Chapter 2 – The Spirit

Korra awoke and instantly turned over, "good mo-," she stopped mid-sentence, "where is she?" she thought. Korra sat up looking around for any sign of Asami but to no avail, her mind began to race with the thoughts of what could've happened to her, a look of worry painted her face, "what if Wan Shi Tong found us? What if she decided she doesn't want to be here? What if she doesn't want me? What if she went home? What if..." The clouds began to swirl around in the sky again as Korra stood up in an attempt to find Asami.

"Finally awake?" Asami's unmistakeable voice came from down near the creek, a huge look of relief spread across Korra's face and she began to walk down towards the water. The swirling clouds started to retreat and the morning sun beamed down warmly and brightly on the creek. Korra came to the edge of the water, seeing Asami washing up in a small swirling pool, "I thought I'd better get up early to get cleaned up, gotta look my best for my day of exploring" she laughed "I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed though, I thought I'd have more time to make myself look presentable and put on my make-up"

"Presentable? You look perfect, with or without your make-up, don't do it just for me, you don't need to" Korra said, only realising what she had said seconds later and dying of embarrassment, blushing bright red.

"Oh, well thanks... but I think I'd still like to try to look nice" Asami said laughing " you know, I had hoped to make you a traditional water tribe breakfast, cucumberquats and sea prunes, I went out specially before we left for them, I wanted to surprise you" she brought a pouty look to her face. Korra looked over scratching the back of her head,

"Oh I'm sorry I can go back to sleep while you make it if you want" she said jokingly, slightly forcing a smile.

"Don't think you're getting out of it that easily, since you're up I think you ought to help me cook, don't you?" Asami said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah, sure, ok, I'll go make a fire"

"Korra! I'm just joking with you, go get washed up and I promise when you're done, I'll have it ready" Korra headed down into the water and began washing herself.

When she'd finished Korra emerged from the water ready to return to Asami and to her sea prunes. As she was just about to set off back up their camp site she noticed Asami's make-up bag at the side of the water, she picked it up, examining it. She slowly opened it and peered inside at all the different tools, powders, things she had never even seen before, let alone had any idea how to use or what they did. She sheepishly reached inside and picked out Asami's trademark deep red lipstick, she looked down intently at the stick as she slowly twisted it upwards.

Asami sat stirring the small pot filled with cooking cucumberquats, watching the banking nervously waiting for Korra to emerge "ugh, hurry up Korra they're going to burn" as she finished a figure began to progress up the banking "Korra! It's ready!" Asami looked down, moving the boiling food frantically into two bowls attempting to save the food before it burnt as Korra continued to walk closer to her. "I hope I've cooked them right, I've never cooked water tribe food before so I wasn't quite sure how to do it, just tell me if it's wrong..." Asami looked up, displaying a noticeably worried expression and offering forward one of the bowls, her look of worry quickly changed to one of confusion and shock as she looked at Korra, her eyes coloured purple, her lips luscious red, even if it was done noticeably messily Asami could feel her heart begin to melt, "she did all this for me? I've never seen Korra wear make-up before, I won't tell her that her eye-liner's wonky, she looks so strange with make-up on but also really, really pretty" she thought to herself, raising an eyebrow and smiling up at Korra, letting out a small nervous laugh,

"Like you said I need to look my best for our trip, I hope it's ok that I used your make-up, I just... I wanted to give you a surprise too" Korra uttered timidly, clearly unsure as to whether or not Asami would approve and clearly distressed at the thought of not looking good for her.

"You look great, come on, sit, have some breakfast, we've got a long day ahead of us" Korra sat down smiling widely, then quickly eating from the bowl. The food tasted slightly different to actual water tribe food but strangely not worse,

"The food is amazing Asami, I thought you couldn't cook"

"I can't" Asami giggled and Korra quickly followed, "looks like we're having this every day now, unless you want to do all the cooking?"

Soon after, they had packed up their camp with all their things, and were ready to leave. The leaves of the miniature banyan began to rustle, Korra turned around quickly, expecting trouble, she lit a fire in her palm "whoever you are come out now." A small chubby green almost humanoid spirit fell down from an outstretched branch of the tree, it struggled to its feet and waddled towards Korra as fast as its tiny legs could carry it. Its one small curly hair-like appendage swaying from the top of it's head as it swayed. Its eyes almost identical to a pair of buttons and its mouth almost too tiny to be seen when it moved,

"Hi, avatar!" it yelled in a squeaky voice, reminiscent of a high pitched Meelo, while waving its arm fumblingly. Korra clenched her fist closed, extinguishing the fire in her hand,

"Uh, hi?"

"So what are you doing in the spirit world? And who's that?" he inquired pointing gracelessly at Asami, stumbling and nearly falling over from the force of waving his arm.

"uhm..."

"I'm Asami, me and Korra are on vacation here in the spirit world"

"Wait, wait, Who are you and why were you in the tree?" Korra said stubbornly, thoughts running through her head, trying her hardest to not let her worry for Asami paint her face

"I'm Shiju, I... I saw you and I just... I always wanted to meet the Avatar, I've heard stories about you, you're amazing" the spirit said his eyes swelling, looking up at Korra with admiration. Korra looked down at him, a proud look slowly spreading across her face. Asami looked over, rolling her eyes at Korra and smiling. The spirit looked over at Asami, "you're really pretty for a human you know" he said, grinning.

