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Everything Happens in Ba Sing Se	By : CanadianGirl Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Mai/Zuko Views: 4070 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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Chapter List
- 10
- 11
A/N: Final chapter everyone. Hope you've enjoyed the story.

Chapter 10: Goodbye
Five Years Later
Zuko had a headache; not an ordinary headache but one that seemed to originate at the base of his skull and then radiate outwards, making his temples and his forehead throb mercilessly. The noise in the hallway outside his office wasn't helping. The shrieks of his three daughters managed to penetrate the thick wood door and bounce around the room. Zuko had had enough. He dropped the letter he had been mindlessly staring at for the past fifteen minutes, got up from his chair and strode angrily to the door. When he yanked it open all three girls turned to look at their father. They were silent now, the look on Zuko's face enough to quiet anyone.
"Go!" His voice was low and angry and a little bit frightening. As his eyes scanned his daughters' faces, they lit upon a slightly singed end of antique tapestry. "Akina, I've told you countless times to not bend in the hallways or in your bedroom or anywhere else but the training rooms or outside. You don't have enough control yet. For Agni's sake, what if Sayori or Kinako had gotten hurt?"
Akina lowered her head and stared at the tiny orange flames that licked at the edges of the red runner they all stood upon. When she finally looked back up, her eyes were damp with tears. She hated disappointing her father, not due to any fear of him, but because of the intensity of the love she felt for the man. "I'm really sorry, Daddy. We'll go to the training room right now and I'm sorry about the tapestry too. It's just it's raining outside and we were kind of bored so…."
"Boredom is not an excuse. Don't let it happen again, Akina. You are the oldest and both of your sisters look up to you. Unfair as that may seem sometimes, it's a fact. Use your position wisely."
"Yes, Daddy," Akina sniffled. "I'll do better."
The Fire Lord's face softened then. "It was a mistake and I've made plenty in my lifetime." He moved forward and placed a hand on Akina's head, ruffling her black hair gently. "Why don't you go to the library instead, maybe read a few stories to them. After dinner, we can work on your bending a bit. I need to get rid of this headache, though. It's killing me."
The princess could see the pain in her father's eyes very clearly. "Okay, I'll see you at dinner."
"Bye girls; I love you." Zuko watched as his three daughters skipped down the corridor, Akina lagging a bit behind, glancing back over her shoulder every few steps.

Back in the office, Zuko slouched down in his comfortable chair and then leaned forward, allowing his head to hang between his knees. He rubbed vigorously at his temples but the motion did nothing to alleviate the pain.
"Damn it!" he cursed.
With a heavy sigh, he sat up straight again and picked up the forgotten letter. It was from Ping and detailed his Uncle Iroh's deteriorating health. It was the fourth such letter that Zuko had received over the past few months and the Fire Lord was more than upset now; he was terrified. He scanned the characters, focusing on the words like 'fatigue' and 'strain' and 'discomfort' and 'healers'. He needed to face the truth. Iroh was very sick and could well be dying. It was time to pay the man, who for all intents and purposes was his 'real' father, a visit.
As he quietly brooded, the door to his office opened and Mai entered, tray in hand. He didn't notice his wife until she stood right beside him.
"Mai, hi; I didn't hear the door open." He gave her a barely there smile and then held the letter out to her.
"Akina told me that you have a bad headache. She was concerned." Mai gave the letter a quick glance and then put it back down. "I'll read it in a minute." She moved around behind his chair and then put her cool fingers to his temples, massaging them with just the right amount of pressure. It felt good, much better than his halfhearted attempt at pain relief had. "Drink that tea now. It's got painkilling herbs in it."
Zuko gulped the hot brew down obediently. "Akina was worried about me?"
"She's eleven, Zuko, and pretty perceptive. Besides, you told her that you have a headache."
"Yeah, right; I was angry and yelled at the girls because they were noisy and Akina was bending in the hall and I had just finished that letter from Ping."
Mai removed her fingers and kissed one temple before snatching up the offending missive. She read it speedily, her frown growing deeper as she continued. "Ping is obviously very worried, Zuko. Iroh doesn't want to burden us or some such nonsense. Don't you think it's time we went to Ba Sing Se to see what's going on for ourselves? This isn't just anybody. It's Iroh."
"I was thinking the same thing. We'll get packed and head off in a few days. I don't care if the girls miss a few weeks of school. They can make it up somehow."
"There are some perks to being children of the Fire Lord," Mai intoned dryly. "I'll go tell the girls now. They're in the library, doing just what you asked them to. You concentrate on getting rid of that headache and getting your work organized."
"Yes, ma'am," Zuko couldn't help replying.
Mai gave him a glance that could wilt flowers and then glided to the door. "Dinner is in two hours."

