Right off the bat I would like to apologize for the lateness of this chapter. But I have been tied up updating my other Rotsh story so this chapter's completion came a bit late. I mean , I made it in less than 3 days so it would be more accurate to say that I was too busy to draft this chapter up.

Whatever you all get the idea.

Anyway big thanks to HammerTide for beta reading this chapter and giving important feedback and critic !

:)

With that said , let's get this chapter started !


Shin took a deep breath as he walked the street to his home in the Fire Nation capital. As a captain in the Yuyan Archers , the pay he received was quite decent and after spending more than 2 decades working for the organization he had saved enough money to buy a reasonably sized house , and this was long before he and his wife even got married. Being a captain in the Fire Nation paid well.

The Fire Lord had given him time to rest and recuperate after his ...less than pleasant experience in the Forgetful Forest. So he had essentially been granted leave until further notice. And Shin wasn't going to waste a minute of it without seeing his wife first.

Plus he needed to scrub the nightmares of that Fire Lady out his head before he was fit to go on any mission. He still got chills whenever he thought back to her fucking face , the way the blood poured out of her eyes and mouth and-

Shin shook his head , trying to forget about it entirely. He had to focus on seeing his wife.

It had been a good long while since they had last seen each other ever since he had taken this assignment ...and he can only imagine the tongue lashing he is going to get when he arrives.

Stopping at the front door of his house ...Shin takes a deep breath right before he knocked on the door and hears the telltale sounds of somebody walking up to them.

The door opens and Shin is greeted to the sight of a beautiful woman in her late forties , with her hair tied up in a bun and glasses on her face.

" Hi Mei ...sorry its been a while " Shin said awkwardly. He found it close to disgraceful that he was a Captain and still struggled like an idiot during moments like these.

Me's eyes went through shock , realization and acceptance all in the span of a few seconds . Mei took a deep breath before she stepped towards him " First things first ..." Mei's hand reached out to his collar and pulled him in close .

He didn't resist as she pulled him into a deep and loving kiss. Shin melted in it . He couldn't give a damn if somebody saw them , let them watch.

The kiss lasted a few more moments before Mei pulled away gasping for breath while Shin was almost sad that she pulled away.

" Secondly ..." Mei then reached out and roughly grabbed his cheek.

" Ow ow ow ow ! " Shin exclaimed as she roughly pinched and pulled him into the house.

"That's for not coming back in so long ! " Mei scolded him.

" Sorry baby ..." Shin didn't even try to make excuses , he deserved this.

" I get that it was an extremely important assignment and everything ...but you could have at least sent a messenger hawk ! " Mei continued , but steadily pulled him onto the couch with her.

" Sorry ...I wish I could have but we were ordered by the Fire Lord to keep this as low profile as possible " Shin explained.

" Well ...the least you can do is tell me about what happened " Mei said with a smile growing " I'm curious to hear what the 'Forgetful Forest' was like "

Shin chuckled a little. This was something of a ritual for them, whenever he came back from an assignment he would always tell her how it went , what happened , what they found and the usual stuff...

It was actually against protocol to share information with people outside of the military ...but in the case of his wife , he can make an exception.

" Well , it all started when we first arrived in the village of Hira'a and..."

Shin proceeded to tell his wife everything. Starting with how much his men complained when they first entered the forest, the crazy and scary plants and animals that would occasionally attack them. The unbearable weather and rain that would happen randomly at times. Mei would occasionally laugh at his and his men's misfortune and mishaps . Though Shin took in stride and smiled along with her.

Her laugh had a way of bringing his mood up. And Shin's tales continued well into the evening and dinner.

But ...then Shin got to the point of his more grim tales of his time in the Forgetful Forest was like. And Mei didn't laugh much at that point.

Specifically around the Fire Lady part.

" So ...you encountered some kind of spirit lady in this forest ? " Mei inferred.

" It was more like we encountered a monster. A horrifically beautiful monster " Shin clarified " It wasn't just the way she looked and talked ...but there was this strange ...presence or aura around her , I don't know how to explain but it was like ... radiating off of her ...and all of my instincts were telling me that I was in the presence of an extremely dangerous monster that could rip us apart if she wanted to..."

