Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar. I own Koima.
My friend is posting this for me.
Chapter 22
No 'thanks' is necessary…
'Oh Agni! I'm lost! I'm lost!' I hadn't paid attention to where I was running, only to the fact that I had to get away. Now I am wandering down the streets trying to find my way back to Zuko's ship. Every street and dark corner looked the same. Had I passed that stall before? I was truly lost. Every noise made me jump, fearing that the thief would jump out and get me once again like he had the first time. My head still hurt from where he pushed me against a wall and stole my necklace from me. The necklace meant nothing, only a pretty thing that would have cost me my life if I had not allowed the man to take it. But what he was going to try next….. I cringed, never again. I could not bare the thought of that happening to me again. Thank Agni for the man in the mask….I owe him a lot, but now…. I stumbled and fell, scratching my knees on the stones. I can't get home: the ship.
Clank…..Clink……ScreechA strange noise seemed to follow me through the alley. It got closer. I swallowed and scrambled to my feet, I must get away. Everything looked dark and menacing. My imagination ran away with me and I could swear that I see Master reaching out for me in the darkness. Stop it! I ran away from Master who then magically turned into a cloak and a broom. I ran aimlessly through the streets, looking for something that I recognized. Frightened tears blurred my vision and I ran into something hard and strong arms seized me, holding me tight!
"NO!" I screamed, hitting at the person who gripped me with powerful hands, "Let go!"
"Koima."
I stopped and looked up into the blue mask. Relief flowed through me and I sagged into his arms, all the strength gone out of my legs. It was not Master. It was not the thief. It was him. He had beaten the thief apparently. Oh thank Agni…
He held me to him tightly as I tried to get a grip on myself. He rubbed my back as if I was a child that had awoken from a nightmare…. That was exactly how it was, it was all a nightmare. They're gone now. It was only him. I had never felt so safe in my life, in his arms. He rested his chin on my head, murmuring words to me that I could not decipher. I sighed and breathed easier now that my heart had returned to normal.
"C'mon." He said, picking me up carefully, "I have to get you back to the ship." He bent down, his back to me, "Get on." His voice didn't sound right, it was too gruff, not matching his stature. He was masking it. I wrapped my arms around his neck and got on his back.
"Are you holding tight?" He asked me. I nodded, "Yes."
He took off and I tightened my hold, he ran like I didn't weigh a thing. That's what Uncle Iroh and Zuko tell me, I weigh less than a barrel of apples. I would be blown away if I was out on deck during a storm.
The Man in the Blue mask seemed to know where he was going. I rested my head on his back…..there, I found the ribbons that held his mask to his face. What if I were to pull one, and find out who he is? 'No.' I shook the thoughts out of my head, 'No, that would not be right. He saved me, and that does not mean I can find out who he is.'
It reminded me of a story my mother use to tell me before she was killed. About a man who was changed into a beast by a sorcerer, and he had to find his true love to break the spell. He found a girl and she stayed at his estate, never knowing who was making her stay. When she would go to bed, when it was dark, she would feel someone get into the bed with her. She couldn't see who it was but she had a feeling that it was male. The person would be gone in the morning, before she awoke. This lasted for a month, then one night her curiosity overcame her and she crawled out of bed, being careful not to wake the person up. She lit a candle and held it to the persons face. It was a beautiful man, sleeping in her bed. He awoke and saw her, and suddenly changed into a beast, the girl screamed and the beast killed her and ended up remaining a beast forever. If the girl had not allowed her curiosity to take control, one more night and the spell would have been broken and the beast would've changed back into a man. And they would've lived 'happily ever after.' But because of her, she harmed herself and caused misery to the beast. That was a rough summary of what my mother had told me. I now understood the moral of the story. Another thing my mother use to say was, "Curiosity kills."
I kept the story in mind and didn't pull the ribbon, no matter how enticing it was. I closed my eyes and the gentle lull beating of the man's heart almost made me fall asleep.
"We're here."
I snapped my head back up. Prince Zuko's ship loomed above us, blotting out the moon. I had been so preoccupied; I hadn't noticed that we had arrived so quickly. Mask took me up the gangplank onto the deck of the ship, he made no noise at all, almost mouse-like. No. A tiger, as dangerous and clever as one. No one was around, it was late and it was obvious that everyone has gone to bed or was busy down below deck, we were alone. Mask kneeled, letting me slide off his back. I landed on the deck and he turned to me. I swallowed, trying to find my voice, "T-Thank you." I said, bowing to him. He untied something from his wrist and handed it to me…me necklace! I took it, "Thank you again." I tied it around my neck and looked back up at him. 'He and Zuko are about the same height…maybe the same.' I thought. How odd to be thinking of Zuko even now?
"I never got to thank you for the Pandalily," I said finally, "Or for rescuing me from the cage." There. I had said it, I had thanked him.
Mask's hand reached out and touched the crystal that hung from my neck, then, he pulled me to him and leaned down, whispering into my ear, "No 'thanks' is necessary." His breath sent a delightful shiver down my spine.
