to their little group.
"Unfortunately we have to leave tonight. Didn't you hear what Sakura said?"
"Sokka, you're kidding me! I needed you on an important mission tomorrow. You and Kakashi!"
Sokka hesitated and Kakashi knew he was hooked.
"What mission?"
…
The next day, Kakashi and Sokka waited in the canopy with Jet. The leaves were thick enough to leave a thick shadow on them, only a few speckled spots of light shining through the uppermost canopy. They were a ways away from the hideout. Apparently the mission was patrol duty. Jet used his hands to cup around his mouth and make a whistle like a birdcall; several trees away Pipsqueak and Smellerbee replied with a slightly different birdcall.
Sokka rammed his jawbone knife into the trunk of the tree, Kakashi just watched the road.
Jet looked up at him, "What are you doing?"
The water tribe boy put a finger to his mouth as he listened to the knife, "Shh... it amplifies vibrations."
"Good trick."
Sokka listened to the knife.
"Nothing yet…" he lowered his voice, "wait! Yes, someone's approaching."
"How many?"
"I think there's just one."
Jet gave a call out to Pipsqueak and Smellerbee. "Good work, Sokka. Ready your weapon."
Sokka pulled the knife out of the tree and waited. Kakashi watched the road and soon saw an old man hobbling up the road. He looked at Sokka and determined the boy had seen the same thing, his eyes were widened.
"Jet! Wait!" Kakashi loudly whispered to Jet. Sokka looked down at the boy.
"False alarm! He's just an old man."
Jet ignored their pleas. He stood and extended his hook swords anyway. He leaped to the ground in front of the old man. Sokka was frozen in place. Kakashi chose to stay out of it, to watch Jet and make sure that he was seeing everything correctly.
"What are you doing in our woods, you leech."
The old man's voice was gravely and weak. "Please sir, I'm just a traveler."
Jet advanced upon the old man, and in one swift swipe sent the man's can flying from his hand. The old man backed away, but when he tried to flee the way he came, Pipsqueak was right behind him and he ran into the 'boy's' chest. The force of the impact knocked him to the ground. Pipsqueak loomed over him. The poor man tried to crawl away but the giant's foot on his backside pinned him down. Kakashi couldn't help but feel bad for the man, it was obvious he was not armed or dangerous. And to treat old people like this? That man couldn't possibly be physically healthy enough to be treated like that.
It was completely, morally wrong.
Jet was squatting in the old man's face, threatening him with physical harm.
"Do you like destroying towns? Do you like destroying families? Do you?!"
The man was frightened, "Oh… please let me go… have mercy…"
"Does the Fire Nation let people go?! Does the Fire Nation have mercy?!"
Jet moved to kick the old man, but Kakashi was faster. He jumped down from the tree and practically flew in front of Jet, distracting him. Sokka pulled his foot out from under him with his club.
"Jet. He's just an old man!" Sokka tried pleading with the obviously psycho boy.
"He's Fire Nation! Search him!"
Pipsqueak pulled up the man, and Smellerbee started going through his robes. Kakashi was surprised at their antics.
"Really, Jet. Don't you have bigger fish to fry than a little old man? He's not hurting anyone."
"Have you forgotten what the Fire Nation did to you? Your father? And you Sokka? What about your mother? Remember why you fight!"
"We've got his stuff, Jet." Smellerbee held up a small satchel the old man had been carrying. It was extremely small and probably only held a few coins. Maybe a little food.
They shoved the old man back to the ground.
Sokka crossed his arms, "This doesn't feel right."
Kakashi nodded. "I agree."
"It's what has to be done—now let's get outta here."
Jet turned away from Kakashi and pushed past Sokka. Pipsqueak and Smellerbee follow. Sokka looked at the old man on his hands and knees.
"Come on, Sokka! Kakashi!"
Sokka slowly turned and ran after the others. Kakashi helped the old man up.
"I'm very sorry for what has happened to you today. Please try not to hold it against them. I wish they hadn't done that. I'm sure you're a good person. Goodbye."
Kakashi ran to catch up.
