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Mikado was quite pleased with Suki's reaction at his eyes. He grinned as he replaced his hat upon his head. He was well known in his town for his eyes. The gray was known to captivate anyone, whether stun a young girl passing by or paralyzing his opponents in battle. Not only that, but they were known to change depending on his mood.

"They should be turning a nice green now, hehe" he chuckled to himself. "Well, I better prepare for tonight's 'ordeal.' Though it should be quite challenging and very interesting."

He closed up shop just before the sun set behind the mountains on the far side of the island. He hurried to Kareem's house to eat a light supper quickly and, with apologies to the older man, skipped their usual "story time" insisting that he had to go meditate.

"Meditate huh? You are a weird one aren't ya?" the old man pestered him as he changed clothes and headed out the door.

"It's something I have learned from the old airbender monks. It was said that by clearing their minds they could harness the very random waves of the sky. My sensei has taught me to learn something from everybody, other nations especially." It was then that he realized his folly; he had not told Kareem that he was an earthbender.

The old man seemed to catch on this fact, but he didn't press the matter and just waved the boy out. "Ohh! Did you need those fancy swords you got under the bed?" he asked and hurried off down the hall.

Shame filled Mikado's face, the old man must not think that I trust him. "yes sir, I will probably be needing those." He took the bundle from the stooped, balding man and was about to offer his apologies when he was cut off.

"No need to explain yourself to me boy, I understand a man's business is his business unless he decides otherwise." He winked and elbowed the kid's ribs, "plus, it's not like I haven't been on the outside of a secret before. Now go on and get outta here."

Mikado bowed to his elder with new respect and strapped the swords to his back.

He could not, for the life of himself, concentrate enough to meditate that night. Every time he calmed his body and smoothed his thoughts, light blue eyes would rise up, surrounded by the angular face of a lovely young woman.

"Damnit Suki! It seems my own eyes weren't the only ones inflicting damage today!" He cursed and kicked at the ground, which rumbled beneath him. Settling himself again he attempted to suppress the thoughts of Suki, and their cursed reinforcements: his emotions.

Similarly Suki was having trouble concentrating the rest of the day. It wasn't Mikado's eyes that threw her usually centered mind askew, it was her own feelings. She had never felt something like this toward anybody, and the emotions she had did not confuse her, she had been taught like any normal girl, but they scared her.

"Is there something wrong Suki?" one of the girls she was training asked her.

"No, it's nothing. I just am thinking about the fight ahead." She didn't know why she lied to the young girl. This too scared her. "I am the master of myself, not some farmer boy." She muttered inwardly.

"What's that?"

"Ohh nothing, just imagining the look on his face when we meet in combat." She smiled. Another lie… What was happening to her?

The night was cool, not unpleasantly so, but enough to notice it if one stayed out too long. "A perfect night, not a cloud in the sky, the moon is shining full." Mikado stretched as he walked towards the large hut he was to meet Suki at. "It's a shame we can't spar outside."

He had reached the door. He sighed and took the few steps up and into a large room with resolve.

"So you decided to show… surprising already."

His brows tightened at the voice, Suki. He hadn't been in the room more than two seconds and she was already ridiculing him. "A warrior cannot forget his engagements; it would look extremely bad for him." He bowed to her, noticing a few younger girls standing around the room. Damn, he thought, spectators. "I believe I have a rumor to quash that all earthbenders rely too much on their bending to fight." With a flourish he flung off his green robes and with the grace of a cat folded them and placed them in a corner before they hit the floor. This very showy maneuver drew the reaction he was looking for.

The girls whispered to each other about his manor and appearance, surely the way Suki talked about him, they expected a weak, uneducated farm kid. They did not actually expect a slightly muscular, and if he had a say, handsome young man.

He grinned beneath his bamboo hat. He had chosen to wear his tanned leather jerkin; very tight fitting with no sleeves it perfectly flaunted his thin but firm arms. His legs were clad in long flowing pants, green with hand-sewn earthbending symbols; they had the look of being those normally worn by monks.

They also whispered about his wide hat, and why he had it on at night. Suki must not have told them about his face. Good, let them find out for themselves.

"Hmm, dual swords? Do you know how to use those things, little boy?" Suki's chin went up in an arrogant smile.

