Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender in any shape or form.

Since Zuko's return to the Fire Nation, Mai has never been happier. If she was truthful, she may have been a little shocked and doubtful that he would accept her confession but once he did, her dim monotone world had turned colorful and bright.

It was annoying at first, she must admit, to feel anything that would make her heart skip a beat and actually look forward to the day because there was someone waiting for her. She masked it with her usual apathy but the ones close to her could see the difference in her behavior.

So it was a slight surprise when Azula was the one to retrieve her on the day of their beach trip. She had been expecting her boyfriend and yet his sister was the one to greet her instead. There was the trademark curl of Azula's painted lips and a gleam in her eyes at the sight of the dark haired noble and Mai bowed politely to the royalty before they began their descend to the ferry.

"I've never congratulated you on your relationship with Zuzu, did I?" Azula spoke first and Mai wondered if there was more to this walk than the princess let on.

Mai shrugged. "There's not much to congratulate on," besides getting together with her crush since childhood, Mai didn't see the need for Azula's blessings.

"But still, you two haven't seen each other in over three years. I'm glad the fire is still there," Azula stopped walking; her golden gaze bore into Mai's own eyes. She recognized the calculating look again but Azula looked almost hesitant behind her own mask. "I almost thought Zuko forgot his true heritage back in Ba Sing Se. How silly of me," Azula turned away and continued her walk, "That girl meant nothing to him."

Mai froze.

Azula said nothing more, lost in her own thoughts. Mai wasn't sure if the princess had meant to say the last part out loud but as she stared at the retreating back of Azula, something twisted uncomfortably in her gut and her ears were ringing with the last statement.

What girl?

Lucky for them, the Avatar and his companions have been on schedule with the invasion plan. It allowed time for the five of them to enjoy the simplicity of relaxing in a secluded hot springs in a Fire Nation island after their departure from Piandao.

Ameya was practicing her waterbending again; although Katara had praised the older girl to have mastered the element already. She merely smiled and said she enjoyed the routine of it.

It kept her busy; it kept her distracted.

"Aang, I know swimming is fun and all but do you really think you should be exposing yourself like that?" Toph spoke up from her position at a nearby rock; her feet dipped in the water. "Cover up!"

"What? I'm wearing trunks," Aang said innocently, floating along the water in nothing but his swim shorts.

"I know. It's your tattoos I'm worried about. What if someone sees you?" Toph tried again.

Katara turned to the earthbender with a smile. "There are walls all around us. It's completely safe."

Ameya observed the surrounding landscape. It was highly unlikely for anyone to make it up to the grand hot springs and there were no signs of any village nearby when they flew over. Ameya relaxed, it wouldn't hurt to play around. This is what they needed—just simple children playing in water.

The thought of that saddened her—if only briefly, and she snapped out of it. Aang had disappeared into a tunnel earlier, playing with the makeshift waterslide and Sokka was off to the side fishing.

"Besides, if someone were to come, you'll warn us immediately," Ameya smiled at Toph and the young earthbendered exhaled.

"What would you do without me?" She joked and they giggled lightly.

"Is it just me or are there no fish in this lake?" Sokka pulled up his rod, frowning at the empty hook once more.

"I think you're just a bad fisherman," Katara pointed out and he frowned at her, dipping his hand into the water and flung a small wave of water at her.

But the water missed just as Katara dodged and it hit Ameya right in the head, drenching the top half of her body she had tried to keep dry. Although she could easily bend the water away, a sly smirk appeared on her lips at Sokka's wide eyes and with a twist of her hand, she sent a giant wave his way.

The girls laughed as Sokka fell into the lake loudly and Aang appeared again just to see the commotion, his eyes gleaming happily and jumped right back into the lake.

"Waterbending fight!"

That was enough to send the benders into action. Toph immediately went back on land, bending a wall to protect herself from being dragged into the waves but she felt the movements of them, even if shaky, to determine their location.

Aang's drop into the water had sent a huge splash their way. Katara redirected the water away from her with grace, sending it back to Aang confidently. Ameya created a frozen wall in front of her, protecting herself from the attack and bend it back into water, surrounding her protectively.

The three of them countered each other's attack quickly but with only half the intention to hurt. It was just a simple game; they were not aiming to fight. Their laughter echoed the hot springs as Sokka complained about how he's always drenched whenever they played with their 'water magic' but there was no bitter undertone anymore.

In this moment, there was no threat of war looming over their minds. They were just simple children playing with each other under the bright sun. Ameya did not think of her recent heartbreak, which has been appearing less lately, and enjoyed the company of her new companions instead.

It was easier to forget.

There have been too many things running around his mind lately.

