Hello, everyone! Time for the next chapter and your favorite couple!
HEHEHEHE
Light from the Shadows Chapter 12
Sakura
This morning the group was stopped at a lakeside campsite. Sakura was lying out in the sun in her swimsuit. She was working on getting a tan. Kakashi was lying next to her on the warm ground, and said he was tanning with her, but based on how many clothes he was wearing he wasn't actually going to get anything done. Sakura watched as a large green fish jumped into view and fell back into the lake. Twice, right in front of Sokka. Katara saw it as well.
"Look!"
Sokka decided he wanted that fish for breakfast.
"He is taunting me! You are so going to be dinner, fish!"
He ran back to the tent and grabbed his fishing pole, which had been lying against the edge of the tent. Sokka came back to the lake edge and cast the pole a few times without any effects.
"Hey, where's the line?"
"Oh, I didn't think you would need it Sokka." Aang held up a necklace obviously made with the fishing line.
"Aahh, it's all tangled!"
"Not tangled, woven." He stood up and turned to Katara, "I made you a necklace, Katara."
The boy was embarrassed, he couldn't look her in the eye and kept switching his weight from one foot to another.
"I thought since you lost your other one..."
Aang held up the necklace and a sheepish smile spread across his face. What an adorable thing. He really likes her doesn't he... no wonder she can get through to him way better than Kakashi can. What a cutie!
Katara smiled and walked over to Aang to accept the gift.
"Thanks, Aang, I love it."
Sokka looked at them from the water's edge, "Great, Aang. Maybe instead of saving the world you can go into the jewelry making business."
"I don't see why I can't do both."
Sokka turned back to the lake just as the fish was leaping from the water. He threw his pole like a spear at the fish, but it disappeared back into the water.
"Stop taunting me!"
Sokka waded into the water. He lunged around with his knife to try and catch the fish.
"So, how do I look?" Katara asked.
Sakura turned even though she knew the question was directed at Aang. Katara had put on the necklace he made. It looked fine, for a necklace made from fishline. Aang's reaction on the other hand, was comical. By the end of her question his eyes had almost popped out of his skull. He was dumfounded. Definitely wearing the rose tinted glasses today... Aang used a finger to loosen his collar while still staring at her. She swore steam was coming out of his ears.
"You mean all of you or just your neck? I mean...uh... both look great."
"Smoochie, smoochie, someone's in loooovveee." Kakashi called from where he was sitting next to her. Sakura elbowed him.
"Sh! Leave him alone!" She said to him out of the side of her mouth.
Aang rubbed his head, clearly embarrassed, "I... well..."
Katara gave Sokka an annoyed look, "Stop teasing him, Kakashi," she put a hand on Aang's shoulder, "Aang's just a good friend."
She rubbed his head, "A sweet little guy-just like Momo."
The lemur hopped up on her shoulder, and she rubbed his head the same way she had Aang's.
Ouch. Tough luck, Aang.
"Thanks..." He was clearly put down.
Sokka approached the group, sopping wet, and empty handed. He had a dark look on his face. Part disappointment, part killer intent. A roar in the background startled them.
Aang leaped up onto a rock to investigate the noise.
"Someone's being attacked by a platypus bear!"
Sakura got up and threw on her clothes.
The group ran up the path Aang followed and found a man in front of a platypus bear. The animal had a large bill and huge teeth bared as it reared itself up on its hind legs. The man was way too calm for being at the mercy of a giant bear-creature. The bear advanced on the man, swinging at him. The man dodged by casually stepping backwards, his hands held behind his back.
"Well, hello there." The bear swung at him, "Nice day, isn't it?"
Aang was sitting on a rock behind the bear, "Make noise it'll run off!"
Sokka put in his opinion, "No, play dead, he'll lose interest!"
The bear swung again.
"Whoa! Close one. Haha!" This guy has got to be high on something.
"Run downhill, then climb a tree!" Katara shouted.
"No, punch him in the bill!" Sakura thought confrontation might be easiest in this scenario.
Kakashi cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at the man,
"Then run in zig zags!"
Sakura turned to him, "How is that going to help?" Kakashi smiled and put down his hands.
"Probably just as much as punching the thing in the bill will."
"You know… you are not wrong. Or playing dead!"
They laughed.
"Hey!" Sokka pouted.
"There's no need for any of that, it's going to be fine."
Yep. This man was definitely on something. Cactus Juice?
The calm man ducked just in time for the next bear attack. Aang shot into the air form his rock up over the head of the bear. He landed between the man and the bear and shot a wall of air at the beast that momentarily pushed him backwards.
"Whoa there!"
The bear reared up and roared, even more enraged, only to have Appa rear up behind him and roar. The bear dropped an egg and ran into the river to swim away.
Sokka jumped up to collect the egg.
"Mmm! Lunch!" He sniffed the egg, then gave the calm man a haughty look. "Lucky for you we came along."
"Thank you, but everything was already under control. Not to worry, Aunt Wu predicted I'd have a safe journey."
The man put his palms in the position of a prayer and bowed slightly at his words.
"Aunt who?" Aang questioned.
"No, Aunt Wu. She's the fortuneteller from my village. Awful nice knowing your future."
Katara clasped her hands together, "Wow, it must be. That explains why you were so calm."
Sokka cut in, "But the fortuneteller was wrong! You didn't have a safe journey, you were almost killed!"
"But I wasn't. All right, have a good one!" He waved goodbye and began to walk away, but turned back.
"Oh, and Aunt Wu said if I met any travelers to give them this."
He handed Aang a package and walked away.
