A Dark Past, A New Begginning (Open to Ray)

Akane walked off the wagon that took them to the inner city of Ba Sing Se. After the boat landed on the outer coast of Ba Sing Se, they had to take a cart through the first wall and now the second wall. He relaxed suddenly as he touched Earth Kingdom soil. It was safe here, the Fire Nation Police wouldn't attack him, and no one cared who he was, as long as he didn't make trouble. Akane smiled at Akari as they walked through the upper ring, between rows of magnificent houses, all made of red stucco and stone with terra cotta roofs and ornate wooden carvings and topiary in the yards. Akane walked up the cobbled street to a large red house on a hill. The house was huge, with dragon carvings on the roof and grey and red stone walls on the outside. A magnificent garden with a fountain stood to the left of the yard and a large marble statue of a woman with a harp stood on the right.

Akane turned to Akari, "What do you think?" he asked. Akane smiled as he walked to the door and slid it open. Looking around he snapped his fingers, a small flame appeared in his hand and spread to all of the empty hanging lanterns. As the room filled with light it revealed a large main hall, in the center of the room was a wooden staircase. The staircase led to an upper platform which wrapped around the walls of the room, creating the upper level of the house. The platform allow access to doors which were labeled as "Study and Library" Two other doors rested between the three, both un-labeled but obviously appeared to be the bathroom and bed room. Towards the far wall on that seemed to lead to a kitchen and a dinning hall. Akane smiled as he saw the look on Akari's face, "It took a while to get this," he said, "But it's beautiful isn't it? Oh and by the way...um...I'm not usually accustomed to guests..so there's only one room. But, I'll sleep on the floor, and you can take the bed. Because I doubt you'll want to sleep together especially having just met me." Akane felt like an idiot, would she think that he's suggesting they sleep together? Or would she understand what he meant? Akane bit his lip nervously as he waited for a reply, good or bad he couldn't take back what he said.

Akari stood for a moment simply taking the whole thing in. This house was more magnificent than anything she'd ever stepped inside of in her life. She hardly heard Akane speaking, which was a good thing, because if she'd been paying proper attention she'd have been self conscious.
"No. I don't mind. I can just sleep in the living room... Or the library. I think I'd like to camp out in the library," Akari mused. She'd always loved books, but she'd never had a chance to read as much as she liked. It was one of the things she regretted. "Oh! That is, if you don't mind. I mean, if you don't want me in there I can always sleep somewhere else. I don't really care where. Tsuki and I can sleep pretty much anywhere, isn't that right?" Akari turned and stroked Tsuki, who shook her tail and wandered off. God, this place is huge, Akari thought.
"Do you have a garden?"