Authors Note: Hey everybody, sorry about that random line in the last chapter, it meant nothing! Just a typo. Well here is the first part of a two part chapter for ya, enjoy as always and please review!

Khai

My thoughts never wandered off, even when I wasn't with Ruan. He was my friend, my only friend I could call a brother these days. It was nice to have John around but I still have my questions about him, even if he calls them "Honorable Intentions" like where he exactly came from. I had been walking for a good half an hour, passing the coffee shop and other stores that past by. District 4 wasn't really all that great, it was like all the other districts except nothing ever happened. There were Stores and shops, markets and stalls, and the park. The Pier, which had been ruined for me by the death of another acquaintance called Bozu, was the place where a lot of people loved to hang out.

My sheathed sword had been on my back, these days you see a lot of people carrying heavy weapons. I had just blended in with the others, hiding the fact that my true intention was blood. Men wearing suits had seemed like professional business men. However carrying around swords, crossbows, and halberds didn't really seem to be very inviting to each other.

Everyone was very nervous these days, the fear of a revolution from the Equalist party was scared in everyone's mind. The slaughter of the WLP didn't seem to bother the other district but here in mine it seemed like everyone was in a hurry, like it had already begun.

The Unknown area I had been held massive amounts of people but most of them crowded around each other, a good thing if you can't trust anybody else. The sky was grey and clouded, making everything else look like a graveyard. Restaurants paralleled one another but few had people. Great a thousand people and I'm searching for one guy...dammit, I didn't even ask John what he looked like, I thought.

I lowered my head trying no to get to noticed, it wasn't like I was being hunted or anything, right? I had come to the conclusion that maybe those three sand benders had survived and were coming back for Ruan, or maybe anyone who didn't believe in what they wanted. I didn't know their true intentions but anyone who would force themselves onto others politically like this, couldn't be good.

My hand grazed the handle of my blade, it hadn't been anything fancy it had thin leather straps around it giving you a better grip for slashing but I knew I wasn't a wiley swordsmen. I walked on, the sound of everyone's feet hitting the sidewalk sounded like rain. I rounded a corner of a bakery that looked like it could've been closed for years, the dark windows and the boarded up doors gave it an ominous look.

The streets seem to be layered with dust, along with the grey sky made this street so gloomy no artist would want to paint it. Ever since Republic City was built, a romanticism era sort of appeared where it inspired painters to paints the peace and prosperity that crossed every street, it was all a joke to me.

Down the street a small group of about eight surrounded a man, standing on a wooden box.

"Grab your friends, your family, you belongings and get out of town! The Equalists are coming and they're going to kill us all!", He proclaimed. I sighed, we have enough chaos as it is and know we have town criers? The man continued throwing up his arms dramatically in the air as if he was pulling the strings on a puppet. He looked around his mid 60's, he wore a torn apron and almost looked like he had no shoes. He wore an old shirt, stained and torn beyond repair. Dust lay upon his shoulders, well I hope at least it was dust.

"You'll all end up like me! No job, money or family, I was to late but my last wish before I part is to help all of you! The Equalists did this to me, they're the ones to blame!", he continued. His audience gasped and murmured amongst themselves. It was funny really, here they were listening to this guy and yet their still to nervous to look speak to one another like a group.

I walked up behind a man listening to the old man's ranting, "He's loosing more money by standing here yelling at us..", he said to himself. I couldn't help but to agree with him and couldn't help grin, "Guys like him give a bad name for the WLP", I said shaking my head.

The man turned around, his eyes met mine and he had this expression like I had just cursed his family. He looked around trembling in fear, finally he started to back out of the crowd. I looked at him curiously, unknown what I had said that might've offended him. He looked back at me.

"Hey look buddy, I don't want trouble just leave me alone okay?"

"What? I was agreeing with you"

"Whatever man, just leave me be, you don't just go making fun little chit-chats with people these days, now go away", he turned and started walking at a fast pace.

The dust fell onto his old black derby hat. This was crazy! People are to afraid to talk to one another because they can't say ten words without the person next to them ratting them out as "Equalist Spies". I hadn't even insulted the man and he acted like I was going to arrest him. I walked past the crier, however it had only taken me bout 30 steps to find myself in an even worse situation. A man in a courtyard of a restaurant was on his knees and crying, begging for his life while the customers had been watching in a semi circle formation.

