Chapter 21
Wow Thank you for all the reviews. Ok to answer some questions the next few chapters will not have Zhao and Ty Lee together I am working on their reuniting. Oh and of course there will be a love scene I've already written it and reviewed it several times, I will give you warning ahead of time. Again, readers you have made my day, thank you for reviewing.
"I cross my heart and hope to wear pink the rest of my days." Ty Lee replied seriously as she scanned the crowd of pedestrians.
"Ty Lee you woke up swearing Zhao spoke to you in a dream, than two days ago you chased that poor man down. Azula is going to lose her patients with you." Mai warned as she began walking the opposite way.
"Mai please can we just follow him from a distance?" Ty Lee begged her hands clasped together her grey eyes imploring Mai to consent.
Mai narrowed her eyes at Ty Lee before she rolled her eyes and gestured for Ty Lee to lead the way. "I am warning you though don't go running up to him."
"Of course not." Ty Lee agreed with a wave of her hand. "I don't want to draw attention to ourselves. I know we are under cover."
Ty Lee eagerly ventured into the crowd unconcerned when people bumped into her or stepped on her foot. Mai on the other hand was becoming more and more irritated as her green robes were pulled and her golden kioshi fans dug into her hip as people pressed against her. Ty Lee oblivious to Mai's growing irritation pushed forward with exuberance. Suddenly Ty Lee stopped causing Mai to bump into her.
"I lost him." Ty Lee said in fear as she stood on tippy toes trying to find the man again.
"Come on Ty Lee its getting crowded and I am tired of being pushed around out here." Mai groaned.
"Fine." Ty Lee muttered as she turned around.
Mai sighed at Ty Lee's downcast face. "You know I am parched do you want to stop in and have a cup of tea?"
Ty Lee's face broke into such a smile that Mai was sure her face was going to crack.
"I would love that." Ty Lee oozed.
They walked into the tea house Ty Lee leading the way, Mai tried to suppress her grimace at the humble establishment. The little tea house was very small with seating arrangements not more than three feet from the next table, and it was crowded already. They chose a small table at the far wall; Ty Lee did the ordering while Mai glanced around at the other customers. A young girl with mousy brown hair up in a messy ponytail was flirting outrageously with one of the male waiters, while another man was arguing with his companion over something they had read in the Today's Earth newspaper.
"You can't have varmints in here." The Male waiter accused apparently done flirting with the mousy haired Burnett.
Mai sat up straight at the sound of the voice; turning once more she craned her neck to see the man's face. A taller man stood in her way, his broad back blocking her view, looking closely she noticed the man's black hair was pulled up in a high top knot very similar to what the Fire Nation wore. Her suspicions were confirmed when she noticed the tattoo of a flame peek out from the collar of the back of his neck.
"It is not a varmint it's a Seeker Fox." The customer argued.
"Kazuma keep your voice down." The male with the tattoo ordered.
"I don't care if it's the Earth Kings bear it is not allowed inside." The waiter argued back. "We have accommodations behind the building for those who insist on bringing their creatures with them when they eat."
"I want to speak to the owner of the place." The male with the tattoo replied crisply.
"That can be arranged." The waiter snapped.
Mai frowned in frustration when their waiter came with their tea blocking her view again.
"Mai this tea it taste so…" Ty Lee gushed as she took another sip.
"I am pleased you like it." The waiter said with a smile. "It's the best in Ba Sing Se."
Mai felt her stomach twist as she tasted the tea, it was Jasmine tea and there was only one man who prepared Jasmine tea like this.
"How long has this place been open?" Mai asked.
"Not long the owner and his nephew are refugees newly arrived." The waiter glanced around before leaning in closer and continuing in a hushed voice. "The old man is extremely good humored and kind. However the nephew has a bad attitude, but who can blame him I believe he was captured by the Fire Nation and that's why he has the burn scar on his face."
Mai kept her voice calm and stead as she simply replied. "I see."
"You two enjoy your tea." The waiter said with a smile as she walked away.
"Did you hear that Mai." Ty Lee said excitedly.
"Yes I did all of it." Mai replied grimly. "No wonder he looked and sounded familiar."
"That was a seeker fox." Ty Lee said with excitement.
"Obviously we aren't talking about the same thing." Mai snapped in frustration at how
Ty Lee's mind did not understand what had just happened.
"Mai look." Ty Lee squealed.
"What!" Mai snapped turning back to the table to come face to face with a fox like creature sitting on the table in front of her. "Good lord what is that?"
The young boy who had been arguing with the waiter suddenly grabbed the creature.
"Sorry, he just gets real curious sometimes."
"A Seeker Fox, from the desert oasis?" Ty Lee asked with a silly grin.
"Yes, not many people know that." The boy said with a grin as he let the fox climb up to his shoulder and drape himself around the boy's neck with his nose tucked under the boys chin. "Hey I know you girls!"
"You do!" Mai asked sitting up straighter with alarm on her usually blank face.
"Yeah you're the famous Kioshi warriors."
"Oh." Mai said than sneered. "Yes that's us, and would you look at the time we have to get going."
"What?" Ty Lee asked in alarm.
"We have to go." Mai stressed as she stood up and headed for the door.
"Nice to meet you!" The boy yelled after them.
