Chapter IV
What Happened in the East?
With the family reunited, and a destination in mind, the trio was in high spirits. No longer did they feel like worthless vagabonds, but holy travelers: free as the wind, going to where Akash called them to be. However, as bright and sunny as things were going and although the weather was holding for these past two weeks, there were some cloudy points.
One of which consisted of mushrooms found on a trail. Yomi told Mao that they looked like chanterelles, of which some were good for eating. Without any hesitation Mao munched on the whole clutch, which then resulted in very loose bowels and nausea, and a very, very humbled and irritated Airbender.
However, despite bad mushrooms, poison oak, and bee stings, the boys traveled on with much enthusiasm and mirth; it was an adventure that would stay in the three's hearts for years to come.
Mao was sulking on rock after walking for three and half hours without a break. His feet were sore and his gut was growling.
"Yomi, can we set up camp soon? I'm beat," Mao complained, stretching his back over a rock. Chiko sucked on his fore and middle fingers, an old behavior for whenever he was bored or very tired. Yomi sighed and looked at the rocky terrain. "I don't know Mao, I guess we could take a short break. We have been walking on some pretty warm earth; my maps say something about springs around here."
Mao smiled. "Hot springs mayhap?" he inquired with a devious smirk. Chiko clung to Yomi's hem and looked at the finches, squirrel-jays, cardinals, wrens and meadowlarks singing blissfully in the trees.
"Maybe, I guess we should sojourn and find out," Yomi said finally, picking up his staff.
After another hour of travel and of Mao's whining, they found steep hills and pools, one with a small waterfall flowing into it. However, a troop of hogmonkeys was occupying the area and did not seem like they would be leaving anytime soon.
"Well fuck. Looks like we can't have our free baths," said Mao. Yomi, however, smiled.
"They'll leave once we get into the area. They don't like people," Yomi said sagely as he walked in. And he was right; most of the troop skedaddled leaving only a few haughty members looking at the bold humans who strode in.
"See? I was right. Now let's set up camp and take a quick dip." Chiko looked at the hogmonkeys but he didn't seem afraid. He was only mildly curious at the primates, and they seemed just as curious as Chiko when he went to help his brothers.
After setting up a tent, digging a fire pit and gathering fresh water, the trio where finally situated. Yomi laid a blanket on the ground and began to peel off his clothes. Mao followed in suit, taking off his fundoshi or loincloth. Chiko only watched with some slight hesitation as his older brothers started to the spring to bathe.
"C'mon little brother! The water is fine, come bathe with us!" Yomi called out to Chiko. The small Airbender did not join in. He shook his head, and looked at his feet. Yomi rolled his eyes.
"Chiko, you seen us naked dozens of times. We have nothing that you don't have," Yomi replied with smile. Chiko looked up and sighed. Mao laughed with quip, "and don't be intimidated, I'm sure yours is bigger than Yomi's." This earned him a smack on the shoulder by said monk.
"Mao! Don't be so crass!" Yomi hissed with his cheeks flushed. Chiko cracked a grin and shook his head. "I d-dd-on't w-w-want my b-b-bann-n-dages wet." Yomi sighed,
"Then remove them, silly lemur." Chiko blinked and nodded. He stood up and began to take off his trousers, traveling cloak, shirt and loincloth. Yomi got out of the water, walked over to Chiko and helped him unravel the bandages. Mao was taken aback.
"Wow! Good Akash! Look at them," he exclaimed scratching his head. "Looks like Chi-bird has a few battle scars!" Chiko's cheeks flushed and he followed Yomi into the spring. He was not quite sure if he would call his wounds battle scars.
The trio sat in the warm water letting it soothe their tired muscles. The hogmonkeys didn't bother the humans in the springs, and only watched the family with mild interest. Chiko leaned on Yomi a bit and looked up at the sky and noticed that the sun was setting. He smiled at the colors in the west before he asked Yomi:
"Ww-w-hy do-do-do-do aa-a-airbb-b-benders ha-ha-have grr-rr-ey e-eyes?" Chiko stuttered with a cock of his head.
Yomi's brow wrinkled as he leaned back on the limestone side of the spring. "I don't know…I've always wondered why Akash gave us grey eyes. Not green, brown or even the burnt gold of the Fire Nation."
Mao had his eyes closed but now opened one of his cool iron eyes. "That's easy. It's because Akash forgot to color them."
At this, Yomi wrinkled his nose. "That's pretty careless for a spirit. Why?"
