Runaway {Open}

[Yuzuki]

It had been almost a month now since Rikku had run away from the Northern Water Tribe... and it had also been that long since she saw land. She never really was good at navigation... but how hard could it be to navigate a straight line from the water tribe south to the Earth Kingdom?! ...

Apparently harder than Rikku had thought. She did not take into account the icebergs and ice near her home, nor did she take into account trying to avoid the other ships on the ocean. She knew which belonged to the fire nation, and if she ever did see them she immediately turned the other way. So she might have gotten herself just... a bit lost.

Sighing lightly as she sat down in her canoe, she pulled the hood of her poncho down, opening up a medium sized brown bag. It was her supplies bag, and at the moment... it was empty. She reached in to pick up the small crumbs of a piece of bread that was left, her stomach growling at the same time. She let out a sigh, throwing the crumb out into the water. "Who knew running away would be so troublesome... But I can do it! ... I think.. " Slowly laying back, she stared up into the bright blue sky. The clouds were pretty today...

[Kasumi Mori]

Kasumi laid asleep in a decent sized boat she bought from a fisherman in the fire nation village she last resided. She took her leave and left no trace of herself. She gathered the last remnants Hama left behind and left the old Inn empty and lifeless. The place was barren and had no evidence of the existence of bloodbending in its vicinity. She had taken the little information of bloodbending with her, to place it where it rightfully belonged within Hama's scroll.

Kasumi's platinum blonde hair danced with the wind as the boat followed the motion of the ocean. Her eyelids fluttered open and her turquoise irises were exposed to daylight. She slowly made her way to a sitting position. She looked at her small barrel of fish making sure she had enough to last the voyage. Then went and got herself another barrel then started bending the ocean. She began to extract freshwater from the ocean water she bent. Then placed it in the barrel until it was full.

She fixed the sail, changing its direction towards the Earth Kingdom. She could bend the water towards her destination but it was unnecessary, she had the sail. It would take longer to get there but she was fine with taking her time.

[Yuzuki]

The young girl lifted herself up from the floor of her canoe, scanning the area around her. When she noticed water moving against the current her eyes followed it to a woman in a beautiful woman bending water from a boat. She felt a light blush come to her cheeks, slowly looking to the side. Wow, she was an excellent water bender.... a-and really pretty too.

Suddenly realizing there was someone else out on the ocean with her, and a waterbender at that, she quickly stood up. She waved, trying to get the girl's attention. "Excuse me, miss!! Do you happen to know the way to the Earth Kingdom?"

Hopefully the waterbender could hear her. She hadn't seen her before in the Northern Water Tribe... then again she was a bit of a airhead and couldn't remember people very well. Maybe she was from the sister tribe in the South? Oh~ That would be exciting! Being able to meet someone from the sister tribe!

[Kasumi Mori]

Kasumi scanned the ocean until she heard a small voice asking her if she knew where the Earth Kingdom laid. Her turquoise eyes settled on a young girl, she look starved and lost. She noticed the girl had the clothing of the Northern Water Tribe. She began to bend the water making her boat move towards the small canoe. She came to a halt once she was beside the small canoe, leaving a fair amount of distance between them. "I am in fact headed there. You should join me, I'll take you to the Earth Kingdom. There is room for a fellow tribeswoman," She responded to the young girl.

She was not going to allow the poor girl to wander aimlessly within the oceans. The ocean was a beautiful thing but could be a deadly creature. The girl would not have a chance if the ocean decided to turn on her. Anyway, she had plenty of food and water to last them both the voyage to the Earth Kingdom. Even if they ran out she could use her waterbending to gather fish and water.

[Yuzuki]

Rikku's eyes had watered as the older bender suggested she join her and that there was always room for a fellow tribeswoman. If she could have, she would have hugged Kasumi right then and there! But that would be rather awkward for a first encounter... and besides that she wasn't exactly close enough to do so. There was still some distance between the two of them. She quickly wiped her eyes of tears, smiling widely to Kasumi. "That would be very much appreciated~! I don't know how long I've been out here but I ... seem to have gotten myself lost. I thought it would be easy getting to the Earth Kingdom, just a straight line from the North ... but uh.. it wasn't so easy.. "

She laughed slightly nervously, looking behind her to where she thought the north was. Nope. She had no clue where she was, or where North or South was. It was pretty sad. She rubbed behind her head lightly, her stomach growling as she did. She quickly put her hand over her stomach, laughing awkwardly to cover it. "So! It's very nice of you to offer helping me! I'll do whatever it is you ask, as repayment for helping me get to the Earth Kingdom! Though... though I have to admit I'm not... as good of a bender as you are... I can barley even catch a fish." She pouted slightly, putting her head down. It was true, she was still learning her bending. She missed the entrance to waterbending school, so she was stuck with healing, though she did not mind that. Healing was also very helpful.

[Kasumi Mori]

Kasumi watched and listened to the girl, her reaction at first was a bit odd but its understandable when your lost. "The ocean can lose you quickly and change your path. You should have used the stars but I guess you were not taught how to navigate," She answered with a small smile. She start bending creating blocks of ice until she form a staircase that reached the small canoe. "Do not worry about food we have plenty for two," She told girl, assuring her bending was not needed.

