Hey there,

DarcyBeDippy85 here, with a brand new set of chapters. I know I will be posting again tomorrow. We'll see how many more I can post this week. I was just so excited about these few new chapters. I couldn't wait. So enough of my yakking! Here we go!

Special thanks to Rose-Aki, for you're friendship, encouragement and wonderful reviews. None of this would be possible without you.

Special thanks to the new people following this story, or me as an author. Also thank you for favoriting this story and placing this story on your story alert. Thank you so much! I hope you're all still reading and enjoying.

Standard disclaimers apply - I do not own Nickelodeon, MTV, or Avatar the Last Airbender. I am merely borrowing all trademarked things mentioned for my own twisted plots and plans. Most will be returned unharmed.

Dedicated to my friend who needs this trip as much as Mai does. This is all for you! And you know who you are!

Enjoy!

"They Forgot"

Chapter 18 - Ty-Lee's Circus Family

(Mai's Perspective)

Even though it's been announced and sent out all over the world. It will take a full month at least before the Fire Elders can gather here in our capital city. Even then Zuko plans to get Azula and Kavin's quicker ceremony out of the way. So it'll probably be even longer than that month before they can even begin to talk about all of the things we need to plan (or really they will plan, I already know how much will be actually ours). I'm not in any kind of hurry, so all of that is just fine by me. When I asked Zuko, he'd said, "He would like to be engaged for a little bit. He didn't want to skip it altogether like Azula."

Zuko and I will need to be here for every meeting or planning session that they want to have for both ceremonies regardless. Watching how these Elders handle Azula's process could help me figure out what I need to be ready for. In the meantime, Zuko's tremendously busy getting all of his other matters in order. So that he's allowed to hopefully be more flexible when these planning sessions start. He's also been catching up on everything he'd pushed back for my birthday, along with all the normal things happening nationwide. He's been away more than he's been home, and that has left me with tons of time to myself.

It wouldn't be so bad if I had gotten to remain happily invisible as I have always been. But when that news scroll went out. With the portrait of the Fire Lord and his chosen Fire Lady. I became the nation's most easily recognizable celebrity overnight. Suddenly I couldn't go places like I'd used to. Like dropping Tom-Tom off at school in the mornings, picking him up in the afternoons or just out walking because I was bored. I couldn't get around without starting a mob, without taking a flock of guards with me. Not my father's guards either… Zuko insisted on hiring a bunch to just follow me around. Just to keep things simple for the poor guards assigned to me, I ended up at home a lot. And hidden away in my hideout for whole new reasons. Which now has guards posted on its terrace and spiral staircase even when I'm not there.

My brother and all of Team Avatar have been really great about keeping me distracted during all of this. They've all been visiting or writing letters, but that doesn't make those instances when I'm all alone any easier to bear. Even when I have dedicated so much of that time to scribbling down so many lists to send along with my fiancée when he goes. And he's left so many with me as well… I've had to start a new locked box to keep them all together… and private. I knew we were starting something when we returned home from Toph's island.

After a couple of weeks of being home and one of my only chances of getting out is when I have to steal away to the air docks. The ones posted on the rooftop of the palace for the umpteenth time. To send my fiancée off with a plastered-on smirk… It was really starting to work on me.

It totally slipped my mind that Ty-Lee had mentioned wanting to reconnect with her circus family. That I had even offered to accompany her to see them if it wasn't too far away. I'd been so preoccupied with everything else in my life that I just completely forgot about it. So when I came up to the air docks the first time tonight (thankfully I was way early for departure) because Ty-Lee asked me, "Where's your bag?"

I checked to see if she was speaking to someone behind me. When I realized there was no one else standing there beside me, I asked her, "My bag? What makes you think I'm going?"

"Didn't you get my letter?" She asked me.

"No, what did it say?" I asked.

"That I found my circus family and got us tickets to their new show! It took me this long since getting home from Toph's island. But I FINALLY did it, and this new show looks SO good! It's not far, as you requested and we're traveling along with Zuko and company. Till we hit the smaller village that's before their stop. But if you still wanna come with me. I thought we could make a trip of it. Check out the circus, and maybe check in on the newlyweds at the institute on the way home. But the round trip would get you out of the Governor's mansion for a few days at least, maybe even a week… You really didn't get it, did you?"

"No, I didn't," I said honestly. "Do you think there's still enough time for me to run home and grab one of my quick-grab bags?"

