Episode 2-Awakening
It had been four years since that day, Tozan was now 8 years old and in the middle of a training session. He was in the White Lotus compound in the South Pole standing in a dueling tatami wearing protective gear, in front of him was another 8 year old girl water tribe girl in the same gear, Korra, between them were a White Lotus instructor and other apprentices watching the match.
"You both know the rules but I shall repeat them once again. The match ends when your opponent is knocked down. No excessive force, no attacking when your opponent is on the ground and no bending elements besides the one you are allowed to, I am looking at you Korra." The instructor said, pointing at Korra.
"It was just one time!" Korra tried to defend herself, making Tozan chuckle a little.
"Show respect!" The White Lotus said, then Tozan and Korra respectfully bowed to each other. "BEGIN!"
Korra made the first move. She bended a stream of water out of one of the vases nearby and launched a jet of it at Tozan. He burned it away with a fire stream and followed up with a fireball at Korra's torso but she managed to extinguish it with a water wall. She then send some water to Tozan's feat and tried to freeze them but he managed to somersault out just in time to escape and do an axe-kick that send a small fire column in Korra's direction, which she barely dodged by rolling out of the way.
They continued like this back and forth for a while, gaining gasps of awe from the other students watching and making the instructor impressed at their control of the elements at such a young age. They were at their last legs, Korra already was on her last vase and Tozan had exhausted most of his chi, this would be the deciding moment. Tozan moved first, he gained some speed and then launched himself into the air and pointed a fist at Korra's face. Korra made a water shield to protect her upper body but Tozan did something unexpected. He let himself fall to the ground, catching Korra off guard and that was all it took for him to swap her legs and make her fall to the floor. With her concentration lost, the water she was bending fell right on her face making her close her eyes. When she openned then again Tozan's fist was just inches from her face and she could also the smug smile he was making.
"That is enough! Tozan is the winner!" The instructor declared.
"Yes! I am the man!" Tozan said, throwing his hands in the air.
"Low blow, that last one wasn't even a bending move." Korra said, annoyed, as she got up.
"You are just mad because I am up 1 win."
"No way! We are even! It was 20-19 to me!"
"You are crazy! It was 20-20!"
"Enough!" The instructor yelled, annoyed at their antics. "You will show your opponent respect!"
"Sorry instructor." Tozan said, the offered a friendly hand to Korra. "Good fight Korra. Sorry I was a bit of sore winner."
"Yeah, you too. Sorry for being a sore loser." She said, shaking his hand. They smiled at each other, having made up.
"Okay, that will be all for today. Dismissed!"
Having been dismissed Korra and Tozan made their way out with the rest of the students, who all commented how awesome their fight was. When they were all out, an elderly man with long white hair appeared and walked up to the instructor.
"So, what do you think?" The older man asked the instructor.
"The boy shows great promise grandmaster. His talent for bending is equal only to Korra's, he is also disciplined and show's maturity beyond his years."
"So, do you think is wise to pick him as one of the candidates for future grandmaster?"
"… Yes. Yes, I do."
In Kya's home, she and Tozan were eating lunch while Katara was away training Korra in some new waterbending stances.
"So how was training today."
"You should have seen it mom! I kicked Korra's butt today!"
"Was it really that one sided?" Kya asked with an accusing look.
"Okay, maybe it was more of a close call but I still won!"
"Of course you did sweetie." She said, patting his head.
While they were chatting and enjoying their meal the door from the living room opened to reveal the elderly man in White Lotus robes.
"Grandmaster Cheng!" Tozan said, getting up and bowing to the elder.
"At ease Tozan. I am in your house, I am the one that should be bowing. Sorry for the intrusion." He said, bowing to Kya.
"Not a problem. We just finished lunch but if you are hungry I could make you a plate."
"No, I could never intrude like that. I am here because I have a rather important subject to discuss with you two."
"What is it? Is it about Tozan?"
"Yes. Tozan, I am happy to say that you have been selected to participate in an initiative to train future grandmaster of the order."
"REALLY!WOW!" Tozan exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. Kya however, seemed more apprehensive.
"And what does that entail exactly?"
