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swiftsaltsweet · 6 days ago

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Phoenix Flame Ch 2: Burning Bridges

Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi (RoK characters tbh)

Pairing: Rangshi

Rating: T

Summary:

First she was dying from a stab wound from Yun, then the next thing she knew, Rangi was in her room back at the mansion. Two years in the past. With memories of her adventures with Kyoshi and the Flying Opera Company still fresh in her mind, can she stop the same disasters from occurring again?

(Aka “What if Rangi mentally time-traveled back before Kyoshi was discovered as the Avatar, knowing everything from R/Sok?” and “What if Rangi flirted with Kyoshi the same way she does after they’ve been dating?”)

Other Sites: AO3

A/N: To make Yun an antagonist….or to just make him antagonistic towards Rangi. *thinking emoji* I’m already doing the former for Two Knives, so I think I’ll go with the latter. At least at first, we’ll see how it develops. :3c (See more of this thought after the chapter)

____

It wasn’t until a few days later that Rangi was released from the infirmary and allowed to resume her duties. It was here, as she stood at attention, that she realized she was about to face her hardest challenge yet: Keeping a neutral face.

To say it took all her willpower to not rip Jianzhu and Yun’s throat out with her teeth the second she saw them, would be a vast understatement. She was pretty sure she could gnash through iron with how hard she was clenching her jaw. She found some distraction in pressing her fists into the small of her back, right into her bruise. The pain kept her from launching daggers at them with her eyes.

Could anyone blame her for her hatred? They were two snakes who didn’t care who they threw away, even old friends, as long as they got what they wanted. Both of them had almost killed both her and her mother. Then there was also the mental anguish they’d inflicted upon Kyoshi. Jianzhu had also killed Kelsang and Lek. Oh, and then there was the little incident where Jianzhu cut off her topknot, severing her honor, and threatened to kill her if Kyoshi didn’t come back.

How could she not hate them?

But she couldn’t do anything. Not yet at least. It was too risky. She’d need to figure out the best way to reveal Kyoshi as the Avatar, but in a way that didn’t ensnare her in Jianzhu’s clutches. And she’d have to figure it out sooner rather than later, because she had Yun’s abuse to think about.

Despite her misgivings (again, understatement) towards Yun, Rangi had every noble intent to save him. He’d wronged her, but even she knew…his outbursts were in retaliation to the abuse he suffered at the hands of the Masters… Including her own mother.

If she could stop it, at least before they got to the point of no return for him…to provide a stable environment… Then…perhaps she could save him? To stop the tragedy before it could begin? Or at least hope she could. Hopefully she wasn’t too late already…

In Rangi’s mind, the second he held the court hostage the first night Kyoshi arrived at the Fire Nation, was the night he died in her heart. It was fairly easy, they were never really that close. Not in the way Kyoshi seemed to think they were. They’d been cordial enough, worked well as coworkers, and got along as mutual companions of Kyoshi… But they weren’t exactly the best of friends on their own. That sort of thing happens when you’re both competing for the same girl.

No, her future attempts to save Yun from his fate were not coming out of some nostalgia or greater friendship. It was based solely on her own honor and Kyoshi’s feelings. He was important to Kyoshi… So much so Kyoshi couldn’t bring herself to harm or kill him…

And Rangi accepted that. That, and he’d yet to cause them harm, at least, in the timeframe she was currently in. So it only made sense to try to stop that tragedy from happening.

“Glad to see you’re good as new!” Yun said, clasping his hand on her shoulder.

Jianzhu must’ve finished with his speech to the guardsmen and security team of the estate. Nothing out of the ordinary, except stating something about how anyone could come to him with any household concern.

Sigh, I just had to be dropped right in the middle of this bull pig shit storm… This era of the mansion involved a lot of the staff turning on each other to curry favor. Rangi figured it was a ploy of Jianzhu’s to weed out certain unsavory folk, and thus didn’t get involved. But it was still annoying nevertheless, a bunch of roaches climbing over each other just to stand out. Some people would come to her with their ‘findings’, she had no idea why. Jianzhu said to talk to him, not anyone who was related to Avatar Kuruk or Yun.

She sighed inwardly again. Whatever, it doesn’t involve me. Just focus on the usual duties.

Luckily she still remembered her duties at the estate like the back of her hand. Now she only needed to adjust her schedule slightly (a lot). Make more room to be with Kyoshi. More excuses. Less trying to make it feel like she needed to earn her keep when she wasn’t guarding Yun. She didn’t need to do…all of those extra jobs she took on.

“I’ll be honest, we thought we were going to lose ya!” Yun continued, his face mockingly grave. Rangi wasn’t sure if he was trying to playfully make light of the situation now that it had passed, or if he was just trying to be a mocking jerk. It was hard to tell with Yun. “No one could figure out what was wrong with you, just that you were experiencing some kind of sickness. But I’m glad you’re better now!”

“I appreciate your concern, Avatar,” Rangi said evenly, trying to imitate modest sincerity she used to exude towards the boy. It was a lot harder knowing the truth of his status, but as a Fire National she was good at masking her true emotions. Regardless, she’d take this over when she thought he was the Avatar. Her cursing him at night over his mutual affection for Kyoshi made the cognitive dissonance of needing to protect him very hard. But now? Cursing him freely in her mind was going to do wonders for her conscience!

“Bah! You’re still so stiff!” Yun cried. “Well I guess that’s what makes you so hardworking!”

Rangi didn’t see the correlation, but chose not to comment.

“I’ll leave you to your duties, you have a lot to catch up on it seems!”

“Where are you going then?” Rangi asked.

Yun grinned mischievously. “I have a break before my lessons. So I’m going to use it to see what Kyoshi’s up to.” With that he turned and walked away with a wave, seeing no point to continue their conversation.

For a brief moment, Rangi wondered if this miracle wasn’t just a one and done thing, and if she was stuck in a loop of some sorts, forced to relive the same timeframe over and over. If she was, she wouldn’t have minded. Because it’d mean she’d get to see the same look on Yun’s face as she fell in step beside him.

“I think I’ll join you,” she said, repressing most of her smirk as she took in Yun’s bug eyed expression. Alas, the corners of her mouth still turned upward slightly.

Yun laughed in an exasperated fashion. “What about your duties?”

As usual, he was trying to get rid of her. Sneak away for alone time with Kyoshi. He thought he had the advantage because Kyoshi was an Earth Kingdom gal, but now knew Kyoshi liked women too. So there was no need for her to pussyfoot around like before. It was her turn to be on the offensive.

“I believe my primary duty is making sure you are well guarded–”

“I’m in the compound, I'm fine!” he laughed.

“–even if you are in the compound,” she continued. “I’m allowed to leave your side if you are in your room or with a Master. Otherwise, being by your side is top priority. Over any other duty I have at the moment.” She raised a hand and gestured around them. “As you can see, this isn’t your room. And I don’t see a Master, so I’m going.”

Truth be told, she was already thinking of what duties she could cut. Trimming the fat off her schedule. The outcome was looking promising. If she timed it well, she could be around Kyoshi a lot more. Alone time when Yun was training, and then group time when Yun had free time. He’d never had a chance to be alone with Kyoshi again.

Why didn’t she think of this sooner? Certainly would have avoided her heartbreak with the fire lilies. Well, she learnt her lesson by leaving them alone together once, she won’t be doing it again. She assumed when Jianzhu forbade Yun from going after Kyoshi, that would’ve been that. But apparently it didn’t mean him flirting with the girl was still off limits.

“Don’t you think you’re taking this a bit seriously?” She didn’t miss the look of annoyance he gave her, he was onto her.

Rangi just looked at him, gave him her best Fire Nation glare.

“Haaaa, right. Fire Nation. The land of the serious, forgot who I was talking to!”

The duo made their way to the back of the mansion. If the whispers from the other maids were to be believed, Kyoshi should be in the back helping the kitchen chop wood. When they rounded the corner to the chopping block, Rangi was greeted with a glorious sight of Kyoshi’s tan biceps flexing as she raised the axe. She had her uniforms long sleeved tied back with tasukis, and Rangi was ever grateful for the strip of fabric.

Kyoshi’s biceps had certainly changed since she first came to the mansion, they were much more toned. But Rangi knew just how toned they’d get sometime next year once she started her Avatar training.

Kyoshi swung the axe down and chopped the wood in one blow. As she was grabbing the next log she looked up, surprised.

“What are you two doing here?” she asked happily.

“I just wanted to see you,” Rangi said, beating Yun to the punch, while also making it very clear they weren’t there as a duo.

Kyoshi’s cheeks seemed to dust a little darker, but it could’ve just been from the exertion from moments earlier. “Oh! You aren’t sick of me yet?” she laughed.

Kyoshi had been the ever dutiful friend, staying by Rangi’s side before and after she’d woken up.

Rangi gave Kyoshi her warmest smile. “I could never be sick of you, Kyoshi. In fact, you made the entire experience bearable, almost enjoyable really.” She watched as Kyoshi’s brain juttered to a halt, and heard Yun’s mouth drop to the floor. “In fact, I’m a bit saddened that it’s over. I really liked having you by my side the entire time.”

A look of horror ran over Kyoshi’s face, well that wasn’t the reaction Rangi was hoping for. Kyoshi quickly closed the distance and placed the back of her hand up to Rangi’s forehead, then moving it to her cheeks and neck, forgetting Fire Nation propriety all together.

“Are you sure you're okay? You’re not sick still, are you? It doesn’t feel like you had a fever…”

Rangi pouted, but only for a moment. When Kyoshi’s hand moved back to her cheek, she held it there gently with her hand. “No, I’m fine, really. But your hands still feel nice.”

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the touch. She could feel Kyoshi’s body temperature rising dramatically. Like how it usually did when they did intimate things like this.

“I–” Kyoshi began.

“And I’m here because I had a break in between training,” Yun suddenly announced. The two girls flinched, and Kyoshi took her hand back.

Oh right, he’s still here… Damn clinger, ruining her moment.

“O–oh! So you two are on a break?”

Yun was about to say something, but Rangi cut him off. “He is. As for me, I’ve found that my schedule has opened up quite a bit, and I was wondering if I could help you in any way.” She idled her way past Kyoshi and over to the axe, then poked the end of the handle with her finger.

Kyoshi was quick to protest the idea. “You just got out of the infirmary and you already want to push yourself? No way!”

Rangi raised an eyebrow at her, challenging. She moved her hand so she was gripping the handle of the maul now. “You think I’m that weak? I’m fine! I just need a few days rest and–”

Before she could lift up, Kyoshi’s hand clamped down onto hers. With little resistance, Rangi released the handle and let Kyoshi hold hand. “That’s not what I meant! I know you aren’t weak but you really shouldn’t–”

Her face went bright red as she realized they were now holding hands, but it looked like Kyoshi didn’t intend to rectify the situation any time soon. Rangi couldn’t help but bite back a smile, taking her bottom lift between her teeth. Cute.

Rangi decided to pour gas on the fire in front of her. She maneuvered her hand so their fingers interlaced, and gave it a meaningful squeeze. Kyoshi was staring at their entwined hands like she was witnessing a miracle. Maybe another push?

She tilted her head oh so slightly, letting her locks fall away from her neck–Kyoshi always did like her neck–and gave her the flirtiest bedroom eyes she could muster. “Then what do you suppose I do then? Watch you? I could do that.”

Kyoshi’s eyes flickered to her exposed flesh, enraptured. Like she was looking at a forbidden fruit she very much would love to take a bite out of. Then quickly to her eyes, as if checking and realizing she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t.

She decided right then, to go in for the kill. She squeezed Kyoshi’s hand one more time, this time pulling it forward slightly. Kyoshi followed, leaning closer to her, closing the gap. She spoke her next words in a hushed whisper. “I’ll do whatever you want, you just have to tell me.”

Kyoshi’s eyes were now firmly focused on her lips, and she was slowly leaning down. “I–”

“Hey! You two know that I’m still here, right?” Yun whined, breaking the mood.

Oh will he just– “I think your next lesson is about to start, Yun,” she called over Kyoshi’s shoulder to him. He really needed to leave them be.

“No, I still have–”

Kyoshi went ramrod straight, as if struck by lightning. Or realization. “Y–you definitely aren’t well!” she declared, her voice coming out a tad high pitched. “I–I think we need to get you back to the infirmary. Right now.”

Rangi nor Yun were given a second to protest. In a nanosecond, Kyoshi was pulling Rangi out of the chopping area and towards the mansion. No objections would be heard, she was a woman on a mission.

____

“I’m fine, really,” Rangi forced herself to pout from her cot. Really she was trying to hide the glee that Kyoshi and her were finally in a room together, alone. Well, alone in a room where Rangi isn’t at risk of falling asleep every other second. Now if the lovely maid of her affection would just…stop rummaging through all the various vials and come sit next to her instead.

“No, no! Something is definitely off!” Ok, if she kept talking like that, she’d deflate Rangi’s spirits pretty fast. Kyoshi picked up another bottle and cursed. “No not that– Argh, what is it I’m even looking for?”

Rangi rested an elbow on her bent knee, and her cheek on the hand. “No idea. How about you sit next to me instead of running around like a piken with their head cut off?”

Kyoshi did a little antsy dance in front of the cabinet for a few moments, mulling her choices over. She finally conceded and made her way over to Rangi, sitting down next to her, their thighs touching. Then, as if electrocuted, scooted away a few feet. “Sorry,” she mumbled, playing with her hands on her lap.