Ty-Lee's smile brightened, "Oh! I'm sure even if you're a little late the Fire Lord will make time for you. But you better grab more than one of your already-packed sacks. I want to spend a little time there if we can. I think we'll be needing your "disguise kit" for this time too. We can't have audiences of common villagers aware that they're seated with the soon-to-be Fire Lady."

"Good idea." I nodded before racing back home, making certain that I wouldn't be missed, and racing back. I left a note explaining my absence to my family and reassigned my guard detail to protect my father while I'm out. Maybe if my father has a few competent guards around him he'll hire some better ones in the future. Thankfully I made it back in record time, so no one was being held up. But when I did come back with both of the bags I would need, slung over my shoulder and my disguise kit in hand. I was surprised to find Zuko and Ty-Lee arguing quite venomously, with an amused Suki mediating between the two.

When I asked Suki, "What are they fighting about?"

"Oh, don't worry about them." Suki shook her head. "Zuko just had it in his mind, that if we were all traveling together. He was going to spend a little more time with you before our parties split up. Ty-Lee is explaining to him that you need to ride with her on her separate vessel that will ride alongside our fleet. So that when the parties do split, We all keep going and you guys go your own way. He can't seem to grasp, why you two need to be separate from him… really, it's you he's not willing to give up."

I could tell, she'd skipped over something. Because the raised voices were too ticked off, for that to be all this argument was about. So I asked our friend, "Are you sure that's all they're fighting about?"

That was when Sokka joined the conversation and said, "Good eye! That was how the fight started, but it got kicked into high gear when Ty-Lee revealed she would also need that time to properly conceal your identity. So the villagers wouldn't recognize you, wherever you're going. Zuko did not like the sound of that at all."

"That sounds more like it," I agreed before, excusing myself to wedge myself between them.

Sokka called to me, "Good Luck!"

Then I stepped between my fiancée and best friend to say, "Mind if I weigh in on this debate that sounds like it's about me?"

Noticeably cooled from the shouting match he'd just been having with Ty-Lee. Zuko locked eyes with me and asked softer, "Why do you need to hide who you are? If this place is supposed to be so safe? Why do you need to disguise yourself, what's the harm in sending guards with you and why is it going to take so much time?"

Ty-Lee asks me, "Will you please explain to him that beauty and the art of deception both take time?"

I had to agree, "They do, but there's no need for the both of you to make a scene about it either." They both agreed and apologized to each other really showing how long we've all known each other. Those apologies sounded like kids who'd been playing too rough on a playground.

After that I said, "Ty-Lee has this all planned out, it's her thing. I'm just tagging along, for moral support, and we're talking about checking up on Azula and Kavin on our way back. That's the plan-"

Zuko butts in, "Yeah, but our ship is big enough to carry your ship till we need to split up. In this fleet of bigger ships, I doubt Ty-Lee's tiny ship could even keep up with us for that long. You both can ride with us on my vessel till that needs to happen. Then Ty-Lee can relax a little longer before she has to guide the airship's driver to the circus tent and I can spend a little more time with you-"

Ty-Lee butts in over him. "Yeah, but how am I supposed to turn Mai into somebody unrecognizable with you there CONSTANTLY reminding her of who she is? Not to mention, probably critiquing or vetoing my every decision?"

"Because Mai shouldn't have to be ANYBODY else! Why does she need to hide her identity, anyway? Why is that even a thing, right now?"

Ty-Lee tried again, "The only reason I need her to be somebody else and I need to be so careful now. Is because of that engagement announcement portrait you sent worldwide. You made her one of the most easily recognized people in the world. That's why she's had to stay home, remember? That isn't going to change when we go to this other place in the Fire Nation."

Suki agreed, "That's smart, really." Zuko glared at her and she maintained, "What? It is! You know she's right."

Sokka voiced, "Anyone could easily spot her and recognize her as she is. Not that Mai can't handle herself… it just could stir up unnecessary trouble. Start a mob if people get all that excited. More than Mai and Ty-lee could get hurt too like innocent people."

Ty-Lee explained, "I want her there with me, Mai's family to me too. But I need her hidden in plain sight, and you need to let me work that magic if you want her to go at all."

I touched his arm and reminded him, "How many times have you done something like this? I bet you couldn't even count it up, it's too many. This isn't my first time either. It's just for fun."

