Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 3
"Zuko?"
That was all Mai could force herself to say. What else was there to say? The very person that she was tracking with Azula, the person that she snuck out to see, was the very person who had just helped her.
All Mai could do, was stare into his eyes just as intensely as he stared into hers. She watched as his eyes went from accusing and angry, to something that Mai couldn't quite name. Her heart fluttered as Zuko mouth turned up into a very tiny smile. A faint blush painted her cheeks.
He seemed to recognize her now. Mai couldn't decide if this was a good thing or a bad thing. If he didn't know why she was here, she could easily leave and not have to fight him right now. But if he did know what she was doing in this area than a fight was inevitable. Most likely he didn't know why she was here, but there was almost no chance of leaving without talking first.
"Nephew is someone there?"
Mai studied Zuko closely. He seemed to be debating with himself. Most likely searching for the most appropriate answer. Part of Mai was hoping that he would lie and say no one was there, the other part desperately wished to speak with him again.
Before Zuko even got a chance to answer his uncle's question, Iroh walked over to stand next to Zuko. After studying Mai for several seconds Iroh smiled broadly.
"Well if it isn't little Mai, but I guess you're not so little anymore. Come join us by the nice, warm fire. We can talk and maybe have some tea too." Strolling over to Mai he took her arm and led her into their small camp. It was amazing that he remembered Mai, they had only met a couple of times before.
"But uncle I'm sure she has to get back. It's late. We shouldn't keep her." A faint smile graced Mai's lips as she watched Zuko search for an excuse. Most people would have been offended by this, but not Mai. He used to do this all the time when they were children and Azula wanted her or Ty Lee to stay longer.
"That's ok Zuko. I have enough time to stay and talk for a bit." Mai stated as she sat down. "And anyway it has been three years since we last saw each other. Haven't you missed me at all?"
"Well . . . I . . . You see . . . "Yes Zuko was truly flustered. Looking at Iroh chuckling to himself, Mai couldn't but help giggling quietly to herself. She really had changed a lot in the past three years. She would never have asked Zuko if he had missed her three years ago.
Iroh looked at her. "I'm sure he missed you very much Mai after all who wouldn't miss a girl as pretty as you." Mai just peered at the ground in silence.
Looking at Zuko as he took a seat fairly close to hers, Mai couldn't help but notice how much Zuko had changed. His hair was now short and spiky. He also had a scar that covered a large portion of his face.
This was the first time Mai had seen him since he got that scar, he left before she even got a chance to say goodbye. That scar had him look so different, yet he still looked so the same. Many would have thought that his scar made him look worse, but Mai he was as handsome as ever.
His outside may have changed, but his personality hadn't. He could still easily be made flustered depending on the question that he was asked. Mai closed her eyes thinking back to only about an hour ago. He was unlike so many others in the Fire Nation.
It seemed that Zuko still could not bring himself to kill being or at the very least another human. Mai could still remember a time when he would cringe when Azula caught butterflies purely to kill them. No matter how no matter how mean and tough he looked on the outside, on the inside he was still as gentle as he was when they were children.
Suddenly Iroh cleared his troat, loudly. Mai jumped, startled she turned towards Iroh who just laughed and pointed at Zuko. Looking at Zuko she could understand why Iroh was laughing, she felt like laughing herself. Zuko looked just as startled as she was a minute ago. Obviously she wasn't the only one who had gotten lost in their thoughts.
Standing Iroh clapped his hands. "Well Mai, we've kept you here for an hour. You should probably head back." An hour! Mai hadn't expected that much time to pass already. She really should go.
"Well I thank you for your hospitality and you're right I really should be going." Turning around to leave she was stopped.
"I am sure that Zuko would love to escort you back. Wouldn't you nephew?"
"Of course uncle." Both Zuko and Mai knew he didn't really have a choice in the matter.
"That's ok. I will be fine."
"No! I mean I don't mind. Really, it's no problem." A faint blush spread across Mai's cheeks at these words.
"Splendid! Now you two get going. And Zuko if I'm not awake when you get back, I'll be asleep."
Mai and Zuko left without another word. Mai's cheeks still a faint pink. Maybe she couldn't hide her emotions as well as she thought. Walking through the woods it was dark enough that Zuko couldn't see the pink covering her cheeks or at least she hoped he couldn't.
Deciding to break the silence, Mai did something very un Mai like. Peering up at Zuko she said calmly or as calmly as she could "Thank you."
"For what?" Had he forgotten about saving her already?
"For helping me with that guy, back when we were in town earlier."
"You don't have to thank me. I couldn't just leave you." They kept walking, silence taking over again. After several more minutes, Zuko broke the silence.
"So Mai, what brings you out here?" He said this quite calmly. Mai didn't want to tell him that she had come to capture him with Azula. She could always lie, but she had never been able to lie to Zuko before, why would she be able to now. It seemed the truth was her only option.
"I'm here with Azula. We are tracking the Avatar and his friends. As well as two believed to be traitors." Well it wasn't a lie. It wasn't the total truth either, but it wasn't a lie.
"Let me guess, one traitor would be my uncle and the other is me?" Mai just nodded her head, her troat to dry to speak.
"Will you turn me over once you get back? Will you tell Azula exactly were to find me tomorrow? Or will you pretend you never saw me?" Mai had always been good at hiding her true feelings and it seemed Zuko was too. She had no idea what he was thinking or what he was feeling.
Looking at him as they walked into the town, Mai realized she had no idea what she would tell Ty Lee or Azula. She really hadn't thought this whole thing though very well. She would be charged with treason if she lied to Azula and was caught, but she would never be able to turn Zuko over now.
"I owe you. You saved me earlier, now it's my turn to repay that dept." Stopping at the door to the inn, she continued. "I cannot stop hunting you. My loyalties are to my friends. But I will not tell them I saw you."
"So the next time I see you we'll be enemies?"
"Yes."
"Are we enemies now though?" Staring into his eyes, she answered truthfully.
"No."
"Good, because now might be my only chance to do this."
Before Mai was able to ask what he was going to do, she felt another set of lips press gently against hers. It was over as fast as it began, but to Mai it felt like hours.
He studied her reaction before turning to leave. "I have truly enjoyed the past few hours we have spent together. I really did miss you and I will miss you until we meet again. Goodbye Mai." With that he was gone.
"Goodbye." Was all she could say to the empty street before her. She entered the inn and shut the door. As quietly as she could Mai crept back to her room.
Entering her room, she went straight to her bed and layed down. Touching her lips still able to feel Zuko's lips on hers, she sighed. Her loyalties were to her friends. They always were. But after what happened that night Mai wasn't so sure anymore.
Authors note: Well that was chapter three. There will probably be only one or two more chapters, and I have a potential idea for a sequel. So if anyone would like a sequel once this is finished let me know. I also did a picture for this story. And anyone who can tell me at what point in the past three chapters it takes place at gets a virtual cookie. So long until the next chapter! The picture can be found at be found at a link on my homepage.
Please R&R ;)