"Maybe we should go see Aunt Wu and learn our fortunes. It could be fun."
"You know, I think so too, Katara." Sakura had an itching to hear more from this Aunt Wu woman.
"Oh come on, fortunetelling is nonsense."
Kakashi held up a finger, "that may be true, Sokka! But never underestimate the power of belief. If people believe something will happen, it is more likely to work out. That man believed with all his heart he would have a safe voyage, even up against a huge platypus bear. He was completely calm. Wouldn't that be nice?"
"I mean, when you say it like that…"
Aang shredded the package to reveal an umbrella. It opened in his hand as Sokka finished speaking.
"What do ya know, an umbrella!"
The sky darkened above them impossibly fast and it began to pour rain. The umbrella was only big enough for two. Aang and Katara could bend water, so they made umbrellas for themselves that way. Aang gave Sakura the umbrella, and she shared it with Kakashi as they made their way to the village the man had been heading to.
"That proves it." Katara stuck her tongue out at Sokka.
"No it doesn't—you can't really tell the future."
"I guess you're not really getting wet then."
The platypus bear egg slipped out of Sokka's hands, and in his attempt to regrab it, it flew up into the air and landed back on his head. The rain continued pouring as they walked down the road. Sokka was the only one in the group getting soaked. He pouted.
"Of course she predicted it was going to rain. The sky's been grey all day."
"Just admit you might be wrong and you can come under the umbrella-water thing."
"Look, I'm going to predict the future now." He made ridiculous gestures with his arms and spoke in an exaggerated voice. "it's going to keep drizzling."
He folded his arms and had an attitude of defiance. "See!"
The rain cleared up around them.
Sakura put away the umbrella. Kakashi put a hand on Sokka's shoulder.
"It's okay, not everyone has the gift, Sokka."
The group continued walking, with Appa bringing up the rear. Sokka just stood there for a minute, and when Appa passed him he shook the rain off of his coat. He soaked Sokka yet again.
"Agh!"
…
They arrived in the village a few hours later. The town had been built at the base of a mountain. The peak was so high that Sakura couldn't see the top through the clouds. Sakura walked through the main gate behind the others. The village was set up in a symmetrical fashion. In the main path was a fountain and a meeting place for the village, then a line of buildings behind that, and two rows of buildings on the sides. Behind the back row was a back gate and a road out of the village up the mountain.
They walked through the village square, and came to a building with a circular door. A man outside dressed in black ushered them inside.
"Aunt Wu is expecting you."
"Really?" It was Katara. I think she's getting too excited for this. I think having my fortune told will be cool and all, and maybe it'll give some insight to my life… but it could also be total crap. Don't put too much faith in things, Katara, they don't usually come out the way you want anyway. It would be nice to know if I'll die before I get married. I'm sure that sort of thing is typical for her readings.
Inside the waiting room, five sitting pillows were already laid out for them. The man outside closed the door behind them. Sakura took a seat and was about to talk to Kakashi, who was behind her, but she noticed that he was not on the pillow next to her. Or in the room at all.
What the fuck? She shrugged. Maybe he had something else he wanted to do. Or maybe he doesn't want his fortune told. To each their own.
A young girl about their age walked out to help them. She was dressed in a pink kimono (not too different from the color of Sakura's hair), and had two huge poofy hair braids that defied gravity and stuck out straight from her head on either side.
"My name is Meng and I'm Aunt Wu's assistant." The girl stopped in the middle of the room. Her eyes widened and it appeared all of her attention was on Aang. Oh boy. Sakura looked at the boy, and he had a blank unenthusiastic expression and slumped posture, he might have even picked his nose a bit. What could she possibly see in him? I can't wait to see how this love triangle plays out.
"Well hello there."
Her speech was definitely directed at Aang.
"Hello."
"Can I get you some tea, or some of Aunt Wu's special bean curd puffs?"
Sokka rose his hand, "I'll try a curd puff."
Meng didn't even look at Sokka, she just waved him off.
"Just a second," she bent down in front of Aang. "SO what's your name?"
"Aang."
"That rhymes with Meng! And you've got some pretty big ears, don't you?"
What kind of question is that?
"I…guess…"
"Oh, don't be modest. They're huge!"
Sokka made a gesture with his arms to show their size. Aang shot him an angry look and tried to press his ears flatter to his head.
"Well Aang, it is very nice to meet you. Very nice."
"Likewise."
Meng left the room, looking back over her shoulder, Sakura assumed at Aang.
"I can't believe we're here in the house of nonsense." Sokka complained.
"Try to keep an open mind, Sokka. There are things in this world that just can't be explained. Wouldn't it be nice to have some insight into your future?"
"That may be true, Katara, but you should always distance yourself from these things. You never know how they may turn out." Sakura replied.
"It would be nicer to have some bean curd puffs." Sokka puffed.
"I'm down with that." Sakura said, leaning back on her palms.
Katara shot them an annoyed look.
Meng rejoined them with a tray of refreshments. Just after her the inner door opened to let out a young woman in a green kimono. She rushed over to talk to Meng. Sakura couldn't pick up their conversation but she assumed it was about the woman's fortune. Meng then looked at Aang.
"I wonder if my true love will give me a rare flower."
"Good luck with that!" Aang told her. It was an earnest reply, he obviously did not see that she liked him. Poor Meng. It's best to move on now before you get too attached. I'm afraid he already likes someone else.