Zuko nailed everyone in place neatly, "Okay, but if my fiancée has to be someone else. I would prefer to know who this someone else is before the split. So let's all still start out riding together, and you can leave whenever you need to."

Sokka tried to smooth things over saying, "Great idea, buddy! Ladies, let's head on board, shall we." Whispering to Ty-Lee, "Let Mai work some of her magic now." Even if I don't know if it really qualified as whispering because I heard him loud and clear. Zuko probably did too for that matter.

As they headed for the loading ramp, Zuko and I were just standing there locked in a stare-down. That didn't break till he blinked first and smirked at his defeat, "Okay! You win! I'm sorry I was fighting with Ty-Lee like that. You don't need me, fighting your battles for you."

"No, I don't," I agreed. "But it is nice that you care… and that you got that mad when you heard I couldn't go as myself."

He put his arms around my waist and pulled me to him as he said, "I was so excited to have you coming along. Then Ty-Lee kept trying to keep you all for herself. There was no way I was gonna not start another war over that. I feel like we've barely gotten a minute together in weeks."

"That's because we haven't." I confirmed, "And even though I know why, I'm still not nearly as okay with that as I seem. But today we're getting a little time, so let's not waste it, okay?"

"Okay." He agreed, before stepping back and offering his arm to me. I took it and let myself be escorted to the Fire Lord's luxury sitting room on board. Kiyoshi warriors both behind us and in front of us. Sokka and the girls were already there when we arrived.

Sokka announced, "Aww, here they come! Come on in, guys! Lift off's in five. Find a seat and hang on."

I was going to go find a seat somewhere near the windows. But Zuko sat in the Fire Lord's seat and insisted on me sharing that seat with him. Even though it was one very large chair. I thought it was terribly inappropriate. But he said, "Come on, I'm not even sure how long we've got before Ty-Lee's gonna take you away again."

So I surrendered and sat on the thick and cozy arm of his chair. He pulled me down closer when that was still too far. So plastered to his side I complained, "Zuko. We're not alone."

"I know," He acknowledged while he brought my legs over his lap. He continued, "Sorry I don't have a closer, better seat for you yet. It's one of the things I'm working on now."

"No, this is good for now," I said before whispering in his ear. "Let's just wait for the others to get good and distracted and when they're not looking… I'll let you know a little bit of how much I've missed you."

"Just a little bit?" He whispered back.

"Trust me, you couldn't handle it if I let you know all of it." I tried to warn him.

He whispered back, "I think I could surprise, you there."

I had backed up a little when I was whispering, as he pulled me snuggly against him again. I tried to keep the conversation going. So we didn't forget our surroundings, "So it's been a little bit since I was undercover… Do you have any tips about keeping incognito? You've had to live that way a few times."

For a minute I wondered if he heard me at all. He was just breathing in and out deeply before he said. "Pick a name that isn't hard to remember or doesn't sound weird to you when you say it's your name. People can pick up on that stuff real quick. Even when they're nowhere nearly as perceptive as you... how do you always smell so good?"

"Focus Fire Lord, I need you to take my question seriously." I tried to remind him and fought back the urge to smile.

Zuko insisted, "Oh, believe me, you've got my undivided attention future Fire Lady."

I had to keep him on topic, so I complimented. "That's a good one, actually... and I'm pretty good at names since I had to help my parents name Tom-Tom… even though I still liked all of my suggestions far better than what they picked. Especially the ones I'd had ready for if he'd been a girl instead."

He smiled, "I bet yours were a lot more creative and beautiful… but I'm more than a little biased."

"Maybe I'll use one of them I'd liked." I shrugged, still trying to keep some normalcy, so we didn't just make out in front of all of these guards or friends.

Zuko asked, "Are there any traits you've already got in mind for this new character?" Even though I knew he'd caught on to my game and was trying to fudge it.

I revealed, "I'm thinking lots of fake piercings and adding some more tattoos to disguise my real ones. I'm afraid a few of them might be too distinct."

"That's probably wise," he said, even though I could still see in his face that he hated that idea too. He knew the stories behind most of my tattoos. They weren't just rebelling against my parents' perfect image either. He knew how personal every one of them was. He'd even discovered some more the last time we'd gone swimming together on the island. Even those little added markings he didn't want changed. It was so adorable. I felt like I needed to assure him, "It's just for a little while, I promise I will be Mai again before you even get a chance to miss her."

"Trouble with that is I already miss her." Zuko admitted sadly.

