Chapter 4

Asami:

Asami sat up screaming. Her breathing was so rapid she was sure no oxygen was getting to her brain. Slowly, she tried to calm herself. A deep breath in through the nose, hold for three seconds, out through the mouth, hold for three seconds. With trembling hands she reached to touch her face. Her shaking fingers gently touched her cheek then glided over to where her nose was supposed to be. Asami almost wept with relief when her fingers came in contact with appendage. Sighing with relief she explored the rest of her face making sure everything was in its rightful place. Knowing that her face had returned Asami focused on her surroundings. She was lying on a rough cot in the middle of a tiny bedroom. Pictures of teapots decorated the walls and a heavily scent wafted throughout the room. Asami quickly scanned the room for any signs of tentacles or the monster that captured her. Her mind struggled to recall exactly what happened after it wrapped its tentacles around her legs. All she knew was that her face burned like she had never felt before. Gingerly, she swing her legs off the cot and onto the ground. Slowly, she crept over to the mirror. She closed her eyes and stepped in front of the mirror. She was terrified of what she might see but opened her eyes anyways. Relief rushed over here when she stared into jade green eyes. She studied the rest of her features: bright red lips, raven locks, purple eye shadow. The only thing that differed from her normal face was the grotesque bruising around her mouth and nose. Purple and blue dotted around her neck. She glanced at her arms, splotches of color dotted along them. Subconsciously, she started to rub her arms when she heard the door creak open. She jump around and let out a startle yelp,

"My apologies young lady, I didn't mean to startle you. It's just I couldn't help but sense that you seem a little lost." Asami stared at the man, he seemed so familiar. His friendly smile gave her hope that she would find her way back. "Please you have to help me. I was stuck in The Fog of Lost Souls and my friends came and rescued me. I went into this dark cave and I was attacked by this horrible monster. Please, I have to find my way back home. I don't want to be here any longer. But I don't know how to return to the spirit world!" Asami wailed. The old man considered her thoughtfully, before he spoke.

"You must be Asami. Please come with me, we have a lot to discuss." Asami stood and followed the old man, she had never met him before but she for some reason knew she could trust him. Asami followed the man through the door and they entered into what seemed to be a shop of some sort. Tables lined the walls and spirits of all kinds sat enjoying tea. Iroh guided her to a table near the back, "I'll be right back. I'm going to get us some tea." He said. Within a few minutes he returned carrying two cups and a pot. "Now Asami, you must be wondering how I know who you are?" she nodded earnestly, "I am General Iroh, Uncle of Lord Zuko, and guide to the lost souls in the spirit world. I know who you are because Korra came and visited. She was in a state of panic that I have never seen before, she said she was lost without you and was contemplating never returning to the physical world. I was fortunate enough to calm her and tell her that you might be in The Fog of Lost Souls. Apparently, I was correct." The old man chuckled. But Asami didn't laugh with him, instead a sob wracked her body. "Shh, shhh" he whispered trying to calm the woman. "I know you are in pain Asami, you have been through a lot. It is not every day that someone can escape The Fog of Lost Souls and reclaim their face from Koh." Asami instinctively reached for her face. The general continued, "But I believe I can help you get back to the real world. However, I must ask you something important."

"Anything." She said eagerly, nodding her head to get the point across.

"Do you want to return?"

"Of cou…rse." Asami stopped. Did she want to return? She would go home to a messed up world. Her father was dead, the city was destroyed, and her company would be in complete disarray. But then her thoughts returned to Korra, her badly wounded friend. The friend that she had caused those wounds upon. Asami looked up at Iroh, her eyes flashed pure certainty, "Yes, I want to return to the physical world." Iroh smiled,

"It might be painful to return and it is possible that you will forget everything that has happened here and possibly sometime before your death. I'm not sure if you will ever regain your memory as to the events that happened while you were in the Spirit World, but won't it be interesting to find out?" he said with a gentle smile. "Let me get us a new pot of tea." He stood and returned a few moments later, carrying a simple cream colored tea pot. It donned a woven handle and a simple clay colored swirl on the side. "You know," Iroh said, his eyes gleaming, "this tea pot once belonged to Avatar Wan, the first Avatar. He used it to carry the light spirit Raava around in it. I like to think that you can still taste a little light with every cup." He handed her a mug, Asami gratefully accepted. She quickly drained the tea. Setting it back down on the table she looked up to Iroh who hadn't moved from his seat. He gave her a coy smile and a wink. Within seconds a bright light blinded Asami. She remembers nothing more.

Iroh picked up the cup of the now departed soul. "Tea is the cure for all ailments. Especially, when someone is trying to get home." He said with a smile.

