Disclaimer: I do not now nor have I ever owned Avatar: the Last Airbender. At least… not in THIS reality. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
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Rated M: Mature Content. Blood. Guts. Sex. Drugs. All the good stuff.
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Arnook: Why is it that every time the Avatar visits us, bad things happen?
Aang: Hey! It isn't like I invite trouble everywhere I go.
Sokka: That's true; it just follows you around like a puppy anyways.
Toph: Zing! One point for Sokka.
Aang: /grumble
Katara: Don't worry Aang. Pretty soon things will settle down and you won't be a danger magnet anymore.
Aang: Aw. Not you too Katara. I am not THAT bad am I?
Arnook: I refuse to comment.
Bato: Aang, when I saw you last winter, you had hunters on your trail. When I saw you before the invasion, you brought Fire Navy on us. I can't see as one time we were together you didn't bring trouble.
Ty-Lee: Well, I always brought trouble whenever I was with Aang, right Mai?
Mai: True. But then, that was us bringing the trouble to him. That doesn't count.
Katara: Enough. I think we hurt Aang's feelings.
Aang: /sniffle
--
Chapter 15: Kita's World
Kita stayed up all night with Hakoda, talking about her childhood and her past. She couldn't figure it out, but for some reason she was incredibly comfortable talking with him. She did, however refrain from telling him about her hands. She never once mentioned the incident at the spirit oasis either. Something told her that he wouldn't believe her if she told him.
Hakoda had also answered many of her questions, about his wife and his children. She learned about his war efforts and his grand plans for his tribe. Kita had never met a man with more drive to see to the good of his people. She also had never seen a man more handsome to her eye. As they talked the night away, Kita kept yearning to touch the man before her and feel his body with her own.
Occasionally she found an excuse to touch him by checking his injuries and healing him some more. Each time she touched him, the pain in her hands vanished; only to return a short time later. Normally her hands would have stopped hurting permanently once she'd healed the injured person. For some reason, the normal rules weren't applying here and she wasn't quite sure why.
Eventually the sun came up and shined through the window. "It appears we've been up all night." Hakoda mentioned.
Kita looked out the window and laughed. "It appears so. I'm sorry I kept you up so late. You need some sleep." Kita told him.
"Is that the healer's orders, or is there another motive?" Hakoda joked.
Kita blushed and turned back to the window. "I need to see to a few patients. I have a shift today in the healer's hut and I must be going."
A knock on the door made Kita nearly jump out of her skin. "May I come in?" Mina asked.
"Of course." Hakoda called.
Mina opened the door and carried in a tray with two plates of food. "I hope you two had a pleasant night." She said, once again alluding to something unknown.
"It was quite pleasant, actually. Kita is wonderful company and we seem to have stayed up all night talking." Hakoda admitted.
Mina laughed. "Well then, you need your rest; both of you."
Kita shook her head. "I need to get to the healing hut. Thank you for your hospitality, Mina. You're the best." Kita told her.
"At least finish your breakfast before you go." Mina told her.
--
Kita had finished eating quickly and headed out of the house. When she left, Hakoda sat up and began prodding himself to see how his injury was.
"It's amazing. I feel no pain at all. She really is a miraculous healer isn't she?" Hakoda asked Mina rhetorically, obviously impressed. Mina thought he seemed more impressed with Kita than was appropriate.
"Kita really is the best healer we have ever had in our tribe. Her healing hands have many powers." Mina said mysteriously.
"Now that you mention it," Hakoda started, stroking his goatee, "why does she wrap her hands in that gauze? Is she injured?" he asked.
Mina knew the answer, of course, but she knew better than to tell Hakoda or anyone else about Kita's gift. "Kita's hands are very sensitive. Maybe it's part of what makes her such a good healer." Mina evaded.
"Perhaps you're right at that. So Mina, your Kita's best friend; could I ask you a few things?"
