Kind of hurried to get this chapter up, so if you notice errors, please let me know.

You'll also notice that Ursa is a little out of character from what we know of her. But I think Azula's illnes is getting in the way of her remembering things correctly. That's my stance on that issue at least.

Anyway, enjoy the Bison Lord.

Kuei stumbled into his guest suite around quarter to four that morning. Bosco looked up at him with sleepy eyes and a half grin from his cushion at the foot of the bed.

"I'm sorry, Bosco," the King muttered as he collapsed on the guest bed with a content sigh. "I didn't mean to stay out this late, but I'm glad I did."

Bosco mewled a little, then set his head back against the pillow.

"It's not what you think Bosco," Kuei muttered as he drifted off to the screech of the fireworks and a very angry Firelord shouting orders outside. His dreams were full of laughter.

# # # #

A few hours later Kuei awoke feeling refreshed, despite what little sleep he'd had. He washed and dressed in a simple set of slacks and shirt. As he was shaving, he remembered his commitment with Firelord Zuko for breakfast and wondered how he would be able to keep a straight face. As it was he couldn't stop smiling at himself in the mirror.

Just then Bosco lumbered up beside Kuei and stood up on his hind legs so he could sniff his reflection in the mirror beside Kuei. He flashed the King a knowing, big-toothed bear grin. "Good idea, Bosco. I'll just chalk my idiotic grinning up to being in love. It won't be a complete lie."

The bear waggled his head several times in approval and then strode to the door, pawing at it.

"I'm getting hungry too, Bosco," Kuei agreed as he reached for the door latch. "What do you say we find the Firelord and get some breakfast?" But the Firelord had beat him to it; he was poised there at the threshold when Kuei opened the door, his hand ready to knock.

Zuko's face was noticeably drawn and pale, his eyes large and bloodshot. His casual dress was noticeably ruffled. "Oh good, you're still alive," Zuko said in a listless voice. "I was worried she did something to you. You know, kind of like a black widowhawk eats the male after…."

"Firelord Zuko," Kuei interrupted gently, "you seem out of sorts. You know I brought my psychiatrist, Dr. Ping. You're more than welcome to utilize him."

Zuko blinked and put his hand on the door frame to keep from swaying. "Thanks but it's not that. See I uh, I didn't get much sleep last night."

"Strange," Kuei cleared his throat to choke back his laughter. "I slept rather well." Kuei stepped out the door. "Let's get some tea, Firelord Zuko. You seem like you're in bad need of it."

The dazed Firelord nodded and allowed the Earth King, ironically, to lead him to his own kitchen.

The servants were already bustling in the kitchen, scrambling to clean up a mess which was only partially corrected. They had fixed the dining room. The large chairs were pulled against the wall and they brought in several large cushions next to the altered dining room table which now looked more like a raised slab of wood. "I hope you don't mind eating Water Tribe style," Zuko said. He seemed neither surprised nor upset at the broken glass outside the cellar door and the fact that his handsome table now had stumps instead of stately carved legs. He plopped himself down on the cushions and nodded thanks to the servants as they brought in the tea and breakfast. "You see, something always changes whenever Azula comes to visit. She likes…redecorating. At least she's not trying to kill me anymore." He looked around the room, as though unsure of his surroundings or expecting to see someone hiding in the eaves. Then his eyes swung back to Kuei "Is she?"

"Pardon?"

"Is she trying to kill me again, Kuei?"

The Earth King had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing. "Of course not Zuko."

Zuko breathed a sigh of relief and scratched his head. He downed his tea, ate a few bites, and then pushed the rest of his breakfast to Bosco, who happily cleaned the plate.

After a few minutes, the Firelord looked up at his guest. "She's not all there, Kuei," he announced awkwardly. "I mean..you know that right?"

Kuei peered at his host over the rim of his glasses."I'm aware of her condition, Firelord. But in the Earth Kingdom, we have very different ways of looking at psychiatric illness. Besides, I find her little quirks endearing."

