Chapter 37
Yuki and Inner Peace
The morning came and Gaius and Mirielle were up first. Mirielle opened her eyes and carefully moved to stretch. Gaius was watching her as she did so; he had waked up seconds before her and didn't want to disturb her. After she was done stretch Mirielle smile softly when she looked over at Gaius. "You ready for today?" Gaius asked softly. "Yeah but I wonder how they will treat me here," Mirielle said softly. "They seem to like you here" Gaius said as he started to get up now. "Probably because I'm from the sister tribe," Mirielle said softly as she worked on putting her shirt and bra back on. Gaius just watched her now. Mirielle was soon dress and ready to go. She smiled softly at Gaius. Gaius put his own shirt back on and they moved to leave the room. Mirielle reached for Gaius hand. Gaius took her hand and walked on out the door. Mirielle wondered if Solana and Tyson were up. As if on cue the others came out right behind them. Mirielle smiled and said, "Good morning you two." "How did you two sleep?" Tyson asked smiling. "We both slept fine what about you two," Mirielle said smiling. "Yup" Solana said as she smiled at Mirielle "So what do you think will happen today?" "There is no telling," Mirielle answered honestly. "Let's just go down and see then" Gaius said offering his hand. Mirielle smiled and took Gaius hand he offered before she nodded. The group then walked down the stairs in pairs and saw that Jokull was waiting for them. "Good morning" He said smiling. "Good morning Jokull," Mirielle said softly. "So what are your plans for this fine day?" He asked. "I'm not really sure," Mirielle said. "Have you ever been or seen pictures of this tribe city?" Jokull asked. "I've only read about them at home and this is my first time here," Mirielle said. "Would you like me to take on a tour of town?" He asked. "Sure that will be good," Mirielle said smiling. Jokull smiled and offered for them to follow him as he walked on out of the village. Mirielle followed Jokull but she stayed close to Gaius. He led them to the different areas of the Ice Village. Mirielle looked around smiling as she saw her sister tribe for the first time.
"I know that you are a member of our sister tribe, I am sure you know a lot of the healing arts" Jokull said showing her a few huts, "This is our healing huts" He said. "Actually I'm the last one of the sister tribe that is even able to be able to do anything with water," Mirielle said softly. "So you are a natural healer then?" Jokull asked "You will enjoy it here then" He started to lead her inside. Mirielle stayed where she was and said, "I'm sorry but I'm not just a healer Jokull." "Can you do more then just healing?" Jokull asked interested in her and just how powerful she was now. "Yes, I can," Mirielle answered. "What is it that you can do?" Jokull asked, he knew of the different water benders that could do other things besides attack and heal. He didn't think she looked like the type that could battle nor would he want her to be able to. Mirielle didn't answer. She looked over at Gaius. "I think she would prefer that she kept that to herself" Gaius said softly "Alright then" Jokull said, taking the hint and not wanting to get on the bad side of the large man that Gaius was. "I think she could still benefit from seeing what our healer Yugonda does here though" "Okay that is fine," Mirielle said smiling gratefully at Gaius and looking back at Jokull. Jokull just watched her now and led her inside. Mirielle saw that there were many young girls in this hut and dummies there that seemed to show the flow of energy or chi throughout the body. Mirielle stayed quiet as she watched. There was a somewhat small woman with gray hair at the front of the room with one of the dummies; Mirielle guessed that this was the Yugonda that Jokull had spoken about. Mirielle smiled and looked around. "What are you doing here Jokull" Yugonda said "Do you have new students for me?" She looked at Mirielle and Solana. "That girl is an airbender and unable to train with me, the other..." Her eyes widened when she got a better look at Mirielle. "Are you Mirielle? Of our sister tribe?"