The woman with Meng whispered something else, and Meng blushed before shoving the woman away. She brought the tray over to them, but her eyes weren't watching where she was going and she tripped. Everything almost went everywhere, but Aang steadied her grip on the tray. His hands were on hers as they both held the tray. Sakura witnessed a short moment of eye contact between them.
Well, that's embarrassing.
"Enjoy your snack." Her cheeks were very red as she left.
"Welcome young travelers," a woman walked toward them from the inner room of the building. Aunt Wu appeared looking serene with her hair done up and brandishing a gold kimono. Her make-up was on point. Maybe I'll ask her for some pointers.
"Now, who's next? Don't be shy."
Sakura was about to say something, but Katara blurted out, "That's me!"
She scrambled up and went with Aunt Wu behind the screen.
Sokka took some of the puffs and stuffed them in his mouth. "Not bad. Not bad. Mmm!"
He offered some to Aang.
"I'm good on puffs. So… what do you think they're talking about back there?"
Sokka gave her a chance at the puffs and she took a few.
"Boring stuff, I'm sure. Love. Who she's going to marry. How many babies she's gonna have."
Don't tease him, Sokka. Don't you realize he likes her?
"Yeah… dumb stuff like that…." Aang nervously tapped his leg and bit a fingernail, "well, I've gotta find a bathroom!"
Sakura sat there with Sokka.
"SO. What do you think of this fortune telling nonsense, Sakura?"
"Eh. I'll let her do it, but I don't put too much faith in it. The one thing I want to know is if I'll get married before I die. Otherwise I could care less."
"Nice. Nice."
They munched on puffs.
"So where did you learn to do your boomerang thing?"
"My dad taught me."
Silence.
Why don't we have anything to talk about? This is weird.
Momo flew up to Sokka and took the bowl of puffs. Sokka flopped back and picked his teeth. Well I can see why the girls just LOVE you.
Aang rejoined them, he had a huge smile on his face.
"Looks like someone had a pretty good bathroom break."
"Hey, where's Kakashi?"
Sakura looked at the empty cushion next to her and shrugged.
"I don't know actually, he didn't even come in with us.
"Clever, clever. That man is."
Aunt Wu and Katara entered the main room.
"Who's next?"
Sokka stood up before Sakura could even get a word out edgewise.
"Okay, let's get this over with."
Aunt Wu looked unimpressed, "Your future is full of struggle and anguish, most of it self-inflicted."
Sokka's jaw dropped and he drug his hands down is face. His reaction was comical, "but, you didn't read my palms or anything!"
"I don't need to—it's written all over your face."
She looked to Aang, "You then, come with me."
Aang followed Aunt Wu out. Sokka and Sakura pouted on the cushions in the waiting room. I wanted to go next, damn it. Aang's prediction only took a couple of minutes, but once he was done, Aunt Wu ushered them out.
"What about me?" Sakura asked. She was a little disappointed.
"I'm so sorry dear. Come back later, I need to rest."
Sakura drooped.
"Hey at least she didn't say you would be the cause of all of your own 'struggle and anguish'." Sokka mocked the prediction with air quotes and an imitating voice. It made Sakura giggle. When was the last time a man other than Kakashi made me laugh?
They walked back into the city square. Aang and Katara seemed rather happy, Sakura, however, was not, her thoughts had her distracted. A hand landed on her shoulder and she turned, expecting it to be Kakashi, but it was actually Sokka. Where is that man?
"Well, now you got to see for yourselves that fortunetelling is just a big, stupid hoax. She didn't even read you!" He aimed the last part at her.
"Thanks for reminding me…" She gave him a glare.
"What!? It's not like you're missing out."
"You're just saying that because YOU will be the cause of your own unhappiness your entire life."
"That woman is crazy! My life will be calm, and happy, and joyful!" Sokka got more and more upset as his argument went on. He ended up kicking a small stone off the ground that ricocheted off a nearby sign and it hit him in the head.
"Ow! That doesn't prove anything!"
"Well, I liked my predictions. Certain things are going to turn out very well." She held her hands together and sighed.
"They sure are." Aang replied.
Katara dropped her hands, 'Why, what did she tell you?"
"Some stuff. You'll find out." He looked away, slightly embarrassed and blushing.
Silly, silly boy. Literally everyone but Katara knows how you feel.
"Looks like someone's on a love boat. Think she'll finally get it?" Kakashi's voice was right behind her. Sakura whirled around.
"Where did you come from? You disappeared…" She narrowed her eyes at him.
He smiled and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Well… I saw a stray cat and I was looking for some milk for it…"
"Mhm. Sure." She crossed her arms, "well whatever. I didn't even get a reading."
"Are you upset about it?"
"A little." Sakura grumbled.
They walked further out to the main square and a rather large crowd had gathered at its center near a covered stage. The crowd only spoke a little, most were looking up in silence. The calm man that had faced the platypus bear before was amongst the crowd and near the front row.
Sakura and Kakashi followed their group, they were approaching said man, probably asking what was going on.
"What's with the sky?" Katara asked him.
"We are waiting for Aunt Wu to come and read the clouds to predict the fate of the whole village."
Aang pointed up to the sky, "That cloud looks like a fluffy bunny."
The calm man looked at him, "You better hope that's not a bunny – the fluffy bunny cloud forecasts doom and destruction."
Sokka shook his hands in the man's face, "Do you even hear yourself?"
"Sokka, let him be." Kakashi told him over the edge of one of his pervy books.
The man looked annoyed with Sokka, but remained silent. Another crowd member near them joined the conversation.
"The cloud reading will tell us if Mount Makapu will remain dormant for another year or if it will erupt."
