Hey everybody! Welcome to another wonderful chapter of Walking a Wire. For all three of you who've been waiting for something Ty Lee-ish and fluffy, here ya go, and look for a bit more in an upcoming chapter. In other news, I would like to formally thank Star Wars: Republic Commando for giving me the inspiration in Kal Skirata for Seargent Ling. Good ol' Kal'buir. Well, here's the chapter, and I still don't own Avatar, unless you count the DVD's, in which case I do!
Chapter XIII: Building the Wire
The calico ball of fur purred happily from its spot in his lap, as the ferry pushed along in the waves. The ferry was deserted save the two teenagers, and Akira was enjoying the peace and quiet immensely. Looking over at the railing, he caught Ty Lee staring at him before she hurriedly resumed gazing out to the sea. Placing the armadillo-kitten on the cushion next to the bench, he walked over to stand beside her at the edge of the small deck.
"Third time I caught you." He turned grinning to the acrobat, who's face was suddenly crimson, "Am I really that interesting?"
"It--um, yeah I just thought I'd check to make sure Aidyn was okay!" Ty Lee rushed over to where the armadillo-kitten lay curled up, as Akira snorted and turned back to sea. Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the spray the ferry and wind were kicking up across his face and the warm sunlight slanting across the water. He suddenly felt a shift in the heat around him, and a moment's searching showed Ty Lee approaching from behind. Her heat was familiar, comforting almost, but the hand on his back was unexpected. He felt himself jump about a foot in the air before forcing himself to relax. Just relax, nothing's going to happen, Ty Lee would never do anything.
She's not Nei.
"Jumpy?" The acrobat asked with a smile, reclaiming her spot next to him with a mischevious smile. She had traded in her usual outfit for the trip, replacing the fitted performer's outfit she wore everywhere with a loose, pale pink camisole and pastel green pants tied off at the calves. Her hair had also been rearranged, the braid being fastened in a loop at the back of her head instead of hanging down her back.
"Uh, no. Well, maybe a little, yeah." He forced his eyes back out onto the blinding blue of the ocean waves, feeling his own face flush. Agni, why can't I keep control? He thought of returning to his spot next to the cat, when he felt her hand rest over the scars on his arm. Startled into looking back over at the girl, he saw she had returned to watching the waves. She's so calm, even after all the stuff she's been through. She's not a soldier, not yet anyway. Agni, that I could, just for five minutes, be that carefree.
"So, who's staring now?" Ty Lee's smile pulled him from his reverie, and as he stuttered in search of a response, his brain unhelpfully decided to shut down. The only half-intelligent sentiment he managed to get out was, "Uh, I, it's just, you look nice, that's all."
"Oh." Her smile was maddening, before she leaned up to an inch in front of his face, "You don't look half-bad either."
"I, uh, hey isn't that Ember Island?" he pointed out across the waves, where sure enough a small mountainous mass was coming close enough to make out individuals walking the beaches and splashing in the water. Turning her head, her face lit up with a beaming smile as she ran over to scoop up Aidyn and make for the ship's exit. Akira let out a breath of relief, that was entirely too close. Although...ah, shut it.
"Welcome Captain, to Ember Island. I will guide the two of you to your accommodations for the week." The man bowed before turning and walking up a path between two of the beach-front mansions.
"Thank you, I'm curious to see where I'm supposed to be staying. And, sir?"
"Yes, Captain Hideyoshi?"
Well, why not? "While I'm on the island, please, it's just Akira."
"Yes, C--Akira."
They walked on, neither noticing the small smile that lingered on Ty Lee's face.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to see you again, sir."
"Please, Kojima, there's no need for 'sir,' I'm retired."
"It feels uncomfortable to not use it, sir, but I'll try."
"Well, you can call me whatever you want, I've probably answered to worse at some point."
"Okay. Uh, sir, a question?"
"Go ahead, son, like I said I'm retired. You don't need to ask permission, and at any rate you would outrank me, so you still don't need to ask."
"Uh, okay, sir. Sir, I was wondering, why haven't you contacted us at all? Agni knows we would have loved to see you again."
"Well, if you want to know, two reasons, really."
"Sir?"
"The first, I figured you boys needed some time on your own, without me pestering you all the time. You need to figure out some things on your own."
"Understood, sir. I can see your point, actually."
"The second, well that's a bit harder. I'm sure you've noticed that this home is built for more than one."
"Yes sir. There were two chairs pushed to the table when we entered, along with more dishes in the wash-basin than you ever would have allowed had you lived here alone. Also, you don't wear shoes that small."
"Observant as always, Kojima. Now, can you tell me anything else about this person?"
"Sir? Umm, this is conjecture, sir, but I would say that based on the layout of the room, it is someone who places comfort and functionality on an equal level--"
"Yes, yes, go on."
"Okay, well the material indicates a modest level of frivolity in spending, as well as an slight interest in appearances."
