"Luca… I wish you were here…" I said as I cried myself to sleep.

Chapter 6: Explanations

"Mmm…" I mumbled into my warm, furry pillow. Furry? I cracked open my eye, looking through the groggy haze of sleep. White coat of fur… a Sky Bison's coat! I realized, as I found myself cradled underneath the head, between it and the arm.

Luca? I smiled as I hugged the Sky Bison tight, finally inhaling his scent once again. Wait a minute… this isn't Luca's scent! I frowned. I scrambled out from the embrace that had made my bed, taking a good look into the eyes of this Sky Bison.

"You're not Luca," I said, disappointed at not being able to reunite with my companion. "Well then, who are you, big guy?"

"His name's Appa!" I heard a voice introduce. Oh no, it's—

"He's my Sky Bison," Aang said, popping up with a way-too-big smile. He had been lying on Appa's back, hidden from my sight. Aang, I thought uneasily. I watched him carefully examine me. I could see by his face that he was sort of expecting me to break into tears again.

I quickly turned around, embarrassed at having him see me cry so hard. But, I feel like a ton of weight has been lifted off. It must have just been time to have a good cry, I reasoned, not noticing that the boy had dismounted Appa.

"Are…are you okay?" I heard Aang ask me, softly.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied. I turned back around, to see him standing a foot from me, looking worried. When did he get that close to me? I jumped back, startled at the closeness. I couldn't stop the heat that rose to my cheeks. I looked up into his eyes and saw guilt. Why does he look guilty? I wondered, forgetting where I was for a moment. He mistook my silence for anger, and started apologizing.

"Lily! I'm really, really, really, really sorry about what I said yesterday! Please forgive me!" Aang bowed his head down to me. I was surprised! Oh yeah, I remembered, thinking about what had happened yesterday and picturing it through his point of view. He must think I was crying that much over what he said!

I started laughing at this. Aang lifted his head with a curious expression, probably wondering why I was laughing at his apology. If I don't stop, I thought, he might think I'm really insane!

"Haha! Wow that was a good laugh!" I giggled, starting to get back to normal. "Aang, why I was crying yesterday, it wasn't your fault! Well…actually, you did start it, so it sort of is… BUT! What I'm trying to say is that I never really… grieved properly after everything that happened to me. I had bottled it all up inside, trying to stay strong, but we all need our moments of weaknesses. Mine just came at a bad time," I joked weakly.

"Oh," Aang said, pondering over what I just said.

"I should actually be thanking you, Aang, because now I feel a great deal better!" I explained, giggling. I didn't want to see Aang before because I was embarrassed about the way I acted, not because I was angry.

"So…you're not mad?" Aang suspiciously asked.

"No. Maybe at first I was, but now, nope," I answered, seeing him exhale a big sigh in relief.

"Good, because there's something I've been wanting to ask you," he said, his eyes lighting up. My head cocked to the side, wondering what he was going to ask. "Who's Luca?" Aang asked innocently. Ah! I felt like I was in a state of shock.

"Why—no, more like where did you hear that?" How did he know Luca's name?

"Well, I'll just start from the beginning. I came to find you after you flew off, and Appa and I finally found you in this cave, asleep and shivering. So, we decided it was best to not move you, and Appa cuddled with you while you slept. You were talking in your sleep, talking about someone named 'Luca.' Plus, you said his name to Appa, saying 'You aren't Luca!' So, who's Luca?" Aang asked, leaning in closer to me. I automatically turned pale. I was talking in my sleep?

"Um, Aang, what exactly did you hear me say when I was sleeping?"

I saw him scratch his head, and smile sheepishly, avoiding eye contact with me. "Haha…Well, um, how should I say this… You were talking to this 'Luca' and asking him if he would mind if you dyed him purple, and then you started to argue about—"

"HAHA NEVERMIND! Please don't say another word about that!" I requested, my embarrassment rising to a new level. I didn't know I talk in my sleep! Why do my dreams have to be so weird? I complained to myself.

"So…" Aang started, catching my attention. "Are you going to answer my question?"

"Huh?" What were we talking about before?

"Who's Luca?" Oh right.

"Luca is my best friend. He's my Sky Bison!" I said excitedly. "We've been together since I was six years old. He was my only friend, and we understand each other so well!" I was about to continue when Aang interrupted my rant.

"You didn't have any friends beside Luca?" He asked concern on his face.

"Well, I mean, everyone was kind, but…the Nuns separated me from everyone else when I was young, too young to remember. I trained hard to master Airbending, so it didn't matter anyways because I wouldn't have had time to play with them. I had to sneak out at night to the Sky Bison Stable just to see Luca most of the time!"

"Weren't you lonely?" Aang whispered. I looked at him and saw the pity in his eyes.

"At times, I was," I answered, quietly. "But, I had Luca. He was everything I could ask for in a friend, and I consider him my closest family! If I got lonely, Luca would make me feel all better!" I said, stronger than when I had started.

"I want to meet Luca!" Aang yelled, getting excited to meet my companion.

