In Another World by Taiyo-chan
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or anything associated with it.
Shipping: There's not a lot of major shipping in this chapter. Just little snippets here and there.
Author's Note: BAH! Sorry about that. :( Do whatever you want to me for the five month hiatus. On the bright side, I finished Chapter 10 right along with this. :)
Week One: Happy Birthday, Mrs. Cibi
Sixteen-year-old Aang Cibi strolled through the graveyard by himself. It was late afternoon and the wind was cool. He held in his arms a bouquet of double record amaryllises, Mrs. Cibi's favorite flower. Usually graveyards were drench and depressing but, strangely, this graveyard was lively. Flowers were at every tombstone the Airbender passed by. Aang was proud to know his mom's favorite was different from the usual flowers he saw here. They were yellow, white, or orange. Mrs. Cibi's, however, was a mixture of white and pink.
He stopped within a few inches from her tombstone, which was right next to his father's. He wasn't here for him though. He'd do a tribute to him before leaving for the summer but...it was his mother's birthday so she was top priority. Aang placed the plants against the white marble. He sat down with legs crossed. In a trace of thought, he twirled his finger in the grass.
Four-year-old Aang tip-toed behind his mother, who was sitting in a chair. He had a bouquet of double record amaryllises. He controlled the urge to giggle in excitement.
As calmly as he could he said, "Happy Birthday, Mom!" He held out the bouquet.
Lani Cibi turned around. Grey eyes enlarged in pleasant surprise at the flowers. She smiled gracefully and gently accepted it. "Thank you, sweetie!"
He beamed at her. "I saw you looking at them at the flower place. I knew you liked them a lot."
Lani softened in her smile. She opened her arms out wide for Aang to run into them. He obeyed and she gave him a tight bear hug. She kissed him on the top of his head. "I'm glad you noticed." She tickled him in his stomach, causing him to laugh. She added with a tease, "It took your father a few years to figure out my favorite."
Aang found himself smirking. His father came in the last minute to hear her comment. It started a little teasing war between the happy couple. All Aang focused on was his mom when they "battled". Her laugh was always heart-filled and sincere. Her smile...it was beautiful. Her grey eyes shined like stars at night. She was happy and as long as Lani Cibi was happy, Aang Cibi was happy.
"I still have your heirloom safe in the treasure box," Aang told the tombstone. "And I still plan on giving your heirloom to a daughter in the future. I'm going to tell her stories about you as she grows up so when I give it to her, she'll be familiar with you."
He caressed the tombstone softly. "Really, I'll be doing the same with the son. But he'll hear more about Dad."
He shifted his weight around and lied back down, next to the tombstone. Hands tucked under the head, he stared straight up at the sky.
Five-year-old Aang lied between his parents outside their backyard.
"Any cloud shapes, Lani?" Ji Cibi asked.
Lani shook her head. "Not yet. I'll assume you don't see any either."
Aang focused eagerly on the slothful clouds as his father chuckled. He gasped happily when he saw a shape. He pointed. "I see a sky bison."
His parents narrowed their eyes.
"Where, Aang?" Lani asked.
"Right there," Aang emphasized. "He's curled in."
"Ohh, I think he's right, Lani," Ji agreed. He pointed up as well.
Lani faked a pout. "I still don't see it."
Aang scurried off his back and crawled over to his mother. "I'll help." He clasped her face and turned it in the direction he and his old man saw the cloud shape.
Lani blinked but then...she finally saw it. "Okay, I see it now." Aang let go of her face and crawled back to his lying spot. She chuckled. "I'm always slow on this."
Aang frowned. "You're not slow." He edged over to her side and rested his head on her stomach. "You're really smart."
Lani smiled while Ji joined his son in the hugging with a chuckle.
"She doesn't mean it, Aang," Ji explained. "That's just her way of saying she's embarrassed."
Aang looked up to see her nod in agreement. She kissed her husband on the jaw and then kissed her son on the forehead. She wrapped an arm around Ji and pulled him closer, consequently bringing Aang closer in the process. She rested her head on Ji's shoulder.
"I love you two," she told them with a sweet smile. "You mean the world to me."
Aang smiled softly and nuzzled his head into her stomach.
Aang softened. In the sky, there floated a cloud shaped like a bison. It looked the same as the one when he was five. "Heh," he said. "Would you look at that?"
