After Dark
Part 4
She was caught. Mai was angry with herself for letting it happen. Ibaraki's face wore a patient smile but his dark brown eyes said something different. They were full of rage and fear. The girl shivered.
"I asked you a question, young lady? Why are you following me? What business do you have out here at night? Your parents think that you're safe in bed."
"And your family thinks that you are," Mai snapped right back.
"You have a smart mouth. You need to watch that," the middle aged man said threateningly.
"You're judging me?" Mai asked. "I saw you with that girl."
"And what exactly did 'that girl' and I do?" Ibaraki asked.
Mai felt trapped again. She had not seen the man do anything but walk up and down the street with the young woman. They had embraced but done nothing more intimate than that.
"You hugged her and looked like lovers," Mai said slowly. "Don't try and tell me that she's a friend or something like that. I'm not stupid."
"No, I'll wager that you're not, Mai. I think that you're very bright, bright enough to know how things in our class work."
"What do you mean?" Mai asked. "You have a wife and three sons and you go out at night with whores."
"That's rather blunt, isn't it?"
"It's the truth."
"Alright, I admit that I go out with whores. Everyone has their secrets, Mai. I've caught you in one and you've caught me."
"But I'm not hurting anyone. I'm just walking around."
"Are you sure about that? If word got out that you wandered the unsavory part of the city at night, unaccompanied, I think your reputation would be soiled. And then your parents would be hurt."
"Why?" Mai asked viciously, "Because no stupid son of a nobleman would marry me?"
"You are the daughter of a nobleman, Mai. You seem to forget that, yet you enjoy all the benefits your position gives you."
"I don't enjoy anything," Mai remarked darkly.
Ibaraki laughed; a deep guttural sound that echoed off the white stone buildings.
"You need to start then, young lady. Accept your place in the world and you'll be much happier."
"But you haven't accepted yours; you're out here at night instead of at home with your wife."
"Take a lesson from Mrs. Ibaraki. She's content. She has three sons. That in itself is quite an accomplishment."
Mai narrowed her eyes but held her tongue.
"She has the finest clothes, a beautiful home. She can have tea with her friends and gossip or talk about the children. She understands what it is to be a member of the noble class."
"Do you love her?" Mai asked pointedly and prepared herself for another slap.
"I…care about her and her well being."
"So you don't love her," Mai stated flatly.
"Our marriage was arranged, of course. She was the best match for me and me for her. Our two families are stronger for being aligned. That's what's important. We produced three sons who will carry on my name."
"So daughters don't count?"
"Without daughters, there would be no more marriages, so yes, they count. But they're not as important as sons."
Mai could feel her cheeks begin to heat up. To this man, this cheat, she was nothing but a broodmare. She was to be married off to a respectable nobleman all for the purpose of making more noblemen. There had to be more to her life than that? Did no one love anyone? Were all these perfect families just a sham?
"I want more," Mai said for the second time in a few hours.
"You've been lucky, Mai. You have a skill in your knife throwing. Sen and Masami allowed you to acquire it."
"I mainly taught myself," Mai corrected.
"Fine, good for you; that's something you have that is yours alone."
"And what good will it do me married to some, some boy like Kenji? Will I throw some knives at him?"
"If you want something else, you'll have to leave Capitol City and your parents and live on your own. You can't take what the noble class has to offer and then reject what it expects of you."
"But that's exactly what you're doing. You're cheating on your wife."
"I come home to her and take care of her. She doesn't suffer. Even if she knew, she would understand. We have no passion, no love, just comfortable convenience."
"Does the whore love you?" Mai asked viciously.
His laugh rang out again and Mai wondered that no one heard and discovered them both standing in the middle of the street, moonlight illuminating their conversation.
"No," Ibaraki answered. "But if I pay her enough, she pretends to."
"It's not funny," Mai blurted out. "None of this is funny."
"Is all this fuss because of your crush on the banished prince? Perhaps you're angry because it won't be him you're marrying."
The question surprised Mai. Her mouth hung open for a moment and she stammered a reply.
"I, I miss him."
She covered her mouth with a hand as if she could take back the little confession that made her so vulnerable, swallow it down and remove its existence.
