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 Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:29 pm
Musei pondered that for a while as he hopped off the boat to untie the boat from the dock. Throwing the rope inside the boat, he stepped back inside and sat down on the railing, looking out at the sea. "Well..." He sighed, closing his eyes as a quick breeze teased his face. "..I wouldn't mind being corny and saying 'wherever the wind will take us', but I don't think that will work. If it had to be anywhere...how about the Fire Nation?"
He sighed again, looking at the crisp water. "Anything to get away from the cold."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:31 pm
She blinked down at him as she watched him prepare the boat. The fire nation? Scratching her left temple she gives a nod and turns into the boat, walking along the deck towards the sail.
"Lift the plank and we will be off then.."
Her eyes closed as she waited. She was really going to do this? Really..going to leave Taizen's side?
....Yes...
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 4:29 pm
With a loud clammor, Musei slid the plank onto the ship, letting it fall into an open area towards the back. Patting his hands of the forming ice on the wood, he stood next to Niima and looked up at the sky.
"The time for new beginnings, I suppose." Musei noted, watching a cloud slowly dissolve in the air as the dock began sliding across their hull. "At least, a time for change."
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:00 am
She watched him pull up the plank, her eyes raising towards Taizen's direction. She half..hoped..he would bound to the ship asking what was going on. But she knew..he was busy. He had what he wanted. Power.
Sighing she turned away and gave a nod to Musei's words. She paused as a thought came to mind. Her gaze lowered to the youth. "Musei..If..you are wanting to go to the fire nation to see Fulgar..you know I won't be offended if you rather stay with hm...I know how you admire him so." She wasn't pushing him away at all. She knew very well how Musei was tickled pink by Fulgar. She wanted what was best for him.
Lifting her hand she sent a small burst of air into the sail to send the boat on a strong course.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:53 am
Musei blinked in shock, looking up at Niima. "Honestly...I completely forgot about him being a firebender. That'll be interesting." He smiled, remembering Fulgar. Of course, with that memory came Cain, but that would have to wait in the back of his mind.
He pondered what Niima said. It was tempting, at least; living with Fulgar. He wouldn't mind that at all, seeing as how what Niima said was true. Fulgar, in Musei's mind, was someone he adored. It was a mental conundrum, but it only lasted a few seconds before he made up his mind.
Looking at Niima after the long silence, he smiled. "Niima...I couldn't leave you. Not yet. That time...will be far later." He laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "How could I learn to bend air...from a firebender? No, I'll leave that to the expert." He nudged Niima with his elbow. "Plus, you've grown on me a little. Ever since you yelled at me in..." He cut himself short, not wanting to bring up Taizen. "Ever since you yelled at me in that room."
Looking up at the sail, billowing away from the shore, his smile faded a little. "Truth be told, you really make me feel like I have a family again."
[exit to Fire Nation]
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:17 am
"You do not have to worry of me. I would just return to the air temple." Her eyes lowered to him as she listened, a small smile tugging her lips. "You don't need a expert to show you how to bend. You have the basics, you just need to focus on those and expand from there. Besides.." She chuckled a bit and looked towards the fading island. "After the basics I taught myself..don't get me wrong I can probably still teach a thing or two.."
Mother..Father..Sisters...Brothers..Elders..Everyone..please watch over Taizen..And Master Taikai..
Her eyes closed but opened quickly after feeling Musei nudge her. Reaching over she combed her fingers through Musei's hair before ruffling it up a bit. "It's okay Musei. You can say his name. And thank you that means a lot to me. You are like my little brother and I just want what's best for you. What you want. It's got to be boring hanging around with just a girl now." She makes a playful face as she stresses 'girl'.
[exit to fire nation..]
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:21 am
These people… They all looked at him with such hope, with such reassurance…
They needed to get out of the south pole. Perhaps if they did, they would have seen Taizens defeat at the tournament. Then they would be more worried. They were praising him like he was the ocean itself, people he didn’t talk to since childhood, were greeting him, and praising him, and touching him, as though he were an old friend! His return with Taikai made him a celebrity, however, upon his return, Niima had left. And perhaps this left him with regret, and sadness, which embodied itself in the aching of his heart.
He wished these people would praise him, he wished they would admire his prowess at bending, wished he was something more than a peasant in a frozen wasteland. Now he was a general… A general of a bunch of peasants in a frozen wasteland.