Mao straightened and opened both his eyes. "Well the story goes something like this: Many, many years prior, before the avatar, Akash, ruler of heaven and Vayu Air-Mother, wife to Akash, were feeling lonely. Their sons the four winds had all flown away and continued to spin the world. So Akash and Vayu were alone. Well, Akash decided since he was an all powerful spirit of the sky that he would make people. So he and Vayu went to the Top-Of-The-World and gathered the mist and clouds that collected there. Vayu took the mist and cloud cloth down from the Top-Of-The-World and sat on her loom and began to spin the first man. She wove and knit the man's form on the loom, and soon she finished the first human, who was grey and colorless. Vayu cut the man from the loom and began to start on the woman. She finally finished the male and female. Akash was growing impatient.
"'Beloved, have you finished with my air-children?' bellowed the sky god. Vayu shook her head. 'No, I have not. We still have one more step. Vayu swallowed the male and female cloud-cloth dolls. Akash was confused but then later his mate laid two eggs. She told Akash to sit on those eggs for nine moons, and the eggs would hatch, producing their children. Akash nodded and sat on the huge eggs, but Akash was not a patient god. After four moons he was getting restless. After six moons he was getting bored and frustrated. 'Wife! I have enough. I want to get off these blasted eggs!' Vayu shook her head. 'No, my best beloved, you must be patient!' Akash grumbled and continued to sit on his eggs. At the final month, Akash got up, but Vayu made him sit down. 'Wait until they hatch!' she hissed. Akash only sat down for few minutes before the eggs began to stir. Finally the first egg hatched, and out came the male, fully grown and naked. The female came next with long silky brown hair. But when they opened their eyes, their eyes where still misty grey! The rest of their skin was colored with soft peach colors and their eyebrows and patches of hair of deep umber. But the eyes weren't colored at all.
"'Akash! You fool! You forgot to color them!' Akash looked affronted, and the eagle winged god shook his feathered head, 'I didn't know I was coloring them!' Vayu explained that he must sit on the eggs until they hatched, or they would be colorless. Because Akash jumped up before they hatched, only their eyes weren't colored; they still had the cloudy grey of heaven. Akash smirked, 'Well now I know, still these little ones need names.' Akash picked up the male and cradled him in his huge hand
"'I give you the name of Eka, for you are the First.' Eka looked at his huge sky-father and blushed. 'I am Eka,' he replied. Vayu picked up the woman, 'and I will call you Dwi, for you are born second.' And so, that is the story of the creation of the first people, Eka and Dwi. And even until this day, the Air Nomads, the children of Eka and Dwi, still have grey eyes. The mark of Akash's impatience and their heritage of being created from the essence of heaven."
Mao finished the story with smile at his two brothers. Yomi scratched his head. "That's pretty good, I forgot about that story. Did Gyatso ever tell it?"
Mao shook his head, "No, Tang told it to me. It's one of my favorites, along with the stories of how Eka tamed the first bison and how Eka and Dwi learned to airbend."
Yomi smiled, "Those are good ones. What about the stories about Avatar Kyohru the first Airbender avatar?" Mao shook his head. "Nah, I heard those all the time. The stories about the four winds are good too, especially Din of the South and Dong Feng of the East." Chiko looked at the warm water and then up at the sky. Chiko had a pensive look on his face.
"Do-d-do y-y-y-ou th-th-think tt-t-the s-s-spirits ff-f-f-orgot us?" he questioned Yomi, who frowned at the question. "Chi…of course not, we are their treasured children." Chiko shook his head. "If-if we-we-we are pr-pr-pr-precious why-why-why are we s-s-suffering? W-w-w-hy c-c-can't A-a-akash, g-g-get rid of the F-f-fire Na-Nation?" Chiko said, his voice belying his frustration. Mao sighed and got out the spring and dried off.
"Because spirits can't interfere with mortals. Akash made a promise to Eka never to meddle with him and his children's lives. To watch over them and guard them, but to not interfere. Akash held his end of the deal. And in return, we hold ours: to treasure our home and lives, and to live in peace," Mao said somberly, not really being honest. Yomi and Chiko followed Mao and dried themselves.
"I don't think the gods forgot us, Chiko. I think they too are suffering. I can see Vayu weeping as well as Akash, as their children are mercilessly killed and they can't do anything to stop it." Chiko was finally dressed again along with Yomi, who stretched out on the blanket. Mao on the other hand was looking for his clothes.
"Mao what's wrong?" Yomi asked, concerned.
"My clothes, ther-OY! YOU LOT!" Mao shouted to a pair of hogmonkeys tossing clothes in the air.
"Give those back your filthy primates!" The hogmonkeys screeched and ran off with Mao's trousers and shirt. Mao ran after them stark naked. Yomi laughed furiously along with Chiko who was holding his sides.
"Run, Mao! Run!" shouted Yomi at Mao's backside as the Airbender ran through the woods.
