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Kiss of Fire	By : Spleef Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > General Views: 75165 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Kiss of Fire
Chapter Thirty-Seven – Startling Acquaintances
o0o0o0o
Katara
When I woke up, I was struck with a now-familiar feeling of nausea. It had been semi-regular fare for me the last few weeks, but that didn't mean I was used to it. I hoped this child wasn't going to give me too much trouble. It was my first child, and all I knew was from what I had heard from aunts or cousins. I knew what to expect basically, but experiencing it was a whole other thing...
Strangely, the ocean breeze actually made me feel better as I approached the windows. I could see the ocean from my window at the Palace since my room was so high up, but here, the waves were practically crashing at our doorstep. The sound was like a lullaby, and I closed my eyes as I placed my hand over my stomach. I definitely could get used to living here.
Zuko looked so peaceful, his hair tied in a loose braid, the blankets up to his chest. The lovemaking last night had been more than pleasing, and I had definitely gone to bed satisfied. Smiling softly to myself and pushing all worries from my mind, I dressed in a gown and a robe, slipping on some slippers and padding over to Kuzon's room. Right now, I was determined to enjoy my stay, and would worry about other matters later.
The sun wasn't up yet, though the skies were getting lighter. I felt so energized that I was actually up before Zuko and Kuzon, a rare occurrence in the household. Neomi stirred from the plush sofa she was sleeping on, noticed who it was, and started to rise. I shook my head and waved her back to sleep. As I expected, the Prince was still sleeping, curled up under the comforter. Carefully, I sat down on the bed and gazed at him. This child had brought such joy to my life. He was my son, the son of my heart. Unbidden, worries about my second child came to the fore, and I let out a soft sigh.
o0o0o0o
Kuzon
The bed I was sleeping in felt different. Not bad, just different. When I opened my eyes a bit, I saw that the room was different. But then I remembered what had happened yesterday. I had taken a walk along the beach with Mama, and then we had played Pai Sho. Father said that I'd still need to do a bit of reading here, but I didn't have to sit through any lessons for the whole vacation! I was so excited about that! I wanted to explore Ember Island.
When I rubbed my eyes, I saw Mama sitting at my side. When I looked at her, she reached out to stroke my hair, which was something I always liked. She looked a little sad, though. There was something in her eyes that made me think that, and I wondered why.
“You okay, Mama?” I asked.
“Certainly, why do you ask?” she asked, still stroking my hair.
“There's something sad in your eyes.” I whispered. Her hand stopped for a moment.
“What's wrong?” I asked, sitting up and wrapping my arms around her neck.
“Ah, Kuzon. It was just something I remembered. Don't worry about it.” she murmured, hugging me tightly.
“You sure?” I whispered. I never liked seeing her sad or crying.
“Yes.” she replied, nuzzling me. She held me like that for a long time, and I almost fell asleep again because she was so soft and warm. The sky brightened and when the sun started to come up, she gently let go of me.
“It's morning, time to get dressed and ready.”
“No. I wanna stay here. And you stay with me too.” I pouted a little.
“You're gonna stay in bed all day?” she teased.
“I have no lessons here!”
“Yes, but there's so many fun things to do here! We can go swimming, or take a walk along the beach or in the forest, ride a mongoose lizard, go shopping through the Ember Island bazaar...”
“Maybe.” I teased. Once in a while we'd tease one another. It was fun.
“Maybe?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips and pretending to be scolding. I giggled and hid under the covers.
“Come on out of there.” she cooed.
“No!” I giggled.
“Come on.” I felt her hands on top of the blankets, looking for me as I scampered around. I yelped when she pinned me down, but I wiggled free.
“Come out, or I will eat your toes!” Mama warned.
“Not gonna eat my toes!” I retorted as I crawled around to escape her grip. But she reached under the blanket and grabbed my foot! She lifted the blankets, and looked down at me with a grin, still holding my foot.
“Mmm... these toes look so little and yummy.” she said as she stroked the sole of my foot with her other hand. No! I was so ticklish! I screamed and tried to wiggle free as she tickled my foot.
