A Legend of Korra Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez (aka SMTsukishiro)
Summary:
A promising engineering student. A mysterious woman capable of controlling the four elements. When their paths crossed, the resulting collision not only changes their lives and themselves, but the fate of the entire world as well. [Korrasami AU]
Author's Note:
*beep* *beep* Long chapter ahead! *beep* *beep*
I was supposed to have this up already a couple of hours ago...but I fell asleep. So, I'm really sorry about that. I have a feeling, though, that you guys will definitely going to love this chapter. :D
So...Enjoy!
And...
Allons-y~!
The Legend of Korra
The Schism
Chapter 11. A Gathering of Storms
Asami should have remembered that when it came to the Avatar, the word 'patience' did not hold much weight. Nor did the thing called 'restraint'. After all, if Avatar Korra did possess such virtues and characteristics, she would have stayed—as she was supposed to—with Asami at the safe house Mako had provided them. Instead, it only took five minutes after Mako and Opal left, and another loud grumbling of the Avatar's stomach, for Korra to throw caution to the wind and leave the relatively safe confines of the dilapidated cargo hold, dragging the Prodigy along with her.
Even with hunger, Korra was strong and quick, though she moved very awkwardly anyone who saw her would think she was drunk, if not sick. At first, Asami thought the Avatar merely wanted to walk around, stretch her legs, and possibly get used to moving without the aid of the Elemental Spirits. She thought their path had no rhyme or reason. It didn't occur to her that the human incarnation of the Lord of the Spirits never did anything out of the blue.
It all became apparent when Korra led them to a small stall near the port entrance.
It was a small, mobile, food stall—a yatai, as it was called—made of woven bamboo with shōji on both sides: one acting as a door, the other merely as a decorative divider. It had a bamboo roof, the edges of which had paper lanterns hanging. The words 'The Great Noodle Shop', boldly written with white paint on red cloth, hung in-between two paper lanterns, right at the middle of the stall. Five bar stools could be seen, none of which were occupied.
Asami, realizing where Korra—or her nose, rather, for it seemed even the Avatar was confused of their being there—had taken them, couldn't keep her mouth from curving upwards. Her smile only widened, a teasing remark ready to be said, when she saw the expression on Korra's face.
"You really can't wait for Mako to return, can you?" Asami giggled as she watched the Avatar try to keep herself from drooling. "You must really be starving."
"I don't know what you are talking about," Korra retorted, eyes fixed on the stall where the aroma of noodles being cooked could both be seen and smelled. "I may need some nourishment, but I am not hungry."
"Says the almighty Avatar who led the girl she was with to a noodle shop neither of them knew was there just by following the scent that wafted from it," Asami spoke as though she was narrating a story. Laughing once more, she added, "I have to say, I'm impressed with your sense of smell, Korra. To have been able to smell the food cooking from the cargo hold to here…"
When Korra's stomach growled once again, Asami had to cut her teasing short. Taking the lead from the Avatar, she walked towards the stall and proceeded to scan the menu for prices. Though she was Hiroshi Sato's only daughter and heir, the Prodigy did not have much money on her person. She had left her chequebook, and the bulk of her money, at the dormitories before they headed out the night before. In her pocket was only the few hundred yuans she got as change from a purchase a few days ago.
Satisfied with the prices, and knowing she would be able to pay for them, Asami asked Korra what she would like to eat. The Avatar, unaccustomed to eating and the various food and flavors that were written and displayed on the menu, asked for Asami to pick for her.
"I really don't have a preference," Korra said when asked if she was certain. "I don't even know what a vegetable, seaweed, or braised possum chicken tastes like. I trust your judgment in this, therefore, I defer to you."
"And what if you don't like what I pick?" What Korra said about trusting her judgment when it came to food was not supposed to be a big deal, but Asami couldn't help feeling it was. "I remember you not being fond of my coffee, and you haven't even tasted it."
"Coffee?" Korra cocked her head to the side as she tried to remember what that was. "Was that the black sludge you were always drinking? The one with a very strong aroma? That's different."
Asami wanted to ask how so, but she figured having that conversation in front of an already-confused stall owner would not be a good idea. Who knows what Avatar-related things the dark-skinned girl would spout—whatever Korra-isms (for lack of a proper term) she would say. And so the Prodigy accepted the responsibility, but not before telling Korra that she should not be blamed if the taste was not to her liking, and that she would finish it regardless if she liked the food or not.