Hakoda spent the remainder of the morning speaking with Mina, mostly about Kita. Mina obviously noted that Hakoda was taking a strong interest in her friend but she didn't seem put off by it in the least. Hakoda was a chief after all. Hakoda learned much about the mysterious Kita, from her childhood friends to her favorite things. Mina was a gold mine of information and answered most of his questions with ease. Hakoda noticed that she was obviously hiding a few things, however. Mina wasn't skilled at evading questions as well as she thought.
"So why would the best healer ever known be 26 and still unmarried?" Hakoda asked her after Mina had finished explaining about Hahn's crush on her.
"Well, there was quite a shortage of eligible men, though that seems not to be an issue now. For another, she refused to commit to anyone for fear that it would interfere with her work. Kita is very dedicated to helping those in need." Mina explained.
"That's very commendable." Hakoda stated. Enough was enough. He wasn't quite sure why yet, but he had much too large an interest in Kita to ignore and decided to cut to the chase. "Mina, you're her best friend. You know her better than anyone. Do you think Kita would be interested in an old man like me?"
Mina looked almost shocked. Almost… "Um… well Kita doesn't have her eye on anyone that I know of. I guess it's possible. I think you should be the one to ask her though." Mina told him. "Kita is a very complicated person. If you want to know anything else, I suggest you talk to her." Mina said quickly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go see to my shift at the healing hut. A baby is due soon and I need to be there. If you'll excuse me." Mina quickly took her leave, a surprised Hakoda left staring at the closed door.
Maybe he had gone too far?
--
Kita tried to keep herself awake while she sat in the healers hut. She had already treated a cold and a sprained ankle. Now she sat alone in utter boredom, waiting for a patient to come in needing help. She had not gone this long without sleep before, and it was definitely not something she wanted to do again. She found herself dozing blissfully before long, and her dream was once again of her vision at the spirit oasis.
Kita's father lay dead in her arms and she knew it was all her fault! She hated this curse the spirits had given her that day so long ago, and she decided to be rid of it once and for all. Kita went to the spirit oasis alone that eve and passed through the small ceremonial gate that closed off the secret place. She came to the glimmering tropical pool in the heart of the oasis and saw the moon and ocean spirits circling each other in their eternal dance.
"Why; why did you curse me with these horrible hands? I am tired of being in pain. I wasn't even able to use them to save someone I love! Please, just take back your gift!" Kita pleaded with the fish. She fell to her knees sobbing, her tears falling into the pool. Suddenly the fish began to blur in her vision and she found herself staring into them as they blurred and sped through the water.
To her eyes came a vision. In the vision she saw what she believed to be Water Tribe ships. They were a little different than she was used to though, maybe Southern Tribe. They appeared to be somewhere in the earth kingdom. Her sight settled on one man in particular. He was quite handsome, his facial features sad and yet with a fierce determination. He was older than she, but not by such a large amount. Her hands began hurting again, more than ever before but she didn't seem to care. The man before her seemed to speak out to her, and she felt her heart wrench. She had to know who this man was. The vision faded and Kita blinked, clearing her eyes. Once again she was staring into the oasis, the fish in their endless dance.
"Dear spirits, who is this man you have shown me?" Kita asked them. The pain in her hands finally broke through and Kita cried out in pain. She quickly took out her healers' gauze and wrapped her hands in the bandages like she had been doing for years since her gift began to cause her pain. Sometimes it was so bad even cold air could cause her to tear up in pain. Kita once again addressed the spirits, "Thank you for the vision, spirits. I hope I am worthy to do this service for you." Kita realized the spirits had shown her who she was to heal. The real question was how was she supposed heal a healthy man half a world away?
Kita jumped up from her doze when someone came in. It was Mina. "Mina, what are you doing here? You don't have a shift today." Kita stated.
"I needed to get out of the house. I left Hakoda and Hahn in the care of Kara and came to relieve you. You need sleep." Mina told her.
Kita knew Mina since they were very young and knew when she wasn't being entirely truthful. "You also wanted to talk to me about Chief Hakoda, right?" Kita smirked.
Mina laughed. "Well, yes; and also to tell you that he's been asking about you all morning."
Kita was shocked. "He was asking you about me?" she blushed.
