so, I'm a couple days late. Oops :D

Sorry its just I went school shopping and I got called into work Monday, my bad.

Neway new chapter. Sorry it's kinda short.

Okay thanks for the reviews everybody. I forgot to thank Mafija and Zutara Fanatic last chapter so thanks:D

Recap: Last time you heard about Zuko he asked Mai to let him go, she nodded and said tomorrow, then he got beat by Azula. I know, short summary :D

WARNING: CHARACTER DEATH AND GORY!!!... well, sorta gory...

Chapter 4- Tears

Oh yeah and I don't own Avatar, if I did, Zutara woulda happened already.

Zuko awoke to the feeling of his raw back rubbing up against the steel wall. He winced at the feel of the dry blood being pulled off of his wounds as he leaned forward. Every time he breathed it felt like his welts and lashes spread open. His chest hurt the worst. He looked down to see a nasty gash, the wound ripped deep. Just looking at it he could remember the blinding white pain and the sound of flesh tearing. Dried blood covered his chest and stomach, 'well, that's good. At least it's not bleeding anymore.' Just then the door opened, slowly. The room was flooded with light, Mai stepped forward.

Zuko let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding. She stood before him for a moment, just thinking, taking in what she was about to do. If she helped Zuko it would be considered betrayal to the Firenation, to Fire Lord Ozai, to Princess Azula, to her friend. She would be killed, the orders were given to all the palace guards, soldiers, even the Dai Li to kill anyone who tried to help a prisoner escape. She looked intently at Zuko, at his wounds.

'This war has caused so much pain, spilt so much blood.' With out changing her expression, with out giving away her intent or her thoughts, she made up her mind. She would free him. She slowly and silently walked over to him. Dressed in all black, and not making a sound, Mai picked the lock on his shackled hands with one of her daggers. If there was a witness, they would've thought a shadow freed Prince Zuko. When the shackles clicked open, she carefully set them on the ground, trying her best to keep the chains from clinking against the steel floor as they were laid down. Zuko's arms dropped to his sides, still numb from being up. Until his blood flow began circulating properly again, his bending in his arms would be useless, he couldn't control it. "If you get caught..." Zuko trailed off, letting Mai finish the rest of his sentence in her head. "Are you sure?" Mai nodded, she knew the risk of helping Zuko.

"I'm going with you," Mai stated surely, she had already decided that she could not stay in Ba Sing Se. Well actually she could, as a corpse. "I've thought about it a lot, and I want to help end this war." Zuko looked shocked.

"How do you know that's what I'm going to do?" Zuko asked, struggling to stand. Mai didn't help him, she knew his pride would've have knocked her hand away.

"I know you, Prince Zuko. Maybe even better than you know yourself. You have honor, you will do the right thing." She kept her face icy, her expression frigid. Her voice drone and her eyes bored, but her words were kind and wise, he knew she was being honest. He heard heavy footfalls coming down the hallway. Many soldiers were coming. Zuko shrugged his shoulders a few times, shook his arms a little. It was no use, his arms were still numb, he could not produce a flame from his hand. Mai readied her daggers, "We kill them, and then we run. Do not let your pride stop you from retreating, and do not let your honor stop you from killing." Mai looked deep in his eyes, deep into his pools of molten gold. And then he saw something he had never seen before, Mai's face full of emotion. Her face was serious, her eyebrows furrowed together in the most expression he had ever seen on her face. She was serious, concerned, and worried. Her voice was commanding yet pleading at the same time. Her eyes were dimmed dark, shadowed over with determination. Mai looked at the door, a few soldiers stood at the doorway now. There was definitely more behind them. She could hear them moving about. There was about fifteen soldiers, too many for her and Zuko to handle in his weakened state.

'Zuko will help save the world, I know it. I can see it in him. He's not like Azula, he has a heart, a soul. I can at least save him.' Mai made her decision. She had thought of it before, as a last resort. Now she would do it. She was willing to sacrifice herself for Zuko. He was different, he was worth it. This was the least she could do. She shot two daggers out, both hitting the two men in the doorway, they fell, blood spurting from their chest. Her daggers had hit their mark, their hearts. Two more men came into the doorway, one shot a stream of fire at her. She dodged it by diving to the right, as she turned a dagger flew from her hand and hit the man in the neck. He fell to the ground in pain, gripping his bleeding throat. He would be dead soon. She turned to see Zuko aim a flaming kick at the other soldier, she did not miss the look of shame cross Zuko's face as the nameless man fell. Zuko really was different.

