And we are finally back with another chapter ! Sorry if the wait for this one was a bit longer than expected , but I actually hit a bit of a writers roadblock a while back and needed to think of some new ideas of where to be taking this story . Rest assured we are now back on track and I now have a much more general idea of what's going to be happening for the next couple of chapters .
I have to give my thanks to HammerTide for his continued support and help with this story . If not for his help this story probably would have to go on hiatus . Many of the events that take place in this chapter and the following chapters were his idea .
:P
Now about this chapter itself ... I won't spoil too much , but let's just say that some very interesting events will be happening here . And we'll finally be get into some of the Dishonored elements I've been dying to get into .
I have mentioned that I am a huge of Dishonored , have I ?
Enough of my own fanboying , let's get this chapter started !
The past two days had passed without incident .
Though Kazumi wouldn't really call that an improvement or even a slight change to the situation she has found herself in .
Azula was still in a state of depression over the incident a few days back . She still came out to eat , but beyond that ... Kazumi could count the number of times she had left her room . As far as she knew , Azula hadn't had any recent nightmares or visions of her mother ... at least none that she could tell and she wasn't unresponsive either but she spoke the most minimal as possible whenever Kazumi tried to speak to her .
It was like Azula had just ... given up .
And that scared Kazumi .
The girl who's inner flame was just starting to rekindle bit by bit , had now once again been reduced to the flickering flame she had seen so long ago .
Kazumi didn't like to remember that day , when Azula was slumped up against the wall and her eyes just looked ... dead to the world . As if nothing mattered to her anymore and she just wanted to lay down and die .
Kazumi knows that feeling exceedingly well .
But the main problem is that she has not a clue on how to help Azula with her own demons and pain ...
Agni knows that she doesn't even know how she managed to get through it all ... but she did and now she has no idea to help this girl .
Kazumi took a walk over to the lake , taking a seat right in front of the water , Kazumi dipped her fingers into the water and moved it around , causing ripples in the water and scaring any fish away .
She sensed Tira and Serenity come up to her by each of her sides , the two loyal companions snuggling up to her to try and make her feel better . Kazumi weakly smiled as she gently patted the two animals , if only they could speak and help with her current dilemma .
Kazumi thought about Azula and everything the young girl had gone through ...
Her mother saw too much of her father in her and deemed her a monster beyond help ... and even openly talked about terminating her pregnancy with the girl when she was pregnant with her . And then there was her father ... who had never truly loved or even somewhat cared about her , besides as a particularly useful tool to further his own goals .
The older woman legitimately wondered why Azula would ever idolize or worship such a man , perhaps he had always led her on with the promise of praise and love ...or the fear and anxiety of punishment should she fail . Or maybe even both .
Expectations and standards were piled onto the poor girl from a young age and she was forced to handle all of them ...
Kazumi can't say she fully relates or understand what Azula has gone through . Her own mother had always been kind and gentle with her , stern at times , yes . But she did care about her as a person and never forced her to be what she is . That was her own choice .
Actually now that Kazumi thinks about it , did Azula ever truly have somebody she could rely on ?
From what the girl has told her , she has no one to actually help shoulder her burden . Her mother went away , her brother went away and she was left alone with her father who constantly expected only the best from her at all times . Lest she suffer whatever consequences he may think of .
The feeling of loss and abandonment ... the feeling of despair and agony ... the feeling that you're all alone and nobody cares about you and the only way out is a quick death inflicted by yourself .
Now that Kazumi could say she understood .
Kazumi looked down at her own reflection in the water , seeing her face staring back at her .
Azula needed somebody she could rely on ... somebody strong ...
Could Kazumi be that for her ?
Azula was the kind of person who respected and somewhat worshiped strength ... and Kazumi hadn't even firebended before the girl before . Not counting that one time she had to redirect Azula's lightning and again during the ...incident .
But what could really prove to Azula that I can be the person she can rely on ?
Kazumi looked at her reflection again , as if mocking her for pretending to not already know the answer to that question .
Kazumi looked at her hands and the idea of bending came to her mind .
Am I seriously considering breaking my vow ? For Azula ?
She had made that vow for a reason ... so many years ago ... to only ever use her bending in self defense or if she absolutely had to .
And now here she was considering breaking that sacred vow just to prove herself to a girl who was in the same state she was once in long ago .
Agni what am I thinking ...
Maybe Kazumi had gotten more attached than she should have for the young girl she had taken into her care , maybe she should have been sterner with herself and kept a respectable distance between them until Azula found her strength again and left ...
Or maybe she had just been deluding and lying to herself into thinking that this young girl could just maybe be the little girl she always dreamed of having back then all those years ago .
