Nyima took a step back as he looked around the corner, peering around it herself. She pursed her lips when saw Mizuki and her brother walk to the house. She looked at him and crossed her arms as he mentioned that they would not be able to follow. She sighed, knowing full well that they couldn't. She made a face at the mention of wearing masks, "I hate those things... No better way of saying hey, look I'm suspicious, if you ask me."

She leaned back against the wall and looked at the house, "Matsen... He isn't the best. But he is good. Zhou knows how to deal with benders. Him being a water bender might through him off... And if we send in a non-bender... well they'd be toast."

She looked back at Rayn, "I'd trust him to keep up with them and bring back decent enough information on what you are doing... Then we could follow behind and wait for our chance to deal with her and the Avatar."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zenji looked over to the door as the two people on the other side introduced themselves. She walked over to the door and stood behind Masuto's shoulder, "Not friends, I assume..."

She looked up at them as it seemed the two of them were willing to and would be joining them on their adventure to make Masuto the Avatar. She smiled, "Well, aren't you two... jolly. I'm Zenji. I'm going to teach Masuto Airbending... to the best of my ability."

She looked at Masuto and smiled at him, "It seems to me that the people are flocking to help you. She looked at Kuei, "He might have a bit more of a load to carry now."

Masuto thought about Zenji's most recent choice of words, knowing that As strong as Kuei was, it'd be a little hard for him to carry all of those people. He was prepared to ask his blue haired friend if any of the Sky Bison had escaped, but he knew that anything relating to the attack on the island would be over the line. He could have only imagined the pain that she was going through, all of her friends and family being dead right in front of her. He pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked to the two new people at his door, taking the note from the woman and reading over it quickly. It said that she was to help him in his avatar training in water bending, but it was a little early to star training for water when he hadn't even touched on air yet. He took a small step back as the taller man said that he was in his service, and his breathing became heavy for a short time. Calming himself down he looked at both of them and smiled just a little. "I'm... flattered about having the both of you help me, but I only know fire right now and I have to start air before I can get to water. You two are more than welcome to help me along, but it might be a little while until I get there." He still wanted to seem kind while he put them down, but he wanted to do this the right way, and although he wanted to face the enemy as soon as possible, he had to wait until he was ready. "And.... I'm not sure how well Kuei can carry all five of us, so we might need another source of travel..."

Mizuki twitched listening to Zhou explain that he would be around until he could deliver her back to the northern tribe. Bristles shot up her neck though she kept the bright smile on her face, ignoring the urge to say something catty back to Zhou. Her eyes moved to Masuto with understanding.

"Oh of course, I am certainly not in a hurry to get back. I love to travel.. and while you may not be ready to train in the art of water for a while, maybe I can still be of service to you via protection.. Or, if it helps - I have very limited experience with it, but I am learning to heal with my bending." She blushed. "I'm not too good yet.. but it'll get better I'm sure.. " She tilted her head a bit curious.

"I'm sorry, do I misunderstand you? .... " She looked around for a moment. "Uh, "Kuei" is to carry who? Who is Kuei?" She blinked frowning as she looked to him. "I'm sorry I don't meant to offend.. it seems that Zhou and I arrived slightly late to the party. We had something pressing that came up that took our attention for a bit, so I seem to be behind on who is who?"

Zhou noticed a twitch in Mizuki when he explain that he would be around until he could deliver her back to the northern tribe. A twinge of a smile came on his face.

"I'm sorry, do I misunderstand you? .... " She looked around for a moment. "Uh, "Kuei" is to carry who? Who is Kuei?" She blinked frowning as she looked to him. "I'm sorry I don't meant to offend.. it seems that Zhou and I arrived slightly late to the party. We had something pressing that came up that took our attention for a bit, so I seem to be behind on who is who?"

He looked towards the window and saw an armadillo bear looking through the window... He placed a hand over his face as he easily put two and two together when they said Ride Kuei and now that Mizuki said this he felt embarrassed, He cleared his throat while touching her shoulder. "Um... Mizuki" when she would look at him he points at the window where Kuei is looking in. " I believe it's him."

He looked at the blue haired airbender for a moment. He never saw someone with blue hair before... It was interesting. He looked at Masuto who said they might have to resort to other travel means. He shook his head at this... All other kingdoms have become lazy and weak, while northern kingdom has kept with the past. "That's what walking is for my young avatar. " he touched his own legs. "Perfect for strengthening, and conditioning. Better for learning all styles." He looked around and said," That's why our soldiers are the most condition. And with these Rouge benders out and about now, some are powerful. You need all the training you can get.

