A/N: It's good to be back! I missed writing this book and I'll make sure to turn the story into a good one :) I'll put extra effort on writing these anyways, I hope you enjoy the first two chapters! Stay tuned for more!
"Come on!" The punches landed harder on his body "You can do better than that! Give it a little more!"
"Argh!" A sudden chunk of rock came flying straight to his thigh "What was that?! I thought we were sparring here?!"
Kurana looked exhausted yet a thick layer of infuriation covered her face. This has been the third time that she frustratedly bended an element towards Tokku while training in hand-to-hand combat.
"Shut up!" She answered "I know I'm weak but you don't have to rub it on my face!"
The injured waterbender stood up "I didn't even-"
"You know what? Let's call it a day...I'm done." She forcibly removed her hand wraps and walked out of the gym.
Tokku sighed and limped the other way on one leg.
"Has she always been this rough?" A familiar voice sounded in front of him.
His sister was holding a bag of chips and was watching the whole fight. She looked the same. Although her hair grew a few inches longer and were about neck length. The white streak of dye can still be seen on the side of her hair.
"Hey Lu, you were watching, huh?" Tokku was helped by his sister to walk towards the bench.
As they sat down, Tokku kept silent. Lu Mei just gnawed on the chips she had.
"So, about your question earlier...nope, she clearly wasn't like this back then" the older brother broke the silence
"Well, she did act kinda different in the past four years." Lu Mei replied
Tokku stood up to stretch out "Oh, how are you and Syv doing?" He smirked
His sister blushed and almost dropped the bag of chips in her hand.
"W-we're doing great!" She kept on eating "Sh-she's working hard, ya know?"
"Working where? Future Industries?"
"She tried that option but, it just wasn't for her" Lu Mei paused "She works at the police station, nowadays. Making her as Chief Kiro's apprentice"
Tokku had a surprised look on his face "What? Really? That's great!" He paused and thought about something "Well, what about Future Industries?"
Lu Mei smiled "Asami took the position again but, she won't be there for long. Just until I get a hang of things around there."
Her brother stared at her "You?!"
"Yeah!" she chuckled "Asami took quite a liking of me and made me as her successor"
Lu Mei stood up and went for the door "I gotta fix things up in the office. I'll see you guys soon! For now, talk to her, 'Ku. She probably needs someone to open up to. Your leg okay?"
"Alright, alright. I'll catch up with her," Tokku waved "Don't worry about my leg; it takes a whole lot to bring me down."
"Yeah, yeah whatever" Lu Mei mumbled through a mouthful of chips
The moon has already risen and the city lights shone from the harbor. The house was completely dark inside. The soft thumping of her armadillo-lion's feet sounded throughout the whole area. Fortunately, she didn't wake anyone up. It was already late when she arrived at the house.
"Soma, stay here. I'll wake up early tomorrow and we'll go out. I promise" Kurana cooed her partner
The animal growled quietly "See ya tomorrow! Good night!" She waved and went inside the house
She felt a presence inside the living room. As she slowly walked towards the figure, she opened a dimmed light. Asami already fell asleep on the couch while waiting for the young girl. Kurana felt guilt towards her second mother. She lay down beside her and fell asleep in the couch.
In the middle of her sleep, she dreamt about the previous nightmares she had years ago. Zaheer, Korra dieing, and a prophecy about the man waiting for the Avatar. These brought back the fear in her heart. She woke up with cold sweat in the middle of the night.
She panted "I gotta g-get some fresh air..." Kurana stood from the couch and decided to step outside
The icy air somehow felt like arrows piercing her cheeks. It was the middle of winter and people were inside their homes for warmth. Kurana didn't expect such a cold weather like this tonight.
As she was staring outside their porch, a faint light was glistening in the distance. She was sticking her neck out to check what it is when a familiar voice rung from where the light came.
"Kurana!" A pleading yell came from the voice
The Avatar squinted her eyes and by her surprise, it was someone close to her. She ran towards the door and helped the struggling man.
"Wh-what are you doing out in the middle of the night?!" She placed a thick jacket over the young man
"Sh-shshut up...le-le-let's get i-in-inside" Tokku shivered from the wind
They rushed inside the house, quietly climbing up the stairs in hope of not waking up Asami. They stayed in Kurana's room. The Avatar lit up a bunch of firewood to warm the whole place. Silence filled the small room.
"Uhh...do you mind explaining why you were walking out in the cold?" Kurana spoke with a worried tone
Tokku sighed "I just...I just couldn't sleep without...asking you something." He paused
"You can ask me anything," She looked puzzled "What's on your mind?"
The waterbender glanced at her "What's going on, 'Rana? What's with this sudden change?" He paused "You've been acting…different lately."
The Avatar couldn't speak and she bowed her head "It's nothing...I-I'm sorry..."
"C'mon, we-...I've been worrying about you" Tokku raised her chin
The Avatar blushed at the sudden interaction and glanced the other way "I just...I just feel so weak that it makes me think that I could've saved Mako if...if I was stronger" tears fell from her eyes
Tokku grabbed the sobbing girl into his arms and kept her in a warm embrace.