A week later, the royal family arrived safely in Ba Sing Se and made their way by carriage to the Jasmine Dragon. Zuko's brow was furrowed as he pulled open the teashop's front doors and let Mai and the children pass. Two guards, there to watch over the three girls should Mai and Zuko decide to go out for an evening or two, followed Zuko inside and awaited their orders.
"You can sit at a table, men. I'll see about getting you some tea."
The teashop was deserted and Zuko wondered if it was closed for the afternoon. Why then had the front door been open? The quiet and emptiness gave the normally cheerful and busy place an eerie feel. Zuko headed back into the kitchen as the carriage driver brought in their trunks, leaving them at the foot of the stairs. Akina followed her father, eager to see Iroh and Ping.
"Should we be quiet, Daddy, 'cause Uncle Iroh is sick?" She slipped her hand into her father's and he gave it a squeeze.
"I don't think Uncle would want us to do that. He likes people around him, Akina. He likes life."
The girl nodded as they stepped into the empty kitchen. "Where's Uncle?"
There were empty pots of tea scattered about and a huge pot of something that smelled like fish soup bubbling away. Zuko, his expression worried, lowered the flames beneath the pot and decided to head upstairs.
"I want you to wait with your mother and sisters, Akina. I'm going upstairs to check things out."
The girl was about to protest but thought better of it. "Okay; do you think Uncle's all right?"
"I don't know." Zuko sounded upset now and irritated by the questions. "Just go back with your mother and let me find Uncle Iroh."
Akina went back to the dining area while Zuko ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Iroh's bedroom door was ajar and the Fire Lord was relieved to hear the snores that came from his bed. Ping napped in a chair off to the side, the book he had been reading slowing working its way out of his grasp.
After creeping silently over to the bed and peering down at his uncle, Zuko had every intention of leaving quietly. But his foot got tangled up in a drooping bit of blanket and he dropped onto the bed with a loud thump.
Startled, both Iroh and Ping awoke. The tea maker's face broke into a warm, welcoming smile while Ping looked at Zuko sourly.
"You woke up your uncle." He stated the obvious very disapprovingly.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that, Uncle. We didn't find you downstairs and its afternoon and there was a pot of soup still cooking. I was worried. We all were." The Fire Lord looked searchingly at the old man.
"I was just a little tired. So I decided to close the shop early. It seems that age has suddenly crept up on me."
"Uncle, I know that you're ill. Please, don't try to spare us or anything like that. We're here to help and spend time with you."
Iroh gave Ping a glare. "I told you not to let Zuko know. And you had better tend to that soup. It's tonight's supper, remember."
"I had to tell your nephew. It's wrong to keep such things from those closest to you." Ping sounded almost haughty. "Your family loves you, Iroh, and wants to be with you in your sickness, not back at the Fire Nation palace, ignorant about your condition. I don't care if you're angry at me. Fire me if you want. I did the right thing."
The old tea maker sighed. "Oh, Ping, you've been a good friend to me for years now and a valued assistant. I could never fire you and I'm not really angry. I simply didn't want to worry Zuko and Mai and the kids."
"Well, I'm glad that Ping wrote me those letters. You've done so much for me, Uncle, and I want to help all that I can." Zuko's eyes welled up with unshed tears. "Do you know what's wrong with you? How bad is it?"
"The healers aren't sure; I'm tired all the time and my joints ache and I enjoy spending time in bed far more than I should. It's so warm and cozy in here. I think, nephew dear, that I am simply getting old and my time is approaching quickly." He reached out and took Zuko's hand. "Don't you be sad! I've had a good life, a wonderful life. You and your family have been a huge part of that. I'm okay with leaving now, really I am. Sure I would love to see your beautiful girls all grown up, but I can imagine them as young ladies quite clearly. It's okay, Zuko." He patted the younger man's hand and Zuko suddenly felt like a sad, lost little boy.
His voice cracked when he finally spoke. "But, but what are we going to do without you?"
"You'll manage and you will be fine. I promise you that, nephew. You're such a fine man and you've grown so much over the years. I'm proud of you, of all that you have accomplished and of the life that you have built for yourself. You should be proud too. Now, how about you make me some green tea, the way I like it. You're almost as good a tea maker as I am now."
"No one is as good as you, Uncle. No one even comes close." Zuko flashed the man a grin. "But, I'll do my best. Come on, Ping. You can check the soup."

