After about two months, Mako had finally gotten the kids to settle into an exercise routine…mostly. It was still a struggle to get Koji up in the morning. He got around that problem with Mari's help. Normally, if she went to wake the teen, Koji eagerly got out of bed. He was fairly certain he knew why but he pushed those concerns aside. Even if Koji had a crush on Mari, she didn't seem to reciprocate which was fine with him. At thirteen, she was too young for such things anyway.
While he was getting ready to start the morning, he pulled his arm from its sling and carefully flexed it. Although he had been exercising with the teens, his injury had forced him to hold back. Now that he was healed, he could use the full extent of his abilities. Time to stretch some tired muscles.
He headed to the grassy clearing where the teens were already doing their morning warm-ups. Supposed to be doing them anyway. Without his supervision, it had devolved into another contest to see who could outlast Mari in push-ups. It was something the boys had tried on several occasions and repeatedly failed. Koji was already out of the running, panting while he laid in the grass, but Ryu was stubbornly holding on. He huffed as he struggled to get off the ground while Juji rose and fell from where he was perched on the boy's back. To Mako's surprise however, he noticed Mari was starting to tire. He could tell by the way her tail was limply dangling over her side. According to his guidelines, it should be held above her back. It wouldn't be long before the boys, well…Ryu at least, could keep up with her. However, this wasn't the proper way to do it. Pushing like they were could easily lead to muscle cramps or strains. Something he'd already warned them about several times.
"That's enough," he said once he arrived.
"But I'm going to beat her this time," Ryu grunted as he forced another push-up.
"What did I say about pushing too hard?" Mako stated as he folded his arms sternly across his chest. Mari immediately collapsed onto the grass.
"That we could hurt ourselves," she said with a guilty sigh.
"Ha! I won!" Ryu exclaimed as he finished his last push-up before collapsing next to her.
"That doesn't count," Mari scowled.
"It does too! You stopped before I did so I win!" Ryu replied.
"That's because Papa told us to stop," Mari countered.
"That's your fault for listening to your papa," Ryu sassed.
"Papaaa…"
Mako inwardly groaned. Sometimes it was like dealing with toddlers instead of teenagers.
"Mari, you know what I think about whining and Ryu, you didn't win because I told you both to stop. End of discussion," he stated. Ryu grumbled to himself while Mari hung her head at the brief scolding. With that settled, Mako stuffed his glasses into his shirt pocket and got to the reason he had come out to the field. Since the teens were in obvious need of a break, he decided to give them a demonstration of his Firebending prowess.
"Koji. Can you make me a sparring dummy?" he asked.
"Yes sir." The teen clambered to his feet but, before he could do anything else, Ryu whispered in his ear. A moment later, he stomped the ground and a stone statue popped up. It was crude, but clearly meant to depict Mako with a crossed-eyed expression on its face. The boys were failing to contain their laughter while Mari scowled at the offensive effigy.
"Cute…" Mako casually remarked as he gave the statue a look of disdain. A quick snap of his tail brought the boys' laughter to a crashing halt when the statue's head went flying across the field. Now it was Mari's turn to giggle.
"Let's try again. This time, put it three meters out and without the face," he directed.
"Y, Yes, sir…" Koji nervously swallowed and created a second statue following Mako's directions to a tee.
With his target properly set, Mako took his stance.
The teens watched in awe as he practiced. He started with the normal combos; a series of fire punches, followed by a double-fisted punch which lead to another set of single punches. Then he shifted to kicks, sending out a wave of fire with one leg, then spinning his tail around for a second. It all happened in an instant. Occasionally, he switched up punches and kicks as he went through the stances. Not a single shot missed the dummy. He sped up his attacks and the constant barrage of flames soon turned the stone molten red. It was in the middle of a punch that pain engulfed his fist. After scolding the kids, he'd pushed himself too hard. He stopped as casually as possible, and grabbed his wrist.
"Whoa! That was amazing!" Koji exclaimed.
"Papa is the best Firebender in the world," Mari stated with a proud smile.
Mako gave her a lopsided smile in return. He didn't consider himself the best, or a master, but he couldn't deny the power he had been given after "the incident."
"I'm going to start breakfast. You three make sure you get plenty of water." After their impromptu competition, he wouldn't be surprised if one, or all of them, ended-up with muscle cramps. He kept his wrist clutched in his hand as he silently slunk back to the campsite.
"I'm gonna do some target practice," Koji said as he excitedly stepped in front of the statue. Unlike the others, he still had some energy to burn after the push-ups. He stomped his foot on the ground and popped up a small stone which he punched toward the dummy. It ricocheted off one side into the distance. Not as accurate as Mako but at least he hit the target. It was a start.
While Koji practiced, Ryu turned to Mari.
"What's up with that?" he asked. The Chief's abrupt stop hadn't gone unnoticed. "It's the second time I've seen him do that."
Mari worriedly watched her grandpa disappear into The Rampage, clutching his wrist the entire time.
"Nothing," she innocently answered with a twitch of her tail. "He's just looking out for us."
Once he safe was in The Rampage, Mako took a moment to examine his hand. All the knuckles had locked-up and held his fingers in a tight fist. Pain caused him to wince as he tried to forcibly straighten them. Even though he physically aged slower, he was still no spring chicken. He tried again and the knuckles slowly loosened. Normally, when this happened, he'd have Shizuku tend to it with some Waterbending and a massage but that wasn't an option at this point. He'd just have to find other ways to deal with it while they traveled. Hopefully, he could keep it to himself as he didn't want the teens, especially Mari, to worry.
After several minutes, he was able to properly move his fingers again. Then he grabbed some pans to start breakfast as promised.
A cool breeze came through the rear doors of The Rampage as the teenagers sat-down at the table. This morning's breakfast was bowls of rice and rolled omelets. Eggs were fairly common as they were one of Mako's preferred foods. Mostly because they were simple and versatile. They didn't need any additional ingredients, but they mixed well with almost anything if he wanted.
Once the teens had their meals, he placed a concoction of water and powder on the table in front of Mari before sitting down with his own plate and cup. She grimaced at the cream colored substance sitting in the bottom of her glass.
"We're out of milk?" she asked. The powder was bad enough as it was but without milk, it was even worse.
"Sorry sweetie," Mako replied apologetically before taking a swig from his own silt-filled glass. "I'll be sure to pick some up in the next town. Now make sure you drink it all."
