Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

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Avatar: Destiny

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Chapter 7: Permission to Marry

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Zuko held the small brightly decorated box carefully in his hands as he walked. "Are you sure about this, Uncle?"

"Absolutely. It is always proper to present gifts to the parents when a young man is asking for their daughter's hand in marriage," the elderly man answered while shifting the box he as carrying from one hand to the other.

The two firebenders walked down the street dressed in their brand new Earth Kingdom clothes. Zuko's hair was neatly cut and Iroh's hair and beard were trimmed and perfumed.

"Well, thank you, Uncle, for helping me." Zuko smiled nervously.

"Not at all. Jin is a lovely girl. I'm sure the two of you will be very happy together." Iroh smiled broadly. "You deserve some happiness in your life, my nephew."

Zuko's smile turned into one of sincere gratitude.

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Aang stood in his underwear along the shores of Lake Laogai with the water lapping at his ankles. Katara stood about twenty feet away , knee deep in water while Toph stood firmly on dry land, parallel with Katara, facing her student. The two bending masters took turns launching attacks against the young avatar, who used all three of his bending skills to defend himself. These attacks were nothing like the all out battles they put him through a few days earlier. These were calculated attacks designed to teach Aang to use all three bending disciplines in rapid succession and in combination. None were aimed to hurt him, but still the avatar had to remain on his toes.

Katara launched an array of icicles at Aang, which he blocked with a wall of earth, then Toph raised a ten foot bolder and hurled it at him. This time Aang used a stream of water to slice the bolder in half from top to bottom and the two sides sailed harmlessly past him. Next, Katara sent a six foot wave at him, which Aang disbursed with a mighty gust of wind, turning the wave into a gentle rain. Toph clenched her fists in front of herself and thrusted downward, causing the ground beneath Aang's feet to turn into quicksand. With his arms mostly immobile, the avatar balled his hands then shot them open. This caused the ground around him to turn solid and crack open, he drew water into the crack and formed ice around his legs which allowed him to float to the surface as the crack filled.

Katara smiled to herself, then looked over at Toph. The earthbending master tilted her head towards the waterbending master and while she couldn't see the other girl, she nodded her understanding nonetheless. At the same time, the two bending masters each formed a wall, one of rock, the other of ice and they send them at each other liked an open book being slammed shut, with Aang in the middle. Seeing the walls coming at him, Aang lowered his head and slammed his fists together, forming a whirling ball of air around himself. The instant the two walls hit the giant air ball, they flew apart with debris flying everywhere.

Katara smiled. "That was great Aang!"

"Yeah, not bad Twinkletoes." Toph gave him the thumbs up.

"Thanks." Aang smiled back.

"But we're not done yet." Katara flashed a evil grin and lauched a new attack. Toph laughed and followed suite.

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Zuko sat quietly as his uncle prepared his special blend of teas for Jin's father. A few minutes later, the middle-aged man took a sip and closed his eyes savoring the flavor.

"That is the finest tea I have every tasted," he said smiling broadly, then he took another sip. "You are truly a master at your craft." He bowed his head to Iroh.

"You are too kind." Iroh bowed back.

Turning towards Zuko, the man smiled and said, "My daughter tells me you have something important you wanted to talk to me about." He flashed his daughter a knowing smile. "What could it possibly be that warranted such fine trappings?" Jin's father gestured to the tea he enjoyed and the jade hair comb Zuko gave his wife.

"Mister Juno," Zuko bowed low. "I've come here today to humbly request your daughter's hand in marriage and ask for your blessing."

Jin's mother, who was sitting at the side next to her daughter placed one hand over her mouth to stifle her scream of excitement, and clutched her daughter's hand with her other. The two women smiled at each other then looked over with anticipation to the head of the household.

Lin Juno, Jin's father, struggled to suppress his own joy. As happy as he was for his daughter, business was business, including the business of marriage, and while it took some of the romance out of the occasion, it was a necessary part of life in the Earth Kingdom. "You are a fine young man, Li." He started. "And you have a fine mentor in your uncle."

