Trial by Fire
Chapter 12: Letting Go
Late the following morning, Iroh received a reply from Mai's parents, a rather abrupt one, but it did give him permission to visit along with Zuko that afternoon. He enjoyed a long, luxurious bath, making sure to trim his beard of its shaggy, rather rough looking edges and then dressed in some of his finest robes. It was important to make a good impression with the couple, make sure that they were both comfortable with Iroh and his intentions.
Honestly, Iroh didn't care what Mai's parents thought of him, or what they thought about anything. The Fire Lord's brother was glad that Mai had a chance now at a life free from their influence. He hoped, no he believed actually, that she would flourish, like a plant denied sun and water, suddenly blessed with both. Pity she suffered so in order to get that chance.
He grinned as he dressed and then began to hum an old tune, one he'd loved since childhood, one he used to sing for Lu Ten.
"I wish that you were here, my dear son. Zuko and you could be such good friends. I wish that I could see you married and with children of your own. But I treasure my memories of you." He glanced at the portrait of Lu Ten, a handsome young man who looked more like Iroh's long dead wife than he did the royal family. "Perhaps when I close my eyes for the final time, I can be with you in the Spirit World."
Iroh shook off the faint melancholia that threatened to take hold of him. He dealt better with the loss of Lu Ten now. It was a dull pain, eternal and ever present, but not sharp and piercing like it was once. Zuko helped to ease it, nurturing him and guiding him, giving him fatherly advice and seeing to his future. Ozai did not, nor had he ever, deserved a boy like that.
Smiling and looking good, Iroh left his rooms and headed toward Zuko's. The boy was already waiting, a faint smile on his handsome face, eager to see Mai.
"You look great, Uncle." The boy grinned and looked the man up and down.
"Thank you, nephew; it's amazing what a little soap, a trim and some good clothes can do for a man. You'll do well to remember that for Mai." Winking and laughing, he put an arm around the boy's broadening shoulders and guided him along the corridor. "How do you feel about all this with Mai; your life is taking on a whole new direction. Are you scared?"
The young prince scratched the back of his neck and thought intensely for a moment. "Mmm, yes and no; I'm really, really glad that I'll get to see Mai all the time." He stared down at the rich, red runner, trying with no avail to hide the flush in his cheeks. "And I'm glad that you'll be there and Piandao sounds really cool." He hesitated then and chewed on his lip.
"But…" Iroh prodded.
"But," Zuko added reluctantly. "I'll miss my room and the palace and everything I know; a little bit anyway."
'Understandable," Iroh comforted the boy. "I'm sure that Mai will too, for awhile at least. But Piandao's place is amazing. You will love it there. And you will learn a lot too."
Nodding, the prince stuffed his hands into his pockets and thought about Mai, the girl he would one day marry. By the time they reached the end of the hallway and turned toward the front doors of the palace, he was grinning.
Mai's parents ushered Iroh into the sitting room, a brighter, more open one than Katashi had been stuck in the day before.
"What a lovely home you have," Iroh complimented the couple. "Did you do the decorating, Mrs. Kato?" He had turned on his unfailing charm, charm that always, always made the ladies blush and giggle and preen.
"Oh, yes, I did actually. It took me months and months to get everything just the way I like it. Of course, Hoshi's office is his own." Akira patted her hair and smiled demurely at Iroh.
"A man does need his own space," Iroh chuckled.
Hoshi was having no part of that conversation. "Let's get some tea in here, Akira, and some biscuits for the General. We have more important things to discuss than decorating."
"Yes, of course dear; I'll be right back, General. What is your favorite tea?"
"Anything you bring will be satisfactory, but I am partial to jasmine." He gave Akira a brilliant smile.
Mai's mother smiled back, got up from her seat on the sofa and walked with as much grace and elegance as she could to the doorway, then down the hall to the kitchen. She came back a few minutes later with the tea, jasmine, and the best biscuits in the house.
Serving the men herself, unusual for Akira, she poured carefully and gave Iroh a generous helping of the cookies, giving his hand a gentle pat. Hoshi peered at her, wondering if perhaps his wife's body had been hijacked by another woman.
"Thank you, dear. Now, we should really discuss your lovely daughter, her future and my care of her." Akira flinched at the word 'lovely' in reference to Mai. The girl may have been once but she was no longer, at least not physically, and not to anyone who really mattered. "She is lovely despite what's happened to her. Look at the grace and dignity she's comported herself with. She's doesn't pity herself or wallow in misery. Mai is strong and she's beautiful too."
Iroh managed, with those few words, to make both Akira and Hoshi feel shame. This unassuming man, a man of royalty yes, but not imperious in the least, knew their daughter better than they did. Maybe it really was best if she left with him.