"You must be mistaken, milady. These are not dual swords, but are two separate katanas, they will act independently, unlike dual swords." He approached her and bowed, pulling his swords form their scabbards and presenting them to her hilt-first.

She received his bow with a similar motion and accepted the swords. "Hmm," she regarded them intently, enough that she ran her fingers over every inch, as if savoring them, "very high quality, where'd you steal them from?"

Mikado's crooked grin widened, of course she wouldn't compliment him on his weapons. "They were a gift as, I believe, were yours. May I see them?" It was customary for warriors to inspect each other's equipment before sparring.

She produced two ornately-carve fans, handing them to the mysterious boy, the same ones she had received earlier that day.

Mikado took them under the watchful eye of Suki, and opened and closed them, admiring their weight and feel. "May I?" he inquired.

"Of course," she replied.

Mikado spread the fans wide and made a few passes with them. They sliced the air and spun perfectly. Indeed he had never before seen fans made so well.

He closed them and returned them to their rightful owner with a bow.

"Your own weapons," she handed back his swords. "I noticed that they are sharp, good. My own fans are combat-ready also."

His eyes widened, only very skilled masters even attempted to fight with sharpened fighting fans. He was grateful for his hat, which hid his surprise.

"Shall we begin?"

"Of course, will your students be watching?" He asked the question only to show his disapproval of their presence, fully knowing that they would not leave.

"They will."

He sighed, "very well then."

He whipped off his hat with an overly showy movement and threw it across the room to send it landing atop his neatly-folded robes.

The short gasp around the room was exactly what Mikado expected. It happened every time, but he still relished in it. He also noticed that Suki avoided his eyes as she took her place opposite him on the mat.

They bowed.

Suki took on a very low stance with both arms extended, one that Mikado recognized immediately as one designed to strike quickly and strongly, one that had very little defense.

Mikado nodded and posed in a stance opposite. A tall stance on the balls of his feet, one that was designed to counter Suki's low-slung body.

A few tense moments passed while both combatants regarded their opponent, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

Seeing that this would never progress Mikado made the first move with a few quick steps in and a high-kick aimed to come down on the woman's shoulder.

He realized his mistake when the girl gave out an amused huff and, like a snake striking pushed her shoulder right into his thigh, sending him far off balance.

The mistake was not too costly, for when Suki made the next blow, intended to connect her elbow with his chest, the limber man recovered with a back handspring, much to the astonishment of the girls.

"I see," he reflected as he swung to his feet, "very unexpected, that move."

Suki just smiled at him and reformed her stance. He would have to be very careful in this fight, less he embarrass himself in front of this amazing girl. And her students, he remembered.

He spun on his heel and leapt towards his opponent, forcing her back and pressed his attack. She was hard-pressed to keep on her feet at his ferocity. Every movement of his was fast, yet balanced in a way that any counter she could think of would just leave her open for an attack.

She felt the wall at her back as she bumped into it and smiled, "Try this on for size."

Placing both her hands on the wall and leaning backward she leapt into the air and put both feet on the wall. The sheer agility required for such an accomplishment made Mikado stare in wonder.

Suki used her bunched legs to propel her over the warrior and roll into a crouch behind him. Before he could react, she took quick advantage of her position.

She pulled her fans as she lunged at the warrior's back, fully intending to pin his arms and put him in a "surrender or die" headlock. What she did not expect was the man's reaction.

Her fans did not wrap around his chest or press into his throat, nor were his hands pinned to his side as they should be. Her fans were in empty space, her arms spread-eagle. She bumped into his back and her arms were ripped down and she was immediately caught in his strong embrace.

His swords, that had been her downfall, she thought as she saw both of them out of their scabbards and stuck in the ground. When she had leapt at his back, Mikado had pulled his swords from his back, knowing what she was intending, and had swept them across his exposed area to deflect her attack. He imbedded his swords in the ground and used his now-free hands to catch her in a backwards hug.

He could feel her pressed up against him, though he could not see her. His mind clouded, his hormones overcame his rational thought and all he could think about was the feel of her warm body pressed against his. He would think about it later, and realize that not only did his emotions not have his best interest at heart, but it was not the only time they betrayed him.

