SURPRISE! DOUBLE FEATURE! Ha ha anyway yeah chapter 14 and 15. It was supposed to be a triple feature but my *ahem* editor is not finished with chapter 16 ha ha but it is all good. Chapter 16 will be up later today or tomorrow. Please read and I hope you enjoy this chapter :D

Chapter 15

City of Suspicion

I woke and went to see if Hiko was awake as well. I was surprised to see he was already dressed. I went back to my room, got ready for school, and cleaned up. I put on a deep blue robe with a sky blue shirt underneath. When I got downstairs, I saw Hiko had made himself a quick breakfast.

"Well, someone's on top of things today," I said as I walked in.

"Urr ygh," Hiko tried to talk with his mouth full. He chewed, swallowed and tried again, "Oh yeah. Well, I wanted to get to training early for once."

"Ah, I see," I said as I made myself breakfast.

"Where were you yesterday? Everyone was looking for you. Chief Arnook even stationed guards at the house," Hiko said.

"Oh, I was at the air temple. The Chief ordered me to practice for the celebration there," I explained.

"Then how come he acted like he didn't know where you were?" Hiko asked puzzled.

"Um, I don't know," I said and started eating.

"Humph, grown-ups are weird," Hiko stated.

"Well said, little brother," I said with a smile.

He left for practice, and I finished up. I went up stairs and got my school bag. I glanced at my sword, which I had placed on my dresser; it was as amazing as ever. I walked outside and breathed in the cool air. I started to walk. The sun was rising, turning the sky a mixture of pink, orange, yellow, and blue. Here and there were streaks of white clouds. There was a gentle breeze.

I met up with Lina and Tekton, who also asked where I had been. I simply said I had taken a visit to Heiwa Valley. In class, I sat down next to Koluk. About half of the seats were still open.

"Hey, man," he said, "What in the world was going on yesterday? I didn't get a chance to ask you last night."

"Oh, yeah that," I said laughing a little. "I'll tell you later."

"Good morning, Hyriu," said an unexpected familiar voice.

I turned and saw Hana sitting down next to me, "Um, Hana, what are you doing in here?"

"Oh, my classes got changed. Now I have every class with you," she smiled.

I glanced at Koluk. Had I just awoken a crazed beast that used to be in a deep slumber, but now it got a taste of blood and was in frenzy?

"Oh, great," I said unenthusiastically.

In History, we learned more about the Great Civil War. Hana was being her usual self saying things like, 'Oh, Hyriu, that robe really brings out your eyes. You should wear it more often.' I simply replied, 'Okay.' She also said, 'Your hair looks so good. What is your secret?' 'Um, sleeping.' is what I said to that one, Koluk nearly fell out of his chair. Her comments got so excessive that Mr. Zhen split us up because we were 'disrupting the class,' which was fine with me. I welcomed the peace and quiet. Hana on the other hand, did not look too happy. I could see Taruk looking at me. I remembered what he had said when I was coming back from Heiwa Valley. For once, I couldn't read his face.

Astronomy was much the same, except Hana wasn't moved away from me. I didn't know if I could handle this much Hana. One class maybe, but all of them, not so much.

By the time Myths and Legends class came along, I was ready to hurl her off the Meditation Tower. Four classes of 'Hyriu, I love your hair,' 'Hyriu, I love your eyes,' 'Hyriu, isn't this great?' so I was very surprised when she didn't sit next to me. She sat down a few seats over. I wasn't complaining. Fai and Lina sat down; Lina's hair was in its usual braid down her left shoulder.

"Hello, Hyriu. How has your morning been?" she asked with a pleasant smile.

"Ugh, kind of annoying," I said and pointed to Hana.

"Oh, hello, Hana," Lina waved happily with a confused expression.

Hana waved wearily. She didn't look at me. She kept fidgeting with her writing brush and had a strange look on her face. She looked like she had been waiting for something all day, and now it seemed it was about to happen, but she was nervous…

"She got her classes changed so we have every class together," I told them, "And she has been sitting right next to me in all of them."

"Well, she's not sitting next to you now," Fai pointed out.

"Don't tempt her. I'm enjoying it," I said.

Mr. Hui instructed us to take notes on the Chosen Child from the Beifen Legend. I smiled- an easy day- and I was also interested to see how much they would teach. Mr. Hui said we would have a test on all we have learned, so we should take good notes. When we were about half way through the notes, Hana spoke up for the first time.

"Mr. Hui, I have a question concerning the Beifen Legend," she said weakly, like she had been building up the courage to say that all class.

Mr. Hui looked at her a bit startled, "Yes, Hana, what is your question?"

She cleared her throat. She was fidgeting with her brush more than ever. Her voice was shaky but confident, "Well, um, does the term…" she broke off, "does the term 'anzen' have anything to do with the Beifen Legend?"

