The time spent on the ship from the South Pole and to the Fire Nation had been a quiet one. Despite being happy at the fact that Ruyi finally met her father, she hated that he was Fire Nation. She hated that she knew that she was also half Fire Nation. Her pride wouldn't let her hate herself. So, she concentrated all her anger onto him when in her mind, he was less vulgar to her because he wasn't a bender. That hadn't changed much of anything however since the point of this voyage wasn't to solely take her under his parenting. No, afterall, it was still a raid, which he vehemently said that he did not condone nor was apart of. If that was the case then why didn't he stop it?
How did he think he could win her over with that face? Didn't he know how much pain she was in? How she was left in agony over the fact that the man named Yon Rha constantly bragged about how he killed the last waterbender. Ruyi immediately thought it was Katara since he seemed so sure; the cocky bastard drunken merrily and laugh as he spoke of how he ended her pathetic life. "That act of strength she tried to have despite the obvious fear in her eyes", he said. Katara easily came to mind and her heart wrenched as she envisioned it. And the only thing Ruyi could do was only blame herself for not protecting the bright-eyed girl better.
Katara was someone she had hoped would leave the South and help the world. She had a gift of seeing the good in bad situations, and always helping people whenever they needed it. Katara, while having a soft heart, had a determination and will that was stronger than an iceberg. And now the world was missing such a good thing once again. Ruyi felt like Katara's life completely melted in her hands and dripped back into the ocean so that the vicious cycle could happen all over again.
Everyday, for the past week, all she had ever done was stare at the steel walls of the ship with such sorrow as she replayed the scene of the raid in her head. If she had went this way or that way, maybe she could've avoided the soldier who grabbed her and carried her to the ship. If she hadn't let Katara go with Senya then the girl would've been right by her side. Everything was her fault. Everything. .
In that absolute silence that was her room, she cried and cried until she felt that tears were a foreign action; her eyes completely all cried out—her eyes that represented water were nearly as dry as the Si Wong desert now. How could she want to face her father when he knew this would happen and let it? How could she find happiness in this life when she had failed to keep one of the many things in her home that brought her happiness? A friend, a child, had to die for her to see her father for the first time. It wasn't a fair deal, and she promised Katara's spirit that she would keep her resentment.
Not a single plate of food was touched and remained outside her room. Ruyi kept the door locked, not wanting to be bothered or to see the faces of any of the men on the ship. Some days, she could see her father's feet from under the door and he would stand there and wait. He was probably deciphering what he was going to say but then he would just give up and go back to his cabin. In some ways, she was grateful but she knew she couldn't hide from him forever.
The voyage would be over and she would have to deal with him. How long could she go without food and only accepting water? They'll grow suspicious and think she's conjuring up an escape. It was possible, but where would she go? She wasn't capable of going long distance across the ocean or any big attacks against a group of Fire Nation soldiers who had been trained possibly since birth. It would be fruitless.
Ruyi quickly jumped, startled by the sudden knock. Her eyes stared at the door for some time before reluctantly standing. She had opened it, albeit cautiously, to see the grey eyes of her father staring down at her. The silence between them was more than awkward—in fact, you could say that it was just unbearingly uncomfortable. Yet, with indignation, she had stared back at him as if he wasn't someone to be feared or even respected.
She kept telling herself she would never love him like she loved her mother. He didn't deserve it. He never could.
"We're here." Piandao simply said, and she felt herself squirming at the words. She was here, in the heart of the nation she hated: the Fire Nation.
Instead of being vocal, her head moved in a slow and stiff nod. He quickly spun on his heels and went down the hall, which she took as a sign for her to follow behind him. Ruyi, with a deep inhale and loud exhale, had followed behind him with slow strides. Even though she felt like curling up in a dark hole, she couldn't let the Fire Nation tear her down. This girl had pride and she was not going to let these people take it from her. They've taken far too much.
They had finally reached the deck, and the smell of the sea immediately filled her nostrils. It felt good to see and be out in open air. Her eyes looked around at the many ships, some larger than the ones she could ever imagine being. Their walk down the gangplank and to the docks was quiet still and she kept some distance between them. Piandao observed her, watching her soak everything in and remaining nonplussed despite being in such a foreign place that was completely different than the land of snow and tundra that she had grown up in.
