A/N: It's funny-quite a bit of this story had already been written two years ago around the time I finished Blue Spirit Awakens. It is nice to revisit this story and see some of the ways I've both grown as a writer and changed in style or voice. I realized that depending on the setting of my story, my voice tends to change for that story. I like writing modern tales because I can insert things that are familiar and relevant to me much easier. We are beginning to learn quite a bit about the boy Arendi and his circumstances. Hopefully, we will see Ang accomplish his mission in helping to redeem a life while he hunts for the one who got away with murder and is still getting away with murder as we will soon see. Hopefully, by the end of this story, Arendi can have a bit of the life he only dreamed of prior to this.
Disclaimer: Redeeming a life can sometimes be much more difficult than recycling one.-Spirits in the Spirit world, probably.
Chapter 5: Second Chances
Ang didn't return that day or the next. In fact, Ang hadn't been back to see Koko in weeks. The winter break was already over and school was back in full swing. She was beginning to wonder if perhaps Ang had completed his mission already and left without saying goodbye.
Koko wasn't trying to depress but she felt so sad to think Ang may have left her again without any closure. Koko knew that if she slipped back into her sadness Ang wouldn't be happy and neither would she.
So, she got up that morning to go to school. Koko went through the motions of bathing and getting dressed, brushing her teeth and hair, and putting on makeup even though she didn't feel like it. She wouldn't allow herself to sink back into despair. As she went downstairs to grab a bite to eat Eri Mori smiled.
"Good morning, Little Chicken. I hope you slept well last night." she broached gently noting the dark rings under her daughter's eyes. She also noticed that Koko had become a little sad not long after the break and she wondered what was going on with her. Koko saw the concern in her mother's face and tried to cheer her up to keep her from worrying.
"I slept alright." she lied. "I don't think I was quite ready to go back to school just yet." she joked, which wasn't a lie but it wasn't what was really bothering her either. Her mother smiled.
"I can completely understand that, my dear. Just remember if you ever need anything or just want to talk, I'm here," she said cryptically as if seeing right through her daughter's attempts to reassure her that things were fine. Koko smiled. She couldn't really blame her mother for being concerned so she just nodded, grabbed an apple, and tiptoed to give her mother a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"I love you, Mom," she said softly. Eri Mori smiled and gave her daughter a squeeze around her shoulders.
"I love you too, my heart," she whispered. Koko lowered her head and blushed. Her mother only called her that when she wanted to be clear that she meant what she said.
Koko pulled away softly to get going so that her mother wouldn't see her tear up from all the feels. She smiled and waved as she walked out the door. Because Koko lived in the Middle Ring, she was only five minutes away from Ba Sing Se High School in the opposite direction of the Jasmine Dragon.
Occasionally, she opted to ride with her father in the mornings since his shop came after the high school but today, she needed the fresh air and time to think. Koko walked as casually as she dared knowing that if she went too slowly, she would arrive late for school.
Just as she passed the row of shops before the school, she heard a quick and light honk from a car. She looked over and Zuko was smiling as he rolled down his car window.
"Hey wanna ride?" he said easily. Koko smiled in return. Perhaps she could ask Zuko if he saw or heard from Ang. She would feel better if at least one of them knew what was going on.
Koko got into the car and shut the door quickly. Zuko took a brief glance at his friend and frowned.
"You look like shit..." he said bluntly. As he thought about how that could be taken, he quickly corrected himself. "Ah, I mean you don't look bad, you always look nice, but you definitely seem like you've had some long nights. What's going on?" he asked with concern. Koko smirked at his attempt to backpedal.
"You're not wrong, Zuko. I do look like shit. I'm really tired and I haven't seen Ang in a few weeks. He said he would be back, but he never showed up. It makes me wonder if maybe he already finished his mission or if maybe I was..." Koko hesitated. It was Zuko's turn to smirk.
"Imagining the whole thing?" he asked giving her a quick side glance.
"Yeah," she said fighting the tears that threatened to fall and ruin her mascara. Zuko sighed.
"Well, I would almost say perhaps you were if it weren't for the fact that we both saw him granted not at the same time. If Ang is on a mission there is a good chance that he must be doing something really important that didn't allow him to come back. I haven't seen him again either but I don't think he's done with us." he said. Koko looked up at Zuko and gave a gentle smile.
