Back at it again with a new chapter! Thank you for all your reviews! They have motivated me more than you know. Hope you like this new chapter.
"Yue?" Aang spoke up as the former human turned Moon spirit floated in front of him with a smile.
"Good to see you again", Yue greeted as she glided towards him. She reached her hand out and flicked the air bender on the tip of the blue arrow on his head.
"Ow! What was that for?" Aang demanded as he rubbed his forehead.
Yue placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him, "You think I didn't hear you yelling out to me earlier? I'll have you know that I am a very busy spirit with busy things to do. And don't think I couldn't tell what you were thinking when I didn't answer."
"So the moon spirit can read minds now, is that it?" Aang rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
"Trust me Aang, it doesn't take spiritual powers to be able to tell what a teenager is thinking", Yue responded.
"Whatever", Aang turned away, "Is that why you pulled me here? To scold me?"
"No", Yue huffed, "I know what happened with you and Katara earlier. It seems like you had the eventful day."
Aang looked back at Yue, "Did you know she harbored feelings for me?"
"It wasn't hard to see", Yue smiled softly, "I could see how important you were…or are to her. She just might not have been aware of how strong her feelings were for you back then."
"Not that it matters anymore", Aang muttered.
"Of course it does", Yue countered, "I've told you before that you and Katara have a special bond. Yours and her feelings matter."
"We can still have that bond…just only as friends."
"Do you really think the two of you can just move on from this as friends?" Yue asked.
"It's the best course of action for the both of us", Aang answered.
"Best for whom? Katara or you?"
"For the both of us."
"I don't think you even believe that yourself", Yue said.
"What would you have me do Yue?!" Aang cried out.
"This isn't about what I would want you to do Aang. What you do is only up to you. Not me or anyone else."
"I told you what I want to do! To stay friends!" Aang retorted.
"It isn't that simple Avatar Aang. You love Katara and she loves you. That feeling isn't something you can ignore and move on from." Yue said with a stern expression on her face. Aang could see that the moon spirit would not budge from this.
"So what? Am I supposed to go running back to her and take back what I said? Act like nothing happened between us?" Aang asked.
"I'm sorry Aang, but that isn't something I can tell you", Yue glanced upwards for a moment, "I have to go. However, you still have someone else to talk to."
Before Aang could ask who the other person was, high winds blew from behind Yue. He covered his eyes from the impact of the wind. The breeze went just as quickly as it came so Aang didn't have to wait long to uncover his eyes. Instead of the cloudy void, he had been transported to a fire sage temple that was reminiscent to the one that had been on Roku's Island.
"It is good to see you again Aang", a deep voice said from behind him. Aang spun around and found Avatar Roku standing before him.
"Same to you Avatar Roku", Aang greeted, "So you're the someone else Yue said I had to talk to?"
Roku nodded his head.
"Is there something you need to warn me about?" Aang wondered.
"Nothing of that sort. I have noticed that you have been troubled lately" Roku replied.
"Wait…", Aang raised an eyebrow, "You want to talk to me about what's happened between me and Katara?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Normally, I wouldn't think to talk to you about your more…um let's say 'personal' circumstances but I feel that I must do so given the situation at hand", Roku explained.
Aang pinched the bridge of his nose. Why would his past life feel the need to talk to him about his love life? If he could even call it a love life. Not once did he ever think to ask Roku about anything other than the typical Avatar business. Being able to communicate with his past lives was a great tool, but even Aang didn't think it was to best to talk to them about anything that had nothing to do with being the Avatar.
"Roku, I appreciate your concern, but I don't believe this is situation is one that you should feel the need to discuss with me", Aang insisted.
"Normally, I would agree", Roku shook his head, "but it becomes a great concern when I have reason to believe it could affect your duty as the Avatar."
"How could my issues with Katara and everyone else affect my duty?" Aang felt rather annoyed at what Roku was saying.
"It is effecting your ability to control the avatar state", Roku pointed out, "I'm sure I do not need to remind you of how you lost yourself with Mai."
Aang instantly remembered letting his emotions get the best of him while arguing with Mai at the hotel. It would have normally taken a lot more for anyone to get under his nerves, but the fire nation girl had managed to get one over him and pushed him to the brink.
"As the Avatar, you must not let such things wear you down", Roku continued, "I understand the matter between you and your water Sifu is complicated, but you cannot let it affect your duty."
"I don't want it to affect my abilities as the Avatar…it isn't something that is simple to fix", Aang replied. Hearing his past life berating him like this felt rather demeaning to him. The air bender appreciated Roku's concern, but it only made him feel worse.
