Previously on "Say My Name":
On one of their outings, a clumsy young man named Kaji literally runs into the Avatar, asking her out on a date as recompense. Mako instantly becomes jealous, but says nothing at the time, eventually blowing up at Korra. Later that same day, he realizes that he had been making a mistake all this time. But will it be too late to confess his love?
Korra had arrived about five minutes early, attempting to be as punctual as possible. Her date, however, was nowhere in sight. He had told her to arrive at seven p.m., and according to a nearby antique clock store, he was ten minutes late – far too late for her liking. She was tapping her foot impatiently as she stood in front of the clothing store where he worked, arms folded across her chest, and a distinct pout on her face.
He's standing me up! she screamed within herself. What kind of jerk stands up the Avatar of all people?! She sighed, thinking that Mako was probably right about Kaji, but she shook her head, still very upset at the firebender.
Ok, that's it. I'm going to MARCH in there and give that guy a piece of my mind! I'll drag him out here if I have to! And she had every intention to do so.
She violently pushed the store's entrance door open, ignoring the odd stares she was receiving from strangers as she stormed through the clothing aisles, exhibiting the look of a wild animal on a hunt. The size of the store was magnificent; it appeared much smaller from outside. Her eyes darted here and there, hoping to find that familiar face. As she advanced further within the store, there happened to be long lines of shelves against the walls, filled and stacked with clothing materials of different textures and of numerous colors. Finally, she spotted Kaji in the very back, conversing with two female customers. Korra's anger was now reaching new heights, furious that he should be taking her out on their date than flirting away with two girls (or as she saw it). Korra rudely shoved the young women aside, now face-to-face with her date.
Kaji's face turned to one of confusion and surprise. "Korra? Why are you here?" he asked honestly with great befuddlement.
Is he really asking that?! Korra scorned inwardly with disbelief.
"You're here early," he continued. "Our date isn't until …" his voice trailed off as he stared at the clock on the wall, his eyes then widening at a shocking realization. "Oh, no. I forgot this clock was 10 minutes behind! Boss said he was going to fix it," he mumbled to himself angrily. His eyes returned to Korra's, his face apologetic and full of embarrassment. "I'm really sorry, Korra! But after what I give you, maybe you won't be so angry!" And he left in a hurry, almost tripping himself in the process, disappearing through a nearby door. Within seconds he had returned, holding a long article of clothing. From what Korra could tell, it looked to be a dress, and she simply raised an eyebrow at it.
He held it out in front of him for Korra to see the full garment. "This is for you," he smiled.
He's a tailor? she asked herself, quite impressed.
As if hearing her question, he answered, "Yup. I'm a tailor."
She carefully took the dress, rotating it and examining it closely. It was dark blue and sleeveless, exhibiting the Water Tribe style of clothing, but modern and very modest. It was long, but didn't quite reach the floor, and the dress was of a few layers that varied in different shades of blue. It wasn't plain, but it wasn't so terribly fancy either. Truthfully, she liked it – even though her wearing dresses was particularly rare – but it appeared to be something one wore for strictly special occasions.
So … this is for me? pointing her forefinger at herself, and Kaji nodded.
He averted his eyes shyly to the side, his hand rested on the nape of his neck. "This is my gift to you … And I was hoping you'd wear that for our date. Um, but … Y-you don't have to if you don't want to!" he blurted out frantically. "I was just hoping that … you … would ..."
Laughter from behind rung through the couple's ears. "Wha d'ya mean you're hopin' she'd wear it?" a deep voice said. It was the manager alongside a young, female employee whose face just screamed "peppy."
The girl added, "Just tell her to wear it 'cause you're taking her to some classy place."
Classy? Korra thought.
Kaji's boss and the girl approached the two teenagers, both failing to hide their teasing grins. "Took the boy hours to complete," he explained. "Ever since you left (and picked up the mess he made outside), he's been workin' on that thing without taking a single break."
The girl interjected, "Yeah. You should've seen how focused he was making that," laughing at the memory. "He just rushed back here, not saying a word to anyone, other than, 'I'm busy. Don't bother me,'" imitating his voice the best she could. However, Kaji was not amused.
The young man yelled out, "Guys!" as he was clearly embarrassed. "She doesn't need to know all of that," he hissed angrily.
The older man laughed at his employee's apparent bashfulness. "Well, why not? You worked hard on it, didn't you?" His focus shifted back to the Avatar. "Y'know, this boy here is amazing. With a dress like that, I'm amazed he even got it done in time. But when it comes to bein' a tailor, the kid's a prodigy."
The young man cleared his throat, saying, "I'm right here," obviously uncomfortable with being highly praised in his presence. He exasperated a long sigh, trying to keep his cool around Korra. "Anyway," diverting his attention to her. "Do you want to try it on? To check if it fits."
She nodded and looked around for a dressing room, but the female employee had taken her arm in haste. "You can get dressed over here," the girl informed as she was pulling Korra behind. The overly ecstatic employee guided her to a small changing room cubicle, a dark curtain as its door. The girl pushed Korra into the small space, closing the thick curtain.
"Just let me know if you need help putting it on," the girl informed, her footsteps retreating.
Wow, someone's happy to do their job today, Korra snickered.
She lifted the dress carefully so as not to tear it in any way, taking another look at it before putting it on. It was surprisingly easy to slip on, and she wished there was a mirror in this small room in order to see how she really looked. The garment was very much in her preferred style, but she felt somewhat self-conscious wearing it. She was afraid to go back out in the open for all to see, but Kaji did make it specifically for her, for their date, so she had to put her insecurities aside so as to not offend him.
She heard footsteps approaching, multiple ones in fact, and Kaji asked, "Korra? Do you have it on yet?" The Water Tribe girl inhaled deeply, readying herself for possible incoming humiliation and/or embarrassment.
Well, here goes, she thought.
Korra stepped out, eyes avoiding the two young employees standing before her.
"Wow. The dress looks better on you than I imagined," Kaji smiled, and Korra blushed just the tiniest bit. This was the second time he had complimented her on her beauty – which she believed was nonexistent. She never focused on such a frivolous thing like one's looks, and being told she looked "pretty" or "beautiful" was foreign to her ears. She had to wonder: did Kaji truly believe she was beautiful, or was it him just saying that? From his tone, he sounded sincere, which flustered her each time he said it.
The female employee smiled and replied, "Once again, you are amazing Kaji." She walked around the Avatar, closely examining the dress itself. "How on earth did you get the measurements correct without actually measuring her?" That thought hadn't crossed Korra's mind. The dress was a perfect fit, attuned flawlessly with every curve on her body. Now she too was strangely curious at this achievement.
