Chapter IV: Enter Kai

Aang and Teo's Room

Three days later

Katara and Sokka both knocked on the door.

Katara then called out for them. "Aang? Teo? You guys up?"

There was no response.

Sokka turned to his sister with a shrug. "Maybe they are still asleep?"

Katara shook her head vehemently. Her face darkened if for a moment. "Perhaps…but I don't like it. I don't like the idea of either of them being in there all alone. Tui only knows what Ruon is capable of."

Sokka's face darkened. "You would be correct in that assumption." He then knocked on the door, thus time a little louder, 'Yo airheads! You guys good?"

The two then heard a loud beep before the door finally opened.

Teo stood there casually brushing his teeth. He had a towel around his neck indicating he had just taken a shower. "Oh…howdy there guys. What's up?"

Katara then grabbed his face in her hands and looked him over. She then felt her heartbeat center in relief. No cuts. No bruises. He seems to be okay.

Teo just blankly stared at her. "Uh..what are you doing?"

Katara said nothing in response and let go of his face. "May we come in?"

Teo, again mystified by the intense look in her eyes, just shrugged non-chalantly. "Uh..yeah. Sure."

Katara then gave in a nod and faintly smiled. "Thank you."

She then walked into the dorm and quickly looked around. I have to check in on Aang. I'm worried. She then turned to Teo with a smile. "Where's Aang?"

Teo blinked at her confused before answering "He's…uh…in his room. It's the second room down the hall and to the left."

Katara nodded, smiling. "Thank you." She then hurried off to find Aang.

Teo watched her as she was walking away. ""She really likes my brother doesn't she?"

Sokka just crossed his arms at the Nomad grinning. "Yup. She does."

Aang's Room

An hour later

Aang was quietly meditating in his room. He then took in a deep breath and let out his final chant when he heard a knock at the door. He opened one eye and spoke in a rather curious voice. "Who is it?"

Katara's voice then filled the air. "It's me Katara. Can I come in?"

Aang blinked away his tears and wiped at his eyes. "Oh..hey..yeah..I'll open the door."

Katara then the door unlock and the door soon opened. The girl's sudden sense of bashfulness overcame her when she saw him. Her cheeks reddened. I like the beard. It looks good on him. Who'd think I would ever have a thing for bearded men? I'm a punk rock chick. She then gave him a nervous smile "Um…hi."

Aang then blinked at her. "Uh..hey there. Whatcha need?"

He then rubbed at his eyes. "Uh..sorry. I didn't get much sleep last night."

Katara felt herself ease up for a moment. He looks tired but he doesn't look hurt. .Thank Tui! She then gave him a worried look. "You didn't sleep?"

Aang just sat himself on his chair. He then took a sip of the soda on his desk. "Unfortunately no. I was working on a paper detailing the philosophy of Water Tribe culture and religion for Professor Pakku." He then rested a hand against his head groaning. "I do wish he would get to the point more often than not. I thought my teachers in the Southern Temple were allegorical. He puts them to shame."

Katara then shook her head smiling and took the seat across from him, putting a hand on his shoulder. Her tone was rather teasing. "Let me get this straight. You had to do a paper on Water Tribe culture and instead of calling your best friend..who I may remind you grew up in the Water Tribe….you decided to just rely on some stupid textbook."

Aang just sighed and ran a hand against his face. "It seemed like a good idea at the time."

Katara shook her head smiling. "Oh sweetie." She then smirked. "And now?"

Aang sighed and just glared at her for a moment. "Are the bags under my eyes not enough proof of the contrary?"

Katara smiled. "Fair enough." She was finding the idea of teasing him to be oddly satisfying. "The paper. Where is it?"

Aang then pointed to the laptop on his desk. "I have it pulled up on the laptop." He sighed and shook his head."But you don't have to you know...I don't want to be a bother."

Katara smiled to herself. "That's sweet of you but it is kind of a moot point sweetie. I'm always going to worry about you. You are my best friend. If there is ever a time where I don't worry about you…then you have something to worry about." She then caressed his face with a hand. "That's how I operate Aang. I either care too much or I don't give a shit."

She then booted up the laptop and quickly found the paper Aang was working on. She then clicked between her teeth and smirked. "Well well I guess I shouldn't be surprised that this is halfway legible. I have seen your writing before. This is almost worth an 100."

Aang grunted. The perfection "What do you mean almost? It's perfect."

Katara laughed. "Almost perfect. There…are a few errors here and there."

Aang crossed his arms at her. His tone was now a bit indignant. "Oh really? Like what?"

