Chapter 6: Promises
Azula walks through the palace on her way to the throne room.
Everything today has mostly been a great success. Her fight with Kaze that morning now served as the start of her legend as the world's greatest firebender. The azure flames she created was the only proof she needed to convince her that she was born for greatness.
And the best part, her journey to the top of the world wouldn't be the lonely endeavor she had resigned herself to. Well, as long as her grandfather hadn't actually feed him to a Komodo rhino, she thought with annoyance.
'Stupid Mai and her stupid jokes.' She muttered to herself.
She hoped that Kaze was still in one piece by the time she arrived to the throne room, but to her surprise, she didn't have to walk that far for her question to be answered.
Kaze was currently walking behind one of her grandfather's personal guards, his eyes clouded and unfocused.
"Kaze! You're okay!" She exclaims, making the boy jump, clearly startled by her callout.
"H-Huh? Oh! Hey Azula!" He laughed nervously, rubbing his neck while a blush creeped his face.
"Huh? Uh I-I mean-…" He coughs, trying to calm his thoughts. "Yeah! Yeah, I am still alive!" He says while moves his arms and legs as if needing to prove it, trying to hide his embarrassment with his usual cheerfulness.
Azula looks at the display with an eyebrow raised.
'He's acting weirder than usual…'
"What did my grandfather say?" She ask cautiously, afraid of what has him in his current attitude.
"Y-Your grandfather?" He asks, and quickly realizes how dumb his question was.
"Yeah, you know, the Fire Lord." She responds, mocking tone in her voice.
"Oh yeah! I-I mean I knew that, obviously!" He says, nervous chuckle once again escaping his lips.
If Azula hadn't spent the last couple hours worrying for him, she would've found his pathetic attempt at tempering his emotions amusing.
But instead, she finds her patience wearing thin, fear and anxiety at what Kaze was hiding from her.
Then the guard snaps her from her thoughts.
"My apologies princess, but I was ordered to escort this boy towards his guest bedroom."
'Guest bedroom? That means…' Azula's eyes brightened at his words. 'He's going to stay!' She tries, and fails, to contain the pleased smile from appearing on her face.
She schools her features with a cough.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure he gets there." She says, voice sharp and clear.
The guard seemed satisfied with this and made his way back to the throne room.
She then turns towards Kaze and moves to grab his hand. Then she starts leading him to her room instead.
"Um… Azula? Where are we going? This isn't the path to my bedroom.
"We are going to my room. Something is clearly bothering you from meeting my grandfather and you're going to tell me what exactly." She says, her regal voice leaving no room for argument.
So Kaze just stays quiet and lets himself be dragged to her room.
"So. Spit it out."
Kaze stares at Azula for a couple of seconds, sitting in Azula's bed, before shaking his head.
There wasn't really a reason to hide anything from Azula, so he answers honestly.
"The imperial academy?!" Azula's shock apparent. "That school is basically reserved for the children of nobles who aim for the higher seats withing the Fire Nation Army…" She starts pacing around the room. "And anyone rich enough to pay tuition I guess…"
"And father wants to send you there along with Zuko?" She puts a hand on her chin, face scrunching in thought.
"He said he wanted me to become a proper asset to the Fire Nation, though I don't really know what that means…" He says dejectedly, once again thinking about his family.
Azula notices his mood drop. "But that's not all is it? Something else is bothering you." She states.
"Apparently t-they-" He stutters, brows furrowing in frustration. "They found out who my mom is. And I'm scared at what they'd do if I don't obey, or don't reach my supposed potential, or whatever he called it."
Azula thinks for a moment. Her father using forceful tactics like those was very much like him. He taught her to do the same after all. Even then, seeing Kaze's eyes shake in contained anger, she feels the need inside herself to try and ease his concerns.
"Well…" She walks towards him, taking a seat beside him on the bed. "If Zuko can get a place in the Academy, so can you. And…" she takes a deep breath, not used to comforting others. "And don't worry, as the greatest firebender in the world, I'm sure you won't disappoint anyone." She says, looking the other way, trying to hide the genuine smile that overtook her.
"You really mean that?" Kaze asks, still doubtful.
