Wanted

By: Agent-Ayu

Chapter 5

Notes: Been awhile since I updated. That's mostly because I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with this chapter to make it the quality I want it to have. And school. For those who are reading Golden Wolf Warrior Redux, I will update that story before my break is over as well. GWWR I definitely owe an update. Can't wait to hear what you think about this chapter. This is definitely one of my favorite ones to have written.

Disclaimer: Disclaimer from Prologue still applies.


"It's time for a talk."

Azula became worried. She had never heard her mother speak to her that way before. Her mother grabbed her arm and led her out of Zuko's room. Ursa forcefully sat Azula down on her daughter's bed before sitting.

"Now, I'll ask you again, you're father would never do what to Zuko?"

"I told you, I don't know." She looked away, not wanting to have this talk.

Ursa's eyes narrowed. She grabbed Azula's chin and turned her daughter's head. "Look at me. Look at me, Azula."

Slowly Azula looked up and stared at her mother. She started taking deep breaths to keep herself from tearing up. She knew she was really in trouble now.

"What is your father going to do to Zuko?"

Azula bit her lip before replying. "Dad is going to kill Zuko. Grandpa order him to… as punishment."

"What?" Ursa let go of her daughter's chin. "Why would Fire Lord Azula say such a thing?"

"Because dad requested to have uncle's birthright revoked." Azula looked away again. "Grandfather was furious that dad suggested grandfather betrays uncle right after the loss of his own son. Grandfather said dad needed to know the pain of losing his first born son by sacrificing Zuko."

Ursa quickly stood up and began walking out of Azula's room.

"Where are you going? Dad wouldn't do that. I was just teasing Zuko."

Her mother didn't turn around. "At this point I wouldn't doubt your father. He's different than when I married him. It's as if he's a monster… and you're starting to turn into one more and more."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

That was nearly fifteen years ago. The last time Azula saw her mother. Slowly Azula opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she reflected on her dream. It had been a long time since Azula dreamed of that night. Zuko later confirmed it for her that their father was planning on murdering him if their mother hadn't intervened.

Azula shook her head and sat up. "She would have never done that for me. She wouldn't want to save me… a monster."

"Of course I would have saved you." Azula turned towards the door and saw her mother standing there. "You are my child as well and I will always protect my children."

"No…" She grabbed her head and looked away. "You're not real. You're just a hallucination."

"I'm sorry you were not able to become Fire Lord." Her mother continued.

"Shut up." Azula muttered.

"You would have been so beautiful in your Fire Lord robes."

"Shut up."

"I visited you at the hospital."

"No! You're not real, so shut up!" Azula yelled.

When no reply came from her mother, she looked over at the door and saw that the hallucination was gone. She began to cry. After being released from the asylum she thought she'd never hallucinate again. She wiped her tears away and took a few deep breaths before getting out of bed.

The sun wasn't fully up yet, which surprised her to see Yu already up and drinking tea. Yu didn't say anything to her and neither did she to him. She pointed to the chair across from him silently asking if she could sit there. He nodded as he held up an empty teacup towards her. Azula took it and waited for Yu to pour the tea for her. They sat in silence.

As Yu was pouring him a second cup he quickly glanced at Azula and noted how weary she looked. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Azula snapped out of her trance. "About what?"

"The yelling." Yu brought his cup up to his face to feel the warmth of the steam as he waited for Azula's response.

"Just a nightmare." Azula quickly brushed off.

Yu nodded and took a sip of his tea. "I really don't mean to sound like I'm prying, however, you are still my patient and I'm concerned for your well being. But I will not push if you don't want to talk. Now what are you going to do once you've fully recovered?"

"I don't know." She leaned back in her chair. "My only goal since leaving Republic City was to travel to a town that trades with Kyoshi Island. And I'm here."

"You can stay here if you want. We have a spare bedroom that you can have. You can rent it if you work as my assistant for me." Yu offered. He watched as Azula's eyes narrowed as she thought of his offer. "And… it would be great if you could train my daughter. Jing is a firebender and is the only on in the village. She doesn't have a master and she wants you to train her."

"Pass." Azula closed her eyes. "I'm not a teacher and I'm not the same firebender that I was during the war. Besides, what would your wife say when she comes home from that special training? Not exactly a good idea having a stranger in your house. Let alone a young woman." She opened her eyes and gave a small smile to show that she was joking about the last statement.

The doctor chuckled. "If you were any other person she would freak out. But I know she won't have a problem with the Fire Nation princess being her guest. My wife, Jing's mother, is originally from the Fire nation. So… she knows you."

"Why?" Azula asked. "Why would you open your doors for me, ask me to be your assistant, and want me to teach your daughter if you know who I am?" She didn't wait for him to respond. "You know what I've done, you know what happened to me, and you know that many parts of the Earth Kingdom wants my head. Why?"

