Back Home Again <Tachi Dai, Earth Kingdom>

[taka]

As they entered the city, the walls could still be seen in ruins. However, most of the buildings had been rebuilt. The city was strong once again, and would be for some time. Taka made his way through the streets, which were nearly empty (it was lunchtime) towards the Inn. It was a gigantic structure, 4 stories high, and nearly 100 yards wide, and another 30 long. He entered in the very middle of the great wooden structure, and saw that the lobby was empty, except for the attendant, who was sleeping.

He walked down another hallway, and beckoned Yasu after him. "Cmon! We can get some REAL food for lunch here!" He opened a tall wooden door, the door to the dining room.

As he opened the door, he saw his mother over at the counter look his way. "Back already?" she asked. The room was almost half full, mostly of older people who were traveling.

Taka walked over to his mother. "Yeah, we needed to come back. Anyway, two for lunch, anything would be great."

His mother winked at him. "I won't let you two starve. Poor Yasu!" she cried, looking at her. "You look half starved to DEATH!" she cried. She got out two bowls, and filled them full of stew, and then got out two plates, and filled them full of vegetables, rice, and duck-cow, marinated.

How had Taka known what he was getting when he got back? He didn't care. "Thanks mom!" he called, as he grabbed Yasu's hand (unknowingly) and pulled her over to a table. He immediately began eating the stew, which was wonderful. "Told you my mom was a good cook!" he said, in between bites of the stew. However bad this looked, it was excused by his extreme hunger. Yasu probably wasn't doing anything different...

[yasu]

Yasu followed obediently. Like a sad little puppy. She knew Tachi-Dai. She had been there once or twice. Okay, no, she had been there a few more times than that. But not in a while. She hadn't originally left for her mission from Tachi Dai. She hardly knew anyone here. She didn't even remember the Inn being so large last time she was there. It was huge; four stories high, and nearly 90 yards wide (she wasn't good with the whole estimation thing). She followed him into the middle of the structure, and passed the sleeping attendant. Sleep sounded pretty good.

He was walking down another hallway now, and at his beckon, she followed. "Cmon!" he called, "We can get some REAL food for lunch here!" He opened a tall wooden door, the door to the dining room. She followed him in, and stopped short at all the people. They were older, and travelers it seemed. But some of them turned to look at her curiously. She realized that she must, not only look unkempt and ridiculous, but she must also stick out like a stick in a pile of stones. Yasu followed closely behind Taka to where a woman stood.

She knew Taka. She looked like Taka. She must be Taka's mother, Yasu realized. His mother winked to Taka, "I won't let you two starve. Poor Yasu!" she cried, looking at her. "You look half starved to DEATH!" she cried. Yasu's ears pounded at the sudden, loud noise and fought with herself, trying not to lift a hand to rub an ear. She wasn't used to such...behavior. She was handed a plate.

"Thanks mom!" Taka called.

"Yes, thank you," Yasu said softly and she bowed slightly in thanks.

Almost instantly she felt something grasp her hand and she was spun around and led to a table. A blush had crept onto her cheeks and she quickly fought it back down. Taka wasn't paying attention to her--Thank Agni--and was eating his stew instead. Yasu sniffed the stew and her mouth watered. She instantly began to dig in, almost missing what Taka said. She glanced over to Taka, who was eating as fast as she was. Just like him, she was shoveling the delicious stew into her mouth.

[taka]

He contiued eating the stew until it was all gone. It was wonderful, slowly simmered to perfection over 12 hours, with vegetables added every hour, and meat every third, oh it was wonderful...then he dug into the rice, which was excellent. It went down quickly. By now, the two had drawn stares from many of the older men and women who were watching.

He quickly finished that, and then went for the vegetables. "I told you she was a great cook, really good, huh?" He was done with them nearly, before he realized his father was walking over to them. He nearly choked on his food. Swallowing it, he said, "Hey dad."

His father grinned at him. "What're you doing home so early?"

"We needed to head back this way. We...er..." he tried to remember the coding... "Ran into Sparky on the way to the trading post. He was... busy, so we had to come back." At least he thought that was what he was supposed to say. His father nodded.

"It's fine, of course. Yasu, you can stay with us as long as you like," he said, smiling. "Baths are ready for both of you... seperately of course!" He laughed, as Taka went red in the face a bit. "I'll leave you two alone. Finish up and then get washed up. You both stink like the stables." He laughed as he hobbled off on his bad left leg.

