"Hmm, I do not think that was correct." Muttered Aang softly as he lowered his hands with a thoughtful expression while gazing at the wooden training dummy.
Tapping my chin, I gently glided my hand across the training dummy, briefly stopping where a chi point on the human body would be before continuing downwards until I reached the dummy's feet.
Raising my hands once more, I used the knuckles of my fingers and thrust them at several points on the dummy, moving in quick succession as I hit nearly every spot I desired with precision.
"That was correct, but I missed." Said Aang softly with a slight frown as he pressed his knuckles against a specific spot to the left of the dummy's abdomen, only for a hand to suddenly grasp his shoulder.
Taken by surprise, I swiftly turned around while thrusting my knuckles in various places on the person's arm, causing their arm to go limp within merely three hits.
"Ah, Monk, Gyatso. My apologies." Said Aang apologetically as he slightly widened his eyes before clasping his hands and slightly bowing, causing him to faintly chuckle.
"Hoho, no worries, Aang; I should know better than to sneak up on you like that; after all, this isn't the first time this has happened. However, seeing how you only needed three attacks, you've improved." Remarked Gyatso lightly as he dismissively waved his hand at Aang before glancing at his limp arm with a proud smile, causing him to nod.
"Yes, thanks to the human-like training dummy, my progress has increased exponentially, though it has come with a bit of a consequence." Replied Aang with a nod as he faintly smiled while glancing at the dummy behind him before raising his hands, displaying his swollen and bruised fingers.
"That looks like it hurts. Are you sure you should be pushing yourself so hard?" Asked Gyatso with a slight frown as he gently grabbed Aang's hand before looking at him with fatherly concern, prompting him to shake his head.
"I'm fine, Monk Gyatso, and it looks worse than it really is; there is only a slight throbbing pain. Besides, with me still unable to bend, I'll quickly become bored if I do nothing to occupy my time." Said Aang softly as he effortlessly moved his fingers, causing Gyatso to nod with furrowed brows before pointing to his arm.
Faintly smiling, I reached forth and poked the same exact spots I had previously hit with my knuckles when he snuck into me, causing him to regain control and sensation in my arm.
"There is always a weird fuzzy feeling." "It's probably your chi resuming circulation now that it is no longer inhibited." Remarked Gyatso and Aang, respectively, as the former gently shook his arm before nodding in agreement at the latter's words.
"Would you like me to teach you, Monk Gyatso? The concept of chi-blocking is quite fascinating." Asked Aang curiously as he looked at Monk Gyatso, who raised an eyebrow, erupting into laughter while shaking his head.
"Hoho, I've grown too old for that, Aang. What's that saying again? You can't teach an old dog new tricks? I'm unfortunately too old, and my injuries do not help my case." Remarked Gyatso with a smile as he patted his chest while looking at Aang, who nodded before faintly smirking.
"The teacher is a perpetual student — Guru Laghima." Stated Aang with a slight bow, his words causing Gyatso to momentarily freeze before smiling like a proud father.
"Hoho, I can't argue that; it seems you've got me. You've won this one, Aang. I'll stay and listen, but I'll refrain from practicing; knowing how chi-blocking works is rather interesting." Said Gyatso with a faint smile as he created a small, spherical vortex behind him before sitting cross-legged, causing Aang to faintly smirk.
"The student has become the teacher." Said Gyatso lightly as he glanced at Aang, who couldn't help but chuckle before clearing his throat.
"Chi-blocking is just as it's called, interrupting or blocking the flow of Chi through the Chi-pathways…" Stated Aang seriously as he used the wooden training dummy as a way to help demonstrate while Gyatso listened with rapt attention.
___
___
"Thank you, Hana, for everything." Said Aang earnestly as he deeply bowed toward Hana, who faintly smiled while nodding.
"You're very much welcome, Aang. It's my pleasure to help the Avatar." Remarked Hana lightly as she looked at Aang with a smile, causing him to stand upright.
"If there is anything you need, Hana, I hope you do not hesitate to ask the Air Temple; we deeply owe you and every other Watertribe healer who helped us last year after the invasion." Stated Aang solemnly as he clasped his hands and bowed to Hana once more, causing her to place a hand on her chest while smiling.
