Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Whole New World
Katara sighed as she packed up her daughter's room. Tsukiko wouldn't be returning anymore to their home to sleep at night; it was now Ken'Ichi's new room. She wiped away a few tears on her long dress sleeves, sniffling a bit as well. Aang entered the room, holding a few of Tsukiko's parkas that she would need on her trip back over to Hokoru's original home.

"Oh, Katara, what is it?" Aang set the parkas down and wrapped his arms about his wife's waist. "Tsukiko will visit. I promise you that! Her love for her family won't ever change, either. You remember that, my one and only Waterbending Beauty."

"Aang, quit taunting me," Katara sniffled, wiping her eyes again. "Our first child, our first daughter, is leaving us. To another village. She is going to be the leader alongside her husband. It will be a difficult few years for her. I hope she gets settled in easily."

Aang chuckled. Of course their daughter would settle in easily; this was Tsukiko they were talking about. The master of organization, and whatever else that had to do with being perfect. Tsukiko entered the room at this thought, nodding to her parents. She had matured over the past few weeks since the wedding. Hokoru followed his wife happily, whistling as his new sister-in-law, Sora, hung from the back of him. He was giving her a "horsey ride" as she had called it. She giggled as he plopped her down on the bed, which would be taken out for Ken'Ichi's crib.

"Well, well, I have my wife, my parents, and my sister! This is quite a wonderful gathering in here!" Hokoru chuckled to himself, but then heard all of them turn their backs. They weren't happy with Tsukiko leaving; Tsukiko on the other hand walked over to Hokoru and hugged him from behind. "I'm sorry if I'm causing any of you discomfort in taking away your daughter. It's tradition, though. Katara, you know that."

"I told you a thousand times, Hokoru, call me mom or mother!" Katara silently giggled. "I hate it when you call me 'Katara.' I'm your mother-in-law! Start acting like I'm your mother!"

Hokoru nodded, watching as they all set things away. He wasn't to help pack; it was against the tradition since he would be the one towing it all out to the canoe. Tsukiko finally set her last dress inside the pack she had, and sighed. It was time for her to leave where she had been growing up for nineteen years. She turned to her father and hugged him tightly, crying. Katara kept kissing her daughter's cheeks repeatedly. All of her sisters gave her one last big group hug, with Tsukiko in the middle as always. Ken'Ichi gurgled, not knowing what was going on but began to cry himself from seeing all the tears.

"Aw, Ken'Ichi..." Tsukiko muttered. "Mom, please tell him about me as he gets older. I won't be able to come for a few years. You know that. I have to have my first child before I return. And I don't know how long that'll be until then. I love all of you very much. Especially you, Sora."

Tsukiko knelt in front of her youngest sister, pulling her into a hug. The young Airbender's grayish-blue eyes welled up with tears as her lower lip quivered. She didn't like seeing people leave. Especially her sister. Tsukiko tightened her embrace as Sora muttered she would master Airbending just for her when she would be able to return. Tsukiko nodded; that was what she wanted to hear.

"You help Ken'Ichi grow strong, you hear me?" Tsukiko whispered. "Just like how I taught you to do somersaults and whatever else. Just this time, teach him to not burn down everything. Teach him to be calm like the wind; just like you and father. Be a good older sister. You are the biggest influence on him since you are the youngest of all of us girls. I love you as much as I love Waterbending itself, Sora. Be a good, good, good girl."

With that, Tsukiko climbed into the canoe and Hokoru pushed off. The family of seven on the shore waved good-bye. The twins wiped their eyes silently, not letting sobs out. Kya ignored the boat after the first few minutes, and began to Waterbend the ocean and ice; it was her way of coping with separation from her sister. Sora wanted to use her air glider to rush after her sister and go with her, but Aang held on firmly to his daughter's arm. Katara cried, waving. Aang just stood there, grim looking. He didn't want his family to be torn apart after eighteen years, but it had to be done.