Part II: Thirty-Six

Azula closed the front door of the shop after the last customer and turned around to see Zuko already busing the table, stacking dishes into the tub and then wiping down the surface with a clean, wet rag. She stopped, watching him for a moment.

He was smiling and humming to himself, looking completely content with the world and totally out of place in the shop. He was still wearing his formal Fire Lord robes, and something about watching the Fire Lord wipe down a table was incredibly weird to her.

She huffed out a breath and walked over to the table, taking the rag from him. "I can do that."

"I don't mind," Zuko said easily.

"It's my job," she said shortly and much sharper than she'd meant it to sound. Zuko stopped and let out a sigh, dropping the rag. She took it and finished the table, but she could feel his eyes on her.

"It's weird seeing you working here," Zuko said after a moment. She righted, met his eye, and then looked away.

"I was thinking the same thing, watching you," she said awkwardly. "It's weird having you here, Zuzu."

"Feels weird to be here," he admitted, looking around the shop. "I've missed this place. And Uncle. The last year... I've wanted to come to visit, but getting away has been nearly impossible. I really didn't even have time for this trip, but it had to be done before the wedding."

"How is that going?" she asked tentatively.

Zuko's smile was easy. "Stressfully. My Council has been giving me problems."

"Over what?"

Zuko rolled his eyes, crossing his arms and legs as he leaned on the edge of one of the tables. "Suki. I have a few snobs in the ranks who have a problem with her being from the Earth Kingdom and a commoner."

"So fire them."

"Suki won't let me," Zuko laughed and then his expression grew dark. "She's been insisting she can handle what they're throwing at her. She asked me not to interfere, but Spirits, do I want to put some of them in their place. I might actually do it eventually, but Suki holds her own. It's fun to watch her knock them all down a peg or ten. She's better at this, politics, than I am, I think, even if she doesn't believe it. You should hear what she's doing with the Fire Lady's funds. It's incredible."

"Ugh, that tone in your voice is giving me cavities," she said, fighting a smile. Zuko really did smile, an expression she was not used to seeing on his face. There was something lighter in him than she'd seen when they were teenagers. Whatever changes time had wrought on the both of them, she could see that Zuko had found peace with his life.

And he was clearly head over heels in love with Suki. Any fool could see that.

"I really love her, Azula. She's everything to me. Marrying her... I'm actually happy."

Azula knew where he was going with and bit down on her bottom lip. "And I'm happy for you. Uncle has been giving me updates on the whole thing. He's over the moon about you getting married, especially to Suki. If you manage to knock her up he might actually weep."

Zuko laughed. "Well, if I don't it won't be from lack of trying."

"Gross," Azula said, making a face.

"Sorry," he said easily, but then blew out a breath. "You know, it's not just my Council who is giving me problems with the wedding. The Fire Sages won't let us get married in the Temple. Any temple."

Azula froze, frowning, a little shocked. "What? Why not?"

Zuko rubbed the back of his neck, an angry look on his face. "Because Suki's not a virgin. Can you believe that?"

Azula blinked at him, taken completely aback now.

"Are you serious? I've seen pregnant women get married at the temple. Since when has that ever mattered to the Sages?" Azula said, her nose wrinkling.

"Since now, apparently," Zuko said with an ugly tone in his voice. "We're getting married in the throne room instead, and Aang is officiating. I got his reply before I left. In a way, I'm glad the Fire Sages turned us down because having Aang officiate is something both Suki and I really want, but the fact that the Grand Sage himself basically called my future wife a whore to her face while I was sitting there with her... Suki laughed it off, but it's been bothering me ever since. The audacity... I wanted to set the man on fire for talking to her like that. Or rather about her, because he treated her like she wasn't even there."

Azula shifted in place. She could see the anger in Zuko's eyes. She didn't much like Suki, but she didn't blame Zuko for being angry at what the Grand Sage had done. The very thought made her stomach tighten with anxiety and anger.

"Prejudice still runs deep in the Fire Nation," Azula said softly. "Sounds like they used that as an excuse. A little up yours to the Fire Lord who dared marry an Earth Kingdom girl. It was the only thing they could do."

"That's what I thought too," Zuko said. "I've been having problems with the Fire Sages for a while. Ever since I legalized same-sex relationships. They really did not like that."

"Well, fuck them," Azula said, as Zuko laughed.

"You sound just like Suki."

"Yikes," Azula said, as Zuko cocked his head at her.

