Kenka's body flailed like a ragdoll as Aang's air scooter surged through the desert dunes at breakneck speed. The wind howled past his ears, making his flak jacket whip and slap against his sides. Every bump across the uneven terrain jolted his stomach, and with each burst of speed, a fresh handful of sand flew straight into his eyes, nose, and mouth.
"I SAID STOP YOU BASTARD!!" Kenka roared over the wind, his voice hoarse and furious. His legs dangled in the air, and his face twisted in a grimace of raw irritation. Aang might've been his summon, but the way things were going, it felt more like Kenka had zero control over the bald brat.
For a moment, Aang said nothing, his expression unreadable as the wind streamed past his cheeks. Then finally, without turning back, he spoke with an even tone, "I was cautious, because I thought that system of yours would bend me to your will like a slave, but that doesn't seem to be the case, otherwise you would've forced me to stop by now."
Kenka's brows furrowed at the unexpected insight. 'He's picked up on that much already?' Clearing his throat quickly, Kenka forced a nervous smile. "I'm being benevolent, I think it's wrong to control people against their will and I like you, so I wouldn't do such a thing!"
Aang let out a soft scoff, finally glancing back at Kenka with a smirk. His grip on Kenka's collar stayed firm. "You're forcing me to take you to your land if I want to return home. You're already forcing me to do something against my will, and yet you say you wouldn't?"
Kenka clicked his tongue and looked away, the sting of guilt creeping in. 'Fucking kid. Why is he so smart?? I thought this Airbender was an airhead!'
"Are you calling me a liar?" Kenka shot back sharply, half-defensive and half-panicked.
Aang casually scratched his chin with his free hand, still flying forward at high speed. "You lied about who killed that Shinobi, didn't you?"
The words hit Kenka harder than he expected. His eyes widened, and for a moment, his mouth opened without sound. "W-well.."
But Aang didn't wait for an excuse. "I knew it."
A familiar chime rang in Kenka's ears as the system screen materialized again.
[Relationship Status Updated: Avatar Aang – Strained]
[Passive Ability "Speed Boost" Temporarily Weakened]
Kenka winced as the text faded. 'Even the system is disappointed in me. Great. What was I supposed to do? Let him kill me?'
With a sigh, he decided honesty might be his only saving grace now. "He was going to kill me, so I killed him. Unlike you I am not skillful enough to airbend and push 5 attackers away at once. It was necessary. Besides, my comrades were killed by Sand Shinobi and I didn't even get to bury any of them, put yourself in my shoes for once."
A heavy silence followed. The rushing wind dulled as the air scooter steadied its movement. Kenka's eyes darkened as memories clawed their way forward. 'Ayame, Hiro.. I hope you both get the chance to reincarnate into a more peaceful life.. I'll be sure to throw you both a memorial..'
Aang, sensing the weight of Kenka's words, quietly expanded the size of the air scooter and lifted Kenka onto it properly so he could sit beside him. "I understand, but killing is never right, even if they hurt you and take someone from you. I also haven't forgiven you for manipulating me. I hope you're at least telling the truth about allowing me to return to my world if I take you home."
Kenka nodded, solemn. "I'm not lying. When we arrive at the village, you'll be able to go home immediately."
But as he turned his head, he bit his lip in frustration. 'Gosh this kid is annoying, always talking about right and wrong. This is the ruthless ninja world goddammit not the fucking happy-go-lucky avatar world you're from!'
As the terrain shifted and the forest of the Land of Fire slowly replaced the dunes of the Land of Wind, the atmosphere became cooler and more humid. The sun filtered through thick trees, casting golden rays through branches.
Aang suddenly slowed to a stop. Without warning, the air scooter dissipated beneath them.
Kenka fell face-first into the ground with a loud thud. Groaning, he pushed himself up slowly, brushing dirt from his forehead. "Give me a warning next time will you?!"
But Aang ignored him. He was already moving forward, crouching beside a figure slumped against a tree. A girl, barely conscious, clutched her side. Her sand village headband was half hidden beneath messy, dark purple hair, and her white robe was soaked red at the waist, tied tightly with a crimson belt.
"Is everything alright?" Aang asked gently, tilting his head to inspect her wound with concern.
The girl squinted at him through half-lidded eyes. Her voice was raspy. "If you plan to kill me, go ahead… monk."
Undeterred, Aang looped her arm over his shoulder and hoisted her up. "Quick, we're heading to a village, we can get you healed there."
Kenka, brushing off his pants as he stood, approached with a wary look. "What's going on?" he asked, his eyes immediately catching the sand village headband.
"She's injured, we need to take her with us." Aang replied, glancing back with furrowed brows.
The girl lifted her head weakly, eyes locking onto Kenka. Her expression twisted into a snarl. "You. You're from the Leaf, right? What business do you have saving an enemy? Don't you plan to kill me?"
Kenka smirked, shaking his head. "No. I have lost my taste for war, my bald friend has helped me see the error of my ways."
Aang lit up beside them, almost bouncing on his heels. "Really? You see that you were wrong?!"
Kenka nodded smoothly, playing along. "Yes, I was wrong, you taught me that."
The girl watched them silently, unimpressed. She narrowed her eyes and spat, "Bullshit."
Kenka kept smiling but thought coldly, 'Let's say I gave up the grudge I had for the Hidden Sand Village, why would my village heal an enemy? Her arrival at the Leaf would be instant death.'
Aang turned toward her, clearly upset. "If you can't even get along with someone who isn't trying to have you killed, how can you ever escape war?!"
The girl glanced from Aang to Kenka again, this time hesitating. "His village, they won't accept me. They'll have me killed."
Aang rebutted confidently, "You can just take off that headband of identification and enter, right? You can throw away whatever weapons you have and enter as a civilian."
Her eyes widened. The idea hadn't occurred to her. Slowly, she looked back at Kenka, skepticism creeping into her tone. "You'd commit treason?"
Kenka smiled with false sincerity. "Of course, if it meant stopping the war even slightly, I'm all for it!"
Aang beamed, clapping his hands together. "Great, see. You can go to his village, get treated and head back home!"
The girl gave a wary nod, still unconvinced but too weak to argue further. "I apologise for calling you names, I'm Kira."
Aang summoned another large air scooter beneath them. "Nice to meet you, Kira. I'm Aang and the guy over there is Kenka."
He reached out and offered Kenka a hand, helping him back on board. Once all three were secured, Aang called out, "Alright! Now we're ready to go to the Leaf Village!"
As they took off once more, Kenka allowed his smirk to grow wider, no longer hiding it. He turned his head away from the two beside him. 'Stupid bitch, she thinks I'm going to let her live? This is the ninja world. Chunin like her who fall for these sorts of tricks so easily won't survive long anyway. I'll kill her as soon as Aang leaves! I wonder what sort of summon she'll give me. Judging from how stupid she is, I'd be lucky to get an Uncommon!'