"We are ready to depart, Fire Lord Zuko." The captain of the warship, a high admiral, bowed to him. After the Yu Dao summit, they were set to return to the Fire Nation capital; the most direct route being the one from the Western Coast of the Earth Kingdom.
The same route that Chiyo had taken before she was met with the unfortunate accident.
Fire Lord Zuko nodded in acknowledgement. "Take charge, Admiral. I will be below deck if something important comes up."
"Yes, your Majesty!" With a final bow, he left to alert the helmsman and the crew.
He found Chiyo standing by the railings, looking out into the open sea, an unreadable expression on her beautiful features. The sea breeze blew softly from the east, playing with her long, dark hair and the sleeves of her yukata.
Zuko wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her close to his chest. He followed her gaze to the horizon, searching for answers to her silence. "Are you alright?"
She nodded and leaned back against him, feeling drained. "Just tired. That's all."
"Let's head below deck, love. Admiral Makura will take care of our trip." He could feel the uneasiness in her voice, and it took him a few seconds to guess the reason. "Don't worry, Chiyo. This is the largest, fastest, safest ship in the Fire Nation Royal Navy. And Admiral Makura is an experienced traveller of the seas. If anyone can get us through the high seas, it's him."
Chiyo let him lead her below deck, towards the last room at the end of the hall. "Zuko, I'll just stay in my room—"
He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, his warm hand cupping her cheek. "Stay with me. I want to keep my eyes on you."
Blush colored her cheeks and she found herself lost again, stuttering. "O-okay."
They entered the room reserved for the Fire Lord, a simple bunker larger than the others lit with lanterns and candles, a desk mounted with paperwork to be dealt with, a dresser, a closet for a change of clothes, a table with food and water, and a single bed in the corner.
Zuko groaned as he looked over the work that piled up during his week of rest. From next to him, he heard Chiyo chuckling lightly. "Looks like they missed you, Fire Lord Zuko."
"I certainly don't miss them." He made a face as he scanned the proposals. "But I do have to deal with them before we get to the Capital. Why don't you rest for a while?"
"I will." She squeezed his arm comfortingly before heading to the dresser, carefully taking out the pins in her hair and other accessories.
As Zuko sat on his desk, his eyes went to her instead of the paperwork. He watched as she removed the light make up and the lavish decors of an entertainer.
She found him staring at her through the mirror, just as she reached for the ties on her yukata. "Don't peek..."
He simply nodded, but kept his gaze on her, resting his chin over his folded hand.
Chiyo rolled her eyes. "Pervert." She decided to leave the light yukata on as she climbed onto the bed.
"You love me anyway." He smirked as he watched her curl up and hug a pillow.
"I do."
"I wish I could be the pillow."
"I know." She let out a soft yawn before burying her face into the pillow.
Slowly, when he could feel her breathing slowly even out, he turned back to his desk to start his work. "That damn lucky pillow..."
Halfway through his work, he leaned back against his chair, tilting his head left and right to relax his neck. They still had a full day before they reached the Capital, even with the fastest warship in the fleet. He decided he'll get his work done before then.
For now, he wanted to rest with her.
He suppressed a chuckle as he saw her clutching the pillow tightly, her hair sprawled across the bed, her soft lips slightly parted as she took slow breaths in her sleep.
"Beautiful..." He thought as he removed his armor and cape, as well as his boots and outer robes. Last to go was the hair tie and the Fire Lord's crown. He set them both on the dresser and made his way to the bed.
Gently as to not wake her, he slowly pulled the cursed pillow from her clutches.
It proved to be a rather difficult task, but he managed after a couple of minutes and he placed himself immediately in her arms, throwing the pillow to a far corner of the room.
Zuko inhaled sharply as Chiyo burrowed her face into his chest. "Warm..." She moaned in her sleep, a sound that nearly drove him insane. He took deep breaths to calm himself.
"Spirits, woman!" He nearly exclaimed as she hooked a leg over his own, the action baring her long leg to her upper thigh.
His eyes couldn't help but trail over the exposed skin, toned through years of dancing and training. To stop his thoughts in the direction they were taking him, he reached for the covers and pulled it over them.
Chiyo sighed happily at the comfortable warmth of her pillow. Barely half-awake, she attempted to call Zuko who she thought was still at his desk, working. "Zuko... you need to rest..."