…
Upon their return to the treehouse hideout, Kakashi and Sokka sat together outside of one of the hut cabins on a platform. The air held a dismal mood and the weight of what they had seen weighed upon them. Sokka was depressed, he had known something was wrong with Jet from the beginning, but having their true nature exposed like that was a shocking experience. Not to mention his sister would never believe him.
We definitely need to leave this place. But before we do that, we need to stop Jet. I know he has something cooking up.
Aang hopped off of one of the interconnecting rope ziplines onto their platform. He was trying to show them something The Duke had given him.
"Hey, Sokka! Kakashi! Look what the Duke gave me!"
He was wearing a satchel, thank god it wasn't the old man's, and pulled a small pellet from it. With a grin he threw it at the platform next to Momo, where it exploded with a loud pop. Momo puffed up like a startled cat. He growled then lunged for the satchel. Upon grabbing several of the pellets, Momo sat on Aang's shoulder and tossed the pellets at the boy's feet. Aang hopped around as if he were dancing a jig.
"Ow! Quit it!" Kakashi sighed and shook his head.
"Maybe he wouldn't retaliate if you hadn't started it?"
Sokka completely ignore the two. The ordeal from that morning was really hitting him hard. The boy sat with his back to the tree trunk and stared at the platform in front of him, frowning. Katara walked up to join them. Sakura was with her.
"Hey guys, is Jet back?"
Sokka grumbled, "Yeah-he's back. But we're leaving."
Aang stopped his dancing.
"What?"
Katara frowned at him, "but, I made him this hat!"
She pulled out a hat from behind her back that was made of stitched leaves and a flower top. It was an unimpressive article. Kakashi was glad that he was not on the receiving end of such a gift. He met eyes with Sakura and she appeared to barely be holding in a giggle.
"Your boyfriend Jet's a thug." Careful, Sokka. We have a lot to do here before we burn the bridges and leave things alone...
"What? No, he's not."
"He's messed up, Katara." Kakashi couldn't help but agree with him.
"He's not messed up, he's just got a different way of life-a really fun way of life."
"He beat and robbed a harmless old man!"
"It's true, Katara, I was there as well and saw it."
Katara crossed her arms and held her ground, she was not having any of it. Her vision was clouded by rose tinted glasses.
"I still wanna hear Jet's side of the story."
He shrugged and they walked into an adjacent hut to speak with Jet. Sakura leaned against the wall with him on the opposite side of the small hut from the rest of the group. Katara told Jet what Sokka had told her and waited for an explanation. She was heated, angry, but not at Jet. At Sokka.
"Sokka-you told them what happened but you didn't mention that the guy was Fire Nation?"
The kid was sitting on a hammock-style bed. Lanterns lit the hut, casting just enough light to see most everything inside but also create creepy long shadows. Sokka stood as far back from the rest of the group as possible. Aang had put on the hat Katara made. Wearing it made him look like an acorn.
Katara looked back at Sokka accusingly, "no, he conveniently left that part out."
Sokka threw up his hands. "Fine! But even if he was Fire Nation, he was just a harmless civilian."
Kakashi nodded along with the boy, their thoughts on the problem were the same.
Sakura whispered just loud enough for him to hear her.
"Was that man really dangerous? Did Jet really need to harm him and rob him of his possessions? In my opinion stealing isn't a good idea regardless of who you get it from..."
"No, Sakura. He wasn't dangerous. Jet just wants to use Katara and Aang for his 'cause'. He's a smooth talker. This shit show he's running? Practically a cult."
"He was an assassin, Sokka."
Kakashi looked up. An assassin? Please. When the Fire Nation sends out an assassin it is not in the form of an old man. It usually is a human being that has no soul left, no cares in the world, the only thing they care about is thrusting that knife into your body, shooting the arrow in your back, or administering poison when you least expect it. I should know they were after me for a year.
Jet pulled out a knife, and thrust it into a nearby block of wood. It was a sinister looking curved blade. That wasn't on the old man. His satchel was nowhere near big enough to conceal that weapon. He wasn't wearing clothes typical to conceal the weapon, no shoes long enough to tuck it into. He's lying. Wouldn't it just be so convenient for you Jet? To explain your actions by saying the old man was an assassin. On the handle of the blade were four spikes spaced evenly along the grip, with enough space for fingers to go between them. There was a ring on the butt of the knife.