"Little quirks?!" Zuko coughed. "Kuei, she once suggested to my father that he burn your kingdom to the ground."

"And you once helped her overthrow me. Am I supposed to hold grudges?" Kuei took a bite from a fruit tart. "Besides, as you told me, she's mentally ill. It's hard to hold things like that against her when she's in an altered state of mind. However I think she's beginning to do some serious self-examination."

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

Kuei put his chopsticks down and leaned back against the cushions. He stared at his food for a moment, formulating his words. "I'm not sure. But I spent a lot of time with her last night and it's just some of the things she said and did. They struck me as odd."

"That's nothing new, Kuei. Azula is the epitome of odd."

At that moment Ursa burst into the kitchen, her eyes red and puffy, her face glowing with emotion. "Oh Zuko, Kuei the two of you have to come quickly. Something miraculous has happened!"

The two rulers shrugged at each other, but followed the Dowager Princess into the royal portrait hall with Bosco lumbering close behind. Right where Firelord Zuko's official portrait had once hung was a picture of a baby balancing on a table, his rosy bum flashing the three onlookers.

Zuko felt his cheeks burn.

"It's a miracle!" Ursa sobbed, her face immersed in her handkerchief. "I thought all of your baby pictures were burned Zuko! I thought Ozai had destroyed them all. But this one survived! It must have been hung by angels!"

"Or one very persistent demon," Zuko muttered and turned on his heels, invigorated by a sudden burst of annoyance and energy.

Kuei was fighting to hide his grin as he trailed Zuko all the way up to Azula's room. .

# # # #

"Azula, you have a boyfriend! This is such a wonderful opportunity for you!" Azula's therapist, Unarqa declared.

A native of the Northern Water Tribe, Unarqa had been hired to reform the Fire Nation Mental Institution and work with Azula. After the Institution made Azula worse Zuko figured she needed a different approach, and Unarqa definitely had that. She was very much into things like Earth Crystals and Moon Spirits, and Auras, although she wasn't as obnoxious about these beliefs as Ty Lee had been. Mostly, she just came across to Azula as a nice old lady.

"You'd be proud of me," Azula declared. "I did the cleansing, just like you suggested!"

"And?"

"I feel much better. I feel unencumbered by the beliefs I had as a child. So the next time I develop a battle strategy, advise political posturing for a nation, or manipulate someone into submission, I won't be looking to my past, because you see that hasn't worked…"

"Clearly."

"I need to look at things for myself and come to my own conclusions, and this perspective will help me to build my grand bison army!" Azula proudly brandished her fist; she didn't seem to notice that a tiny blue flame was dancing at the crest of it. "I will make them rise from the ashes of their near extinction, such that no one will bother them again! Air will be the new fire! Fluff will be the new fear!"

Unarqa pursed her lips and nodded her head a little, considering. "O-K, well, that's a start I suppose! But I really want to use our time to focus on your relationship with the Earth King. How is that going?"

Azula shrank just a little. Her hands fell into her lap, and her eyes looked down at them uncomfortably. She stuck out her lip, and it quivered just a little. "He called me a pet name. He called me," she whispered, "dearest. Seriously, when you look at me, is that what you think, dearest?" She pointed at herself, her brow furrowed, her lips set in a grimace.

Unarqa smiled. "It doesn't matter what I think Azula. It matters what he thinks, and to him, you are his dearest."

"And people say I'm insane," she quipped.

"Azula," her therapist redirected. "Is it really so difficult to believe that someone could love you?"

Azula's eyes fell again and she fidgeted in her bed.

After several moments Unarqa said: "You don't have to answer me if you don't want to Azula. It's just something I want you to think about, and answer for yourself. Later, when you're ready of course."

"AZULA!" Zuko's grumpy shout was unmistakable.

Unarqa rose and bowed shortly to her patient. "We'll finish our session later, Azula." She breezed out the doorway a split second before Zuko stormed in.

