Mako weaved through the busy marketplace with caution. His black hair was slicked back with care as his orange eyes scanned through the crowds. It reeked of fish and garbage but this was the place to get the day's freshest catch. Esteemed chefs from all over the city came here early in the morning to get the first pick for their restaurants. Mako did his best to pretend to shop at the sea-cucumbers when one of the fish clerks gave him an odd look. Despite it being a public market, this place was crawling with criminals. The market is known to launder dirty money for mobsters and so mobsters ran the place. He was quick to snap a few pictures from the small camera that was hidden in his coat pocket. He took pictures of anyone that seemed like they woke up on the wrong side of the bed years ago. The place was littered with them. Mako couldn't decide on where to focus his attention at first.
"You gonna buy anything or are you just gonna stand there?" The rough clerk scowled at him. Mako blinked.
"Oh, uh," Mako looked down at the catch and pointed to one. "Yeah! Let me have that one, please!" He said with a nervous smile. The clerk popped the sea cucumber in a bag and weighed it for him.
"Ten Yuans." Mako fished in his pockets and managed to pay the man.
"Thanks." Mako took the bag and moved on through the market. He halted when he noticed someone staring at him. He was kind of a short man but intimidation seeped through him like slime on a slug. He was stalky, bald and his face was hard and chiseled. A scar sliced through the curve of his left eyebrow. His eyes were black. A cold shiver ran up Mako's spine. Mako turned away made a brisk walk through the crowd. He made it to the most northern part of the market that sold vegetables and fruits at an enormous variety. He turned and found that he wasn't followed but as soon as he continued to exit the market... A woman in a black suit stood before him. Mako's eyes immediately snapped to the eye tattoo on her forehead.
"Where's the Avatar?" She asked with a twist of her head.
"Who?" Mako asked. He immediately thought this woman was crazy until the man he was trying to evade approached him from behind.
"Korra Kunik," He stated plainly. "We are special officers from the United Republic Armed Forces. She's lost contact with us. We need to discuss a special mission with her... You are her partner, are you not? Mr. Jackson?"
"I'm sorry you must have mistaken me with someone else," Mako declared and squared his shoulders in defense as another person approached him on the right. A man with long black hair and a goatee stared at him with a cold expression. Mako pushed past them with haste.
"Tell the Avatar that we are looking for her..." The bald man called after him. "She can't hide forever."
Mako left as fast as he could by walking. He made it to his black police sedan and headed straight back to the police station. He sighed when he parked his car as the thoughts ran through his head. He knew that he wasn't stupid enough to believe that they were really special officers. If they were, they would have shown the proper documentation that would have proved it so. Just what type of trouble was Korra in? He quickly became worried and decided to report the strange encounter to the Chief.
"They called her the avatar?" Lin asked with furrowed eyebrows, making her already stern expression more unpleasant. "What did they look like?"
"The leader, I think... was a short bald man. A woman with an eye tattoo on her forehead and another man, earth nation with long black hair," Mako explained.
"Shit..." Lin massaged her temples. "Just what I fuckin need..." She shot out her pointer finger at him. "Do not... I repeat... Do not discuss this with anyone else. You hear me? I'm going to contact General Iroh and see what he recommends for this."
"Shouldn't we inform Kunik of the situation?" Mako asked.
"Absolutely not!" Lin shot out with a stern voice. "We need to make sure who exactly they are. Korra could do something rash and unnecessary."
"I suppose you are right..." Mako said while itching the back of his head with a sigh. "What should I do in the mean time? What if they find her.?"
"We can not let that happen by any means. We should assign a tail for her. You are obviously noticed as her partner so we should find someone who isn't connected to her."
"Anyone in mind?"
Lin rubbed her chin with a hum. "Yes, actually."
...
"Asami, dear.." Yasuko's eyes smoldered with her gaze. "Care to repeat that?"
"I said I'm done," Asami said stepping forward. "I'm not continuing as the Black Dahlia anymore. I refuse to kill an innocent just to avoid getting arrested."
" Kunik is hardly an innocent, Asami." Yasuko sighed. "She's dangerous and will be used as a weapon by the Red Lotus if we do not take her out first. If they get to her, and they will, she will be tortured for sensitive information to destroy the United Republic. Republic City as we know it now won't exist."
" Thus ending your reign as Zula," Asami folded her arms with a frown. "This is nothing but for your benefit and you know it. You don't care about the United Republic. You just care about your lifestyle."
" Watch your fucking mouth," Yasuko spat and rose from her chaise. "I will not tolerate back talk from you."
"Like you have any say as to tell me what to do," Asami folded her arms. "You chose to do this instead of being my mother."
"We've already discussed this, Asami." She sighed. "You know I really wish I could have taken you with me but it wasn't a place to raise a child. You know that."
"You could have stayed..."
"And be miserable?" Yasuko snorted. "I'm not some groveling house-maiden who is only satisfied with her husband's happiness. We both know that you would have done the same thing... Now why all of a sudden change of heart with the detective?" Asami averted her eyes and recoiled back when Yasuko sauntered her way.
