This is a part of a bigger project I wanted to work on, called Maiko A-Z. Unfortunately, I never got to finish it, but I did finish Maiko A and Maiko B, so there you have them! Hope you like it!

A: Agreement.

Couples would always whisper sweet nothings to each other, making big declarations of love and vowing eternal devotion. None of these words lasted more than the flap of a butterfly's wings, though. None of them expressed the real feelings, the ones that were buried deep inside, so deep that the lovers couldn't find them. But when the time came, they would swim to the surface, erasing the previous promises, turning the past into nothing but a useless memory.

For Mai and Zuko, however, things were different. Their declarations of love were uncommon, shy and unexpressive, even though the feelings boiled under the skin like hot water. 'I don't hate you,' she had whispered. 'I don't hate you, too,' he had answered. Those small words, despite the lack of romance and passion, expressed more than those of other people in their age. The ferocity that their voice dripped with and the sweet kiss that followed were enough to express what words couldn't say.

They loved each other and they had both admitted it to themselves, but they weren't quite ready to put that love in words.

It was something like a silent agreement, a cautious reaction. As if they both knew that they would lose each other again, as if they both knew that when he would leave to join the Avatar, it would hurt even more if they had said those three small words of 'I love you' to each other.

They would break that agreement when the time was right, when there would be nothing that would break them apart again.

B: Backwards

Zuko was restless that night. Despite the exhausting events of the day, sleep wouldn't come to him. Instead, he tossed around, turning the colorful sheets into a tangling heap by his feet. Thoughts appeared in his head one after another, so fast that it made him feel dizzy. No matter how much he tried to push them away, they were still haunting his mind like ghosts.

With an exasperated sigh, he gave up trying to sleep and let his thoughts consume him.

'You're just a big blah!' Why had he said those things? Why did his mouth spat out words that his heart and mind didn't believe? It wasn't like she was to blame for the direction his life had taken. If anything, she was the only thing that kept him sane during the worst years of his life. She was the only happy memory in the back of his head, something like a light in the end of a long, dark tunnel.

So, why had he snapped at her like that? It was the first time he had seen Mai hurt and it was unbearable. No sooner had the words left his mouth, he had regretted them. It was so strange with them. Every step they managed to take forward was always followed by a step backwards and it somehow always seemed to be his fault.

'It is over,' she had said. During the years of his banishment he had been called dishonorable, a traitor, a bastard. His own father had told him what a big failure he was. But somehow, the words that had hurt him the most during his life where those three words that Mai had whispered brokenly. And somehow, despite the pain he felt and the aching for her touch, when she, forgetting what he had said, tried to talk to him, whispering a small greeting, he snapped at her again.

Why did he push her away? Especially when she was the only person he could trust?

And yet, she cared about him. He was the only thing she cared about. And that made him ecstatic. Mai was a part of him; she had always been a part of him—just like his fire. And that moment he knew that no matter what he did, she would never leave his life. Simply because she cared about him.

And he cared about her—more than anything. Why didn't he show her that?

He let out a frustrated sigh and sat up, running his warm hands through his brown hair.

"Having trouble sleeping?" A raspy voice whispered from the bed next to him.

"Mai!" He hissed in surprise. "Aren't you sleeping?"

"I would if you weren't thrashing around like that." She pointed out in a dry tone, which she regretted immediately.

Zuko sighed. Hearing her voice talking to him after all he had said to her that evening made him feel ecstatic. "I'm sorry, Mai. I just have a lot in my mind."

He heard the soft rustle of sheets and assumed that she was sitting up as well. "It's okay. I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway."

"Wh—" Zuko began but a voice from the other end of the room interrupted him.

"Shh!" Even though it was too dark to tell, Zuko felt Azula's glare. "I'm trying to sleep!"

Without even thinking about it, Zuko stood up and extended a hand towards the darkness, towards Mai. "Care for a walk?" He whispered softly. He held his breath, hoping that she wouldn't refuse. He took a moment to consider the fact whether girls liked walks, but being inexperienced he couldn't tell. If he wanted to be honest with himself, he didn't want to know what girls liked. He only wanted to know what Mai liked—and he hoped that a quiet walk in the beach under the moonlight would be in her list.

It wasn't until he felt her soft fingers grasp his that he let out the breath he had been holding. The touch was electric and it made both of them shudder in pleasure. "Fine," she muttered—was that a smile he heard in her voice?

"Ugh, just leave already." Azula mumbled, her voice muffled from sleep.

Zuko couldn't care less. Tightening his grip on Mai's hand, he led her out of the old women's house, eager to get some fresh air.

The night was chilly and the wind felt good against Zuko's sweaty skin. The walls of the house had made both of them feel suffocated and the night air seemed like water in the middle of the desert. As they walked away from Li's and Lo's house, they could hear the waves crashing on the wooden docks some feet ahead. None of them spoke as they walked towards the beach of Ember Island, but Zuko could feel Mai's fingers tightening around his. He wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not, but he enjoyed the warmth of her touch.