“Mama! Mercy! Please!” I begged, laughing so hard I was crying.
“Okay. It's time to eat your toes anyway.” she said, lifting my foot up a little, acting like she was gonna bite them off. I giggled and wiggled around before she finally put down my foot.
“Eating toes?” I heard someone say, and I looked up to see my father.
“It was something my stepmother would say to get me out of bed.” Mama laughed. I remembered An Mei. She was a nice lady, and I liked Mama's father too.
“I'll keep that in mind.” Father said dryly. I wasn't sure what he meant, but Mama giggled at him, covering her lips with her fingers as she looked away shyly.
“Kuzon, you have ten minutes to get ready, then come downstairs for breakfast.” my father said.
“Yes, my lord.” I said, climbing out of the bed. That was enough time to use the washroom and get dressed. Mama kissed me on the forehead and left before Neomi came in a moment later.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
We were sitting around the table, eating breakfast and discussing what to do for the day. Instead of simply deciding what we would do today, like my sire had always done on our trips here, I decided I would discuss it with Katara and Kuzon.
“I'd like to just relax today. Exploring the island sounds great, but right now I just want to relax on the beach and go swimming.” Katara informed me. Kuzon had another idea entirely.
“I wanna go riding on a lizard around the island!”
“Well.” I stroked my chin. We would be here for at least a week, maybe two. So there was no rush to get everything done, but I wanted to spend time with both of them.
“How does this sound? You stay on the beach this morning and afternoon and do as you please.” I said to Katara before turning to Kuzon, “And you and I will go riding while your mother relaxes on the beach? Then perhaps we could go together to see a play tonight?”
“Mmm... a whole morning of relaxing and doing nothing else, and listening to the ocean...” Katara murmured with a contented smile.
“I do hope you'll miss me when you're all alone on the beach.” I shot back with a small smirk, not mentioning that as always, my wife would remain under guard.
“Maybe.” she teased, a small but playful grin on her face. We both laughed.
o0o0o0o
Kuzon
Father said that mongoose lizards were best for getting around the island since they could climb over rocks and weren't afraid of the water.
“You will be riding with me.” Father said as the stable hands put a saddle on a lizard and got him ready. He smiled a little as he looked down at me. I hadn't learned yet how to ride a lizard since they were so big, and I felt Father scoop me up and put me on the lizard when it was ready. He climbed up and sat behind me so that I was snuggled against him, my back to his chest. We both wiggled around a bit to get comfortable, and I felt so tall because I was looking down at the servants in the yard, instead of up at them. It was so cool.
“You ready?” Father asked as he wrapped his arms around, taking the reins. I eagerly nodded, and my father flicked the reins, making the lizard dash out of the yard.
o0o0o0o
Katara
This place truly was magical. I spent the entire day on the beach, taking a bit of a stroll before going swimming, and then drying off on the sand in a modest two-piece swimsuit and a soft red robe, enjoying the lunch that my servants brought to me, and laying out in the sunshine. I had brought a new book, and my journal, writing in it about how good I felt here, and the little flashes here and there that I had now become used to. No longer did I feel confused by these little flashes, and as a result, it seemed to cause them to come more often.
I pretty much spent the day alone, left to my own devices and loving it. Here, I could forget that I was the Fire Lady, that I had duties and responsibilities and worries.
It wasn't until later in the afternoon that my reverie was interrupted when Zuko and Kuzon rode along the beach on their lizard. It warmed my heart to see Kuzon sitting with his father handling the reins while Zuko had an arm wrapped around his son. I quickly put my journal back into my bag and waved at them cheerily. The lizard lowered itself, left to bask in the sun and rest after they climbed off. Kuzon launched himself at me, wrapping his arms around me tightly.
“Have fun with your father?” I asked with a small chuckle, rumpling his hair. He nodded eagerly, his young voice filled with excitement as he regaled me with how he and Zuko had rode around the island. His cheeks were rosy, and his eyes sparkled like gold under the afternoon sun, just like his father's. When the Prince had wound down, I saw Zuko glancing at me with a soft smile on his face.
