Kori was already home when Kai and her parents returned – he was busy fishing through the pantry, looking for something to eat. This was standard; if Kori was not in training or in school, he could be found raiding the cupboards in the kitchen, exemplifying Okuni Sato's excuse of his being a growing boy. Upon hearing them arrive, Kori emerged to greet them, jelly donut in hand, his gangly, near-thirteen form taking up most of the height of the doorway.

"Where did you come from?" He asked, words thick and muffled by his snack. His mother, first in line to enter, threw him a patronizing look.

"From an audience with the Fire Lord, which," Kai replied, climbing onto the couch. "you didn't go to, which means you're in trouble. Right, papa?"

"No," Hideyori Sato, closing the front door, raised a mildly amused eyebrow at his daughter's deep frown. "How was training, son?"

"Good, sir," Kori inclined his upper body slightly at the sight of his father. "Master Liu allowed me to engage in second level forms."

"And was Master Liu pleased by his student's performance?"

"I hope so, sir."

"Practice harder, Kori," General Sato reminded him. "practice, if you ever hope to be part of our esteemed army."

"Kori wants to be a royal firebender," Kai piped in, picking at a loose thread on her robe. "He wants to guard the Fire Lord."

"Which he will," General Sato said. "If he practices."

"Yes, sir."

With a nod, the newly appointed general entered his study, shutting the door quietly behind him. Kai's mother approached, shooing her daughter's hand away from the loose thread and tugging the dress up over her head. She left Kai in her shirt and loose pants, clucking all the way to the back door.

Kori settled himself next to his younger sister, still holding his half-eaten jelly donut aloft. "What was he like?"

"Who?"

"The Fire Lord, dummy."

"I don't know. Tall, I guess. Looks the way he does in the portraits, I think."

"You were there all afternoon, but you didn't even get a good look?"

"We were barely inside for fifteen minutes," she sniffed. "And most of it was the Fire Lord not talking. And there was fire. Lots of it."

"Well, he is the Fire Lord." Kori shrugged, taking another bite. "What did you do, then?"

"Not much. He and dad just talked."

"What about?"

"Dad was promoted," Kai chewed on her lip. "to General."

Kori looked shocked, but pleased. "About time. Was that all?"

"No. I got betrothed."

"This is news," Kori shifted his weight, now facing her fully. "To who? A general's son? I hope it's not that Gaku kid, he's such a pain in the butt in firebending training-"

"No, to the prince."

This time, Kori showed nothing but surprise. "How did you manage that?"

"I didn't. Dad asked the Fire Lord, and he said yes, but only if I behaved."

"Well, of course you have to behave." Kori popped the last of the jelly donut into his mouth, his sagely tone marred by his ghastly eating habits. "This isn't just any dumb betrothal. You're marrying the prince, which means you'll have to sit like a princess, and eat like a princess, and talk like a princess - to be completely honest, maybe you should just call it off while you haven't met him yet."

Kai slammed her fist into his shoulder as hard as she could - to Kori, it only felt like a small bird colliding with him, and he barked out a laugh.

"I take it back. You hit like a princess, so you should be fine."

She crossed her arms, evidently upset. "I'm not sure I want to marry the prince."

"Why not? Is he ugly? Or stupid? Or cruel?"

"He's not ugly, and I don't really know if he's stupid or cruel," she trailed off, then hastened to add. "But he could be."

"Ugly?"

"No, stupid or cruel."

"Well, you'll have to live with it, if you ever want to be queen."

Kai let out a heavy sigh. "I don't know if I want to be queen, Kori."

"Sure you do. Every girl wants to be queen." Kori shrugged, like this answered everything.

"What if I'm not good at it, though?"

"Then you'll be assassinated," Kori almost laughed again, but, seeing his sister's frightened expression, was quick to soothe her. "But you have nothing to worry about, because you'll be a very good queen, alright, Kai? Don't think about it."