Taikai, he had always felt a piece of warmth towards Taikai, since the first day he met him, he praised his abilities, and claimed he was above the rest. And yet, when he looked at Taikai now, he looked like a schemer. A backstabber who was friend only to achieve his own needs. As he thought of the cruelty the man he had treated so kindly towards, the man who felt like a second father. He felt lost in a bottomless hole of darkness. He was covered in darkness, weighted down by it. He wished the moon would block out the sun so that there was more of the darkness. If there was more darkness, he wouldn’t be able to see Niima, and Taikai. Even in the darkness he could make out Musei, a mere child that in mere moments had achieved the warm glow of Niima’s attention. The wicked child was bathed in light. He wished he could simply forget everything that happened, wished he’d returned to the South Pole ten times more powerful, and unburdened by people who betrayed him. At least then, perhaps these simple minded people would be cheering for him and his power, rather than him, and the promotion this old man had given him.
It was quite some time since the cheering died down, since the people took to the streets of the small village, gathering things for festivity, digging up caches of long stored liquor, digging up caribou-hare meat to be roasted grandly, some of the children were sent off to gather lichen, for food and seasoning. Some of the largest tuna-salmon from the day’s catch were being sliced open, and prepared for the feast. Taizen watched it all with dull eyes, he looked to where the ship was, that Niima had boarded, the ice was empty, and the sun was setting, the horizon held no boat, the boat had long since set sail. Taizen scowled as he tore his eyes from the horizon, scolding himself for keeping his thoughts on Niima, who had cursed him with the heavy, aching thing in his chest.
The festivities were continuing, Taizen was not needed for anything, his part was over for the day. His job was to be seen, the next day he’d probably get to see his warriors… The smell of roast penguin meat drifted to Taizen. It was unappealing. Lichen was being put in a pot of water being boiled, the caribou hare was being smoked in a hut, his own mother was teaching a small group of girls barely 5 years of age how to cut seaweed just right, however, she was using a scalpel of water. “Tomorrow, we start our day’s by Taizen’s rule!” Said a male voice, cheerful, like all the rest, it wasn’t all that different or notable from any other man there. But this voice, held weariness masked behind the cheerfulness. It was his father. And of course Taizen knew why there was the tone of weary-ness, it meant that tomorrow, the way of life he’d known all his life, was going to be abruptly, and shockingly changed, tomorrow, they’d be more, or perhaps less than what they once were. Tomorrow, they would be soldiers. Yes, they were going to continue fishing, yes they would hunt, but they would also, one day be sent out to fight for their lives.
Taizen and Taikai’s appearance at the South Pole marked the day the war became real, rather than a rumor that had arrived in the isolated little village. “Taizen, come here, please.” Rouge, Nagare; Taizen’s father called, putting down his mug of hot liquor, Taizen scowled a bit more, but obeyed. He approached the circle of men, some were men by standards of the rite into manhood, that said, there was one two years younger than him, and watched him like he was some god to be idolized, the other men in the group however sized him up, the boy’s his age, the boy’s older than him, the adults, he glanced at his father, he looked sad; subdued. His mother seemed subdued as well, now that he had time to think back upon the day. Normally, they went contently to work, returned, embraced lovingly, and spoke of whatever menial thing it was that they had done that day, and no matter how monotonous it was to Taizen, they had always seemed happy, content with their lot in life. They were so… Normal… They were benders, with so much potential, and yet, they never moved to practice more than what they did in the morning, and that was only to wake them up. The waste of power irritated Taizen to no end, his mother and father, would not use they’re bending if it was not to cut a stubborn piece of hide, or bend the stream of water favorable for large hauls of fishing.
Was that why he pressed Niima to bend, though he claimed he would protect her, urged her to defend herself with her own strength? Perhaps he was only thinking like that, now, because he lost Niima, perhaps he was justifying himself to try and ease the pangs in his chest. Three days before, he was livid with adoration for Niima!
Three days prior, Niima had bended with all her might, to protect the three people on the boat. Was she still acting then…? Or just to save Musei…? They were the only non-water benders; they held the most danger on the ship.
“Taizen, I want to congratulate you, for being brave enough to leave the village…” Rouge said, his eyes did not betray his sadness. He gave Taizen a hug, to which he was stiff, and uncooperative. He was like ice, and he wished his father knew his warmth would not be returned. He would rather be out in the wilderness all by his lonesome, than be there, being hugged by his father.
Once the embrace was over, Rouga picked up his mug and toasted again to Taizen, “May we grow under Taizen’s guidance!” And the men drained they’re mugs.