“And how was your day?” he asked.
“It was wonderful!” I replied in all honesty. I felt his hand grasp mine and squeeze it gently.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I could not help but smile to myself at how radiant Katara looked tonight, dressed for a night out. Her hair was piled up on her head and held down with golden lotus pins and a matching comb. Her black dress had a matching pattern of lotuses sewn along the hem and edges with golden thread. It was one of the treasures passed down by former Fire Ladies, and it looked perfect on her.
“I take it this pleases you.” Katara smiled as she caught my glance.
“I don't see how it could not.” I shot back as I approached her, stroking her cheek gently. A soft blush spread across her features as she shot me a soft smile, holding my hand to her face.
We were going to the theater tonight. Ember Island was busiest in the summer, but it did provide enough every season to ensure that this remained a pleasant vacation spot year round. We would have dinner over there and enjoy a play. I had heard that the actors playing this time were rather good, so I was confident we would have a pleasant night.
As usual, we were surrounded by guards, and I saw the eyes of curious theater patrons on us before murmuring went around, and everyone bowed to us. I had received this treatment for the last two decades as Fire Lord, so it was nothing new.
Our theater box was the most luxurious and private one. Our seats had comfortable but firm cushions, and servants brought in wine and finger food for us as the guards stood at the entrance to the box. This theater was smaller than the Theatre Imperial, but it had a more homey feeling to it, and my wife and son settled down into the cushions. Kuzon was practically bouncing off the walls in excitement, and I hoped that the rest of Ember Island wouldn't overwhelm him so.
The wine and food was delicious, and we watched intently as the curtains came up to reveal the background props of a town. The performance, titled 'Ji Zhao Xiao' – to reach the end with laughter – started off with a midget named Rong-rong, an old word for joyful. He was a jester, using his physical disadvantages to his own advantage and bringing happiness to everyone, even the Fire Lord and Lady. I noticed with no small amount of amusement that the 'Fire Lord' and his 'consort' were made out to look like us – the male had a half-mask with a red scar painted on it, though it was on the wrong side of his face, and his female counterpart was dark-skinned.
Rong-rong performed for the 'royal couple' and was praised by them before spinning around to face the audience, lifting his face to look up at us, a cheeky grin on his face. My wife and son giggled softly when he bowed to us smartly before returning to his 'lord and lady'.
Having been greatly amused by Rong-rong's tactics, one of the Fire Lord's noblemen invited him for a personal audience. The scene changed, the curtains coming down and then back up to reveal the nobleman's manor. The midget performed on the table and juggled, doing other silly antics before causing the audience to cheer when he Firebended. He was rewarded by being invited to sit at the head table with the nobleman and his wife. As he was eating, he started to 'choke' and danced around in a comical manner before letting his head drop down in a bowl of soup.
What ensued was a hysterical fit as the noble couple scrambled around, wondering what they should do, blaming one another for Rong-rong's death. The noblewoman exclaimed as an idea came to her.
“Why don't we leave him at the doctor's doorstep! Then people will think he had a heart attack and died before the doctor could attend to him!”
Thus, the scene changed again to show the town at late nightfall, and the doctor lived on the second floor of his offive. Lanterns were appropriately placed to illuminate the nobleman and his wife, carrying the dead midget between them bundled up in a red silk coat, bickering loudly all the while. The nobleman rapped sharply on the door before he and his wife ran in a comic way down the steps and disappearing off the stage, causing a ripple of laughter to move through the audience.
o0o0o0o
Katara
Death wasn't supposed to be amusing, but the actors of this play were pulling it off nicely. Their outfits were just a bit shabby, and I could see that some of the background could use fresh paint, but the actor's skills in conveying their characters were done so well I had little reason to complain.
The 'doctor' opened his door, knocking the poor 'corpse' down the steps, the heavy bundle making thudding sounds – I guessed that a couple of pieces of cookware had been thrown into the bundle for sound effects. Naturally, when the aged man hastened down the steps and saw that the body was a corpse, he became greatly frightened, thinking he was responsible for the little man's death. When his wife came out, she started to gesture wildly with her arms, and they carried him up the steps. The wife started arguing with him, since she recognized the little man. Since Rong-rong was so valued to the Fire Lord, the ruler would surely punish the man who had brought about his death!
