(A/N: Here is Chapter 2! You get a glimpse of Azula...and who is this Kasai girl? Keep reading to find out...)
--
Chapter 2: Strategy
"We've been presented with a great opportunity here, girls," Azula purred gratified by her own brilliance. She paced the green lantern-lit bed chamber vigilantly, her face twisted into its notorious arrogant smirk.
The four of them sat there that night, undoing their masks of make up that completed each girl's disguise, reveling in victory. They did it. They actually deluded the Earth King himself. After the defeat of the Kyoshi warriors and 'liberation' of their uniforms, the four girls infiltrated the great Walls of Ba Sing Se. It actually astonished Azula how simple the success truly was. Few things shocked Azula. What had taken centuries and thousands of men in an attempt to do, only took four young women: Azula, Mai, TyLee, and…Kasai.
Three of them sat silently while Azula continued to pace, the wheels in her head spinning uncontrollably. She spoke of her plan to overthrow the Earth King, a large conquest for the Fire Nation. The only way to do so was to control the city's most powerful asset, the Dai Li. The princess proudly announced her plan before them, and how handsomely they would be rewarded of such an achievement. As they went over the details, Kasai spoke up.
"What of the Avatar?" she asked warily her expression stern, "He stopped you once before."
Azula paled for a split second, her face then smooth and expressionless. She frowned. She did not like the way this girl contradicted her.
"That won't happen again."
--
They had everything they needed. Their plan was almost flawless.
Azula held everything into place. She began by revealing her identity to the Dai Li, who in turn, reported to the imprisoned Long Feng. She made a pact with the Dai Li leader; control of the city in exchange for the avatar…Kasai listened carefully as Azula assigned her with specific orders.
"As you know I have no intention of releasing Long Feng," she said, "For the time being, I am placing the avatar under your responsibility."
Kasai blinked.
"Me?"
"Your assignment is to find and apprehend him," Azula went on, "Use force if necessary. We may just need a way to lure him in. It may be easier for you; they don't who you are."
Azula studied the diffident look on the girl's face.
"Not having second thoughts, are you?"
-"No! It's just that"-
"Kasai, when I recruited you, I admit to having my doubts on accounts of the past," the princess said, "But since you have proven yourself I have put the past behind me and have accepted you. Do not disappoint me. Is that understood?"
"Y-yes, princess." Kasai faltered.
She abruptly left Kasai in the empty emerald corridors. Kasai fell to her knees when she was sure she was out of the other girl's sight. The avatar… the one she had coveted for so long... She would take these orders, unless he came right to them, but that would make it more difficult to take the orders into her own hands…
Ironic.
"SUKI! We need your help!!
The unfortunate girl dashed into the palace hours later at the worst time possible. Kasai watched the mistaken girl with cool blue eyes stumble toward Azula.
"Please, Suki!" the Water tribe girl implored Azula in disguise, "Prince Zuko is in the city! We have to warn everyone!"
"Leave everything to us," was the last thing Azula said before TyLee paralyzed the young waterbender. She tried to fight back in vain. Her body fell to the floor with a thud. She lay there, water spreading across the smooth floor, as limp as she was. Kasai, who could only look on, swallowed hard.
Time was running out.
"So… it appears my brother and uncle are in the city as well," said Azula, "They could prove useful…"
"Zuko's in the city?" Kasai blurted out. It was impossible. Unfathomable. Could it be true?
"There's been a slight change of plans," Azula began, "If I can gain the Earth King's trust, why not Zuzu's?"
"Zuko…"Kasai muttered. He was alive. Finally after three long years, they would face each other.
--
"Father!" Fire Nation General Chang's angry, ten year old daughter cried, "This isn't fair! Why do I have to go?" Chang's daughter folded her arms obstinately, glaring up at him with those red-brown eyes. Her mother's eyes. She looked at him in such a way that reminded him of her it was all he could do not to smile.
He instead folded his arms and stared back at his daughter. Chang was a large, handsome genial man most of the time, but his own temper was nothing to be toyed with.