"I miss you too, like I said it might take you down if you knew how much." I tried to ease his mind a little. "But it'll get me out of that house, I'll get to be there if or really whenever Ty-Lee needs me. I also don't get to be so far away from you while you're doing what you need to."

"I know," He allowed before asking, "Do you think any of this won't be so terrible when we are married?"

"Hopefully." I said, as everyone around us was finally nice and distracted so I could sneak a kiss. I had to hope this could get better, right now it was tearing me apart just thinking of when I had to go. But when we finally kissed, I was overwhelmed by how much we'd missed each other. I knew that this little tease session wouldn't be nearly enough to make up for all the time apart. So I had to hope that this could get better, with time. I needed Zuko to carry that same hope with him too.

((Sokka's Perspective))

I was sharing my seat with Suki and admiring the view. But really staring at her, Zuko and Mai weren't the only pairing who'd been split up for weeks. Zuko and Mai have been missing each other so much that they barely noticed anyone else was here. I wanted to get as equally lost with my girlfriend, but Suki was turned around in our makeshift loveseat worrying over Ty-Lee. Who was glued to the observation railing encasing the open-air sections behind us.

I even tried to tell Suki, that Ty-Lee was fine… but Suki wasn't convinced. So she only remained seated with me long enough for the craft to take off and for our ship to level off. Then she was checking on our friend who was clearly dealing with more than couple-envy. As the waterworks started to flow, I could see I wasn't getting the same cuddle-fest as the newly-engaged pair. So I decided to join Suki's efforts, how does this woman always rope me into helping so many people?

As I reach the railing myself and ask my girlfriend, "What's wrong with her?"

Suki simplified whatever explanation she'd gotten by saying, "I think it's just great that Mai's going back with her. She's carrying a lot of guilt for what happened on her last day with this circus family."

"What happened?" I asked, "Did you botch your performance and cost them?"

"If ONLY THAT WERE IT!" Ty-Lee bawled.

Over the top of her head, Suki further expressed, "Azula pretty much torched the whole place so she could easily take Ty-Lee with her at the end of the evening."

"Gotcha," I said, patting Ty-Lee's back. "We've all had our fair share of 'Azula-attacks' or 'Azula-antics.' I'm sure that this extension of the family will understand and be glad to see you."

Still bawling Ty-Lee shared, "What if things go sideways? What if I'm walking Mai into a hotbed of hostile hotheads?"

I suggested, "Make her so unrecognizable that no one will have a chance of knowing her. If you're that worried about it, maybe disguise you both and then you're sure to be in and out without a fuss."

"Hey!" The tears turn off like they were never even there. "That's a pretty good idea… Suki, do you think I could borrow some of the girls to work on me and Mai. While we're here on board?"

"I'm sure they'd love that," Suki smiled, before warning. "But you better let them get started on you at the very least. I don't think Zuko is going to give up Mai this soon after takeoff."

"That's okay, he can keep her a little longer," Ty-Lee waved. "Besides they only saw her a couple of times. They all knew me, I'm gonna need the works if I'm gonna pull this off." Then she ran away with impressive speed on her hands calling out, "Bbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyeeeeeee!"

I slang an arm around Suki's shoulders predicting, "She will do great things."

Suki said, "I feel like I should go warn Mai about what Ty-Lee's dragging her into."

I had to suggest, "Maybe wait till Mai's spending time getting made over, and away from Zuko. If he catches even a hint of Ty-Lee's family being angry at her. He'll never let her go and that poor girl NEEDS a break!"

"Yeah! You're right, I'll wait till they're not so… engaged." She pointed out the two sharing the big Fire Lord's seat. You couldn't have fit a piece of paper between them, they were gripping each other so tightly. Any other pair would have been making out and would have disgusted the entire crew by now. But no, leave it to these two to make a cuddle-fest blushworthy. Even I had to admit, they were pretty cute.

But then the moonlight and breeze caught Suki just right and nothing else could have occupied my mind a moment longer. She was too gorgeous, smelled too good and she was giving me that look. Well, if Zuko and Mai weren't gonna gross out the crew in grand showings of PDA… Allow me to make up for the slack.

