Reviews For Chapt. 15 ;]

Kimjuni2 -

I LUV your story. Ok by chapter 14 Zuko's thoughts were awesome romantic and Mai heard his voice so sweet. Ok back to chapter 15, I like that chapter, and mai she just had listen to Zuko's voice and don't listen to Azula, Azula is a **. I hope that Zuko rescue Mai and fights to Azula, maybe an idea. Anyway please update soon again, can't wait till your next update ! I'll be R&R.
Adn you did again a really good job !

Well thanks xD .. and yes, I agree about Azula x] .. And thanks again! :D

Dreamer E.V. -

neat story, pouty zuko made me lol. The angle of this story is quite believable, trafikking is an underworld that most people don't think about because they believe that if they don't think about it and are careful they won't have to deal with it. i'm interested to see how the Gaang will abolish the trade.

I'm glad it made you lol ^^ agreed x]

gloomy maiko lover -

I love this story but it's so painful to read what happens to Mai and Zuko so great chapter you did a wonderful job as always and always will do so awsome job. and I'll be R&R and can't wait to know what happens next and can't wait till you update hope you update soon and Azula is so evil but that's what makes you like her more even if she's like that so I guess bye for now and again great job. :) :( :) :( XD

I know, it's hard to write painful stories too T.T Yes, Azula is very evil xD Thank you ^^

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Chapter 16

Zuko stared at the sun, just beginning to rise. He drew in a deep breath, trying to clear his head for at least a moment. He groaned silently when he heard a knock at his door. "Sir?" A servant asked, allowing himself in.

Zuko turned to face him, and the servant jumped at the sight of him. He shook his head,"Sir, we have a report from the troops you sent out to find Miss Mai, sir." He sputtered nervously.

His eyes widened,"What is it?" He asked, suddenly enthralled.

The servant cleared his throat,"They have recently found a perimeter of traps around a base of a volcano, sir. They said that they are planning to search the base of the volcano today, it is the only place where she might be that they've seen so far..." He waited for Zuko to speak, but he was lost in thought. He mindlessly waved him away, and the servant left quickly. Zuko remembered Ozai speaking of a place that so far fit the description. He was interrupted again by two messengers rushing to his door. They knocked, and Zuko nodded. One began to read a scroll, and the other began to speak,"Sir, we have new reports from one of your search crews. They have found a suspicious looking, large unidentified building near an old military training facility. They have also noted that they see two men leave each night. They have never seen them return, but it is always the same two that leave. They are waiting to find an entrance, then they will once again contact us to see if it is a prison of some sort." He explained, allowing the other messenger to speak,"They have reported that the building is is just on the west of the capital." They both bowed, and left as quickly as the servant. Zuko sighed and rubbed his temples. If there was any chance of Mai being in any of those places, he wanted to look himself. But, what if he chose the wrong location? He groaned and slumped into his chair, trying not to let his emotions get in the way of being reasonable. "Knock Knock!" The voice of Sokka yelled from the door.

"So-''

"Two of my search crews have found locations she might be at." Zuko interrupted.

Sokka blinked," Oh, really?" He paused,"But, which one-"

"That's the problem." He interrupted again.

Sokka stroked at his imaginary beard. "Maybe, we should split up? You should go where you think it's most likely she's at, and Suki and I will go to the other location." He explained, while Zuko wavered his options.

"I don't know which one is more likely. Basically all I know is their locations, neither of the groups have actually entered yet. Well, one is entering today, but I still don't know how things are going..." Zuko trailed off, once again lost in thought. Sokka seemed to be as well, and neither of them spoke.

"Well, can you tell me what they found?" Sokka asked.

Zuko nodded,"One is at the base of the volcano, and the other is a building by an old facility, by the capital.."

Sokka rubbed the back of his head. "Let me go talk to Suki for a minute, just to see what she thinks." He said, already running towards the door.

He swung the door to Suki's room open, and saw she was in bed. He tip toed next to her, and whispered. "Suki, you awake?"

She stirred a bit, then nestled back into her pillow. She rubbed her eye,"Yeah, I'm just resting." She propped herself up on her elbow.

"Oh, sorry.. But, Zuko's searching people found two locations where Mai might be." Sokka informed quietly.

Suki's eyes widened a bit,"Really? Oh, that's good news." She said cheerfully.

"Well, yes... But that means if we want to search for her, we have to split up.. I thought I would go with you and Ty Lee again, and Katara, Aang and Zuko could go to the other location..." He explained. She nodded," Sounds like a plan."