Mao returned with his clothes, muddy but otherwise undamaged. He got dressed and lay next to his elder brother. Chiko had his head on Yomi's chest, lulled by sound of his beating heart; his eyes drooped in a doze, not really listening to Yomi and Mao's voices. He was strangely comforted this way. Perhaps years ago, when he was a newborn, he slept this way on his mother's breast quietly nursing. Now Chiko slept on Yomi's chest, soothed only by the sound of his foster father's voice and heartbeat.
Mao was alert however, talking to Yomi while Chiko was lazing on Yomi's breast.
"Do you think that the Fire Nation has already attacked the Northern and Eastern temples?" Mao asked looking up at the sky. Yomi shook his head. "No, I think they are still intact. We may warn them…especially Nami," Yomi replied looking up into the clear night. Mao could hear the apprehension in Yomi's voice. He sighed and pointed up.
"Look! It's the Bison Trial, and over there is Pabu, Eka's loyal bison," announced Mao, pointing at a milky trail of stars and at a constellation to the west of it. Yomi joined in and pointed at another constellation.
"That's must be Bima the Bold, he raced the horse-legged spirit Dong Feng and became the North Pole." Mao laughed and smiled, enjoying the closeness of the night. He looked down at Chiko and smiled.
"It's kind of cute that he attached himself to you. Almost as if you are his father, rather than older brother."
Yomi smirked and stroked Chiko's head. "Yeah…almost, still I would love him the same. Son or not, I helped raise him." Mao laughed quietly.
"Helped? Yomi-brother, you did raise him. Everybody else was too busy caring for the avatar. Only you seemed to care about Chiko." Yomi nodded and sighed pulled Chiko close.
"The avatar is important. We can't forget that." Mao sulked,
"I know, I know, but if the avatar is so important? Where is he, when we need him the most?" Yomi couldn't answer that, he only held Chiko close and smiled at the boy's sleeping face. Hopefully tonight would be nightmare-free. However, Akash had other plans.
The sound of thunder echoed in the distance, and heat lighting flashed. Chiko woke with a start. Half-naked and sandwiched between Mao and Yomi with the eldest on his marred side, he could hear Mao snorting and mumbling in his sleep and feel Yomi twitch every so often. The youngest of the trio heard another thunderclap and he whimpered as his astraphobia kicked in. Chiko snuggled closer to Yomi and pressed his head against Yomi's back as lighting flashed inside the tent.
"Yooooomi, ma-a-ke it s-s-stop," Chiko whined, his voice breaking into sobs. Mao snorted and rolled over as Yomi groaned and woke up.
"Chi, it's ok. I'm here and so is Mao, just don't worry the storm. It's miles away." At that moment Yomi's lie was unraveled as another thunderclap hit and downpour followed.
"Well…at least our stuff is inside." Chiko started to cry and scream as he sat straight up. Yomi groaned in annoyance that Chiko woke him up and at the fact that it was raining and soaking the tent. Mao rolled over and tried to keep dry as Chiko wailed into the night. Yomi cradled Chiko in his arms and tried to soothe the boy with a lullaby.
"On the road we journey
A path ever moving
On the road we journey
To the wind's own choosing
Though the fens we amble
Wren and sunlight our friends
Through the glades we amble
Merriment and joy they send
On the road we journey
No destination have we met
On the road we journey
Our hearts will never fret." Chiko's tears dripped like little raindrops on Yomi's back as he was soothed by Yomi's voice. Chiko shook as the storm rumbled through area but finally Chiko fell back asleep. Yet his dreams were now filled with rumbling demons with flashing fangs. The poor boy didn't get any sleep that night.
As morning greeted the boys from their slumber Chiko woke up tired and unhappy, and in grumpiness he wasn't alone. Mao was cranky as well. Chiko grumbled and sulked as Yomi checked the supplies. Some water damage but not too much, which was good. Yomi airbended a gust of wind to dry off anything that might have gotten soaked, and he began to load up and prepare to head east.
"C'mon Chi-bird, it's breakfast time! Are you hungry?" Chiko pouted and said no. Mao was looking into a pool and shaving his face which was now getting whiskery. Yomi knew Chiko was getting tired and didn't sleep well, but some food in his belly and some attention would hopefully stave off his surly mood.
"Hey Chi, you need to eat. I have some hot rice porridge and fresh huckleberries." Chiko pouted and didn't eat the porridge. Mao stood up and wiped his face, happy now that he was cleanshaven.
"C'mon now, you need to eat. We're air-sprinting through Xian Yan Field. We need to get through it before the sun sets." Yomi looked puzzled as Chiko grumped and, instead of using a spoon, ate with his hand.
