𝐆𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 [ᴢᴜᴋᴏ]

Kya: Chapter 2

Kya sat down beside her sister not looking at any of the royals. Her stomach tightened when the Fire Lord addressed her directly. She never had any problem talking to the royals but this time it was different.

"How have you been Kya? I hope you're still doing your best in school."

The said girl looked up with a convincingly forced smile. "Thank you, your Highness. School has been good so far."

The Fire Lord nodded before turning to her father.

Kya's eyes flickered next to the Fire Lord to Ozai who had already been looking at her. They connected eyes and Kya gulped but didn't look away. She knew she couldn't marry him. The girl didn't like him and she didn't have the nerve to become a royal.

Ozai on the other hand, couldn't calm his quickly beating heart. He had been waiting for this moment for too long already. The Fire Prince had been in love with his brother's best friend for a very long time now. It had taken him a few weeks of persuading his father to ask for Kya's hand.

After becoming of marriage age, Azulon had hinted at an arranged marriage. Ozai was quick to tell his father that he wanted to marry Kya. Azulon didn't agree at first as he wanted a marriage between Ozai and the grandchild of Avatar Roku, Ursa. He needed two powerful bloodlines to come together.

However, Ozai didn't let lose and so Azulon gave in despite her difference.

The small talk had been going on for what felt like forever. Kya took a breath in order to calm her heart and get rid of the nervousness.

Michi glanced at her older sister. She put a hand on her leg and shot her a reassuring smile. The youngest knew that Kya loved her boyfriend deeply. Despite not knowing anything about her sister's boyfriend, she was certain that it would have severe consequences for Kya if she went up against something that involved the Fire Lord. Michi simply hoped her sister would cooperate and just go with it.

"Now, the actual reason we're here today, is because of your oldest daughter," Azulon said directly to her father. He liked the girl despite her difference and despite what the others were saying. She had always been respectful and nice to his family. So when Ozai wanted to marry her, he gave in. He thought that maybe someone genuinely good would be a good addition to his family as well.

This sentence had everyone tense and Kya stiffened as she looked between the Fire Lord and her father. Briefly looking at her mother, she saw that she was sending her a warning look. Kya knew what that meant; do or say anything inappropriate or disrespectful and it's over.

"Both of our children are of marriage age now. I do not want to pressure you as I am not here as Fire Lord today, but as a father." Azulon's eyes flickered over to the tense girl briefly. "I'm sure there are a lot of young men who want to ask for your daughter's hand. But I would like you to consider that a marriage between our children is a possibility, should you only agree."

Her father nodded. "Of course we will. Thank you."

Kya's heart dropped when she saw her mother smiling sweetly. She knew she was screwed. Her mother's face already screamed agreed.

"Then we don't want to disturb you for any longer," Azulon said and stood up. Everyone else in the room doing the same right away.

"Please, have dinner with us," Kya's father said but Azulon only shook his head and put a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Thank you but I still have some work to do." He turned to Kya and nodded briefly. "Take care Kya."

She bowed her head quickly. "Thank you for your visit, Fire Lord Azulon."

He nodded before putting his hand on Ozai's shoulder and leaving the living room together with her father.

The three females were left behind and silence consumed them for a few seconds before the mother of the two girls let out a content sigh and sat down on the couch. "Kya, this is fantastic. The first one asking for your hand was the Fire Prince himself."

Kya pressed her lips together and looked away from her mother. "Yes, that's just wonderful," she commented before leaving the room in a hurry.

"Kya! Come back here young lady!" Her mother called after her but she ignored her and rushed past her father who had just closed the door. He looked after his daughter for a moment before deciding to leave her alone for now.

Kya's eyes welled up with tears and she didn't want her parents to see her crying. The girl had tried everything to live up to her parents' standards and she just saw the look on their faces; they couldn't be happier about the Fire Lord's decision and it finally made them look at Kya in a different light.

However, the girl didn't want to be completely accepted by her parents only when she married Fire Prince Ozai. Kya couldn't ruin her life simply for a bit more acceptance.

"Kya," Michi's soft voice reached her ears. Kya took a breath and turned to her younger sister. From the look on her face, the youngest knew Kya was going to refuse the suggestion.

Putting a hand on her older sister's shoulder, Michi looked at her with soft eyes. "Kya-"

The said girl took a step back and shook her head. "No Michi, I'm not even gonna consider agreeing."

"Think about it. You know it's not worth all the trouble. Besides, this is your chance to be able to do what you want."

"No, being a royal is not freedom. Sure you can theoretically do what you want but everyone is basically watching your every move." Kya sighed and shook her head slightly.

"I just don't want you to get into deep trouble. You know our parents. And nothing could go wrong. Ozai loves you, that can only be to your advantage," Michi's voice was desperate. She didn't want to lose her sister.

"Michi, I love you, I really do but I can't do this anymore." Kya pressed her lips together. "I already accepted the proposal," she admitted in a quiet tone and looked on the ground.

Michi gasped and her jaw dropped. She couldn't believe Kya would really do that. Her parents would never approve of their relationship and they would do everything they could to force Kya into the royal marriage.

"Michi, I'm leaving in two days."

"You can't simply leave!" The youngest grabbed her sister by her upper arms. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at her sister's face.

Kya slightly tilted her head to the side her eyes turning soft. "I'm gonna write you everyday Michi, don't worry." She chuckled softly and wiped her younger sister's tears away from her cheek. "Maybe I could even visit you some day."

"Kya, I love you." Michi said before a sob escaped her lips. Engulfing her sister in a bone-crushing hug, Michi cried into Kya's shoulder.

The oldest rubbed circles on Michi's back, trying not to cry as well. "I love you too. It's gonna be alright," she whispered.