Chapter 9: Tensions through every corner...

Akihiko grimaced at the tiny motel. He itched to complain and fuss on leaving onto another location. His old lifestyle gnawed at him. After months on the small refugee boat to the Earth Kingdom, he wanted to rest on a nice plush bed. Eat rich food and dress in an appropriate manner. The grip on his arm tightened and he dragged on inside. He bit the inside of his cheek and fought not to behave inappropriate or rude in front of Fuyumi. The woman would chastise him inside of their rooms after they signed in and paid for their stay. She had no relation to him but she reprimanded him better than his own mother.

Once they entered through the doors, he sighed in relief. To his view, the interior bested the outside. The outside looked scruffy and rundown, while the inside seemed well kept. Clean and decorated well. Paintings of amazing scenery hung all around the walls. It was better than he expected. In fact, Fuyumi gave him a smirk as she sauntered over the front desk. Her face still remained flawless despite the lack of powder and lip stain.

She stopped. The receptionist's attention was placed onto something in her hands. He couldn't see far beyond the barrier and the person was a tad short with fiery red hair. Held up in a messy bun. She shooed him away from her side, he stood a good distance away. No use rustling her feathers until she snapped at him. He had no mood to argue with anyone. First thing on his list, dropping his heavy bags onto the floor until he dropped onto the bed.

Fuyumi started chatting up the receptionist. "Hello, are there any two beds in a room available?" She held back a laugh when the young lady dropped the book. "I apologize for startling you." Akihiko snorted right behind her.

The woman collected herself with a grin. "Ah yes, no problem. You just caught me in the middle of an amazing story." She opened a large sign in booklet with numerous names written in. Her finger went down the list and located some openings. "We have one in the back and also one near the entrance."

"What's the difference?"

"The back has a view toward the valleys. Complete privacy from anyone. The front is closer to the kitchen and we offer a complementary breakfast or dinner if you prefer." She explained. "I'm Aikawa." She bowed. "A pleasure to meet you two."

"I'm Fuyumi and he's Akihiko." Fuyumi chuckled. "I see. Well, I think we might take the room with the view. It will be a breath of fresh air to watch an amazing view and relax."

"Good choice." Aikawa smiled. "There's also a wonderful trail you can take toward a lake. I would suggest going there in the early morning if you need to stay long enough. Trust me, the walk is worth it."

"Sound ridiculous." Akihiko muttered as he lit up his pipe.

Aikawa crinkled her nose at the oncoming smell of tobacco. "We don't allow anyone to smoke in here." She motioned to the sign right beside the counter before she returned her attention to Fuyumi.

"Ugh." Akihiko used Aikawa's distraction to put out the flame himself. "Fine."

"We will stay here for a few days." Fuyumi informed Aikawa, a dazzling smile presented on her face. "Ignore the petulant child beside me. He's crabby from our journey here. We ended up traveling on foot due to finding no one to give us a wagon or any horses."

"Petulant child?" Akihiko gasped out, flabbergasted at her comment.

Aikawa almost laughed."Oh, where are you two from?" She tilted her head while she placed the booklet onto the desk. "Your clothing is not from around here. Are you from the outskirts of the Earth Kingdom?"

Akihiko intercepted, a scowl showed on his face and his voice. "And what business is that of yours? I have no time for this. Are you going to give us the key or not?"

"Excuse me?" Aikawa inquired.

"Akihiko!" Fuyumi turned to him.

He flinched at her tone but it showed for a second. "I'm tired and I want to sleep. Not remain and do idle chatter." Akihiko put out his hand. "Give me the key. She will pay."

Aikawa slowed down her movements on purpose as she grabbed the keys from the cabinet behind him. The temptation to throw them at the man's face grew stronger with each passing second. She dropped them in Akihiko's open palm and watched him stalk down the hallway.

"I'm so sorry for him. He's tactless and doesn't know how to remain patient for long." Fuyumi sighed as she took out her coin purse. "My son learned how to control himself after he grew older. He needed to learn not to let his hot head lead him into trouble. Old family tempers never did any good in tense situations."

