Maintaining the Balance

Feeling partially responsible for Ethuza's decline in health, Kahn told her about the extra ingredients and spices he kept in his room before writing down a few easy-to-follow recipes. He knew she would have preferred it if he prepared it directly, but Kahn wasn't willing to ruin Jinora's mood just to fix Ethuza's mistake.
As cold as it sounded, Ethuza was singularly responsible for her decision to study and live as a prospective Air Acolyte. If she wanted to secure a place to stay on the mainland, her mother would assuredly fork over the funds for a small mansion. Instead, Ethuza was determined to remain on the island to prove her resolve. Kahn didn't really agree with this decision, but it was ultimately Ethuza's to make.
Fortunately, Ethuza's health and nutrition had been excellent before her departure from the Fire Nation. She may have spent much of her free time in the royal library, but her youth had revolved around Bending, etiquette, and other forms of training. A few of these included lessons the Order of the White Lotus had emulated by observing Kahn, so her foundation was much more stable than the average person's.
With a proper diet and a bit of exercise, Ethuza would quickly recover to her optimal condition. Kahn even incentivized her by promising he would help out once Tenzin and his family returned. Korra's arrival was bound to derail things, but Ethuza had known about her existence and impending arrival for months. She chose to remain despite this, so Kahn was willing to lend a hand so long as helping her didn't interfere with his other duties and responsibilities.
First and foremost, Kahn began to prepare an additional serving whenever he cooked for himself and Jinora. Rindo had shown a bit of compassion after his 100th consecutive defeat, so Kahn could now store and preserve up to 100 dishes and ingredients in his Inventory. While 100 slots may not sound that impressive, it was substantial since 999 of the same dish could be stacked in the same slot. As for ingredients, they stacked by volume or weight depending on whether they were liquid or solid.
Since Ethuza was going to come around regardless, Kahn began providing food for her in the evenings. He denied her request to dine inside, so Kahn would typically sit with his back to her while Ethuza practically engorged herself on the food he had prepared for her. Then, once she was finished, they would sit and chat for a few minutes before Kahn would send her on her way. She had asked him to escort her, but even if there was less than a 1% chance of something happening, Kahn wasn't the type to neglect his duties. He was tasked with watching over the Airbending family residence and keeping Jinora safe, so, for the seventeen days the family was gone, that is precisely what he did.
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With only a few hours remaining in their journey, Pema, seeing the brown-skinned teen fidgetting a short distance away, asked, "Are you nervous?" with a knowing smile on her face.
Hearing Pema's question, the visibly agitated teen snorted through her nose, brows creased as she asked, "Why would I be nervous? If anything, I'm excited. Once Naga arrives, I can finally set out on my journey as the Avatar."
"Oh? And here I thought you were gripping your pendant because you were anxious about your reunion with Kahn. Silly me, it must have been my imagination."
Realizing she was gripping her pendant tight enough to exhibit the whites of her knuckles, the young Water Tribeswoman, Korra, promptly released it from her grasp. Then, in an attempt to change the subject, she hurriedly inquired, "So, what's Republic City like? I hear it's like the most advanced city in the whole world."
Shaking her head, Pema maintained a motherly smile as she explained, "I can't really say. I spend most of my time on Air Temple Island. When you live an ascetic lifestyle, the hustle and bustle of city life can be incredibly stressful."
Though Pema had answered with a similar response every other time she asked, Korra exhaled an annoyed trill before remarking, "I could never live like that. Now that I'm finally free from the South Pole, I intend to explore the city before traveling the entire world. The quiet life just isn't for me."
Shifting the conversation back to the original topic, Pema teased, "That sounds like a lot of fun. If you take Kahn along with you, I imagine it will be pretty romantic as well..."
With her left eye twitching, Korra looked away from Pema, muttering, "It's none of your business..." in an audibly huffy tone.
Amused by Korra's reaction, a soft chuckle emanated from Pema's throat. Before she could continue teasing her, however, Ikki asked, "Does Korra like Kahn? Then what about Jinora...?"
Interrupting before Pema could answer, Korra asked, "What do you mean, Ikki? What does Jinora have to do with Kahn?"
Without any hesitation whatsoever, Ikki revealed, "Jinora likes Kahn." with a massive smile on her face.
