To Awaken From a Dream
Seishū was old, but he knew his craft well. He was the best healer on all of Kyoshi - though that wasn't much - but beyond that, one of the best in the world.
Well, except for the waterbenders of the Northern Water Tribe, but no one could compete with them.
But there was a reason Seishū was as good a healer as he was - a reason that he never told anyone.
He called upon Ōkuninushi, a minor spirit that took a liking to him as a child.
At the summon, a small white rabbit appeared on the foot of the boy's bed. It took one look at the wounded youth and immediately jumped to his chest, healing chi flowing from the small spirit to the white-haired youth.
The process only took a minute.
When the rabbit was done, it looked at the old healer, "Seishū, where did you find this one?"
The healer in question hummed, "He was brought in on a Water Tribe warship that had gotten in a bit of a tussle with a few Fire Nation ships, do I'm told. The chief practically begged Oyaji to find someone - me, naturally - to heal his son."
The small spirit shuddered, for it knew the consequences, "It's a good thing that you treated him so quickly."
This caught Seishū's attention. Ōkuninushi was near-dauntless, "The spirit that blessed him, it's powerful?"
Ōkuninushi looked at the healer as if he were a fool, "Spirits - there's two. Those two just so happen to be Tui and La. Agni and Vayu - while not as fond of him as the other two - want him to live."
Seishū was suddenly quite glad he agreed to help this boy however he could.
La, now back to her usual self since the human she adopted was safe, crossed her arms over her chest, "Damn right."
Tui laughed, currently braiding her brother's hair. Said brother was having tea with his husband, "You two genuinely scare me."
Tui finished the braid and pat the sun on the head, "Good. At least now you can be scared while looking like you have your existence together."
Agni whipped his head around quick enough to make the people in the human world wonder if they were going crazy, of if the sun just flickered, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Vayu put a hand on the sun's shoulder, "Don't take it to heart, Agni dear. You always look radiant."
Agni narrowed his eyes, "Was that a pun?"
Vayu took a sip of tea and brushed a hand over his lover's bare - muscular, one might mention - chest, "Perhaps. But it's true, too."
La delivered herself into her wife's lap, grinning, "We should invite you guys over more often. This is entertaining."
Seishū nearly had a heart attack as the boy he and Ōkuninushi were in the process of healing sat up, effectively launching the spirit across the room. For three days - and two before that, on a boat - the boy didn't stir. Now this.
It's a wonder Seishū wasn't dead, with all this stress in his old body.
The healer noted that he looked quite dazed, which he supposed made sense. He would be too, in the given situation.
Actually, that's a lie. He'd be dead in the given situation.
"Are you alright, dear boy?"
The youth blinked, "I had a weird dream. Although, sir, I believe that your rabbit is dead."
Seishū followed the boy's gaze to where Ōkuninushi lay, "He's fine."
The boy's eyes - blood red, the healer noticed with no small amount of surprise - darted around the room, "How long have I been unconscious?"
"Five days." The healer replied, moving to prepare a lot of tea and some rice.
Pale brows furrowed, "You must be quite talented. My condition seems almost to it's ideal state."
Seishū pointedly remained silent, and the boy continued, "My guess is that General Fong encouraged my father to hurry, so he departed from here - Kyoshi? - and left me behind to recover?"
The healer nodded. The boy was clever. And the most levelheaded person he's ever met, "Indeed. He left you a letter, as well. Though before you read it, dear boy, you should drink some tea and have some rice. Ah, I've failed to introduce myself, I am Seishū, a healer."
The red-eyed boy nodded, "Thank you, Mr Seishū. My name is Sen- Tobirama. I am Tobirama, eldest son of the Southern Water Tribe's chieftain."
A sweet boy, but odd. 'Sen-?' Perhaps a part of the strange dream he mentioned? No matter. Tobirama needed to eat and get some fluid in.
Tobirama rather liked the old healer. He was gentle in voice and hand a comforting air about him.
And he made rice that was somehow far superior to any he's had before.
Tobirama ended up being left alone - the rabbit was gone now, too - so he could read Hakoda's letter. No, his father's letter. Just because he remembered a few more things now doesn't change the fact that Hakoda raised him.
And did a far better job that Butsuma, one might add.
Taking a deep breath, Tobirama unfolded the paper.
My son-
I do not know of enough words to tell you how sorry I am. For having to leave you on Kyoshi. For allowing you to get hurt. For making you grow up too fast.
Everything.
But you should know that I'm proud to call you my son, and I will respect whatever decision you make. You could track down the fleet - I know you could, if you wanted to - you could go home - just make sure you have a sturdy ship - or you could travel the world.
Part of me tells me that you'll choose the latter. I've always known that the Southern Water Tribe was too small for you - you've always craved more. Who knows, you might find some friends or even a lover on the way.
But whatever you do, stay safe. And maybe come visit your old man at some point? Or, at the very least, make sure that Katara hasn't disemboweled Sokka at some point in the next few years - if I'm not back yet.
Or, if you feel so inclined, send a letter.
May the waters be clear for you
-your Dad
Yeah, this was his father. The man that knows him so well. The man that raised him as far away from the war as possible - despite it being so hard in this world.
Despite not needing to go to such lengths for someone that's fought in more than enough wars.
Not that Hakoda knew that, though.
He's a good Dad.