" But you managed to escape ? "

"More like she let us go ..." Shin corrected. He had a feeling that if she really wanted them dead , they would be ...yet why did she spare them then ?

" Well ...I'm glad at least she did you big oaf ..." Mei said as she hugged him and pulled him back onto the couch. The two laid there in comfortable silence as Shin gently ran his hand through his wife's hair.

" So ...what happens now ?" Mei asked " Will you be going back soon ? "

" The Fire Lord said that he needed to contact the Avatar first , but until then..." Shin smirked at his wife as she climbed on top of him " I got all the time in the world for you..."

" Excellent, because we have some major catching up to do " Mei smirked as well as she slowly removed her shirt and kissed him again.

What followed next was hours long of ...catching up.

Shin wished this feeling could last forever.


Dear Sifu Hotman

I'm sorry to hear that the search for Azula hasn't been going well. No matter what she did during the war , she doesn't deserve to be left alone in a Forest like that. You said in your message that the trackers you dispatched to find her had encountered some kind of strange spirit lady and you need my help to deal with her ...but unfortunately , I'm sorry to say Zuko that I can't go to the Fire Nation right now.

Trust me when I say that I would instantly hop onto Appa and go to help you right now ...but my Airbending school is still only just getting off the ground right now and I don't think any of my students are prepared to suddenly be put in charge . Katara and Sokka are still at the South Pole , while Toph is still training her students at her metal-bending school. So I don't think any of us can go to help right now.

But don't worry ! As soon as I got things cleared up here , I'll pick up Sokka and Katara and we'll be at the palace as soon as can be !

Though ...I won't lie when I say that it might take a while so ...we'll try our best to hurry.

Your Friend, Avatar Aang

Zuko narrowed his eyes at the letter that had arrived just a few days ago , before letting out a sigh. He had already expected that Aang and the others would be too tied up in their own business to lend help right away. Zuko was already feeling bad enough dragging Aang and the others into his familial issues , this was his own mess and he had to deal with it himself.

Still ...he was glad that Aang would come to help when he could. They would just have to manage until then...

At that moment , the door to his office opened and walked in Mai with her usual blank expression.

She immediately noticed the letter in his hand " Is that the letter from Aang ? "

" Yeah ..." Zuko says as he puts it on his desk " He says that he can't come to help us for some time because he's still busy organizing and managing his airbending school. Katara and Sokka are still in the South Pole and Toph is still busy managing her metal bending school so she's out..."

" So we're on our own ...great " Mai says exasperatedly. She took a seat opposite of him as she spoke again " Do you think Azula is even still alive ... Zuko ? "

Zuko was caught off guard by the question. And it took him a minute to fully process it.

The idea of his sister being dead was...incomprehensible. She always seemed so calm , collected and skilled for something like that to happen.

His mind flashed back to the Agni Kai ...her breakdown..and Zuko wasn't so sure anymore.

" I ...don't know honestly " Zuko admitted " She used to be so skilled and focus that ...she would be able to survive that forest no problem or better yet she would have managed to escape from it ..."

" But now you're not so sure with this Fire Lady around , huh ? " Mai inferred.

" Yeah ..." Zuko said quietly and Mai took this chance to take his hand " I just ...hope she's safe ..."

The two sat there in silence neither of them saying anything.

Zuko could only pray to Agni that his sister was still alive.

Azula was simply too angry to die.


Ursa sat quietly alone in the lounge room , faded tear streaks from her eyes but she wasn't crying anymore ... she had already cried out all her tears a few days ago. When they first got the news from the tracker Zuko sent out that her daughter had a high chance of being dead.

Azula dead ... the statement alone shook Ursa to her very core. The simple idea terrified Ursa to no end. And the fact that it might be real ?

It saddened and shook Ursa to the depths of her heart.

Her daughter can't be dead. She can't be... Ursa still hasn't even gotten the chance to apologize to her...

