OMFG has it been that long? I'm sorry to those who've been disappointed in me. I'm a lazy bum with men troubles. I'm chasing a guy who shows no interest in me whereas an ex is chasing after me... But that's too personal. But unfortunately this will be my fail chapter of this story. It has finally come to it's end! I am starting a Kingdom Hearts fanfic for my brother and a LotRs/Harry Potter mix fanic of my own character. Hope to hear from you when I posts those. I LOVE YOU ALL!
"I haven't seen you this relaxed before, Zuko," Kiko said as she looked up at him. The two of them were laying in a hammock, Zuko's arm casually around Kiko's waist as he laid back with his eyes closed. They were both wearing their matching sleeves shirts and pans that reached to their knees.
They waited on what seemed to be a deserted island while Iroh was sent with his ship to go the Fire Nation capital. Some of the men agreed to stay with them, mostly to protect Kiko in case anything happened. Some of them had no families to return to, so they willingly vowed to remain with them to the end. But this was a time for relaxation and the men spent their hours on the beach or in the woods exploring, for once laughing at nothing and enjoying it.
"I haven't really been given a chance to relax since I was banished," Zuko said as he looked at her as she rested her head on his chest. "But it doesn't matter anymore."
"Sir!" A man said as he came up the hill wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. Kiko and Zuko sat up, Kiko, quickly covering her eyes with one hand, though obviously peeking through her fingers.
"Kiko," Zuko lightly scolded. "What is it?" He asked to the man.
"Your uncle has returned, he's on the beach as we speak." the man said. He bowed and left as Zuko casually waved him off.
"Come on, we better see how it went," Zuko said as he sung his legs over the side and landed on the ground. "You've seen a man in a towel before." He reached down where two cups were placed at the base of a tree and took a final drink from one cup.
"I've seen you in a towel," Kiko said suggestively as she left the hammock. Zuko coughed as the water went down wrong way at the unexpected response. He turned to se her walking down the hill deliberately swaying her hips with every step, calling his name. This will prove very interesting, Zuko thought to himself as he tossed his cup aside and ran to meet Kiko.
Down at the beach Iroh stood with a circle of the men around him, a very grave expression was set on his face. Kiko and Zuko walked up to him, worried as everyone else.
"Uncle, what's wrong?" Zuko asked as he walked up to the older man.
Iroh sighed before looking up to Zuko, saying, "Your father wishes for you to return to the palace so he could personally inspect the woman you wish to marry. He will continue the conversation from there with you, or at least that is what he has told me."
"Inspect me?" Kiko said as Zuko had a black face. "Like I'm a piece of meat? This is-"
"Wonderful!" Zuko shouted with a wide smile.
"What?" Iroh and Kiko said, taken aback, at the same time.
"Father wishes to see Kiko," Zuko said. "He wants to see the woman I'm going to marry like any good father would. He's welcoming me back home, into my country. He may even welcome me back into the family. Don't you see, this is great news!"
"Zuko," Kiko said softly. She didn't want to upset him seeing he was now happier than she had ever seen him, but he was denying the truth. "This is your father you're talking about, the man who banished you. Your father banished you."
"Kiko, you should be happy for me," Zuko said, looking disappointed at her. The men around them realized this wasn't going to be pretty and slowly edged away, leaving Iroh alone with them. Some loyal men, he thought to himself. "This could be my chance to return to the throne as well as my home. Father could be finally excepting me."
"What happened to 'it doesn't matter anymore'?" Kiko demanded. "Any man that hasn't excepted you for who you are is no true father." Iroh could see Zuko temper raising, something that hasn't happened in a good while and he dreaded what the affects would be of this, but before he could sop his nephew, he began to shout.
"If you can't trust him, my own father, then there is no reason you should ever be in this family!" Zuko shouted at Kiko. The meaning of his words hit her suddenly and she had the look of being slapped in the face. Zuko turned and faced the ocean, a sour look remained on his face.
Lowering her head, Kiko walked past Iroh, who gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "He didn't mean it, my dear," Iroh whispered softly to her. She only ignored him and walked to her tent in silence as tears streamed down her cheeks. Glaring in anger, Iroh turned and walked to Zuko. In one swift movement he turned Zuko by grabbing his shoulder and slapped his across the face.
"Uncle!" "Zuko yelled, but flinched when Iroh yelled in a lower voice. "Do you even realize what you said to her? Are you so upset you would refuse to marry the woman you love?"
"I never said that," Zuko argued back.