"Well thank you, Korra, I like him " Asami said warmly "I told you we'd meet a cute spirit" Asami exclaimed slightly smugly, laughing "but sorry little spirit we're getting going now, we're going for a day of exploring the spirit world, Korra's going to show me around"

"Can I come? Please? I've always wanted to meet the avatar" he said looking up at Korra, a pleading look in his eyes, "do you need some company?" Korra breathed in, ready to tell the spirit they wanted some alone time,

"N-"

"We'd love some company, right Korra?" Asami interrupted

"Yeah.. sure, you can come with us" The spirit ran over to Korra, nearly falling as his legs couldn't carry him fast enough, he grabbed her leg and hugged it, rubbing his face in the side of Korra's leg. He let out a contented almost purr-like sound.

The spirit bounced on the spot with excitement, "Come on then, lets go, I want to take you to my favourite place here, it's soo pretty, I'll show you, come on, come on" he started to waddle away as fast as he could, he still couldn't keep up with Korra and Asami as they walked.

"Do you want me to carry you?" Korra said tenderly

"Yes please" Shiju said looking down at the floor, he began skimming the grass with the bottom of his leg and falling from hitting the ground. Korra reached down and pulled upwards, the ground under Shiju elevated from the floor to just below Korra's shoulder height, she stood next to it,

"Climb on" he scampered over and tried to pull himself up onto Korra's shoulder, his legs waved about in the air as he tried to climb up, Korra clenched her fist and she earth beneath him shot up, pushing him up onto her shoulder,

"Thanks Avatar" he said, his smile beaming, "ok, this way, I'll show you where to go" waving his arm in front of Korra, nearly tumbling off of her shoulder. They walked for 20 minutes before they came to a huge open plain, Shiju talking the whole way; "- and that's how I met Iroh, he's really funny and he makes great tea and he taught me how to play Pai Sho"

"Yeah, I know Iroh, he was good friends with avatar Aang"

"Oh! Oh! We're here" Shiju shouted, again bouncing on the avatars shoulder clumsily. Korra and Asami looked around confused. All that was before them was a huge open field and a row of trees ahead of them between the two hills surrounding the meadow.

"Uhm, are you sure? There's nothing here" Korra said, looking perplexed, she looked over at Asami who too gave a shrug, looking confused.

"Over there!" Shiju sighed, flailing his arms in the direction of the trees, Korra and Asami walked over and pushed through the hanging vines between two of the trees. As she moved through the vines Korra could see more and more of the area on the other side. She pushed away the last few vines, her eyes widened and her mouth fell agape.

"Wow" She uttered, stunned. A deep blue pool lay before them, surrounded by trees a few feet back from the waters edge, the sunlight penetrated through the canopy as the patches of light danced on the surface of the water. The spirits floated on the water and frolicked in circles in the sky. There was a slight purple tint in the air, as it visibly twirled above the pool and faded into the mass of trees surrounding it. Asami emerged from behind Korra through the vines, she gasped as her eyes opened wide.

"It's beautiful right?" Shiju exclaimed jumping down from Korra's shoulder then turning to grin at Asami. He tottered closer to the water, "hey guys, it's the avatar!" he shouted, all of the spirits turned and gathered around Shiju. They started trying to speak to Korra, all words were inaudible from the sheer number of voices.

"Yes, I'm the Avatar but I'm here on vacation so could you please just leave us alone for a while and let us relax?" Shiju turned to the group of spirits,

"Guys, she's here with her... friend," he started to laugh to himself. The two women walked towards the pool and sat down beside one another. Asami put her hand on the ground between her and Korra and leaned back, Korra placed down her hand to prop herself up, without looking it landed on top of Asami's, Korra quickly pulled up her hand from Asami's, squirming further away from her and began scratching the back of her head while laughing awkwardly "good job Korra, way to play it cool" she thought to herself.

"So Avatar, I've been wanting to ask, why are there three portals now?" Shiju said curiously sitting between two women, tilting his head slightly to the side. All the spirits gathered around her, clambering all over her,

"yeah"

"how come"

"where does it come out?"

Korra sighed and looked over at Asami who just laughed and mouthed "go on, it's fine... Avatar" rolling her eyes, smiling and shaking her head jokingly.

"Well, there was this really nasty lady, she was using spirits to attack other humans. She made a giant weapon that used spirit vines to make things explode. But she couldn't control it and it got stuck in the Republic city spirit wilds, all the vines charged it up even more so it was even more powerful and it was shooting all over the city, it was right about to hit her with the spirit beam. I stepped in the way and bent the energy in the beam, I'm not quite sure what happened or how I did it, next thing I knew I was in the spirit world in front of the portal."

"Wow, so you made the portal? That's so awesome, I see why you like her" Shiju said, astounded, looking over at Asami. Korra smiled "wait, what?" she thought, her eyes widened and her smile faded, she turned towards Asami who blushed a little.

They stayed at the oasis until nightfall, the spirits constantly asking Korra about her adventures and Asami just watching, fascinated, fixated on Korra. "I think it's right about time we all went to sleep, don't you Shiju?"

"But, but I have so many more questions" He frowned

"Maybe tomorrow" Korra said, smiling down at the little spirit.

Shiju and his friends started to waddle away as Korra and Asami began to set up their camp,

"Do you want to sleep with me again tonight? I don't want you to be cold" Korra said, looking over at Asami worriedly,

"Yes please, last night was the best nights sleep I've had for a while, you're a good Asami-warmer, patent pending" Asami laughed, rolling her sleeping bag up and putting it back into her bag, as Shiju walked further and further away from the women his voice began to fade,

"You know, the spirit world's always so much nicer when the Avatar's in love, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside" Asami gasped slightly, looking over at Korra setting up her sleeping bag, she smiled a little,

"In love?"