When she first returned to the palace...she held onto the hope that she would one day see her first daughter again. That she would be able to show her the love and respect that she had never given her as a child. That she would be able to apologize for leaving her and Zuko behind with that ...monster. That she would finally be able to be the mother that Azula needed above all else...

But now that might be damn impossible...because her daughter might very well be dead and rotting in the mud for all she knows.

Its my fault ... all my fault ...

She should have taken Zuko and Azula with her when she fled the palace. Consequences be damned. She could have taken them to Hira'a with her , changed their faces along with hers and maybe hide out long enough for the Avatar to have defeated Ozai and put the world at peace...but what she had done instead ?

She took the cowards way out ...she left them both behind ... not even bothering to say goodbye to Azula ...and when push came to shove she willingly chose to forget her own children just to save her own skin.

Ozai was right ... of course he was right , she had just as much a hand in her daughter's fall from grace as he did. Only difference between them being she pretended to be the good parent to their children.

And yet her self incrimination means nothing. Because her daughter might well be dead.

" Ursa my love ? Are you alright ? " A voice interrupted her thoughts and the woman turned to her husband Ikem , that was standing there with a concerned look on his face " And why are you crying ?"

Ursa hadn't even noticed that she had started crying again. Or even notice her love's presence enter the room.

" N-No Ikem ... no ...its all my fault ...I'm a horrible mother Ikem..."

" Ursa ...what are you talking about ? " Ikem said worriedly.

" I'm a horrible mother ...I failed my children Ikem ...I failed them ..." Ursa said sadly.

Ikem gave her a worried look " Ursa you're not-"

Ikem was cut off when Ursa suddenly hugged him.

" J-just ...please hold me ..."

Ikem didn't reply as he held his wife close to keep her from falling apart completely at the moment.


Dinner was a somber affair. It shouldn't have to be since its usually a time for them all to come together and have a peaceful , somewhat happy time.

But this...this was depressing even by Mai's standards.

Zuko had been quietly eating his food for the entirety of the meal,not even trying to make conversation with her or anyone else. While Ursa was doing much of the same. The only person at the table that was actually talking was Kiyi , but it seemed like both her parents were just nodding along to whatever it was she was saying.

Mai hated this. She truly did.

She hated this somber dread that hung over all of them like a cloud and none of them seemed to want to talk about it. Or even address it for that matter.

Mai let out a sigh as dinner was finished and everybody was making a move to leave.

" Zuko ? Ursa ? Can we talk for a minute ?" Mai said before either of them could leave. The two of them looking at her in surprise.

" What is it Mai ? " Zuko asked while his mother gave a similar look.

" Just ... we need to talk a minute in private " Mai said simply.

Ursa gave Ikem a look before nodding " I'll just be a moment love"

Ikem nodded before taking Kiyi out of the room. The three of them remained sitting at the table , none of them saying anything.

" What do you want to talk about anyway Mai ?" Zuko said clearly not looking too inclined at what she was doing , but it didn't matter. They couldn't go on like this.

Mai took a deep breath as she spoke " ...The topic that you both seemed to have been avoiding all evening. Azula of course ..."

...

...

...

...

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...

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...

...

...

Silence washed over them like a wave and both Zuko and Ursa looked away instinctively.

" You both know you can't avoid this issue forever " Mai said crossing her arms.

" What's there to talk about ? We're just going to wait until Aang gets here to send him into the Forest go find Azula " Zuko said dismissively.

" ...You know that's not what I'm talking about Zuko " Mai said gently" I'm talking about whether or not Azula is even still alive in that forest in the first place. We can talk about searching the forest more , calling in the Avatar, but we haven't once talked about the root of the issue... and that's whether she's even alive in the first place"

Both Zuko and Ursa stiffen at her words as Mai continues " Those trackers had been searching that forest for months looking for Azula and found but a few sparse clues of where she went. Not whether she's alive or not. Up until this point , Azula's survival in that forest was 50-50 at best ...but with this spirit supposedly roaming the forest...how good are the odds that she's actually still alive ? "

Both Zuko and Ursa didn't say anything , both strucken silent at what to say. Mai honestly felt bad for doing this ...but somebody had to say it.