She gave the mixture a hostile frown as if that would be enough to make it magically disappear.
"What is that anyway?" Koji asked from where he was seated across the table from her.
"It's—"
"Mari…" Mako interrupted, his tone making it clear that, whatever was in the glass, was not for the boy's knowledge. "Don't worry about it Koji. Just eat your breakfast," he finished.
After breakfast, they packed up camp and hit the road. It was about an hour drive before they found a suitable town in the vast expanse of the Earth Republic. It was no where near as big as Republic City, few places were, but large enough to where they could blend-in without too much fuss. It would be a good place to get supplies as milk wasn't the only thing they were lacking.
Mako decided to wait until nightfall before doing any shopping. Even if they could blend-in, he wanted to have as many things in his favor as possible. It made for a long day of being cooped-up in The Rampage with the three teenagers.
Mari was fine as she entertained herself by writing in her journal or reading. The boys on the other hand, were almost intolerable. Koji fidgeted nonstop while Ryu thought it would be a good time to try and teach Juji how to speak. Like the pest wasn't annoying enough already as far as Mako was concerned. If it had been up to him, the bird would have been left behind a long time ago.
He attempted to use the time to catch-up on some reading. When they'd left Republic City, he'd borrowed some books from the police archives. Even if he wasn't actively Chief of Police, there were always policies and laws that needed to be studied. However, whenever he got settled, one of the boys would break his concentration. They either had "a pressing question in urgent need of answering" or would "accidentally" bump into him. After the fifth attempt he gave-up, certain they we're deliberately attempting to push his buttons. That was when he turned on the truck's radio and spun the dial until he found a pro-bending match being broadcast. It was enough to keep the boys entertained and something he could enjoy as well.
Once the street lights started to flicker on, he grabbed his long coat from a bin and prepared to head-out.
"Papa?" Mari began as she watched him adjust the hood over his horns. "I thought it was okay to let people see our horns and tail?"
Outside of Republic City, and even inside, there were many people that viewed them as a monsters. However, he had decided a long time ago to stop hiding his appearance and never forced Mari to hide hers. Then, "the bite" happened. He could handle the insults and rude comments, but he didn't want her to have to deal with that kind of harassment. It was the main reason they had sent her to school on Air Temple Island. He wanted to protect her from such treatment for as long as he possibly could. Especially after what had happened with his son.
"Normally it would be sweetie but remember, we need to keep a low-profile. We don't want word getting around that The Fetchling was here. It would be leaving breadcrumbs for that toadman who attacked us," he explained. He wrapped his tail around his waist and closed his coat over it to finish the illusion. It made him look like he had a pot-belly.
"You really think he's still following us?" Ryu asked.
"I can't say for certain Kid, but I don't want to take any chances," he replied before switching topics. "Any of you coming with?" Having an extra pair of hands in the stores would be helpful.
"I will." Of course Mari was quick to volunteer and started hiding her own Fetchling appearance.
"Nah. I'll wait here in the truck with Juji," Ryu said as he relaxed in his cot with Juji on his chest.
"Me too," Koji added from where he was flopped over the rear seat with his arms dangling down the back.
The boys' responses made Mari pause.
"Maybe I'll stay in the truck too if that's okay Papa?"
Mako thought for sure the teens would want to get out of the vehicle after being stuck inside all day. It made him instantly suspicious.
"It's okay, but I want all of you to Stay. Put. Do I make myself clear?" He looked directly at Ryu who seemed to be more interested in his bird at the moment.
"Kid?" he firmly repeated.
"Yeah, yeah. Stay here. Gotcha," Ryu replied dismissively while he played with Juji.
Mako gave him one last suspicious scowl before finally leaving the truck.
"So what do you both want to do?" Mari asked once Papa was gone.
"Just relax Mari," Ryu replied from his cot as he continued to play with Juji.
She patiently stood while her tail anxiously twitched behind her. There were times she simply didn't have any control over it. After several minutes of silence, she huffed.
"Are we going to do anything?" she finally asked. Koji also looked to Ryu, clearly wondering the same thing. Ryu raised a single finger at them.
"Wait," he casually said.
Mari planted herself on the floor and started looking through her journal while Koji fiddled with some dice he'd bent out of stone. After about ten minutes, Ryu finally hopped out of his cot.
"He should be far enough away now," he said. "I'm outta here."
"Wait. We can't leave. Papa said—"
"Papa said, Papa said," Ryu parroted Mari with a scoff. "He's not my papa. Besides, did you really think I was going to stay in the truck when there's a whole new town to explore?" he finished as he hopped out the rear door.
"Wait for me man," Koji said as he scampered over the back seat and followed him.
Mari stood in the open door, torn between exploring with the boys and obeying Papa.
"The longer you wait, the more likely we are to get caught," Ryu hollered to her.
"Okay, I'm coming," she finally huffed. Similar to her papa, she carefully pulled her hood over her horns and hid her tail under her jacket. It was definitely uncomfortable, but she would manage for a little while.
The teens casually walked along the streets and took in the sights, which weren't much. Since all three had grown up in the big city, the town had very little to offer. They did come across a street vendor that was selling syrup covered fruit, wrapped in a cake-like cone. Mari had some money and offered to buy the boys each one. Koji accepted but Ryu declined. He wasn't a big fan of sweets but Juji was. Purple juice stained his beak as he greedily gobbled any berries Mari offered him.
They continued walking, treats in hand, until Ryu heard something rumbling nearby. The sound was music to him. He suddenly darted down an alley in search of the source.
"Ryu!" Koji shouted after him. "Where you going man?"
They didn't get a response and the pair had to quickly chase after him.
Ryu jogged through the buildings until he came to a wide underpass. A large group of older teenagers were hanging-out along the edge and, in the basin, were a pair of Satomobiles speeding along side-by-side. Ryu's eyes went wide with excitement as he watched the race.
"Ryu. You can't take off like that man," Koji huffed as he and Mari caught-up to him. They weren't surprised when they realized what had caught his attention. "Are they racing?" Koji finally managed.
"Illegally racing," Mari corrected. "Papa says these types of street races have been happening more and more in the city. Someone's going to get seriously injured."
"I'm going to check it out," Ryu said. He climbed down the short retaining wall and headed for the group.
