(A/N- Hello, my awesome readers! This is just a short but necessary chapter where we journey back and check in on Iroh and his royal madness, Bumi! It is short, but eh, we all love Iroh and Bumi too much so REVIEW ANYWAY, and be CRAZY about it! You know… kinda like you always are! Heh, I LOVE YOU ALL! And I swear to drunk I'm not God, so don't even think it! *hiccup* Heh, enjoy the chap folks! –HailZuko!)


Chapter 28- Tears of Pain, Tears of Joy

Iroh sipped his ginseng tea nervously, his hands shaking. He then set it aside and lied back down. As he lay there on an examining table, his thoughts wandered once more to the attempted siege of the north that occurred not too long ago… and the one who refused to leave his thoughts…

Iroh stared at his nephew as he prepared to lower the little boat that would take him to the Avatar. Does he even have a plan? he wondered worriedly.

"You're fishing for an octopus, my nephew," Iroh admonished. "You need a tightly woven net or he will squeeze through the tiniest hole and escape."

Zuko, who was gather up the rope he was planning to use to bind the Avatar, didn't even look back at his Uncle. "I don't need your wisdom right now, Uncle."

Iroh lowered his head sadly. "I'm sorry, I just nag you because—well…ever since I lost my son…" Iroh's voice broke as his throat tightened, and tears escaped his tired eyes.

Zuko paused, knowing what was coming. "Uncle, you don't have to say it."

"I think of you as my own," he whispered.

Even though it was just what he had expected, Zuko's chest tightened painfully as he turned to Iroh. "I know, Uncle. We'll meet again."

Iroh was overcome with emotion as he ran to his nephew and enclosed him in a warm, tight hug. I know you are strong, Zuko, and I trust you, thought Iroh fervently, not wanting to let go. But you had better make it back to me. I love you.....

Suddenly, Iroh was jerked from his reminiscing by a light knock on the door.

"Enter," replied Iroh absently.

A girl with red hair and brown eyes poked her head in the door and smiled. "Hello, Niki," Iroh greeted her warmly.

"Hello, Iroh." The young girl walked over to the injured Firebender and set a basin full of hot water and several rags down. "Ribs bothering you again, huh? Boy, something or someone really did a number on you."

Iroh knew that this was more of an inquiry than a comment, but just raised his eyebrows mysteriously in response and took another swig of his tea.

Niki lowered his towel to his waist, dipped a rag, and wrung it out thoughtfully. "Ya know, I heard something crazy," she said, giggling softly. "I heard that Zuko was—"

"Kidnapped, yes!" Iroh snapped irritably, setting his cup down so hard it shattered. "He was abducted by his evil twisted sister while I was busy being crushed by your lunatic king and is probably being tortured by my sick, merciless, empty-valued brother as we speak. Yes, I will lose yet another child who is precious to me due to the nation I chose to leave behind for that very reason! Anything else you'd like to know? Like the number of hairs on my head, or my shoe size, perhaps?"

The girl's lip trembled as she took a step back. "I was o-only g-going to s-say that I heard that Z-Zuko was healed b-by that K-Katara girl!" she wailed, breaking down into tears.

As she turned and fled from the room, Iroh was immediately sorry. Just outside the doorway, a king stepped forward who had heard everything.

Iroh turned his face away, not needing to look to know who had entered. "Bumi," he whispered brokenly. "Please forgive my unkind words in my moment of grief—" He broke off as his shoulders shook with sobs.

Bumi slowly shuffled toward Iroh. When he reached the man, he rested a hand on his bare shoulder. "Iroh, after my Anna died, I was not myself for quite a while afterwards. I grieved and mourned over my little girl for so long that I only ate, breathed, and felt despair. I only thought about and felt her death; it weighed on me constantly.

"Then, one night, Anna came to me in a dream. She was laughing and beckoning to me, and I of course followed her. Finally, we ended up at her bedroom door… and she began to weep.

"It was then that I woke up, somehow in the room whose door and memories I had strictly barred off for so long. I was so angry, I swore then that I would seek revenge on the entire Fire Nation for taking my daughter from me. Then, I saw it. A picture perched on Anna's nightstand. It was a picture of her and myself at her tenth birthday party, our cheeks stuffed with cake as we smiled for an attending artist." Bumi laughed at the memory. "I must have guffawed wildly for about an hour. In that time, I felt all the anger, hatred, and sorrow lift from my heart. It was then I knew what Anna had been trying to tell me. The whole time I was dwelling on her death, I forgot about our good times, our happiness… our love for each other. I forgot to be the person she would always, even in death, love forever. I forgot to be the person who had always loved her."

Bumi sat next to Iroh. "My point is, do not lose yourself in the midst of a bad situation. No matter what happens, you had the privilege of teaching, guiding, and sharing time with a boy who taught you just as much as you taught him. No matter what happens, you are in each other's hearts for eternity."

Iroh sniffled. "I notice you relate to me a story of the way you coped with a loved one's death. Could this mean you too believe that Zuko's survival is nearly impossible?"

King Bumi lowered his head in guilt, and Iroh nodded as he pulled on a robe and lowered himself painstakingly to the ground. He paced back and forth a few times before pausing. "I am not one to give up hope so easily, but I have to be honest with myself. Zuko is at the mercy of Azula and Ozai. And the worst part is… I know Zuko. He will not be taken without a fight, you've seen it first-hand. Even with nothing left to lose… my Zuko is a fighter. All is lost." Tear after tear streaked down Iroh's round face. "I've failed a third time to protect those closest to me. First Anna, then Liuten, and now Zuko." He lowered his face in shame. "I even lost a best friend and father-figure."

Bumi frowned as he stood and strode over to Iroh. He lifted his face and stared at him sternly. "You are right; you aren't one to give up hope. Do not count out Zuko quite yet. All that you have taught him is now with him, and it is as if you are right there fighting with him. He is a strong, intelligent young lad. You must remember that and have faith.

"Secondly, you failed to notice something. Did I not share a personal life lesson with you just a short moment ago? Did I not just seek to comfort you in your hour of need? Iroh, maybe you shouldn't be so quick as to count me out either."

With that, Bumi wrapped his arms around the former general, his way of expressing to Iroh that all was forgiven. Iroh embraced his newfound old-time friend, his tears of sadness gone… and his tears of hope and happiness flowing.


(A/N- As I sat here writing this chapter, I saw a KICK-ASS live performance by 30 Seconds toMars… their song "The Kill" on the Fuse/Fangoria Chainsaw Awards… and were even introduced by Jonathan Davis and Avril Lavigne! Just thought I'd share that little slice of peachy pie with everyone. Ha, until later… -HailZuko!)