Rangi closed the distance and put her hand on Kyoshi’s fidgeting fingers. “Ok, apology accepted. Only if you don’t act like I’m diseased.” Kyoshi looked at her panicked, and she only responded with a raised eyebrow.

“I wasn’t– I mean, I didn’t– I thought you might want some space…”

If Rangi hadn’t spent the past two years dating Kyoshi, and thus finally understanding the secret inner workings of her mind… She may have been discouraged. Thinking that Kyoshi was putting up a wall because she wasn’t interested, when in fact, it was because she was so interested that she was having a hard time controlling herself.

Still…maybe she should roll back the flirting a tad? At least, so as not to overwhelm her?

“I’d like it more if you didn’t just assume what I do and do not want,” she drawled. But to not make her words sound too harsh, she grabbed one of Kyoshi’s hands and brought it to her lap and started playing with it. The eep that escaped Kyoshi’s lips didn’t go unnoticed. “I’d rather you asked me what I want.”

Kyoshi audibly swallowed, and then asked, “D–do you want a cold towel?”

Rangi sighed, no, she didn’t. But Kyoshi was sweet to ask. “Sure–”

Kyoshi shot up and practically ran over to the wash bin. Maybe Rangi needed to pull back more than just a tad. As she was formulating a plan in her head, the right balance of knocking Kyoshi off her feet and not scaring her away, there was a sound. The sound was quickly followed by something wet hitting her in the face.

Rangi slowly pulled the wet towel from her face. She saw a brief mirage of Kyoshi looking like she’d stumbled before she was in her face again.

“I’m so sorry, I turned around too fast and– Here let me get that!” Her face was full of shock and apology and it was really too damn cute.

A snort of laughter escaped Rangi’s lips, her hand flew to her mouth, trying to choke it back. Kyoshi just had to be so sweet and earnest to a fault, didn’t she?

“You’re laughing, why are you laughing?”

“Because,” Rangi gasped between fits. “You’re… Just… So–” She couldn’t get it out, Kyoshi was just too adorable. Instead she leaned forward and pressed her face into Kyoshi’s shoulder, and gripped at her sleeve, grounding herself before getting lost in her own laughter.

She desperately needed this moment of reprieve. Thinking how Lek or Kirima would’ve reacted to this happening in front of her. It filled her with such mirth she couldn’t contain it. And apparently it was infectious.

“Wha–snrk– What am I–” Kyoshi could barely contain her own giggles. “Hey! Don’t be mean, I’m not that clumsy–”

Another fit of laughter escaped Rangi. “But you are!”

After the girls were finally able to control themselves, Rangi finally pulled back. Her cheeks hurt from smiling so much, her face felt red, and she could feel tears coming out of her eyes. Kyoshi’s face reflected her own mirth, smiling with abandon. Then her hand went up, and wiped a tear from Rangi’s face, and then her face fell in horror.

“Ah! I’m sorry! I know I really shouldn’t be touching your face–” She pulled her hand away.

Rangi sighed happily and shook her head, stopping her hand from going any further away and holding it firmly in her own. “I don’t mind, Kyoshi”

“But– Why?” She looked at her bewildered. “I thought that it was frowned upon?”

Rangi closed her eyes. In one hand she held Kyoshi’s firmly, with the other she dabbed at her face with the damp cloth. “It is, but I don’t mind if it’s you. Because you’re important to me.”

“I’m…important to you?” The surprise was tangible in her voice. Rangi wanted to roll her eyes because, honestly, what was going on in this girl’s mind?! How could she not see Rangi’s been willing to lay down her life for her for years!

“Yeah, more than you realize.” She pulled the towel away and gazed lovingly at the maid. She realized, in that moment, she wouldn’t be able to reign anything in. She couldn’t hold back, not when it came to Kyoshi. “So don’t be afraid to touch me, ok?”

She gave Kyoshi’s hands a squeeze, and watched as her throat bobbed up and down. She leaned forward and was pleased to see Kyoshi doing the same.

“Ok… I’ll–”

The doors to the infirmary flew open, and Kyoshi shot to her feet.

How many times is this going to happen?! She growled angrily. It was beyond frustrating.

“Rangi! Are you ok?! I heard you had to come back–” Rangi’s mother was making her presence loud and known as she strode in.

Oh, for the love of all things Yangchen! Just let me have one damn moment!

____

Rangi finally got away from her mother. Kyoshi had excused herself not long after Hei-Ran had marched her way in, ready for whatever battle she was about to face. As if she could enlist herself to be Rangi’s whole immune system. Apparently, Yun had given Hei-Ran the scoop of what happened. So nice of him.

Now that she was free of her mother’s frantic woes. She was on a mission to find Kyoshi. Sadly, she found the wrong Avatar.

“What the heck has gotten into you?” Yun harshly whispered as he intercepted her.

Rangi rolled her eyes. Well, now was as good a time as any to explain her new personality. “Well, when I was lying in bed, dying–”

“You weren’t dying,” he said flatly.

She gave him a pointed look. She actually had been before she went back in time, but he didn’t know that. “Nevertheless, as I was laying there I realized… Life’s too short.”

“What are you getting at?”

She gave him an even stare. Now was as good a time as any to burn her bridge with him. “I’m not going to hold back, Yun. I’m going to pursue Kyoshi.”

His jaw flexed in annoyance “What if she doesn’t like women?”

“Then I’ll cross that bridge when I get there, but I’m very confident in myself right now.” She started walking away from him smugly.

Now that her plan to get with Kyoshi seemed to be on the right track, it was time to get her other plan into motion. Making sure Jianzhu doesn’t get his clutches into Kyoshi.

Rangi had a letter to go write.

___

A/N: Yup more antagonistic Rangi/Yun. I mean, what do you expect? Rangi’s coming off of SoK where he’s been an antagonist for her the entire time. TT0TT It’d say…It’s like Two Knives but with lower stakes? Their rivalry is more hostile than something like Hunt or Yokoya Days has/will have, but not as toxic as Two Knives. (I like exploring different dynamics with them :3c) And unlike Two Knives, Rangi has offense! :D

But here….*looks at timeline and mumbles to myself* Say it’s a full year before RoK, so 12 months…. Fire Lily Incident happens 8 months prior to RoK. Ok! So unlike Two Knives and Hunt, the Fire Lily Incident has yet to happen. (I might make it to like 14-15 months before RoK starts, I’m still deciding, vague timeline doesn’t matter atm).

Anyway, Yun isn’t bolstered by almost kissing Kyoshi, and thus doesn’t have anything to hold over Rangi. That and he’s another year dumber >:3c So yeah, I have a good feeling with this. Rangi’s not gonna go through as much bs as the other Rangis \uwu/ (Narrator: She says, like she hasn’t said this 1000 times already). Hey voice in my head! I really mean it! We’re gonna try to keep Rangi mentally well here! She has a lot on her plate goal wise I gotta give her SOMETHING! TT0TT

#kyoshi fanfic #chronicles of the avatar #rise of kyoshi #rangshi #rangi #rangi sei'naka #shadow of kyoshi #kyoshi #rangi seinaka #salty fics

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swiftsaltsweet · 6 days ago

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I didn't forget to upload the chapter uwu;; I....was still adding to it. I might actually still add to it later tbh. -thinking thinking- If I do I'll mention it.

I feel like more could be added to it, but I'm also trying to keep chapters short so... TT0TT Yeah, I'mma upload it soon.

#salty talks #very tired but now I have to go on a long drive now TT0TT

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swiftsaltsweet · 9 days ago

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Okieeeeeeeeee~

Phoenix Flame ch 2 is looking good to publish tonight I think. Then I'm going to try to power through..... -glances at my fics- I might do Fire Sage Fiasco.

That or I might finish/edit Hunt's.... I'm not sure what'll take longer -thinking-

I mean once I publish Hunt's it's like...full hiatus (might release a chapter or two of certain fics, like PR Manager, Szeto fic, or 2nd Avatar fic....but we'll see).

#salty talks

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swiftsaltsweet · 10 days ago

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*looks at the time* Sorry, no chapter this week. TT0TT

I forgot what day today even was uwu;;

#work kept me busy i'm sorry u_u;;#salty talks #i'll try to finish some tomorrow and maybe I can do two chapters next week to make it up to y'all...we'll see TT0TT

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swiftsaltsweet · 17 days ago

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Phoenix Flame Ch 1: Awakening From the Ashes

Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi (RoK characters tbh)

Pairing: Rangshi

Rating: T

Summary:

Other Sites: AO3

A/N: Oi oi oi! Ya put that pitchfork down! I can stop making AUs when I damn well WANT! Yes I know I have a problem, but I don't care! uwu

Listennnnnnn this idea came into my house in the dead of night and grabbed me by the throat. And then kidnapped me. I’ve been held in its basement ever since. u_u

…….Ok for real I can’t control myself. Because this wasn’t even the original idea! :’D Originally I wanted to do “what if Kyoshi went back in time” (aka “the speedrun to kiss Rangi” fic) but then I was thinking of how much harder Rangi would have a seemingly harder time and needed to snort up that angst really fast. (Kyoshi keeps some whimsy while Rangi’s like….on the struggle bus. Not my fault Rangi revealed to Kyoshi she’s been running around like a loon because she liked her since way back, and she never asked Kyoshi when she started to fall for her. Get your priorities in line Rangi! Gosh!)

Don’t worry, for those who want the Kyoshi Time Travel AU, I will still do it.

As for the name. I was resistant to naming it this, despite it being the most fitting thing I could think of (and on the nose uwu; listen I gots a sched to attempt to keep TT0TT If y’all have a better name I’m allllllll ears *sob*). Because “phoenix rising from ashes” is more of the western phoenix (aka Greek/Egyptian area) than say the Chinese one. Buuuuut then I remember ATLA conflated the two with Ozai so jfsdklfj Screw it~!

_______

Pain. Unimaginable pain and the ever encroaching, unfamiliar, cold. Rangi knew this was going to be the last thing she felt. Unless she did something. She was defiant like that, even in her dying moments.

With the last of her strength she looked up to the one she loved the most in the whole world. Kyoshi’s eyes were slammed shut, tears of light spilling from the cracks. Even when she was crying she was still so beautiful. But beauty or not, she couldn’t bear to see Kyoshi in pain. She knew what her last act needed to be.

“Kyoshi,” she rasped. She barely had the strength to talk, but she needed to power through it.

Kyoshi’s eyes opened in surprise and looked deep into Rangi’s. Despite the godly light that spilled from them, Rangi could only see the humble maid she fell in love with all those years ago.

Rangi slowly reached her hand up to Kyoshi’s face, intending to wipe away the tears.

“Stay here with me,” she whispered. She gave Kyoshi her best smile, one filled with reassurance and love. To tell her it would be alright. To tell her everything she couldn’t say with what little words she had left. She wanted to say more, but a sudden shudder took her body and darkness started to flood her vision.

The last thing Rangi felt before slipping into the darkness was not pain, or cold, or fear. It was love.

______

The sound of a pigster crying jolted her awake. She unceremoniously rolled out of bed and onto the floor from the start it gave her. Despite landing face first, she clutched at her lower back in pain.

Wha–what the hell? What’s going on? Where’s Kyoshi? And Yun? Jinpa? Kirima? Wong– AH!

Forehead pressed to the floor, she shook her head the best she could, trying to get her thoughts in order. When the pain in her back finally loosened, she gathered the strength to finally sit up.

She was in the Avatar’s estate. But, instead of the ruins of the training ground surrounding her, she was back in her own private room from when Jianzhu was in charge. In fact, she could hear the nostalgic commotion that the mansion used to exude just outside her window.

People? But…how?

She attempted to gather strength to her legs, but flopped back down onto the ground. A wave of nausea rolled over her as she attempted once again. Finally, she decided to forgo her dignity and crawl on the floor to her vanity table. When she got there, she used all her strength to pull herself up to look at herself in the mirror.

The first thing Rangi noticed was that she was pale. Well, she was always pale, but this was the sickly kind. Her skin was underline with a green tint rather than her usual pink. And she had heavy, dark circles under her eyes. The second thing she realized was…despite only minor changes occurring in her body between the ages of fifteen and seventeen, they were still noticeable enough.

Her face had fewer edges… Her limbs, despite being unable to stand, felt a tad shorter. She’d comment on how her hair was shorter, it would’ve been…if not for the impromptu haircut of dishonor she was wounded with at the age of sixteen. It took a year for most of her hair to grow back. Most didn’t notice the length change, but she did.

What’s going on? Why am I… Why am I fifteen again? Pain throbbed in her head. Maybe she wasn’t fifteen? Maybe this was the aftermath of being stabbed by Yun? Maybe she was just delirious and the changes in her limbs and hair was just her mind playing tricks. The changes in her face were just swelling from a fever and infection?

She finally pulled herself up to a standing position, and half leaned against the table. She pulled her tunic up the best she could, angling her body so she could assess the wound on her back in the mirror. Her eyes widened when she saw not a stab wound, but a nasty looking bruise in its place instead.

What in the– Her thoughts were cut off by an intense throbbing sensation that slammed against her temples. She doubled back over onto the floor, clutching at her head in pain. She let out haggard gasps, trying to right herself again.

I need to find Kyoshi… Questions alone weren’t getting her anywhere, she needed to get out of this room and find some answers! She gritted her teeth and attempted to stand up again, she didn’t care how much pain she was in, or how broken she felt. If Kyoshi was in trouble, she needed to get to her!

