trans_9 | GOLD PLANET

His morals on the subject were dubious at best, but only because there was a lot he was willing to do or go through for such a good friend.

Nokosi's brow furrowed when he caught a glance of her expression and he scooted over and slid an arm around her neck before explaining. "Yes and no. There are a few days in the spring where Azerothians celebrate love. There are many items you can buy and give and other such events." His last before arriving netted him a slew of misadventures and a hand forcefully pressed against his face.

"During that time in Darnassus, the elves have small boats that circle the waters around the Temple Gardens. It's very quiet and serene; the waters there are always clear and colorful from the many flowers that float on the surface. I rode on the boats a lot during that time because it was so nice, but I was always alone."

Now she felt a little bad, having that suspicious look on her face. It was still something she had to get used to, the way Nokosi saw things, and the things he'd seen. This was still new territory for her, and she knew if she expected to understand where he was coming from, she had to have an open mind.

"Then let's make this something we both can share," she finally said, looking at him earnestly. "I know it isn't quite the same thing, but we can at least make it something we both can be happy about. With all we've done today, I won't lie: I'm jumping at the chance of curling up with you in a boat."

"Then I will make that even easier for you," he said, pulling her closer and pressing a rather chaste kiss against her temple. Nokosi snuggled up to her and leaned back into the seat, ready to see what this ride offered.

"It will be nice to relax after all we did today! I am already lamenting at the prospect having to return to the ship tonight."

A kiss to the temple was nice: when that kiss made the normally sensible Kaya pull him down toward her and kiss more aggressively though? Even better, in her eyes. She didn't let go either: she let the kiss stay at least thirsty seconds before she slowly released, giving him a very mischievous grin.

And just like that, the ride began: interestingly, this tunnel of love (http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoTDxKphOpGsAZZmJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dtuinnel%2Bof%2Blove%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3Dyfp-t-701%26b%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic&w=600&h=496&imgurl=fineartamerica.com%2Fimages-medium%2Fendless-tunnel-of-love-yelena-rubin.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Ffineartamerica.com%2Ffeatured%2Fendless-tunnel-of-love-yelena-rubin.html&size=67.1+KB&name=Endless+Tunnel+of+Love+Painting+-+Endless+Tunnel+of+Love+Fine+Art+...&p=tuinnel+of+love&oid=da6ae2ffeb2c2f7d4d49ff7a31f4e76c&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-701&rw=tunnel+of+love&tt=Endless+Tunnel+of+Love+Painting+-+Endless+Tunnel+of+Love+Fine+Art+...&b=0&ni=30&no=9&tab=organic&sigr=12b59gq2d&sigb=134vjvbn5&sigi=1283up7qs&.crumb=qX0EaOZPY94) was free of the usual cliches of hearts and smaltzy music. In fact, what was playing sounded something like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ_SAZR7dBU&feature=related), the colors starting from vibrant yellows and reds and then rounding out into purples and blues.

"I agree," she said, sighing and laying her her against him, arm curled around his waist. "This was one of the best shore leaves ever."

It was nice for her to indulge in that way and he, of course, didn't mind one bit. It was long and lingering and lacked its usual fervor, only to be replaced by something soft and sweet. A glance at her face had him chuckling and he added one, last kiss to her mouth before settling down with her.

He was far more interested in the music than the visuals and so his eyes eventually fluttered shut in focus. This was a nice, warm moment and it made him feel rather warm, much to his liking.

"Ah, can we stay planetside until shore leave is over, then?" He couldn't reiterate just how much he didn't want to have to be on that ship during their shore leave.

Kaya, for her part, had looked forward to this the moment she heard about it. Billy and Ronnae worked in the same department, but they also lived together, increasing their chances of seeing each other. Kaya took her job as healer seriously, but jumped at the chance to be with Nokosi like this once she had the chance.

Kaya liked both the music and the visuals: true, most people here were likely to pay more attention to each other than anything else, but the colors were a nice compliment, and she closed her hand over his, a blissful look on her face.

"Of course we can," she said, smiling. "When are we ever going to get the chance to enjoy this? Tell me more about the temple gardens, please?"

He was glad to hear that; they could rise early each morning and start their day...or sleep in super late and do nothing but lounge about (one of his favorites). And then there was the chance of seeing a bona fide sunrise and sunset and man, oh man, was he ready to spend the next week doing everything, ever! Of course they'd have to drag Ronnae and Billy along during some of it, too.

