A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

A/N: Avatar the Last Airbender is owned by Disney

Forgiveness and Reports

Chapter 69

Zuko had been immersed in a conversation with Jin for more than an hour as the Earth Queen's personal attendants swarmed about her like bees.

She was happy that she was sitting behind the thick jade curtain that allowed her to speak to the man she once knew as Lee without seeing his face. The face that haunted her dreams for many years even after her daughter was born.

It was surreal to speak with him as if they were two old friends just catching up after a long break. She did notice that she was clenching her fists tightly whenever he spoke her name. She recalled his over-the-top apology. It had been a real doozy with the Earth King even in attendance.

As Zuko prattled on, she began to drift back to just a mere hour prior. The Fire Lord, now the most powerful man on the planet, got down on his hands and knees before her and placed his forehead on the ground. "Jin, please forgive me!" he said at the top of his lungs closing his eyes tightly. "I did a terrible thing to you and then abandoned you and our child. I know words can't make this right, but this is where I choose to start. Even if you reject my apology, I swear by Agni, I will take care of you and Vahnijaya for the rest of your lives. I will never harm either of you again," he swore as the court reporter recorded every word.

It was then that she stooped down and ran her hand through his thick, black hair. It was softer than she remembered and she noticed that a few strands were already turning gray even at his young age. "Please stand sire," she whispered gently. "You're embarrassing me."

Jin didn't know, but the young monarch was blissfully enjoying the scalp rub as his eyes drifted up into his head. "Do you forgive me?" he asked softly staying in his servile position.

She looked around the room at the chief steward, the Prime Minister and lastly to the new Earth King himself. Her daughter was standing with the woman who had been in the Fire Lord's apartment when she arrived. Though she was small, she had an air of authority. She was at a lost as to how to answer him. Her emotions ranged from anger to guilt.

Jin finally to in a deep breath. "I do this because my father taught me right. I will try to honor his memory and release you from this from this debt of guilt. Is that acceptable?" she asked as she stood to her feet.

Zuko felt a bit sad that she had stopped the massage, but a large smile crossed his face. "Yes, of course Jin, more than acceptable," he assured her as he stood as well. His height difference now was quite evident as he towered over her.

Jin stepped back feeling intimidated by his overshadowing size. Her heart was beating wildly as she pressed both her hands to her chest.

"Now that, that piece of business is over, can we commence with the bestowing of rank and title," the Prime Minister asked in a nonchalant fashion.

"Rank and title," Jin muttered.

"Yes, as the Fire Lord's concubine and mother of the first, you automatically have equal rank and title in both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom," her newly appointed bodyguard, Capt. Ming informed the stunned woman.

"But, but, I'm just a scullery maid," she said as she looked at her daughter who was giving her a thumbs up.

"Not anymore," Zuko told her as he extended his hand. She gingerly took it, and he guided her to stand before Lao.

Jin immediately prostrated herself before her sovereign.

"Rise, Lady Jin, Duchess of Ocha Province and First Companion of Fire Lord Zuko," the king proclaimed as he gently guided her up. She looked up into the king's face as he smiled at her. It was the first time she had ever directly seen the face of a noble, up close. Lao smiled graciously at her. "Congratulations my dear," he softly said as he handed her a scroll of Entitlement. "Also, we greet Princess Vahnijaya and recognize her as one of our own," he said waving the rambunctious child over. She came over clinging to Lei's skirt.

"Sorry your Highness," Jin apologized trying to hide her embarrassment. "She gets shy at the strangest time."

He chuckled lightly. "I know the feeling. I think your daughter is a lot like mine," he assessed winking at the little girl who hid further behind his niece.

"Ah, your Majesty," a man spoke from behind her, but Jin didn't turn to looked.

"I think he means you," the King pointed out unable to restrain the second chuckle. "Another thing to get used too I suppose."

She turned and just out of habit curtsied to the Master of the Queen's Servants.

"Your Majesty," he began to address Jin as he bowed deeply to her, "It is inappropriate to show homage to a mere servant," he explained. "We will appoint the appropriate tutor on protocol and court policy for you, your Majesty."

"Okay," was her simple reply as she was unsure of what to do next. Jin was still dressed in her tattered maid's uniform and didn't look or feel like anybody's Duchess as she tried to straighten her dress.

Poppy sat in her palanquin as it made its way towards her daughter's suite at what she considered was a snail's pace. She was still reeling from the stream of incredible reports she was receiving this morning. She gently rubbed her temples. "I knew the peace and quiet weren't going to last, not with that girl," she sighed as she wondered how long till they arrived.

She had gone to bed hearing about this date between Toph and the Avatar which Lao was vehemently against until she showed him the possibilities of having the Avatar marry into the Bei Fong family. The next report was more harrowing as her personal guard invaded their room.

"What is the meaning of this!" Lao had demanded as the door flung open and an armed troupe came in with silver tipped pikes.

