Interface
Chapter 7: Relativity
Lips pushed out, a sign of her dissatisfaction, Akira kept her eyes on the sidewalk, determined to avoid every puddle. Her deep red umbrella she held out in front of her like a shield. She snuck glances at her daughter every so often and sighed.
"What is your problem?" Mai already wanted the woman to head back home and they had only exchanged a few words. But with Akira, it was often what went unsaid that hurt the most.
"Problem?" she echoed. A powerful gust of wind almost stole the woman's umbrella away and she tsked-tsked at it as if it were an unruly child she could control, not a force of nature.
"You're obviously ticked off about something. Sorry I don't have a car to drive you home in. But, you know, I can't afford one. You could have driven here." Mai purposely stomped in a puddle, hoping she would hit her mother's impractical high heels with the rainwater.
"Do you have to do that? And you know that I hate to drive on the highway. The train is so much better. I can sit back and relax."
"Whatever's better for you," Mai muttered. She caught Tom-Tom staring at her with big, pale gold eyes and gave him the slightest of smiles. He returned the smile threefold and grabbed hold of her pant leg. Mai toyed with the idea of prying his chubby little fingers off, but his grip was surprisingly strong. Instead, she reached down and ruffled his brown hair. It wasn't her brother's fault that their mother was often intolerable.
"I left my bag inside the front doors of your building. I didn't want to carry it all the way to the library. Do you think it's safe there?"
"Guess we'll find out."
Stupid!
They turned up Mai's street and then headed toward the small apartment building. Mai thanked the fates when she spotted the expensive suitcase through the glass; one problem averted. Once inside the tiny lobby, they shook off umbrellas and coats before heading up the old wooden staircase. Little Tom-Tom hummed to himself as he climbed and held onto his mother's hand. Mai got to carry Akira's luggage. She dumped it down in the hallway, earning a glare, and fished out her key.
"Oh," Akira stated once the apartment door was open, "how…quaint. Where will Tom-Tom and I sleep?"
She stepped inside and gazed about the small space, taking it all in with her keen eyes, tucking all the information away for later.
"You can have my bedroom. I'll make a bed up on the floor." She could just imagine how comfortable that would be.
Or there's always a hotel…for her.
Mai showed her mother the bedroom and the woman immediately began to unpack, pushing some of Mai's things aside.
"So, make yourself at home," the young woman said dryly. "What do you want to do for dinner?"
From the sounds of things, Tom-Tom had discovered the cat. Komoku hissed and darted up to Mai, winding herself around the girl's legs in a panic. Mai bent down and scooped up the feline, stroking her soothingly and whispering words of comfort.
"Kitty!" her brother declared. He reached up as if expecting Mai to drop poor Komoku into his arms.
"Yes, my kitty. You remember Komoku, don't you?"
Tom-Tom nodded, arms still upraised.
"You need to treat her properly, okay. I'm going to put Komoku down and let you pet her. If you're nice to her, she'll be nice to you." Mai doubted the little boy's ability to be gentle with the cat, but he surprised her.
"Nice kitty," the boy crooned. He touched her head with one finger and then ran it down the length of the cat's body.
"That's better." Mai praised the boy and demonstrated herself how to properly pet the cat. "Watch her tail. Sometimes she gets angry if you touch her there."
By now, Komoku was purring happily and Tom-Tom looked so very pleased with himself. Mai felt a surge of something, affection, maybe even love and cupped the boy's cheek before standing up and heading off to the kitchen.
She put the cat's food and water out and snorted at her brother's groan of disappointment when Komoku darted away, leaving him behind for her favorite flavor.
"Mom, I asked what you wanted to do for dinner. I could make something…."
"Wouldn't you rather go out to eat? You must know some good restaurants around here." She stepped out into the living room wearing a stylish dress, brown hair pinned up, the scent of some popular perfume trailing behind her like a car's exhaust.
Mai wasn't sure if Akira's response was a slight against her cooking or if it reflected a genuine desire to get out. "I know a good coffee shop and that's it. Look, Mom, I don't go out to eat, at all. Money is tight."
"Well, hasn't some young man taken you out anywhere?"
An automatic response, Mai rolled her eyes. She wasn't sure how to broach the subject of Zuko or even if she should bother. She settled for an annoyed, "Oh, for Agni's sake, Mother…"
~~~~0000~~~~
Mai almost tripped over her own feet getting to the door when she heard the knock. And she smiled with relief when she saw it was Iroh and Zuko, come to rescue her from Akira's doom.
