Quest for Sanctuary
It was the early dawn hours and still, neither Iroh or Zuko had regained consciousness. Akiko had had to move them from the ghost town up to a small abandon home on the hill after the fight with the Demon and her encounter with the Avatar and his friends.
Right now she was writing down her thoughts and feelings in the diary that Lu Ten had gifted to her before his death as she waited for her father and true love to wake up. She also kept an eye on the tea she was making.
Her thoughts were chaotic at the moment. The whole battle with the Demon had brought a lot of repressed feelings along with deeply scarred memories. Then there were the array of emotions and feelings she had from interacting with Avatar Aang and his friends.
It had been quite the experience trying to give them some enlightenment and advice but at the same time asking them for help and the whole thing had been uncomfortable. The Water Tribe boy; Sokka, she knew that was his name.
He'd asked her how she knew his name. Well, it was true she'd talk to Zuko who knew them even if he didn't use them. However, she'd a little more insight into the Water Tribe siblings after having come face-to-face with the Moon Spirit who was once the Princess of the Northern Water Tribe.
Of course, neither she or Zuko had any clue who the new girl was so she must be a new addition to the team. She was obviously the Avatar's new Earthbending Teacher. Given she wore the green of the Earth Kingdom and she'd been Earthbending.
Overall so much had happened to her over the past few weeks she had a lot of pages to fill up about her memories and feelings after being reunited with her true love and father. So as she wrote it all down she only paused for a moment to wonder what could her father and love possibly be dreaming about as they laid on the filthy floor?
The unknown answers to her question were her father was dreaming about Lu Ten as a child and visiting his grave. So the one he'd loved and lost.
Zuko's dreams were similar in a way. His dreams were also memories. They're terrible and nightmarish memories of the first few weeks of his banishment. Full of loneliness and brokenhearted because he was afraid that he would forget about Akiko or worse she forget him. That they never hold each other once again or kiss a second time. Or that their faces would fade to oblivion in each other memories and that their gold and jade eyes never see one another ever again.
At last, both came back to the light and Akiko cried with delight! "Uncle! Zuky! You're awake! And alive! Oh, thank the dragons! I was getting so worried!" as she threw herself into her father's arms and hugged him while crying and then turned to Zuko and kissed him deeply.
"Will someone mind cluing me into what happened? I seem to have forgotten what happened somewhere between having tea with a very nice blind girl and waking up here." Iroh asked with some moaning.
"Uncle to don't overexert yourself. I'm sure the waterbending healing did a very good job but there no doubt gonna be some pain regardless." Akiko informed him as she tried to get him to lay back down.
"What waterbending healing? Akiko?!" Zuko suddenly was getting angry and Akiko looked guilty.
"Zuky I had too! I knew you were too angry at the moment to accept her help even when we needed it. So I knocked you out with my Dragon Blade and begged the Waterbender Katara to heal Uncle.
Please don't be angry with me! I did it out of love. Because we both love Uncle and he was hurt badly. And they did offer it. Please! Don't hate me!" she whimpered and then cowered. It really looked like she was afraid Zuko would be angry with her maybe strike her.
"Prince Zuko what is Lady Akiko talking about?" Iroh asked as he was getting into a more comfortable position. He knew using Zuko's formal title would at least take an edge off his anger.
"Uncle, Azula attacked you. Akiko was able to sense Azula's spiritual energy from skills she learned during the three years it took her to find us.
We pursued Azula in an effort to find the Avatar and protect him from her because of the life debt we owed him for saving my life twice. You taught us both a life debt must always be honored for its a great dishonor not to pay it back.
So when Akiko sensed Azula we decided to pay him back by protecting him and his friends from her. Which is what we're doing in that ghost town where everyone ends up battling her.
But when you got attacked and she escaped I became too enraged to accept the Avatar's waterbender offer to help heal you."
"Which is why I had to take action and knock Zuko out and plea on our behalf to the Avatar and his friends to heal you for us. They've taken off and they're going their way and on their journey and we must follow our own journey." Akiko finished explaining the story.
Iroh looked at both of them slowly as Akiko was now serving the tea she had made and both were nervous as to what Uncle would have to say. Finally, he sipped the tea and they notice he cringed when he drank it.