Korra:

Korra opened her eyes. She immediately regretted it. Pain surged through her body at even the smallest movement. She groaned and she reached to hold her aching ribcage. She couldn't quite remember how she had gotten this way. But when Pema entered carrying a tray of medicine and soup it all came rushing back to her. She shot up, excruciating pain radiated throughout her body. She grimaced and doubled over in pain. Pema ran to her side and rested a hand on her back. Korra looked into her eyes, tears of pain welling up in her own eyes, "Is Asami back?"

Pema was silent for a very long time before she slowly shook her head, "I'm so sorry Korra. Tenzin and Kya have been in the temple since they brought you back a couple days ago. But nothing has changed." Korra's face scrunched into absolute distress when she realized Pema had said they got back a couple days ago. That meant Korra had been passed out for the past two days. Which also meant that Asami had been stuck in the spirit world for the past two days.

"She's not coming back is she?" Korra gasped.

"I don't know sweetie." Pema replied, her mothering instincts kicking in as she cuddled the bawling form in front of her. After a few moments Korra spoke again,

"Please let me see her then. I want to see her one last time before we bury her."

Pema gave her a look of sadness before she nodded, stood, and retrieved Korra's old wheel chair. Seeing it brought more painful memories back to Korra. The most prominent was how a very much alive and well Asami would wheel Korra around, never complaining about how much of a burden Korra was to her. As gently as she could Pema wheeled Korra through the dormitories and to the temple. Every small bump and crack they went over caused Korra to gasp in pain. As soon as the passed through the temple door, a bitter cold swept over Korra. Icicles hung from the rafters in the temple. Korra breathed deeply relishing in the cold, her exhale causing a cloud of white to float around her. Kya and Tenzin had obviously frozen the room to keep Asami's body from decomposing. Asami's body had not moved, although strange new bruises had appeared on her face, neck, and arms. Kya and Tenzin, sentinels for any movement, stood in the corner wrapped up in their winter coats. "Pema will you push me closer to her?" Korra asked, her voice barely a whisper. Pema obediently complied and wheeled her closer. Quietly, she left Kora and moved over to Tenzin and Kya. "Those bruises appeared the day we brought you back Korra." Tenzin said when he noticed the Avatar looking at them, "We aren't sure how they got there or what caused them." Korra nodded and eyes moved until they lingered on Asami's limp hand. She heard the quiet click of the door before she realized the three had left Korra alone with her still body. She reached out with her good hand, the other in a sling, and rested it on Asami's. It was absolutely freezing. She let her eyes wander, searching, and memorizing every curve of Asami's body, until she came to her face once again. Korra longed to see those emeralds once more, but it was not meant to be. Her face looked so peaceful, almost like she was in a deep slumber. Korra wanted to remember every aspect of Asami before she was buried, never to be seen again. Korra leaned her forehead against Asami's shoulder and nuzzled her face into her neck. "Asami." She sniffled, "I'm so sorry for everything. I tried so hard to save you. To bring you back to us. Asami, I need you. I don't know what I'm going to do without you. I feel like a part of me has died. Like there is a hole in my heart that can never heal. I've never felt pain like this. My injuries after my fight with Zaheer are nothing compared to how it feels to be without you. You are the air I breathe. The light in my world of darkness. The love of my life. You are my everything. You are my life. And I'm never going to see you again. Never going to see your beautiful face, that silly way you flip your hair, never hear your laugh." Korra smiled slightly as her fondest memories of Asami floated through her mind. Tears sprouted in her eyes, "Your amazing laugh. I always feel so happy… so complete when I hear it. I could listen to it for hours. I only wish I could hear you laugh one last time, make you laugh one last time. Spirits Asami. I'm going to miss you so much. I know you can't hear me, but maybe you are listening from the spirit world. You will always have my heart Asami. I don't know if I will ever move on or if I can, but I want you to know my heart will always belong to you. I will never forget you." Korra couldn't breathe, there was just too much emotion flooding through her body. She closed her eyes to try and calm her breathing, but it was to no avail. She didn't notice it at first, but a pale light was burning through her closed eyelids. Cautiously, she cracked them open and her sapphire eyes caught on Asami's glowing body. She had a saintly glimmering surrounding every inch of her. But as quickly as it had come it was gone and Asami returned to her normal color. Korra tentatively lifted her hand and stroked a lock of hair out of Asami's face, "Asami?" she whispered. Nothing. Not a single movement. Korra lowered her head and silently wept into her hand. She had probably imagined it she thought to herself. Suddenly, she felt something ever so gently brush against the back of her hand. It glided over to her face and rested on her bruised jaw. Slowly, Korra removed her hand from her face and her sapphire eyes connected with emeralds. She said nothing, only blinking a few times, trying to see if this was a dream or real. "Korra?" the raven haired beauty asked. Korra broke down. It was real. She was real. Asami was back.