Post by Teяa253 on Dec 2, 2008 6:09:16 GMT 1
an obvious shot at the last name of our little shy scar-faced female firebending friend. (haha, alliteration.) so, now you know. =3
anyhoot, chapter 33. I still do not see my ending in sight, so bear with me. that said, this is sort of a filler, but we do get to see some emotional character development, and some of Tenoko's drunken stupidity, so enjoy. =D
CHAPTER 33: THIS WAS KIMIKO NAGISHIMA
Zinjamyn’s group did not really have any objective for the next day or two except for to do their own thing and to be prepared should the warning be sounded. Zinjamyn was off with Tenoko discussing more war tactics, Mulan had given her baby to the caretakers of a medical establishment in the village, for she could not take her infant child into war. After knowing of how the Serenes waterbenders acted based on what she observed from Lehran, Mulan could have sworn that the nurse she left in charge of her child was a Serenes herself.
The nurse had promised with her life to take care of Mulan’s baby girl, and this left Mulan at peace. Once that was through, Mulan was just mingling with the others, and this village was swarming with Kyoshi Warriors at the time. Cheng was talking with some of these women, many of which knew Taki. From this Cheng learned that Taki was one of the highest ranking Kyoshi Warriors in the world, which would also likely explain her skill in battle.
“How do you know Taki,” one of them asked him,
“Well,” said Cheng truthfully, “Avatar Zakura was the one who got us properly introduced to each other. She told me to take her out, and since she gave me the money to do so, I did. From there, our relationship developed. That about sums it up,”
Cheng might have been talking friendly to these women, but ultimately, he knew that his loyalty was to Taki, and was not going to do anything with these women that would upset Taki (or any woman for that manner). Taki was actually a popular subject of talk among the Kyoshi Warriors, and so Cheng took a liking for the girls, many of which were only 18 or so. Others were much older, but they all had several common traits, such as being fast, flexible, powerful, and fearless.
Lehran meanwhile, was playing with his sister, with Kimiko idly sitting a few feet away watching them. She looked at them longingly, wishing to see her own family again; to hear them laugh with her and hug her the way Lehran was embracing Altina. She closed her eyes.
Lehran didn’t pay attention to Kimiko; for he knew that she liked to be by herself for the most part, and respected her privacy. However, right now, what Kimiko wanted more than anything was for someone to love.
It was actually when she started sniffling that Lehran looked up. Even little Altina stopped giggling.
“Are you alright,” Lehran asked, standing up and walking towards her,
Kimiko naturally did not respond. Lehran could tell what was on her mind. He knew her story, and figured that after a shattering event like that, that there was a 90% chance that that was what she was thinking of. Lehran sat next to her, with Altina playing with some water on the floor in front of them.
“You miss your family, don’t you,” he said gently, putting one of his hands on her back and gently rubbing. Kimiko said nothing, but her eyes started to water. Her scarred eye even got slightly wet, which was not normal, for some of the area around it had been damaged when it had been burned. Now, Lehran was a smart man, and was not going to end on a sad note like the death of poor Kimiko’s family.
“I want someone,” said Kimiko, now sobbing, “just anyone; someone to care for me like my family did; someone to comfort me; someone to dry my tears. My family... they were everything to me. To watch them die with my own eyes... it... it was the worst thing I could ever witness. I’m afraid to talk to anyone. I feel if I ever say anything out of place that it will force me to watch their deaths again.”
“so why are you speaking with me then,” Lehran asked curiously, wondering what made him so special that she was actually talking to him when she would talk to nearly no one else;
“I...” Kimiko stuttered, “I just feel so safe around you. You seem like the sort of man who puts others before himself; I’ve heard the legends of the Serenes Waterbenders, and they sound marvelous. It’s like a fantasy of mine almost. I mean, I’ve seen the way you treat little Altina; it’s something I’ve always looked up to, Lehran.”
Lehran was sort of surprised that Kimiko had said so much, and being shy himself, was not sure as to how much he was going to say,
“Well Kimiko,” said Lehran, “I’m a man who does not like to see others distressed. If you ever need someone to lean on, I’ll be here for you. It’s how I am to anyone. I’m trying to teach Altina to grow up to be the same way. The fact that she is already able to waterbend worries me though, for if The Order is not stopped, she will be targeted.”