"You're not weak, you've always been strong ever since I met you" the waterbender wiped her tears "and I'll be here to make you stronger"
Their eyes were locked with each other. As Tokku closed the distance between them, Kurana felt warmth in her heart. This feeling made her comfortable. It made her safe. Safe in the arms of the man she wanted to stay with.
It was a soft kiss. Not on the lips, just on her forehead. The waterbender smiled and crawled on top of the cushion below the bed. The stunned Avatar lay down on her bed, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.
"Kurana!" A loud yell came from outside her room "Breakfast is ready!"
The two benders woke up from the sudden noise. They fixed themselves and slowly went down the stairs. Kurana whispered something to Tokku but the waterbender wasn't listening. The Avatar went down first, trying to hide the boy.
"Ah! There you are" Asami was setting down plates but Kurana was confused why there were three plates instead of two
"Good morning, M-Mom" she was nervous at the fact that she hid a person in their house, especially a boy
"Hey, what time does Asami wake-" Tokku suddenly came down the stairs, completely revealing another person to Asami
Kurana's face was blushing in red and Tokku was standing frozen. They both looked at each other and waited for something to happen.
"Well, what are you two waiting for?" The non-bender raised a brow "Sit and let's eat"
"Y-you're not mad?" Kurana asked
"No, silly!" The older woman chuckled
Tokku was sitting silently on his chair, playing with the food on the plate.
"So, you knew he was here?"
Asami wiped her mouth with a napkin "Don't worry, I took a peak in the room" she giggled "I waited 'til both of you finished talking and luckily, you two weren't in one bed or else..."
She glared at the waterbender "I'm just kidding, I trust you, Tokku. Make sure to look out after her, alright?"
The boy nodded and pondered over the question "Wait, what do you mean 'look out after her'?"
"Oh! I forgot to tell you both!" She grabbed a letter on the side of the table "It came earlier this morning, you two were still asleep and I couldn't resist not to open it, sorry!" She scratched her nape
"Who's it from?" Kurana opened the letter
"It's from Syv. The metalbending police are in need of your help" Asami placed a hand on Tokku's shoulder "and you too. Hurry up and finish eating, they'll wait for you both at HQ"
Everything was the same. The spirit vines remained wrapped around the different buildings. People were living their lives just the way it used to be. Humans living side by side with the spirits. Though one thing has changed, a bright bronze statue of the Chief of police stood beside his predecessors.
Kurana and Tokku dropped down from the armadillo-lion's back. The Avatar knelt in front of the memorial statue of Mako.
"Hey guys!" A woman was running towards the two benders
Kurana stood and opened her arms "Hey Lu!"
"What are you doing here?" Tokku asked his sister
Lu Mei punched his arm "I'm team Avatar too, ya know"
"Well anyways, Syv and Chief Kiro are waiting for us inside" she tugged on the two benders' clothes
The trio went inside a meeting room where a few high ranking officers surrounded a table. Syv wore a light metal armor where some parts didn't cover her skin. Knowing that she was a previous member of the Velvet Vipers, the police specifically made it for her so that she can move easily in the battlefield. Her armor was dyed in black that doesn't shine in the light. Two daggers were on her back and a length of chain hung from her belt. She winked at Lu Mei, who instantly blushed.
"Ah, I thought you wouldn't make it" a deep, husky voice came from the man sitting at the far end of the table
"Good morning, Chief Kiro" Kurana saluted
"Sorry we're late" the waterbender scratched his nape
"Alright" he stood and placed both of his hands on the table "Let's get this meeting started"
Kiro was an old man. A veteran from the Xhu Fu invasion and was also Mako's most trusted partner. His metalbending skills almost neared Chief Lin Beifong's. A white beared covered his chin and he didn't wear a cap. He has gloves on both of his hands after being burned from the previous war.
"As you all know, we call on the Avatar only for A and B rank missions" he placed his arms around his back "but she is here now for an S rank one"
The room was filled with gasps.
"What do you mean 'S ranked'?" Kurana's eyes widened
"Well, it's something we need the help of the Avatar with. This guy-" he slammed a picture of a man in glasses on the table "-is our enemy"
In the picture was a scrawny looking man. His cheekbones can be slightly seen and snow white locks filled his hair. He wore a pair of glasses and underneath was an eye-patch on his right eye. A tattered black robe was something that this man wore.
"Several reports came to my office yesterday and all of them were similar to each other" Kiro said
"The reports say that people have been going missing in the past few weeks" he paused "though, what concerns me are the other reports"
Kiro placed a hand on his chin "People see strange things. They say that dark figures were attacking people with what looks like…two elements."
The room filled with murmuring. Everyone had puzzled looks and weren't certain of the data that the Chief said.
"I know the reports are quite fuzzy" he sat down "but this is why I called you all"
The Chief placed a hand on the photograph "because the happenings lead to this man right here"
"Wait, missing?" Tokku spoke "Missing where?"
"Ah, yes" The Chief pointed a finger in the air "I was going to get to that part"
"It's your hometown" he then pointed at the Avatar
Kurana gasped and her eyes widened "Ba Sing Se?!"