Chapter 1
"NO NO NO!" Toph shouted pacing the river bed. "This is ridiculous! Remember who you are. Don't be pathetic. You don't need this. You don't WANT this!" She yelled throwing her arms in to the air. The frustration and fury in her voice were unmistakable. "Get a hold to yourself or –"
"Who are you yelling at Toph?" Aang asked landing softly on the sand and looking around. "There is no one here but us."
Toph jumped. She bit her bottom lip and wrinkled her forehead. "Where did you come from?" She barked. "I told you not to disturb me."
"I was bored." Aang said, looking around still. "But who were you shouting at?"
Toph wrinkled her nose and bit her knuckles. Why or why she wondered out loud? "I was just talking to the …" She raked her brain for something, something believable. "… to the Koi fish." She said pointing her index finger to the still water of the river before them. Lamo. Toph did a mental face-palm. Koi fish? Honestly?
Aang's eyes darted several times, from Toph to the river which had no Koi fish at all. "Riiight!" He stated. "What did they want?"
Toph sniffed fiercely. "That's between me and them." She replied making a serious face. "I can't tell you their secret. Sorry"
"May be I can help." Aang offered. "I'm great with animals"
"No thanks Twinkle Toes. I can fix this." Toph waved her hand dismissing the offer. "Ah! Will you look at the time? Iroh must be waiting. I'm so late." She said turning to leave.
Aang jumped behind her and picked her up within a flash. "I'll give you a lift." He said flying in to the air on his glider. Toph shrieked as if she was drowning. ".down."
"Relax Toph." Aang shouted against the rushing wind. "You said you are late. This is the quickest way to get to Jasmine Dragon."
Toph gritted her teeth as she held to Aang's robe. "I'd rather be late than flying."
Aang chuckled and sped up. Within quarter of an hour they landed in front of the elegant tea shop. Toph hastily jumped down from Aang's embrace, her face a little red. Wind. Its wind. She told herself.
"You can tell me all about the Koi fish if you want to you know." Aang said opening the glider again.
"If you give me a surprise ride again, you are so dead Twinkle Toes." Toph threatened as if she didn't hear him.
Aang grinned. "See you at dinner" He took off.
Iroh was reading a gigantic volume of some book. A tea cup steamed in his left hand. He smiled seeing Toph drag her feet in. "What a pleasant surprise? I didn't expect to see you today."
"What? Can't I just drop by?" Toph huffed sitting down. "Whatcaya reading?"
"It's a very useful book." Iroh explained. "It describes about the pressure points of human body."
Toph yawned. "Sounds interesting."
"Listen to this," Iroh continued. "Pressure points are specific sensitive areas on the surface of the body. You can exploit a pressure point for many uses. Martial artists quickly disable attackers by using a simple but forced push on a pressure point. Stimulation of pressure points also helps to relieve pain and repulsive feelings."
Toph's ears perked. "I'm listening." She said sitting comfortably on her chair.
"Temples - The pressure points here are located approximately half an inch from the edge of the eyebrow. If you press these two points on both sides of the head simultaneously while moving your fingers in circles, you may find some relief from headaches." Iroh went on. "Dokko - The dokko is located where the jaw and skull meet. In most people, this point is just under the outer ledge of the earlobe at the base of the ear."
Toph leaned forward taking her both feet on to the chair. Is there any specific pressure point that helps you to… errm.." Iroh frowned seeing her struggle to find a word. "What is it Toph?" He asked putting down the book.
"Let's say a kid likes something very much which he doesn't really need or want." Toph carefully composed a sentence. "Is there a pressure point that can help the likeness go away?"
Iroh narrowed his graying brows. He was about to say no when the goofy prankster self of his decided otherwise. Since Toph was on wooden chair, she couldn't tell if he's lying. So why not be a little tricky and find out what was this about?
"Actually, there is." Iroh said casually. "If you press the tip of your nose hard upwards, the likeness you don't want will pass for the moment."
Toph eyed him for a while. "Tip of my nose?" She asked pressing the nose upwards. "hmm.. Do I look like a pig-rabbit?"
Iroh chuckled. "You do make a very cute pig-rabbit"
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Katara and Toph spent the evening, sparing playfully. Katara was hyper fpr some reason and Toph knew what. The big anniversary was few days away and His Hot-Head-Highness will be arriving at Ba-Sing-Se late this night.
"Double anniversary celebrations this year, eh?" Toph asked. "Actually… tribal." Katara answered blushing.
"War's end – 4th year, Zuko and you – 1st year" Toph counted her fingers. "What's the other one?"
"Aang and Me, from lovers to friends again – 3rd year" Katara clarified. Toph smirked. "Ah' right. The big break up."
"You can put it that way too." Katara mumbled.
"Why did you two break up? Though you were giving Sokka and me a lot of ooggies, you two were happy together, weren't you?" Toph asked throwing a mud pie towards Katara who dodged it.
"We were, but it started to give us ooggies as well." She explained grinning. "So we broke up. It was long time ago. So what about you? It's about time you fell for someone. Anyone you like?"
Toph suddenly stop bending and pressed the tip of her nose upwards. "Gno. You gknow I'm gnot in to mushy-mushy relationships."
Katara stared. "But Toph everybody falls in love. And why are you making a pig-rabbit face?"
"Nope. Not me!" Toph said convincingly. "Achchoo!" She faked a sneeze. Katara smiled. "OK, enough sparing for today. Let's get ready for our guest."
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