A Final Reason [Genji]

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

It had been a few days since Kozue had done her demonstration and there had been a strange silence from everyone around her; rather than clamoring for more or coming to her with questions she was left even more to her own devices. After the reactions of everyone this was something of a relief, to be alone with her books and Bending practice- but in the air was the sensation of calm before the storm. The look on General Genji's face spoke of things she couldn't place or define but also didn't bring the Firebender any sense of pride, and instead almost made the normally calm girl a bit anxious and edging on apprehension.

The library was always the most calming place to her, but with all of the tangle of thoughts moving in her brain she was filling the space with her own tension, drowning out the peace she was hoping to attain. With a sigh and forcing a bit of a smile she closed the novel in front of her and slowly stood and put the book away. If being still wouldn't bring her what she was after, movement was the only course- and fresh air was very good for clearing the senses. Kozue hadn't ventured outside of the main Palace building in a few days, hoping to avoid reminding anyone of her existence and bringing the storm of attention back down, but now she craved the gardens and the unfettered warmth of the sun and she wasn't such a nervous person that the bare thread of her concerns held her back.

A few moments later and she found herself in the southernmost garden on the Palace grounds, a variety of Earth Nation birds fluttering between the manicured bushes and flower beds. Though it had been arranged in the style of the Fire Nation royal gardens from the capital city before they'd been forced out the scents and colors reminded her more of the travels she'd been on as a child. Ba Sing Se and Omashu had their own gardens that had a good deal of loveliness to them and it brought a smile to her face to recall that simple, innocent time rather than the pain of remembering a home long gone. Her fingers moved delicately over the petals of the flowers and she named them silently to herself, letting the warmth of the surroundings seep into her soul.

Before too long she was feeling much more like her old self and her spirit was again bright in her eyes as she continued to wander between the delicately arranged plant life, her pace slow and relaxed. There was little chance that she'd escaped the eyes of the various attendants and other relatives in coming out here, but that didn't matter- the Firebender felt as though she'd found a place of complete quiet. The other matters of the past few days were finally beginning to order themselves within her mind and a solution seemed just around the corner. All she needed was that one final factor to finish the process.

[Yukiko]

Genji sat on the chaise longue in his quarters of the Refuge’s palace, staring out the window beside him. He ignored the tray of food sitting on the table beside him, likewise ignoring his attendants. His chin rested upon his palm and his gaze was calm. But to his attendants, it was the calm before a storm. The worrisome part for them was that they were unsure when this particular storm would break. Genji had been like this since the demonstration by his fiancée, Kozue. They knew how he felt about Firebending—he had expressed more times than any could count how deeply he despised it and those who practiced it. So as they silently fussed around the room, each one waited for the inevitable outburst and wondered who would be the victim this time.

Eventually, the tension that his servants created began to grate upon Genji’s nerves. He was normally quite good at ignoring them—they were simply around to do their jobs, after all—but it had been harder than usual to do so. He was more than a little disturbed by the fact that he was supposed to marry Yukiko’s friend. Though he had initially resigned himself to it, he was now having second thoughts. She was a Firebender of extraordinary skill and an excellent swordswoman as well. He was certain she could never match him with a blade—he was a Kazan and had long since earned the title of Master Swordsman, even by his family’s standards. No. The problem, as always, lay in bending.

‘First Ji, now Kozue. Powerful, capable women who could no doubt easily defeat me. This is dangerous water I am treading in. Is this really worth following through? ...Ha, listen to yourself. When did you become so weak and indecisive? No, this is the right path I am on. Incredible power is within my grasp. I need only marry this woman. Surely it cannot be so difficult to endure.’

But doubt continued to eat at him. Rather than making him anxious, however, it only infuriated him. And while he would like nothing better than to destroy every piece of furniture in this accursed room—and perhaps the whole palace with it—that would be as unproductive as lazing about. Without turning his head, he said, “Get out.” The servants glanced at him briefly before scurrying out of the room and closing the door. No one wanted to lose a limb or worse. Genji rose and stretched languidly, relishing the stretch of his muscles and the solitude he finally had. He strode over to the armoire and rummaged through one of the drawers. Finding his daisho sheaths, he pulled them out of the drawer, along with a pair of baggy turquoise shorts. Casting off his current attire, he donned the shorts and strapped the sheaths to his bare back. Satisfied, he padded of the room in his bare feet and made his way down to the gardens. He knew there was a pond somewhere and he was bound to find it. He needed to do some sort of training, but had no desire to use the training arena. Besides, he didn’t feel like carrying around the water necessary for what he wanted to do.

