30 Kisses for Maiko: I decided to put together my one-shots for my Maiko 30Kisses claim under one story. I hope you will enjoy all of them.

30 Kisses Theme: "#13 excessive chain"

Premise: Mai's lessons on how to be a proper crown princess just get more and more difficult everyday. But there is a reason why she keeps trying harder. (Maiko)

Author's Notes: For this fanfic, I'm not aiming to discuss any universal themes or to provide any epiphanies. This fanfic is simply for Maiko fluff. Because there's not enough to go around. This fanfic is written before 'Secret of the Fire Nation.'

Disclaimer: Avatar doesn't belong to me. Zuko and Mai belong to each other.

Bride Lessons

Delicate fingers danced across the length of the shamisen, defining the notes at the neck and plucking the strings in a melody as light as a morning breeze. Three notes twanged in succession, the last one sustained before it faded in the air.

"Very good, My Lady," Sifu Himig said. "Your plucking still needs work—the Song of Plum Blossoms in the Wind is particularly soft… like a wisp of a feather. The notes you have formed perfectly, and played to the rhythm. Now, let's hear it again."

Mai suppressed a sigh. She used to be able to learn a song with every session or two, but she had spent nearly a week on this song. Sifu Himig had assured her that the piece was truly difficult to master. She had to learn it for it's one of the songs that should be in the repertoire of any princess.

She set her fingers to the first note and took a deep breath—she winced at the tightness of her stiff, wide belt. Then she played.

Halfway into the song, the sound of a pair of clappers made her jump—the note twanged discordant. "I'm sorry princess," Sifu Saya tucked her clappers in her belt as she stepped in the room. "It's time for dance."

The shamisen teacher frowned. "We haven't finished yet, Sifu Saya."

The dance teacher frowned right back. "If we don't begin on time, we won't end on time, and Sifu Diwa will blame me for keeping the princess away from her history lessons."

Sifu Himig didn't look happy, but she said: "Please disassemble your shamisen, My Lady."

Mai disassembled the instrument and packed it in its case. She stood up, and the room seemed to tilt. Both teachers caught her when she stumbled.

"Are you alright, princess?" Sifu Saya asked.

Mai breathed slowly, as deeply as she could in her tightly-laced robes, until she felt less faint. She had been so nervous while having lunch—Fire Lord Ozai had asked her all sorts of questions about her lessons that she hadn't been able to eat properly. "I have practiced the Dance for the Golden Dragon," she told Sifu Saya.

"That's wonderful!"

"But between your lessons and your engagements with Prince Zuko and the rest of the Fire Lord's family, you hardly have any time to sleep," Sifu Himig said. "You shouldn't be compromising your rest, My Lady."

Sifu Saya looked guilty. "Sifu Himig is right."

"I am quite alright. Let us begin." Mai stood on her tiptoes and raised one hand over her head, wrapping her other arm around her body as she tilted her gaze heavenward. Sifu Saya clapped to signal the start of the dance and Sifu Himig played the music.

Sifu Saya shook her clappers at the transitions and to stress the rhythm at tricky portions. "Arch more!" She shouted when Mai arched her back, throwing her arms behind her. "Higher—" when Mai leapt.

Her short, quick breathing only tired Mai faster. She twirled across the tatami. She tried to shift into another stance at the end of the sequence, but when she slowed to a stop, the room tilted again and she sank to her knees.

"Princess!"

"My Lady!"

Sifu Himig supported her by her shoulders as Sifu Saya pulled an elaborate fan from her belt and fanned her face.

"That fall was certainly graceful!" Azula leaned against the doorway, laughing. Mai felt her cheeks burn and she dropped her gaze to the floor. The princess was supposed to be her friend, but she had taken to making snide comments when she saw Mai hard at work with her lessons.

"Princess Azula, please don't joke," Sifu Himig said. "Lady Mai is an exceptional student, all her teachers agree. Fire Lord Ozai is certainly very pleased with her."

"Oh please," Azula rolled her eyes. "It's just Zuzu she's going to marry, it's not like Father will expect so much from her."

"Princess Azula!" Sifu Saya reproached.

Azula smirked. "Mai, you can't even dance—"

"Leave her alone, Azula!"

