Bab 6: zuko's trial

Pov: Zuko

After dinner, I saw my brother leave the table with my father, but when they both walked through the door, they each went their separate ways. As if they could somehow communicate without even exchanging words, and that really annoyed me.

I went after my father in search of answers, leaving Azula at the table, regardless of what she was doing or thinking.

- Dad! - I shouted, running to my father.

- Ser wants to argue about his brother, I've already made my position clear. - Ozai's voice was shrill, with a dark weight to it.

- Dad, you!"- I stared at the floor in fear, trying to find words. - If Kai is my brother... does that mean there was another woman?

- Your opinion doesn't matter to me. Think what you like, I'm only allowing him to be here to fulfill my interests. - Ozai cocked his head to look at his son out of the corner of his eye.

- Is that why my mother left?! -I asked without measuring my tone of voice, desperate in my agony.

- Zuko! If you consider yourself my son, know when to open your mouth, otherwise... you'll get burned. - Ozai warned in a voice full of frustration.

After hearing his father's words, Zuko's body froze in fear. Instinctively, he wanted to be in his mother's arms, to comfort him and learn to face his fears.

Clenching his fists tightly, Zuko couldn't find the courage to ask again or to face his father. Noticing his lack of initiative, Ozai continued down the lamp-lit corridor until he disappeared from Zuko's eyes.

After a few minutes in the corridor, Zuko turned towards the path his older brother had taken. Without realizing his actions, he began to run through the corridors for minutes, without finding his goal.

I was angry and needed answers, my father's decision to remain silent made no sense. So I asked the palace staff where Kai was living.To my surprise, Kai was accommodated in a room next to Azula's, just a few corridors away to be precise. It made me uncomfortable.

When I finally came face to face with the door, it began to slam, demanding that Kai leave, but my demands went unheeded. Noticing the silence, I got into a pose to apply my domination to break down the door.

- Don't even think about it. - Azula's voice rose angrily. - If you set fire to this place, you're more likely to cause a fire in the palace, you idiot.

- I don't have time for your jokes Azula, I need to find out for myself.

- Our father has made Kai's position clear, he is no threat to our royal position. So stop wasting time!

Azula walked elegantly, ignoring her brother who had lived together all his life. Even if she didn't show it, she was internally confused about it.

I got even angrier after seeing Azula, and punched the door with my flames, making a smudge in the center of the door.

With every second that turned into minutes, Zuko waited impatiently, partly because of his defiance and partly because of his dignity as a prince.

- Damn you! Open that door! You know the consequences of ignoring the Prince of the Fire Nation! - I knocked on the door several times until I heard footsteps coming from the corridor. - You...

Zuko watched as Kai approached with a look of confusion, not understanding what was going on.

- YOU! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG YOU'VE KEPT ME WAITING! - Zuko roared in anger.

- I got lost again. - Kai said as if it came naturally to him. His expression and eyes showed great boredom, just wanting to find a place to sleep.

- Answer me! Why would my father allow an illegitimate child like you to live here? - Raising his finger over Kai's chest.

- I don't care about his motives, I've just been following the flow of events since he picked me up in my homeland.

Zuko was surprised by the revelation, now he understood that the reason for his father's absence over the last few weeks was because of his "new" brother.

[Why did my father go to him personally? He made a journey that took days to complete, not even the most powerful clans would make my father leave the palace for a meeting... you mean Kai is that important in your eyes?"] - Zuko was lost in thought, clearly trying to piece together the puzzle he had created.

- What is your relationship with our father? - A twinge of envy collided in his heart, tightening his face more and more towards Kai.

- Hmmmm. -Kai placed his fingers on his chin, thinking about his middle brother's last question. - As far as a relationship goes, I think you're much better off than I am.

- What?

- Simple, my first encounter with Ozai was lengthened by a jet of fire. I doubt he tries to kill you occasionally during the day.

- You fought my father? That's ridiculous, you could never beat him! My father is the lord of fire, not even generals combining their powers can stand against him. You tell lies! - Zuko freaks out, clenching his teeth, almost spitting in Kai's face.

- How do you think I'm here? - Kai crossed his arms, showing a small smile on his face.

For a moment, Zuko seemed to struggle to find an answer; the idea of his bastard brother having fought and survived Ozai's fury was impossible to visualize in his mind. All the more so because of Kai's appearance, who might still be the same age in comparison.

*sigh* - It's a simple answer, Prince Zuko. - Said Kai as he began to walk to his room, ignoring the dark mark on his door.

- Simple? - Zuko asked.

- The aspect of strength. Ozai took me in because I'm strong, simple!

Kai opened his door, almost closing it in front of his brother. Zuko watched this action with perplexed golden eyes.

- The strong recognize the strong, that's why I'm following Ozai's game. Don't think I've come to have family ties with you!" Kai closed the door to his room, leaving Zuko alone in the corridor.

Unnoticed by both of them, or at least by one of them, a small, feminine figure listened to the conversation from start to finish. Her golden eyes shone with anticipation and curiosity, and she gave only a smile on her lips.

***

POV: Ozai

After a night's rest, I feel the first rays of sunrise, feeling the invigorating and stimulating power of the sun on my skin.

As I go about my morning routine, which I've followed for as long as I can remember, I decide to go back to a place where I spent much of my childhood and adolescence training.

It was an underground fireproof arena that resides within the grounds of the royal palace. A place I never even got to show my heir children.

I could say it was my personal corner, a place to train or to vent my thoughts. Since I have to repress my emotions, a place like this is more than enough for me.

With every step I took on the stairs, I heard the sound of a voice, and it was clearly someone who was practicing fervently. I approached with my guard up, expecting any surprise attack from the stranger who was practicing in my personal room.

To my surprise, it was Kai doing push-ups with both arms holding his body at 180°. Sweat was pouring off his small body, his veins bulging from the stress he was putting on his limbs.

I decided to ignore his presence and began to take off my top and shoes, leaving only my pants on.

I start a warm-up, stretching my muscles so that they're ready for an uncomplicated training session.

Both in their own worlds, quietly not disturbing each other's training, just focusing on their own growth. Finally, Kai thirsts and collapses to the floor, gasping for breath.

Ozai silently watches his firstborn, wondering how long he has been training, given that the sun has been up for at least an hour.

- How did you find this room?" Ozai couldn't help but be curious.

- "I was looking for the kitchen, but I got lost halfway there and found this place. -Kai confessed, still panting - So I've been here ever since.

Ozai genuinely began to wonder about Kai's sense of direction, preferring to believe his words for the time being.

A silence overtook the large room; in fact, both didn't know how to operate a normal conversation and had no intention of chatting like normal people. However, Ozai and Kai's eyes were shining; it wasn't something you could talk about, it was something you could feel.

They both wanted to face each other one more time, perhaps the father and son relationship between these two could only unfold with their fists and not with words. Their mutual understanding of each other in combat was enough to quell any doubts about their futures.

Without a word, Kai and Ozai looked at each other, letting their fighting spirits do the talking. And so days or even weeks passed without father and son exchanging words.