"What do you think they're talking about down there?" Zuko sat beside Mai, up on her bed, terribly improper, but neither of them cared.
Taking one of her pillows and cradling it in her lap, Mai shrugged. "Don't know," she answered with typical conciseness. "Wanna go find out?" Her eyes sparkled for a moment as she contemplated the idea of sneaking about the house and listening in to the conversation between Iroh and her parents.
"You mean, you think we should spy on them?" Zuko's lips twitched with amusement. He smiled at Mai and took one of her hands in his. She allowed the small intimacy and then nodded. "Let's go then."
The young pair climbed down from Mai's bed and walked to the door, Mai pulling it open carefully and poking her head outside. No one was about. She crooked her finger and Zuko followed her down the staircase. Both were on the verge of erupting into laughter. Mai's mother would pitch a fit if she ever found out and her father would scold them both, prince or no prince. But it didn't matter. Neither of them would be around much longer anyway.
They walked on tiptoes and close to the walls, trying to blend in with tapestries and paintings. It was fun and Mai imagined doing a lot of stealthy type things in her future. She pictured herself dressed all in black then, a mask or length of silk covering her face, hiding the scar that marked her as damaged and different, unacceptable in polite female society.
Zuko would go along too, of course, because he would be her husband and he accepted her for who she was, despite the disfigurement she bore. The thoughts were pleasant and Mai found herself distracted from their mission. She almost bumped into a small table. Zuko grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way just in time.
"Thanks," she whispered as she turned around and gave him a wry smile.
After a few minutes more, they made it to the sitting room. The door was partially open and each stood on one side, holding their breath. Zuko had to move quickly back when Hoshi glanced toward the door, after hearing something or other.
"I hope to leave in a few days, maybe earlier," Iroh spoke. "Piandao will take us anytime and the sooner the better in my estimation."
Akira examined the tiny red porcelain cup in her hands. Her eyes were full of tears, a shameful display, and she blinked hard to force them back. "So soon," she sighed, sounding almost like Mai.
"She's crying?" Mai mouthed silently and pointed toward her mother. Zuko nodded. That was strange. The girl could almost believe that her mother cared a bit and might even miss her. Why hadn't she expressed feelings like that years ago. Everything might have been very different.
"There's no point in waiting," the older prince continued. "I have found that the sooner one dives into something new, the better. She will be fine. I will see to that Mrs. Kato. Mai will learn new skills and she'll be with Zuko; you know how she cares about him." Iroh chuckled and shook his head. "Young love is an amazing thing to watch."
Outside in the hallway, Mai blushed, glanced at Zuko and blushed even harder.
"This Piandao, isn't he a deserter? Is that really the best example for my daughter?" It was Hoshi who spoke this time. He eyed Iroh sternly, not taken with him like Akira obviously was.
"I suppose that one could call him that. That's what the army labeled him as. But I prefer the term 'conscientious objector'. He fought hard for our nation and as the years passed in this endless war, he began to wonder what it was all for. What were all these people, children, parents, grandparents, what were they dying for? He couldn't fight anymore and he would not take another life. I don't blame him for that at all. And you, not having fought, really cannot pass judgment, can you, Mr. Kato?" Iroh's tone had shifted from light, almost playful, to something stern and cold. He sounded like a general then and everyone, Mai, Zuko, Akira and Hoshi, could easily see him as such at that moment.
Mai raised her eyebrows and grimaced, pointing at her father. He had been told and that gave Mai a bit of enjoyment. Both her parents believed the propaganda that had been shoved down their throats from the cradle. Hearing someone, and a prince at that, suggest that the war their nation waged might be wrong, was unheard of and made them both uncomfortable.
Hoshi twisted in his seat and shot his wife a glare. "Hmmph, Mai will end up as some sort of rebel or malcontent. That's just what we need!"
"No," Iroh responded quickly. "She will be a well rounded, much cherished, educated and capable young woman; I guarantee it. Perhaps I should take my leave now. Please, have Mai pack her things. I just now decided that we'll go the day after tomorrow. I've already got a comfortable boat hired for the journey." He stood up and Mai and Zuko backed away from the door. "Thank you for the tea. I'll send a letter with all the particulars tomorrow."
Iroh found the children hovering near the front door, trying their utmost to look casual. "Did you hear anything good?" he asked with a wink. Both of them spluttered and then decided it was best not to say anything. "I expect you home for dinner, nephew. Mai should spend some time with her parents. Oh, and Mai, give my regards to your uncle. Where is he anyway?"
"Oh, he went into town. I'll tell him."
