Chapter 58

They spend a couple of months just settling into the new island villiage. Kyoshi had written to Jinpa who was back at the air temple for some time when she told him she was taking a brief break.

When Kyoshi used the phrase ‘break’ in the letter it had taken multiple replies from Rangi to convince him Kyoshi wasn’t abducted, and being held hostage somewhere.

But this morning Kyoshi found herself down by the water where they were working to build a dock, now that Yokoya was its own island they needed a port.

It was earlier in the morning though, an hour or two before anyone else would be down to continue the work. So there she sat on a large rock overlooking the waters.

“Good morning Koko” She called, recognizing the new presence by her side.

“Morning” The small voice called back.

Kyoshi looked over her shoulder at the child as she watched the waves push and pull against the shore. As she got up to walk to the water’s edge she heard Koto’s footsteps behind her in the pebbles.

“Rangi was helping to make breakfast this morning, so she’ll be down soon” Kyoshi said, stopping just before the waves reached her boots.

Beside her Koko started splashing in the waves, with a small smile as she went to kick the next one Kyoshi pushed the water back. The girl’s head snapped back to her, clearly knowing the culprit. But Kyoshi only shrugged.

Going back to the water Koko was met with the same thing once more, only Kyoshi found it harder and harder not to laugh. Eventually when Kyoshi wasn’t looking and not controlling the surrounding waves the girl had the opportunity to splash the waves right at her.

As Kyoshi was about to splash Koko back someone cleared their throat from behind them

Stopping mid motion Kyoshi spun to see Rangi with a warm bowl of oats, and a scowl.

“Good morning,” Kyoshi called innocently.

The firebender looked between the two of them, placing a hand on her hip.

“She started it” Koko said, pointing at Kyoshi.

“Sounds about right,” Rangi sighed as she leaned down to give the bowl to Koko. “You can go up the camp to get some like everyone else”

Kyoshi’s gaze narrowed at her wife, well played Rangi.

“What are you two doing here anyways?” Rangi went on to ask, alight at the way Kyoshi and Koto almost shrugged insync.

“Just enjoying the new beach,” Kyoshi smiled as Koko sat down on a close rock to eat the oatmeal.

Later in the morning more people had come by later to help with the docks. They had spent the previous days cutting trees, and finally had enough lumber to finish the project.

Kyoshi helped to secure the wooden beams in the earth, and the other woman held them in place.

“Can you sink this one a little deeper” Shona called out, Kyoshi nodded, as she pulled the earth beneath the beam apart allowing it to sink further.

“We should be done by tomorrow at this rate” Kyoshi called tugging at the hem of her gloves.

“The village will be next then” Another woman chimed in. “We can make the circle of huts heading up that hill” She contained pointing behind them.

“Shouldn’t we do rows instead, it would save space” Nora suggested, stepping to the side to grab a stick starting to draw in a patch of sand.

“Something like this” She added, finishing the sketch in the sand. It had rows of houses heading up the hill in pairs of two all the way up a larger box drawn at the very top.

“This would be where the courtyard of the mansion once was at the bottom, and we could build you an estate at the top, big as you’d like.” Nora went on. “Would Rangi like a place next to yours at the top?”

Kyoshi thought about her next words, they hadn’t told anybody new about how Rangi and her were married. Just Auntie Mui, and she had left with the big group that had left after the island was created.

She said this was finally her sign to try something else, especially now that the mansion was no more, and Kyoshi was happy for her. Told her to let her know where she ended up.

Besides the point, Kyoshi felt like her and Rangi weren’t exactly secretive about it. But it never came up, and neither of them cared to do so.

“I think we’d prefer to stay together actually, it’s not like she’d be here without me or vice versa” Kyoshi concluded.

They have to know by now that something is going on. Kyoshi thought to herself. But then why does it feel like I have to dance around the subject?

When they had finished up for the day Kyoshi was the last to leave the beach. Sitting back down on the same rock from this morning, and pulled out the chain she kept her wedding ring on from under her layered tunics.

Rubbing her finger over the engraving, she took a breath.

“Something the matter?” Rangi asked out of nowhere, surprising Kyoshi to the point she almost fell off the rock.

“I guess I was just wondering about something” She said once she regained some composure.

“Do you think people know about us, or like Nora and the other girls? Do you think they’ve caught on” Kyoshi asked, as Rangi took a seat next to her. She was out of her armor now, in a simple deep red tunic, with her hair done up as usual.

