tw: some intense scenes + violence + blood

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"Spring passes

and one remembers one's innocence."

-Yoko Ono

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YOKO IS A NATURAL LEARNER. She's definitely not a natural at everything Kida teaches her: Yoko can barely land an arrow on a designated target, let alone hold a bow correctly. Still Kida admires how fiercely determined Yoko is to try as hard as she can, and how she never gives up. They've only had three training sessions so far, but Kida knows that with time, Yoko will be a skilled archer just like her, and maybe even better.

"What does climbing a tree have to do with archery?" Yoko asks one day after Kida explains to her what they're doing during training. After continuing their journey for half the day, Kida stops to set up camp in a wooded area near a prominent Fire Nation colony. She plans to break into the mayor's house after nightfall, when Yoko is asleep. Since she only gets a chance to put on 'the Hood' at night, Kida has started to take more from the houses she breaks into, so she has more to give to the people who need it, with money to use to get food for Yoko, too.

Even though more posters of 'the Hood' have been popping up around the Earth Kingdom, with the reward for her capture getting higher and higher, Kida isn't worried about getting caught. As long as no one sees her with her cape and her bow, she should be fine and Yoko is safe from harm. The girl is only starting to pick up archery and is nowhere near ready to ambush guards and steal gold from the wealthy, and the last thing Kida wants is getting her involved in something so dangerous.

"When you're an archer, trees become your best friends," Kida explains. She taps the tree beside her affectionately for added effect. "You can climb them to get a vantage point for your target, or to hide and surprise them when they least expect it."

"Can't I just shoot a couple arrows?" Yoko asks, reaching for the bow in Kida's hand.

"No," Kida replies, placing her bow on the ground and sliding the quiver of arrows off her shoulder. "Today, I'm teaching you how to climb a tree. Now, follow me."

Yoko frowns, but doesn't protest. By now, Yoko knows how stubborn Kida can be and knows better than to argue with her. She listens to Kida as she guides her higher and higher, telling Yoko where to place her feet and which part of the tree is secure to grab on to. Soon enough, Kida sets herself down in the spot where a branch meets the tree trunk. She looks down to Yoko, smiling proudly.

"Nice job, kid."

Yoko smiles back, but in that moment, she slips and crashes to the ground.

»»---------------------►

KIDA HAS NEVER JUMPED FROM A TREE FASTER. When she reaches Yoko and sees her body limp and eyes closed, Kida's heart stops.

"Yoko?" she whispers. Kida crouches down and shakes the girl's shoulders, but nothing happens. She almost starts to cry, until a smile spreads across Yoko's face.

"That. Was. Awesome!" Yoko laughs. She opens her eyes and tries to sit up, but her leg stops her and she winces in pain. It must be broken, but Kida is too in shock to register that fact. She helps Yoko lean her back against a tree trunk so she can sit up.

"That was awesome?" Kida demands. "You could have died!"

Yoko shrugs. "Isn't that part of the thrill? I mean, you totally live on the edge by robbing all those people."

Kida's jaw practically drops to the floor. "You know that I'm the Hood?"

"Of course," Yoko states matter-of-factly. "I figured it out a few days ago." Yoko tries to move her leg, but Kida stops her. She needs to set the break first. Well, figure out what Yoko knows, then set her broken leg.

"How?"

"I'm very observant for an eight year old," Yoko declares. "First, you're like the best archer I've ever seen. I also saw the cape when I looked through your stuff." Kida looks to the girl accusingly, but she puts her hands up. "I've only done it a few times! Plus, you're not as subtle with sneaking away at night as you think. You should be more careful," Yoko teases.

Kida rolls her eyes. "Maybe you should be less observant," Kida sasses. Yoko sticks her tongue out.

"Whatever," she scoffs. "Can I be your sidekick?"

Despite the situation, Kida smiles. "Maybe one day," Kida offers. It would never happen, anyways, because they'll get to Ba Sing Se soon enough and Yoko would reunite with her sister and Kida would go off on her own again. Still, it was nice to dream.