"Oh! The Temple Gardens are in the heart of the city, Darnassus. I told you once before that Night Elves' largest home is built atop the branches of an enormous tree, yes? The Temple Gardens are named so because the area that surrounds it houses the white and blue Temple of Elune.

There are little islands scattered around the lake in the middle of Darnassus. Each of them have a bridge or other platform that links one to another. There are all sorts of fish in the lakes, but few vendors in that area--they are nearer to the city gates. In that area there is also a portal; this portal takes you to a small village at the base of Teldrassil. It is the only way to gain entry into the city beside flying, which in itself is not an easy task to accomplish."

Of course they would have Billy and Ronnae in on this: the chance to have an extended leave with her friends, enjoying themselves a little bit free of chaos and pain and duty, sounded like the perfect time for Kaya. She was more than happy to spend some time with Nokosi, and curled up next to him, listening to him talk about the Temple Garden, idly playing with his hair as he spoke.

There was a lot on her mind, she admitted, and some things, she knew, she to keep to herself, including the recent murder she had to witness. Right now though, she wanted to be with Nokosi, and not think of one of the worse sights she had ever had to bear witness to.

"And what is in the village at the base of Teldrassil?" She asked, trying to push that memory away.

"Rut'theran Village," he immediately responded, unaware of her inner struggles. "It is not very large; it is a dock port. There are two vessels there, one that travels to the Exodar, ship, slash, home of the Draenei and another that travels to Stormwind, the capitol city of the Humans."

The combination of the music, the calming waters and her hands in his hair was exceedingly relaxing--if they were anywhere else right now, he might have fallen asleep.

"Ah, it is also where the hippogryphs are bred. A lot of it was destroyed when Deathwing returned, but it was quickly rebuilt."

Kaya decided that talking about that right now would kill the mood. As hard as it was to think about it, she was still able to stay clear headed about things. In fact, there was something she had been thinking about, a long time, that she wanted to mention to Nokosi soon, but she would wait, enjoying his company."

"I'm glad to hear that," she said softly, continuing the stroking of his hair. "I'd like to know about the worlds I've never seen, especially the ones you've been to. It reminds me of all that we're fighting for."

She was quiet a moment. "Nokosi? What are your views on killing?"

"I think sometime soon I might show you; you would like it a lot! Since we live in a tree, every part of our daily lives revolve around nature; even some of the guardians of the city are ancients of the forest."

He really was nodding off to sleep at this point, but then she asked a question that was so out of the blue regarding their conversation that he was wide awake again.

"Killing? Humanoids?" The elf rested his folded arms against his midsection. "Azeroth was full of killing, it was done quite often. In the name of your faction, to protect your people, your land. There are many different reasons why, though all of them are not as serious as others.

Even if I am not tasked with fighting against the Horde, there are still many other tasks roped in controlling the territory of an area that involve it. In short, there will always be someone, somewhere in Azeroth that requires killing, usually set forth by one in different outposts and such in the lands they control." He shrugged. "It happens."

"I do want to see them someday," Kaya said quietly, her hand tracing his arm a moment. "Ever since I've been brought on this ship, I wanted to know about all of these different places. Hearing about them is wonderful, but the Sensorium allows you to actually see it!"

Kaya was quiet for a long time, looking down a moment. Finally she spoke without looking at him.

"I met someone on the ship awhile back, the person who made it so I was able to move and water bend as fast as I do now, because she taught me how to withstand the limitation of my body. She was also a part of a Sisterhood that taught us many mysteries, and in some instances, they were required to kill, whether by seduction or by trickery, to protect the greater good I started my training, but told her I would never be like that."

She laughed bitterly. "But I've already killed Ohm soldiers, almost killed an alien, and recently saw the death of someone from my world. I guess, when it comes down to it Nokosi, I want to know: if killing is the only option to save a peaceful world, how do you know when its right?"

His ears wiggled as he tried to filter out the music and focus on her words. He hadn't known about most of what she spoke of, but he was familiar with the type of people who refused to take the life of another. Usually a pacifist paladin or priest, though he thought that that must be a hard life for those people.

Still, it was a surprise that she was asking him of all people such a question, considering his ambiguous morals. Perhaps it was because she knew he'd killed others before and needed help coping, or maybe she just wanted the honest opinion of someone close to her.

