Vita Post Mortem
Chapter 2: Close to Home
Zuko and Mai watched from one of their balconies as the funeral pyres spewed smoke into the sky. Capitol City smelled like death now and everything seemed to be covered with a coating of ash. The couple stood in silence, stunned by the sight and horrified at what had become of their home.
"It's, it's…" Zuko began.
"Terrifying," Mai supplied quietly. "I'm so glad that Tom-Tom and my parents are safe in the Earth Kingdom and I feel guilty for being glad."
"Don't, it's natural to think that," Zuko replied and slipped an arm around her waist. "I just wish that there was something I could do. I can't fight this thing or negotiate with it. It's in complete control."
"Mommy? Daddy?" Takehiko's voice said from behind them. "What's dat?"
He was sprawled out on the carpet of the sitting room, a scroll covered with brightly painted pictures of animals opened before him. With one tiny finger, he pointed at the coils of grayish smoke. Mai turned to face her son, giving him a strained smile. How could she possibly answer that question? Zuko turned too and moved to sit down beside the boy.
"There's a fire, buddy. That's what's making all the smoke."
"K," the child replied and then wrinkled his nose. "Smelly."
The Fire Lord grimaced and placed a hand on the boy's head, ruffling the brown hair.
"Hey, how about we go get a snack from the kitchen," Zuko suggested. "I'll bet Mommy and the baby are hungry."
"Yay," Takehiko exclaimed. "Go now?"
"Yes," Mai said with a roll of her eyes. "We can go now."
As they cuddled in bed that night, neither able to sleep, Mai and Zuko talked in hushed tones. Mai sat, a mound of red and gold pillows behind her, while Zuko tucked his head into the space between Mai's breasts and the swollen mound of her belly. One hand rested on the bump, moving up and down gently, probing with his fingers as if he could somehow communicate with the child inside Mai's womb.
"If something happened to any of you, I'd go crazy," he said in a choked voice. "And it's happening to all kinds of people out there. I feel like a coward, Mai, hiding away in my big palace while my countrymen die."
"If you could help, you would, Zuko. But there's nothing that you can do. You've provided all the healers available, you've sent food and supplies to ravaged islands and you're trying to figure this disease out though you're no physician."
"Yes, but it's not enough, Mai. None of it is helping. Is this thing just going to spread and spread until there's no one left? I won't let you die or the children. If nothing else, I will save you."
"Zuko," Mai soothed, running her fingers through his hair. "I'm worried too and I don't want anything to happen to you. I need you. This nation needs you. You have to stay strong and stay well."
"Agni," he sighed, blowing warm air across Mai's chest. "Why is this happening?"
"Retribution," Mai mused. "I've heard rumors; some of the Earth Kingdom leaders are saying that it's nature's way of punishing the Fire Nation for all the destruction it caused."
"What? Where did you hear that? "
Zuko raised his head and looked into his wife's eyes. His mouth was pulled down into a frown and his eyes were narrowed with anger.
"I heard a servant mention it to another one. They have family in the Earth Kingdom and get letters, I suppose."
"That's ridiculous," the Fire Lord snarled. "How dare they say something like that after all the good I've done and am still trying to do."
"Relax," Mai said. "Getting all worked up about what some leader may have said isn't worth it. So, what do you plan on doing next? Have you exhausted all the medical books already? What about Nobu? He's been corresponding with other physicians, right?"
"Yes and yes and we're no further ahead. There just isn't any information. We've got no guidelines, Mai. It's like we're all wandering around in the dark. Maybe there is no cure. Maybe the disease has to run its course and whoever survives is completely random."
"That could very well be true. Maybe you should speak to the people, Zuko. Announce a time and let them know what you know. Be calm and soothing. Perhaps it's also time to quarantine any house here that contains the sickness. We'll take care of them, of course, leave food and supplies for all the family."
"Alright, I'll talk with Norio and Sadao first thing tomorrow and decide on a time. Thank you, Mai. How is it you always know what to say?"
"I know you so well, that's how. I know what you need."
Mai's voice was sultry and warm and Zuko's body responded immediately despite the worry and despair he felt. His hand left her abdomen and moved further down and he began to kiss her slowly, the heat between them building at a pace that never ceased to amaze them.
When they were finished, both flushed and sated, Mai took her husband's hand in hers and spoke softly. "See, you needed that."
"I feel better so I suppose that you're right. Then again, you usually are."
After a quick breakfast with his family, Fire Lord Zuko called upon his advisors, and they spent the morning holed up in his office discussing their options.
"My wife suggested that I speak to the people, try to calm them down. You say that there were minor instances of rioting last night?"
