**Northern Water Tribe. Chief's Palace. Princess Yui's Chambers.**
In a cozy room adorned with various furs of local animals, a scene familiar to many girls was unfolding. Katara and Yui, comfortably seated on a large bed, were sharing secrets.
"Katara, have you noticed how Sangok looks at you?" Yui asked, narrowing her eyes slyly.
"Who's that?" Katara genuinely asked, surprised.
"One of Master Pakku's waterbending students," Yui replied, disappointed by Katara's reaction. "It seems only you haven't noticed his longing glances and sighs."
"He's not my type," Katara waved her off. "Tell me, how do you feel about Hahn's advances? He's the elder's son and just became the commander of a special unit—not a bad match, I'd say."
"Honestly, his clingy behavior is starting to annoy me!" Yui exclaimed, ready to explode. "Next time, I'll show him a few of my new waterbending techniques! I mean, I'm just…" She trailed off, stopping herself just in time. But Katara, knowing her friend—almost sister—well, sensed there was something intimate left unsaid.
"I won't say another word," Yui fiercely shook her head, realizing her mistake. "And it's late. Let's sleep."
"Come on, sisters don't keep secrets from each other!" Katara insisted, growing more curious as Yui resisted.
"Fine," Yui sighed. "You probably already guessed… I love Yuki!" She said the last three words with her eyes tightly shut.
"Uh… not as a brother?" Katara blinked repeatedly, wide-eyed.
"It's complicated…" Yui sighed. "I see him not just as my brother, but as the person I want to spend my life with," she admitted, feeling lighter after speaking the truth.
"I don't even know what to say," Katara mumbled awkwardly. "Then I'll share something too. Mom said she wouldn't oppose our relationship with Yuki, as long as he doesn't object. And if I don't find my own partner by then. But who could be better than Yuki?" She hesitated to add that his figure had long been in her heart, ever since he first visited their tribe at the South Pole.
"I didn't know Aunt Kanna was so open-minded," Yui thought, "One obstacle is gone! Yes-Yes-YES!" So, Katara's mother wouldn't object.
"This is… unusual," Katara tried to find a neutral word. "I guess I wouldn't have resisted either, if he were my brother," she admitted shyly. "But your parents probably won't be thrilled. And don't forget the negative consequences. As a healer, you know how this could affect your future child," she added in a heavier tone.
"Yuki is the best expert in chi blocking. I think he could do something about it," Yui's words revealed her unwavering faith in her brother. "If not, then… Your children will have two mothers!"
"So, Princess Yui, you're already ready to share your brother with other girls?" Katara realized the core of the matter.
"It would be selfish to demand he give up others. Besides, I see how Aunt Kanna looks at Yuki every day. And we've lived under the same roof almost our entire lives. Better you than some strangers…" Yui said with a hint of gratitude in her voice. Unable to hold back, she laughed first.
"Oh, thanks for your permission!" Katara said with exaggerated reverence, her hand secretly grabbing the edge of a pillow. "Thank you!" The soft projectile was launched straight at Yui's face.
"You started it!" Yui retaliated, grabbing a pillow in each hand and lunging forward.
Many boys from the North Pole would probably give anything to peek into this room now. The young, tanned beauties, dressed in short pajama shorts and loose tops, were showcasing their flexible bodies, accidentally revealing their developing curves.
**——**
**Fire Lord's Palace. Princess Azula's Chambers.**
Equally intriguing conversations were taking place among the children of the Fire Nation's elite. Ty Lee and Mai had finally been allowed to train firebending with Princess Azula. Not to mention, such training would be far more effective, as the teacher's attention wouldn't be divided among a class but focused solely on the three of them. For now, studies could be forgotten—it was the only vacation of the year, and the girls intended to enjoy it fully.
"Stop sighing, Mai," Azula said, slightly irritated. "Before you know it, your Zuko will be back," she added with a smirk.
"He's not mine," Mai replied quietly, turning her head away.
"Sure, sure, you can lie to your friends," Azula waved her hand. "We see how your mood changes when he's around."
"The same could be said about you when Teacher Wan is near," Mai pointed out sharply.
"I won't hide it. No one but him is worthy to stand by my side!" Azula declared proudly. "Maybe he doesn't see me as a woman yet, but… I'll get what I want!" Her confidence was unshakable.
"'But Mr. Wan is already close to Lady Ursa…'" Mai bit her lip, deciding to stay silent. Without fully understanding the situation, it was too early to jump to conclusions. Maybe it wasn't that serious… The likelihood was low, but she didn't want to upset her friend.
