...finally, done with it...

...A Goat: please know how terribly sorry i am for procrastinating... this has gone far too long... i always say i don't believe in writer's block, but being uninspired can be really annoying...hope you still enjoy this, no matter how seemingly rushed the ending is...

Dearest Mai,

Hope you are well upon receiving this.

Sokka has been pestering me about you. I did all I can to dissuade him but he was persistent. In the end, he said that if it was your intention to avoid him, then he would respect that. He just want to know if you are okay and if you are happy. He looked genuinely hurt, Mai. I was so close to telling him you are in Gaoling but my friendship with you has far more depth than my empathy for him. I just wish you'd tell him yourself how you are.

Zuko probably knows where you are. He hasn't been asking me about you anymore but he still looks at me like I'm guilty of something. Oh, did I tell you he was just as persistent as Sokka was with asking me where you are? But knowing him, you should really maybe thinking of moving somewhere else because he's probably got you monitored now.

You know, I still fell sorry for him though. He's still not married and I heard from some blabbering servants at the palace when Suki and I last visited him that he's been arguing a lot with his Council. There were still incessantly persuading him to agreeing to an arrange marriage with some nobleman's daughter in Fire Nation. I think they even mentioned marrying him off to some other nation's girl of noble blood as this would further their conquest of reuniting nations. They said he walked off the meeting flaring up and didn't come out of his chambers for days.

He still loves you, Mai. I just know it. His aura is so gloomy, it often reminds me of yours, but a bit on a lighter side. No offense. He once slipped up and told me that he misses you and will continue to wait for you even if it takes forever. That may not be his exact words, but I think that's what he meant. I find it romantic, but Mai, please don't wait forever.

I have to go. Suki's calling me. I'm late for our training. She's gonna be hell to deal with if I don't come out this moment. Gee, she's scaring the messenger hawk with her screaming.

Say hi to Toph for me. And say hello to his fiance as well. I can't believe she's marrying ahead of us. I better find me some cutie soon before she even bear her first child. I just don't want to be a godmother before I'm married.

Oh, ok. This is really it. Write back soon, okay.

Your friend,
Ty Lee

Mai carefully rolled the parchment and tucked it back into her sleeves. She looked in front of her as the sun shied away from sight and hid beneath the canopy of clouds. She released a defeated sigh she never thought she held and looked ahead as the sun peeked a little, only to be slowly swallowed by the horizon before it finally set to give away to the dark sky. It felt like it was just yesterday when she witnessed the same scene, albeit from different locations and together with different companions. It's just ironic that right now she's looking at it with sadness in her eyes, alone.

It's been five years since she made the decision to leave the Fire Nation and started wandering the many places of Earth Kingdom. It's also been five years since she said goodbye to both Zuko and Sokka.

After returning from Ty Lee's week long celebration in Ember Island, she went straight to Zuko's chambers. She knew that he would be coming in later that evening and if she were to talk to him, she had to do it as soon as he arrived. Any second late and she would have lost the will to do what she was set to do. She just had to end the craziness.

She expected Zuko to be extremely angry, violent or intense. However, Zuko's reaction to her revelation of her secret affairs with Sokka was nothing but that. He simply looked at her, calm and composed, and declared that he'd known all along. He said that he had just been waiting for her to tell him and knew that if he were to question her about it, it would just incite a fight between them. He also explained that even though it pained him to know that she had been spending time with another man, he had no choice but to accept it. He had to accept it because he was afraid to lose her.

It wasn't her intention to end it right there. She simply wanted to come clean with Zuko, but her conscience and her pride had dictated otherwise. She knew she cannot stay with Zuko knowing what she just found out. She hated herself for hurting him. She hated herself for being selfish. And most importantly, she hated herself for letting it get to this.

That night, despite Zuko's pleas of stopping her, she left the palace. And without informing her parents, she fled the Capital City. She didn't know where to go, but she thought that staying in the Fire Nation was out of the question.

That night, she left Zuko. She left him without telling him that she already ended everything with Sokka.

For the first few days, she found herself in an unnamed boat to the Earth Kingdom. She didn't know where she would go, but thinking about going to a place where no one knew her was the best idea she had. It wasn't long though that she was found by Toph, who at that time was looking for new recruits for her new school. Luckily, Sokka was not with her, but unlucky for her, she couldn't lie to Toph and had to tell her about what in the world was she doing in the Earth Kingdom, in Earth Kingdom Clothes.

Things hadn't been simple living under Toph's shelter, but she was thankful for the company. Despite not wanting to admit it, it was an educational journey for both of them.

The sound of rustling leaves brought her back to the present. She glanced slightly to her right, readying herself to launch at whatever or whoever was hiding within the bushes. Her fingers tighten on a dagger on her left arm, her muscles tightening. There was tiny bit of vibration on the ground before she saw the ground rise up to reveal Toph emerging from the trees surrounding her little hideaway. She relaxed her hands and stood to properly greet her noble friend, swatting the dirt off her skirt.