Azula then meets his gaze, showing him a confident smirk. "Yeah, I do. All this time I thought that the path for power meant becoming ruthless and merciless…" she lets her guard down, and shows him the smile she tried hiding moments before. "But then you showed up in my life with your dumb smile and obnoxiously bright attitude, and… And your incredible waterbending."
"Azula…" Kaze felt speechless at his friend opening her soul to him this much.
"The fact that someone like you could be as powerful as me…" She then recalls the moments she's shared with her mom the past two days. "And the fact that you somehow managed to bring back my mom to me… Well, it proved that maybe there's other ways to achieve my dreams."
Azula's cheeks then redden, as if she didn't mean to share this much this quickly.
"W-What I'm trying to say is-" She says with a nervous cough, trying to erase all signs of her embarrassment.
But as she turns to look at Kaze, and sees the genuine happiness in his face, she calms down, realizing that at this point, hiding things from him was impossible.
"What I'm trying to say is… Thank You."
Kaze heart soared at Azula's words.
All his life he's had to hide his waterbending. His only reminder of his father. The waterbending her mother loves watching him do, but is in constant fear of him getting caught.
He's always thought of his bending as a burden. As much in tune he felt with his element, all this time it had brought him nothing but problems.
So, hearing Azula talk about it with so much respect and delight, he can't help the waves of affection that overpower his heart. Her confident and strong personality, and the way she'd never back down from anything no matter how difficult it may be, was something he has admired since he'd met her at the palace gardens. And now, he wanted to be able to witness it for as long as he could.
He's didn't really understand it but… he felt like as long as it was with Azula, anything was possible, even THAT dream.
"Can I ask you something, Azula?"
Azula is slightly surprised at this. "What is it?" She asks, curiosity in her eyes.
"What is your dream?"
Azula's eyes widen, not expecting a question like that.
She thinks for a second before seemingly deciding on an answer. "I want to reach the top." She looks at the outside of her window, which was now back in one piece. "I want to lead the Fire Nation to greatness." Her golden eyes sparkle at her words.
She turns to Kaze. "And what about you?"
Kaze stays quiet for a moment, memories of his family flashing in his mind. "Well… the kids in the orphanage they… They've been alone for a long time, abandoned for things they couldn't control…"
He meets Azula's gaze, gold meeting blue once more.
"I want a world where children like me and them get to live freely, and happy."
Azula nods, not another word is said.
Until a loud growl frightened them.
"Uh… Have you eaten yet Azula?" He asks, trying to contain a snicker.
"Well, if you hadn't gotten me so worried, then maybe we wouldn't have missed dinner!" She says with a huff.
Kaze laughs for a second, before his face lights up.
"I know!" He jumps to his feet. "I'll race you to the dinner hall."
Azula stares at him unamused. "I'm a princess, not a child." She says offended.
Kaze's mood drops at this.
Until Azula steps in front of him and pushes him hard towards the bed, before rushing out the door with a laugh.
"Hey! No fair!" He jumps to follow her.
The moon stands on top of the palace, as a cloaked figure moves hastily towards the princess' bedroom.
Making as little noise as possible, she opens the door and makes towards Azula's sleeping figure.
The person removes their hood, before leaning down to carefully take in the princess' face.
"I'm sorry Azula…" Ursa says, voice shaky while tears stream down her face. "I won't be able to keep our promise…"
"I'm sorry for being a terrible mother to you." She leans down and presses a kiss to her daughters sleeping face.
She takes a final look at her, trying to imprint the image to her brain, fearing this might be the last time she'll ever see her again.
"Goodbye, my precious daughter…" And before she could lose her resolve, she rushes back out the room, her hood back on as she disappears into the darkness of the palace.
The next morning, Kaze notices everyone in the palace to be rushing from place to place.
They all look panicked, faces laced with fear and anxiety.
Something happened, and he doesn't know what.
Fear climbing his mind at the possibility of Azula being caught in something makes him quickly decide to look for her.
He heads to her bedroom, only to find it empty and unusually messy.
He then moves towards the dining hall, that was eerily empty for this time of the day.
