21st of May

Fire Lord Taishi 25th

Year of the Sun

Two hours before noon

Dear Diary,

That seems such a unappripriate title. I have witnessed other noblewoman write the same words in their own diary. No doubt theirs is just a feeble shell full of unimportant ramblings about social events and who is courting who, in a way I suppose the diary reflects it's owner.

So to start things off formally I shall introduce myself.

I am Lady Maeko Azu of the Province of Azu. I am the second daughter of Royal Adviser Lin Azu humble servant to Fire Lord Taishi and Lady Lien. My mother (may Agni rest her soul) passed away when I was seven.

The province of Azu is quite large and takes up most of the southern Fire Nation including two small islands and several towns. Our villa, ironically is situated next to Lake Azu two miles from the town of Azu.

I posess three siblings. My elders Chen and Kairi and my younger Shinji.

Chen is travelling the Nations which came as a surprise to us. We expected he'd join the army like most wealthy sons. He would likely be promoted to Captain due to his rank as an eldest son of an upstanding family but instead when he became of age at eighteen he announced he would like to go travelling. My father I am sure objected to the matter but then reconsidered when he realised that Chen could become a Fire Nation ambassidor. That was four years ago and from what I know of in his letters Chen is in the northern part of our Nation.

I will confess that I miss him. Chen is amusng and quite charming when he wants to be. He knows how to cheer me up and exactly what to say. He had visited regulary every two months or so when he can and he writes but it's not the same. On the brighter side he brings home presents from the other Nations. Three months I ago I recieved a book on Water Tribe myths and folklore.

My sister Kairi, however is another matter. I mentioned earlier how noblewomen are shallow and featherheaded. Well Kairi is in essence a perfect noble lady. She's extrodinarily beautiful with long silky black hair and perfect almond eyes. Her bone structure is dainty and her figure is slim. It's quite obvious to see she had our Fathers eyes. They are a very pale misty gold.

In character Kairi is featherheaded but surprisingly sensible. I suppose she had to play mother to us when we were younger, this makes her quite overprotective and quick to anger. Another surprising fact about Kairi is that she's twenty and had no lover. This is considered odd because when a girl like Kairi turns of marrying age at sixteen you'd expect there to be a que down the street (there was acutally) but instead Kairi has turned down ever suitor. She'll toy with their affections for a while before dumping them shortly after, however lately she has one man who is the personifaction of dull. Jin Li is from another rich family and his Father is a general in the army. I may not get along with Kairi but I would gladly burn Jin Li alive if he proposes to her. He's dull...and timid. I've seen more exciting Hogmonkeys.

And finally that leaves little Shinji who is four years my younger. Shinji is a pest. An annoying whining little pest. I do substain some pleasure from winding him up which is easy to do. Out of all my siblings I have the most fights with Shinji. He is firebender like myself so our fights always result in somebody getting burned. It's hardly my fault. He sneaks into my room and steals my books and diaries (I did have one before this but it ended up in the lake this morning) Shinji is in his room right now sulking because after he disposed of my diary I chased him through the gardens and shoved him in the river.

I could write about my Father but I shall not. Theres not much I can tell you about him. He spends most of his time in the Fire Lords Palace and comes home to visit every four months or so. We are invited to the palace three times every year but we hardly see him. He is serious, stern and above all else cold towards us. I dislike him quite a lot.

That is the introduction to my life. I hope to keep this diary close to me over the next year for I feel it shall bring some importance. I would like to look back on this in a few years time and perhaps smile or turn red with embarrassment.

Maeko (15)

Maeko smiled slightly as she shut her diary with a snap. It was a small black book but already she had filled three pages. On the front there was a gold title

Diary Of...

Once again she picked up her pen and dabbed it in some golden ink. Her wrist was hurting nipping a little due to all the writing she had written. She tried to ignore it but distantly she could hear shouting outside her bedroom.

"Maeko! What in Agni's name have you done to Shinji!"

Sighing at the recognition of her sisters voice Maeko scribbled a few hasty words before setting the small precious book under her pillow. She smiled at the title wearily before covering the book with her pillow and striding towards the door.

Diary of Lady Maeko Azu.