悪魔と踊りましょう

[Zai Saika]

烈火軍

Five years ago the Fire Nation massacred the Air Nomads. A victorious Fire Nation General made his way homeward in what should have been glory but instead his heart was twisted in shame and the agony of guilt. He along with other generals were to be received at the palace and honored for their victory by Fire Lord Sozin. The Fire Lord had also bestowed the invitation upon each General's immediate family so that they could bear witness the honor and glory that each victorious general had brought to the Great Fire Nation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having bathed in mineral rich water and scented oils young Zai was putting on the finishing touches, taking an eternity in the wash room, but it was not a problem he had arisen from his slumber long before the sun. Today was a day of great importance and he had to ensure that he was perfect in every way imaginable, not a speck of anything on his perfectly pressed dress attire and not a single folic...what was that? He gazed upon a few strands of loose hair that had made their way free of his top knot. He quickly plucked them and his face grimaced ever so slightly as he poured water over his hands and rinsed them once more. The eleven year old practiced his salute and bow once more in the mirror ensuring the crispness of the gesture, his father would be proud. He smiled at himself his bronze eyes staring back filled with a boyish excitement, but there was still a seriousness about him that surpassed his own years.

The young son of General Saika made his way down the hall, past the beautiful family portrait that ordained the hall, he made his way into the kitchen, his father glanced over him from the breakfast table and quickly looked away. Zai's face sunk in sadness, his father had been home for nearly three full days and he had barely said a word to his only son. Zai had been patiently waiting to be regaled with stories of the historic victory over the Air Nomads and the most assuredly honorable actions of his father leading men into battle.

"Good morning Father, good morning Mother."

He bowed respectfully before taking his place at the table.

"Good morning Zai, you look well rested and very handsome."

His mother said warmly.

"Zai."

His father said curtly, acknowledging the presence of his son but avoiding looking the young man directly in his eyes.

"I must get ready now, we have long day ahead of us."

The General got up from the table and walked off down the from which Zai had emerged moments before. Nearly as quickly his mother placed a cup of tea in front of him, the black liquid steamed and the scent of warm vanilla and a subtle bit of cinnamon made his way into his nose and perked him momentarily before he looked to his mother who now sat directly across from him and sighed audibly while stirred his tea.

"Mother have I done something to upset him? Something wrong? I dressed my best to make him proud and...he won't even look at me."

Zai looked down into his tea again and felt his mother's hand gently come and take his. His bronze eyes looked up at her again, seeing her care filled expression gazing over him.

"Your Father is proud of you Zai, but remember war is hard and your Father is a general. He is responsible for the life and death of countless men and women. It is a great burden that he must bare."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Zai quickly retorted.

"Everything Zai, everything and nothing at all at the same time. Your Father was responsible for boys not much older than you, some who will never come home to see their families again. He sees you and knows in a few years time he could be responsible for giving an order that would result in him never seeing you again. You're dressed in your best this morning, the young son of a General who looks so dignified and respectable, just like the young men whom your Father had to write letters informing their parents that they would not be coming home. Do you understand Zai?"

The young man took a sip of tea and nodded quietly to his mother.

"I guess I do."

The boy and his mother shared glances, time passed and they finished their tea. Zai refrained from breakfast for fear of getting even the smallest speck of tea on his perfect clothes. General Saika emerged from the hallway in full uniform and motioned for everyone to follow him. The carriage to take them to the palace had arrived. The journey to the palace was a silent ten minutes or so, the entire family seemed to be deep within their own thoughts as it stopped in front of the palace. Each General's arrival and departure had been carefully timed so that it would appear they were the only ones meeting with the Fire Lord, it was designed so that it would appear that all the pomp and circumstance were for them.

The door to the carriage opened and before exiting the general looked to his son.

"Zai, this is the palace. Do not speak to anyone unless spoken to, especially the Fire Lord. I am dreadfully sorry, but I doubt this will be anything but boring for you, but remember it is an honor to even be called here. When I go in and bow before the Fire Lord, you and your mother will remain a good distance behind me, it is likely the guards will show you where to bow. Do not smile at them, show no emotion at all, remember all the work you put into make yourself look as dignified as you do now."

