Earth... Fire... Air... Water...

The Avatar's destiny has been fulfilled, and soon, her story will end.

AVATAR

The Celestial Sailors

BOOK THREE: DEATH

37: Healing Hands: Part One

There came a time when Usagi could perambulate without assistance—slowly and awkwardly, but independent all the same—and with this renewal of mobility came the desire to do more than lay in bed all day. The light still posed a problem for her, so she took to sleeping during the day and rising once twilight was upon her. The soft glow of a setting sun was ideal for her to cope with this photophobia of hers (which Ami described as a "discomfort", not a fear), and since the brightness of the moon held no harm over her, she looked forward to her nightly walks underneath it. Tonight, she decided to go fishing.

Makoto had given her a few pointers for the sport, but Usagi preferred to just sit there and ponder. Most nights she came away with little more than treats for Luna; anything larger was respectfully returned. Tonight was the same: she brought a wooden stool Makoto had made for her, a journal she had been keeping (her handwriting hadn't improved), a lantern, and the usual equipment, including a basket with some food. Usagi had finally graduated to solids and spent most of her repasts "catching up" on all the good meals she had missed out on. She had already regained most of the weight lost during her recovery (and then some, Rei was quick to point out), and was munching on a peach, which she also used as bait. Luna was with her, having learned that Usagi's nighttime excursions almost always yielded free food, but otherwise, she was alone.

She sat, baited her line, cast it, and waited. Crickets chirped all around her, occasionally backed up by the grunting of frogs, the whistling of nightingales, and the soft cries Luna let out. She hunted the frogs and some mice while Usagi meditated, and even brought some back.

"You keep it," Usagi said, as a small toad was laid next to her. She held up her half-eaten peach. "I'm good. See?" She waited for a few more moments, then held the lantern close so she could write in her journal. She had tried maintaining a log of her daily thoughts, but there was either far too much to put down, making her feel intimidated, or she couldn't think of anything to write, making her feel inadequate. There was also the matter of her left hand. It was as frail as the day she had been brought here, the skin around her palm permanently scarred. She was able to move her fingers and wrist to some extent, but holding anything heavier than her shirt was useless. No amount of healing or physical therapy had been able to mend it.

"Wonder where Hotaru went off to," Usagi muttered to herself. She would know what this malady was. The last Usagi heard of her, Hotaru was still on this island, or at least somewhere close by, though why she hadn't visited yet was a mystery. She was well, but...

Well...after everything they had been through together, maybe she, too, needed time to collect her thoughts.

"That's probably it," Usagi sighed, putting another peach slice on the hook. "Still, a whole month..." The line went taught and Usagi pulled, revealing a fish smaller than her hand. Luna yowled impatiently so Usagi tossed it to her, then reloaded her hook and flung out the line again. It didn't take long for her to get another bite (which was unusual), but this one put up a tremendous fight. Usagi had to use her bad hand to steady the rod while the other worked hard to reel it in. It felt like she had snagged on a tree branch or a heavy stone; this little river wasn't supposed to have any big fish in it. Usagi was about to call Ami or Makoto to help her, but found herself falling off the stool instead. After recovering, she held up her rod and groaned: the line had broken.

"Sorry, Luna," she moaned, "we're gonna have to wrap it up early tonight."

"I'm sure you can fix it easily enough," called a ghostly voice. Usagi jumped and jerked around, shrieking and nearly falling over again as she saw where it came from. Fright and bewilderment turned to rapture, and she grinned:

"Setsuna!"

Usagi flung herself at the smiling woman, but found herself grasping only air. Blinking, she saw Setsuna standing before her, beautiful and tall and proud, shimmering and luminescent like a...

Like...

Oh. Crestfallen, Usagi sank.

"Wait, are you..." Still, Setsuna smiled at her.

"Let us not allow my condition, whatever it may be, to come between us tonight, dear Avatar. I have very little time left, so let us make it count."

"But..." Usagi froze up: she had hundreds of questions and hundreds more things she wanted to say—and wasn't Setsuna the Bender of Time? Couldn't she use as much as she wanted?

Unless, of course, she couldn't. Usagi felt her stomach go cold as she considered this possibility.