---

Nyima made a face at the mention of wearing masks, "I hate those things... No better way of saying hey, look I'm suspicious, if you ask me."

He shook his head and chuckled. "Kind goes with us killing airbenders... And fighting the avatar... Kinda suspicious work. Besides you don't want your brother finding out." He said as he glanced at her. He wanted to make sure this life would not ruin her new chance with being with her family again. So at least ONE Of them had that...

She leaned back against the wall and looked at the house, "Matsen... He isn't the best. But he is good. Zhou knows how to deal with benders. Him being a water bender might through him off... And if we send in a non-bender... well they'd be toast."

He thought for a moment and his eyes narrowed. " Your brother is from a nation water benders how would that throw him off?"
She looked back at Rayn, "I'd trust him to keep up with them and bring back decent enough information on what you are doing... Then we could follow behind and wait for our chance to deal with her and the Avatar."

He nodded, " that could work... Probably send a squad in to test their mettle..." He moves away from the corner "Alright let's go get him."

Zenji looked at the girl when she asked about Kuei. She glanced at the Armadillo Bear moments before it was pointed out her. She smiled at the Zhou character, although she still stood by her first comment about him being 'jolly'. She snickered a little when he suggested they walk. She covered up her mouth quickly and gave him a small bow, "Excuse my laughter but... I don't think we can walk around the world having him learn bending... It would take far more time... And some air temples aren't places you wish to walk to... The hideout and places you can't really walk to..."

She smiled at him then Masuto, "I... I can go to the island," she cleared her throat of the bubble growing in it, "See if there is an Air Bison.... My own was there.... She tends to go off at times I'm not there..... She... might have avoided the attack," she took a deep breath, calming herself, "I should find out for sure before I leave anyways...."
~~~~~~~~
Nyima looked at him and shrugged, "The Water Tribe likes to think the world is still strictly, Water, Fire, Earth... and I guess, Air. They don't prepare to fight too many waterbenders. And my brother can't help but have an admiration for waterbenders, I'm sure."

She moved off the wall and followed him. She clapped their hands together as they walked, "One thing about Matsen.... He may or may not have been hitting on me again.... And I may or may not have accidently said that you and I may or may not be more than just friends.... It's been three years and I was getting really sick of it and he is... well... To put it bluntly, afraid of you," she scratched the back of her head, "It worked... if that means anything..." she looked up at him and gave him a shy smile, "Oops?"

She sighed and dropped her hand, "Would mind keeping up the act?... I'm sure you are getting... a little sick of it. With earlier and the day before but it would really help me keep him off my back," she pleaded to him with her eyes, holding her hands together tightly, "Please?"

She watched him a moment before adding, "And if you 'break up' with me in front of him to screw with me... I will cook you and eat you as a stew."

Masuto had been preparing to say something to Mizuki about Kuei being right there at the window, but before he had the chance, Zhou spoke up and explained it for him. He was also thinking about trekking through he world just by walking. That would be fine and all, but all of the four nations were seperated by water, and they had to find a way to get to the other nations if the wanted to learn the elements. The were already in the earth kingdom, so it wouldn't be impossibly hard to find an earth bending master, but that element was last on his list, and he had to pursue the others first.

The young fire bender turned his head to looked at Zenji as she cleared the throat, and thought about finding a sky bison at the island. He thought that it must be painful to have to go back there, to the place where death polluted the air. Not to mention that it was also her former home and most likely all of her friend and family were dead. He shook his head and looked at her calmly. "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to head to the island as well. So many things happened there recently..." He remembered reading something some time ago about Avatar Aang's life, mainly after escaping the ice burg with the aid of Katara and Sokka. his emotions flooded him when he went to the first air temple, and it might not be the exact same things for Zenji, but it was probably pretty traumatizing to even think about such a thing happening to your home. He didn't want for her to face it alone.

Meanwhile, Kuei sat patiently at the window and continued to sniff the air and look over at Mizuki and Zhou. Masuto seemed to be fine around them, so Kuei decided not to attack them or anything and simply watched them and the whole conversation.

Mizuki looked to Zhou curiously for a moment as he touched her shoulder, clearing his throat. "Um.. Mizuki, I believe it's him." Her eyes shifted over to the armadillo bear and color exploded across her cheeks. "Ahahaha.... I - I knew that.. Eh-Herm... I was ..just verifying.." She ducked her head slightly embarassed, having gotten so caught up with news of the Avatar that she had not properly paid attention as she should have.

She looked to Zenji in awe. She had never seen an air bender before, though she'd heard great things. She raised a brow at the girl's words. Clearly something had happened to cause her pain, and though Mizuki didn't know details of what happened, she felt compelled to help her, too. Mizuki looked to Masuto as he spoke, "If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to head to the island as well. So many things happened there recently..."

"I would love to accompany you there as well." She offered Zenji a light smile. "I understand horrible things have happened to air benders recently.. I'm sure I don't know all of the details, but it can't be easy to go home to face whatever may be left.. And if there is trouble to be found there back at your island, I want to help protect whatever is left of your homelands. Ko'noki, the elder that raised me, has always said that your people are amazing benders. The air nomads have done incredible things through out history..I'd love to see history up close, if I can't be assistance in some way.." She held her hand out for a friendly handshake, hoping that she didn't sound insensitive with her wording.. She really did mean the best.

Zhou looked at the airbender as she snickered a little when he suggested they walk. She covered up her mouth quickly and gave him a small bow, "Excuse my laughter but... I don't think we can walk around the world having him learn bending... It would take far more time... And some air temples aren't places you wish to walk to... The hideout and places you can't really walk to..."

He said in a cold voice that matched his nation. "It was partially a joke. Obviously we can't walk around the entire world. " He stared her in the eye for a moment before becoming Silent. This is why he was serious all the time.

She then said to Masuto, "I... I can go to the island," she cleared her throat, "See if there is an Air Bison.... My own was there.... She tends to go off at times I'm not there..... She... might have avoided the attack," she took a deep breath, calming herself, "I should find out for sure before I leave anyways...."

As she said that Masuto and Mizuki asked or offered to come with her. He just folded his arms and remained silent. His mind turning to his younger sister.
~~~~~~~~
Nyima looked at him and shrugged, "The Water Tribe likes to think the world is still strictly, Water, Fire, Earth... and I guess, Air. They don't prepare to fight too many waterbenders. And my brother can't help but have an admiration for waterbenders, I'm sure."

