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

Chapter 14:Tenten

"So...where were you thinking of going first?" He asked. Kaori took out her map excitedly. "This things a bit outdated, it was made before the earth nation was split up. But, I was hoping to go to airbender island! I mean, they can't turn down the avatar!" She said eagerly. "Uh huh....how exactly are you gonna prove you're the avatar?" Daiki asked. "Do some....firebender-y stuff , like-" She held out her palm, but nothing happened. "Come onnn...." She said biting her lip. Eventually, a tiny flickering flame formed in her hand. "Bam!" She said eagerly, as it flickered out. "Logically, if you can already do that, shouldn't firebending be the first step?" Daiki said. "Guess so. But I'd really prefer not to go back to the fire nation. I feel like firebenders are just so...angry! And I hate people like that!" Kaori said, smiling, her eyes were still red and puffy from crying. He sighed. "Sorry again." Daiki said nervously, grazing his thumb over her eyelid. "I was feeling vulnerable"

"It's fine! You actually taught me a thing or two, really!" She said, folding her map and stuffing it in her bag. "A thing or 2? Like what?" Daiki asked. "I'm gonna be myself from now on! But to be honest, I don't think I can tell the air nomads where I really came from." She muttered. Daiki nodded. "I guess that's understandable.."

"I'm not exactly thrilled to go on a boat though...I got really sick last time." She muttered, holding her stomach. "Alrighty.....let's goo!!" Kaori said, grabbing Daiki's hand and pulling him along.

On the train, they were sat in a tiny booth, where Kaori stuck her head out the window, smiling. "It's going so fast! Look!! You can barely see the passing fields!" She shouted, not realizing how loud she was. Daiki sighed, patting her back. "Just don't fall out.." He mumbled. "Relax!" She closed the window, drawing her knees her chest. "Weren't you meaning to find your family in omashu?" Daiki asked, tilting his head. "Well....yeah. But I guess I have avatar-y stuff to do now. And..I don't think anyone would appreciate a random unannounced child showing up claiming she's your niece or grandaughter or whatever.." She said, looking down.

Eventually, Kaori feel asleep, she'd curled up into a ball, laying her head against her knees. Daiki stared at her, still wondering if this was a good idea or not. "There's so much I don't know about you..A strange girl who just appears out of nowhere and turns out to be the avatar and a princess? What exactly is it about you that makes you so...striking?" He muttered, tucking her hair behind her ears. "It's not like I like you..but...I want to be with you longer." He whispered. A loud noise was heard from the other booth, presumably someone falling. Kaori awoke with a start, looking around. "Wah!"

Daiki sat back, looking the other way. "Did you hear all that?" He said quickly. "All what? Did something happen?" Kaori said quickly, looking around. "Nothing! Just! A bird!" Daiki said quickly, covering his face. "Are we almost there yet! I wanna get off!" Kaori said, sticking her head out the window. "Don't fall out! And I swear! There's only....give or take 10 minutes" He lied, to make her feel better. "Thos is gonna be so fun! I've seen pictures of those airbender suit thingys and they have really poofy pants! They look really comfy!" Kaori said excitedly.

"Could I....ask you something?" Daiki said. "Shoot!" Kaori responded in her usual cheerful manner. "Why did you leave the fire nation? Besides the fact that you wanted to learn earthbending?" Daiki asked. Kaori's smile dropped, and she shifted her gaze. "Well...a lot of stuff really...my father...I don't think he ever truly cared about me...And I think my step-mother truly hated me since the moment she laid eyes on me...and there's a bunch of other things" She muttered. "Like...I don't have to dye my hair! Or wear it up in big intricate styles! Or wear heavy dresses! Or wear makeup! And I don't have to follow any rules or try to act ladylike! I can do what I want!" She said happily, spinning around and sitting upside down on her seat. "Like this! I can do this and nobody can shout at me! And I can have friends! Like you!" She smiled.

Daiki copied her, doing the same. "For someone who was once garnered by rules, you're more laid back than me" He said, smiling at her. "You just have to....relax!" She said. "Truth be told, I've had more fun in the past month than I've had my entire life!" She said happily. "I have fun with you too." Daiki said, smiling back at her, feeling at ease

Eventually the train came to a hault, and Kaori and Daiki stepped off. "We just have a little ways to walk! This way!" Kaori said, walking onward. Daiki, upon realizing that her map was upside down, turned it around again and grabbed her shoulders, leading her in the right direction. "This way!" She said again, more confidently.