"I guess I'm not a good tea maker?" Akiko asked as she cringed.
"The tea isn't so pleasant, dear daughter, but I'm very proud of both of you. It was very honorable of both of you to repay the Avatar by protecting him and his friends from Azula. You should great honor and courage. Not many others would have it in them to do that. You may count yourself among a small elite."
Smiling and feeling better after hearing that complement Akiko pulled her rucksack forward. "Uncle, we're glad you think highly of us. But Zuko and I've both been doing some thinking even before this fight with Azula."
"Yes, we know that she's my sister and that we should all try to get along..."
"No-one can get along with a person that's not a person. She's crazy and needs to go down."
"Well, glad you agree with that. Because while we're on our we did go over our whole Book of Secrets," as Akiko pulled it out and she and Zuko used their firebending to open it.
"Uncle we pulled out all the stops we had from our Book of Secrets. All our best moves and we don't think its enough. There still many moves yet to be used. But we feel we need to know more then even our own secret style if we are gonna take her down.
I mean take a look at all the work we've done since childhood to come up with all this and tell us if we need more." Zuko pushed the Book forward and Uncle looked at it.
Uncle could see it was written in a secret code and smiled. "So you used a firebending lock that can only be unlocked with your own firebending and wrote in Dragon Guardian Code. All to protect your secret style? Very impressive. This whole book is very impressive."
They paled and quickly asked. "How do you know it's Dragon Guardian Code?!"
"Relax, my nephew and daughter. There are only four individuals alive who know the Dragon Guardian Code. You two of course and if you were thinking about the other two would be myself and Xiaoying."
"Of course Xiaoying would know. My birth mom would've likely taught her as her family has been with mine since the time of my great-grandmother," Akiko breathed as she realized that fact.
"Did Xiaoying teach it to you, Uncle?" Zuko wanted to know out of curiosity.
"When I adopted Akiko Xiaoying wanted a way to send secret messages to me in case of an emergency involving Akiko. So yes she taught me it."
"So it was just a way to talk and take care me without anyone knowing?"
"You both know full well the Fire Nation Palace can be dangerous and has some untrustworthy people inside it. Therefore we'd to have a way to make sure the messages made it through without anyone knowing who sent them or could break the code."
Zuko and Akiko seemed surprised by this tidbit of information but at least thankful to at least know it at the same time. It also seemed to answer likely partly how Xiaoying contacts Iroh after Ursa's disappearance. That that letter been written in code so no-one but Iroh could've read it.
"So, if you can read our Book of Secrets, is it truly impressive or is it just not worthy of anything, Uncle?" Akiko asked her father in a hopeful voice as he examined their whole book.
Iroh went through the book with a fine tooth comb and could clearly see that were many things that were obvious. A great deal of ambition, determination, imagination, and willpower.
Since their book of secrets had everything from original firebending forms, to hand-to-hand combat and sword fight styles. They'd really put a lot of work to blend everything they'd ever learned into a unique style and to perform in this creative and original way? It was pure genius in his mind.
Putting down the book he smiled again. "This book is a treasure of two very hard working and creative minds. Azula may be considered a prodigy but she lacks both heart and the creative or the hard work you two put into this book. You both really have done some genius work.
Creating new forms out of mere ideas and taking things that have no relation to firebending or any type of fighting and blending them together to create this style? Well, I say that makes you more the worthy and stronger than her any day of the week."
Zuko and Akiko were blushing a violent shade of crimson from Uncle's words but both said, "But still is enough to take her down? Or do we need more?"
"What you've done so far yes is excellent. But yes, I would say it's time to resume your training because without further training there is no way either of you'll be ready to take down Azula.
Knowing as much as possible can only help you both when you face her again and can only help you when it comes the day you both will take her down."
"That would be so great if we could take the bitchy demon down! It would be a dream come true!" Akiko exclaimed happily.
"It would finally prove we are not just as Father said "Lucky to be born" and she was born lucky." and that of course burst of happiness made the fire the tea had been heated on flare up for a moment gold and hot pink and they panicked.
"Relax, I've known about the special color of your firebending for years. Your mother wasn't aware of it. That I can tell you honestly, but as the Dragon of the West I need to have very sharp eyes to notice the tiniest details."
