Akira Hibiki's Story

He loved the way she smirked, the bits of her face all moving to project every emotion she felt to the unwitting people around her. She was the definition of beauty, the definition of what was to be lusted by all those around her, she was perfect in every way. Akira starred at her, smiling for a time, before realizing that he didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve such a beautiful thing, such a wondrous, untainted thing. What amazed him was that she witnessed him brutal kill two men, yet she still accepted him. She of course, didn't know anything about him or what he had done. She didn't know the depth of his nationalism, what he would do to justify the meaning of his petty existence, she didn't know anything about him other than his name and the one thing he does for recreation. He frowned for a moment, looking at her back, but the moment he took a step forward into her peripheral vision he was smiling, killing the thoughts that dominated his mind for that infinitesimally low second. He hated himself for that second, and a few thoughts still remained in his head, he decided to use her to alleviate these thoughts. He placed his left hand on her lower back, and his right on the back of her head, before kissing her passionately, ignoring anyone who might see. He needed to forget his thoughts, and it worked. He finished the kiss, which lasted longer than any of their others, and grabbed her hand tightly before leading her down the street, looking for a clothing store. He smiled and said, "Let's find you something to wear then shall we?"

She kept looking up and down the streets, a bit of decision anxiety kicked in. So she turned around, waiting for Akira, hoping he would know where to go. She smiled at him as he approached and as he reached her he said nothing but placed his hands behind her back and head and kissed her passioinately in the middle of the street. She was caught by surprise but soon she closed her eyes and returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. He obviously didn't care about people around them, so why would she? The kiss ended and she was almost as in a daze. The kiss was so full of emotion it was almost too much for her to handle, but she didn't have time to recover until she was lead down the street by a smiling Akira. When she realised what had happened and were back to her senses she blushed bright red. "Let's find you something to wear then shall we?" She looked at him and said. "Uh y-yeah.." She smiled slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

After walking for about ten minutes, Jiang noticed a store that looked to have decent clothing. She pointed at the stora and said. "Let's go in there." She lead the way over and started looking around, releasing Akira's hand. After a few minutes of searching she had found a shirt, very similar to a yukata but it was only the upper part, reaching her waist and the arms shorter aswell, reaching her elbows. It had a grass shade color which she liked. She picked it out aswell as a longsleeved and a few shades darker shirt to wear underneath. But there is something missing....ah! She also picked a pair of black leggings reaching her ankles and a pair of shorts, the same shade as the shirt. She wasn't very good when it came to finding clothes, she mainly wanted it comfortable and easy to fight it if neccessary but this looked alright she thought. She tried it on and walkd over to Akira. "Does this look alright?"

They walked for a good ten minutes before finding a decent store. She pulled him in then released him. The moment her hand left, he wanted it back. He leaned against a wall as she walked about the area. he didn't feel like she needed him near her, so he gave her a bit of space, no matter what pain it caused him. If he had ever gone near the women's section back before Jiang, his mind would have died and he wouldn't have been able to figure out something simple such as 'give her space.' She changed him more than she even realized. She had probably picked up on the fact that he didn't have such a strong hatful inkling towards her as he did before, but that wasn't all. She also cleared his mind, he could talk to her, as well as other women. He had developed a few theories about this on their silent walk through the streets. His best guess was that his mind went blank because he didn't understand women and he got depressed whenever he was around them. But now that he kissed her, he knew that it was possible for him to love, and be loved. It was only a theory, but it made sense to Akira. As his thoughts wandered, he heard "Does this look alright?"

He looked at the clothes she had picked and, eyeing her up and down. The clothes she had picked out were beautiful, only to be out shined by her own beauty. He walked over, kissed her and said, "And here I thought you could never look even more beautiful."

Jiang was quite nervous he would not like it. If it had been a few years later she wouldn't have cared, but now...this was someone who she cared about and he cared about her so she wanted him to approve more than anyone. He walked over to her and kissed her. She guessed he liked it, but then he said. "And here I thought you could never look even more beautiful." She blushed and smiled. "I guess I'll take them then." She giggled and gave gim a peck on the cheek before going to the cashier, paying for the clothes but keeping them on. As she paid she felt somewhat like she was...home. She belonged better now and she liked it better here.

She walked over to Akira, grabbed his hand once more, her old clothes in a bag in the other. "So, shall we go to the general now?"