He makes for the final spot he can think of as he steps down a walkaway into the Royal Courtyard.
And there she finds her, kneeling in front of a group of turtleducks, throwing bits of bread at them.
As he approaches, his heart sinks at the empty look on her face. Any trace of her attitude from last night gone, now replaced with this shell of the princess he knew.
Moving closer to her, she sees her hand twitch, as if she just happened to notice him.
"Azula?... Are you okay?"
She turns to him, and he notices the puffiness in her eyes, indicating that something terrible must have happened.
He kneels besides her. "What happened?" Concern reaching a peak.
"Grandfather is dead." She says, the monotone sound sending chill down Kaze's back.
"And mom…" He sees Azula crush the bread in her hands. "She's gone."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?"
Azula's face tenses, anger coming to a top. "She's gone!" Her scream makes Kaze fall backwards.
"She left. And didn't bother telling me!" Tears fall to the grass below her.
"Apparently she thought telling Zuko, but not me!" She says, shutting her eyes tightly.
"I should've known that it was all a lie! She hated me! She thought I was a monster!" She practically sobs.
"And it's all my fault!" She finally adds through gritted teeth.
Kaze couldn't bear Azula fall this much into despair. He thinks about what he just heard. He didn't know Lady Ursa that well, but he was sure her love towards her daughter was genuine. Maybe it was the full moon, but he was sure that the embrace they held that fateful night was as full of love and concern for someone as he's ever felt from his own mother.
He then remembers the effort Azula went at comforting last night and stands up.
"No Azula! It's not your fault!" He grabs her shoulders and makes to stand face to face.
"Your mother did love you! And no! You're not a monster." He feels Azula try to break free from his hold, but he doesn't let go, not daring her run away while spiraling into her thoughts.
"Sure, you're bossy, and demanding, and kinda mean sometimes, and your firebending is as incredible as it is terrifying."
He then wraps her in a tight hug, Azula freezing at the contact.
"But you're also the smartest, most determined, and most confident person I have ever met. And even if you don't believe it yourself, I know how kind, caring and funny you can be!"
"Then why…" Azula croaks out in sadness.
"Why did she leave…"
Kaze doesn't know. He couldn't possibly know what happened last night for everything to come apart like it did. But that didn't matter. Right now, he had to make sure Azula wouldn't blame herself for it.
For the few days he's known her, she's shown him so many different emotions and expressions that he was sure any monster wouldn't be able to replicate.
"I don't know Azula…" He starts rubbing circles on her back. "But what I do know is that her love was genuine… And, I think you also know that…" He remembers the way Azula's face brightened the moment she talked about her mother. "So please, stop blaming yourself." He says, as his shoulder starts feeling wet with tears.
The moment stays like that for one small eternity.
Once Azula's teared calmed down, she spoke up.
"…You're right." She breaks the hug, moving to look at his face.
"It was brief but… these last two days reminded me of when I was very little." She smiles lightly, as if managing to unlock some hidden memories.
"It wasn't my fault…" Her face contorts in anger. "It was my Father's. I always believed that he was the true heir to the throne and not my uncle… And I'm sure he himself believed him to be rightful to it."
Her brow furrows, the gears of her mind turning rapidly. "And… I heard this morning that my cousin, Lu Ten, died in battle…" Azula then locks her golden gaze at Kaze, hint of the confidence he admired back on her face. "I don't know what happened last night, but-" She turns to look at the sky, as if looking for a sign from the heavens. "I think my father was somehow responsible for my grandfather's death."
Kaze stares dumbfounded. The fact that Azula managed to deduce this right after she was seemingly losing herself in despair only proved how right he was in admiring her.
"I might not be able to prove it, but-!" She looks into his eyes with a determination that would send even that of a dragon to shame.
"But I'll make sure that he doesn't get away with it. Even if it takes me years to achieve…" Her face then takes a pained expression. "And even if he's my Father…"
Then, to Kaze's shock, Azula wraps him in a hug of her own.
"Thank you, Kaze. It seems you saved me once again."
"I just said the truth… You're the one that managed to climb back on your own." Kaze responds, trademark bright smile in his lips.
