Chapter 1: A Hearty Welcome
I know now.
It was her.
Korra thought this briefly as light of the spirit portal enveloped them both, she was still staring into her deep emerald eyes;
It wasn't just Kuvira I had to become more compassionate towards, it was her. She was suffering all this time and I was just too scared and too selfish to accept it.
The light of the spirit portal was a blinding yellow, but Korra knew what she had to do and with a gentle hand to her friends face, Korra pulled Asami down and into a beautiful eager kiss, as she felt Asami shudder in surprise but soon pull into it with her gorgeous red lips. The eagerness grew, they explored each other with their lips pulling closer and closer into each other that felt it would never end, Korra hadn't felt this happy in a long time and somehow she could feel Asami was the same.
The light of the portal faded and they both slowly parted, trying to resist the temptation return to their sweet kiss. Asami pulled her hair back and stared into Korra's deep blue eyes, and Korra watched back entranced by the girl in front of her, neither of them even noticed for a while that they had arrived right in the middle of the purple flower field.
"Oh, we're here!" Korra announced as she laughed and took Asami by the hand as they ran off "I've got so much to show you, the tree of time, the Dragon-Birds..."
"Korra…" Asami slowed down and let go of Korra's hand
"Asami? What is it?" Korra look disheartened as she stood in front of her friend
Asami stood silent for a moment, her face hidden behind her silky black hair. Korra was plainly worried. Oh no, I did something wrong, I shouldn't of kissed her. I knew I shouldn't have kissed her, she wasn't ready for it, this is a big mistake, we shouldn't have….
"Korra…" Asami rushed in to Korra's chest "There's something I want to do first"
This time Asami pulled Korra in for the tender kiss, growing hungrier as she began to explore with her tongue. Korra became weak at the knees, enough so that Asami leaning into her pushed her down into the field of purple.
The both of them chuckled as a brief stare into each other's eyes lead into more. Asami over the Avatar kissing intently, involved in every graze of the tongue and push of the lips. Asami became more eager, leaning down besides Korra her hands started rushing all over Korra, she slowly circled round the outer of Korra's clothed breast with her hands as Korra moaned embracing her sensations, trailing down the softly defined muscles of her stomach, lower and lower. Asami's hands couldn't go any lower as she stroked the Avatar's thighs trailing up again until…
"No, Asami…Stop" Korra snapped
Asami looked stunned, Korra pulled away and shuffled backwards away from Asami who was looking dreadfully frightened at the fear she may have crossed the line.
"I'm sorry Asami, it's just…" Korra turned away looking very saddened, before she was completely stunned by what was happening around.
What they both hadn't noticed in the time of their escapades, the purple flowers of the field had blossomed into at least three time's their normal size, spirits of all manor shape and size were dancing in the sky above, pink and blue spirits had come around and seemingly engorged on the happenings around.
"Whoa, I thought something around must have been effecting the spirits" Said a soft familiar voice as it pushed through the large purple flower "Oh, I didn't know it would be you two"
Asami and Korra quickly got up trying to obviously cover up what they had been doing, brushing down themselves as Korra turned to the white bearded man,
"Iroh! It's so good to see you again" Korra smiled as she got up to give him a big hug
"It's good to see you too Korra" Iroh hugged back "and who is this beautiful young lady?"
"This is Asami, Iroh" Korra present the beautiful girl who bowed "She's my…uh, friend"
"I take it more than friends if you two called those passion and love spirits dancing up above us now" Iroh chuckled
Korra's face exploded red in a puff of hissing steam, Asami turned away herself doing the same luckily hidden under her length of black hair.
"Remember Korra, the Spirit world changes based on how you feel" Iroh started "This growth and beauty can only be the result of a powerful love and need for each other, I'm happy for both of you"
Asami and Korra stared back at each other again, knowing that what Iroh said was only too true.
"So…Korra" Asami started as they awoke from each other's gaze "This is Iroh? Thee General Iroh, Lord Zuko's uncle and famous Dragon of the West"
"Oh please, don't use so many titles" Iroh chuckled "I'm just a humble purveyor of tea for my spirit friends, do you want to have some with us? I also play a rather good game of Pai Sho"
"Asami's awesome at Pai Sho Iroh!" Korra enthusiastically said as she grabbed Asami by the hand and followed Iroh through the flowers
"I wouldn't say I'm that good" Asami mumbled and blushed deeply
Asami didn't really blush because of Korra bragging about her Pai Sho skills, well not much anyway. Asami blushed cause as Korra took her hand she realised as Korra gently ran her calloused thumb over her palm, that no matter what she did wrong earlier, Korra didm't hate at least, but for now it would be best to sit down with Iroh's friends and enjoy the time she spent with Korra, this could be sorted later.
