Ok, so this one probably isn't the best chapter. I kept getting brain farts and forgetting what I was going to write. These two might seem a little OOC, but that's because they're in love (I give you permission to gag at that. I even did, and I wrote it.) I mean, they acted a little weird in NM&DD too, sooo I'll just use that as my excuse ok? Ok.

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It had been a little over a year since their kiss that fateful summer night. They decided not to tell anyone, in fear of being taunted by Azula and teased by Ty Lee, not to mention, Zuko receiving even more advice about girls from his Uncle. So they had a plan. When Mai would be at the palace with Azula, Zuko would walk by where they were hanging out and a minute or two later Mai would make up an excuse saying she needed to go to the restroom, or she needed to get something. She would then find Zuko who would be in a nearby hallway or room, and do, well, what most couples do at their age, in their own Zuko and Mai kind of way. Lately though, Azula started catching on.

"Excuse me Azula. I need to grab something out of my bag. I think it's in your room," Mai said after she saw Zuko in the previous hallway.

"Really Mai?" Azula stopped walking and turned to face her, causing Ty Lee to run into Mai. "Well, I'm sure whatever it is you need to get can wait. I have lessons soon. You can get it then. Okay?" Mai sighed. There was no way of getting out of this one.

"That's fine Azula. I'll get it then."

"What are me and Mai going to do while you're at your firebending lessons?" Ty Lee asked curiously.

"I don't care. Do whatever you want. Just don't break anything ok?" Azula talked to them like they were irresponsible three-year-olds.

"Okey-doke." The three continued walking. "Soooooo, isn't your brother having some of his friends over today?"

"Yes. Its surprising he even has friends isn't it?" Mai rolled her eyes. Azula turned around and Ty Lee had a big grin on her face. Azula sighed, "You want to flirt with them. Don't you Ty Lee?"

"I don't want to flirt with them. What type of person do you think I am Azula? I was just curious, that's all. And who knows, it might be fun to talk to them or something like that," Ty Lee added with an innocent smile.

"Honestly Ty Lee, do whatever you wish. As long as I don't have to watch you throw yourself at them, it doesn't matter. I'm going to go to my lessons now. I still have a few minutes, but you two bore me." And with that, Azula left Ty Lee and Mai to do whatever.

Ty Lee turned to Mai and gave her a toothy smile.

"You're going to flirt with them. Aren't you Ty Lee?" Mai asked with her arms crossed, scowling.

"Come on, Mai. It'll be fun! And guess whose going to be there?" Ty Lee teased.

"Who Ty Lee? I couldn't possibly imagine," Mai stated dully. Ty Lee didn't know about Mai and Zuko, but her and Azula just thought that Mai had a crush on him, and vice versa. Mai thought it better to leave it at that.

Without saying anymore, Ty Lee grabbed Mai by the arm and dragged her around the palace in search of the group of boys.

"Mai, I see them outside. Let's go! I'll race you."

"Ty Lee, I'm not going to race you."

"Ready? Go!" Ty Lee sprinted to the walkway that went through the courtyard, where the boys were practicing firebending. "Yay! I win!" Ty Lee turned around and saw that Mai wasn't even running. She was walking behind her, not even caring she was in a race. "Aww, Mai. You're no fun." Ty Lee crossed her arms and pouted.

"Why? Because I told you I wasn't going to race, but you still went ahead and did anyway? Then gee, Ty Lee, I'm really sorry," Mai bitterly stated and rolled her eyes. When Mai looked back at Ty Lee she noticed she was staring at something and smiling. Mai followed her gaze and saw that two of the three boys were smiling back at Ty Lee. The other one, however, was smiling at Mai, who in return, quickly, smiled back.

"Hey ladies. Did you come to see the gun show?" the one with dark brown hair pulled back into a tight bun said. As he said this, he flexed his muscles, but quickly received a slap to the back of his head from the other boy Mai didn't know, who looked like he could be his brother.

"Ignore him. He gets a little over-excited when he sees pretty girls. He's not used to it," the obnoxious boy's brother retorted. He started laughing and kept doing so, even when his brother punched him in the arm.

Mai was already getting annoyed with these two and started walking away, but before she did so, she made sure Zuko saw her, and gave him a look as if to follow her.

Zuko caught her gaze, and watched which direction she was heading. When he saw his friends where caught up flirting with Ty Lee, which was probably going to be a competition between the two brothers, he decided it would be easy for him to sneak away.

Zuko followed down the hallway looking for her. How far could she have gone? He left right after her. Suddenly he felt someone grab him by his shoulders, spin him around, and slam him against the nearby wall.

"Jeez. It took you long enough to get here." Zuko looked, and saw it was Mai that was holding him against the wall, smirking at him.

"It didn't take me that long. And did you have to ram me into this wall?"

"Why did I scare you?"

"What? No! You didn't scare me. You're just lucky I knew it was you and didn't start attacking."

"Oh yes. All fear the wrath of Zuko," Mai added sarcastically.

"So, are you going to just stand there or what?"

"I was going to kiss you, but since you're being so pushy I guess I won't." Mai sighed, let go and started walking the other way, until she felt Zuko come up and wrap his arms from behind her.

"Well then, I guess I'll just have steal one from you," Zuko said and crashed his lips down onto hers.

When they broke out of the kiss, Mai looked up at him, smiled, and said, "Zuko, that's seriously the cheesiest thing I've heard from you in a while, which is saying a lot." Zuko laughed.

"It worked didn't it?"

"Shut up."

Zuko just stood there for a while holding her. It was a nice feeling. There was something he wanted to tell her, but he forgot about it until now.

"Hey, Mai. Guess what?"

"What?"

"My uncle said that he's going to see if he could get me into the next war meeting. It's not for a month or two, but I'm just excited that I get to do something with politics and stuff. Before Azula too."

"So what, you just talk about war strategies the whole time?"

"Mhmm."

"Wow, sounds like a great time," Mai added dryly.

"I need to know about this stuff if I'm to become Firelord. It'll be good for me."

"I know, but you're very, well, opinionated. Just don't do anything stupid okay?"

"Don't worry. I won't"

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Sooo, we all know what happens with that, and obviously the next chapter is going to focus on the agni kai and all that fun stuff. It's the only chapter that's not a year apart. So I guess that means that Zuko is 13 and Mai's 12 here.

Well, anyway the next chapter will be my last one until I disapear off the face of the earth, never to be seen again. Just kidding. I know, I'm sorry I got your hopes up. Anyway, I hope to have the last chapter finished by this week hopefully.