"I don't want to marry the prince," she repeated.

"Why not?" He reiterated in kind.

"Because - because - because he hit me a while ago." She pouted. "And because I don't know anything about him, and I think he might be a dumb, cruel, spoiled prince, that's why."

"I'm sure it was an accident, and I'm sure he's not-"

"How can you know?"

"I'm thirteen, Kai. I know these things, okay?" He smiled. "Just stop worrying about it. Hey, want to practice firebending?"

She aimed another weak punch at her brother, who blocked it easily with an open palm.

"You know I'm not a firebender."

"You could be my target," he suppressed a chuckle.

Sticking her tongue out, she stood and drew herself to her full height - which wasn't much, but the effort was clearly there. "The target you'll never hit."

"Mmm," Kori, too, got to his feet, and bounded to the door, opening it for his sister with a mischievous grin. "We'll see, little sister."

It was far too early in the morning when Kai felt her mother shaking her awake. From beyond her subconscious state, she could hear the bustle of her family, already up and starting their day. She felt her mother's breath tickle her left ear as she whispered.

"Wake up, Kai."

"Mmm," was the young girl's reply, turning over and away from her mother. She wasn't absolutely sure, but she would have bet her weekly allowance that she hadn't dreamed her mother clicking her tongue in annoyance.

"Kaihime, get up. You're going to be late."

"Late for wha-ha-hat?" Her question drew itself out by her yawning.

"For your appointment at the palace."

"What?" She groaned, squeezing her eyes together tighter. "Why? We were just there yesterday-"

"Because you have a meeting with the prince, and you cannot be late. Now, up."

Kai drew herself up reluctantly, pouting at the wall opposite her. "They probably don't ask the prince to wake up this early to meet with anyone."

"That's because we wait on the prince, not the other way around." Okuni tugged on her daughter's arm, but the rest of the body would not budge - exasperated, she let go, and Kai's arm fell limp back onto the bed. "Ten minutes, Kaihime. Your father needs to leave for war council."

"Ten minutes-"

"Yes, Kai, ten, so you best get moving." With that, Okuni left Kai's room, the younger woman with a sullen look on her face. She spared no noise in dressing, hoping that her incessant thumping and irked groaning would annoy her father to the point that he would leave her behind, allowing her to continue sleeping. But Hideyori Sato was no fool, and had the tactical patience that was expected of his office; it was because of this that Kai, much to her distress, found her father slowly emptying his teacup with a forced pleasantness to his expression as she exited her room.

"Shall we, Kai? I assume you've finished dressing, as the house seems to have quieted down considerably." General Sato stood, placing his cup firmly down onto the wooden table.

Kai let out a sigh, hanging her head in defeat. Then, for the second time in two days, she would have to go to the palace. "Yes, sir."

The Fire Nation palace held less wonder than it had the day before, which was saying something, for Kai had already been in too foul a mood to appreciate it during her first visit. She and her father walked the same path, all the way to the throne room, although, this time, General Sato stopped her from passing through the doors.

"You'll wait here, Kaihime. You will meet with the prince shortly."

"You mean I don't have to go inside?" Her eyes lit up hopefully.

"I mean, you cannot go inside," Her father smiled slightly, knowing the look on her face was not one of disappointment, but relief. "But wait right here. Someone will collect you, and bring you to-"

"General Sato!" A loud voice prevented Kai from finding out exactly where or to whom she would be brought, though it was already evident to her.

"War minister Gozu," both men exchanged the expected greeting, a tight fist supporting an open palm, bent to a perfect ninety degrees.

"Come, let us proceed." War minister Gozu began to usher General Sato into the throne room. "Fire Lord Ozai does not like to be kept waiting."

"Indeed. I will just see my daughter off, minister," Hideyori Sato nodded Gozu off, then turned back to Kai, raising a stern finger. "Stay."

"Yes, sir."

"No wandering."

