Avatar: The Last Airbender

Book of Earth : The Avatar State :: Home

oOo

Though the thought of returning to his home country sounded appealing at first, the moment he stepped foot off the harbor, Taiza belatedly realized how much distaste he had for uniforms.

Currently, he was wearing the full regalia required of a Fire Nation general. Although the armor was of the highest quality with lacquered hard leather that stopped most blades and exquisitely detailed with gold thread and special glaze that showed the Fire Nation insignia on the breastplate, Taiza hated wearing it. He remembered the grand ceremony when he was promoted to the ranking of a general, how the war magistrates fitted him with the armor in front of the spectators as part of custom and how he swore an oath to serve the Fire Lord and protect the nation. It was a particularly unforgettable memory, but Taiza remembered thinking that wearing it once was enough. He could count on his left hand the number of times he had actually worn it and hadn't put it on for the last three years since he left for the Earth Kingdom under the Fire Lord's orders.

The form fitting military garb already felt like it was choking him and weighed Taiza down as he walked up the many stone steps that rose to the main entrance of the main palace. The heavy shoulder plates and stiff leather breastplate restricted his movements and the high collar bumped against his chin whenever he moved abruptly. Despite the physical discomfort, Taiza appreciated the view of the palace with its brilliant red walls and golden accents shining brightly in the strong sunlight. Ever since he had been young, he was always struck by the grandeur of the main palace and the unique architecture that had prevailed throughout Fire Nation history. It also was strongly reminiscent of styles that he recognized in his previous life.

Taiza was accompanied by the Fire Nation naval commander, and the two of them attracted nearly everyone's attention because of the news of the navy's failure to bring down the Northern Water Tribe. There was a sense of apprehension in the air fueled by fear of the Fire Lord's response to their presence for when the Fire Lord was displeased, it never bode well for anyone else in court. The wise were wary of a peer's lack of success, however the impulsive and short-sighted ones were greedily eyeing for an opportunity to gain power through others' failures. Such was the cutthroat life in court. Unfortunately, one such individual crossed their path as they were supposed to be led to the Fire Lord's council hall.

One young man blocked the way. He wore an arrogant smile and an excessive number of gold rings adorned his fingers that flashed every time he moved his hands.

"Taiza, I heard you came back from the dead! Too bad you don't bring good news, am I right?" The man's wide smile didn't faze as he brazenly said this in front of the bystanders.

Onlookers shifted as they covertly watched the interaction from the corner of their eyes. Taiza knew that everyone else was pretending to be minding their own businesses, but every single ear and eye in and out the hall was straining to observe what was about to happen.

Taiza knew the interceptor was addressing him, but he raised an unimpressed brow. Taiza vaguely recognized the man as the eldest son of a wealthy merchant who bought their way into nobility through arranged marriage with one of the noble families. They were similar in age and had attended the Fire Nation noble academy together, there were many attempts made by this man to ingratiate himself with Taiza. However, they had not been in each other's way for more than three years, but this was how this young man wanted to speak to Taiza for the first time in a long while in front of a snooping audience. Speaking as though they had a close relationship, disregarding Taiza's military rank, casually referring to the failure at the North Pole and the treason of Lord Iroh against the deceased Admiral Zhao, the barely-known acquaintance was breaking quite a few rules of social etiquette. Taiza wondered if he remembered the man's name. If Taiza had been approached in a more private setting, when there were no appointments to be made, then he would've respectfully responded, but this was not one of those circumstances. He was on his way to report to the Fire Lord and about to endure a tense interrogation that would most likely last for at least four hours in which the Lord Ozai will scrutinize every single detail of the Siege of the North and Taiza's disappearance for the last half year. From the corner of his eye, Taiza saw that the commander next to him was frowning at their interceptor in a disapproving manner. The older man's nerves were likely as strained as Taiza's were for the incoming report to the Fire Lord.

In short, Taiza was not in the mood, nor was the commander.

Taiza looked at the man and tilted his head as if confused. "Who put trash in the middle of the hallway?"

At his words, the naval commander blinked in shock. The young man himself was taken aback, as if he didn't correctly hear what Taiza had said.

"W-what did you say?" He sounded incredibly dazed.

Taiza turned to the side and located a guard standing near the entrance. "You there."

"Sir?" The guard was middle-aged, but he knew the armor signia of a general when he saw one.