After about ten minutes of searching, he eventually found the medium-sized pond he had been looking for. At the sight of the water, he felt a sort of peace creeping through him. He welcomed it eagerly. Too long had he been wound up tightly by frustration and anxiety. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he stepped out onto the water. Channeling his focus to the water beneath him, he froze the water with each step he took and let it melt once more the moment he stepped off the ice. Though he would never admit it, he was pleased that there were no plants or fish in the pond. He couldn’t feel the chill of the ice on his bare skin, but he knew it could cause serious damage to others. He had mellowed much since his childhood and took little pleasure now in harming such creatures when he felt no anger towards them.

Once he reached the center of the pond, he stood still. Ice spread out in a three-foot radius from him, giving him ample room to stand and a steady platform to train on. In one fluid movement, he unsheathed and crossed Seisui and Hinote in front of him. He settled himself into a shoulder-width stance and paused. He took a moment to allow everything he had felt the past several months to course through him; briefly, he saw red as anger and frustration and a hint of desire colored his mind. He then slashed at the air, bringing a sweeping arc of water with it. Pivoting, he swung again, coming from below to strike at his invisible opponents. He wasn’t sure how long he trained there, though judging by the sun it had been several hours. Time held no meaning to him as he felt the ebb and flow of the water around him, heeding his commands and sweeping away his enemies or delivering stinging, slashing blows to them in concert with his blades. But at last, fatigue took its toll upon him—the strenuous workout, coupled with not having eaten that day forced him to stop when normally he would have continued for several hours more.

With a final double-slash of his blades, Genji raised his arms and returned them to their sheaths. He panted slightly from his exertions, noting that a fine sheen of sweat now covered him. Rolling his shoulders, he looked back across the pond to the path he had used to get here. He was somewhat surprised to see Kozue walking down it, lost in her own musings. This was a rather secluded part of the gardens. Moreover, Kozue had been hiding somewhere else in the castle the past several days. He allowed the water around him to melt once more, sinking in up to mid-calf. The cool water on his skin was a welcome relief to him. He slowly made his way back to the path. As he stepped onto it once more he called out to Kozue. “Good afternoon, Countess. I don’t believe I have seen you since your...remarkable demonstration. I trust you have been well the past few days?”

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

When things were quiet and peaceful the gardens created the same sense of timelessness as the libraries or the practice arenas, and in this safe place Kozue let her feet simply wander down the labyrinth of paths. The grass was soft underneath her slippered feet and the birds were still chirping, though a good deal of them were invisible in the shade of the bushes as they hid from the midday sun. Being on an island the smell of salt water was always in the air but after five years it grew less sharply defined, fading into the background like the memories of her childhood and days at the beach.

Lost in her thoughts as she was the sound of moving water came to her only distantly and was easily pushed aside; after a moment or so it stopped and she went back to her walking, paying enough attention to not walk into any of the flower beds but no more. The sound of footsteps drew her back more quickly and she glanced in the direction of them, then smiled and gave a polite bow when Genji greeted her. An interesting coincidence, them meeting here, but it was immediately obvious that he hadn't intended to seek her out. From the sweat on his brow and the swords on his back he must have been training out here- and there weren't many better places for a Waterbender. By nature it seemed that most of the Fire Nation neglected to put bodies of water unless they were small and decorative, and this garden's pond was the largest of those available.

"Good afternoon, General. I've been well, I hope you are the same," Kozue answered in a pleasant tone as she rose from her bow, straightening out the skirt of her slitted gown as she did so. Her attendants and the councilors would all have thrown a fit to know she was standing alone with her fiance in some of her more informal clothing, but considering the wedding date was looming close it didn't seem like that severe of a faux pas. He was dressed as casually as she was in any case and that was another reassuring point; it was likely that with his sense of decorum he would have been formally coiffed, even to hunt her down in a garden. He seemed tired but calm, and her mental and emotional state was neutral again as well, so maybe this would be a real chance to speak candidly with one another.

Pushing some of her hair behind her ear she walked until they were at a comfortable conversational distance, her smile a bit wider, her eyes filled with calm energy and the gold in them flashing a bit in the sunlight. Even in this relaxed place with his mood seemingly something about him worried at the back of her mind, but now was not the time to listen to vague feelings. Her wedding to this man, her old friend's elder brother, and if she didn't find some way to communicate with him comfortably now then it would only be harder after the ceremony. "Did you enjoy your practice? I'm a bit sorry I didn't manage to catch some of it," she added in a tone of gentle humor, hoping he wouldn't take offense. "I enjoy watching all types of Bending, and I've heard you're the best swordsman in all of the Northern Water Tribe."