On her fifth attempt to stand, she heard a brief knock at her door, and the door clicking open.

“Cadet!” a familiar voice roared sternly.

Rangi flinched slightly. Her old title…from two years ago. Indeed, this was the past. She stopped her attempt at standing and looked towards the door.

“What in the blazes are you doing?! You’re late–”

Hei-Ran, Rangi’s mother, stood before her with wide eyes, taking in the sight of her ill daughter. Her long hair was still pulled into a topknot, still honorable. She looked healthy and strong and vibrant, just like she had been before was poisoned. A small bubble of happiness floated about inside Rangi, her mother was healthy again!

“Rangi–” she breathed, all military formality and stiffness seared away from her voice in an instant, all that was left was a mother’s worry.

“Mother…” Relief flooded through her, and with it, the rest of her energy.

Rangi was out before she hit the floor.

______

Visions of the past two years, mostly Kyoshi’s stint as the Avatar, played in front of Rangi, sped up and slowed down all at once. Even in her dreams she knew, she knew they were real. But she didn’t know how this was happening. She died from Yun’s stab wound…right? How was she in the past?

Perhaps it didn’t matter? Maybe a kind spirit took pity on her and her alone? The thought was laughable enough, but she was connected to the Avatar. Maybe something out there in the cosmos deemed her worthy of instigating a re-do of some sorts? To help Kyoshi?

Well…she could do that. She didn’t need to be told twice. If she could stop the trauma and pain that would befall the girl she loved in a year, she’d do it gladly.

But before she could do any of that, she needed to wake up first.

She fought her way upwards, towards consciousness. Barreling past memories that threatened to drag her back down.

Finally, she opened her eyes. It was a semi-familiar ceiling that laid above her, it must’ve been the infirmary. She felt something cool on her forehead. She attempted to sit up, but her body refused to listen. She was out of energy.

Come on… Mind over matter… Move! She growled at herself. She didn’t have time to lay around! She needed to–

“Rangi!” Kyoshi’s voice cried out just out of Rangi’s field of vision. “Spirits, you’re awake!”

Rangi’s eyes widened and somehow found the energy to flick her head in the direction she heard Kyoshi’s voice. All the air left Rangi’s lungs when she saw her.

Kyoshi stood there with her hands over her mouth, eyes shimmering back tears. Beautiful as always. Her dark umbre locks framed her elegantly long face, with deep bronze skin star dotted with freckles across her high cheekbones.

Not much had changed for Kyoshi in two years. The only difference is she lacked the scars, the marks of her strife. Her scars didn’t tarnish her beauty in any way, despite what Rangi’s initial reaction to Kyoshi’s injured hands may have sounded like. But Rangi was still determined to make sure Kyoshi didn’t have to face the same trials this time, to bear the same pain.

Rangi felt a lump form in her throat, Kyoshi and her mother were safe and well. She’d really gone back in time. And that meant even Master Kelsang…and…Lek. Yes, she was going to do everything in her power to protect them all.

Something slid from Rangi’s forehead and covered her vision. She was in the middle of sending energy to one of her arms when it was removed from her face. Kyoshi plucked a damp cloth away from her face, it was probably used to help with a fever.

“Oh thank the spirits, thank Yangchen! You’re ok!” she cried, placing the towel in a bowl of water to soak. “Do you have any idea how long you’ve been out?”

Rangi shook her head, not trusting her voice just yet. Please don’t say a week…

“You’ve been out for basically a whole week!”

Damn it… Just her luck. Well, that would explain why her body felt so stiff. She closed her eyes and grimaced. This was going to set her back physically. She didn’t want to think about how many extra minutes of horse stance she’d need to catch up to her regiment.

The sound of movement near her caused her to open her eyes again. Kyoshi was there with a gourd of water in one hand. Her free hand hovered over her shoulder, ready to help Rangi sit up. Rangi used what strength she had, and lifted her neck and shoulders to help Kyoshi’s hand get under her back.

As she drank, a brief feeling of embarrassment overcame her. She could tell that her back was soaked with sweat, and she felt all grimy. If she and Kyoshi were dating this wouldn’t have been an issue (they’d seen each other at their worst), but now… She wasn’t sure she remembered where she stood with the maid, and it made her self-conscious.

Rangi had a feeling she would’ve acted more pridefully and refused the help. Probably would've yelled at Kyoshi for helping her. Then she would’ve pouted about how she did that and how she probably ruined her chances with Kyoshi. Then the cycle would repeat.

Her younger self was a real idiot. Because, really? Wanting the girl she liked to notice her, but self sabotaging her own chances at every turn, and then pouting about it later? It was a real wonder that Kyoshi still ended up liking her. It was, however, no wonder that Kyoshi ended up confessing first. Considering Rangi’s track record, it all made sense. Even Rangi knew she was too pig chicken to confess.

But Rangi was different now! She’d matured. A lot! She ignored the fact she’d reverted back to her old childish habit of wrecking every nearby furniture she could get her hands on back during the Szeto festival. She was under an insane amount of stress at the time, that’s why she regressed. She’d kick the habit once already, and she could do it again!

Besides that, she didn’t think she could just…fall back into how she used to act around Kyoshi. They’d both changed too much since the whole Jianzhu incident. Kyoshi had to toughen up, and Rangi in contrast softened up. That version of Kyoshi may not be here right now, but that didn’t mean Rangi hadn't changed.

But if Rangi started acting differently, acting softer than she used to…wouldn’t that raise suspicion? She mulled it over for a moment, and decided to not attempt to act how she used to. The fever…the minor coma… Yes, she would use that as an excuse for her sudden change. It wasn’t uncommon for someone to change after experiencing an illness like this. She’d use the excuse of having a new outlook on life now.

Kyoshi finally pulled the gourd away from Rangi’s face when she finished drinking and placed it back on the shelf.

“Is that enough? Do you want more? Wait! Food! You need food!” Kyoshi shot up out of her chair. “And your mother! I should inform her that you’re awake too!”

Kyoshi started moving away, and Rangi quickly grabbed her hand before she got too far. The motion made her dizzy, clearly, Rangi still hadn’t recovered fully.

“W–wait!” Rangi said, her voice cracking from misuse.

Kyoshi stopped and stared at Rangi, surprised. She definitely wasn’t expecting Rangi to act this way, so vulnerable. Nevertheless, Kyoshi returned to Rangi’s side.

“What is it?” she asked, worried. She squeezed Rangi’s hand. “Are you in pain? Do you–”

Rangi shook her head. “Just…don’t leave…”

Kyoshi furrowed her brow. “But… Rangi, you need food. And Hei–I mean, your mother has been beside herself since you collapsed. She’s not here right now only because we begged her to get some rest in her room…”

Rangi felt a pang of guilt hit her, but she really didn’t want Kyoshi to leave. “It’s fine, let her rest.” She worried her lip, trying to gather the courage for what she was about to say. “What about you?”

“Huh?”

“Where have…you…been? During all of this…I mean…” she slowly got out.

Out of the corner of her eye she watched as Kyoshi’s cheeks tinted slightly and looked away. She scratched at her cheek, a little bashful.

“I’ve been here…with you and your mother…” She gestured behind her. Sure enough, it looked like there was someone else who had used a nearby cot. “We were trying to sleep in shifts but she… She was adamant on staying awake for long periods of time.”

Rangi bit her lip and nodded. She understood what her mother was probably feeling, and doing. She’d done the same while she sat bedside, waiting for her mother to recover from her poisoning.

Rangi absentmindedly interlaced her fingers with Kyoshi’s, looking for comfort.

“A–anyway!” Kyoshi said abruptly. “I’m so glad you’re awake! Do you know what happened?”

Rangi shook her head. “I don’t know, I just woke up like that.”

“A–ah…must’ve caught the latest bug…” Kyoshi trailed off. Her eyes were darting between their hands and random parts of the room. “Are you feeling better now?”

Rangi looked down at their joined hands, and noticed how much cooler Kyoshi’s skin felt against her own. She considered what she was about to do briefly. She didn’t know when Kyoshi started to return her feelings, they’d been too distracted at the time for her to ask. So anything too aggressive may scare Kyoshi away… But she also knew Kyoshi responded very well when she’d been the forward one. Of course, they were dating by that point…but…still. Maybe a toned down version would work in her benefit? Couldn’t hurt to try, anything was better than her disastrous previous attempts in the past.

She rearranged their hands and brought Kyoshi’s hand up to cup her cheek, and nuzzled it. They were just as soft and smooth as she remembered. She couldn’t help but sigh in content.

She felt Kyoshi tense under her hold, and saw her eyes widened. Kyoshi knew that touching a Fire National’s head was off limits, so she was probably surprised by Rangi’s lack of decorum. Delirious out of her mind with a fever to notice her own transgression.

Damn decorum! And damn propriety too! Rangi nuzzled her face more into the palm of Kyoshi’s hand.

“I am now,” she said. Then she noticed the lack of breathing coming from Kyoshi. “Your hands are cold, it feels nice,” she added quickly, and noticed the tension retreated from Kyoshi’s body.

She snuck a peak at Kyoshi, the maid looked uncomfortable. However, the slight reddening of her cheeks, and her biting back a smile made Rangi think she made the right move.

“G–good, I…uh…kept them cold just for you!” she attempted to joke.

Rangi’s lips curved upward into a small smile. “My hero.”

Kyoshi coughed at the praise. “Are you sure you don’t need something to eat?”

“I know what I need, Kyoshi,” she whispered. “Just…stay here with me.” It may have been unfair, repeating her dying words to the girl she loved yet again. But it was what she wanted.

She felt Kyoshi tense again for a moment. No doubt, her mother probably personally asked Kyoshi to fetch her if Rangi woke up. Kyoshi was always good about following orders, but apparently, it only took one plea from Rangi to undo all that training.

“Alright,” she said softly, sitting down in the chair next to the bedside. Careful not to move her hand away from Rangi’s cheek. “I’ll stay.”

They stayed like that for a good while, until Rangi slowly started to drift back to sleep.

However, her nap didn’t last for long. She was soon jostled awake by her mother, disheveled (by her standards), shaking her shoulders hard and yelling at her to wake up. The second Rangi’s eyes were open, Hei-Ran was attempting to shove Fire Nation style of samgyetang down her throat. Kyoshi, who must’ve gone to fetch her mother while she slept, did all she could to keep Hei-Ran from accidentally putting Rangi back into a coma.

_____

A/N: “Pigster?” Pig Rooster. “Why not call it a pig rooster?” I dunno, apparently it’s called a “pigster” according to the lost avatar lore. I usually check the “fauna of avatar” on the avatar wiki for these things. And the lost lore is the source so…. 8U As my cat would say, “Eh.”

Anyway…. Frantic!Hei-Ran~! \u0u/ Let her be worried about her baby! She’s not gonna be like that all the time, I just wanted to show her cracking a lil’. :3c But for real for real, I feel like she would be a damn WRECK if Rangi was really hurt/sick. I know I played it a bit for a giggle at the end, but fire mama was in the right for her freak out and trying to get her daughter to eat. TT0TT

You know, I can fuse this idea with the “What if Rangi just….used the same level of flirting she did once she started dating Kyoshi? How fast would Kyoshi be blown outta that closet? TT0TT” AU idea I had. Yeah I like that. Two AUs with one stone! :D (of course that AU was starting at day 1 of meeting her and was more of a comedy, I think I theorized Kyoshi would be bomb blasted out of the closet in less than 3 months. And it��d also reveal she was the Avatar a lot sooner jklsfdjkla maybe I’ll still do it as a mini comedic thing, but I’m happy to be incorporating the ideas here).

#kyoshi fanfic #chronicles of the avatar #rise of kyoshi #rangshi #rangi #rangi sei'naka #shadow of kyoshi #kyoshi #rangi seinaka #salty fics

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swiftsaltsweet · 17 days ago

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The awkward moment I'm re-reading my Author notes and I see I already typed a summary up 💀💀💀💀💀

Bruh I am a MESS tonight kjlfsadjf; TT0TT

#salty talks #ok ok ok next post will be the chapter I SWEAR #i just thought htis was funny aidfljksadfj #after I just typed a damn summary. well at least this one is better klfjdsaf #HOW DID THE FUCKING SUMMARY GET IN HERE?!#ok i deleted it #im such a mess. time for a nap!

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swiftsaltsweet · 17 days ago

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Gdi why are summaries so hard. 💀💀💀💀I should've had this done by now, but I'm always flying by the seat of my pants TT0TT

Ok the title for this one is right on the fucking nose too but we are balling TT0TT

#yolo-ing some of the names of my fics I'm so sorry fjldsajfklaj TT0TT #salty talks

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swiftsaltsweet · 17 days ago

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I DIDN'T FORGET! TT0TT Just a busy day! uwu;;

Gonna post a new (Rangshi) fic instead of a new chapter, sorry TT0TT

#salty talks

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swiftsaltsweet · 20 days ago

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Updates

<w<;; <w<;; <w<;;

I'm not sure what the chapter will be this week..... uwu;;

I have most of Hunt's done but....I need to edit it (I'm not sure if I'm...pleased with it.... The events are what I need...but I.... -thinking- I need to work on phrasing? I'm not sure.... I just need to do some rewriting TT0TT)

Was working on Thief..... and then Two Knives hit me (good news, almost finished with Rangi's first chapter owo;; Bad news? I'm not...publishing it for now, it's going to the stockpile for after the hiatus uwu;;)

-thinking-

I might post a new fic (another Rangshi AU). That fic only has like 1.5 chapters done....but I'm here to torment us all tbh. \uwu/ Bring on the suffering.

