'' I guess, but I still can't help but feel partly to blame" She said softly. Azumi looked at him, she wasn't thinking he was childish at all. " I don't think that. If I were in your position, I would have attacked him for acting that way. You should great restraint not harming him, and leaving" Azumi said smiling at him. Heck she had gotten angry and punched him earlier. He had said such horrible and rude things, he deserved that punch.

" I guess it is. I'm not really sure. This is the first time I've tried it. I was going to work on it more, but it seemed to be the only way to find the guy with the arrows" He said blushing a bit. "Now what is awesome, is what you did. You just blew that guy miles away, it was awesome. How hard is it to do something like that?" Yuichi said.

Akio sighed and shook his head slightly, before grinning at her again, "We're all to blame, really. It couldn't have been helped." her defending his actions wasn't a surprise, but it did make him feel a lot better about himself. Still, he would've loved to have attacked Jace. Rubbing the back of sits head in a somewhat shy manner as he thought about it, he admitted, "Truthfully, if I didn't think the flames would show up again, I would have. I just didn't want to hurt you, or anyone else on accident." he s,iled a little as he thought about her punching him and how he wished he could've just done that. "That was a pretty good punch," he then commented playfully.

Alysia's eyes widened as she heard that that was the first time he'd tried that. Yuichi had succeeded in doing something that was supposedly supposed to be hard, form what she knew, one the first try. She laughed a little before grinning, "That's still pretty amazing, and on your first try! I wish I could learn things that quickly..." as he brought up what she had done, with the gust of air, she laughed softly, shyly. Rubbing the side of her neck in a shy manner, she let her gaze leave him for a moment, as she recalled how she'd learned it. "Is not hard really, it just took a long time to learn, I'm still just trying or get it right," she explained before smiling up at him again.

Azumi thought about it," I see. Though, I don't think that would have happened." She said. He could never hurt her and even if she was burned by fire, all she would need was some water and she could heal it again. That was one bonus of being a water bender and a girl they had the ability to heal. It was actually thanks to Lady Katara that water bender females were now able to learn combat beside healing. Azumi smiled, " Oh was it? I didn't even plan to punch him, it just sort of happened" Azumi told him.

" Well it's more like good luck. I couldn't say for sure, that I could do it again. It really was just chance. I'd have to train a lot more till I could say I knew how to do it" Yuichi said. Yuichi grinned, " Well to me it looks like you got it down perfectly" He told her beaming. He wished he had some of the trickyer parts of his bending down like that. Like metal bending, he had been trying to hard but he couldn't get it to work.

Akio glanced at her, doubtful at what she'd said at first. Of course he could have hurt someone. He could have hurt any one of them if he threw a punch in their direction by accident. What if flames had been produced then? That could have been nasty. His train of thoughts took a downwards trend for a few moments. Then, leaning over at her, he sent her a small smile, "Yeah, it was great. Gratifying too," he commented with a chuckle.

As Yuichi admitted he might not be able to do it again, Alysia shook her head. "I'd bet you'd be able to if you tried hard enough. Just give it some practice and you'll be a master at it," she encouraged with a broad smile. She then laughed softly as he commented on her technique, and shook her head. "Oh, no, my father-- now he had that technique down," she began, then sighed softly and shrugged, "I have a lot more practicing to do. I can bend, sure, but fighting is something else."

While her uncle had spent a lot of time with her growing up, and he of all people encouraged her to train to fight, she had never been fond of it. What made her feel a bit better was hearing that Aang had had similar issues, not wanting to fight, but she didn't know that she had the same resolve that he did. He had been the avatar and needed to learn to fight, while she was just a traveling Airbender with few cares. Deciding to be playful, she turned her head in his direction, quickly blowing a little air in the direction of his air. As it moved, it picked up speed slightly to mess it up. Alysia would in turn giggle, and apologize. "Sorry, couldn't help it. That's kinda how it looked when you woke up this morning," she teased, a bright smile on her face as she looked up at him.

Hearing a familiar giggle behind him, Kaio turned his head to glance back at Alysia and Yuichi. Seeing what Alysia had done to him to be playful, Akio laughed a little, then shook his head and turned to face forwards again. "That girl," he murmured to himself, smiling.