"I'll make sure to inform them all of your words, though we've chosen this path to help those in need no matter whether we earn anything in return." Said Hana softly, her words causing Aang to sigh while nodding, only for a glint to pass through her eyes.
"I understand, but even so, if there is anything I could do—" "Um, about that, how old are you, Aang?" Said Aang and Hana, respectively, as the latter interrupted the former with a somewhat uncomfortable smirk.
While confused at her sudden question, I responded as this may be related to assisting her with something.
"My age? I'm 13." Replied Aang calmly as he looked at Hana, who smirked while tapping her chin.
"Hmm, 13. It may be a little awkward, given the age difference, but it's nothing uncommon; it is usually the other way around, though." Muttered Hana softly as she stared deeply at Aang, whose expression twitched at her words.
Thinking Hana would ask me to be her lover or something akin to that, I opened my mouth to refute her, but before I could, I heard Hina's voice from behind in the distance.
"Ah, Aang!" "Can you marry my daughter?" Said Hina and Hana, respectively, as the former embraced Aang in a hug while arriving just in time to hear the latter's request.
'That was better than I thought.' Thought Aang lightly as he glanced at Hana, who was staring at him with hope while Hina gnashed her teeth in anger, shame, and embarrassment.
"M-MOTHER! Have some shame! Aang is merely a friend! An adorable little brother, if anything, but nothing more!" Stated Hina angrily as she glared at Hana, who scoffed in return, her sweet personality and gentle voice nowhere to be seen.
"Hmph, you're 22 and have yet to bring home a man! Other women are already celebrating their child's fourth birthday, yet you can't even introduce me to a single man. Clearly, I have to do everything for you." Declared Hana as she snorted in annoyance while eyeing Hina, who was tightly squeezing Aang in anger.
"Besides, you and he would be a good match; he's young, handsome, and well-endowed. He'll be able to give me many grandchildren." Added Hana solemnly as she eyed Hina before glancing at Aang, who was faintly blushing.
"May I ask how you're privy to such information?" "I healed you, Aang; I've seen every inch of your body, and I must say, I'm quite impressed by what I saw. My daughter may initially have trouble, but she'll grow accustomed to it." Remarked Aang and Hana, respectively, as the latter folded her arms and glanced at the former's crotch with a faint smirk before shifting her focus to Hina.
On the one hand, I felt awkward and a little uncomfortable at Hana's words, but I was also slightly filled with pride; still, I was more embarrassed than anything.
"T-Thank you?" Said Aang softly with a deep blush as he averted his gaze from Hana, who nodded with a smile, only for Hina to walk away.
"Tsk, what a troublesome woman. I better see my first grandchild before I turn fifty!" Muttered Hana in slight annoyance as she eyed Hina before closing the door to her home.
"Um, can you set me down now?" "Oh, yeah, s-sorry." Said Aang and Hina, respectively, as the latter gently set him down while awkwardly rubbing her cheek.
"I-I can see why you always seem so stressed." Said Aang lightly as he glanced at Hina, who snorted in anger before deeply sighing.
"As frustrating and annoying she can be, she is my mother; besides, it is really uncommon for a woman my age to still not have a child, let alone a man. I'm quite the outlier." Remakerd Hina lightly in irritation as she aggressively scratched her head before wryly smiling.
"Also, I'm really sorry about that final conversation. My mother has always been concerned with the size of a man's... 'Thing' for some reason. It's really uncomfortable and embarrassing." "Yeah… It really is." Said Hina and Aang, respectively, as the former lowered her head in shame and embarrassment while the latter lightly nodded.
"Um, so, would you like to have a spar? Now that I can finally bend again, I'm quite eager to use it. It's been a little over a year since I've done any form of bending." Asked Aang with an excited smile as he looked at Hina, who raised an eyebrow before nodding.
"Anything to make me forget about what just happened. Though do be warned, I'm not going to take it easy on you just because you're young!" Said Hina with a smirk as she glanced at Aang before knocking his head proudly, raising her head.
"I would have it no other way." Said Aang with a faint smile as he looked at Hina, who simply laughed.