A Gift for Zuko

Lights and sounds spun all around declaring the upcoming holiday. A giant evergreen stood in the centre of the town square, offsetting the busy city scene that dominated the rest of the commercial district. The tree was filled with candles and ornaments, to the point where it was one giant light that outshone all the rest in the city. Everyone in Ba Sing Se was busy in preparation for the holidays. The butchers and bakers and all the toy makers were buried in special requests. Extra help was needed in all the shops just to keep up with the customers. Almost everyone was busty preparing, even in the little teashop named the Jasmine Dragon.

Here a young man made his living, catering to twice as many customers as he could handle. All the holiday shoppers wanted for their gift was a nice cup of tea after a long day of shopping. Although the boy in the tea shop wore a smile on his face while he served the customers, he had a sad heart. There was something missing from him, something that left him long ago when he was just a child in the royal palace, years before he got his scar.

Katara had been shopping all day for the people she loved. For once she didn't have to worry about money, and could buy just about whatever she wanted. For Appa she had got as much of the finest hay as she could carry (which was terribly hard to find a hiding place for, and sat wrapped in a sheet in her closet.) For Momo she had gotten a collar embroidered with his name and a bushel of apples.

Her brother was easy, a vintage Water Tribe hunting knife she had found in an antique shop, and had gotten his name carved in the hilt. For Aang, though he was harder to shop for, she had found an old Air Nomad relic in the same store she found Sokka's knife. It was an old book of Air heroes and fairytales. Even for Toph she had managed to find something. It was the first of its kind, a book with raised text, made especially for the blind. Now there was only one person left on her list.

Katara shopped and shopped but hadn't a clue of what she was going to do. This last person was quite special, and the gift had to be perfect for him. However, she was lacking in information, and so decided a field study of her subject was necessary. She found her way to a good spying spot outside his shop at a half hour to sunset, and waited there as silent as a ninja for her subject to appear.

It didn't take long before he arrived on the scene. Hidden from view, Katara watched the boy sweep out the back door of the shop in preparation for closing time. Just her luck, he began humming a tune. She moved in closer to hear it better, but accidentally knocked over a box of something, which landed on its side with a bang.

He spun around to face the noise and shouted, "Who's there?" wielding his broom like a sword. It was too late, though, his observer had already gone.

'I almost got caught!' thought Katara to herself, 'I really must be more careful.' She didn't recognize the tune he was humming, but remembered it well enough. Although she didn't know what use it was to her, and focused on other gift ideas. But what would he like?

'Perhaps a better broom; but, no, that's not good.' She searched her brain, willing herself to think of something great. 'Maybe new clothes, how about a book?' All at once her thoughts disappeared, and she focused on what she heard. Frantically she searched around, trying to find the source of that sound. "That's it!" She exclaimed, "That's the tune!" She spotted the source, an old music box in a shop window. She ran over to get a better view, practically pressing her face against the glass.

The music box was beautiful, that's the only way to describe it. It was made of a dark cherry wood, polished up really well. It had brass trim and a pattern of fall leaves carved into the wood. On the front was an etched picture of a handsome young man embracing a beautiful woman with braided hair. Leaves danced in the wind in the background, and the woman had a rose in her hair. The rose was inlayed with ruby and the leaves in the background with amber.

Katara stood staring at the box so long that the shop owner came and asked if she'd like to purchase it. She practically screamed yes, and asked the man if he could wrap it for her. A few moments later Katara was running home with the box to hide it somewhere safe until Christmas.

XOXOXOXOXOX

It was Christmas morning, and Zuko went outside to hang up a 'closed' sign on the shop door. His Uncle had insisted they close the shop for the day, but Zuko didn't see why they couldn't open it like usual. He had woken at sunrise, as was the Fire Nation tradition. His Uncle, however, was quite the exception to that and often slept until late.

Zuko hung the sign on the door and almost went back inside when he say a box on the shop steps. It was covered in a silk sheet and wrapped with white ribbon. Curious, he picked it up and brought it inside. Zuko looked around and brought the box to the table. Attached was a note, and he opened it and read.

"Zuko

I hope this gift makes you as happy to receive as it made me to give to you."

The note wasn't signed, strangely enough, and said nothing more. Intrigued, Zuko removed the ribbon and silk and opened the box, taking out the gift inside. It was a box, made of cherry wood. Leaves were carved into it around the boarders, with brass accents. In the centre was a carved picture of a man and woman in embrace. The woman had braided hair and wore a rose in it, accented with ruby. Amber leaves swirled around in the background. The box was polished to a shine and the brass and jewels gleamed in the light.

Zuko flipped the top lid open, further examining the thing. When he did, a song played from the box, and he froze in place. It was the song his mother used to sing.

He stood up with a bang and glared at the box, his face angry. He stormed over and threw open the doors, running outside and looking around angrily for the person that sent him it. No one, however, was around. The music from the box floated out to him in high, tinkling notes. He went back inside and glared at the music box on the table.

Then Zuko smiled.