Author's Note: I'm not quite sure whether you'll find this one-shot cheesy or touching. I'm hoping for the second one. Hope you enjoy it.

-o-o-o-

The air was a mixture of cool and warm breezes, sending a shower of loose petals with every gust. The perfume of the various flora and fauna was enough to make one dizzy, but it only filled Mai with pleasure. Happiness settled over her like a soft blanket, choking out the omnipresent feelings of worry and dread – if such feelings can exist in an eleven year-old girl – and elating her every thought, breath, and action. Besides, it was her birthday, quite and calm, but still exciting. The sweet plucks of the lute – soft harks of the flutes and panpipes – the strong aroma of the various roasts and desserts – it all coincided and blended into an unshakable feeling of contentment. Shouts and squeals and various giggles lifted into the air, inching Mai towards the crowd of excited guests. But one young boy emerged from the cluster, golden eyes on the ground, hands clinging to a small box. Ursa stood not far behind, one eye on her son, the other on everything else.

Mai had always felt uneasy around this boy, but for once she felt her heart leap with something other than dread. After all, she hadn't invited Azula – no childish pranks, right? No words came from the mouth of this boy; he gave her the box and returned hastily to his mother. Mai fumbled with the smooth ivory lid, trying so desperately hard to open it slowly – to savor this gift. The lid came off and Mai felt words rise to her throat.

"Zuko, wait up!"

He turned at her call and crept ever so slowly towards Mai. Was that a smile his face bore? She cradled his gift in her hands, delicately stroking the pendant's smooth surface as though it were the soft head of her pet otter-leopard. Zuko turned his eyes up so that they met hers. Mai refused to look down, but kept her gaze level with his. He spoke a quick stream of words, but Mai heard nothing.

"Will you help me put it on?"

Zuko's lips became idle. His golden eyes were captured in a squint, as though he didn't understand her request. With trembling fingers he took the necklace from her hand, the deft brush of flesh-on-flesh splattering his limbs with goose bumps. Mai lifted up her long black hair and waited. Zuko produced another stream of words; Mai caught them this time.

"Do you like it? It's ruby. You told me that red was your favorite color, so I picked this one out for you. The royal jeweler made it special…"

On and on Zuko went, trying with all his might to capture the necklace's clasp and hide his shaking hands…

"Mai? Hello? Anyone in there?"

Ty-Lee's annoyingly girlish voice penetrated Mai's daydream. She put a hand to her forehead and held it for a minute. All of the sudden she felt very tired and drew her hand to her throat, fumbling with her ruby pendant. Her fingertips could make out every curve, every bump – they had studied it many times before. It was crafted into the shape of a fire; the very insignia of the Fire Nation, carrying every color that could possibly be in the collection of blistering flames. It was beautiful. And it was from Zuko. From across the crackling flames of the fire, Azula eyed Mai with suspicion. She had observed her toying with that necklace numerous times, but had always cast her thoughts aside. Naturally, she didn't know that it had been bestowed upon her comrade from the very man that she lived to torment; and Mai didn't intend to let her find out.

"Oooooh, what's that?" Ty-Lee chirped.

She made a lung for Mai's closed hand, only to have her thigh swiftly kicked. She fell back, massaging the bruised skin.

"None of your business." Mai stood up. "Good-night."

"Wait a moment, Mai. I'd like to see that."

Mai grunted and unclasped the necklace, placing it reluctantly in Azula's outstretched hand. The girl examined it with suspicion, fingering the texture and eyeing each and every change in shape.

"It's not like I have explosives in there or anything. Can I just have it back and go to bed?"

Azula paid her no heed, casting the necklace upon the ground as though it were no more than a piece of lint. In a frantic scramble Mai picked it up and held it close against her chest.

"How did you come to own such a trinket? It looks valuable."

Mai tried to ignore Azula's cold voice; tried to maintain her composure, wondering if she didn't already know.

"A friend. It was a long time ago."

"Any special occasion?" Azula countered, voice laced with mocking.

With a firm voice Mai replied, "No."

Azula began to circle around Mai, as though she were a helpless animal about to be slaughtered, staring at her without ceasing.

"You know, I do recall little Zu-Zu foaming at the mouth about a gift such as this. A long time ago, it was. He said that it was made especially for a friend." Azula's eyes burned into Mai. "That friend was you, wasn't it, Mai?"

"No," the girl returned.

"You're lying. I can tell." Azula's voice was oddly calm, filled with a strange hate. "Are you lying to me, Mai?"

Mai knew well enough that it was better not to argue with Azula – if she had accused her of liking the taste of ostrich-horse dung, it was best not to argue. So Mai nodded her head sullenly, clutching the necklace so hard her knuckles were white. Azula's face was drawn, her eyebrows knit together, lips pressed together, and eyes full of poison. Mai couldn't help but cringe, wondering if Azula would slap her, so black and boiling was her hate for Zuko – and practically anything Zuko cared about. "In this case, it's Mai, and I can't very well go and eliminate a most valued partner. I'm sure that there is some other way to punish her." Azula's lips peeled back in a hair-raising smile. Her fingers uncurled and flew to Mai's clenched fist. She drew back the necklace and flung it into the distance, shaking with rage.

Mai produced a distraught sob but stood idle. Her eyes were glazed with unshed tears. Legs shaking, she ran to the cover of the forest, trees black and looming, denying the world a view of her many tears…

He finally fastened the necklace and turned Mai around to look at the finished product.

"It's beautiful, Zuko. Thanks."

With that, she pecked his cheek and ran over to the clot of birthday guests, blushing and grinning with pure delight…