"How could I, when you look so distracting?"
She was jarred awake by the nearness of his voice. Her eyes shot open, and she whipped her head up to follow the sound.
Handsome was such a lacking word when it came to describing the way he looked, head propped up on one arm as he cast his golden gaze over her, hair perfect even in disarray, a signature smirk playing on his lips.
Chiyo was suddenly very conscious of the way she looked. Not to mention the state of their tangled legs.
"I...I—"
"If you're looking for the pillow, I took care of it, Chiyo." Zuko reached up, running his fingers through her long locks, marvelling at the softness. "You have me." He gently tilted her chin up and took her lips in a slow, passionate kiss.
It took her a while, but she responded, returning the kiss with as much fervor, if not more. She revelled in his warmth, and it was an understatement to say that she wanted more.
As if reading her mind, he pushed her down on the bed and moved on top of her, his lips never leaving hers as he did so. Her hands found their way to his hair, tangling themselves, tugging gently and suggestively, coaxing a low growl from him.
Suddenly, they were jolted off the bed and onto the floor as the ship jerked to the right. Zuko used his body to break the low fall, securing Chiyo in his arms on top of him. As sudden as the disturbance had come, the ship had stilled and returned to normal.
"Zuko! Are you okay?!" Frantic and wide-eyed, she checked him for any signs of pain or injury, letting out a sigh of relief when she found none.
"I'm alright, I—"
"Fire Lord Zuko! Is everything alri—" Admiral Makura entered the Fire Lord's quarters in a hurry, not bothering to knock at all. He quickly turned around, seeing the apprentice entertainer on top of the Fire Lord at a very compromising position, disheveled and on the floor. "My apologies, Fire Lord Zuko! Lady Chiyo! I shall take my leave now!"
A day after the small "accident" in the seas, they have reached the Fire Nation Capital. Instead of using the palanquins, Zuko opted for the carriage.
Chiyo frowned in confusion as the carriage trudged past the palace gates. "Where are we going?"
"To visit someone." He replied simply, deep in thought.
Moments later, she recognized the path they were taking.
The asylum.
Zuko got out of the carriage first, then took Chiyo's hand, helping her down. They walked through the stone path slowly, silent.
"Thank you for doing this, Zuko." Chiyo finally spoke as they stood, waiting in the private room. "This would mean a lot for her."
"I wasn't going to, but during the Yu Dao summit, the professor said something... about family. He said that treating my own family with dignity, will help me learn to govern my nation with dignity."
"Regardless, you are still a great leader, Zuko." She held his hand firmly. "The way you care for and defend your people, as if they were your own family, that is what truly lies in the heart of a leader."
The aides came back into the room with Azula on a wheelchair. Zuko took his seat right in front of her, while Chiyo chose to stand beside him, folding her hands together in front of her.
Zuko examined his sister, strapped in a straitjacket to prevent her from firebending. Her dark, uneven hair grew longer, unkempt still. Nothing much has changed over the year that he had not seen her.
Or so he thought.
Azula looked up at her brother and grinned. "To what do I owe this visit of his Majesty, the Fire Lord?"
He mentally composed himself, cutting right to the chase. "I know this is risky, but I'm going to tell you the truth. I feel... disconnected from the good in my own family and nation. For a whole host of reasons, I believe finding mother would help me reconnect."
It was barely noticeable but those who looked closely enough could see Azula tense at the mention of their mother.
"I've had conversations with Ozai, but it's gone nowhere. He refuses to reveal what happened to her. So I've come to the uncomfortable conclusion. You are the only person in the world who can get the information I need out of him. So, tell me," He paused to gauge her initial reaction. "What do you want in return for helping me find mother?"
Her laughter had the aides, and even the guards, looking at each other with worry and fear. "Don't be silly, Zuzu! The satisfaction of serving the Fire Lord in some small way will be compensation enough! Besides, not a day has gone by since you put me in here that I haven't wondered..." Her unfocused gaze moved to Chiyo, or rather the figure standing beside her.
There she was, once again, taunting her with the sad eyes and worried looks.
"I love you, Azula. I always have, and always will."
"What exactly happened to our dear mother?"
Author's Notes
Author-nim is currently busy trying to convince Fire Lord Zuko not to burn down all the pillows in the Capital.
-TheGreatestConWoman-
Next up, the search for Zuko's mother!