Zai having perked up at being addressed by his Father directly for the first time since his return, quickly wiped the smile from his face and nodded respectfully in understanding. Good, his work had been acknowledged and so had his existence. He breathed a sigh of relief and watched his father and mother exit the carriage gracefully. The guards snapped to attention and saluted just as Zai exited the carriage and followed quickly behind them at a deliberate and dignified pace. He had never been saluted before, but then again he really hadn't been saluted this day either, the salutes were for his father. Zai took a deep breath in as his eyes beheld the wonders and pure beauty that was the work Palace. Up the stairs they went soldiers on either side of them, boot steps fell heavy on the floors, nearly in unison, except for Zai who realized he was out of step with everyone. He took a stutter step to get back in line and found sounds to be much more uniform and soothing.

As the doors to the palace opened he remembered what his Father said and allowed himself to feel the emotion of the moment, but kept all of those feelings buried deep within himself so he looked nothing more than a dignified young man who knew the gravity of the situation. For a moment they stopped, a guard explained to them the procedure. General Saika would enter first, his family he would prostrate himself before the throne, his family would follow twenty steps behind him and they would prostrate themselves next to a pillar that was a perfect distance behind so that the Fire Lord could gaze upon them and they could hear his words.

What great words would a man like that speak? Zai wondered to himself as the throne room opened and his eyes were filled with flames. His father moved in crisply and his mother and he waited to be signaled by the guards and crisply followed behind. They reached the pillar and prostrated themselves in unison with Saika. Zai felt his heart rate increase steadily, this was truly an awe inspiring moment in the young man's life.

"General Saika, you have returned having fought and led our soldiers to a great victory over the Air Nomads. You were summoned here today for me to express my gratitude and the gratitude of a grateful nation for a battle that was fought hard and brought untold honor to yourself and to your family. We are indebted to you."

The Fire Lord boomed, his voice echoing through the room, and pride filled Zai as the great man spoke such kind words of his father. Zai began to feel slightly light headed as the moment was just to perfect to be true. He felt a smile try to tug at the corner of his mouth but he suppressed it.

"I see your family accompanies you today, let it be known to them what a great General and Servant you are to the Fire Nation General. "

The Fire Lord paused and gazed at Saika's family.

"I see your son has grown into a respectable young man, surely he will one day follow in your footsteps. Zai is it?"

The General nodded and Zai's stomach tightened.

"Yes Fire Lord, my son's name is Zai-Saika."

"Ahh named in part for his Father. Young Zai, arise and come forward to kneel beside your father."

He felt his eyes widen and butterflies filled his stomach. The Great Fire Lord Sozin addressed had him directly. That was not supposed to happen. He didn't have time to think about it too much, he couldn't keep the Fire Lord waiting. Quickly and crisply he stood up and snapped to attention and made his way towards his father, his adrenaline pumping through his body as he respectfully prostrated himself before the Fire Lord before moving into a kneeling position directly to the right of his Father. It was then that the Fire Lord emerged through the flames that surrounded the Throne, Zai kept his head lowered until he felt the Fire Lord's hand on his shoulder.

"Dignified and respectable, I would expect nothing less from the son of the great General Saika. Is it your wish to follow in your Father's footsteps of honor and glory?"

Zai felt his stomach tighten once more and he rose his head to make eye contact with the great Fire Lord, he felt his father's eyes follow him ever so slightly.

"Yes Fire Lord, it is my greatest wish to serve the Fire Nation in her great Army spreading our nation's greatness across the world.

"Then stand with me Zai-Saika."

"Yes Fire Lord."

Zai stood up once more and Fire Lord Sozin placed both of his hands on the young man's shoulders and turned him to face his father. His head was swimming and he seemed outside of himself in this moment, the his body moved, but it was almost as if he was running an automatic, all he could do was just the next thing, with no thoughts to distract him.

"If you wish to have the honor of serving the Fire Nation and myself, then you will learn everything you can from this great man here for you carry his name which with it carries the weight of his honor that you must live up to. Do this and you will be my trusted servant one day just like him, a great general who will go down in history. Learn from his greatness, learn from his mistakes and you Zai-Saika will be destined to be one of the greatest military leaders in history. Do you understand that by honoring your father you are honoring me young man?"

"Yes Fire Lord, I understand and I take an oath do as you say with the hope of living up to my Father's honor so that I may not only honor him but honor you as well Fire Lord."

The Fire Lord smiled and patted both of Zai's shoulders.