For starters, Zuko hated the party he just attended. In a way, he was relieved he had been kicked out—he wouldn't be able to stand the loud music surrounded by strangers he did not know.

The moon hung high in the sky and Zuko resisted the urge to stare at it. But he still did, even if briefly, he was reminded of blue eyes again.

He frowned.

Mai had just ended their relationship and he could not understand why.

Mai did not enjoy the seashell he offered her and he cursed himself when the image of the thief appeared in his mind again, holding a red shell in hand next to Iroh. He snapped at Mai then, not the first time since their arrival at Ember Island, and he should be apologizing but instead the anger doubled over.

Why couldn't he just forget?

Why was Mai so hard to please? Why does she rarely show her emotions—why does she not just smile or tease him or—

Why was it not Ameya?

Zuko did like Mai—or initially, he did. She was beautiful; she was easy to talk to when others weren't around. Mai had been simple and completely different from her but he could still not get her out of his mind.

He thought things would have been different once he returned to the Fire Nation. He had been treated with the upmost respect, his father was proud of him. But Iroh was still rotting in jail and Zuko cannot get the icy blue color away from his dreams.

This was everything he had worked for and yet—why did it not feel satisfying as it should be? Iroh was the traitor to the nation—the Fire Nation were to win this hundred year war—

A war that they started.

A war that spread hatred and destruction, leaving children orphaned and homeless; creating thieves and soldiers.

He had seen the effects of war firsthand, had seen the ones that were the result of it.

Then why—?

"You do not have the right to lecture thievery when all your family done was steal."

"I wouldn't have to resort to this if your family didn't burn down my village in the first place."

Zuko stared onto the aged portrait of his family in the royal vacation home. It was forever ago since the picture had been painted and Zuko could not remember the last time the four of them were together.

When did everything in his life go wrong? Why could he not mend the rift within himself? Why was he still dwelling in the past, haunted by memories of everything he wished to forget?

"I thought I'd find you here."

Azula's voice broke his thoughts; he hadn't realized when she appeared. Zuko looked down onto the stone handprint of his younger self.

"Those summers we spent here seem so long ago. So much has changed."

Azula stared onto the stone handprint with a blank gaze. Her brother did always brood too often but for once since his return, she felt a small sense of nostalgia wash over her. Maybe it was because the party she had just left was too tiresome for her. It was easier when things went her way; it was easier when people would worship her and beg for her approval as the Fire Nation Princess.

She stared at the dark vacation home, barely holding any memories of the place they visited years ago—back when the four of them were still together as a family.

"Come down to the beach with me," Azula turned away, "Come on. This place is depressing."

"Guys, you're all gonna think I'm crazy, but it feels like a metal man is coming."

Ameya was the first one up, always been the one to be a light sleeper, and then turned to the other three beginning to stir awake. She had known to trust in Toph's seismic senses and her fingers glided over the metal sheath she kept beside her.

Aang groaned when a light was shining in his eyes and they turned to where it had come from. She squinted at the tall figure standing along the wall above them, the moonlight reflecting the metal hand.

It was still for a second—until the man breathed and Aang reacted quicker than all of them. He moved forward just as a highly concentrated fire was directed to them but the Avatar blocked it with earthbending. They were blown back by the force of the explosion; Toph recovered first, sending a dozen of rock trails towards the assassin.

He cleared it away with another wave of fire and Toph dodged just as Aang moved to push the blast away with airbending. Katara moved to bend a giant wave in his direction but the assassin shot the water again, dissipating the wave and fogging up the hot springs.

Ameya bended the steam to cover their shadows quickly, making sure to not give away their cover and they scattered to hide behind the rocks next to Appa. The assassin was shooting at them in random directions and they shielded away from the dust and scattered pebbles.

"This is crazy! How can we beat a guy who blows things up with his mind?" Sokka exclaimed just as another explosion set off.

"We can't! Jump on Appa! I'll try to distract him!"

Aang instructed and moved out of hiding. Ameya watched the assassin directed his attack to the Avatar immediately, the rest of them forgotten as Aang jumped from the canyon. Her brows furrowed in concentration, worry filling her head at the thought of the Avatar facing the strange bender alone.

She did not have much time to dwell on it when they jumped onto Appa. Sokka took over the reins, navigating the sky bison to follow Aang. Toph held onto Ameya until she directed the young earthbender to hold the saddle instead.

It wasn't much longer until they saw another explosion set off below and a small figure bursting upwards. The rocks surrounding Aang fell apart and Katara reached up to catch onto the Avatar, their arms wrapped closely together for comfort.