"He's not your son?"Aikawa placed her book against the barrier.

Fuyumi counted out the amount on the counter. "No. He's my son's childhood friend. In a sense, he turned into my son. From all the time he spent in our home, I even scold him the same as my son. Why? Do we look alike?"

"I wondered since you two didn't look similar. I almost thought that he was something else..." Aikawa readied herself for her to yell at her for such thoughts.

Fuyumi burst into laughter. "You mean to tell me...that it looked like he was my lover?"Aikawa nodded her head. "No, no, I'm married. My husband is back home and I'm traveling to meet up with my son. Akihiko came along with me since my husband feared for my safety."

Traveling in numbers gave her a better sense of security than if she explored on her own. She knew it assured her husband that she had someone to guard her back. He usually took upon this task since the day they met. It felt odd not having him escort her around. She needed to obscure her fire bending and Akihiko provided the extra muscle.

"Also, we will be having the food that comes along with our stay." Fuyumi watched Aikawa place the counted money inside of a bag. "You might hear Akihiko complaining later through the walls. Ignore him."

Aikawa nodded her head, hiding her less than nice words inside of her mind.

Terra released her hair from her ponytail. Rubbing her scalp, she tried not to think about going to the back to rest. After all, the bedding they kept in the back got used for that purpose. Her brother who took the midday time, went into the other town for some errands. Not due back until late in the afternoon around closing time. She couldn't risk having someone steal her merchandise through her impromptu nap. It happened enough times that she grew paranoid.

Her face brightened when she saw Nowaki walking down the road. Nowaki's new roommate, Hiro, stayed right beside him. In such deep conversation. She caught Hiro glancing at Nowaki with tenderness in his eyes. A vast difference from the day she met him. The person she assumed as stern and serious, went into a different direction with Nowaki.

Although, Nowaki garnered that effect on people. Most of the people who bought attire from her store, they had nothing but positive commentary. Her wish to know every detail on the people in town made her a tad nosy. At least, she admitted her gossiping nature to herself.

When they got even closer, she raised her voice. "And here I thought I would never see the sick one again. Nowaki, did you end up going into hibernation over your cold?"

Nowaki stopped in surprise, he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "The medicine made me sleep a lot more than I expected. Hiro-san took such good care of me, he's such an amazing nurse."

Hiroki scowled. "You can heal yourself next time."

"Aw but why?" Nowaki placed an arm around his shoulders. "I never said you did a horrible job. You managed to get me to drink every single drop of that bitter tea. I'm sure you didn't attempt to taste it before giving it to me,"

"Not at all. I wasn't the one who stayed in bed with a fever."

"What! You taste every single brew you make before you even serve it. Some tea expert you are." Nowaki huffed and tipped his head back with a snicker.

Hiroki narrowed his eyes. "You dare question my tea brewing Kusama? I'll comment on your disgusting Water Tribe soups." He patted Nowaki's forearm with a sigh. "You tried making me sick with your odd ingredients."

"Hey! You know that's not true."

Terra placed her hand on the palm of her hand. She watched the pair in amusement. Hiroki showed more of himself while he talked with Nowaki. Well, when Nowaki made a jab or a joke at his expense.

Hiroki glanced over at Terra and ignored Nowaki. "Does he come into town that often?"

Terra nodded her head with a smile. "Almost every single day of the week. A rumor started that Nowaki ended up moving into another town. That broke all the young ladies hearts at the mere thought! Such exaggerations for nothing. I assured the majority that Nowaki actually caught a sickness."

"Young ladies?" Hiroki arched a brow and looked up at Nowaki. "Something you want to tell me? I didn't know you were popular."

"There's nothing to say." Nowaki answered. "I simply wave and smile whenever I see them. Sometimes, we have short conversations whenever I fix something with their fathers. I'm just being polite."

"It's simple infatuation." Terra waved her finger. "Before Nowaki, there was a buff earth bender who captured the hearts of every girl in this town. His strength was extraordinary but he never flaunted it. He was the vegetable vendors son. Those girls were heartbroken when he married and moved to a sea side town." She stared at Hiroki. "Their attention will get placed on someone new. We just haven't had new faces."

