Everyone could see that something had shift between them. Mai could only ignore it for so long. It was at night as she lay in bed with Zuko and fingered the scar on his torso did she finally accept it.

"The Northern Water tribe has offered to remove the scar on your eye."

He nodded. They had offered to remove it as a show of goodwill and peace. He couldn't let them remove it though. It would be unfair for the person who had offered to remove it first so long ago in a crystal cave in Ba Sing Se. Mai continued to trace the edges of the scar on his torso.

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind getting rid of this one instead. I know it must hold such painful memories."
"No!

Mai looked up at him oddly. He had never raised his voice at her and she could see the slight desperation buried in his eyes.
"I...It shows I've been through war and the sacrifices I had to make."

Mai read between the lines. He refused to give the scar up cause it showed who he had sacrificed for. It was a reminder of her. Mai had never witnessed their relationship during the war. It was only after that she could watch them interact. It was subtle things he did for her. Opening doors, letting her have a room with a better view or giving lots of care to the pond while she was away. It was always her he smiled for. Even at parties Mai would get the seat to the fire lord's right, as was custom for the Firelord's girlfriend, but it was Katara who always sat at his left.

Mai retired early that night to her bed chamber.

---

It was on a sunny day that Mai had declared war with Katara. Katara had been practicing in the garden, water bending with the pond water, as Mai and Zuko walked pass. He waved happily at seeing her as Mai dragged him along and finally getting annoyed pulled him down for a kiss. She watched satisfied as Katara's eye widened and the water which was previously being bended fell to the floor. Mai sent a dangerous glare in Katara direction before closing her eyes and deepening the kiss. Zuko pulled away and they continued walking and Mai felt her jealousy die down as she assured herself that even if Zuko liked Katara he was in love with Mai. Mai felt that jealousy spark again as she saw Zuko throw an uneasy glance over his shoulder.

---

After Mai had declared war Katara struck back with retribution. It was a cloudy day and the clouds threatened rain as Zuko and Katara fought in the courtyard. It was a mess of water and fire as both fought to gain the upper hand. Mai didn't know any of this for she had only come at the end of the fight where Katara was straddling Zuko. They were both drenched to the bone even though it hadn't even rained and it was apparent that Katara had won this duel. They were laughing. Then it started to rain and they seemed to laugh harder as Mai stood alone in the rain watching them. It didn't even seem that they knew she was there. Mai turned her back on them and pretended that the tears on her cheeks were just rain.

---

Katara had somehow gained the upper hand in this war. Mai would get a kiss in the garden, Katara would have whole walk filled with smiles and laugher. Mai would hold hands and get a tender glance at a party and Katara would get a dance. Mai would get to watch the sunset and Katara would get to spend most of the night in a field with fireflies. What the most though was that she wasn't even trying.

She never threw a glare at Mai trying to tell her that she won this round. When she would see her and Zuko together she would try and smile and be happy for them. Katara wasn't even in the Fire Nation as often as Mai. Sometimes she travelled with the Avatar or visited her family. When Mai asked her why she spent so much time in the fire nation she had answered good naturally that "I like to stay in one place. The Fire nation is more central so if someone needs me I can get there easier plus I'm with friends."

Mai observed that she was also considered one of these 'friends'.

Mai was bothered for weeks. She couldn't eat right or sleep right and her mood seemed more foul than usual. Finally Zuko asked her about it while they sat for tea one day in the garden. Katara was away with the Avatar for a week.

"Are you okay Mai?"

Her hand tightened on her cup as she brought it to her lips. The hot tea slid down her throat calming her down a bit.

"Zuko, that waterbender peasant..."

"Katara."

He corrected her.

"Katara-"

She took another sip of tea.

"You love her don't you?"

He looked at her oddly before nodding.

"Yes. She's a very good friend of mine."

Mai stared down at the cup in her lap before looking up at him, a hint of anger buried in her eyes.

"You love her more then me?"

Zuko's eyes widened as he placed his cup down on the table.

"Mai...I love you. I would never break up with you."

Mai sipped her tea calmly.

"That wasn't the question Zuko. You love her more than me. Am I right or wrong?"

Zuko sighed as he looked at his fingers.

"Mai I chose you to be my bride. You're the one I wish to marry."

Mai looked down to the ring on her finger. It had meant so much when she received it. Now the ring looked insignificant, just a piece of jewellery.

"You're avoiding my question."

His eyes narrowed as she sipped her tea calmly.

"I want to marry you! Isn't that enough!"

She could feel the heat emitting form him. She saw how his fingers clenched and how his shoulders stiffened. She placed her tea on the table.

"No Zuko. It's not. I want you to have only eyes for me. Only see me."

His whole body seemed to relax as he nodded solemnly.

"That's what I want. But now I know it's impossible. You will never give her up no matter how hard you try."

Buried deep in her eyes was anger and hurt but on the surface for the world to see was her jealousy. He could see it so easily.

"That's not true-"

She scoffed.

"I can imagine you now. You wouldn't let any guest stay in her room. You would still give extreme care to the pond and you would stare into any form of water with that faraway look on your face. You'd take boat trips at every opportunity just to be near the ocean because it reminds you of her. It'll sicken me."

Her voice was filled with malice and her eyes looked disgusted and filled with envy. Slowly she stood up and put her hands in her opposite sleeves and for a split second he thought she might bring out some knives on him but she just stood there looking down on him.

"I know you wish to love me Zuko. I know you would have stayed by my side forever if I just said the words. If I stay here I will only die of jealousy."

She started to walk away but threw an angry glance over her shoulder.

"I may have your undying loyalty but it will always be her that has your heart."

She continued walking. Zuko looked down at his hands not having the strength to face her.

"I hope you find someone Mai, someone that will love you more than I ever could."

Mai stopped right before the door leading out of the Family quarters. She took off her ring and threw it towards him, it zoomed past his head.

"I hope that water peasant rejects you and you live out the rest of your days alone."

She spoke without emotion as she opened the door and it clicked resolutely behind her. She wished that would happen but she saw the look in that waterbender's eyes whenever Mai made a move. That look of jealousy. Zuko picked up the ring that had missed him. Mai never misses...

"Firelord Zuko?"

Zuko looked up at messenger that bowed before him.

"I don't receive messages in the Family Quarters."

The man looked around warily nodding.

"I know Firelord, but this message is marked with Lady Katara's insignia. We thought it might be important."

Zuko couldn't help the small smile that rose to his face as he took the message and waved the messenger away. He tried to damper his mood after realizing that he had just been dumped but found it impossible as he opened the message.

Dear Zuko....