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Kya and Tenzin,
I’ve made it safely to the Fire Nation. Uncle Zuko came to the harbour to welcome me. I’ll be going through a series of testing and training for the Royal Guard, and then I will be given my assignment. Just wanted to let you know I’m okay.
Don’t show this to Mom and Dad Aang and Katara. I have nothing to say to them. And don’t tell Uncle Sokka either, he’ll just blab to them.
I love you,
Bumi
…
Bumi,
You’re an idiot, you know that right? Did you have to be so dramatic? Mom hasn’t stopped crying yet. Neither has Tenzin. Didn’t you think of the rest of us when you decided to leave? Why didn’t you take us with you. I know why you left. I just wish you had told me first so I could’ve gone with you so we wouldn’t have been so shocked. I won’t tell Dad about your letters, so if you wanted to keep sending them I’d feel better that would be great, you jerkbender.
I hope the Fire Nation treats you well. Say hi to Zuko, Mai, and Izumi for me.
Kya
PS Tenzin wants to know if you hate him. I promised him that you didn’t. Don’t make me a liar
…
Kya,
They would’ve tried to stop me from leaving and if I didn’t leave then, then I never would have left and you know damn well that I was miserable there. I know you’re miserable too. I would’ve taken you with me if I thought I could get away with it, but you’re still a kid. Fourteen isn’t old enough to leave home yet. If you feel you need to escape take a break, you could always send a letter to Aunt Suki. She’d help you, I know she would. She’d help both of you.
And tell Tenzin that I don’t hate him. I didn’t leave because of him, I left because of Dad Aang. This has nothing to do with Tenzin, he’s literally eight years old.
Anyway, I got my assignment. Guess who gets to hang out with Izumi all day? This guy! Well, it’s not really hanging out, I do actually have work to do and I’m only one of like five other junior guards with this one really strict senior guard who I swear looks like one those walrus-bears they’ve got up in the Northern tribe. His mustache is a glorious thing to behold, little sister of mine. It’s ridiculous, I love it.
Anyway, I might not be able to write all the time, I do actually have work to do. So, if I don’t always write back, I’m not ignoring you or anything, I just have an actual job now, which is kinda insane.
Zuko and Mai say hi back. I love you,
Bumi
…
Three years later
…
Bumi,
Why the fuck did I have to learn from a letter from Aunt Suki to Uncle that you got struck by lightning? What the fuck, Bumi?
First off, are you okay?
Second off, again, what the fuck?
And third why didn’t you write to me? Why does Aunt Suki know and I don’t? Why did she tell Uncle Sokka and not me? I know you’d rather Mom and Dad not know about what you’re doing right now, but don’t you think your own sister deserves to know if her brother is okay? I wasn’t lying when I said that I wouldn’t let them see your letters, asshole.
Thank your healer for me,
Kya
…
Kya,
I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you. You have your own shit to deal with. You’re almost eighteen. You should be worrying about adulthood and crap like that, not your brother who couldn’t fucking remember his training when his best friend’s life was in danger.
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you myself. I’m sorry you had to hear it from Uncle Sokka. But I’m not sorry that I did it. That guy would’ve killed Izumi if I hadn’t done it. I am not going to lose someone who cares about me through my own inaction.
On the bright side, I got promoted. So, there’s that. I’ll make sure to thank Healer Ikka for you.
I love you,
Bumi
PS Did Sokka tell Aang or Katara? Is this gonna be like a whole thing? Because I really don’t want it to be a whole thing.
…
Bumi,
You’re such an ass. I love you too.
Kya
PS Sokka didn’t say anything to our parents, he just told me. I haven’t told Tenzin. I figured you wouldn’t want to worry him either and for once, I agree with you.
…
Two years later
…
Kya,
You’re never gonna believe this. Or maybe you will, I don’t actually know if Izumi still writes to you or not. But Zumi’s got a boyfriend!
