Chapter 6 - Meeting
A/N: Hello everyone! I'm really sorry for not updating weekly now... My grades still aren't... good. Yeah, and I wanted to make sure that this was the route I wanted this fic to take. So... I apologize to anyone who was waiting for the update. As usual, thank you for your reviews and subscriptions, I really appreciate it! Oh, and, this chapter is quite Mai-centric.
Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA, although I wish I did.
"Good morning, Mai," Granny Zhen greeted her. "How can I help you today?"
"Morning, Granny," She replied shortly. "To be honest, I'm not buying anything. The palace has been boring of late, so I'm just taking a stroll."
"Ah… I see," She nodded thoughtfully in response.
"Anything needed to be done? Cutting of vegetables, firewood chopping…" Mai drawled.
All these were menial and boring labor, for sure. However, it definitely beats staying in the palace all day, feeding the turtle ducks.
"Well," Granny Zhen got up from her seat. "I'll see what I can do."
Mai nodded as she watched her head into the back of the store. She glanced around the place restlessly, taking in the mundane everyday life of the country. Sometimes, she missed her adventures with Ty Lee and Azula. She may not have enjoyed it entirely, but it kept her occupied. However, she can stay by Zuko's side now. She was contented, she supposed.
"Thanks for supplying the ingredients for some dishes during the coronation feast, Granny. I hear the food was delicious," Mai said politely, scanning the store.
"Ah… It's no problem at all, my dear! I'm sure Lord Zuko will do a good job in ruling this country."
Mai gave a small smile, and nodded.
"Watch it!"
She shouldered her way through the crowd, apologizing to some, shooting death glares at others. This further reminded her why she disliked heading out of the palace often. She sighed as she reminded herself her purpose for being here: running errands.
Next stop would be… Uncle Lee. She blinked as she studied the paper again before a scowl formed on her face. There are millions of Lees out there. Which one?
"Hey, miss. Don't hog the road!"
Mai looked up from the paper and mumbled an apology before walking to a side. She was honestly dreading the idea of having to look up every single Lee in the area.
"You're looking lost. Do you need some help?" A voice asked.
Mai whipped her head around to find a man, who seemed much taller than her. She examined him skeptically, she had not heard him or noticed him at all. He was taller than Zuko, and probably older. His brown hair and grey eyes reminded her of Ty Lee. Curiously, she eyed the oddly shaped package he was holding.
"… What?" The man asked, frowning slightly. "I'm just trying to be helpful."
"Well, yes. How many Lees are there in this area?" She asked shortly.
He scratched his chin in thought. "I'm not sure, but I do know a few. Why?"
Isn't he nosy? She crinkled her nose. Oh well, I do need some help right now.
"I'm running an errand." She lifted up the package for him to see.
"Oh. I can point out some for you," He offered.
She nodded, watching as he listed the few, pointing in various directions. His directions were vague, but somewhat helpful. When he was done, he glanced at Mai to see if she managed to digest all of the information. Like a challenge.
Ugh. How troublesome.
"Thank you."
"Thank you very much, Mai," Granny Zhen said gratefully, taking the payment made by the recipients from Mai.
Mai nodded in response. No problem. Before finding something else to occupy her time, she settled down on a stool to take a rest.
Come to think of it, she should be helping Uncle Iroh with the nation's matters. She frowned. She'll head back after having lunch with Granny Zhen or something. To be terribly honest, she dreaded the thought of doing administrative work. They were repetitive and, well, boring.
Anything to help Zuko, I suppose. She sighed. The things I do for someone who left the country to send a friend home.
"Hey, Granny!"
"Oh hello, Kazuya!" Granny Zhen greeted the man who just walked into the store. "Come to have lunch with me again?"
Mai decided to leave Granny to handle the customer herself, shutting her eyes to take a quick nap.
"Yeah! Your meals are just plain delicious!" The man replied.
… Wait. Didn't Granny Zhen tell me she wasn't having lunch with anyone? Mai knitted her eyebrows together as she restrained herself from opening her eyes.
"Mai will be joining us for lunch," Granny said with a smile.
Mai abruptly stood up, looking very much scandalized. She quickly rearranged her features to its originally calm demeanor, pursing her lips to prevent herself from speaking thoughtlessly. Aren't we having lunch alone together, Granny? Mai tried to convey her message using her eyes.
Granny glanced at her and gave her small shrug.
She shot a look at the 'customer' and realized that it was the same man that she met earlier today.
"Oh, you're… That girl," The man gave her a smile. "I haven't properly introduced myself."
"My name is Kazuya. Nice to meet you," He said, extending his hand.
She shook it.
"Mai. Pleasure."
"So I was like pow! And he was like argh!" Kazuya told them, gesturing his hands.
Mai regarded him coldly, taking in another morsel of food with her chopsticks. Granny Zhen gave a toothy smile and nodded accommodatingly.
Kazuya looked at the two, noticing finally the silence.
"What's wrong? Isn't my story interesting?"
Mai shut her eyes tight, trying to reign in her emotions. She will not lower herself to his standard.
