(/")/ Dark Soul Slayer \("\)
I had a lot of fun reading the reviews, so I want to say thanks to you all. This was a very hard chapter to write, cause new ideas keep popping up into my head creating new possibilities with each chapter…
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Starting next week I'll be in classes so I'll tell you then the official update schedule!
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Legend of Korra
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As the sun went down that afternoon silence occupied the island. Neither bison nor lemur, dared to interrupt it, not even Naga with her usually loud yawning noises dared to penetrate the silence. The wind became still as the shadows slowly crept up through the windows of the stable. That phenomenal sixth sense of animals could predict things far better than the average human.
The air was tense, not even young Rohan in the care of his sisters dared to make a sound. The main hall had been lavishly decorated with the traditional colors of the four nations to symbolize the arrival of the young royal. Streamers of gold, red, blue and green traipsed the ceiling hanging from rafter to rafter. On the main wall to the back stood an incredible display of the banners of the Air Nomads, Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation all flanking a beautiful diorama of republic city.
The hall was silent, no one had yet arrived, no one but Tenzin, Pema and a few of their most trusted acolytes knew of the big surprise for the team that evening and as such no one had been permitted in till dinner. On the outside, the faint sound of many pairs of feet approaching the dining hall grew louder. If were not for the collective nature of sound one may not have heard as each step was soft as though each person had a small burden to be lifted soon.
The first to arrive we're Tenzin and his children who had been amazed by the lavish decorations put before them. They sat down accordingly waiting patiently for the others to arrive. The next to arrive was Mako, his face and persona had appeared calm but beneath that exterior Tenzin felt great sadness, confusion and truth. Tenzin motioned to Mako who sat obligingly at his side.
The silence continued, with no conversation being passed between the current in habitants of the room. Next to enter in a relaxed and happy manner were the duo of Korra and Bolin. Also captivated by the lavish decorations which were very uncommon in the temple as the Air Nomad race was renowned for their lifestyle of simplicity that did not indulge in worldly affairs. They surveyed the room, admiring the exquisite decorations done with expert precision. They saw the air-bender clan sitting quietly at a table with Mako sitting amongst them. For a brief moment his eyes connected with them both, as though attempting to communicate a silent message. The overall aura of the pair shifted into an uncomfortable grey. They found seats at the adjacent table to Mako, but made no further eye contact.
Asami was the next to arrive. She strode in in a beautiful party dress, as she had seen the arrival of the surprise guest of honour. She was unfazed by the lavishly decorated dining hall, growing up in a mansion with a wealthy father who threw multination parties with his global investors, such armaments were just a mere triviality, one of which she was beginning to miss. She sat down at the table on the opposite side of Tenzin alone, eyeing Mako with her tender green eyes and casting very suspicious looks at Bolin and Korra who at this point we're having a very whispered conversation.
Pema and the other Air Acolytes entered carrying the meal prepared moments before; a wide combination of traditional air fruit pies, which Tenzin eyed with great interest, stewed sea prunes, to which Bolin and Korra sighed with a sense of desire, traditional earth kingdom dishes and on a beautiful silver platters flaming hot fire nation dishes.
Pema sat down beside her husband and whispered gently into his ears, "we're all finished now and they're waiting outside for your signal."
Tenzin got up and motioned to the Air Acolytes to join the nearest table and be seated. As soon as everyone was seated, he faced the entire dining hall and made his announcement, "well apparently my dearest brother Bumi, understands the importance of relaxation and so has sent off General Iroh, for a few weeks stay, so tonight we celebrate to welcome him and his retainers."
Then on cue Iroh and his retainers entered the hall dressed in his well-prepared United Forces uniform flanked by a retainer on either side dressed in deep cloaks reminiscent of the fire nation. He motioned his retainers to sit wherever they pleased and went to stand beside Tenzin. He spoke clearly and audibly as befitting one of his rank, "hey guys, it's good to be back let's have fun ok."
With that said he took the seat beside Asami. All eyes drew on the young lady as Iroh sat beside her. Everyone knew, including Asami herself, that Iroh had feelings for her and with all the drama that had been going on was she about to make it worse?
Tenzin got up. In an effort to ease the tension that had begun to build in the room he said, "let us be thankful for that which we are about to receive."
At the other table adjacent to Tenzin's, Korra and Bolin continued their intense discussion as to their intended moves that afternoon. After Tenzin had graciously offered thanks to the respective spirits, Bolin had permitted himself to get lost in the food before him. Korra eyed him pathetically, well if she must then she will. She turned to face Asami seated a short distance away, "Asami I'm sorry I hit you, I was angry and upset about what had happened earlier and I know that if it had been you and you could've gotten away with it you would too."
Asami eyed her carefully, something was up and she had a feeling she was not going to like the rest of it.
Korra tried to face Mako, but the guilt in both their eyes made it painful, "Mako, I'm sorry as well for what happened but, I can no longer be with you or trust you. You broke my heart," tears began to well in her eyes, "and I don't think I can ever trust you again."
