10.Trapped

Bú Yi was furious, the master was out of his mind, "HOW COULD WE LOSE CONTACT?!" it didn't take long for them to realise that Jinora had drugged Kai, they had underestimated her. "GET HIM BACK!" the master yelled, Bú Yi couldn't do a single thing to bring Kai around, he had control of Kai's physical self, but not anything that entered his physical self.

"Th-there is nothing we can do, master!" one of the men said, furiously pressing his thumb against the pendent, "We have to wait until he wakes u-"

"Don't give me your wretched excuses!" he shouted, Bú Yi rolled its eyes.

"This is your fault…" it snarled, circling the master, "What gave you the ridiculous notion to allow him to revisit that girl? What were you hoping to accomplish?!"

"With the Avatar away, and the boy within the walls, we could have murdered half the population while they slept!" he said, turning on the spirit, "We could have been unstoppable!" the master calmed himself, breathing deeply, "The second he comes around, get. On. It."

"I will." Bú Yi snarled, waiting for Kai's self to become venerable. They will not make it out of this together.

...

"Korra is on her way? Are you positive?" Tenzin asked, pacing quickly.

"Yes," Jinora said, she said, she was sitting next to Kai's body, he was laid to the medical bed. Kya had healed his cuts and tended to his bruises, an ice pack rested on his forehead, his breathing quick and shallow, "I spoke to her myself!"

"Jinora, I am not doubting you, but are you sure it is possession?" Suyin asked, standing beside Kya next to the bed.

"Yes, it all makes sense." Jinora said, "Why he ran, why he attacked you guys, why he became so nervous."

"Why he knew those men…" Lin said, realisation striking her.

"Why he was doing that crazy blinking thing to you! The one you told me about at the table that day, he was trying to communicate!" Bumi said loudly, glancing between Lin and Jinora.

"Doesn't possession kill a human?" Suyin asked, trying to wrap her head around the whole situation.

"Obviously not, maybe there was something special about the spirit…" Kya said, there was a knock on the door. Opal stood behind Ikki as she entered, she plopped herself down beside her sister, rubbing her shoulder lightly.

"Meelo is still with some others tracing Kai's trails, but it is too dark to get any real idea where he came from. Everyone else is down in the chambers entertaining each other, only airbenders can get in there." She said, her sugar-glider squeaked in confirmation before hiding under the collar of her glider suit. "What do you think will happen when he comes around?" she said after a moment of silence.

"His bruises and cuts have similar patterns to torture techniques." Bumi said, "Human torture techniques, we came around some prisoners one year in the desert of the western Earth Kingdom, they had alike wounds to Kai. It took a lot to get them out of there alive!"

"Can spirits harm humans like that?" Opal asked.

"Bumi is right, this look like they were inflicted by a human." Tenzin said softly.

"So, a human could be controlling the spirit in him?" Ikki said, shocked and afraid for Kai, Jinora's eyes widened at the thought.

"There is no human alive that can control spirits!" Tenzin said abruptly, "Even Korra cannot control them, influence perhaps… But not control."

"Maybe, a spirit is doing a human's bidding..." Lin said, she was facing away from the group, staring out the window.

"Who would hurt Kai? He is an airbender and has done countless good deeds around the world!" Pema said.

Opal stepped in from the doorway, "Who would want to harm the airbenders?"

"There was Zaheer…" Pema whispered, "And Amon."

"Impossible!" Lin snapped, turning back from the window, "He is locked up, his team dead, no one has visited him in six years, except Korra. And no one has seen, or heard of Amon in almost a decade!" they found pieces of their escape boat on the beach south of the harbour, that was a few months after they fled, there is no way they are alive… Lin thought the last part, it was privileged information, the explosive singes on the metal were too strong to have survived...

"Another branch of the Red Lotus?" Bumi said, Lin waved her hand, dismissing the possibility. Bumi pursed his lips, moving to stand beside Lin, he was looking out the window. She turned back and gazed over the mountains with him, they both admired the hills, the rich soil, grassy plains and the thick forest of trees. It hit Bumi first, part of a speech that he was present for with Tenzin. An old man arguing that the use of the Northern Temples lands were best suited for mining, Tenzin and Korra slicing his request down. He remember the man becoming furious with accusations of the Avatar being bias towards her teacher and friend, and against the greater good. He recalled Lin stepping in and telling him that the decision was made, he yelled threats and stated that the world was better off with only one family of air nomads, who would want to harm the air benders? He inhaled as it all came together, dragging the action out with an expression of realisation, he pointed towards the mountains. "The mining man!"