The festivities went on, the only thing not done was a water bending performance, since the water benders in the village were average at best, and when asked to perform for them, Taizen claimed to be too tired. Apparently Taikai was too, so he did not participate either. The party finally began to die as the sun began to tinge the sky with light colors of orange and yellow, the mothers shooed their children to bed, and the adults sensible enough to sleep did. As for the older men that were too inebriated, a few playful winks from their wives sent them running to bed. There were a few young men who were foolish enough to attempt staying awake, and drinking at the same time, Taizen looked around the area, the still full mug of liquor that had never touched his lips still steaming in his hands. One by one, the boys began to sleep, still in their sitting position, a few of them were unlcky enough to have passed out in the snow from too much drinking. Once the final boy slept, Taizen stood up, and made his way purposely towards the boats.
There was a shuffling of feet, and Taizen’s body tensed. “Where are you going…?” Intoned the figure in the dark, from the tone of voice, he could tell that it was Taikai. His voice was filled with disappointment. “Move aside Taikai, I wont be your tool of war…” Taizen growled, his eyes glaring intently at the ships in front of him. “It was wrong of me not to tell you, and I understand your anger-” “No, you don’t understand!” Taizen shouted, there was a stirring in the tent nearby, a wobbily boy walked by them, oblivious to the world as he undid his pants and walked towards the toilet. “I know you are angry, and upset, losing someone you love, is always painful…” There was aflurry of movement as Taizen struck out at Taikai, following his movements, the snow at his feet flew up. The snow covered the two from sight temporarily until it floated down to settle again at their feet. Taikai was holding Taizen’s wrist with his right hand, and holding his elbow with his other. Taizen’s leg was raised, showing that he had attempted to put more force into his strike with a dash. However despite this, Taikai was standing there as though nothing had happened. “I can over power you…!” Taizen threatened, glaring at the old man, inches away, he looked back into his eyes with something mixed with the dissapointment. Anger. “Taizen, do not kid yourself, you could not defeat me the strength you just showed. Your emotions are tied to your bending, you may be able to cast a façade on the outside, but I can see it -- in your eyes, and in your bending!” They were practically whispering to each other. Taizen’s body was shaking with the effort of containing his anger, and his grief. Taikai finished. “With your current power, don’t you dare insult me!” There was another scuffle, more of the white powder scattered into the air, and this time, when the veil fell, revealing more of the same… Taizen was sporting a bruise on his cheek. He was still shaking, probably because now he didn’t even have his bending. If he didn’t have Niima, if he didn’t have his own bending…! “Stop patronizing me!” Taizen commanded, a glint of fading moonlight was caught on a tear that was hastily used as a weapon, before the powder went up again. The scuffling lasted longer now, close combat water bending, ending in Taizen’s loss.
Taizen burst from the cloud of powder flying several feet, before rolling back and into a mound of snow, he moved slowly, recovering from the shock. He didn’t seem to have any long-term injuries; no cuts, a few bruises, and the soft snow saved him from a concussion. He stood up wobbly, winded, Taikai approached him slowly. The anger having dissipated from his face with the battle. “I have nothing now…!” Taizen growled, it was almost as though he were threatening Taikai, yet it was simply because he refused to grovel at Taikai’s feet as a lost soul. He would rather seem enraged than grieving.
There was a shuffling of feet, Taizen kept his face to the back of the sounds. Probably just the boy returning from his restroom. No, the shuffling was headed towards the two water benders. Taizen hastily rubbed the grief from his eyes and stood up to his full height. “Mr. Taizen…?” Asked a little girl, rubbing sleep form her eyes with one hand, and holding a letter with another. “Yes…?” He asked, trying to keep the irritance out of his voice. “Please don’t be mad… I forgot…” The girl said whimpering, Taizen could comprehend the situation already. The girl had failed to do something she was supposed to. It didn’t matter, one tuna-salmon uncooked didn’t really make much of a difference. “She was such a nice girl… I was thinking of giving it to you right away…!” Taizen’s mind was running crazy. From a ‘nice girl’? hit thoughts immediately jumped to Niima, then to the letter she held in her hand. It took all his effort not to pry it from the young girls hand. But instead, he kneeled down to her level, and held out his hand. “May I please have the letter…? It’s better late than never…” Was it though? If the girl had forgotten Taizen would have left the village, and disappeared to wherever he thought he could train his bending in silence.
The girl smiled, and held out the letter, which Taizen took, trying not to seem too in need of whatever was written inside. He showed his gratitude with a fake smile, and shooed the girl back to bed. With a wave of his hand. “Bye…” She called from the flap in the hovel she was entering. “Taizen, you are needed here.” Taikai began before Taizen could rip open the letter. He scowled. “Niima felt out of place Taizen, I could only assume the torture she went through to see you surrounded by people who needed you. Leaving was probably something she thought benefited you…” Taizen was holding the letter up to his face. “Taikai… Please leave me alone…” The old man began to shuffle off. “If you think you deserve it… I’m only here to help people…” And with that, Taizen was alone.