Hiroki furrowed his brows and coughed into his hand. "It's not like they know Nowaki's ridiculous habits. He isn't always so calm and collected with a nice smile. Always covered in dirt and can barely brew a perfect cup of tea. Their vision of him will vanish in an instant." He picked up a pair of sandals. "I will buy these." Terra told him the price and he handed her the right amount.

Nowaki ran his fingers through Hiroki's hair, this caught Terra's interest. "Who knows, they might turn their attention on you."

Hiroki frowned. "I don't think so. My personality will drive them away when they know the real me." He removed Nowaki's arm from his shoulders. "Thank you for tolerating this giant, Terra. He's such a hassle."

"Hiro-san!"

"Always a pleasure!" She gave him his change. "I learned a lot about you today Hiro. Last time, you were so closed off during our conversation. Then again, you were in a hurry to get the medicine and go back home." She stared at them back and forth. "I can tell you two are so close. Very close. How long have you known each other?"

Nowaki piped up. "A year and a half. We met during my travels."

Hiroki stared at him with widened eyes. "Uh...Yes, we met around that time." He nudged Nowaki's side. "We should get going. This was originally a medicine trip.Right, Nowaki?" Nowaki picked up the hint and nodded his head.

"Alright, I won't keep you," Terra waved at them as they went on their way.

They stopped in an area behind some empty homes. Nowaki lead them there when he caught onto Hiroki's hint. He knew the topic at hand without having to ask him. They were hidden from view of anyone who might overhear their conversation. After all, they worked hard in keeping their secrets from leaking out.

Hiroki stood in front of Nowaki with his arms crossed, holding his sandals with one hand. He glared up at him and tapped his foot.

Nowaki averted his gaze and bit his bottom lip.

"You didn't inform me on our cover story. I know we are supposed to be old friends but I didn't know what to say." Hiroki demanded with a frown on his face. "What have you been telling these people?"

"It just came out. She might get curious if I gave her a sub par answer. I couldn't think of a town we met when I traveled through boat." Nowaki leaned close to Hiroki, assuring him. "I haven't said much. I told them that you kept to your privacy. All anybody knows is that you traveled here with the intent of seeing me. You lost your luggage as well."

Hiroki huffed as he turned away from him. "I can't believe you. You make me sound like an easy target for robbers. You know better than anyone that I can fight without revealing certain abilities of myself."

"You lost your luggage, there's a difference. I know you would beat someone up if they crossed your path." Nowaki rubbed Hiroki's shoulders. "Did I say anything wrong? Should I have said something else?"

Hiroki shook his head. "No, it's fine. We never established a real story. The whole meeting through travels story sounds just fine." He heard people coming toward their area. "We should get going. It sounds like people are crowding the main roads."

"Alright." Nowaki removed his hands from Hiroki and patted the top of his head. "We should get some soap as well."

Shinobu scowled from his seat. He watched Risako make medicine for this customer who turned out to be Nowaki's friend. He met Nowaki when their roof leaked and he offered to fix it. Throughout the whole time, Nowaki asked him questions with a kind smile. He thought Risako gathered an interest in him. Considering, she talked extra sweet to the men that walked inside of their apothecary. Then again, she spoke in a polite tone to everyone and explained her knowledge in the medicine they provided.

He understood well enough. His explanations left a lot to be desired. It helped that Risako intervened whenever he got into a stump. Although, in other occasions, she pushed him to handle people. Lucky for him, most of their local customers knew his usual behavior. They didn't complain to his father when he sat with them in the early mornings. The older people trusted his father on deeper information.

Risako almost boosted up to his father's status.

He still remained in the limited information bracket.

Shinobu connected eyes with Hiro. He tried not to scowl but he wasn't about to smile at him. The man tipped his head in salutations before turned back to Risako.

Hiro's name was one of the oddest he ever heard. No Earth Kingdom boy had such a short name. Unless, it was short for something else. It sounded close to the word hero. Something, he didn't think suited the man at all. He saw him as rude grouchy individual. Well, to their limited interaction so far.

