What's up my benders and non-benders from across the Verse? Welcome to the next chapter of Avatar: Duality.
I hope your all going to enjoy it as much as I had writing it and now on to the reviews.
girani4: Well Varrick didn't know that. He also didn't know that you can't bargain with the Vigilante. He can't reasoned with. He doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear! And he absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are brought to justice!... Wait Soshi isn't a Terminator?... Also Moon Reader has been updated.
Girlbook: I really liked writing those parts. And I couldn't really think of anything else for Mako and Asami. And you will find out about that powerful spirit in this chapter.
The Storm Master 567: Well relationship... It was a one night stand. But yeah, he did had 'relationships' with other woman, comes with the territory of being a young billionaire. Obviously it has something to do with Soshi.
Gerden360: Thanks, glad you like it!
Lelouch of Zero: You know, I was almost consider having him being pulled into the Spirit World while driving. He is on a roll lately, isn't he? And yeah, Mitsuzo does a really good job raising Soshi.
TragicFiction: Well here's the update chief. Yes, Korra and Soshi slept in the same bed but the only thing that happend was cuddling. Korra didn't tell him that because she's a bit hot headed and I don't think Mako would have believed her. And yeah, Soshi had sex with Ginger before.
Now story time.
Soshi's eyes open wide, looking up to a yellow sky over a strange looking forest. Looking to his body, he saw that he was still in his Vigilante costume, but missing his mask.
"Where am I?" he muttered, finding his mask laying a few feet away from his location. He began to walk forward, kneeling down to pick it up, but once his finger's touched his mask, the area around him began to shift like smoke, suddenly finding himself in some sort of warehouse.
In front of him, he saw three man tied down to chairs, sacks covering their heads. A trio of men, each wearing very sharp suits as. The one in the middle, shocked Soshi to his core.
He was looking directly into the younger face of his father, Qipian. It was as if he was looking at a reflection of his own face but with deliberate mistakes, like darker skin tone and blue eyes. The sacks where pulled away by another man in a sharp suit, the trio of tied men looking terrified at Qipian.
"So you three think its a smart idea to steal from me and try to take my territory?" he asked, pacing between the three men, "Do you know what that means? Now I have to kill you simple as that. But do you think I like having to kill you? Of course not! I don't like doing that! So now I have to hire someone who does like to do that."
"Please Mr Shuang! We we're ordered..." the middle man began, suddenly stopping when Qipian stopped in front of him, staring intently at him.
"Why do you stop? Continue." he said, as one of his men handed him a bottle of water, removing the top and taking a sip from it.
"We where hired by a a third party... I-I don't know who he is, but he was working for a woman..." he explained nervously, as Qipian continued to drink from his water bottle, "I think I heard him name a Akarui. T-That's all we know, I swear!"
"I believe you. Say, do you know that saying about not getting burn marks from a waterbender?" Qipian asked, with a quick gesture from his hand, water shot from his bottle, reaching the man's throat and tearing it apart, blood streaming from the open wound.
"Not really fitting with the saying, but then again, I'm not dying in a pool of my own blood." Qipian said, throwing the bottle away as he turned around to leave.
"What about the other two, boss?" one of them asked.
Qipian suddenly stopped, turning to them, "Well, I guess we have a position left in our organization for some aggressive expansion." he said, "Untie them and let them fight to the death. Last one alive get's the job."
"Father? What was that... a memory?" Soshi wondered, once again the surrounding area disappears in smoke and now he was standing in a office. This time he saw his father sitting in front of a desk, next to him sat a younger version of Lightning Bolt Zolt, who's black hair hadn't gone grey yet.
"...Are you crazy, Shuang!?" the then leader of the Triple Threats shouted, "First you made an alliance with that Akarui woman, and now you made a deal for eighteen million Yuan without checking in with me!?"
"Take it easy, Tsukaisute." Qipian said, "I have run every situation through it, we can't lose money on this. No way. We will make seventy-five billion on this deal. That is some serious money."
"What if I can't come up with the first five million? Are we gonna get a bill?" Tsukaisute asked, standing up, "No! They are going to send a hit squad after me! It's going to be war in the streets!"
