And now we have finally returned to the track of Azula's healing arc . I tell you it is not easy writing a story that centers around Azula's healing from her pain but it has a certain fun to it if you get my meaning . Its always hard to keep things interesting when you're basically stuck with the same characters in the exact same location for like 10 chapters straight , which explains my writers block last chapter .
Do not underestimate how hard it is coming with ideas for a story and have those ideas actually make cohesive sense in the context of the story and manage to integrate it organically into the story as a whole .
But rest assured , now I have a much more focused plan on where the story is going for the next couple of chapters and potentially for the rest of this arc . I still haven't completely figured out how this story is going to play out ...which is probably I should have done before jumping the gun and reposting this story straight away but you reap what you sow is what they say .
:P
Now about this chapter , not much to really say here but we will be getting a bit more info in regards to how some of Kazumi's powers work and some happenings of what's been going on with the Royal Fire Nation fam . They are always such a treat to write , Mai and Ty Lee especially are my favorites to write if you get what I mean .
Though I will warn you that we will be getting into some ... political stuff in this chapter . And please take note that I am neither a political expert nor an economics expert so please forgive me if some things feel inaccurate .
Now with all that stuff , out of the way ...
Let's get this chapter started !
The following days after Kazumi showed Azula her flame , the young girl's condition seemed to have improved quite a bit .
Azula had finally started to leave her room more beyond simply to eat and spoke more than the minimal amount whenever Kazumi tried to speak with her . And she even took walks outside the house occasionally with Kazumi . Which was a very big improvement in Kazumi's book .
But most importantly ...
" Kazumi ...why in the name of Agni are we doing this ? " Azula asked in a blank tone .
" Well , I thought I could cook some fish for tonight's dinner " Kazumi said with a smile as she leaned back onto the soft grass .
Kazumi had finally managed to get Azula back into the swing of things . Which at the current moment was really just attempting to hook some fish for tonight's dinner . She didn't want Azula to get back into activities such as combat training so quickly , so she opted for an activity that would be relatively peaceful for them both . Luckily she had a spare fishing rod for the two of them .
Though from the look on Azula's face , the young girl looked quite impatient for their lack of catch . They had started a little more than an hour ago
" Can't you just use your tethering power to Pull them out ? " Azula asked , still remembering from a few days ago how Kazumi had simply pulled fish from the lake without breaking a sweat .
" I could ... but that would be unfair to the fishes now wouldn't it ? " Kazumi replied with a smile " And a meal is always best served when you worked for it , if you understand my meaning ..."
Azula grumbled but said nothing .
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" Hey Kazumi ... can you ... teach me swordsmanship again ? " Azula suddenly asked out of the blue .
Azula had to admit it ... but she had started to miss those practices and spars she had with Kazumi . While it wasn't exactly the same as firebending , swordsmanship had the same sort of freedom it gave her . Though ...her last practice with Kazumi had ended less than spectacularly ... so she was nervous to ask about it again.
Kazumi looked surprised at her question for a minute , before she smiled " Of course , Azula . I would love to teach you again " Kazumi chuckled a little " I actually already had plans to start teaching you again soon ..."
Azula was genuinely befuddled by how fast Kazumi accepted her back , she was almost certain that woman was going to refuse her or postpone it as much as possible . She had every right to do so .
Would Azula have done the same if she was in Kazumi's position ? Probably not . She's not foolish enough to believe that she had the same capacity for forgiveness and care that Kazumi has .
That's right ... Kazumi isn't me or Father .
Azula thought somberly to that day at Boiling Rock , when Mai had betrayed her and spit in her face about how she had miscalculated . And that she wasn't nearly as much of a people person as she believed herself to be .
She hated to admit it ... but Mai was right .
She really didn't know people the way that Ty Lee could get to know them or even in the same vein that Zuko could . She had always manipulated and controlled people by fear ... and when that fear ran out and was turned against her by her own father , she fell face first into the dirt .
So doesn't Kazumi deserve something at least ? No matter how small ?
Kazumi who had sheltered her and given her food , despite the fact that she had absolutely no duty or reason to . Kazumi who had put up with all of her crazy episodes and antics , giving her more than enough reason to throw her out on her face . Kazumi who had comforted her after her episodes and had helped her regain some essence of her sanity . Kazumi who had saved her from collapsing in on herself .
Kazumi who had done more for her , than her own mother ever did ...
Didn't she deserve something for all that ?
Azula thought hard for a minute before thinking of something . Though it was something she had never actually thought she would ever do in her life .
" Kazumi ..." Azula started, trying not to stammer over her words like an idiot .
" Yes Azula ? "
" I'm ... sorry ..."