"Think of what you said!" Zuko thought back on his words and his eye opened when he remembered his words, there is no reason you should ever be in this family. "She left crying knowing your love and loyalty is for you father alone."
"But she should be happy for me," Zuko said in grief, torn between two loves, his father and the woman he wished to marry.
"She's trying to protect you from anything he may concoct," Iroh said. "She's right. Do you truly believe he will except you that easily, without the avatar or any accomplishment that he may deem honorable?"
All Zuko wanted was to have is father except him like any son would. Then he considered how he gave that up for a life with Kiko, now he turned that for a chance to be with his father. What has he done?
Without saying a word he walked past Iroh, his head ducked, as he walked towards Kiko's tent. As he stepped at the door-flap he heard quiet sobbing. He sighed thinking how he had caused that to happened and without warning, he stepped in.
"What do you want?" She whispered as she laid on top of the large pillows that made her bed, face down.
"Kiko, what I said out there," Zuko started.
"You don't want to marry me anymore," Kiko finished. "You made that perfectly clear."
"I didn't mean that!" Zuko said as he sat next to her. "My words left me before I could even realize what I was saying. I know what it sounds like, but I only wanted you to know that he is my father, no matter what he has done. I still want to marry you, that will never change, and if you say so I will not return to the Fire Nation on my father's orders."
"But Zuko!" Kiko shouted as she sat up. Zuko only wiped away the tears that were on her cheeks and under her eyes.
"Just saying I love you and will do anything for you is no enough," Zuko said. "When I say you are my first love I want you to believe me. So I will let you decide." Kiko wrapped her arms around his waist as he wrapped his around her shoulders. They stayed that way for several minutes in pure silence when Kiko sat up, still enwrapped in Zuko's arms.
"If you wish to go, then I will," Kiko said softly. "I feel this may be a trap of some sort, but I trust you, Zuko."
Zuko's eyes squinted slightly at the thought of Kiko being hurt and brought her closer to his chest. "If they even try to harm you, I don't care who it is, they will die," he said softly, just barely loud enough for her to hear.
"I hope it does not have to come to that," Kiko said as she snuggled closer to Zuko.
"I love you, Kiko," Zuko said as he pulled her onto his lap. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I feel the same for you," she said before Zuko lowered his lips on top of hers in a silent kiss.
"Isn't that Zuko's ship?" Katara asked from on top of Appa's back. Zuko and Kiko decided to leave as soon as possible and left the next day for the Fire Nation capital.
"Yea," Sokka said as he looked at what his sister was staring at. "I wonder where they're going in such a hurry."
"Isn't…" Aang whispered from on top of Appa's head. "Isn't that the direction of the Fire Nation?"
"No way, Zuko's banished," Sokka argued. "You heard what they said; he can't go back unless he has the avatar, you."
"I don't like this feeling," Katara said.
"What feeling?" Sokka asked abruptly.
"I feel it, too," Aang said. "I think something bad is going to happen."
"What feeling?" Sokka shouted, feeling very much left out.
"It's a lovers thing," Katara said as he scooted where Aang.
"Yea, right a lovers…" Sokka started, mocking her when he realized the last word he said. "Wait a second, lovers? You're only 18 and he's only 16, you can't be lovers!"
"Oh, calm down, Sokka," Katara said with a laugh.
"I think we should follow them," Aang said, making Sokka and Katara stop arguing. They both looked at him with curious stares. "Something might happen. I want to be there to prevent it."
"But you're no ready to fight off The Fire Lord," Sokka said. They had agreed when they left for Omashu and left King Bumi in the hands of the Fire Nation when the great city was seized. They had yet found another teacher for Aang to teach him earth bending and he still had work on his fire bending.
"But I can't let them walk into danger," Aang said sternly. "It's my duty as the avatar… and as friend to both Kiko and Zuko." Katara and Sokka smiled as each other and leaned against the edge of Appa's saddle as they turned towards the Fire Nation.
"I don't like this," Kiko whispered as she, Zuko, and Iroh were escorted into the palace.
"Me either," Iroh whispered. They were huddled in a small group so no one could hear as they walked through two walls of guards. "The atmosphere reeks of death."
"Whose is what I want to know," Zuko whispered. They walked into the palace and into the throne room and they were told to step up to the throne where it was completely emptied saved for Ozai sitting on his throne waiting for them. None of them bowed.
"So this is the woman you wish to marry?" The heard Ozai say.