"Yes, I am? How did you know that?" Mirielle asked. "I have seen pictures of you child" She said. "You have? But how," Mirielle asked. "So what are you doing here at your sister tribe?" Yugonda asked, ignoring the question. "Just passing through and going on an adventure with my friends here," Mirielle said, wondering why she had ignored the question. "Does your family know that you are here?" Yugonda asked. "No they just know that I've gone on an adventure," Mirielle said. "It is good that you do that" She said "Get to know the world you live in but be careful there are fire nation soldiers out there." "I know," Mirielle said. "Perhaps you would also like to meet a friend of mine" She said softly smiling at Mirielle. "Sure that will be fine," Mirielle said. Yugoda smiled and walked out of the healing huts and led the group closer to the ice temple in the center of the village. "Let's see if we can call him out." She said smiling "Oh Yuki would you come out here please?" "Yugoda what is it?" Said a male voice walking out from near the temple. The man was strong and stout looking for most warriors of this tribe and he had a certain regal appearance about him. Mirielle wasn't sure on how to take this man and stayed close to Gaius as he came into her view. "I have someone that I would like you to meet" Yugoda said "This is young Mirielle of our sister tribe" "Mirielle?" Yuki said looking at Mirielle now. His gaze seemed to look her up and down almost sizing her up. "Um yes, hi it's nice to meet you Yuki," Mirielle said for some reason becoming shy as he looked her up and down. "It is nice to meet you" Yuki said bowing as he offered to shake her hand. Gaius stayed close but he was watching this man carefully. Mirielle could tell that both boys were watching each other as much as her. Mirielle took Yuki's hand for him to shake and watched the two of them. Yuki shook her hand very softly and just watched her before he looked to Gaius. "And I am Gaius" He said, offering his own hand. Yuki took it and shook it though it seemed that the two boys were almost locked in a stare down. Mirielle looked between the boys not sure on what to do or what to say.
"I am glad that I am finally able to meet you" Yuki said "I have heard a great deal about you" "You have?" Mirielle asked surprised. "I have heard from what Yugoda said about you and your family, and your tribe" Yuki said, "I was planning on visiting there to see you but it looks like you beat me to it" Mirielle couldn't help but laugh softly and said, "I guess so and these are my other friends Solana and Tyson." She was still wondering what was going on between Gaius and Yuki but she let it be for now. "It is good to meet you all" Yuki said "Would you like to come inside?" He was starting to lead them into the house that he came from. "Okay that sounds fine," Mirielle said softly. They walked with him into his house and found that it was as elegant as the inn that they had come from was. "Nice place Yuki," Mirielle said looking around wondering if all the places were like this. "Thank you" Yuki said bowing again as Jokull had done before. "I have a question why does everyone bow to me," Mirielle asked. "It is a customary in this tribe" Yuki said "When you are with a special person" "Special person? Me," Mirielle gasped and shook her head not believing that she is all that special. Everyone stayed quiet after that for a moment. "Were you ever told about me?" Yuki asked Mirielle softly. "I'm sorry but no I don't remember my family ever talking about you Yuki," Mirielle said. "I wonder why they never mentioned me" Yuki said "That is odd considering..." He trailed off as he looked at the two of them. "Considering what Yuki," Mirielle asked really and truly confused. "We were supposed to be...together" Yuki said softly. "You mean we are betrothed?" Mirielle asked softly. "That is what I was told" Yuki said. "They never told me. Why did they not tell me something like that," Mirielle said with a soft gasp before she moved away from both boys hurt by her parents.
"Maybe that is something that you should ask them" Yuki said "I am sorry I had to be the one to tell you" "I guess I can ask them but I'll need a Messenger Hawk," Mirielle said and began to moved further away the two confused. "Are you ok?" Solana said coming over to her friend to try and comfort her. Mirielle smiled a bit at Solana and said, "I'm fine Solana just really confused." "I can supply that hawk if you would like" Yuki said softly. "Thank you Yuki I would appreciate it," Mirielle said. Yuki then left the room to get that for her. Mirielle sat down completely confuse at what was going on. Gaius started to walk over to her but stopped. Solana was there at her side though. Mirielle saw that Gaius had started to come over to her and gave him a soft smile and then once more looked down trying to sort out her confusion. "Do you want to go somewhere alone to think?" Solana asked "That always worked for me when I was confused" "Yeah I'll do that after I have sent my letter to my parents," Mirielle said softly. Yuki soon returned with a messenger hawk for her. Mirielle sang her song to call the messenger hawk to her as she began to write her note. The messenger hawk waited calmly for her to finish her note. Mirielle smiled softly and gently pet the messenger hawk as she finished up her letter. Once it had the letter the hawk began its job of delivering it to the sister tribe, it had a long flight ahead of it. Mirielle hoped that the hawk will be fine. Once he was out of her sight Mirielle looked at Yuki and Gaius before she left the house to go have some time alone. Solana wasn't sure if she would want her to but she followed quietly to make sure her friend was alright. Gaius wanted to do the same but feared that he was the one causing the problem so he stopped himself again. Mirielle went to the far ends of the village where no one could see her and began to practice her waterbending.