Taka sighed, and then finished his food. He then sat back with a hand on his stomach. He was stuffed. "I think I'll take him up on that bath..." But he didn't want to get up just yet. He felt so full. "Oh, by the way Yasu. You should probably get into civilian clothing, right? Mom should have some ready when your bath's done."

[yasu]

Yasu was too busy shoveling food in her mouth to notice the stares. Normally, she would have ate like a proper woman--she had never been truly to break the habit of a noble eater--but she was just so hungry!! And the food smelled so amazingly wonderful. The instant the stew was gone she was already grabbing some vegetables, mixing it in with the rice and shoveling it into her mouth. Oh, the delight of anything that wasn't biscuit!

"I told you she was a great cook, really good, huh?" Taka said and she looked at him, her mouth full of food. Hre eyes were wide as she looked passed him at a man hobbling toward them. He looked familiar. But she knew she didn't know him. She swallowed her food and choked slightly at Taka's words. "Hey dad."

His father grinned at him. "What're you doing home so early?"

"We needed to head back this way. We...er...Ran into Sparky on the way to the trading post. He was... busy, so we had to come back." Yasu tried to keep up with the codes, but her belly was too full and she was feeling the effects if eating so fast creep up on her. She could hardly remember anything. But the man--Taka's father, her mind supplied--seemed to understand and he nodded.

"It's fine, of course. Yasu, you can stay with us as long as you like," he said, smiling. "Baths are ready for both of you... seperately of course!" Yasu felt her cheeks flush; she had caught on a bit late, but by the look on Taka's face he had understood a bit more quickly then her. She looked away, embarassed. When she looked back. "Thank you, sir," she said as he turned and hobbled away. That's when she really noticed it.

He has a bad leg...just like...

Taka sighed beside her. He sat back with a hand on his stomach. "I think I'll take him up on that bath..." he started, "Oh, by the way Yasu. You should probably get into civilian clothing, right? Mom should have some ready when your bath's done."

Yasu nodded, only half-heartedly into the conversation. Her thoughts were elsewhere. But she was brought back when something clattered behind her and she turned. Someone had accidently dropped their cup. SHe looked back at Taka. "Civilians clothes, right..." She must've looked suspicious in her boy's clothes. She sighed. She'd have to wear a dress then, she supposed. She sat back, finished eating (she had lost her appetite when she realized the resemblance of Taka's father and...). "Yeah, getting cleaned up and a good rest sounds kind of nice." she admitted softly. She looked at Taka. "Your mother is a great cook. You're so lucky."

[taka]

"Yeah, getting cleaned up and a good rest sounds kind of nice," said Yasu "Your mother is a great cook. You're so lucky."

He nodded. "Thanks Yasu. I'm glad you're here. It's kind of nice to have another person around the house, you know?" he smiled, got up, and waved 'bye'. "I'm gonna go get a bath. They're down at the far end of the inn, kay? They're fed by a hot spring, so it should be nice."

He left, and went to the the men's side of the bath. It was all made of wood, and he undressed, and put his bag and stuff by the side of the bath. He hung up his clothes by the side; sine the heat resonated upward, his clothes would be 'washed', kind of at least, by the steam. They wouldn't smell so bad, either.

He got into the water, and it was warm, almost too hot. But not bad. Since the baths were public, there were other men there, but they all kept to themselves. The water was steamy, so they couldn't see anything anyway. Not that they wanted to.

He scrubbed off the dirt from his limbs, and shook it out of his hair. He hadn't realized how dirty he'd been. He felt very refreshed as he shook his wet hair around, drying it a bit. He stepped out of the bath, and dried off with a towel. He sighed. Yasu, as a girl, would probably be loving this. He took a look at his clothes, and decided that they were simply too dirty to be worn. He got into his spare pair in his bag, and then walked outside, putting his clothes in the family laundry. He'd gotten done fast, so he waited in the dining room for Yasu, eating a bit more of those vegetables and some rice.

[yasu]

Yasu waved as he left. She stayed in the dinning room a few more minutes, but began to feel awkward when more people started to give her strange looks. She really was standing out. Better get out of here, she thought as she suddenly stood. She rushed in the direction Taka had gone, but turned when a sign came up that pointed in different directions and read: Men; right, Women; left. She entered the bathing room and let out a sigh of relief. It was nearly empty. Only a few women were there. She undressed swiftly, undid her hair, and tried her best not to dive head first into the water.