--

Aang watched the crack under his door, waiting until two feet stopped in front of it. There was a quiet knock, and he politely invited them in. It was Katara. Seeing this, Aang smiled and leaned up in his bed,"Morning."

She smiled,"Morning." Katara greeted. She walked up to him, and sat on side of his bed, making herself comfortable. She rested her head on his legs. Aang chuckled,"If you're still tired why did you get out of bed?" He asked. She shrugged.

He stroked her head affectionately, and then Roku's voice seemed to scream inside of his head. He swallowed hard, and cringed. Katara lifted herself off of him when she felt him stiffen,"What's wrong?" She asked, putting a hand on his cheek.

Aang shook his head, dismissing the conversation,"It's nothing."

"You've been acting kind of... off... lately.." Katara stated, stroking her thumb up and down his cheek. Roku's voice just got louder with every touch. Aang jolted out of his bed, and stumbled over his shoes, causing him to fall. Katara stared at him, and blinked. "You sure you don't want to talk about it?" She asked, giving him her familiar apologetic look. "No, it's alright really, it's nothing. Nothing at all." He faked a smile, and rushed out of his room to the nearest bathroom. He splashed his face with water several times until his head was cleared. Aang took a deep breath and fell to his knees in front of the sink. This was beginning to be too much. He needed to clear this out with Roku, before he went insane.

--

She could see a small, simple farm house on the side of the road get closer and closer. Finally, shelter. Her cold, red eyes beamed across the valley, searching for any sign of life. But nothing, just an old, tattered building. The clouds above became darker, and small rain drops began to spill onto the floor. Azula whipped her ostrich horse, and it began to run even faster towards shelter. She was about to get off, when she noticed that their was a city just down the hill. Maybe there was food. Her stomach growled, and she took charge down the hill. Holding Mai onto the ostrich horse with her was even more tiring, and Azula was completely worn out. She had never felt so tired or hungry in her entire life. She felt like a peasant. The city got closer, and the lights became so bright she had to squint against it. She also realized as she got closer that there was a gate that closed the city in. Azula groaned, and noticed there was a house on the opposite side of the city. They must be the ones that allowed people inside... She thought. "Hey, who are you?" Asked a young, childish voice from the direction of the house. As she squinted, she saw it was a young boy, no older than 11 or 12. She glared at him,"It doesn't matter. Now are you going to let me in?" She asked. The boy stared at her, and realized who she was.

"You're.... You're suppose to be in prison! I'm going to turn you in if you don't leave here right now!" He shouted, and tears dripped from his eyes.

"I can't leave unless you open the gates." Azula stated calmly.

The boy growled,"I'm not opening the gates for you! You would probably hurt the people of this city, just like you hurt my family!"

"So, that's why you are being so difficult." Azula sighed,"Go on, yell at me all you want, get your revenge." She rolled her eyes.

"No! That wouldn't be fair! You killed every body in my family, and now all I have is my grandmother, and she is very sick, and once she's gone, I'll have nobody! The only fair thing is for you to be killed!"

"Well, you're very young to already have blood on you're hands." Azula said with a sly chuckle.

He pulled a dagger from his back pocket, and raised it into the air, as if he was going to throw. Azula grabbed Mai and used her unconscious body as a shield. The boy blinked when he saw this,"Who's...." He shook his head, and his angry expression returned,"I don't care! I'll go through anyone to get to you!" He yelled, raising the dagger again.

"Oh really? Even the Fire Lord's beloved girl friend?" Azula challenged, and smiled when the boy dropped the dagger.

"That's... She's..." He tried to maintain his expression, maybe he could just trick her into thinking he would kill her, just so she would be scared and leave.

"I still don't care!" He forced out, and picked his knife up again.

"Really? Don't you know what would happen if you killed her? The Fire Lord would find out, and go completely insane, more so than he is now. And once the Fire Lord is insane, the people would have to elect a new royal family, wouldn't they? But how would they agree? That's correct, they wouldn't. Then, so much time would past of arguing over who should have that kind of power, that the Fire Nation would slowly fall apart. The entire kingdom would become hell. And with the Fire Nation so out of control, the other nations would slowly break apart as well, and the whole world would slowly destroy itself, all because of you." Azula explained in a monotone. The boy just stared at her, he couldn't even move, he was so shocked.

"I- I'm sorry." He sputtered,"Here." He reached for the trigger that would open the gates, and the doors slowly opened.