"So you knew about our secret firebending? Even though we never told anyone? And it only happened when we're alone?" Akiko asked in great shock and Zuko looked aghast too.
Iroh smiled in the way only a father could before saying. "You weren't always as alone as you thought. I was often out of sight of both of you many times when this strange firebending was going on.
I have come to understand it happens to you both when your normally alone, that you don't have control of it, that it seems to have a mind of its own, and the only thing you have conclude it happens when your feeling very intense feelings that are strongly connected to love. Am I correct with all that."
"Yes, Uncle, you're right," Zuko admitted softly but he looked a little downcast, "But we cannot summon it on command and as you pointed out we can't control it or understand it.
Furthermore, it seems we're both needed to make it happen during our separation neither of us could make it spark."
"Well, then we have got a lot to talk about. So shall we get started on your twos lessons?"
Looking at each other they nodded. "Yes, Uncle we are ready for our lessons once
more."
Looking outside, for now, the sun and sky were both equally beautiful and felt really good. The breeze was gentle and soothing and the ground wasn't too hard either as the walked a certain distance till Uncle gestured for them to sit.
The lovers sat as Uncle took a stick and began to draw each symbol of the four nations an example each of their attributes and how they corresponded to their elements.
This only confused them and it only confused them more as Uncle took it a step further when he told them to open their minds and really see and hear the world around them.
He told them not to be blind and deaf anymore and see the friendship that exists within nature of the four elements. How the elements themselves had already achieved balance, unity, and harmony.
Now look around and find it for themselves.
So they closed their eyes and took a deep breath and abandoned all their senses to meditated. Shutting down their conscious minds and trying to listen to the spirit within and see and hear not with their eyes or ears but with their spirit.
It only took a few moments until they could feel their own element and then slowly began to piece together the others that were part of this friendship of nature and how they all worked together to bring about life.
Opening their eyes they both proclaimed, "We understand it. It's about life itself!"
"How two worked together to make another two opposite make each other!" exclaimed Zuko.
"Yes, the sun is fire and from this fire and the water must work together in unity to warm the earth and quench the earth. This, in turn, makes the earth able to grow food and plants with produce the air we breathe. So even though they are all different each depends on each other in order for there to be life on this planet!" Akiko exclaimed the clarity they realized that was now all around them.
"And do you realize if the four elements even if they opposite depend on each despite being different then it should be no different with the people of those nations?
That because we are out of balance ourselves that life is in chaos and that there must be a balance between chaos and order or the there is no life at all?"
"So what we do here with the chaos of this world does that, in turn, affect the spirit world you mean? Life and death. What affect one affects all?" Akiko asked and he nodded.
"The actions of one makes ripples affect all and eventually all here and when there too much chaos it only spreads and causes more imbalance from our world and now to the Spirit World."
"So what we do here in this life will after the Spirit World and the consequence be unforeseen but could be even more deadly?" Zuko asked in a stunned voice and again nodded.
"It's like Yin and Yang. Things may be opposite but you need both together to be whole. Like a warrior must be gentle and tough at the same time for things that may seem to be opposite and merely two halves of the same whole and what is different can often be the same and need each other like the elements.
How many opposites can you name that are yet part of the same whole?" he questioned them.
"Earth and sky, day and night, sound and silence, dark and light." Zuko immediately replied.
Akiko was just as quick to reply. "Winter and Summer, the moon and sun."
"Exactly," said Uncle in a congratulatory way. "They may be opposite and yet you still need both together to make the world whole as each half has a purpose the other needs to before its job. A job both must do jointly."
Now there are other things in nature that you can take as a warrior that are opposites that work together to help you fight as well. Rocks are hard and oaks stand firm. Clouds are soft and you must bend like bamboo. And despite you want to be brave you need to know its okay to be afraid.
That is why in life one alone is not enough you need it all together. In the eternal friendship of balance, harmony, and unity within your own heart and soul as it is in nature.
That is the secret knowledge that has been lost to the world for a 100 years and it seems even the Avatar doesn't realize that is apart of him. He doesn't realize there are many more things to him then just bending the elements.
He as much deeper meanings on both the spiritual and philosophical levels and what he truly represents."
"Uncle you are likely the wisest man on this world and most likely wiser than any spirit there ever was or will be," both Zuko and Akiko replied in stunned honesty as they still tried to fully grasp all the finer points of this lesson before they got to the next step with their lesson.
