Chapter 14 – Pretty Close
The sun had barely risen the next morning when Keisha woke up. After getting dressed, she made her way downstairs and when she got to the kitchen, Korin was already up making his breakfast. Keisha, with an urge for mischief, decided to sneak up on him and give him a scare. "I know you're there Keisha," states Korin, thwarting her plan.
"Awww, how did you know?" she pouted as he turned to face her.
"I heard you coming down the stairs," he replied with a smirk.
"How did you know it was me?" she asked.
He walks over to her and wraps his arms around her waist, "Because you are the only one with footsteps that light," he answers softly.
"Oh, right, the disadvantages of being small," she mutters, leaning her head against his chest.
"You're only ten, of course you're small," he states matter-of-factly.
"That doesn't help much," she mutters.
"Don't worry about it too much, you'll get bigger when you get older," he informs her with a sigh.
"Easy for you to say, you aren't small and you're only one year older than me," she argues.
"Keisha, I'm a boy, of course I'm bigger than you; I'm always going to be bigger than you," he argues back.
Keisha sighs in defeat after realising he was right and that she didn't want to argue with him. "I'm sorry, I guess I'm just wound up with all that's been happening," she says.
"That's okay," he replies softly.
With that he pulls her into a kiss, after pulling away, he kisses her on her forehead, "Come on, let's have breakfast and then you can introduce me to your Animal Guide, how does that sound?" he asks her.
"Okay," she says, so they have breakfast, and head out for the docks while leaving a note for the adults.
Just like on the way to Ba Sing Se, it took hours for them to reach the docks. When they got there, there was nothing to see. "Where is she?" asks Korin.
"Do you really think she's going to hang out in the open?" Keisha asks him in exasperation.
"I suppose not," he answers. With that, Keisha whistles for Bronte, and within seconds, she comes out of the water, "Wow, she's huge," Korin states.
"Of course she is," Keisha points out as if it was obvious she would be.
Well who have we here? asks Bronte.
"Whoa, what was that?" asks Korin.
"What was what?" asks Keisha , confused as to what he was talking about.
I…I think he can hear me, says Bronte in confusion, though for a different reason than Keisha.
"Wait, that was her?" he asks.
Yes, that was indeed me, replies Bronte.
"You can hear her?" Keisha asks in surprise.
"Yeah, it would seem so," he says in amazement.
Keisha, who is this boy to you? Bronte suddenly asks.
"Ah, normally I'd say 'best friend,' but that is no longer accurate; now I'd say he's my boyfriend," Keisha answers, making both children blush.
Ah, then perhaps that is it; you are very close, so he can hear me also, suggests Bronte.
"Yeah, that actually makes sense," replies Keisha.
Yes, now are you going to introduce me? Bronte asks.
"Oh right, Bronte, this is Korin, the Fire Nation's Prince. Korin, this is Bronte, my Animal Guide," says Keisha.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Bronte," says Korin with a bow only a prince could pull off.
The pleasure is mine Prince Korin, says Bronte with a bow of her head. As you are both close with Keisha and able to hear me, I'm as much your Animal Guide as I am hers.
"But I'm not the Avatar!" Korin exclaims.
Yes, but you are her man and so have every right to ride me as she does, replies Bronte while chuckling at the blush those words caused for the two children.
"Oh well okay, and please, call me Korin, it isn't right for you, as a friend, to call me Prince, especially if I'm to ever ride you," Korin says with a sigh.
"Well, I'm glad you two get along, that makes life a lot easier," says Keisha.
"Yeah, me too, so wha-what is that over there?" he suddenly asks, pointing off into the distance.
The two females turn to where he's pointing, "I can't tell from here," replies Keisha.
It looks like a boat, sort of like the boats I see from your people Keisha, says Bronte.
"You can see from here?" Keisha asks.
Yes, I have very good vision and my eyes are also larger than yours, answers Bronte.
"Well if it's a Southern Water Tribe boat, then your mother must have sent whoever's on it to inform Toph of what happened to you," says Korin.
"Yeah, maybe," Keisha says.
By looking at him, I can tell that he's from the Water Tribe with his tanned skin, but he hasn't got the usual blue eyes, states Bronte.
Both Keisha and Korin's eyes widen, "Are his eyes grey?" Keisha asks.
Why yes, do you know who it is? Bronte asks.
"Yes, it's my brother, he was planning on coming here and must be using that as a reason to tell Toph what happened to me," suggests Keisha.
"Mmmm, shall we go out and give him a greeting on Bronte?" asks Korin mischievously.
"We shall and it gives you an opportunity to ride Bronte for the first time," answers Keisha.
With that, they got on Bronte's head and headed towards Hiro's boat.
When they got there, the first thing they heard was priceless, "AHHHHHHHH, Unagi," which obviously came from Hiro.
"Oh, Hiro, shut up, her name is Bronte," Keisha yells at him.
"Keisha?" Hiro exclaims as his eyes widen.
"Hey bro," Keisha says as her and Korin jump off of Bronte to land in Hiro's boat.
The first thing that greets Keisha is a bone-crunching hug, "It's great to see you too bro, but can you let me go; I can't breathe," she says trying to catch her breath.
"Oh, sorry, but I haven't seen you in weeks and you've had the entire village worried sick about you," he says with tears in his eyes.
"Wow dude, I've never seen you cry," states Korin.
"Pleasure as always Korin," Hiro says as the two boys give each other a handshake.
"I'll tell you what happened when we get back to Ba Sing Se," Keisha says.
"Yes, but first, why were you riding the Unagi and why is it following us?" he asks.
"Not it Hiro, she is my Animal Guide and her name is Bronte," Keisha scolds him.
"You really have a lot to explain when we get to Ba Sing Se," Hiro says with a sigh.
OMG, I'm sorry that this hasn't been updated in a veeery long time, but I started another story and that got more reviews, plus lots of people telling me to update quickly. So now this year, as a year 12 student, I'm going to take initiative and update all of my stories as much as I can.
I also hope to make my stories better, fingers crossed I don't get another serious case of writer's block like the last one I had; it killed me not to be able to update. But since I am in year 12, I won't be able to update as much as I would like since my mother will be looking over my shoulder constantly to make sure my homework and assignments are done. Man I hate those, but I want a good OP, so I'll be doing them more than my stories.
My life is sad but still, Seza out.