Setsuna sensed her apprehension and offered a comforting smile. "It's all right. I've been granted this reprieve to console you. I did not want our last meeting to be one of grief. Come here, I have a present for you." A present? Usagi hesitated, but approached. Setsuna drew her into a very real, very solid hug, which Usagi was quick to return. She felt a weight hang on her shoulder, pressing warm against her chest. She withdrew from Setsuna, looked down, and saw a little pendant with a white crescent gem in the center, not unlike the moon.

"When you need a little encouragement," the time-bender said, "just read the inscription on the back." Usagi was almost tempted to look at it now, but she feared that if she took her eyes away from Setsuna, her friend would vanish forever.

"Um...thank you," she murmured. "Setsuna, I...I'll see you again, right?" Setsuna laughed sweetly.

"Bun-head," she chided lovingly, "of all the things to ask a time-bender!" She grinned and bowed, her face glowing even as it vanished from sight. Usagi reached out to her, catching only the cool breeze. For a moment, she wondered if she had imagined it—but then she felt the pendant around her neck. She looked on the back, where a small inscription had been engraved:

"Time heals all wounds"

She didn't know she had been crying until the tears touched her cheek. She wiped them off and packed up her things. As she put her fishing rod away, she paused, examining it closely. The snapped line had been repaired.

…...

When Kotono woke up, Unazuki was still laying next to her. So, that hadn't been a dream. She breathed in deeply, savoring the morning air, and caressed the other woman's bare back. Content to sit there in serenity, Kotono only moved when a chill breeze danced through the open window. Summer was only a memory now; autumn's grasp was upon them; soon winter would overcome the world. She got up, put a robe on, and went to close the window and pull the curtains. When she turned around, she saw Unazuki brushing her hair, a pin clutched in her teeth.

"Good morning," she said, not knowing what else to say. Unazuki grunted through her teeth.

"Morning," she said after pinning her hair in place. "What's the weather like today?"

"Cool and cloudy."

"Hmm, I didn't think it ever got cold in the Fire Nation." Kotono laughed softly.

"It does, sometimes. If you live near a mountain it can get downright frigid. The wind blows off the peak and covers everything in bitter frost. It's not even safe during the summer. But...people live there all the same. The soil's more fertile there, or so I hear."

"I'll bet it's not as cold as the desert," Unazuki replied, focusing on the younger woman. She handed Kotono her brush and last night's activities were combed away. "At night, even the slightest breeze can chill you to the bone. Your breath comes out in fog, and you're forced to build fires. Ha... A fire in the desert. Imagine that."

They looked at each other in silence. Kotono slowly walked over to her wardrobe and opened it.

"Do you like red, or gold?"

"Hmm?"

"For a robe. I have red and gold." Unazuki's eyes glazed over in disappointment.

"How predictably banal. I'd have figured the princess would have more variety."

"Says the woman who wears green and yellow all the time."

"Hypocritical, I know," Unazuki sighed. She played with her ponytail as she considered her options. "I guess if I had to choose one..." Unazuki sighed in contemplation, got out of bed, walked over to the wardrobe, and picked out a gold robe with black trimmings. Kotono swallowed.

"Are you sure?"

"It reminds me of home," she answered softly. She put it on, feeling the silk and cotton weigh on her, then reached into the wardrobe again and pulled out a red sash. She tied it around her waist and smiled. "No reason I can't have both."

"No," Kotono said, feeling relieved somehow, "there's not."

A part of her wanted to cross a line. Another part knew she should stay put.

She wondered if her brother had struggled with this dilemma.

No. He hadn't.

She took a step forward. A tap came at the window before she could take another step.

"What in the world...?" Unazuki blurted, startled. Kotono collected herself, approaching her bedside table. She opened the drawer and picked out the knife she kept in there, then slowly opened the curtain. Relief washed over her: it was just a messenger-hawk. She let the bird inside and removed the scroll from its talons, noticing it was from the Southern Earth Kingdom.

"It's for you," Kotono said, handing the scroll to Unazuki. The other woman took it cautiously.

