Chapter 11

The visions of the man standing in the burning building flooded her mind that night. Over and over again, she swore she could taste the smoke in her dreams. She opened her eyes slowly, looking around the dark room.

Rangi had curled up beside her, breathing gently. Kyoshi exhaled, trying to fall back to sleep. But every time she shut her eyes she saw him standing there. His voice, his voice echoed through her head repeatedly. She knew she had heard it before.

When the sun peeked through the window, Kyoshi still laid awake, she had now given up sleeping that night. What was the point? It would only be filled with his voice, his presence, and Kyoshi couldn’t bear it. She had to get out of here, she had spent too much time in hospitals, forced to stay in one place. There were so many other things she should be doing right now, and laying in a hospital bed wasn’t one of them.

As she slid Rangi off her shoulder, and slipped back into the smoke scented robe from before. “Rangi” She nudged her shoulder slightly before coughing. “Are you hurt?” She mumbled. “What no, I just need to go into town today.” Kyoshi replied.

“Okay just give me a minute”

Rangi began to pull herself out of the cot, and Kyoshi started to braid her hair, securing it with a ribbon.

“What’s that smell?” Rangi asked, pulling her hair into her usual top knot. “My robe,” Kyoshi replied.

“That reeks, what is that?”

“The smoke from the fire, definitely wasn’t normal”

“Far from it,” Rangi replied, walking back up to Kyoshi. “You can’t leave here smelling like that, you’ll take the whole town out.”

“Okay well I’m not spending any longer in this hospital, it’s driving me crazy. I just need to get out of here.”

“But you aren’t leave smelling like death”

“I’ll just run back to the house and then we can head to town”

“You don’t think you’ll run into any number of people who will see you on the streets,”

“Rangi I can’t stay here” Kyoshi replied, starting to push past her to the door. But Rangi jumped in front of her, blocking the doorway. “I’m not letting you wander the streets smelling like a corpse.” Rangi said, looking up to Kyoshi.

“I’m not going to be wandering the city, I’m just going to get some clean clothes and-”

“Not leaving,” Rangi said, placing her hands on her hips. Maybe this was a tad dramatic on Rangi’s part, but she liked to tease Kyoshi the slightest bit, and she knew she wouldn’t try anything. Plus she wasn’t actually lying about the smell either. “Rangi move.” She replied, mirroring her movements.

“No.”

“I’m not staying here”

Before Rangi could snap back at her there was a knock at the door, to which she answered quickly. “Jinpa, what are you doing here?” She asked, letting him in.

“Lady Hei-Ran wanted me to bring this basket of stuff over for Kyoshi” He replied, setting the basket on a chair. “What’s that smell?”

“Why I’m hostage in this room.” Kyoshi replied, shooting a look at Rangi. “I think you may have saved the city Rangi” Jinpa replied with a laugh.

“It’s not like it was my fault I-” She couldn’t finish her sentence before she began to cough uncontrollably. Rangi tried to have her sit down for a minute til her coughing subsided, but she refused using the wall for a bit of extra support. “Bastards” Kyoshi mumbled under her breath.

“Will this work?” Rangi said, holding up a red robe from the basket. Kyoshi blinked blankly a couple of times, she couldn’t remember the last time she wore red, not that it really mattered.

As they headed off into town, Rangi realized she actually had no idea what they were doing here in the first place. She tried to recall if Kyoshi had told her why, trying to figure out if she spaced the reason.

Suddenly Kyoshi stopped at an intersection, causing Rangi to run into her. “Okay ummm, so now is a good time to tell you I have no idea where I’m going” She admitted sheepishly.

“So we’ve just been wandering the town for the past half hour then?” Rangi asked, placing a hand on her hip. Before Kyoshi could respond she felt something tug at the ends of her robe.

When she looked down she saw a little wide eyed girl looking up at her. “MaryLynn you come back here” a woman she assumed was the girl’s mother called before pulling her away.

“But that’s the avatar, I know it is” The girl whined. Kyoshi smiled, kneeling down to meet the little girl’s line of sight. “How’d you know?”

She pointed to the golden fans stored in her sash. “The fans, how did you even know about that?” Kyoshi asked intrigued by the child’s eye for detail.

“She wants to learn everything there is to know about you really” The woman replied. “And I know everything,” The girl added proudly.

“Do you now?”

“Everything… actually there is one thing” She said. “Who’s she?” The girl asked, pointing to Rangi.

