Avatar:Folk tale of an earthbender{Book One:Earth}

Chapter 12: A new adventure

"Dinners ready!" Rina shouted, looking out at them, a nostalgic feeling in her chest as she hadn't properly seen them play outside like that in years. "They never change" She said, reminiscing on the time when they were all children. All of tlhem came piling in, Hina and Hanani heading straight to the table, scoffing down the food as fast as they could.

"Soo...where have you been staying all this time?" Daiki's mother asked curiously. "You remember where Grandma used to live? Before she got sick? We were there." Daiki's mother almost spat out her food. "That close? I could've passed you on the street while running errands! And who the heck is we?" She said sharply. "Me" Kaori said quickly, her mouth half full. Rina's face went from confusion, anger and then amusement in onky a few seconds. "Don't tell me she's your girlfriend! You should've asked me for approv-" Daiki cut her off. "Again. Nope. We're just friends" He said nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Y'know. You can get cooties from that." Hina whispered. "Cooties aren't rea-" He stopped, sighing. "You guys really never change.."

Despite being raised in an upper class family, Kaori was a messy eater, she held her bowl close to her face and stuffed her mouth. Daiki watched her, having finished his food a few minutes prior. Kaori furrowed her brow. "Whatcha starin at?" She said, her mouth full. "I'm waiting for you to finish." He said, wiping a piece of food off of her cheek with his sleeve. "Take your time." He said, smiling a bit.

"Daiki! Can you run to the store real quick and get me some eggs?" Rina shouted from across the house. "What? Why?" Daiki said. "It's the least you can do after leaving me like this for so long!" She shouted. Daiki let out a long sigh. "She got me there..can you walk home by yourself?" Daiki asked, getting up. Kaori nodded, her mouth still full. "Alright. I'm off." He said, leaving the house.

There was a spring in his step as he made his way to the store. Despite the way the day had started out, he'd been in a good mood. Though he didn't exactly know why, though he suspected it was because he'd gotten to see his family again, or possibly because he'd made a new friends, who's company he'd enjoyed. He was walking with confidence until a tall, stocky man stopped him. "Daiki! When are you gonna come back to working at the refinery? It's not same without you!" He said. Daiki shook his head with a smile. "Not sure yet! But I have to go now, I'm running errands! I'll talk to you later sir!" He said quickly skipping onward. "Damn kid...he sure looks happy today...wonder what changed him.." He muttered.

Daiki walked onward greeting those who passed him.

"Wasn't he in school with us?" A girl said as Daiki passed. "You're right! He was always scowling! Totally creepy!" The other girl responded. "He looks pretty happy now though...things must've really looked up for him." She muttered, looking after him as he walked.

Daiki kept walking, feeling confident. Until he noticed something from the corner of his eye. A familiar face? Something that made him feel uneasy. He stood there for a moment, just squinting. "A wanted poster?" He muttered, pushing through the crowd to get a better look. "Is that? No...it couldn't be.." He said, as he pished past everyone to get a closer look at the sign on the wall.

"Missing:Crown Princess Kaori of the fire nation.
Last seen: The fire nation palace"

He felt his heart drop, as he traced his fingers over the picture on the poster. It was Kaori. His friend Kaori. His Kaori. His face contorted into that of anger and confusion. "She lied to me?" He muttered, tears welling up in his eyes. He ripped the poster down and stormed off.

As he reached home, Hina, who'd been sitting on the couch, waiting for for him spoke. "There you are! Why did you take so-" Daiki interrupted her. "Is Kaori still here." He said sternly. "She left a bit ago but-" Daiki took off at that moment, slamming the door behind him. Mayu knew her brother, upon seeing the look in his eyes, she knew something was wrong. "I never got my eggs.." Rina muttered, watching as he stormed off. "Somethings up." Mayu said.