The shop keeper, was a big man around his early 50's. He was bald, he had a big fat mustache that rested below his noes, wearing his grease stained apron, and looking down the sights of a bran new 3 shot crossbow aiming directly at the pleading man. I stood on the outside corner of the restaurant, I didn't want to get involved with something like this. If a man got angry with me agreeing with him, this guy could probably put three bolts into my chest for just saying "Now hold on", I continued to watch the large man, sweat dripping onto his crossbow.

"You coming into my fine establishment and just insult me like that? How dare you, you Equalist filth!", the owner said wrapping his finger around the trigger.

"I'm not an Equalist I sell real estate, you gotta believe me!", he face turned green as if he was going to puke.

"Shut up! I see so many of you damned Equalists it's not even funny, it's sick your a disgrace to Republic City and the avatar!", he face was redder then the sauce stain on his apron. I could see customers getting very nervous, quietly talking back and forth between one another.

"This is one of the only restaurants that actually gets business why the hell would I have someone like you come and take that away from me! Do you think I'm stupid, you Equalist trash?", he shouted. I felt guilty about watching this but this was not my place to get involved. I looked up into the skies, there wasn't any police airships around, a shame.

"P-please sir, you must believe me I-I sell houses", it was like watching two waterfalls pour out of his eyes, he was choking on his words and couldn't say much that would save his life. "My brief c-case, it shows my work, I assure you go right ahead. Anything to s-save my life!", the salesmen said.

The owner looked curiously at the brown tattered briefcase, that sat on the table. He looked over to one of his employees, nudging his head over in the direction of the briefcase signalling him to get it. He was skinny, wore the same things as the owner minus the apron. Two clicks could be heard as he unlocked the worn briefcase, scrambling through it he raised what seemed to be an employer card.

"Tao Forwin, real estate agent of District 4..Yangchen distinct.. blah, blah, blah. Yep everything he says is true", the employee said, shutting the briefcase.

A huge sign relief came across the agents face. He began to stand up, brushing all the dirt off his knee's from where he had been kneeling. He looked up at the store owner who had begun to lower the crossbow, his face was bright red, his eyes wet, and heart raced. Everything seemed fine until one of the customers stepped out.

"Wait a minute I heard that man, right over there, say he wishes for Equalism!", tensions begun to raise. The owner immediately shot back up their eyes dead locked. The salesmen Tao put his hands in the air, "Now wait a minute, Equality and Equalism are to diff", Tao had been silenced.

Three bolts had been shot off, they plunged themselves into Tao, one visible all the way through. Tao didn't make a sound, blood streamed from his mouth and from his suit, he fell to his knee's then crumpled onto the ground dead. "No damned Equalist spy is coming after my business!", he shouted before returning to his kitchen. I was shocked, not only by the killing that probably will go unnoticed but the fact that people could sit and still eat with a corpse laying there, and an innocent one at that.

I looked down at the bleeding man, I should've helped him but now it's over, and my original plans continue.

Kessen

Releasing his grip, the sand became shifty and loose. The curator of the Hall of Past Hero's avatar museum fell onto the tiled floor. Kessen's body ached, in fact it felt like two people had been inside one body, well that's because there was. He shared everything with the spirit that inhabited him, eyes, mouth, nose, limbs, everything was shared.

Kessen brought down his hands, the sand smashed apart the display case. Kessen dropped down pushing his hands through loose sand and scrolls that once filled the display case.

Where is it!, the spirit demanded.

"I don't know I'm looking, I'm looking!", Kessen shouted back at the spirit. It was if he had been talking to himself, there was nobody around, they were all dead. The curator had been last to go. Kessen swiped his arms heavily, creating almost a sand wave to crushed any kind of display or book self in his path. Kessen wore a gourd on his back, filled to the brim with sand, just in case he went somewhere where he couldn't bring up sand.

Might I remind you, your life is on the line!

"Fuck off, I've never been possessed before!", Kessen twitched and scratched all over his body. If Kessen had done something wrong the spirit inside him would tear at his muscles, creating a pain far worse then a charlie horse or a sword going through your chest. He searched throughout the Hall of Aang, each hall had been designed for a certain avatar.

