5---

The reason Suki had not been seen all that morning was because she was deep in thought.

Before the sun had risen she had donned her clothes and makeup and made the long walk up the hill behind the town towards Kyoshi's shrine. This is where most of her day was spent, it wasn't until late afternoon that her mind cleared and she made a decision. Well, she didn't make the decision; Kyoshi had made it for her.

As she sat before the past avatar's picture, she desperately asked herself questions. "What should I do? How can I continue seeing…" she paused, "Mikado without feeling something?" At this she looked up at the avatar's painting and spoke to, what she assumed was herself. "I know that as a proud warrior of Kyoshi I am sworn to celibacy. But this boy makes me feel things that I cannot control, even with a fighter's determination. What can I do?"

The question had obviously penetrated the twisting astral planes, for the spirit of the tall earth-bending avatar heard it, and she had decided to respond to her best pupil.

"You ask a question I cannot plainly answer, young one."

Suki was startled at the booming response and jerked back in fear.

"Do not fear me, my proud warrior. I have taken interest in you, and your situation." Kyoshi's voice was loud in her ears, she could be certain everybody on the island would hear. Yet the avatar's voice was soft, like that of a mother, and she knew that it was only for her.

"What would you have me do, my sensei?" Suki genuflected on the floor to the image of the powerful earthbender.

"If I told you that you will be held to your vows and you could never see this man again?" the spirit inquired.

Suki thought a moment, and carefully choosing her words responded, "I would ask your forgiveness humbly and return my ceremonial kimono and headdress and resign from your teachings."

Suki did not expect a laugh, she expected scorn, or even rage, but when the booming mirth came, it rocked her senses. "Indeed! You are a fine warrior, Suki, one that I would not want to lose. More than that, you are a fine woman with a good soul." The past avatar regarded her disciple and, leaning close, she laid her hand on the girl's shoulder. "I give you leave from your vows," Suki looked up, tears of joy in her eyes, "More so, I give you my blessing. This Mikado is a great and powerful earthbender, with respect not only towards the other nations and those fighters equal with him, but also to those who are weak and otherwise beneath him. He is a kind man Suki, but his passion for you is burning him up inside."

She took a few more long moments to stare into the girl's lovely eyes, ones that looked very much like her own, she noticed. "I fear that even if I refused you, and you did not see him again, he would perish for lack of you." She picked Suki up and gave her a warm hug, like that from a mother to a daughter. "Go to him Suki, and as a stand in for the mother you lost early on, I beg of you to find happiness." She paused and smiled, "In this man, I see it."

The image of Kyoshi faded into the darkening sunset. Tears still running down her cheek, Suki ran out into the waning light and down the hillside. "Thank you, Avatar." She said through her constricting feelings.