Author's Notes: First of all, I would like to thank those who have reviewed, faved, and followed. Each and every notification I get in connection to this story is very much appreciated, and I cannot stress that fact enough. Truth be told, I was not really thinking on continuing this story until I read the reviews.
Now, to answer your most wonderful reviews:
Yes, xlimax, this is not a one-shot. This was supposed to be a two-shot. However, one dark night, while I was trying to sleep, Lady Mai of the Fire Nation came to me... and threatened me to increase the length of this story (the only one where she is actually the main character). And I found her suggestion quite reasonable, especially when she pressed the point of one her beloved stilettos against my, also beloved, jugular. So yes, this will be a long story. How long? I am not yet sure.
mariko78, to pique your interest is my goal is it not? And to change your view on the MaiZula pairing. I was skeptical about it at first too, but then... everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. I hope this second chapter will proceed to garner your most invaluable attention, my dear.
miluvrox, I am glad that you are very interested in this story, and I hope that your interest will only increase with time. And yes, that is a most interesting suggestion. I am sure many ATLA fans would have fun with an "Azula could have killed me, but instead she gave me a flower" meme.
Dbananad, thank you very much for your kind words. I hope this second chapter lives up to your expectations, and yes, you will all find out what the flower is. Soon.
Tux, oniisan. Arigato for your wonderful review. You know I positively adore reading your thoughts on my works. Unfortunately, your guess... is close but incorrect. It is not the "Star Jasmine," but better luck next time, oniisan. I do hope that this chapter will earn a "fave" from you. Take care.
Now here is the new chapter you have been waiting for, and it is dedicated to Tux, my oniisan, and mariko78, a dear friend of mine.
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
State of Confusion
Mai purposely strode along one of the many darkened roads in the small town that her Aunt lived in, her tall and willowy form tensed. Every muscle in her body, from the lean ones on her fingers to the thicker ones on the back of her thighs, was taut and ready- but for what? She was not yet sure.
Her ocher eyes narrowed slightly as they focused straight ahead, pupils dilated and conscious of the slightest movements in her peripherals. Was she waiting for Princess Azula to reappear from the shadows? Or was she hoping for it? Her noble brows furrowed slightly as she shook her head once, dismissing what she perceived to be such ridiculous notions.
Of course she did not want to see the golden-eyed girl, she told herself. Not at all. Not at all…
That simple phrase silently repeated itself three more times in her mind before Mai finally reached her destination, a modest-looking building with yellow stone walls. She stood directly in front of its door and could not help but compare the unassuming structure, which she has been staying in for the past three months, with her own ancestral home in the Capital.
There were so many differences, she mused, unable to wholly deny that she was somehow unimpressed by the fact that most of the contrasts were intentional. Where her home was large, opulent, and distinctive; this house was small, humble, and unexceptional. It denoted simplicity with its every inch, a theme that has gained much of her aunt's favor, despite of her noble heritage and upbringing.
She, so unlike her younger sister, Mai's mother, felt suffocated whenever she stayed in the Capital. The entire place was all too 'lavish' for her taste and she could never truly understand the need for extensive luxury. A certain lifestyle Mai herself was accustomed to, if not truly fond of; and the main reason why Mura chose to move, as soon as she was able, to the island of Xīng. A small and nondescript mass of land located almost on the border of the Fire Nation; far away from the lavish Royal palace and its many political intrigues.
Mai looked up at the crimson roof of the house, a color so common in her homeland, and could not help but smile wryly. She was grateful, she supposed, that her Aunt had offered her work, shelter, and sanctuary. Not only from the tense atmosphere that still blanketed the Capital, but also from―
She shook her head again and determinedly returned her gaze to the wooden door in front of her, suddenly hesitant. She knew that she had more than exceeded her usual time of coming home and was unsure about telling her aunt the reason behind it. The Royal Reason, she thought to herself in slight displeasure as the scroll in her right hand seemed to grow heavier- much heavier - at the memory that she could not rid herself of.
The damning and still fresh memory of Princess Azula's cold, accusing voice, arrogantly smirking lips, and wicked golden eyes. Mai felt her chest constrict instinctively for a reason she could not fully ascertain and sighed once, resisting the urge to rub her free palm against the growing tightness. She was confused, a state of mind that she was not familiar with, and disturbed at her sudden inability to completely control herself; a frustrating fact that emerged from the very moment she was restrained by Princess Azula with her own knives.
And even until now, an hour after her release, she was still being made to experience a myriad of emotions she could not easily suppress. Others who did not know her so well might believe otherwise, but as much as her outer appearance portrayed calm and composure, inside her was an undeniable turmoil.
In her troubled psyche, red shocks of annoyance, frustration, and anger were clashing with the mellow yellow of relief while the stark black of fear watched them with veiled and uninterested eyes. But perhaps what struck her most was another vivid color, still undefined, that hovered beyond the margins and seemed to represent a strange yet intense delight– which could possibly even be ecstasy. This curious emotion she rarely, if ever, associated with herself. With her mind so preoccupied, she was surprised when the door in front of her suddenly opened. Relying on pure instinct, she immediately took two steps back and raised both of her hands in a defensive position.
"Mai," a delicate voice uttered, lacing that single syllable with unending concern. "I saw you standing out here through the window, why are you taking so long to come in?" The slender girl directed her gaze to the face of her aunt and mentally scolded herself for worrying the older female so. She lowered her hands, straightened her posture, and forced a small smile on her lips.
