Chapter 65

Kyoshi watched with a smile as their daughters eyes went wide at the sight of the fire nation. The air was becoming more crisp as the sight of multicolored leaves flooded the plains before the buildings came into view.

Upfront Kyoshi knew Rangi was anxious, but had shooed her away. Insisting that she steered Pengpeng and Kyoshi and Jinap sit in the saddle with Koko.

Watching as Rangi rolled her shoulders back for probably the hundredth time she finally crawled her way up the front, draping her arms over her wife’s shoulders.

“Kyoshi I said I could drive myself” Rangi started to chastise.

But she just hummed, “Thought you could use some company”

“I’m fine Kyoshi” Rangi stated flatly, still looking ahead.

“I know”

More moments passed, the wind blowing through their hair, as Kyoshi rested her chin on Rangi’s shoulder enjoying the small bit of heat she always radiated.

“I didn’t tell my mother” Rangi admitted, fists tightening on the reins. “And now she’ll likely find out from chatter first”

“Well this will be fun then”

“That’s not helping” Rangi rebutted.

“Well then maybe Koko can take her mind off things.”

Rangi’s silence told her more words.

“You didn’t tell her about our daughter either”

“We’ve been busy”

“You’re going to give your mother a heart attack,” Kyoshi laughed. “I fear you might dethrone me as the avatar of chaos.”

“I highly doubt anyone will ever come close to stripping you of that title” Rangi replied, looking over the edge to see where was best to land.

Luckily there was no one important there to greet them when they finally touched down. Koko was immediately fascinated with the turtle ducks ponds taking Kyoshi with her before Rangi could grab either one of them.

Rangi smiled as she started unloading the bison, the scene taking a little stress from her chest. When Kyoshi and Koko returned, Rangi wasted no time piled bags high in Kyoshi’s arms. Claiming that if she didn’t help unload then she could carry the bags instead.

Koko hummed beside them with a small bag and turtle duck plush secured in her arms as she followed Rangi across the courtyard and into her old home.

The space still felt cold as she remembered, almost sterile. But the new company helped. She was almost waiting for her mother to jump out from around the corner like a sneak attack to scare the shit out of her.

But that didn’t happen, she simply led her little family to her old room to ditch the bags, dropping off Jinpa in a guest room along the way.

Her room looked more the less the same as ever, now a couple paintings of Kyoshi hung on the walls. One of the tow of them, Kyoshi had done herself right next to her bed.

When they started making their way back out to the courtyard Kyoshi couldn’t help but laugh at the way that Rangi seemed to be squaring up. Like she was about to enter a fight.

“Something funny?” Rangi called from in front of her.

“No, not at all love” Kyoshi replied sweetly.

“She said it looks like you’re going to start a fight,” Koko said, skipping up to take Rangi’s hand.

Koko you traitor.

“Well you can tell her that I’m fine, I just thought we could go out to get some tea” Rangi said, continuing to walk with Koko hand in hand.

“Sounds lovely” Kyoshi called, suddenly wishing that Jinpa was here. Though she had told him to take the day off, so there would be no buffer between her and her wife’s anxious rage.

“So the party will be tomorrow night” Rangi said once they were all settled at a table. Koko’s legs swung as she sipped at her cup of tea, her plush situated in her lap.

“We’ll have to get you two some clothes” She continued. “Nothing super fancy but nice enough.”

“Sounds like a tomorrow affair to me” Kyoshi replied, swirling her tea around in the cup. “I think we have some business to attend to tonight”

Rangi sighed, not looking forward to how she was going to tell her mother all of this. Leaving the army had been something she’d thought about for a long time. Longer than Kyoshi was ever aware of.

For a long time it had been a sense of pride, something she knew would guarantee honor to her bloodline. But soon too it became a tool to leave, to see the world, and do other things.

Hence why she was so willing to leave with her mother all those years ago when they embarked to the Avatar’s mansion to assist as a bodyguard. 

She has thought it over what must be a hundred times by now, and she knows she doesn’t regret her time. She wished that some of her colleagues growing up were a bit kinder, but in a way without that it might not have pushed her to accomplish as much as she has.

“Mama, why do you always wear gloves?” Koko’s words broke Rangi from her thoughts.

An innocent question, but then Rangi realized what else her daughter said. What she had called Kyoshi.

When she looked over to her it looked like the Avatar had blown a fuse.

Inside of Kyoshi’s head she was trying to process two things at once. Is this how Rangi felt months ago, for the love of Rava it felt like her heart was going to collapse in on itself.

But then the girl’s question flickered back onto her consciousness.

“My hands?” She asked, looking down briefly at her gloved hands. Not realizing that Koko had never probably seen them in broad daylight. Or maybe never noticed until now.

Koko nodded, eyes firmly set on Kyoshi’s gloves now. The easiest thing to do would be to take them off, and just show her.

But a wave of anxiety crashed down. Koko had called her that because she trusted her, and saw her as something safe. Kyoshi could only assume.

