Since I'm really eager to get to the main part of this story, I'm gonna try my best to update once a week instead of making you guys wait. Now that that's out of the way, this chapter takes place directly after the last one, but not during the Awakening.

Going Home Again

Everything that happened after the Coup of Ba Sing Se was almost like a blur for Izanami. She was more than happy to take a step back and let Azula handled things, which was exactly what her friend did. Despite being used to seeing Azula in an authoritative position, it was still unusual to see Azula standing behind so much power. As Azula made the appropriate arrangements for the Earth Kingdom, she also prepared their trip back home. According to Azula, it would only be a few more days before everything was ready for them to leave so that they could return to the Fire Nation.

Truth be told, Izanami was nervous about the thought of returning home, simply because she wasn't so sure how she would be welcomed by her parents. She had just left them barely without a word, only a letter saying that she was leaving and that she didn't know when she would be returning. Maybe if Izanami was savvy enough, she could convince her parents that it had been right for her and them as well for her to leave. After all, she had helped the Princess of the Fire Nation conquer Ba Sing Se. Once her parents had heard of her achievements, Izanami was sure that they would be more understanding. If not, Izanami could always get Azula to back her up.

Currently, Izanami was sitting in her newly acquired room in the Earth Kingdom Palace. After their successful coup, Azula had taken the liberty of upgrading them to a more luxurious suite. Now that they no longer had to pretend to be the Kyoshi Warriors, Izanami had changed back into her usual attire, which she was thankful for since she had felt so wrong wearing Earth Kingdom clothes. Not only because those weren't her colours, but because of wrong it was for her to wear them.

"Miss Izanami," a voice from the door snapped her out of her thoughts.

Turning around, Izanami saw one of the Dai Li agents standing there. Since they now officially had no leader, Azula had made the Dai Li into her own personal body guards and would be taking a select few back to the Fire Nation with them.

"Yes?" Izanami acknowledged the man.

"Princess Azula has requested your presence in the throne room," the agent stated.

"Thank you. I will be there shortly," Izanami replied.

Even though the Dai Li had all but pledged their allegiance to Azula, Izanami still didn't trust them so it wasn't until she was alone that she headed off towards the throne room. When she arrived, there were several Dai Li agents standing in front of the throne, which Azula lazily sat on. Just like Izanami, Azula had also changed back into her typical Fire Nation clothes.

"Ah, Izana. Good to see you got my message," Azula greeted her.

"What did you want to see me about?" Izanami asked.

"Well, I just wanted to test out the Dai Li but it's also worth mentioning that we'll be leaving the Earth Kingdom tomorrow night," Azula replied.

Izanami's eyes widened, "So soon? What about the city? They don't even know that we've won."

"Pft, those peasants don't matter. The Fire Nation army is already on their way and once the time is right, the Dai Li will open the walls so we can secure our victory," Azula proclaimed.

"If you say so," Izanami murmured.

"For now, come join me up here. Since you helped me achieve this, you should also know what the great feeling is like being up here," Azula said.

Shrugging, Izanami joined Azula up near the throne and she had to admit, it did give her a pretty powerful feeling. Moments later, they were joined by Zuko who entered the throne room and Izanami noticed how he still hadn't changed out of his Earth Kingdom clothes, even though he had been given Fire Nation attire.

"Zuzu. What a pleasant surprise," Azula greeted her brother. "Just as I was telling Izana, I've finished the arrangements for our trip back to the Fire Nation – we'll be gone by tomorrow night."

"But you're the leader of Ba Sing Se now," Zuko pointed out. "You would really give up control of this whole city?"

"Don't worry, dear brother. I've found the perfect person to leave in charge," Azula reassured him. "Someone who will execute the Fire Lord's will mercilessly and without question. Supreme bureaucratic administrator Joo Dee!"

Shivering as she did so, Izanami turned to see Joo Dee – or one of the Joo Dee's – walking towards her. Since Azula had managed to find out everything about the Dai Li, they had admitted to using several woman under the same name that had been brainwashed into doing whatever they wished. To say that freaked Izanami out would be an understatement, since the brainwashed women had practically no personality whatsoever. And the personality that they did had was enforced upon them by their brainwashing, which was annoying to say the least.

"The Earth Nation humbly accepts this opportunity to serve the great and powerful Fire Nation. Care for a mint?" Joo Dee asked Zuko.

"Ba Sing Se will be safe in her care, and we can personally deliver our uncle, the traitor back to the Fire Nation," Azula stated.

"You don't need me for that. I'll stay here," Zuko insisted.

