Chapter 51

I’ve had a couple requests for playlists for the story, which I’m still working on. But for now I’ll just put the songs at the top of the chapters. Hope you enjoy 🙂

The Wisp Sings- Winter Aid
Can’t help falling in love- Elvis Presley

It had all still felt like a dream to Kyoshi. There wasn’t a part she would change. The new memory felt like warmth at the thought. Surely one that would be replaying through her mind in her last moments she was sure of that.

They laid in bed watching the sun rise above the horizon, a warm light filling the room. That day was slow, they wandered around the town and simply enjoyed it all.

The fact that they were married, and the fact they were in a town that none of them had heard of before yet it was where they finally said I do.

The following day they said goodbye to Hei Ran and Jinpa and set off again to visit the last town. Though when they got there the town it seemed like nothing had ever happened.

They walked further in, Kyoshi stopping a few people as they walked on. But no one had claimed to have heard of the balanced nation.

“Then what’s going on here?” Kyoshi asked herself as they continued.

Rangi watched as Kyoshi picked up the pace, almost scurrying the town frantically over the hours, when she realized Kyoshi wasn’t going to figure it out herself.

“Kyoshi stop.” She called, reaching out to tug Kyoshi’s arm back. She turned, giving the fire bender a confused glance.

“They’re not here,” She said calmly.

“No, there were reports about this town and-” Kyoshi looked around again.

“It must have been about something else, because the balanced nation isn’t here. They’re gone”

Rangi watched Kyoshi’s shoulders finally slump in relief. “They’re not here” She repeated.

Rangi glanced around quickly before pulling Kyoshi into a hug. “You did everything you promised. The balanced nation is no more”

As they separated Kyoshi’s expression was calm as she stared back at Rangi.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to fix all the mistakes I made,” She said with a small smile of relief.

“We should probably check back later, but for now there’s nothing here” Rangi said as they started making their way out of the town. They had made the decision to check back on the town later to see if something else devolved, but for now it just seemed like a false report.

Kyoshi laughed. “It feels silly that we parted ways with Jinpa and your mother now, should we start off after them?” Kyoshi asked.

“How about we don’t?” Rangi replied, pausing for a moment. They were at the town’s gate.

“What do you mean by that?” Kyoshi had stopped alongside her.

“What if we just go somewhere, anywhere. Not because people need the Avatar there but just because we want to” Rangi suggested.

“Like a honeymoon?”

Rangi laughed. “I suppose that is what it’s called isn’t it?”

A broad smile crossed Kyoshi’s face, “Let’s go” She called as she took Rangi’s hand, taking off into the forest.

Before long they were both laughing, and they had no idea where they were going. But they ran through the forest until they came to clearing where they stopped to catch their breath.

“Where should we go?”

“Where do you wanna go?” Rangi replied.

“I don’t know, that’s why I asked you,” Kyoshi retorted.

They flopped back on the grass. Rangi resting her head on Kyoshi’s chest.

“How about Senik’a island?” Kyoshi offered.

But Rangi stayed quiet as colored leaves drifted above them.

“Something wrong?”

Rangi set out a sigh as she scooted a little closer. “I want to go there with you, just not yet.”

Kyoshi reached out and began to run her fingers through the fire bender’s hair. “I actually know people there, people I grew up with. So when I go back I want to be there as myself with you, and not just as a bodyguard. I just don’t think I can do that yet”

“So where do we go then? Kyoshi asked again.

They sit and think for a couple more minutes.

“I didn’t know this would be so hard” Rangi sighed.

“Okay process of elimination” Kyoshi started. “I know you don’t like the cold, so is it fair to take the water tribes out?”

She nodded.

“Fire nation?”

“No there always seems to be problems there, I’d like for this trip to remain as non violent as possible” Rangi replied.

“Okay so we have two options we wander to another earth kingdom town, or go an air temple”

“you pick the last one”

“Let’s go somewhere on the coast, in the earth kingdom,” Kyoshi smiled. “and if we don’t like the first town then we can just move to another”

Rangi watched as Kyoshi started rambling on about this trip, and the places she wanted to go, and that smile. It could make her fall for that idiot all over again.

It had taken some time to get to a town with some pack animals so they could head out to some towns on the coast lines, but it didn’t feel like a chore. They had enjoyed their days just talking and getting distracted by small things on the way.

The first town they had reached was just off the coastline. After dropping their bags in a room they had walked out to find the beach.

As they stepped out of the woods it revealed a large pebbled beach with the waves crashing at the edge.

“Kyoshi, that water is cold!” Rangi yelled as Kyoshi took off down the rocky beach, seeming to know what she was thinking. “KYOSHI” The firebender was now chasing after her.

They had stopped at the water’s edge catching their breath when Kyoshi had kicked a small splash of water at Rangi. But when she went to glare at her Kyoshi was just looking out to the horizon a little too innocently.

So like any other adult person she decided to splash her back. “You did that on purpose,” Kyoshi accused.

“And you didn’t” Rangi laughed.