Suki sensed his hesitation and acted upon it. A quick readjustment of her feet and a backwards roll sent the young man spinning on the ground, on his stomach and completely stunned. She did not need encouragement to use this advantage, though she received quite a bit from the girls that lined the walls.

Mikado sensed his opponent coming up on him fast, and did the best he could to roll over onto his back and defend against whatever the agile femme-fatale had planned for him. To his great luck he saw her poised above him halfway through a kick aimed directly at his ribs.

Good, I can win against this, he thought, as he caught her foot and rolled up her leg. He smiled as he saw her face when he bowled her over.

Both combatants recovered with astonishing speed and, to Suki's dismay, Mikado had recovered his swords. She had to get rid of those fast, or their superior reach would be her bane.

Her chance was soon in coming.

Mikado charged forward, one katana outstretched with the purpose of driving right through her midsection. She caught the deadly blade mere inches from running her through and closed her fan on it, clasping the katana firmly within its confines. She was in control of the sword now, and she decided to throw it away.

The earthbender felt his katana being wrenched out of his hand as Suki twisted her fan and threw it toward the wall. Unfortunately his sword went with it and was too far away to think about regaining it.

What Suki didn't see was the second blade coming down on her head. The collective gasp of her students alerted her in time and she spun away, only receiving a graze on her shoulder that cut the cloth, but did not break the skin.

Mikado was also grazed by Suki's remaining fan. As she spun away she lashed out with her other hand and put a long tear in the leather of his chest.

Both warriors smiled at their work when they leapt back and regarded the other. Mikado's blood started to pulse quicker when he saw the large gap of exposed shoulder. Again there were a few tense moments as both of them sized the other up again, now assessing their weaknesses and strengths. And again Mikado was the first to act.

Raising his sword above his shoulder he leapt high into the air and brought it down towards the warrior woman in a powerful arc. She could not escape, that was for sure, and blocking such an attack would be equally useless. All she could do was decide what part of her would take the hit and what she would do just after the strike.

As the blade whistled toward her she raised her arm, intending to slow the attack on her forearm guard, hopefully it would hold and it would not shatter bone.

Seeing this reaction Mikado's face softened, what was he doing? He was attempting to kill her, that's what he was doing. The thought disgusted him as much as the knowledge that he let himself get so caught up in the battle that he forgot just who he was fighting with and that they were sparring. He had to act quickly or nothing could stop her inevitable death.

He pulled the sword to his right at the last moment, glancing off Suki's upraised arm and spun the pommel in his hands, turning the blade flat so that when it struck the ground it would not impale itself in the soft wood.

The smack of metal on wood was followed by a dull thump as the blade reverberated and caused Mikado's arms to wobble a bit as he swung the weapon in a wide arc, taking the girl's feet right out from under her.

Falling flat on her rump, Suki's pride was replaced with humility. The pain that lashed up her spine rapidly dissipated and she spun to her feet, using her fan to strike the man's wrist as he recovered from his swipe.

The sword fell from his nerveless grip as his hand went temporarily numb from the hard wood of the fan. Suki kicked the sword away and it spun into the corner to rest alongside its copy.

That takes care of that, she smirked and crouched low, building her strength for the final lunge.

Mikado massaged his bright red hand, attempting to regain feeling in it when he saw his combatant lunge at him, the fan closed and pointed at his heart. Whether by chance or he was genuinely lucky, he regained movement of his hand at that exact moment and used it to grab Suki's own hand and use her momentum to throw her past him.

She was caught off guard by this sudden movement, but recovered quickly and turned to bring her fan back into his face. She felt the ornate medal headband slip from her head.

Mikado's deft fingers had released the clasp on the back of her head with a quick snap and he yanked it so it slid around and off her brow.

The clang of metal on metal surprised the new students that sat watching, and a few of them even balked at the noise. Expecting a cry of pain from the handsome man, they instead got the retort of a well-placed block.

The headband was firmly wrapped around the fan, stopping it but millimeters from Mikado's nose. He breathed a sigh of relief and pulled one end of the band while at the same time twisting the other, sending the fan sailing through the air and across the room.

Caught off guard yet again Suki could not stop the disposal of her last weapon, nor could she stop the following throw. She was vaguely aware of being pulled forward, and spun about by her arm.

