After Aang Chapter: 2

Aiko

I want to know more about Yuri. He might not be a strong bender but there is something about him. I just hope that maybe I can help him. As we practice he never tells me what he thinks. I hope I can get him to show what he is like on the inside. Even when we were younger, he had this connection with himself that I could not understand. I just want to get to know him. I want to be his friend.

Yuri

The steeps for the dace are pretty easy. Aiko makes us do it without fire till we are confident with the movements. If anything I would be better if I could use fire. It's already been two days. Well today I'm using fire even if he says just the steeps!

We start out dance but I fire bend this time. It slowed me down and Aiko noticed, and he started bending with me. With a smile on his face we were back in sink. As we came together at the last move, the power he uses it is unbelievable.

"You could have said you wanted to start bending." He said with a soft smile.

"Yeah, I could have."

"Take deeper breathes as you create the fire."

"It's more then something I just create. The fire is already part of me. As I breathe out I release the fire. I feel it's heat and think of as a living thing. I can't just make it bigger or hotter. I need to focus on it as a part of me and slowly feed it." I just look away. I just want to go home.

"Wow that is so true. Fire is a part of me and can't just be forced out. Here follow me."

He leads me inside, to a room with very little light. "This is my Dads meditation room. I've never used it before, but my Dad use to have a flame in his hand as looked very peaceful."

"I think this is something I can teach you. Sit down next to me. Get a fire going. Close your eyes and focus on the fire." I relax and focus on my fire.

"Yuri? Is it working for you? I'm bored." Aiko gave up after 30 minutes, "You look relaxed. Sorry, I'm going to go outside and use my way of practicing." And it was quite again. I guess I'm the only one who can do this.

Day 10 of Training

Aiko has helped me a bit. I have become more powerful. Aiko isn't as bad as I thought, but he still doesn't understand the way I connect to myself. We work well together though the dance is perfect. In 4 days everyone will be amazed by my bending. My dad will finally see that I know what I am doing.

That night I had a dream. I man came to me and said "it's not about showing off." Then it was over.

The Day of the Performance

I head over to the Academy. I'm getting nervous. I don't want to let Aiko down. When I get there it's not just students and the parents. Fire Saige's there too! Our Master starts to tell us that 15 years ago the last avatar died. I didn't listen to the rest; I already knew that the Saige's were looking for the avatar that would be my age.

Aiko's and I's time was coming up soon.

"Just relax," Aiko told me.

"I know, it's just you and me." I cracked a little smile. We walk up to the front. Aiko does all the talking when I stare at my feet. I put lots of power into my moves, but then I remember my dream. I let the fire become a part of me. Powerful on every breathe.

I did it. And I did it with Aiko. He was not as bad as I thought he would be.