Katara giggled. "Well for starters…there were four waterbending spirits responsible for the origin of the Great Ice Storm. Not two."

Aang felt his face heat up from embarrassment. "Oh..well..the edition of the book isn't exactly current."

Katara giggled at hearing the stutter in his tone. He's kind of cute when he's like this. I should fluster him more often. "Of course it isn't." She then turned to him, caressed his face with a hand and smiled. "Don't worry. I've got this. The tutoring center is expensive. You really don't want to pay the 5 dollar fee. It's hell on your paycheck."

Aang sighed. "Tell me about it."

She then turned her attention to the laptop and started to edit the paper.

Aang sighed wondering if he should speak the next words in his mind. They felt more like a confession than anything else. "I have to confess something to you."

The girl then turned to him perplexed. "What's up?"

Aang bit his lip but continued to speak in a rather embarrassed tone. "I..didn't have a high opinion of you when we first met. I thought that…"

Katara then burst into laughter. She grinned at him. "You thought I was a total bitch didn't you?"

Aang then swallowed hard. "Well…I wouldn't have put it that way but…"

Katara then finished editing and submitted the paper. She then took his hands into hers. "It's alright Aang. I mean…I'll be honest with you…I can be a bit of a ice cold bitch sometimes."

She then shook her head at him grinning painfully. "Why do you think I stick close to Sokka all the time? Everyone else either hates me or is too afraid to approach me. They…actually call me names." She then lowered her head to the floor and sighed.

Aang smiled. "Well jokes on them. You are a good soul. A good person. Granted you are a bit on the abrasive side but there is a lot of good inside of your heart. That is what matters. Nobody is a saint."

Katara then raised her head and looked up at him smirking. "Hmm. Not the answer I expected from you. I expected something more like "You deserve what you get in life" or something like that. Quite refreshing."

Aang shook his head. "My uncle is…a little more ordained in the Nomad faith than I am. There's this whole process we Nomads go through where we have to learn to separate ourselves from all earthly connections and become one with the spirts."

Katara then took out the flask she was hiding and took a sip. "Hmm. Sounds interesting...and lonely."

Aang shook his head, sighing. "You don't even know half of it Katara." He then shook his head. "My parents died when Teo and I were young and my uncle took custody of us afterwards. He is a kind man. Even sweet. Only problem is that he is a strict perfectionist and serious about the worship of the Nomad spirits. If you miss a prayer…or…you don't fast often enough or worship them the way he wants…he begins to get angry."

Katara then leaned in with widened eyes. A bit of anger forced itself in her voice. "He forced you into becoming religious?"

Aang shook his head. "No. I joined the Faith out of my own volition. We just have…differences on how Nomads should practice our faith. He believed in responding with physical attacks or yelling when one faltered in their duties. He believes that anyone who doesn't believe in a god is nothing more than a soulless demon meant for hell. I..disagreed with his assessment. I told him that we are in no position to judge others for sins we are capable of committing ourselves."

He then shook his head bitterly. "Long story short…he is a bit of a religious zealot. Hence why Teo and I packed up to leave as soon as we could."

Katara just nodded, taking one of his hands in hers and squeezing it.

He forced a smile.

"Oh Aang. I'm so sorry. That sounds terrible. I've been through a similar kind of experience with my dad."

She let out a sigh. "My mother passed away at an early age. My Dad took the loss hard. He just started isolating himself from us. Sokka and I don't really have a good relationship with him either."

Aang took his hands into hers signing. "You have my sincerest sympathies."

The young waterbender could feel small tears roll from her eyes. Her mouth curved into a small smile. Y'know what? Fuck it. I mean quiet religious boys aren't usually my type but I mean…we all die sometime. It's worth a shot. She then let out a chuckle and shook her head.

Aang blinked at her. "Is something wrong?"

Katara smirked at him and pulled him into a hug. She hummed happily as she took in his warmth resting her head on his right shoulder. This feels nice. It's been a long time since I've hugged someone. "Thank you. I'd forgotten what it was like to have someone who understands me and my pain. You make me feel accepted. I feel like I can trust you."

Aang just nodded blushing returning the gesture. "I do too."

The door then opened with Sokka and Teo at the entrance.

Sokka then grinned. "My oh my. What have we here?"

Katara, embarrassed at his sudden entrance, broke the hug and growled at him. "Don't you know it's rude to barge into someone else's room?"

Sokka grinned at her. "You were here for a while. I hadn't heard anything. I got curious." He then winked at her and crossed his arms at her. "If you two were up to something….I'll leave."