"You know, you two might actually get along if you got to know one another. I know there's bad blood there, and everything with..." He trailed off and cleared his throat. "You-know-who. But if you got past all of that, I think you'd be surprised at how much you two have in common."

"Maybe. But I'm still not coming to the wedding," she said, but he smiled.

"Mom would like to see you."

Azula's blood ran cold at that and she looked away, her jaw tight all of a sudden. "I have nothing to say to that woman."

Zuko leaned away from the table, frowning. "That woman is your mother. Our mother. And she worries about you. She asks after you in every letter I get from her. I know she writes Uncle too. She wants to see you."

A bitter taste flooded Azula's mouth as she glared at her brother.

"She knows exactly where I am, Zuko. If Ursa wanted to see me she'd get on a boat and come to Ba Sing Se, but she hasn't. She can play the worried mother all she wants, but when it comes right down to it, she's glad I'm here and she's there. It's easier for her. She got the son she loved back, and the daughter she always wanted. There's no room in her life for me."

The words came out of her like a blast of white-hot flame, and she could see the heat of it scorch at Zuko, whose mouth opened a little.

"Azula..."

She knew she'd said too much. She could see the hurt in Zuko's eyes and was sure that he was about to defend their mother, at all costs. But Zuko took a breath and then said softly, "She's the reason you're not going, isn't she?"

"No," Azula said shortly. "Of course not. And don't channel Uncle Iroh and lecture me about how she's my mother and I should try and fix our relationship. That ship sailed a long time ago."

"I won't," Zuko said, looking sad. "But I know Mom. She does love you. Even if you can't see it. And... I want you to come to the wedding, but I'm not going to guilt you into it. The invitation is still open if you change your mind. And you are always welcome to visit whenever you want. You don't have to see Mom if that's what you want. I won't push."

Azula glanced at him and then away. "Thank you for understanding, Zuko."

"Our family is pretty fucked up," he said heavily.

"I heard that," Azula snorted wryly. "Suki's got to be the bravest woman on the planet, looking at our family and deciding to join it. Brave, or out of her damned mind."

"She'd say it was both," Zuko said with another easy grin. "Can't disagree. I'm still stunned she said yes when I proposed."

"There's no accounting for taste."

"Hey," Zuko said with a laugh, just as the bell over the door chimed, and one of the Kyoshi Warriors, followed by Shirong walked into the shop. Azula groaned inwardly, not at all prepared to introduce her boyfriend to her brother. Shirong stopped short, seeing Zuko standing there in his Fire Nation red clothing, his golden, flame-shaped crown glinting in the lamplight.

"This guy says he's Azula's boyfriend. I patted him down for weapons, but all he has on him is some tea," the Kyoshi Warrior said, gesturing to Shirong over her shoulder. All of the Kyoshi Warriors looked alike to Azula when they were wearing their paint and uniforms, but she was pretty sure she'd been the woman who had been talking to Iroh and Zuko in the kitchen when she'd arrived.

"Stand down, Suki Junior," Azula said.

"It's Rin," the girl said shot at her.

"I don't care," Azula said. "Zuko tell your bodyguard to stand down."

"It's okay, Rin. You can let him in," Zuko said, and Azula caught the look on the girl's face as she met Zuko's eye. She looked away quickly, nodding and gesturing Shirong forward.

"I'll be patrolling the street if you need me," Rin mumbled, slipping past Shirong, and into the street. Zuko took a breath the moment she walked out of the shop as if sighing in relief. Azula's brow arched at that.

She'd always been great at picking up tension, and there was a quite a lot of it between her brother and Rin. She wondered what it was. She was distracted from her thoughts, though, as Shirong cleared his throat.

Shirong blinked owlishly behind his glasses, the apple of his throat bobbing as he grew even paler than usual. He'd changed clothing since he'd left that morning. He was wearing a soft brown vest over a light green shirt and matching pants. Their conversation about Sokka that morning seemed to echo in her head, and she felt heat climb up the back of her neck.

"Uhh...hey," Shirong said, his hand straying to a pouch on his belt for a moment. Azula glanced at Zuko and saw him looking Shirong up and down.

"This must be the boyfriend," Zuko said, brow arching.

"Don't you start," Azula shot at him in an undertone. Amusement glimmered in Zuko's eyes. "Zuko, this is Shirong. Shirong, this is my stupid brother Zuko. He's the Fire Lord. Try not to be too impressed, it might go to his head."

