Release <Earth Kingdom>

[atalanta]

Mesheiko simply smiled at Midori's comments. She was a clever young woman, make no mistake about that. And his eyes she was as beautiful as any carefully cultivated wildflower, truly a diamond in the rough. It had been sheer coincidence that he had found her. In fact, they had been bonded together by helping a pregnant woman, Xia Feng, give birth. Then they had been separated from the others, forcibly bonded together, yet it was all willing. They had even spent the night together at an inn, but they hadn't even known they were attracted to one another then, let alone have done anything more. Of course, that was still one part of their story that he was keen to leave out even to good friends like Cheng (well, more like especially Cheng) simply because of the direction that might have pointed to. Mesheiko was essentially a gentleman, and he didn't want anything spread around that might damage his or more importantly Midori's reputation.

Kun Tu wasn't an entirely open person and for the most part the most one would ever hear him speak was during his matches against Cheng. Out of Mesheiko's tent he was probably the one who liked Midori least, but he approved of her for Mesheiko and didn't mind her presence. So he said nothing to her comment but simply smiled and nodded, almost contradictory to what she said. Cheng, however, exuberant and as extroverted as he was, patted Midori on the shoulder. "It's okay. I love a good woman who can't cook. It's a learning experience," Cheng said mockingly flirtingly. "Careful, Mesheiko, or I may just steal her from you," Cheng said with a wink. "Over my dead body," Mesheiko replied, arousing a chorus of laughter from around the table. Cheng took his hands away from his food for a moment in a mock Earthbending position, challenging him playfully. "Let's go," Cheng said, and a playful verbal war seemed to be fought between the two of them.

"You can't beat up a cripple!"
"Do you want to take this outside?"
"Cheng, we are outside."
"Fine, let's take it in the tent!"
"Bring it!"

Unlike Cheng and Kun Tu's bickering, when Mesheiko and Cheng began to fight it was only playful, but what they did often grew serious. In older and better days they might have gotten up and wrestled right then and there, but with it being a feast and in Mesheiko's condition, such wasn't an option. So, Cheng took a piece of bread which had been an attempt at a roll and threw it as Mesheiko. It bounced off the inside of his shoulder and landed in his lap, and so Mesheiko picked it up and ate it. Perhaps it wasn't the most mature thing to have a little food fight during a great feast held in your own honor, but Mesheiko had little time left with Cheng or any of these men, although he did have plans to work with Cheng after Cheng's service was over. In the meantime, Mesheiko would try to find work in or near Midori's village to spend a little bit of quality time with her. So, Mesheiko was making the most of his time left here. He had made so many friends and settled so well into the way of life, Mesheiko wasn't sure what he was going to do once he left. He had a couple days still to gather his things and say his goodbyes, and he intended to make the most of it.

Mesheiko and Cheng's little play fight soon ended, and so went with it the feast. People seemed to have eaten their fill of the courses, and so most were beginning to leave, the crowd dissipating. Cheng stood up from his chair. making a dramatic exit, as always. "Well, I'm going to check on Zeki and some ladies. I'll see you back at the tent later, guys, Mesheiko." Hung Yong and Kun Tu followed suit, going to their own destinations before returning to their tent. His family left also, his father hugging and his sisters kissing him on the check before they left to their own quarters, his nieces and nephews trailing behind. The Major nodded and smiled at him, and Banshee rose to his feet in anticipation. Mesheiko climbed onto the ostrich-horse's back, making a mental note to give the animal a treat as soon as possible for all the hard work Banshee did for him. Mesheiko offered Midori his hand and pulled her onto Banshee's back also, in front of him. "Follow me," he said, even though they were both obviously traveling to the same place since they were upon Banshee's back.

They rode the considerable distance from where the feast and ceremony had been held through most of the camp to the tents. After all, the Army didn't want outsiders seeing the far less glamorous side of military life. It was easily far from glamorous. The closer one got to the tents, the more messy it became with trash and belongings strewn about on all levels by the end of the day. By now the sun was beginning to set, and by the time they reached the tents the sun had just finished a spectacular display in the evening sky and was pulling its tendrils of light down with it to its resting place while the darkness began to take hold. They had returned to the tent, but like Cheng he wasn't going to bed yet. Mesheiko dismounted carefully from Banshee's back, smiling. "Wait here," he told Midori. He struggled to get inside the tent, but once he was inside there were enough things and furniture to hang onto to for Mesheiko to manage. Normally there were other men in there to help him, also, but for the moment the tent was deserted and Mesheiko was alone. He made his way to the cot where he had slept in before his injury and had just recently started sleeping in again. The infirmary wanted to give him a little time to settle back in before they completely dismissed him. He grabbed a small, simple box from under his cot carefully, and began to leave, then spied the dark strip of cloth with which he normally covered his eyes during the night to keep light out, and grabbed it, also. Keeping both things behind his back, he emerged from the tent, grinning. He mounted again, perhaps a little less carefully but still successfully onto Banshee's back. He dropped the little box into one of Banshee's saddle bags, careful to keep it from Midori's view.

Then he laid one hand gently on her shoulder in a tender manner, but with the other withdrew the cloth from behind his back and quickly put the cloth over her eyes and tied it behind her head, stroking her hair a little in the process. Having worn the cloth over his own eyes before, Mesheiko knew it was nearly impossible to see. He leaned forward and kissed the back of her neck gently once, and whispered in her ear, "Just hang on, and trust me." No one had quite returned to the tents yet, and for this Mesheiko was glad. He would have some time them. He withdrew his hands from her hair and the blindfold, and reached around her waist to take Banshee's reins. With a slight touch of the foot he urged Banshee forward into a mystery.

