An Echo of Legends: An ATLA Mystery Story (on hiatus)

Chapter 14: Kya

When Kya, Tenzin, and Lin told Suki about Chihiro, and what she had told them, Suki had reacted better than they had expected.

"I won't tell Toph yet," she said, "There's just not enough time to organize the police force."

"So what will you do?" Kya asked. Suki hesitated.

"I'm going to the port," she said, "I'm going to figure out who paid these people, once and for all."

"We can come, right?" Kya said, "Please let us come with you."

"I don't know if that's a good idea-"

"If you don't let us come to the port," Kya stated firmly, "I won't get the exact location of the meeting from Chihiro." Tenzin sighed. Suki considered this for what seemed to be an eternity. The port was quite a large and vague location after all.

"Okay," she said, "You can come with me."

"Wait? Seriously," Lin said, "We can come with you?!" Suki nodded. 

"I trust you all, and I think you're capable enough to help me." 

"Yes!" Kya exclaimed, "Suki, you are now my favorite Aunt!"

"I'm your only Aunt." It was late. Toph was at the police station, while Sokka was at Air Temple island with Ty Lee, "You should get some sleep," she said, "I'll see you all tomorrow." Kya, Tenzin, and Lin headed out of the living room.

"Kya?" Tenzin said quietly, "I don't think that Suki's telling the truth."

"Come on, Tenzin," Kya sighed, "You just don't want to go, do you."

"Well, yeah," Tenzin said, "Maybe I don't want to die. Maybe I don't want to fight, but that's not it. Kya, I don't think Suki wouldn't just go along with it and not tell Toph."

"You worry too much, Tenzin," Lin said, not unkindly, "I'm sure it's fine." So they went to their rooms and slept.

The next day, at Suki's instruction, Kya called Chihiro at the Apartment Building.  Her voice was staticky and unfocused, but it was definitely her.

"Welcome to Republic City Towers, how can I help you?"

"Hey, this is Kya," Kya said, "We talked to Suki, and she's planning on going to the port with us tonight. We need to know exactly where the meeting will be held."

"Right," Chihiro said, "The old warehouse on the south side, it's closed after dark, and almost no one goes there. That's where they said it would happen."

"Got it, thank you," Kya replied, "I know that it took a lot for you to help us."

"No, it's- it's okay," Chihiro stammered, or maybe it was just the static, "Just... be careful."

"I'll try," Kya said, feeling comforted in a way she didn't quite understand, and hung up. She walked into the kitchen and told Suki about the boathouse.

"I know where that is," Suki said, "Get everyone ready to go."

~~~

The Republic City port was not far from Toph's apartment. Kya found it a little odd that she hadn't seen Toph all day, but that wasn't important. It was still late afternoon, and the meeting wasn't scheduled to happen until it got completely dark, according to Chihiro. The warehouse had just closed, and though sunlight was streaming in through the glass ceiling, shipping crates and pieces of machinery sat ghostly still. Suki walked in, unabated, with Tenzin trailing nervously behind her, while Lin and Kya were much more excited. Suki took out a small mechanical device.

"It's a two way radio," she said when she caught Kya staring at it, "Just in case." Kya nodded, as if she had already known that, when she definitely hadn't. 

"Now then," Suki said, "I want to have vantage points from all areas of the warehouse." She walked to a short metal staircase in the corner of the building, leading up to a railing that went around the entirety of it. A perfect position to eavesdrop without anyone noticing, "Lin, Tenzin, you go to the left side of the railing, Kya, you're with me." Kya nodded and followed Suki up the stairs, her footsteps echoing loudly across the building. There were two wooden crates stacked on top of each other, an oil can dripping intermittently next to them. Kya and Suki sat on either side of the crates, Lin and Tenzin were across from them, and together, they waited. Slowly, the sunlight ebbed away, and the warehouse floor grew darker. It was twilight, and when Kya looked up at the glass ceiling, the moon had emerged, and the first stars were out. Then there was a creak, as the door to the warehouse was slowly pushed open. Kya tried to stay absolutely still. She hoped Tenzin wasn't freaking out. Who was she kidding, he definitely was.

"Is everything ready?" Kya tensed up. She knew that voice.

"That's the same lady I heard at Kwong's cuisine," she whispered to Suki. 

"They should be here, soon," said a different, deeper voice, that Kya hadn't heard before. She glanced down and saw three people standing on the warehouse floor. Kya couldn't make out any of their features, but they were silent, almost like they were waiting for something. Then, after a few minutes, the door opened again, letting the moonlight in. This extra light allowed Kya to see everyone more clearly. She just hope that they couldn't see her. Walking into the warehouse were four figures. They were cloaked in black, and their faces were covered by white masks, detailed and ornate, a black stripe down one side. Beside Kya, there was a sharp intake of breath.

Suki whispered a word that Kya had never heard before. It sounded like, "Kemurikage."

"We- we require payment," said the woman who had spoken before. Kya wondered if that was Chihiro's mother. She sounded nervous. 

"Of course," one of the cloaked figures spoke. Kya shivered. A second figure brought forth what looked like a wooden box, and opened it. The woman looked over it meticulously.

"It's all there?" 

"It is," the figure replied, "5,000 yuans, and... you're sure you weren't followed."

"I assure you, no one knows about this location except for the three of us, and..." her voice trailed off. Chihiro knew, Kya thought.

"Just to make it clear, Misako," said the cloaked figure again, "If there are any loose ends, be sure to eliminate them." Kya had to put her arm on the railing to stop herself from shaking, and in doing so, shook the oil can. It teetered on one side, before falling between the slats in the metal railing, hitting the ground with a clang. Kya froze.

"Search the top floor," said a different hooded figure. 

"Kya," Suki said, "cover your head with your hands, but be ready to fight."

"What?"

"Just do it," the intensity of her voice made Kya comply. Suki took out the two way radio from before, pressed a button on it, and said, "Now." Then the glass ceiling shattered, sheets of glass were raining down, and from metal cables came Toph Beifong. 

~~~

Thank You for Reading!