"Not amazed?" He asked.
Ruyi had given out an inelegant snort, "Not in the slightest."
The man couldn't help but let a smile form on his face—small but without a doubt a smile. Even though he knew the condition of their relationship, and her obvious disdain for everything Fire Nation, he remained amused by her nonchalance. She was not a child that seemed to be moved easily. He would have to work for her affections but not her cooperation, which he couldn't be more grateful for. Her overall essence was quite the opposite of his own. It was hard to believe that such a child was of his own flesh and blood.
Their short walk came at its end when he led them to the carriage. The village wasn't ready to see a blue-eyed girl just yet. Even though Yon Rha and whoever on board lips would without a doubt spill of the former Lieutenants rearing a child that was of Water Tribe. He had to take precaution for her life. He wouldn't allow anyone to harm her or gawk at her as if she were some exotic object. She was his daughter and even if she hated him now, her would protect her at all costs.
"You're ashamed of me already?"
Piandao immediately looked in her direction to catch those bold eyes of azure staring at him challengingly. "Ashamed? Why would I be ashamed of you?"
Ruyi was trying hard to hate this man, but his words had tugged her heart. She was more or less expecting for him to be ashamed of her. Her eyes were a dead giveaway that he had made a child with a woman of Water Tribe. From what she could tell, he oozed respect and the other soldiers did speak highly of him during her time in the ship. He was a man of rank, and so she thought his image was definitely important to him.
"You're my daughter." He went onto say, her eyes slowly losing their tenaciousness and meekly looking down at the ground. "I would never be ashamed of you."
"Good!" Her voice a mixture of relief and defiance, "The world will know of me anyway." Quickly, she climbed into the carriage once the coachmen opened the door, the man startled by her quick entry before waiting for the swordmaster to follow suit. Grey eyes had looked to the window to see his child desperately keep her eyes away from his form. With a shake of his head and a smile curling upon his lips, he elegantly made his way inside of the carriage to sit opposite of her.
When the door closed and the coachmen seated himself in front, he grabbed the reigns and the ostrich-horses sped off, making Ruyi tilt forward a bit from the force. This was Ruyi's first carriage ride, but something was amiss. Her stomach was slowly, but viciously, turning and tightening. Her throat felt as if something was coming up instead of going down. The nausea was coming in like slow waves, reminiscent of the ocean just gently rolling against the shoreline.
Her right hand slowly went towards her mouth, covering it as she felt like she would vomit if the carriage had moved any faster. Upon her brow was a sheen of perspiration, glistening whenever the sunlight had peeked through the carriage window. This did not go unnoticed by her father, who calmly shifted his gaze to her.
Her eyes were staring out the window, her back slightly hunched as she tried to keep everything in. "Motion sickness?"
Out of stubborness, she didn't answer him. Out of denial, she didn't want to believe that was the cause. Maybe due to the fact she tried to starve herself and then being under the hot sun that seemed to bring waves of heat towards the Nation is fueled was the reason for it all. That plus the anxiety of traveling to a place she did not desire could be the strongest reason.
She decided to brave through it. Forcing herself to sit up right and letting the hand slip away from her mouth and back onto her lap, the times would come when something would tickle up her throat but she immediately swallowed it down. Her fatherly quietly observed her, musing over how she tried to shoulder her own pain as quickly as possible. He worried for how long she had to do this since he never knew when Mienna had passed.
"We've never discussed your mother." His body had tightened, her hands clenching and gathering up the fabric of her parka. "When did she... leave the world of the living."
He hesitated, she noticed but she wasn't sure if it because he was hurt of her mother's passing or because he was trying to say it in a way that did not upset her. Ruyi kept her eyes focused on the lush scenery of green, rows and rows of trees as the carriage went up the steep mountain. "Three years ago." Her voice was gentle, far gentler than any tone she used since they met. "An illness came and swept her away after six months."