"Oh Chi, have some manners for Akash's sake." Chiko didn't pay any heed. Yomi knew he was going to be difficult little boy today. But something else bugged him.
"Mao-brother? Why do have to go through Xian Yan tonight?" Mao lifted two fingers: "Fog, and Fire Nation." Yomi looked confused as he got out the map of Earth Kingdom.
"I don't understand about the latter. How do you know Fire Folk might be near the field?" Mao took a swig of elderberry juice and rummaged for soap and a comb.
"I don't, however, Wu Jiang and Hu Jiang are two rivers that converge near by city of Dinh Yi Mei, and when I was delivering packages in Hua Bai, I heard something from a woman." Yomi cocked his head as he gathered the clothes to wash.
"What did you hear, brother?" Yomi asked as he did the laundry.
"That her nephew was under siege at Dinh Yi Mei. We need to tread very carefully, Yomi." Yomi took note of that as he started to clean the boys' loincloths.
"I see that Mao, but still, it's a nice day we should enjoy it." Mao rolled his eyes, and began to count the supplies. "We have some rice and vegetables, but we should go raid a garden and get some fresh eggplant." Yomi groaned at the suggestion. "Mao-brother, we're not thieves…."
Mao gave his infamous smirk. "Theives? Us? Nah, only if we are caught."
The three set off to the Xian Yan field. Chiko was in a much better mood. His stormy eyes sparkled with sunlight and he had bright smile on his face. Yomi whistled and sang sutras as he walked, and Mao sang with him. Arms outstretched Chiko's heart soared. He laughed as he passed a brook and watched frogs hop in. Yomi looked up at the endless blue above him.
"Ahh Akash, you have not forgot about us today Sky-Father." As they walked into the field their eyes seemed to grow big at the sight.
Butterflies! Thousands of butterflies, mainly rose-winged zephyrs and pale blue aquas, fluttering around the field, drinking the nectar from the wild goldenrods and fuchsias; Chiko ran through the field as a cascade of blue and pink floated lazily on the breeze.
"Yy-y-y-ooomi! Loook! Bb-b-b-utterf-f-flllies! Oh! Oh! There are s-s-s-s-ooo many Yomi." Chiko's eyes grew bright as he danced in circles around the migrating butterflies. Yomi laughed, and a few of them thought his growing peach fuzz made a nice landing spot. Mao was a tad annoyed, but he didn't mind the lot resting on his pommel or on him.
"C'mon you lazy lemurs. We need to get to the village before dusk," he called to Yomi and Chiko, who now decided it would be fun to chase the butterflies.
"Got one!" Yomi shouted as he caught a rose-winged zephyr, a butterfly with broad white wings and pink edges. Chiko had a head full of aquas, with small blue wings. He giggled as they fluttered from his head and danced around the field. Mao was growing impatient.
"C'mon we don't have time…" he shouted, starting to make through the field. Yomi sighed and walked with him. Chiko followed too. Yomi cracked a grin.
"Mao…can't you let a humble monk enjoy Akash's creations? It wasn't hurting anyone. And you don't see a butterfly migration everyday." Mao, despite himself, smiled.
"Yeah you're right…you got to enjoy life while you can."
As they passed through the field the sun was setting, and it didn't look good.
"All that dawdling made us lose a lot of time," growled Mao. Things were getting worse. Chiko was stumbling along sleepy. He tripped and fell. Yomi went to get him up, when he saw something on the horizon…and it was moving.
"Mao…we better move." Yomi's voice was trembling. Mao looked back and saw it. Flames…it was Fire Nation.
"Holy Akash! They're in the field!" Mao cursed, as he went to lift Chiko. The boy heard the terror in his family's voices and grew afraid.
"C'mon Chi-bird we need to move! Fire Nation!" The trio began to sprint to the village but the troop of soldiers caught sight of them. Hearts beating tattoos in their chests, Chiko ran as fast as he could but the rhinos were getting closer.
"HEY YOU LOT!" a gritty voice called out to the trio, but they continued to run, unheeding the soldier's command. Mao pulled them downhill to the river's edge and dragged them to the bank and rolled under the sandy edge. The rhinos stopped and sniffed as the soldiers looked around the Wu Jiang's high edges picking up the odor that they smelled.
"I swear I saw someone running. What should we do sir?" a young voice of a private asked as the trio was hiding beneath them. An older voice replied, mostly the captain.
"Feh, just probably bums, we don't have time for this. Let's get back to camp." Mao was on his sword, holding it tightly as he was pressed again the muddy wall of the river bank and finally he heard the stamps of the rhinos leaving the area. Finally when the coast was clear Mao rolled out from the bank and looked around the Wu Jiang to the village that was situated at the bank. Chiko looked like he was going to be sick but seemed to have good hold on his constitution. The three walked to the village in silence, thanking the spirits for their protection.