Taiza ignored the whispers fluttering around them. "Only those with appointments with the Fire Lord or war council can enter the main palace, am I correct?"

An audience with either the Fire Lord or war council required the visitor to dress in their formal military attire or in proper court uniform that was supposed to reflect decorum and professionalism. These rules were set in place as it was improper to flash wealth in front of the Fire Lord. The man before Taiza was dressed in robes that were too ostentatious and garish to be considered proper formal wear for an appointment, and if memory served him well as it usually did, Taiza was sure that this nouveau nobleman's son didn't serve in the military. It was safe to assume that there was nothing for the young man to attend here in the main palace, and he most likely will never in his entire lifetime be granted an audience with the war council, much less Fire Lord Ozai. Everyone else who loitered within the halls was a magistrate who served under one of the war council members or the Fire Lord directly. The people who lingered outside the main palace entrance were simply members of the noble court hoping to catch sight of something interesting worth gossiping about, but they never breached the entrance. All in all, this young man had crossed a physical and metaphorical line, purposefully or not.

The guard bowed. "Yes, only individuals with arranged meetings may enter."

Taiza pointedly eyed the shell-shocked man in front of him. "It appears that something drifted in here without permission, please take it out. We have an audience with the Fire Lord and his war council, so we will be on our way."

Knowing that the guard will obey his word, Taiza said to the commander, "We should go."

The older man snapped to attention. "I-, yes, we should."

Taiza could hear outraged cries erupting behind his back as he and the other men walked down the hall. More guards rushed past them presumably to control the unruly intruder. Taiza was probably going to hear about this from his mother later, but he knew the incident wasn't going to be a big problem.

If he let that man address him so insolently without repercussion, everyone watching inside and outside the main palace would have pounced on him. Taiza had been gone for a long time, but he had never been particularly active in court so the people were eyeing him to see if he were predator or prey. By the end of the day, the highlight of today's gossip would be about him humiliating the loose acquaintance for speaking informally and without tact.

Taiza wasn't letting anyone get the upper hand on him. He wasn't prey.

As they approached the large twin doors to the war council chamber, Taiza thought how the court always seemed to bring out his ugly side. It was the side that ruthlessly crushed his opponents, manipulated the people around him, and took advantage of weaknesses. There were times where he could be mannered, but there were also moments when he couldn't afford niceties.

A guard went in and out of the chamber to inform the council of their arrival. Taiza used the few minutes to compose himself, closing his eyes briefly.

Do not speak unless spoken to, he reminded himself. Answer the question and say nothing more than necessary. Avoid words that hint affection.

Taiza walked a step behind the naval commander as they entered the dark halls. The only source of light inside the chamber were the flames that enshrouded the throne platform at the very front. The high generals of the war council lined the hall and Taiza could feel their stares drilling holes into his head. Fire licked their faces when they took a knee and bowed their heads in front of the Fire Lord where a line of flames flickered up and down at the throne.

"Fire Lord Ozai, we have come to report," the commander spoke first for all of them.

Though it may have sounded bland, Taiza personally thought that the greeting was safe as far as first words could go. Everyone knew that there were only failures to report which would displease the Fire Lord, however the commander was not the sole point of responsibility for the loss. Despite that, it would have been poor taste to greet Ozai with flowery language such as saying 'blessings on you from the sun'. A clean, simple address was best in this situation.

"Commander Shu, welcome back," Ozai said. "We have been told of Admiral Zhao's passing."

The commander still didn't lift his head. "Yes, I am ashamed to also inform you that we were unable to recover his body as well."

"Yes, it is unfortunate and we will discuss that in length in a moment."

Taiza pushed down a shudder when he could feel Ozai's eyes shifting to him.

"General Taiza. It is good to see you again. We have been looking forward to your return."

Taiza bent over to a full seiza bow. "Lord Ozai, it is good to be back."

oOo

It was dark when Taiza arrived at his family's estate in the capital. It was the first time he'd been back home in three years so he was anxious, Taiza's leg bounced impatiently. Because he was called to the main palace right when they got off the ships, Taiza wasn't able to see his family even though he'd been on Fire Nation land for the last two days.

