Title: Kitsune no Yume
Rating for this chapter PG-13 for some violent imagery
Summary: Is Zuko the next in his family to fall into madness?
The fox casually groomed her silver tail as the young man approached. Her eyes lit up, knowing the ways of humans. "What can your humble servant do for you, O handsome prince of man?" said the fox looking up at her visitor.
"I need your help in trickster ways, O wise one," flattered the young human. "Someone… important to me stands in the way of my destiny."
"You are not the first who has asked me such things. Nor shall you be the last. Destiny can be a great blessing." The fox shimmered and transformed in to a beautiful woman. "Or a terrible curse."
"I know that my path will bring great honor to my people," the young man said, jaw jutting out resolute.
The hubris of the young. The fox purred to herself in delight. These foolish humans brought her so much joy. She transformed back to her preferred form.
"I cannot dissuade you?" the fox asked innocently, knowing the answer.
"No."
"Then let us begin."
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Iroh hummed to himself as he bended around the porcelain of the little teapot, bringing the water to the perfect temperature. One, two teaspoons of Silver Needle. His internal clock kept the time meticulously. He produced two delicate cups and decanted the perfectly brewed white tea after the appropriate two minute brewing time. He moved to the table and sat down heavily in anticipation of enjoying a drink with his nephew. He finally looked up to take a good look at the other man.
"My goodness!" Iroh said in alarm. "You look terrible!"
Zuko snorted and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Uncle."
Iroh let out a dismissive "bah!" and said "You know what I mean. I know that things have not been easy since the coronation, but this?"
Zuko's pale skin was paler than usual. Even the scarred side of his face was drooping wearily. He seemed to be barely able to keep his eyes open.
"There doesn't seem to be that much time in the day anymore. There's so much left to be done! Rebuilding the trust between the nations is proving… difficult" He looked away from his uncle. "Since Azula's death, I haven't been sleeping very well," he said, the gravel in his voice even more apparent with his exhaustion.
"Sleep is where the mind goes to refresh itself for the coming day. Without it you won't be able to gain the clarity of thought that you seek. " Iroh paused. "You did everything you could to help your sister. Her imprisonment was the best option for everyone's safety."
Zuko's hand slammed down hard on the table, making dishes clatter. "Then why couldn't I save her from herself?" he yelled hoarsely.
Iroh's deeply lined features creased even further in sadness as he murmured, "She had become a wild thing. No cage would contain her. It was she who chose to end her own life."
Zuko rubbed his temples with both hands as he stretched back in his chair, trying to clear the memory of his and Mai's final visit to Azula's cell from his mind.
Iroh waited patiently. He knew pressing his nephew was not the way to get him to open to him. He let the silence hang between them.
"I've been having these… dreams. Almost like the fever dreams I had in Ba Sing Se." Finally.
"Dreams can be like a swollen river. Sometimes it can trap you. Sometimes you must see where it takes you." Iroh patted his belly to punctuate his parable. "Unfortunately you might not like where you end up."
Iroh nibbled at a jelly cake letting more time pass. Zuko ruminated over his uncle's words and traced the image painted on the finely patterned cup with his finger.
Iroh rose to return to the counter for more water. "Perhaps talking to your friends might ease your mind," said Iroh, desperately trying to not look over his shoulder at the other man. He knew it was still difficult for his nephew to ask for help.
"Mai's gone. I don't blame her." Zuko grimaced then threw his head back as he drained the last dregs of his cup.
Iroh's hand stilled as he reached for his measuring spoon. "What about your other friends?"
"They're all so busy now. I don't want to bother them with silly dreams."
Still so fiercely independent. He resumed stirring tea in to the pot. "You've gone through so much together. You no longer should ever feel like you should bear your burden alone."
He returned to the table with a fresh pot and refilled Zuko's cup. "Here. Some chamomile and hibiscus. The perfect blend for a good night's sleep."
Zuko let the cup's warmth soak in to him as he held the freshly made tea in his hands.
"Tomorrow. I'll talk to them after the funeral," he said without looking up.
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"Oh dear Gods!" cried Mai, emotion punching through her hard veneer.
"Aww, Zuzu" his sister crooned, as blood dribbled down her chin. "You're so lucky. You're never going to be alone again."
He backpedaled and stumbled, tripping over something soft and silver that had wrapped around his feet.
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"Lord Zuko!"
He bolted upright in his bed, cold sweat making the sheets stick to his lower back. He looked around confused at who called for him. The sun shone brightly through the large bay window. What time was it?