Though common sense told her she shouldn't be worried about a seven or eight-year-old girl, Korra's brows creased into a glower. It didn't help that Ikki immediately added, "There's also this girl named Ethuza. She's a Princess from the Fire Nation. During Kahn's birthday, she even asked him to marry her!"
Covering her daughter's mouth, Pema's smile appeared visibly strained as she said, "Don't let Ikki's words bother you. While it is true that Jinora and Ethuza have a crush on Kahn, he hasn't really shown any interest in things like dating. He views Jinora as a little sister and has continuously rejected Ethuza's attempts to court him."
Calming down a bit, Korra asked, "What's she like, this Princess Ethuza? Is she pretty?"
Breaking free from her mother's hand, Ikki answered, "She smells really good and has super huge-"
"Ikki!"
After shouting her name, Pema silenced Ikki with a warning look before returning her attention to Korra and explaining, "While appearances are important, they aren't the deciding factor when it comes to love. Ethuza may not be the most attractive girl in the world, but she certainly has her charms."
Preempting Korra's follow-up questions, Ikki nodded her head, willfully ignoring her mother's previous warning as she said, "I'll say. Her boobs are super huge."
Though he was doing his best to ignore the conversation taking place a few meters behind him, Tenzin shouted, "Ikki! That's quite enough, young lady!"
Laughing like a child that had just succeeded in a prank, Ikki was about to say more when she noticed the rather grim expression on Korra's face.
Fortunately, while Korra wasn't particularly enthused by Ikki's words, she wasn't too upset. She had overcome her body dysmorphia a few months ago after learning that she was ranked number one among all the girls her former classmates wanted to date. The only reason no one asked her out was because of her betrothal necklace.
Since her admirers even included girls that Korra thought were more attractive than herself, her confidence had received quite a substantial boost. She had come to learn that pretty much everyone was jealous of her physique, so instead of feeling concerned about the size of Ethuza's bust, Korra was feeling competitive as she grumbled, "You think you can take what's mine? Just you wait, Princess..."
Though Korra had whispered her words, discretion had never been one of her strong suits. Pema was easily able to make out her words, a wry smile developing across her face as she internally mused, ("You really have your work cut out for you with this one, Kahn...")
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Since Tenzin had sent a transmission informing the Air Acolytes of their return the previous day, Kahn, Jinora, Ethuza, and more than a dozen monks had gathered atop the large, overhanging platform that served as a landing station for Flying Bison and small Airships.
Sensing Korra even before he had spotted Oogi on the horizon, Kahn's expression became serious as he stated, "It looks like my free time just flew out the window..."
Understanding the meaning of Kahn's words, Ethuza's exhaled a sigh while Jinora, worrying that he wasn't going to be teaching her anymore, asked, "What about Ikki and Meelo? You can't just-"
Before Jinora could finish, Kahn explained, "We've been over this. Now that Korra has arrived, I have a responsibility to look after and keep her safe. I will still offer advice and spiritual guidance, but, from this moment onward, it is your duty as the eldest to help guide your younger siblings."
Turning towards the young Airbender, Kahn's expression softened as he softly appended, "I believe in you, Jinora. Ever since you first exhibited your tremendous potential, I have always thought you would, one day, become a great Airbending Master. Now is your chance to prove it. After all, it is only when we are capable of passing on our teachings to others that we can refer to ourselves as True Masters..."
Though she really wanted to cry, Jinora forced a serious expression on her face as she nodded her head and answered, "I understand...I won't let you down..."
Adopting a far more sincere smile, Kahn extended his right hand to gently caress Jinora's head as he whispered, "You never have...not even once..."
Feeling an even stronger urge to cry, Jinora's eyes began to water while Ethuza, seeing the rather intimate and heartwarming scene, couldn't help feeling a little envious. She felt like writing a strongly worded letter to her mother and grandfather complaining about their failure to introduce her to Kahn earlier.
If she had gotten to Kahn sooner, Ethuza was confident she could have claimed his heart for herself. Now, she had to compete against one of the most powerful beings in the entire world and one of Kahn's most precious proteges.
It was incredibly frustrating.
Interrupting the tender moment between Teacher and Student, Ethuza adopted a slight pout as she questioned, "Don't I get a few inspirational remarks? My heart is breaking..."