Solana just watched for now she would protect her friend from prying eyes if she had to. After a while Mirielle stopped her waterbending and just glance outside the ocean. Solana walked up to her now. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked. "It's just so confusing Solana. Why didn't my parents tell me about this and what can I do," Mirielle said. "I am sure that its all a misunderstanding" Solana said "From what I saw of your parents they didn't seem like the type to do this kind of thing" "I know that's why it's so confusing," Mirielle said softly, "Normally when a female of the water tribe is betrothed she is giving a necklace that her betrothal gave her." "Maybe they sent the necklace to Yuki before they saw you with Gaius" Solana said. "I mean the male gives a necklace to the female," "I know that" Mirielle said "maybe he didn't have one and your parents sent him one to give to you" Solana said "Either that or he wanted to make sure you were ok with things before he gave it to you" Mirielle just nodded not sure on what to say now. "I think even if your parents had wanted you to be wed Yuki they would have changed their minds now" Solana said "After seeing you with Gaius" "Yeah," Mirielle said. "How long do you think its going to take the hawk to travel?" Solana asked. "Probably about two days or so who knows," Mirielle said. "What are you going to do about the boys?" Solana asked "Or do you need me to help you mediate on that?" "I'm not sure but meditating will probably help some," Mirielle said softly. "Alright" Solana said as she crossed her legs to sit in her meditating position. Mirielle copied Solana's meditating position. Solana nodded to confirm she was in the right position and closed her eyes to focus her energy. Mirielle did the same hoping that it will help her in some small way.
Mirielle could see that this was working it was helping her to think straight. Mirielle thought about what she could do though she didn't think it would be that easy to come up with answers. She thought about how close she was to Gaius already, the times they had shared; nothing would ever take that away. She didn't know anything about this Yuki and she knew that her parents always trusted her when she made decisions on her own. Mirielle knew what the best choice is but she also didn't want to hurt Yuki. She needed to understand why this is happening in the first place. As the girls were meditating Gaius had finally got up the courage to come out to her. He saw them sitting together and stopped before he got too close. He didn't know if she would be able to sense him in her heightened energy state. Mirielle smiled softly and said, "I know your there Gaius. Go ahead and come closer." Gaius did so "Are you ok?" He asked. Mirielle opened her eyes and smiled at Gaius. "Yeah I'll be fine," she said. "That's good to hear" Gaius said "I was worried" Mirielle smiled softly and said, "I'll be alright I'm just confused." "Is there anyway that I can help with that?" Gaius asked carefully though he was afraid that he was part of the reason she was confused. Mirielle smiled softly and said, "I don't know if you can right now Gaius." "Alright" Gaius said "Would it be better if I still left you alone to think?" Mirielle couldn't think of something to say but, "Just stay here a bit longer for me Gaius." "Ok" Gaius said sitting next to her now. "I wish that it wasn't so confusing," Mirielle said softly. "Just relax" Solana said "And remember even when things look bad they will always work out in the end" Mirielle smiled softly and just nodded her head. Gaius stayed quiet as well and waited. "Do you feel your inner peace?" Solana asked softly. "Yeah some of it," Mirielle said softly.
