A Beautiful Flame: ~Rules Are Rules~

Chapter 1 (Pt.2)

Zuko ran through the halls back up towards his mother's room,

"Are you really going to hang around with Her?" He heard a voice say,

He turned and faced Azula, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed,

"Leave me alone Azula," He said as he ran away, When he got to his mother's chambers, she was at her boudoir, but she wasn't fixing herself. His mother, hearing the doors opened, turned and revealed a small little girl,

"Zuko," His mother said gently,

"Mother? Omi?" He said as he saw her,

Omi looked at him in the mirror,

"Hi," She said quietly,

"I was just fixing her up a bit," The princess said as she pulled back the girls bangs,

"There," She said as she contemplated her work,

"Why, you look pretty as a lotus flower," She smiled,

Omi blushed gently, The grown woman giggled gently at the girl's small red cheeks,

"Th-thank you," Omi said quietly,

"Zuko, don't you think she's pretty?" The princess turned the small girl, facing him. Once again, she looked down,

"Her hair..." Zuko started to say,

"It's a water tribe thing, I know," His mother said,

"But it looks so cute on her, I couldn't resist,"

Zuko bit his lip,

"She looks pretty," He blushed nervously, why does mother make him do this?

"I knew you agree, Now we can finally see her pretty eyes! Don't you think they're pretty?" Seriously, it's as if his mother just wanted him to feel embarrassed! though Zuko didn't lie about anything he said.

"Yup," He said quickly, Omi looked at him, seeing his embarrassed look made her giggle a bit, The princess kneeled down,

"Zuko, from now on, you can play with your new friend," She said gently,

"If you would like that," She added,

Zuko's expression changed from embarrassed to a big smile,

"Actually, that's why I came, I wanted to have permission to hang out with Omi,"

He said sincerely,

Omi grabbed her newly made braid and stroked it nervously,

"Omi, did you ask your mother yet?" Zuko asked excitedly,

"Not...yet," She said quietly,

"Well you better go and tell her, dear," The princess smiled lovingly,

Omi smiled greatly, she bowed respectfully to the princess,

"Thank you for the braid your highness," She said confidently,

"I really love it," She said as she stood up,

"Your welcome, my dear," The princess nodded,

"Zuko, please escort your new friend to her mother"

Zuko nodded, Omi started heading out and Zuko went after her, but before he left, he felt his collar being tugged, his mother held him firmly,

"Don't tell anybody about this, neither about your friendship with Omi," His mother said firmly,