Chapter 5

It was sunset, and Katara, Aang, Zuko and Mai had just said their goodbyes. Mai and Zuko watched as Appa disappeared behind the clouds.

"I should walk you home." Zuko offered, taking Mai's hand in his before she could object. They walked across the street from the palace to her home.

Mai sighed,"Bye.." She groaned. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"You will be fine. I mean, you won't die." He smiled as she turned herself around and reached up to kiss him. She moaned silently feeling his lips brush against hers.

"Go on." Mai could hear Zuko's smirk in his voice. She groaned again.

"Come on Mai, it was hard on all of them to see you move out, you can at least visit them for one night." He cupper her chin.

She looked up and frowned at him. Zuko gave a small smile, then put his hands on her shoulders to turn her around and lead her up the steps.

Mai reached for the door handle, and paused,"Wait, can we make plans tonight so I won't have to see them for long?" She asked hopefully.

He sighed,"Yes." Another smile crept onto his face, and he looked down to hide it,"Meet me at the fountain. Around eight, okay?"

Her smile fell, and she groaned softly again,"That gives them time."

Zuko chuckled, "Go on." He repeated, nudging her towards the handle. She turned it open, and invited herself in.

He stood there for a minute, to make sure she wouldn't try to make a run for it. After a while, he started to walk down the streets of the city. He turned to the jewelry store, trying not to catch any attention. If people saw him looking at betrothal necklaces, they would start assuming. Then, the word would get out, and it wouldn't be much of a surprise when he eventually asked Mai. He looked at each necklace, until he came to a new one that hadn't been there last time. It was round, with red and clear crystals in a patturn around the center. That one, he thought. That was the one. He was sure of it. He opened the door discreatly and hurried in. Zuko turned around to make sure nobody saw, and nobody did. He sighed, relieved.

"Can I help you?" A lady in her twentys asked from behind the counter. When she saw him clearly, she flustered. "Oh, hi. I didn't know you were into jewelry."

"What? Oh.." He chuckled ,"I'm not, really. I'm getting this." He handed the necklace he chose to her.

Her eyes widened,"Oh, wow," She said checking the price tag,"For Mai, I pressume."

"How do you know her?" Zuko asked, suspiciously.

She smiled,"Basically everybody knows her now." She looked up at him,"That's-"

He interrupted by handing her the exact amount from his pocket.

"Wow. You just carry that around with you?" She said, smirking. She grabbed it from him and placed it under the counter.

"Well.. I kind of knew I would be getting it today." He said staring at the sparkling necklace.

"Hmm." She handed the necklace to him and smiled. "Hope she says yes." She said kindly.

Zuko did too, it worried him,"Me too." He gave her a smile and went back outside. He hid the necklace in his pocket, and made sure nobody saw him in there. Nobody acted like they had noticed. He took a breath, and started back towards his palace. He didn't realize it was already so dark out. He hoped it wasn't passed eight.

Zuko started quickly to the fountain. Eventually, he got there. He was relieved to see Mai wasn't there yet. He took a seat at the fountain's edge, and waited. A few minutes passed, and he pulled out the necklace from his pocket. He watched it shimmer and reflect the water from the fountain. A few more minutes passed, and he put the necklace away again. Then even more minutes passed. Why is she taking so long? He thought to himself. He shook his head. It's probably because I'm so anxious that it's taking this long.. Zuko told himself. Then, he realized a whole hour had passed, and she still didn't show. Zuko slowly started to feel irritated. He didn't want to propose in this mood. Just thinking about it made him more irritated. Then, another hour passed. He was still alone. His irritation started turning into depression. His shoulders slumped. She might have just not been allowed to leave.. But then again, Mai's family didn't really mind when she went out with him. His head drooped, and he lifted himself from his sitting position. He trudged to his palace, and turned to look at Mai's house. He decided to give it one last try. Maybe Mai assumed that he would come get her or something. Zuko walked to the door, and knocked. Mai's mother opened the door. She smiled when she saw him,"Hello, Fire Lord Zuko."

He nodded,"Is Mai home?" He peeked behind her to see if she was inside. He didn't see her.

"Mai? She left a few hours ago. We thought she was with you." A worried look started to cross her face.

Zuko swallowed,"She knows where the fountain is..I waited there for two hours, and she didn't come."

They both new that wasn't like her. Something was wrong. Mai's mother gestured him to come in, and hurried to another room.

"Mai's missing." She said to her husband, sounding worried.

Zuko stood by the door, and waited for them. Mai's father entered the room he was in. "She isn't with you?" He asked.

Zuko shook his head,"Last time I saw her was when I dropped her off here." Now Zuko was starting to get worried.

"I saw her leave." Mai's mother added from behind.

"I'll get a search party." Zuko said.

They both nodded, and headed outside to look for themselves.

Zuko hurried to the palace, and went to his gaurds. "Mai's missing." He announced, trying to stay calm. "You all know what she looks like." He thought about the way Mai looked in his shirt, and shook his head,"We will search the Fire Nation until we find her." His hands clenched into fists. "Go." He said, not looking at the crowd of gaurds.

The gaurds searched the city first, asking every person that had been there if they had seen anybody that matched the description of Mai. Nobody had seen her.

Zuko searched in the areas he knew nobody else would. He wanted to make sure he check every where before moving to another city. He swore, he had searched everywhere multiple times, and there was no sign of her. He ran his fingers through his hair, and rubbed his temples, aggitated. He would find her, he told himself. He sent the gaurds home so they could rest for tomorrow's search. But Zuko didn't stop. He wouldn't stop, not until he found her.