Zuko never got to speak to Chiyo again after his birthday. He could not forget the look of fear in her eyes as she cowered before him. 'What was I thinking? Oh, that's right. I wasn't!' How could she ever forgive him? How could he ever forgive himself?
It had been weeks since the incident in her room. Whenever he tried to go and apologize, either Suiren or the handmaidens will tell him to leave. It got to the point that Lady Suiren had doubled the guards in the wing and instructed them to keep the Fire Nation prince out, much to his chagrin.
He comforted himself with the fact that she had gotten better from her illness, thanks to the help of his Uncle Iroh. She had gone back to training when she was well enough. Zuko would get up in the earliest hours of the morning just to watch her from the window of his room, waiting for her to look up and meet his eyes, but she never did. Some mornings, he would decide to come down to the gardens to see her, but by the time he got there, she was gone.
'Will I ever get the chance to say that I'm sorry?'
Suiren was busy with paperwork in her desk. News of her apprentice's recovery spread like wildfire all over the nation and a lot of people, especially the nobles, have put in their request to have Chiyo perform in their banquets, birthdays, and other ceremonies alike.
She stared at the mountain of scrolls on her desk, as well as those spread on her bed, sighing heavily. She was happy that her ward is finally getting the recognition she deserves, but she never imagined it would be to this degree.
All of the Fire Nation wants an audience with Chiyo. And from here on out, the rest will be history.
Ai entered Suiren's study and bowed. "My lady, you called for me?"
"Has the Fire Lord requested my presence, yet?"
The handmaiden shook her head. "No, my lady. I heard he will host a war meeting today with the generals and the advisers."
Suiren pursed her lips. It was one of those rare days that Fire Lord Ozai left her alone. It must be a very important meeting. Nonetheless, she smiled and thanked Ai, returning to her work on Chiyo's schedule.
That afternoon, Chiyo had just started her training. She looked up to the window belonging to the prince's chambers, but she didn't find him there. She knew that every time she would practice in the gardens, he would be sitting by the windows, watching her.
Images of that night's events filled her mind. She saw it all again as if it happened just yesterday. She could still feel the tight grip of the prince on her arms, the desperate look in his eyes that tried to convince her that Suiren was lying, the way he raised his hand encased in flames, ready to strike her...
She shuddered and dropped the swords she was holding to the ground. 'What if he wasn't lying? What if he really did come and try to see me? What if—No! Suiren will never lie to me! She's never lied to me before and she will not lie to me now!'
'Suiren never lies.'
She unfurled the scroll that depicted the movements she would need to master and set it on the ground. She picked up the swords again, unsheathing the aluminium from their scabbards. They were lighter compared to the swords used by soldiers, making them much easier to swing and lift.
"Did you hear about the Agni Kai?" One of the guards questioned his fellow soldier who was keeping watch over her in the gardens.
"Agni Kai? Who are the duelers?"
"All I know is that the prince is—"
"Who is participating in the Agni Kai?" Chiyo approached them, worry clearly etched in her face. She had overheard them talking, and a sudden ominous feeling crept over her and settled in her gut. She knew enough of the infamous fire duel tradition, and what it entailed.
They immediately bowed to the young apprentice. "My Lady," They hesitated, knowing the lady's connection with the prince.
"Tell me!"
"One of the duelers... It's the prince..."
She dropped the swords at her sides, the same way her stomach dropped upon hearing that Prince Zuko was participating.
"Where are they?!" Urgency filled her voice. All of a sudden, she had forgotten the events of Prince Zuko's birthday. Her only concern was getting him out of that duel. "Where are they?!"
"T-they are in the Agni Kai chamber, Lady Chiyo..."
However, the guard that had been placed by Lady Suiren stood his ground. "I have orders from the Lady Suiren not to let you out of my sight."
"Then don't let me out of your sight while I go to this chamber!" Chiyo was getting impatient, trying to sidestep the guard, but he was quick as well.
