Disclaimer: Here's the second chapter! Ooo...the soup thickens:D I still don't own Avatar. :0

The trip had taken longer than expected. To his own surprise, he was only slightly annoyed. After fifty-two hours in the tank train, non-stop mind you, prince Zuko could see the ocean on the horizon. On that horizon, he could see an escort ship, one slightly larger than the one he had before his banishment. It was a familiar sight and anticipation wracked his gut. Standing there on the platform, the wind rushing through his hair, Zuko felt the reality sink in. He was going home. He would see his father again after such a long time. It forced an array of emotions he could not accurately describe to raise to the surface. The sound of his feet plodding on the cold metal of the ship was all too familiar; it was a sound that brought him home.

As quickly as his elated state had risen, it came crashing down again. Memories of Iroh, thoughts of Song and Jin, the Avatar, the water bending girl, and lastly, of Mai, struck his mind with tremendous strength. They washed over him with a supernatural force that revived the turmoil and dampened his mood. Strangely, women dominated his thoughts. He had never thought much about members of the opposite sex. Azula was always the basis for his opinion on girls; a very poor basis, he might add. Girls are crazy, that's all there was to it. Until he met Song and then Jin, that is. Jin was his first kiss, a bright, kind girl. But they could never be. Especially since he was officially fire nation again. Perhaps if he hadn't been so dense, it could have worked. But not now. Zuko stood stiffly as the ship began its voyage. He watched the earth kingdom grow smaller and smaller until the tiny blip of land was gone. Zuko turned and entered the hull and retired to his cabin.

It was all too familiar. Laid on his bed was a set of fire nation armor, much like the one he had discarded. Seeing it surprised him and the idea of wearing it seemed awkward. Zuko had grown fond of his earth kingdom togs and wasn't looking forward to returning to stuffy fire nation garb. So he didn't. Zuko removed the weighty red armor from his bed and plopped down, burying his face in the burgundy silk pillows. He breathed steadily, taking in their scent, the smell of home. Though he did not intend to, Zuko drifted off into a calm slumber. He gave into drowsiness and received the best sleep he had had in a long, long time.

When Zuko awoke, he was immediately aware that it was night. Also brought to his attention was the fact that the ship was eerily silent. Sure, the metal creaked and occasionally bonged, but the sound of voices was curiously absent. He rose from the bed and reached for the door. The hallway was empty, as was the deck. The nighttime wind ruffled his hair as Zuko looked to the horizon. For a moment, he could have sworn that there was a glow coming for a distance away. Ships, perhaps. If so, they disappeared quickly and he could not be certain as to what they were. He was turning to inspect the rest of the vessel, but a voice stopped him cold.

"They're gone." He knew before he even saw that it was Mai. She looked somewhat distraught, her eyebrows raised in slight concern. Zuko wasn't just confused, but was baffled as well.

"What are you doing here?" He said in surprise. Mai came to him quickly.

"We don't have much time, Zuko." It was one of the only times she had ever addressed him using his name. It was serious. "This is all a fraud. Azula never intended for you to make it home." She said it as if it were a simple concept. Prince Zuko spiraled into denial.

"But…" Then it hit him just as Mai said it.

"Azula always lies."

"We have to go." Urgency spiked her words.

"Go? Go where?" She took his hand in hers, lacing her fingers tightly with his.

"Just run!" The two of them raced towards the edge of the ship. When Zuko's feet left the vessel, he was confronted with panic. Was she crazy? Or was he for jumping off of his escort into the sea below? The moment they hit the water, the chill of the ocean jolted their bones. The shock was eased by the heat that rushed at them from the surface. Zuko opened his eyes for a fraction of a second and saw something he was not prepared for. Molten metal and shrapnel was plunging into the depths after them. He could not make his legs move to bring him to the surface. His lungs were burning, screaming in agony for air. But his limbs would not respond. Zuko became light-headed and mere seconds later everything went black.

When he was snatched from what he was sure was the clutches of death, Zuko was back on the surface. In fact, he was laying on his back floating on what could only be the remains of a large wooden crate. He then noticed Mai, still partially in the water, eyes closed. Her hair was a mess and she looked positively exhausted. Zuko concluded that she had saved his life… twice. But why? He stared at her for a while. She must have been dozing because several times he had to make sure she did not slip off the crate. The prince took the opportunity to observe Mai. Pouty lips, concentrated brows, slender neck; Mai didn't have typical beauty. Then again, she was anything but typical. She woke with a start and Zuko grabbed her arms and pulled her from the water onto their makeshift craft. She wiped salt from her lips with an equally briny sleeve. Not much good that did. Mai coughed and shifted to balance the slab. Zuko tore his eyes from her when she spoke.

"Thank Agni."

"Thank you." The boldness of his statement astounded him. Zeal was not usually one of his characterizations. Mai attempted to smile, though it came out as more of a grimace. She grabbed a pigtail and wrung the water out of it, annoyed.

"Now what?" Zuko said quietly. She nodded, acknowledging his inquiry. Mai swallowed before answering.

"I heard there were some water tribe ships in this area while we were in the port. We're too far from shore to try and swim and if we just floated it would be days until we could reach land." She steadied her breathing, exhausted. "We can only pray that one will come by. Better to be in the hands of enemies than to die out here."

He had never heard her say so much in one sitting. Zuko sighed and looked at Mai in the eyes. She pursed her lips as if she was going to say something, but decided that no words were needed. Prince Zuko placed his hand over hers tenderly and waited in silence.

