Kiri's Story
The kiss was inevitable. It couldn't not have happened. This she knew now. With her lips on his she felt how everything seemed so clear; how her heart finally found its right rhythm and how the butterflies finally seemed to rest. All was quiet. And then he kissed her back.
Explosion. Wind blew her hair around her face, surrounding them as if they were the center of the world. Right now, they were in Kiri's. When their lips parted the wind silenced too. Wind?! We're inside! Aang was blushing while he looked at her. "Good thing we stopped, I could have made a whole tornado in here." She laughed with him.
This was the greatest night of her life so far. They sat there for hours, talking about the two of them, about Republic City, about his story. And then he asked her the question she didn't expect: "You've never told me about your story Kiri, where do you come from?" She quickly looked down on her feet and mumbled: "I don't wanna talk about it…" He let out a sigh. "You know, as your boyfriend I have a right to know. So tell me your story." Pure satisfaction dripped down her spine as he used the words `your boyfriend´. But it was blended with the bitter fact that she felt obligated to tell him her story.
She threw herself back in the couch and sighed heavily. "This isn't my favorite story to tell. But as you wish: I was born in Ba Sing Se. My father and I lived in a small house in the outer ring and we were really poor. My dad was an airbender. I'd always watch him airbend in amazement when I was little. This only happened with all the doors and windows closed of course; if someone saw it we didn't know what would happen. The day came where I found out that I could airbend too. I was proud, showed it to my father, but he wasn't happy. He became sad. He told me, that I could never use it again, that it was dangerous. Of course, now I know that he only wanted to protect me, but back then…" She frowned. "One day after school, I went with some kids from my school to a sort of playground near a lake. They teased me. And I was stupid enough to stay with them, because I wanted to be friends. Stupid… Anyway, they threw me in the lake, in the section where I couldn't reach. And I couldn't swim. I thought I was going to drown. I airbended myself up from there and back to the shore. All the kids stared at me. They judged me. My father judged me. I panicked and I ran away. I started living in the forests. And then, one day I was found in a bush by a soldier from the Firenation…" She stopped to look at him. "Aang do I have to tell you this, I really hate going back. I remember details too well." She frowned and put her face in her hands. He hugged her… "No. Why don't you skip the part about the Firenation and go to where the two of us met?" She smiled and continued: "Okay, so after the um… Time with the firebenders, I went back to my father. He had passed away. I was really in a dark place then. Only recently I had learned about the hundred year war, spent time being captured by the soldiers, and then I discovered this. So I fled to the only safe place I knew; the forest. And I learned to live with the animals and the trees. I became a bit of an animal myself." She shrugged. "I lived in the forest for many years. The thought about going back to live a normal life scared me too much. And I liked living in the trees. Sometimes I would build small tree houses, but when people came by, I would flee. And yeah, then I met you and… There you have it." She felt relieved. To get that off of her chest really made her feel weightless. He hugged her hard. "Kiri, I'm sorry I made you go through that… I didn't know… I…" She silenced him with a finger on his mouth. "I'm glad I told you. And some day, when I'm ready, I'll tell you the rest. But tonight, I really just want to think about you." He kissed her. I guess it comes with time, being used to this. If I ever will… She was happier than she'd ever been and she wished that that night could last forever. But as everything else, it had to end. They went their separate ways when they'd kissed good night. That night, she had nightmares.
"Princess! Aren't you listening? I want you to dance for me!" Long mean laugh. Fire surrounding her feet, forcing her to jump. "Yeah! Exactly like that! You know what I like, don't you prettyface?" Pain. "Could you blow my tea, it's really too hot…" Burning liquid down her throat. "You sure do like alcohol, don't you airbender?" Rolling eyes. Vomit. "Jaruko relax, she's just a girl…" Screaming. "Don't tell me what to do; she should have died together with the rest of them! Stupid Spirit-believing people!" "Hope you learn this lesson!" Flames crawling slowly. Pain.
She woke up with a scream. Sweat covered her sheets and she felt feverish. Her stomach groaned. She just reached the toilet before she vomited. Stop remembering! She sat down and breathed heavily. She felt like she'd just run up the big hills of Kayuno. She decided to take a bath even though it was the middle of the night. She had to feel clean again. She tried to force the memories out of her head by thinking about Aang. She pictured him in front of her, smiling at her and stirring the hot water in the tub, making small bubbles that made her laugh. His strong arms around her, making her feel safe. His sweet innocent eyes. She looked down her body and it was all ruined. The big long scar twisted its way like a snake from her right foot to her belly button. A burning snake. The sun was rising and painted the clouds the most stunning colors. I need to make this go away, stop haunting me! She thought to herself as she stepped out of the tub. She went down to the meditation area and sat down. She'd never tried it before alone and it had never worked. But she urgently needed the calmness. She imaged Aang before her eyes. The way he sat, his posture, his breathing. She felt the beams of the sun reaching her and gently warming her face. The bugs buzzed around her and she felt the currents of the air around her. Everything flowed, like small movements in a lake. Her breathing was calm and deep. Air in through the mouth, out of the nose. Many minutes passed with this. And then she reached it. Serene time.