[Yukiko]

Genji eyed Kozue’s attire as she approached him. He had never seen her in such informal attire, after all—it was a rather rare...well, treat was the only word he could think of to describe it. The more time he had spent with her in their meetings, the more appealing she had seemed—intellectually and physically. Her current gown gave her a particularly lovely glow. He shook his head to dispel those thoughts. He couldn’t afford to have his mind clouded by such trivial matters. He needed to win her over and he wasn’t unsure how to do so. The Council was already in his pocket, but of Kozue he wasn’t entirely certain. Perhaps this more informal meeting would be to his benefit, then.

Upon hearing her compliment, and noting the gentle tone of voice, he smiled. It was a genuine smile, at least for him. “It served its purpose, so I suppose one could say I enjoyed it. I train to...calm myself. It’s like meditation, if you will,” he replied lightly. “Perhaps we can schedule a demonstration for you, as well.” He moved his right hand up his torso, bending his sweat away and casting it out into the pond. Though the cooling sensation was pleasant, he disliked the smell and sticky feeling of it—hated it, in fact. “Please forgive my disorderly appearance. I was not expecting company...though I can hardly say I am disappointed.” His eyes were drawn to the lovely, unusual color of hers, growing slightly irritated that he was hardly much taller than she. He inwardly cursed his stature. He turned his focus to her hair in an attempt to distract himself from such musing. He reached his hand out to brush some stray hair out of her face. It was as soft as he had thought upon first seeing it, which delighted him. “Shall we...take a stroll through the gardens?” he asked quietly, turning to head back the way he came. He looked back at her. “It’s a lovely day for it.”

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

His words made a good deal of sense to the Master Firebender and she gave a nod of understanding to his first statement, then remained politely silent as he finished what he had to say. The tones of his voice held more resonance and warmth than she found in the more formal meetings and for that she was grateful. "Training has a way of making the entire world shrink down to what's happening at the moment and nothing more," Kozue agreed readily, her words a bit more conversational and less formal than usual to match his own. "I know that it helps me find my center and focus when I'm too anxious to get lost in my books. And I'd like a demonstration if you're every feeling in the mood to give one, I wouldn't want to intrude on your meditation." A warm smile crossed her lips at the gentle tease; she could only hope he'd understand that the bit of quiet humor in her tone was aimed mostly at herself. A joke at the expense of someone else was simply too cruel for her to indulge in.

A bit of Waterbending pulled the sweat from his skin, which seemed to improve Genji's mood a bit more, and their gazes met. Kozue couldn't deny that he was a handsome man, and in great shape, and that right now he seemed pleasant and in good spirits- but he'd often seemed that way before and then been triggered into moments of quietly seething anger with the smallest provocation. Could this be a hint of his true self, moreso than his previously detatched, cold and overly formalized self? I hope it's the truth, she said silently to herself, her expression unselfconscious and filled with the same warmth as always and the willingness to be completely open to him. "It's a good thing I happened to be out here then," she replied, watching his hand as it rose and brushed aside some of her more disobedient hairs. The small show of affection brought a faint flush of pleasure to her cheeks and her grin widened just a bit more. Perhaps there were connecting on some level.

Even with his previous action, which had taken her by surprise, Genji's next question completely disarmed Kozue. There was almost an air of vulnerability in it, at least compared to how he usually acted. It wasn't enough to make her forget the nearly two years of limited interaction and coldness he'd shown her but it was certainly a good step toward making her drop her guard. It wasn't like she couldn't put it back up again if she needed to, and if he broke her trust now it would be nearly impossible for him to gain it again. Lady Firebird was an accepting person- right up to the point where she couldn't afford to be nice any longer. "A walk sounds wonderful, thank you," was all she could say, as sincerely as ever but more relaxed than she usually was in his presence. It was surprising how glad she was that they'd run into each other.

[Yukiko]

With a nod to Kozue, Genji set off at a leisurely pace through the gardens. He had only walked through a small portion of them before, so he was interested in seeing what other exotic flora flourished here. And perhaps it would be good for conversation—something he was actually quite terrible at. He rarely spoke on such trivial matters, after all; it simply wasn’t in his nature. But...perhaps a change was warranted, at least for now. Kozue seemed to respond quite well to it.