"Yes," she sighed, shifting her weight from foot to foot.

"Be respectful to the prince. Remember, he is to be the next Fire Lord."

"Yes, sir," she didn't think it was worth mentioning that she had just stuck out her tongue rudely to the next Fire Lord not twenty four hours prior.

"Be good," he said with much finality, before placing his hand lightly on her hair, patting the crown of her head lightly. With that, he entered the throne room, the grandiose doors closing firmly behind him.

Good? She was good. She was very, very good. And she would be to the prince, if he managed to behave as well.

Maybe.

Kai huffed at nothing, running her eyes over the palace interior. It was a sight, truly, though not one a child's mind could fully grasp. It did look expensive, with its high walls and rich carvings, its marble floors and fine tapestries depicting epic scenes from a battle fought by one or another royalty. She travelled down the hall, gazing up at each work of art. All she noticed was that almost every single one of them involved a massive amount of firebending, which held no interest for her at all. Also, the faces on each portrait were so intensely stern that she could not help but feel like there were ten million Fire Lord Ozai's glaring down at her, wondering if she was, indeed, right to wed the crowned prince.

Speaking of, Kai, suddenly jolting out of her trance, looked around and found herself deep into the hallway - the throne room was a tiny speck to her right, and to her left was another endless stretch of marble that seemed to lead to an abyss.

So much for staying put, then.

She resolved to march back to the throne room, and did so with all the speed she could muster. Only then did she notice a tiny dot growing larger and larger, as though it were charging straight towards her.

It wasn't a dot - it was a servant, huffing and puffing, trying to reach her. When it seemed the poor man could no longer run the length of this hallway marathon, Kai decided to close the gap, and approached him cautiously.

"L-Lad… Lady… Kh- Kaihime…" the servant wheezed, clutching at his heart. "Prince… Pr- Prince Zuko… he- he awaits you."

Unable to respond - the desperate, labored breath seemed to render her speechless - she nodded, and the servant took slow, careful steps in turning around and leading her through the labyrinth of the palace interior.

It seemed an age and a day before they arrived at the large sitting room that was meant to be the rendezvous point. When she entered, she was disappointed to find that it was completely empty.

"I thought the prince-" she started, but was cut off by the servant.

"Please, have a seat, my lady. I will inform the prince that you have arrived." Before she could ask exactly where it was in that enormous collection of couches she was meant to settle, the servant had dashed off - the puffing and panting fading away until it was once again silent. Decided that it didn't matter, she slumped into the nearest armchair, picking at her nails.

I thought the prince awaited me, she sniffed to herself. Her mother's voice, in turn, rang through her consciousness.

We wait on the prince, not the other way around.

Blah blah, she rolled her eyes heavenward. This is boring. I want to go home. I haven't even eaten! Gods, I'm so hungry. Hungry. Hungryyyyyyyyy-

Her extensive and elaborate train of thought was presently interrupted by the sound of the sitting room door opening again. She stood up to see the servant coming in first, looking, once again, out of breath.

"May I present," he paused, trying to steady his oxygen intake. "His Highness, Prince Zuko."

The servant shuffled to the side, allowing a new figure to enter the room - a vaguely familiar silhouette, though Kai did not need any extra time to guess. After all, there had been an introduction, and she had just seen the same pale skin and considerable height and weirdly obnoxious ponytail the day before, as it entered the room now.

They stared at each other for quite some time as the servant slinked out of the room, closing the door behind him. This gave Kai a lengthy opportunity to dissect the crowned prince in full: his cheeks were full and rosy, but his jaw was hard, angular. Brigt gold eyes, the trademark of a firebender, shifted from side to side. His shoulders and elbows were still bony, but promised to fill out its proper broad frame given time.

They stared at each other for a length of time, testing the air and weighing the situation. The young prince made the first move, stretching out a slightly calloused hand towards an apprehensive Kai.