"That leaves you, Ty Lee," Azula's golden eyes, characteristic of the Fire Lords, turned to her.
"Oh! Want me to show you a new chi-blocking trick?" Ty Lee quickly offered, ready to showcase her talents.
"No, tell us who you like!" Azula cut through the evasion, and Mai looked at her friend with curiosity.
"If I answer, Azula won't be happy," Ty Lee replied softly, lowering her head slightly.
"Why not? If it's Zuko, that's fine," Azula didn't understand her words, but Mai seemed to figure it out.
"I like Wan…" Ty Lee said even quieter.
"Sorry? I didn't hear that," Azula said with a forced smile.
"I like Teacher Wan!" Ty Lee blurted out loudly.
"So, I heard it right the first time," the princess calmly stated, her face becoming oddly intimidating—or was it just the lighting?
"It's okay, he'll still choose me!" Azula valued their friendship as much as Ty Lee and wasn't ready to say anything harsh. Life in the Palace had taught her self-control.
"Close call…" Ty Lee and Mai thought simultaneously, relieved.
"Or we could become real sisters and share him," Ty Lee suggested timidly, liking that idea even more. Her biological sisters barely paid her any attention, but she always craved closeness…
"We'll see," Azula said briefly. "Tell me, what do you think of my new idea? Is it too vulgar? I'm thinking of creating situations where my body presses against the teacher as often as possible," she blushed slightly, having never done anything like this before, nor ever imagined she would. "Let him realize tactically that I'm already an adult woman."
"I couldn't do that," Mai shook her head.
"Great idea! I'll use it too!" Ty Lee said without hesitation.
"Hey, come up with your own!"
"How complicated…" While her friends devised new plans, Mai couldn't understand why thoughts of Wan were replacing Zuko. Her friends never grasped the true reason for her sighs.
**——**
**Gaoling.**
Jun lay on her bed, reading a romance novel, waiting for Roku to finish his bath and return to their shared chambers in the Beifong residence. It was late, and she longed to be in the warm embrace of her partner.
Soon, she heard hurried footsteps, and Toph entered the room. Lao's daughter poked her head in, listened intently for any sounds, then quietly closed the door.
Jun watched her movements calmly, her raised eyebrow seeming to ask several questions: "What are you doing here? Why so late? Why so quietly?"
"Roku's still bathing, so I've got ten to fifteen minutes," Toph mumbled. "Hi, my favorite Jun! How are you? What are you reading?" She flashed her best smile.
"Get to the point," Jun said, immediately sensing Toph hadn't come for small talk.
"Tell me, how can I win over Roku?" Toph dropped the act and asked directly.
"You're asking me to help you win over my man?" Jun was taken aback by the audacity and decided to repeat the question.
"Yeah," Toph shrugged. "You already know I have feelings for him. But I never heard you explicitly forbid it."
"'Little perceptive brat…'" Jun thought to herself. She was actually willing to set aside her pride and accept other girls or women into their family—if they truly loved Roku. "But he already has another woman on Kyoshi Island," she realized this wasn't such a good idea after all…
"You don't need to rush. From what I've gathered, he likes mature women," poor Roku and Yuki—even their own partners thought they had peculiar preferences. "In a few years, he'll notice you on his own. Then you can start your 'assault.'"
"Too long!" Toph frowned. She didn't mention that, using her earthbending, she'd been watching Roku and Jun's "games" in detail. Every moment. At first, she'd turned off her ability. But after her first period, she'd started spying on them more often.
The entire house was made of stone, allowing her to navigate easily. The floor had only a thin wooden covering, which she couldn't feel with her abilities.
For two months now, she'd been experimenting with her "little hole." She couldn't fall asleep until she released tension, watching Roku enter Jun. She imagined herself in the former mercenary's place. Of course, jealousy consumed her, but Roku and Jun were genuinely happy, so she couldn't bring herself to interfere. It wasn't in her nature to act sneakily.
Because of this, she'd started disliking her own body. Her chest barely grew, and her height hadn't increased much over the years. Would she always remain just his friend?
Seeing Toph's state, Jun decided to take the initiative. She'd gone through puberty herself and knew all too well how emotions could spiral, and simple thoughts could lead astray.
**——**
Only Suki didn't clutter her mind with unnecessary things, continuing to transform her body into a weapon for combat. Each day followed the same script: training with other Kyoshi warriors, mastering earthbending, helping her mother with chores, playing with Unagi's children, and assisting other villagers.
Perhaps she simply didn't have time to think about such things. Deep down, she knew Roku would be with her eventually. She didn't know where this certainty came from, but she believed it.