The Avatar's Disciples: Story of Mayu

by SpiffyPixie1

She was born a special being but her powers were kept a secret. Mayu befriended a prince, was put in danger, and was taken away, leaving her only friend alone and feeling betrayed. It would not be until years later that her destiny would be brought to light and she would take on the task of setting things right, for the world and her loved ones. Zuko/OC story. I own OC's and story.

14. Chapter 12

-I know these chapter's have taken a while, and I am so, so very sorry. I had originally written this chapter as something steamier, but I changed it because I wasn't sure that was what anyone wanted this story to turn into. So I edited it then thought it was stupid, so I kinda got discouraged and didn't post it. Same with the next chapter. There's a lot I want to do with Mayu, because I don't want her to be a standard character. I want her to have life and morals, and for her to face decisions that may hurt her, but she'll make regardless because it's best for the world. =) So, again, I'm really sorry I haven't posted anything for a long long while. Still working on another chapter. I want to thank everyone that's followed this story and reviewed. It does mean quite a lot to me, and it makes me happy. So, I'd like to thank killthepain62, Kuronique Misaki, rouseymousey65, BluePixieOfTheGalaxy, Hades Tormentor, SOPHI-106, Cloudsneverbeentouch, shifterofthedark, ciarra halle, Takahashi Amaya, Sabrina Van edema, Mister27, xxxMadameMysteryxxx, NinjaOfSilence, Saskia Valerie, my guest reviewer whose name I do not know but I still thank you for the review, PaganMommyofOne, The Dark Lady55, JCDisme, BlackKitty4275, BeckieePaula98, Sam726, SerenityAngels, Shadowstar1090, Himeno Kazehito, lomm9, Lee Ami, The Blueish Rose, -xX, Early Owl, bookaddict616, Bor Vampire, Artemis Persephone Jackson, shiki ryuusaki, WarriorServent, DarkShimmer30, Kunoichi1331, JustThatGirlYouKnow, B-rabbit28, Cadell, Mikado X Goddess, jamie0360, Hell's Butterflies, another guest that I do not your name but I still thank you, Sailormoonfan227, and moontse. All of you have either reviewed, favorited, or followed this story or myself in some way, and I want to thank you for that. (If I missed anyone, I'm really sorry. I went through my email and searched, trying not to miss anyone.) =) It really does make me happy, and I will ask for your patience. At times I either lose my focus to write or get frustrated, and I need to take a break. Other times I'm trying to work on a book that I want to write, or several, because my mind jumps around several places at once, and it's hard for me to focus. =) Still, thank you all for reading this story. I've worked on it quite a lot more than my other one, Nova Tempest, and for that one I need to rewrite it anyway. As it is, I will try to work on this more and not get discouraged. If anyone wants steamy parts in chapters, you can tell me. There will be no sex, obviously, as this is a T-rated story and I've never written a sex scene in my life, but I do know how to write love scenes in a way. =) I don't know if anyone will actually read this, but if you do, thank you for sticking with this story.- SpiffyPixie1

The Avatar's Disciples: Story of Mayu

Chapter 12

Zuko wouldn't speak to me for two days. I knew that he wanted to regain his honor and be acknowledged by his father again, so having the opportunity for me to lead him straight to the Avatar was like a gift from the spirits; then there was me telling him no and that it would be wrong.

I was allowed to go wherever I wanted on the ship, other than his room, so I would see him often, but he wouldn't even acknowledge my presence. Honestly, it hurt a little. After spending so much time wishing I could see my best friend again it was just a little sad when he acted like I didn't exist.

He wouldn't go silent all of a sudden, but whenever I came near he'd stiffen a little and make it a point of not looking at me. I tried not to let it bother me.

Everyone aboard the ship noticed and seemed to feel bad for me, so they'd talk to me as often as they could and offered almost constantly to spar. Kenji wanted to practice firebending with me to see if I could fight with fire as well as I could with my fists.

We stood across from one another with Jee and Uncle Iroh as spectators, and then Jee gave us the go-ahead to begin. I immediately shot a thin plume of fire at Kenji, just to use as a distraction, but as I saw it racing toward him I thought of Zuko's scar and of killing all those men.