He looked at her and thought, "still doesn't mean he didn't train to fight water Benders... He would train so he would know incase there was a rebellion... All soldiers did in every nation."

She moved off the wall and followed him. She clapped their hands together as they walked, he looked down at her hands holding his... For one who just said their just friends and nothings there...(basically) she sure warmed up to the act of boyfriend and girlfriend.
"One thing about Matsen.... He may or may not have been hitting on me again.... And I may or may not have accidently said that you and I may or may not be more than just friends.... It's been three years and I was getting really sick of it and he is... well... To put it bluntly, afraid of you," she scratched the back of her head, as he rolled his eyes. Women... Always making things difficult. "It worked... if that means anything..." she looked up at him and gave him a shy smile, "Oops?"
"Oops" he said as he looked forward. He remained silent for a bit before she continued

She sighed and dropped her hand, "Would mind keeping up the act?... I'm sure you are getting... a little sick of it. With earlier and the day before but it would really help me keep him off my back," she pleaded to him with her eyes, holding her hands together tightly, "Please?"She watched him a moment before adding, "And if you 'break up' with me in front of him to screw with me... I will cook you and eat you as a stew."

"Oh that's a good incentive to get me to help you. " ignoring her pleading eyes by not looking over at her. Despite the awkwardness earlier she still is willing to keep this up. But he couldn't say no... She asked for help.... He was going to. " fine " he said simple before turning down the street towards matsens place.

Once there he knocked on the door and he answered. He first saw Nyima but was surprised when he saw Rayn next to her. "Um.... H..hey how's it going? What can I do for you guys?" As he looked between them; mostly at Nyima.

"We need you to tail someone for us. Right away." He said bluntly. At which Matsen said "can't I have work I need to go to in a hour." As he looked at Nyima again." How you been doing Nyima? Been a while since I we met.
Rayn sighed he could totally see he was crushing on Nyima, but he felt that he didn't want to initiate the story but have Nyima try using the 'cover story first. Giving her a hard time with out actually " DOING" anything.

Zenji looked up at the man as he spoke curtly, she bowed again, "Then I suppose it is a good thing I laughed," she smiled slightly, "With it being a joke... Although, if you continue to deliver your jokes such a serious manner I fear they are going to fly over all of our heads. It is better to assume you are serious than to assume it to be a joke."

