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Book 4 Air
Chapter 30 Frustration
The view of the open training grounds of the palace was seen as the first rays of sun light rose behind the black mountains of the elevated volcanoes in the distance. Sweat glistened against the firebender's bare porcelain chest chiseled with tightening abs and muscle. A loud aggravated cry escaped Zuko's lips as he shot another fist full of flames into the morning air. Zuko was angry with his actions from the previous night. Deep conflict of emotions raged in his heart and mind as he took out his frustrations with firebending.
'Why? Why did she?' Zuko thought recalled the memory.
'After he kissed her, Zuko lowered his head, almost ashamed for doing what he did, yet he couldn't hide his feeling any longer. He waited for her to respond. Daring to look up, Zuko saw a sight he wished he hadn't. Tears were falling down her rosy cheeks as her fingertips lightly touched her moisten lips. Her deep blue eyes appeared to be in shock.
A sharp gasp left her mouth as she suddenly ran and left the room, never looking back.
Zuko remained in his seat as a deep sigh escaped his lips. She rejected him.
Honestly he wasn't surprised, he just wished it didn't end the way that it did. There was also another factor in all of this.
The Avatar…His friend and the waterbender's boyfriend…
He knew Katara probably felt like she betrayed Aang, by having Zuko kiss her.
'Yet we are going to marry, so there's nothing wrong with kissing her…' Zuko thought to himself, trying to reason why he's been feeling such a deep and strong attraction for the girl.
It couldn't be helped. He knew he will have to face her again and it hurt him inside, over the fact things might get awkward.
Performing another stance as he ungracefully shot another flame, the produced fire were inches away from his callused clenched fingers as it flared into the cool atmosphere. Zuko remained inattentive, unaware of the person patiently watching him in the distance.
"You are getting sloppy in your stances and aim, Fire Lord Zuko." A calm voice said in a serious tone.
Zuko stopped nearly falling over by the sudden voice that over threw his concentration. Turning his head his eyes focused then looked away.
"Sigh, so I assume you receive the message about Azula, Uncle." Zuko said he slowly walked over to him, throwing a towel over his shoulder.
"Yes, and I am not surprised she escaped." Iroh said as he tucked his hands underneath his sleeves.
"But that is not the main reason I have come." Iroh said as he watched Zuko placed a loose red shirt one of his many different training outfits especially in the late season.
"Something appears to be troubling you, my nephew. Are the generals stressing you over the tribulations of the Earth Kingdom?" Iroh asked as he remembered in the past how his nephew usually resorted to practicing his firebending blindly to release difficult issues that he was dealing with.
"Partly…But it's something more serious in my account." Zuko said with a sigh, admitting he needed someone to talk to.
"Come, let's have some tea and we can discuss your troubles, Fire Lord Zuko." Iroh said as he patted his nephew on the back and led him into the palace.
Lying down on the small cot, Mai sighed again. She couldn't sleep. So many thoughts were rushing through her mind. Why did she agree to help Azula? She knew Azula far too well to even think she possibly get away without harming the little trust she had. Then again, she worried for Zuko's safety. Azula wouldn't hesitate to kill him off or even her. But she still had to know. Did Zuko still love her? Would there be a chance for her in the end? To be with the one she loved? That she could actually stop Azula, from going through her plan, and succeeding in harming someone?
Sitting up Mai decided to take a walk outside and clear her thoughts.
Quietly she stepped by not wanting to wake up the fire princess. She left the room and walked down the village. Stars still tinkled against the dark night sky as soft sound of wind breezed by the girl as she tugged on her cloak from the cold of early autumn.
Stopping suddenly she felt a strange presence stirring near her. Turning her head, looking at the torii then into the few bamboo trees surrounding the trail before it disappeared lightly of the dark depths. Mai started to wonder to herself.
'Come to think of it, I don't remember ever hearing or seeing any animals in those woods.' Mai thought with slight unease as she continued to gaze at the forest.
'Someone or something is watching…' Mai thought as she started to get the creeps. This whole village appeared weird in fact. The villagers welcomed them with open arms, accepting no money for their stay in the inn. Was it due to the peace in the area, or to not disturb something in the forest? Mai wasn't sure, and honestly it was no concern on her behalf. She had far more troubling things to worry about.