I nearly fell out of my chair. My writing brush clattered to the floor loudly. Lina coughed. Fai looked at us, confused as to why we were so startled. I saw Hana look directly at me, a look accusation in her eyes. She was daring me to say something. Then, I remembered the gasp I heard two days ago when Pakku called me 'Anzen Hyriu.' It was her. She overheard us, but she ran home, I thought. I then also remembered the snow castle I had made, and how she had seen me melt it. I heard Hana's mother, Meili, "Oh, Hana, your coat is ruined." I head Hana's voice, "I like long coats…almost like a cloak." Then, in the Gambing Library, how the person was wearing a dark blue cloak, which I ripped. Saw the half melted ice in the master water bender section. Hana: "I have 'healing' practice." She had run home, put her coat on, and followed me all day. She had been in the Gambing Palace; she saw who I really was. She was the black spec I saw on the mountain side. That was why she was in the storm that night. She had seen all the facts and hints and put them all together. Taruk probably knew something was up which was why he confronted me yesterday, but he had no idea.

I picked up my brush; sweat formed on my forehead. Lina was acting similarly.

"Hmm, 'anzen.' It sounds familiar, but I can not be sure. Let me go check," Mr. Hui said and walked out of the classroom.

Hana had placed it all together. Now, she just needed conformation from official facts, though my reaction just now was probably enough to tell her she was right. After a few minutes, Mr. Hui walked back in, reading a book that looked more ancient than him.

"Ah, here it is 'Anzen'," he started. "It is the title Avatar Roku came up with for the Chosen Child. It means 'safety' as in 'safety net' since the child is the safety net of the world. Does that help, Hana?"

"Oh, yes. It really helps," she said and glanced at me with a smile. "What are the chances of this person, the Anzen, existing?"

"Oh, the chances are very slim," Mr. Hui concluded, "but it would be interesting if he was ever real."

"I think it would be very interesting," Hana said.

Mr. Hui moved on with the lesson. I was lost in a haze of shock and surprise. The bell rang, and I rushed out of the classroom, though Hana didn't try to follow me. At lunch, Hana didn't sit with us. When Tekton and Fai weren't listening, I quickly told Koluk about yesterday and Hana. He freaked out of course. The rest of the day went by quickly. Later, I went and practiced in Heiwa Valley. Daminao was waiting at the field. I practiced until sun down. Chief Arnook seemed not to care about finding me anymore.

The next couple of days passed like that. I got to school, then went to practice, then home. Hana seemed content with her information because she didn't say anything to me, but she looked at me with a confident smile. My friendship with Daminao grew, and sometimes, he practiced with me, though I was wary of him. He was so much darker than any air bender I had ever met. His eyes always had that red tint glimmering in them. And his swords- he was the only air bender I knew of that used bladed weapons. When I inquired as to where he got them, he said he made them in his forge. After practice that day, he showed me. Taruk kept on trying to figure out why I was going to Heiwa Valley so much, and of course, I avoided him, much to his frustration. But he got bolder and bolder, sometimes he would wait for me at the bottom of the mountain pass, or he would constantly confront me about it. I was afraid one day he might just walk into Heiwa Valley, looking for me. Fai could also tell something was going on. I felt bad for Lina since she liked Fai, but he could see something going between us during Myths and Legends class. I hated not telling him, but with Hana finding out and Taruk on the prowl, I couldn't risk anyone else knowing. I needed to be 100% guarded. And now, even Tekton could see a difference in me and would occasionally question me about it.

I was incredibly jumpy and paranoid over the next few days. At every little sound, I jumped. If I was ever alone, I was even more jumpy. Now, I was always the lame, bad water bender Hyriu. I was never me. Even at my house, I was guarded. The only time I could be Anzen Hyriu was in Heiwa Valley, but even there, I was a bit off balance. I was lost in a city full of suspicion.

It was one stressful day after another, and before I knew it, it was the day before the celebration.

I had my performance made and down to near perfection. Chief Arnook and I seem to have an unspoken agreement to forget our argument, though he didn't call on me for any more updates on my visions. I had finished practice and was waiting for Chief Arnook to arrive. Daminao handed me one of his swords and was showing me how to air bend with them.

"So like this?" I said, then twirled the sword around and did a few slashes unleashing a blast of wind.

"Yeah, that's about right," he said.

Just then, a sky bison landed, and Chief Arnook, Princess Yue, and Wei got off along with Monk Yami.

"Hyriu," the Chief said, "Have you got your performance finished?"

"Yes, and I will be ready to show it to you tomorrow morning," I told him.

Arnook had canceled school tomorrow, saying it was a holiday.

I left the valley and started for home. Suddenly, I ran into Hana.

"Oh, hello, Hyriu," she said.

"Uh, hi," I said caught off guard. I saw Taruk walk up.

"So, Hyr-o, what were you doing with the air benders today?" he asked.

"Air bending," I answered simply, I had come to give him smart aleck remarks with a snippet of truth.

Hana laughed, since she got the joke.

Taruk eyed me with suspicion, "Yeah, laugh away, but I will find what you're up to." We walked away.

Hana turned to me, "Well, I hope you are ready for your celebration tomorrow," she said with a smile and walked off.

"Is there anything she doesn't know?" I muttered to myself.

"She doesn't know about me," a voice behind me said venomously.

I turned and saw the Robed Man, his red eyes shining.

"I am still watching," he said ,then faded away.

I went home shaken. I had nearly forgotten about him. At home, I meditated to clam down and think about the coming events.

It was Hana!? Yes ha ha. How many of you picked up on the hints? My editor figured it out in chapter 12 at the very beginning lol. Anyway please continue reading, favorite, follow, and please review. Chapter 16: The Celebration the last chapter I will post in 2013 with a wonderful ending… :D