The young inventor need not worry about it, however, as Korra quickly devoured the bowl of pan-fried noodles, as well as the bowl of seaweed noodles soon after that, even before Asami could finish her own serving. As if the two, large bowls of food were not enough, the chocolate-haired girl also feasted on a hefty serving of deep-fried dumplings and sweet buns, stuffing her face so much that her cheeks puffed.
Up until that point, Asami never thought she would see Korra lose herself like that, especially when it came to something as mundane as food. The Prodigy took her time eating, watching the face of the Avatar light up with delight. Even the cook and his assistant were amazed and overjoyed with Korra's appetite.
"Please, please come again," they had uttered, bowing vigorously as Korra and Asami left the stall—the former humming in satisfaction, belly full and hunger satiated; the latter smiling despite becoming several hundred yuans poorer.
They walked in silence, neither of them caring where they were going. All around them, the port had come to life, bustling with activity as cargo was carried to and from ships, boats were carried to the dry dock for maintenance, men half-dressed shouting orders to their peers, and seagulls squawked as they perched or flew overhead. There was so much noise and goings-on that Asami was certain the other girl was going to complain about it, or point it out as another reason why she didn't like humanity's company.
Korra did not say such a thing—or alluded to anything of the sort, whether in words, actions, or facial expression. Instead, the Avatar hummed a tune, barely audible to Asami's ears.
The melody was a cheery and up-tempo one. Asami listened attentively. As she did, there was a strange feeling—a nagging thought—that the song was something she had heard before. A very long time ago.
Curious about the song and the foggy memory that accompanied it, the Prodigy posed a question to the Avatar.
"That tune…what is it?" she asked.
Korra stopped humming the melody to reply. "It's Raava's song. It's a special song the people of Nia Bayou sing to give thanks to Raava and ask for the Lord of Spirits' protection and guidance."
Hearing that it was the song of the Avatar's people, Asami concluded that her earlier recollection of having heard the song before was a trick of the mind, a mistake. She shook the thought of the false memory away and focused her attention on what her companion had said. She found it rather curious that Korra would be humming the song, and she let the other girl know what exactly was on her mind.
"What do you mean?" Korra asked, brow slightly furrowed. "What's so strange about me singing the tune?"
"Well, you said that melody was Raava's song. And according to what you and Opal seem to enjoy repeating and pointing out, being the Avatar makes you the incarnated Lord of the Spirits, isn't that right?" Just thinking about all of that made Asami's head throb a bit. She shrugged before finishing her thought, saying, "I just find it strange and bewildering why you would sing that tune for yourself. By humming it, does it mean you are thanking yourself, or perhaps invoking your protection on yourself? Asking yourself for guidance? How does that work, exactly?"
The crease that was on Korra's forehead vanished. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. She stopped walking for a second and carefully scrutinized Asami who took a while to notice that the Avatar was no longer matching pace with hers.
"Is there something wrong, Korra?" Asami asked, confusion and worry intermingling with her features as she briefly wondered if her words had sounded mocking.
The Avatar blinked several times before she burst out laughing, confusing the Prodigy even more.
"Does your mind always think that way?" Korra asked when her laughter had subsided. "Do you always think so hard on things?"
Asami blushed, embarrassed. She supposed she was thinking a bit too hard on the subject, but only because she still found it hard to wrap her mind around Korra's identity.
Noticing the flush on the porcelain-skinned girl's face, Korra thought it best not to embarrass her further. She did just pay for the food the Avatar had eaten. So, instead, Korra decided to explain her action.
"I sing that tune for no other reason than simply because I like it. How the villagers think and make use of it is their business. I really can't do anything for them when they sing it, other than let them know I heard the song," she said and they resumed walking, noticing but paying no mind to the fact that they had just left port and were heading to who-knows-where. "There is a story associated with the song. I would share it with you, sadly I don't remember the entirety of it."
"Even if you did, will that be alright?" Asami asked. "I was under the impression that everything about and from Nia Bayou is supposed to be a secret."