Her eyes slowly flicked to look at him, trying to be discreet. Even though he wore such a stern face since she met him, she could see that hard shell becoming soft at the mention of her mother. His eyelids drooped, the corner of his mouth curling down into a deep set frown. That was the look of a broken man, and Ruyi felt pity and empathetic.
Like most children, she craved to know how her parents met. How did her mother come to love a man of fire? Her mother was gentle and sweet, the embodiment of a cool day, where the breeze caressed your skin in the softest of ways. How did he find this man worthy of her?
Ruyi couldn't question him, not now. Not when she was feeling guilty seeing him make a face like that. He loved her mother, that much was true in that gaze. And now that he knew how her life had ended, she couldn't bother to ask him to dig up such memories. She would let him sit and come to full circle that her mother, Mienna, was gone from this world.
Silence remained but it did not bring either of them discomfort. Ruyi was grateful for it, allowed to reflect on the memories of her mother. She missed the woman, dearly and often found herself envision her mother lying in the cot next to her back in their humble and comfortable igloo. Even after these past three years, Ruyi's heart always felt a sense of loneliness.
Her eyes then traveled back to the look outside, her eyes widened as she had seen small village, just quietly tucked away in the vast hill of verdant. She leaned closer, soaking in all this area of grass she had never seen before. Piandao had watched her lips were apart and eyes were huge in awe, he wondered if she could hear the roaring of the waterfalls.
"Mom would've loved this place." She found herself say, absently. Not directly speaking to Piandao but at the same time, she was.
His eyes looked at her with mild surprise, somewhat smiling at those words. "I had hoped to bring you both here."
And another tug did his words do to her heart. The fact that herself and her mother could've lived in this beautiful rocky and steep terrain of green had punctured her. If her mother never stayed in the South Pole, maybe she would've never became ill. Life had set its course and she couldn't change it, so it was best not to dwell on the past.
Before she knew it, they were making their way to a castle perched on a relatively high cliff. Her eyes grew as big as dinner plates as she quickly guessed this was her father's home. It was hardly humble, it was completely tall and extravagant. The roofs were pagoda shapes with red tiles and gold lining and designs. The walls and gate were a pristine off white. They had made their way up through the bridge and towards the gate, where the carriage came a stop.
Ruyi was almost afraid that she was going to have a heart attack if she had seen it up close. The coachmen opened the door for her, Piandao escorting himself out. She had grabbed onto the man's hand, still gaping at the castle before landing down onto the ground with her boot covered feet.
Her feet slowly made their way to stand beside her father as they walked their way through the gate and then two large red and gold doors. The outside of them was a shade of jade, symbols running along the sides. The door was red with Fire Nation flame insignia in the center but circled with gold with a design that reminded her of a lotus.
She couldn't bother to question it, the doors were opened and she followed him inside. She felt completely small in the house, feeling like it had swallowed her hole. "Choose any bedroom you like. There are sixteen of them."
"Sixteen bedrooms?!" Ruyi quickly turned to face him, her surprise written all over her face. "W-Why would you need so many?!"
Piandao's eyebrow rose, "I didn't make this castle. I found it and made it my home, you'll have to ask the maker of this place. Not me."
She had no retort for that and instead gave a nod to admit defeat. "Any bedroom I want? Aren't all of them the same?"
"No." He quickly replied, "There is one I made specifically for you but I am giving you a choice."
"I want to see it." What was special about this room? Why was it unlike the others? She quietly followed behind him, her eyes glancing around the large living room and then towards the hallway. They had went up three flights of stairs until they were greeted by another hall. Passing by six doors, he pointed to the room on his right and she had slowly went towards the door and gave its knob a turn.
Her eyes were greeted by many shades of blue and symbols of her home. Immediately, her eyes had welled up with tears. There were times during the voyage that she wondered if red, black, and gold would be the only colors she would see for the rest of her life. If the only symbol of her tribe would be the clothes on her back. And yet here she was, greeted with the furs that her people loved and banners of symbols of water hanging on the walls.
He had done this all for her.
Just for her.
