Soo... I'm back... *dives behind chair* DON'T HURT ME! I've been adulting! I got my acceptance letter to college though, and I may be graduating from high school a semester early! That's really cool, considering I also skipped a grade, so I'll be out when I'm only 16! Lately I've been trying to find a job that'll hire me that young, but... you don't care. You're just here for Asuni.

AND HERE SHE IS!

4 years later

Asuni was already getting started on the water and rice for the morning congee. Not much had changed over the years. Asuni was still the first one up in the mornings. She still got the water and made tea for everyone. However, now she allowed to cook, which meant there was that much more done when the rest of the staff entered for the day.

"You're awesome," Hinote muttered, gratefully taking his cup of tea from the counter and downing half of it in one shot. "Seriously sis, you're the best."

Asuni smiled at him. "I know."

Atsui grabbed his cup and ruffled her hair before trooping off after Hinote towards the storeroom. Over the years, hauling bags of flour, grain, and rice had turned the two into a muscular pair. That and their bright copper eyes made them very popular with the female servants around the palace. Unfortunately for their admirers, Atsui and Hinote hadn't gotten any more observant.

Rei picked up her cup and sniffed. She looked at Asuni darkly. "You put ginger in it."

Asuni flushed and nodded. "Just a bit…"

Rei sighed, shaking her head. "I'll handle my aches and pains on my own, girl. Quit trying to dose me with herbs for arthritis."

Asuni glanced at Rei's hands. Her long, elegant fingers were starting to curl into claws from arthritis. Asuni sighed.

"Yes ma'am. Sorry."

Rei gave her a hearty pat on the shoulder. "It's alright, just stop it."

"I will ma'am."

"I see you've already got the congee going," Rei said, nodding at the huge stock pot approvingly. "Hand it over to Kikaku when you've got it ready."

"Hand what to Kikaku?"

A woman with bleary, tired eyes and a shock of untidy hair stumbled over with dark circles under her eyes. Rei glared at her.

"Kikaku. Open."

Kikaku winced. "Aw, Rei, come on…"

"Open."

Kikaku opened her mouth and Rei leaned forward, sniffing. Asuni wrinkled her nose at the scent of alcohol on her breath. Rei gave Kikaku a thoroughly unimpressed look.

"Were you out with the stable boys again?"

"…No…"

"Are you lying to me?"

"…Maybe…"

"Are you hungover?"

"…Yes…"

Rei reached behind her towards the rack of pots blindly. Asuni helpfully pulled down a large cast iron skillet and a metal ladle. Kikaku gave her a pleading look as she handed the utensils over to Rei.

"I told you this was going to happen if I caught you hungover in my kitchen again," Rei said darkly. She raised the ladle and began beating it on the back of the skillet. A few people looked up at noise, chuckling in amusement as Kikaku cowered, covering her ears.

"Alright, alright, I won't do it again!" Kikaku exclaimed. "Just please stop!" she begged.

"You'd better not," Rei said sternly, handing the ladle and skillet back to Asuni, who hung them back up.

"Excuse me?"

Everyone looked up sharply as the door opened, a young soldier poking his head in. It was incredibly rare for people to come into the kitchen this early. The sun wasn't even completely up. Asuni's eyes widened at the sight of Eiji.

"Can I help you?" Rei asked in surprise. Eiji winced. Asuni restrained a snort. For all his good looks Eiji was incredibly uncomfortable around women and had a tendency to stutter when speaking to one, the notable exception being Hikari, a young Major who was like a sister to him.

"I-I need s-s-someone called A-Asuni?"

Rei's eyes narrowed. "And what do you need her for?"

Eiji flinched. "F-For…? I d-don't know. G-General L-Lo Shen just r-requested to s-s-see her."

Rei took a step back in surprise. The entire kitchen was staring at Asuni as she wiped a bit of rice and water off her hands with a towel and stepped forwards.

"That's me," she said.

"Asuni?"

