I hadn't waited for Ruan, some part of me wanted to just walk alone. I had left apartment, passing by John and Ruan's apartments and immediately turned down stairs, which had creaked at every step. The wind blew into my jacket and ran across my face, I loved the wind but hated the heat. Ironically being born in the northern fire nation colonies. I had entered the courtyard once I got to the bottom of the steps. It was more like a storage unit garages and big crates piled on one another, and pallets leaned up against the sheet metal wall that surrounding the place.
You might have mistaken it for personal storage complex for those who have to much in an area to little. Others may just think it's an construction site, very "covert" place to hold refugee's like ourselves or at least that's what John says. Got to admit his connections are amazing if there able to sneak weapons and training gear of all sorts, into the garages.
I stopped at the entrance to the courtyard, there were so many garages I haven't been in. The ones I had been into held the most modern CQB, exercise, and sparring equipment I've ever seen. Considering John he probably had a knack for collecting these things so why complain, I mean he was teaching me to use this stuff. However there were some exceptions.
Since I'm an expert swordsman or at least moderately knowledgeable of the sport, I used his vast collection of blades. Most of the material and designs I've never even seen. I mean yea they were made from steel, but the carving, designs, and insignia's were amazing to just look at.
I put my hands in my pockets and continued down the street, I was exploring the new life I now lived. I think I can have a little time off from John training. Besides, I believe that Ruan still owes him "rent" which he pays by training. If John's going to house us here for free we might as well pay a little respect in return and it will be helpful so we don't end up getting him killed in a situation.
My surroundings were as expected, since I 'lived in a "junkyard" as Ruan calls it, Highrise buildings and restaurants flooded this part of Republic City. However we were living in the downtown area so the junkyard was kinda in the corner of the city, so other citizens didn't have to look and admire other peoples crap they couldn't carry. I didn't even know what district we were in, it kind of slipped my mine somehow.
I walked on down the same sidewalk I started. The warm scent of coffee filled the air, noticing a coffee shop across the street I knew where I was going. There hadn't been any cars as I crossed the street, in fact I hadn't seen much cars since we got here, it was a good low profile area. As I walked onto the porch of the coffee shop the smell of freshly grounded coffee immediately rose into the air. I loved it, wooden tables and chair stood empty and alone on the porch and on the inside were much more people. In fact it was the busiest I've ever seen this part of the city, however I still had to remind myself it was the downtown residential area so there wouldn't be as much people as the districts capitol.
People starred at me as I opened the door in curiosity, they gave me the look of a newcomer or maybe an outsider I don't know I couldn't tell the difference, if there was one. Some smiled as other just returned to reading or talking to one another without showing any emotion. I started talking to the store owner behind the counter, took me a couple of minutes before I realized she had only three teeth. An icy feeling went down my spine. She was short, had grey hair, and her brown apron covered everything else. However that was good enough for me.
"Decaf?", she said showing her rotted mouth.
"No thanks", I replied. I didn't usually drink coffee in the afternoon but I needed the energy. I grabbed the cup and sat outside on the porch, looking at my surroundings. This shop had been on a corner so the across the horizontal street were other apartments and small time shops. On my left or the vertical side of the street was my way back home.
I took a sip of my coffee, making a disgusted face as it touched my tongue. It tastes exactly as it should of, like shit. The first taste always did and I obviously hadn't had coffee in a while. I took a long second sip, and nearly coughed it back up. It burned my whole mouth and throat, and I quickly moved it away spilling some on my lap. "Shit", I said going for the napkins on the small wooden table.
The coffee burned my leg but I'm pretty sure I'll manage. I stood up and started wiping my pants with the napkin. Hoping to not look like I pissed myself, I stood up acting like nothing happened, however my coughing had caught some attention through the coffee shop window. I didn't know there was anybody behind me until the door to the shop had bumped the back of my foot.
"Oh, I'm sorry sir I heard you cough and thought I could bring you some more napkins", the female voice said. It's more annoying having someone help you with an embarrassing situation after you commit it yourself. I sighed heavily.