"We used to have a tradition once a year of going up the mountain to check the volcano ourselves, but ever since Aunt Wu moved to the village twenty years ago we have a tradition of not doing that."
The man put up a finger and smiled.
Sokka couldn't make the man see reason, "I can't believe you would trust your lives to that crazy old woman's superstition."
Katara put a hand on his shoulder, "Shh! She's coming!"
Aunt Wu approached the stage with her herald. The crowd that had gathered parted to give the woman access. Aang stood next to Katara in front of Sakura and Kakashi. Momo was perched on his head. Clapping a cheering for the woman began. Meng came out of nowhere and stood next to Aang. She pointed at the sky.
"Hey Aang, doesn't that cloud look like a flower?"
"Sure, I guess." He pushed her away, presumably to talk to Katara. Poor Meng. I feel for her. Aang is so blind. "Hey Katara, don't you think that cloud looks like a flower?"
"Shh!"
Sakura slapped her forehead with a palm.
On stage, Aunt Wu bowed and started reading the clouds.
"Bending arrow cloud… good crops this year, nice big harvest!"
Several people wooped and embraced over the news.
"Wavy moon shape cloud… let's see… gonna be a great year for twins."
Two boys in green a little ways to Sakura's right gave each other a high five. "Yes!"
"And a cumulus cloud with a twisted knob coming off the end of it… the village will not be destroyed by the volcano this year!"
The crowd cheered and everyone's eyes were on Aunt Wu. Well everyone but Aang's. His just happened to be focused on a young water tribe girl standing next to him. Sakura nudged Kakashi in the side and gestured at the two kids.
"Since I got you here, uh, there's something I want to tell you. I like you, but more than normal."
Katara didn't hear a single word of his confession. Poor guy, he just built up that courage to confess to you and you weren't even paying attention. Bad luck Aang.
"Too bad on his end, poor guy."
"Yeah, it's like everyone but Katara knows. Sometimes Sokka does, sometimes not."
"Maybe we should… help him out?" Kakashi grinned wickedly.
Katara ran up to the stage to speak with Aunt Wu. Aang was crushed. Momo, sitting on his shoulder, also dropped his ears.
"Never mind."
Sakura and Kakashi put a hand around Aang's shoulders each, pulling him close to each of them.
"Now Aang…" Sakura started.
"We see you have a small problem, and we hear you."
"We know you like Katara…"
"…So we're going to help you out."
"Okay?" Their conversation was half from Sakura half from Kakashi.
Aang nodded, "Thanks guys."
"So the first thing you should always remember when speaking with girls is to always be honest." Kakashi told him.
"And girls always love gifts." Sakura mused.
"She's not wrong."
Aang felt better now, "All right! Thanks so much! I'm gunna go see if I can find her."
He walked away to go find Katara in the crowd. Sakura and Kakashi walked away.
"Think he'll have any luck?"
"Only time will tell. Katara has a pretty thick skull, so he's going to have try very hard to beat it into her that he likes her."
Sakura directed them back to Aunt Wu's house, practically dragging Kakashi once he figured out where they were going.
"I didn't get a reading earlier. I really kind of want one now."
"Suit yourself."
"You don't want to come in?"
"Not really?"
"Pleeeassseeeee?"
"Ugh. Fine."
The two walked into Aunt Wu's house, but she was busy.
"Damn it. I guess we'll have to come back later."
"Let's go see what this town has for food."
"Good idea." He took her hand and they left.
…
Sakura and Kakashi walked around the small village, finding several small vendors and shops to look into. Several times they saw Aang with Sokka, apparently 'investigating' the solidarity of Aunt Wu's predictions. It was utter nonsense really, but they let Sokka have his way, it would only come back to bite him in the end.
One of the vendors was selling chicken on a stick. It was quite simple, but smelled delicious and Sakura was extremely hungry.
"I'll have one with sweet sesame sauce?"
"Coming right up!"
The man handed her two sticks of the delicious chicken and she handed one to Kakashi.
"How much is it?"
"It's on the house! Aunt Wu predicted a couple would come to my stall today, with most unusual hair colors. And here you are! She said it would be good luck to feed them free of charge. Enjoy!"
Sakura's cheeks burned and she didn't dare look to see Kakashi's reaction. He let go of her hand and she found she missed that point of contact.
"T-thank you very much!"
She gave him a slight bow and they were on their way.
"What a nice man."
"Mhm."
"Do you think Aunt Wu is free now?"
"Guess there's nothing wrong with going to check it out."
They turned around and walked back to the village square and Aunt Wu's home. Aang was standing outside the house, leaning against a window frame.
"Hey, Aang. Is Aunt Wu free?"
"Actually I think Katara is still in there."
"Katara? Didn't she get a reading this morning?"
"Yeah I guess… Are you okay, Sakura? Your face is all red."
"I'm fine! Katara is being ridiculous. She has to have been in there for like an hour now!" She fanned herself a bit before walking past Aang.
Sakura and Kakashi walked into the home. Kakashi sat down on one of the pillows in the waiting room and Sakura continued straight through to the reading room.
"One last thing. How warmly should I dress tomorrow?"
"You want me to do a reading for that?" Aunt Wu sighing could be heard.
"Well, one thing I can say is that you shouldn't have worn a collar today."
Sakura threw open the door and grabbed Katara by her collar, dragging her out of the room.
"You've had enough, Katara. My turn."
The girl looked surprised and joined Kakashi in the waiting room. Sakura closed the door behind her.
"So sorry about that Aunt Wu."
"No offense taken. Honestly I was waiting for her to leave for the last 20 minutes."
