Post by blindgirl on Jan 3, 2008 0:37:49 GMT -5
Chapter one of my depressingly crappy Iikali fanfiction
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I'd been nine months since she'd seen him, but only four since her parents told her to get hell out of their lives. The memory still stung, she didn't know which one hurt more and in all honesty she didn't care. Each tore a small hole in her heart, driving her closer and closer to tears even thinking back on it now. It seemed like so long ago that she'd been a happy perky young girl, excited about seeing the world, thoughts of finding airbenders and seeing the world bubbled in her head. It was all she could do to contain her excitement as she prepared to leave, there was nothing that could stop her, she was eighteen, thinking that she was ready to take the world by the horns. No one told her she was setting herself up to be knocked down.
She'd learn different fighting styles, become a master martial artist and have a place as the leader of her families Dojo. The path was so clear cut and simple, it was always like that. She was innocent, everything was simple, maybe if it were more complicated things wouldn't have turned out as they did. At the time she didn't regret it, but nearly a year later she found her first assumption to be wrong. Childish dreams of being great, reaching impossible goals and finding herself through hard work and discipline. Her heart burned at the memories trying to patch it's self back up but a firm kick in her stomach brought her around from the nostalgia.
Her hand lingered over her swollen stomach feeling the kicking continue, she'd almost gotten used to it... even though it still made her stomach queasy. She was greatful at least that her baby was healthy, though she'd seen better days. It seemed like everyone that mattered to her just looked the other way, as if she was some sort of leper. Being close to her meant eventual destruction. How was she supposed to take care of a baby? She didn't know half of the things she needed to. Tears pricked at her eyes and her back pressed further back against the wood paneled wall, as if that would keep her from shattering to pieces.
A lot of things ran through her head, mostly how much easier this would be with someone helping her. But that was the chance she took. Looking around the small room she now occupied the only thing she could feel was a sullen lonesomeness that came with her predicament. Not that she should be ungreatful, the couple who owned this inn allowed her to stay for free as long as she helped in any ways she could, mostly it was house work though it became increasingly tiresome. The baby seemed to be getting heavier and heavier, causing boughts of dizziness and fatigue to be common.
Everything went down hill when she came across a man, he was odd to say the least, tattoos on his face, red clothing, Without a doubt he was from somewhere in the firenation. Soon she found out that his name was Iikagen, a native of the Igni Islands off the coast of the firenation, he was a warrior. Tali impressed by his prowess took to sparring with him and near stalking him trying to get him to train her, if only for a short while. Time and time again he ran her in circles, but the more he tormented her, the more he laughed at her childish attempts to best him, the more she fell for him. Somewhere deep in her mind she knew he was only playing with her, still she looked past it, tried to ignore it, tried to suppress it untill it was only some small detail that wasn't worth remembering at all.
So when the persuado-relationship took a turn she wasn't worried. They were in love, even though they'd only known each other a short time it was real enough to her. They'd make it somehow, even if they were from different nations, he'd stick by her and she'd do the same. Being young, being in love, it was all new to the boyish girl, he'd tell her to jump, she'd do it. He told her to get him something, she' do it with a smile. It wasn't two days they'd been taking to various new activities that she woke up one morning with him no where to be found...
For a week she'd waited for him, always telling herself he'd be back soon, that he was off somewhere and would be back soon. A few times she wanted to go look for him, but she reasoned that leaving would only make it harder for him to find her. So she waited..... and waited....and he never came... on the eight day she packed up her things carefully and tried to find him. It was horrible to say the least. Mornings were filed with retching sicknesses that she blamed on sleeping outdoors for a week, evenings were fruitless and tiresome, wearing her out before the sun even went down. Her training mission seemed like a bust, and as much as her heart broke over Iikagen's disappearance, finally she allowed herself to believe that he was gone and not coming back. She'd told herself that it would be for the best but there was another surprise on the way.