"I'm not sure how; I didn't tell anyone I'd be here." She looked at the seal more closely and recognized it. "Oh, that's right! I mentioned I'd be visiting you to Fong Wei! I'm surprised he remembered." Kotono smiled warmly.

"It's sweet how he keeps tabs on you. You know, if he didn't already have a boyfriend, I'd say the two of you would—" She cut herself off as Unazuki turned pale and gasped. She backpedaled and nearly fell over, only just making it to the bed. "What is it?" Kotono pressed. Unazuki looked up, her eyes dim, her hand quivering.

"It...says that my brother collapsed. He's...being treated right now." Kotono froze. Countless thoughts and concerns crossed her mind but only one of them made any sense. She immediately pulled the bellstring she used to call her ladies-in-waiting and opened her bedroom door. Two handmaidens were already there.

"I need you to arrange for a bison immediately. Get the fastest one available, understood?" The servants bowed and scurried off, leaving Unazuki a little more relieved. Kotono tried to appear cheerful for her sake. "It looks like our time together will be cut short. And here I was planning on having breakfast with..."

"Thank you," Unazuki whispered, hugging her. Kotono embraced her, surfacing memories of their earlier soiree.

"You know you don't have to thank me," she whispered in return. She touched Unazuki's face and smiled. "Let's get you dressed. There'll be scandals aplenty if you go out looking like that."

By the time Unazuki was presentable again, a bison had been procured. Kotono paid for everything out of her own pocket, even adding some packed food for the journey. Time was precious for Unazuki; she couldn't afford a long, emotional farewell. They simply held hands for a moment.

"Listen, Tono...I don't know how long I'll be gone. Things are still hectic back home, and...I may not have the luxury of...pleasantries. I feel awful for taking even this much time off."

"Don't," she insisted. "you go do what you need to do. I won't exactly be wistfully staring off into the distance myself. But..." She drew the other princess close and whispered in her ear: "I will miss you, my dear. Let me know how everything turns out."

In the end, Kotono didn't cross that line. She simply looked deep into Unazuki's eyes and felt her slip away as she mounted the bison and flew off. She did, at least, allow herself one wistful sigh.

"Stupid of me," she whispered, "falling in love with her. Heh, but maybe in runs in the family—right, Ittou?"

Her escort brought her back to the palace safely. So much for the dream: it was time to get back to work.

…...

Unazuki jumped off the bison as soon as it touched down; escorts brought her to the palace with all haste; she was gasping for air and quite pale as she was led to Motoki's chambers. He was laying in his bed, sitting up slightly, the windows open wide for air to drift through. Makoto was sitting by his side, dampening a rag. There was a bowl of fruit, cheese, and nuts in her lap, and a glass of water on a table. Motoki was conscious, but he looked worn-out, red-eyed, and sallow. All of this took a fraction of an instant for Unazuki to process; as soon as she set foot through the door, her brother noticed her and smiled.

"You made it!" Makoto exclaimed. Unazuki rushed to her brother's side and held his hand. His grip was weak.

"I came as soon as I could. Are you okay?" He nodded slowly, trying to clear his throat. Makoto gave him more water and applied the cloth, which was moist and cool.

"Just tired. Bruised a little from the fall."

"By the spirits, Motoki, I told you to take it easy! How are we supposed to run this kingdom when you're working yourself half to death?!"

"Go easy on him, Zuke," Makoto said. "He's heard this speech plenty of times already."

"Yeah, well, he obviously didn't listen! Now look at you!"

"Sisters. Annoying," he joked, grinning feebly at his wife. Makoto chuckled lightly while Unazuki just huffed.

"Get used to it! You're the only family I've got." She looked at Makoto, then at her brother, crossing her arms. "Both of you. You push yourselves too hard. I know Omashu's in a bad spot right now, but it's not going to burn to ashes if you two rest every now and then! Why do you think I was in the Fire Nation?"

"Diplomacy?" her brother muttered. Unazuki blushed, recalling her "diplomatic meeting" with Kotono.