The audience with the Fire Lord and his war council had taken all day and he felt more exhausted than he'd ever been. Even though he wanted nothing more than to collapse in the carriage, Taiza stared out of the window and watched his city light up in the dark evening sky. Though the night creeped, the capital was still alive. Many vendors stayed outside in front of fire lamps to sell their last batch of meals and snacks while numerous citizens roamed the clean streets to walk off their stomachs full from dinner.

He loved the people of the capital city, the shops, the bustling streets, the citizens, but Taiza disliked the Fire Nation courts. Out in the field with his rank, he could do whatever he wanted, only watched by his own men and unrestricted by complicated politics though there have been moments where upper pissing contests had meddled in his affairs. However, at the capital, in the royal palace, however, Taiza couldn't simply act as he pleased. There were social rules and obligations to follow. He couldn't always speak his mind and had to calculate words he uttered. Taiza would deflect subtle barbs of hostile peers and avoid pricks of impartial acquaintances' needling, all while retaining the upper hand of the conversation. It was draining and troublesome. Eyes roamed everywhere, judging and scrutinizing, recording every movement and memorizing every word.

Stepping out of the carriage, Taiza said a word of thanks to his family's attendant and stepped to the front gates where a line of people stood. He recognized a few servants among them before he had left for the Earth Kingdom and saw that there were new servants as well. The ones who knew him had glassy eyes as they recognized their young master who had been declared dead half a year ago. Taiza cracked a small smile at their reunion, but the ones who caught his eyes were the two women at the center.

"Mother, Mai," Taiza quietly said before grabbing them both into a tight circle.

He felt his mother and sister wrap their arms around him as well, holding tight onto his stiff uniform. For a minute, they ignored the watching servants and attendants. They didn't care about appearances right now because one of their own came back from the dead.

Taiza's heart clenched when he heard Mai's ragged breathing and his mother sniffing.

"I'm back," he whispered as he held them both.

His mother pulled away first, dabbing her eyes delicately. "Let's go inside first, shall we?"

Taiza still had his arms around his mother and sister as they walked past the gate and entered the manor, heading straight for their family's private sitting room. Knowing that the family desired time of privacy, the senior butler wordlessly dismissed all of the waiting servants so that there would be no one else to see the family openly displaying their emotions.

Despite her cold exterior persona, Michi, the wife of Governor Ukano, was actually very caring and loving towards her family behind closed doors. She only avoided displaying too much affection in fear of the repercussions of vicious politics and gossip that could affect her husband's career. She also repeatedly warned her children about the consequences of stepping out of line, which resulted in Taiza and Mai's excellent poker faces. Despite the strict adherence to this rule, there were exceptions and this was one of those instances.

Once they were alone, Taiza dropped onto a cushioned stool and hunched over, absolutely tired. He started stripping the outer layers of his military garb while Mai rolled over the armor hanger. Taiza smiled at his sister gratefully to which Mai returned with a small smile of her own.

"Where's father?" Taiza asked while loosening the strings on his leather arm grieves. His mother and Mai were standing at his sides and helping him take off the breastplate at the same time.

His mother and sister's faces both soured in embitterment.

"Went off to some meeting," Mai muttered sourly. "He said he couldn't miss it."

Instead of waiting for you, went unsaid between the three of them.

In response to his father's absence, Taiza couldn't help but tighten his jaw. Now completely free of the suffocating thing, Taiza stood up to properly assemble the pieces of his ceremonial uniform on the armor stand. He took care not to let his mother or sister see his face because Taiza was sure that his anger was plainly showing.

Mai and Michi exchanged subtle glances, knowing full well that Taiza was silently fuming on the inside about Ukano. They didn't need to see his face for his tense shoulders and stiff movements were enough to tell them that Taiza was trying to keep his anger in control. Mai's sharp eyes noted how though her brother does well in hiding his frustration, Taiza always moved more deliberately when he was suppressing something. Right now, he was taking extra care in placing each piece of armor to where it belonged instead forcefully ramming everything into place.

Taiza was trying his best to avoid venting his anger. As much as he wanted to just slam down the ridiculously ornate armor and hurl the platings, he hated losing control and having witnesses watch, much less his own family watching. Taiza sighed deeply as he hooked the belt last and sat down next to his sister, rubbing his face.