Iroh bowed, "Thank you."

Lin acknowledged the older man then continued, "But you have only begun your business. I hardly believe you have saved enough to put together a proper dowery especially since you have yet to make your first installment on the loan I gave you."

"Dowery?" Zuko gave his uncle a confused look.

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. The tradition of providing the bride's family with a dowery was one that was done away with in the Fire Nation long before Zuko was even born and was only practiced in the Earth Kingdom as a way of showing upper or middle class families that a prospective husband of questionable means was actually able to take care of their daughter. It took a moment for Iroh to remember the tradition but when he did, he knew just what to do.

"Mister Juno, if you please." The older man bowed once again. "While I have tried to be an adequete mentor to my nephew, I'm afraid I have overlooked some of our oldest and dearest customs, so please allow me."

"By all means." Jin's father nodded his approval.

Iroh continued, "While it is true we have only begun our business here, our first week's receipts are very encouraging. In fact, I'm sure we will be able to pay you back in half the time we agreed in our contract. And while you are correct in saying Li does not have the necessary funds for a proper dowery for a young lady as refined as Jin," He smiled over at the girl who grinned back at him and rolled her eyes humorously. "He is willing to negotiate a minority ownership in our teashop."

Zuko shot his uncle a stare but managed to check his tongue.

"Continue." Jin's father raised a curious eyebrow.

"Li is willing to offer you a …" Iroh stroked his beard pensively. "Ten percent share in the teashop on top of what we owe you for helping us get the business started."

"Mmm," Lin ran the back of his finger back and forth under his chin. "The offer is very tempting, but who is to say the success you're currently experiencing will continue? It may just be the fad of a new shop opening."

"That may be true." Iroh acknowledged. "Consider this… if your ten percent share matches the amount you loaned us in one year's time, then the deal is done, but if it does not, then after that one year, we will increase your share to thirty percent."

Jin's father's eyes went wide. "You are willing to hand over thirty percent of your business for my daughter?" He turned towards Li.

Zuko looked over at Jin who as staring at him with shimmering eyes and a sweet, loving smile. "Yes, yes I am."

Then Iroh jumped in, "Of course, we expect the shop to continue to be as successful as it has been. If that is the case then your share will remain at ten percent."

"If it continues to be as successful as it is now, ten percent will be more than adequate." Mister Juno acknowledged, then turned to his daughter. "Jin, come here."

The girl rose and walked over next to her father then sat back down.

Lin took his daughter's hand and smiled at her, then turned towards Zuko and extended his other hand to the young prince. "Li, will you come here please."

Zuko stood up and walked over, sitting back down in front of the older man.

Taking Zuko's hand, Lin place it over his daughter's hand. "It is clear to me, that you have my daughter's best interest at heart. And that my daughter loves you very much. Protect her and provide for her."

Zuko nodded.

He turned to face his daughter. "Love and honor him always in all things."

Jin nodded happily.

"Li, I give you my blessing and my permission to marry my daughter." Lin withdrew his hands from the young couple, pressed them together and bowed.

Zuko gently squeezed Jin's hand and smiled, then he bowed to her father. "Thank you, sir. I promise, I will be a good husband to your daughter."

"I'm sure you will be, son." Jin's father stood up and gestured for his wife to follow him and they left the room.

Zuko took Jin's hand into both of his and leaned forward to kiss her. She did the same.

"I'm so happy," she whispered in his ear and they kissed again.

"I'm so happy too!" Came the weeping cry behind them.

Zuko's face turned bright red. "Uncle." But Jin smiled and got up, and hugged Iroh warmly.

"Thank you Uncle Mushi." She kissed him on the cheek. "This wouldn't have been possible if it weren't for you."

The elderly man blushed. "Aah, well."

"Yes, thank you Uncle." Zuko said, standing in front of the man with his hand extended. Iroh took his nephew's hand and found himself pulled upright, then hugged.

Iroh wiped his eyes dry, his heart filled with joy for the young couple. "I'll write up the contract with your father." He bowed and walked out of the room.