The hours crept by. They spent most of their time observing their surroundings and thinking to themselves. Mai preferred it that way. She couldn't tell what Zuko was thinking and it unnerved her; she was used to having the upper hand. In any case, she wasn't about to ask him right out what his thoughts were. It would be rude and very nosey, something she refused to be. Thus, she did what she did best, aside from being an assassin. She was bored.

Zuko had lost all notion of time when they say the first ship. It could have been hours, days; maybe it had been a week. He didn't know, nor did he care. They were water tribe ships, that much was evident. Their blue sails caught Zuko's eye, even against the azure sky. He woke Mai, for it was almost dawn.

"Look, Mai." Zuko pointed to the vessel, a smile played on his lips. Mai, not being a morning person, grumbled. That is, until she took the time to see what he was pointing at. She smirked and together they stood. It was horribly difficult to keep balanced, but they managed to, even as the ship finally sailed closely by them. Whoever was the one steering was smart, for he gave them a wide berth; otherwise it would have toppled their plank. They warriors on deck eyed the two drifters curiously and did not react until their captain came.

He was older, perhaps in his later thirties or forties. He wore his hair pulled into a warrior's wolf tail with an additional dread on the right side of his face. The captain's facial hair was tidy and he wore a summer tunic of the water tribe. His blue eyes were sharp and wise, though clear laugh-lines accented them.

"Can you swim?" He called out; his voice was gentle and commanding, the voice of a father. Zuko looked to Mai, who held his gaze.

"Yes!" Zuko called back, nodding his head in the direction of the boat. He dove off the raft and was soon followed by Mai. It was perhaps a good twenty yards to the ship, but Zuko ignored the stiffness in his legs. They had been rescued! They were pulled into the ship by a handful of warriors and were given dry blankets almost immediately.

"I am the captain of this ship, Hakoda of the water tribe." He bowed politely. Zuko returned his courtesy and bowed. "And who might you be?"

Before he could answer, one of the warriors exclaimed loudly, "I recognize him! He's the prince of the fire nation!" Hakoda eyed Zuko curiously, calculating and evaluating. He considered the fact that this scarred boy did not deny it and concluded that he was the prince. Hakoda frowned.

"Is that right?" His voice was somehow calming, even though Zuko was certain it was not meant to be. There was no sense in lying at this point.

"Yes, it is." Zuko knew he sounded far too confident. To both their, Zuko and Mai's, surprise, they were not jumped, bound, or gagged.

"The banished prince, yes?" Hakoda raised a brow. Zuko nodded slowly. "Well, I've heard some about you. The fire nation is hunting you like they do everyone else. Prince…Zuko, correct?" This water tribe captain was incredibly well spoken. Zuko spoke calmly.

"Yes."

"And your lady friend?" Hakoda nodded in Mai's direction. She forced a smile on her slightly sunburned face.

"This is Mai…" Zuko announced, "Another exile now, I suppose." Hakoda appeared to be intrigued.

"Care to tell us how you end up here?" the captain motioned to his crew. "Perhaps in a more comfortable setting, though." He pointed to the cabin. Zuko followed Hakoda and Mai trailed behind listlessly.

"So, the Princess wanted you dead and blew up your escort? And Lady Mai here," Hakoda recited what he had been told, "Snuck along to warn you? Then you drifted at sea for who knows how long?" He had no knowledge of the fall of Ba Sing Se until Zuko had told him grudgingly. He could only pray that his son was all right.

"That's right." Zuko confirmed. They were seated around a low table on indigo cushions in the captain's cabin. Mai did not interject much into Zuko's telling of the tale. She sat and listened intently, though. Ever alert, she was.

"Well, considering you aren't exactly an enemy," Hakoda began, "You can sail with us until we make port at Kyoshi Island. Once we arrive, you will be supplied with some essentials, but you must get off. We can't be carrying noncombatants around the open seas."

Zuko nodded, glad that this man was capable and understanding. Not many would accept a former fire nation prince's word. Mai looked at him from across the table, holding his gaze with her eyes. It was late in the afternoon and he could tell that she was exhausted. Hakoda apparently saw the same fatigue in Zuko, for he offered to let them sleep in his cabin. The invitation was welcome and two futons were arranged on the floor.

"Sleep well, my friends." Hakoda said, closing the door behind him. Mai lay down on her pallet, falling to her side with an exhausted thud. She faced away from Zuko, who was settling into his own bed. Both of them were far too exhausted to attempt to talk, it was an understood agreement. Soon, both the prince and companion were fast asleep, at last able to dream serenely.

"What?!" Azula thundered so loudly that Ty Lee was sure her hearing capacity had decreased.

"I swear, Azula! I found it three whole days after they left!" the acrobat pleaded. The scowl that contorted the princess's face was one like no other. The crumpled letter, well former letter, lay in ashes at her feet accompanied by the remains of a drape, a silk throw pillow, and an unfortunate Dai Li's hat. Azula could not even begin to voice her fury; it was like never before. Ty Lee looked up from her position prostrate before the throne.

"Are they…?" She squeaked. Azula glowered.

"Either they are both dead or both alive. If they are alive, we're going to end up in a major bind. If they're dead, they were both traitors in the end." The princess said bitterly. "We will leave for the fire nation tonight. And get Uncle up here."

Ty Lee returned several minutes later, a fearful expression on her usually cheery face.

"He's gone."

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