"Thanks, Zuko. I really appreciate your saying that. Do you really think he'll come back?" she asked hopefully. Zuko nodded slowly.
"Yeah, I do, but what does your heart tell you?" Koko released the breath she had been holding. "
That I'll see him and that I have to be patient." she said. Zuko nodded in agreement.
"Yep, so let's make sure we don't lose our shit while we wait. Who knows maybe Ang found a new body?" he said half teasing. Koko laughed.
"Yeah, that's kinda dark don't ya think?" Zuko shrugged. As he put the car in park, he looked over at Koko and said,
"It could happen—It'd be kinda hard to interact with people as a ghost. Maybe we'll see him at school today. You never know...Have a good day Koko."
Koko just stared at Zuko for a moment before opening her door and getting out. She stood on the outside of the car contemplating his words. Koko never considered the possibility that Aang would do something like that but what Zuko said made sense.
"Koko? Earth to Koko? You good?" Zuko asked carefully. Koko shook her head as if to snap out of her thoughts. "Oh. Yeah, I... wow, I'm OK. Um, have a good day Zuko. I guess I'll let you know if I find him." she said sounding quite unsure but also hopeful. Zuko laughed.
"Same. Hey, we better get moving before the bell rings." he said, and as if by prophecy the bell rang and Zuko and Koko began a sprint up the stairs to the front door of the school and down their respective hallways.
Arendi was in pain. Though he made a miraculous recovery from his injury in the hospital he was still pretty banged up and had a cast on his leg from where the rope caught him. Walking on crutches was overrated, to say the least Ang thought.
No, not Ang, he was going to have to be Arendi from now on. If he was going to get to the bottom of things he would have to act and think like the boy whose body he now inhabited.
Arendi argued with his parents all the way to school telling them he really wasn't ready to go back, but his parents were having none of it. The doctors insisted that with the miraculous recovery he made physically Arendi's reluctance to go to school was more mental and that he should resume a normal routine as soon as possible. So as far as his parents were concerned, there was no opting out.
Just because Arendi had to go to school didn't mean he had to be complacent about it. He got out of the car as slow as frozen molasses and gathered his materials one by one. The bell had long since rang and Arendi could care less that he was missing his first class. He could miss all of them for all he cared.
Nvalut chuckled and shook his head thanking Tui that his son was alive even though right now he could kill him. That boy was his spirit and image. Onip sighed deeply and got out of the car. She went to the opposite side of the vehicle and gathered Arendi's backpack. She placed the remaining books in the back and slung the pack on her shoulder. She closed the door and walked around to her son. She then grabbed the two sides of his face almost throwing him off balance and shook her head.
"You have a second chance to do things right this time Little Wolf, please, if not for us do this for yourself. You have been given a new lease on life. You are a miracle, Ren. Don't waste it son." she pleaded.
Arendi's eyes opened wide. According to his memories, he gave his parents a really hard time, even down to his last girlfriend. Arendi hated being that way but what they wanted for him was so far removed from what he had to deal with as a lowly member of the Water tribe. It was to kill or be killed.
Arendi opened his mouth to protest but only a squeak emerged. He sighed hanging his head. Ang realized that perhaps his mission wasn't just to bring his killer to justice. Perhaps it was also to redeem a life. He would become the son that Onip and Nvalut needed and even Arendi himself wanted to be. He truly had nothing to lose for it. He struggled to form the words and managed an unsure,
"OK, Ma. I'll try, alright?" Onip smiled. "Do or do not. There is no try," she said quoting from their favorite movie. Arendi laughed out loud at her attempt at Master Yoda's voice.
"Fine, I'll do. Don't know how well, but I'll do, OK?" he encouraged. Onip laughed at that and said,
"That's all I ask. I love you, don't ever forget that." Arendi smirked and turned his head.
"I gotta go, Ma. I'm late remember?" Onip rolled her eyes and took off Arendi's backpack. She transferred it to her son and gave him a gentle push of encouragement toward the school.