Mina nodded. "He wanted to know everything about you. Obviously you told him quite a bit last night, but I filled in a few gaps." Then more seriously, "Kita, when he asked about your hands, I just told him they were sensitive and that you were trying to keep your gift. I don't think he knows anything, but you need to make a decision soon. I know Chief Arnook said not to tell anyone else, but this may be important. The spirits showed you this man, didn't they?"
Kita nodded. "Yes, it was definitely Chief Hakoda in my vision. I had hoped when he showed up last night that I would heal him and be done with it, but the pain is still there and worse than ever."
Mina sighed. "I was afraid of that. I saw you rubbing your hands as you left this morning. If Hakoda is the one you're supposed to heal, why is the pain still there?" she asked.
"I don't know Mina; I really don't." Kita replied.
--
Aang had been walking most of the night, Frost and Chill urging him forward. He could barely keep his eyes open; he hadn't been this tired since the chase in the Earth Kingdom when Azula and her friends had been dogging their heels following Appa's shedding fur. Aang stumbled and fell in the snow as he lost focus a bit. Getting to his feet, he noticed Frost had turned around and had come back over to him. He then got down to the ground and nodded to Aang. "You want me to ride you?" Aang asked the beast. Frost nodded, and Aang jumped up on his back. He put his head down on the soft fur of Frosts' back and felt himself dozing off.
--
The whole city was on alert for the missing Jet as well as Aang. People were asked to stay inside their homes and if they went out to be armed. Chief Arnook had pulled out all the stops on his inter-city security. Kenji was directing things from his headquarters in the palace, his head with Arnook and Bato as they tried to figure out where Jet could be. Suki had gone out looking with Ty-Lee, and Zuko and Mai had done the same. Katara remained in the palace and kept her eye on the leaders. If Jet's past behavior could be understood, he may try for Arnook or come back looking for Aang.
Katara sat quietly at the meeting table, occasionally throwing glances at Kenji. She wasn't sure why, but something about him really seemed to appeal to her. He was quite handsome and a full grown man, but also a powerful waterbenders like her. Maybe that was it.
"The city is as secure as it can be, Arnook." Kenji stated. "We have all the men out looking for this Jet character, and all the normal citizens are either locked in their homes or under guard. The only way to secure it further is to go to a wartime footing and put everyone in the caves."
Arnook nodded. "Good. Now that the tribe is secure, we can focus entirely on our target. Katara, you know Jet better than the rest of us. What is he trying to do?"
"If it's anything like what we learned before, his mission is to cause as much strife as possible. He is also supposed to kill the Avatar and anyone associated with him." Katara replied.
"He already tried that." Kenji muttered. "The Avatar was not in his room, but we have idea where he is. In the mean time, we need to figure out what his next target will be."
"Well, he already attacked that boy, Hahn. Maybe he will continue sending us messages in the form of the general public?" Bato suggested.
Kenji shook his head. "Too risky; we have men all over the city. Between your men and ours, we have that covered. If the Blue Spirit shows his ugly face, our men will be all over him."
Katara was getting antsy sitting there while her friends were out looking for trouble. She lay back in her chair, worrying about Aang. A slight movement caught her eye up in the shadows of the rafters above them. Katara immediately jumped up and began bending the ice around them into a protective dome. Jet came flying down from the rafters and shattered through the ice barrier. Everyone was on their feet in a blink. Kenji took stance while Bato took out his mace and Arnook took out his sword. Jet had rolled across the ground and turned to face them, swords raised.
"Katara, are you up for a little workout?" Kenji asked from the corner of his mouth. Katara smiled a reply, and they both took up a basic fighting form. They faced each other, both turned sideways but facing the Blue Spirit, one arm stretched out behind and the other before them, palm up. They had their legs bent in a slight crouch. Jet hesitated just a moment, and then charged them.
Katara brought her hind arm around and up in front of her, bending the ground up in a wall in front of them while Kenji drew forth a pair of water whips and sent them sailing at the charging assailant. Jet ducked one whip and jumped the other, using his swords and driving them into the wall Katara had made and springing above and over it.