Asuni glanced back at Rei, the startled older woman clearly requesting to know what was going on. It wasn't common for military officers to send dishes back with complaints or compliments in the hands of one of their underlings, but it did happen. It was unheard of for them to request one of the cooks, though, let alone one as respected and feared as Lo Shen.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Asuni assured Rei as she moved to Eiji's side. He held the door for her as she exited the kitchen and shut it sharply behind her.

"What's this about, Eiji?" Asuni hissed to him as he guided her down a corridor.

"I d-don't know," Eiji stammered. "All I know i-is something ha-happened at the w-w-war council last night that has a-all of the g-generals in a t-t-tizzy. Especially L-Lo Sh-Shen and I-Iroh."

Asuni scowled, wondering what could possibly have Iroh and Lo Shen, two generals known for their stability, off-balance. Everyone knew that the war was going well for the Fire Nation, so what could have happened in the course of one council meeting that would put everyone off-guard?

Eiji paused outside of a room with large, gold-inlaid doors, a general's rooms. Two guards stood on either side of the door. Asuni glanced at them from under her lashes, hunched slightly, displaying the submissive attitude expected of a servant. However, when she saw the gold disks that marked them as Royal Guard members and recognized them from training meetings she immediately straightened up. They nodded to her and Eiji and opened the doors for them.

Lo Shen's rooms were strange for a general's. The higher-ranking military officers had private rooms in the palace, simply because of how often they were there for military meetings, but most of them reveled in the luxuries the palace offered, filling their rooms with drapes and cushions. Lo Shen's room was nearly bare, which was one of many reasons most of the other generals considered him an eccentric.

Instead of the palatial four-poster beds that were common, a small army cot was shoved in one corner by a wardrobe. The opposite corner was cut off by a screen, forming a make-shift dressing room. There were no shelves decorated with medals and trinkets from battles and conquered cities. Instead the shelves were crammed full of volumes on war tactics, although Asuni saw a small selection of romantic poetry half-hidden on a bottom shelf behind a large potted plant that had seen better days. Opposite the shelves were racks of weapons from all over the world, including an antique glider from the Air Nomads and the tribal weapons of the Water Tribe. The thing that dominated the room was the long table that was mostly covered with papers and scrolls, a single chair at the head, back to the large balcony.

Lo Shen stood in front of this chair, scowling heavily at parchment he was leaning over. He still wore his usual armor even in his rooms. The only concession he made was taking his sword off his back. Instead it leaned against the table a few inches away from his hand. He looked up when they entered.

"Asuni. Eiji," he greeted as the doors shut behind them. Eiji and Asuni immediately dropped into the one-knee bow the Royal Guards used, snapping back up a moment later. Lo Shen reached for a wax stick and held it over a candle for a moment, staring at Eiji.

"I'll want you to take this to General Jing for me," Lo Shen said, to Eiji as he dropped the wax over a rolled up scroll by his left hand, sealing the flap down. "Wait for a response, no matter how hard the old man tries to get rid of you," he ordered, tossing the scroll to Eiji, who caught it deftly.

"Sir," Eiji said, snapping another bow before turning and leaving the room.

"General, what's happened?" Asuni asked, stepping forwards. Her feet were shoulder-width apart, hands folded behind her back, an at-ease position.

Lo Shen sighed and sat back in his chair. It creaked under the weight of him and his armor and rocked on the floor.

"Last night, as Eiji likely told you, there was a war council meeting."

"Yes, the kitchens provided the food," Asuni nodded sharply.

"General Iroh was in attendance and he brought the prince along with him."

Asuni blinked, startled. "Prince Zuko? But isn't he-?"

"Too young? Yes, he is," Lo Shen nodded, looking irritated. "The boy's barely a teenager, and he doesn't know how to behave himself in a situation like that. It was bound to…" He sighed. "General Jing, you know him?"