"Ah...w-well...you could put it that way too, I suppose. Yes, I was maintaining relations with the royal family! Princess Kotono and I've become good friends. Why, I bet if you asked her for help—her and her parents, I mean—she'd be more than happy to send some relief. I mean, you and Kuni fought Beryl and Iblis together. That's got to count for something." Her voice softened as she considered the full implications of what she was saying. A goodwill envoy from the Fire Nation might easily include the princess, who'd likely have more than diplomacy in mind if she visited the Southern Earth Kingdom. Motoki just laughed, blind to her somewhat selfish request.

"They have stabilized considerably since Beryl died," Makoto conceded. "But do you really think they'd have the resources to lend us a hand? They were as much affected by Iblis as we were."

"No sense in not trying," Motoki shrugged. He drank more water and ate some pieces of fruit (offering some to his sister, who had only eaten a light breakfast). "I would send Mako out for that, but she's chained herself to me. From what I hear, the Avatar's still recovering, and my troublesome sister..." He paused for more water. "Is too worried about me to leave just yet. So who do you suggest I—"

The door to his chambers flew open suddenly. A beacon of orange and gold shimmered as bright blue eyes flashed in panic.

"Motoki! Oh, thank goodness!"

"Mina!" The King got his first genuine surprise in weeks as Minako rushed in, threw herself at him, and squeezed. He was knocked back, physically and emotionally. He hadn't heard from his childhood friend since right after the battle, when she flew off to parts unknown. Having her return to him in his hour of need seemed miraculous.

"Easy now, Mina," Makoto said. "Motoki's fine, just a bit tired. You don't have to be so dr—"

"I...I really thought you..." She started blubbering and babbling, holding him tight despite his condition. It took awhile, but Motoki assured her that he was fine, so with a bit of prying, she finally let go of him. As Makoto smiled at their reunion, she looked over at the door and waved as she noticed Ami, who had been waiting patiently. She approached Motoki and gave him a cursory exam.

"How are you feeling, your highness?"

"Much better now," he sighed. His eyes sparkled as he added, "It's not every day a man gets four beautiful women doting on him!" Everyone laughed politely except Minako, who was drying her eyes.

"Don't ever do that again!" she sobbed. "Okay? I almost had a heart attack when I heard what happened!"

"Here we go again," Makoto sighed. She touched Minako's arm and said, "Mina, he's already been scolded by Unazuki, so I think he's learned his—"

"You don't understand!" she wailed. Sniffling, she wiped her eyes again. "I can't lose anyone else! It...it w-was bad en-nough wh-when mom... A-and then, a lot of my f...f-friends were killed at Beryl's palace...and then there was the fight with Iblis, where my father...where...Sifu Daddy was... I just couldn't lose you, too!"

"I just collapsed, Mina," Motoki insisted. "I'm fine. I'm going to take a break, don't worry."

"Don't give me that!" she warbled. "You're practically my family! You're...you're like the big brother I never had—and Zuki's m-my sister, and...and Mako, she...she's family, too. I couldn't...I, I couldn't..." She blew her nose and resumed sobbing, Motoki and Makoto and Unazuki and Ami all reaching out to her. "Sorry I made such a scene," she whispered. "I've just...been through a lot lately. And I'm such a hypocrite, too..."

"What do you mean?" Motoki said. His wife touched his hand.

"I'll explain it later. Right now, just rest and be glad Mina's here. Ami, is there anything else you can do for him?"

"No," she said, smiling warmly. "He's fine without me. He just needs rest, is all. But I can stay here and help anyone else who's sick or wounded."

"We'd be in your debt," Motoki sighed. He looked to Minako and said, "Mina, I hate to ask if you could help, but—"

"Didn't you just hear what I said?!" she bawled. "You're my brother, Motoki! I'd do anything for you! Just tell me where I need to go and I'll do it!"

"What about Usagi?" Unazuki asked Ami. "Is she well enough to leave alone?"

"Yes," she smiled, "she's slowly on her way. There's still a long road ahead of her, but the worst is over. Besides, Haruka and Michiru are there with her family, and Rei comes by whenever she can." Unazuki nodded, and decided that since she wasn't needed, she should go back to work and make up for her absence. With Makoto by his side, her brother would be in good hands; she kissed his forehead tenderly, then hugged Makoto and Minako before leaving. Minako kissed his cheek before excusing herself as well, giving Makoto a hug. Ami and Makoto just smiled to each other before parting.

