Hello my beautiful readers! Sorry this chapter is a bit late; I was going to post this earlier but I got distracted by baby kittens and macaroni and cheese. There isn't much else to that story. *walks away awkwardly*

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Chapter 29

Gone

"Asami, we should get going." Tonraq called to her from the base of the bridge with his wife at his side.

The engineer locked onto him for a moment. She glanced over her shoulder at the waves crashing into the structure where the baton-wielding Striker escaped to and returned her resolute eyes back to the Water Tribe Chief. Her urge to find that man would not wither inside of her.

Put it aside, Asami. You'll deal with it later.

She sighed, knowing full well the truth in her thoughts. With a nod of acknowledgement, she joined him at the bottom of the bridge. Her peridots still held an intense fire. She directed it towards the issue at hand.

"Do you have a plan, Asami," Senna asked as she reached them.

Naga nudged her hand and she caressed the animal's head. Asami watched as the two Satomobiles designed for the police force sped away, one of which was carrying a scarred officer and a handful of criminals, while the other held a scarred Chief and the body of her fallen comrade. She kept her eyes on them until they were out of sight, heaviness in her heart.

"We don't have much of an idea where Korra went next, but we do know where she might have been heading." She rotated away from the group and faced Yue Bay. Across the water sat Future Industries, glowing and reflecting against the gentle waves along the shoreline in the distance. It stood tall despite its short stature, relative to the buildings behind them in the Downtown District. Very faint shadows moving to and fro in the area could be seen upon squinting.

Dad must be working them overtime for something.

Asami shook her head, just a few inches each way, to clear her mind.

Focus.

"Ahyoka told me that Korra was looking for me. She doesn't know where my Estate is – from what I can tell – so it's possible that she would have gone to Future Industries. I took her there once, a few weeks ago, when we were walking through the City. How she would have gotten there from across the Downtown District without us picking up her scent, I haven't a clue." She held her chin in one hand, contemplating the scenario. "Maybe her smell got washed away from the storm we had a few days ago, or maybe the winds and the City aromas masked it... Anyways, she's ahead of us – by at most, a little over a week – so anything is possible. My dad didn't tell me if he's seen her lately, but if Korra was headed there, it wouldn't hurt to look." She spun around again, realizing she was verbalizing her short, quick thoughts, and met the Southerners' pupils. "It's worth a shot and it's the only lead we have."

Tonraq nodded in determination and tossed his bag over his shoulder. "Lead the way, Asami."

She took Naga's harness in her palm and pulled her nearer. Asami kept a hand on the animal for the entirety of their journey towards the northeast bridge, though the fabric of her glove prevented direct contact between the pair. At that moment, the polar bear dog was the closest thing she had to Korra, other than the letter that burned a hole in her pocket and infected her heart with its horrible sting. The ache of longing spread through every inch of her as she trudged along. It was this reason that she wasn't about to let the polar bear dog go so easily. Sure, Korra's parents were closer to her by technicality, since they were related to her by blood, but Naga… Naga was like a much larger, much furrier version of the Water Tribe girl that she had missed so much. Two cabbages in a patch, that's for sure. It didn't surprise her either, given that the animal was the woman's "absolute best friend back home." But she had never expected them to be so… similar? Their behavior and mannerisms, even the way they both responded to her… It wasn't until now that Asami started to wonder if Korra had rubbed off on Naga or vice versa. All she knew was that she couldn't squash this yearning feeling inside of her. Images of Korra filled her sight and she was helpless to stop her cheeks from blushing, let alone to control the flashes before her. Her heart raced in her chest. Her stomach turned in a familiar way. She grinned to one particular memory of the Southerner nudging her neck with her tan nose in the Dining Center after their chemistry final, in the same way Naga rubs against her with her snout.

I'm in love with a human polar bear dog, aren't I?

She froze at the thought. A complete and utter stop. Dead in her tracks. The blood drained from her face.

"Asami?" Senna responded to her action after the entire group halted. Her question fell on deaf ears.

She remained still. Her head buzzed. It had flown so freely from inside of her, like water gushing through a dam that had just now been opened. It frightened her. Here she was, expecting to have just told Korra about her feelings a mere day ago. Now, she was gone. She was missing. She might not even want to be found.

I might not even get the opportunity to tell her how I feel.

But what is it that I even feel?

Her mind plagued her with thoughts of not only liking the Southerner, not only loving her, but being in lovewith her. She hesitated. In all honesty, she fucking cowered from the idea. How could this woman, who's not even here, have such a hold on her? She struggled for reasoning, for an escape from the suffocating feeling overwhelming her. She wanted control again, grasped for it. Korra was getting too close to her core, too close to her vulnerability that she had tried to protect with such desperation from the young age of six. Korra penetrated her walls with a mighty force – this she was willing to accept – even if the brunette had no idea that she had done so. But to navigate the inner mechanisms of her other traps and barriers? To reach down inside of her and touch her, compel her, in such a way as to fall in love with her?

But in love? In love?

It's just a phrase.

It's more than that.

Asami felt a small shiver crawl over her skin. The harness in her fingers was distant.

I mean, are you really surprised, Asami?

Yes. Yes I am. I know the difference between crushes and love.

And this isn't love?

I –

She sighed in her head, still stuck in her spot.

There's… it's… I… in love? I – I think I just need sleep. I just need to sleep and sort things out in the morning.

You need Korra, that's what you need.

I don't need anyone. I can handle myself.

Asami retreated from her feelings, pulled away from the voice in her head, threatened to slam all the doors to all of the vaults shut and never allow this to resurface out of a mixture of things: hesitation, confusion, trepidation…

I'm not saying 'need' as in she's vital for you to sustain your life and independence. You and I both know one hundred percent that you can 'handle yourself'.

Then what are you saying?