"I'm okay," Aang reassured, his adrenaline seizing from the close encounter with the assassin. Momo flew to cling to his head and Katara checked him over to make sure he was unharmed.

"Well, that was random," Toph frowned.

Katara pulled away. "I don't think so. I get the feeling he knows who we are."

Ameya glanced backwards, watching the pillars disappear further and further away. "He was chasing Aang the moment he showed himself. I don't think that'll be the last we see of him."

They look at each other wearily. Someone now knows the Avatar is alive. The question remained: will they be able to escape from him the next time?

The Royal Family portrait burned in the fiery campfire, consuming the parchment and turning the aged picture to ash. Zuko stared into the fire with a frown, watching the figure of his family disappear in the flames.

"What are you doing?" Ty Lee asked in disbelief.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Zuko countered defensively.

"But, it's a painting of your family," she continued, almost saddened.

Zuko scoffed. "You think I care?"

This was only a shadow of what it once was. Those happy times were gone. It was only a memory. Zuko does not need sentimental things of the haunted past.

"I think you do," Ty Lee spoke softly.

"You don't know me, so why don't you just mind your own business?" The prince snapped, turning away from the rest of them. Why does everyone assume to know him so well? They don't understand him—they don't know him. She has no right to question his decisions—

Zuko faltered.

Which 'she' was he thinking of just now?

"I know you."

His fist clenched. "No, you don't," no one does, "You're stuck in your little 'Ty Lee world' where everything's great all the time."

Mai frowned. "Zuko, leave her alone."

The prince turned away, doing a handstand in the same way he had seen Ty Lee done before. "'I'm so pretty. Look at me. I can walk on my hands. Whoo!'" He imitated mockingly, falling onto the floor with a sneer. "Circus freak."

Azula giggled from the side, amusement danced in her eyes for a mere moment and only stopped when the young girl sent a glare her way.

"Yes, I'm a circus freak. Go ahead and laugh all you want. You want to know why I joined the circus?"

Azula sighed. "Here we go."

"Do you have any idea what my home life was like? Growing up with six sisters who look exactly like me?" Ty Lee stood up hastily, her anger bubbling over. "It was like I didn't even have my own name. I joined the circus because I was scared of spending the rest of my life as part of a matched set. At least I'm different now. 'Circus freak' is a compliment!"

There were tears in her eyes at the confession and her voice shook with thinly veiled sadness. She had been happy with her achievements; Ty Lee had made something of herself. Even if the prince of the Fire Nation was belittling her, she knew where she stands.

"Guess that explains why you need ten boyfriends, too."

Ty Lee gaped at Mai, her hands balled into tiny fists and settled on her hips. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Attention issues. You couldn't get enough attention when you were a kid, so you're trying to make up for it now," Mai explained briefly, unshaken by the acrobat's glare.

"Well, what's your excuse, Mai?" Ty Lee's anger redirected to her, "You were an only child for fifteen years, but even with all that attention, your aura is this dingy, pasty, gray…"

"I don't believe in auras," Mai deadpanned.

Zuko got up from his position on the sand. "Yeah, you do not believe in anything."

"Oh, well, I'm sorry I can't be as high-strung and crazy as the rest of you," Mai replied sarcastically. Are they turning on her now?

"I'm sorry, too. I wish you would be high-strung and crazy for once instead of keeping all your feeling bottled up inside," Zuko faltered, remembering almost the same conversation from months ago—but with someone else on the rooftop of the resort. He shook it away from mind, turning back to Mai. "She just called your aura dingy. Are you gonna take that?"

Mai leaned back, annoyed. "What do you want from me? You want a teary confession about how hard my childhood was?" She scoffed, "Well, it wasn't. I was a rich only child who got anything I wanted...as long as I behaved and sat still, and didn't speak unless spoken to. My mother said I had to keep out of trouble. We had my dad's political career to think about."

"Well, that's it, then." Azula spoke up for once, "You have a controlling mother who had certain expectations, and if you strayed from them, you were shut down. That's why you're afraid to care about anything, and why you can't express yourself."

Mai resisted the urge to flinch under the princess's analytical gaze, sitting up to glare at her. "You want me to express myself? Leave me alone!"

It was silent for a moment. The crackle of the wood was the only sound echoing between the four teenagers after Mai's outburst. Zuko recovered first, stepping closer to Mai. It was easier connecting to her when he knew how she felt.

"I like it when you express yourself."

Mai recoiled from his approach. "Don't touch me! I'm still mad at you."

Zuko frowned. "My life hasn't been that easy either, Mai."

She crossed her arms. "Whatever. That doesn't excuse the way you've been acting."