So, it came time to foist him off on someone else. They had a neighbor they weren't fond of, so the doctor shoved the corpse down the neighbor's chimney, causing the audience to laugh. Of course, this neighbor was much frightened and as he was a great martial artist, he wasted no time in laying some of his moves on the soot-covered body. Since he was an excellent martial arts master, he was known by the Fire Lord, and had seen Rong-rong perform. Once he saw who the midget was, he feared for his very life and honor.
The next person to become burdened with the corpse was an hapless Earth Kingdom merchant who had come to trade goods in the capitol. The martial arts master had hidden in an alley near his flat and once the poor man walked by, the corpse was shoved at him. The merchant flailed around, thinking he was being attacked, and landed blows and kicks on the poor midget. A dead man could not fight back, and the merchant calmed down quickly when he saw he wasn't under assault. Of course, the fact that poor Rong-rong was dead, and no weapon on his little body caused the merchant to think that he had murdered a innocent drunk. The actor gesticulated and flailed wildly around the stage, bemoaning his fate and how he should have simply stayed in the Earth Kingdom when his mother had advised him to! Kuzon giggled at the man's rapid and frantic movements and his laments.
Like his predecessors, the merchant decided he had to pass the body to someone else. He sneaked over to the local guardhouse and was about to leave the body by the gate when he was caught by soldiers.
At the trial, the merchant learned just who the man he had 'killed' was, and he lamented again, saying how horrible a person he was and how sorry he had been to cause Rong-rong's death. To everyone's surprise, the martial arts master stood up, confessing that Rong-rong had come down his chimney and had been attacked before his identity was verified.
The doctor and his wife went into a lament, taking blame for the midget's death. Naturally, the nobleman and his wife did as well, the wife sobbing and wailing. The courtroom was filled with shouting voices, when someone started laughing. It turned out to be the 'Fire Lord' and his wife.
“Rong-rong has spent his life making people happy and spreading the gift of laughter! Is it not befitting that his death should be his final act of comedy? Look at all of you!”
Everyone started laughing, and no one got punished, and we were all chuckling softly as the curtains dropped. The actors had conveyed their characters brilliantly, and I knew this wasn't a night I would ever forget.
The night was cool as the Fire Lord and I sat outside for a while and enjoying the night air as people chatted about the play amongst other things. A woman who appeared to be in her early forties approached the Fire Lord, who nodded for the guards to admit her. She bowed to him and the Fire Lord nodded, apparently knowing her. I wondered if she might be a former lover of the Fire Lord? That made me jealous, I had to admit.
She turned from the Fire Lord and regarded me politely, a small smile on her face.
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” she said, her voice kind. “I am Mei-lin, owner of this theater. I am so happy to see that you enjoyed it! I am careful to screen the people who come here to act.”
“You do us all a great kindness by doing that.” Zuko replied dryly. She smiled at him.
“How have you been?” she asked, confirming my suspicions that she and Zuko already knew one another.
“Rather well, actually.” He glanced at me and nodded.
“I could tell when I saw you looking at one another. I'm so happy to see that you found someone.” she stated warmly. “Would you consider me out of bounds if I were to invite you to my house for supper or tea?” Mei-lin asked.
“Oh, of course not.” I replied.
“Ember Island is a great spot for authors and artists to get inspiration. I often hold teas for such persons, the stories they have are fascinating. Since you're so learned, I'd be delighted to have us all together for tea and entertainment. Would that suit you, my lady?” Ming asked.
“This place is sounding better and better.” I replied with a smile.

o0o0o0o
Zuko
When I entered our bedroom, Katara was sitting at the vanity as two servants attended to her, combing out her damp hair and pulling it into a braid. When they were done, she dismissed them and rose to her feet, gazing at me. I held out my hand and she took it, letting me lead her to bed. I was worried that the incident back at the Palace would shock her into remembering everything, or plunging her into a deep depression. She had been quiet the morning after, but now, she looked rosy-cheeked and content. She had gotten on well with Mei-lin, and it was clear that this place was what she – we all needed. After such a fun day, Kuzon had fallen asleep in the palanquin. We had both simply laughed about it, and Katara put him to bed, putting him in his pajamas.
