Thanks to Kiyi, Zuko had spent most of the afternoon smiling. Her adorable exciment to meet the Kyoshi Warriors helped keep his concern for Azula off his mind. It had been hard not to spend all day panicking and to not give in to the temptation of just going after Azula and drag her back to the palace kicking and screaming.
And oddly enough, no rational advice anyone had given him was as effective in reassuring him as the little girl's decision to tell everyone about how incredible her big sister was. For hours all she'd talk about was about how clever, strong, and powerful Azula was, and how she knew their sister liked her even though she wouldn't admit it, and above all, Kiyi went on and on about how devoted Azula was to her family and her nation.
The Kyoshi Warriors were kind and polite enough to ignore the fact that Azula once attacked them and their kingdom. Then again, they seemed to like him and had accepted Ty Lee as one of them despite of everything they did.
Yet even Kiyi's optimism did last forever. When she was at Zuko's office with him, Ty Lee and Suki, her excitement died down a little.
"I hope she's okay" her sad little voice broke Zuko's heart.
"Of course she is" Ty Lee said, squeezing her "Azula knows how to take care of herself."
"Can't you and Mai go after to help? It only took the three of you to conquer Ba Sing Se, maybe that's how you can defeat the rebels?"
Ty Lee chuckled "I'm a Kyoshi Warrior now."
"Does it make you happy?" Kiyi put into words the question that had been on Zuko's mind since Ty Lee joined Suki's group. He knew for a fact that she had developed quite a strong bond with the other girls; He also knew she didn't want to be part of a matched set.
"Of course I am!" She answered, but didn't sound that convincing, which clearly disappointed Suki "Anyway, both Mai and I are living very different lives than we did when we infiltrated the city with Azula. And if your sister thought she'd need us, she'd mak-ask us to help her" she quickly 'corrected' herself, looking as uncomfortable with she had almost said as Zuko was.
Kiyi just laughed "She would have gotten you two to help her whether you guys wanted it or not, wouldn't she?"
Zuko was a little disturbed by the fact that Kiyi really did think that was funny, Suki stayed completely silent, and Ty Lee made that same face she always made whenever Azula forced her into situations she'd rather avoid.
"Azula changed" he said, but both of his friends still wore somber expressions.
"I know" The acrobat's usually cheery tone now sounded much more mellow.
Kiyi then just wrapped her little arms around Ty Lee, giving her a hug "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you sad!" she sounded like she was about to cry.
"It's okay" Ty Lee said, gently rubbing her back while Zuko and Suki walked up to them, comforting Kiyi as well.
"Suki, I'm sorry too! I know what Azula did to you and your friends was bad! I just like that she's so strong and smart! I know she shouldn't have hurt you!"
The leader of the Kyoshi Warriors took the little girl in her arms "She's your sister. Of course you look up to her. We're not sad or angry, okay?"
Kiyi gave her a little nod.
Suki offered her a kind smile "Zuko told us you've been practicing your firebending"
"I have!" she instantly cheered up "Do you want to see it?"
"Of course we do! I bet you're almost as great as Azula!" Ty Lee said, pinching her cheek.
"Are you coming with us, Zuko?" Kiyi asked.
"Sorry, I can't. I've got work to do."
"You would want to watch if it was Azula training..." she pouted and gave him the saddest look she could fake, making Suki and Ty Lee chuckle.
"Go show off your firebending. I'll promise I'll watch it another time."
She sighed, then left with Suki and Ty Lee.