"Kayo!" Haring Katara's voice, I turned around to see a stunning young woman of eighteen, long hair flowing down her back with the same hair loops she always wore, but her face now slightly longer and less rounded, eyes shining warmly as she ran to me wearing a beautiful Water Tribe dress for the formal meeting, coming at me so fast that I hardly had time to register her before she had her arms thrown around me. "It's been too long! Four months already? I can't believe it. How have you been? Is dad here?"
"Slow down Katara, Kayo can't answer all your questions at once whilst you're crushing the life out of her. Give the woman some room to breathe!" Sokka joked as he too walked up, making my face brighten all the more to see the mature young man he'd grown into, sporting a small beard and looking rather handsome.
"Sokka! Katara! I've missed you guys!" The three of us hugged together, smiling at one another before I pointed out their father so that they could go see him, walking over and telling them all they'd missed over the past few months since we were last together. It felt like no time had passed at all, all three of us banding together and laughing, wearing our tribal clothing and looking like we completely belonged together. "Hey, where's Aang?"
"Right here!" That cheerful voice was one I'd never mistake, even if it was in the process of breaking. Grinning broadly, I threw my arm around Aang as he dropped down from his air list, hugging one another tightly. He too had grown, standing just as tall as Katara and I and beginning to lose that cute baby face of his. "You look great Kayo, I'm so glad you made it. Appa and Momo had to stay outside but they'd be glad to see you later."
"Aw, I've missed my favourite too fluff monsters, I can't wait." I laughed as another familiar face joined us. "Are you wearing a dress Toph? No way!"
"Katara made me wear it. I feel uncomfortable without any dirt layer on me, it's way too clean." She complained with folded arms, pouting before then smiling. "Good to see you, miss prancy-pants. How's life in that ice block you call home?"
"Same as ever Toph, I see you haven't changed at all, though I think you've finally gotten taller." I teased her, holding my hand over her head to measure her against me, though she was still a foot or two behind. "Hm, still got a long way to go I see."
"Just you wait, I'll be taller than all of you dunderheads!" She fumed before we all came in for a group hug. I held onto them tight, relishing in the feeling of being with my cherished friends again before we had to separate, more delegates and envoys beginning to arrive. "At least one good thing about all this stupid pomp and farce is that we get to enjoy a banquet before and after all the hard work is done."
"Couldn't have said it better myself Toph. I've been staying with Aang and his Air Acolytes for the past week, which means tofu and beansprouts. I need real meat."
"Good to see some things never change, Sokka. So I'm guessing you all know the reason we're gathering here. Somebody want to clue me in? All I know is that it's about the former colonies and their immersion movement." I requested so Aang explained to me that since it has been proven that more than one nation could live together in harmony, we need to build towards maintaining that harmony for future peace.
"I've asked everybody to come so that we can discuss possible ways to move into the future. With so much technology being developed, it's more or less impossible to hold onto the old ways." Aang rubbed his head bashfully, looking a little down at that part. "I struggled with it at first, but I understand that I can't fight it, so as this era's Avatar, I need to do my bet to guide people forwards together."
"That' great Aang, and I think you're right. The nations living in harmony is the way forwards, and they don't have to be separate. I remember Uncle Iroh once said, that the four nations aren't as separate as people might think, and to find inner peace and a sense of completion within oneself, they had to draw wisdom from different places, otherwise everything becomes rigid and inflexible. Think of the world as a person, then it's not so difficult to accept." Aang grinned at me.
"You're not back five minutes and you're already giving people advice. I've missed you, Kayo."
"I missed you too Aang." We smiled at each other until Hakoda, my father and the other warriors that it was time to go inside where people were beginning to gather for the banquet being held by the council members of Yu Dao, one of them being Kira's mother. At first I was a little nervous, glancing around about the place until I slowly began to see faces that I recognised, but not the one I was attended to avoid, which made me relax. Katara glanced at me, seemingly sensing my unease and leaned closer.
"He's not here yet, so you don't have to worry. Have you guys still not talked yet? It's been two years Kayo."
"Eh. I hold grudges like no one else." I shrugged and Katara's eyes saddened at me.
"But you two…you were so close. I was convinced you guys felt the same way for each other as Aang and I do. Can you really not forgive him? You know he asks about you every time we see him. He hasn't forgotten, and he's been regretting it every day since you left."