/ Flashback /
"Ruyi." There was always something enchanting the way her mother spoke. Her voice so light and airy, something otherworldly with a warmth that seemed to burst through her words. It always made her want to listen, to obey it as if it had some kind of spell.
"Yes, mom?" Her azure eyes would stare upon the woman's royal blues, giving her full and undivided attention. Nothing could break the spell of her mother's voice, "I didn't do anything wrong, I promise."
"I know." And the way she smiled? It was like a warm summer's day, inviting you into a tight embrace after spring's showers. "Ruyi, you know how much I love you, right?"
"Of course I do." Her replies always had an ounce of hubris in it. Ruyi thought she was all knowing like most children. She just, at times, took it a little too far. "Why? Is something wrong or does mommy think I forgot?"
With a shake of her head, the woman kept her inviting smile. "Mommy hasn't forgotten." Her hand slowly reached to the girl's face, her thumb lightly brushing across the child's cheekbone. "Mommy just likes hearing Ruyi say it."
"Oh?" Conjuring up her excitement, and for a grand performance, she had leaped and wrapped her arms securely around the woman's neck, "Ruyi knows that mommy loves her to the moon—"
"and back." Mienna finished, making the hug tighter and nestling her face against her daughter's inky-colored hair. "Mommy loves Ruyi to the moon and back."
"You know," The child pulled back some so that her eyes could meet her mother's, showing their genuine sheen of curiosity. "Mommy always talks about the moon, why?"
The brown-skinned woman's eyes fell close, her smile still adorning her face. "That's because the Water Tribes looks to the moon for strength and guidance."
The young girls brows flexed and then knitted together to express confusion, "But why the moon? It never talks back."
A mirthful laugh escaped Mienna's throat, her head tilted to the side in her fit of giggles. "The moon doesn't have to talk." She answered, saying it rather simply. "The moon doesn't speak, but you feel the answers right here." Pointing at her daughter's chest, where the heart beats steadily in her ribcage, Ruyi's eyes looked down at her mother's finger. "So, when Ruyi needs help, ask the moon."
"But can't I just ask you, mommy?" Her eyebrow rose in a high arch, confused.
"Mommy can't be with you forever, Ruyi. Soon you will grow, grow away from me. And then, while you're away from me, you will need guidance. Look to the moon, my little sweetheart"
"To the moon, huh?" Still baffled, but accepting her mother's words as truth, she had then found another question to ask. "What about Dad? Does have something to give him advice while he is away from us?"
"He does." Her mother replied, "He has the sun."
/ End Flashback /
Her eyes slowly glanced towards the balcony at the moon, wondering if her mother was right. Back then, she was only six and so of course she believed the moon was a spiritual guide because her mother said so. Now, at the age of nine, she felt unsure if that was even possible. The moon didn't talk back and whenever she felt something within her heart, her mind always felt that it was the wrong decision. It had to be wrong; to forgive her father when he was on the ship that had hurt her home for the umpteenth time. Yet, could she fault him when if he did fight, wouldn't he be a traitor to his home? Why did right and wrong have to be such confusing sides? Why did she, only of the age of nine, had to contemplate on things that were meant for people older than her?
Shaking her head, she walked away from the balcony and continued down the hall. Her ears picked up on sounds that she couldn't exactly pinpoint on what they were. Her eyes observed everything, hoping that an intruder wasn't around. The idea was quickly dismissed when she had made her way down the stairway. The sounds were close and she continued to walk towards them, making sure her footsteps were light and didn't make a sound. The sounds seemed to emit from a halfway open door and when she peeked through the crack, she realized it looked to be a study.
He was sitting at the table, drinking apparently. His head hung low as he raised the white small cup to his lips. His head tilted back as he drunk the content down in one gulp before forcibly bringing it back down on the table. The golden kettle was reached for it so that he could pour more into the cup. Ruyi knew what alcohol was, she seen men of the tribe drink some whenever their expedition failed or succeeded. "You can come in, Ruyi." She was startled that he knew she was there, but she tried to put on a brave face and walked right in.