"Kasai," he reprimanded his daughter, "how are we supposed to attend a Betrothal Tea ceremony without its bride?" His daughter's disdain faltered as her arms fell. The burgundy eyes held their determination.
"I'm not getting married, Papa."
Chang crouched down to his daughter, Kasai's, height so he could look directly into her eyes.
"Kasai, my daughter," He said softening, "This will be good for us. This union is good for the Fire Nation….Your mother would have wished it."
He placed his hand on the side of his daughter's face. Little Kasai's burgundy eyes saddened at the mention of her late mother.
"For Mother?" She whispered looking up at her father. Chang sighed.
"Your mother's wish was for you to be… taken care of while I am away at war," He explained, "Grown up business."
"Papa, tell me," Kasai urged, "I understand grown up business better than you might think. I'm not that little any more. I'm ten!" Chang chuckled. His daughter's headstrong spirit was getting the better of him.
"There are several reasons that your marriage to the Crown Prince would be good for us." He began, "The Fire Lord personally requested this union in order for me to be promoted to a higher rank in the Army…It is a great honor and I'd be in the same high rank as General Iroh-"
--"The tea addict?" Kasai interrupted incredulously.
"Kasai, that's not very polite," Chang chided his daughter. Then, sobering he continued, "It is the Fire Lord's wishes I must oblige to. And…Your mother…She wished for you to be taken care of by a husband while I am away…In case….In case something should happen"-
-"Papa, please don't talk that way!" Kasai blurted out wrapping her arms around her father's neck.
"Please, please don't be brave okay?" He heard her whimpering.
"It's all right," He soothed, "I'm here now. I won't be going away for another year or so. So don't cry, daughter…shhhh…" He touched his daughter's hair. Kasai calmed and pulled away. Chang brushed a finger playfully down her nose. His daughter smiled softly, and then sighed.
"… What do I have to wear?" she asked dejectedly, "There'd better be some good tea…"she sniffled stubbornly. Chang followed her to her rooms to prepare for the ceremony…
"Be strong, my daughter…"
--
This was it, Kasai thought. She had to plan her next move. Zuko was here; that changed everything. Would she truly have the strength for what was coming?
The waterbender was taken into captivity underground. Kasai saw something in her eyes that surprised her. Something she herself had lost years ago.
"Gee, Now that we have one of the avatar's friends, you don't have to lift a finger, Kasai! He will come straight to us." TyLee chimed to Kasai as if this were good news. Kasai only sighed in false relief.
Azula had succeeded in her plot the control of the Dai Li. One by one the Earth Generals were placed into captivity, along with the Dai Li's former leader Long Feng, and the young Earth King was sitting naively on his throne, completely oblivious to all these happenings, Mai and TyLee fervently guarding him. Once she had set her mind to something, nothing could stop her. Like the flames that consumed anything and everything in its path, Azula took everything, leaving only ashes in her wake.
It was all happening so fast.
Kasai stood in a stray bedchamber, pacing across the jade carpeting cagily.
She was dressed in the Dai Li uniform. Green. Kasai hated green. Not much of an improvement from the Kyoshi uniform. Not that she hated the color on Earth Kingdom folk, but green made her look so…sick. It was a random subject to occupy her mind,to distract herself from the situation...
Glancing in the mirror, she stared hard into the deep burgundy eyes that glared back at her. Her long jet-black hair half twisted into a bun at the top of her head left the rest swaying around her face. The severe color of her hair contrasted with the light golden tones of her skin. Her full rose colored lips pulled into a frown. No, she was not meant to wear green...She couldn't distract herself for very long.
What now?
So much in her country would happen out of her control; she let her dreams and loved ones slip from her fingers too many times, just to evade the inferno. Maybe she wasn't as strong as she thought she was.
Why was she even here?
She didn't have the strength to stop the wildfire all by herself.
--
The young Fire Lord Ozai sat complacently in his throne as General Chang kneeled before him, his children, and older brother, Iroh.