"What?" almost everyone present said, confused for a moment.

"Who would want to harm us air benders? Mr. The-World-Is-Better-Off-With-Only-One-Family-Of-Nomads!" Bumi said raising his arms.

"That mean man that was in the city?" Ikki asked, after hearing everyone ranting about it when they had arrived home from the meeting. She was only young, but the memory of her father repeating the threats, for the sake of informing Pema what had happened, made her have nightmares for weeks.

She stood up and took a step towards her uncle, leaving Jinora next to Kai.

No one saw his hand twitch.

"Of course!" Lin said suddenly, "Mewua Wentai! The bloke that wanted to mine the land surrounding the Northern Temple!" she grabbed the tops of Bumi's shoulders, "Nice catch, Commander."

"I learnt from the best, Chief." He winked, Kya and Tenzin raised an eyebrow and glanced at each other.

They stood there smiling at each other for a moment, Suyin cleared her throat. "Yeah, this is romantic and all, but why would they possess Ka-"

There was a flash, Kai flew across the room, he slammed Jinora against the wall, his hand under her chin, pressing against her throat. Pema screamed in horror and Lin, Bumi, Kya and Tenzin dived for Kai. Time slowed for Jinora, her eyes were wide, there was a faint glowing behind Kai's, visible as they shifted quickly. Jinora clawed at his hand, something behind his eyes seemed to snap, he groaned loudly.

Inside his mind, Kai was fighting with all he had, he was yelling and crying, focusing all he could manage on the spirit, there was a feeling like something had slapped the inside of his mind. It was unpleasant, but he felt the spirit release him, just for a moment.

He had control over himself for a moment, but it was enough.

Suyin let loose her cables and threw them towards him. They snaked around his arms and ripped him from Jinora, he let himself go, he groaned loudly, "Jinor-sorry." He collapsed, letting the unfriendly darkness take him.

…

Oh, for fuck's sake… Kai was sure that he wouldn't have to face this darkness again, he hadn't realised what Jinora had done to him, all he knew was that as soon as Bú Yi could sense his consciousness, he would strike. He huffed against the pulsating pain, guilt circled him at the suddenly impact of what his body had just done to Jinora, he had felt the warmth of her skin under his hands as his body tried to kill her. But why? Kai asked himself, if Bú Yi wanted her, why would he try and get me to kill her? He thanked the sun, the stars and Yue that something had stopped him.

The story of Yue was one of his favourites, Jinora had told him the story a hundred times, yet he still pretended that he had never heard it, just for him to hear her say it again. He wished that he could one day be that selfless and brave. To him, Yue was every bit a part of Aang's Team Avatar as Councilman Sokka, Lord Zuko, Chief Healer Katara, Warrior Suki and Police Chief Toph. He wished there was a way he could protect his friends, his nation.

His family.

Maybe there is a way… He thought of the craft house, one of his favourite places in the temple. It was placed right on the top of one of the mountainous plateaus, nestled under the protection of two large statues of airbending legends that Kai hadn't been paying attention to when Tenzin was teaching their identities to him. Across the large, bare courtyard was a direct drop, hundreds of feet to the rocky creek below. It was where the air nomads would test their gliders after construction. It was also where they made saddles, pottery and many other things. They also kept knives, axes, wires and ropes. I just need to get there.

He didn't want to rely on the fact that when he was at the point of nearly severely harming another person, he could just control himself. He didn't want to risk the lives of others on something he had barely done twice.

I just need to get there…

…

Kya fussed over Jinora, washing cool water over her neck and the back of her head. "So, tell me what you saw." Kya said softly, Jinora sighed.

"It was like, like when a cat walks towards a candle. When their eyes shift, the light reflects, that was what his eyes looked like." She took another breath, "It must be horrible."

"What must be?" Kya said, she wanted to keep Jinora talking, making sure her speech wasn't slurred.

"Having been alone for all that time, not being able to ask for help. I should've felt the shift in his energy and known that something terrible was happening to him. I failed him."

"Jinora, you didn-"

"I did! Don't tell be that I couldn't have helped, because I could have!" she yelled, standing up quickly, her head ached but she ignored it, "I am a spiritual master! And I couldn't even sense that my boyfriend had a hostile spirit in him! He still fucking has!" Kya had never heard Jinora utter a single cuss word, she watched as Jinora knocked her chair over and throw something against the wall. "He is alone in this, all alone! And all I want is for us to be together, to be safe."

"Well, I guess you definitely aren't concussed." Kya smiled, Jinora sat on the floor, her head in her hands and ignore her aunt's attempt at a joke. Kya waited a moment before speaking, "Jinora, is there anything else you want me to know."

