Chapter Two:

Impressions

"Childhood is not only the childhood we really had but also the impressions we formed of it in our adolescence and maturity. That is why childhood seems so long. Probably every period of life is multiplied by our reflections upon the next." -Cesare Pavese

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar.

At the age of six, a formal vow is sworn to the charge. This oath is again repeated once one is a full bodyguard, ready to enter the service of their charge. My father had me take such an oath before I left. I learned that in ages past when my kin were in training to protect their royal charge, they would make yearly visits to the Royal Palace. Such a thing was done to learn more about their charge and the surroundings. I did not take such visits.

Till the age of nine, I trained in a class with others my age. There were few of us and all were firebenders. Except one. He was a boy, but strong for his age. In the Society, friendship is not taught. Adversity or just mere distance from each other is encouraged. Like my father before me, I broke the rules. His name was Kin and he was my best friend. He was the proper kind to follow the rules. Kin had dark brown hair that he always had in a proper top-knot. His name meant "golden" which suited him well for his sun touched eyes. Golden eyes are common in the Fire Nation, especially for Firebenders. Though he could not bend, he was a quick learner and determined fighter. Kin was always there to hold me back, mostly from opening up my mouth or getting into too much trouble.

It took me a long time to adjust to the ways of the Society. I had always been one to do what I want with little restriction. Harsh discipline is the teaching method of the masters there. I had marks to show for it. One thing I had to do was not to say or reveal whoI truly was. Keitaro had me as a member from the family that protected the Royals, but nothing more. There would be…consequences if I was found to be the daughter of Reizo. Especially that fact I had been raised by him and with Lu Ten. I missed my home…father, Prince Iroh, and Lu Ten. Yet after time I thought of them less and less.

I eventually feared that I would forget them. It was then that every memory of them became a treasure to me beyond words. Those things started to slip away from me as well. I could not recall the sound of my father's voice. I could not remember the exact cheerful smile on Iroh's face. I could not bring a clear image of Lu Ten's serious eyes in my mind. Just small things became blurred with each passing year until four years had passed. Than there came the day I found myself in the rock garden where the Honor Stone is. Generations of names are written on its smooth, ebony surface. The greatest of the Society. The black pillar stands high in the center of the garden. At the age of nine, I could only gape up in awe. "My name's going to be on that one day," I declared. I instantly regretted it. My mouth still had a mind of its own. Keitaro's dark eyes stared down at me.

He, like the pillar, towered over me. He seemed a forbidding figure to me. Even if he was my uncle. "Your mother said that to me when we were children," He murmured. I looked up at him in surprise. "You have her eyes." His face was thoughtful. As quick as it had come, whatever it was, it ended. "Of course, her name is not on there," He added with a slight sneer while his face fell back into its neutral mask once more. "I highly doubt your name will ever come close to being engraved there."

This was one of the rare occasions during my four years so far here that I had a visitation with him. Most of the time he had nothing to do with me, much to my joy I assure you. The general sentiment of dislike was mutual. He had not liked me the moment he had set eyes on me! I glared up at his daunting face, ignoring my training and that I was supposed to be respectful. "Yours is not on there," I retorted angrily.

Keitaro's eyes narrowed. My mouth suddenly felt very dry. "You forget yourself." I glared down at my small feet, wanting to say something. Usually I would, but the look in his eyes served as a clear warning. "You are leaving today," Keitaro continued.

My head sprang back up at him. I knew the traditions of the Society. At the age of nine, a single teacher is given a single student. They are instructed by that one master until they achieve the status of a true bodyguard, usually between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. Most did not achieve this until the age of sixteen. But most importantly, a student did not leave the Center. They would leave only when they had become a bodyguard. Anxiety entered me at the idea of my being sent away in disgrace, as a failure! What would my father say? I saw Keitaro's notice this line of thought on my face, though I hid it well enough for my age. Controlling my mouth is a constant struggle, but I could hide my emotions quite well when the need arose. I had been raised to express myself so I found such a thing to be distasteful and suffocating in a way. "Why?" I asked, popping the question out abruptly.