So tired, Taiza internally moaned. He just wanted to return home and see his family and relax and sleep for an ungodly amount of time, but now he's smacked in the face with the issue of his inattentive father. Taiza was finally back after three years and had been announced dead, but his own father couldn't even spare the time to be around to welcome his son. Of course, the whole detail about being 'dead' was inaccurate, but Taiza wasn't going to spare an explanation for that if his father wasn't around to hear it. It was typical of Governor Ukano to prioritize his career over his family, yet Taiza assumed that this time would be different. For once, maybe his father would place the family first for a day, to welcome back Taiza, to say some words of happiness, to support his wife and daughter in this moment.

Noting the gauntness shadowing his mother and Mai, Taiza observed that his father must have not done much to comfort the family. The thought both infuriated and saddened him. Taiza wasn't one to particularly crave for any person's attention or acknowledgement since his additional memories and twisted disposition made him a bit averse to that kind of emotional attachment. Yet it didn't change the fact that he could see the impact of Ukano's familial neglect for the past few years on his mother and sister… and perhaps his youngest sibling that he had yet to meet.

He had a younger brother, Taiza realized. The anger evaporated the second he thought of his newest sibling.

Taiza looked up almost excitedly. "Where is he? Can I see him?"

"Your youngest brother is asleep," Michi said warmly, understanding who her son was talking about. "You can meet him tomorrow morning."

"Is he okay with strangers?" Taiza didn't want his first meeting with his youngest brother to begin with tears.

"You don't need to worry about him not liking you," his sister nearly huffed. "Tom-Tom likes everyone, it's becoming an issue since he'll walk off with any stranger."

Taiza smiled a little at that. "He drives you nuts, doesn't he?"

Mai rolled her eyes. "I'm just glad there's another babysitter other than me."

He squeezed his sister into a big hug. "Missed you too, Mai."

Mai didn't fight against the hug, though she stared at him with open curiosity.

"So, how are you alive?"

Taiza let out a long sigh. "It's a long story."

Michi watched her children with fondness. "Alright, as much as I'd love to hear everything, it's dark and I know you're tired, Taiza-"

Wanting to stay up longer, Mai said, "But mom-"

"No excuses, your brother is exhausted. Look at him, he's about to drop any moment now. He needs to sleep," their mother said with a steely tone. Mai instantly quieted and Taiza let out a weak chuckle.

Taiza ruffled his sister's hair. "Tomorrow morning then."

The next ten minutes became a blur between walking down the hallway, getting washed up for bed, and crashing into said bed. Taiza wanted to groan at the feeling of a soft pillow and soft sheets and a supportive mattress underneath him. It had been so long since he last slept on something so soft.

He promptly passed out.

oOo

Aang turned over his sleeping cot, restless from the stormy thoughts plaguing his mind.

Another day of General Fong pressuring him to use the Avatar State had passed and it left the young airbender thoroughly worn down. No matter how many times Aang stressed that he would not force himself into the Avatar State, the Earth general would not listen. The frustratingly stubborn man was blinded by the temptations of the Avatar's powers. Even Katara and Sokka were beginning to grow brusque with General Fong and discussed leaving the Earth base earlier than planned. They wanted nothing to do with a man who wanted to use Aang like an ultimate weapon.

Perhaps in an alternate time, Aang would have accepted General Fong's offer to help control the Avatar State. Aang understood more than anyone else the extent of the Avatar State's capabilities and its use in fighting the Fire Nation, but he was also aware that it wasn't the right way. There was a precedent of becoming a mature Avatar and skipping his way straight to the Avatar State without successively mastering the four elements was against the natural order.

Sai… Taiza… was the one who taught Aang this.

Aang didn't know how to feel about it. He had to fight against the lump in his throat everytime he thought about him because it hurt thinking about him. Taiza had become a taboo topic of sorts ever since the three of them left the Northern Water Tribe. The different name felt so foreign in their mouths instead of Sai. Aang wasn't sure if it was easier saying one name or the other because one reminded him of betrayal while the other sounded like a complete stranger. In a way, Aang was glad to leave since he was getting tired of all the pitying glances that were thrown their way when news of Sai's abandonment spread among the tribespeople. Sokka had raged in anger for a few days, venting his resentment.

How could he betray them, pretend he was their friend, lie about his real name and his real life, and leave them, Sokka said. Katara hadn't said much, but Aang knew that she felt the same way and was just as angry. Aang couldn't bring himself to express his own hurt the same way like Sokka did, but his bouts of silence were more than enough to tell the Water siblings that he was wallowing in bitterness as well. There were moments when they tried to discuss and figure out if they misunderstood, if they were missing something from the situation. They had been in denial at first, thinking of ways that would make more sense than their friend blindly betraying them. It was hard. There wasn't enough information, and the person in question was gone and back in his homeland. In the end, they quietly agreed that nothing good would come out of talking about it except for feeling mad and confused.