"So… would you do a reading for me, Aunt Wu?"
"But of course sweety."
Sakura took in the room around them. The dim lighting from the fire in the middle of the room, the pillows in the corners of the area that was sunken into the floor. A small urn off to the side of Aunt Wu had a cluster of small bones in it. The rest of the room was a conglomerate of cabinets and desks, drawers and shelves. Scrolls and books were pouring out of everything. A vanity off to the right held all of Aunt Wu's makeup.
"Pick a bone darling, it's the easiest way to predict your future. Or your palm, whichever you prefer."
Sakura stuck out her palm. Something about the bones intimidated her.
Aunt Wu took her hand and traced her palm lines.
"Are you an earthbender?"
"Yes."
"I see."
The room was silent for a moment.
"I do see several events in your future, my dear. Your life may have many struggles, especially over the next year, but it will end up happy. The one you will marry will be a huge surprise to you, they've been there all along. He's a bender of course, and a powerful one. I also see that trust will be one of your most important aspects in your relationship."
"Thank you, Aunt Wu."
"No problem my darling. Send in that man that came in with you. I'd like to do a reading for him as well. He is a rather good looking one, isn't he?"
She nodded and got up, wait did I just nod to Kakashi being good looking? I mean she's not wrong but... he's just a friend. Sakura rubbed at her hot cheeks as she walked out of the room.
In the waiting room, Katara was seething. Kakashi just looked a little bored.
"Kakashi she said to send you in."
"Huh? Okay." He got up and walked past her into the room.
Who has been there all along? I can't think of anyone that has been there since the very beginning. Katara wouldn't let her sit and think about her fortune though, she practically tackled the girl as she came out of the reading room.
"Well!? What did Aunt Wu tell you? Are you blushing!?"
"Shut up, Katara! I'm just a little hot!"
"Uh-huh, and my name isn't Katara. Spill it!"
Sakura plopped on one of Aunt Wu's pillows and dished what the woman had told her. Kakashi's reading took just a few minutes and they left. Katara, on the other hand, felt she needed more time with the fortuneteller.
"I just have a couple more questions for Aunt Wu."
Aunt Wu was standing at the doorway to her reading room.
"What do you want?" the woman was exasperated.
Sakura and Kakashi slipped out as Aunt Wu answered her questions.
"Like I asked before, how warmly should I dress tomorrow?"
"You'll be fine as long as you've got a scarf. Bye now."
"One more thing?"
"All right, what is it?"
"Should I eat a mango… or a papaya for breakfast tomorrow?"
"PAPAYA."
Aunt Wu slammed the door shut.
"Ohhh, I hate papaya."
She gave the dirt at her feet a kick. Aang was still leaning against the wall. Sakura could almost laugh at what he was doing. He was trying to pull off the whole 'cool' look, and only succeeded in looking stand-offish and stupid.
"OH… hey Katara. I didn't see you there."
Katata started walking away. "Hey Aang."
Aang shouted after her, "That's okay, I'm busy with my own stuff."
Sakura giggled.
"What the? What are you doing?"
A duck landed next to Aang and quacked.
"The duck is right."
…
Sakura followed Katara to the fruit stand.
"Ugh. Papaya please." She sounded disappointed in what Aunt Wu had told her to do.
"Why don't you just get the mango?" Sakura asked.
Aang slid up beside them, attempting the same nonchalant pose as before. But really though, what the fuck is he doing? We told him honesty! Honest is the best policy!
The shopkeeper handed Katara a papaya. She looked at the greenish fruit in slight disgust
"So… papaya."
"Uh-huh. Would you like some?"
"You know me," he picked up a fruit off the stand. "I don't really care what I eat."
"Okay then, see you later." She turned and walked away.
Aang took a bit of the fruit and choked on it. He clearly hated the taste. Sakura gave him a blank look with a cocked eyebrow.
"Really, Aang. So smooth. Much grace. You just ate an eggourd. They do not taste good raw."
"I knew that! …Maybe aloof isn't my style."
"Aloof? Is that what you going for? Who spouted that nonsense to you?"
"Sokka."
"Alright. You can stop there. Disregard everything he told you. Your aloof will not win you Katara's heart. Acting like someone other than yourself is just dishonest."
"Yeah, you're right."
Kakashi joined them. A couple just across the way were talking. The man, who was wearing a ridiculously bright pink and white suit, gave the woman a flower.
"Oh! A panda lilly!" If Sakura wasn't mistaken it was the same lady that had gotten a prediction earlier that day. Didn't she say something to Meng about getting a flower? Or was I imagining it?
The two embraced. Aang seemed to be entranced by the instantaneous response from the woman.
"Did you see that?"
Literally two seconds later, Sakura saw Aang pushing the couple apart to ask them a question. He was pointing at the flower.
"Excuse me. Where can a guy find one of those things?"
Sakura shook her head.
"Make a run for it?" Kakashi asked her.
"Definitely."
They quickly fled the scene before Aang returned.
Quite close to the square, the two found a small tea shop. Inside of it were pictures of couples who had met at the tea shop, lots and lots of pictures. A hostess greeted them.
"Hello you two! And welcome to Makapu Teas! My name is Sousa, follow me to your table please."
Kakashi put out his hand for her to go first. She smiled at him and followed the girl. Everything in the little house was decorated and beautifully so. Their hostess was dressed just as beautifully as the room, her kimono a dark violet with lavender flowers printed on the bottom third of the gown, the lining was a light lavender hue. Her obi was a beautiful pale peach color and tied expertly in a box knot in the middle of her back. Her hair was pulled up into a tight bun with a small silver comb tucked into it. She was just a bit shorter than Sakura. Sousa led them to a table for two in the back corner of the room.