"Well, he would have private tutors that would train him in more advanced forms of bending, as well as the history of the order and the duties of a grandmaster … Also we think it'd be good if he spent the summers in Republic City as Tenzin's assistant."
"WHAT!? WHY WOULD HE HAVE TO DO THAT!?" Kya screamed, not wanting to send her son so far away.
"Well, being his assistant would give Tozan first hand experience of how a council works and one of the duties of the White Lotus is to preserve airbending culture and Tenzin could teach him about it, so … 2 vulture-bees with one stone." The elder smiled nervously and Kya responded with a piercing glare, making him gulp. "Look, Miss Kya I know it's very big news but I honestly believe Tozan will benefit from it … However you are his mother and I shall respect your wishes."
Kya thought about it, leaning towards a no but Tozan looked at her with big pleading eyes and quivering lips and she just couldn't say no.
"Okay, fine." She sighed.
"YES! Thanks mom!" Tozan said, giving Kya a big hug.
"We shall communicate with master Tenzin at once."
Some days later Tozan, Kya, Katara and Korra were outside the compound watching as Tenzin's bison, Oogi, landed near them. Tozan, always the animal lover, ran to Oogi and started petting him.
"Oogi! I missed you!" He said rubbing his face on the fur. The bison seemed to be enjoying it also.
After a while, he felt a familiar hand touch his shoulder and turned around to see his uncle.
"I am getting a little jealous, it's like you didn't missed me at all." Tenzin said in a playful tone.
"Of course I did uncle Tenzin." Tozan said and hugged his uncle.
"Are you ready for our trip?"
"Yes sir!" Tozan confirmed, showing his to go bag.
Korra then approached Tozan and Katara and Kya approached Tenzin.
"It's not fair you get to go to Republic City while I get stuck here!" Korra pouted.
"Come on, lighten up. I will bring you some sweets when I come back."
"… They'd better be good sweets."
"You bet!" Tozan then high-fived Korra.
"You better take care of my kid or the beating I will give you will make you wish we were kids again." Kya said, poking Tenzin's chest.
"I-I am not scared of you … anymore." Tenzin said, trying to hide the fear he was feeling. He wasn't doing a very good job.
"Kya, leave your brother alone. I am sure he will take very good care of Tozan." Katara said, helping Tenzin relax a little. "With that being said, if you don't I will help Kya with the beating." She concluded, tensing Tenzin right back.
"Y-YES MA'AM!" He said, with a tense body.
Tozan then hugged his mom and grandmother goodbye.
"You better write us every day, okay?"
"I will, mom. I love you."
"Love you too, sweetie."
Ending the hug and waving a last goodbye to Korra, Tozan got up Oogi's saddle with Tenzin airbending him to the top. Tenzin himself then took the reins and the two went to Republic City.
"Man, this is gonna be great. I get to leave the Pole for a while, fly with Oogi and finally see Republic City. Hey, I just realized I am going to be one of the guys that run the place!" Tozan said, watching the scenery at the edge of the saddle.
"Settle down Tozan. You are not going to run Republic City, you will be a councilman assistant, my assistant." Tenzin explained.
"Then I get to work for the guy that runs the city!"
"Councilmen do have some influence but I wouldn't say we run the city … Anyway, I want you to know that it won't be all fun and games. I expect you to keep up with your lessons and help around the house … especially with Jinora, she is going through the terrible twos."
"Yes sir!" Responded the still excited Tozan.
Even though he did hear what Tenzin said, he couldn't help but be excited. This was the first time he left the Pole and he was going to one the biggest city in the world, at least from the books he read. He didn't think anything could damper his mood.
He was soon proven wrong however when he went to his first council meeting. He didn't exactly know what to expect but he never imagined it would be this boring. It had been almost two hours of boring talks about regulations, new law clauses and stuff like that. It took everything in him not to fall asleep right then and there.
"Now then, let's talk discuss possible solutions for the gang problems in the city." Said the Fire Nation councilwoman.
That got Tozan's interest. He then very discreetly thug on Tenzin's robe and whispered in his ear.
"What does she mean by gang problems uncle Tenzin?"
