Chapter 10: Turning Tides

Morning, Air temple Island

Republic city

Raiku stayed at his mother side as she rested on the bed she laid, with Raiku stretching his legs for a minute. The only thing that mattered to him was his mother's safety. There was a knock on the door as Raiku turned to see it was, revealing to be only Asami coming in. she sat by Raiku who was staring at his mother constantly, remaining a little bit protective over his mother's safety. Asami knew what he was going through, the fear of losing a mother like how she lost hers. She already knew Raiku lost a father. The look on his face gave away the impression that he did not wish to lose his mother as well. There was a long silence in the room, until Asami decided the end the pregnant silence.

"Raiku you're mother's going to be fine." she said as Raiku still stared at his mother sleeping, only for Asami to gently touch his cheek toward her face. "She's safe now."

Raiku gently moved her hand down and looked away. "I'm worried about her, Asami. I've waited so long to see my mother, and now I can. But I can't stand losing her again."

"You won't." Asami placed her hand on Raiku's, causing him to stare into her emerald green eyes. "You're not going to lose your mother, Raiku."

Raiku stared into Asami's green orbs with grey shaded eyes, leaning in closer. Asami did the same as well. Their faces were an inch closer to each other, with both Raiku and Asami closing their eyes. Their lips near an inch as the heat from their breaths were aligned toward each other. That's when it happened, when Raiku pressed his lips against Asami's. She kissed back as Raiku wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her toward him while she touched his cheek using her hand. Then all of a sudden, Asami pulled away as both her and Raiku blushed with both of their eyes wide. Asami decided to leave after the kiss they had, feeling it was a mistake. But she stopped walking as Asami glanced at Raiku.

"Raiku... we know the truth." she stated with Raiku taking his gaze at her. "About you. Your father and Lakogi island. Gin Wu and Li Mei told us."

Raiku looked down when Asami said she and the others knew about his past. "So..." he paused looking back at Asami. "What did you guys hear?"

Minutes Earlier...

with Li Mei

Li Mei folded her arms looking down, trying to piece up all the information Korra gave to her and the group. Tarrlok being the son of infamous mob boss Yakone, explaining how he bloodbend her yesterday at the council room. But most of all, Amon captured Tarrlok and took his bending away while Korra manage to escape. Amon was near to spread his agenda all over Republic city, and Li Mei knew he would be unleashing all-war in the process of his siege. But she couldn't help but think there was a connection to Raiku's father. She remembered Raiku telling her that his father encountered Amon.

"Li Mei." she turned around to see Bolin seeing a worried look on his face. "Are you alright? It looks like something's bothering you."

"Gin Wu..." she trailing off, catching the air acoylte's attention. "It's time we told them."

"Yes, you're right." Gin wu said looking down, taking a sip of tea with a stern expression on his face. "It's time the truth came out."

"What are you two talking about?" Korra said with Gin glancing at his old friend, seeing Tenzin nod in answer

"About Raiku's origins." he gazed his attention at the others. "About the truth."

Korra, Mako, Bolin, even Beifong gazed at Gin Wu as he glaring at him. "Do you know something, Gin?"

"I do. After Raiku was brought to us, we find a letter that said if he ever showed airbending is that we teach him the way of the art." he paused staring at Korra and the group. "But it also told us to take him to an island called Lakogi, the birth place of Raiku's father Zorin." Gin Wu stood up and stared into the window. "After seven years and six months, we found Lakogi island. However, we weren't the only ones on that island. The island natives were originally energy benders, the type of bending Avatar Aang used on Firelord Ozai and Yakone." he then stared at Korra and the others. "Now, it's an island of airbenders."

Korra and the others were shocked from the revelation, especially Asami and Pema who overheard. Leading Korra to be the first to speak. "An entire island of airbenders?"