Keitaro's lips turned in displeasure. "What have I said about forgetting yourself?" He threatened darkly. "If you were not leaving I would punish you for such disrespect, but as it is…" He paused and when he spoke again, it was in his usual placid tone. "You will be leaving to join your father. You are to finish your training with him."

I would have hugged him if I had not been terrified of him. I was going to be with my father again! Iroh and Lu Ten! We would be a family again! The fear of losing them disappeared for now I would be with them again. Just as it had been before. I would not have to come back to the Center again. I was to be free of it at last! That thought made me pause for my mind turned to Kin. He would still be here… "What about Kin?" I asked.

"He will remain here as all students should."

"But, I want him to come with me!" I protested. He was my friend, my only friend. I was not about to abandon him!

Keitaro's lips curled in vehemence. "We of the Society do not make friends. Such attachments are forbidden."

"But…" I began to argue.

Keitaro's dark eyes were as frozen as the night. "Be silent Keiya."

I held my tongue, even when he later took my by the hand as he escorted me out of the Center. Even when I was bursting to ask once again. I did not take anything with me. Material possessions are not needed to a true bodyguard. When I left the Center, I was imparted with the guilt of not even saying goodbye to Kin. The memory of when we had first met played out before my young eyes….

I had only been at the Center for two days and was dying to speak out against several other haughty kids in my class. I could not tell them the truth of who I was. Once you enter the Society, all family and such attachments are shed. Thus the giving of a new name when you enter. But I had kept mine…Father had forbidden me to speak of anything about my past, lest other members of the Society should find out. Especially the Elders. It would not have bode well for Father or Keitaro if I had leaked anything.

Still, it was hard not to do when two other children are attempting to pick on you. One was a girl with a rounded face of promised beauty at six and the other a boy with angry eyes. They were clearly upset at having been uprooted from their own lives, resulting in them taking it out on the rest of us in the newly formed class. There were eight children all together.

"You come from some farmer's family, I bet." The girl taunted with a malicious child's grin. The boy next to her laughed and so did several of the other children nervously. The girl whirled around and glared at the others who had dared to laugh. "Was I talking to you, peasants?" She demanded. She was from a noble family, but I wondered which one. The boy on the other hand carried himself well, but not with the same commanding air. Perhaps a merchant's son?

"Yeah," The boy chimed in, "At least I can firebend right, unlike the rest of you!" He held up his palm and created a small ball of fire within it. He held in threateningly towards one of the children who backed away with a fearful look.

I had already learned some basics from Father and Iroh on firebending, but nothing unusual for my age. I was no prodigy. The boy was about the same level as I. I was supposed to be good, just like father had told me to. I did nothing, lest I get blamed for the fight. Besides, these kids were more upset then I was. At least I knew the basics of the Society. They knew nothing.

"Some of the best fighters aren't firebenders," A young voice interrupted boldly. All heads looked over at one lone boy standing at the edge of the group. He had dark brown hair up in a top-knot with the dark training garb all of us wore. His eyes were the true gold of a firebender and his skin touched from the sun. He held a look of brave defiance. "Piandao was one of the best soldiers in all of the Fire Nation and he isn't a bender."

"He deserted the army!" The boy snapped back furiously, "He's a coward." The boy spat on the ground by the brave boy's feet. "You must be like him," He finished with disdain.

The boy looked back him with angry, but controlled eyes. "It would be an honor if I was ever like him," He said quietly, "He is one of the greatest swordsmen ever."

"So, you're not a bender?" The girl chimed in at last. She looked casually over the rest of the group. "At least the rest of them are." She then turned away, converging the message, "You're not worth my time and I am better than you" with that one act. The boy did the same.

I stared at the boy, brave or stupid, for being the only one to confront these two bullies. No one else had out of fear or knowing that they might be punished for starting a fight. For that is what it would turn into, especially if I had tried to intervene. I was not used to bullies or the concept of anyone being cruel to one another. For pleasure or for releasing their own pain. The boy connected eyes with me and walked over. I was the only one still looking at him. He nodded. "My name's Kin," He offered first. "What's yours?"

"Keiya," I responded.

He smiled. "Nice to meet you."