"Zuko, now that we've defeated the Avatar, father will welcome you as a hero. You're the fire Prince again and you'll have your old life back," Azula argued.

"I already said, I'm not going with you!" Zuko snapped angrily.

Watching Zuko with curiosity, Izanami couldn't help but wonder what was up with Zuko. Sure, she had never been close with him but Izanami figured that he would be more than happy to go back with them since after all, that was what he'd been trying to achieve for the past three years.

"Az, what are you going to do?" Izanami asked Azula.

"No worries, Izana. I have the perfect solution. Come with me," Azula replied.

Doing as told, Izanami followed Azula out of the throne room. At first, Izanami had no idea what they were going to do but she soon realised that they were heading towards Ty Lee's room and that whatever plan Azula had in mind, she was probably going to get Ty Lee on board too.

"Ty Lee! Stop what you're doing! And listen to me!" Azula shouted as she entered Ty Lee's room.

"There's no need to shout, Azula," Izanami murmured.

"My brother is being difficult as usual… So we need some extra persuasion to make him come back with us. We know that Zuko and Mai had childhood crushes on each other…" Azula said.

"Totally!" Ty Lee perked up.

"… So, let's get them reacquainted," Azula suggested.

"How do we do that?" Ty Lee questioned.

"Yeah, no offence Azula, you're not really the romantic type," Izanami crossed her arms in amusement.

Azula smirked, "As always, just follow my lead. I have a plan."

"I'm assuming you're not going to tell us that plan," Izanami said.

"Like I said, just follow me lead," Azula suggested as she started to leave Ty Lee's room. "And come with me."

Knowing that there was no point in questioning Azula, Izanami and Ty Lee followed after their friend wondering what on earth she had install for them. But knowing Azula, it was probably something sneaky.

~*•°•*~

Later that night, Azula, Izanami, Ty Lee and the Dai Li agents were preparing for a dinner in the yard. Azula's plan was to simply trick Mai and Zuko into meeting up so that they would go on a date, hoping that their old feelings would resurface for one another and that it would be enough to get Zuko to come home.

Although, Izanami still didn't quite understand why she wanted Zuko to come home with them so badly. Any other day of the week, Azula would be more than happy to leave her brother behind. So, Izanami assumed that Azula had more in mind by playing matchmaker with Mai and Zuko.

"Azula, am I doing this right?" Ty Lee asked.

"No! We need more candles. And get rid of that pink tablecloth! It has to be perfect," Azula ordered as the Dai Li agents ran in panic, hitting one another. "Faster! Move!"

Once they had finished setting up Mai and Zuko's little date, the three girls quickly hid behind some of the nearby bushes so that they wouldn't miss what went on. It wasn't long before Mai and Zuko showed up, looking somewhat confused at the setup before them.

"Where is everyone? Azula told me that Admiral Liang was visiting and wanted to join us for dinner. All of us," Mai wondered.

"She told me the same thing, Mai. She's up to something…" Zuko trailed off.

Mai examined the plates, "Well, the food doesn't look that awful. I guess we shouldn't let it go to waste."

"Hm, it almost tastes like Fire Nation food. Just isn't seasoned enough," Zuko mused as he picked around his food. One Dai Li agent came up to them and started playing a ruan, causing Zuko and Mai to cover their ears. Even Izanami covered her ears from the terrible sound that was comping from the instrument.

"Can you please stop that? You're giving me a headache!" Zuko snapped.

"Sorry. I haven't practiced in a while," the Dai Li agent apologised, grinning as he walked off.

Back in the bushes, Ty Lee giggled at the display while Azula couldn't help but snicker as well. Izanami seemed to be doing a better job at keeping quiet than the both of them, mostly because she didn't understand what was so funny about it. Their laughter seemed to alert Zuko of the presence, which wasn't exactly a part of their plan.

"I know you're back there, Azula! Don't you have something important to do?" Zuko shouted.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Azula lied as she cleaned herself from the dust. "Izana and I were just telling Ty Lee to stop messing around in bushes. It's undignified."

"Hey!" Ty Lee cried indignantly.

"Let's get out of here," Mai whispered.

"Good idea," Zuko agreed.

It seemed as though Azula's plan had came into fruition, since now Mai and Zuko were heading off for some much needed alone time. Based on Azula's assumptions, that would be enough to get Zuko to come back with them to the Fire Nation, which was something that made Izanami even more nervous than it should.

~*•°•*~

The following day, the three girls were getting ready to board the ship that would take them back to the Fire Nation. They hadn't seen Mai or Zuko since they both left their dinner table, and Azula seemed more than confident that everything had gone according to plan. Sure enough, Azula was right as both Mai and Zuko joined them at the ship.