The old man had just been a civilian. There had been no reason to attack him, regardless of nationality. Jet's mentality was the same as the Fire Nation.
"See? There's a compartment for poison in the knife." He pulled on the ring and removed a small glass tube filled with red liquid.
"He was sent to eliminate me—you helped save my life, Sokka."
"So full of himself." Kakashi told Sakura.
"Agreed. I bet that knife wasn't even on the old man."
"I knew there was an explanation." Katara looked pleased with herself.
"I didn't see any knife!" Sokka burst out, he was pissed, and the whole story was getting jumbled up. Katara and Aang just ate it up. They believed every word that slithered from Jet's silver-tongue.
"That's because he was concealing it."
Liar.
Katara spoke to Sokka, "See Sokka? I'm sure you just didn't notice the knife."
Sokka was irritated. He knew what had happened and everything was playing out against him. No one but Kakashi understood. No one would believe him when he said that Jet's character was less than heroic.
"There was no knife! I'm going back to the hut and packing my things." Sokka stormed out. Kakashi followed him out the door and stopped him just outside.
"What!"
Kakashi put a finger to his lips, "Shh, we should listen to what he's telling them. By the way, I believe you, Sokka. There's something shady about this Jet character. He's too smooth with his words. He's won over Katara and Aang and I'm worried that he may be just a few steps from Sakura too. I know she's a grown woman and that may help her, but you never know. He has the tongue of a snake. I know that knife wasn't on the old man. There's no way he could have held it. Just be patient and we'll find a way to fix this."
The two walked a little further around to the side of the cabin and listened against the wall.
"Tell me you guys aren't leaving yet. I really need your help."
"What can we do?"
"The Fire Nation is planning on burning down our forest. If you both use water bending to fill the reservoir, we could fight the fires. But if you leave now, they'll destroy the whole valley."
Kakashi listened to hear if Sakura was going to say anything and was proud when she stayed silent. They left at that point to follow through with Sokka's tirade to go to their hut to pack. When they arrived, they hurriedly packed up what they needed to and made sure they were ready to go at a moment's notice.
Aang, Katara and Sakura walked into the hut a few minutes later. Sokka was just finished tying up his bed roll.
"We can't leave now with the Fire Nation about to burn down a forest!"
Kakashi sighed and looked at the water tribe girl. She was obviously smitten with this boy and couldn't take off her rose-tinted glasses and see him for what he truly was.
"Katara," she looked away from her brother and at him questioningly, "I'm sorry, Katara. Jet is a very smooth guy, and what he says sounds great and all, but we cannot trust him. There's something unstable about him."
"You know what I think? I think that you're just an OLD MAN that we should just ditch at the nearest tea shop!" She turned to Sokka, "And YOU! You're just jealous that he's a better warrior and an actual leader!"
Katara looked back at Kakashi, "I should have never said that you should be the leader of our group, you're just a jaded old man."
Kakashi just pulled out his book and started reading. I'm fucked if I try to help and fucked if I stay quiet. The outcome doesn't change might as well just skip the arguing.
"Pervert."
"Katara, please. I'm not jealous of Jet. It's just that my instinct-" Katara cut Sokka off.
"Well my instincts tell me we need to stay here a little longer and help Jet. Come on Aang."
He looked at Sokka and their eyes met, Kakashi tried to communicate a look that said for him to back off and leave it alone. Luckily he stayed quiet.
Aang seemed a bit sad, but was on Katara's side when it came right down to it.
"Sorry, Sokka."
They left the hut and Sakura walked up to them.
"So tell me. What exactly happened out there this morning?"
Oh thank God someone has some sense.
…
Kakashi and Sokka explained everything that happened that morning while they were on patrol. How Sokka had told them someone was coming, how it turned out to be an old man, and how Jet had assaulted the man and took his small satchel, which had been way too small to conceal the weapon.
Sakura just waited and listened until they are done.
"So we know that Katara and Aang cannot be counted on to betray Jet in any way shape or form, so we need to do something on our own..."
A rustling stopped her mid conversation.
"Let's go." They peeked outside and saw Jet along with the Freedom Fighters leaving the treehouse. What are they up to?