"I'm glad to see you," she whispered before locking eyes with Zuko. "I haven't checked my phone. Did you leave a message?"
"Uh, no; Uncle thought it might be nice to surprise you." The young firebender shrugged. "I hope that's all right."
"You're life savers. Come on in. And what is that I smell?" She sniffed the air appreciatively, pulled the door open wide and stepped aside for Zuko and Iroh. "It's much better than my mother's perfume."
Iroh chuckled and gave Mai a mock frown. "Now, now, try to get along with her."
"Mai, dear, didn't you tell your friends that I was arriving today? Why have you asked people over?" Akira's expression managed to be both disapproving and hurt. She adjusted her jewelry and smoothed down her dress.
Iroh, charming and funny, and very capable with the ladies, swooped in and took over. "You must be Mai's mother; Akira, isn't it?" He put down the bag he carried, took her hand, holding it between his two large ones and stared directly into her eyes.
She smiled demurely and made no move to get her hand back. "Yes, I am, and you look very familiar." Akira managed to hide her surprise at Iroh's choice of clothing. It was bright, a lime green shirt that almost blinded her, and far more casual than anything the woman ever wore.
"Iroh Tanaka; I recently made your daughter's acquaintance. She and my nephew are friends." The older man waved Zuko over. "This handsome young man is Zuko Tanaka."
"Ozai's son," Akira said breathily. "And you're his older brother. What in the world are the two of you doing in Sapporo? And why didn't you mention them, Mai?"
"Mai, why don't you and Zuko set the table? I'll fill your mother in." He gave the black haired girl a gentle nudge. "Your brother is fine right where he is."
Grateful once more, Mai didn't question anything. She grabbed Zuko's hand, an action that did not go unnoticed by Akira, and pulled him into the kitchen. Tom-Tom sat on the floor watching the scenes play out before him. He was fascinated by the new arrivals, particularly Zuko.
"Here," Mai said, handing Zuko a simple red tablecloth.
He spread it out on the table, making certain it was centered properly and had no wrinkles or folds. He waited for Mai to give him flatware and dishes and glasses and dutifully placed them down as best he could. Iroh's conversation with Akira was easily overheard and he made no attempt to block out their words.
"Mai's a fine young woman. You must be proud of what she's accomplished here."
You tell her, Uncle.
"Um, well, certainly, her father and I are proud."
Zuko picked up on the subtle resentment in Akira's voice. She did not like being put on the spot. But Iroh was so kind about it that it hardly hurt at all.
"She and Zuko only met last Saturday and already they're quite close. It's remarkable really, the connection that they have."
"Six days ago? And how close is close? Why did you say your nephew is studying here rather than in Capitol City?"
"One question at a time, dear lady; let's see. Yes, six days and their relationship is definitely a romantic one."
Zuko flushed and took the time to stare at Mai. Her back was to him. She was taking the covered dishes out of the bag, peeking inside and smiling at each discovery. Mai looked good from behind. He knew that already and had seen the view quite a few times. That didn't lessen the thrill he felt gazing at her now.
"Take a picture," Mai quipped. She knew he was staring and it flattered her but she liked making Zuko uncomfortable too. Flustering him was accomplished with little effort. Without turning around, she sensed the heat of his blush and smirked to herself. "So adorable," she whispered. "And so easy."
She heard bits of the conversation between Iroh and her mother too. Akira was performing her sickening sucking up routine, praising Iroh and the entire Tanaka family, going on about their prowess at business, their wonderful home, their beautiful beach house, their entire empire. Mai wrinkled her nose and tried to tune the woman out.
"Should we put the food on the table?" Zuko edged closer to Mai and brushed his fingers against her hip. The filmy material of her cream coloured blouse felt soft and silky but he imagined that the skin beneath felt infinitely better. "They're still talking."
"I'm hungry. Aren't you?" The smells were making the librarian salivate and her stomach began to grumble like some testy old woman.
"Yeah, I am." Daringly, he leaned in and nuzzled her neck before kissing up its length and ending at her lips. "I'll take care of it."
