When they penetrated the surface, Jin had to blink several times, the sudden rush of sunlight nearly blinding her. The warmth it brought gave her a hint of comfort and she nearly smiled, almost forgetting her circumstances.
"They're over there," said Long Feng, pointing off into the distance. Mai nodded and turned to him.
"Restrain the animal," she said, kicking dirt at Jin. Long Feng signalled his men over and they surrounded Jin. Then, raising their hands they carefully lifted the earth beneath her and a stone layer rose up, encasing her up to her waist before Mai gave them the signal that that was enough. Jin glanced down, knowing any attempt of escape would be useless since she was nowhere near strong enough to break through stone, and she stood still, wondering what was to come next. "Step out of sight," Mai ordered the Dai Li. "Not far. Behind a tree or somewhere close. Just make sure they can't see you." Long Feng signalled them to obey and they did, all of them able to hide themselves not but a few yards away. Mai then turned to hide herself as well, but took a moment to look to Jin. "Call for him," she instructed.
Jin's blood froze as she pieced together what they were doing. The Firelord was their greatest threat of failure, and they knew she was his weakness. If she called he would come running and they would attack, as soon as he was off guard. That must have been what their plan was. "Call for him!" Mai snapped.
"No!" Jin snapped back. "I won't let you hurt him!" Mai sneered and pulled one of her darts out pressing it against Jin's throat.
"I can kill you now," she warned. "Call for him or I'll stick this through your throat."
"Then you'll have to kill me," said Jin.
"And how will he react when he sees his dear beloved fiance died because she threw her life away so carelessly?" Mai inquired, twisting the dart a litte that it made a small cut on Jin's skin. Jin hissed slightly as a small amount of pain hit her and she could feel a drop of blood fall.
"I came for you and you weren't there..."
Her nightmare replayed itself in her mind and she closed her eyes, lowering her head. "Call him!" hissed Mai. Jin found the strength to raise her head and she prayed silently that Zuko would be armed or ready to fight.
"Zuko!" she shouted. "Zuko!" Mai smiled and quickly darted out of sight.
----
Zuko poked his head up and looked around. Katara, who had just woken up looked at Zuko and raised her eyebrow curiously. "What is it?" she asked.
"A voice..." said Zuko, standing up. He signalled her to be quiet and he listened intently. After a minute of hearing nothing he shrugged.
"Must have been a bird or something," said Katara.
"Yeah," he said with a frown and began to sit back again. As crazy as he knew it sounded, he thought for a moment he had hear Jin's voice. Perhaps it was only because he was so sick at heart over her? But when the voice rang out again he jumped to his feet, knowing he had heard it. "There!" he declared, pointing in the direction of where he heard it. "There, did you hear it?"
"I heard something..." muttered Katara, staring in that direction.
"I'll go check it out," he said, turning in that direction.
"You want me to go too?" she asked him.
"No, I don't think that'll be necessary. I'll send up a signal if I run into trouble though," he answered, and he took off, running towards the sound.
----
"Zuko!" shouted Jin again, and she sighed, looking towards Mai. "I doubt he can hear me," she said with a shrug.
"Keep calling for him!" snapped Mai. "Call until you're hoarse for all I care!" Jin rolled her eyes and cupped her hands around her mouth.
"ZUKO!" she shouted as loudly as she could. There was the rustle of startled birds switching from tree to tree, and a rush of dizzyness overwhelmed her from shouting too hard. Behind her she heard Long Feng say, "Footsteps approaching... everyone stand guard!" and her heart began to pound. She knew he was running straight into a trap, but she clung on to the thought that she was about to see him again and if they died now, they would at least die together.
A young man rounded the corner and Jin felt the tears come to her eyes as she longed for her legs to break free of the stone encasement so she could run to him and throw her arms around him and never let go. "Zuko!" she shouted and he looked straight at her.
"Jin!" he shouted back and took off, running right to her. Jin smiled, holding her arms open to him and he dodged right into them, not even seeming to notice that she was trapped in stone. She held him close as tears fell down her face and he squeezed her tightly. "Oh, Jin!" he panted, trying to catch his breath and he kissed her hard, cupping her face in his hands. When he pulled away after a moment he did not take his eyes off her. "I'm so glad you're all right!" he exclaimed. "I was looking everywhere for you! I haven't slept in the last 36 hours I've been so worried for you! Are you hurt?"
"No," she answered. "I'm all right. Zuko, you must listen to me-"
"What... happened to you?" he asked, now noticing the stone around her.
"Zuko, there's no time-"
"The Dai Li..." he muttered, then glanced up at her. "Where are they?
They're here aren't they-"
"Zuko it's a trap! They're going to kill you at any moment. They used me as bait. You must run now before it's too late!"
"I'm not leaving without you," he said. A strange sound drew his attention away from her and they glanced over to Mai who stepped into view, a sick smile on her face as she clapped her hands mockingly at them.
"How very moving," she said, the statement directed at Jin. "But rest assured that if I wanted them to kill him, they would have done so already." She turned to Zuko and smiled at him. "Zuko, it's been too long," she said softly. "But I knew we'd meet again soon."
