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Yuji wasn’t prone to being a dramatic, that’s a lie, but in this case, he thought he was justified in his dramatics, after all it was the day before he was going to propose to the love of his life, Megumi Fushiguro.
“Keep bending you two!” He shouted as he blasted his trademark light pink and red flames into the already deep hole.
“What do you think we’ve doing for the past hour?” Choso shouted back as he bent more and more permafrost out of the way.
“This would have been easier if you let me use my combustion bending!” Todo shouted as he bent red fire into the hole.
“And risk breaking the stone? No way!” Yuji shouted back.
The forever blizzard that raged far past the icy metropolis that was the Northern Water Tribe was particularly wrathful. But for Megumi, Yuji would face a thousand angry blizzards and Choso and Todo would do anything to help their little brother.
The three were separated right after Yuji was born. Their parents died in an ambush, and the attackers abducted them. Yuji was the luckiest and was saved and adopted by the earth bender Nanami, but by the time Nanami saved him, his brothers were gone.
Choso was given to an outlaw clan of blood benders in the South Pole, and Todo was given to a criminal combustion bender in the fire nation because he needed a successor, as you can imagine, the oldest two didn’t have the best lives.
Thanks to the help of avatar Gojo, when the three finally found each other years later and figured out they were brothers, they vowed that they would never be separated again.
“How deep is this stone?” Yuji asked.
“Deep. Digging for it is considered a labor of love. There’s a reason for that.” Choso said.
This was for Megumi, Yuji had to remember that. His fire wasn’t doing much to keep him warm anymore because it was all being funneled directly into the hole.
In the water tribes, carving a betrothal necklace was a necessity if you wished to propose to someone from one of the tribes. And even though much has changed in the centuries since avatar Korra, finding a stone, carving a unique design on it, and proposing was still a dearly held tradition among both tribes.
Finally, after what had felt like a never-ending barrage of fire and ice Choso couldn’t bend the permafrost anymore.
“Stop bending!” He shouted to Yuji.
Yuji and Todo stopped the onslaught of fire. Choso moved his hands with almost deadly precision, and the two firbenders heard ice crack and something hard being cut in the ground. A minute later, a large blue stone rose from the ground, frozen in ice.
Choso melted the ice and Yuji grabbed the stone.
“It’s so…blue,” Yuji remarked.
Choso chuckled, “Well, it has been frozen under ice and snow for centuries.”
The stone Yuji held was a special type of stone only found in minimal quantities, deep in water tribe tundras. So if you found one, your partner would know how much you cared for them.
The three brothers started walking back to the tribe and discussing tomorrow’s event.
“So you’re sure everyone has arrived for Gumi’s birthday party?” Yuji asked.
“Yes, the last boat arrived just before we sat out to get the stone. Even Avatar Gojo has arrived.”
“And he knows what tomorrow really is?” Todo asked.
“Yes. He and Nanami are finalizing everything and will make sure Megumi is there when it’s time for you to propose,” Choso replied.
“Great. I’m so happy both of our dad’s could be here. This is gonna be amazing,” Yuji remarked with a wide smile.
“Have you finalized a design for the necklace?” Todo asked.
“Yeah I… actually no. I’ve been so busy with preparing everything for the party, I haven’t had time.”
“I’m sure you’ll come up with a design. How hard could it be?”
It was, in fact, incredibly hard. Every time Yuji had sketched out an idea and picked up one of the carving tools, he talked himself out of it and dropped the tool.
Yuji sighed as he crashed back into his desk chair and looked out his window. It was late into the night and the waxing gibbous moon hung in the sky surrounded by beautiful twinkling stars.
They reminded him of the twinkle Megumi would always get in his bewitching jade eyes when they were together. They were one of his favorite things about Megumi, but so was his personality, the shy smile and blush he would get when Yuji did something cute for him, the way he bends water so gracefully, everything about Megumi was his favorite.