"So? Just because he's more mopey and dour than usual I have to forgive him and be in love with him again? I've moved on from those feelings now, so you don't have to worry about me Katara." Clearly not convinced, Katara gave me a look but let it slide for now, knowing that it was better not to push me on these things. Knowing that Zuko wasn't here yet I spent some time greeting old friends, including a particular bear who shockingly still remembered me and almost flattened me when he came lumbering over with King Kuei rushing after him, yelling frantically as I was near licked to death.
"Bosco! Bosco no! Bad Bosco, let Lady Kayo up!" He panicked but I just laughed, scratching at Bosco's happy face and greeting him like an old friend.
"I guess you missed me huh buddy? Well I missed you too, but if you carry on crushing me like this, it's likely that I'm not going to get back up." Chuckling with amusement, Bosco eventually let me back up where I wiped at my face only to find it slick with animal saliva, making Kuei fuss all the more.
"Ah! I'm so terribly sorry Kayo, Bosco just got all excited and ran off without warning, I guess he saw you in the crowd and lost control of himself." He explained whilst trying to offer me something to wipe my face with, a napkin from the table, I think. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry, your dress is ruined…"
"It's only a dress, your majesty, I'd much rather have Bosco's hug. I'm glad to see he's as sweet and affectionate as ever." I then greeted the Earth King like an old friend, washing myself off using the pitcher of water a serving girl brought to me and used the whole lot, washing myself off then bending all the water off me back into the jug and suggesting she throw that water away, or serve it to a rude guest she didn't like. The girl giggled and bowed, taking the water away and I talked for a while with Kuei as he continued to hold back Bosco, holding him around his neck until I invited him to let Bosco go and made up some water tricks to entertain him.
"You still have a way with animals, I see. It's been too long since your last visit, you must come by the palace more often, you're always welcome there."
"Thank you King Kuei, I'll be sure to take you up on that offer. You know I can't resist being pampered all day long and being as lazy as a snail-sloth." The two of us laughed together as I promised to make him his favourite tea that we always had together whenever I was visiting, and we were just about done arranging a scheduled visit when my leg were tackled by a pair of tiny arms. It took me by surprise, not expecting the weight to suddenly hit me and I veered precariously until I regained my balance and looked down to see a girl probably about six years of age. She looked up and grinned at me, a tooth missing and I instantly recognised that dimpled smile, wearing royal Fire Nation clothes but also carrying two dolls in her arms.
"Kayo! Do you remember me? I'm Kiyi. You made me this dolly." Kiyi then held up the embroidered doll I had given to her before leaving Hira'a that time, looking at me with hopeful, shining eyes.
"Of course I remember Kiyi, who could forget the most beautifully cute face in all the world?" I answered, feeling a rush of golden warmth like sunshine through me as I lifted Kiyi up into the air to hold her aloft as she grinned at me. "Look at how you've grown! Is that a missing tooth I see? You're growing up into a big girl now, you must be happy." Putting Kiyi down on the ground I naturally held her hand like I used to before, the two dolls clutched in one arm as I introduced her to the Earth King and Bosco.
She giggled when Bosco snuffled at her hair, patting him carefully before holding my hand to give my arm a tug. "Kayo, can you help me find my mommy? I got lost but then I saw you so I ran over."
"Oh dear, you lost your mom? We'll find her Kiyi, don't worry. Apologies, your majesty, I'll have to leave you for now." Assuring me that it was fine and that it was more important that Kiyi finds her mother again, we both bowed before I lifted Kiyi up to sit her on my shoulders, making her giggle as he held onto my head with her dolls still securely held in her arms.
"Kayo, why did you never come and visit me again? I missed you."
"I missed you too Kiyi, but I've been very busy helping my tribe in the south. We've been building grand new houses, a giant watchtower, fishing aqueducts, all sorts of things and it's taken a lot of time. I thought you would be too busy being a princess to have time for little old me." I said to her but Kiyi patted me firmly on the head as a punishment, telling me that I should always make time for friends no matter how busy I got. Never had truer words been spoken by someone so young, and I reflected a moment that perhaps I had been shutting myself away too much. "You're right Kiyi, I'll try and do better from now on, okay? Now, do you see your mom anywhere?" Kiyi looked around but couldn't see her since the hall was massive and there were a lot of people, so I continued walking around with her on my shoulders until I happened to find Sokka and the other, who laughed and pointed up at Kiyi.
"I like you're new accessory Kayo, though a little unique. I didn't know you already had a kid, did something happen in the four months I last saw you?" I punched him on the shoulder.
"Very funny Sokka. Kiyi can't find her mom, have you seen Ursa anywhere? Does that mean the Fire Nation envoy are here?"