Slowly in her travels her clean cut stomach started to dissapear, with a bit of resignation she contributed it to her lack of training recently. She tried to pick up where she left off, moving north to find the Northern air temple and hopefully meet with Iikagen again, it seemed like it was never to be. When she passed out while walking through a small farming town in the northern earth kingdom the doctor she was brought to, informed her that she was in fact carrying a child. Two days passed quickly while she adjusted to the shock of what she'd just found out,.by the second night her eyes were red and sore from all the crying she'd done, her stomach sick from skipping meals and her mind weighted with the reality that was thrust upon her. After hours of soul searching she'd made up her mind to go home and have her child with her family. After it was safely into the world she'd try to regain her honor by finding Iikagen. She'd convinced herself that once she told him what happened he'd greatfuly take her into his arms and flock to see his child.
Her mind made up she headed back home where her parents would no doubt be supportive and help her with any troubles she'd have. The trip back was long, especially hard since she now had extra weight to carry, more tiring because her body was being weakened. What should have been a two month trek turned into considerably something longer. It wasn't helpful at all that here and there she caught wind of Iikagen's presence in the area, It took all the will power she could muster to not go and find him straight away, She wanted to see him so badly... to have someone tell her everything would be alright, to walk through a village or town without the mixture of pity and shame at a husband-less girl with a child on the way. Memories of tracking Iikagen came to mind, it was hard when she was in top condition, now it would be impossible.
Months had passed before she got home, seeing the town allowed relief to wash over her, but the welcome was nothing like she expected. Her parents refused to see her, but after a day of being in town a letter was sent to her expressing their feelings. Her sister wasn't anymore help, she was cold and curt, the message was obvious, 'you're not wanted here". Collecting the remains of her pride she left her home town to attempt and find the only thing she had left. Half way through her searching it was rather obvious she could no longer travel on her own, It was how she came to the Inn and the old couple who were kind enough to allow her room and board. Nothing seemed to be getting better, there were no letters from home even though she wrote, there was no sign of Iikagen, there was no more hope.
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I'd been nine months since she'd seen him, but only four since her parents told her to get hell out of their lives. The memory still stung, she didn't know which one hurt more and in all honesty she didn't care. Each tore a small hole in her heart, driving her closer and closer to tears even thinking back on it now. It seemed like so long ago that she'd been a happy perky young girl, excited about seeing the world, thoughts of finding airbenders and seeing the world bubbled in her head. It was all she could do to contain her excitement as she prepared to leave, there was nothing that could stop her, she was eighteen, thinking that she was ready to take the world by the horns. No one told her she was setting herself up to be knocked down.
She'd learn different fighting styles, become a master martial artist and have a place as the leader of her families Dojo. The path was so clear cut and simple, it was always like that. She was innocent, everything was simple, maybe if it were more complicated things wouldn't have turned out as they did. At the time she didn't regret it, but nearly a year later she found her first assumption to be wrong. Childish dreams of being great, reaching impossible goals and finding herself through hard work and discipline. Her heart burned at the memories trying to patch it's self back up but a firm kick in her stomach brought her around from the nostalgia.
Her hand lingered over her swollen stomach feeling the kicking continue, she'd almost gotten used to it... even though it still made her stomach queasy. She was greatful at least that her baby was healthy, though she'd seen better days. It seemed like everyone that mattered to her just looked the other way, as if she was some sort of leper. Being close to her meant eventual destruction. How was she supposed to take care of a baby? She didn't know half of the things she needed to. Tears pricked at her eyes and her back pressed further back against the wood paneled wall, as if that would keep her from shattering to pieces.
A lot of things ran through her head, mostly how much easier this would be with someone helping her. But that was the chance she took. Looking around the small room she now occupied the only thing she could feel was a sullen lonesomeness that came with her predicament. Not that she should be ungreatful, the couple who owned this inn allowed her to stay for free as long as she helped in any ways she could, mostly it was house work though it became increasingly tiresome. The baby seemed to be getting heavier and heavier, causing boughts of dizziness and fatigue to be common.