He watched the cloud go on its way. The Airbender then closed his eyes and replayed that memory in his head until it was time for him to get back home.
Week Two: A Day Out
"Puppy eyes don't work on me," Toph declared firmly. "I'm blind, remember?"
Poppy's face fell in realization. "I can't believe I forgot."
Toph cracked a smile and said in a low, taunting voice, "Me neither."
Poppy giggled as she placed the frilly, knee-length dress back on the table display. Neatly, of course. Toph sensed her questionable vibrations.
"Honestly if you want it, knock yourself out," Toph said in a serious tone. "Just don't try to put it on me."
"Then the heck with it." Poppy scavenged for one her size. "I'll get it for myself as an early Mother's Day gift."
Toph hummed to herself in thought. Lao had already had something planned for Poppy that day. Of course, he didn't want her or Ling to tell her so she had nothing to say. She walked outside of the compartment and sat on a bench.
The young women had come here at a flea market in the middle of a strange town out of boredom. Lao and Ling had left to go fishing; typical male bonding. Everyone else was either at work, visiting colleges, or preparing for the summer Nomadic March. Toph had already started but she figured she'd do the rest during the first week of June.
Poppy stepped out with a paper bag around her arm. She cocked her head at the pensive stare on Toph's face. She sighed. "This is getting boring for you, huh?"
Toph blinked at looked over at her mom. "No, I was just thinking about some random stuff." She stood up and earthbent the dust off her clothes. "'Sides, we're in a whole different part of the country. There's too much to look at to be bored."
Poppy smiled. They resumed walking. "You'll definitely have fun this summer."
Toph nodded in agreement. "I'm surprised you guys approved without any hesitation."
Poppy let out a chuckle. "Well someday you'll be gone for more than two months, so why not?"
Toph gave her mom a side hug, which Poppy returned. She winked at Toph. "With you and Ling gone that means Lao and I will have the house to ourselves. We need a break from you kids."
"Wow, Ling and I feel loved," Toph teased.
Poppy rubbed Toph's shoulder. "You'll get over it."
"Sting."
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After staying at the market for a couple of hours, both women carried a total of eight bags. Toph bought a new studded belt, new sneakers, some music, and new hand-cut gloves. Poppy bought more dresses and some hair accessories. They packed their goods into the trunk of the car and got into their respective seats.
"Where to next?" Toph asked as Poppy started driving.
"Whatever we decide is interesting," Poppy answered.
Toph sat back. "Cool."
There was silence in the car. Toph pressed the button on her door for the window to go all the way down. She poked her hand out and spread her fingers out so the wind could brush through them. Out of the corner of Poppy's eyes, she could see the relaxed and calm expression on Toph's face. She focused her full attention back on the road.
"So, are you having fun?" Toph asked, attempting to start a conversation.
Poppy raised an eyebrow. "Of course I am. I'm not at the house, I'm actually doing something, and I'm with my daughter. I would have to be a real grouch to not enjoy an experience like this."
"That's good," Toph said sincerely.
Poppy nodded. "You can see yourself doing this for the rest of your life, huh?"
"What? Traveling?"
"Yeah."
Toph bobbed her head slowly. "I can."
Poppy smiled and said under her breath, "Good; I'm glad."
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The next stop they made was a carnival. They agreed they weren't going to try the rollercoasters. Not just because of Toph's phobia for them, thanks to her time at the amusement park back in September, but the people say not to trust rides from traveling carnivals. Buying funnel cakes...that was a different story.
"You want to try any games while we're here?" Poppy inquired.
Toph shook her head. "I'll watch you if you want to."
"Maybe we can risk it with the bumper car rides," Poppy suggested.
A devilish grin grew on Toph's face. "Oh?"
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"OUT OF THE WAY!" Poppy screeched to a couple in a bumper seat close to them.
Toph bumped right into them, sending them to the side of the oval track.
"Sorry!" Poppy apologized to them. She frowned in confusion to see them laughing. Poppy repositioned herself back in her seat. "That's some weird people."
BUMP!
"What?" Toph questioned after ramming into another bumper car.
"They're laughing because they got ran into."
"That's the whole point of the ride, Mom," Toph said amused. "It's for excitement and innocent revenge."
"Oh."
RAM!
A minute later, the bummer cars stopped working.
"Shoot," Toph said. "I was just getting started."
Poppy's eyes augmented. Toph hopped out of the bumper car and faced her. "You want to go again and this time you drive?"
