AN: Sorry for the delay! Sorry for the short chapter too! But I have papers (yes, plural!) due soon and I'm pretty sure my professors won't accept "but I was busy writing fic for my otp!" as an excuse. /o\ So please be patient and I promise it will all be worth it! ;D

Ch 27- Koh

The landscape wasn't very different. Lots of shallow pools of water, trees scattered in all directions, vines traveling every which way, but not one raindrop fell from the sky. Even without that last bit of telling information, once Aang opened his eyes, he knew he was back in the Spirit World. Not only was his bending gone, not only were Appa and Momo absent again, but he could sense Toph nearby. That was a new development. One he did not waste time pondering the meaning of or its significance. There was no time to lose.

At once his legs started moving and then he was running, faster and faster. Fortunately (and unfortunately), Aang knew exactly where he needed to go.

...

"Says you, I ain't buying," Toph droned, her words spoken with an air of supreme indifference.

Internally, she was so furious and beyond terrified, she fought not to be overwhelmed at having a conversation with this spirit for an inordinate amount of time. At least, it seemed that way to her. Worse still, the feelings she experienced during her nightmares seemed to have been carried over to this place and this moment, magnifying the intensity of the situation. The one thing keeping her from losing her cool, helping her stay in control, was knowing Twinkles was nowhere near this creep.

The way Koh moved so suddenly, abruptly changing one face to another, towering over her, invading her personal space, breathing down her neck, it would be incredibly jarring for anyone, but even more so for one who only had a few hours experience with any sort of visual context. It took every ounce of Toph's resolve not to react. Once—just once—her eyes grew a fraction too wide when Koh launched himself at her only to stop a breath away...

Toph knew that was it. She had shown too much emotion and Koh had won. She knew what came next and desperate tears filled her eyes but did not fall. Luckily for her, the Face Stealer must have somehow, miraculously missed the surprised look he caused because he continued his soliloquy as though she had not made the hugest mistake that should've cost her everything. Koh went on, mentioning something about a previous avatar and the woman who was to be his wife, his arrogance, her innocence. Toph hardly paid attention, focusing all her energy in trying to come up with a way out of there, away from that damn spirit who had chased after her so many nights in a row, she'd all but lost count the times he caught her only to cause immeasurable pain. Despite all that, outwardly, (except for that one time) Toph's expression remained so relaxed, she looked almost bored.

"What would be the purpose of my lying to you now?" Koh questioned, circling her again.

"You tell me. It's why you wanted me here, right?"

That mask he first greeted her with was back. The ghostly white in stark contrast with the dark circles around the eyes, and the way those red lips curved into a mocking smile sent chills down her spine. Seemingly unfazed, Toph only blinked ever so slowly.

"You are correct," he replied. "But only in part."

Koh slithered closer and Toph could smell his offensive breath, see his many legs swishing back and forth in her periphery, and hear the distinct sound of them moving. Without warning, Koh's face changed again. That time into a woman's with brown eyes and long flowing hair.

"I do not wish to hurt you," he stated in a soft feminine voice, sounding so sincere Toph almost believed him.

"Then why am I here?" Toph dared to ask.

Something like laughter, a hideous sound, erupted from Koh's mouth. "You must have guessed by now?" he sneered, the woman's face no longer beautiful.

"No." It was all Toph could manage.

The disdain with which Koh spoke the next words made dread and fear swirl in the pit of her stomach.

"To hurt him, of course."

...

No matter how hard he tried to run, Aang's legs could not carry him fast enough. He seemed to travel long distances, perhaps days without getting anywhere. No closer to Toph now than when he first reappeared in the Spirit World, he could feel the panic begin to set in.

As he had done when he felt lost, Aang called for Roku, but the previous Avatar did not appear.

"This isn't right," Aang murmured to no one. When he had needed them, his previous incarnations had shown up to help him. Why weren't they doing so now?

Continuing his search alone without a guide, he walked on. Regretting ever moving their location in the physical world—it was the only thing he could think of responsible for entering the Spirit World so far away from her—Aang prayed he was going in the right direction.

Not soon enough, it was the fog ahead that gave him hope and made the faintest smile appear on his face for a second. The area was once again familiar and that faint hope surged through him. Maybe he would find her exactly where he left her. Maybe they could escape without incident.

His ever present optimism carried him forward and then, then he saw it. The scene he dreaded more than any other: the moment Toph was ripped from his life. Fear clawed his insides as Toph walked through the hole in the tree, leading the way into Koh's cave.

Aang covered his mouth to keep from yelling out. In one nightmare he did just that, called her name frantically, only to startle her without meaning to and giving Koh the opportunity he sought all along. In another, he failed to react fast enough, was unable to warn her before it was too late. And now he was watching it happen all over again. But, a little voice in the back of his head told him there was no waking up from this.

Gray eyes welled with tears. Aang wiped at his eyes in frustration because time and time again he lost her while trying to save her. And now he was wasting precious seconds just standing there, doing nothing.

I have to save her, he thought, starting after them. Quickly, he stopped.

As if the answer had been there all along, Aang realized the mistake in his approach as the thought occurred. Toph didn't need him to save her. That's not what they were about. They were friends, equals. Sure they had helped each other in the past and would undoubtedly do so again in the future, but that's exactly what friends did.

Cautiously but with renewed confidence, he walked towards the huge, gnarly tree. For some reason, each footstep felt heavier than the last. The ground beneath his feet was wet and as he walked through the threshold into the dark, dank space, Aang released a long shuddering breath as he mentally prepared himself.

Following Toph and Koh down the narrow stairway, he could see their shadowed figures below. Aang took great care to step lightly not wanting to surprise her. When they stopped, he stopped.

Somehow Koh proceeded to hang from the cave ceiling, positioned to block the entrance (and any attempt at escape). But Toph had gone in willingly, Aang thought. No force was used to coerce her. At least none he could see.

He planned to ask her about it later. Because there would be a later. There had to be. He couldn't imagine his life without Toph in it. His heart grew heavy, unwittingly picturing the loss, her absence...

No. Not now. He was so close to crying again, but he held himself together. Now was not the time.

His focused returned to the two only a short distance away. A conversation Aang could not hear continued. What could they be discussing?

There was a pause and Aang took the opportunity to inch further into the cave. Neither spirit or girl took notice.

"Hello, Koh."

When Aang spoke, his voice was not loud, it was soft but strong and resolute. Though he watched for the spirit, his gaze never left Toph's face.

Hearing his voice was such a surprise, such a pleasant shock, one corner of Toph's lips turned up without her meaning to and her eyes brightened. Aang saw the change in her expression, saw the alarming amount of emotion dancing across her features so that when Koh turned back to look at her, his heart stopped.