Sweet Air [Mature]

"Please, d--." he began harshly, barely managing to cut himself off. He closed his eyes briefly, breathing deeply. When he spoke again, his voice was much calmer and softer. "I-I'm sorry."

He genuinely was. He had watched her take her seat on the bed, feeling an inexplicable aggravation surge violently through him at her words. They almost escaped him. In fact, they partially did. He turned way from her and stuck his hand into a nearby basin filled with water, healing his slashed knuckles in an instant. After toweling his hands off, he leaned on the edges of the basin, his back to her.

"I don't know if it's a good idea for you to be here right now..." he said slowly after a moment's silence.

Kano looked over his shoulder briefly, meeting her gaze. Part of him, the part he could not control, wanted to scream at her to leave. But the better part understood her determination, her need to help. It was something they shared in common. At least, when he had control of himself and his mind in full. He turned back to the basin, looking down at his own rippling reflection.

The weakling, again... he thought.

"You remember how I told you that Six Rings technique saps the user's chakras?" he said, turning around so that he was facing her. "Well, it does more than that. The Twelve Soul Strikes of Aowaka, they're called, the ultimate techniques. The Water Tribes used to believe that the soul was the source of bending power as well as our very emotions. There was a reason for this. Techniques like the Twelve Soul Strikes were not uncommon in those days. But they were taxing. Using them sapped the spiritual energy of the body... and threw the emotions into chaos. This gave rise to the beliefs regarding the soul.

"I'm... suffering from what is called the Deep Withdrawal. It is a complete and total imbalance of the emotional state of a bender that has used a soul strike. While temporary, it can be... very dangerous. Men stronger and more powerful than I have succumbed to it and done terrible things..."

"I appreciate your determination." he said slowly, a single, wry chuckle splitting his words. "But this is an ill I have to wait out. There's nothing else for it. I have to rest and allow my chakras to restore themselves naturally."

He picked up his kimono and folded it as he spoke, setting it on a pile consisting of his jacket, parka, and his night shirt sat atop a small wooden stool. His boots were sat next to the stool, most of his other belongings, including his flute and dagger tucked into them. When it came to his room, he needed an organized space. That was a tendency that even the Withdrawal couldn't overcome. As he straightened up, he looked looked at the small tapestry hung on the wall.

"Besides..." he said finally, burying his face in one palm as the thought tortured him. "There are ways of hurting people without resorting to violence. The Withdrawal is an ailment of the emotional balance. I could... I could say something I deeply regret without any ability to stop myself. I just... don't want you to get hurt."

Kano sighed. If she was this determined, who was he to stop her? He could tell she wouldn't be swayed, in any case. Moved back over to the basin and collected some water from within, bringing a healing hand up to the bruise on his chest. Within a few minutes, the dark print on his chest had vanished.

Drying his hands once more, he turned back and climbed into bed, lowering himself into a cross-legged sit with his back facing the wall. Meditation was essential for beginning the recovery process. He gave Xi a weak sort of smile before closing his eyes and trying to clear his mind.

Again and again, he found himself starting from a terror of a dream after nodding off in the middle of his meditation. Recovery from the Withdrawal was rough to say the least. Every great fear his deepest mind harbored came forth in a terrifying torrent. It wasn't long before he found he was awakening drenched in cold sweat and uttering a cry of terror. After the sixth or seventh time, he gave up.

"It won't stop!" he said, cradling his head in his hands as he sat, hunched over on the edge of the bed. "It just won't stop!"

Calm. he thought, his better self drowning out all the other thoughts in his mind. Find your calm.

He tried desperately to calm himself, to set all other thoughts out of his mind. But it was illusive. His efforts were as his trying to shout over a thousand screaming warriors and be heard. He had only experienced the Withdrawal a handful of times. And then as now, he felt sure this was what it was like to loose one's mind. Though he knew he would whether the storm, he could not help but feel the fear in every fiber of his being.

And yet, there was a light in this darkness he had never known before. A warm touch to his shoulder, a grasp of his hand. They had never been there before. He felt the madness of the Withdrawal ebb, his thoughts clear, if only just. It was like a powerful anchor in this darkness.

