Author's Note: I'm back from vacation! I worked really hard on this chapter when I got back, so I hope you guys enjoy it! And I am proud to announce that I have finally finished the summary! This story is so complicated for me I had to write a summary for it on a separate document. It took me a really long to finish, about a month, but I finally know how it's going to end! I'm so excited, it's going to be a thriller! This would make such a great action movie haha. I can't wait for you all to read it! And I was re-reading the chapters up to this one... so many mistakes that I didn't catch. -.- Sorry. Plus, I accidentally said that Zuko was their friend, but that was a mistake. He's not. Kay? ^^ Just forget that part. Now, on with the story! Thank you to everyone who commented on this so far, me loves you!
Katara woke up in a sweat.
She panted heavily, recovering from her dream. She had dreamt that she had found Aang, except she was wrong, he wasn't alive, and her surroundings crumbled. She closed her eyes, not that it mattered, but it somehow still held a source of comfort that helped her escape from the world and control her emotions.
That dream had become a reoccurring appearance at night. But no longer would she have to wait. Her body was itching to begin searching, she felt idle not doing anything. Every second she spent at home was another second Aang's life could be closer to being lost.
Katara threw off her covers and stepped onto the floor. Her training was complete; Toph had taught her well. She could see even better than ever. She, for example, knew that her brother and dad were already up, and that they were at the breakfast table. She knew that her neighbor was walking his dog outside, and that the mailman was coming around the corner.
Katara walked out of her room and stretched. She walked into the kitchen. Sokka was chewing on some sugary cereal, no doubt, and Hakoda was sipping coffee, waiting patiently for the mail to arrive. When Katara entered the kitchen, his demeanor changed. He seemed tense and upset. He set the coffee mug down.
"Katara, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to wake up," he said in a pseudo-cheery tone.
Katara cocked her head. "Why? What time is it?"
"10 o'clock," Sokka sputtered with a mouthful of cereal.
"It is?" Katara asked.
"Yeah, you never sleep that late," Sokka pointed out, swallowing his food.
"It's because I haven't been sleeping well lately," Katara explained, putting a hand to her forehead.
"Would this be because of Aang?" Hakodaasked in a low tone.
Katara didn't respond. Her hand fell off her forehead and she straightened up, arching an eyebrow. Her heart started beating faster.
"Katara," Hakoda sighed. "I just thought I'd let you know that his funeral will be in a couple of days…"
"No!" Katara shouted involuntarily, and moved to cover her mouth. No, I need to tell dad. I need to tell him my plan…
She recovered by pretending to wipe her chin, and then began again. "I mean, I don't really believe he's…"
"Not this again," Hakoda sounded exasperated. "Katara, I thought that was just hospital-talk. The pain-killers were getting to you or something… Aang's dead, there's no doubt about it. Please don't make this harder than it has to be. Denial is the first step towards heart-break…"
"No, Dad! He can't be dead! I'm going-"
"Katara, listen! If they can't find his body in time we decided we would put something valuable to him in the coffin. We were thinking his staff…"
"Dad, no! Please don't, he's not dead! That is his favorite thing, I can't just let you bury it…"
"He has no use for it anymore! What should we bury, then? Rocks?"
Sokka watched as his two family members battled back and forth, neither of them getting anywhere. All the yelling started to get to him and his face scrunched up.
"Alright, guys! Enough! What, are you both five? Why not try to get each other's perspective on this situation?"
"Sokka, stay out of this," Hakoda warned.
Katara crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue.
"Katara, stop acting childish," Hakoda snapped at her.
Katara ignored this. "Toph's here," she announced.
The next moment the doorbell rang, and Sokka glared at Katara's smug expression.
"Show off," he chimed as she bounced out of the room.
"Toph, you're here!" Katara exclaimed excitedly, hugging her friend.
Toph smiled weakly.
"Did you tell you father?"
Katara's excited demeanor faded. "Well, I tried to…"
Toph frowned. "I told you I didn't want to be here for the fight."
