The Kite Festival <Lun Yang, Fire Nation>

[jericho]

Just as Jericho was about to get the answer she had so desperately craved an older, much older, woman interrupted her moment. The young woman wanted to scream and bite back at the older woman, telling her that it would be beautiful day if she hadn't come along. But it was all just quick anger- Jericho felt no real malice toward the older woman, she was just frustrated that her moment of glory had been cut short. Patience, after all, was not one of the young noble woman's strong suits. Though she respected her mother enough to know it would be horribly embarrassing for her mother if her daughter were to insult an elderly woman in such a way. So Jericho took a deep breathe and swallowed her anger, knowing she'd get her answer soon enough.

"The Fire Lord himself couldn't have planned a more perfect day for the Kite Festival to fall upon." Ai spoke in her soothing voice, a warm smile on her lips as she spoke to the older woman. "And thank you for your kind words." Jericho's mother continued, bowing her head slightly by way of a nod to show both respect for the elderly woman and her gratefulness toward the compliment. "Both my daughter and I are appreciative. Isn't that right, Jericho?"

A smile dripping with false pleasantries slipped onto Jericho's lips. She really hadn't meant to look so displeasing, it really was nice to hear a compliment, but she wasn't called the Xanin Spit Fire for nothing and she couldn't help her anger from slipping through. "Yes. Very Appreciative."

Ai ignored the bite in her daughter's tone, and hoped the older woman would do the same. "You look quite lovely yourself." Ai returned the compliment tactfully. "I am Ai of the Xanin house, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Miss...?"

[xin]

Xin turned her head toward the doctor, who had now made his presence know, a little more abruptly than she intended her hand pulled away from the mans as they found her lap delicately folding over one another. Now sitting up and a little flustered she felt like a child who's parents walked in them before a malicious deed was about to be done, careful and skeptical, like everyone was watching her to any flaws or falsehoods. One mistake and she'd slip and be subjected to something much worse than the feeling of being spied upon

" I was dizzy" She offered trying to keep up with his questions which seemed to be coming at her rapid fire, usually she was in a much sharper state of mind. " A little pain in my temples mostly, my vision is clearing up..." Her eyes followed his finger as he spoke, looking up at him once he was finished. The last question, she must look young to him, well she was, admittedly. It crossed her mind to tell him they couldn't be reached, instead she skipped it to make things easier, no explanation necessary, usually noble children don't see their parents much anyway. " My name is Xin... anyone from the House of Che' Shi should be willing to pick me up"

[Teiú]

Doctor Praagi entered the room carrying two bowls of hot food. Before turning his attention to the girl he left one of the meals on Teiú’s hand. Teiú couldn’t remember the last time he had a nice hot meal. Even before leaving his village, the fight between captain Hara and the army against Kangiro and the other rebels exploded before dinner. The rice and meat seemed to be like the most tasteful of his mom’s food. But still, the fact that he had been spotted by soldiers wasn’t something to be put on second thought.

The doctor did just finish his questions on the young lady when Teiú took his time.

“I’m happy to know that… Xin, isn’t it?” Teiú gave a small smile towards Xin”…is going to be fine. I really appreciate your kindness doctor, my thigh seems to be better. And I really appreciate this meal you offer me, I'm a bit of hungry right now. But I must go after some place to get some rest. I’m in need of it and, if I want to get something on the holiday, I need to start searching now.”

With pain in his heart Teiú left the steaming bowl of food in the desk near the wall. “Thanks again doctor, bye Xin.” And, after saying these words, Teiú headed to the door.

[xin]

Awkwardly Xin looked up at the man, he seemed rather ragged and tired, also very sad. She didn't know what she could do for him, after all he did help her orient herself, it was kind of him, perhaps she could allow him a room at her home until he got whatever he can to Lun Yang for finished. Her heart went out to him and she looked back to the doctor once before calling out to the boy. " You could stay at my house for a while..." Her family home was rather quiet recently, no brothers running about, no company, it was dull and put her in a sour state of mind, perhaps she should be more open. Her parents wouldn't approve but honestly, they weren't even in the fire nation.