I think I'll try to finish the half written chapter of Fire Sage Fiasco, and if that isn't done by Saturday then I'll post the new fic.

My plan before a full hiatus on everything is getting one more chapter of Thief out, the last chapter of arc 1 for Hunt done, and two/three chapters for my 2nd Avatar OC done (I got the prologue done, not the first chapter tho).

#i am barely holding back from starting this other AU (my precious chaos au uwu)#salty talks #why the 2nd avatar OC? because I make a reference to something that happens in it in that chapter TT0TT #the prologue counts as one chapter #i'm just not sure how long the 2nd chapter will be

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swiftsaltsweet · 24 days ago

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Yokoya Days Ch 11: Kyoshi Gets Fired

Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi (RoK characters tbh)

Pairing: Rangshi (Mostly Rangi crushing and Kyo showing signs of attraction) and also showing Kyoshi's crush on Yun (as little as I can cause I'm biased~!)

Rating: T

Summary:

Ever wonder what Kyoshi, Rangi, and Yun were like before the whole Iceberg incident? How they first met? And so on? Aka, little episodic adventures of 14/15/16 year old Yokoyan Trio.

Canon compliant, end game pairings in the actual novel u_u

Other Sites: AO3

A/N: Oh hey chapter….4…No I think chapter 5? Long time no see, it’s been awhile. 8U Really dragged my feet to get to this spot fjklsadjlf

Also the fucking timing on this fic for me fjkdlsajflkajf Ohhhhh ahjfklsdahfjklsajf someone take a bat to my face TT0TT

_____

Fire burned in Kyoshi’s lungs as she ran up the back hill to the mansion. She was coming at it from behind, after having to use a forest as a detour to escape her pursuers. The usual suspects, Aoma, Suzu, and Jae had caught her mid delivery and decided to make it their personal life’s mission to make her day horrible.

Her body ached, her temple was bleeding from a rock that had cut her. Blood slowly pooled down the side of her face, staining her jinbei (she was going to need to sneak it into the wash later). But the crate she carried? Safe, not a scratch on it.

At least that’s one good thing.

It was the only good thing. The entire ordeal had delayed her by over an hour. She was going to get yelled at for sure. Hopefully she’d at least be spared a lecture at the gate. Kyoshi had opted, or really her options were limited and she was forced to go this way, to approach the estate from the rear. The only bright side to this route was that Rangi and Auntie Mui and others wouldn’t be waiting near this gate for her, only the guards. As for the guards, the worst she’d have to manage is maybe a stray leer or two, but she could manage that.

Her feet pounded the dirt in the road, over the second to last crest of the hill, beyond the trees flanking her vision, she could see it. The gate.

Kyoshi almost sighed in relief, if she had air, and a grin stretched across her face. She just needed to sneak in, put the crate down. She’d be closer to her room so she could change out of the bloody top and maybe even stop the bleeding. Then she’d only have to worry about being reprimanded in regards to her timing. But that was more manageable than being caught outright. She'd take it as a win.

With her destination in mind, she tried picking up her pace. She was gunning for the top of the first crest, the one right before the final hill up. Just as she reached the peak, there was a quick change in her vision and she instantly stopped. Something, or someone, had jumped out of one of the trees that walled the sides of the road, and it took all of Kyoshi’s strength to stop and not plow into them. She used up all her effort to stop herself from crashing that she didn’t have anything left to stop the scream of horror that escaped her lips.

Rangi glared up at her, angrier than Kyoshi had ever seen. Kyoshi blowing out her eardrums probably didn’t help her already foul mood. “Where the hell have you been?! Do you know how late you are?! And–”

Her eyes widened as she took in Kyoshi’s appearance. But Kyoshi didn’t care about that.

Weeks. For weeks she had to put up with Rangi’s bull horse shit. The constant glares, always looking ready for a fight. Her hiding around every corner, ready to scare her shitless. The chasing, the crashing into her. She already had to deal with Aoma and her gang, the physical abuse she’d endured from them for years. She didn’t need Rangi to add to her stress. She'd finally had enough.

Rangi’s mouth opened, surely to reprimand her for one thing or another. But Kyoshi cut her off, words flying out of her mouth faster than she could stop them.

“WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?!” Kyoshi bellowed, her voice echoing all around Yokoya. Birds nearby and in the distance took off from the sound. Then there was silence. It almost crackled around them, or maybe that was just the blood rushing to Kyoshi’s ears? It raged and raged and raged in her, she was starting to see red. And then the dam in her broke.

Kyoshi watched as Rangi looked at her with an expression she’d yet to see. Absolute stunned silence. Eyes wide, mouth hanging open. Then slowly, her face melded into a serious expression. Annoyance.

Her voice came out even. Cool and stony like a mountain. “Well, well. So you can raise your voice louder than a mouse cat. And here I thought your vocal cords were broken.”

It was only then, Kyoshi realized what she just did. She could try to apologize, show her belly and beg for forgiveness. But even she knew she was screwed, may as well dig your heels in and hold your head up high.

She cut Rangi off for a second time that day.

“Why, yes, I can raise my voice. Congrats! Want a prize? Seriously, what is your issue? You say you don’t want to scare me but then you– you pull shit like this!” She punctuated her blaring words with a wave of her arm, almost teetering over to the side from the weight of her charge. “You’re always on my ass, say you don’t want anyone messing with me but then you cause problems! I can’t tell if you’re looking for something to get me fired over or what! I– What do you want from me?!”

Kyoshi finally stopped her rant followed by heavy breaths. It felt good finally getting everything off her chest.

Rangi glared at her. Jaw set, eyes like daggers. “Is that what you think? You think I want something from you?”

Did Kyoshi love how she ignored everything else she said? Oh yes, very much so. Her teeth were grinding so hard they risked cracking. So she wasn’t messing with her out of some sick enjoyment? She just wanted to get her fired?

Rangi took a step forward, getting into Kyoshi’s face (the best she could that is). “Tell me, Kyoshi. What is it that you want?”

A vein pulsed in her head. “I just want to do my job and be left the hell alone! By you! By those brats down in Yokoya! Just– Quit bothering me! How many times do I have to say that to make myself clear?!” She stepped around Rangi, ready to finish her delivery like she was ordered to do. “And if you don’t like that then– then– then go and get me fired if it bothers you that much!”

__________

Kyoshi was fired. She knew it deep in her bones. It’d been three days, and she’d seen no hide nor hair of Rangi. She’d gotten what she wished, to be left alone. But she knew the signs, with Rangi not around…surely she was orchestrating her downfall.

The signs were all there. Her workload had seemingly decreased. It was to the point she actually had to beg for work. Most turned her down, but after a few attempts she got Lee to help her out, and so she was off fetching another delivery from Yokoya.

This time had gone much smoother than before, Aoma and her cronies were too preoccupied with the crops and fish to bother her today. She made her way up the back entrance, hoping she’d avoid much trouble. Of course, Kyoshi didn’t have such luck.

Waiting there like a sentry of doom, was Rangi. Kyoshi sighed, it was time to meet her maker. She walked past the guards, bowed her head to Rangi in acknowledgement and attempted to walk past her.

“You can put the crate down right here,” she announced. Her face was stone, perfectly impassive. Business like.

Kyoshi stopped, heart beating fast. She looked at her confused. “Wha– But I need to–”

“Someone else will come pick it up. You’re coming with me.” She waited for Kyoshi to respond.

“W–where am I going?” she asked hesitantly.

“Master Jianzhu wishes to speak with you.” With that, she swiftly turned on her heel and started walking away.

Kyoshi’s heart was torn between hammering her chest until her rib cage broke from the inside, or jumping into her throat and suffocating her. She had it coming, she shouldn’t have talked back like she did. She knew and yet… It was still nerve wracking.

She walked silently behind Rangi, hands twisting various parts of her jinbei. She wondered if this was how Lanying felt when she was kicked to the curb. Had Rangi also accompanied her on her walk of shame to Master Jianzhu? Would Kyoshi also be thrown out of the estate by the guards? Would there be a show of it? Would Auntie Mui and Lee watch? Would Rangi watch like she did with Lanying?

At least Kelsang isn’t here. I don’t think…I could stomach his reaction…

They approached one of the estate’s meeting rooms. Rangi stole one last, expressionless glance Kyoshi’s way before opening the door.

“I’ve brought her as you asked, Master Jianzhu,” she announced. Crisp and clean, like the fresh recruit she was.

Jianzhu looked up from his sitting desk and waved her off. “Thank you, you are dismissed.”

Rangi clicked her heels together, the sound echoing in the room, bowed and left. Kyoshi felt like she could feel her eyes on her as she left, but her body was frozen. Her entire attention was focused on Jianzhu and what he was about to do.

He looked back down at the paper he was reading, and held out his hand. “Sit.”

Kyoshi’s legs wobbled to the plush pillow that sat across from him. She kneeled down in a seiza style, and awaited her sentencing.

Jianzhu proceeded to write on a sheet of paper without looking up. Once he was done, he began to talk, but didn’t lift his eyes once from his desk. “I believe you probably know why you are here.”

Kyoshi gulped. Yes, she knew. She was toast.

“I–I believe so…” she squeaked out.

Jianzhu finally looked up. He placed his utensils down and folded his hands over, resting his elbows on the table. “Good, this’ll make this easier.”

Kyoshi gripped her knees, involuntary shivers ran down her spine. She was attempting to keep her whole body from falling apart, and failing spectacularly.

“I’ve talked to the staff around the estate. They have a lot to say about you. As you know.”

“T–they do?” She barely got the words out, was she not breathing? Oh, she wasn’t. Trying too hard to keep her breath under control, her body decided the easiest way was to not breathe.

“Yes, it's made me think quite a bit. To the point I think restructuring in this house is in order.”

This is it!

He leaned forward, ready to deliver the words. Kyoshi braced herself.

“I’m relinquishing you from your current duties,” he said. Kyoshi closed her eyes, realizing she might not be able to take hearing the rest. “And instead, I’m assigning you to a new position. The Avatar’s personal maid.”

Kyoshi’s eyes shot open from the hit, a puff of the last bit of air she held onto escaped her lips. “I– Uh… What?”

His eyes went back down to his desk and began “Think of it as a promotion, and your pay will increase as well, do not worry.”

Kyoshi blinked at him, confusion overriding her nerves. “P–promotion, but–but how? Why?”

A frowned infinitesimally. “Why? Why, I’ve heard you are a very hard worker, always trying to help. And that you also have a knack for cleaning up, which fits perfectly for this role.”

While this was true, she considered herself a hard worker, and she always helped out when asked… But this meant others (most likely senior staff like Auntie Mui) saw what she was doing and… She was being rewarded for it? Did the cycle go in reverse? Did the moon become the sun, and the sun become the moon? What was going on? This type of luck didn’t happen, not to someone like Kyoshi.

Jianzhu sat back up, he began drumming his fingers on the table. The steady rhythm grounded Kyoshi, it gave her something to focus on as her perspective of the word seemed to go all topsy-turvy. “You don’t seem pleased. I had people who highly recommended you for this position. Do you not want it?”

She realized she should speak. She bowed down, into what was basically a dogeza, to show her appreciation. “I– No! Thank you for the opportunity, Master Jianzhu. I will not let you down.”

The drumming of his fingers stopped. “I know you won’t. Now, go along, Rangi will catch you up to speed and inform you of your duties.”

And with that, the meeting was over. Kyoshi quickly, at least as quickly as she could while the blood escaped the trapping of her legs, and wobbled to the door. Rangi was standing there, arms folded behind her back. The perfect example of a statue, only moving when Kyoshi had slid the door shut behind her. Her chin lifted slightly in acknowledgement, a hint of something dancing behind her eyes. Was it smugness? Kyoshi couldn’t tell. She could only look at her, dazed and confused. Like a freshly hatched turtle duck.

“Follow me, your duties are this way.” And with a perfect ninety degree angle turn, she started to walk away. Kyoshi stumbled after her, thankfully, Rangi kept her perfectly even steps at a reasonably slow pace so that Kyoshi could keep up with her.

“Your duties are simple,” she began, possibly unaware of Kyoshi’s daze. “You pick up after the Avatar, or you organize his belongings. Simple as that.”

Kyoshi couldn’t help but stare at the firebender’s back. She’s not mad? Shouldn’t she be mad? I don’t get it.

Rangi looked over her shoulder, and then seemed to slow her pace even more. Now she and Kyoshi were walking side by side. She continued as if Kyoshi had vocalized wanting more information. “The Avatar receives a lot of…gifts, you see. And it’s become hard to manage. We need someone with intense organizational skills to help sort through the mess.”

She listed off other things she’d have to do. It essentially amounted to ‘pick up after the Avatar.’ Nothing too extravagant. But, by the spirits this confused her. There had to be some sort of caveat.

It didn’t take too long to arrive at their destination. It was in the nicer part of the mansion she’d only visit to polish or clean. The room they were in front of was the one where gifts were received, if she recalled correctly. It was when Rangi opened the door to the room that Kyoshi realized what the caveat was.

“It’s all yours.” With a flourish Rangi waved her hand. A small, self-satisfied smile donned on her lips.

The room was wall to wall with various objects, and stacked all the way to the ceiling. You could barely walk three feet into the room without your foot hitting a stray sword or pai sho board. It was an absolute mess and it set Kyoshi’s compulsive cleaner on edge.