I'm saying that you miss her. You're worried about her. You just want to be beside her, to know she's safe, to have her in your arms so you can tell her how much you care about her.

How much I love her…

The final thought came out with an internal heave. It was true, even if it took her some enervated evaluation to explain and confirm it. She couldn't deny that she loved Korra – it was something that she had known for weeks now. Though whether it was love and in love… that still needed determination. But for now, it would have to be enough.

"Asami?" Tonraq gripped her shoulder as he spoke. "Are you alright?"

She nodded, deciding to leave this whole "in love" business for later. Now was not the time to decipher her feelings or to let them get the best of her; right now, they had to find Korra. Korra had to be the priority, not her. Asami took a deep breath.

"Let's go," she commanded, ushering them to continue their journey across the Bay.

It was almost dark by the time they reached the bridge connecting the two sides of Republic City. Future Industries was out of sight due to their distance. This was, by far, the shortest gap between the land masses and the most eastern-end of the Bay. It morphed into a separate river, originating from the mountains towards the border of the Earth Kingdom. They crossed the bridge with discomfort; it was not only the smallest bridge, but it was also the thinnest, leaving a mere single lane for traffic each way. Lucky for them, the area was free of Satomobiles and Cabbage Cars alike.

Once they entered and navigated a large portion of the Dragon Flats District, reaching Future Industries seemed like a hopeless cause. They were all exhausted and it had to have been almost midnight. The clouds overhead were passing through and thickening by the hour. Asami's lids grew heavy with fatigue and lack of sleep; it had been at least a day since she had proper rest.

Or any rest, for that matter.

She stifled her yawn with her free hand as they trudged on. They remained near the edge of the City line, though Tonraq continued to eye the forest beyond, to the south of their path.

"Maybe we should set up camp." Senna suggested through a yawn of her own. "It's not too cold out for us to sleep here tonight."

"How much farther until we reach Future Industries," her husband asked, a similar weariness in his voice.

Asami squinted, trying to see through the darkness and the buildings. "It's hard to tell. I'd say at least another two hours."

Their stomachs growled in unison to the thought of travelling any further. Even Naga had lost most of her steam.

"Come on; let's go settle in the forest over there. It'll give us good cover in case those clouds decide to storm and we can use the dry wood to start a fire before it does. There might even be some food around; berries or fish or something…" Tonraq led them deep into the trees until they were in the center of the small wooded lot, taking their silence as agreement. "Senna, can you set up the tents," he asked as he glanced around, checking the spot for security.

She nodded and removed her bag from her back. She took Tonraq's and tossed it aside as well before heading further into the forest.

Asami raised a confused eyebrow and met the man's tired blue eyes.

"She needs water to make the tents." He popped the lid of a small, waist-level pouch that was hanging from a strap on his shoulder. With a lift of his hand and an expansion of his fingers, he Bent a small amount of water from the container. Another shift later and the fluid was in his mouth to quench his thirst.

Asami eyed the little sack, its triangular pattern similar to Korra's armband, though it was a bit different in its color and many shades of blue. "If you have water in your pouch, why can't Senna use it to make the tents?"

"It's not enough." He turned to her and returned the cork that was attached to the strap with a small string back to its opening. "Usually, Water Benders carry pouches like these so that they can Bend when there isn't water around," he continued, cracking his knuckles as he did so. "But there's only so much we can carry for it to be practical, especially when we travel. We only bring enough to sustain ourselves and get ourselves out of a mid-sized amount of trouble. It's not nearly adequate for the tents, so Senna has to go somewhere else." Tonraq rotated, observing more with his ears than his eyes. "I think there's a small stream or a river nearby for her to draw water from. Otherwise, she would have to pull the water out of the plant life around us, and that's still not guaranteeing enough for two thick, sturdy tents. It's better to Bend the water from the river instead of killing the trees." He surveyed the area as he spoke, holding his abdomen. "Perhaps we can even get some fish from that stream; Senna and I ran out of food just before we landed in Republic City." His mouth watered to the thought of freshly cooked fish. "Can you start a fire, Asami?"

She hadn't heard most of his words after "killing the trees". Her ears rang at the thought of Water Benders being able to drain a living thing of its fluids just to have an element to manipulate. She wondered how often they did such a thing, and if they restricted it to just plants or if they've done it to animals, too.

Or people.

Her heart skipped a beat in her tired anxiety. A powerful gust flowed around the pair, almost pushing them over. The cold snapped her from her contemplation. She held her elbows and shivered from the chill. Just as she was about to reply, Naga stuck her head straight up in the air. Within an instant, she was gone, sprinting at full speed through the dark forest.

"Naga?! Naga, wait!" Asami called after her, trying and failing to keep up with the polar bear dog.

Tonraq was right behind her. He yelled the animal's name to no avail. Before they knew it, Naga was out of sight and earshot, and they were surrounded by blackness.

"Naga!" The raven hollered as loud as she could muster. Her hands were shaking against her cheeks. Tears were threatening to form in her eyes.

"Tonraq! What happened?!" Senna reached the group and spoke between long pants.

"I don't know, but we need to find Naga. Come on; we're wasting time. Senna, you go with Asami and track her. I'll go back and get the stuff –"

"No," Asami stepped forward and met his eyes, "you're a better tracker than I am with all of the hunting you do. You need to go after her. I'll get the bags and meet up with you two. I'm quick. I'll catch up." She maneuvered around the pair and raced away.

We need her.

"Just keep after Naga!" She shouted over her shoulder. She thought of Korra, thought of how much the two were alike.

I can't lose her.

"Find her!"

Not again.

She kept running, unaware of the single tears dragging down her face.

The Southerners watched as blackness enveloped Asami. They locked onto each other, worry in their eyes, before charging in the direction of the missing polar bear dog.

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