"Fire Lord Ozai," He said still bowing, "I am present for the betrothal tea banquet in celebration of the union your son, the Fire Prince Zuko, and my daughter, young Kasai."
There was a small pause.
"She may enter with her female guardian." the Fire Lord boomed.
The two soldiers at the grand double doors stepped aside and opened the doors. Two people walked in and kneeled beside Chang: his older sister, Lady Wen, and daughter, Kasai. Zuko sat beside his uncle and Azula quietly, nervously.
The Fire Lord raised his hand to allow them to sit up and speak. Zuko watched Lady Wen, an aging, severe looking woman in lavish scarlet robes, unwrap a silken red cloth to reveal two gleaming Dao swords. She handed them to Chang.
"These are the finest broadswords in craftsmanship, My Lord," Chang presented them to Zuko's father in earnest. Zuko couldn't take his eyes off the swords. He looked over at his betrothed, who was hidden behind a large golden fan blocking his view of her face.
Sneering with delight, Azula leaned toward him.
"I bet she's hideous," She whispered tauntingly. Zuko's jaw tightened, using all of his ability to resist the urge to wring his sister's neck. She had gotten to his nerves, though, damn her. The knot inside his stomach constricted.
"Prince Zuko," Ozai called, "present yourself to your future bride."
Finding his legs, Zuko stood and walked before Kasai and her family and bowed.
"I am honored to receive your daughter into the Royal Family," Was his formal line. Now it was Kasai's turn. He furtively stole a glance as she stood to present herself.She had dark brown-red eyes and long black hair, half in a bun and the rest long and silken around her. She bowed lower than him gracefully and in a very cool tone said:
"It is an honor to be accepted into your family."
"Come," The Fire Lord stood, "We shall enter the dining area." Lessening in formality, the two families entered the lavish buffet and table set in an immense room.
Two other large, ornate golden doors opened up from another side of the throne room. Zuko followed behind Azula and walked beside Kasai. He did not dare look at her as they entered the Tea Room. Kasai, however glowered at him before seating herself beside her father. Feeling her eyes on him, he flushed and avoided her gaze. Beside him, General Iroh rubbed his hands together greedily.
"Well, I do hope you have a great appetite, General Chang," he commented gleefully before they began their meal.
All ate well. Azula was unusually silent; she pouted at her food as though she were disappointed. Iroh was quite talkative as usual. Ozai, however, remained quiet and polite, letting his brother lead the conversation. He seemed much more intent on observing Zuko and his betrothed, the lovely Kasai. She was the splitting image of her late mother, Amataseru, who was quite attractive herself. The child, from what he heard, was also talented in firebending. Hopefully, the offspring of this girl and his son would develop Kasai's more favorable traits and pass them on to make up for Zuko's unfortunate inadequacies…
"I'm hopeful that the young Prince would enjoy practicing with his new Dao swords," Chang commented glancing at Zuko's tense expression with laughing eyes.
"With all due respect, General Chang," Ozai spoke up, "my son already has enough to burden his studies. He is still struggling at fire bending alone." Kasai caught a glimpse as Zuko frowned, blushing furiously at his father's words. Azula perked up, stifling a snicker. This sent a small pang to Kasai's stomach. How could he say such a thing, even if it were true?
"Oh, the poor dear," said Kasai's aunt Wen, "I'm sure he'll grow out of it."
"May I be excused?" Zuko stood abruptly at the table. Ozai frowned disapprovingly.
"Zuko!" He admonished, "Do not be rude! Apologize to our guests!"
"It is all right, Ozai," Iroh intervened standing up as well, "The boy just needs some air-"
-"What the boy needs," Ozai retorted heatedly, "is to learn some respect!"
"All the same," Iroh pressed, still calm in the face of his brother's ire, "I am feeling a bit lightheaded myself. Zuko, come with me. We will walk outside." Iroh hurried the boy off before Ozai could say more. He merely sighed and turned to calm his slightly disconcerted guests.
"I apologize for my son's behavior," He said struggling to control his anger, "My son has not learned enough of tact just yet."
