Chapter 26. Kiyoshi Island [FIXED]
**Chapter 26. Kiyoshi Island.**
"What, sorry? Did you say Suyuki?" she shot me a downright scrutinizing glare.
"Heh-heh, no, I mixed you up with a good acquaintance," I tried to dodge the awkward topic.
Damn, she looks so much like Suyuki—same chestnut hair, same facial features, only with a more athletic build. I need to keep my thoughts to myself more often.
"Alright...," she seemed unconvinced but decided to drop it for now, "So, why did you come to the island? Who's behind you? Pirates? The Fire Nation?" she continued grilling me, "What did you fly in on?"—meaning they hadn't seen my waterbending yet.
"I'm a waterbender from the Northern Water Tribe, just decided to travel. To prove it, let me show you," I said. The Water Tribes have never been aggressors; sure, we're not peaceful like the Air Nomads, but we only defend. "Just no sudden movements—I'll only demonstrate my bending. If I wanted to harm you, I would've done it when we met," I added reassuringly. "May I?"
"Go ahead, traveler," she said after a moment's thought, "just no nonsense. And where do you see a...?" She trailed off mid-sentence, noticing water seeping through a small grate.
The water was right by the hut's wall, in a barrel just a few meters from me. Controlling it was easy.
As I played with the water, shaping it into various forms, Shizuka watched my bending with a hint of envy, her fan—a dangerous weapon in skilled hands—ready in her grip.
"If only we had at least one waterbender, we wouldn't have to risk our lives every time we meet them," Shizuka thought, given recent events. "The boy's not lying; he could've taken us down back there. My instincts were right. Alright, I'll let him go, but if he tries to snoop around..." Her fingers tightened on the fan, still feeling the bruise on her shoulder from that damn earthbender. "That earthbender was weak, but still a bender. Maybe we can lure this waterbender to our village? He's handsome, and his children would likely be born with bending"—the idea was tempting.
A shiver ran down my spine when our eyes met. I'd seen that look in Kai's eyes after that night. What's going on in her head? I'm all for this turn of events, but wasn't I just a prisoner? Now she's eyeing me like dinner.