Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender or its characters
Pointers: 'italics' means that the character is thinking
Summary: He hadn't seen her since the day he was banished, but he could still remember the way the wind had drifted her away. Zuko x OC
Book 3: Fire
The Old Masters
A month later…
"Every, single day I feel heavier and I feel uglier." Jiyuu whined, her head resting on Katara's lap as she faked tears. All the girls decided to have some girl time while the boys bonded as well. They were all in what would be considered the 'living room' of the mansion and Katara had bought some snacks from the town as well as an array of drinks for their time.
Suki giggled at Jiyuu's melodramatic behavior while Katara, as motherly as usual, had rubbed the girl's back and offered words of comfort. "That's not true. We still think you're beautiful and so does Zuko. He gets a little happier whenever your around."
The airbender sniffled, pouting slightly. "Really?"
"Yeah, that heart of his nearly skips a beat around ya, Ballerina. Besides, I wouldn't know if you're ugly or not since I'm blind… But I bet you're beautiful if you capture the heart of the Fire Nation prince. And the others think you're pretty too. So cheer up." Toph took a bite of her strawberry short cake. She chewed happily, swinging her feet as she sat on the plush couch. "Besides, you're carrying two babies. What you thought they were gonna be light as feathers?"
Jiyuu sat up and sighed, "You're right and I know Zuko still loves me and all. But its just being this big makes me feel ugly and I feel like I'm a burden to you all."
"Why would you think that?" asked Suki as she finished chewing the small portion of the cake she ate.
"Yeah, you've never been a burden! Actually, we want to help you but you're a little stubborn when it comes to independence." Katara added.
Toph let out an unladylike snort, "Look whose talking!"
Katara eyed her friend as Jiyuu chuckled, "I guess. I just feel like if I wasn't pregnant then I would be able to contribute to the fight. Watching you guys practice with the Fire Lord dummy-"
"The Melon Lord." Toph corrected her, the airbender giving her a deadpanned expression.
"Okay, watching you guys fight the Melon Lord made me feel like I'm just bringing you all down." Jiyuu explained, rubbing her stomach. "I know it sounds like I don't care about the twins, which I do more than anything, but I wish I wasn't pregnant and that I was able to help you all."
All three of the girls looked at each other and then at Jiyuu. "What do you mean you're not helping us? You and the twins are striving us to do better, Jiyuu." said Suki as Jiyuu's hazel eyes looked at her and then at Toph and Katara who were nodding.
"Your twins bring us hope. We want them to live in a better world." Katara finished the explanation which caused Jiyuu to become teary eyed.
"I'm sorry you guys, I'm just always talking about myself and I'm just so emotional and scared." She fought back her tears, "Okay, I'm not going to ruin girls night! Okay, let's have some fun!"
Toph smiled, "That's more like it! Okay, so what are we going to do?"
"We can always braid each other hair or we can put on makeup on each other." Katara suggested, two things that made Toph frown. Everything girly make Toph frown, she wanted some action and she knew Sugar Queen was not one for getting down and dirty.
"Uhm, how about no." Toph pointed the fork to her mouth and made gagging noises.
Katara, frustrated, folded her arms. "Why don't you come up with something then!"
"Gladly." Toph finished the last bit of her cake and put the empty plate down, "Why don't we scare the boys."
"Don't you think that might be a little too much for Jiyuu? She's four months pregnant after all." Suki pointed out Jiyuu, who laughed nervously.
"Sorry Toph, but you guys could do it without me." Jiyuu suggested but Katara shook her head.
"It wouldn't be fair." The waterbender said as Toph sighed.
"Hmm…Oh, let's think of baby names!" Suki suggested, both Jiyuu and Katara's eyes lit up.
Toph, although not excited, was interested. "Did you think of some already Jiyuu?"
"Not really." Jiyuu said with a smile as she rubbed her stomach, "But I would like to hear what you guys come up with."
"We really got to think of something that sounds right with Prince or Princess. Oh and we have to settle for two names because they are twins after all!" Katara's voice held much enthusiasm which made the airbender smile.
Toph nodded her head, "If they are both boys. They gotta have some tough names! Like they have to grow up knowing they are nothing to be messed with!" She punched her right fist on her open left hand as she grinned.
"Okay let's start with girls since that would be easier." Katara suggested as everyone nodded their heads, "About Meili or Jia-li?"
"They sound pretty!" Jiyuu's eyes lit up.
Toph waved her hand, dismissing the name. "What with all this beautiful stuff? This girl has to be as tough as us! How about Tu?"
"Tu?" Katara folded her arms, "I doubt either of the kids is going to be an Earthbender, Toph."