Arendi looked at the stairs before him and groaned miserably. The ramp was too far down the other side of the stairs for him to make the trek so he took the path of least resistance. Ten minutes later he stood at the door of the school huffing and breathing heavily when someone opened the door for him.
"Thanks," he said without really looking up until someone gasped next to him. He looked up sharply and was face to face with Koko. His eyes blew wide. "Koko..." he said without thinking. Koko looked at him strangely as if she had seen a ghost, ironically enough.
"How did you know my name?" she asked suspiciously. Ooh, right. Already blowing my cover. I'm so bad at this possession thing, Ang thought to himself.
"Ah, well. I, uh, saw you at the Jasmine Dragon before. You work there, right?" he asked knowing Koko was too smart to fall for it. Koko smirked while fighting back a smile.
"Yeah, I do. I think you almost bumped into me once on your way to the east wall," she said her eyes teasing. Arendi huffed and scratched an eyebrow. "Uh yeah, sorry about that. I was on my way to do something really stupid and almost die." Koko's face fell.
"Oh, so you were the one that got injured on the wall, I was really hoping not. From the news report it didn't sound very good." she said. Arendi shook his head.
"It wasn't. I actually died on the operating table once. I was on life support for a while, too." He gave a depreciating laugh. "My Mom says coming back was a miracle and my second chance. Let's hope she's right." Koko nodded understandingly.
"Moms are always right. I'm glad you're Ok. Need any help?" she asked. Arendi gave an unsure smile. This was totally out of his wheelhouse. No one ever wanted to help him before not even his ex-girlfriend. Well, he did promise his mom he would do instead of try.
"Uh, sure? Name's Arendi, by the way. Um, but you can call me Ren." he said. Koko smiled brilliantly as she grabbed his backpack from his shoulders.
"Nice to meet you, Ren. lead the way." Ang marveled at how kind Koko was. He always knew she was but would Arendi have appreciated this kindness if he was still alive?
After a few minutes, Arendi arrived at his destination. Mr. Jeong Jeong was in the middle of a discussion about the bending revival and how it has opened a new path for discovery and tolerance in the city of Ba Sing Se to the surprise and murmurs of some students near the back of the room.
Tolerance was perhaps accepted for some but in other cultures having any of those spirit-imparted gifts was nothing but trouble. Arendi was actually interested in hearing how things were changing for benders and hoped he could have entered inconspicuously but that is near to impossible on crutches.
Some of his friends most of those who hung out with him on the east wall whooped to see him coming back to school. Others catcalled the pretty redhead carrying his bookbag causing her to roll her eyes. Jeong Jeong was not impressed either way.
"Gentlemen, if you are done welcoming your friend back to school and sexually harassing a student with whom you have no chance in the Spirit world, let us continue our discussion. Thank you, Miss Mori, for assisting your classmate," he said as smoothly as saying good morning. Koko smirked slightly and bowed before leaving. She hoped she would get a chance to speak to Arendi again privately to verify her suspicions.
"Good luck, Ren," she whispered on her way out of the classroom to the shock of those watching. A collective "Oooh" went out across the room and Arendi kept his eyes to the front. His doing had to start now if he was going to make it.
After class, a crowd of ten or so teens gathered around Ren talking at once. Most asked how the hell he survived the fall and what was he doing back in school. Others declare how they would have milked their injury for life never coming back to school. Some just give him a solid clap on the back for having the strength to survive. Ren gave a shrill whistle that made people stop and stare.
"Yo, I can't think like this. I'm glad to be back, too. Damn, chill." he said to the amusement of the crew. One guy picked up his backpack for him and the others cleared a path to let him through with his crutches.
"Where to dude? We going to the Pit?" the young man with his backpack asked. Usually, by this time, they all would have ditched school especially now that the re-education program former principal Long Feng ran was gone. Arendi shook his head. Not this time. If he was about to make a new start it was going to have to be with his friends first.
"Nah, man. Third period." he said to the shock and amazement of everyone in the room including Mr. Jeong Jeong.
"I promised Ma I would do better. I got a second chance." Someone whispered loud enough for everyone to hear,
"Damn, he hit his head harder than I thought. Who's mans is this?" The crew laughed and Arendi chuffed and rolled his eyes. Ang would still have to keep some of the respect from his crew. From his memories, he knew the speaker was his on and off friend Aron. Aron was the one who lined up his competitions on the Gamut and also slept with Ren's ex-girlfriend which is why she's his ex. Aron was going to be a problem he suspected.