Mai's entire body throbbed with want. She'd never felt anything that powerful and she wished that Iroh and Mai and Tom-Tom would just vanish so that she could have her way with Zuko. Heat crept along her body, leaving its tell-tale smudges of pink. She leaned on the tiny counter and breathed deeply. Akira did not need to see her like this, semi aroused and obviously smitten. She would dig her teeth into that information, a rabid, slathering dog shaking its victim.
Zuko's raspy voice traveled to her from the living room. "Mai says it's time to eat." The way he said her name made the young woman tremble.
"Thank you, young man," Akira replied, looking at him appraisingly. "Your uncle has many good things to say about you. But I still have a lot of questions."
"I'm glad to hear that, ma'am. Your daughter, Mai," the girl in the kitchen swooned again, "means a lot to me."
"But you've just met her, right? How much can she mean?" It was as if she were testing Zuko, trying to make him suddenly deny his affection.
Zuko fidgeted, rocking slightly on his feet, as he searched for the right words to convey his emotions. "It's only been a few days. I know that. But, but my feelings are true. I've never met a girl like Mai. She's, she's special."
"Hmmm, special, is she? Well, let's see where the two of you are in a few months." She called Tom-Tom over to her and took his hand, leading him into the dining room.
Iroh narrowed his eyes at the woman's retreating back before giving his nephew an encouraging smile. "Don't worry about the mother," he advised the young man quietly. "You're not involved with her."
~~~~0000~~~~
Zuko's scar was the center of attraction. Tom-Tom stared openly between bites of food and gulps of milk while Akira was more surreptitious. Mai could see her mother struggling with the disfigurement, wondering whether to mention it or not.
She couldn't take it any longer. "It's a scar, Mother, not a second head."
Akira's eyes bugged out and she almost choked on a piece of chicken. Gallantly, Iroh handed her some water and gently patted her back. "There, there," he soothed. But he wanted to laugh.
"You're incorrigible, Mai." Akira cleared her throat a few times and took another sip of water. "Look how you've centered poor Zuko out."
"You were the one staring at him like he's a freak; don't put this on me." She huffed but calmed down when she felt Zuko's hand on hers beneath the table. He was telling her to let it go. It didn't matter what her mother thought about his scar. It didn't matter what she thought or felt about anything.
"It's cool."
Four heads swung to look at little Tom-Tom. They had all temporarily forgotten him.
"I agree, brother." Mai gave him a smile and that affection swelled again. She might grow to really like the boy after all. She recalled too the child she had seen at work the other day. Trust them to be forthright and guileless.
Zuko gifted the boy with a second smile. "Thanks, Tom-Tom."
"Welcome," he managed and went back to the serious business of eating.
After the minor confrontation, Iroh regaled the group with tales of his travels, his tea shop and his search for dragons. The candles on the table, red and white ones, beat back the darkness outside. Rain continued to pound against the windows. It felt to Mai as though they were in a world separate from the real one, isolated and alone. She loved the feeling, though Akira was an unwelcome citizen of the lonely little country.
"Another dragon obsessive; Mai's been drawing those things since before she started school." Akira sighed. "Aren't there more important things to concentrate on? It seems rather childish."
Mai bit down on her tongue. Insulting her was one thing, but Iroh too? That was intolerable.
"I don't consider it childish, my dear lady. I consider it looking for a wonderful part of our history here in the Fire Nation; dragons, the first firebenders, stunning creatures, powerful, noble."
"Dangerous," Akira added. "Isn't that why we wiped them out?"
Oh crap!
"We 'wiped them out' as you so bluntly phrased it, because of ignorance and brutality." Iroh's voice had steel in it now, rigid and hard, immoveable. He was angry, though too well mannered and considerate to allow that rage true freedom.
"Mother…." Mai intoned, that one word a severe warning.
Akira was bright enough to realize that she was outnumbered and arguing would do her no good. Besides, in the end, she really didn't give a fig about dragons. But, she hoped that Iroh was wrong about their continued existence. That was all the Fire Nation needed, dragons burning their way through cities, cluttering up the sky, making a general nuisance of themselves. The Fire Nation was a modern, industrialized, civilized country. Dragons had no business there.
"Fine, fine," she consented, giving Iroh an apologetic look. "I'll let it be. I can see that dragons are a sensitive subject with you, all of you."
The remainder of their conversation was neutral. They talked about Sapporo in general, Iroh's plans to open a tea shop there, Mai's father and the university. After dessert and tea, Zuko offered to help clean up. Mai put him to work and together they did the dishes while Iroh and Akira continued to talk.