“Focus Yuji,” he said out loud. “I’m proposing in less than twenty-four hours under a full moon in front of everyone we know.”
He went back to drawing designs for another ten minutes before he let out a scream of frustration and burnt the crumbled paper in hushed hands.
He needed to cool off. He put back on his winter clothes and walked to one of his favorite places in the entire world. The spirit oasis. As he approached the koi pond, it began to grow warmer and warmer, this warmth was the cause of this place’s beautiful greenery.
But the lush greenery, the warmth, and the serenity wasn’t why this one of Yuji’s favorite places. It was one of his favorite places because this is where he and Megumi had their first kiss.
Yuji smiled and closed his eyes as he remembered the treasured memory.
They were both fifteen, and it was the first time Yuji had visited anywhere beyond the little Earth Kingdom town where Nanami had raised him.
The two had met a year ago when Avatar Gojo had come at the request of Nanami when their town was being threatened by Sukuna, a fire bender who had become the host of Vaatu, and apparently, Yuji’s uncle.
The father-son duo ended up staying and helping protect the town for over a year. During that time, Yuji had Megumi become best friends and later on boyfriends.
When it was time for them to leave, Yuji, much to Nanami’s hesitation, left with them to help stop his uncle, as he felt responsible for his uncle and his actions. Along the way they met many wonderful friends, including Nobara Kugisaki, who had joined them on their adventure.
But now here he was, surrounded by the ice and snow of Megumi’s home, where he was adopted and raised by the Avatar. While Gojo was away on a mission that he felt was too dangerous for the kids.
“Are we supposed to be here, Gumi?” The pink haired boy asked as the raven haired lead him by the hand across a wooden bridge.
“Technically, no, but my dad, annoying as he is, is the Avatar, sometimes that comes in handy.”
“Yeah like when he saves the entire world and keeps the balance,” Yuji laughed.
“Yeah, yeah,” he replied.
Yuji looked around and really took in his surroundings and noticed the grass, trees, and how warm it was.
“I don’t understand, how is this place… like this.” He gestured with his hands.
Megumi started taking off his winter clothes. “A lot of spiritual energy flows through the oasis, even with three spirit portals open.”
“Oh… that makes sense. And I’m guessing these are the ocean and moon spirits?” Yuji asked, looking at the black and white fish encircling each other.
“No, how could you tell?” Megumi chuckled.
“I’m a really great guesser,” Yuji laughed.
Megumi smiled at him, then sat on the little outstretched piece of land that made the oasis look like an almost full moon.
Megumi patted the ground signaling Yuji to sit next time him. Yuji smiled and took the invitation. Megumi scooted closer to him and rested his head on his shoulder and Yuji rest his head on his.
“It’s so quiet and peaceful here,” he remarked.
“It is. I’ve fallen asleep here meditating more times than I can count. Gojo usually has to come and take me back home. Although that hasn’t happened in a while.”
Yuji noticed the sad tone in Megumi’s voice almost immediately. “You’ll see him soon. Avatar stuff is just a lot sometimes.”
“I know, I just… miss him. Don’t tell him that, though. His head is already big enough as it is.”
Yuji chuckled, “I won’t.”
“He’s the only family I have left since my sister…”
“Shh, Shoko and the other healers will do everything they can for her. The only thing we can do now is wait for her to wake up. Until then, you have me.”
Megumi grabbed Yuji’s hand and laced their fingers together. “You’re right. I do. Can… we kiss?”
Yuji raised his head to look back at Megumi. “Y-yeah.” Yuji cleared his throat. “If you want?”
“Yeah, I do. Do you?”
“More than anything.”
Both boys began to lean in and turn their heads. When their lips met it was if everything else disappeared around them. There was no koi fish, no waterfall, nothing but them and only them in that moment.
When they broke apart they touched their foreheads together.
“That was…” Yuji started.
“Yeah.” Megumi finished.
“Can we do it again?” Yuji asked.