"Relax. Take it easy. I have good relationships with Mirai." Qipian said, raising his hands, "Your sort a couple mil, I go pull some favors for you. A mil here, a mill there. Okay? I hear things."
"You hear things?" Tsukaisute scoffed angrily, "What did you hear about the Agni Kai's? The Red Monsoon? The Terra Triad? What are you gonna do when your gonna move twenty-four Keys a..."
But Qipian suddenly stood up up while shouted, "Fuck the Agni Kai's, fuck the Red Monsoon and fuck the fucking Terra Triad! Fuck them all! I'll bury those cockroaches! What have they ever done for us?"
Tsukaisute was startled a bit by this sudden outburst, but it seemed Qipian had regained his calm. "The time is now, Tsukaisute. We got to expand. Capital City, Ba Sing Se, Omashu. We are going to need our own mark, we gotta think big."
The scene faded again, this time it was his father standing behind the desk, looking over the downtown district of Republic City. Sitting in front of the desk was Zolt, and Soshi's stomach felt as if it made a back-flip. He was seeing a younger version of his mother. She had the same eye shape and color as his.
"Crime in this city is getting out of control." Zolt said, "When we started to move so much product, all those new triads came sniffing opportunity, fighting for control over turf. Fighting first, asking questions never."
"And the Republic Citizens aren't particularly happy with how the United Republic Council is unable to get a handel on the situation." Mirai added, before turning to the man looking out of the window, "Any input on how we should fix this, Qipian?"
But he continued to stare out the window, not turning to face them, "Do you know how the first generation of Shuang's made their fortune? They traded with the Earth Kingdom. Pelt's, skins... They were hunters. They took big risks for big rewards." Only then did he turn to the other two in his office, coming to a decision, "I think we have to put Dragon's Breath in motion."
"Dragon's Breath? Are you crazy!?" Zolt said suddenly.
"I have worked years on Dragon's Breath, but I have always put it off. With everything getting so out of hand... it might be time." Qipian said, placing his hands on the desk, "Unless you two have a better suggestion?"
Mirai and Zolt exchanged a look, before turning back to Qipian, remaining silent. "I know this is risky, but I see no other way. We have everything to lose, but everything to gain. If we pull this off, we will have reconstructed the entire criminal element of Republic City. It will be under our control, to shape the future of Republic City as we see fit."
"Let's say if we pull this off, what's gonna stop us from turning on each other?" Zolt pointed out.
"Because we won't be working for each other, but we will be partners." Mirai said, looking to the other man, "Zolt, once we dispose of Tsukaisute, you will be the muscle, I will grease the wheels of politics and Qipian legitimized the entire enterprise with his name. You see? Each of us will control a resource the other's can't survive without."
"That's the way I see it too." Qipian said.
"You have made some crazy plans over the years, Qip, yet they always worked. But this? Dragon's Breath? That is next level insanity." Zolt said, before nodding, "Count me in."
Qipian smiled at his old friend, before turning to Mirai. "By this time tomorrow, we are either ruling Republic City from the shadows or we all will be in prison." she said, shaking her head, "I always loved a gamble."
"Then it's time to make history." Qipian said, placing his hands on the desk, "Let Dragon's Breath, commence."
The scene faded again, Soshi was now standing on the balcony just outside his father's office, late at night, overlooking the city. Qipian's tie was hanging loosely around his neck, a half empty glass in his hand as he looked towards the star filled skies.
A airship floated by, a massage glowing on the side of it, reading:
The World Is Yours.
He couldn't help but smirk upon seeing it, raising the glass towards the airship before emptying it. "I knew you were coming." he said, not turning back, placing his glass on the railing.
"How did you know?" Mirai asked, walking up next to him.
"Because every time you're in the area, the local air temperature goes up ten degrees." he said, using his hand to form some sort of lens, looking through it as if taking a picture, "I think I am going to build the new Shuang HQ right there. I heard Hiroshi Sato owns the land, but I can make him a nice offer."
He leaned forward on the railing, "Isn't it past your curfew? Can't imagine Soroi be happy about you visit me so late."
