Chapter 10

Jin yawned as he followed his friend outside. He wasn't sure where Kuma was taking him but from the looks of it, it seemed pretty secretive.

"So when you said "fishing" did you literally mean fishing? Because I'm no good at that."

Kuma laughed slightly as he looked around. "Ok so maybe I pushed that a bit. But where were going does involve fish."

Jin watched as Kuma peeked over the corner. He soon swiftly turned back to Jin and placed a finger against his lips in a silencing motion.

"Ok. We're going to have to sneak in. The securities a bit heavy."

Jin paused slightly. Where exactly was Kuma taking him!? "Wait why do we have to sneak in?"

Kuma rubbed his neck. "Well, ever since the whole fire nation attack and everything, The Spirit Oasis has been guarded pretty well. Plus my dad doesn't like me playing around in there. Which is why were going!"

Jin blinked blankly and glared at Kuma who seemed to move his way through the cove. "Wait! If your dad doesn't want you here, then why go against that?"

Kuma rolled his eyes. "Geez Jin. Your such a goodie goodie."

Jin sighed and soon followed Kuma around the two guards who didn't seem like they were guarding at all. Soon the boys found themselves in front of two large doors. Kuma quickly took out a key from his pouch and opened the door's silently. After they were both inside, he closed them shut.

"Ha! Finally. Man, those guards need a lesson in protecting." Kuma said with a smirk.

Jin looked around slightly while hearing him. "So... What is this again."

Kuma walked up the small bridge and over to the small island of land. "Welcome to The Spirit Oasis Jin. This is the center of all spiritual energy in the Northern Water Tribe."

Jin rubbed his neck hearing Kumas words. "So... What does all this mean? I don't really know a lot about spirits."

Kuma smirked and shook his head. "Oh Jin. Jin Jin Jin. So naive. Tell me, do you know who Princess Yue is?"

Jin paused. "Uh... Is that a fairytale girl or something?"

"Princess Yue gave her life to the moon spirit Tui. You know back when the fire nation attacked here and everything. Quite a few hundred years ago and such."

"Ok... So she gave up her life for the moon spirit... Why are you telling me this?"

Kuma smiled as he approached the pond towards the middle of the field. Jin quickly went to his side to investigate as well. "This is Tui and La; or Moon and Ocean Spirits if you want to be formal. You see how they swim in a perfect circle? They, well... Have to be like that."

Jin watched as Kuma tried to explain. It was often funny to see him try and talk in a serious tone.

"Well. Their basically... Dancing. But swimming. You get it? They dance and swim in a push and pull that... Balances the moon and the ocean. In a Yin and Yang kind of way. When Tui died and only La was left, the balance was... Thrown off in a way. And things began to go crazy. But Princess Yue gave her life to save Tui and boom! Balance was back! Smiles and everything. As kids were all tough that story because we owe her everything. So, yeah. Tui and La. Eternal swim dance. Balance. Boom."

Jin looked at Kuma with a serious expression. "Kuma."

"Yeah?"

Jin smiled and hit his shoulder. "Don't ever become a professor."

Kuma grumbled. "I don't know what your talking about. I explained that perfectly."

Jin smiled and looked down at the circling fish. "So... From what I could try and gather from your story, these two fish are spirits. Tui and La. They swim in a complete circle to keep the balance of the Moon and the Ocean. "

Kuma smirked. "And you said I couldn't be a professor. A for you buddy!"
Jin smiled but soon paused as he watched the two fish swim. It almost seemed as though they were... Calling to him. Their slow and elegant dance seemed to get the best of him. It was almost as if he had a connection with these fish.

"Jin?... Jin?... JIN!"

Jin gasped and quickly looked at Kuma. "H-Huh? Yeah?"

"Jin. I was saying your name for like... 39 seconds!"

Jin sighed. "And you counted that long because?"

Kuma rolled his eyes. "Hey I was just trying to show concern for you is all."

Jin smiled but soon paused as he heard voices from outside

"H-Hey wait! You can't b-"

The boys gasped as they saw a large blast of fire rose into the air and the screams of men could be heard.

Kuma quickly looked at Jin who was just as afraid as he was. "Quick we gotta hide!"

Kuma quickly grabbed Jin's hand and pulled him behind a small tree on the patch of land. The boys quietly peeked out from the side to watch. The doors of the Oasis were kicked open and soon a man dressed in traditional fire nation military uniform walked in. He was quite fit and stood with confidence and pride.