"Uh, no thanks I have enough", I said beginning to turn around. As I faced her, she had ran her fingers through her silky, long black hair. My eyes widened, and I froze instantly, I didn't no what to say at first nor was I prepared.
"Kya", was the only thing I said to her, our eyes locked, frozen by the great joy we now shared for one another.
Yorick
"You've been hiding from us from some time now, you honestly didn't expect to be found?", said a bender wearing brown cloak. The three cloaked benders starred down at the shop merchant.
"Look you've got the wrong man, I swear!", the man shouted pleading for his life. The two benders behind the main one looked at each other and smirked.
"You ran from us, turned into an alleyway, and jumped into a dumpster before we had a chance to even call out your name", the man in back said laughing.
"Quiet Kessen", said the bender in front looking down at the man. "You know for a fat ass you sure can run, especially for what just happened.", said the bender in front. The bender in back known as Kessen was trying to hold back his laughter. The man who now lay against the dumpster was big, almost crying, and sweating like he was in a sauna.
"It's always sad to see a grown man cry", said the other bender in back, next to Kessen. "C'mon Kenten, lets hurry up and return to the rest of the clan. I heard they have revolutionizing way to bring power back unto the benders!", said Kessen. Kessen out of the three had been the most talkative and got on everybody's nerves.
"Please, I'm sorry! have mercy please!", the man pleaded. He basically bowed to them for forgiveness. However Kenten wouldn't let up. He walked up towards them and grunted putting weight on his left right ankle. "Kenten watch your leg, it hasn't fully healed", said the other bender.
"Really Sento you don't say? The fact that I still yell in pain at night, doesn't give you a fucking clue?", Kenten yelled back at Sento. Kenten truly liked Sento, when he was in a good mood. Unlike Kessen, Sento was quiet, respectful, and smart. He also never talked back. Kenten being the leader of the small group was an irritable, arrogant, and powerful sand bender. They all wore matching brown cloaks symbolizing the bending supremacist group known as "The Pride".
"Relax Kenten, just hurry and kill the guy. Besides you didn't forget that we were also in that little accident right?", said Kessen. Kenten sighed heavily and ignored the man on the ground who was squabbling and mumbling words to himself. Kenten was getting angry at Kessen. "Yes Kessen very good, my impaled ankle doesn't even compare to you getting sand up your ass! No, not even on a fucking scale! So if your done being an idiot, shut up and let me finish this!", shouted Kenten.
Kessen and Sento, remained silent. Kenten turned back to the man who had seemed to be calmed down a bit. "Now if we can get back on track, your a traitor to The Pride and we cant just leave our people out with information on us.", Kenten said pulling a dagger from inside his cloak.
"Wh-what are you talking about, I've been a citizen for months now and never said anything bad about The Pride, why would I start now!", he had a point but he continued foolishly, "Not to mention your all over the fucking news, there is no secrecy to The Pride. You guys are an open book!", those words would be his judge, jury, and executioner. Actually his executioner would be Kenten.
"You mock The Pride, you fat meat seller?", Sento lashed out. He was a true patriot to his clan. Kenten ignored his outburst and knelt down to the man, inflicting more pain to his injured ankle. The knife was centimeters away from his throat. "Such a sorry excuse for an earth bender", Kenten said, his eyes piercing into the mans who had began to sweat like mad. Kenten smiled evilly and with a quick movement of his arm he slashed the man's throat.
Blood splattered across onto the dumpster and dripped down onto the ground. His mouth gargled as blood started to seep over his bottom lip. Kenten stood back up cleaning his dagger on the man's sweaty clothes. His ankle ached as he stood but he ignored the pain. "Kessen, dump the body and lets go", Kenten ordered.
"What! Why me? You do realize there's three of us and the third doesn't speak a word!", Kessen complained. Kenten covered his forehead with his hand and clenched his fist. Why do clan rules prohibit bending on other clansmen?, he thought. "Well if somebody hadn't knocked over the refrigerator on my ankle just to get a damn gold piece that fell behind it, I would've been healed months ago so shut up!", Kenten yelled back to Kessen.
Sento looked at Kessen in stupidity and followed Kenten. "Exalted Pride!", shouted Kessen as he ran to catch up to the others.
