The Last Water Bender

Chapter One

     Footsteps carried my weight as I walked along the dusty roads of Ba Sing Se. It was crowded, but that wasn't uncommon. Silently, I slipped through a small alleyway towards a merchants cart. He was distracted, and what that meant for me was free food, or even better, free money.
      Today was a day I didn't like to remember, the day of my father's death. It's been 7 years since his death, ever since those fire nation soldiers killed him. Forever I promised I would hate the fire nation, and nothing could change that.
     Cautiously I pickpocketed the distracted merchant. Quickly I retreated to the alleyway to see how much he had.
3 silvers coins, not much, but at least it was something.
      Suddenly, I heard someone come from behind me. My instant thought was to punch them. Turned out, it was just Yuki.
      "Ow! Kya that hurt," she rubbed her upper cheek with her dirty hand.
      "Sorry, my reflexes are kinda out of control."
      "Yeah no kidding," her hand returned to her pocket, taking out a few bronze coins, "I was able to get 8 bronze coins, what about you?"
      "3 silver." I replied, taking out the shiny coins.
      "That's at least enough for dinner tonight, maybe you could finally earn enough for a water bending lesson!"
       "No, I'm not gonna waste our money on water bending, I'm already skilled enough as it is."
       "You aren't wrong about that!" Yuki laughed, tucking the coins back into her small leather bag.
       "We better head back, it's getting late. I'll go buy dinner."
       "You sure? I think you've already gotten enough for today. I should do it."
        "I'm positive." My voice echoed against the alley's walls, making me regret that I spoke too loud. Yuki narrowed her eyes at me, giving me a look I didn't necessarily like.
        "Fine, but don't get yourself killed." Her dirty blond bangs blew slightly in the wind, causing her to tuck her strands of  hair behind her ear.
       "I promise." Hopefully my answer was sincere enough, because she walked away with a sad look in her eyes.
        I exited the alleyway, scanning the market for good food for us to buy. It at least had to be affordable, we couldn't get a whole meal.
        A merchants cart filled with all kinds of delicious foods stood before me. Except there was a man, or well, a guy. He looked only a bit older than me, no more than 16. His eyes were a hazel with dark hair.
        I pushed my thoughts aside and went up the cart. He looked up at me with his hazel eyes.
   "How can I help you miss?" His voice faltered, making me a bit suspicious.
   "Just 2 sticky buns and a slab of meat."
    Then it hit me. He was fire nation. My eyes widened, slowly stepping back. Wait, no I shouldn't jump to conclusions.
   "Miss? Your sticky buns and slab of meat?"
    "Oh yes, sorry I just felt a bit dizzy," I picked up the sticky buns and meat.
     "That'll be 2 silver coins."
     "Here you are,"  I took the 2 silver coins out of my bag, handing them to him.
      "Enjoy."
       "Thank you..."
                                    ***
    After another hour of shopping around the market I started to head home. As I entered the little secluded area where Yuki and I stay, I hear a noise. But not just any noise, I hear fighting.
    There, standing, well, fighting, before my eyes was the boy from the market. The person I would least expect to be before me. But what was most surprising to me was that he was fire-bending.
    How did a fire bender get into Ba Sing Se?
    Honestly I shouldn't even be asking this question, regarding a small army of fire-benders killed my father in the city. And here I was now, watching one destroy an innocent person, or not, I had no idea.
   Suddenly, a huge fire ball came flying towards me. I barely missed it as I ducked under it, feeling the heat surpass above me.
      The boy looked towards me in shock, making him caught off guard by my appearance in this little fight he was in. Because of his stupidity, his opponent was able to use his distractedness to shove him to the ground.
     Pure stupidity.
    The earth-bender stopped in his tracks, taking a moment to look at me. Looks I was going to be his new target.
     This was going to be fun.
     A huge rock emerged from the ground, clearly being aimed towards me.
     "What's a little girl like you doing around these parts?" His cockiness made me want to slap him really hard in the face.
     "I was actually trying to get home, but it looks like I might have a little detour."
     "You are right about that," with that he flung the boulder at me. With the water skin I had strapped to my waist, I used the water and sliced the boulder in half, letting it fall to the ground. Like always, men decide to underestimate women.
      He staggers back from the impact, falling to the ground. The boy from the market uses this chance to send a final blow at him, leaving him now unconscious.
     "Looks like someone underestimated you," the fire-bender looked at me, then the earth-benders body.
      "Well you can thank me later."
      "And why should I be thanking you?"
       "Because I just saved you," isn't it obvious that he should be thanking me? Fire-benders, always so full of themselves.
        "You didn't save me, you just helped me out a bit." He scoffed, looking at me with prideful eyes.
       "That's practically the same thing."
       "Is that so?" He steps closer to me, too close. I attempt to step away, but instead I'm caged against the wall.
      "It just seems that I'm in a good mood today, so I'll go easy on you."
      "Easy on me?" suddenly I feel myself burst out in laughter, "Oh please, you couldn't even fight a lousy earth-bender without being distracted by me. How do you possibly think you could fight me, the one who saved you?"
        His gaze was still fixed on mine.
       "Is that a challenge, water bender?"
       "Yes, it is," I'm still caged against the wall, his grip tightening on my wrists, "but shouldn't I know my opponents name first?"
      "Rai." Replies, his cockiness shining brighter than ever, "That's my name."
      "Kya." I skim his appearance.
      "Well, this is going to be fun little girl."
      "I wouldn't back down too soon, fire-bender."