"Calm down, you guys. This much negative energy is bad for your skin. You'll totally break out," Ty Lee attempted to pacify, her own anger quelling at the fighting couple.

Zuko turned his glare back on her. "Bad skin? Normal teenagers worry about bad skin. I don't have that luxury. My father decided to teach me a permanent lesson on my face!"

He thought he had accepted his scar already. He thought he was fine living with it. But why can he still not forget—why can he never forget these past three years?

Ty Lee flinched. "Sorry, Zuko, I—"

"For so long I thought that if my dad accepted me, I'd be happy. I'm back home now, my dad talks to me. Ha! He even thinks I'm a hero. Everything should be perfect, right? I should be happy now, but I'm not. I'm angrier than ever and I don't know why!"

It just does not make sense. Everything he dreamed of have came true. But he cannot get Iroh's disappointment away from his mind. He cannot hide from the bright blue sky nor ignore the silent moon. He had a beautiful girlfriend and yet all he could think about was icy blue instead of soft topaz.

"There's a simple question you need to answer, then. Who are you angry at?" Azula inquired, studying her brother closely.

"No one. I'm just—angry."

"Yeah, who are you angry at, Zuko?" Mai urged on.

"Everyone. I don't know." Why was everyone ganging up on him now?

"Is it Dad?" Azula questioned softly.

His eyes widen. "No, no."

"Your uncle?" Ty Lee continued.

"Me?" Azula asked once more.

"No, no, n-no, no!" He denied, becoming fluster with his own wave of emotions and their inquiry.

Azula's lip turned down just the slightest, her mind wandering back to the crystal catacombs. Icy eyes filled her mind and the young woman next to her brother appeared in a flash. What was her name again? She racked her brain for the odd name of the thief she met only twice and Zuko's voice echoed in her mind, speaking the name with such care she had never heard from her brother before.

"Ameya?"

They watch Zuko visibly stiffen, eyes wide at the name he had not heard of in weeks. Mai felt her blood freeze at the foreign word, remembering her previous conversation with Azula and cannot stop the questions forming in her head.

Girl, what girl?

"Are you happy, Prince Zuko?"

"No!" He refused harshly, pushing away his rapid heartbeat and icy eyes.

"Then who? Who are you angry at?" Mai pushed angrily, her fist clenched at Zuko's reaction to Azula's question.

"Answer the question, Zuko," Azula frowned.

"Talk to us," Ty Lee begged.

"Come on, answer the question."

"Come on, answer it."

Zuko slammed his clenched fists down; the campfire erupted into a pillar of flames and cried out.

"I'm angry at myself!"

The fire burnt out immediately, leaving only the ashes of wood and low light from the embers. Zuko turned away from the scrutinizing girls, his mind rattled and unfocused once more.

"Why?" Azula's soft voice broke the stillness, all waiting for his response.

"Because I'm confused. Because I'm not sure I know the difference between right and wrong anymore."

He felt lost without his uncle's guidance. He would not talk to him anymore, always turning away from his visits and Zuko could only lash out in anger. And even when he cannot see her, Ameya still haunts his mind in dreams and daytime. In moments where Zuko felt alone in the palace, he almost expected her to appear suddenly, smiling the same teasing smile as always with fleeting messages and gentle touches.

But she never did and he cannot get over the fact that Zuko is, still hopelessly, in love with her.

"You're pathetic."

Zuko snapped to glare at his sister who looked almost bored from his confession. That was right, Azula would never understand him—no one could. Who else had a life like his—thrown away by his father to chase a dream and injured by his own hands?

Mai wanted to move to him, to comfort the one she had fallen in love with but she stay rooted in her spot. The question 'what girl' was ringing in her ears again and envy was slowly clawing its way in her heart.

"Well, those were wonderful performances, everyone," Azula drawled out, a small smirk on her painted lips once more.

"I guess you wouldn't understand, would you, Azula?" Zuko turned away, "Because you're just so perfect."

"Well, yes, I guess you're right. I don't have sob stories like all of you," she smiled, "I could sit here and complain how our mom liked Zuko more than me, but I don't really care. My own mother thought I was a monster."

It was silent again; no one dared to say anything to lift the heavy mood. Azula caught onto the depressive state she created and laughed it off.

"She was right, of course, but it still hurt."

Ty Lee smiled. "What Lo and Li said came true. The beach did help us learn about ourselves. I feel all smoothed. I'll always remember this." She picked up a rock and gently rubbed it over. Maybe what she needed was to vent as well. She never did get the chance to confront her family about her identity but with her friends here, Ty Lee felt unique.

Azula stood up, a smirk on her lips and completely disregarded her previous mood. "You know what would make this trip really memorable?"