Sai's absence ached. The three of them always knew that their friend had been dependable. Even if his name was different, Sai was still Sai to them. Sai had been the steady presence in their group, the one that remained unruffled, the one that balanced them out when things were getting uncontrollable, the one they could turn to when they had nothing else to rely on. With him gone, it felt like an anchor had disappeared. They felt uneasy and were forced to awkwardly adjust back to their original traveling dynamic of three individuals.

One of the worst parts was wondering if they could believe anything Sai had said in the past half year they had travelled together. If Sai wasn't his real name, if he was actually a noble's son, then exactly what about 'Sai' was real?

Did he pretend to be calm all the time? Did he force himself to get along with them? Had he been acting?

How much did he lie about his life?

Why did he join them in the first place?

Why did he help them through so much trouble if he was going to rejoin his nation?

Why did he help Aang?

Aang gritted his teeth.

That was the one thing he didn't understand. Sai had helped Aang so much about bending, about the Spirit World, about simply being the Avatar. But why?

Unconsciously, the memory of that one night resurfaced. It was one that stuck out to Aang out of all the rest because of how Sai looked in that moment.

It was icy outside in the dark night, but Sai didn't look the least bit cold. Aang was wondering what was weighing down Sai, the most if not one of the most capable people he knew, to the point that a foreboding dark look would enter the ex-soldier's eyes?

"Hey, what's with the look of worry?" Sai had said to Aang, like he was apologizing to Aang for making him worried.

The corners of Aang's mouth turned downward. Aang had meant to help Sai, to ask his mentor-like friend what was weighing on his mind, but instead Sai turned that question back on the airbender.

Is there something wrong, please don't dodge the question, Aang had wanted to ask, but the words lodged in his throat when he really looked at Sai.

"It's fine, you don't have to worry about it."

When Sai said that with the yellow lights shining behind him, his face shrouded in a shadow, and eyes guarded, it was like he was silently conveying something.

Don't ask me. Then I won't have to answer.

Something inside Aang throbbed watching Sai being so distant. To be told not to worry should be a nice thing to hear, but why did it hurt this time?

Despite all they went through together, Sai was trying to resolve some inner issues without them. It wasn't like Aang wanted to pry, but couldn't Sai at least depend on the rest of them more?

With those words, Sai sounded like a stranger, detached and not at all like a friend. His words weren't about advice or encouragement intended for Avatar lessons. Aang could recall that moment with blazing clarity. Out of all their shared time together, it was an image that seared itself into his memory.

Snow fell around them, distant lights casting shadows in front Sai, darkening his face, but his amber eyes glinted in the dark. Sai didn't look like his friend in that second.

It was like a foretelling of something.

Aang remembered unexpectedly feeling briefly afraid in that moment, because he remembered the one instance he felt uneasy about Sai.

Katara's words echoed in his ears. "It's like that time back when we were at the town with the fortuneteller, remember? Sai was pretty absent-minded all day after we talked to the fortuneteller."

Right, the fortuneteller, Aang thought. After having their fortunes told, the four of them sat down for lunch and were simply talking when Aang saw it.

Sai was twirling his chopsticks when a sudden dark look in his eyes flared with such intensity that it startled Aang. He glanced at Katara and Sokka to see if they saw it too, but their normal expressions showed that they hadn't noticed. And just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone a second later. Aang blinked and shook his head slightly. He must be seeing things.

Aang shifted in his cot, opening his eyes and staring at the ceiling distractedly. Any remnants of sleep was now gone as his head was actively churning away thoughts.

To tell the truth, the monk had never been able to really tell what Sai was thinking about all the time. Aang hadn't been too bothered by that because he thought Sai was a good person. In hindsight, it now appeared to have been a lapse in judgement, but the airbender believed that the fact remained that no one would be able to exactly tell what Sai was thinking. Sai's mind seemed to focus on things far away, into a point of the future that no one else could see or think of. Regardless if he was a good or bad person, Aang thought that Sai was someone who could not be completely understood.

Again, Sai's voice swept through his mind.