"She's done nothing wrong," Asami said.
"Not yet," Yasuko said with a silk. Asami flinched a little when her mother's hands gently squeezed her upper arms. "Look at me, Asami." Asami reluctantly turned her head at stared into her mother's smoldering gaze. "Whatever you are feeling for this woman, it needs to stop."
"I don't know what you are talking about!" Asami suddenly snapped and pushed away to linger in the back of the room to glower. Yasuko picked up a remote and turned on a television monitor that hung on the wall. Asami's eyes widened at the recording. Her office. Korra and her... going at it on the desk. "Turn it off!" Asami yelled with a red face. "You have no right to invade my privacy!"
"Don't know what I'm talking about, huh?" Her mother approached her again and grabbed her chin forcing her to look at the monitor. "Look at the look on your face... such passion... such... love." Asami's eyes started to water under the beating pressure of her aching heart. Yes, she was in love... with her next victim. "Those tears of bliss and ache streaming down your cheeks... She knows just how to touch you. She's playing you, you know."
" Stop it, " Asami hung her head as her hands formed into fists.
"Love is a fickle thing..." Yasuko said with a sigh. "Are you really going to succumb to such a thing? Love will destroy you, Asami. Look at what it's done to me. What do you think she will do when she finds out that you are a serial killer? You think she would let you just walk away? She will arrest you. In fact, she probably already knows... She's pulling you in with her cunning tactics to get you to confess. That's what cops do."
"Shut up!" Asami cried. "Korra wouldn't do that! She... wouldn't..." Asami frowned as doubt seeped into her mind. Korra has been trying her hardest to stay close to her. Prodding her with questions, asking what's behind certain doors. She even tried to get her to confess to being the Black Dahlia. Yasuko could be right. Korra was on to her either way... Everything Asami and her mother worked towards would be pointless. All the research, all the throat slicing... They have had been working so hard to gain control of all the triads. The Red Lotus has been knocking on their door to get to Kunik. Asami knew what needed to be done.
"Alright..." Asami choked. "I'll do it... after she gives us Shin. After I ruin him... I'll take care of her."
"Are you sure you can do it?" Yasuko asked. "I can get Tupit to slip her something discreet."
"No," Asami sighed heavily. "I can do it." If anyone is going to kill the Avatar, it will be her. She won't suffer Korra to die at some fool's hands. She could give her an honorable death.
"I'm going to give you a time frame on this, Asami. No games." Her mother's expression was serious. "You will have 2 weeks after Shin is taken care of. If you fail, I will assume that you have betrayed me. From then on you will be a target, you understand?"
"Yes... I understand." As Asami stared into her mother's eyes she knew that she was serious. Yasuko will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Ironically, she passed on that same trait to Asami.
When Asami left, she was shaking. How would she ever be able to kill Korra? The woman she loved. The woman she cherished so... Asami's fists clenched in her lap as she stared at the limo's carpeted floor. It would be one step further to killing Shin, the man who was responsible for her mother's kidnapping, then one step further to controlling the entire triad empire. She could finally dismantle it and tear it to the ground... but she needed Korra to be out of the picture. Her mother doesn't know her own intentions, Asami knew that she won't let go of the triad throne so easily but she knows that it would be possible. She would take her down herself if she had to. At this point, Asami would rather kill her own mother than kill Korra. Korra was everything to her, but it needed to be done.
First things first though... She'll need to keep a hard watch on Korra. As hard as that will be... Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, they say. She felt like an idiot for letting her feelings dominate her better judgement of the situation. This time now, she will keep close and watch Korra's every move. She will protect her from the Red Lotus and cherish such little time she will have with her. Then when the time comes, Asami will end Korra's life.
...
Korra chewed absentmindedly on a strip of jerky while fingering through her field notes. The Black Dahlia's victims had their files all spread on her bedspread. She even had a file for Yasuko laying on top of the pile. She was currently looking into HungFu Shin's record. It was light... The damn man became good at covering his tracks when he turned 22 years old, after that he was pretty much clean. Kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and impersonating a medical physician were the only offenses he had. The man was 45 now. Must more established in his operation and quickly learned how to make his own men take the fall in case things go wrong. He was smart but Korra knew she was smarter. She picked up her laptop and logged into the police records. She searched for other offenders of earth nation decent that was charged with kidnapping in the past five years. While the system was conducting the search, she picked up an envelope and pulled out some photographs Mako had sent her in the first class mail. They were pictures of earth nation men either wandering around the fish market or working it. Some of the faces were circled.
Mako had Kai take a look at the photographs and circle anyone that he think he recognize as his kidnappers. She took a pen and a pad of notepaper as the results appeared. She wrote down the names of the men who's mug shots matched the ones circled in the photographs. Korra looked towards the door when a knock wrapped quietly on the hard wood. She shot up and grabbed her pistol then eased her way cautiously to the door. She peaked through the viewing glass to see who it might be. Her eyebrows rose, the grip on her gun lightened. She took her time unlocking the latch and slowly opened the door.