Zuko did feel better after destroying the party host's lavish home. He felt satisfied when Chan's materialistic wealth were burned, nearly crying himself to tears at the destroyed furniture and decorations. The four of them had shared a laugh, their anger dissipating along with the flames of their anger.

They all retired to their own rooms for rest after the eventful night but Zuko stayed up, staring at the moon for more than a minute for the first time in weeks.

"So who is she?"

He jumped at the drawl out voice, turning back to see Mai wrapped in a warm shawl. She regarded him with blank topaz eyes and she approached him with careful steps, taking a seat next to the prince.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Mai rolled her eyes. "Liar."

Zuko flinched.

She felt the wind brush upon her hair and Zuko's warmth radiate next to her. Even though they were sitting so close together, the prince felt distant and remote.

Mai had been angry with Zuko. In the end, Zuko had been the one to hide something from her—he had not been entirely truthful in their relationship. Whatever happened in the past three years was the past—he had a future to look forward to. Mai had thought it would be alright—but their confessions had completely changed her mind.

It was too exhausting to stay angry. Mai didn't know what to do with her own anger, never experiencing jealousy firsthand. But at that realization, the rosy tinted glasses were lifted from her mind and she could suddenly see rationality again.

Zuko never looked directly in her eyes for long. He had always directed his gaze elsewhere, eyes softening at blue skies and sometimes even a flash of longing would appear. His hand would run through her silky locks but his focus was not on her.

Mai did not doubt—until Azula implanted the idea in her. She reacted defensively, directing her anger to Zuko and he retaliated in tenfold. She wondered whose fault was it really—for their breakup. She had no intention of getting back with him but she did want to stay friends. Mai still cares for him—despite her own stubborn heart.

"I do like you," she confessed softly, staring at the bright moon too. "But right now, I don't know if I can be with you," not when he's confused with his own feelings.

Zuko looked down. "I understand."

Even he would not want to be with someone so lost, so confused. In a way, Zuko felt guilty for using Mai for his own selfish reason. She had been a distraction—but she was still a person, still a girl who had wholeheartedly liked him. Somehow, he was reminded of Jin—he was reminded of the Firelight Fountain and he was reminded of—

"Well you're accepting this a lot easier than I thought," Mai said sarcastically, leaning back on her hands. "I don't know if I should congratulate the girl or outright kill her for stealing you."

Zuko froze, his gold eyes widening at her declaration and Mai rolled her eyes again.

"I'm kidding," she saw Zuko relax and a slow smirk emerged on her lips. "Maybe."

"It doesn't matter. I won't see her again," he admitted quietly. He was sure Ameya hated him anyways. Even if it took him so long to realize that he cannot completely forget her—that he was still thinking about her, they were enemies in the end.

"You 'won't' or you 'can't'?"

He faltered, unsure of the answer himself. Her last message to him promised for a next meeting and if Zuko was truthful, he was scared of it. He had pushed it away from mind at first—there was no way Ameya could reach the Fire Nation by herself. But if he knew her—which he sure did—she'll somehow find a way.

The Avatar flashed in his mind, his doubts arising once more.

He hadn't realized how much he still clings to her even when she's gone. He should be angry—he thought he was upset with her—but the scenes of Ba Sing Se replays in his mind and he dreams of their last conversation and instead of doubt, it was regret that torments him.

Ameya was right once again. Zuko did regret—and he's regretting even before their next fated meeting.

"I don't know."

Mai glanced his way and shrugged. "Her loss then. Just because we're not 'together' doesn't mean we can't be friends." And, a small part of her had hoped that she would be the one to win him back in the end.

Zuko smiled genuinely for the first time that night, looking at Mai admiringly. "I would like that."

This was the Mai he had liked. She was simple and spoke her mind when it was just the two of them. Zuko wonders, if he never met Ameya, would he have fallen in love with Mai instead?

Mai returned the smile and hoped whoever this girl was; she was worth Zuko's dedication.

Author's Notes:

This chapter was really hard to write. Avatar has so many complex characters and trying to explore all of them—even if it was just a glimpse, was a little hard for me to capture. I can only hope I stay true to their character and the progress they've shown in the show.

As you can see, Ameya is slowly moving on—if you haven't caught that in the previous chapters—but Zuko is barely hanging on. It's an interesting contrast between them and there are still many things yet to happen until the next fated meeting.

Small confession: I actually stopped writing Avatar for more than 3 months now. All the updates are back when I was writing actively in July. It's almost caught to the chapter I stopped at so I hope I somehow gained motivation again to keep writing! If I end up taking a week or so off from updating, I'll let you know!

Thank you for the review as always!