Jinora peaked up from her place on the floor, she felt blush heat her cheeks, "Y-yes." She sniffed, wiping her eyes to stop the tears from flowing, "We had sex." She whispered.

"I assumed." Kya smiled, she walked across the room and pulled out a jar of herbs. She brewed a tea, and sat with Jinora as she sipped the disgusting liquid. "This'll prevent pregnancy for this time, but you should come to me later on and we can work out something for you to take to prevent this in the future, at least until you are older." She smiled, Jinora nodded and finished the cup. "He loves you Jinora, and he knows that if you could have, you would have helped." Jinora sniffed and nodded again.

They heard footsteps rushing towards, neither looked up as they seemed to run past the room before backtracking and catching themselves on the doorframe.

"Kya," there was a voice at the door, it was Bumi, "Kai is awake."

…

Kai was restrained, his wrists tied to the medical bed. He kept his eyes on his knees, he kept his tears back, it was one thing to cry before Jinora, another to cry before all others. It was when he heard Bumi return with two people that he peeked up from under his dark, messy hair and made eye contact with her. "Jinora!" He couldn't control himself as the tears burst from his eyes, she ran forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, practically diving onto him. She sniffed against his neck, he buried his face in her hair, "Jin-ora, I am so-sor-sorry." His sniffed, sobs breaking his words apart.

"I should have been there for you." She cried against him, holding him tight. Tenzin stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Step away from him." He said softly, "Kai cannot control himself."

"Dad-"

"He's right." Kai mumbled, "I-I will be okay."

"I don't want to leave you." She still held him, whispering into his neck.

"Then don't." He whispered, "Just don't stand too close."

Jinora pulled back, tracing her hand from his jawline, across to his lips. He leant forward slowly, the restrains pulled, he pressed his lips to the dimple between her chin and lower lip, she smiled softly. "We will make it out of this together." She murmured.

"Should, err, we leave the room for a second?" Bumi whispered to Tenzin and Lin, they rolled their eyes in synchrony and a few others chuckled. Jinora got off from the bed and stood beside him, there were many questions thrown at him. He did not know who the man that threatened the Air Nation was, but when Kai described him, it didn't match their own portrayal. "Anyone can grow a beard in a few years!" Lin said, waving her hand dismissively, "Even I could."

"Please don't." Bumi winked.

"What about the spirit?" Tenzin pushed, "Could you see a spirit?"

"Yes." Kai said, growing anger, "It called itself Bú Yi. It-"

Kai's body froze before convulsing violently, Kya moved quickly, but Kai was back in moments. His eyes were strained, his mouth set in a snarl, he thrashed against the restraints, thrusting his body towards Jinora.

"He is possessed, get back!" Lin said, dragging Bumi, and Suyin back as they were closest to her. Everyone moved back, Kai's body collapsed onto the bed and twitched, before bursting back into the sitting position. Jinora's eyes were wide, she felt the spirit flattering and twitching inside him. The cables were cutting into his wrists and his voice came out grainy and vicious. "Release Kai," it groaned, his eyes were reflecting the yellow-green shine, just like Jinora had seen, "Let him free, and no one will be har-r-rm-" Kai shook.

It hit Lin and Jinora almost instantly, he is fighting it. Jinora realised the glow was similar to the moment the spirit had first collided with him, it had stayed dormant whilst within. Now that Kai was fighting to overcome it, it was being forced out, the glow would get stronger the more he gained power over it. Lin had noticed as the words became hard to understand, she swiped her hands through the air and released Kai from the cables. He burst from the room, running into the wall beyond the doorframe, in the hall. "LIN?! WHAT ARE YO-"

"He is fighting it!" She yelled, knocking Tenzin back from pursuing, "He is fighting the possession!" Kai's body was clawing the wall, he twitched once more before standing straight, he turned on the group, all watching. His eyes were still reflecting light, his wrists her cut and he had a fresh scrape under his eye from colliding with the wall. His head jerked, the glowing faded slightly, he took another step. Suyin and Lin readied their cables, Kya let water engulf her hands and Tenzin and Bumi took defensive stances. The glowing increased slightly as Kai stumbled back, gripping his hair and groaning. He looked up and ran down the hall, heading for the window, he dived through it.

