"Hey, Akemi, want to come feed the bisons with-? Jinora's last words faded as she walked through the hallway, picking up cheerful chit chatting coming from her room. Intrigued and a little amused, she approached the doorway and stood by, silently watching.
Akemi was playing with one of Ikki's old tea sets, her back turned to her. There were five tea cups set in a circle around her, one for herself and three for the plushies, but she was talking to the empty space where the fifth one was placed.
Jinora tried getting closer to better hear what she was saying, but a creaking plank under her foot revealed her presence, and the girl turned around.
"Hi Jinora" she greeted.
"Is Rohan with you?" The young airbender asked, looking around in case it was him Akemi was talking to, but there were just the two of them in the room
"No" Akemi frowned "He stole my flying lemur and went away" she poured imaginary tea into the fifth cup.
"Oh, in that case, can I take your flying lemur's spot in the meantime?" Jinora played along, pointing at the empty space. Akemi looked at her confused.
"Flying lemurs don't drink tea, silly" she said with determination "They drink lychee juice!"
"Oh, of course, my bad" she apologized, chuckling under her breath as she sat on her knees. "Then who are you saving that spot for?"
"Hakue sits there" she explained casually. "Did you know Korra found him?" She handed Jinora an empty tea cup. The girl pretended to drink from it, doubt creasing her forehead.
"Is that so?" She had guessed Asami would've said something if that was the case. But she let it go. "Where was he before?" Akemi pursed her lips and looked down
"I don't know. It was dark" the girl responded absentmindedly "But he will be home soon" Akemi tried changing the subject, as she force-fed the Kyoshi doll a plastic cookie.
"What do you mean it was dark?" Jinora exclaimed, a jolt of surprise making her sit straight up "Akemi, can you actually see Hakue? Can you talk to him?" Neither Korra nor Asami had mentioned the girl had spiritual abilities.
Akemi looked at her, displeased by Jinora's change of tone and all those questions. But she liked Jinora, so she tried answering.
"He is not so good at taking yet, but he cries a lot" Akemi made a disgruntled face. "I don't like when he cries. Hurts my ears"
"Is he here right now?" Jinora looked away for a second and closed her eyes, trying to catch the slightest glimpse of spiritual energy, but she felt nothing outside the usual.
"Not right now, because you are here" Akemi replied, offering the airbender a plastic cookie. Jinora accepted it, mouth agape, excitement making the corners of her mouth lift upwards. After all, with Bumi gone to the South Pole, the spiritual talent in the family was honestly lacking. And this seemed promising. She frantically begun asking questions.
"How do you find him? Can you feel him? His energy? Can you find other people?" Akemi looked at the airbender as if she had grown a third eye, and backed away a little, surprised at the outburst. Jinora regained composure just as Asami appeared through the door. Akemi jumped to her feet, tipping one of the cups in her way to the woman.
"Ready to go to bed?" Asami said, running a hand through the girl's hair. Akemi frowned, not too thrilled with the idea.
"But Korra isn't back yet" she pouted.
"She has work to do. But you'll see her in the morning, don't worry" Asami reassured her. But Jinora saw the restlessness beyond her calming words. She knew Korra should've been back by now.
"Will Hakue be here too?" Asami scrunched up her mouth.
"We've talked about this, remember?" she held the girl's fist in her hand and stroked the scarred knuckles with her thumb "Korra is doing her best trying to find him, but we don't know where he is yet, okay?" The girl stared at her, a plain look on her face.
"Oh, don't worry, Asami. Hakue is with Korra" Akemi smiled and Asami frowned, worried about how the girl would take the news if Korra didn't end up finding the boy. "Can we wait until they are back?" The girl tried bargaining.
Jinora wondered if she should voice her suspicions about Akemi to the woman, but thought it would be better to be sure before speaking out. She stood up and approached them, placing her hands-on Akemi's shoulders.
"Tell you what, if your mom is okay with it, you can come help me feed the bisons and If Korra isn't back by then, I'll let you sleep in my room. We can have a sleepover." Jinora looked up at Asami gauging if she approved of her idea. Akemi let out a dragged out "please" between them.
"Sound like fun" As Akemi dragged Jinora out of the room, Asami whispered to her "Are you sure about this?" She would have guessed a 21-year-old girl would have better things to do than hang out with a four-year-old. But Jinora nodded with a smile. "At least let me come by" the engineer offered.
When they reached the dining room through the corridor, Akemi let go of Jinora in favor of rescuing her flying lemur plush, held hostage by Rohan.
"Give it back" she exclaimed with a mischievous smile before going after the ten-year-old. Jinora seized the opportunity to lean back and whisper to Asami:
"She… Akemi seemed to be talking to someone earlier, but there was no one in the room with her" Asami was more invested in looking out her daughter didn't accidentally burn Rohan than in what Jinora was implying.
"Yeah, she does that, overactive imagination" she responded "Kids, please be careful" Akemi took off after Rohan chasing him around the room.
"I don't think that's it" Jinora said, swiftly moving to the side, dodging the two laughing children "Is she interested in spirits by any chance?" The girl kept prodding, but she knew the conversation would have to wait when her sister stepped into the room, dread written all over her face.
"Uuughh" Ikki complained loudly "I can't deal with you anymore!" the subject of her frustration came behind her, dragging his feet, an old book under his arm and a satisfied grin on his face. "Mom! You try teaching Meelo, I'm done!" Ikki yelled. "Oh, hey Asami" her voice returned to the usual chirpy tone "Have you seen my mother around? Or my dad? Even Bolin would do at this point"
"I'm not sure, I saw your mom earlier in the dining hall, as of Tenzin and Bolin, I think they tagged along with the airbenders in the practice arena. Do you need help with something?" While they talked, the persecution escalated with Rohan jumping into an air scooter to get away from the girl in tow.
"Yes please, very much. Rocks for brains here doesn't get math" Ikki said, rolling her eyes.
"You suck as a teacher" Meelo complained.
"Let me see" Asami grabbed the book and cracked it open, catching the piece of paper that flew from in between its pages. "Oh, I see" she said looking at the sloppy notations "You just gotta-" Rohan's air scooter blew the paper away from Asami's hands. "No bending inside the house!" Asami used the stern tone she had been practicing.
"I got it" Jinora intercepted his little brother, grabbing him by the collar and taking the plush away from him. "Aren't you a little old for these things?" She said giving the toy back to Akemi. The girl stuck her tongue out "Now come on, there are bisons to feed" the girl took Jinora's hand.
"Will you be alright with her?" Asami asked Jinora from the table, head buried in Meelo's homework.
"We'll manage" she smiled down at Akemi who was looking back at Rohan. Right when they were about to step out the room, the girl let go of Jinora's hand and ran back to the airbender boy before Jinora could open her mouth to complain.
"You can have it for now" Akemi as she handed Rohan the plush, she run back to grab Jinora's hand "But don't tear his ear out!
Hi to whoever is left! I'm back and I am sorry for taking so long :D
I didn't expect to go back to upploading just yet, but I got some nice messages and I kinda went back to writting, so I guess thank you.
My university (doubles as a hospital) has been kinda on fire for obvius reasons, so thanks for the encouragement.