"He worries, but he is a good man." Mirai said, leaning on the railing as well.
"That he is." he agreed, "You know, I am happy you accepted my offer for an alliance two years ago."
"Be happy I didn't burned your face off two years go." she laughed, playfully punching him against the shoulder.
"You know Mirai, after all that hard work, I think we deserve a vacation." he began, laughing as well.
"And what will we be doing on this vacation?" she asked.
"What won't we do? Look... Mirai, we have been dancing around each other for the past year." Qipian said, turning to her and taking a step closer in her direction, "Let's just admit the truth, we're like two asteroids on collision course. All that's left is... colliding."
The two were standing close enough to each other that they could see their reflection in the others eye. "Careful what you wish for, Qipian." Mirai said with a flirtatious smirk, pressing her finger tip against his nose, "I'll break you into a million pieces."
"I am tougher than I look and you know it." he said, wrapping his arms around her waist, "Sounds like you're the one who's afraid. You can't fight gravity, Miss Akarui. Believe me, I tried."
"You know I am not one of your usual..." she said before pondering, "What's a nice word for whore?"
"Your different Mirai. I want to take it slow, and the old fashioned way." he whispered, "So I expect flower's, chocolates and dinner."
The scene faded again, before beginning to take shape again. "This is very interesting... I hope some of those memories, aren't involving my mom and dad in a primal scene." Soshi mumbled, "Some things about your parents should never see the light of day."
The scene before him had taken the form of some sort of inn. He recognized his father sitting at a bar, along with a man Soshi also recognized.
"Happy to have you back in the South Qip." the man said, putting his glass down, "Especially with Shuang Corp expanding so much and with that little rumor going around with you seeing a certain someone."
"I am surprised that rumor has made it's way all the way down to the South." Qipian said, using a tooth pick to eat a shrimp from a plate between the two, "Though I would be happier if we met on the North. It won't be much trouble to..."
"Qipian, let it go... I'm only banished..." he said a bit downtrodden, "I'm not a charity case just yet."
"Who said anything about charity?" Qipian said with a slight smile, "I am just looking out for a friend. You know, I could use someone like you back at Republic City."
"I don't know, Qip. I like it here, the South feels closer to home." Tonraq said, looking past his friend, "Beside, I don't think I would feel right sitting in an office."
"Well it's your decision. I can't stand the cold, personally." Qipian said, spotting what his friend was looking at, "Or is she the reason you want to stay here?"
Not waiting for an answer, Qipian stood up from his seat and walked over to the girl who was just ordering a drink at the bar. "I saw you checking out my friend here." he said, gesturing to Tonraq, "I thought you two should meet."
He then stepped away allowing Tonraq to talk with her, but not before whispering into his ear, "Tell her she looks nice.", he remained close by to observe.
"Uhm... You seem like a nice girl, quite, introspective but decent." Tonraq said, a bit shy.
"Oh, thank you." the young woman said, "I think."
From behind the bar, two just opened bottle's where place in front of Tonraq, spotting Qipian sneaking away from behind it.
"Let's start over." Tonraq said, taking a bottle and sliding it to the young woman, "I am Tonraq, and I love to have a drink with you."
"Call me Senna." the woman said as Qipian walked away smiling.
The scene faded again, and this time it was Qipian standing in some sort of lab, inside glass cases where small creatures. His father was looking at one with one with dark green skin, wide hips, and short legs. It has green and light green highlights on its body, and it lacks arms. A spherical, white head that is partially surrounded by a dark green 'collar'.
"Can you feel it? The power? The potential?" he asked the person next to him, someone who Soshi recognized as well, "I know it won't be the world you envisioned."
"I envisioned a world where everyone is equal." Noatak said, already having used make-up to make his face appeared scared, "I think your idea of everyone capable of bending the four elements is better, but a lot more difficult."
This made the older man smile, "Glad you see it my way." Qipian said, looking from the glass dome to his friend, "I wanted to thank you again, Noatak. For trusting me with your secret."
"Your the only one I would trust, sir." he said, nodding, "But can I ask how you know, merging a spirit in a human body allows them to bend all four elements?"
