CH 5
~Jin Lian~
She weaved through the crowds hurriedly, a mirthful smirk on her face. Oh, how fun it was to be at the festival! Fun and games, but mostly fun, thinking back on her little 'conversation' with Prince Iroh. She touched her lips, remembering the feeling of his mouth on hers. He had surprised her when they first kissed, her heart racing as she remembered the intense golden stare the blue dragon gave her. Jin Lian sighed and ruffled her hair lightly. Wait…her mask! Oh Agni, Iroh had it!
"Sprirts!" she exclaimed angrily. Now she had to return to the palace. She didn't know when Prince Iroh would return, but he would probably rat her out. The mask was enough evidence, as there was only one of its kind. She needed to make a good alibi if she wanted to stay out of trouble with her father. She didn't need a stricter punishment from him, like polishing all the armor and weapons in great-grandfather Pian Dao's armory. The smell of unagi oil still made her gag.
Grumbling, she dashed back down the path she and Wang took from the palace. Her heels clacked softly against the pavement as she ran, stopping as she reached the palace walls. The garage had lower walls than the front of the palace, but still high enough that she couldn't jump it. Looking up and down the wall, Jin Lian searched for bags or boxes stacked along the side. No luck. She looked up and saw a tree branch hanging close to the top of the wall. "Desperate times call for desperate measures," she mumbled to herself, removing the high heels from her feet. With a low grunt, she chucked them over the wall first. Next, she stood next to the tree and jumped for the lowest hanging branch. With the nimbleness of a trapeze artist, Jin Lian hopped to higher branches until she reached the one just above the wall. She took in a deep breath and sprinted along the large branch to gain speed. As she approached the end, she could feel the wood start to bend beneath her. Jin Lian leapt, the branch catapulting her into the air and landed neatly on the rough tiles.
She noticed large crates stacked on the inner courtyard, padding quietly towards them and climbing down. The young woman then collected her high heels from the ground and clambered back onto the roof. Jin Lian dashed back to her room, remembering to duck under windows and stick to the shadows. She made it back to her room and dashed into the bathroom, stripping off the dress that smelled of smoke and festival food and hopped into the shower.
In her rush to remove the evidence that she had been out, Jin Lian forgot to wait for the water to heat up. She yelped as cold water rained over her small, lithe body, goosebumps appearing all over her skin. Without wasting any time, the raven-haired woman grabbed soap and started scrubbing the makeup off her face. She moved onto her slim, toned arms, down towards her long, shapely legs. Red and orange makeup mixed with the water at her feet and swirled in a whirlpool of color before it disappeared down the drain.
When she was finally clean, Jin Lian donned a light, long sleeved shirt that opened slightly in the front. Over it, she fastened a long, light silk skirt just below the breast that flowed down towards the floor. A knock at her door alerted her.
She opened it to find her father's towering figure before her. "Father," she greeted curtly.
"I see you haven't made an attempt to escape yet," he replied. Jin Lian noticed his golden eyes flick over her damp hair and night clothes.
"I've grown out of that, father," she answered smoothly. "Although, I am loathed to admit I haven't grown out of my quick temper. I'd like to apologize for that."
"Apology accepted, daughter," Ji Won replied. He paused, mouth open as if he wanted to say something else. Thinking otherwise, he shook his head. "Good night, my little lotus," he said. Jin Lian smiled and bade him a good night as well. She closed the door softly and rested against it, letting out a heavy sigh. "Safe, for now," she thought, before moving to her window to sit on the large sill. The petite woman drew one leg up and stretched out the other, resting her back against the frame as she looked out over the palace walls. She could still see the lights of the festival and hear the faint music floating through the warm air.
~Iroh~
Iroh had returned later in the night after an unsuccessful search for Jin Lian. When she had said 'try and catch me again', he thought she would stay in plain sight, teasing him from just an arm's length away, not play hide and seek and totally disappear. Frustrated, he gave up on looking for the young woman, decided to enjoy the festival, and finally return home. He walked through the side gate of the palace, punching in the security code. The lock clicked and the metal door swung smoothly as he walked through.
The prince of the Fire Nation strolled through the pavilions and courtyards towards his chambers, passing by the guest rooms on the way. He looked up, spotting something blowing in the wind. Jin Lian sat in the window, not noticing the man below her. The moonlight shone on her pale skin and the light-colored silk dress she wore, casting an ephemeral light that gave her an otherworldly beauty. Like she was a spirit that would disappear any moment and whose moods would change like the wind. The young woman let out a sigh and returned to her room, leaving the window open. Iroh, too, looked away and returned to his chambers.
Iroh lay on his bed after a much-needed shower. On his side table, he looked at the two masks he had brought back with him. The fearsome blue dragon faced the elegant, multi-colored phoenix. Questions ran through his mind as he stared at the two symbols. Leadership and unity, yin and yang. Jin Lian, the golden lotus, exemplified a phoenix in every way. She was virtuous, dutiful, and intelligent, but perhaps there was more to her? Tonight, he had a glimpse of something else that came to the surface. Iroh closed his eyes and slept. He dreamt of a sparrow flying before him, flitting to and fro from branch to branch. It chirped at him, avoiding his grasp as he tried to catch it. Just as he reached his hand out again, he felt its small wings flutter against his palm, the smooth feathers against his skin…and he awoke with the sun and a low curse.