The village seemed much smaller than Mu Ten or Hua Bai. The Wu Jiang village was a river town that specialized in fishing, which the triad figured from the large collection of junks at the wharf. The trio knew that between sleeping at the Hu or Wu Jiang's banks or the inn, the inn was a lot safer. Mao found a nice looking establishment called the "Golden Crane" near the end of the main road. The three walked in and took a good look.
It was small, and filled with a few folks. A man with a tribal-looking badgermole tattoo sat at the table closest to the trio, drinking something that might be ale. A whore was sitting at a table with some other women, scoping out the older brothers. An old man with pipe watched the three walk up to the owner asking for rooms.
"A room please, just for one night," asked Yomi meekly, dropping some gold on the desk. The woman appraised them for a moment before handing Yomi a key.
"Yeah sure, room eight is yours tonight." Yomi thanked the woman and the three walked upstairs and dropped their bags the room.
"Yomi, you and Chiko go down stairs and ask for something to eat and drink and bring it up back here. I'll stand guard…you never know who might be lurking." Yomi nodded and took a piece of thread from one pack and tied the key around his neck.
"Monk Tang always says that snakes lurk around dark holes, and this place is a viper pit. However it's this or the Fire Nation slitting our throats on the river banks. We will be back soon." Yomi took Chiko's hand and walked back down to the main hall where the kitchen and the other guests were. Chiko looked nervous and maybe for a good reason. As Yomi was getting some food, he heard a question.
"How did the boy lose his left arm?" Yomi whirled around in an almost air nomad fashion and looked at the old man with the pipe with a puzzled look.
"Excuse me?" The man repeated the question.
"How did he lose his arm? Was it severed?" Yomi almost flushed with embarrassment but nodded.
"Yes…it was." The man sighed and blew out some smoke, and looked at Chiko with his earthy brown eyes. "Poor child, to be injured so young, must be difficult to airbend with one arm." Yomi's heart raced and he looked frightened, but the elder tried to comfort him.
"Be at ease nomad, I'm not of the Fire Nation, just a traveler, a minstrel. I heard rumors of genocide happing lately. Fire Nation are slaughtering Air folk like sheep. Most cruel. I knew you and your..."
"Brothers…not by flesh though." Yomi finished the man's sentence.
"Yes well, brothers, were nomads, by your sparse hair, fair skin and gray eyes. The eyes were the giveaway. Though most people won't catch it until they have lived with the nomads, I used to visit the Northern Air Temple. Air folk to me stick out like sore thumb." Yomi frowned and sat at the table with the man, not trusting him. Chiko was acting strangely, rocking back and forth. The man didn't pay any attention to him though.
"Well if you're a minstrel, where is your instrument?" The man pulled out pair of beautifully made panpipes from his robe.
"I also have a pipa in my room. Does that answer your question, young monk?" Yomi nodded, not really trusting him.
"Do you have name as well?" The man chuckled and blew out more smoke.
"Arjuna, the Man of Many Songs at your service…Monk…." Yomi again finished his sentence: "Monk Yomi of the Jungmu Temple. And with me are Monk Chiko and Monk Mao."
"Ahhh the Jungmu, the Southern Temple. Pity, it explains why you are so jumpy though." Yomi sighed and laid a hand on Chiko's back.
"No being should bear witness to those kinds of horrors, especially the slaughter of children," Yomi stated grimly. Arjuna looked thoughtfully at Yomi for a bit before he asked another question.
"Where are you heading Monk Yomi? I'm expecting you don't have a bison, do you?" It was Chiko who spoke
"W-w-w-we l-l-l-let her g-g-go, s-s-she was sick, W-w-w-e wh-wh-wanted her to be h-h-h-appy." Arjuna lifted an eyebrow. So they let the bison go, because she was ill, maybe. Or maybe it would be too obvious to have large beast like a sky bison. That was how the Fire Nation was tracking the caravans and then slaughtering both bison and passengers. It was a bitter irony: the beasts that the Air Nomads considered sacred and holy were costing them their lives. Yet there was something else Arjuna noticed as Yomi explained about their bison, Ten-Ten.
"Does Mao have arrows?" Yomi stopped explaining and shook his head. "None of us mastered the thirty-six; we by rank are still acolytes. And as for where we are going…we are heading to the Eastern Temple, to find the sisters," Yomi said keeping his voice low. Arjuna looked pensive for a minute before taking out a map and few pieces of old-looking mulberry paper.
