Sea and Sky

Chapter 34: Ashes Faded Away

Sea and Sky
Chapter 34: Ashes Faded Away

----

Around them, the vast expanse of darkness uncurled, lulling them into a comfort neither had known for over a century. The warmth of her body seeped into his skin, sinking to his bones. Cradled within Iris' arms, Aki held his eyes closed as he inhaled deeply, the floral notes of her perfume overwhelming him.

'Aki... can you hear me?'

The faint sound of her voice broke through to him, his eyes fluttering open to reveal nothing but the dim glow of stars and moonlight around him.

'Iris?'

Pulling the man close, Iris tightened her grip on Aki. 'I've always wanted to ask... did you love me?'

The question cut through his spirit, his soul felt as if it might burst into a million tiny fragments of light. 'You... Do you have to ask?'

Letting out a pained sound, Iris dipped her head, wrenching her eyes shut. There was no doubt in her mind that Aki had loved her, had never stopped loving her. It had been his love for her that had corrupted his spirit, giving life to the malevolent energy he had become. The question suddenly felt unnecessary as she looked up towards the radiant glow of the moon.

'I loved you, too.' She offered, placing a small kiss onto his forehead.

'I feared losing you so much that I destroyed myself...'

Images of a time long past uncurled around them in a haze of memories, spiraling into the aether. Time seemed to stand still around them, bringing them back into a time when they had both been human. The ancient oak tree, the desolate mountainside, the wail of her infant child... pushing the images from her mind, Iris made a silent promise to Aki. They would never again be separated.

Pulling Aki tighter into her embrace, she drew them both upwards to stand on their feet. Her violet eyes focused on his soft grey ones, a strange sensation passing over her. Finally, it seemed they would be together. While they had not been able to be together during their time on the mortal plane, the afterlife called to them, beckoning them to the fields of paradise.

'Let us sleep, Aki... Come with me and find peace. It is over now, at long last...'

Standing on the tips of her toes, Iris placed a soft kiss onto Aki's lips, strange energy overtaking her. Eyes closed, she could feel the fizzle and pop of heat surround them, drawing them into the next life. In the back of her mind, Iris sent a small thought towards Katara, as if to thank the waterbender.

'Thank you, kind waterbender and Avatar... we will find peace...'

----

"That was... hard to witness." Aang's voice was heavy as he spoke, pulling the heavy top layer of his overcloak off.

The resting ceremony had drawn out over a week filled with endless processions and visits from the sitting dignitaries of the three kingdoms. King Kuei himself had withdrawn from the inner confines of the imperial court of Ba Sing Se to oversee one of the processions, offering blessings from the Earth Kingdom and gifts to the family of the deceased.

Within the small room, the group sat around a small table, cups of steaming jasmine tea in front of them. The mugs sat untouched, all unfocused on the room around them. The weight of what unfolded fell over them. Kilic was dead. The General was dead. Aki had been sent back into the spirit realm, no longer to be reborn into an endless cycle of male heirs within the Bai-Sha bloodline. It seemed any problems and ills befalling them had been fixed at long last.