Yu took a deep breath. "With every dark side there is a light side." He looked straight into Azula's eyes. "And while I am aware of who you are and what you did, right now I see a young woman trying to find her place in the world. Right now she doesn't have a plan since her only goal was to come to our village in order to be near Kyoshi Island. That young woman needs a roof over her head, a source of food, and something to do to keep herself from becoming bored in this small village."

He gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm very optimistic and I always see the good in others. And yes, people have take advantage of that before, but at least I tried."

Azula stared at Yu as his words sunk in. She chuckled and sipped her tea. "You kind of remind me of my brother just now."

Yu's smile grew. "I'll take that as a major compliment if I'm being compared to the Fire Lord."

"Ever since the war ended my brother has been more optimistic. He works hard to prove to the world that the Fire Nation is changing for the better and it's thanks to him I was given a second chance." She started playing with her cup. "He believed in me and wanted to help me recover. He could have easily let me rot in prison and not look for doctors and healers, but he didn't. It wasn't until I returned to the palace a few years ago did I realize how lucky I am to have him as my brother. To be compared to him is indeed a major compliment."

Before Yu could respond, the soft pattering of feet was heard coming down the hall. Jing tiredly walked in the kitchen and automatically sat in the seat next to Azula.

"Morning." The girl greeted while yawning.

"Good morning, Jing." Yu replied. "Are you hungry?"

Jing nodded as she let out another yawn. Yu got up to start cooking breakfast. He tilted his head slightly towards the tale to listen in on what his daughter might say to their guest. It was quiet except for Jing's occasional yawning. Azula interlaced her fingers and leaned into her hands as she closed her eyes. She thought about Yu's offer some more and was beginning to think it was a good deal. The princes opened her eyes when she heard Jing yawn for the umpteenth time.

"I'm starting to think you're not a firebender with all the yawning you're doing."

"What do you mean?" Jing was worried. Even though she just met Azula, she really wanted the older firebender's approval. "It's morning, who isn't tired in the mornings?"

"Firebenders. I thought you would know since you are a firebender." Azula looked over at the girl. She wanted to see Jing's reactions. She silently laughed when Jing pouted and couldn't answer her. When she saw the girl was about to cry, Azula began talking to her as if she was talking to her niece. "Look I'm only teasing you. I didn't expect you to know the answer. Most kids your age don't unless you're from the Fire Nation capital."

She paused as Jing began sniffling as the girl tried not to cry. "Alright kid. Stop crying, if you're not hurt there is not point in you crying. You don't have a firebending master to teach you about firebending, so don't feel bad if you don't know the answer. You're not dumb, you just don't know." Azula shifted in her chair in order to have Jing's full attention. "Your father tells me that you want me to be your firebending master. If you really want to be my student the first thing you need to know is that firebenders rise with the sun."

"Why?"

Azula wiped away Jing's tears. "Because we are Agni's children. Agni is the Sun spirit who gives us the strength to bend our fire. The least we could do is rise with him and greet him."

"Does that mean we have to go to bed when the sun sets?"

Azula chuckled. "No, we don't. But haven't you noticed how your firebending feels different throughout the day?"

When Jing's eyes widened, she knew the girl's answer.

"That is because of Agni. When he is at his highest point in the day that is when we are the strongest. This is a small sample of what your training with me will be like. There is more to firebending than knowing the various forms and techniques. It's more than something you do physically. There is a spiritual side to bending as well. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not and will never be a true firebending master."

Jing laughed. "I guess it's a good thing I have the Fire Nation princess taking me under her wing, huh?"

"Yes, now why don't you get washed up. After breakfast we'll begin your firebending training."

The young firebender ran out the kitchen with the bundle of energy Azula knew she had. Once Jing was out of earshot, Yu placed the breakfast on the table and began talking to Azula again. "I guess you're taking me up on my offer."

"I guess I am. But I know absolutely nothing about medicine."

"That's alright. It'll be a learning process for you. With medicine it never hurts to have an extra pair of hands to help me out." Yu sat down and began eating his breakfast.

Azula nodded in understanding. "What I told Jing… about there being a spiritual side to bending… I would have never learned that if my firebending masters weren't non-benders."

"You were taught by non-benders?" Yu would have never guessed that to be true. "They must have been good if they were allowed to teach you."

Azula nodded. "They were. And now they're two more people to my list of those I wronged."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Unable to sleep, Azula snuck out of her room and went straight to the turtle duck pond. This time last night her mother disappeared. Zuko had told her their mother had said goodbye to him, but not her. She felt the blade of her mother's last words to her twist in her gut.

She didn't know how long she was sitting out there, but when a pair of arms in pink wrapped around her, she began to cry. It was the first time she cried since everything happened. And Ty Lee held her the whole time.