Disclaimer: I still don't own LoK and ATLA

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A/N: I hope I didn't make you wait too long. And that this chapter won't disappoint you either.

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Warning: I re-wrote this chapter a few times already. That's how indecisive I was about this chapter.

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A New Beginning

A Familiar Name

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"These are, quite, presentable?"

Asami chuckled at Mila. The older woman's expression definitely says the opposite of what she really thought about Asami's flower arrangement. "I know it looks awful Mila. You don't have to hide it."

"Don't worry; you just need more practice." Mila assured her with a smile before rearranging the flowers herself. Plucking some leaves here, tucking some flowers there and the bouquet was rescued. Mila finished it by tying a white ribbon on the stems to hold it. "How does it look?"

"Definitely better." Asami praised. She placed the flowers carefully to her basket and gave Mila a quick hug. "Thank you for saving the flowers. And for saving my face to Tom-tom."

Mila grinned at her. "I'm sure Lord Tom-tom would appreciate whatever you did."

"I don't think so." Asami disagreed. She went by the cabinet to put away her working apron, folding it neatly. She saw the other cloths just laying there and started to fold it too. "That old man is a handful. He will say whatever on his mind."

"And that's a bad thing?"

She paused on her task to look at Mila. "No, of course not. That's the reason I like him."

Mila grabbed her basket with flowers and handed it to her. "Well then, I guess you better go now or you'll be late for your afternoon tea with Lord Tom-tom. Just leave those there and I'll finish it for you."

"Is it time already?" Asami looked at the wall clocked and frowned. "Time sure passes here quickly." She took the basket from Mila and picked up a parasol by the door. "Thanks again Mila. I'll see you later!"

The first time that she and Tom-tom had tea, Asami had been correct to assume that Tom-tom is someone important from the village. He lived at the biggest and grandest manor in the village. He had servants to greet and serve him. She hesitated to carry on with the promised tea, afraid that Tom-tom's going to turn out like most of Republic City's rich people.

In the end, Tom-tom proved her otherwise. The man was wise and humble. For the past two weeks, Tom-tom had helped her adjust to her new surroundings. He had introduced her to most of the villagers and then they would call him Lord Tom-tom fondly. Asami hadn't really figure out what Tom-tom's profession is since he won't really elaborate on it. And the villagers, including Mila, would just smile at her or change the subject whenever she tried to ask about Tom-tom. It's like Tom-tom had a secret pact with the Hama Village that outsiders will never know of.

She knows that if he asks Tom-tom directly, he would definitely answer her. The only thing that's stopping her is well, herself. Asami had her own skeletons to hide and Tom-tom never bothered opening her closet. She doesn't want to ask for something she can't correspond.

"Miss Asami. Lord Tom-tom had been expecting you." One of the servants greeted her with a bow when she arrived at Tom-tom's manor. "Lord Tom-tom asked if you could wait here for awhile while I call for him."

"Of course." Asami said and the servant went on her way. Usually, a servant would lead her into the tea room and find her old friend there boiling some water. She wondered if Tom-tom would want to walk around the village again.

While waiting for him, she took the opportunity to look around the entrance hall. She noticed that a few servants were in a hurry walking to the other side of the house when typically she won't see them until later. She then recalled seeing more servants outside the garden than usual. Most of them looked unfamiliar to her also. They must be training new members.

Not wanting to be nosy, she focused her attention to the house instead. The architectural built of the house and the furniture was quite old fashioned for her taste. However it doesn't look bad at all. In fact, they all look majestic – say, fit for a royal family. But Asami's just a city-girl by heart. And growing up, she was surrounded by innovators so she always has the new things even before they were even sold in the markets. And that included arts and furnishings.

"Asami."

She turned around when she heard her name. She smiled upon seeing Tom-tom walking towards her. When the old man stopped before her, she offered the flowers to him. "I had some helped with Mila. Here, Lord Tom-tom."

"Ah, earth lilies. Not as beautiful as their fire counterparts but they definitely smell better." Tom-tom said after taking a sniff at the flowers. He then gave it to his servant and ordered to put them in the brown vase by the tea room.

Turning back to her, Tom-tom offered his arm. "Shall we?"

So she's right. Tom-tom wanted to stroll somewhere. Tea has to wait. Asami smiled and gently placed her arms around his. "Where shall we go to?"

"Remember the painting I mentioned to you? It arrived earlier than expected." Tom-tom said excitedly. He was leading her into the ballroom if she remembers the layout of the house correctly.

"The one of your grandchild and nephews?" Asami asked. Tom-tom had mentioned on their first meeting that he had some packages shipped from his old home to here. That must be why there were a lot of servants today.

"Yes, that's it." Tom-tom nodded. "That was my favorite and my sister had it copied by another painter so I can have one of it placed here."