"That's a good question." he said, gesturing him to follow along, "Well there is this man, Unalaq. He's... Well not a friend, but I do know him since we were little... Let's just call him an acquaintance, in the most loose term of the word. He's an acquaintance from a secret organization. He has studied spirits all his live, and he has found the origins of the Avatar."
Noatak's eyes widen as they stepped into the elevator, riding it upwards.
"Before Wan,the first Avatar, came to be. He was banished into the Spirit Wilds from the fire lion turtle after he had stolen the ability of firebending. Over the course of the two years following his banishment, Wan befriended the spirits, honed his firebending skills, and decided to travel the world to find the other lion turtle cities."
"During his journey, Wan encountered Raava, the spirit of light and peace, fighting against Vaatu, the spirit of darkness and chaos. Unaware of Vaatu's identity at the time, Wan was tricked by the dark spirit into separating him from Raava, releasing darkness and chaos into the world."
"Wishing to fix his mistake, Wan journeyed with Raava in search of other lion turtles for the purpose of gaining the elements of air, water, and earth and learning how to master them. About a year later, during their fight against Vaatu at the time of the Harmonic Convergence, Wan merged permanently with Raava, becoming the first Avatar and gaining the ability to bend all four elements at once."
"After he sealed away the dark spirit in the Tree of Time, Wan oversaw the departure of the spirits to their own world and closed the two portals to the Spirit World, so that no human would be able to physically travel there and risk Vaatu's escape. Wan took on the task of being the bridge between the two worlds, maintaining balance and peace."
"Years later, Raava assured a dying Wan that they would be together throughout all his lifetimes, heralding the beginning of the Avatar Cycle and ensuring the continuation of the Avatar's role as peacekeeper of both worlds."
Qipian and Noatak stepped out of the elevator, a door slid open allowing them to step into his old office. "That's your plan? Infuse everyone with a spirit?" Noatak asked, "How are you going to accomplish that?"
"One step at a time, Noatak." he said as the scene faded again, "We first need to figure out how to infuse humans with a spirit."
The scene changed again, Qipian walked into the lounge area of the Shuang Mansion, where to his surprise, Mirai was waiting for him.
"Good evening, Qipian." she said, "How was your day?"
"Fourteen of the fifteen test subjects died..." he said, throwing his coat over a nearby chair, before sitting down next to her, "But to my surprise, the Subject Fifteen actually managed to survive and made great progress. So it has been a splendid day. She is already showing the ability to bend fire and water, a third element might be a bit difficult for a four year old girl to handle. Air is out of the question for now... Mirai, is something wrong?"
"Well, the eating phase I have... it might be a very long while for it to pass... until..." she paused, biting her lip, "This illness... Is now a part of me I must deal with. It'll be a while before it stops."
Qipian frowned, "What are you talking about?" he asked, a bit worried and suspicious.
Mirai took a deep breath, ready to trump out the words to him. There was no turning back, "Qipian... I'm pregnant."
"How... How did that happen?" he said, sitting there confused.
Mirai shrugged and nervously clasped her fingers together, "Well, what happens is when a boy and a girl love one another..."
"I know that!" Qipian said, pulling Mirai into an embrace, squeeze her tighter as she cuddling her head against his neck. His hands rubbed on her back and one circled around her soon to be big stomach.
"Your not mad?" she asked.
"Of course not. I'm gonna get a heir to the Shuang fortune." he said, looking at her smiling, "He's going to be magnificent."
"He?"
"Or she." Qipian said, forming a little uneasy smile, "Thank you though, love. I can't wait to be a father."
Mirai smiled and rubbed her head against his chest, "And I can't wait to be a mother, too."
The scene faded again, but this time, he felt the horrifying dread coming over him. He was standing in a dark alley way, the moon being hidden behind dark clouds, the only light coming from a nearby street lantern.
"No..." Soshi said, panic apparent in his voice, "No, no, no, I don't want to be here. I don't want to relive this."
But just as he said that, a small boy, barley seven years old came to a running stop in front of him. The boy looked up in fright at Soshi with his amber eyes. He was looking down at himself, eleven years ago.
