The first time they saw each other in three years, they bowed respectively, making eye contact for only a second.

This was too formal for either one, but they still went through with it. The circumstances were definitely not how either one had imagined it. Zuko thought that he would return home victorious, with the Avatar in chains, and she would congratulate him.

Mai's vision used to be similar, but recently she began thinking she would have to fight against him as an adversary, no more a friend. This current reality turned out better than she had originally imagined, though not perfect. She was hoping for more of an interaction, but she wasn't planning on being the one to start it. He would talk to her if he wanted to.

When Mai had first entered the Earth Kingdom's throne room where he and Azula were, he stared at her, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape, shutting it quickly as soon as Azula began to speak. Obviously Azula hadn't told him that Ty Lee and her were also with Azula. The only hint of any emotion Mai gave was raising her eyebrows in surprise as she scanned him over.

This was a new sight for her. His long hair, usually kept in a ponytail, was cropped short and disheveled. He was much taller and broader than he had once been. His face had hardened and he now donned a scar on the right side of his face. Mai looked at the scar for a short while, taking in its details. It wasn't as bad as Azula had made it seem. It just looked like another part of him, not improving or tainting him in anyway. It was just there.

As Azula was speaking, Mai noticed he kept glancing at her, but would turn his head away quickly every time he found himself doing so. At least he seemed to notice her.

As they were heading to their rooms afterwards, Ty Lee caught up to Mai. "So, Mai, what are you going to do now that Zuko's around?" she asked teasingly.

Mai turned her head towards Ty Lee and rolled her eyes. "The same thing I was doing before he was here."

"You aren't going to talk to him?" Ty Lee questioned.

Mai just shrugged in response.

"He's still pretty cute isn't he?" she questioned.

Mai glared at her friend annoyed and faced forward, continuing to her room and ignoring Ty Lee.

Ty Lee continued anyway, "You better make a move on him soon or else I'm going to." She smiled and then flashed into her room shutting the door.

--

Three days had passed since then, and nothing much had changed. Mai had only seen Zuko at meal times, and sometimes not even then. Also, conversations were minimal. He seemed so distracted. He would usually eat and leave quickly, like he had somewhere to go. Mai knew he was close with his uncle, but didn't think it should bother him this much. After all, Zuko did the right thing. His uncle wanted Zuko to go against his country. He would be senseless if he had chosen differently.

--

Currently, Mai found herself lounging across a couch in the sunroom near the eastern courtyard. She was immersing herself in a book she found in the library about the "Cave of Two Lovers" and the beginning of Omashu, recently renamed New Ozai, where her parents were now residing.

The story didn't suit her. She found the idea rather cliche. The basic plot was two people on opposing sides fall in love, even though it's "wrong" for them to be together. There were about thirty different versions of this story in the Firenation. A prince falling in love with a peasant; a war between the nations, but the love of two young people overcomes; and Mai's personal favorite a firebender and a waterbender finding love and realizing they aren't so different after all. The only reason she was reading this horridly boring story was because the other books in the library were all about history and Earth Kingdom propaganda.

Mai closed her eyes and inhaled deeply as she felt the sun shine through the room, absorbing it's warmth. She had to admit, even though she was still in Ba Sing Se, she was enjoying the break from running around the Earth Kingdom tracking down the Avatar.

She heard the door to the sunroom open and someone walk towards her.

"Azula wants to see you," a male voice stated.

Mai sighed. "She can wait. I'm busy." Quite frankly, she found it most enjoyable that she didn't have to listen to Azula spitting out orders. She knew once she set down her book and left to see Azula, that she'd leave her relaxation for a while, and Mai didn't want it to end yet.

"Look, I didn't come all this way to have you ignore what I'm supposed to tell you," he snapped back.

Mai forcefully closed her book shut. She couldn't believe a servant was talking to her like that. Even though she wasn't royalty, she still should be spoken to with respect. She turned around in her seat, her icy stare ready. But as her glare met his, her face dropped. It wasn't a lowly servant like she had though, but Prince Zuko.

She quickly stood up and bowed but kept her facial expression composed. "Prince Zuko."

He was taken aback by that gesture, his glare softening. "You know you don't have to do that," he stated.

"I wasn't sure. I didn't know how much three years has changed you."

He didn't respond he just stood there, as if expecting her to say something else.

Mai decided she should, not wanting him to leave. "So why is Azula having you deliver messages? Can't she get a servant to do that for her or has she scared them all off?"

Zuko shrugged. "I was heading this way and told her I could deliver it for her."

Well, his conversation skills haven't improved any. Actually, they seemed to have retrogressed from his years in exile. Mai sat back down on her couch and continued, "Why does she need to see me anyway?"

Zuko began approaching her and also sat down on the couch but left a significant amount of space between them. "She's leaving for the Firenation in a couple of days. She wants to make plans and let you know all the details." He seemed to relax a little bit, which Mai took as a good sign.

She leaned back against the couch, relaxing a bit herself. "So, what've you been up to? It's been a while."

To her surprise, he laughed, just a little bit, but he still laughed. "It has been a while hasn't it?" He turned to face her. "It's good to see you again, Mai."

The corner of her lips quirked upwards, releasing a small smile. "We're be heading back to the Firenation too. You must be excited about that. I know I'm ready to get out of here."

Zuko looked at his feet and frowned. "I don't think I'm going."

Mai's smile disappeared. "Why not?"

"I'm not sure if I want to go back."

Now she was just confused. "Why wouldn't you want to go back? I've only been in the Earth Kingdom for a couple of months, and I'm not sure how much longer I can take it."

Zuko let out a deep breath, still looking at the ground. "I don't know, I just…don't think I can."

Mai rolled her eyes. He was being too melodramatic about the whole situation. "Jeez, what's wrong with you? It must be overexposure to this Earthkingdom air, or maybe you drank too much of your uncle's tea." She regretted saying that last part immediately, seeing his expression harden and his fist clench. She didn't know he was still so fragile on the subject.

He quickly got to his feet and turned to her. "You should go see Azula. You don't want to get her upset."

Mai understood that he didn't want to talk anymore. She got to her feet and began heading towards the throne room where Azula was.

Mai sighed. 'Well, that went well," she thought to herself sarcastically.

For once, listening to Azula wouldn't be the low point of her day.


Finally THEY MEET!!! Now, if you haven't read the comic "Going Home Again" you might want to for the next part. Go to: nickmag(dot)com (since I can't actually type the web address)and on the lefthand side you'll see a list and the third one down says "Nicktoon Comics", click on that, then click on the Avatar icon, then on the right side you'll see a list of comics and click on the one entitled "Going Home Again"

I know I have been remiss in my writing, BUT school is different this year. I'm actually getting caught up in it. All of it. My classes, my sports, and even boys (I know... I know)

Also, I wasn't able to personally thank everyone who reviewed like a normally do, but I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE IT GUYS AND GALS!!! I mean it.