Mai looked up at the voice, her cheeks turning redder when she met Prince Zuko's amber eyes. He turned to his sister and glared.

"How sweet, Zuzu to the rescue." Azula cooed.

"Don't call me Zuzu!"

"Why not, Zuzu? It's your girlfriend's nickname for you, isn't it?"

"It was an accident," Mai murmured. "I stuttered… I was not really calling Prince Zuko such…"

Azula grinned mischievously. She walked towards Mai and leaned so close, their noses almost touched. "So you really are Zuzu's girlfriend?"

Prince Zuko's face glowed like the setting sun; Mai knew she was at least as flushed as he was. "Azula… I didn't mean—"

"You didn't mean to be his girlfriend? I understand. Who would want to marry Zuzu?" The princess patted her cheek. "Poor Mai."

"Will you stop that!" Zuko demanded, stomping over. "Or else—"

"Or else, what?" Azula challenged.

"… Father has already told you to stop bothering Mai when she's studying."

Azula narrowed her eyes at him. "She was my friend before Father even thought of having you betrothed, Zuko." She stalked out of the room.

"It's a good thing you arrived, Prince Zuko," Sifu Saya said, fanning Mai again.

"But why are you here, Your Highness?" Sifu Himig asked. "Don't you have a session with one of your teachers?"

"Sifu Neji dismissed me early, he said—that is…" Zuko's cheeks reddened again. "He said I… shouldvisitmyfiancéeand… and see how she's doing." He glanced at Mai, and quickly looked away. She dropped her gaze to the ground.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her teachers exchange meaningful looks. "In that case, we should let you talk by yourselves," Sifu Himig said, standing up.

"That's not necessary!" Zuko exclaimed. Mai was mortified when Sifu Saya handed the dancing fan to the prince, who, not knowing what else to do, simply accepted it. Her teachers stepped out of the room and slid the doors shut.

Mai pulled herself to her feet just as Zuko kneeled in front of her. They looked at each other, hesitating, then she kneeled down again as he stood up again.

They stared at each other uncomfortably, before Zuko asked: "Should I sit down?"

"If-If you want to…"

Zuko sat down on the tatami, tucking his legs. In silence, they stared at each other again. He opened Sifu Saya's fan and started waving it at her face.

"Prince Zuko!" Mai raised her wide sleeve to her mouth. "Please, you don't have to…"

"Wasn't Sifu Saya fanning you when I came in?" He asked. "Are you feeling well?"

"I'm well," she replied. "Please… I'll do it myself." He gave her the fan and she fanned herself, trying to hide behind the fan.

"Does Azula disturb your lessons often?"

"No…" she faltered at his earnest gaze, and amended, "not really…"

"You should tell somebody when she does that," Zuko said.

Mai shook her head. "But Princess Azula… tell to whom?"

"Well… you can tell me."

She shook her head more vigorously. "Oh no, Prince Zuko… it really isn't a problem."

"You have to tell me," Zuko insisted. "I'm supposed to take care of you."

She snapped the fan shut and placed her hands on her lap. She knew just how seriously the Crown Prince took his duties, and the last thing she wanted was to become one of his problems.

"Mai?"

"Princess Azula only reminds me to work harder," Mai murmured. "I haven't done as well as I should have."

"Don't say that, all your teachers have been telling Father what a good student you are."

"They're just saying that to make me feel better…" she sighed. "Sifu Saya says I'm a good dancer, but she corrects every move I make…"

"She probably just wants you to become even better."

"She's just saying that to—"

"No, she isn't!" Zuko insisted. "She's right, you are a good dancer." She blinked in surprise. "I… I've seen you dance… sometimes Sifu Neji dismisses me early and… Sifu Saya is right," he continued in a quiet voice.

She opened the fan again, hiding behind it. "Prince Zuko…" He had seen her dance and thought she was a good dancer! She felt short of breath. "But still, I have so much difficulty…" Zuko's face blurred. She gasped and brought a hand to her temple.

"Mai?" She saw him sway and her vision darkened. "Mai!"

----

"Mai?" Zuko saw her eyes flutter shut as she swayed before falling limply on her side. "Mai!"