"I am aware of that Aang. I once told you before…when love is real, it finds a way."
He remembered the first time Roku told him those exact words. Before it had given Aang hope that he and Katara would be together. However, that didn't happen. In the end, he had only felt heart break at the sight of Katara with Zuko, former enemy turned friend and Roku's great grandchild.
'When love is real, it finds a way.'
Hearing those words again no longer gave him hope. It pissed him off now. With gritted teeth, Aang clenched his fist tight.
"I know that you might feel— "
"SHUT UP!" Aang yelled. The volume of his tone clearly surprising Roku.
"JUST WHAT WOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW I FEEL?!" Aang glared at his past life, "What would you know about what I've been through?!"
As in response to his feelings, the walls of the fire sage temple had formed cracks all over. The angrier Aang felt, the quicker the temple deconstructed.
"Calm down Aang", Roku said.
"Calm down?! You bring me here to give me a lecture about what's happening in my life, and you want me to calm down?!"
"Please Aang I— "Roku was interrupted once more.
"BE QUIET!" Aang cried out, "I've heard about enough from you.
Your whole life you had everything handed to you! Ever since you were revealed to be the Avatar in your time, you never had to go searching for bending masters like I did! You have never suffered a loss like I have! Ta Min knew of her feelings for you and reciprocated. She didn't break your heart like Katara broke mine and you have the gall to tell me to fix my issues with Katara like it's so simple!"
Roku said nothing in return and held a shameful expression on his face.
"Tell me Roku, how would you feel if you were in my position? How would you have felt if Ta Min chose Sozin over you? How would you have felt if she led you on and was seeing your friend behind your back? Would you have had no qualms killing your Sozin then instead of giving him a warning? Maybe if you did then your real friend Gyatso, my mentor and guardian, and the rest of the air nomads wouldn't have been killed! Maybe then I wouldn't have become the last air bender in the world! Tell me great Avatar Roku! Tell me what you would have done if you had suffered like I have!"
"I…I cannot say…" Roku grimaced.
"Figures you can't", Aang turned his back towards his past life. He closed his eyes to stop the salty tears from forming but to no avail. After wiping his eyes, the air bender looked up and realized he was no longer in the fire sage temple. Instead, he was standing at a garden. Aang recognized the area from before he was encased in the ice. He was within the southern air temple before it was attacked by the fire nation.
The Avatar was home. Aang was home.
He turned to ask his past life why they were there but found someone else in Roku's place.
Avatar Kyoshi.
Katara sat on the floor at the front of the Jasmine Dragon watching Aang from behind. Not once had she taken her gaze off the air bender since she found him like this. Suki and Toph suggested leaving him be, but Katara had chosen to keep watch over him. She knew she wouldn't sleep knowing Aang's body was just sitting outside while he was in the spirit world. So she resigned to staying nearby until he came back from wherever he was.
"Keeping watch over our dear friend?" Iroh asked as he walked out with a cup of tea. He passed it to her, which she accepted graciously.
"Yes", Katara nodded, "but I don't know what I'll say to Aang when he comes back."
"I overheard what happened. It seems like you two have quite the conundrum going on", Iroh remarked.
"That's one way of describing it", Katara replied as she sipped her tea, "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can my dear", Iroh confirmed and sat down next to the water bender.
"After what I did to Aang…seeing Zuko behind his back after he made his feelings for me clear and breaking his heart. Do I truly have a right to win his love back? To fight for the boy I love?"
"Who is to say you can or cannot? Everyone makes mistakes Katara, but it does not define who they are. What defines a person is when they acknowledge their mistakes and learn from them. I, along with everyone else, see how much you wish to correct your mistake and make everything right with Aang. But if you want to know whether or not you have the right…then I believe you do.
Katara glanced at Aang's still body, "Even if he doesn't want me to?"
"Yes. Personally, I believe Aang's rejection of your love stems from fear."
"Fear?" She turned back to Iroh.
"Of having his heart broken again", Iroh clarified, "The pain of heart break is not one that could simply go away in a short amount of time. I'm sure I do not need to tell you how much hurt you would feel from having your heart broken."
He didn't. Katara knew well how painful a broken heart was. She placed a hand over her chest where her heart was. She remembered how broken she felt from the shattering sensation after Aang told her to give up on him and move on. She wondered if Aang was just as hurt when he found her and Zuko together and how long he held that pain in his chest.
It became much clearer to her what Iroh was saying. Aang feared the pain and was too scared to go through it again. That was why he rejected her.
"Does he think I'll change my mind and break his heart again?"
"I believe that is partly the reason. The rest…only he truly knows."