"Yes. They seducled themselves from the world. Their origin begins when two tribes were at war. Those east were known as the Airn, and on the west were called the Ven." Gin Wu explained as he sat back down. "At the battle of Shanei, both sides were stunned to newcomers into their island. Four families, each one from the north, south, east, and west air temples during the hundred year war. And when the four families of the air temple arrived, they decided to bring peace to both of the warring tribes. So on and so on, there were peace in Lakogi island. Raiku is a descendent of the family from the Northern air temple."

"So the family from the Northern air temple was also the one that started the peace treaty between the warring tribes." Mako implied as Gin nodded his head. "But what does it tell us about Raiku's father?"

"Raiku's father went against one of their major laws. The one to venture into the outside world. He even got some of the council agreeing with him that times needed to be changed. When the other council members disagree, they exiled him. Acaro, Zorin's brother and Raiku's uncle was apparently at it with the council about exiling Zorin. And since then, it would seem Zorin has had a peaceful living among us. He even found himself a true love."

"Raiku's mother." Asami finished off with Gin Wu nodding his head

"Yes, his mother Saia." Gin Wu's expression slight turned to sadness. "But it wasn't all that peaceful until he came."

Korra narrowed her eyebrows as she knew who Gin Wu was talking about, the same appling for the others. "Amon."

"What could a mastermind like Amon want from Raiku's dad?" Bolin asked

"Raiku said he wanted the knowledge of Energybending. But..." Gin Wu trailed off placing his fists together as he glanced at Korra, Mako, Bolin and Li Mei. "What you five saw wasn't energybending. It was something else, something different. An unknown."

"What happened when Zorin refused Amon, Gin?" Beifong leaned forward the balding air acolyte who looked at her in the eyes

"He take Raiku's mother and..." Gin Wu paused glancing at everyone else. "He killed Raiku's father." he stated as everyone's eyes were widened with shock. "That's how he ended here in Air temple island. His father brought him before he died."

"What about the Lakogi council? Did you tell them-"

"We did. We told them everything that changed." Li Mei stated. "About the Avatar defeating Firelord Ozai, about Republic city. Everything. Acaro told us that after we leave, he was going to do his best with the support he had to convince the Lakogi council to reconnect with the outside world."

Asami walked away from the room, having a saddened look on her face after hearing about Raiku's past. His mother taken while his father was murdered, Asami understood why he wanted to find Amon. "Raiku, I think I understand now. Why you want to find Amon."

End Flashback

"So..." Raiku trailed off, looking away as he saw his mother was still asleep. "You guys know everything about me now."

Asami walked toward, placing a hand on his cheek. "Raiku, I'm worried about you. We're worried about you. And I need to know: are you going after Amon?"

Raiku looked back at her with a confused look on his face. "What?"

"I need to know if there's a piece of revenge inside you." Asami stated with a sympathetic look. "And if there is, you have to let go. You have your mother, you don't need to go after him."

"I know, but-" Asami cut him off by placing her finger on Raiku's lips

"But nothing. Please..." she pressed her hands on his chest. "Don't go after him."

Ever since he knew his mother was alive, Raiku wanted to find Amon in all his fiber. To avenge his father, to stop Amon from completing his goal of taking every bender's bending away and his dominance. He looked back to his mother, then stared back at Asami with those sliver grey eyes of his with her green orbs. He walked over to his air nomad staff, pressing the three spiral symbol down as he pulled out two blades carrying them in his hand along with his blades. That's when Asami saw Raiku drop them down and placed them in a chest were all his stuff was. He showed a headband with a sliver imprint of the three spirals representing Lakogi island. Instead of strapping the headband on his forehead, he strapped it on his left arm above his shoulder. Raiku placed the blades back into his staff as it closed, staring at Asami with a straigh face.

"Alright. I won't go after Amon." Raiku stated to Asami as she hugged him into an embrace, smiling along with Raiku's mother Saia who overheard the conversation. Then all of a sudden, they heard the sound of a bombing that caught both of them off guard. "Do you hear that?"

Asami nodded. "It's coming from outside."

