Disclaimer: The following chapter is entirely fictitious. Any similarity to the history of any person living or dead is entirely coincidental and unintentional, except when specifically noted otherwise in the cast and crew credits. All celebrity voices are impersonated and no celebrities have endorsed any aspect of this fic.

Chapter Five: Foreboding

'-'

Zuko sat on the recliner in his room while several chambermaids packed his suitcases. Hiashi's cremation was yesterday and he had barely arrived that morning, so his eyes were debating whether or not to stay open or to close themselves. He wondered why he was going to Engoku in the first place seeing as how Hiashi never gave him the time of day to accept his marriage proposal. She could burn in hell for all he cared. He was the Fire Lord. No one said no to him. Ever.

"Zuko," the cacophonous voice called from the doorway, "why are the chambermaids packing things for you? Are you going somewhere and you forgotten to tell me?"

"I didn't forget to tell you," Zuko replied simply. "I chose not to."

"Well, I think I should go to," Marukai said, strolling in and flopping herself on the chaise lounge across from him. "You think you're the only one who needs to get away from everything?"

"I'm not going on vacation!" Zuko snapped. "I'm conducting very important business, business you almost made me miss! I think I need some time away from you anyways."

"As if you're a meadow, Zuko," Marukai groaned. "You've done nothing but bitch and moan to me since we've met, which was, what… fifteen-ish years ago I want to say. And why? I was a pretty girl! You'd think you'd like me but you didn't."

"My mother left us unexpectedly and you expect me to like you right away?" Zuko mumbled. "You're pathetic."

"Oh, boohoo, Zuko," she rolled her eyes. "So your mother ran away, big whoop. At least she might be alive somewhere. My mother died of cancer and you don't think me and Hykiru weren't sad?"

"That's right, you're related to him," he growled under his breath.

"And besides, I'm the only one who's still alive in my family," she sighed histrionically, "but you don't see me caring. My dad did say survival of the fittest and Hykiru was a pathetic drunk. You know it's kind of ironic that me and your sister were so much alike and you were like my brother, but somehow your sister was the one who fell. And it's sad, really, because I liked your sister. I think she would have made a great Fire Lord or at least a great aunt to Guangli."

"She would have been a terrible influence," he stated. "She would turn him into a monster. You wouldn't be able to handle him."

"You underestimate me," Marukai scoffed loudly, brushing a strand of her sandy brown hair behind her. "If I could handle a whole troop of men and women then I think I can handle a child."

"That's beside the point," Zuko replied. "I wouldn't want to deal with him. Not now and certainly not with Azula's influence."

"Be nice to your heir," Marukai laughed. "He's the only one you've got." Zuko bit his lip and contracted his face.

"Can you ladies leave?" Zuko said stiffly to the chambermaids. "I need to speak to her alone." The ladies exchanged concerned looks with each other but bowed respectfully and left the room, closing the door behind them. "What have I told you about calling that kid my son?" Zuko said in a menacing but quiet voice. "I've done my best to keep you at an arm's length and yet you still like to tell everyone that that is my child. Why is that? Do you just hate me that much or are you so desperate to stay?"

"Psh, you're such a drama queen," she rolled her eyes. "I didn't call him your son, I called him your heir. There's a significant difference. And he is technically your only heir right now until you find another wife, which you won't since you're so introverted. You're stuck with me until you move on or I do. And since it's more likely that I'll move on before you let me tell you this: I don't plan on leaving my post. I've been dying for this power for a long time and I'm not about to give it up."

"What power?" Zuko scoffed. He pushed himself to his feet and walked to the window. "I don't think I've ever given you any kind of power. I've always made sure you've never had a say in the business of running this country, so that should be all the more reason to go."

"Zuko, we've been married for five years, four months, two weeks, six days and five of the most dreadful hours. I think I can tough it up for a while longer until you let me do something, anything." She sighed histrionically again and slouched in her chair.