" Well what do you want us to do then ? Call off the search ? Declare her dead to the Fire Nation ?"

It wasn't Zuko who this angry reply came from ...but Mai turned to Ursa who seemed to giving her an angry look. One that would make Ozai proud if there wasn't sadness laced in her tone.

" That's not what I'm-"

" No Mai ! I don't want to hear any talk of my daughter being dead ! " Ursa shouted which shocked both Mai and Zuko. Neither of them had ever seen Ursa so angry before.

" ...I never got to truly apologize to her... the last time I saw my little girl was while she was having a mental breakdown in front of me ...and I didn't even remember who she was at the time !" Ursa shouted as tears started to fall " And all I could do was give a pathetic 'sorry' ...to a girl who's pain I didn't know the full extent of ...or even remember what her name was !"

" ...Do you understand that Mai ? I never got to tell her I love her. That she isn't alone in this world . And that there are truly people who care for her ...but I can't ..." Ursa said barely restrained anger " Azula could be alive or dead or being tortured right now by some spirit and I don't know ! So forgive me for not wanting to hear any talk of my daughter being dead ! "

" Because ...because ... then she would have died thinking everybody abandoned her...and Agni knows she was right ... " Ursa couldn't continue as she crumpled to the floor in grief.

" Mother !" Zuko quickly went to his mother and embraced her.

Mai could only watch the scene in front of her...

Knowing somewhere deep in her heart that she shares their grief and sadness.

Not just for them ...but for her former friend as well.


It was a few hours later and Zuko had Ikem take Ursa back to their room to hopefully comfort her to sleep. Not like Mai could really blame her after what had happened...

Maybe she shouldn't have said anything to begin with ...she just didn't know anymore.

As Mai brushed her hair and got ready for bed ...she thought about some of the things that Ursa had said...Azula being dead...

She didn't want to think about it. Azula being dead and her corpse rotting somewhere in a mud filled ditch...despite being the one who brought up the idea in the first place.

She should hate Azula with all her heart , not feel worry or sadness for the girl who had tossed her into prison for saving the man that she loves ...and yet she does.

Because this was Azula... the girl Mai had practically grown up with since she was but a child and known for almost all her life. The girl who had fallen from grace and lost her mind ... that kind of thing doesn't just get scrubbed away so easily. As much as she loathes to admit it.

Why is it nothing ever simple for her ?

Mai's thoughts were interrupted when she heard someone enter the room , not even having to turn to know it was Zuko.

" Hey Mai ..."

" Yeah ? " She turned her head slightly.

" Did you mean what you said ? About Azula being dead ? "

"... Its a possibility that needs to be explored " Mai said simply.

Even if she herself deep down would rather it not to be so.

Things were silent between the two of them for a while before Zuko spoke again.

" Mai ? " Zuko started.

" Yes Zuko ... "

" ...How do you feel about Azula anyway ? " Zuko asked but the question surprised Mai nonetheless.

She was at a loss of how to answer. She could quite easily just say something generic like 'I hate her' or ' I don't care for her anymore' ...but that wouldn't be the truth now was it ?

" ...I don't know Zuko ...truly "

Was what she resolved to say instead. Still a lie , but not a flat out one at least.

She was just still too stubborn to admit it.


And that is a wrap folks ! I guess you could say this chapter is a sorta intermission before we get back to Azula and Kazumi. I must give my thanks to HammerTide for giving me ideas on how to expand this chapter since originally it was going to stop after like the first two scenes. No joke.

:P

But for real I really wanted to hammer home how Ursa has been taking this whole situation and from this chapter I think that has been made abundantly clear. As well as accepting her piss poor non-existent relationship with her daughter , on top of realizing how badly she f*cked up back at Hira'a when Azula confronted her ...I'll let you readers think about what's going to happen next.

Glad that he was able to give good ideas on how to make this chapter better. Now next chapter we'll be getting back to Kazumi and Azula so hope you all are hyped for it.

With that said , see you all in the next one.

Angel Out.