"Ah! I knew I'd find our little recluse here." Toph declared as she stopped in front of Mai. She turned to her right before shouting, "Hey, she's here. Come over here already."

"Little huh? Coming from somebody who's still shorter than me, maybe I should call you tiny." Mai countered. Toph may have gotten a bit taller with age, but Mai still towers over her by a few inches.

As if to answer her insults, a handful of dirt showered Mai and covered her hair. Mai squinted to prevent some of the dirt from falling over her eyes and her hand immediately conjured a couple of daggers from her sleeves.

"Bring it on, hermit!" Toph shouted, eyes glinting with mischievousness.

"Toph! Lady Mai! Please stop this." A man's voice broke the silence between the two warriors but neither of them looked away. It was only when the owner of the voice came to view and walked over to touch Toph's shoulder did Mai relax her posture.

"We were just having fun, you doofus. Now, you just ruined it." Toph swatted the hand on her shoulder and smiled. "And besides, unlike you, I can dodge her daggers."

"But isn't that the reason we were practicing earlier? I was able to counter 80% of your attacks didn't I?" The boy timidly answered. He had been wearing a nobleman's clothes but he was partly covered in dirt; proof that he and Toph had been earthbending.

"So what, 20% still hit you. And you haven't mastered Metal Bending either."

Mai looked on as the two bantered on and rolled her eyes. The man may have been too timid for the likes of Toph, but she knew that he can still hold his own in a fight. She had fought him before and although she had won every fight, she didn't get away unscathed.

Seeing that the two were too preoccupied with their own talks, she slowly began walking away from them. Although her solitary time had been interrupted, she was actually about to go back to mansion anyway so they just wasted their time looking for her. She reminded herself though that she'd have to find another secluded spot tomorrow where they won't locate her.

"Wait there missy, you're not getting away that easy." Toph moved the ground underneath the both of them to bring them face-to-face.

"I really would appreciate if you stopped doing that. I can walk on my own, thank you very much." Mai grimaced after nearly falling off her feet. She should have been used to it by now, but that didn't mean it didn't still annoy her.

"Oh! Shut it. I still have things to talk to you about." Toph's un-moving blank eyes stared at Mai and although she knew that she could not see her, she knew that Toph can still tell that she felt nervous somehow.

Mai rolled her eyes and turned around. "I already said it's okay, right? How many times are you going to ask me about it. It's your wedding, not mine. You can invite whoever you want. They're your friends."

"You know I'm still mad at you for breaking Sokka's heart, right?" Mai stiffened at the sudden confession of Toph and she knew Toph felt it too. She turned her gaze to the earth beneath her but before she can reply, Toph continued. "You got to do first base with him and I couldn't even get a kiss on the cheek"

"Toph!" The forgotten man behind them suddenly interjected. Apparently, even with how direct Toph was, her fiancee was still not used to her way with words.

"Relax, sweetheart. You'll get all bases with me." The said man blushed and stammered a reply but was a little too slow. In a moment's notice, Toph had turned around and skidded back to her soon-to-be-husband and grabbed his arms. "Come on, we still have time to practice before dinner"

The man blushed a deep red that Mai could have sworn his face could rival the color of her headband. Despite Mai's Earth Kingdom clothes, she retained a little bit Fire Nation accessory with her. Since she had forgone her twin buns, preferring a shoulder length hairdo, she had been wearing a maroon silk headband.

"I mean, we practice earthbending, you idiot. Stop trying to kiss me already." She heard Toph say before she muffled a giggle, as their voices faded amongst the forest behind her.

The wedding was simple. Mai was surprised that despite Toph's or rather the Bei Fong's stature, the wedding of their only daughter was nothing extravagant and had only a few respectable guests in attendance. Standing beside one of the pillars of the big room they were in, Mai leaned on the wall and sipped on her wine. She looked around and saw a few familiar faces; faces she'd rather not see and faces she'd never thought she'd ever see again.

The moment Zuko arrived, she had tried to avoid him but she could feel his gaze upon her a few times she walked around the room trying to hide. She knew it was inevitable to meet him again since she agreed to have Toph invite them. After all, as she had just said, they were her friends and she didn't want to be selfish. She didn't want to skip the wedding either because in spite of not really being a fan of the ceremony, she had become fond of the little earthbender and wouldn't want to miss a special event such as this.

Sokka's arrival was less controversial as Zuko's and only managed to turn a few head; majority of whom were just curious to see who the loud mouth was, shouting celebratory remarks at the newly weds. When their gazes met though, she was torn between acknowledging it and ignoring it. Sokka had made the decision for her and smiled her way. Gripping the wine glass, she replied with an honest smile.

When the crowd was too much for her to handle, she silently slipped out on the back and as she exited the archway, she came across Zuko.

"Your hair looks nice" Zuko complimented, smiling his crooked grin at her. "When did you cut your hair?"