Scrambling through old scrolls, he had found one looking similar to what he had been looking for. He unravel it revealing a women water bending. She had been a traditional bender wearing old style clothing from the water tribe. Kessen admired her, she was beautiful. she had longs blonde hair, and blue eyes. It had been an old scroll teaching how to do basic styles of water bending. Then the spirit took over.

Kessen shouted as the pain of the evil spirit took over his body. Kessen's eyes sunk in and turned a blood red color, a black aura emitted from his shoulders until it surrounding his whole body.

"Finally! You couldn't do it so I guess I must do so, your a worthless bender!", The spirit said. He let out an ear bleeding screech that shattered whatever glass was left in the room. The spirit in Kessen's body walked out and searched for another room.

Like I said, you damned demon, I can't control myself when I'm possessed like that!, Kessen shouted

"Stop complaining mortal or I completely take your body for mine own!", It said. It approached two fully locked doors and viciously smiled. He roared send out a deadly stream of energy, completely destroying the doors. Before the spirit stopped he clenched his stomach, which erupted in pain. He felt nauseous, his world started to blur and a great headache had come over him.

"Damn your drinking habits", it said slowly making it's way into the chamber. The spirit caught himself on the wall, using the strength of the black aura to bury his finger within the cement.

Give me back my body and we'll have nothing to worry about, I could use a drink, he said in an arrogant tone.

"Shut up, Kessen!", the spirit said. He walked down flights of stairs, holding his stomach and trying not to vomit. It took him awhile to get to the bottom, which revealed to be nothing but old crates and shipment logs. Your going to search through all these?

"Don't be stupid! You don't know my abilities, and I sense it's not here!", The spirit said out of rage, he summoned sand from his gourd crushing box after box in quick improvement of his arms. "Dammit it's not here!", the spirits rage made Kessen's blood boil.

Hey, let's calm down a bit alright, I'm not so sure what type of spirit you are but you anger is really damaging my body. Which by the way I need back...

"SHUT UP KESSEN!", although he was right. He was loosing his power to regain control of Kessen's body but he didn't dare let Kessen know that. "Fine, you prick have your pathetic body back! However check that shipping log first, it might give me some insight on where this damn scroll", The spirit ordered. The pain came across Kessen's body once more, his eyes grew back to normal size, the black aura that once surrounded him had faded away, and the power of the evil spirit was once again inside Kessen.

"Ah much better, I can feel my arms", Kessen said.

Just check the damn log!

"Fine you, aggressive son of a bitch...", Kessen said feeling relieved. The spirit didn't want to waste energy on attacking Kessen's body, he needed energy but once he got that he would be immortal. Kessen flipped through pages on the shipment log, wood chippings from the destroyed crates were everywhere, thanks to that demon. Kessen's eye was caught on the exact scroll they needed, The Scroll of Purging. A huge smile came across Kessen's face when he figured out its location.

You've got to be fucking kidding me...

The Fainted Dragon Bar

The rat and termite infested bar stood on the edge of district 4 and next to the border that surrounded Republic City. It looked hideous but how it managed to attract the scum that walked on the streets made no sense. It was one of those places where if you needed a stiff drink without questioning it's atmosphere, well there it was.

Kessen walked into the repulsive bar, it had only had two people in it, not including the bartender who looked like he could pass out any minute. Kessen's brown robes blew in the gust of air the pushed itself out the door, as if it was trying to find a better place. The tables were old, some rotten, and other crawling with termites. Torn clothes had covered the thick layer of dust on the table, which showed how much they cared.

Kessen didn't care, the gourd on his back had been weighing him down. Chen had suggested doing something where he could both carry a weapon that helps in any situation and still gives you a good workout. At first he suggested a kanabo, a giant club the held metal studs around it creating an even devastating impact, a swinging weapon.

Kessen declined due to his potential hatred of swords, he said it would make him forget about his real bending abilities. After Kessen ordered his gin, he sat down at a leather booth, which had been torn and bitten by rats. He didn't care he needed a drink and that's why he was here, and that's probably why the bar hadn't gone out of business..

