Act 2; Chapter 11: Courtship; Part 1
By Danielle Franklin
Korean words that are found in this chapter:
"Ne" - Yes
"Su-son" - Daffodil
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They all sat around a square table, each person taking on one side as thier own. Sokka, Katara, Aang, and Haru all sat around a table at the Eatery of the Inn. Sokka had order about three times the amount of Kim Chi a normal person could eat, and had engolfed half the pot of tea to sooth his burning mouth. "Sokka, I told you that it would be hot!" Katara scolded him. "But it looked so good!" He panted as he fanned his mouth, trying to get rid of the burning after taste of the marinated cabbadge.
Katara sighed, she too started to eat her Yang Gobchang-gui (Broiled Beef Tripe and Chitterlings). She did nothing but pick up bits of beef, mabey a piece of vegtable every now and then, and eat in a robot-like trance. Aang noticed her state, but did little to act upon it with the two other men present. Haru too, became ware of her. "Katara, is there any thing wrong?" He asked as he picked up his cup and took a slow sip of his green tea. Katara looked up at him and smiled. "Why nothing is wrong at all." She said with a faint grin and went back to her food.
Aang frowned at her actions. He knew something was wrong, and he was going to find out what it was. When every one had finished thier food and had left, he approched her. "Katara... is there any thing wrong?" He asked as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. "Well... " She said as she sighed and turned around. Katara took in a deep breath. "I was just wondering, what do these Air Nomad Courtship Rites include?"
"Well, first there is a trading of gifts. Usually a set of hair combs and and a new glider are exchanged. The second is a small vacation togther. Most likely to a traditional Ryokan or an Air Temple set aside for such matters. And last, if the couple decides they want to marry, they set a date and make any arragments needed." He and Katara has walked so far that they had made it to the wharf where many international cargo ships where dock, waiting to depart to their homeland.
The sun was slowly setting into the horizon, spreading a delicious aray of spectacular colours across the sky. Katara had her back to him,
looking upon the setting sun in the west. She took a deep sigh, and placed her hands onto the wrought-iron fence that blocked them from having acess to the ocean. "Katara, are you sure you want to go through with this?" He asked in a doubtful tone. "Yes! I am so sure! I have never been so sure of anything in my life. It's just..." She trailed as she turned her face away from him. " 'It's just...' what?" He asked as he took her right hand and kissed the top of it.
"I - I'm scared... What if it dosen't work? What if, half way through this, you come to hate me." She said as she snatched her hand from his and covered her mouth. Katara instantly regreated what she had just said. She could feel tears make thier way to the surface. Instantly, the water at the bank of the wharf began to make waves and pound madly at the sea wall. Her eyes grew wide, and she ran away. As she ran, the water she passed raised up and formed giant waves, subsiding only when she had passed.
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Katara lay upon her bed at the Inn, her pillow over her head. She had been crying ever since she had gotten back and hour earlier. The sun had setted, and darkness dominated the land. Many thoughts, swarmed in Katara's head. None of them where very good, thus her depressed state. Rain pounded the shoji screen walls as if they where pieces of newsprint left of a park bench. Aang slowly slid open the door, and walked in a quitely as he could. He approched Katara with great stealth. When he finally got to her, he sat down beside her on the bed, placing a hand on her shoulder. Katara jumped under his tough, ripping the pillow from over her head.
"Oh...it's just you..." She said as she sat up, trying to compose herself. "Katara, what's the matter? Why are you acting like this?" He asked as he took her hands in his. "I would love to tell you, it's just..." She trailed again. " 'It's just...' Stop with the 'just'. Tell me what's bothering you!
It makes me sad to see you like this!" He said as he hugged her tight. "Well..." She breathed. "Some how, my emotions and my being are connected. And when you touch me, kiss me, and hug me... You send me over the edge... And when the happens, any water around me starts to stir. The last time we kissed, I was so... well, you know... and I broke a vase filled with water and lilys..." She trailed, to embarresed to look at him.
"Basically, what you are telling me is, your raw emotions cause your bending to surge and make water crazy when we are togther? Am I right"
He asked as he drew out of the hug and looked her square in the eye. "Yes... That's about it." She said as she laid back down on her pillow, and turned to face the wall. A couple seconds of silece went by, then Aang leaned over, laying behind her. "Does it drive you crazy when I hold you like this?" He asked as he snaked his arms around her waist and brouht her as close to him as he could. "Ne..." She sighed, closing her eyes tightly as a mug of sweet tea shook wildly on the low table a couple feet away.
"What about when I do this..." He trailed as he moved the hair from her neck and began to kiss her. Katara clamped her eyes shut tightly and gritted her teeth as the mug began to crack. "How about this..." He said as he turned her over so that he could see her face. He then fell on top of her. Katara let out a squeal, thus making the mug explode into about a hundred pieces of broken pottery. Sweet tea soaked the wodden floor below them, as well it was littered with the broken mug. They lay like that for what seemed and eternity.
"You can't let your emotions control you. I can't bear to not be able to hug you...or kiss you...or touch you...it would drive me insane not to be able to see you." He said as he sat up using his elbows. He face was about two inches from her, he looked into her eyes. He then placed a gental kiss on her lips. The vase of water and su-son exploded as the kiss progressed, sending shards of glass every where.
A piece whisked by Aang's cheek, giving him a small gash. Warm, cool liquid dripped onto Katara's shoulder, but she did nothing. She melted into him.
When he finally released her, and sat up, drips of crimson fell from his cheek and onto hers. Katara slowly brought her fingers to his face, whipping the blood from his face. "Will you help me find a way to fight this?" She asked as she rubbed the red onto her Yutaka.
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To Be Continued...