Rain poured down outside the window on the living room they had fallen asleep in the night before. Both tangled in eachothers arms. Hei ran and smiled as she walked in, as she approached Kyoshi's head perked up.
"Something the matter?" Kyoshi asked quietly, shifting so she sort of sat up. "Not necessarily, no. It's just about the man from the group of attackers last night. They were going to begin the first round of interrogation."
"Okay I'll be ready in a minute, tell them I'll be there soon." Kyoshi replied, starting to untangle herself. "I would like to be there for the start of it all"
"And her '' Hei ran, gesturing to her daughter who was still passed out on the couch.''She should sleep a bit longer, I'll be gone for a little bit. Just let her know where I'm off to or I won't see tomorrow." Kyoshi said, laughing lightly.
"She must really trust you," Hei-Ran says softly. Kyoshi gave her a confused look. "She rarely sleeps so deeply"
Kyohsi rushed into the room next door to put on her chainmail armor following her basic green tunic. Reaching for her little containers of make up she started to apply it quickly, over time it had become nearly second nature.
They enter a cool room past the holding cells. Hei Ran tells Kyoshi what they had learned by now, which was basically nothing. They suspected an earth bending from his appearance. "He's a fire bender actually, and not a bad one at that" Kyoshi commented, recalling the wall of fire he was able to summon the night before.
"Noted"
She grabbed the cool steel handle, pausing a moment. No one was in danger, no one would get hurt. This was only a conversation, an exchange of words. Nothing more. Nothing was going to happen.
She pushed it forward to see the firebender restrained, with a higher ranking officer beside him.
"Wow, I'm truly honored. I mean to be interrogated by the Avatar herself. The others will be jealous. That is what is going on here I presume." He sneered.
"You seem different," Kyoshi said calmly. "Not so long ago you appeared to be a different man" the rasp, the second voice within his own had seemed to have left since the last time she had heard him speak.
"That's what a good night's sleep can do I guess" He shrugged.
"Right." Kyoshi said stiffly, taking a seat in front of him.
She began to ask him a list of questions to try and determine where this could have come. It had to have had an origin. From what he told her he was raised in the earth kingdom, claimed his mother was of fire nation descendants that's where his abilities came from. He also said he was new to the group so he didn't know much.
"What do I get out of this anyway?" He interrupted. "You're looking to earn something from getting caught causing chaos at an event held in the palace?" Kyoshi asked skeptically. "Might as well try, I could be useful for a price"
There was a loud bang on the door, Kyoshi turned her head to see Rangi standing in the doorway. A smile crossed her face.
"You're the one with the white fire" The man called, recognizing her from the night before. "Honestly I thought you were going to take me out last night with your blaze of hatred you had going on."
"He seems bright." Rangi commented as she walked into the room.
Rangi seemed to have more questions than Kyoshi could have thought of. She was soon taking the lead of the whole conversation. But he didn't seem to enjoy this new company.
"We know you know more than you're leading on." Kyoshi said standing up.
"Fine, you want details, I'll give you details. But this is a private conversation. You got that hot stuff?" He said glaring at Rangi. Kyoshi nodded, and she left the room taking the other guards with her. "If you try to pull anything your safety is not guaranteed." Rangi said before ducking out the door.
"Oh I'm well aware"
"So what was so important it had to be confidential?" Kyoshi asked, sitting back down. "For one if you tell anyone about certain information this all goes under"
Kyoshi's facial expressions froze. "Okay, out with it then"
He explained the group he was working for, they were manipulating the abilities of the spirits, but recently they seemed to have come to a cross road, and Kyoshi was required.
"So then what's been up with the threats, demanding I was to stay away from the fire nation?" Kyohis asked. "Well like I said that's all changed as of recently" He replied. "Changed how exactly?"
"Look I won't be able to give you all the answers you demand right here"
"Then tell me what you can"
"Like I said before you have seemed to find a way to become a part of out little puzzle, and we would require someone with your abilities" He rambled on.
