Book 1: AIR

CHAPTER 8:

LOVERS' GLANCES

The alpha set the group down on an island to the west. It was sparse at the beach but grew wild with life further in. "Are we there yet?" Long-hin asked as he drowsily woke up from his nap.

"I don't think it had much of a destination." Bakiko snapped as she shook Ran-fo awake.

"No, he didn't." Jip said as she rolled off the bison. "But it did get us somewhere far away from that general guy."

"Oh goody." Kan remarked sarcastically as he too jumped down from the beast's back. Aer looked around and patted the bison's head.

"Thanks for your help." Aer said as she un crossed her legs. She grabbed a horn and lowered herself to the ground. "It was nice of you to help us for this week, but I think we're good on our own now." She reached into the food bag and gave him another apple. He received it and nuzzled Aer. "Oh, come on now." Aer said as she laughed.

"Let it stay if it really wants too." Long-hin said as she took his mat to the closest sandy part. "We can always use him if more trouble pops up." He unrolled his mat and went to bed.

The sun did not agree with this however. Long-hin rolled over as the sun rose in the east.

"We can't go to bed now." Jip said as she lifted the blanket to see if Long-hin was still awake. He pulled it out of her hands and threw it over his head. "You slept on Alpha all the way here."

"Oh, have we decided to name it now?" Bakiko shot as he and Ran-fo set about setting up the campfire.

"Well, if he's going to be in our group he's going to need a name." Jip said in her innocent voice.

"True, we will need to refer to him as something other than bison." Aer said as she stroked him.

"How about diner?" Kan said dryly as he sat down. Alpha growled at him but Kan remained unfazed.

"Stop that." Aer said in reproach to Kan. She looked at the food sack and then flung it at him. He caught it with air and set it down in front of him. "We're almost out. This place looks good for food. Why don't we go and get some?"

"Oh, I'll help." Jip said as she got up and ran towards Aer. Aer sighed and stopped her.

"Actually, I just want Kan to come with me." Jip face fell as she went back to the group. Aer looked down at Kan. He got the message and got up. He swung the bag over his shoulder and walked towards the woods.

"Don't do anything dirty while you're gone." Long-hin shouted from under his blanket. Kan shot a fire ball at the blanket. Long-hin cried and quickly put it out with water bending. "That's the third time this week!"

"Don't go for broke then." Kan shot over his shoulder. Aer whipped her arm around Kan's elbow and they walked off in search of food.

Kizu made his way towards the shopping district of the town. It was a mountain region with small patches of grassland around. The autumn wind still blew away the winter chill for now. Everyone was bundled up in the newest fashions from around the continent and were seen doing only what was considered sociable.

This was the city of Pathigo. It was one of the largest and most influential cities in what would one day be known as the Earth Kingdom. They were the center of sea trade and were up to date with the newest gadgets items and had very few roads that were not decorated in splendor. A large mountain was beside of it, hiding the only city to rival Pathigo's fame.

That was the city of Kilmojo. It was held in the highest honor as the first city to ever exist. The people had banded together to form a new from of stable government and to start establishing a permanent economy. It was far behind Pathigo in terms of items and new fads, but it made up for it by being the biggest city to manufactured goods and had the fastest ships and carts. They were prompt and efficient, something Pathigo was not near enough to.

These two cities were in a dead lock for power of the area. Pathigo appealed to the dreamers and those who sought a fun life. Kilmojo appealed to those who loved a being in a stable environment and to live in a city held in high regards with the world. Kilmojo barely had any taxes on its people because of all the trade they exported. Pathigo had what could be considered many taxes with just as many perks.

Kizu walked into Pathigo with no qualms from anyone around, despite his obviously out of style clothes. He made his pack more comfortable to his shoulder and walked up to the nearest store. "I'm looking for work." Kizu said. The shopkeeper looked him up and down. He was a lanky man with not much hair on his head.

"A little young aren't you." The man said as he scratched his head.