"Will this table be suitable?"
"Yes, thank you." Sakura sat down on one cushion, Kakashi doing the same across from her.
"Your server Chunhua will be right with you."
The woman bowed and walked away. She had 'the walk' down. Her kimono fluttered just like Sayuri's did in the spirit world. How beautiful. It's like she's walking on water.
A small piece of paper was tucked into a wooden standing slot at the end of their table. It held the list of the house teas that were being offered. Sakura saw that there was jasmine green tea offered and her heart soared. She put the paper back and held her hands clasped on the table.
"I assume you saw something you like?"
Sakura nodded happily.
"So I can assume that's what we're getting?"
"If you want something other than that, than get it, silly. I'm not going to make you get the same thing. Plus if you get something different, we can try each other's and both get a new experience."
"True."
Kakashi took the pamphlet from the wooden stand and studied it. A woman dressed in a dark green kimono joined them. The bottom was a viridian green that lightened to a jade toward the top half of her gown. The obi around her waist was a creamy tangerine that contrasted wonderfully for a springy effect. The embroidery edging of her kimono featured tiny foxes and leafy vine patterns. It was a wonderful piece.
"Hello," she set down a small tray of cheese and other little bits of appealing foods. Sakura had never been to this part of the country before and wasn't quite sure what all of it was, "what blends of tea were you two interested in trying today?"
Kakashi smiled and nodded at her to go first.
"I would love your jasmine green tea, please."
"I'd love the ginseng, if you've got a fresh strong pot of it."
"Yes, sir. I will be right back."
The server left them to retrieve their tea.
"Did you notice how many pictures are on the walls of this place? And it looks like so many of them are of couples! I wonder what the significance is."
Kakashi shrugged and took a sample of food from the tray.
"Ooh. That's interesting."
"What is?"
"I think I just ate a mushroom stuffed with something. It wasn't bad."
"Huh. Interesting."
Sakura took a cracker like object and put a tomato and cheese on it. She thought tomato and cheese would be safe. Her taste buds were overwhelmed. The cheese was strong, but what she thought was a tomato was actually a pepper of some sort and a little spicy. The cracker helped balance it out and had an oddly lingering taste of spinach. She was sure her facial expressions were hilarious to Kakashi.
"Something wrong?" he chuckled.
She choked and swallowed her cracker-pepper-cheese-thing. "Haahhhem. Yep. Everything's great."
He laughed.
Their waitress returned with two pots of tea as well as their cups, saucers, spoons and napkins. She placed everything out, carefully and precisely.
"So tell me, Chunhua, what are all these pictures on the walls?"
"The pictures are of couples who met or had their first date here. Most of them have gone on and gotten married now! Aunt Wu says we're the luckiest place to meet your true love!"
Sakura smiled and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Haha haha…"
She felt a little uncomfortable, and almost sure her cheeks would be a permanent shade of pink by the time they left this village.
"Would you like me to take your picture?" She pulled a wheeled contraption out of the corner and sat it in front of them. They were too stunned to say anything and just sat there while she took their picture.
"We'll probably have it developed by next week and you'll be up on our wall!" She smiled widely and walked away.
"What the hell just happened." Kakashi questioned.
"I think she thought we were… together."
"Which we are not."
"Huh."
"Weird."
"Yeah. Weird."
"Cuz I mean.. that would be…"
"Just totally…"
"Weird." They said it at the same time.
Sakura poured herself a cup of the tea and took a sip. It was just the right temperature. Hot but not so hot that the flavor was lost and your tongue got burnt. Her cheeks felt warm. She offered her cup to Kakashi to taste, like they had said before. He took a sip of his own cup and they traded. Sakura smelled his tea and while it didn't smell sweet it smelt… different and when she tried it, it was definitely earthy and bitter. There is a reason why they bring this little tray of snackies. I bet this would be grand with something sweet.
A little cake off the side of the plate caught her eye. It was very small, just about a square inch. She took and popped it into her mouth and it cut the bitter taste of the tea instantly.
"Mmm…"
They traded their cups back.
"What do you think?" Kakashi asked her.
"Well ginseng is naturally an earthy bitter thing, so that's what the tea is like, but it goes quite well with something sweet."
Kakashi nodded, "The energy boost is a nice little plus on the side. Your jasmine is very good, they sure know how to make a good pot here."
Sakura nodded as she took another sip of her jasmine.
Let's just pretend that picture thing never happened, mmk?
Mmk.
Wait, I just put my mouth on his cup. And he put his on mine…
Just for a moment she fancied that she could taste his lips on her teacup, and she swore there was probably steam flowing freely from her ears.
Sakura didn't have to worry about them talking about it anymore, as a huge commotion brought everyone outside to the street. Sakura heard a rumble of the mountain as it spewed hot ash and smoke into the air.
She and Kakashi watched as their young traveling companions addressed the townsfolk.
"Everyone! That volcano is gonna blow any second. Aunt Wu was wrong!" Sokka tried to explain. A woman in the crowd was eager to scoff at him.
"Yeh, yeh, we know you don't believe in Aunt Wu, 'Mr. Science and Reason Lover."
Katara stepped forward anxious to help her brother and Aang.
"If you won't listen to him, maybe you'll listen to me. I want to believe Aunt We and her predictions as much as you do, but my brother and Aang saw the lava with their own eyes."
Oh shit that's whats going on?
