Chapter 63

“I’m starting to think she doesn’t like us” Wong says, as they finish loading up the sky bison.

“Why would you say that?” Lao Ge asked.

“Because everytime we meet up Kyoshi almost gets killed.” Wong replies. “The lightning, the mess with Yun, that portal disaster, and now this”

“I did not almost just kick it right now, I merely feel unconscious,” Kyoshi retorted, giving Rangi a hand up into the air bison’s saddle.

“Yeah and into a freezing body of water before having a seizure” Rangi argued flatly. “Are you sure you’re okay to head back now?”

“Perfectly fine” Kyoshi shrugged.

“You still have some blood on your face,” Wong added, earning an elbow from Kyoshi.

“Let’s just go”

They rode the majority of the time in silence, the wind whistling by them as the air started to become warmer. The days traveling back were fairly peaceful, Kyoshi sleeping most of the time as she thought about Kuruk and her time in the ocean. But also what she had to look forward to when she got back.

“So have you decided what to call this new island of yours?’ Jinpa asked asked as it slowly came into view.

“I don’t really see how I have any say” Kyoshi responded, looking over the side.

“Well you made it right?” Kirima chimed in.

“Technically yes, but it’s still Yokoya” She replied. “Just some ways away from shore.”

They landed on a great pebbled beach that led up to where the new houses were beginning to be built. Soon being greeted by two women Kyoshi immediately recognized.

“We’re happy to see you returned unharmed” Shona said, putting a basket of wood down. “And have brought visitors as well”

“We won’t be staying long” Kirima spoke up, “Maybe just the night. “

“Well I would be happy to show you around” Seline offered.

Kirima shrugged, motioning for Wong and Lao Ge to follow, even Jinpa tagged along. Leaving Kyoshi and Rangi on the beach with Shona, who still wore a bright smile.

“We’ve made excellent progress on the new homes,” She informed them.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to help a bit more now” Rangi added noting the construction up the hill.

“Is Koko around?” Kyoshi cut in.

“I’m sure I could go and get her, I know she’d be happy to see you two back along with the others, I’ll be right back.” Shona beamed, and she headed up the beach.

Leaving Rangi and Kyoshi standing there, the waves crashing against the shore in the distance.

“Do you think we should bring it up right away, or perhaps wait a bit” Rangi asked turning to look out to the water.

But Kyoshi didn’t reply she just remained statue.

“We don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to,” Rangi tried to reassure her, but Kyoshi shook her head.

“No I do, I mean I want to try but-” She let her sentence trail on. “What if we suggest it and she hates us”

“I don’t think she’d hate us, it’s not like we’re forcing her. But I think she really likes you” Rangi argued.

“Okay but then what if she says yes?” Kyoshi rebuts, watching the waves push and pull across the shore.

Rangi blinked twice, “What if she wants to become a little family?”

“Yes“

“Well then well figure things out”

Kyoshi turned away from the fire bender, starting the pick at a loose thread of her gloves. “What if she hates me like eventually what if I screw up and she hates me?”

Rangi wraps her arms around Kyoshi resting her head against her. “You have done nothing to even consider that an option” She tried to reassure her. “You’re not fated to be like your parents either”

The pause in Kyoshi’s breath had told Rangi she hit a nerve. “I hated them for so long-” She began now taking in a long breath. “What if I end up enabling the same pain for Koko?”

“Well you atleast have to outlive me, remember? And I’m not going anytime soon” Rangi said, letting go of Kyoshi only to grab her hand moments later. “This can happen slow okay? But we should probably go, Shona said she’d be back soon”

They headed a bit more up the beach to where the group fires where head when they found another familiar face. starting to exchange pleasantries with Nora, as they sat down. Kyoshi seems more interested in learning about what has been going on while they were gone than sharing about that last victory.

“She hasn’t been staying with you?” Rangi asked, after finding out Koko had seemed to be on her own once they left.

But the woman shook her head, “We’ve all offered, but she’s been admitted to staying in your tent” Nora explained. “We should finish up your house up soon by the way-”

She paused when the little girl came into view, the turtle duck plush in hand. 

