Fire's Will
Whispering Kage
Summary: She was like a fire, she could burn brightly and she could dim until she was nothing more than a park. But no matter how much you tried to dowse her she would still burn brightly, for it was her nature.
The Fire Lord glared at everything and everyone that he passed. They all bowed their heads and moved out of his way. He scowled.
Cowards. All of them, they were nothing but wastes of space, all of them. Even his own children were useless.
His glared darkened at that thought, he blamed their mother, she was weak and of course their children were weak as well. The only good thing that had come from marrying that woman was that she was weak enough that she died giving birth to their failure of a son.
He was free of a queen, something that most kings had to pay others to make happen. As cruel as it sounded he did not care, he needed no one to stand by his side, no this was his kingdom, his alone. Built on his work, sweat and the blood of others.
He let a small grin curl on his lips, scaring those that were foolish enough to be in the same hallway as him, he only grinned like that when he was amused, which usually meant the suffering of others.
He ignored them and continued on his way towards his destination. He barely noticed when the hallways became less and less crowded, then again only a few select people were allowed in these hallways, anyone who was not allowed to be in these hallways and were caught in them were killed immediately.
He shook off his thoughts as he stopped outside a door, yes he was the king and could go anywhere he wanted in his own kingdom, but he gave the person behind the door the courtesy of knocking before throwing open the door.
"Enter." The voice was soft and tired, beaten almost broken and he smirked, knowing he was the sole reason behind her broken voice. He easily pushed open the door and closed it softly as he entered the large room.
It was decorated in oranges and reds all of various shades. It was grand and well furnished, then again it was his late wife's room. He glanced at the only other person in the room.
She was sitting at a low table sipping some tea, completely ignoring him. He merely watched her for a few minutes. She was small, her womanly forum was wrapped in dark red robes. Making her long black hair stand out.
"Kagome." She blinked and looked up at the sound of his voice. Her deep blue eyes, eyes only found in the water bending tribe, yet he knew for a fact she was a fire bender. She was by far the most important person in the kingdom besides himself that was, she was the fire priestess. Far more important and influential then the fire sages.
"My lord. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?" Her voice was soft and docile, so unlike the fiery young woman he had…fallen in love with all those years ago. So long ago it seemed now, and how things had changed.
All save for her, she was still as young now as she was back then, appearing no older than twenty five, it was rumored it was because she was so close to the flames that they refused to let her age, in fear of losing her.
He recalled her waving that rumor off and telling them they were all crazy, while she lounged in his older brothers arms. He felt his mood darken at that thought. There was a time when she was his older brothers, he scowled at the thought of it, but that time had long passed. He was the king, and she was his, whether she liked it or not.
"I was merely feeling nostalgic, besides I come bearing news of my brother." He glared at the small spark of life in her eyes, even now, years after everything that had happened she still loved him, that was fine, he did not want her love, no he wanted her power and he had it.
Even so he was not pleased and he would make sure she knew it.
He stalked over to her and sat down across from her and glared at her. She sighed and stood up silently to grab another glass form the nearby shelf and sat back down pouring him a glass of tea and offering it to him. He took it and sipped from it, he frowned.
"I do not recall buying you this blend." She nodded impassively, a small smirk on her lips as she brought her own glass to her lips, after which she placed her cup back down on the table and offered him a sickening sweet smile.
"It was sent to me by an admirer." He glared at her, his grip on his glass tightening and making the tea boil.
Kagome mimicked his frown, she was very fond of that glass, it was one of the few things she had left of happier days.
"My lord, please clam yourself…I thought you came here to reflect on our past…not destroy the few things I own and cherish." He sighed and let go of the cup, she was right. He did not come here to break her things...this time.
"Forgive me…you of all people should know of my anger management problems." This time she smiled a true smile, yes, she remembered even form a young age he had issues controlling his anger, to this day it slowly consumed him…soon he would be nothing more than an angered husk of the man he used to be.
"Of course I know…if I recall you once set your older brothers underwear on fire once…" She trailed off laughter dancing in her eyes.
He smiled a rare smile remembering that day, it was one of the few happy one's before he had been set on his quest for world domination.
He and his older brother had gone to visit Kagome in the fire temple, as per usual, and as per usual they, his brother and Kagome, were off in their own little world and he was jealous. So he tried to get their attention only to have his brother embarrass him, so he got revenge by setting his underwear on fire .
Even now he had to admit watching his esteemed older brother, next in line for the crown, fail around as he tried to yank off his pants had been hilarious, it was one of the only found memories left between them now.
"How could I forget, you turned so red that the fire sages though you would faint." She smiled, as the memories washed over her, those were the days. Before the war, before the betrayal, before everything. Things were simple then, she, Kagome, was the fire priestess, and he, Ozai, was the younger brother of the next in line to be king, Iroh.
Now, now things were so messed up…so very messed up. Iroh was in exile, Ozai was a ruthless king, and she was his prisoner…how had things come to this? When had things gone off track? When?
"When did things change?" Her voice was even softer then it usually was yet he still heard her and he had to pause to think.
When had things changed?
Was it when his father put pressure on him to take the crown? In fear that Iroh was blinded by his love for Kagome.
Was it when he himself fell in love with Kagome and envied his brother for having everything handed to him? The crown, respect, power, women, everything.
Or was it when he had his heart crushed when his brother stole yet another thing from him by marrying Kagome behind everyone's back? Not only did he marry her but he had a son with her. Destroying her reputation…she was the fire priestess she was not supposed to do such things…yet she did.
She was stripped of her position and titles, until he, Ozai, took over the kingdom and restored her to her former glory…much t her disdain, it was because of him that her son was dead and her husband exiled.
Either way it was too late to dwell on the past for there was nothing one could do to change it.
"It doesn't matter. The past is in the past and that is where it will stay." She nodded sadly.
"You are right….what news do you bring of your brother?" He huffed his mood ruined, causing smoke to shoot out of his nostrils, and took a sip form the cup one last time and setting it down.
"He helped the Airbender...he is now a traitor….I have given orders to kill him as well as my son on sight." She felt shock and fear run through her system. No…
"Why? He is your brother! Zuko is your son! You can't do this…please…" He glared at her, how dare she try and tell him what he could and couldn't do.
"I can do as I please and they help the airbender! The airbender's sole mission is to kill me! You would see me dead!" She filched away from him as he stood and glared at her and looked down at the table.
"No, but...I mean my lord please….reconsider….I beg you." He shook his head, he would not.
"I will not, I only came to tell you this before you heard it from someone else…I will take my leave now…and if your admire ever leaves you gifts again rest assured that I will have him found and killed." With that he stalked out of her room leaving her alone.
Kagome sighed sadly as she grabbed her cup and sipped from it, even now Ozai was mad at her for loving his brother, mad at his brother for loving her and mad at his son for not being hers…he was filled with so much anger…and it would be his down fall.
She let out a baited breath and dug in her robes for a something. Smiling she pulled it out of her robes and held it dearly, like it was her lover. There resting in her hands was a lotus peg, most often used in games. She rubbed her finger over it lovingly as she made up her mind.
She would no longer play the docile captive…no, she was tired of sitting here day after day while others fought for freedom. She was just as much a member of the White Lotus's as they were and come the morrow she would leave this place, find her husband and fight with him.
She grinned darkly as the fire in her eyes returned, Ozai had better watch his back because hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, let alone one who had nothing left to lose.