Authors Note: Vosck Thank you so much for your review! I'm so glad you like the story so far! And thank you to my new story followers Vosck, livingwitchfun, malabosanka, and yuki0123! You guys are amazing!
Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing.
Soo Ming left the carriage in a huff, her face colored by thinly veiled rage. If there was anything that infuriated her, being condescended to by Earth Kingdom filth was it. She stormed through the shabby inn and up to her room, scattering the innkeeper's wife and children like a flock of budgies as she passed. She opened her door and was met with the stench of burnt flesh.
Princess Azula was perched on the end of Soo Ming's bed, inspecting her claw like fingernails. An earth kingdom man lay dead beneath her feet.
"I'm surprised, Soo Ming. You're getting rusty in your old age." Azula greeted with a bored smirk. Soo Ming hurried to shut her door and turned to the princess with a practiced look of indifference.
"Princess, it is an honor." Soo Ming bowed to the princess and flicked her eyes down to the dead man.
"He was following you. I'm astonished you didn't finish him yourself. You can't afford to be sloppy, Soo Ming." Azula admonished. SooMing's eyes narrowed dangerously as she stood taller.
"Sloppy is bringing a dead body into my room." Soo Ming bit back sweetly. Azula's smirk vanished and a scowl replaced it.
"My father is looking for you. He isn't pleased that you disappeared without his permission." Azula returned to inspecting her fingernails. Soo Ming's sharp intake of breath was almost imperceptible. Almost.
"I am a free woman. I was unaware I needed the Fire Lord's permission to attend to family business." Soo Ming knew when she left that there would be consequences, but as the Fire Lord's favorite concubine, punishments were only so severe.
"You do when your family business includes a multi-bender." Azula chimed sweetly. The two women were well versed in saccharin arguments. Soo Ming's brows knit together in confusion and Azula scoffed.
"Didn't you notice? The day you snuck into my personal guard and impersonated a fire nation soldier, your dear little niece redirected my attack… after she spent the whole time earth bending."
"No." Soo Ming scoffed. "You must be mistaken, Princess." Azula glared at Soo Ming and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Either way, father has ordered you to return. You are to tell me the location of your bastard niece and board my ship to wait while I capture her." Azula's cruel smile was genuine as she watched Soo Ming's mask falter.
Kitsu wiped the powder from her face with a damp cloth, rubbing at her rouged lips as she gazed into a Mirror Ai held for her. Kitsu didn't want company, but at the moment she was too nervous to let the girl out of her sight for long. Seeing herself in a mirror was not something she was used to. The silver surface reflected a face that was so much older than how she saw herself.
Once Kitsu removed the last of the makeup Chen applied earlier that day she gave the soiled cloth to Ai who took it and carried both the cloth and the mirror to the washroom. Kitsu rubbed her aching forehead and took a cup of tea from the bedside before sipping gingerly. The tingling sensation of fresh peppermint relaxed her throat and made her sigh in relief. She was startled when the door to the bedroom opened and her husband slipped in, a look of deep concentration on his face.
Kitsu frowned deeply and turned her face to the far wall, not wanting to look at him. She wanted to shout at him and tell him what a fool he was.
"How are you feeling?" Zuko asked Kitsu as he crossed the room. He stopped awkwardly next to the bed, and clenched his fist when she did not respond. The angry set of her jaw and the adversarial square of her shoulders made it obvious that she was not pleased with him.
Ai entered the bedroom and nearly jumped when she saw the tempestial lord next to the bed. "Oh!" She gasped, earning sour looks from both of the young nobles. "I'll um… I'll go fetch some fresh towels." She squeaked as she scurried out of the room. As the two were left in silence Zuko rubbed his neck and looked at the floor, unsure of what to do.
"You're upset with me." He watched her scoff and shake her head as she crossed her arms.
"How could you be so stupid?" Kitsu snapped, her anger getting the better of her. Zuko grimaced at her insult and clenched his fists.
"What?" He snapped back in outrage. Kitsu reached into her sleeve and tossed the items Ai had shown her onto the bed. Zuko's eyes widened as he patted his sleeves in a futile attempt to reassure himself that he hadn't done what he clearly had. "Shit!" He swore angrily.
"Do you not understand how important it is to keep my heritage a secret!?" Kitsu hissed under her breath as she waved her hand at the incriminating items. "Now I'm forced to employ a maid in order to keep her quiet!" She growled. Zuko's brows knit together and then his face fell as he realized how badly he'd messed up.
"Of course I do!" He bit back. "It was an accident!"
"Why did you even bring these with you!?" Kitsu asked in disbelief. She couldn't fathom what had possessed him. Zuko clenched his jaw and searched for an acceptable answer but he couldn't come up with one. He'd stolen them in order to get more information about her but he certainly couldn't say that now.
"I'm sorry." He ground out reluctantly. "It was a mistake." He murmured the second part as he fell into the chair next to the bed and rubbed his face. Kitsu watched him and felt her anger fizzle as he rubbed his eyes. He was just as exhausted as she was and she felt guilty for not handling her anger better.