But instead of Tenzin, the one who answered was a man in Water Tribe clothes with three ponytails.
"Seems like we finally got your attention young man." He said, making Tozan embarrassed.
"Apologies for my nephew councilman Tarrlock. He was just inquiring about the gangs issues."
"Well young man if you must know, unfortunately there are some bad benders that are causing troubles for our dear town. They gather in groups and terrorize the non-bending population."
"They sound like really bad guys."
"They are. But the worst of them are the groups called the Agni Kais, Triple Threat, Red Monson and Terra Triads."
"If you know who they are why don't you just take them down?"
"It's a little more complicated than that Tozan." Tenzin started explaining. "There are just too many of them and their leaders always manage to be one step ahead of the law. Without hard evidence there is not much we can do."
"But you know they are bad guys uncle Tenzin."
"We do. Unfortunately knowing something doesn't always mean you can prove it."
Although Tozan still had questions he decided to keep then for himself and instead tried to pay attention to what the adults were saying, even though some of it was very boring.
The next day Tozan went for a walk in the city with Tenzin's wife, Pema. They stopped at a very nice park near main street.
"Thanks for taking me to see the city aunt Pema."
"Don't mention. I couldn't let the only times you get out of the house be for those meetings, I know they can be a real snooze fest."
"They are not that bad." He said, trying to sound genuine.
"You don't have to lie. This is a great city and, no matter how grown up you try to act, you are still a kid, so go and have some fun. But stay where I can see you." She said, sitting in a nearby bench.
"Thanks aunt Pema." Tozan then hugged his aunt and then ran to explore the park.
After running around for a while, he saw a tree and decided to try to climb it. The South Pole didn't have many trees but the training compound had climbing walls and he was the fastest in his class. He jumped, got a hold of one of the branches and started making his way up, the feeling of adrenaline almost addictive. A few minutes later reached the tallest branch of the tree and he just sat there enjoying the view. From there he could see the entire park and even some parts of the city. Watching it all, he just had one thing to say:
"Pretty."
He closed his eyes and enjoyed the tranquil atmosphere. Tenzin told him that airbenders always tried to be in tune with nature and the flow of the universe, and now he understood why, it was pretty cool. Just as he was about to get in the zone however a scream broke his concentration.
"GIVE IT BACK!"
He opened his eyes and looked down to find a raven haired little girl in a white outdoors white dress, being bulled by three older, taller boys. They had taken the girl's doll, throwing it amongst themselves and laughing as the girl tried to catch it.
"Ooo, what? Little baby is gonna cry?" One of the boys mocked as the girl started to tear up. That crossed a line for Tozan.
"HEY!" He yelled, making everyone look up to see the strange kid on the tree. Tozan then made his way down, jumping from branch to branch until he landed right between the girl and the bullies.
"You guys better leave her alone!"
"Oh yeah? Or what?" The main bully asked, shoving Tozan.
Tozan stared the boy down then looked up and roared, a breath of fire coming of his mouth. That earned terrified looks from the boys and a look of amazement from the girl.
"Or the next one is gonna be at you!"
"HE IS A BENDER! RUN!"
The boys ran away with their tails between their legs, dropping the doll in the process. Tozan then took the doll and offered it back to the girl.
"Here."
She took the doll and thanked him, making Tozan notice she was actually quite pretty, then they just stared at each other in an awkward silence for a while.
"M-My name is Asami." The girl said, blushing.
"Mine is Tozan."
"D-Do you want to play with me?"
" … Sure."
The girl beamed and took Tozan's hand, leading to some places in the park she found fun.
They continued playing until twilight when they heard the voices of their respective adults calling out for them.
"Asami! Time to go home!" Said a pretty woman that looked just like Asami, it was her mom Yasuko.
"You too Tozan."
"Mommy, can't we stay just a little bit longer?" Asami pleaded.
"Sorry honey but it's getting dark." She said, gently taking Asami's hand.
Tozan waved her goodbye, having also taken his aunt's hand, but just as they were about to leave Asami made a request.
"Mommy can Tozan come to our house tomorrow?" She asked with pleading eyes.