Then after a moment, they separate, as a wave of servants seem to rush their way into the throne room.
"What happens now?" Asked Kaze, not knowing what to expect anymore.
"Well…" Azula puts a pensive mask on. "For one, my father is the Fire Lord now. Which means he holds full authority of the Fire Nation, and its Army."
"I don't think we're in any position to challenge my father right now… For as powerful as I like to say we are, my father is an equal force to be reckoned with." She then adds, as she tries to come up with a plan of action.
She then sighs in resignation.
"I think that for now, we'll have to live with the current circumstances…"
"So do nothing?" Kaze asks, disbelief clouding his eyes.
"Not yet at least. Not until we get to a position where we can stand against father and the Fire Nation army."
"For now, focus on the Academy, learn everything you can." Kaze nods at this, any plan Azula comes up with probably better than anything he could come up himself.
"And I will stay in the palace, keeping up the pretense of the loyal princess. I'll try to investigate as much as I can, and gain as much influence as well." Her eyes then widen in realization.
She groans in disgust. "And I have to go back to the Royal Academy…" After everything that's happened, she can't stomach the idea of going back to study Arithmetic and History that she's already memorized years ago. At least she'll have Mai and Ty Lee to keep her company.
Looking at her face of disgust, Kaze can't help laughing heartily.
"I'm sure you'll be fine Azula! It can't be that bad!"
Azula looks at him unamused, before settling into a content grin.
"Just wait until you start your own classes."
Taking advantage of the hectic state of the palace, Kaze sneaks out through one of the outer walls with the help of Azula.
"Just make sure you get back before tomorrow morning, so that the servants don't notice."
Her eyes then narrow at him. "And don't get caught waterbending again unless you want my father to rethink your execution."
Kaze gulps nervously before smiling at her. "You got it Azula, don't worry." He throws her a thumbs up before jumping to the other side, landing right next to the drainage pipes he originally planned to use to get back three days ago.
Getting back to his house went smoother than he expected.
Opening the door to the orphanage, he braces himself for whatever scolding his mother will subject him to.
"I'm back…" He says nervously.
Eight pair of eyes then lock into him from up top the staircase to the second floor.
"Kaze's back!" the youngest one, Milo, says as most of them rush to jump at him. He has amber colored eyes with green streaks.
"Woah, Woah! Calm down you guys!" Kaze exclaims with a laugh.
"Where were you?" The oldest one, a messy haired girl with dark blue eyes called Yiyi, asks him from behind the younger ones.
Kaze smiles at her before answering. "I got caught up in something…" He says cryptically.
She raises an eyebrow. Despite being three years younger than him she always managed to see right through him.
"Oh, and I suppose the waterbender the guards have conveniently started looking for the day you disappeared had nothing to do with it."
Kaze sighs in defeat. "Okay, yeah, I was caught. But nothing happened in the end! Just uh…" But before he continued, a voice interrupted him from behind.
"Oh, you're back." It was his mom, usual wide smile on her face. She then walks towards him and the children.
"Come on now, you're blocking the doorway." She gently pushes the tangle children forward.
Kaze stood stunned. He thought his mom would've been some semblance of angry at him for disappearing for so long.
They all walk towards the kitchen table, 10 unevenly placed chairs surrounding it.
"Uh… mom?" Kaze says, three children pulling at his legs still, he notices them to be Mira, Soren and Yulei.
"What's up?" She responds while putting a basket of fruits in the counter.
"You're not gonna ask me where I've been?"
"Why, did something happen?" She looks at him, smirking like nothing was wrong.
"No! I mean yes! But nothing bad!" He then stops to think for a second. "Or well, yes it was kinda bad, but also very good too, and-" his mom puts her hands on his shoulders.
"Okay, calm down over there, sweetie." She smiles teasingly.
"Come on, sit down, you clearly have something to tell us, but that can wait until after supper."
And so, he now finds himself sitting in his usual chair, surrounded as usual by 8 children and his mom, as they eat one of their usual meals, roasted fish and cabbage rolls.
Once they finished, most of the kids made their way out to their backyard, only Yiyi, his mom and himself remaining.
Feeling a little overwhelmed, Kaze speaks out.