My mind was blown, what was she doing here? "Khai! wow, hey how are you! It feels like forever!", she said basically leaping into my amrs. I was speechless, in all of Republic City I would never have expected John to relocate her here. The cheeky bastard, I know what he was doing.. and it was working.
"Kya, I don't know what to say", I really didn't..
"Well some people start with "hello" or "hi" but in our case I guess it could be a little more creative", she said laughing. Her smile was beautiful her white teeth shown and I loved looking into blue eyes. I laughed back, we hadn't known each other that much but the Kyoshi incident had been enough to bring us close.
"You look amazing! How did you get here", a weird beginning but she didn't mind it. "Thank you, and it seems like this whole relocation thing wasn't so bad on yourself. Thanks to John, he drove me off campus and told me about your heroic doings", she said. She hadn't let up smiling once. Don't Worry John rent is coming! I thought to myself.
"I'm just so glad your safe so where do-", the store owner called out to Kya, cutting me off. She signaled for her to return inside. "Well looks like the pearly whites over there is calling you", I said sarcastically. She laughed and I couldn't help but laugh back. "Listen do you want to do something after your done?", I said scratching the back on my head. I do that a lot when I'm nervous.
Kya lowered her sweet smile to a mutual one, "Yea sure of course! There is so much I want to tell you. My shift ends in a couple hours so do you want to meet here?", Kya asked. I couldn't believe this was happening, but I had to keep my cool.
"That sounds great! I'll pick you up then", I said happily. She smiled at me one last time and went back at inside, being called back in multiple times from the tooth fairy up front.
I was so exited, the one place I got relocated to an Kya's here and I still don't really know where I am. I should probably ask John that. I had forgotten about finishing my coffee, I was to busy thinking about the date I just made, I needed to get ready, there was still so many questions I needed to ask her.
(Two hours later)
The weather hadn't changed. Rolls of cool air frequently blew in. I hadn't changed my clothes as much, fixing up my hair and putting on new jeans to make myself look classy. I stood outside the coffee shop wondering about what to do. I mean I only rounded two corners to find the girl I loved, if that's all it takes to find something this amazing I'm can't wait to see what else is in store.
"Khai, hey whats up!", Kya's voiced echoed as she opened the door. I turned around and smiled. She wore a green shirt, and blue shorts and her long black hair hung down without restraint. I felt like I had overdressed.
She came over and gave me a hug, her hair brushed against my shoulder. "Nice to see you to Kya, man do we have a lot of acting up to do", I said sneaking out a slight laugh.
"Tell me about it, I know it hasn't been a year but all the chaos today makes it feel like this whole Equalist deal has gone on for centuries", she said. We started walking down the sidewalk. I wasn't sure where we would go but might as well let the day take us onward. She looked at me worried as if she said something wrong.
"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot that your family..", she stopped talking like she said something offensive however I had taken it the exact opposite. My eyes shot up to hers. "No, no it's not your fault at all, I've resented all of that", I paused for a moment. "Besides, if I would have gone back I would have been killed for betraying my family. I'm happy here.", I lied. Some part of me wants to see my family again, my mom and brother even though we had our differences, Bo seemed more harmonious.
I wanted to bring this date to a better state, talking about all of this was depressing and I wanted to brighten things up. "I know we haven't really spoken much, like at all during school but I have to admit it's great seeing you here and all better. Those cuts seemed pretty deep", I said.
Those words seemed to raise her spirits. She looked at me and thanked me, and we continued on.
(Yangchen Park)
It took me awhile but I finally found out that we were in district four. I heard about this on the news that it was completely control by the White Lotus Party or WLP. It was also known as the Yangchen area, named after a former avatar. An air bender to be exact, history had been my favorite subjects back in school.
We both had been talking for awhile this date couldn't have gone any better. We approached the statue of avatar Yangchen, who had stood in the middle of the park holding the globe of our planet. I didn't want to rush on any questions I had about her being here, relaxing and having fun seemed more important then an interview. However I had to ask sooner or later.
