Hi! Cali, here!

This is the first Korra fanfic I've written... and I'm not 100% sure how I feel about it, but... I mean... it's... well, you be the judge. Enjoy!

This is why Mako's so over-protective of Bolin.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Legend of Korra or anything related to it. I only own Kikumi.

He choked on thick columns of smoke, following him as closely as the ghosts that were sure to haunt his every day.

Run!

Tiny fingers slipped through his grasp as his mother's words echoed in his mind.

No.

"Mako!" The scream was thick with fear. He could hear her bracelets shaking against the ground as she sobbed, but he didn't turn around.

Not happening.

"Kikumi!" Her name slid past his lips, even as he ran. There was no turning around, then. Not when he'd left her so far behind. There was no saving her.

"Mako!" Her scream ricocheted around the brick alleyway, his name shredding her throat.

Bolin is still at Lao's house.

He turned, freezing at the sight of his little sister on the ground. Tears were spilling down her tiny face, a whimper crawling up her throat as she stared after him with her wide hazel eyes.

"Please!" The cry fell past her lips even as flames licked up towards her shoe, the bottom catching fire.

Keep running. Get Bolin.

He saw that he had turned in the other direction, racing against the clouds of ash in the sky. He was numb, eyes forced wide against the relentless streams of tears that fell from his eyes.

Visions of his parents danced before his eyes: flames singeing his mother's hair and sweat pouring from his father's face, mixing with his tears. His mother's aqua-blue eyes wide as she tried desperately not to scream. ("Run, Mako!") His father's face, blackened as the hooded man pulled his hand back.

Kikumi's eyes wide as she watched her parents, raggedy fire-ferret toy clutched tightly in her arms. ("Mommy? Mommy!") Her fingers, tiny in his hand, shaking as she strained to keep up with him.

I should have carried her…

He didn't stop until he reached the harbor. Knees to the ground, head tipped over the side, he retched viciously. He sat there, watching as his tears mixed with sea water and bile. Thoughts were all jumbled in his head. Vowing to grab Bolin as soon as she shaking stopped, he curled up into a ball and sobbed. He buried his face into the stuffed toy that still smelled like smoke and his little sister, the toy he'd clung to instead of his sister's hand.

Tied around the tiny toy's neck, was his father's scarf—bright red against the faded fur. He untwisted the knot and slung the scarf around his neck, eyeing the toy again.

Kikumi threw her arms around his neck and giggled, "Gotcha, Mako!"

He laughed right back, bringing her legs up so that her feet locked right near his belly-button. "Man…"

"Piggy-back ride!" She crowed excitedly, the tail of her ferret tickling his chin.

Without another word, he slung the toy into the ocean and turned on his heel.

He had to find Bolin.

So... it's not the happiest of things, but what did you think? I'm still a little unsure about it... and I've written better, but I like the plot. :)

Please review!

~Cali