A/N: I'm posting another chapter now of this story because I really like it and wanted to move the story along. I actually combined two chapters because they were both so short and made sense together. Zuko is soon to discover some wonderful things about Madame Hachi's school just not in this chapter LOL. We are going to find out a little more about her as a person, however, so keep reading. As you go from chapter to chapter, I hope that you can feel the direction I'm going to be taking with this story. I would love to hear from you in the reviews if you have any feedback or comments. If you likey, follow or favorite. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Fanfiction is for discovery...
Chapter 4— Day One of Madame Hachi's School of Elegance
The trip to Madame Hachi's island was a three-day journey by ship. The seas fared well, and only light storms of rain prevented passengers from going on the decks for fear of injury one out of the three days. The final day of the trip was smooth sailing and sunshine.
Zuko made it her point to avoid speaking to the captain as much as possible for the duration of her trip and he only informed her of information about the trip as he knew it was not his place to speak on her personal life. This still didn't stop him from sending a letter to the Fire Lord about what he saw on the docks outside of the Caldera before the princess boarded the ship.
The captain felt it his duty as a subject loyal to the Fire Nation and the Fire Lord to inform him of possible subversion of the culture and future leadership. He had no idea how that one action would be the catalyst for changing his country and its history forever, but no one ever knows how their ripples in the waters of fate can multiply and create waves of great force and change in the world.
As the ship approached Madame Hachi's island, three women stood on the dock waiting. There were only five girls remaining on the ship including Zuko. Most passengers disembarked on other islands prior to this island as it was the last stop on the journey.
The sailors liked going to Madame Hachi's estate because she always gave them a hot meal and respite until time for them to once again start their journey. It didn't hurt that all the inhabitants on the island were women either. "Please unload the luggage of our young ladies on that carriage. Thank you." One of the young women instructed to the sailors.
She wore a simple red dress with a crisp white overcoat tailored to fit her impossibly small waist and her hair tied neatly in a bun at the base of her head. She held a white parasol over her to block out the intense rays of the sun. The young woman looked to be no older than Zuko and stood elegantly with the other two women.
The five girls who disembarked from the ship stood in an unintentional line before them and stared in awe at the three beautiful women with parasols and poise.
The oldest of the three women spoke first with a flawless and crisp accent. "Princess Zuko Kasai, Lady Chrysanthemum Hisai, Lady Muta Osaka, Lady Mariko Osaka, and Lady Aiko Renshi welcome to Madame Hachi's island."
The girls looked at one another nervously for a moment. "Do not be alarmed. This island is quite safe and has borders that are well-protected. Let me introduce myself. My name is Ryo Hayato. You may call me Lady Hayato. I am Madame Hachi's assistant."
The new scholars stared at Lady Hayato with wide eyes and struck dumb with intimidation. Lady Hyato smirked imperceptibly and continued. "The young ladies beside me are students who will be graduating tonight after their debutante ball. To my right is Lady Yui Nakamura and to my left is Lady Akari Yamamoto." Both girls gave a flawless curtsy and greeting. Lady Hayato smiled in pride.
The girls watching gasped in amazement. They were already sure that they would have a long way to go before they could become half the ladies the three who stood before them were.
Lady Hayato drew her mouth in a serious line. "Madame Hachi is expecting each of you for dinner tonight promptly at six o'clock. You are to dress formally. You are to be on time." She glanced at Chrysanthemum especially. "No exceptions. Are we clear ladies?" Four of the girls nodded while Zuko spoke, "Yes, Lady Hayato."
The girls stared at Zuko and waited for Lady Hayato to react. "Well, at least one of you has some grasp of basic manners." She said curtly looking at Zuko and then turned away.
"If you will follow me to your accommodations ladies. Come." Lady Hyato wasted no more time on the dock near the beach and walked swiftly toward the grand house in the distance.
The girls followed closely behind careful not to trip one another and not to be left behind. Chrissy grabbed Zuko's hand and gave it a small squeeze. She looked at Zuko and Zuko's eyes mirrored Chrissy's. They were both nervous. Zuko felt a small ache in her chest. She began to wonder what her father just got her into and if she would be able to measure up to this already impossible standard.
"The walk to the house took nearly twenty minutes. Some of the girls in Zuko's group were not accustomed to such a distance. Most of them were carried by palanquin wherever they went and did not walk unless absolutely necessary.
Zuko preferred to walk and didn't complain about the trip to the house. She was more concerned about knowing where she was and how to get around if she ever needed it.
Chrissy continued to hold her hand and follow right beside Zuko occasionally stepping on her heel or toe. She apologized profusely for the third or fourth time and Zuko leaned over and whispered. "Relax, Chrissy. We're just walking. We're safe. We agreed to stick together and help each other, right?"
Chrissy took a long deep breath and tried to relax. "Yes, we did. OK, we'll be fine, right?" she said looking up at Zuko hopefully. Zuko gave her a reassuring smile. "Yes, of course, we will." She said kindly and continued walking.