"Aw, look," Azula smirked as she put a hand on her hip. "The two lovebirds have gotten back together."

"They are like, totally adorable," Ty Lee cooed as she clapped her hands.

"Well, I'm not really sure they were together in the first place," Izanami pointed out.

"So… Are you come with us? With me?" Mai asked.

"I'd like to, Mai. I'm just not sure I…" Zuko trailed off.

"Poor, poor Uncle…" Azula interrupted Zuko. "I wonder if he'll survive the trip home. Well, we must be going. I suggest you bid farewell to your girlfriend, little brother."

There was something about the false concern in Azula's voice that was masked behind amusement that didn't sit well with Izanami. Even though Izanami knew that Azula hated her uncle, it still upset her to see her friend act that way. However, it seemed to be enough to make Zuko come to a final decision.

"No," Zuko finally said. "I'm coming with you. I'm going back to the Fire Nation."

"Do what you want, Zuzu. It's your decision," Azula smirked.

That you manipulated him into making. Izanami thought.

It never ceased to amaze Izanami how easily Azula could manipulate most people into doing what she wanted, even her own brother. You'd think that Zuko would be able to see through Azula's manipulations, but Izanami figured that the three years away from home probably made him forget just how cunning his sister could be.

"Hey, Az, can I have a word with you?" Izanami asked Azula once they were on board their ship.

"Of course, Izana," Azula replied.

Since this wasn't exactly a conversation that Izanami felt like having in front of any witnesses, she dragged Azula away so that they could have this little chat in private.

"What's on your mind?" Azula wondered.

"Well, I was just wondering… Why do you want Zuko to come back with us so badly?" Izanami questioned.

"Why would you ask that, Izana? Zuzu's my dear brother. Of course I'd want him to come with us," Azula answered with an obvious tone that said she was lying.

"Azula, don't give me that. Ty Lee might not be able to see through your subtle manipulations, but I can. I know for a fact that under any other circumstances that you wouldn't even care about bringing Zuko back. I still don't even understand why you made him join us in the first place," Izanami argued.

"Izana, you were always a clever one, weren't you? That's why you're my favourite friend," Azula mused.

"Just tell me what other tricks you have up your sleeves, Azula," Izanami said.

"If you must know, convincing Zuzu to join us was a last minute decision on my part. You know just as well as I do that we would've easily been able to win the coup without Zuzu's help, but he was just a little bit of extra insurance," Azula explained.

"Insurance for what?" Izanami asked.

"If I hadn't have killed the Avatar, Zuko would've more than likely left with them since I could see that uncle was pulling him to the other side. Then, Zuko would've been the perfect candidate to train the Avatar in firebending which would lead to fathers undoing," Azula continued.

"But you killed the Avatar anyways," Izanami pointed out. "So really, Zuko's allegiance to us doesn't matter."

"Don't you remember what I said to you after the coup, Izana?" Azula asked.

"Honestly, I don't really remember much after that. These past few days feel like a giant blur," Izanami admitted.

"Well, I told you that there was a slight chance that the Avatar could've survived. If we left Zuko behind, he could've easily changed his mind again and joined them to train him firebending. But now that we have Zuzu leaving with us, he'll be in no position to leave even if he changes his mind," Izanami finished.

"So, this is just about having Zuko on our side then?" Izanami clarified.

"Precisely. With Mai back in his sights, I'm sure Zuko wouldn't think twice about abandoning her, since they've spent so long apart now," Azula drawled.

"You really are a master manipulator, Azula," Izanami praised her friend.

Azula grinned, "You should know that by now, Izana. Now that this conversation is out of the way, lets just sit back and enjoy the rest of the trip home."

Nodding, Izanami followed Azula through the ship, feeling a lot more relaxed about going home than she did before. Still, Izanami was nervous about ultimately facing her parents, since she knew there would be backlash for her decision that she wasn't really sure how she would handle. For her sake, Izanami just hoped that her parents would see things her way.

So, not much action this chapter but things will pick up once again in the next one now that they'll be back in the Fire Nation. I have plenty of stuff planned for Azula and Izanami in Book Three, which you guys will have to read to find out. Also, it's worth mentioning that most of this chapter was based on the Lost Adventures Avatar Comic titled 'Going Home Again' which is basically Azula setting up Mai and Zuko so that he'd come home with them. In all honesty, I didn't understand why Azula wanted Zuko to come with them so badly, but I figured that it was just for a little insurance once Azula got home since we all know how that turns out, which will be explored next chapter.