The Fire Nation boy answered with a slight shrug, "I've seen plenty of body types like hers, so it wasn't that hard."
His coworker's eyes grew in size, but returned to normal as she shook her head, laughing, "You're inhuman. Is that even possible?" She spun quickly to face Korra. "You know, you look really pretty in that. Hmm …" as if contemplating something. "Since you two are going on a date, how about I fix your hair for you to finish the whole look?" Before Korra could respond, the girl had already pulled a brush out of who-knows-where, solely removing Korra's ponytail in the back. In truth, Korra wanted her hair to be left the way it was, but as the girl was already in the process of fixing her hair, she didn't protest. "You should probably get dressed and ready for your date," the girl suggested of Kaji as he stood there staring like a statue.
"Alright. I'll be back soon," and he left.
The girl brushed Korra's long hair in silence, until she finally spoke up. "So, what do you think of Kaji?" The question wasn't interrogative, just a curious topic for small conversation.
Korra shrugged. There wasn't really much to say as she had only seen him for less than an hour. But from her first impression of him, he was a rather ditzy and comical character, with a little innocence thrown in.
The girl laughed. "Yeah, you've only met him today, I heard. Right now, he's probably nothing but a klutz and a dork, but … If you spend more time with him, you'll come to love him," she declared assuredly.
Love … Korra thought. And for a moment she couldn't help but think that her heart belonged to someone else. But who that was, she couldn't recall. Or rather, she just didn't know. Mako did make her feel … something. But was that feeling "love?" At this moment, she decided not to delve into it too much.
"I've never seen him so interested in a girl before," the girl continued, smoothing out the small knots in the Avatar's dark brown hair. "He's even clumsier than normal," she giggled. "I mean, just thinking about it, you two make a cute couple."
Korra's eyebrow raised. Cute? Maybe not cute, but we'd be … interesting … I guess.
The girl finished brushing Korra's hair, and said, "There we go. Finished." She grabbed the Avatar's wrist, leading her to a tall, standing mirror in the room. Korra stared at her own reflection, not quite sure what to say. She didn't particularly hate what she saw, but she never judged herself on what she wore. The dress was appropriate, and there was nothing questionable about it. Although she was a girl of muscle, her body was very feminine, and the dress accentuated her curves nicely. In a word, she was satisfied.
"You look beautiful," the girl smiled with all honesty, putting the finishing touches on the Avatar's hair. Korra was surprised at how long her hair had become, the length way beyond her shoulders. She rarely stopped to look at a mirror, as she was not the vain type, and her hair was normally tied back anyway. But she was aware that she definitely needed a trim.
Someone approached from behind, adding in his own opinion of the Avatar. "You look amazing, Korra."
Said girl faced Kaji who was now well dressed and donning a dark, authentic suit – most likely made from his own hands – complimentary of the clothes of this period. Looking at him closely, she hadn't realized how attractive the young man was, as his clumsy personality had stuck out more than his looks. But as her eyes traveled to his head however, Korra stifled a laugh upon noticing his hair had become messier than before, possibly due to him hurriedly slipping his shirt over his head.
The female employee rolled her eyes, and chuckled, "Nice hair, Kaji."
"Huh?"
"Anyway," pushing Korra gently forward to her date. "You two should be on your way already – it's almost eight. Now, out you two. Out! And have fun!"
Korra looked over her shoulder, pointing at the dressing room where her Water Tribe clothes were located. The female worker waved her hand in dismissal as if it wasn't a problem, saying, "Don't worry about your clothes. We'll hold onto them for you until you come back. Now hurry up!" she yelled, shooing the two. "You don't have all night."
Bolin's mouth hung agape, staring incredulously at his older brother. The two brothers were currently in their attic talking; in actuality, Bolin was trying to keep his brother from doing something crazy.
The younger one shook his head, trying to make sense of his brother's reasoning – or what little he had left. "You're going to do what?"
"You heard what I said," Mako returned impatiently.
"I don't know," Bolin replied dubiously. "I think I may have heard wrong. You plan on crashing their date?"
Mako gazed blankly out the clear windows, the sun having set long ago. He knew Korra was out with what's-his-face at this very moment, angry with himself that all of this had happened because he failed to reveal his true feelings to Korra sooner. He answered his brother with a confident and stern, "Yes."
The earthbender walked over to his brother, setting his hand on Mako's shoulder. "Bro," he began firmly, his tone slow and concerned, "I understand how you feel, but not sure that's a great … idea."
Mako shook off his brother's hand, turning his full attention to Bolin. The firebender's face was serious, his mind steadfast. "I'm not going to just sit here and mope," he snapped.
"What're you gonna do when you get there?" the earthbender required with much interest, almost skeptical. "Punch the guy?" he suggested jokingly.
"If I can resist it," and Bolin's eyes shot open, astonished that his normally calm and collected older brother would even reconsider doing such a thing. Bolin tried to keep himself from laughing at Mako's obvious jealousy. "Don't stop me," the eldest continued, making his way to the stairs.
Bolin sighed, understanding that his brother's mind could not be changed. "I won't. Just …" he paused, scratching the back of his head, "don't do anything that catches the cops' attention."
Mako glanced over his shoulder. "Ha ha. Real funny, Bo," he sarcastically replied.
Bolin grinned with a playful shrug, "I try."
"So, Korra," Kaji began, eyes fixated on the 17 year old. "How's the food?"
The Avatar swallowed the remnants of food in her mouth, smiling as an answer to his question. She had forgotten exactly what she had ordered, but it didn't matter to her in the slightest. The food was exquisite, and quite different from what she has ever eaten. She wasn't very familiar with eating high-class food, but she loved it nonetheless.
Her date smiled, delighted with her response. "Y'know, I've never been here – to Kuang's Cuisine – before. But I heard the food was really good, and, y'know, wanted to go to see if it was true. And it is! You ordered a Fire Nation dish. So, is it good? I mean, you're a Water Tribe girl, but … I guess since you're the Avatar and connect with the Four Nations, you love all … flavors of … the world … ?"
He then turned his head, blushing as Korra shot him a look of confusion. She tried her best not to laugh at his strange logic, but couldn't help herself. The young man was a bit awkward in truth, but she found it adorable in a way that strangely made her heart beat faster. Kaji's eyes returned to her in both adoration and wonder.
"I knew you couldn't talk, but I didn't know you could still laugh."