Jiyuu chuckled, "It is possible, Katara. My father is an Earthbender but I'm also born and raised in the Earth Kingdom. So Earth Kingdom names are welcomed."
Katara sighed defeatedly as Suki then perked up, "How about Lien or Liang?" Suki suggested.
"I think Uncle Iroh would love Lien." She said with a warm smile, rubbing her stomach gingerly as she thought of the kooky, tea-loving man.
"He likes Lotus flowers?" Katara asked as Jiyuu smiled and nodded. The door had suddenly opened, a bunch of arguing going on. All three of them looked at each other as all the boys came into the room, angry. "Uhm, what happened?" asked the waterbender as Zuko and Aang looked at Sokka.
"Well," Sokka began, pulling at his collar nervously because he was obviously guilty of something. "I thought it would be fun to go chase after some animals in the forest. Who ever caught the raccoon-dog wins! And stuff, but… little did I know how big they were."
"We almost got eaten by a raccoon-dog!" Zuko threw his arms in the air, "Its like a toddler next to Appa!" He explained, being precise as to what size it was.
"Sokka, you almost killed my twins' father?" Jiyuu gave him a glare, squinting her eyes slightly.
The watertribe sighed, "It was intentionally!"
Suki shook her head, "Why don't you guys sit with us. We were actually thinking up baby names."
Zuko's eyes lit up, "Did you decide on anything?" He asked as Jiyuu shook her head.
"Nothing stuck, but we got some good suggestions for girls." She explained as he took a seat next to his pregnant girlfriend as Aang sat inbetween Katara and Toph and Sokka next to Suki on the other couch.
Sokka sighed, "That's because guys should do the naming for the boy or boys. We can't let them have any feminine names! They will be prince, or princes, of the Fire Nation!"
Jiyuu linked her arm with Zuko's and looked up at him curiously, "Have you thought of anything?"
"No." Zuko answered truthfully, "I kind of want Iroh to name our son or sons."
Jiyuu's eyes lit up, a smile adorning her face. "Really?!" She asked excitedly as he looked at her and gave a firm nod. "Then it's decided."
"Aww!" Aang slumped in his seat, pouting. "I was thinking of some Air Temple names too."
Jiyuu smiled, "How about if me and Zuko ever decided to have a third child, that you will name them?" She asked as Aang's face lit up.
"Really?!" The Avatar was still shocked by her words.
The female airbender looked at her boyfriend to see if he would agree. Zuko looked at her and then at Aang, closing his eyes and then giving a nod. "Who knows, what if that kid ends up being an Airbender? He should have a name that fits him."
The boy felt like he was on the verge of tears, "I'm glad that you guys would entrust me with that. I swear it will the best name ever."
"Anything will be the best from the Avatar." Jiyuu commented as she and Aang shared a happy smile towards on another.
"Oh yeah!" Katara said as she stood up and walked over towards a small table and picked up a scroll. "I have a surprise for everyone!"
Toph, who was now on her third slice of cake, spoke up. "I knew it! You did have a secret thing with Haru!" She smiled while Katara, and everyone else, gave an expressionless look."
"Er, no. I was looking for cooking pots in the attic and I found this." Katara said as she threw the scroll downwards as it unrolls by itself. "Look at baby Zuko! Isn't he cute?" Katara cooed while everyone, besides Zuko and Jiyuu, laughed. The drawing was of a happy baby playing at the beach.
Jiyuu, knowing who it was, looked at Zuko as he just had his eyes closed. "Oh lighten up, you guys. I was just teasing."
Zuko opened his eyes, his hands being held by the girl beside him. "That's not me. It's my Father." He explained as Katara then rapidly rolled up the scroll.
The Kyoshi warrior then points at the scroll and then looks back at the prince, "But he looked so sweet and innocent."
"Well that sweet little kid grew up to be a monster. And the worst Father in the history of Fathers." Zuko explained as he held Jiyuu's hand a little tighter. She frowned, worried about him.
Aang then spoke, "But he is still a human being." Everyone looked at him.
"No, I agree with you. Fire Lord Ozai," The Avatar said as he stands up and faces the group, "is a horrible person and the World will probably be better off without him. There's gotta be another way. "
Jiyuu nodded, knowing how the airbenders didn't believe in killing or violence. "Have you thought of another way?" Even though Jiyuu personally would like to see Ozai perish, she knew how hard it would for Aang to do it.
The twelve-year old shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe we can make some big pots of glue and then I can use gluebending to stick his arms and legs together so he can't bend anymore."
