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Secrets	By : Himitsu Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > Het - Male/Female > Azula/Zuko Views: 24124 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar-The Last Airbender. I'm not making money from this.

Chapter List
- 1-Lies
- 2-Excuses
- 3-Friends
- 4-Adventure
- 5-Taste
- 6-Mean
- 7-Siblings
- 8-Sunrise
- 9-Choices
- 10-Night
- 11-Hurt
- 12-Plans
- 13-Slow
- 14-Time
- 15-Quarantine
- 16-Wife
- 17-Trip
- 18-Stay
- 19-Meeting
- 20-Family
- 21-Words
- 22-Love
- 23-Partners
- 24-Secrets
- 8
- 9
- 10
A/N: Thanks for continuing to read this story. Knowing readers are reading and enjoying the story helps motivate me.
Choices
The choices we make today can change our lives forever.
Zuko looked out over the courtyard. The servants spent all night decorating. One would never know the party was last minute. Everything was perfect from the red and gold lanterns to the cherry tree blossoms.
"It's beautiful, Fire Lord Zuko."
"Yes, it is uncle. Katara and Saikura did a great job with the decorations."
"If you think that's great wait until you see what I have planned for the entertainment. "
"It wouldn’t happen to involve singing would it?"
"Of course, Princess Azula says she's has been looking forward to me singing since last year. I’m going have a little help this time".
"Not from me."
"No, but you'll enjoy it." Iroh saw the food. "I'll check the food and make sure it's perfect as well."
Zuko smiled. The food was ready. The courtyard was ready. The only part missing were the guests. Zuko hoped it would be a big turn out. The more people the happy it would make Azula. He wanted to send her away on a happy note. This was going to be one of the last times he would see her before shipping her back to Hearth Island. Zuko spent the last two days avoiding Azula. He forced her out of his mind. Zuko smiled after seeing his first guests arrive.
He greeted Aang and the others. "I am glad you all could make it back in time. Toph, how are your students?"
"Fine. The Duke and Pipsqueak took them a training mission."
"Looks like we're the first to arrive."
"Katara, I hope you're not the last."
"Don't worry about it," Sokka slapped Zuko on the back, "Toph and I invited every noble we could find. After telling them they were invited as special guests of the fire lord they practically tripped over themselves to get an invitation."
"People are coming. A lot of people just entered the gates. They’ll be here soon."
"See Zuko" Aang give Zuko a smile.
"Fire Lord Zuko where would you like us to place the arc?"
"Place it up there", Zuko pointed to the stage. "It's a lot bigger than I thought." It took six Fire Nation soldiers to carry the arc.
Toph was right. Soon guests started filling in the courtyard. Most of the Fire Nation' s nobility gathered. This included Mai and Ty Lee with their dates Chan and Ruon-Jian. Zuko was surprised he felt relieved and happy for Mai. She found someone and it was time for him to find someone. That someone could be anyone but Azula. He needed to find someone to make him forget about Azula. There were a lot of attractive female guests.
Zuko eyed the women. "Anyone but Azula", mumbled Zuko.
"Zuko where's Azula?"
"I don't know, Aang. She's probably waiting to make an appearance. Azula wouldn’t miss a party in her honor. More importantly where are the fire sages?" Zuko breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the fire sages arrive.
"Zuzu, are you ready?"
Zuko turned around and saw Azula. It was the first time he'd seen her two days. However, it felt like he hadn't seen her in a year. He wondered how he would make it through an entire year without seeing her. Zuko couldn't blame the way he was feeling on her clothes. She was wearing a traditional formal Fire Nation robe, which hid all her curves. Her hair was down in the back. It was slightly wavy. He knew it wasn't the hair. Zuko stared at her trying to figure out was causing her to have this effect on him.
Miso interrupted Zuko's stare. "Azula, I've been looking all over for you. I need to talk to you in private". Miso took Azula's hand.
Zuko grabbed her opposite arm. "She doesn't have time. We have to open the arc."
Azula snatched her arm and hand away. "Miso, I'll talk to you after we open the arc. Let's hurry and get this over with Zuko."
It was perfect timing Iroh had just finished telling the guests about the legend of the Arc of the Avatar. He announced, "Today the Fire Lord Zuko, Avatar Aang, and Princess Azula will make history. They may even change the world."