I pulled her onto the bed and we settled down comfortably. A small smirk crept across my face when I saw the robe my wife was wearing. It was one of my own.
“Has my lovely little Waterbender been raiding my wardrobe?” I asked as I trailed a finger along her jaw. The robe was a deep red color with gold along its edges, and even though I had wider shoulders than her, the robe still looked good on her. And I was hardly one to complain if Katara wanted to wear one of my robes. She had done so several times before, and I never minded. The memory of our first night on my ship to Sozun from Omashu came to me, and how I had wrapped her in one of my robes before putting her to bed.
“Maybe.” she cooed, snuggling close. I chuckled softly.
“Next thing I know, you'll be wearing my Imperial Dragon robes and crown!” I scolded playfully. She giggled softly.
“I prefer my own Phoenix robes, but I wouldn't mind trying on your robes and sitting on the Dragon Throne.” she shot back as she reached up to touch my cheek, stroking it gently. In the past, anyone – including consorts – could be punished for even joking about sitting on the Dragon Throne. In the histories of the Fire Lords that I had read, there was one consort who had actually made the mistake of saying she'd sit on the Dragon Throne within the earshot of her very ill husband. Of course, the words on the page had not explained why she said it, or if she had been joking. The history texts did tell me that she had been stripped of her titles and sent to the Palace of the Winter Garden.
It had a lovely name, but everyone knew what the place was for – the discarded and disfavored concubines of the Fire Lord or Princes. It was also rather out of the way, far removed from the main Palace and of course, Court life and daily happenings. It was not even a real Palace, just a moderately-sized bungalow with many small rooms. Winter was the coldest and bitterest season of the year, and winter was also seen as the end of life. 'Garden' was an euphemism for a harem, since women could be called 'flowers' or 'blossoms'. Of course, some brothels would use 'garden' as part of their name for the establishment. Hence, 'Winter Garden' was a cruelly apt name for such a place. No one had lived in it for a long time, and last I had seen it, it was overgrown with vines and weeds.
Said disgraced consort had hanged herself not long afterwards. Of course, such a fate would never befall my wife.
“You have shown courage and wisdom not only to me, but to the Court. In another lifetime, you could have been a Fire Lord. Or perhaps you will be in a later life.” I replied warmly.
“I am blessed to have a husband who is as wise and loving as he is handsome.” she replied, her voice more serious now, to show me that she wasn't teasing. Her flattery stroked my ego, and I smirked gently, a devious idea coming to me.
“However, by your comment you made designs to claim the Dragon Throne. You need to be punished...” I murmured, not bothering to hide my smirk as I let my hand run along the curve of her hip.
“I can only hope that the Fire Lord will be merciful.” she responded, her eyes glinting as she looked up at me.
“I will be relentless and merciless. You will cry out for me before the night is over.” I said as I untied the sash from around Katara's waist and gently tied it around her wrists, binding them together in front of her. The remainder of the sash made a nice lead, and I tugged on it as I smirked down at her.
“I can only hope that my lord is as merciful as he is handsome...”
“Flattery will not help your case, woman.” I shot back, holding in a chuckle. She reached out, her tied hands touching my face before she trailed her fingers along my jaw.
“Not flattery. Never, not when I have that creamy skin, these beautiful golden eyes, and that long, thick black hair to look at...” she cooed. I smiled as she gently rubbed my chin before she leaned her head up to kiss along my jaw. I allowed it, and nuzzled her.
“You like the way I look? I shall keep that in consideration.” I replied mock formally before tugging the leash again, causing her to tug back defiantly.