"Hi. I'm Zuko."

Her eyes were no longer fixed on his face - they were instead glued to his hand, with a look of apprehension and fear, as though she were afraid it would hit her, or pop off, or turn into a platypus bear. Dry lips - she ran her tongue along the flesh, clearing her throat. She meant to be as courteous as her parents expected - say something like, hello, Prince Zuko. My name is Kai. Nice to meet you. But the only thing she managed to say was:

"Yeah, I know who you are."

The servant was the one who had reminded the young prince that he was to meet his new betrothed today. He had already been up at dawn, practicing his firebending forms (minus the actual fire) in his chambers. Halfway through the Dragon's Whip, there had been a knock at the door, accompanied by a weak, breathless voice that notified him of the arrival of the Lady Kaihime, who was already waiting in the east sitting room. In his rush, all the while chastising himself for his forgetfulness, he had almost forgotten to don a fresh shirt.

Fire Lord Ozai had asked the newly promoted General Sato to ensure his daughter's best behavior as the future queen. However, Zuko was not aware of this. In fact, when the crowned prince was summoned to the throne room shortly after the departure of the Sato family, he was met with a sharp reminder that he should not, through his countless faults, embarrass himself, and by extension, his father, and thereby disgrace his name and the heritage he carried on his shoulders. Of course, Zuko vowed he would not fail his father, despite his initial confusion as to why this particular girl, out of all the girls in the Fire Nation, was so important. Not that he had asked, nor would have, given a second opportunity; he had learned at an early age to take his father's condescending words in stride, in an attempt to please the latter.

It was, then, a large surprise to Zuko that this Lady Kaihime was not inclined to present herself in a similarly polite manner, considering he was the prince, and also taking into account the fact that they did not know each other at all.

Or didn't they? His hand still held aloft, he squinted at her face. It was as if he had seen her in a dream, or a midday hallucination. But he was sure there was no way - he rarely interacted with other young noblewomen, with the exception of his sister's friends, who were as irksome as they were vapid. He received no help in understanding why she was so familiar, as the young girl was still standing stiff, her arms locked to her sides as though she had been petrified.

Then again, her statement shouldn't have surprised him - he was, after all, royalty, and everyone knew him by name, even those in the border, and the colonies in the Earth Kingdom. Still, it was the way she had said it, like he had punched her in the face, or pulled her hair, or… or-

It came back to him in one exasperated flash: she had been the little girl he'd bumped into as they crossed paths on the garden bridge. Was she still upset about that? Girls were impossible.

"Oh," feeling his arm ache, he let it fall to his side, limp. The muscles in his shoulder stung. "Okay. Well, I don't know who you are, so…"

"So?"

"So, what's your name?"

"Kai."

"Kai," he echoed.

"It's short for Kaihime."

"How old are you?"

"Nine," she answered, her face still infuriatingly sullen. Had she dislocated her shoulder from that bump? Was there a bruise? What could he have possibly done to receive such cold treatment from someone he had not, before this confrontation, ever encountered in his life?

"Oh. I'm ten."

"Uh-huh," she replied, uninterested. An awkward silence fell, and he rummaged through his brain for a way to salvage the situation.

"So - you're… betrothed to me." Even before he had finished the sentence, he already knew it was not the best topic for an introductory meeting.

"Yes. I'm going to marry you."

"Is that okay with you?"

"Why not?" She frowned.

"I thought it might not be." He shrugged.

"You thought wrong," she pursed her lips, raising a foot and tapping the tip of her toes against the carpeted floor.

"Then what's wrong?"

She narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong? Nothing."

Usually, when women say nothing's wrong, they do, in fact, mean that something is, and that they are furious at their partner, and that there was much to be fixed in the situation. However, in this case, there really was nothing wrong, at least, in Kai's perspective. It was just that she was the kind of child that did not know how to make good friends with people at first sight, and tended to snap at them, or, at times, bully them, due to their lack of knowledge on the subject of companionship and good conversation. This applied to everyone, royalty or not, and applied especially to the ponytailed firebending prince that had, through one or another manner, had forced her to come to the palace two days in a row.

