The History of Renko: Book 1 Emotions (Avatar, boyxboy)

Chapter 23: The Heat Rises on Ember Island

               The sun hung in the corner of Sune's vision as he walked out of the airport on Ember Island. It was a small building located right next to the ocean. Seadoves squawked overhead and crabsquirrels scurried across the sand looking for clams to open. The palm trees stood like tall pillars holding up the sky. Green coconuts clung tightly against their trunks. The airship ride was long but pleasant and the warm sea breeze was much more refreshing than the cold air he experienced on Whale Tail Island. He, Hokey, and a couple of other officers were waiting for their van to take them to their hotel, a cabana on the beach owned by the Earth States Army. He was eager to know if and when Renko would be arriving.

From his pocket, he produced a short length of string and tied his long black hair into a pony tail. It was midmorning but already he had begun to sweat. He chose to open a couple of bottoms on the top of his shirt and exposed a little of his broad chest. His vacation had begun.

Meanwhile, at the Royal Family beach house, the already hot day was getting hotter. Renko stood parting the waves of the fierce stream of fire produced from Kuzo's fist. The flames hugged around his arms as he pushed them past him. Kuzo relented and stepped back. They both stood in a courtyard surrounded by a covered walkway on the North, East, and West and steps leading into the main house on the South on their sides. Koa, having shed her gray baggy clothing, sat on the steps watching them and taking notes. She found a white and red dress in her room and donned it. She tied her hair back into a ponytail.

"Very nice!" Kuzo compliment his student. "Keep up that circular motion with your arms and you'll be able to parry any fire blast." He stood in a battle stance, his legs spread apart and his fists up protecting his face and stomach. He pale torso shined in the bright sunlight.

"Why thank you, Si Fu," Renko smirked. "I happily accept such praise." He was standing a good fifteen feet away and also chose to remove his shirt. His darker skin began to turn a caramel color as it tanned.

"Throw another at me," he yelled bringing his fists to his face.

Kuzo took a deep breath and leaped towards Renko unleashing several volleys of fire. Each fireball created heat lines in the air and Koa could feel her brow begin to sweat. Renko punched and kicked through several fireballs quenching them. He spun and dodged a couple and on the last one, he lifted his knee raising a wedge of stone from the ground blocking it.

"Aw come on, this is supposed to be fire bending training, not earth bending," Kuzo complained.

"Actually," Koa commented from her stoop, "Renko should be mixing his techniques. As the Avatar he should be better able to juggle what he knows and what he's up against." She held up her note pad and displayed the notes she had jotted down.

"He's using earth bending tactics for defense, a good use of the skill, and applying that to his fire bending training."

"Hmmm good point," Kuzo admitted. "We should be making you mix your sets."

"Also, Renko," she addressed this to him, "it would be beneficial for you use fire bending to go on the offensive. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to reverse the rolls and have you attack Kuzo."

"Right, I should..." Renko replied slowly. He scratched the back of his head. "It's just, I don't have much experience fighting. I used to spar with a friend of mine on occasion but he always won."

"Don't worry, that's why we're doing this," he was reassured by his tutor. "We're almost done for today anyway, it'll be a good way to finish."

Kuzo took a defensive stance and gestured with his hand as if to say, bring it. Renko responded by dropping low to the ground and swinging his left foot sending a wave of fire towards his opponent. Kuzo brought his hand down in a karate chop motion and squashed the flames.