Author's Notes: Warning! This will be a very long author's notes. Why? Because this is the only location I can place my "significant" ramblings before letting all of you read the story.

First of all, this is my (drum-roll please) third attempt at writing an Avatar: the Last Airbender fanfic, and I am writing it for Mai and the ever-excellent Crowned Princess Azula of the Fire Nation. The first one I've written is "The Beautiful Monster," and the second one is "Ursa Major."

Second, this story is set after the war and in the middle of the events of "Rebound," the comic book story published by Dark Horse Comics on May 4, 2013. If you have not read it yet, that's fine. I will just give a basic overview of it. But before that, this is a warning to those who do not want spoilers... the next paragraph will be somewhat of a spoiler.

"After Mai broke up with Fire Lord Zuko, she left the Fire Nation Royal Palace and took on a job in the flower shop of her aunt, Mura. Mura had offered Mai the job to help her out, but also in hopes that being around flowers would cheer Mai up, something the young woman denied she needed."

~taken from the Avatar Wiki.

Third, this is a complete AU. And I am thinking about writing it as either a short story of only two chapters or a longer story of very many multiple chapters. The fate of this story will be decided by the readers. And yes, I do love to read your reviews.

Fourth, this title was suggested to me by my darling sister, and I just feel that it does not completely capture the essence of the story. My other choices are "The Midnight Jasmine," "The White Flower," "The Flower of Promise," and more. I would like to ask you, the reader, if you have any suggestions of what you think the title should be. I am sure that many of you will have wonderful ideas. It would help me quite a lot, so I thank you all in advance.

Fifth, I hope all of you will read, like, fave, follow, review...etc.

If you want to, of course...

Disclaimer: I, unfortunately, do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The Night Jasmine

White Scroll, Black Paint

It was late evening, cool and quiet. Most stores were already closed or closing, and one of them was the sole flower shop in the entire street. The lights inside of it were already dimmed down, and only the shadowy silhouette of its young female keeper could be seen from the outside. She was tall with a willowy frame and was stooping down to finish arranging one last bouquet behind a high counter.

The sound of the door opening did not jar her from her deliberate fussing.

"Hello," a smooth voice greeted as a young female with golden eyes walked in. Her full lips were curled in hidden amusement. She walked towards the flower keeper who, until now, was crouched over her creation. Her slender hands were moving quickly, and, without looking up, she only grunted out a single sentence.

"How may I help you?"

The girl with golden eyes raised a noble brow before leaning over the counter. Her gaze scrutinized every millimeter of the other as she coolly replied. "Well, I was hoping to find flowers for a dear old friend of mine, do you have any that say traitor?"

Her words were registered in the keeper's mind, whose hands immediately stilled. A cold chill slid down her spine. She knew that voice…

She knew that voice.

She rapidly straightened up her body and stretched out her arms, triggering the stiletto holsters concealed in her long robes. The golden-eyed girl seemed to anticipate this and expertly dodged all sharp projectiles before capturing the thin wrists of her attacker.

Taking advantage of the surprise that her unexpected move produced, she reached into the taller female's robes and deftly pulled out two sharp knives from their secreted sheathes. A smirk then appeared on her lips as she pulled on the other's arms, stretched them out, and powerfully stabbed those curved blades through her sleeves into the hard wood of the table, trapping her. The dark pupils in those golden orbs dilated faintly in triumph.

"I never knew you to be so unobservant, Mai. Where did your constant vigilance disappear to?"

The one called Mai narrowed her eyes in subtle frustration when her attempt to dislodge the knives failed. She swallowed slowly before speaking, purposely keeping her tone calm.

"What are you doing here?"

The girl with golden eyes tilted her head to the side in disapproval.

"Is this how your Aunt Mura told you to treat potential buyers? Tsk, tsk, your customer service leaves much to be desired," she evenly chastised the taller female, her every word spoken with condescension.

Mai's pale face displayed no reaction to the admonishment, though she was relieved that her aunt had already left for the night. The older woman would have been incapable of handling something like this. This thought crossed her mind as she, again, discreetly pulled at the knives that trapped her. Hoping to distract her captor from what she was doing, she spoke again.