Yoko shrugs again. "That's better than nothing."

After Yoko tries to move her leg for a second time and is met with pain, Kida finally takes action. She finds a branch and ties it to Yoko's leg with some strips of cloth, creating a makeshift splint.

"There," Kida says once she's done. "We'll have to stay here for a day or two before you're ready to walk again."

»»---------------------►

THAT NIGHT, KIDA DECIDES TO STAY BEHIND AND MAKE SURE YOKO IS OKAY. Yoko is not entirely pleased with this decision.

"But you need to go rob that house!" Yoko argues. She's on the ground with a blanket over her, unable to move because of her injury. "There's money just begging to be stolen and given away to people who actually need it!"

Kida shakes her head. She lays down next to Yoko. "It can wait one night. I'm tired," she lies. Really, it was the fear of losing Yoko earlier today that made Kida stay tonight. And the fact that their journey will come to an end, and Kida will no longer have Yoko around to keep her company. Sure, Yoko can be overly energetic and curious, but Kida grew to find it endearing. Underneath it all, Yoko really was a sweet kid. Kida just hopes that her positivity won't be tainted by the harsh realities of the real world, but even that is hoping for too much. For now, Kida needs to keep Yoko safe and out of trouble while she still can.

Yoko sighs. "I wish I was as brave as you."

"You're not," Kida says. Yoko whips her head at her and frowns, but Kida continues. "What I mean is that you're braver than me. When I was your age, I couldn't imagine traveling across the country on my own. And, I've never seen someone try so hard to learn archery."

"That's not what I mean," she huffs. "You can ambush a bunch of Fire Nation guards by yourself and rob houses without getting caught. You make your own rules and don't care what the consequences are."

Kida shifts uncomfortably. It's weird, hearing about her escapades from Yoko, as if she's some kind of hero who throws caution to the wind. Maybe that is who Kida has become, but when Yoko says it.... She feels a little exhilarated by Yoko's words, but also uneasy. Maybe she's been spending a little too much time ignoring the fallout of her actions. Running away leaves someone else to deal with the consequences, because spirits know that the Fire Nation won't let anything slide without someone to punish. And since they haven't caught the person responsible....Kida doesn't even want to think about it, which is actually part of the problem. "It's not that simple, kid. At least, it shouldn't be."

"Well, it seems that simple to me," Yoko declares. "Who's Sokka?"

Kida almost gets whiplash from the sudden shift in conversation. "What?"

Yoko giggles coyly. "The person whose name you whisper sometimes in your sleep."

The darkness hides the blush rushing to Kida's cheeks. "He's...um, my friend. Or, he was, before I left."

"Did you guys ever kiss?"

Kida struggles to find the words, or maybe she just doesn't want to, but she gives in. "Yeah," she answers.

"Aw," Yoko whines. "I was hoping that you would marry my sister. She likes girls. Do you like girls, too?"

This answer comes easier. "Yeah."

"Oh, that's great! If this Sokka guy is out of the picture, then my plan will still work."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I was going to keep this a secret, but I guess there's no harm in you knowing," Yoko starts and clasps her hands together excitedly. "When we get to Ba Sing Se, you and my sister will meet and fall in love. Then, you'll get married. That way, you'll officially become my sister, and everyone will be happy!"

"That sounds nice kid, but —"

"Nope! At least tell me you'll think about it."

Kida sighs. "Fine."

"Yay!" Snuggling into Kida's side, Yoko smiles to herself. "Finally a happy ending," Yoko muses. Kida is about to tell Yoko that she intends to only drop Yoko off in Ba Sing Se, but before she can, Yoko is fast asleep.

»»---------------------►

WHEN KIDA GETS BACK FROM THE MARKET, YOKO IS GONE. Kida had woken up early to get supplies from town and actually paid for them. Her intention was to get back before Yoko wakes up, but she seems to have lost track of time. Kida notices that her shoulder bag is open and her archery set is gone. She sets down the supplies she bought and wanders into the forest, following a trail of what looks like drag marks.

