Chapter VIII

Problems with Peach Wine

An: this is a pretty short chapter…this was more for fun than plot.

As the summer wore on, the Air Trio headed to Omashu. It was the plan to get there before the start of the Major Heat, and Mao made sure of that by double-checking his maps, now receiving updated ones, and taking the safest roads possible. There was a town up ahead that Mao wanted to reach; it was known for a shrine to the spirit of the mountains and keeper of secrets, here heard of it when it was Ba Yin. He was looking forward to see the Shrine of Baí Zé.

Late in the day, the trio reached the Haku village and began meandering around the small village. Yomi noticed that the many of the shops and stores were advertising the shrine, even selling souvenirs. Chiko seem uninterested at the small soapstone statues of the Baí Zé or the claims that the prayers or offerings to him could heal the sick and even raise the dead. Yomi seemed amused by it, however, as he picked up a red jade statue. The Baí Zé had the face of an old man and the body of an ox. There were horns down his back, three on the face, and three eyes on the right and left sides of his body. Smirking, he placed down the mountain god and tugged on Chiko's shirt. It was time to leave the shop.

"It's nice to see people so devoted to their gods," stated Yomi as they walked up mossy steps to the shrine. Chiko rolled his eyes.

"They s-s-s-seem s-s-s-superst-st-stitious to me," he replied as they climbed up.

"Probably, but it wouldn't hurt to see what's up at the shrine anyway," Mao said as they climbed up one more flight before reaching the top of the sacred shrine. The three stared at the elaborate temple shrine. People where chanting and prostrating to the sacred carving on the hillside. A priest walked up to the boys and held out a basket with a few coins in it.

"Please, to worship the Baí Zé, you must leave an offering." Mao was ready to argue, but Yomi dropped a copper piece before moving forward. As the other two were to follow, though, the priest stopped them again. Yomi huffed and dropped two more copper pieces before Chiko and Mao followed.

A bell chimed and those that were praying rose and left. The priest chuckled. "You just missed evening prayers, young ones." Chiko shrugged and walked up to the great carving, but he did not bow; he only sighed and tilted his head to see it better. Yomi and Mao joined him, also to marvel at the Baí Zé.

"It's n-n-n-nothing s-special, really. Just…just a stone c-c-carving. I don't see why p-p-people make it a h-h-h-huge deal. D-d-didn't the m-m-monks say idols and icons w-w-will wear away but the l-l-lesson that the spirits t-t-teach will always s-s-stay?" Chiko asked as Mao slinked away with a fox's grin. Yomi turned to watch him leave before replying.

"I think it's a reminder, Chiko. I think they worship what the Baí Zé represents, not the carving. Didn't we bow at the icons of Pabu and Akash? Or light incense for the Four Winds and Vayu?" Yomi asked to Chiko as a stray breeze ruffled Chiko's empty sleeve.

"We are f-f-fools, then, to trust in s-s-statues. The spirits d-d-d-did not prot-tect us; we are f-f-fools for thinking th-th-they do now." Hearing Chiko's declaration made Yomi's heart heavy. However, he didn't want to argue with him. Chiko had a point. Where were their spirits? Where were any of the gods that they prayed to on that night and so many others? Had they died with their followers or did they simply watch the drama unfold here in the mortal world? Mao came back with that same puckish grin. Yomi lifted an eyebrow as they left the shrine; the sun was setting and they needed to get food and shelter.

The three found a tavern that had cheap rooms for the night. Mao paid for one room and they sat a table away from a crowd of people. Mao left for a minute and return with small cups and a ceramic bottle. Yomi's eyes widened.

"Peach wine?! Mao? Are you crazy? We don't have the money for this." Mao waved his hand at Yomi's shock.

"Pffft, it was actually pretty cheap, and besides, we got gut-loads now." He winked at Yomi, whose jaw dropped.

"You didn't."

"I did. It was easy, too," Mao replied, downing a cup of the wine. He sighed in pleasure as he poured a cup for Chiko and handed it to him. "You can sip it or shoot it." Chiko sniffed at it before sipping. He was surprised at the fruitiness and the warmth that came with it. It also was strong, but not to the point that it was unbearable. It made him think of autumn, somehow, and the festivals. Downing the cup, he asked for another. Yomi watched Chiko carefully, hoping that he wouldn't overdo it, until a young woman in blue walked up to their table.

