DISCLAIMER: Just realized I forgot this on my first two chapters, so I'm willing to bet that you know I don't own Avatar. If I did, forget Suki, Sokka would be with Toph. For those of you who think Toph hates Sokka, I advise you re-watch the series.

A/N: May the grammar-freak rabbit watch over your writing.

Mai

If only you knew, Azula, I thought to myself. It was me, not Zuko, who read updates on Azula's condition; she'd apparently decided she wasn't insane in any way. She was crazy last time we all saw her, and I was pretty sure she hadn't been faking either. She was just… gone.

I wasn't living in the Palace, but I mine as well have been. The cottage- or smallest estate ever, whichever you prefer- was built into the walls of the Palace, and I had a side door into the Palace. I liked the cottage part of the cottage, but the grounds were a little unnecessary. Too many flowers, too overly-girly for my tastes. They belonged in Ty Lee's house, not mine.

Though the interior had been mine to deal with. It was full of dark colors, with only one painting, the one Sokka had made of everyone in The Jasmine Dragon. I'd never admit it, but I really loved it. Anyone who tells anyone I said that will feel the wrath I gave everyone at the Boiling Rock, except they'll feel the full force, rather than the partial force each person there felt.

Anyway, I loved my house, and everything in it. Minus the scrolls and scrolls and scrolls of updates on various things- from Azula's mental state to the opinions of people in the ex-colonies. Both weren't that great. Azula's mental state ranged from being off the deep end to convinced she was sane, and the people in the ex-colonies were quite loud in their hatred of the Fire Nation.

But besides those, life seemed to be edging out of its usual black and white- some color seemed to be edging its way in. Ty Lee and I both had more time on our hands, and we'd grown closer since she saved my life. Though what else could be expected?

There was a sharp knock at my door- clearly not Zuko or Ty Lee, from the sound of it. Ty Lee knocked loudly but the knocks were short, and Zuko didn't bother to knock.

"Who is it?" I called in a bored tone.

"Imperial Firebenders!" called back the voice behind the door. I opened it, and several members of the guard stood on the threshold.

"Yes?"

"We'd like to know if you've seen the Firelord recently," said the man who appeared to be the leader.

"This morning, any reason you're interested?"

"He appears to be missing, Mai. Did anything seem off about him?"

"Missing? As in, you actually searched for a note and know for a fact that he hasn't gone off to meet with the Avatar?" I asked critically- I was tired of those kind of things.

"Yes, Mai. He's definitely missing."

"And…? You need my help why?"

"Because you know him best. Follow us."

Another day, another pointless search. What else was new?

The Imperial Firebenders started off, and I planned to slip away as soon as I could- Zuko was likely somewhere in the Palace yet again. They'd search Palace City over and not find him, then issue a search over the Fire Nation. I'd look around the Palace, then find him in some obvious location- the kitchens, the audience chamber, the council room, or occasionally a closet. This happened almost every day, right on schedule.

Eventually, the guards got into a heated argument about where to check first, and I headed off- again, right on schedule. I headed back into the Palace, deciding to check the kitchens first- it was the most common place to find him when he was "missing".

I navigated the Palace confidently, very sure of my way to the kitchen. I knew I was getting closer when waves of heat washed over me from the ovens and other various heat sources a kitchen required.

"Seen Zuko?" I asked, popping my head in the door.

One of the cooks- scratch that, a dish boy- looked up.

"No, why?" he asked.

"Apparently, he's missing again. We all know what that means," I answered.

The dish boy grinned. "Have you tried the audience chamber yet?" he asked.

"No- kitchen first, at this time of day," I answered.

"Oh…. I see," he replied, though I could tell he didn't.

I left quickly, determined to find Zuko before the Imperial Idiots got back. My next stop would be the council room, formerly known as the war room, as it was closest to the kitchen, and I'd check the two closets on my way.

Zuko wasn't in any of those places. Or the audience chamber, or any of the other closets.

It appeared he truly was missing.

A/N: Thoughts? I hate trying to write Mai, she's so negative and depressed, and I'm… not.