A/N: I said I wanted to catch up on my sleep but im not tired. The result of me not being tired is the longest chapter thus far. ENJOY!
I opened my eyes after feeling scratching on my arm. "Shade im up, im up." Then I heard a meow from across the room and felt more scratching.
"Its not the kitty cat this time bucko." I looked at my side to see Varrick clawing at the metal on my arm.
I jumped up and fell off of my bed. "Varrick what the hell!" I shouted as I felt the pain of the fall.
"Say kid why dont you let me get some shots of that there arm for my mover? Ill pay you of course." Varrick shot me a sly grin.
"Could you give me a minute!" I commanded more than asked.
Varrick nodded. "So you need some time to think about it? Say no more just come see e when you've decided. I will be at home." And he rushed out of the door.
I looked over to where Shade was meowing from and found her tangled up in one of my shirts. I walked over and picked her up removing the shirt from over her and put it on myself.
I set her down on the table and crouched next to it. "Ok girl three choices. Number 1 climb into my shirt. Number 2 climb onto my shoulder. Number 3 make me carry you in my arms? So choose." I gave her a serious glare and she jumped onto my shoulder and dug her claws in for support. I flinched at the small amount of pain.
"I just had to ask if you wanted on my shoulder didnt I?" I snickered at her to which she meowed. I headed out on deck and saw that we were docked back at Republic City.
"When did we get back?" I thought aloud.
"About an hour or so ago. I guess Varrick decided to let everyone wake up on there own." Hinako said as he walked up next to me and held out a small piece of fish for Shade. She snatched it with one paw and started to slip from my shoulder so she dug her other claws in deeper to hold herself up.
"You did that on purpose didnt you?" I glared at Hinako.
"Yup sure did. Now come on now that we got paid we can go into town and buy stuff." He waved the money in my face.
"Do you even know how we are supposed to use that stuff." I said trying to remind him that we never used any of that.
"Of course he doesnt thats why we're coming along." I looked over to Rina and in each arm she had Jinora and Asami.
I gave Hinako an annoyedd look to which he feigned innocence. "Oh brother you think that this was my idea?" He acted like I had stabbed him. "Your words hurt brother."
"I didnt say anything BROTHER." I emphasized brother to try and make him feel guilty.
"It really wasnt his idea it was mine." Rina said and she stomped up to me and put her finger in my face which Shade clawed at.
"You better watch yourself Rina, Shade her has gotten very defensive when it comes to me." I chuckled and pet Shade.
Jinora walked up and handed me another shirt with one short sleeve and one long one.
"Just incase you wanted to cover your arm." She said as she kicked at the deck.
I looked down aat my arm and thought about it. "Yeah I dont want to have people asking me about it." I pulled Shades claws out of my shoulder and handed her over to Jinora and changed shirts.
"Those claw marks look deep, hold on let Rina heal them." Jinora said as she roughly pulled Rina over.
"Fine ill do it." She stuck her tongue out at me and bent up some water from the ocean and healed me.
"Done, happy? Can we go now?" She was already walking over to the ramp.
"ALright lets go!" Hinako shouted as he waved the money again.
"Fantasic. Since you boys are treating us to lunch. Isnt that right Hinako my darling?" She turned to him with puppy dog eyes.
"Yeah Im hungry so lets go!" He started to run to her but I grabbed the money out of his hand and handed it to Jinora.
"Hey Sai-Ryu what was that for?" He shot me the same hurt expression which I ignored.
"Because its OUR money so we need split it first. then you can spend as much as you want on Rina." I nodded to Jinora and she split the money.
"There is an uneven amount of money so there is a five left ove-" I interuptted her by grabbing it and putting it with my money.
"I'll be keeping that since Hinako has been causing me trouble this whole time. Is there a problem with that brother?" I said sarcasticly.
He thought for a moment and shook his head. "No that seems fair." and he held his hand out and Jinora placed his money in it.
"Thank you." and he ran back over to Rina.
We all followed them into town and to a diner that Asami chose. When we got there the staff greeted her.
"Oh Miss Asami you're back thank goodness. The shop has been attacked twice by the triple threat triads since you left. They stole all the money and food we had to close the shop for the past two days." The shop keep started to cry.
"Tarlo calm down!" She shouted as she slapped the man. "Did you call the police?"
"Yes of course but they have been so busy deling with all the trouble the triple threats have caused. It seems that they have been staring all sorts of problems in the city." He put his head down.
"Its alright Tarlo just go home and tell everyone to head home too and dont worry I'll pay you all no matter what." She smiled and then spotted a heavily bandaged man in the corner.
"Meeks! What happened?" She ran over and examined the man who avoided eye contact.
