Interlude – Yukon and Kaya

"Stop sulking, Yukon."

"I'm not sulking."

She sighed and decided not to carry this matter any further. He was sulking, alright, and she knew why. They hadn't heard from Sakari ever since she'd left, and he hated that. And she couldn't help but hating it he was waiting for a message from her. She wasn't really jealous or afraid she'd lose Yukon to Sakari, oh no. She knew very well Yukon cherished her and saw Sakari merely as a friend. And besides, Sakari loved Rong way too much to ever run off with someone else. No, she hated it because he seemed fonder of talking to Sakari than talking to her, his wife. And that after everything they'd gone through to get together.

Truth was, Kaya had always really liked Yukon, to the point where she hardly dared to look into his eyes, let alone talking to him. It wasn't that bad when they were still little kids, but when they grew up… Kaya had seen Yukon, as one of the few ones, as really attractive and nice. Maybe it was because he was mainly nice to her, and not to most other teenagers of the Tribe. They started to hang out together, talk a lot, and one day, he'd grabbed both of her hands for no apparent reason.

Oh, how shy she'd gotten, and how much had she blushed! And all of that just because a boy she liked had grabbed her hands. Later on, she learnt he'd grabbed her because he'd been slipping. But she didn't care about that being the only reason, as it was her he'd hold onto, her he'd trusted to help him. It flattered, and it made her realize she'd fallen in love with him. In love with Yukon, who was only appreciated because of his diligence in classes. Either he couldn't bend water well, or he just didn't like it – that wasn't clear. She now knew it was mostly the last thing. But it was obvious he didn't put much effort into preparing for the war. Kaya was probably the only one who understood him and appreciated him because of it. If he didn't want to fight, then why would it be of any use to have him recruited, instead of someone else who could and wanted to fight? And thus, she stuck with him and told him she though well of him, and he seemed to appreciate it. But in fact, he hardly ever came to her by himself, and she feared he couldn't stand her. He hardly ever talked to her, and even if he did, it was always about shallow stuff. It hurt, but she tried to live with it.

But she almost broke into pieces when she found about Yukon lingering around Sakari. She'd always liked that girl, and thus, she did her best not expressing the jealousy that brewed inside her heart. But it ached to see them together, though she got a bit hope out of Sakari's rejections. But Yukon didn't seem to care and even took her into his house. Sakari seemed desperate, but not mostly about that – there was something else going on. She now knew what, of course. Yukon tried to be there for her as much as he could, and Kaya could only watch and try to bear with the pain in her heart. It was her own fault he didn't know about her feelings. She should have told him, but she had been convinced it was too late.

But it wasn't. After three months or so, Rong returned, and Sakari threw herself into his arms. And Yukon stayed behind and gave up on her. She tried to talk him into remaining friends, but he didn't want to hear it. Kaya had followed him all along and listened, but she didn't dare to interfere. Eventually, Sakari left him all alone, and Kaya pondered for a while what to do. She couldn't just watch how he broke down in front of her, trying to hold himself back not to cry. And thus, she ran towards him with open arms.

That was the very first time Kaya had truly opened up towards him, and it was also the first time he'd taken her into his arms. She was just who he needed at that moment, and she gave him what he needed, even though she didn't realize it at the time. She gave him love, and didn't ask for anything in return. He couldn't give just yet, he needed some time. But at least she had been there for that time.

He looked at her now, a big difference compared to those days. She was his wife now. How long had he dreamt about that? Quite some while, that was for sure. He had actually dreamt about marrying her, and when he looked at her the next day, he didn't know how quickly he had to look away. Ever since he'd seen her as more than just a friend, he had had difficulties talking to her. It was strange, coming from him, as the word 'shy' had never seemed to be in his dictionary. It surprised him as much as anyone else that he was, indeed, shy when around Kaya. Maybe that was the main reason he started to hang out with Sakari and got friendly with her. But it still didn't make up for the pain he'd done to Kaya, he knew that now. He knew it'd hurt her to see the two of them, betrothed even, but he hadn't seen it at the time. Of course not. How many people in love can see that the object of their love returns those feelings? Love makes blind, after all.

She didn't like him sulking, he knew that as well. Of course, it'd always remain painful to her he was so attached to Sakari, but he couldn't help it. He didn't love her like he loved Kaya, but she'd meant a lot in his life. She'd pushed him into the right directions before she'd run away with Rong. "Kaya?"

"Yes?" She looked up, though she had her arms crossed.

"Come here, please." He reached his hand to her, and she eventually walked towards him, though she seemed a bit reluctant. He didn't look at her as she placed her hand into his, but he held onto her hand as tightly as he possibly could with one hand. "Kaya, don't take my sulking the wrong way, I beg you…"

"I'm surprised you're daring to admit that you are. Sulking, I mean."

He weakly smiled and pulled her closer to him as he stood up from his chair. "I see Sakari as a friend, a good one, but as nothing more," he muttered. "I don't see her like I've seen you for so many years now. I love you, okay? Not Sakari, not anyone else. Just you, my wife."

"Yukon, why are you telling me this all of a sudden? I know you love me," she smiled, a bit nervous now. "So there's really no reason to…"

"Do I need a reason?" he inquired, and he couldn't help himself but smile as he saw a shy blush appearing on her cheeks. "I should have told you many times more than I have," he now muttered close to her ear. "You mean so much to me, and you don't even know…"

"I could tell," she whispered, quickly sweeping away some tears. "I could tell by the gentle way you treated me once you'd gotten over Sakari… You developed, Yukon."