"It seems we've gotten mixed up with some rather high-maintenance lovers."

"Tell me about it!" Makoto chuckled. "But I wouldn't have it any other way. It feels good spending time with my man. I really missed him. How's...Mina holding up?"

Ami hesitated.

"One day at a time." Makoto nodded.

"The same for all of us. Well, keep in touch. I'll stay here and tend to him. If you need anything, just ask for it."

"I will. Take care. You too, your highness!" They both chuckled softly as Ami hugged Makoto, and soon the two of them were left alone.

"Mako?" he called. She sat down by his side and took his hand. He gestured for her to lean in close, and kissed her quickly before she knew what had happened. "There, that's better."

"Cheeky devil!" she snickered. He sighed happily.

"Now that that's out of the way, perhaps we can start planning our honeymoon." The flame of hope ignited in her chest, and her face lit up.

"Oh, Motoki, do you mean it?!"

"You all said I needed a break, right? Now I finally have an excuse to take one." He winked at her slyly, causing her to snort.

"Wait, did you collapse on purpose just so you could take a vacation?"

"I'll never tell," he purred. She laughed and hurled a pillow at him; he responded with a handful of grapes; Makoto tackled him and they wrestled, in spite of his frailty. Outside, Unazuki and Minako blushed as they eavesdropped.

"Are they...doing what I think they're doing? In the middle of the day?!"

"They've known each other all their lives, and they still can't keep their hands to themselves. Not even when he's infirm."

"Watch out," Minako hissed, giving Unazuki a soft shove: "You might be an aunt soon."

"If I'm not one already!"

"Okay, ladies, that's enough." Ami sighed and dragged them away. "Time to get back to work, both of you."

"This is no way to treat a princess," Unazuki pouted. Minako grumbled.

"Or your girlfriend!"

"Well, someone has to keep you in line." She glanced over at Minako, winking; the other woman blushed and felt her heart getting just a little bit lighter.

…...

The meeting with Kuni and Iku went about as well as expected. In spite of their relative stability, they weren't able to spare very many resources to outside nations, even those they were on good terms with. Still, they managed to loan a handful of soldiers, craft-workers, medical workers, and various other volunteers. Kotono wished she could leave, but knew that she'd do more good at home, so she sent a handful of servants along with the rest of the retinue. A ship was procured and the group traveled west, leaving Minako to fly back ahead of them.

A few days passed, and soon Motoki was well enough to walk around again. He still worked, but kept his hours short and his load light. Unazuki busied herself with daily affairs, oftentimes working alongside Reika and her Tellurians; whenever she felt tired, Makoto took over. Ami spent most of her time in clinics and hospitals, seldom seeing any of her friends. She wondered what her mother would think of her, and what she was up to, so she wrote some letters home in her spare time. Minako's energy seemed the most inexhaustible out of all of them: she usually put in fifteen hours a day running or flying around Omashu and its neighbors, making deliveries or ferrying important people from one place to another. She abstained from any activity that would require violence, such as rounding up bandits or slavers, and usually kept to herself.

One day, as she was taking a lunch break, she happened to spot Gurio Umino pushing a cart full of boxes. At first she thought little of it, but her experiences as of late had inflated her sense of guilt. She remembered how she had coerced Gurio—manipulated, really—into helping her get inside the palace and speak with Motoki, and the thought of being so duplicitous to someone so undeserving tore her up on the inside. It made her feel nauseous in a way that, only a few months earlier, would have been utterly foreign to her. She decided to approach him and make amends.

"Hey! Gurio!" He turned and grinned as he saw her, clearly not expecting to see her.

"Mina! Wow, when did you get here? Usagi said that you went missing—in her letters, I mean." She idly played with her fingers and glanced away sheepishly.

"Uh, yeah, well, I...needed to do some...uh, personal things. But I'm back, helping Motoki."

"Really? Me too. I mean, I'm just delivering supplies now. They've got goods coming in from overseas and I'm part of the crew they hired to...uh, deliver them. A bit redundant there."

"It's fine," she replied, smiling at how awkward he was, even after all this time. Minako cleared her throat and decided to cut to the heart of the matter. "Listen, can you spare a minute or two? There's something I need to get off my conscience."

