The Sea of Ice (Sun and Moon Book 2)

Chapter 15 - Letting Go

CHAPTER 15 -- LETTING GO

"Come on, Sparky, lighten up!" Zuko stumbled a bit as Toph punched his shoulder. "I came all this way because you asked me to, and you're just moping around."

"Sorry, Toph." Zuko looked down, knowing she was right. "I'm just..." he struggled to think of a good excuse--he certainly couldn't tell her the truth, but he couldn't outright lie either.

"I'm just worried about Aang. I don't trust that Twila girl."

Toph looked at him. "You know I can tell when you're lying, right?"

"I'm not lying!"

"I know."

Now Zuko was confused. "Then why..."

She laughed. "It was a joke, Sparky." She punched his shoulder again, and he winced. "Ow! Can you not do that please?"

"It's how I show affection." The earthbender grinned at him, and Zuko shook his head. "I know."

The two sat in companionable silence; Zuko stared out over the Southern Water Tribe city, watching the people bustle around.

Toph stared out with him, though he knew she didn't see what he did. Zuko's thoughts, as always, ventured toward a pair of bright blue eyes and soft memories, but he wrenched his mind away from them.

He needed to learn to center himself in the present, or he'd never be able to move on. The past was the past--Kara was gone.

He didn't want to accept that, but he knew there was nothing else he could do. His gaze strayed to the fire-water tattoo on his wrist; the water and fire were no longer touching each other. He wondered if that meant their marriage had been dissolved, that the spirits had given up on them.

Katara certainly had.

He sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair. It was time to move on. He had a nation to run, and a new era of peace to oversee.

Zuko took a deep breath, held it inside. Thought of Kara--of her smile, her laugh, her cool hands on his face, her soft lips, her gorgeous eyes that shot wide with wonder at the world. The memories filled every part of him, sent a feeling of sadness and loss spiraling through his heart.

Zuko breathed out--and let those memories go.

**__**

"You should come by for dinner sometime! We would love to have you."

"Oh, well, that's very kind." Iroh thanked the young woman with a slight blush on his cheeks, then waved as she walked away.

He shook his head with a laugh and picked up a tray, placing empty teacups onto it. "Here, let me help you with that."

Iroh smiled at Jin and handed her the tray. He'd been wary of hiring someone to help out around the shop after Aang and Toph left, but Jin had proved to be worth it. She was a sweet girl.

"Hello!" Iroh turned to see a little girl, almost waist-high. Her bright blue eyes stared up at him, and a huge smile stretched across her face.

"Hello there. What's your name?" Iroh smiled at her, wondering where her parents were.

"I'm Lia. And you're Uncle Iroh." The girl's proclamation was full of certainty, no doubt or fear. Iroh frowned, wondering where she'd heard that from. He'd never seen her before, though there WAS something slightly familiar about her.

"Lia, manners!" a soft voice scolded, and a brown hand smoothed down the girl's unruly black hair.

Iroh looked up... into a pair of shining blue eyes that he'd never expected to see again. "Kara!"

She smiled faintly. "Actually, my name is Katara."

Uncle nodded, unsure suddenly why she was there. Then her face broke into a wide smile, and she hugged him! "It's so good to see you, Uncle!"

Iroh felt tears come to his eyes as he hugged her back tightly. "You too!" Then a pair of skinny arms wrapped around them both, and he looked down to see that Lia had joined the hug.

He laughed. "And who is this?"

Katara smiled. "My daughter, Allia."

Iroh's amber eyes caught hers, the instant connection making him frown. She shook her head. "No, I don't know who her father is."

She didn't KNOW? That wasn't like her. But... she'd been gone for a long time, and Lia was only two or three years old.

Iroh shook of his suspicions, and shrugged.

"It is good to have you back. How long will you be staying?"

"As long as you'll--" Jin came back with the tray, smiling at them all. Katara broke off for a moment, her blue eyes flashing with... anger? Iroh frowned, but the emotion was gone almost as soon as it appeared. "As long as you'll have us." Katara smiled brightly, but there was something off about it.

Iroh looked between Jin and Katara, and frowned.

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