Azula isn't my daughter ... I'm a fool for even thinking such a thing ...
But ...
Kazumi felt the flicker of fire inside her grew as she thought about all the time she spent with the young girl she had taken into her care .
I had already broken my vow when I bended a few days ago ... might as well go all the way if it means helping Azula .
Kazumi stood up as she gently patted the two animals and gently told them to go about their business . She had something important to do .
I'm not her mother ... but I will do everything I can to help her .
That thought of determination only seek to add fuel to the flame in Kazumi .
Azula is the kind of person who respects talent and strength in bending . And elegance .
It was a good thing that Kazumi could provide all three .
" I love you Azula , I really do "
Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up.
" But its true Azula , I really did-"
Oh save it mother . You made it perfectly clear that you never wanted me . I neither need or want any of your half assed love .
The voice stop at that , disappearing into the darkness of her own mind .
Azula felt like she was back at the asylum . That hellhole where doctors and nurses would strap her down onto the bed while they sedated her with drugs and would force feed her food not even fit for dogs . Where she would have damn near constant shouting matches both verbal and mental with ghost voices of her mother .
The only difference this time is that she was doing it willingly .
She still got up to go eat with Kazumi , the last thing she wanted was the woman coming to force her out of the room to eat . But beyond that Azula stayed cooped up in her room , going out as little as physically possible . The incident from two days ago , when she had seen her ghost mother still haunted her and she ended up attacking Kazumi by mistake .
Azula wanted to curl up and die after that . And she probably would have if Kazumi hadn't convinced her to come out of her room to eat at least .
But now ... Azula barely even has enough care or strength to get up . She just wants to lay down on the bed and let the darkness take her at last .
And then she'll be all alone again . She had already gotten used to it .
It would be better than having constant mental shouting matches with her mother .
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Azula's wish for loneliness and darkness was once again interrupted by the sound of knocking on her door , followed by a familiar voice .
" Azula ? Can I come in ? Are you decent ? " Kazumi's voice spoke through the door and at the moment Azula couldn't even muster up the care to even answer her.
After a few minutes , Kazumi spoke again " Azula , I'm coming in "
Azula rolled over on her side and refused to even look at Kazumi , she didn't want to hear another one of her lectures or talks to get out of bed . She didn't care how childish she may look like , she just wanted to be left alone .
" Azula ..." Kazumi said as she approached the bed and took a seat close to the young girl . The girl wasn't responding , instead only further away " Azula please ... I just want to show you something "
Azula didn't respond to Kazumi gently touching her arm , besides repulsing away from it .
Please Kazumi ... just leave me alone .
" Azula ..." Kazumi said again but once again got no response . This was going nowhere and fast .
Guess there's no point in beating around the bush is there ?
Kazumi thought and decided that there was no time to be wasted .
She let out a breath as she felt her inner fire awaken ... and in a second she summon a small fire in her hand .
But this was no ordinary flame ...
Azula who had been trying to ignore Kazumi , became aware of the sudden light that had shined in the room , because of how dark it was , it was very clearly noticeable .
" Azula ... look " Kazumi gently said as she moved a bit closer .
Azula didn't know how or where , but she managed to rustle up the strength to turn and look at sudden light .
It was then that she realized that the light had in fact come from Kazumi's own hand , hovering just above it .
Kazumi had firebended .
But it wasn't just that , that surprised her , it was the color itself ...
The flame wasn't orange like so many others ...
It was white .
Azula couldn't even gasp in shock . Be it out of surprise that Kazumi had actually firebended or by how beautifully mesmerizing her flame was for some odd reason . She couldn't tell what it was but it looked- no felt ... special .
Just like her own blue flame .
" Its beautiful , isn't it ? " Kazumi said gently .
Azula didn't speak right away , but first sat up next to Kazumi to get a better look at the beautiful flame before her " How ... is this possible ?"
How indeed ? She thought she was the first firebender alive to ever have her own unique color of flame .
" It is not natural I assure you " Kazumi explained " It is but another gift from the spirits that my flame is white like this ..."
A gift ?
Azula wanted to ask , but she was still to mesmerized by the white flame to really ask .
" Can I see yours ? " Kazumi suddenly asked out of the blue , making Azula look at the older woman in surprise.
" H-Huh ? "
" I ... saw the color of your flames when you ..."
Attacked me .
Those words went unsaid by the both of them but Kazumi was quick to move it along .
" ...And I thought that it was very beautiful ..." Kazumi said softly " Can you show me them again ? "
Azula didn't even try to argue , but simply channel whatever remaining sparks remained in her into a small blue flame roughly the same size as Kazumi's .