Her eyes glanced around at the many shelves. There were books and scrolls all around, and banners of calligraphy hanging on the wall. She couldn't read those words, however. Her skill in writing and reading were limited. Maybe someday, she would be able to read and write these words without a problem, but for now she remained puzzled and mystified. After her eyes explored, she then looked to the fireplace that was keeping the room lit. It made the room warm since the halls were cold due to the night. Shifting her attention back to the table, she sat down and sat directly opposite of her father.
"I have something to give you." Piandao said, his voice low and gravelly. Her eyes dropped his gaze, somewhat bracing herself for what it was.
He chuckled despondently at her reaction, "It's a gift, I assure." What he pulled out from his pants pocket remained unseen. It must've been small enough for his large hands to completely enclose around it. Gingerly, he placed his hand towards her on the table and slowly moved his hand so his palm was facing her.
Ruyi grew anxious as his now open hand revealed to what looked to be… "A betrothal necklace?" She made the assessment herself, but what was odd about it was because the stone, that was hand carved, was purple—amethyst and the ribbon was red instead of blue. The guttering flame from the fireplace made the gem split its vibrant color every which way. "Was this… for my mother?"
"Your mother wore this because I made it for her." Piandao stirred in his seat as he spoke with a strained frown. More so angry with himself, he continued on in a mild voice. "Your mother wore it until she threw it at me and left for the South Pole."
The gem glistened even more so as she shifted the band, igniting her curious eyes with twinkling orbs. "Then why are you giving it to me?"
The man pushed up his shoulders as if he hadn't the fainted idea. "Since it was hers, I figured you would make better use for it. It grows dust sitting in my room."
"What did you do to make her angry?" She pried, "My mother rarely gets angry."
Piandao nodded, agreeing with that. "If you were curious, we were married. She wore that necklace as a married woman; she gave it back to me as a means to end our marriage because I couldn't leave the Fire Nation army just yet."
Her eyes gave him a pensive gaze as she listened on. "I didn't know she was pregnant with you at the time. I was a man of my prime. I fought so many battles and won, but my greed wanted me to win just a few more. Your mother couldn't stand being married, pregnant, and raising a child alone because her husband liked to battle. She was always scared that I wouldn't make it back too, and I never calmed her fears because I kept leaving." His frown lines turned into amused crevices as his eyes reminisced her in his memory. "So she threw this necklace in my face and ran, I had no idea where she gone. I thought the last place she would go back to was the South, but she did."
The necklace fiddled around her fingers, her eyes studying the decoration of her father's love for her mother. It was fancy, more valuable than any betrothal necklace she ever seen. The right side of the gem held the Water Tribe insignia while the left held the Fire Nation's. It was combining the two cultures together: red and blue, which was essentially her; half Fire Nation and half Water Tribe.
"How did you meet mom?" She finally asked and he stiffed in hesitation.
Maybe this was too much of a touchy subject, despite it being her mother. "After a raid of the south." Her heart immediately stopped, her eyes widening. "I was sent to patrol the prison after battle because of escapees but when I met Mienna, I couldn't see her as this dangerous waterbender. I rescued her and gave her shelter."
"My mother… she was taken…" Her eyes fell close, shaking her head. "But if it weren't for you, she would've…"
"She might've escaped, but even then... Who knows." His head lowered, his eyes staring at the empty cup. "I suppose it was pure luck that I was sent there or that I fell in love with her. It was strange, really. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes ragged but when I met her doe, blue eyes..."
The tender tone and vulnerability was enough to make her feel odd; she was still torn by her resentment, and her actual want of bonding with him. He couldn't control where he was born—and what he was—and she felt like she could blame him for things he had no control over.
"You don't have to continue." Closing her eyes, she released a small sigh. "I know you loved her and she still loved you too."
His head immediately went up, his eyes now on her form. For once, she had greeted him with a smile. "She always told me the story about how the Sun loved the Moon. Now I know, it was about you and her."
Ambushed by memories and vision of Mienna's face, Piandao had wiped a trembling hand down his mouth, trying to gather his calm facade. He sat mutely for a pensive minute as he chewed at his lip. Ruyi watched as his eyes turned to hard ice and then melted; a hot tear spilling out and rolling down his cheek.