"What is a fire nation scum bag doing here?!" Kuma whispered angrily to Jin.

Jin shrugged. "I-I don't know. More importantly how are we going to get out of here!"

Kuma grunted. "Dad told me no one was allowed here without authorization. And this guys definitely isn't authorized. We gotta get him out of here before he tries to do anything!"

The fire nation male began to laugh as he approached the pond where the beautiful fishes swam.

"There you are you creatures. It was my orders to find and hunt you both down. Once you're dead, then The Grand One's plans can begin."

Kuma raised an eyebrow at the males words then turned to Jin. "He's going to try and kill the spirits! It's just like the story dad told me!"

Jin paused. "Wait... But what happens when you kill a spirit?"

"The end of water bending as we know it! And possibly the moon. And all the water. Actually let's not guess. Let's prevent it."

Jin pouted. "Kuma what are you thinking?"

"We gotta fight him Jin!"
"W-What! This islands far too fragile for me to earth bend! If I even try, it could be bad!"
Kuma rubbed his chin. "Alright! Looks like it's a job for me then! Don't worry!"

Jin gasped. "Kuma wait!"
Kuma slowly began to walk forward. "Don't worry! All we have to do is take down one guy. How hard could it be?"

He soon began to hurry to the next tree.

"Here's the plan Jin. You'll go out and distract him and when he's not looking, ill trap him with the water from the Oasis pond. Got it?"

Jin gulped slightly and nodded. "Alright..."

Jin quickly took a deep breath then gathered the rest of the courage he could stomach. He quickly leaped from the tree and threw a small rock at the male. "Hey you! Your not suppose to be here!"

The male paused as he was struck by a rock. He then began to grow angry. "Why you little brat!" The male quickly began to shoot various fireballs at Jin. He quickly began to dash around circling the male while trying to dodge them as well as he could. Seeing that Jin had created quite the distraction, Kuma began to engage his part. He quickly stood by the pond and smirked as he took his stance and tried to bend. He gasped slightly.

"W-What the!?"
Kuma quickly noticed that none of the ponds water was rising. He quickly tried again and again but it seemed that the water from the Oasis would not rise for him. He growled angrily.

"Oh come on!" He yelled.

The fire nation quickly gasped then shot a large fireball towards Kuma. Before the boy could react, he was quickly hit in the chest by the males attack.

"KUMA NO!" Jin yelled out in concern for his friends safety.

"Where do you brats keep coming from!?"

Jin lowered his head feeling tears slowly forming in his eyes. Kuma laid motionless on the ground.

"No! Don't cry! Dad wouldn't cry! He would sit there and feel helpless in a situation like this! He would stand and fight for what's right. He would look within himself to find his inner strength and stop this man!"

Jin quickly opened his which were now filled completely with white light. The spiraling spirits within the pond also began to glow. Their dance continued vividly swirl as not only their blessing was gifted to Jin, but also their guidance. Jin slowly began to raise his arm making the mystic water of the Oasis rise with it. Jin quickly began to change stance making the water rise above the fire nation threat.

"What in the world!?"

The man stood dumbfounded as the young earth bender began to bend water.

"BEGONE!"

Jin yelled in power as he swiftly switched to one of the stance's he had watched Kuma do. Kuma groaned as he slowly began to sit up but soon gasped at the sight he was witnessing. His eyes widened greatly. Was Jin truly water bending before his eyes!? Jin soon motioned the water to strike the male. He continued to force his hand of his newly discovered power until the male had collapsed unconscious. As Jin returned the water to the Oasis, he began to return to his normal state.

"W... What happened?.. Im dizzy..." He mumbled before looking around. He then paused seeing Kuma on the ground and ran to him. "Kuma! Kuma are you alright!?"

Kuma rubbed his eyes slightly before looking at Jin. "Uh... Jin..."

"Yeah?" Jin blinked blankly while looking at him.
"How long have you been able to water bend?"

Jin paused as he heard him. Soon everything was beginning to rush back to him. He recalled seeing the fish and their dance. He then recalled lifting the water and knocking the male unconscious. This was something he wasn't aware he could do. He quickly look at Kuma with wide eyes. "K-Kuma... That... I've never done that before... Do you know... what this means?!"

Kuma gasped. "Yeah... It means your SUPER AWESOME!"