Aang, Azula, and Zuko moved to the stage. The first part of the ritual had to be completed by Aang.
Kính started reading from the scroll. "Avatar Aang you must bring all of the elements together in the avatar state. Once in the Avatar state you must touch the lion turtles in the correct order."
Aang looked at each of the golden lion turtles located on the four sides of the arc. There was a lion turtle for each element. It took a few minutes but he figured out which order and transition to the avatar state. First he touched the water lion turtle. The shell of the turtle glowed just before the head and legs of the turtle entered the lion turtles shell. He continued with earth, next fire, and last air.
"Now guardians of the pearls need to choose the lock to open the arc."
The yin yang symbols on the top of the arc were painted similarly to the drawings Kính showed Zuko. The only difference was each yin yang symbol had two grooves that fit perfectly for Kurodaiya and Byakurai. Azula pointed to the yin yang symbol with the dragons.
"No, Azula it's this one", Zuko whispered in her ear as he pointed to the middle yin yang symbol.
"Are you sure?" she whispered.
"I am positive this is the one, not the ones with the dragons." He noticed the yin yang symbol in the middle was cornered by same symbols he saw on Azula’s shirt the night of their island escapade.
"Are you two committed to this decision?"
Azula and Zuko replied, "Yes".
"The guardians have made their choice”, he addressed the audience. He turned his attention back to Azula and Zuko. “I need to see the hand with the mark from the pearl. They should be opposite hands." Azula held out her right and Zuko held out his left hand. Kính placed his hand under Zuko's hand. He then placed Azula's hand on top of Zuko's hand. He held their hands together. "This is the part where you hold hands”, he whispered. They held hands. He chanted something that neither Zuko nor Azula understood. "Today yin and yang come together. Balance is restored. Place the pearls in the lock". Azula and Zuko placed the pearls. The pearls started to glow. "Placing of the pearls seals this covenant." Kính stuck a golden dagger into a slot on the side of the arc. The two pearls fell in to the lid of the arc. "Avatar Aang we need your air bending. You have to air bend the arc in this order: 45 degrees south, 45 degrees north, 45 degrees east, 45 degrees west. Aang did as he was told. When he placed the arc down the lid popped open a little bit.
"It worked, Zuko". Aang and Zuko exchanged smiles. They turned to Azula who was not smiling.
"Is that it?" She looked more annoyed than happy.
Kính quickly scanned the scroll. "Yes, it's done".
“Zuko let go of my hand." Azula sighed, "I was expecting more.”
"What's going on?” yelled a voice from the audience.
"The world feels the same", added someone else. Many of the guests laughed.

Kính stepped up. "The Arc of the Avatar is now open. Thanks to Avatar Aang", Aang was all smiles. The crowd cheered. “Thanks to Fire Lord Zuko and his lovely bride Princess Azula."
Zuko looked at Azula. If looks could kill Zuko would have died a 1000 times from the look Azula gave him. The audience gasped. Then there was one person way in the back that began clapping madly. That clap started several claps. Soon almost all of the audience was clapping and cheering.
"Close the curtains now," snapped Azula.
The curtain closed leaving Kính as the only one visible to the audience. Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Miso ran backstage area.
"Miso, you made it just time", she started her form for producing lightning, "to see me become a widow."
"Azula, calm down," Zuko got in his stance, "you know I can redirect your lightning."
"Calm down both of you." Iroh stood between the newlyweds. "We need to take this some place private."
They moved to a small room behind the courtyard. The others could see the heat of anger radiating from Azula and the confusion written all over Zuko’s face. Aang, Sokka, Toph, Iroh, Miso, and Katara were trapped in awkward silence. No one knew what to say or do. Finally, Kính found them. His entrance broke the silence. Everyone started talking to him at once.
"One at a time, please."
"Undo whatever you did," Azula commanded. The she gave a look that made Kính shake.
"Azula we can't be married we're siblings. I am sure it is a mistake."
"Nnnnnoo, I mean no I didn't make a mistake. I followed the ritual. You two chose to be joined in a Hemethi Covenant as guardians of the pearls. That's why asked to make sure you were committed. You said, "Yes".
"We're married because of where we placed the pearls."
"Yes, Princess Azula, all the locks open the arc, but you.”