Despite knowing how he felt, the female airbender gave a deadpanned expression along with her boyfriend. "Yeah. Then you can show him his baby pictures and all those happy memories," everyone tried to suppress their laugh but eventually letting it loose, "will make him good again."
Naively, the Avatar thought he was serious. "Do you really think that would work?"
"No!" The prince said sternly and seriously.
Jiyuu frowned, "I know that this might go against everything you believe in Aang. Grandpa Jodoshin had wrote so much how he believed that violence will never solve anything and that there is nothing to gain by killing. I hate Ozai, I want him to die but I know how you are unable to bring yourself to do that."
"Yes!" Aang smiled at how much she understood, "I just can't go around wiping out people I don't like…"
Sokka, however, added his own words. "Sure, you can. You're the Avatar. If it's in the name of keeping balance," Aang balls up his fist as he tried to stop himself from lashing out, "I'm pretty sure the Universe will forgive you."
Even though he tried, his anger quickly burst out. "This isn't a joke, Sokka! None of you understand the position I am in!"
"Aang, we do understand. It's just..." Katara tried to help.
But before she could get a sentence through, Aang interrupted her. "Just what, Katara?! What?!"
The waterbender was visibly annoyed, but she too tried to control her temper. "We're trying to help."
"Then when you," He pointed his finger at Katara, "figure out a way for me," brought his hand back towards his chest, "to beat the Fire Lord without," he made a "no" gesture with his arm, "taking his life, I love to hear!" Exasperated, the boy walked away with no intention of returning right now.
"Aang, don't walk away from this." She began to walked to him, but a hand was on her shoulder which stopped her from doing so.
"He needs to sort this out himself." Zuko explained as Jiyuu stared at the direction that Aang went.
The next day everyone, except Aang, had packed everything and were ready to go. Once they noticed that the Avatar wasn't around, everyone grew worried and attempted to look for him. They searched the entire beach house, the towns within ember island, and even at the beach where they found his footprints and staff. But it didn't matter where they looked, the boy could not be found. Everyone was scared, scared that something might've happened to him. They couldn't being to think where he could've went to.
"We have a real problem here. Aang is nowhere to be found and the comet is only 2 days away. " Zuko explained with his arms folded as Jiyuu stood next to him, her worry visible as well.
Everyone had looked at him, "What should we do?" Katara asked.
"I don't know!" Everyone continue to stare at Zuko, "Why are you all looking at me?" Zuko asked as he looked around at their big, wide and fright-filled eyes.
"Well, you are kind of the expert on tracking Aang." Karara mentioned.
Toph nodded, "Yeah, if anyone's got experience hunting the Avatar, it's you." She said as Jiyuu and Suki nodded their heads, agreeing with them.
Zuko narrowed his eyes and then though, "All right, get on Appa!" He said as everyone moved towards the bison, Jiyuu lifted by Toph's sandbending onto the saddle. Once everyone was on board, Zuko took a seat on Appa's head and pulled the reigns, "Yip yip!" With a groan, the bison flew off into the air.
After sitting there for a while, Katara and Suki huddled around Jiyuu and placed their hands on her stomach. "Can you feel them moving?" She asks as Katara and Suki looked at different things, concentrating but soon both of them felt a kick in which they smiled at other and laughed. "Wow, I wonder how big they are now."
"Well, this is the second trimester and its almost the of this month, so I guess they should be about the size of cantaloupes." Jiyuu guessed, unsure about her estimate.
But both girls seemed in awe. Sokka meanwhile had scooted over toward the prince. "Zuko, I don't want to tell you how to do your job but why are we heading towards the Earth Kingdom? There's no way Aang's there."
Zuko had looked back at Sokka, "Just trust me."
Once they had reached the Earth Kingdom, they had went inside a seedy bar. There were a bunch of drunkards everywhere and soon a fight broke out but the only person the group had looked at was a young woman. A woman pale, beautiful skin and long dark hair. Her face was beautiful, her body fit for a fighter, and her swiftness absolute.
After remembering who she was, everyone else but Toph, Suki and Jiyuu, they had watched her fight as Zuko then explains why he huntered her down. "Her Shirshu. It's the only animal that can track Aang's scent anywhere in the World. It's the one shot we have of finding him."
"I don't know who this June lady is, but I like her!" Toph had a beaming smile.
"I don't like how many women you have in your life Zuko." said Jiyuu as she folded her arms, feeling some sort of jealous.
Zuko's eyes widened as he quickly turned to her, "What do you mean?"
"How the hell did you meet her?!" Jiyuu pointed at June
"She crashed in my ship and that's how I found out about her Shirshu. Besides, she's too old and I don't want her." He tried his best to appease her jealously, which sated it for the time being.