The captain of the guard knelt and bowed. "Orders from your daughter, the inspector general. There is a succubus loose in the palace, and she has appointed us to guard you both, your Highnesses."

Lao nodded with a smile of admiration. "Very good, but what of the Avatar?" he asked obviously aware of the danger the creature posed.

"A squad of my best have been dispatched to his quarters, as well as the Fire Lord's and the Vice Regent's, as per the general's orders, my King." he reported with a second bow.

Lao got out of the huge bed as his valet placed his robe on him. Poppy, on the other hand, turned her pinkie rings in succession with a hungry smirk. "You girls may get a snack after all," she commented under her breath.

Her husband peered over at the bed. "Did you say something my love?" he asked as if this was normal.

She smiled at her brave man. "Yes, I was wondering if I could get a snack, perhaps some fruit? I'm feeling famished from last night," she replied with a wanton wink.

"Get the Queen some pitted cherries," Lao ordered smiling at his bride.

Before the cherries arrived, another report came in of the monster's subsequent destruction and then the biggest surprise of all. The Fire Lord's daughter was found! Not that anyone knew he had one, but fate often provided endless amusement Poppy decided.

"You go and check on Toph, I'll see to this matter concerning the young Fire Lord," Lao directed her, and as soon as either of them dressed, they were carried away in their palanquins.

One of the courtesans she had secretly placed as an attendant in her daughter's quarters shared the litter.

"So, Luwann, what can you tell me about this succubus and how did it get in," she asked coldly, filing a lacquered nail.

The young woman was definitely more afraid of the 'Witch of Gaoling', than she was of any man-eating demon.

"Uh, your Highness, Lady Mei Mei had a game."

Poppy stopped working on her nails to give the informant her full attention. "A game you say? What type of game would this be?"

"A possessed one, my Queen. It was said to be inhabited by a terrible demon."

The Queen's lips twisted. "And have you, just by chance, ever played this game Luwann?"

The woman's face exploded bright red. "Ye, yes your Highness, but just once. I believe it was when she first purchased the damned thing from the Beetle Head merchants."

"So, what type of game is it, besides possessed and damned? I mean, how do you play? Can you tell me the rules?" she pressed as the woman began to squirm in her seat.

The palanquin was now feeling more like a prison box to Luwann as her eyes shifted about her small confines. "It's a 'kiss or tell' game, your Highness. Color ribbons and questions are given and..."

Poppy raised a well-manicured hand to stop her. "I get the gist of it now. So if someone breaks the rules?"

"The demon is said to come and devour them in their sleep. I cheated, and nothing happened to me. We figured it was just a scheme of the Beetle Heads to raise the price of a worthless game," Luwann continued.

"Hmmm, when you played Luwann, were there any men involved?" Poppy inquired with a tense smile.

The young woman looked down. "No, your Highness, only girls," she replied honestly.

The queen's nose wrinkled. "So who was kissing when this all went sideways last night?"

The girl swallowed hard and began to sweat. "It, it was the princess, your daughter, and the Avatar. They ended up kissing quite often and passionately, even on more casual turns when the question wasn't even embarrassing. There were some heated words about cheating, and then they froze in place. That's when the countess sent us all out, so I don't know what happened after that," she concluded.

Poppy smiled graciously at her. "Thank you for your report, and you are aware that you can't repeat this to a living soul."

Luwann returned the smile with trembling lips. "Of course, your Highness, not a living soul."

A dark shadow streamed from the Queen's left pinkie ring and covered the startled and terrified young woman. She suddenly couldn't move or speak as the darkness enveloped her. She tried to scream, but not a sound came from her open mouth. Poppy leaned forward and looked into the girl's light green eyes as they pleaded for help and to understand why this was happening. "Sorry Luwann, but I didn't get a warm and sincere feeling with you," she said as she looked into the horrified face of the paralyzed girl. "On the other hand, dead souls are okay to tell. Happy travels to the Spirit World," she exclaimed with a wicked smirk and a small bow of her head.

The darkness now covered the woman's mouth and nose and finally her rapidly blinking eyes as they rolled into her head. The shadow began to take form and then became a tall, darkly dressed woman. Her features were strangely symmetrical as she let out a contented sigh. "Thank you for the meal master," she said patting her stomach. "Will she be missed?"

Poppy shook her head. "I picked her because she had no family and Puck said she was rather shiftless and lazy. Her own confession, she cheated during a cursed game as well. The rules said it was punishable by death. So we are covered, and we've also done a service for the universe," she laughed.

"Question Master. Would it have been so bad if she told someone else?" the creature asked naively.

The Queen shook her head, "No, not over a stupid game. But it was what she wasn't telling me, is why she died. So my dear djinn, what secrets did your scrumptious snack divulge?"

A man moved up to the side of the palanquin. He knocked on the small door even as it kept moving. Poppy pulled back the lace curtain. "Yes captain?"

"We are approaching the general's quarters, should we send a messenger to announce you're coming my Queen?"

"No, my daughter just love surprises captain," she replied with a toothy grin.