(Zuko's Perspective)

I'm probably terrible, for swooping in and stealing some of Ty-Lee's time with Mai. I know that Ty-Lee had been planning this to be an epic trip where it was just her and her favorite girl best friend. I'd been hearing her make those plans all week. But I was okay with any names she felt like calling me, as long as I got to steal just a few more minutes with Mai. I had barely spent any time with her since we had gotten back from Toph's new island. To say I've missed her like crazy would be an understatement.

I still didn't like this whole disguise idea. It sounded shady and risky, I didn't like the idea of Mai having to change a hair on her head. If it wasn't her idea or wish from the start. But Mai seemed so glad to be out of her house. Like she was really looking forward to this change and planned on having fun with it. So, I took every moment with her I could, before I had to let go of her again. To let her get made over by the Kiyoshi warriors who volunteered their help.

I didn't get really nervous till Ty-Lee reappeared and I had no clue it was her. She looked like a completely different person. Blonde hair down her back in place of her neat brunette braid. Outrageous make-up all bright and glittery. And her customary pink outfit had been replaced with a rainbow acrobat outfit. Which covered her about as much as bathing suit would. Suki and Sokka were both just as shocked as I was. Nearly all visible skin had been scattered in fake painted-on tattoos that wouldn't wash off for a while. She really did look pretty while at the same time as she looked like someone you didn't mess with.

My concerns for what she could have planned for Mai increased when she said, "A circus isn't a black tie affair... this is how everyone dresses. Especially the girl performers like me."

Suki pointed out, "Yeah, but only if they're performing. I thought you guys were gonna be going to see the show?"

"Well, yeah." Ty-Lee revealed. "But I was hoping for a chance to reprise my old routine. If you ever want to work in any circus, you have to buy a ticket before they'll even look at you. So I want them to look-"

"At just you? Or Mai too?" I had to know. Ty-Lee didn't answer me somehow. So I left her in no doubt of my one condition. I distinctly told Ty-Lee we were not separating till I saw Mai's look. But she totally ignored this command and took off before showing me a thing. Ty-Lee even hammed it up a little more, blowing kisses at us as her separate ship flew out of sight. When I pressed my Kiyoshi warrior protectors about what Ty-Lee had been thinking, defying me like that. They all said the same thing, "Ty-Lee was afraid if I saw Mai I wouldn't let her off of the ship."

If I hadn't been worried before, I still would have been postal after hearing that! I was furious, but thankfully Sokka talked some sense into me. He told me, "This isn't an enemy you're taking aim at, it's Ty-Lee. Don't get mad, get even."

"How am I supposed to do that, exactly?" I asked my friend who shook his head at me.

"Elementary, my dear fellow, you just leave that to us. Suki and me can have something cooked up before you know it. You just focus on making a good impression with these stuffed shirts we're smooshing. You leave the revenge stuff to me."

"You better focus on pleasing them too," I reminded him. He was speaking on behalf of the White Lotus these days.

Sokka waved me off claiming, "No sweat! I could do that in my sleep, we'll have a plan for the revenge thing too, don't worry."

When we landed and were greeted by our hosts we went through all of the usual songs and dances. Before getting settled into the place where we would be staying for the next several days. True to their word, Suki and Sokka did have a plan, but it would have to wait till morning to see if it would work.

The very next morning a letter had come for Suki that was from Ty-Lee, along with a letter from Mai for me. Since Mai had been just as bamboozled by Ty-Lee's getaway as I was. She'd written a quick letter and sent it with all of the lists she'd meant to stuff in my pockets when we actually said bye for a while. I totally missed the way she'd personally tuck them in all of my pockets. But the tone of her letter made it clear that I wasn't the only one mad about this. So that helped me out, a little.

It turns out that not only did Ty-Lee reconnect with this circus family of hers. She had also somehow gotten roped into replacing a few of the acts that had left on family emergencies. So Ty-Lee came out smelling like roses getting everything she'd wanted from this trip overnight. Another thing Mai had been bitter about as well... we are the same person sometimes, aren't we?

Mai shared that it helped her feel a little better that Ty-Lee had been roped into being a clown as well. In between all of her acts of defying gravity in the ceilings, she was honking horns and not aloud to speak words. Even though Mai had to admit her trapeze art outshined everyone else. Mai had been forced into replacing the flaming sword swallower. Not that Mai would be performing that same act… No, she would be operating a knife-throwing attraction as a sideshow, prize stand or game outside of the tent and a replacement act in the main show. That is a lot of dealing with the public, for my fiancée, I could tell she was a bit nervous even though she never outright said it. She would be throwing several other weapons as well, but knives would still be her best. She was excited about the challenge, even if all of the people-pleasing wouldn't come as naturally.