"The mans who's gonna put a crutch up your ass if I end up late for my next class. You don't have to go, bro..." Ren declared to which Aron put his hands up in mock surrender.
"Hey, I get it, man. You gotta walk or, in your case limp, the straight and narrow for a while. No shame. We'll see you at lunch, I guess..." he said with a tinge of sarcasm. The rest of the crew laughed and the boy who was holding his backpack dropped his pack on the ground and walked out with the others. Arendi shook his head sadly but with no regrets.
Jeong Jeong watched the scene with pride and a tinge of his own sadness knowing that the young man probably just signed his social life's death warrant.
"Mr. Otuk, it's not always easy—doing the right thing for you. Your friends will eventually understand or go away. And if they go away, perhaps... it was for the best," the older man said fully aware that Ren's "friends" were the ones who put him up to running the Gamut that almost killed him in the first place. Ren gave a tiny smile.
He knew that Jeong Jeong had always encouraged him to do the right thing even when Ren was doing things that would hurt him. Arendi gave his teacher a bow of respect though he was sure he was late for class now.
"Hey, let me give you a hand with that." A young man with a deep, raspy voice said. Zuko Azulon-Bei Fong was picking up his backpack. Ren looked almost confused.
"Uh, OK," he said with uncertainty. According to Arendi's memories, he didn't have beef with Zuko but they weren't exactly friends either. He just had a deep respect for the guy for standing up against his abusive father.
"Alright, so which way?" Zuko asked as casually as if they had been friends forever, which made Ren wonder if perhaps Zuko knew who he really was too.
"Uh, the 300 building. Thanks," he said cautiously. Zuko smiled.
"No problem. Glad to see you back in school. That was a pretty nasty accident you had." Ren nodded without responding as he limped down the hallway slowly. He was hoping his teacher would show mercy on him since he was injured. Once they arrived at the door, Zuko helped hook Ren's backpack on his shoulder.
"You should join us for lunch, Ren. Sometimes a change is good when you're trying to do something different. Open invitation. See you later." Zuko said without looking back as he made his way to class. Hmmm. Maybe Zuko didn't know who he was but was just being nice and giving him a chance as the gaang did for him once.
Ren's crew disappeared for the rest of the classes before lunch and didn't bother to check on him to see if he was OK. Ren made up his mind that he would take Zuko's advice and make a change. He needed a good support group if he was going to try to make his life better however short it would be.
The cafeteria was overcrowded once again. There were wall-to-wall people and navigating was already hard enough without crutches. How was he going to carry a tray and stay upright too? He got a firm slap to the shoulder to break him out of his thoughts.
"What's up cuz? Dude, we were sure you were a goner. Gran-Gran was wearing her prayer beads out for you. Need some help?" Sokka asked not missing a beat as he grabbed a tray for his cousin. Ang knew from Arendi's memories that although he pretended to dislike his cousins, secretly Ren admired them for being able to live outside of the Lower Ring and make something of themselves.
He loved his Uncle Hakoda for really showing the world what the Water tribe is about but most people saw the councilman as an exception rather than the rule when it came to his people.
"Thanks, bro," Ren said quietly. Sokka held the tray and led Ren over to the table where his friends were. Zuko, Katara, Sokka's girlfriend, and the rich blind girl were all sitting at the table. He looked around but didn't see Koko. Where could she be? He wondered. Sokka encouraged his cousin to have a seat and put the tray down in front of him.
"Hey, guys I want you to meet my cousin Arendi," Sokka said as easily as breathing. Katara smirked.
"Are you really introducing my own cousin to me?" she teased. Sokka chuckled.
"Once again, I just want to remind you that the world does not revolve around you, Katara. It's obvious that he knows you already, I was introducing him to everyone else," he said as if explaining to a small child. Katara raised a finger of insult with a beatific smile and Ren laughed.
"Is this what you two do when you're not in front of the tribe? I can't wait to tell Maw Gita. It will totally shatter her perfect image of you two. Nice to meet everyone." he said with a smirk.