"I'm sorry for doubting you." There she went, one minute angry and the next all tearful and apologetic. Zuko wasn't sure how long he could manage to be sane with her constant mood changes.
"I love you and only you, alright?" He said as she nodded her head, looking at him with sad eyes.
The group then walked towards June, "Oh great," she was having her cup refilled, "it's Prince Pouty. Where's your creepy grandpa?"
Jiyuu eyes instantly turned to slits and Zuko had held a hand out in front of her. June had looked at the pregnant teen carefully and then back at Zuko. "He's my Uncle, and he's not here."
June's eyes then fell on Katara but then back at Jiyuu, "So you broke up with that one and got with this one? You even got her with a bun in the oven, how suave are you."
Both Zuko and Katara blush with sweat drop expressions on their faces and protest simultaneously. Jiyuu clenched her fist, about to reel her arm back but Suki and Sokka grabbed hold of her. "I was never his girlfriend!"
"Yeah, never. Stop assuming things and that's my girlfriend and yes, she is pregnant." He clarified things in a serious manner.
The woman then waved her hand, "Okay, okay," She put her hand out, "sheesh. I was only teasing. So what you want?"
"I need your help finding the Avatar." Zuko explained.
"Hmph. Doesn't sound too fun." June said as she takes another drink from her cup.
Zuko, getting riled up, stepped closer to her while having a slight outburst. "Does the end of the world," the woman paused and stare at him, "sound like more fun?"
Without protest, the woman had lead them out of the bar and towards Nyla her Shirshu. In which she fed some meat and gently petted her before the animal snapped for a minute. She asked for anything that had belonged to Aang, in which Katara handed her the staff, and when the Shirshu sniffed it, it walks around them while the group followed. Nyla continued circling around them and sniffing out Aang's scent. Nyla makes one last round before walking back in front of June and lowering herself on the ground and rubbing her snout with her paws.
"Well, what does that mean?" The Prince asked, puzzled as everyone else.
"It means your friend's gone." June answered.
"We know he's gone, that's why we're trying to find him." Toph said in a matter-of-factly tone.
The airbender narrowed her eyes and then closed them, "That's not what she means, Toph. Are you saying that Aang is dead?"
"No," June shook her head which relived some of them, "it means he doesn't exist."
The worry then returned to their faces as they were confused by her words. "What do you mean Aang doesn't exist?"
The woman had patted her shirshu, "If he was dead, we would be able to find him." She then gestured her hand out, "It's a real head scratcher." She turned back towards the animal, "See ya!" She said as she mounted Nyla.
"Helpful, real helpful." Commented the Earthbender as she sighed.
"Wait," Zuko walked in front of the group, "I have another idea. There's only one other person in this World who can help us face the Fire Lord." He lifts his arm out and faces June, "I'll be right back with a smell sample. "
Zuko came back and had Iroh's sandal , he lifted it with his finger. There are some flies buzzing around it and everyone had this hand over their noses from the stench of it. "You saved your Uncle's sweaty sandal?" Sokka asked, surprised.
"I think it's kind of sweet." Toph said as Jiyuu wobbled side to side, "Well not the smell at least."
Katara had then held Jiyuu still, "You might want to hurry with that or Jiyuu will pass out. Her senses are still sensitive." She informed Zuko as he nodded his head, the shirshu smelling the sandal.
"Let's do this!" June said as she pulled Nyla's reins and the beast began running towards the forest.
"Hey, wait up!" Zuko said after her as everyone tried to quickly mount Appa, who quickly flew once they were on board. Slamming his tail to the ground before he took off and tried to catch up with the shirshu. After a few hours of riding, they ended up at a partially destroyed outer wall of B Sing Se. Night had fallen already as both animals stood at the opening. "We're going to Ba Sing Se?" He said, confused.
June then turned to look at him, "You Uncle's somewhere beyond the wall." Nyla stops scratching the rubble and turns away from it, "Nyla's getting twitchy so he can't be too far. Good luck."
June pulls her reins and Nyla runs off. Everyone watching as Zuko and Jiyuu both looked annoyed. "It's been a long day. Let's camp and start our search again."
Agreeing, everyone had laid their sleeping bags out and made a fire around the center to kee warm. Jiyuu had shared her sleeping bag with Zuko's her head on his chest his arm around her. Noticing his restlessness, Jiyuu looked at him with curiosity. "What's wrong? Aren't you tired?" She asked, her voice soft and low so she couldn't wake up the others.
"Its just a lot going on, especially with the comet in two days. I keep thinking where I'm going to take you, you have to be somewhere safe. Jiyuu frowned, worried herself. If she was in the condition to fight then he wouldn't have to worry about this, "You and the twins are two things I can't afford to lose."