He was not happy, and he had many reasons why, which he was not shy about explaining in detail to his sister. Meanwhile Kuei sidestepped Gripeylord and took a seat back in the chair where he'd kept vigil for half the day and evening yesterday. Bosco took a seat at the foot of her bed protectively. He didn't plan on getting aggressive with Zuko but was ready should the need arise.

Unfazed, Azula tilted her head and rested it on her left hand as her brother continued to rant. She reached for Kuei with her right and squeezed his hand slightly.

Kuei understood Zuko's displeasure, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of protectiveness for his misguided girlfriend. Even if she had done all kinds of naughty things, hadn't he participated as well? He was about to say something when Ursa burst into the room and interrupted the Firelord's rant with a scowl.

"Now Zuko, you're so loud I could hear you clear back to the kitchen! You know what the psychiatrist said 'a family centered approach' is what she needs. We all have to be a part of Azula's recovery! How can we all be supportive if we're accusing her of something which is clearly impossible? "

"But mom…"

Princess Ursa cut him off with a wave of her hand, and she dropped a motherly kiss to the top of Azula's head. "Darling if you can muster the strength you should show Kuei the courtyards later. The cherry trees are blooming and its quite lovely outside!"

"I'll try mother, I'm still hurting quite bit," Azula said with deceptively large doe eyes.

"Just enough to get some fresh air, dear. " She winked at Kuei as she exited, leaving the two siblings to hash out their issues.

Azula's lips scrunched up in an innocent pout. "Oh Zuzu! How could I have been out all night, howling at the moon, as you say? Just check my charts," Azula pointed a finger at her medication log, kept at the foot of her bed. "They gave me enough to snow Dominatia last night."

The disgruntled Firelord scowled at his sister. While he was annoyed, on the inside he was counting his blessings. She used to be homicidal; now at least she was just mischievous. "Azula, I wouldn't use your bison for comparison. She's a drunk, and everyone knows it."

Azula shrugged. "Kuei will vouch for me. Won't you, Your Majesty?" Azula leaned into the flustered King, her long lashes batting over her amber eyes sensuously.

Kuei cleared his throat uncomfortably as Azula began to nuzzle him at the neck. "Certainly," he choked. It was the first time he had lied openly for a woman, but the way she was touching him he knew he'd pretty much take a tank round for her at the moment.

The Firelord let out a longsuffering groan and grabbed his temples in frustration. "Ok, number one I don't have time for this, and number two, I can't watch you two make out; it's disgusting. I have to go. I'll check on you later."

Once the stomp of Zuko's footsteps disappeared Azula melted into a puddle of giggles and threw off her blankets. "Oh, that was so much fun!" Azula purred. She planted a quick kiss on Kuei's cheek and jumped out of bed, still wearing her impossibly short sleeping shorts and baggy shirt. She sauntered behind a dressing screen and her sleeping clothes launched from behind it. Her things landed carelessly at Kuei's feet as Azula continued to chatter. "Looking back on it, I'm so glad I didn't manage to kill Zuzu! He's so much more fun alive than he would have been dead!"

Kuei tried not to be too aware of the fact that she was disrobing behind the carved cherry wood. "You're so much cleverer than your poor brother. I can't imagine what childhood was like for him; he is at such a disadvantage!"

Azula peeked at him from behind the screen. He only caught the top half of her face, but he could tell that his remark had her positively beaming. "Your Majesty certainly knows how to flatter a lady."

Kuei wanted to say something back, but her eyes had him frozen right where he was, every part of him, including his tongue. All he could do was smile a smile so dopey and ridiculous he was glad that she ducked back behind the screen to finish dressing.

When she emerged, she was lovely and elegant in a simple crimson dress with gold dragons at the bottom; the flame from their open mouths careened from the soft hemmed skirt to her trim waist. Her makeup was tasteful but accentuating, and a pair of amber earrings glinted amidst the sleek, black waves of her hair. Kuei couldn't help but notice the shimmer in her eyes.

She looked so remarkably exoti,c and the King did have an intense affinity for the exotic and refined. "Shall we see the courtyards now?" Azula asked. "Besides, I need to check on Dominatia. She probably has a hangover."