She began to rub her hands as Masuto offered to go with her. She didn't get a word out before the girl was offering to do the same. She closed her eyes as the girl spoke, trying to keep herself calm. With the mention of recent events from the both of them, Zenji could already feel the sting in her eye. The girl was still talking, wanting to see the history, talking about the people and the benders. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes again. She smiled softly and, with a shaky hand, shook Mizuki's, "It... isn't a sight you will expect to see right now... I'm not sure if the police have managed to.... clear away the.... um... the... the bodies."

Zenji's knuckles turned white as she gripped her hands tightly together trying to keep her emotions in check. She took a ragged breath and looked between those who had gathered, "Excuse me a moment..." She slid passed Zhou and Mizuki and walked outside. She ignored the fact that her bright coloured hair was out of anyone to see and walked a small ways away from the door. She leaned against the wall and hugged herself. It was easier to breath out here, she could feel the wind and breath the fresh air. The house had gotten so stuffy all of the sudden. Zenji closed her eyes again, trying to calm down, if she couldn't hold herself together here, she wouldn't be able to on the island. She didn't need to have a mental breakdown in front of four people she hardly knew.
~~~~~~~
Nyima smiled slightly when he made comment to her threat, "Just ensuring I don't get messed with."

She grinned when he gave in and nearly spat out the word fine. Her heart dropped slightly. Rayn was upset about something and she didn't know what. She did hate when that happened. She often missed cues with people who displayed their emotions openly, it took her sometime to figure out how much Matsen was crushing on her. Then with someone as closed off as Rayn, it was nearly impossible. They were close and most things she could tell, when he was happy, angry, sad, upset, but every once in a while there would be something that she just couldn't put her finger on. She looked at him and spoke softly, "Thank you..."

They arrived at Matsen's and she knocked lightly on the door. She allowed Rayn to explain their situation, keeping it simple and sweet. Her eyebrows knitted together when he said he needed to work in an hour. She ran a hand through her hair when he asked how she had been doing, "Fine... but we just trai-... Whatever, I've been wandering with Rayn most of the morning," she noticed the twitch at the corner of Matsen's mouth and smiled slightly, "We need you to tail that Airbender I was telling you about. The one with the blue hair that got away."

Matsen shook his head, "I'm sorry, Nyima... I have to work."

Nyima's eyebrows rose, "Mat, you work for your mom. I'm sure she'd be fine with you taking sometime off."

He shook his head, "She's gotten sick... She should be fine but... She's old and I don't want to risk anything. Besides, the shop needs to open and, without you anymore, I'm the only one to do that... Sorry... But there's that new guy, I hear he's pretty good... Um... Han."

Nyima nodded, "I've heard of him... Do you have any idea where he might be?"

"The guy likes his muscles... I'd check the gym," Matsen said with a shrug. Nyima nodded and took Rayn's hand pulling him away from the door, "Thanks Matsen."

"Ya... Uh... See ya, Nyima!" He called after the fleeting duo. Nyima dragged Rayn through the crowd. The gym was farther from the house that she was wanting to go. If they left without someone tailing them, that would mess up their plans. However, if this Han guy was the only person they were going to get to tail them, if they made it back it would be worth it. Reaching the gym, she looked around. She hadn't seen much of the new recruit. She didn't keep up with the whole fighting scene and had only seen him once or twice. When she recognized a man but couldn't put his face to his name, she took a leap of faith. She dropped Rayn's hand and walked over to him, "Han Li?"

Han sighed as he sat down after a good work out. He sprayed some water into his mouth as he lounged on his bench. He heard the door open over the sound of other fighters training. He saw a beautiful girl and a tough looking guy walked in. He chuckled at the sight. He saw them holding hands.... Aw that's cute. He though to himself.
He looked down at his hands and began to pull off the tape on his hand when he saw in the corner of his eye her walking towards him. "Han Li?"
He stopped and looked up at the girl. She was from the water tribe he could tell by her features. He narrows his eyes. "Northern tribe right ? I'm from the the southern water tribe." He smiled at her and winked. "Northern tribe always turns out the best looking Women. Anywhere." He stood up and threw his towel over his chair. He stood there with out a shirt as he looked her in the eye. " Obviously you know me, What can I do for you Miss?" He took her hand and kissed it her knuckles gently.

He looked over at the guy, who seemed not to happy at the moment with him wooing his girl.

Nyima smiled slightly when he made comment to her threat, "Just ensuring I don't get messed with."

She grinned when he gave in and nearly spat out the word fine. After a moment She looked at him and spoke softly, "Thank you..."
He only nodded as they continued to matsen's house.
After he asked him he could help she then said, "Fine... but we just trai-... Whatever, I've been wandering with Rayn most of the morning," she noticed the twitch at the corner of Matsen's mouth and smiled slightly, "We need you to tail that Airbender I was telling you about. The one with the blue hair that got away."

Matsen shook his head, "I'm sorry, Nyima... I have to work."

Nyima's eyebrows rose, "Mat, you work for your mom. I'm sure she'd be fine with you taking sometime off."

He shook his head, "She's gotten sick... She should be fine but... She's old and I don't want to risk anything. Besides, the shop needs to open and, without you anymore, I'm the only one to do that... Sorry... But there's that new guy, I hear he's pretty good... Um... Han."