Sokka and Katara looked at each other. They grimaced then shrugged.
"Well, we never said we were perfect." Katara said. Suki eyed Arendi curiously. Her eyes widened when she recognized him. O.M.G. that's the cute guy that was staring at Koko! Wait, was he hurt on the Gamut? She hoped for his sake he was turning his life around. Koko's parents wouldn't take kindly to someone risking their lives like that for money. Suki held out her hand.
"Hey I'm Suki, I'm Koko's cousin. Nice to meet you." Of course, Ang knew this already but Arendi wasn't supposed to. Arendi took it carefully. "Oh really? Cool. It's nice to meet you, Suki. Koko's really nice. We kinda met officially today. She gave me a hand at the door when I first got back." he said. Suki's eyes gleamed like a cat that ate the canary.
"Did she? Well, Koko is a sweetheart," she said with just a hint of suggestion. Even without his prior knowledge, Ang knew the look of a setup when he saw one. Tophia rolled her eyes.
"Knock it off Fan girl. Let things happen naturally, for once," she said cryptically. Suki glared at Toph who of course couldn't see it and wouldn't have cared even if she could. Zuko held out a fist for a fist bump.
"I'm Zuko. We've never really spoken before today but I've seen you around," he said. Arendi nodded and returned the bump.
"Yeah, thanks for your help today, and thanks for the invite." Arendi paused.
"You guys know you don't have to do all this right? You know being nice to me?" The gaang looked at him in confusion. He added,
"I mean don't get me wrong, I appreciate the help and stuff, but I'm good." He didn't really look up and whispered, "I don't really need anyone, I'm just trying to make things right, you know?" Ang couldn't get too attached to his friends. He would be leaving them again soon and he still had to deal with his crew if he was going to figure out the connection between the Gamut and the man who killed him.
Tophia picked up on the young man's heart rate. It was strange. Like it was there but not really. She couldn't get a true read on him; Something was really odd about this, dude. Tophia would have to ask Sokka about it later. Lunch went by quickly and each of them went their own way except for Zuko and Arendi.
Zuko grabbed Arendi's backpack and nodded for him to lead the way. Arendi shook his head. What is he doing? Seeing that the older boy wouldn't take no for an answer, Arendi followed Zuko down the hallway where Ren's next class would be in relative silence. Zuko wasn't going to push but he understood what it's like being an outsider trying to go it alone. Just before they reached the door Zuko spoke quietly.
"Hey, it is ok to need people. Sometimes being a lone wolf isn't the answer. I was the kid who supposedly had everything and I needed the most help of anyone. We are here for you if you need us, really. Don't be afraid to ask. See you later." he said as he placed Arendi's backpack on his shoulder once again.
Ren swallowed hard. He knew what Zuko said was true. Even Arendi remembered when Zuko tried to kill himself. He saw how his cousin sat down with him for hours until he put the gun down. It amazed him how no one stepped in to help except Sokka who was supposed to be his enemy.
Ang had only heard the story but Ren saw it for himself. No wonder Ren admired Zuko. He saw how Zuko changed his life from the beginning. Ren entered the classroom and choose the seat closest to the door.
He didn't notice that he sat down right next to Koko Mori until it was too late. He smiled inwardly at how the fates keep pushing him in a certain direction. Maybe he had to break protocol a little to get to the bottom of this mystery. Plus, technically he had already asked Koko for help.
Koko looked over at Arendi and smiled. He gave her a crooked smile in return and looked down at his notebook. Yep, the protocol was officially broken. After class Koko stopped Arendi before he could run or in his case hobble away.
"Hey, I know you've just gotten back and you're trying to figure out your life, but since we have some of the same classes maybe we could study together to help you get caught up. I live really close and one of my friends can possibly drop you off until you're off those crutches. What do you think?" Koko asked sincerely.
Even if she wasn't sure Ang had taken over Arendi's body, Arendi had knowledge of the Gamut and could possibly help Zuko, Ang, and her with their mission. Arendi was speechless. Was she asking him to come to her house? They only just met today! Sort of... Ang felt a tightening in his chest. Lowkey, he knew he had no right to be jealous, being dead and all, but he couldn't help but feel a twinge knowing she was asking Arendi to come over. He stumbled a bit over his words.
