Sorry about not writing another chapter in almost 3 months! I haven't abandoned the story so don't worry. Anyway, I wrote a long chapter this time so enjoy! Also, from now on, I'll be putting the names of the character that will be with Kiara most of the time in each chapter.
Kiara & Iroh
Kiara was walking outside around the temple in the cold weather. She looked at the pro-bending arena with snow pilling on the roof and remembered the night Bolin broke up with her a week ago. She sighed and pulled the blue scarf she was wearing up higher to cover her mouth. Her long brown hair, which went down to the middle of her back, was no longer tied to a ponytail. Kiara stopped tying it after she got back to Republic City. Snow fell silently around her as she continued walking. Korra had persuaded Kiara to finally come out of her room early this morning.
"Just at least walk outside with me for a bit? It's been a week since you've left your room, you need fresh air!" Korra begged.
"Fine! But I'm going alone!" Kiara snapped and snatched her blue winter jacket from Korra's hands.
Kiara had been so depressed about what Bolin had told her that she never left her room, except sneaking out at night occasionally to the meditation pavilion, causing Korra to bring her food every day. There was a bathroom in her room, so everything was fine for her.
She would just lay on her bed during the day and night, staring up at the ceiling and the night sky, and thinking about everything. Everything that happened in her life, where she'll be in a few years from now. Her mind started to drift one day and began thinking about other things like the stars and the whole universe in outer space. Always wondering what is it that caused her to become so intrigued about the stars at night. Every day, there was something new for her to think about. Always something that made her thinks to the fullest. She finally began to open her eyes and realize many things in real world, not just living in her own fantasy, thinking everything would be perfect like her past relationship with Bolin.
Kiara was so lost in her own thoughts that she noticed the huge sheet of ice on the ground. She stepped on it and slipped.
"Shit!"
Kiara had her eyes closed tightly while waiting for the sound of her falling on the ground with a dull thud. Instead, something caught her as she opened her eyes in surprise.
"Need help?"
Iroh was behind her and stopped her from falling with his arms. Once Kiara got her balance back, she turned around.
"Thanks, Iroh I would've hit my head pretty hard if you weren't here to catch me!"
The Fire Nation Prince gave her a warm smile.
"Hey Kiara, I have a question that I've wanted to ask you."
Kiara cocked her head in curiosity. "Yes?"
"Do you want to go to the Winter Solstice Festival with me?"
The Winter Solstice Festival was a festival hosted in Republic City and on Air Temple Island every year on the night of the full moon closest to the Winter Solstice. Since winter was the season for waterbenders, as summer was for firebenders, it was hosted on the night of the full moon when the waterbender was most powerful. It was also a night to honor Princess Yue when she died and became the moon spirit 70 years ago. Everyone would use small paper boat with a candle and light the candle on fire. Then letting the boat drift in the ocean, to honor the Princess, at midnight.
Kiara thought for a moment before nodding.
"Great! Let's meet back here at 7, when the festival starts!" Iroh walked back toward the temple.
After a few moments later, Bolin showed up.
"What was that all about?" He asked.
"What are you talking about?" Kiara asked back, glancing coldly at the earthbender.
"Well, you're my girlfriend aren't you? We're supposed to go together?"
Kiara was about to give a stinging retort, before stopping to think.
"Why doesn't he remember? Or is he faking it? Maybe—Oh! He was drunk so of course he doesn't remember…" Kiara thought.
"Bolin? Do remember what happened exactly last week?"
Bolin was confused, and then he remembered. "Oh yeah, I woke up and found myself on the couch in the pro-bending attic, you know, where Mako and me used to live? My head really hurt for some reason and I smelled like cactus juice… I guess it was because I went to get something to drink the night before."
After thinking for a few moments Kiara asked, "Do you love me, Bolin? Be honest."
Bolin looked shocked, "Of course I do! Why would you say something like that? Was it something I said that night?"
Even though Kiara couldn't earthbend anymore, she could still sense his heartbeat which was going very fast.