"Um… aren't you mad?" He asks timidly.
"Well… I was worried, that's for sure." She then puts her hand on top of his.
"But well, we only heard about a running waterbender, not a caught one. And we were sure that any captured waterbender would've been paraded through the city by the guards before executing them so… We assumed you managed to find a place to hide." Yiyi then added.
Kaze stares dumbfounded, he thought he had managed to put his family in danger just by getting caught waterbending, but it seems his concerns were unwarranted.
"So!" His mom starts. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Well…" He starts telling them what he went through the past three days.
"And well, I'm supposed to be leaving next week." He finishes, realizing how unbelievable his story sounded.
He looks up at his mom, and sees her gaze at the table, as if struggling with something he said.
"Ursa…" she mutters.
"Mom?" He asks a bit puzzled by his mom's reaction.
"Huh? Oh, sorry I…" She takes a solemn expression. "It's nothing."
"So you're leaving? For how long?" Yiyi suddenly asks.
"Well, Azula told me most graduate at 15, but it's common for many to drop out midway through…"
"And you're sure this is what you want?" His mom asks.
He thinks for a moment. "Yeah, I made a promise to Azula, and I plan on keeping it." He says with pure determination.
Umi sighs at this. She knew that look. The same one she remembers from her husband when he wasn't going to back down from anything.
"Okay." She adds.
"Okay? Really?" Kaze asks, not expecting his mom to agree so quickly.
"Well, I doubt there's anything I can say to change your mind." She then smiles warmly.
"Plus, I know how much your bending has been weighing on you. This is a chance for you to finally find your own place in the world."
"Also, don't worry about the others. I'll make sure they don't get too crazy while you're gone." Added Yiyi.
She was strong and confident, a little bit like Azula.
And so, Kaze can't help but smile at how understanding his family is being to his selfishness. He'd brought them a lot of trouble these past three years and now he was going to leave them for years.
"Thank you…" He says, a single tear streaming down his face.
His mom stands up and embraces him. "Just promise me you'll take care of yourself. You're strong, and you were born for more than this little orphanage. So don't worry about us and forge your own path."
"Okay." He wipes his eyes. "I promise."
The week passed in a flash.
Most of it was spent with Azula. She taught him everything he should expect from interacting with the noble children. What to say, what not to say, and more importantly, how to gain influence and information from them.
They also spent some time with Mai and Ty Lee. Once he got to know them, he began to truly think of them as friends. Mai was quiet and gloomy, but was also funny and reliable. While Ty Lee radiated so much energy, he found himself dragged around by her cheeriness.
He tried talking to Zuko but he rarely ever left his room these days. The disappearance of his mother probably weighing heavily on him.
And before he knew it, he was standing by the docks, a small ship bearing the flag of the royal family waving with the sea breeze floating behind him.
Zuko boarded as soon as they got there, ignoring everything in his path.
Azula sighs besides him. "It seems Zuko might need some help not getting into trouble in the academy."
"I'll watch over him. He may not like me but… I can be very stubborn when it comes to helping others." Kaze says with a small laugh.
Azula shares it. "Trust me, I've realized."
They share a comfortable silence.
Azula the breaks it. "So… you too are leaving me huh…"
"Don't worry! I'll be back before you know it!" His smile once again rivals the shine of the fiery ball that floats above them.
She sighs deeply, which Kaze now knew she always did when she struggled to say something. Typically something that makes her feel vulnerable.
"I'll give it to you."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Kaze looks in confusion.
"Your dream, the world were children like you could live freely… I'll give it to you."
"Azula…" Kaze stands speechless at her statement.
Azula's face loses all of its barriers, as tears stream down her eyes.
"Just promise me…" Golden meets blue once again. "Promise me you'll return, and after that you'll never leave my side…"
Kaze doesn't need to think about his response. It was right at the front of his mind the moment she asked it.
He smiles with as much affection as he could muster out, sparkle in his eyes that put every single star in the universe to shame.
"If it's you Azula…" He looks at the ocean, ships leaving and entering the harbor as he feels every tremor and ripple in the water in his fingertips.
"I'll follow to the edge of the world."