"I'm only fourteen sir." Kizu said with a bow. "I don't think I'm that worthless."

"Any previous work?"

"I did help as an attendant on a farm." Kizu said. "I'm no stranger to hard labor."

"Okay, I'll take you on as a delivery boy." The man banged the counter and held out his hand. "But when I ask for results, you better deliver twice what is asked of you."

"I'll do my best." Kizu shook his hand and got information on when to report there tomorrow for work. He left and decided to find an inn for him to stay at. He couldn't pay rent right now, but he would find a way. On his way, he entered the high end of the city, situated near a small lake and a high mountain behind it. There stood one of the largest houses Kizu had ever seen. It looked like a palace from the outside, yet had the feeling of a garden. There were large marble walls surrounding the house, which was situated on top of a small hill. Fountains were running in the yard and plants and small statues decorated the lawns. The house had peaked roofs and was made of the same marble that made the wall. It was white with a gold and black trim.

Kizu stopped to admire the house, one of many in the most fashionable cities around. He looked at the fountains and statues and leaned up against the gate. He wandered up to the windows, which were draped in the finest silk. One window stood out from the rest. It had a small balcony with a small birdbath on the ledge. Pink satin was blowing in the wind and the water from the bowl dribbled down into a pool below. Sitting with one leg dangling over the ledge was a beautiful woman. She had long black hair and rosy cheeks. Her skin was delicate and she was wrapped in a fine dress of pink and red with white flowers sown onto it. She was staring sadly into the pool below as the wind seemed calm around her.

"Hey! You there. Move along now!" a guard shouted at Kizu, who had become enwrapped in the girl above. "Don't let me catch you around here again." Kizu took off and gave a look back. The girl was watching him, the action having drawn her eye. She looked stolid and got up. She walked back inside and the curtains whipped closed behind her. Kizu knew he would see her again.

Aer's arm was still wrapped around Kan's elbow as they entered the woods. Kan gave a looked back and his hand quickly slid down into hers. Aer looked at their hands and then at Kan, who showed no sign of emotion. "If you're going to hold my hand, at least do it with meaning." Aer snapped as she withdrew her hand. Kan looked at her.

"Did you expect anything from me?" Kan asked as he glanced her over. Her posture said keep away.

"I'm just saying that you seem all cuddly and lovely to me at times and then just take these little things for granted." Aer picked up the pace as the sun began to rise higher into the sky.

"What does a hand hold really show but attachment?" Kan asked as he walked up to her.

"It shows affection. It shows that you care. Not that I'm tied to your every whim." Aer threw the bag over her shoulder and pushed past a bush. Ahead of them was a large field of flowers. The sun lit up the dew resting on the petals, illuminating the colors and making the field glow. "It's beautiful!" Aer said in amazement.

"So, this is what you mean?" Kan said as he stared uncaring to the beauty in front of him.

"This is not what I mean with our relationship." Aer snapped as she set off into the field, leaving a small flame behind her. Kan followed cautiously. Aer knelt down by some large purple flowers with thick petals.

"This is extremely lovely." Aer said as she touched the flower. It opened wider and grew higher. She stroked a petal and it curled, dropping the dew off of its delicate surface.

"Do I have to agree with that?" Kan asked as he crouched down next to her. Aer looked at him.

"Why are you always so secluded?" She put her hands, folded, on her legs and stared at him. Kan averted her gaze and shrugged.

"It's just who I am."

"Really?"

"Yes." Aer turned away, not satisfied with the answer. "You seem to be open enough with me."

"That's because I like you." Kan said as he sat fully on the soft ground.

"Really?" Aer turned her head slightly towards him. "So you only open up to those you like?"

"Yeah." Kan turned away from her. "No one else would get me."

"I get you."

"That's why I talk to you!" Kan quickly turned back to her, some dew flying off the flowers. One flower turned into ice between the two. Aer looked down at it. Kan pointed to it. "This is what I've felt every day of my life. Like I could do that. None of you have ever felt like that! Even now, when you can bend, you still don't get me at all." Kan put his head on his knees and Aer sighed slightly. She put a hand on the stem of the frozen flower.