She offered him a smile smile trying to be as honest as possible, the doctor seemed eager to finish up and get going, there was a festival going outside after all. She supposed even a doctor didn't want to be dis included from the activities. Xin herself was in no mood for it, especially not with her new gash on her head, it might be best to take it easy for a while.

[zhen]

"You can call me Zhen. The pleasure is mine." Rosy lips curling into a charming grin glowing with a gentle affability, the firebender's tawny eyes gazed at the two noblewomen. From what the elderly woman could detect, the younger of the two brimmed with an air of impatience, perhaps to the point of annoyance at the old woman. Zhen knew she should leave them be. With the same grin but nary a word, she walked away from the pavilion to let the women tend to their business.

Instead, she walked around the park on the stone pathways, taking in the delight of the sunlight and fresh air. Ah, so much to be appreciated, deserving of Zhen's gratitude. Even gazing to the sky, the elderly woman offered a silent prayer to the spirits. Time was drawing near for those gentle breezes to guide the kites of each house in competition. Certainly an exciting event and the reason why she was in the capital, but the moment of blissful peace would be thoroughly enjoyed for now.

[Teiú]

“You could stay at my house for a while…”

Teiú turned around to face the girl. The implications of the phrase, however, were just perceived some moments before. “Stay in her house? This would solve all my problems at once.” Teiú considered. “But wait, what am I thinking? Staying with this girl could put her in serious danger. What if Fire Nation catches me with this girl? Till she could explain herself much could happen… But oh, my situation is so complicated right now. I’m in immediate need of a food and rest… And some bath too, I’m starting smelling. But when I think the hardships this girl could take for offering me shelter. But I’m in desperate neediness. Oww, What should I do?” Teiú showed a confused expression… an expression that showed exactly how he was feeling. If he was going to fulfill his mission – be in contact with the Rebellion sect – that was a perfect opportunity. But going with Xin could endanger her and her family and Teiú would never want that for a family he didn’t knew at all.

But from a sudden and last consideration Teiú took his decision. “No, no more families will suffer the way mine suffered. Or the way many other families suffered so much more than mine. Fire Nation dictators must fall and the world needs to know there are good people in this country. While accepting shelter from this girl I will protect her with my life if so it needs to be, but I must keep on fighting to help end this last longing war… and finding the Rebellion will teach me how to help on my mission.”

Teiú couldn’t count how many seconds he stood frozen in his place. But from his deep thought a new Teiú was born. Perhaps not a new Teiú, but a Teiú that had just reinforced his life’s philosophy. His face was reflecting his decision. The deserter received back total calmness and control. His eyes locked on the young lady’s eyes and in a calm and steady voice the deserter spoke.

“Are you sure of that milady? Just as so you know my name is Tenma and if you will still hold your invite I would accept without thinking twice.” Teiú turned his face to Sekar “Would you agree if I escort Xin home doctor or would you prefer someone from her family to come and get her?” At this point Teiú’s voice came back to its naturally friendly sound.

[set]

A pair of dull-amber eyes sparkled, amazed at the numbers of people crowding around the streets. The tiny girl clung onto her father's arm with her own, letting her small hand cradle in the clutch of his. On the other end, her fingers hooked tightly onto her older brother's hand to prevent losing him to the crowd, or just to lessen her fear of losing him and having to find him. Their mother walked in front of them, holding their baby brother in her arms.

The last time Setsuko and her family actually took the time, or even had the time to bother coming to festivals such as this one, was when both of the siblings were very, very young and before even the baby was born. Their mother was too busy taking care of Shouta, Setsuko and Shichiro were off doing chores to keep their home in one piece while their father was always out fishing to earn money and keep his family in a home and put food on the table.