"Let's follow them."
Sakura held up her hand.
"Hold on. I'll stay here, with Aang and Katara. They're so clouded by the 'awesomeness' that is Jet that I'm worried something may happen to them. He's too hostile to be left unchecked."
"Good idea, Sakura. Make sure you keep an eye out, the second they know you're onto them... you just never know what they may do."
"I'll be careful. Now go!"
They wait until the group has made it to the ground before following on their own rope lines. Kakashi and Sokka stopped just before the ground and watched as Jet's Freedom Fighters were quietly pushing the loaded wagon as Jet led them out of the camp. They hopped to the ground and crept along behind the group.
The group didn't stop until they were at the top of the valley, looking down over the reservoir. Kakashi climbed up into a tree for a better view, while Sokka hid in some bushes close enough to hear but far enough away to avoid being seen.
"Now listen—you are not to blow the dam until I give the signal. If the reservoir isn't full, the Fire nation troops could survive."
The Duke jumped off of the wagon.
"But Jet, what about the people in the town—won't they get wiped out too?"
Oh my god, Jet, you're acting out your nefarious plans and keeping them even from your closest fighters? What an asshole. A scheming, murdering asshole.
Jet placed a hand on the Duke's shoulder, "Look Duke, that's the price of ridding this area of the Fire nation."
He turned to Longshot, "Now don't blow the dam until I give the signal—got it?"
The boy nodded. Kakashi saw Sokka creep forward a second, he was obviously not checking himself. Come on Sokka, please don't get yourself caught. This can't be a surprise to you, we knew this was coming didn't we? He heard rustling off to the left of them and saw Pipsqueak walk up with Smellerbee behind Sokka. They hadn't spotted Kakashi yet and he wanted to keep it that way. If Sokka gets captured, I'll follow and get him out.
Pipsqueak dragged Sokka out of the bushes by his topknot. Smellerbee put a knife to his throat instantly. Kakashi wanted to help, but knew he needed to stay back for now.
"Where do you think you're going, ponytail?"
They pulled him out of the bushes in front of Jet, Pipsqueak still holding a handful of the boy's hair. Ouch.
"Sokka. I'm glad you decided to join us." His voice was like acid.
Pipsqueak and Smellerbee shoved Sokka to his knees. He rubbed his shoulder with discomfort.
"I heard you plan to destroy the Earth Kingdom town."
Kakashi put his face in his palm. Sokka. Are you stupid? If you get caught by the enemy you pretend you don't know anything! You pretend you really were just out for a stroll and found some berries or something! Pretend! Lie! You don't just come out and tell them exactly what they want to hear. That just gives them even more grounds to destroy you. They're basically terrorists, honesty does nothing for you with them.
"Our plan is to rid the valley of the Fire Nation." And everyone else too.
"There are people living there Jet—mothers and fathers and children."
"We can't win without making some sacrifices." Do you hear yourself, Jet? You hate the Fire Nation because they killed your parents and here you are, killing those people in that neighboring village without even a second thought? Hundreds of kids would have the same experience as you if they didn't not die themselves!
Sokka pointed an accusing finger at Jet, "you lied to the others about the forest fire!"
"Because they don't understand the demands of war. Not like you and I do. And maybe that old guy."
I'll give you one good shot with Sakura, punk, she'd beat you to a goddamned pulp before you even laid a hand on her. And why does everyone think I'm old all of a sudden? The silver is natural thank you very much!
Sokka looked resigned, "I do understand. I understand that there's nothing you won't do to get what you want."
Jet seemed like he was displeased with this statement, but Kakashi knew this was exactly what the boy was waiting for.
"I was hoping you'd have an open mind, but I can see you've made your choice."
Pipsqueak and Smellerbee made a grab for Sokka. Before he could even make a move Jet had his wrist pinned with the hooks of his swords. Sokka's other hand was forced behind his back.
"I can't let you warn the others."
He released his hand, but it was immediately forced behind his back.
"Take him for a walk—a long walk."
Pipsqueak and Smellerbee picked him up with his hands still behind his back.
"You can't do this!"
"Cheer up, Sokka. We're gonna win a great victory against the Fire Nation today."