"Korra!" a young woman jumped into her arms with a huge smile on her face.
"Opal?!" What the hell... Korra pulled the young woman in her apartment and looked around outside for any unwanted eyes then shut the door quickly and locked it to follow. Korra turned on her heels. The short, black haired woman was beaming with happiness. Korra knew Opal from Lin's family gathering. They quickly became friends and the young woman was quick to idolize the esteemed detective. "How the hell did you find me here, and why are you here and.." Opal pressed a finger against the detective's moving lips.
"Aunt Lin asked me to find you and help you on your assignment." She explained with a giggle.
"The Cheif? You?" Korra arched an eyebrow. "But... why? I'm doing just fine here."
"It's been taking a while, Aunt Lin wants you to speed up the process so you can return to your normal duties."
"Okay, but..." Korra paused. "She doesn't even know my address."
Opal gave her a coy look with a smug purse of her lips. "Raava? Really? You couldn't come up with something more... I don't know... Basic?" Korra now remember that she told Opal about her dreams a couple of times when they hung out. Raava was the spirit that accompanied her in her alternate reality that she slipped into at night. And Opal. well she was a fantastic tracker. She could find almost anyone with the most miniscule information provided. She was like a blood hound, really... It freaked the detective out. But given Korra's current circumstances in trying to find Asami's mother, she could use someone like Opal.
"Hey," Korra grabbed Opal's wrist and lead her over to the workspace on the bed. "Maybe you can help me with something..." Korra picked up Yasuko's case file and handed it to her. "This is a woman that has been missing for a long time. There is a suspicion that she might still be alive. You think you can help me find her? She might be going by the name, Zula now."
"Zula. Ah, I heard of her," Opal said while looking over the file carefully. "She's a first class prostitute in the Fire District."
"Yeah, I just can't figure out where exactly she is. Everyone seems to know of her but no one seems to know where she can be found."
"Well..." Opal placed the file down. "Have you thought about being a client? That might get her to show up."
Korra laughed. "What?! How can I do that if she's not around."
"How do the other John's get in contact with her?" Opal asked.
"I suppose... I'll just have to ask around, then. Maybe someone in the Pits have a contact... I should stick with my own gang though... don't want to step on the wrong toes." Korra picked up all the files and piled them neatly on the dresser. She shut down her laptop then turned to her friend. Korra just noticed now that she had a backpack on. "So... I guess you can stay here." Opal smiled with a blush then hugged Korra again.
"I know it's sudden, but... you know how Aunt Lin is..."
Korra sighed. "Yeah, okay. But I don't want you following me to gang related activities. It's way too dangerous."
"I can handle myself you know!" Opal folded her arms. "You taught me a few things to defend myself and I've been training since then as well."
"Still, I don't need to have to worry about you, okay?" Korra frowned. "I can't imagine what I'd do if something bad happened to you." Opal blushed and nodded. Korra unturned the sheets. "Let's go to sleep, I have a big fight tomorrow."
The two of them settled down for the night. When Opal was tucked under the covers, Korra turned off the lights and crawled into the bed with her. The detective laid on her back and stared at the ceiling with a sigh. She froze a little when Opal snuggled up against her side, resting her cheek on Korra's shoulder. Her hands wrapped around her tan arm. The young woman sighed in content with a gentle smile.
"I missed you..."
"Me too..." Korra turned towards her. "It's kinda nice having someone here with me. I'm pretty much alone all the time."
"Let's get this assignment over with so we can spend more time with each other."
"Sure." Korra smiled and closed her eyes.
...
Asami sat in the driver's seat of her favorite car. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she stared across the street at Korra's front door. Who the hell just went in her apartment? The executive glanced at the clock. 1:30 am. Who the hell was that girl? She felt a dark pit burrow its way in the center of her stomach. She felt sick and angry at the same time. Her thoughts raced. Was Korra fucking someone else? Was she really playing her like her mother suggested? Jealousy seeped out of every pore of Asami's body. She bit her lip so hard that she started to taste blood in her mouth. Spirits, why would she care if she was? It's not like her and Korra were actually together or anything... but still. Korra belonged to her and her alone.
"Fuck," Asami breathed as her breaths were ragged with the rage that was building up inside her. She grasped her head and tried to take a few deep breaths to calm herself. No, Korra wouldn't do anything like that... Korra knew she belonged to her. "She's just a friend..." Asami assured herself. "Just a friend... visiting at 1:30 in the morning." Asami groaned and started her car.
She then drove off into the night.
...
AN: OH MY GOD. I'm so sorry for taking that long to update. Also I apologize for the jumping around so much in this chapter I've been struggling with my creative flow recently and also WORKING MY ASS OFF AT WORK. I'm pushing through it though... UGH... Okay... I'll do better next time.