Poppy thought about it. She never drove one of these before, obviously, but this trip of theirs was about doing things new. "Sure."
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"Out of my way unless you want to get hit too!" Poppy yelled.
Toph had nothing to hang onto. Thank spirits for seatbelts.
It had started when a man and his wife bumped into Poppy's bumper teasing her about being slow. The next thing Toph knew, her mother had an adrenaline rush to bump them as soon as she had the chance. Unfortunately they were on the other side, meaning Poppy had to bump through people to get to them. It was something she was doing fanatically.
"You can't say anything about me anymore!" Toph told her as she rammed another innocent passerby.
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"If we meet again, I'm taking you to an amusement park to settle this battle!" Poppy told the couple.
The ride had ended a couple of minutes ago...and Poppy had almost caught up with them during the last few seconds of the ride. The wife chuckled and replied before leaving with her husband, "We look forward to it, ma'am!"
Poppy waved them off with a sincere, friendly smile and turned to acknowledge her daughter. "What?"
Toph was shaking her head while snickering. "I'm so glad no one here knows us."
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It was close to evening and Ling and Lao came back from fishing.
"Poppy! Toph! We're home!" Lao announced before turning the lights on into the house.
Ling headed for the kitchen to get a little snack. He saw a note on the refrigerator. He pulled it up from under the magnet and read it out loud.
"Lao and Ling, Toph and I went out of town. We ought to be back sometime late tonight or tomorrow. It depends on how many places we visit so don't worry."
Lao folded his arms. "I suppose they were bored."
Ling agreed. "Our friends had something to do so that sounds reasonable."
Lao nodded. "Hey, you want to go back fishing since they're not home?"
Ling smiled. "Sure thing, Uncle. Just let me get a snack real quick."
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Now it was eight at night. They stopped at a Shoppe.
"You're really interested in seeing an up-to-date movie?" Toph asked.
"Why not?" Poppy replied. She stopped to think about what Toph just said. "Hey!"
Toph grinned. Poppy narrowed her lips and waved Toph off, causing the blind teenager to laugh.
"What do you mean you can't make it?!" a woman of twenty years exclaimed into her cell phone. She had come out from the theatre. "I just paid for the tickets and you two can't come…Oh...no, I understand now. No, don't worry about it. I'll just save up the tickets or something...Yeah, I'm sure...bye."
She hung the phone defeated. She was about to head back in until she saw Poppy studying the title displays on the building. She walked over to the duo. "Hey, what movie are you two interested in seeing?"
Poppy pointed. "I was thinking about that one-"
"Great! I got three tickets for that one!"
Poppy looked at the women. "Eh?"
"My friends had to cancel so I'm stuck with two extra tickets," she explained. "You can have 'em."
Poppy grew solemn while Toph cocked her head to the side. Poppy said, "Well, at least let us pay you then."
"No, no; I insist you take these so my money won't be spent for nothing." She saw the uncomfortable look on Poppy's face and perturbed look on Toph's. "Okay, how about this; you pay for the popcorn and snacks."
"Deal."
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The movie they were watching was far from a chick flick. It was actually a horror musical. Toph thought it sounded stupid. A horror musical? But she was proven wrong, even if she couldn't see the action. Poppy explained some parts when needed to be explained. Toph found herself liking this movie. Poppy, she admired it as well minus the blood scenes. The woman was in a complete trance; she even stopped eating her popcorn.
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"That was an excellent movie," Poppy said, amazed. "Especially the ending."
"I know!" the woman gushed. "I loved her character but that was still a good ending. I've seen the original ending to an old play but this one is much better."
"How did they end that one?"
"They eventually catch him and hang him."
Toph joined in with arched eyebrows. "That's it?"
The woman nodded.
Toph scoffed. "This ending was definitely better then. He died the same way he killed everyone else."
"Exactly!" she agreed enthusiastically. "Karma bit him in the butt!"
Poppy shook her head at the young folk talk. Of course she had picked up on some herself but she didn't think she'd ever go as far as these two were.
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"You think we'll make it back home before crashing from exhaustion?" Poppy asked, yawning.
They had departed with the woman hours ago. It was going on one in the morning.
Toph laughed. "How tired are you?"
Poppy rubbed her eyes. "I can try." She yawned again.
Toph found herself drifting to sleep. "No, probably better not risk it. If you fall asleep I can't wake ya up."