“Good evening Koko, look who’s back” Nora called chaearfully.

In a moment the girl had sprinted right up and at Kyoshi. Grabbing a hold of the fabric of her tunics, looking she shifted to Rangi giving her a hug as well.

“Wipe that look off your face, you’ll scare her” Rangi mouthed. despite having the same internal reaction herself. This was the first time Koko had hugged either of them, Rangi now forever hoped that it wouldn’t be the last time.

After Koko had let go of Rangi, she knelt down to set the fire pit a blaze for the night trying to help out.

“Can you do that again?” Koko whispered, tugging on her pant leg tucked into her boot.

Taking a step away from the fire pit Rangi pulled Koko over to the side, making sure a was good pace away before she let a small flame engulf her pointer finger.

Koko’s face was nearly as bright as the flame. Smiling Rangi allowed the flame to start to dance between her fingertips, then passing the small flame to her other hand.

Kyoshi watched from some paces away helping to dice some vegetables to go in what would be a community soup for the evening.

They’re perfect.

She then looked further down the beach where Peng Peng was with Jinpa. Though loving that bison dearly now, every once and a while it reminded her parents.

If they were so accepted by the other members, so liked. Why’d they’d have to leave me?

If someone is so likable it shouldn’t be likely they leave their daughter to die.

Letting out a sigh she returned to what she was doing.

But then isn’t that what I did to Koko just now? I left her in the exact same town I was.

“I think that vegetables had enough” Nora spoke, breaking her train of thought. “You nearly minced it into a juice.”

Looking down, the stock she had been cutting was well beyond diced at this point.

“Right sorry”

Putting the knife down she looked back over to Koko and Rangi, her wife continuing to put on a little show. The small fire in her palm sharting to shift colors with the varying temperatures.

I’m not like them, do I have their bison sure. But to knowingly enable that sort of pain, I’d rather die outliving them all to save them the pain.

Koko didn’t turn away for a second, eyes as wide as ever. When she caught Kyoshi looking.

“Can you do that?” She asked.

Everything in Kyoshi caved at the question as she walked over to where the other two were standing. “It won’t be nearly as pretty” She replied, casting flame in her hand.

“I taught her everything she knows by the way” Rangi mentioned to the little girl, who laughed in response.

“Everything?”

“Everything.” Rangi confirmed with a smile.

The whole evening Koko didn’t shy away, following behind them like a shadow. She had even started to share back stories at dinner. Telling them about different rocks she had found on the new beach, and how she needed a new place to put them all.

Later after dinner Shona had wanted to show Kyoshi and Rangi the progress they had made on their new home. Despite Kyoshi and Rangi both repeatedly telling her that their house could be last.

For Shona claiming that they had just started it looked pretty complete. Most of the walls up, and dividing the spaces. A living room with the kitchen and outlines for a fireplace, bedroom in the back, and another space Kyoshi assumed would be a study of some sorts.

Koko trotted through the various dirt floors in the rooms, before stopping the spare space looking around. Spinning around as if to show her little plush around.

“Can this be my room?” She asked.

Both Kyoshi and Rangi’s breath halted. Only looking over at each other briefly, before looking over to Koko who still seemed to be showing the turtle duck around.

Why can’t I form any words, she’s going to think we ‘re saying no. Kyoshi thought about trying to transcribe her emotions.

“If you want to stay with us Koko, we will always have you” Rangi stepped in, filling the silence.

The child beamed at them, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. Before padding around the room once more, ducking into the main entryway.

“See duckie, this is going to be our home ” She whispered to the toy, completely oblivious to the fact that Kyoshi was crying behind her.

As Kyoshi looked over to her wife she also seemed to be nearly holding it together. “Don’t look at me like that, you’re going to make me cry too” Rangi whispered.

Kyoshi forced herself to turn to look at anything else, catching Shona’s gaze that told Kyoshi that she knew what had happened as well.

This really was going to be their home.

I can’t y’all I really don’t know what I’m even doing at this point but they’re so cute

Anyways thanks for reading, have a good day/night 🙂