" Gratifying how?" She asked him. Sure she felt a little better after punching him, yet she didn't understand why he'd find it gratifying. Azumi glanced back at well. She smiled, " Well she is your sister, I wouldn't expect any different" She said with a small smile. She wondered how much longer till the made camp. It was starting to feel like they had been at this for hours. Even that she was unsure. Traveling and walking for long times could put a bit of strain on one's body.

" Maybe, it's a possiablity. Anyone can master something if they try and work at it hard enough" Yuichi said. " Well your really good at it. I bet in no time you'll have it down perfectly" He told her. Yuichi blinked in surprised at the air, and knew his hair wasn't messy anymore. He smiled softly, and chuckled. " It's alright. Yeah, I always have a major case of bed head when I get up" He said. He proceed to try and fix his hair with his hands.

Akio chuckled, slipping his free hand into one of his pockets as he shrugged a little and looked on ahead of him. "Gratifying in the sense that he got what he deserved, and immhappy about that. No man should treat you like that," he spoke casually, then looked over at her with a grin. If he were to run into Jace again when they were alone, he knew he would do far worse than punch him, so although he didn't say it he was also glad that she got even instead of allowing him to. "Very true," he replied with a nod about his sister before his voice trailed off. Maybe it was just the problems that came up during the day, or all the running head done earlier, but he was becoming a bit weary. As they walked, he began to casually look ahead for any signs of a good place to rest.

Shrugging a little at his first comment, she supposed it was true. Then smiling brightly in his direction, she would reply with a somewhat hesitant, "Thanks." his reaction to her playfulness was good sported enough that she would continue right on with smiling, even move one of her hands up to assist his in fixing his hair. As she listened to his reply, she felt a slight twinge of guilt. Even if it had been playful, she didn't mean to be a nuisance, as she knew she could be at times without even thinking about it. Rubbing the side of her neck, she looked down for a moment. Some people grew really annoyed with her over time, and while she knew her uncle was used to it enough to always be ready to forgive her, she had forgotten that she hadn't known Yuichi very long. She hated the thought of possibly shooing him off with her overly-carefree attitude. "Yeah..., sorry," she spoke quietly, and almost solemnly, her facial expression more thoughtful now though a grin remained on her lips.

" Yeah. Well at least we don't have to deal with him anymore" She said smiling brightly. She nodded, man she felt so worn down. She knew she would have no trouble going to sleep, judging from how worn out she felt. Though she was still wondering about what Akio had wanted to talk about. So it was yet another reason for her to want them to make camp soon.

Yuichi gave her a curious look. " Sorry for? Oh my hair, that's no big deal. It was pretty funny" He told her grinning. It was no trouble at all. He looked at the sky noticing it was sort of orange color. He was surprised it hadn't felt like it have been that long from earlier. Kyo looked around the area and spotted a nice clearly that looked good and safe. " I think we should make camp here" He said.

Akio would smile a little and nod at her, his thoughts then moving to circulate around how late it had already gotten. He wonderd how much ground they covered, but more important in his mind, he wounded how he would tell Azumi what he meant to talk about tonight. How was a guy supposed to get it off of their chest? It only made it more difficult to think of any consequences that might occur if she didn't feel the same. Still, looking done at their entwined fingers, he felt a little better.

As Kyo called out that the clearing they were approaching looked like a good spot to camp, he'd nod and wouldn't hesitate walking on over to it. He would look over the area briefly before nodding in agreement and setting his bag down. "We'll go get some water?" he suggested to Azumi, hoping she would just go along with it. He had a bit of a plan, though he knew that coming up with words to accompany it was going to be difficult.

Yuichi's words caught her a bit off guard, but she smiled bristly up at him nonetheless. It was a relief to think that he didn't mind her, it she also felt a bit foolish for thinking that he might. He had been walking alongside her since they left, after all. "I kinda like your hair that way," she teased, casting a glance in his direction before walking on over to the area where they'd camp. She, too, set her bag down before thinking about what else the group would need. "I'll go grab some firewood," she announced shortly before walking on off, just a few yards form the clearing to start picking up fallen branches and such.