She smiled at his words and tapped his chin which caused him to look down to face her. "You're one thing I can't afford to lose either." She said as he smiled, brushing stray hair away from her face. "You have to come back and tell them how you helped saved their future. I don't want them to read about it, okay?" She poked his cheat playfully and he let out a soft chuckle.
"Alright. I promise I'll be in one-piece to tell them the story of the epic battle between father and son. Okay?"
"Well when you put it like that…" Jiyuu pouted as he continued to smile at her childish expression.
"I wonder how Uncle is going to react to the news." He said as he looked up, "I wonder if that would help him forgive me."
Jiyuu pinched him, in which he replied with an ow. "Don't use our kids as a way of smoothing things out. Besides, I'm pretty sure that Uncle forgave you already. He loves you and when you love someone, you forgive them even when they hurt you."
The boy continued to rubbed the area she pinched and even though he was annoyed by her attack, he was somewhat relived by her words. "I hope so."
Morning had soon came and even though they thought it was going to be peaceful, they woke to Toph's tent being earthbended back into the ground and the surrounded by a ring of fire. Zuko held Jiyuu protectively behind him as they looked at the four people with white and blue uniforms.
Jiyuu's eyes lit up, "Well, well. If it isn't Jiyuu." Bumi said as she young girl stood up, in which all the men looked surprised by her current state. "She's filled with rock candy! I'm sure Kazu's gonna be a proud pop!" He cackled as she ran over to him and embraced him.
"Its been such a long time, Bumi." Katara and Sokka were relieved by the sight of Bumi but they were surprised how Jiyuu had known him. Suki, Toph, and Zuko were especially confused.
"What's going on? We're surrounded by old people. And Ballerina seems to know them." Toph said the currently explanation as Zuko walked over to Jiyuu as Piando placed his hand on her stomach and 'ahhhed' as he felt movement.
Katara then decided to speak on it, "They are not just any old people." She walked over towards Pakku, "These are great masters and friends of ours." She then stopped in front of her waterbending master and bowed, "Pakku."
The older waterbender had bowed in return, "It is respectful to bow to an old master but how about a hug," he then opens his arms, "for your new grandfather?" Both watertribe siblings were equally dumbfounded but Katara completely changed toward a happy expression.
"That's so exciting." She opens her arms and embraces Pakku, "You and Gran Gran must be so happy to have found each other again. "
"I made her," he touched his collarbone," a new betrothal necklace and everything."
Jeong Jeong had placed his hand on Jiyuu's stomach, in deep thought. Zuko watched with folded arms as the airbender looked at him so trustingly. "Ah, one of them is going to be a strong Firebender."
Jiyuu's eyes lit up and Zuko, although excited, acted nonplus. His girlfriend then turned to face him, "This Jeong Jeong." She said to Zuko, "He's a great firbender."
"And he was Aang's first firbending teacher." Katara added.
Both men bowed to each other, Zuko's tense behavior now fading.
"So wait, how do you all know each other? " Suki was the first to ask.
"All old people know," Piandao looked at Bumi and smiled, "each other, don't you know that?" He snorted and laugh. "Well, Jiyuu's our youngest member."
"Youngest member?" The rest of the Gaang repeated, surprised.
"We're all part of the same ancient secret society. A g group that transcends the divisions of the 4 nations." Piandao explained.
Zuko, now smiling, gives the name of the group. "The Order of the White Lotus."
Jeong Jeong, Piandao, Bumi, and Jiyuu slid over to them with a finger up in the air. "That's the one!" Bumi chuckled.
"The White Lotus has always been about philosophy, and beauty and truth. About a month ago, a call went out that we were needed for something important. " Jeong Jeong explained.
It came from a Grand Lotus, your Uncle, " Zuko smiled and held Jiyuu's hand, giving it a squeeze as she smiled as well, "Iroh of the Fire Nation."
"Well that's who we're looking for." Toph said, nodding her head.
Piandao returned the nod, "Then we'll take you to him."
After hearing some more of Bumi's crazy antics, telling about Aang and Momo being missing, and hearing Bumi's story of how he got back the Earth Kingdom. They had finally reached the camp in which Bumi called it, "Old people camp." Zuko had looked around, searching for Iroh.
"Where is he?" He asks.
"Your Uncle's in there," Piandao pointed to a big, sheltered tent at the end of the campsite, "Prince Zuko."
The boy stared with disbelief and awkwardness. He then realizes Jiyuu had let go of his hand and turns to see her smiling at Piandao and Jeong Jeong, "You're not coming with me?"