Spirits, she is so beautiful.

“I’m not entirely sure” Rangi replied, pulling Kyoshi’s hand away from the ring and replacing it with her own hand.

“Would you mind if they knew?’ Kyoshi asked, looking out into the waters.

“What prompted this, did something happen?”

Kyoshi smiles softly looking back over to her wife, “I don’t know, I just feel like we’d be safe here”

“And if it jeopardizes your position, we just got done with one mess. Would you really want another?” Rangi replied, squeezing her hand.

“It could be okay”

Rangi let out a long breath, “Do you think they’d keep it a secret?”

“I do, those women they’re like a family now” Kyoshi started, “and I think we’re apart of it too”

“I guess I’m just worried,” Rangi said shortly.

She watched Kyoshi smile falter momentarily, before returning as she tucked her wedding ring back under her clothes. “It’s up to you, either way is fine with me”

“Have you seen Koko anywhere?” Kyoshi suddenly asked, realizing she hadn’t seen her second shadow in some time.

“Up at camp with everyone else, she wanted to help Seline and the other’s make dinner” Rangi responded.

Seline, the only other woman here who stood even close to Kyoshi’s height, was a very talented cook. Even though all the food seemed basic somehow she could make it taste better.

When they headed back up to the camp Nova had taken the time to explain to Rangi how they were planning on building their part of the village.

“I like how everyone is within close proximity to each other, it’s safer that way,” Rangi added, admiring the sketched plan on the scroll in front of her.

Out of the corner of her eye she watched as Kyoshi laughed beside Koko and Seline. Kyoshi must consider this place as a home. I’ve never seen her more at ease.

Maybe it is safe here.

The following morning when Rangi woke up, she noticed Kyoshi was nowhere to be seen. Koko snored softly in her little nest in the corner still, lately she had been sleeping in more and not leaving earlier in the morning like Kyoshi had done today.

The sky was barely lit, as Rangi left the tent. Every tent was quiet, it appeared her wife was the only soul awake at this hour.

Pulling one of Kyoshi’s thicker tunics over her shoulders as Rangi started to wander through the area in search for her.

She finally found her on the only grounds of the mansion, a pile of letters at her side and one in her hands.

“A bit early for work isn’t it?” Rangi called.

Kyoshi smiled as she looked up at the fire bender. “Is that my tunic?”

“I got cold” Rangi replied, tugging it closer around herself.

But Kyoshi only narrowed her eyes, “I thought fire benders could produce their own heat, sleeping next to you is like having a personal furnace.”

“You caught me I guess,” Rangi laughed lightly. “But seriously I doubt you would be up this early to read some letters”

“I got this feeling last night that something was missing, or that something was going on I guess. I think I’ve still been too long.”

Rangi raised an eyebrow, “What are you, a bear shark?”

Kyoshi sighed, putting the letter back in the neat pile. “well then I figured I should talk to a past life or something”

“Did they have anything helpful to offer?” Rangi asked.

“No, I’ve been trying all morning and nothing. No one will answer” Kyoshi exhaled while standing up. “I haven’t spoken to any of them since the portal collapsed, I think they’re mad at me.”

“Well everything sorted itself out eventually.” Rangi tried to reason.

“I thought I heard Yangchen speak to me before I dealt with Chin but that might have just been a hallucination.”

“I’m sure things are fine”

“I think I’m black listed.” Kyoshi said in defeat. “Or they all just hate me”

“Kyoshi, I don’t think you can be black listed from talking to your past lives,” Rangi said, tapping her chin. “Then again if anyone would do it, it probably would be you”

“Rangi you’re not helping” Kyoshi whined, gathering the letters from the ground, “I’ll figure it out later then, I still need to go back and see if Chin’s army dissolved like they should have.”

They started walking back to the camp, “that’s what all these are so far, letters from the governors who were able to reclaim their towns, but some are missing.”

Rangi hums in response, as they appear h the fire that had been started with a couple of people haven woken up since she left earlier.

She thought of the letters Kyoshi had, so we’ll be leaving soon.

Looking around the growing group she smiles slightly. But I think we’ll be back sooner than later this time.

Honestly I’m sure where this is going to go yet but the story will continue, promise. Also thank you for all the support with the last chapter, I felt like a lot of the book was leading up to that part with Chin becasue I really wanted to include it in the story. So I’m glad you guys approved.

Thanks for reading, have a good day/night! If you have any ideas please let me know in the comments. I would love to work some new ideas into the story <3