My fire died out as the panic set in, and all I could think about was that I didn't want to hurt anyone again.

Uncle told me the fear would eventually pass, but that I had to learn to trust myself to control my fire.

The problem wasn't that I couldn't use it at all or use it in front of other people. I just couldn't summon the courage to use it to fight. Kenji and Uncle Iroh tried for hours the second day to help me get over my fear of hurting others, but whenever it came time for me to spar and summon the flames, I couldn't even make a spark flare to life.

I had the ability to make it so that my fire wouldn't burn anything but there was the worry there, wriggling at the back of my mind, that I'd screw up and lose all control. It brought to mind the fact that if I didn't learn to buck up and get over it, I wouldn't be able to use my greatest asset in battle; when the time came, if anyone I loved was in danger, I may not be able to protect them.

*2nd POV*

Zuko watched as Mayu tried, repeatedly, to spar with Kenji and tried not to feel jealousy overwhelm him. He hadn't spoken to Mayu since she told him, about two days ago, that she wouldn't help him find the Avatar if all he wanted to do was capture him and bring him to his father, so it shouldn't have been a surprise that she was spending time with someone who would actually speak to her.

"I need to regain my honor, Mayu. You promised that you would help me before." He stared at her, jaw set firmly in a mask of disapproval but eyes screaming out the sadness he felt. "Why not now?"

She tried to explain it to him but he didn't want to hear it; all she seemed to want to say was that the Avatar needed to restore balance to the world and to stop the Fire Nation's advancement of taking it over.

Firebenders are superior. That's why the Air Nomads had been wiped out. They were weak pacifists. He thought of his mother for a moment, sweet and gentle, who never harmed a soul, then pushed it away before the pain and sadness hit.

He watched as Mayu finally just slumped down on the deck, tired and obviously depressed that she couldn't summon the will to use her fire to fight, and felt a ripple of irritation run through him when Kenji put a hand on her shoulder. Even as he felt the anger at another man touching her, he wondered why.

It only served to sour his mood, and he walked away to find Lieutenant Jee in the hopes that one of the soldiers on board had caught sight of the Avatar.

It's not like she belongs to me. She's not mine. The words ran through his head almost happily and made him warm. Mine. My Mayu.

*Mayu's POV*

I was heading below deck, intending to change out of my training clothes, when I ran into Zuko and fell on my ass. I could not help my reaction. "What the hell!? Are you built like a wall or something!?" He stared at me while I glared straight back and rubbed my aching backside "Hello?!"

Then he started laughing. It began as a quiet chuckle that quickly escalated into full out, deep laughter; it was a warm laugh, beautiful and strong, and it reminded me of our childhood. Zuko was holding his stomach, obviously still extremely amused by the pissed off expression I was sure was still planted firmly on my face and tears were at the corners of his eyes.

I bit my lip and stood, holding back the laugh that wanted to bubble from my own mouth. "You were much too amused by that, Zuzu."

All I got as a response was a shake of the head. He was shaking, trying to stop laughing but he couldn't manage it. He ended up leaning against the wall of the stairwell, trying to hold himself up, and covering his face with one hand while the other arm was still wrapped around his abdomen.

I knew him well enough to know that there was something about my fall that was making him laugh so much, but I couldn't really place what that something might've been. Moving over to help him stand, I decided it must've just been the way I reacted. "Come on, Zuko," I said, slinging one of his arms over my shoulder. "Let's get you to your room." I was more than tempted to ask him if he was drunk, but I knew he wasn't and I was fairly sure that he wouldn't appreciate the question.

We made our way, slowly, to his room and I got him through the door and set him down on his bed, still smiling at his continued laughter.

I shook my head and pushed him lightly, stifling a giggle when he just fell back on the bed. "What is so funny?" I was glad to see him so happy and acknowledging me but I wanted to know what I had done that set off the laugh-fest. "What'd I do?"

