When the news hit, Mai didn't feel anything. She laid the letter down and stared straight forward, as if she never read it. Because perhaps, if she didn't read it, it wouldn't be true. Her Aunt would still be alive, puttering around the flower shop and reminding Mai to smile now and again. She wouldn't be called back to her village for a funeral.

The news started to sink in. Mai imagined her mother must have been taking it hard, and Tom-Tom…how would they explain it to him? He had escaped the deaths of anyone he knew during the war, but he was still a small child. It wasn't fair for him to have to deal with such matters. And Mura. She was gone.

Mai hung her head, watching as small droplets landed on the parchment, blurring the ink. Perfect. It would wash away the words that had caused so much pain. She was caught up in herself, her grief, enough that she didn't notice when Zuko entered the room behind her. He noticed her tears and was struck silent at the sight of them.

Mai was crying? He instantly knew something must have been awfully wrong. "Mai?"

She jumped up, wiping her eyes and forcing herself to look composed. She would not show weakness in front of him. It had been stupid enough to let herself mourn without ensuring she wouldn't be interrupted. "I'm fine, allergies. It's nothing," she lied. It was a pathetic one, but she hoped it would be enough to get Zuko to leave her alone.

But of course it wasn't. He was kind enough to not comment on catching her crying, at least.

"What's going on?" he questioned, concern lacing his tone. He stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder which she shrugged off. He should've expected it—she had been pulling away from touch lately, figuring herself out. Still, he wished she'd let him try to offer her solace.

Without a word, Mai handed over the letter her mother had sent requesting she come home for the funeral service.

Zuko thought for a moment, trying to process what had happened. He had only met her parents, but Mai had mentioned a few times her aunt. She seemed quite fond of her, and losing anyone was tough. He decided he would do all he could to support her in this time, even if it required insisting.

"I'm very sorry, Mai. I'll handle arranging the trip to your village, we can leave in the morning."

"We?"

"You shouldn't have to travel alone right after losing someone you love."

She opened her mouth to protest, but closed it again quickly. It would be too difficult to spend the boat ride there by herself, just thinking. Thinking about going to that shop and not seeing her aunt there was almost too much to imagine. She would need a friend by her side. So she nodded, placing the pain deep inside her and deciding to address it at another time.

As promised, the boat was ready in the morning. Mai was silent as she climbed aboard, fearing that if she spoke she might begin to cry once more. Zuko respected her quiet demeanor, sticking close and telling her stories that didn't require her to reply.

She slept much of the journey, but barely touched her food. There was no appetite; it worried Zuko, but he understood the pain she was suffering. Time, he reminded himself. She needed time to be alright again.

He was relieved to see her smile as a small boy crashed into her knees upon their arrival, tightly clinging to her until she picked him up and held him close to her chest. Mai had missed him terribly, and he was so much bigger than she last remembered. At least he still seemed to be alright. He snuggled into her neck, arms wrapped around her.

"I missed you so much, Mai!"

"I missed you, too, I guess," she sighed out, grinning slightly. At least he was here. He would make this all bearable. She set him down after a while, almost reluctant, but she could see the tears brimming in her mother's eyes and knew Michi needed her. They weren't close, no, but Mai loved her mother regardless. Losing a sister was hard. Mai would hate to lose Tom-Tom.

She hugged her mother as well, a bit of an awkward action. But Michi sunk into it, holding her daughter close. "Thank you for coming, Mai. It's been too long."

Their embrace ended once Mai felt her mother had gained some amount of strength back from it. She turned, motioning for Zuko to come forward. Her mother quickly bowed, trying to smile for him as she welcome him inside. "Oh, Fire Lord Zuko, I didn't realize you would be joining Mai, I hope you'll find our home welcoming."

"I'm sure it will be more than fine. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Mura had a good heart…" Michi trailed off, her expression darkening before the tears returned. Mai passed over a handkerchief and led her to the couch to sit while Tom-Tom stared quizzically at Zuko.

"Your Mai's boyfriend?" he asked. Zuko smiled, her brother hadn't been at the wedding with his parents, so this was their first meeting. He was cute, with black hair like Mai's.

"No, we're married," he clarified. It was a bit awkward to say; they didn't feel or act married, but that was between them more than anyone else.

"Mommy keeps crying because Auntie Mura isn't coming back. Do you know where she went?"

Zuko swallowed hard, unsure how to answer the question. Was he supposed to tell a child about death? He tried to remember what his mother had told him when Lu Ten passed, but still, then, he had been older than Mai's brother. He kneeled down, expression solemn. "Her spirit left this world, I'm very sorry."

The boy ran this over in his mind, frowning heavily but still not quite grasping the concept. "I want her to come back, though."

Zuko gave him a small pat on the head, looking down. "I know."

Mai returned after her mother quieted, her brow raised in question at the interaction unfolding between Zuko and her brother. He looked up at her, his gray eyes sad. So unlike the normal mischievous expression he wore. "Auntie is really gone?" he asked Mai.

"Yes, she is." She scooped him up again, allowing him to cry into her chest. Zuko's heart tinged with guilt, feeling horrible for having broken it to him and making him cry, but Mai turned to face him instead. "Thank you. We were struggling with how to tell him; you did a good job, I believe. It's only fair we be honest with him."