Shirong swallowed again and lifted a hand in a weak wave and then blanched and corrected himself, moving into a deep bow. "Hey. It's nice to meet you. F-Fire Lord Zu-Zuko."

Zuko leaned away from the table and walked forward. There was an appraising look on his face as he approached Shirong, whose eyes widened behind his glasses. Zuko was taller than he was, made even taller by the way Shirong's shoulders rose and his chin shrank back into his neck.

"You're not what I expected."

"Uh..." Shirong started.

"Leave him alone, Zuko."

"What did you ex-expect?"

But Zuko ignored the question, glaring daggers at Shirong. "What do you do for a living, Shirong?"

"Uh...I'm a student? At the university. I work as a scribe, but I... I want to be a teacher?" Shirong started, glancing at Azula for help.

"What are your intentions towards my sister?"

"ZUKO!" Azula exclaimed, grabbing his arm. "What did I tell you about your wedding night? Suki may thank me for what I do!"

Zuko laughed and landed a kiss on top of her head that surprised her. "Just having my fun, Azula. It's nice to meet you, Shirong. Azula's said almost nothing about you, which means she probably likes you."

"I...uh...I like her too," Shirong started, swallowing again. He glanced toward the door and she wondered if he was contemplating escaping. Sweat was shining on his brow all of a sudden and his hand strayed to the pouch on his belt again.

"I'll go see if Uncle needs help with dinner," Zuko said, looking between them and then glancing at the kitchen door. "Or with Governor Chuanwei."

"Last I saw she'd cornered him near the stove. She was chewing him out about killing off all of the dragons or something." Iroh's face had been blood red. She'd thought about rescuing him for a moment, but it was refreshing to see a woman not falling all over her uncle for once. She'd had it up to here with Iroh's admirers.

"Uh oh," Zuko said, looking alarmed, and heading straight through the kitchen door without a backward glance, leaving her standing there in the empty shop with Shirong, who breathed a sigh of relief the moment the door swung shut behind Zuko.

"I thought your uncle was scary, but your brother..." he breathed, wiping at the sweat on his brow. "Is he always that intense?"

"Sometimes," she admitted with a nod. "But that was nothing. He was actually joking with you."

"He was?"

"I know. He has the sense of humor of a pincushion," she said, stepping up to him and throwing her arms around his neck. Shirong hesitated, and then pushed his forehead against hers. "Don't let him scare you away."

She went to kiss him, but Shirong turned his head at the last second. "Azula..."

"What's wrong?"

Shirong's eyes went back to her and she saw something flicker there in the green depths, something panicked. He opened his mouth to say something and then closed it. His hand lifted and he brushed her hair back from her face. "Nothing's wrong."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"I'm just nervous, that's all."

But alarm bells were going off in Azula's head. She glanced behind Shirong at the dark windows, but the street outside was empty, save Rin pacing back and forth across the front of the shop, with one hand on her fan.

"If something's wrong you can tell me."

But Shirong forced a tentative smile onto his face, and then leaned forward, landing a moist kiss to her lips. When he pulled back, he said softly, "Nothing's wrong. I promise."

She wanted to believe him, but something hard and fiery had formed in her stomach. The creeping feeling she'd been having for weeks now started on the back of her neck, and she glanced out the windows of the shop once more. Rin had disappeared out of the windows and the street was empty.

She tried to tell herself it was her anxiety again. But she didn't believe it.

Despite taking full advantage of the Earth King's huge luncheon that afternoon, Zuko found that he was starving by the time his uncle was nearly through making dinner. He'd changed out of his formal robes, and into something a little more comfortable by that point. Now that the treaty was over and done with, he felt relaxed and ready to celebrate.

The only thing that could make the night better, he thought, was if Suki were there. He missed her, watching his friends and his uncle banter and talk over food prep. It was like there was a gigantic hole in his chest.

It hasn't even been a week yet, he chided himself. Two more days and I'll be with her again.

He couldn't wait.

The Kyoshi Warriors had pitched in with making dinner, helping Iroh when he'd been distracted by Governor Chuanwei. Zuko had watched them arguing near the stove. He almost felt sorry for Iroh, who seemed totally at a loss in the face of Chuanwei's onslaught.

"It was a different and I was a different man," Iroh said, with face all red. "I regret my past, Governor, but I cannot change it. I'm sure you regret things you have done in your past. Have you not?"