“Never, if I really meant to do that I would have do this” She smiled smugly as she bent a small wave of water in the fire benders direction.

“Kyoshi” Rangi hissed back as she gave her a playful shove.

“You’re just mad because-” Kyoshi couldn’t finish as the fire bender shoved her once more this time causing her to topple backwards into the shallow waves.

“Rangi this water is freezing” Kyoshi yelped as she pulled herself up. “Serves you right for splashing me” She said as she crossed her arms.

In a blink Kyoshi had scooped the firebender in her arms and had walked out to slightly deeper water. “Kyoshi let me go” Rangi yelled.

“You sure”

She took a minute to rethink her words. “No! Just put me back, you’re freezing.”

“You pushed me in, I was just returning the favor”

“It’s not my fault that soft shove was all it took to push you in”

With a laugh Kyoshi let the two of them fall back into the water, leaving the firender cursing as she fought out of the Avatar’s arms.

Kyoshi had to catch her breath from laughing as she pulled herself out of the water. Rangi standing on the beach now scowling at her.

“Have a nice swim?” She taunted.

That was all it took for the firender to chase after Kyoshi up the beach. It only took a couple of seconds for the fire bender to catch up, grabbing a hold of Kyoshi’s sleeve, yanking her backwards, almost causing her to fall once more.

“And I thought I almost got away” She huffed.

“I’ll always be faster”

“Faster sure but never humble about it” Kyoshi smiled as she wiped some of the remaining saltwater out of her eyes. Rangi’s eyes narrowed before she took a hold of Kyoshi’s hand and started leading them up the path and back to the town.

“Awe leaving already? We can’t stay to catch the sunset” Kyoshi whined.

“The only thing we’re going to catch at this point is hyperthermia. I’m sure the view from the room will be just fine.”

After exchanging their salty clothes back at the room from dry ones they set on into the town. Rangi pulled Kyoshi into different shops, Kyoshi just happy to be pulled along.

As the sun began to set the town glowed with a warm orange, as a young boy played an instrument in the square. Kyoshi left her wife’s side to toss a couple coins in his hat with a smile before returning to Rangi.

When she approached she tapped her on the shoulder before pointing down an alleyway, erging for the firebender to follow.

You could still hear the music playing from the square as they walked further back. As far as alleyways went, this was definitely one one of the nicest ones they had stumbled upon.    

Kyoshi pause for a moment glancing over her shoulder before she extended her hand to Rangi, “We never got our first dance”

The firebender glanced around first before taking Kyoshi’s hand. “Think you remember how do this”

Kyoshi smiled as she pulled Rangi closer. “Absolutely not, but I figure you love me enough not to mind if I step on your toes once or twice”

Rangi decided she would take the lead as they started to sway and turn around in the alley. But soon she noticed how Kyohsi’s face seemed to get more serious maybe. What was she thinking about?

“Are you sure you’re okay with this trip?” She asked.

“What kind of question is that? I thought we were having fun” Kyosh replied, pulling Rangi a little closer.

“No I am, I just didn’t know. I mean, is this where you really wanted to go?” Rangi asked looking

“Rangi what’s wrong? You’re doing that questioning thing you do when you’re nervous about something.”

“I do not, I don’t know what you’re talking about” Rangi huffed.

Distracted by Rangi’s words, Kyoshi had accidentally stepped on Rangi’s foot, earning her a small glare.

“So what’s wrong then?” Kyoshi asked once more.

“Are you mad at me?”

“What did you do? Burn my old tunics” Kyoshi laughed to herself.

“Not yet” Rangi mumbled back.

They continued swaying as Kyoshi tried her best to spin Rangi around before they came to a stop with the music dying down. 

“But you know what I’m talking about, don’t you?”

“And?” Kyoshi replied calmly.

“Are you mad?”

Kyoshi laughed, the firebender that she had met all those years ago would never have asked such a question or it never felt like she would.

“Over Senik’a island?”

Rangi nodded, turning to face away.

“Why would I ever be mad over something like that?”

“I just feel like a coward, how can you not think of me as one? You seem so okay with telling people, and I just- I don’t know”

“You are hardly a coward, Rangi. I mean you married me didn’t you?” She smiled back at the fire bender.

“Yes but that was just us and I don’t know. It’s not like I care about what others think but-“

“You’re scared”

Rangi scoffed. “I already told you I’m a coward.”

“Being a coward and being scared can be separate”

“It’s doesn’t feel that way”

Kyoshi sighed as they went to sit down for a moment. “We both know how the world is, and we can’t change that. Maybe one day it will be different but for now just knowing that you love me is enough.” She cupped the firenders face in her hands, planting a kiss on her forehead.

“As long as you’re by my side that’s all I could ask for”

“And you’re sure that would be enough?”

Kyoshi smiled softly. “We could never tell another soul and I would be just as happy.”

Okay I actually struggled to figure out how to write this chapter. I also don’t think I’m made to write pure fluff so sorry in advance. But there will probably be a time skip next chapter so we can continue on with the story. Anyways thanks for reading, and hope you liked it <3