Roses of the Desert
She fell down from the wood columns again. Her tail bone hurt like… "Aaand I win again!" Aang was shouting happily. "You know, just because you're better than me at this game doesn't mean you're better than me in every aspect. Stupid Avatar…" He laughed and lay down next to her. "I'm a better airbender than you", he said, teasing her. It was two weeks since the day nun Onna died. Time flew so fast Kiri couldn't keep up. She and Aang had really become close friends; they did almost everything together now. After that night, where the Spirits had talked to her, they both knew that they needed to stay close to each other.
Aang had explained that being the Avatar meant a great deal. You could not be selfish. That also meant that no matter how much you wanted something, like family or a giant castle – whatever – you should be able to leave it right away. But in his case, now where they were the last airbenders, they had to `keep it going´ as Aang had said. Kiri knew what this meant, but she didn't want to think about it. It made her nervous. They had been practicing airbending almost every day. However, Aang had lots of meetings and places where he needed to be and on these days Kiri helped out Siku with maintaining the temple. She had been very quiet since nun Onna passed away. Now they were only the three of them.
"Oh mighty Avatar, I'm sorry I don't live up to your high standards" Kiri said and bowed her head all the way down to the grass. "Shut up", Aang mumbled, "That's not what I meant." She laughed and shot a hard gust of air at him. She knew he hated when she talked about him that way, but that was what made it funny. Aang was too humble sometimes. Even though he possessed great powers, he didn't brag about it. He practically didn't mention it. Sometimes she would watch him practice earth, fire and waterbending. She thought it was amazing to watch him focus and shoot fire out of his fingers or force huge rocks out from the ground. She'd become a little more accustomed to being around fire since she met him. He proved to her that not all fire was evil. She'd also started joining him when he went to meditate. She enjoyed the quietness and peace that filled the air when he really `fell in´. She thought about that day, where Aang's Avatar State-person had ordered her to stay with him. "That means you're important to me" he'd said.
She was falling in love with him. When he looked at her, looked her in the eyes, she felt her heartbeat rise and her stomach started to tickle. Her throat was filled with a weird feeling. Like she just had to laugh out loud. She loved and hated that feeling. She didn't feel like she deserved Aang. He had such an amazing personality, a really pure mind plus he was really good-looking. Strong muscular arms, a well-trained stomach, long strong legs and… She could keep going.
He studied her as they lay there. She could feel his eyes on her, even though she had her eyes closed. "You're beautiful", he told her. "Too beautiful" he said and rolled onto his back. He let out a sigh, the sound of surrender. She looked at him, a confused look. "What do you mean, I'm too beautiful?" Kiri let her fingers walk down his stomach, sending an electric current down her spine. He took her hand and moved it back to her. "Sorry if I offend you by doing this, but sometimes you're… Too beautiful. Too gorgeous. My mind almost explode when you touch me like that." He sounded ashamed. She too felt ashamed, awkward. She knew what he meant and yet she couldn't help but to feel a little offended. She wasn't used to the strict rules of the monks about being together as a boy and a girl. Never in her life had she had a boyfriend before and there she knew very little about how much you should respond to those feelings inside of you.
"I know and I'm sorry" she said. After a moment of awkward silence, she got up. "Didn't you say yesterday that Toph needed your help to day? It's almost afternoon now…" Aang shot his eyes open and flew up on his feet. "Shoot!" He yelled and ran back to the temple. She went over to Appa's barn to make him ready for flying. "Hey big boy." She padded him on his side and swung up on him. "Aang's in a hurry buddy, we need you to fly fast. Can you do that for me?" The beats growled, probably not in the mood for speed at all. Aang came half flying, half running down the lawn and swung himself up behind her and took the robe. "Nice of you to come with me Kiri, yip yip!" She was startled. "But Aang, I can't help you, I can't bend earth!" He hugged her from behind. "So? I like your company." And off they were to Republic City. Toph and her earthbenders needed help with the City Hall. It was important for them to be finished with it soon, so that the city could be official. Now it was just a town in the process. When they landed they were greeted by a guy, probably in his twenties or so. "Welcome Avatar Aang", he looked curiously at Kiri, "and to you young lady, what is your name?" She jumped down from Appa and shook hands with him. "I'm Kiri, a friend of Aang here to help you. Although I'm not sure how I can do that, 'cause I'm not an earthbender." He laughed and started leading them the way. "I'm sure we'll figure something out." He and Aang started talking about their project. Something about walls of glass and water. She didn't get it.
They entered a room, and Kiri noticed Toph was standing over a table, talking to the other workers there. They immediately started working. Kiri had never seen so many earthbenders bending earth at the same time. It was a very hot day, so Kiri helped the workers with getting them water and sometimes bending cool air in their faces, just to keep them focused. Her eyes were focused on Aang. His eyes had this majestic look on them. She knew that this project was very important to him. This city would be one of his historical markings on the world. She couldn't help but feel so proud of him. He did everything that stood in his power to prove himself worthy of the title `Avatar´. Kiri had noticed to her surprise that Toph was blind. At first she'd thought to herself: She doesn't look at people when they are talking to her, she moves in strange ways, she's impolite. But then she'd seen it. A kind of blue film lay over her eyes and she didn't really blink. But man, was she a good earthbender. It was like she could just feel the earth, as if she was one with it. She was very strong too. Although she wasn't as feminine as many other girls, Kiri was still surprised to see how much weight she could bend. When they needed walls for the rooms, Toph and a mediocre earthbender could lift it together. Amazing! Kiri had thought. Soon the sun went down and they had to stop their work.
"Aang, how can Toph see? I mean, I noticed she's blind and just wondered…" They were on their way back to the temple. The night sky was really pretty, stars covering every angle of the sky. "She sees with her feet. Only really great earthbenders can do that." Kiri sighed in amazement. When they landed and got Appa settled, Kiri felt her legs aching. It had been a long night and now she could hear her bed calling her with strong force. Suddenly her legs were gone under her and she twirled around only to notice that Aang was holding her. "I need to show you something", he said, smiling.
He took her to a room on the floor below his – the second highest. The room was small but very cozy. A great set of furniture stood in the center of the room and on the table in the middle stood a great bouquet of white desert roses. He sat her down on one of the sofas and took one of the flowers. "This is… For you. All of them. From me. Because-I-think-you're-amazing." He mumbled out the last words. She blushed heavily and took the rose. Her heartbeat rose. "I've been thinking a lot recently, about you and me. Kiri I…" She swallowed as she was taking in his nervous stream of words. It was difficult giving thought that her mouth was really dry. She could see that Aang had a hard time saying whatever he was about to say. He looked at her. "I'm in love with you."
Her mind exploded. Butterflies twirled around inside her body, leaving her with no words. She smiled and could feel a warm sensation near her eyes. No crying. He'll just think you're sad about it! He put his hand up to her face and forced her to look into his eyes. His eyes were full of questions and she knew she had to give him some response. Her heart was bursting at its seams. She couldn't speak; she was totally lost for words. Come on Kiri… She looked him in the eyes, smiling at him. He smiled at her too now. A wild hunger for him rose from her stomach. Her fingers twitched and she couldn't help herself. She finally gave in to the strong emotions of devotion that had hided inside of her for the last month… Her lips crashed on his, taking him by surprise.