“You wouldn’t be intruding on my meditations,” he said after a moment. “It’s more a matter of I rarely demonstrate my skills publicly, save for on the battlefield. I generally prefer to train alone. Few in the North offer me any sort of challenge, at least with swords. But it would be no inconvenience to give you a presentation.” He paused beside a flowering lilac tree. Gently lifting one of the delicate blossoms, he breathed in its scent. This was one of the few things he missed about the warmer climates—the North was barren, save for the Spirit Oasis. He smiled before turning back to Kozue. “There is little I regret about moving to the North Pole, but the lack of plant life can be rather depressing. It’s something I miss about living in the Fire Nation—especially the fire lilies. But things were always...complicated for me there. It’s a difficult thing, being a Waterbender in the land of your elemental opposite.” He resumed walking at his languid pace. It was fairly quiet in this area of the gardens, though Genji noted there were several servants scurrying about doing whatever their business was. He even spied a few of his own entourage. Some glanced at the pair walking, but didn’t approach. Others looked as though they wanted to approach before thinking better of it. It pleased him immensely. He was having a hard enough time as it was without their meddlesome interference. Now if he could just avoid Atsushi...the man would undoubtedly have several choice words for this impromptu jaunt.

He sighed at the thought before turning his gaze back to the foliage around them. It really was beautiful here. “I suppose that will be something I shall need to keep in mind for you, after we wed. Do you like it here?”

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

The pace that Genji set was an easy one and Zu-Se easily kept up, walking beside him at a comfortable distance for quiet conversation, a light smile on her face. The situation, whether it was the casual nature of it, the fact he'd just gotten done practicing, the lack of judgemental eyes or some combination of all three, seemed to open him up more than she'd ever seen before. This had to have been the most time they'd spent in each other's company without an uncomfortable silence or awkward conversation started by others and restrained by two culture's overlapping views on decency. It all seemed a bit pointless to the Firebender, as she wasn't a particularly lewd person, and she doubted the General was- and she was an adult, capable of caring for herself. Tradition was tradition though and she'd learned young that arguing with it was nearly useless unless she had proof that her way could work better.

No matter the reason it became obvious that they were both comfortable, and in moments Genji had begun to speak, and with a great deal more warmth and personality than he'd shown previously. There was a greater willingness to open himself up to her and for possibly the first time what he said meant something to him and was filled with sincerity, which Kozue appreciated greatly. "I don't know if the elders will want to set up something like a formal demonstration so close to the wedding, but I'd like it nonetheless," she replied with a bit of a wider smile, watching him with calm interest. "I may not be too much of a challenge for you but if you need someone to spar with I'd be willing to do my best. I've been told I learn quickly so I shouldn't be a mere annoyance for too long." There was a note of self-depricating humor in her voice, but no bitterness at all, a sign that Kozue didn't mind admitting her weaknesses.

Then he spoke of the flowers and memories of the Fire Nation and she could only nod, feeling a rush of oddly placed sympathy for the man she'd been cautious about trusting. Then again one idea didn't necessarily override the other, and part of the reason she didn't trust him was that they lacked any sort of commonality. "There were some beautiful gardens in the capital city- I remember spending a lot of time walking in them after I moved there. We tried to grow similar plants here but the climate just doesn't suit them." With the mention of being a Bender displaced she only had recent experience to know what he meant; while shse missed her home her travels as a child had helped her learn that the real spirit of fire could be found within herself, not in the ground of her homeland alone. From past experience she had a feeling that wouldn't be the most helpful thing to tell Genji though. "Perhaps they've managed to make some of the fire lilies grow in though. The more traditional plants are just a bit further down the path."

The concern his next question showed, both in his words and the fact that it carried through his demeanor, surprised the Countess a good deal; there had never even been a hint of that kind of care before. "I do like it here, but my childhood travelings with my parents have made it easier to adapt to new environments than most find it to be," she told him with soft confidence, her eyes meeting his again before she took another look around. Ah, it was just where she remembered it. Two steps to the side brought her to a moon-peach tree with low-hanging fruit and she delicately plucked one from the branch. The ripe fruit rested in her free palm, the fuzz on the outside almost velvety in texture, and she extended her hand gracefully toward the General. "I'm sorry, this is the only refreshment I have to offer you at the moment, but at least it's fresh and you must be famished after your practice."

[Yukiko]

Genji considered her offer to spar with him as they walked. He wouldn’t deny that she was an exceptional swordswoman. And he had little doubt that she would pick up anything he might be able to teach her very quickly. She was intelligent and, though she might not always appear so, observant. But that was part of the problem, wasn’t it? He couldn’t afford to have one such as her learn and master skills that had been the pride of his family for uncounted generations. She was formidable enough of an opponent. “I shall...take that into consideration,” he said, choosing his words with care. He was pleased to hear that some of the fire lilies may have taken root here. They really were his favorite plant, by far. He thought about her comment about traveling with her parents as he watched her move towards a moon-peach tree. I suppose that makes sense. I had forgotten her parents were ambassadors before things began to sour around the world.

