The 'T' rated version. For the 'M' rated chapter, please visit "Hurricanes and Puppy Love: Mature Chapters".
Ikki had laughed and laughed before becoming irritated at Kido's new tattoo. He was still recovering from the whiplash caused by her rapid mood swings.
The day after the big reveal she was still giving him the cold shoulder. He tiredly pointed out the irony and she replied that she was only doing her part to keep the tattoo iced.
"I don't know what it is," Kido bemoaned to Skoochy as they followed the girls at a distance on Air Temple Island, "Even Jinora didn't get this upset." Skoochy shrugged and contemplated the ground.
"So what, shes allowed to get tattoos, but I'm not?"
"Whoa, hey! Those are different circumstances and you know it!" he scolded Kido, who immediately looked regretful. "But I gotta admit, she is taking it a little hard."
The pair continued in silence, finally Skoochy shared an idea with his companion. "Maybe there's something else going on, and the tattoo just kinda triggered it. You should apologize, profusely, and see if you can wrangle it out of her."
"Wrangle huh?" Kido smirked. Skoochy only shrugged in reply. "Alright, I'll try 'wrangling' it, but I need to do it when we're alone."
He nodded in determination and followed his friend up the small hill, planning an appropriate scenario in which to apologize.
His chance came the next evening, when everyone had cleared off after dinner and Ikki agreed to join him on a walk. She was still a little irritated, but not nearly as much. Still Kido didn't want this to become a lasting issue between them.
He led her to the beach, a favorite spot of theirs since she had thoroughly defeated him during a sparring session. The memory brought a smile to Kido's face as he laced his fingers through Ikki's. She let him.
"So…" he started unsure if he should just be out with it or if he should stretch the comfortable silence for a bit longer, "I got the feeling there was a little more to your irritation with me than just my getting a tattoo."
"A drunken tattoo." she smirked.
"Yes," he solemnly agreed, "a tattoo I received whilst intoxicated." That garnered a laugh, which he took as a good sign. "But I still think there's something else that made you uncomfortable."
Ikki sighed but she didn't release his fingers. Instead she brought their combined hands to trace along the arrow on her forehead. " I'm just jealous that you didn't have to work so hard for yours, and I spent years earning mine."
"What makes you think I didn't work hard to earn mine?" She shot him a questioning glance. "I mean our trials are in no way comparable, but it took a lot of effort to befriend Skoochy, enough so to the point of getting matching tattoos."
Ikki laughed and tugged at his ear, but he still noticed a bit of sadness in her eyes. "He was there for you more than I was. He and Jinora both."
"I can assure you he is not there for me in the way you are." he replied kissing her wrist. He could feel her pulse flutter beneath his lips.
"Well I certainly hope not!" she grinned, "But still, sometimes I feel like they were a bigger impact on you than I was."
Kido couldn't help the incredulous chuckle from escaping. "Ikki, that's ridiculous." She shrugged and nodded her agreement, but he had to drive the point home.
"They may have had an impact," he turned her to face him, sweeping a bit of hair away from her face, "But you have completely changed me; and for the better I might add." She grinned and he brushed a kiss on her nose. "You will always be the one person I need the most, and If I had to get matching tattoos with you to prove it I would, but that's a bit sacrilege so you'll have to take my word for it."
She laughed and kissed him, a fleeting brush, before she broke off and ran toward the water. He followed of course.
It was easy to catch her, especially when she flung herself onto his back and giggled into his shoulder, he grabbed under knees to support her slight weight.
"Y'know," she murmured in his ear, "when I was a little girl, and the training became too tedious, I always thought about being a waterbender, like my grandmother."
"I see those dreams really made an impact on you." He let her down, allowing her to twirl about in the water.
"Nah, I enjoy my birth element too much, but I always wondered what it would be like."
"I can show you if you want." he replied, sweeping her into his arms and carrying her further out into the ocean.
She squirmed and laughed, assuming he was going to drop her into the water, but he merely place her gently back in and turned her to face away from him, drawing her into his chest, supporting his arms underneath her own.
"Now close your eyes." he whispered into her ear. She complied and he moved their combined limbs, swaying them outward and drawing them back in.
"Breathe with me." He rested his lips against her neck.
In and out, back and forth.
Ikki could feel the water swelling and recoiling at her knees. She'd never felt the water so alive. It was exhilarating. Not to mention arousing.
"Can I open my eyes yet?" she asked, leaning her head back to rest on his shoulder. She could feel the vibration of his chuckle.
"If you want to." he replied.
She did so and watched as he moved her arms in a new pattern. The water leapt up in response; circling and swirling, the water glittered like gems in the light of the setting sun.