Kyoshi smiled as the girl tugged on her sleeve for her to come closer to her. “She looks kind of mean”

She couldn’t help but laugh as she stood back up. “This is lady Rangi”

“What do you do?” Rangi was surprised by her sudden part in the conversation. “Well to put it simply I protect the avatar, help keep her out of trouble, I’m always at her side. ” Rangi explained.

“And you always protect her, no matter what?” She asked. Rangi nodded.

“That’s just like daddy, and mommy. Daddy says he would do anything to protect us, are you guys like that?”

Kyoshi turned to look at Rangi who shared the same questioning glance.

“It’s different sweety, daddy and I love each other very much, and are married, he protects us-“

“Wait, are you guys married? Do you love each other? Is that why you protect her?”

They both froze, this one little child had managed to frazzle them both.

The woman quickly apologized, and pulled the young girl in the other direction. Kyoshi laughed awkwardly, Rangi kept looking at the ground.

“Okay where did you say you were looking to go?” Rangi said as she recollected her scattered thoughts.

“Right I was looking for this shop, I have to pick up something for the party tonight”

“Really?” She questioned. “Yes, what’s so weird about it?” Kyoshi asked quickly.

“Nothing… it’s just I didn’t think you cared for these kinds of things.” She smirked. “I don’t, I just need something.” Kyoshi replied, looking down.

“Name?” Rangi asked impatiently. Kyohsi gave her a funny look. “Uhhh Kyoshi” She replied awkwardly. “Of the shop genius”

“Oh right, the Golden Fire Lily I think”

As they approach the shop Kyohsi stops out front before entering. “I’ll just be a minute.”

Rangi took the hint to stay out front, but was still curious about what she was doing. Kyohsi never cared about stuff like this.

Kyoshi opened the door and was treated by the shopkeeper, she could tell by the way he spoke that he was ame person she had been writing to.

As he handed her a small box, she took out a bag of coins and placed them in his other palm. “Thank you, I know it wasn’t the most convenient way of doing business but I greatly appreciate it.” She said bowing, tucking the box away. “Oh it was no problem at all, you seemed to have the exact image of what you wanted in mind, it was easy to follow. I only hope the pieces live up to your expectations.”

She smiled, before thanking him again as she left the shop to find Rangi right outside the door.

When Kysohi stepped out of the shop the coughing continued. “You alright?”

“Fine, I was trying try- trying to wait until I got out of the shop.” She explained, regathering her breath.

“Come on, there’s a tea shop around the corner, it might help” She nodded as they rounded the corner of the jewelry shop.

Kyoshi liked the small tea hut, it reminded her of something from the earth kingdom. She pulled off her gloves to hold the warm cup in her hands, absorbing its warmth when something caught her attention from across the room.

She tries to listen in to the conversation, from the sound of it they were on the side that believed it was all made up. Perfect

Suddenly one of the men caught her staring, and shot her a dirty glance. They all knew her viewpoint on the whole thing by now. They all lowered their voices whispering amongst the group. “Rangi let’s go.” Kyohsi said quietly, snatching her gloves from the table top.

“Scared Avatar?” One of the men called as she left the shop. Kyoshi had no interest in getting into a fight at a tea shop. They kept walking, without turning to look back.

Rangi noticed the uneasiness in Kyoshi’s expression. She became frustrated by the people who were trying to make things more difficult for her, but they didn’t know everything. Also that she had been the one to suggest the shop in the first place, she was aware that Kyohsi was probably also worrying about the party tonight, she didn’t need anything on top of that.

The closer they got to the house the more Kyoshi continued to focus on all the people she encountered. Not just the people at the tea shop but all of them. The guys at the ally, and at the northern water tribe.

When they return Rangi goes off to talk to some of the other guards at the palace about the event tonight, leaving Kyoshi to her own thoughts.

Wandering out of the room she changed into a more appropriate training attire, and headed out back. She stood there for a moment thinking of what she could work, or what needed the most work.

Sitting down she decided on water bending, placing her hands on the ground focusing on trying to extract the water particles. It was a technique that Atuat had told her to work on when she was back to solid ground.

But this proved to still be difficult for her, as she opened her eyes she was immediately disappointed by the amount of water she was able to pull from the ground. Determined she closed her eyes trying again to pull more water.

“Weren’t you discharged this morning from a hospital bed?” Hei-Ran asked, walking up behind her. “Oh… yes” Kyoshi responded weakly as the water droplets fell back to the soil.