Kasai sat looking after Zuko for a moment, suddenly feeling pity for the boy. Once dinner was over and the adults were conversing in other business, she quietly excused herself from the table to explore the halls. She wandered down to a wide veranda and crimson gardens. She did not meander far until she heard voices.
"- shamed myself again! Why does he have to announce it to everyone?"
-"He did not mean to embarrass you, nephew!"
"Yes – He did...Maybe I got what I deserved…"
Kasai slowly tip toed toward the wide veranda where the Fire Prince and his uncle were discussing, keeping them in view but avoided being spotted.
"No one deserves humiliation, Zuko…" Iroh said. There was a pause. She heard Zuko sigh.
"It's never enough for him is it?" He murmured.
"Now, now", Iroh comforted his nephew, "You will learn in time."
He patted the young boy's back. Zuko pulled away impatiently.
"How much time?" he growled. He sulked away.
"Zuko, the ceremony. What about Kasai?" Zuko turned slightly.
"She wouldn't notice if I left," He said somberly. "I don't want to marry, anyway."
Kasai's eyes widened. This boy…She never imagined the Crown Prince to be so troubled.
Zuko stalked away.
"How unfortunate. I do hope the tea is still hot," Iroh commented quietly," We will talk to him later. Come, Kasai."
She gasped. Kasai ambled slowly out of her hiding place.
"How did you know I was there?" she asked skeptically. She did not know much about this older man they once called "the Dragon of the West", but he did not seem so fitting to such a title. She looked on him haughtily.
"Kasai, your father would not be pleased if he knew you were missing such fine tea," Iroh grinned not answering her question.
He bowed and beckoned her to follow him back to the tea room. She hesitated, not knowing what to make of such a strange old man, but eventually followed him, deciding he was harmless.
They walked the dark fire lit corridors in silence. Until the girl gathered the courage to speak up.
"Is he going to be all right?" Kasai asked, warily glancing sideways up at him. Iroh chuckled.
"My nephew and his father have not always seen eye to eye," Iroh explained gingerly, "But it is nothing you need to concern yourself with." He added with a small smile. It didn't reach his eyes.
"Oh," was all Kasai said in somewhat surprise. Adults never answered her questions so directly; she half expected him to tell her everything would be fine, be dismissive, and smile a false smile. Her aunt would do it all the time, saying it was impudent to pry into others' affairs. Iroh seemed to sense her concern.
"Don't worry, my dear," Iroh reassured her, "I am sure one day Prince Zuko will make his father very proud. He is still young, you know." He said 'young', not 'merely a child' like everyone else. This old man was strange. He treated her differently; he was all right.
She had no idea Zuko felt so badly. She wanted to help him…but Agni, did she HAVE to marry him?
Kasai promptly huffed, her brow furrowing.
--
A long sigh passed through Zuko's lips as he swept up the tea shop. He had remembered that day as well, miles and miles away, the same memory. The strange dreams had been prompting long lost images in his mind, but why her? She was probably miles off, happy wherever she was, forgotten him, home… And he should have forgotten her, dammit.
He suddenly began sweeping more vigorously as if to sweep the past from his memory. It wasn't working. He only glared sweeping violently. He shouldn't be standing around daydreaming. It's stupid to think of things like that now.
"Nephew! Look at this!" Iroh's voice rang in from the other side of the room. He had a piece of parchment in his hand and wore an ecstatic expression.
"We have been personally invited to serve the Earth King tea tonight!" He announced proudly. Zuko's eyes widened. Since when had they become that famous? His uncle's tea was one of the finest; it was true, but…
"Uncle, don't you think-"
"Zu – Li! Get into your best clothes. We must hurry!" But his uncle was already gone to prepare.
--
Zuko couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy all through the journey to the Earth King's palace. As they departed to be escorted by carriage, all the while something filled him with trepidation. Perhaps he simply developed a mild paranoia from the strange dreams he had had. Then he glanced over at his uncle, who was simply shaking with excitement. Maybe he should just relax and let his uncle enjoy this time for him.