"How did you–"

"Escape?" The other interrupted, noticing but not commenting on Mai's unsuccessful attempts. "Aren't you the curious one?" she sardonically remarked, looking around the small building.

"Azula," Mai started, finally giving name to the girl with golden eyes. Her slender hands tightened into fists as she scoped out the entire area as well, seeking for anything that could help her. She opened her lips to speak again but was smoothly cut off.

"Princess Azula, Mai," the golden-eyed girl corrected, stressing the royal title. "Unless you have already shed every single bit of decorum you once possessed."

Once finished speaking, Azula turned her attention to the row of potted flowers on her left. She seemed to have dismissed her captive, though her stance remained prepared. The deliberate action plainly stated 'you are at a disadvantage, do no tempt me' to Mai who suppressed the desire to scowl, knowing the gravity of her position.

She remained silent, waiting to see what the other was planning. A long moment passed until Azula finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"So tell me, Mai," she conversationally began, still not looking at the trapped girl. "How have you been? From what I can see of this homely shop, may I correctly conclude that my darling brother is not taking care of you?"

Mai frowned internally at what Azula was implying with her tone of voice and words.

"I was the one who left him, not the other way around," she firmly stated. Azula gave her a long, sideways glance. Her golden orbs gleamed with a certain smugness that caused Mai's eyes to narrow marginally.

"Interesting," she murmured, directing her attention to a pot of vermillion blooms. "But then again, you do have a talent for betrayal."

Mai internally flinched from Azula's stony intonation of those vindictive words. She did not understand why the princess's accusation would hurt her, even just a bit, but it did. She shook her head, attempting to dismiss the thought. Her knuckles turned white from the force she exerted in clenching her hands.

"Are you only here to talk down to me, Princess Azula?" she finally said after a long moment, slowly and steadily. Her eyes darkened as she fought to keep her shoulder from slouching in visible defeat. "Or do I have much more to owe this pleasure to?"

Her jaw tightened after speaking, the muscles on her neck growing taut. There was a sense of morbid expectation that was gradually consuming her. I betrayed Azula, her traitorous mind thought, she should kill me…

"You always were so blunt, unlike your knives," Azula smoothly replied, finally deigning to gaze at Mai. The trapped girl was surprised to not see the deadly and homicidal glower that the princess had possessed when she was about to strike her dead at The Boiling Rock. Instead, there was only a subtle amusement swirling in her eyes. Her left eyebrow was even slightly quirked upwards, as if she was expecting Mai to join in her delight.

The trapped girl grew uneasy, though she did her best to not show it. She did not understand this reaction. Azula demanded… no, not Azula, her mind corrected, seeming to deny her of peace even in just her own head. It was not Azula that demanded perfection, when you were with her; it is you that demanded perfection from yourself. Nothing else would do. Mai grew bemused at the reaction that the princess was inducing in her and immediately forced herself to speak, hoping to rid herself of whatever it was that now gripped her.

"I do not find amusement in beating around the bush," she said, fighting to keep her tone calm. Her fists began to curl open as she spoke, her nails now digging themselves into the hard wood of the counter. Unlike you, Mai thought to herself, you loved beating around the bush. And lying, and lying, and lying. Didn't you?

Azula tilted her head to the side and walked back to her former friend. Her golden eyes were calm and collected, and Mai yearned to cover them with her hands. To just stop those piercing orbs from digging even deeper into her, because whatever they had uncovered was already enough to make her want to just–

"Then you will be glad to know that I meant what I said earlier," Azula stated, seemingly oblivious to what Mai was going through, though the older girl knew otherwise. "I came here to buy flowers, but, unfortunately, the one that I am looking for is not here."

The Princess said, deliberately allowing her lips to curl downward in feigned disappointment. Mai's nails dug deeper into the counter at the sight. She could almost feel Azula's disapproval seep from her golden gaze into her very form. It saturated her clothes, drenched her skin, and soaked the very core of her bones. It was hotter than anything she had ever experienced.