She returned his kiss with a small peck on the cheek. He never thought he could have ever been as happy as he was right then. Through his entire life he had never been truly happy, in the colloquial terminology. He always was missing something, he always thought that it was a hole in his soul that could never be filled, something that was there since his birth and would always remain. But because of Jiang, that hole was filled, it was filled to overflowing with the feelings they shared. He was able to forget his previous thoughts, but deep down in his subconscious, he knew they would plague his psyche for as long as they were with one another. He watched as she paid for the clothes and waited for her by the door. She gripped his hand and said, "So, shall we go to the general now?"

He smiled a bit and said, "Well, first I think we should get a room at an Inn, they really didn't plan for me to return so soon, plus I would prefer a room without other soldiers," He didn't realize what his words might have implied until after he had said it, "Not saying that we would have been in the same room or anything... I... we... we can... um... get two rooms if you want...?"

What am I saying? Of course she wants two rooms... we hardly know each other! What the hell am I saying!? Akira thought. And just like that, he was yelling at himself for saying something stupid to a girl, just like before.

Akira smiled at her and said. "Well, first I think we should get a room at an Inn, they really didn't plan for me to return so soon, plus I would prefer a room without other soldiers." Wait...a room? Is he saying that they should...share? She blushed bright red. They haven't known each other for long enough! This is...this is...I don't know! No, we have not known each other for long enough. But...maybe that's alright... She mentally slapped herself. What was she thinking!? Before she had time to reply he hastily said. "Not saying that we would have been in the same room or anything... I... we... we can... um... get two rooms if you want...? She was somewhat relieved but still kind of...dissappointed? I mean I like him...Should I say I want to share? At this point her face was even redder but she had decided it might have been too early. "Um, y-yeah...two rooms w-will be alright. I m-mean if you're okay with that..." She looked away before slowly looking up at him again. Feeling slightly awkward.

Akira was bright red, afraid of what she might respond to him. He should've been thinking, why the hell would she agree to be in the same room... He heard her say, "Um, y-yeah...two rooms w-will be alright. I m-mean if you're okay with that..."

He was a bit relieved at her response, but he wanted to be in the same room. More than anything he wanted to sleep beside her, never letting her from his embrace. His mind never even ventured to the more intimate things they could have done. His mind was a veritable storm of things contradicting each other. He wanted to be in the same room with her, but she probably didn't want to be in the same room as him... Or did she? Akira was her first kiss, so she may have not even known other things they could have done besides kissing... so maybe she thought it was innocent... Which in Akira's mind it was... But still, she might think him too forward to get a shared room, after all they had just met. His feelings were strong enough to take it to the next level, but he realized that time was also needed to fully blossom their relationship, before taking a step such as sharing a bed.

He looked away from her and stuttered, "Um, yeah... s-sure... let's... let's get two rooms..." he moved quickly down the street, even with the crutch, looking for an Inn that seemed within his price range. He never let go of her hand though.

She nodded and followed him down the street. She was starting to wonder if she regretted her answer. She had imagined just laying in his warm embrace thorugh the night. It made her feel warm inside. But she guessed he didn't want to share since he said he'd get two rooms. She might have come from a tribe who consodered love as nothing but a nuisance. Marrying and having kids was almost considered a man's duty. She may have believed that as a girl but as she grew up and started thinking on her own, she wondered if it was true but never really looked into it. But now she had experienced love and she well, loved it. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but closed it. She kept doing this for a while, trying to decide if she had changed her mind or not. But she gave up, looking at Akira's face which was focused on looking for an inn she suspected. And it seemed like he hadn't given it more thought...so she just followed suit until they's find an inn to stay for the night.

He kept thinking he should tell her that he did want to spend a night together, he really did. But he was afraid she would reject him, he was afraid that he might think that he was moving things so fast to get in bed with her, which he wasn't. He was moving fast because he had a torrent of love and emotion towards this girl, he wanted to express it to show how much he cared... he wanted to spend the night with her... he did... he really did... but he couldn't, he knew he couldn't.