Azumi looked around, this looked perfect. She set down her bag, and looked over to Akio. " Sure, we need the water anyways. I'm all out. " Azumi told him. She made sure to grab her water pouch. " Lead the way Akio?" She asked him. She rather let him lead, she wondered if this was him wanting to talk to her.

" Really?" He questioned. He didn't think anyone would like his bedhead look. While she went to get fire food, and the "couple" went to get water. Yuichi and his teacher set up camp. The created the fire pit, and the temporary wood rack for cooking tonight dinner. They also had both of there tents set up. There weren't sure if they should set up the other's bed stuff. Kyo looked up to the sky, making sure it wasn't showing signs of rain. He knew two of the group didn't have shelter if it rained.

Akio would send Azumi a smile before taking her hand and leading her out of the clearing. After looking at the map last night, he was sure he still knew in which direction to be taking her. "It's around here somewhere," he explained, after they'd been walking for a few minutes. Then pausing where he stood, the softest of rushing noises could be heard, and he cast a childish smile in her direction. "C'mon!" he whispered, though it wasn't necessary, and jogged in the direction of the soft noise. They would reach a clearing just before a rock face, where the rushing sound of water was now louder due to a small waterfall that ran down the small cliff from there. Water pooled beneath it pleasantly, and the river rocks around its banks would be smooth on the feet if one were to take off their shoes. Akio would stop walking just before the pool of water and look over at her with a warm smile, waiting for a response from her. "I thought it'd be a good place for us to visit when we had the time," he explained, now thinking about what he had to tell her.

Alysia would giggle a little before nodding. "In a boyish way, ya know? You shouldn't actually wear it like that, though," she explained with a smile before heading off to find firewood. She would return but a few minutes later with an armful of wood, some of which fallen branches and brush, but others chunks she had cut from nearby trees with airbending, of course, she'd been careful in choosing which trees to cut. When she arrived, the noticed Yuichi and Kyo had already set up for the most part, mad smile dappreciateively before taking out her hammock to hang up again.

" What's around here?" Azumi asked. She followed along with Akio, it was a bit hard to keep up with. Azumi looked over the place it was beautiful, and maybe tonight her and Alysia could come back to bath. This would be a perfect spot for it. Cold, but when traveling you don't get much chance to bath. " Wow, it's beautiful" Azumi said. Azumi walked over to the water, " I better fill up my water pouch now" She said. She leaned over, and filled the pouch. She felt better now that it was filled, she would have her weapon if they were attacked again. She looked back to Akio. " Come sit with me at the bank?" She asked.

" Yeah" Yuichi said. He smiled as Alysia returned with fire wood, and watched as his teacher went off to catch their dinner again. So they just needed the other two to return with water. He got what he would need to skin and cook the food that his teacher would catch.

Akio smiled warmly and watched her as she went to fill up her water pouch. Now, that was only part of his reasoning for bringing her here. While he knew a water source like this would be good for gathering drinking water, bathing, doing a bit of swimming, and whatnot, he also thought it would be a pleasant setting for the discussion he wanted to have with her. As he was invited to sit by the banks with her, he nodded, and slipped off his shoes, "Of course." He left them lay where he had been standing as he went to sit down, cooling his feet into the water below them. "Azumi, I think I owe you an explanation for becoming so angry earlier," he began slowly, rubbing the side of his neck in a shy fashion.

After her hammock was set up, Alysia again carelessly leapt from its edge, landing skillfully beside Yuichi with a smile. She watched him gather tools for cooking whatever would be their dinner, sitting down cross-legged on the ground again as she let herself wond over what Kyo might catch that night. Rabbit, again? Maybe an elephant rat or two, or duck deer. Realizing that she was beginning to get hungry, she decided to change her train of thought, looking over at Yuichi, she asked curiously, "So, where did you learn how to cook?"

Azumi smiled brightly, she pulled of her shoes and set them aside on the bank. She then rolls her pants up slightly, before dipping her feet into the water. She was over joyed to feel cooling water on her feet. It felt very nice. She looked over at Akio, a bit confused. " Ah, alright?" She said. Now she was really curiously wonder what he was going to say.