[midori]

Riding along with Mesheiko had been thrill enough, but what Mesheiko had done next truly surprised her. He seemed to be doing that a lot recently – surprising her. But, of course, Midori loved these unexpected adventures, for they sent her heart fluttering and raw energy coursing through her veins. It was an intoxicating feeling; she felt as if she wished to jump and twirl and run and embrace him all at once, and yet, at the same time, she was at a completely calm, pleasing peace. What Mesheiko was doing only intensified her previous excitement.

His fingers brushing against her hair and his lips pressing against the back of her neck sent thrilling goosebumps skittering down her forearms momentarily, and her bubbling eagerness swiftly increased with his tender voice promising a surprise. She smiled softly as his arms wrapped around her to take Banshee’s reins, and a soft chuckle slipped out of her soft lips.

“Of course I trust you.” She spoke softly and sincerely, but it was evident that she was quite excited. She held onto Banshee tightly, her heart thudding with the kind of thrill only Mesheiko could give her. It was so strange, but… exhilarating how Mesheiko could so easily make her feel so eager and pleasant and also intrigue her. Her mind raced; whatever were they doing? She could hardly control herself, so eager she was to find out. As the rode along, a thousand scenarios eagerly filled her mind, and she listened carefully, as if something would give her a sort of clue.

[atalanta]

Banshee trotted along at a quick pace, making the camp fly past him in a blur but certainly not for Midori, who still was blindfolded. He was careful avoid the beaten paths, taking longer distances than necessary to arrive at his appointed destination, but he did not anyone seeing them. It would be a strange sight indeed, blindfolded girl and wounded soldier atop an ostrich-horse. They were fairly well-known throughout the camp by now simply because of Mesheiko's recent status, and it was this he regretted. For now whenever he would try to find some alone time with Midori it was impossible not to be spotted and knowledge of their most recent romantic escapade would soon become common gossip among the almost too chatty nurses.

Midori had to share quarters with these women, he knew; he did not want to put her through their kind of torture. Although, for the most part the nurses were good women, simply a bit prone to gossip, for, after all, working in the Army could be rather boring and depressing, Mesheiko knew for a fact. He wondered what his life might have been like if he had never become a soldier, but then his relationship with Midori might have been nonexistent, and if it did, if he even knew her, it would most likely be strictly platonic. It had developed into a romance not only because of the underlying attraction but because they had been bonded together in a way most people would never experience.

Sunset soon turned to twilight, and cooler, but equally beautiful colors, took the place of the warmer ones the sun used in a great display of its light. Blue, purple, and green took the sky, and Mesheiko began to think of the great light displays that were told of occuring at the North and South Poles, great displays of nature normally only ever seen by the Northern and Southern Water Tribes. Mesheiko had not attempted more than simple Earthbending after his injury, earth he could manipulate with his hands. Yet he knew still that most of an Earthbender's power came from his legs and feet, the part of his body connecting to the earth, and so he felt crippled in more ways than one. Now, he could hardly walk without falling; how was he supposed to ever really bend again? He had heard great stories of recovery, however, from soldiers in the Army, great tales of legendary warriors who were bravely and heroically wounded in battle yet lived to fight and bend another day. Such stories were common among the Army. After all, the war had nearly lasted a hundred years. Mesheiko cringed to think of all the great men, and women, too- making him think of the girl who had fought alongside him during his earlier service, who had been kidnapped-, who had lost their lives and much more to this terrible war with the Fire Nation. Why the Fire Nation started this cruel war, he would never know.

But he had to put such matters behind him, soon, for after all in just a few days he would be leaving a soldier's way of life behind entirely, leaving everything he had come to know and love so well, even with its discomforts (namely, his injuries) to a totally unknown future. Cheng, Midori, and he had planned it somewhat; Mesheiko would find a temporary job working near Midori, until Cheng's service was over, and then, perhaps, they would work all together on his farm. For as successful as Cheng seemed to be with women, he came from a poor family and a hard life, and he had joined to Army simply to have a steady paycheck to send back to his family. Cheng very well might have to return his family, however; if the farm wasn't going well it was best Cheng return to a place where he could be assured money and meals, as well as women. Mesheiko couldn't help but feel sorry for Cheng and other such men in comparison; the war had been hard on the Earth Kingdom's economy. Only the rich were assuredly well off now. Mesheiko had had a fairly easy life, he simply became a soldier out of an inborn fondness. It better him to be injured, someone not forced by his circumstances to join the Army, than someone else who had not wanted this and now had no way to support themselves or their families. In his thoughts of this, Mesheiko felt lucky, and then his mind turned somewhat back to reality, with Midori riding in front of him on Banshee, blindfolded, waiting eagerly in anticipation of what was to come, and he felt even luckier. "Not much farther," he said, leaning in so she could hear his words

Mesheiko had reached the training grounds, a place where they often drilled and honed their soldiering and Earthbending skills. With great trees rising up in every direction, it was often a place those in the cavalry used to train their ostrich-horses to weave around the great forests of the Earth Kingdom in the case of a battle or an emergency, both probably followed by fire. Mesheiko suspected Banshee had been trained in this way, also, before Mesheiko received him, for Banshee had shown incredible skill and bravery in the face of such fire and danger before, when they were separated from Xia Feng and the others in what felt like so long ago. The moon loomed large on the horizon, the sky a mixture of dark blue, purple, green, and the approaching black. Just a bit of light remained under the great canopy of trees, enough to see clearly but darken and make silhouettes of what one saw. Feeling this was a good a time as any, Mesheiko untied the cloth and slipped it off of Midori's head, placing it in the same saddle bag as he had put the box in earlier, and took the box out in the process, but he kept it hidden from her still by keeping it in his back pocket. His hand stroked a little against her hair this time, too, and leaned forward once again to bury his head in its beauty for a moment.