“Not while I’m here,” said Kimiko with gritted teeth; there was slight anger building up in her; something that had long since lain dormant; “not as long as there is a member of the Nagishima family that still draws breath, Lehran. Something about Altina gives me a certain drive—a drive to protect her like she was my own sister.”
“There is something about you,” said Lehran, “that I admire. It’s that trait of perseverance. After everything that has just happened to you in recent times, you’re still sticking to your beliefs without faltering. A sense of loyalty like that is something I have always admired in a person. You are no exception, Kimiko.”
Kimiko put her arms around Lehran and laid her head on his shoulder.
“Don’t ever leave me,” she said, “you remind me too much of my own brother. I don’t want to have to lose him again.”
“So long as your loyalty remains the same and I am still able to draw breath, lady Nagishima,” said Lehran, who had an odd tendency to use a person’s last name once he learned it, “I will not. You have my word as a Serenes, I assure you.”
Kimiko continued to rest her head on Lehran’s shoulder. She did glance up at little Altina, who was now running around in circles again. Eventually the little girl got dizzy and fell down. Right as she did, the door flew open with such force that Lehran and Kimiko both jumped, and even Kimiko’s left eye flipped wide open. It may have been able to open normally as wide as her other eye, but it couldn’t get much wider than that except on rare occasions. They both looked towards the doorway and saw Chief Tenoko standing there.
“Howdy, kids,” she said, and though she was trying to look at Lehran, her eyes were going in and out of focus; she was clearly drunk again. She looked down and saw Altina and picked her up. She had been playing with some water at the time, and surprisingly, when she was lifted up by Tenoko, she held onto it, putting the water in her mouth.
“Well aren’t you the cutest thing in the world,” she said, hiccupping; Lehran and Kimiko were both too shy to tell Tenoko that she was drunk. Luckily for them, little Altina had an answer; the water that was in Altina’s mouth suddenly ejected and then landed in Tenoko’s face.
“Guuhh,” Tenoko snapped, “crazy kid just spit water at me. Take her, boy.”
She abruptly handed Altina to Lehran, and then Zinjamyn appeared in the doorway, chuckling.
“There you are, Tenoko,” he said, laughing, “here, come lie down for a while. You’re clearly drunk.”
Tenoko just laughed, “You haven’t seen the last of me,” she said, laughing oddly; she was not going to ever actually attack Lehran or Kimiko; she was just that drunk. Zinjamyn led her out and got her to a safe place where she was able to lie down and rest, and then returned to Lehran and Kimiko, the same calm expression on his face.
“Sorry about that,” he said, “she’s just a bit off sometimes. She’s not going to hurt any of you. She didn’t do anything, did she?”
“No,” Lehran replied, and his right hand was subconsciously running up and down Kimiko’s back (on her shirt of course) “She just thought Altina was cute, that was all”
“Well,” said Zinjamyn, smiling at the little girl, “she kind of is; but aye, I’ll leave you two alone for now. Again, I apologize for letting that drunken Water Chief out of my sight.”
With a slight chuckle, Zinjamyn closed the door, and again, Lehran and Kimiko were alone. Kimiko looked up into Lehran’s eyes, and Lehran smiled. Altina started tugging at Kimiko’s pant leg, and Kimiko took that as the sign to pick her up, and therefore, she did.
When she did she squeezed her really hard, and Altina, still known mostly as “that cute little blue ball of fluff” giggled each time Kimiko squeezed her. Lehran watched Kimiko’s face closely, and noticed that she was smiling, something no one had seen her do in a very long time. She set Altina down on the counter that the two of them had been sitting on, and she sat down behind Kimiko, leaving an opening between her and Lehran, which Lehran closed as to be able to reach Altina better (or so he said). He looked at Kimiko and smiled.
To his surprise, she smiled back. It was a weak smile, but a smile it was nonetheless. The fact that he too was incredibly shy meant that for him it was an incredible feat. Not only had he made a new close friend, but he had gotten through to someone who no one else was able to. This was no random person he got through to, This Was Kimiko Nagishima.