"Pathetic looking, if you ask me," another voice was heard from the throne. Azula stepped from behind the throne with her usual wicked smile. "A waste of time and effort." With that, she waved her arms and move creating a blue spark before pointing her two finger at Kiko sending blue fire lightning at her. Kiko caught it and threw her hand to the side sending the lightning crashing into the walls, her palm had smoke emitting from it.
"Azula!" Zuko screamed.
"Father wishes to see how your fiancée fairs against me," Azula said. "We can't see you with anyone weak, ZuZu." Without warning she zoomed past Zuko and Iroh and went for Kiko. Zuko was about to run towards them as blows were delivered when an arm stopped him. Zuko looked up to see his father glare down at him.
"You will leave them alone," Ozai said when here was a scream. Azula had caught Kiko in the chest with her lightning and sent her against a pillar, crumbling it from the harsh blow. Ozai was caught off guard as Zuko sent a fireball his way and he ran past his father to Kiko's side.
"Kiko?" He said as he lifted her head. Blood was running down the side of her mouth as she looked up at him.
"I'm… sorry…" Kiko said.
"Don't say a word," Zuko whispered. "I should be sorry… Kiko?" He whispered as he noticed a glazed look in her eyes.
"She's still live," he head a voice from the remains of the pillar. He looked up to see Katara peering from the rubble. "I'll heal her while you fight. Aang will fight the one you choose."
"I'm going after Azula," Zuko growled.
"Then Aang will go for the Fire Lord," Katara said. "Jus be careful." Zuko nodded as he stood up and turned away from Kiko and started to walk towards Azula.
"You hurt Kiko," Zuko whispered harshly.
"Apparently, not enough," Azula said with a smile. To her surprise he threw a punch at her, which she barely dodged in time. "I'm your sister!"
"And I'm your brother," Zuko said as they continued the fight. "That doesn't make you see me any different, does it?"
"I wouldn't be going anywhere, brother," Iroh said as Ozai stepped towards the two fighting siblings. Iroh was in a fighting stance and on Ozai's other side was Aang.
"You as well, my brother?" Ozai said. "Then you will all die!" Ozai cast off his robe and threw a wave of wave at the both of them. Aang easily dodged it, sending air against it and Iroh used fire.
While the fighting was carrying on Sokka lifted Kiko in a sitting position as Katara bent water out of a small jug from her waist and healed Kiko's wounds. Her eyes went opened when she saw the small war going on around then and Katara used her water bending skills to reflect the objects and misguided fire blasts that came their way.
"I have to go help," Kiko said as she tried to stand up.
"No," Sokka said as he pulled her shoulder down. "This is a personal fight, even for Aang." They suddenly felt a rumbling as a rogue fireball hit a pillar base. It began to tip over where Zuko and Azula were fighting. Aang saw this and used his air bending skills to push Zuko out of the way. Unfortunately, Azula could not move quickly enough and the pillar landed over her waist down. The rubble from the ceiling soon came down after, crushing the rest of her body as she screamed.
"Go help them!" Kiko yelled at Katara as Iroh and Aang began to have trouble with Ozai. Zuko ran towards Kiko and knelt beside her to check for wounds.
"I'm fine," she said, taking Zuko's hands within her own.
"They're not," Sokka said. "Air, fire, and water. All we're missing is an earth bender."
"You're a genius!" Kiko said as she began to run off.
"Where are you going!" Zuko said as he caught her arm.
"They're bound to have an earth bender in one of the dungeons," Kiko reasoned. "We can use all the help we can get."
"I'll come with you," Zuko said. "You say here," he said to Sokka as they both ran out of the throne room. Dodging guards, Kiko and Zuko went to the dungeons and smiled their fortune at who they found first.
"We can't win alone," Katara said as she and Aang backed into each other. Sokka had attempted to help only to have his boomerang melted.
"Then allow me to assist you," an old man said.
"Bumi!" Aang yelled excitedly. As he saw the old king walk into the room.
"You will not defeat me," Ozai said.
"I believe we will," Aang said. He spread his legs and threw his two fist together, for the first time willing himself into Avatar State. Focusing air energy, as Katara, Bumi, and Iroh focused theirs, Aang sent a blast of pure energy along with the others at Ozai, sending his through the back wall of the throne room and outside. Alive, but very much injured, Ozai laid on the grass as Bumi wrapped him with earth as to not move his body to bend fire.
"It's done," Sokka whispered happily. "The war is over!"
"Not yet," Bumi said as he turned to Zuko. "The Fire Lord may have been defeated, but the armies are still on the rampage. A new Fire Lord must take his place."
"Me?" Zuko whispered, his eyes wide open.