"When we leave you'll destroy them, or toss them, or whatever you have to do in order to get them as far away from me as possible." Kitsu had no choice but to destroy her family heirlooms. The Beifong coin was safe, and even beneficial, but any ties to the fire nation could get her killed, or worse. Zuko nodded solemnly and watched her lay back in exhaustion. She took a small sip from her teacup and sighed.
"I'm sorry." Zuko repeated, this time with more contrition. "For this and for earlier. I just…"
"Needed time to think?" Kitsu asked as she rubbed at her damp cheek with her sleeve.
"Yeah." Zuko searched for something to say but came up empty. Somehow he still wasn't very good at talking to her. Kitsu looked out the window and sighed.
"It's fine." She mumbled.
"I'll get rid of them tonight." Zuko took the items and stowed them up his sleeve. Kitsu nodded and set down her cup of tea.
"What did you want?" Kitsu asked as she clenched and unclenched her fists nervously.
"I wanted to spend time with my wife." Zuko said with an aloof shrug. The sentence didn't sound the way he expected it too, coming from his own lips. When would this lie end? Kitsu nodded and leaned back against her pillow as she looked at the ceiling. What should she say to that?
"Okay." She murmured. "Would you like some peppermint tea?" She asked, waving an absent hand towards the pot on her bedside.
"Sure." Before she could reach over and pour him a cup he snatched the teapot and gave her a chiding glance. "I should be taking care of you. Not the other way around." He announced stubbornly. Kitsu let out a laugh at that and smiled despite herself.
"Whatever you say, Lee." She clasped her hands and watched him pour himself a cup and gulp it down eagerly. She didn't miss the look of relief on his face as he drank. A knock at the door startled them both just before the heavy doors swung open and Ming Ming entered, followed by Lord Gumo.
"I'm sorry to intrude like this, My Lady." The lord clasped his hands behind his back. "I am Lord Gumo." He turned to Ming Ming. "Fetch, Mooshi and arrange a carriage. We mustn't delay." Kitsu and Zuko shared a pointed glance at this.
"What's happening?" Zuko wasn't going to beat around the bush. Something was wrong. He could tell by the tense set of Lord Gumo's shoulders.
"One of my men went missing while investigating a possible threat to your wife. He was found dead, covered in severe burns. He appeared to be tortured to death. I do not know who is behind the attack and I will not risk your safety. You will be escorted to Ba Sing Se by my men immediately."
Zuko ground his teeth. Azula had discovered them. They could already be too late. He turned to Kitsu and was startled to find her eyes wide in fear. She was shaking and he instinctively reached out and clasped her hand in his own. Her eyes flicked to his and her lip quivered lightly.
"It will be okay." Zuko heard himself lie. "I won't let her hurt you." That, however, was not a lie. Iroh rushed into the room and gave a quick bow to Lord Gumo before giving Zuko a dower glance.
" Lord Gumo, I was informed that we will be leaving immediately. Has something happened?"
As Lord Gumo relayed the terrible news to Mooshi, Kitsu felt herself disassociate from her surroundings. Memories of running for her life after her parent's murder flooded her mind and she shuddered. Her hand drifted to the scar on her neck and she felt like she would be ill.
"I will send Dongmei with you to look after your wife." At these words Kitsu snapped back into reality and shocked herself.
"No." She said firmly. The three men turned to her in surprise. "Not Dongmei. You will need her here after they come. Send Ai with me. We will look after her." Kitsu didn't recognize the confidence in her own voice, but Lord Gumo nodded in response. When did she learn to boss lords around like some queen?
"As you wish, Lady Beifong. Ming Ming, retrieve Ai and have her pack lightly." Lord Gumo turned to Mooshi and Lee before his housekeeper even made it out of the room. "You will travel by carriage as far as the ferry, you should be safe then. I will arrange for your passage and send word for the Beifong to collect you there." With that he crossed the room and stood next to Kitsu.
"I had hoped to get to know you better, Lady Kitsu. I know your Aunt will be very pleased to finally meet you." Lord Gumo gave Kitsu a bow and a reassuring smile.
Kitsu's eyes went wide at the mention of her aunt. "Which aunt are you referring to, Lord Gumo?" Her heart began to thump in her chest. Surely he didn't know anything about Soo Ming the Viper.
"Lady Poppy Beifong. Your mother's only sister." Lord Gumo pitied the child. He did not know the entire circumstances behind her mother's disappearance so many years ago, but he knew enough to have guessed who Kitsune was. She was the spitting image of her mother, he saw the resemblance the first moment he clapped eyes on her.
Kitsu swallowed and nodded. Her mother told her stories about Poppy, always meek and gentle. Of all the people in her extended family she could meet, Poppy was the one who frightened her the least. What preyed upon her nerves was how much Lord Gumo might know, but he never mentioned the other half of her family, or her damning lineage.
The servants were in a flurry, packing trunks and preparing traveling items. As soon as Dongmei heard of her patient's impending departure she rushed to Kitsu's room, and set about preparing her. The old woman's knobby fingers wrapped fresh bandages around Kitsu's leg.
