Be ready for a bit of out of character-ness...or what could be called that. Again, a maiko fic which I am, again, rusty on very much so currently, so please forgive me! :D? Also forgive me if I make Katara seem like a jerk! I like her, I really do, but I'm saying it how I see it happening if this ever happen. Only three chapters to this, so don't expect a book from me! Please stay tuned! Anyway...

-HER TEARS-

PART ONE

I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE

Zuko walked with his head high through the palace grounds. He was getting married in three days, only two nights away from his wedding.

His Arranged wedding.

Apparently the fire nation council thought it would be a good idea to show peace to the other nations if he married outside his own nation.

He needed someone important, sophisticated, and poised.

'Then why the hell did they choose Katara?' Zuko thought to himself.

It's not like he hated Katara. She was nice...usually. He couldn't complain except for her unexpected mood swings. Other then that, they were a pretty good match. She would be a good mother to fire nation babies, make him look good as she would always dress up for him, and she was over all a good person.

'But she's not Mai.'

He shook his head, the slightest of movements. Mai was long gone. Married off to some noble four years ago. A girl of eighteen married a man of forty-nine. That's usually how it went in the fire nation, only the fire lord was able to choose his wife.

'Usually...'

Zuko felt a small frown grow upon his face. He was thinking a lot about Mai today, and by a lot he meant that she had actually crossed his mind. He hadn't thought about her for...years. A year after she left, to be precise.

'Why do I have that fact memorized?' He asked himself, knowing his own answer. They had been intertwined, laced in each other's paths of life. They had been together for a couple of years, but that was in his youth, childhood even! What brought her up? He'd known about this wedding for a year now, a good sum of time. And thinking about his marriage made him think about hers...years ago, eons it seemed.

At the time, he felt bad for her, really bad. He felt like this was tearing him apart, literally. His body was separating him into two halves. One wanted to chase after her, to tell her no. The other knew it was her duty, her family's honor for her to go. She would also make a good wife, a sarcastic, eye-rolling, stiletto throwing wife.

That almost made him chuckle, if he hadn't seen Katara coming towards him.

She was smiling, her rosy cheeks against her tan skin, which must be fixed if she was to be beautiful in fire nation standards, pale white was the new tan, and black hair was the new brown. While Zuko thought she was pretty, every other boy in the fire nation would point and laugh. The fire lord was marrying that?!

He would just shake his head. Marriage was more then just looks. It was also based on personality and trust. Trust he needed to gain.

"Hello Fire Lord Zuko!"

"And hello Fire Lady Katara!"

They greeted each other cheerily, though Zuko was less then cheerful for Mai coming into his mind three days before his wedding.

Their lips crashed in an un-romantic way. They had never really gotten that kissing thing down yet...

"Sorry." Katara blushed, pulling away immediately.

"Hey, it's okay, we'll get it...some day or another."

They both laughed tentatively, and Zuko waited for Katara to do what Katara does best.

Talk.

Zuko didn't mind, he'd rather have her ramble on about wedding plans and how her day was and getting fit for Fire Lady clothes and the such. He would rather listen, nod his head and give the occasional laugh to see her smile. Keeping his silence was the best for him. If he interrupted her she would try to continue with the same conversation...or have a total mood swing and jump down his throat for intruding on her monlouge.

The sun was setting, and the two dined in the palace, a light dessert, and then off to sleep. They again kissed awkwardly good bye and separated to their different rooms.

Zuko took his time walking to his room. He wasn't really tiered, but a walk would settle his restlessness and make him calm when he did want to sleep.

Eventually, he bee lined to his bedroom, feeling sleep slowly seducing him into a dreamless night. He opened the door to his room, put off his outer robe, and slid between the sheets.

Suddenly, a hand was over his mouth, completely hindering his ability to breath, let alone talk. A blade was gently pressed to his neck, and someone's hot breath was tickling as they whispered something, gently and quietly.

"Miss me?"

The voice belonged to a women, for sure, but who's?

Her hand slides on his face as she let her sharp nails gently scratch, more like tickled his skin.

He now sat up, seeing her in the candle light. Darkest of black hair, pale white skin that could only mean that this was a noble of a noble, and those piercing silvery eyes...

"Mai?" He whispered. She looked so different, her hair was longer, her skin more softer, but her eyes...her eyes were sharper then any blade.

"Mai, what are you doing here?!" He rushed in a whisper, wondering if anyone heard her climbing up his wall...but then again...if he couldn't hear her, who could?

"I came to see you, Zuko. I thought you would be more welcoming." She helped herself to sitting on his bed, showing more of her face in the dim candle light that could only reach so far.

She was still the same, after all these years. Same wit she's always had, same glint in her eyes, and the same way that she made him feel...

"What happened to your husband?" Zuko asked. The only reason why she would be here is if he...

"He died." Mai finished his thought for him.

"Did you kill him?"

Mai turned away from him, his way of knowing she wouldn't tell him even if she did...or didn't.

"His funeral was three days ago. It was good." Mai said dully, looking over her nails.

Zuko didn't know if her reference of good meant that it was a "good" funeral or "good" that he was dead.

"Ma-"

She cut him off.

"I still love you, Zuko."