"You know I do." She was required to name all of the current officers of the Fire Nation's military. It was part of the specialized training the Royal Guards received. They weren't above assassination, and officers who started to take bribes were some of their prime targets.

"Right, well, he suggested a plan that would be suicide for our young recruits, throwing them headlong to the Earth Nation's elite for the sake of a distraction," Lo Shen continued.

Asuni scowled. "But they defend this country! How could he-?"

Lo Shen held up a hand and Asuni cut herself off sharply, having spoken out of turn.

"The prince thought the same, and he said as much. You know how that crowd is, anyone they think is beneath them who speaks out they will try to crush. However, this time it was in Ozai's meeting, and therefore he was offended. An Agni Kai was suggested to settle their differences. The prince – fool that he is, he thinks he will be fighting Jing – agreed."

Asuni's eyes flew open wide. "The prince will be dueling with his father? But… Ozai wouldn't actually… hurt him, would he?"

Lo Shen looked at her pointedly and Asuni got the feeling that she'd just said something very stupid. "This is exactly why I want you to accompany me to the Agni Kai, as my attendant. You need to know precisely what kind of man Ozai is. He's always had a very pronounced approval of his daughter, almost as prominent as his hatred of his son, the prince. He would indeed hurt him, Asuni."

"I… see," Asuni said slowly. She couldn't imagine a father hating their child, let alone hurting them. Certainly, Lo Shen had harmed her during spars, even broken bones, and shown no remorse. That was different though. He was doing it all to make her a better warrior. If Ozai did this, and hurt his son… there would be no reason for it, just blind dislike. "When is the Agni Kai?"

Much as she might not want to attend and watch the prince get injured – by all accounts he was a nice boy - she was ordered to go, not only by her father, but by her commanding officer.

"In about twenty minutes," Lo Shen said, glancing out at the sun. He nodded to a pile of clothes lying on his bed. "Change into that, quickly. You can't be recognized as a palace cook."

"Yes sir," Asuni nodded. She seized the clothes and darted behind the screen. In under a minute she had stripped off her kitchen uniform and thrown on a military uniform. A veil draped over the bottom half of her face, hiding her features. Asuni stepped from behind the screen, presenting herself for approval.

"You know, if I didn't like them so much, I might be a bit annoyed with you mother for passing down such distinctive eyes," he sighed, rising from his chair. "Come, we must hurry."

Lo Shen held the door for her, making Asuni blush. She was grateful for her veil then. Having had an affair with a cook, and not even a Fire Nation cook, would have brought shame on Lo Shen. He could never openly acknowledge her as his daughter to anyone outside of the Royal Guards, could not even risk raising suspicions. However, he could do little things like holding the door to show he cared, and she treasured those moments.

The pair of them hurried across the palace to the grand room set aside especially for Agni Kai duels. From all the way down the corridor they could hear the mumble of voices. They slipped inside at the last minute and Asuni and Lo Shen took their places in the boxes around the dueling arena. They stood among a group of military officers, all of whom looked incredibly grim. Across from them, Asuni spotted Iroh beside his niece Azula. Zhao, an up-and-coming officer, stood near them.

Asuni had never witnessed an Agni Kai before. It wasn't as if the cooks were invited to them when they did happen, and she'd hardly been challenged to one. As far as most of the palace was concerned, she wasn't even a bender.

Prince Zuko and his father were already there, facing away from each other. They were stripped down to the torso, skin gleaming with sweat from the heat of the room. The ceremonial drape hung over their shoulders. Father and son looked similar in features, but Zuko seemed so much smaller compared to his muscular father, and Asuni knew why the officers surrounding her were so grim. The prince would not win this fight.

The drums began to roll and the two Firebenders stood up, the fabric sliding off their shoulders. Prince Zuko and his father each spun and assumed a stance. However, the prince almost immediately dropped his. Asuni watched as his eyes showed at first shock, then confusion, and finally, sheer terror.