Korra nodded, her laugh gradually dying down.
The attractive young man casually rested his chin in his palm, eyes glued on the young Avatar seated to his right. "Y'know, you have a pretty cute laugh. I wish I heard your voice before you lost it. I bet it was beautiful."
Korra blushed profusely at this. She couldn't recall anyone ever saying such a thing to her until now, and her heart pound rapidly in her chest. She could tell that his words were genuine, and she was becoming flustered. The young man noticed the embarrassment on the girl's face, his eyes wide as he realized his compliment had made her slightly uncomfortable.
He was quick to apologize and exclaimed, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean that! I mean, I-I did, but not like that. Wait! I do mean it, it's just it came out sounding … GAH!" He smacked his forehead, as well as mentally kicking himself. He exacerbated a sigh, taking great interest on the flowers placed decoratively on the table's center. "This is really hard. I'm so awkward and this is just …" Another sigh. "I've never felt this way about a girl before, and this is obviously my first date."
Korra wished to empathize and say – if she could speak – that this was her first date as well, but she remembered being on that one friendly date with Bolin a while back, which – in her mind – seemed more as two friends hanging out than a date. But she felt as if she had been on countless dates before with someone other than Bolin. The feeling of joy she had on those dates was something she couldn't forget, something she wished to experience again and again.
But with who?
She was brought out of her thoughts as she felt the warm touch of a hand resting gently on top of hers, and surprised herself as she subconsciously mouthed the word, "Mako?" shifting her gaze to the young Fire Nation boy next to her. Golden eyes stared back at her, but it was only the young tailor. She was confused: Why did she say his name?
"Korra?" Kaji called. "I was wondering, after dinner, would you like to go to the park?"
The Avatar nodded her head absentmindedly, the invitation barely registering in her mind as she still pondered why the name "Mako" – belonging to the very firebender who had objected her date with Kaji and angered her on the same day – had escaped her lips. Even after they finished dinner, even after Kaji paid the bill, even after they exited the restaurant, Mako had been on the back of her mind.
Mako rushed through the city, wishing he could remember the store where that young man was employed. From there, the firebender was planning on getting information on Korra's and Kaji's whereabouts, but he cursed himself for forgetting the location of the clothing store. He was far too angry earlier to even commit the name of the store to memory, so he was frankly at a loss. He hadn't the slightest idea where he was at the moment, and he came to a halt, catching his breath and examining his surroundings. His eyes darted everywhere, trying to find anything familiar – a building or a street – that would jog his memory. He was too frustrated with himself to simply stand and look around, so he kindly asked an old stranger who happened to be close by.
"Excuse me," Mako began hurriedly. "Are there any clothes stores nearby?"
The old man turned slowly as he felt a light tap on his shoulder, facing a young man who appeared to be terribly impatient at the moment and in a hurry to be somewhere. The man held a cane for support, his back hunched, and he harbored numerous wrinkles. Clearly, this man has lived well over half a century.
The elder man hummed, "Hmm? Could you repeat that? I'm a bit hard of hearing."
Mako repeated a bit louder, "I said, 'Are there any clothes stores nearby?'"
The old man raised an eyebrow. "Crows doors? What on earth is that? Some new thing popular with the young –"
"Clothes stores," Mako cut in abruptly, raising the volume of his voice. "Do you know of any CLOTHES STORES in the area?"
The senior shook his head, putting a hand behind his ear to signal that he still couldn't understand the firebender. "Can't hear that first word. Mind repeatin' it again?"
Mako released a heavy sigh, refraining himself from showing his frustration with the old man. Normally, he was very considerate and patient of the elderly, but as he knew he was losing valuable and precious time, his patience flew out the window (as well as his manners), practically yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Clothes!" pulling his own clothes to help the man understand. "Are there any clothes! Stores! In! The! Area?!"
"Alright, alright," the old man replied angrily, covering his ears. "No need to shout, you scallywag," poking Mako's stomach with his cane. "I'm not that deaf." The man put a wrinkly hand around his chin, pondering about any clothing stores he was aware about. He snapped his fingers after a brief moment, his eyes lit with remembrance.
"There is one in fact," the old man continued, bringing Mako's hopes up. "It's a pretty good one too, I heard. Has a young tailor with the name of … What was it? Genji?"
"Kaji," Mako spat, hating how he even remembered the guy's name.
"Yeah. Yeah, that's his name. Yes, well, I forget the name of the shop, but I know exactly where it is. Now, listen up. You go straight for two blocks, then take a right, go straight for another two blocks, then go left. Just keep straight and it'll be somewhere to your left. Got it?"
Mako nodded, already on his way, thanking the elderly man. As the firebender finally reached the shop, he shoved the transparent entrance doors open, looking to find anyone who could possibly tell him about Korra's and her date's location. He spotted a plump middle-aged man who he recalled to be the manager, and he swiftly made his way over to him. Mako wasn't quite sure what the man was doing, but it appeared he was organizing clothes. Even as Mako approached him from the side, the manager was too absorbed in his work to notice the young man standing beside him.
Mako cleared his throat to get his attention. "Excuse me."
The manager swerved his body around rather lazily, and with little expression, asked, "Yes. How can I help you?"
"Is Kaji –"
"Sorry, son," the man interjected. "Kaji's out on a date with the Avatar, if you can believe it," he chortled. "If you need tailor work, you'll have to come by tomorrow."
As the man was beginning to turn back around to his previous position, Mako returned impatiently, "I'm not here for tailor work. Do you know where they are now?"
The man froze, looking the young man before him up and down, scrutinizing him with a skeptical eye. "Who are you?" the man interrogated, thick arms across his broad chest. The firebender could sense that the manager didn't trust him, and he gulped, fearing that the man would be uncooperative.
"I'm Korra's – the Avatar's – friend," Mako replied rather frank.
The manager narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, I remember you. You were standin' outside o' my shop earlier, accompanying the young miss."
"So, do you know where they are?"
The man's face became stern, and he harrumphed, "Why should that be of any business o' yours?"
Mako remained silent. He knew he simply couldn't tell his whole story as well as the reasons behind it, as it would take too long to explain, and the man would more than likely care less for his reasons anyway. He hadn't taken account that the man would refuse or be reluctant to tell him anything.
"I'm sorry, young man," the manager continued, "but I can't give you that kind of information. You look like trouble, and I don't need you causing it. I've never seen the boy so happy, and I don't need someone like you messin' it up. Got me?"
"But –"
"If that's all you came for, then I suggest you leave."