Sakura looked at Kakashi.
"Ah shit."
"Well I heard Aunt Wu's prediction with my own ears." The man that had faced the platypus bear stated haughtily.
Aang jumped onto the roof of Aunt Wu's house to better address the growing crowd.
"Please listen to us! You are all in danger! And we have to get out of here. You can't rely on Aunt Wu's prediction. You have to take fate into your own hands."
And explosion shuddered through the ground and Sakura's hand shot out to grab Kakashi's shoulder and steady herself. Sokka pointed to the mountain, his anger at the crowd rising.
"Look! Can your fortunetelling explain that?"
Sakura glanced up and saw the billowing dark grey smoke flowing out of the mountaintop, but apparently the rest of the crowd was blind.
Another villager came forward to mock Sokka, "Can your science explain why it rains?"
Sokka shook his hands at the man, "YES! YES IT CAN!"
Even so the crowd was not convinced, several even turned around and started walking away to their respective lives and homes. Kakashi and Sakura rushed up to join the rest of their group. Katara looked down, dejected.
"They just won't listen to reason."
Aang flew down and joined them.
Kakashi put up a finger, "they may not listen to reason, but they might listen to Aunt Wu."
Sokka looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Yeah. That's the problem."
He smiled and shook his head.
"No, it is about to become our solution. Like Aang said, we're about to take fate into our own hands. First, we need to break into Aunt Wu's house and borrow her cloud reading book."
Sakura was volunteered to be the distraction for Aunt Wu while Aang would be go in and get the book. She claimed to want Aunt Wu to determine something about Appa, who just so happened to be in the stables a good distance away from her home. She complied and followed.
"Aunt Wu, I'd like you to meet Appa."
The woman was astounded by his size and reached up to pet his head.
"You are a wonderous creature. Just beautiful. What was it you needed me for out here Sakura?"
"Hmm... I actually can't remember. Shoot. Let me escort you back to your house. Sorry about dragging you out here for nothing."
"It's no problem, meeting Appa was a pleasure if nothing else. Let me do a quick reading for him."
"Wait, you can do a reading for animals?"
"But of course, and sometimes they are easier to read than humans."
She placed a hand on Appa's massive head and shut her eyes.
"Oh you poor soul, you have hard times ahead of you. But you already knew that, didn't you? I'm so sorry sweetie. Everything will get better, I promise. It may seem dismal soon but you'll pull through. And don't let the fire man get to you, you won't be stuck there forever."
The older woman sighed and took her hand away from Appa.
"Thank you, Aunt Wu."
"Take good care of him, Sakura. His poor spirit." A tear escaped from the corner of her eye.
Sakura nodded and they walked back to her home. At this point in the plan, Aang, Katara, Kakashi, and Sokka were supposed to be leaving Aunt Wu's house and getting back to Appa. But she was saying some dark things. What's going to happen to Appa!?
When they got back to the house, Meng greeted them in the waiting room.
"Hey Sakura."
"Hi, Meng. You seem a bit down. Is everything all right?"
"Yeah, I suppose."
The girl fiddled with her hair and Sakura could tell she felt miserable. She took a seat on a bench in the far wall and gestured to the floor cushion in front of her.
"Come here, and I'll do something with your hair."
Meng shook her head, "Good luck."
The girl joined Sakura.
"Do you happen to have a comb? A pick? Brush?"
"Here."
Meng took a pick out of her sleeve and handed it to her. Sakura started unraveling the bushy hair. I have never seen hair this unruly. We will figure something out for her though.
"Tell me what's bothering you, dear."
She teased out a knot and continued to the next lock.
"Well... There's this boy."
"Mhmmm."
"I like him, but he doesn't like me. At least... not that way."
"I see."
"I'm pretty sure he has his eyes on someone else." The girl let out a depressed sigh. It was clearly getting to her.
Sakura had finished one detangling and moved to the other.
"So who is this elusive boy?"
The girl remained silent for a moment. Sakura didn't push, it wasn't like the girls were close friends yet. She continued combing out the second braid. I think maybe I'm going to do a little updo with some curls.
Sakura put the handle of the pick between her lips and pulled Meng's hair back tightly, not giving it any room to kink up. She used a bit of the string from her previous braids to fasten the hair into a ponytail of sorts. The rest of the hair, now free, curled wildly and bushed out. Sakura found the middle of her hair and splayed it out to make a used more of the string to fasten the hair over itself. The bun was kinky and appeared to have a little row of curls around the bottom. It was quite fetching.
She turned Meng around and had her face her. It was apparent she had been crying, but her hair was so pretty now.
"All done!"
Sakura was tackled in a tight hug. She responded with a squeeze of her own.
"Thank you, Sakura."
"My pleasure, Meng."
She wiped a tear out of her eye. Sakura rose and walked outside the house. Aang and Katara should be almost done with the cloudbending now...
A skull was taking form in the sky, just about fully formed. Sakura went back into the home for Aunt Wu. Meng watched her pass and followed.
"Aunt Wu! Aunt Wu!"
The woman popped out of her inner sanctum and gazed at Sakura.
"Yes, Sakura? What can I do for you?"
"Something weird is happening with the clouds."
Sakura brought Aunt Wu out to her little stage in the square and they all looked at the sky. A massive eerie skull was clear in the skies.
"That's very strange. It shouldn't..." The woman looked at the sky and it dawned on her what was there.
"Oh my!"
…
Sakura joined their group as Aang addressed the village from the small stage.
"We can still save the village if we act fast. Sokka and Kakashi have a plan."
