"Although what you said was very imposing—and I actually agree with it—but…"
Kahn cut Azula off mid-sentence, frowning. "You're not planning to make me help you investigate, are you?"
Azula raised an eyebrow. "Mm-hmm."
"...What?"
"How old are you?" Kahn asked cautiously.
"Seven. Why?"
"You're seven. I'm nine. Do you really think two little kids like us should be investigating something like this?"
Kahn pointed at himself, exasperated. "And for the record, I'm just a regular commoner. What makes you think I can actually help with something this serious?"
He started counting off on his fingers.
"Look at the people involved here—former Fire Lord Azulon, General Iroh, Fire Lord Ozai, Lady Ursa, you, and Zuko. That's six people, and every one of them's got royal blood or some big title attached."
He paused.
Wait a second.
Iroh was his guardian. Zuko and Azula were his friends. Ursa treated him well…
Aside from Azulon and Ozai, he was somehow connected to everyone involved.
Damn, Kahn thought. That's actually kind of impressive.
"I don't care," Azula's voice snapped him back to reality.
She crossed her arms, completely unfazed by his logic.
"That's your problem."
"What the hell…" Kahn groaned, covering his face with both hands.
The pain in his brain was almost physical. A ridiculous tune started looping in his head:
I wash the seaweed, oh~ wash the seaweed, oh~
But as much as Kahn was suffering, Azula wasn't exactly comfortable either.
She might've looked spoiled, hot-headed, and unreasonable on the outside—but deep down, that attitude was just armor.
A mask to cover her fear and confusion.
Even though she was smarter than most adults, she was still just a seven-year-old girl.
And for the first time, the father she had always trusted had become unreliable.
The first time she had ever defied Ozai's orders—to find her mother—Azula began to realize how fragile her situation really was.
All her pride, her talent, her intelligence—it all came from him.
And without him, she suddenly felt small, powerless, and painfully lost.
That emotional gap crushed her.
So she buried the thought of finding her mother deep down, forcing herself to grow into the daughter Ozai wanted her to be—cold, ruthless, obedient.
Until one day, that inner pressure twisted her beyond repair.
If nothing unexpected happened, that was how her story would've ended.
But something did happen.
In her panic and helplessness, one face appeared in her mind.
Not Zuko. Not her other playmates.
Kahn.
The boy who had spent less than a day with her—but had left a lasting mark.
He was the first person who wasn't afraid of her.
The first person who could beat her.
The first person who matched her in wit.
The first person who defended her.
The first person who didn't insult her.
And the first person who genuinely praised her.
Less than a day together, and yet… he had left a deep impression.
So, being Azula, she decided instantly—and showed up at his door.
Then proceeded to drive him insane.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Watching Kahn's expression of total disbelief, Azula finally broke down laughing. Tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes.
It was the first time she had laughed that hard since the whole succession crisis began.
Though she hadn't found her mother, speaking with Kahn had lifted some of the crushing weight off her heart.
Feeling satisfied, she finally said through a smile, "I didn't say I want you to find her now. I'm just letting you know."
Kahn froze mid-facepalm, then glanced at her. "Really?"
"Mm-hmm. But if you can find her now, I'd be very happy, of course."
"I… also think we should plan for the long term," Kahn said quickly, seizing the chance to agree.
"We can investigate quietly—and then amaze everyone later."
"'Investigate quietly,' huh." Azula clicked her tongue, her disgust momentarily flashing at the mention of Ozai, before she composed herself again.
"Anyway, that's it. I'm going back."
Having said what she came to say, she turned and left.
Before Kahn could even react, she vaulted up the courtyard wall with smooth, practiced agility.
Then she half-crouched at the top and turned back to ask,
"If you were my mother—where would you hide?"
Kahn thought for a moment. "If possible, as far away as you can. Somewhere your father would never reach. But then again… sometimes, the most dangerous place is the safest."
Then, after a beat, he added, "And hey, this world's full of weird abilities. Maybe she found a way to make sure no one can find her."
Azula's eyes flickered thoughtfully. "Is that so."
Then she leapt down the other side of the wall.
A place Father can't reach. The most dangerous place. A power that hides you…
Mother… where are you? Can you really hide forever?
"Can't she just use the door? That crazy girl…" Kahn muttered, shaking his head. He turned back toward his room.
"Wait… didn't I say I didn't want to get involved?" He frowned. "How did I suddenly agree? I must be losing it."
Then, reconsidering, he mumbled, "No, no, no. Logically, I was coerced. Yeah. Coerced by a seven-year-old princess… That's definitely worse."
He sighed, quoting to himself, "The temperament of the Chinese people always likes to reconcile and compromise."
"How true," he muttered.
"Anyway—succession struggles, conspiracies, a princess searching for her mother…" He flopped onto his bed.
"This sounds like the main plot, doesn't it?"
He paused, staring at the ceiling. "But Avatar's supposed to be the main protagonist of this world. He hasn't shown up for nearly a hundred years though…"
"So I guess this is just a side story? Maybe we're not even supporting characters."
"Ha. I'm overthinking it."
He rolled over. "Sleep!"
Five minutes later, he sat up again.
"…Why the hell am I trying to sleep in broad daylight?"