Now four years later I left him without even saying goodbye…He was the only friend I had ever had in my nine years, outside of Lu Ten. Keitaro took me to the Center's own private cove with a dock. The sky was oppressive with a gray shroud, but uplifting with a warm breeze. He stood beside me on the dock before the ramp onto one of the common ferry ships used in the Fire Nation for travel between its isles. His eyes were cold as ever. "This is where I leave you," He said at last, gesturing towards the ramp way. "This ship is going to take you to your father."

I craned my head back to look up at him. Would I see him again? Part of me hoped not. For all the basic training they had given me in four years with its rough trials and burdens, it was worth it for my future role. But that did not prevent me from hating it. I did not say anything for once because I did not have anything to say. Instead, I bowed properly and started for the ramp way. When I was on deck while the crewmen started to make way for us to sail, I looked back at the dock. Keitaro still stood there, glaring at the ship with an icy complexion.

It takes only hours to sail to the island where the Royal Palace is at. I bounded down the ramp way as soon as it was lowered with eager legs. For standing at the dock was my father with open arms. I shrieked as I threw myself into his hold. He held my tightly for a minute before he looked down at me. There were tears in his eyes. Unshed. But tears never the less. I had not ever seen him cry my whole life. He was not changed from what I remembered, however vaguely. He still had the same shade of light golden eyes that he had said run in his family. I had not inherited that shade of eyes.

Father was a taller, leaner sort of man but with a broad enough builds to not be a thin stick. He had a handsome enough face I suppose, but I was not one to notice that, especially at my young age. There were deeper lines around his eyes and mouth that I did not remember. I was shocked to notice a few gray hairs in his otherwise ebony colored hair. Suddenly it felt strange to be in his arms for I had not seen him for four years. All I remembered was almost vague recollections at times. I stepped away from his hold carefully. "Keiya, you have grown so much!" He remarked with a teasing smile. "I almost did not recognize you."

I could not help the wide smile growing on my face. He was still my father. Nothing had changed. "I missed you!" I cried, throwing myself back into his arms. He held me for a minute while I openly sobbed. I had missed them so much…more then I had known.

After that, he took me to our old chamber that we had once shared, taking passage by slipping though the servant's discreet hallways. I found our chamber had changed little for it was still plain and simple. His bed still sat in the left corner and mine to the right. Several plain windows lay on the same side with the usual dark red painting decorated the room as most of the palace. The ground was still the same dark red stone. My bed lay in the left corner with its small trunk at its feet. It had not changed a day. Slowly, I walked over and opened the trunk that had once held all of my belongings. Father had raised me to not be too attached to any material possessions, but it had still hurt when Keitaro had openly burned the few possessions I had taken with me to the Society. "You will not need these possessions;" He had said nonchalantly, "A bodyguard does not care about such things."

When I opened the trunk, I was not surprised to see that it was exactly as I had left it. Father had probably not even opened it once since I had left. I looked behind me from where I crouched too see him watching me with an unreadable expression. Learning to read people's expressions was something I had begun to master, even the reading of lips. "Dad?" I called out quietly.

He smiled. "I guess I'll have to get you some new clothes. None of your old ones will fit you!" He said lightly.

I laughed. "Can I see Iroh and Lu Ten?" I asked after I had stopped laughing. I rose to my feet and watched him curiously.

"Do you not want to rest first?"

"No!" I said back, static with excitement. My heart was pumping with adrenaline at being reunited with my father and soon the rest of my small family. Part of me still could not grasp the reality that I was home.

"Alright," He replied with a sly grin. "Iroh is anxious to see you anyways."

Father took me to the courtyard where I had last seen Lu Ten. It had been a favorite haunt of ours, as well as Iroh's. It was one of the simple, but larger gardens surrounded by the thick walls of the palace with several open arched gateways. Mostly it was grass with several winding pathways cutting through, but there was one section on the other side of the duck pond with trees and plants. One tree sat over the pond and a simple hooded pavilion was against the pond close by. I stood underneath the gateway, remembering the times I had spent here….

"You're it!" Lu Ten yelled as I chased him. He laughed with such joy….

