Chapter 3 is here, people! This is essentially Chapters 2's twin brother, from the POV of Zuko rather than Mai.

Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar. Drat.

Descent/ Zuko's POV

It had been six long months at sea for Zuko. Six months so far with only one purpose: Finding the Avatar.

The problem was, it was pretty much a wild goose chase. It's not like there were any clues as to where the Avatar would be hiding. The Avatar hadn't been seen in over a hundred years, before the war had started. If anybody had seen him, the news would've spread like wildfire. The other problem was, Zuko was part of the Fire Nation; it's not exactly like many people would be willing to give him information of any kind, or hospitality either. If only they understood that all Zuko wanted was to regain his honor and his father's respect.

Sometimes he felt like even his uncle didn't understand. Uncle Iroh would many days talk to him about free will and destiny. He would constantly tell Zuko that he would find his own path in time, and that he would travel it by his own choice. The thing was, Zuko already had his destiny chosen. He wanted his honor. He wanted his father's love and respect. He wanted his rightful position as heir to the throne. That was his destiny, and he chose to walk it. He didn't care if it took years; he would find the Avatar and bring him to his father. He would succeed. He didn't care if his uncle didn't believe in it. He would do whatever it took to get back what he lost.

He had to... for Mai.

That was something that seemed to stay in the back of his head, buried but always there. During most of the day he would consciencely think of his father, his honor, and his mission. When he went to bed, however, his thoughts shifted. His dreams were usually about the young girl that he known as a friend through his childhood.

Every night he went to bed, he thought about the sad, yet tender moment they shared just before he left. He enjoyed that little moment with her. It felt good. It was light a little speck of light that appeared amongst an all-consuming darkness in his life. Thinking about that moment caused a feeling to creep up in Zuko's stomach...

He loved her.

It had been so long since he felt such happiness and tenderness from someone of the opposite gender. The last time a woman had shown love for him, in any shape or form, it was his mother. That was years ago, before she left his life. He tried not to think of that event, for it was too sad. He thought of Mai instead. Just thinking of Mai made him temporarily forget about his other obligations. He forgot about the honor, the Avatar, and his father. All he could think of was the single girl that seemed to care about him. After all, his younger sister was just cruel most of the time, and they had always been competing for their dad's attention.

Zuko blushed in his sleep as he dreamed about Mai. He dreamed of being together with her, of holding her, even kissing her. Maybe, just maybe, he's determination to succed was also driven by a desire to see her again. With every day the memories became just a little more distant, and little easier to forget. He clutched on to them tightly every night, as if losing those memories would be the same as losing himself. They defined a part of who he was, and he didn't want to lose that. He didn't tell anyone though, not even Iroh.

The cycle would repeat the next day, Zuko knew. He would get up, continue his hunt for the Avatar, and go back to just thinking about his father and his lost honor. At night, he would think of Mai. He prayed that he didn't forget them, and he also prayed that Mai wouldn't forget that moment either. To lose her, after losing everything else he had in his life, would just be too much. First his mother, then his honor, and then Mai? No that just couldn't happen.

"Please don't forget me, Mai. I promise I won't ever forget you. Please don't forget me."