Megumi laughed as Yuji kissed his face repeatedly.
Yuji opened his eyes and had a smile on his face that wouldn’t go away. He was eighteen now and so much had changed since that time, especially him.
Sukuna was finally stopped and separated from Vaatu, Nobara had lost an eye due to a particular annoying, and evil spirit, and he and Megumi were deeply in love.
But despite all the good and the new peace that had blanketed the world, Yuji found his smile fading as he remembered the predicament he was in.
He looked at the great ocean and moon spirits as they continued their delicate dance of balance, in many ways they reminded Yuji of him and Megumi, almost complete opposites that needed each other.
Yuji got to his knees and began to speak to the fish. “Spirit of the ocean, spirit of the moon, even though I’m a fire bender, please help me create a design that’s just a special as Megumi.”
Suddenly, Yuji was tackled out of his prayer as blurs of white and black tackled him and licked his face. Megumi’s divine dogs as Yuji called them, one white, one black, both playful and fiercely protective and loyal to Megumi.
He was given by Gojo when he first left the northern water tribe. He said the wolves would always be there for him and protect, and Yuji couldn’t count high enough on the times he’s seen both first hand.
“Hey you two!” Yuji laughed.
There was a sharp whistle and both wolves backed off Yuji and began to play with each other.
Yuji looked up and saw his favorite waterbender in the whole world. “Gumi!” he said excitedly.
He extended his hand for his favorite fire bender to grab. “Hey Yu.”
Yuji grabbed his hand and was pulled up. “Are you excited for tomorrow, well, I guess today technically?”
“I guess. It’s not that important.”
“Are you kidding? It’s your eighteenth birthday.”
“Any other day of the year. Also, who were you talking to?”
Damn. Yuji had to think of a lie, and quickly. “Oh uhh myself. Yeah, I couldn’t sleep, so I came out here to think, and I started talking to myself out loud.”
“Well I can come by, and we can cuddle if that’ll help you sleep?” Megumi asked, grabbing his boyfriend’s hand.
Yuji blushed. “M-maybe la-”
Yuji was cut off as the dogs started swatting the koi pond water. Megumi let out an almost ear-piercing whistle.
“What did I tell you two after bothering the ocean and moon spirits!” He shouted.
Yuji chuckled as his boyfriend scolded the dogs, when suddenly two rays of moonlight hit the dogs and the fish that seemed like only Yuji noticed. That’s when he realized, the dogs, the fish, that’s it!
Megumi was suddenly grabbed by his boyfriend and was kissed hard. When they broke apart, Megumi still had the look of surprise on his face.
“I love you so much. You’re going to love tomorrow!” He said excitedly.
“What?”
“I’ll see you tomorrow! Get some rest.” He said as he gave him another kiss.
He ran off, leaving Megumi and the dogs there, both wondering what just happened.
Yuji barged into his room and began to work diligently, meticulously sketching and carving the azure colored stone. He made sure every piece of stone chipped away wouldn’t be in vain.
The next night everyone was filing into the Northern Water Tribe Royal Palace where Megumi’s party, and secret engagement, was being held.
Yuji was somewhere else in the palace looking at the full moon rise in the sky and counting the seconds before it was directly over the palace as it was tradition to propose under a full moon with a calm ocean as it represented a full and calm life.
He was so absorbed in it that he didn’t hear when Gojo walked behind. When Gojo tapped his shoulder Yuji instinctively fire bent at him. If Gojo wasn’t a fully realized avatar, he would likely be outside digging his head into the ice.
He grabbed Yuji’s hand and redirected the fire. “Hello to you too, Yuji.”
“S-Sorry. I was just lost in thought. Can I have my hand back now?”
Gojo released his hand. “Of course, It’s Megumi’s job is to take your hand. I just came to tell you that everyone’s here and the opening performance is about to begin. Nervous?”
“How could you tell?”
“You nearly fried me not even a minute ago.”
“Oh yeah. Sorry again. I just… what if he says no?”