When Sokka had read these same things in Suki's letter he'd said, "Wow! Ty-Lee must have some MAJOR dirt on Mai to make her do all of this. Performing on a stage, under spotlights when Mai usually doesn't talk a whole lot or like attention. Ty-Lee must really have the goods on her."

I know he was mostly kidding but I was still too anxious about Mai being found out. Or getting hurt, or if I were to bump into her, would I even know her. I wouldn't have known Ty-Lee at all and I worried Mai was just as transformed.

Suki had pat me on the back and said, "Don't fret, we'll figure it out. You just focus on the meetings that we're supposed to have today. By tonight I think we'll have a plan in place for our revenge."

True to her word, Sokka, Suki and I disguised ourselves as heavily armored Fire Nation guards. We sat in for these performances under the cover of the biggest pitched tent. We laughed when we spotted Ty-Lee as a clown, we even marveled at her highwire act as well as all of the other trapeze art she'd showcased. But I do have to admit… that I started to feel full on stage fright when "Izumi the Weapon Artist" was introduced. I wasn't even the one who would be going up there and I felt that way. It was like I could feel how Mai felt, even though I shouldn't have any idea at all.

Sokka elbowed me and said, "Mai… That's gotta be Mai."

Suki slapped at him saying, "He knows, he knows, watch your volume. Someone could hear you."

"Alright! Alright!" Sokka complained.

I was truly worried that I wouldn't know Mai whenever I saw her again. But thankfully when she stepped out under that spotlight… I would have still known her anywhere. Her physicality was still the same, she still got laser focused before every throw and she didn't speak a word for her whole performance. She let the ringmaster chatter on while she picked volunteers from the crowd and surrounded them in knives, hatchets or swords.

Being the complete nut he is, Sokka volunteered and got picked out by the ringleader. So he was the victim surrounded in battle-axes on a spinning target. If Mai had suspected anything. She never let on, Sokka came back fully believing he hadn't been recognized. The other thing he came back swearing was, "You like that? All that getting an entire artitenary closet thrown at you?"

"I don't like it all the time," I felt like I needed to clarify. "I only enjoy it when it's Mai, and she thinks she's punishing me."

Sokka simplified, "And the moral to that story boys and girls is that this guy's secretly a FREAK!"

I laughed along with him and Suki and reminded him, "I'm not the only one Water Tribe, I'd watch it if I were you."

"What do ya mean?" He asked innocently. "I've got nothing to hide."

"Oh really?" I felt the need to remind him. "I believe it was you who was dressed as a Kiyoshi warrior, complete with war face paint and everything the first time you and Suki kissed? Am I right?"

"You weren't there! How did you know?" Sokka asked.

"Are you kidding, it's practically a fable among the younger warriors protecting me." I shrugged.

The blush on Sokka's face was all I'd needed to know I was right. But Sokka still choked out, "Fair point."

When the show was over everyone took their bows. But I still couldn't stop staring at Mai. Her hair was down and wild, with a bunch of different colored braids scattered throughout. Her braids were accented in beads or bright hair extensions of all colors. Her dress was purple but it shimmered red, she was in fishnet stocking and her dress had a long slit up her left leg. She had fake piercings in her nose, left eyebrow and lower lip. Her neckline to her dress was high as usual, but nearly backless so the girls had gone nuts giving her a clustering of new fake tattoos all over the place. You couldn't even make out any of her real ones… well, the ones I knew about. I had to admit, even if this wasn't her at all… she was still that heart-stopping kind of gorgeous.

I noticed I didn't see her engagement necklace around her neck. I guessed that would be too recognizable. There had been a whole news scroll write-up just about it and its history. It would be a dead giveaway if she'd kept it on. I would just have to put it back on her when this was all over.

And she really did great, even Suki and Sokka were saying you couldn't take your eyes off of her. So that hadn't just been me... this time.

So against all of Ty-Lee's best efforts, I still got to see what Mai had looked like and I'd even gotten to see her perform. I should be happy, right? That should be plenty of revenge… but I wanted more. So as we left the circus, I secured tickets again for Mai and Ty-Lee's final performances on their last day here. I told Suki and Sokka to plan on making a day out of it. My negotiations would be finalized the day before the girls' last performances. We could come here the next day and spend all day. Let the guards protecting us and everyone else have a little fun too. Then fly overnight to the institute while we slept. It was the perfect plan.