Annoyed by Ethuza's interruption, Jinora was half-tempted to tell her to leave. Before she could, however, Kahn retracted his hand from her head, stating, "Unless you antagonize Korra, our relationship shouldn't change all that much. I've been watching over Jinora since she was a toddler, so Korra's arrival is bound to have a greater impact on her than you. Besides, you're a lot stronger emotionally. If you were the type that needed to hear such things, you wouldn't be here right now."
Adopting a far more sincere, slightly hurt expression, Ethuza stated, "That may be, Kahn. However, sometimes we say nice things, not to make other people feel better, but to prevent them from feeling worse..."
Though she was tempted to just walk away, Ethuza had resolved herself to meet with Korra. The way Kahn had described her left Ethuza feeling as though Korra was a beautiful and proud young girl.
If she determined that victory was impossible, Ethuza was prepared to move back home. She wasn't going to give up, but there was no way she was going to sit around and pretend to care about being an Air Acolyte as Kahn and Korra slowly fell in love with one another.
Fortunately, Kahn had revealed quite a bit of juicy bits of information to Ethuza during their discussion. He had never revealed anything explicit, but Ethuza had managed to piece together enough consequential details to form a roadmap of the next couple of years. She also knew that Kahn didn't understand things like love and romance, so even if he did end up with Korra, there was a fairly high probability they would break up. When they did, Ethuza intended to be in a prime position to strike.
No matter how long it took, Ethuza was determined to be the ultimate victor in the battle for Kahn's heart. It didn't matter if who her opponent was. Unless they made a concerted effort to try and understand him, she was confident that no one would be able to comprehend Kahn as well as herself. They were, after all, soulmates...

Expecting Korra to come in like a meteor, Kahn was a little surprised when she remained atop Oogi until he landed. Then, instead of jumping down or running over, she helped Pema and Meelo get down while Ikki glided over, exclaiming, "Kahn! We're back~!" as she practically tackled him.
Reciprocating Ikki's hug, Kahn was about to greet her in turn when Korra looked over, confusion and disbelief on her face as she asked, "Kahn? Is that really you?"
Since she had already helped Pema get down, Korra, standing 165cm tall and with a physique comparable to a warrior Goddess, walked over with a bit of trepidation in her stride. She still had a bit of growing to do, but she could easily give professional models a run for their money.
Setting Ikki down, a practiced yet sincere smile developed across Kahn's face as he answered, "I've been waiting for you."
Pausing mid-step, Korra's body seemed to inflate slightly as she inhaled a deep breath. A layer of moisture began to build across her subtly glowing eyes, but before any tears could form, she blinked them away, adopted a serious expression, and asked, "Did you know?"
Though he was tempted to ask what she was talking about, Kahn could easily guess based on her facial and audio cues. Thus, his smile promptly faded into an equally serious expression as he answered, "Yes."
Bobbing her head as though she were nodding and trying to reconcile her thoughts, Korra remained silent for several seconds before asking, "And...? Did it mean something, or were you just going with the flow?"
Catching Korra by surprise, Kahn didn't even hesitate to answer, "A bit of both. I didn't want you to feel even worse about our parting, so I couldn't simply refuse. It suits you, by the way."
"..."
Unsure if she should feel relieved or disappointed by Kahn's candidness, Korra decided to focus on something else, specifically the jacket he was wearing and the chiseled body beneath it. Kahn was a lot taller than she had expected, so much so that, even though he was wearing the fur-lined jacket made for him, Korra hadn't immediately recognized him.
"You've...uh, really grown? Lookin' good, hahaha..."
Unused to the bashful version of Korra, Kahn scratched the back of his head, a wry smile briefly flashing across his face as he countered, "Well, you look amazing. You've kept up with your training the past five years, and it really shows. I'm proud of you."
Adopting a slightly skeptical look, Korra parroted, "Proud of me...?" in a hushed tone. Then, after shaking her head, she forced a smile before punching her fist into her palm and answering, "Yeah, I really busted my tail off. If we were to fight seriously, I'm pretty confident I could wipe the floor with you."
Seeing traces of Korra's true self shining through, Kahn's smile became notably more sincere as he remarked, "We'll see. I haven't exactly been resting on my laurels these past five years."
"Oh? Is that a challenge...?"
Before Kahn could answer, Tenzin stepped in, saying, "Now, now, no need to rush. We just completed a long journey, and I am looking forward to a hearty meal and plenty of rest for one. Speaking of which..."