“Ah, ah. Not so fast. Even the graceful phoenix must surrender to the fierce dragon.” I whispered heatedly. Katara smirked at me gently and tugged at her binds again, wiggling enticingly.
o0o0o0o
The next morning, I rose out of bed, stretching my hands over my head and feeling the cool air against my naked flesh. Last night had been rather rousing, with Katara purposefully acting defiant at times, just to arouse me more. With a small smile on my face, I turned around to look at her. She was tucked snugly under the comforter, her hair loose and rumpled as she slept, looking at peace. Which certainly was a far cry from the smirking, defiant wench that despite her 'punishment' had managed to turn the tables around on me, binding me with the sash from my own robe! I laughed softly at that memory and glanced at the discarded robes and sashes on the floor.
Slipping on a pair of loose pants, I started to do meditation and stretching in front of the window as the sun came up. Not long after morning light filled the room, Katara rose from bed, looking slightly nauseous. Before I could get up and ask if she was feeling okay, she quickly scooped up the nearest robe and wrapped it around herself before making her way to the washroom.
I was at the door when she came out, and she gasped softly when I reached out to grasp her arm gently.
“Are you feeling okay?” I asked as I led her back to bed. She nodded and looked down. I lifted her chin with my finger, staring into her eyes.
“If there is something wrong, I need to know.” I stated firmly. She sighed softly and looked back down again.
“It was just a bit of nausea. I think perhaps I ate too much spiced shrimp last night.” she offered. I shrugged and nodded, deciding to let it go.
“Better now?” I asked. She nodded again as she looked back up at me.
“Don't worry about me.” she replied with a smile..
“Perhaps it wasn't the food's fault. Perhaps it was mine, for being so fierce with you last night.” I teased, wanting to see that smile become bigger.
“I was fierce with you too, and you're not sick.” she replied cheerily, making me glad that my plan had worked.
“You were fierce, indeed. You would not take your punishment like a good wife.” I chuckled, leaning my head down to kiss her forehead.
“You married me for my spirit, not my obedience.”
“Sometimes I wonder if that was a wise decision.”
“Hey!” Katara replied indignantly. I laughed before burying my face against her throat, nuzzling her fiercely. Her body wiggling against me brought my passion surging anew, and I did not bother trying to keep a wolfish smirk from forming on my face.
“Looks like the Fire Lord wants his breakfast early, hmm?” she asked smoothly as her hands went down to the waistband of my pants.
“And the Fire Lord is feeling rather ravenous.” I replied.
o0o0o0o
Kuzon
I was a little sad when the woman who woke me up wasn't Mama, but Neomi. But that was okay, because Neomi was a good nurse and I liked her. I climbed out of bed and did a bit of stretching and calisthenics as she lay out several outfits for me to choose from. My old nurse just picked something and told me to wear it. Neomi always let me pick what I wanted. That was something I liked a lot. I got dressed and went downstairs, wondering where Mama and Father were. I was hungry, and no one at the table ate until Father did, unless I was eating by myself.
“The Fire Lord wants you to have breakfast, and then read whatever you want for a hour.” Neomi said as she sat me down at the table, and servants came forth with my breakfast, setting it before me. It was lonely having no one to eat with, but I was used to my nurse or servants sitting aside while I ate alone, even if the view here was pretty.
“Where are my parents?” I asked Neomi when I finished breakfast, everything being cleared away before she led me back to my room.
“They decided to sleep late, and sent a message for me to take care of you. Go on, pick something to read.” my nurse said as she sat down in a chair in my room and took out one of her own books to study. So I picked out one of the new books and sat down.
When I came out of my room and went back downstairs, Mama and Father were just coming down for their own breakfast. Both of them looked rather satisfied. Maybe I should sleep in late and see how that made me feel.
Father invited me to sit with him, and asked me if I was still hungry. I ate a couple of dumplings and had some tea while we chatted about what to do today. Father asked me what I had read in my hour, and I told him. We talked about the book before they finished breakfast. Before Father could say anything further, a servant came into the dining room and bowed.
“Kamas is here, with important messages for you.” the servant said, still bowing.
“I will see him in my office in a few minutes. You two go and enjoy yourselves.” Father said as he rose from the table. Mama went to his side and they whispered for a bit before he nodded. She smiled at me and took my hand.
o0o0o0o
Zuko
I sat at my desk as Kamas opened his leather binder, pulling out several papers – some folded, some laying flat.
