"Kenji, Nori, watch this!" Shouted a young girl just nearing her teen years. She was of average height for her age, and she was the spittin' image of Azula.
She performed a firebending trick that made her flames take the form of a dragon. Like a puppet made of streaming cloth, the flames danced about the air as she moved fluidly, almost like a waterbender.
The man and woman, Kenji and Nori respectively, acted as her caretakers. They clapped at the girl's prodigical display of bending, and the girl ran over to her family.
"That was wonderful, Chitose." Nori said.
"We're so proud of you." Kenji added.
"I'm going to become a great firebender like my mom one day!" Chitose smiled wide as she continued to run through her exercises.
Kenji and Nori looked to each other hesitantly, but smiled nonetheless. It had been nearly eight years since their former partner Azula came to them with the young girl, begging them to take her in. While the couple and Azula had not spoken in years, they gladly opened their home to the child Azula called Chitose.
Kenji kissed his wife and stood from his seat. In the distance he caught the glimpse of a defeated and emaciated Azula approaching from the front gate. He quickened his pace and soon caught up to Azula.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I came to see her." Azula replied.
"You look terrible." He chuckled.
"And you look tied down." Azula teased back.
"Nori will be glad to see you."
"I'd love to stick around, but I can't stay for long."
"I'm sure you have things to do." Kenji said, leading Azula into the garden where Nori and Chitose were. Nori stood and gave Azula a large hug before offering her seat. Azula sat, and Kenji poured her a cup of cold juice.
Azula watched as her daughter performed advanced firebending techniques with ease, flawlessly executing sequences that even Azula had troubles with at the same age. She smiled sensibly and pridefully, taking a sip from her glass.
"They grow up so fast." Nori said.
"Yes they do." Azula replied.
"You should have visited." Nori scolded, slapping Azula on the arm.
"Does she know who I am?" Azula asked.
"No, but she's always wanted to." Kenji replied.
"I don't know if I can tell her." Azula said. "What would that do to her? To know her mother is a wanted criminal, enemy of the Avatar, former Princess of the Fire Nation."
"She's a strong girl." Kenji said. "She can handle it."
Chitose performed a final bending technique, blazing flames into the air that soon died down into a small puff of smoke. All three clapped and Chitose smiled and bowed before running over to them.
"Chitose, we'd like for you to meet an old friend of ours." Nori said, nudging Azula out of her seat.
"Hello, Chitose." Azula said hesitantly. "My name is Azula."
Chitose's eyes grew wide and rushed further to Azula. "THE Azula?" She asked.
"The one and only." Kenji said.
"I can't believe I'm standing right in front of Princess Azula!" Chitose smiled. "You're one of the greatest firebenders ever!"
"I guess my reputation speaks for itself." Azula chuckled nervously.
"You have to show me some tricks!" Chitose said, jumping with excitement before turning to Nori. "Can she?"
"Ask her." Nori chuckled.
"Please, Ms. Azula!"
Azula scratched the back of her head and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not as good as I used to be, but I guess..."
Chitose began cheering as a child would. Kenji and Nori both excused themselves, leaving Azula and Chitose alone. Azula began by dropping into a horse stance and slowly shifting her weight onto her right side. She pulled blue flames from her left arm, and like a stream of water, whipped the flames around her body into a pillar consuming her.
"That doesn't look like firebending." Chitose said inquisitively. "It looks like waterbending."
"Some of the greatest benders alive take techniques from other bending styles." Azula said. "My uncle learned to redirect lightning by watching waterbenders. You can learn a lot by borrowing from different styles."
"Check this out!" Chitose said as she also dropped into a horse stance. She took a deep breath, a ring of fire forming with each breath. She then concentrated all of her power into one punch, sending a faint, but present, blue tinted flame into the air.
Azula chuckled and applauded Chitose, patting her on the head. "Very impressive. Not many people have the gift of blue flames."
"Do you think I'll be able to be as strong as you one day?"