They approached the colossal palace, the carriage coming to a stop. The Earth Kingdom's palace was vast as it was grand, with lavish color an infinite corridors in several shades of emerald. The two tea servers were guided quietly into the palace through the endless jade halls by two other guards. They finally approached the royal tea room, complete with lime green carpeting, a table, and a small throne for the king. But it was empty…
"The Earth King will arrive shortly," one of the guards said before they disappeared. Zuko and Iroh waited in silence. Iroh was readily pouring the steaming tea into the cups.
"Uncle," Zuko said, "Shouldn't we wait for the King first?"
"Ah, but my nephew, tea gets better with time," Iroh uttered serenely. But the Earth King had not appeared yet. Zuko glanced all around, craning his neck in all directions in order to see when the Earth King arrived. Minutes past and the Earth King did not come.
--
Twenty minutes later and the king did not show.
"Perhaps we picked the wrong date?" Iroh questioned idly, "The Tea is getting cold…"
He surreptitiously used firebending to breathe hot air into the tea. Zuko rolled his eyes but could not help feeling edgy about the present situation…
Suddenly A group of men in dark green dress and large, wide hats swarmed noiselessly into the room surrounding the two of them. Zuko immediately recognized them as the strange earthbenders who took away the unstable Jet they met not too long ago.
"Something's not right…"Zuko muttered to himself. His suspicions were confirmed as he watched his sister emerge from the sea of dark emerald. She wore their uniform, her cold amber eyes darting darkly between him and his uncle. Suddenly filled with uncontrolled ire, he stood up.
"Azula."
"Hello, Zuzu," Azula greeted flippantly. "Have you met the Dai Lee?"
She was abruptly serene; the kind of calmness that associated Azula with what could only be cruel intent…
--
Kasai stood in the room, feeling the turbulence now settling somewhere in her stomach. She gulped. It did nothing to help. She inhaled deeply, but that only nauseated the sensation. She had an inspiration, and if this plot did not go through, it meant the end of her life.
Outside the bed chamber, Azula walked to the door and knocked. The door opened immediately.
"Azula!" Kasai blinked at the princess. Azula regarded the girl coolly.
"There's been another change of plans, Kasai," the younger woman said serenely while examining her claw-like nails.
"Another…Change?" Kasai stuttered, her head spinning at the thought, "I'm afraid I don't understand"-
Kasai looked up. Azula was surrounded by Dai Lee officials. All were still as stone, staring blankly down at her.
"Since we're pressed for time right now, let me get straight to the point," Azula said sharply, attempting to compose herself," I have no need for you any more."
"What?"
"From the beginning, I have sensed a bit of… impropriety about you. And in the long run, your recklessness has proved useful. But to go through with this plan requires a certain sense of – finesse – you simply lack."
"What are you talking about!?" Kasai shot back incredulously. "I have done everything possible to your loyalty"-
"Kasai, you came to me with a promise," Azula cut in, "And you have kept your promise up to this point…and now I am relieving you of your obligations."
"W-What?"
"Honestly you didn't truly believe that I would let you attain the glory for this victory so that the Fire Nation could look at you differently, did you?" Azula scoffed, "Did you think this long running stunt could possibly redeem your reputation? You're worse than my brother…"
Kasai couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"You're sending me back to the Fire Nation?" Kasai managed out dazedly.
"Precisely" Azula beamed sweetly at her, "You grasp things more quickly than Zuko does, thank Agni…You have an hour to gather yourself together and the Dai Li will escort you"-
-"I can't leave yet!" Kasai blurted out. Azula did not wane. Her eyes did not leave the other girl's for a second. The Princess's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly. She took in a deep breath.
"I came here for more than that," Kasai began slowly her eyes darkening, "I want to see him. I want to look him in the eyes and watch him fall."
Azula did not look impressed or amused.
"You have three hours…"
--
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(A/N: Wow. Longest Chapter so far. I know its not really long but. Hopefully you all can keep up. Plz read and review. Tips on Kasai and all)