Ah. She is still mad. She was getting back at her. This was Kyoshi’s punishment. But…I don’t get it, why doesn’t she just get me fired?

Little did Rangi know, this type of punishment…wasn’t really a punishment for the likes of Kyoshi. If anything, she could view this as recreational work. But the firebender didn’t know that. Either Rangi didn’t actually hate her (which she doubted), or she thought this would be a better punishment than kicking her out on the streets. Like a cat ‘playing’ with a bird and giving it a slow concussed death. The latter seemed plausible, but if that was the case… Shouldn’t Kyoshi be handling the dirtiest and most impure jobs? Certainly not having the title as the Avatar’s personal maid.

She looked at the smaller girl, unsure what to say. She still had a pleased smile on her face, eyes closed basking in whatever it was she was pleased about. The weird, serene moment lasted for only a moment before a loud voice interrupted it.

“Hey, Kyoshi! How do you like the new job?” Yun asked enthusiastically, leaning in through a window nearby. He had the brightest smile Kyoshi had ever seen.

Rangi’s smile instantly disappeared, and she was in full soldier mode again. “What the– You’re supposed to be in training! Get back there right now!”

Yun’s smile vanished, and he paled several shades. “Gah! C’mon Rangi, I get enough from the Sifus!” he cried as he ran away.

Rangi jumped over a sea of objects to get to the window sill, ready to chase after him. Then she turned back around to address Kyoshi in her usual military brat demeanor. “And you! You better have made progress on this when I return! Yun! You get back to training!”

Kyoshi watched as the last teen sprinted away from the window, and she was left with her trove. All she could do was blink after them. “Huh?”

___

A/N: Haha gotchu with that title huh? :’D Poor, confused Kyoshi. u-u But, good news, we’ve reached the “ok NOW they’ll start to get each other and become friends” arc. Still gonna take a second, but at least Kyoshi knew she wasn’t getting fired.

Anyway I can’t wait to start Rangi’s side of the events now~! >:3c (once I come back from my hiatus TT0TT). We should get more Rangi and Yun moments.

Man, always a coin flip when I’m like “kowtow or dogeza?” Different cultures with those words but I think dogeza’s symbolism fits this better. I think dogezas are more for harmony and apology and social hierarchy (and apparently more over the top theatrics nowadays? But we’re ignoring that part jaklfdsjkfj it’s not modern day so we’re good I think), while kowtow is more fidelity and submission.

And yeah, Kyoshi gets her iconic maid outfit now. uwu;; If I can figure out how to make the tatsuki’s and jinbei work, I’ll go back and fix the earlier pic I made jaskfjaf

#kyoshi fanfic #chronicles of the avatar #rise of kyoshi #rangshi #rangi #rangi sei'naka #shadow of kyoshi #kyoshi #rangi seinaka #salty fics #kyoshi prequel

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swiftsaltsweet · 1 month ago

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Ok posted the new chapter of Thief (I didn't forget, uwu;;) Happy one year anniversary! Let's gooooooo~! I hope you enjoy the chapter. ;w;

Anyway still dealing with Hunt's curse, but now I get to do that and drive 6 hours. Wish me luck uwu7

#salty talks #didn't get to re-read this chapter for the 800th time like I wanted to before posting but que sera sera

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swiftsaltsweet · 1 month ago

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Thief in the Avatar’s Estate: Chapter 12- A Way with Words

Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi and Yun (plus whoever appears in Rok)

Pairing: Rangshi

Summary: Yun decides to head off to bed after his travels from fighting with the Fifth Nation. But as he does, he and his bodyguard, Rangi, hear strange noises coming from Kelsang’s room. When they go to investigate, they are surprised by what they find.

(Canon divergent AU-What if Kyoshi was raised by her parents?)

Other Sites: AO3

A/N: -sprinting in- Super happy to have made my goal to post a chapter on the 1st anniversary uwu Thank you for being on this journey with me and being patient with me. ;w;

So this was supposed to be part of the previous chapter, but 1) I got stuck on it, 2) I was still mulling over how I wanted to handle splitting up the prev chapter (should it be in two parts? Three parts? Should it stay in Rangi’s POV?). I ended up with three parts (all three should be in Rangi’s POV, I feel very locked in on the next chapter being Rangi’s).

But um…yeah enjoy Rangi’s further spiral. uwu7 (golly, I really didn’t know what to title this one TT0TT Let’s just say Kyoshi has a way with words this chapter ;;>w>)

____

The fly over was extremely awkward. Yun clutched onto Kyoshi’s back, and stole glances at Rangi who flew beside them at a considerable distance. She was tasked with carrying Kuzu. The three teens had changed, cut Yun’s hair, and left the extra clothes back with the sailor. They earthbent a closing around it so that no one could easily find the vehicle. Now they were on their way to rest at an inn back in town.

“So, did something happen?” Yun asked.

“Nothing happened!” Rangi yelled back, annoyed. She glared at Kyoshi out of the corner of her eye, but Kyoshi kept her eyes steadfast ahead of her. A sullen expression resting on her lips.

“So we’re sleeping at an inn tonight? Did you get a reservation?” Yun kept up his questions.

Rangi furrowed her brow, no they hadn’t.

“I was going to…” Kyoshi trailed off. “But I…got distracted.” She had a defeated tone in her voice, which Rangi scoffed at.

She tried to keep her eyes looking forward, despite feeling the burning holes Yun was bearing into her as his head flicked back and forth between her and Kyoshi.

“We’ll figure it out,” Kyoshi sighed.

There was a long silence as they flew above the sand. Rangi was starting to get a bit tired, jet-stepping for a long period of time wasn’t easy. But she persevered. While Kyoshi was strong enough to carry both teens and Kuzu, she was still adamant in having too much of Kyoshi for the day.

“I have a question!” Yun announced.

Kyoshi groaned. “You and your damn questions! When do you not? What? What is it?”

“When we first arrived in the Spirit World, you mentioned that you got out through a portal you fell through,” Yun started interrogating. “But we just walk through a door with Wan Shi Tong. How did you know about that? Had you–”

“If you’re asking if I’ve visited the Spirit World more than once, then yes!” Kyoshi sighed. “The first time Kuzu showed me a portal to fall through to get back home. The other times I willingly went through the library entrance and exit. At least, until I encountered you two. Happy?”

Yun nodded to himself. “Hm, that would explain how you knew about spirits despite only going there once as a wee lass.”

“Keep up the commentary and I’ll buck you off.”

Yun laughed. “That sounds like a challenge! Someone’s a little testy today, I’m starting think something hap–”

Kyoshi let go of her hands on his legs, and leaned back to drop him. Yun flailed, realizing he was about to plummet to the earth, and quickly grabbed at Kyoshi’s neck. The motion caused the girl to careen backwards, and the air shooting out of her feet caused them to now propel towards the ground. The two Earth Citizens hit the ground with a fwump.

Rangi stopped and hovered in the air as she watched the two Earth Citizens scramble in the sand as they yelled at each other. She turned her attention to Kuzu in her arms and scratched the fox’s cheek. “You’re the only other smart one here, Kuzu. We have to stick together.”

The fox yipped happily in her arms.

_____

The woman at the inn gave the teens a hard look. “You three are going to share a room?”

“Yeah? Is there an issue?” Kyoshi looked at her, annoyed. She’d already given the woman the money, but now she was giving her a hard time.

“It’s just,” she eyed Yun and then looked at Rangi and Kyoshi again. “I don’t think two young ladies should be sharing a room with a man. It’s a little indecent.”

Oh, if only you knew which one was the real indecent one. Rangi thought, shooting daggers at Kyoshi from behind.

Kyoshi rolled her eyes. “Nothing’s going to happen.”

“That’s what they all say,” the woman clucked her tongue.

Kyoshi slammed one hand down on desk and pointed at the two behind her with her other thumb. “Listen lady, I’ve been sleeping with these two for the past week and nothing’s happ– AHRGJKDLA!”

Kyoshi let out a strangled scream as Rangi jumped on her back and put her in a headlock. It was then muffled by Yun’s hand that he clamped over her mouth. The woman at the desk looked at them horrified.

“She has a horrible way with words, ma'am!” Yun laughed nervously. “Unwell in the head, you see!” He twirled a finger in a circle around his temple. “Nothing’s going to happen! No one here likes anyone,” he lied.

“You don't have to like someone to– Tsk, oh nevermind.” The woman glared at them in annoyance, but conceded, then threw a key at them. “Just get out of my lobby. Especially if you’re going to suffocate her. I’d rather the cleanup be behind closed doors.”

Kyoshi was turning purple, and Yun released his hand and grabbed the key. Rangi jumped off of her, but twisted Kyoshi around so she was still dragging her in a headlock.

“Thanks ma’am!” he yelled as he and Rangi dragged the half conscious girl towards the stairs and raced towards the room number that was on the key.

“Did you have to say that?!” Rangi yelled at Kyoshi as they ran into the room.

“What? It wasn’t wrong!” Kyoshi yelled back.

“You couldn’t fudge it a little?!”

“It was the truth!”

“Oh, now she speaks the truth!” Rangi threw her hands in the air, fed up. “Well since you’re in that kind of mood, how about you tell me what the hell was up with you at the store?”

“So something did happen!” Yun interjected, excitedly.

Rangi turned to him, picked up a pillow that was lying on the floor, and threw it at his face. “Shut up!”

Rangi rounded onto Kyoshi, and shoved a finger into the girl’s chest. “Out with it! I want answers, now!”

Kyoshi went pale, sweat pooling down her face. “I– That was. I was…”

“Well? Spit it out!” Rangi poked again. She was fuming, and she didn’t care if Yun saw or not. The entire run from the town and back had given her enough time to think about what happened, and she realized… She didn’t know why she was so angry. Was it that Kyoshi made a move on her and maybe she wasn’t mentally prepared? That they were seen? That they’d gotten interrupted? That she had to hold herself back? All the above?

But as she stood there, ramming her finger into the girl who she’d much rather be pinning up against the wall. She finally realized what it was. She was mostly mad at Kyoshi’s reaction after the fact. Like most things the girl did, it didn’t make sense. Almost no logical rhyme or reason to it. And if there was a reason, then she kept it close to her chest.

Her constant flip flopping nature was fraying Rangi to her wits end. She wished the other girl would just pick a lane. She wished she’d quit playing with her.

She watched as Kyoshi’s eyes, filled with dread, bore into her own, before screwing shut in an instant. She didn’t take her eyes from Kyoshi’s face until she felt the other girl’s hands clasp over the hand she’d been poking her with. When she looked back up to Kyoshi’s face, she was met with an intense half lidded gaze that stared right into Rangi’s being. One that caused heat to rise to her cheeks, and lighting to shoot down her spine.

“Ok, you got me,” Kyoshi said huskily as she pulled Rangi’s hand to her lips and kissed her knuckles. Rangi fought the shiver and heat that ran down her spine, and lost, as usual. “There’s just something about you that drives me wild. And I just couldn’t hold back, hit me if you must, but I don’t regret it.”

The room was silent as the three teens took in what Kyoshi just said, nothing but the sound of warm wind coming through the window and of the town bustling outside. Rangi let the warmth pass over her until she felt like cooled tempered metal. She frowned at Kyoshi, and her flirtatious demeanor started to crumble quickly under her glare.

Rangi slowly pulled her hand back and out of her grasp, and Kyoshi scrunched her face up in preparation for a slap. But it never came.

Rangi turned on her heel, and stalked towards the door.

“Wait! Rangi, where are you going?” Yun asked, his eyes looked like they were only an inch away from leaving his skull completely.

“I’m going for a walk–”

“I’ll come with you, I don’t want–” Kyoshi interjected. It was sort of amazing, the audacity she’d think Rangi would want to even be breathing the same air as her. Was she thick in the head, or just cocky?

Rangi thrusted a finger in Kyoshi’s direction, “I don’t want to be anywhere with you right now. YOU stay here.” Then Rangi pointed the same finger at Yun. “You, stay with her. Got it?”

“Ok, but where are you walking to?” Yun asked, worry showing on his face.

Rangi threw her hands up in the air as she stomped towards the door. “I don’t know! Just…anywhere that’s not here!”

“At least take Kuzu with you!” Kyoshi yelled as Rangi slammed the door.

Rangi stomped all the way through the inn and out the back entrance, only stopping when she heard a familiar bark. She looked over in a shaded area, and saw Kuzu lounging about. The group of teens had planned to sneak the fox upstairs once they’d settle in.

Rangi sighed. “Sorry, I’m down here because I’m going for a walk. I can try to sneak you in through the window though.”

Kuzu whined, and made a motion like a headshake.

Ok, she doesn’t want to go upstairs.

“Then, do you want to accompany me?”

Kuzu barked happily.

Ok, I think I’m getting the hang of this. Wait, no, I’m talking to a fox. I’m not ‘getting the hang of anything,’ I’m actually losing it.

“Well, let’s get going,” Rangi turned and motioned the fox to follow her. Kuzu barked again, and the sound of trotting could be heard behind her.

She worked her way to the main drag and let herself be taken by the flow of traffic. She didn’t really have a destination in mind. Maybe loop around the city and head back?

She was about to take her hat off, annoyed with the foreign object being on her head for too long, when someone coming out of a building ran right into her.

“Hey! Watch it!” the voice exclaimed.