"Bye, Shinobu!" Nowaki waved enthusiastically, his goodbye broke Shinobu from his thoughts. "I'll come back soon."

Hiroki tapped Nowaki's chest. "You mean I'll be coming back."

Nowaki laughed. "Maybe, maybe not."

Hiroki turned away from Nowaki as he nodded at Shinobu's direction. Shinobu did the same.

They walked out of the entrance, engrossed in their own conversation. Shinobu went back to his story. Bored out of his mind.

"You're oddly quiet." Risako sat next to her brother and gulped down her water. "Something wrong?"

"Nothing." Shinobu went back to his book. "We need to get more material. This book turned out to be a bore."

Risako wiggled her eyebrows. "Another trip to the Takahashi bookstore? You know, you spend so much time there, father thinks you want to stay there forever. The books can't be what caught your interest. After all, you read for learning purposes." She feigned thinking about it and placed her finger under her chin. "A certain bright green eyed boy perhaps?"

Shinobu's face went bright red. "Shut it."

"Oh c'mon, it's so obvious. You're lucky he's a dense one like his older brother. Good thing Manami was blunt when she asked Takahiro out for a date." She stretched up her arms above her head. "Do you even talk to him?"

Shinobu glared at her. "Of course I do,"

"Well, he was here yesterday while on your break. He asked about you." Shinobu snapped his head to her direction. "This is why I tell you not to take such long breaks." She winked and smiled. "You might actually talk about something other than books."

The pitter patter of the rain did nothing to control Hiroki's foul mood. Water fell down onto the ground, making him uncomfortable. He snapped his fingers, relief filled him when he still managed to produce a spark. For most of the day, he brewed batches of black tea. Soothing him a bit. His books distracted his wayward thoughts as he focused on the story. He curled in a blanket on the floor, against one of the corners of the main room. This gave him a direct view of the front door and one of the open windows.

The downpour made it impossible for him to go outside without ruining his footwear.

This didn't stop Nowaki from going through his usual chores. Although, he cut it short after the rain flooded the ground and made it into mud. Hiroki warned him on the status of the ground but Nowaki thought his bending would help him. It prevented him from sinking his feet into the grassy areas. When he walked through the door, he hurried into their bedroom. Leaving tracks of water behind.

Hiroki ignored the mess of water in favor of his literature. Nowaki returned with a rag and soaked up everything. Wringing the liquid when he went back at the entrance. He ran back into their bedroom, to change into dry clothing.

Nowaki returned and sat next to Hiroki on the floor. "I thought you told me that you needed no blanket. You're already releasing so much heat."

Hiroki sipped his tea. "It's raining and I'm in a down mood. The soft blanket helps me get comfortable." He felt something on his lap and he saw Nowaki laying his head on his lap. "Okay, why are you putting your head on my lap?"

"Felt like it."

"Whatever." Hiroki drank more of his tea. "You're just using me as a human sized heater."

Nowaki chuckled. "Not at all," He curled his hands close to his chest. "You can't stand the rain? It's comforting to me." A warmness developed in his chest as Hiroki patted down his hair.

Hiroki sighed. "My power is drained. I feel a lot more helpless staying in the middle of so much water."

"Did you feel that way on your way over here?"

"Yes," Hiroki placed his cup right next to him, he wrinkled his nose. "I got seasick as well."

Nowaki smiled. "We will have to work on that when we go on a boat." He pushed himself up and gulped. "Hiro-san?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you ever get butterflies in your stomach when you see someone?" Nowaki asked as he focused his sights away from Hiroki. "I have started getting them recently and I don't know what to do about it. I don't want to ruin a friendship through telling my feelings." He sighed. "I've had crushes in the Northern Water Tribe but they never developed this strong before."

Hiroki gulped when he responded. "Well...I got them as a teenager. I gathered feelings for an old friend that grew up alongside me." He placed a hand underneath his head. "Eventually, I cherished our friendship a lot more than my own feelings. I found out he fell for another person and got his heart broken in the process. I wanted to stay alongside him just to support him and to guide him through his sorrow. As it turned out, he saw me as a brother. Nothing more."