Mai for a moment closed her eyes and sighed, dragging her feet away from where she stood to walk past Zuko, and into a bench just beyond the archway. The smell of the seaside wafted before them as the evening wind blew across the place where the wedding reception was being held.

"I mean it. It looks nice on you. I've always seen you with your long hair, it's a nice change, you know to see you with short hair. I mean you look nice with short hair."

"Give it up Zuko." Mai cut him. Zuko stopped as he was just about to sit next to her thinking that his efforts were wasted. He started to move to leave her alone when just as suddenly, she continued. "I know this is not the first time you've seen me. You're not exactly stealthy, you know."

"Really, was I that obvious?" Zuko sheepishly slipped to sit beside her. Mai spared her a glance before rolling her eyes and took a moment to reply. Although she never really saw Zuko, she knew he had followed her since he found out where she was staying; just as Ty Lee had said.

"No." Mai curtly answered.

"Then, how did you know that I... oh..." Realizing how he just gave himself away, Zuko bowed his head in shame. How could he fall for the same trick twice? Apparently, years of being a Fire Lord hadn't changed him that much.

"So how are you? What have you been up to?" Despite being nervous, Zuko tried to open the conversation again. However as soon as he tried, he was again shut down by Mai.

"You should already know that too, right?"

"I know. I guess, I just wanted to hear your voice. It's been years since we last talked and things were not that cheery when we last talked."

"I'm not 'cheery'."

"I know!" Zuko snapped. The air between them felt hot and Mai felt her lips were too dry to speak. She sipped the remaining drop of her wine and stared at it as she twirled the empty glass between her fingers.

"I just... you know, I miss you Mai." Zuko turned to face Mai, who remained solemn, still carefully turning the glass in her hand. "And I miss talking to you."

The light from inside the reception area had suddenly dimmed and the two of them were momentarily bathed in the moonlight. It would have made Mai's heart beat faster if not for the fact that Zuko had not made a move besides facing her. His hand were glued flat to the bench they were sitting on and his face still staring at her. When she didn't move to look at him, she felt him turn and slowly rise. By reflex, her free hand grabbed his and without looking at him, she pulled him back to the bench.

"I met with Unc...General Iroh last year." She started. Zuko sat next to her without saying a word, putting both his hand behind him to support him as he leaned back. As he looked up to the star-filled darkened sky, Mai continued her story. "It was when Toph had delivered her invitation for her wedding. According to her, he was especial but I think she just wanted to ask him to serve tea for the reception. I guess, you never told him what happened, huh?"

Zuko could only nod.

"He gave me this." Mai pointed to the silk headband that she had been wearing. Since it was a bit dark, Zuko never really noticed it, but upon close inspection, he noticed the emblem on it. It was the symbol of the royal family.

"That's..." Zuko stammered to tell her what that headband meant, but he was too shocked to continue.

"I refused to accept it, of course. After all, I don't deserve anything of the Royal Family after what I did to you. But your uncle is nothing but persuasive, you know."

"It's my mother's." He finally declared. This time, it was Mai's turn to be shocked and as if by instinct, her hand flew to the headband to remove it. However, Zuko's hand was faster than hers and stopped her from doing so.

"I didn't know..."

"I gave it to Uncle Iroh." Zuko interrupted. "The council didn't stop in forcing me to marry even after we broke up. But I knew I couldn't just marry anybody. I couldn't marry just anybody. I went to Uncle Iroh for advise. I didn't tell him the real reason why we broke up but I think he sort of got an idea. Out of options, I gave him that headband and asked him to choose a bride for me. I knew he would know better than me to decide on who should I marry. I never thought he'd give it to you."

Mai looked at the hand that was still holding her wrist and slowly turned hers and used it to intertwined their hands. Zuko's eyes widened at the action and his head turned to her immediately. She knew it was a long shot, but she be a fool to deny what she really wanted.

"I'm willing to try again."

That was all Mai had to say before he, boldly and without hesitation, closed the distance between them.

He heard, rather than saw, Zuko kissing Mai. He was thankful that the crash of the waves beyond them had partially subdued the painful sound. Zuko might have done something, and Sokka wished it was just something he said than did, because Mai giggled. The sound overcoming the hurt he felt just a few seconds ago. He missed that sound. He missed Mai's little expressions of happiness. He already missed Mai.

He trudged back to his friends, nearly tripping the loose sands of Kiyoshi Island. He just wanted to be surrounded by people right now, to help him forget the feeling of jealousy he had no right to feel. But he remembered that Toph was there. Toph would detect his emotions and knowing Toph, she would ask. She would ask until she gets answers, and she will get the answers because she can tell if he was lying. The idea of going back is now getting discouraging and just going back to his room, alone, seems to be the best course of action. Begrudgingly, he turned right and followed the path towards their rooms.

This is not the first time Sokka had tried stealing somebody else's girlfriend. And it's not the first time he lost.

...i won't say that i have another maikka in my to-do-list because i don't know when i'll be done with that.. but meh! =P