Just like I said- once or twice a week, I'll update...unless I have the chapter early. But here's chapter 2!
Disclaimer: Ya, I put these on every chapter...but no- I don't own Avatar or its characters

The ages are still the same as prologue; Zuko- 6 Azula/Mai/Ty Lee- 5

Chapter 1: School Fight

Mai had usually been one of the more...shy people. She was surprised she even got to talk to Azula and Zuko. But now, she was off in the playground having fun with Ty Lee and Azula on the grassy field. Until someone came up to them.

"Hey, get off my grass." he coldly told the three. Azula, being the bravest of them at the moment, stood up to defend her friends.

"Don't talk to us like that!" her little voice yelled back. Hearing this, Zuko turned to see a boy- about twice their size- picking on the three girls. At first, he thought it would be interesting watching Azula try and defend herself. Until he saw the boy shove them all to the ground. That was far enough.

"Hey!" he called from the other side of the field. "Stop picking on them!" this caused the boy to walk towards him.

"Back off little boy," he stood in front of the prince. Zuko looked up to see he was...well...big- both horizontal and vertical-wise. Stepping back, the young prince's hands lit on fire and his flaming fist was only inches from the boy's face when-

"What is going on here?" the both looked to the right to see the teacher standing over them. The boy took this as an escape.

"Prince Zuko hurt me because...he thinks he can!" he burst into fake tears.

"Prince Zuko!" she was clearly shocked.

"It wasn't his fault!" Azula blurted out. "Um...he was defending us!" she took advantage of this. Ms. Hirano looked over to Azula as she spoke. "The boy pushed us, so Zuko said 'stop'."

"But he didn't." Mai helped. She turned to Ty Lee who was the quietest one at the moment.

"Is that stuff true?" Ty Lee nodded happily. "Okay. Nobody's in trouble...but I will inform your parents about this whole incident..." she started walking away. As soon as she left, Azula turned to her brother.

"What was that for?" she asked, hands on her hips. "You defending me?"

He shrugged, "I don't know...You're annoying, bossy, and pushy." her smirk turned into a frown. "But you're still my sister."

"And-"

"But what about you defending me?" he asked her back.

"I don't know," it was her turn to shrug. "I guess it's so I don't owe you...so now we're even." she walked away after this followed by her friends. Then Mai turned around.

"Thanks," he nodded as she followed his sister.

"Mother! We're home!" Azula called from outside in the courtyard with her sister. He was greeted with a hug while she was greeted with a simple, 'Hello, Azula...' She sat down along with her brother.

"So, how was school today?" she asked noticing the smiles on their faces.

"Hm," Azula sounded as if nothing too interesting happened. "Fine. I made new friends, my teacher is nice, and class was fun today." she decided not to talk about the fight- in fact, she was avoiding it.

"Good," she picked up her daughter's stuff listening to what they had to say. "How about you, Zuko?" her voice was a bit stern.

"It was...good." he tried.

"You don't sound so happy about it." she said as Azula stood up to leave for her room. "Now tell me what happened...about a...fight?" she questioned knowingly. Zuko smiled nervously with Azula now gone for them to talk privately.

"Okay...but- Techincally there was no fight! Just-"

"Zuko," she stopped him. There was not getting out of this one.

"Well, this boy...he was tall and fat!" he emphasized fat.

"Don't make fun," she smiled. "Now continue."

"Yes, mom..." he really didn't want to talk. "So he tried hurting Azula and her friends, so of course, I...helped." he refused to make eye contact.

"So all this was to help your sister?"

"And her friends." he replied. "Ty Lee and Mai." Ursa smiled hearing this.

"Hm...so do you have a crush on those girls?" At those words, Zuko was sure his eyes got bigger than they were supposed to. Once again, his face turned pink.

"What?! Why would you think that?" he forced a laugh, but it was clear he was lying.

"Because, my son..." she laughed lightly. "I'm sure you would help your sister, but not that easily...I know you. So mentioning her friends, I was sure you at least had some sort of crush on one of them- if not both."

"Okay," the pinkish shade on his face turned into a somewhat darker crimson color. "Maybe one of them..."

"Oh..." she smiled. "My little Zuko is growing up-"

"Mother!" he stood up to leave. She smiled and let him go.

Aw! He almost admitted specifically he's got a crush on little Mai! Don't worry, there will more fluff and stuff later (ew, I juts rhymed...XD). Just a heads-up, this story continues on until they're older, and crosses with some episodes so there will be some spoilers in later chapters. But I will mention them to tell you.

AND! If you've seen my profile (and other stories I've written), I also play Tekken. And in Tekken 4, the alternate costume for Xiaoyu is Miharu. Miharu Hirano...and guess what? I mentioned their teacher's name is Ms. Hirano! if you caught that without reading this, tell me in a review and you could get a prize! Or not...Ya maybe not...:D

-Black5Belt