Lady Hayato smiled to herself and made a mental note to take Zuko under her wing as her protégée. She saw great potential in the Princess of the Fire Nation who protected those weaker than she. She wondered what other surprises the princess held under her quiet and unassuming demeanor.
Lady Hayato wouldn't have long to find out. The sounds of what could have been a barroom brawl complete with screams and swearing echoed down the hall from the room where Lady Hayato put the newest attendees of the school. She couldn't believe the girls managed to fall apart so soon after getting into their dormitory.
She came in to see two 'ladies' tussling on the ground and rolling with fabric and hair flying. She was most shocked to see that the Princess of the Fire Nation was one of them.
"What is going on young ladies?" Lady Hyoto bellowed. Zuko paused mid punch and looked up at the Lady Hayato in surprise and embarrassment. Zuko gave the girl under her one last clandestine slap to the face as she pushed herself up.
The room fell silent as Zuko got off Muta Osaka who lay on the floor with a handful of fabric and a scowl on her face. Zuko stood and attempted to straighten her dress which had rips in the shoulder and hem. She erected her posture and held her head high.
Zuko could have sworn she saw Lady Hayato's eye twitch and lip curl, but she knew better than to smile or make any facial expression. Dealing with her father gave her that valuable piece of life-affirming information.
"One hour. That is how long you five ladies have been in this house before you devolved into a rabble of coarse, unrefined hoodlums." Lady Hayato said soberly.
Each girl lowered their heads. She turned to Zuko. "I certainly expected more from you, Princess Zuko. You of all people should know that there is no worse thing than to allow someone else to control you with your own emotions."
Zuko hung her head in shame. She knew the Lady Hayato was correct. She did allow Muta Osaka to get under her skin with her words and by them control her.
"You are right Lady Hayato. I didn't like what Muta said about Chrysanthemum and I reacted poorly. I apologize for the dishonor I have shown to this house, my father, my classmates, and my nation by participating in a petty squabble. I am willing to accept whatever consequence for my actions and make restitution for any damages done." She said clearly and humbly.
Muta looked up at Zuko in shock. She didn't expect for a princess of the Fire Nation to abase herself to anyone. She shouldn't have had to answer to anyone. "Wait! You're a princess. Why should you have to answer to anyone about what you do?" Muta asked incredulously.
Lady Hayato answered sternly. "Princess Zuko is exhibiting the mature understanding that as a monarch she cannot rule her people if she cannot rule herself. That is why she is here. That is why you are all here. You will all be rulers in some capacity or another." She paused looking at each girl in the eye and frowning as if she had a bad taste in her mouth. She shook her head the disappointment on her face full and apparent.
"You will learn the discipline of self for with it, you have a powerful tool that will allow you to do anything you desire in this world. For now, you will use wherewithal you have to clean up this mess and prepare for a small supper in your individual rooms until tomorrow. There will be no dinner with Madame Hachi tonight. There will be no leaving of your rooms." Lady Hayato said with finality.
Chrysanthemum spoke up. "Lady Hayato, why are we being isolated to our rooms? We didn't start the fight!" she said emphasizing the girls who didn't participate in the fight.
Lady Hayato smiled. "But what did you do to stop it, young flower? Princess Zuko was standing up on your behalf, was she not? How did you aid in protecting the peace? You are all responsible for yourselves, this is true, but you are also responsible to others. Never forget that… Clean this room and return to your separate chambers." Lady Hayato commanded turning on her heel and walking out fully expecting the girls to follow her directions.
Zuko wiped a stripe of blood from her cheek where Muta scratched her in the face and began picking up items that had been caught in the maelstrom of her temper. The other girls followed suit and picked up or stood up items that had fallen over.
Muta stood to the side scowling and staring at the princess who behaved like a commoner and stormed out to her room. Lady Hayato watched sadly as Muta walked away. She perhaps had some un-learning to do before she could learn what was necessary.
In Madame Hachi's chambers later that evening, Lady Hyoto paced back and forth. "A fight. A fight on the very first day Madame!" Lady Hayato shook her head at a loss for words. "I had high hopes for the Princess. I wanted to make her my protégée. She let a spoiled little girl get to her in the first hour."
Madame Hachi turned her head and chuckled with amusement. Lady Hayato felt annoyed and frowned. "Do you find something amusing Madame?" Madame Hachi smiled then and sighed. "Ryo, do you not remember how you also had a fight on your very first day at my school?"
Ryo blushed and took off her glasses to hold the bridge of her nose. "Oh, please don't remind me!" she pleaded. Madame continued as if she hadn't heard Lady Hayato. "I believe the scuffle was with a particular Fire Nation Avatar's granddaughter to be precise. You see yourself in the young princess or you see someone else." She said as a fact.
"I do believe you should be her mentor. Don't be so quick to dismiss Princess Zuko, Ryo. She is Ursa's daughter after all…"
Lady Hayato hung her head in resignation. "I know you're right Madame Hachi; I just hope my little protégée doesn't end up punching the lights out of the likes of Muta Osaka before it's all said and done."