Luck was just not on Mako's side.
He left the store upset and dejected, leaning against a street lamp, as he had no energy left. His only hope of finding Korra was now gone; Korra could be anywhere with that guy, and Republic City was much too vast for a search. What could he do?
"Well, if it ain't Mako."
The firebender turned his head in the direction of the familiar young voice, quite perplexed to see his young friend here. "Skoochy?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah. Why so surprised?" the pre-teen grinned slyly.
"Heh. Just never expected you to be here. Aren't you a bit far from where you usually hang out?"
Skoochy laughed, flicking the bill of his newsboy cap. "I can wander around the city whenever and wherever I want. But enough about me. So, tell me," stuffing his hands in his pockets as he changed the subject. "What's with the doom and gloom? Lemme guess. Girl trouble?"
"Huh?" Mako asked quizzically. "How'd you know?" The firebender hadn't known Skoochy of all people would know anything about girls, or even cared about others' personal affairs.
"Weelll," the twelve year old drawled, with a half-hearted shrug, "about an hour ago, I saw your girl arm-in-arm with some other guy – and not a bad-looking one either. What's up with that?"
Mako felt his hope resurrect. "Do you know where they went?" he questioned ecstatically.
Skoochy shrugged weakly, "Eeehhh. Maybe …" He held his hand in front of him, the smart kind of fellow who wouldn't sell information without a little incentive. Mako rolled his eyes, digging his hands into his pockets for a couple yuans he knew he had on hand. He handed the money to Skoochy, the young boy snatching it and stuffing it deep in his vest's inner pocket for safekeeping.
"Yeah, I know where they are," the young boy started. "I overheard pretty boy saying somethin' about Kuang's Cuisine. Pretty high-class place, ain't it?"
"Yeah," Mako whispered, recalling his first date with the natural beauty, Asami, at that same restaurant. He wished not to delve back into those memories, keeping his mind focused on the present. The love of his life was now with a stranger, a stranger who could be ruining Mako's future with Korra. He knew he couldn't afford wasting time, so he quickly thanked his young friend, leaving for Kuang's Cuisine. As he hurried, the unforgettable memory of his first date with Korra played through his mind.
[Flashback]
The Avatar stiffened in surprise, trying to register her boyfriend's words. She was a tad speechless at the sudden invitation as it had literally been out of the blue. She had been conversing with him about her Avatar duties not ten seconds ago as they strolled around the island, until he bluntly said (sounding more like a command), "Go on a date with me." She was currently staring up at him, eyes widened, nothing but silence between them.
Mako frowned, and upon realizing that she wasn't saying a word, he said, "You could at least say something."
Korra folded her arms across her chest, shifting her weight to one of her legs. With a pout, she responded, "Well, I'm sorry. It was a little random, and I didn't know you needed a 'yes' or 'no' to that."
His frown slowly shifted to a smirk. "I thought a bold and sudden invitation would work with someone like you," he teased, earning him a playful punch to the arm.
Her hands moved to rest on her hips, lips curling into a soft smile. "Alright then, Mr. Joker. When do you want to go?"
"Now."
Her arms slipped to her sides, mouth falling into a distinct frown. "Now? Mako, I can't. I mean, I'd loved to, but I have things to do, and –"
"You need a break," he cut in, eyes filled with deep concern. "It's been three weeks since we've returned to the city, and we haven't seen each other much. You may be the Avatar, but even you need a break every once in a while."
She shook her head. "What about Tenzin? I know he won't like it," she scoffed.
"Tenzin's fine with it."
She cocked a confused eyebrow. "Tenzin's fine with it? Really. He agreed that easily?"
The firebender rubbed the back of his neck, releasing a chuckle. "It took a lot of convincing, actually," recalling the dreadfully long conversation with the airbending master earlier today. "But he understood that you've been working hard – with returning people's bending, and airbending training – and thought it was a good idea for you to 'do something recreational once in a while,'" imitating the old master's voice.
She laughed, "Dating is recreational?"
The couple traipsed through the city streets side by side, but Korra couldn't keep herself from feeling nervous. Her heart was beating vigorously in her chest, and she dearly hoped Mako couldn't hear it. Her date with Bolin was much different than her date with the handsome firebender. She didn't feel this way when she was on her date with her earthbender friend – heart pounding, thoughts scattered, even a little shy. She wasn't sure what to do, what to say.
Mako was similarly nervous, his heart beating with equal fervor. He was now wondering whether or not it was a good idea to ask her out so suddenly. He hadn't planned anything; he simply wanted Korra to take a breather from her hard work. What kind of moron takes a girl out on a date without planning something beforehand? was his line of thinking. He realized that his girlfriend hadn't spoken much since entering the city from the island. He assumed she was just as nervous as he was, and that made him feel a bit calmer as he was aware that he wasn't the only one feeling this way.
As Korra's thoughts were unfocused, she absentmindedly crossed the streets, oblivious to the oncoming traffic. Mako's hand briskly grabbed hers, pulling her back to him on the sidewalk.
"Korra! You need to watch where you're going," he scolded with evident panic in his voice.
"Sorry," she apologized sincerely. "I just – my mind was somewhere else."
He chuckled, "Yeah, I figured. Just try to be careful."
As they continued to walk on, Korra had realized that Mako hadn't let go of her hand, nor did it seem like he was planning to. He kept a strong grip on hers, keeping her hand from easily slipping out of his. Her heart was aflutter, as she had never held anyone's hand, especially Mako's. She recalled having grabbed Mako's hand back at the South Pole, but she was pulling him to her polar bear dog, and immediately let go as she had reached her pet. But the two had never held hands like this before. This was incredibly new, yet she wasn't ready to assert this as "incredible." This was much too touchy-feely, and a bit out of her comfort zone. She definitely wasn't prepared for this.
Mako secretly glanced downwards to his girlfriend, smiling that her cheeks were a growing red on her dark skin. He could feel her palm growing warmer than his, her sweat seeping through his fingerless gloves. After a moment's silence, he couldn't restrain himself from teasing her just a little.
"You're awfully quiet, you know," he started, fighting back a smile. "That's pretty unlike you."
Korra's pulse quickened, heat rising to her exposed ears. She bent her head downwards and to the side, hoping to hide the blush that was spreading across her cheeks. She attempted to stay proud and strong, but her pride was falling, astounded that she was being so bashful and embarrassed. As she heard her boyfriend's light chuckle, she swerved her head to his in a swift motion, shooting him a glare.