Han.... The mix martial artist champion for the last six years. Pretty good? He's the greatest fighter in the city... He looked at Nymia as she said "I've heard of him... Do you have any idea where he might be?"

"The guy likes his muscles... I'd check the gym," Matsen said with a shrug. Nyima nodded and took Rayn's hand pulling him away from the door, "Thanks Matsen."

"Ya... Uh... See ya, Nyima!" He called after the fleeting duo. Nyima dragged Rayn through the crowd.
Surprised she was stilling doing this all the way to the gym where she finally let go of his hand. She then walked up to Han asking his name.

There he was, Han Li, the greatest fighter in the city. He raised an eyebrow as soon as he spoke.
He stopped unwrapping his wraps on his hands and looked up at Nyima. He narrows his eyes. "Northern tribe right ? I'm from the the southern water tribe." He smiled at her and winked. Rayn rolled his eyes. Great just what he figured would happen guy is a 'ladies man'.

"Northern tribe always turns out the best looking Women. Anywhere." He stood up and threw his towel over chair. " Obviously you know me, What can I do for you Miss?" He took her hand and kissed it her knuckles gently.

He looked over at Rayn and had a smirked at him. At which he folded his arms and Glared. After a moment he glanced at Nyima and said " We are here for business... Not pleasure." He moved over to them and said simply and gruff. " This is not a good idea. It'll be better for us to follow than him. They will recognize him in an instant... " he paused as he walked away. Thinking.

"You defiantly know how to make nonsense interesting. What do you want?" Han asked

"What if he joins them? Two ways of tailing someone.... Not being seen and the only one they see..." Talking to himself slightly. He looks at Nyima. "We need him to join the avatar group.... And make it look like he really is committed... We are gonna plant a mole."

He looks at Han and says." How would you like to fight 20 to 1 odds"

Mizuki looked to Zenji walk out and frowned, her shoulders slumping. Dead bodies. She hadn't seen any since her parents were found that horrid winter night. A shiver ran through her, though she tried to hide it. She knew all too well how much it hurt to see people you loved and cared for laying on the ground, unmoving, cold to the touch.. Death was unfair to most of the souls that it took. "Sure.." She had mumbled in parting, she ached for Zenji's loss.

Looking up to Masuto, she offered a feeble smile in a poor attempt to lighten the mood. "I suppose we must come off as rude.. It looks as if you were having a party here, your birthday? Sorry about the party-crashing.. Especially since we must seem so unfamiliar to you.. But, if it is.. Happy Birthday!" She glanced to Zhou as if expecting him to share in her well wishes.

Masuto had never experienced a loss in his family before, so he only knew so much about what his new friend must have been going through. He wanted to rush outside and help her through this, but he wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do or not. He knew about disappearances, since his father one day just left, but he never faced a death, where he could go back and see the cold, unmoving, and lifeless body of anyone dear to him. He took a moment to embrace that feeling and only assumed that it was the same as Zenji was feeling, but he still wasn't sure.

Although he noticed Mizuki's attempt in lightening the mood, it didn't work all that well and didn't really changer much of anything. He nodded to her and looked out the door before returning to the two people in front of him. "Well, thanks for that, but I don't really think that celebrating is something we should do now. A lot of things seems to be happening, and we should all get ready for the trip."

"Mom... Do you feel it too?" Aki looked at her mother and was given a nod, winds of change blowing through the house. It took her a minute to compose herself before speaking up, and if there wasn't so much on her mind she might have responded differently. "Yes Aki, something is different. I don't know what it is yet, but we'll look in to it... one they go..." She was still emotional about it and didn't want her son to leave. Aki saw this and was planning to halt her adventures for now to stay back with her mom and explore this odd feeling that they had. It was out of place and odd around everything. They had a small spiritual connection, but it wasn't that much and they wished some more air benders were still alive so they could help with this feeling.

Zenji leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. She tired to think of the most calming things she could. These would be things that she would have to remember when they got to the island. Serenity... She was not going to cry in front of people she hardly knew and she needed, they needed her, to go the island. Both to find their transportation and to assure her friend is alive.
~~~~~~
Nyima continued to look at Han as he stood. When he brought up the tribes, she nodded her head slowly, she wasn't really in need of his heritage. A moment later, she caught onto where he was going when he complimented her, in a round about way, saying that Northern Water Tribe women were the best looking in comparison to the rest of the world. She smiled slightly, giving him a silent thanks, not wanting to appear rude. She was slightly surprised when he took her hand and kissed it, asking what it was that he could do for her. However, when he looked at Rayn, she removed her hand. She was about to answer him when Rayn stepped in. She looked at him and crossed her arms, was he mad at her because the guy had kissed her hand? She rolled her eyes in response. Her eyebrows knitted together when he said that it wouldn't work due to Han mostly likely being recognized instantly. Nyima shook her head, "And we wouldn't? Both my brother and Mizuki have seen us."