"And I think I know what it is. Come on!" Raiku and Asami left the room, with Saia having a grim look on her face after her son and his friend left

Noon, City streets

Republic City

Korra and the gang took the ferry back to Republic city, seeing police sirens blaring out in the distribance of the attack on the city. They knew they needed to help protect the city from Amon's assault, and it needed to happen fast.

"Where did you saw you parked the car?" Asami asked Korra

"It's right around here, somewhere." she answered

"Found it!" Raiku exclaimed catching a glimpse of Asami's car, laid crashed down on a street lamp. "Korra, I'm going to say this as a friend. You have terrible driving." he half joked only for Korra to hit him in the arm. "Ow! That hurt! And I said as a friend."

"You disappeared!" Korra pointed at the others. "And they got arrested leaving me with a car. I made it clear I don't know how to drive a car."

"All things considered, you did an awesome job." Bolin commented

"Except for the parking tickets." Li Mei hinted judging by the parking tickets on the windshield, with Bolin grabbed a hold of parking tickets

"How are we going to pay off these-" Bolin was cut off when Mako firebend the tickets to flames, leaving Bolin to throw a short gasp

"Never mind that. The city's under attack." Mako stated

"He's right. The police's got more to worry about." Li Mei replied with the others heading for the car. For some reason, Asami told Mako to get in the back with Korra leaving Li Mei surprised as they left. She wondered could this be about what happened last night, or was it something else. "Okay." Li Mei glanced at Mako and Asami. "What's going on with you?" she asked

"I'm with Li Mei on this one. What's-" Raiku cut himself off when he glanced at Korra, then back at Mako and Asami. "I KNEW IT!" he yelled out, leaving the others except Asami who was still driving staring at him in confusion

Li Mei was the first to break the silence. "Uh, Raiku?"

Raiku pointed at both Korra and Mako. "They make out!"

Li Mei eyes went wide. "What?! You mean- no. Mako, you didn't."

"Oh, he did." Asami muttered taking a sharp turn right with Li Mei hitting Mako in the arm

"Cut it off!" Mako stopping Li Mei from hitting him

"I can't believe you two made out." she scowled with Raiku chuckling at Li Mei jabbing Mako's arm

"It's no different when you told me Raiku kissed Asami." That stopped Raiku laughing as he glanced at Li Mei and Mako. "She told me you both kissed. Is it true?" Mako asked glaring at Raiku and Asami

Raiku looked at Li Mei. "You told didn't you?" she in returned looked away whistling a quick tune. "Yes, me and Asami kissed." he said in a honest tone, only for Korra to hit him in the arm again. "What?"

"You kissed Asami behind his back?" she exclaimed, glaring at him

Raiku glared at Korra and Mako. "Don't try to jump this out of the way. You two kissed! And come to think of it, you said we weren't a couple."

"So you took this as I chance to kiss Asami?" Mako scowled at Raiku

"What? No! Hey, there's a difference! Me and Asami kissed by accident." he countered fixing a cold stare at Mako and Korra. "You two, not so much. Besides, why would it matter? You and Asami are already threw, aren't you?"

"I don't know. Are we?" Mako asked Asami fixing a glare her direction, with Li Mei seeing Asami throw off a contempt and disdain look on her face

"We're threw." she answered harshly

"Guys! Equalists at 12 o' clock!" Bolin shouted as he spotted equalists and six mecha tanks, while Raiku stood on the truck of Asami's car leaping toward them with Lakogi blades in his hands

In one swift air strike with his blades, Raiku sliced out a mecha tanks arm along with the chassis in the other swift strike. A claw launched itself at Raiku as he dodged, slicing the claw while Asami's car crashed into it with Li Mei striking the equalists using Raiku's air nomad staff. She went to aid Asami in freeing the captives while Bolin used his earthbending to trip one of the mecha tanks that came toward the ground. A claw impacted on Mako shocking him, only for the firebender to convert it as he redirected it using lightningbending shutting down the electronics of the mecha tank. Korra came at the other mecha tanks with her waterbending, placing strands of it inside the mecha tanks exhaust pipes while Bolin sent it flying down using earthbending. A mecha tank flying away behind as he saw Tenzin help out Mako while he turned his attention to the remaining mecha tanks, dashing head on he sliced the chassis of both tanks. Li Mei tossed Raiku's staff by at him as he gave a thankful smirk on her face, but saw her saddened and wide eyed as he pointed straight ahead. Raiku looked at where she and saw with widened eyes that a equalist blimp was heading for Air temple island.