"Um, sure," he answered, a little uncertain. Didn't Minako have close friends for that sort of thing? Gurio was a loose acquaintance at best, so why would she want to unload on him? They found a place to sit down, both of them nervous. "Uh, so what's this about?" he attempted. Minako drew a breath before the tension could mount.

"Remember when...I dragged you along with me so I could sneak into Motoki's palace?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah! Boy, that feels like ages ago! Come to think of it, that was around the time I first got into The Avenging Shadow." She nodded.

"Yeah, well, I need to apologize for that." He blinked quizzically and stared. Apologize?

"For what?"

"For using you like that."

"Like what?" She closed her eyes in humility.

"Using you for my selfish desires. Manipulating your emotions. Taking you on a...fake date, just so I could see the king. That was awful of me."

Gurio looked positively bewildered, and stared at Minako wide-eyed.

"Um...what? I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't remember?!" she balked.

"N-no, I do, it's just...I don't know what you mean!"

"I mean I tricked you into helping me do something selfish by preying on your emotions! I promised to go on a date with you when I had an ulterior motive all along! Gurio, you...y-you were just a...a...t-tool to me! Something I could... And you're such a great guy, you didn't deserve that, and I'm the scum of the earth for doing it, and someone like me doesn't deserve someone like you even on my best day..." She was bawling and rambling uncontrollably by now, the words coming of their own accord. He had to yell her name several times to get her to stop.

"Mina, I...I still have no idea what you're talking about! Whatever happened that night happened years ago! I barely remember any of it." She sniffled and dried her eyes.

"You...you don't?" He sighed dejectedly.

"Look: even if everything you said is true, it...was the first time a girl showed any interest in me. Even Naru barely knew I existed back then. I...I know I was just a geeky, clumsy, unpopular boy, and I knew, deep down, that no girl would ever really go for me, so how do you think I felt when you asked me out? I jumped at the chance, and at the time, it didn't matter if I was being used. It was still better than nothing."

"But you don't deserve that!" she insisted. "Nobody does!" He smiled bashfully, the only defense he had for his answer.

"Still. I got to hang out with a gorgeous girl, and I had a lot of fun doing it. Even if you didn't think it was real, it was real for me."

"That's what makes it worse," she whispered, hiding her face from him. This was getting them nowhere. Gurio summoned his resolve and stared at her.

"Minako, I forgive you! Whatever wrong you think you did, it's okay. Consider it gone and forgotten." She trembled and smiled wistfully, unable to believe such a thing was so easy.

"Just like that?" He nodded.

"Like I said, I barely remember it. And I'm doing much better now. Naru and I love each other, and...I still may have a long way to go, but I feel like I'm better equipped for it." Minako nodded and sighed.

"I still feel bad about it, though."

"Mina." Gurio sighed and removed his glasses. Although most of the world was a blur to him, he could still see the golden girl sitting next to him. "There's a line in an Avenging Shadow play that I think fits this occasion: 'forgiving other people is easy, but forgiving yourself is the most difficult thing you'll ever do'. I think that's what you need to do, Mina."

Those words sent her into another breakdown; tears rolled as she flung herself at him and squeezed. She trembled, hardly able to comprehend how anyone could be so kind to her—or how she could ever be that kind to herself. Usagi, Ami, Makoto, Motoki, Unazuki, and now Gurio... They were all far, far too good for her. But maybe he was right: thinking that way was not only counterproductive, but unhealthy. He patiently waited until the storm passed.

"Thanks," she whispered once her senses returned. "I needed to hear that. Naru's got to be the luckiest girl in the world."

"I still think I'm the lucky one," he chuckled bashfully. They smiled at each other as she wiped a tear away. "Um, are you gonna be okay?" he pressed. Minako hesitated. Wasn't that the question of a lifetime...

"I think so," she settled on. "I just need to take this one day at a time. Eventually there may come a time where I can...forgive myself."

"Make it soon, okay?" he said, shaking both of her hands. "If the fight with Iblis taught me anything, it's that life's too short for people to get tangled up in stupid things." Minako agreed, and since they both needed to get back to work—back to their lives—they parted and wished each other well.