“Affairs at the Palace go along well. Everyone is doing as they should be, and all lesser correspondences have been set aside and organized for you.” Kamas stated. I nodded as I glanced at the papers on my desk. It would not take much time to get through them.
“If there is nothing else, I will be returning to Sozun.” he said with a bow.
“This is Ember Island. Don't tell me that you don't intend to take a moment and relax here.” I replied dryly. He smirked lightly.
“I am simply doing my job.”
“What is life if you don't stop to enjoy it once in a while? Go to the market, treat yourself to the tea-house, go see a play. Buy something for your wife and son.” I replied lightly as I glanced at my papers, sorting them. There was one folded leather binder, made of thin leather and used often for keeping letters and other documents safe and dry. At the opening, there was the seal of the Beifongs, and below that, the seal of Omashu.
“If you command it, I will obey.” Kamas replied, bowing again slightly.
“I command you to take this day off and relax. When was the last time you had a vacation?” I asked.
“I don't remember, my lord. Your point is made, and I ask permission to leave.”
“Go on.” I replied. When I was alone, I broke open the seal of the package from Omashu. The binder revealed a couple of letters, one from the courtier – a distant but proven trustworthy relative of mine – who had been sent to accompany Toph and Adi to Omashu and help make sure things were running smoothly. The second was a letter from Omashu’s own vizier, and the third one was from Toph herself – taken down by her secretary, of course. The last letter was from Adi. Of course, this one I had to read first.
o0o0o0o
Katara
Before Zuko had gone to his office, I had asked about Kuzon swimming. He had received basic training, and I thought that since we had a beach here, Kuzon could learn to swim more, and I would teach and supervise.
“A master Waterbender working with my son in the water? Of course.” he smiled.
“The water's cold.” Kuzon frowned as he stood on the sand with the waves lapping at his feet while I stood knee-high in the surf.
“You just have to get used to it.” I coaxed. Despite it being winter, it was actually pretty nice here, with a cold breeze the most of our worries. Kuzon sighed reluctantly, and I held out my arms, coaxing him. He took step by slow step, shivering a bit.
“Mama's here, you don't need to worry about anything.” I reassured him as he approached me. Quickly I dunked myself to get the rest of my body wet.
“It helps if you dunk yourself. It helps the water to feel better.” My son stared up at me for a moment, as if deciding whether he should take my advice or not. Finally he took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut, dunking himself under the water for a couple of moments. When he came out, he shook his head and grinned a little.
I had my hands under his little chest as he kicked his arms and legs, learning a surer way to swim that my own father had taught me. We were both having the time of our lives, and the sun shone on us cheerily as Kuzon pulled away from my hands, swimming on his own. With my Waterbending, I could detect undertows if there were any, and keep Kuzon from going too far. His delighted cries filled the air as the two of us played and frolicked, with me adding a bit of Waterbending into the fray to amuse him.
o0o0o0o
Kuzon
The water had been so cold before, but now it felt great. I had swum a bit in the ponds at the Palace, but this was way better. There was so much water, but Mama was a Waterbender so I felt safe. I flipped over onto my back and paddled through the water, hearing Mama laugh before I felt her tickle my tummy. I screamed and laughed, flopping around in the water before I swam away so she couldn't tickle me.
When I did, I saw Father standing on the shore in a shirt and long shorts, watching the two of us. I smiled and waved at him, and I saw him wave back.
“Well, look who decided to show up.” Mama called out in a teasing tone as I started swimming back to shore, wanting to show Father how much I had learned. He looked happy enough as I walked onto the sand. Mama was close behind.
“I see that you're learning a lesson when you were supposed to be having fun. What did I bring you to Ember Island for?” he mock scolded.
“But my lord, I was having fun!” I laughed as I looked up at him. He smiled down at me as I wrapped my arms around his middle.
“Are you sure?” he teased.
“Yes, my lord!”
