otouto- little brother

I played with the loose orange blouse I always wore when I visited Aang. The large clothing of the air nation had always puzzled me. It was a stark contrast to the thick and tight robes I wore around the palace.

I began the long process of french braiding my red hair and looked in the old, rusty mirror provided for me. I attempted to calm the fire that seemed to constantly be withing my amber eyes as I took deep breaths. From breath comes peace. From peace comes energy. From energy comes fire.

I then stood, tying the end of the braid off. Opening the door I prepared to go to Aang, but it seems he found me first. The short boy ran in and hugged me tightly over the brown cloth that held both the shirt and the top of the yellow pants close to my waist.

I could feel a wetness on my shirt where the smaller boy was hyperventilating. I gently led him to my bed and we both sat down. Taking Aang's face into my hands, I wiped the tears that had formed there.

"What's going on otouto?" My voice turned questioning and I tried to keep my motions soft and comforting. 

"Mayumi! They-they want to send me away. I don't want to leave you or Monk Gyatso or-"

"What are you talking about?"

"They are afraid of my attachments, they say it's interfering with my studies, Mayumi I don't know what to do."

I placed my forehead on his arrow and moved his hand onto my upper chest. His heartbeat slowed to match mine as I spoke softly.

"Aang, breathe."

We layed there for a while. Aang's head rested on my chest as I softly hummed to calm him. My fingers traced his skin in circles as I felt his breathing level out.

By the time I had finished he was calm now and played with the hem of my pants.

"I wanna leave." His words shocked me.

"What?"

"We can stay at your house and the world will be an endless sleepover. We can laugh, play, and I can learn fire bending. I already have air bending mastered."

"Slow down, how are we going to get there?"

"Appa can take us."

My eyes narrowed in consideration. Mother would be pleased to see Aang again and Father will be happy to house the young avatar. 

"Well, what are we waiting for."

The two of us smiled brightly and begun packing fruits and such. I gently placed my group of daggers into a cloth, using a ribbon to secure it. I had been training with them since birth.

It was originally a set of twelve but now there was only eleven. My father said they were given to me by Avatar Roku when I was born. The last one I gave to my little brother. It was said that the blades would always find each other so I gave it to him in hopes that if we ever separated he would find me.

When we entered the stables Appa groaned in excitement and hit his tail onto the ground.

"Hello Appa." I smiled up at the bison and pet his head, laughing at his happiness.

Aang ran in as fast as he could and jumped onto the animal, squealing in happiness as Appa greeted him with a large lick. I shook my head with a fond expression as Aang bended us both onto the bison.

We took off, entering the sky had become a second home to me since meeting Aang. The sunset surrounded us as I rested next to him on Appa's neck. Everything was wonderful until the rain began. It started with a simple drizzle but in a matter of time there was flashes of lightning filling the sky.

I ran to the saddle, gripping on with all my strength. Deadly rods of electricity filled the air. The light was blinding and paired with the whipping wind carrying pounding rain seeing was near impossible.

One was sent straight to us and I was never more thankful for my years of training to lightning bend than this moment. I took the lightning into my hands and threw it into the water where it made a large splash. 

"Are you ok?" Aang attempted to yell over the rain but when he did so lighting struck once again and the three of us went down. Everything was going so fast. 

It all happened in a blur. 

Thoughts came in and out of my head in an instant.

My mother.

My father.

Aang.

Then we hit the water.

It was cold.

Or was it?

It was starting to feel numb.

Almost warm.

I like warm.

It's nice and comforting.

I can just breathe.

Suddenly a bright light filled my vision and everything turned to black.

...

Was the world always so quiet?

I buried into the warm fur as my eyes opened. Warm fur? What happened?

"Mayumi!" 

I heard a voice call my name in worry. I laid in the white fur, wanting to never leave the warmth again. 

But then I recognized the voice.

I lifted my body up, looking around to see I was under Appa's leg. Suddenly I was tackled by a yellow and orange blur and I was easily knocked down.

The ice was cold and hard as I toppled onto it. 

"We can go penguin sledding!"

Aang spoke suddenly getting up from me, presuming looking for penguins.  

I gently got up, wondering what happened to the storm. What happened to us.

"What's going on here?" Aang asked in confusion.

Two people stood in front of us suspiciously. The one on the left appeared more masculine, with a sharp jaw and commanding aura. My guard immediately want up at his accusing stare.

"You tell us!" The boy in blue clothing with a half-shaved head and ponytail pointed to the top of the crater we stood in. "How did you get in the ice? And why aren't you frozen?" 

"I'm not sure," Aang said before gently pushing away the spear that was pointed at him.