He took a few deep breaths and held up his hand in a 'wait' gesture, desperately trying to control himself. It took a couple of minutes before he regained enough composure to gasp out, "When you fell I started thinking that you were so cute; sitting on the stairs while glaring at me and rubbing your ass. Then I realized how odd that might seem, finding a girl that's glaring death at you and rubbing her cute little ass adorable after you knock her down, and I couldn't help it." He shook his head and focused on breathing, laughter finally dying down after he explained why he had been laughing in the first place. It took him only a second to realize what he said, then he mumbled something like an apology and moved to get up so he could leave even though it was his room.

"You think my butt's cute?" That's what you ask? Really? Are you trying to tempt the spirits with the prospect of disappointing you? I cringed at my own question and retreated toward the door. "I need to go change. I told Kenji that I'd practice something for that music night thing you guys do with him."

The temperature in the room felt like it dropped to a freezing point for a second, enough to make goose bumps run up and down the length of my body.

Zuko turned away from me, head down. "Sure, go do whatever with your new friend. I'm sure you two will have fun."

I narrowed my eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You two have been spending so much time together these past couple of days," my friend murmured quietly. "I'm glad you have someone to hang out with."

"I would've been spending most of my time with you if you hadn't decided to shut me out," I replied steadily, seeing his shoulders slump at my response. It only served to make me feel terrible. "You can come with me. Uncle mentioned that you're not all that enthusiastic about music night, but it'd be fun to have your input."

He shook his head and refused to look at me. "No. I wouldn't wanna get in the way of you and your new boyfriend."

I wasn't sure why that comment made me angry but it sure as hell did and I could feel the fire in my body stir with the emotion. "Kenji's not my boyfriend, Zuko. Even if I liked him at all like that, I haven't known him long enough."

"Whatever, Mayu" he sneered, startling me. "I know you and he have been alone in your room, and I'm not an idiot; I know what men and women do when they're alone together and have the opportunity."

The level of fury I felt almost set my body aflame and I had to have a separate piece of my consciousness clamp down on it like iron before I could speak. "You have the wrong idea, and you are way out of line."

My friend, obviously upset and lashing out, scoffed and glared. "Then what've you been doing with him? You two haven't been constantly sparring, and that's because you're too much of a coward to use your fire to fight!"

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I had never had someone call me a coward before and I hadn't realized how much it would bother me if someone ever did. "Why are you so angry with me!?"

"Because I don't know what the hell you two could've possibly been doing or why the hell you've been spending so much time with him! You're so comfortable around him!"

"We TALK! Is it so impossible to believe that we talk because we have a common interest!?"

"What common interest!?"

We were both yelling, in each other's face, both angry because we didn't understand what was going on.

I was clenching my fists and I just wanted to shake him. "We both have had guys in our lives that we love who might not love us back! There! You happy!?"

Apparently not. Zuko narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. "What guy do you love?"

It infuriated me that he could be so thick when it should've been obvious to him. "You, you idiot!" I shoved him up against the wall and yanked him down to my height so that I could be at eye-level with him. "I love YOU!" And I finally gave into my impulse to kiss him; gently because I couldn't imagine kissing him so roughly that it might hurt. I had to focus on breathing and standing when my knees suddenly went weak and my heart beat so fast that I thought it would burst.

And then I pulled away, still angry with him. "Excuse me for not being some stereotypical idiot teenager that jumps in bed with the first person they see. I'm not a damn floozy, and I would appreciate it if you remembered that fact in the future!" I let him go and left the room, heart still trying to explode and head swimming with the desire to hold Zuko against the wall and kiss him until we were both breathless. I ignored the wide-eyed stares of the soldiers as I made my way toward my room, intending to lock myself inside and never come back out.

Kenji was waiting for me, sitting calmly in a chair, and I felt terrible.

There was no doubt in my mind that almost everyone on board had heard us shouting, and I knew I would deserve Kenji's anger if he blew up at me.

I waited, feeling worse as the seconds went by, and I was almost convinced that he was completely angry with me. "Kenji, I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking."

He shook his head and smiled. "It's alright, Mayu. I know you were trying to defend your honor."

I sat heavily on my bed after making sure the door was locked and held my head in my hands. "It wasn't right. That was your secret to reveal, not mine."