She took her time, soaking in the smooth-smelling water. She dunked her head in the water a few times, and when she felt clean enough, she began to scrub at her face. On her cheek. One of the women were looking at her strangely. Yasu Al must have looked funny, rubbing at her cheek like that. But she could still feel the blood. Absentmindedly she looked down at her hand, at the burns on the tips of her fingers. She had unwrapped them, but she would need to wrap them again. She was sure they would heal nicely. No scars. It wasn't bad.

After a few more minutes she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the waters. When she went to where she had last lain her clothes, she found them gone. In their place, was a simple forest-green dress with a gold insignia in the shape of the Earth Kingdom symbol on it. There was a green ribbon for her hair, and bark brown pants. She also had a new pair of sandals, she noted this and would make sure to thank Taka's mother. She dressed swiftly, and made sure to dry her hair as much as possible, though she was sure the Earth Kingdom heat would dry it up pretty fast.

With that, she braided her hair and tied it with the ribbon. She didn't look at herself in the mirror. Refusing to even glance, she left the room and wandered her way into the dinning room. She felt the cleanest she had ever felt. She sighed happily as she looked around. There. She made her way over to him, a small smile gracing her lips. "Still hungry, I see?" she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.

[taka]

Just as he finished eating, Yasu came back in. "Still hungry, I see?" she asked. He swallowed, and looked up at her. And his jaw nearly dropped.

The Yasu he'd seen had been ready for battle, in a light red uniform with light armor over it, and it had made her seem masculine, even if she WAS a girl. But now... she looked practically regal. Beautiful. He felt heat rise to his cheeks, and he noted that this was the first time this had happened for some time. At least about a girl. But he quickly looked down, and found a bit of rice left that saved him from being noticed. He fought the blush down, and quickly vowed to not let that happen again. Even if he liked her, he shouldn't blush all the time...

He ate the last bite, and then looked up at Yasu. "Heheh... yeah." He gulped, and said, "Hey, you look pretty cute in your dress." He grinned at her, and then twiddled his thumbs a moment before saying, "I can show you around, if you like. You haven't been here very often, have you?"

[yasu]

Taka had looked up at her, and then something changed in the way he had looked at her. Something in his eyes. It made Yasu frown in thought for a moment. Shr thought she saw a light red rise into his cheeks, but he turned his head away before she could get a look and she shruged simply; it had been a trick of the light. She felt strange in this foreign, green and brown colors. Her mother had always said red wasn't Yasu's color to wear, but had never specified. Yasu admitted to herself that she didn't look good in red. Or gold. Or any other color. Yasu was pretty hard on herself.

Taka looked at her again, and Yasu smiled shyly, a little unnerved by his nervous laughter. "Hey, you look pretty cute in your dress." He said as he grinned, twiddling his thumbs. She felt heat rise into her cheeks and she felt as if she were about to go into a flustered frenzy. No one said that to her. She wasn't used to these sort of situations. She pursed her lips and looked away from him, fighting down the blush. "Thank you, Taka-kun," she said softly.

"I can show you around, if you like. You haven't been here very often, have you?"

She looked at him suddenly, her eyes bright. "I'd like that very much."

[taka]

He smiled over at her. She seemed pleased that he'd complimented her. He got up and said, "Right this way."

He led her down the main hallway. "This is the main hallway. The baths are down there, the dining room's at this end, and in the middle is the courtyard. It's off limits right now, still being built." He then turned right and went up some stairs. "This is the second floor, mainly rooms." He walked down the hallway until he'd reached the far end. Then he turned right and walked up another set of stairs. "The next floor is mainly administration offices. It's where my dad works most of the time." He then turned and faced another staricase. "We aren't allowed up there. It's a bit old, so he doesn't allow people up there."

He then walked back down the hallway, and said, "Here's our newest gadget. It's called an... evelator... or something." It was a solid stone sitting in a tube, that was floating, thanks to an earthbender inside.

He smiled at them. He was old, with a long, white beard, and white hair. "Hello. Which way?"

"Down," said Taka, smiling. Yasu seemed a little unnerved by it, so he gently grabbed her hand and pulled her inside the shaft. "It's alright," he said. The rock moved with a sudden jerk downwards, but then righted itself and moved slowly. They moved slowly downward, until Taka realized he still had Yasu's hand. He let go slowly, to make it seem like he'd meant to do that. He needed to pay more attention. They reached the bottom floor, and the rock stopped.