As they led him away, Kakashi followed at a careful distance. Several minutes later, Kakashi recognized the area they were in. We are incredibly close to that area with the Fire Nation traps. Maybe I can reset them...
…
Just minutes later, Kakashi had the traps reset and was waiting on the three to come along them. Sokka walked along in front of them, his hands tied behind his back. Smellerbee gave him a shove, and Sokka stumbled but remained on his feet.
"Come on—move along!"
"How can you stand by and do nothing while Jet wipes out a whole town?"
Pipsqueak responded. "Hey listen Sokka, Jet's a great leader. We follow what he says, and things always turn out okay."
Sokka finally noticed Kakashi's traps. They were almost identical to the way they had been laid out when their group had first arrived. Kakashi was actually quite proud of them and was positive they would work.
"If that's how Jet leads, then he's got a lot to learn."
Sokka sprinted off in the direction of the traps. Smellerbee made a grab for him, but missed.
"Hey!"
His captors gave chase. Sokka leaped over and around the leaf piles. In their rage, Pipsqueak and Smeller bee didn't and ended up snared and hanging just in front of Kakashi.
"Hey boys. Hope you like the nuts!"
Kakashi gave them his two finger wave and joined Sokka on the ground, whose bindings were now off and useless, the boy turned to the captive Freedom Fighters.
"While you two are up there you might want to practice your knot-work!" He held up the rope, then turned and started walking away. Kakashi followed.
"Thanks for that Kakashi."
"No problem."
Sokka looked at him with a wary eye.
"How did you know how to set those traps?"
"I've been caught in a few in my day... the hard stuff was already done. Plus I always say, the best way to avoid and conquer something is to know how it all works... It's really no big deal. But really though we need to get to that town right now and warn them."
…
Kakashi and Sokka warned the village, got everyone out and were on their way back to the hideout. They took a rope up to their hut and packed up everyone's stuff. The rest of their group hadn't been there when they arrived and he was a little nervous about their well-being. They took as much food and supplies as they could on the way out. Kakashi was a bit skeptical at first but Sokka persuaded him.
"After all, they're stealing from the Fire Nation and innocent people, so I think we need this stuff more than they do at this moment. Plus they tied me up! With rope!"
"That's generally what you tie people up with..."
"Just grab a bag."
They strapped everything onto Appa's back and took off. We need to find them and stop that dam from blowing. Or at least keep anything from happening to the others.
Instead of flying on Appa, they just walked to the dam. They couldn't risk anything happening to their friends.
Just as they were about to arrive at the clifftop over looking the scene, Sokka shushed them and they waited.
"What's up?"
"I hear them."
"Who?"
"Jet and the others."
Kakashi got off Appa's saddle and peeked over the wall in front of them.
Katara, Aang and Sakura were on the top of the cliffside with Jet, he had apparently just walked out of the forest.
"Yes I would."
"Jet—why?"
"Katara, you would too if you just stopped to think. Think about what the Fire Nation did to your mother, and you Sakura! They completely destroyed your parents' existence—we can't let them do that to anyone else, ever again."
You are doing that exact same thing to so many, Jet. But not this time. We warned those people and your plan is foiled.
"This isn't the answer!"
"I want you to understand me Katara. I thought your brother would understand, but-"
Katara started crying, "Where's Sokka?"
Jet reached out and touched her face, "Katara."
She bowed her head and with a shout sent Jet flying with the water from her waterskin. She drew it back into the container once she was finished.
"I need to get to the dam."
Aang reached for his closed glider on the ground. One of Jet's hooked swords pinned it like an axe. Using his other sword, Jet pulled the first and Aang's glider to him.
"You're not going anywhere without your glider."
Jet swung his swords at the boy, Aang summersaulted away to avoid the extra reach. He jumped into a tree to get away.
"I'm not gunna fight you, Jet."
"You'll have to if you want your glider back."
The two disappeared into the forest and the girls followed on foot.
Sokka was silent for a bit.
"Should we...?"
"No. We will wait and see how this is going to work out, bide your time. Always strike at the right moment."