"I am pretty confident that the village wouldn't mind my sharing. They can't really have any qualms about it considering that—as you pointed out—this is my song, therefore the story of how it came to be revered also belongs to me." Korra flashed a lopsided grin, and whatever reservation that may have been was lost as the Avatar recounted what she could of the legend.
"As the story goes, before Avatar Wan was born, tension was already high between the ancient kingdoms. From their kings and queens, emperors and empresses to their lesser citizens, petty qualms were enough to cause great rifts and chaos. One wrong move, one poorly chosen word, and squabbles will ensue. Sometimes, both sides would leave with nothing more than menacing glares and hurtful words. Other times—and this was more frequent—blood would be spilt. The world revolved around the notion of vengeance. No matter how small a matter it was, the aggrieved would always seek recompense in the form of revenge. An eye for an eye, so they say. Thus the world spiraled in a never-ending cycle.
"During that time, there was a town that had always taken a neutral stance. No matter what was offered, they sided with no one. They kept their borders open to those who had lost much to the fighting, those who had nowhere else to go. And in that town, there lived a young woman—the daughter of the town's mayor. Though she was associated with him, there was nothing worth of note about her. She wasn't pretty, not by the standards of most. She wasn't the smartest nor the most cunning, either. Neither was she a picture of good health, for she had always been sickly as a child. Still, if there was one thing that separated her from all the other young women in this neutral town, it was her heart. As weak and frail as her body was, this young woman's heart was strong, pure, and true."
They crossed the sidewalk, getting farther away from the safe house than what would be considered wise, but neither of them cared for the moment. The morning breakfast had left them feeling relatively safe. There was no sign of anyone following them, either.
Korra continued with her story. "On one summer night, however, the peace in their little haven was broken. A noble from one of the houses of the Kingdom of Earth had decided to invade the town and offer it to the Earth King. He had grown tired of the neutral stance the town and its people were taking and yearned for the king's grace to fall on his house. The people, of course, were shocked by this. They panicked and fled whichever way. Many died in the frenzy, and many more would have had the young woman not tried to calm them down as they hid. She sang as best as she could, and though her voice cracked and was often out-of-tune, in that dark, damp place where they hid, it sounded very beautiful. Thus the song did its purpose, calming the citizens enough that when a group of knights came in search of them, they did not find their hiding spot.
"As the legend goes, that young woman's song—so hopeful in the face of great adversity—transcended the barrier between the mortal and the spirit realm. It reached the ears of the Lord of the Spirits who had, up until that point, taken only to observing the ebb and flow of history. It was said that the only reason the young woman and those that were with her survived was because Raava reached out and protected them, letting them know of her existence through the young woman's dreams. Thus the song became important in worshiping Raava." Korra concluded, the two of them stopping near an apartment building. She sounded pleased with herself for remembering most of what the legend said.
"What became of her, though? The young woman, I mean." asked Asami.
The Avatar shrugged. "No one really knows for certain. Some believe the young woman to be Avatar Wan's mother. Others say that the young woman in the story never existed; that she was Raava herself, who—without preemption—left the Realm of the Spirits to know and understand humanity better and to be the bridge between human and spirit-kind…which, if that were true, would make Wan the second Avatar." She laughed then, "Now that would certainly put everyone back at Nia Bayou in a frenzy. I am certain the Elders would fast for months, begging for pardon for the mistake. I bet your friend Opal would be beside herself as well."
"I doubt her enthusiasm would surpass what she has already been feeling for a while now," the young, emerald-eyed inventor smiled lovingly at the thought of her friend. "Still, I'm glad you're feeling much better and are well enough to joke about something like that, Korra. After what happened earlier today, you had me worried."
"I'm embarrassed that you had to see me like that. Though, strangely, I'm also glad that you did. I still feel like I'm being torn apart, and there is lingering pain still, but I have come to think that Alignak and the others would not be too happy with me wallowing in despair when hope is not yet lost." Korra turned to face Asami, a sheepish smile etched on her face. The Avatar cleared her throat. She was not used to admitting things, not even to herself, but knew it was something that needed to be said. "I have you to thank for that, among other things. I have misjudged you, Asami. I thought Alignak was being stupid when she told me you were…different."