"He's charming her now," Mai observed as she elbowed Zuko. "My father might be jealous if he were here."
"Uncle Iroh loves women." The firebender flushed. "I don't mean that way; well, yeah, I'm sure he does, I mean he was married and had a son, but not your mother, not that your mother isn't attractive enough or….oh, did I just say that..ugh."
Mai leaned over, arms wrapped around her waist, trying to catch her breath. She was laughing that hard.
"I don't usually laugh like this, at all, But you're…."
"I know, I know," the young man snarled. "I'm not exactly eloquent and I get all mixed up and I sound like an idiot."
"No, yes, you do, but it's sweet and it's part of why I like you so much." Standing on her tiptoes, Mai kissed Zuko on the cheek. "Let's finish these up."
By the time the dishes were washed and dried and put away, Iroh had promised to pick up Akira and Tom-Tom the following morning and show them the city. Mai was working and the pair needed something to do and a good way to get around.
"It will be fun," Iroh ensured Akira. "I know all the best spots already."
It was Sapporo and that meant that the best spots were few and far between, but still, the city had the odd thing here and there to offer.
The little boy in question dozed against his mother's leg, talking in his sleep occasionally. Komoku stretched out near the boy but not too near. It seemed as though Tom-Tom had completely won the cat over in the end.
"That's very gracious of you, Iroh. Tom-Tom and I will be delighted."
Mai leaned in close to Zuko and whispered in his ear, smiling devilishly. "Yeah, but will Iroh?"
"Well, nephew, I think it's time we went home. I'm sure that Mai wants some time alone with her mother and brother." He made sure that Akira's attention was elsewhere before he gave Mai a wink.
Thanks were expressed and dishes were returned and before Mai knew it, the pair had left. She stared out a window, trying to catch one last glimpse before resigning herself to her fate.
~~~~0000~~~~
"That was unexpected," Akira stated a bit snippily. "I wish that you had told me about Zuko. This is a wonderful thing, Mai, a wonderful thing. If you get in good with him, maybe Ozai will give your father another chance, let him come back and work in Capitol City. Of course, he's the outcast child isn't he, and that scar…" She shuddered but when the woman felt her daughter's cold glare, she stopped just as quickly.
"You make me sick. I'm not seeing Zuko to improve your station in life. I LIKE him. I might even LOVE him. What do you think of that? Or doesn't love have a place in your world?" Mai shook with anger. She stood ruler straight and rigid, hands at her side. Komoku sat up and went to Mai, parking himself on top of her feet.
Her mother appeared chastised. "That came out wrong, Mai. Of course there's room for love. You know how I feel about your father."
"Is that your apology? That's the best you can do?" The young woman's fists were clenched now.
Mai was very aware of the love between her mother and her father. It had been a bright spot in her home life, something that had given her hope. She knew at least that she had been conceived in love even though she wasn't quite what either of her parents wanted. And her father, he was softer than Akira, more flexible. When Mai had needed affection or some kind of validation, she had gone to him.
"I'm sorry, Mai. My remarks were uncalled for. Zuko is a nice young man and the two of you look perfect together. I mean that. I do want you to be happy, Mai. But, our ideas of what should make you so are different." Akira folded her hands in her lap and sat calmly, awaiting whatever caustic remark Mai might throw at her.
"They are different. And I'm not changing." She walked to the tiny closet that held her spare bedding and hauled out a few blankets. "I'm tired, Mother, and I want to go to sleep now." Mai grabbed a pillow from her bedroom next and her pajamas, before locking herself in the bathroom to clean up and change.
When she came out, Akira and Tom-Tom were both ready for sleep.
"Just let us brush our teeth, all right, Mai."
She nodded and spread one blanket out on the floor, tossed down her pillow and pulled the other blanket on top of her. Mai felt exhausted and her eyes drifted shut before Akira blew out the candles and turned off the light.
Later that night, when some passing car roused her from sleep, Mai felt Tom-Tom's warm little body pressed against hers. Smiling she pulled him closer and placed a kiss on his head.
~~~~0000~~~~
A/N: I missed the library scenes this time around and will rectify that next chapter. You can never get enough of libraries after all. ;-)
With all I have planned, (Wow, I actually, sort of have a plan), this story could be never-ending.
Thanks for reading and reviewing. :)