"Embrace it" Solana said "Let it flow around you and see all your worries vanish" Mirielle let it do so and let her worries flow away like water. "Now you should be able to focus in and think about what really matters in your heart" Solana said softly. Mirielle nodded and closed her eyes to see what her heart says. As she looked into her heart she saw Gaius waiting for her, his eyes sparkling. Mirielle smiled softly knowing that Gaius is the one for her but she wasn't sure on what to do about Yuki. Her heart caused a memory flash to back when she was a little younger; it showed how her parents were the understanding type and trusted her. She knew from that memory that they would respect her choice. She didn't know much about Yuki as of yet but he didn't seem like the type to hold a grudge or take things offensively. Mirielle smiled again and opened her eyes. Gaius noticed the smile "Did you remember or think of something?" He asked. "I remember that my parents respect my choices," Mirielle said softly looking at Gaius. "So what are you going to do?" Gaius asked. "That is still something to think about. I need to know what caused this in the first place," Mirielle answered honestly. "Like I said" Solana said opening her eyes now, "I am sure it is all a misunderstanding" "We will have to see," Mirielle said softly. "What do you want to do about Yuki until the messenger hawk comes back?" Gaius asked. "I guess I can try to be friends with him at least," Mirielle said softly. "If I know you" Solana said smiling "Unless he is really mean to you I don't think you could be mean to him" Mirielle smiled softly and nodded her agreement. "Do you want to go back to him now?" Solana said "I bet he and Tyson are waiting for us." "Yeah and knowing Tyson his worried about me like you and Gaius did," Mirielle said smiling softly. "I know" Solana said "But I asked him to stay in there and keep Yuki company, he had invited us in I didn't want us all to seem rude and leave at once"
Mirielle smiled and began to stand back up. Gaius stood up with her and smiled back to her. Mirielle smiled softly and looked at Solana. Solana smiled as well and began to make her way back towards Yuki's home. Mirielle followed her but she reached out for Gaius hand. Gaius took it and they made their way back inside. "Is everything ok?" Yuki asked when they came back in. "Yeah everything is fine Yuki," Mirielle said. Mirielle saw Tyson smile at Solana and stand near her. "So what happens now?" Gaius asked "I guess we should wait for the hawk's return" Yuki said softly. "Yeah might be best but until then why don't you tell us about yourself Yuki," Mirielle said softly. "My pleasure" Yuki said "I am somewhat of a noble of this village, I know many things the least of which..." He moved to a water pail for the plants and began to bend the water into a form that could water all the plants at once from a distance, "Is how to waterbend" He finished his sentence as he placed the water back.
"Nice," Mirielle said though she wasn't sure if she should say anything about her own waterbending to Yuki. "I have learned that there are many ways to water bend, and many things you can do with it." Yuki said as he got into a stance that was more like how Huu had did bending back in the swamp. "Yeah there is," Mirielle said. "I also know that many different kinds of people are able to water bend though I haven't met anyone other then those in this village" Yuki said. Mirielle looked at her friends not sure on what to do. She wasn't sure if she could trust Yuki to not be like the others of this tribe. Yuki looked to her. "I was told by Jokull our innkeeper that you can do more then merely heal. Can you waterbend Mirielle?" He said softly "If that is true then I would like to see it, my tribe doesn't allow females to do so and I think that if they have the natural talent for it they should be allowed" Mirielle though she could trust Yuki so she did her waterbending movements and created a water whip. "It seems I was right in what I thought about you" Yuki said smiling. "What you thought?" Mirielle asked sitting the water back where it belongs. "Yes" Yuki said "I had guessed that you were a waterbender when Jokull told me you were more then a healer. I couldn't see you doing any of the other things a waterbender is able to do other then heal and fight. You didn't seem like the type to want to learn such brutality and heartless moves." Mirielle knew what he was getting at and said, "I wouldn't mind the reading minds but that blood bending can be forgotten." "It's too risky to learn to read minds" Yuki said "It would be too easy to abuse it, that is the way I look at it anyway" Mirielle smiled and said, "What worries me is to find out something about you that you don't want me to learn." Her voice was teasing as she smiled. Yuki smiled and shook his head "That's not what I mean exactly" He said "There are somethings that must be kept secret from everyone. People have their private thoughts and those private thoughts should remain that way until they are ready to voice them out. A mind reader gets rid of that option."
Mirielle smiled glad he caught her teasing. "At any rate I am sure you are all hungry and would like something to eat" Yuki said smiling back at her again. "Yeah that would be nice," Mirielle said looking at the others. The others seemed ready as well. "Then let us go and eat then" Yuki said leading them to his kitchen and dining room. Mirielle went with everyone and followed Yuki. He led them to a large dinning room and went into the kitchen alone to get the food together. Mirielle looked over at Gaius softly. "I wonder what he has for us to eat" Gaius asked softly moving closer to her. "Not sure probably seafood of some kind," Mirielle answered shrugging. "I would think so" Solana said "With all this water around" "Who likes Sea prunes?" Yuki called from the kitchen.