"June, leave Sokka alone."
"And lose the only source of entertainment I have?"
"Leave me alone, woman," Sokka grumbled, holding tightly onto Toji. The latter just sighed as he saw June's pout, wondering what he did to be stuck with these two idiots.
No, he knew. This is karma for all the people he killed, isn't it?
In all honesty, he didn't care for either of their antics. Right now, he just wanted to finish this job and then go on his own little adventure.
He just had to deliver that guru's letter to Aang. He could have trusted Sokka to do it for him, but...
'That's a fool's gambit,' he thought, staring at the man clinging to him in fear of the woman that was eyeing him like a piece of steak.
Honestly, June was taking it much easier on him compared to how she did early, especially with Sokka riding with him. Still, he had to make sure that she didn't try anything at night.
'It's been about three since we left Ba Sing Se, two since we left the Eastern Air Temple. That means we're approaching the Serpent's Pass,' The sightings of Fire Nation blimps flying overhead and the tanks in the distance told him that they were most definitely past Ba Sing Se.
So far though, he hasn't seen any sign of Zuko, Azula or their companions, but he wouldn't put it past them to put out a bounty on their heads or to have men lurking near the Pass itself.
'Still, this just means we have to pay close attention to everything from now o-' Toji narrowed his eyes as he saw large ripples on the surface of the water in the distance. June noticed his gaze and looked over, a grimace growing across her face.
"Right, the Serpent's Pass. That's going to be a tough one," June murmured, Toji nodding in agreement. He then caught sight of blackened spots on the ground, catching scent of ash in the air.
"You guys see the scorch marks or is that just me?" Sokka asked, Toji nodding as he saw the metal fragments embedded into the ground.
Hopping down, he made his way to one and picked it up with a hum. Taking a whiff revealed Toph's perfume on it and he took another breath.
Tasting more of her perfume on the other needle-like fragments, he just stood up before holding it out to Nyla and June.
"What's that?"
"Toph's. Smell it," he replied, narrowing his eyes at the unique craters that were left on the ground right next to the points where he saw the remains of Toph's earthbending.
Once Nyla finished smell it, he dropped the fragment onto the ground while walking over to a crater. Running his fingers along the edges, made him frown at the subtle heat coming from them and as he noticed the indents left in straight lines towards the craters, he stood up with a sigh.
"June, check out the lines," was all he said, confusing Sokka with their interaction. June on the other hand looked at the lines on the ground before Sokka raised an eyebrow as she groaned.
"Of course, it's that idiot. You think he's pissed at what you did?"
"I did cut off his arm and leg and left him alive. I would be pissed."
"Uh, who's this guy?"
"No one knows his actual name so most of us just call him Combustion. He is a unique fighter that has mastered a sub-element of Firebending known as Combustion Bending."
"...So he makes explosives?"
"With his mind that he channels through the Third Eye marking on his forehead, yeah," Toji nodded and Sokka groaned at the thought.
"And if that wasn't enough, about four years ago, Mr. Popular here was hired to hunt him down."
"Not 'hunt him down' per se. I was simply told to take an arm and ensure as payment for when he didn't complete a job that he was paid to do."
"Then why the leg?"
"Oh, that one is on me. I thought it would be funny," Toji replied with a shrug, June shaking her head as Sokka gave a slow blink.
"Do you ever just not be you?"
"Never. Anyway, he knows that Toph is close to me so he'll definitely target her as revenge. If the Fire Nation had put a bounty on all of your heads, that's just double the motivation."
"So, what's the plan of action, then?" Sokka asked, Toji narrowing his eyes as he looked at Serpent's Pass.
"First, we need to cross that. Then, we can talk."
"Well, that's good and all, but have you forgotten about the serpent that guards 'Serpent's Pass'? It's in the name."
"How big is this guy really?" Sokka asked before spinning around as a gigantic serpent rose from the water, biting down and tearing a Fire Nation ship apart within seconds.
"...Okay, you guys can handle that. I'm going to go shit myself somewhere else."