"You've been keeping count of how long we've been married?" he queried.

"You know how sometimes something horrible starts and you keep checking the hourglass to see how long it's been but the thing just won't go fast enough? Yeah, it's one of those moments." She rolled on her side to face Zuko and pouted her lip. "Do you seriously not find me attractive? I have to ask, are you gay? Because if you are, I'm totally okay with that. Girls love gay guys. We're their best friends."

"How dare you even say that!" Zuko barked at her, forcing the candles in the room to explode. "God, right now I am fighting the urge to kill you with my bare hands!"

"Oh, please," she sneered. "You wouldn't kill me if I was an ant sitting on your leg. You've been giving me the death threat for years and have yet to do something about it. And to be honest, that's just pathetic. Oh! And before I forget, I wanted to tell you we need to find a new tutor for Guangli. His old one can't tutor him anymore. I was just wondering if you can have someone get him one."

"No," he said curtly. "He doesn't even need a tutor."

"Yes he does!" she exclaimed. "Many scholars and teachers believe children need tutoring before they enter elementary so they can develop the necessary cognition to function in school."

"Function in school? He has two years left, don't worry about it."

"Yes, but I think he's making progress," she tried to convince him. "He's very gifted and all we need to do is continue with his tutoring—"

"What is this 'we' stuff?" Zuko growled. "I don't have to do anything with him. He's your responsibility."

"Yes, but it takes a village to raise a child," she snapped. "And you'd see how smart he really is if you paid some attention to him once and a while."

"He's three years old and he calls you 'twat,'" he stated. "Nothing he says is a real word, so I don't think your tutoring thing is doing anything productive."

"Well maybe his tutor should stop sucking, now shouldn't she?" She rolled her eyes and slouched some more on the chaise lounge. "She's a real bitch anyways. Besides, she can't tutor him anymore, which is why I need you to get someone to find him another one."

"Well, forget it," he replied. "I'm not going to help raise your child. If you want to get him a tutor so damn badly then you can do it yourself. It's not like you don't have the resources to do so."

"Fine, I'll find him a new tutor when you leave tomorrow." She brushed her hair past the beauty mark near her eye and sighed histrionically. "So can you at least tell me where you're going? You're being such a rude son of a bitch but I'm still your wife. I need to know where you're going."

"I don't like you so I don't have to tell you anything," Zuko simplified. "You know I never wanted to marry you and yet you continue to rub this in my face. If anything this is just making me despise you more."

"Fine, don't tell me," she groaned and rolled herself over. "I can always go to the witch up the mountain. She's been pretty good when it comes to these kinds of things."

"Okay, what the hell is up with all this talk about a damn witch!" Zuko exclaimed. "Everyone keeps talking about this damn witch and it's annoying! Let me tell you now, there is no such THING as witchcraft!"

"That's because you've never been to Iboni," she threw her wrist at him. "She's really good at what she does, unless she doesn't like you. Then she conveniently can't find your future."

"Damn it," Zuko snarled under his breath. "I would think out of everyone I know, at least you would be the most sensible and believe everything she said was a lie. What the hell happened to you?"

"I went to check her out, that's what happened," she said curtly. "I went in with a sensible amount of skepticism and she told me a lot of things, some even about my future. And some of it has come true so far. So you tell me if she's right or not. You can only get your own opinion if you go see her yourself."

"You're stupider than I thought," he said to her face. He grabbed a cloak from his bureau and tossed it on the bed next to his bags. Marukai swung her legs in a fan kick and sprung to her feet.

"I don't care what you say," she exclaimed, shaking her dress into place. "Come with me, you're going to go see her."

'-'

He could not for the life of him figure out why he let the woman he hated the most talk him into going somewhere he would probably end up hating her even more for. It was ridiculous to him that he was currently in the carriage up to the base of the mountains to meet with a woman who supposedly was the greatest psychic in the Fire Nation. Something horrible would happen, but he was unsure of what.