"You're doing this on purpose," she growled. The firebender's laugh grew louder, his grip around her hand loosening. He turned to her, relishing in how her face was so full of embarrassment and irritation.
"Yeah. I am," he admitted, grinning mischievously.
She mumbled, "Jerk," trying to remove her hand from his. However, he tightened his grip, smiling at the yelp of surprise she made as he pulled her body flush with his.
"Yes, I'm doing this on purpose," he reiterated. He then lowered his mouth to her ear, and huskily whispered, "But only because I enjoy watching you react in ways only I can make you express." Korra instantly became stiff as a board, blue eyes wide, and face completely flushed. At that moment, she could've sworn her heart was going to explode in her chest, and her body was growing feverish all over. She bowed her head and began mumbling nonsense under her breath, inwardly cursing herself for being unable to hide her emotions.
As much as Mako loved seeing her act like this, he believed she had suffered enough embarrassment – for the moment – and he backed away, the couple continuing to walk hand-in-hand as they walked throughout the city. Suddenly, the handsome firebender halted in front of a shop, explaining that this place was one his parents used to take him and Bolin out to eat on occasion. Korra was curious, wanting to enter a place that was nostalgic to her boyfriend.
The building was small and rather family-oriented, giving it a comfortable atmosphere. The tables ranged in size and shape, from big to large, and from square to circular. Apparently, there were only a handful of people in the tiny restaurant, so the place wasn't polluted with screaming and yelling young children.
Mako guided Korra to a fairly small, round table, its tablecloth a light blue. It wasn't until she sat down across Mako that she noticed how small and compact the table really was. Knowing her knees were only centimeters away from Mako's slightly bothered her, but her boyfriend didn't seem to notice as he simply perused through the menu in his hands. Korra decided to ignore the fact, taking up her menu and looking to see what this restaurant had to offer.
"The food isn't real fancy here," Mako informed, his eyes glued to the menu. "Just the common meals you would find in any nations' home."
"All of it sounds amazing!" Korra exclaimed with hunger in her eyes.
Mako glanced up from his menu, concealing his grin from behind it. "I swear, if you order everything on here –"
"I'm not a pig, Mako," she snapped with a glare, but her features soon softened and she immediately let out a laugh.
Korra reverted her eyes to her menu once again, wondering which dish she should have. All the choices sounded delicious and tempting, but she just couldn't choose. After a moment, she felt an intense gaze in her direction, but chose to ignore it. As another moment went by, the stare had not ceased, and as she glanced up from her menu, Mako was eyeing her in a way she had never seen him look at her before. Her heart skipped a beat, the rush of blood flowing to her cheeks.
"Mako?" she asked confusedly. "What's up? Is something on me or …?"
"No," he simply answered.
"Oh. Then, why are you looking at me like that? You look like Naga when she's starving for meat," she laughed. "Are you that hungry?"
He grinned. "You can say that."
Korra's face flushed at the implication, and her eyes returned to her menu. She never thought Mako as the flirtatious type, or even as the lovey-dovey sort of person. But then she recalled the eskimo kisses, winks, and blown kisses she had to endure watching when Mako and her best friend, Asami, were dating. She dearly hoped she wouldn't resort to that, and promised herself to hit Mako if he ever attempted to do the same to her.
Yet again, she felt the passionate stare of her boyfriend, and her face became heated once again.
Annoyed, she inquired, "Mako, is there something on my face?"
"Just the opposite. You're face is perfect the way it is." He leaned towards her, saying, "Looking at you closely, you're really cute when you blush." And he burst out laughing when her face became the deepest shade of red he had never seen. She kicked his shin from underneath the table and his laugh grew exceptionally louder.
"Stop laughing, Mako!" she grumbled. "I'm not your entertainment!" she pouted.
"I'm sorry," he replied in between laughs, "but you're so fun to tease. Alright, alright. I'll stop," he simpered. And to Korra's relief, he did.
As her eyes returned to her boyfriend, Mako's attention was all over the restaurant, his mind clearly back in time as he recalled old memories.
Korra's voice brought him back to the present as she asked, "So … When's the last time you've been here?"
The firebender sighed. "The last time was the week right before my parents ... passed. After that … Well, Bo and I didn't have any money to buy anything, and I completely forgot about this place until now."
Korra bowed her head, saddened that Mako's childhood was not a happy one. She decided not to ask anymore, as she knew his past was a sensitive subject. Mako noticed her mood change and immediately inquired what was wrong.
"I'm sorry," she sincerely apologized. "You had a difficult past, and … Maybe I should've asked something else."
"Korra. It's fine," he reassured her with a smile. "It's all in the past –"
"I know," she cut in. "But I wish it hadn't happened. With your parents …"
"I wish it hadn't happened either. But it did, and I can't change that." He paused, gently setting his gloved hand on hers, causing his girlfriend to raise her head. "Hey. There's always a bright side to things. Listen. If my parents were still here, I'd never have met you."
"You mean the Avatar," she pouted. "Anybody could meet the Avatar."
He smiled. "True. But …" He paused, staring deeply into her oceanic, baby blue eyes, drowning in the sea of mystery, ferocity, and wonder that harbored in those breathtaking bright orbs of hers. This girl had come into his life unexpectedly, along with all the other unexpected events in his life. But with all things that ever happened during his short lifetime, Korra was a wave of hope and love that had changed his life forever and for the better.
He smiled.
"I'd never have gotten to know 'Korra.' You're more than just the Avatar." He chuckled to himself before adding, "Ultimately, you're Korra: the girl who drives me crazy."
"You better mean that in a good way, City Boy," she playfully threatened.
He grinned, "Of course … But mostly in a bad way." And she used her free hand to flick his forehead, resulting in a lively laugh from her teasing boyfriend. Korra smiled as she watched her boyfriend laugh – after everything they had been through, especially after their frightening and almost life-changing one-on-one battle with Amon, she was more than glad to see that Mako could still laugh. He hadn't changed much, and he was the same Mako that she had known months before. Except, ever since declaring their love one for one another at the South Pole, Mako appeared happier, possibly even livelier. She hoped that she was a possible contributor to that change.
She failed to notice Mako calling her name, and as he noticed she was curiously deep in thought, he attempted to grab her attention by doing something that would undoubtedly surprise her. He quietly lifted himself from his seat, bending over the table to capture his lips on hers. Her eyes shot open at the sudden gesture, her cheeks as red as the scarf worn around Mako's neck. He pulled back before she had a chance to respond, smirking in accomplishment.
"W-what was that?!" she exclaimed.