Yuichi grinned at her," Well from my mother and an older lady in the village. My mother didn't really know how to cook, when she first came to the village. She had this older woman teach her, and this woman kept giving her lessons. My mother would bring me alone, and when I was old enough they let me help cooking as well. Turned out I was really good at it." He said smiling fondly about the memory. Kyo currently was sneaking up on a nice size deer that would make a great dinner.

Akio turned his head to look at her, her confusion clear, before his free hand rose to run through his hair and his gaze moved to the water. He wasn't quite sure how to word things, but he knew that he now had to explain. Taking a deep breath, he began, "I couldn't stand seeing Jace sweet-talk you like that. I wasn't only mad that he wasn't treating you proplerly, but," he paused, "I don't suppose I'd like seeing you with any other man in general, regardless of what a great guy they are." Akio stopped there, his gaze slowly making its way to her again as if to gage her reaction as he went on, "I do just want you to be happy, and if that's with another guy, then go for another guy, but I'd prefer it..." Akio got a bit flustered, a pink tint lighting his cheeks as his gaze drifted off of her again. Still, his hand found hers to hold as he summed up a moment's courage to tell her. "I'd prefer it if you were happy with me. What I'm trying to say is, I'm in love with you Azumi." As he told her, he felt his heart leap into his throat, a knot pulled tight around his stomach as he tried to prepare himself for whatever came of her response. Shyly, again he moved his gaze to her, his face showing a confidence he could only try to have inwardly right now.

Alysia would listen intently, a grin upon her face as she nodded and tried to picture the memories he no doubt had of this. It must have been nice, to spend quality time with his mother like that. She could relate in some ways. She smiled, then replied, "You seem to be pretty close to your mother." After a moment of thought, she then winked and added playfully, "So you finally admit your skill."

Azumi gaze was trained on him while he spoke. Her breath caught as he spoke, and her heart pounded rapidly. Azumi eyes went wide, and her face bright red as he spoke about loving her, and wanting her to be happy with him. She was so overjoyed, unbridled happiness. Her face broke out into a bright smile. She couldn't resisted from tackling hugging him, whether or not it caused them to crash into the water she didn't care. She was just too happy, once they were stable she started to speak smiling and grinning brightly. " If you had gotten to Jace and I about five minutes early, you would have heard me telling him and the forest, how much I love you, and only want to be with you" Azumi told him.

" I am very close to my mother. She understands me a lot. She always trying to convince my father to let me go live the life I want. " Yuichi said. He had a feeling his mother family tried to force her to live in some life, and it bored her to no end. He didn't know much of his mother's past then. " Well, it's not me admitting skill. Even a bad cook can pick cooking up well. It's just how their food taste that matter's." He said laughing. Shortly after his teacher dragged the deer to the camp.

[[ I'll let you decide if they wall into the water, I see it happening but up to you.]]

Akio watched her facial expression nervously, biting his bottom lip gently until he finally seemed to see the dawn. The smile that crossed her face relaxed him, a small, still nervous smile showing up on his face in return. Her tackle-hug caught him off guard and sent them both into the water behind him with a splash. Smiling warmly up at her now, his arms wrapped around her waist to hold her as she spoke. He was relieved and overjoyed to hear her words, they swept him up in an unbelievable happiness that had him asking why he hadn't told her sooner. Her words about Jace just topped off his happiness, his smile brightening as he looked up at her fondly for a quiet moment. Then, somewhat hesitant, he leaned his head upwards to press his lips gently to hers.

Alysia would grin towards him as he spoke of his mother and how she wished for him to live as he pleased. She couldn't really imagine being tied down to live a life like that, but she had her parents and uncle to thank for her freedom. All of them lived as they pleased, so naturally, they couldn't hold a free spirit like herself down. "She seems like an incredible woman," Alysia commented with a warm smile. Her gaze then drift to the firepit for a moment before she laughed softly. "Well, your food tastes delicious," she countered with a bright smile before she heard someone approaching. Her whole face lit up as she saw the deer that Kyo carried with him, and she hopped to her feet excitedly. "A whole deer!" she exclaimed with a broad smile.

