Disclaimer: I do not own A: TLA

Chapter 6

(Mizoku)

The second I entered the infirmary, I relaxed. We were safe now, and Mother could get her injuries tended to. Kika ran over to us. "What on earth happened?" She gasped as she saw the severe bruising. I shook my head, not knowing what to say. Her expression hardened. "I swear, I am going to murder your bastard of a Father if it's the last thing I do!" She spat. "Assistance!" she shouted to the other healers. "Someone! Emergency!" A group of master healers helped my mother to a bed, and proceeded to examine her as I sat slightly away from them on a chair with Kika. "You can't stay with him. Either of you," She told me.

"And where would we go?" I asked, my voice thick with emotion. "Where, Kika?"

"There's always…" She paused, and then pulled me closer and whispered in my ear. "There's always Zuko. There's only Zuko now," I pulled away.

"He did say…" I stopped. "Please, Kika, ask how my mother is. I can't talk about this right now," She nodded and asked her master what was wrong. When she came back, her face looked grim. "Will she live?" I asked urgently.

"She'll live," Kika said darkly. "But she's in a very bad way. The doctors are re-setting her ribs at the moment, so you can see her after a while," I nodded, and after a while I fell asleep. When I woke up, Kika was watching my Mother for any developments while the other healers rested. I came up to her bedside. "Mother?" I whispered. She turned to look at me.

"Mizoku," She smiled a broken smile. "I'm glad you're okay. I was worried,"

"I was worried about you, Mother. He nearly killed you," Tear began to roll down her cheeks.

"He was so angry… He'd been at the drink. He was talking about you being the new Fire Lady… And then- and then he said he'd kill you if you didn't end up the Fire Lady, and I was so scared… I told him to stop, I begged him, but he told me if I carried on he'd definitely kill you, and I flew at him, I told him to leave you alone, and he hit me… He wouldn't stop! I begged him and begged him…" She began to sob.

"Sh…" I said soothingly, as Kika watched with wide eyes. "It's okay. I won't go anywhere. He won't get me. The Fire Lord has already proposed," She relaxed as I said this. "Kika?" I asked my best friend, who was horror stricken. "What's the time?"

"About two hours after midnight, why?"

"I have to go. I'll be back soon," I turned to Lady Tatsomuto. "You hear, Mother? Sleep now, I'll be back soon," I began to walk out, but Kika stopped me.

"Has he really… Y'know… Proposed?" She asked in a low voice. I nodded.

"Kika, I have to go now. I promise you I'll come back soon,"

I ran through the palace to the training arena. I opened the door to find an irate-looking Zuko. "You're late," He said accusingly.

"I know, I'm sorry, please, I need to, I mean, I can't-," Zuko cut me off.

"Calm down," He ordered. "And tell me what's wrong," Without warning I burst into tears and crumpled to my knees. Alarmed, he dropped down next to me. "Mizoku," He said gently. "What's going on?"

"It's Father! He nearly killed her, and it's all my fault! She was trying to protect me!"

"Slow down," Zuko said, wrapping protective arms around me. "Start from the beginning," I took a deep breath.

"My father was threatening to kill me if I didn't end up the Fire Lady, and my mother tried to protect me, and he beat her… And now she's in the infirmary and…" I trailed off, burying my face in my hands and trying to stop crying. He held me closer, and I slipped my arms around his neck. I felt so safe in his embrace. Like nothing could hurt me, not even my father. "It's okay… I am going to personally make sure your father never touches either of you again," He told me firmly. I pulled back, and looked at him, straight into his eyes, like I had done before. Only this time, there was a determined sort of fire burning behind them, and my heart began to beat faster. "Is that a promise?" I asked in a shaking voice.

"Yes Mizoku, that is a promise," Suddenly I pulled out of his grip and stood up.

"I have to get back to my Mother," He nodded.

"I'll come with you,"

"You don't have-," I began.

"I want to," He told me, and we headed towards the infirmary. I entered the infirmary to find a lot of healers gathered around Mother's bed. Kika ran up to me, and took my hands in hers. "What's going on?" I asked, petrified.

"Mizoku, there was some internal bleeding we didn't know about. There's nothing anyone can do," She bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. "She's not going to make it," I ran forward, pushing the healers out of the way. My mother looked at me with bleary eyes as the healers backed away to give us our last minutes together alone.

"Mizoku," She said in a barely audible voice. "My dear daughter,"

"Mother," I said tearfully. "Oh, Mother… He's killed you! It's all my fault,"

"No," She smiled. "It's my fault. I should have been strong, said no… Like you do… I had the right man once, but I let him go. And look where it got me! When you find the right man, Mizoku, you grab him, and don't you ever let him go," I glanced over my shoulder as Zuko approached.

"Mother, there's someone here I'd like you to meet," I said in a strangled voice. "Fire Lord Zuko," He stepped up to the bed.

"You want to marry my daughter?"

"Yes, ma'am," He said, glancing at me. My mother turned to me.

"Mizoku, is he the right man?" I took a deep breath and made my decision.

"Yes,"

"Then grab him," She smiled tearfully. "And you," She addressed Zuko, whose mouth was hanging open in surprise. "Take good care of her. Take good care of my girl,"

"I will, ma'am. The very best of care. No one will ever hurt her again,"

"I know you will. Goodbye, both of you. I know you'll be happy,"

"Goodbye Mother. I love you," I said through the tears flowing freely down my face.

"I love you too, Mizoku," I sobbed as she closed her eyes for the last time. My shoulders shook as Zuko pulled me into a tight embrace. My mother was dead.

(Zuko)

I was angrier than I had ever been in my entire life. Mizoku's pathetic excuse for a father had murdered his own wife! Mizoku had agreed to marry me as well. It was almost too much to take in. But out of the mess of events, two things sprang to mind. One, that I had told Lady Tatsomuto that I would take good care of her daughter. And I meant it too. The second was that I was going to make Lord Zanna pay for what he'd done. I sent a servant to fetch my uncle. While we waited for him to arrive, I sat a respectable distance away from Mizoku as she said the prayers for her mother's soul. When she had finished, my Uncle appeared, looking very sleepy. "You called for me, nephew?" He said, yawning, but his face grew serious as he observed the scene before him. "What has happened?" He said in a grave tone.

"Uncle, I do not have time to discuss this now. Please take Lady Mizoku for some tea. I have some business to attend to at the moment," He nodded, but before he approached Mizoku, I gave him a warning. "Uncle, one more thing. However curious you are, do not question her. She's been through enough for now," He nodded and helped her to her feet. Glancing at the apprentice who seemed to know Mizoku quite well, I got a sudden idea. "Perhaps a healer should go too, just in case. You," I pointed at the girl.

"Yes, my lord?"

"Accompany them. Keep an eye on Lady Mizoku," She nodded and hurried after them. I sighed, and told another servant to fetch all guards on night duty. I had a murderer to catch.

Aw... I cried while writing this... So sad. Perhaps I'm a little over sensitive.

Review with your ideas on what should happen to Mizoku's father! I still haven't decided, and it's supposed to hapen in the next chapter.

Miss SJB