"He fought them off the first time but the second time they came with more people and beat him. They overpowered him, they even drug him out into the street to show everyone." Tarlo walked over and helped the man outside.
Asami looked furious. "They did this to my resturant and hurt my friends! Im going to see Beifong and give her a piece of my mind!" She shouted.
"No need im already here." Lin Beifong said as she stepped into the shop. "I had heard that Varricks ship had gotten back and decided to look for you and where do I find you but your own resturant. We need to talk, all of you." She said while looking at HInako and me.
"What us?" I looked around. Lin just stared at me.
"Yes, this has to do with you and Hinako." Everyone turned to us.
"What?" Hinako asked oblivious to the situation.
Lin lead us all to the police station and as soon as we arrived we were swarmed by people.
"Is it true that you can bend two elements? Is it true that you are both dating one of Avatar Aangs grandchildren?" We were bombarded with questions and flashing lights.
Lin rushed us inside as police pushed the people back. "Who were those people?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes.
"Reporters. Vicious blood thirsty people who will do anything for a scoop." Mako walked over from his office.
"Hey Mako whats going on?" Hinako walked up and gave him a quick hug.
Mako looked to Lin who shook her head. "They dont know yet." Mako sighed.
"Sai-Ryu, Hinako in my office please." Mako led us back through the door.
"So whats this all about?" I needed to know what the problem was.
"Wait let me guess." HInako walked over and sat in Makos chair and spun around. "Varrick?"
Mako looked from HInako to me. "How did you know?" Hinako laughed.
"I didnt think he would actually do it though." He kept laughing.
"HInako whats going on?" I walked over and stopped him from spinning.
"Varrick said that he thought more people should hear rumors about us since it would bring more money to his movers because we would be in the next one." He stood.
"What Hinako? What is it?" I grabbed his shoulders.
He looked as if he had come to a realization. "People have gotten hurt because of something Varrick did."
"Wouldnt be the first time." Mako said as he shook his head.
I turned to Mako. "Varrick has done something like this before?"
"He attempted to fuel an all out war 8 years ago and almost succeded but he had a change of heart and helped stop it." Mako shrugged when I gave him a (Why?) look.
Just then an officer rushed into Makos office. "Detective Mako sir, The Triple Threats just delivered this message." He handed Mako a blood stained piece of paper. Mako read it and crumpled it up before burning it.
"What did it say?" I walked over as his whole body shook.
"The have hostages and they say they will kill them if you two dont meet them at the pro-bending arena alone." Mako slammed his fist on the desk.
"Ok lets go." HInako stood and stretched. "Its been awhile since we had a good fight and saving people is just a bonus right?" He cracked his back and looked at me.
I perked up. "You're right Hinako. Ive been dying to let my anger out." Mako tried to step infront of us but we pushed him out of the way.
"Sorry Mako but we are going to do this no matter what." Hinako waved and we walked through the door and down to the main door. As soon as we opened it we were swarmed by the reporters again.
"Get out of my way!" I shouted and made the ground all around them shake.
"You had better do as we ask or soon we wont ask." Hinako said in an aggressive voice and bent fire around his arms.
The reporters quickly ran away and we continued on. We started walking down the street when I realised we had no idea where this place was. I walked over to a kid selling papers on the street.
"Kid where is the Pro-bending arena?" I looked him up and down.
"I dont know but maybe a yuan or two will jog my memory." He feigned stupidity and Hinako was having none of it. He picked the kid up with one hand and let fire engulf the other.
"Maybe you didnt hear my brother ask you so maybe youll listen to me when I ask nicely right?" The kids face went pale and he nodded. "Good. Now show us the way please." Hinako set the kid down and he started walking down the road.
After 10 minutes of walking he pointed out the arena. "Its right there." He shivered as he pointed.
"Thanks kid." Hinako ruffled his hair and tucked a couple yuans in his shirt and gave him a wink. The kid smiled and ran back where we came from.
"Well Sai-Ryu ready to see what that metal on your arm is going to do for you?" He pushed my shoulder and I stumbled forward. I felt Shade move around in my shirt and pulled her out.
"Hey Shade this is going to get dangerous I want you to wait outside for a while, OK?" She meowed and clawed at my arm with one paw. "Its fine just wait right here." I set her down next to the main door and we stepped in. I looked back to see her pacing as the door shut and looked back ahead.
We made our way to the arena and were greeted by 6 men who each had two people blindfolded and gagged kneeling at their feet.
"Greetings 2 element brothers." One man spoke over the loud speaker as all the light turned on, almost half of the seats were taken by members of the gang . "We want to see if you really are as strong as they say and the money we'll get when we beat you isnt bad either. Get em boys!"