"I know, but that didn't give me a reason to treat you like garbage. I've done so, and I know," he sighed. "And I'm incredibly sorry for it."

"You had your reasons," she stuck to her point, "and I know that. You needed to figure out who you were, and I should have given you a bit more space. It's no more than fair that you pushed me away for a while."

"It is not fair, and you know it!" He was slowly losing his patience now, but he tried to keep himself under control. It was odd, fighting with her about his own behaviour. "Stop trying to make things up so that you can live with it! I'd rather have you leaving me than that you live by such stories!" He had silenced her now, but it had gotten a little awkward. "Kaya, please, I…"

She flung her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. "Don't take yourself down," she whispered, "and allow me to love you, Yukon. That's my only wish…"

She was endearing to no end, and he couldn't do much else than holding her tightly. He'd been so incredibly lucky to have gained her into his life – maybe he should indeed stop taking himself down and praise himself for finding Kaya.

Their little moment together was brutally interrupted by Sedna, who stumbled in together with her daughter Atka. "Yukon, Kaya! I… oh, sorry, I'm disturbing something, aren't I?"

"Say whatever you want to say," Kaya smiled, "as long as you don't mind I'm embracing my husband."

"Oh, please go ahead," Sedna grinned. "I just wanted to let you guys know I've received a letter from the Fire Nation, and it also has a message for the both of you."

Yukon was petrified, but he didn't let go of Kaya just yet. Mainly because he didn't want to let her believe he preferred Sakari's message – because he knew it was hers – above her company. "Really? Did they have a safe trip? It's Rong's, right?" he said, as calmly as he possibly could.

"Yes, but Sakari and the girls have also sent in something," Sedna smiled. "Shall I just leave it here or do you want to read it right away?"

Kaya suddenly let go off Yukon and gave Sedna a smile. "We'll read it right away, won't we, Yukon?"

There, she'd done it. She'd read the letter Sakari'd sent them, and to be honest, it wasn't that hard. Sakari was a nice girl, no matter what her relationship with Yukon might have been like. Judging by the letter, Sakari had never experienced it as love, which set her mind at peace.

'We have now arrived in the Fire Nation. I still need to get used to it, but so far, so good. I miss you guys – I miss the whole Tribe of course, but you especially, together with my parents and Sedna and Balto of course. I have four best friends in the Tribe, and I miss all four of you equally much. I have never considered you, Yukon, as a lover, but I've always considered you a friend, even though we didn't start off in the right way. And Kaya – you're a sweet girl, and probably the best thing that ever happened to Yukon. I hope you guys will take good care of each other. And I know I shouldn't ask this, but I'm too curious not to – are you parents-to-be already? I know Kaya would love to be a mother, and I think you both would make wonderful parents. Think about it, okay? I can say from experience that being a parent is just great.'

Especially those last few sentences got Kaya thinking. It was true, indeed. She wanted to be a mother, and she'd already talked to Yukon about it. She'd joked about it after visiting Sakari and Rong, but she'd meant it. She would truly love it to have a couple of babies and raise them… Maybe she should bring up the subject again.

For now, she was just happy with Sakari's message. Strange, how a message of someone you used to be jealous of could make you happy anyway.

Yukon was writing a letter back, and he needed his concentration to do so. Yet Kaya could hardly contain her excitement, and she was too impatient to wait until he was done.

"Kaya, get off my lap please, I'm trying to write."

"Sorry," she muttered, but she refused to get off. "I just need to talk to you, and it can't wait. Or rather… it can, but I can't wait to talk."

He looked up with a smile now. "Why am I not even the slightest bit surprised about that?"

She grinned in return and snuggled close to him. "You've read Sakari's letter, right?"

"All of it, why?"

"Well, about… the… parents-thing," she whispered, quickly so that she wouldn't chicken out at the last moment. "I… eh… She wrote the truth, you know. About me loving to become a mother one day."

He didn't seem surprised by it, but merely nodded. "I knew that. And I think I know what you're about to say."

"Do I still need to say it?"

"Hm."

She smiled again and pressed a kiss on his cheek. "I truly want to have children sooner or later, Yukon. And actually, I prefer sooner over later. And something else…" She hesitated a bit, because this wasn't just a small something to say. "If it turns out to be a girl, I wanted to call her Sakari…" It was an odd choice, she knew it. But apart from the fact she just liked the name, she felt she owed it to Sakari. She owed her that there would always be a Sakari in the Northern Water Tribe, even if the first one had been banished for the rest of her life. It was the least she could do after Sakari had done, even though unconsciously, to help her and Yukon out. She'd helped Yukon and pushed him away from her, right into Kaya's arms. And she'd always be grateful for that.

"And what if it's a boy?" Yukon now whispered. He was visibly touched by her suggestion.

She gave him a mysterious smile. "You'll see."

"Done with your letter?" Kaya smiled, as Yukon took place on the bed.

He gave her a tender look as he nodded. "Yes… we've got some news to tell this time, don't we?"

"Hm. For the second time." They both smiled at the package in her arms, and also at someone else sitting on the bed. "I don't think you're able of writing something, are you?"

There was no response, but she couldn't have expected one. Kaya tenderly stroked his head before she gave Yukon another smile. "I'm happy, Yukon. I truly am."

"So am I…"

Author's Note: here you go, interlude 2/3. Because I wanted to share some background of Yukon and Kaya with you. There's not much news in it, but just for the hack of it. Chapter 9 will start with the news Yukon and Kaya write to the Fire Nation.

Thank you for reading!