22nd of July

Fire Lord Taishi (25)

Year of the Sun

Noon

So...this is it. I am of age now...I am sixteen.

I awoke this morning quite early...it is a very clear day on this ship. From deck you can see the sunrise quite clearly even if all else you can see is sea. The waves lapping against the ship or some birds flying to and throw.

Anyway the thing I was looking forward most to on this birthday was the presents. Although I get a good pile of them every year when you come of age you get special gifts...Kari got Mothers old wedding ring...and a whole lot of other things.

So when I retreated into the lounge an hour ago I was no surprised to see Shinji and Mielia waiting for me...and of course Lee.

Shinji gave me three new books and presented me with my presents from Chen and Kari aswell as a note from each of them,

Dear Maeko,

I wish I was with you now. It's sad knowing that I won't even see my baby sister come of age...still I hope you find the present satisfactory as it took three hours to buy...really you are not the easiest person to buy for! Anway I hope that you arrive safely and have a brilliant birthday,

Your loving sister,

Kari Azu

Kari's gift was beautiful! A silk gold kimono...it's amazing...somehow she managed to get a shade that is close to the colour of my eyes. It's got little tiny diamonds sown in the hem and sash...I really must thank her!

Dear Maeko,

I cannot believe you are sixteen! Your too young! Okay I know your probably scowling at that but it's the truth!

Anway as your oldest sibling I'm entitled to tell you how much you have grown up...well I suppose you have in a sense but I'm proud of you...you're certainly becoming a fine young Lady.

Anway enough of the praising...I'm sure you'll want to get back to your presents and I sorely wish I was there with you,

Love Chen

Chen has given me a silver braclet decorated with rubies and my name engraved on the back.

Finally I recieved a letter from the Fire Lady containing my most treasured present.

Dear Maeko,

I am sure you shall hear it a lot today but I feel you have grown up so much...I also feel that it's my duty on behalf of your mother to give you advice and guidence.

Many people say life is like a path...you walk the road in front of you but I disagree...life is like a constant crossroads. You have to make choices everywhere you turn and if you make the wrong choice then you end up getting lost. Be careful Maeko and make the right choices...trust yourself because if you cannot have faith in yourself then you will never have faith in anyone.

I can also say that on the behalf of your mother- she would be proud of you Maeko. Not a day goes by when I do not see her likeness in you and mark me one day your father will see it too.

I leave you with those words and these gifts. Have I great birthday Maeko.

Love,

Fire Lady Lien Agni

I gasped when I unwrapped the gifts from Lady Lien. It's my mother's necklace!

It's gold and wrought in the shape of a heart. It had her name engraved on the front and my name underneath it! Also I have been gifted my mothers birth ring! In some families it's a tradition that when you turn of age you recieve a ring to mark the occasion...Kari never recieved one but I have! It's gold with a ruby and two diamonds!

Mielia has given me something too, another locket but it's sliver and is decorated with tiny little gems. When you open it up there is a small portrait of us inside...I recognise it from the Royal Fire Academy portrait that was taken in the year we left. The gift clearly symbolises our friendship...it makes me both happy and sad on Mielia's behalf.

Finally I turned to Lee but blushed and murmured that he'd give it to me later. Honestly I told him that he could just give it to me now and he turned the colour of a ruby! He's hiding something...I can tell...my imagination is going into overdrive though, but really if he can't give it to me in front of people of course I'm going to wonder...

I also recieved a letter from Father.

Of course no emotions...that would be hoping too much from the likes of him!

Dear Maeko Azu,

In recognition of your turning of age it is my duty to congratulate you and bestow with the gifts enclosed.

Your Father,

Lin Azu.

Honestly! My formal letter from the Fire Lord contained more warmth! His gift was a wretched red kimono which I'll never wear no matter how sliky or pretty it may be. I am not mother...he should realise that! I am not my mothers ghost!

Midnight

My emotions are all over the place.

Mere thoughts and fantasies seem to be springing from the ground! And it is not at all how it is portrayed in those vile love novels where the couples all end up happy! It's an exaggeration!

After the feast where Prince Sozin toasted to my health I excused myself for some fresh air with Lee. He isn't allowed in our quaters so I went to see him on deck...

He kissed me!

Honestly when you expect something and when it happens it is a bigger shock than when you didn't expect it!

Kissing...well...it's not how it is in the novels. I'm not quite sure how to describe it...it wasn't filled with passion or anything like that...it did feel okay but it felt like it was addictive...once you kiss you want to do it again.

I ofcourse was shocked senseless and stood numb for a few moments like a fool. When I opened my eyes Lee had vanished like the wind leaving me with a floaty sensation in my stomach that lasted briefly before turning to sickness and nerves.

How am I ever going to face him again? What does this mean for our friendship? What if we become more and people find out?

I'm mean't to be in control for Agni sake! Now I feel out of control...my nerves are everywhere!

And to top it all I bumped into Prince Sozin! My luck really seems to be running away. He asked if I was feeling alright and I retorted that I was feeling just fine...then he asked if I would accompy him on a walk and I politely refused.

Still I do not like the look in his eyes when I refused him. He is angry that I did not do as he wished...he knows he cannot control me like he can others...this probably both annoys him and intrigues him. I shall have to be careful...if he finds out about me and Lee then...

Wait...Lee and Me?

He's...two years older than I

Correction...One year.

He's a lowly doctor...I'm the daughter of the third most powerful man in the whole Fire Nation.

He's air.

I'm fire.

He's Lee.

I'm Maeko.

Sorry for the lack of updates! hangs head in shame!

I have created a new user called Water-Tribe-Rules. For all you Kenshin fans I have just posted a story called Night Rain falling in Tokyo and I would be most grateful for reviews! Also I'm posting my old story New Avatar on it- it's being re-written and I am proud to say chapter one is nearly complete.