"No, no!" he gasped, dashing forward and taking a gaping leap as he flew away toward air temple island on his glider.

Air temple island

Republic city

Raiku finally arrived at the garden section to Air temple island, making his way to help White Lotus fend off the equalists. However, to his surprise, the equalists were taken care of he spotted Cheif Beifong along with Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo among the white lotus. All of the equalists were dealt with quickly as Raiku's face was stunned by the aftermath of the battle. He made his way toward them as Tenzing and the others arrived on Uggi, with the kids rushing over to Tenzin.

"You let them fight? Do you realize you could have gotten them hurt?"

"I would've been toast if it weren't for your kids. You train them well."

"That they did." Raiku said still stunned now following Tenzin and the kids to where Pema and his mother Saia was

Luckily, Raiku found out his mother was safe and sound. It turned out his mother was helping Pema birthing her and Tenzin's fourth child. Once they went inside, Tenzin and Raiku saw his mother sitting with Pema as she held the infant. Tenzin was the first to hold his fourth child, which turned out to be a baby boy as Raiku sat on the side of the bed where Pema laid after hugging his mother. Raiku stared at the baby as the infant grabbed his finger, staring at his eyes with those small baby eyes.

"Do you want to hold him, Raiku?" Pema asked

Raiku blinked. "Really? I can hold him?" he said as Pema nodded her head, with Raiku carefully holding the infant in his arms while he noticed Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo staring by the door. "Come say hello to your baby brother."

"A brother? Well it's about time!" Meelo said heading toward Raiku holding their infant brother

"Welcome! My name is Ikki." Ikki motioned her hand at Jinora and Meelo. "This is Jinora and Meelo. We have a special great family and we're happy you're part of it."

"What are you going to name him?" Jinora asked while Raiku placed the baby back in Pema's arms. "Can I pick?"

"We've already chose a name."

"What is it?" Raiku asked

"Rohan." Tenzin answered smiling

"It's a good name." Raiku went over to his mother, hugging her into an embrace. "I'm glad you're safe."

"I'm fine. I just wanted to help out." Saia glanced at Pema holding her newborn with a smile on her face. "It reminds the time that I was born with you. And now, seeing you're safe and all grown up." she looked down with tears in her eyes as Raiku crouched down. "I missed your first steps, your first word-" Raiku cut his mother off

"You're here now, mother. And that's all that matters." Raiku said while hearing footsteps, turning around as he saw Korra and Mako along with Chief Beifong and Gin Wu. "What is it?"

"More airships are coming."

"We need everyone to leave to Air temple island." Gin stated. "We'll head for the White Lotus in the Southern Water tribe."

"I'll go with Gin." Saia said, with Raiku staring at his mother. "I'll be fine." she stated while Raiku went with Korra and the others

Outside Air temple island, equalist airships were heading for the island. The conflict itself was escaluating beyond belief. Everyone else was already evacuating along with Raiku's mother and Gin Wu were following the White lotus, heading for their sanctuary in the Southern Water Tribe. Tenzin accompained by Chief Beifong did the same, leaving Korra, Raiku and the others to flee Air temple island as they rode on Naga. Once they were hidden in Republic city outside the sewers, Team Avatar stared at the rising Equalist forces occupying the entire city even Air temple island itself. All they could hope for was the United forces would join the fight. Raiku was the last to follow the group as he looked away from the island, gently putting his hand on Asami's shoulder as he looked at him resting her head on his shoulder. And at that moment on, Team Avatar knew it was going to get worse by the minute.