Upon seeing him, the first thing Qipian did was put himself between Soshi and his family.
"Stay back Soshi." Qipian said, not taking his eyes off the figure stalking towards them from the shadow, a sword drawn.
he figure was wearing a white hood over a black mask, hiding the face from view. The figure was dressed in what seemed to be light plated armor. A blue fire ball was resting in the hand, giving the figure a ghostly image.
"We failed to capture the Avatar, Qipian. We know you set us up." the figure snarled, speaking with a rather young voice, "I would say it's nothing personal, but that would be a lie."
"You... You don't have to do this!" Qipian tried to reason with the figure, before he suddenly bends a water bullet from an unseen water skin from under his coat.
The figure stops the water easily and sends it right back at Qipian, freezing the water before it hit him right into the chest, his blood spilling over the ground as he fell.
"Qipian!" Mirai said, watching her husband fall before feeling a sharp pain in her chest. The figure had her run through with their sword, sending fire through it.
As Mirai burned from the inside, the figure turned their attention to the barley alive Qipian, who was laying in a puddle of his own blood.
"Tell Unalaq... He's making a mistake." he managed to get out.
"This is bigger than Unalaq." the figure snarled, bending the ice spear into water, and out of his chest before finishing him off by piercing it through his head.
The figure turned towards the child Soshi, who was on his knees crying, his clothes and the side of his face covered with the blood of his parents. The side of the blade was placed under child Soshi's chin, forcing him to look up at the assasin, the sharp tip of the sword pressing against his throat.
But before the figure could make a move, sirens where heard in the distance and it decided to make an escape. Disappearing back into the darkness from wench it came.
"... I... I don't remember it happening like this..." Soshi mumbled, sitting on his knees as the scene faded, hot tears streaming down his face as he clutched the side of his head. He was back in the strange forest with the yellow sky, his mask in hand.
"It's true what Zolt claimed... It wasn't a mugging. My parents where assassinated." he said, the tears on his cheeks had drie up, being replaced by the rage swelling inside him. Putting his mask back on, he growled, "And Unalaq knows why!"
Running through the forest, it was only then that he noticed that spirits where watching him. These weren't like the once that attack him on the South Pole, these where peaceful spirits, when they weren't infected by anger or hate.
Vigilante came to a stop, when he heard the sound of footsteps, his masked face slowly being illuminated by an approaching light. He is approached by a person, clad in Earth Kingdom attire and carries a lantern, though his face still shaded.
"You look lost. Maybe I can help you." the man said.
Behind his mask, Vigilante's eyes widen in recognition at the approaching man, "I know you." he growled.
"I was good friends with Avatar Aang." the man said, revealing himself to be the original Iroh, "Hello, Soshi, or do you prefer Vigilante?"
"Maybe I am Soshi, maybe I am not." Vigilante growled, "My identity must remain a secret."
Iroh let out a chuckle, "You remind me of my nephew. He too wore a mask, letting the fires of rage feed him."
"Anger and hate give me strength." he growled.
"Anger and hate are a double edge blade." Iroh advised, "It can be a great source of strength, but make sure it's fire doesn't consume you."
"How long have you lived here?" Vigilante growled.
"Oh, I've been here for many years. I had always enjoyed the company of the spirits. So when my work was done in the material world, I chose to leave my body behind and come to the Spirit World!" Iroh explained, "It can be a wonderful place, and I've made so many friends."
"...That sounds wonderful, but I don't think it's my time yet." Vigilante growled, looking around, "Do you know how I can get out of here?"
"I think you might have been pulled into the Spirit World because of your connection to the Avatar. I don't know if your high spirit..."
"Avatar? You mean Korra is here!?" Vigilante said, slipping back into his natural voice, "I have to find her! Make sure she is save!"
"In the Spirit World, your emotions become your reality, especially for the Avatar... Or someone who has a similar spirit energy like the Avatar." Iroh explained, "Listen to your heart, and you will find her."
Vigilante closed his eyes, seeing only darkness until he felt a faint, but familiar feeling far in the distance.
