Now that Korra had all he bending back, Tenzin seemed to really clamp down on her training and it was full on every day all day, meaning there wasn't really much for me to do except help out Pema and the baby. Little Rohan was just the cutest thing and already he was gurgling and making noises as I carried him around in his baby pouch slung across my front with his little hands grabbing at my braids and playing with the beads whilst smiling and giggling.
"Aw aren't you just the cutest thing, hey Rohan? Yes you are." I cooed as I carried him so that Pema could have a rest, taking a walk through the temple grounds. "You're going to grow up big and strong, okay? I know your dad will insist on a non-violent, pacifist lifestyle for you but don't worry, I'll make sure you learn how to have plenty of fun. You just leave it to old Kanna here." I continued strolling along quite happily however when I heard a familiar rush of air I smiled as the kids came shooting towards me on their air spheres.
"Kanna we found you!" Ikki beamed happily as they all dropped to the ground. "What you doing?"
"Just taking a walk with Rohan here, aren't you guys supposed to be training with your dad and Korra?" I asked them as they all fell into step beside me.
"Daddy and Korra are training alone today so we can go play!"
"Yeah, I want to play air ball!" Meelo as he sprung forwards and wrapped himself around one of my legs, causing me to grunt and stumble before I dragged him along as he clutched onto me like a little koala monkey. "Play air ball with us Kanna!"
"Kanna isn't an air-bender so playing air ball with us won't be as easy." Jinora informed him studiously however I gave a laugh.
"I might not be able to play air ball, but we can change things a little so that I can join in." I reasoned as I shifted Rohan up a little so that he wasn't sitting so low in his little cradle, eyes closed and peacefully sleeping. "I've been thinking about it carefully and I know exactly what to do. Shall we go play?" Instantly the kids all cheered before hushing one another, realising that the baby was asleep so we went back to the temple where I put Rohan down to rest with one of the air acolytes there to watch over him.
Holding onto Ikki's hand we ran to the playing arena, Meelo grabbing the ball whereby I took it from him then manipulated the water from my grandmother's water flask to pour it into the ball and freeze it to ice. "Okay, let's give this a go shall we? Ikki and Jinora, you two form one team and I'll play on Meelo's team." I organised before throwing the ball up into the air and we all laughed and squealed, fighting for the ball. I bent the ice inside the ball, pulling up streams of water from my flask in order to help me guide the ball and together with Meelo we competed against his sisters. We ended up playing until late in the afternoon where Pema called the kids in for baths and their afternoon meditation session, leaving me once more alone.
Korra won't be done for a while yet. Maybe I'll go into the city and try and see if Bolin, Mako and Asami want to hang out. "I'm heading into the city!" I called out to let people know where I was doing before running for the pier, jumping into a boat and shooting across the water towards the pro-bending arena which they were still fixing up from where Amon had trashed it. I smiled as I looked up at it, feeling nostalgic about all the games I'd watched Korra and the guys play there. Good times.
Tying up my boat I jumped up onto the pier then head into the city, going to where Bolin and Mako were renting an apartment together though Mako was the main bread winner as Lin had accepted his application to join the police force. He was really coming into his own there, apparently Lin thought he was an excellent cop and was learning fast. "Hey guys! Anyone home?" I called out as I banged a fist against the door. "Let's go get some food or something, we haven't hung out in ages!" My knocking was halted when the door opened and Mako looked down me in slight surprise.
"Oh hey Kanna, I didn't know you were coming. Is Korra here?" He asked, looking for his girlfriend however I shook my head.
"No she's still training with Tenzin today. Are you going out?" I asked him, noticing that he was pulling on his coat.
"I have a shift at work starting soon so I was just grabbing my stuff. Sorry to have to turn you down Kanna, we haven't really been able to spend much time together, have we?" He mused as he stepped outside of the door so I moved back to give him some room, the cramped and rather musty hallway making it difficult for more than two people to move anywhere. "We'll make plans I promise, Bolin is out doing some work as a labourer so he's not home either." My shoulders sagged a little but I kept on smiling.
"Oh that's okay, I should have warned you guys I was coming but it was kind of just a spur of the moment thing. I really miss you guys." I admitted, rubbing the back of my head with a smile of laughter. "Have fun at work, make sure you catch some bad guys!"