( I could easily see them falling into the water, too, so they did. ^^ )

Azumi laughed happily, as they hit the water. She was happy and over joyed. Nothing could ruin this, the day had gone very bad events to overwhelming happiness. Azumi was surprised when Akio kissed her, but still happy. She returned his kiss, her eyes falling close. Her heart was still pounding loudly, and her face was red.

" She is." Yuichi said. His mother was a very amazing woman. Yuichi blushed slightly." Thank you. I'm glad you like my food" He said. Kyo nodded," Yep, and if we skin it right, we can use the fur for bedding or something. If we have left over meat it can be salted and we will have some meat to carry with us, in case we won't be able to hunt." Kyo said. Yuichi nodded," Alright, then let's get to work, skinning and getting the meat off the bones" He said. He wondered briefly where the other two were he hoped that they were alright.

Akio pulled back after a moment to smile warmly at her, no words coming from his mouth as he just looked up at her for a moment. Then laughing somewhat shyly still, he would speak up, "I can honestly say that today could now be no better." He smiled brightly, sitting up and adjusting her to do the same, only then thinking about the others. He didn't want to go back right now, he'd much rather stay here with her, but he knew the others might start to wonder where they'd gone off to. So, placing a firm kiss to her forehead before taking her hand again, he suggested that they leave. "They must be wondering where we are. Shall we?" he asked, a bright, childishly happy smile on his face. It was a smile only Azumi could bring out, but it was rare.

Alysia would smile over at Yuichi warmly before replying. "No problem. Thanks for cooking for us! If Akio had to cook," she made a playful dying face, then laughed softly. As the conversation turned to the deer, she looked at the creature, as if calculating how long it's meat could last already. "Want some help?" she offered, knowing she had nothing better to do right now.

Azumi grinned and smiled brightly, " Your right, this day couldn't be any better" She told him. She was so happy, they both knew how they felt for one another. She was figuring they had started a romantic relationship, which could eventually lead to marriage. " Oh yeah, I guess we better head back then" Azumi said. Though to be honest, she wanted to stay here with him a bit longer.

" Oh really that bad? Well at least you and Azumi know how to cook right?" He asked. He hoped so, or he'd really worried about them after he was forced to stay home. " Sure thing" He said. He started directing how everything should be done, and it wasn't long before they had it skin, cut and ready to become dinner. " Now we just have too cook it" He said.

[[ Now Azumi and Akio walk back soaking wet..XD]]

Akio felt that nervous know that had tied around his stomach release itself as he now smiled over at her so fondly. Now he had no worried about hiding his feelings, or worrying about what she felt, and there would be no more trouble over men coming after her. Although he hadn't proposed marriage, that was one of the next items on his agenda when there felt the time was right. He figured they may as well take it slow anyways, with their new like style to stick to. He would stand up first, his hand still around hers, but offering to help her up with his free hand if she wanted. He would then lead her back, a pep in his step, an in curable happiness about his facial expression still. "We could come back later to nthe and whatnot, eh? Might be nice," he said thoughtfully as they re-entered the clearing of their small camp.

Alysia shrugged a little at Yuichi's question, "Really that bad. Sure, we two can cook." She wasn't actually all that sure that Azumi could, but she figured that at roast she could manage, if nothing else. Alysia eagerly helped the others prepare the deer to be cooked, smiling excitedly when they were done and the meat was ready to be cooked. As they had finished, however, two figures approaching drew her attention. Her eyes grew wide to see the both soaking wet as they stood there, and she couldn't help but ask. "Err, Akio, Azumi, what happened to you two?" she asked, confused.

Akio would rub the back of his head a bit shyly, explaining, "Well, you see, we found a waterfall... And we fell in."

( Exactly. XD Poor, awkward Akio. )

Azumi smiled let him help her up. Glad that they still had their hands entwined. " Sounds like a good idea. I was already thinking of coming back. A bathe would be so nice, you never know when they'll be another chance to bathe" She told him with a smile. She walked with him just joining their time together. When they returned to camp and everyone was staring at them she couldn't help but blush bright red. She had forgotten that they were soaking wet.

