Dark Puck - Blood Ties Finale

Ichiro shifted idly from foot to foot just in front of Mai’s door.  He still wasn’t certain if this was a good idea, but hiding all his knowledge from his siblings was taking its toll on him, and he had to tell somebody.  Lady Mai was the best option.

…well, no, not really, but he wanted to tell her anyway.  For… other reasons.

Finally, a servant of some kind answered the door. "Can I help you?"

“I would like to see Lady Mai, please,” he replied.

"May I tell her who's calling?"

“Ichiro.”

The door was neatly shut in his face, and then, a few minutes later, reopened by the same servant, who gestured for him to come in with a somewhat sour expression.

Didn’t want to let me in, huh? Ichiro thought smugly.  Afraid your lady will catch Commoner?  “Thank you,” he said, stepping into the house.

Mai was waiting for him in the smaller parlour. "Hello."

“Lady Mai.”  He bowed.  “A pleasure, as always.”

She nodded. "What is it, Ichiro?"

He steeled himself.  “I… wanted to tell you some things.  Things… that I can’t tell anybody else.”

She nodded. "All right." She crossed the room, then kicked the closed door. From the muffled not-quite-curse, someone had been pressed up against the other side, listening in. "What is it you wanted to talk about?" she asked, still unruffled, reclaiming her seat.

“For starters, where I got that scroll I asked you to decipher eight months ago.”

"...I see."

He hesitated, then said, “It was in my father’s study.”  Best not to draw it out.

"Your parents were involved?"

“Very much so,” he said softly.  “Their affiliation with the Róng Yào was why I left home in the first place, and took Yui with me.”

"...So were mine," Mai admitted. "But only peripherally. They provided money for the organization."

Ichiro closed his eyes.  “My father died in the palace.”

"...I see."

The younger man stared at his palm.  “He would have killed Kouji.”

"So you took him out instead."

Ichiro nodded.

"I'm sorry you had to do that."

“I don’t know if I am or not,” he replied.  “He was a rebel and a traitor, and would have killed his own son just for being an earthbender, let alone being as close as he was to the Firelord.”

"He was still your father," Mai pointed out.

“Who arranged to have his daughter kidnapped so his youngest son would be drawn away from the palace.”

She shrugged. "I'm not arguing that he didn't deserve it, just that it's okay to regret doing it. Ask Zuko what he thinks about his own father's death sometime."

“…I think I’ll pass.  He’s stressed enough as it is.”

She shrugged again. "Maybe not now, but at some point."

He nodded.  “Well… I felt you should know.  I’m sorry about lying when we first met, but… I couldn’t let Kouji or Yui know.”

"That's fine. I'd rather my own parents' affiliations didn't get broadcast, either. I don't know whether or not my brother knows, nor do I really care."

Another nod.

"Why tell me?" she asked, after a long silence.

“…because I feel I can trust you with it.”

She nodded. "All right."

Ichiro hesitated.  “…I… guess I should return home now.”

Mai shrugged. "Your sibs are both staying."

“They both have jobs in the palace,” he pointed out.  “Zuko’s personal assistant and royal babysitter.  I’m just a farmer.”

"You're also their brother," she responded.

“How would I make a living?” he asked her.  “I won’t say that there’s no reason for me to stay — it’d be another lie — but I’m an adult.  I have to think about things other than what I want.”

She nodded again. "All right. It's your choice."

He looked at her for a long moment, and something in his golden eyes warmed before he looked away.

She smiled faintly. "Maybe I'll see you again."

A returning smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.  “Quite likely.  I intend to visit, at the very least.”

"Then I'll see you later."

He bowed.  “Yes.”

She rose and bowed back. "Is there anything you need or want?"

Ichiro hesitated, then leaned in and kissed her.

Startled, Mai kissed back, after a second. When he pulled away, she slugged him. "Next time," she hissed, "Ask."

He looked startled, but bowed.  “Yes, my lady.”  His tone was contrite, but now his eyes glittered.

"Is there anything else?"

“No, my lady.”

"Then I'll see you next time you're in the capital."

Another bow, and the young farmer took his leave.

Mai smiled faintly to herself, then shook her stinging hand.

 

 

*                       *                       *

 

Several months after Liàng had initially been ordered by the general to ‘lie low’, he received a message by hawk that said simply, ‘It’s over.’  The smith smiled on reading it — so many years of working for the old general had enabled him to read undertones.  Not only was the situation with the Róng Yào complete, Liàng’s active employment with the Dragon of the West had come to an end.

The big smith promptly packed his belongings and bought passage to Ember Island.  It was finally time for him to make a living the way he wanted to.