[Zuko's outcry was not acknowledged openly. Neither had it stirred any particularly negative feelings. Ikuri had expected that response from her, to be honest...it matched what she knew of her, and what she'd seen of her character. She would not agree with Zuko, but she also would not hold blame for her.]
[Megaera was...a slightly different matter, despite being a trusted presence. It was the phrasing, you see. 'Act of rage?' As though rage alone were the only reason? 'Careful deliberation?' What was there to deliberate? Already, there's been too much talking. And if this fool were allowed to speak again - what then? More of the same. That relentless pushing of his ideology, 'justice' and 'the right thing' - words and concepts that should burn the tongue of a snake! But here, he dares defile them... cloaks himself in them, as though they would keep him safe and warm. As though playing at them would grant him their favor. Oh, he certainly believed so. Who else would die in his crusade for 'right?']
[The liar sought power. That's all today was about. That's all Crona's death was about, for him.]
[There's nothing to deliberate, Meg. Not as far as Ikuri's concerned.]
[Colin and Ibuki together...they serve to weaken her resolve. To entice her away from this horrible scene: yes, to forget today, to come home with her family, to pretend everything was alright. And those very thoughts, ironically, turned her resolve back around again, because-]
[Ikuri could not forget.]
[She wanted to go with them both. But this foe was not dead. She could not turn her back to him...could not invite the killing strike. Nothing could be finished until he was finished...and if you did not finish the enemy...it came back.]
[Zahi could not come back. Not his schemes, not his followers, nor his methods, or his way of thinking. It had to stop today. ...Would killing Zahi finish it? Would it stop future atrocities?]
[She had no answer. But when she posed the opposite question, asked what possibilities awaited if her enemy lived... that terrified her. That, by itself, told her what needed to be done.]
[But still, she did not strike. And still, she did not move.]
[Not even when Ibuki tugged her, though if she only knew...if only her light knew how her heart had been pulled at the same time.]
[1/3?] - ends up being simpler/cleaner
[Megaera was...a slightly different matter, despite being a trusted presence. It was the phrasing, you see. 'Act of rage?' As though rage alone were the only reason? 'Careful deliberation?' What was there to deliberate? Already, there's been too much talking. And if this fool were allowed to speak again - what then? More of the same. That relentless pushing of his ideology, 'justice' and 'the right thing' - words and concepts that should burn the tongue of a snake! But here, he dares defile them... cloaks himself in them, as though they would keep him safe and warm. As though playing at them would grant him their favor. Oh, he certainly believed so. Who else would die in his crusade for 'right?']
[The liar sought power. That's all today was about. That's all Crona's death was about, for him.]
[There's nothing to deliberate, Meg. Not as far as Ikuri's concerned.]
[Colin and Ibuki together...they serve to weaken her resolve. To entice her away from this horrible scene: yes, to forget today, to come home with her family, to pretend everything was alright. And those very thoughts, ironically, turned her resolve back around again, because-]
[Ikuri could not forget.]
[She wanted to go with them both. But this foe was not dead. She could not turn her back to him...could not invite the killing strike. Nothing could be finished until he was finished...and if you did not finish the enemy...it came back.]
[Zahi could not come back. Not his schemes, not his followers, nor his methods, or his way of thinking. It had to stop today. ...Would killing Zahi finish it? Would it stop future atrocities?]
[She had no answer. But when she posed the opposite question, asked what possibilities awaited if her enemy lived... that terrified her. That, by itself, told her what needed to be done.]
[But still, she did not strike.
And still, she did not move.]
[Not even when Ibuki tugged her, though if she only knew...if only her light knew how her heart had been pulled at the same time.]