Hurtful Secrets

prolouge

In my early childhood i didn't learned such things as love, compassion or emotions. It wasn't ´´proper´´ for a young lady, of the fire nation to feel those emotions let alone express them. Emotions were waste of time, they weren't important they showed weakness. My parents were both high class nobels of the fire nation and therefore, couldn't afford some over emotional daughter so I simply hid them away, so far that it would never interfere and make me weak.

In my younger days I rarely felt joy, but when I did it was only because I was in the company, of the only friend I ever had another nobelman´s daughter Ty lee. And the prince of the nation prince zuko

Zuko was my first love, the one who taught me how to love. He was the one who made sure I was loved. That my silly emotions, actually mattered. He cared about me, the girl. To him it didn't matter what political strategies I could help him perform, or what high status I could assure him.

I loved him. truly loved him I know he loved me as well, but what does love mean when absolutely none of your actions back it up ? Nothing.

The problem is that for me our love meant everything, no matter how many times he would hurt me I would always stay, and wait for him to hurt me again.

until I of course i had enough

"Mai" my mother called "put on some nice, and clean robes and come down your father and I have something to tell you"

"yes mother" I replied. I sighed and closed the screen door behind me sixteen years old and they still wouldn't leave me alone its not like I want anything, from them besides space. I pulled out three of my favorite robes. I ended up choosing my crimson colored with black and gold details I took a quick shower put on my clothes and left my room.

When I came down there I was met by the stern expression of general Sadao.

I made a quick salute "nice to meet you again, sir" I said and bowed.

I sat down beside my mother with my hands neatly in my lap as a lady should. Pleased with my little show my mother took a sip of her tea, she whipped her mouth with a napkin and layed it oh so graceful on the table again, with a sweet smile that I for a fact know Is rehearsed she said "so" she started her voice sweet as honey "I believe you have some news for us general" she said. He nodded, the next thing he said seriously made me consider suicide "am happy to inform you that his majesty the fire lord has selected you as the governor of Oma Shu nobleman Yuichi"

Great, now I have to live in some backwards earth kingdom city, and I thought my life in the capital was dull.

"hurry up dear" my mother called, I wonder why mother isn't just a tiny bid sad that we are leaving the fire nation, but of course status and power meant more.

Father is ecstatic, finally all his hard work is getting noticed by lord Ozai, to him all those years he had to leave mother and I, for weeks even months would pay off. Yeah he was over the moon.

After i packed all my essentials belongings I left knowing that the servants would take care of the rest

I had to see ty lee and tell her about it, she was actually the only one I was going to miss.

Walking my way to ty lee´s house something hit me; this is probably the last time I will walk these streets for a very long time all of a sudden I am hit with some emotion am not familiar with. Yes I am definitely going to miss, Sozin.

"MAI" she exclaims and hugs me I can´t help, but wince at her sudden affection not that I don't like ty, but sometimes its just overstepping a line.

"ty lee, how are you" I say in very courtly voice if one didn't know one would´ve questioned my relationship to her or if I even liked the girl, only my soft smile at the end of my sentence made it clear that, yes this for fact is a very dear friend of mine someone, I consider a sister actually.

"come on in" she says and ushers me in. while we are walking to the garden I can´t help, but notice the severity of this home pictures after pictures showing their family´s greatness how much they've done for the nation and our fire lords through history. Sometimes it´s impossible to imagine ty lee being related to any of these people she lives with. Ty is so kind and free spirited compared to her family who is more like mine.

"so" she says plumping down on the grass, I make a face as join her on the floor. This really is inappropriate.

"am moving" I said her grey eyes widen for a moment before, she asks me to repeat it "am moving" I say again my face showing no emotions at all.

"wow Mai, where" she ask eyes still slightly wide, "is it far away, like out of the nation"

"yeah" I say softly, I thought she would cry or something, "the fire lord chose my father as governor of Oma Shu"

"that's really far away, Mai" she whispers, eyes beginning to pool with water before, I know it she is pulling me in for a hug.

"have you told Azula" she asks, I knew she would ask about Azula of course she would. Why on earth would I tell Azula

"no, not really" I answer shrugging my shoulders "I haven't told Azula, besides she is the fire lords daughter she probably already knows''

"wha" she stops herself but I know what she is about to ask, oh I am painfully aware, she seems to be thinking about something then she asks again "what about him, Mai" I shrug my shoulders again

"he is not here, ty. .. besides we ended it long time ago"

"he won´t care you know" " I whisper she looks at me with pity, I stand up I don´t want pity from ty lee, or from anyone.

outside the gates, she hugs me again this time I hug her back I don't know when I will see her again, "bye Mai" she says through tears. This time I hug her she is a little startled, but recovers quickly

"bye ty, take care"