The world seemed to swim back into sharp focus. The swirling, dark clouds of his own dark fears seemed to wisp away into nothingness and he found himself looking down into his own hands, grasped gently in Xi's. She was moving them back and forth ever so slightly. It was strangely soothing. He looked up at her slowly.

"W-what are you doing?" he said weakly, his mind foggy at best.

Kano kept her gaze. He didn't know what this was. He was... lost, to say the least. And yet, she was a comfort and a warmth that he'd not known in his life. He didn't even know how to describe it to himself. All he knew was that his fingers wouldn't let go no matter how much he willed them to. His gaze wouldn't budge no matter how much he commanded it to. His breath was calm yet his heart beat wildly as they stared into each other's eyes.

And then, suddenly, he found he was kissing her. All thought of the Withdrawal bled from his mind and he was simply there, with her, his light in the dark. Yet this moment, so glorious in his mind faded and he came back to his senses.

"I-I'm sorry!" he said quickly, pulling away from his, ripping his hands away from hers. "I-I didn't mean t-to--!"

"It's fine." she whispered, leaning forward.

Kano couldn't help himself. He raised a hand to her face, gently caressing he cheek as they shared another kiss. It was... wonderful. The whole world seemed to vanish around them and all there was were the two of them. Their tongues intertwined, and the bliss of the moment carried itself on for an eternity or a fraction of a second. Kano didn't really know which. He didn't really care.

Their kiss came to a close and they separated, though only just. They were still very much in one another's arms. Kano's hand was still caressing her cheek while the other rested on her shoulder. He had to admit, it was pleasant, the way her hands played at his shoulder-blades. He met her gaze again, feeling an incredible, powerful sensation filling his chest. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt toward anyone before. And he knew what he had to say...

"I was wrong." he said softly. "I should have known what it was before, back at the fountain. I should have been able to tell you, but I just couldn't. Xi... I love you. I love you so much. I don't even know how I didn't know before..."

Kano felt himself blush lightly, but it didn't phase him. He leaned in again and kissed her. It was nothing compared to the one they had just shared, but it felt incredible nonetheless. It was brief and when they separated, they locked eyes once more.

Kano's fingers slowly passed over her cheek and down along her neck, sliding underneath the collar of her shirt. His other hand undid the small knot fastening the shirt, letting it fall open. He had no idea what she would do. All he knew was that he wanted to know more about her with every fiber of his being. If she refused him, he'd respect that. But as he looked deep into her eyes, he hoped she wouldn't. The next move... was hers.

Kano watched her movements carefully. When she began moving her shoulders, he took that as a sign to continue. She didn't seem the type to remain silent if she objected. He passed his hands over her shoulders slowly, her soft skin like silk under his fingers. As her shirt slid off her shoulders, her torso was revealed, bare in every way save the bandages wrapped around her chest as a bra.

He let one of his hands drift down off her shoulder onto her chest, stopping just above her wrapped breast. He could feel her heart beating through her chest, quick as his own in it's pace. Save for the bandages, they were on equal footing now with their garb. Yet still, though she offered no objection, he did not dare move on without her signal.

Kano's mouth twitched with a slight smile. He honestly couldn't believe this situation, but it was like riding a great wave in a storm. Once you were upon it, there was no going back. So long as she was willing to let him continue, he would. Carefully, he pulled the loose end of her wrap from the lower layer it was tucked into and began to unwrap the bandages. He took care as he went not to roughly pull or otherwise stress the bandage. It would undoubtedly be uncomfortable for her if he did.

Around and around, he passed the wad of bandages from one hand to the next. Before long, the skin beneath began to show through. And as the bandages were finally completely removed, her breasts were exposed. Kano admired them momentarily before bring his gaze back up to meet hers again. Gently, he cupped one of her breasts in his hand. It was incredibly soft, yet it had a strangely satisfying weight to it. It wasn't the first time he'd laid eyes on breasts. However, he'd never been in a position to touch any before. He hadn't realized they'd be... like this.