Katara huffed. "Well, you kind of walked right into it."
"What?" Toph asked surprised as Katara led her into the kitchen.
"Toph," Hakoda greeted amiably. "What brings you here in the morning?"
Toph shifted uncomfortably. "Um… well… you see…"
"Toph and I are going to search for Aang," Katara announced.
Hakoda was shocked. Sokka's spoon fell out of his mouth.
"WHAT?" Hakoda yelled.
"Where?" Sokka asked, critically raising an eyebrow.
"You heard me," Katara sassed, hands on her hips. "We're searching for him in New York City."
Hakoda exploded.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? DO YOU JUST EXPECT THAT TWO YOUNG GIRLS ARE GOING TO WALTZ INTO NEW YORK CITY LOOKING FOR A DEAD BOY AND JUST LEAVE UNHARMED? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THERE? WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO START? WHAT LEADS DO YOU HAVE? WHEN ARE YOU JUST GOING TO START THINKING REASONABLY?"
Katara flinched. "I'm not entirely sure where we're going to start. But I just know he's there. In all my dreams…"
"Dreams? Katara, this is reality. Stop being so immature and face the facts—Aang is dead."
Katara held back her tears. "Dad, just let me do this. The train station is only a few miles away. Toph and I are going to walk there and then head into the city…"
"The train station? Katara, this is crazy talk. Just go to your room. Toph, I think you should leave."
Toph shifted towards Katara, but made no move to leave.
Katara took in a deep breath. "No, Dad. You always told me to follow my heart, and I am. If we can't find Aang, I'll accept that he's dead. But I can't live with myself without trying first. If I can't find him in one week, I'll come back. I promise."
Toph gaped.
"No," Hakoda said sternly. "Katara, go to your room."
Katara inched closer to Toph. She grasped her wrist from behind her back. Toph perked up, knowing what Katara was thinking.
Katara's eyes watered. "I'm sorry, Dad."
The next moment, Katara was fleeing out the open door, Toph at her heels. Seconds later, realization hit Hakoda and he sprinted out the door.
Sokka sat at the kitchen table, milk dribbling off his chin as he gaped, mouthful of cereal.
Katara ran faster than she ever had in her life.
"GET BACK HERE!" Hakoda warned.
"Katara, what are you thinking?" Toph gasped. "You're dad's going to catch up to us!"
"I'm playing by ear!" Katara shouted back.
She squeezed her eyes shut, not needing them open while running anymore. She tried to think of something. Her father was gaining, and fast. She knew full well that she might never be welcomed back into her house ever again. Why was she doing this again, anyway? Her priorities were all messed up. Family or first love? She just hoped she was making the right decision, and possibly saving a life in the process.
Strong arms grabbed the two girls forcefully by their shoulders. They halted to a stop.
"Dad, please! Let me go! One week, one week! Please, trust me!" Katara struggled out of his grasp.
"One week? Katarado you know what happened to your mother in that city in one day?"
Katara stiffened. Tears slipped down her cheeks at the thought.
"Is that what this is all about?" her voice cracked. "You're afraid because of Mom?"
"Katara," Hakoda's voice sounded weak. "That's not all. Cities are a dangerous place to be."
"But we're ready for it, Dad! I've got plenty of money, Toph and I trained for this… why won't you trust us?"
"What kind of father would I be if I just allowed my daughter and her friend to walk into New York City un-chaperoned? Toph, do your parents even know?"
Toph shrugged. "Technically…"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, they think I'm going to New York City with Katara as some sort of Girl Scouts adventure or something. I even faked a permission slip and everything…" Toph smirked. "They still think I'm in Girl Scouts."
Hakoda firmed his grip. "No."
"Dad!"
"Where are you going to stay? Huh? Have you even planned anything out?"
"Yes, Dad!" Katara sounded exasperated.
"We're staying at the Sheraton Hotel," Toph explained. "You can go places when you have a high-class name like Bei-Fong."