"Oh yeah? Are you sure you weren't just using me to get to Korra?" Her face was just inches away from his and he was being to sweat under the pressure. "Do you think this is some kind of game to you? That you can use girls like this? You probably thought that any girl could do but chose me instead because you knew I would fall for something like this!"
Kiara stopped to catch her breath and stared at Bolin with furious icy-blue eyes that could cause anyone to cower in fear.
Bolin was speechless, he had absolutely nothing to say, which caused Kiara to begin to wonder whether what she said was true or it was just shocking and she was wrong.
"Answer me," Kiara whispered dangerously low.
Bolin took a deep breath and whispered, "Fine, it's true, I'm sorry about what I did. I know it's wrong but you have to understand that I really still love Korra! We're perfect for each other!"
She shook her head slowly. "No, nothing you could ever do will ever make me forgive you."
Kiara turned away from him and began to walk away from Bolin as she felt his gaze still on her, but she never turned around, she will never want to turn around and see him more than a stranger because that's what he is to her now.
It was around 7 o'clock when Kiara arrived at the spot where she and Iroh talked that morning. She found the firebender gazing out into the ocean, his amber eyes looked dreamily as though remembering something that happened long ago. Kiara didn't want to disturb him so she decided to come back in a few minutes. She walked around the Temple where everyone was laughing, dancing, and having a good time. Lanterns were set up which lit every corner of the Temple. As Kiara was admiring the beautiful lanterns, she heard giggling behind her. She turned around and saw Bolin with a girl who looked like she was from the Fire Nation. Kiara immediately recognized her from the pro-bending games Kiara went to cheer on the Fire Ferrets. The girl would always be looking at Bolin shyly when he blew kisses into the audience every time they won the game.
Bolin caught her staring at them and smirked at Kiara.
All she wanted to do was rip the smirk right off his face, right then and there. The girl noticed he was staring at something, but by the time she turned around to see who he was smirking at, Kiara was already walking away.
By the time she went back to Iroh, he was already starting to look for her.
"Hey Kiara, where were you?" Iroh asked.
"Sorry, I saw that you were deep in thought so I decided to explore around the temple a bit." Kiara replied then handed him a big piece of cooked meat on a stick. "Here, I got you this."
Iroh took the stick. "Thanks."
Kiara chuckled. "It must have taken them forever to persuade Tenzin to have meat stands on the Temple, since you know; we're only allowed to eat vegetables?"
Iroh laughed too, and then suggested that they should go to the mainland first since it was where the restaurants and more activities were.
As they rode the ferry to the mainland, Iroh handed Kiara a lotus flower. She felt a little annoyed about how hard Iroh was trying to get her attention, even when many would say it was sweet. While Iroh wasn't looking, Kiara froze the flower and shattered it. Iroh turned around a few moments later and asked.
"What happened to the flower?"
Kiara pretended to care. "I sorry, I think I dropped it into the water!"
Iroh smiled. "It's okay, I got you another one." He handed it to her.
She gave a fake smile. "Thanks."
Iroh and Kiara were sitting at a table in Narook's Seaweed Noodlery.
"It's almost like we're on a date, right?" Iroh asked jokingly.
Kiara nearly choked on the tea she was drinking.
"Yeah…" She replied, trying to smile.
"How long am I going to endure this?" Kiara asked herself. "But it can't be too bad, right? Just enjoy the festival with Iroh tonight…"
They walked around the city after eating, played many games and activities, and watched a few plays going on. Kiara was actually enjoying the night and even made some jokes about being on a date with Iroh. They finally decided to go back to the Air Temple after putting a paper boat into the ocean when the clock struck midnight, and wanted to enjoy the rest of the night there. Kiara and Iroh reached to the edge of a cliff overlooking Republic City and the ocean.
"I had a great time with you Iroh; I was able to forget Bolin the whole time."
"It's Bolin's fault for not realizing what a great and beautiful girl you are." Iroh murmured. Kiara blushed. The firebender leaned down and gently kissed her. Instead of pushing him away, Kiara kissed him back, much to her surprise. She felt very relaxed at the touch of his lips. He pulled away and whispered in her ear.
"I love you, Kiara."
