Chapter 8: Goodbyes

The trio of Yangchen, Hayato, and Aang sat at the dinner table, with all three being content by the dumplings and noodles in front of them.

"I'm still not able to understand how you two can eat actual food? I mean, aren't spirits spiritual beings rather than physical beings, so you two would only survive as ghosts?" Hayato asked while slurping a noodle, his mind stuck on a question he had asked countless times before.

Aang just rolled his eyes, with Yangchen giving a small sigh before gaining a smile, though this one seemed more of the annoyed nature rather than her usual serene smile.

"Hayato. If you happen to ask that one more time, I will show you how hard a sprit can physically hit." Yangchen said.

Hayato paused for a moment, with him then continuing to eat his noodles while acting as if he had not just asked his prior question, safely avoiding a large amount of pain that the woman could have given him.

'Old Monster.' Hayato thought to himself, though when Yangchen narrowed her eyes at him once again, Hayato quickly stopped thinking any negative thoughts toward her and just focused on the intricate design of his noodles.

The table the quieted down again, with it returning into it's calm and peaceful nature, though Hayato could tell that their was an underlying conversation that was needed to be have, as Aang could not keep a single secret.

The boy in question was continuously fidgeting in his chair, with Hayato picking up on it due to his naturally enhance senses.

"So, I'm guessing that you two have to return to your spiritual states inside of Raava?" Hayato asked while continuing to eat his food, yet both Aang and Yangchen stopped eating and looked and Hayato with solemn gazes.

Hayato looked up from his food with a smile at him, as he seemed unfazed by this newfound revelation.

"You knew?" Yangchen asked as she looked at the boy, one that almost seemed to be like a child to her at this point.

Hayato simply nodded his head as he gave her an even larger smile.

"Of course. Aang had been showing signs of it for weeks. And even if that wasn't the case, I assumed once I mastered Air Bending, that it would be time for you two to depart since the whole teacher thing seems to be themed towards the Avatar's from that specific element. So, when do you two have to leave?" Hayato asks as he looked at them, with Yangchen closing her eyes for a brief moment in contemplation.

"We can extend our stay until you plan on leaving, since you always stated that you wished to travel and explore the world." Yangchen answered after opening them, with Hayato assuming that she asked the question to Raava, the Primordial Spirit of Order that resided inside of him.

"Well, I planned on leaving tomorrow, since I don't really have any reason to wait around now that I have fully mastered the first element. And unless I run across one of those monsters that call themselves Kage, I shouldn't face too much of an issue as an Airbending Master. But, will I still be able to see you two?" Hayato first answered and then asked the most important question, as he felt that it was the most important part of his questions.

While he couldn't say that he wouldn't miss waking up to both Aang and Yangchen being with him, it would be different if he was unable to speak to them entirely.

He had grown to truly love their little family, as it was the first taste of being normal that he had experienced in either of his two lives.

"Just as every other Avatar can, you will also possess the ability to summon your past lives, both for experience and for casual calls. I mean, what child wouldn't call and check on his mother." Yangchen joked with a smile.

"I don't think he would need to check on you if your a spirit." Aang said.

But, Aang immediately looked away as he felt Yangchen's gaze lock onto him, his expression being one of slight fear as he knew how terrifying the dark spirit in human skin known as Yangchen could truly be.

"I'll still call. Thanks." Hayato said as he looked at them with his smile, with their family dinner continuing uninterrupted.

~

Hayato stood at the front of his home, with him looking at Yangchen and Aang with a sad smile as the two gave him a similar look.

"Once you return from your journey, I'm sure we can return to the way we were beforehand." Yangchen said, with Hayato nodding.

Yangchen then walked over and kneeled down to him, with her giving him a deep hug before she began to fade into a large amount of white mist.

"Goodbye, Hayato." Yangchen said.

"Goodbye, Mom." Hayato responded as a slight tear slipped out of his eye.

"I'll make sure to tell her you started crying." Aang said as he punched him in the shoulder while he also turned into mist, with Hayato merely smiling at the boy he considered his brother, with them both entering inside of him.

Hayato then opened his eyes and grabbed his bad of supplies, with him leaving his home to explore the vast and dangerous world of Shinobi for the first time.

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