Madame Hachi smiled knowingly. "That's what you're here for my dear to teach them how to fight differently. Go, get some rest. Tomorrow will be better." She said warmly.
Lady Hayato smiled. "Of course. Thank you, Madame, and please rest well tonight also."
Madame Hachi nodded and smiled back as Lady Hyoto excused herself and went down the hall to her room. She hoped tomorrow would be better for everyone as the Madame said.
Zuko lay in her bed wide awake. The night was stilted and calm with only the deafening silence filling the hallways.
Zuko felt like the walls were closing in on her. She needed air. She placed her slippers on and crept as silently as she could manage down the hallway in search of a door to the outside. There was a side door and she opened it carefully.
Zuko had no idea where she planned to go but she just needed a moment away from her disastrous day. She walked several meters from the grand estate and found a spot overlooking the island in a small clearing.
Zuko found a rock and sat with her knees pulled up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked slowly in time with the sound of the ocean's waves that roared in the distance.
She whispered to herself, "Mom, I miss you so much! I'm here at this school and already I'm failing so badly Mom…" Zuko shivered whether from the ocean breeze or her own lack of success she couldn't tell.
"Why couldn't you be here to teach me these things? I can't do anything right! It was so much better with you around. Gods, I just want you to come home!" Zuko whispered into a sob.
Tears rolled hotly down her face. First one then another until a river of tears began and she wasn't sure she wanted them to stop. Zuko buried her head in her knees and cried desperately.
She allowed herself to let go and wail until she wanted to stop. A hand fell on her back softly and began rubbing back and forth from one shoulder to the other in a soothing pattern. Zuko didn't look up to see who was with her. She allowed the person to show comfort in the way they knew how.
The person didn't speak but let Zuko cry until she felt the moment pass. Soon Zuko was all cried out and drained of the deep pain and sadness she felt until it was only a dull ache.
She lifted her head slowly to see who was with her. To her shock, Muta Osaka was sitting next to her silently her own face streaked with dried tears. Zuko turned to face the ocean again and rested her head on her knees.
Muta spoke softly. "I was planning to see what you were up to and tattle on you in the morning." She said plainly. Zuko chuffed and nodded as she could believe it.
Muta smiled. "I get so many mixed messages about what I'm supposed to do and say and be, sometimes I just shrug my shoulders and say forget it and do what feels right. That's why I'm here. Too many times I did what felt right." She declared.
Zuko tried to hold back her laugh. Muta chuckled. "It's OK you can laugh. I know what my issues are." Zuko shook her head with a smile. "I'm not laughing at you. I too have also just done what feels right. Never really ends well for me."
Muta looked over at Zuko and Zuko looked at Muta. The girls erupted with laughter for several long minutes. They held each other up by the shoulders which shook with humor.
Muta stopped and said, "I don't believe you. How many broken bones have you had?"
Zuko giggled. "On record? Three. In real life and from the war? Too many to count." Muta gasped. "You fought in the war?" Zuko nodded.
"Yeah, I just wanted to help it to end. Too many casualties. Lost friends. Family. It was too much." She said softly looking off into the distance of her mind and memories.
Muta too was lost in her memories. "I lost my father in the war. He was a captain in the navy. His name was Jee. He died in the Siege of the North." Zuko hung her head at the mention of the battle that destroyed nearly the entire Fire Nation naval fleet.
Muta seemed unphased. "Daddy always knew how to make me smile and laugh. He called me his 'ferocious little dragon'. Mother… remarried a nobleman. He insisted that my sister and I become properly trained ladies of the court." Muta said in a mockingly posh tone. She rolled her eyes.
"He plans to marry us off as soon as we get back so that he can have "his family" to himself meaning my mother and his children with her."
Zuko hummed in understanding. "It feels like we're just fighting another war doesn't it?" Muta looked at Zuko with a new understanding.
A voice called behind them suddenly startling the two girls from their deep contemplation. "It is actually. Another war, I mean. It's called politics." It was Lady Hayato standing behind them her robe and nightgown being blown around by the sea breeze. She smirked.
"Believe it or not, that is what you are here to learn. So that you can fight and win your secret battles. The unseen ones. The ones people don't realize are being fought all the time for them, no less and sometimes for yourselves."
Lady Hayato walked up beside the two girls putting her hand on Muta's shoulder. "Thank you for coming to check on our Princess. That was a very honorable thing to do." Muta shook her head. "Lady Hayato you know I didn't come to do that." Lady Hayato smiled to herself.
"Perhaps not at first, but you were able to decipher what was best instead of what just felt right, hmm?" She said looking at Muta knowingly. Muta smiled.
"Ladies, sometimes you do have to just do what feels right, but I'm here to teach you the how and the when. Do you trust me?" she said looking out at the ocean her head high and sure.
Zuko and Muta looked up at Lady Hayato then looked at each other. "Yeah." They said together smiling. They paused eyeing each other and self-corrected. "Yes, Lady Hayato." Lady Hayato smiled and nodded. "Very well, then. Ladies let us retire. The sun will be dawning soon, and your training will begin."