The Prodigy returned the Avatar's smile once more, at a loss for words despite being immensely interested on what the Elemental Spirit of Water had meant. She hoped someday she would have the chance to ask what made her say those words to Korra.
"Well, I suppose we can call it even." Asami said, seeing that Korra was waiting for her to say anything—to react with anything other than a smile. "I didn't think kindly of you either when we first met as well." Looking around, and unwilling to say anything more, she steered the conversation to something more pressing. "We have taken quite a long walk. What do you say to pushing our luck further, Avatar?"
Korra looked skeptical. She frowned and asked back, "Is that wise? I wouldn't be able to protect us if things go south."
"Don't worry about it. I'm quite a capable fighter, you know." Asami tossed her hair back. "Besides, it is important if we don't want Mako to go ratting us out and if we truly intend to take that journey to Nia Bayou."
"Are you sure about this?" the Chief of Police asked, face scrunched up in equal parts irritation and frustration as she glared at the report handed to her by one of her informants and operatives.
"Yep," the scruffy, bearded, gray-haired old man replied, grinning at his accomplishment and showing off his missing tooth.
Much as Chief Bei Fong appreciated the hard work her informants and operatives did, and how good they were with their disguises, she often wished they would just come reporting to her without them. Such was the case with Gommu.
The old man had taken to passing himself off as one of Republic City's homeless. As such, he often wore ragged, loose (and often very ill-fitting), and mismatched, dirty clothing. His shoes had holes in them and he smelled worse than how he looked (to the point that others often found themselves commenting how a truckload of spoiled garbage smelled better than the old informant and operative).
"Are you really certain, Gommu? You do realize what your report could mean, do you?"
"O'course I do, Chief!" Gommu nodded vigorously. "I saw 'em several times around da vicinity o' da University. They looked like they were gettin' ready for a heist or somethin'."
"We are talking about my niece here, Gommu. You are familiar with her, aren't you?" Chief Bei Fong glared daggers at the old man. "I do not believe she would do something like that."
"Well, she was asking around about the security of the University, Chief." Another one of Lin Bei Fong's people—a sharp-eyed man with a Fu Manshu reminded her. "And with the break-in that occurred a few days ago…well, you can see where we're going with this, can you?"
Lin Bei Fong did find that a cause for concern. She found it difficult to come up with an explanation for her niece's sudden interest in the security details pertaining her school.
"That still doesn't make her a suspect, Lu," the Chief sighed, rubbing the side of her forehead. "For all we know, she had formed some kind of fascination to learn more about the institution she is a part of. Or she is simply curious as to how the University is handling the break-in. Her mother did just threaten to take her away."
Lu and Gommu did not look like they believed her, but said nothing. Lin, of course, understood. She felt the same way. Opal has never shown interest in what she called 'the family business' up until that point, and the knowledge itself would not give her an edge in stopping her mother from dragging her back home.
"Well, either way, we will know for certain once we hear from our people inside the University." Chief Bei Fong added with a heavy sigh.
"What is takin' Gang so darn long?" Gommu asked, picking the insides of his ear with his pinky. "You'd think he would be here by now. Ya think he got switched around tryin' ta find where ya live, Chief?"
"He knows where the Chief lives," Lu replied, looking disgusted by Gommu's ministrations. "He also knows this is where we're holding our meeting. Don't worry, he'll be here."
The crowd that had gathered—invited by Councilman Tarrlok so early in the morning—was abuzz with questions and inquiries of various intensities, as well we varied set of discussions. None of them knew why they had been called so urgently.
The rest of the entire seat of the Great Republic University Council—Councilman Aquil, Councilman Shu, Councilman Bai Xen, and Councilwoman Kyoko—were present, wearing matching suits that flaunted their stature and authority. All of them gazed at the assembly, feigning disinterest and acting as though they knew what the summons was about.
Another group included the dozens of men and women—all hand-picked and the best in their fields—who were part of the Spirit Bastille Project. Most wore clothing that seemed to have been thrown together in a rush. All of them had deep, dark bags under their eyes—a testament of the long nights spent on what they considered the invention of the century.