"Good young Zai, very good."

The Fire Lord turned and made his way back to his throne and for a brief second Zai stared at his father, who remained stoic and dignified, but he felt there was something off about him, something off about the entire moment. He thought he had seen a tear roll down his father's cheek, but it was likely sweat, he had remained kneeling...kneeling. Zai quickly and crisply turned to kneel beside his father once more before the Fire Lord had made his way back to the throne. That was almost a disaster, in one moment he would have brought dishonor to himself and to his entire family had he not immediately realized his mistake.

"Go forth General Saika and train the next generation including your son to surpass you and your accomplishments."

"Yes Fire Lord, it has been an honor, thank you for receiving my family and I this day."

As quickly as the day had begun it was over, the General's family made their way back into the carriage and travelled back home in near silence again. Zai was ontop of the world not sure what to say about the day, but how many kids his age could say that they were given a task by the Fire Lord himself? None that he knew of unless they were part of the royal family. As they entered their home, General Saika nearly fell into his favorite chair while his Mother retreated to get tea. Zai stood tall, not letting his boyish emotions get in the way of his duty. He looked at his father and walked over towards him.

"Father, your don't have to worry about me. I won't dishonor you, I won't fail you I will make the you proud."

The General's right hand moved so fast Zai could hardly see it, he felt his father's hand grab the back of his tunic and pull him in close to a hug, his father was sobbing. What had he done wrong? Zai wrapped his arms around him and his father held him close tighter and tighter.

"I know Zai, I know...that's exactly what I'm afraid of...you are a good son, you deserve better than me as father..."

Zai was taken aback, better than him as a Father?! There was no one better than him, no one at all, it must be the guilt and the burden his mother spoke of earlier in the day.

"No father, you are the best I could ask for, you're my hero and a honorable man! I wouldn't have anyone else as a Father."

"One day when you're older Zai, you'll understand that there is a difference between being a good man and a great general. Sometimes, you can't be both...go help your Mother Zai."

Zai felt his father's grip release and he stood up, bowed to him respectfully and walked off to find his mother and help her with dinner. Thoughts swarmed the young man's mind, a seed had been planted but he wasn't sure what it would grow into. Today was a good day, despite his father's guilt and he must know that. Maybe this is what the Fire Lord meant when he said learn from his mistakes, maybe this is one area he could improve upon one area that he could be better in. There was a knock at the door, Zai looked to his mother who motioned for him to get the door. As he strolled into the foyer and opened the door, he saw the bright eyes of Cheiya, a girl from school who had been teasing him lightly lately. He nodded and was about to speak to her before she quickly spoke up.

"ZAI! My Dad told me all about what happened at the palace today and you must be so happy, I mean what a great honor!"

Zai's bronze eyes widened a bit, half expecting some insult, he felt his face blush a bit.

"No insults? It was an amazing honor, but I mean I'm sure the Fire Lord did the same thing for all the kids, I'm not so special."

She shook her head adamantly

"Nope. Father said that you were the best dressed and most dignified looking of all the kids there and he took special interest in you and judging by what you're wearing now I can see why!"

Zai's face turned deep red and he grabbed the back of his neck awkardly

"Wow, okay...umm so did you want to come in for dinner with us?"

"Can I?"

"I mean if you want, sure."

Cheiya followed Zai into their home and he introduced her to his Mother and Father, his mother having a bit of a grin on her face when she was watching Cheiya interact with Zai. He certainly did not know what that was about, he was just confused, the girl who had been teasing him lately all of the sudden invited herself over to dinner. Weird.

The family plus Cheiya sat down to a wonderful dinner and as the sun began to set Cheiya realized she had best be getting home and Zai had walked her to the door his mother watching from the distance.

"So it was super flameo to meet your family Zai, I'll see in you in school tomorrow."

"Okay sure, see you there..."

Said Zai flippantly and then out of nowhere Cheiya quickly leaned in and kissed Zai's cheek before she giggled and ran off. Zai's face meanwhile turned six hundred shades of red as he shut the door in shock and turned to see his mother with that same grin on her face.

"She likes you Zai..."

Zai stood there dumbfounded and shook his head in total confusion.

The day had ended the way it had begun, a surreal experience that he was not quite sure actually happened. Only time would tell if it had happened at all or it had all just been a dream.