"He's going for Chief Arnook!" Katara shouted, but she and Kenji were not going to be able to stop Jet in time. Bato appeared out of nowhere and swung his mace almost like a bat hitting a ball. Jet blocked with both blades crossed but was flung a good ten feet back. Arnook had his sword raised and ready, and Bato was holding his mace ready to swing again. Katara created a water whip of her own and used it not on Jet, but on Arnook. Jet charged again and ducked Bato's swing, putting him in prime position to kill the chief.
Katara's whip pulled Arnook out of the way just in time and Jets slash struck thin air. Kenji had perceived his chance and using his whips grabbed Jet by an arm and an ankle. He lifted him up in the air and slammed him down again into the ice. Katara bent up the ice and created an ice tomb similar to the one used before. This time, however, she made it twice as thick and elevated it far into the air and away from the ground. Kenji bent some stalagmites up at angles to support Katara's prison.
"You two make quite a team." Bato observed, putting his mace away.
"Indeed. I am proud of both of you." Arnook told them. "Kenji, please go round up the men and lower the alert. I want this one under constant surveillance by waterbenders and regular troops. Keep him frozen."
"Yes sir!" Kenji said saluting and running off.
"Bato, would you be so kind as to find Hakoda and ask him to come here?" Arnook asked him. Bat nodded and set out to find his friend. "Katara, do you have any idea what may have happened to Aang?" he asked her seriously.
"No sir." Katara replied. "I saw him a few minutes before he was attacked. I went into my room and a few minutes later I hurt the crashing in the hall. I have no idea where Aang could be. I'm getting a little worried."
--
Zuko and Mai had been hunting through the city looking for Aang and Jet. "It's so chilly up here." Mai stated as a shiver went down her spine. Zuko nodded and set some dry brush on fire.
"Why don't you warm up a bit, Mai?" Zuko told her. "I'll go on ahead and see if I can find anything.
Mai grabbed his arm and spun him around and then kissed him fiercely on the lips. "I want you to make me warm, you blockhead." She told him after the kiss had ended.
"Oh." Zuko said embarrassed. He put his arms around Mai and they kissed a bit by Zuko's small fire before continuing the search.
--
Suki and Ty-Lee were running over the rooftops of the city of ice as the cold wind blew their hair out behind them. Suki was not wearing her warrior clothing, nor was Ty-Lee; both were in the warmer clothing provided to them by the Water Tribe. "This is really fun, Suki! You got to try this!" Ty-Lee exclaimed, suddenly sliding along an icy rail only to jump precariously into the air, flip and land on the following roof.
Suki smiled at her and used an icy tread to ski up to the rail and somersault to the same roof Ty-Lee now inhabited. "You're right that is fun. Maybe we can make a game out of it when we…" a loud shaking noise came up from the street below. Right in the middle of the road a dragon head emerged. The girls recognized it as the creature they had seen before. It seemed to bend the ice out and climbed up. On its back was… "AANG!" Suki called and flipped down to the street, Ty-Lee on her heels. The creature knelt down and edged the sleeping Aang off his back and into the snow.
Suki and Ty-Lee ran up and checked him. "He's cold, isn't he?" Ty-Lee asked.
Suki nodded. "I think he's just sleeping. I can feel his heart beat, but we need to get him somewhere warm." Then she turned to the creature. "Thank you for finding him for us. Would you like to come with us to make sure Aang's okay?"
The creature nodded, and then a little one ran up behind its father. "You're the ones we met before!" Ty-Lee said excitedly, clapping her hands. She skipped over to the small one and gave it a huge hug. The creature nodded at them.
"Come on Ty-Lee, we need to get Aang to the palace. Hurry!"
--
Kita had returned to her own home and caught a few hours sleep. Her talk with Mina had left some very interesting questions about her and Hakoda. She barely knew the man after all, and according to Mina he was very interested in her. He was trying to learn about her while she was trying to avoid what she knew was coming. The second vision was clear in her mind and she couldn't shake the feeling it was drawing closer. It may not be any time in the immediate future, but it was coming.
Kita awoke to a knock on her door. She opened it to find Kenji standing there. "Are you alright?" he asked her.
