A/N: I invented a naming ceremony for my story "Two No More'. I'm using the same ceremony here.
After Dark
Part 8
Mai's sleep had been restless despite the chamomile tea she downed. When she awoke to the sound of her mother's voice coming through the thick wood of her bedroom door, she was groggy and strangely heavy feeling. The last thing she wanted to do was get out of bed so that she could get dressed and then spend the day with people she despised. Masami's insistent voice wouldn't go away, however, and Mai gave up any idea of staying inside the warm cocoon of her covers.
"Mai, I asked if you were awake," Masami called again.
"I'm getting up," Mai snapped back.
"Remember to put your best robes on," the woman reminded her daughter.
"Yes, mother," Mai replied.
She placed her feet firmly on the floor and stood up. Immediately she longed for her bed but forced herself forward. Inside her wardrobe, she reached for the robes her mother insisted that she wear and began to dress. With that done, she sat down at her dressing table and looked at herself in the mirror.
Her face was paler than usual and drawn looking and the smudges of black underneath her eyes made her look sick. Sighing, Mai combed her hair, one hundred soothing strokes, and then pulled it into her usual style. For just a moment she thought about trying something different with her hair, but no doubt her mother would protest and then she would have to do it all over again.
"Stick with the usual, Mai," she told herself. "Anything different just causes trouble."
Mai dabbed at her face with powder. The dark circles were difficult to cover. Better she work at it though. If her mother caught a glimpse of Mai looking haggard, she would drag the girl into her own bedroom and apply some thick skin colored cream that felt like paste rather than makeup. Mai knew because she had played with it as a child.
"Damn," Mai cursed and pressed more of the dusty powder under her eyes. "It will have to do."
As if to distract from the mess of her eyes, she put a dab of blush on each cheek and just a hint of color on her lips. Satisfied, Mai reached for the necklace her uncle had given her and slipped it over her head. She took a deep breath, opened her bedroom door and headed downstairs.
Her mother was a whirlwind and the nanny along with the rest of the household staff was caught up in her force, moving where she did and doing what she said.
"Tom-Tom's fed and clean," Masami said as if ticking things off an inventory list. "We need to put his ceremonial robe on. Sun, come help me with that. Oh, Mai, get some breakfast in the kitchen and be ready to leave in twenty minutes. You look tired."
How Masami could tell when she had hardly glanced at her, Mai wasn't sure. Like she had noted before, her mother was often more observant than Mai gave her credit for. Sighing, she entered the kitchen, glad to find her uncle there finishing up a cup of tea.
"I'd keep out of her way if I were you," he advised Mai. "She's like a spinning top out of control."
Mai smirked and nodded.
"I know. I've seen it before."
"Didn't sleep well?" Katashi asked with concern.
"Is it that obvious?" Mai replied.
"Well, yeah, it is," the man said honestly. "Bad dreams or something?"
"You could say that," Mai agreed and then shuddered at the remembrance.
"Were they dreams of a certain young man?" Katashi prodded.
"I can't hide much from you," she stated dryly. "It was awful."
Katashi reached over and placed his huge hand over Mai's pale and delicate looking small one.
"Maybe more time will help," he offered by way of comfort. "Eventually you will forget."
Somehow that thought was far more terrifying than the dreams. At least with them, she had a connection to Zuko. Her feelings, good and bad, manifested themselves in her sleeping hours and kept the look of Zuko, the sound of him, the essence of him, alive in her mind. If that left, if her memory of the boy who had her heart began to fade, Mai wasn't sure what she would do.
"No," she protested softly.
Suddenly the day, so bright and warm already, had a pall cast over it. Mai stared down at her hands resting on the table; her uncle's still covered the one, dwarfing it completely. She pulled it out from under the gentle pressure and poured herself a cup of tea.
"Is there anything to eat?" she asked neutrally.
Katashi didn't press further. Instead he got up from his seat and dug up some rice and fruit for his favorite girl.
"Thanks," Mai said when her uncle placed the food before her. "So, are you looking forward to the ceremony?"
"I enjoyed yours," he replied with a smile at the recollection. "You were quiet even then, like you knew what was expected of you. And you were such a pretty little baby, with so much of that thick black hair of yours."
Mai rolled her eyes but somehow the observations hurt. She was a doll from the beginning, quiet and docile, pretty to look at but not meant for anything else. She pushed the disturbing thoughts aside and finished her food. Nothing seemed to ever quell her appetite.
"Whatever feelings you have about Tom-Tom, whatever jealousy you feel, remember that he's not to blame, Mai. He is your brother and maybe one day the two of you will be good friends."