Ozai took a step forwards and struck, fire flying through the air towards Zuko's head. Zuko dropped, but he didn't just avoid the fire. He stayed crouched.

"Please, father!" the boy begged. "I only had the Fire Nation's best interests at heart! I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!" His voice rose with fear at the end as his father continued to come towards him.

"You will fight for your honor!" Ozai commanded.

"Please father," Zuko begged, flinging himself to his knees. "I meant you no disrespect. I am your loyal son."

He remained on his knees, bowing before his father, staring up pleadingly. Asuni gasped and beside her, Lo Shen flinched. The crowd rumbled in surprise and distaste. By begging during an Agni Kai, when he was already the disgraced party, the prince had just completely dishonored himself in front of the entire Fire Nation court.

"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" Ozai thundered, his voice booming around the chamber. Zuko leaned forwards, palms sliding out, forehead lowered to the ground, completely submissive.

"I won't fight you," he replied, and his voice was determined despite the fact that Asuni and everyone else there could see him shaking, the tears splattering to the ground underneath him. Ozai was shaking as well, but with rage, not fear.

"You will learn respect!" he snarled. The prince pushed himself onto his knees, looking up at his father with tears rolling down his face. "And suffering will be your teacher."

Ozai raised his fist. It burned with fire, cinders trailing off of his arm as it came down, the blow smashing directly over Zuko's left eye. The boy screamed in pain and fell away from the blow, curling into an agonized ball.

Asuni watched in horror as Ozai towered over his sobbing, screaming son. "By refusing to fight, Zuko has shown shameful weakness. There is no room for such weakness in the Fire Nation." He glanced at the whimpering boy in distaste. "He is henceforth exiled from the Fire Nation, and he may only return if…" He paused for a moment, seeming to think, then smiled cruelly, "if he returns with the Avatar captured."

Beside her, Lo Shen made a noise of disgust. "The boy's not been exiled, he's been banished. That's impossible. Three generations have failed to locate the Avatar, and that boy will be no different."

Ozai turned and left the arena, leaving the way clear for the medics to rush in. The groaning prince was loaded onto a stretcher and hustled from the room. Asuni's eyes followed him out.

A hand landed on her shoulder and Asuni looked up at Lo Shen.

"There's much to be done," the older man murmured, looking around at the attendees calculatingly as he pulled her towards the door. "Come with me."

"Shouldn't I be getting back to the kitchen?" Asuni asked in confusion. Lo Shen shook his head.

"It's look suspicious if you vanished right before the Agni Kai was held and returned right after. We need to discuss some things."

Asuni looked up at Lo Shen, whose face was completely blank except for wrinkles between his brows. That was his thinking face, and she could almost hear the wheels turning as he planned. Zuko was heir to the throne of the Fire Nation. The Royal Guards protected the Fire Nation, and therefore, protected him. They weren't about to let him go gallivanting off around the world, especially while he was injured.

The same guards were on duty when Lo Shen and Asuni returned to his room. Asuni quickly put her clothes back on and emerged into the room to find Lo Shen sitting at his table, fingers steepled, looking over a map of the world thoughtfully.

"So large, and so full of people who would love to get their hands on a Fire Prince," he murmured as Asuni moved to stand at his side arm.

"We can't let him go," Asuni reasoned. "He'll be attacked left and right on his own."

"He won't be on his own," Lo Shen said, shaking his head. "I don't doubt General Iroh will go with him, and he'll be given a ship and crew, I imagine. He's a prince. Certain standards apply to him that wouldn't apply to a common criminal. And maybe that's the solution." Lo Shen sat back, staring up at the ceiling thoughtfully.

"What is?" Asuni asked in confusion.

"We send someone aboard disguised as a crew member. They can watch out for the boy and keep us informed as to where he is and what and how he's doing."

"Where he is and what he's doing are easy," Asuni pointed out. "As for how he's doing… that's a little more personal."

"It would be best to send someone closer to his age, someone he can feel comfortable talking to," Lo Shen continued, nodding in agreement.