"So you will be taking Ai with you?" Dongmei thrummed under her breath as she began another layer of wrapping to protect Kitsu's leg on the journey. Kitsu frowned and nodded silently. She was sure that Dongmei was not pleased with her decision. Ai waited to the side with traveling robes and boots for Kitsu. Zuko had gone with his uncle to help prepare the carriage and saddle Poki. Everything was moving so quickly and Kitsu felt sick at the idea of running again.
She felt like a paper tiger; She was brave and strong in her little home, but now that she was exposed to the world she was powerless.
"You must promise me something." Dongmei began sternly. "Whatever trouble you are mixed up in, you will not allow it to consume my daughter. You are not much older than she is, but I can tell you have a solid head on your shoulders. She is your ward, and you are responsible for protecting her." Dongmei yanked the final bandage snug and Kitsu yelped as it sinched tightly around her wound. Kitsu blinked back the tears that welled in her eyes and nodded vigorously at Dongmei. She couldn't find any words to answer the old healer. Kitsu was overwhelmed and felt like she might drown if she tried to speak.
Ai frowned at her mother's harshness and bit her lip. It had never occurred to her that she might become a burden to Lady Kitsu. "I'll take it from here, Mother." Ai brushed her mother's hands away from Kitsu's bandage, ignoring the scowl of disappointment that Dongmei shot her way. Ai pulled Kitsu's Nagajuban shift down over her leg and offered Kitsu a warm smile. "Let's get you dressed, okay Kitsu?"
Dongmei looked at her daughter agape when she addressed the lady by a pet name, and stood up. She was incensed at the impropriety of it, but the lady did not reprimand Ai for her insolence and the healer was too angry with her daughter to say another word. Dongmei turned on her heel and left the room in a simmering rage.
Ai watched her mother's back disappear through the doorway and shook her head. Deep inside, Ai knew that was all the farewell she was going to get from her mother. Without another word she helped Kitsu to dress in the heavy traveling Kimono Ming Ming laid out for their journey. It was a bit too big for Kitsu, but the extra weight would help to keep her weakened body warm. The dark olive Kimono matched the beige obi that Ai fit around Kitsu's stomach.
Zuko rushed back into the room and marched straight to Kitsu's side. This was his element, efficiency in turmoil was something Zuko was extremely good at, but he could see by the blank stare on Kitsu's face that she was not handling the commotion well.
"The carriage is ready." Zuko announced as he stood by Ai's side and looked down at Kitsu who sat on the edge of the bed. Kitsu's eye drifted up to Zuko's and he watched her throat roll as she swallowed and nodded in understanding. "Ai, go out to the carriage and make sure it will be comfortable for my wife. I'll bring her out in a moment." His eyes never left Kitsu's as he spoke.
Ai bowed and scurried out of the room, grabbing the basket of medical supplies as she went.
Zuko sat next to Ai on the bed and watched her face. "You okay?" He asked. Kitsu shook her head slowly. Too much was happening at once. It felt like the earth would open up and swallow her at any moment.
"It's going to be okay." Zuko took Kitsu's hand in an attempt to reassure her, but she did not seem convinced. They didn't have time to mess around with emotions. Zuko nodded and turned his shoulders toward her. "They've already packed the rolling chair on the carriage so I'll have to carry you." He stated, not beating around the bush. Kitsu looked at him alarmed but he did not give her a chance to protest before he slipped his arm under her knees and the other behind her back and lifted her off the bed. Kitsu yelped and clung to his neck.
"Don't you dare drop me!" She snapped as he began to carry her across the room. Zuko couldn't suppress the chuckle that rose from his throat as she looked up at him, flushed and indignant. "What's so funny!?" She barked at him.
"You are." He answered with a smirk. Kitsu went even redder and remained silent as he carried her out of the palace. In the courtyard the carriage waited for them, flanked on each side by six guards. Kitsu was shocked to see that she would have such a large retinue and felt herself calming a bit at the thought.
Zuko carried Kitsu over to the carriage where Ai waited with a pillow and blanket. Before he lifted her inside Kitsu caught sight of Poki, saddled and waiting. Zuko noticed her gaze and lifted her into the carriage.
"I'm going to ride him with the guards." Zuko explained. If they come back we will need as many fighters as we can get."
"But your arm." Kitsu grabbed his sleeve as he pulled away from her. Zuko paused and shrugged.
"I'll be fine." Zuko tugged his sleeve out of her hand and stepped out of the carriage just as Iroh appeared. The two men nodded at each other in passing. Iroh climbed into the carriage where Ai was fussing over Kitsu and Zuko swung up into Poki's saddle. Lord Gumo descended the palace steps and crossed the courtyard to Zuko's side where he offered the young man his hand.
"Safe travels, Lee." Lord Gumo gripped Zuko's arm firmly as they shook hands. "Keep her safe." Zuko nodded solemnly, wondering when it had become his job to look after Kitsu, but the truth was, he didn't mind it as much as he should.
"I will." Zuko answered before releasing lord Gumo's hand and spurring Poki forward to the head of the column. "Move out!" Zuko called, perfectly at ease in a position of command.
Inside the carriage Kitsu heard Lee bark the orders to begin marching and felt the carriage lurch into motion.