Sam
We had been back from our vacation for about a week. There was a lot to catch up on. Zuko worked on the proposals, requests and complaints while I looked over the trafficking situation. We had decided to post wanted posters of the suspects in hopes that someone would turn them in. I also started looking at the evidence.
"Have we had any leads on the escaped suspects?" Zuko asked me.
"Not yet. It's been less than a day since we distributed the wanted posters. It'll take time." I said.
We fell silent working on our own things when I broke the silence.
"So, what are we going to do about Chang?"
"What about her?"
"She is harassing Izumi again. And Izumi hasn't said anything to us about it yet."
"I had suspected. I worry about it too. I'm just glad she told Azula so she could relay it to us." Zuko said.
"Yeah, you said it. I wish we could find out exactly WHAT Chang is saying to Izumi."
"Something tells me we will find out eventually. Hopefully it's before something happens. You any closer to putting the pieces together there?" Zuko asked, changing the subject.
"I am making progre-" I was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in!" I called out. It was Belna, one of the servants.
"I am so sorry for interrupting you, your majesties, but there is a message from Toph." she said handing us the letter.
"Ok, thank you, Belna." I said. She bowed respectfully and walked out.
"What does it say?" Zuko asked.
"It says she wants to meet with us along with Aang, Katara and Sokka. It doesn't sound casual. I wonder what this is about."
"I'm not sure. Does it say when she will be arriving?" he asked.
"It says they will be here next week." I was as perplexed as Zuko was.
"Do you think it has to do with this?" I asked gesturing to my papers.
"I'm not sure. But I guess we'll find out next week." Zuko said.
It was around noon the next day and Zuko and I were taking a break from work when a young girl approached us.
"I apologize for the intrusion but Sifu Sheeza would like you both to come down to the school right away." Uh-oh. This wasn't good. They didn't ask us to come down unless something happened.
"What happened?"
"Izumi and Chang got into a fight again. She wants both of you to come. It's…bad."
"What do you mean it's bad?" Zuko asked, concerned.
"I think it's best you come down." she said.
We went to the rhinos and climbed on one together and quickly headed down to the school. We normally would have walked but we wanted to get there quickly. We dismounted and rushed into the school. When we arrived, there was a doctor there and I recognized Chang's father, Buzi. When he saw us he looked nervous. I said as much to Zuko. We then noticed the doctor standing talking to him.
"A doctor? Here? What is going on?" Zuko asked more worried. Sheeza approached us.
"Thank you for coming. I'm very concerned about this and am hoping you can help." I noticed she was talking to Zuko and not both of us.
"Just tell us what happened." I said ignoring the discrimination.
"It was play time for the kids and they were playing just fine. But then Chang went up to Izumi and whispered in her ear. I have been noticing this happening a lot but I haven't been able to prove anything. When I ask Izumi, she denies it. I think she is afraid. Please forgive me, I should have contacted you sooner. I didn't realize until today how bad it was. Geshna broke them up again and called the doctor. Please come back here. Izumi is waiting." Sheeza explained.
Zuko and I followed Sheeza into one of the back rooms and we saw Izumi sitting at the table with a bandage on her eye.
"WHAT IN AGNI'S NAME HAPPENED?!" Zuko shouted. Izumi recoiled and brought her legs up to her chest and started crying. I nudged Zuko and eyed Izumi. Zuko calmed down and walked over to Izumi. "No, hunny. I wasn't yelling at you. What happened?" Izumi was sobbing uncontrollably. Zuko looked up at me guiltily. He sat down on one of the chairs that was way too small for him, and sat her on his lap. He held her to his chest soothing her. She wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him, crying into his neck and shoulder.
"Shh. Turtleduck it's ok. Shh." he comforted her. Once she calmed down he took hold of the bandage and looked at her face. She was burned on the right side of her face. Almost like Zuko's except not as bad - her burn wouldn't scar. Zuko's eyes widened and his mouth set into a hard line. He passed Izumi off to me, stood up and approached Sheeza. "I want you to tell me exactly what happened to my little girl. Now!"