Rayn seemed to be deep in thought. She looked at Han when he spoke and sighed, "He does that sometimes..."

Rayn was suddenly speaking again, she nodded her head. A mole was a possibility. She thought about it herself before sighing, "But what can he offer them that Zhou can't. They'll need to keep their group small, just the necessities..."

She looked between the two men, "However, can we not talk about this here?... It is probably best to go somewhere more private... This isn't really something that should be discussed in public and we need to move fast."

As he looked over at Rayn, Rayn folded his arms and Glared back. After a moment he glanced at Nyima and said " We are here for business... Not pleasure."

At which he frownd" Pity you think it that way." He smiled at Nyima, "if I get to walk around with beauty over there EVERYTHING would be a pleasure."

Rayn moved over to them and said simply and gruff. Trying to act tough " This is not a good idea. It'll be better for us to follow than him. They will recognize him in an instant... " he paused as he walked away. Thinking. "And we wouldn't? Both my brother and Mizuki have seen us." The woman said.

At which Han smiled,"You defiantly know how to make nonsense interesting. What do you want?" Han asked
Nyima looked at Han when he spoke and sighed, "He does that sometimes..."
"Good to know. " he said as he threw on a shirt.

"What if he joins them? Two ways of tailing someone.... Not being seen and the only one they see..." Talking to himself slightly. He looks at Nyima. "We need him to join the avatar group.... And make it look like he really is committed... We are gonna plant a mole."

He looks at Han and says." How would you like to fight 20 to 1 odds"

The woman thought about it herself before sighing, "But what can he offer them that Zhou can't. They'll need to keep their group small, just the necessities..."

She looked between the two men, "However, can we not talk about this here?... It is probably best to go somewhere more private... This isn't really something that should be discussed in public and we need to move fast."

" No need to worry here miss." He smiled and waved to the room. "We are all friends here in the common cause." He then motioned with the twist of his head I follow him. As they did they would come to an office filled with trophies and clippings of his wins and His gym. " we may continue to talk here if you fear of overhearing." He sat down in a large office chair and placed his fingertips together. " What can I offer? " he motioned trophies around. "I'm sure this Zhou is an exellent fighter in your books. He may be a worthy opponent. But I'm guessing he is not a bender if you compared him to me. " he smiled" I know every style of bending. Course I can't bend but I can teach a bender forms... Which would be helpful for the new Avatar. Which is VERY exciting news by the way, but what I have that most likely he doesn't?" He smiled even more. "The art of nullifying ones bending ability... With five pin point exact blows I can block the chi and their ability to bend, even if they are the masters of it. "

He looked at the man. "I would actually like that odds. It would be most interesting."

He lanes back and said, "you still haven't given me your names. Which is quite rude coming into my home." He said politely

He watched her as She thought about it herself before sighing, "But what can he offer them that Zhou can't. They'll need to keep their group small, just the necessities..."

Another reason why we couldn't be the moles. He thought to himself.