"Dad!" I bellowed as both Lu Ten and I tackled him….

Iroh ran from Lu Ten as he chased him down while I sat watching with laughter….

I opened my eyes back up and felt father's hand holding my shoulder comfortingly. "Are you alright, Keiya?"

"I'm fine dad," I answered. My eyes were drawn to where I saw his gaze become directed across to the pond. A familiar figure stood by the pond, but there were two others I did not recognize there. A woman sat in splendid finery beside the standing Iroh, carefully holding a fidgeting toddler in her arms. Who was she? Had Iroh remarried?

"Reizo," The woman called out in a sensual voice when she had noticed our entrance. Father walked towards her and bowed respectfully. I followed him and did the same, but bursting with impatient curiosity.

"Your Highness," He greeted in a familiar tone. I looked up to see Iroh's eyes twinkling as he looked at me.

I could not help myself when I threw myself at him when I saw his arms open for a hug. He held me for a moment before releasing me. "Ursa, this is the little bodyguard I was telling you about," He said warmly, "Though she is not so much a little turtle-duck anymore."

Ursa laughed kindly as she looked at me. She was a beautiful woman in a regal way, but still had a soft look about her. The fidgeting boy toddler in her arms had the same flaxen eyes as she did. He was a beautiful baby. I had not had anything to do with children before. That is how I found myself staring at the small human in question with wondering eyes. He…he was so small! Had I ever been that size? "It's nice to meet you, Keiya," Ursa greeted me kindly, "Iroh has told me much about you." I smiled in return, affected by her natural warmth. "This is my son Zuko," She continued. She released the relentless Zuko with a sigh. I found the toddler plodding very wobbly towards Iroh. Iroh picked Zuko up when he held out his small arms in the demand to be picked up.

"Aren't you kind of old to be a dad again?" I asked bluntly. My mouth had always been free with father and Iroh. I felt the old habit returning to me once more, even before Ursa whom I did not know. She seemed trustworthy for Iroh and father seemed to like her.

Iroh held his head back and laughed loudly. Ursa seemed rather shocked at my comment, but not in an ill way. I looked over to see the quiet amusement in my father's eyes. "He's not mine," Iroh stated with a humored voice, "Ursa is Ozai's wife."

I had not ever met Ozai officially, though we had both dwelt at the Royal Palace. The palace was a large place and father had always had way of getting me out of the way discreetly whenever Ozai had happened to call upon Iroh in the past. This woman was his wife? I did not know anything about Ozai, except for what Lu Ten had told me. They were nothing but distant whispers from a younger child's mind. Nothing solid that I could remember. I knew him to be Iroh's younger brother by a rather larger difference than in years usual for most siblings. "Oh," I said, at loss for words. They quickly returned to me as usual. "Where's Lu Ten?"

"Training at the moment," Father said suddenly. I looked up at his beside me. "You will find Keiya, that he is busy most of the time with his studies. You will not be able to play with him as you did before. You will have your own training to tend too." At the age of nine, I should not want to stamp my feet and wail for what I want. Yet at that moment I did. I had wanted to see my father and Iroh....but most of all I had wanted to see Lu Ten. I was not able to hide that emotion from my face for I saw my father frown at me. I looked away. So much for being a matured, new Keiya! All of my training so far should keep me from acting like some six-year old cry baby!

"Your Highness?" A deep masculine voice called. Everyone turned to look at the man striding towards us in simple Fire Nation garb. It was quite similar to what my father usually wore. The man was quite younger in years than my father, but he had similar facial features. He was shorter and more solid in build. He still had the same lean look about him. The resemblance was too striking!

"Yes, Tadao?" Ursa returned. Tadao bowed to her and Iroh respectfully. His face was a neutral mask that Keitaro used. My father had done this before me at times, yet it he had not done when he was in comfortable surroundings. Mainly only with Iroh, myself, and Lu Ten. This man…who was he?

"Your husband requires your presence," He answered her in a blank voice. He extended a hand and helped her up with barely touching her. She took Zuko into her arms from Iroh with a regretful smile.

"I guess it's good timing. I'm sure all of you have lots of catching up to do," She said amiably. She looked at me with a lovely smile. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Keiya."

"You as well," I answered her with a respectful bow. "I like your baby."

She chuckled. "I do too." The man, Tadao, stood next to her with perfect control. It was his eyes; the same shade as my father's that stared at me without even seeming to blink. "Tadao, this is Keiya." She said with a graceful incline of her head towards me.

"I know who she is, Your Highness." He replied stiffly. He bowed towards Iroh once more. "We must go, Your Highness." Ursa followed him without another word. Zuko's head peeped over her shoulder and looked back at me with wondering eyes.

I looked back to my father to see his face in the same placid expression as Tadao's. What was wrong with him? Iroh seemed a little disgruntled himself. "Who is that man, Dad?"

Father placed a hand on my shoulder and looked at me with clouded eyes. "He is my brother," He said shortly, "and Ozai's bodyguard. I want you to stay away from him, including Ozai."

"Why?"

Father's grip tightened on my shoulder. "It is for the best. He knows who you are, but Ozai does not. Pray he does not change that."

I almost gasped. What would Ozai do if he knew of my existence? He might already, but what if he knew Reizo was my dad? What would that do? And how had I not even known my father had a brother? That man…Tadao…He was my uncle as well. I suddenly found it strange that my own family I did not know. The only family I had known, Iroh and Lu Ten, were not my true blood relatives. Outside of my father of course.

"Do not think about it any longer, Keiya," My father ordered with a benign smile.

"Turtle-duck, tell me about your training," Iroh called out to me. I looked at his sparkling eyes and went over to him...

That whole afternoon was spent with Iroh and my father in relaxed conversation. It was just like before…but I knew that would not last now. Tomorrow I would begin my training with father and I had not even seen Lu Ten yet! We had moved from the garden to one of Iroh's general living room spaces for company. A traditional square room with red pillars surrounding it. Furniture was arranged spaciously in the center with two entrances across from each other in the room. There were was the usual Fire Nation banner and several other wall hangings reflecting Iroh's tastes. Such as one with tea leaves. Father was leaning on one of the pillars, still on his guard, even when relaxing. Iroh sat across from me with a steaming cup of tea in his hands. I had passed on that refreshment. I did not like tea. "Personally, I find that tea is a-"

"Dad?"

Iroh's head turned towards the entrance-way to the source of the disruption. Lu Ten!His eyes widened as he saw me sitting on the low couch. "Keiya?" He gaped in disbelief.

My small heart pounded quickly as if a dragon were about to attack me. He had changed from what I remembered. Where was the small boy barely larger than myself, even if he was a few years older? The childhood roundness had almost left his face, leaving a more solid chin entitled with a graceful chin line. His face resembled his father's with a more square build. He was lanky with the look of soon entering his teenage years. Lu Ten was much taller than me now, but had the promise of wide shoulders one day. He…he was no longer a child. Where was my friend…my playmate?

"I told you Keiya was returning," Iroh amended with a chortle. He drank his tea contently. Lu Ten stared at me while I stared back. Did he see just a small child?

One thing that had not changed was his eyes. They still held that quiet kindness in there. Even if they were wide with shock at the moment. "Your Highness," I said at last, rising to my feet. I was at loss for what to call him. The edge of his lips had begun to turn upwards but they turned into a tight line.

"Keiya," He returned in abrupt formality. "It's…good to see you."

"You as well." I replied, ignoring the staring eyes of my father. Iroh continued to drink his tea as if oblivious.

"I…ah, got to go change," Lu Ten replied swiftly. "I'll see you at dinner then, father?"

Iroh finally looked up from his tea cup. "Yes, yes," He murmured before returning for another sip.

Lu Ten's gaze came back to me. "Well…until then, Keiya." He then turned around and left the room more quickly than he had entered it. Father's gaze was still on me while I stared at the entranceway. What had just happened? Where was the Lu Ten I had grown up with?

A/N:I am hoping the long chapter makes up for the lack of updating. At last Keiya is reunited with Lu Ten, Iroh, and her father! Thoughts: Does Iroh seem to be about of character? Please let me know. Thanks for reading and please review.