"I also have orders not to let you or the prince within a hundred paces of each other." His voice was stern, his facial expression even more so.
"I don't care! You don't understand! He will die in that duel!" By now, Chiyo was shouting, trying to get past the guards. "Let me through!"
Out of necessity, the guard pushed her back with the right amount of force and pulled out his own sword made of iron. "I'm sorry, Lady Chiyo, but orders are orders."
Chiyo picked up her swords. "You don't want to fight me, Shang. I know you know what I am capable of."
"I'll take my chances, my Lady."
She attacked first, raising both swords and to get through, but Shang blocked her and pushed, sending her back to the middle of the gardens. With a shout, she tried again, this time avoiding Shang's counter and sending a swift kick to his stomach.
The soldier stumbled back, but held his ground. The fight went on for a while until Chiyo had had enough. She kicked forward and jabbed the soldier in the chest, between his armor plates, then on the neck, paralyzing him. "I am so sorry..." She threw her swords down and looked at the other guard. "Please, don't try to stop me."
"I wasn't planning to, my Lady." He bowed and let her through.
She ran the long hallways, breathless after her intense fight with Shang. There was no one in sight, not even the guards who patrolled the hallways, or the handmaidens rushing to run errands. Finally, she reached the last hallway that led to the Agni Kai chamber.
Her breath came in short bursts and she ran the last stretch to the chamber. The large, iron doors were slightly ajar so she opened it, an action that she came to regret.
"Please, father! I only had the Fire Nation's best interests at heart! I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!" The prince begged his opponent, Fire Lord Ozai, as he knelt on both of his knees, his hands up front.
The Fire Lord slowly approached his son, rage evident in his expression, not a sliver of mercy in his eyes. He looked down at the Prince, much like he had looked down at Chiyo back at the Fire Lily Festival. "You will fight for your honor!"
Zuko bowed low, his head, parallel to the ground. "I meant you no disrespect! I am your loyal son!"
"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!"
"I won't fight you..."
"You will learn respect," The Fire Lord's right hand ignited, engulfed in a bright, menacing flame. "And suffering will be your teacher!"
Chiyo clapped a hand to her mouth to prevent the shout she muffled against her palm. The Fire Lord had thrust his burning hand onto his own son's face. The sound of Zuko's blood-curling scream flooded the whole chamber and the crowd was silent as they watched the prince fall to his defeat.
Grief overcame her and she passed out by the doors of the chamber.
She woke up, her thoughts and feelings still heavy as she looked around. She was in her own room. Sol had found her passed out in the chamber and with the help of a soldier, they hurriedly took her to her room. "Zuko..." She got up and was about to leave the room, but Lady Suiren blocked her path.
"And where do you think you are going, young lady?"
"I have to see Zuko!"
"Have you forgotten what he had done to you?" Chiyo looked up at her mentor. She looked... different. She used to be warm, but now... it was like she was a whole new person. "Have you forgotten the look in his eyes as he was about to burn you, in your own room?"
"Please, Lady Suiren, he...he needs me..."
"The answer is NO, Chiyo! He is not good enough for you! He will never be! Now stop thinking about him, forget about him and focus on your craft, Chiyo!"
"But Lady Suiren..."
"Remember when I told you that we are free, but we are not our own persons, Chiyo? This is what I am talking about! Even the prince is not free to be his own person! All he did was speak out of turn and look what the Fire Lord, his own father, had done to him!"
Chiyo desperately knelt down and begged her teacher. "Please, Lady Suiren, let me see him just this once, just one more time! After this, I...I will f-forget him. I promise! I-I will focus on my work and my art. But please, let me see him... one last time... please..."
The lump in Suiren's throat grew as she held back the tears upon seeing the young child's grief. She should've nipped this young love in the bud before it took root. Closing her eyes and turning her head away, she stepped aside.