Though he briefly focused his attention on his daughter, Tenzin's gaze ultimately came to rest on Kahn as he appended, "Please tell me you've prepared something."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Kahn answered, "I'll need to warm it up, but I prepared an entire feast to welcome Korra and celebrate your return. It's waiting back at the Temple."
Enthused by Kahn's response, Tenzin chimed, "Splendid!" before placing his hand on his wife's shoulder and suggesting, "Then let us continue this discussion there. You and Korra will have plenty of time to catch up when you are showing her around the island."
Since he had already anticipated that Tenzin would be loading Korra off onto him, Kahn simply nodded his head, answering, "I'm looking forward to it." before making an 'after you' gesture in the direction of the nearby tunnel, the only passageway connecting the landing platform to the rest of the island-compound.
Readily accepting Kahn's suggestion, Tenzin cheerfully remarked, "Come along, children." before escorting his wife and son towards the passage. A few Air Acolytes took that as an opportunity to greet him, but for the most part, their departure was unobstructed as he attempted to give Kahn and Korra a bit of space.
Fortunately, even Ethuza seemed to understand it probably wasn't the best time to introduce herself. After observing Korra in silence for several seconds, she departed alongside the majority of the Air Acolytes. She had a lot to think about and even more to prepare so introductions could wait until much, much later...
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With everyone else spontaneously departing, Kahn and Korra were left relatively alone atop the stone landing. Oogi and his family were lingering around the nearby stables, but, excluding them, Kahn and Korra were the only two people present.
Breaking the silence before things could become too uncomfortable, Kahn remarked, "You really have grown a lot. Even with advanced knowledge of the future, I was genuinely surprised by your growth. You-"
Interrupting before Kahn could finish speaking, Korra blurted out, "Holy crap, thanks for reminding me! How come you never told me you could predict the future!?"
Jabbing Kahn in the chest with her index finger, Korra's expression made it clear she was upset. When she first learned about Kahn's knowledge of the future, she had been depressed and frustrated for months on end. For a while, she even thought that each of her interactions with Kahn was him carefully manipulating her. It had been one of the most stressful moments in her entire life.
Rubbing the spot where Korra had poked him, Kahn forced a smile as he answered, "To be perfectly honest, it never even crossed my mind. Back-"
"Are you freaking kidding me!?"
Unamused by Kahn's response, Korra was seriously tempted to slug him in the face. As silly as it sounded, the only thing that stopped her was his looks. She felt like it would be a travesty to ruin such a handsome face, so, after a moment of hesitation, she slugged him in the shoulder.
Though he had an inhuman pain tolerance, Kahn still frowned as Korra's punch nearly knocked him off balance. She was almost a full head shorter than him, but she packed a punch whose force was several times his own. He didn't know exactly how strong she had become, but it wasn't difficult to imagine her lifting a few thousand kilos without breaking a sweat.
Rolling his shoulder, Kahn remarked, "I see your temper hasn't improved." in a curt tone.
Snorting defiantly, Korra suppressed the urge to give Kahn another punch by crossing her arms over her breasts and saying, "Seriously though, a bit of a heads up would have been nice. That little tidbit of information really messed me up, you know?"
Revealing some of the hurt she felt back then, Korra averted her eyes as she went from crossing her arms to essentially hugging herself. Thinking that her best friend and the boy she liked had been using her hadn't been pleasant.
Exhaling a sigh, Kahn was tempted to try and explain himself a second time but ultimately decided against it. He knew Korra looking for excuses right now, so, after a moment of hesitation, he tentatively approached her and said, "Sorry, I-"
Before Kahn could finish his apology, Korra covered the remaining distance, her arms wrapping around him like metal bindings as she buried her face into his chest and said, "Just shut up..." in a firm yet paradoxically vulnerable-sounding tone.
Ignoring the second paradox pressing against him, Kahn reciprocated Korra's embrace in silence. He had been planning to hug her the moment he started his approach, so he wasn't too bothered by the fact that Korra had seized the initiative. If anything, it made things a little easier for him as he wasn't all that accustomed to initiating physical contact outside of a spar.
"Your body is so warm..."
Hearing Korra's unexpected remark, Kahn briefly tensed before issuing a dry laugh and remarking, "Well, I am a Firebender..."