"Hold on man," Koji said as he followed. "Those are like 'real' teenagers. They're gonna eat us alive."
"What do you mean?" Mari asked as she scrambled after them. "We're all teenagers right?"
"Ummm…" Koji didn't know how to explain the social differences in the seemingly similar age groups. As fate would have it, he wasn't going to have to as Ryu was about to give them an unintentional demonstration.
"Look what we have here," a nineteenish boy hollered as soon as he spotted them. "Some shrimps have decided to crash the party."
Ryu either didn't hear or didn't care about the comment as he marched directly to the other boy.
"I want to race," he demanded.
Blank stares came from the older boy and his cohorts—then laughter.
"Hear that guys? Bird-boy here wants to race!"
More laughter erupted from the group. That was when Koji and Mari caught-up with him again.
"Let's just go." Koji tugged his arm. "We're gonna be in big trouble if we don't get back before the Chief."
"That's right. Run home to your mommies and daddies," another boy chided.
Ryu pulled free, a look of stubborn determination on his face.
"I bet I'm a better driver than anyone here! One race and I can prove it!" Ryu insisted. Juji agreed with a loud gurgle.
The older teens laughed again, all except the first boy who seemed intrigued.
"Everyone settle down. Bird-boy says he can drive." The laughter boiled down as he spoke. "Tell you what little man. We'll let you race if you can get a car."
Koji's hand immediately smacked to his forehead. It was the worst possible thing the older boy could have offered because he knew exactly what Ryu was going to do.
"Deal!" Ryu exchanged a brief handshake with the older teen, then marched back up the incline. Koji and Mari rushed after him.
"What's going on?" Mari asked Koji as they followed several steps behind Ryu. "We don't have a car."
"Nope…We're gonna be in big trouble…" Koji replied with an anxious frown.
Mako could hardly see past his armful as he returned to The Rampage. Since he had no place to set his load, he thumped the rear doors with his shoulder.
"One of you want to let me in?" he called. Nobody answered. "Kids?" Maybe they hadn't heard him. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then snaked his tail out from beneath his long coat. It did come in handy at times. He used it to pop open the rear door and stepped inside.
"Mari? I got milk and some of those vanilla candies you like." Silence. He placed the grocery laden bags on a small counter. Miraculously, nothing fell out onto the floor as the bags settled. "Mari? Boys?" A scowl fell over his face when he realized the vehicle was empty. Of course it's empty. He'd even hidden himself outside the truck for several minutes to make sure the teens weren't going to get into any mischief. Now, they were out alone in an unfamiliar town and he was going to have to find them. He stepped back out onto the street and focused for a moment, hoping he could sense Rava. Nothing.
There were two problems with his ability to sense other spirits. The first was that the range was very limited. Only a few meters at most. The second was he couldn't always sense Rava inside Ryu like he could when it was with Korra. However, he wasn't sure if it was something the boy was doing, or if he had been around Rava for so long, that his spirit sense had simply become immune to it. Whatever the case, he wasn't finding the teens that way.
There was another method he could use to find Mari, but it might draw too much attention in the small city. Not to mention it would leave him completely vulnerable. Probably not a big concern if he was locked in The Rampage but he didn't want to take any chances. He was going to have to find them the way he knew best…by investigating.
Ryu casually walked down the street while Mari and Koji followed several steps behind. While they walked, he carefully scrutinized every Satomobile they passed as he searched for the proper target.
"We should get back Ryu," Mari anxiously began. "Papa is going to be upset when he finds out we left." By now she was sure to he would be done with the shopping.
"You two can go back if you want. I'm going to race," he firmly stated.
"Ryu, let it go man. If we get caught…" Koji said.
"I said you two can go back! Let me do what I want!" Ryu snapped. Juji agreed with him by squabbling and flapping his wings at the others.
"Fine!" Koji shot back. "C'mon Mari." He grabbed the girl's hand and lead her away while Ryu continued in the opposite direction.
Mari pulled herself free. "What? No. We can't leave him out here alone," she said.
"He gets like this sometimes," Koji began before raising his voice so Ryu could hear. "Stubborn idiot. Thinks he's some kinda lone wolfbat!"
Ryu didn't respond as he marched down the sidewalk.
"And you just let him go off on his own?" Mari asked.
"What else am I supposed to do? We may be best friends, but that doesn't mean I have to go along with whatever craziness gets into his head," Koji replied with a shrug.
Mari stopped. It was Ryu's craziness that had gotten her off Air Temple Island and on this whole trip to begin with. It couldn't be all bad. She turned around and raced up the sidewalk.
"Wait for me Ryu!" she shouted after him.
"No! Mari…Ugh!" Koji grunted out loud. She had no idea what Ryu was getting them into.
Mako walked along the streets in hopes he'd find some clue as to where the teens might have disappeared. He questioned several shop owners along the main thoroughfare, but no one had seen the trio. A street vendor, just closing for the day, was his next target. He made sure he was still properly hidden before he approached.
"Excuse me. Have you seen three teenagers come through here? Two boys and a girl. One of the boys has an iguana parrot and the girl would be wearing a hood and white purse," he politely asked. The vendor took a moment to think.
"Yeah, yeah. Came through about an hour ago. They bought a pair of cones and moved on. Thought it was weird for her to be covered on such a nice evening," the vendor replied.
"Can you tell me which way they went?" he asked.
The vendor pointed up the street. "They kept up on Glayvin avenue here but I can't tell you more than that."
"Thank you for your help," he said before heading up the street at a brisk pace.
Finally, he had a lead. He marched along several blocks until a loud rumbling drew his attention. He followed the noise down a narrow alleyway which opened into an old underpass. There, two Satomobiles were revving side-by-side in the large basin watched by a group of teenagers. Street racers. If it was Republic City, he'd have the whole group arrested, or at least warned. He tried not to be too hard on kids when it came to breaking the law as long as no one was getting hurt. Better to use it as a teaching moment than go directly to punishment. Also, this wasn't Republic City so he had no jurisdiction. He wouldn't assert his authority as he didn't like it when cops from other regions stepped on his toes.
It did present another opportunity however. Maybe some of these teenagers had seen his missing trio. The cars would have easily drawn Ryu like they had him. He climbed down the short retaining wall and walked toward the group.
"It's the cops!" A boy suddenly shouted when they spotted him. All the teenagers began to scatter at the alert.