"Aang, weren't you listening while I was talking to the Council?" I wondered, knowing that I definitely did talk about what happened. Aang all of a sudden blushed.

"You see, haha, I had been trying to figure out a good way to eavesdrop without being found out, so it took me a while," Aang explained, looking down. "When I finally found the window, and started to peek in, a gust of wind hit me in the face and knocked me down." That must have been when I executed the Air Rings!

"I got back up to the window around the time the Council was arguing. I peeked in, hoping not to get hit again in the face, and I saw you sitting there. I was wondering who you were until I heard Monk Dewei, in his obnoxiously loud voice, say 'Sister Lilyanne needs to know who the Avatar is!' So, when I fell in and met you, I guessed that you were Lilyanne. I'm a pretty good guesser," Aang bragged.

So, I started, figuring out what he knew, all he heard was the Council arguing and me demand who the Avatar is… And that's it. He didn't even hear about the "Beloved" stuff!

"Aang, do you know what the 'Beloved' is?" I asked cautiously.

"That's you!" I gave him a confused expression, and he kindly explained. "After you flew off, the Monks told me why we were to get married, you being the 'Beloved' and such. So anyways, why did you ask me if I was listening to the Council?"

"Oh… that makes sense. Well, you want to meet Luca, right?" Aang nodded his head vigorously. "If you had been listening the whole time, you would have heard me tell the Elders that Luca and I got separated when my home was attacked."

"The Eastern Air Temple," Aang stated.

"Yes. Luca and I split ways, seeing that I had to come here, while we gave the task of protecting a group of young girls to Luca. We went in opposite ways. With him are the only other survivors besides me that I know of. I don't know where he is, or if they are even still…alive…" I stared into the blackness of the cave we were in. "So, that's why you can't meet him!" I said, my voice trying to conjure up a more cheery tone. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and looked up to meet Aang's eyes.

"You'll see him again," he told me confidently. "And I will meet him when you see him again!"

"Okay! It's a deal!" I laughed. Aang smiled at me, and I returned the smile.

"Wow…" Aang started.

"What?" I asked, looking around to see what he was amazed at.

"That's the first time I saw you smile!" He told me running off toward Appa.

"Aang!" I shouted, as he and Appa were about to fly off from the mouth of the cave.

"Come and catch us Lily!" Appa growled amused, and with that, they were off into the sky.

"This will be fun," I said to myself. I picked up my glider from where I had left it on the floor, snapped it open, and started the long chase.

After that fun game of tag between me, Appa, and Aang, we rode on Appa back to the Southern Air Temple. We watched the last light of day disappear beyond the horizon, revealing some stars.

"The sky is so big and pretty; it makes me forget all my problems!" I sighed happily, moving so that I was lying on my back.

"How does the sky being so big and pretty make you forget all your problems?" Aang teased.

"I don't know! It just does…" I defended, getting lost in the sereneness of the beginning of night.

"Do you know why I said I didn't want to marry you?" Aang asked me softly. I gazed over at Aang to see him already studying my face.

"Okay," I agreed, curious to know the reason behind his rejection.

"It was because I can't marry someone who I don't love," he said seriously. "I like you, but I don't love you… or at least not yet," he admitted hurriedly. I understand what he's saying!

"I get where you're coming from. I feel the same way: I like you, but… it's not love yet," I realized. "I never thought of marriage in that kind of way; it was just something I had to do because the Nuns told me to. But, thank you, Aang, for your honesty with me, it's helped me realize," I finished, grinning. Aang and I stared at each other for a moment, and then started laughing at the serious atmosphere. I got up and looked around, seeing an outline of the Southern Air Temple in the distance.

"Will the Monks be mad we were out so late?" I asked, biting the bottom of my lip.

"I don't think so; they were more worried about you since you, you know," Aang laughed while I flushed red with embarrassment. I'm definitely going to do a lot of apologizing!

As we landed on the ground, Monk Gyatso came running towards us.

"Lily, thank god you're okay!" He said, obviously relieved.

"Yeah, haha, I'm really sorry about what happened—" I started, but was cut off.

"No, it's about Monk Tashi…we can't find him anywhere!" Monk Gyatso exclaimed. Aang and I exchanged worried glances. Where did Monk Tashi go?

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End of Chapter 6!
Ahhh! Well I finally finished this chapter! I did indeed go over the time limit (?) of two days, so I'm realllyyyyy sorryy! (hahah now I sound like Aang)
But, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and found it satisfying. Aang and Lily have become some pretty good friends, right? :) Now, we are left to wonder what happened to Monk Tashi... Hmm... hahaha

Please tell me if you think I should improve on something, or if you weren't happy with this chapter. I'd reallllly appreciate that! I want all the help I can get ;)

I don't know when I will update, but at most, it will be a week, but at least three days, so 3-7 days the next chapter will come out. (That way I'll have more time to make the next chapter good, I hope)

Again, reviews are happily read :) So for those who have reviewed, I love you guys :D Anyways haha please review!