"I will, you can count on me to keep the streets safe for you, little missy." He said with a dramatic tone and I had to laugh as he held open the door for me and we both head downstairs to step out into the street.
"You been saving that one or something?"
"Maybe. I'll see you around Kanna, look after yourself." He lifted his hand in a wave, adjusting his red scarf around his neck before he swung a leg over his brand new motorbike given to him by the police force. Both he and Bolin were getting on with their lives and Korra was busy too, I hope our friendship isn't deteriorating, I'd be sad if we all just fell apart considering how well we gelled together before.
"Well, I guess Asami is next." I mused but I found no luck at her home, the butler informing me that she was overseeing the work at one of her factories so I head that way instead, hoping to offer a hand with something just as a means to have something to do because now I was just getting bored. Kicking at a stone I exhaled, walking through the park and hooking my hands into the wrap I wore around my hips, the ornate string of beads and teeth clinking softly. I suppose there's always the guys living on the streets too. I mean I visited them just the other day but I'm sure they wouldn't mind me stopping by again, right?
"Well, well, well, look who it is." A voice I recognised spoke out and I stopped, looking towards a park bench to see Tahno lounging in the sun in a rather relaxed state. "If it isn't the Fire Ferrets' little mascot." He said in his usual dry and longwinded tone however he was smiling at me gently, making me turn towards him with a grin.
"Look at you Tahno, not as washed out as you used to be." I retuned, seeing that he looked much better kempt than the last time I'd seen him, which was when Korra had returned his bending to him. "So what's the deal? You trying to catch a tan to replace that sickly looking skin tone of yours?" Walking over to him he gave a laugh, flicking a hand through his hair.
"Something like that. What's got you all down in the dumps? You look like somebody just died." He said bluntly so I sighed, shaking out my hair before placing my hands on my hips.
"Nothing much, just don't have anything to do or anyone to hang out with except my cousins. What's new with you? Are you going to return to pro-bending for the next season?" I asked him as I sat down on the bench next to him, leaning back and joining him in sunning myself. The sun was really nice today, how did I not notice?
"Nah, I've decided to retire from pro-bending. I'm actually thinking about opening up my own gym and offering training services to benders and non-benders. All that stuff with Amon got me thinking that maybe we do need a little more equality, so why not start off with something small?" Tahno said to me, gazing lazily at the clouds. "I mean, if people could come together and learn not to be afraid of one another, then that's a good thing. Right?"
"I think it's a great idea. Who knew you could be such a peace maker?" I chuckled softly and I sensed him send me a sidelong smirk. "I have to admit, those chi blockers weren't exactly in the wrong. They just wanted to learn how to defend themselves against people who could control them through fear and pain. If they knew how to protect themselves then there wouldn't be so many citizens getting hurt by stupid benders who use their talents for their own gain."
"Well, now that Korra is a fully recognised Avatar, maybe we'll have a little more balance in the world." He mused before giving a long sigh and standing up. "Not that this isn't fun and all, but I have to go and meet someone. Before I get to opening up that gym, I'll be doing modelling for a fashion magazine. You should buy the next issue, I'll be on the front page."
"Pass." I stated bluntly but we smirked at one another. Tahno sure had turned into a nice guy ever since getting his bending back. With a final flick of his hair Tahno said goodbye and told me to call him up sometime so we could hang out and I assured him if I ever became that desperate, I'd give him a call. We're still mean to one another, but I guess it's a little friendlier these days. If anything it's endearing. Standing up I continued on my way in my search for Asami and eventually found her organising storage at one of the warehouses her father had owned. "Hey Asami."
"Kanna! Great to see you, it's been a while." She smiled at me prettily as she looked up and I instantly felt better for seeing her. "You couldn't have come at a better time, would you mind helping me out a little? I've got so much to do but I've only got so many pairs of hands." She requested and I eagerly agreed, glad that she had asked for my help. "So how have you been? It's been more than a week since I last saw you."
