Fire Nation: Fire Nation Capital - Fire Lord's Palace ~ Flashing Back

Two small children walked side by side, their thin bodies laden with traditional Fire Nation garments. They were so obviously twins, although their physical features weren't quite identical. The one with the crimson hair held her sister's arm tightly as she practically dragged the other down the hall.

"Stop that, Hisaki! We're almost there, anyway," the redhead whispered almost irritably, but with a tinge of softness. "We'll be okay, promise."

Her sister, one with a more pink tone to her hair, seemed to be on the verge of tears. "W-w-we'll g-get in troub-ble..." she stuttered meekly. "Kaon..."

Kaon paused to wipe her sister's face with her hands. She smiled, as if trying to reassure her. "No we won't. Mom can't get mad at us if we cry, remember?"

The seemed to make Hisaki feel worse.

"Listen," Kaon urged. "We'll just pop in, spend some time with Kiharu, and we'll leave, kay?"

Hisaki knew that wasn't all Kaon had in mind, but allowed herself to be dragged over to the large, ornate doors that marked the entrance to the chambers that belonged soley to Kiari and Haru, dear friends to their uncle, the Fire Lord.

Kaon pressed her palm against the door and summoned a small burst of fire just as she'd been taught. The door opened automatically, responding to her signature. "Kiharu?" she called. "Kihaaaaruuuu!!!"

Another little girl, slightly older, appeared from an adjacent room. She walked slowly and steadily, and seemed ill and weak. "Hi..." she said miserably. "More guests."

"More?" Kaon inquired. "There are others here?"

She then registered the other kids in the room.

Hayato, Hideki and Kaji stood next to Kiharu's bed. Kaji waved at his cousins, his messy blonde hair was all over the place. Hayato blushed a little bit as he met eyes with Kaon and Hideki walked over to Hisaki. Hideki helped whipe away Hisaki's tears "What's wrong Hisaki?" he asked her.

Hisaki started sobbing. "Kaon's gonna get us in trouble! We're n-not supposed to v-visit Kiharu...!"

Kiharu rubbed one of her eyes. "Why?" she asked softly, walking over to give Kaon a hug.

"Ma thinks you should be resting, and not playin with us," Kaon explained with a roll of her eyes. "But Hisaki and me wanted to just see you. We're ain't doin nothin wrong."

Kiharu mad a noncommiting sound. "Well, don't stay too long," she murmured, shuffling back over to her bed. She laid back down in it, putting a thumb in her mouth. Kiharu didn't usually suck her fingers, she actually frowned upon such a thing, but it helped distract her from her fever.

Hideki puts his arm around Hisaki hugging her friedily "Hisaki calm down" he said reassuringly "Just explain that you were visiting her, trying to make her feel better...she should understand....if anything ask your uncle to help you talk to your mother...he can talk her into anything, and he would understand that what you did was to help a friend." Hayato walked over to Kaon, he blushed and looked down "Hey...uh...Kaon" he asked "Would you like to spar with me later today?"

Kiharu's caretaker came out of another room with a very cold towel and placed it on the ailing girl's forehead. "What's this I hear about sparring?" she asked kindly, taking the blanket and pulling it over Kiharu, who moaned uncomfortably.

Kaon grinned. "Yeah! I'm gonna defeat him with my Firebending!!!" she attempted to perform a wide kick at the air, and only managed to succeed and landing directly on her back.

At this Hisaki laughed, still in Hideki's embrace. Embarrassed but having revenge in mind, Kaon stared cheekily at her sister. "Hisaki and Hideki sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n -- OUCH!"

"Kiharu!" the nurse said, as if appalled.

Kaon nursed the throbbing side of her head where the storybook had impacted and glared at the ill girl on the other side of the room.

"You were gonna make her cry again," Kiharu muttered tiredly. "Shut up."

Kaon stuck her tongue out. "Let's go, Hayato!" she said, sticking her nose in the air. "We can spar in the courtyard. Not in this stuffy old room."

Hayato smiled "Sure!" he said running after her. As they reached the courtyard Hayato looked at Kaon "So how do we start off?" he asked. Meanwhile back at the room Kaji put his hand on Kiharu's shoulder and smiled "You shouldn't hit your cousin....but Kaon was wrong" he said.

Kaon thought for a moment, bringing her tiny hand to her chin. "Since I'm a girl, I should move first," she pointed out, making sure he wouldn't steal a blow in. "And what do you mean? We just fight! Like this!" she hurtled a punch at him, aiming for his shoulder.

Back at the room, Kiharu's eyes were misty as she peered at Kaji. "I know I shouldn't have hit her, but I knew she wasn't gonna cry." She flopped back on her pillow, and her nurse immediately adjusted the towelette.

"How do you feel, Kiharu?" Hisaki asked her timidly, stepping forward.

"Horrible." Kiharu tried to push the blankets off her small body. "I'm too hot for these," she complained. "May you help me, Kaji?" she pleaded.

Hayato dodge, bending down and ducking. He leaned over sending a kick to Kaon's chest. Meanwhile Kaji sat down next to Kiharu and smiled "Yeah sure" he smiled "What do you need?" Hideki on the other hand was talking non-stop with Hisaki "So Hisaki, how was your day?" he asked.

Kaon dodged the kick, ducking out of the way. She grabbed Hayato's ankle and tried to slam him into the ground, using all her strength because the boy was bigger and heavier than her.

Back in her chambers Kiharu suddenly felt cold again without the cover of the blanket, so her nurse went to fetch her some thin sheets instead. She watched Hideki and Hisaki talk, Hisaki becoming more relaxed and easygoing by the minute.

"M-my day was good," she stuttered shyly. "Um... Kaon and I got to learn to write a little bit. We spelt our names. But it was harder for me because mine's was longer..." she trailed off, suddenly having nothing to say anymore.

Hayato fell to the ground, he quickly recovered jumping up aiming his fist for Kaon's chest. Kaji pulled the covers around Kiharu and smiled "Get better cuz" he said. Hideki laughed and put his hand on Hisaki's shoulder reassuringly "I'm sure you were just as good as Kaon. Who knows" he said "Maybe better."