"That was rude Mai." Ty Lee said with a frown. "He was so cute."
"Ty Lee will you never learn, there is something funny about that tea shop. An old man and his nephew who has a scar own the place, who do you think that is?" Mai asked impatiently as she quickened her steps.
"Well I am glad to see you have feelings Mai, it is most unfortunate that the young man will have that scar for life. But we hardly know them so don't take it so hard." Ty Lee replied with a shake of her head.
Mai threw her hands up in frustration. "You know let's just forget this all and go back to the palace, and don't mention this to Azula."
"Ok." Ty Lee agreed as she followed behind Mai as she occasionally scanned the crowds for a glimpse of the man she had spotted before.
…………………….
"She smelled like apple blossoms Jiro." Kazuma explained. "That's why Seeker went to her, he doesn't go to strangers."
"Half the women in this bloody city smell like apple blossoms." Jiro muttered darkly as he leaned against the fence waiting for the owner of the tea shop to come out of the back door.
"Yes but Seeker chose that Kioshi warrior." Kazuma stressed. Seeker gave a small yip from his place on Kazuma's shoulder his tail was wrapped around Kazuma's neck and his small snout was resting on the top of Kazuma's head.
The picture made Jiro's mouth soften into a rare smile. "Although I don't get along with the varmint, I do respect the loyalty he shows to you."
Kazuma returned the smile with one of his own. The door suddenly opened and out stepped an older man in green robes with a white apron tied around his ample belly.
"Good day." He greeted with a wide smile.
Jiro took a look at the old man before addressing him. "Are you the owner?"
"Yes I am the owner of this humble establishment. Let me apologize for the way my nephew acted I would be honored to have you eat in my tea house fox or no fox."
Jiro silently withdrew his hand from his pocket and placed a White Lotus Pi Sho piece in the old man's hand. Kazuma watched the old man's smile fall and his eyes grow wider as he stared at the small wooden Pi Sho piece for several seconds before closing his hand into a fist.
"He is alive than?" The old man finally said.
"Very much alive General." Jiro replied in a low whisper.
"I gave him this piece before the invasion." The old man whispered. "How did you find me?"
"The Earth King recommended your tea shop."
"Ah the Earth King." The old man said with a smirk.
Kazuma glanced up sharply at the old man.
"You're General Iroh than that's Prince…" Kazuma began in sudden realization.
"Quiet boy." Jiro snapped.
"He came back to our side." General Iroh asked softly.
"I believe the Admiral has, he isn't the same person he was at the Northern Water Tribe." Jiro said softly.
"I don't want any trouble." General Iroh said softly. "I want to keep my nephew away from this conflict; I have set up a nice establishment here in the city."
Jiro's face turned deadly as he leaned closer his voice barely above a whisper. "How long do you think this city can stand against the Fire Nation it is just a matter of time before the Fire Lord takes control. What will you do then? Your nephew and you are the last of the royal family who can do something."
Iroh stood there fist still clenched around the Lotus tile. A smile spread across his face as he opened his hand and looked at the tile once more.
"I am waiting for an answer to give back to the Admiral." Jiro snapped impatiently.
"Tell the Admiral that the spirits are with us and that he should take himself and his men to Omashu, tell the mayor this 'the white blossom will bloom in the spring'" Iroh replied calmly.
"The mayor was appointed by the Fire Lord himself?" Jiro replied in disbelief. "How do you know he will help?"
"The mayor is a smart man his daughter is engaged to my nephew, he understands the potential power and prestige he will hold if his daughter becomes Fire Lady. He also knows how to bide his time and wait for the most opportune moment to act; he is also a member of the White Lotus." General Iroh replied.
"What will you and your nephew do?" Jiro asked.
"Have no fear we will meet again." General Iroh replied. "The spirits are with us, I will see you both soon."
Jiro nodded his head and waved his hand for Kazuma to follow.
"What just happened?" Kazuma asked catching up to Jiro. Seeker gave a low growl at being jostled around as Kazuma ran to keep up with Jiro.
"Nothing of importance." Jiro muttered as he weaved in and out of the crowd.
"Are we going home?" Kazuma ventured to ask as he followed in Jiro's wake.
"I think you know the answer to that question. We are stuck in this dirty, dusty nation for
the moment." Jiro replied grimly.
"I suppose you're going to tell me not to complain." Kazuma replied with a sigh.
"No am not because I feel the same." Jiro replied.
The crowd was thinning as they grew closer to their lodging.
"You do?" Kazuma asked in surprise. "You never talk much about missing home."
"I might not voice it but I sure do feel it." Jiro muttered.
"I do too; I miss the heat and not this dusty dry heat but the humidity." Kazuma replied with feeling.
"Yeah, and the sunsets, Fire Nation is the only place that has such vivid colors in the setting sun." Jiro said with a longing in his eye.
"And the food I miss Fire Flakes, and Fiery enchiladas." Kazuma said with smile.
Jiro suddenly placed a large hand on Kazuma's shoulder and grinned down at the boy.
"You know boy, you're alright."
Kazuma's smile widened at the rare show of affection, Jiro was a man of very few words and even fewer moments of kindness.
"Thank you Jiro, you're alright also." Kazuma replied back.
Jiro let a rare chuckle escape his lips before the two entered their small lodging.