"Where did that come from?" the black haired girl asked.
"I'm not as stupid as I look," Katashi joked. "I see the way my sister fusses over Tom-Tom. I hear everything that she says."
"Well, he is a boy after all. Boys make everyone happy."
She wanted to scream her outrage and her pain but did the next best thing instead. Mai tucked her hands under the table and pressed her sharp, perfectly manicured nails into the soft flesh of her palms. She bit back a grimace of pain but continued until she felt the warm wetness of blood.
Her shoulders were straight and tense and her eyes looked straight ahead. Carefully now, she loosened her fists and smeared the droplets of crimson into the skin of her hand. She would wash up when she got the chance.
Mai's parents hired a palanquin for the occasion. She sat beside her uncle on one side while her parents sat opposite, Tom-Tom in Masami's arms. The infant wore a long flowing robe of red and gold and the tiniest slippers Mai had ever seen. Masami continually adjusted the cloth, smoothing out a tiny crease and then frowning as she found another.
"It's fine," Sen told her.
"I want everything to be perfect," Masami snapped back.
Mai was grateful for the thick red curtains that hung down, hiding them from view. It was still early in the morning and the streets were just beginning to show signs of life but she felt self conscious nevertheless. Peeking outside all she could see was the straining back of a servant carrying his corner of the palanquin and the gates of the palace as they passed nearby.
The temple was a short distance beyond the palace. Mai had only been there a few times in her life. The Fire Sages and worship in general took a back seat to world dominance now and the military was held in higher esteem than any god of fire.
Mai let the curtain fall back into place and allowed her thoughts to drift aimlessly. Katashi had to give her a gentle nudge when they arrived at their destination. Letting out a loud breath, she waited as the servants placed the palanquin down on the paving stones and stood at attention, each at his corner, looking like bedposts rather than men.
Mai waited with her uncle as Sen stepped outside and helped Masami out onto the street. She cradled little Tom-Tom close as he shifted around a bit in his confining clothes and began to wimper.
"Ready?" Katashi asked his niece.
"As I'll ever be," she replied dryly.
She hopped out carefully, feeling her mother's watchful eyes on her. Katashi followed. He put a comforting hand on her back and guided her toward the temple. Even Mai had to admit that the building was beautiful. It was typical of the Fire Nation, all reds and oranges with splashes of gold. But the flame shaped tiers covered with an exquisite patchwork of tile and the filigree patterned carvings on the huge dark red door along with the peaceful gardens she could just glimpse, made it stand out. In the distance, she could see another palanquin making its way toward the temple.
'Must be Azula,' she thought.
Behind the princess walked several families. Mai's sharp eyes picked out Mr. Ibaraki. She scowled, careful to cover the expression with her hand. A Fire Sage walked out of the temple entrance and greeted Masami and Sen, placing a hand on Tom-Tom's head.
"You may come inside," he said softly. "Everything is ready."
"Don't you think we should wait for the princess?" Masami asked.
She looked around fretfully.
"Perhaps you're right," the sage agreed and slipped back inside.
When Azula stepped out of her much richer looking palanquin along with Ty Lee, Masami inhaled audibly. Sen gave a deep bow while Masami gave a slight one, impeded as she was by Tom-Tom.
"She's impressive looking," Katashi murmured to Mai as he bowed down low to the ground.
"You must be Mai's uncle," Azula said.
"Yes, it's an honor to meet you, princess," Katashi replied.
"Thank you so very much for gracing us with your presence, Princess Azula," Masami gushed. "We are extremely honored to have you witness the naming ceremony for our son."
"Hmmm, well, you should be," Azula replied haughtily. "Mai, get over here. I want you with me and Ty Lee during the ceremony."
The knife thrower gave her uncle a quick glance and he shrugged in reply. Mai moved over to stand beside Azula.
"Oh, Mai, this is all so exciting," Ty Lee stated as she practically twitched in her skin. "Ahhh, is that your little brother? He's soooo adorable."
"I suppose," Mai agreed halfheartedly.
"I hope I have a baby that cute one day," the acrobat said dreamily.
Mai caught Azula's eye and couldn't stop a smile playing at her lips. Both girls looked at Ty Lee and shook their heads and for just an instant Mai felt a sort of camaraderie with the princess.
The Ibarakis, the Tanakis and the other families were all ready to enter the temple. Mai watched as Keiko Tanaki gave a sweeping bow to Azula.
'She's sleeping with Azula's father,' Mai reminded herself. 'I wonder if Azula would care. Probably not, but I bet Mrs. Tanaki's husband would.'