Rolling her eyes, Korra loosened her hold on Kahn's body but didn't let him go as she looked up at him and asked, "What are we? I mean, as far as relationships go..."
Shaking his head, Kahn put a bit of strength in his arms as he answered, "I honestly don't have a clue. My head is filled with knowledge, but I'm still figuring things out on the emotional side of things. I'm willing to try, but I don't think either of us is ready for a committed relationship...I just want to watch over and protect you without anything more complicated getting in the way..."
Adopting an 'are you for real' type of expression, Korra could be seen visibly containing a sigh as she offhandedly remarked, "You really are honest to a fault, aren't you? I honestly don't know whether to be angry or relieved..."
Shaking her head, Korra tightened her hold on Kahn as she appended, "Whatever. I've spent the last five years thinking about all sorts of crap. Now that I finally have you in arm's reach, I'm not letting go of you that easily. I don't care if things do become complicated...we'll figure out how to make things work..."
As if the matter was settled, Korra rested her head against Kahn's chest and closed her eyes. She actually agreed with Kahn's words, but, seeing him standing between two girls when she first disembarked Oogi, she felt compelled to take action. She wasn't just going to let someone steal Kahn away from her while she sorted through her feelings.
"..."
Though he had initially planned to take things much slower, Kahn felt like he would be stepping on a landmine if he voiced a complaint. Instead, he decided that he would simply dictate the progress of their relationship. It was very difficult for him to put his foot down when Korra was concerned, but he was confident he could prevent her from taking things too far.
With that in mind, Kahn continued to hold Korra as he whispered, "Hey..." in a soft yet resonating tone. In response, the tall yet comparably petite Water Tribeswoman looked up at him, her eyes turning round as saucers when he suddenly planted a chaste kiss on her lips.
Contrasting Kahn's expectations, Korra used a combination of physical strength and Airbending to send in crashing backward several tens of meters. He managed to right himself after flipping over a few times, but it was still an incredibly unexpected occurrence that left Kahn not knowing whether he should laugh or apologize.
Realizing what she had done, Korra rushed over with a fretful expression on her face, asking, "Are you okay!?" in a concerned, clearly anxious tone.
Forcing a smile, Kahn accepted Korra's support as he remarked, "I guess I've grown a little complacent. On the plus side, you're a lot stronger than when we were children. I'll have to keep my guard up..."
Though it was nearly indiscernibly due to her healthy brown complexion, a faint blush colored Korra's cheeks as she, very weakly, struck Kahn in the arm. He probably wouldn't believe her if she said it, but she usually wasn't this violent around other people. In fact, due to the innumerable warnings she had received before being allowed to interact with other children, she had done her best to avoid physical confrontations outside of training and spars. There was just something about Kahn that made Korra want to hit him...
Fortunately for Korra, Kahn had anticipated this kind of behavior from her ever since their separation. He was actually a little relieved that, despite her rather drastic change in appearance, she was still the same brat that had nagged him incessantly during their childhood. She now had a punch like a Saber-toothed Moose Lion's kick, but she was still the same Korra...

After giving Jinora a bit of time to rest and change out of her training attire, Kahn allowed her to lead the way to the cove she had discovered on the Northern side of the island. He knew where it was located, but, as Jinora's Mentor, Kahn had a duty to allow her to take charge and express herself when the situation permitted.
"This is the place. I know it's small, but there are some pretty interesting tide pools nearby. I once found a baby Eel Shark inside of one."
Pretending that he wasn't intimately familiar with virtually every square centimeter of the island, Kahn offered a faint smile as he asked, "Really? I've only ever read about them. Maybe we'll be lucky and find a few?"
Smiling excitedly, Jinora was eager to head over, but she first needed to change into her swimsuit. She could have changed back at her house, but she didn't want anyone but Kahn to see her. Flying tended to draw a lot of attention.
"I'm going to go change behind that rock over there. No peeking!"
Though she knew Kahn would never peek, Jinora felt compelled to say it. There was something about saying such words aloud that made her feel excited.
Nodding his head in understanding, Kahn said, "I'll head over to the other side to set up the parasol and towels. When you're finished, let's go check out the tide pools."