Without a second thought, Chiyo ran. She ran till her lungs burned, she ran until her bare feet ached, but when she reached the prince's chambers, he was gone. The room was vacated, stripped of all his belongings, and dread filled her.
She crossed the room to look out the window; there she saw far in the harbor, a large warship was docked. She saw a procession of crates upon crates, making its way up the large warship. 'Those must be Zuko's!'
Once again, she ran out of the room, passing the grand foyer, and out of the palace. She took the stairs almost two at a time as she tried to catch the warship before it left. A guard shouted from behind her and she knew he was chasing her. She looked around and saw the ostrich horse which the guard had vacated. She hooked one foot on the rest, and swung herself over on top of the saddle. With an urgent kick to the ostrich horse's sides, they sped off.
Iroh looked over to his nephew as the Royal Physician had finished bandaging the left side of his head. Ozai's attack to Zuko caused serious burns on the skin around Zuko's left eye, as well as parts of his hair. It will surely leave a huge scar. His once long dark hair had to be shaved, but the prince asked them to save his ponytail. There was still hope of him returning to the palace. All he had to do was find the Avatar, and bring him back to his father.
That was his punishment, his purpose, and his mission. To track and retrieve a being that had disappeared for nearly a hundred years. He was stripped of everything, his title, his birthright, his honor. Bringing his father the Avatar will bring it all back to him. And once he brings back the Avatar, he would be able to return by her side.
"Sir, the last of the crates has been loaded onto the ship." Lieutenant Jee, one of the senior officers commissioned to join the prince on his journey, informed him. The man couldn't look the prince head on. He didn't know the whole picture of what happened to his burns, but he knew well enough not to bring them up now.
"Alright. Prepare to depart." Zuko said lifelessly as he looked to the horizon. The lieutenant bowed and signaled the helmsman of the departure. The anchor was hauled, the ramp was raised, and they were set to depart.
"Wait! Zuko!"
He knew that voice, he would recognize it anywhere, but he stood firm. He didn't want her to see him like this, defeated, burnt, banished...
"Zuko!" Chiyo got off the ostrich horse, shouting his name, waiting for him to turn around and look at her, but he never did. From atop the deck, all she could see was Zuko's back and Uncle Iroh as he looked down with great sadness in his eyes. "Please, look at me!"
Slowly, the ship started moving. As it did, Zuko allowed the tears to finally fall. He was leaving everything behind, cast out from his own nation, by his own father, and he couldn't even face her to apologize or say goodbye.
*The fallen flowers scattered by the season
Remains alone, lonely and sad
The sky, without the stars, is grieving
Like the falling rain, it is crying.
Her voice stood out among the crashing of the waves and voices of the crew. They grew silent and stood at the deck, looking over at the apprentice who had offered one last song for the departing prince.
Despite the cold breeze of the night, she had only had on a thin white yukata used for sleeping. Her feet had been dirtied and bleeding in some areas, having run barefoot from her room, around the palace, and to the harbor.
Flowers bloom and wither, just like my heart
Tell me you'll come back like the wind.
She had accepted that the stubborn prince will never look back at her, but she kept singing. She closed her eyes and let her voice and her song deliver her message to the prince.
When the first snow falls, my wish will come true
I believe in that earnest wish
If you know my longing heart
Chiyo did not know if it was fate, or chance, but when she opened her eyes, she saw him finally looking at her from atop the deck. His bandage taken at least half of his face and his lone, golden eye shone with tears as he looked at her.
Please, come back to me
She stayed at the harbor, watching as the ship sailed, as it went over the horizon and out of sight. He had looked at her one last time. And it was enough. Now she will have to go through her promise with Suiren.
She must forget Zuko.
Author's Notes
*This song is entitled 'Will be Back' by Im Sunhae (Korean). It is the most heartbreaking song I have ever heard (so far). And now SHARE MY PAIN! Please do listen to it with a box of tissues ready.
Thoughts?
-TheGreatestConWoman-