When they finally reached the beach, they discovered that it was so different now that it was empty, lacking the crazy shouts of the toddlers playing in the sand, the show-off guys and the swooning-over girls. For a moment, Mai thought that she would get to like Ember Island if it was just Zuko and her.

They sat down on the dry sand, leaning against the hard surface of some rocks behind them. Mai could feel the sand grains cold against her bare feet but she couldn't bring herself to pay any attention to it—Zuko's warm shoulder against hers was all she could feel.

A moment of silence fell between the couple. The prince started wondering whether that walk was a good idea after all. It certainly seemed like it; he felt more relaxed now, more certain. He stole a glance at Mai from the corner of his eye—her expression didn't give anything away, so he couldn't tell whether she wanted to stay there with him or go back to her bed.

He wanted to ask her, but as he looked at her, all that came out was, "I like your hair down."

Mai remembered that her tresses weren't pulled in the two elegant buds on the top of her head. Instead, they fell freely over her back, almost reaching her waist. And she also remembered that Zuko had never seen her like that—in a sleeping, thin robe and hair down. She was about to tug on her locks self-consciously, but decided against it, knowing that it would destroy her nonchalant-ness. She hoped that it was too dark for her boyfriend to see her blush. "Um, thanks." She muttered.

Zuko wanted to hug her close to his body, but didn't know if she was still angry at him. So, when she rested her head on his shoulder—looking towards the glimmering waves—he let out a small sigh of relief and wrapped a strong arm around her frame.

"So," she started, determined to make small conversation. "What were you thinking about before?" She was more interested than her dry tone indicated.

Zuko frowned. His thoughts had been a mess, ranging from how much she meant to him to how much he had hurt her that night. What kind of man causes pain to the one he loves? Had he even apologized? His golden eye widened as he realized that, no, he hadn't said anything after their small fight. Had his kiss made it up for her?

"I'm sorry about tonight," he whispered. "I was a jerk."

Mai raised a perfect eyebrow in surprise. She hadn't seen that coming. "Well, yes, you were. But it was my fault, too. I… overreacted, I guess."

"No, you did not," he insisted. "It's just that…" He hesitated, afraid of saying the words, but grateful that she was the one that would hear them. "I feel like I've lost myself."

Mai's brow furrowed in worry and concern. She took some seconds recalling the time she'd spent with him before his banishment, when his only worry was that of his missing mother. He had been carefree back then and he had been nice to be around. She definitely preferred spending time with him to Azula. It actually felt like she preferred spending time with him to anyone. But the boy—no, the man—that sat next to her now was far different than the old Zuko, yet the same. She could see the old Zuko in the way his eyes smiled when he looked at her, in the way his lips curved when she said something sarcastic, in the way his fingers laced through hers, warm and reassuring. But she could see the new Zuko portrayed on that pinkish scar that misshaped the left half of his face, she could see the new Zuko in the way he would look at her; torn and troubled, in the way his eyes filled with anger all of a sudden. "Why?" Her tone softened.

"Because I'm not certain I'm making the right choices anymore." He sighed. "It's like… like I force myself to do things I don't want to."

"Zuko..." She cooed, and her hand buried itself deeper inside his heated palm, offering her support openly. "Tell me."

And she let him talk. She let him tell her about his uncle, who had been more than a father to him, and the way he let him down. He talked about the Avatar and how he somehow thought that he was still alive. He told her about Azula's tricks, about how she'd told Ozai that he was responsible for killing the Avatar.

And Mai… she listened. She really listened without pretending to be bored or weary because she knew that he needed her. By the time he finished, it felt like he had got rid of a huge weight.

"I never thought that telling someone about all these would feel so good." He muttered, letting out a relieved sigh.

Mai shrugged. "There's always a first time for everything." She shifted her body closer to his in an attempt to show her support. "I just can't believe that Azula would do something like this."

"What does it matter?" Zuko muttered, throwing a small rock on the waves angrily. "I'll never be able to catch up with her, anyway. Let her play her game and see me humiliating myself—it won't make a difference."

Mai sighed, rolling her eyes. "You're much better than Azula. In many ways."

His eye widened in shock-never in his life had he heard this words from anyone. Slowly, hesitantly, he moved his free hand to the blackness of her hair, tugging a rebellious lock behind her ear with his two fingers. A ghost of a smile crossed her lips and she titled her chin up, locking her lips with his forcefully and unexpectedly.

And he forgot all about Azula.

So, what do you think? I didn't send that one-shot to my beta, since I don't think it's so important. You may spot some mistakes; please let me know!

I passed my English exams and I now have the Proficiency Certificate (ECPE), which is a test of advanced English language proficiency, reflecting skills and content typically used in university or professional contexts. I am so excited I had to tell someone! :D

Anyways, please review and let me know what you think of this Maiko drabble!