"Bold plan, Monk Yomi, but it might be a foolish one. These letters are from a nun at the West temple. She told me how most the monks and nuns are leaving in mass numbers after the massacre. However their tattoos, clothes and bison are proving to be giveaways to their heritage and your people are dropping like flies." The news was a bitter ale that rotted in Yomi's gut. He sunk in his seat and looked away from Arjuna. The bard did nothing to console him, but said:
"Monk Yomi, though you didn't want to hear it, I feel it my duty as friend to the air folk to tell you the truth." Yomi however looked at him again and said in a stern voice.
"I'm not the kind of man that gives up so easily, especially on my people. I'm sure we are still holding on, and you don't seem to know anything about Eastern temple, unless you have information…." Yomi was prepared to leave, when Arjuna gave him the map.
"This is the fastest route on foot, and leads to the temples without a bison. Your appearance would be your greatest strength; you can blend in well and avoid the Fire Nation. Oh, one more thing Monk Yomi, do you know a man named Hayate?" Yomi blinked and paused, looking a little shocked.
"I've only seen him maybe a half a dozen times…he's my sire, my father." Arjuna laughed, and took his panpipes from around his neck, and gave them to Yomi.
"You do look a lot like him, except for the eyes." Yomi took the pipe and map and looked at the strange minstral,
"Were these his? These pipes?" Arjuna nodded, "Hayate made them for me at the Northern temple a long time ago. He told me he had two sons at the Southern Temple. They were close in age, but Mao isn't your brother by blood is he?" Yomi shook his head, "Arai died of scarlet fever when was seven years old." Arjuna frowned a little bit. "I see, he died young, too young. Funny, Hayate didn't mention Arai. He told me about you I think." Yomi sighed, as he was feeling increasingly uncomfortable about talking about his sire.
"Thank you for the map and pipes Arjuna. Mao used to play the panpipes and he will appreciate them." Arjuna bowed and said, "better go grab some food then, and get some rest, going be a long journey my dear monks."
Yomi stopped Arjuna, "Bard! Wait! Are Hayate and Amala alive? My father and mother." Arjuna shrugged, "I'm not sure, I haven't heard from them in two years." Yomi looked forlorn and sighed.
"Thank you Arjuna, for the information. Good night then." Yomi took Chiko in hand and walked upstairs, no longer hungry.
The moon's crescent form hung in the window, watching Chiko slumber while his two elder brothers discussed quietly about the strange bard.
"He knew my father…I think that is proof enough that we can trust him," Yomi said, smoking a pipe that Ken gave him before he left. Mao was cleaning the jian, the sword he rescued from the one of holy sanctuaries of the temple. It was said to have been a gift from Roku, a symbol that the Fire Nation would always be on the Air Nomads side. It was bitterly ironic now.
"Well we should be grateful that he gave us a map, and panpipes…I thought about selling them, but being your father's…"
"Makes no difference to me, Mao. I never knew him. All I knew of him was that he was called the Northern Gale. And he was a fierce fighter. But that's it. He didn't even care that Arai died." Mao looked at the panpipes, created from alpine bamboo. It was a favorite wind instrument of the Northern Air Temple. Mao blew a few notes into it.
"Hmmm, I do like it; I should keep it and play it on the streets for cash. Chiko could sing and you can drum."
Yomi rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever you want Mao. May you play a thousand melodies of heaven." Mao lifted an eyebrow at his brother,
"Just because Hayate never had much of a relationship with you doesn't mean you can take it out on me…which makes me think, did you and Nami ever wed?" Yomi looked puzzled but then a blush rose in his cheek.
"Well not legally. There was that one time at the Chrysanthemum Festival. Before the attack that we…well." Mao finished the thought.
"That you what? Rutted like bison in heat or made love?" Yomi looked affronted. "What? There is a difference?" Mao smirked. "Yeah there is, meaning: Was it one-time lust? Or was it a romantic night in the secret grottos of Dong Feng?" Yomi shook his head. "I don't want to get into details, but well…yes we did…have intercourse."
"So Nami rode you like a wild bison. So that's why you're acting so antsy. Nami is carrying your baby isn't she?" Yomi groaned and covered his face making Mao giggle all over.
"Oh man, are you smoked! Did any of the elders know of your "sin"?" Yomi stood up walked around the room almost yelling.
"Mao! Get off it please. I don't wish to discuss my transgressions on the temple. I know, I know I should have waited until my vows for Nami before I would be allowed to consummate and enjoy the more sexual pleasures of the festival, but well…" Mao sighed and walked over and rubbed Yomi's shoulders.
"Brother, I'm not judging you. If the elders found about my habits and my bisexuality, oh man would I be in trouble. Look let's not focus on what has happened and let's focus on the future. Thanks to that strange bard we can head to the Eastern Temple." Yomi sighed and nodded.