Kazumi looked surprised at this " For what ? "
" For blasting you with fire on that day obviously " Azula said sarcastically but mentally snapped at herself to get herself under control " ... And I'm also sorry for ...trying to coax you into bending for me ... I'm sorry ..."
Kazumi looked shock for a minute , before she smiled gently " Azula ... you don't have to apologize ... I know you didn't mean it ..."
" But I do ... I ..." Azula tried to stay calm but was having a difficult time doing this " And I also wanted to thank you ...Kazumi ..."
" Huh ? "
" For ...taking care of me ... for sheltering me and giving me food even though you didn't have to ... for helping me during my episodes and and ..."
Azula was cut off when Kazumi suddenly put a hand on her shoulder .
" Azula ... while I am happy that you are apologizing ... you don't need to do either " Kazumi said " I know you weren't in your right mind when you attacked me ... and I helped you because I wanted to ..."
" B-But ... that's what you're supposed to do right ? " Azula asked " You're supposed to thank people when they do something good and sorry when you do something bad ...right ? "
" Well , yes that is how it is in most cases , but not all . It can be very complicated at times is what I'm saying ..." Kazumi tried to explain before she realized something " Azula ... you really don't understand how people work , do you ? "
Kazumi's question wasn't mocking in any way , it was very calm and gentle . But Azula still internally flinched at how true it was .
" Yes ... I don't ..." Azula muttered , but the older woman still heard her " I once thought myself a people person ... before a former friend of mine made me realize that I don't understand them nearly as well as I thought I did ... and it ended up becoming my downfall ..."
Kazumi looked Azula sadly . She knew the girl had a difficult childhood with an overbearing father and an absentee mother , but she didn't think it was so bad that she didn't even fully understand how human interaction worked .
" Then I'll teach you that too ..." Kazumi suddenly said out of the blue making Azula look at her in surprise .
" W-What ? "
" I'll teach you how people work Azula ..." Kazumi explained .
" Really ? "
" Yes , really-" Kazumi was interrupted when she felt the line of her fish hook was pulled and in an instant she knew what that meant .
Quick as she could , she pulled hard on her fishing rod and gave it a hard pull upward . Causing the hook to be flung upward , along with the fish that was stuck to it .
" I got it !" Kazumi held out her hand as she focused her tethering and that same green force pulled the fish to her in an instant .
Kazumi happily caught the fish , it was quite a big catch . Should be more than enough for the both of them .
" What happened to not using your powers to catch the fish ? " Azula said with a smirk .
" That was while they are in the water , if they are out of it , then they are fair game " Kazumi said with her own smile " Come on now , let's get this inside , this should be big enough for the both of us "
Azula followed her back to the house , feeling somewhat ...content that she was healing with Kazumi's help .
Mai had decided to go on a shopping trip , she had been in desperate need to get out of the palace as of late . She could only handle so much of listening to Zuko's ministers and advisors prattle on and on about pointless stuff .
...Okay , maybe it wasn't pointless but still ...
She would have originally gone alone , if not for Zuko's insistence that with the recent activity of some of Ozai's loyalist that it would be best that she went with a few guards . Mai had declined of course initially , she was more than capable of defending herself from any two-bit thug that is still loyal to Ozai of all people .
But after some back and forth , they both compromised to have Ty Lee accompany her .
Though Mai would have argued that having Ty Lee be her guard , the latter probably would end up acting more like her best friend rather than a professional guard .
" Mai ! Come check this store out ! They're selling cute flowers !" Ty Lee called out as she ran to such a store .
Not that Mai was really complaining . Ty Lee had dressed out of her Kyoshi Warrior outfit , to help her blend into the crowd . It was part of Mai's logic that the less they look like members of nobility or royalty , the less likely they are to get stared at by some people .
" Coming , coming ..." Mai said in her usual monotone voice , but that didn't stop her from complying with Ty's request .
" These flowers are beautiful but ... they don't have any fire lilies ..." Ty Lee said disappointed a bit " They would have been a great gift for Zuko ..."
" Why are you thinking about flowers for Zuko ? "
" I mean flowers for you to give to him silly ! " Ty Lee clarified .
" Why do you care what flowers I give Zuko ? " Mai raised an eyebrow " And shouldn't it be the other way around ? "
" Oh come on , Mai I think we both know that girl's get flowers for their boyfriends too all the time " Ty Lee gave a sly smile at her " I'm sure Zuko would appreciate some flowers from you Mai ..."
" You know what , I'm feeling hungry . Let's go get something to eat " Mai suddenly grabbed Ty's arm and proceeded to drag her to a nearby restaurant . While she respected and cared for Ty Lee , she certainly didn't want her butting into her love life of all things .
Once they entered they made their order for tea and some spicy fire noodles . Mai had to admit that she did enjoy some of the more simple food the Fire Nation had to offer ,rather than the extravagant delicacies that she was served when she was still living with her parents .
