Asami signed the last contract that was on her desk and let out a deep sigh. Lately, work in Future Industries had not been overwhelming, quite the opposite. It's one of those seasons when nothing really important happens and the company just sails along. The contracts Asami just signed were only providers' agreements, nothing more.

Asami stepped out of her office to see if she had any pending appointments that she may have forgotten. "Midori." She handed her assistant two stacks of contracts. "You know what to do, the copies in this folder go to the providers, these ones are for us."

"Yes, Ms. Sato." Midori put aside the stack destined for the providers.

"And please, take your time, these days have been really calm, boring even."

Midori smiled a little. "Is there anything else that you need?"

"Just tell me, do I have scheduled any appointment in what's left of the day?"

"No, Ms. Sato. You have the rest of the day free."

Asami made a little pause. "You know what, take the rest of the day, there's no point in you being here if there's no actual work. You'll take care of the contracts tomorrow. I'll stay a little bit more."

"Don't worry, Ms. Sato. I can file these contracts in five minutes. Then I'll take you up to your offer and leave early."

"Ok, Midori. But don't stay any longer." Asami smiled at her assistant and friend before returning to her office.

Midori smiled back. "I won't."

Ten minutes later, Asami was sketching various designs of a new plane for Future Industries, but not really paying much attention to it. At some point, she realized that the plane had lots of similarities with the dragon bird spirit that lived at the top of Hai-Riyo Peak. This led Asami's mind to wander to the first trip she made to the spirit world on her own.

: : :

Asami had a lot on her mind. Since their little trip with Korra six weeks ago, the CEO of Future Industries had been thinking over and over again about Iroh's words. Spirituality is a big part of the Avatar's life, maybe as or more important than mastering the four elements, and Asami had been worried this entire time about something that had been nagging at the back of her mind.

So, in order to clear her mind and maybe take an important decision after doing it, Asami had come to the spirit world, this time on her own. This place had always brought her peace and she hoped that being here would help her with her dilemma by putting things on perspective.

Asami walked carefully through the spirit world, this was after all her first time alone here. She traversed known paths, remembering the warnings she had received from Korra about spirits not so kind, dangerous even. Still, at some point she was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the change of her surroundings until it was too late. She had inadvertently walked into a thick forest, and after a quick examination of it, she concluded that she wouldn't be able to retrace back her steps out of the woods because of the multiple paths that led away from where she was standing. "Perfect. Nice work, Sato." Seeing that she was really lost, Asami decided to rest for a little while. She sat on the ground, letting out a long sigh.

"Are you okay?" A voice asked.

"What?" Asami looked around, searching for the owner of the voice that apparently talked to her. "Who's there?"

"Hi." Asami turned her head and saw a giant glowing mushroom standing across the dirt path.

"Oh, hi. You startled me a little. I didn't know you could talk." Asami said as she stood up and walked towards the spirit.

"Don't worry, some of us don't talk so I know what you mean."

"Thank you. And to answer your question, I'm a little tired, I've been walking for a while now, though I'm not sure how long. One can lose track of time easily in the spirit world."

"I see. And what brought you here? Did you just come for a walk or is there anything in particular that you came to do?"

"The walk was pleasant but you are right. I came here to… Well, there is this thing I have been thinking about, more like been worried about, and I thought coming here would help me figure things out."

"And does coming here have helped you yet?"

"Not really, I still haven't thought of a solution to my problem." Asami said, worried.

"May I ask you what keeps your mind busy?" There was actual concern in the mushroom's voice.

Asami gave this a thought. She hadn't been able to talk about her problem with anyone. The only person that could grasp what she meant was Korra, but this issue was Korra-related, so talking to her was out of the question. She didn't expect to have a heart-to-heart with an unknown spirit when she came to this place, but then again, she needed help. Besides, talking to this strange mushroom wasn't going to do harm, she thought.

Asami sat in front of the mushroom, trusting him with her thoughts. "You see, my girlfriend is Avatar Korra. She is the bridge between the physical and the spiritual world. Even though there are three spirit portals open now, she still needs to mediate between humans and spirits, and she has to cultivate her spiritual side in order to do so."