"Uh... um, I mean, yeah! That'd be dope. I need all the help I can get with these classes. I'd really appreciate it." Arendi pulled on his wolf's tail nervously. "I haven't even picked up all my textbooks yet," he said sheepishly. Koko smiled brilliantly.
"Don't worry about it, I'm sure my friend Zuko would be glad to help out. I'll text him," she said innocently. After a text or two back and forth it was all set. Zuko was going to drop him off at her home and pick up Ren's textbooks for him. He also offered to drop him off at his home in the evening if he needed it.
This was a good idea, but Ren suddenly remembered he needed to call his parents and let them know what he was doing. If he was changing and doing something different, he was going to do it all the way differently.
Arendi rang the doorbell of Koko's house and waited while leaning on one crutch to steady himself. Though the real Arendi wouldn't be around to experience it, Ang knew from the teen's memories that this would be the first time Arendi had a friend outside of the lower ring.
He wasn't exactly sure how to play it, but he figured he would just do what he could to convince Mr. and Mrs. Mori to trust him with their daughter. Mr. Mori answered the door.
"Oh my God, it's you! You're the young man that used to run the Gamut, right? We would have chats about it now and again." He said shocked that Koko would reach out to a kid like him. Arendi looked as if he could have a heart attack. He definitely wasn't expecting a response like that from Koko's father. He wondered if his past behavior would prevent him from being allowed to come over. It was apparent that Mr. Mori was well acquainted with Arendi but not in a good way. Ang would just give it a go and still do his best to show he was turning his life around.
"Oh yeah, um, my name is Arendi Otuk; Koko and I met at school," he said nervously. Ao eyed the young man with heavy scrutiny. He already knew who the kid was because they hadn't just had chats, they had real arguments about the Gamut and he wasn't very impressed by what he saw in the young man before. It was going to take a miracle for him to develop any kind of trust in Arendi around his daughter. Koko called ahead to let them know he was coming but Ao had no idea that it would be him.
"Yeah kid, I know who you are already," he said thoroughly unimpressed with him. Ang searched Arendi's memories quickly for any context. He saw how Arendi would brag about the money he used to make on the Gamut and how he didn't need a job when he made more in one race than Mr. Mori did in one week. Arendi's face fell. He was an asshole! It would take more than a resurrection for people to see him differently.
"Ah, right. Um, Mr. Mori, I want to apologize for the way I spoke to you before. I, um, I was being a real dick—uh, I mean, um jerk?" He paused to scratch the side of his head. The corner of Ao's mouth turned up at Arendi's attempt at an apology.
"Uh, yeah. I-I said a lot of things that were uncalled for. You tried to tell me what I was doing was dangerous. You were just showing us that you cared. I'm sorry for the things I said and did to you, and I'm really sorry I didn't listen to you." He said clearing his throat and adjusting his weight on the crutches that kept him upright while ignoring the irony of the throbbing pain in his leg.
Ao noticed the one-eighty in Arendi's attitude and knew that sometimes it takes a life-changing or in his case near-death event to turn people around. The old Arendi would never have apologized or even admitted that he was wrong. The old Arendi wouldn't have accepted help from anyone to get his grades back on track.
Ao was chuffed. Well, damn. Anything's possible he supposed. Ao gave Arendi a long careful look to judge his sincerity. Satisfied, he stepped aside to let Arendi in. Arendi breathed a low sigh of relief knowing he dodged a bullet. If Ao had not felt like giving him a chance, he totally would have deserved it. He wouldn't waste any second chances.
Ao Mori led Arendi to the beloved wingback chair and ottoman in the living room so the young man could get off of his leg and elevate it. At that moment Koko came downstairs to her father propping up Arendi's foot.
"Wow Dad, I've never seen you be so nice to anyone who comes to see me!" Koko teased. Ao snorted.
"Well, I couldn't very well let the young man suffer on a busted leg, could I?" he said defensively. Koko smiled.
"Daddy, thank you. You're a good man." She said affectionately as she put her arms around her father and gave him a gentle hug. Arendi shifted uncomfortably at the praise Koko gave her father and chuckled nervously from the attention.