"Yes brother I'm fine. Just a little sleep deprived. What about you? What's going on?" Kita returned.
Kenji filled her in on what had been going on as he had her get dressed. "I've cancelled the alert, but now we need to figure out what to do with the boy. I figured I would bring you along, just in case of any funny business while we attempt to question him."
"I understand. Give me a minute and I will be ready to go." Kita said and rushed back into her room. She finished getting dressed and fixed her hair. It was still a bit wild, but not unattractively so. "Okay, let's go!"
--
Suki and Ty-Lee carried Aang between them and got him into the palace fairly fast. Everyone that saw them coming moved out of their way when they saw the creatures following them and no one offered to help. Once inside the palace, runners went to Chief Arnook and he came over with a few attendants.
"You found him? Excellent; is he alright?" Arnook asked.
"I think he's just sleeping." Suki replied. "He's very cold though. We need to get him warm."
"See to it at once." Arnook asked one of his men. Then he noticed the creatures trailing the girls.
Suki calmed him before he could say anything, "These are friends of ours; the creatures that reigned ice on us when we came back. They are friends of Aang and want to make sure he's alright."
Arnook nodded to Suki and addressed the creatures, "You're welcome in my home so long as you behave yourselves. Please, feel free to follow your friend and stay with him." The creature nodded and he followed after Aang, his cub hot on his heels. "You girls are the first ones back. Come with me please." Arnook told them and headed back to the meeting room.
The girls followed and were surprised to see all the furniture overturned and the ice all over. The frozen Blue Spirit drew their attention. "Jet!" Ty-Lee exclaimed and ran up to the ice structure. "What happened?" Ty-Lee demanded. She was obviously distressed.
"Jet attacked Chief Arnook." Katara said from where she sat against the wall. She looked totally exhausted. "Kenji and I managed to restrain him with Bato's help." She added. "Did you find Aang?"
"Yeah, he was cold so we sent him to bed to warm up. He was unconscious but breathing okay. You may want to check up on him." Suki told her. "Then again, I think you need some sleep as well."
"No, I'll be fine. I want to check on Aang." Katara said.
Arnook stood in front of her and prevented her from heading towards the door. "Katara, you've been up all night. You need rest. I will have a healer look in on Aang. Go to bed now. That's an order." He said.
Katara sighed and nodded. She wasn't a member of this tribe, but she still knew authority when she saw it. "If you insist; I'll be in my quarters."
--
Kita had left Kenji to finish making his rounds and headed to the palace alone. She had been there so much in the past that it was like a second home to her. Chief Arnook had always been like an overly kind uncle. Kita ascended the steps and a guard directed her to the meeting room. When Kita walked through the door, the first thing that drew her gaze was the horrendous looking ice sculpture that was Jet.
"Horrible, isn't it?" Ty-Lee asked her rhetorically.
"Ah Kita, welcome my child." Arnook said, giving her a hug. "Girls, this is Kita. She's the greatest healer in our tribe's history. Kita, this is Suki of Kyoshi Island and Ty-Lee of the Fire Nation; both skilled warriors." Arnook introduced them.
"I'm pleased to meet you." Kita said, bowing. "Your part of the Avatar's party, right? I remember seeing you at the feast yesterday.
"Yep that's us." Ty-Lee said. She flipped over to Kita and gave her a hug. Suki just bowed, which Kita returned once Ty-Lee let go of her.
"Kita, would you come with me for a moment." Arnook asked her. Kita nodded, and Arnook led the way through the halls. "Have you spoken to Hakoda yet?" he asked her.
"No, not yet; not about that anyway." Kita said, blushing slightly. She had not told Arnook about her first vision, the one where she had seen Hakoda and had fallen for him. Arnook knew about her gift and about the second vision however. "He was wounded when the Blue Spirit attacked him and he came to see me where I was healing Hahn. Mina took over on Hahn since I had managed to heal the bulk of his wounds, and she left me alone with Hakoda. I healed him and we talked through the night." She admitted to Arnook.