He pulled on her outstretched arm and used his body and legs to spin her past his side once more, only this time, as she moved away from him, he pulled her golden headband in front of her and fastened it back into place, ringing her beautiful hair.

The shock on Suki's face was something he reveled in, his eyes clouded over with the familiar green of mirth. Before she could pull through her daze and attack again he lifted his hand.

"You are a very fine warrior, Suki. I am glad we had this session." He bowed very low, this time dipping his head in submission. "I accept you as an equal, I hope that next time, we will fight side by side. Your skill is something I wish to see more of, it impresses me greatly."

By this time Suki had recovered from her initial shock and, with a smile on her own face, bowed to him. "You also are a fine fighter," she paused, not certain how to continue, she had never planned on apologizing to this man. "I apologize for my earlier treatment, you have every right to be treated like the warrior you are, Mikado."

They both stood and faced each other. Mikado extended his hand, and Suki stepped forward to take it. They shook hands, but what happened next felt like an attack, and she tensed up.

The strong young man pulled the woman by her arm and close to him, using the same hand he spun her around and placed his other on her back. He dipped her low and planted a kiss on her lips. He felt her whole body loosen in his arms for the few seconds they shared.

She immediately tensed up and he knew that his time was over. Sighing he raised her up again and spun her to her feet, facing him. He glanced at her eyes, expecting to see lust, maybe playful revulsion, or even a bit of spite most warrior women share.

What he did not expect was the look of utter shock on her face. His own eyes widened as he beheld her reaction, and he knew he had to leave. If he stayed any longer he risked retaliation, and shame by the girls surrounding him. Which, he noticed were as open-mouthed and wide-eyed as their instructor.

He bowed again hurriedly and gathered up his belongings and briskly walked out the door. Turning back at the portal he stared at Suki for a few short moments, she only looked forward with the same expression. "Thank you ladies, for the enjoyable evening." With that, he left.

Suki tried to recall what had just happened, it took place so fast she wasn't sure it even occurred. The warm tingling on her lips caused her to tentatively lick them, trying to bring moisture back into them; she tasted what was left of Mikado on her, and it reminded her of something. She could not place it immediately, but she knew the familiar taste.

It was when the giggling and the whispering rose to a very audible level did Suki realize where she was.

"Off to bed!" she yelled at the girls, some stood up to obey but other just stared at her. Suki didn't like to repeat herself, "Now!" All the girls rose and bustled out the door, clearly scared by their teacher's fury.

The remaining warrior of Kyoshi still stood in the middle of the now-empty room, trying to piece together the exact events of the night.

She knew she had been kissed, that was for certain. It was a cunning move, very sly, she could not be held accountable for that. The boy had snuck up on her, there was nothing she could do about that.

The kiss had not been rough, nor had it been too soft. It was the kiss of a passionate man to be sure, but it was not that of a sexually-crazed one.

It was a kiss of love.

Her feelings changed from shock, to an analytical view, then to cold rage. Where does he get off, kissing her like that? Her! A warrior of Kyoshi, she was above his rank. Surely she can't be held responsible for such an action!

But then, she thought to herself, why did I return the kiss?

Later, while she was in bed, her dreams haunted with deep gray eyes, she woke with a start. She knew she recognized that taste.

Strawberries.

She licked her lips again, hoping to get another taste of the young man, and, declined the pleasure, fell back asleep.

Her dreams were now filled with handsome eyes of gray and green, and the flavor of strawberries on her lips.

Across the street, Mikado was having similar difficulties finding rest. Every hour or so he would wake, get up from his bed and walk across the moonlit floor to his window. There, he would stare out at the house across the street and a few down for a few minutes, hoping to catch a glimpse of Suki.

This is ridiculous, he thought, there is no way she would come outside at this time of night. His love for the warrior woman was something new to him.

Sure he had lusted after many young girls in his early boyhood, but those only extended to puppy love, and never progressed past the point of holding hands. This new feeling, that of true love, surprised him.

It was quite an awakening. Once he thought that no force in the world aside from the fire lord himself could stop Mikado from achieving his goal. Now, a simple girl had stopped him dead in his tracks and had taken him to his knees with nothing more than a smile.

The young warriors were restless, and could not sleep. What had happened had stunned, killed, and revived both of them, leaving them speechless with barely a brain to function.

Both of them had just received their first kiss.