"Good, you're hitting the mark so far."
"Well, uh, the note on the table here, it's obviously not your handwriting, but the strokes are light, yet deliberate, judging from the amount of ink and the way the marks don't taper as much as they would had the writer been going quickly. Someone with a light hand, and...calligraphy lessons?"
"Alright, son, I think you have enough information to get a take a pretty good guess. Who's the other occupant in this house?"
"It's--It's a woman, sir."
"Exactly, and that's the second reason why I haven't so much as tried to get in touch with you boys. Maybe it took retiring from the army and getting a real job to see it, but--"
"Sir?"
"I was wrong, son. All those speeches I made, about the different kinds of knowledge and such, I was wrong."
"Sir, I'm sorry, but I don't see where you were wrong. You're teaching has helped us survive and thrive. Blast it, sir, the Wolves are best Guard unit outside of Dragon Force and everyone knows it!"
"Dragon Force?"
"Gold Unit, sir."
"Ah, I see. Kojima, understand, when I finished you as soldiers, I tried to strip away all distractions that might impair you from doing your job. Back then, I counted emotions as distractions as well, barriers that would prevent you from acting in the best interest of the unit and nation."
"But sir, don't you remember? You also warned us against closing down completely, you told us certain emotions had their place, that you could use them and still remain in control."
"Right, almost forgot about that. Well, that's another point I want to contest. I said 'certain' emotions, well I'm going to tell you that I've spent the last year and a half in a complete emotional hurricane. You want to know the woman who's shoes those are? My wife. You heard me right, son, I'm married, and she's five months along. 'Certain' emotions doesn't cut it. Every blasted one of those emotions knocking around in that head of yours has a use, soldier, and I don't go a day without wishing I had been smart enough to tell that to you boys. Jealousy, grief, love, all the crazy little illogical impulses that go through your head every day make you human, and I don't care if you're the perfect soldiers in every way, if you lose your humanity in the bargain, you've lost the one thing that's more valuable than anything else on this planet."
"Sir, but if what you're saying is true, where do we find a compromise? From what I can see, we can't be both killers and humans. There has to be some kind of line somewhere."
"You're right, there does have to be a line somewhere. Only one problem--that line is different for each person. That line is the point where you can do your job, to the full of your abilities, and still manage to pull yourself back from the edge. As near as I know how to describe, it's like walking a thin wire strung above a bottomless pit. Stray too far one way, you slow down, get sloppy, start making irrational decisions that get yourself or a squadmate killed. Go the other way, and you're no better than an animal that's been trained to kill on command. That's the challenge, and being a Firebender sure doesn't help matters. That animal, that potential to do massive damage with a simple hand gesture, is always there. That's our curse, son, and it's why we strive for control in our lives above all else. If you lose control, lose balance, you can lose everything."
"Sir, I--I don't--"
"Don't worry, son. You don't have to say anything, and if you think I'm raving mad, I won't blame you. Agni, some days I think I'm raving mad. But then, I look at my wife, and I realize that, for the first time, I'm sane. Speaking of which, she's coming in the door."
"What? I'm what? Oh, hello! Who is this, dear?"
"First Lieutenant Kojima Toriyama, meet my wife Ashani Mertun. Ashani, Kojima."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant."
"Uh, please ma'am, Kojima will be fine."
"Well, it's good to meet you, Kojima. Ling, you're going to have to talk to that merchant again, he's being completely unreasonable whenever I ask for his produce."
"I'll get on it tomorrow, I swear if that man doesn't listen..."
"Uh, sir? I should be going now, I'm expected to be back at my post soon."
"Alright, I'll see you out."
"Thank you, sir. Umm, sir, your wife, is she--"
"Hmm?"
"Well, I thought, I mean, how did--can she--?"
"Yes, she is, and yes, she can, although she's never had a real teacher, so it's hard for her. How did you know?"
"Eye color, no one else has those eyes."
"I'm impressed, no one ever notices the eyes, guess that's why they've survived for so long."
"They, sir?"
"There's more than you would think, Kojima. A lot more, and they're all over, not just here. Hidden in plain sight, although I've heard stories of a large, well I don't know what you would call it, a city I guess, underneath one of the old citadels. Other than that, I can't tell you any more."
"Can't?"
"Won't. One good purge, and not even the Lotus will be able to save them. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good lad, now get back to wherever it is you're posted, and send Akira to me when you can, okay? I think a good talk with our young Captain is long overdue"
"Got it, sir!"
Anyone who can correctly guess the color of Ashani's eyes will get a huge treasure. Well, not really, but you can pretend, can't you? Be warned, this little excursion to Ember Island is the last moment of complete calm you're going to see for a while, so you might want to start looking for the seat belt now. And, with that tantalizing note, I'm off! NullChronicler
"God is the source of all talent, we just get it on loan."