Adopting an even wider smile, Jinora nodded before hurrying over to the rocky outcrop to get changed. When she returned, nearly twenty minutes later, her ears and face were beet red as she emerged wearing a swimsuit she had stitched together from worn-out Airbender garments. It covered all the essential bits, but as Air Nomads were a very conservative people, much of the time Jinora spent changing was mustering up the courage to come out. After all, she wasn't used to having her legs or midriff showing, much less her collarbone.
Recalling the advice Ethuza had given him, Kahn remarked, "You managed to overcome your fear. Good job."
Having anticipated Kahn saying something about her swimsuit, Jinora was equal parts relieved and annoyed by his reaction. It was really weird. Part of her wanted him to look, but another felt reassured by his very Kahn-like response.
Shaking her head, Jinora meekly inquired, "You really don't view me as a woman, do you...?"
Without any hesitation whatsoever, Kahn answered, "No. You're a seven-year-old girl. Though you are remarkably brilliant, you have a ways to go in terms of mental and physical growth. If you were genuinely mature, you wouldn't be behaving this way. You would consider things from both sides and weigh your actions against societal norms. While I have absolutely no intention of censuring you, I also have no intention of reacting in the way you are hoping. I could never betray you, your parents, and everyone else who had placed their trust in me."
"..."
Feeling ashamed of herself, Jinora instinctually covered her body as tears began to build in the corners of her eyes. However, before she could run away or apologize, Kahn rose to his feet, his voice firm as he said, "Do not cry. It is perfectly natural and healthy to have such thoughts. You've done nothing wrong, so keep your head raised and your back straight. Even if I have no intention of reciprocating in the manner you hoped, you shouldn't feel ashamed. It took a lot of courage for you to step out from behind that rock. If anything, you should feel proud. As your Mentor, I certainly do."
Though she was fighting back sniffles, Jinora managed to raise her head as Kahn approached less than thirty centimeters away from her. She kind of wished he had hugged her, but she understood why he might not want to when he was currently wearing nothing but swimming trunks.
Extending his hand, Kahn surprised Jinora by grasping her chin with his thumb and index finger, smiling as he added, "You're going to make some fortunate fool the luckiest man in the world someday. It probably won't be me, but you never know. Even with knowledge of the future, I can't even predict what tomorrow's weather will be like, much less how things might turn out seven to ten years down the line. Either way, I'm looking forward to your growth."
Removing his hand from Jinora's jaw, Kahn seized the opportunity to ruffle her hair. Her face habitually formed into a rather adorable pout, but Kahn didn't mind. He would much rather girls be angry or upset at him than see them shedding tears. Fortunately, Jinora wasn't actually upset. Soon after he started caressing her head, a radiant smile developed across her face before she spontaneously broke out into a fit of audibly relieved laughter.
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Though the beach trip started rather shakily, it was fated to become one of Jinora's most precious memories. Kahn might not have seen it that way, but there was nothing he could do to stop her from viewing it as their first date. Once she had settled down, she became a lot more self-assured as she practically dragged him around. She even managed to convince Kahn to carry her back after thoroughly tiring herself out. The best part about that was that it was the perfect opportunity to plant a surprise kiss on his cheek the moment he was preparing to set her down...
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Waiting until Jinora was fast asleep, Kahn exited the Airbending residence before spelling out Ethuza's name using dim flames. Shortly after that, the person in question showed up, a wry smile on her face as she asked, "Did the two of you have fun at the beach?"
While spending time at the beach wasn't exactly his idea of leisure or fun, Kahn nodded his head in response to Ethuza's words, answering, "It was a learning experience. The last time I went swimming was more than five years ago at the South Pole. If I had to compare the two, I would say the waters of Yue Bay are much more pleasant..."
Raising her brows, Ethuza remarked, "Oh my, was that your attempt at humor? You really are in a good mood."
Rolling his eyes, Kahn decided to cut to the chase, saying, "You really shouldn't be skulking around here in the middle of the night. I didn't say anything yesterday, but it will become a problem if you're caught."
Adopting a slight pout, Ethuza retorted, "If you knew I was out here last night, you should have said something or called me over. I may be in the wrong here, but it's impolite to leave a woman waiting if you're aware of it."
"..."
Understanding there was little point in trying to argue, Kahn reached into his pocket to retrieve a marble-sized pearl, explaining, "Jinora and I found a large colony of clams. I grilled a few and managed to stumble across a handful of pearls. Here. Consider it my apology."