He stepped out, as did Yasu, and he walked back down the hallway towards the dining room. He stepped into a small hallway beside the dining room. There were five rooms inside. "These are our rooms," he said. "Yours is the farthest down the left." He smiled at her, and said, "That's pretty much it. I'd get some rest if I were you." He walked down the right side, and waved at Yasu as he went to his room to get some rest.

[yasu]

She smiled back at then followed obediently once more. She stayed close behind him, unnerved by some of the strange looks she was receiving. She felt strange in a dress--it had been a few months since last she wore something like this. She was so used to her armor and loose pants and shirt.

He led her down the main hallway. "This is the main hallway. The baths are down there, the dining room's at this end, and in the middle is the courtyard. It's off limits right now, still being built." He then turned right and went up some stairs. She followed. "This is the second floor, mainly rooms." He walked down the hallway, and she continued to follow, eyes taking in every inch of the surroundings. It had changed since last she was here. "The next floor is mainly administration offices. It's where my dad works most of the time." He then turned and faced another staircase. "We aren't allowed up there. It's a bit old, so he doesn't allow people up there." She studied the rickety-looking stairs and nodded. Makes since to me.

They started walking once more, back down the hallway. They came to a solid stone tablet sitting in a tube of some sort, kind of floating there. Yasu guessed it was because of an earth-bender bellow. She studied it nervously. We aren't getting on that...are we? It doesn't look safe! "Here's our newest gadget. It's called an... evelator... or something." Taka smiled at someone bellow, but Yasu refused to look. She wasn't a big fan of this whole idea...and she hadn't even tried it yet.

"Down," said Taka, smiling. Yasu realized that she must have missed something, because suddenly Taka had, once more, a hold of her hand and she was pulled inside the shaft. "It's alright," he said, almost as if he were comforting her. Suddenly, the rock jerked down-wards and Yasu found herself clinging to anything she could get a hand on--meaning Taka's hand was probably being crushed under her grip. But soon it slowed and righted itself and she realized that she was still holding onto Taka's hand. A blush found its way into her cheeks once more and she pulled her hand away just as he did. She looked away, slightly embarrassed.

The rock stopped, and she stepped out with Taka. She felt strange being on the ground again, as if everything was moving except for her. She found this strange. She looked around to find Taka was already moving away, and she quickly made haste to follow. "These are our rooms," he said. "Yours is the farthest down the left." He smiled at her, and said, "That's pretty much it. I'd get some rest if I were you."

Yasu nodded. "Thank you, Taka!" she said after him and then she turned into her room to get some rest. The instant she hit her mat, she was asleep, still dressed, hair still in a braid, and still smiling.
----------------------------[next day]
She was racing down a corridor. Turn sharply, left, right, turn that corner, straight ahead. There were no doors. No windows. No light. In yet, she could see as clearly as in the daylight. Where was she going? Where was she? Why did she have this sudden sweat, this sudden fear clenching inside her chest?

Something was wrong.

She could feel it. She could feel the cold tiles against her bare feet. Could feel the silk of red, gold, and black robes. There. A door up ahead. She raced to it, reached the handle, and pulled as hard as she could. When she finally got the door open a crack, something terrible happened. A blaze of flame engulfed her completely.

Yasu shot up awake, eyes wide in fear. She wasn't in a cold sweat, as she had predicted she would from the nightmare. She was, however, bed-raggled and a little confused. Where was she? And that's when she remembered Taka and his father and mother and the Inn and Tachi Dai. She let out a breath of air and fell back onto the bed. She tried getting more sleep, but to no avail.

Instead, she stood and fixed her clothes, re-tying her hair in a braid and leaving her room. She was headed in the direction she thought the elevator had been, but moments later, found herself utterly lost. Confused and a little dazed by her dream (still) she sat on the ground against the floor and propped her chin in the palm of her hand. Oh hogmonkeys.

[taka]

When it was morning, Taka got up, and stretched, yawning. Apparently, he'd slept through dinner. But he didn't really mind. The lunch had been enough for him, and breakfast would be soon on the way anyway.

He threw off the sheets, and got dressed. He then sleepily put his sandals on, and walked out of the room without his bag. He wouldn't be needing it right now. He stepped outside, and decided to go towards the smaller men's bath so he could freshen up before the day began.