"I see. Well, you will need to tell him as soon as possible. We can't let your vision come to pass. It would be disastrous." Arnook told her.
"I know, sir. I will try to tell him tonight if I get the chance." She told him.
Arnook nodded. "Alright, through here lies the Avatar and a few… guests. The girls said they were harmless, but I want you to be on your guard. There are guards here if you need them."
"Guests?" Kita asked curiously.
"See for yourself." Arnook said and let her through.
Inside the room, hot lamps kept the room very warm. The Avatar lay in bed covered in blankets and with a warm cloth on his forehead. A maid was tending him when they entered. "This is your first patient. He was found unconscious and half frozen. His friends here brought his to us." Arnook told Kita, pointing to the strange bear-dragon creatures.
Kita was delighted to see them. Oh my, they're…"
"Yes, yes. They do seem to be real, don't they? We can talk about that later. Right now, we need you to see to the Avatar." Arnook told her. Kita walked over to the bedside of the sleeping boy and Arnook took his leave.
Kita looked over at the creature laying down on the carpet, its child sleeping nestled next to its body. "Incredible. I never would have guessed…" she said, then turned back to the patient. Aang lay peacefully in bed, and Kita drew out the water from her pouch and began going over his body. As she suspected, the boy was sore, worn out and cold, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. A few minutes later, Kita took a seat and began to relax herself. She hadn't gotten enough sleep, and she found herself dozing off once more…
Kita had been in pain for months and still had not met this stranger she was meant to heal. The pain had progressively gotten worse and she was slowly getting to the point where the pain was unbearable. Kita once more went to the spirit oasis; this time, to ask them for help. She came to the tranquil pool once more and once again the fish were dancing with each other.
"Please, moon spirit, ocean spirit, I beg for your help. My hands are unbearable and I have yet to meet the man you want me to heal. Please, help me understand." Kita begged them.
Once again the pool started to swirl as the fish sped up and Kita's vision began to blur. She felt her body become light and her pain faded away as she fell into the vision put before her. Kita watched as the new Fire Lord was crowned and the Avatar stood at his side. The sight brought tears to her eyes. The crowds appeared to roar as the coronation ceremony ended. Standing off to one side were the Avatar's friends. Also with them was the man she was supposed to heal. He looked as perfect to her now as he had months before. So he was in the Fire Nation. Then the vision changed and she saw herself at the North Pole, the man with her. She seemed happy. She was in his arms, and he was kissing her. The vision shifted again, and she saw something that tore at her heart. The man lay in her arms, obviously dead.
The vision ended and Kita returned to herself. The pain came back full force and her eyes were full of tears. She was going to meet this man sometime soon and he was going to fall in love with her. And somehow… he was going to die.
--
Hakoda: I'm going to die!? You can't kill me off! My children need me!
Kita: I'm sorry Hakoda. It's the spirits vision. I just received it.
Hakoda: But that's so unfair!
Sokka: We'll miss you dad.
Katara: Really, we will.
Sokka: We'll give you the best funeral ever!
Hakoda: Gee, thanks…
Bato: Oh stop it Hakoda. No one's going to let you die. The ladies love you too much.
Hakoda: You really think so Bato?
Bato: Well, sort of. I mean, I'm the one the ladies really love, after all.
Toph: Ouch… your family really seems to love you Hakoda.
Hakoda: Yeah… they love me so much they can't wait to see me gone.
Toph: Absence makes the heart grow fonder I hear.
Hakoda: No comment. I recall being gone from my kids for a few years and Katara hated me for it.
Toph: I never said the quote was true.
Author: Don't worry Hakoda. You probably won't die. My reviewers would kill me, Kita would kill me, Sokka and Katara would kill me, and lastly if I die, no one else gets screen time. So… yeah.
--
Author's Corner:
Chapter 15 down! WOOHOO! Wow this is going to be a LONG story if it keeps going like this. Glad everyone is enjoying it though. Still need a name for the creatures. Otherwise I will have to come up with something that will probably suck. Like how no one called them by name? Yeah… there's a reason.
Kira73, thanks again for the character loans. Great stuff. I hope I am doing you proud.