"Run! And don't look back!" Mai yelled at him. Zuko looked at her shocked. More soldiers filed into the cell. He couldn't just leave her.

"NO!" he dodged a spear and slid across the steel floor, knocking down a man who was getting ready to shoot flames at Mai. She didn't hesitate to slice the man's throat as he lay on the ground. She then threw the same bloody dagger at the soldier behind Zuko. It missed it's mark, only hitting the man in his shoulder. Zuko did a roundhouse kick, his heel connecting with the man's jaw, knocking him unconscious.

"Zuko, please," He looked at Mai as she shot a dagger at another soldier in the doorway, clearing it for him. He saw a single tear slide down her cheek. She really wanted him to go. His thoughts were rushing, his mind frantically trying to come up with what to do. He looked back at Mai. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. He saw her tear slowly fall to the floor, he heard the light splat as the tear hit the ground. He had never seen Mai cry before. He had never seen her show any emotion. He saw Mai stab a soldier in front of her. He saw the knife slowly slide into his stomach, the blood instantly seep out, the man's eyes widen as he felt the intense pain, his head tilt back as he screamed. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, it may have been quick to her, but Zuko saw everything, took it all in. It happened so slowly, her look at him, blink once, twice, another tear was squeezed from her eye, slid down her cheek. Her eyes were watery and crystal clear, he could see the desire, the grief, the concern, the hope. He picked up his leg, it felt heavy. He stepped forward, it felt like it took too long. He saw a man start to come for him, he tried to run for the door, it all happened too slowly. The man pulled out a knife, Zuko saw him coming ,the glint of the blade, knife in hand. He tired to run faster but his legs wouldn't listen. The knife was a foot away, coming at him faster then his legs could move. He watched the hand in horror. He saw it come closer, he felt his legs moving but not fast enough, then he saw the blood, the knife drop, and a dagger sticking out of the man's hand.

"GO!" and everything sped up, Mai's voice still ringing in his ears. He ran for the door, fast. Everything passing him by in it's normal speed. He no longer saw everything, the movements, the expressions, just the door. He ran through, he turned his head to look back. He saw Mai coming, throwing daggers as she ran behind him, he continued down the hall smiling, looking straight ahead. 'She's coming,' he thought to himself. They ran through so many halls, taking so many twist and turns, he couldn't find a door leading to the outside. His legs burned, he heard Mai yell left, he turned left. He heard soldiers following them. he saw the door. A big door with a golden design on it, the design of leaves crawling up it. It wasn't the main palace doors but it did lead outside. A back door. He was so close.

Then he heard it, a gasp, one of shock and pain. He turned his head to the side. He saw out of the corner of his good eye the owner of the gasp. It was Mai. And everything slowed down again. He saw the spear that was sticking out of her stomach, he saw the blood dripping form the hole in her torso. He saw the metal tip of the spear disappear as it was pulled out of her back, the soldier behind her put his foot on her back and pulled, tugging the spear all the way out of her. Zuko saw Mai fall, blood drip from the spear. Her eyes were wide with pain. She hit the floor, landing on her side. Her hands cradled her stomach, she coughed up blood on the floor. She looked at Zuko and he saw her mouth the word run. He stood there. Watching as the same soldier raised his spear to stab her in the heart. Zuko reached his hand forward, he screamed. He commanded his legs to move but they didn't listen. He saw the spear descend, saw the pleads in Mai's eyes. He tried to step forward. His feet were heavy. He watched in horror as the spear connected with her chest, Mai's mouth open and he heard her scream, "RUUNNNN!!" her voice full of pain. Everything sped up, the blood pooling around her, all the guards coming after Zuko without a moments hesitation. He turned, he ran, and he cried.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////So sorry mai lovers, I like her too but I'm sick of stories where everything goes perfectly to plan. Nothing ever happens that way, not even in the show. I know it's harsh, but if that really happened, somebody would die. You can't expect everybody to get away, even some fairytales don't end happily ever after. Please don't flame me for it.

So review please and thanks. Tell me if you like it. Next chapter is about the GAang. give me ideas, tell me what you thought, anythings appreciated.