"So, I'm right and the rumors are true. You had feelings for Prince Zuko. That's why you're resisting betrothal to anyone else."
"I won't marry someone I don't love."
"You're in for a hard time, then, and so are your parents. Just be a good girl, why don't you, and forget about the prince. He proved himself to be weak. You can do better."
That wasn't how Mai saw things at all. She didn't witness that horrible Agni Kai between Zuko and his father, Fire Lord Ozai, but she heard what had happened and what led up to the 'duel'. Azula was more than happy to report every horrific detail. In Mai's mind, Zuko was strong, strong enough to stand up for something. She wanted to be strong too, and rebelled in her own way. She wouldn't be the perfect noble girl; she wouldn't giggle at stupid remarks made by buffoons trying to court her and she wouldn't get starry eyed over some handsome rich boy like they expected.
If her mother wanted her to sit quietly with her hands in her lap, talking only when spoken to, then she would be quiet alright. She wouldn't show an interest in anything, ever, at least not where they could see. Her life would be in her mind, in her room and in the dark. Her knives would be her companions; at least they respected her.
"What are you thinking about?" Ibaraki asked.
Her reverie interrupted, Mai looked up at the man and shrugged.
"Nothing," she replied.
"You'd best get home, then. Don't even consider mentioning to anyone what you saw tonight. If I go down, you do too."
"Your secret is secure. Don't worry."
"Good. I hope you understand things a little better now, Mai."
"I understand," she replied.
The tall, well built man gave her a quick nod and went on his way, turning the corner before Mai even began to move.
"I understand everything," she whispered to herself.
Three days later, Mai was awakened by the sound of heavy footsteps on the staircase. She hadn't been back to the other part of the city since her encounter with Ibaraki and her sleep had benefitted greatly. Yawning and stretching, she reached for a robe and put it on hastily. Mai opened her bedroom door and peeked outside. Her father was yelling at a servant and a strange woman was entering her mother's bedroom.
"Your mother's having the baby," Sen stated when he saw his daughter. "Stay out of the way."
"Like I was going to do anything else," Mai said quietly enough so that her father couldn't hear.
She waited until the staircase was clear and then scurried downstairs into the kitchen. The cook made her some tea and eggs and Mai ate them hungrily. Looking around for more, she found some pastries from the day before and scooped one onto her plate. She picked at it daintily and took in her surroundings. Meats and vegetables for the day's food were spread across the counter and a huge bowl of fruits decorated the centre of the table where Mai sat. An impressive scarlet and black teapot along with matching cups rested on the counter and a pitcher with ice water sat on a tray.
"Tea for my father and water for my mother," Mai surmised.
As if he knew Mai was thinking about him, Sen walked into the kitchen and sat down beside his daughter.
"Tea, sir?" the cook asked.
Sen nodded and the cook set about putting the leaves into the teapot. Ten minutes later, the tea was presented to Mai's father along with his breakfast. He ate methodically, occasionally taking a look at his daughter.
"Have you given any thought to Kenji Ibaraki?" he finally asked.
Mai shrugged and said nothing.
"He may be your last prospect, Mai. I wouldn't push him aside so nonchalantly."
Mai remained silent. Sen sighed heavily.
"Perhaps it's time I took a firmer hand with you. You've had too much freedom, Mai. I've let you make far too many decisions."
"Like what?" Mai asked, finally deciding to speak.
"Like your decision to play with those knives."
"I don't play with them," Mai replied coldly.
"You have no plans to enter the military, do you? You can't anyway until you're sixteen or have special permission. What good is throwing knives?"
"I'm good at it and I like it. Princess Azula said she might take me with her to the Earth Kingdom. When she's older, she'll be helping her father to win the war. My knife throwing could be useful then."
"And what about a husband?"
The girl shrugged again.
"I think an arranged marriage might be in order for you. I had hoped that you and one of the boy's we've introduced you to would be compatible. But it's obvious you won't even try with any of those fine young men available to you. And we can't depend on the Princess to give you a purpose in life."
"I'll run away," Mai threatened.
"Do so and you'll be disowned," Sen threatened right back, though he didn't really mean it. "You need to learn your duty, young lady."