"Of course I have. But I'd hardly compare the time I shot my ex-boyfriend in the thigh with an arrow to the enslavement of the people of the Earth Kingdom and the slaughter of the Air Nomads."

Zuko whipped around at that. "You did what?"

Chuanwei waved her bony hand at him. "It doesn't matter."

"Oh yes, it does! Why did you shoot him?" Kikki exclaimed, looking delighted.

"He cheated on me if you must know," Chuanwei said with a pinch to her lips. "And then he told me it was my fault. He said bedding me was like bedding one of my arrows. So I shot him. Regrettably, I missed the place I was actually aiming for. I was upset but that was no excuse for bad aim."

Iroh's mouth was open a little, and he looked at Zuko with a stunned expression on his face. Zuko was pretty sure he was about to plead for help.

Zuko lifted his hands as if to tell his uncle, "you're on your own."

"You are such a badass," Kikki breathed. "Why didn't you tell us that when you were training us? No offense, but I would have liked you a lot better if you had."

Chuanwei's face purpled. "I'm not proud of it. He walked with a limp for years. And he married that other girl, which is the real tragedy. She didn't deserve that punishment."

"And, uh...did you ever marry, Governor?" Iroh asked, lightly, brow rising.

Chuanwei shot him a cool look. "No."

"What a pity," Iroh said, his beard twitching as he fought a smile, turning back to the stove. The Governor's lips twisted a little and she glared daggers into Iroh's back.

Zuko stepped forward, grabbing dishes from the cupboard. "Looks like dinner is almost ready. As entertaining as this has been, how about no more war talk at the dinner table?"

Chuanwei hesitated and then nodded deeply. "Of course, Fire Lord Zuko."

Chao-Ahn stepped up and took some bowls from Zuko. She said in an undertone, "Want to bet they start fighting again in five minutes?"

"I'm not stupid enough to take that bet," Zuko snorted, as they walked into the shop. Azula and Shirong had put several tables together while he'd been helping with dinner, and when he walked in, Azula was standing at the window, looking out at the street. She was frowning, rubbing at the back of her neck.

Shirong was standing beside her, speaking to her in a low voice. When he saw Zuko his face drained a little and he jolted away from Azula like he'd been shocked.

"Dinner's ready," Zuko said, and then stopped. "Everything okay?"

Azula glanced at Shirong and then back at him. "Yeah."

But there was a nervous edge to his sister that hadn't been there before, even when they'd been discussing their mother, and both of their emotions had been high. He was trying not to think too much about what Azula had said about their mother, but her words had stuck in his mind like thick honey.

He didn't know how to change her mind about Ursa, or even if he could or should. His relationship with Azula had barely been mended. He thought things were okay between them now if a little awkward. They were both trying, at least. Pushing her into forgiving their mother when she wasn't ready would only sour that relationship and he was smart enough to know it.

Still. He just wished things were different. He wanted his family together, as broken and fucked up as it was. He'd just have to be patient. Maybe one day Azula would come around.

Watching her, he wondered what had set her on edge. A glance at Shirong told him nothing. He didn't know what to make of the weedy-looking young man before him, with his shock of dark black hair, sticking up in all directions, and the glasses slipping to the end of his nose.

Physically, he had expected someone...different.

Someone more like Sokka, he thought to himself with amusement. That was it. He'd expected some muscle-bound warrior type from his sister, not some scholar with ink stains on his fingers.

Then again, Sokka wasn't the typical warrior type either. Zuko had been in both his apartment in Republic City and the hut he'd built in the South Pole. Sokka was mad for books, wrote poetry in his spare time, and spent hours pouring over schematics and making his own inventions.

So my sister's type is nerds. Who would have thought? Zuko thought as he sat the table. He fought a smile, as Azula came over and helped him.

"What are you smiling about?" she shot at him.

"It's just nice to see you with someone. Is he good to you?" he said under his breath, watching as Shirong shifted nervously in front of the window.

"He is."

"Good, because I'll hurt him if he hurts you."

"I don't need your protection, Zuko."

"I know," he said stubbornly. "But you have it anyway."

"Dork," Azula shot at him.

"Nerd-lover," he returned, just as the rest of the Warriors sailed through the kitchen door with the plates of food. Iroh followed, holding the door open for Chuanwei. Zuko saw the Governor hesitate, and then bow to Iroh, walking past him with her lips pursed. As she passed, Zuko saw Iroh's lips curl, and he stared after her with his face going a little red.

Zuko stood upright, eyes widening at the look on Iroh's face. Zuko met his eye, and Iroh caught himself with a start, sailing out of the door and putting a tea tray down onto one of the tables. His face reddened even more.

Are you kidding me? Zuko thought, poleaxed, staring at Iroh in disbelief. He knew that look on Iroh's face, but he couldn't believe it. Even through his own shock, he realized with a start that the look on Iroh's face in the kitchen after he'd heard the arrow story hadn't been shock.

It had been awe.

Trust my uncle to be attracted to the woman who started ripping him to pieces the minute she walked into his shop.

Still stunned, Zuko settled into a seat across from Azula, with everyone else joining them. He glanced along the table at everyone, watching as they piled their plates high with food. It smelled amazing. He'd missed his uncle's cooking. The chefs at the palace kept him well-fed, but there was nothing like a meal at his uncle's table. It felt like home.

He reached for some fried rice and stopped, glancing back down the other side of the table. "Where's Rin?"

"Patrolling," Qing said around a mouthful of greens. "She said she'd get some food later. I'll save her a plate."

Zuko frowned at the dark windows and so did Azula. Guilt made his stomach cramp a little. He knew he should go talk to her. She'd tried to initiate something earlier, but Azula's arrival had been a welcome distraction. He just didn't know what to say to her.

To distract himself, Zuko turned to his Uncle, who was watching Chuanwei delicately eating. She looked begrudgingly impressed.

"Uncle, the Earth King mentioned something strange to me today," Zuko said, making Iroh started, the tips of his ears going red. "He told me he wasn't going to the wedding because there was a crime lord problem in the city. Something about a fighting ring? Do you know anything that?"

Iroh nodded, picking at his rice with his chopsticks. "A little. King Keui asks me for advice sometimes. There is a thriving criminal element in Ba Sing Se. Mostly in the lower ring. There's a man who has been in charge of things for decades. Lord Kun. A very dangerous man, or so I've heard."

"I've heard of him," Chuanwei said. "We get a lot of traders into port these days. His name has been mentioned."

"What do you know about him?"

Chuanwei shrugged. "Not much. I know that he's got his hand in a lot of trades. We monitor the ships coming into our ports, and there have been a few questionable shipments and unexplained cargo not listed on the ship's manifesto. Cargo that was listed was missing. However, nothing that we did find was dangerous, so we let the ships leave."

"And the cargo was connected to this Lord Kun? How do you know?"

"We don't. The shipping companies don't list owners, but there have been whispers on the docks amongst the traders. I have no doubt that those ships were connected to him. I pushed to have them detained, or banned from our port. I was overruled by the other Governors because we hadn't found anything unusual."

"I don't like that," Zuko said. "When we get back to the Fire Nation and I deploy the patrol fleet to Kyoshi I'll have them look out for these ships. If there's something illegal going on, I'd like to put a stop to it."

"I would appreciate that, Fire Lord Zuko."

"I've heard of the fighting ring," Shirong said, and then blanched when everyone looked at him. He glanced down the table. "Some of my classmates, they went to one of the fights down in the lower ring a couple of months ago. There's some big fighter named Chen. He's undefeated. He killed some guy with his bare fists last month. Or so I heard. My roommate, Huy...he..." But Shirong paled and looked down at his plate. "He liked the fights."

Zuko saw Azula touch Shirong's hand. He turned his hand and squeezed her fingers.

"Liked?" Kikki asked.

"His roommate passed away recently," Azula said softly.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Kikki said, looking stricken.

"It's okay," Shirong said, though his face was full of misery. He glanced at the window and pulled his hand away from Azula's, reaching for the teapot in front of him. "Um...does anyone else want more tea?"

"I can get it," Iroh started, but Shirong stood quickly.

"No, let me," Shirong mumbled, charging toward the kitchen. The door swung shut behind him. Zuko glanced at Azula, who was staring at the shuttered kitchen service window, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Maybe you should go help him?"

But Azula shook her head. "He just needs a moment. Huy's death hit him hard. It was just a few days ago."

Zuko was going to ask what happened, but Iroh cleared his throat and leaned forward. "What did Keui say he was doing about Lord Kun?"

"He was pretty vague about it. You know how he is. He hates getting his hands dirty. He mostly lets his advisers call the shots," Zuko said with a sigh. "After the wedding, I may bring Suki to Ba Sing Se for a longer visit. Maybe we could give Keui a hand. What do you think, ladies?"

