Seeing Zuko Again

Over the next few days, Kahn began studying Firebending under Iroh.

Although Zuko still could not be brought out of the Royal Palace, and Kahn could not enter either, Iroh still had the right to visit Zuko inside. According to Iroh, Zuko's emotions had settled down, and he hoped to play with Kahn again as soon as possible.

Kahn scratched his head, feeling as though he had suddenly gained an adorable little brother who liked clinging to him.

He also asked Iroh to pass along a message to Zuko, saying that he was looking forward to it too.

As for the Firebending School, Iroh went there personally to speak with them, so Kahn no longer needed to attend.

The envious look in his Firebending teacher's eyes upon hearing that he would be studying under Iroh left quite an impression.

Although he did not know just how formidable Iroh was, the envy in his teacher's eyes told him that he had definitely hit the jackpot.

Later, Kahn specifically asked Iroh about it and learned that benders had ranks too, although they were only roughly divided into two levels: ordinary benders and bending masters.

Still, although the divisions were crude, the requirements were strict. Even with the Fire Nation's current size, people who could be called Firebending Masters were quite rare.

And Iroh was one of them.

Kahn could deeply appreciate that. Although he had never witnessed Iroh's true strength, Iroh definitely had the deepest understanding of Firebending of anyone he had ever met!

Granted, he had not met all that many people.

After he began studying Firebending under Iroh, he clearly felt himself improving rapidly, even experiencing the illusion that he should be able to beat Azula now.

Fortunately, whenever that illusion appeared, Azula would promptly help correct it and make him face reality.

That was right. Although they had already discussed things before, Azula still frequently sneaked over his wall and into his house these past few days, leaving him thoroughly puzzled as to why.

Watching Azula lie brazenly on the couch to rest, scattering leftover fruit scraps and seed shells everywhere, Kahn felt the veins on his forehead bulge.

"Don't you have a home of your own? The trash can is right there. Can you please throw things into it properly!"

"Tch, none of your damn business."

Azula tossed a seed shell outside the trash can with perfect precision and shot Kahn a provocative glance.

If you weren't a useful tool, I'd have clobbered you ages ago!

With that thought, Kahn gave Azula another beating in his head.

Still, Kahn did not actually mind Azula coming over to play, because she made an excellent sparring partner. She was very strong, but not to the point where she could defeat Kahn instantly. That gap was just right, which made it very comfortable.

After each lesson with Iroh, as long as Azula was around, he would seek her out to review and reinforce what he had learned.

Azula was actually somewhat unhappy about Kahn treating her as a tool, but she was helpless against his infuriating ability to dodge.

When she was annoyed, she could only vent her frustration on the abandoned potted plants in Kahn's yard, or play pranks like she was doing now.

That was also why he could do nothing about Azula. After all, he needed her help.

After sparring, the two would sometimes lie on the ground to rest and chat sporadically for a while.

Most of the time, Azula did the talking: which part of the Royal Palace she had sneaked into that day, whose secrets she had stumbled upon, which palace maid she had pranked, which guard she had found something to hold over. One could say there was no mischief she would not commit.

At first, Kahn listened with his heart pounding in alarm, but eventually he grew numb to it and merely criticized some of Azula's bad behavior-basically, he made a jab for every sentence she said. Then Azula, angered by his jabs, would try to hit him, and he would keep dodging. Once they were tired, they would sit on the ground and keep chatting, repeating the process over and over.

Even Kahn could not figure out what sort of miraculous dynamic he and Azula had.

And for some reason, Azula seemed to find this cycle endlessly entertaining.

Kahn said bluntly to Azula, "You probably don't have many friends, do you?"

"What?"

"After all, to be a little immodest, who among our peers besides me could beat you and dare to be friends with you?"

Azula retorted, "Bullshit, you can't beat me either!"

"But I did beat you once. Besides, that's not the point. The point is, you're not denying that you don't have friends, are you?"

Kahn waved a hand, brushing aside the question of who had beaten whom, then raised his eyebrows smugly.

Then, just as he was about to use this to persuade Azula not to be so violent in the future, Azula suddenly raised her eyebrows too and said:

"Besides, when did I ever say I didn't have friends?"

"Huh?"

Kahn froze at her words.

"Did you really think I was someone with no friends, just like Zuzu? Well, I'm terribly sorry to disappoint you."

This time, it was Azula who gave Kahn a nasty smile and said:

"If anything, all I see you doing all day is practicing Firebending with Uncle Iroh or staying home. I think you're the one with no friends, aren't you?"

"Says who? I go to school too!"

Kahn retorted.

"Then do you have friends at school?"

"I!"

Kahn was momentarily speechless.

Why would I go making friends with a bunch of little brats for no reason?

To think she'd actually stumped me with a question like this. A miscalculation!

"Hahahahaha!"

Seeing Kahn at a loss for once, Azula laughed at him without restraint, then patted his shoulder and made a show of comforting him:

"How about this? When you come to the Royal Palace in a couple of days, I'll introduce you to my friends. Then you won't look so lonely. Hahaha!"

But after hearing Azula's words, Kahn stopped caring about the matter of friends and asked:

"You're saying I'll be able to enter the Royal Palace in a couple of days? Why?"

Azula said:

"Didn't I tell you? In another two days, Father will be able to completely sweep away Uncle Iroh's influence and turn him into an idle man who no longer poses any threat. Then Father won't bother about where he goes anymore."

"Then how did you find out?"

Kahn asked instinctively, then realized he had asked a stupid question.

Sure enough, Azula's answer was exactly what he expected:

"I overheard it, of course."

Although he had already guessed as much, Kahn still could not help marveling inwardly. Good grief!

Sure enough, two days later, Iroh announced the good news to him with delighted surprise. Kahn obligingly acted "surprised" as well, then followed Iroh into the Royal Palace.

"Kahn!"

As soon as Zuko saw Kahn, he rushed over happily, just as he always had. "Long time no see!"

Kahn looked Zuko over. He could not see any changes in him, but there was no way he had not changed.

"Long time no see. Um, are you doing okay?"

He greeted him in return, then asked somewhat hesitantly and indirectly.

According to Iroh, it was best not to mention Yin Shu's name in the Royal Palace now.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

At Kahn's question, Zuko paused, shook his head, and finally wore a complicated expression as he said, somewhat choked up:

"Thank you for caring, Kahn. You're my best friend!"

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from the side, teasing nastily:

"Oh~ I think I see someone crying. Is that you, Zuzu?"