A bed had been made up for Azula in the living room. Or rather it was a worn down madras. They didn't even have a guest room or a guest bed.
Azula hated herself for it, but the exhaustion was overwhelming and ones she had eaten too it got really hard to keep her eyes open as she laid right next to the currently dying fire place.
Noriko hesitated a little bit but then finally moved closer. "Do you need anything else?" she asked.
Azula didn't reply but kept looking at the embers of the fire place.
Slowly Noriko sat down. "You said you didn't want to tell me your name… Is it maybe that you don't remember?" she asked.
Azula frowned deeply, her mouth now in a thin line. How come this woman didn't seem to understand she didn't want to talk.
"It's okay if you can't." Noriko said. "You see… I'm the same. Noren found me in the forgetful valley. The same way I found you. I didn't remember my name, my past. Or anything. I still don't. Noriko is the name he gave me."
Now Azula quieted, almost as if she had forgotten to breath.
"Still. I really do believe he was meant to find me there. The spirits brought us together. And now they brought me to you." Noriko said. "I want to help you."
"You shouldn't." Azula said. "You don't know anything about me."
"I know you need help." Noriko said then sighed. "Look… If you can't remember your name. Maybe we can figure out a new one? You were looking for your mother right? When we find her she can remind us. Until then."
Azula snorted. "My mother left me long ago." she said. "Just like everyone else. They all left me."
"That's awful." Noriko replied shocked.
There was a little quiet and Azula curled herself together.
"Then… Is it all right with you. If I call you Zarali for now?" Noriko finally asked. "Or do you prefer something else?"
Azula frowned. "Zarali?" she asked. "Like the dragon empress from love among dragons?" she asked, not being very amused.
"Well…. Yes." Noriko admitted. "You're just such a beautiful young woman, with so much grace and… sadness. You remind me of her."
Azula blinked, then frowned. "Your husband is called the same as the dragon emperor." she pointed out.
"Ah yes." Noriko smiled amused. "Norens parents used the run the theater in town. Every summer for as long as anyone can remember they sat up love among dragons. It only seem fitting they would name their own son after it doesn't it?" she asked. "They passed away though and Noren took over the theater. We run it now."
"Seriously?" Azula asked and finally she rolled around to actually look up at Noriko with an unimpressed look.
"Yes." Noriko said. "Noren manages and directs. I sew costumes and makes the masks we sell and use in the show. It's not much but we get by and it's very fulfilling." she smiled kindly. "You don't like theater?"
"It's a drag." Azula shrugged. "My mother used to pull me into watching these shows and they were awful."
"Well… Perhaps they were just bad performances." Noriko then suggested. "If you stayed here you could watch one of our shows. Noren is quite the director."
"I think I'll pass." Azula rolled her eyes. "It's a waste of time."
"Oh… I'm sorry." Noriko looked down at her knees. "So… Is Zarali okay or.. Do you want to be called something else?" she asked. "It feels very rude to just keep calling you young lady."
Azula shrugged. "What ever. Call me what you want." she snorted.
"Zarali it is then I suppose." Noriko smiled a little defeated. "Or just Zara for short I think."
Azula snorted. "What-ever." she repeated.
Noriko halted then looked down. "Look…" she tried. "It's easy to see you have been through a lot. You're very hurt. But you are safe here. I promise you. Nothing is going to happen to you here." she said. "The spirits brought me to you for a reason. I know it."
"Don't lie to me." Azula hissed as she turned back around to face the fire place. "I can read people. I know what they think. I see the fear in your eyes. You are afraid of me. Like you should be."
"I…" Noriko halted then swallowed. "No I shouldn't be. That's wrong of me." she said. "You haven't done anything wrong and I shouldn't… I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it." Azula shrugged. "Everyone looks at me like that. Like they ought to."
"That sounds… very lonely." Noriko whispered.
Azulas eyes widened.
"I'm sorry. If I offended you." Noriko tried again. "You're a child and I.."
"I'm not a child." Azula informed firmly. "I fought in the war! I was on the front lines, facing earth benders and water benders. And I beat them too. Like bugs beneath my heel."
Noriko halted, then she swallowed. "The front lines? At your age?" she asked. "I'm so sorry."
Azula hissed annoyed.
