Hey guess what? First day of school was TWO days ago! Yeah, I didn't mean that in a good way ;). Anyway, I'm not gonna dump my problems here :D. Here's the next chapter! And yes, the very first Maiko kiss is in this chapter. Aw! And they're still kids!

Disclaimer: Do I own Avatar? Don't answer that...Do I own a PS3? No, don't answer that either... :P

Obviously the ages are still the same...Zuko- 9, Girls- 8

Chapter 14: The Play

"Okay, so is Mai backstage?" Azula asked Ty Lee. The play was to start in three hours. And three hours can be a short time- if you're in the kids' situation.

"Yup." Ty Lee confirmed. They turned around to see everyone was in position, rehearsing for the last time before the play actually started. Azula was even in her noble woman's costume, on the center-stage.

"Azula!" Zuko approached his sister, apparently disturbed somehow. "What were you thinking?!"

"What do you want now?" she sighed.

"You signed both of us up for the lead roles." he complained. "And there's a KISSING scene in the ending!"

"Yeah, I know." she replied.

"I don't want to kiss you!" he practically yelled. "I don't know what sick ideas are going on in your mind, but I can name a thousand reasons why I wouldn't want to-"

"Well you wont be," she interrupted his endless rant.

"Huh?"

"You'll be kissing someone else." she smiled.

"And that is?"

"Mai," For a moment, Zuko stayed silent as mixed emotions flooded his mind. One of them suspicion. Was she trying to get him in trouble with their dad? First it was to get Mai away from him, now it was to get them both busted for the second time. The other emotion was happiness. He had read and reread the script several times, and the ending had them confess their LOVE for each other and have them kiss.

"I'll just...shut up now."

"Good." she smiled. "Now all I have to do is make an excuse to get out of here..." she said as she looking around, thinking. From at least five feet away, Azula spotted a metal rod on the floor. Smirking, she quickly ran over to it, and sat down with a shriek. Soon enough, teachers and students gathered around the "injured"girl. Ty Lee giggled at everyone's reaction.

"Azula, what happened?" the teacher asked, concerned.

"I tripped over that rod." she whined. "And now my knee reallyhurts." Zuko raised an eyebrow at his sister's believable fake-ness.

"Oh, I see..." the woman carefully examined the leg. "It doesn't look damaged." she analyzed. Azula froze for a moment, thinking. Slowly, her teacher bent the leg to see if it hurt or not. At some point, the girl let out another shriek indicating pain.

"That...hurt." she gulped. "I don't think I can be in the play tonight- I can barely stand up without any help."

"But it starts in three hours! Where are we going to find another lead role?"

"Um, what about...Mai?" she asked hopefully. From afar, Mai's expression was confused. Being part of the crew also meant previewing the script before showtime, and she had seen the final act.

"But by the Fire Lord's orders, she is not allowed to interact with your brother anymore." the woman replied. "And according to Mr. Zhao, he's one of the lead roles." Azula frowned at this.

"Just this once," Azula pleaded. "I promise I won't tell my father."

"Okay, I suppose so." Azula's face lit up, hearing this. "Now, do you need anything for your leg?"

"Oh, well maybe Ty Lee can just come with me to the nurse." she smiled, innocently, looking as if it still hurt pretty bad. "I'll just be with my parents tonight watching the play." she said as she stood up, with the help of Ty Lee. Smiling once more, their teacher walked away for the rest of the preparation.

"Wow..." Zuko was left somewhat speechless.

"I know," Azula gave her brother the 'yes-I-know-I'm-better-than-you' look as she limped off to the nurse followed by her friend.

--

Five minutes before the final act. Five minutes before the anticipated scene. And five minutes before Zuko and Mai would be involved with a little lip-action. Nervous, the prince paced the stage behind the curtains. Until he nearly ran into Mai.

"Uh, hi." he said, uncomfortably.

"Hey..." she replied.

"So...you know, the next act..."

"Yup, and the...kiss?" she asked, sure he was going to bring that up anyway.

"Ya."

Silence.

"Don't worry, it won't be that bad." she assured. "I've kissed other boys before." she added.

"You have?!" he was clearly shocked at this. Evidently, he wasn't very good at hiding emotions. She laughed at his reaction.

"No, I was just kidding." she admitted, still laughing."But still, I've seen my parents do it all the time. They make it look...interesting." she smiled. Now this kind of made Zuko feel better. Even just the slightest bit. As long as he was with her, everything would turn out fine. Right?

"Prince Zuko, Mai!" the stage-helper called. "It's time for the final act." Once again, nervous and anxiety struck the two as they prepared to get on stage.

Just outside, Ozai, Ursa, and Azula were all seated in the front row. It was actually surprising that Ozai and Azula could sit through the whole thing so far. Like father, like daughter...But it was almost over anyway, as Zuko and Mai stood on the stage.

"Wait, I thought I forbid Zuko to ever see-"

"It's okay," Ursa assured him. "Just wait."

The final act was nearly over, and with every second, the Fire Lord's son and the governor's daughter were even more nervous than ever. Supposedly, according to the script, the two were reunited at this time.

Awkwardly, Zuko said his line. He felt his face flush once he was done.

Mai simply replied, saying the same thing- with the same reaction. If only they knew they both meant what they had said. And with that, he let his arms fall down to her small waist as his lips came crashing down to hers. She enjoyed the feeling, though.

Shocked, Ozai tried standing up, only to be stopped by his wife.

"It's fine." she smiled. "Just talk to them later." Apparently, she was enjoying every moment of this, as well as Azula was.

It wasn't a very long, french kiss, but it was enough for both of them. Just as he pulled away, the curtains started to close as the audience clapped loudly along with screaming from proud parents and siblings.

"See? Now was that so bad?" she teased, smiling as she saw a blush creep up his cheeks. Just then, Ozai came up to them, along with the rest of his family.

"Zuko!" his voice lashed throughout the stage. Yup- he was angry. "I thought I said-"

"No, dad." Azula interrupted. "It was my fault."she confessed, unwilling to make eye contact, even though the Fire Lord was staring down at his daughter. "The whole thing was...my idea to get them together."

"After what you had told me?"

"Yes. It just wasn't fair seeing my brother and my best friend like that." she looked up to see he was obviously believing what she was saying.

"Are you sure?" he added.

"Okay, it wasn't fair seeing my best friend like that." she took out the mentioning Zuko part. "But please, take back what you said." Please? In Azula's whole life, she never begged for anything.

"Azula, I never take back what I say- and you know that." he replied, firmly. "But I suppose just this once." Azula looked up as she smiled.

"Thanks, dad." Zuko said thankfully.

"Now let's all go home." Ursa suggested, taking both her children in her arms.

So sweet! Or not...depends what gets you to really say "Awww!". Remember, Review! That purple-ish, blue-ish button is waiting to be pressed, and your keyboard is waiting to be typed on!

-Black5Belt