Mako hadn't even said anything. His normal demeanor simply betrayed him. It was hard not to act like a cop after being one for nearly fifty years.
"Wait! Stop!" None of the teens listened of course, all of them taking to their cars or fleeing outright. He hadn't really expected any of them to either. Shouting had simply been a reflex. Unwilling to lose his lead, he chose a target and broke into a run.
Chul was so focused on making sure he wasn't being followed that he didn't notice the figure suddenly in front of him. He collided with it, and stumbled backwards onto the ground where he took a moment to examine the statue he'd hit. How did he get in front of me so fast? The way the man held himself it was obvious he was with the police, but what was with the long coat? Was he supposed to be undercover? If so, he was doing a terrible job.
"Are you okay?" The cop offered him a hand which he slapped away.
"Don't need any help from a cop," he brusquely snapped as he got to his feet. He turned to run again and was on the ground a second time when something tripped him. He looked at the cop and swore he saw something blue slink up the back of the man's coat.
"I don't care about you're racing circuit. I just have some questions for you," the man firmly stated. "I'm looking for three kids. Two boys and a girl. One of the boys has an iguana parrot. Have you seem them?"
"Oh. The loudmouth that thought he could drive," he smirked as he stood and brushed himself off. "He was here. Wanted to race. Lakota told him if he could get a car, we'd let him in."
"Do you know where they went after that?" the cop asked.
"Couldn't tell ya. All I know is, the squirt seemed determined to find a car," he replied with a shrug. The cop shook his head.
"Thank you for your help," the cop said before he headed back to the streets. "And a word of advice, you might want to move your races out of the city limits. Either that or get quieter engines. Next time it might be the local authorities."
It wasn't the advice Chul was expecting to hear from a cop. It made him wonder who the man really was before he rushed off to find his friends.
It took a while for Ryu to find what he was looking for. He couldn't race with any old vehicle. It had to have a decent engine under the hood. Eventually he came across a sport Satomobile. Perfect.
"Here." He shoved Juji into Mari's arms. "You two hide in the alley and keep watch."
"What?" Mari gave him a confused look while Koji just groaned.
"C'mon…" Koji dragged her to a nearby alley. There, they hunkered down and watched as Ryu casually approached the vehicle, grabbed the handle, and set his fingers to the lock.
"What's he doing?" Mari whispered as they watched. Her arms were clutched under Juji's wings and around his chest. The iguana parrot hung there like a contented kitten.
"He's cooking the lock," Koji quietly answered as he glanced up and down the street. This was nothing new for him. Just because he didn't always go along with Ryu's craziness didn't mean he never did.
"Cooking…the lock?" Mari repeated.
"He's using his Firebending to melt the inside pieces of the lock so that—"
He paused when Ryu popped the door and slid into the car.
"…So he can do that," Koji finished.
"But that's not his car…" Mari said innocently.
"He uhhh…He knows that," Koji stated with a hint of guilt. He saw the exact moment when the light came-on in Mari's head.
"He's stealing it!" she squealed, inadvertently tightening her grip on Juji. The bird let out a loud squawk which earned her a harsh glare through the windshield from Ryu.
"Shhhh…" Koji hissed. "You're going to get us all in trouble!"
Mari's outburst had inadvertently caught the attention of several pedestrians. Fortunately, the people gave them only the briefest glance as they resumed their travels. Suddenly, the Satomobile roared to life. The pair turned their focus back to Ryu as he settled himself behind the wheel.
"This is where we leave," Koji said and began creeping to the far end of the alley.
"He's stealing a car! We should be stopping him!" Mari stated as quietly as possible. "Aren't you his friend?"
"Yes. And it's because I'm his friend, I don't call the cops," Koji replied.
While they were arguing, Ryu drove off down the street. Mari helplessly watched as he left.
"Ryu's been stealing cars for as long as I've known him. He says it's for the rush." Koji anxiously rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to explain it. "I know it's not right…And I've tried to make him stop but…I don't know…I think it's something more for him than just 'a rush.' I guess that's why I never rat him out."
Mari frowned and hugged Juji to her chest. It sounded sad to her.
"C'mon…We should probably get back to the truck," Koji said dejectedly. As much as he didn't approve of Ryu's antics, it was always hard when he was left behind.
"And that's exactly where you're going."
The pair stopped dead in their tracks when they heard the familiar voice. They slowly turned around to see Mako standing behind them with his arms across his chest. Under his hood, they could just make out the angry scowl behind his glasses.
"H, Hi Papa…" Mari said sheepishly as she shrank under his gaze. Koji slid himself behind her to shield himself from the angry Fetchling.
"Hello sir," he managed.
"Papa I—" Mari was about to explain and instantly stopped when he turned up his hand.
"Not a word Mari. We are going to have a serious discussion about this once everyone is back in the truck," he firmly stated.
Mari hung her head, knowing she'd disappointed him.
"Where's Ryu?" he continued.
"He uhhh…He stole a car and took off down the street sir," Koji answered as he pointed down the road.
"Terrific…" the man grumbled under his breath. "You two go straight to the truck. No detours."
"Yes Papa…" Mari frowned and the two teens started the sullen death march back to the vehicle. They paused when Mako called to them.
"Mari. Give me Juji."
She turned back and held the bird out to him. Juji squabbled and flailed his claws as he tried to grab him. Several shallow lacerations later, he finally gave up.
"Just let him go," he finally huffed.
Mari obliged and Juji immediately flapped into the air in the same direction they had seen Ryu go. The bird was essentially a homing beacon for its master. Mako kept his eyes on it as he chased it down the street.
Ryu carefully drove through the streets of the town. He didn't want to get caught before he had a chance to race so he was being cautious. The only problem was, he wasn't familiar with the town and was having a hard time finding his way back to the abandoned basin. He knew it was on the west side, but that was all he could remember. It was when he was sitting at a stop light that another car pulled up next to him. In the passenger seat was one of the boys from the basin.
"Hey! Hey!" the boy shouted at him.
Ryu rolled down his window.
"Look at this Lakota! Bird-boy found a car!"
The driver looked past his friend.
"Impressive. Ready for that race little man?" Lakota shouted with a grin and revved his engine.
