Authors note: I know a lot of people didn't enjoy the cliff hanger but what is a story without a few of them. So here answers all the questions about Zuko and Mai. I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

The Secret Moment

"Wha-what are you doing here?" Mai asked, backing away in a shocked tone, "Your supposed…supposed to be-"

Zuko rushed over to her and covered her mouth. He glanced around the courtyard before talking in a hushed voice.

"Be quiet," Zuko whispered in a harsh tone, "No one can know I'm here."

Mai nodded as he moved his hand from her mouth.

"Zuko I-"

The exiled prince glared at the girl angrily.

"I mean," Mai's voice being quieted, "Zuko I don't understand. Why you here?"

Zuko looked away from Mai in pure anguish, "I'm hiding with my uncle. He needed to get something from my father…and I wanted to see the palace…one more time. If anyone sees me here I will be dead within seconds."

"I'm sorry…"

Mai gazed at Zuko particularly, "It's just…you don't know how worried I was about you."

"I can imagine. You were about to pierce that dagger right through me."

Mai faintly smiled as she ran into the arms of Zuko.

"I missed you," she muttered.

"I missed you too."

The two departed, both in one way enlightened by the moment. Zuko was surprised to see what one month had done to Mai. She had already grown much taller and wasn't the little girl he had remembered.

Meanwhile, Mai turned her direction from Zuko's eyes to his scar. It was everything everybody had said, dishonor. It proved to all what he had done which was right now a mystery. It had burned half of his face but had left all of his other features the same.

"Zuko I…"

"You've noticed my scar, predictable. Everyone has…"

"Zuko, what happened?"

"I'd rather not tell."

"But-"

Zuko neared to Mai and stared right at her, "Mai, I'll tell you later, when the time is right. But I just…can't…tell-"

"I understand it hurts too much to tell someone. There are something's I haven't told you because it just…pains me to much to tell someone. That's how you'll feel for awhile so I'll wait."

"Thank you, Mai."

"You're welcome."

"…You know, Mai, you are the only one I've been able to talk to, like this after…my scar. My uncle says I have changed and I know I have but right now…I feel the same, like nothing happened, nothing at all."

"I'm glad I hold that spot in your heart."

"I'm glad too."

Zuko turned to his best friend smiled like he always did.

"We'll never change will we Mai, as long as we are together."

"We won't be together for much longer; my parents are taking me home in a few minutes."

"Don't you remember the letter I gave you?"

"Yeah…it was in my "Hope" dagger."

"What did it say?"

"The Fire Nation…it is where we will stay…"

"Where we belong," Zuko finished, "And it always will be, even if…I never see you again."

Mai's eyes watered as Zuko said this.

"That's hard…to imagine."

"I know but you are strong, Mai. I didn't lie when I told you that three years ago."

Mai giggled, "When I stabbed you with a dagger in that combat practice we had. You still won in the end though."

Zuko laughed along with her, "That's just because I was so prideful. If Azula found out I was beaten by a girl she would never let it go."

"You are the prince of the Fire Nation. You couldn't be beaten by a lowly, adopted, noble's girl."

Zuko frowned at Mai, "You know you are not that to me."

"Well I'm that to the world and well-"

"What the world thinks doesn't matter. You'll always be the best dagger thrower I'll ever know."

"Hmm…that's sweet…"

Mai walked over to Zuko and grasped her hand in his. They were both still the same, though time and time again the world would try to change them, nothing would change their friendship.

"Mai, it is time to go!" they could both hear Mrs. Chi Poi call in the distance, "Come on, and let's go!"

Mai broke her grasp from Zuko and yelled to her mother. "I'm coming!"

She turned back to Zuko who nodded.

"You need to go."

Mai resisted for a moment, turning to both her mothers' voice and back to Zuko's face.

"Mai go. I'll be fine."

She winced for a second but was gone before another word could be said. Mai ran to her parents and they all went home, not one word being said.

Meanwhile, Zuko stood, leaning against Mai's favorite tree, his heart suddenly changing.

"All kindness has left with you, Mai. And now all there is…is hatred. But if we see each other again, if we do…kindness will return because we will be back together. Like it always should be…"

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Authors note: So Zuko has changed to the person we see in the series and Mai has gone back to be with her parents. It is very sad in a way but pay attention to what Zuko was saying in the last sentence…it will surly come up in my sequel. Also pay attention to the fact that Zuko acted like the same Zuko he has always been like…with Mai, of course. Oh and Zuko's hair was the same, he just shaves it off in the future, just to let you know. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. And this isn't the end, I repeat, this isn't the end. There is still two more chapters.