"Mayu," my friend began softly, laying a hand on my shoulder. "I'm not mad. It's not as if most people wouldn't guess by now that I prefer men. I don't really hide it." He smiled cheekily. "I openly flirt with most of the guys aboard the ship, and they know I only mean it as a joke. Well, some of them." Then he chuckled, obviously remembering some instance or another. "There are a couple that are just too cute not to flirt with."

Relieved that he wasn't angry, I sighed and fell back on my bed. "Well, I'm glad you're not mad at me." I winced, wondering how Zuko would react to my kiss. "Can you just tie something heavy to my legs and throw me overboard?"

"Why?" He raised an eyebrow, confused.

I bit my lip. "Well, I can't swim. I'd drown before I die of embarrassment because I shoved my best friend up against a wall and kissed him after shouting that he was an idiot and I loved him."

Kenji was silent for a moment before he burst out laughing, and it was all I could do to muster the strength to not throw something at him.

"You're a supportive little thing, aren't you," I muttered.

"And you're a bold little thing." I glared but he held up his hands in an action of surrender. "Hey, I'm not making fun. I know I've thought of doing the same thing."

"What!?" I was stunned, not sure if I understood him correctly, and my friend shrugged.

"Zuko's not unattractive. Just because I'm a male doesn't mean that I don't feel the need to hold another man up against a wall and ravish him; maybe strip him down while we're making out, make him moan and pant." He cut off there, grinning because he knew the mental picture he was painting of Zuko for me.

My mouth was dry and I couldn't get the picture of Zuko moaning for me, face red and panting heavily . . . "Do you know how hard it is already to not think things like that?"

He nodded. "Seriously, though, he's a handsome fella, but I know he's off-limits."

"Because he's a prince?" He might also not be attracted to men. Maybe; I did kiss him, so maybe he was now realizing he liked men and would have to later break my heart.

Kenji chuckled. "Well yeah, I suppose that is a reason, but it's also a factor of his personality; he doesn't allow for people to get close to him." He sat next to me and lied back so he could look at the ceiling. "Zuko seems like a bit of a bad boy, and it's hard not to be attracted to that."

And it was hard to not agree, so I did because it was true. I sighed. "He's not a bad boy, though. He's Zuko." I was sitting with my arms wrapped around my knees now, feeling enormously sorry for myself.

"What happened, anyway?" Kenji stretched and settled back, hands by his head.

"Spirits," I muttered, rubbing at my eyes. "I had ran into him and fell on my ass, and he burst out laughing because he thought it was ridiculous that I was apparently cute while glaring at him and rubbing my butt because it hurt." I shook my head. "And I asked, "You think my butt's cute?" I then tried retreating from the room by saying that I had told you I would practice for music night with you, and it quickly escalated into shouting." And it ended by me shoving him against the wall and kissing him like I've been aching to for the past two years. And it was better than I had even imagined. His lips were so soft and warm . . . They tasted so good.

Kenji snapped his fingers in front of my face and stifled a laugh when I jumped. "Getting distracted there, are you?"

I groaned and buried my face in my knees. "I hate myself. I kissed him, and I wanted to so, so badly. But how can I face him now?"

"You can always remember that you and your ass are cute." I glared at Kenji who was just trying to look nonchalant but he failed and just ended up smiling. "Look, I like guys but I can recognize when a girl is attractive, and you are. You have a nice shape, wide hips, a round butt, and breasts that are a nice size."

I felt my face go red and I curled farther up into a ball to hide my breasts, embarrassed.

This only made my friend laugh. "I'm just stating a fact, Mayu. And you can't have expected Zuko not to notice that you're beautiful."

Has he? I had never thought of myself as beautiful before and I wondered if Zuko thought of me as such. It was a nice hope, and I wondered if I would have a chance with Zuko even though I was a servant and he was a prince.

I stopped singing when I heard a knock at the door and asked Kenji if he'd go see who it was.

Kenji had come to my room during the afternoon the next day and I had been distracting myself by singing with him, making up random songs that sounded like grand, epic ballads of an adventure. I had been feeling enormously better in the hours we had been singing, but the relief I felt quickly faded when Kenji came back and told me that he was going to go back to his room to sleep and quietly whispered, "Good luck," to me before quickly retreating.