He felt the letter, it was a little lumpy. He opened it carefully. And reached in, and pulled out a crystal pendant. “Niima….” His voice sounded gravelly as he called her name.
((Colors to be added soon. More to come.))
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Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 7:40 pm
Taizen felt like some gates in his body had been opened, and he felt more emotions mixed in with the already torrential ocean of feelings. He stared at the crystal pendant for a long time, the dawning sun was dancing lights upon the pendant. Taizen was crying, his body wanted for nothing, but his soul, wanted for someone to call out, and reassure him he was not alone. He felt like a child left to sleep in his own bed for the first time. Without the comfort of another person, the world was cruel, and scary, and just like a child, if left to fend for itself, would become cruel, selfish, and ill tempered. Taizen had acheived this years ago, years before he could truly comprehend what was happening, could truly comprehend that he was alone. However, the pendant acted as a comforter, he was not alone, though he felt like it. The pendant was an inanimate embodiment of Niima's trust, and emotions for him. Now, Taizen knew he had to be strong, he could feel Niima again, he could feel the promise he'd made to her, that he would protect her. And he knew how wrong it was for him to break that promise by letting her go. He wanted to be near her again, however, it wasn't for selfish reasons anymore, it was so that Niima would not be alone. With the gesture of faith bound in the pendant, Niima had destroyed his selfishness, his cruelty, and... Well, he knew he could never get rid of his ill-temperment, but now, he felt as though he could try to do it a little less. A child crying in the darkness, devoid of comfort, should have something to attach to. In this sense, Niima had come to Taizen when he was alone, he really did love her. He took for granted, everything that could have possibly been going his way. He felt he deserved it, now, he felt the kindness was a gift, that should be treasured, and repaid, rather than something that you simply took and ignored. He had looked at the parchment after the shock of the pendant had subsided, prompt to re-read every word over and over again. Until he knew the letter by heart.
He released a heavy sigh, the maelstrom of emotions that had battered, and beaten Taizen since he met Niima, had finally subsided. He was truly reborn again, for he felt no animosity towards anyone, not even to Fulgar, who threatened Niima, and hated all. All he felt, was a numbing bliss. He pocketed the note carefully, he raised the pendant to the sun now full in the horizon. He could hear bustling sounds as the village started up again. Could hear the groaning of hung over boys and men. He carefully put the pendant aroud his neck. He raised his clothing so that it hid the crystal from view. It was his prized possesion, until he could give it back to Niima, after all, he'd stay with her until the end, he had no reason to hold onto something that held more emotional attachment to Niima, than to him. His emotional attachment would be Niima, not her pendant. "Taizen!" Taikai called, Taizen had been rooted to the icy ground for hours, and his feet felt numb, Taikai's voice gently sweeping the bliss away from him. "What are you doing...?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:09 pm
"I'm leaving." Taizen said blatantly. Though, from the small smile he had on his face, the anger and squabble of the nights fight had obviously been forgotten. "... Taizen...?" Taikai had to ask, although the topic of his question seemed to have been forgotten. "I'm gonna go find Niima." He stated. Taikai raised an eyebrow. "And I'm going to leave you here to defend -- and train -- the village...!" Taikai sighed, "Atleast it would seem that there are no signs of the war on the surface, we have a small window of opportunity..." Taizen's smile grew a bit bigger, though not noticeably so. "I may never come back..." It sounded like a threat, "Then I will lose my best pupil." Taikai shrugged as though it didn't bother him. Taizen let out a little chuckle. "I see... Well, I will have to return one day... If only to cut down the upstart that wants to take my place..." Taikai grinned, and cackled. (The residential crazy old person looked up from his soup breakfast with surprise. Crazy recognized crazy. He now had a new friend, and showed it by cackling as well. He left his soup on the floor (Where it would freeze and be forgotten) and hobbled over to Taizen and Taikai. "So old man! Tell me, is this young lad about to head out on yet another adventure...?!" Taikai laughed, "And here I thought 'd have to tell the village after he'd left!!!" The two old men let out cackles of laughter, and Taizen had to chuckle at the two, who gathered stares of surprise by the nearby villagers. "I'll tell my parents, and then be off. Once I am, tell the chief." He informed the two old men. They nodded obediently. The 'crazier' southern old man wiped a fake tear from his eyes. "Does my heart good to see children telling their parents they're leaving, y'know, rather than just leaving on a whim, and having an old man tell them for 'im! BWAHAHAH!" Taikai looked scandalized. "You didn't tell your parents before you left...?!" Taizen waved Taikai down. "I'm rectifying that now, relax..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 11:22 am