"… I don't know honey. We'd have to ask his mom."
"Actually he is my nephew but he doesn't have anything planned for tomorrow so I don't see why not. What do you say Tozan?"
"Ma'am, if it's not a bother to you I would be honored to visit your home." Tozan said, respectfully bowing to Yasuko.
"Well, aren't you a soft spoken little gentleman?" She said with amusement and took out a note pad and pen.
She wrote her address and gave the page to Pema.
"This is our address."
"Thanks. Does 11a.m sound like a good time to drop him by?"
"You can drop him whenever you want, I am always at the house anyway."
"Ahaha, it's settled then. Oh, I am Pema by the way."
"Yasuko Sato. It was very nice meeting you both but we should get going, my husband would go crazy if we didn't get back after dark."
"I completely understand."
The woman shook hands and Yasuko lead Asami back to their satomobile, her daughter waving at Tozan the whole way.
"See you tomorrow Tozan!"
"See you."
When they were finally out of view Pema finally recognized the Sato name. Her husband was the inventor of the Satomobile and the wealthiest man in Republic City. That realization send shivers down her spine.
"What' wrong aunt Pema?"
"O-Oh nothing, let's just go home."
The next day Pema went with Tozan to the address and as he saw the gigantic mansion standing in front of him all he could say was:
"Wow."
The gate then opened to reveal an excited Asami waving at him, with her mother by her side. Yasuko gestured for the boy to come inside and as soon as he did Asami took his hand and started pulling him.
"Come on! I will show you around!"
"O-Okay."
They left two woman alone, which made Pema a little uncomfortable since she was also overwhelmed.
"Would you like to come in for some tea?"
"I-I'd love to, but I left my husband alone with our daughter who is going through the terrible two's."
"Oh, been there. You better go help him then."
"Thanks for the offer though. I will pick him up at seven. If anything happens don't hesitate to call."
"Don't worry, your little boy will be safe."
Asami wanted to show Tozan the pool area but her mom said it'd be better if they had a little lunch before going exploring. They were at the dinner area eating some tea and sandwiches Yasuko prepared.
"Thank you for the food ma'am and sorry for intruding like this."
"You don't have to be so stiff, you are our guest. Think of it as your house."
"Except that your house could fit about 100 of mine." He joked, making Asami and Yasuko giggle. "How many people live here anyway?"
"There are staff that take care of the house, but the only ones that live here are me, Asami and Hiroshi, my husband."
"Then why is it so big?"
"You know, I asked HH
Hiroshi that exact same thing."
"Oh come now, I had to work hard to earn this money. Is it so bad that I like to show it off a little?"
The new voice belonged to a man in a business attire, wearing glasses and a mustache that grew into a beard to the side of his face, it was Hiroshi Sato.
"Daddy!" Asami jumped from her chair and hugged her dad.
Tozan also stood up and went to greet Hiroshi.
"It's a honor to meet you . Thank you for having me in your beautiful house."
"No problem, and you must be that kid Asami wouldn't shut up about."
"Daddy!" Asami went red with embarrassment.
"Ahaha, sorry. But seriously kid, thanks for helping me little girl."
"It was nothing sir."
"Daddy, can I take Tozan to the racing track?"
"You guys have a racing track?"
"Sure, but first finish those sandwiches. Your mom went through the trouble of making them so you should finish it."
"Ok, thanks daddy."
They went back to the table, Asami seating right next to Tozan. Yasuko then approached her husband and put her arm around his shoulder.
"Isn't young love a beautiful thing?" She joked.
"Ok, let's not get ahead of ourselves." Hiroshi responded, a bit frustrated.
"Hahaha."
It was night when four hooded figures approached the mansion grounds in the cover of darkness. They jumped over the stone gate and made their way to the front door. One of them went to the door and successfully managed to lockpick it.
"We are in."
"Awesome! This score is gonna set us for life."
"You ask me, it's about time the Satos started giving back to the community."
"Non-bending scum." 'Spit'
The Sato family and Tozan were peacefully enjoying their dinner, the adults sitting on one side of the table and the kids on another. Tozan then suddenly stopped eating and stared at something behind Hiroshi.