Katara sipped her tea as she gathered her thoughts. Aang had also mentioned that because Zuko was the one that pointed out to Katara that she loved Aang that he could not accept her feelings. Toph had even doubled down on that point after she forced Katara to tell her what happened on the bridge. The earth bender berated her for mentioning Zuko at all with Aang.
Looking back at it, Katara cringed at how foolish she was. How could anyone blame Aang for being hesitant after that?
"If it makes you feel better, I believe that everything will turn out alright", Iroh stood up, "When love is real, it finds a way. I have no doubt it will be the same for the both of you."
"Thank you Iroh", Katara smiled softly.
"My pleasure. By the way, I don't believe Aang ate anything since this morning so let him know I left him a bowl of rice in the shop" Iroh walked back into the tea shop, leaving the water bender alone with Aang.
Katara finished her tea and placed it on the ground. She then stood up, walking towards him. Her eyes stayed focused on his glowing arrows until she stood in front of him and kneeled. The light in his eyes glowed brightly as he held the same blank expression on his face.
She reached her hand out and cupped it on his right cheek. Slowly, she rubbed her hand on his smooth cheek. Since arriving in Ba Sing Se, Katara dreamed of doing so much with Aang. Laughing with him, holding him in her arms, him whispering sweet words of love into her ears, and kissing him. She yearned for him immensely.
Katara wondered to herself what their lives would have been like had she not let her fears control her and inadvertently hurt Aang in the process. Had she waited until the time was right then maybe she and him could have worked out their feelings after the war. Maybe then they would have been happy together.
Her blue eyes dropped to his lips. She closed her eyes and pressed forward; her lips edged less than an inch away from his until she stopped. Her eyes opened and gazed upon Aang's glowing blank expression. Instead, she pressed her forehead against his glowing arrow and let out a deep sigh.
'No…not like this…' Katara thought to herself.
She pulled herself back and sat down. Pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them, the water bender laid her chin on them and resumed her watch.
"Hello Aang", Avatar Kyoshi greeted with a rare smile that only few in their lifetimes had seen. Despite the daofei face paint she wore on her face, her smile made the air bender feel at ease.
"Hi Kyoshi…Why did you bring me here?" Aang inquired.
Kyoshi glanced around their environment, "The southern air temple was a place I always found tranquility in. It was here I finally accepted my role as the Avatar. Every time I came here, I would always feel at peace with myself."
Aang took in the new setting they were in and knew instantly what his past life spoke of. The anger he had felt earlier had begun to simmer as he took in the view of seeing his home the way it used to be. Before the fire nation attacked and left it in ruin.
"Did you want to speak with me?"
"Yes. I felt that it was best for me to talk to you instead of Roku. He had good intentions, but his execution was lacking to say the least", Kyoshi explained.
"So you're just going to tell me the same thing he did?" Aang questioned, already feeling annoyed that another of his past lives felt the need to intervene over something that had nothing to do with them.
"I only wish to offer you my support Aang", Kyoshi replied. The tall woman moved towards him and swiped her hand across her face, the daofei face paint she wore cleanly wiped off. Aang gasped as he took in her true face. Her green eyes were still fierce but beautiful as well along with Kyoshi's dark freckled skin. She stood before him and placed her hands on his shoulders, "I see the weight you carry in your heart. I know what it is like walking with that weight. I recommend you don't hold it all in otherwise it will just consume you from the inside out."
Aang had not known this gentle side of Avatar Kyoshi, but he welcomed it. Her soft tone and the way she spoke soothed him. It was enough to bring down the wall he put around his heart. His lips quivered as he try to form the words he wanted to speak.
"I-I…don't know w-w-what I'm suppose to-o-o do…" Aang stuttered as he struggled to let his feelings out, "I just feel so lost…with everything happening. I don't know how to f-feel…"
The air bender looked up to her with tears in his eyes, "What do I do?"
"Just let your emotions out Aang. Do not feel afraid and let out your anguish. After that, it will be up to you what happens next", Kyoshi answered, smiling softly. Before he realized it, she held him in embrace. The gesture caught him by surprise, but he returned the embrace.
In his past life's arms, Aang let himself be and withdrew everything he held in. His frustrations, his anger, his sadness, and everything else he held within. His knees had begun to give out, so Kyoshi sat herself and Aang down to the floor. He pressed his face against the crook of her shoulder and sobbed heavily on to the green vest Kyoshi wore. Throughout his breakdown, Kyoshi held him steady in her arms and rubbed his back gently.
