Of Firelords and Birthday Cakes (Zutara)

Traditions: Sauna

(A/N: Image not mine. Contact me if you want the pic. ^.^)

The Sauna was much nicer than the pond, even I had to admit. 

There was a huge room Uncle had rented, with a pool of ever warm water, and steam that filled every breath. We had the opportunity to all step into the hot tub in our swimming clothes, and just relax. 

Aang was the only one who looked mildly uncomfortable, but he didn't mention anything. 

Zuko and Iroh, being the firebenders that they were, immersed themselves in the heat, both closing their eyes. 

I watched both of them as I washed my hair of the sticky pond, even as the rest engaged in a conversation about which water was the best. 

Finally, Zuko opened his eyes, and looked at his Iroh, still peacefully enjoying the heat, "Uncle?" 

"Hm?" Iroh asked, opening one eye to look at his nephew. 

All conversation dropped off as we listened to the exchange. 

"This doesn't make any sense." Zuko started, "Why have I never heard of this before, and why all these rituals?"

Uncle stretched his arms and sat up, glancing at the young fire lord, "Zuko does it make sense why the sun goes up every morning, or comes down to let the moonlight in?"

His deep voice rumbled, catching all our attention,"Does it make sense why flowers follow the sun, or why only some people can use the elements?"

Zuko looked at his Uncle, listening.

"No." Iroh continued, chuckling, "If everything made sense, there would be no enjoyment in life. Some things are meant to be mysterious, for then, like the moon-flower -which only grows where no normal flower dares-, they will make people wonder. And people that wonder are the happiest people of all."

He sat back down in the water, putting his hands behind his head, "Let something be different to you, my nephew, for a change."

Zuko crossed his arms over his bare chest and sighed, lowering himself until he was neck deep in the water

Aang looked at me, then looked down at the water, rubbing his tattooed hands along the edge of the tub. 

Zuko sat up again, making ripples in the water, "What did you do for your 18th birthday Uncle?"

Iroh chuckled, "Oh, I did the same things you did. Had to catch fireflies, go swimming, cut my own cake." he sighed, as if contemplating something.

"That's it?" Sokka asked blandly. 

I kicked him under the water, with a look that said, 'be respectful!'.

"Oh no, that was not it." Iroh closed his eyes, "I remember...at the very end of the night...I sat down under the starlight with the girl who would become my wife later." 

He sighed, and looked at Zuko, who had gone absolutely pale as ash, with a look on his face that said his horror loud and clear.

"I remember kissing her under the stars-" Iroh went on.

Toph snorted, and I covered my nose and mouth so I wouldn't do the same. 

Oh the look on Zuko's face was priceless! 

"It started out very slow, like a dance." Uncle continued, unhindered to our compressed laughs, "She was soft and sweet and gentle, like a breeze."

"Uh." Zuko was blushing a furious red, "I don't know if-"

Iroh cut him off, "Her lips were soft and sweet, just like her." 

Everyone was holding in gales of laughter, as this was obviously a very sensitive topic for Uncle Iroh.

"Uncle!" Zuko whispered, seeing our faces, his own heated red against his pale skin, "Maybe not now." 

"Oh." Iroh opened his eyes and smiled, "Maybe later then."

Zuko shook his head, and shielding his face from the rest of us, turned to wash out his hair. 

"Anyway, as I was going to say." Iroh continued, "That is up next, my nephew."

Zuko froze. 

Everyone stopped laughing. 

Sokka gave me a look, "What does he mean?" he muttered. 

I shrugged under the water. 

The fire lord slowly turned around, "How? And besides, it's late...and, I've got things to do in the morning...and..." Zuko studdered. 

"Hmmm." Iroh smiled, then sank back into the pool, closing his eyes and not giving him an answer. 

Zuko looked to all of us. 

We all shrugged. 

Looking at Uncle's contented face however, I got a bad, twisting feeling in my stomach. 

Iroh was up to something. 

(Next part soon! Thanks for waiting so long guys. :D)