Chapter 34

After the little scene outside Rangi headed back to the room, growing quickly tired of the weight of the wet clothes. She hoped that Kyoshi would think the same thing. She however did not expect to run into her as she entered, literally.

Rangi stumbled back a second as they collided. Apparently she had been too lost in thought to see where she was walking, and Kyoshi… there was only a slim chance she was even aware of where she was standing.

“I don’t understand how a 6 foot giant can be as stealthily as you manage” The firebender scoffed as she pushed into the room to get rid of the wet clothing. Kyoshi just shrugged as she followed her to a dresser, pulling out a tunic.

As Kyoshi pulled her old tunic off leaving her in wraps as it exposed the nasty looking healed-ish gash on her side. The stitching had held up just fine but the skin around it looked off to Rangi from a distance.

“Let me look at that for a second ” She said as she seemingly appeared at Kyoshi’s side, trying to take a closer look at the wound. “Be my guest” Kyoshi replied not really paying much mind to what Rangi was so concerned about.

Rangi seemed to look at the healing gash for a moment. A couple of moments actually, so many that Kyoshi had asked Rangi if it was okay if she could lay down. Promising that Rangi could look at it until her heart gave out if she agreed.

“Does it still hurt?” She asked suddenly. Kyoshi’s head perked up at the question, she was laying on her stomach, resting her head on her arms.

“I haven’t really had the time to think about it too much.” She admitted before laying her head back down.

Rangi frowned, not the answer she wanted to hear in a couple of ways. “Okay, well think about it now for a second.”

“It’s fine.”Kyoshi mumbled. Rangi only shook her head as she stood once more.

“Okay yeah sure, I still think you should go back to Kenna just to have her look at it” The firebender suggested. Only it was really more of a demand.

Kyoshi didn’t respond as she laid on top of the bed, Rangi knew that she had heard her but wasn’t too thrilled about the lack of response.

“Come on, we’ll grab something to eat before we head out” Rangi said as she grabbed onto Kyoshi’s hand, squeezing it gently.

“You know you’re pushy right?” Kyoshi asked as she rolled over.

“Well I didn’t start being a bodyguard cause I was nice” Rangi shot back. Kyoshi only groaned as she pulled a pillow over her face.

“At least your hands are healing well” The firebender pointed out as she sat on the end of the bed. On top of the consistent planning, Kyoshi had been working on some healing skills. Such as healing burns by holding her hands in a bucket of water, so her hands were nearly healed.

The gash on her side however Kyoshi refused to try to heal, or speed up the healing process at all. She knew that the stitches were there to help, but it was still new. And she had no intention of messing with it.

“Yeah they have.” Kyoshi finally answered.

“Alright then let’s get moving, we’ll get some food and then get out of here” Rangi repeated as she pulled Kyoshi upright.

Kyoshi should have known that Rangi had already prearranged the appointment to see Kenna again. Kenna looked hardly surprised to see them.

“I don’t think it’s anything really to be concerned about,” Kenna said as she stepped back.

“You see I told you there was nothing wrong.” Kyoshi whispered, as she retied her tunic.

“Okay well better safe than sorry” Rangi replied as she stood.

“So what have you been up to since you were last here?” Kenna asked, putting down a clipboard.

Kyoshi shrugged, “managing a mess, multiple actually”

“Oh, well that sounds interesting” Kenna replied.

Kyoshi sighed and began to explain the portal thing, and how she would like to just try and close it, but she would most likely need help. It took a lot of power to open it, she didn’t yet mention how she was the one of the people who opened it.

But she had allies that are water benders, but none that can spirit bend, and that it was the best way to deal with this.

“Well could I offer my assistance?” Kenna asked. Kyoshi and Rangi both shared a suprised look.

“I thought you said that you couldn’t water bend” Rangi asked.

“I can water bend, and even spirit bend just not heal” Kenna trailed on. “I know it seems weird that I can spirit bend, and not heal. Especially considering the fact that I work in an infirmary.” She gave an awkward laugh.

“I used to be teased becasue of that, I mean to be a woman water bender who can’t heal just seems stupid.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that,” Kyoshi added, but Kenna just shook her head. “It’s fine, the attention was always on my sister anyways, she was the protagy child. She can spirit bend and heal. The whole package.” Kenna continued explaining.

Kyoshi thought for a moment, was it really okay to trust Kenna with this information? They had only known her for a couple of weeks. But it’s not like she tried to sabotage recovery, or kill her in her sleep. Not that Rangi would have let that happen, but still good to note.

“I think I’ll take you up on that offer.” Kyoshi said as she stood up. Kenna smiled.