Bolin looked up from his dish, she had kept her part of the bargain, now it was his then after dinner they'd drop the biggest bomb on them all. He stood up and wiped Korra's tears from her face then kissed her on the cheek. He turned to face his brother, the serious look on his kind-hearted face betrayed not his emotions. "Mako let me tell this to you now, you're not going to like what has been going on behind your back but at least I'm being truthful."
Mako stood up, his brother was now confronting him openly for the first time he ever. He realized that while his brother may have appeared to be insecure, rash and indecisive he had in own way or rather was becoming a man.
"You tell always tell me you're protecting me and what not yet you always lie. The past few days have been hard for me, okay and not having you there is seriously hurting me. But I'm NOT a kid anymore Mako I need you to be honest with me. The evening of the breakup," he paused for a moment quietly glancing between his brother and Korra, "I left out to end it all."
His statement brought gasps from the entire room, not even Korra herself knew of this development. Even Asami who was still eyeing her fellow female who was in the midst of this crisis had dropped her suspicion at the statement.
Bolin took a deep breath as he continued, "then as I went about the island looking for the one place no one could find me to stop me, I saw Korra, she was also in pain and we sat down and talked and she got me out of my funk and we spent the night together."
That statement drew scandalized looks from Mako, Asami and Iroh, who was currently being informed of the entire situation by an eager Ikki who had mysteriously occupied the seat moments before.
Seeing the outraged faces of the others he quickly rebutted, "we didn't do anything but if it wasn't for her you might not even see me here now. Then we went out on a date today."
Mako was left speechless, he hurt his brother so much that it pushed him to an edge and it was the same persons that he loved that helped each other through. He could not stand to live behind the façade anymore. He needed to speak, he needed to lift his burden.
Bolin on the other hand felt elated like a giant weight had been lifted off his shoulders continued, "so I'm sorry Mako, I never thought of your feelings about it all, I never gave you the chance to explain, so I guess I'm not so different than you am I?" Tears also began to form in his eyes as he continued, "But I need to hear the truth bro, we all do right now, or else I don't ever know if I'll be able to trust you again."
Mako sat there quietly, he felt awful the weight of the world had suddenly fallen on his shoulders, he drove his brother to the edge with his lies and broke the heart of someone he cared about and even now he could not be honest with himself. He just sat there speechless.
A few moments of disappointing silence passed and everyone returned to eating their dinner, as Mako had yet to respond to his brother and ex-girlfriend's statement, at that point he had yet to answer himself, that sort moment he spent with the spirit of his parents made one thing clear, he was confused. His brother's suicidal message still ran through his head, 'if something had happened I would be the one to blame.' The pressure was unbearable and highly toxic to the young man's attitude. He resigned to a state of depression.
Mako closed his eyes trying to re-enter the landscape where he previously saw his parents but it failed. A firm hand gripped shoulder, for a moment Mako had hoped it was his father, hoping to get some real advice, unfortunately all he saw was Tenzin. Mako sighed he needed a bit more time.
From Asami's table the young general observed the tentative atmosphere. It was draining and confusing. From what he gathered from Ikki, Mako and Korra had been going out for a long time, and apparently Bolin and Asami were secretly dating as well, when a short while ago Asami cause both relationships to end by kissing Mako before her current boyfriend and Korra. Iroh felt a bit elated, she was single now, or was she. He continued to ponder over the scenario he was rapidly becoming a part of.
'That was no simple kiss if the relationship had ended,' he concluded, wondering with great incredulity about the nature of such a kiss to ruin the lives of the group of friends. 'She had feelings for mako,' he thought his prospect of having his jewel dimming with each passing moment; He eyed the young fire-bender seated beside Tenzin. 'He looks so pitiful, and can't say I blame him, he has a lot on his mind,' he thought apathetically.
He looked at his emerald eyed goddess, would she ever come to acknowledge or reciprocate his feelings towards her? Iroh sighed. Love was just too damn complicated. He attempted to meet her eyes to stel away a single glance as she stared defiantly at the one who once loved her. Did she even realize what her actions and feelings had caused for them all? He touched her gently on her arm.
Shivers ran up her spine, and did not go unnoticed by the young master. She looked at him with deep concern and worry in her eyes, vulnerability and guilt smeared across her face. She was near to tears he could sense, she must have felt guilty for causing the great depression that almost led to the death of Bolin. She attempted to smile at the young fire-bender, her emotions distorted. She was beginning to lose herself to her own emotional pain and suffering, she needed someone, no she needed an answer.
Iroh sat there reading her volumes of emotions trying to understand, trying to formulate the best course of action to save her from herself. He let his touch leave her arm, she needed her space at this time and she needed her answer. He sat there just thinking, her pain was beginning to affect him, he could not just sit there and watch as the one he loved was driven helplessly to the brink. He could not lose her, even if she would never be his. His emotions began to well and he started moving without thinking.
He got up and went over to the Table where Tenzin and Mako were seated. He touched Mako on his shoulder in an effort to gain his attention, but Mako shrugged it off and bowed his head to face his knees. Iroh was outraged at the insult and instead of again trying to peacefully gain his attention he pulled mako from the table and drew him up by the collar of his shirt.