A fellow bender, she thought to herself. The girl, from what she gathered, needed training in waterbending. Of course she did, the sister tribe did not allow women to waterbend only heal. She wondered if that is the reason she left the tribe though she did not ask. She believed the girl would tell her in time.

[Yuzuki]

Rikku had smiled, gathering her things from her own canoe. She stepped lightly over the ice, setting her brown bag down lightly at her feet before looking back to Kasumi. She really was an excellent waterbender... she could create blocks of ice, bend pure drinking water from the ocean... would she ever be that good of a bender? So far, she didn't think she'd ever get that good. At the mention of being taught how to navigate, she had only laughed, tilting her head to the side. Darn it, that lesson her father gave her when she was ten ... was about navigating and the stars... but... she forgot it...

He even told her that it would be important one day. Slowly sighing, she sat down lightly, looking to her small canoe. That was... the last of what she had from her home. Of course she had her clothing and little things here and there but... she and Kinto used to go fishing in that canoe. Of course he would be the one catching all the fish while she would try and watch him in amazement. Then pout that she couldn't do it. Closing her eyes halfway, she let out a small sigh, it being a bit bittersweet seeing that canoe for the last time.

Shaking her head of the thought, she turned her attention back to Kasumi. "So what brings you out here...? Oh! I'm so sorry, I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Rikku Nagataki, of the Northern Water Tribe. It's nice to meet you~!" She smiled widely, holding her hand out to shake.

[Kasumi Mori]

Kasumi watched Rikku and waited for her to gather her things. "Nice meeting you Rikku, I am Kasumi Mori. I am out beyond the ocean for the pure joy of traveling and the adventure that comes with it," She said with a beautiful smile. She knew that was only part of the story that brought her through this adventure but this was all Rikku needed to know. It was true she enjoyed traveling but it was Hama that brought her here, it was her need to know of her ancestors.

It was depressing that her art was taken with such fear but bloodbending existed whether people desired it or not. One day she will teach other waterbenders to see the ability in a new light but first they needed to understand that each element has a dark nature and they needed to face that nature to truly master bending. Without that nature, the elements would not hold there balance.

Just like there is night and day, light and dark, within the world. The element hold such natures as well. Bloodbending exists for a reason though its nature maybe dark it can be used for good intent. It is the bender not the ability that makes the act immoral.

[Yuzuki]

Out for the pure joy of traveling? Rikku was incredibly lucky for having run into her, then. Not only her, but the fact that she was a waterbender really eased her nerves. If it was someone of another nation, besides the Fire Nation, she still would have asked for help but ... at least Kasumi being a waterbender she felt a bit safer. "I really can't thank you enough for helping me, Kasumi. I was traveling to.. uh... visit the Earth Kingdom for the first time and.. I didn't take into consideration...that it isn't really a straight line to the Earth Kingdom from the Northern Water Tribe." She made a motion of a straight line as she spoke, letting out a soft laugh before letting her hand drop back into her lap.

Rikku herself had never heard of bloodbending. It just didn't seem to be mentioned around her, or in her family. Maybe her family didn't know about it, or maybe they just did not want their daughter to know about such a technique. Perhaps it was also because she knew next to nothing of waterbending. Lifting her head, she glanced at Kasumi. She was much older... and much prettier. When she grew older would she... be that good of a bender? Maybe if she practiced more... but in front of Kasumi? How embarrassing would that be?! Letting out a slightly nervous laugh at her own thoughts, almost talking to herself in her own head.

[Kasumi Mori]

"You do not need to thank me. I was not about to let you wander in the ocean especially not a fellow bender. Though I wonder, why you would do something so reckless?" She said to Rikku while she helped her settle her things in the boat. "It is dangerous here, especially with the war,"She added before setting the sail on course. Then she grabbed the small barrel of fish then set a large bowl down . She started bending some of the water into the bowl from the water barrel and began to heat the water. "You look starved, Rikku. I will make you fish to eat, " She said while she placed some fish in the boiling water.

She used small motions to control the stirring of the water and adjust the heat. Soon the smell of cooked fish had possess their nostrils. She headed to her pack grabbing a spoon and a small bowl. She bended the soup into the bowl and handed it to Rikku. "Here, eat," She said handing her a spoon.

[Yuzuki]

Something so reckless? She felt her head become slightly heavy, tilting it down slightly. Was that guilt, making her head hang, or the fact that... she knew it was reckless and did it anyway? Why would she do something so reckless? It was... sort of a silly... reason too.. come to think on it now, but she had already run away. There was no use going back, either. Kinto... wouldn't want her back after her running away. For that matter, she wasn't ready to be married, either! Reckless? Aha... yeah... it.. it was reckless but... I had some difficulties at home so I was going to go to the Earth Kingdom. I ... I kind of.. ran away.. "

At the mention of her starving, she placed her hand over her stomach as it growled once more. She let out a light laugh, closing her eyes. "Thank you, again. I really appreciate it.. How.. did you become such an excellent waterbender? Are you from the Southern Water Tribe?" Her mouth was already watering as the smell began to fill her nostrils. When Kasumi had handed her the bowl and spoon, she smiled widely, mumbling thank you very much through spoonfuls of soup. She had finished the bowl in no time, letting out a content sigh when she finished. "Not only an excellent waterbender, but an excellent cook~!"