"We'll only be out during daylight hours and we won't stray into any gang areas. We've been there before, I know my way around." Katara pointed out.
Hakoda's grip loosened. Katara smiled. She was getting to him.
"A hotel isn't the only thing Toph's name can get us. We probably will have to barely spend a dime. Spreading the word that a Bei-Fong was using their company is good enough for any manager."
"Plus, as we promised, we'll only be gone a week." Toph piped up.
"And we won't stray into any alleyways," Katara promised.
"And besides, we can see our way around ten times better than anyone else."
"And if we don't find Aang within a week I'll drop the denial like you said I should and accept it."
"And this will be an experience. You have to let your kids grow up sometime, Hakoda."
Hakoda glared at Toph for calling him by his first name.
"You guys won't give this up, will you?" Hakoda sighed.
"Nope," Katara confirmed. "And I'll never be happy if you don't let me go."
"How many times have I heard that one?" Hakoda asked.
"But this time I mean it!"
"And how many times have I heard that one!"
"But this is different, Dad!" Katara insisted. "This isn't some doll, or a pony, or an ice-cream. This is a life! A real, possibly living, human life!"
"Here we go again," Hakoda sighed.
"Dad, please!" Katara begged. "Please…"
Katara put on her best sad face. But this time, she really meant it. She hooked onto her father's arm and looked into his face the best she could.
"We're seventeen. You have to let us go sometime," she reasoned.
Hakoda sighed, letting go of the two girls. "One week," he muttered, but Katara heard it.
"THANK YOU!" Katara jumped onto her father. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"But if you two aren't back in exactly a week, I'm calling the police," Hakoda warned.
"Deal," Katara agreed.
"The whole time I'll be worried sick over you," Hakoda admitted.
"I know," Katara smiled. "But that's how every parent reacts to their kids growing up."
Katara kissed her father and said her good-byes. Toph smiled in triumph over Katara's persuading skills.
As Katara and Toph started walking away, they caught Hakoda mumbling, "Sokka never gave me this kind of trouble," but he was smiling. Katara laughed.
Hakoda grew serious. He yelled to the receding figures, "Just don't be disappointed when you don't find anything! I'm only letting you go so you can face your denial! I don't want you to come back with a huge debt over your heads, either! Spend wisely!"
"We will!" Katara yelled back, waving behind her.
When Hakoda's figure finally disappeared, the two girls stopped to cheer for themselves.
"Katara, that was amazing!" Toph praised. "I didn't think you had it in you, but you did!"
"Thank you!" Katara blushed. "I didn't think he was going to buy it for a second!"
"Are you really going to follow all the rules you told him?" Toph asked.
"Of course," Katara replied. "At least I'll try. I would rather not end up dead."
Both girls shuddered.
"But, we're going! We're really going!" Toph cheered.
"Yes, we are!" Katara squealed. "Feels kind of liberating, doesn't it?"
"Definitely," Toph agreed. "A nice break from my condescending parents, at least."
"Oh, I bet," Katara laughed as they continued to walk.
"Well, it's about time, anyway," Toph growled. "I mean, we're almost in college! We need to go alone somewhere sometime."
"True," Katara giggled. "And now we are!"
"Yup," Toph nodded. "Now we are."
The train whistled loudly—the last warning to board.
"Are you ready?" Toph asked Katara.
Katara nodded eagerly and they both stepped onto the vehicle. They found two seats available and took them. The doors closed and a voice came over the speakers. The train lurched to a start and gained speed.
Katara and Toph stared out the windows at the passing scenery, barely speaking. The train stopped numerous times for people to board and un-board, but they had yet to wait for their stop.
"So," Toph started, trying to build up conversation. "Why did you choose New York City, anyway? Isn't it kind of… a random place to start?"
Katara shook her head. "Maybe. But… in all my dreams, I find Aang in New York City. But, he's never… well it never ends happily."