He found an Inn after a few minutes of searching. It was quant, didn't look too fancy or two cheap. He led her inside without a word. Stepping up to a small wooden counter across a large room filled with comfortable looking chairs and tables, obviously they had food there as well. He moved to the counter, the woman there was tall and slender, she looked older than Akira as well, she had a kimono on that was very open around the chest practically leaving her breasts(which were about the size of her head) out, probably to drawn in customers and good tips. She had green eyes and black hair that was tied back with a golden ornament. She was lounging on a stool, not looking at the door, but as soon as Akira and Jiang entered she smiled and said, "Looking for a room?" She slouched over the counter, obviously a ploy.

Akira was, miraculously, able to keep his eyes AWAY from her chest, Jiang was there, and he had no interest in the other woman frankly. Akira smiled and said, "Yes please, two rooms."

She looked at the two of them and noticed they were holding hands, she seemed a bit surprised but then said, "Okay, two rooms, right next to each other," she winked at Akira. She handed Akira the keys and said, "Second floor last two rooms on the left."

Akira handed Jiang one of the keys and said, "I will go see the General, then it should be dinner time, we can go get something to eat."

The woman at the counter interjected, "We have good food from all over the world here, just saying."

Akira nodded at her, then kissed Jiang and said, "I'll be back in about an hour or two."

Akira had found a nice looking place well decorated and well lit. They walked up to the counter and the woman behind it was very pretty, and she wore one of the most exposing kimonos Jiang had ever seen. She glanced up at Akira, seeing he managed to look the woman in the eyes. She was impressed she had to admit. Even Jiang had difficulties to keep her eyes away. So she just stood next to Akira, smiling lightly. The woman handed Akira the keys with a wink and Jiang blushed very lightly. It was quite clear what the woman was thinking. "I will go see the General, then it should be dinner time, we can go get something to eat." She was handed her key and she nodded, sounded like a good idea to her. She received a sweet kiss and a confirmation he'd be back soon. "Alright, see you then."

Akira had left but Jiang was still standing in the lobby, deep in thought, but her thoughts were interrupted by the woman behind the counter. "You lucky girl. He's quite the catch." She smiled and her blush returned, she was getting tired of all the blushing, her cheek must be turning pink permanently soon. But she was right. Jiang was lucky. She walked over to the counter, placing her bag of old clothes on it. "Would you do me a favor and throw these away? Or donate them or do whatever you feel like." The woman had no time to answer because Jiang was on her way to her room. It was a cozy room with a big window, a comfortable looking sleeping area and a carpet in the middle of it all.

She was now sitting on the floor, in the middle of the room, meditating. She ahd to gather her thoughts, try to figure out everything she had been through. With deep calming breaths she started to realize what she wanted. And that was Akira.

Akira didn't want to leave, he wanted her to come with him so he didn't have to be without her august and godly presence. He still felt stupid, suggesting two rooms, so he squashed the thought before continuing towards the Military Base. He was unable to keep his mind off of her though, her eyes, her lips, her body, her warmth, her smiles... everything... it filled him with longing, desire, and love... He made it to the military base in about 30 minutes, they had traveled quite a ways from it and his crutch didn't help him move quickly, especially without the motivation of keeping by Jiang's side. He moved through the halls to the war room, there was a guard in front of it and he nodded, remembering Akira. The guard opened the door and said, "Captain Hibiki is here Sir."

General Li Wei was standing at the end of the room, it was a balcony overlooking the city. Without turning he said, in his loud booming voice, "Akira! Come here my boy! I wanted to speak with you!"

Akira moved out to the balcony, the night sky began to overtake the sun, making one side of the sky black and the other a beautiful reddish-yellow. The streets were being lit with large string of candles, it was a beautiful sight, but Akira's mind still focused on Jiang, for she outshined any sight he had seen, or had yet to behold. Akira looked at the General and said, "What is it sir?"

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened on the beach," the General said, not looking at Akira.

"Well sir, my men spotted the Fire Nation ships so I sent them all away to get reinforcements, except one evacuated the town. I met an Earth Bender named lan Yang, she was from the Si Wong Desert and was instrumental in stopping the Fire Nation. There was also a Water Bender named Jiang Sun, she was an even bigger asset, assisting me it destroying five of the approaching ships, I realize it is not a lot in the long run, but we must have drowned at least two hundred fire benders," Akira was pleased with himself for being able to defend his homeland with his love.

"Good, good..." The General said, grabbing a glass of alcohol and taking a sip, "And these girls, where are they now?"

"Um, Jiang is at an Inn at the moment, and I am unsure of Lan's whereabouts."