Mesheiko dismounted awkwardly., and then offered her his hand to help her dismount. He smiled at Midori and withdrew the box from his pocket, opened it delicately, and withdrew its contents from within. There in his hand now lay a beautiful bracelet, constructed of beads, whose golds and greens and other similar hues merged and swirled on the surface, while such beads resided on a hearty and strong string. He offered it to her, slipping it over her wrist. "It was my mother's," he said quietly, an indication of how deeply he felt about it. "Does it fit?" Mesheiko said, his words having many connotations and meanings. The gift bracelet had originally belonged to his mother, given to her by his father, but she had willed it to whichever of her children required it most, which most would think would be one of his sisters. But his father saw things differently; he brought it with him always, for it was a significant family heirloom on his wife's and Mesheiko's mother's side, knowing perhaps that one day one of his children would be in need of it for some reason. One would think a simple bracelet would have such significance, but with his mother gone, it was worth its weight in gold to the entire family, which was how Mesheiko felt about Midori. It fit very well, he thought.

[midori]

Midori gasped softly as Mesheiko slipped an elegant bracelet onto her thin wrist, truly shocked, especially when he mentioned it once belonged to his mother. Midori had always known that his mother had meant a lot to him, even though Mesheiko might not have said so quite so directly. It was just something she picked up while traveling with along with him, for it was apparent in the way he spoke about her, or just mentioned her in passing conversation. This was one reason it was so surprising; Midori didn’t feel as if she had deserved something so incredibly special.

She fingered the charming bracelet with her opposite hand, observing it quietly before glancing up to Mesheiko with a surprised, but tender smile.

“It fits perfectly.” She said, a faint blush dusting across her pale cheeks, for Midori knew the words meant a lot more than just the apparent physical one. However, she couldn’t help but pause, hesitancy tinting her tone.

“Are… are you sure I deserve this?”

She spoke softly, glancing up at Mesheiko with equally gentle eyes. The trinket that now adorned her wrist seemed to hold some greater weight than it might seem. Not only was it a precious family heirloom, but it was presented in such a tender manner and, because of that, seemed to carry a promise. Mesheiko’s promise… to her. And while Midori was growing more comfortable with him every moment and by no means was hesitant about their ever-strengthened relationship, she wanted him to be sure. It was quite a bracelet. Swiftly, Midori cracked one of her familiar, radiant grins, touching her fingertips to her neck.

“I do already have a necklace.”

[atalanta]

Mesheiko was glad at how pleasantly surprised Midori seemed at his gift to her. He was not typically the type of person to bestow gifts upon another at every turn, but Midori was special to him so these were special circumstances. What Mesheiko gave and said usually always meant something; he did not normally give little trinkets of affection. Instead his gifts were deep and meaningful, always packing an emotional blow. Mindoro seemed honored and almost a little embarrassed at his gift, as she had been by his giving her his necklace not too long ago. Before he had left to join the Army once again, Mesheiko had given her the necklace he had received before. She had reacted in a similar manner, and so perhaps that was what sparked the thought giving his mother's precious bracelet. He had given her the necklace as they were about to go their separate ways and embark on a new chapter in their lives, and the same was happening again. They were embarking on a new chapter in their lives once again, but this time not separately, but together. So it was only fitting Mesheiko should give her a gift that tied them together, then.

Mesheiko had to face much within a short amount of time, but he believe he had met it with much courage and dignity. Now, however, when he was being asked to leave Midori, and leave all he had ever felt comfortable with, the thought was rather intimidating. Mesheiko and Midori had often expressed how they were never alone, and indeed in the camp they never were. Now, however, the thought of them having all this time to themselves was somewhat scary, and so Mesheiko felt he should start it out right, no matter how intimidated they both might be. His mother's necklace had been perfect for the moment, despite the spontaneous decision to take it. Cheng had often lended him advice and tips about how to woo a girl, specifically Midori, but Mesheiko disregarded it for the most part, for Midori was not most girls. She was incredibly unique, and so entering a romantic relationship with her would be unknown territory to anyone. Fortunately for Mesheiko, he had come to know the unknown territory that was Midori herself fairly well and so could act accordingly. It was this that led him to their own little adventure, for her blindfolded on the back of Banshee and then giving her such a precious bracelet. Mesheiko had come to know Midori well, and so knew and hoped she would like what he had planned.

Humans naturally were fairly adaptable creatures; such was the way of the wild, for they would not have survived otherwise. Mesheiko had adapted to much, and he knew it wasn't over. He was leaving his adventures as a simple soldier in the Army to truly being a man, his father said, getting a job and working for a living. With Mesheiko's injuries, he found this far more daunting than others perhaps might. But his father assured him, and even joked that soon he would be thinking of settling down with Midori. Perhaps it truly wasn't as far off as his father thought, now.

Even Banshee seemed to sense the tenderness of the moment and so quieted his incredibly loud beak. Midori seemed so uncertain of everything at the moment, and Mesheiko could not blame her, for he was feeling the exact same way. He felt as if he was forced to hide it, however, forced to act strong even when he felt like crumbling under all the pressure he faced from outside and within. The thought of going off on his own, getting a job, perhaps later a family was overwhelming enough without his injuries. In his current state, he could barely hold himself up physically, let alone mentally. The burdens he faced now were always looming on the horizon, and the horizon seemed to be coming closer and closer lately. He wished to banish them from his mind for just a little while, for Midori's sake as well as his own. He couldn't ruin this for her. And so while she still puzzled over his gift to her, Mesheiko leaned forward, summoning all the strength and balance he possessed within him to stand steadily on his own two feet. In a single moment, he had pressed his lips to hers in a kiss, letting the world fall away. Their cares and concerns seemed to melt in that moment as he let his lips mesh and mold with hers. It was simple and sweet, yet unforgettable and powerful. It was unexplainable, and for once, it didn't need to be explained. Even Midori, who he had learned was an inquisitive person by nature, he think would have difficulty questioning this moment. He wrapped both arms around Midori's waist, drawing her closer. The bliss lasted for a few more moments, but they had to part eventually. Mesheiko could stand only for so long. He released his hold of her, and fortunately Banshee was nearby for Mesheiko to stand against. He felt exhausted; even standing was intense for him now.