“We’ll send out a letter later with the details” Rangi said as they went to the door.

“Perfect, I look forward to working with you both. As I said, this job is frankly boring, so you’re really the ones doing me the favor.” Kenna added.

Rangi nodded as they left.

Kyoshi had another meeting that afternoon, with some fire nation generals who were concerned about security. The sun rays beat into the room through the window leaving a warm glow. Kyoshi took a spot at the head of the table, but when another man tried to take the spot next to her she pushed the chair back in.

“That lieutenant Rangi’s seat.” She said shortly as she went to pull the chair out for Rangi who took it with a smug smile.

Though it was more common for one’s bodyguard to stand behind them, and not necessarily sit at the table Rangi never dared correct Kyoshi when she offered a spot. Rangi’s seat would always be next to Kyoshi’s.

The only information Kyoshi felt like she could offer were the signs that someone had merged with a spirit so they could try to get rid of the problem before more members showed up.

Towards the end Kyoshi was asked the inevitable, “what are you going to do?”

Rangi watched as Kyoshi froze for a second, suddenly sitting straighter before she spoke. “I will go alone with a close team to take out the problem from the source. Then we will work outwards.” She replied confidently. If only the men knew how false that confidence really was.

The meeting was seemingly peaceful compared to most, it gave Rangi time to think over the plan that they had decided on.

They would go to the nearest town to the portal, and camp out there for a night gathering information. Then go after the portal the day after, and after that was all dealt with they could start restoring towns. As well as give the fire lord the okay that he could start trying to get towns back as well without fear that more members would come to back up the fight. Simple

Suddenly she heard glass shuddering as a figure leapt through the window, and onto the table. Before Rangi could react Kyoshi clapped her hands together in front of her sending a powerful gust of wind forward, hard enough to knock the man off the table and nearly back through the hole in the window.

As he stood he had tried to launch a flame towards Kyoshi, but Rangi had flipped one of the tables making up the conference table upright, sending it forwards to block it.

Kyoshi stepped around it to pursue the man further as Rangi rushed the men out of the room, they would be of no help at this point. Probably only complain about the broken window.

As Kyoshi approached the man he shot more flames forth all of which Kyoshi waved off. This man was definitely not connected to any spirit. No spirit would be this weak.

Soon he looked like he was trying to flee, but she was not going to let that happen. No way in hell, he would answer her first .

Bending the only solid thing she could find, Kyoshi pulled the glass shards up from the flood, throwing them forcefully towards the man pinning all angles of his clothing to the wall behind him.

“What the fuck to want” She said as looked down at the smaller man.

“Fuck off” He spat. Kyoshi only raised an eyebrow as she sensed Rangi join her at her side.

“You came to interrupt my meeting, you’ll answer my question.” She demanded as she crouched slightly to see eye to eye with the man.

“What. Do. You. Want.” She repeated

But he remained silent. Kyoshi sighed as she stood up straight again, staring right through the restrained man.

“At first I thought you were a part of the balanced nation, but you were far too easy to deal with. Hardly worth the effort.” She commented bordly.

She watched as his face twisted, clearly annoyed by  the comment. “If you were you surely would have been stronger, I guess I was wrong. They wouldn’t take someone as pitiful, I bet you were denied membership. Is that correct?”

Rangi just looked at Kyoshi amazed, even though she was trying to keep a stone glare. Who knew she could manipulate the ego out of a man, and here Rangi thought Kyoshi was just gonna smack the information out of him.

“You’re wrong, you made a mistake by even holding here putting yourself in danger. I’m a well treasured member. That’s why they sent me here to find you, “he admitted. “To make sure you hadn’t kicked the bucket”

He spoke with a smug look, one Kyoshi wanted to hit it off his face and over to the spirit world. “They sent you on a suicide run is what they did” Kyoshi said as she turned to look at Rangi.

“Rangi could you send word to a captain, I’m done with him”

“Wait your Rangi, the Rangi. The reason why the boss was effortlessly able to go through with his plan”

Neither one of them answered. “The avatar really is deranged, I thought they were really jousting making that stuff up. You’re actually pursuing women, and you call us the crazy ones” He cooed.

“I’d watch your fucking tone, I could freeze your organs in a couple seconds flat or char you face so it would be burdened out my memory. I’d suggest you think about what you say next” Kyoshi said coldly as she grabbed the front of the man’s robes.

“For the record even if I wasn’t part of the balanced nation I wouldn’t follow you, you and your little pretend girlfriend can go to hel-” He never got to finish that sentence as Kyoshi had punched him square in the jaw, his body going slack.