I took a more aggressive approach and shoved Aang behind me. I took out the dagger on my left side sheath and pointed it at the boy accusingly.

"Don't ever point a weapon at him again if you know what's good for you."

The two of us looked at each other with anger. Tension filled the air as our stare off got interrupted my a loud noise.

Aang ran to Appa when I looked at the boy warily, noticing the girl standing next to him. They both had large, furry coats and she had little hoops of hair coming out of hers.

"Appa! Are you all right?" Aang sat on top of the bison, hanging down from him to try and open his eyes. "Wake up, buddy."

I looked at the two others with concern before deciding to save Appa from Aang. 

"Let him rest, it's been a long day." My words were ignored as Aang lifted his eyelid and set it back down.

Aang jumped down from him and next to me and tried to lift his head. Much to his disappointment, I picked him up and put him farther from Appa before he could do anything. Aang pouted at me before brightening up when I felt the slimy substance of the both of us being licked my the creature.

"Appa," I exclaimed in annoyance as Aang cheered.

"Ha, ha! You're okay!" 

I watched affectionately as Aang began giving attention to his friend.

"What is that thing?" the attractive man was beginning to get on my nerves.

"This is Appa, my flying bison."

"And it's none of your damn buisness anyway."

As you could tell Aang and I had two very different outlooks on strangers.

"Right, and this is Katara, my flying sister," the man's sarcasm made me roll my eyes as his sister, Katara, gave him an odd look.

The joke seemed to go right over Aang's head as he instead focused on Appa. He pulled me to the side, noticing Appa was about to sneeze.

Instead of me getting the goo all over me it landed on the boy. I let out a smirk as I looked at his disgusted form. 

He ducked into the snow in attempts to get it off and I just had to comment: "You look like an idiot dude."

He glared at me and I just ignored it.

"Don't worry, it'll wash out," Aang, ever the optmist, assured him. "So do you guys live around here?"

"Don't answer that! Did you see that crazy bolt of light?! They were probably trying to signal the Fire Navy!"

The fire navy? Why would they want anything with the southern water tribe?

At the notice of the boy's spear pointed at Aang I fumed in anger and would have killed him if it weren't for Katara pushing it away.

"Oh yeah," she began," I'm sure they're spies for the Fire Navy. You can tell by that evil look in their eyes."

Aang gave the two an innocent smile while I simply gave an annoyed expression.

"The paranoid one is my brother, Sokka. You never told us your names"

"This is Mayumi and I'm A... a-a-a-achoooooo!"

Aang's introduction was cut short as his sneeze propelled him into the air.

When he gently floated to the ground I handed him a handkerchief I had brought with us. He blew his nose and gave it back to me. Looking at the piece of cloth in disgust I gently placed it onto Appa until it could be washed again. 

"He's Aang," I said.

Sokka looked at us with his mouth open. "You just sneezed and flew ten feet in the air!"

Aang looked up before looking at me quizzically. "Really? It felt higher than that."

"I could have sworn it was thirty." If I'm completely honest I just said that to annoy Sokka.

Katara suddenly gasped as if the world stopped. "You're an air bender!"

"Sure am," Aang's smile was bright but I didn't like the way they were looking at us as if we were a miracle.

Sokka suddenly started walking away while rambling.

"Giant light beams, flying bison, airbenders ... I think I got midnight sun madness. I'm going home to where stuff makes sense."

Before Sokka could walk into the freezing water he seemed to suddenly realize that we were in the middle of the ocean.

"Well, if you guys are stuck, Appa and I can give you a lift."

"Aang," I hissed once he air bended the both of us onto Appa. "These are strangers."

"They got us out of the ice. The least we can do is get them back home."

"We'd love a ride! Thanks!" Katara's words were kind but her brother still looked apprehensive.

"Oh no! I'm not getting on that fluffy snot monster," he said.

"Oh no, what will we ever do without you," I spoke sarcastically before turning to his sister. "Well then if he doesn't want to come-" 

I was cut off by Katara as I helped her onto Appa. "Are you hoping some other kind of monster will come along and give you a ride home? You know, before you freeze to death?"

Sokka sighs in annoyance, trying to come up with a response. I groaned when he came up empty and joined the two of us.

"Okay, first time flyers, hold on tight! Appa, yip-yip!"

I smiled, expecting to feel the usual wind on my face. Instead Appa flops into the water, causing me to jerk forward. 

"Aang, is everything ok?" I spoke while moving from the saddle to the head next to the boy.

"I don't know. Come on, Appa. Yip-yip!"

"Wow, that was truly amazing," Sokka said mockingly.