"Yes, a small group of distraught citizens tried to get into the palace last night and then began to throw things at the guards. It was all taken care of and the people dispersed. No one was hurt but the anger and panic are on the rise. I think that a speech is an excellent idea." Norio gave Zuko an encouraging smile.
"Tomorrow morning then; how does that sound? I won't write anything. I don't want it to seem rehearsed."
Sadao dispensed more advice. "Speak from the heart the same way you always do, Zuko."
The Fire Lord pressed the tips of his fingers together and looked thoughtful. "There's the matter of quarantining those infected. I can ask people to do it voluntarily, but we all know how that will go. We'll need guards posted and the homes will have to be marked. Agni, this is all so terrible. I don't want to seem like a dictator, but it needs to be done."
"The people know you better than that, Zuko. For the past five years you've been a fine leader, one who's made some mistakes, but also one who's admitted them and then made things right again. Be honest and don't be afraid to admit that this disease is as much a mystery to you as it is to them." Clapping the young man on the back, Norio got up from his seat. "I'll put the word out. You will speak at Coronation Square tomorrow morning, three hours past sunrise. Does that suit you?"
"That's fine, Norio. I also want it known that people affected by the disease, those actually ill and those who are in contact with them, must stay home. They will be provided for."
"Consider it done. Sadao, let's get to work."
Once they were gone, Zuko got up too and looked out through his office's large window. He could see Mai and Takehiko in the gardens, the little boy carrying yesterday's leftover bread, excited to feed the thriving family of turtleducks that lived in and around the pond. Watching Mai and their son always brought back memories of those happier, more idyllic days he spent with his own mother, those days before he became a failure in his father's eyes and a mere puppet for Azula to control.
He shook his head and tried to focus on the present, one which was fast becoming a nightmare for his entire nation.
The following morning dawned cool and wet. Zuko arose early, Mai with him, and ate a quick meal before donning his formal robes.
"Let me help." Mai combed out her husband's thick brown hair and pulled it up skillfully into a topknot. She slipped the diadem in and then moved awkwardly around to Zuko's front. "Perfect." She straightened a sash and smoothed out a fold then pronounced him 'perfect' once more.
The family of three, soon to be four, walked together to Coronation Plaza, guards surrounding them on all sides. The crowd gathered was huge and restless and seemed on the verge of violence. Zuko took one look at the surging mass and shook his head at Mai.
"You're not going out there with me. The people are angry. Can't you feel it? They could hurt you and the baby or Takehiko. I want you back here where it's safe."
"Yes, my lord." Mai bowed, as much as she could being eight months pregnant and shot him a smirk. But she understood his concern. She too could feel the anger radiating from the crowd. Peeking out from between the thick velvet curtains, Mai saw faces filled with fear and rage and uncertainty. Zuko needed to calm them down. She wasn't sure if that was even possible. "Good luck." Zuko bent down to kiss her briefly then stepped out onto the podium.
Immediately, the crowd quieted. They all stared up at Zuko, waiting for good news or a miracle or some sort of salvation. But, he didn't have that to give. Taking a deep gulp of the cool, moist air, the Fire Lord composed himself and began.
"I know that you're afraid. Your sons and daughters, husbands and wives are falling ill, dying quickly right before your eyes. You want to know why. I want to know too. But as of now, no one has any answers. There is no cure and no remedy that we know of. The royal physician, Nobu, has written to other physicians around the world but to no avail. Our nation is under quarantine. No one will come to help us. We must help ourselves."
Cries of 'how?' and 'what are we supposed to do?' reached Zuko's ears. He raised his hand and the crowd fell silent again.
"We need to stop the spread of the disease. Those affected must remain in their homes. The families of those affected must be confined as well. I will ensure that food and anything else that you need be provided for you. Everything will be brought to your home by my guards. Nobu is working hard on herbal remedies that might assuage symptoms. If you lose a loved one, you need to let the guards know. The body must be burned immediately.
None of that sounds very hopeful and that was not my intention. But you can all see for yourselves just how devastating this sickness is. I won't lie to my people but I do expect you to act with dignity throughout this trial. Rioting and looting will solve nothing. Somehow, our great nation will make it through this crisis and we'll be stronger for it."
He could think of nothing else to say and so stood regally and silently, watching the crowd, waiting for a response. When it came, it was short and violent. Rocks flew through the air, tens of them, perhaps hundreds. They bounced off the podium, they made it through the curtained entrance, they hit pillars and they hit Zuko. With blood running down the scarred side of his face, the Fire Lord demanded order. With hands raised to protect himself, Zuko pleaded for reason. Neither came and the rocks continued to fly.