"You will know it is right when you believe it is." It was a simple answer, one that gave a pass to many would-be murderers, zealots and other sort, but it was as straight-forward as he could manage. "If, though, you are asking me from a far more morally upstanding view, then I will have to say that you will know it is right when the consequences of your action benefits the lives of many others in a positive way."

Kaya looked down, and now it must have been evident to Nokosi how she seemed: tired. Keeping a straight face, having fun, took work when your mind played back a memory that happened only a few days before, and of course everything blended in.

"I'm sorry, I..." she trailed off, tearing a little. "I've tried to put that in my mind, my best: a killer should be killed, should die, but I try to stick to the morals I learned, to what I was taught. But is that enough, to want to extend mercy and yet know death has to be an option?"

She closed her eyes. "Nokosi, I have the Ohm's blood on my hands, and the intent of killing an alien there too. And just a few days ago, one of my world's worst enemies were killed before me, even though he would only have been here a day. A part of me is happy he's gone, but another of me wonders how I could have prevented unnecessary murder."

Seeing the change of expression cross Kaya's face made him straighten up and stare, studying her features intently.

"You do not need to apologize and there is no need to abandon your morals. You may not like or agree with what I have to say, but I will be frank with you; I have never, once understood the logic behind letting one who does irredeemable acts of malice and evil, live. I thought those who refused to give such a person their due because of a sense of 'mercy' or 'not wanting to lower oneself to their level' were only really doing it for their own means.

How does it make you worse than they? Because you rid the world of a a plague to mankind? Because you have cost one death in the name of tens, hundreds or thousands?" He shrugged. "I suppose I understand that one will not want blood on their hands, but I also do not understand how they, good-hearted as they are, can allow one person to continue causing so much pain, heartache and despair to others."

Nokosi raised a hand to her cheek and gently ran a thumb over it before leaning in to press a kiss against her lips.

"I will tell you something that I once overheard. The difference between killing and murdering someone is intent. What you saw was someone being killed. What they do is murder. I know the difference, because I have done both. Calling it 'unnecessary' is making light of all the death and destruction caused by their hand. Or..."

The elf paused, a curious expression coming over his features. "Instead of seething with hatred for being bested and attempting to reclaim everything they lost in their defeat, do you believe a person who would do such things can be changed?"

Oh, this was complicated, much more than she thought it would be. If Ozai had never been beaten, if he was a murderer through and through and was not at their mercy at the end, then yes, she would have killed him. He would have made it east: the killer of lands and nations, the following tradition of terrorizing and domesticating nations, fighting and coming close to winning. She would have taken him then, defeated him for all time, risked things and not cared.

But this was not that situation. "There's a time, for me, when murder and defense make sense. With defense, there is little chance to live: you take your chance, you win. Murder, thats different: you kill someone in cold blood, due to rage and all. But Nokosi...I knew him in my world. He was defeated by the Avatar by his taking away his bending. And now, to see him dead: this might change everything.

She wasn't ready.

She put a hand to his chest, not ready to answer the last question. "Who did you murder?"

Her words caused his eyebrows to dip down in a furrow. "How so? Have you never seen a man with nothing still fight on? Just because he is without bending does not mean he is defenseless. Again, I will stress that killing a murderer is not in 'cold blood'.There is no rage involved because 'cold blood' implies that there are no emotions, thoughts or regrets in the action."

It was a bit odd for him to be so impassioned about his responses; he wasn't the type to generally care about such things. He was so neutral on most of the subjects involving good versus evil, that he didn't usually risk his life unless his friends were threatened in some way. But there was something about the way she was blaming herself over failing to stop something that sounded so well deserved that it made him both annoyed and a little bit angry.

"To see him dead would probably be cause for a celebration unseen on your world in many a year. Perhaps you underestimate the level of contempt the people had for him?"

Nokosi blew out a short breath of air and turned, sinking himself back into his seat. Creatures in nature killed for far less, so he couldn't imagine why it was such a big deal to allow someone like that to live. For their own, selfish, self-satisfying reasons, no doubt.

"Ah, some Warsong Orcs. They poisoned the heart of the forest with corruption in retaliation for the Night Elves obstructing their encroachment into Ashenvale. Corrupting an form of nature causes it to decay, rot and turn into a twisted version of what it once was.

I never had a problem with them harvesting wood; we all need supplies. It would have benefited both our people to set aside some differences in the name of trade. They did it to the one thing that gave life to the forest; it would have been a mirror of Felwood, had it not eventually been reversed.