"I am sorry, Aunt Mura," she murmured in a neutral tone. "I was… detained in the flower shop by a persistent customer who would not take 'no' for an answer." That vague response passed her thin lips with practiced ease as Princess Azula's condescending voice suddenly sounded in her mind.
'I never knew you to be so unobservant, Mai,' it said, causing a delicate crease to appear on the girl's forehead. 'Where did your constant vigilance disappear to?' The tightness in her chest intensified slightly at the truth behind that statement. She had already been surprised more than once in a single night: two times, really, by her count. First, by Princess Azula who immediately wasted no breath in pointing out that aggravating fact, and second, barely a minute ago, by her own aunt who had never even experienced any stealth training.
She now realized that she had somehow grown complacent after the conclusion of her direct involvement with the Hundred Year War. No longer was she as attuned to everyone and everything around her as she once was. Was it due to the lack of enemies that could be lurking anywhere? Of physical combat? Of plans, and ambushes, and traps? Or perhaps, simply, it was due to the absence of Princess Azula?
The only person who, by mere presence alone, could easily and undeniably elicit in her the need- yes, the need- for perfection. The memory of her betrayal of the princess flashed treacherously and briefly through her mind, and she could not help but clench her teeth. Or maybe, she then thought, reluctantly correcting herself, as close to perfection as she could get.
"You poor dear," her aunt said, inadvertently breaking through the shroud that surrounded Mai. "I am glad that you were able to handle it. People nowadays," she tiredly sighed out, stepping aside to allow her niece entrance into the house. "Many of them have lost even just the most basic of understanding of common courtesies."
Mai internally flinched at her aunt's clearly unintended slight towards the Princess and immediately grew more bemused at her reaction. She took in a deep breath, hoping to calm and finally control herself, before entering the house. "It is late, Aunt Mura," she said, closing the door behind her. "I will take care of myself; you should go and sleep already."
The older female looked at her with a slightly doubtful gaze before finally nodding her acquiescence. "Good night then," she softly murmured as she did so. The simple motion caused her to lower her gaze and accidentally catch sight of the scroll Mai held in her hand. Her curiosity immediately intensified when her observant niece noticed the core of her focus and promptly tightened her already vise-like hold on the scroll.
"Yes," Mai firmly enunciated, sliding the scroll into one the many folds of her clothing. "Good night, Aunt Mura," her tone is even and respectful, but no one could deny the finality in those two words. Her aunt's left brow rose questioningly, and Mai narrowed her eyes in a silent request. Do not ask, her intent gaze said, not yet. Not now.
The older woman shook her head once before smiling weakly. "You will tell me if it was a suitor, won't you?" she asked, earnest and expectant. Mai mentally started at her question but easily kept her porcelain face expressionless. She almost felt like laughing once more due to her aunt's very misguided assumption, but chose to just nod instead.
"Yes," she said in a resigned tone, knowing that her aunt was only concerned for her. And quite hopeful that she would soon find another Zuko. She swallowed slowly, knowing that as much as she still cared about the scarred prince, she was also quite determined to never be involved with him or anyone like him. Her aunt acknowledged her curt answer with another small smile and turned around before heading towards her bedroom.
Mai watched her walk away and, after waiting a few more minutes, proceeded to her own chamber. She knew that as soon as she would retire, the sole servant in the house- a shy young girl whom she had been informed was only two years younger than her - would finally emerge from the shadows to take care of the still burning lights. Her slender hand reached out to open the door to her room, and her prediction was immediately proven true when the sound of a timid shuffling reached her keen ears.
Hearing the muffled noise, she deftly stepped inside her personal niche and closed the door behind her. She then walked over to her bed, momentarily wondering why Wèishéme, the servant girl who had begun working for her aunt only a month ago, always did her best to avoid even just one encounter with the stoic noble.
Was it my perceived coldness? Mai then asked herself, frowning slightly as she tried to deduce the reasons of the girl with the strange and uncommon name. Was it my intense affinity to sharp and deadly weapons? Was my steely reputation so exaggerated in a way that it was already absolute, no matter whom it was I dealt with? Was it my fault? Or everyone else's? She sighed briefly, and gracefully sat down on the foot of her bed, her head suddenly throbbing dimly.
Damn you, Azula, she tiredly cursed in her mind, damn you and your ceaseless mind games. Her right hand rose to gently pinch the bridge of her angular nose with her thumb and forefinger. The adrenaline that had coursed through her veins earlier had already dissipated, and she was steadily growing frustrated at the sudden and in-depth introspection that Princess Azula's presence had induced.
Her hand gingerly slid higher and splayed its slender fingers over her forehead before carefully pushing down. Closing her eyes, she deliberately timed the motion of her hand with a slow and languorous descent of her body to the bed. A muffled 'thump' sounded when her back finally met the soft mattress, and she lazily pushed her slender form higher up the bed.
When the back of her knees finally touched the edge of the bed, she stopped, and inhaled deeply. No more for tonight, she stressed to herself, no more. Her determined order was somehow acknowledged and followed by her stubborn mind, and a soft sigh of relief passed her lips. She was exhausted, mentally and physically so, and she needed to escape…
Her lips parted slightly to take in another deep breath as her hand slid down to retrieve the scroll in a firm vise-like grip. Then clutching it like one would a lifeline, she held it tightly against her chest and squeezed once, twice.
"Damn you, Azula," she drowsily cursed again as she finally felt herself slipping into unconsciousness, into oblivion, after a final and barely coherent whisper escaped her lips.
"―mvd you."
Author's Notes: 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...
And for those who have asked, yes, I will update "Ursa Major" soon.
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.
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