Chapter 2

Jin sat on his bed pondering all the things he had experienced in those short moments. A actually chance to make something of himself. He could become a power bender and probably learn a few tricks and such. This was a bit exciting but being so young, he had no idea how to feel about this. He wasn't even sure what to pack. He had never been away from home for more than a day and now he was going to be gone for a few years? Give or take a few breaks. He rubbed his saggy head as he began to look around his room.

"Where to start…?"

He stood then walked over to a table where he placed his personal things. He lifted a piece of paper that was poorly drawn with ink. On the paper was a beautiful couple. This was his only evidence of his parents. He had painted it with his grandmother's ink. His father stood tall and dressed in his usual military uniform. His father worked most of the time so he couldn't recall the face of him when he drew this picture. As a result, his father's face was blank. His mother stood beautifully dressed in a dress similar to his grandmother's. Her hair was nicely pinned up and accompanied by a beautiful floral headdress. He could recall that he gave his mother a fan in the picture because she always talked about her trips to Kiyoshi Island. She admired the Kiyoshi warriors and even dreamed that one day they would ask her to join. Of course, she was joking but she still enjoyed dreaming about. Jin smiled as he knew this would be the first thing he would pack.

As the sun began to set, Jin had already had a pile of things he wanted to bring. From lucky coins to sets of clothes, it seemed it was on the right track. He soon paused as he heard a knock at the door. He sat down and smiled.

"Come in."

The door opened revealing his grandmother and her chicken holding a tray with cups of tea. It was still surprising that that chicken would hold such heaving things with its beak but then again it was his grandmother's chicken.

"How is your packing coming along Jin?"

"Oh pretty good Gran Gran. I think I'm getting most of the things that I need. But you know how when you gather your things, you always forget something?

Jin held his chin as he began to think. Of course he did have two days to do this. But starting early wasn't a bad idea either. His grandmother examined his pile of things before looking at him a bit concerned.

"Jin. There is no sight of undergarments in this…."

Jin paused before laughing slightly.

"Oh yeah! Guess I forgot about that too…"

His grandmother let out a long sigh before pushing the pile to the side.

"I will pack for you. I swear, you become more and more like your father every day."

She picked up the bag that he intended to take then paused seeing something was in there. She reached in and took out the folded ink picture. She couldn't help but smiled slightly.

"I remember when my little Jin made this for his mother. "

Jin couldn't help but blush from her words.

"Gran Gran come on. I'm not little anymore. Don't talk like that its weird."

She smiled before sitting down next to him.

"You know. I'll never forget what a crazy bunch you all were. Your mother always a nervous wreck. Trying so hard to make sure everything was perfect for her family. And your father, my only son. Reassuring her that everything was perfect. It was a shame that he couldn't spend more time with you and her."

She then pointed at her sons face in the drawing.

"Is that why his face is blank Jin?"

Jin looked at the picture slightly.

"I don't really remember the reason word for word since I was like four when made this but honestly Gran Gran, it's probably because it was hard to remember what dad's face looked like."

His grandmother sighed a bit in depression and agreement.

"Yes. It was a shame that he had to be gone so often. The life of a military man is hard. Almost as hard as the life of a military family."

Jin pouted slightly knowing that his father was a sensitive subject for her. He reached into his pile and pulled out his lucky coins.

"I still have all those cool coins he brought back every time he came home! I was going to bring them with me too to remember him by."

She smiled slightly while picking up the small pieces of currency.

"Ah yes. Your father had many friends from various places. He thought that bringing you some coins from all over would help your expand your horizon about how, although we are separate, we are equal."

She laughed slightly.

"He was such a dreamer. Your mother even supported his frantic babbles about universal unity through the power of cooperation. Such a naïve boy. And yet so wise. He would be proud to see you today."

Jin smiled before pausing.

"Gran Gran?"

"What is it son?"

"Do you think if Mom and Dad were here now, do you think they would be ok with me going to this place?"

She smiled slightly.

"Ok? Your father would jump for joy higher than my chicken. Nothing would make him happier than to see his little boy becoming a powerful bender. And your mother, after stating how dangerous it was, would agree as well. She would place a nice big kiss on your cheek like this and tell you to follow your dreams just like your father."

She said before kissing his cheek just as a grandmother would. As a grandchild, Jin protested with various flails and wines.

"Geez Gran Gran."

He said as he wiped his cheek. She laughed slightly. "Here, have some tea and get some rest. You have a bright future ahead of you Jin."

His grandmother handed him a cup of tea off the tray and stood heading to the door. Jin held the tea cup and smiled as she left. He looked around the room slightly before getting an idea. He knew it was a bit taboo to do this but it seemed only fair. He reached onto the table and grabbed a bit of ink that he had. He looked at the picture of his parents before taking a piece of cloth. He dipped it into the ink and held the picture steady before starting to fill his father face in. He was sure that this wasn't what his father looked like but his father was a great man. He deserved to have his face filled in. Maybe not accurately, but it's the thought that counts. He smiled as he had now given his father a smiling face and wide eyes. He laughed to himself slightly while drinking his tea.

"What a beautiful drawing Jin? Did you make that for me and daddy?"

The voice seemed so familiar in his head. He closed his eyes as he could imagine himself as a small child showing it to his smiling mother. He could see her taking the picture and giggling at it.

"Good job. Now go on and finish daddy's face ok?"

He took the picture back before noticing the door about to open. His mother turned towards the door as it opened wider showing the bright light of the sun and nothing more. His mother began to the door excitedly as a pair of arms emerged.

BLOOP

Jin quickly opened his eyes only to see that he had knocked his cup of tea over onto the table. He quickly grabbed his picture lifting it to safety from the tea.

"Aw man…"