Chapter 2: And yours like the sun
Hakku felt himself being dragged through something coarse. His eyes fluttered into some semblance of consciousness as rain started making way into his eyes and nose. Dazed and confused, he looks around, his arms by his sides, and sees the makings of what seems like a massive jungle bordering the sea, which slowly fades into the distance. Thunder roars in the background, as he hears a slight yelp near him. Actually, whoever is dragging him created that sound. And so, he looks towards the mystery person.
Her jet black hair is drenches and sticking to her face, but he can make out the makings of a face beneath it. Her lips are pursed as she struggles with the weight of his limp body, her nose is scrunched in exertion, and her eyes looked locked in determination while looking behind her in order to not crash into anything. Maybe it's his mind making up figures in his last moments of life, but he's sure the figure dragging him is nothing short of a deity, or a spirit even. Despite the clear exhaustion in her face, she looked beautiful. Like no one he's ever seen before.
His eyelids start closing, his exhaustion once again catching up to him. And the last thing he hears is a voice, a smoothing sound. Tired yet confident.
"Don't worry! Almost there!''
When he comes about, his eyes focus on the ceiling made of straw, with the light of the sun shining in his eyes. Laughter reaches his ears, and so he stands up. His arms feel heavy, and his legs barely seem to be able to hold his weight.
Walking outside, he sees a bustling village, with children running around, stalls selling fruit and other things, and adults carrying materials around. The village is also surrounded by a bustling jungle, green hounding his vision for as far as he can tell. It truly is beautiful. So beautiful he forgets to notice that every villager is wearing some semblance of red in their clothes.
"Oh hey! You're awake!" a voice says.
He turns around at the source and sees a beautiful woman, hair tied in a long ponytail, the color seemingly sparkling with the light of the sun. Her eyes are amber, her features seem delicate but her stance, as she's carrying a large basket full of herbs and shells and other things with a single arm, seems to tell a story of grit and toughness.
"You really gave me the scare back there; I mean imagine seeing some passed out figure washed ashore in the middle of a beach no one goes to anymore." She exclaims with a laugh. He seems completely lost in her voice, as it seems to open some hatch inside his head, reminding him of what transpired yesterday. He quickly realizes that the same person who dragged him through the jungle was standing now in front of him.
"I- Uh, where am I?" He manages to say, trying to regain his bearings. His voice is rough and course, probably due to him being out for however long he was.
Although, being somewhere tropical like this meant only one possible thing. Fire Nation.
"Huh? Oh! Yeah!" She smiles a radiant smile, almost washing away his concerns over being in enemy territory.
"This humble little town here is Hira'a!" She says while broadly signaling her arm towards the scenery in front of them. "Hidden gem of the Fire Nation if I do say so myself! Not only do we have the most beautiful scenes around, but our theater troupe is no joke. They really would give those Ember Island guys a run for their money!" She finishes while putting a hand on her hip.
"So! I gotta ask… What's some water tribe warrior looking guy doing washing ashore on Fire Nation territory?" She asks as she leans forward, her head moving up and down as if scanning him thoroughly, with an eyebrow raised. "Actually, no! First things first-" she extends her free hand forward "Name's Umi. What's yours?" She asks, her radiant smile returning, amber eyes penetrating.
Taken by surprise, he laughs. A deep genuine laugh before he connects their hands. "I'm Hakku."
"Well then Hakku, you're still in no condition to go out and about so-" she lightly pushes him back inside what he assumes is her house. "Lay back down and rest. I'll make something to help you get you back on your feet."
Hakku complies and lays down in the bed. "So… before I answer your other question, can I ask why you seem so calm even though I'm water tribe?" He says, feeling himself sinking to the soft bedding, something he hasn't felt for a while.
"Well, I was worried at first you know." She says as she grinds some herbs in a mortar, mixing it with other stuff he couldn't really tell apart. "But then I saw how beat up you looked, so I decided to bring you here. I wasn't gonna let some guy die in a storm just because he's supposedly from the enemy team" she smirking teasingly at him. "And well, now that you're awake, you seem like an alright guy so… well-" she trails off before coughing slightly in embarrassment "well I'm glad I decided to help. Plus! It's not like everyone in the fire nation agrees with whatever is going on in the world. Hearing stories of Fire Nation soldiers killing and destroying entire villages… sometimes I wish I could do something to change it…" her eyes take a solemn look, as her hand stops grinding the herbs. "But well! I guess helping you is something!" she says, her smile returning.