Rangi growled, annoyed that someone had the audacity to act like she was in the wrong. He was the one that ran into her without looking! She glanced up slightly, ready to let her mouth fly at the man. Then she realized…his voice sounded familiar.

“What are you doing, you nimrod?” another growled. Another familiar voice.

Rangi’s eyes widened. Are these the two from the store?

“Keep your head down,” Kyoshi’s voice rang in her mind.

Even though the last thing she wanted to think about was that daofei, her instincts told her to listen to her advice. Begrudgingly she forced herself to stand down and act as meek as she could. She tipped the brim of her hat forward to make sure it completely covered her face.

“Sorry,” she simply said.

“Hm? A woman?” Rangi tried to repress a shudder when she heard the smile in his voice. “Wait a minute, are you the one who–”

“Will you quit lollygagging around! We’re going to be late!” the man with the wrapped face grumbled.

Rangi took her que to quickly slip past them, melding herself in with the rest of the crowd before the conversation could continue. As she walked, she realized Kuzu was not following her anymore. She looked around to see Kuzu by the edge of the crowd and made her way to her.

Kuzu sat ramrod straight, head swishing vigorously trying to see into the crowd. Her ears perked up when she saw Rangi and did a little dance with her front paws. When Rangi finally got to her, she held out her palm. The animal spirit licked and nuzzled her appreciatively.

“I’m sorry, was I walking too fast?” she asked softly.

Kuzu let out a snort into her hand.

I’m…taking that as a displeased ‘yes’... She thought as she wiped her hand on her tunic.

“Come on, I want to check out a few more places and then we can go.” Something about the town greatly unnerved Rangi, it was best if they got out of here in the morning. But first, she’d want to secure her knowledge of the place before heading back.

________

When Rangi arrived back at the inn, she opted to jet-step up to the patio near their window with Kuzu. As she approached the open window, she heard talking.

“Nah, I don’t think Rangi would like that,” Yun said.

Talking about me, are you? Rangi thought, annoyed as she wrenched the window open.

“What wouldn’t I like?” she growled.

The undignified squeal of terror that escaped Kyoshi probably should’ve disqualified her from holding any form of office or power. Kyoshi, who looked half jumped out of her skin, slowly turned herself around to look at Rangi.

“Heee–eyyy… You’re back…” she tried to sound enthusiastic, but instead sounded like a mechanical creak.

“That I am.” She thrusted Kuzu into Kyoshi’s arms, and hopped down off the windowsill. “So what the hell is going on here?”

Yun’s eyes were still wide with surprise, but slowly relaxed. “Uh, we… We were discussing what the next game plan should be. Yeah, that’s it. You know, where we’re going next and all of that.”

Rangi raised an eyebrow at him. “Didn’t think to wait for me to be included in this conversation?”

Yun rolled his eyes. “Well, if someone didn’t decide to run off–”

“Well, I’m here now. So, what wouldn’t I like?”

Kyoshi made a small choking noise. Rangi’s head whipped around to see the taller girl sweating and looking at a creaky floorboard like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

Rangi narrowed her eyes suspiciously, ready to interrogate when Yun spoke up.

“J–just the pros and cons of going North, South, East, and West.” Yun waved his hand to get Rangi’s attention back onto him.

“And what about that would upset me?”

“We were also discussing the pros and cons of us splitting up–”

Rangi felt her temper flare and whipped her head back to where Kyoshi was. She stared wide eyed at the two, probably surprised Yun would throw her under the caravan like that, instead of hiding what they had been discussing. To deflect Rangi’s anger, she raised Kuzu in her arms by the armpits, hiding her face in the process. Like a coward.

Why that little– She can’t even look me in the eye! How dare she use poor Kuzu like that, what kind of Avatar–

Hands came down onto her shoulder, causing her to wince slightly, and turned her back around to Yun. “And I obviously told her that wouldn’t be a good idea!”

Rangi narrowed her eyes at him. If he’d already listed why it wasn’t a good idea, then why bring her up at the end of the conversation? She decided to dismiss it for now, the day was already way too long. She didn’t need to incite another headache. It was better to know the game plan so they could leave in the morning.

“So which way are we heading?”

“North,” Kyoshi mumbled.

Rangi frowned. Going through more of the desert? Away from Yokoya? Well she very much didn’t like that either.

What will be will be. She sighed, wherever the Avatar wanted to go she’d go. She’ll waddle her way up to the damn North Pole with all the otter penguins if she had to. Didn’t mean she wouldn’t try to change the Avatar’s mind the whole way, though.

Ugh, another thing I have to broach… How was she going to convince the Avatar back to Yokoya? To abandon the daofei life?

Rangi pinched her brow and sighed. “Fine, we’ll head North. We’ll leave tomorrow at the crack of dawn.”

Yun let out a disgusted noise. “Really? Dawn? Why? Can’t we sleep in?”

“The desert will be cooler in the morning, plus I don’t like this town…”

Yun dropped his hands from Rangi’s shoulders. “Why? Did something happen while you were out?”

Rangi shook her head. “No, I’ve noticed a few shady looking figures wandering the streets. Two of them seem extra shifty in particular. Kyoshi and I ran into them in the store but I just saw them again–”

Hands roughly grabbed her shoulders yet again. Do you both think this injury doesn’t hurt?! And swung her around…again.

“You did?!” Kyoshi’s face was close. Too close. She was looking Rangi up and down and spinning her this way and that to see if she had any injuries. ”Are you ok? You didn’t get hurt, did you, Firecracker?”

When Kyoshi’s hand ran down Rangi’s good arm, she had enough of the manhandling, and smacked Kyoshi’s hands off of her.

“Will you get off of me! Yes I’m fine!” She narrowed her eyes at the Avatar suspiciously. “Why do you care? You’re acting really strange–”

“C–can’t a ward be worried for their bodyguard?” she laughed nervously. But at Rangi’s ever growing glare she suddenly turned defensive. “I told you this was a daofei town, and I knew you two were not, well, keen on daofei. So I just want you two to avoid trouble–”

Did Rangi have a short fuse? No. As of right now, the fuse was nonexistent. Kyoshi just lit an explosive directly at its core. And it was about to blow up in her face.

She made each point by slamming a finger into Kyosh’s chest. “Oh? Avoid trouble? Tell me, were you ‘avoiding trouble’ when you started necking me in the damn store?!” The sound of Yun’s delighted gasp caused Rangi to snatch a nearby pillow and deck him with it in under a half a second before continuing her rant. “Cause I think you were the one causing trouble!”

“W–well for one thing it was your shoulder, the one necking was y– Ow!” Rangi slammed a finger into her chest. Then her shoulder and back as Kyoshi attempted to turn and run away from her. But she wasn’t going to let her prey go that easily. “I–I mean, there was a very good reason– Ow! You’re just so irresistible? Ow! Damn it woman, these aren’t the kind of bruises I want you to leave on me– I mean– Ow ow ow ow! Uncle! Uncle I call– Ow!”

“WILL YOU BRATS SHUT UP?!” A voice boomed from next door, rattling the walls.

Rangi, still high off her own anger, turned and inhaled deeply. Ready to give the stranger a piece of her mind. But as she was about to let loose what was surely a snappy and smart comeback, a hand clamped over her mouth and another arm wrapped around and restrained her.

“O–okay! That’s enough, Firecracker! I don’t want to piss off every daofei in this inn!” Kyoshi said hushedly, fighting easily against Rangi’s thrashing.

Yun clapped his hands, a delighted, shit eating grin radiating on his face. “You know what we need? To cool off! I think there’s a bathhouse downstairs, maybe we just need to wash up and cool our heads. I think it’s ladies’ turn at the moment. You two should go wash up.”

Rangi felt her face flare up at the notion. “The hell I’m going anywhere like that with her!” she exclaimed, breaking free out of Kyoshi’s grasp.

Kyoshi mock gasped. “Am I really so horrible, Firecracker?”

“You’re a menace! We’re going in separately!” She turned to Yun. “You and I are going to station ourselves outside the bathhouse.”

“What? Why?” Yun looked at her like she was crazy.

Rangi pointed a finger at Kyoshi without looking. “So this one doesn’t sneak off!”

“Now why would I do that?” Kyoshi asked innocently. Rangi only returned her question with a glare.

“After she’s done, we’ll take turns watching her and bathing. Same thing with sleeping tonight.”

“Oh, come on! You can’t be serious! I think you’re a little paranoid, Rangi,” Yun laughed while rolling his eyes.

Rangi was very serious. “You get the first shift tonight, wake me up when it’s my turn. Now let's get downstairs.”

____

“I’m not going to run off, I don’t know why you don’t trust me a little,” Kyoshi grinned at them, looking not trustworthy in the least.

“Just get in there, I want to get this gunk off me too,” Rangi growled at her. Kyoshi slipped into the changing area before she could feel the firebender’s wrath.

Yun sighed as he leaned against the wall entrance. “I’m just happy you’re here with me. If I was by myself well… Ha! How would that look? A guy waiting outside the bathhouse entrance when it’s the women’s turn, it’d– H–hey! Where ya goin’?”

Rangi had started stalking off towards the building’s exit. “Somewhere.”

“Ah, wati! You liar!” he yelled after her. “You said you’d wait here with me!”

“I didn’t lie!” Rangi called over her shoulder. “I said I’d wait down here by the bathhouse, but not by the entrance!”

She picked up her pace, she needed to get into position before it was too late. She weaved through people on the streets and rounded the corner into an unsuspecting alley. Looking up, she figured out the best position to be in and went to a nearby wall.

Rangi leaned back against the alley wall and looked up again. Above, a wooden panel covered a closed window. The way she angled her body behind a beam hid her fairly well from the window. Steam from the bathing room funneled through the cracks in the material. Rangi watched it intently, waiting for some kind of movement.

It was a wonder why Yun didn’t see it was obvious Kyoshi would want to try to escape them. Back in the Spirit World, they were all trapped, they had to work together to escape. But now that they were in the real world? Kyoshi just needed to drop their asses off in a relatively safe place, and skadaddle to do whatever little daofei things she planned on doing. But Rangi wasn’t going to let that happen. She was going to follow that idiot Avatar of hers to the ends of the damn earth if she had to.

But for now? She had a waiting game. Luckily it wouldn’t be for long.

After about five or so minutes of waiting, it happened. The wood on the window started to move, it pushed out and with a stick stored inside, propped itself. Rangi sighed and rolled her neck side to side, and wondered what her ward’s reaction would be. She considered jet-stepping up, to flick Kyoshi’s forehead, but decided against it. Who knows what she was about to face…

Once the window was propped up, hands appeared on the sill, then a familiar head. It swiveled side to side to see if the coast was clear. Then, once satisfied, Kyoshi lifted herself up more, her bare shoulders peaking out and– Wait, BARE?!

She’s not going to–

“What do you think your doing?” Rangi called up, keeping her voice as steady as possible, as she stepped out of the shadows to confront her ward. Her calm voice belied the franticness she had waiting underneath.

Kyoshi visibly flinched before slowly turning to meet Rangi’s gaze with a sheepish grin. Resting her arms on the sill. “Oh, hey, Firecracker. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Were you really thinking of running naked through the streets?” Rangi asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Would you judge me if I did?”

“Immensely,” she said dryly. Rangi could’ve sworn she heard giggling. Ah, so her Avatar had an audience inside the bathhouse. Lovely.

Kyoshi scoffed playfully. “Ah, well, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”

Rangi put a hand on her hip. “You attempting to run away already has.”

Kyoshi fake gasped. “Run away? Oh, Firecracker, no no! This isn't what it looks like. I was just going to sneak around front and surprise you! And give you a little show while I was at it.” She let loose a flirtatious wink that bounced right off of Rangi.

“Me and the rest of the town?”

“Oh, what can I say? I’m an entertainer at heart.” More giggles from the background.

“An entertainer, you say? Like a circus clown? Tell me, how are you hanging in there?” Kyoshi was tall, but not twenty feet tall.

Ah no, that was a stupid question. She must’ve air-stepped up to the window, so she must still be air-stepping. That’s why she doesn’t look like she’s breaking a sweat. Rangi was confident in her deduction. But Kyoshi decided what she loved to do, lie.

“Oh this? This is nothing!” She let one arm hold her up as she brought the other up to flex, showing off her muscles that she wasn’t using…but still impressive nonetheless. Rangi was really glad she chose to stay on the ground and not jet-step up there. She probably would’ve lost her concentration and fallen. Her pride would’ve certainly hurt more than her tailbone.

Rangi waved her off. “Yeah, yeah! Quit showing off and get to bathing! I want to get in there before the next cycle!”

Kyoshi unleashed her most deadly weapon yet, certainly would’ve been a one-hit-KO if Rangi was up close. She flashed a crooked, flirty smile with half lidded eyes. “Well you can always join me, Firecracker.”

Oo’s radiated from the bathhouse.

Rangi felt her back heating up at the thought. She wondered if it was inherent for an Avatar to push their luck. She’s been messing with me all damn day, if I wasn’t honorbound to protect her I swear I would– Argh!

“Now why the hell would I do that?” she scoffed.

“Hey now, I won’t bite!” she laughed. “Unlike you, you know, the marks you left on me are starting to bruise.”

Rangi’s eyes widened and her heart began to beat in a panic. Was she implying she left hickies when it was just her finger? Wait…did she bite her in the store? Rangi couldn’t remember and that sent a new wave of panic through her.

“That was just my finger and you know it!” she shouted. As if that sounded any less dirtier.

