The Girl and the Fire Lord

31 Three Words - Kaori's POV

It had been nearly impossible to get any sleep. By the time I finally shut my eyes, the sun woke me up again. I covered the dark circles under my eyes with makeup, put on a soft, pink dress, and walked to the garden.

I got there a bit early so I would have some time to enjoy the flowers before Zuko got there, but it looked like he had the same idea. When I walked down the path and turned the corner, he was picking flowers.

"I love those ones." I said, and he jumped up.

"Oh! It's you. What a beautiful sight for sore eyes." He said, walking to me and wrapping me in a long tight hug, he buried his face in my hair and I laid mine on his chest. He felt so much like home.

"I missed you so much it burned my heart a little bit." I said, and he laughed.

"I know the feeling. Your eyes put me at peace like nothing else." Zuko swept my hair back behind my ear and held my face sweetly in his hand. His other arm wrapped firmly around my waist and he pulled me in, sinking his lips passionately into mine. I through my arms around his neck and let my body become an extension of his, moving my lips to his rhythm and enjoying him. If we had been anywhere but the middle of the garden, I might have let myself enjoy him a little bit deeper. He pulled away for just a moment.

"Kaori, I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm away from you. I feel like I've just found what I've been looking for and now I have to leave."

"Then don't." I said, pressing my lips back to his and combing my fingers through his hair. He pulled back again.

"But I really have to."

"Then I'll come with you." I leaned forward again, but he kept space between us.

"Kaori, that's crazy talk. I have Earth kingdom officials threatening to duel me. The people there are extremely unhappy with me and our nation as a whole right now. I don't know how dangerous it's going to be."

"You'll protect me."

"I'd do my best, but I can't risk that."

"Zuko, I know you'd be able to keep me safe."

"Yes, but I don't know that!" He yelled. This time I pulled back. "I'm so sorry... I don't know why I yelled. I shouldn't have raised my voice."

His breathing quickened and I saw a glimmer in his eye. Something else was wrong here. I lead him to the little bench by the pond, rested my head on his shoulder, and held his hand.

"Are you okay Zuko?"

"Yes. I just don't want you to be in danger."

"No, I'm not necessarily talking about that. I just mean in general... are you okay?"

He was quiet for a moment before he answered.

"I'm not really sure right now." His voice trembled and I held his hand tighter. "I feel like I make things worse no matter what I do, and not just a little bit worse, but a lot worse." I kissed his arm gently.

"You've made my life nothing but better." I reassured him.

"But thousands - heck, maybe even millions - of people would say the exact opposite."

"So show them the real you."

He was quiet for a second. "Huh?"

"Show them who you really are. If they would say you've made their life nothing but worse, they're grossly misinformed."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for example, these Earth kingdom people. Would they really have been better off under your Father's tyrannical rule as the 'phoenix' or whatever it was he wanted everyone to call him? Because I'm pretty sure the answer to that is absolutely not."

"Well-"

"And what about the Northern and Southern water tribes? You've been funding the rebuilding of the Southern water tribe and have sent your soldiers to protect them. The Northern water tribe is getting paychecks each month for sending you just two women and you've expanded their territories."

"But the airbenders-"

"The airbenders would be nothing without you. The fact that you're holding the whole world together right now so Aang can rebuild his culture and history is something they will forever be grateful for - both those in the afterlife and the little airbenders that are sure to come in the future thanks to you."

"Thanks to Aang. And the airbenders would still be alive if it weren't for us."

"No Zuko. That's what I'm saying. Thanks to you. Aang wouldn't have been able to defeat your father without your training and patience and selflessness. And plus, you had nothing to do with the death of the airbenders and the raid of the air temple. You don't need to say 'us' when the blame falls on your ancestors, not you. You've made the world a better place. It was your father that made it that way. You can't blame yourself."

"But what if I turn out just like him?"

"You have the power to change that, and I know you'll choose the best path. You do it every day when you wake up. I know you'll continue to choose what's right to keep the balance in our world. You're the best Firelord our nation has ever seen."

He was quiet for a bit, and a single tear slid down his cheek and onto our hands. I kissed where it landed and looked up to him.

"Zuko, you are good through and through. I love you." The words poured out like honey and though my heart sped as I awaited his response, I wouldn't have taken those three words back for the world.

"I love you too, Kaori. So much. So deeply. You mean everything to me." He wrapped me in the softest hug and we stayed there for what felt like forever but was still too short a time.

"I know you're scared to let me, but please consider having me join you. I don't want to be apart from you for that long. I don't think I could bear knowing you're going into this almost alone." I asked. He pulled back and looked me deeply in the eyes. My heart nearly burst every time he looked at me like that.

"I don't want to be apart from you either. I'll bring an extra guard - one of our best ones - and make sure he knows that it is his duty to protect you at all costs, even if I can't-"

"So you'll let me come with you?!"

"I will. I want to be with you."

"I want to be with you too! I'm so thrilled. I'll go pack up my things and meet you at your room! When should I plan to be there?" I stood up eagerly, wanting to prepare as quickly as possible and join him.

"Wait just a second." He said, taking my hand and pulling me gently back to the bench. "I want to ask you something before you go..."

"Yes?"

"Kaori, I know I have a lot of growing to do. I know we haven't known each other very long, I'm not very good at talking about... feelings and things, and we still have a lot to learn about each other, but I know I love you. If you'd like it, I'd really love for you to be my girlfriend."

My heart exploded.

"Of course! I'd love it more than anything else in the world!" I said, flinging myself into a kiss. He smiled and kissed me back, but harder.

"You just made me the happiest man alive. Go pack, and I'll see you at my room in an hour. Is that enough time?"

"More than enough. I'll see you soon." I kissed him once more and then stood up to walk away.

"I love you Kaori." He said, absolutely beaming.

"I love you too."