Ao smirked at the poor boy's discomfort and hoped it would show him how high he had to climb (no pun intended) to reach his approval. Koko took a quick glance around the house.
"Has Zuko come by yet? He was supposed to bring Arendi's books over since there were too many for him to carry today." Ao was caught off guard. Two boys in one day? His daughter was getting pretty popular all of the sudden. He liked things so much better when there was only sweet, innocent Ang to worry about. This new and unexpected scenario was what prompted him to purchase a gun the day Koko was born. Koko frowned.
"Dad, it's not like that. You know Zuko is in a happy and committed relationship with Katara." At that Arendi looked up sharply, "Katara Kuvira? You know she's my cousin, right?" he said with surprise. Koko was taken aback. How did Ang know that about Arendi? Was he making that up? She'd have to ask him if they ever got to be alone. Ao shook his head. This world was too small. With all the good influences around him maybe Arendi stood a chance of really turning his life around now. Ao hoped.
"Well, I'm going to the kitchen for a minute to rustle up some snacks for you guys. I'm assuming he's not leaving right now since he's waiting for his books, correct?" Koko smiled at her father's attempt to be cordial. "No Dad, he's not leaving, and thanks again for your thoughtfulness." Ao gave a hearty laugh. "I'm just checking, Little Chicken, I'm just checking." he said.
On the other side of town, for once the police department was slowing down from all the reports of illicit deals on the East wall and injuries from the Gamut. After her cousin Arendi Otuk was injured, it seemed like kids were too afraid to attempt the Pit. It was a good thing that those races have stopped, but terrible how it had to happen.
Time would tell how long the hiatus would last. Sometimes the draw for money was too strong and the Gamut seemed like an easy way to get it for those boys who needed cash quickly, but there were many who didn't realize that the cost for what they wanted would be too high. Honestly, Korra was surprised that her cousin survived the race at all. From the anonymous reports she got about the Pit, Arendi hit his head way too hard to just bounce back as he has.
Onip even told her how his heart stopped and he was brain dead for a while. He would have been the next organ donor for sure. It was clear to Korra that the Spirits wanted him to live and were giving him a second chance. Moby Nakamura wasn't so lucky.
The circumstances around his fall were just as suspicious except he didn't have a rope to catch his leg suddenly. The only thing that kept Moby from becoming a puddle at the base of the wall was a platform that caught his body as he fell. The impact snapped his spine and he died on the way to the hospital.
He fell because one of the ropes he grabbed onto was rotted. Moby didn't stand a chance as he lost his grip and plummeted to his death. As she looked over her notes, she realized that Arendi fell in much the same way. He lost his footing when one of the rope nets he was climbing snapped as he put his foot on it. She looked at other cases from the Gamut and a pattern began to emerge.
Snapped ropes, a loose hook, unstable rocks, and bricks in the wall—each case had something that could easily be overlooked as the age of the wall and the course. Korra began to look through her notes for other patterns. The ages of all the young men were between seventeen and twenty years of age-just old enough to be considered consenting adults.
Arendi had just turned 17 that fall. As she went through her stack of files, she noted that every other file was of a Water tribe teen. Out of her 70 cases, 40 of them came from the Water tribe. That cannot be a coincidence. She kept reading.
Moby was Fire Nation but he was on the football team. Another young man Chu from the Earth Kingdom was a member of the wrestling team. As she looked through profile after profile, they seem to fit the same type: athletic, healthy, poor or troubled, or both. Now she was more than curious.
Korra pulled the coroner's report for each young man that didn't survive which was strange because to date there has only been one known survivor: Arendi Otuk. Perhaps no survivors were by design. What would someone have to gain by the loss of these lives? Those that weren't killed instantly were usually on life support and cut off within a few weeks.
Arendi was the only one who was on life support and came out of it without severe brain damage and alive. The others passed away and had organs donated. Korra stopped for a moment and pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. Was she reaching to think that there was something more going on than just kids making dumb mistakes on the Gamut?
Aside from a few who weren't so lucky that fell to the bottom of the wall, there wasn't one who didn't become an organ donor of some sort. Wait. Korra had a thought that she couldn't shake. She needed to go and have a chat with her cousin Arendi.