"I am sorry to disturb you…but all the tables are occupied and none of the guests want me to sit by them." Chiko, who finished his second cup, looked up at the woman. She was definitely Water Tribe. Her blue eyes seemed worn and tired. All three nodded and allowed her to sit. Mao introduced himself and the others.

"I'm Mao, that's Yomi, and over there is Chiko." The woman said her thanks and sat down.

"My name is Kanna. I'm not really from around here, as you can probably tell." She smiled at the boys as she added on "I'm just staying for the night; I'll be leaving at dawn. Which is just as well. I don't think the people around here like me too much."

Chiko sighed loudly and drank a third cup. Yomi noticed the effects of him being tipsy, glassy-eyed and unbalanced. Yomi was ready to take the bottle away, but Mao stopped him.

"Oh, come on, Yomi, this is a lesson that should be taught."

Yomi wrinkled his nose and replied, "You offered him this." Mao nodded.

"I know, but you won't know your limit until you break it." Yomi frowned and sighed and let Chiko drink another cup. Kanna covered her mouth to stop from laughing.

"He's never drank before, has he?"

Chiko shook his head. "N-n-n-n-n-n-noooo, this is m-m-m-maaah f-f-f-first." Kanna took the bottle as Chiko had his fifth cup and handed it to Mao, who chuckled and had a cup himself. Yomi noticed that Chiko, after five cups of a strong wine, was now fully intoxicated. Yomi prayed to the spirit of liquor that Chiko would not make a complete ass of himself tonight, nor Mao. However, the latter seemed to be far more in control as he led the conversation, mostly about going to Omashu.

"Why Omashu, Mao? Why not Ba Sing Se?" asked Kanna as she herself had one cup and ate some rice crackers she had with her. Yomi noticed that she was around Chiko's age but a little older.

Mao answered her. "Omashu is closer, and we're only staying to the end of high summer before leaving to go back to Mu Ten to winter. However, the more that I think about it, a city would be a hundred times harder to take root in than a small village." Kanna's long plaited hair fell away from her shoulders as she leaned back.

"Why are you traveling, anyway? Did your village get raided?"

Mao wrinkled his nose and shook his head. "We were monks; our temple was destroyed." Kanna made a 'tsk-tsk' noise before sighing.

"I am sorry about that. The Fire Nation seemed to have no inhibitions about raiding and destroying holy places. I won't be surprised if this place gets taken over in a year or so."

Chiko made a loud 'clak' with his cup and said to Kanna, "This t-t-town is g-g-g-gonna get k-k-killed 'cuz of s-s-stupid p-p-p-people." Chiko paused, and in a louder voice, he said, "Spirits d-d-don't give t-t-two shits a-a-about the s-s-stupid pig-cows that k-k-kiss the g-g-gods' s-s-stony asses. We're n-n-nothing more th-than entertainm-m-ment for them if th-th-they d-d-d-do exist. The p-p-p-people m-m-might as well g-g-rab theiiirrr knees and b-b-bend over!" A few of the patrons turned their heads at Chiko's words, obviously annoyed at the drunken boy's statement. Mao burst out laughing, followed by Kanna.

"Is your little brother always this eloquent?"

Mao shook his head as he capped the bottle, now empty as he and Chiko had drained it.

Yomi covered his face in shame. "We're going to get lynched, I just know it." Mao waved it aside, tipsy and amused at Chiko's antics.

"Naaah, the barkeep is laughing his ass off. As long as we don't offend the owner, we will be—hey. Where did Chiko go?" Yomi looked to his right and noticed his drunken foster son was not there. He shot up and bolted to the door with the barkeep's words following him.

"Bett'r find 'im quick before the religious nuts do!"

Chiko had come to an important conclusion. Too much wine will make you want to piss a river. And boy, did he have to. Stumbling through the bracken, he saw a light and followed it to another Baí Zé statue with a stone basin underneath it. It had a few copper pieces in it. Chiko panted and looked at the carving and the words. An offering for protection and peace. Chiko, looking offended, replied to the words.

