Mai #3

----Took a while, but we back.-----

-----Mai pov-----

I had doubts about this Toph girl. Number one I kept catching Orin seemingly compare me and her. Number two well she was blind. Except after that metal box and tunneling through the walls she seemed competent enough. Orin was only using water bending which left this girl to all the earth bending.

Which really took a while, but now we were in a new tunnel. This one was actually well maintained and carved out properly. It even connected to a second door to the metal box. The blind girl pushed her hand out. "Wait! there is people inside the walls."

Orin then snapped, "Its a prison!"

I looked at him, and my words wiped his excitement. "Why would a secret tunnel from the palace enter into a prison?"

Orin raised a finger and then lowered it. "Huh, that is a problem. On the bright side maybe Toph's mom is in one of these cells."

Looking at Orin I studied him a second. Taking the lead, "Sokka, Toph why don't you look into the cells. Me and Orin will keep watch."

Sokka snapped his fingers, "Let's get started Toph."

Once those two began searching I took a second to study Orin some more. I grabbed him by his arm and he actually flinched slightly. His face was blank, but... Whispering to him. "*Are you okay? You seem out of it.*"

Orin shook his head, "*Just a little dizzy actually. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.*" I let go of his arm, I needed to talk to Azula and Ty Lee about this.

Going back to watching the hallways, I didn't expect the sound of blasting fire. Turning around I looked to see what happened. A bunch of smoke and dust was in the air and Sokka and Toph were behind a rock wall.

"Well they aren't the ones who put us in here."

My eyes widened as I recognized that voice. Orin beat me to it though. "General Iroh?"

When the dust settled Iroh was waved at us. While Zuko stood ready to fire bender. I sighed, "How are you two here?"

Zuko blinked, "Mai? Wait! WHERE'S AZULA!"

"She isn't down here. Now would you mind lowering your guard? We are a little busy."

Iroh studied Orin and nodded, "That young man is right. It seems this is a rescue party just not for us. Ha! I guess you must be jealous Zuko!"

Zuko glared at his Uncle and I could feel my own embarrassment. "Wait you guys know each other?"

Zuko looked at Sokka and jumped, "YOU! WHERE'S THE... I mean uh..."

Before Sokka could try to attack Zuko I tossed a knife into his sleeve. "Don't, they can help."

"They chased us half way across the world trying to capture Aang?"

I raised an eyebrow, who the fuck was Aang. Orin responded though, "If they are here he liekly gave up. I assume Zuko is in a depressive slump right now. Where his uh chi or whatever is slowly falling out of whack."

What Orin said must be true, because Iroh nodded and Zuko actually did lower his guard. Sokka crossed his arms and Toph just seemed lost. She ended up breaking the tension, "Well you guys can keep up your circle there, but I'm gonna find my mom."

Iroh pushed Zuko towards me, "Why don't you catch up with an old friend. I will help this young miss."

Sokka jumped, "I'll help too! You are cool, but your nephew..."

Zuko gave a sad looked and I heard a slight giggle out of Orin. Elbowing him in the ribs he gave a look of ignorance. Zuko ended up speaking first, "How are you?"

I sighed, "I'm good, you know besides this reunion." Trying to play it off, "This is Orin, he's my, friend."

Before Orin could make a noise again i elbowed him. "What? I didn't even do anything?" Orin's expression flickered and he nodded. "It is okay, I'll go watch for Dai Lee."

I bit my lip at that, it help me calm down. I focused myself, while Orin walked off. Zuko grabbed his arm and moved forward. I pushed him backwards. "Its been a while hasn't it? Do you have any plans?"

Zuko looked a little hurt, but changed his expression a second later. I knew why, I sighed. Before he managed to speak I continued. "I mean when you get back home."

Zuko scratched his head and the shaggy hair that started to grow in. "I gave up on catching the avatar. Despite knowing he close I just don't want to struggle for attention. Uncle is enough."

I nodded leaning back against the wall. "Well I should fill you in on Azula's plans. Well I guess my plans too. Orin and Azula wish to help the avatar to defeat your dad. After that she intends to take his place and end the war. Some stuff after that, but basically I'll be what Orin has dubbed Foreign Relations."

"Orin is that guy who's over there? He looks like a idiot."

"He is, but He isn't... Though right now he seems a little off. Normally he just acts stupid to analyze people. He is like a more sane Azula, he actually reigns her in so she isn't as bad."

Zuko seemed skeptical and I shrugged, "I mean it, I was thinking about disappearing, setting off start a store somewhere. He made me think different, but ultimately back to my question. What do you plan to do?"

Zuko looked down backing up against the wall, "Sounds like you like him."

"Plans."

He sighed and responded, "I don't know, I still don't know. I've always been lost, indecisive." Zuko slid down to the ground crossing his arms.

I offered a hand out, "You could look for your mom."

"What?"

I felt a little stiff, "Listening in, learning some stuff. I don't know how Orin found it out, but your mother is apparently alive. He wants her to be dead though, for Azula's sake. Which is surprising, but makes sense knowing her."

Zuko took my hand and got up, "Then that guy, is he...?"

I sighed having to explain the question I was avoiding. Not like it matter though, I couldn't say I loved Orin. Not like Azula, but he was someone I wouldn't lose. "Yeah I don't want too be corny or cheesy, but there is no future with us Zuko. There never was, after all even if Azula didn't break us apart. We just don't fit together."

In more ways then one, but I wasn't gonna say anything like that. Heh, just thought of a funny joke to tell Orin later. Best to tell him away from Zuko or everyone else actually just encase someone like Ty Lee retells it.

I heard a crash down the hall and me and Zuko turned. Toph yelled out, "FOUND HER!"

How lovely and perfectly timed.