At that moment the sound of clanging utensils halted as all eyes and ears were directed at the fire-bending duo.
"Mako," said Iroh in a commanding tone the emotion slowly building in his voice to the almost limp body of Mako whose head had returned to viewing the ground from the side. "Mako!" he repeated, his voice slowly gaining volume, "Mako look at me! Don't you see that you're hurting everyone?"
Tenzin got up, "Iroh that's enough," he said firmly as he read the situation.
Iroh shot Tenzin a fierce glare, "stay out of this Tenzin, this doesn't concern you."
Iroh turned his attention to the fire-bender before him paying no attention to the flabbergasted look on Tenzin's face. "Mako enough is enough you're the one here that's causing Asami, Bolin and Korra to suffer, you need to just end it now."
Mako turned to face his assailant. He could clearly see the boiling anger hidden beneath Iroh's calm exterior beginning to surface. Mako felt insulted at Iroh's statement that he was hurting everyone, though true as it may be, but he was not to be blamed totally. He regained his composure and pushed off Iroh.
"I'm to blame am I?" he said his own anger causing him to radiate heat. "Well Mr. Fire Nation prince, you little princess, and everyone knows you like her, is to blame as well."
Iroh looked distraught at the statement, 'she knew all this time?' but before he could even respond Mako continued.
"Well she was the one who caused everything and I admit, I'm to blame she kissed me and I kissed her back, I do still have feelings for her and I guess that's why I did it." At this Korra stood up with Bolin and faced turned in the direction of the pair arms crossed and upset.
"But I love Korra, she's special to me, I can't even imagine life without her, and I know I don't deserve her but…" his voice began to fade.
Korra rounded on him emotion welling inside her as well, "but what Mako but what, you loved me but what? Didn't I mean anything to you?" she asked exasperated tears beginning to reform in her eyes.
"I just don't know anymore, ok, right after the breakup when Asami and I were left together we almost made love right after, but I stopped myself. I love you Korra, and I still have feelings for her, I'm just confused, I just don't know what to think anymore."
The room was left silent after that pronouncement, Asami and Mako almost slept together right after the break up? Sobs began to penetrate the silence as Asami began crying in her lap. She had begun to feel ashamed of her actions, and now her own world was falling apart.
Bolin looked at his brother the news had been devastating, in truth he still had feelings for her after he walked out at lunch the other day but, to know that moments after they almost did the unforgiveable depressed him. He fell to his knees and started crying himself.
Mako looked at his brother and felt hurt even more, he hirt him again, he went over to comfort his brother when he was stopped by Korra.
"Haven't you done enough?" she asked, it pained her to see Bolin like that and knowing what he almost did on that night made her even more concerned and protective. "Just leave him alone!."
Mako pushed past her and went and knelt before his brother. He placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke softly to him. "This is what I had been hiding from you and this is exactly why I didn't, why I couldn't tell you," he said with tears still in his eyes.
Bolin looked up his eyes a puffy red, "I'm sorry too Mako, all you were doing was trying to protect me back then and I never listened."
Mako looked at him his heart moving to his throat, "that still doesn't excuse what I did to you," he turned to face the others, "to you all."
Korra just stood there, the hurt and pain had returned, it was all just too much. The truth had come to light and she couldn't handle it especially not her own, she still loved him.
Iroh stood alone where Mako had left him, his emotions distorted; Mako had ruined the life of his precious Asami. It was UNFORGIVEABLE. He went over and draped up Mako once more and slapped him across his face, the anger radiating off his body as heat. Mako stood up his face once again marred by the hand of another, and assumed a fighting pose himself also radiating heat. Before he could shoot fire at the royal Korra intervened and doused them both with a large torrent of water with her bending.
"You both need to cool off," she said angrily, "get back to your seats now."
Daring not to tempt the wrath of the powerful avatar they obliged and returned to their seats still casting nasty looks at the other. Korra sighed, and knelt beside Bolin who offered a word of thanks to her for stopping the fight. She wiped his tears and whispered a few soft words into his ear and they returned to their positions at their table. Mako looked at Asami who was now being comforted by a still aggravated Iroh. He sighed. Love just wasn't his forte.
Mako looked at Asami directly in her eye, trying to understand her yet again, though it was a wasted effort. He said to her his voice wrought with Venom, "have you nothing to say?"
Asami looked at him and wiped the tears from her face and said, "I already told you how I feel I showed you how I felt, you need to tell me, no, tell Korra and myself now, is there any future with either of us?"
Mako looked away from her, he felt the eyes of everyone on him, including Korra. He needed to answer them now, he needed to answer himself. He could not end the day without being honest with himself and everyone, or else he might not survive the emotional dilemma.
He rose again and faced the room, his eyes focusing on both Asami and Korra. He began to speak his voice wavering with his emotions as he tried to find common ground, "you want to know how I feel?"
The room grew silent.
"Then," he continued "let me tell you, ..."
TO BE CONTINUED
(/")/ Dark Soul Slayer \("\)
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