" Its beautiful Azula ..." Kazumi said with a smile as she maintained the flame .
" Yes ... I think I may be the first firebender in history whose flames are blue " Azula said with a small smile she didn't even realize was there .
The two sat there together in silence , the two just enjoying the beauty of each other's flames .
" Azula here , let me show you something ..." Kazumi said gently as she pushed her own flame against Azula's blue ones .
And the two combined into a beautiful combination .
And they both watched as the two flames joined together and danced ,the flicker of flames causing the room to light up amazingly .
Azula was completely entranced by the flames , watching the two grow and mix together , supporting each other bit by bit .
It was then that Azula realized that ... her seating with here with Kazumi . As they both enjoyed the piece of such a simple yet beautiful moment.
It almost felt like the kind of experience she would have her with own ...
Azula didn't finish that thought as the two flames finally faded into nothing .
Kazumi looked at Azula in surprise " Azula ... you're crying ..."
Azula touched her eyes and had only now noticed that tears had started to fall .
They both looked at each other , before Azula willingly hugged Kazumi and the older woman accepting her full-heartedly .
Neither of them had to say anything , they both understood completely .
It was about an hour or two afterwards that Azula followed Kazumi out of her room and outside of the house to the lake to talk . The older woman saying that she felt she needed to explain some things to Azula . The former princess felt slightly invigorated now feeling the warm sun on her skin .
She felt better than she did for the past two days at least so that was something .
The two sat by the lake , almost exactly the same way it had been on the day of the incident .
" So Azula , do you feel better now ? " Kazumi asked .
" ...A little ..." Azula said not really wanting to talk too much about herself " So what did you say you wanted to tell me ? "
" Oh yes Azula , you see I haven't been ...completely forthcoming about the history of my family and myself " Kazumi said gently , trying to explain this in the simplest way possible " Do you remember when I told you that my family is a long line of spirit navigators ? "
" Yeah , you said something about putting spirits to rest or banishing evil spirits " Azula still remembered when she had asked about Kazumi's past .
" Well , I didn't exactly tell you everything ..." Kazumi said , thinking of her own past " My family is a band of spirit navigators yes , but ...that's not the only thing about us that makes us unique . We have in fact been blessed by the Mother of Faces with powers and abilities that help us fight against evil spirits and help put peaceful ones to rest ..."
" Is that why your flame is white ? Because of the Mother of Faces ? " Azula asked , remembering her own meeting the great spirit during the search for her mother.
" Yes ..." Kazumi said softly " It is also the reason for my beauty as a matter of fact . All of us who have been blessed by the Mother of Faces have a natural beauty given to them and their children , it is for that reason why I look so much younger than my actual age ..."
" I did think it was weird how unnaturally beautiful you were ..." Azula said , a slight tone of amusement .
Kazumi also seemed amused " Well you guessed right ..."
Azula moved on to her next question " You said something about being gifted powers and abilities to help fight evil spirits ? "
" Yes ... they were given to us to aid in our quest to put the spirits to rest and combat malicious ones ..." Kazumi explained .
" Well ... how do they work ? " Azula asked , genuinely curious . She had never heard of spirit powers before , the most interesting 'spiritual' thing she had ever studied and learned was about to Avatar and even that was just to learn how to best take him out .
Kazumi seemed to think hard for a moment , before she stood up suddenly " Perhaps a ... demonstration would better explain " The older woman gave a hand and pulled Azula up .
" Do you see that fish floating in the lake ? " Kazumi pointed out into the lake and Azula could just barely make out the figure of a fish floating just below the surface .
Azula nodded , not really sure where Kazumi was going with this .
" Well ...watch this " Kazumi held out her hand at the fish ...and the impossible happened right before her eyes .
Kazumi's hand glowed bright with green energy as some kind of force reached out to the fish and pulled it straight from the lake . And Azula watched as the fish was pulled from the water and into Kazumi's hand , which she had already rolled up her sleeves to prevent from getting wet .
" Pretty handy , huh ? " Kazumi said with a smile .
" What ...was that ? " Azula said in a mixture of amazement and shock .
" Its called Pull or tethering if you prefer . Allows me to pull objects or even people towards me " Kazumi explained .
" That's ...incredible " Azula said dumbfounded for what to say .
" If you think that's incredible , you should see this ..." Kazumi walked a little bit from the lake and pointed her hand at the ground " Plant of the spirit world , I call upon you ! "
The second Kazumi said that , the spot she had been pointing at suddenly leaked with black ink and a second later a ...vine of some kind grew straight from the ground . As if it had been grown from nothing .