We spent the morning playing and walking along the beach. Mama and Father sparred for a bit as I watched, and it was tons of fun. I rode piggyback on Father and laughed when he ran into the waves. I flew my kite as my parents watched as they sat together in the sand. Then Mama showed me how to make a sandcastle by dripping down handfuls of very wet sand in layers. The castle that we made looked weird and cool.
Then we had lunch and went on the airship, this time for a trip around the whole island. We saw all the summer houses and bungalows, as well as the north side of the island where the marketplace and other public buildings were. It was such a neat ride. Father said that in the summer, things got much busier, and traveling carnivals or performers would often come and perform at the Theater when there were no plays. Everyone wanted to relax during the hot days of summer, that was why this place was sometimes called the Summer Isle. He told me that and I thought it sounded like a very good name.
o0o0o0o
Katara
After the airship, we returned home for supper. A message was waiting for me, and I opened it. It was an invitation from Mei-lin for me to come to tea the next day. I asked Zuko if I could go, and he smiled and nodded, telling me to enjoy myself. I learned that she was a distant relative of Zuko's, from his grandmother's family. She had no royal blood, but she did come from old nobility.
The next day, Zuko, Kuzon, and I went riding on mongoose-lizards along the beach. When the time came for tea, I prepared myself, wearing a deep red silk robe and doing up my hair in a simple but elegant style. I know it sounded silly, but I was worried about making a good impression on the guests.
There weren't that many guests, which made me happy. I recognized two of them as the actors who had performed in the theater before. The others were introduced as a poet visiting his family, a writer here for relaxation and inspiration, and a courtesan who was taken here to relax with her lord, a highly-decorated and retired Fire Army general. All gave me the proper greetings and bows. The last one however, was the one who had my attention from the start. She was a curvaceous woman who I figured to be perhaps five years younger than my husband but I could not be sure, her big gray eyes and button nose lent her a rather youthful appearance. She had thick brown hair pulled back into a braid, and her robe and loose pants were actually pink, a color I usually did not see. As Meo-lin introduced the other guests, I was ever aware of her presence, and I could feel her stare on me. Mei-lin finally got to her, and introduced her as the acrobat from the traveling circus that had just arrived at Ember Island this morning.
I stared at her quietly, my hands folded in my lap as she bowed, introducing herself by telling me her name and how she was honored to be in my most august presence, just like the other guests did. Royal procedure could be rather trying at times...
The first moment I had set eyes upon her as I scanned the room for everybody, I had been overwhelmed by familiarity – and an intense urge to be on guard. Flashes of fighting with her shot through my mind, and it took all of my self-control to stop myself from attacking her or getting into a defensive position.
“... and I am Ty Lee, of the Jung family, daughter of Hou Lan.” she stated. I had heard of the House of Jung. It was old blood, though modest compared to some of the other families. A few times in the past, daughters from that family would be mated with Princes of the Fire Nation or vice versa, so my husband would be a very distant relative of this woman. As part of educating myself here, I had read up about all the noble Houses and the histories of the Fire Lords, so this knowledge was rather accessible to me. But it barely registered as we continued to stare at one another as she sat back down.
Ty Lee. I know that I had seen and fought this woman before. But where? And why did I feel so threatened by her? I felt her eyes on me and tried to ignore that feeling as tea went underway, and talk started up about a recently published book that most of us had read. We also talked about the play from the night before among other things. I felt comfortable here, and despite my status, I felt welcome here. Ty Lee remained friendly and courteous, and she even directed a few comments at me. I replied appropriately. Her personality was quickly revealed to be bubbly and open, and part of me told me that I had nothing to be afraid of, that she had no desire or intent to harm me. But it was impossible to ignore the memory-flashes that came from deep within.
Mei-lin announced that we would sup in half an hour, and that we should go outside and enjoy the garden. I was happy to get out of there and away from Ty Lee, and I along with the other guests rose from our seats.
The garden was lovely even at this time of the year, and I sat next to a fountain, trying to calm myself with some breathing and meditation exercises. My guards stood within distance.
“Hello, my lady.” I heard someone say. I turned around to see Ty Lee.
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Kiss of Fire