“Oh, I know you like to use your fingers, darlin’!” More cooes and giggles rang through the bathhouse. “My back is plenty evidence of that!”

Rangi choked, her face was boiling now. She did vaguely remember running her nails down her back.

Haaaa, I wish I was an earthbender, then I could make the earth swallow me whole.

“C’mon up! It’ll be faster, and it’ll be a great bonding moment. We can really get to know each other. I’ll even wash your back!”

Rangi felt a new wave of flush run up her back, she could read between the lines easily. And it only grew hotter the more she heard the women in the bath giggle and whoop louder and louder. She gritted her teeth, trying to hold her resolve together and not take her up on her offer. Trying not to think horrible things about the Avatar.

I guess Kyoshi gets her propriety from Kuruk rather than the Great Yangchen… She thought about all the womanizing stories she’d overheard from various people over the years. At the time, her mother had told her to pay no mind to the loose lips of others, but now she was wondering if she should’ve.

At least I’d know what I’m working with.

She sent the embarrassed energy to her palm. It didn’t matter if she knew how deep Kyoshi’s shallow flirtations lay, she knew how to shut her up.

Rangi watched as Kyoshi’s as her smile quickly fell and she began to pale.

“You have five seconds!” she announced.

“H–hey hey hey hey! You put that thing away–”

“Four!”

Kyoshi started to scramble and attempt to close the window. “Alright, alright! I’m going to bathe! Sheesh! Are all Fire Nation women like this–” A fireball landed on the stone wall of the building right next to the window.

“Three!” Rangi generated another fireball in her palm. “And I won’t purposefully miss this time!”

Kyoshi promptly shut the window, cutting off the roar of laughter from behind. Rangi shook out her hand, extinguishing the flame. Calmer again. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall.

‘I’ll even wash your back!’ Kyoshi’s voice echoed in her head.

That sounds pretty nice right about now… She thought as she took stock of today’s grime on her body. Then she shook her head and groaned. No! She needed to be strong! She needed to not give into the whims of the beautiful, tall, fit Avatar. She needed to keep some form of self-respect left.

“I need a nap…” In a handful of hours, she’d be taking the first sleep while Yun took the first watch.

_____

Rangi woke to something wet nudging her cheek. She swatted at whatever it was, wiping her cheek down and went back to sleep. Then the wetness was back again, accompanied by a familiar whine.

“Nng?” Her eyes slowly came apart to a dark room, the only light was from the moon outside spilling in through the open window. Her eyelashes fluttered, trying to figure out why she was woken up, then she remembered they were taking turns as they slept. Yun was probably waking her up for her turn.

A wet strip of something ran up her cheek again.

And Yun was…licking her face awake?!

Rangi shot up straight, wiping at her face. That weird bastard, I’m going to give him a piece of my–Oof!

A weight slammed onto her lap, and she felt a cold snout in her face again. Kuzu was whining at her, and Rangi’s anger dissuaded. She blinked, why was Kuzu waking her up instead of Yun? More importantly, why weren’t Yun and Kyoshi giggling and laughing at her behind her back?

She quickly turned around to find the room still and quiet. Yun was passed out in his chair, a lone tea cup on the table next to him. She vaguely remembered him getting tea somehow, but she was already on her way to falling asleep when that happened.

Rangi got up and approached Yun, attempting to shake him awake. But while his head bobbed all around, he didn’t stir.

Then she picked up the cup and took a swig of the liquid inside, then spit it out. It was subtle, but there was a distinct taste of a sleeping agent. Yun had been drugged, who knows how long he’d be out or had been out.

She ran to the corner of the room where Kyoshi got her sleeping arrangements set up. She quickly flipped the covers over to reveal the bedding had been stuffed with pillows.

Kyoshi had run away. Just like Rangi thought she would.

Rangi’s jaw clenched in frustration. “Why that little…”

She turned towards the open window, Kuzu was leaning against it on her hind legs, yipping at Rangi and then out to the open. She was telling her where Kyoshi had gone. Rangi quickly made her way over there and looked out.

The crisp, cold air of the desert hit her skin. In the distance, she could see a figure moving on the rooftops. It looked like Rangi was in for another chase with her thief.

Fine, you want a round two? I’ll give you a round two.

__________________

A/N: So like…..brainworms were NOT worming for me here. I don’t know why. At first I wasn’t going to include the bathhouse segment (I WANTED to, the idea was always there), cause I didn’t know about the pacing… And the need to transition in Rangi’s walk kinda…stunted me. Kept looking ahead and not where I needed to look and that didn’t help (nor me flip flopping on what POV the next chapter should be in). Plus…lots of stuff happening in like a 12 hour-ish time period. uwu;; Which didn’t help. But I made myself finish the walk and then it started coming to me a lot easier.

But yeah, happy with how this chapter turned out now. Glad I got the bonding moment with Rangi/Kyoshi,. I need moments like these to help develop their relationship and misunderstandings so I can speed forward into the romance TT0TT The pacing may be slowburn, but the timeline and me are really trying to race it along I swear. uwu;;

#kyoshi #rangi sei'naka #rangi #rangshi #rise of kyoshi au #rangi seinaka #yun #rise of kyoshi #salty fics #kyoshi fanfic #chronicles of the avatar #shadow of kyoshi #kyoshi au

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swiftsaltsweet · 1 month ago

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Ok the Thief chapter is 100% done now! \uwu/

It will drop in it's anni date in 4 days (aka May 24th).

#salty talks #lemme tell you I was *stressed* about it #one less stressful thing to worry about! :D ....except...#now I'm extra stressed cause I accidentally made a post on my main about this uwu;; someone kill me #deleted it as soon as I saw it was on the wrong blog but rip (tummy now extra upsetti...sigh the peace didn't last for long TT0TT)

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swiftsaltsweet · 1 month ago

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Updates

Everyone say it with me now. Hunt *clap* Curse *clap* Strikes *clap* Again *clap* \uwu/

I mean I did persevere and write most of the chapter despite not feeling the best tho. TT0TT But I really need to edit it. I'm flip flopping on if I want to publish it when I get ch 17 done too or not because of ch 16's cliffhanger. Edit first, figure that out later. owo;; (ch 17 I project being a BIG BOI ngl, which says a lot considering I'm usually like "Oh I can make this under 10k! uwu" *11k later* "nvm". so lord knows what hell awaits me)

Thief.......has finally gotten out of developmental hell~! \uwu/ At least for the next chapter. Got over my writer's block for the most part (more of a "how/execution" block than a "what's next?" block). Should be on track for the anni chapter later this week.

Yokoya Days. I'm on the last Kyoshi chapter before the brief switch to Rangi's side. Only just started, might be a fairly long chapter (nooo bad me, short chapters for this one! TT0TT). Rangi's side is most likely gonna start after my hiatus.

Two Knives: But on backburner atm (but it haunts me every day uwu). More ideas of scenes for the current chapters are in my head but I just need to put them to paper. I want to get a good number of chapters done before I start posting again. (I have two fairly complete future chapters so I wanna use that as a goal).

I really wanna focus on PR Manager during my break (whenever I...get to that.... I really need a hiatus soon TT0TT)

Heads up I'm visiting parents later this week so that may cut into writing time. And I've been swamped at work (and I also may be developing an ulcer who knows? no time to unpack that ;;>w>). But yeah just thought I'd give a quick update (esp about Thief cause I got really excited uwu;;)

#the hunt curse #salty talks #huh what was that last part? haha don't worry about it #upset tummy being a dummy #the horrors (aka work) were fighting me all last weekend too but I was fighting back (ง •̀_•́)ง

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swiftsaltsweet · 1 month ago

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Yokoya Days Ch 10: Kyoshi's First Encounters

Characters: Rangi and Kyoshi (RoK characters tbh)

Pairing: Rangshi (Mostly Rangi crushing and Kyo showing signs of attraction) and also showing Kyoshi's crush on Yun (as little as I can cause I'm biased~!)

Rating: T

Summary:

Ever wonder what Kyoshi, Rangi, and Yun were like before the whole Iceberg incident? How they first met? And so on? Aka, little episodic adventures of 14/15/16 year old Yokoyan Trio.

Canon compliant, end game pairings in the actual novel u_u

Other Sites: AO3

A/N: Me, pointing at myself in the mirror: You gotta remember to write Kyoshi’s crush on Yun. It’s only fair. And you gotta keep it canon compliant. Also me: But I wanna write Rangshiiiiiiiiiii Me: But you’re the one that wants to stay canon compliant! Also me: But I wanna write “doing her best”!Rangi and “unaware bisexual”!Kyoshi ;w; Me: You can just make sure to mention the crush on Yun from time to time! It’s only for a handful of months! And then she realizes she’s not in love with Yun! Also me: ……….fine…..but I’m gonna write gay-by disaster Ranshi while I do it. >3> puh puh puh

(tbh I just make Kyoshi A LOT more aware of Rangi and her features than I do Yun, which tbh….is very canon of her. TT0TT Girl either won’t shut up about Rangi, or just uses her as a touch stone for things it’s sooooo funny. Thinking how Kirima’s features look really pretty after Rangi’s set her fireblast over her head and with Koulin: She had a round, pleasant face and wore her hair almost identical to Rangi’s” Like I get you’re the Earth Avatar, but get off the ground!! Girllll!!! TT0TT Stop being so cute!)

Future me: *gasp* a chapter this early in the week? What happened???? (I've had this written out for months that's what TT0TT Finally get to publish it! \uwu/)

Oh, right, this is where described her original uniform jsaklfj It’s supposed to be different from the one we see in Generations, mostly because she’s running around like crazy and it’d probs be more breathable. But she’ll get the new/Generations one later. (I know I did a little doodle in ch 6 and it’s based off the Generations outfit, but I…was struggling with the other one so uwu sue me uwu7)

Anyway glossary terms (might be better to just google for the visual, if you need to picture something think of Chihiro’s work outfit from Spirited Away, it’s similar to that):

Jinbei: basically a japanese short sleeve shirt and shorts outfit combo (note: the sleeves are still wide/baggy)

Tatsuki:A long strip of material that’s used to tie the sleeves of kimonos and yukata and so on out of the way and from catching (it’s the same white material Chihiro from Spirited Away uses, or when players in Chihayafuru have to wear their kimonos when they play). It bunches it up more and keeps it from snagging. (so even if she has short sleeves, it keeps the edges contained at least, keep in mind Kyoshi’s also malnourished so it’s also just all around baggier on her.).

Deer Fox Step: It’s the ATLA version of a Fox Step in that universe (cause you know…how they handle animals), which is just a silent stepping technique.

____

Kyoshi’s first meeting with the green menace and the little red terror probably couldn’t have been any more different. And yet the end result of their meetings were the same… Disaster.

The day Kyoshi met Avatar Yun, was the day she started working at the mansion. Master Jianzhu had returned with him and already erected the skeleton of the mansion up within less than a day. A handful of workers had arrived that day as well, presumably Master Jianzhu had sent out word via Messenger Hawk to head to Yokoya. So by the time they arrived, some of the new staff was already there.

One such staff member was the head cook, Auntie Mui. Despite being decades older than Kyoshi, probably closer to Kelsang’s age, the plum shaped women barely came up to the not-so-little fourteen year old Kyoshi’s chest.

Kyoshi’s role in the mansion hadn’t been, and if she was being honest still wasn’t, solidified. However, some way or another, they’d decided that she would fall into the ‘maid’ category. They’d even given her a temporary uniform, something similar to a jinbei, with tatsukis wrapped around her to keep her longer sleeves from getting caught in the mayhem. It was hard finding an adult size that would fit the girl, her height proved an issue for anything appropriately fitting her lengthwise. Her lack of muscle and fat on her also proved an entirely separate issue, as now she swam in the clothes. But she would need to make due for now. Her clothing wasn’t the top priority of the mansion. Apparently, neither was her training.

And so, Auntie Mui took it upon herself to teach her not only the basics for a normal maid, but one of ‘high society.’ Kyoshi supposed it made sense, she was working for the Avatar and an Earth Sage. Nothing could get any higher than that in the Earth Kingdom, unless she worked in the Earth King’s personal circle… But even that was debatable.

From street urchin to maid of the Avatar? She was really rising up the ranks in the world!

Kyoshi quickly learned that Auntie Mui had an interesting fixation on the higher arts and such ways of high end Earth Kingdom society. Which, while a tad odd, proved to be very helpful considering the high station Kyoshi was about to work in.

She also happened to be a really great teacher in other areas as well! She taught Kyoshi how to cook, being the head cook and all of course she'd be good at teaching that, but she also instructed her in the art of the silent step. Something Kyoshi figured would make more sense with hunting rather than working in a mansion, but apparently she was wrong.

“The guests can’t see you!” She lectured Kyoshi as she stirred a pot of stew. “It doesn’t matter how hectic the mansion is, we must maintain the illusion of serenity.”

Auntie Mui smacked Kyoshi’s hand with a spoon as she watched the girl reach for a knife. Kyoshi wanted to help with dicing the green onions.

“Too early for that,” she hissed sternly. Auntie Mui proceeded to push stalks of corn in front of Kyoshi to peel instead. “I don’t want you cutting yourself and bleeding all over the new lacquer!”

Kyoshi nodded, and began peeling the stalks. “So how do I do that? Not be seen?”

Kyoshi wished she knew this growing up, maybe it could’ve helped her avoid a few scuffles with Aoma or the other children. Only the children, though. The adults in the village had no issue acting like she didn’t exist…usually.