Mai cupped Zuko's scarred cheek and he covered her hand with his. "He's dying, isn't he?" she whispered. "Your face always tells me everything."
Zuko nodded and fought back more tears. "Yeah; he looks so old suddenly, like half the life has gone out of him. Oh, Mai, I hate to think of living without him."
"So do I and the girls will miss him terribly. I think that we should have a wonderful few days here or stay as long as you like. Let's enjoy Iroh while we still have him. Does he want some tea?"
"Yeah, green. I'll make it for him. And Mai…." He kissed her tenderly, then pulled back and stared deep into her narrow gold eyes. "I love you so much."
"I know you do." She took his hand in hers then and guided him into the kitchen. "Let's make some tea."
The girls were sitting at the small table nibbling on almond cookies.
"Hi, Daddy," they all cried at once.
Zuko felt that powerful surge of love and protectiveness he always experienced when he laid eyes upon his daughters. "Hi, girls, who wants to help me make Uncle some tea and carry it up to his room?"
Instantly, all three girls were gathered around him, eager to help. Mai giggled at the sight and decided to sit down and watch. Ping meanwhile was stirring the fish soup with unusual vigor.
"There'll be nothing left of the pot, Ping," Mai joked.
"Hmmph," was the man's only reply. He added some seasoning then and stirred some more before heading for the kitchen door. "It's ready to serve now. You can eat whenever you're hungry. I'm going home. I'll see you all tomorrow morning."
Zuko gave Ping a quick wave and turned back to his daughters. "Okay, then girls; Akina, could you fetch the green tea leaves from the pantry? Sayori, how about you find a nice teapot and Kinako, you can get a tray with two cups for the guards. They want some tea too."
Zuko and his daughters bustled about the kitchen until the tea was brewed for both Uncle and the guards who waited patiently in the dining area. Mai watched with a mixture of amusement and sadness. Her husband was adorable when he interacted with their children and her love for all of them really knew no bounds. But, this visit with Iroh could very well be their last. And an important chapter of their lives was about to close. Perhaps, somehow, they could all keep the Jasmine Dragon going even after Iroh's passing.
"Hey, would you like to come upstairs with us?" Zuko was leaning in close to Mai and after his question he placed a quick kiss to her temple.
"I would like that very much."

Akina proudly carried the tray with a steaming cup of green tea up the stairs and presented it to Iroh with a bright smile. "Here, Uncle; we made you tea. I hope you like it." She put the tray down on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed. "Can I sit here?"
"Certainly you can; come on, girls." He waved Kinako and Sayori over. "You can sit on the bed too."
The two younger ones jumped aboard, jostling the old man a bit but he simply laughed and rubbed their heads.
"Hi, Uncle," Sayori, five years old now, declared cheerily. "Try the tea." She bit her lip and watched anxiously, waiting for the old man to pick up the green porcelain cup. Her deep gold eyes shone and she tugged at her long brown braid.
"I will indeed." Iroh reached for the cup and took a sip. "Ah, it's quite good. Thank you very much, young ladies."
"Are you sick?" Kinako asked. She was approaching eight years old now and was at that blunt stage when children say exactly what is on their minds. "You look different."
"Yes, dear, I am. But having all of you here makes me feel much better."
Kinako smiled at his reply. "Good; do you wanna hear about my school?"
"Certainly; tell me everything."
The remainder of the afternoon passed pleasantly in conversation, the girls relating stories to Iroh about training and school and friends while Mai and Zuko added details here and there and the old man gave his take on things. When Sayori's stomach began to rumble, Mai decided that it was time to eat.
"Can you make it downstairs for dinner, Iroh, or would you like us to bring some up?" Mai quirked her eyebrows and awaited his reply.
"I think I've spent long enough in bed for now. I'll join you in the dining room shortly."
Zuko held out his hand to help Iroh up but the man refused. "I can still make it out of bed and down the stairs all right. You go on and get the table set."
"Okay, Uncle. We'll see you shortly."
When he reached the door, Zuko turned back to look at the old man struggling to get out of his bed. His movements were a far cry from those of the man Zuko had traveled with fifteen and more years ago. Zuko's heart was heavy with grief as he joined his family on the stairs. His life was about to change and he did not look forward to it one bit.