"I am so sorry Fire Lord. Chang firebended at her and blasted her face. Geshna pulled Chang off just in time." Zuko looked at Izumi.
"Please give us some privacy." he said. Once it was just the three of us, Zuko sat her down on the table and we both stood in front of her. I worked on healing her face. After everyone found out I control all of the elements, Katara taught me how to heal. I wasn't nearly as good as she is, but I could get by. I worked on Izumi's face. I stood to the side while Zuko placed his hands on either side of her body, propping himself up on the table in front of her. "Izumi. What happened?" he had adopted the soft voice he used with her. She looked at him and looked down. "Remember, you can tell us anything." At this, she started crying and buried her face in Zuko's tunic.
"I'm sorry, Daddy! I didn't mean to fight! I walked away like you and Mommy telled me to. And then at free time Chang came up to me and burned me. She said I should look like my father."
My Lord. This girl was six years old and she was already assaulting people. Something tells me Zuko and I will be seeing a lot of her when she is grown if something doesn't give soon.
"What?" Zuko asked Izumi, bringing me back to reality.
"Chang said that…your daddy did that too you." she said. Zuko's eyes looked downward.
"That is true, Izumi. My father did do this to me." With that Izumi cowered away from Zuko. He and I exchanged looks of concern. He reached his hand to her and she pulled away.
"No! Daddy don't! Please! I'll be goo-hoo-hoo-hood!" she said sliding off the table and clinging to me. Zuko was clearly upset at her obvious fear of him. He had never given her any reason to be afraid of him. Needless to say, we were both worried.
"Sweetie, what's wrong?"
"Chang said that Daddy's daddy did it to him and if I'm bad, Daddy will do it to me and since I got in trouble for fighting…" I stroked her hair and rested my hand on her face.
"Sweetheart, your daddy would never ever hurt you." I said sitting her back down on the table.
"But Chang said he would!" she said. I stepped aside. This was something Zuko had to handle. He stepped towards her and she cowered again.
"Izumi, look at me." Zuko said. He didn't say anything else, waiting for her to look at him. "Have I ever hurt you when you misbehave?"
Izumi shook her head.
"Have I ever hurt you when you didn't misbehave?"
She shook her head again.
"Have I ever hurt you ever in your entire life?"
"No, Daddy."
"That's because I love you. I would never hurt you. Even when you're naughty, it will never give me a good reason to hurt you, especially like this." he said, touching his scar.
"But YOUR daddy did it to you. Chang said it's how the Royal Family is."
"Izumi, Chang is wrong. You NEVER have to be afraid of me. Ever. Do you understand?" Zuko asked softly.
"Yes, Daddy. But why did your daddy hurt you?" she asked.
"Because…because my daddy was not a nice daddy."
"But you're a great daddy! How can your daddy be mean?" she asked, confused. She couldn't wrap her mind around if her father was such a great father, how could his be bad?
"I don't know, Turtleduck. I've never understood it myself. But you don't EVER ever have to worry about me hurting you. It will never happen." Izumi looked up at Zuko and she nodded.
"Ok, Daddy." Still a bit hesitant. He carefully reached for her and stroked her face. When she didn't cower he pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back. He pulled away and looked at her.
"Good, now, Sam, you stay here with Izumi. I'm going to have a talk with Chang and her father." Oh boy. This wasn't going to be good.
"Zuko, I really think I should go with you. I don't want you doing anything rash." I looked over at Geshna who had been with Izumi since the incident.
"Geshna?"
"Of course I'll stay with her." she said, knowing what I was going to ask.
"Thank you. You're a good friend." Zuko said. They bowed to each other respectfully and Zuko and I went out. We looked around for Chang and her father. They were sitting on the other end of the room. Chang was sitting on the chair with tear stains on her face. She looked terrified. Her father was standing with her, looking very angry. He saw us approaching and apologized.