"Set, are you planning to cut off my circulation?" Shichiro asked in an irritated tone.
"What circulation?" Setsuko asked, her eyes wide with curiousity.
Shichiro shook his head. "It's the same thing as blood flow, Set. Haven't you been taught anything about the human body?"
"Nope!" Setsuko squeaked. "Where'd you learn that stuff, Shichiro?"
"Being at the harbor, you learn a lot, Setsuko," Shichiro claimed proudly. "I wish you didn't have to stay home all day long, so I wouldn't have to tell you everything you didn't know."
"I don't stay home all day!" Setsuko argued. "Mom lets me go outside! I even get to go around the market to go shopping sometimes!"
"Pfft, whatever," Shichiro said, blowing off her response. Setsuko made a sour face at her brother, then turned away with a pout. Seeing the sights fill her view again made her face relax, and once again her eyes brightened.

[zhen]

White strands billowed in soft breezes, the strength of which would carry the kites beautifully without tearing them asunder. Yes, as Ai of the house of Xanin has said before to Zhen, the day could not have been finer for kite-flying. Her short walk about the park lead the firebender back to the more populated area, where she decided she would spend time with her family before the highlighted events. Though not tired physically, she felt a sense of obligation toward her progeny in Lun Yang, who were one of the reasons to her visit. Thus, she returned to her grandchild's apartment, where midday tea and her family members were waiting.

When the flying of kites would begin, Zhen would likely stay in the background, not drawing any undue attention to herself. But at that point, she would just stay in the apartment of her grandson and his wife, as well as their child. Comfortably and peacefully seated at a low table of lacquered pine wood, Zhen wore a smile as her wizened lips sipped a fragrant cup of lavender tea.

~Zhen has left this thread~

[sekar]

Sekar was listening to the exchanged by Tenma and Xin, He was lifted an eyebrow as Tenma refused his food. As he urned to leave Xin asked if Tenma could stay at her place.

That was unsual, most noble dare not sully their hands with peasents. Still it was nice to see charity among them. Tenma seemed shocked as well still he turned to the Raven Healer and asked

“Would you agree if I escort Xin home doctor or would you prefer someone from her family to come and get her?”

Sekar shrugged his shoulders as he took the food. He really didn't care what he did, honestly.

"I don't see why not, I'm sure you can escort miss Xin safely, besides it saves me more work for me to do. Sekar walked over and fetched a small paper sack with note written on it. He handed it to miss Xin.

"This will help with trama, heavey infusion of mint, feverfew and meadowsweet. It's pain killer and relaxiant. It wil help with any headach or nausa that might come along. Steep in a tea, and take once a day. As for you Tenma, get a good bath and a hot meal. And eating more fish...protien will do wonders."

With that Sekar walked away, he stopped and added. "By the way, Miss Xin, I will bill your parents later, don't worry I'm pretty cheap, Tenma, I will charge you later.." And with that said, Sekar left...mostly likely to take "his break"

[xin]

Xin smiled and nodded assuring Tenma, assuring him she would have no problem holding up her offer. Carefully she slid off the bed with her feet over the side touching the floor easily. Her hands were set delicately on her thighs with her sleeves nearly covering her knuckles.

Her eyes fluttered up to the doctor quizzically, this would be his call after all. It seemed he didn't have any real complaints about her leaving. The poor man more than likely wanted some time to herself. Honestly she couldn't blame him. Being a doctor had to be such a tiering job.

She was handed a satchel made of paper of paper and silently she listened her lips parting only a breath as he skimmed over the instructions. Nothing too odd, she had a few of these herbs in her garden though they weren't dried, this would be something she'd need to remember, of course she could always visit the apothicary should she need more of it. Blushing lightly she nodded to the man slipping the bag into her sleeve carefully, there is would stay untill she had the chance to follow the instructions.

The temporary supply would be provided by the doctors office should be enough to keep her through until she was feeling well. She'd follow the instructions, she was never one to be stubborn or act foolishly without reason.

Why wouldn't she want to feel better? that'd just be endangering herself. Getting to her feet the young woman bowed to the doctor slowly getting back up, the new height making her head spin slightly. That should pass with time, he said it would, there was no reason not to trust him.

