A/N: So thanks for stopping by for chapter two! Honestly, it's been a while, and I'm sorry. I had severe writer's block for this story. But I'm hoping that goes away.

Also, I forget what the palace is like; haven't watched any recent episodes lately – just seasons one and two. Does the palace have a wall around it? XD Whatever the case, there's a wall now! :D

a b s e n c e – chapter two: Thirteen

Thirteen is thought of to be an unlucky number. For me, it seemed more like the number 13 was beginning to rule my life. Zuko and I spent thirteen months together before we were wrenched apart. We were both thirteen when Zuko left the palace. I had read a mere thirteen books since he had left, despite the fact that in the five months he's been gone, I very easily could have read well over double that. And, of course, in thirteen days, my plan will be carried out.

I guess "plan" is the wrong word for it; and "carried out" is the wrong action. It's more of an idea that I'm trying to go through with.

I've worked most of it out. In about two weeks, there's a ceremony. Geez, I don't even remember what the ceremony's for anymore – I wasn't listening when Shang explained it to me. But the point is, there's a ceremony. All the soldiers are required to be present.

Well, not me. I've got bigger, better things to take care off. Only problem is, I've got one major obstacle….

"Mei!"

"Admiral!" I responded, sitting up straighter.

"You were sleeping. Again," he said, leaning across the table to me.

I stifled a yawn. "I was?"

Shang buried his face in his hands, wondering, no doubt, how he had gotten stuck with such a student.

"I was telling you about the ceremony in two weeks," he said, his voice muffled.

There was that ceremony again.

"Yes, sir?" I said politely, though not caring about it. So I tuned him out as he began explaining something about it.

Two weeks. Was it really that close? Hm. I'd be officially 13 years and 6 months old, then. What a fitting date. That would also mean that it had been five months since Zuko had left. Coincidences abound.

"…and you're not listening to me."

I jumped a little. Shang was looking expectantly at me, his eyes drilling through mine.

"Sir, with all due respect, I don't care about the ceremony," I told him, drumming my fingers on the table. "I'm not even going to…. I won't be there," I said slowly. If I got over this obstacle now, wouldn't it be easier for me when the day came?

"Why won't you, Mei?" Shang asked me, as if asking a three-year-old what he did at preschool today.

"Because. Because I will be… I will be sick," I decided. "Sir," I added.

Shang rolled his eyes and looked quite as if he'd like to hit his head on the table. Hard.

"The ceremony's in two weeks. If you feel sick now, you will be over it by then."

"Unless I get sick again before then," I pointed out.

Shang eyed me. "All right Mei. I've known you for five years. I know when you're up to something."

I smiled guiltily. "What makes you say that, Admiral? I'm just saying, I don't feel well now, and –"

"And you're planning to… what? Run off again?" he guessed. "Or are you going to light the Fire Lord on fire again?"

"What?" I asked, taken aback. "I never – what are you talking about?" I demanded, leaning forward. "I never set Ozai – er, Lord Ozai on fire!" I said, forgetting who I was talking about for a moment, subsequently leaving off his title.

Shang raised an eyebrow. "You were twelve, and you were bored. And you decided that you'd quite like to see some chaos," he reminded me. "So you set the Fire Lord's robe on fire."

I laughed, but quickly silenced it as some soldiers passed by the table and stared at me. "I don't know what you're talking about," I informed Shang, though smiling widely.

He shook his head. "Well, whatever the case, you will be present at the ceremony."

"Will I?"

"Will I, sir," he corrected me with a small smile as he stood up. "That will be all for today."

"Yes, sir," I said, standing as well and bowing as he left.

Ever since Shang had noticed that I had become increasingly distracted – all because Zuko was gone – he had started "tutoring" me, so to say, everyday. We'd meet in the library, or outside, if it was nice and he'd talk to me about tactics, things I needed to know, and things like upcoming ceremonies.

Thirteen. I had thirteen more of these sessions. Sometimes, thirteen seems like a big number. But sometimes, it's much too small.

Thirteen days. The more I thought about it, walking around the palace, the more I didn't want to go through with my plan. I'd miss everyone – everything – too much.

( 13 Days Later )

"I told you I'd be sick," I coughed, looking up at Shang pointedly.

"I think you're making this up," he said, his arms crossed and his foot tapping impatiently, making a sharp tap tap sound in the boots that he wore on special occasions.

"I'm –" cough "– sick! How could I be making this up?" I coughed harder.

"Because you are good at faking sickness. Now get up, and let's go," he said, offering his hand out to me.

I rolled over in bed, my back to him. "I'm sick. You can go on without me."

I heard him sigh. "You're lucky we can, Mei," he said as he dropped his hand and turned. "So help me, if you try to leave the palace again," he warned.

"I won't," I promised. "I'm sick."

"Mm. Well, get some sleep then," he said offhandedly as he left the room.

I closed my eyes and listened until I heard his footsteps finally disappear down the hall.

I wasn't lying – I really didn't feel good. But, nevertheless, opportunities didn't present themselves as often as they used to. So I had to take this one.

I sat up and threw the covers off of me, already fully dressed in something simple and easy to move around in – there'd be a few obstacles to overcome, and I didn't need to be weighed down by anything extra.