Zuko entered my room right as Kenji left before I could say anything and closed my door, head down.

I wasn't sure what to say or do. All I could think of was how guilty I felt for him looking so miserable even though he was the one that had gotten angry in the first place.

He was kicking at the ground with his boot, much like he used to when we were younger, and standing awkwardly near the door like he wasn't sure of what he was doing here.

"What do you need, Zuko?" I couldn't let him suffer in silence; it wasn't right.

"I was wondering if . . ." He still wasn't looking at me, as if afraid to meet my gaze. "I was wondering if you'd like to spar with me."

That definitely wasn't what I expected, but I'd take it over silence or anger. "Sure. That'd be nice." I felt sure that this was his way of making peace and I didn't want to refuse him.

He only nodded and held the door open for me, then followed me up to the deck. It was empty of people save the men steering the ship or on the lookout for a sign of the Avatar's flying creature.

I stood shyly a few feet away from him, not sure of the place we were at in our friendship at the moment. Are you doing this because you feel sorry for me? Pity?

Zuko stood across from me, still refusing to meet my eyes. "We're going to work on fighting using your firebending."

There couldn't have been a person I would want to practice that with less. I laughed nervously, hoping dearly that he was joking. "Are you serious? What if I lost control?"

"You need to learn, Mayu. If you don't control your fear, you could get hurt."

"No, I could hurt other people." I took a step back and turned, hoping he'd just let it go.

Instead he shot fire at my feet, surprising me. The flames blew around my ankles, caressing them.

I turned back and glared. "What're you doing?"

"I need you to try to fight me, Mayu. Just trust me." His eyes were finally meeting my gaze and I could feel my will buckling.

"But what if I lose control," I said quietly. "I can't hurt you. I couldn't live with myself."

He took a step forward and gave me a small smile. "Please trust me. I want you to overcome your fear."

The person who I loved wanted me to shoot fire at him, knowing that I had lost control of my powers and killed so many men at once. He wanted me to trust him, and for what? He wants you to trust his judgment of trusting you. Lips trembling, I nodded and stood at a ready stance. "Alright, Zuko."

I had been tricked. The result was exactly what Zuko had been working toward, but he had tricked me nonetheless.

When it became abundantly clear that I would panic so much that I couldn't even summon the tiniest of flames, Zuko backed off in sparring and told me to take a break while he went to go get water.

On his way back I saw a shadow drop down and shoot a plume of fire at my unsuspecting friend.

I reacted on instinct and turned the fire back on the assailant, blowing them into the air and back so they'd crash down onto the deck. I sprinted toward Zuko and pushed him out of the way as the figure jumped back up and darted toward him, dagger out.

It was a strangely spectacular fight. I engulfed my hand in fire and grabbed the dagger, melting it while keeping a layer of flames around my hand so the metal wouldn't cut or sear me, and punched the person in the jaw, making them stumble. I drove my knee into their gut and was met with a head butt and elbow in my solar plexus. We exchanged blows, occasionally bursts of fire that went flying through the air, and then I finally latched a fluid whip of fire on the assailant's arm, then made it separate and spiral out into multiple ropes that bound the figure tightly.

I knocked them back and sent them crashing to the floor, angered, and stood over them with a fist held back. "Who are you!?"

Zuko grabbed my arm and pulled me back while a few soldiers ran to the fallen assailant to help them up.

"What the hell are you doing," I yelled, stunned that they would be helping whoever it is that attacked Zuko. "You do not help the one who attacked your prince!"
And then the assailant removed their mask, revealing the bruised but smiling face of Jee. "Hey there, Mayu."

I stared, Zuko's hand still firmly gripping my arm, and tried to make sense of what this meant. He tricked me. My best friend tricked me into using my firebending to fight. And. It. Worked. I slowly turned to Zuko and saw the guilty look on his face. "What if I hadn't been fast enough to stop him? Would he have hit you?"

Zuko shrugged slightly. "It was a possibility. But I trusted you." His smile was so warm and inviting, those soft lips that tasted like heaven.

