Okay. I just have to say, one huge inspiration for me has been the country song by Lady Antebellum "Just a Kiss"—it's about two people who don't want to fall in love but inevitably do. I'm sorry if you don't like country, but that's been a real mood-setter for me throughout this story (I'm listening it to it right now, as a matter of fact).

And thank you all for your reviews, constructive criticism and kind comments! They mean a lot : ) So here's the latest chapter. Had a lot of homework so sorry it took longer than my normal 24-hour updates. Cue the "oh no, he's hot" jokes. This one's sure to be fun.

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The attacks came out of nowhere. They were silent, untraceable, never a witness to cry out. The first victim was found in the dark alleyway on the west side of Republic City, slumped against a trash bin. He was dressed in full body Equalist garb, the symbol for equality emblazoned upon his right breast pocket. The hood and goggles had been pulled back from his face, revealing the most terrified expression. His mouth open in a soundless scream, his eyes wide and staring with unspoken horror. The rolled parchment tucked into his curled dead fingers read:

"My dear please my thirst abate.

This is only number eight."

Chief Saikhan's force had been puzzled by the note. They located the man's family, agreeing to drop any charges against them due to his Equalist affiliations. But once the murder victim had been laid to rest, the note was tucked away into evidence and forgotten.

Then the next victim came. Draped over an abandoned sato-convertible, his face fixed in that same horrific fear as the first poor soul. This time the note was tied around his neck with a scarlet string.

"In your place I've sent this poor fool to heaven,

But this is only number seven."

Upon the discovery of the second note, Saikhan and his police force had become truly disturbed. The uncovering of the man's identity shook them even further. The third man was a prominent member of the city's publishing office. A nonbender and clandestine member of the Equalist party, he had often published articles that loosely targeted the evils of bending, but never enough to get himself pinned down as an Equalist sympathizer. Saikhan put his forces on high alert, searching the streets late into the nights for the mysterious killer. He couldn't determine whether the murders had been the word of a serial or not. It was too soon. But his questions on the matter were soon laid to rest, as his fear began to rise.

"My dear you'd best make your decision quick,

I'm burning down to number six."

Soon the city newspapers swarmed with the news of Councilman Aiguo's demise, and his connection with the Equalist ranks. A waterbender, it was the puzzlement of all Republic City as to why his sympathies had been drawn to the anti-bending cause. His limp form had been found curled against the street-side wall of his office, the note stuffed into the corner of his sagging mouth. To Saikhan's surprise and dismay, there was no possible way to pinpoint the cause of death on any of the three victims. They'd all been in robust health, and not a mark was to be found on their still, cold bodies. The only link between the three had been the petrified, agonized expression of total fear on every face.

Korra slapped the newspaper down on the table, a frown marring her mocha-toned features. She took a sip from her steaming mug of tea, frowning down at the fine-print article about the police force's latest scare. What kind of person could be capable of such devastating carnage? Without leaving a trace?

"Korra, would you keep an eye on things around her while I go into town?" Pema turned around from her place at the stove, balancing a squirming Meelo on her hip.

"Moooom, I don't want to gooooo."

"You're coming because you've been complaining about that sore tooth for three weeks now, and I'm having Dr. Miagi look at it whether you like it or not." Pema glanced back at Korra. "It'll just be you and Asami. I should be back before supper, around the same time Tenzin returns from his Council meeting."

"Sure, Pema. I don't mind."

Shaking off the chills that had seeped up her spine, Korra got to her feet, leaving the newspaper sitting folded on the little table. The Ferret brothers had taken Ikki and Jinora—at the airbender kids' begging—to tour the new grounds of the pro-bending arena. Ikki had still never seen an official game, and was dying to watch the boys play, even if it was just practice. Jinora had acted aloof and disinterested as always, but Korra could tell she had a teeny crush on Bolin and very much wanted to see him play.

She watched Pema drag Meelo across the courtyard toward the ferry docks, where several air acolytes were waiting to launch out across the bay. Korra grinned to herself, watching Meelo release a vicious gust of air from his rear end, shooting high into the sky. But the air acolytes quickly caught him, stuffing him into the ferry behind his mother.

Her eyes followed the boat as it began to chug away, and she leaned back against the table, stretching her tired muscles. She ought to find Asami. The news of this recent string of murders unnerved her more than she cared to dwell on. Korra knew the other girl always kept a cool head when it came to matters like these. Perhaps she could come up with something Korra hadn't thought of so far.

Rising, Korra reached out to pat Naga on the head where the polar bear dog lay sleeping just beside the table. Naga groaned low in her throat and stretched, but didn't open her eyes. She settled back into her lolling slumber. Grinning, Korra turned and made her way down the hallway toward the bedrooms.

"Asami?" she called down the hallway, peeking into her friend's room. It was empty. Frowning, Korra pulled her head out of the doorway and continued down the hall, glancing into the other guest rooms. Hmm. Perhaps she was in the bath. Korra moved to the door of the water closet and pressed her ear up against it. She heard the soft patter of steaming shower water against the tub, and sighed. Well, Asami never took too long to shower. Resigning to wait for her, Korra turned and headed back to her room.