"It's been real quiet with everyone else being so busy. You wouldn't happen to need an assistant or anything, would you?" We grinned at one another before Asami started to direct me, giving me things to do and every time our paths crossed again we chatted a little more. "It just doesn't feel right not having the gang together, our lives are becoming so busy that we hardly see each other anymore. Or at least, that's what it's like for the rest of you. I don't have to train or work since my uncle takes care of me, but I still want to do something productive with my time, you know?"
"Well that's great because I could use all the help I can get. Those need to go over there, would you mind?" Asami asked sweetly so I created a floor of ice, shouting out in warning before helping to slide the huge crates across the floor so that they were easily moved to their new position. Everything was going so well and when dusk settled, Asami called it a day and people started to drift home, however when I heard a huge crash I instantly whirled around as Asami screamed.
"Asami!" My hands thrust outwards of their own accord, weaving through the motions and a rush of water suddenly burst out from the mecha-tank's cooler system, creating a whirlpool in mid-air as Asami hunched down and covered her head, the long metal pipes that the tank had been gathering stopped over her head where a few had dropped out from the tank's grasp. "Asami move, quickly!" Snapping back to her senses Asami ran towards me and I exhaled with relief, stretching out my hand and taking hers as she reached me. "Are you alright? Did anything hit you?"
"No I'm fine, thanks to you. Kanna, do you even realise what you're doing?" She asked me and I blinked before looking at the large body of water. I was bending it. I was bending it and maintaining control. I squeaked in shock and let go, the water rushing down and splashing against the floor as I exhaled a shaky breath and gripped onto Asami's hand a little more tightly. "That was amazing, you didn't even have to think about it and the water responded. You can bend water, Kanna, you don't have to be afraid of it."
"I wouldn't go that far Asami but you're right. I didn't even think." Looking down at my hands I slowly gave a smile. "One step at a time, am I right? Maybe now I'll be able to use larger quantities of water instead of the small trickles I used to use." Asami smiled at me then insisted on treating me to dinner as a thank you for saving her. She closed up the warehouse, made sure everything was secure before then heading into the nicer end of the city where we sat down in a fancy restaurant and I tried some rather delicious tasting dishes that were too fancy for the ordinary palette and definitely too rich for an air-bender.
It was nice to spend some time with Asami, just the two of us and I even ended up staying with her at the mansion for a 'sleep over', as she'd teasingly said to me. I sent a message to Pema and Tenzin to tell them I wouldn't be home tonight before borrowing some of Asami's clothes, which were also extremely rich and tasteful. She had such excellent taste in fashion, I was rather jealous. Her clothes were so unlike my water tribe getup that I couldn't help but want to try some of them on and I think Asami caught on to my longing glances to her wardrobe. "Hey Kanna, you want to try on some clothes? I have a few things that I can't wear anymore so if they fit, you can have them."
"Absolutely!" I did not even try to be modest, I threw open her wardrobes and walked into her closet. "You have so many beautiful things Asami, I don't even know where to look!"
"Well, I am rich after all. Tell you what, how about tomorrow you and I go shopping together after I'm done with work? If you help me out with the paperwork then I'm sure we can finish by the afternoon. I'll treat you again." She offered and this time I blushed.
"You don't have to Asami, you're going to spoil me rotten if you keep on giving me things like this." I said to her but she only laughed and smiled as she began to pull things down from the railing.
"But I want to! Besides, shopping always helps me to calm down and I think we've both been a little down lately, so it'll be fun. Tell you what, when I come to visit you in the Southern Water Tribe, you can treat me in return. Sound fair?" I agreed instantly though I warned her the Southern Pole wasn't exactly fashion central and if she wanted something more interesting, she'd have to come with me to the North Pole instead. I enjoyed my time with Asami, trying on all her clothes and she set some aside to take back with me and we both sat and painted our nails, put on face masks, gossiped and talked late into the evening before falling asleep like a couple of kids. I woke up in the night, hearing her crying softly in her sleep so I turned over and hugged her to me, only partially awake myself but she seemed to settle when she felt my comforting arms around her, snuggling into me and going back to sleep. She must really miss her father. I would too, but worse than that her father was now a criminal who had betrayed her. That had to hurt more than anything so I secured my grip around her, the soft scent of her hair wafting up my nose as I gave a final yawn then went back to sleep.