" So Ty Lee how has the Kyoshi Warriors been treating you ? " Mai asked , hoping to diver the topic away from her love life .
" Oh its going great !" Ty Lee said with a big smile " The Kyoshi Warriors are all so kind to me and friendly even though we ..."
Beat some of their sisters up and sent them all to prison ?
" So I hear you've been teaching them all chi-blocking ? " Mai asked again , hoping to cheer Ty up .
" Oh yeah ! Suki asked me to teach her and some of the other warriors chi-blocking " Ty Lee said , seeming to have been successfully cheered up " While they all haven't quite got it down , I can tell that some of them are improving ..."
Mai gave a small smile at that . She was happy that Ty Lee was fitting in so well with the Kyoshi Warriors .
Their food and drink arrived soon after and they began eating . Ty Lee had enough sense and knowledge of her to know that Mai didn't like to talk while she was eating , so neither really spoke a whole lot ...
But that meant they could hear what some of the other customers were saying .
" Hey did you hear ? My old uncle Bao went out of business ! "
" For real ? Why ? "
" Because nobody's buying up any of his stock . He used to sell weapons and armor to soldiers stationed around his villages area ... but with the rise in taxes , he had to close up his shop entirely ! "
Mai looked at Ty Lee who was also hearing this conversation with a worried look in her eye . Mai gestured for her to keep quiet as they listened to the two men talking to each other and openly dissing off her boyfriend .
" And to add salt to the wound that damn idiot Fire Lord wants to pay reparation money to those damn water tribe savages and dirt eaters " The man let out a humorless laugh " Where does he think that money comes from ? Out of thin air ? Because of his sorry ass , taxes have gone up and many business are barely scrapping by in small towns ... and its probably going to get worse soon "
Mai had enough . She had lost her appetite .
" Ty Lee , let's get out of here ..." Mai placed the money on the counter and pulled Ty Lee . The acrobat did not look happy at all , though she assumes it was more of the fact of how the low the Fire Nation see her boyfriend .
As they walk through the streets and back to the palace , Mai looked up at it , no longer did the palace look so grand ...
Zuko ...what are you doing to our nation ?
Back then before he became Fire Lord , Zuko could count the number of times he had wanted to burn a whole room to the ground . Either out of frustration or anger at his father or even Azula .
But after he became Fire Lord , Zuko had quite literally lost count of the number of times he had that kind of urge . Though the bringer of his frustration and anger now would in most cases be his own advisors and ministers who would bombard him with their concerns .
And now he was stuck in yet another meeting with a few of his advisors and ministers , all of which were bombarding him with their problems .
" My lord , please you must see these reports on our agricultural sector " One of his ministers practically pleaded with him " Since the end of the war , merchants have increased the price of produce they buy from farmers and reselling them to the people . While the agricultural sector is still operating at... moderate capacity , I have some concerns that-"
" But your sector is still operating at a good capacity correct ? " Zuko waited for the minister to nod his head before continuing " Then what's the problem ? "
" Well ...nothing at the moment your majesty , I was just trying to make sure that we don't encounter any difficulties later " His minister tried to speak in his most polite tone , without glaring at his lord .
" If there's no problem , than there's no need to worry about it for now " Zuko said , just desperate to get out of this meeting already .
One his advisors Jiang coughed to catch his attention " My lord , I believe what minister Feng is trying to say is that we just want to ensure that we don't run into any difficulties in the long run "
Zuko felt a headache coming on " If there aren't any actual problems to deal with at the moment , than I don't see the need to go rushing in to fix anything " Zuko stood up to end the meeting before it could drag on for any longer " I think this meeting is done . Good day to you all "
If Jiang was any less of a man or a shrewd advisor , he would have glared at his 'lord' for acting like a child who was bored at class and was looking for any possible excuse to get out as soon as possible .
But he was much wiser than that .
" Of course , my lord ..."
It took everything in his power for Jiang not to make the 'lord' sound more of an insult than anything else .
Hot damn , this chapter was a tough one to write ! I am by no means an economics expert nor very political savvy but I do hope this chapter was satisfying to read if nothing else .
And yeah , I really wanted to show Zuko's rule is not nearly as perfect as he wants it to be . Leading a nation that just came out of a hundred year war isn't an easy thing to do , especially for someone like Zuko who truly does want to do the right thing but lacks a certain something that Ozai did have to lead the nation effectively . I'll leave it to you to guess what it was .
But anyway sorry if this chapter was a bit tame in regards to Kazumi and Azula's scene , but I really wanted to have a moment of peace between them and to show that Azula really doesn't understand how people work . So Kazumi steps in and has to teach her how people properly work , which I'm certain will be fun to watch .
With that said , I'll see all of you in the next one .
Angel Out.