"You may be the Avatar, but what really matters is who you are first, and I'm very grateful that you're here with us even though it's a century past your time. I look forward to the day of peace in this world, with you as the Avatar. Nothing would make me happier than seeing you fulfilling your Avatar duties in a changed world. You'll face the hardest of challenges and difficulties, you will be hurt by the people, but you'll make it to the very end. You won't be alone, after all."

There was such profound trust and faith in Sai's voice that Aang couldn't speak. His throat swelled, making it hard to talk, and his eyes stung with hot tears. Aang turned his face away; he didn't want Sai to see him cry.

"Why say all those things if you're going to leave us," Aang gritted out. His fingers curled, leaving nail marks in his palms.

"But Aang, you and l know that things happen for a reason. Even the things that make no sense at all, that you yourself can't understand, still have a reason. And that includes me believing in the best future, of you succeeding."

Sai said those words like he was referring to the calm before the storm, that something was going to happen, and Aang had a strange feeling that Sai hadn't been talking about the Fire Nation invasion into the Northern Water Tribe. Whenever Sai taught him something related to being the Avatar, he was never completely vague or confusing. Sai was always clear with his intent and words when teaching. It was like Sai knew exactly what to say or do because he knew what was going to happen and that Aang was misunderstanding something. The metaphorical 'storm' must be alluding to something else, and Sai wanted Aang to know that it was going to happen for a reason that he won't understand until later.

Or maybe Aang wouldn't be able to understand at all.

Was he overthinking this?

"Ugh," Aang muttered. The airbender rubbed the arrow on his forehead with frustration.

"Easier said than done," Aang murmured.

Sai looked sorry. "Yes, easier said than done. I'm sorry for saying it as if it were simple, but I don't doubt it. Not one bit."

"Not even a little bit?" Aang remembered expecting Sai to express some doubt but back it up with optimism like everyone usually did.

"Not even a little bit," Sai confirmed. "Everything's going to be fine."

Those words had sounded like a promise. Sai said them so clearly and with a firm tone that Aang so desperately wanted to believe them. Aang nearly thought of it as confirmation that everything would truly be okay.

"If you say so."

Aang closed his eyes. His chest ached just thinking about it.

Why did Sai… Taiza… say any of that, Aang thought dejectedly. If he really meant those words, then he wouldn't have left them, would he?

oOo

The heavy tan coat remained as the only keepsake from his travels with Aang, Katara, and Sokka. Taiza stared at the coat hanging in his closet, lost in thought, until a servant knocked on his bedroom door.

"Breakfast is ready," the servant said, his eyes avoiding Taiza's.

"Is father here?"

The servant nodded. "Yes, he is already sitting at the table."

Taiza followed the servant out to the dining room, wondering how he was going to face his father. Would his father greet him warmly? Coldly? Pretend as if three years had never passed? Overlook his absence in welcoming his son last night?

Taiza debated whether or not if he wanted to make a scene so early in the morning. He knew that mother wouldn't appreciate the commotion especially in the morning right after he returned and it was the first time that the entire family was together in three years. Mai wouldn't mind since she always enjoyed seeing father getting criticized as not many people were able to. Taiza was one of the few who openly voiced their mind in front of Governor Ukano, most were afraid of his political power and influence to say something out of line. Taiza supposed that for his mother's sanity, he'd hold back his words at least for today and bring it up in a more appropriate setting in a later time.

That is, assuming Taiza could manage to occupy some of his father's time if the man would just make space for a talk.

Stepping into the dining room, Taiza smiled at his sister and mother and paused at the figure sitting at the head of the table.

When people saw the family portrait, the most common comment was how the children resembled the mother than the father. Taiza and Mai took after their mother's oval, angular face and reedy body type along with her sharp eyes and narrow nose. Their personalities were also more like their mother, taking after her coolness of mind and taciturn personality. Governor Ukano, on the other hand, was a socially active man who enjoyed building connections and busied himself with gaining power. His rise to power didn't happen overnight, Ukano had spent nearly two decades cultivating his current status and those years costed him a close relationship with his family.

Taiza met eyes with his father, taking care to show nothing on his face. Governor Ukano couldn't hide the small twitch in his mouth when he saw his son's blank expression, clearly uncomfortable at the sight. The governor's political aspirations left him a lonely man and estranged from his own family, however he was most alienated from his firstborn. With a combination of Ukano's accelerating career, Taiza's taciturn personality, and two stubborn streaks, a great chasm widened and deepened between the father and son.