She looked between the two men, "However, can we not talk about this here?... It is probably best to go somewhere more private... This isn't really something that should be discussed in public and we need to move fast."

" No need to worry here miss." He smiled and waved to the room. "We are all friends here in the common cause." He then motioned with the twist of his head I follow him. As they did they would come to an office filled with trophies and clippings of his wins and His gym. " we may continue to talk here if you fear of overhearing." He sat down in a large office chair and placed his fingertips together. " What can I offer? " he motioned trophies around. "I'm sure this Zhou is an exellent fighter in your books. He may be a worthy opponent. But I'm guessing he is not a bender if you compared him to me. " he smiled" I know every style of bending. Course I can't bend but I can teach a bender forms... Which would be helpful for the new Avatar. Which is VERY exciting news by the way, but what I have that most likely he doesn't?" He smiled even more. "The art of nullifying ones bending ability... With five pin point exact blows I can block the chi and their ability to bend, even if they are the masters of it. "

He looked at the man. "I would actually like that odds. It would be most interesting."

He lanes back and said, "you still haven't given me your names. Which is quite rude coming into my home." He said politely

"My name is Rayn." At which Han dropped his feet from the desk and leaned closer to look at him.

"Reeeeeeally?" He stood up and walked around his desk. Looking him up and down with a quizzical look. His arms folded and his right hand holding his chin and covering his mouth. Not the normal reaction he got from new recruits when they found out it was him. Rayn was highly respected in the rouge benders for his skill and fierceness in battle. He then met eyes with Han and Han said," I thought you would be bigger..." He said with a smile. His eyes lit up as he looked at Nyima.

"Then you must be Nyima! The beautiful partner who made a name for her self in less than three years. Quickly becoming a master of her style... Truly an honor. The rumors of your beauty do you no justice as I see you. I would love to spar with you sometime." He winked at her.

Rayn rolled his eyes " So now you know who we are here's the details of your mission." He then began to relate all that happened pertianant to the airbender and now the new avatar. He also said try not to hurt or kill the water benders in the group. When the time came. Or he will deal with Rayn. They also set a plan to solitify the trust in the group for Han.

He then wrote down the Address and said" now go find them and once they start moving we will move in. We will be masked during this. There is a cop in the group and her brother so we can't be seen involved. Everyone else will be wearing one as well. Got it?" He said with a gruff voice.

Han nodded and gave a mocking "YES SIR." salute and quickly grabbed a few things before rushing out of the gym. Obviously excited for the plan which during he was bouncing around at the idea of how fun it was going to be for him.

Rayn looked at Nymia. " well let's go get changed... And ready for a long trip."

Tzo'sai woke up in the cage he had been put in by the fire nation guard that he had mistakenly run into on the roads. Tzo'sai was a renowned rebel in the area a fire bender himself he had been first taken in for burning down a shop on accident, little did he know the shop keeper had connections amongst the city guard. Tzo'sai was taken in when he was only 14 to prison. He would have simply let it go and gone back to his normal life had be not been attacked by the guards on a regular basis, they burned him and gave him multiple scars, most noticable of which was an X that cross his cheek. This marked him as a criminal giving him reason to wear his mask, but no mask did he wear now. He was only given a pair of torn pants to keep him warm at night, and a pair of steel hand guards that blocked him from bending, he watched at the fire nation guards ate their food, munching on meat and fried vegetables. One of the guards noticed him and walked over holding a piece of meat in front of his face, he set it afire and let it burn then tossed it to Tzo'sai. The man watched as Tzo'sai hungrily scarfed it down, they merely kept him alive for their own entertainment. Their commander walked out of his tent and they all stood at attention, he gave each a stern look then began barking orders.

"We have been called to collect tax on a village not far from here!" the man shouted "We are to take any prisoner we should deem necessary, which means we must have an empty cage. Lieutenant, take care of it."

A man began walking towards the cage where Tzo'sai was held, the man stopped not far from the cage and readied himself in a fireball stance. Tzo'sai caught on quickly and moved aside quickly as the fireball passed through the bars just to his left. Tzo felt the heat of the ball pass his shoulder and then an arrow struck the man that had shot it, then a boulder destroyed the tent of the commander. Panic struck the men as chaos broke loose amongst their ranks, solders in random pieces of armor ran into the camp. Tzo saw a girl take the keys off the lieutenant and unlocked his cage.

"Your free," she said smiling "Go! Run!"