He smiled. "If that wasn't enough assurance for you, I don't know what more I can do. But of course. As surely as the moon and stars are shining right now," Mesheiko said, gesturing to the sky above, realizing then that the same clouds that had been the canvas for the sun's final display of art for the day now obscured the light of the nightime sky. "Well, you get the point. And you make one as well: you do have a necklace. But now you have a bracelet to match. I never have been a romantic, though," Mesheiko said. In his opinion, that was Cheng's role, who fulfilled it rather well. Mesheiko was just living, and if romance and love had happened to come his way as it had in Midori, then so be it. He would follow the cue, but he could not truly be bold enough to initiate a relationship with just anyone like Cheng. Midori was unique indeed, and Mesheiko appreciated that. "We'd probably better leave, though. Cheng will be getting suspicious soon," Meshieko said. He slipped his good leg into Banshee's stirrup and swung himself over as gently as possibly, though he could feel no pain in his right leg. The doctors had told him to take it easy, and he was trying to do that, but his nature naturally rebelled. Mesheiko extended his hand to help her up, and in a moment, just as before, they were flying. However, both of them could see this time, in more ways than one.

[midori]

It was a quite difficult not to stay at least faintly dazed at another one of Mesheiko’s swift though powerful kisses. It was pleasant of course – sending her heart on a not quite subtle spasm – and she rather contently slipped her arms around his neck for those few moments, soaking in the warmth and the surprisingly enjoyable taste and texture. It was in Midori’s nature to throw herself into things, and perhaps of this reason felt as if the kiss could quite easily last forever. It was just so lovely she nearly wished to drown in it, and would have instinctively initiated such an idea had the kiss not been cut short.

She sighed softly as they parted, though she naturally flashed a radiant smile in his direction. Though, this particular one was a little softer because of the daze their kiss brought about, and also because of the words Mesheiko spoke. Of course the kiss had told her much in concern to Mesheiko’s feelings… but she felt as if she had almost neglected him. Here she was – certainly more likely for being perky and sweet and therefore flirty – and yet it was Mesheiko sweeping her off her feet! He deserved something from her… And while pondering the possibilities, Mesheiko spoke again, and Midori couldn’t help but release a fresh grin.

“Not a romantic?” Midori laughed. “You could have fooled me.”

And with this, Midori soon found herself back on top of Banshee, her arms secured around Mesheiko’s torso, her nose brushing against his temple. Yes, he was right. Cheng was certainly getting suspicious by now, so they probably should head back… But she couldn’t help feeling reluctant. In these settings the last few days, everything had seemed so rushed. Be it their soft pecks or special gifts, everything seemed so restricted due to privacy. Or maybe it was simply Mesheiko’s swift nature. Whatever it was… Midori wanted to change that soon. She was going to have to teach Mesh how to relax.

During their flight, she grinned. She was going to enjoy this assignment.

[atalanta]

Midori seemed pleased to soak in the moment, and so Mesheiko was pleased as well. Her happiness had become one of the most important things to him lately. After all, she had chosen to stay with him through his recovery. Mesheiko had not chosen to be injured, but he had dealt with it. It was Midori, however, he was concerned for. He could not suppress the fear all throughout his recovery, and even now, that she might become frustrated or bored with his slow progress and leave him. Mesheiko had acquired the support of many good people during this trying time in his life, such as Cheng and his father, yet valued Midori's most of all. He recalled one of the nurses, perhaps flirting with him at the time, saying that a woman's touch was the best healing of all. Perhaps the nurse was right; it was she who had had the true experience in healing patients, not him. However, the nurses' touch could not compare with that of Midori's.

He felt goose bumps rise in his skin as Midori's arms wrapped securely around his waist and her face brushed lightly against his own. Now Mesheiko understood somewhat why Cheng loved women so, although Mesheiko thought he would not feel the same way about all this if it was not Midori. What if wasn't? What if Midori had never returned after her own adventure to the infirmary, only to find Mesheiko? Mesheiko pondered the possibilities. It would certainly be strange. Perhaps he would be romancing some other girl, though it could not compare to Midori. He was truly not a romantic, and he had pushed himself the past few days to become one for Midori, because he loved her. Would he love another girl the same way? He could not imagine so. In fact, if he had not ever run into Midori again in his life Mesheiko would suspect that he would have been alone, not miserable perhaps, but not truly completed either.

And so these were the thoughts that flew through his mind as the wind and their surroundings flew by them seated upon Banshee's back. However, they soon faded into nothing because they all led back to the same thing: Midori. So his thoughts slipped away, only to be filled by a heightened awareness of all around him, especially Midori's touch, and a certain appreciation for her as well as Banshee, who carried them so often from place to place. However, this sense of peace and appreciation was soon interrupted by the sounds of the camp, though they were much dimmed by the dawn of darkness and nightfall. Mesheiko observed it all with intensity, for he would miss this life greatly, even if it had been rather harsh to him. His time outside of the infirmary had been greatest, tiring but never boring, all the time only wishing for Midori. Perhaps fate, knowing what was about to happen to him anyway, sent Midori as a kind of compensation for how badly he had been injured and how badly he had been scarred, both physically and emotionally. Mesheiko could barely look at his injured leg anymore, for although most of the damage had been done with the blow to his ankle, which had been the paralyzing blow, he had been burnt and so in some spots the skin was nearly black, in other simply reddened, but in all the hair had been completely singed off. Though he was improving, it still was not a pleasant sight to see. Still, he was almost thankful for it, for Midori was the greatest compensation he could ever ask for.