"Thank you, but true wisdom comes from life itself and living life and not merely existing but truly living.
Now that we've opened both our minds and hearts we can start with the next part of the lesson. First, I can try and teach you lightning. But if that doesn't work I've something else in mind."
"Something else? Doesn't work? What do you mean?" they asked and he only shook his head and gestured for them to get up and follow him again.
He then began to explain exactly what lightning was and why only a selective few could perform the technique and that itself was very dangerous to those who did it. For it was also unnatural as doing it meant separating one own energy in their minds.
After having it thoroughly explained and demonstrated they moved a good distance apart from each other and took a few deep breaths and began to try to make lightning. But all they got was blasted several feet away.
Not to be deterred they kept getting up and trying and did so for about an hour till both gave in and just yelled.
"Why can't we do it?! Must everything in our lives always blow up?! Must we always try, try and fail?!" screamed Akiko as she picked up a handful of dirt and threw it far in a random direction.
"We've tried our whole lives to do the impossible and keep fighting and for what? To always come up short? To always be second best? Just to be in more misery and pain! Like how many more times does life have to twist a knife in our backs till it finally kills us?!" Zuko growled as he too threw some dirt with a roar of angry as far out as it would go.
"I was afraid of this. Both of you have too much emotional turmoil and it seems from my perspective you have become truly soulmates to the point of becoming symbiotic benders.
Something that never happened before but then again based on who you both are and your how deep your connection to each other is I'm truly not surprised that you've become symbiotic.
"Symbo-what?!" as neither had heard the word before and didn't know what Uncle meant by it.
"You told me you can only produce your unique and special firebending together, correct?"
"Yes, what's that got to do with anything?!" they demanded.
"You two are two halves of the same whole. What happens to one happens to the other. I first noticed on the Day of Scars. You both felt the pain when..." he didn't finish but they knew what he was talking about.
"Are you trying to say, Uncle," Akiko as she got off the ground and looked at him, "That we can only function if both of us are together? That what happens to one will happen to the other?"
"A symbiosis in nature is an interaction between two different organisms living in a close physical association, typically to the advantage of both.
What it means when you've become symbiotic you depend on another survival and need each other on every level. So you two have a symbiotic relationship now. Neither of you can survive or function to your fullest potential without the other. And what happens to one affects the other."
It was clearly obvious that this was unexpected and stunning news to the young prince and lady. It also seemed to add to list of reasons why their long separation was even harder on them and they'd felt weaker. They're missing their other half in a way they didn't realize.
"So if we can't do lighting because we both can't deal with the inner turmoil from our painful past then what can we do?" demanded Zuko.
"Plan B. I strongly suspect this would happen and even anticipated that this would prove my theory of your twos symbiotic relationship would finally be proven. That's why I gave you a lesson I did beforehand.
I'm going to teach you a lesson that no-one knows but me as I invented this technique myself. And believe me, this will come in handy. It's redirecting lightning."
"Redirecting lighting? Where did you learn to do that?!" they asked anxiously.
"I learned it by opening my mind and studying another culture. In this case the waterbenders.
We shall go through motions after I explain the dangers of the technique first and then till I know you both got it down pat will the lesson be finished.
Both eager to finally do something right they quickly ran over to Uncle and paid very close and alert attention as explained how to make the lighting follow the path of chi and avoid the heart.
They spent over two and half hours just working on the form and practicing getting the flow of energy within themselves correct. Finally, both Iroh's second son and daughter had that master and begged him to give them an applied lesson, not just a practical lesson.
That's when Iroh came undone and said he was only showing them to protect themselves and said he wasn't gonna shot lightning at them. He wasn't about to make a mistake and kill his nephew and daughter. He just hoped they wouldn't even have to use the technique at all.
Fed up with everything and noticing storm clouds off in the distance they yelled at their true father if he wasn't gonna really help them they do it themselves. Just like they'd to do their whole damn lives.
The violent storm on top of the mountain matches the storm inside them perfectly as they shouted profanity and all their pent-up emotions from all those years of maltreatment. Calling life itself out for condemning them to absolutely nothing but overwhelming and unimaginable pain, never-ending suffering and perpetual misery.