Xin blinked at the doctor went to leave, once more, it was to be expected. She blanched slightly as he mentioned billing her parents, it just reminded her that they weren't home, it wasn't as if they didn't leave her enough cash to get by. It was managed by their chief house keeper, she'd handle things so expenses weren't something she was worried about at all. It was more her anxiety over the absence of her family. " Thank you Sir Praagi."

Now with the doctor gone the girl looked over to Tenma with a smile, she shrugged her shoulders lightly, well that was it for staying here. " Well I guess that would be our cue to leave then..."

[jericho]

"No." The word was so simple it seemed to flutter off Ai Xanin's lips like a feather caught in the breeze. There was no scorn behind the phrase, no malice or anger. In fact, the word wasn't spoken with any inflection that hinted at any severe emotion. It was trivialized by the same airy calm Ai used in her day to day speech. She had said it the moment the older woman- who the two now knew to be Zhen- was out of ear shot.
The young woman gaped. Her mouth opening and closing several times in disbelief, like a fish gasping for air. She tried to think of some protest, a way to plea her case to her mother. But the usually quick thoughts in her head had slowed to a crawl due to her mother's answer. Out of the corner of her eye, she say the silent Madame Masaki smirk victoriously. "Mother, I honestly don't see why I can't." was all Jericho could pick out of her halted thoughts.

"I can." Ai continued to use the use the same calm, eloquence that always carried in her voice. The older woman began walking through the streets, gliding through the crowd as if it were liquid and she was merely floating through it; while Madame Masaki trotted along side, her kimono and the flesh beneath moving in great strides. Jericho, on the other hand, had to fight and squeeze to stay by her mother's side. Though the two looked so similar there was the clear difference. Jericho carried the a fraction of the grace as Ai, and used it sparingly. "For starters you were very rude to that charming older woman, Zhen." Jericho mentally cursed her tongue for carrying such a bite to it. "Next it is tradition that the man of a household flies a family's kite and seeing as your father isn't here-"

Jericho cut her mother art, deciding to deal with the consequences of such an ill act later. "I can fly a kite as well as any man!" She protested valiantly, stating nothing but the truth. "Twice as well then some! It's not that hard." Her protest turned to a plea with the final line. It was so close to begging it pained Jericho to speak it, the proud Xanin Spit Fire never begged.
"It is not about that Jericho." Ai's voice had taken on the smallest of bites- sharpened yet still clean cut. "I know you can fly a kite well, I've seen you do it for fun on our trips to the beach and at past kite festivals for fun. But it is not about how good you are, the Kite Festival is about tradition."

Jericho stopped instantly, just staring at her mother in disbelief as she continued to walk. She couldn't believe what she had heard. She knew the life of a noble well, having been born into it, and she knew that nearly every move she made as a noble woman was based solely on tradition. But never in her seventeen-years of life had she through tradition would take a hold of something so trivial as the Kite Festival. The young woman fought her way back up to her mother, moving quickly. She stood in front of both Madame Masaki and Ai, forcing them to stop and listen to her. "That's what this is really all about? Tradition?" Jericho's voice steeled, making it sound smooth and viscose. "Every other family's kite will be painting the sky of our great capital, and you won't allow me to add ours... because of tradition? Damn tradition! I will not let our family be left out do to tradition!"

The two were silent for a long time, the crowd moving around the mother daughter stare down. Even Madame Masaki had the perspicacity to stay silent. Their amber eyes mirrored each other in more then color- there was a determination that wanted to make the other understand and see things their way. "I'm sorry Jericho." Ai spoke, and there was true sincerity in her voice however hard it may have sounded. "But unless you can find a man willing to fly out family's kite instead of his own, our family's kite will not fly." With that Ai walked away, leaving her daughter standing in the crowd speechless.

[sekar]

"Hee hee, now the doctor can play."

Dressed in a crimson and mango jinbei, Sekar walked through the streets with his long obsidian black hair tided down with scarlet silk, His money purse was deep in his sleeves and he was walking on wooden geta. He was going to have fun today.

His kite was favorite koi kite, his father made years ago he brought it back from Hokage he was planning to fly it in the afternoon, get some dumplings and tea and fly a little more before dusk were it was back to work. Sekar smiled however he was truely going to enjoy his well earned break.