…

He knew that Bú Yi would save him before her hit the ground, there was no way that he would let Kai die yet. Kai saw the ground approaching, the air whipping his hair around his face, he grunted as his hands were thrown out before him, the gust of air stopping him from smashing into the solid ground. He still manage to hit the earth with a considerable amount of force, the air was knocked from his body as he landed on the ground. He barely managed to get to his feet before Bú Yi took him over again, the pain was intense and concentrated, they must be near. His body was trying to run towards the southern mountains, the craft house was to the west of the temple. He cried out against the intrusion and seemed to break it, he couldn't believe his luck, he ran as quickly as he could towards the west. Each step Kai was sure would be his last one of his own will, Bú Yi would never let him run free.

At least not until he had Jinora.

Kai stumbled up the stairs, he fell to the solid ground as he reached the plateau that held the craft house. He scrambled to his feet and burst through the doors, using his shoulder to break through the old, wooden doors. He half closed his eyes, trying to blind Bú Yi and whoever else was watching. He felt for tools in the dimness, his fingers ghosting over blades and sandpaper, leather and fabrics, feathers and rope. He found what he was looking for as his finger was sliced, it was the finest blade that the craft house had to offer, it made the best incisions and carved through leather like it was air. He held it lightly in his grip as he ran for the damaged door, he almost didn't see the spirit waiting for him.

Bú Yi.

"Going somewhere, Kaiiiii?" it smirked.

Kai growled and swiped, the spirit curled away easily, Kai's blade hitting nothing. He wasn't even sure if stabbing Bú Yi would even harm it, he hoped it would. He swiped again, this time Bú Yi shocked him, Kai cried out and fell to the ground. He hadn't realised that he landed on the blade until he felt the blood cooling against his external skin, he groaned as he pulled it from his side. Bú Yi made a noise that Kai could only assume was its demented version of a laugh. "Things could have been simpler…" it said, it flew at Kai, passing through his body. The pain was indescribable, he called out. His body was thrown a few metres by the force of Bú Yi's intrusion, he tried to roll onto his stomach, to push himself up. "All you had to do was fulfil the master's wishes." He threw himself through Kai's torso, knocking him onto his back.

Kai's breathing was croaky and exhausted, "W-why?"

The spirit froze, "What?"

"W-why-" Kai tried to breath, there was a moment when he though he had gone unconscious, "Why are you doing this?" he said to the darkness. His eyes were opened by external control, Bú Yi had never look more terrifying.

"For fun, and for possession." He sneered, Kai didn't see it coming, but there was a blast of wind and a flurry of attacks from over his head. Bú Yi looked towards the attacks, his eyebrow lowering angrily.

"Leave. My. Partner. ALONE!" Opal yelled, he leapt into the arm, twisting her body and swinging her leg with a precise round-kick, the burst of air blasted Bú Yi through the surface of the ground. Opal ran to Kai, dropping to her knees and hoisting his arm over her shoulder, "Kai, come-"

"Opal, get out of here!" Kai tried to yell, but Bú Yi got to her first. She dropped to the ground, Kai fell beside her. Her eyes were wide and her body twitched slightly, Kai reached for her, her eyes closed as Bú Yi left her, "Opal!" Kai gasped, he gripped her wrist, he almost died with relief when he felt a heartbeat. He just needed to knock her out… This time he succeeded in getting to his feet, he stumbled backwards towards the cliff.

He was swiping the knife before him, keeping an eye on Opal, waiting for her to move. He was fast approaching the edge of the cliff, Bú Yi was taunting him. There were small materialisations of the spirit and Kai would stab at them, "SHOW YOUR-RSELF!" he almost screamed, his voice fractured on the last word.

Suddenly, there it was.

Bú Yi hovering right before him, less than a metre, "Here I am, take your stab."

Kai screamed as he plunged the knife into Bú Yi, the knife felt as though it had successfully buried itself into flesh.

Kai smiled furiously, Bú Yi was expressionless, for a moment, Kai thought he had won.

It was when he felt warmth spread over his fingers that he knew something was astray, Bú Yi's smiled returned as it let itself evaporate into the air, its laugh echoed.

Jinora's eyes were wide, her mouth was open slightly, her hands wrapped around the blade that was buried beneath her sternum. Kai's eyes stung, his mouth opened, he could hear the screams and calls of people he knew. Tenzin, Bumi, Suyin, Lin, Kya, Bolin, Mako, Asami and Korra. There was the tiniest dribble of blood that came from the corner of Jinora's mouth, it ran down her chin, momentarily pooling in the dimple below her lip, before it dropped like a stone onto Kai's hand. He opened his mouth, to speak, "N-no." he mumbled, he couldn't think straight.

"Yes." Bú Yi whispered, disappearing back to the master.

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The final chapter is next week.