They were deep into the camp right now, having reached more common areas like the infirmary and kitchens, and drilling areas, the places where the men all grouped together, and Mesheiko guided Banshee to the right to enter the range of tents and cabins for the men. The tent he shared with Cheng, Hung Yong and Kun Tu was set rather far back, so they passed many soldiers sitting around fires, funnily enough the very thing they were fighting against, and sitting outside the tents in other places. Some waved to him, a few called out, and some simply grinned. Though it was somewhat rough, Mesheiko would miss these fellow men. He didn't know he would possibly say good-bye to them all in just a few days. However, Cheng seemed to be waiting to show him how to do just that, for the moment Mesheiko dismounted and offered to help Midori down from Banshee also with a grin, Cheng tackled Mesheiko with a powerful but surprisingly steady embrace. Hung Yong and Kun Tu, grouped with a few other men by a nearby fire, seemed amused by the sight and both wandered over for one reason or another.

Hung Yong joined the two younger men, and Kun Tu simply rolled his eyes but to the surprise of all joined the group in embrace. It just then seemed to hit Mesheiko that of all the people he would hate having to leave most, it was these three right here. Cheng had been like a brother to him, Hung Yong a father, and it was uncertain where Kun Tu stood in their family but played an important role nonetheless. Cheng's arm reached out from within the hug and pulled Midori into it. All Mesheiko was thinking was that these were all the people he truly valued most, and he was leaving three of them. The sight was almost comical, yet touching. "Are you leaving tomorrow?" said Cheng, almost a little embarrassed as he broke the circle of embracing to have started. Mesheiko did not know how to answer, for he certainly could leave tomorrow; physically, he was ready and packed. He could pack everything he needed onto Banshee within a matter of half an hour and leave early in the morning and get a headstart on traveling. Yet, he couldn't. He couldn't possibly leave all these people so soon. A few days was really all he truly needed to say his good-byes to all, yet he never wished to leave. A great bond had formed, and it was one he couldn't bear to break.

[midori]

Midori happily yielded to the group’s warm embrace, flashing a radiant grin all the while. She was incredibly glad to have these people, these friends, near her, especially Mesheiko. It was reassuring to know that even within the ranks of these soldiers – men who endured so much, who were forced to face the harsh brutality and reality of war – shared fun and touching moments such as this. Midori squeezed them all tight. She wished many more pleasant memories for them after she had left. Speaking of leaving…

As soon as Cheng had asked his question, Midori became instantly curious about it as well. She took a step back out of the embrace to address Mesheiko with curious eyes. Were they leaving already? Though Mesheiko had been confined to the infirmary for so long… the time suddenly seemed so short. Soon she would leave Cheng behind? All these people? It was almost sad, and yet, it was exciting too. To be with Mesheiko in a more lighthearted atmosphere, where it was simply them together, laughing easily like old times, embracing warmly in a new way… Yes. That was a very appealing thought indeed. Though, Midori was a little uncertain about the course of action Mesheiko had chosen to take. Uncertain as well curious because of this, Midori then proceeded to ask her own question.

“Have you… finalized what you’re going to do, Mesheiko?” She asked in a soft voice while glancing up at Mesheiko with tender green eyes, as to say she was with him in whatever he had decided to do. Because she was.

[atalanta]

All these people's focus seemed to be solely on him. Ever since his injury, though it was nice to have care and company, all people seemed to pay far much more attention to him. Although to some this would be quite the blessing, such as Cheng, but for Mesheiko it was in all reality more of a course. Mesheiko was not the type to really enjoy the spotlight, instead shy away from it. He preferred to stay in a different kind of light, the kind where he could simply bask in it with someone such as Midori. The fame which had been showered on him, though somewhat unasked for, had been quite the hindrance to his blossoming relationship with Midori. Although, it had been quite a blessing for Cheng, however. He got to have some of the fame without any of the pain. That didn't sound like a bad deal at all, and Mesheiko was almost envious of his friend at times.

Cheng's question dredged up up some bitter emotions for Mesheiko, emotions which he wished to bury again. No one here needed to truly see his doubts, his insecurities about what was to come, although Midori had gotten a fairly high dose of it. Mesheiko was determined, now, however, to not bother the others with it anymore. He was no longer frustrated and injured cripple in the infirmary, but now rather a young man on the verge of making his way in the world with considerably high obstacles in front of him. Who would hire Mesheiko in his condition? The Army had offered to let him stay and do more menial work instead of soldiering, such as cooking and cleaning. Though these tasks were incredibly important and essential to the functioning of such a large camp, Mesheiko would get incredibly restless staying here, watching others go into battle and take his place. It would be more of a setback than a solution.

Yet, Mesheiko was afraid to do anything more. Here, he was known and understood, to some degree. The world was a foreign and cruel place, and unforgiving of a crippled young man who was trying to fight against it. He looked into Midori's eyes, tender and full of caring, and he almost had to force himself to look away. He could not force his burdens onto her. Where was he supposed to find work in his condition? And how was he supposed to work at all? Physical jobs would be almost out of the question. And so deep within, Mesheiko couldn't leave right now, right away. Cheng too seemed tortured by the fact that his best friend could very well leave tomorrow, with no good-byes. Cheng and he had after all discussed working together, after Cheng's service was up. Employers were far more likely to hire two men, one able bodied, the other injured, if the able bodied refused to leave the injured. Cheng also needed help on his farm at home, and Mesheiko could certainly be useful, if not for manual labor. Midori too had talked of working with them, but nothing had been set in stone, so it was no wonder she had asked of his final decision.