The flower thawed. "See. You're not completely alone." Aer said softly, indicating that she too could do what he did. Kan turned back to Aer and slowly looked to the flower. He put a hand out to it. Their hands touched for a moment.

In that moment, the flower burst into flame and withered in a pathetic heap. Aer looked away from Kan.

"See. I'm still alone in many ways." Kan got up and left through the flowers, the bag slung over his shoulder. Aer glanced back at him.

"You're not alone with me." Aer said softly after him, still leaving emotions unsaid.

Kizu passed by the house again the next day. He made sure the guard was not around as he stared through the gate towards the girl's window. She was there again, sitting by the small bubbler and combing her hair. Her gaze was off towards the mountain in the distance. The mountain was not that tall, but it would be a difficult trek to go up. It was still within easy walking distance of the estate though. The girl's eyes always wandered to it.

Kizu leaned against the gate harder, to try and see if he could see where the girl was looking to. The gate creaked and he fell forward onto the pathway. He got up quickly and, absentmindedly, bent the soil off of himself with a combination of earth and air bending. He looked up and saw the girl staring down at him, comb in hand and a look of surprise on her face.

"Hi." Kizu said faintly. He waved but the girl did not respond. "I'll just be going then." Kizu lowered his head and went out the gate.

"Wait." A soft voice called in reply. Kizu stopped, more stunned by the voice itself than the actual request. He turned and saw the girl, a hand raise slightly in the air. "Please, come here." Kizu looked around to make sure that she was not talking to someone else and made towards the balcony.

"Did you call for me?" Kizu asked as he stared up at her. She looked far more entrancing up close than from afar.

"Yes, I did." The girl said. She put both hands on the balcony ledge. "I was just curious, since you seem different, if you know him."

"Know who?" Kizu asked.

"The man on the mountain." The girl said as she gestured to the mountain. Kizu turned and looked. From this angle, he could make out someone sitting on the top of the mountain. It was not clear enough to make out any physical features or specific parts, but it was easy enough to discern that it was in fact a man.

"I do not know him." Kizu said as he turned back to the girl, who was once again entrapped in her trance. "Why do you ask?"

"Well. We've been staring at each other for a while now. It started a couple of weeks ago. I was sitting on this balcony, staring off at the mountain as always. But, I saw this person climb to the top from the other side of the mountain. We just, glanced at each other but, we haven't seen each other face to face." She put her hand to her check and held it there.

"Do you want me to check on him for you?" Kizu asked.

"No. That's kind of you but I would rather meet him myself. I was only wondering if you knew information on him." The girl said. "Though, if you do find out anything on him, I would be very happy to hear it."

"Okay, but I don't think your guard would be that happy." Kizu said as he stared at where the guard had been the day before.

"Don't worry. Here." The girl detached a brooch from her chest and tossed it down to Kizu. "It is my family seal. Show it to the guard and he will admit you."

"Uh-huh. And what if he asks me who I'm looking for? What will I do then?" Kizu looked at the brooch and then up at the girl, who had a hand clutched to her chest.

"Tell him that you are an honored guest of Oma." The girl said. "Good afternoon. Hopefully our paths will cross again."

"I hope so too." Kizu said, silently hoping that the mountain man would never pop up in his path for the girl's affections. He turned and exited through the gate with a final look back. Oma was still sitting on her balcony, staring off at the mountain.

It wasn't terribly bad on top of the mountain, but it wasn't too pleasant either. There was a sharp chill and some harsh winds. But he took no notice of it. He would have sat there forever if just to see the beautiful girl sitting on her balcony. The spot was special to him. He was sitting on a bench with a cherry blossom tree planted next to it.

The man's name was Shu.

Little did he know, that Oma and Shu would someday impact the world with their love.