Gojo sighed and brought Yuji over to the balcony that overlooked the city. “I don’t think you realize how much Megumi loves you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you remember when Sukuna had one of his followers blood bend your heart to stop, and you died?”
“Of course. Shoko had to-”
“Shoko didn’t do anything, she couldn’t. She can heal, not resurrect. We didn’t tell you the real story because Megumi didn’t want you to know, said something about you having a big head sometimes about how much he loves you.”
Yuji made a mental note to ask Megumi about that later, and possibly tell Gojo what Megumi said about him having a big head.
After that, though, a look of confusion crossed the pink haired boy’s face. “I don’t understand, what really happened then?”
“It was Megumi. Megumi watched you die right in front of him, while Sukuna and his followers got away. Something snapped in him.” Gojo took a breath before saying the next part as if remembering were painful for him and watching his child be in so much pain as he was it probably painful for him. “He broke the law. He couldn’t make your heart start, no matter how much blood bending he used. So, he blood bent the follower that killed you. He used his blood bending to make the follower use his blood bending to restart your heart.”
Although it didn’t happen a lot, Yuji was completely speechless. “What…what happened to the follower?”
“Megumi wanted to kill him, but we eventually convinced him that he was better to us alive for information. Megumi broke the law and was willing to kill for you. That only comes from a place of deep love. The only question is, do you love him just as much?”
Yuji turned towards Gojo with a determined look on his face. “Of course I do! I’d do anything to protect him!” He shouted.
Gojo smiled. “As his father, that’s nice to hear. Break his heart and I’ll take away your bending.”
Yuji laughed, knowing how to recognize when Gojo was joking, at least he hoped he did.
“Come on, we have a proposal to attend,” Gojo said, slinging his arm around Yuji and leading him to the icy throne room.
After the opening performance performed by Gojo, Megumi, Shoko, and Choso welcoming everyone was over, Gojo stood and addressed the audience.
Among the audience were high-ranking officials from all four nations, Gojo didn’t really care about them, but he did care about the friends and family who had attended. Maki and Nobara, engaged to each other, Yuta and Toge, also engaged to each other, Nanami, and Utahime. He really wished Geto was here with them, but this isn’t the place nor time to dwell on that.
“Thank you everyone for attending the eighteenth birthday of my son Megumi.” He gestured towards the at his water bender, and he rose to his feet.
“Thank you father. And thank you everyone for attending. May the great ocean and moon spirits watch over you all.”
And with that, the party official commenced.
As Yuji was stuffing his face with traditional Water Tribe cuisine, not as good as Nanami’s earth kingdom cooking but good, nonetheless, Nobara elbowed him.
“Ow!” He said through stuffed cheeks that made him look like a frog squirrel.
“Swallow your food, idiot. I want to talk to you.”
Yuji took a big gulp and swallowed all the food he could’ve stored for the winter. “What?”
“When are you proposing?” She asked nonchalantly.
“How did you know?”
Nobara laughed. “It’s written all over your face. Plus, you know you can’t keep a secret from me.”
Nobara had always been good at reading people, and it didn’t hurt that she had a really developed seismic sense, but they were on ice, so Yuji wondered if anyone else picked up on it, mainly Megumi.
“Water Tribe tradition states to do under a full moon when it reaches its apex.”
Nobara looks to the open roof and to the moon. “So… in a few minutes?”
Yuji’s heart dropped. Was it really so soon? Where had the time gone? He thought he had at least another hour to talk himself up.
Nobara elbowed him again. “Ow! Stop doing that!”
“Then stop freaking yourself out, idiot. He’s going to say yes.”
“Thanks Nobara.”
“Of course. Just know that me and Maki will outdo yours and Toge and Yuta’s weddings.”
“You’re on,” he laughed.
After a few minutes, the moon was directly overhead, Yuji took a deep breath and felt his pocket for the hundredth time to make sure the necklace was in there.