“You know I really do admire your grit and tenacity.” Kyoshi looked up, expecting to get yelled at. “But…”

Hei Ran sat down on the lawn beside her. “Just make sure you’re not being too reckless.”

“I dont think I’m that reckless”

Hei Ran gave her a skeptical look. “I’ve known you for a long time Kyoshi, I just want you to remember that you are still a human, even if you are the avatar”

“I wish I could forget that sometimes,” Kyoshi admitted, pulling her knees to her chest. “Which part?”

The wind made its way through the yard as they sat there. Kyoshi looked up to the sky contemplating her response. “Both I guess”

Hei Ran laughed lightly at her response. “Kyoshi being human doesn’t make you weak, and being the avatar doesn’t mean you have to be invincible.”

Kyoshi gave her a doubtful look. “I know I don’t need to be invincible but…” She bit her lip.

“Yes?” Hei Ran asked, encouraging her to continue her sentence. “Nothing” She replied shortly, getting up from the grass.

Her thoughts felt like they were burning through the back of her brain. She didn’t care the toll it took, or how reckless she seemed, she just had to become better, stronger. “Well then I believe you can find something to occupy you elsewhere” Hei Rang sat also getting to her feet.

Kyoshi gave her a nod, “How did you know I would be out here anyway?”

“My girl has very good intuition” She replied before heading off in another direction. Rangi, that girl would always know her next move.

Kyoshi heads the other way, dealing with some more paperwork that had been sent in, and other mail. As she sorted through the papers she saw all the new threats insisting she left, that she had no business here.

Taking them all in her fist she rolled them into a tight little ball. As she removed one of her gloves she set the small ball a blaze, and watched as it disintegrated before her eyes. Maybe this party was a bad idea, it could just be another way for people to become even more mad at her. Her time would be much better spent trying to figure this out here.

Rangi came in shortly, and talked about the seemingly endless details of the party, but Kyoshi still wasn’t too excited. As she stands up from the desk proposes an idea to Rangi. “What if we stay here for the night, I don’t really need to go to that thing anyway.”

Rangi rolls her eyes. “Why wouldn’t you go, you already confirmed that you would be there?”

“There’s so much to do on all of the spirit stuff that’s going on plus taking off a night off to rest doesn’t seem like the worst idea” She said shrugging, but was surprised when Rangi bursted out laughing uncontrollably.

“You know that’s funny, you seemed well enough to try your hand at training just a bit ago.” She said, her expression stiffening. “It was nothing hard.” Kyoshi argued. “Less than 24 hours ago you were admitted into a hospital because you passed out due to lack of oxygen.” 

“That’s like nothing, I was struck by lightning like at least 6 times and I’m still fine”

“That’s not something to be proud of.” Rangi huffed.

“What’s that you’re always saying? What do we do when no one is watching defines who we are?” Kyoshi replied, grinning.

“Well yes, but… this is different” Rangi said, turning away. “Just come on, the party’s gonna start soon” She said, taking her hand and pulling her into the other room.

“I’ll admit it, these new robes aren’t so bad,” Kyoshi said as she finished timing her sash. ” I thought I would never live to see the day where you would admit you like anything but your battered ones.”

The two finish getting ready in a comfortable silence when Rangi walks over with a pair of brand new gloves. “Oh thank you” Kyoshi sayed with a smile. “But I don’t think I plan on wearing any tonight”

Rangi was taken back by this, Kyoshi always insisted on wearing them no matter the occasion. “Are you sure?” She asks carefully, beginning to fold them lightly.

“Positive, I should be proud of them right?” Kyoshi said, turning her hand so she could see the scarring that traveled up them.

As she set the pair of gloves down on a dresser she walked back up to the Avatar adjusting her tunic ever so slightly, with a soft smile. “Well you didn’t go through all of that for nothing.”

“Hey, no touching remember?” Kyoshi jokes. “Of course,” Rangi replied with a light laugh. But as moments passed a sad smile spread across each of their faces, a new subject lingering in the back of their heads. They couldn’t be themselves here, not anywhere really. Just Jinpa and some of the monks at the temples knew. Well and Hei Ran but that was an accident.

Rangi thought of the girl at the market, she would always protect Kyoshi no matter what but… what if she wasn’t wrong? About them. Then what?