I reached under my bed and pulled out my backpack, in which I had stuffed as much money as I had – not much, in all reality – as well as some I was able to snitch from Shang when he wasn't looking, and a change of clothes. I was traveling light – anything else I needed would have to be bought later.

Before standing up, I reached further under my bed. Where was it? I hadn't even looked at it since Zuko left. Had the maids done something with it? After all, it would be quite out of place under a bed.

No, there it was, I realized with a small smile as my fingers landed on cool metal. I pulled it out and blew off the dust.

It was a simple ring – gold, with a ruby set into it. I admired it for a moment, tilting it to catch the light coming through the open window on the other side of the room.

Zuko had given this to me on my eleventh birthday. At the time, neither of us thought anything of it – it was just a gift. But now… now it seemed to mean so much, since he was gone. It was the only thing I had left of him.

I sighed and slipped it on my finger – luckily, it still fit. I had been worried about that.

I stood, but before I could leave the room, something caught my eye. A mask, hanging on the wall above my bed. I had gotten it at the Fire Festival Shang took me to a few years ago.

"Don't look at me like that," I told it. It seemed as if accusing me. "I'm not doing anything wrong."

I finally tore my eyes from it, and left my room for the last time.

With another sigh, I started off down the hall. I didn't run into anyone – of course I wouldn't. There was that dumb ceremony today – everyone would be there. Hm. It seemed like we were just finding more and more reasons to celebrate. What was it this time? Had we captured another city? Probably.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I froze.

I was just about to leave the castle. My hand was on the door that led out to the back of the palace, and it was already partway open. I was so close – I could smell the air outside, taunting me. I was so… close….

I exhaled and turned to face Shang.

And froze again.

He was smiling.

"You're going to need a map," he said, holding a scroll out to me.

"But, Sh-Shang, I… I'm… " I stuttered, shaking my head.

"You're leaving," he said simply. "I know. And you've never been outside of the Fire Nation capital before, so you're going to need a map."

I gaped up at him. He had just caught me sneaking out, and he was helping me? Who was he, and what had he done with Shang?

He sighed, realizing my confusion. "Look, I…. I realize that you want freedom. You're not made for the army." He gave me a small smile. "I was talking with one of the maids. She…. She mentioned seeing you pack last night, so… I realized you were leaving today during the ceremony."

"And – and you're just going to let me walk off and leave?" I finally got out. "You're going to let me go?"

His smile faltered for a moment, but he just shook the map a little. "If you love someone, that's what you have to do."

I bit my lip. He was making it very difficult for me to leave.

"Mei, you've been like my daughter," he said. "I will miss you."

I slowly reached out to take the map. I half-expected him to pull it back and say, "Just kidding!" But he didn't. He let me take it.

"Shang, I'm… " I stopped and swallowed. "I'm going to miss you too," I told him quietly.

Before I could react, he pulled me into a hug.

"Sh-Shang, what're you…?"

He broke away and backed up a few paces.

"Well, um," he cleared his throat. "Go. Go now, before someone comes. Don't get caught on your way out, all right?"

I looked up at him. He had a straight face.

My face broke out into a smile. "Yes, sir," I said, bowing. "Thank you."

And I turned and left.

I had never been away from the palace before – not that I could remember, anyhow. What was the rest of the world like?

A few minutes of running once I was outside, and I reached the outer wall of the palace grounds. I took a deep breath. This was it. Once I was over this, I was potentially free.

Free.

The word echoed around my head.

I'd be free.

I took one look back at the palace.

No, no looking back.

With another deep breath, I looked up the wall. That was a long way to run. It hadn't seemed so high yesterday.

I backed up a few paces. Then ran forward towards the wall. When I reached it, I began running up it, using a straight blast of firebending from my closed fists to propel me upwards.

And then… I was there. I was at the top. It took me a while to catch my balance – partly from the momentum that still wanted to thrust me forward from the running up the wall, and partly from the sheer height at which I was. I was looking out over the Fire Nation like they were all toys.

I smiled in spite of myself. Finally. Finally, I was free. No one could stop me now.

( One Week Later )

"Ex-excuse me, is there a ferry…?"

"Ferry?" The man looked at me like I was crazy. "There are no ferries leaving these ports. Just the navy ships. Don't you know where you are?"

I shrugged as he walked off. No, I didn't know where I was. Well, I knew it was a port – any idiot could see that. But I didn't know it was navy-only.

Oh well.

I glanced around. I didn't know much – okay, anything – about ships, but the one to my right looked as if it was about to pull out. If I could just stow away…

"You there!"

"Y-yes, sir?" I straightened up, saluting the soldier approaching me.

He gave me an odd look, but then motioned to the ship I was just staring at. "Are you the cook? We've been waiting for you for ages!"

"Oh, um… I apologize…?"

"Very well, just get aboard. We're about to set off, and it wouldn't do well to leave you here!"

"Uh…"

"Let's go!" he said, giving me a gentle shove towards the ship. I stumbled for a few steps before regaining my balance and following the dock onto the ship.

"The kitchen is that way."

"Y-yes, sir. Thank you, sir," I said, following his finger and taking the corridor to my right. He continued straight, leaving my on my own.

"Wow…" I whispered, looking all around. It was such a new experience; I couldn't keep myself from smiling.

"This is your captain speaking," a voice echoed through the metal hallways suddenly, making me jump. "Prepare to set sail."