"No, you need to talk him alone." Jiyuu explained with a smile, "And they have to catch me up what I've been missing and I have to see my father."
Zuko's eyes widened in shock, "Your father?" He said as she arched a brow.
"Remember when we first met in the flowershop in Ba Sing Se? Kazu?"
Dumbfounded at the realization, especially to the fact that things didn't start off good because of his constant anger problems back then he felt uncomfortable. Maybe it was best if she smoothed things out with him first anyway, "Oh, well. All right." He nodded as she seemed a bit confused by his reaction. Giving him a wave, she walked with the two men towards her father's tent.
With a sigh, she had moved the curtain and walked in to see her father and a young woman sitting beside each other. Jiyuu, at first, had assumed the worst. "Who is that? That's not mother!" She pointed at the woman accusingly.
Kazu, shocked by his daughter's pregnancy, sat there dumbfounded. The woman appeared surprised too, but hearing the insinuation in the girl's voice had struck a nerve. "You think he would have an affair with his eldest daughter?"
"Eldest daughter?" Jiyuu repeated and then her eye's widened at realization, "Junko! What are you doing here? And… And how?" Jiyuu had many thoughts racing in her head.
Kazu had stood and walked over toward his daughter, "Don't question so much at once. Calm down, you are in delicate condition and you do not need to stress yourself." He said as he walked her over towards the futon and let her sit in it.
She looked at her father curiously and then smiled. That was just like him, she should've known he would get so overprotective seeing her like this, but her smile soon faded as she looked at her eldest sister. "I'm surprised you remember Junko. We tried to make you forget her, your mother and I." He said as he sat beside the futon, Junko next to him.
"Why?" She asked confused by it all. "I don't get it."
Her sister had placed her hand on Jiyuu's face and that's when she got a real good look of her. Junko had taken after their mother greatly and if the two had stood side by side, you would see that Junko was younger clone of her. She had long black hair that ended to mid thighs, she had kept it in a hime-cut. Her eyes were round and grey with long eyelashes, her cheeks rosy which showed life to her creamy, pale skin. "Because I had done something horrible. I dishonored our family.
"Dishonored our family? How?" She asked as Junko looked down, "I fell in love with Iroh knowing very well that the Fire Nation was our enemy, especially what they did to the Airbenders."
"I had a deep hatred for them back then and with your sister running away and falling in love with Iroh, the general, I had said she shamed us in which was how I felt." Kazu added as Jiyuu frowned, wondering how she would dealt with it had it been her and Zuko.
"But Uncle Iroh was married. Everyone said his wife was kind and beautiful." She later on said.
Junko had let go over her sister's face and looked down, "That's how she appeared. Aiko was slowly unraveling after her miscarriage with what would've been Lu Ten's little brother." Jiyuu gasped, her hand over her mouth. "It caused a distance in their marriage and I was just a servant, father made me work there in order to find some dirt on Azulon and during the mission I had fell in love with Iroh. He was sweet as he is today. I wanted to be with him, but I wasn't going to kill his wife for that. I killed her because she found out the affair and she was going to kill Lu Ten because she had become more unstable. And so I had ran away, father was already angry with me and I had lost the man I loved as well as murdered."
"I'm sorry for assuming that you did it out of selfish desire." Jiyuu frowned and held onto her sister, "I'm sorry."
The black-haired woman had smiled and return the embrace, "Its been such a long time since I held you, Jiyuu. I'm envious that you are about to have children before me. Who is your husband?"
"Well, uhm, I'm not married yet but we plan to get married! Zuko is taking full responsibility of the little ones."
Kazu blinked several times, "Little ones? So there is more than one?"
The airbender smiled, "Yeah. My friend Toph sensed both their heartbeats."
"This is wonderful news, although I wish I had celebrated your wedding first than my first grandchildren." His voice was stern, but his happiness was clear in his eyes.
"I know… I didn't expect this either but they will have two parents who love each other." Jiyuu said with a smile. "That's all that matters and I don't want him to marry me out of obligation for the twins. I want him to marry me because he can't envision his life without me."
"I raised two strong women." He said as he wrapped both his arms around him and hugged them close. "Your mother would be proud."
"She's pregnant with twins?! What great news!" Iroh smiled as he finished the rest of his tea.
Zuko smiled and nodded, "I plan to propose to her once the war is over. I want to give her a stable life, I know she has been craving that and so have I."
Iroh nodded, a smile still adorning his face. "Have you came up with a name?" He asked his nephew who shook his head as a reply.
"I want you to name the boys." The young firebender said as the older man looked surprised.
"Me? Naming the boys?" The man seemed confused by, flattered to the extreme, but shocked at most.
