[bendytimed before Visitation Plot] [what the hell, it's open]

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

The Southern Air Temple was pretty beautiful, architecturally speaking. With twisting spires and trees threaded into the framework of the temple itself, it looked half as if it'd grown out of the ground or been carved into it rather than that it had been built there.

The best part about it, though, was the sense of peace the place had. It was very easily the kind of thing that could draw people in and help them find calm, even if they weren't the religious type.

Comments

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

"I know."

They needed everyone that could lift a hand and fight and he was particularly powerful, a boon against the Ohm.

"That's why it hurts so much."

He had to put everyone else above his own spiritual needs.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"But we know what you're going through," Kaya said. "That might not seem like a lot, but we KNOW. You've been through more things than most people have on the ship, and you fight on. Don't think for a minute me, or Sokka or Zuko don't see that. It's why we'll do our best too, and help anyway we can."

Something she never forgot, no matter who's memories made her think it.

"And the Daligig? What's your take on them?"

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

"I know."

It helped to have his friends understand what he was going through.

"As for the Daligig...I don't know. I want to believe at least some of them are good."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"I haven't gone to see them myself," Kaya admitted. "I meant to, but after that last battle, there was too much to do in med bay, we couldn't spare anyone. I'm still studying to be a certified nurse in bay, we don't have enough for me NOT to be."

She shuddered a little. All those people...

"What's stopping you? Their words, or a gut feeling you have?"

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

"Both? They don't have good explanations for things they should have answers for."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Darn. She figured it would be both. And she hadn't had a chance to talk to any Daligig either, so its not like she could compare and contrast either. She'd have to look into this when she had a day off again. At least they were starting to get back to a set schedule. She couldn't afford to be lax about what was happening on the ship with the people that were supposed to be helping fight the war.

Which left the last thing he was thinking about, one she was unconsciously trying to avoid.

"And me?"

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

Aang was silent here, at first.

"I still have confused feelings over What Stacy did to us. I want to be your friend now, because I like who you are."

A pause.

"But every time I look at you, I think about how I did things like kiss you when I thought you were Katara. It makes me feel guilty, and that gets in the way of being friends."

He wanted those feelings to go away.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"I know." And she DID know, more than anyone, and had to carry the guilt of what she'd done to him before too. Aang had been hurt, and injured further by what had happened with her and Matt. He had Katara now of course, but it didn't change what they had done before.

"And I wish there was a way to forget, but there isn't. You're one of the people I respect the most, more than many, and for a long time? You were the reason I was able to keep going even when I saw more people being podded. The thing is, I've thought about this a long time. What would happen when I saw you again, would those feelings return?"

She smiled. "But those feelings, they were Katara's, and they belong to her. Just like whatever we shared, it was always because Katara was on your mind. The guilt isn't fair for either of us, but you needed her here Aang. The ship needed you to cope, get stronger, because what would have happened if Katara had been asleep when the Nightmare king was threatening to break out? Whatever we did, whatever happened, it was because you needed her here, and when Stacy realized her mistake, she brought me back. So much of Katara, I think, is in me, but it was because I cared a lot about her: and I respected and learned so much, watching the two of you together."

Maybe it wasn't enough for him, but his heart had been with Katara's. Kaya thought it was enough: she certainly knew Katara thought so.

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

Aang nodded and was quiet for a little while, thinking about it.

"Can we be friends? I'd like to be friends with you, Kaya."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"You never really needed to ask Aang," Kaya said quietly, "although I'm glad to hear it. I know you don't know me from my timeline, but I always wanted to be your friend."

And happily, she was nothing close to the side character she'd been back then.

"Though I have a request, if you'll indulge me."

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

"Sure!"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"I have a lot of friends on the ship, but I have yet to find one I can meditate with. If you have the time to spare, do you think we could do that every once and awhile? I'm...having a little trouble in the astral projecting portion."

As in barely being able to DO it now, it had been so long since she had to.

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

"You've been trying to astrally project?" Aang asked her, surprised.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"I did it a long time ago, when there was a girl named Roxie on the ship, and again when I was being trained," Kaya said. "The thing is, if you don't practice something over and over, you forget how to do it. I could probably leave my body if I were able to concentrate, but I can't travel much out of my body anymore."

She hated to admit it, but that part of her stopped when she found out Renne was gone.

[jesushasayak.livejournal.com]

"It's impressive that you were able to do it at all," Aang said, impressed. "But sure! It's ultimately up to your own mind and spirit but I'll try my best to help!"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

"If we were in our world, I probably would never have learned," Kaya admitted. "but with how long I've been here, the more I learned how important a role meditation is keeping yourself sane. The situations where astral projection came into play were pretty unique."

And in another day, she would learn exactly how important it would be.