Mai was getting ready for bed. Zuko was already under the covers and he watched her go about her nightly routines with a wistful sort of expression. It was as if he had suddenly realized how quickly one's life can change, how suddenly people can leave it and how these small details of everyday life should be treasured. Everything was tinged with new significance and meaning.
"How are you?" Mai asked as she slid beneath the sheets, facing Zuko.
Mai's hand reached out to touch her husband's face, fingers stroking his cheek gently. Zuko shook his head and shrugged, unsure how to answer that question.
"Do you just want to go to sleep or do you want to talk?" Mai continued.
It was usually she who was taciturn and Zuko verbose, but tonight everything had changed around. Instead of replying, Zuko reached for Mai, pulling her in tight to him, pressing her breasts into his chest. He began to kiss her then, deeply and hard. Mai responded eagerly as she always did, despite the tincture of sadness that hovered over the tea shop and all the people in it.
When they finally broke apart, Mai wriggled out of her nightgown and Zuko ripped off his sleep pants.
"Need you," he declared hoarsely.
"I know," Mai acknowledged. "I'm here."
Zuko's lovemaking was almost frenzied and there were none of his usual gentle touches and sweet words. It was as if he was pouring all his anger and frustration and sadness into Mai's body, biting her here, pinching her there and thrusting with complete abandon. It was exhilarating and a tiny bit painful and Mai loved every minute of it.
"Better," she asked wryly when they were both done. Mai ran a hand through his damp hair and then kissed his forehead. "That was amazing, by the way."
"Mmm," the Fire Lord hummed sleepily. "I wasn't too rough, was I?"
"If I didn't like it, I would have stopped you, so don't worry about that. Let's get some sleep, Zuko."
He nodded and closed his eyes. Within minutes, he was breathing softly and evenly. Mai watched him slumber for a bit, her eyes growing misty as she thought about the pain her husband would endure for the next few months or longer. She loved Iroh too, as did the children, but there was no denying Zuko's especially strong bond with the old man. His death would hit Zuko hard and she would be there to help him through.

Iroh hung on for another five days, growing steadily weaker as the time passed. Somehow, despite the sadness that Zuko, Mai, Ping and the children felt, those five days were joyous ones. Iroh was in fine humor. He told funny stories of his years at sea with Zuko, and of their weeks wandering the Earth Kingdom. At the time, everything had seemed bleak and painful to Zuko, but now he could see the humor in certain events and situations. The girls adored the stories and would huddle around the tea maker, giggling and sneaking peaks at their father.
Little Sayori clung hardest to the old man though she had known him for the briefest amount of time. She sat beside him every chance she got and crawled up onto his lap when he permitted it. It seemed that she could sense her great uncle's impending death just as well as the rest of them and understood that the time they had left together should be well spent.
"I made you a picture, Uncle," she declared on the fifth day. "Here."
With great fanfare, she had a pronounced dramatic flair, Sayori presented the drawing, holding it up for Iroh and pointing out every detail, giving a long explanation for each. Iroh couldn't help but chuckle and pull the little girl in for a hug.
"Thank you, Sayori. It's a wonderful picture. You made my day!"
The princess's eyes shone with pride and delight and she snuggled against Iroh's chest. "I love you, Uncle."
"And I love you; your mom and dad must be very proud of such a fine little girl." Iroh glanced over at Mai and Zuko who sat off to the side.
The Fire Lord and Fire Lady held hands, not saying anything, simply watching and listening, enjoying the sound of Iroh's voice. As the day progressed, the tea maker fell into a deep sleep, waking up only once. It was then that he said his final goodbyes, and had a special word for everyone. When he slipped from life into the realm of death, his family and Ping surrounded him. No one wept, not yet. But a strange silence hung over the room. A wonderful man, a wise man, someone who throughout his life had brought so much joy, was gone. His family's world would never be quite the same.

Epilogue
Two Years Later
The Jasmine Dragon was bustling with activity. Zuko was in the kitchen with Ping, sweating over what seemed like their hundredth pot of tea that day. Mai, along with Akina, Kinako and Sayori, all wearing crisp white aprons, served the many customers.
It was the second anniversary of Iroh's death and Mai and Zuko had decided to mark the day by throwing open the doors of the tea shop, serving free tea to anyone who stepped across the threshold. Many of the customers had been around in Iroh's day and they bemoaned the man's loss, as well as the slight decline in the quality of the tea. No one could brew quite like Iroh.
There were new customers too, some there to see the royal family of the Fire Nation serving tea to commoners and to gaze warily at the guards who manned each corner of the shop while others were there simply to enjoy a cup of good tea after a busy day of work.
The girls were having a great time shyly talking to customers and carefully balancing trays all under the watchful eye of their mother. It was hard work but even Zuko would admit now, there was something satisfying about pleasing people. There was something satisfying in simple labor.
He was pleased that his daughters took to it so well. They would not be pampered princesses but girls who knew about all kinds of people and could hold a conversation with each. Life was all about balance after all. Iroh had taught him that valuable lesson many years earlier and Zuko and Mai would teach it to their children. The old man would be pleased, wherever he was.
"We need some more oolong, Zuko," Mai announced as she pushed open the kitchen door with her hip.
She watched as her husband dropped some dried tea leaves into yet another pot. After he poured in the hot water, he turned to Mai and smiled. She smiled back and stepped forward, close enough for Zuko to kiss her.
- 10
- 11
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Everything Happens in Ba Sing Se