Chapter 29

Despite acting with great confidence in front of his guests from the South Pole, in private Zuko felt deeply concerned about this latest assassination attempt. It was the first one in the past eight months, and felt markedly different from all the others, not just because this time it had put his lady love in harm's way as well. This was the first time when an assailant had actually infiltrated and attacked them within the walls of the royal palace. All the previous times, the attempts had been made during some public events and ceremonies, but this... this was more serious. He couldn't stop feeling as if someone had crossed a very important line and was trying to send a clear message.

Katara had been shaken up by the events, but not as much as Zuko had feared, a large part of her distress stemming from worries about her father's reaction to the assassination attempt. When Zuko had suggested that she move from the consort's quarters to his so that they wouldn't have to worry about each other's safety more than necessary, Katara had readily agreed, in short order bringing over some of her things from the consort's chambers and quickly settling in, at least until this immediate crisis had been resolved. Zuko had also decided to increase security in his private quarters, not trusting the regular palace guards to be adequate when dealing with this threat. Suki and Ty Lee had moved in with them, occupying the lounge next to the Fire Lord's bedchamber, Zuko ordering them to remain close by at all times.

With these precautions made, Zuko then sent for the latest reports of the palace agents and his Minister of Intelligence, hoping to find some patterns, some movements in the shadows that would help them to identify the attacker. As soon as the reports had arrived, Zuko together with Katara sat down in his large study to browse through them, Suki and Ty Lee also in attendance, ready to offer their opinion. As far as Ty Lee was concerned, Zuko had made it explicitly clear that he didn't want to hear any more speculation about the Kemurikage being real. He could see that Ty Lee was a little upset that her idea was so brusquely discarded, but Zuko felt it was necessary, as this was too important to allow them to be distracted by fairy tales.

"Well... there's not much in these reports, if I'm perfectly honest," Zuko sighed, throwing the last document back onto the desk in frustration.

"Indeed, it seems to have come right out of the blue," Katara nodded, also looking stumped as she browsed the papers. "I've been wondering about what Okashi and Teo told us at dinner. The Dai Li made threats to coerce them into working for the Earth Kingdom. Would it be possible for them to be behind something like this?"

"I don't think it's entirely impossible. I mean, we have at least a dozen known Earth Kingdom spies living in the capital, any of them could have organized something like this at the request of the Dai Li," Zuko nodded. "And I actually like the way you're thinking... maybe we're focusing too much on Ukano all the time."

"Hmm... no, I don't think it would be the Dai Li," Suki argued, shaking her head. "Why would their assassin use a mask of the Kemurikage? That's oddly specific. No, they'd have to come from the Fire Nation."

"I hate to say it, but Suki just shot down my theory," Katara chuckled. "Well, I guess we have no other leads than Ukano and his conspirators."

"The palace is abuzz with rumors about the Kemurikage being real," Suki shrugged. "And no, it's not because Ty Lee has been fanning said rumors."

"I've been keeping my mouth shut, just like you told me to, Zuko," the other girl said, still sounding just a tiny bit offended.

"Plenty of bystanders saw the attacker, their clothes and the mask. It was pretty distinct," Zuko shrugged. "I should have known that this kind of talk will pick up. And maybe it's not a bad thing after all. Maybe we can get Ukano to believe that we have fallen for his deception and that we really are looking for this mystical Kemurikage. Maybe it'll trick him and he'll drop some of his caution."

"Maybe," Suki mused. "Or maybe... and don't get angry at me, please, but just maybe we shouldn't throw Ty Lee's theory in the bin so quickly. It's not like spirits crossing over to the mortal realm is unheard of. Rare, for sure, but not unheard of."

"Ugh, not you too, Suki!" Zuko groaned. "Look, it doesn't make sense even if I were to agree that it could be the Kemurikage. What are they known for, according to the legend? Stealing little children! Not trying to assassinate Fire Lords! So the assassin being the Kemurikage doesn't even make sense."

"Hmm..." Suki frowned, looking at Ty Lee.

The other girl shrugged a little defiantly. "Well, he's got us there," she eventually admitted. "But I know what I saw," Ty Lee added firmly.

"I think we should keep an open mind to all the possibilities," Katara cut in, trying to prevent an argument from erupting. "But let's just hope that the attacker wasn't a real Kemurikage. If that was a real spirit, then... well, then we'd be in trouble. The only one who could deal with this issue would be the Avatar... and I don't need to remind you why getting Aang to help might be difficult," she added with a conflicted look on her face.

"Yes, let's just focus on Ukano for now," Zuko frowned. Having to chase Aang all across the known world only to beg for his assistance with a spirit assassin seemed like a nightmare scenario to Zuko. He really hoped that Ty Lee's wild imagination was not the actual reality of the situation.