Michi, Mai, and the surrounding attending servants watched the wordless interaction with apprehension, wondering who would be the first to break the silence. While the governor was a proud man and refused to show grace or humility to the other party, Taiza was well-known by acquaintances for his strong-willed tenacity. The tense atmosphere didn't go unnoticed by Ukano who lowered his eyes first, resuming to swallow down his breakfast as if he was unbothered by his son's appearance. Mai openly rolled her eyes at her father's act while Michi's lips were so pressed together so tightly in displeasure that they were losing color.

Taiza's jaw tightened when he saw his father turn away without even so much as the slightest word for a hello. This was exactly the kind of tearful reunion he had been expecting from his father. Taiza opened his mouth to say something, most likely words laced with heavy sarcasm and contempt, when he caught his mother's eye. Michi stared her son down with an unspoken command. She would not have the first day with the entire family gathered begin with an argument. Taking a second to gather a semblance of calm, Taiza let out a controlled breath, briefly pressing his eyes together and praying for patience.

Ignore him, he decided and took the seat at the right of Ukano who didn't even react. A server quickly carted over a plate with warm food and filled his cup with water. Taiza started eating and couldn't help the small smile that crept on his face as he tasted the nostalgic food cooked by the family chef. On the plate was one of his favorite slow-cooked duck meat, pickled peppers he had eaten as a child, warm miso soup with tofu, and soft rice. He made a mental note to visit the kitchens soon to see the kitchen and greet the chef as well as any other staff who still worked there. Though the situation was awkward between his father and him, Taiza refused to eat quickly and took his time slowly savoring his food instead. After about five minutes of silent eating, Taiza took quiet satisfaction in seeing his father stuff the last pieces of his food and leave the table first as though he were in a hurry.

"Welcome back," the governor said briskly over a shoulder.

Hearing the short words, Taiza nearly bit his tongue on accident and stared at his father's retreating back.

How wonderful, he was going to have indigestion later, Taiza thought with some irritation. Not many things irked Taiza more than his father's pitiful attempts for a normal interaction. Though extremely reluctant to do so, he realized that he was going to have to speak to his father sooner or later about their 'relationship'. It was going to be an awkward confrontation and potentially dissolve into a screaming match, more screaming on Ukano's part than Taiza's most likely, so Taiza would have to plan the time and place he chooses to start it. He wasn't the same young teenage boy who was forced out of his own home because of political forces and his father's weak protection.

Nonetheless, Governor Ukano's leave seemed to have lifted an invisible weight on everyone's shoulders, including the servants'.

Michi was the first to speak at the table. "Would you like to see Tom-Tom?"

Taiza visibly brightened at that, causing his mother to lightly laugh.

His youngest sibling was carried into the room by a caretaker who handed over the little boy to Michi. Taiza wiped his mouth before walking around the long table to where his mother sat. His wide eyes and slightly gaping mouth were the only signs to show how Taiza was absolutely spellbound at the sight of his younger brother. The little thing was still bleary from sleep and wrapped with a wool blanket. It was obvious that the youngest child was the only one who took after Governor Ukano with round eyes and round face. Tom-Tom blinked his soft brown eyes slowly, breaking into an impish smile at the sight of his mother, and stretched out his hands towards her face.

"Hello Tom-Tom," Michi cooed, indulging him. "Your older brother is here."

Suddenly nervous, Taiza stepped closer and knelt down to the same eye-level as his little brother.

"Hey," he said quietly. "Nice to meet you."

It seemed that all his worries were for nothing because Tom-Tom promptly squealed at the new person and leaned over to touch Taiza's face. Taiza instinctively held Tom-Tom before the infant to topple over and took his brother out of his mother's arms. The unexpectedly heavy little human in his arms felt strange and Taiza had to rearrange the weight a bit before getting comfortable, but once Tom-Tom was snug, he realized that he didn't want to let go.

"My little brother," Taiza said under his breath, a little dazed at the reality in front of him.

Tom-Tom's little hands squished Taiza's cheeks and felt sticky, but he wasn't bothered by it.

He had a little brother.

oOo

I do not own anything of ATLA.

A/N: KayEmWhy - you guessed it! Taiza is Mai's brother :)