To Lose or to Gain: Iroh's Child
Visiting Piando's

"There are things I can't talk to you until you are older. Things that I will tell you eventually as you will need to eventually know them. This truth I can tell you now. I shouldn't have come home." The words Akira's father spoke after learning he'd been selected as a companion for Zuko remained stuck in Akira's head. "Let's just say I made a promise to a good friend that I'd do something for him if he couldn't make it home." Despite spending a lot of time – time he enjoyed – with the young prince, Akira didn't think anything of the matter.

Of course, a lot of things bothered the young Firebender, including the fact Zuko seemed troubled by his progress regarding his Firebending training. He told the young prince he felt his uncle held off for a specific reason and thus didn't try teaching the younger Firebender anything despite honestly wanting to. He did, however, observe Zuko's basics by going over his own at the same time a few of the times he visited the young prince.

Hideki, of course, didn't see anything wrong with the way the young prince moved let alone breathed, yet the struggles the young prince faced made Zuko's irritation regarding his younger sisters abilities seem even more specific, not to mention the conversation with his father where his father didn't chide him for bringing up the fact he thought Ozai favored his daughter over the young prince.

He ached for the younger boy, knowing how frustrated Zuko was regarding the matter – although he did see some improvements each time in regard to the prince's breathing. What he didn't expect was for General Iroh to show up at his family home one day and randomly say, "I'm traveling to the Earth Nation and I want you to go with me!"

The behavior was… Akira still wasn't sure how to describe the Crown Prince's behavior, yet in the back of his mind he wondered if leaving Zuko alone while Iroh traveled to the Earth Nation seemed as if he were abandoning the young prince and yet another part of the family which didn't care; he'd even noted he'd shipped Zuko off to Piandao as if that were a normal everyday thing. Despite not knowing how to feel, he couldn't say no to stopping by like Iroh requested.

As such, he and Hideki found themselves traveling along a dusty path to a renovated Fire Nation castle. Hideki's mouth twisted into a frown. "So, how does someone whose not a noble come to have such a place."

"Rumor has it the place was abandoned, but nobody questioned it given Lord Piandao's service."

"He's not fighting anymore? I didn't think they let you retire form the Fire Nation Army."

"Rumor has it he defeated a hundred soldiers and thus earned the right to live his life in peace." Akira let out a deep breath. "However, rumor also has it that his ability with the sword and the fact many seek him out as a teacher with him only taking specific students on is another issue."

"You seem to know a lot."

"I did my research. I wanted to know what kind of person Lord Piandao is, given the fact Zuko is in his care." Indeed, he'd taken his time to look into the man, something regarding Iroh's actions still bothering him, particularly with the fact a Firebender should focus their studies on Firebending, yet Iroh openly avoided doing so. Akira still remembered the look of frustration on Zuko's face when the issue came up.

Of course, there was also the fact a Firebender learning the sword was seen as an admittance of weakness, or so he'd been told over and over growing up.

The Crown Prince of all people should know the use of anything but one's own Firebending skill was seen as a weakness, yet he still brought Zuko to Piandao to learn the way of the sword. Zuko likely knew as well, yet his own weakness – he still remembered how Zuko compared himself to his younger sister, noting how the young prince constantly compared himself.

Eventually, the two found themselves in front of the castle and Akira took a deep breath. His hand reached out, knocking on the wooden door, unsure of what he would find inside. An older man answered the door, one of his grey eyebrows shooting up. "You must be the friends of Prince Zuko that Sifu Piandao asked me to be on the lookout for."

"I… yes." Akira seemed taken back by the man, yet when he looked at Hideki he found the younger boy seemingly just as nervous as he. "Perhaps for a different reason, as it always seems Hideki is nervous."

"This way. Prince Zuko is currently on one of his breaks from sword training, so the timing is good."

Akira let out a deep breath, following the man, glancing around, worried because he didn't see Zuko. The worry faded upon seeing Zuko out in the open courtyard, allowing his skin to absorb the sun above him with his eyes closed, apparently enjoying the activity. Glancing over at Hideki, he saw a smile spread across the younger boy's face. "Prince Zuko!"