"What's the problem? Is she failing with her spiritual duties?"

"No, that's not it. I am not a spiritual person. Korra has taught me how to, but so far I have been unable to meditate into the spirit world. I feel that that's something I must learn to do, but my attempts have been solely that, attempts. I feel like a spiritual failure." Asami said, defeated, frustrated, looking down to the ground.

"Have you talked with the Avatar about your insecurities?"

"Not yet. I feel this is my burden to carry, after all I'm the one with the problem." Asami said as if this was the most logical thing in the world.

"But she is your girlfriend, you share a life with her to a certain extent."

"That's true. It's just that I don't want to worry her. She has to take care of the world and I don't want to bother her with this."

"You are right, she is the Avatar. As such, isn't her duty to bring balance not only to the world, but also to those whose lives are intertwined with hers?"

Asami thought for a moment, realizing how true were the mushroom's words. "I think you are right."

"I'm glad that you think so. You should talk with her soon. Hearts are not made to carry burdens, human or spirit ones."

Asami turned her head to her right, looking intently at, apparently, nothing in particular, just another part of the forest. She stood up and bowed respectfully to the mushroom. "Thank you for your help. I think I will talk with Korra right now."

"Ok, good luck! Remember to say hello if you ever come back here!"

Asami walked directly into the thickest part of the forest, exactly through the part where she was looking so intently a few moments ago. Despite not knowing where she was, she knew exactly where she was going, or better said, who she was looking for.

After a few minutes of walking among the trees, she reached a small clearing, a person sitting cross-legged on the ground in the middle of it.

Asami approached this person from behind, but not trying to hide from her. "Have you been waiting for too long?"

"Not really." Korra stood up and hugged Asami. "I saw your note saying you were coming here. I wanted to make sure that you were ok, but without intruding too much. So I just sat here."

"How did you find me?"

"I just asked a flying whale that was around. Are you ready to go back home or do you want to stay a little while longer?"

"Actually, I'd like to talk with you. Walk with me?" Asami offered her arm and Korra tangled hers in it. They both started walking towards what seemed a way out of the forest.

At first Asami was silent, and Korra let her collect her thoughts. After a while, Asami started talking. "You know Korra, I have been thinking. We've been together for more than a year now, and this relationship has been the most wonderful experience I've ever had." Korra raised an eyebrow, not sure where this was going. Asami continued. "But you have seen that, so far, I have been unable to meditate into the spirit world."

A confused look crossed Korra's face. "I'm sorry Asami, but I don't follow you."

"You have taught me how to meditate, including breathing exercises and how to clear my mind, but nothing has helped me cross to this realm without using a spirit portal. You are the Avatar, the most spiritual person there is, so…" Asami paused here. Korra was concerned for her girlfriend, but she didn't ask her anything yet. "So I was thinking that I'm not suitable to be your girlfriend."

"What?!" Korra exclaimed, wide-eyed, disentangling her arm from Asami's and stopping on her tracks.

"Your duty is to bring balance to the world, and I don't think having someone as a spiritual failure as your partner is going to help you with that."

Korra surprised her girlfriend with her reaction: She laughed. "Asami, you are the most intelligent person I know, but I swear sometimes you can be so silly."

"Excuse me?" This wasn't what Asami had expected.

Korra stopped laughing. "Look Asami, you are not a spiritual failure. You have reconstructed Republic City two times already and both times you have managed to bring harmony to spirits and humans alike." Korra caressed one of Asami's cheeks, who leant into the touch. "Not being able to meditate into the spirit world doesn't mean that you are a spiritual failure, you hear me? And the fact that you are my girlfriend doesn't mean that you have to 'fulfill' some kind of special Avatar requirements." Korra removed her hand from Asami's cheek only to hug her girlfriend tightly. "I feel the same way as you. Being together has been the most amazing thing that has happened to me, but remember that me being the Avatar has nothing to do with why we are together." Korra loosened the hug to see Asami directly in the eyes. "We are a couple because we complement each other in ways that I never imagined. And most importantly, we love each other."