Katara huffed in frustration, shook her head, and glared daggers at him. "Don't bother. The moment is ruined anyway." She then turned to Aang and tilted her head at him smiling.

She then took his hands into hers. "We'll have to continue this conversation later sweetie but before I go…" She then caressed his face with a hand and pinched his right cheek affectionately. I'm not ready to kiss him just yet but this'll do for the time being.

The gesture caused Aang to blush. What is she doing? Aang suddenly felt his heartbeat quicken ten paces. He was in shock. He wasn't the only one either.

Teo felt his jaw drop. Well damn. I didn't expect that.

Katara then held Aang's face in her hands smiling. Her tone was unnaturally sweet. "Promise me you'll get some sleep and that you will call me the next time you need help with something."

Aang managed to regain his composure and smiled. "Uh…yeah. I'll do that."

Katara nodded. "Good. I'll leave you time to get dressed. We'll be outside. Don't take too long." She then walked off without another word.

Sokka then followed her while winking at Aang.

Teo then offered his brother a rare chuckle. "Your charm never seems to amaze big bro." Aang then hissed at his brother, blushing. "Shut up Teo!"

Wo Shin Hallway

Two weeks later

Aang, Teo, Toph, Katara and Sokka were walking down the hallways.

Nobody seemed to be bothering the airbender brothers as they feared Katara and Sokka.

The two Water Tribe siblings had quite the…obtuse reputation around the university and nobody wanted to mess with them.

Toph also had her own reputation around the university. That didn't mean that the group didn't draw attention. Many eyes were on Aang and Teo. Airbenders were actually an uncommon sight at the University. The fact remains that the Air Nomads often lived detached lives from the other four nations. They even had their own private universities and schools. Aang and Teo were a rarity indeed.

One of the onlookers walked up to Aang with a rather curious look in her eyes. She was a rather tall and pretty girl dressed in a cardigan and black jeans that looked cut at the knees. She had her hair in a rather cute ponytail and had strikingly beautiful blue eyes. "Oh my gosh! I don't believe it! It's you!"

Aang raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm sorry. Do I know you?"

The girl then put her hands on her hips and pouted cutely at him. "Aang! Come on now! How could the two of you forget about your old friend Kai?"

Teo's eyes widened. "Woah! I thought you looked familiar."

He and Aang then bowed to Kai in traditional Air Nation style.

She smiled and returned the gesture. "It's so good to see you both again!" She then embraced the two boys in a hug.

Katara and Sokka just exchanged looks of confusion and just shrugged.

Aang then chuckled. "What are you doing here Kai? I thought you had decided to go to Pasang University."

Kai just smirked at him with a warm look in her eyes and caressed his face with a hand. "I considered it…but I thought you'd get lonely without me. Couldn't run out on my childhood friend." He hasn't changed at all. It's good to see him after three years.

Aang blinked and started to shiver at her touch. "I see."

Katara had now gone from indifferent to a bit irritated. She was now glaring daggers at the airbender girl. Her eyes had turned into a stormy blue.

Aang was kind and tender-hearted. He probably didn't know that his longtime friend had long harbored a crush on him and was planning on acting it.

Katara, wary of her intentions, was onto the girl. Hey! The only one allowed to dote on him or flirt with him is me bitch! Get your hands off him or I swear to Tui I'll freeze them off! He's broken-hearted! Hurt! I won't let you lead him on like On Ji did! I may be confused about how I feel but I am not letting you hurt him! She tightened her fists. She then looked around for any source of water she could use to interrupt this little reunion. She spotted a water fountain. Perfect. Just what I need.

Sokka took one look at his sister's expression, then at Aang, and nervously swallowed. Ah shit. I gotta stop this before she makes this situation any more awkward.

Katara, with one raised hand, had already drawn a tendril of water. She focused her intent on Kai, ready to drench the girl in water. That was when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Sokka with a serious look on his face.

He whispered. "What are you doing sis?"

She scowled. "She's confusing him. Can't you see? She's putting the moves on him so she can use him. I have to do something."

Sokka smirked at her. Heh. She thinks she's acting out of worry for his safety. That's half the truth. Still it is endearing to see my sister so protective of a male friend. I did worry that she'd never find male friends ever again. Ruon…really messed her up. He shook his head with a scowl. There I go thinking about that fucker again. Forget him for a moment. I have to focus on my sister. He then smiled while squeezing her shoulder. "Easy sis. Calm down. Let's not do something we're both going to regret. Let Aang handle this. He's a natural pacifist and he has a way with people. Let it play out."