“Just one more” Rangi said, going up on her toes so she could plant a kiss on Kyoshi’s cheek. “For good luck”

“Well if that’s the case I have something for you” Kyoshi handed her a small bag from the table. Unwrapping the cloth it revealed a stunning gold hair pin, with each one of the 4 nations stones bedded at the top. “I’ll have to break the rules one more time” She said carefuling tucking it into Rangi’s topknot. “Perfect”

Kyoshi knew this hurt Rangi, having to hide. But she rarely let it show. It felt like they had been in this little bubble by traveling all the time. Here however things were different when you were in the eye of the public and they both understood that. But she felt like the little things like a hair pin helped.

They entered the party together, with Hei-Ran behind them. Kyoshi felt her stomach twist into knots as she looked over the scene. There were more people here than the last time.

Although the area was vastly crowded with all sorts of people, the fire nation’s decorations never failed not to amaze her. Lanterns strung all though the courtyard, it reminded her of the stars, only better.

“Oh Rang- Lady Rangi do we actually know…” She turned around to see that she had disappeared from her side. In the whole mess of things she realized that she had no idea why this was being held, or why they were all here.

She wandered the courtyard exchanging pleasantries with all the noble men, and other people she ran into. Although it seemed like she was just floating around, she kept a eye out for Rangi in the sea of people.

Through talking with enough people she learned that this was a harvest festival of sorts. This eased Kyoshi’s nerves a bit, a harvest festival didn’t have to be political, right?

When she finally spotted Rangi’s top knot she heard something familiar, the voices from her dreams, from the fire. Spinning around frantically she searched for the voice. She started scanning the area as far as she could see, to look for that figure, that presence. She knew he was here.

“Excuse me, Avatar Kyoshi is it?” A man suddenly tapped her on the shoulder. “Oh y-yes” She turned around again to look down at the shorter man standing in front of her.

“Am I interrupting something?” He asked. She turned to look both ways before refocusing on the guy in front of her. The man most likely had money, he was after all. But he was also clearly dressed in expensive fabrics and jewels.

“No not at all, may I ask your name?”

She didn’t hear his response as she spotted Rangi not too far away. “Do I have your attention?” Kyoshi snapped back into the conversation. “Yes fully”

“Anyway I was hoping to discuss some of the spirit stuff that has been going around.” Her ears perked up. “Of course, it’s one of my most pressing concerns at the moment.”

“Oh, is it now?” His expression stiffened with sternness. Shit. Wrong answer Kyoshi thought. “I’d spare your time and find matters to deal with elsewhere.”

Kyoshi froze for a moment, this man was most definitely on the side of getting her out. “I assure you I use my time wisely” She tried to reassure him. An awkward silence followed her statement, she bit her lip and she tucked a loose strand behind her ear. “What the hell is that?!” He yelled pointing towards her.

Confused by this Kyoshi began to look around trying to find what had concerned the man so much. “What exactly?” She asked awkwardly.

“Your hands” Kyohsi looked down, turning her hands back and forth, staring at the scars that rippled across them, and up her forearms. “They look like they’ve been mangled by a wild animal.”

She bit her lip again. Looking at the ground. “For me personally I wouldn’t walk around like that at least not without them cov-“

“What’s the issue here?” Rangi had suddenly appeared by Kyoshi’s side. He didn’t respond. “Did you even care to ask her what challenge she had to overcome that gave her battle scars like those?”

All Rangi wanted to do was take Kyoshi’s hand and lead her away from the party, and tell her that this man’s stupid opinion didn’t matter, and he had no idea what she had gone through that caused such a grand number of scars that covered not just her hands but her whole body. But she couldn’t, she had to keep her respectable space between her and the avatar as her bodyguard. The most she could do was support her from here.

“And she doesn’t have to answer either” Rangi shot.

Kyohsi looked at Rangi trying to give her a “mellow it out look” but that wasn’t changing Rangi’s actions. “So what happened then exactly?”

Kyoshi closed her eyes remembering the battle, everything that had happened that night. “You don’t have to tell him,” Rangi said under her breath, just loud enough that only she could hear. She gave her a smile in return but decided to answer him anyway. “I was struck by lightning”

“Well that seems a little much for-“

“Six times the man struck her with lightning six times.” Rangi said coldly. He stared in shock. Kyoshi opened her mouth to speak when she smelled something familiar…

“EVERYONE NEEDS TO LEAVE RIGHT NOW”

Happy New Years everyone! I feel so lucky to have all of you amazing people read my story this past year. Every comment, vote, and view make me smile. I only hope this story can bring you all maybe a little bit of joy as well. Thanks for reading❤️

(Also sorry this is so late, but this is 3.5k words so hopefully this makes up for that)