He sat the large gourd of sand on the other side of the booth, it was a tan color and tiny cracks had made their way across the bottom but barley seen from the human eye. It had several markings on it, weather it was painted red lines or faded symbols of past clan and gangs, they were there to stay. He had noticed one marking he had apparently missed when he first got the gourd. A grey skull with a black sword going down the middle shown on an empty spot on the gourd which ahd no markings near it.

Kessen examined it, curious at first but lost interest as the bartender brought him his drink. The bartender's fat meaty arm reached across the table, setting down the drink. It was in a foggy chipped glass that burned as it went down. Kessen's taste buds had been singed so many times by the drink he never really complained about how the glass made it taste like shit, the glass was barley cold.

Put up your hood mortal

"Uh, alright..", Kessen said confused as his brown hood covered his dirty hair. Sand bits fell as the hood brushed up against his hair, "So why am I doing this? There is about two people in here, and I think the bartender is having a heart attack..", Kessen said looking at the man who had been clutching his heart.

Idiot, people will think your crazy if you seen talking to yourself!

"I'm touched didn't think you cared"

Shut up, try not to get to intoxicated, you stubborn drunk. Let I remind you we're on a mission

Kessen looked around all the people he could see was a half passed out man, the bartender, and a man who looked like he was in his very early twenties. Kessen caught him looking at him twice, he had been drinking the same drink and his eyes kept wandering over. Kessen pulled his hood, making sure nobody could see his mouth.

"Who would bring the Scroll of Purging to a shit hole like this?"

Fool, the scroll is to valuable to be put in a museum, even with high, pathetic security

"Sooo.. they bring it to a bar..?", Kessen's sarcasm made himself laugh, it had probably been the gin talking but the fact was right.

Honestly I'm not so sure, I was summoned to retrieve it, I don't know much about where it is. I can feel the energy of it so that's why I could only feel a slight bit of energy back at the museum but it faded. Now I can feel some its getting stronger so wait here and try not to get drunk!

Kessen didn't even acknowledged that last part, he reached for his glass when the demon stopped him. His hand had been frozen in place, Kessen couldn't move it at all, he couldn't even feel it. Kessen's eyes grew in horror as he saw his hand start deteriorate, it had been aging at an incredible fast rate becoming skinny and bonier. It lost it's color and became pale white it was nothing but skin and bone. Not even blood ran through his fingers.

Kessen quickly stood up in horror, attracting the bartender and the man in his early twenties. he sat back down and whispered to himself, "Fuck!, alright listen fine no more alcohol, I give!. Just give me back my hand!".

Now you see our little agreement, I can control any part of you, If I wanted I could kill you!

Kessen's hand regrew to normal size. It's color returned and he had full control over it. His heart had raced, now recognizing the power of the spirit that was inside him, he sighed in great relief. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a quick movement. The man had not taken a drink, in fact it looked like he had been waiting for something. All Kessen could make out was that he had brown hair and wore a thin black jacket. He sat with his arms crossed on the table, and an intense look in his eye.

A few more minutes past and still nothing changed. Kessen was getting impatient and so was the spirit. "Fuck it, this is a waste of time, let's go back to the museum and see if we forgot something..", Kessen said, throwing a couple yuans onto the table, it brought up dust into the air on impact.

No, not the museum you idiot! Someones probably noticed the bodies and the police are probably all over it. Let around here we need that scroll or might I have to remind you of the stakes that are at play!

Kessen stormed out of the bar, not even caring about the attention he drew. Nobody was near for him to hear him talking to the spirit. "Look I don't know what you are but I want some damn answers! Who summoned you and how the hell did you get into The Pride's sanctuary?", Kessen said.

He stood out in the street, no cars or people walked remotely close to him. He was in far view of another pier, their he could see people carrying box's to and from ships. Unaware of the volume of voice, the noise of a door shutting made him turn around. Kessen could plainly see the man in a black jacket, red undershirt, and dark jeans step out, holding a sword aimed at Kessen's throat.

He had a furious look in his eye which stunned Kessen but not out of fear but out of confusion of who he was. To him this was completely random, unless he was a bounty hunter here to collect the large bounty of The Pride. The man eyes pierced into his.

The power his anger and rage, gives him is outstanding! This will be one hell of a fight.