Turning around Mai decided to walk back to the inn. Once inside the room she froze, Azula was standing by the window, "Mai…I know we both can agree you do not trust me. But that can go both ways." Azula said as she slightly turned her head revealing a cold glare.
"Where did you go so late at night?" Azula asked softly almost sweetly.
"I just went for a walk, I couldn't sleep." Mai said truthfully.
"Hmm…I see." Azula said as she completely turned facing the girl.
"Tell me…Why did you agree to help me?" Azula asked with a firm stare in her eyes.
Mai grinded her teeth; Azula was always good at reading someone's true intentions. Ever since she was a child, Azula knew how to see through a person's heart.
Mai just wished that she didn't reveal such wavering signs to the fire princess, her weakness. "I want to redeem myself. I want you to trust me again." Mai said with part truth in her words hoping that there was some chance the real Azula, her once true friend still lingered in the crazed girl's mind.
"After you traitorous act at the Boiling Rock I don't believe I can ever trust you. But I do need you. You are the only one that I know, who can let Zuko and the others guard down. If you do this for me, I'll give you what you want." Azula said coolly.
"And, what could you possibly know, what I want?" Mai said keeping her guard up.
Azula smiled darkly, "Freedom from your parents perhaps? Or maybe to clear your crimes, against the Fire Nation? Zuko's love…?" Azula said with slight amusement at the end.
Mai lowered her head. All those things were indeed what she desired. But Azula…She was too wicked, too evil. Mai knew in the end she will never possess any of the terms that Azula had so clearly named off.
'It was too easy.'
Yet she knew she had to play along. To save Zuko; to save herself.
"Yes." Mai said as she stared Azula straight in the eye, her emotions hidden behind her stoic masked expression.
Azula smirked.
'Say all you want, Mai…I know better.' Azula thought as she then walked over to the bedside.
"Prepare your things; we'll leave before dawn." Azula said as she picked up her cloak.
Mai nodded her head and walked to her bed, 'What am I going to do?' Mai thought with slight concern as she looked back at the princess.
'How can I win?'
Groaning lightly, the young woman rose from her bed then shuffled to the bathroom. Looking up at the mirror she sighed. Katara felt terrible and didn't get much sleep from last night. A light knock tapped on the door as Katara called out in an irritated tone, "Come in!"
Quickly Ming came in then bowed to Katara in the doorway of the bathroom. "Excuse me for my tardiness, Miss!" the servant girl said as she bowed deeper, her nose inches away from the floor.
"Oh, Ming…No, no it's alright. You weren't late for anything. Sorry if I was rude." Katara said with a small sigh.
Ming continued to stay in her position as she spoke, "I should be punished. Forgive me for my lack of duty to you Miss." The girl said as she shut her eyes preparing for any dread.
Katara sighed in a hopeless tone, no matter how many times she has said it. 'Don't worry and don't wait on me so much.' Katara was never one to get used to being waited on. She had even hoped Ming can looked at her as a friend, but it never got through.
"I'm not going to punish you. Now, let me help you." Katara said as she offered her hand.
Ming rose quickly keeping her head low, refusing the girl's hand.
Katara just smiled and shook her head. Gracefully she lifted the girl's chin up and gave the girl a reassuring grin.
"No more bowing, nor calling me 'Miss'. My name is Katara. Just Katara." The waterbender said warmly.
"Y-Yes…Mis- I mean, Katara." Ming said as her cheeks tinted with embarrassed and slightly surprised from the woman's bold move and statement. No one has ever told her something so…Humble before. Much less treated her like an equal. It wasn't the way in the palace.
"Now, I may require your assistances this morning. Please help me start my bath and pick out an outfit." Katara said trying to make the best of her morning with a friendly tone.
"Yes, of course." Ming said as she walked in and turned the bath water on.
The sun rose high behind the drifting clouds as the lower district of the Fire Nation. The townspeople were preparing their daily lives along the market stores and shops; while four women came into view seated in a small patio.
"I heard some juicy stories while in the Upper district of the nobles." One woman said as she shielded her lips spreading the gossip.
"Oh do tell!" another woman said as she leaned closer as the two other women nodded their heads.