I almost forgot that I was angry; not completely angry, but angry nevertheless. "Are you insane?! What if I hadn't stopped it!? You're telling me that you helped me get over my fear by sacrificing yourself because you knew I couldn't help but forget everything to save you?!"

With every word, my friend looked guiltier and sorrier with each second that passed.

It took great effort not to immediately apologize for being so angry, but I couldn't help it. He put himself in danger just to force me to forget my fear of possibly killing. I whirled on Jee and the other soldiers and saw them back away, guilt on all of their faces. "I could have killed you! Where would that have landed me!? Hopefully in jail, because I would deserve to be imprisoned for killing an innocent man!" I glared at the four men, meeting each of their eyes individually, then turned back to Zuko who was kicking at the ground, eyes pained and making me feel like a piece of crap for yelling.

I sighed and snapped my fingers, releasing the bonds that bound Jee, then strode forward to embrace my poor friend. I then kissed his cheek and told him thank you, then walked away, just feeling the need to sleep.

There was no longer anger, but confusion plagued me as I changed clothes and tried to go to sleep. Why would you want me to get over my fear, Zuko? If I have to use it against you to defend Aang, I will, so why help me? I snuggled into my blankets, almost as if I was trying to hide. You know I'll fight against you if it comes down to it. The thought hurt because I knew it was true. I couldn't be selfish and help the person I loved if it meant dooming the world, but he was willing to help his friend get over her fear even though it meant she could very well ruin his dreams.

I woke up sometime during the night, feeling the presence of someone standing next to my bed in the dark. I saw the faint glow of the necklace and knew it was Zuko. "Zuko," I croaked out, confused. "What's going on? What's wrong?"

There was a slight pressure on the spot beside me and I assumed that he had sat down.

"Zuko, are you alright?" He was being very silent, and it worried me.

He sighed and crawled under the blankets with me, and I felt his bare legs against mine.

My skin heated up immediately. Oh spirits, is he naked? What is he doing!? A better question might've been, "Why in the hell are you questioning this?" "Z-zuko? Is everything okay?" I couldn't decide if I wanted him to be naked or if I wanted him to be wearing underpants at the very least. Honestly, I was leaning toward underpants in case he was doing this because he was feeling guilty or he was actually drunk. Some people do go kinda crazy and strip when they're drunk.

His arms reached out to encircle me and pull me against his chest.

My heart was either going to burst or I was going to set the bed on fire. "Z-zuko, what're you doing!?" He didn't let go, but he pulled back a little and I lit a small un-burning flame between us so we could see each other.

He was indeed only wearing underpants; short, revealing underpants that were tight and squeezed against his . . . . privates.

My mouth was dry. "Oh spirits," I breathed, forcing myself to look only at his eyes. "I'm not complaining, but what're you doing?"

He looked so nervous, staring at me with those beautiful golden eyes, and I felt so naked beneath his gaze. "I just wanted to hold you," he murmured softly, guiltily.

I really wanted to just stop asking questions, but I somehow couldn't manage it. "But why?" I held onto him so he wouldn't just leave, because spirits know I didn't want that, and gulped at the feeling of his muscles beneath my palm. "Please don't leave. I'm not angry with you."

"I-I . . ." Zuko couldn't seem to find the words he wanted to say and just stared helplessly at me before whispering, "I missed you, Mayu. I'm sorry I got so mad at you, but the thought of another man touching you made me so jealous." His expression was apologetic and so sad; I had to control myself from grabbing him and kissing him furiously.

"Why were you jealous? You know me." He looked away and I placed a hand on his cheek to lead his gaze back to mine. "What is it, Zuko?"

"I want you to be mine," he whispered, eyes shiny and voice raw with emotion. "You're my Mayu."

Those words set my body on fire; not literally, but very close to it. It felt like I couldn't breathe. "Even though I have to protect the Avatar?" Stupid, stupid, stupid, Mayu! "Even if I have to protect him from you?"

He only nodded and pulled me closer until our bodies were pressed together, and it reminded me that I was dressed only in a thin pair of underpants and a large shirt that fit me like a short dress. "I will always love you, Mayu," he murmured.

