They were married in the fall. It broke with all tradition, but that was something that Kazuko and Mai were used to by now.

They took leave from the courts to spend their time in Ba Sing Se. It should have been awkward there, especially since it was her father and sister that almost destroyed the city, but she and Mai were greeted with real and honest affection and welcome. They were gifted with a so-called summer home in the Upper Ring (despite it being fall) and were invited to spend time in the most prestigious of places while they stayed.

For the most part, Kazuko did her best to pay lip-service to the politicians of Ba Sing Se. It was her duty, and her responsibility, to ensure that the largest city in the Earth Kingdom - and as a result, the rest of the Earth Kingdom - knew that she meant no threat to the city or the Kingdom. She had learned from the mistakes her family had made.

But the rest of the time was spent with Mai, curled up at her side, relishing in the simple things, enjoying idle boredom simple bliss. They memorised each other that fall, more than they had ever thought possible. Kazuko found it impossible to see herself without Mai, no matter what. Mai, luckily, felt the same way, although she did enjoy teasing Kazuko about it.

The next year wasn't easy. It was much harder, now that the rest of the world knew of her decision to forgo having an heir for the sake of love. Most leaders saw it as a refusal of duty, something damning and dishonourable, and often they would give her the hardest of times - if they even gave her any time at all. Kazuko sometimes took it hard, took it personally, but Mai wasn't the kind of wife who stayed at home while her own wife traversed the world. She was never alone, and with Mai at her side, she was reminded of why it was worth it in the first place.

Others, however, seemed to embrace her lifestyle choice. Even Suki admitted that it was more along the lines of how it worked on Kyoshi Island - leadership was won, not passed down. It was all about survival of the fittest, the strongest leading the weaker.

Kazuko wasn't sure if she thought of herself as the strongest. There were days when she thought that out of the whole world, she was the weakest of all. But these spells never lasted. Not like they used to, when she was younger. She had more reasons now to keep her head held high.

It got easier, though. She never thought it would, but it did. When they realised that she wasn't going to budge from the throne - or change her mind - it was almost like they got used to her, liked her, even. Maybe they thought of her as a strange novelty, or someone eccentric to humour, but if it meant that they listened to her, she decided to take it.

But time goes on. No moment stays still, no matter how happy or peaceful things are.

Throughout her years on the throne, between dodging daggers and loaded barbs from the mouths of politicians, Kazuko had kept her eyes open. With Mai at her side and advising her as well as guiding her, she kept her gaze open.

It was frustrating. Some small part of her wished she had kept the edict to the advisors and Mai only, for her people insisted on flocking to her at any given chance and prancing their children before her like they were prizes or slices of meat with the best selections. It was sad, and frustrating, and more than once Mai had to physically stop Kazuko from announcing the edict dissolved and that she was stepping down. It disgusted her that people would do this - would do anything short of selling their flesh and blood just for a chance at the throne.

"Why do they want it, anyway?" Kazuko snarled one day. "It's not luxurious at all. They don't see beyond the robes and gowns and gold. They're idiots, all of them."

Mai rolled her eyes in reply, and she knew that she had probably gone too far. But the sentiment behind it still stood. Even Mai knew that.

Iroh, who was starting to go blind by that point, spent most of his time in his apartments, occasionally going down to advise his fellow teamakers or visit with friends and family. Occasionally Kazuko would drift there, upending her basket of woes onto his lap to sort through and help her with. Iroh, being Iroh, took it with good cheer and many a proverb, but he always - always - left the final call to her. He never made any of her decisions for her.

Kazuko eventually wondered if she would ever make a choice. She wondered if she had made a mistake. She felt like a fool, like the Nation's biggest joke.

It wasn't until her thirteenth year on the throne that she found an answer.

Kazuko was dressed in plain clothes, a hood over her head and obscuring her features. She kept her hair down and her posture neutral. She wasn't in the village as Firelord; she was there to do some research.

Over the years, she had found herself doing this more and more often. When she was told of some trouble in her lands, she had to take it upon herself to investigate in person, rather than allow word of mouth to cloud her eyes. This visit was no different. She had heard from a governor that there was unrest in one of the fishing villages close to the capitol, and that if she didn't do something soon, there would be a revolt. She nodded, dismissed the meeting, and left Mai in charge, heading out that very day. She was positive that only Mai and Iroh - and their friends - knew that she did this. Still, she kept careful all the same. The last thing she wanted was to be found like this and accused of something.