As they reached where all the boats were docked, Kaori sat on a bench. "Soo...airbender island is here...and we should be around he-" Someone cut them off from behind. "Are you guys going to airbender island?" Said a cheerful voice. Daiki jumped, slightly startled at the sudden noise. "Yes, Actually." Kaori turned around, and looked at the girl who stop before her.

She was tall, almost as tall as Daiki, and slender. She had light brown hair, grey eyes and pale skin, and she had blue arrows going throughout her body. She wore dark orange pants, and a striped bright orange and yellow tunic. "Oooh! You're an airbender!!" Kaori said eagerly, hopping over the bench. "I'm Kaori! And this is my friend Daiki! Pleased to meet you!" She shook her hand. "I'm Tenten! Nice to meet you aswell!" She responded, bowing her head. "Mhm. I actually live on the island with my father! Would you want a lift?" She asked. "Yes-" Kaori said eagerly, before Daiki cut her off. "Can we talk for a minute?" He asked, pulling her aside. "What exactly are you doing?" Daiki said. "We can't get a lift from a stranger!" Daiki said. "Wha? She doesn't look dangerous, does she? You let me live with you after less than a day!" Kaori whispered. "That was different! I spent like 3 hours getting to know you! You've spent under a minute getting to know her!" Daiki said. "It's a lot safer to-" He stopped, as Kaori clasped his hands in hers. "Relax. It's gonna be fine. Nobody gets kidnapped by a cheerful teenager." She said reassuringly. Daiki sighed, his cheeks scarlet. "I guess you're right.." Kaori smiled at Tenten, who'd pretended not to hear them. "We'd love a lift!" She said happily.

"Alrighty! Follow me! Mushi is gonna take us!" Tenten said, walking onward with confidence. "You named your boat Mushi?" Daiki said, raising an eyebrow. "Who said anything about a boat?" She turned the corner, and behold, a flying bison. Kaori stood back, almost scared. "It's huge!" She said, in shock. "He is not an it!" Tenten said, jumping upwards onto his head. "This isn't the most ideal mode of transportation." Daiki whispered. Tenten hugged Mushi's head. "Mushi's not a mode of transportation! He's my friend!" Daiki sighed. "Right...you have pretty great hearing.." He said, lifting Kaori up onto the bison's back, and then climbing on.

"Didn't you say you wanted to ride one of these things before! This is your chance, isn't it?" Kaori said, looking out. "Guess so.. but it's a but nerve wracking.." Daiki said. "Don't worry! I'm an expert, and Mushi's really good with new people!" Tenten said. "Yip yip!" She shouted, as Mushi took off.

"What brings you guys to airbender island? Are you guys gonna become air acolytes?" She asked hopefully. "Something like that.." Kaori said, bringing her knees to her chest. "I'm the avatar..actually" Tenten was almost taken aback. "The avatar? That's...the avatar is riding my flying bison! That's so cool!" She said, with a wide smile. "You're gonna love the air temple! Everyone there is really really nice! Like, my cousin Zian! He's great! And my Dad will totally welcome you! Him and my aunt Jinora basically run the island! They taught me everything I know! And I'll introduce you to all my friends! Like Koda, and Maya, and of course Lee! It'll be so much fun, and maybe we c...." Her voice trailed off as Kaori nodded nervously.

"She does an awful lot of talking.." Daiki whispered. The moment Tenten stopped blabbering, Kaori spoke up. "What brought you to the earth nation?" She asked. "Oh. Well, I have a few cousins living there so I went for a visit." She said happily. "Father's gonna be so happy to see you! He used to know Avatar Korra!" Kaori shifted her gaze, feeling awkward. "Avatar Korra...yeah.." She brought her knees to her chest. Daiki pat her back.

Kaori eventually feel asleep, while Daiki stayed awake, looking out at the passing fields. "Are you two a couple?" Tenten said, trying to make conversation. "Nope." Daiki said bluntly, a scarlet tint appearing on his cheeks. "Ah..where did you guys come from?" Tenten asked curiously. "Omashu." He responded. Tenten was a stellar conversationalist, but she couldn't seem to talk to him right. "Uh huh.."

An hour or so passed and eventually they could see a large structure in the distance. Daiki woke Kaori, and Tenten smiled.

"There it is, airbender island. My home."