Zuko's eyes widened, his body sitting up straight, a similar smile spreading across his face. "Akira. Hideki. It's nice to see you."

"Your uncle said we should pay you a visit." Akira watched Zuko's facial features falter briefly, making him feel, "He's also wondering what his uncle is up to. I won't push the issue, as he might find it a sensitive subject." He smiled at Zuko. "How's the training going?"

"Sifu Piandao says I'm doing well, but he's corrected me less and less on my stance. He doesn't correct me like…" Zuko stopped speaking, and instead stood up. The look in his golden eyes indicated he didn't want to finish the sentence, yet Akira knew he meant Piandao didn't correct him as Ozai did.

"That is true. I'm quite pleased to have Zuko as a student." The sound of someone else speaking made Akira turn his head, his eyes focused on the man with dark skin and dark eyes. Mentally, he noted the informal way he spoke of Zuko, taking it as Iroh having given such permissions. Zuko headed over, a smile on his face, meaning he was doing well, but Akira – he suspected a slight growth spurt since he'd last seen the young prince – that, or the lessons made Zuko stand taller.

He was still shorter than Hideki.

Things seemed well, but then Piandao asked, "Are one of you a Firebender?"

Akira's eyes blinked. Hideki of course spoke. "Akira is."

"Would you spar with Zuko?"

Zuko looked at his teacher, confusion in his eyes. "I don't think Akira knows how to use the sword. Wouldn't that…"

"Firebending. I'd like to see the two of your spar with your Firebending."

The request seemed odd. Akira cleared his throat. "The Crown Prince – he's requested Zuko's Firebending training focus on the basics."

"Trust me." Pinadao lifted a hand. "He won't mind, but there is something I'd like to observe. Have you seen Zuko Firebend before."

"Yes. He's done some of the basics with Akira."

Akira let out a sigh, wishing Hideki wouldn't volunteer the information so easily. He wanted desperately to say he'd seen the basics and note that there was a reason Zuko remained at that level, yet glancing over at Zuko who seemed nervous – he didn't want to insult the younger Firebender. "I'm not sure."

"I will intervene if the need arises. This is simply a sparring match and definitely not an Agni Kai. Again, trust me as Iroh has trusted me."

Akira took a deep breath. "He says to trust him as Iroh trusted him, yet I don't understand what that means. Still…" Letting out the deep breath, he said. "Fine."

Of course, he didn't know what to expect when he found himself across from Zuko but then decided to ask an important question. "Have you sparred with anyone before? With your Firebending?"

"Does Azula count?"

"We've discussed this," Piandao spoke from the side. "Princess Asula's idea of a sparring match is not sparring, but mental torture. We do not do that here."

"Then no. I have sparred with the sword."

"Basically, the idea is to use your Firebending against me." Taking a deep breath, Akira found himself unsure of how to explain it further.

"I promised I would step in if the need arises. Sparring for those in your age range rarely if ever gets to the level Azula inflicts on others."

Of course, that didn't sound promising. Zuko looked at Piandao. "Uncle insisted I stick with the basics."

"I'm allowing you an exception this time."

Akira sighed, knowing how clumsy the young prince was. "It's not so much I worry about hurting him, but his pride being hurt by…"

"Start!"

He'd not expected Zuko to move with the ease he moved, yet in the back of his mind, something told him he sparred with someone his age despite the fact he knew his opponent much younger, not to mention the fact he knew only a month or two ago how clumsy Zuko was on his feet. He found himself on the offensive, fearing he might actually hurt the young prince, thus getting into a lot of trouble when something unexpected happened.

Zuko brought his fist towards Akira's neck, a blade of flame forming – a move Akria never saw before.

Note - For those who've not yet noticed, I've added a one-shot to the series which entails what Iroh is up to called "To Lose or To Gain: Iroh's Child - Untrecherous" as it didn't fit into the flow of the story.