"We won't leave for a few days, Cheng, not until I've said my good-byes and set everything in order," Mesheiko said. Good-byes alone could take a week, and then there was the matter of securing his final paycheck to take with him on the road. Mesheiko's father had intended to go with them, insisting he too should be with Mesheiko. It seemed everyone in the camp wished to travel with him. "More or less," Mesheiko responded to Midori, avoiding her eyes because he knew he would see a downfall from their hopeful state. He could not cause her pain, yet he did not have an answer for her. Mesheiko wasn't quite sure of what he was doing. Midori and Cheng, after all, were the ones who wished to simply let things fall into pace without a plan. But now it fell on Mesheiko to have a plan, for it was indeed his decision. So little and so much could be impacted by him, and in all reality it was a little intimidating.

[midori]

As Mesheiko spoke, Midori did not feel any hurt or despair – only curiosity. She tilted her head at him in a slightly quizzical way, her eyes bright and attentive with a mix of concern and interest. He had not really given her an answer, which only made her deeply interested about what he was truly considering. Did he have an idea, but not want to hurt her feelings? No, surely Mesheiko would tell her. Perhaps he still was still unsure… Yes – that was quite understandable and probably the reason behind his desire to stay behind a few more days.

This only made Midori feel sympathetic towards Mesheiko once more; he was under so much pressure, and she wasn’t helping his case any. He would make a final decision when he was ready, and she would try her best to go along with it. No matter what happened, Midori was sure there would be a bright side; after they left, life would just begin another grand adventure! And to think the grand journey filled with new people, forest fires, and dirty inns was coming to a close… But, no, it wasn’t sad – only exciting. For now she and Mesheiko began a much more thrilling adventure…

Though Midori was unsure why Mesheiko avoided his gaze, she only wanted to be a comfort to him. So soon Midori found herself naturally slipping her hand into his own and gracing it with a gentle, reassuring squeeze, as if to say again that she was with him. However, with Mesheiko’s fingers nicely intertwined with her own, Midori couldn’t help but grin. She could so easily get used to the two of them alone… But. Until then, there were other men watching; there was Cheng.

She graced Cheng then with her most innocent smile.

“Yes, don’t worry, Cheng. I’ll try not to keep him all to myself these last few days."

[atalanta]

Midori was such a beacon of light- she seemed to be everything good, light, and bright. There was such a stark contrast between their two personalities. Mesheiko was drowning in his own despair and bitterness, yet Midori was trying to throw him a life ring, but to no avail. In fact, he was often baffled by how upbeat she could remain all the time. He was with her for most of the day, and yet nothing broke through her protective shell. Yet, perhaps it wasn't a shell, an act as Mesheiko put on. He knew deep within himself that she truly enjoyed being with him, in this place that suddenly seemed to take a certain degree of awfulness. He became acutely aware of the sounds and smells all around him- agonizing cries of pain and the bittersweet stench of wood burning. Mesheiko was overcome with a sudden feeling to leave, to run as far away from here as he could- which could be somewhat difficult in his crippled state. Toward what he wished to run he did not know- except perhaps freedom.

He fought to liberate his country the Earth Kingdom from the heavy grip the Fire Nation was beginning to take at his own expense. He had served his duty. No matter the consequences of leaving, he knew he could not stay forever, even if he felt safer. After all, this was easily one of the most dangerous places in the world. Soldiering was no stroll in the park, but rather a brutal toiling of harsh drills until one could use what he learned on the battlefield- and then often lost. It was a cruel lifestyle, he knew, yet Mesheiko was strangely attracted to it. He thought he had fit here, but that was not the case. The spirits of fate seemed to have a different lifestyle for him in mind, though Mesheiko knew not what it was. And so, if they had cast him out of that which he had loved so dearly, there must be something greater ahead of him. And in a moment, Mesheiko understood Midori's way of thinking, her positive attitude that seemed to extend for eternity.

Cheng shrugged with an aura of mock nonchalance. "Keep him to yourself. You two are going to have to get used to being around just each other," Cheng joked. Mesheiko's father appeared from inside the tent, apparently disturbed. He had been sharing a tent with the three soldiers until Mesheiko left, and then he would travel with Midori and Mesheiko. "Not all alone, mind you, Cheng. They're going to be chaperoned," his father warned mockingly. Cheng simply laughed. "Wow, Mesheiko, good luck to you. You'll miss us before you know it," Cheng said. Mesheiko simply rolled his eyes. "Of course I will, Cheng," Mesheiko replied. Of course he would miss them, but he doubted he would get too tired of Midori and his father. Both were good people, pleasant enough, and he hadn't recently spent much time personally with either recently. There would be much to do in the way of recreation until he could find a job, Mesheiko was sure. Midori always had an idea of something to do, an admirable trait.

Cheng raised an eyebrow at the couple's physical contact. Mesheiko and Midori were both very reserved and deserved the privilege of some physical contact. He could not even begin to count the times Cheng had been touching some girl around Mesheiko, and far more passionately than Midori and Mesheiko probably were on their own. He was certainly a ladies' man, but he would perhaps have to rely a little more on himself to seek out girls after this. After all, with Mesheiko and his fame gone from the camp, the only thing left would be the reputation of he and Mesheiko's friendship. Ah well, it mattered none. Cheng had done well enough long before Mesheiko came. Mesheiko slipped his hands from Midori's subtly, instead placing it on Banshee's back. "I'd better take you back to the nurses before they get too excited," Mesheiko said, for the nurses' reputation for gossip received gossip of its own, so legendary was its fame. Most men tried to avoid this circle, yet Cheng entered it quite frequently and rather enjoyed it. Fortunately for Mesheiko, Cheng took some of the spotlight off of him. Mesheiko knew not if his reluctant fame had spread outside of the camp, and he hoped not, for he did not wish to have to explain his injuries. They were now an integral part of him, but one he also wished to forget.