His name is Jae, we actually met him the last time we visited Uncle Zuko’s old sword master, Piandao, you remember him, right? Anyway, he’s stopped taking on students, but some of his students have become masters and are taking over the tradition. I know Uncle would if he wasn’t the Firelord, for sure. Anyway, one of the older students who became a master has his own small class and this guy, Jae, was one of them. He’s a pretty funny guy, super honourable too. One of the assholes demonstrating for us said something stupid about princesses not needing to learn how to use a sword and then something racist about me being Water Tribe, and of course I squared up, but so did Jae. Of course, Zumi handled it perfectly fine herself, because she’s a badass and also the Crown freaking Princess, but the thought was nice. They started talking after that and kept talking the entire time we were there, you should’ve seen the look on Master Piandao’s face. So, Uncle definitely knows, at least that Jae exists.
Anyway, so last night, I accidentally saw a letter she received, and Tui and La, Kya, this guy is so down bad. Her face went fire lily red when I asked her about it at breakfast, so I’d say it is definitely mutual. I can’t wait until she decides to bring him for dinner. Can you imagine having the ‘meet the parents’ dinner with the actual freaking Firelord and his Queen? The dude’s gonna sweat his skinny little ass off.
So, how are you? Do you have a boyfriend yet? Wait, no, you’re still a baby, you shouldn’t have a boyfriend. Forget I asked.
How’s Tenzin? He doesn’t say much in the letters he actually does send me. Is Aang treating him right? Please tell me he is, or I swear to the Moon, I will come down there and personally kidnap him so Uncle can parent him instead.
I love you,
Bumi
…
Bumi,
Idiot, of course Izumi still writes to me. I know all about Jae, probably more than you do at this rate. Did you really have to interrupt their date to the theater on Ember Island? I know the date was kinda dumb and those plays are shit, but still. Dick move, oh brother of mine.
And, ew, no I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t think I like boys might like girls instead have no interest in dating right now. I’m more focused on mastering water bending and convincing Mom to let me go up the Northern tribe by myself. I am nineteen years old, I’m not a baby no matter what you or Mom thinks. Tui and La, you were eighteen when you left home for good (and don’t you dare say that its different for you, asshole).
Tenzin is doing well. He’s keeping his head down around Dad and working on mastering his forms. He really misses you, though. I know you won’t come down for a visit and I honestly don’t blame you. I know you send him letters sometimes, but that’s not enough. He’s only twelve years old, he still needs his older brother. Also, I’m pretty sure Dad would earthbend the entire Fire Nation apart or restart the war if you kidnapped Tenzin and gave him to Uncle Zuko to raise, even if he would do a better job, so like maybe don’t do that. Your actions have consequences, genius.
Love you too,
Kya
…
Kya,
I was completely justified in telling Izumi and Jae to stop making out and watch the play they were there to see. I was trying to uphold the artistic integrity of the theatre-going experience! If they wanted a dark corner to make out in, they could’ve found a room in the summer house and told me to fuck off. But did they do that? No, they did not.
I rest my case.
Yeah, believe me, I know exactly what Aang is like. I won’t actually kidnap Tenzin, though it might be closer to a rescue, to be completely honest. Are you guys coming to the Fire Nation soon? I could talk to him then, see where his head is at. You know Uncle would take him in in a second, right? He’s a good person. I just don’t understand why he’s still friends with Aang. I think when you go through what they went through together, you’re kinda stuck together after that, but still. I don’t get it.
Okay so… I know you crossed out those characters, but I could still kinda read them. I get if you don’t want to talk about it, but if you need to, I’m here. Girls are great too. You’re always gonna be my baby sister, Kya. It doesn’t matter how old you get, you know I’m still gonna see that little girl who liked freezing my socks to get me to shut up. You’re gonna do great things, though. I just know it.
I love you,
Bumi
…
Three years later
…
Bumi,
I’m sure you know by now, but Dad got invited to Izumi and Jae’s wedding. So, we’re gonna be in the Fire Nation. Dad doesn’t really have an excuse to say no to this, as the Avatar, and the invite specified that we were all invited, so we’ll all be going.
I can’t wait to see you again, Bumi.
I love you,
Kya
…
Kya,
Izumi warned me that the Avatar was invited to her wedding. She said she tried to fight the party planner on that one, but she has the political aspect of the guest list to consider.
Don’t worry about me. I’ll be where Aang won’t be able to find me. But I’ll see you and Tenzin at the reception. Uncle will make sure Aang and Katara get seated next to someone talkative, then he’ll send for you two when they’re distracted. I want to see you again in private. I have so much I want to say, so much that I’ve wanted to say, but it’s all best said in person and in private.
I love you,
Bumi