"I'll search for the nearest hotel then."
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Thankfully, Poppy was able to find one in ten minutes while driving on the road. She parked into the driveway and climbed out. She walked over to Toph's side and opened the door. "Toph, hon. We're at a hotel. Wake up."
Toph tightened her eyes before opening them. "Oh," she grumbled. She forced herself to get up. Her body threatened to fall over. Poppy caught her in time, chuckling to herself.
"Yeah, I know how you're feeling right now."
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Poppy registered them into a room and supported Toph to the room. She pulled out the key from her pocket and slid it through the opening. The lock clicked. Poppy opened to door and turned the lights on. The room was small but was good enough to spend the night in. She placed Toph on one bed and tucked her in. It brought back old memories of when Toph was little. She ruffled her daughter's hair softly and crawled into her own bed.
"'Night, Mom," Toph muttered.
Poppy had had her back turned on Toph but she turned around and replied with a warm smile, "Good night, Toph."
She switched on her sides again to make herself comfortable again. She sighed in content before falling asleep. It was fun. She spent a whole day with her daughter and she had fun too. To her, that was an early Mother's Day gift.
Week Three: Day of Life and Day of Death
Five-year-old Amai stared at the raindrops trickling down her window pane. Her gray eyes gazed at the dark gray sky.
"Rain, rain go away," she sung in a slow, quiet voice half-heartedly.
Singing that song during rainy days was an innate thing for Amai to do. Normally she didn't like the rain but on this day she did, even if it was on her birthday. She didn't want a birthday party anyway. There were very few kids at her neighborhood and while she loved the teenagers in her life to death, her subconscious mind told her it would be weird for a little kid to be surrounded by teenagers. Despite whether they minded or not.
"Did you like the rain?" she asked. She scratched at her head in thought. "I kind of have a bad memory but I think it rained on my last birthday too." She rested her arms against the window again. "If it keeps raining I'll sneak out tonight. I've never danced in the rain before. I can't say I've always wanted to but I feel like I want to this time for some reason."
There was a knock on the door. Amai glanced at it and quickly waved to the sky. She shouted at the entrance, "The door's open!"
Gaido opened the door. Amai had a nervous smile on her face. "You're not going to sing 'happy birthday' again, are you?"
Her father snickered. "No, I'm not. I just came to tell you Malu's on her way up here."
Amai hopped off her stool with her head tilted to the side in curiosity. Gaido only smiled.
"You need someone other than your old man in the house."
Before he knew it, Amai airbent into his arms and hugged him tight around his neck. Knowing why she hugged him, he patted her back with a chuckle. "Relax kiddo; I was joking."
Amai broke away and scrunched her nose in disgust. "I hate thinking you're sad when you're joking."
"Sorry about that," he apologized. He gently put her down.
Amai tried not to smile but it broke out anyway. "As long as you're not sad."
Gaido patted her on the head. "Good. You ought to know I'll always be pulling your leg."
"You don't pull my leg; you play cruel jokes."
"That means the same thing, Amai," he informed her.
"Oh."
Gaido laughed. "Come on; let's go meet Malu at the front door."
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"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Malu announced her arrival.
She had a big umbrella in her right hand and a protected chocolate cake in her left hand. Amai waved at Malu. "Hey yourself!"
Gaido took Malu's umbrella for her as she stepped into the main corridor. They headed for the kitchen. Malu set the cake down. She shook her head with a laugh. "That's the last time I bake with Toph and Aang in the same building."
"Why?" Amai asked with a frown. "Don't they like each other now?"
"That's why I can't be in the same place with them when it comes to baking, Amai," Malu emphasized. "It started out as a petty argument and then turned into a cake mix fight. I thought I was going to die."
"I think you're exaggerating a bit," Gaido commented with a smile.
Malu looked at him with a straight face. "Uncle, this is no exaggeration."
"They're not mad at each other, are they?" Amai asked, genuinely concerned.
Malu looked at Amai and let out a laugh. She ruffled her hair. "No, Amai. They're not mad. They're just being silly."
"Oh." She paused and beamed. "Well, thanks for baking a cake!"
"Which I'm trying to figure out how you were able to make if the cake mix fight was so terrible," Gaido challenged.
"The dangers of extra cake mix, Uncle. The dangers of extra cake mix."