[midori]

“Hm, I suppose,” Midori murmured, though she felt quite reluctant to leave the cozy and warm atmosphere that radiated from her pleasant group of friends. It showed in the slight haziness in her usually bright eyes, the slight faltering of her smile (though neither lasted more than a second or two). Not to say she didn’t enjoy the nurses’ company or anything – it was nice to have girl talk every once in awhile, and they were quite entertaining in their own way. It was simply that the company and wholeness she felt with her soldier friends, Mesheiko’s father, and Mesheiko was easily preferable and would very quickly vanish. And it might have been a bit of childhood-inspired rebellion… but she didn’t like having a curfew either.

Though, Midori went along with it tonight, for she had received much more than she had ever expected to have. She shrugged, her smile fresh, and turned toward Mesheiko’s father and Cheng, gracing them with a sweet and polite bow.

“Good evening, gentlemen,” Midori bid them, glancing up with a smile that hinted to some inner laughter. “It’s been a pleasure speaking with you today.”

She then turned to Mesheiko’s father with an amused glint apparent in her eyes.

“Don’t worry, sir. I won’t keep him long.”

She then grinned, a spontaneous and sweet though teasingly mischievous grin, as if to joke that she would, in fact, keep him as long as she wanted. And very swiftly then, she bounced over close to Banshee, graced his neck with a few affectionate strokes, and then exuberantly hopped on top of the ostrich horse and sat there in a rather poise, regal way before glancing down at Mesheiko with an eyebrow raise that clearly stated: “Well? Aren’t you coming?”

[atalanta]

Midori was always so eager, so peppy, that at times Mesheiko failed to comprehend her. He, who's store of energy had been so depleted, tired easily. He was almost envious of those such as Midori and Cheng, who were so bubbly and full of life, though each had their take on it. Midori had been by his side, helping others her entire life, it seemed. Cheng was more of a party boy- it was amazing he could controll himself as a soldier. But of course, there was more than enough fun to be had in the Army, and Cheng found that rather quickly. Neither really understood each other, either; at this moment in time, he wished he could take a lesson from both of them, or at least have that go away. Such an upbeat cheer could grate on his nerves, sometimes, though he knew they meant the best. It was impossible to even begin to compare to their positive attitude. Yet, there seemed to be no reason for such optimism, just an empty smile.

Perhaps they had more reason to be glad than they did. Mesheiko's life was in turmoil from the inside out- he was with all the people he loved, with a life he was supposed to love, yet all he wanted to do was get away. Such confusion had been forced upon him, it was almost like a disease itself. Mesheiko had not been infected during his time in the infirmary, fortunately, for his wounds had been troublesome enough alone. Yet, perhaps it would have been better for his wounds to become infected, for that would have given him time, stalled what seemed to be a blank future before him that had no hopes of being filled. And now he was cursed with an infection of his mind, with no immediate cure. The people around him tried to bring him out of this slump, this depression caused by his internal and external wounds, but perhaps that only made it worse, for Mesheiko now felt like he was living a lie, putting on a happy face, a mask to please others so they were no more distressed than he was. That was what the Army was about, after all, making sacrificies for a greater good. That's what Mesheiko had done his entire life, it seemed.

He was used to it, however. His wounds, his paralyzation was just another step in that direction. Perhaps it was not as severe as he thought. Just another blow dealt to him- and he had overcome it. Yet the trauma he was suffering mentally had long since trumped the trauma his body had suffered. For the body always had a natural way of healing itself, but the mind did not. The mind would not always repair the damage that had been done, the blow that had been dealt. And Mesheiko knew he could not do this on his own, yet he was reluctant to cry out for help for the people around him that he knew and loved most understood nothing about this bittersweet condition of his. He had tried to be a good lover to Midori, and she seemed very pleased with the gift of the bracelet, but he could not quell the restless feeling inside him that told him otherwise. He watched Midori bounce from his side to Banshee's back- she was almost floating. She was so happy- he should be too. What was wrong with him?

Cheng and his father grinned and then disappeared back inside the tent, while Hung Yong and Kun Tu returned to their fireside chat. "Yes, yes, I'm coming," Mesheiko said pleasantly, but perhaps it was not genuine. He was very tired from the day, physically as well as mentally. His patience ran short, although he had a very long span of patience. Cheng often said he wished he could be that patient, so he could stay with one girl for more than one week. He liked a great many of them genuinely, Cheng had confessed, but he had such a restless personality and even more so of a reputation that either he or the girl left after a short period of time. Yet perhaps that was a better lifestyle, Mesheiko thought, for then no one truly got hurt. And now, more than ever, he was afraid of hurting Midori because of the deep pain inside himself. He swung himself onto Banshee's back, and he trotted quickly to the nurse's tent. It was not far- perhaps only a five minute ride or so, but Mesheiko spent it in silence. The romantic aura which they had both enjoyed just a bit earlier had all but dissipated, leaving Mesheiko with a somewhat empty feeling inside.

"Sleep well," Mesheiko said once they reached the complex of solid buildings in which the nurses stayed. He wished he could have said more, something to reassure her that all was fine and dandy, but that was not the case. Pain and simple tiredness chipped quickly away at the mask he had left behind for a moment- he left it when he gave the bracelet to her. They had both been real to each other then. Then they had returned, and he seemed to pick it up again, which could very well be his own ruin.

[midori]

“Okay,” Midori said simply, but her voice lacked the amount of carefree peppiness that had consumed her very being only moments before; instead it was more thoughtful, slow and savory, as if she was listening to hear how her voice sounded in this new atmosphere – an atmosphere which had seemed to flip over and turn a complete three hundred and sixty degrees.

