Avatar: The Legend of Azula, Book 1: Air

I'm not her...,"Cheng felt himself blush even more. He was her boyfriend but he wasn't about to admit it to Kuei. He had to wonder whether Kuei was just teasing or if he suspected something.

Azula was completely stunned. She couldn't move from her spot and she could only stare at her father's grave. A sudden anger filled her. She should've been there to help! With the Avatar's help they could've defended the old capital and her father and grandfather could've been saved! Her clenched fists started shaking.

~-~

Toph acted normally. "He's not my boyfriend!" She blushed not because she was embarrassed, but because it was true. Then to change the subject, "Let's leave as soon as possible. The avatar will soon be ours."

Kuei

"Very well. We can leave now if you wish. I have a ship prepared and everything." Kuei said, smirking. It was hard to tell if he had been serious or not. He stood up and waited for the two to follow.

Iroh

Iroh put a hand of Azula's shoulder, as if sensing her thoughts. "You couldn't have done anything to help Azula. If you had been there and had stayed behind, you could have died as well."

Cheng looked over at Toph, still blushing a little, before following Kuei. Despite himself, he felt a little hurt that Toph had to deny him being her boyfriend. It reminded him that people would never accept a commoner like him with their princess. He spoke, "What am I supposed to be for the circus?"

"How do you know? By that time I might have actually learned more than one element! Or I could've used the Avatar State. You don't k-know! I could've saved them! It's my fault they're dead!" Azula blamed herself for the death of her father and grandfather. She also blamed herself for all of the destruction that the Earth Empire had caused.

~-~

"Maybe you could be the blind girl's pet monkey." Toph remarked at Cheng's question as she herself started to follow Kuei.

Kuei

Kuei gave a chuckle. "Actually Cheng, I saved the best role for you. You will be the sword swallower."

Iroh

"No Azula, it is not your fault. You couldn't have prevented it. If anything, you may have died yourself. We couldn't stand losing you as well." Iroh said, bringing his niece into a hug.

"You mean, I'm not already?" Cheng whispered to Toph teasingly before his eyes widened at Kuei's comment, "I can't do that!"

Azula didn't totally forgive herself, but she accepted her Uncle's hug. Her unshed tears suddenly started spilling down her face.

~-~

Toph laughed. "I think you'd be good at it! Just imagine sticking a sword down your throat." 'I suggest getting a fake one that collapses in on itself so that it looks like your swallowing it.' She snickered.

Cheng rolled his eyes at Toph. He decided to tease her a little. He whispered into her ear, "If I die, you won't be able to kiss me anymore." He smirked at her.

Yue

"I...I think we should leave for now, Aang." Yue said. So, that was what had happened to their father. It...it was so sad for Azula and Zuko. Having traveled all this way in the hopes of seeing their parents, to find out one of them was long dead, it was tragic.

Aang

"Ok," Aang said, looking at the family gathered around the grave. He could understand how they felt, it would be like him losing Monk Gyatso. He wanted to comfort them, but he didn't think he could say anything that would help.

Iroh

"This shouldn't be a sad time," Iroh said after awhile, "This should be a happy one. You have both returned safe and sound. How about we have dinner early? We can take about all the good times we've shared with your father."

Kuei

"What's this I hear about a kiss?" Kuei asked, catching a fraction of Cheng's last statement.

(LOL. I love how we are torturing those two.)
Cheng felt himself blush bright red. He cursed himself for mentioning that when Kuei was within earshot. He replied, "Nothing. I was just telling a joke."

(Has On Ji lost both parents? I'm just wondering.)

((I hadn't really thought about that. Hmm....yes, both of her parents are dead. If you're ok with that.))

(Yeah I'm fine with it.)

On Ji looked at Zuko and Azula and sympathyed with them. She knew how it felt to lose a parent. After all she lost both. But she didn't want to make this about her, so she just said.

"It'll be ok you guys. It gets easier after a while."

"Oh ya, it was a hilarious joke too. I called him a pet monkey and he said that it would be funny if the Avatar's dragon kissed a monkey." Toph quickly improvised on the comment earlier.

~-~

Azula pulled away from her Uncle and lifted an eyebrow at On Ji. How did she know any- She then realized that she hadn't seen Lu Ten or his wife anywhere. Her eyes filled with sympathy for the girl.

((Acutally, On Ji is Lu Ten's granddaughter. Her parents were OCs.))

Kuei

"Oh really now? I see." Kuei said. He guided the two out of the building and toward the port, where a vessel was waiting for them to use. As they walked, Kuei smirked and added,

"Oh, and I saw that kiss a few weeks ago."

Iroh

"Come, this is suppose to be a happy time. Let us have dinner early. We can remember all the good times we had with your father. What do you say?" Fire Lord Iroh asked them all. Ursa nodded in agreement and Zuko said yes.

Cheng felt himself flush bright red at Kuei's words. He had known all along. He glared at Cheng's back before asking, "What kiss?"

"Really? We kissed?" Toph acted confused, but a light tint came to her cheeks.

~-~

Azula nodded as her stomach growled. She let out a sheepish laugh. "I am a little hungry..." Her mind didn't stray from her father though.

Kuei

"Don't play dumb with me Toph. I may sometimes act like a fool, but I'm not. I approve. Besides, I think you two make a cute couple. I'm just glad you don't like any of the older men on your ship." Kuei teased, smiling.

Iroh

"Great! Yue, Aang, you can both join us. Come, I imagine the cooks are done by now. Let us go." Iroh said. He walked toward the palace. Ursa and Zuko started to follow him.

Cheng sighed in defeat, "Why didn't you say anything before?" He glared at the older man. He was obviously enjoying this.

On Ji smiled kindly at Azula. "It's ok that you didn't know. And besides I still have great-grandfather Iroh(he is her great grandfather right?) and you guys too."

She fellowed said great grandfather. She wasn't all that hungry, but it would be a good chance to catch up.

[[ Sorry guys. I've had VBS. ]]

Toph shrugged. Fine Kuei knew. Or maybe he didn't and just acted like he did so that one of us would spill the beans and then he would know for certain...

~-~

Azula nodded at On Ji then followed Uncle Iroh. She looked over at Yue and Aang to see if they were following.

Cheng sighed as he rolled his eyes. He spoke, "Why didn't you tell us before that you knew?"