Though pearls were common in the Fire Nation, Ethuza's pale green eyes practically lit up when she saw the pearl in Kahn's hand. She would have been happy with a burnt twig if it came from the boy she liked. Receiving a pearl was far beyond anything she had anticipated.
Forcing herself to calm down, Ethuza hesitated for a brief moment before reluctantly closing Kahn's hand around the pearl and saying, "It doesn't have to mean anything, but I would be a lot happier if you made it into a piece of jewelry. Even a simple necklace made from twine would do...so long as it came from you..."
"Right..."
Unsurprised by Ethuza's response, Kahn returned the pearl to his jacket pocket before giving her a once over and asking, "Isn't there something you wanted to show me?"
Blushing slightly, Ethuza reached up to cup her cheeks as she averted her eyes and remarked, "How brazen..." despite the smile on her face.
Rolling his eyes, Kahn reached forward to grasp the tail of Ethuza's sash before giving it a firm tug. Her eyes immediately became as round, and though she had every intention of letting him see what was underneath, Ethuza instinctually held her robes shut as the blush on her face became far more prominent.
While breathing a little heavily, Ethuza stared up at Kahn, her voice a little shaky as she said, "Okay...I...I understand you might not really get things like this, but that was a little much. Even if you know they're wearing their swimsuit underneath, it's never okay to strip a woman...not unless you are willing to take responsibility for what comes after..."
Realizing he may have overstepped, Kahn's expression became genuinely apologetic as he lowered his head and said, "Sorry...I felt guilty about the fact you were waiting all day for a chance to speak with me. I thought...I mistakenly believed this was the type of thing you would enjoy..."
Releasing the hold she had on her robes, Ethuza waved her hands from side to side as she asserted, "Oh, make no mistake, tough guy. I'm more than into it. It's just, now isn't exactly the time or the place. I would also be pretty upset if you just left me hanging, so the next time you tear my clothes open, you had better mean it."
"..."
Expecting Ethuza to be a little more upset, Kahn scratched the back of his head. He was supposed to be able to ascertain a person's true intentions, but he could never quite get a read on the petite Fire Nation Princess. She was just so...weird.
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Kahn took the opportunity to look Ethuza over for a second time. Her swimsuit was considerably less tame than Jinora's self-made swimwear. It was a bright, Fire Nation Red bikini, and it suited Ethuza's petite yet shapely body to a tee.
"Like what you see?"
Though her cheeks were still red, Ethuza made no effort to conceal her body from Kahn's view. Instead, she placed her hands behind her back and went out of her way to push out her chest. She used to despise her large breasts, but now that she had a boy she liked, Ethuza was hoping they would be the proverbial straw that broke the Arctic Camel's back. If Kahn came to prefer large breasts, she had a rather 'sizeable' advantage over most girls her age.
Unfortunately for Ethuza, Kahn didn't have any notable preferences at the present moment. All he really knew how to do was objectively evaluate a person's physique, so, after 'admiring' Ethuza's assets for the better part of a full minute, he asked, "Have you had trouble adapting to the food on the island? I can tell you have a naturally slender and lean physique, but your muscles show signs of degeneration. You're either slacking on your training, starving yourself, or both..."
Drawing her robes shut as fast as she could manage, Ethuza's usual smile was nowhere to be seen as she averted her eyes and remarked, "It's...It's not like I'm...I..."
Shaking his head, Kahn extended his hands to grab Ethuza's shoulders as he said, "Calm down. I'm not judging or condemning you. If anything, I'm worried about you. After these past five months, I'd like to think we're at least friends..."
Hearing the sincerity in Kahn's tone, or at very least imagining it, Ethuza exhaled a sigh before looking up at him and stating, "Being a vegetarian sucks. I honestly don't know how the Air Acolytes can live like this. If not for you, I would have returned home before the end of the second week."
As if to agree with her statement, Ethuza's stomach released an audible grumble. Months of consuming nothing but vegetables, grains, and fruits had caused her weight to decrease from 52kgs to 44kgs. Her energy was also at an all-time low, so she had neither the strength nor the motivation to train.
Transitioning from the pampered life of a Princess to the ascetic ways of an Air Nomad wasn't easy...

Chapter 25: Chapter 25