Zuko smiled, "I know you would give them names they will live up to. Something that will have deep meaning."
Jiyuu had then lifted the curtain, "Is it alright if I join you both?" She asked as both of them nodded and she came in and immediately ran to Iroh, embracing him tightly. "I missed you so much, Uncle. I was so worried about you. It doesn't even feel real, holding you like this."
The man rubbed her back, hearing her forcing back tears. He then felt her move back a little and he had seen her big, round stomach. He placed his hand lightly on it like Jeon Jeong had, "One is a firebender that's for sure. I can tell that they will be a strong one too. The other I believe will be an airbender like you."
"Really?" Jiyuu smiled, "How are you able to tell?" She asked as Zuko looked at his uncle with amazement.
"The firbender one has already learned how control their body heat and the other likes to move a lot, a playful one. That's a sure sign of an airbender." He explained.
Jiyuu smiled, "I bet Aang can't wait to hear about that." She chuckled as Zuko nodded his head.
"I believe on will be a boy and the other a girl. If I were to give a name, it would be Isao." He said as Jiyuu and Zuko looked at one another, already loving the name.
"Isao." Zuko said, nodding his head. "I think that's a perfect name."
"But if you believe one is a boy and the other is a girl, we need to come up with a name for her." Jiyuu looked at Zuko.
He smiled at her as he grabbed her hand, "I had been thinking of a name and I liked Li-hua."
"Li-hua? But that means Pearl Blossom. Why did you choose that? I mean its beautiful, but why that?" She asked as he then pointed at her necklace.
"Because the day I gave you the pearl was the day our love had blossomed." He explained, his cheeks turning red. "I know it sounds a little silly, but…"
"I love it." She interrupted him and wrapped her arms around him. "Isao and Li-hua. That'll be their names."
Zuko smiled as he returned her embrace, Iroh watched the young couple with adoring eyes. It seemed that he had no reason to worry. Jiyuu had healed the scars within Zuko's heart.
The Next Day…
Everyone had been in a large group eating breakfast together. They were eating what looked like a bowl of rice, "Uncle, you're the only person other than the Avatar who can possibly defeat the Father Lord."
Jiyuu and Toph both caught onto the mistake, she snickered while Toph attempted correct him. "You mean the Fire Lord." She said while pointing her chopsticks at him.
"That's what I just said." Zuko said as Toph continued eating and Jiyuu didn't bother. He would just argue that he did anyway.
"Hmm..." Iroh hummed.
"We need you to come with us." Zuko pleased.
The former Dragon of the West had lowered his chopsticks, "No, Zuko. It won't turn out well."
Jiyuu had lifted the small, steaming pot and poured some stew over her rice and begun to eat. "You can beat him and we'll," he turned to the Gaang, "be there to help."
"Even if I did defeat Ozai, and I don't know that, "He arched an eyebrow, "I could. It will be the wrong way to end the war. History would see it as just more senseless violence, a brother killing a brother to grab power. The only way for this war to end peacefully is for the Avatar to defeat the Fire Lord." He explained.
Jiyuu nodded, believing his words. Zuko then took a moment to speak before sayin g what was on his mind, "And then... then would you come and take your rightful place on the throne?"
"No. Someone new must take the throne. An idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor. It has to be you," Jiyuu smiled at Zuko's surprised face, "Prince Zuko."
"Unquestionable honor?" He said in disbelief, "But I've made," his shoulders raised, "so many mistakes."
"Yes, you have. You struggled, you suffered but you have always followed your own path, you restored your own honor. And only you can restore the honor of the Fire Nation. "
Jiyuu then placed a comforting on his shoulder, "I believe in you."
Iroh smiled, "And not just that. A union between you and Jiyuu would show much peace, especially since the new Prince and Princess will be one firebender and one airbender." He said as he then stroke his beard, "Prince Isao and Princess Li-hua of the Fire Nation."
Jiyuu gushed over it, "I love the sound of that."
"And Fire Lady Jiyuu, an Airbender born in the Earth Kingdom." The brunette's eyes widen and then pushed Zuko off the log.
"You better to do it! I want to be Fire Lady Jiyuu!" She threw her fist in the air, everyone laughing at a fallen Zuko and the airbender's enthusiasm for becoming royalty.
Toph then broke up the fit of laughter, "Well, what if Aang doesn't come back?"
"Sozin's Comet is arriving and our destinies are upon us. Aang will face the Fire Lord. When I was a boy, I had a vision that I would one day take Ba Sing Se. Only now do I see that my destiny is to take it back from the Fire Nation so the Earth Kingdom can be free again." Iroh explained.