"Isn't he precious?" Keiko stated as she swooped in on Masami and snatched Tom-Tom from the woman's hands. "I am so happy for you. Masami, you must be just thrilled to have a son now. Your life is complete. Now if only you could get Mai betrothed to someone appropriate, everything would be perfect."
"Does she always have to mention that?" Mai asked no one in particular. "I can't stand that woman."
"Would you like me to set her on fire?" Azula asked jokingly.
"No, that won't be necessary but thanks for the offer," Mai replied.
"Your mother will be happy to know that there's a gift from the royal family waiting in my palanquin."
"She might faint or go into convulsions," Mai observed. "It might take days for her to recover."
Ty Lee giggled. "Mai, you're funny."
"Tell that to my mother."
The Fire Sage appeared again, this time with a small bell in his hands. He rang it three times and gestured for everyone to enter the temple. The guests made way for Azula, who entered first. Masami went next, content to arrive in the princess's wake. Family and then guests followed, Ty Lee immediately finding her way to Azula once inside the temple. The princess looked bored and slightly uncomfortable. She was at ease in war rooms and training rooms but anything spiritual put her off.
A stone platform covered with a scarlet cloth sat ready in the centre of the temple's spacious interior. A cauldron with part of the One Flame stood off to the side. On the other side of the platform was a table with paper and writing supplies.
"Place the child on the platform, Masami," the sage instructed.
She lay the infant down, keeping a hand on his stomach to prevent his wriggling off onto the stone floor.
"You have a name for your son?" the sage continued.
"We do," both Sen and Masami replied.
"Write the name on the parchment."
Sen moved forward and dipped the brush into the ink, carefully forming the characters of his son's name. Masami went next, placing her characters next to Sen's.
"Mark the child with the name," the sage said.
Both parents put a finger through the still damp ink of the characters they had just written and smeared Tom-Tom's forehead, leaving two streaks of black on the pale skin. The sage picked up the scroll and dropped it into the fire.
As the paper burned he intoned, "Agni has accepted and blessed Tom-Tom, son of Sen and Masami."
With that the brief ceremony ended and the group made its way outside again, Masami reminding everyone to come to the house for an elegant brunch. The woman held her son proudly, showing him to all her acquaintances, as she made her way back to the palanquin.
"Mai, where are you going?" Masami asked sharply. "Get in the palanquin now."
"Azula wants me to ride with her," the girl replied.
"Oh, of course, whatever the princess wants," Mai's mother corrected herself quickly.
"See you at home," Katashi called.
Mai gave her uncle a quick wave then turned back to the princess and Ty Lee.
"The ceremony was beautiful," Ty Lee declared.
"I guess," Mai replied.
Azula said nothing until they stepped into the royal palanquin and were hidden by the thick curtains.
"What a waste of my time," the princess huffed. "I could be training right now."
"You didn't have to come," Mai stated.
"I'm here representing the royal family," Azula continued. "My father seems to think that your father might be of some use in the future. He wants relations between our families to be amicable."
"Of use; what exactly does that mean?" Mai asked with a frown. "And the Fire Lord can just order my father to do whatever he wants anyway."
"I don't know for sure; maybe a posting somewhere or a Minister's position. Of course my father can order him to do whatever he wants. But, sometimes it's better if the order is seen as a reward. Oh, and don't say anything, Mai."
"I won't. I don't need my mother any more excited than she already is," the knife thrower assured her friend.
A few minutes later the palanquin stopped in front of Mai's home. The girls stepped out and waited for the rest of the people to arrive. Once everyone was inside, Masami went into hostess mode, encouraging everyone to mingle a bit before brunch was served. She slipped upstairs discreetly to nurse Tom-Tom and then came back downstairs, nanny in tow. Mai, meanwhile, stood unhappily in a corner and watched as both her uncle and her father talked with the other men. The women fussed over the infant and congratulated Masami for giving birth to a healthy son.
Gifts were piled on a side table; they would be opened later. Azula looked almost as bored as Mai felt but it was obvious the princess loved the attention she received. Everyone fawned over her, bowing and praising to within an inch of their lives.
Mai imagined Zuko there in Azula's place. He would want to stand in the corner with her and watch as everyone went through the motions they had been trained to make since birth. He would shyly accept compliments and blush at the attention rather than dismissing it with a wave of his hand. If Mai squinted and looked at Azula, she could almost see Zuko. Her heart broke just a little bit more.
"Mai," a deep voice said. "How are you enjoying your little brother?"
She looked up into the hard eyes of Kano Ibaraki.