And so far, she found that the rumours were true; the village was unhappy, and they were closed to rebellion. They were dreadfully poor despite being close to the capitol, and from the looks of it were horribly taxed for the very same reason. The entire place was full of quiet, simmering rage, and Kazuko's skin prickled as she walked through the place.

It was a chance moment, but a wayward blast of fire caught her attention. It came from one of the houses - literally. The ratty door burst open and a stream of fire arched from within. Kazuko lunged forward and threw herself into it, holding out her hands to catch it before it set flame to the rest of the brittle houses surrounding.

As the sparks faded, Kazuko could see the scene before her - and felt a clench in her gut.

Standing over a small figure was a tall, skinny man, looking worse for wear and furious. His fist was out and his body was held in a stance, and his other hand was poised and sparking for more. The sight of Kazuko stilled his hand.

At his feet cowered a girl, her arms covering her head, her lanky body covered in a patched shift that was now singed. Her own fingers were dusted with embers, but they didn't grow, nor did they look to do so any time soon. It was a defencive stance - she had no intention of fighting back.

It hurt. It hurt way too much. True, the circumstances were different - there was no crowd, no cheering, no ceremony. But the scene was still the same - a man who was supposed to be a father taking advantage of his child's soft heart and willingness to be good.

The father looked up, his eyes on Kazuko, who now stood close to the girl, her own hands out and ready. Her hood had fallen from her face, and her long hair was loose, but her features were the same. There was no other face in the Fire Nation like the Firelord's.

The man instantly prostrated, spluttering something about discipline and temper and last straws. Kazuko ignored him, instead kneeling before the girl and pulling her arms away gently. The girl looked up from beneath a curtain of deep brown hair, her eyes bronze and full. Upon her cheek was a scorch mark, one that would surely fade if seen to, but still - way too familiar.

"Firelord Kazuko," the girl whispered with fear, to shaken to kneel. Kazuko nodded, carefully checking the girl for further injuries before standing back up. The man rose up to his knees, looking fearful and resentful.

"Your daughter?" she asked shortly.

He nodded.

"Her crime?"

He hesitated, then spat it out. "She didn't get enough water for the well. We need that water. She is lazy and disrespectful. She needed to learn a lesson."

Kazuko nodded slowly. It was insane. Logic told her this. She didn't know anything about this family, didn't know the circumstances other than the town was on the brink of collapse. But for Kazuko, it was enough.

She knelt again before the girl, who was shaking and crying now silently. "What's your name?"

"Aditaya."

Kazuko raised her eyebrow. Old name, old meaning, meant for a boy. But here was a girl, and it seemed the name fit.

"Are you happy here?" Kazuko asked.

Aditaya was surprised, her eyes going wide. Her eyes flicked to her father, who was glaring openly, and she paled, unable to answer.

"Where is your mother? Do you have siblings?"

The girl shook her head. The father spoke up, "Her mother died during the war. Killed by a rebel. Left me with the kid ever since as a baby."

Kazuko considered; she had thought that Aditaya was younger due to her size, but apparently she was at least thirteen. In one move she stood, looming over the father with her hands on her hips. "Know that I am here for a reason," she said calmly. "I have heard the turmoil of this village and feel for you. Indeed it will not be ignored. It is why I am here personally."

She leaned down, her face inches from his. She smiled, baring her teeth at him. "But poverty and frustration do not give you the right to abuse your children. You are not fit for this child. I am taking her with me, in exchange for your silence."

The man choked on his words, and Kazuko's eyes narrowed. "She is of no use to you, yes? You find her a burden, a target? An extra mouth to feed? I will relieve you of our burden and you will never speak of this to anyone, ever. Or I will have you charged and put away where other men just like you rot." And she paused, letting that sink in, letting the entire meaning permeate over him. "Yes?"

Slowly, the man nodded. "Yes."

Done with him, Kazuko knelt back in front of the girl who, to her surpise, looked wary and miserable. "Aditaya, would you like to come with me? I need your insight into the needs of this village. You will live at the Palace while you help me, of course. In exchange we will help each other. Does that sound fair?"

Aditaya stared at the Firelord, her face a mix of emotion, her eyes full of intelligence and insight. Slowly, she nodded. "Yes," she agreed. "It sounds fair."

Kazuko stood and held out a hand. Aditaya followed suit, cast one look at her father - one, she saw, was full of hate - before taking the hand offered to her.

It was a start.