The healer paused as he noticed a pair of figures talking. His amber eyes widened as the figures were Jericho and her mother. Sekar's cheeks turned pink when he remember that girl. It seems that she was heart broken. Sekar felt concered. With the sound of his geta on stone he walked up to Jericho...

"Ah miss Jericho, we meet again..whats wrong?"

[jericho]

Jericho straightened up immediately after hearing that more than familiar voice. It belonged to none other then Dr. Sekar Praaghi, physician and star of some of the more interesting pieces of gossip floating around the inner circle. She hadn't forgotten the evening they spent at a welcome home party for an ambassador of some sort, or the kiss that he had stole from her lips. Her body moved on instinct. Her brow furrowed, her painted lips twitched into a frown as she reeled her hand back and slapped him hard across the face. Her palm stung slightly with the force but the Xanin Spit Fire ignored the pain. The man had taken a kiss from her guarded lips, and that deserved some sort of punishment.

The thought hit her like a stampeding platypus-bear. Sekar was a man, and though that much was stating the obvious she realized that being such he could fly her family's kite. The young woman's amber eyes widened and her mouth dropped. What had she done? Jericho may have just ruined her chances at having her kite join the sky. "I'm sorry!" She tried to make it sound as sincere as she could without out right lying. "I didn't mean to, it slipped." It really had. "I just- the kiss and- I was- And you-" She couldn't for a coherent sentence, she was just completely overwhelmed by the prospect of someone flying her kite a million thoughts had flooded back at once. "Fly my family's kite." she said outright and without pretense. She had no need or time for tact when the time for the event was closing in, and quick.

[sekar]

The raven man barely had time to read the expression on the woman's face before a large slap seared the healer's cheek.

"ACK!" Jaw jerked to the right as he stumbled back. Feeling irrated he spat out.

"Damnit! What was that for?!" Sekar was going to turn around when Jericho gasped and apologised. Sekar frowned and knitted he brow. She didn't mean to do it it slipped. Sighing he didn't quiet deserved it. But still she blurted out for Sekar to fly her family kite.

Sekar really wanted to refuse. He wanted to turn around and go get his dumplings and fly the Praaghi kite and then finish his work. But Jericho asked with such urgency, Sekar couldn't help but sigh and with roll of his mango amber eyes he nodded.

"Fine...I'll fly your kite." Sekar said rubbing his cheek he looked at his koi dejectedly, "I suppose the koi kite is better flown at Hokage." Sekar said with a sigh.

[jericho]

Jericho's expression changed drastically. A wide grin spread across her face, coupled with surprise lighting up her amber eyes. She tossed her arms around Sekar and pulled him into a hug. Like the slap, it was done without thought, just the motive of sheer gratitude toward the Doctor. "Thank you!" Her sincerity was honest, for she truly was grateful. The young woman pulled away, her thoughts coming faster than her actions. Quick she took Sekar by the wrist and tugged him through the crowd, hoping her mother hadn't covered too much ground since they had argued.

The glimmer off the phoenix comb was the tell tale sign. Jericho called out for her mother, urging Ai to stop. The older woman complied, slowly turning to face her rushing daughter. "Jericho, I thought we discussed this. You canno-"

"I know." Jericho cut off her mother, left breathless by both the run and her excitement as she had been when she first asked. "You said if I could find a man willing to fly our family's kite it can fly." The young woman smirked triumphantly, raising Sekar's arm by the wrist as if he were the wild animal she had just captured from the hunt. "And I found one. Mother, you've heard of Dr. Praaghi, yes?"

Ai smiled warmly at her daughter. An honest smile. The older woman was truly happy at her daughter's accomplishment, for she too wanted her family's kite to soar with the others. Ai turned to Sekar, nodding her head slightly. "It is an honour to meet you Dr. Praaghi, and an even greater one knowing you'll be flying our kite."

Madame Masaki was speechless, gapping her mouth as Jericho had done before. She knew it ate at her teacher to have someone common represent the family's name. Jericho's smirk couldn't help but grow.