Of course, everyone was all excited about it. But I was looking the most forward to when "Izumi" got to be "Mai" again. Then I could ask her about that name and why she'd chosen it. I knew her answer wouldn't be something ordinary, and I looked forward to it. It hadn't been easy walking away that night not stealing a moment with her. But I somehow made it out promising myself the next time I was here would be a different story.

((Mai's Perspective - On her last day with Ty-Lee's Circus as Izumi))

It's the funniest thing… not funny like ha-ha… but definitely peculiar.

I mean, I have performed here for seven nights straight…never thought I would say that ever.

We've been here eight days if you count the first night we were here when we just watched the show. Then we performed the next six nights, tonight will make it seven.

In that time I feel like the role I'm playing "Izumi" had lived a full life. Her first night I'd been so anxious, I kept my hair down to hide my face and didn't hardly speak two words to anyone. Not even Ty-Lee and she's the whole reason I'm here. The next day at breakfast the group of men who dress drag got a hold of my hair and twisted it into this really pretty updo. That is how Izumi has looked ever sense.

Izumi also beat up some handsy villagers who'd needed to learn a lesson. She'd apprehended a few thieves stealing from the ringmaster… as well as some of the other performers trying to steal from the ringmaster. After spending this much time with the people of this place… I could even understand why Ty-Lee would want to come back. Check up on these people the way she had.

But tonight would be "Izumi's" final performance as the weapon's artist and "Mai" was ready to go- Well, I can't say home exactly. But I was ready to be myself again. I was even looking forward to it, which was a total first for me. I finished up the knife-throwing game I'd been running outside of the biggest tent each day and night till it was showtime again.

I was walking back towards the big tent where the show should be beginning. Some people were standing around the few steps leading into the areas where all of the circus workers met up. When I noticed him again. This tall guy in the (most likely stolen) fire nation guard's outfit that looked like it had seen better days. His face was completely concealed, but you can tell where he's looking. I'd kept noticing him watching my game stand, and I thought he was watching some of the players at first. There had been a few richer Fire Nation nobles at the time, and a bunch of pretty girls the second time I noticed him.

But as I walked towards that back staircase of the restricted section behind curtains… I saw him again as I filed in with all the other performers. All of the ribbon dancers, trapeze artist and otherwise gorgeous girls. They were all heading that way too. Men were almost fighting each other at the chance to lend them a hand as they climbed the stairs that had no safety railing to grip. When Ty-Lee had gone up three guys actually started exchanging punches.

In the heels we're all wearing, they needed a hand… and honestly, I wouldn't have minded one either. If I didn't have to touch slime... My own heels were quite dangerous, but that was the vibe I was going for.

Since most of these men stationed here had been some of the ones I'd taught a lesson to earlier in the week. No volunteers to hand up the knife freak were offered from them… or so I thought. But out of the herd of neanderthals, came a heavy protected hand, attached to that same mask-wearing guy from before. He was offering me his heavily gloved hand wordlessly so I took it thanking him.

The moment I touched his hand. Even though it was heavily garbed and padded… I knew who he was… but he couldn't be… could he? He would not be attending a circus in a rough edge of a village like this. No matter who could be performing there. There was just no way! But my heart pounded insistently, the same way it always had for one person.

As I went inside and prepared for my next performance. My new friends the cross dressers, had noticed the guard watching me, as well as lending me a hand. They fanned themselves and asked me tons of questions. Just to save face I guessed him to be one of my exes, looking to catch up. Its not a total lie, we had been exes before.

The sassiest one of them all swat me with her fan and warned, "Honey a big strong tall thing like that has got more than catchup in mind. Be ready for that, mark my words."

I'd shrugged at them, "If he's who I think he is, He may not be the only one, girls."

They all cat called and told me to, "Get it GIRL!"

But the way my heart pounded, the way he looked at me even though that mask… I knew it was Zuko. And I don't even know how I could possibly know that. I went up on the stage when my cue was called, and tried to ignore the fact that my nerves were all in a jumble for a whole different reason now. I just tried to focus on putting on the best show that I could.

When I got to the part where I was taking volunteers. I called out the guard I knew was really Zuko and tied his hands above his head. Telling him it would hold him in place a little better for me, I even stuck him to the slab of wood behind him by a pick on the back of his hand restraints. Before I pinned him down using my usual knives.