"You were ignoring me, so this was the only way to get your attention."
Neither had realized a young waitress had come up to their table, having unfortunately watched the entire scene before her eyes, clearing her throat awkwardly to make her presence known. The couple turned to the young woman, who was surely feeling uncomfortable.
"A-are you two ready to order?"
Mako answered with a smile, "Yes," not feeling embarrassed in the least. Korra, on the other hand, lowered her head behind her menu, her entire face blazing in complete and utter embarrassment. As her boyfriend ordered his food in a nonchalant manner, Korra's thoughts were going a mile a minute.
She saw us?! Mako! Urgh! Why did he do that? That idiot! We're in public! Wait, can he do that? Is that a boyfriend's privilege? Does that mean I can do that too? I'm not good at this couple stuff! Argh, my face is so hot! Is it my turn to order? I don't want them to see my face! What was it that I wanted to order again?
"Korra?" Mako asked.
She glanced up from her menu, first at Mako then the waitress, then back at her menu in her hands. She couldn't remember what she wanted to order, her mind already in a frenzy, and as she stumbled to remember what she had decided to order, she exclaimed, "I'll-just-have-whatever-he's-having!"
The waitress nodded, taking both their menus off their hands, informing them that their food would be ready shortly. Korra huffed, resting her chin in her palm, and faced the blank wall to her right.
Mako raised an eyebrow, as his eyes drifted back to his pouty girlfriend. "Korra."
She refused to respond.
"Korra," he called once again with yet another failed response. He rolled his eyes, releasing a disbelieving sigh. "Why are you upset?"
Her eyes moved to his, her frown becoming a sneer. "Why do you think? You kissed me!"
"Yes, that's what boyfriends do. It's pretty normal."
"Well, excuse me for being new at this!" she snappily retorted.
Mako was taken aback, unsure of why she was in a foul mood. In the corner of his eyes, he could see that Korra's exclamations were drawing unwanted attention by many in the restaurant, and he sincerely didn't want to get in a loud argument in public. In a low voice, he whispered in a hasty hiss, "What are you talking about? You didn't seem upset when you first kissed me, knowing I was already in a relationship." Immediately, he wished to punch himself, as that was probably the dumbest thing he could've said.
Korra was furious but remained unnaturally calm as she responded, "Y'know what? I'm not hungry anymore." She slammed her palms on the table, pushing her chair back, and left the table. Mako soon followed after her, weaving through the chairs that Korra pulled from nearby tables to slow the firebender down, eyes trailing the couple as they exited the building.
"Korra!" he yelled, but she didn't turn.
Korra began to storm away, but Mako caught her forearm, forcing her to stop. He rested his hands on her shoulders, spinning her around to face him.
"Korra –"
"I don't want to hear it," she growled, removing his hands from her.
"I'm sorry," he apologized.
She scoffed with a roll of her eyes. "Sure doesn't sound like it."
Mako stepped directly in front of her, his tone softened as well as his features. "I am. I shouldn't have brought up something from the past. Especially that – it was uncalled for." He sighed. "I know you're not used to this 'dating stuff,' but I'm not an expert, Korra; no one is. There aren't any 'rules' you have to follow in a relationship. With you, I never know what's gonna happen," he laughed, and a small twitch of a smile crept on Korra's face. "I only act upon how I feel – I love you, which is why I don't care who sees us kissing, holding hands, whatever. I only care about what you think. So … will you come back inside?"
There was a slight pause before Korra answered, pretending to contemplate her decision. "Alright," she finally answered. "But, let me make this clear." She grabbed Mako's scarf, lowering his face to hers, kissing him soundly on the lips. As always, Korra was full of surprises, and Mako reiterated the previous statement in his head, I never know what's gonna happen, and he smiled against her.
As her fingers intertwined with his, she whispered in his ear, "I won't let you have the upper hand in this relationship."
[End of Flashback]
Mako ran as fast as he possibly could, wishing he had brought money to ride the trolley or take a taxi as it would have made his journey much shorter. He finally reached the restaurant, however his hopes were dashed completely as the entire building was dark; the lights that normally brightened up the place had been turned off. Now, he had no idea where else to look, where Korra might be. She could have already gone home, but there was the possibility of her still on her date with Kaji. It was all too late. He slumped down on the steps to the entrance of the restaurant, just thinking.
It's over, he thought. He then shook his head at the depressing conclusion. No. Maybe she didn't enjoy herself; maybe she realized dating him was a mis – Don't kid yourself, Mako. I blew up at her today. She doesn't want to see me.
He exasperated a weighty sigh – regret, defeat, and loss expelled in that heavy release of air. He rose from the ground, his legs taking him to who-knows-where as his mind was elsewhere entirely. He wondered what he should do – whether he should return home or continue walking aimlessly in the night. He decided the latter.
Time had long passed as he wandered through the dark and cold, unaware of his current location. He tugged his scarf tighter around his neck, shivering as a chill rolled down his spine. His eyes shot forward, streetlamps lighting the stone pathway he walked on.
The park, he thought. Of course. Why is it that I end up here whenever I don't know where I'm going?
He noticed the couples that surrounded him, both young and old ones in love, but seeing them only made him even more depressed and he reminisced on old memories. As he advanced, a familiar voice rung through his ear, and a laugh he'd notice in a heartbeat was up ahead.
Guess luck was actually on my side the whole time.
His legs began moving before he had time to think, and his heart beat fast in anticipation. He spotted the two sitting on a bench under a streetlight – Kaji's cheeks were a tinge of red and he appeared flustered, as opposed to Korra who was laughing exceedingly hard. Mako assumed Kaji did or said something foolish that made the girl laugh. But what Mako did next surprised even himself. He dashed over to the opposite side of the pathway, skulking behind the trees, bushes, and rocks until he was behind a tree in front of the couple. He wasn't exactly sure why he hid, but maybe it was because he couldn't stand interrupting something that revealed Korra was enjoying herself; her smile and laugh so genuine he couldn't find it in him to show himself and lower the girl's spirits.
He was still hidden behind the tree, his body leaning against its trunk, contemplating what he should do.
Maybe I should leave, the firebender suggested. He peeked out to view the couple again, and his eyes became fixated on Korra. He took notice of the elegant Water Tribe dress she wore, her hair out of her wolf-tail as it rested on her bare shoulders. The girl was stunning, and Mako couldn't remember when she looked so beautiful. He turned back around, jealousy once again eating his core.
She always hated dressing up for our dates, he thought bitterly. So, why him? Why's he so special?