"Bending water is like working with another person, each of your moves must be perfectly matched and the outcome is glorious. It reminds me a bit of our relationship."
"You're saying I'm your water?"
"I'm saying you're my everything."
Ikki kissed him then. She'd twirled in his arms and grinned against his mouth. Raising herself onto her toes, she deepened the kiss. Her fingers gripped his hair and she felt the warmth of his palm sliding under her tunic to grasp her hip.
Her breath was coming in faster, making it difficult to maintain the kiss. He broke off and trailed his lips across her jaw, paying particular attention to the spot beneath her ear.
Ikki moaned and tugged at his shirt, he laughed and allowed her to pull it over his head, discarding it behind them. He hoped it landed on the beach; it would take a great deal of explanation if he returned without all his clothing.
His thoughts were halted when she began planting kisses along his bare collar bone. Her mouth was hot against the cool sea air and the dual sensations had his head reeling.
"C'mon," he said tugging her farther out into the ocean, "Your lesson isn't over yet."
She laughed and followed after, they continued to swim out til Ikki could feel the ocean lapping at her neck.
"Are you cold?" he asked when he felt her shivering. She nodded and he gathered her into his arms. "Well combined body heat is the best way to get warm."
"Well, you are the healer." she laughed.
"Yes, and I think this is almost exactly what your aunt had in mind when she passed on that little tidbit of information, if her wink was anything to go by."
Ikki laughed and cupped the back of his neck. "Can we please not talk about my aunt right now, especially since you haven't finished giving your lesson yet."
His response was to kiss her, long and deep. She moaned softly at the feel of his fingertips trailing down her back. He must have been water bending because the additional pressure felt sensational.
Kido suddenly stopped, he grinned and placed a kiss on her cheek before leaning in to whisper in her ear, "Take a deep breath and hold it."
"I can barely breathe now, much less pull in enough air to hold it."
"Should I stop than?" he playfully asked, stepping back but never fully releasing her.
"Don't you dare!" she warned and took in a deep breath for emphasis.
He laughed at her resolute expression, "Alright hold it and don't flail around too much." he instructed, pulling them both back into the water.
Ikki had never been in a situation where she didn't float to the surface when swimming in the water. It was obviously Kido's work that kept them submerged and she took the extra time to study the way the water felt while she was completely encased.
Kido watched the emotions sweep across her face, first with terror and then with glee. She tilted her head back to stare at the light of the sunset through the filter of the water. Echoes of ripples from the surface played over her body and she looked utterly at peace.
The woman he adored combined with the element he treasured caused his heart to pound in his chest. He'd never loved her more.
She floated to his side and grabbed his hand, pointing up with the other in indication that she needed air. He nodded and pulled the water away, allowing them to surface.
"That was so amazing!"
He shrugged and grinned shyly, secretly pleased that she enjoyed it so much. She tugged at their joined hands, bringing him closer. She lifted herself up into his arms and kissed him, gentle and slow. He could feel her eyelashes flutter against his cheek.
"Take another breath." he instructed against her lips; she shuddered and complied, inhaling shakily. He followed his own direction and dipped them back under the water.
She watched the surface again, the light all but faded, and he watched her. Her beauty was awe-inspiring. She began to float away but he wrapped his arms around her, anchoring her body to his own.
She held him for a moment, his face was tucked under her chin. He could feel her heart beat slowing. They continued to drift lazily and he was aware that they would need to go up for air soon. But not just yet.
She pulled away slightly, enough to encase his head in her palms. They were warm and she looked at him with pure adoration. There was nothing outside this moment for him.
A few seconds later she tapped at his cheek and he took this as her request to return them to the surface world. He immediately complied.
They had drifted with the currents away from land, that coupled with their exhausted states made the return trip a tiring adventure. Ikki didn't regret it for a moment.
Ikki led him towards the dock, where he would be just in time to catch the last ferry back to the mainland. "Thanks for the lesson Kido," she said brushing a kiss to his lips, "I really enjoyed it."
"So did I," he replied, "But I would avoid telling your father about this, after all we're not supposed to be intimate whilst on the Island. Although I suppose the surrounding water is free game."
She laughed and kissed him again, "Good night my sneaky water bender."
"And to you my adventurous air bender." He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "I love you."
"And I love you, now away with you or you'll miss your ride and I'll not be the one explaining to my father why my boyfriend is sleeping in my room."
He chuckled and complied, turning to wave one last time before boarding the ferry.
She smiled fondly and watched the retreating boat for a moment, then headed for home.
She dreamed of the ocean that night.
It may feel a little choppy, that's because I had to edit out a great deal. The actual chapter runs smoother.