Sokka began his speech, "Lava is gonna flow downhill to here. If we can dig a deep enough trench we can channel all the lava away from the village to the river."
Sakura turned to the crowd and rose her hand.
"If any of you are earthbenders come with me."
The twins that had been estatic at Aunt Wu's prediction earlier came forward.
"I'm an earthbender!"
His brother added, "I'm not!"
Kakashi laughed, "Everyone who is not and earthbender grab a shovel!. Come on, we've gotta hurry!"
Sakura gathered a smallish crowd of earthbenders and they discussed plans of action.
"So we need to move as quickly as possible. We'll divert in a U-shaped form to the river and we need to make sure the walls are high enough to contain it."
The earthbenders with her nodded their agreement and started manipulating the earth around the village. They started in the middle of the U and moved out. Sakura periodically looked up at the mountain to check its progress. She stopped looking up when she saw orange.
"Dig faster! Dig faster!" Became Sokka's mantra.
Sakura quickly picked up a rhythm with the one twin that could earthbend in the village, they broke up the earth and made large divots, those with shovels helped to dig deeper. They continued back and forth around the U-bend and finished the trench off with a massive shifting of the last of the earth between the U and the river. She turned to the young earthbender with her and high fived him.
"Nice work, kid. You're an excellent bender for someone so young."
"Thanks!"
Sakura looked up and Aang was standing on the lip of their created trench, his expression was grave.
"Everyone needs to evacuate! We'll come for you when it's safe!"
The villagers left the area. Sakura found Kakashi and they joined the rest of the group on top of one of the taller buildings in the village. Ash was starting to come down like snow.
She and Kakashi took a seat on a building adjacent to Sokka and Katara. Aang still stood on the lip of the trench.
"Do you think it will hold?" Kakashi asked beside her.
"I hope so."
The town was bathed in an eerie red glow from the lava. She glanced at Kakashi and his hair was bright orange. It looked hilarious and Sakura wanted to laugh at him but the situation was too serious, and the giggle died in her throat. The orange death had reached the village gates and consumed them, toppling the structure over and dissolving it in flames. It passed through their cemetery, completely erasing the headstones there from existence. The trench they created began to fill rapidly.
This doesn't look good.
Sakura stood up and hopped to the next rooftop to talk to Aang.
"Aang! It's too much! It's gonna overflow!"
An explosion rocked the village, and Sakura was forced to her knees on the rooftop. Chunks of rock began to rain down amongst the ash flakes. Katara and Sokka dropped from the roof and began to run away. Sakura hopped off and joined them, only to stop and turn around when they all realized Aang hadn't moved. A giant boulder fell directly in front of Aang, exploding with such force a wave of lava was created. Just as it was about to overflow, he blew the lava straight up in a wall of bright orange around the village. Aang sucked in a breath and expelled it, cooling all the lava to stone. Afterward, he relaxed and calmed himself after such a massive exertion.
Sakura glanced at the two kids next to her and saw they were in awe of their friend. To be truthful, she was as well. The mountain may still be erupting, but they were no longer in danger.
"Wow... it's so easy to forget what a powerful bender Aang is. And he's just twelve." Kakashi mumbled.
Katara looked like she'd been hit by a bus, "Wait, what did you just say?"
"Nothing much, just that Aang is a powerful bender."
Sakura looked back at their young airbender friend, he was silhouetted in orange from the lava and put off a rather ominous feel.
"I suppose he is..." Katara whispered under her breath.
…
The next morning they were preparing to leave, after all they had achieved any purpose they had in the village. Their group met with the villagers in the village square. Sakura glanced up at the volcano behind them all, it was still smoking, but no longer erupting.
Aang was going about returning the book they had 'borrowed' from Aunt Wu.
"By the way, we kind of borrowed your book." He held out the book with his head down.
"So you messed with the clouds did you!"
Her tone was angry. She grabbed the book and Aang cringed, maybe he thought she was going to hit him with it? The anger only lasted for a couple of seconds, before the woman started laughing.
"Very clever!"
Sokka walked out of the crowd and faced the villagers, "No offense, but I hope this taught everyone a lesson about not relying too much on fortunetelling."
Starting any sentence with 'no offense', is usually the easiest way to cause offense, dummy.
The platypus bear man smiled and responded as calm as ever, "But Aunt Wu predicted the village wouldn't be destroyed, and it wasn't. She was right, after all."
Sokka stomped up to the man and pointed a finger in his face, "I hate you."
Katara grabbed Sokka by the shoulders and dragged him away, "It's okay, Sokka. Everything's gonna be all right."
Sakura laughed at their antics and started to walk towards Appa. It was their time to leave. Aang was still talking with Aunt Wu while they strapped down their bags.
Meng stood in front of the bison and petted his head.
"Goodbye, Appa." The girl seemed depressed, but her hair looked fantastic. If I do say so myself. Katara took up Appa's reigns.
"Oh hey Meng."
"Hey, Katara."
"Your hair looks nice."
"Thank you."
Sakura climbed up onto Appa's back and took a seat next to Kakashi, he was reading, yet again.
Does he ever put that book down?
Katara addressed the villagers, "Goodbye everyone! It was so nice to meet you! Take care, Meng."
Sakura could have sworn she saw animosity in Meng's eye, but disregarded it.
Hmm.
They turned to fly away and Sakura heard Meng call out to them, "Take care!"
And almost inaudibly, "Floozy."
Oh so that's how it is!
Thanks so much for reading everyone! The next chapter will be a Sausage chapter, but that's okay, some fun stuff starts happening with him!