I looked at him, annoyance seeping through my features as Katara gives him an angry look. "Oh shut up. I don't see you flying," I said.

"Appa's just a little tired." Aang said while gently patting the bison's head. "A little rest and he'll be soaring through the sky. You'll see." 

Katara gives him a small smile and he absolutely beamed. I chuckled knowing that the boy already had a crush.

"Why are you smiling at me like that?" Katara says with an uncomfortable tone.

"Oh, I was smiling?" Aang looked back to the ocean while Katara blushed.

I rolled my eyes, moving to the end of the saddle where Sokka was, allowing the two of them to get to know each other.

"So, what do you do for fun? I'm bored." I flopped onto the saddle, my long curly hair falling onto his legs after I unbraided it.

I didn't notice the blush on his cheeks.

"Oh, I don't do much fun. I'm kinda the chief of our tribe," Sokka said in a boastful tone. "There's not much time for that when you're hunting, training and doing other manly things."

I raised an eyebrow in amusement at his obvious attempt to impress me and sat back, giving him a look. He looked pouty by me not being completely head over heels by that.

"Aren't you just a teenager?" I said with a questioning tone.

He stumbled over his words and I laughed in amusement.

"Calm down 'man of the tribe' I'm messing with you," I said with a small smile.

"O-oh." He looked down with a blush. He looks cute when he blushes. At least when he wasn't being an asshole.

We arrived at a slab of what I couldn't tell to be land or ice. There looked to be a village of people, I assume to be their tribe.

People seemed to all pool together, seemingly all trying to get a glimpse of the large water animal. I yawned in exhaustion. I shivered, not used to the chilling air and slid down Appa gently. I put my hands out by my side, attempting to balance myself.

Sokka carried Aang down and led me to a tent. He laid Aang down in a bed with large, thick covers. 

"Well, I know it's not much and you'll have to share a bed, but it's home." Sokka scratched the back of his neck bashfully.

"It's wonderful Sokka," I gave him a small smile before shoving his shoulder. "And besides, it beats sleeping in the rain on Appa."

"Good night," he said.

"Night."

...

We were woken up by Katara to meet the people of the village. 

I got ready, tucking my shirt loosely into my pants then tying the brown cloth around my yellow pants. Katara looked at Aang, gasping at his tattoos before the both of us were pulled out by her. 

"Aang, Mayumi, this is the entire village." Katara gestured to the women, elderly, and children in front of us. Where were all of the men? "Entire village, Aang and Mayumi." 

Aang bowed respectfully but I settled for a curt nod. They looked at us almost afraid and I figured I wasn't helping. I'm not really known for warm welcomes. 

"Uh, why are they all looking at us like that? Did Appa sneeze on me?" Aang gently grabbed my hand, feeling uncomfortable under the questioning stares and I stepped in front of him slightly.

"Well, no one has seen an airbender in a hundred years. We thought they were extinct, until my granddaughter and grandson found you." An elderly woman said.

"Extinct?" Aang questioned in shock.

"One hundred years?" I muttered under my breath in confusion.

Katara stepped forward and gestured to the lady. "Guys, this is my grandmother."

"Call me Gran-Gran."

Sokka takes Aang's staff and I huff in annoyance when Aang puts a hand on my shoulder to keep me from punching him. 

Where was the bashful boy from last night?

"What is this, a weapon? You can't stab anything with this," Sokka spoke and I rolled my eyes, letting Aang respond.

"It's not for stabbing! It's for airbending." Aang used his bending to get his staff back and opened the glider. 

Sokka jumped back in fright and I laughed at him.

"Magic trick," a little girl yelled, "do it again."

"Not magic, airbending." Aang showcased the glider in excitement. "It lets me control the sir currents around my glider and fly."

"Ya know, last time I checked, humans can't fly!" Sokka's disbelief made me smirk.

"You also said that you hadn't seen an airbender," I spoke.

"Oh, so now you talk," Sokka's words caused me to raise my eyebrow. "And anyways, where's your airbending stick?"

"It's a staff!" Aang said defensively.

"And anyways I'm not an airbender I'm a-" I was about to say firebender but I remembered his comment about us being fire nation spies. I don't know why they care but me being a firebender probably wouldn't go right by them. "I'm a non-bender."

Aang gave me a look and I gave him one back, letting him know I would tell him later. Sokka looked at me questioningly and I chose to ignore him.

"Anyways," Aang spoke, "check again!"

He suddenly took off into the sky on his glide and I allowed a small smile to grace my face. He preformed tricks causing me to laugh at his showing off. 

He glided through the air with a freedom I wish I knew as I cheered him on.