[Kasumi Mori]

Kasumi saw the girl head slight sway down and she gave her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder to comfort her. "You ran away, were the difficulties that bad?" She asked while she sat herself down across the girl. Kasumi was smaller then the girl and if she did not have such a strong presence you would confuse her for a young girl. Her skin was flawless and possess no wrinkles. It was her eyes that gave her away it held a certain wisdom and knowledge one could only gather with age.

She thought of the other question Rikku had ask. How did she become such a good waterbender? "I was known to be quite a talented bender in the Southern Tribe but it was years of training, practices and a personal journey of discovery, that had brought me to this level of expertise. Also the great waterbender herself had aided me in my learning and still teaches me" She told Rikku. There was no greater master then the moon. The moon had taught her many great things but it also taught her the most basic bending, streaming water.

It was during each full moon she would watch the water being streamed by the moon. Soon she began to mimic the moon's pull and release on the ocean water. She had a master but he could not best the moon herself. She had always taken her time in observing the moon at night and during that time she practice and improved her waterbending. She practice techniques her master taught and learned new methods from the moon. She had gotten so close to the moon over the years of training with her, she could feel the slight changes she caused within the environment.

[Yuzuki]

Rikku shook her head slightly when she felt the squeeze on her shoulder. "They weren't... anything too terrible to runaway in a war... but... I just.. couldn't handle it... I was engaged... to my best friend. Our families arranged the marriage but... I... didn't know if I had those feelings..for Kinto...so I ran away. It's silly, I know. I shouldn't have." She tried to lighten the mood, rapping the side of her head lightly with her hand and sticking her tongue out.

When Kasumi started talking about how she became a bender though, her expression changed to one of interest. She had always wanted to learn to become a better bender, and had learned certain things by herself such as streaming water but it would just fall apart a couple seconds later. A personal journey of discovery... maybe this was her own personal journey of discovery! Maybe this journey to the Earth Kingdom was her discovery of herself! And that.. she was... no good at running away. Throughout her entire monologue in her head she went from happy, grinning and clenching her fists to hanging her head again, hands at her sides. She was quite the animated young lady.

"Ooh... Oh! The great waterbender the moon right?!" She quickly lifted her head, her bubbly personality back to what it was before. Her bending was usually always stronger at night, and her healing was too. The stories she was told growing up and in her school was always that the moon taught them to bend water. The pushing and pulling of the waves. It always amazed her how the moon could do such wonderful things.

[Kasumi Mori]

Kasumi observed the girl in silence. Rikku was a very expressive girl, the war still had not stole her innocence. She chuckled quietly as the girl's face phased through the different emotions, as if it did not know which could grace its youthful face. The girl was conflicted in her own mind it seems by the problems she left behind and many others life may bring. "Running away in fear of commitment. I will not judge your reasons in leaving home. I will not call you a coward or feel pity for you. But I will warn you, that the outside world is unforgiving and you have much to learn to survive." She said as she scanned the ocean and looked at the sky.

Then she returned to their last subject, "Yes, the moon was the first bender and such are bending is stronger at night. Unlike a firebender they rise with the sun though their master was the dragon." She learned a lot about firebenders, when she took residence at the fire nation village Hama had lived in. She even had gained a few friends there though they were unaware she truly was a waterbender. Even if they discovered she was, those people were unlike the other fire nation people.

Some of them actually wanted nothing more then peace but were to afraid to do anything about it. She did not know the cause of their fear but knew to stay out of any fire nation soldier’s way or curiosity.

[Yuzuki]

Rikku watched Kasumi as she scanned the ocean, feeling a bit confused in her answer. She herself knew there ... really wasn't an answer or response to what she said. She ran away, she was a coward... that was the end of it. However, Kasumi wasn't calling her a coward, or judging her for what she did. She was just warning Rikku about the outside world. She knew that... life outside the Northern Water Tribe was different... each nation had its own culture. She, however, did not know of the dangers. She did not how unforgiving the outside world could be, and she really was a naive little child when it came to anything of the outside world. She couldn't even navigate the ocean to the Earth Kingdom, and knew very little of her own nation's bending abilities.

Looking down to her own reflection in the water, she listened quietly as Kasumi returned to the subject about the moon and the firebenders. So they drew their power from the sun... while they rose with the sun, the waterbenders rose with the moon. She smiled a bit, closing her eyes halfway as her reflection rippled due to some fish swimming near their boat. She lightly placed her fingers on top of the water, letting them glide gently over the water, scaring the fish that had come near the boat. "Do you mind .. if I ask why you're heading to the Earth Kingdom Kasumi?"