"We could send Hikari," Asuni suggested. "She's a good bender and she's always made friends easily."

Lo Shen snorted. "And then we'd never get a coherent word out of Eiji. You know he's only functional around women if she's here."

"Who else then?" Asuni shrugged. "She's the only one around his age."

"You know, you're missing a very obvious solution here."

"What?"

"You're exactly his age."

Asunie blinked. "What? But… I'm not fully trained, and I'm a Waterbender, and I'm a cook and not a soldier! This is an upper-level mission, I'm only a lieutenant! This calls for a Captain or a Major even!"

"They'll need a cook too," Lo Shen said drily. "General Iroh will insist on it, I don't doubt that either."

"But I-"

"You're ready," Lo Shen said sharply. "You can do it."

Asuni paled. "Is this an order?"

Lo Shen paused for a moment, aware that he was effectively banishing his only daughter as well, but she was best for the job. He'd always known it would happen one day; that he would have to send her out on a dangerous mission for the sake for the Fire Nation. He just hadn't expected it to be so soon. "It is."

"How long will I be gone?"

"No way to know."

"... I see." Asuni dropped into a bow. "When will I be leaving?"

"As soon as the prince ships out. I will see to it that you're on the ship, so don't worry. I'll get the time to you, just be there."

"Of course, sir."

Asuni rose and turned towards the door, leaving. The door shut behind her and Lo Shen stood and walked to his bed. From under his mattress he pulled out a scroll. Unrolling it, he sat down on the edge of his cot, staring longingly at the woman pictured there with a small smile on her face, blazing blue eyes staring out, the only color to the picture.

"Aluki," he sighed. "If you were here right now, you'd hit me for sending her out on this mission. But she needs to get out and see the world, understand what it's like, and learn how to be discreet. This is the best opportunity."

Asuni was busily scrubbing the dishes used to prepare the dinner that night, when something slipped through the window and plopped into her dishwater. Asuni didn't flinch, didn't stop washing, but quickly scooped out the leather capsule that protected the message inside from the water. She held it in her hand and casually slid it into the top of her tunic under the guise of adjusting her neckline.

"Finished," Asuni said minutes later, setting the last of the pots on the drying racks. Firebenders would blast them with heated air in a minute to dry them and then put them away.

"Alright, Asuni, you're free to go," Rei said, nodding to her from the storeroom doorway as she took inventory, Kikaku slumping along after her and taking notes on what needed to be ordered. Asuni nodded thankfully and stretched her arms over her head as she went to her room, locking the door behind her.

Asuni moved to her bed and sat down, reaching down her tunic and plucking out the leather tube from her breast bindings. She opened it and dumped out a scroll into her hands, tucking the tube under the corner of her mattress pressed into the corner. Asuni unrolled the scroll and began reading the first page.

Retired cruiser put back into commission for prince. Blueprints included. Sail in three days. Position secured. Materials secured.

The blueprints were the second page, detailing the layout of the cruiser the prince would be put on. Asuni scanned it quickly. It was pretty standard, but horribly outdated, from the beginning of the war, practically. Small red Xs marked spots where hidden cubbies had been built into the ship, not included on the blueprints.

The Royal Guards were secretive, but they couldn't function entirely independent from everyone. They had contacts everywhere, from the many different areas of servants in the palace, of which Asuni was one. They had people in the true military who reported back the truth from the fronts. There were people stationed in manufacturing areas, who helpfully added cubbies to ships for the use of Royal Guards. Asuni was lucky enough to have gotten assigned to a ship that had a cubby in the kitchen, where she would be working.

Materials meant that in that cubby she would find a Royal Guard uniform, her two preferred weapons and likely some knives for backup, black clothes for night missions, and any further instructions.

Asuni held the parchment over the candle by her bed and watched as the message went up in flames before lying down in bed.

She had three days before she left the palace, left the country where she'd lived her whole life, and maybe would never return to.