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The girls were eating cake while watching a random G-rated movie on the TV. Gaido left to rent a movie Amai wanted to see. The raindrops weren't silent at hitting on top of the roof.
"Still raining," Amai said lightly.
"I'm glad you're not bummed about it," Malu commented sincerely. "It rained last year."
"I thought so," Amai replied. "Maybe my memory's not as bad as I thought." She took another small bite out of her cake. "Malu?"
"Hmmm?"
"Did Mommy like the rain?"
Malu paused. Amai stared at her expectantly. Malu blinked. "Why do you want to know, hon?"
Amai shrugged. "The rain's not a sad thing today and while it's my birthday, it's the same day Mommy died. It makes me wonder if it's going to rain every time on this day."
Malu hummed to herself. "I see." Malu nodded her head. "Yeah, she did. She'd even dance in it whenever she had the chance. And Uncle would watch from the inside, smiling because she was having fun."
"Why didn't he go out in the rain with her?"
"Like you and me, he doesn't particularly like the rain," Malu answered. She shivered. "I don't know about you two but it makes me feel like a wet dog."
Amai raised an eyebrow. "Even with an umbrella protecting you?"
Malu nodded sheepishly.
"You're weird sometimes, you know that?"
That only made Malu laugh out loud. "Thanks, Amai. I feel loved."
Amai tackled Malu with a hug. She even kissed her on the cheek. Malu wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Sheesh, kid; I was being sarcastic."
"Huh?--Ah! Hey!"
Malu had Amai on her lap and was giving her a noogie. Amai struggled to get out of her grasp.
"Sarcastic!" Malu clarified. She let Amai go, who didn't hesitate to ruffle up Malu's hair.
She sat back in the couch as soon as she felt she was satisfied. "You guys sure take pleasure in teasing a kid."
She turned her back on Malu and pretended to sulk. Malu scooped Amai in her arms and tickled her stomach.
"That's because you're so adorable," Malu said in a baby voice.
"Am not!" Amai protested, pushing away at Malu's hands.
Malu ceased on the tickling and gave Amai's head a final ruffling. "If you say so."
Amai stayed on Malu's lap.
"So she loved the rain," Amai stated seriously.
Malu nodded.
"That gives me a good reason to go outside tonight then."
"One, let your father know you're doing this and, two, don't catch a cold."
Amai sat up in a defiant manner and proclaimed proudly, "I never catch a cold."
Malu grinned. "Yeah, just be glad you're an Airbender."
Amai snickered and rested her head back on Malu's shoulder.
"Hey, you want to plan for next year?" Malu asked.
"What if it rains?"
Malu shrugged. "We'll figure something out. Overseas to the other countries, perhaps? Any place special you liked there when you and Uncle travel?"
Amai thought about it. "I like the desert places. It's like a giant sandbox."
"Strange taste for an Airbender," Malu teased. She poked at Amai's nose. "But okay, I'll talk to your dad about it."
Amai smiled. "Sounds good."
Malu pecked Amai on the forehead. "Good." She lied back against the couch and closed her eyes.
"Are you tired?" Amai asked.
"A little," Malu admitted. "The rain puts a downer on my hyper activeness at times." She opened her eyes and slapped herself on the forehead. "Oh crap! I forgot your present! It's at the house!"
"What was it?" Amai asked innocently.
Malu's eyes diverted away from Amai's as if she was unsure whether to say or not. "A camera."
Amai's eyes sparkled. "A camera?! Yay! That means I can take pictures with you now!"
Malu smiled. "Along with a container of films. It ought to keep you good for a while."
"Can I take it with me on the March during the summer?"
"I don't see why not. It's a broader march than the Air Nomadic March."
"Oh."
Amai grew serious. "You think Daddy and I will ever get to see you guys in the Air Nomadic March?"
"Age wise you're not missing anything," Malu assured her.
"Is that why Daddy decided we're moving after the summer?"
"Well, you're five now and that means school. It's better if you get acquainted with kids your age," Malu said gently. She poked at Amai's nose again. "And remember what Aang and I said, we know where you're moving to and we'll visit whenever we can. Teo and Toph too. Mostly Toph but you know."
Amai smiled. "I'm glad." She closed her eyes. Malu watched her snore. She looked around the place. There was nothing going on in the kitchen and the front door was locked. A nap for them while they waited for Gaido wouldn't hurt.