"Okay, once you get better, then we can hold a ceremony in your and their honor. Then you will be returning to the front."

Akira felt as if his mind had caught fire and was now nothing but ash. Those four words 'returning to the front' spelt the end of love to him. He was wide eyed and unresponsive, the General had looked away and said, "That is all soldier, you can go back now."

Akira wandered out of the room in a daze. What was he going to do? Was he going to count on her to wait for him while he was on the front? Was she going to go there with him? he had no idea... he had all feeling back in his legs, but he figured the doctor wouldn't let him go for another week at the least. What could be done about their relationship in a week? He had no answers to any of these questions, he just collapsed against a wall in one of the hallways, sitting against it, panicking.

It took him awhile before he stood up and went back to the Inn. He was about ready to burst into tears, he knew he would be shipped out sooner or later, but he hadn't thought about it at all, and now that he was faced with it he was scared, scared for the first time in ten years, scared that he would die, scared that he wouldn't be able to look into Jiang's eyes, or to live a life with her, prolonged and satisfied...

He returned to the Inn, many of the chairs were filled with people eating, he ignored everything, removing the thoughts of redeployment from his head as he came up to her room. He knocked and said, "It's me, let's go eat!"

All he knew was that he needed to make the best of the time he had with her...

Jiang had spent her time meditating and analyzing feelings and experiences. And reached conclusion.She wanted to be with hom forever. She had missed him while he had been gone and she hopd the general had given him some good news and he better have given lots of praise.

She walked out of the bathroom, with a towel on her head and around her body. She had decided to wash away the remaining ash and sand from her face and body since they'd be going to dinner she wanted to look presentable. And she wanted to look nice for him. She was brushing her hair and putting it up in its usual pony tail and pearl decoraded bangs.

A smile spread on her face as she heard someone approach her door and sure enough, it was Akira. "It's me, let's go eat!" That heavenly voice, how she loved it. But he sounded in a hurry. Maybe he's just hungry. She chuckled. "I'll be right there!" She finished getting dressed and for the last time she looked in the morrir, making sure she looked alright before she opened the door. She decided to leave her staff here since they were just going for dinner. As she opened the door the smile on her face faded. He looked troubled. She turned around and locked the door to her room before looking into his eyes, placing her hand on his cheek, making sure he looked her in the eyes. "Is everything alright?"

When she opened the door she smelled and looked clean, she had probably washed up while he was gone. Akira was lit up by her face, to a point, he still kept thinking about being redeployed... She noticed his worry and asked, "Is everything alright?"

No. Everything was not alright, but he didn't want to spoil the evening, he would tell her another time, tomorrow maybe... He lightly kissed her cheek before saying, "Nothing, it's fine. Let's go eat then, shall we?" He grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs to the dining area. He had hoped his worry wouldn't come through during dinner, but he was always pretty good at hiding his feelings. Although he had never felt feels of dread and fear like this, so he wasn't sure if he could hide it all... Especially to her...

The dining area was nearly filled, only one table was left. Akira moved quickly to grab it, the chairs were very soft and leather bound, unlike usual dining chairs, but Akira liked it quite a bit. The woman from the counter came over and said, "What can I get you two?" She seemed to have given up her exposition and flirtation on Akira.

Akira smiled and looked at Jiang, he then said, "Well, they have food from around the world, is there anything from the water tribe that you want me to try?"

"Nothing, it's fine. Let's go eat then, shall we?" She raised an eyebrow. I'm not sure I believe you... She wanted to ask more but he led her down to the dining area so she figured she'd just bother him if she asked anything more about it. She took a deep breath and smiled, she didn't want to show worry to everyone at the inn, nor Akira. He probebly had anough on his mind.

He quickly grabbed the last table and they sat down. She looked around her and felt relieved that noone was staring. The woman from the counter came over and asked for their orders. She looked at Akira who smiled at her. Yet again she was unable to not smile back. "Well, they have food from around the world, is there anything from the water tribe that you want me to try?" She placed her finger on her chin and thought for a bit. "Well, if you like flavors, how about the Five-flavor Soup? It's very tasty." She giggled and looked him in the eyes. "And I guess it would only be fair if you decide my meal for me?"

He smiled at her, still trying to cope with the what the General had told him. After giving her suggestion of food, she said, "And I guess it would only be fair if you decided my meal for me?"