“Holy fuck Kyoshi you didn’t have to hit him that hard.” Rangi yelled, smacking her in the shoulder. She really did hit him after all.

“He had bullshit to say about us so I gave his bullshit back to him” Kyoshi replied, seemingly unfazed by her actions. “Spirits, we’re telling the authorities that the huge ass bruise on his face was from the fight not the mini interrogation.” Rangi said, pinching her temple.

Kyoshi shrugged, “Doesn’t matter to me”

“I’m marrying a human hurricane, and since when did you learn to bend glass?” Rangi laughed as she went to open the door to let some soldiers in. She shrugged, “Not sure I just used whatever I could restrain him, without doing anymore damage.”

“And what a great job you did” Rangi scoffed.

“Well that was before he said something stupid.” Kyoshi replied. Rangi’s face suddenly fell, as they left the room. Kyoshi looked over her shoulder, she was clearly upset, and Kyoshi felt like she knew why.

Before either of them said anything, Kyoshi pulled Rangi into an unoccupied council room, closing the door behind them quickly.

“Kyoshi-” Rangi began but she was pulled into a tight hug. She was stiff at first but eventually went lax as she realized it was Kyoshi’s arms she was in.

“”I’m sorry Rangi, “she mumbled.

The fire bender remained still, Kyoshi knew that she still didn’t like being out. Let alone being out to people who disapproved. “He doesn’t matter, and neither does anyone else.” She whispered as she cupped Rangi’s face in hand.

“I know.” She said through a sad smile. “I should have hit him harder.” Kyoshi said as kissed Rangi’s temple. “Or I should have let you hit him, those soldiers would have been dealing with a corpse instead of a hostage”

Rangi tried to smile once more. “I hate that I care”

Kyoshi pulled her close once more. “It’s okay to care, it doesn’t make you any less strong. Promise” She said knowing that projecting strength was something Rangi cared deeply about.

As they seperated, Rangi took a breath trying to fight the tears for a second. “Can we just talk about this later?”

“Of course,” Kyoshi replied, squeezing Rangi’s hand once before she went to open the door. Fucking bastard for making her upset, I should have hit him harder.

The rest of the day was uneventful compared to that. They went back home, and sent the information to Kenna. Later after dinner Kyoshi had some paperwork type stuff she had to get done so she gathered it all and got situated on a couch.

“Mind if I join you?” Rangi asked as she observed the piles Kyoshi had made.

Kyoshi patted the spot next to her as she went to pick up another scroll. Rangi quickly found her spot lying next to Kyoshi, resting her head on her lap.

Subconsciously Kyoshi began to comb through Rangi’s hair, she had already taken it down from the usual topknot so Kyoshi figured she was tired and just wanted somewhere to rest.

Kyoshi had continued to work into the late evening with Rangi snuggled up next to her when someone entered the room. “Jinpa” Kyoshi smiled as the monk came into view.

He waved in return, as he sat down in a chair across from the coach.

“Long day?” He asked.

Kyoshi sighed as she looked down at Rangi who she was pretty sure fell asleep an hour ago. “I guess, there was this guy at the meeting. Well he wasn’t exactly apart of the meeting, he broke through the window”

“Through the window?” He questioned.

“Yup, straight through, he wasn’t that much trouble though. Nothing more than a little bit of collateral damage.” Kyoshi explained.

“Claimed he was sent by the balanced nation to see if I was still alive” She laughed at herself remembering just how upset she had made him.

“They must not have liked him that much if they gave him that job” Jinpa laughed, Kyoshi had said the very same thing earlier. Just less nice.

“Yeah…” She took a breath as she looked down at Rangi. ” But he also had some stuff to say about me and Rangi, since the group knows and everything. I know it upset her” Kyoshi admitted.

“I’m sorry”

Kyoshi looked up at Jinpa now, he had never been anything but supportive. She had always liked their little bubble where these types of things didn’t matter, but they couldn’t be there forever. Kyoshi knew that the world was somewhat divided on this, it wasn’t super uncommon for people to be with the same gender but of course there were those who frowned upon it.

“It’s okay” She began, “It doesn’t really bother me, I mean people always seem to have something bad to say about me, what’s one more I guess”

“Kyoshi…” Jinpa gave her a sad look.

“It’s fine Jinpa, like I said it doesn’t bother me. But it bothers her.” Kyoshi took a breath. “So I’ll do anything I can to make it easier. Even if mean I punch some more guys in the face”

Jinpa’s brows suddenly furrowed, “You punched a guy in the face?” He exclaimed. “Yes, and I should have hit him harder”

Hey guys, hope you like the update. A little angst and a little fluff for the soul. I’ll try to update soon!!!