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Amai stared out at the window. It was eleven in the evening now. The rest of the night, she and her family watched the very movie she had wanted to see. She had a nice time. Laughing at things that didn't exist in their world and ignoring the rain. Now that Gaido was asleep in his room and Malu in an extra; that was all Amai could focus on. It was still raining and Amai had a promise to fulfill.
She found her boots under her bed and slipped them on. She already had her pink raincoat lying on her bed. She picked it up and slipped it on. She tiptoed to the door, opened it, and closed it behind her. With more space in the building, she simply took airbent-influenced leaps down the stairs and to the front door. She closed the door behind her. Her eyes squinted at the face falling in her face.
She took small steps towards the front yard. She stood there.
"How do I start?"
Come to think of it, Amai wasn't the best dancer or at least not when it came to being serious. She was more of the goofy type of dancer. It didn't feel like to her that that kind of dancing would fit this mood.
"I guess I could airbend around a little bit," Amai mused.
She placed herself in an Airbending stance her father had started her on. She took a deep breath and threw out her hands. She blinked at the water spiraling and disappearing in her hands. She wasn't waterbending, obviously, but it still fascinated her how it fell and followed her wind's spinning. She began moving her hands together in a spiral motion, trapping the water in her air bubble. She stared at it until it busted from lack of concentration. She started over. This time she held it over her head. She tilted her head back and opened her mouth. The air bubble disappeared at will and the water landed in her mouth...and all over her face. She giggled.
She looked around for something else to do. There were puddles. She had jumped in puddles out of boredom before but she was in a good mood. She ran across the puddle sending it in split directions. She did the next puddle like that and the next until the puddles were gone. She collapsed against the ground and closed her eyes. They didn't squint at the falling water anymore. She was relaxed and was enjoying herself.
"Amai!"
She sat up and glanced over to see Gaido standing at the doorway. He had his arms folded in a perturbed manner. "What are you doing out in the rain at this time of night? I woke up and decided to check on you."
Amai chuckled nervously. "Sorry! I forgot to tell you I was going to come out to play with Mommy!"
Gaido's expression changed completely. Amai nodded.
"Malu said she loved the rain; I'm only playing with her." She pointed to the sky. "I wanted to be close to her in a certain way."
Gaido's face grew solemn. Amai's face fell slightly. He came out into the rain and knelt down in front of her.
"You had me scared there for a little bit, Amai."
Amai looked down. "I'm sorry."
He placed a hand on her head. "At least you're okay; just don't go out again like that. Okay?"
Amai nodded. Gaido patted her on the cheek. "Now, I'll watch you from the door. Keep doing what you're doing."
Amai bobbed her head. "Thanks, Daddy." She turned her back on him and resumed trapping water in with airbending. She purposely through her water-filled air ball into the air. It exploded and fell down, adding weight to the already existing rain. Amai giggled and danced under it. She repeated the process again and again. Each laugh was as fresh and happy as the last one.
Gaido leaned against the door with folded arms. He felt proud of himself. He promised himself he wouldn't let grief get in the way of his parenting and it didn't. He gave her love like a father should. As a result, she was a happy girl. Like his late wife, seeing her happy made him happy.
Week Four: Bittersweet Mother Memories
Katara took a deep breath before knocking on the Bei Fong door. She had Jin and Song's place to go to as well but she figured she'd go here first since, nice as Poppy Bei Fong was, she was the least closest to her. It was weird actually considering she thought of Toph as a little sister. She shrugged to herself as she waited for someone to answer the door. She straightened herself up when the door opened. Poppy.
Katara wore a meekest smile. "Hi, Mrs. Bei Fong."
Poppy wore a long face. Katara blinked. "Um...Poppy?"
Poppy smiled, causing Katara to exhale out of relief.
"How are you, Katara?"
"I should be asking you that but I'm good," Katara answered. She held out a bag to the middle-aged woman. "Happy Mother's Day!"
"Oh!" Poppy said. She slowly accepted the gift. "Thank you!"
"You're welcome!" Katara added sincerely, "I hope you have a good day at the spa."
Poppy raised an eyebrow. "The spa?"
Katara covered her mouth. "Oops." She looked around Poppy to see if Toph was there. Either she had left to do some last minute errands with Ling or she was relaxing in her room. Either way, she wasn't there to compel her wrath on Katara. She chuckled. "You didn't hear from me. Bye!" She rushed to her car and left Poppy dumbfounded.