Auntie Mui hummed to herself as she stirred the pot of stew, trying to decide where she should start with the lesson. “Always be mindful of your surroundings. Keep an ear and eye out if a guest is coming by, and if you do hear them coming, then hide.”

“Hide?”

“Yes, again, be mindful of your surroundings! You need to know where the nearest corner or storage room is for you to hide in,” she said, moving from the pot to a nearby table and managing some work over there.

Kyoshi accepted what she was told, even if she didn’t think that was very fair. Having to do all that work but be treated like she didn’t exist? But she held her tongue. She was used to that sort of treatment anyway. At least now she was being paid to be ignored.

She placed the last stalk of corn down in the bucket, but her hands instantly became full again when a long seaweed wrapped rice tube was suddenly thrust at her. It was an uncut gimbap wrap, Auntie Mui must’ve made it when Kyoshi wasn’t looking. She looked up and blinked at the older cook, unsure of what to do with it.

“Nibble on that while I show you how to deer fox step, child.”

Kyoshi did as she was told, enjoying her lunch as she absorbed all that she could learn from Auntie Mui.

Work and training was done for the day for Kyoshi, officially at least. However, the young girl wanted to try perfecting her new way of walking as soon as she could. The faster she learned, the less likely she would get in trouble later down the road. And maybe Auntie Mui would be impressed by how much she improved in just a day!

And that’s how she found herself in the back part of the estate. The walls were newly built, but it still had a small forest of trees that had yet to be chopped down. The landscapers were probably still deciding on what trees they would still like to keep for the aesthetic, if they wanted to keep any at all.

It was in that place Kyoshi had the meeting of a lifetime.

“One… Two… Ugh, three!” she counted aloud, grunting in an effort to stay in rhythm. Auntie Mui tried to teach the form to her like it was a dance. It helped, Kyoshi felt like she was slowly getting it. She needed to keep her weight on her back foot, then step on the outside of her front foot, ball first, and then roll her foot over and land on her heel last.

It was the opposite of how she usually walked, heel first and all, but if she wanted to survive she’d need to adapt. At least that was something she knew she was good at doing.

She had just made it three steps on each foot without making a noise, when something fell (or rather, jumped?) out of the tree next to her!

“Hey whatcha doin’? Looks like fun!” the tree person announced right next to Kyoshi.

Kyoshi screamed and pushed the figure away out of instinct, falling back on her rear from the force of it all. When she looked up, she saw a boy she’d never seen before.

He was very handsome, the most handsome boy she’d ever seen in her life. He had jade green eyes, and warm brown hair pulled into a small ponytail. His face was still round with baby fat, but she could see a strong jaw line forming at the edges. He donned a bright, lopsided grin on his face.

“Ow!” he laughed. “You sure are strong!”

The boy rolled off of his back and onto his knees, and started crawling towards her. Excitement glistened in his eyes.

“What were you doing just now? Dancing?” he asked as he got in her face. Kyoshi could feel cheeks heating up, she’d never been this close to someone her age before. At least, not without a rock in their hand. And especially not someone this good looking.

Kyoshi found she couldn’t speak, her tongue felt thick in her mouth. And her heart was beating a bit too fast. What was going on? Was she having some kind of attack?

“And how tall are you? Are you the same age as me? Fourteen? Man, you’re the tallest person I know! At least besides that one monk!” he kept on jabbering, undeterred by her silence. “Are you still growing? How tall do you think you’ll get? Are your parents tall too? Mine–”

Kyoshi looked at his attire. His robes were bright and fresh. He must’ve been a nobleman’s son or something of the sort. But how could that be? No one brought their child along, at least not yet.

But the only people here are Jianzhu, Kelsang, the workers, the staff, and the…

Dread slowly creeped into Kyoshi as she realized who the boy in front of her was. Fourteen? Noble clothes? He had to have been the Avatar! He was Avatar Yun!

I assaulted the Avatar! Kyoshi thought with dread. First day on the job and she already did something fireable! Oh, who was she kidding? She could be put to death for what she’d done!

She could feel her chest starting to contract, and hyperventilation started to set in. She needed to get out of there!

“So I was wondering, do you want to–”

Kyoshi didn’t bother to listen to what he had to say. She scurried back on her hands and feet, away from the Avatar, and then booked it out of there.

She was lucky she was able to meet with Kelsang later that night, and she explained the whole thing. But the monk had the audacity to laugh at her misfortune! At least he swore he’d smooth things over for her. He even offered to have her meet the Avatar officially, but she declined. No need to get involved with him, he was sure to be nothing but trouble.

She ended the day with only a copious amounts of apologies and a thankful heart.

_____

The day Kyoshi first saw Rangi, was about two days after she’d met Avatar Yun.

During that time, Kyoshi was intently dodging Avatar Yun at every possible second of the day. At least it felt like it. He was really putting her new maid training to the test. She had to quickly learn to walk silently so he couldn’t hear her, as well as learn to strain her ears so she knew when he was near.

He’s like a brightly colored parrot frog. Kyoshi groused. The boy shined and drew you in with his enchanting features, but could easily kill you with his poisonous skin! The perfect predator.

In this case, his brightly colored features were his good looks and smile, and his poisonous skin was his ability to get Kyoshi fired. Well, Kyoshi wasn’t going to let that happen! She may have been an uneducated orphan, but she was one who knew not to touch any brightly colored parrot frogs!

So she trained herself to run at the first sight of him! Or in this day’s case… Sound!

As she was picking flowers for the vases in the mansion, a field a ways away behind the whole estate, when she heard him. He was calling down to her from one of the hills above. She didn’t bother to turn and look in his direction, instead opting to skitter to the nearest exit path and to get as far enough away from him as possible.

She still had a task to finish after all.

Once she was done picking the appropriate amount of flowers, this time farther away from the estate, she made her way back. There were a lot of people gathered in the courtyard, mostly the soldiers that Jianzhu had hired to protect the mansion. However, something interesting stood out to Kyoshi.

In a forest of green soldiers, two bright red flames stood among them.

Fire Nationals. Kyoshi thought, gawking at the foreigners' backs, who she would later be informed were Master Hei-Ran and her daughter Rangi. She’d never seen one before, and now there were two of them! And by the looks of their attire, Kyoshi was sure they were in the Fire Army.

They’re armor was much sleeker and formfitting than the Earth Kingdom ones that she had become accustomed to. They also stood out a lot more, but she wondered if that was because she was too used to the browns and greens of the Earth Kingdom. Maybe they didn’t stand out as much in the Fire Nation? She did hear gossip about how the entire country was painted red…

She couldn’t help but gawk at the two as she passed by. As she did, she got a better view of them. The slightly shorter one was a girl around Kyoshi’s age… And she was the most beautiful girl Kyoshi had ever seen. Far lovelier than any flower Kyoshi had in her basket. It surprised her so much, she couldn’t help but stop and stare.

The girl had a porcelain doll-like face that any real porcelain doll would’ve been jealous of. Her pitch black hair stood in stark contrast against her pale skin, with perfect pink, heart shaped lips that rested into a natural pout.

Kyoshi could feel her heart beating fast and hard as she looked at the Fire National, and it only quickened when the other girl noticed her staring and made eye contact. The intense, piercing glare that the girl’s bronze eyes gave her sent rolling waves of electricity down Kyoshi’s spine.

And Kyoshi panicked.

What is this feeling? Kyoshi thought. It felt familiar, but Kyoshi couldn’t quite place it. But as she gazed at Rangi’s furrowed brow and soft scowl, Kyoshi realized what it was.

Loathing. And fear. Rangi’s loathing towards Kyoshi. Kyoshi’s new growing fear of the Fire National. Yes, Kyoshi had felt something similar before. When she wandered too far into the forest one time and was attacked by a wild wolf monkey, or when she was being chased by a group of a dozen children hell bent on making Kyoshi’s head their new target circle. Her heart beating like a battle drum was her body’s indicator she was in danger.

Somehow, Kyoshi had made a wrong impression, a bad one, and she needed to get out of there!

She quickly scurried off, face blazing from shame of gawking at a stranger, semi-aware that Rangi’s gaze stayed on her until she turned the corner.

_____

The next day had been when Kyoshi finally interacted with Rangi. She learnt the Fire National’s names after asking Kelsang the day she first saw them. He’d offered to formally introduce Kyoshi to Rangi, but like with Avatar Yun, she declined. This time, it was because she remembered Rangi’s reaction to her, and figured the bridge was already burnt before she could even approach.

It was fine, Kyoshi could live with it. She was there to work, not dilly dally around.

What Kyoshi couldn’t live with, was that the same firebender she decided to avoid, was now stalking over to her.

“What are you doing?” she asked curtly, stopping Kyoshi right in front of a nearby scaffolding. They were still doing heavy construction in this area of the mansion.

“I–I–” Kyoshi was at a loss for words. The girl’s glare was beyond intimidating, she made Kyoshi lose her train of thought with just a look. Were all Fire Nationals like this?

“You what?” she asked, an eyebrow raised. Obviously irritated that it was taking Kyoshi so long to answer.

“I’m helping with the kitchen!”

Kyoshi readjusted her grip on the fruit she was carrying to highlight her point.

Rangi’s brow furrowed. Apparently she didn’t like that for… well Kyoshi had no idea what the reason could be. “You're with the kitchen staff? I didn’t see that on the staff ledger…”

So this little girl had the authority to peep at the staff ledger? She must’ve been someone with a pretty high rank. Even higher than what Kyoshi originally assumed. That could prove to be trouble…

Kysohi should probably ask Kelsang some more questions about the two other teens before he leaves. Not because she wanted to get to know them, she needed only enough to know her standing. And maybe give her some insight on how to avoid them further… But nothing further, she didn't want word to some how get back to the other two teens she was inquiring about them. They may take it the wrong way... And that'd put her in danger of getting fired!

“Oh, I’m not… I’m not really assigned anywhere… I just help the kitchen from time to time…”

“What?” Rangi asked in a voice that sounded almost insulted, it almost made Kyoshi drop her basket of fruit. Did she seem to think Kyoshi was at fault for her strange predicament at the estate?

“I don’t know! I’m just– I just do whatever someone asks me to do!” Kyoshi explained hurriedly.

Rangi looked down at the ground, annoyed. Her hand reached her chin as she appeared deep in thought. They stood there for a bit too long, and Kyoshi’s arms felt like they were getting tired.

“Um, if that’s all I think I’m going to–” Kyoshi cut herself off, the sound of a creaking noise piquing her interest.

“Wait!” Rangi shouted, but Kyoshi’s attention was torn to the falling scaffolding.

By the time Rangi looked up, the fixture was already on its way to crush both girls. Kyoshi reacted without thinking first. She pushed Rangi and herself out of the way. She sent them flying, just far enough that when the scaffold collapsed, it barely missed Kyoshi’s legs.

Kyoshi had landed on her stomach, aware of only two things: an amazing floral scent, and something sticking into her gut.

She pushed herself up onto her hands and was greeted with a blazed face and angry looking Rangi under her. Kyoshi’s eyes drifted downward and saw the basket of fruit she was carrying was now crushed, destroyed beyond all recognition. Its contents had already leaked out and stained both their clothes.

Kyoshi felt the blood drain from her face, realizing she’d not only crushed the other girl, but also dirtied her heirloom armor. And she’d destroyed the charge she was selected to deliver. She was going to be in so much trouble, and from so many sides at that! She could probably be fired! Not even a week in and she was already in danger!

Kyoshi quickly sprung to her feet, grabbing what remained of the basket and contents. “I–I–I’m sorryyyyyyy!” She yelled, bowing deeply and then sprinting off to the kitchen before she could receive fiery retribution.

“Wait! H–GET BACK HERE DAMN IT!” She heard Rangi yell after her, but Kyoshi couldn’t stop. She was too afraid to.

Her reprimanding from Auntie Mui was thankfully light that day. No fiery vengeance was enacted either, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be in the future...

____

A/N: Future me: Oh wow I remember when this was gonna be like….chapter 3 (I think ch 6 was originally like…ch 4) hahahaha yeah that changed lksfjkal You can see the influence of it still I think, esp about the lesson on hiding right away (no need to change it, but wanted to point it out as a fun fact). But since we blew past that….well… 8U Instead the parallel between this chapter and last chapter is Kyoshi saving Rangi from being smooshed (and completely brushing off said incident). uwu Kyoshi may not have given the event(s) much thought but I doubt it’s the same for Rangi *wink wink* ;U

Anyway back to past me: Siiiiigh this one was longer than it should’ve been. Orz Oh well! Back to shorter chapters 8U

Anyway~ Friendly Yun encounter has her assaulting (pushing) him, and angry/unfriendly Rangi encounter has Kyo protecting her~! uwu Both end with her running away sadly tho u_u (and oh dear…..Kyoshi just reverse suspension bridged herself when she saw Rangi TT0TT Hang in there Rangi!!!)

And "Was that a Wicked reference?" Yes! My fav song since forever uwu Fun fact, I was gonna use that reference in Thief in the Avatar's Estate Arc 2 buuuuut....things changed (dynamics and stuff, it all happened when Rangi got hurt there). And I was gonna make it appear somehow damn it! uwu

#kyoshi fanfic #chronicles of the avatar #rise of kyoshi #rangshi #rangi #rangi sei'naka #shadow of kyoshi #kyoshi #rangi seinaka #salty fics #kyoshi prequel

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