"You know it." Ryu revved his own engine in response. Ahead of them, the lanes were clear. He focused on the road and waited for the light to turn green. As soon as it switched, tires squealed and the car lurched forward as he slammed on the gas. When he was blocks away, he glanced in his side mirror at his opponent. They were far in the distance barely moving. A scowl furrowed his brow. It had been a trick. They had baited him and he fell for it. Red and blue lights suddenly appeared behind him. The local cops. He was already going to be in trouble for leaving the truck and stealing a car. The Chief was definitely going to kill him if he got arrested.
"Who cares! He's not my papa!" he angrily repeated the words he had told Mari earlier. The vehicle slid around a corner as he cranked the wheel. Several other Satomobiles swerved out of the way as he sped past. It wasn't the first time he'd had to elude the police. Enough turns and he could ditch the car, then be home free. Except that it wasn't Republic City. There weren't enough streets or alleys to turn on to. He soon found himself on a long stretch of road that seemed to head out of the small city. As thrilling as the little chase had been, he wasn't going to get far out in the middle-of-nowhere and he knew it. He huffed and let off the gas. The cops quickly caught-up to him as the Satomobile slowed to a stop. Then, he climbed out with his hands in the air. He didn't even struggle as the cops cuffed him and shoved him in the back of one of their cruisers.
Juji flew around in circles seemingly lost. Either that, or Mako had overestimated the bird's ability to find their owner. He'd been chasing the pest for the better part of an hour to no avail. Whether he found Ryu or not, he was going to have to stop soon, otherwise his legs were going to give-out. He could run longer at slower speeds but even then, there was a limit. Suddenly, Juji picked a heading and started making a beeline over the buildings. Fortunately, the town was quiet with very few pedestrians to get in the way as he picked-up the chase.
Juji lead him to a mid-sized brick structure in the middle of the city. The bird disappeared around the rear while he paused at the front. "Police" was carved into the archway over the doors. Of course. He walked into the building and straight to the officer behind the receptionist desk. They acknowledged him with a wary smile.
"I'm looking for a kid named Ryu that may have been brought in. Fourteen years old. Smart mouth." The jab slipped out. He was simply too frustrated and angry at this point.
"Our little car thief. He lead us on a merry chase. Are you his parent or guardian?" the receptionist asked.
"More or less. I'm with the Republic City police and he's currently in my custody," he answered. The receptionist raised a skeptical eyebrow at him.
"Supposed to be in my custody. He slipped away from me," he hastily corrected. As additional proof, he pulled his badge from his pocket and flashed it at them making sure to place his fingers strategically over the horns on his photo. "On behalf of my precinct, I'll pay for whatever damages he's caused and take him out of your city."
The receptionist scrutinized the badge for a moment.
"Okay. It's one hundred yuans for his bail and an additional twenty-five hundred for damages," they stated.
Mako couldn't believe the amount. Even though he'd said it would be paid on behalf of the precinct, he couldn't charge that to the city. They didn't even know he had Ryu. The kid was going to cost him nearly three grand out-of-pocket. He kept his composure as he addressed the receptionist.
"Let me make the necessary calls," he said. He calmly walked out of the precinct and down the street for several meters before breaking into a run. He had to get back to The Rampage. He could get the money, but he wasn't happy about how he was going to have to do it.
In the precinct, the receptionist chatted to one of their associates.
"That's a new one," they began. "That boy we picked up for stealing that car. Apparently, he's from Republic City in the custody of their Chief of Police. He was just in here flashing his fancy badge. Says he'll pay for the damages if we release him back to his custody."
"Why would Republic City's Police Chief be way out here?" the other officer asked.
"Who knows what those big city folks are up to," the receptionist flippantly replied.
The conversation was overheard by a third officer. The man quietly rushed out of the precinct to the nearest phone booth where his fingers quickly flipped through the dial.
"Hello. Assistant Shouma speaking," the voice over the line politely answered.
"I have news. A boy was arrested earlier tonight and the Police Chief from Republic City came looking for him," the officer explained.
"One moment. Let me transfer you to another line," the polite voice responded. The officer waited several moments while the call was redirected. Then the voice returned.
"Idiot!" Any signs of proper etiquette disappeared. "Don't just spout information like that! Anyone could have overheard! Now. This boy you have. He's traveling with Chief Mako? Are you certain?"
"I didn't see him myself but the receptionist—they saw his badge and-"
"He's The Fetchling! He wouldn't be that hard to miss!" Shouma growled over the line. Then he took a deep breath to calm himself. "Do you still have this boy?"
"For now. The Chief is supposed to be coming back for him," the officer answered.
"Hold on to him. Don't hand him over to anyone. I'm sending someone that way to check things out." The officer winced as the other end was slammed in his ear.
Meanwhile, Mako had made his own call; specifically to his personal doctor, Aki. She hadn't been happy when he had explained what he needed, but she eventually agreed to help. Her advice lead him to the more rundown side of the city. A small, plain, wooden box sat on the passenger seat as he drove through the dilapidated district.
In the back seat, Koji and Mari were in their customary spots. They were still in trouble for disobeying him and sat quietly while he scanned the sidewalks. It wasn't long before he spotted what he was looking for. Tucked in a dark alleyway was a man dressed in an equally dark coat. Mako wouldn't have even seen him had he not been searching for him. He slowly pulled the truck to a stop next to the alley.
"I'm sure I don't need to tell you two not to move," he said as he looked back at the teens. They both silently nodded. He readjusted his hood, then slid open the lid of the box making sure Koji couldn't see. It was filled with blue chips; scales he'd either shed or broken over the years. He reached in and took out several of the nicest ones. He hated what he was about to do but he didn't have any alternatives at the moment. As an officer of the law, he couldn't just break the kid out of jail like he might have done in the past. However, he wasn't entirely above bending the law when needed. Scales in hand, he climbed out of the truck and walked over to the shady man.
"Are you Ren?" he asked.
The man gave him a wary glance before he answered. "Depends who wants to know."
"Doesn't matter who I am," he stated. "Do you want the goods or not?"
Ren's eyes darted up and down the street. "Let's see what you've got," the man finally said once he was sure the area was clear. His eyes went wide when Mako dropped the blue chips into his waiting hands.
"Blue even. Very nice. I can give you one thousand for the lot," Ren stated as he examined the scales.
"What?!" Mako's face contorted into a scowl. "You and I both know they're worth three times that amount."
