I sit in a perfumed room. My husband is nowhere to be seen. I fan myself with one hand. My makeup is running with my sweat. Drops of ivory flow down towards my chin, revealing the darkness beneath. My red eye shadow seems to be frightening the couple sitting opposite from me. We sit in uncomfortable silence.

Ozai opens the paper door. I glare at him. He does not bow an apology. He instead sits beside me and puts an arm on my shoulder. I twitch. My hair ornament digs into my scalp. I dare not remove it.

The man is one of the Fire Nation's best captains. He speaks and bows a little in his seat. "May I say what an honor it is, my lord, to have you here."

"Thank you." Says Ozai, a hint of pride in his voice. "Your daughter is a firebender, yes?"

"Oh yes." The captain puts an arm around his wife's shoulder. She is very small and meek looking, with hair the shade of blonde that should have become mousy long ago. Trembling slightly, she reaches for the teakettle and grasps it firmly by the handle. I want to knock the kettle from her hands and we both run away. I pick up my teacup and sip daintily. My lips heat the tea until it boils. "I, as well as my wife Aino, are also fire benders. We have excellent genes."

"Hmm." I suddenly interject. I can feel Ozai's body heat intensify, he is sitting so close to me, but I care not. I put my teacup down. "Your daughter is a very pretty girl."

"Thank you very much, Lady Akito." The wife's voice is as timid as she is.

"You are quite welcome." I shift my gaze from Aino to the captain. I notice his sideburns are particularly ghastly. "But it seems that she has no interest in my son."

"That can be fixed." The captain shifts irritably in his seat. I can tell already that he does not like me much at all. The feeling is mutual. His grip strengthens on his wife's shoulder. She looks as if she will faint any moment. "We can teach our little Minako to find Prince Zuko appealing."

I hate the title of 'Prince'. It only reminds me that Zuko will have to inherit a kingdom fraught with lies and deceit, hated by all. "No, that is not what I mean. She is eight years old. Zuko is eleven. They have no business showing interest in one another. I was foolish in my choice of words. I am sorry."

Ozai lets go of my shoulder. I feel the raw tenderness of sunburn. "Forgive Akito." Says Ozai. "She knows not when to speak."

I feel a hot, sick swoop of rage towards my husband that makes my stomach juices boil and my cheeks rosy. I do not take action. I instead stare intensively at Aino; trying to, telepathically, assure her that she is not going to die. Her face is whiter than my makeup, and her eyes are strangely bloodshot.

"We are done here." My husband stands up. I stand up as well, hands folded. The wife gasps for air as if she was underwater. The man with the awful dundrearies does not notice. "The marriage is henceforth determined." He says. "Thank you for meeting with me, Captain Zhao. I believe a promotion is in order?"

"The honor is mine. Thank you very much, sir." He bows, and looks at me, malice in his eyes. "And to you, Lady Akito."

I feel as though an invisible hand is bending my spine. I suddenly have the urge to spit fire in his face.

The periodic orange glow from the dusky outside tells me that Minako and Zuko are enjoying one another's company. "You are very welcome."

How I hate this nation.