"Well, I have heard that ex princess Azula not only escaped, but killed her father in a brutal attack." The woman said how it also explained the reasoning for the lockdown.
"Ah, such a shame." One of the women said softly as she turned to the younger woman of the group.
"Diao, you're a fellow guard in the Eastern front. Tell us, what have you heard lately?" the woman asked eagerly.
"Now, Dawn you know as guardswoman I can not reveal any filed statements of any incident." Diao said in defense.
"Oh come on, there must be something, good…" the third woman said as she pushed the girl to spill.
"Well…I have heard the Lieutenant Huo of the fifth command of General Jin was removed from office." Diao said in a small whisper.
"No!" all the women said in surprise.
"Yes, not only that, but it was due to the Fire Lord's wrath. Something along the lines, of shaming his people, and his lover." Diao said giving false information by shallow reports she has read.
"Oh, speaking of lovers…What do you think of the water tribe princess?" the first woman said.
"I thought she was a water peasant, sold to our lord for profit, wasn't she?" the second woman said in wonder.
"Oh no, she has a royal blood line, I heard from Lo herself, or was it Li?" the third woman said itching her chin.
"But isn't it true the girl has stolen the lord's heart?" Diao asked.
"Ah it would only make sense, since he almost died for her." Dawn said nodding her head.
"What! Where did you hear that?" the second woman asked flustered.
"Yes, I remember now, I heard it from one of the noblewoman in the Upper homes. He was struck by a blade in the chest." Dawn said pretty sure it happened.
"By whom?" everyone asked.
"The Avatar." Dawn said.
"Ah, he became jealous of the fire prince." The second woman said.
"But that doesn't make sense." Diao said.
"Then how was Fire Lord Ozai defeated? How did our lord win the title to the throne, the Avatar had no business over the Agni Kai…?" Diao asked not believing the woman's claim.
"Speaking of the Avatar…I heard some interesting tales from a salesman." The first woman said ignoring Diao's remarks.
"Oh?" the other women said interested.
"That he is having an affair with an earthen maiden." The woman said as she cupped her lips with her hand.
"Oh what a headline that will make!" Dawn said giggling.
The three women continued their gossip as Diao sighed leaving the table.
'I'm not going to part take in these worthless chats…' Diao thought as she looked out into the busy streets.
'I want to know…What's the truth in all this? Are our people in danger? Why is this happening?'
The view of a cherry wood table was seen with two porcelain cups of hot tea. Four fingers lightly wrapped around the cup bringing it up to a masculine yet lean mouth. Once Zuko drank the soothing tea, he sighed. "Is it right Uncle? To feel these feelings?" Zuko asked openly as he kept his head down.
After the teen boy told his story about the waterbender to the old man, Iroh rubbed his gray beard pondering lightly. It was a familiar scene that played out in front of him, a shadow line of his own past …For he once felt the same in his youth. But never had the chance to tell the woman of his dreams how he felt. Thus lost her, yet on the brightside he did meet a new love and had his beloved son Lu Ten in the end. Hopefully things will turn out differently for his nephew.
"You have always had a strong connection with the young waterbender. Whether or not you've realized it in those times, she as well offered you forgiveness. She trusts you. Respects you as who you are, Fire Lord Zuko." Iroh said.
"But she rejected me…" Zuko said slightly depressed.
"Miss Katara still holds on to her own traditions as a water tribeswoman. In order for her to understand your feelings, you have to give her space and time to reflect her own. Only then will she be willing to see you again." Iroh said full of wisdom.
Zuko sighed deeply; he knew all too well that he had to give her space. But his own emotions, his own heart was afraid and confused. He thought he had everything planned out. That after the marriage he would file the divorce papers and then somehow get back Mai. Yet…Here he is, slowly falling for the one person that, understood him better than any one else…Someone who in reality, can't have.
"Heh…Destiny…It is a funny thing." Zuko said to himself almost mocking his uncle's words.
"Now you understand, Fire Lord Zuko. The fate of the universe has played its piece. Now it is your turn to make a move." Iroh said as he took a long sip of tea.
"Thank you uncle…I am truly grateful you had come to visit, and had this talk with me." Zuko said as he closed his eyes feeling confident in his decision.
Oh my! What will happen next! Stay tune! Please REVIEW!