~Azula~
anyhoot, chapter 33. I still do not see my ending in sight, so bear with me. that said, this is sort of a filler, but we do get to see some emotional character development, and some of Tenoko's drunken stupidity, so enjoy. =D
CHAPTER 33: THIS WAS KIMIKO NAGISHIMA
Zinjamyn’s group did not really have any objective for the next day or two except for to do their own thing and to be prepared should the warning be sounded. Zinjamyn was off with Tenoko discussing more war tactics, Mulan had given her baby to the caretakers of a medical establishment in the village, for she could not take her infant child into war. After knowing of how the Serenes waterbenders acted based on what she observed from Lehran, Mulan could have sworn that the nurse she left in charge of her child was a Serenes herself.
The nurse had promised with her life to take care of Mulan’s baby girl, and this left Mulan at peace. Once that was through, Mulan was just mingling with the others, and this village was swarming with Kyoshi Warriors at the time. Cheng was talking with some of these women, many of which knew Taki. From this Cheng learned that Taki was one of the highest ranking Kyoshi Warriors in the world, which would also likely explain her skill in battle.
“How do you know Taki,” one of them asked him,
“Well,” said Cheng truthfully, “Avatar Zakura was the one who got us properly introduced to each other. She told me to take her out, and since she gave me the money to do so, I did. From there, our relationship developed. That about sums it up,”
Cheng might have been talking friendly to these women, but ultimately, he knew that his loyalty was to Taki, and was not going to do anything with these women that would upset Taki (or any woman for that manner). Taki was actually a popular subject of talk among the Kyoshi Warriors, and so Cheng took a liking for the girls, many of which were only 18 or so. Others were much older, but they all had several common traits, such as being fast, flexible, powerful, and fearless.
Lehran meanwhile, was playing with his sister, with Kimiko idly sitting a few feet away watching them. She looked at them longingly, wishing to see her own family again; to hear them laugh with her and hug her the way Lehran was embracing Altina. She closed her eyes.
Lehran didn’t pay attention to Kimiko; for he knew that she liked to be by herself for the most part, and respected her privacy. However, right now, what Kimiko wanted more than anything was for someone to love.
It was actually when she started sniffling that Lehran looked up. Even little Altina stopped giggling.
“Are you alright,” Lehran asked, standing up and walking towards her,
Kimiko naturally did not respond. Lehran could tell what was on her mind. He knew her story, and figured that after a shattering event like that, that there was a 90% chance that that was what she was thinking of. Lehran sat next to her, with Altina playing with some water on the floor in front of them.
“You miss your family, don’t you,” he said gently, putting one of his hands on her back and gently rubbing. Kimiko said nothing, but her eyes started to water. Her scarred eye even got slightly wet, which was not normal, for some of the area around it had been damaged when it had been burned. Now, Lehran was a smart man, and was not going to end on a sad note like the death of poor Kimiko’s family.
“I want someone,” said Kimiko, now sobbing, “just anyone; someone to care for me like my family did; someone to comfort me; someone to dry my tears. My family... they were everything to me. To watch them die with my own eyes... it... it was the worst thing I could ever witness. I’m afraid to talk to anyone. I feel if I ever say anything out of place that it will force me to watch their deaths again.”
“so why are you speaking with me then,” Lehran asked curiously, wondering what made him so special that she was actually talking to him when she would talk to nearly no one else;
“I...” Kimiko stuttered, “I just feel so safe around you. You seem like the sort of man who puts others before himself; I’ve heard the legends of the Serenes Waterbenders, and they sound marvelous. It’s like a fantasy of mine almost. I mean, I’ve seen the way you treat little Altina; it’s something I’ve always looked up to, Lehran.”
Lehran was sort of surprised that Kimiko had said so much, and being shy himself, was not sure as to how much he was going to say,
“Well Kimiko,” said Lehran, “I’m a man who does not like to see others distressed. If you ever need someone to lean on, I’ll be here for you. It’s how I am to anyone. I’m trying to teach Altina to grow up to be the same way. The fact that she is already able to waterbend worries me though, for if The Order is not stopped, she will be targeted.”