He turned right down the first hallway, towards the evelator, and then turned right again, and then left. He was headed towards the baths, and when he got there, it felt nice. He washed his face, and cleaned his teeth as well as he could. Once that was done, he shook his head back and forth to get the sleepies out of his head, and then made his way back toward the dining room.

But what to his wandering eye should appear but Yasu, curled up on the floor. He looked at her like she was either insane or lost. "Yasu, what're you doing way over here?" he asked.

[yasu]

People were beginning to move around. In the mostly-awake, half-asleep daze she was in, she could hear them. People were moving around. Waking up. The couple in the room down the hall were beginning to yell at each other. There was a baby across the hall beginning to cry for its mother. Things were coming back to live. Including Yasu Al's stomach, which rumbled slightly. She groaned, but didn't move from her spot. Her chin, still propped on her fist, must have been turning red because it was beginning to hurt slightly, and in the position she was in, she knew she wouldn't stand gracefully back up.

Someone was moving down the hall, but Yasu didn't move. She stared across the hall, half asleep, half awake...and thinking. Of what, she really didn't know. Tons of things. Including her father. And her dream. She sighed. The person down the hall had come closer. She twitched slightly when the stopped near her. She could tell they were looking at her, because of her peripheral vision. Just keep walkin', citizen. Nothing to see here. Just an out-of-place Fire Nation noble heiress trying to be a rebel...

"Yasu, what're you doing way over here?" the person asked. Yasu's eyes suddenly snapped open and she looked over to the person who had spoke, baffled. Taka-kun? Suddenly, she blushed, embarrassed with herself.

"I got lost," she explained meekly as she scrambled to her feet. "I'm sorry," she added softly.

[taka]

"There's nothing to be sorry for," he said, confused a bit. Yasu was acting wierd this morning. He'd shown her around last night... maybe she'd forgotten? He'd need to keep an eye on her, to make sure she didn't get into any trouble, apparently. Her face was a bit red... maybe she had a slight fever?

"Hey Yasu, are you feeling okay? Your face is a bit red." He looked at her with a concerned look on his face. The fever was very serious. Many people died from it these days if they caught it, and the road to recovery was long and hard. Of course, she probably didn't have it, and he was just overreacting.

He smiled at her. "Well, it's almost time for breakfast. I'm going. Are you coming?" he asked. He began walking towards the dining room, stretching slightly. He yawned, and thought about what he'd like to order. Probably some pancakes. Basically anything byt biscuits. If he had those nasty things again, he'd probably throw up.

[yasu]

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Taka said. He was looking at her strangely, and Yasu looked away, a little unnerved. Honestly, she had no idea how she'd gotten lost. She had thought she was going the right way...but maybe she had turned left whens he was supposed to right somewhere.
"Hey Yasu, are you feeling okay? Your face is a bit red..." he was looking at her oddly again, but she realized that part of that odd look was filled with...what was it?...concern?

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired," she smiled slightly to prove her point, rubbing her eyes for more emphasis. That seemed to take care of the concern, because he smiled.

"Well, it's almost time for breakfast. I'm going. Are you coming?" he asked. He began walking again, stretching slightly. Yasu covered her growling stomach with one hand, and ran quickly to catch up with him.

"So, what's on the agenda for today, Taka-kun?" she asked.

[taka]

"Well," he said, "Soccer practice, maybe. I'm not sure... it depends on who shows up at the lot this morning. Nothing else much. We don't get much business on the weekends."

He kept walking towards the dining room. People were swarming to get breakfast, so they had to wait in line to get some. He stood beside Yasu as they waited. He glanced at her briefly. Yesterday's impression on him hadn't worn off on him. She was cute. But chances were that she'd find another guy. It didn't matter that much anyway: she probably didn't like him. Besides, once she met Arai, it would be all up for him anyway. Arai (apparently, according to girls around Tachi Dai) was hot. Of course, Taka wouldn't know that, because Taka wasn't into guys that way. But, as he sighed, looking up the line, he was sure that Yasu would like Arai. Ah well. Taka was used to playing second fiddle by now. He looked a bit depressed as they got to the front of the line. Another server was there today, and he took some eggs with bacon, and (perhaps by mistake) a biscuit or two. These wouldn't be so bad, though.

He sat down, halfheartedly eating into the eggs. He really hoped Yasu wouldn't be like all the other girls, and fall head over heels for Arai.