He looked up at the woman and said, "Well then, one five-flavor soup and... Roasted duck."

The woman nodded and said, "That'll be up soon."

Akira nodded back to her as she left. He looked back at Jiang, readjusting his memory to her now, even more beautiful than before after washing up. The smell of fire and ash still linger on Akira, but he would wash it away in a bathhouse the next day, or maybe they would go to a hot spring, he didn't know. All he did know is that he wanted to spend his time with her, no matter how long it would have been. He smiled and said, "So what did you do while I was away?"

Akira ordered for her. Roasted duck...never had that before. Sounds interesting. "I've never had roasted duck. You gave me an intresting choice." She chuckled. She looked at him and she still felt like there was something he wasn't telling her. And she really wanted to know what was botheing him, but she decided she'd let him tell her when he felt it was time.

"So what did you do while I was away?" She answered his smile and sat back in her chair. "I have been meditating. Trying to soak in all the events and feelings throughout the day. I feel like I've been through too much to handle in one day so I had to hather myself and work it all out. Oh, and I decided to remove the ash and smell of smoke and fire, felt like I had gone with it long enough."

Akira looked into her eyes, longing for an eternity within them. He was naivë to think he would get that wish, that desire... but he didn't care, he would do anything to be beside her for his entire life, to life with her, to sleep with her, to love her till the end of time... One simple kiss, stolen on the battlefield... one simple kiss caused by a dream of death... that one kiss changed Akira monumentally, making him want more of it, more of her embrace, more of her body, more of her lips... more of her... He couldn't stand the idea of leaving her for the battlefield, he wanted to stay here and love her forever... he should have told her he was being redeployed, he could see she saw something wrong... but he couldn't... they were having an amazing day, this was the greatest day of his entire life... he wanted it to end on a high note, not filled with sadness...

He pushed the thought of leaving away and listened to her as she explained what she had done while he was gone. He scoffed and said, "Meditating? I thought that was more of an Air Nomad thing. And the ash and fire smell, I hope it doesn't make me seem to unappealing?" He smirked as he spoke the last bit. he thought about what she may have meant by "soak in all the events and feelings throughout the day." Did she mean she thought of him the whole time? Or did that mean she thought of the battle, he was unsure, but he was glad she was thinking about something related to him, because his own mind was on her practically the whole time he was away from her.

"Maybe it is an Air Nomad thing, but you have to remember I live with monks and they spent most of their days doing just that. And if I wanted to stay there I had to do the same. And since I did not have the money to stay anywhere else I had no other choice and before I knew it, it became a habit." She chuckled. "And no, the ash and fire smell does by no means make you less appealing. In fact, it makes you seem more...exciting, or maybe mysterious is a better word. Either way, I don't mind it." She winked before turning her head towards the woman returning with their meals. They were placed infront of them and she thanked the woman. "So, did the general have anything to say?" She asked before taking a first bite of the duck. Though she expected that either he wouldn't say anything about it, or he would just not tell her all of it.

A bowl of the five-flavor soup was placed in front of him. It smelled... interesting... to say the least. He was about to taste it, but then Jiang asked, "So, did the general have anything to say?"

Akira frowned a bit, but for less than a second before smiling up at her and saying, "Yeah, apparently once I get better he's going to hold a ceremony for us, and Lan." He knew he should have mentioned his redeployment, but she looked so happy, and he was happy that she seemed happy, he didn't have the gall to say it right then... He tasted the soup, it was not very good, but he smiled anyway and said, "It's good, I bet it would taste better from a traditional water tribe cook though."

He began eating and said, "So were these monks in the Earth Kingdom?"

She widened her eyes. "A ceremony for us? What kind of ceremony would that be?" She had never been a part of a ceremony before, never witnessed one either so she became quite surprised to hear there would be one held for her, Akira and Lan.

She nodded at his remark on the soup. "Yeah, and I think it's quite difficult to get all the core ingredients from the water tribe for the soup. Unfortunately I can't cook it." She chuckled and took another bite of her meal. "This tastes quite good too."
Akira asked about the monks whereabouts and she nodded once again. "Yes, in the outskirts of the Earth Kingdom. They were pretty much undisturbed until bandits started attacking it one day. I managed to fight them off though, they weren't mane but enough to be able to steal from the monks who weren't trained in battle."