Chapter 15

"Come in," Iroh called when he heard a knock on his door. Lu Ten popped his head in his father's door.

"You called, Dad?" Iroh nodded.

"Yes, I did. Come in Lu Ten." He motioned for his son to come inside the room. "Tea?" he asked him, holding up the teapot. "It's jade," he said, smiling lovingly, for jade was his favourite tea.

"I'd love some. Thank you, Dad." Iroh waved his thanks off.

"Don't mention it, Son." They sat in silence for a while, just enjoying their tea. After a while, however, Lu Ten began to notice that his father looked quite nervous.

"Dad? Is everything alright?" Unexpectedly, Iroh laughed.

"You know me too well, my Son! Do I really make things that obvious?" Lu Ten chuckled.

"Yes, actually, you do." Iroh let out another booming laugh.

"Well, I'd better not delay any longer then." His smile faded and he looked to be lost in thought. "Hmm... Lu Ten... you know how you've been training to accompany me as co-general in the war?" Lu Ten nodded. "Well... your Grandfather has made it known that he would like for you to come with me the next time I go into battle." Iroh finished speaking looking down into his cup. He couldn't look at his son; he didn't know what to expect. He didn't want his son to put himself in danger, but he knew he had to give him a chance. Besides, with the Fire Lord expecting him to take part in the war, no matter what happened, his wish would be fulfilled.

When Lu Ten didn't respond for a few minutes, Iroh looked up to see mixed emotions on his son's face, but the most prominent one was one of happiness. His eyes were shining in such a way that Iroh had never seen before. Another one that Iroh saw on his son's face was one of regret and sadness. It wasn't very prominent though. Iroh wondered what could have – Ohh.... Now he understood. Rui. Lu Ten would have to leave her behind. She would be heartbroken. Iroh reached out and tentatively put a hand on his son's shoulder.

"She'll be okay. She will understand – I know she will." Iroh spoke with such assurance that Lu Ten was startled.

"You really think so?" Iroh bowed his head.

"She is stronger than we think." When Lu Ten still looked unsure, Iroh smiled and spoke again. "I know so." Lu Ten smiled faintly at him, and some of the pain in his eyes eased up a bit. However, some of the pain still remained. "There's something else also, isn't there?" Lu Ten looked down, his expression unfathomable.

"I just proposed to Rui." Iroh sucked in a breath and held it. Lu Ten looked into his Father's eyes then, his expression full of pain. "She said yes."

Iroh was stunned into silence for a moment. Finally after a few moments a wide smile broke out on his face. He laughed and clapped his son on the back.

"Why, son, this is excellent news! We would have to conduct the marriage right away.... It would have to be rushed though, seeing as there isn't much time left...." Iroh continued on his mumbling, more to himself then to Lu Ten. However, one glance at his son silenced him immediately. His expression was one full of torture and self-approach.

"I – I can't do this to her, Dad." Lu Ten's voice sounded tortured and hollow. "I – I can't leave not knowing – " Lu Ten's voice broke. Fear like he hadn't felt in a while filled Iroh up to the brim, rendering him in-able to breathe. What was his son getting at? "I – I'm breaking up with her." Lu Ten's voice broke in several places.

Iroh stared at his son in shock.

"What?" he finally managed to gasp. "Why?" he implored. Lu Ten looked at him, a fierceness in his eyes that Iroh had never seen before.

"Because I can't leave her knowing that should something happen to me, she would be destroyed. If I break up with her now, she would at least not be as upset should I – " Lu Ten couldn't finish his sentence. Iroh then did something he hadn't done in a very long time. He pulled Lu Ten into a very tight embrace. He felt tears collect in his eyes and a few even escaped the safe enclosure of his eyes.

"Nothing will happen to you, son! I won't allow it!" Iroh said, fiercely, his voice gruff with emotion. Lu Ten returned the embrace with as much force as possible.

"And the same goes for you, Dad," Lu Ten managed to choke out through his own tears. Iroh pulled back from Lu Ten and wiped his tears away before kissing his forehead.

"I love you, Lu Ten. I know that you're a grown man and probably don't want me to say these things – but – I want you to know just how much I love you. You are my entire World, Lu Ten, and I can't stand to see you hurt – mentally or physically. Please don't do this to yourself and Rui; it would kill me, as well as the both of you," Iroh begged his son, letting his tears cascade down his face. Lu Ten looked completely torn.

"But – how can I.... What if something happens to me? She won't survive that – I swear – she'll be shattered from the inside out, and no one will be here to pick up the pieces, Dad!" Lu Ten cried, his heart breaking into a million pieces. Iroh put a finger under his son's chin and tilted it up so he could look at his son in the eyes.

"I will not allow that to even come to pass, Lu Ten," Iroh said, his eyes shining with fierce determination. Lu Ten's eyes filled with even more tears as he looked away.

"Dad – please – don't make promises you can't keep." That just tore Iroh in two. He was suddenly wrecked with heart-wrenching sobs.

"Please, son, don't give up! She needs you – as you need her." Iroh was absently stroking the back of his son's head while he cried. He didn't even know why he was crying, really. He felt sad – that much he knew – but he couldn't tell if it was more for his son, or for his situation, or what? But he knew that he would have to gain control of himself, and soon, for his son's sake if not for his own. He pulled away again to look his son in the eyes and wipe away his tears. "Lu Ten – if you would like – I can talk to your Grandfather; you don't have to go if u don't want to." Lu Ten raised an eyebrow at his father. "I know he will probably act adamant – but – should the need arise – I will send you and Rui away from the Fire Nation." Before Iroh had even finished Lu Ten was shaking his head rather vigorously.

"No, Dad. I want to go. I'm just scared of what will happen to Rui should I – " Iroh covered his son's mouth before he could say anything else.

"Stop! I will not allow you to speak like that!" Iroh said, panicked. Lu Ten just smiled sadly at him and stood up. He hugged his Father and whispered, "thank you," into his ear. Iroh pulled back to kiss his son's forehead.

"I love you, Lu Ten."

"Love you too, Dad."

Lu Ten walked over to the door and was about to walk out when Iroh spoke again.

"Where are you going?" Iroh asked his son, somewhat put-out that his son was leaving. Lu Ten turned completely around to face his father before replying.

"To find Rui. I – I have to talk to her." Remorse filled his son's face before it was replaced by a mischievous grin. "Why? You're not jealous, are you?" Iroh snorted with indignity while his son just laughed. "See you around, Dad." Iroh just nodded, pretending to be lost in thought. As soon as the door clicked closed behind his son, he dropped his head into his hands and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to prevent the tears that were threatening to spill again from doing so.

His son. His precious son was going to have to go into war with him. What if... No! Iroh would not let himself think of the worst.

"He has tolive – he just has to."

A silent tear slipped down Iroh's face and into his beard.