Korra kissed Asami on the nose, making her laugh. Then she acquired a serious expression on her face. "Asami, as your girlfriend, I make you this promise. We will always be together, no matter what happens, no matter what life put us through. Even if we break up, though that's never going to happen." Korra winked at Asami. "I promise you that we will be together forever."

Asami was surprised and she opened wide her eyes. A moment later, realization dawned on Korra's face, who got really flustered. "This is not that kind of promise. No! Wait! It is, sorta. But kinda different? Ugh." Korra threw her arms into the air out of frustration, not knowing if she screwed up.

Asami giggled at her girlfriend's behavior. "Calm down, Korra."

"Look, that question, that promise, we will do it later, we have plenty of time for that." Korra sighed. "But I stand to what I say. I promise to be always with you."

"I promise it too." Asami kissed Korra on the lips, her heart finally free of burdens. "Let's get back home."

The couple didn't take long to get out of the forest. They walked in direction of the spirit portal, her hands locked. They didn't talk to each other, they didn't need to. For so long they had been living in the present, enjoying each and every one of the days they had spent together, but for the first time, Korra and Asami set their sights into the future, hopeful, her hearts pounding fast.

: : :

Asami stopped daydreaming, but she didn't stop smiling. She always smiled when she remembered Korra's promise.

It had been years since she first tried, but so far she had been unable to meditate into the spirit world. Still, she made the attempt every now and then.

Asami took off her shoes and sat on her office's floor, crossed-legged. Now she was more prepared than a few years ago. She had been trained by Korra and Jinora, each one of them contributed with their specific knowledge. Even Tenzin, who had never been able to cross realms through meditation, helped; after all, he was Avatar Aang's son and was trained by him.

Asami closed her eyes and inhaled deeply once, clearing her mind like her mentors had taught her. After a short while, her breathing was even and she managed to reach a peaceful state of mind. Now she always got the meditation part right at least. Despite this fact, she still couldn't go into the spirit world.

Asami meditated for 10 minutes before she felt a fresh current of air coming from the window behind her, followed by soft steps on the office's carpet. When she stopped hearing noises, Asami opened one eye, meeting Korra's blue ones. The Avatar was crouched in front of Asami, her face only a few inches from hers. "Hi."

"I am trying to meditate, you know?" Asami closed her eye.

"I know, but I love to see you meditating. Or sketching. Or cooking. I simply love to look at you."

Asami didn't need to open her eyes to know that Korra had that lopsided grin on her face that she adored, and despite her best efforts, she smiled too. Giving up, Asami opened her eyes and asked Korra to help her stand up. "So, what brings you here?" Something clicked in Asami's mind before Korra could answer. "Wait, weren't you supposed to pick up Kaori from school today?"

"Don't worry, Ikki picked her up and they will have a sleepover at Air Temple Island. You said earlier that these have been slow days for Future Industries, so I thought that having a night just for the two of us would be nice."

"You are so sweet." Asami hugged Korra and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

"Not as much as you. Just go and tell Midori you are leaving and then we can go have dinner in that restaurant you like."

"Actually, I already sent Midori home."

Korra gave Asami a confused look. "Were you planning something?"

"No, it's just a happy coincidence." Asami pulled apart from Korra to grab her briefcase, which was under her desk. The couple left the office, with Asami locking it on her way out.

"By the way, how are you doing with the meditation? Do you feel you are getting closer to go into the spirit world?"

"I really don't know. It's as if something is…" Asami couldn't find words for a moment.

"Missing?"

"No, more like something is keeping me in the physical world." Asami just shrugged.

"Don't worry babe, we'll sort it out." Korra squeezed Asami's hand reassuringly.

"Thank you, Korra." Asami kissed her girlfriend on the lips, and then the couple continued walking down the stairs of Future Industries tower.

A/N: I think the spirit mushroom is really an underappreciated character and I believe they deserved more screen time.