“Yes, your parents were ambassadors, were they not? You must have seen much of this world...learned many things about the people.” The thought intrigued him—how much might she know that he, perhaps, did not? It was another reason to both be wary and more desirous of this union. Her experiences could potentially be invaluable to his objectives, great and small. He continued to watch her movements, interest warring against distrust—for he was certain she would not be easy to bend. She reminded him of Yukiko in that respect. His little Snowflake had rarely capitulated without a fight, especially after the death of their family.

He tilted his head in curiosity as Kozue plucked a peach from one of the lower branches. "I'm sorry, this is the only refreshment I have to offer you at the moment, but at least it's fresh and you must be famished after your practice." He eyed the fruit as she held it out to him. He had almost forgotten his hunger as he had walked with her. But the emptiness of his belly came rushing back to the fore of his thoughts with a quiet rumble. With little thought to what he was doing, Genji closed the small distance between them. Gently taking her wrist, he lifted the peach to his lips and took a small bite of it. He chewed for a moment, savoring the rich flavor of the ripe fruit. Holding her gaze, he swallowed and licked his lips to catch the stray juices. Releasing his hold, he took the whole fruit in his hand. It was velvety on his skin, with the sticky juices beginning to dribble into his palm. “It’s perfectly delectable.” He bit into it again, smiling at her as he did. Perhaps the peach wasn’t the only delectable thing near him.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

When Genji suggested that he'd consider sparring with her Kozue smile didn't falter at all, though inwardly she wondered a bit at his reluctance. She remembered how Yukiko had spoken of her family's legacy of swordsmen and women, and how their honor was tied so strongly to that set of skills- but wasn't she about to become family? Such jealous possessiveness of knowledge was completely foreign to the Firebender who so much enjoyed finding, demonstrating and teaching new techniques; but that was still his right. It was something that he'd put the time into learning and perfecting, and he was obviously a master at it, and that gave him the rights of an owner. Perhaps after they really were family he'd think a bit differently of her offer.

Though the topic would have been considered pedestrian to some Kozue was pleasedto hear the General asking her any kind of personal questions that didn't immediately bring to mind part of their diplomatic marriage arrangement. It was a sign that there was a real person inside his thick defensive shell. "Yes, we did a good deal of diplomatic traveling when I was a child, and went to almost every nation at some point to solidify the Fire Lord's treaties, but when I was a bit older we moved back to the capital city. I think my mother was homesick and a bit tired of being away from her family." Her smile turned a bit warmer as she spoke more intimately about her family and past than she had in quite some time. "I actually missed it though, always wondering where I'd end up and who I'd meet, but the friends I made and the Royal Library made up for it."

The next thing she knew Genji was standing closer than usual and had her wrist clasped in his hand, lifting it to his lips to take a bite of the ripe moon-peach she'd offered him, but without any kind of harshness or brutality. It was almost as much of a surprise as the action itself; he seemed so cold and removed from any kind of inherent humanity at times, how could his hands be so warm? There was almost a sensuality to this moment and it drew a flush to Kozue's cheeks, but she didn't turn away; instead she kept her eyes on him even as her breath caught in her throat and a knowing air quirked the corners of her smile. "I'm happy to see that you approve," she replied a bit lowly to his last statement, lowering her hand as the juice from his first bite ran over her fingers. "The garden often has more to offer than it seems."

[Yukiko]

Genji’s eyes seemed to dance with delight at Kozue’s surprised flush. He freely admitted he wasn’t the most lovable person in the world—far from it. He generally disliked the company of others, whether in a casual or intimate situation. Frankly, unnecessary contact was something he tried to avoid. That didn’t mean he was completely devoid of such desires, of course, and he had occasionally indulged in them. He firmly believed it was unhealthy to deny oneself all of life’s pleasures. But there was something particularly pleasing about seeing the surprise on another’s face when he appeared to be anything more than the implacable, indifferent Tempest.

Finishing his bite, he said, “So it would appear, Countess. But that is the delight of more natural environs. An air of...magic and wonder, reminiscent of a child’s innocence, is always present.” He shifted his balance slightly, placing more weight on his right foot, and ate another bite of the peach. “For me, that was the best part of traveling. I used to travel a fair bit with my family before their demise—and with Yukiko after that. My favorite vacation sites were the Air Temples. The monks and sisters are...quite interesting.” He chuckled, remembering some of his visits to the temples. “But I don’t miss the...uncertainty, shall we say, of a more nomadic life. I like my life to be fairly orderly and predictable. Goals, plans—a direction for my energies that rarely deviates, save by my own choices or unavoidable circumstances.”