He sighed, trying to calm himself. His ears suddenly perked up in interest as he heard Kaji's voice.
"You want to know why I became a tailor?" the young man asked. Mako guessed that Korra had written the question on a notepad she may have brought along with her.
"I don't think you'll want to hear my boring life story," he dismissed with a chuckle. "It's not that exciting, and it's sorta depressing. Besides, I'd have to start from the beginning."
As there was a brief silence, Mako imagined Korra had pouted in protest, urging him to tell his story.
Kaji laughed. "Ok, ok. I'll tell you. Now, let's see … Where to begin …"
In the end, Mako chose to stay, thinking it best to better understand his rival and who he really is.
"How about this? I'll start with the end, and then go back to the beginning.
"To tell you the truth, I always had the ability and skill of a tailor, but that didn't come into light until I was a little older. I was pushed to fix, patch, and make my own clothes with old cloths and rags found around the house as my family was poor and didn't have the money for new clothes. My mother became a wreck and very ill due to the carelessness of my father," he explained resentfully, his eyes turning dark as his lips formed the word. "My mother passed away when I was thirteen, and by then my father was already gone. I still don't know if he's dead, but I like to think so. I tried finding all kinds of jobs to support myself, but not many jobs would higher kids my age. I can't remember when or how, but the boss at my current job hired me immediately when he saw my talent. But how this all came to be, is where the actual story begins.
"When I was yay high," he said, making a gesture to implicate how tall he was, "my family had been very prosperous, and that was a time I actually wanted my father around. Mom was a plump lady, the healthiest I ever remember her being. Father was one of the most faithful and grateful people on the planet at that time, loving time with his family. He even taught me firebending," he smiled, igniting a small flame in his hand, watching it dance in his palm. Korra never expected the young man to be a bender – he was full of surprises. He extinguished the flame as he resumed his tale.
"Years went by, and my father had been the same. Until one day, my mother and I noticed a distinct change. Gradually, he became more distant and serious, and whenever my mother would ask what was wrong, he refused to answer. He began spending less time with me and my mom, and she couldn't handle it anymore. After weeks of asking, my father finally revealed to my mother that he had been gambling all our money away, and she was furious. We had to sell our furniture to help pay off debts, but it wasn't enough. Eventually, we had to move out of our expensive home, and into a more suburban one, and an unpleasant one at that. It was more like a ghetto, now that I recall.
"Mom had lost significant weight, and father couldn't break away from his gambling addiction, and we rarely saw his face anymore. Mom absolutely abhorred the living conditions we were in, and the neighborhood wasn't very kind either. Food was scarce, and Mom was growing weak and couldn't find a good job that would accept her. Father actually started to care, so I knew he wasn't completely heartless. Mom ordered him to get a job, to earn some money for the family. He promised he'd find money, and man, did he.
"On the night of my eighth birthday, he came home with a great amount of cash I hadn't seen in years. My mother, of course, inquired where he got the money, but he refused to answer. It was so much, and so sudden. He screamed at her, 'You said you wanted money?! Well, here! If you don't want it, then I'll keep it for myself!' Right then, father appeared as a stranger. I could see fear and guilt in his eyes, as if he had done something worthy of death. Mother saw it as well.
"She refused to take the money, and without fail, interrogated my father where he got the money and why he remained paranoid after coming home with that cash. And even now, I can still remember every word that passed that day."
[Flashback]
It was almost midnight, the pitter-patter of rain crashing upon the destitute family's poor, pathetic excuse for a house. Kaji's birthday was well forgotten as his parents' screams rose above the rain outside, keeping the boy awake and fearful of his father's escalating exclamations. Kaji peeked through the door of the only room in the house, listening to his parents argue for over an hour. This was the worst birthday he ever had.
"You really want to know where I got it?!" Kaji's father slammed his fist against the wall, his anger taking over his haggard form. "Fine. I'll tell you! I killed to get it. I stole it! Happy?!" His wild, orange eyes were furious, but behind it, an emotion of fear.
His wife practically had a heart attack from shock, her bright, amber eyes wide in disgusted horror. "You k-killed –?!" She shook her head, wishing all this was a lie. "You. Did. What?!"
"I mugged some family. Don't know who. But they had money! We needed that money!" he defended himself.
"But you don't kill to get it! Or steal it! Both are crimes!" she exclaimed, tears streaming down her thin, pronounced cheeks.
"It was either we die, or they die," he hissed.
"Who did you mug?"
"Just some random couple."
"But you said 'family.' That means there had to be children there. Were there any children?" Kaji's mother demanded. "Did you murder any children?"
Her husband said nothing, turning his body away in shame.
"I said, did you murder any children?!" she repeated, her heart beating anxiously.
He sighed. "There was a child," he admitted hoarsely, shame evident in his low voice. "He looked to be about Kaji's age. I – I didn't kill him." His wife's face became pale as a ghost, placing a hand over her heart. Kaji shut the door quietly, having heard enough, and came to the conclusion that his father was the worst human being on earth. For all he cared, his father could die. He never thought he'd hate someone so much.
The man conjured a small flame in his filthy and shaky hand, gazing at the very weapon he used to commit his crime. "The boy just watched … as I …"
[End of Flashback]
Kaji was able to dodge the fire attack that appeared out of nowhere, the flames narrowly missing his face. Mako emerged from the darkness, fury embodying the firebender as he stood in the light, making his presence known. He raised his arm, igniting yet another flame that licked the very tips of his fingers, his fire burning angrily in his palm. Kaji froze in absolute fear, but Korra stood up, readying herself for Mako's next attack.
What is he doing?! Korra wondered. I knew he didn't want me going on a date with Kaji, but is he that opposed to it that he wants to kill him?!
Kaji gulped, his heart pounding in his throat. "Y-you were that guy earlier," he whispered, more to himself. "W-why did you attack me? I d-didn't do anything —"
"You're the offspring of a murderer," Mako hissed, his flame growing exuberantly in size.
Kaji began to protest, "But I didn't –"
"Your father killed my parents," Mako spat with hatred. "I knew there was something about you that I hated – your eyes." He advanced towards the two, Korra raising her defenses. "You share the eyes of that cold-blooded, psychopathic murderer!" he yelled accusingly, throwing yet another blast of fire at his rival. Kaji evaded the attack, jumping off the bench, and stumbling on his own feet.
Kaji then raised his arms defensively, saying, "The boy was you? Look, I apologize for what my father did —"
"'Sorry' won't bring my parents back," Mako snapped. "I can't have you, the son of my parents' killer, being anywhere near me or Korra."