I smiled, "I want to thank you." My hands went up to his mask. He pulled back, I shook my head, "I won't." He relaxed and I gently lifted the mask up, allowing the his mouth to show. I went up on my toes and kissed him.
A thousand things were flashing through my mind, but only one stood out the most: This was the best kiss I have ever had. His mouth was warm and he responded readily; hugging me to him like he would never let go. This was the most passionate kiss I have ever experienced in my life. All I have known were rough, painful kisses, no passion or love while with Master. I kept this moment locked in my mind, forever……
"Koima! Koima!" Iroh's voice cut off the moment.
Mask pulled away and pulled his mask down to cover his face. He turned and ran down the gangplank to the market. I turned and Iroh appeared, his robe was tightly bound around his middle. He looked exhausted, "Koima? What are you doing out here? Zuko told me that you would be back late, but I didn't expect you to be back in the middle of the night."
Good, he hadn't seen anything. I was relieved, "I'm sorry Uncle. I wandered around the market awhile to clear my head. I'm sorry if I worried you."
Uncle Iroh yawned loudly, "Well come inside, Koi. It's late." He turned and walked away. I took one last look at the market and nodded, turning back to Iroh and following him inside. Iroh ushered me to my room, "It is not wise to be out so late, Koima. Strange people are always out…..strange people…strange men." I looked up at him sharply, "Excuse me?" Had I heard him right? Did he say strange men? Had he seen me and the man in the mask,
Iroh shook his head, yawning again, "-YAWN- Hmm. Nothing. Just be careful Koima. Goodnight."
I went into my room and Iroh left and headed down the hall. I undressed and crawled into my bed, pulling the sheets up to me chin. My mind wandered to what had transpired that day. Hatus, Akiro…the necklace. I touched the cool smoothness of the crystal, tracing the edges. The thief……and the man in the blue mask. I sighed, smiling to myself. I could still feel his lips on mine, I giggled. It was my first kiss….well… one that I had wanted. I remembered trying to fight Master to get off me, his slobbering kisses hard and bruising my lips. At first I fought him, I had always hoped that one day I would hit Master in one place and it would kill him. But it hadn't happened. I stopped fighting when I realized that he liked it when I fought him, it 'excited' Master. A shiver of revulsion racked my body and I pressed myself into remembering the man in the blue mask. Back to better memories.
But had Uncle Iroh seen him? What he said made me wonder. I closed my eyes, and fell asleep. Dreaming of crystals and sweet kisses.
; Zuko;
Zuko snuck back on board of his ship as quiet as a butterfly in flight. 'That was close…too close. I was almost discovered.' This thought vanished as Zuko remembered the kiss. Oh finally he had been able to kiss those perfect lips. But she had not kissed him, she had kissed 'The Blue Spirit' He remembered sadly. 'This fucking sucks.' Zuko sighed and slipped into his room and took off the mask, untying his hair from its straight braid.
"Hello Prince Zuko."
Zuko whirled around. Uncle Iroh sat in a chair, watching him intently with a amused look on his face. Uncle raised an eyebrow, "So that's where my old mask went."
Uh oh Sheeeyit! BUSTED! Big time!
Sorry it's been awhile! I got in some deep shit of my own with my parents. Over my BIOLOGY HONORS grade………Grrr…ONE FUCKING POINT BELOW A (C)!
Yea yea, I know. That kiss scene was a whole lot like Spiderman. I didn't mean it to! I swear! It just….happened!
Well, anywayz. I've been down at the FloraBama for a few days. Hanging out with my Grandparents and my Uncle and Aunt. There was a sign, where I was. It said "Do not Feed or Aggravate the Alligators" Hahaha…heheee (nervous giggle) I saw 7 of them out there. The largest was a 12 footer, the smallest, 3 footer. Call me Steve!
My dad is up in Alaska with my Grandpa and Uncle John: Bear Hunting. I'm not proud of it. My dad is hunting for sport, killing BALU! In disappointed in him. He won't be back until June 9th. My bet is on the Bear. Hehe.
Anywayz, How are ya'll?
Me and Tiamat are doing great.
I saw the new episode of Avatar. Uncle Iroh is not going to die…yet, at least. He still has to explain about his trip to the Spirit world. And he has to have a flash back and we get to see what his old wife and son looked like. Also…he's a major character: That means that if he dies, the Avatar production will be shut down because a lot of kids are gonna cry and parents will complain. They will not kill a major character. Iroh is just too cool!
Well, I thinks that's all I have to say, at least for right-----wait! Haha! Do you remember me saying that Ty-Lee and Sokka would look cute together! I think they will! (squeal!)
Zuko/Katara
Sokka/Ty-Lee
Aang/Toph or Meng
Mai/Jet…… I think it can happen. Call me crazy, but I have the weirdest feeling….Okay, you can call me crazy! But it's just a thought.
Azula/Jet…..That's if Azula doesn't die that is. I've read a story about it. A while back ago before I had an account.
Okay, that's enough of my ramble. Have a good day, a good night, whenever you read this!