"So, we threw one of the resistance cells behind bars to rethink their life choices," Katara continued. "Could this be a reaction to that?"

"It's possible, though it seems like an overreaction," Suki shrugged.

"Yes, I agree," Katara frowned. "And I thought we were doing our best to stop things from escalating, but this... well, I don't even know how we should react to this!"

"I'm still wondering about that assassin," Suki went on. "By now, we have a pretty good idea about all the freelance assassins for hire operating in the Fire Nation. This lady matches none of the known profiles! It's like... on one hand, she'd have to be a foreigner, but on the other hand, then her disguise doesn't make sense. As I understood from Ty Lee, it's based on a very obscure legend that even most Fire Nation citizens are unfamiliar with." Ty Lee quickly nodded in agreement.

"I know, it's very puzzling," Zuko nodded. "What if it's someone who has been persuaded to come out of retirement? Someone who hasn't been around for years?"

"They sure didn't seem rusty to me," Ty Lee shook her head. "She moved like crazy, weaving around those barriers like she was an airbender! I just barely got her in time before she skewered you with that weird dagger!"

"And I will be forever in your debt, Ty Lee," Zuko smiled at the girl. "I have an idea. I'll have someone head over to the Temple Archives and ask the Fire Sages there for some older records. You two," he pointed at Suki and Ty Lee, "can go over those records and see if something familiar pops up."

"Sure, we'll probably have a lot of time to kill here, babysitting you two," Suki grinned back at him.

"Now, now, Suki, show some respect to the Fire Lord," Zuko chuckled amiably.

"But discovering the identity of this assassin could take a long while," Katara spoke up a bit later. "What should we do about Ukano in the meantime?"

"Yes, that's the big question, isn't it?" Zuko sighed. "If he's behind it and we do nothing, it'll really embolden them. They might try again, or they might do something even worse, like plunge an entire region into open revolt."

"Then we have to do something to prevent another move from him," Katara nodded firmly. "But what?"

"There are some solutions that my advisors have proposed in the past, but I have been reluctant to act upon," Zuko replied. "One of them is to infiltrate Ukano's stronghold and take some of his family members as hostages. Once they are in our care, he would be unable to act against us, or we would..."

"We would what? Execute the hostages?" Katara gasped. "And who would those hostages be? Mai? Her mother? Her baby brother?"

"Hey, calm down, Katara, I did say I have rejected this idea," Zuko spoke soothingly. "I couldn't go through with that, believe me."

"Besides, I think Ukano would call your bluff, anyway," Suki added. "He would know that you wouldn't execute innocents."

"Yes, it's a terrible plan, alright," Zuko agreed gladly. He frowned, already foreseeing the reaction to what he was going to say next. "I know that my ministers and advisors will be pressing even harder for the solution that I have already mentioned to you. Removing the shiny beacon of this rebellion."

"Removing your father," Katara shuddered. "You know my thoughts on that already."

"I don't know why that monster still draws breath!" Ty Lee exclaimed with rare passion. "If not for him, Azula might have been..." her voice broke and Ty Lee had to stop and recompose herself. "He took your sister from you, Zuko, you know that in your heart. He poisoned her mind! Without him, Azula might still be with us right now."

"I don't disagree with you there, Ty Lee," Zuko sighed. "I have been wondering... perhaps if my father was gone, if Azula knew that... maybe it would allow her to heal as well. She wouldn't feel like she still had to prove herself to him."

"You can't know what Ozai's death would do to Azula," Katara spoke with concern in her deep blue eyes as she reached out and rested her palm against Zuko's chest. "I worry what giving an order to execute your own father would do to you, spiritually. I don't want to see you destroyed by something so traumatic."

"Is that not preferable to taking a risk that further endangers us both?" Zuko wondered, uncertain of what to do. Katara wasn't wrong. Much as he loathed Ozai, and as little as his father meant to him at this point in his life... he was still his father. Ordering the death of this monster... it could leave a mental scar that might never heal. On the other hand... if he did nothing and in the end, he'd pay for it with his life? Or even worse, the assassins would target Katara instead of him? He could not allow that to happen, under no circumstances. He had to protect Katara above everyone else, including himself. But... he also couldn't protect her by using means that would drive a wedge between them, by doing something so distasteful that she could never approve of.

"I'm willing to take that risk," Katara offered, having thought about their options some more. "Round up some well known rebels, put scare into them, let's do more of that. Don't order Ozai's death. Don't do it to yourself, Zuko, I implore you."

"Fine," Zuko ground out reluctantly. "I'll respect your wishes, but... if things escalate further, my hand might be forced." Katara gave him a pleading look, but didn't say anything.