She ran into battle along side the other soldiers and began fighting, Tzo looked stunned that she had forgoton to remove his steel hand cuffs. He was of no use if he could not bend, he ran after her but a fire nation soldier with a sword ran at him. Tzo raised his cuffed hands and blocked the weapon driving it into the ground, he brought his elbow back into the soldiers face and the man fell over backwards. Tzo ran into the battle and saw an earth bender fighting with rocks on his hands, Tzo jumped in and kicked the opposing soldier in the chest. He looked at the earth bender then nodded at his cuffs, the earth bender brought his hand up and then chopped the cuffs in half, Tzo moved his hands easily out of them now and produced a fire in his hand. The earth bender looked at him shocked and raised his fist back.

"Wait," Tzo said quickly "Wait...Wait!"

The earth bender swung at Tzo and Tzo ducked under it and tackled the earth bender to the ground. Tzo sat on the man and punched him until he stopped fighting, Tzo got up and began running down the road. He soon started walking and eventually he watched a city come into view, he crossed into the city and pulled a scarf from a passing vendors cart. He wrapped it around his face to prevent his burned X from showing, some watched him pass but eventually he found a store and checked the pockets of the mans clothing which he stole. He found three water tribe circular coins and a single silver fire nation coin, he smiled at the oddity of these coins together. He set them all on the counter and asked the man what he could get for this, the man brought him a bowl of warm noodles and a cup of tea, Tzo'sai thanked the man and began eating. A hand was placed on his shoulder and pulled him out of his seat, Tzo turned and looked at a man wearing an official looking uniform backed by two men wearing the same uniform.

"We have reports that you stole an article of neck wear," The man said in a deep voice.

"And what might you constitute as neck wear?" Tzo asked jokingly.

"That scarf you're wearing at this very moment," The man said pulling scarf off his neck exposing his criminals X scar. The man's eyed widened and he grabbed Tzo's arms and put the behind his back, he put a set of cuffs on him and pushed his head into a nearby table. Tzo felt a pain in his head and blacked out shortly after only to wake up in the town square with a set of chains around his body and restrains on his arms legs and neck. He looked around and saw the entire town gathering around the podium on which he sat on his knees.

(( I realize I am joining extremely late))

Nyima felt a little useless in the conversation when after Rayn introduced himself and Han put one and one together and figured out who she was. "Then you must be Nyima!" She nodded her head, ensuring him that he had guessed right, "The beautiful partner who made a name for her self in less than three years. Quickly becoming a master of her style... Truly an honor. The rumors of your beauty do you no justice as I see you. I would love to spar with you sometime," she scratched the back of her neck. She was glad that she wasn't just know as the pretty side kick to Rayn, her actual skills were known as well. She had gotten worried there for a moment. She nodded her head, "From what I've heard about you, you'd probably be better off sparring Rayn."

There was no way she was going to go all googly eye over him because he was strong and winked a lot. She was starting to think that it was an involuntary twitch. Besides, if she was going to fall for some strong, older man, she might as well just do that with Rayn. After he left, she looked at Rayn and nodded her head. She really did hate masks and now with the fact that her brother and the girl had seen her, she'd have to more about her disguised appearance to properly hide her casual one. She walked with Rayn out of the gym. She glanced up at him, "Don't act so glum... Sure it is going to be a lot of waiting around but... That means fire and camping and that's always been fun."

Nyima smiled at him, trying to lighten the mood but he still remained angry and upset. Of course, he didn't exactly appear to be either of these things but she knew. She sighed and looked at her hands, "Are you mad at me?"

Looking up to Masuto, she offered a feeble smile in a poor attempt to lighten the mood. "I suppose we must come off as rude.. It looks as if you were having a party here, your birthday? Sorry about the party-crashing.. Especially since we must seem so unfamiliar to you.. But, if it is.. Happy Birthday!" She glanced to Zhou as if expecting apparently him to join in.

He looked at Masuto and for a moment he said nothing. He was talking with his mother about feeling something. He looked at Mizuki and raised an eyebrow he then said" happy birthday... Young avatar... I'm sorry to say that you must go and get ready to leave... We have a long journey ahead of us... And better we leave soon... Perhaps this is not safe once word gets around about you."

He didn't wait for an answer as he turned around and walked outside looking at the Airbender who was pulling herself together. He looked forward and said softly. " I'm sorry for your loss. Death of close friends and family is a hard thing." He looked down.