When Taikai entered the hovel that belonged to his parents, they both looked up from the food before them with surprise. "Taizen? Oh, we almost forgot, we need to get you a nice home for yourselves...! What with how much you've grown, and I darent say that all three of you can stay in our little hut..." Taizen shook his head slowly, "Actually, the home will have to wait, you see, I must leave again..." Rouga Nagare had a confused look, "But, you have just returned home... And you are to help us prepare for the war..." Taizen's mother looked scared, "But Taizen, your going to leave again...? Now in these turbulent times...?" Her voice was soft, and pleading. She didn't want her son to leave again, she would have tried to make him stay the first time if it wasn't so sudden. "I must go... Taikai will be staying here, and he will be training the benders, and warriors... You have nothing to worry about, even from a surprise attack, our home shall not fall... And I will return, just... Not very soon." Ame's eyes were pleading now more than ever. "Taizen, we are on a delicate balance...! Please...!" Taizen sighed, "If I stayed I would simply overturn the balance mother, please..." Ame sniffed in defeat, she never could get through to her son, Retsu sighed and looked downcast. Ame moved to hug her son, and with surprise found him not retreating. "I'm sorry mother..." Ame's eyes glistened with tears. Her son was apologizing...! "Taizen, return home swiftly... We love you..." Taizen nodded in answer, and Ame released her son wiping a tear from her eye. Retsu stepped forward like he did the night before. "In truth, I had always expected you to leave sometime, I just never expected it to be this soon..." Taizen nodded. "I won't dissapoint you..." Restu nodded, "You wont, you are our flesh and blood, and will return home unharmed. I trust in you Taizen. " He too hugged Taizen, and Taizen hugged him back, Taizen felt a bit of sadness, his parents had never spoke up out of the ordinary as they were now, he felt as though he were forgetting something for the second time, although the first time had taken much longer to realize. "Farewell father, mother..." Taizen began, heading for the door. "May the sea and moon guide you..." Taizen's mother was whispering, and Retsu's words were the ones that truly carried the sound. And with that, Taizen left the hovel, heading to the docks where the crazy old man was waving at a young man to unbuckle the ship from the ice.
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 10:14 pm
"Where are you going, Taizen... Sir...?" The boy from the day before asked, he had been enlisted as the help from the old man, the one that had gone to use the toilet early in the morning. If Taizen could recall, he could be considered the 'runt of the litter' if the children of the southern water tribe could be considered puppies, or cubs, etc. He was the smallest one, always getting picked on, Taizen sometimes used to terrorize him for fun! And yet, now he looked taller than even him, and working out on the frigid landscape did more to mold his body than Taizen's. And yet, he looked at him apprehensiously, confused, he'd probably not been properly praised, he was not a bender, just an average person, and his skills probably only had begun to develop when Taizen left. The look in his eyes was a sad one. If you asked Taizen, he looked sorta dopey, to look so sad as such a strong person. "Uh, ya, I'm going to search for something, and then I'll be back." Taizen said swiftly, with a smile. It wasn't a lie, it just wasn't the whole truth. "oh..." The tone in his voice implied he didn't think that was enough of an explanation, but if someone as 'important' as him said so, he'd best not push forward. Taizen flinched. That was horrible! To think of himself like that! He had always strived for praise! He was upset when he did not receive it! And yet, here was the boy who had grown up without hope for praise, without want, or desire. He simply accepted his life. He was humble, in a sad way. "Look, have Taikai train you as though you were a waterbender, tell him I said that specifically, when I return I want to talk you about stuff. Okay? Alright. See ya." Taizen spoke quickly, and just as he suspected, the kid not more than a month younger than him stared at him in amazement. Even as he broke the ice keeping the ship in tow. with a quick downwards chop, and with one push of his hands set the boat out. "Bye Taizen! Goodluck! You get your girl!" Taizen had to glare back at the two crazy old man waving towards him. He couldn't tell which one had said it. But he would have to punish one of them. If he wanted to show Niima to everyone at the southern tribe, it was fine. But if someone else did it... Well, it was just his natural tendency to like doing stuff his own way.
(Exit Water tribe; Enter earth Kingdom ~Amayen)
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