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"Hey, nobody's home so leave a message, fools," the message machine said.
Katara made a face. "Jin needs to come up with a better phone message than that." She paused. "Pretend you didn't hear that!" She hung up her cell phone. "Knowing Jin and Yuki, they're probably at Song and Maru's.:"
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Zuko stopped their car at Haru's parents' home. Haru opened the door to his side.
"I'll see you in two days," Haru said to Zuko.
"Yeah. You have my present for your mom?"
"Yeah, it's in the bag," Haru assured him. He patted Zuko on the shoulder. "Hey, have a good day."
Zuko gave his roommate a genuine smile. "Thanks. You too."
Haru stepped out of his car and closed the door behind him. Zuko sighed,
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In the asylum, even Azula was unnaturally quiet. She lied on her bed, staring at her mother's picture on the white drawer. She only pulled that picture out on Mother's Day. She narrowed her eyes and turned her back on the picture. It was crazy. She was never close to her mother before she died but...she felt the need to be reminded of how she looked before she left.
"What would you say if you were here, Mom?" she muttered. She buried her face into her white pillow. "How would you see me?"
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Katara let out a little laugh the second Song pulled her into a hug. They pulled away from each other with Song chuckling. "You didn't go to Jin's house first, did you?"
Katara could see Jin with her mother behind Song and in the kitchen. She grinned. "No but I called...speaking of which..." She yelled over Song's shoulder. "Hey, Jin! When you get home; automatically delete your messages!"
"Why? What did you say?"
"Nothing," Katara lied.
"Then what's the problem?" Jin asked in an I-know-you-did-something voice, a smug smile to match with it.
Katara growled. "Just delete it!"
Jin raised her arms in the air. "Okay then, fine."
Yuki shook her head. "How are you, Katara?"
"I'm fine, Yuki. You?"
"Other than yearning for summer vacation to get here, same," she answered.
Katara laughed.
Maru poured hot water into five teacups. She then looked around in the cabinet for the teabags. "What flavor do you guys want?"
"Orange Pekoe!"
Maru scoffed. "Good. The cabinet's actually teeming with it."
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Zuko sat by himself at a local park near the lake. He had a large loaf of bread in his hands and the turtle ducks were swimming for him too. He smiled and broke a piece off, throwing it to the center of the lake. While they followed for that piece he quickly broke smaller pieces off and tossed them in the body of water. With this technique, the turtle ducks were scattered and each getting a certain amount of bread in their stomachs.
People walked by. Children with their moms, holding their hands. It actually didn't sadden Zuko to see this event. He had good terms with his mother before she left this world. Azula...that was a different story. Knowing her, she was most likely keeping to herself in her room. He exhaled deeply. "After feeding the turtle ducks, maybe I'll go to the store for candles. Mom loved those."
He tossed the last bit of bread to the swimmers and rubbed his hands off. "I'll get them and visit her at nighttime. They'll still let me in during her sleeping hours."
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Katara watched her friends intently as they laughed with their mothers. It reminded her of how she was with her own mom. They'd have tea together during Mother's day while Hakoda and Sokka did the housework. It was a bittersweet moment to remind her of a bittersweet memory. She'd always miss her mom but she had two...possibly three if she ever bonds with Poppy. She closed her eyes and took another sip of tea. It was sweet and not too hot. Pleasant to the tongue. Like her relationship with her "moms".
She gazed up at the ceiling in a daydream trance. I wonder what Zuko is doing.
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Zuko browsed through the candle aisle, taking each candle and studying them meticulously.
"After Rain," he muttered. "Mom's favorite scent." He placed it in the mini shopping cart and grabbed several more. He wasn't done yet. There was another scent. One that he knew that Ursa liked but Azula had no clue about.
"There it is..."
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Katara looked at her watch. It was close to evening. She didn't have to go but she felt like being alone.
"I should get going," she said politely. She rose from her seat and smiled at everyone. "Happy Mother's Day. Enjoy the gifts when you open them."
Yuki smiled back. "Thank you, Katara. I know we will."
Katara gave her a slight bow. Jin stood up. "I'll walk you to the door."
Katara didn't say anything. She left the room with Jin following her. The second they were on the porch, Jin closed the door behind her. She folded her arms, head tilted to the side. "Hey, is everything all right?"
Katara softened at Jin's concerned tone and waved it off. "Actually, I'm fine. Really, I just want to be alone and reflect on some things."