"That's why you gathered," Suki said with an arm out, "the members of the White Lotus."
" Yes. Zuko, you must return to the Fire Nation so that when the Fire Lord falls, you can assume the throne and restore peace and order. But Azula will be there, waiting ," Zuko frowned, "for you."
"I can handle Azula." Zuko said confidently.
"Not alone. You'll need help." The boy was startled by his Uncle's words.
"You're right." Zuko looked at Jiyuu and she nodded her head, it would seem they both mentally agreed on who should go with him. "Katara," the waterbender raised her head up, "how would you like to help me put Azula in her place?"
The watertribe girl smiled, "It would be my pleasure."
"Where will Jiyuu being going?" Junko asked, finally approaching the group. It was their first time meeting her since she had kept her distance from her sister's friend.
The airbender reached her hand out to her sister in which the woman took it, comforting her. Iroh had looked at Junko as the young woman sat on the other side of Jiyuu. "Well, you could always take her back to the countryside during the battle."
Jiyuu looked at her sister to see how she felt about it. "That would probably be the best choice." She looked at Iroh and then at her sister, "You must be away from the Fire Nation at all cost. We can't have anything happening to you or the twins."
The airbender nodded her head. "I know and I accept that. I am in no condition to fight."
"What," everyone turned towards Sokka, "about us? What's," he raised his arms curiously, "our destiny?"
"What do you think it is?" Iroh asked with a quirked eyebrow.
The watertribe warrior then placed a hand on his chin as he thought. "I think that... even though we don't know where Aang is, we need to do," He slams his left fist into his right palm, "everything we can to stop the airship fleet."
"And that means when Ang does face the Fire Lord, we'll be right there when he needs us." Toph said as she smacked both of her fists together."
After breakfast, everyone had started getting ready for battle. Ee-hounds were rounded up and strategy was being tweaked and formulized. Zuko had held Jiyuu in a tight embrace, she returning it with as much love as she could muster. She had to admit, she was worried, but she knew that Katara would heal any wound should Azula inflict him with any and that Zuko would fight harder than he ever had in his life. She knew the outcome would be on their favor, she could feel it in her heart.
"Don't stress yourself, Jiyuu. I want you to be strong for me." He said as she nodded her head, a few tears slipping down but he wiped them away.
She smiled, "I know you'll be able to do this. I believe in you and, Katara, I want you to come back in one piece to." She said to the girl who waited not too far from them.
The waterbender then ran over and gave Jiyuu a hug as well, both girls smiling. "Zuko, you better watch her back, okay? Azula plays dirty and you know that."
"I know." Zuko said as Katara soon let go and Jiyuu then looked at her father and sister, who had the eel-hounds ready. "I'll be waiting for everyone. Aang already knows how I believe in him."
"What about us?" Toph said as she, Sokka, and Suki came walking over.
"Why wouldn't I believe in the toughest, strongest, and best earthbender in the world!" Jiyuu threw her arms in the air dramatically as Toph blushed and grinned, she allowed Jiyuu to give her a hug and she had returned it as well. "You'll just prove how strong you really. I'm not worried about you."
"Good!" Toph placed her thumb against her chest, "I am the best after all."
"Sokka, Suki… I know you'll do great as well. Besides, Sokka's ego won't allow him to fail." She pointed to Sokka head in which mad the boy pout as Suki laughed. "But within that head his lies a big brain, strategy will be the key to winning and I'm sure you can out smart some of those nitwits."
"You bet!" Sokka said confidently.
"I love all you guys and I hope you know that." Jiyuu sighed, "I know that seems a bit too much because it sounds like I'm lacking some faith but that's not the case. You never know what could happen, but I strongly believe we'll all meet each other again just like this and that time Aang will be with us."
Everyone nodded their heads and smiled, "Group hug, you guys!" Katara said as everyone gathered around for an embrace.
"Okay, get the moving guys! You have to kick some butt!" Jiyuu threw her fist in the air, the others following suit. "And I have to eat something, I'm still hungry." She pouted as she soon walked over towards her father and sister. "Feed them. All they wanna do is eat!"
Jiyuu: The Japanese name meaning "Freedom"
Meili: The Chinese name meaning "Beautiful and graceful"
Jia-li: The Chinese name meaning "Good and beautiful"
Lien: The Chinese name meaning "Lotus"
Liang: The Chinese name meaning "Good or excellent"
Tu: The Chinese name meaning "Soil; Earth"
Isao: The Japanese name meaning "Honor; merit"
Li-hua: The Chinese name meaning "Pearl Blossom"
Sorry it took me a while to update again. I promise you this time I'll be fast with this.