"It's a tough market," Ren shrugged as he stuffed the scales into his pocket. "I'll be lucky to get half that from the jewelers."
Mako slammed the crook against the brick wall and bent a flame dagger over his opposite fist. He was in no mood to be jerked around.
"Three thousand or it's no deal," he snarled. Suddenly, he felt something pierce his coat. He looked down to see that Ren had tried to stab him with a short knife. However, the blade hadn't gotten far as it hit his hidden tail instead of anything vital. He shifted his angry glare back to the man who went pale under his gaze.
"You're him aren't you?" Ren nervously swallowed as the knife clattered on the ground. "That's how you came across those scales."
Dragon-scale jewelry was extremely desired by high-society, especially in the Fire Nation. The pieces, everything from earrings to necklaces, were a sign of wealth and status. They became even more valuable after dragons were hunted to near extinction during the hundred year war. Thanks to the efforts from former Fire Lord Zuko, the dragon population was slowly recovering, but they were still endangered. It forced the acquisition and exchange of such items into the hands of poachers and black market traders.
Because Mako's scales were essentially dragon, they were equally coveted in the underground markets. Even more so than normal scales in most cases. Partially because blue scales were extremely rare and partially because he kept good care of his scales. They were always in better condition than anything from an actual dragon. Anyone that was able to get their hands on The Fetchling's scales was guaranteed to find instant wealth.
Mako pressed the man harder into the wall, the flame blade at the crook's throat. "The price just went up to four thousand," he stated. Ren didn't argue and quickly pulled the money from his pocket.
Mako returned to The Rampage four thousand yuans richer. Despite the instant wealth, he hated selling his scales as the thought of complete strangers wearing them as jewelry, disgusted him. It was only when he was in desperate need of money, like now, that he even considered the option. At least he was able to find a dealer in the small city.
"You two didn't see anything in that alley understand?" Mako stated to the teens as he started the engine. They both nodded in response. The selling of "dragon parts" was highly regulated. He skirted those laws because he was a Fetchling and not a dragon. However, dealing with the fences that traded in the normally poached goods was borderline illegal. It was always a risk when he had to barter with one.
The doors to the police station were locked by the time he returned. He peered through a small window to the overnight dispatch officer. They gave him a brief glance before they came to the door.
"We're closed," the officer firmly stated.
"Look, I'm just here to pick up the kid. Let me give you the money I promised and we'll be on our way," he said, hoping he could get this whole ordeal over with.
"Sorry. Unless it's an emergency, these doors don't open until morning," the officer replied.
"Morning! You can't keep a minor overnight!" Mako snapped. Even in this small city he was pretty sure the laws were consistent.
"I've got my orders," the officer simply stated, then went back to their station.
He was still grumbling to himself when he returned to the rear of The Rampage.
"No Ryu huh sir?" Koji said, finally finding the courage to speak.
"They won't release him until morning. We're going to have to stay here until then," Mako answered with an aggravated huff. While he made himself comfortable on his floor cushion, Koji and Mari both cautiously climbed into the back and settled into their respective beds. He was just about to close his eyes when Koji spoke.
"Sir? I know you're mad at us, and Ryu, about everything but…" the boy paused as he thought about his next words. "There's a reason that Ryu has a rap sheet and I don't." Then he pulled his blanket around his shoulder and sunk into his cot.
Mako took a moment to digest what Koji had told him before going to sleep.
Ryu laid in his cot in the small jail cell with Juji. He stroked the bird's feathers while it rested on his chest. Somehow, it had snuck into the precinct unseen and had squeezed through the bars to join him in his cage. The few other cells that lined the room were empty. Probably not a lot of crime in the small city.
"Guess being the Avatar doesn't mean much eh Juji?" Ryu quietly moped. Since the Chief hadn't come to retrieve him, he was pretty sure he was being abandoned…again. "Looks like it's just going to be you and me again." That worked for him. He did just fine on his own and didn't need anyone else, right?
Juji replied with a contented gurgle. Ryu continued to pet the bird until a shadow seeped over the cell's lone, narrow window. A distorted face, with a round yellow eye, came into view and blocked any moonlight.
"Are you the Avatar?" Bufo's thick voice croaked at him.
Juji took the the air as Ryu quickly scampered from his cot to the cell bars. "Hey. Hey! There's a monster down here!" he hollered, hoping there was still a guard or someone nearby to help him. No one answered. "Heyyyy!"
"No one's coming to help you," Bufo stated. The thick, reinforced glass window melted to goo as he licked it. Then, he launched his tongue through the narrow opening into the small cage.
Ryu ducked, and it whizzed over his head into the bars behind him. The metal sizzled as the acid ate away at the poles. It gave him an idea. He got back to his feet and planted his back against the bars. Bufo was going to be the perfect escape plan.
"Over here Bufo!" he taunted, and dodged when Bufo attacked again. Another bar melted to goo. His plan was working but not fast enough. The bars only had narrow gaps where the tongue had hit them.
"Hold still," Bufo angrily croaked. Another strike with his tongue and another dodge. There was a loud clatter as a chunk of bar fell to the floor. Unfortunately, the resulting hole wasn't large enough for Ryu to fit through. It also clued Bufo in on what he was trying to do.
"Little sneak," Bufo scowled. He stopped attacking and began forcing himself through the narrow hole. The concrete around the small window slowly expanded as Bufo's acidic skin ate away at it.
Ryu had nowhere to run as the toadman began to impossibly squeeze himself into the small cell. He wasn't about to go down without a fight though. He threw several fire fists which all fizzled ineffectually against Bufo's hide. The toadman just grinned as he shoved his head and right arm through.
"Now I've got you," he gleefully croaked.
Ryu pressed himself against the bars and nervously watched as the toadman began forcing the rest of his body into the cramped space. All the while, Juji was flapping outside the cell squawking and hissing. Suddenly, the Fetchling's eyes went wide and, an instant later, he was pulled backwards out of the gap. Then, a familiar voice came through the opening.
"You okay in there Kid?"
"Chief?" Ryu peered out the window to see the Chief confronting Bufo. The toadman was just getting back to his feet after apparently being tossed aside by the other Fetchling.
"We're okay," he answered as Juji returned to his shoulder. He was relieved, and a little surprised, to see the Chief. He didn't think the man would bother with him after his little stunt. Nobody else did.