"Mai..." he said and Jin looked at him funny.
"You know her?" she asked, a little surprised. The way the Dai Li had talked behind Mai's back, Jin had always assumed that Mai was just obsessive and crazy, not that she had actually met Zuko.
"Tell me it's not true," said Mai. "Tell me you didn't abandon me for that," she said, pointing to Jin.
"Mai... I've been wanting to talk with you, but privately... if you'll allow it," he said, trying to show he was not going to be a threat unless he needed to be. Mai nodded.
"I suppose," she answered. "Come with me." Zuko went to follow her and stopped to give Jin a quick kiss.
"You promised you wouldn't leave without me," she whispered in his ear.
"And I won't, I swear," he answered. "I'll only be a few minutes. Don't worry." He gave her a reassuring smile and Jin gave him a halfhearted one in return, craning her head around so she could watch him leave with Mai. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and hugged herself, her legs starting to grow tired, despite the stone that was supporting them in place.
----
"Where's Zuko?" asked Aang as he stepped out towards Katara.
"There was a strange noise in the woods and he said he was going to check it out," said Katara.
"Shouldn't someone have gone with him?" asked Aang.
"I offered, but he said he would send up a signal if he ran into trouble."
"But what if something happens and he can't?"
"I'm giving it another ten minutes," explained Katara. "If he's not back or if there's no signal we're going in." Aang nodded and glanced in the direction, watching and listening for any sign of Zuko being nearby.
----
"It's been far too long," said Mai as she walked with Zuko. "But then again, you're the Firelord now, so I assume you've been very busy."
"I have," said Zuko with a nod. "There's a lot of things that needed to be fixed once my father was... dealt with. The Fire Nation made an awful mess of so much of the world. Now I'm left to try to clean it up and restore peace between us and the world."
"Do you honestly think that's possible?" asked Mai, her voice laced with skepticism.
"I have to believe it, or else there'd be no hope." Mai smirked and nodded.
"How is my family doing in New Ozai?" she asked. "I'm assuming they're well?" Zuko knew the truth would get her angry with him, but in all honesty he needed that now. It may even help her fall out of love with him.
"Omashu has been restored to what it was. Your family was driven out and after defying me and refusing to accept me as their Firelord, they were imprisoned where they belong." Mai's eyes widened, shocked by how cold his words were. "Omashu is a better place now and soon will be as powerful and peaceful an Earth kingdom as it once was."
"You're lying!" spat Mai.
"I am not," he answered. "Your family was evil, Mai, and I did what was right. I'm sorry if you disagree with it, but that's how it was."
"You're lying!" she repeated. "You would never do that to me! You love me!"
Zuko sighed and shook his head. "Mai... my heart belongs to Jin. I love her. Not you."
"No!" she shouted, anger now radiating off of her and pumping through her veins. "It's not the way it was supposed to be! You were going to come back for me and we would be together! You promised!"
"And I never should have," said Zuko, shaking his head. "And for that I apologize. I know I hurt you badly, Mai. I never wanted to hurt you. But this is the way it is. And I cannot return your feelings. I'm sorry." Mai closed her eyes and tears fell.
"Why?" she asked, weeping now. "You grew up with me! You've known me for so long! And you once had feelings for me! I'm from the Fire Nation and yet you choose her! She's nothing more than filthy Earth Kingdom trash!"
"Jin is the love of my life and the one I've chosen to make my bride," said Zuko calmly. "I love her and I'd die for her." Mai sank to her knees, a hand over her mouth and her face bent towards the ground as the tears fell bitterly. "Mai, I don't wish to cause you more pain than I already have.
Please, just release Jin to me and I'll leave. I'll be out of your life forever and then you'll be able to move on and find someone you're truly meant to be with... someone who will love you more than I ever could. That is the one you need to pursue." He turned to return for Jin and said softly as he walked away, "I'll pray that you find healing from all you've suffered quickly."
He left her broken and weeping there, a part of him feeling bad because he knew the bulk of her pain was from his dumb promise he never should have given. Now he was paying for it almost as badly as she was, but soon he'd be with Jin, and just as he had said, they would be out of each other's lives forever.
Behind him, Mai looked up, brushing her tears away and gritted her teeth, her eyes getting blinded by a rage that burned hotter than any flame she'd ever encountered.
----
"Jin!" Zuko called as he ran to her, and he wrapped his arms around her. Glancing to the Dai Li he pleaded with them. "I'm Firelord Zuko and I'll give you whatever riches you desire if you release her."
There was a pause, some muttering, and then the stone engulfing her broke away and she fell into his arms. Her legs were like jelly and he picked her up, ready to carry her away. She smiled, her arms wrapped around his neck and he kissed her head. "Let's go," he said softly to her.
"Stop!" shouted a voice. They turned and Mai came running in. Jin's eyes widened but Zuko's remained dark and protective. "You will not leave here with her!" she hissed. "You will not leave here!"
----
(A/N: Cliffhanger!!! HAHAHA!!! R&R!)