He rose and walked over to Megumi who was standing to the left of the room with his divine dogs on either side of him and talking to the air benders Toge and Yuta.
Of course, Toge didn’t talk a lot, as he took a vow of silence to better connect to the spiritual world and only allowed himself to speak on special occasions. Needless to say, Yuta was the one to propose.
Before he reached them Nanami caught up to him. “Dad?” He asked.
“Gojo told me you were nervous. You shouldn’t be. You and Megumi have one of the strongest relationships I’ve ever seen. I’m so proud of the man you’ve become.
Yuji smiled and hugged him. “I love you, dad. I wish Haibara could’ve been here too.”
Yuji never really knew Haibara, he died years before Nanami adopted him. But what he did know is that his dad loved and missed him a lot.
Nanami hugged him back. “Me too, he’d be proud of you too. I love you too, son.”
Afterwords, Yuji continued to walk over to his boyfriend and when he reached, he laced his fingers together with Megumi’s.
“Hey Yu.”
“Hey Gumi.” Yuji looked towards the air benders. “Can I borrow him for a second?”
“Of course,” Yuta said with a wide smile, and Togo nodded “yes”.
Yuji lead them away to the center of the room.
“Did you wanna dance or something?” Megumi asked.
“No, not exactly.”
Once they were in the center, Yuji turned around and held both of his boyfriend’s hands in his.
“I did want to ask you something, though.”
“Ok?” Megumi said with a confused look on his face.
“We’ve been together since we were both fourteen, and during that time we’ve grown together, laughed together, and cried together more times than I can count. You make me the happiest person in the world. I love you, Megumi Fushiguro, and I want us to be together, forever.”
“Yuji I-”
Yuji let go of his hands and reached into his pocket and pulled out the betrothal necklace.
Megumi gazed at the necklace that sat in the palms of Yuji’s hands. A velvety silk of midnight blue contrasted to the rough, and tan hands of the fire bender. A glinting piece of beautiful carved gold connected the azure stone to the rest of the choker.
He felt his heartbeat quicken as his eyes traced over the design of wolves circling one another. One painted a deep black that entranced the painted light white of the other one. The eyes, painted the opposite color, darting against each other in union, something that represented him and Yuji, existing on opposite sides of the spectrum, and yet connected by their undying love and loyalty to one another.
The icy blue room fell silent as they looked on at the pair.
“Will you marry me, Megumi Fushiguro?”
Megumi looked back up at Yuji with glassy eyes. “Of course I will.”
Yuji smiled as Megumi turned around and put the necklace on him. Everyone cheered as the two tightly embraced. They broke apart and Megumi quickly grabbed the fire benders hand and they both ran out of the party.
“What about your birthday and I guess now engagement party?” Yuji asked while laughing.
“It’ll still be there when we get back.”
Megumi took a sharp turn and Yuji knew instantly where they were going. The Spirit Oasis.
Once they were there, Megumi led him over the bridge as he did so many years ago when they first came here.
“Why are we here?”
“Well, I figured since this is where we had our first kiss. This is where we should have our first engagement kiss. Plus this is where you got the idea for my betrothal necklace isn’t it?” Megumi asked with a knowing smile.
“What- I didn’t- how did you know?”
Megumi chuckled, “I heard you praying to the ocean and moon spirits. I just didn’t know it would be tonight, although, I could’ve guessed. You aren’t very good at hiding things.”
Yuji started mentally smacking himself. Of course he knew. It’s Megumi.
“But, that’s ok.” He moved closer and wrapped his arms around Yuji’s neck. “It’s one of my favorite things about you. I love you Yuji Itadori.”
Yuji wrapped his hands around the water bender’s waist and pulled him closer.
Their embracement and kiss were illuminated only by the light of the full moon. When they broke apart, they both sighed contently and touched foreheads.
“We have to outdo Nobara’s wedding, by the way,” Yuji said.
“Oh, we definitely are.”