" Its called Bloodbriar , summons a semi-sentient , tendril like vine that attacks enemies ..." Kazumi smiled a little " And is actually capable of holding spirits in place when they need to be ..."
" Wow ..." Was all Azula could say .
" Alright back to the spirit world with you ..." With a wave of her hand , the bloodbriar sunk back into the ground and disappeared . As if it was never there to begin with .
" And finally ..."
Kazumi suddenly disappeared in a white light ...
And in the next second , she was standing right next to Azula .
Azula's jaw had officially hit the floor .
" H-H-How is that possible ? " Azula asked in shock .
" Its called Blink or transversals if you prefer . Gives me the ability to teleport to places " Kazumi calmly explained .
Teleportation ? Agni ...
Kazumi might just be more powerful than even the Avatar himself ...
And that brought her to specific question ...
" Why are you telling me all this ?"
" ...Because I want to be honest with you Azula and I want to be clear " Kazumi said with a gentle tone " I don't want to hide anything from you ..."
Azula was surprised at that and thought about her own situation . She hadn't actually told a lie to Kazumi but ... she hadn't told her the whole truth either .
Just like Kazumi did .
" You're not the only one ..."Azula muttered .
" Huh ? "
" I haven't been entirely ...forthcoming with you either Kazumi ..." Azula said gently " But I want to now ..."
" Azula you don't have to-"
" No ... I want to ... I need to ..." Azula said firmly and Kazumi made no further arguments " Do you remember when I told you that I did whatever I had to win my father's approval and praise ? And I did whatever bad thing I had to do to get it ? " She waited for Kazumi to nod before continuing " Well ... when all was said and done and my father had been ...for better lack of term overthrown by my brother , he locked me away in an asylum ..."
" Your own brother ...locked you away ? " Kazumi said horrified .
" Yes ...said it was for my own good ..." Azula spat out in anger " But that place didn't help me at all . It was no different from a prison . The doctors and nurses kept me strapped on a bed at all time , drugging me to sleep or holding me down and forcing me to eat . All the while my hallucinations of my mother got worse and worse ... and you know what ? When my dear brother finally did come back , do you want to know why ? "
" He came back just because he wanted my help to find my sorry excuse for a mother . Who by the time we found her had already had a new daughter , the daughter she had always dreamed of having and finally erased all memory of me ..." Azula said in sadness .
" Azula ... I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that ..." Kazumi said sympathetically .
" Don't be " Azula said " My mother always only wanted my darling good brother Zuko and a little girl who wasn't a monster ..."
" If your brother only cared enough to visit you when he wanted something than maybe he is not nearly as good hearted as he believes himself to be " Kazumi said in anger " As for your mother ... I can't say I very much approve of her simply forgetting about her first daughter and having a new one altogether "
" But I do know this ..." Kazumi stepped closer to Azula" You are not a monster Azula . You are a child who was forced into a very bad situation by your father and had no one to turn to ..."
Azula felt herself saddened by that " Why ...? "
" Why what ? "
" Why do you keep trying to help me so badly Kazumi ? " Azula asked as tears started to build up again .
" Because I can...and because I know the kind of pain you feel from losing something important to you ..." Kazumi suddenly pulled Azula into a hug and Azula returned it , letting the tears out on Kazumi's shirt .
" I will do everything in my power to help you Azula ..."
Azula cried for the second time that day .
The fact that Kazumi had already done more for her than her own mother made her cry . Whether out of happiness or sadness , she wasn't sure .
And that is the end of the chapter ! God , you have no idea how long I've been waiting to make this reveal of Kazumi's spirit powers and a bit more of her backstory . Or as I like to call them , powers I straight up stole from Dishonored and injected into this story. I'm sorry I just can't help myself from injecting powers from Dishonored into stories , its basically in my nature .
I do hope you can all bear with me and my fanaticism over Dishonored . But I will promise that Kazumi's power will in fact play into the story later for ... reasons I will not disclose because they are way to spoilery .
Now about this chapter now that its over , I can talk about it . Kazumi has finally managed to get Azula back on the track of healing from her pain , even if she had to break her vow to do it . I mean , I kinda already made her break her vow by mistake in one of the most recent chapters but I think it still works all the same .
And I can't take all the credit for Kazumi's family backstory that was all HammerTide who gave me her family's backstory . I just threw in the spirit powers for fun .
Anyway , next chapter we'll finally be getting back to a good mix of what's been happening with our ever lovable Shin , Royal Fire Nation Family and maybe even a bit of Kazumi and Azula .
With that said , see you all in the next one .
Angel Out .