But all that happened, in the end, was them breaking down in tears as the lighting struck everywhere but near them. It again seemed hopeless and life again was twisting its stupid evil knife in their back.
Forced to accepted yet another blow they returned defeated back to Uncle who had cups of hot tea and warm blankets for them.
They didn't speak as they crawled into their sleeping bags looking broken. Uncle feeling he had to say something as he couldn't stand seeing them depressed.
"You know something, I know you've two have had a life that most wouldn't understand or even be able to conceive or comprehend. But I want you to know something that is undeniably true about you," and Iroh took a deep breath and sang softly to his family.
"So you've made a lot of mistakes and gone a little sideways. You've hit a wall a few times and you feel full of nothing but regrets as the sunsets. This happens to one and all.
When it seems that the cold hard rain just won't quit and there seems no way out this just remember this.
When you find your faith been lost and shaken you get right back up take back what's been taken. Get down on your knees as you dig down deep and realize you can do the impossible.
Just keep believing and never give in and soon you'll be whole again. It always will and it always does. For love is unstoppable.
Love is more powerful than the greatest of storms and it makes you feel like you have just been born. It will bring you the helping hand to you when you need it the most. It's the beacon of the light of hope when your heart needs love most.
When you feel so consumed by doubt and again there seems to be no way out just remember this.
When you find your faith been lost and shaken you get right back up take back what's been taken. Get down on your knees as you dig down deep and realize you can do the impossible.
Just keep believing and never give in and soon you'll be whole again. It always will and it always does. For love is unstoppable.
Like the mighty rivers it's always flowing, like the powerful winds it's always blowing. Yes, it feels good knowing.
When you find your faith been lost and shaken you get right back up take back what's been taken. Get down on your knees as you dig down deep and realize you can do the impossible.
Just keep believing and never give in and soon you'll be whole again. It always will and it always does. For love is unstoppable.
LOVE IS UNSTOPPABLE!"
Hearing those words sung to them by someone who loved them made them feel a whole lot better. They felt Iroh tuck them in as if they're small children and soon they're all asleep.
It was a few days later once they'd begun to travel again that they ran into trouble again. And it was very ugly trouble. The Rough Rhinos a ground Uncle knew very well both for their deadly fighting skills and their musical talents.
The leader made it clear they're here for the bounty on their heads, not a concert. Well, Akiko was the first to catch them off guard. Xiaoying had once told her three were things that were key in battle.
The element of surprise, distraction, and again being very clever. "Well, if you're not gonna give us a musical concert, might I give you a dance recital for your entertainment instead?" she gave a mischievous grin.
The Rough Rhinos had no time to process what Akiko was doing. She first stood up on the ostrich horse before performing a perfect Brise onto the nearest rhino and as its rider tried to attack her she used Coruo moves all while firebending as she did her ballet.
The Rider had never seen a Firebending ballet dancer before that was obvious nor was he noticing her dropping things as she continued to dance around him.
Akiko moved to the next Rider with a Fouette jete and then quickly did a jete on this guy all while still doing her firebending and dropping things.
Whilst Akiko was doing her own rendition of "Phoenix Heavens" Iroh and Zuko were helping as Iroh was taking care of the weapons and Zuko was executing his own unique dance moves technique.
Akiko was still performing several beautiful grand jete, pirouette, and split. It wasn't till they had all the Riders weapons all tangled up and Rhinos backed into the perfect position that Zuko and Akiko went into a fish dive together and that sent off all the little bombs she'd dropped.
What she'd dropped were the last of her perfumed smoke bombs and some firecrackers which caused a great deal of chaos and confusion for the Rough Rhinos and allowed them to escape.
"Wonderful performance, Akiko! I believe that was truly the best dancing I've seen for "The Phoenix Heavens" in all my years!"
"Thank you, Uncle! I'm glad I've greatly improved since I performed it as a child. And that you know Zuko and I worked again together to help me do it! But we've got more important things to talk about then my dancing skills!" she yelled at him.
"Yeah, like if you happen to know any old friends who don't WANT TO KILL US?!" yelled Zuko loudly.
"Old friends, who don't want to kill us? Yeah, I do have some of those."
"WHAT?! ARE YOU KIDDING US?!"