Genji remained silent for a while after that. Firstly, he wanted to give her time to digest what he had just divulged. He lived a very ordered life, despite the chaos of the world, and despised unnecessary disturbances to that order. If she was to be his wife, she needed to understand that perfectly. Secondly, he disliked conversing while eating; it had always seemed uncouth to him to divide one’s attention in such a way. So instead, he focused on eating the peach. Plucking out the pit and stem, he slowly finished it off. He wasn’t one to rush a meal, no matter how paltry. It was detrimental to both his stomach and his temper—the one becoming cramped and painful, the other responding to the former with irritability. Finishing the rest of the delectable treat, he tossed aside the pit and stem before pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his hands clean. He always carried one around, just in case. As he returned the soiled article to his pocket, he looked at Kozue. He held her gaze, his eyes serious once more. “I trust you understand why that is?” He was certain she did; however he wished to hear the confirmation rather than assume.

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

For a moment there was a glimmer of mischief and satisfaction in her intended fiance's eyes as he looked on her but while there was an air of playfulness there was also the sense of toying with her in a less pleasant way. The General was the sort who felt the most comfortable when he knew what to expect from everyone in his vicinity and didn't take to shocks very well- and obviously he was testing her reactions in the same way he expected to be tested. The difference was that while Kozue endured such tests very well- and always had, from both relatives and and strangers- she never considered it her place to give those same tests to others.

Nevertheless she listened as Genji spoke, letting the words turn over in her mind as their intent filtered through. "My father was an Airbender so we went to the Temples every so often as well," Zu-Se told him in a tone of understanding. There were few places in the world as peacefully free and lighthearted as the Air Nomad's sacred temples. Where else could there be the perfect blend of such easy, calm spirituality and childlike, wonderous freedom, all wrapped up together so neatly that there was no clear delineation where one started and the other ended? Still, she was a Firebender to the core and knew that it wasn't her place; as much as she enjoyed that vacation a part of her yearned for the constantly flickering warmth of flames rather than the cool breeze.

The peach in his hands was then no more than a pit and he'd tossed it away with a deft motion before wiping his hands on a handkerchief and he posed another question to her, this one far more condescending and with less care than the previous ones. Could she have done something to put him back into such a cold mood? "Yes, I understand. Familiarity can be comforting as well, as can routine," the Countess replied in an easy tone that still held warmth though she was beginning to wonder if it would do any more good at this point than it had at the others. But Kozue was nothing if not hopeful. "Does mean that after our wedding I would be traveling to the Northern Water Tribe to live in your home, Genji?"

The question left her mouth before she quite realized it but she wasn't the sort to regret things that were already done, especially when it was something that should have been addressed far before now if not for the delicacy of the negotiations that were taking place. Had any of the advisers or attendants been nearby there would have been a clearing of voices and a quick change of the subject, at least from those on her side. "This probably isn't the time to talk about that though, is it?" she suggested with a light laugh, hoping to brighten the mood again. "Those sort of details tend to sort themselves out in the end."

[Yukiko]

Genji’s amusement grew as Kozue brought up one of the topics he himself had been considering since this whole farce had begun. Would she come to live with him? Or would he keep her closeted in the Fire Nation Refuge, occasionally visiting her when the mood struck him? Neither option was preferable to him. Like the pending marriage, both options were inconvenient and would cause him great annoyance. But it was something that needed to be addressed. Now was as good a time as any.

So, despite her attempt to steer the conversation away from it, Genji answered her question. “No, you were right to bring it up, Kozue. Loose ends should not be left alone, whether we believe they will be resolved on their own or not. And to be honest, I hadn’t given much thought to it. I’ve been more concerned with arriving at acceptable terms for the marriage itself.” Genji looked at the trees around them, wondering if perhaps he should leave her here. She surely appreciated the beauty of this place almost as much as he did, if not more so. Would it be acceptable to pull her from here? “I think I would prefer you to move to the North with me. It’s only fitting that a wife lives with her husband, is it not? And I simply cannot move from the Capital. Although I have been given ample time to make these trips for negotiations, this will change once we wed. If you stayed here, we would rarely see each other as I am often tied up with military matters.”