What if she sees the scars and recoils again?

“My hands, they’re always cold.” She said shortly, taking a sip of tea. When she looked up she was met with an unsure look from Rangi.

“Guess we both have something we’ve put off telling people” Rangi said quietly so that only Kyoshi could hear.

Kyoshi narrowed her gaze on the fire bender. “I think we are in a touch different situations.”

After their cups were empty they headed back to Hei Ran’s estate, taking Koko back to the turtle ducks ponds she had been talking basically nonstop about since they left earlier.

Now the girl lay on her chest right near the water’s edge watching the ducks at eye level as her parents watched from a far.

Kyoshi and Rangi sat by the side under a tree whose leaves were about half turned to a bright red. A small bit of water being pulled through the air back and forth across Kyoshi’s palms as she stared ahead.

“I just didn’t know what to say,” Kyoshi admitted after telling Rangi what had gone through her head after the brief short circuiting.

“There’s no need to stress, I’m sure she won’t care.” Rangi tried to reassure her, watching the young girl try to reach out and pet one of the turtle ducks.

Kyoshi sighed as she started tugging one of her gloves off slightly. Rotating her hand to see the extent of the scarring that still clung to her skin from an adventure that felt like a lifetime ago. “I just don’t know, I guess I just don’t want to scare her.” She admitted.

Rangi pulled Kyoshi in close, taking her hands. They were alone here in the back of her mother’s estate. Here she could hold Kyoshi as close as she wanted. “She’s not afraid of you, and she won’t be scared when you show her. Just let her ask questions if she wants but she’ll probably freak out if you wait forever and act like it’s some big secret.” Rangi tried to suggest.

“Spirits you’re annoying” Kyoshi huffed.

“What’d I do?” Rangi demanded as they separated.

“You just make things seem so simple- it’s irritating” Kyoshi started. “And you always know what to say”

A smile trailed on the firebender’s lips. “Maybe I’m just that perfect”

Just then their daughter sprinted across the grass, nearly tackling the two of them. “I got to pet a duck!” She called excitedly, flopping down across both of their laps.

“He was so soft, and then the others came over too” She went on, as Kyoshi fully pulled the child into her lap.

As Rangi listened to their daughter go on about the turtle ducks she suddenly heard a familiar set of footprints and quickly rose to greet them.

“Hello Rangi” Her mother called, it wasn’t harsh or cold. Just in a tone that Rangi could only identify as her mother’s, this was going to be fun.

“Hello,” She replied, bowing slightly. “I suppose I have somethings to tell you”

“I suppose you do” Hei Ran replied, she hadn’t looked much different than the last time they saw each other, maybe about two years or so ago. Which Rangi suddenly felt kinda guilty for. She wanted to try and visit her mother more from this point on. Maybe convince her to visit Yokoya island to see all the work they had done there.

More grey and white strands streaked her hair now, but she still had the same golden eyes as Rangi’s that held a similar fire. “I did teach you how to use a messenger hawk as a child did I not?” She asked, a small smile crossing her face.

“You did, and I’m sorry” Rangi said, trying to gather the courage to string together her words. “I decided to retire.”

“I’ve been made aware of that much, the party is tomorrow correct” Her mother replied.

She nodded, “I don’t regret my time or all the things you taught me” Rangi started, feeling more like a child trying to explain herself for not doing her chores under her mother’s gaze. “But I don’t think my heart’s in it anymore”

“Your heart?” The question was lined with intrigue.

But before she could answer, a small body crashed into the back of her legs. “Mami who’s that?” Koko’s small voice called out.

She watched as Hei Ran’s eyes widened as her attention turned to the child clinging to the back of her daughter’s clothes.

“This is my mother, Lady Hei Ran. Mother, this is our daughter Koko” Rangi introduced as she pulled the child out from behind her back. Kyoshi appeared at her side wearing a smile.

Koko wore a wide look, big brown eyes with flecks of gold looking up at Hei Ran. She had tanned skin similar to Kyoshi’s. With short brown hair tied into two pigtails.

Hei Ran looked between the two and then to the child. “Where, or when-“

“She found me outside of Yokya,” Kyoshi started, “While I was trying to deal with Chin.”

“And well after running into each other enough times we just stayed together.” She explained, looking down at their kid. A wider smile pressed across her lips as she thought about where they started compared to now.

Hei Ran looked down at the girl. Her daughter had definitely forgotten to mention a few things.

“I liked their noodles,” she said. 

Hei Ran couldn’t help but laugh, “Reminds me of someone else.”

“Do you like noodles?”

*looks at the last date I published something* Realizes it was last September… damn I think time is fake but that’s a rant for another time. I’ve already started on the next chapter so I’m hoping it will go up this weekend. Thanks you everyone who’s stayed loyal to this story even though I’ve pretty much left it out to dry- I’ll try to be better

Also happy belated new years!!!