Zuko could not have been expected to know this, and took Kai's animosity as a challenge. He, on the contrast, was the kind of little boy that attempted to have as good a moral compass as possible. However, he was also the type of child that responded to anger in kind, despite their desire to be as peaceful as possible; it was a defense mechanism, that he had exercised so much on his unbearable younger sister, to the point that it had become a natural reflex.

It was because of these traits in each individual child that near-tangible tension did not delay in building itself in the atmosphere of the east sitting room.

"All right," Zuko folded his arms across his chest. "So, tell me about your family."

"What does my family have anything to do with this?"

"I'd like to know what I'm getting into."

"I'd like to know what I'm getting into," she repeated. Zuko felt his face heat up.

"You can't talk to me like that," he said, trying to assume a stern tone. "I'm your Fire Lord."

Her lips drew themselves into a thin line of suppressed anger. He knew he had gotten her - with an admirable amount of restraint, she turned on her heel, sitting back down.

"You're supposed to wait for me to sit," he informed her.

With a soft groan, she stood up, gesturing to the nearest cushion. He shook his head.

"I don't feel like sitting."

"So what do you feel like doing?" She said through gritted teeth.

"Father says I should get to know you. We'll be together - well, forever, I suppose."

"You can't get to know me sitting down?" She asked.

"I don't feel like sitting," he repeated. "I've just come from firebending practice-"

"In the garden?" she finished for him, though she was wrong. Still, his eyebrows rocketed up.

"What do you mean?"

"You know it's stupid to practice firebending with a lot of plants around, right? Come on," she shook her head. Zuko felt himself coloring again.

"A good firebender can control his flames."

"You're a good firebender, then?" She said, faking nonchalance. "Because I saw you yesterday and - well, since you're so good, you must have been holding back-"

"What do you know about firebending?"

"My brother's training to be a royal firebender," she bragged. "I watch him practice."

"I don't have to train to be a royal firebender," Zuko rolled his eyes. "I'm already the prince."

"That doesn't mean you're the best at firebending," she plowed on. "I saw your footwork yesterday, and I'm pretty sure it was - what word would Master Liu have used? Sloppy?"

"It was not!" Zuko said angrily. "What do you know anyway? You're not a firebender!"

"Yeah, well, I know about it," she said smugly. "And I know you're not as good a firebender as you think you are."

"I'm a good firebender, and my master says that when I grow up, I'll be one of the greatest firebenders the Fire Nation has or will ever see!'

It would have turned out to be a full-blown argument if a new presence had not intervened. Usually, interventions were welcome to serve as stoppers for fights, especially one that was not meant to be a squabble, but rather a pleasant conversation between a future couple. However, this particular mediator did not come bearing kind gifts, but, rather, fuel to the fire.

"Oh please, Zu-zu," a sardonic voice drawled from the doorway. "We all know that's a big fat lie."

Author's Note: Yes! Kai and Zuko finally meet for the first time. OwO And I think we can all guess who that massive interloper is at the end. I wonder what kind of trouble she'll bring to the table?

As usual, I'd like to ask you to review, pretty please, and tell me what you think! I know Zuko and Kai are off to a rough start, but aren't most girls and boys like that when they first meet? :P Also, I'd like to respond to one of the reviews I received about the timeline. Just to clarify: Iroh did disappear from public view for quite a while, and, in that time, Ozai was crowned at Azulon's funeral (which is why Iroh wasn't there). This particular starting point of the story assumes Ozai has rather recently ascended to the throne, and that Iroh is still not home. Hope that clears things up!

I'd like to thank my bb Kallie for planning things out with me. Girl, you are my rock. What would I do without you?

Please REVIEW! :D