Tears fell from my eyes at those words. He loves me? Even though I'll have to do whatever it takes to protect Aang? Even though I've done nothing to help him regain the honor he thinks he's lost? I clung to Zuko, both comforted and saddened at the contact I felt like I didn't deserve.

He tilted my head up and kissed my forehead, smiling. Then he softly kissed the tip of my nose and kissed away my tears, and each of his sweet, tentative kisses set my skin on fire.

I didn't think I could get any hotter until he claimed my lips with his own; his soft, warm, tasty lips that let the fire raging to escape from my body free.

Thankfully, it was un-burning and he pulled back from me for a moment, grinning, before kissing me again and again. They were deep, hot kisses that made it hard to get air into my lungs, and then I felt his strong hands reach under my shirt to grab my butt and press me closer.

Zuko pulled away so we could breathe, smiling rather cheekily. "You really do have a cute butt, by the way. It feels rather nice, too."

My cheeks were burning but I couldn't help the smile that rose to my lips, or the yawn that escaped soon after.

Zuko kissed me again. "Go to sleep, Mayu," he whispered. "I know you're tired."

I wasn't sure how I was supposed to sleep with his hands on my body, moving slowly from my ass and up; one was resting on my lower back, the other in my hair. I snuggled into his chest, feeling more content in that one moment than I ever had in my entire life, and let the flames die out so we were plunged into darkness once more.

My eyes were fluttering closed and I was close to sleep when I felt something hard pressed against my leg. "Zuko, do you have a rod under the blankets," I asked sleepily, confused.

He actually laughed and kissed me again, softly, eliciting a smile that he couldn't see. "Don't worry about it. Just sleep."

I nodded and settled my head down comfortably. "I love you, Zuzu," I murmured, finally drifting off to sleep.

The last words I heard before I finally fell asleep were, "I love you too, Mayu."

The next day it was explained to me by Kenji, because Zuko was too embarrassed to answer, what the 'rod' under the blanket was that I felt. There couldn't possibly have been another time in my life where my face had been redder.

Zuko was back to being the authoritative Zuko, but he didn't shun me this time, and we slept in the same bed for the next few days.

I found myself having to explain to Uncle that we were only sleeping when word spread around the ship that Zuko and I were no longer spending our nights in separate rooms.

"I swear, Uncle, it's not like that!" I was choking out the words, so very embarrassed.

He wasn't angry, but he didn't look any less embarrassed than I was; just concerned. "I just wanted to make sure you two were being careful-."

"Aaaahhh!" I covered my eyes with my hands. "Uncle, no, we're not having sex!" I had to be blunt. I felt like he wouldn't have understood otherwise, as awkward as this conversation was. "We've just been sleeping in the same bed. Sleeping." And having long make-out sessions where we're both left panting and breathless, and lots of fondling on naked skin and under clothing. There was no way I was telling him that, though. Uncle was basically like another father to me, and it was horrifying to be having this conversation. "I promise that we're not having sex." Even if I wanted to at times, so, so very badly; that boy set my body on fire, both literally and figuratively.

Uncle sighed in relief and nodded. "Alright." But then a little knowing smile was on his face. "If you need advice, I'm here."

I was about to decline before remembering that neither my mother nor my father had ever had 'the talk' with me; anything I knew was from overhearing conversations over the years and I knew that wasn't proper knowledge. I didn't even know what the rod under my blanket had been. "I, uh . . . I guess I wouldn't mind knowing some things."

From the look on Uncle's face, I knew this conversation was going to be even more awkward than the last one.

I couldn't look at anyone for the next half hour. My face felt like it was on fire, and I wouldn't speak whenever anyone asked what was wrong.

Someone apparently told Zuko that I was upset, and when he came to ask me if I was okay, momentarily forgetting about some sighting or another of Aang and that flying creature of his, I practically ran, images flashing through my mind.

Later, when I had calmed down enough to come back out of my room, I came up to the deck and saw Zuko practice his firebending with instruction from Uncle Iroh, shirtless and sweating.

He was always so determined while training and I heard about how Aang had bested him while fighting.

