Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Korra

Year 1

Jinora was trying not to show it, but she was upset. The one downside of becoming an airbending master and getting her tattoos was having to get her head shaved. Her hair would grow back of course, but for the time being, Jinora was bald. So, naturally, when her mom asked her to go pick up some stuff at the market, she had been reluctant. However, her mom had insisted, and Jinora, not wanting her mom to know how insecure she was feeling, gave in. Kai was present and offered to go with her. Jinora tried to tell him he didn't have to come, but Kai was adamant about it.

"It'll be more fun," he claimed. So, Jinora let him come with her. As they strolled through they different stands in the market, searching for a stand selling papayas (they were on her mom's grocery list), Jinora became aware of a group of boys around her and Kai's age, maybe a little bit older, staring and snickering.

"Hey baldie!" one of them called out, "Mind if we use your head? We need a ball." Jinora turned red with embarrassment as the other boys laughed. She felt Kai tense up beside her.

"Why don't you just stay inside? I would rather not have to see your ugly face after I've eaten," the boy who'd said the previous comment said. Jinora felt tears well up in her eyes. Kai had heard enough.

"HEY!" he shouted angrily.

"Kai," Jinora said, trying to stop him to no avail. Kai walked up to the leader of the group.

"Do you know what these tattoos mean? They mean this girl is an airbending master. The first one in years."

"Who are you? Her boyfriend?" the leader of the group said sneering, "If so, why are you dating such a ugly girl? You should dump her while you can and find someone who is at least a tad bit pretty." That was enough for Kai.

"SHUT UP!" Kai roared, drawing back his fist and punching the boy in the face. The boy fell back on his rump, surprised. Warm blood gushed from his nose. The others stood in shock, looking from their ring leader to Kai.

"JUST SHUT UP!" Kai said, "SHE IS AMAZING AND SHE'S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL I HAVE EVER SEEN, SO JUST SHUT YOUR MOUTH."

Jinora blushed at his words. Then she noticed some policemen making their way towards them

"Kai," she said.

"What?" Kai said, not taking his eyes off the boys.

"We should probably go."

Kai turned to look at her and then saw the policemen heading their way. He nodded. But before they left, he turned back to the boys.

"If you ever say something about this girl again, I swear I'll make you wish you weren't born," he said threateningly. The boys nodded fearfully, seeing he meant it. Then Kai walked away with Jinora.

"Kai?" Jinora said.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," she said, placing a light kiss on his cheek and causing Kai to blush furiously.

Year 2

Kai woke up drenched in sweat.

"It was just a dream," he said relieved. He brought his knees to his chest trying to calm his beating heart. He hadn't dreamed about his parents death in ages. Not since he'd become an airbender. So why did he dream about it now?

"I need some fresh air," Kai muttered to himself. He pulled on a shirt and walked out into the cool night air. He soon found himself at the sky bison stables. He walked in, heading towards his bison, Lefty.

"Hey buddy," he said, rubbing his animal friend's head. Lefty made a rumbling sound in response and licked Kai. Kai sat down and rested his back against the sky bison. Suddenly, he heard footsteps. Kai jumped up.

"Who's there?" he asked warily. Jinora came into view and Kai sighed in relief, sitting back down.

"Oh. Hi Jinora."

"Kai? What are you doing out here? It's the middle of the night?" Jinora asked.

"It's nothing," Kai lied. Jinora saw right through him though.

"Kai, please, you know you can tell me," she said gently, joining him on the floor.

"Uh, well, it's just that, um, I had a dream about my parents' death," Kai said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. He'd never been very good at telling people about his parents.

"Do you want to talk about about it?" Jinora asked.

"No, you just being here is fine," Kai said, then blushed realizing the implications of what he said. Jinora blushed too.

"Okay," she said. After all, that's what friends did, right? But Jinora couldn't deny the feelings bubbling up inside of her. She knew she liked Kai, she just didn't know what to do about her feelings. So, for now, she made a silent promise to herself that she would always be there for Kai no matter what.

Year 3

It was a hot summer afternoon and Kai was training. He had taken off his shirt and his muscles glistened with sweat. He was clearly no longer the boy he'd been when he'd first met Jinora, Korra, Tenzin and the others. He had grown taller, his voice had changed, he had grown more muscular. He was no longer the scrawny little orphan he'd once been, and Jinora saw this as she passed by the training airbender. He wasn't the only one who had changed though. Jinora too was no longer the girl she was when she first met Kai. She had her tattoos and her hair had grown back. She had also grown taller. Her breasts had grown and she had become more curvy and developed. She wasn't the young airbender that had offered to help Kai with his airbending anymore and Kai could see this as she passed by him. The one thing that hadn't changed was Kai's feelings for her. Ever since they'd met, he'd had a crush on her, and that crush had turned into an even deeper love. The only problem was, Kai didn't know how to tell her how he felt. How could one just go up to someone and tell them"I love you"? Kai sighed as Jinora disappeared inside the temple. He pulled back on his shirt, no longer in the mood to train. Why couldn't he just do it?

A few weeks later, Jinora was helping Kai with his airbending studies.

"I don't get why we have to learn this," Kai complained.

"It's not all about the bending," Jinora explained patiently, "The culture is just as important." Kai sighed.

"Okay," he said. But as he tried to focus on what Jinora was teaching him about, he lost himself in her beauty. Jinora eventually looked up, feeling the airbender boy's gaze.

"Kai? Are you even paying attention?"

"Huh?"

Jinora sighed.

"Kai," she said, looking him in the eyes, "If you are going to ever become an airbending master, you need to learn this stuff. It might now be as much fun as bending, but it's important." Kai couldn't help but notice just how close she was to him. It would easy to lean over and kiss her. "And why not?" Kai thought. He had been looking for a way to tell her how he felt for weeks now. The more he thought about it, the more appealing the idea seemed. So, when Jinora started talking about him needing to focus, Kai leaned in, closing the rest of the distance between them, and kissed her. Jinora stiffened with surprise, but then, much to Kai's relief, relaxed and kissed him back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. When their lips parted, both were blushing.

"So does this mean you'll be my girlfriend?" Kai asked.

"What do you think?" Jinora asked, smiling before pressing her lips back up against his.