The Flames of the past (Avatar: Zuko love story)

Chapter 31: Date night.

"Well, at least not if you keep flirting with soldiers." He said with a big smile. "I won't! I have you!" She said and she gave him a kiss and she squeezed his arms. "That could use a bit more practice." She said approaving. "Go and clean yourself up mudface." Mia giggled and she went upstairs to clean herself. She took a bath and changed her clothes. The wife of the owner had given Mia a dress that she could wear. It was a beautiful gown. She brushed her hair and she put on some make-up. A light powder and dark red lipstick. She tied her hair in a knot and she put on some lavender oil for the fragrance. 

Aoi was lying in the corner of the room, very offended. "I cannot let you out," Mia said and she walked up to him, "maybe when it's dark." She said and she stroked him behind his ears. She walked to the mirror and looked at herself. She has been changed a lot since she left the Southern Watertribe. She looked like a real women now, with curves and all the innocent of a child was gone. She grabbed two fans that she would use in her dance. She went down to the teahouse that was filled with men. The wife of the owner, Leah, was playing an instrument. 

When Mia finished her dance she got a big applause. She smiled and she bend. Zuko stood against the wall, and he pulled her by her arm close against him. "Where did you learn that?" He asked.
"My mom trained me a killer and an artist." Mia replied and she released herself out his Zuko's arms and went to the back to put her gown off. "Mia!" Leah yelled and she walked up to her. "Go back, some men want to talk to you. Maybe they want to hire you."
"Hire me?" Mia asked, but Leah walked away already. Mia took a deep breathe and she grabbed a teapot filled with tea. She walked up to the men and poured them a cup of tea. Her movements were elegant and her smile posh. 

"Your dance was gracious. Like it took years of practice." The one said, a very young man, but with a dirty look in his eyes. "Thank you sir, but please, I am just a girl, nothing special." Mia replied, not looking at him. "I think you are." He said slowly and he stroked her cheek. "What's your name?" He asked. "My name's... Mia." The other men giggled and Mia shivered. "Mia Li Feng... I have heard stories about you,"he said, "they weren't always very delightful." Mia smiled. "And some weren't true." She replied.

The yougn man smiled "You would make a good dancer at my place. I can give you everything you want. Jewelry, jade hairpin's, kimono's , silk..." Mia swallowed, "thanks sir, but I will be better of here. Making tea will always be my passion." He let her go Mia stood up. "My name is Tanaka, and I would like to see you again." Mia gave a short nod and walked back to the kitchen and dressed herself. 

"I think that guy likes you, Mia." Iroh said. Mia shook her head. "He's foul." She replied and went upstairs to the appartment. That night Zuko laid next to Mia in bed, while Mia was kniting something. Iroh was about to make some tea. "Would you like some tea?" He asked. "Yes, please." Mia replied. "We have been working in a teahouse all day, I am sick of tea." Zuko said when he tried to braid Mia's hair, but failed completely. "Sick of tea? That's like being sick of breathening!" Iroh replied and Mia giggled. Iroh grabbed some fire stones and set the boiler on fire, not with his own hands. 

"Mia, Leah asked if you could visit the market tomorrow, we need some jasmin and ginseng." Iroh said. "Yes, of course." Mia replied and yawned. She put her little knit-work away and reached to her braid. "You call that a braid?" She asked Zuko. "At least I tried, Mia." Zuko replied grumpy. Mia smiled and gave him a kiss. She send him to his own bed and by herself she fell in a deep sleep.

~

Mia bought the last thing on the market, when she crossed a beautiful vase. Mia held it up and looked at it. "Five silver coins for the beautiful young lady." Mia frowned. "Five?" She repeated. "I wouldn't give more than two." She replied and put the vase back. The man shook his head. Mia shrugged and she walked away. "Wait, lady! Three silver coins!" Mia smiled brightly and turned around. She gave the man a nod and she walked away. She was beautifully dressed. Her hair was pin-ed up, her skin was white and her lips red. She was quite someone, for she used to live in the poor side of Ba Sing Se, the lower ring. 

Mia got grabbed by her arm when she entered the street. It was the young man she had met before, Tanaka. "I want to apoligize about last night. I was a bit pushy, I did not mean it that way." He said. Mia smiled. "It is fine." She replied. "There will be a party tonight, and the king will come as well. Would you like to join me?" Mia looked at him. Maybe Aang would be there too... Mia looked up. "I would love too." She replied and she stroked a section of hair out of her face. "I am honoured. I will pick you up at twilight." Tanaka said and he walked away. Mia smiled brightly and she walked back to the teashop and entered the door.

A girl was sitting at a table, who had been there yesterday, the day before and that day before. Mia winked at her and walked to Iroh and Zuko. "What's she doing here?" Mia asked like she had no clue. "I believe she likes Zuko." Iroh replied. Mia raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "She looks so lonely...." Mia said, "you should go out with her." Zuko almost dropped a cup of tea when he heard that coming out of his girlfriend's mouth. "What?!" He asked. 

Mia laughed. "That's my sister Camillia, I don't see any threat." 
"Thanks for the tea." The girl stood in front of the desk. "Would you like to go out with me tonight." The girl asked Zuko.
"He'd love too!" Mia said and Zuko gave a short, awkwardly nod. "That's settled then, I will see you at twilight in front of the shop." She looked at Mia and Mia put a thumb up. Camillia had no idea Zuko was Mia's boyfriend. "Look, we are friends. These people have no idea that we have something together! My sister does not know who you truly are." Mia said with a smile. 