"It f-feels like its just me against everyone else at this point", Aang said with a muffled voice, "Keeping secrets from me, not taking my feelings into consideration, and they expect me to just be okay-y-y-y with it all?!"
"Your friends were only doing what they believed was best for you. Their handling of the situation could have been better, but they are young just like you", Kyoshi responded.
"Then there's Katara…What was she expecting from me? To forget she tore my heart out and crawl back into her arms like nothing happened?! I knew how I felt about her and she had to have Zuko of all people to point out her feelings for me! And I'm just supposed to accept that?!"
"Anyone would understand your hesitance after that. It's okay to feel upset about it."
"I can't let it happen again Kyoshi. I don't want to go through all of that again. I can't!" Aang declared shakily.
"Do you really believe that girl would hurt you again?" Kyoshi asked.
"Katara never wanted to hurt me…but she did anyway."
"Even so, you still love her Aang."
Aang clenched Kyoshi's vest into his fist. She knew him well, but then again, he was her a few hundred years ago. He pulled his head back and looked towards Kyoshi.
"Was your love life just as complicated as mine?" For the moment he didn't want to think about his own problems.
"No…not like yours is I'm afraid. Unless you count being on the run together as complicated then maybe. But no…not really", Kyoshi turned away as she reminisced over her life.
"What was their name?" Aang asked, wanting to know more about Kyoshi's life. The two avatars broke their embrace and he scooted over to her right side. The earth Avatar clasped her hands together and rested them on her lap.
"Her name was Rangi. She was appointed as a bodyguard for Yun, whom everyone including I thought was the avatar. I worked as a servant at the mansion they lived. She always used to order me around the most out of all the servants and I later learned that was her idea of showing how much she cared for me. We became friends later."
Aang listened on as his curiosity to learn more about Kyoshi took over. He was surprised that Kyoshi's lover was a woman.
"Over the time we spent together on the run, I came to realize my feelings for her were not just that of friends, but as lovers. Fortunately for me, Rangi felt the same."
"Wait? You two were on the run?" Aang inquired.
"Yes. After I found out I was the Avatar, I ran because of a man named Jianzhu. He was the one who thought Yun was the Avatar, but when it was revealed to be me instead…He left Yun to die. I hated him for what he had done to my dear friend and wanted to get away from him until I was strong enough to face him on my own terms. That man had also killed another dear friend of mine in order to draw me out."
"Oh…Did you get your chance to…well get back at him?"
"I wanted to…Spirits know how I wanted to, but it wasn't me that killed Jianzhu. Yun, who we thought was dead, was the one that killed Jianzhu."
"You went through a lot", Aang muttered.
"I imagine every Avatar does in their lifetime. The responsibility the Avatar holds is a heavy one after all."
"When you found out you were the Avatar, how did you feel about it?"
Kyoshi sighed, "I desperately wished that it was a mistake. Like you, I never wanted to be the Avatar…but I had to accept that role and I did."
For a moment, the two Avatars sat in comfortable silence together. Neither saying anything as they looked back over their lives.
"I do love Katara", Aang finally said, "and I know she meant it when she told me earlier. I always wanted to hear her say it…"
Kyoshi turned to him and asked, "But?"
"I just can't accept it…not like that."
"Then what will you do?"
"I'm going to stick by what I said", Aang stood up, "It might be selfish on my part, but I still feel its for the best. I can't let Katara hold me down."
"Are you sure that is what you want?" Kyoshi questioned and air bent herself up to her feet.
"Are you suggesting I do the opposite?" Aang asked in return.
"I'm not suggesting anything", Kyoshi clarified, "I just want to be sure you're not basing your decision off of fear of what may or may not happen."
Aang said nothing in return. His past life decided not to press any further on the matter.
"However, if there is anything I do suggest you do its apologizing to Suki", Kyoshi stated.
"Why should I after she went behind my back?" Aang demanded.
"Suki was only doing what she thought was right. Everything she did, she did for you Aang. Hiding what she knew of Katara's feelings was the only thing Suki could think of doing so you wouldn't get hurt. She bears no ill-will towards you and has done everything out of love for you."
Aang knew Kyoshi had a point. Suki was there for him when he needed her the most and always would be. She didn't deserve the wrath he gave her. Although Aang could not help but feel that Kyoshi had her own reasons for the suggestion.
"You're not saying all this because you happen to have a bias towards Suki, right?" Aang crossed his arms.
"Whose to say?" Kyoshi shifted her eyes and shrugged. Aang raised an eyebrow.
"Fine, maybe there is some bias there", she admitted, "I can't help it. I consider all Kyoshi warriors as my own daughters after all."