"No, I'm not. We've got to keep going a little way to find them but they'll be able to help us no problem."
"This better not be a trick, Uncle!"
"Yeah, it better not be!"
"Don't worry, you'll see."
They kept riding till they came to a desert town that had clearly seen better days. Akiko couldn't help it. The first words out of her mouth were. "Uncle, this desert heat is ruining my hair!" she moaned as her hair that she took so much pride in was, in fact, getting ruined by the intense heat and humid.
"I'm sorry that your hair is getting a little out of sorts, daughter. But we must make a few small sacrifices if we are gonna get out of the pickle we are in. So hang on a little bit is all I ask."
"Fine, Uncle, but there better not be permanent damage to my hair," she mumbled as they entered the canteen.
"This place looks about as friendly as that bandit town we had the bad luck of finding," Zuko muttered under his breath and took Akiko hand and held her tightly. He didn't want a repeat of what happened there.
They didn't know that wasn't the danger they're in. Two people who were looking for Toph that blind girl who was now part of the Avatar's team had spotted them and they're now looking to cash in on some gold by capturing the Fire Trio.
They're doing their best not to attract any attention to themselves when Uncle spotted who he was looking for. A man at the Pai Sho table. Both Zuko and Akiko got really mad.
"Your kidding? Uncle, I know you miss playing with Xiaoying who the only person who offered you a challenge, but really? This isn't the time for a stupid game!"
"And what you gonna do? Gamble our future on a game?!" Zuko demanded and Uncle just smiled cryptically again.
"Trust me this will be more than a game."
So they walked over to the table and all sat down and Uncle and the man began to talk very funnily and Zuko and Akiko couldn't help but notice how it reminded them a bit how Uncle and Xiaoying would talk sometimes when they're children.
They remembered in their childhood particularly on rainy days how they'd sit not far the Pai Sho table and play quietly whilst Uncle and Xiaoying would play for hours. They'd always talk extremely funny during these games that could last for hours went on. Plus both seemed to favor that silly White Lotus tile as both would always open the game with it.
It was then Akiko also noticed something with her sharp jade eyes that caused her to yank on Zuko's collar and pointed to at the man's feet. It was a small birdcage with a small but beautiful snow-white bird with astonishing deep sky blue eyes!
They're so caught up in all the mystique and the bird they didn't almost hear or see the troublesome Earthbenders approach and tried to apprehend them. But the other man was quick and clever.
First he with his foot he released the bird that got in the face causing them to be blinded before making sure everyone in the place knew they're bounty hunters after a great deal of gold.
That, of course, caused a bar fight and there were so much chaos and confusion they're able to get away quite easily and the man's beautiful bird did return to him and settled back into his cage and then headed to another town which led them to a desert flower shop.
Of course, by now Zuko and Akiko had a million questions and were getting irritated that none of them were being answered.
"You'll have to pardon my nephew and daughter. They're not initiation and don't fully understand yet the cryptic arts. But I assure you they'll not breathe a word of any of this too anyone.
"But what the hell is going on?! Uncle come on! Can we just be told what's going on?!" Akiko was pleading with him.
"Yeah, don't we have a right to know? Now that we got dragged into this."
"One day, not today. I promise you you'll know the truth. For now, you'll have to wait out here. I'm afraid it's members only. Don't worry we'll be safe." as he went into the back room leaving them alone in the flower shop.
They looked around the shop for lack of better things to do and could see even that bird had a secret way out.
"Seems to me this secret club from what we can deduce is the only ones with those birds and must use them for secret messages to other members. They're quite beautiful and apparently very faithful," Akiko deduced based on what they'd observed on that pretty little bird.
"Yeah, and it looks like that White Lotus tile is a membership card and doing that pattern tells who a member or not. And I guess there different ranks within the club." Zuko also was able to deduce as they continued to look around.
"Zuko? I just had a thought and tell me if you think I'm crazy?"
"What?"
"You think Xiaoying a member of this club?"
"What? Why?"
"Because she carries a White Lotus tile with her. It's the key to a trunk she's never let me go near and then if you recall she used the same bird and she and Uncle are very close?"
"I guess its possible..."
"I wonder why she won't tell me?"
"Hey, we're both find out about this. I guess they don't call it a secret society if they went around blabbing about it, would they?"