" , are you expecting company?"
"No, I am not." He said, not sure what the kid was talking about.
"Then who are they?" Tozan pointed behind Hiroshi.
He then looked behind to see two strange men standing in the dining room entrance, that realization leaving him horrified. One of the men then pulled some rope.
"Hello folks, sorry to be disturbing your dinner but we are gonna need you to tie yourselves up."
Asami looked at the men and then at her dad with a terrified look. Tozan was also scared but he was trying his best not to show it.
"Just follow my lead. Everything will be okay." Hiroshi said standing up, with the rest following suit.
He calmly approached the man with rope. The man offered the rope to Hiroshi but just as it looked he was gonna get it he sucker punched the intruder in the stomach, knocking the air out of his lungs and making him fall to his knees. The other guy was so surprised at the development that he didn't notice Yasuko sneaking behind him until she broke a vase over his head.
"Let's go!" Hiroshi yelled.
Taking the opportunity of both men being stunned the group ran out of the room, Yasuko pulling Tozan and Asami along while Hiroshi took the lead.
"Where are we going ?" Asked Tozan while they were running up the stairs to the second floor.
"My office! There is a phone there, we can call the police!"
They just made through the last step when they notice two new intruders waiting for them in the second floor.
"Call the cops? Now, we can't have that can we?" One of them asked mockingly and send a fireball at Hiroshi.
Just as the fireball was about to hit though Tozan stepped up and dispersed it with his bending. He then launched two fireballs of his own and, due to the bandits shock of the kid being a bender, they hit their targets straight in the chest, knocking them to the ground.
"You guys go ahead! I will hold them back!"
"Are you crazy kid!? You are coming with us!"
"Mommy is right! You could get hurt!"
"They will just follow after us! Don't worry, I am the best bender in my class!"
"Kid this isn't-" Just as Yasuko was about to retort, she was interrupted by Hiroshi taking her and Asami by the hands and pulling them in the direction of the office.
"Hiroshi, what are you doing!?"
"Daddy, we can't leave him!"
They protested every step of the but he didn't falter. Tozan watched them go until they took a left turn on the hallway disappearing from the view leaving him alone with the two thieves who got back on their foot.
"Kid, I am gonna give you one chance to back down but after that the gloves are off!" The man said with a scowl.
Tozan's response to that was taking a fighting stance. He was not backing down.
"Have it your way then."
Both man launched fireballs at Tozan but he managed to dodge all of them. He may be kid but his teachers were some of the best benders in the world and those guys were second rate at best. He continued dodging their attacks while advancing and when he was close enough, he slid under the legs of one of them positioning himself at their backs. Still on his back, sent fire streams from his legs right at their back, burning some of their clothes.
"Agh! That hurt!"
"Stupid kid!"
They cursed at Tozan, who just smiled cockily. He kept this pattern of dodging and sometimes counterattacking, waiting for the other guys to tire themselves out. The fight seemed to be going in his favor until a fireball hit him from behind, making him lose his footing and fall on all fours. He looked behind and saw the other men they had left in the dining room back on their feet and with them there he was surrounded from all sides.
"You idiots couldn't even deal with one kid?"
"Shut up and help us finish him!"
They started bombarding him with fire attacks. Tozan concentrated on defense, trying his best to dodge or diverse the attacks but he was soon overwhelmed and one particularly strong fireball hit him right in the chest burning his skin. He fell on his back and screamed his lungs out from the pain.
"AAAHHHHHHHH!"
In the office Hiroshi was just putting the phone down, having just finished talking to the police, when he and his family heard the scream.
"They are hurting him!" Asami said, horrified.
"We gotta do something!" Yasuko started heading for the door but her way was blocked by Hiroshi. "What are you doing!? Get out of the way!"
"I am not gonna let you get yourself killed!"
"So are we just supposed to sit here while they kill that boy?!"
"They are not gonna kill him! Look, the police are gonne be here in 10 minutes. We just need to hold out until then."
"I can't believe you are willing to use that sweet boy as bait to those animals!"
"You and Asami are my world and I will do anything to keep you safe!"