"Good, because you're going to be in big trouble once I get you out of there," the Chief stated, although the tone of his voice was tilted just enough that Ryu knew he was actually worried about him.
Bufo glared at Mako from where he was squatting against the ground. He was debating with himself whether he wanted to tangle with The Fetchling again.
Meanwhile, Mako was poised and ready for any attack from the toadman. He returned Bufo's glare with a determined scowl from behind his glasses. The pending fight was interrupted when several officers ran out of the building. Apparently, two Fetchlings fighting in their backyard was enough of an emergency to constitute opening the doors.
"Halt! You're both under…arrest…" the first officer's bravado instantly faded when he saw the monstrosity nestled on the ground.
"Get down!" Mako shouted. He dashed forward and shoved the lead officer out of the way, the others taking cover, when Bufo launched a barrage of acid balls at them. The wads hit the wall behind them leaving sizzling craters in the concrete bricks.
"Thank y—" The lead officer was stunned into silence when he looked up at the horned figure that had just saved his life. He couldn't say anything else as the individual raced off to confront the other monster.
Mako launched a series of fire fists at Bufo. The toadman used his acid to sink deeper into the ground leaving the flames to evaporate against the exposed, slime-covered hide of his back. Then, he countered by spitting more acid balls. The troupe of officers were still behind him so Mako couldn't dodge. Instead, he spun his arms around and bent a disc of fire to block the attack. The goo balls dissolved as they were eaten by the blue flames. Both combatants knew there was only one resolution to the stalemate. Mako let his tail fall from his coat, the fur standing on end, as he began to bend lightning.
Bufo's eyes went wide as he realized what was coming. He frantically dug into the soil and was sufficiently buried by the time Mako finally released his attack. The lightning scorched the ground where Bufo had been but failed to reach its target.
Mako kept a lookout for the toadman as he addressed the officers. "Are any of you Firebenders?" he asked, ignoring the fact that the officers were giving him the same wide-eyed stare they had given Bufo. His appearance was the least of his concerns at the moment. "Can any of you bend lightning? It's the only way to get rid of this guy."
"I…I can bend lightning," a young officer stammered as she nervously raised her hand.
"This is what I want you to do. I'm going to draw him out and I want you to zap him. Don't hold back!" he ordered, taking charge of the group. "Everyone else stay clear and don't let him hit you with his tongue or spit."
"Mako!"
He spun around when he heard Ryu yell. Through the narrow window he saw Bufo. The toadman had tunneled through the ground straight into the boy's cell.
"Hang on Kid!" He slid across the grass, lashed his tail through the opening, and snagged Bufo's thick neck. His boots scraped the concrete as he braced his feet against the outer wall in an effort to hold Toadman who was desperately trying to escape the chokehold.
"Zap him now!" Mako hollered to the professed Lightningbender. "I can't hold him for long!" Even using his Firebending to counter the acid, he could see it slowly eating away at his scales.
The woman quickly swung her arms around and sent a lightning bolt through the opening. A loud gurgling came from Toadman as he was electrocuted while Mako did his best to resist the pain going up his tail. After several agonizing moments, toadman went limp and the officer stopped. Mako loosened his tail and the other Fetchling fell to the floor mere centimeters from Ryu.
"Now can I take the kid and get out of here?" Mako huffed from where he was awkwardly laying in the grass.
All the officers emphatically nodded in unison.
The officers didn't bother with any paperwork and simply released Ryu back into his custody. Clearly they wanted to wash their hands of the entire mess. However, Mako still gave them all the money he had gotten from selling his scales. They were probably going to need it to repair the damages from the attack. As for Bufo, by the time they were finished with the exchange, he was gone from the cell. It wasn't a complete surprise. Unless they could keep him electrified, which was unlikely in the small town, he was going to escape. Bufo's appearance however was proof that his decision to go on the run had been a wise one. If the assassin could find them in such a backwater town, he could find them just about anywhere.
After all was said and done, Mako lead the boy and his pet, back to The Rampage where Mari and Koji were waiting.
"Man, am I glad you're back," Koji said when he saw his friend.
Ryu stayed quiet and slumped sullenly in his seat while Mako took the wheel. He'd address what had happened later. Right now, he wanted to put as much distance between them and the assassin as he could.
While he drove into the early morning, he let the teens sleep. Once he felt they were far enough away from the city, he pulled the vehicle to a stop in a small alcove hidden down an abandoned dirt trail. That's when he woke the teens. All of them remained quiet for the scolding they knew was coming.
"What happened in that city is exactly why I don't want the three of you wandering off alone," Mako began, keeping his voice level. "I don't know how Bufo found us, but I don't think he's acting alone. Someone in that town likely tipped him off. All of us need to be careful." He turned the last statement directly at Ryu. The boy refused to look at him and had his arms folded stubbornly across his chest. "It's a good thing I sensed Bufo before he got to you."
"Whatever…" Ryu mumbled. The kid certainly didn't seem grateful after Mako had essentially saved his life for the third time. Or was it fourth now.
His brow furrowed into an angry scowl at the attitude thrown at him. "Outside. Now!" he stated as he climbed out of his seat, slamming the door behind him. Ryu hesitated briefly before leaving Juji behind and following the man.
"Papa's really mad…" Mari frowned once the pair was gone.
Ryu went to the rear of the vehicle where the Chief was waiting. The Fetchling's tail was flicking almost uncontrollably behind him and his arms were folded squarely across his chest. Ryu kept his eyes on the ground as he leaned his back against the truck.
"Kid. Do you have any idea how terrified I was when I saw Bufo going after you?" The Chief stated, his voice more worried than angry. It definitely wasn't how Ryu was expecting the lecture to begin. Normally they started with yelling and accusations or disappointed frowns. "I thought for sure that I was going to have to start looking for the next Avatar."
Ryu scoffed. "That's the only reason you came back for me isn't it? Because I'm the Avatar," he angrily shot back. The man gave him a surprised look.
The Chief shook the disheveled end of his tail at him. Several scales, and a chunk of the fur, had been destroyed by Bufo's acid. "Do you honestly think I risked my literal tail for you because you're the Avatar? I did it because I didn't want you to get hurt. Anymore than I would Mari or Koji."
Ryu looked shamefully to the ground as the man continued.