"True. Oh, this stupid humidity! My hair is never gonna be the same!" she moaned as she tried to fix her hair again.
"You know let me see if I can help you." as he came closer as started to try and fix her hair.
"Hmm, how come you smell actually good all hot and sweaty?" Akiko asked in an alluring voice.
"Well," as he wrapped his arms around her waist and started to whisper in her ears, "You do know the desert sun only highlights your beautiful curves and shines on goddess-like beauty."
"Hmm, you can be so godly yourself," as she reached up and caressed his face, "The way took on those Rough Rhinos."
"You surprised me with your ballet skills. So beautiful and enchanting with beauty and grace. Mom would be so proud of you," as he started to kiss her softly on her neck.
"Well," she giggled, "It did surprise them, did it. And from this moment, on we have got a lot to do. Now that we are as Uncle said symbiotic."
"Yes," he agreed as he kissed her neck again and she turned to face him and he looked at her. "From this moment, our lives have truly have begun. From this moment you and I are now one. Because right beside you is where I belong from this moment on."
Akiko ran her hands up his chest and around his neck before replying "From this moment we have truly been blessed. We only live for each other happiness. And for true love, we'd give out last breath from this moment on." as she kissed him.
He held her closer and replied. "We gave our hands to each other with all of our hearts. Because we can't live life without the other we knew that from the start."
Her breath touched his lips once more as she whispered, "We shall never be apart for our dreams came true when we found each other."
And now they're really into a very tight romantic embrace and gazing very romantically at each other as they spoke as one as they're one. "From this moment as long as we live we will love each other. It's a promise we made for there nothing we won't give from this moment on."
As they became consumed by emotion and became fully involved in a full out intense make-out session rolling around in the floor and causing a lot of steam in the floor shop from the amount of passion they're putting into it.
Because each was the reason they'd believe in love and each was the other answer to their prayers from up above. For them, all they'd need was the two of them. Their dreams came true because of the other one.
So whatever was gonna happen from this moment on one thing was for certain. As the two 16 years old continue in a passionate make-out session they knew as long as they lived they love each other. They keep and honor the Promise of the Fire Lily. For there nothing, they wouldn't give for each other from this moment on.
Though giving into that much passion and desire and combining with really high temperature does cause one to overexert themselves and they passed out rather quickly. They'd broken half the flowerpots and were covered in a fine film of sweat and Akiko had a hickey on her neck by the end of it.
Of course only about 20 seconds after Zuko and Akiko pass out from their make-out session does everyone in the backroom finish their secret meeting and well gawk at the scene before them.
Iroh wanting to not make a spectacle out of his family and knowing how sometimes you just can't suppress the urges that love brings on simply said. "Well, everyone knows how sometimes this unbearable heat can drive anyone a little crazy."
"Zuko? Akiko wake up? Please?"
"What?" they said groggily and then remember what they'd been doing and yelped. "Uncle! Is the meeting over?!" and flushed with embarrassment.
"Yes, and I'm sorry if it took so long you became dehydrated and the desert heat made you both act a little crazy," he said calmly and smoothly.
Chuckling nervously they asked, "So what happened?"
"We're going to Ba Sing Se."
"What?! Why would we go to the Earth Kingdom Capital?" Zuko asked confused.
"More to the point how would we even get in?" Akiko asked to add to the greater confusion.
The other member said. "The city is full of refugees no-one gonna notice three more."
"It's the safest place from the Fire Nation. Remember even I could break into the city."
"True you didn't get in, Uncle and we could hide in plain sight. But still, don't you need paperwork and all that junk?" Akiko again asked her father.
"That's all be taken care of as well, Lady." as the second man came in with papers in hand and handed Iroh some papers.
"Passports, documents, everything you'll need to get you and your family into the city without alert anyone on. But I fear you have another problem."
"What?"
"Those two men are back looking for you three. We must act quickly to get you three out of here and get you on your way if you're to make it to Ba Sing Se if you're to be safe."
"Here at least these weren't destroyed when you had your brush with desert madness." the owner said as he indicated three very large pots and they removed the tops showing it was fake flowers.
Climbing inside they were able to sneak past the stupid Earthbenders undetected and were on their way to Ba Sing Se. Now what kind of adventures would that bring? One could only wonder.