"For what?"
"That's as far as I can go there" Kyoshi rolled her eyes. " So you're apart of this little spirit cult-"
"We actually prefer the term gathering, scares off less new comers" He interrupted. "So your little spirit gathering needs the avatars help with some project of yours concerning the spirits that you've been messing with. Is that all correct?"
"Almost, here's the thing he wants to make you a member, wouldn't that be exciting? That's the whole hush hush of course"
"Spectacular. Where is this gathering exactly?"
"I can't tell you that yet"
"Well when you then?"
"The letter will explain everything"
"What letter?"
"Your invitation, you see this whole thing is not exactly public just yet, so invitations and even information is limited." He continued to explain.
"Is that why you were setting fires, and causing disturbances around town?"
"Hey, that wasn't me, it's not like I'm in charge." He defended.
"So if I was to accept this invitation, when would I be expecting it? If this is all so secret and stuff. I'd imagine you would want me to be the only one to have access to this letter."
"The day after tomorrow I believe"
"You believe?"
"Around day break to be exact, yes."
"Splendid"
"Anything else?" Kyoshi asked one last time before standing up. "No not that I can think of, other than if you do accept this outstanding opportunity you no one else can be involved. If you show up with hot stuff or anyone else, your out"
"Alright then"
"So I don't even get to know whether you'll except it or not"
"No"
"Fine, after the whole hour of questions I don't get one. That seems fair. But okay. Just remember this stays hush hush. Or He will make sure everything will finally crumble the way it should have."
"Who's he exactly?" Kyohsi asked, turning her head to face the man once more. "I don't get my questioned answered neither do you"
"Fine." She said, finally leaving the room.
She didn't know why the man had been acting so differently than the night before. But if there was the connection to the spirits like she sensed last night she couldn't risk telling him any of her plans she didn't know if he was communicating even from here. It would be safer to have some information unknown.
She walked out of the room, and was immediately greeted by Rangi. "So..."
"He had some useful information," Kyoshi said, as Rangi gestured for her to follow.
"Your makeup smudged by the way" Rangi commented as they walked out into a courtyard. "You're lying-" Kyoshi said quickly, waking over to a pond to try and catch her reflection.
"He probably thought I was crazy" She said, using her sleeve to wipe off the partially done make up. "At least you didn't add the white base, and stop using your robes to wipe it off." She ordered Kyoshi's sleeve from her face. "Come on, you can tell me more once we get it off"
"I can do this myself you know" Kyoshi said as she watched Rangi ring out a damp rag once they were back inside. "You always miss a spot"
"That's because you always-" the coughing started up again before she could continue. "That's because you're always here," Kyoshi finished. Rangi laughed to herself as she started to wipe the remainder of the makeup off.
The make up makes her happy, Rangi reminded herself. She always prefered being able to see Kyoshi's face without the Dao foi makeup, but it made her happy. It made her feel strong. Though that didn't take away fromt he fact that Rangi loved Kyoshi's freckles that covered her like the stars.
"You're staring," Kyoshi said, breaking her train of thought. "So about what he said"
Kyoshi paused for a moment remembering everything he had said not so long ago. "There's this spirit cult like thing, they're the group that has been behind all the attacks, and stuff around town." She said carefully. "Did he say anything more about the spirits, like how they could be connected?" Rangi asked.
She thought for a moment, Kyoshi didn't know if keeping Rangi in the dark was a good thing like the man had said. Should she tell her that she was somehow a piece to their whole little project? That there was a letter arriving the day after tomorrow at dawn that would invite her to join.
"No he wouldn't tell me anything else '' She said finally. Rangi looked disappointed. "You tried I guess, at least we know that it's connected to the spirits. So that's not a dead end, that's good I suppose"
"Yeah, maybe he'll talk more later."
I don't think I'll ever stop apologizing for the posting delays, however my final exams are over in about two weeks so I should be able to keep a better schedule after that. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed❤️