"Right. In any case, I'm going to go take care of it. June, make sure he doesn't pass out. Oh, and don't do anything with him, too."
"Sure," June spoke with a wave of her hand, Toji unclipping Kuruk's spear and letting it fall to the ground.
The next moment, he raced forward, sliding to a stop before hopping into the air. Kuruk's spear trembled before it shot forward with a thought, Toji tilting himself out of the way while grabbing onto it.
He could have just ran across the air, but there was just something about having a mystical spear taking you off into the sky that can't be beat.
"Oi, serpent! Here!" Toji exclaimed, Wormy glancing out from under his coat as they saw the serpent turning towards them. Actually, now that he thought about it...
"Wormy, could you technically eat that up and then becoming a Wormy serpent?" Toji asked, everyone pausing before both master and spirit turned to the now nervous serpent with matching grins.
"Oh, let's test that out!" Before the serpent could die down, Toji grabbed onto Wormy and threw him down, the spirit growing to his full height.
Body-slamming into the serpent, Wormy bit down on its chest as Toji aimed and threw Kuruk's spear forward. Racing after it, the serpent shrieked as the spear tore through one side of its neck.
Clenching his fists, he dove knuckles first through the edge of the wound, tearing it further open and killing the serpent as he dove into the water.
Rising up once more, he grinned as Wormy slurped up the entire serpent in one go, letting out a loud burp that rumbled the waters.
"So, any different?" he asked, looking at the spirit. Wormy in question just let out a confused garble before its body contorted. With every passing second, Toji's grin grew more and more until it nearly split his face in half when Wormy let out a deafening roar.
It was still butt-ugly in Toji's opinion, but its ugliness was beautiful and instead of its floppy body, it now had a hardened, scale-covered exterior in the same violet shade.
Raising his hand, Kuruk's spear erupted from the water and flew towards him. Toji caught it with a grunt before swimming over to Wormy, who marvelled at his new scales in the water's reflection.
"Alright, it's good and all, but let's get this show on the road. Swim over to June and the others," he spoke as he climbed onto Wormy's head, who gave a garbled agreement as the now serpentine cursed spirit did as he was ordered.
"Okay, that is weird," June spoke with a disturbed look as Wormy stopped in front of them, Nyla and Sokka looking just as hesitant.
Iron on the other hand just gave a happy growl as he climbed onto Wormy's head, who gave a happy rumble in return.
"Come on. This way, we can follow the river out to our destination."
"...Do I have to?"
"You're more than welcome to ride with June," Toji replied and Sokka glanced at the woman in question before shaking his head.
"On second thought, I'm gonna ride with you."
"Oh, I'm not that bad," June replied with a scoff even as she climbed on, Nyla being the last to take her seat on the large spirit. Now with everyone on top, Toji patted the spirit's head before sitting down.
"Okay, Wormy. Let's get this show on the road. Also, Sokka, let go."
"No, that vile lust spirit will not let me go if I do."
"I would say I'm more of a filthy greed spirit, but keep calling me names. I don't mind," June replied with a smirk, Sokka's arms locked around Toji who looked up to the sky.
This was about to be a long trip.
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"Hehehehe~Toji, I love you, man."
"Sokka, you're drunk."
"No, I'm not~" Sokka drawled with a dopey grin, Toji just giving the man a flat stare. Turning to June, the woman in question was draped over Nyla, struggling to even stand after she and Sokka challenged Toji to a drinking contest.
At least the two were a lot calmer now that Sokka wasn't trying his best to run away from June, even though they were beginning to get a bit handsy with each other.
Who knew the Water Tribe guy would be this flirtatious from half a wine bottle?
"Yes, you are. Go and bother June."
"Will doJune" Toji shook his head as the two began singing loudly together, Nyla shuffling over to where Iron was lounging on the back of Wormy.
Turning forward, he massaged the bridge of his nose, wondering why he didn't just let the two idiots struggle along to their destination.
It's only been about two days since they left Serpent's Pass and already, he wanted to throw both of them into the ocean, but unfortunately, he owed one and Toph would kill him if he lost the other one.