"Found her." he growled, opening his eyes, "Thank you, Iroh." he turned to walk away but suddenly stopped, "I have one more question... Is it possible to see visions of the past in the Spirit World?"
"It is. The Spirits watch the material world, seeing events and sometimes play them out." Iroh explained, "One last advice, Vigilante. The people who have been coming to the Spirit World lately have brought darkness and anger. So that is what you see now. But you have light and peace inside of you. If you let it out, you can change the world around you."
Vigilante didn't know what he meant by that, but thanked him all the same, "I'm glad you came to visit us in the Spirit World, Vigilante." Iroh said as the two where about to go their separate way, "It was good to meet you. Come visit me again. In this life, or the next."
After traveling quite a distance, what felt like hours he arrived at an area called the Spirit World Intersection. One landmark that stood out to the Vigilante was a massive tree, with a barrier at its roots.
His eyes narrowed, when suddenly a massive eye looked back at him through the barrier.
"I thought I sensed Raava, but instead I see you." the massive spirits spoke, "I sense massive amount of power, a great deal of potential, I sense the rage of a burning fire and the tranquil fury of water... How interesting."
But before he could say anything, he heard a surprised and shocked, "Vigil!"
Turning around, he saw Korra, flying towards him on a dragon bird spirit.
"Korra." he said, seeing she looked relieved upon seeing him as she landed.
"So you've returned, Raava." the massive spirit spoke, turning his eye towards Korra, "The Harmonic Convergence is coming soon, and this time, I'm going to wipe you out for good."
"I think you've said that before, Vaatu." Korra said, staring the eye down, "But I'm here to close the portal. You're not getting out."
"You might want to reconsider..." Vaatu chuckled darkly, "That is if you want to save your friend."
Up on one of the roots, stood Unalaq, levitating Jinora in front of him, and encircling her with purple water. Jinora's body slowly changes its color to purple.
"Jinora!" Korra and Vigilante shouted at the same time.
"If you hurt her, I will break every bone in your body!" Vigilante growled, clenching his fist.
"Oh, how very scary." Unalaq said dryly, looking down at the two.
"I can't believe I trusted you!" Korra shouted angrily, "You made me think you wanted to restore balance with spirits, but this... this isn't balance, it's madness! Now let her go!"
"If you want your friend to make it out of the Spirit World, you'll open the other portal now." Unalaq shouted, "What will it be? Open the portal- or lose your friend's soul forever?"
Korra looked between Unalaq and Jinora before relenting, opening the other Spirit Portal, creating a similar light show on the South Pole a week ago.
"Now let Jinora go!" Vigilante growled before being thrown back when Unalaq waterbends at him, before doing the same to Korra.
"You should've come through the portal." Unalaq said, waterbending again, "Then you could do this!" Jinora is carried away by a dark spirit. Unalaq uses his technique on Vigilante and Korra.
When the two are almost covered with the purple light, the dragon bird spirit attacks Unalaq and carries Korra and Vigilante away, with their bodies changing color to normal again.
"I'll see you soon, Raava." Vaatu said, "Once the Harmonic Convergence comes, I'll be free from this prison, and then I will have my perfect revenge!"
There ya go, another chapter. I know there wasn't a lot of action in this one and a lot of exposition, but I still hope you enjoyed.
Many thanks to everyone who reads, reviews, favorite or follows this story, you beautiful bastards!
If you liked what you read, don't forget to leave a review, for now I wish you all a fantastic day and I hope to see you ladies and gents, next time!
Also here is something a little extra for those who also read my Avatar Heroes story.
Jason: "I think it's time we team up."
Vigilante: "Why would I team up with you!? You can do everything better than me! You could have taken Amon down with one hand, while you jerked off with the other!"
Jason: "I am just trying to be nice, Soshi."
Vigilante: "I'm not Soshi! I am the Vigilante! Look at you! With your stupid red cape!"
Jason: "It belonged to my deceased mother..."
Vigilante: "Oh boo hoo! Get over your dead parents already!"
Jason: "...Just like you?"
Vigilante began to cry all of a sudden: "...I used to be a boy!... Now I am a ninja!..."