The third and final group was from Future Industries, headed by a well-dressed Hiroshi Sato, who stood next to Professor Noatak, discussing something in hushed whispers while being extremely wary of anyone who might come too close or make attempts to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Councilman Tarrlok was nowhere to be seen but Professor Noatak knew he was somewhere, preparing the demonstration for the completed energy generator: the Spirit Bastille. He could also guess that his brother was basking in the success of the Four Elemental Spirits' capture, not knowing that he was not the only one who knew of what a prize that was. Nor of the power that could be wielded.
"Councilman Tarrlok seems to be enjoying taking his time to meet with us," Hiroshi Sato scoffed. He did not like his time being wasted just to build-up the anticipation for something, unless, of course, it was one of Future Industries' products.
"He has always been like that," the Professor drawled. "He thinks it will help put him in an even brighter spotlight. He revels in the attention, as well as the authority and power of being the one who called for a gathering. But I digress, what say you to my offer, Hiroshi?"
The bespectacled man frowned. "You know the reason why I agreed to work with you on this project, Noatak. The tree has already bore fruit. My dear Yasuko's death has been honored with the creation of the Spirit Bastille, and if what you have said is true, then I need not worry that the same accident that took my wife would happen again."
"How do you know that it won't, Hiroshi?" Noatak asked. He had anticipated such an answer from his brilliant, industrialist friend. "The Spirit Bastille is still a prototype, and yet I have it in good authority that my brother would not hesitate using it as soon as he can. Not with the way President Raiko has been hounding him. What happens when the core overheats, or when the machine is pushed well past its limit—a limit that, may I remind you, we do not even know for certain yet? The Spirit Bastille uses the life force of the spirits, the explosion that would occur because of their impatience and carelessness will be bigger and more destructive than the one that claimed your wife."
"Then wouldn't it be more prudent to enhance the machine and keep such a thing from happening?" Hiroshi argued back. "You say you wish to better the machine and its application, my friend, but it seem to me that that is not the sole purpose of your offer."
"What are you insinuating, Hiroshi?"
The pioneer of Future Industries shook his head, opting not to answer. They both knew what he meant, giving voice to it would accomplish little, if none at all. Instead, Hiroshi Sato said, all business-like, "I have given your University more than enough, not just with the Spirit Bastille's creation, but with the weapons and armaments I had supplied you and your brother's men. Thank you for the offer, but my job is done. It is time for me to fully focus on my company once more. I'm afraid if I neglect it for much longer, the Cabbage Corporation will overtake us."
And with that Hiroshi gave a polite nod at the Professor, closing off their discussion, before turning to address one of his employees.
Though it irked him to be dismissed like that, Professor Noatak was not at all surprised by the outcome. Hiroshi Sato was a man of integrity and honor, so much so that asking him for weapons and armor to outfit their men had taken quite a lot of coaxing. But he was also a harsh man, one who did not take kindly to imperfections and failures. A man who was idealistic to a fault. A man who had buried himself in work to escape the harsh reality of his wife's death, pushing his only daughter away without knowing—and perhaps meaning to.
And despite knowing he could use Asami Sato to change Hiroshi's mind, Professor Noatak knew of an even better catalyst to get his friend to join him.
Hiroshi Sato was still a man blinded by grief hidden behind a mask of acceptance. The loss of Yasuko still clung heavily around him—a baggage the Professor knew his friend will never be able to let go. After all, how could he when he blamed himself for her death, even when everyone told him it was no one's fault? That it was an accident.
But Professor Noatak knew it was no accident. And once Hiroshi learns of the truth, he was certain the Sato patriarch would willingly and whole-heartedly join forces with him.
He would want absolute recompense, after all. He would want revenge.
Mako found it absolutely imbecilic. What they were doing went against everything he was going to be paid to do. It was as if Opal Bei Fong had made it her mission to make his part of the bargain difficult. Not that the Sato heiress herself was making it any easier, or that so-called Avatar, either. Silently, Mako prayed the other two young women were staying put and waiting for him to return like they should.
"Oh, why don't you relax a little, Mako?" Opal rolled her eyes at how stiff he had been, standing out in the crowd with the way he was acting. "There's no one in the offices around this time. We still have an hour before this place turns ripe with activity."
"If there's nobody around, then what are we doing here?" Mako hissed, impatience had taken hold of him. The bag of groceries he was carrying was heavy as well, and did not help brighten his mood.