" That's good. Well if you guys want, while we are traveling together. I can teach you guys some easy things" Yuichi said grinning and offering. Yuichi looked up at the wet duo in surprised. His eyes went a little wide, that was unexpected. No wonder it took them forever to get the water. Kyo looked at the two and chuckled slightly, " Looks like more than that happened. You two finally admit your feelings to one another?" Kyo asked. Yet again speaking before thinking.

[[ Poor Akio..XD]]

Akio would chuckle and nod in agreement. "A bath would be nice to cool off and whatnot, then again, we've already taken half of one," he added a bit playfully, smiling in her direction as they walked. Akio had expected some questions to be raised when they returned, especially his sister's. Kyo's question, however, struck a violently shy chord in Akio. His face reddened, and rubbing the back of his head out of habit, he murmured a response, "Yeah." He then quickly moved to take out his and her bedrolls to set up, wishing to do something to get the attention off of him for the sake of his shy side.

Alysia would observe the two in awe for a moment before smiling brightly and laughing softly at the two. She thought that their shyness was hilarious, albeit sweet, and the color of their faces just topped it all off. Yet, her attention soon returned to Yuichi. "I'd love that," she replied casually, though her eyes were already lit with excitement. She could manage cooking, but she already thought he was more skilled than she, and it would be something new to learn, how another person went about cooking. That, and another part of her mind was glad to be spending more time with him.

[[But the bed rolls together...! XD That'd make a shy Akio..XD]]

" Well yeah, but I want to wash my hair" She said. She had brought her natural soap and shampoo and she knew her hair could use the wash. At least she wanted to try to bathe at any chance they had. Azumi was surprised by Kyo's question, she would had expected that from one of the others, but not the oldest member of their group. She blushed bright red, she watched Akio moved to set up the bed rolls. Not that they'd want to see on it, while they were wet. She had to wonder if maybe Alysia could use the wind to dry them off.

Yuichi chuckled, it was so obvious between the two. He turned and grinned at Alysia. " Well then I'd love to teach you. Do you want to start tonight?" He asked. He didn't mind starting tonight or they could start tomorrow. It was really up to her. Kyo chuckled ah it was so clear that they had. He wouldn't doubt that before long Azumi would be sporting a necklace.

( Naturally, lol. ^^ )

Akio would quietly move to lay out his and Azumi's bed rolls, next to each other like last night but kept a couple of feet apart. Then standing up, he wondered just how long it would take their clothing to dry. In the mean time he mused they'd have to just sit on the ground. That was when he turned to look at the others, thinking to Alysia. Could she dry them? Of course, she'd done so before. Yet something didn't feel right about interrupting her when she seemed so enthralled with Yuichi. It was odd to see, watching his sister's face light up like that. She was a happy person, he knew that, but there was a difference between her being happy and the face she currently had on. Nevertheless, he simply smiled and shook his head, sitting on the ground by the fire and smiling up at Azumi.

At the suggestion of starting tonight, Alysia nodded enthusiastically. "Starting tonight would be great, but whenever suits," she replied with a bright smile. She was excited to have the lessons start, to learn, to be able to cook similar to how he could. He was talented, that she believed firmly in her mind. As she sat, she adjusted herself to sit on her knees before the fire, relishing the warmth of the flame on her skin. It was somewhat chilly out tonight, but she mused that that was only due to the wind.

[[Man, I have this image of Alysia rolling her eyes and went her brother not looking putting the beds even closer..XD]]

While Azumi was cold and still wet she didn't bother Alysia. The girl looked so happy with Yuichi and Azumi didn't have the heart to interrupt. She'd be fine as along as she didn't get a cold. She would sit on the ground but the would just get mud on her clothing. Yet she still didn't regret tackle hugging him and getting soaking wet. She looked over at Akio who had just finished setting up their beds. She looked to the sky noticing it was getting dark and that clouds were moving it.


" Sure we can start tonight" Yuichi said. He then started to teach Alysia how to cook the meat, with his special herb taste. So that it tasted like a homecook meal, instead of camp food. Together they worked to make dinner.

[[ Too lazy to make it up.]]