He carefully picked her up, cradling her head and neck in his arm. The door slid open, and Sifu Himig and Sifu Saya scrambled inside, screaming "My Lady!" and "Princess!"

Zuko frowned. "How did you know…"

"We were watching—ouch!" Sifu Saya rubbed her ribs where Sifu Himig elbowed her.

"What—were you spying the entire time?" The prince demanded indignantly. The teachers exchanged guilty looks. "Nevermind, call the healers!"

The teachers ran out of the room, but after a few moments, Sifu Himig came back. "Unlace her belts—all of them!"

He blinked, unsure of what he heard. "What?"

"Unlace her sashes! The matrons don't listen when they're told they lace up Lady Mai too tightly. They might have been too much today."

"But… me?" Zuko looked from to the unconscious girl, to her teacher, then back at her again.

Sifu Himig put her hands on her hips impatiently. "Surely one of your teachers has taught you how to unlace a princess' robes? How can you get married if you can't manage that?"

He felt his face grow hot. "I do know how to do it! It's just that—"

"All of them!" Sifu Himig shouted as she ran out of the room, leaving Zuko to his uncomfortable task.

He removed his coat, made a pillow of it, and gently laid Mai on her side. He unknotted the small laces on the bow at her back before unknotting the large bow itself. The sash unfurled, the stiff silk rustling loudly. Under the sash, he found more silken laces, wound oppressively tight around her bodice. "What are they doing to you?" He muttered as he unknotted them all

He loosened her heavily embroidered shenyi then checked the belt around her underrobe, his face burning. Surely Sifu Himig can't have meant that as well. It felt loose enough anyway. He turned her on her back and fanned her with Sifu Saya's fan.

A few moments later, she stirred and her pale gold eyes fluttered open. He helped her sit up. She rubbed her eyes.

Then she noticed her robes. She made a sound like a squeak and pulled her shenyi close. "Sifu Himig told me to untie your belts," he explained quickly. She nodded, flustered.

"Mai…" She looked up at her name. "Are they all being hard on you?"

"Who, Prince Zuko?"

"The matrons."

"No, Prince Zuko, they're very kind to me."

He frowned. "Why are they punishing you with those belts?"

"A lady's robes are supposed to be laced tightly," Mai explained.

"But isn't that a little excessive?"

"I suppose I'll get used to it. All ladies adapt this manner of dress once they turn thirteen."

"… Are your lessons too difficult?" He asked.

"No, Prince Zuko." She looked like she was about to cry.

"But it seems all of this is making you miserable."

"I'll just have to work harder…"

They sat in silence. Mai had turned her gaze upon her hands. Her porcelain cheeks looked paler than ever.

"You know…" he hesitated. "If this makes you unhappy… Mai, you shouldn't marry me if you don't want to." To his surprise, tears gathered in her pale gold eyes and streaked down her pale cheeks. "Mai!"

She covered her face with her sleeves, her slender shoulders trembling. He laid one hand upon her back, with the other he held her wrists and pulled her hands from her face. "Mai, why are you crying?"

"But I…" Her pale gold eyes were sincere; he saw they were filling with tears again. "I want to marry you," she whispered.

He blinked in surprise. "You do?"

"I know you don't want me to…." she buried her face in her sleeves again.

"I—no! That's not it."

"You're telling me not to…" Came her muffled voice.

"I just didn't want you to be miserable," he said. "It's not that I don't want to marry you… the truth is, I—I haven't really thought about it…"

Slowly, she brought down her sleeves. "So…" she said in a small voice. "What do you think now?"

"Now?" His eyes widened. "Well I…" He cleared his throat. "I think… I think…"

"It's okay." A soft smile bloomed on her face. "You don't have to answer that now. Maybe someday." She took a deep breath and then, blushing, quickly leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

He gaped at her. She raised her sleeves to hide her pink tinted cheeks, her pale gold gaze shyly meeting his eyes. He felt himself blush too. He had a feeling that 'someday' was going to come sooner than later.

Author's Notes again : There we go, pre Agni Kai fluff. And yes, I just couldn't help but put in an itsy-bitsy Maizula scene. Until the Zuko-Mai betrothal theory is explicitly disproved, you can be sure I will abuse it in fanfics. It's too much fun to play around with that theory to discard it just yet.

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