"Let me rephrase that then. There's no one around during this time except for my Aunt Lin. She always goes to work hours earlier than the rest of the police department and leaves later than them." Opal's eyes searched for the familiar window of her aunt's office, noting the closed blinds when her eyes finally settled on it. She frowned, but thought nothing of it. "Sometimes she even stays the night."
"Okay…but what if she's not there? You would just risk being caught for nothing."
"I am willing to take that chance if it means being able to contribute, in some way, to the Avatar. Both Asami and myself feel that way."
Mako could see the earnestness and determination the Bei Fong girl had in her eyes. It was…commendable.
"The three of you must really be good friends, considering the lengths you and Miss Sato are willing to go to help that Avatar-girl." The way he spoke made it hard to decide if Mako meant what he said or if he was being sarcastic about it.
"Well, Asami and I met during the gala her father hosted for her after she got accepted to the University. We have been friends ever since." Opal's eyes were alit with happiness at the fond remembrance of their meeting. In truth, she didn't expect to hit it off with the heiress, believing her to be like all the other snotty, pompous—and often pretentious—rich girls her aunt had been asked to provide a security detail for.
"And Korra?"
It proved a much difficulty question to answer, and all Opal could say of the matter was, "That's complicated." Followed by, "I wouldn't say 'friends'…well, I would, but I'm not sure how Asami would describe her unconventional relationship with the Avatar. We just met Korra a few days ago, after all."
That threw Mako for a loop. The way the two acted around and cared for the strange girl was not at all how he would act around an acquaintance. Or someone who was barely one.
"Are you telling me that the two of you willingly risked life, limb, and future for a girl you only just met? That Miss Sato would pay me such a huge amount of money for someone like that? Why? What could both of you possibly get in return for all that trouble?" He really couldn't wrap his head around it. It was insane!
"Nothing, really." Opal shrugged, averting her gaze from the office window that still showed no hints of whether her Aunt Lin was there or not. "We just believe in Korra, that she is fighting for the right thing. We just want to help her. Same as you."
At that statement, Mako laughed. He looked patronizingly at Opal and corrected her view about his being there, reminding her why he was 'helping' them. "You can't be farther from the truth, Miss Bei Fong. I'm not a goody-two-shoes like you and your rich friend. I'm only here because she promised to pay me a million yuans."
He grinned at her soured expression and added, even before she could ask, "It's all about the money. Never forget that."
Asami took the lead as they made their way to their destination, making sure to stick to the roads less traveled. The Prodigy was glad that she had taken time to explore the city to know of its shortcuts. A couple of times they saw University Guards so far out of route and jurisdiction, undoubtedly searching for them. The fact that there were no RCPD officers with them was a relief, and Asami prayed they would not encounter Chief Bei Fong's men for quite some time. Hopefully, never.
The duo quietly and quickly slipped in through the dormitories' back door. They listened in for any activity, not daring to show their faces to anyone who was out in the halls lest word has been spread to keep an eye out for them. Their caution made them wait for the crowd of students to thin, hiding by the basement staircase, before they made a mad-dash for Asami and Opal's room. The young, aspiring engineer and inventor had never unlocked a door so fast in her life.
Once inside, both young women released a sigh of relief, their backs slumped on the door, shoulders brushing.
"I never thought I would have to sneak my way in here," Asami said, slightly out of breath. "It takes me back to when I was younger and my friend had to sneak me in and out of my house."
"Sneak you in and out of your own house?" Korra asked. "Why would you need to do that?"
"My father is—or, was—over-protective of me," the Prodigy replied. "And he has very high standards when it comes to the company I keep as well as how I act. He didn't approve of my friend, and the things we did for fun."
The Avatar could sense that what Asami was saying was a sore subject, and so she did not prod her for more. She did not want to seem ungrateful for that tidbit the emerald-eyed girl had said, however, and so she decided to share something as well.
"I don't know much about sneaking the way you humans do it." Korra admitted, she was even more out of breath than Asami was. "Until I arrived here and met you, I never had to worry about people seeing me. I could always ask Vayu to just envelop me with his powers and turn me invisible if I needed to. Although, making use of that ability always got me in trouble with the Elders of Nia Bayou. They do not appreciate it when I leave without notice."