"Congratulations on opening the Third Spirit portal Korra by the way" Iroh said happily as they walked along a grassy path "It's a feat that hasn't been heard of, even before the times of Avatar Wan"
Korra chuckled awkwardly "Well…it kind of…happened by accident…"
"Don't be so modest Korra" Asami said cheerfully to her, then turning to Iroh "Apparently she bent the energy from a direct blast from the Spirit Cannon, it must have been an amazing sight"
"We heard of the Spirit Cannon, even here" Iroh turned sombre "A weapon of mass destruction, made from Spirit energy. Even here we can still feel the devastating effects of removing the vines"
Asami and Korra looked at each other worried;
Korra answered softly "You'll tell me if anything happens right Iroh?"
"Of course Korra" Iroh cheered up "Now onto more cheerful topics, tell me what brings you both here? The spirit world is a beautiful place, I'm sure a beautiful couple like yourselves will enjoy it heartily"
Again they both blushed vigorously,
"Actually Iroh, I was wondering if you could know some places we could go in the spirit world?" Korra rushed to continue the conversation "The only place's I know are the Tree of Time and Wan Shi Tong's Library"
"We just want a nice vacation after everything" Asami smiled "We want to see all the beauty of the spirit world"
"Ahh, a Romantic Vacation for two I see" Iroh chuckled teasing the pair "Well I know the Tree of Time is a beautiful place, but…I might know of a bit better holiday for you two"
Iroh stop and turned to his side on a plain grassy path, in an instant the three were brought up to a very steep cliff that looked over a large area of the spirit world, where Hai-Riyo peak could be seen standing proudly over everything and even the southern spirit portal could be seen vaguely in the distance shooting up into the sky. Iroh pointed down below the cliff, you could see he was tracing a small dirt path that lead through many twist and turns, through forests, under the mountains and further into the distance.
"That is the Path of the Guru" Iroh said strongly "For many eons the Gurus have been journeying to the spirit world, they would follow this path as they looked for Beauty, Wonder and Truth, I'm sure the first two would interest you two greatly if you are looking for a nice vacation here, and Truth, Truth is its own beauty"
"It sounds perfect Iroh" Asami said as Korra was still exploring the scenery
"Wan Shi Tong's library is a little off the beaten path, but I'll give you some directions when you should be able to find it" Iroh chuckled "And give that old bird a stern talking to while you're there Korra, he never returns my invites for tea"
Korra smiled devilishly "Oh yeah, will do. Still owe him after how he treated Jinora"
"The path will end at the Tree of Time" Iroh added "If you walk without stopping, getting there will only take a week…but that wouldn't be a fun vacation now, would it?"
"Let's do it, I want to see it all with Asami" Korra pulled on Asami's hand like she was ready to run off
"Hold on Korra" Asami chuckled resisting the pull "We still have to go to Iroh's for tea first"
"Oh yeah..." Korra mumbled "…guess I was a little too eager"
Asami's heart swelled hearing this whisper, she tightened her grip with Korra just to say she was wishing the same.
"Come on you two" Iroh yelled pulling them out of their stupor, "…or the tea's gonna get cold"
All turning around, again the scenery blurred past them as they all were pulled directly to Irohs picnic table,
"Welcome back Iroh" said the familiar male frog spirit
"…And we've seen you've brought guests" said the familiar female frog spirit intrigued
"Ooo Ooo Ooo" Said a small frog spirit as he leapt onto the table "Mummy, I sense a powerful spirit, is the pink one the avatar?"
"No, junior, the Avatar is the girl in blue" said the Lady Frog "Feel the difference in energy, the powerful Light Energy is coming from the blue girl"
"Ahh yes" the Frog boy went up to Asami and Korra and pouted "I'm sorry. But your aura's really purrty miss"
"Uhh…thank you" Asami stumbled to answer
"Come play with me" The Frog hopped down and took Asami by the hand pulling her away
The pull of the frog boy, pulled Asami and Korra apart slowly both trying as best they could to casually hold on to each other as tight as possible but the pull became to noticeable too soon and they were pulled from each other's hand, each feeling like some part of them self just suddenly went away. Korra sat down slowly still feeling the pull in her hand, entranced by it she sat there in as if in a daze, watch as Asami looked back from walking shortly off with the frog boy.