"He's flying," said a villager.

"It's amazing," said another.

He did as many moves as he could to try and impress them but I laughed when he crashed into a tall building instead.

"My watchtower!" Sokka exclaimed.

Aang was hidden under a pile of snow and I slowly made my way to him, knowing that he was fine. Katara ran past me and offered him a hand as a few others follow. 

"That was amazing," Katara said, mesmerized.

Sokka seemed a lot less pleased as he tried to fix the snow watchtower. His luck doesn't seem to be sound though because a pile of snow hit his head instead.

"Great. You're an airbender, Katara's a waterbender. Together you can just waste time all day long," Sokka's tone made me laugh. He really needed to loosen up.

"You're a waterbender?" Aang said, this information seemingly not helping his crush.

"Well, sort of. Not yet."

"All right, no more playing. Come on, Katara, you have chores." Gran-Gran words made me walk to Aang. 

He was playing with a group of kids and got his tounge stuck to his staff. I laughed in amusement, watching as one of the kids tried to pull it off.

I noticed Sokka had pulled all of the boys to the side and walked over, leaving Aang to figure out how to get the staff off.

"Now men, it's important that you show no fear when you face a firebender. In the Water Tribe, we fight to the last man standing! For without courage, how can we call ourselves men?" Sokka looked extremely proud while the kids looked bored. It was time to show them fun.

"Riveting speech," I called out, slow clapping. "I feel inspired."

"Oh, it's you," Sokka said in annoyance. "We're training to fight so you can just go and to whatever girls do."

"Are you saying I can't fight," annoyance fought through my tone when we slowly started walking to each other.

"Yes, I am."

"Well if you're so sure of that, then spar me."

"I wouldn't wanna hurt you."

I scoffed. "I would like to see you try."

By now our faces were so close our noses were touching. He suddenly threw a jab at my face but I easily dodged. We both backed up, walking circles and watching the other.

I took notice of his stance and the way it was off balance, leaned to the right. A smirk found my face as I noticed his disadvantage.

"Now kids, here's a little demonstration," I said with a mischievous look.

Then he lunged at me and I grabbed his arm, twisting it around to his back and shoving him into the snow.

"What, you can't handle fighting a girl?" I taunted as he got up.

This time I came at him. I attempted a right hook but he caught my punch. I used the opening in his stomach to knee him.

When he doubled over I kicked his feet out from under him and pinned him to the ground, face down. 

I placed my forearm against his shoulder blades and dug my knee into his lower back. I lightly laughed before getting down to his level.

I got right up to his ear and whispered, "I win."

I then let him go, offering a hand. He refused, getting up on his own and giving me a nasty look. Then a boy raised his hand, breaking the tension.

"I gotta pee."

"Listen! Until your fathers return from the War, they're counting on you to be the men of this tribe, and that means no potty breaks!"

"War?" I questioned. Suddenly all eyes were on me.

"What, do you not know about the war?" Sokka looked annoyed as he said it sarcastically.

"Is this some sort of prank?" I questioned in confusion.

Before he could reply Aang emerged from an igloo and spoke. "Wow! Everything freezes in there!"

All of the kids laughed and the moment was forgotten.

"Uh!" Sokka scoffed. "Katara, get him out of here! This lesson is for warriors only!"

"Does that mean you admit I'm a warrior?" I asked with a teasing smirk.

"Ugh," Sokka groaned.

Then he noticed the kids sliding on Appa's tail.

"Stop! Stop it right now! What's wrong with you?! We don't have time for fun and games with the War going on!"

There it was, that war again. 

"What war? What are you talking about? Mayumi do you know what he's talking about?" Aang questioned.

"No, sorry. Everyone keeps mentioning it though." I gave him a small smile of worry.

"You're kidding, right?" Sokka's tone was starting to frustrate me.

I was about to speak but Aang got distracted by a penguin and ran off.

"He's kidding right?" Sokka questioned before Katara went off after him.

"I wish we were. Sometimes it takes time for information to get back to the Air temple. No one can get to it other than airbenders and those that are invited."

"Still, you would think it would take less than 100 years."

I immediately stopped, looking at Sokka in confusion. "100 years? I was just in the fire nation two weeks ago."

"The fire nation?" I think I messed up.

"Oh, I was just visiting," I tried to cover it up, "but that's not the point. What war are you talking about?"

"The fire nation is trying to take over all of the others."

"What? That isn't true. It can't be."

"So," he looked at me with sympathy, "you two really didn't know."

"What does that even mean. We couldn't have been in that glacier for 100 years, right?"

Sokka gave me a look and I knew I was spot on. I was 116.