"Wait," she called, rushing in to kiss him on the cheek. She found herself smiling in spite of everything. "That's for you. And this..."

She chastely pecked him on the lips.

"Is for me. Take care." Blushing, Gurio stammered and stumbled away, almost losing some of his cargo in the process. Minako sighed as he was lost in the crowd, and rejoined Artemis.

"What do you think?" she said, scratching his nose. "Do you think I could ever forgive myself?" He answered by groaning and nuzzling her, which seemed to be enough. She climbed on, and together they flew off. "And don't you dare tell Ami I kissed him!" she snapped. "That's between the three of us, all right?"

He grumbled again: just another secret to add to the pile...

…...

The Tsukino family mostly stayed on the small island with Usagi while she was was recuperating, but they were far from idle. Whenever her parents weren't taking care of her in place of one of Usagi's friends, they were keeping unwanted well-wishers, paparazzi, gawkers, and tourists in general from bothering her. Ikuko had become especially talented at sending people away—usually with a kind word and a warm smile, but on occasion, a mother-bear glare sent the pests packing. Kenji mostly kept to his writing, transcribing everything he could about "the greatest calamity of our time". He was the one who intercepted and wrote most of the letters that came and went, only sparing those penned by King Endymion. Kenji wasn't a fool: he knew his daughter, infirm as she was, would never forgive him if he read any of her "love letters" before she got hold of them.

Shingo was back at school in Ba Sing Se, making friends and easing into a life of dormancy. He was still an avid student of Keya's dojo, though his master took some time before she was mentally and emotionally ready to teach. The death of her twin sister had hit hard; she was absent long; the school had lost a number of students in the meantime. But Shingo remained, at least, and Suen's brother Anshar stayed with him: the two had become fast friends.

And then there was Hotaru. She stayed on the island briefly until Usagi regained consciousness, but kept out of sight until Shingo left for the Earth Kingdom. She spent almost all of her time with him, sometimes in conversation but usually in meditative silence. As the days passed, her ruminations bore fruit, and she decided it was time to share them with someone. As much as Hotaru loved Shingo, there was one person whom she felt even closer to, one that had not only saved her life and soul, but her identity itself. She told Shingo where she was going, and when she expected to return ("It won't take long," she assured him with a kiss), and left on the first ship east.

Usagi was amusing herself by looking at the twilight stars when Hotaru peeked over the horizon. Still unable to run, she settled on waving and hobbling over. The two smiled brightly at one another when they met.

"You're back," Usagi said.

"Yes," Hotaru stated. "I'm sorry it took so long. I..."

"Hey, I get it," Usagi replied coolly. "A lot's happened. You needed to figure things out. Trust me, I've been there. Have you...found any answers?"

"Oh, plenty. But let's sit down."

"Nah, I'm fine," Usagi waved dismissively. "I've been laying on my butt for weeks now. How bout' a walk instead? The island's really pretty at night." Hotaru cheerfully assented, and after Usagi told her mother where she was going, they set off. The sun had almost completely sunk into the sea, leaving a blackish-lavender haze with flecks of burnt orange and pale gold in its wake. There were some clouds in the sky, so Usagi couldn't see all the stars, and it was chilly, but not unpleasant. They walked until they could hear the distant roar of the ocean, and paused to lean against a fence that overlooked a tiny farm.

"How are you?" Hotaru said. Usagi's gesture carried more meaning than her words could bear.

"Improving. I'm almost completely dependent now. I've started practicing some bending, too, so I don't get rusty. I...have trouble with daylight, though. Is that...normal?"

"It's likely tied to your fight with Iblis," Hotaru said. "The experience traumatized you into an irrational perception, and now you associate all light as anathema. I once felt the same towards the darkness, but..." She held her hair down as the early autumn wind played with it, watching as leaves of grass were caught up in it only to flutter away. "It has no more power over me. I am released from Yanluo's service, from the shackles of the Death-Bender, to become Hotaru Tomoe. Whoever that might have been in the past is gone: I am now free to make her whoever I see fit. Whatever that may be...is still unknown. But there's pleasure in the mystery. Does that make sense?"

