Maiko Month 2014

Chapter 1: "Rainy Season"

Promt 3: Youth

Word Count: 879

Rating: K+

Notes: Occurs sometime after the incident with Zuko, Mai and the fountain.


"Rainy season is so dull." The princess complained as she walked with her friends to the garden. After a long, stormy downpour finally they could play in the open air.

"But it's also short! I love leaving in a nation so sunny." Ty Lee always saw the bright side in everything. She was already jumping and doing pirouettes in front of the fountain, unconcerned about the thick, wet sludge layer that covered the place like a rug.

For Mai, there wasn't much difference between "seasons". Some rain didn't do much of a change, she did't get to go out much anyway.

The only problem was the mud.

Azula proposed to play Dragon's Chase and, as usual, Ty Lee agreed with her with a bright smile. But Mai wasn't as enthusiastic.

"No way. I'm not going in the sludge." She stated with a faint grimace.

"Oh c'mon Mai! It is fun!" Ty Lee screeched, ran towards her and grabbed her hands to drag her in. They tussled until Ty Lee gave in and Azula stood in front.

"Don't be such a dumb killjoy just because you are afraid of your mother Mai."

"I am not afraid of my mother Azula." Mai replied tediously.

"Then play."

Mai rolled her eyes. "That won't get me."

"We can play Dragon Chase without you! There needs to be more than two people, otherwise is not fun." Ty Lee complained.

"Then play something else." Mai said, attempting to leave and sit on the dry floor, when Azula bent down and raised up with mud in her hand.

"Take risk Mai, if you play with us, you may not fall down and get dirty. But if you don't I'll throw this at you." She meant it in a playful tone but Mai knew she wasn't kidding. Azula's threats were never jokes.

Mai sighed, she really hated her sometimes.

The game was a usual chase game, the chaser (or dragon) closed his eyes while the other players (or prays) attempted to pass to the other side without making any noise. If they did, and "the dragon" heard, he would open his eyes and chase any pray.

Azula always called to be the dragon first; she liked to show off her hearing abilities and dexterity as a hunter.

They had been playing for some minutes when Zuko -who was walking down the corridor at one side of the garden-, got spotted by his sister. At the sight of him Azula grinned wickedly with the grin she reserved for the times she used to torment her brother.

"Hey Zuko!" She shouted at him, quickly grabbing a mound of mud in her hands. The prince reacted to his name and turned his head just in time for the mud ball to splash in his face. Azula burst out laughing and Ty Lee tried to conceal her giggles behind her hand. Mai looked away, frowning and blushing in embarrassment. She hated that Azula couldn't even see him without tantalizing him."Well, there is something good about rainy season after all."

"URGH!" Zuko's face seemed to smoke with anger and behind the mud his skin was as red as an apple. He jumped inside the garden furiously and ran towards his sister, managing to bend down and grab a handful of mud on the way. He threw it at her, but Azula was quick to dodge it, and it flew in the air until it landed on Mai's face.

Zuko stopped in his tracks horrified at what he had done. The sludge had not only hit her face but also sprinkled in her hair, which, he knew, she was always very rigorous about it being neat. Damn ? Why? Why it always had to be her?

"MAI! I'm so sor—" But before he could finish his sentence, something squishy and thick splattered on his face and after furiously wiping the mud off it, he saw the offender. She blushed instantly and looked as stunned as him at what she had done but he could tell he was attempting to cover her amusement. But she gave up, the shocked look in his face was too much to bear. After the initial shock of realizing it was Mai who had the hand soaking mud, annoyance took him and he glared at her. He hadn't expected such an offense from her. She didn't care.

For the first time since he had met her, Zuko was seeing Mai bursting out laughing. He quirked his eyebrows at this, it was already strange to see her amused at something, he was sure he hadn't even heard her giggle ever, to see her laughing was too unfamiliar, it made no sense.

Yet it was so beautiful, like the sound of a rare bird. Neither mocking nor mischievous or high warmed him, washed his anger away and spread delight through his body.

Suddenly they were laughing together, until two mud balls hit each in the face. Azula wasn't happy to see her brother enjoying himself and Ty Lee just wanted to join the fun.

They all spent the rest of the afternoon throwing mud at each other, the dull atmosphere of after-rain suddenly filled with laughter; it was one of the very few times they had fun together.


Hope you enjoyed it! I'm such a novice in this... and english is starting to give me a hard time so... please let me know if there are grammar mistakes or anything. I'm learning...
Review please? :) Reviews are love