Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

"..."- speaking

'...'- thinking

Chapter 2

It was late and as Mai predicted they had yet to catch Iroh or Zuko. Everything was going exactly how Mai wanted it to go.

The inn they stopped at had enough rooms that no one had to share. Mai almost smiled. Lying on the bed and starring at the ceiling she decided to wait one more hour before he left. It would be safer that way.

Standing up she walked towards a small bag. Opening the bag Mai pulled out her best knives and her best knives. She was a young girl wandering around by herself. She had to be careful.

Mai strapped her dart launchers to each wrist and one to each ankle. Strapping her longer knives to each leg and her shorter ones to her arms, she stood looking towards her window. About an hour had past.

Changing her outfit, she turned towards the door and left her room. Dressed in solid black to blend into the shadows, Mai stopped only twice on her way out of the inn, to listen at Ty Lee and Azula's door. Hearing only quite snoring Mai left quickly.

Sticking to the shadows, Mai ran down the streets. She paused briefly, realizing that she had no idea where to start looking.

She didn't even know if he was in town or if he was camping in the forest outside of the town. He could be miles away. Where would she start? Leaning against the wall she heard footsteps coming towards her.

"Hello buttercup. What's a beautiful flower like you doing out all alone? It might not be safe." A deep male voice growled at her.

This wouldn't be too hard. Mai smirked, reaching up her sleeve to grab a knife. She almost had it when the man grabbed her wrists and pushed her against the wall.

Mai looked at him. Just a typical Earth Kingdom peasant. The second he tried anything she would have him. He would have to take his hand off her wrist, all she had to do was wait until he made the first move.

He smiled at her it wasn't a very pleasant smile, but Mai wasn't scared. He removed his hand from her wrist. 'Too easy' Mai thought as she grabbed her knife and pushed him backwards.

"Leave here now and I might let you live." Mai said keeping her voice even. 'Yes, definitely too easy.'

"I like you." The man rumbled getting up off the ground. "You're feisty. This should be fun."

Mai sighed, the man must be drunk. That or he was the world's biggest idiot. He could always be an unpleasant mix of both.

She could always run. It wouldn't be hard to out run him. But she would rather make him pay for underestimating her.

Raising her arm, she fired a dart. Then another and another. It should have ended there, like it had so many times in the past. But it didn't. It seems she underestimated him too. He was an earthbender.

Using his bending he raised a wall to block her attacks. Feeling something at her ankles, Mai looked down. The earth was quickly snaking up her legs. She could no longer move her legs. This was almost a problem.

Mai moved her arm to fire a dart, when suddenly she couldn't move her arms either. Now this could be slightly problematic. She looked up to see the man coming towards him again. Didn't this waste of flesh ever give up?

She stared into his eyes. Daring him to try anything. Mai knew if he did, she would kill him. Once she got loose, one way or another the man would die by her hand. He reached out to touch her cheek. When someone threw him backwards.

"Leave the girl alone." A voice said threateningly. Mai turned looked at the person next to her in total surprise. The person appeared to be male and only several inches taller then Mai herself. And if the voice was any indication, he was most likely in his mid teens, around Mai's age.

Her saver is wearing a strange blue mask and is approaching the Earth Kingdom man. Taking out two broad swords he points them at the man. "Leave now and you will live." He threatens the man. The man doesn't heed his threats.

The Earth Kingdom man stands and laughs. "You can't beat me." He sneers. "I ain't leaving until I get my prize." He smiles at Mai and turns towards her masked saver.

The masked teen runs at the man. Twirling the blades in a figure eight pattern, he attacks. Using his earth bending the man blocks his attacks.

Sending huge blocks of earth at the teen, he dodges the blocks and keeps going. All the masked teen needed to do was get close enough and he could win.

The man kept firing at the teen, finally hitting him, the teen went flying backwards and hit the wall. The man laughing and pointing at the teen, lost his concentration. Not paying attention to the teen, he manages to lunge at man and land a hit.

Swiping the man arms just enough to draw blood, he back up about a foot and tackles the man to the ground. Standing up the teen returns his blades to their sheaths. The Earth Kingdom man takes enough time to look to Mai and to the teen before running in the opposite direction.

As the man ran the earth holding Mai fell to the ground. Watching the man runs, Mai raises her arm to fire at him one last time.

Before getting the chance to fire the teen next to her pulls her arm down. "Don't bother. He's not worth it." The teen tells her calmly.

Turning to glare at the boy who saved her, and fighting the urge to punch him as he turned to leave. "Who are you?" Mai asked grabbing his arm, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"That is none of your concern, you were just lucky that I was here to help you." He stated taking her hand from his arm.

Without warning the boy turned and ran. Running after him without a second thought Mai followed. He was only a bit faster than Mai. But that small bit was just enough.

Chasing him down a few alleys of the small town and into the forest nearby, Mai paused. She wouldn't be able to catch and she knew this. Instead she followed him with her eyes until she could no longer see him.

Mai was a huntress though, and he was just new prey. Running to the spot where she lost him, she began to track. This would definitely be fun, new prey always was.

Following his footsteps, Mai stopped. She had reached a small camp. Moving closer, she listened.

"So nephew, how was your walk?"

"It was fine." That was the boy's voice. She had found his camp. Mai silently moved closer.

"Anything exciting happen?"

"No."

"So why did you take these?" Mai didn't know what the other voice was talking about, but she guessed it was his swords and his mask.

"It was a precaution, we can't be too careful." That voice, it was so familiar. If she closed her eyes, she could almost picture the boy's face.

Mai moved closer, hoping to see the two that were talking. Intent on listening to the conversation Mai never noticed the branch lying and the ground in front of her.

A deafening crack rang out. Mai jumped backwards in fright. Leaning against the tree behind her. Now close enough to see the back of the boy's head, she gasped as he jumped around to face her.

"Who's there?" He cried out. Mai was speechless as she looked at the face of the person who saved her. The teen was searching the forest with his eyes, while Mai was frozen, unable to move. He spotted her and as he looked into Mai's eyes, she could only whisper one word in surprise.

"Zuko?"

Authors Note: Well that's the end of chapter 2. I hope everyone liked it. The whole thing with Mai, the Earth Kingdom guy and Zuko saving her was probably a highly over used plot. But it was the best way I could think of Mai and Zuko meeting again. And yes I cannot write fight scenes. Oh well. Also this will probably be the fastest I ever update.

I would also like to thank the people who reviewed: Jesus.Lives, GoddessOfCsilla, felicia19, ForeverBrokenForever. They really meant a lot.

Please R&R ;)