Aang
My eyes remained focused on the ostrich horse riding away in the distance. On it, my source of happiness. It seemed poetic, in a way. After I fled from her, now she was riding away not knowing when we would see each other again. I was shaken out of my thoughts when a flash of fire nearly burned me.
I got myself together and grunted as I retrieved the fire and threw it back. Before I knew it, I was incaving him in a block of earth. My head shot up and I saw the rest of the men fall in defeat. Panting, I walked over to Zuko and we exchanged panicked looks.
„Put them in a cell!" He screamed at the guard with fury burning in his eyes. For a moment, I was startled but it all washed away as I saw one of the men smiling.
„What do you think they want?" I asked Zuko, subconsciously knowing that he had no idea.
„Could be anything. The riots have been getting worse in some of the colonies and I-„ I quickly turned to fully face him as a wave of shook washed over me.
„What! Colonies? There are still fire nation colonies? Zuko, why did you never tell me this?" He let out a deep breath as he loosened his collar.
„There are still some minor ones around the Earth Kingdom. I sent troops over there months ago but there seems to be some kind of hold up. It's hard to move them back home when they're this far. Some soldiers haven't been cooperating and started riots." I stared at him in shook.
„We can't have fire nation colonies, Zuko! How are we supposed to show the world that the fire nation isn't a threat anymore when you still have colonies occupying the Earth Kingdom? And why did you not tell me? If not as a friend than as the Avatar. You have to tell me things like this." He began walking towards the palace as I picked up the pace and followed.
„I didn't want to concern you. You already have so much on your plate and I thought this wouldn't be a big problem. Apparently I was wrong." I sighed. I did understand his reasoning.
„Look, I understand that you didn't want to tell me but this isn't internal fire nation business. It concerns the Earth Kingdom and therefore me. I don't care if I have a million problems, promise you'll tell me stuff like this." My eyes pleaded.
„Yeah, I will." His eyes softened and he patted my back as we reached the entrance.
„I think your girlfriend wants to talk." I turned around to see Kyiosana walking towards us. I gave Zuko a quick nod and watched as he walked away. Before I could fully turn my head, I felt a hot sensation on my cheek. I held it and grunted after Kyiosana slapped me.
„What was that for?" My eyebrows arched and searched her face for answers. No girl had ever been this rough. Some fan girls were brutal in their attempts to touch me but none had ever striken me. Katara wouldn't hit me like this, certainly.
„Are you kidding? What was that just now?" I lowered my arm and looked at her with confusion. It was my genuine reaction and I could not pinpoint the cause of her anger.
„I don't know what you're talking about?" What has gotten into her?
„Did you forget that I am your girlfriend? Or do you just let any girl kiss you now?" She crossed her arms and tensed her body. The realization dawned on me and Katara's face made its way into my mind.
„What? You mean Katara? Spirits Kyio, she's been doing that since we met. Don't take it to heart." I heard her pout and exclaim ironically.
„So, you've been holding hands since you met too? Or hugging like that?" My shoulders shot up. It really wasn't something that should stir up this much trouble.
„Yes, yes we have. I don't understand what the problem is." I began walking around the perimeter. She followed closely behind me.
„The problem is that you don't do that with your friends." I huffed in response. She had gotten so different. Annoyance crept over my voice as I spoke.
„Well, we do. It's just a sign of affection. We're good friends, that's all." I licked my lips and pretended to be casual about this whole thing.
„Oh, right. Good friends? Well if you like showing affection, why don't you ever show it to me anymore?" I stopped walking and glanced at her. She did have a point.
„There has just been a lot things going on lately. We've all been busy. You know that." I reached out to hold her hand and she lowered her eyes. Our whole relationship didn't even make sense anymore. If it ever did. Nevertheless, I tried to comfort her.
„I promise to spend more time with you. I just have a few things to take care of first." I gave her a kiss on the forehead and smiled. She pouted her lips and nodded. The stress was getting so bad. Katara had been gone for a few minutes and I already feel ten times worse. I felt deja vu.
Before going to speak to Zuko, I headed towards my chamber. I needed to lie down for a few minutes. My head was spinning. Upon entering, I plopped down on the bed but was startled at the sound of a crunch.
I shot back up and saw a small piece of paper. I picked up the now crunched piece of paper and saw the ink staining it. No matter how hard I stared or how close I got to it, I couldn't decipher what was written on it. I set it back down and noticed my door open. I must have not closed it when walking in. I stood up and walked towards it but didn't close it. Instead I walked out and breathed in the fresher air.
My eyes darted towards the room next to mine. My feet practically began walking on their own. Before I knew, I had reached Kataras's room. I slowly opened the door and the the slightly messy state it was in. The closer door was still open and some stuff was peaking out. A certain pendant caught my eye. It was lying on the floor next to some clothes. As I got closer, I noticed that it was a brooch. I picked it up and saw fire nation insignia on it. Must have belonged to the person that was staying here before. I turned around and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But as I held it more and my body heat transcended into it something slowly began revealing itself. I realized what you had to firebend at it from the palm of your hand. As I did so, I uncovered some small writing on it.