"I completely understand what you mean," Kaji acknowledged, "but I didn't mug your parents! I – What do you want me to do?!" he asked desperately.
"Leave," Mako commanded.
"What?" Kaji's question less than a whisper. Korra stared at Mako flabbergasted, baffled at his sudden demand.
Mako stepped towards the young man, pulling him by his shirt. "I said to leave, before I lose what sanity I have left."
Kaji finally decided to put his foot down, glaring at the angry firebender. "I don't have to listen to you." He took Mako's coat in his own hands, both men sharing intimidating glares. The static between them was strong; their amber eyes alight with fire.
"Fine," Mako said, lessening his grip on Kaji as his rival did the same. "You want to fight me? Well, for your sake, don't hold back."
The two stepped back in unison, glaring intensely at one another as they wondered who would be the first to attack. As they circled around each other, Kaji lost his footing for a brief second, and Mako found this opening as an opportunity and took it. He delivered the first attack with a swift punch of hot flames, but Kaji dodged it, though not too easily. Both knew this fight wouldn't last long, as Mako was undeniably the better fighter. In contrast, Kaji was a tailor, not a fighter; and being a tailor never required bending, as fire is clothes' dangerous enemy. Kaji hadn't firebended in years, and his fighting technique was incredibly awkward. But his male pride wouldn't let him back down, even if the odds were stacked against him.
Kaji counterattacked with his own punch of fire, weaker than Mako's but enough to barely graze the ends of his opponent's red scarf around his neck as Mako dodged the attack to the side. He patted the sparks off his scarf, shooting daggers at his adversary. Mako's eyes grew fearfully cold, his features darkened as he raised his arms for a powerful attack. Korra now wished to intervene and end this battle. But suddenly, the look on the firebender's eyes brought remembrance to the young Avatar, and she became very afraid. The memory played in the back of her mind as she watched Mako firebend Kaji; the world became silent as she watched the familiar scene in slow motion.
"And hopefully this will shut you up for good!" she recalled Mako screaming in the Probending Gym as he blasted her towards the wall and everything turned black.
Kaji crossed his arms over his face for self-defense, but the attack was too great, and he flew off his feet, landing in one of the numerous ponds that existed throughout the park. The water was fairly shallow and freezing in temperature, Kaji shivering as he sat in the shallowest part of the small pond.
Before Korra could realize what was happening, Mako grabbed her wrist, dragging her away with him. Korra quickly brought herself back to reality, freeing her arm from his grasp.
Mako turned to face her, his eyes impatient but clear of exhaustion. "Korra. We're leaving. Now," he ordered sternly, taking one of her hands in his. His grip was painfully tight, and his hand in hers only made her sick with anger and hate. He walked on, Korra struggling behind him as she tried to free herself from the abrasive firebender. She needed and wanted to return to Kaji, to check if he was hurt, and she didn't want to end the date in such a terrible way. She struggled to get free, but her strength was weak as she was now ultimately afraid of Mako. She remembered his face as he brutally attacked her. She still couldn't fully remember who he was exactly, but that memory was enough to tell her that Mako was forgotten for a reason.
She eventually freed herself, attempting to escape back to Kaji. Mako reacted fast and stopped her, angrier than ever as he spun her around to face him.
"You want to go back to that guy?" he asked with incredulity. "Korra, I've told you. No good can come from someone like him. We're. Leaving."
The Avatar lifted her arm to firebend him, but failed as he caught her fist in the air. She was frightened. She was mad. She wanted to scream at him, to tell him how horrible he was, how she desperately wanted him far away from her. No words would come out, but she impelled herself to scream something that would force him away.
After weeks of being mute, after all this time of being unable to say a simple word, Korra finally said her first word.
"G-GO!"
Mako became still as a statue, wondering if his ears had deceived him. Was that Korra's voice just now? It had almost been foreign to him, having forgotten what she truly sounded like. As much as he loved hearing her voice once again, her command had broken his heart.
"What did you say?" his voice barely a whisper.
"Go!" she repeated without hesitation.
Mako understood – she wanted him gone, for him to get away from her. His previous demeanor had dissipated, and he reverted back to his normal self. The way she stared at him, it was filled with hate and resentment. What had he done? He had accomplished the opposite of what he wished to do. Now, she would never love him, nor even view him as a friend. It was over, and his heart shattered into pieces.
He was empty; he was nothing.
Mako set his hand on her cheek, and she flinched at his touch, frightened at what he'd do next. The young firebender slowly lowered his head down to Korra, his forehead almost touching hers. She could see that his eyes were so full of heartbreak, and he appeared close to crying. His eyes bored into her bright cerulean ones, his amber eyes filled with sadness, loss, and dejection. He slowly caressed her cheek with his thumb, holding back the tears that he desperately wished to shed.
"I love you," he whispered, his confession ultimately shocking the young Avatar. She was dumbfounded and wasn't sure what to think. He removed his hand from her face, his eyes never once leaving her, burning the image of his beloved before leaving for good. Mako took a step back, and before turning away entirely, he said his final words.
"Goodbye … Korra."
She watched him leave, as she stayed planted where she stood, his body almost completely out of sight and far into the dark of the night that surrounded them. Her eyes grew wide and unblinking, something deep and dormant within her resurfacing. As if at once, forgotten memories began to pour themselves back into her mind, memories of someone she had lost regained. Her heart exploded with forgotten emotions, recalling the love and passion she felt for the young firebender; and upon remembering her heart pained unlike ever before. She burst into a waterfall of hot tears, crying harder and louder than she ever had in her young life. Without a doubt, she loved Mako more than anything in the entire world. She remembered him. She finally remembered him. But she had told him to go.
And he was gone.
A/N: *sigh* Alright, I'll admit it: I'm unnecessarily cruel. :P And no, Mako's not dead. As the author, even I am thoroughly surprised Mako hasn't committed suicide yet.
Soooo … *clears thought* Thoughts? Hopefully, it was worth the long wait I put you guys through (I apologize for that), and that you guys at least enjoyed it. I hope the next chapter won't take that long to update … Or be the same freakish length like this chapter (seriously – 11,000 words?!) If there's anything strange, weird, or confusing, don't be afraid to tell me – this chapter was a real pain to write (and probably not my best work), and I tried to be as clear as I could. The last thing I want is confused readers.
Happy Halloween, everyone! Mwahahaha!
As always, please review and tell me what you guys think so far! Or favorite and/or follow it – I appreciate either one! XD