Asami frowned. "If that's the case, why weren't you invisible when we first met? You could've had an easier time if you had hidden yourself. You would've probably been done with all of this and have returned to Nia Bayou by now."
Korra had to admit that was a good question, one that required her to contemplate in order to provide an answer. She thought about it, remembering the events of her first night in Republic City. In the end, however, all she could say was, "Vayu had been manipulating the air around me to keep me invisible, that's how we managed to arrive without raising any alarms. I suppose neither of us noticed he had stopped. And when you saw me, I forgot that I was invisible to begin with."
"You were lucky then that I was the one who saw you first and not one of the guards. Then again, I'm not entirely sure who the real lucky party here is. Or even if any of us is fortunate for the turn of events that had transpired."
Korra shrugged, "I wouldn't know. Though I do intend to ask Vayu for an explanation to his flub. For now, however, I'm more curious why you brought us back here."
Asami gently pushed her back off the door, walking purposefully to her room. "We won't be able to do much—and go far—without money, and I left mine here. I also wanted to take some change of clothes for me and Opal."
The young engineer disappeared through the door to her room. Korra decided not to follow and give her space as she went about her preparation. The Avatar lingered in the living room, looking around as though seeing everything for the first time. She could hear clothes ruffling, thumping, and being strewn around as Asami pulled clothes after clothes from her dresser and stuffed them into a duffel bag.
From the open window, the Avatar could hear the noise of the city coming full-swing. There were the honking and rumbling sounds from what Asami and Opal had told her were automobiles—metallic vehicles that moved without the pull of an animal. She could catch the sound of pedestrians as they hurried off to their work, or whatever it was that would occupy their day. The sounds, though similar to what she had been hearing for the past few days, sounded different to her ears now.
Human hearing, she reminded herself. Just as she told herself that she now only possessed a human's eyesight, sense of smell, and touch as well.
It took minutes before Asami emerged from her room, carrying with her the bloated duffel bag. She placed the bag beside Korra's feet before moving on to Opal's room, taking a few minutes more to pack for the other girl.
"I'm finished," the Prodigy announced when she returned to the living room, carrying another equally stuffed pack.
The Avatar nodded, keeping quiet about the excessiveness of things Asami had decided to bring for both herself and Opal. Korra slung the duffel that was by her feet across her shoulder despite Asami's protests that she could carry her things herself.
But the olive-skinned girl would have none of it and just waved the objections away. She wanted to be able to do something, other than stand around. The Avatar, after all, hated to be thought of as useless, weak, and helpless.
They were about to leave the dorm room when both of them noticed something odd. The entire dormitory building had went deathly quiet. The hairs on Asami's back stood on end, her heart pounded at her chest. Something was wrong.
"Asami…?"
"Shh…" the raven-haired young woman shushed the Avatar, who was looking at her questioningly. She knew what the Avatar was trying to ask and, in response, Asami merely flicked her Shock Glove on. It buzzed to life, electricity crackling and coursing around the glove. She was not going to take any chances.
Just then, there was a metallic clunk behind them. The two turned around, facing the open window, searching for where the sound came from. Their eyes landed on a metal canister, similar to the one Asami had thrown during their escape.
Before either of them could do anything about it, however, the room was enveloped in an explosion of light and smoke that blinded and suffocated the duo. They coughed and wheezed whilst trying to blink the sightlessness away, all the while they could hear a rush of heavy footsteps heading to their direction.
A few seconds later, someone kicked open the door to the dormitory room, it was followed by a male voice ordering his men to move in and quickly. By the time the smoke had subsided and their eyesight returned, Korra and Asami both found themselves surrounded by a battalion of heavily armed, masked men, all wearing the rusted-colored, weaponized, metallic gloves.
Post Author's Notes:
I hope I made clear what a yatai is. Basically, it's one of those stalls often seen during festivals. A shōji is those dividers you see that looked like it's made of wood and paper. A Fu Manshu is a type/style of facial hair (mustache), just in case that wasn't clear. And, yes, Hiroshi's backstory is different, justlike everyone else's in this Alternate Universe (if that wasn't clear before).
Also, I am considering this as an unofficial "Korra and Asami's first date" thing. :D
Like always, feedback is appreciated! And thank you to everyone who is reading and showing love to this story! I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter as well. Until the next update, dream on; fly on!