"Fire Lord and Lady. I am so sorry for what my daughter did. Her mother and I are going to make sure she learns her lesson good. We don't expect her to sit easy for a few days." This didn't surprise me but it did bother me. Zuko and I never punished Izumi like that. I was surprised that others in the Fire Nation handled it that way. Zuko spoke. He had his Fire Lord cape on and he stood tall, towering over Buzi.
"I want to know where your daughter heard about how I got my scar." He said. He didn't shout. He didn't move towards him. His voice was smooth as velvet.
"I am not sure your maj-"
"Wrong answer! Try again."
"Truly, I-"
"Last chance or you face your Fire Lord's wrath." he said, creating a small ball of fire in his hand. I placed my hand on his back where Buzi couldn't see. Zuko extinguished the flame.
"I-I-I-I suppose she heard it from…family." he stuttered. Well, he wasn't wrong. Buzi, being her father, was family.
"And why was she expose to such words? Is this a common occurrence?" Zuko asked. He still wasn't shouting but his voice was becoming less pleasant.
"I'm n-not sure Fire Lord. I will personally look into it." he said.
"See that you do. You know, it isn't a crime to have unfavorable opinions about us, but what is a crime is someone burning another's face for no apparent reason. Your Fire Lady and I have been patient enough with Chang and her aggressive behavior. I could see both sides when Izumi fought back. But she didn't today."
"I am appalled at her behavior, your majesty. She will be severely punished, mark my words." he said.
"I don't expect a 'severe punishment' for a six year old but I do expect her to act like a civilized child. Fire Lady Samyah and I have been patient enough," Zuko repeated. "I want your daughter pulled out of this school. I never want her to set foot in this building again. If she does, then I will be holding you and you responsible." he said addressing Buzi and Sheeza. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Fire Lord, but, where is she supposed to go? This is the only school in the area."
"Well, then you have a decis-" I walked up to Zuko and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"May I talk to you, please?" He nodded and we stepped aside.
"I don't think this is fair to Chang. It isn't her fault she is a little monster." I said.
"What do you suggest we do? I don't want her assaulting Izumi again."
"I don't either. How about keeping them separate at all times. That seemed to be working."
"Yeah until it didn't. Sam, I am not going to have her hurt and harassed every day. How is she supposed to learn anything in that kind of environment?" He did have a point.
"I think we should have a talk with Izumi every day and find out if Chang is bothering her. We will also have Geshna to fall back on too. If she does, then we can take your step. What do you say?" Of course I was worried about Izumi's well-being. But I was concerned about Chang, too. I didn't want her to suffer for her father's idiocy.
"Very well." Zuko said and turned back to Buzi.
"You can keep your daughter in school. We will be checking with Izumi and Geshna regularly. If either of them tell us that Chang is even speaking to her, you will be ordered by your Fire Lord to pull your daughter out. I realize there are not other schools close by. Then I guess you will have no choice but to relocate. Oh, and you can thank my wife for my leniency. It was her that talked me down. You know? The no good outsider whore?" Zuko said. Buzi looked at me and bowed.
"Oh, thank you, Fire Lady! I don't know how we can repay you."
"You can keep your daughter away from mine. I am in agreement with your Fire Lord. Any interaction on Chang's part and she is gone. No questions asked." I said. "Now, your Fire Lord and I will be taking our daughter home for the rest of the day. Good day to you." I said and Zuko and I walked away and into the room with Izumi.
"Come on, Izumi. Let's go home." Zuko said, picking her up. He looked at Geshna, "thank you as always for being such a great protector of Izumi. We will be going home on the Rhino. Help us get Izumi loaded on the rhino and then you can take your leave." I was painfully aware that Izumi had never ridden one. I shot Zuko a concerned look. "She'll be alright."
We walked over to the rhino and Zuko climbed up onto it. I climbed up on the Rhino with the help of Zuko. I didn't need a hand stirrup anymore. Once I was in place, Geshna handed Izumi to us and I sat her down in front of me. She held onto the saddle horn tightly.
"It's ok, Zoom. I won't let you fall. Neither will your daddy." I said. And as if on cue, Zuko's arms stretched out on either side of us and we rode home.