"As long as we keep the walk short and slow," Kuei agreed. "I don't want you overdoing it again."

# # # #

Kuei let Azula lead the way, walking with her arm in his. The glow and winds of midmorning swirled around them, and now and then a gentle gust would stir a flurry of pink blossoms that fell on the Princess. Kuei had noticed it before, but was reminded that day of her unusual grace. It was easy to see how she had been such an effective and stealthy warrior.

With the cherry blossoms dotting her she also looked deceptively angelic, although Kuei liked to think that something at least partially angelic had been hiding there all along, something which was only starting to emerge but not yet ready to reveal itself to the fullest.

Bosco ran ahead to where his bison friend was waiting for him at the stables. He and Dominatia had really bonded over their torment of the society women at the party, and, according to Kuei, had spent most of Azula's recovery time playing together.

"I wanted to thank you, for helping me and finding my book. Dominatia knew I was trapped, but couldn't fit in the tunnel," Azula looked at him sideways. "But then you came. I'm still amazed that you did, by the way."

Kuei chuckled. "I told you I would."

"Hmm."

"Speaking of the book. Did you get a chance to look at it?"

"Only a few pages," Azula related. "I had just cracked it open when my therapist came in, and then of course you and my brother followed afterwards. I'll look at it again later. It's imperative that I get these bison successfully mated and that book is supposed to have valuable information on how to do that."

As she spoke the two of them approached Dominatia, who was lounging on her side in a bed of hay at the royal stables, a pout on her grew lips. She didn't seem completely miserable, but she obviously wasn't up to soaring through the sky at the moment either.

Bosco was relaxing on the hay across from her, seeming to understand his friend's predicament and content to just rest beside her.

"Well Dominatia, you have no one to blame but yourself for this," Azula said, but she plopped herself down next to her bison and petted the beast's nose compassionately anyway .

Kuei settled down cross legged next to Bosco. "If you don't' mind my asking, why is it so important that you mate these bison so soon? I mean, aren't they all fairly young and in good health?"

"Why I'm going to build a grand bison army of course," Azula shared casually. Like there could be any other reason for breeding bison.

At last Azula's awkwardness gnawed through Kuei's funnybone, and he busted up laughing. "Let me guess, you're building a bison Army so you and I can dominate the earth together?" Kuei guessed cheerfully.

Of course Kuei had meant it as a joke, but Azula favored him with a large grin and unwarranted seriousness. "Now that does sound like fun…but then my doctors would chastise for becoming homicidal and backsliding." Azula rolled her eyes. "Psychiatrists are such killjoys! But to answer your question I'm building a bison army for two reasons: they're endangered as you know…"

"Indeed."

"…And second, I'm employing a strategy called 'show of force.' This strategy requires that you appear strong and your enemy will back down or not think of attacking you in the first place. These ladies were almost destroyed completely and we don't want that to happen again. If they appear very strong, then no one will want to attack them, will they?"

Kuei's laughter melted away. His lips set together, and his brow furrowed in thought. He knew she was talking about the bison, but he couldn't deny the wide applicability of her words and strategy. Then his expression softened, because he realized he now had another excuse to see her, one that would put her in her comfort zone and genuinely benefit him as well. He cleared his throat. "Azula," he asked, "how much time are you required to spend at the temple? Would you be able to come visit me?"

"It will have to wait until after mating season." Azula said. "So not for another month or so."

Kuei nodded in understanding. "I would like your advice concerning my Army. I have no desire to go to war, and I don't' think anyone else does either, but emotions are still running high amidst the nations, and this strategy sounds like a useful deterrent. Could you help me with it?"

Azula cocked an eyebrow at him suggestively. "I thought I was going to be your deterrent?"

Kuei smiled. "Eventually, but not until the two of us are done behaving like naughty children."

"Well then we'll never get married. You see I always have been a naughty child and I always will be." Azula said factually.

"Your naughtiness isn't a deterrent for me Azula. As you've probably figured out, I like my women a little on the naughty side."

# # # #