"So do you live by yourself?", she asked. I laughed to myself about my sarcastic vision that went on in my head about Ruan and his mooching for food. "More or less yea, Ruan and I have our own apartments but he seems to forget that he has his own food to eat so he eats mine instead", I said laughing. She gave me a curious look after I mentioned Ruan.
"Oh so Ruan's here to?", she said. We walked over to the only bench that seemed not be covered with bird crap and sat down. "Yep, and he's doesn't seem to mind the move at all. In fact he seems to have forgotten about his famous father. However Porter brings him back to reality by reminding him that the world isn't all fun and games and eating my food", we both laughed. We kept laughing at the tales of Ruan, since she was in his first period class.
(The River)
The date had been going really well. Although there had been awkward moments mostly by me... okay all by me, we still connected really well. After the Park we had gone over to what Kya calls the center of town, even though it wasn't. She said this because this is where you saw the most people of district four. We walked along the pier where people had been fishing.
The place had other people admiring the view of the river while others fished. The wooden walkway creaked under our feet at each step we took. We passed under bridges and passed market stalls selling fish, meat, and other various items. We decided to walk up some stairs up to the elevated part of where the river was. The only difference was that there were actual shops and restaurants, more people walking about, and you could overlook the view of both the port and the river.
"This is amazing, do you come here often?", I said leaning up against the railing of the elevated area. "Not so much, Myra took me here once and just like you I loved the view, but the fish smell wasn't all that great", she said laughing a little. The wind blew through my hair, it seemed like it was a lot windy up here. I smiled and looked over at her, "Myra, is she that cheerful shop keeper, you work for?", I said sarcastically.
She nudged my shoulder and smiled, "Hey be nice, she did take give me the extra apartment above her store", I was lost in her eyes that sparkled. "So you said John brought you over here?", I asked curiously. "Yea after John picked us up in his car, you fell asleep. He then dropped me off at the coffee shop with another guy named Christian who got me the job and apartment", she said. I blushed a bit, I would've seen her sooner if I didn't fell asleep. Why couldn't I had just stayed awake.
"That's impressive that you just accepted your new life, it took me awhile to get used to this place", I said my smile gradually going down. Her hand went on top of mine and she squeezed. "Well the thing is I wasn't really all that cool with it either. After I was dropped of and Christian got me settled in, I argued that i wouldn't stay but he just kept say that people were after me and wanted me dead", her words made me angry that Christian just said that and left, why would he do that? Kya continued on, "I didn't even know that you guys were relocated like me I felt so alone not seeing anybody'', I didn't want to see her cry. I put my free hand on hers, that was on mine.
"You shouldn't have been through so much and for what reason you were just left where you were, wasn't right at all", I said. She smiled at me, and I leaned into her arms and wrapped them around her and she did the same. Why didn't John tell me she was her? How could keeping her from me be any harm for the both of us? These words ran through my mind.
We were almost knocked to the ground by a man followed by a small group of people. Talk about a ruined moment. His elbow had dug into my side, as he ran past us. "Hey watch it!", I yelled at him. However he didn't even acknowledge me. In fact there was a group of people crowded together, this intrigued both Kya and I. Metal bending police soon arrived about four of them running into the crowd forcing them back.
"Back up all of you! We're under strict order from Chief Bei Fong herself please move back and give us some room!", shouted one of the policemen. I started walking forward towards the group of people. "Khai, we shouldn't get in the way", she said. I was curious and knew she was to but I had to respect her decision. "All right lets go", I froze my heart stopped. My eyes widened in horror, and shivers ran down my spine. Kya saw this.
"Khai, whats wrong? Are you all right?", she said anxiously. She tried to get my attention but it was fixed on the scene. Metal bending police had pulled a body from an unknown ally way. The police shouted more and more to try to move everyone back. The more they did, the less I wanted to see. Policemen hauled a body off onto a gurney. Blood dripped from the man's mouth and his motionless eyes starred directly at me.
Kya could see it to. She starred in horror as they hauled out the body towards a nearby ambulance. Her hands covered her mouth. She hadn't known him like I did but anybody who saw a corpse with his neck slashed and blood dripping down onto his apron, couldn't be in a happy mood.
Bozu.. the friendly merchant I had knew back in Kyoshi Way was dead, murdered.