When my set was over, I let all of the other volunteers go except him, I let the platform roll back under the curtains it usually sat behind between shows. With this Fire Guard still stuck in place.

I decided to have a little fun.

As I slipped off my fake face piercings, I said, "I noticed you watching me earlier, at first I thought you were watching over some of the players. But now it's clear to me that you've had your eye on me. Why is that?"

Zuko must have known if he'd spoken at all it would have been a dead giveaway. Because the mime act he was giving me right now was so funny. Especially with his hands still tied above his head like that. All he could really do was nod. I said, "No explanation for me? Not even when you helped me up the stairs?"

I kicked the slab he was stuck to so that it flipped into a table, him still stuck, and I rode the motion hanging on to a hidden grab bar. So when we landed he was laying flat on his back and I was now straddling his waist. "Still no words for me?" I asked, and he confirmed this with a shake of his head. Even though I now had a knife to his throat. I said, "Well I guess there's only one thing left to do." I used the knife to flip the mask open just so I could see his mouth. Then before he said anything I kissed him so well that we accidentally shot off some fireworks that hadn't been working earlier in my show. The way he melted into the contact was hysterical.

When we finally let up and he could speak again. He said, "Given that greeting, I really hope that you knew that was me."

"I did," I confirmed.

"How? What gave it away?" He asked. "I was so careful not to speak when you were close."

"When you helped me up the stairs, I just knew somehow." I shrugged.

"I'm so glad you waited to kick this thing while we're back here and outta sight." Before he teased, "We need to find one of these for the palace."

I had to tease him right back, "Yes, and please let the Fire Elders know that this is the kind of things I plan on bringing to their first peace-loving Fire Lord." As I was pulling out knives everywhere to set him free.

He laughed so lightheartedly, I couldn't help but smile along. When I pulled out the knives surrounding his hands and cut the ties that had been tying his wrists together. His laughter stopped and we locked eyes intensely for a moment. He asked. "Do you always make all of your victims tie their hands together like that? Does it really make me an easier target like you said? When you did it? Or did you just do that because you knew it was me?"

"I will honestly own up… to only doing that because it was you, and I wanted you to have as much fun as I knew I would." His hands and legs were free to trap me now and trap me he did.

Flipped onto my back now and pinned me into place he practically growled, "Wait till we're back on the ship." Then he was the one kissing me like crazy. I honestly have no idea how long we were there just making up for all of the time apart. But in the whole week I've performed here no one's ever had to come looking for me like that to tell me the show was over before. So I'm guessing we were back there a while and I think Ty-Lee may have watched some of our little reunion. Not just because it had been her who'd come looking for us. But also because she kept winking at me and sending me all of these sly looks. I'm afraid to even hear what she thinks she saw… even more afraid to know what she did see.

If anything, I hope her takeaway from this is that we keep these moments private for a reason. A very good reason… I'm still just trying to not be mortified while Zuko is too busy enjoying this. Shamelessly smug saying, "It serves her right the way she's always hassling us about being too private."

"Hopefully we've quieted her down on that theory for a while," I said helping him wipe away a little bit of the dark lipstick my character had needed. It just pulled her whole look together.

He told me, "Leave it I'm wearing a mask who'll see it."

The rest of our time there, we were always holding hands or not far from one another. Even when I was saying bye to all of the new friends I'd made during the week too. Ty-Lee was very tight with the ring-leader brothers, ribbon dancers, clowns and trapeze people. I'd gotten tight with the drag queens, bearded sisters, The guy with horns growing out of his head and rest of the performances known as the freak squad.

I wished them all well and promised to keep up with them all too. Hey, I was complaining about loneliness at the beginning of this chapter. Who doesn't need a few more friends in their lives? After walking a ways away from the circus. We finally reached the hidden location of our airship. My heels were in my hand long before we were walking up that entry ramp. But first stop would be a bathhouse for me, after this. While Zuko's crew was picking up a Fire Elder in the city who would be traveling with us to speak with Azula and Kavin. When Ty-Lee and me were back, we could all sleep onboard while we're headed for the institute. Walking up that ramp holding on to Zuko's hand felt more like coming home to me than I would have felt walking through my own front door.

That's all folks

But don't worry I will be posting again tomorrow. I don't want to leave anyone hanging for too long. Hope this is reaching you well, review if you can, I would love to hear from you. Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85