His eyes always sparkled whenever he talks about his family. Asami had heard a few stories of them already and she can't help but feel envious of how Tom-tom's family sounds so wonderful. She was an only child and so were her mother and Hiroshi. No cousins, uncles or aunts to visit.

Tom-tom meanwhile has a big family. Tom-tom's described his parents-in-law as dysfunctional. His parents-in-law were in the circus business and that's where he met his late wife. Now, it's his only son and his family who runs the traveling circus. Asami might have heard of the circus somewhere before but she can't really place it.

Tom-tom's parents died when he was young so he mainly grew up with his sister and her family. He loves his sister so much but according to him, she's so hard to please; his brother-in-law who he warmly addressed as brother; his niece and her family. And there's also their late uncle who had greatly influenced them, including about tea-making.

"Here we are." Tom-tom opened the door with his free hand. The ballroom was enveloped by the afternoon sunlight. The room itself was magnificent; one side of the room was a two-story high of paneled glass windows.

Tom-tom guided her to the left, facing the marbled wall. There were lots of opened and unopened boxes tucked in the corner. The servants immediately paused what they're doing and bowed when they came close.

"Don't mind us. Please continue." Tom-tom waved to them. They stopped to face a large frame leaning at the wall. "Asami," Tom-tom said before removing her arm from his. "I present to you, my grandson and great nephews."

He slid down the cloth covering the gold frame. It revealed a painting of a laughing teenager being tackled by two grinning toddlers to the grassy ground. The teenager's hair was being pulled by one of the younger boys while the other one was trying to yank one of his boots.

"It's a beautiful painting. They look so happy." Asami stated admiringly.

"They are, aren't they? My brother took the photo of them and asked one of the painters to paint it." Tom-tom said. Pointing to the toddler who's pulling the older boy's hair, he proudly continued. "That is my grandson, Mushi."

"Mushi? What a strange name."

Asami knew she had used the wrong tone when she saw Tom-tom's smile dropped. "Did I say strange? I meant unique."

Tom-tom remained silent and Asami felt guilty. She tried to ask the servants for help but all of them apparently left already. "Lord Tom-tom, I'm sorry if I offended you."

"None taken Asami." Tom-tom shook his head. His voice then lowered. "Though it was me who named him Mushi."

She felt guiltier now. Not only had she offended his grandson's name, he had also offended the person who had welcomed her so openly to the village. "Oh Agni. Lord Tom-tom, I deeply apologized for my impudence - "

She was cut off by Tom-tom's laugh. He was laughing so hard that Asami was afraid that he might faint if he didn't stop soon. "Lord Tom-tom?"

"I'm sorry, my dear." Tom-tom said after he finally recomposes himself. "I was just trying to pull your leg. But you should've seen your face – you were so worried."

Relief washes over her. "I'm glad. But seriously, Mushi's a nice name."

"You don't have to pretend Asami." He chuckled. "If Mushi wasn't just born after his cousin, he would've a different name. Much more dignified, too. But Honora gave birth a day before my daughter-in-law Sakura."

"Is that so?" Asami then pointed to the toddler by the teenager's feet. His black hair was tied at the top and his eyes were golden. "Is that the cousin in question?"

"Correct." Tom-tom affirmed.

"What's his name?"

Tom-tom didn't respond and he instead made his way to the other side of the ballroom and gestured for Asami to follow him.

Asami looked back to the painting before following the older man. Tom-tom opened the large French doors going out to the rear garden. When he stopped by the middle of the entry way, Asami stopped, too. She can see some servants were gathered outside. "So what's the coveted name?" Asami questioned again.

"Iroh." Tom-tom finally answered.

"Iroh?" Asami repeated, testing the name on her tongue. It brought back some unwanted memories from Republic City. "Like General Iroh." she mumbled.

"Ah, Iroh." Tom-tom beckoned someone from outside before he faced her. His brown eyes sparkling. "My great nephew."

"Yes, uncle?"

Asami lifted her head a bit to look at the person behind Tom-tom. She thought her eyes would pop when she recognized the man as the person she just thought of a few seconds ago. He wasn't wearing the red uniform but no doubt it's him. "General?"

Golden eyes flicked her way. "Miss Sato?" Iroh asked – he sounded as confused and surprised as Asami.

"You know each other? Well that's an easier introduction." Tom-tom beamed. "Shall we have tea?"

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Chapter 3 End

July 30, 2012

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Iroh's finally here! I'm sorry if it wasn't much of a grand entrance. But I really wanted him to appear soon to start the ball rolling.

I'm uploading some of my head canons for this story to tumblr. If you're interested, let me know so I can give you the url.

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed, favorite and added this on alert.