"I want to sleep; we can worry the journey tomorrow." Mao cupped Yomi's face with his fingertips and looked at him straight in the eye. "My precious brother, whatever happens at the Eastern Temple, just know that I and Chiko will always be with you." Yomi turned his head away and looked at Chiko, wondrously bathed in moonlight. Yomi crawled into the futon and wrapped his arm around Chiko and held him close. Yomi could feel him tense up and squirm; he was dreaming and not pleasantly.
After leaving the inn, the sunny weather that greeted the boys turned into stormy weather and stormier emotions. The closer to the Eastern Temple the more nervous Yomi became. One night while he was eating dinner, Chiko spilled his rice again. Instead of sharing his own, Yomi became frustrated and shouted at the boy, calling him a clumsy dolt. Shocked, Chiko ran off in tears. Yomi was appalled at himself. He had never yelled at Chiko before. Yomi ran after him profusely apologizing and promised to never call him names again. Chiko admitted that it was his fault, and promised to work on holding his bowl properly. Even though things worked out and they ate fine together, Yomi wondered what else would set him off.
Finally, after two months of travel in the high heat of summer, they reached the Eastern temple. It was an arduous journey of begging, hitching rides, and walking but finally they made it. Hair had blossomed on their heads in dark thick curls. Chiko's was the lightest, almost golden brown, with the beginnings of a rat tail on his neck. Mao looked at the map Arjuna gave them and told Yomi and Chiko to follow his lead.
"We'll be at the temple before sunset!" Mao said cheerfully as the two walked down the mountain paths and headed through the crypts. Chiko clung to Yomi and looked up at the painted walls and high ceilings as he and his brothers walked up to the Temple. Yomi blinked for a second. He had just realized something. He bent over and whispered in Chiko's ear.
"Happy birthday Chi-bird." Chiko blinked and looked at Yomi puzzled.
"It's my b-b-birthd-d-d-ay?" Mao looked over his shoulder.
"I think it is, isn't it Liuyue?" Yomi nodded, "yeah I think it is, and it's the third day which is when we found Chiko, so we made it his birthday." Yomi inputted as Mao made a right and steadily climbed up.
"So Chi-bird is twelve now. Heh, that's kind interesting. When is your birthday, Yomi?" Mao asked. Yomi thought for a moment. "I think it's Yiyue the third, a bit before the Lesser Cold. What about you?"
"Ummm hmm, it's on the start of the Lesser Snow, so I guess it would be Shiyiyue the twenty-third." Yomi counted back and tried to do the math.
"Ok so let's see, you're nineteen and I'm twenty and Chiko is…"
"Tw-tw-twelve!" interrupted Chiko as he spun on his toes, realizing that he should be happy. "I'm t-t-twelve now, how-how l-l-l-ong have we b-b-b-een w-w-wa-wan-dering?" asked the boy of Yomi. The eldest nomad furrowed his brow.
"Oh I don't know. Mao, when was the attack?" Mao replied, his voice slightly sad.
"I think it was on Shiyue before the Cold Dew. On the seventh." Yomi began doing the math. They had been traveling for about nine months and maybe four days. A thought came to Yomi: it had been over nine months so...would Nami already have his baby?
"AH HA! We're here! Finally! C'mon let's check it out." Mao called as they reached the main courtyards. But Yomi was in shock. There was nobody there.
"Where are the sisters?" Mao looked around with Chiko who also was puzzled. "Oh spirits! What if?" Mao heard Yomi and shook his head. "I don't know I think…" There was a voice.
"Yomi? Bright Spirits, is that you?" All three heads turned to see a frail figure wandering into the court yard. Her tattered robes and wrinkled face showed her poverty and age.
"Holy Akash! It is you. I thought you were dead! Killed off at the Jungmu!" Yomi looked puzzled for a minute before walking over to the lone sister. "Dear sister, are you ok? How do you know me?" Yomi asked, concerned.
"How do I know you?! HA! You don't remember me at all don't you, little bison?" Yomi's cheeks turned pink when he heard the nickname. He only knew one nun who ever called him that.
"Sister Amirita?!" The young monk's voice could not hide his incredulousness. The old nun and walked over and embraced the brothers.
"My sweet boys, you're alive! Oh praise the spirits!" Yomi, Mao and little Chiko felt their hearts expand with joy. Finally they found another one of them. The forlorn feeling of being alone disappeared.
It was an evening of the trio telling Amirita about the attack and their perilous months of recuperating and of finally finding her at the Eastern Temple. Yomi hoped to find Nami and start their lives anew with the hope he has gained from finding Amirita.
"Amirita, you were the temple healer and midwife for many of the nuns, did you ever…." Amirita interrupted.