Jet fell back into the clearing, Katara and Sakura were there in an instant, hitting him over and over again with their bending. Wave after wave of water hit Jet. It mixed with Sakura's earthbending and they were both bending the mud against the boy's body. He hit a tree behind them and Katara finished him off by freezing the muddy water to the tree.
"Why, Jet? I can't believe I trusted you. You lied to me—you're sick and I trusted you!"
A signal call echoed into the forest. Shit.
Jet answered the call.
"What are you doing?"
"You're too late."
"No!"
Aang snapped open his glider and ran for the nearby cliff. The glider's wing was shredded, and had no lift so he slammed back to the ground near the edge. Katara ran over to help him. Sokka and Kakashi backed a little ways away from the edge of the cliff. If Aang had looked to his left any further he would have seen them.
"Sokka and Kakashi are still out there, they are our only chance." Kakashi glanced at the boy next to him, and saw that there were a few tears in his eyes. He put his hand on Sokka's shoulder.
"Sokka, don't worry, we've done everything. No one has to die now."
"Come on... I'm sorry I ever doubted you two... please."
Kakashi looked over his shoulder and saw a flaming arrow arc down into the base of the dam.
The center of the dam exploded into a cloud of smoke and fire. Their group watched a massive wall of water go over the dry falls and down to the town.
"God DAMN IT. We can't just sit here and do nothing!"
"There's nothing you CAN do Sakura. Nothing to help those people. They were a necessary sacrifice."
"Sokka didn't make it in time."
"All those people..." She turned to Jet in rage, "Jet—you monster!"
"This was a victory, Katara. Remember that. The Fire Nation is gone and this valley will be safe."
Sokka took hold of Appa's reigns and they walked up the rest of the way to the clearing.
"It will be safe—without you."
"Sokka!" "Kakashi!" Katara and Sakura greeted them at the same time. Sakura looked at Katara and they shared a smile.
"We warned the villagers of your plan, just in time."
Jet flipped out.
"What!"
"At first they didn't believe me. The Fire nation soldiers assumed I was a spy and that Kakashi was just an old man who had gone senile. But one man vouched for us—the old man you attacked. He urged them to trust us, and we got everyone out in time."
Kakashi was reminded of the sweet little girl he helped out. Her doll had been lost in the initial chaos and he had helped her find it before he left with Sokka.
"Missus Pretty!"
"Sokka, you fool! We could've freed this valley!"
"Who would be free? Everyone would be dead."
"You traitor!"
Kakashi stepped in, "No, Jet. You became the traitor when you stopped protecting innocent people and started hurting them and stealing from them. You've probably done the same thing that happened to you to so many children. What is wrong with you?"
Jet realized his plea was lost on them and turned to the girls.
"Katara, please. Help me."
Sakura came out of nowhere and punched Jet right in the face. And apparently it was hard enough to knock him out. His head left a round spiderweb-patterned dent in the tree behind him. No more words came from him.
Katara looked at her.
"Was that really necessary?"
Sakura shrugged sheepishly, "What? I was tired of hearing him talk. I didn't kill him..."
Katara waved it off and walked away from the boy.
You're not wrong."
Kind of wish she was allowed to do more than that. That boy is just going to mean trouble in the future. But hey, murder probably wouldn't sit well with Aang and he's our ride so it's good that she didn't...
"Goodbye, Jet." Kakashi waved at the unconscious body before they climbed up on Appa and flew off.
"Yip yip."
…
As they cleared the top of the forest, Aang wondered out loud, "we thought you were going to the dam. How come you guys went to the town instead?"
"Let me guess... Sokka's instincts told you?"
Sakura laughed.
"Hey-sometimes they're right. But it was Kakashi's idea actually."
They all looked at Kakashi and went with it. Apparently it was an okay idea if it came from him.
"But anyway. Sokka? You know we're going the wrong way, right?"
"...And sometimes they're wrong."
Thanks for reading everyone! Sorry I didn't get a chapter up during christmas, it completely slipped my mind. But no worries, I should be back on track with the writing soon and get you regular updates once a week now that the holidays are pretty much out of the way.
Love you all!
Liz
P.S. I just created a p atreon!
if you'd like to donate I can always use your support!
Its p treondotcom/eeearnest
wow fanfic has gotten ridiculous with their filtering they didn't want me posting that! HAHA