"I'm sorry to wake you," said the old woman. She was old. Parchment skin thin old. Her frail hands picked at the edge of the white funeral robes she draped over one arm. "I'm here to ready you for the ceremony. It will soon be time."
"I.. I'm sorry…" he stuttered as he grasped to remember her name. He vaguely remembered she had been a seamstress for his sister but that was all.
His brain still echoed with his dreams, his sister's final taunt crowding out all other thought.
"Daji, my Lord," she supplied, not offended at his lapse. She bowed her grey head to look down as he rose from his bed.
"I'm sorry, Daji. I've had some trouble sleeping and I must have overslept for once."
"No apologies needed my Lord. Come. You must be ready to greet the visiting dignitaries soon."
As the old woman, Daji, he corrected himself helped him get in to his funeral robes he considered the fragments of emotions he had to pack away before he faced the public.
-His sister, dead by her own hand, finally free of her madness.
-Mai had fled to Ty Lee on Kyoshi Island. Her childhood's friend suicide clearly opened up old wounds of her own.
-A reunion of sorts of the gang, even if it was for a state funeral of an old enemy.
-Dreams he couldn't understand plaguing him since he had found his sister. Her final words made no sense to him. It would be like her to stab at him with her dying breath.
Even with everything he thought he always wanted in place, he felt more alone than ever.
"So handsome," Daji murmured to herself as she settled the last sash into place for him. She turned to the little satchel she had brought in with his clothes and produced a small package.
"I brought you some manku cake for breakfast. "She chuckled and brought a gnarled finger to her lips as her other hand produced a small steamed cake. "Just between you and me, then hmm?"
Zuko took the cake gratefully and she patted him lightly on the forearm. He began the precarious task of attempting to the sweet bean cake while wearing white robes.
Daiji let herself out. "So handsome, " she repeated under her breath, likely thinking he wouldn't hear her. And then, just as she shut the door… "Just like your father."
Zuko choked on the cake, the flavor turning bitter in his mouth.
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The ceremony itself had been short and simple. Some still remembered Ozai as their legitimate ruler that promised great glory. Some thought Azula's death too convenient, a newly victorious brother wiping out a bad memory. Too much politics and emotion involved to let the ceremony last long.
Too little family left to mourn the dead.
Zuko had asked his father if he had wanted to be present at the funeral, the night they found her. He had spit at his son's feet and refused to answer, powerless to do anything else. Zuko stared over the heads of the crowd convened on the square.
Iroh took Zuko by the elbow and directed him back towards the palace. "Come. It's time to see your friends."
They made their way to the reception hall, shedding layers of their funeral wear as they passed through the large ornate door.
"Sparky! Iroh! Long time no see!" Toph elbowed Iroh in the side as she cackled at her own joke. Zuko grinned at her. Her time helping Bumi restore Omashu hadn't changed her at all.
He looked up to see the water tribe siblings bringing up the rear. Katara hadn't changed much but Sokka had grown a little in height, if not filling in slightly in the months since they had last met.
"Jerk! It's good to see you!" Sokka clapped forearms with Zuko in greeting, which Zuko returned heartily.
"Good to see you all. You didn't have to come here for this. Especially something so… difficult." Zuko looked at all of them, inwardly grateful for their presence.
"We're family now, buddy. We're gonna support you all the way." Sokka pounded Zuko on the back. "I've been helping train students at Piandao's, so it wasn't far for me," he stage whispered conspiratorially.
"Since Aang got tied up helping the Earth King, we figured we would make sure that everyone knew that we've always got your back," said Toph.
Katara was nowhere near as jovial as the other two. "I had to come," she said, thin lipped. "Even if it was only to see with my own eyes." The friends all turned grim together for a few seconds.
Zuko understood. He wouldn't have believed it himself if he hadn't been there. He turned back to his uncle and
blood, blood all over the cell floor, he never knew that a person could bleed that much and still be alive, but if anyone could do it, it was his sister, mai was heaving her stomach contents in to the corner, a dog barked behind him, high pitched whine, a dog? how did a dog get in here? there wasn't a dog there before, was th
Katara reached up and pulled him out of his fog with a gentle hand on his arm. "Hey, are you ok?"
He shook his head to clear it. Iroh fixed him with a piercing stare.
"I'm ok. I'm fine." He placed a hand over Katara's comforting one and gave it a squeeze. "Let's go eat."
"Yes!" exulted Sokka. "You don't have any komodo chicken around would you? I'm starving!"