The Rival

Need time alone

"Let's do it, let's go on a vacation just the two of us," Korra said enthusiastically to me.

I looked away for a moment. I would love nothing more than to go to away with Korra, but the grief and sadness I felt over my father's death wouldn't allow me. I needed time alone.

"I think I might just travel through the fire nation and try to find my family roots and maybe then I will feel at peace about my father's passing."

Korra wrapped her arm around my shoulder, smiling, "Just promise me one thing?"

I looked over with a small smile.

"Sure, anything."

"Don't take three years and if you need anything you can always call me."

"Don't worry Korra I just need to center myself again," I said reaching over and turning her side hug into a real one.

We sat there holding each other a few moments before returning to the party.

Three weeks later...

I was in a popular fire nation tea shop reading the recent world news article of the progress Republic City was making. There were a few mentions of Varrick, Korra, and the handling of the new spirit portal, but most of it was good news. I was happy I could rely on my friends to take control while I was gone.

I looked up to see the waitress bringing me my cup of tea.

This specific tea shop was a place my father use to bring me to and the atmosphere hadn't changed much.

It was elegantly decorated and the staff was professional and graceful, everything a high-class tea shop should be, but unlike most tea shops there was always the soft sounds of the keys of a grand piano in the background.

My fondest memory was watching the pianist play as my father read his newspaper and drank his tea. Now here I am years later sitting at the very same table and the exact same seat that allowed me to stare as they played.

Of course, now being older, I no longer stared at the man or woman, but listen to the melody of their fingers and tried to find my peace.

I took a long sip as I heard the current pianist finish his song, but as the next one started it was completely different.

Even though the last song was beautifully played this one seemed softer, smoother and I found myself even holding my breath as not to cut out any of its notes.

It felt as if the music was reaching over and caressing my cheek and drew my gaze to the piano. I looked around and realized everyone else in the shop was doing the same thing. We all sat there in awe with even some patrons still holding their tea midway to their lips.

My eyes finally reached the piano, but it isn't the young boy who was playing earlier.

She wore simple fire nation clothing and her jet black hair was down around her shoulders the sight caused my eyebrow to raise in curiosity.

For this establishment and the delicateness to appearances of the fire nation I found it interesting they would allow her to come in and play the piano like that. Most women wore the fire nation dresses and their hair up in some sort of way, but she was still so breathtakingly beautiful. And her music was more than simply graceful, it was way more than words could describe.