Here's the ninth chapter! I can't believe that I've gotten so many reviews! It's like a dream come true.

Warning: This chapter is dark. That's all I'm saying.

Chapter 9

He was nine now. It was getting harder to hide him away from the public so she treated him like a distant relative. Lin told Kuzon that it was like a game. He told her that he wasn't stupid so she gave him the partial truth. People would try to hurt him to hurt her and she wanted to protect him.

Whenever Lin looked at him, it was like looking at two people. Kuzon and Tenzin. He was looking more like him every day. The look in his eyes when talking about something serious, the kind smile he'd give to someone in need before giving them a couple of yuans. Just what Tenzin would do.

Spirits, she hated Tenzin.

Now even more than ever. His first child with Pema had been born a week ago. He invited her to come, but she refused. The child was a girl, a girl named Jinora.

Had he forgotten their very first child, Jinora? It was a miscarriage. After that she had two more miscarriages. Both of them girls. They hadn't lived long enough to be given names. Lin was angry at Tenzin for using that name. There was only so much that stopped her from killing him.

"Hey Mom, check this out!" came Kuzon's delighted laugh. His body was covered in rock. "I'm Rockman!"

She rolled her eyes but gave him a small smile. "Well, Rockman. Do you want dinner or not?"

"Oh yeah! Bring on the meat!" he said. After removing the rocks, he ran from the backyard to the kitchen. His love for meat reminded her of her Uncle Sokka.

She served the dinner and he stuffed his mouth eagerly.

Kuzon made a sound of pleasure. "Dis ih guh Mom!"

"Don't eat with your mouth full."

He swallowed and then said, "This is good Mom!"

"Better."

"Hey Mom, can I go walk outside?"

She choked on her dumplings. "Why?"

Kuzon shrugged. "Just 'cause."

"I suppose but don't get into trouble and don't attract attention to yourself."

"Okay." he said and put his empty plate in the sink.

"Be back in ten!" she said as he ran out the door.

_line break_

Kuzon was thrilled. Finally. Away from his overprotective mother. It wasn't a bad thing, just too weird. He didn't have any friends because he was always training.

Remembering his mother's warning about not attracting attention, he went into a dark alley. It was filled with cobwebs and bags of trash.

"Hey you!" said a loud and slurred voice. Kuzon turned around and saw a teenager followed by four guys. All carried some alcoholic drinks.

"Um, hi." he said carefully. "What do you want?"

The teenage boy brushed his brown hair. "The name's Daiki. Remember that, and get your sorry butt out of here. This is my territory."

"You don't own this alley." Kuzon retorted, immediately regretting this.

"Oooh." said Daiki's followers and sniggered.

Daiki scowled at Kuzon. "Guess we're gonna have to beat this little squirt to pulp."

Daiki earthbended a rock towards Kuzon. He easily evaded it and the rock knocked over a trash can.

"Weak. You call yourself an earthbender?" Kuzon said.

The drunk earthbender howled in rage and trapped Kuzon in and earth shell. He prepared to hit him with a giant boulder until Kuzon found enough room in the earth shell to slam his foot on the ground. Daiki stumbled from the small earthquake.

Kuzon took a deep breath and freed himself from the earth shell.

"Man Daiki, this kid's beating you!" one of the followers exclaimed.

Daiki growled, "Shut up!"

Kuzon bit his lip. He didn't want any trouble and he really didn't want to hurt anyone. But he felt like this guy needed to be taught a lesson.

He made columns of earth under the teenagers' feet and they yelped in surprise as they flew in the air. Daiki was the only one still there, barely avoiding it. His dark green eyes widened in fear and he ran away.

Kuzon stood there awhile, wondering if he should go after him. A sharp cry was heard from the direction Daiki ran in. Kuzon ran there and saw Daiki with a little girl. He held her by the collar of her shirt.

"You saw nothing, got it? You didn't see me get beaten. You still have to say I'm undefeated." Daiki said menacingly and held a sharp rock at her neck.

She whimpered. "But I-"

"No buts."

Kuzon stepped out so Daiki could see him. "Leave her alone." he said.

Daiki stiffened. "Go away, squirt."

"Daiki, let her go!" Kuzon said forcefully and pushed him.

The teenager eyed him wearily. "I'm not scared of you." he said and cut the little girl's throat.

Kuzon jumped at Daiki and they began to wrestle.

"Aren't you the little hero?" the gang leader muttered. "You don't even know her. Why do you care?"

"Because I will never turn my back on people who need my help!" came Kuzon's reply and he punched Daiki's jaw.

Daiki tried to run away but Kuzon shot rocks at his heels and his back.

"Don't ever hurt anyone again!" Kuzon yelled as he shot the final blow. Instead, he accidentally shot out metal. Amazing. He had never metalbended before. The sharp piece of metal hit the gang leader's back. Daiki fell on his stomach and did not move.

He was too silent. Kuzon's heart started to race and the little girl backed slowly away from him.

"Daiki?" Kuzon said, bending down to nudge him with his hand. He slammed his foot on the ground. The only other heartbeat besides his own was the little girl's. "C'mon man, wake up this isn't funny."

"You killed Daiki." the little girl whispered.

Kuzon shook his head. "No, I'm not a murderer." he said, his voice shaking. He stood and backed away from Daiki's limp body. "Not possible."

The little girl's eyes were filled with fear and she ran away from him.

"No." Kuzon whispered. He ran away and back on the streets, his heart beating loudly.

He pounded on the door and his mom ushered him inside. "Where have you been? That was more than ten minutes."

"I feel really tired Mom." Kuzon lied. "I'm going to sleep."

Lin blinked. "Well, alright. I'll see you in the morning?"

He slammed his bedroom door behind him and jumped on his bed. He was shaking in fear. This couldn't have happened to him. No. No. No.

Kuzon looked out his window and imagined Daiki's gang finding his dead body.

He whispered so softly that even he had trouble hearing himself.

"I killed Daiki."

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