The Legend of Ryuji

Chapter 2

Finally, the school day was over. Ryuji trudged out of the school building, kicking a rock in front of her. As usual, she had had a terrible day. Sighing, she looked up through the canopy of trees overhead, into the bright blue sky and the sun beaming cheerfully down in her. Her the sound of her footsteps was swallowed up by the emptiness of the forest. The only sound was the chittering, sweet sound of birdsong echoing amongst the woodland paths. 

All of a sudden, there was a loud sound from behind her. Jumping, she turned around, instinctively going into a bending stance. Her eyes widened. Now this was unusual. It was Kenji. Again. Usually he left her alone after tormenting her for a day. Sighing again, she turned around and continued walking home. She could feel Kenji glaring after her. Ignoring him, she continued to walk, until she felt a small, hard, round object hit her in the small of the back. "Ow!" Ryuji cried out, stumbling. Whirling around, she saw Kenji advancing, fire already burning in his hand, a devious smile on his face. For the first time, instead of resignation, Ryuji felt angry. She refused to let this oaf walk all over her any more. Hoisting herself up off the ground, she once more took a bending stance. Kenji stopped, about ten feet away from her, and howled with laughter. "How are you going to bend when you're a nonbender, b*tch?! You're pathetic!"

Furious rage was now pumping its way through her veins, adding it's own fiery adrenaline to her already pounding heart. She slowly straightened up out of the Horse stance. Kenji was still howling with laughter. Looking down at her, he said, sneering, "Why don't you let me deal with you and put you back in your place, runt?"

Ryuji's head snapped up. She glared straight at Kenji. His sneer faltered for a moment. Standing to her full height (which wasn't much compared to his), she looked him straight in the eye and said, "No."

Shocked, Kenji looked at her, and laughed loudly. "So now you're trying to stand up to me now? How adorable!" he guffawed. Ryuji gave him a cold stare. He continued to laugh loudly, ignoring her. An idea, wreathed in the throes of anger, came to her mind. She smiled at him coldly, saying, "Yes, I suppose it is funny for a big oaf like you. . . but let me attempt to put this in a way your overly-small brain can understand: yes, I fully intend to 'stand up to you'. Because I've had enough of you, and your stupid face." Kenji stared at her stupidly, uncomprehending. It seemed to get through his brain, agonizingly slowly, that she was insulting him. Cracking his knuckles, he glared at her and advanced. Smile widening, she darted past his swinging fist, and then used all her strength - which also wasn't much compared to his - to punch him. However, her strength seemed to be enough to knock him off-balance, because he reeled backwards, stumbling and tripping. Ryuji allowed herself two seconds to savour her moment of triumph, and then took off running in the direction of home, not waiting to see what he had in store for her. 

*****

The next day, everything seemed to happen as usual. Until, that is, she got to school. Kenji made sure she paid dearly for that extra moment of fun. Weakly limping back inside, Ryuji received two large shocks. The first was that everyone stopped talking when she entered the building, staring at her in awe. And the second was that there were several new people in the hall, wearing the orange and yellow of Air Nomads. Ryuji stopped dead. There were about a dozen people wearing the garb of the airbenders. The oldest looked practically ancient, and the youngest looked to be about Ryuji's age, maybe sixteen. She had long brown hair, pulled up into several buns and ponytails, with about half of it down. As Ryuji got nearer, she heard a sharp intake of breath that she only later realised came from her. The girl wore a cheerful smile and held a large cup of tea, and she was the most beautiful girl Ryuji had ever seen. The girl heard her gasp, and turned, looking for the source. Her eyes landed on Ryuji, and lit up.

She instantly shoved the cup of tea into the hands of and older man with a shaved head and a blue srrow on his head, like the master airbenders, and bounded over, grinning excitedly. She grabbed Ryuji's hands and shook them enthusiastically. "Omigosh! You are so cool! My name's Ayako, my dad's the Head Monk of the Southern Air Temple!" she giggled, then jumped. "Ack, sorry, sorry, I'm supposed to be all formal and stuff when I'm meeting new people." She let go of Ryuji's hands and put on a regal, haughty expression. Then she bowed low, and smarmed in a slow, regal voice, "Greetings from the daughter of the Head Monk of the Southern Air Temple. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. What is your name?" she looked at Ryuji, waiting for an answer. Ryuji met the other girl's gaze, and then both of them dissolved in giggles. "What was that?" Ryuji giggled. "I-I don't know, I'm sorry," the girl chortled. "Anyways, yeah, my name's Ayako, what's yours?" Ryuji smiled, a little shyly, and twisted a lock of hair. "My name's Ryuji," she replied.