"Ahh," Jin said slowly. "I understand." She pulled Katara into a tight, comforting hug. "I thought maybe you were...you know..."
Katara chuckled. She gently broke away from Jin's embrace. "Maybe a tiny bit. Though, it honestly does make me happy to see you two with your moms. You're lucky to have them and I'm lucky to have met them."
It was Jin's turn to soften. She grabbed Katara's hand and gave it a light squeeze. "I'm glad you think so. I know Song and I would've felt the same way if we had gotten to know Kya a little more."
"Yeah, I know."
Jin let go of Katara's hand. Katara turned her back and headed her way. Jin did the same.
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It was late. Azula was lying in her bed, patiently waiting for Zuko to visit. He'd faithfully visit on Mother's Day. Though normally, it was nothing but silence between them. This year would most likely going to be the same way. She heard a click on the door. She lifted her head to see the nurse opening the door. She gestured for the visitor to come in. Zuko. With candles loaded in his arms. The nurse closed the door behind him. Zuko smirked at his sister in a friendly way. Surprisingly, Azula reciprocated the expression.
"I see you bought candles. That's new."
"Yeah."
"Mom's favorite scent was After Rain."
"I know."
Zuko sat down. Azula raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you have a collection of two different scents?"
"Because her other favorite scent was Passion Flower."
Azula froze. "But...that's the fragrance I used to always wash my hair in."
"Exactly," Zuko said, revealing a small but genuine smile.
Azula's golden eyes were now downcast. Zuko took the time to set up the candles around the blank, white room. Azula closed her eyes; a single tear descended down her pale cheek. Out of the corner of Zuko's eyes he saw the saddened yet uncharacteristically touched look on her face. Only on Mother's Day. She elegantly wiped the tear away from her face. He turned away before she could see that he saw her in a vulnerable moment.
He placed the last candle. He faced her. "I take care of the After Rain candles and you take care of the Passion Flower ones."
"Deal."
Forbidden to use Firebending, Azula had to request matches for herself. Understanding the reason of the ritual, the nurse obliged without hesitation. The siblings then stood back to back, ignited their respective flames, and walked around the room lighting their respective candles. Azula smirked softly.
"This is practically the only time we get along," she said.
"Well...she was our mother," Zuko replied lamely. "And getting along is what she always wanted us to do."
Azula nodded as she yawned. Zuko smiled. It was getting late and past her normal sleeping hours. "I'll let you get some rest." He was about to blow out the candles until Azula held her hand out. "No!"
He looked at her. She withdrew her hand. "Please."
Zuko gave her a nod in empathy. He opened the door. Before departing, he said, "Good night, Azula."
"'Night, brother."
Azula retreated to her bed the second he closed the door behind him. She closed her eyes. The candles were soothing; it felt like Ursa was in the room herself. However, she couldn't go to sleep right away due to the wonderful scents. She could sniff them all night.
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Katara closed the door and took off her shoes. "I'm home!"
No one answered, just as she expected. She walked upstairs and entered her room. She collapsed on her bed. She stared at the ceiling as she caressed the heirloom on her neck. She closed her eyes. "Happy Mother's Day, Mom...I didn't act like it completely but I did have fun at their place." She stretched her arms and repositioned herself more comfortably on her bed. "Good night."
Just when she was about to go to sleep, her private phone rang. She rolled over and picked it up. "Hello?"
"Katara, it's me Yuki."
"Oh, hey! Did you have a good day?"
"I did," Yuki said. "That's why I called. I want to thank you for the gift, Katara. We're still at Maru's."
"Thank you, Katara!" Katara heard Maru say in the background.
Katara let out a small giggle. "You're welcome, you two."
"You've been doing this for a while and we never told you properly how we appreciate it."
"It's fine," Katara assured Yuki.
"No, Katara, it's not fine," Yuki argued in a firm voice. "I know how you close you were with your mother. Maru and I love you as the second daughter we haven't gotten and that's something we want you to know. Anytime you feel like you need someone motherly to talk to, just come to one of us. We'll listen and talk to you"
Fighting back sudden tears, Katara replied, "Jin told you, huh?"
"No. It's just a mother's instincts."
"Oh." Katara wiped at her face. "Then...thank you."
"And thank you...Good night, Katara. Sleep well."
"You too, Mom. You too."
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El Fin