Hakku stared wide eyed at Umi. For all his life he's thought all Fire Nation citizens were the same as the monsters who burned through his village in the south pole, all just to get to him. So, he finds himself a bit doubtful yet with a glint of hope in his eyes. "Do you really mean that?"
She turns to face him, slight surprise betraying her eyes, before she settles into the warmest look he's ever scene "Yeah, I do!"
A pair of footsteps echo through the alleyways of the bustling city of the Caldera. The city is home to the Fire Nation most elite citizens, its streets clean and safe, while its residents don't have to worry about the war arriving in their doorsteps.
These footsteps belong to one boy, dressed in a worn-down outfit, as he runs away from a bunch of security guards towards the city.
As Kaze works his legs beyond their limits, he snakes around corners, alleyways, shops, all in an attempt to lose his pursuers. He didn't expect his day to go like this. He was supposed to go about his normal morning routine, getting the kids ready, and helping his mom around the orphanage. Then he would go to work at the teashop, serving and attracting new customers. Then he would go to his secret spot, practice his waterbending, and then go back home. Just a regular old day.
But then of course, he sees three thugs taking advantage of some old guy, one holding a knife while another held him to a wall. And as any normal 10-year-old kid should do, he goes ahead and butts his head in. 'Oh great." He thought. It wasn't the first time something like this has happened, the people of Harbor City are barely able to get by so many of them resort to robbing people from their hard earn copper pieces, and whatever else they can get their hands into.
He tied his shorts tighter and headed over to the scene.
"Hey! Why don't you three pick a fight with someone your own sizes!" Kaze said, standing as imposingly as a skinny 10-year-old kid could.
The three thugs stared at each other, each sporting a confused look before they began laughing.
"Oh, wow! You really got us there, kid!" One said, sarcasm dripping from his voice as he twirled the knife he was threatening the old guy with.
"I suppose this, 'someone' is apparently you" Another deadpanned before once again laughing while holding his stomach.
"You know what kid. Sure. We'll let him go" The last one, who was holding the old guy, said as he threw him to the ground.
He strode towards Kaze menacingly, a grin tracing his face. "You'll just have to take his place then-!" He says as the three guys start running towards him.
But Kaze wasn't worried as he stared at a puddle in the ground. 'Thank the spirits this city's drainage sucks. He thinks as he looks around in case someone is looking. Seeing no one he waits until the thugs step right into the puddle before quickly freezing the puddle.
Kaze couldn't help the giggle that came out, as the three men fell in unison, legs flying wildly in the air, and landing on their backs.
Kaze stepped forward and stood over their fallen forms. "Wow, that looked like it hurt" He said with a mocking wince. "Anyway" He shrugs as he picks up the bag of money they took from the old guy, who was now standing slowly.
Kaze hurries to help him before he hands him the bag back. "Here you go sir! You should get out of here before those guys get back up." He said with a smile, glad that he could use his bending in the aid of someone.
But when Kaze looks at the old guys face, he is only met with a wide eyed stare and a trembling lip. "W-Whats wrong sir? Did- Did they hurt you or" He stammers but is interrupted.
"W-wa-Waterbender!" The old guy shouts. "Guards! S-Someone help!"
Kaze should've known better, honestly. He knew how people around here felt about people they were supposed to be at war with. But… it still hurt. So, before any guard could arrive, he attempts to make his escape towards his secret spot.
But of course, his luck was so great that just as the old guy started screaming, a group of guards was strolling by the nearby street. They turned around in unison as they spotted the small figure of the waterbender.
"It's him, I-I saw him attack those guys in the ground with water!" The old guy shouts to the guards, while pointing at Kaze.
And so, he ran.
"Stop right there!" He hears as he runs aimlessly through the many alleyways of Harbor City. It didn't take long for all the guards around the city to start chasing him.
And so, he kept running. He ran through stalls, went into buildings, jumped through roofs. But it was useless.
If the capital took any case seriously, it was one of an enemy bender inside their walls. And so, the Royal Guard was making its way through Harbor city. Storming and thrashing homes and businesses, all in the name of "security"
Stalking the roof of a particularly tall building, Kaze crouches as he observes the streets below. Those three thugs that he took care of, and even now he can't bring himself to regret it, are talking to one of the guards sporting the adorned helmets of the royal guard.
