Here it is everyone, the final chapter. This one was probably the one I tweaked the most. I don't really list her age, just reference it, but in my head she was between 16 and 18 in the last chapter and in this chapter she was in her late twenties. I changed my mind however when I felt it left it off too soon, so in my head Kya is in her mid to late thirties putting Zuko in his sixties or seventies.
Anyway, enough of that, go on and read the last installment.
Kya yawned as she made her way to the palace, the meeting with the Earth Kingdom's Chief of Agriculture had gone far later then she thought it would and she wanted to see her family.
When she was twenty she had married a young advisor Zuko had been fond of and they now had a son on whom Zuko doted.
Despite the set backs she faced for being a foreigner, young and a woman she loved it in the Fire Nation. It had always felt like home far more than the Air Temples, the Water Tribe or even United Republic.
For as long as she could remember she loved the heat of the Fire Nation, loved the shades of red and the spicy foods. What she loved most about it was the feeling that she belonged.
Her fondest memories were of Zuko patiently teaching her how to bend her element in the firebending style. No one got mad at her for doing the steps too fast or too forceful, for the first time she was praised for it.
Zuko rarely gave compliments, but she could always tell he was proud of her. He'd clap a hand on her shoulder and nod, as warm and comforting as the fire he controlled.
He was the one she listened to, trusted. He taught her everything she knew and she always felt safe with him.
"I've made a lot of mistakes in my life," he had told her once while they watched the sunrise after a lesson. "But I must've done something right to deserve having you in my life." He wrapped his arm around her small frame and he kissed the top of her head when she let it rest on his shoulder. "You're the daughter I never had," he mumbled into her hair.
Kya had felt like she was glowing when he said those words. She had known then that he would always be there for her and he'd never let her down.
Kya was making her way to her family's suite when she noticed the flickering candle light coming from the study.
"You're home late, I had food prepared, but it's probably cold now," Zuko said, his old eyes looking up from his paper work. It killed her to see the strongest man she'd ever known slowly wasting away to nothing.
"Sorry I worried you," Kya said. "Come on, you should rest. I can finish this up for you."
"I'm still Fire Lord, don't you think you can order me around missy."
"You may be Fire Lord, but I'm Head Minister and this is my responsibility now." She stood by his desk, but knew better than to help him up. "Someone wise once told me that a man needs his rest."
"Just like your mother; always needing to take care of people and order them around," Zuko laughed, slowly getting up. He placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded. "You should eat something. Keep your strength up."
"I'll eat later with Shang. Now go; like you said, it's late." She patted his fragile hand and smiled.
"You're a stubborn thing," Zuko told her, taking his cane and making his way to the hall. Kya watched him from the desk and smiled softly.
"Yeah," she whispered, her voice and heart breaking. "Just like my dad."
So there you have it. I deliberately left it opened ended on two notes. The first, does Kya know that Zuko is her father? The second does Zuko himself know?
In my head I say that Kya does know. She's a smart girl so she'd have figured it out at some point. Zuko I haven't decided, he might know or he might just love her completely unconditionally without needed to know their blood bond. I know for myself the best family I have are the ones I'm not related to by blood.
Leave one last review, or even your first one, and let me know what you think.
If you're a fan of minor characters check out my Longshot and Smellerbee fic Tigerswan and if you like The Powerpuff Girls read my new story Illusion of Normality.