"Knew it", Aang scoffed.
"Even so, you best do what I say or else."
"Or else what?" Aang questioned, "you're my past life. You can't hurt me."
Kyoshi placed a hand on his shoulder and clenched it with a tight grip. He looked down to her hand and then back up to her. This time she had her daofei face paint back on. Her lips curved upwards in a sinister fashion.
"Would you like me to test that theory?" Kyoshi grinned as she tightened her grip on his shoulder.
Aang pursed his lips and avoided her gaze, "No…"
"Good boy", Kyoshi let go of Aang's shoulder and pat the top of his head, "I believe it's time for you to go. You have someone waiting for you on the other side."
"Oh, okay", Aang turned back to her and bowed, "Thank you…for the support. It actually helped a lot."
"Don't be afraid to call out to me if you need more help. Till next time Avatar Aang", Kyoshi said and bowed in return.
As Avatar Kyoshi flowed into the wind, a flashing light blinded Aang. When he opened his eyes the air bender no longer found himself at the southern air temple anymore. He was back in his body, back in Ba Sing Se. Just as his vision cleared, he found the person Kyoshi said was waiting for him.
Katara sat across from him, her head resting on the top of her knees as she slept peacefully.
'Has she been here all night?' Aang wondered to himself. He immediately reached out to her but stopped midway. He thought about the last time he saw her and the emotional mess he had left her as on the bridge. With how much he tried to push her away, did he have a right to touch her? What would happen if she woke up from her slumber? Would she rip him a new one or would she try to make him see her way? Aang didn't know. What he did know was that Katara should be asleep on her bed instead of here with him.
So Aang placed his hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle nudge. It seemed to have done the trick as Katara stirred from her sleep and groaned. He pulled his hand back and watched her rub her eyes open.
Her eyes blinked as she took in her surroundings and remembered where she was. Her eyes widened as she saw Aang back in his body, looking at her.
"Aang…you're back", Katara muttered.
"Y-yeah…" Aang replied as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Neither of them knew what to say to the other. Their eyes shifting away from the other as the heavy awkward silence hung in the air.
"Did something happen in the spirit world?" Katara wondered.
"Oh, no…um…just talked with some…people", Aang answered. He didn't think it was a good idea to tell her about his conversation with Yue and his past lives.
"Oh okay. That's good…I was worried when I heard you went to the spirit world. Given everything that has happened, I thought something terrible had happened to you", Katara explained as she pulled strands of her hair down.
"I'm sorry for worrying you", Aang said with a sincere tone. He appreciated Katara watching over his body but wondered if he truly deserved it after the way he treated her.
"Don't be", Katara finally looked to him with a small smile, "I'm glad you're back."
"I'm glad to be back", Aang smiled back. Just as he said that his stomach grumbled loudly. The air bender instinctively covered his abdomen and blushed. The water bender tried to stifle her giggling at his reaction.
"Iroh figured you hadn't ate in a while so he told me to let you know he left you a bowl of rice in the shop", Katara chuckled.
"Thanks for the heads up", Aang stood up. He reached his hand out to the water bender. She didn't expect it, but she took his hand and allowed him to pull her up to her feet. Upon closer inspection, Aang saw how red Katara's eyes had become. Guilt stabbed through him as he remembered that he was the cause of her tears. He wanted to say something. He needed to say something.
"Katara I'm—"
The water bender placed her fingers on his lips. She recognized the concerned look in his eyes and knew what he was going to say.
"I know Aang", Katara smiled softly, "I'm fine now. You just worry about putting food into your stomach."
"Okay…" Aang nodded as Katara pulled her fingers back. He turned around and headed towards the Jasmine Dragon entrance. Katara turned and took one step towards the house but stopped before she took a second step. She wanted to say something else to him before she left for her room. She wasn't sure what would happen later, so it was now or never for her.
"Aang!" She called out. The air bender had just stepped through the entrance when he heard Katara call out to him. He turned his body sideways and looked to her. He could see her hands balled into fists at each side. She held a look of determination on her face.
"I'm not going to give up on you!"
Aang stood, stunned. How many times did he tell her to no on the bridge? What was it going to take for her to stop? But he knew the answer to that. He knew what kind of person Katara was. When she was dead set on something, nobody could stop her. He could hear it in her declaration. Aang closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. He knew there was nothing else he could say to change her mind.
He opened his eyes and looked back at her.
"Do what you want", he said and walked into the tea shop. Katara let out her own deep sigh and walked towards the house. From here on out, she was going to put her all into winning Aang over. With her friends at her side, nothing would stop her.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a review and let me know what you thought.