“Not while I’m here,” said Kimiko with gritted teeth; there was slight anger building up in her; something that had long since lain dormant; “not as long as there is a member of the Nagishima family that still draws breath, Lehran. Something about Altina gives me a certain drive—a drive to protect her like she was my own sister.”
“There is something about you,” said Lehran, “that I admire. It’s that trait of perseverance. After everything that has just happened to you in recent times, you’re still sticking to your beliefs without faltering. A sense of loyalty like that is something I have always admired in a person. You are no exception, Kimiko.”
Kimiko put her arms around Lehran and laid her head on his shoulder.
“Don’t ever leave me,” she said, “you remind me too much of my own brother. I don’t want to have to lose him again.”
“So long as your loyalty remains the same and I am still able to draw breath, lady Nagishima,” said Lehran, who had an odd tendency to use a person’s last name once he learned it, “I will not. You have my word as a Serenes, I assure you.”
Kimiko continued to rest her head on Lehran’s shoulder. She did glance up at little Altina, who was now running around in circles again. Eventually the little girl got dizzy and fell down. Right as she did, the door flew open with such force that Lehran and Kimiko both jumped, and even Kimiko’s left eye flipped wide open. It may have been able to open normally as wide as her other eye, but it couldn’t get much wider than that except on rare occasions. They both looked towards the doorway and saw Chief Tenoko standing there.
“Howdy, kids,” she said, and though she was trying to look at Lehran, her eyes were going in and out of focus; she was clearly drunk again. She looked down and saw Altina and picked her up. She had been playing with some water at the time, and surprisingly, when she was lifted up by Tenoko, she held onto it, putting the water in her mouth.
“Well aren’t you the cutest thing in the world,” she said, hiccupping; Lehran and Kimiko were both too shy to tell Tenoko that she was drunk. Luckily for them, little Altina had an answer; the water that was in Altina’s mouth suddenly ejected and then landed in Tenoko’s face.
“Guuhh,” Tenoko snapped, “crazy kid just spit water at me. Take her, boy.”
She abruptly handed Altina to Lehran, and then Zinjamyn appeared in the doorway, chuckling.
“There you are, Tenoko,” he said, laughing, “here, come lie down for a while. You’re clearly drunk.”
Tenoko just laughed, “You haven’t seen the last of me,” she said, laughing oddly; she was not going to ever actually attack Lehran or Kimiko; she was just that drunk. Zinjamyn led her out and got her to a safe place where she was able to lie down and rest, and then returned to Lehran and Kimiko, the same calm expression on his face.
“Sorry about that,” he said, “she’s just a bit off sometimes. She’s not going to hurt any of you. She didn’t do anything, did she?”
“No,” Lehran replied, and his right hand was subconsciously running up and down Kimiko’s back (on her shirt of course) “She just thought Altina was cute, that was all”
“Well,” said Zinjamyn, smiling at the little girl, “she kind of is; but aye, I’ll leave you two alone for now. Again, I apologize for letting that drunken Water Chief out of my sight.”
With a slight chuckle, Zinjamyn closed the door, and again, Lehran and Kimiko were alone. Kimiko looked up into Lehran’s eyes, and Lehran smiled. Altina started tugging at Kimiko’s pant leg, and Kimiko took that as the sign to pick her up, and therefore, she did.
When she did she squeezed her really hard, and Altina, still known mostly as “that cute little blue ball of fluff” giggled each time Kimiko squeezed her. Lehran watched Kimiko’s face closely, and noticed that she was smiling, something no one had seen her do in a very long time. She set Altina down on the counter that the two of them had been sitting on, and she sat down behind Kimiko, leaving an opening between her and Lehran, which Lehran closed as to be able to reach Altina better (or so he said). He looked at Kimiko and smiled.
To his surprise, she smiled back. It was a weak smile, but a smile it was nonetheless. The fact that he too was incredibly shy meant that for him it was an incredible feat. Not only had he made a new close friend, but he had gotten through to someone who no one else was able to. This was no random person he got through to, This Was Kimiko Nagishima.
~Azula~