"Do you think that's kind of like a vision or something?" Toph asked.
Katara shrugged. "I sure hope not. Those dreams are distressing enough as it is. I don't think I'd be able to handle it if it were reality."
"But, Katara, you have to face the facts," Toph reasoned. "Aang might just be dead. Or we might not even find him. I mean seriously, only a week to search for someone who disappeared without a trace? You know this probably won't end well."
Katara bowed her head. "I know."
Finally, the train squeaked to a noisy stop at their station.
This had to be the busiest of all the stops they passed. People in business suits and carrying bags bustled by as women in colorful dresses and guitars passed by. (Not that Katara or Toph could see the colors.) There were people of every kind going in every direction. Katara and Toph stepped onto the platform. Instantly they were surrounded by a rush of people that all needed to get from point A to point B as fast as possible. The two girls grabbed each other's shoulders so as to not lose each other in the crowd. They made their way out of the station and onto the busy city streets. So many noises filled Katara's ears. It made her head hurt. A brisk wind blew by her. She heard cell-phones ringing, people talking, cars honking and taxis passing. She heard sirens and music and yelling and footsteps everywhere. Her head started to spin. Her new-found "vision" depended a lot on hearing, and now that she was blind, her hearing ability was amplified. That meant that everything sounded ten times louder to her than it did to everyone else. Toph must have been used to it, but Katara felt nauseous. Vibrations came from every direction, and they all molded together until she couldn't figure out what was living and what wasn't. Her head pounded.
"Katara," a voice rose above all the rest. "Are you ready?"
"Toph," Katara moaned. "I don't… feel good."
"Katara?" Toph asked. "Katara, keep it together, okay? Don't let the bustle of the city get to you! Focus!"
"Toph, I don't think I can do this!" Katara tripped over the curb and Toph grabbed her before she could fall onto the street.
"Don't say that!" Toph snapped. "We came all this way and we're not going back now! Don't give up!"
"Toph, the city is so loud…" Katara complained, becoming woozy.
"Separate the noises! Separate the vibrations! Focus!" Toph demanded.
Katara squeezed her eyes shut in concentration. She tried her best to separate everything. The vibrations were slowly forming into two categories: Living and Non-living. It was a start.
"I think," Katara began. "I think…"
"Don't give up," Toph ordered. "Keep going."
The living vibrations began forming their own heart patterns. Some were heavier than others. She could tell the difference between a man and a woman, a bus and a building. She could separate all the voices and zone into one at a time. She could "see" perfectly again.
"Okay," Katara gasped. "I'm okay."
"Good," Toph released her hand from Katara's shoulder. "Now that's over with."
Katara smiled. "Yeah…"
"I don't want you ever giving up so easily again, okay?" Toph said.
Katara nodded. "I'm sorry."
"Okay, now let's go head to the hotel, okay?" Toph asked. "We'll start the search tomorrow."
Katara agreed.
"Does today count as Day One?" she asked.
Toph shrugged. "How should I know? But we need to get to the hotel now. It's lunchtime, and I'm hungry."
"Yeah," Katara agreed, holding her stomach. "I skipped breakfast."
"Okay, then! Let's get something good!" Toph announced.
Katara laughed and the two shifted their way through the crowds to get to their first destination.
Author's Note: Ta-Da! I listened to exactly 61 songs writing and editing this. Appreciate my dedication. Haha Well I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let the drama... BEGIN!! I hope there are no mistakes. -.- I think somehow deletes some of the spaces I make to merge the words together for some reason. Especially when the words are in italics. Anyway, like Katara and Toph, I'm going to get me some lunch! It's 1:30, and I haven't had it yet! I'm the kind of person that likes to eat at 12... hehe anyway thank you to everyone who took my poll! It was much appreciated! I really like to know where my writing needs help. Please comment and fav if you like! Criticism is much appreciated, my writing is obviously not perfect! I'll update again as soon as possible!
Yay, longest chapter so far!