"Don't you dare use us as a-" Just as she was about to berate her husband she noticed there one less person in the room. "Where is Asami?"
They then turned to the office door and upon realizing it was open shared looks of horror.
Tozan was crunching on the floor, his hand pressed against the wound on his chest.
"Okay, the boy is done for. Where are the others?"
"They went that way, to the office. Said they were gonna call the cops."
"Oh man, this is not good. We gotta get out of here!"
"We didn't come all this way for nothing! It will be some time before the cops show, we just gotta bust in that room and beat them until they tell us where the money is!"
Before they could do anything though a fireball was sent towards one of thugs's shoulder. It was weak so it didn't do much damage but it still hurt. They turned to see Tozan standing again. Shaky footing and uneasy breathing but with a determined look all the same.
"Where do you think you are going? I can keep this up all night."
They all gave the little boy shocked looks, with some fear mixed in it at the fact that a kid would go to such lengths for people he barely knew.
"You got guts kid, I will give you that! But playtime is over!" The man that Tozan hit yelled, forming a fire dagger in his hand.
"What are you doing!? He is just a little kid!"
"He is a brat that has to learn how to respect his elders." The thug said ready to throw the dagger, but just as he was about to a little body clung to his arm.
"Leave him alone!" Asami said and took a bite of the man's arm.
"AAAH! Get off me you little demon!"
The man managed to shake Asami off and throw her at Tozan. Fortunately he caught her before she was hurt.
"Are you okay?"
'Nods'
"Get behind me!" He said, moving her to his back.
"You are both dead!" The man yelled and then threw the fire dagger.
Tozan knew he couldn't dodge without leaving Asami exposed so he just closed his eyes and waited for the impact … but it never did. After 10 seconds he opened his eyes and he saw a familiar back standing in front of him, it was Yasuko. Tozan and Asami watched in horror as she fell down with a wound in her abdomen from the fire dagger.
"YASUKO!" Hiroshi yelled from behind the kids. "YOU ANIMALS!"
Blinded with rage he ran to the group of intruders, the look in his eyes saying he would kill all of them. However, he didn't manage to come far. When he was in striking distance one of them sent a fire wave at him, which sent him to the wall where he hit his head and fell unconscious.
The thugs then looked ahead to see that Asami was in the floor hugging her mom and crying her heart out and Tozan just standing there with his head held low, his hair covering his eyes.
"This has gone too far man! You just killed that lady, we got to get out of here!"
"I already said we aint leaving empty handed!"
"Shut up." Tozan whispered.
"What did you say kid?" The man who threw the dagger asked.
Tozan then looked to reveal his eyes were now glowing red.
"SHUT UUUUUUUUP!" He yelled with uncontrollable fury and hate and around him seemed to be a storm of wind and fire.
They all fell on their butts and looked at the boy in fear, wondering what was happening. When the storm let up Tozan just looked at them, his hateful red eyes seeming to be piercing their very souls.
The boy then stroke his palm out and a wind blast went in the groups direction, blasting two of them off the floor's railing and making them fall to the ground floor where they lay unconscious. The man who had just killed Asami yelled in panic and sent an enormous torrent of fire at Tozan, hoping to burn the kid to ashes, but Tozan simply extended his hand and, like there was a wall there, the stream parted in half not even touching him.
The boy then sent a upward air draft to the other thug that sent him to the ceiling and after a sideways one that made him hit the wall, completely taking him out of the fight. Now it was just the two of them.
"WHAT ARE YOU!?"
Instead of a response what he got was a fireball right to the chest, followed by a firewhip in his legs making him fall. Tozan didn't let him stay on the ground for long though and used airbending to get him back on his feet then another airdraft to pull him closer just so he could feel another fireball in his stomach with such force his feet left the ground, and they never came back to it as a downward air attack made his face plant on the ground, losing some teeth along with his consciousness
Tozan approached the body of the man and for a while he just stared, but then a fire dagger formed in his hand.
'Do it! Do it! He killed that woman! Was going to kill you! He is a bad man, he deserves it!' A dark voice talked in Tozan's head. He tried not to give it any mind, his mom and uncle always that one should never take a life if they could help it, but the rage inside of him just kept growing and growing.
