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Chapter 5: Weddings

Everyone made sure to stare at me. My hair would not come down. Despite hours of running around in a panic, hoping that at least one single person would know what to do. No one did, or at least they had told me as much.

"I'm sorry, dear."

"No clue."

"It looks fine to me."

Only someone from the Fire Nation would think this looked 'fine'.

Kai should be out of work any minute now, and hopefully he'll know what to do. I'm not the waiting type. So, I now stand awkwardly in front of the tea shop. I don't really want to go in. Xue keeps glaring at me. It's not like I want to be here.

"Are you going to order or not, Misumi?"

His voice is mocking, but somehow still has the mandatory politeness. I grit my teeth as I walk to a table near the back, away from the bulk of the crowd. As I lazily trace the smooth stone table top, Kai decides to announce his presence with a loud, teasing laugh. I pulled at the end of my ponytail stubbornly.

"Mizu, what happened to your hair?" His eyes were still alight with mirth.

"Do you know how to fix this?"

My eyes never meet his; I only tug at the multiple hair ties that are somehow woven into my hair. He smile comes back full force.

"Of course I do, my mom used to do this style all the time."

YES, no more fire nation do for me! I have nothing against the Fire Nation, but there's only so much you can take. Especially since I'm wearing a very nice shade of blue, but red ribbons are littering my hair. I'm not exactly a fashion freak, but they don't match, and it annoys me. Kai clocks out while Xue continues glaring at me-this time for not buying anything. We head home quickly, since I'm eager to be rid of this... mess. Once we get home, I sit on the stone floor while Kai sits behind me, slowing undoing the style.

"It wasn't that bad, Mizu. You looked…nice."

He hesitates on the last word. I know I didn't look bad. I just didn't want a certain someone to find me again so easily, and hair like this was a flashing sign.

"You mother's a hairdresser, isn't she?"

His hands slow down.

"Yeah for weddings."

For weddings.

She did hair for weddings.

That would mean this hair style is for weddings.

Is the prince finally getting married to Lady Kimiko? I hope that this wasn't my invitation.

"Done." I gave my hair a quick shake, glad to be comfortable again.

"Let's go, Kai! The night is still young."

He looked at me like I was a lychee nut, but joined me anyway.

I should have known it was a bad idea.

Xue made sure to talk louder than ever, just to add on to my pounding headache. Poor Kai looked likely to pass out. He was sweating bullets and the air around him was scorching. I only had bags under my eyes, but this wasn't over yet.

"MISUMI!"

Add a headache to those bags.

"I'm sorry, are you okay?"

There wasn't even a smidgen of concern- he was grinning like an idiot.

"I'm just fine, sir."

I gave him my best smile before bustling away to the equally annoying crowd.

"TEA PERSON!"

I wince, but head over to my favorite customer.

"Yes, Lady Kimiko."

This time the prince managed to get away, so I have to suffer her alone. All of her 'friends' give me nasty looks, which is no surprise.

"Hurry, please."

I ignore them all. Jasmine tea, as per usual.

"My future husband and I were here just a little while ago!"

They all erupt into giggles. The sound is unbearable. I notice Xue waving me over. Hmm… which is the lesser of the two evils?

"TEA PERSON!"

"Coming, Sir." He gives me another smug look.

"Jun says he was glad that you got to see the palace's splendor. And to stay out of trouble."

I wish he would have just given me another note.

"He also says that he's glad you've met the prince. It's a very high honor."

Yeah, a real honor.

I hope any future meetings are very few and far between. I already have one fire bender forcing his friendship on me, and Jun had a fit at that. If another one, especially the Fire Prince, makes me their friend... he'll pull me back to the Earth Kingdom. Which means I would fail.

I never fail.

"Misumi, go back to work."

I go do what he says, absently. I still have a lot of work to do before I'm allowed to return home.

"This is the best tea in the entire city! I must have it at our engagement party."

I was right.

My eyes zoned in on the beaming bride-to-be. I hope I didn't have to go to the wedding, but if she wanted the tea shop to cater it, then I had no choice. Even when the shop closes, she and her friends leave laughing and squealing. Well, at least someone gets their dream come true.

"Kai, can we leave now?"

"No, we still have dishes to wash."

I groan. Clean up duty has to be the worst thing after set up duty. Dusting tables was not my idea of fun, especially after a hard morning of work. If he didn't hurry, Xue would come back and force us to do afternoon shifts, too. Kai would happily do it for the money.

"Is your mom going to do Lady Kimiko's hair for the wedding?"

"Nah, they have special people in the palace for that."

The wedding wouldn't happen until after the crown princess was crowned, but the engagement party would be in some weeks. I've never been to a fire nation engagement party, so I was a teensy bit excited to go.

"Can you wash any faster?"

"I'll try, Mizu."

Five minutes later, he was finally done.

"Finally! Let's go buy stuff."

He gave me an amused look, but let me drag him around. First we went to an herbal store. It had a little bit of everything, and what it didn't I could always ask Jun for. Next, we went and bought food. I even convinced him to let me buy him a mat, so he wouldn't have to sleep on the floor.

"Kai, there's a play."

Fire Nation plays had made their mark everywhere. Some were good and some were…..entertaining to look at. The Dancing Dragons were probably the best troop anywhere. They had been touring the Earth Kingdom when I left, so I never got to see a single play.

"I don't think we can go, Mizu."

I had to agree, the admission for just one person was more than we could ever afford. If I was by myself, I would just sneak in, but I know Kai wouldn't stand for it. Maybe I could convince him... just this once?

"No, Mizumi."

His sharp amber gaze makes me uncomfortable. I turn away from the grounds hastily- it's clear that neither of us will be seeing a play any time soon.

"Don't be sad, Mizu. Here."

It's a fire lily.

"Whoa."

I've seen water lilies and even tiger lilies, but fire lilies were rare to find out of the fire nation.

"Do you like it?"

I give him my best smile. "I love it."

We walk away from the quickly filling plaza back towards the tea shop. Xue could probably use some help with one of the outside tea stands, with all of the people milling about.

"Miss Melon."

I freeze. Kai looks ready to bust a gut.

"It's not funny, you jerk."

He tries to smother his laughter with his hand, but finally he just lets it all out. The prince stands in front of us, obviously in disguise.

"You shouldn't make a habit of hiding from your wife."

He gives me a golden glare.

"I am a prince. A prince does not hide."

Kai starts choking, and I join him. We both laugh at the disgruntled prince until a familiar screeching voice breaks through the crowd.

"PRINCE RYUU!"

All laughter stops and we all shudder.

Lady Kimiko.

"Hide me."

"You said it yourself; A prince does not hide." Why can't Kai be this devious all the time?

"I'll owe you. Please."

A favor from the prince? Jackpot.

"Okay! Time to hide you, your highness."

I grab both of their arms before speeding away to the outskirts of the capital. Nothing much is here, except for grassy plains that tumble into rocks. I was slightly sweaty and out of breath. Getting to the outer edge took a while, unless you knew a short cut or five.

"Wow, Mizu! This is amazing,"

Kai happily hopped down towards the stone boulders, heading towards the sands further out.

"It's the ocean! Of course it's amazing."

I run towards the waves like they were old friends. I sent a wave over to Kai, who could only yelp and thrash around. The prince sat on a stone boulder away from the water, seeming content to watch us be foolish.

"Don't be a wimp, your highness!"

He gave us a glare before slipping off his shoes. The pair of them probably cost more than everything I own.

"A wimp? That's it, you're on!"

(a/n) I know it's been a while, but here it is. Please let me know what you think or if there's anything you want to see. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next one should be up this week.