Katara glared even fiercer at her older brother. That brief flash of anger soon gave way to reluctant acknowledgement. She nodded. "Fine."

The two then switched their attention to Aang.

The airbender took a good look around himself. The brief moment he had unintentionally shared with his old friend had drawn quite the crowd. Got to get away from the crowds somehow. He then took the girl's hand from his cheek and faintly smiled. "Good to see you too. It's been too long."

Kai then smiled up at him. "I know. It's been far too long." She then noticed Katara and the others, and smiled at them. "I see you have friends with you. Care to introduce me?"

Aang chuckled with a laugh. "You were always a direct one." He then gestured to Katara. "This is Katara Kesuk and her brother Sokka Kesuk. They are from a big city in the Water Tribes. Teo and I happened to come across both of them in the hallway."

Katara just continued to glare at the girl. I don't trust her or like her.

Sokka gave his sister a nervous smile and extended a hand to Kai. "Pleasure to meet ya. Sokka Kesuk. I apologize for my sister. She isn't really a people person."

Kai then smiled at Sokka and shook his hand. "That's okay. I don't mind it."

Kai then crossed her arms at him smirking. "What is it with you in foreign women Aang? Come on. You and I know there are plenty of girls back home you could date back home in the Temple."

Katara felt her cheeks heat up and she sent the girl a disapproving glare. Grrr! You bitch! That isn't your decision to make! I'm worth a shot.

Aang's eyes widened and he glared at her. "Hey! She's a friend! Stop reading so much into nothing!"

Tai smirked. "You said the same about On Ji. You'll excuse me if I'm not holding my breath on that one."

She then raised an eyebrow smiling. "How is that by the way? You said things were going well in your last letter."

Aang scoffed bitterly. "Uh…well since you asked so bluntly…badly. She hit me and cheated on me with some prick with an ego complex."

Kai's eyes widened. "I…uh..oh. Damn I'm sorry to hear that."

Aang shook his head. "No need for sympathy. It is what it is." He then waved them over to the Cafeteria. "C'mon let's take this conversation in the cafeteria. I'm starving."

Toph just grinned. "And that's why they call me the Blind Bandit!" The others just blinked at her in confusion.

Tai just smiled. "How wonderful to meet you Toph!"

She then took a sip of her soup and turned to Aang with a wry grin. "Aang…you still write those silly poems?"

Katara finally spoke in a shout. "Hey I'll have you know I've read his poems! They are quite beautiful!"

Tai smirked. "Tell me snow girl. You saying that because you have the hots for him or out of genuine admiration?"

Katara, again, turned red in the face. She wasn't ready to admit she liked Aang just yet. Granted she was starting to find him charming but she was still trying to find out how she felt about him in the first place. She then took in a deep breath with a deep glare in her eyes. "I'm saying that as his friend."

Kai smirked at her. "For now you are."

The two then got into a serious staredown.

Aang then sighed and facepalmed. "Kai…I know you like to tease people but as someone who genuinely cares about you as a friend…I would not recommend teasing Katara. She…isn't the sort to take that well."

Sokka then raised a hand nervously smiling. "I concur with the airhead's opinion. I'm her brother and not even I take it to this level."

Kai smirked at both of them, chuckled while shaking her head and raised her arms in surrender. "All right. All right. I'll stop."

Katara just nodded, crossed her arms and spoke in a cold tone. "Smart move airhead. You'll live longer that way."

The girl's eyes widened in shock and she instinctively covered her mouth. Oh fuck! I said that in front of Aang and Teo. The last thing I want either of them thinking is that I am prejudiced in any way towards Nomads. Especially Aang! Feeling a bit remorseful for that remark, she turned to both Aang and Teo with sympathy in her eyes, and mouthed an "I'm sorry."

Aang just smiled at her and mouthed. "It's okay." He then gave her a thumbs up.

Katara put a hand to her heart and warmly smiled. Her cheeks reddened for a moment and she let her true feelings show if but for a moment.

Teo also gave her a smiling nod. She returned the gesture.

Suki then cleared her throat. "And I'm Suki. I grew up in a small fishing village near Ba Sing Se. I love pinball machines, a good drink, and hanging out with my friends."

Kai then turned to her with a smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well Suki."

Sokka grinned at everyone. "Come on guys. Let's go for a walk." Everyone then walked out to the Courtyard.

Sorry for the long wait! Hope y'all enjoy!