Zuko frowned. "But why are you doing this?" He asked. "I have an appointment too." Mia replied, "with Tanaka. I am going to a party of the king." She replied. Zuko did let drop the cup know. "What?! With that jerk?! You cannot do that!" He said angrily. 

"You never want to go out with me! So if anyone else ask me out, I do go out with him. Not because he is a jerk but, for myself. I want to have fun!" She replied. "Fun? With that Tanaka?" Zuko replied sarcastically cold. Mia sighed and looked at him. "Have fun tonight." She said and she went upstairs. Zuko gave a deep sigh. "Mia I am sorry." He replied, but she was already upstairs. 

Mia took a bath and went to Leah's wardrobe to get a dress. She put it on and it suits her perfectly. Mia smiled brightly and did her make up again. Only now she filled in her eyebrows, with black coal and on her eyelids some soft pink. Zuko entered the room and walked up to her. "You look really pretty." He said.

"Thanks." Mia replied coldly . Zuko sat down next to her and grabbed her hand. "I just don't like the idea of you being with another guy. I don't want to lose you again, you know." Mia smiled and she touched his cheek. "I have been taking care of myself for 6 years already. Nothing is gonna happen, okay?" Mia smiled. "Besides... What person could beat a prince of the Fire Nation?" 
Zuko smiled. "Yeah... that's true." He said proud and he looked at his girlfriend.  "I love you, Mia." He said slowly. "I love you too." She replied and she gave him a kiss. Mia looked out of her window, and saw Tanaka coming inside the teahouse outside. 

"I have to go." She said and she stood up. "Have fun, and if I catch you kissing my sister.... I will strangle you with her necklace, am I clear?" She asked dangerously. Zuko nodded heavily. "Okay love." She replied and she kissed him again, happily. She garbbed a dagger of the table and ut it under her skirts. She grabbed a fan and put it in her bag. She went downstairs to the shop and she was first going to have some tea with Tanaka. Zuko came downstairs as well.

"This is just excellent tea, the best in all Ba Sing Se!" Tanaka said friendly.
"Well the secret ingredient is... love!" Iroh replied and the door got smashed open. It was Jet. Mia sceamed. "What he *** are you doing here?!" Mia yelled and with an open mouth Tanaka stared at Mia after her gloriously rough vocabulary. "Mia Li Feng! And those two, the old man is a fire bender!" Jet yelled. "I am a fire bender moron, I heated up his tea!" Mia yelled. "I don't believe you." Jet said and he grabbed his swords. "You know him?" Iroh asked. "I did... I fought him after he tried to drown a whole vilage down with innocent people because maybe there were maybe a few Fire Benders in it." Mia said mean. 

"I am not the bad guy, he is!" Jet yelled pointing at Iroh. 
"Drop your swords boy." A soldier said and he stood up. 
"Come on old guy, show me what you got..." Jet said. Zuko bumped up to Mia. "Lee, don't." She said but Zuko had already grabbed his Dao swords. The two started to fight. "Stop it! Stop it, now!" Mia yelled hysterical. They went outside and Mia was done with it. Mia waterbended some tea and went outside. She send a tidal wave of tea to Jet and he got smashed against the wall and froze. 

The guards walked up to him and they brought him away. "They are fire benders! I am telling you, please!" Jet yelled when he got brought away. Mia saw Smellerbee and Longshot in the crowd and she whispered. "I am sorry" to the, They nodded and they walked away.
Tanaka stood next to Mia. "You are...." He whispered, but he couldn't come out of his words. "I am sorry, you shouldn't have seen that."  Mia said quietly and she walked to the carriage.

"Shall we go then?" She asked and  she stepped into the carriage, on their way to the palace. Two guards stood in front of the dpoor and Tanaka showed the inventation. "Have a nice evening." The guard said and Mia nodded friendly and they entered the giant room. Mia was looking around, stretching her neck as far as she could. "Where are you looking for?" Tanaka asked. 
The Avatar, idiot. 

"Oh, the king of course! Is he here yet?" Mia asked, still looking around. "The King will come later." Tanaka replied with a smile. "I am sorry, I am just very excited to see him." Mia replied flattering. "I am going to the lavatory, I will be right back." Tanaka said and he walked away. Mia stood there awkwardly. "Want a snack?" Mia frowned and looked at the guy who asked her. "Aang?!" She whispered excited and she hugged her. "Thank the spirits! I knew you would be here!" Mia said with a huge smile. "Katara, Sokka and Toph are here too." Aang replied. "We need to talk to the king about the eclipse." Aang replied. Mia nodded heavily. "With who-?" 
"Some guy who asked me out." Mia replied quickly and Sokka approached.

Mia hugged him tight and Sokka got red cheeks. "You look beautiful!" He said and Tanaka came back. "Don't talk to the staff, Mia. That is not proper." Tanaka said and he pulled her away from them. Sokka and Aang both raised and eyebrow and looked at Mia. Trumpets were heard: The king coming. Mia smiled brightly. Then she saw it. The King was approaching and let Tanaka go and ran up to the King, who got dragged in a little tent, ythat was covered. Aang got there too and just before Mia could se his face, she got grabbed by someone, her mouth covered before she could scream. She got dragged away, into the darkness.