He's had his close calls before, but it always took a couple minutes of running and dodging and getting to his hiding spot, for everything to calm down. But now the guards had seen his face. He'd have to go out looking behind his shoulder from now on.
Frustration and anger set in his head.
He knew this was gonna happen sooner or later if he kept helping people, but alas, he never thought it would happen this quickly into his life. He had been careful enough so far. He had spent so many hours practicing and going through the scroll his father left him.
Wallowing in his despair, Kaze fails to notice a certain water pipe in the opposing building shaking, as if pressure was building up and wanted to be set free.
The guards down in the ground on the other hand, see the pipe, which ran all the way from up top of the building start shaking. At first, it's barely perceptible, but it quickly rises in turbulence, metallic sounds drawing the attention of the people surrounding it.
And then, with a loud blast, the pipe burst in multiple spots, with water drenching the crowd below.
Kaze raises his head in surprise, eyes locking to the pipe, and then to the crowd below. He quickly realizes he should get away from there quickly, but then a pair of eyes, hidden behind the red metal grill of his mask, lock with his.
"There he is!" the guard shouts, and rushes inside the building, the others quickly trailing him.
Kaze looks around, trying to find some path, or anything that could help him escape. But he sees nothing, just crumbling rooftop after crumbling rooftop. Slowly losing hope, Kaze begins panicking. He runs to another rooftop, into another, into another, praying that something appears from thin air to aid him.
And then he spots it.
A small water tank stood on top of one of the buildings that basically touched the walls that separated the Caldera from Harbor City. If he could get there in time, he could make his way into the Royal Capital, leaving his pursuers on this side, hide for a while, and then sneak towards one of the large drainage pipes that lead into the ocean. From there he could quickly swim to his secret spot.
Plan settled in his mind, Kaze makes for the water tank. His pursuers relentlessly following his every step, some even throwing fireballs towards him.
Once he reaches it, he bends the water out and starts forming a ramp towards the wall. He freezes it and makes his way through. But right then, one of the firebenders shoots a quick blast from his fists, quickly closing the gap with its target.
Reacting quickly, Kaze unfreezes the water and shields himself from the fire, but the impact is powerful enough to send him flying down the wall to the other side. Seeing the approaching ground, Kaze bends just enough water to form a frozen slide that slowed his fall. Unfortunately, this doesn't stop him from tumbling through the ground, his mind drifting into unconsciousness, as he crashes into a wall.
When he wakes up, he is buried under a pile of trash and crates, his body covered out of sight by the debris.
"O-Ouch…" Kaze groans in pain
'Guess my luck pulled through for once' Kaze thinks as he stands up, taking in his surroundings. He seems to be in some sort of storage area, with large warehouses lined up in two opposing lines. Thankfully, the place seemed empty.
'How long was I out anyway…' He thinks, rubbing the back of his neck, as he stares at the now dark sky, only illuminated by the many stars and a beautiful Full Moon.
His eyes stay focused on the giant rock, a jolt running through his body, as he feels the energy from the moon empower his senses and his bending. And then he hears something. Quiet steps. And then, a figure steps out of an alley.
Kaze quickly hides, hoping it's not another guard looking for him. Then he hears a voice.
'This job better be worth it…' he barely makes out, as the figure, garbed in pitch black, with a sword sheathed on their back, jumps to a rooftop, and makes his way towards the center of the city.
Not seeing anywhere else to go, he quickly follows the figure.
As he runs, he once again feels the effects of the moon in his body. His mind is quicker, his legs feel reenergized, and his fatigue is mostly gone.
Getting out of the storage area, he sees the figure make their way through the rooftop, the royal palace clearly their target. And so, with his curiosity piqued, Kaze makes his way right behind him, hiding in the shadows of the homes from the Caldera.
He knew doing this was just another one of his urges to help others, and once again, he lets it control his decisions. As he passes through a particularly dark set of back alleys, Kaze spots one of the drainage pipes in the distance. Seeing no one around, he should be able to make it easily. But, as he steps towards it, he sees the shadow jump its way into the palace.
Two things stood out to Kaze. One, he was clearly an assassin. And two, for they to be taking a hit in the Royal Palace, they are probably a highly trained assassin.
He stops, as his face contorts in frustration. Even if he wanted to help, confronting someone like that is essentially signing his death sentence. So, obviously, he promptly decides to follow them.