"I'm doing my best to protect all of you, but I need your help. It's clear that Koji will follow you anywhere and it seems Mari is starting to do the same."
"I didn't tell them to follow me," Ryu grumped.
The Chief huffed at the interruption. "That just means that not only do they see you as a friend, but a leader which is why I need your help. I can't have you going off stealing cars and getting arrested. Think about what would have happened if Koji had ended up in jail. Or Mari." It should be obvious that a Fetchling getting arrested would have dire consequences.
Ryu stared the man square in the eyes. "I wouldn't have let that happen," he firmly countered.
"That's basically what Koji told me," the Chief replied. "So it's obvious you know what you're doing is wrong. What's also obvious is you're concerned about your friends. That leaves me with one final question—Why? Why take the risk?"
"I don't know…" Ryu mumbled.
"Not good enough Kid."
"I DON'T KNOW!" Ryu shouted in the Chief's face. "Nobody else cared! Why do you?!"
The Chief looked surprised for a moment. Then his expression softened.
"After all this time I would think that would be obvious…" the Chief replied.
Ryu's eyes went to the ground again. Shizuku and Mako had been unlike any other adults he'd met in the past. It seemed like they genuinely cared about him and he didn't feel like a burden around them. For the first time, he actually felt guilty for being so obstinate towards the Chief.
"One of the families that fostered me…they had an actual son, Morai," he began. "We would sneak out at night and I would act as lookout while he jacked cars for joyrides. He taught me how to cook locks and hot-wire and stuff. One night I messed-up and the cops caught us. Morai put all the blame on me. Said I made him do it. I ended up getting charged and Morai got off with nothing. I was the troublemaker foster kid. I was the reason Morai was stealing cars. My new so-called 'family' dumped me after that." He kicked at the ground. "Everybody does in the end…At least if I steal cars, they have a reason to."
The Chief placed a hand on his head. "I'm not everyone."
He couldn't help himself and threw his arms around the man's chest.
"Why Mako? Why did my parents abandon me?" he blurted. He kept his face buried to block the tears he felt welling in his eyes.
Mako was surprised by the sudden embrace. Despite his "loner" act, it was obvious the kid just wanted a family.
"I don't…" He paused and took a deep breath. It was the same question he'd had to answer for Mari. The difference here was, he had no idea why Ryu's real parents had left him at an orphanage. However, he could give the boy a similar promise as the one he had made to his granddaughter. "I can't answer that Ryu. All I can tell you is, Avatar or not, I'm not about to leave you behind."
Ryu quickly hid a sniffle as he pulled himself away. "Thanks Chief…"
Mako was pretty sure the kid was thanking him for more than just his promise not to abandon him. "But don't think that this means you're off the hook," he stated. Whatever his reasons, the kid had still caused quite the stir. "You're still in trouble for this mess. I can't exactly ground you but you're going to scrub The Rampage from bumper to bumper. Inside and out."
"Fine, Chief," Ryu said with a slight smile.
"Good. Now let's get back inside so I can tell Mari and Koji that they'll be sharing your punishment," Mako said as he lead the way back to the cab.
"But…I'm the one that stole the car and got arrested," Ryu said as he hustled to catch-up. "Why are they getting punished?"
"Remember what you said? They didn't have to follow you," he answered. "They have to take responsibility for their own choices and all three of you disobeyed me. I'm still the one in charge around here, don't forget that," he finished with a firm smile.
Mako walked into the small post office, his long coat covering his features, and casually stepped up to the desk clerk.
"I'm here to pick-up an envelope. Under the name Azura," he said. He often used the name of the spirit that had cursed him as an alias.
The clerk gave him a suspicious glance as they tried to look under his hood.
"Azura? That's an odd name," the clerk said while they rifled through their parcels. Their tone indicated that it was specifically odd for a man.
"It was my grandmother's. She died the same day I was born," Mako patiently stated. That excuse was usually enough to quell any further inquiries. The story worked this time too as the clerk went silent while they resumed their search. They eventually produced a large manilla envelope and slid it across the counter.
"Here we are uhhh…sir," the clerk abashedly said, now too embarrassed to look at him.
"Thanks," Mako politely replied as he left with his parcel.
A nearby phone booth was his next stop. He pinched the receiver to his ear with his shoulder while he looked through the paperwork in the envelope.
"Hello?" A pleasant voice came over the line.
"Shizu, it's me," he stated, hoping she could hear the happiness in his voice. It had been a while since he'd spoken with her.
"Chief. It, It's so good to hear your voice. I m, miss you," Shizuku said.
"I miss you too," he replied.
"I'm a, assuming you got the paperwork?" she asked. He was a little confused by her directness as it was unusual for her to get straight to business.
"Big plans?" he asked as he continued to examine the papers. It was the most likely reason she wasn't being her normal, chatty self.
"Oh, just one of my b, boyfriends is coming over and h, he gets jealous," Shizuku joked.
"Uh-huh," Mako remarked before he returned to the real reason for his call. "Yes, I got the paperwork. Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I've already signed everything," she answered. "T, The question is…Are you sure?"
"No turning back now." He slid the papers back into the envelope. "I would say it was my idea to begin with, but something tells me you were expecting this."
"Me? N, Noooo." Her sarcasm was evident.
"Anyway. I should get back to the kids before they get into trouble. Have fun with your date," he finished with a smile.
"I'll tell Kazumi you send your love," Shizuku replied. Their daughter was the real reason for the abbreviated conversation.
He climbed behind the wheel of The Rampage where the teens were waiting for him.
"Here." He tossed the envelope onto Ryu's lap and inadvertently on Juji. The bird squawked at him from beneath the rectangle.
"What's this?" Ryu asked as he opened the flap and pulled out the papers. His eyes went wide when he realized what they were.
"It's official. Shizuku and I are now your guardians…legally," Mako answered.
"Really?" Ryu said in disbelief.
Mari peeked over from the rear seat. "Does that mean Ryu is my brother now?" she said excitedly.
"What it means is, the next time he decides to steal a car, he'll have to answer to your Nana Zu and you know she's scarier than me," Mako smiled back at her.
"That's awesome! Congrats Ryu!" Koji said.
Ryu momentarily smiled as he looked at the papers. Then his tough guy act returned. "I'm not going to call you 'Papa' though," he stated.
"Don't expect you to Kid," Mako replied with a lopsided smile.