"I have no doubt." Azula said. "In a year's time, you may even surpass me."
Chitose blushed and gave Azula a hug. Azula was caught off guard, but quickly regained her composure and hugged the girl back. She squeezed tightly before letting her go and stepped back.
"Chitose, there's a reason I came here today."
"What is it?"
"Do you remember when you were brought here?"
"Someone took me from Ba Sing Se." Chitose said. "But I don't really remember anything about it."
"The person who brought you here was me." Azula said.
Chitose looked unsure, but soon had a gleam of epiphany in her eyes. "You..."
"You don't need to say it." Azula said.
"Kenji and Nori always said that my mother was a great firebender, someone who sacrificed everything to make sure I was safe..."
"She cared very deeply for you. She would do anything to make sure you were safe."
Chitose began to cry, and Azula awkwardly embraced her daughter. "Why did you never visit?"
"I was afraid of how you would see me."
"That's not good enough!" Chitose cried. "I've been wondering all this time who my real parents were. Kenji and Nori told me about their past, so why didn't you? I don't need protecting. I can take care of myself."
"You're very strong, Chitose, but I thought I was protecting you."
"I would have rather known who you were, mom!"
"I know Chitose. I was selfish. I guess I just wanted to protect myself."
Chitose sniffled and wiped her nose, tears still streaming down her face. "Yeah, well I hope it was worth it. Will I even see you again?"
Azula smiled and patted Chitose on the head. "I'll be back in two weeks. Then we can spend all the time in the world together."
"Do you really mean that?"
"I do." Azula said. "I just have a couple of things I need to take care of first."
"Like killing someone?" Chitose asked uncomfortably excited.
"Something like that."
"Let me come with you!"
"Absolutely not."
"Why not?" Chitose groaned.
"Because this person is incredibly dangerous, and they have had a vendetta against me for years. They've had only one goal, and that is to kill me. This is to protect you."
"Right, like how you've been protecting me all these years?" Chitose asked in a sour tone.
Azula was silent. She had no response. After all of the years of neglect, the only way she knew to keep Chitose safe was by continuing the same pattern.
Nori came from out of her home and rushed to Azula and Chitose. She took Azula by the arm and gently pulled her aside.
"Um, Azula?"
"What's wrong?"
"There's someone by the name of Fu at our door." Nori said wearily. "How did she find us?"
Azula sighed deeply and shook her head. "Zuko hired you and Kenji."
"Only a couple of years ago." Nori confirmed. "But only to do reconnaissance work in the United Republic."
"You're covert operatives." Azula groaned and rubbed her temples.
"What's going on?" Chitose asked, approaching Nori and Azula.
Azula chuckled and turned to her daughter. "I guess you'll end up seeing your mother in action after all."
Azula turned to Nori, wrapping her arm around Chitose's shoulder. "Let me handle this."
"I hope you know what you're doing." Nori said.
The three walked inside of the home, and sitting with Kenji in the living area was none other than the woman that Azula had been searching for for months.
Fu smirked when she saw Azula. She stood and placed her tea on the center table, walking to Azula. Both nodded their heads, knowing full well what was about to happen.
"Azula." Fu said.
"Fu Ando." Azula replied.
"And you must be Chitose." Fu said.
"That's right." Chitose replied bombastically.
Fu looked back to Azula and motioned her hand to the back door. "Shall we?"
Azula smiled and nodded in agreement. "Kenji, would you be a dear and prepare some jasmine tea? I'd like to speak to our guest outside."
"Whatever you want, Azula." Kenji replied. "Would you like some, Ms. Fu?"
"I would love some, Kenji." Fu said, never breaking eye contact with Azula.
"Let's talk then." Azula said before ushering Fu and Chitose outside.
The time had come to finish what she had started, and only Azula or Fu would walk out of this alive. They sat on the benches on the sidelines of an Agni Kai ring and awaited for Kenji to bring them their tea. The time had come to put this feud to rest, and neither could say for certain who would emerge the victor.