"Just walk up to the door," Marukai nodded to him. "She should be home."

"I am not doing this," Zuko growled. "I swear—"

"You swear a lot of things," she groaned, crossing her legs dramatically. "God damn it, for once in your life just trust me. I really believe you can get some use out of her." She raised her eyebrow at him but still maintained a stare. Zuko held her stare, clenching his teeth and debating whether or not to trust her. The door to the carriage opened and Zuko stepped out, not daring to remove his stare with the sandy-haired demon. He finally released his gaze when he approached the door of the black and rickety looking hut he did not want to enter. He knew there was no such thing as witchcraft and knew even if there was, meddling in the affairs of the devil would not be any better. Still, if he did not enter he would never hear the end of it from the wretched woman who brought him there in the first place. He heaved a heavy sigh and knocked once on the door only to find it swing slightly open.

"Oh please enter, Fire Lord Zuko," a woman's voice cracked from inside. "I have been awaiting your arrival." Zuko frowned but entered the dark shack anyways. The interior was of course darker than the outside and had the familiar scent of roses and lavender burning in the corner. There was only a small light sitting on a table in the corner where several suspicious looking orbs and pendulums sat neatly next to it. "I saw you approaching in your carriage a few hours ago," the same creepy voice sounded off in the corner of the room. "I made some honeybush tea, your favorite, with some vanilla and orange peel for flavor, just the way you like it."

"Honeybush tea is not my favorite," Zuko glared as he pulled up a chair and sat down at the desk.

"It is your preferred tea," the woman smirked. "As a firebender it strengthens your chakra and empowers you, which is why you prefer it over any other tea." Zuko narrowed his eyes as the woman came into focus and poured him a cup. The woman had scary grey eyes and stringy black hair and skin much more pale than anyone he ever met, in attire that was much too revealing. Indeed she was a witch. "So you are here to ask about my niece?" the woman said suddenly when she was finished with Zuko's cup.

"Your niece?" Zuko asked. "What are you talking about?"

"My niece, Hiashi," she replied. "Her father was my brother, twelve years my senior. He was killed brutally by an admiral by the name of Zhao. Hiashi killed him herself on the day the comet arrived, did she not?"

"Yes, she did," Zuko answered, stifling his astonishment. "I was wondering if you can tell me anything about her."

"Well, that would depend," the woman sighed. She whisked herself behind her desk and sat in the chair behind it, curling her claws underneath her chin. "Would you believe anything and everything I say?"

"That will all depend on what you say," Zuko said curtly. The woman smirked playfully and shifted an orb to the center of the table.

"Do you know a woman named Mai?" she asked casually. "I see a woman in your future, with black hair. You knew her from your past and you wanted a relationship with her." Zuko scowled at the woman.

"Where did you get the name from?" he asked her sharply.

"The orb never lies," she answered simply. "You are going on a journey after this, are you not? Your wife will not be accompanying you; I recommend you invite this woman with you."

"Are you suggesting I cheat on my wife?" Zuko asked. He wanted to laugh because as much as the thought crossed his mind so many times he never actually had a woman to cheat on Marukai with.

"Well it is not like she is not having an affair," she said. "Your wife has been cheating on you for a while now. In fact your child is not your own. I suggest you go to the man who your wife is cheating on you with and free him of his obligations to you."

"Obligations, what obligations?" Zuko asked. "Do I know this person?"

"Well of course," she nodded. "This is another person from your past. You met him once on an evening in which you learned something dark about the past of Hiashi. The man feels obliged to allow you to keep your wife so that you may bear a son for the nation. Though he wishes to be with your wife he restrains himself. If you tell this man he is free to have her then you are free to be with the woman you want to be with." Zuko scrutinized the woman's face as she stared deeply into the glowing orb.

"You're lying to me, aren't you?" he asked her. The woman raised an eyebrow but laughed lightheartedly.