"An o-o-offering, huh? You w-w-want my money, s-s-spirit? W-w-well, we're f-f-fucking poor! Here! H-h-have this!"

Mao and Yomi were calling for Chiko as they walked down the roads. Kanna was helping until two Water Tribe men found her.

"Kanna! Where were you? Ses and I have been looking all over for you."

Yomi and Mao stopped calling and turned around to meet the older men. Kanna made the introductions.

"Ses, Qannik, these guys are Mao and Yomi. They are travelers themselves and I am helping them look for their little brother." Qannik, who looked like a warrior, frowned and pulled on Kanna's shoulder. "We need to get out of here. The people here are suspicious and the last thing we need is trouble. I am sure these guys can find their brother without you." Ses, who had longer hair and a water skin on his left hip, pointed to the figure at the steps to the shrine.

"Does your brother have a missing arm?" he asked.

Yomi didn't answer as he ran up to the steps, shouting, "Chiko!" The figure on the steps lifted his head and looked up. "Where in the ten hells were you?!" said Yomi as he helped Chiko up.

Chiko blinked and replied, "Uhh. I had to p-p-pee. Bad." Mao sighed and had all the bags with him that he took from the inn as they left. People out on the streets that night stopped and watched the scene, some even whispered to their neighbors as the watched the airbenders.

"C'mon, we need to get moving. The warrior guy was right; people are looking at us funny. We need to get out of here." Yomi frowned. Chiko clung on to Yomi's hem, still tipsy from the wine but gaining sobriety. As they walked to the gates of the city, Kanna ran up to them.

"Wait! I want to thank you for sharing your company with me. It was the first time in weeks I had a good laugh. You guys take care and watch yourselves." Yomi bowed and raised his hand at her in farewell. "You take care of yourself, as well, Kanna. I hope we meet again." Said Yomi. She turned around and shouted.

"Hey! Take the Dinh Kim road! It will lead you east. There is a city called Gaoling farther along it's a lot less crowded than Omashu!" With that she disappeared with her escorts. Yomi and Mao looked at each for a hot minute before Mao said:

"Mmm….I think that's good idea. Its longer journey but, .through less dense, less bandit-filled roads. I think this is a good idea, Omashu we can shoot for next year." Chiko hiccupped and hung on to Yomi's tunic as he lit a lantern and held it up.

"We have to look at the maps before we can make a full decision and we should wait until Chiko is a little more sober too." Yomi suggested. Mao laughed as he lit another lantern that they bought a few years back and came in handy when traveling at night, looking at the gate in front of them; Mao took the lead and headed out the way they came. After a little while Mao asked. "I wonder how long before the priests find out that all the tithe boxes in shrine have been plundered?" Yomi scowled before moaning.

"Oh. Mao."

AN: What? No drama, or angst or weird discussions about puberty? You're loosing your touch BC. Anyway this wasn't huge plot chapter but mostly a fun chapter with a canon character and Chiko getting skunked. There was going to be some more interaction with Chi and Kanna but I figured I should keep this rather short.

Anyway, there going to be some Shounen-Ai interaction coming up, (Boys kissing if you have to know) if you have any issues with it let me know. (PM me) Personally I don't think the fangirls will care too much and my Betas (which are straight males and over twenty) don't seem to be concerned but for the homophobes or anti-yaoi folks if you have issue please PM. I will laugh it and continue to write my hot BoyXBoy action. Ok ok, seriously though, there will be some shounen-ai but obviously the fic isn't a yaoi fic so it's not centered on it. Plus there is going to be some het interaction too. Win for both sides.

Final note, I have been working on BOT for now two years (WHOOO HOOO) and I want to give thumbs up to several people. Mostly my betas Bob and Pete as well as my readers and the folks that actually review. I have ordinary fanfics with canon characters BTW if you are interested in reading them. However this being my baby, and almost at hundred pages I am going to keep writing until I finish. However I will be working on my original fiction too. Thank you for reading BOT. The Fish and the Bird is next