"I could beat up some criminals," Kikki said with a grin. "That Chen guy doesn't sound very tough."

"He killed a man with a punch, Kikki," Mei Lin said. "You're ninety pounds soaking wet and like three feet tall. He'd clobber you."

"He wouldn't even touch me," Kikki said stubbornly. "I'm sly like a leopard-fox."

"I'd say you're more like a rabbiroo in mating season. Tiny, fast, and loose," Qing said.

"Come down here and say that to my face," Kikki said. The table erupted into laughter as Kikki stuck her tongue out at Qing. Even Azula put her hand over her mouth, hiding a smile.

"Are they like this all of the time?" she asked him, as Kikki and Qing started verbally sparring. Zuko looked at his bodyguards fondly.

"It's worse when Tam's here, but yeah," Zuko said with a grin, as another round of laughter erupted. Kikki was gesturing wildly about something.

"I noticed you didn't bring Ty Lee," Azula said carefully over the noise.

"I left her and Tam with Suki. She's the Captain of the Warriors now."

"Uncle told me. And she's okay?" Azula asked, worry in her eyes. Zuko knew what she was asking. The last time Azula had seen Ty Lee she'd been at death's door. Ty Lee had taken an arrow to the chest from Lord Osamu, a Smoke Demon and one of his councilors.

"It was touch and go for a while, but she's made a full recovery. You know, she feels really guilty for pulling that crossbow on you."

Azula looked sad. "She thought I'd tried to kill you, Zuko. I wasn't angry with her. She cares about you a lot."

"She cared about you a lot too."

Azula shifted in her chair. "I know. And I didn't deserve it. I knew how she felt about me, even if she didn't want to admit it. I played her and I used that against her. It makes me sick looking back. She must hate me."

"She doesn't," Zuko said, shaking his head. "I don't think Ty Lee has it in her to hate anyone, least of all you. But she's over you if that's what you mean. She went through a hard time when she first came out, but I think she's okay now. She's certainly popular with the ladies."

"I have no doubt about that," Azula said with a genuine smile, as the kitchen door swung open, and Shirong came out with a tray full of steaming teacups. He went around the table, gently placing cups in front of everyone. He set one down in front of Iroh, who peering into it, frowning.

"What kind of tea is this?" Iroh asked. "I don't recognize it."

Shirong blanched and then mumbled, "Oh, it's just something I picked up in the marketplace on the way over. I think you'll like it," he said, setting the last cup in front of Azula. He sat down beside her, as Zuko reached for the tea.

The tea smelled strong and woody, and he took a deep drink, letting the flavor spread on his tongue. He saw the others taking drinks. Kikki slammed her back and then started shoveling in food.

"Mmm, very unusual," Iroh said, frowning. "You'll have to tell me where you found it."

Shirong stared into his plate, mumbling something Zuko couldn't hear. Azula took a drink of the tea and started eating again. She pointed her chopsticks at Zuko.

"So, tell me about this groom's gift," she said. "Something about a treaty? I didn't catch the details."

Zuko glanced at Chuanwei, who was sipping her tea. He picked at his plate with his own chopsticks, feeling a tingle in his fingers. "I signed a treaty with the Earth King. The Fire Nation will patrol the waters around Kyoshi Island from now on. It took me ages to think of a good enough groom's gift for Suki."

"She's marrying you so she's clearly not picky," Azula said, a tease in her voice.

"Ha, ha," Zuko said as he drained his teacup. "She's not picky, she's just hard to ssshop...for..."

Zuko blinked, the teacup falling out of his fingers as they went numb, his words slurring a little. He blinked and the room spun.

"Zuko?" Kikki breathed and then clutched at her head. He watched through suddenly swimming eyes as Kikki slid off of her chair and fell to the floor with a crash. He started to call her name, but he couldn't get his tongue to work. His body was suddenly frozen, everything spinning away from him. He couldn't feel anything.

He saw Mei Lin slump forward at the table with a bang. Iroh fell out of his chair. Chuanwei slipped sideways, leaning half on Qing, who was struggling to reach for her teacup.

"S'drugged..." Qing said, and then she passed out.

Chao-Ahn managed to get to her feet, pulling her fan, but she didn't get very far. She fell down beside him. Across the table, as Zuko slipped into unconsciousness, he saw Shirong catch Azula, who was slipping off of her chair.

"Shirong...whadidyado?" Azula slurred.

"I'm sorry, Azula... I had no other choice," Zuko heard Shirong say, before everything went black.