His words were like an echo of Ibaraki's and Mai grimaced.
"Why can't you just leave me alone," she pleaded. "I don't want to marry one of those stupid boys. I don't even know them."
"Well, how could you? You won't so much as look at them, let alone give them a chance to talk."
"They're boring," Mai said defensively.
Sen shook his head.
"I don't know what to do with you."
"Ty Lee's not betrothed," Mai stated, hoping her friend's lack of attachment would help her cause.
"Her family has a lot of girls to deal with. She's probably been lost in the shuffle."
"What if the baby's a girl?" Mai asked. "Won't I be your heir then?"
"Let's hope that doesn't happen," Sen replied and Mai felt that familiar anger eating away at her insides. "But yes, you would be."
"Shouldn't you be with Mom?" Mai asked, changing the subject.
Sen looked horrified. "Husbands don't witness births. It's not our place to be there. The midwife will notify the servant when the child is born, and the servant will inform me."
"Of course," Mai replied sarcastically. "I'm going to my room."
She got up from her seat stiffly and left the kitchen. Muffled moans greeted her ears as soon as she set foot on the staircase. Once on the landing, Mai hovered outside her mother's room and listened. Masami sounded like a wounded animal. Mai wrinkled her nose as if smelling something distasteful. She couldn't imagine ever giving birth. Walking closer to the closed door, the girl could hear her mother speaking.
"I can't take any more," she panted.
"It won't be much longer, my lady. I can see the child's head."
Masami grunted in a very unladylike fashion and then screamed at the midwife to pull the baby out.
"Two more pushes and you're done," the woman promised.
Sure enough, after two more animal like bellows, the baby was born.
"Is it a boy?" Masami asked even before the child had a chance to let out its first cry.
"You're very fortunate, my lady. You have a son."
"Oh, thank Agni," the noblewoman gasped. "Sen will be so pleased."
Mai turned away from the door and entered her room. She turned the lock and scanned her shelf for a book to read. Choosing one, she curled up on her bed. Before she turned a page, Mai pulled out one of her blades and tossed it with deadly accuracy at the door's centre. Her brother's wails hardly stopped for the rest of the day.
The next morning, Sen awoke her with a business like knock.
"I want you out here in five minutes. You need to meet your brother."
Mai didn't reply, but she did finish dressing. Deliberately, she took her time and it was at least fifteen minutes before she opened her door. Sen glared at her but let the little rebellion pass. He walked down the richly carpeted hallway to Masami's room and knocked on that door as well.
The midwife opened it just a crack and looked Sen up and down. Her sharp brown eyes then took in Mai.
"You can only stay for a few minutes," she warned.
Masami sat up in the large bed of dark mahogany wood, prettily carved and dressed in beautiful silk sheets of the deepest red. Three pillows rested behind her head and back and she held the infant in her arms. She looked pale and worn and older than her thirty five years. Masami cooed and crooned at the little wrapped bundle. Sen approached the bed and looked down at his son.
"He looks strong and healthy," he observed, stroking his beard. "You did well, dear."
"He's the most beautiful baby I've ever seen," Masami replied.
Mai hovered near the door, not wanting to see this brother of hers. It was already clear who the favorite child was. He certainly didn't need her fawning all over him too.
"Mai," Masami said when she finally took her eyes off the infant and looked up. "Come here."
The knife thrower let go of the door frame reluctantly and walked toward the bed. She stood on the side opposite her father and eyed the little patch of black hair that stuck up from inside the red blanket emblazoned with the Fire Nation insignia.
"His name is Tom-Tom. Isn't he wonderful?" Masami enthused as she turned the baby to face Mai.
"Sure," Mai stated without emotion.
"We've got such big plans for you, yes we do," she said sweetly, looking down at the baby again. "You've made your father and me so happy. We have our son. It's been a long wait, hasn't it, Sen?"
"Yes, but well worth it," Mai's father replied as he cupped the baby's head with his hand and placed a kiss on his forehead.
Mai slipped out of the room. No one noticed.
'No matter,' Mai thought to herself.
That night she slipped out of the house again, running through the dark and breathing easily for the first time in hours.
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing.