Burning Bright
Part XXII
Ge Jiang left without saying goodbye to anyone but his sister. He did meet Zuko as he scrambled away and with his good hand, he grabbed Zuko's arm and whispered, "Take care of her." He then left without saying anything more. Zuko just nodded and watched as his figure became smaller and smaller as he sped farther away from the temple. When he went back to the campfire, Katara had the brilliant suggestion of sleeping all in one circle around the fountain so they could protect each other. Zuko saw the hidden meaning behind it however. Katara missed her dad and she wanted to be close to him. Sokka missed Suki and he wanted to be close to her without raising any suspicions as to what they were doing all alone in one big room. Zuko wasn't sure how Jin would take it, especially after all the drama she and her family had caused tonight. He was about to protest but Jin quickly said that she was fine with it. Her little spat with her family shouldn't get in the way of what everyone wants.
Her father, who had stormed away, hadn't come back and Zuko could tell that Jin was starting to worry. Katara, Suki, Toph, Sokka and everyone else tried to comfort Jin but she kept dodging the topic. Zuko knew well enough that if Jin does not want to talk about something, then it was wise not to keep bringing it up. She would never crack until she was ready to talk about it.
Jin gave Zuko a small kiss before proceeding to her room.
Zuko went back to his room to take his blankets and pillows and bed spreads and he hurried back to the campfire to set his things. He wasn't sure where he was supposed to stay so he picked out a random spot and set his bed spread, placed his pillow and his blanket down and sat and waited.
He felt very sad. He was sad for Jin. He was sad that all along she had been carrying this. And he was sad that she still had to carry this most of all. Zuko looked at the ground and began to ponder at her situation. As far as he could understand, Jin's father was crazy and violent but she still loved him and cared about him while her elder brother did not. Zuko began to wonder how He Shen would take it. The three of them seemed so calm and at peace that it was so difficult to believe that they were in situations such as these. Back when he was in Ba Sing Se, Zuko could hardly believe that Jin could relate to what he was going through because her life just seemed so perfect. She was always cheerful and happy and never could he imagine that she was going through something like this.
He just wished that she would trust him enough to talk to him about it. Zuko shook his head. No, he was not going to pry. He had many things that he has yet to tell her, many secrets about his past life that he has yet to reveal. Someday, she was going to be ready to tell him. And someday, he was going to be ready to tell her too.
A soft rustle interrupted his thoughts. Zuko quickly started and he turned and saw that Jin was laying her bed spread next to him.
"Hey," Zuko said softly as he observed Jin from his placed. She had positioned her bed spread, only a few inches away from his.
Zuko began to feel slightly nervous. It just occurred to him that they might be…well….sleeping together. Of course, not sleeping together in that sense but rather they would literally be sleeping together. The prospect made him feel excited and nervous at the same time. What was he supposed to do? He absolutely had no idea. Growing up, he was very much lacking in that department. He instantly looked around to see if Jin's father was there, worried that he might get angry and go ballistic on Zuko at his and Jin's closeness.
"He's not here. He's in his room," Jin said quietly as if she read his mind.
Zuko, ashamed, quickly ducked his head sheepishly. He examined his girlfriend and he was a little disheartened to see that her eyes were red and so was her nose. Her skin looked cold and clammy and her hair was a rat's nest. All in all, she looked very forlorn and despondent. Zuko felt the desperate surge to reach out to her. To tell her that everything was going to be okay. To tell her that he understood. That he knew what she was going through.
But before he could get the words out, something held him back. He never liked to discuss his father and he wasn't sure if he knew how to explain the complicated relationship he shared with him to someone else. He wasn't even sure if he could tell Jin. He looked away. He wasn't ready yet.
"Are you sure? How do you know?" Zuko asked.
"He called me just after….after…Ge Jiang left—'' Jin swallowed thickly. "—to t-tell me how…you know…disappointed he was with me and Jiang. How….rude and d-disrespectful we were."
"You weren't rude or disrespectful. You were standing up for yourselves," Zuko said comfortingly.
"Well, we did kind of step out of line…It wasn't his fault or Ge Jiang's as to why they acted that way….It's just the stress of everything lately…the war…He Shen being missing…" Jin muttered.
"Although Ge Jiang is a big jerk, he was right. You don't deserve to always live in fear. You have to fight back at some point," Zuko automatically said. His hand subconsciously rose to his scar. He quickly pulled it back after realizing that he was touching his scar with a wistful expression. He looked at Jin hoping she didn't see that.
Jin didn't notice though. She was too busy trying to fluff her already fluffed pillows. She said in a slightly shaky voice, "You don't have to worry about him being here."
She cracked a small smile as she elbowed him. She smirked, "He hates everyone except for the Avatar so I think that it's safe to say that we're allowed to be pretty comfortable tonight."
Despite his nervousness and anxiety, Zuko couldn't help but smirk back. She was finally smiling again. He leaned towards her and brushed his nose against her nose and said playfully in a husky voice, "We shouldn't get too comfortable. Sokka's dad is here and he's already got his eye on Sokka and Suki…."
Zuko and Jin turned to look at Hakoda who was observing Sokka and Suki carefully. Sokka and Suki were trying their best to avoid Hakoda's gaze. The two had positioned themselves at the north eastern part of the fountain, where they could be partially hidden from Hakoda's sight.
Zuko and Jin giggled loudly and Zuko felt elated to hear her laugh again.
"Hey, everybody! Settle down. I'm about to put the fire out and you probably won't be able to see anything after I do that," Katara declared as she strode towards the campfire.
Toph snorted and said, "As if that would make any difference to me."
Everyone chuckled as they started to prepare themselves. Sokka and Suki lied down, the two of them a meter's width away from each other to appease Hakoda who had barked at them to not be so close to each other. Haru buried his head under his pillow while Teo, with some help from the Duke got out of his wheelchair and into his bed spread. Toph rolled over to the side while Aang (who wanted to sleep next to Katara but thought better of it after realizing that her dad was here) blew a small gust of air, creating a gentle breeze around the camp as he settled down.
Katara walked towards the campfire and put it out with her waterbending.
What happened next was almost instinctual and natural. Zuko settled down on his bed spread and Jin lied down next to him. Zuko placed an arm around her shoulders as she laid on his chest and snuggled closer to his side. The air was cold and Jin shivered a little. Zuko breathed a small gust of hot air unto her face and neck so she would no longer feel the sting of the cold but the nice, cozy warmth that radiated naturally through Zuko's body.
"Are you okay?" Zuko asked suddenly. He was suddenly aware that Jin seemed unusually silent and she was radiating such a sad and depressed aura.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Jin said in a sad and distant voice. Zuko decided right then and there that he wasn't going to ask her anymore questions. She would talk to him when she was ready. And he would be there for her when the time comes.
Zuko stroked her shoulder as he began to feel more nervous. This was the first time in which he and Jin were in such a close proximity together for a very long period of time. The thought made him feel excited and nervous at the same time. He didn't want to do anything stupid that might ruin whatever he had going on with Jin.
"Do you remember the Spring Festival in Ba Sing Se?" Jin asked suddenly.
"Yeah. I remember. You embarrassed me by forcing me to dance," Zuko said as he turned to look at Jin.
"Excuse me! I was actually talking about the fact that you actually manned up and had the guts to ask me out on a real date!" Jin indignantly said.
"What are you talking about—''
"Oh come off it! You obviously liked me but up until then, you didn't have the courage to ask me out or to do anything about it!" Jin said as a teasing smile played on her lips.
It was Zuko's turn to look indignant. He said peevishly, "I…I am not! I mean…I did not!"
Jin raised a brow and said playfully, "Did not what?"
Zuko looked as if he was struggling to figure out what he wanted to say. Finally he managed to sputter, "I did not like you!"
"What?" Jin said though she didn't look angry. Instead she was laughing and trying to contain her giggles.
Zuko hurriedly said, "I mean I didn't mean it in that way. Of course I like you! I mean I really, really like you—''
Jin continued to laugh.
"—but…you know—and hey! You were the one who liked me first!" Zuko said in an accusing tone.
"But you are the only who likes me more!" Jin slyly said as she sat up and gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
"Guilty," Zuko breathed as he kissed her forehead and her nose.
"I thought so!" Jin said as their lips met.
"Hey, lovebirds! Keep it down! Some of us are trying to sleep!" Toph barked as Zuko and Jin broke into light laughter after they kissed. She was positioned a few meters away from them.
"Sorry," Zuko whispered as he stroked Jin's hair.
"We should be more careful around Toph. She can feel everything you know," Jin whispered.
"I heard that, Smiley!" Toph said though she sounded amused.
Zuko and Jin broke into laughter again.
Zuko looked and examined him girlfriend and came only to one conclusion: she was so beautiful. The moon cast a faint and luminescent glow over her smooth and supple skin and her hazel-green eyes seemed to be at their greenest. They were as green as the summer and grass and as Zuko looked at her he was reminded of the way she looked back in Ba Sing Se when they first danced together. He was reminded of Ember Island and its numerous grassy fields. He was reminded of a regular Fire Nation summer day with leaves—green, green leaves—swirling in the summer breeze.
Zuko felt that he was ready to tell her a little about himself. It never occurred to him how much Jin really meant to him. Maybe he could work up the courage and guts again to tell her about his scar. He knew that she didn't know much about that. He could tell that Jin seemed to feel the same way because she was on the verge of telling him something.
But then she seemed to change her mind because she frowned and her face looked sad and distant. She was looking at something. Zuko followed her gaze. More like someone. In the dimness of the evening, Zuko could see Jin's father watching the two of them with utmost contempt, his tall and muscled form presiding over them threateningly.
Jin quickly scrambled back to her bed spread and she inched a little farther away from Zuko.
Zuko frowned and said, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Jin said in a distant and scared voice. She turned away from him and rolled to the side.
Zuko turned to her direction, wrapped his arms around her. Jin snuggled closer to him, trying to find comfort in her despair. Zuko just held her trying to keep her warm by emanating much of the body heat that just comes naturally to Firebenders. This was the closet and the longest position they've been in together. And they wanted to comfort and to let each other know that they were there for one another.
Zuko said in a re-assuring voice, "You're not alone, Jin. I know what it's like."
His hand subconsciously rose to his scar once again.
Jin looked at the dim and faint glow of the coming dawn. She had barely slept last night despite the fact that she had Zuko's arms around her and Aang was constantly snorting a cool breeze in his sleep. She was thinking about her father and her brothers and her mother. She thought about her family and how broken they were. She didn't know what to do. Her brother, Ge Jiang had made it very clear that he was through trying to work things out with Shangdi and Jin should stop holding on too. But Jin couldn't stop herself. Despite the fact that her father was very cruel and abusive, she found herself firmly believing that it wasn't his fault that he behaved in that way. The war had damaged him. And he allowed himself to be damaged to support Jin and her brothers.
Her mother always believed in the cause of family and she committed herself to keeping their family together even until she died. And Jin just felt that it would wrong her memory to not try to be a family once again. She felt that it would be what her mom would want her to do. And she felt that no one truly understood why she was being so patient with her dad. It was because she loved her mother and she didn't want to insult her memory by just giving up on their family. She wanted them to be together.
Jin pulled out, from the folds of her pockets a small bundle of cloth. She quietly broke free from Zuko's grasp and slowly started to examine it. Her father had always taught her that soldiers had to keep their personal belongings—religious items, pictures, small gifts—in a small bundle of cloth and hide it in a pocket.
This had to be done because war was treacherous and you never know, stepping into the battlefield, that this day would be your last. The personal belongings would determine who you are if you get too disfigured or if you lose your identification tag and they would be mailed with a small note about the soldier's death to the person indicated on the small piece of paper stapled to the cloth. Jin had never written a name on the paper because she had no idea who she wanted her stuff to be mailed too.
Her brothers told her a long time ago not to write their names because they would be dead too (Ge Jiang and He Shen always claimed that they were destined to die young). Jin's mother's name was written on it once but Jin quickly tore the paper out and replaced it with a new one after she died. Jin would never send it to her father because she was very afraid on what his reaction would be. Jin always felt that he never liked her.
Of course he doesn't like all three of her and her brothers in general but Jin has the feeling that he particularly dislikes her.
She once thought of putting Zuko's name on it but then she didn't like feeling as if she was doomed to die and she felt that putting his name on it would just re-enforce most of her fears. Her hand found its way to her neck. On it was a barely noticeable clay tablet with her name and a small series of number at the sides. Next to the tablet was a small piece of jade. It was jagged and uneven but it belonged to Jin's mother and she had managed to salvage it before the Fire Nation took complete control over their home. It was her most prized possession. The tables at the side were identification tablets. All soldiers had them. During the more happier and peaceful times, their father had made them each one. She knew He Shen still kept his and he still wore it around his neck, even after the Resistance fell. Ge Jiang however, stopped wearing it when he turned sixteen.
Jin should've known that an altercation between Ge Jiang and her father would happen soon. The signs were all there.
Jin wanted to talk about it. But she didn't know how to. She felt alone and she felt like no one could really understand what she was going through. Katara and Sokka had a wonderful father who continually supported them and loved them. Toph's relationship with her parents' was not so good but their issue was a different matter; Toph was mad at their over protectiveness. Aang never had a father, he was raised by monks. She could tell Zuko but…Jin sighed. She didn't know how to tell him. She didn't how to talk about it with him. Could he understand? She wasn't so sure.
And mostly she felt ashamed. She didn't want to expose him to this dramatic and completely miserable side of her life. It was a little ridiculous and stupid but she could barely contain all the emotions that welled up inside her whenever her family life and Zuko mixed. And to top it all off she was pretty sure Zuko hated her father. How could he understand why she was still patiently holding out for the time when things would get better between her and her dad? Zuko made it clear that he thought Jin should definitely burn the bridge between her and her father.
Maybe if she showed him the cloth filled with her personal belongings it could help Zuko understand more and it could help her explain better.
From her side she felt Zuko stir and she hastily hid the piece of cloth back into her pocket. One day she would tell him, she promised. But not now. She wasn't ready yet. Not with her dad looming behind them. She snuggled closer to him, hoping to finally sleep when she heard an explosion from up above accompanied with the shaking of the temple.
Jin sat up as the temple shook and explosions burst from every direction. Cracks began to appear along its pillars and rubble began to fall unto the ground. Three Fire Nation airships rose from the fog and began to advance slowly towards them. Aang quickly sprang up in the air and with a wave of his staff the shutters obscured her view of the airships. Jin's legs felt like lead. She felt unable to move. For some reason, she just froze and blacked out. Too many things were happening at the same time. Katara was screaming and Hakoda was trying to tell her something. Haru, who had hurriedly placed Teo on his wheelchair, was trying to wheel Teo away while the Duke was looking around in confusion.
Toph stood up and in one quick movement, she earthbent a tunnel at the cliff face, creating an escape route for all of them.
Suddenly, she felt a strong hand grip her arm forcing her to stand. She looked up and saw Zuko whose eyes looked infuriated.
"Go. Now!" he said gesturing to the tunnel.
"Zuko, what's going on?" Jin cried over the din of the noise.
"A family reunion," Zuko said tightly. At the word family, Jin immediately remembered her father. He was still in his room. He probably felt the tremors and the explosions but he had no idea what was going on.
"Dad!" Jin screamed and she turned away from him and hurtled into the rows of rooms.
"Jin! No! You have to go to the tunnel with the others!" Zuko cried as he tried to hold her back by grabbing her hand.
Jin struggled against his grasp and as she broke free from him she yelled back scrambling forward with her hand on a small clay table on her neck, "I have to find him! I have to find my dad!"
Jin ran along the rows of rooms, her heart pounding hard against her chest. She tried to focus and to concentrate despite all the distractions as she tried to recall where her dad stayed. He was in Sokka's room that much she remembered. But where was Sokka's room? Jin tried to remember but she was continually distracted by the sounds of explosions. She made the decision to just check every room. She was about half-way through in looking through all the rooms when another explosion happened. She lost her balance and stumbled forward.
Through the increasingly frequent grains of rubble that fell from the ceiling she saw a tall and broad figure sprinting away. Jin was ready to stand up, realizing that it might be her dad, when another explosion happened. The next few things happened very quickly. Jin heard cracking noise from underneath her and before she knew it, before she could stand up, she felt herself falling.
Jin instinctively grabbed unto a piece of rock jutting from the edge and she quickly tried to swing herself back up. However another explosion happened and it caused her to lose her grip. Jin only managed to hang on with her right hand. A chasm had opened because of the explosion she realized. She looked and around and saw that if she did not get out of here fast, the chasm would widened until one part of it would immediately fall off the cliff.
Jin felt stupid. She should have listened to Zuko. Her father was a seasoned soldier. Something like this was probably normal, even natural to him. Whatever possessed her to abandon all reason? Jin felt so foolish. Now she would probably die and no one would be there to help her. Jin tried to force her other arm to grip the edge but she found herself having difficulty after realizing that her weight was making her unbalanced and that if she tried it, she might lose grip of her other hand altogether.
Panicking she yelled, "Help! Zuko! Aang! Toph!"
No one.
"Sokka! Katara! Haru! Teo! Help me!"
No one.
"Somebody! Help!"
No one.
"Help! Zuko!"
No one.
She sighed loudly. No one could help her. She was too far off from everyone else. Jin needed to pull through this. She just had too. With all her strength she struggled to lurch herself upward. Clumsily, she failed to grip the edge with her other hand and before she knew it she heard a snap. A piece of rock protruding from the wall snagged the chord of her necklace and broke it into two. She felt her necklace with the identification tablet and the pieces of jade strung unto it slip away.
Stupidly, Jin used the hand she had used for gripping the edge to grab her necklace screaming, "No!"
The necklace slipped from her grasp. Now she was done for. She was going to die. And to top it all off, her necklace was lost.
Suddenly she felt something hard, like a chunk of earth, hit her back propelling her upwards. A strong hand gripped her and as Jin looked up into the eyes of her savior she could hardly believe herself. It was her father and he looked like annoyed and slightly angry. But then—that was always his expression.
Something glinted in the light and to Jin's shock she saw her necklace with the identification tablet and her mother's jade reflecting the sun's light against everything else. Jin's father hauled her up until she was standing.
He then wordlessly held up her necklace and he quickly tied it around her neck. Jin was speechless and she felt as if she was in another universe, another dimension.
He then gruffly said, "Don't ever lose it, girl. A soldier never loses his identification tablet. One of the laws of war."
Jin opened her mouth ready to say something when her father roughly grabbed by the collar and hauled her forward. Jin nearly stumbled and fell. He said roughly and a little cruelly, "No time to be weak girl. Show me you're not as disappointing as your brothers."
He then turned around and left Jin without saying goodbye.
Zuko watched as Jin scrambled farther away from him into the corridor leading to their rooms. He began to panic and his first reaction was that he should go after her immediately. He was about to sprint forwards when he heard the sound of someone's malicious cackling and immediately he knew. His eyes darkened and he looked up and saw Azula laughing manically as she watched the destruction happening from below her. He felt torn. Should he go after Jin or should he stay to fight his sister? A big part of him wanted to go after Jin knowing that she was stubbornly setting herself up for more danger. But a tinier, more insistent part of him knew that it was his duty to confront Azula.
Suddenly the ground shook as another explosion happened and the ceiling crumbled. His moment of indecision was spared as a piece of the ceiling dislodged, falling steadily unto Katara.
Zuko quickly sprung towards her and pushed her out of the way screaming, "Watch out!"
They rolled and tumbled away as the ceiling piece crashes unto the ground.
Katara hissed and snapped at Zuko as soon as they were fine. Obviously, she still did not like or trust Zuko. She demanded, "What are you doing?"
"Keeping rocks from crushing you," Zuko said blankly, thoroughly confused as to why she was so upset. He had just saved her life! Zuko pretty much thought that that would be sufficient reason enough for her not to hate him.
"Okay, I'm not crushed. You can get off me now," Katara spat as she irritably slid out of Zuko.
Zuko stared after her, confused as she sped away from him. He muttered, "I'll take that as a thank you."
"Zuko, come on! We have to go!" Aang said as he pulled at Appa's reins towards the tunnel.
"Where's Jin?" Zuko demanded as he whipped his head towards Aang.
"She must have gone in the tunnel already!" Aang shouted over the din of the noise.
Zuko's jaws tightened and he said in a hard voice, "I don't think so."
"What?" Aang yelled.
"Go ahead, I'll hold them off. Find Jin! She's still in here somewhere finding her dad! Find her!" Zuko barked at Aang. Aang looked ready to protest when Zuko turned around, faced the airships and narrowed his eyes saying, "I think this is a family visit."
Zuko then ran towards the airships.
Aang looking stunned, yelled, "Zuko, no!"
Sokka and Katara ran towards him, towards the tunnel. Sokka grabbed Aang's shoulder and said firmly, "Come on, we gotta get out of here. Zuko can handle it."
Aang looked reluctant. He said, "Zuko said Jin's still here. We have to find her."
"I think she went through the tunnel already," Katara said as she shook her head.
"No, she didn't. We have to get her," Aang stubbornly said.
"I think she's over there. You go ahead. I'll get her!" Sokka said as he squinted his eyes. Across the scores of rubble and dust he could see a slender figure sprinting towards them. Katara and Aang hesitantly looked at him.
"Go! Take Appa and we'll catch up with you later, okay?" Sokka said and he quickly herded them through the tunnel before running forward to meet Jin. Jin looked shaken and she was ashen-faced. Her eyes looked drawn and sad and disappointed and for some reason her hand was placated on her neck. She was clutching something though he couldn't tell what it was.
Sokka scrambled through the ruins and grabbed Jin's arm, saving her from a falling precipice. Sokka yelled at her through all the noise and destruction, "We have to go!"
He gestured at the tunnel.
"Where's Zuko?" Jin yelled.
Before Sokka could answer her, they suddenly caught a figure—Zuko—dashing out of the broken temple and spiraling into one of the airships. Jin could hardly breathe as she watched Zuko nearly miss and fail to land. She tried to run towards him as she screamed, "Zuko!"
Sokka shook his head and grabbed her arms, trying to restrain her, "Let him go, Jin! We have to get out of here! Come on, he knows what he's doing, okay?"
Jin calmed down for a few seconds and she felt focused enough to listen to Sokka who was trying to steer her towards the tunnel while yelling something at the same time. She immediately saw all of them gathering at the mouth of the tunnel with Aang trying to desperately drive Appa into the tunnel by pulling his reins.
"I can't get him to go in there," Aang said as he tried to pull Appa into the tunnel.
"Aang there's no way we can fly out of here," Katara said as she looked at how many they were.
"We'll have to find a way," Aang said as he loosened his grip on the reins.
"We need to split up," Sokka declared.
"What?" Katara said looking incensed.
"It's the only way. You guys go to the tunnel and take the stolen airship," Sokka said as he turned to look at his father.
He then said somberly to Katara and Aang, "We have to ride Appa and get Zuko."
"No. The Fire Nation can't separate our family ever again," Katara said as she shook her head.
"We have to make sacrifices. It's not only us. The Fire Nation has already separated other families," Sokka said as he gestured at Jin who was looking extremely sad and worried. She fiddled with something on her neck.
"It's not forever," Hakoda firmly said as he squeezed Katara's shoulder. He then said, "Sokka's right. We have to split up. You have to ride Appa and get Zuko. It won't be for too long."
He then hugged Katara and Sokka firmly, he shook Aang's hand, gave a small wave to Suki and Toph and he then gave Jin a small pat on the shoulder. After a few rueful goodbyes he left the tunnel with Chit Sang and the others following him.
"What about your dad?" Aang suddenly said as he turned to look at Jin.
Jin avoided his gaze and said quietly, "He's fine. He already gone and he's probably safe."
"Hey, are you okay?" Sokka said after realizing that Jin looked so absentminded.
She looked vacant and suddenly she snapped back into focus. Her jaw tightened as she saw Zuko stumble backward as he tried to avoid a stream of blue fire. She said determinedly, "Come on. Let's get Zuko."
"What are you doing here?" Zuko managed to yell despite the roar of the wind.
Azula stared at him coolly before breaking out into a maniacal grin. She then yelled back, "You mean it's not obvious yet? I'm about to celebrate becoming an only child!"
Zuko bucked up his stance and prepared himself for the fight that was about to ensue. For most of his life Azula was always the better sibling. She was always better than Zuko. And Zuko had prepared for the day when he would finally achieve success. He raised his arms.
They rushed at each other.
Azula was as usual, up to her perfect standards though Zuko could feel that he was improving. He held his own much longer than he had before. The two of them dodged and parried blows with Azula glinting and giving off a maniacal, almost crazy laugh once in awhile. Zuko frowned. He was starting to worry about his sister. Granted, he despised her but that did not mean that he completely hated her. He had come to the conclusion that Azula was that way because of their dad. In some ways, Zuko was like Jin pining and waiting for the day when things got better. Patiently holding out for the peaceful and happy family reunion. Zuko cursed himself. Her optimism was rubbing off him.
Suddenly he heard another explosion. At first he thought that it was from a distance but after a split second he realized that it was from this airship. He watched in horror as Azula started to skid away from the airship. He tried to reach out to her but a shudder in the airship caused him to lose his balance. He began to spiral downwards at a very fast rate and he felt that he was going to die.
It felt so surreal and yet so sad to him at the same time. He thought about Jin and how short his time with her was. He thought about the Avatar and how he failed him by not living long enough to complete his training. He thought about his newfound friends—Sokka, the Duke, Teo—and how he would never get the chance to know them more. He thought about Katara and how she would always hate him. But he mostly thought about Jin and he wondered if she made it out of the air temple alive and whether she would be sad that he was gone.
Suddenly he was jolted out of his thoughts when he felt someone grip the back of his shirt. Someone grabbed his arm and he immediately felt like he was being hauled away somewhere. His back hit something hard and the first thing he saw was Jin's face looming over him worriedly.
His first thoughts were that of relief.
Then he thought about Azula.
He quickly ignored everyone else, sat up and looked over the edge of the saddle where he saw Azula flailing and spinning wildly like a rag doll.
"She's not going to make it," Zuko whispered a little sadly.
He could feel some movement beside him and he turned and saw that Jin was looking with him intently.
Then to his shock, Azula ripped her headpiece off and she then emptied the silence as she hurtled towards the cliff face with blasts of fire sparking at her heels. Zuko watched in horror as his baby sister landed on the cliff face, her eyes feral and wide and her grin maniacal.
Zuko could barely contain his disappointment. He turned away and growled, "Of course she did."
They had all settled down on a rocky hill by the sea. As soon as Appa landed, Sokka immediately gave Zuko the rundown of what happened to Hakoda and everyone else before they all started to make camp. Zuko and Jin helped Aang get all the supplies from Appa's back. They were in high spirits, especially after they had escaped from someone like Azula. Zuko and Jin could barely contain their happiness for each other and much to Aang's surprise and Sokka's horror they were the most affectionate they had ever been in public with Zuko often giving Jin a small kiss on the forehead or cheek or with Jin nudging her nose against Zuko's in return.
Zuko helped Jin set her tent up and as soon as he was finished with that he cheerfully lit the campfire up for everyone. Sure, Azula escaped and made it out alive but he didn't let that get him down too much. He had just shown the faint signs that he would be able to hold his own against his sister and possibly even defeat her. He felt extremely elated right now.
Katara cooked dinner as soon as there was a fire and rounds and rounds of tea were immediately passed around. As soon as they were all good and settled Aang said contentedly, "Wow, camping. It really seems like old times again, doesn't it?"
Zuko cut a biscuit in half and gave the other half to Jin before saying slyly, "If you really want to feel like old times, I could, uhh... chase you around a while and try to capture you."
Everyone around the campfire burst into laughter. Zuko turned sideways and tried to see Jin's reaction and he was a little disappointed to see that she was looking into the ground, distracted. When she caught Zuko's stare she gave him a wide smile and Zuko felt all his previous apprehensions melt away. Zuko wrapped an arm around her and watched as everyone continued to laugh happily.
Katara sourly looked down and said in a sarcastic voice, "Ha ha."
"To Zuko. Who knew after all those times he tried to snuff us out, today, he'd be our hero," Sokka declared as he raised his glass into the air. Everyone raised their glasses and chorused agreements except for Katara. She was looking away, her face pinched and looking angry.
"Here! Here!" everyone yelled. Toph and Aang elbowed Zuko while Jin gave him a small and distracted kiss on his cheeks.
"I'm touched. I don't deserve this," Zuko said as he smiled warmly.
"Yeah, no kidding," Katara said snippily as she stood up and stormed off. Zuko's happy demeanor immediately soured and a frown formed his lips.
Sokka looked after Katara and said, "What's with her?"
Zuko scowled before standing up. He said, "I wish I knew."
He then turned on his heels and stormed off as everyone else looked after him quizzically.
"What's with him?" Sokka demanded directing his question at Jin. Jin however was looking at the fire blankly her hand fiddling the hem of her skirt and her other hand on her neck. Sokka and everyone stared at her waiting for an answer.
"Hello? Jin?" Sokka said as he tried to grab her attention.
Jin snapped back into focus and said, "I have to go."
She then stood up and left.
"What's with her?" Sokka said as she stalked off.
He then added, "What's with everybody?"
The next day, things proceeded on normally. Aang led Appa to a small grassy pasture overlooking the sea where Appa could graze. Sokka, a little preoccupied with the romantic night he shared with Suki, lazily fiddled with a necklace of flowers. Jin, who had looked absentminded the night before, looked like her usual cheerful and happy self again that day. Toph and Suki had volunteered for market duty that day and the two had gone to get some food (though Toph didn't look as happy).
Jin quietly lied down on Appa's tail as Aang fed him some hay, relishing the wonderful feeling of the cool breeze hitting against her face. She felt a little better than she did last night and the vision of her angry father rescuing her and forcefully shoving her was nothing but a faint memory. Jin was very good at erasing unnecessary or horrendous memories from her mind.
They all talked a little about where they would set camp next, somewhere a little more permanent where Aang could practice without having to worry about the Fire Nation at his tail. Their conversation was interrupted however, when Katara came stomping into view, dressed in all black. She had an intense look on her face and her fists were balled.
"I need to borrow Appa," Katara curtly said. She wasn't asking for a favor. She was telling Aang what she wanted. And she expected to get what she wanted.
"Why? Is it your turn to take a little fieldtrip with Zuko?" Aang asked good-naturedly as he fed Appa some more hay. Appa chewed it slowly. From her place, Jin sat up curious and concerned at what was going on. The night before, Zuko and Katara both left. She wasn't paying too much attention though. She was too busy thinking about her dad and her family.
"Yes, it is," Katara grimly stated as she avoided Aang's gaze.
Aang looked surprise at the coolness of her voice and the aggressiveness of her reaction. He frowned and said, "Oh. What's going on?"
"We're going to find the man who took my Mother from me," Katara flatly said. Behind her, Zuko followed her, also dressed in all black with a bag in hand.
"Sokka told me the story of what happened. I know who did it. And I know how to find him," Zuko proudly said as he hauled the bag up Appa's saddle.
Jin's eyes flew wide open as soon as she realized the full extent of what Katara and Zuko planned to do. They were going to take revenge against the killer of Katara's mother. Jin felt the previous lightness she had melt away as a cold and heavy dread settled on her chest. This was wrong on all sorts of levels. Taking revenge against someone would not resolve anything. If anything it would only make things worse or more complicated. Jin wrinkled her brow. She knew perfectly well how disastrous the results of this would be because she and her brothers had once gone after their mother's killers. They once searched for him and went after him and they found him. Jin shuddered at the memory.
This was doing nothing but bringing painful memories of her mother back.
Jin was brought back to reality as soon as she realized that Aang and Katara and Sokka were arguing in full force. Aang was looking at Katara with a pleading look in her eye while Sokka was shaking his head in disapproval. Jin could hear Aang telling his experience with Appa and a couple of sandbenders, "You're feeling unbelievable pain and rage. How do you think I felt about the sandbenders when they stole Appa? How do you think I felt about the Fire Nation when I found out what happened to my people—''
Jin interrupted him, looked at Katara and demanded, "What exactly do you think this would accomplish, Katara?"
Katara narrowed her eyes at Jin and said in a rather venomous tone, "You wouldn't understand a single thing of what I'm going through Jin. I know that it's perfectly fine for you to do nothing while the Fire Nation slowly tears us down and your idea of resolving things I just sitting there and looking pretty and pretending that everything is fine and dandy and perfect—''
Jin surprised everyone by saying in a loud and aggressive tone, "You don't think that I don't know what I'm going through, Katara? I know how you feel. I may not show it most of the time. But I know how you feel. You feel as if nothing matters to you, that nothing brings you comfort but taking and destroying every single thing that hurt you. How do you think I felt when I saw my province being attacked? When I saw everything that was dear to me crumble down? When I saw my mother die and be burned alive? Do you think that that made me happy? Do you think I enjoyed that?"
Katara and Jin stared at each other and Jin's wide, catlike green eyes looked the greenest and fiercest its ever been. Zuko felt something snap inside of him. He thought that Jin would be all for the idea. He thought that everyone would be all for the idea. He couldn't believe that up until now she was still willing to just sit there and allow these people to continue hurting other people. It felt wrong.
Zuko felt compelled to say something for Katara. Before he could stop himself he said, "She needs this, Jin. This is about getting closure and justice."
Jin glared at him and she said as she shook her head, "I don't think so. I think it's about getting revenge."
Katara snarled in frustration and she said, "Fine! Maybe it is. Maybe that's what I need. Maybe that's what he deserves."
Aang shook his head and said, "Katara, you sound like Jet."
"It's not the same. Jet attacked the innocent. This man, he's a monster," Katara spat.
Before Jin had time to wonder who Jet was, Sokka spoke up, "Katara, she was my Mother too. But I think Aang might be right."
Katara looked away and said, "Then you didn't love her the way I did."
Sokka looked shocked beyond belief. He speechlessly said, "Katara..."
Aang said as he moved forward, "The monks used to say that revenge is like a two-headed ratviper. While you watch your enemy go down, you're being poisoned yourself."
Zuko snorted and said, "That's cute. But this isn't air temple pre-school. It's the real World."
Katara looked down and breathed as she said, "Now that I know he's out there, now that I know we could find him, I feel like I have no choice."
"Katara, you do have a choice. Forgiveness," Aang said.
"That's the same as doing nothing," Zuko declared.
Jin looked up, recalled something her father told her and her brothers once and said, "No it's not. It's easy to do nothing. But it's hard to forgive. Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind. Revenge is for the weak. You are stronger if you do not take that path. It's one of the laws of a soldier, of war."
"Thanks for the fortune cookie Jin, but quit acting as if you understand a shred of what I'm going through! You don't! You have a perfect and happy little life! Forgiveness…It's not just hard, it's impossible," Katara snapped as she pushed past Jin who looked strangely calm though her eyes looked so angry.
"So you were just going to take Appa anyway?" Aang asked helplessly as she clambered up Appa.
Jin in particular looked the angriest. How could Zuko just go and act like that around her? Sure, they had different opinions. But that did not give him the right to be a total jerk to her.
"Yes," Katara curtly said.
"It's okay, because I forgive you. That give you any ideas?" Aang hopefully asked as he shot her a smile.
"Don't try to stop us," Katara merely said as she began to arrange her bags.
"I wasn't planning to. This is a journey you need to take. You need to face this man," Aang said. He looked ready to leave it at that but Jin spoke up.
She said in a voice just as cold but yet it sounded imploring, "But when you do, please don't choose revenge."
Zuko threw his bag unto the saddle and climbed up. He tried to avoid Jin's angry eyes as he sat down. He didn't want to fight her on this. But he felt strongly about this whole revenge issue. If it were his mother Zuko would gladly take revenge on her killer. Or at least the one who banished her. And that was his father. Zuko would be more than happy to take all his anger and resentment out on him in every conceivable violent manner.
"Let your anger out and then let it go. Forgive him," Jin continued on.
Zuko felt tired of her preaching. It was pure nonsense. It was pure Jin. Be happy and bright and optimistic. He let the words run out of his mouth before he could stop himself, "Okay, we'll be sure to do that Miss Goody-goody."
Jin's jaw tightened and Aang and Sokka stiffened as Zuko matched her angry gaze. Katara said hardly, "Thanks for the advice. Yip yip."
Appa flew and the three of them watched as they flew higher and higher and gradually faded from their sight. Sokka then decided that now was a timely moment to address Jin who had frozen and was looking at the ground angrily, "You know, you're pretty wise, Jin. That was a lot of fancy words out there."
Jin turned away and said, "Thanks."
She then stalked off but not before saying in an annoyed voice, "But apparently, I don't understand."
Jin was fuming mad at Zuko. She could barely contain her anger as she stomped all over their campsite. She wasn't as mad with Katara. She understood how she felt right now. She probably didn't mean most of the things she said. But still, Jin couldn't help feeling hurt at some of the things Zuko said to her. He was her boyfriend! The least he could do, if he was in a disagreement with her with something, was to be cordial and civil about it. Jin decided that she could never forgive him after this whole incident. She sighed. She knew she said that almost every time they have an argument but she was pretty sure that this one would take forever to blow over.
Jin had nothing to do for the next few hours. Her boyfriend was out on a mission with Katara (she didn't want to think about it because she was still infuriated with Zuko), Sokka was off with Suki and she had no idea where Toph was. She rubbed at her identification tablet and the piece of jade strung unto it. She wished that the stupid war had never happened. She wished that her mother was here. Jin tried to calm herself down and distract herself from these really depressing thoughts. But she found herself unable to do so. Her mom would know what to tell her about this whole situation. She would know the exact right words to coax her into forgiving Zuko or to make her feel as if she's done enough to stop Katara. Jin sighed. Wishful thinking would get her nowhere.
"Toph?" Jin said in surprise as she saw the blind girl sitting at the edge of a cliff, her thin frame shuddering.
"What, Smiley?" Toph said in an irritated tone.
"Oh. Sorry. I just thought—I'll just go," Jin said quickly after realizing that Toph didn't seem to be in the mood for talking.
"Hey! Did I say you could go?" Toph said sounding slightly amused.
Jin gave her small smile as Toph patted the space next to her, gesturing for Jin to sit down. Jin sat down and swung her legs over the edge letting it dangle.
"So, what's up? I heard that you and Sparky and Sugar Queen had a little fight," Toph said as she began to swing her legs.
"Don't even mention him," Jin said angrily.
Toph chuckled and she said empathically, "Don't take what Katara said too seriously Jin. She didn't mean it. She's a total sweetheart. Sometimes she turns into a flaming one-eyed, sharp-tongued monster at times. But that's just because she's not as closed as you. She's open and very emotional. And she's only doing that because of the people she loves."
"I'm not mad at her. I'm like that sometimes. It's just….frustrating," Jin honestly said. She could have left it at that. She could have just said that she wasn't mad at Katara and that she understood. But for some reason she felt herself telling Toph what she truly felt.
"What's frustrating?" Toph asked.
"It just…upsets me the way people think that my life is so perfect and that I can't relate or understand everybody else," Jin sighed.
"Maybe that's because you do act like you're life is perfect. We never knew that you were having troubles at home. Not until your dad showed up," Toph simply said.
"Well excuse me for not sharing every sob story I have to the world," Jin sarcastically said in a voice that surprised Toph and even herself.
Toph grinned and looked at her with her grey eyes saying, "That's not a bad thing. You're like me. We don't have time to get all weepy. It's weepy enough in this group as it is. We have to keep our reps up."
Toph gave her a hard pat on the back. Jin nearly fell over at the force. Toph quickly said, "Oops. Sorry."
Jin smiled. She felt as if she could relate with Toph a little bit more than she did before. That made her feel strangely contented.
"Do you miss your….parents?" Toph asked.
"Yeah. I do. I miss my mom the most," Jin said sadly.
Suddenly Toph gave a great big sigh, looked into the distance and said in a rather heavy voice, "I miss my parents."
Jin froze, unsure what to say. She wasn't really good with the whole parent-child relationship thing. She had a violent father who makes unnecessary outbursts and a dead mother as proof of her completely messed-up existence with her family. Jin tapped her pocket and fiddled with the hem of her skirt as Toph chattered on, "I mean they are over controlling and over protective and stuff but I still miss them. Sometimes, when my mom and dad weren't busy they'd take me out to the annual Fisherman's Day—that's an event that happens off coast where colorful sails get launched—''
"I've heard of it," Jin softly said.
For once Toph didn't look miffed that she was interrupted. She merely gave a small smile before continuing, "Yeah. That. They'd take me there and they would describe to me how the ships look like. They'd describe to me the different colors and the patterns and designs….I never really knew what they were talking about because…well…I'm blind… When I started to grow up however the trips became less frequent…"
Jin waited for her to finish.
"They were ashamed of me. They didn't like the fact that their daughter was blind. That's why they always hid me from the world," Toph bitterly said.
Jin frowned unsure of what to say. What was she supposed to tell Toph? That everything would be okay? It sounded a little too contrived so instead she decided that maybe she should share a little something also, maybe so she could relate. Nothing too personal of course. But after the huge argument between her brother and her dad, she felt that she could share something substantial. Something Toph was already aware of. And besides, she felt a little comfortable around Toph.
Finally she said, "Before our province was attacked—''
"You live in Li-Jien right?" Toph asked suddenly.
"How do you know?" Jin asked in surprise.
Toph shrugged and said, "You're dad's pretty famous across the Earth Kingdom. He was a great war general. Also you're grandfather. Your dad and your grandpa defended lots of Earth Kingdom provinces. My dad told me that your family produced some of the best warriors the Earth kingdom ever had."
Jin looked a little startled. She frowned and looked away, looking hesitant. She hadn't thought that other people might know a lot about her family beforehand. But then again, these were times of war and her father was a very good and famous war general. So was her grandfather. She was born into war and her father's family had built themselves over war. It shouldn't come to her as a surprise that someone as prominent as Toph knew about her dad. She wasn't sure if she wanted to finish but one look at Toph and her expectant face and she immediately knew that she had to.
Jin squared her shoulder and continued, "My mom would make her famous rice cakes and roast pigeon in honor of my dad coming home. Everyone would get so excited. He Shen—he's my other brother—would make a new song. Ge Jiang would be so excited to show dad what he learned. There would be fireworks and lots of food and flowers. He rarely comes home you know."
Jin felt as if she was losing her calm.
She said as she tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear, "He'd always have a new medal or award to bring home or maybe he would tell us how he won a battle. He was good fighter. Mom would always tell me how proud she was of him."
Jin scratched her head.
She then said, "When I got older….mom never got out of her way to prepare for his homecoming anymore. In fact, no one wanted him home anymore. We all would just wish that he wouldn't come. They always fought each other. Sometimes…it gets way out of line."
Jin tightened every muscle in her body and by sheer will she managed to force her tears back into their ducts.
"My mom and dad fought too. Mostly about me. I guess they sometimes disagreed on how to raise a blind kid," Toph said as she gave Jin a small pat on the shoulder.
Toph then looked away and said, "At least they're not ashamed of you."
She said in a sad voice, "My dad was ashamed of us sometimes. Especially if we fumble a bending move in front of his war friends. He never brought us to those victory parties. Said we ruined his name."
After awhile Jin added, "At least…at least your dad-parents love you."
"Love me? Please. They don't love me. They feel sorry for me," Toph snorted.
Suddenly an uncomfortable silence washed over them. Jin wondered how they even got to this point. Jin wondered why she told Toph that. Maybe, she admitted, it was because she was lonely and she needed to talk to someone. She felt that she and Toph were similar in some ways. Toph had to keep that tough girl image and it wouldn't do that she just went off spouting how much she missed her parents. Jin just couldn't bring herself to admit that her father was a violent maniac and she was blindly trying to be as optimistic as she could. Jin didn't like to talk about it because it made her feel sad. And whenever she feels sad she cries and she disliked crying in front of other people. It made her feel so uncomfortable and weak.
Jin wanted to cut the conversation short. She no longer wanted to talk about it. The memories were too painful. And she didn't really want to face pain. It made things all too difficult. The good memories were the most painful ones. It reminded her about good times. Things that could continue to happen if only thing hadn't spiraled so wildly out of control in their family. Jin bit her lip.
The silence expanded and expanded until Toph said in a sort of quiet and yet chuckling voice, "Boy, we're so messed up are we?"
She laughed and Jin laughed. The two of them were trying to shake the discomfort that stemmed from their conversation. Jin said as she laughed shakily, "Yeah, we pretty much are."
"At least we're not the only ones," Toph chuckled referring to Sokka and Katara and Aang and Zuko.
"At least…," Jin murmured.
Suddenly they heard noises from the distance and the sound of Appa's roar.
"Guess, Sparky's here," Toph smirked.
Jin's eyes darkened and she said grimly, "You go on ahead."
After going on that trip with Katara and giving her a good hug after she glumly sat by herself on a dock by the sea, Zuko retreated in his own little corner, unenthusiastic to join everyone else. Not even Jin. Especially Jin. He was ashamed for the way he treated her that day. He knew that he hurt her feelings to some extent. But how could she understand? She didn't know his past. She didn't know what he had gone through. The trip reminded him mostly about his mother. He recalled the many moments in the turtle duck pond. He recalled her regal and elegant bearing. He recalled her many stories and her bright laugh. Zuko felt like those memories were so distant, were so far away. He thought about how Katara—how she was so angry and vengeful. Zuko felt that way when he found out about what happened to her from his father. And he was more than ready to take him on right there and then after he knew.
But he could hardly blame Jin for her reaction. She had no idea what was going on with his family life too. Zuko sighed heavily. He wanted to make amends. After sitting there at the edge of the cliff alone for some time and after realizing that everyone had probably gone to sleep Zuko did the boldest thing he had ever done.
And possibly the stupidest.
He went inside her tent. What? He wanted to apologize right there and then. Jin of course, didn't react kindly. She kicked him in the shin and in his well…sensitive area. When she realized that it was him she gave him a cold stare before folding herself back into the blankets and looking away from him.
"You're mad at me," Zuko said as he lied down next to her and wrapped an arm around her.
"Get out of my tent," Jin said through gritted teeth as she tried to shrug his grasp off.
"I'm sorry," Zuko said sincerely as he hugged her again, ignoring her resistance.
"Sure. It's okay. After all, I am Miss Goody-goody aren't I?" Jin sarcastically said.
"I didn't mean it. I didn't know what I was saying," Zuko said.
"Maybe you should've thought about that before you actually said it," Jin said angrily.
"I just felt so angry. Especially when I got reminded of my mom," Zuko said simply.
Jin paused and stop resisting his grasp. Zuko held her closer.
"I felt like I could've done the same thing in the same situation. I loved her so much. I really loved my mom. But you and Aang and Sokka were right. Revenge won't bring me peace. It won't bring her back," Zuko murmured.
He accidentally blew a stream of hot steam out of his mouth as he said so. It tickled Jin's neck and made her shudder.
Jin remained silent.
"She left you know? She left one day when I was about nine or ten years old. She woke me up in the middle of the night, kissed me goodbye and just left. Back then at first I thought she was just going away for a trip. No one would tell me what happened to her. Not dad. Not Azula. Not the servants. No one. And I always wondered and waited. Then as I got older, I realized that maybe she died. Then I didn't wait anymore," Zuko said hoarsely.
Zuko felt Jin's small hands take his and he felt her squeeze it.
"During the day of the black sun I confronted my father. And he told me what happened to her. That she wasn't dead. That she was just banished. Then I felt hope again. I was ready to wait again. But I was so mad. I was so mad at my dad for doing that to her. I wanted to strike him with my swords.," Zuko said as his teeth clenched.
Jin said nothing and allowed him to continue.
"That's why I thought that Katara was right in wanting revenge. But then as we went along the trip…I realized that she was wrong. That I was wrong. I realized that my mother was still alive somewhere. Would she be proud of what I have done? I didn't think she would be. She was a sweet and gentle lady. She used to take me to the duck pond you know?" Zuko chuckled at the memory.
Jin smiled and nodded. Then in a voice that was barely a whisper she said, "Why did your father banish her?"
She didn't look at his eyes and his expression which had darkened. She still had his back to him. Zuko didn't want to talk about it. But suddenly he felt very open. He felt very ready to tell her. He said grimly, "Because she killed my grandfather. My father wanted the throne. To get it, he had to kill me. And he was very willing. He was very willing to kill his own son. But my mother couldn't allow that. She told my father that she would kill Azulon, my grandfather. That she would take the blame. I wish there was some way I could repay her."
Jin felt heart broken. Zuko had gone through all his. She didn't know and now she felt so ignorant and stupid for getting mad at him. She had no idea what he had gone through. She had no idea how messed up his dad was. She had no idea how painful it must be for him to find out that it was his dad that took his mother away from him. How painful it must have been to know that your own father was willing to kill you.
Zuko held his breath and waited for her to answer. To just speak.
Then she turned around, looked at him with remorseful eyes and she leaned forward and kissed him. She kissed him deeply and Zuko didn't want her to stop. Then she let go and whispered into him, "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm so sorry Zuko."
Zuko stroked her hair and said, "Its okay. I didn't know either."
They lied down there in complete silence for awhile with Jin on Zuko's chest and with Zuko stroking Jin's hair. Finally, Zuko cautiously said, "How did…how did your mom die?"
Jin sighed and said in a quiet voice, "It was in the middle of the Li-Jien siege. That's where we live. We were finally gaining the upperhand in the battle after losing for so many weeks in a row. We could've actually won that thing. Nothing could stop us."
Zuko waited for her to continue.
"My mother and father had a fight during the night of the final battle. I didn't know what they fought about. What I do know is that my mom got so angry that she…she….left the house. She wanted to bring me with her. But I was too afraid of dad. I was afraid of what he'd do to us if he caught us. Looking back, I wish that I had just gone. It was my biggest regret ever," Jin sadly said.
"What happened?"
"The Fire Nation army caught her and held her hostage along with the wives and children of other dignitaries. They displayed her in front of the square for everyone to see. For my dad to see. The Fire Nation general said that if we surrender they'd give everyone held hostage back safe, unhurt. They'd give my mom back."
Zuko listened to her story with dread in his heart.
"What did your dad say?"
"Nothing. He said no. They burned her alive. In front of everyone. In front of me, my brothers, my dad. And he didn't even care. He didn't even flinch. It was okay with him. It completely okay that my mom was just burned alive," Jin said as she broke into sobs. She didn't know how Zuko could be so strong. How did he manage to handle everything that has happened to him with so much finesse? How could he weather all those things? How could he remain so unbreakable?
"You are so strong," she hiccupped into his chest.
Zuko held her and said fiercely, "You're strong too Jin. All of us are strong."
They laid there in silence.
Zuko said, "I just hope Aang will also be strong enough when the time comes."
Jin silently nodded against his chest. She certainly hoped so. He just had to be. So that their will be peace and retribution for all the atrocities that has happened to to her.
To Zuko.
To Sokka and Katara.
To Toph.
Maybe even to Suki.
To all of them.
I'm running against the clock because its back to school and work again. So I don't really have much to ramble on except:
Thanks so much to those who added me on their favorite authors lists, who story alerted this story and who added this story to their favorite story lists.
Thanks to those who reviewed: Sage of Oblivion, Charmed Ravenclaw, tgbwe, Panther-Strife, ArrayePL and Shakeru.
Please, always review. I welcome all reviews, good and constructive.
As always expect a long gap in the updates. But I will always update, don't worry about that.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!