The room was deathly quiet until Ruyi pushed back her chair and stood. The occasional sniffle from him had ceased when she scurried her feet over to wrap her small arms around him. And for the first time, Piandao finally fully grieved for Mienna.
-/o/-
A week had went by, and just when she finally adjusted to the castle she was plagued with nightmares. It was the same every night. She would jolt from the bed, her chest rising up and down rapidly as she had to fight to breath, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest cavity. Her body was glistening from the thin sheet of sweat and her blankets were in a disarray from the constant thrashing, rolling, and fighting in her sleep. Her petite hands had slowly went to her face and massaged her temples as she had tried to wipe clean of the memory of her nightmares and tried to steady her breathing.
It felt horrible to wake up like this but it felt even worse for the nightmare to resume. Slowly, Ruyi had slid her hands down form the sides of her face, letting them limply fall on the bed as she tilted her head back and briefly closed her eyes for a maximum of two minutes. Sitting there in silence would help her get back her composure. And the words of comfort she would mutter that had soothed her yet made her realize how much of wreck she was. Those words, it was basically a mantra, a mantra that meant she was safe and she did't have to remember. "She's not here. She's not here. She's not here."
Once she got in her place of comfort, a sigh of relief had escaped her lips and she combed her slender fingers through her soft and messy black hair. She felt too awake to take herself back to sleep and she was also fearing that the nightmare might reoccur. Sometimes they would repeat themselves and other times they wouldn't, but she didn't feel like chancing it now and wanted to stay awake. Her fingers had stopped combing through her hair as she had felt a slight itch, she had slightly graze her fingernails towards the area that nagged her.
"Ugh..." She groaned as she had tilted her head forward and lightly hitting the side of her head with the palm of her right hand. "Why me?" Ruyi mumbled solemnly before yawning quietly, patting her left hand over her mouth as she had looked down at her feet. The blankets were completely off her form, all curled up on the empty left side of her bed. Out of boredom, she had curled her toes and then uncurled them before sighing for another time.
The nightmare was of a young, charred Katara. Half her face was the bright, willful child she knew and the other half was burnt, angry, and shouting how she had failed to protect her. It left her heart feeling heavier than it had days prior of her arrival to the Fire Nation, and added to the guilt that was already fully bloomed. Every night, she prayed to the moon forgiveness, but she couldn't find the answers to her prayers in her heart. Maybe her mother was wrong, maybe the moon doesn't answer back at all.
She took it upon herself to bathe and prepare for breakfast. Since the sun hadn't fully risen into the sky, she could be rest assured that it was still early morning. Her father wouldn't scold her for waking so late, and she couldn't use that saying of how her sleep is affected by the moon cycle. He didn't believe that despite it being fact that natural firebenders rose with the sun. Her hair was neatly pulled in its usual style. One side was neatly combed back while the other side rested against her face with a side fringe. Her clothes were quite simple, she didn't wish to be too flashy.
Ruyi simply wore a ruby midriff vest that was sleeveless and baggy matching pants that reached a few inches below her knee. Her feet were adorned with scarlet flats as she wore her mother's betrothal necklace around her neck. Her father warned that she could not wear any shades of blue for it would be disrespectful to live in this nation and deny their culture to parade her own. She found it a load of pig-chicken shit, but she decided to give this "respectfulness" a try. There would be a time where she would pushed the boundary, but not just yet.
Her feet led her out of the room and down the hall towards the stairway. It seemed everyone was awake and busy, she might've been the last to wake. Her eyes looked around for any sight of her father, but she had not seen him at all. Somewhat displeased to see she would eating breakfast alone, she sat at the table as food was still steaming. It looked to be finished and waiting only a few minutes ago, so she wasn't late by a margin. "Where is he?" She audibly questioned before picking up the bowl of rice porridge. She forced herself to gulp it down, and felt herself gagging after she tasted most of it. Her eyes looked towards the windows and squinted to see that he was out in the garden and not by himself.
A guest was here. And she had not been introduced nor informed of their arrival. So, what this person of importance or not?