"Do you really think that I, Iboni the Wise, would lie to you? I do not lie; I merely tell what the orb says. Or if that does not satisfy you, I also have…" She bent over and set a deck of cards on the table, "tarot cards, pendulum readings, palm readings, I Ching, face readings, Zi wei dou shu, Bazi, maybe your tea leaves may reveal a future similar to what I just said. I have many more techniques if those do not work for you."

"How do I know you're not just bullshitting me?" Zuko growled. "There is such a thing as cold reading."

"How much more specific can I get?" she asked roughly. "The woman you are looking for, my niece? The daughter of my brother? I think I can tell you much about her."

"Hiashi never said anything about having an aunt, especially one that's a witch," Zuko snapped unintentionally. "And if you're so good at what you do, why didn't you go find your brother?"

"When you are as good as I am, you never have to meet people," the woman answered rudely. "Take Hiashi for example. She went from black hair to red and black to black again. She had two different colored eyes, the left from her father, the right from her mother, the mark of the hybrid. She joined a gang at age fifteen, was kicked out for who she was at age sixteen, had her father killed a couple of days later, and then you picked her up after. Gas leak, was it? You stayed at the City Court Inn where the innkeeper had a very blasé mien. You did not know who she was and nor she you. Would you like to know anything else?"

"Anyone could have known that," Zuko barked. "Tell me something no one could possibly know."

"How about her favorite tea?" she said, still calmly, but frustration ricocheted in her voice. "The Chai tea she had every morning whilst on your ship? With a hint of cow hippo milk and sugar? She certainly loved it cold; she would have it no other way. Or maybe the Lo Han Kuo tea she used to drink when she was stressed? Her father would give that to her every time she was upset or ill, so she adapted that into her routine. Now what else would you like to know? How about the relationship you had with her on your last days together? Or maybe how you have been relentlessly searching for her for the past eight years without success only to find her dead as Shihong in a temple in Eikando? Ask me anything, I'll be sure to answer."

"That was a lucky shot," Zuko growled. "Anyone could have guessed that. It's nothing but guess work!"

"What else would you like me to say, Fire Lord Zuko?" she asked stiffly. "Would you like me to get into more specific details? Because I can. I can tell you then, many people have told you about me and yet you insisted that what I do is nothing but a farce. Maybe you would have come to me sooner if you knew that I would tell you the exact place of Hiashi, or perhaps where your mother has been for the past fifteen years."

"Wait, what do you know about my mother?" Zuko asked quickly. The woman smiled under the candlelight and let out a soft laugh.

"How should I know?" she asked sarcastically. "I am nothing more than a guesser." He had made her upset, no doubt. And if Marukai was right then she would not give him any more information.

"I apologize," he said through his teeth. "What do you know about my mother? What did Hiashi mean in her note?" The woman continued to hold her maniacal stare, shifting her lips from side to side in debate.

"You will not believe a single word I say," she sighed. She stood up and began to usher Zuko out of her hut. "All I can say is that you will not like what you find. Stop looking now lest you hurt yourself on your quest." She shoved him out of the house and into the burning dim light of the outside world and slammed the door before he could protest.

'-'

Okay, admittedly, this may have been a little lame, but I'd like to think it's suspensful. NEHO, remember I still have a Deviant Art page, a link of whichis on meh profile page. I do character requests, so say you want to see what Guangli looks like, maybe Kurogane, or Darja, or the assistant, whoever you want to see, you can see them, just send me a review (or a PM, whichever one floats your boat.) I will be posting new pictures soon, I do have one of Toph I recently did. I thought it came ouit pretty good. Also, if any of you people reading this like my work (I don't know if you will) and want to see me drawing something elser, maybe you have a request not related to my story, or even Avatar at all, I can do it. Although it depends what. I'm not really good with animals, fyi, but I can probably try. I'm also looking for watchers. I am very unloved T-T. Well, until next time (possibly next week) Signing Off!