"At least. Out here we were rather shielded from the war… Except of course for all the young ones who would go away to become conscripted." Noriko lowered her head. "Poor dears. Not everyone made it back… Even now when the war is over." She squinted her eyes. "I suppose. The good news is that now that the war truly is over. We wont have to worry about it anymore, it coming here. Or anymore young people who has to go away. We're safe now." she smiled. "And you wont have to fight anymore either! You can stay here, you can be safe!"
"Why would I ever want to stay here?" Azula asked.
"I mean… If you don't have anywhere to go." Noriko said. "Perhaps just for a bit of rest then? To recover your strength. We do have a few former soldiers who has returned from the war, they are all trying to figure out what to do with themselves. They kind of believed that the military would become their career, and now they have been relieved from duty. So they are as lost as you are. Perhaps you could become friends with some of them, you can help each other."
"No thank you." Azula stated.
Noriko sighed. "Take the time you need." she finally said. "At least stay until you are healed and rested. Maybe it wont be so bad being here. I'm sure you could find something to do."
"So that should be my life?" Azula asked. "Stay around here? Do what? Farm work? Sew costumes like you? Pointless stuff."
"It's not pointless." Noriko said. "And there's nothing wrong with just living an unremarkable life. Then you can live for yourself. Wouldn't that be nice? Living for yourself and not having to worry what some commander thinks?"
Azula hissed. "For you maybe. But I am meant for more." she said. "Why should I lower myself to this?" she asked.
Noriko hesitated. "Well… maybe you are meant for more." she said. "But then it'll come to you right? So why not just relax until then?"
"And waste my time?" Azula asked.
"No." Noriko shook her head. "Heal." she said then sighed. "You should get some sleep." she said as she reached forward a hand and then halted, just before it touched Azulas hair. "I'm sorry I didn't know where that came from."
Azula didn't reply and then… Noriko reached forward and touched Azulas hair anyway.
"Goodnight… Zara." Noriko whispered. "I hope you'll sleep well." she said as she stood up and then quietly left.
Azula swallowed as she curled herself together, only one person in the world had touched her hair like that before. And whispered good night like this.
What business did this woman having reminding Azula of her mother every second of the day? The way she talked, the things she said, her soft demeanor and those bloody eyes.
Azula closed her eyes, and then remembered Zukos words.
"Remember when we were kids? Mom would read out loud her theater scrolls for us. You would pretend to be the dragon emperor so you could defeat the dark water spirit with a sword. And I was the dark water spirit… We actually had fun. It didn't happen a lot. But just sometimes… We would be happy. I like to think that actually means something."
And then… Zuko had let her go.
Azula had waited for her warrant to come out, probably some time after Zuko became fire lord. But it never did.
There was no warrant for Azulas arrest, on the other hand there was a full pardon.
Why? Why would the idiot just let her go?! Didn't he realize, she wanted to kill him! With every fiber in her being. It made no sense to let her go! Even if he was to soft to kill her. At least locking her up would be more reasonable.
"I like to think that actually means something."
What… That they ever had a sibling bond to begin with? That they were ever to play supportive roles in each others lives?
"She loved you Azula."
No… She didn't… She loved you Zuko… She hated and feared me. She would pretend that she didn't, but Azula could tell.
The way her yellow golden eyes would look at Azula, an ocean of sadness behind them. And fear in her shaking hands as they wrapped themselves around Azulas tiny hands.
"It doesn't have to be this way Azula." Ursa had whispered. "Zuko is good. You can be too! You don't need to become like him."
Zuko… Always Zuko… Azula wasn't good enough.
But then she also remembered, the soft arms wrapping themselves around Azula and pulling her into a hug. Gentle hands brushing her hair and putting it up in a fine arrangement. Happy excitement as a theater scroll was read out loud for Azula and Zuko.
Amused laughter as Azula declared she wasn't going to be some stupid dragon empress who couldn't even defender herself. She would be the Dragon emperor! And vanquish the evil dark water spirit!
As Azula had run across the hills of ember island, chasing Zuko with her wooden sword and they had both laughed.
For just a tiny little moment in time. It had been different… The laugh had been real. Zukos enjoyment had been real too.
That night, one single night at Ember island. Their family had been happy. Even Ozai.
But then Zuzu had destroyed it. And Ursa too! As she left! Left them all behind, like cheap pieces of rags easily disposed. The message was clear, she had chosen Zuko! Because of course she did.
And Zuko left… Mai and Ty Lee left. Ozai left…
They all left!