Intrigued, she finished the rest of the porridge and used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth. Despite her father trying to teach her manners and proper etiquette, what he considered "barbaric" was quick and easy. She hated having to bother with salad forks and soup spoons and that it was wrong to touch food with her bare hands; food was food, and so why did it have to have rules? The important thing was its consummation.
Before aggravating herself with that memory, she slip through the doors that led to the garden and walked with a noble stride. If there was one thing her father had been proud of, it was her walk. She was regal for the most part, but her expressions did not match her walk. He said she looked "too mean" and "unfriendly" and not in a good way. Again, why should it matter? The important thing was, it showed she had no fear.
Now at a good distance but close enough to draw attention to herself, she had watched her father circling around what appeared to be a young boy. He was of pale skin, his hair of a dark brown and pulled into a sleek ponytail. His eyes were of amber, like many of this nation, but their hue was lighter than the many she had seen. There was sweat dripping down like a stream upon his brow, his eyes were narrowed and predatory like a polar leopard, and all sense of concentration was her father, his opponent. He wielded two swords, both of them were fairly curved and single-edged, which gave their sharp appeal. The hilts were canted, curving in opposite direction as the blade to prove they could be just as deadly too.
What was a boy like him doing with such deadly weapons? And here her father was, circling him with a sword in his own hand. Ruyi watched as her father swiftly stepped forward, bringing the sword down in a downward slash with enough force behind it that the dual-wielder had blocked the attack by making his swords do a criss-cross formation. The struggle for dominance ensued, the boy sliding back as he tried to add enough strength to the block.
"You're getting quicker." Her father said, obviously impressed.
"You've knocked me on my back one too many times because I wasn't." There was a smug tone in the boy's voice, which made Ruyi give him quite the skeptical brow raise.
Piandao's eyes glistened with pride while a smirk adorned his face, "It would simply mean that your training is nearly at its completion."
Her eyes remained glued to the fight, her lip from time to time being chewed out of her apparent interest. The clanging of swords erupted the air since there was no longer speech to attempt to drown it out. Both master and student were engage in a battle where one tried to one-up the other. Her father reeled back, his feet moving quickly and his body keeping up. His sword thrust cut through the air and the boy only managed to use the swords broad with to connect it, to attempt to block it. It made him stumble due to the force of it, and he had to quickly conjure up a new plan.
He was aggressive, but he knew how to use the weapons. He did not see them as two separate beings as one, which made his attacks more fluid despite how aggressive he aimed to be. Her head went into a curious tilt as she observed the rather angry look on his face. He was probably mentally scolding himself for allowing himself to get in a position like that; it was reckless but he kept himself firmly on his feet for the most part.
He hadn't notice her, her father that is. And when he did, he lowered his weapon to let his eyes set on her. And because Piandao seemed distracted, the boy followed the man's eyes and was now looking up at her as well.
All eyes were on her.
Ruyi was taken aback by the sudden acknowledgement, and found herself feeling flustered too. She never boded well with unwanted attention, and their eyes on her form were certainly unwanted. She parted her lips, ready to speak, but quickly closed them when nothing came to mind. A simple hello would do, but she found it to be lame.
"This is my daughter, Ruyi." Her father took it upon himself to introduce her. "Ruyi, this is Zuko, son of Prince Ozai"
Confused, her brow drew deeply in the center to reveal her confusion. "Prince Ozai?"
The boy known as Zuko, who was obviously a royalty appeared perplexed. What was there not to get? Piandao felt amused, even smirking at the sight of Zuko's expression from the corner of his eyes. It was obvious that her ignorance wouldn't bode well with him. "Prince Ozai is second son of Fire Lord Azulon, Ruyi."
Now everything made since. So, he was the grandson of the Fire Lord? "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not used to the customs here…" Her apology was quick, and she even did a deep bow out of respect and to show sincerity of her apology.
That was enough to wipe the annoyed look off his face. "She's not from here, is she?" He asked his teacher.
"No, my daughter was being raised by her mother in the South Pole. She hardly knew she was Fire Nation, so she's not used to the customs and royalty of our country." Ruyi glance back and forth between the two, almost offended that they spoke of her as if she wasn't standing right here.