"So you're a normal girl now," Usagi said with some relief. Hotaru smiled sweetly.

"Yes. No powers, no voices, no missions, and no darkness."

"That's a relief," Usagi whispered. "You deserve to have a normal life. That means lots of dates with Shingo!" Hotaru giggled and blushed. Yes, lots of dates, and more.

But she wasn't the only one who deserved better. Hotaru's smile became glum.

"Your brother tells me your hand isn't healing. May I see it?" This was the moment Usagi had been waiting for. She tenderly uncurled her left hand, showing the ashen scar that ran down her palm, still as fresh as the day she had been brought to the island. Hotaru gently placed her fingers on it.

"The Glaive of Yanluo was meant only for one hand," she recited gravely. "For anyone else to touch it, it brought agony and misery...and death. Only your connection to Raava spared you."

"Will it ever heal?" she whispered. Hotaru stared down, away from her.

"No. I'm sorry. In retrospect, of course, there was no other way, and a part of me accepted that, but... I'm sorry. That's all I can say."

They stood and stared out at the pasture until the sun sank completely. Night spread over them like a cloak.

"Hey," Usagi said at last, letting some cheer peek through the cracks, "it's okay, really. If I had to do it all over again, I'd do the exact same thing. No regrets." She placed her left hand on Hotaru's shoulder, smiling in spite of the sensation it caused. Hotaru attempted to mirror her mirth.

"Yanluo once told me that the Avatar was nearly someone else—someone born just a few minutes after you. If...they had been the Avatar..."

"Suen," Usagi said. Her group had been one of the few that her parents had let through, though they had only stayed for two days. "But I don't like to think about what might have been. She's got her own amazing story to tell, and that's something I'd never want to take away. Whatever has happened, or will happen, I'm fine with, Hotaru." She winked, and Hotaru relaxed a little more. "Still," Usagi sighed, "I have no idea why you like that bratty brother of mine. Love must really work in strange ways." Hotaru giggled, which turned into a laugh both women shared. Usagi perked up as she heard someone calling her, and turned around to see Ami approaching them. Hotaru did a little curtsy; Ami just bowed.

"It's good to see you here, Hotaru. Did you just get in?"

"Yes. Sorry I've been away so long."

"It's okay, we've all been busy. I just got here myself. It's my weekly check-in with Usagi."

"Oh?" She smiled at the older girls and graciously dismissed herself so they could have their privacy. Ami and Usagi walked back to the little hut where Usagi was staying, chattering and gossiping as old friends will. It was pure business once they arrived, with tests and examinations and questions fired one after the other. Usagi's condition was definitely improving, and except for her hand, there was no reason to think she'd be out of commission for much longer. Usagi assured Ami that "if that's all, then I'm happy", although she didn't exactly feel happy when it came time to give a blood test.

"I just need to be sure you haven't contracted anything," Ami reminded her as she pricked her arm with a needle. She had performed countless blood tests in her time, and had even saved a few lives through what she called "transfusion", bending one person's blood into another person's body. Usagi grimaced at the idea of "blood-bending", but Ami assured her it was both sterile and safe. When she came back from her tests, though, she didn't look well. Her body trembled, and she seemed pale.

"Oh, no," Usagi groaned, "am I sick with something?" Ami swallowed.

"Uh, sick? Why? Have you been regurgitating frequently?"

"Re-gur-ja-what now?"

"Vomiting. Do you feel nauseous every so often?"

"Well, yeah, sometimes, but let's face it: I've got the palette of a raccoon-hog." Usagi chuckled, but Ami didn't. Her hands became clammy, her voice growing cold and sheepish.

"Um...I'm not sure how to say this, Usagi."

"Say what?" she nervously pressed. Ami swallowed.

"I'm not completely certain just yet—I'd need to do a few more tests before I can say anything conclusive—but from what I'm seeing..." She looked into her friend's eyes, preparing to lay down a life-altering discovery:

"Usagi...you're pregnant."

The world became silent. Usagi stiffened. Her eye twitched.

"Uhh...say what?"

The End of "Healing Hands: Part One"

Next time: "Healing Hands: Part Two"