"We just… Don't want to talk too much while eating. It's dangerous," Granny offered an excuse.
"Oh, right. No matter," Kazuya grinned before leaning in again. "Hey, Mai. Are you a Firebender?"
Mai's eyes flickered open instantly, before replying with a short 'no'.
"Oh," He muttered before adding, "Do you know any strong Firebenders? I bet I can beat them any day!"
Oh really? Beat Zuko? Fat chance of that happening. Mai thought before biting her lips, restraining herself from answering so impolitely.
"… I used to," She lied, not wishing to continue the conversation any further.
"Well, do you fight? At all?" Kazuya probed.
"I don-" She began.
Granny Zhen intercepted, "She is quite adept with knives."
… Granny! That's the second time today! She glared at her.
Granny Zhen looked at her innocently before shrugging. Again.
"That's great! How about a match after lunch?"
Her right hand crossed her chest, holding her weapons nearly parallel to the ground. She squinted, marking her target.
She fired.
The target rolled over the floor, dodging the projectiles before sprinting towards her. She responded accordingly, holding a pair of knives in reverse grip, waiting.
He came straight up to her and she took a chance to slash. The blade tore the man's black sleeve. She felt a sense of satisfaction before he landed a punch to her stomach. She fell to the floor, coughing.
"Game. Set. Match."
Mai gripped her stomach, waiting for the sudden pain to disappear, ignoring him.
"Heh. Not bad," Kazuya grinned. "Not bad at all, Mai."
He held out a hand towards her, offering to help her up. She scowled, gripping the hand reluctantly and standing up. She dusted her clothes. Her abdomen ached considerably.
Why did I even agree to this match?
"Re-match then?"
I could quit now if I wanted to… But… I don't want to.
"Fine," She grunted, picking up the knives strewn over the floor.
She had analyzed his moves as much as she could. She is a long-range fighter, her melee fighting skills were less than adequate. His reflexes were quick, able to dodge her knives with near ease, and he was a short-range fighter. Conclusion? She was at a disadvantage. Although, it would seem it is only physical.
He hopped back a few feet, grinning while he tore off the loose piece of sleeve.
"Alright, let's start then!"
She kept her knives before retrieving the longer, streamlined ones. Let's see how you dodge these as quickly.
She held her numerous knives, four in each hand. Her arms swept through the air as she launched them. Just as she thought, Kazuya dodged all of them, with more difficulty than before. He was about to look up when his eyes widened. He had just realized that it was a trap. He groaned as he was pinned to the nearest wall.
"Where did you learn how to throw knives like that?" He whined pathetically.
"My family is rich. I was sent to attend the Royal Fire Academy for Girls."
"Woah," He whistled, kicking his feet in mid-air. "Sweet."
"Say, if you attended the Royal Fire Academy for Girls, that means you are acquainted with the royal family?"
"Yes." She frowned at him. She wanted to end the match already.
Seeing as he was not making any more attempts to free himself, she triumphantly called "Game. Set. Match." Crossing her arms to hold herself back from walking right in front of him to boast.
"Actually, I'd think not," He smiled; he slipped easily out of his black coat, revealing his red and yellow attire underneath.
Mai frowned. She hated coats. She aimed shurikens at him and struck.
He dodged one of the two, having one lodged in his leg. He pulled it out quickly, letting the blood ooze from his leg. He looked up and grinned, before advancing. He's crazy.
"So you know the new Fire Lord?"
"Yes," She leapt a few steps back, wanting to maintain the distance between her and him, before she threw a couple of knives.
"Cool."
Her eyes widened when Kazuya caught the two in his hands. She winced in pain as she felt the blades cut into his palm, creating new wounds. He's really crazy.
"Who are you to him?" He stepped towards her, his happy-go-lucky demeanor fading.
Who am I to him? She didn't answer immediately, still shocked by this sudden change.
She stepped further back, backing up into the wall.
"I'm his girlfriend," Mai declared, forcing herself to directly meet his eyes.
He walked up to her, as she reached for more knives in the pocket. He slammed her hands to the wall, causing her to lose her grip on her knives.
"Where is he, then?"
"Why do you want to know?" He did not frighten Mai. He did not.
He blinked, as if snapping out of a daze. "Oh. Sorry if I frightened you. I'm just really curious."
Mai frowned before looking towards him. "Just tell me why you were acting like that."
He scratched his head, and looked away. "No reason."
She kept quiet. It was impolite to keep probing a person. However, the look in his grey eyes… It would be imprinted in her mind for quite some time. She clenched her hands tightly, before releasing them.
"Do you think he is a good ruler?"
She smiled gently, thinking about Zuko on his coronation day. "Yes."
"Don't you think what he's doing… Maybe it won't help?"
Mai regarded him skeptically. His questions are getting from queer to out-right weird.
"No, I believe in him. If he thinks that's the way to go, it is."
"… I see," He laid down, cushioning his head with his arms. "Why would your boyfriend let you engage in fights with a strange man, though?"
"He… He's away," She said.
"Really? Where?"