I knew that had to have hurt his esteem badly. Zuko prided himself on how hard he had worked to become stronger. He envied my ease with firebending, he told me once, but he knew it was because of what I was.

I watched him move gracefully, so fluid in his movements, and had to remind myself to breathe as his muscles rippled beneath his skin. Spirits, that is so unfair. I suddenly wondered how Zuko would react if he had to fight with me while I was shirtless.

There was no contemplating this; I ran to the middle of the deck, halting the sparring session.

Zuko looked confused, cheeks flushing lightly as he saw me. He had obviously had the same talk with Uncle, and I smiled.

"Zuko, could I spar with you for a little while?"

He nodded. "If you want." He stretched out his arms and got into a ready stance.

I smiled at him, deviously, and his eyes widened when I started to remove my shirt. The only thing covering my upper body was the wraps around my breasts that held them down and covered them. My eyes were on him, and I could hear his sharp intake of breath, then the other soldier's as well.

Zuko glared around at them, then at me. His eyes asked, "What the hell are you doing?"

While I was suddenly uncomfortable and very conscious that there were other men looking at me, I forced my gaze to be steady and held up my fists. "It's an experiment. Just go with it."

"Fine." I could see the effort it was taking him not to take in my half-naked body, but I knew that he'd have to watch me while sparring.

At least this way it'd be fair. We'd both be distracted by one another's body.

As we fought, I could see the way his eyes kept roaming down to skim over my naked skin and I'd take the opportunity to use his distraction against him, but then again in terms of being distracted, I was doing no better.

Zuko had nothing but pants on so his torso was all bare and I was hit many a time because I had been ogling him. Despite his embarrassment, I saw the pleasure on his face; he was enjoying the fact that I was just as distracted by him as he was by me.

I was using my firebending to test Zuko and make him think of new ways of attack. Our strengths were different; I was a more powerful firebender, but he was physically stronger, and we tried using that against each other to make ourselves work harder. I saw the joy in his eyes at our fight and I knew it mirrored my own.

Uncle ended it finally when neither of us could get an edge over the other. He looked amused. "You two deserve rest. That should be enough training for today."

Zuko decided that he agreed, which was surprising, and he left to go speak with Jee about some sighting or another of the Avatar.

Uncle averted his eyes from me until I had donned my shirt again and sat with me at the edge of the deck while I watched the water.

"What will you do, Mayu?"

I knew what he was asking, but it hurt to think about it. "The Avatar is my brother, Uncle. The other Disciples are my siblings as well. I won't let any of them come to harm." And there was no doubt in my mind that Ozai would harm all of us if he got his hands on us.

I wasn't sure what Uncle's take was on the situation, whether or not he supported Zuko's desire to 'redeem' himself by capturing Aang, but when I looked at him he didn't seem happy about it. "Please have faith in him," he whispered as he rose to his feet. "He'll make the right decision in time. I'm sure of it."

I hoped so, dearly. I loved Zuko and I didn't want to hurt him, but if he insisted on trying to capture Aang, I would give my life to stop him.

A couple more days passed, all too quickly for my liking. Zuko would sneak kisses to me, reminding me of the times when mom and dad had been alone and they thought that I wasn't watching, and held my hand even in front of the crewmen.

It made me smile, the affection that he showed, the way he laughed, his smile, and his look of enchantment when I sang.

The night of the second day we were wrapped in each other's arms, tired and snuggling. I couldn't have been happier, and I kissed his lips softly, knowing that he was asleep. "I love you, Zuko," I whispered, closing my eyes. Spirits, I don't want this to end. I don't want to leave my best friend behind again.

-I seem to want to make my characters suffer, do I not? If any part of this seemed odd, or Zuko's reaction to her falling on her butt was strange, remember that he is different around Mayu at times, especially when they're alone. Alone with her, he doesn't have to act like the perfect prince or feel ashamed of himself. She is his best friend. And that scene happened exactly like that in my head; it had seemed realistic in my mind. Regardless, I'm posting this, and then the next chapter. The 14th is the one I'm having problems with, but I'm working on it.-SpiffyPixie1