Still, their actions were unforgivable; I have never been more infuriated in my life." Nokosi crossed his arms and regarded her with a side-long glance. "It wasn't murder because I killed some Orcs who wanted to destroy the lives of thousands of creatures in a forest and ruin hundreds of miles of living land. It was murder because I put arrows through the hearts and throats of Warsong Orcs indiscriminately."

He knew there was no way that some of them were directly responsible for corruption of the Heart of the forest, but they were the same. He really hoped that she didn't ask him if he'd felt bad about it afterwards, because he didn't, not even to this day.

"He may not have bending abilities, but in my world, when his bending was taken away, he was then put in jail. The way this an had earned his power within his family had been through those means: the death and enslavement of others. The Avatar's defeat of him had been amazing because he had defeated him in a way his predecessors had not. More importantly, in this situation, we had beaten him: all we needed to do was keep that captured, and the next day he would be gone.If our world is restored, what this will do for our world is completely changed."

But more importantly, it was what Mai had done, and how easily she had done it that bothered her. She claimed she did for Zuko, but he had been captured: personally, Kaya thought it had very little to do with Zuko and more to do with herself and her own inadequacies. Zuko, after all, was a firebender, and he had other benders who would help him.

"I don't underestimate the contempt!" Kaya said sharply, not in anger but in frustration. "I had some of it myself, Nokosi! But a person like that doesn't accomplish his goals without flunkies: instead of just being defeated, he was murdered: that makes a martyr. And martyrs actually stand for something, whether good or bad. I don't want to out Zuko's life in danger more if he ever goes back to being Firelord!"

Kaya listened quietly to what Nokosi had to say. To be honest, she understood, better than Katara might have: when it came to saving peoples and creatures from death, killing was sometimes necessary. Sheeana had made her understand this before she had been repodded. Even the indiscriminate orcs she understood.

"It isn't that I believe you can't kill enemies: I've killed Ohm, and even I know that in extreme circumstances, its necessary. But if it can be prevented? I'd prefer that."

And her eyes clearly told him she did not view him any differently for what he had done. She knew his attachment to the land: she was no so up on a moral high horse that she would have judged him harshly for it.

A sudden thought came to him then; that the effects of this 'tunnel of love' clearly weren't working.

"A man of his position? That does not make him a martyr, Kaya. That makes him assassinated at best. There was no great cause or belief that he suffered through for his people, he did not willingly choose death rather than renounce what his people had done. There was no torture or torment in the act. He was put to death in the same way he probably did to many people. Underfoot, squirming and knowing it is coming."

Hell, he wouldn't have hesitated one moment to put an arrow through his skull if he'd been there. While he viewed enemies in various degrees of hostility, they were all the same to her. And that was where they were so different. He couldn't understand why she viewed a scuffle with a bandit or opposing faction on the same level as the Lich King.

"If you truly believe that imprisoning a man whose people have conquered much of your world is a means to stop his people and the legacy he built, then I am not sure what to tell you. I question, though, where exactly you think that you can hold such a person, that there won't be people trying to free him? He may not have his powers, but I am sure he had a gigantic army who still possess their bending. If he had a loyal enough nation to be considered a martyr upon death." Saying the word almost made him laugh. Almost. "Then they will surely risk their lives again and again to free him and restore him to his seat of power. I have been amongst Humans for less than a decade and even I know that."

He was certain that her hesitation and sense of mercy for those enemies who deserved nothing but death was going to get her injured (if not outright killed) one day. And he would be livid. But there was no point in dwelling on the possibilities of things, so he simply shrugged. "To each his own, then."

This had been Kaya's fault and she knew it: if she had only just let it GO, not even mentioned it, they would be just fine. If this had not been eating her, if after all this time she had not gotten used to death, they would be enjoying themselves right now.

"To his people, the ones that didn't know better. Under the fire lord, the military at least prospered, and those who felt superiority over others were the way to do things. I won't say I'm going to miss him: after all, I was fighting him right alongside Aang then, and I knew together, we could stop him. All we needed to do was keep him bound and defeated, and he would go back to podding. Aang defeats him by taking his powers and imprisoning him ever after. As there is...his daughter is still on this ship. Someone will have to tell her, and she has a fragile mind as it is."

And there wasn't a doubt in her mind she had something to do with it.