His hand started going up little by little, all the while the voice kept encouraging him to kill the man. The hand finally reached its apex but just as he was about to bring the dagger down, he heard a voice he thought he'd never hear again.
"TOZAN, NO!" It was Yasuko's voice.
When he heard her Tozan finally snapped out of his rage. His eyes returned to normal and he looked confused, like he didn't know what he was doing until that point, it was kind of a haze. But he left those thoughts aside and looked behind him to see Yasuko in Asami arms, pale and still wounded but alive, though from the looks of her not for long.
"MS. SATO!"
He ran to the girls and kneeled next to them, not exactly sure what to do.
"Thank the spirits you stopped." Yasuko said with a relieved look.
"I am so sorry Ms. Sato, it's my fault. That knife was for me, you got hurt because I wasn't strong enough. I'm sorry, I'm so-" Tozan's rambling was interrupted when he felt a gentle hand caressing his cheek.
"Oh, you sweet boy. None of this is your fault. It's because of you that my little girl is safe and sound. You are going to do great things, you are going to save so many. If I have to give my life to save yours, it's a very fair trade."
"Don't say that ma'am. You are going to be okay. Your family still needs you. Asami needs you!"
"He is right mommy! I don't want you to go!" Asami said, her eyes full of tears.
"You will be fine honey. You will have your dad and… him." She said with a weak voice, looking at Tozan, before closing her eyes with a soft smile on her face.
The children tried to shake her awake, yelled her name but no matter what they did she never opened her eyes again.
It's been one week since the incident. When the police arrived at the scene, the robbers practically cuffed themselves, wanting to get as far away from Tozan as possible, insisting that the little boy was a demon but the cops just figured they were all insane.
When Pema and Tenzin found out about the incident they wanted to keep Tozan in Air Temple Island for the entire summer but he managed to talk them out of it. He hadn't seen Asami since that day, which was kind of good he thought but he wouldn't know what to say if they saw each other. He still felt guilty about what happened to Yasuko, even though everyone kept telling that it wasn't his fault he still felt responsible.
He was now back at the park, leaning against the trunk of the tree he climbed when he first came. He then started to concentrate and a small ball of condensed air appeared in his hand. Ever since that day airbending somehow became as natural to him as firebending but he didn't tell anyone yet. The only other people that knew he could do that were Asami and the robbers, but he wasn't too worried about the robbers since it was unlikely anybody would believe them. Asami however was a different story.
"Hey!" Said the voice of the girl he was just thinking about.
The shock that gave him broke his concentration and the airball dispersed. He looked to his side to see Asami standing there with an ocean blue one piece dress.
"Can I sit here?"
" … Sure."
She took a sit on the grass next to Tozan. The kids just sat there in silence for a while, Tozan awkwardly fiddling with his hands, not sure what to do or say. Fortunately he didn't have to, since Asami was the one to break the ice.
"We buried my mommy yesterday."
That remark cut Tozan's heart like a knife.
"… How is your dad?"
"He hasn't left his office for a while. I came here with the butler."
"… Do you hate me?"
"What!? Of course not! Why would I hate you?"
"Your mom died because of me."
"NO! it was those bad men! It was their fault, not yours! You tried to protect us! You saved me from those bullies! You are a hero!"
"Don't feel much like one."
"Well you are! I said so! That's that!" She exclaimed with puffed cheeks.
"Ahaha, okay then. If you say so."
They stayed silent for a little while, but it was more comfortable now.
"… Are you the Avatar?"
"No I am not. The Avatar is my best friend and she is a girl."
The fact that his best friend was another girl annoyed her a little but she decided to put the issue aside for now.
"Then how can you bend more than one element?"
"I-I don't know. I just can … I am really scared." Tozan said, his head hanged low. He lifted it up again though when he felt Asami's hand on his.
"I am scared too. Maybe we can be scared together?"
"… Okay."
Hey guys, me again. Sorry it took a while to upload the chapter, I had second term exams but I am gonna try to keep the ratio to 1 chapter every month. Anyway, leave a review about your thoughts on the story and thanks for reading it.