"I can't believe you would do this, Zuko"
"Me"
"You told me to chose that yin yang symbol in the center. I wanted to us to use the yin yang symbol with the dragons."
"How was I supposed to know? Kính didn't tell me we'd end up married."
"I did show you the drawings with the description."
"None of them said marriage."
"No, but you chose to the center symbol, which was to join your life energy together forever in Hemethi Covenant."
"What's the matter Zuko," Azula covered her left eye, "couldn't read the small print?"
"Why would I want to be married to someone like you?"
"Please Zuko, you would not have a chance to marry me without trickery. You were scared I’d challenge you to an Agni Kai. I know you did this on purpose. You know it’s forbidden for spouses to challenge each in an Agni Kai for the first five years of marriage."
"I didn't even know what a Hemethi Covenant was."
"What's a Hemethi Covenant?" Sokka tried to whisper the question to Katara but the others heard.
"Let me explain", everyone turned their attention to Iroh, " A long time ago people in the four nations did not have the traditional weddings we have today. If a man found a woman he'd like to be with he would give her parents something of value and take her to be his own. The problem was if someone more powerful came along and wanted the same woman. He could challenge the man for her. The winner would keep the woman. This was not good for the man or the woman. When people added love into the mix they wanted away to stay together and avoid bloodshed. That is where Hemethi Covenant came in. The man would give an offering to the woman's parents. Then the couple would pledge themselves to each other. A spiritual leader would acknowledge their union in a ritual in front of witnesses. The families and friends would celebrate the union with a party or feast. Everyone had to acknowledge that the couple had pledged their love and their lives to each other. All those who witness the ceremony would spread the word. No one was allowed to challenge the man for the woman for seven years. They were bound to each other for seven years or until death. The Hemethi Covenant changed with the times and eventually it was replaced by marriage. Today the covenant is considered to be the equivalent of a marriage."
"Kinh, how can we be married or in a Hemethi Covenant we're siblings?"
"Marriage or Hemethi Covenant between siblings goes back 1000s of years. However, when dynasties came about it was only allowed for members of royalty in the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom. The last one on record was about 500 years ago. It's legal, it's just not widely practiced."
"Zuko, don’t pretend you didn’t know the story of Princess Hina and Prince Ji. Our parents told us about them when we”, Azula paused. She remembered it was one of the stories her parents told them on their first trip to Amber Island.
"Azula, we were little kids when they told us that story. I remember something about them bringing the Fire Nation together. They loved each other and their children were powerful fire benders that ruled the Fire Nation. I don’t remember anything about them being siblings."
“Quit with the lies, Zuko. You studied the history of the Fire Nation you know exactly who they were.”
"Who are Princess Hina and Prince Ji?"
"I am glad you asked Avatar Aang because they are important to you as well. I’ll give you the short version of the story." Kính cleared his throat. "Long ago the Fire Nation was divided by a war. One side was lead by Fire King Tuvok and the other side was lead by Fire King Ehasz. Fire King Tuvok had two children a boy named Ji and girl named Hina. Hina and Ji were very close despite their differences. Hina was described as beautiful and smart. Ji was serious and aloof with everyone but Hina. They were both talented fire benders."
"When Prince Ji turned 15 he was chosen to lead on the battlefield. It was the first time he and Hina would be apart, which pained them. King Tuvok promised Ji if he won Ember Island he could come home. The prince was a great leader and even more victorious than his father. He won Ember Island and returned home after two years of bloody victories.”
“A few days later Fire King Ehasz was killed. His son, King Hoshi, sent word saying he wanted a peace treaty. The treaty only mentioned a division of land. After King Hoshi saw Hina he demanded a Hemethi Covenant with Hina as part of the treaty.”
“Hina did not want to be with King Hoshi. King Hoshi was described as being in his mid 20s, but he had a long breaded beard that was already graying. They say he was built like a small badger mole and had the manners of goat guerrilla.”
“The siblings begged their father not to agree to the new terms, but he agreed to give Princess Hina to King Hoshi in the name of peace. Prince Ji tried to escape with her but they were caught. Ji was thrown in prison until a day after the Hemethi Covenant ritual was performed. When Ji was released he told his father he wouldn't live in a kingdom that abandoned Hina. He couldn’t believe his father sided with a man who could not be trusted. Prince Ji knew King Hoshi would not keep his word. Prince Ji exiled himself.”