小齋的服從
Ozai's obedience. Confusion washed over my face followed by realization. I quickly stood up and wanted to run straight to Zuko but was stopped right in my tracks as Kyiosana stood in front of me.
„Oh, what are you doing here?" She innocently asked me as she inched closer. I just blankly stared at her. When I didn't answer, she spoke again.
„You found my brooch! Zuko gifted it to me and I had a feeling that she had taken it from me but you know me, I don't like to pry." As she got closer, she saw the writing slowly fading and her eyes reeked of panic.
„That's a lie, isn't it?" Now it was my turn to get close and interrogate her with my gaze. She took a step back and swallowed hard.
„What else have you been lying about?" Her breath hitched and I sensed her despair. She truly looked panicked but I didn't care. If I was right about this, then she would have to be….
„You don't know what you're doing?" She was taking slow steps back as I was taking slow steps demeanor had completely changed within seconds.
„Oh, don't I? Then enlighten me, please." Before I knew it she was against the wall and I was inching closer. Her eyebrows softened and I knew that she was wondering what I would do next. I was wondering it myself.
„This was all a set up. You didn't want to be with me. It was all fake." She picked up her head and got closer to my lips as I towered over her.
„Not all of it." She stared at me intensely and moved her head closer to mine, where our noses were almost touching. Before our lips could connect, I looked up and blasted a gush of air towards her. Her body slightly slammed against the wall and I held her arm to prevent her from falling down, for now.
„It was on my part." I said into her ear before letting go of her. She fell to the ground and earthbent a small pyramid of earth around her body, making her unable to move. I don't think she realized I could sense every drop of water she was bending out of the vase next to us.
I heard the guards running towards us. My eyes shifted towards her and her pathetic gaze of unwanted sympathy that I knew I would give her. What bugged me the most was how she did fool me into thinking she liked me.
„What happend?" Zuko appeared among the guards. He slightly pushed them aside and made his way toward where I was standing.
„I found one of your father's followers." I said looking at Kyiosana. Zuko squinted and turned to me. Kyiosana looked defeated and frankly just ashamed.
„You're joking, right?" I heated up the brooch and handed it to him, letting him read the text on it. The writing was small and subtle.
„I wish I was." His eyes widend and he looked at Kyiosana before looking back at the guards.
„Take her to the dungeon. Make sure she's locked up tight." He turned to me and with a sigh, I clenched my fist and the earth pyramid that was holding her crumbled. The guards quickly took hold of her and began walking out.
„Are you uhm- doing okay?" Zuko was never the best at showing affection but when he did, I really appreciated it. My body was still tense and my stance firm.
„I've been worse. Let's just interrogate those men and get this day over with." He nodded and we both walked out of that room, her room. Just when we had found each other, tragedy had to strike and separate us.
...
Katara
I've been at the South Pole for a week now. It has been two weeks since I left the fire nation. The funeral was held five days ago since it is tradition to let the body rest for a week after her death. Then after a week, the person is buried. I was just glad that it allowed me to attend her funeral. The whole tribe was there but being in the front row made the biggest difference.
Ever since the funeral, I just felt hollow. I blamed myself for not being home more when Gran Gran was still with us and for not taking notice of her deteriorating health. Even crying felt like routine now. Due to the cold, my cheeks were constantly freezing as the tears turned cold on my skin. My skin was red and my face swollen. I spent most of my days in my hut.
Not even waterbending brought me peace as it used to. I didn't allow myself to waterbend as she was the one who encouraged me to go to the North in order to master it. It felt like a betrayal. I had left her to become a master and didn't spend that time with her when she was alive.I also didn't want to talk to anyone. Dad kept it together for us and Sokka seemed to be taking it well. I was the only who was possessed by it.
„Hey, Katara?" I glanced up to find Sokka coming into my tent. I laid my head back down on my pillow. He got closer and sat down on the bed next to me.
„Katara, I know how much this has affected you but you need to talk. You've been in your bed for the past week. You don't talk, go out and you barely eat. It's not healthy." I broke out a weak chuckle.
„What's funny?" I continued chuckling and breathed out. My throat was dry and if I spoke my voice would be too raspy to be called my own.
„I never thought I'd hear you openly worry about me." His eyes dropped and he licked his lips.
„Of course I worry. I've never seen you like this. Well, not since Aang left." I looked away from him in reminiscence. He seemed to take notice.
„If you won't talk to me or dad, you should talk to him." My eyes quickly shot up and looked into his.
„What?" I uttered and waited for an answer.
„Aang. You should write to him. He always understood you better than anyone else." My head plopped back onto the pillow at his answer. I missed him so much.
„He has enough problems to deal with." He scoffed which prompted me to look back at him.
„Are we talking about the same person? Come on, Katara. It's Aang. He would love to get a letter from you even if the world was in flames right now." I just don't want to burden him. Sokka stood up and began walking out.
„Promise me you'll give it a go." He looked back and only left when I nodded. Maybe it help to hear from him. I missed him so very much. So for the first time in almost a week, I stood up with a purpose. I began stirring the ink and poured my heart out into one lousy piece of paper.
Images of the storm in his eyes reminded me of how his lips caressed mine on that cold summer night next to the campfire.
What a beautiful dream it was.