That was something different about Mesheiko; the mental trips he took were constantly fluctuating it seemed – up and down, constantly over hills and mountains, rarely peaceful valleys or soothing rivers. Which did indeed make things interesting… but Midori was still unaccustomed and uncomfortable with his more sour turns, for she was uncertain how to help him take up strength. Just moments ago everything seemed to be flowing perfectly, and she had thought Mesheiko was enjoying himself. But. Was he really? Did she not make him happy in the way that he seemed to make her, with his surprises and sweet touches? Was it all just an act? No, it didn’t seem to fit right, for Midori knew Mesheiko did care for her, but nevertheless she knew Mesheiko was unhappy. There was something metallic and routine in his voice now, as if he was suddenly very tired or very depressed, exasperated with life in general.

For these few moments of thought, she didn’t move, even though she had replied to his question. Instead she simply wrapped her slender arms around Mesheiko’s middle more tightly and gave him an affectionate squeeze, resting her chin against his shoulder and her cheek against his temple.

“You sleep well too,” Midori murmured softly, nuzzling her cheek a little against his own. Then she turned her head slightly, planting a soft peck on his cheek, a smile naturally curling into her lips during the process. “Nothing but sweet dreams tonight.”

Swiftly then she slipped off from Banshee’s back, landing on the ground with a soft thud. She took a moment then to glance back up at Mesheiko, a soft smile present on her lips as she thought of the pleasant events of their evening.

“Thank you,” Midori added softly, smiling dreamily, before turning and walking off toward the building, praying that he would feel better and that she would do more to help him in the morning and later on…

[atalanta]

Midori was so sweet, such a wonderful young woman that Mesheiko ashamed to be in her presence with his own negativity. What right did he have to her company? She would likely be far better off without him, better off with another man who have a positive nature to match her own, instead of having their two personalities constantly clashing. Indeed, as people they meshed together very well; they balanced each other. Yet, was that enough to truly hold a relationship together? Mesheiko knew nothing of relationships, only how he felt about Midori. His feelings for her ran deep, but so did his doubts and the turmoil within him. Perhaps now was not a good time to pursue romance with her; perhaps it would be better to release her, like releasing a small fish one caught while fishing. The big fish needed to be taken out to keep balance, and the small fish needed to be thrown back so they could grow. Perhaps he and Midori were like fish, Mesheiko already caught with no chance of being thrown back, but Midori, she still had a chance and he did not want to hinder her future for her. She had told Mesheiko her profession; she carried letters. That was a dangerous job, especially for a woman, to undertake on her own. So, Mesheiko could escort her. Yes, that could be his job.

But he would not get paid for that; the only payment he would receive for that would be the chance to be in Midori's company, but surely she tired of his negative attitude all the time. Mesheiko simply could not exude good cheer as she could; his mind was somewhat limited in the respect that he could only focus on the blow that had been dealt to him. He knew he needed to focus on something else, yet he could not do so on his own. And yet, he could not except the help of others, either, for he did not want to burden him with the curse he was weighted with. "Thank you," Mesheiko said quietly, under his breath. Her touches were so valuable to he, but he did not show it, for Mesheiko felt as if he could show nothing. He could not thank her enough for all she had done for him in this difficult time of his, yet all he could seem to do was hurt her further with the pain he felt within.

Mesheiko felt a little guilty for what he had done to Midori, but there was nothing that could be done now. He nudged Banshee a little with his heels to spur the ostrich-horse back towards his tent; no, he had to put Banshee away for the night first. The last thing he needed was Banshee's screaming screeches to awake him in the morning. The bird had an incredible lung capacity, Mesheiko had to give him that. And so Mesheiko encouraged Banshee to the stables, for other ostrich-horses and livestock did not mind Banshee's screeches. In fact, Mesheiko was told by stable-hand that Banshee did not even screech in the stables. Perhaps it was the fact that he knew screeching would do him no good among such a multitude of animals; he would get no special treatment, but Banshee knew he could get more out of Mesheiko than a complete stranger. Indeed that was true, although Mesheiko, awoken nearly at dawn anyway, wished he could reverse it when Banshee did wake him up earlier than expected.

But, wait; he could not put Banshee away for the night, for then he would have no way of returning. Mesheiko groaned inwardly, for his injuries were so limiting. There would be no way he could go the distance walking back to his tent without seriously injuring himself further. Mesheiko had known this, he simply felt a responsibility to put Banshee away as he always had. But he knew this would never be the case again, from the moment he had discovered he was paralyzed. So Mesheiko encouraged Banshee nearly to a gallop so he could get back to the tent quickly. Cheng was waiting patiently outside the tent, looking up at the stars. Cheng, though he often seemed a shallow chaser of women, could indeed be very deep. And they sacrificed so much for the Earth Kingdom, did they not deserve to have a little enjoyment in their lives?

"Mesheiko, where's the fire?" Cheng mocked, jerking his head about as if searching for a fire. Seeing smoke or a fire outside the camp was very important, for it could mean signs of the Fire Nation, and that was never taken lightly. "Haha, Cheng, very funny," said Mesheiko, "can you take Banshee back to the stables?" Mesheiko asked, a little ashamed to ask Cheng for this favor as he always did. True, Cheng was used to it, but normally Cheng would simply take Banshee from Mesheiko after they returned to the tents at the end of the day. "Yeah, no problem, I need to take Zeki back anyway," said Cheng, gesturing around to the back of the tent where his own ostrich-horse was tied up. Both young men were very attached to the animals.

And so Cheng mounted Zeki, holding Banshee on a rope behind him. On some occasions Banshee would be insulted by this lack of attention to him, but he was quite used to Cheng and Zeki by now. Mesheiko groaned inwardly, knowing he would soon have to deal with Banshee's screeches constantly once again, when they left the camp. It tempted him to stay just a bit longer, but he knew he could not. He looked up for just a moment at the stars, his hand balancing him against one of the poles of the tent. Mesheiko often wondered what the fates had in store for him. As he re-entered the tent as he had just a few hours ago to take his precious mother's bracelet and give it to Midori, he wondered this once again.

-----End thread------