"Yep, arrived just a few minutes ago. Now we're just waiting on a few more officials, then we can get down to the feast." Rubbing his hands together as his stomach growled in hunger, I frowned at him expectantly until he blinked. "Oh! Right, Ursa. Nope, haven't seen her."
"We'll find her Kiyi, don't worry. Toph? Have you…oh. Sorry." Rolling her eyes at Katara's near insensitive question, Katara quickly corrected herself. "Can your feet sense Ursa around?"
"Sorry, I don't know her footsteps well enough to pick her out among all these people." Drawing another blank, we continued to look around until Kiyi suddenly pulled on my ear and leaned whilst pointing, making me yelp as I found myself being pulled in the same direction.
"Brother Zuko! Big brother! I'm here!" Waving excitedly, I froze up in place as Sokka had grabbed my arm to keep me from falling, pulling me back to stand firmly on both feet whilst I had been holding onto Kiyi's legs to keep her from slipping.
"Kiyi, I told you not to wander off, this is not the place to…" When Zuko himself made his way through the people, having seen the top of his sister's head above the crowd and started to make his way over, he too froze in place as he saw me and our eyes locked together for the first time in two years. I thought I'd feel the same old anger and regrets rise up like a nest of venomous rat-vipers, but all I felt was this hollow emptiness which was a thousand time worse, followed by a sense of mourning, like I was grieving something I had lost. Seeing the clear friction between us on my end, Katara quickly helped Kiyi down from my shoulders and she ran to Zuko who blinked, recovering himself and looked down at his sister as she ran to him, telling him all about Bosco the bear and the Earth King.
When he looked away, I bolted. Cowardice had always been in my nature, now I depended on it. I got away from him as fast as I could and as far away as I could until I found my mother and father talking amongst the Northern Water Tribe warriors. I anchored myself to their side and my parents immediately saw how visibly upset I was despite desperately trying to hide it, so they naturally drew me in and placed me between them like a physical barrier that no one could pass, several of my uncles doing the same as they naturally rose to shelter me. Damn it, I don't deserve such an awesome, loving family.
When the time came for the banquet, there was a lot of mixed seating involved, but with the presence of Aang and the Air Acolyte, it was the first time that all four nations had gathered together in one place possibly in over a hundred years. I was sat with Katara and Sokka, Toph on Sokka's left and Aang on Katara's right. Despite the fact that I was painfully aware of Zuko's presence, I thoroughly enjoyed the banquet as my friends provided enough conversation and entertainment to distract me, and I found it increasingly amusing with just how many glares my dad was sending Zuko, something that Sokka noticed.
"Hey, is your dad mad at Zuko or something?"
"Oh yeah, he's never forgiven Zuko for how things ended between us. I keep on telling him to let it go but the guy doesn't listen." I shrugged nonchalantly. "He won't do anything, at least I don't think he will."
"Shouldn't you at least talk to Zuko? It's been two years already."
"I know, your point?" Katara placed her hand over her boyfriend's and shook her head, telling Aang not to pursue the subject. I guess they'd all hoped I'd go away for a while, work out my anger then come back to sort things out, but I think going to the South Pole and being surrounded by all that ice just made all my feelings freeze, and now in a warmer climate, they were beginning to thaw. The feast passed with nothing in particular happen, except maybe Sokka choking on some clam meat, but Toph whacked him hard enough to dislodge it so that ended fine.
We each had our own places to stay, some envoys choosing to camp outside the city for more space and comfort. I pitched up my own tent next to my parent's, content with a full belly and Katara sleeping beside me, I thought I'd be able to get a good night's sleep under my belt but after several hour of just staring into the dark canopy of my tent, slowly picking out the details as my eyes adjusted, I eventually gave up and instead grabbed a covering and went outside. No one was about so I left the camp in favour of going for a walk, wanting to find somewhere quiet I could perhaps meditate.
Since the area around Yu Dao was familiar to me from when I had stayed with Toph before at her metal bending school, I knew exactly the place I wanted to go. I'd found it after exploring by myself, a peaceful creek with a small waterfall where fireflies tended to gather upon the moon lilies, white petal flowers which glowed under the moonlight and only opened at night, and seeing as tonight was pretty clear I was hoping to see them in full bloom. Soon enough I'd reached my special place, only to find it was already occupied and as I pushed through the brush, snapping every twig and rustling every leaf along the way until they'd all fallen in my hair, I looked up to find someone standing there with their back to me, the very last person I wanted to see in this entire world.