Don't panic , she tells herself. Don't panic, don't panic, don't —

That's when Kida hears Yoko calling her name, crying out, and she runs. What she finds makes adrenaline rush through her body, and her heart beats faster, telling her to get out while she can.

Kida's bow is on the ground at her feet, arrows fallen in a mess next to it. Yoko is standing upright, wearing Kida's cape, although it appears to be ripped. Her face is contorted with pain and fear for two reasons: her broken leg and the tall, muscular woman standing behind her, clutching Yoko's neck and holding a knife to her throat. The woman has a smirk on her face and satisfaction in her eyes, which makes Kida feel sick. Someone had finally caught her, and the worst part was that Yoko was caught in the middle.

"What do you want?" Kida snaps, although she already knows. She needs some time to think of an escape plan, though.

The woman laughs harshly. "Isn't it obvious? I want my reward. I thought it was the girl at first, because of the cape and the bow, but one look at her face and I knew she wasn't the one. Too much innocence. I figure she must be traveling with someone, though, and looks like I was right. You are the Hood, aren't you?"

"Yes," Kida answers. Her eyes dart to her weapon on the floor.

"Don't even think about it," the woman threatens. Kida's eyes move back to her, and she notices how the woman presses the blade into Yoko's skin.

"Kida," Yoko hiccups through tears.

"It'll be okay, kid," she says, steading her voice to sound soothing. Her eyes land sympathetically on Yoko, then go back to glaring at the woman. "I'll do whatever you want. Just don't hurt her." Kida puts her hands up in surrender.

A wicked grin spreads across the kidnapper's face. "Perfect. I'll be living pretty on Ember Island while you rot in a cell in Boiling Rock."

Kida's jaw clenches. She would grab her bow, but the woman has a knife and clearly isn't afraid to use it. It was over. Kida got caught, but at least Yoko is safe.

She spoke too soon.

Suddenly, Yoko's eyes widen when she realizes the meaning of the conversation. "No!" she cries out. Yoko struggles against the woman, trying to grab the knife.

Kida has trouble following what happens next. She reaches for her bow and notches an arrow to the string, getting ready to shoot.

It's hard to pinpoint a target with all the commotion. Yoko isn't as strong as the woman, but she puts up a decent fight, struggling for control of the knife.

In the blink of an eye, everything is frozen. Yoko crumples to the ground. The woman is standing over her body, the knife in her hand bloody. She looks just as shocked as Kida, who finally lets her arrow fly. It pierces her arm, or her chest, maybe her neck. Kida doesn't care. She lets the woman fall to the ground without much thought.

Kida's main concern is Yoko. She gently sets down her bow and kneels next to Yoko's body. There's a deep gash across her stomach; the knife was fairly small, but so was Yoko. An injury this severe isn't good. Kida tries to put pressure on the wound in an attempt to make things better. Her hands end up swimming in blood.

"I'm," Kida chokes on her words, tears threatening to spill. "I'm sorry — I didn't mean— why did you — I..."

Yoko smiles faintly as Kida struggles to say anything. Yoko's lost a lot of blood and the colour is starting to leave her face. She wraps a reassuring hand around Kida's wrist. Kida starts to sob when she notices the purple ring she had stolen for Yoko, now covered in blood, too. "It's okay," Yoko croaks. Her voice already sounds far away. "At least I saved you. I just wanted to be a hero, like you."

"No!" Kida yells, her voice cracking. "I'm not a hero, Yoko. You weren't supposed to be like me...please...please don't go. You're going to be okay." Kida tries to steady her voice for Yoko's sake.

"Promise?" Yoko whispers. Kida doesn't reply, but a tear falls down her cheek.

With a sigh, Yoko closes her eyes and her heart stops beating.

»»---------------------►

author's note

i cried when i wrote this. 

i knew that i wanted to based kida and yoko's dynamic on katniss and rue's from the hunger games,  but it still breaks my heart ,

book two is turning out to be much more intense than i originally planned.