He started walking again, bored of this particular spot. Genji was not one to keep his mind on a single subject for too long. There was too much to see and learn in this world—too much to accomplish in such a short lifespan. Like the currents of the oceans, Genji kept himself moving. “However, I can understand if you would rather live in a warmer clime, such as this. I would not be overly adverse to the idea. Yet I cannot think of an acceptable half-way point where you might stay while I continue my work in the Northern Capital.” He reached out and brushed his hand against the rough bark of a towering oak tree. The texture was both foreign and comforting to skin that so rarely touched living, breathing organisms. Perhaps I should look into building a small summer home in the Earth Kingdom. It would give me an excuse to leave now and again, to be in a world that isn’t snow and ice. …And perhaps allow more frequent visits to Ji…

“So…I think that you would live with me. But…I could look into finding a vacation home for us. Some place that has more than barren snow and ice in it. What do you think?” He looked at Kozue, curiosity in his eyes—and perhaps a little concern and irritation as well. Why did he care whether she was comfortable or not? Pleased with the arrangements or unhappy with her lot? She was just a pawn, after all. Then why do I give a damn?

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

His response to her poorly-informed question; she'd almost expected him to be angry, or at least irritated. The somewhat stiff traditions of both peoples would have said those matters were next to none of her affair for the moment, and indecent to speak of until after the wedding itself; Genji also had his own code of what was proper and appropriate, more and more of which she'd been able to glimpse as they spent more time together. That hidden temper that seemed triggered by things she'd never considered had more than once given her pause in the way she dealt with the Waterbending general. Maybe this was a sign that state of mind was changing, that he could open up to her, and that actually brought her some sense of comfort. It may not have started out as something she'd choose but being married to someone who constantly frightened her- that was unthinkable.

"It sounds like a good plan, I'd like to be back at the North Pole from time to time. It's cold, but everything seems so bright," Kozue said in a warm voice, her smile a bit brighter as she watched him seemingly commune a bit with nature and keeping pace with him as he moved about the garden. "Though I would have to come up with another story for myself, to explain why I would be there and keep it from linking back to my family. They don't seem quite ready to reveal themselves yet. Once that's taken care of I think the rest of it sounds really nice."

There was a personable sense of questioning in his eyes and voice as he looked at her from his spot by the tree he'd been resting against before. Of course there was still some annoyed confusion in his eyes, almost as though he didn't know why he was continuing with the train of thought they had embarked on. Given the way he tended to lash out when confused or angry it may have been a bad idea to even acknowledge it but the Firebender had to try, and reached out a hand to rest it lightly on his shoulder, her smile staying in place. "It'll find a way to work out, things generally seem to. If I've reinvented myself once it can't be that hard to do it again."

[Yukiko]

Her response pleased Genji immensely. She was proving to be much less difficult to deal with than he had at first imagined. A knot of tension he hadn't previously noticed loosened in his chest and breathed a small sigh of relief. He had a hard enough time trying to please two ‘masters’ - he really had no desire to add a third to the mix. He felt remarkably free in this moment - able to express emotion as he hadn't done since childhood. It disturbed him somewhat, to be honest. He was getting soft as he grew older. Whether that was a good thing was debatable.

Still, it was enough to make him close the distance between them again and cup her cheek. “I’m glad you approve,” he murmured, running his thumb slowly across the smooth skin. It felt cool against his palm, a sensation he was familiar with. No one felt “warm” to him because of his own heat. He'd always found that ironic - as though a fire burned fiercely within, yet he couldn't bend it to save his life.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Genji's hand nearly clenched into a fist around Kozue's cheek as the familiarly grating voice of his attendant-in-chief reached his ears. Quick reflexes prevented it, though he still squeezed her cheek somewhat before dropping his hand to his side. He turned his head to the left to find Atsushi scurrying towards them, his kimono fluttering behind him. “What does it look like I’m doing?” he replied coolly. “Is it suddenly a crime to be slightly intimate with my fiancee?” “I don’t care that you’re affianced, it’s not proper to behave like this with one another before you’re even wed!” Atsushi squawked, flapping his arms in exasperation. The florid, paunchy man moved to push Genji away from Kozue, blathering on about the appropriate time and place among other asinine remarks.