"Don't look at me," she snapped before she could stop herself, eyes suddenly flashing. Mai was shocked at the reaction Azula had drawn out of her and immediately did her best to regain control. She took deep and calming breaths as an all-knowing smirk began to play on Azula's crimson lips.

"But I do it so well," she countered, as if it was just a game, though the two of them knew that it was not. Mai fought to remain silent, forcing herself to focus on her breathing instead. Azula's smirk only grew more pronounced at the sight.

Mai did her best to ignore the princess' patronizing gaze and focused instead on her appearance. She realized, only then, that Azula's hair was now longer, though it was still tied up in the traditional topknot. Her bangs were symmetrical, as always. But then again, she thought, the devil should never have crooked horns…

Azula's right hand suddenly moved and Mai did her best not to flinch, but the princess was only reaching into the folds of her robes. It was not made of the vivid red silk that Mai was accustomed to seeing on her, but instead seemed to be made of a light cotton material. There were no designs or intricate artwork on it, and it was as dark as a starless night. Mai had never seen the princess so simply dressed when outside of the palace. She had never even imagined it possible, but it was now right in front of her.

Fire Princess Azula in only black pants, black robes, and – oh, Mai almost smiled at the sight. Azula's feet were still encased in the pointed boots that she always wore. Some things never change.

Azula pulled out a small scroll and placed it on the space between Mai's outstretched arms. Her gaze focused on Mai's pale face.

"Close your eyes," she steadily commanded, and Mai frowned mentally. She was wary, of course she was, but Azula could have killed her from the very moment that she was immobile. But she didn't. Not yet anyway, she corrected herself.

Azula sensed her hidden anxiety, and only smiled. She did not say anything more, and Mai finally understood the finality of her order.

"Goodbye, Princess Azula," she said, driven by the desire to just end this. Whatever this was, Mai thought to herself as she finally closed her eyes. She did not understand why she was obeying the princess, but as much as she wanted to make sense of it, she wanted to just dismiss it all even more.

Her head bowed low as she waited for anything – anything, to happen. She was more afraid of what she would find out about herself than what would happen now that her eyes were closed.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven– she counted each second that passed. There was no feeling of being hurried; only an endless patience that was suddenly there.

A long moment passed, and she had reached the number thirteen when the exaggerated sound of the shop's door opening suddenly reached her ears. Azula would not have caused the door to make such a loud and creaking sound unless she wanted to. She was far too skilled in stealth to do otherwise.

Mai sighed, not sure if it was out of relief or sadness. She did not understand it. She extracted her nails from the hard wood and looked up, finally opening her eyes. Azula was gone, and she was alone.

The knives that trapped her were no longer there, and she did not want to think about where they had disappeared to. She looked around and nothing was different. It seemed like Azula had not been in the shop. And maybe she never–

The small scroll that Azula left suddenly caught her eye, and she quickly retrieved it. Her hands trembled slightly as she began to unfurl it, surprised at its soft cotton material.

It was a painting.

White cloth and black paint, it was simple but elegant.

Mai looked at it and saw that it was a painting of a type of Jasmine that she could not recognize.

The unfamiliarity of it instantly hit her and everything– everything that she was holding back suddenly overwhelmed her. Azula could have killed me, she thought to herself as she began to laugh uncontrollably and hysterically, but instead, she gave me a painting.

She was so confused by everything that had just happened. And as twisted as it sounded, she now felt that she owed Azula her life. Her laughter grew louder as she held the painting to her chest and wished that the Princess had just killed her instead…

Author's Notes: I do wonder if you, the reader, can recognize the flower I used to be the cover for this story. It is a type of Jasmine very famous in Asia, and I would like to know if anyone can identify it.

This is the third time that I've used the third person POV. I just want to know if you, the reader, think that I gave it justice or not...

Anyway, like it? Love it? Comments? Suggestions? Violent reactions? Questions? Let me know! Just type in the little box below and click the little button.

Reviews are greatly encouraged and appreciated. Signed or Anonymous.

P.S. Please check out and vote in the poll on my profile.

H.O.D.