He pulls some water from a nearby drain and propels himself to the roof by freezing a ramp and sliding in it upwards. Once on top, he makes his way to the palace's protective walls, and hops through it. Oddly enough, no one seemed to be posted up to guard that particular section of the wall.
Concern starts riding his thoughts, knowing that getting caught off guard by either the assassin, or a palace guard, would not end well for him.
He steps quietly, following a small trail of stepped on grass, only noticeable thanks to his enhanced senses.
Slowly making his way through the garden, his eyes notice a glint in the distance.
'Is that… broken glass?' He thinks, but before he could make his way towards it, a yelp of surprise in the distance catches his attention. Looking at the direction of the sound, he sees what appears to be a cloud of dust, enveloping an entire section of the garden. He quickens his pace.
Once arriving, his eyes widen at the sight. A small girl is firebending at incredible speed and power, shooting quick blasts from her fists, and kicking slashes of fire at the assassin. The girl's smooth and precise movements leave Kaze in a momentary feeling of amazement.
But the assassin dodges nimbly, not letting the fire impede their speed. Realizing their blade was quickly approaching the girl's head, Kaze's mind races, trying to find a way to stop it. He's gone through so much today, might as well see it through.
And he finds it, in the shape of a pond close by the two figures.
His arms move on their own, as he bends an incredible amount of water and sends it with incredible power towards the assassin, crashing them into a wall.
He looks at the girl, who was now sitting on the ground, confusion etched in her eyes. Until they met his.
The light of the moon highlighted the golden shine of her eyes, putting Kaze in a momentary trance. He's never seen eyes that striking before. Her face was bloody, and she seemed to favor one leg, even from the ground. He notices that she's just as young as he is. He stands in a trance, getting lost in that golden shine.
That is, until the assassin regains their bearings and charges at him.
Quickly recovering from his reverie, Kaze blocks the incoming strike with a water whip, freezing it at the right moment to counter the blade.
This exchange continued for the next strikes as well, with Kaze quickly freezing and unfreezing the whip, the sound of metal crashing into ice reverberating in the air.
But the assassin is too quick, and too strong for him, as each strike forces Kaze to lose his balance, and stumble backwards.
He tries to think quickly for something, realizing the pace of the fight wasn't in his favor. But the assassin is perceptive and takes advantage of Kaze's small build by unleashing a barrage of quick placed strikes, until a final one finally shatters the ice, and pushes him to the ground with a painful grunt.
Kaze lays on the ground, his mind rushing with panic. His eyes look around frantically but then the assassin takes a step back, and settles into a lower stance, followed by a blinding burst of speed.
He sees the blade come closer and closer, as if time slowed down. He prepares for the incoming pain until Kaze feels his body jolt with electricity. His body moves on his own, and he sees it. His reflection, as the water from the pond starts shaking wildly. The moon shines over him, his senses max out, and his body moves with a mind of its own.
Feeling the all the water in the pond, as if it was a part of his body, as if it flowed in his veins, Kaze pushes it in one stroke, a primal scream coming out of his throat, and envelops the assassin and himself in a wild torrent of spinning water.
His mind was blank, the moon putting him in some sort of trance, and so he keeps bending the water around him. A spherical river tossing and turning the figure of the assassin, as the torrent of water roars in through the night sky.
He could feel it. The assassin flayed their arms wildly in an attempt to escape, but it was useless. Nothing can stand against a current of water this strong. And so Kaze waits. Waits until their body no longer fights the current, and just lets itself flow with it.
It is then that Kaze lets the water slow, and with one stroke, he quickly bends it back to the pond, as if it was never disturbed to begin with.
The moon shined on him, as he felt the waves of exhaustion hit him.
Kaze was only barely aware of what just transpired, as if something possessed his body and he let it control him willingly. He falls to his hands and knees, the necessity for air now apparent. He feels his mind slowly coming back to him, and so he turns his head.
The amber eyes of the girl were looking at the ground, whispering something to herself, hands clenched in her sides. Figuring that he went through all of this for her, he stands up and approaches her.
He stands before her small figure, as she sits along the grass. Even from where he was, he could tell she was injured. Then their eyes meet, hers laced with shock.
He stands there for a bit. Despite looking younger than him, and being seemingly injured, she stood her ground and fought. Recalling the grace and precision her movements were, even with one leg short, Kaze cannot help but admire the girl in front of him.
And so, he crouches down, takes one of her hands and says.
"Are you okay?"