'If everything goes as planned we should reach our destination by tomorrow. The only issue is that it's going to take a bit of stealth to get past the blockade near it,' Toji thought, staring at the dark plumes of smoke that were still visible against the night sky.
Those were from the Fire Nation Navy that blocked off trade to the colonial village not too far behind it, which was also their meet-up destination.
However, if they wanted to get to it, they were going to have to be quick and merciless in taking down the ships that blocked them off.
Meaning...
'No spear or any of the other weapons,' he thought, standing up with a nod. He easily slid down to Wormy's mouth, the spirit glancing at him as he spoke.
"Wormy, I need the Split Soul Katana," he spoke up, the spirit sticking out its tongue and holding the katana to him.
Dropping down, Toji grabbed onto the katana before shooting forward, the water erupting under him as he raced across the surface of the river.
Flicking the blade into a reverse grip as he chucked the spear at the back of the farthest ship, Toji ran in the other direction towards the ship at the front.
He could hear the alarms as some came to check up, but with a grin, he turned and charged towards the bow of the first ship while calling Kuruk's spear towards him.
With a roar, he cleaved right through the metal, tearing apart every Fire Nation soldier in his way.
Shrapnel and flaming scraps rained down behind him as he tore through the ship's lower deck, leaving the sinking mass behind while racing towards the second ship.
With a grunt, the water exploded and launched him further up, Toji avoiding the ballista bolts fired at him. At the same time, he saw the three of the four remaining ships slowly sinking.
A grin widened on his face as Kuruk's spear curved, cutting through the top mass while Toji kicked off the air behind him.
Catching the spear, he turned and threw it down, launching himself forward at the same time.
Crashing into the ship's top deck with a double stomp, the entire ship lurched right as Kuruk's spear pierced through it, Toji standing with a smirk as the sailors scrambled about to try and take him with them.
"You guys didn't get paid enough," he spoke with a smirk as he leapt into the air with a spin, catching Kuruk's spear and letting it carry him away as firebenders began unleashing bursts of fire at him.
However, none hit as he sailed back to Wormy, watching as the fleet slowly dipped into the sea.
"Wormy!" Toji grunted as he landed, shaking his head as he saw Sokka and June cuddling together on the back of Wormy. "You know what? I wanted to say push those guys out of the way, but feel free to eat them. You deserve it."
The spirit let out a pleased gargle as it swam forward, the screams of Fire Nation soldiers echoing in the night sky.
The glow of the stars illuminated the carnage as Wormy went to town, Toji's eyes scanning the shoreline with a smirk.
'Well, that was one hell of a greeting.'
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"That's one hell of a greeting," Toph murmured as she heard the massacre, the other three frowning as they watched Toji's cursed spirit's eating the souls of everyone in the water.
"Must he be so ruthless?"
"Eh, it's kind of his thing. Now then, you guys can stay here while I go say hello to my boyfriend."
"How will you find him on the ocean?" Suki asked, Toph pausing in her steps before walking back with a huff.
"Stupid blindness and stupid feet."
"Don't worry, I'm sure Toji already knows you're here. Also, I see Sokka didn't waste a second in finding a way to pass the time," Katara spoke up, Suki narrowing her eyes as she saw Sokka lounging together with June.
"Wait, isn't that that bounty hunter chick that nearly killed us?" Aang asked with a frown. Katara blinked at the question, her eyes widening once she took a closer look.
"Damnit, Sokka," she muttered with a sigh. However, they all paused as they heard the sound of something snapping, Aang taking a nervous glance at Suki.
The woman in question stood with her arms crossed, but the dagger she had in hand was snapped off halfway at the blade.
"Right, let's go and say hello."
"...Are you going to have a brother after today?" Aang asked as he looked to Katara. The woman in question just looked back before shaking her head with a sigh.
"Let's go make sure I do. Toph-"
"I know, I know. Follow."
A/N: And we end it off here~! The Gang gets back together and next chapter, we're off to the final arc/ Saga? Not sure which one would be the correct term, but let's go with Saga.
Just sounds right.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
Anyway, as always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!