"You are the next in line," Iroh said, still trying to catch his breath. "And your banishment was over when you were called to the Fire Nation. You are now the new Fire Lord."
Zuko looked around nervously but felt a hand take his. He looked down at Kiko who smiled at him reassuringly. He returned the smile and nodded at everyone around him.
"Hey, where are all the guards?" Sokka said, interrupting the moment. "With everything going on, don't you think someone would have come to try and stop this?"
"I have a feeling my brother was too assure of his daughter and himself hat he would not need help and ordered everyone to stay away from here," Iroh explained.
"My sister is dead," Zuko whispered. Kiko looked up at him worriedly, but he only sighed and said, "A promise was kept. The one that hurt you died." He hugged her to his side as everyone gathered around them.
"It's time we announce our new Fire Lord and officially end this war," Iroh said.
"We can go home and finally see dad," Katara said happily. Conversations were ignited, all with happy time ahead when Kiko remembered something.
"Zuko, the war in my time," she whispered. "It may still happen if something isn't done to satisfy the Earth Nation."
"King Bumi," Zuko said loudly. "I have something we need to discuss after some things are dealt with."
"Of course," Bumi said. "Your majesty."
Soon Zuko was announced the new Fire Lord and his first action was to pull the troops out of the other countries. After some time Zuko and Kiko visited the South Pole as Katara and Sokka returned home after some celebration in the Fire Nation. Zuko apologized to everyone in the water tribe and was forgiven by most of them. Katara saw her father and introduced Aang as the avatar and her boyfriend. Of course Aang was quickly excepted by her father and he was then a part of the family.
"Hmph," Sokka snorted as he walked at the edge of his village. "Zuko has Kiko. Heck, even Aang landed himself an older girl!" Turning around a iceberg he ran into a girl who has brown hair with twin braids tied together to form a bow shape in the back of her head and water nation clothes.
"Hey," they said irritated at each other. The moment their eyes met they had daydream looks and said, "Hi," the same time.
"I'm Kitomi," the girl said shyly.
"I'm Sokka," he replied.
"The warrior?" Kitomi asked excitedly. "The one who traveled with the avatar?"
"Yep," Sokka said proudly. "Let me tell you all about it, over dinner?"
Zuko and Kiko of course did not stay long and returned back to the Fire Nation. Katara, Sokka, and Aang returned with them only for a short while just so they could see the wedding of a lifetime. The long waited wedding happened outside in the sun as they said their vows and were wedded as Fire Lord and Lady.
Eventually Aang did marry Katara and they moved to the southern air temple to fix everything that happened from the war. To prevent the war that had yet to happen, Zuko had made an agreement that Ozai would be executed within Omashu in front of the public. The price was for them to see the life taken from the one that continued the war his father started. Bumi gave Zuko several months before the execution for his wedding and time to adjust to his new position.
The time of the execution, Zuko left lone, leaving his uncle, the new admiral of the army after Zhao's demotion, and Kiko to run the country. Zuko was given the opportunity to speak with his father, hours before. Then he forgave his father, even when he said nothing to him. As he left he saw his father cry and said nothing more. He watched his father be executed and buried, crying the whole time, proudly.
After being away from home two weeks, Zuko insisted against Bumi's wishes that he return home. He sailed home with the crew that had been with him for three years and nearly all of them were promoted. As he went o the palace we was greeted by Iroh first.
"Zuko, my lad," Iroh said happily. "Congratulations."
"Huh?" Zuko said, very much confused.
"Don't play dumb," Iroh said. "I know Kiko must have ran up to you n told you news of the baby."
"What baby?" Zuko yelled as Kiko walked in.
"Uncle, I haven't old him yet," Kiko yelled. "I was waiting for the right time."
"Why does he know before me?" Zuko yelled again at Kiko.
"It's no her fault you were away at an execution. Putting your father before her, yet again."
"Uncle Iroh!" Zuko and Kiko both yelled. Iroh watched as they argued, knowing fully well that night they would be in each other's arms, celebrating the new life to come.
A young teenaged air bender, the avatar, by the name of Chihiro was looking through the treasure room of he southern air temple when she came across a painting of an old Fire Lord with a scar over his face, his beautiful wife, and their small son on her lap as she sat in front of her husband. On the back was a note, Chihiro, As Avatar Aang, I hope you remember me and that I will always be your daughter. I hope the best for you and father. This is to let you know, you are a grandmother. Kiko.
Chihiro vaguely remembered a name, Haku, a fire bender. She smiled mischievously as she took the painting to her room and planning on visiting the Fire Nation.