Zuko nodded, feeling a little bit better, but still hating that he made the child cry. There was some more relief when he stopped, having fallen asleep on Mai's chest. He followed her up as she laid him in his bed, tucking him into the covers. It was nice to see her nurturing side, even if the circumstances were grim.

Despite all her sleep, Mai looked exhausted when she turned back around. She rubbed her temples. Dinner was soon, but there was still time to rest before then.

"I need to lay down, I think. You're free to any of the house, there's servants here too, not very many. Normally my mother would love to entertain you, but…" She didn't need to explain. "You can relax in my old room as well."

She led him down the hall, pushing the door open that had been closed for a year now. Inside were three rooms, all belonging to her. A bathroom, the bedroom, and a small area for lounging in during the day.

No, she noticed. Not a year. Tom-Tom's stuffed bear laid upon her couch. She smiled a bit at that, weakly. Of course he would want to play in her room. He always had begged to be allowed in, until Mai relented.

She left Zuko to his own devices, laying in her bed. More evidence not a year had passed since anyone entered it. The sheets were fresh. But, then again, the servants had known she was returning. The funeral was tomorrow.

She closed her eyes.

Tomorrow her aunt would be paid her last respects. She shut it out. Now was not the time to mourn. Her family needed her.

The funeral passed in a blur of white for Mai. White robes, milling about, offering condolences, speaking of how they loved Mura, wishing her soul be at peace. She was exhausted when it was over, the smell of smoke haunting her as she crawled back into bed, her pure white robes thrown to the floor without a care.

She laid within the sheets in her underwear, trying to focus on only the feeling of the fabric on her skin. But the smoke.

The smell. Her aunt, left to ashes that would be kept in an urn. Her aunt, kept upon a mantle.

Zuko didn't bother enter the room; he heard her cries from outside and knew she needed space.

She came out after hours had passed, freshly bathed and in a robe, pretending as if nothing happened while Zuko milled about her collection of books.

"I'll have to put off studying for a while, I can try to apply next year," she mentioned, reminded suddenly of her wishes to enter back into school. "My mother will need me for the rest of the month to mourn." And she didn't have the energy to pour herself into it anymore.

Zuko nodded, trying to gauge her mood, but her expression was flat and untelling. "I'll stay till the end of the week; I wish I could stay longer, but…"

"I understand, you've done more than enough."

The two fell into silence until Mai moved in closer, letting her mask fall for just a moment. "It's helped me to have you here, I appreciate the support."

She leaned into him, silent until her mother called them down for dinner. It wasn't much, but it helped.

Her father seemed rather unaffected by the events, so while Mai and her mother picked at their food without a word, Ukano attempted to lay on the charm, vying for Zuko's attention and political favor. Her stomach turned as her father praised Zuko's efforts as Fire Lord. It was all lies, but she held her tongue. She wasn't to speak unless spoken to when her father was at the table, and with company to impress, his fury at her disrespect would've only escalated.

Soon enough, it was time to retire to bed. It seemed to not matter how much she slept the past few days. Either way, exhaustion weighed on her heavy. Coiled up against Zuko's chest, sleep came quickly.

They parted with a hug when it came time for Zuko to leave. Part of her wanted to scream at him not to go; not to leave her alone with her parents, in this house, with these memories, but instead she wished him safe travels and turned back into the house.

"He's a nice boy," her mother commented when she was back inside, sitting with a half-finished blanket and knitting needles, not making a move to actually progress.

"Yes, I could have fared worse."

Michi set the blanket aside, moving to stand with her daughter. She bit into her bottom lip, trying to piece together what she wanted to say, but finding it hard. The death of her sister reminded her that telling those you love how much you loved them was important. The chance could be lost in a moment's notice.

"I…I'm very proud of the young woman you've become."

"Because I married the Fire Lord?"

She flinched. Such a comment was expected from Mai. The family had fought for weeks upon Mai's betrothal.

"No, because you're smart, beautiful…you've been kind to me, kind to Tom-Tom. I thought you wouldn't come home. That you hated us now."

Mai tilted her head, eyeing her mother in confusion. It must've been the grief speaking.

"Father's the one who made me get married…" She tested the waters, careful around her mother's words, trying to understand what she was getting at. Her mother had never been proud of her before. Pleased, maybe, that she behaved well. But never proud.

Michi frowned, her shoulders drooping at the uncertainty in Mai's tone. For once, she wished, it would be simple to talk to Mai. To understand what her daughter wanted and needed. To be able to read her. "I'm not a very good mother, am I?" she asked, her voice hollow.

"I ended up alright in the end, didn't I?" Not an answer, but not a lie. There was a fight within her, of love for her mother and a desire for her to be happy, mixed with years of resentment and hurt feelings created in the past. Her mind was fuzzy still, turned with the mourning of her aunt. She suddenly wanted to lie down. "I think I'm just going to nap now."

Michi nodded with a sigh. "Sleep well."

A/N: Mai's time at her parents will continue in the next chapter. Sorry Mura :c

Let me know what you think, I'll try to keep updating often!