"That may be true," she said, quietly. "Maybe you have a point, and the truth is, I don't know what happens after this. In the heat of battle though, when I know my enemy may try to kill me, I will get him first. It was knowing he would be gone that stayed my hand, Nokosi. I know I could have killed him. There any powers I possess that can make this possible. I don't because I know that having these powers is a responsibility that can be misused."

She looked at her hands a moment. "I know I ruined the mood, but you're my boyfriend, and I want you to know what I was thinking. I respect your opinion very much. And thank you...you've given me a lot to think about."

He wouldn't have called it 'misuse of powers' to simply end the Fire Lord, but they had come from different backgrounds after all. It would have been seen as laughable to simply imprison the Lich King or Onyxia; humans couldn't even deal with a Gnoll leader properly.

His expression was quick to change at her words, however and he laughed. "You did not ruin anything, Kaya. You were honest and very passionate about your view, and it was very telling, despite how frustrating it was to try and convince you that you are not the one to blame for his death. I appreciate that."

Nokosi dropped his arms to the side and slid next to her, closing the distance between him. He reached for one of her hands and lay it against the palm of his own. "In such a situation I think it would usually be someone in my position to apologize," not that he was going to, mind you. "On grounds of not simply being comforting in both a physical and verbal manner, with words to ease your mind." His expression, at least, seemed apologetic.

"I cannot easily say things that I do not agree with, like 'I understand completely', 'things will be okay', and simply agreeing with something I do not, for the sake of avoiding complications." If Billy were here, he knew that the teen would have been giving him the worst glares through their entire conversation.

"I will be honest, though. I was only annoyed because you blame yourself for something I see as very trivial, though it means worlds to you. It is because I already know that I would be more than just a bit impatient and angry had that seemingly trivial thing been a source of harm for you. I adore you Kaya, and so I would work to see that you are well taken care of, physically, mentally and spiritually."

Kaya knew it was unlikely that she would be the type of person to misuse her powers, but that didn't mean that she wasn't still a little bothered by it, especially when she had an idea of how strong she was and would be in the future if she continued training. Killing was a sore subject for her, and had been ever since coming to the ship.

She sighed. "It all just happened so fast: beating him with Aang to stop him from hurting anyone, and then the knives right into his neck and the way the person that did it didn't think it was a big deal. It was a lesson I still had trouble learning back with my other teacher: she wanted me to realize death for some people, however the means, was necessary in restoring balance to the world. I guess I'm still just reeling from it all."

Because she knew, the longer she thought about it, that Mai might have killed him because it was necessary.

Kaya was quiet for a moment,taking in what he'd said. "Nokosi...I want you to be you, whatever that might mean. It's true, I do need support, but I was asking your opinion, what you truly thought. If Billy sees me conflicted like this, he will do his best to support and console me: he's my Bonded, he would do that for me in a second. From you, when I ask you something, I want you to be you, in every sense of the word. Thank you, for always being honest and forthright with me, even if I'm in conflict with your answer."

That tightness in her chest eased, and her heart swelled when she heard the last thing he said, and she kissed him passionately, holding him tight.

Her response puzzled him for a moment, if only because it wasn't the type of thing he'd overheard or been told before. So...she was really saying that it was okay for him to not be the most understanding, comforting person at all times in her life? This whole 'relationship' thing had more subtle nuances and complications then he could have imagined.

It really was like an adventure! Awesome.

Nokosi leaned forward into the embrace and circled his arms around her midsection. Being so close after their heated discussion felt all kinds of nice, and he couldn't help but hug her to him during the lengthy, fevered kisses.

The thing that Nokosi needed to understand abut Kaya was this: she also believed in making accommodations when it came to a relationships. With Nokosi, the thing she loved most about him was that he was himself in just about everything he did, and when it came to her, he usually knew when to console and help her, and when to give her his own point of view.

And the tunnel of love just happened to be at its swell here: just as Kaya and Nokosi kissed, there was a burst of multi colored water behind them as well as glittering bubbles that descended over them. She laughed lightly, then lay in the crook of his arms, just staring meaningfully into his eyes.

Nokosi reached a hand up and popped a few of the bubbles, before returning his gaze back on the girl laying in his arms. His lips split in a toothy grin as he popped a bubble right over her head.

"I hope you are feeling better, if just the smallest bit. I think...I will sleep very soundly tonight beside you."

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