"Katara, I'm not sure if you knew this, but Ozai was already handed a death sentence by a war tribunal almost three years ago," Suki cut into the conversation. "He'd be long dead if Zuko hadn't granted him clemency. He doesn't have to order Ozai's death. He could just revoke his clemency and allow the tribunal's decision to stand."

"It may sound better, but we both know that in the end it just means the same thing, Suki," Katara gave her friend a firm stare.

"Ugh, why couldn't the Avatar just kill him when he had the chance!" Ty Lee exclaimed angrily. Zuko wished he could disagree. The only one appearing eager to defend Aang was Katara, but even she didn't seem to have much fire for that argument right now.

"There's a lot to think about, I'll give you that, and no easy answers," Zuko sighed, suddenly feeling weary and tired. Retiring to his bedchamber with Katara and resting for a while with her snuggled by his side was starting to sound more and more appealing. Unfortunately, before he could make any such suggestion, one of the hallway guards entered the study, bowing apologetically for disturbing them.

"My apologies, Fire Lord Zuko, but Head Chieftain Hakoda is outside, requesting audience with you and Lady Katara," the guard announced.

"Very well, show him inside," Zuko told the guard, then shooing Suki and Ty Lee out of the study as well, the two Kyoshi warriors following the guard. "Do you have any idea what he might want?" Zuko quietly asked Katara.

"I've no idea," Katara whispered back as her father strode into the study, concern heavy in his face.

"I'm sorry if I am disturbing you," Hakoda began with an apology. "But I haven't been able to rest since what happened earlier."

"We are all a little shaken up from it, but rest assured, we are taking every possible precaution," Zuko replied politely.

"Yes, we just spent almost an hour deciding on our response," Katara nodded in agreement with her boyfriend. "It's important that you don't overreact, dad."

"Overreact?! My daughter was nearly killed by some crazy shadowy assassin right before my eyes, and you're telling me not to overreact?" Hakoda erupted in an emotional outburst. "You should be leaving the capital with me and Malina! We will protect you until this assassin has been caught!"

"Father, we all know that's not going to happen," Katara replied sternly. "My place is here with Zuko."

"Katara, I know you think that this new role of yours is very important, and I do not disagree with that," her father would not let go easily. "But you can't help anyone, you can't make the world a better place, if the next time this assassin succeeds!"

"What we're doing here is too important, father," Katara shook her head stubbornly. "I will not be intimidated by these cowards seeking to undo the work that Zuko has started. We are not going to show weakness. The truly worthwhile goals are worth pursuing no matter what challenges lie in our path."

"You don't want her to be hurt, do you?" Hakoda appealed to Zuko. "Tell her to seek safe shelter, at least until this crisis is resolved!"

"Katara's safety is the most important thing to me," Zuko replied earnestly. "But Katara is also the bravest and most selfless person I know, not to mention a waterbender of unsurpassed skill. She can protect herself, but if she would find herself in trouble, I will always be close by," he said, placing his hand over Katara's and she gripped it gratefully. "I will always have Katara's back, Chieftain Hakoda."

"I see there's no reasoning with either of you," Hakoda sighed, admitting defeat. He chuckled in resignation, shaking his head at his daughter. "Katara, you have ten times your mother's stubbornness, my dear."

"I have no idea why people think I'm stubborn!" Katara huffed. Zuko and Hakoda exchanged amused glances at that. "Anyway, dad... I know what you're afraid of, but it's not going to happen. You're not going to lose me the way you lost my mother. I promise. Zuko and I won't allow that to happen. So, please... go, rest, talk with Malina... and we'll see you later in the evening."

"Very well," Hakoda finally nodded, looking slightly more at ease. "I'm sorry, Katara. I may have allowed my fears to get the better of me."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Chieftain Hakoda," Zuko smiled in understanding. "We both care about Katara and want to make sure that she's safe." Hakoda nodded at him, an unspoken gesture of respect between the two men, and then Katara's father left the study, leaving the royal couple alone.

"What a day," Katara sighed once her father had left. "I think I need to lie down for a bit and let it all sink in."

"I'll join you," Zuko stood from his chair and took Katara's hand, as they quickly made their way from the study to the royal bedroom and settled comfortably in the bed, Katara with her back against him with Zuko's arms wrapped around her waist. "It's been a crazy day, indeed," he said quietly. "And as this rebellion gains strength, days like these could become the new normal. I just hope you won't end up regretting placing yourself in this situation."

"That's not going to happen, Zuko," Katara replied with unwavering confidence. "All these challenges we're facing? They only serve to convince me that my place is here in the Fire Nation. With you."

With emotions swelling in his chest, Zuko pulled her tighter against him, pressing his lips against her neck in a heated kiss that sent a shudder of delight through her frame. "I love you, Katara. I love you so much," Zuko whispered in her ear as he continued to hold her tight. He would never allow anything to happen to her. He would give anything, including his own life, just to keep her safe.