Jin waited until they were alone then she hugged and kissed Zuko again. "I love you so much."

Zuko hesitated, blushed a bright red then replied. "I love you too, Jin."

She laughed softly. "It's hard for you to say it, isn't it?"

"Well… yeah. It's embarrassing." He held her tight.

She laughed again in his chest, then nussled close and whispered. "That's okay. You don't have to say it. Just show me you love me. That's all I need."

Zuko held her tight and kissed her on the forehead. Jin looked up into his eyes and they kissed again.

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Aang and his friends made their way through the market district buying some needed supplies as they walked off the hearty lunch they ate over two hours ago.

"What about this?" Sokka rushed over to one shop and pointed at the small brass gong, picked up its small hammer and struck it." He smiled, way too content with himself.

"And what do we need a gong for?" Katara asked impatiently.

"Well… you could use it to let us know when dinner is ready." Her brother grinned.

Katara gave him a evil stare.

"Or we could use it to signal when Sokka has a clue." Toph countered.

With a wicked grin crossing her lips, Katara added, "In that case, we'll never have to use it."

Aang and the two girl's laughed at Sokka's expense, then continued down the street.

"We could use some new firestarters." Katara picked up a pair of flint stones at the next shop. She paid the shopkeeper and placed the rocks in her bag.

They spent the next hour picking up odds and ends, and spending as little as possible. While everyone was feeling the heat from the afternoon sun, no one thought of seeking any relief until Toph spoke up. "I'm getting awefully thirsty. Can we get something to drink?"

"Good idea," Sokka agreed. "How about some tea?" He pointed at the small teashop at the corner and they started walking towards it.

As they drew near, Aang saw the name of the shop over the door. "The Jade Dragon?" he whispered, trying to remember where he had heard that name before. Finally, it came to him. "Listen you guys, I don't think we should go in there."

"Why not?" Toph asked innocently.

"Is something wrong, Aang?" Katara placed a concerned hand on his elbow.

"I just don't think we should go in that teashop."

Realization hit Katara first and she looked over at the quaint little shop, which had a steady flow of people walking in and out. "Is this his shop?" she whispered.

"I'm not one hundred percent certain, but I think so," Aang answered.

"Who's shop?" Toph was beginning to show some frustration.

Katara looked around to make sure no one was in eavesdropping distance of them, then she whispered softly. "This might be the teashop owned by Zuko and his Uncle." Katara glanced over at Aang, then continued. "I don't think we should go in here. It's probably best to stay as clear of Zuko as we can."

Sokka shook his head. "I disagree. Going in here is a good way to find out, for sure, if he's really changed his ways, and unless we confront him sometime, we'll basically be living in fear while we're in this city."

"I agree with Sokka," Toph said firmly. "Besides, I've been looking for a chance to kick some firebender butt, so just let him try something while I'm around."

"Shhh… Keep it down Toph." Katara warned.

"Why?"

"Because I promised not to make any trouble for Z… Li, as long as he kept his promise as well. And so far he has," Aang explained.

"Fine, but I'm still thirsty." Toph folded her arms over her chest.

"And I still think it can't hurt just going in for some tea." Sokka added.

Aang looked over at his waterbending master. "Katara?"

Her expression of concern and hesitation were plainly visible upon her face.

"W-whatever you say Aang."

"Well then, if you two want to stir up trouble, go ahead. I'm going home." Aang walked off.

"Wait for me Aang." Katara hurried to catch up with him.

"Well," Toph smiled. "Ready to stir things up?"

"Sure." Sokka took Toph's hand and lead the way into the teashop.

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(To Be Continued)

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AN: Before anyone sends a review stating that doweries are given by the daughter's parents to the prospective husband, the tradition used to be the other way around at least 4,000 years ago. Since, personally, that always made more sense to me, that is the way I chose to use it. Of course, I didn't have to use it at all, since there is no evidence in the show that such traditions were followed in the world of Avatar, but it seemed like a good way to show Zuko's sincere feelings for Jin to her parents.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

A. Amishi