Nowaki licked his lips, his heart clenched in his chest. "Would you have fought for your feelings? I mean...if there was a chance."

Hiroki reached into his shirt and caressed his locket. "Who knows. After all, no one can predict the future. Besides, I don't have any feelings for him whatsoever."

"You don't?"

"I have fallen for someone else." Hiroki admitted. "But, I don't want to ruin this friendship either. The time isn't appropriate."

Nowaki's heart jumped. "Who?"

Hiroki stiffened. "What about you? You're the one who brought up the topic. I don't have to answer to you."

Nowaki turned to Hiroki. "Hiro-san, you rarely go into town. Did you find a new friend in these rare times? Someone who sparked these feelings in you?" Desperation laced his tongue. "Who could you possibly have feelings for? Please, tell me."

They went into a deafening silence. Tense and suffocating. Time ticked on slow and painful.

In Hiroki's peripheral vision, he saw Nowaki moving closer to him. He wanted to get up and bolt into the other room. Escape his problems yet again. Although, running away solved nothing. It didn't stop the pressure on his chest and the trembling of his hands.

In a defeated voice, he confessed.

No use hiding it any longer.

"It's you," Hiroki covered his face with his calloused palms. "You. Of all people in this world, you're the one. It's your fault. All your fault."

"My fault?"

"You kissed me." Inside of his chest, a built up of emotions poured out of his mouth. "You caused me to get ensnared in your trap. I wanted nothing to do with you. In fact, I settled into just retaining this friendship. You ruined everything with that one move."

Nowaki pressed a hand to his chest. "I-I'm sorry."

"Forget I said anything." Hiroki placed his hands onto his lap. "It's better that you forget. I'm nothing more than a traitor-"

"Don't dictate what I can do with these feelings." Nowaki licked his lips as he continued. "I love you."

"N-No." Hiroki's eyes widened and he babbled. "You're trying to make me feel better. Don't say that to me. You can find someone else in the village. Plenty of girls will love to marry you." His heart soared from Nowaki's confession but his mind gripped onto his underlying fear. He didn't want to ruin their bond or even risk his life on an unpredictable future.

Nowaki gripped Hiroki's shirt and pulled him close. "I have feelings for you." The blanket fell from their bodies onto the floor.

"You're lying."

"I'm not lying."

"Stop this." Hiroki tried peeling Nowaki's fingers from his shirt. "Stop...please."

Nowaki released his hold on Hiroki's shirt. "You don't have to believe me. In fact, you can push me away. These feelings will not go away just because you say it's for my best interest." He placed his hand in front of Hiroki. "Now...when did I kiss you?"

Hiroki reached out his hand and gripped Nowaki's hand. "When you were sick." Nowaki snickered. "It's not funny. You might have gotten me sick."

"May I kiss you?"

"What?" Hiroki glanced at Nowaki, his skin reddened. "Stop saying such nonsense."

Nowaki smiled. "We both share the same feelings and I have already kissed you before. Too bad I don't remember it." He bit his bottom lip. "I would love to know..."

"Get it over with." Hiroki tightened his hold on Nowaki's hand. "One chance."

"Just one time?"

Hiroki snapped. "Alright..more than once. Does that seem fair?"

"Good." Nowaki leaned close, an inch width between their lips. "You complete it."

Hiroki stared at Nowaki's lips and then his bright blue eyes. Moments later, he connected their lips. Their hands stayed together. He closed his eyes. Nowaki's hand threaded through his hair, stopping at the back of his neck. Keeping him from regretting his decision but he didn't dare leave. He shivered as he used his other arm to hook over Nowaki's shoulders. pulling him closer to him.

They fell onto the ground. The teacup clattered from their movements, spilling the lukewarm tea. Breaking their kiss, they burst into laughter. Sharing another kiss, they stayed on the floor, holding each other close.

The rain continued on pouring outside.

Hiding their new discoveries.

TBC