"… Earth Kingdom."
"Aren't you going with him?"
"No, it's more of a personal errand he has to run."
"Do you miss him?"
She laid herself near Kazuya and looked up at the pinkish-orange sky.
"Yes."
"Hey, Mai. Wanna see your boyfriend?"
Mai nodded slightly willfully, before halting. "No. I don't." I can't.
"I can bring you there today, to the Earth Kingdom. I have my own ship. I'm intending on going back home today after the match. I live in Xuanwu Gu now. You said he'll be visiting there incognito sooner or later during his trip right?"
Throughout all this, Mai had been silent. She had not expected that he would be from the Fire Nation colonies.
"… Yes."
"Why not come with me then?"
"I…" Mai began."I can't just leave the Fire Nation. I… I promised…"
She gripped her sleeve a little. Her tone… It sounded forlorn. It didn't sound like the Mai she knew.
"Come on! Isn't there anyone else that can manage the nation's affairs? I'll send you back here as soon as you see your boyfriend. All right?"
"Why are you doing this?" She stared into his eyes.
Kazuya looked away before scratching his chin again. "… I guess it's 'cause I like helping people."
"I need to ask Uncle Iroh first…" Mai frowned, still apprehensive.
"Go on," Someone said from the shadows. "It's alright."
"Who are you?" Kazuya growled, leaping onto his feet.
"Uncle Iroh?" Mai half-gasped.
"Haha! Yes, my dear," He nodded genially. "I've gotten curious as to where you have been all day. My apologies."
"Your uncle?" Kazuya looked at Mai.
"Sort of."
I'm home, Mom!" Kazuya called his mother, who emerged from the front door, running to embrace him.
Mai stood awkwardly at the side, unsure of what to do. She absent-mindedly twirled a lock of her hair while she watched the two.
"Who is this, Kazuya?" She nodded towards Mai, who bowed politely.
"My name is Mai. Nice to meet you, aunty."
"Just call me Shinju," The lady smiled.
Kazuya nodded and led Shinju into another room to talk to her, out of Mai's hearing range. She shrugged, choosing to walk around the house a little. The house was simple, but it seemed to emanate warmth from within, a warmth that only grew with Kazuya's return.
"Do you know what day it is tomorrow, Mai?" The two had emerged from behind the door.
"Mm… Monday?" Mai replied nonchalantly.
"Haha, not only that. It is the day of the Moon Festival. You do not celebrate this at the Fire Nation?"
Her interest was piqued, but only by so much. Life at the Fire Nation colonies seemed more relaxed than theirs.
"We eat mooncakes and celebrate the family's union on that day," Kazuya explained.
"Yes. Before we begin supper, would you like to change into a more comfortable outfit, Mai?" Shinju asked.
Mai looked down at her stiff robes. Indeed, she would prefer something more comfortable, but to appear presentable she should not…
"My mom is a stubborn person," Kazuya whispered into her ear.
Mai scowled at him, before she quickly changed to her default emotionless expression. She still could not stand him at times. Especially… The image of Kazuya's slightly deranged grey eyes flashed through her mind.
"I did not bring spare clothes."
Shinju took her hand and led her to her bedroom. "We can't have that. You'll be staying here for a few days."
As they entered the bedroom, Mai kept quiet, running her eyes over the layout. Then, she noticed something. The bed was only big enough for one.
"Aunty, this is your bedroom, isn't it?"
Shinju affirmed it, before she pulled out a simple red robe. It was gorgeous. Mai received it with two hands. Shinju urged Mai to change into it immediately. Mai nodded and did so, not wanting to protest any more. In fact, she would have felt guilty to lose her 'self-control' if she did not relish the fact that she was for once out of that set of scratchy robes. She looked at herself in the mirror. It was alright, she supposed.
"Here," Shinju pushed her to settle down on the chair in front of the vanity before undoing her two hair buns.
"W-Wait a moment…!" Mai protested.
"Shush. You're a really pretty girl. It just that your hairstyle is a little too strict."
Shinju combed through her hair tenderly before she gathered them into her hand. She curled the top part of her hair into a loop, then spreading the ends.
"There, you look even better," Shinju said, apparently proud with her handiwork.
Mai reached out to touch the back of her hair, where the loop was. She almost could not recognize herself. She looked more… Feminine now.
I wonder what Zuko would think.
A/N: Alright, that's all for now! Yeeah, that's my interpretation of Mai. She's not all that calm as she looks. It's like a façade she's trying really hard to keep. Although, I think I may get out of hand at times. So do tell me if she's too OOC..!
Yes, and Kazuya's my first major OC. His name is thanks to the lack of creativity I have when it comes to naming characters. ... I hope he turns out fine. Considering how unpredictable I am when it comes to story writing and perhaps characterization. ):
Oh and Xuanwu Gu is actually "玄武谷". It's a half-random name that I came up with. Yep. So... I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Toph and Zuko would be returning to the spotlight for the next chapter!~
Please do review! That way, I'll know what areas to improve in. Plus, reviews never fail to encourage me! :D