"Are you going to teach me what I need to know, Zuko?" Her head tilted back rather arrogantly, her chest puffed out and her arms akimbo. Since he seemed to have distaste for her obvious ignorance then would he be obliged to take her under his tutelage?
His dark brows furrowed, his eyes slightly narrowing. Was she challenging him? He seemed to think so. "Why should I? Master Piandao is well adept for such a job."
"Then fix your face." Ruyi's reply held a bitter tone and she quickly spun on her heels to walk back into the house.
With a growl and a haughty step forward, Zuko wasn't about to let her get away with that. "How dare she—"
"Forgive her." Piandao quickly step forward, "Ruyi is unruly and doesn't understand then system of class here. Please, excuse her for her actions."
Once he said it like that, he could reel his temper in. Besides, Piandao was someone that Zuko respected and liked. He didn't want to ruin the relationship they had because of his obnoxious daughter. "I'll go get a drink."
Even though the servants could have done it, just as what Piandao was about to mention, he knew the boy was using it as an excuse to further to deal with his daughter. Zuko was the type to demand respect from outsiders. He refused to be looked down upon, and the best way to handle the situation was to let it run its course.
So, he said nothing and simply gave him a nod. Zuko took that as a sign he could enter the castle. The way his feet seemed to land harshly on the ground, only made the older man sigh. He could tell that this was going to lead into an argument. Just because he was patient with Ruyi, understanding her resentment and circumstance, that did not mean others would be so willing.
Once Zuko was inside, sliding the outside door shut, he had seen the azure-eyed girl drinking a glass of water. She had heard him come in, and she had not paid him any attention. From what she could tell, he wasn't going to let what happened a few minutes ago be left unfinished. "May I help you?" The condescending tone in her voice was enough to ruffle him all over again.
"You should learn to respect the grandson of the Fire Lord." Zuko's spat, "I could have you killed for you talking to me recklessly."
"You're threatening me… in my own home?" Her face had genuine shock, and her mouth even quivered to suppress a laugh. "You have gall. Well, most Fire Nation people do. I guess everyone in the Fire Nation feel entitled, huh?"
First, she disrespected him and now she was disrespecting his people and his home? "Why are you even here if you hate this place? You can go back to the South Pole! The Fire Nation doesn't need people like you."
"People like me?" Her hand grasped onto the glass tightly, "What is that supposed to mean?! And you're one to talk, your Nation keeps invading the homes of others instead of staying in this place that you love so much. Why are you invading other people's lands if your country is the greatest, huh? And I would love to go back home, but the Fire Nation just might decide to raid and kill more innocent people like me again!"
His expression shifted to anger to genuine surprised. He seemed confused by her words, "Kill more innocent people? We detain waterbenders."
"Oh yeah?" It felt like someone had punched her in the jaw. It was slacked, eyes wide in disbelief with tears brimming at the corners. What did he know? He actually thought they were just being detained? "Well say that to my friend who is dead, thanks to your people!"
His body went rigid and his eyes widened. They killed an innocent child? He assumed her friend to be young as she was since it only made sense. He couldn't see why they would want to kill a child, just because she was a waterbender. "Here you are, just marching in here like you know everything just because you're the grandson of the Fire Lord."
Zuko wasn't going to tell her that he honestly didn't know. It also, certainly, made him feel uncomfortable with the fact. He always thought waterbenders were imprisoned so they wouldn't be a threat, but now they were instructed to kill?
"Looks like you have nothing else to say." While shaking her head, she placed the glass on the table. "Nice meeting you, your Highness."
With a sharp turn that whipped her hair, she had decided to go back upstairs leaving a confused and vexed firebender.
A/N: I might've rushed things a bit with Piandao and Ruyi, but I wanted her to understand the situation with her mother. She's still very awkward around him and doesn't really call him dad. So, their relationship is still very much developing at a slow pace.
Also, Zuko and Ruyi meet! Yeah, it wasn't a good meeting but since as she's still grieving and hostile/albeit racist towards the Fire Nation, it wasn't going to end well when they met. Things will get better, I promise!