Everything went down hill when she came across a man, he was odd to say the least, tattoos on his face, red clothing, Without a doubt he was from somewhere in the firenation. Soon she found out that his name was Iikagen, a native of the Igni Islands off the coast of the firenation, he was a warrior. Tali impressed by his prowess took to sparring with him and near stalking him trying to get him to train her, if only for a short while. Time and time again he ran her in circles, but the more he tormented her, the more he laughed at her childish attempts to best him, the more she fell for him. Somewhere deep in her mind she knew he was only playing with her, still she looked past it, tried to ignore it, tried to suppress it untill it was only some small detail that wasn't worth remembering at all.
So when the persuado-relationship took a turn she wasn't worried. They were in love, even though they'd only known each other a short time it was real enough to her. They'd make it somehow, even if they were from different nations, he'd stick by her and she'd do the same. Being young, being in love, it was all new to the boyish girl, he'd tell her to jump, she'd do it. He told her to get him something, she' do it with a smile. It wasn't two days they'd been taking to various new activities that she woke up one morning with him no where to be found...
For a week she'd waited for him, always telling herself he'd be back soon, that he was off somewhere and would be back soon. A few times she wanted to go look for him, but she reasoned that leaving would only make it harder for him to find her. So she waited..... and waited....and he never came... on the eight day she packed up her things carefully and tried to find him. It was horrible to say the least. Mornings were filed with retching sicknesses that she blamed on sleeping outdoors for a week, evenings were fruitless and tiresome, wearing her out before the sun even went down. Her training mission seemed like a bust, and as much as her heart broke over Iikagen's disappearance, finally she allowed herself to believe that he was gone and not coming back. She'd told herself that it would be for the best but there was another surprise on the way.
Slowly in her travels her clean cut stomach started to dissapear, with a bit of resignation she contributed it to her lack of training recently. She tried to pick up where she left off, moving north to find the Northern air temple and hopefully meet with Iikagen again, it seemed like it was never to be. When she passed out while walking through a small farming town in the northern earth kingdom the doctor she was brought to, informed her that she was in fact carrying a child. Two days passed quickly while she adjusted to the shock of what she'd just found out,.by the second night her eyes were red and sore from all the crying she'd done, her stomach sick from skipping meals and her mind weighted with the reality that was thrust upon her. After hours of soul searching she'd made up her mind to go home and have her child with her family. After it was safely into the world she'd try to regain her honor by finding Iikagen. She'd convinced herself that once she told him what happened he'd greatfuly take her into his arms and flock to see his child.
Her mind made up she headed back home where her parents would no doubt be supportive and help her with any troubles she'd have. The trip back was long, especially hard since she now had extra weight to carry, more tiring because her body was being weakened. What should have been a two month trek turned into considerably something longer. It wasn't helpful at all that here and there she caught wind of Iikagen's presence in the area, It took all the will power she could muster to not go and find him straight away, She wanted to see him so badly... to have someone tell her everything would be alright, to walk through a village or town without the mixture of pity and shame at a husband-less girl with a child on the way. Memories of tracking Iikagen came to mind, it was hard when she was in top condition, now it would be impossible.
Months had passed before she got home, seeing the town allowed relief to wash over her, but the welcome was nothing like she expected. Her parents refused to see her, but after a day of being in town a letter was sent to her expressing their feelings. Her sister wasn't anymore help, she was cold and curt, the message was obvious, 'you're not wanted here". Collecting the remains of her pride she left her home town to attempt and find the only thing she had left. Half way through her searching it was rather obvious she could no longer travel on her own, It was how she came to the Inn and the old couple who were kind enough to allow her room and board. Nothing seemed to be getting better, there were no letters from home even though she wrote, there was no sign of Iikagen, there was no more hope.