“King Hoshi broke the treaty within three months. The two sides were at war again. King Tuvok became deathly ill six months later. Word of his illness reached Hina and Ji. Ji returned and was crowned as the new king. Ji and Hina had a secret. They continued to communicate with each other during his self-exile. Princess Hina had become a spy. After Ji became king he used the information she'd given him to win the war. King Ji killed King Hoshi in battle during a raid of Hoshi's fortress freeing Hina from the covenant. King Ji and Princess Hina were united in a Hemethi Covenant the day they returned home. The Fire Nation became whole once more and King Ji was crowned as fire lord. Fire Lord Ji and Princess Hina had three children. Their youngest child was Avatar Kensoki.”
“You see it was once common for the royal families of the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation to marry siblings. Often the two most powerful benders were chosen to marry to make sure the royal family remained in power. It did not matter if they were sibling as long as they were of age.”
“I thought you knew Fire Lord Zuko and that is why you wanted to use today’s celebration as a proper ceremony. You two placed the pearls in the unity circles. The yin yang symbol was corned by the four symbols that represented your vows." Kính held up the drawing he showed Zuko. Kính had translated the symbols from the arc in his drawing. Azula recognized the symbols. She cut her eyes at Zuko. Iroh placed hand on his forehead. He, too, knew the meaning of the symbols. Zuko shifted his eyes downward. He didn't pay attention to the symbols when he first viewed the drawing. His mind was preoccupied at the time. Kính continued "You two joined hands as I spoke the vows to pledge your hearts, minds, essences, and bodies to each other. The same vows as Avatar Kensoki's parents Princess Hina and Fire Lord Ji did. They ruled the Fire Nation together for years."

"What if I declare it void? "
Azula sighed, "Dum-dum, didn't you hear uncle say no one could separate them for seven years. This is what you wanted anyway."
"That's not true. I am going to look for a way to break this covenant. I want to be married to you even less than you want to be married to me. "
"Is that true, Toph?"
"What?"
"I want to know if Zuko is telling the truth."
"Sorry they were bringing out fried dumplings for the guests."
Azula turned to Zuko. His heart was racing. If Toph caught him a lie it would be over. Everyone would know his secret. The thought of Azula being his for seven years excited him and freaked him out. He heard somebody say his name. "Yes, I am going to look for a way to break this covenant,” his voice cracked.
"He's telling the truth."
Azula narrowed her eyes. "Zuko, was this your plan to get what you want? I don't believe you didn't have an ulterior motive."
"Believe what you want to believe. You have more to gain than I do."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I am fire lord remember."
"Azula did change her mind all of the sudden." Sokka scratched his chin.
"And she knew what a Hemethi Covenant was," added Katara.
"How dare you make acquisitions? Quiet you fil"
"Azula please calm down. I know you had nothing to do with this. "
"Miso stay out of this. This doesn't involve you."
"I can't. If you're upset involves me. "
"No, it doesn't this is between me and Azula." Zuko glared at Miso.
"Fighting isn't going solve anything. " Aang stepped between Miso and Zuko. "You all need to calm down."
"That's easy for you to say. You're not married to Azula".
"Marrying me is an upgrade for you, Zuzu. I'd rather be married to anyone but you even an earth or an air bender. I should've married,” she turned to Miso, “Miso is a better", she looked Zuko up and down quickly," and bigger man than you'll ever be. " She snapped around. "Let's go Miso I need some fresh air."
The words "I should've married Miso" stuck in Zuko's head. He wanted to stop her from leaving. She and he needed to talk about this alone. He didn't want to make a scene about her leaving in front of the others. All he could do was stare as she walked out the door with Miso.
"Fire Lord Zuko did you hear me?"
"What?"
"Would you like my help?"
"With what Kính."
"Seeing if there is a way to break the covenant."
Zuko forced himself to say, "Yes". The last thing he wanted was help. He had to stop himself from adding but not until after the honeymoon. A voice yelled, "What's wrong with you?" Zuko looked behind him but no one was there. Then he turned and saw Toph looking in his direction. Toph was a human lie detector. Zuko felt sick. If Toph knew he was lying she might tell the others.
"Fire Lord Zuko are you alright?"
"I am fine uncle I just need some air."
- 8
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Secrets