"I'm sorry for Junior, Avatar" The lady frog apologised "He was only hatch a few months ago, he can't tell aura's that well at the moment"
"Though I've got to admit honey, I can't blame the boy" added the Frog man "The aura on that girl, oh boy"
The Lady frog playfully slapped him "Honey behave!"
"Whaaat?..." He chuckled "She has got a powerful Aura. Passion, Intelligence and Love that I don't see on a regular human. You picked a good wife, Avatar"
"Wha…Whaaa?" Korra was pulled out of her stupor in full shock, running red at the cheek "Asami's n…not my wife, I don't even know what she is to me yet…."
Iroh chuckle and put his arm on her shoulder "The Spirit's don't see marriage as we do Korra. They don't see marriage as one ring to another, between man and women, or even woman and woman. They just see energies, and yours and Asami's seem more intune than I've ever seen"
"Th…Thanks" Korra stuttered
The evening moved on, after a glass of tea or two the night began to fade of the spirit world and Asami came back holding the young Frog spirit in her arms who had passed out asleep. Soon more spirits showed up such as the tree spirit and even an old panda spirit that seemed vaguely familiar to Korra as it kept snuggling up to her. The night became a party, Asami and Iroh became deeply involved in tense games of Pai Sho, Korra meanwhile had learned that Spirits make great Spirits getting slightly tipsy and dancing around with them all. Even trying occasionally to butt into Asami and Iroh's games trying to tempt Asami into a cup or two, a few of which succeed. The night became longer and Asami's mind begun to tipsily wander from the board and Korra had start to lounge all over the table indecently almost passing out. I guess it was time to call it a night.
"There's a hammock over in those tree's that I use, it should be able to fit you both" Iroh softly told Asami as she threw Korra over her shoulders
Asami was tipsy enough not to question the advice and as they dazily headed to the suggested hammock, Korra began to pull back from the brink of passing out.
"'Sami…'Sami,'Sami',Sami',Sami" Korra waffled
"It's okay Korra, we'll get you to bed" Asami struggled "Iroh told me there no hangovers from Spirit drinks, you'll be fine in the morning"
"'Sami…" She whispered in her ear "I'm sssorry"
"Sorry? You have nothing to be sorry for" Asami said as she continued to carry her
"But I aaaammmm" Korra moaned like a child "I'm sorry I wasn't able to do things to you…"
"Oh" Asami was taken aback, Korra usually wasn't this frank
"I'm ssorrry, you waited so long…it was all my faaaault…and I ran away, and even now I stopped you, cause I was selfish" Korra tried to compassionately say in her drunken haze
"Look Korra, I understand" Asami told her back still carrying her "I waited 3 years for you, it wasn't for the sex, it was never for the sex…it was just an overwhelming feeling I had"
"Yooou don't get iiiit!" Korra powerfully slurred
Asami carefully lowered Korra onto the hammock and looked at her intently, Korra then suddenly pulled Asami in for a sloppy kiss, it reeked of alcohol but it still was Korra and Asami melted against her.
The kiss broke and Korra whispered "I didn't continue, cause I was afraid"
"Afraid? Is it me being…a girl? Asami said hopefully not receiving the answer she had wanted least to hear
"No, it's not that…" Korra trailed off "Would you join me Asami?"
Asami carefully tried to manoeuvre into the large hammock, all the time trying to keep as much eye contact with Korra as possible. Once she was in Korra buried her face into Asami's chest explicitly trying to avoid her look.
"The reason was…I was afraid" Korra was softly saying in her chest "I…never felt these feelings as powerful before….aaaand I didn't know what to do with them…"
A breath of relief and clarity washed over Asami in a powerful wave, the hugged barrelled round Korra grew tighter.
"So….you've never…? Even with…?" Asami delicately tried to ask
"Not even with Mako, it never got that far…we were always busy or fighting" Korra shyly whispered into her shirt
Asami lifted Korra's chin up to look her in the face;
"Look Korra, as I said it was never about that moment" Asami told her seriously "it's about all the moments, before and after, I want to spend them with you. If it comes to that in the future then we both have to feel it"
"Th…thanks Asami" Korra whispered back in shock
Asami gave her a peck on the lips "Now get some sleep, we have a busy holiday ahead"
"Alright" Korra happily said as she snuggled into Asami's chest tightly, as they both began to drift off to sleep
"I…Love you Asami"
"I Love you too Korra"