~Izumi~
Fire Lord Izumi always held court early, a habit picked up from her father. She sat on her dais, looking out at the courtiers that represented their respective districts as they sat in organized rows. Her ministers sat in their lines off to the side, desks placed in front of them and supplied with stationery and pens. Her son sat at the front row, his back straight and face fixed with military discipline. What she noticed most, though, was his eyes constantly moving to the far edge of the throne room. Following his gaze, she raised an eyebrow. Jin Lian Yang sat silently behind her father, still as stone. Izumi wouldn't have noticed her if Iroh hadn't looked.
The older woman cleared her throat and felt all attention fall onto her. "I will now hear the petitions," she announced. One by one, the courtiers rose and spoke. Izumi nodded and replied to each one, allocating funds or resources to the needier districts of the Fire Nation, granting permission to construct new highways and roads, etc. Finally, her son rose and approached.
"Fire Lord, I am here to ask you to assign a new strategist to the United Nations Flagship," he said. His baritone voice rang through the halls. "Strategist Ping had sustained a major wound during a battle and had to be honorably discharged from service."
"A strategist?" Izumi asked. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jin Lian perk up at the sound of the Prince's voice. "Jin Lian Yang, step forward."
A hushed silence immediately fell over the court. Jin Lian stood slowly and warily, as if she was waiting for Izumi to take back her command. She smoothed her skirt as she rose, a pale-yellow scarf fluttering about her neck and over a silk blouse. "Lady Yang, if I remember correctly, you've brokered major deals between the Fire Nation and Republic City?" the Fire Lord inquired.
"Yes, Fire Lord," Jin Lian replied, keeping her head bowed. "Simply trade and relaying foreign policy agreements, nothing much."
Izumi smirked. Nothing much, indeed. Ji Won Yang had told her about the accomplishments his daughter achieved in his name. "You are quite adept then," the older woman commented. She turned to Iroh and nonchalantly said, "There is your strategist, General Iroh."
Audible gasps and angered grunts resounded through the hall.
"Outrageous!"
"She isn't fit to be a strategist!"
"What is the Fire Lord thinking?"
Izumi ignored these comments, more amused by the wide-eyed looks from her son and the young woman than insulted by her courtiers' statements. She raised a hand, commanding silence. "This is a time for peace, we have no need for wartime strategies. Lady Yang has traveled as much as any other United Nations soldier, and has as much knowledge of foreign affairs as much as Minister Yang." Fire Lord Izumi turned to Jin Lian, still standing, frozen in her spot. "Lady Yang, your duties are advisory, you still answer to the General above all else," she said.
"Y…yes Fire Lord," Jin Lian stammered as she bowed low. "I am honored by this opportunity."
"General Iroh, when do you ship out?" Izumi asked, keeping her authoritative tone.
Iroh, still baffled by his mother's decision, took a while to answer. Finally, he said, "In two weeks, Fire Lord."
~Iroh~
His mother soon adjourned court, rising as she did so to leave. According to protocol, he followed, trailed by the ranking members of the council, and finally, the district representatives. Men and women in their official, red robes bustled out, grouping together to catch up or share news. Iroh had stayed behind, leaning against a pillar until he spotted the pale-yellow scarf of his target.
Striding over, he grasped Jin Lian's shoulder, making her gasp frightfully and jump. "Prince Iroh! You scared me!" she cried out softly.
"I'd like to speak with you, Lady Yang, privately," he stressed.
"Of course, your Highness," she answered. Iroh turned on his heel and beckoned her to follow. He led her through the palace until they arrived at his quarters. They stopped at the door, where he opened it and motioned her through the opening.
Jin Lian cautiously stepped through, like a nervous deer through a clearing. She stood against the wall, taking in the enormity of the royal suite. "Would you care for some tea?" he asked, already preparing a pot. He liked to keep a stash for himself so he wouldn't have to call a servant constantly. "Sit down, please."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her sink down into the sofa where he would relax and host guests. She reached out to the Pai Sho board and traced the carvings with her delicate fingers. Iroh took his tea set and brought it to the table. Taking the pot of water into his hands, he ignited the ceramic and instantly boiled the water. "Forgive my crudeness, but this is the easiest way for me to heat the water," he joked. He started to pour the tea into the bowl of leaves, when Jin Lian's hand rested on his.
"Allow me, Prince Iroh," she murmured, gently taking the pot from him. Her hands were small and cool against his larger, warm hands. The pot, which he always thought was a bit small, appeared bigger in her grasp. It was hypnotic, watching Jin Lian perform a tea ceremony. The way she poured, then gently swirling the lid of the small bowl to collect the floating leaves, and finally serving it in two separate cups, felt like watching a small dance of only her hands.
He took the cup and inhaled the strong, earthy scent of black tea. They both drank, letting out small sighs of satisfaction. Iroh saw her shoulders relax imperceptibly. "Wait here, please," he said, placing his cup down on the table and entered his room through another doorway. On his bedside, he picked up the phoenix mask.
~Jin Lian~
"Lady Yang," she heard Iroh's voice from behind her. "I believe this belongs to you." His arms draped over her shoulders from behind, one of them holding her phoenix mask. She could feel his breath behind her ear, tickling the sensitive skin there. Her hands reached up to grab the wooden mask, but it was suddenly tossed onto the table, just out of reach. She turned her head over her shoulder to meet Iroh's gaze, their faces inches apart.
Time stopped for her as she saw his eyes drop to her lips, the back to her eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest, setting a wild tempo and making her blush hotly. Iroh tilted his head and moved closer, his breath ghosting over her skin teasingly as the temperature between them increased from his body heat. "Kissing me that night was a bold strategy, Lady Yang," he murmured. "But I'd like to know more about you." He drew away, the air around her suddenly ice cold as he walked around back to his seat. He touched the mask. "If you want this back, along with my discretion," he stated. "Beat me in Pai Sho."