Kiara stared at him in shock.
"What?" She asked.
"I loved you since we met at the Southern Water Tribe. I was heartbroken when you refused my proposal. I thought you didn't feel the same, but now, you do."
Kiara shook her head. "No! Iroh, I just broke up with Bolin, how do you expect me to fall in love with you in one night?"
Anger flared in Iroh's amber eyes. "What is it about Bolin that makes him so special? We've known each other longer, so why him? Do you still love him? He broke your heart! He used you, for spirits sake!"
It was Kiara's turn to be furious. "How dare you say that! How do you even now? Korra told you didn't she? And yes, maybe I still do like Bolin, but not love. He had his chance to keep it but he decided to throw it away for my sister!"
"Yes, Korra told me along with Mako, but why do you still want Bolin? I loved you for so long!"
Kiara turned her back to him. "Then stop loving me, because I, no matter how long, would ever return those feelings! Why don't you go with Asami?"
Asami and Kiara had become friends after meeting for the first time. They didn't get to hang out often since Asami had to run Future Industries after her father was thrown in jail.
"But I don't want to be with Asami! I want to be with you!" Iroh protested.
"No, you don't. I've seen the way you look at her; you may think you love me, but you don't. You're just angry that I rejected you time after time. You're just trying to prove to yourself that you could get me to like you more than a friend."
Iroh said nothing, just stared at the ground. Kiara turned back to face him and walked toward him. She placed a hand on his chest where his heart was.
"Just admit it, Iroh. Let your heart let go of the past."
Iroh still didn't say anything. Instead, the Fire Nation Prince walked back toward the Temple, thinking hard about what Kiara had said. Kiara watched him with a small smile, happy that she helped him. She heard a rustle of leaves nearby and saw Bolin watching her.
"What are you doing Bolin?" The waterbender asked.
Bolin ignored her question. "Is it true that you still have feelings for me?"
Kiara wasn't bothered by the fact that he eavesdropped on their conversation. She sighed. "I don't know. It's just confusing right now."
There was silence. Bolin just stared at her while she looked out blankly at the ocean.
"Kiara, I'm sorry."
The waterbender sighed. "You just don't get it, do you? You used me to get to Korra when she's with Mako, your brother!"
"Can't we at least be friends?"
Kiara didn't answer his question. Instead, "Where's your date?"
Bolin shrugged. "I told her that I didn't want to be anything closer than a friend. She got pissed and left. I'm glad though, she agrees with everything I say! It's like she doesn't have a mind of her own!"
Kiara snorted. "Typical."
"Hey, you were like that when we were dating." Bolin replied.
They stood there for a few moments, not knowing what to say.
"We never really dated, remember? You used me to get to Korra…" Kiara muttered at last.
Bolin didn't say anything. Kiara began walking back to the Temple to go to bed.
"Good night, Kiara," Bolin called from behind.
Kiara felt tears sliding down her cheek as being in the presence of the boy who broke her heart were too much. She whipped the tears away and turned her head toward Bolin.
"Good night."
Kiara woke up gasping from her dream and looked at the clock beside her bed. It was 2:45 am. She slumped back down onto her pillow. It was the 3rd time she had woken up from a nightmare in the same hour. The nightmare was the same every time she closed her eyes after waking up. Kiara turned her body toward the window and tried to get the image out of her head. In her dream, she saw someone being slaughtered. She couldn't tell who it was, but defiantly knew it was someone she knew. Kiara watched the whole thing happen before her eyes and was powerless to do anything. When she would attempt to help, the monster that had killed the victim would turn and stare at her with the most terrifying pair of red eyes that would make you freeze where you are. The monster would then lunge at Kiara with long and sharp claws. And all she could do was screaming as the monster began to tear at her body.
Kiara knew it was a sign if she had the same dream over and over again. But she ignored it, which was one of the biggest mistakes of her life.
"How could such a horrible monster be real?" Kiara asked herself over and over.
Kiara closed her eyes as the nightmares began to vanish from her mind and quiet dreams came instead.
Tell me what you guys think about this chapter! Please review! ;)