"Yes, I saw your lover Nami. She was in the end of her second trimester when I last examined her, swollen with your child. However I do have some very hard news my child." Mao tugged Chiko's sleeve.
"Hey little bird let's leave these two alone, C'mon I'll show where they keep the bison!" Chiko looked at Yomi before following Mao to the where the stables were. Yomi felt his stomach drop a bit and looked into his bowl of runny vegetable soup. Suddenly he lost his appetite.
"What happened to my beloved?" Yomi inquired feeling the weakness inside. Amirita rubbed her worn spider-grey eyes and began to tell what happened to Nami.
"When we first found out she was pregnant, we were not surprised; you two danced around each other since Arai was alive. It was not a surprise that you two fell in love and consummated that love on that night of the festival. Why you hadn't made your vows and became her mate in law is none of my business. It's not like the temple isn't filled with bastards and orphans. Anyway, she lived under my supervision and care for the first couple of months. Her cycles were more regular then most airbenders, so she found out very early, as you know through your letters.
Well, when we found out the southern temple was attacked, Nami was heartbroken. We were worried for her and the unborn so I made sure she was well cared for at a village where a family of Air Nomad travelers were camping. It was the start of the Lesser Cold, and she was carrying low, which normally means a boy…heheh. Well Kipi, Diki, and Akar went with her. But I got a disturbing letter from Diki a month later. The caravan where Nami was, they were attacked…and Nami was killed in the fray, along with Akar and Kipi. Diki survived, barely…but think she too is dead. I'm very sorry Yomi, I really am. Nami was probably the only woman you ever truly loved and those people are very rare. But I ask of you not to dwell on it and to stay strong for Chiko and Mao, who need you."
Amirita wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at Yomi whose face was as pale as fresh bison milk. Yomi with great force stood up.
"The Temple emptied very fast after she left, so there is only myself now. But I feel my time on this world is done and I won't linger anymore. You go and find your brothers, if you must grieve then you should. Faster you grieve the faster you can heal." Yomi took his staff and didn't say anything as he hobbled to the stables, his heart in agonizing pain. When he reached the halls near the main gardens he broke down
"Akash! Why?! Why did you take her from me?! Haven't I suffered enough?" Yomi called out to the moon as he fell on his knees and sobbed. Yomi cried hard, letting tears spill over his tanned cheeks. Everything came out. His grief, his anger, his loneliness, his heartbreak, his bitterness; everything came out in a flood of emotion.
"I could have been with her…I could have…I could have been…a father." The realization hit him like brick. Yomi covered his face with his hands and moaned. He could have had the family he wanted so badly. He was so obsessed with his pain that he didn't feel a cool arm wrap around his neck and a weight embracing him from behind.
"Yo-br-brother. You are a-a-a fool. D-d-don't you s-s-eee me? You're my-my-my f-f-father, I l-l-love you as-as-as one. Yomi pl-pl-pl-please, don't c-c-cry. You h-h-ave us. Aren't we-we-we fa-fa-family?"
Yomi sat up. Hearing Chiko's stutter slapped him out his self-pity. Why did say he could have been a father when already was one? He had Chiko; that was his child. Not of flesh and blood, but of something richer: his spirit. He gave Chiko a second chance. How selfish was he, pitying the fact that he wasn't a father on Chiko's birthday. His heart ached for Nami badly, but he knew that he wasn't the only one in grief. He held Chiko in his arms pressing a kiss to his forehead.
"I'm sorry for being so selfish, I just." Yomi's cheeks grew a little hot when Chiko kissed away his tears.
"Ch-chiko!" Yomi shouted. Chiko apologized, "I'm s-s-sorry, I j-j-j-ust h-h-ate s-s-eeing you s-s-sad." Yomi sighed and held Chiko close wondering were Mao was, until he heard the mournful tune of the panpipes near the garden. Yomi sang with the tune along with Chiko. Voices intertwined, they sang a requiem for the sisters who once dwelled here.
AN: WHOA BABY! 20 pages?! Holy shit! That's a lot. Man I can't believe I wrote that much. Well before I get into some details, will have to say this was a hard chapter to write. But here are some notes. First the inn scene came straight out of my ass. I had no planning what so ever, it just came to me. Same with the ending. Also, let me tell you a bit about the months. Considering Avatar is more or less a pseudo-Ancient China. I took the liberty of using Chinese names and Solar Terms, Like Shiyue is October, and Liuyue is June. Lesser Snow and Greater Cold are Solar terms. Depicting Agricultural points. That's how Trio will record time. So I hope that cleared some stuff up. I want to give some love to Kishi, and Hotspur and of course Nephandi for Beta. Also a special hug for AinuPrincess who loves Chiko.
See you in Chapter Five: A Bloody Hurricane.