Genji's eye twitched. He had tolerated the man's fussiness this long simply because he had been ordered to. Atsushi was there to ensure that misunderstandings weren't made and diplomacy carried through. And for all intents and purposes, the man did his job well. But this was entirely too far. How dare this man? In a moment, he had gripped Atsushi by the kimono’s collar and lifted the short man into the air. “I have put up with you long enough,” he said. His voice was quiet, but the air around him seemed charged with his fury as he continued, shaking Atsushi slightly. “Not once have I behaved in a fashion that offends mine own sense of propriety - a sense which has never served to offend others unnecessarily. And by all that is holy and unholy, I will not tolerate a pompous, elephantine MIDGET TELLING ME HOW THE HELL I SHOULD BEHAVE IN PRIVATE WITH MY OWN GODDAMN FIANCEE!” Genji’s voice was the roar of a tsunami crashing against the shore as Atsushi squirmed in his grip. With his free hand, he reached up and gripped Hinote’s hilt. As he smoothly withdrew the wakizashi from its sheath, he felt the water from a nearby pond respond to his movement. Pulling it to him, he created a razor sharp edge of ice on the blade and held it at an angle to Atsushi's throat. He had all but forgotten that Kozue was watching, nor did he care. He had finally lost his patience with this fool and all he saw was the now-still man held before him. “I’m done playing along, Atsushi,” Genji explained in a calm, rational voice. He pressed the blade ever so slightly against Atsushi’s throat, causing the smallest trickle of blood to trail down the blade. “You are the underling here, not I. You dance to the tune of my orders. Do I make myself clear?” The chill winds of the arctic North resonated in Genji’s voice as he laid down his ultimatum. He could feel the shivers running through Atsushi and it caused a malicious grin to distort his handsome features into something much crueler. "Perhaps you would like a first-hand demonstration of why I am the Tempest?"

[\Mai-Dee/ *Erity* ~Kenzi~]

For a moment it seemed that things were at peace, and Kozue's cheeks flushed as Genji's thumb stroked her cheek, his body so close she could almost sense the heat coming off of it to match the searing sensation of his hand. And more, he seemed pleased with her answer, though exactly why wouldn't be easy to figure out, especially with all of the information flooding through her senses at the moment, with the smooth but burning-cold touch of his flesh and the flash in his eyes that was somehow encouraging but completely dark, promising only a lonely sort of oblivion. And though she knew it was supposed to bring her a sense of closeness there was something in her soul that knew the fleetingness of her fiance's affection, as though no matter how many times they were like this with each other the battle to regain it would always be as difficult as it was before. Still, she was a person with a heart full of hope and pushing those feelings aside she gave him a warm smile, leaning her head the slightest bit into his touch. I'll get used to it, I just need to give it time.

It was only a quarter of a minute later that the sound of the retainer Atsushi's frantic shouts came clearly through the garden and to her ears- and from the General's reaction he had heard it to, his hand tightening against the soft skin of her cheek briefly before he smoothly pulled it away. Of course there were those who would see this as inappropriate, especially considering the political ramifications of the marriage, but in reality it had been innocent. It's still his job though, and if he doesn't follow his orders he could lose it, she reminded herself as she glanced slightly downward, cheeks less red and her head bowed respectfully. This was not one of her people, and so if she were to step it that would be an even more serious breach in protocol, one that the diplomat may even carry to her Nation's council. With that in mind she stood where she had been all along, her gaze moving up a bit to watch the pair.

Once the cold tone entered Genji's voice she could tell that this argument was not going to go well, and while he words could be considered by some almost romantic in an overprotective and frustrated sense that wasn't the impression at all if one could hear the actual tone he used. As the shouting got louder she was momentarily surprised at the rage that emanated from the usually carefully-controlled Waterbender, then could only wait in shock for a moment as he smoothly drew his wakizashi- a family heirloom, how often had she seen things like it at Yuki's house when she'd visited as a child?- and with a swift movement pulled water from nearby, wrapping it around the blade as ice and pushing it to the man's throat. No, this was too far. The maddened gleam in Genji's eyes was- sadistic. His control had finally snapped, and with a sinking feeling she knew there wouldn't be any stopping him, at least not with words.

A couple quick steps carried Kozue in front of the scene and instinct as well as intense training took over. With one hand she reached out to touch the ice surrounding the guard of the blade and twisted her wrist to bring it slightly back, while the other grabbed Atsushi by the collar and pulled him out of the way while her Firebending quickly melted the ice to a fast rush of steam. With the padding around the hilt there was no way the heat of her motion would reach Genji's hand and Kozue's eyes showed only concern and a sort of deeply rooted seriousness, her smile gone and her tone mild. "General, stop this," she said intently, not making any overt moves to attack but keeping herself in between her fiance and his target in case he wasn't ready to snap out of his current rage. At least she was more able to defend herself than the advisor was, and at the moment she was too focused on the man she was supposed to marry to notice anything his rotund acquaintance did. "Calm down."