"I'd like him to make the trip with us, see Piandao's estate with his own eyes. It's important he knows that you'll be all right." Ozai's brother stroked his tidy beard. "Yes, ask him dear, would you. I think the prison can spare him for a few more days." With that, he pulled open the huge front door and headed out into the bright afternoon sunshine.
The next day dragged by for Zuko. After packing his trunk and saying a perfunctory goodbye to his father, who surprisingly had asked to see his son, there really was nothing left to do. Mai was with Ty Lee, who after much pleading, had been given permission to miss the last few days of school and accompany Mai and Zuko to Piandao's estate. They were busy packing too, Ty Lee no doubt taking forever while Mai did hers with the calm efficiency that marked her character, and spending a relaxing day with the acrobat's family.
Azula walked into his room, or more accurately,what was no longer his room, just as Zuko had closed his trunk for the final time.
"Hope you didn't forget anything, dum dum." The princess sneered, an impressive sneer for a ten year old, and rolled her eyes exaggeratedly at her brother. "Once you're gone, this room is mine. It's bigger and closer to Daddy's."
"It's all yours," Zuko replied, taking one final look around. The portrait of his mother was safe in the trunk along with all his books, a few toys that he couldn't bear to part with and his clothing. He had nothing else. And Piandao's home was well equipped anyway, according to Iroh. So there was no need to drag too much along. "Don't think I care, Azula, because I don't. I can't wait to leave."
"Hmmph, you don't belong here anyway. And you're not going to be Fire Lord. What do you think about that?" She made a running leap and dived onto his bed, rolling about like some mad puppy at play.
"Whatever," the prince shrugged. "I'll be happy. And I'll be away from you."
Azula sat up, and gave her brother a cruel stare. "So when are you and Mai gonna get married? Is she gonna wear a veil that covers her ugly face? She should, you know. No one wants to see that."
Clenching his fists and fighting back the desire to pummel his sister until she was nothing but pulp, Zuko picked up his case and left the room, heading toward Iroh's where he would spend the night. He did not look back.
The sun had barely risen the following morning when the small traveling group and those who would bid them farewell, gathered at the docks. Katashi stood alongside Hoshi and Akira. He carried Mai's bag as well as his own, a light load for such a powerful man. Indeed the Boiling Rock Prison had allowed him a few more days of vacation. He was pleased to accompany his niece on her journey into this new life of hers. Besides, he wanted to ask this Piandao a few questions too.
Mai and Zuko watched as Ty Lee said goodbye to each of her sisters in turn, hugging them ferociously, even though she would return in a few weeks. She had never been apart from her family, and though she complained about them frequently, loved them, each and every member, dearly.
"Give Ty Lee some space, Mimi," Kaori scolded gently. "And she can't walk with you attached to her legs."
Pouting, the youngest of the girls let go and ran to her mother, burying her head in the woman's tunic. Kaori stroked the girl's hair and murmured words of comfort. "Ty Lee will be back before you know it. Don't worry, little one."
Snuffling, Mimi raised her head and looked her mother in the eyes. "K," she said with one final sniff.
"Good girl. Now why don't you go see your Daddy? He looks lonely over there." Kaori pointed to a handsome dark haired man who shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"Daddy," Mimi shrieked as she tore at full speed toward her father.
Akira stared disapprovingly at the little girl. "Ugh, she's noisy."
Ty Lee's father, Fumi, swept up his daughter and put her on his shoulders. "You can see everything now," he laughed.
"Yay," Mimi cried and proceeded to point our sea gulls and boats and waves.
Zuko meanwhile, approached Mai's parents. "I want to thank you for giving Mai your permission. I promise to be good to her. And I'll make sure that she's not hurt." He thought of the burn then and how he had failed miserably, not protecting Mai at all. He could see from their eyes that both Akira and Hoshi thought the same thing. "Again," he amended. "I won't let her get hurt again."
"I can take care of myself," Mai stated as she joined the group.
"Yes, you can," Katashi added. "But a little extra protection never hurt anyone." He gave his niece a wink, an action that he saved only for her. "Shall we board? Iroh's waiting."
Sure enough, the former general, normally a patient man, paced the deck of the boat, eager to get going.
"Okay, I'm ready." Mai gave her parents each an awkward hug and mentioned something about writing.
"I'll make sure that she does," Katashi told his sister.
"Mai…" Akira grabbed hold of her daughter's sleeve. "I hope that you're happy." And she meant it.
Overwhelmed, Mai smiled tightly and then took Zuko's hand. They walked up the gangplank side by side, ready to begin their new lives.
A/N: It wasn't quite as hard to get back into this story as I thought it would be. I hope to update a little sooner next time.