She pushed open the door, eager to throw herself down on her cushy bed. But before she could sink down onto the soft pillows, a strong arm snagged around her waist, jerking her around with a startled gasp. She had no time to react to the burning golden eyes before warm lips were crushing hers, his arms pressing her against his chest, tipping her head back. Korra's heart sputtered. When he finally let her go, she was thoroughly breathless.

"Good morning," Amon said with a twinkle in his eye.

"What," she gasped, pressing him back. "What are you doing here?"

"Same reason as you," he said, pulling her flush against him once more. "Looking for answers."

He kissed her again, melting the last of her restraint. Korra let out a soft moan, kissing him back with unrestrained hunger. Her fingers slipped up into his hair, while his arms wound around her waist. He tasted just like she remembered; like the salty sea air of her Water Tribe home, a perfect blend of wind and danger and power. She'd almost lost herself when she heard the soft sound of someone clearing her throat.

"Well, this is awkward."

Korra and Amon broke apart with a jerk. Korra flushed mightily when she saw Asami standing in her doorway, wet black hair twisted up in a towel, dressed only in a bathrobe. Amon stiffened, but before he could make a move, Asami held up a hand.

"No need to knock me out like Bolin. I'm sure Korra would have a hard time passing me off as hung-over from cactus juice."

For a tense moment, the two of them just stared at her. Then Korra cleared her throat.

"Well, um. Asami, this is…"

"I know." She said, striding forward to hold out her hand. "Pleasure to meet you… finally."

Amon blinked, temporarily stunned. Then he took her hand and returned the handshake.

"I take it you are the daughter of Hiroshi Sato?"

Asami nodded, her eyes taking in every inch of his face. She glanced at Korra, and she caught that mischievous gleam in her friend's eye. Korra shot her a glare before she could do or say anything embarrassing.

"Well then, it's a pleasure to meet you as well." Amon turned and looked down at Korra, arcing an eyebrow. She swallowed.

"Asami, er, kind of already knows about us," she confessed.

"I see." His expression was inscrutable. "And what about the rest of your little group?"

Korra swallowed again, harder this time. Her eyes darted for Asami, hoping for some sort of rescue.

"They only know what they need to know," said the inventor's daughter with a smooth wave of her hand, as calm and elegant as ever. "Korra told them about the alliance and the necessity to take down Sakura. Anything else should be pure guesswork."

Amon looked at her for a moment, his golden eyes narrowed. She met his gaze evenly. Finally he let out a breath, the tension easing out of his shoulders.

"Well, at least it's good to know there won't be any unsavory friction from that end." He glanced down at Korra, his brow furrowed. "Unfortunately, that's the least of the problems I've come here to discuss."

"You mean the string of murders throughout the city?" Korra guessed. "I've been trying to put the pieces together myself, but I can't figure out the connection. You don't think it could be…?"

"There's no doubt in my mind who's behind it," Amon replied with grim certainty. "Sakura has left her signature behind on every body."

"But why the countdown?" Asami wondered. "She's gone from eight to six in a matter of two days. Surely she can't be planning on more butchery?"

"I'm afraid that her plan is exactly that." Amon sighed, running a hand through his hair. Korra tried to ignore the way Asami's eyes followed the movement.

Clearing her throat, she added, "Every victim has been a member of the Equalists. And with every murder, someone important in the city gets killed off. You don't think there's a pattern to this madness, do you?"

"Of course I do. The closer she gets to one, the more significance each victim will have. First an unknown Equalist, then a well-known news reporter and finally a councilman. She'll be moving higher up into my ranks soon." He would have to warn his followers, and fast. As soon as he returned to headquarters he would notify Gioshi to set all systems on high alert.

"Well, how can we stop her if we can't find her?" Korra demanded.

Amon turned, folding his hands behind his back as he moved to the window. Asami and Korra exchanged a glance as the silence stretched. They could almost hear the wheels turning in the Equalist leader's head.

"As the sponsor," Amon said at last. "She'll have to be present at the grand opening of the pro-bending arena. We will meet and confront her there, before the others arrive."

"We?" Korra echoed. "Are you sure that's a good idea? You can't exactly show up as Amon. Not without the police going haywire."

"I will be present," he replied. "It's a risk I'm willing to take. I will not allow the past to keep creeping up to haunt my future. Sakura needs to be stopped, before this mayhem gets any worse. I'll not have any more people die for me."

A stiff silence settled over the room. Amon closed his eyes, using the reaches of his bloodbending to sense the reactions of the two behind him. Korra's heartbeat was racing, as expected, matching the uneasy blaze of her fiery blue eyes. Despite the Sato girl's outward calm, he could hear her heart pattering away at a terrified speed. Amon felt his own heart thudding in his chest. How, after all these years, had she found him?

Finally, Asami broke the silence, her voice uncharacteristically soft and timid. "What happens when the count reaches one?"

It had been the question on all their minds, though Amon and Korra were too on edge to voice it.

Amon replied without turning around, his voice low. "I don't know."

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the trickle of the water clock on Korra's bedside table. Then the soft tinkle of laughter floated in through the open window. Korra jumped forward, squeezing past Amon to look out.

"They're back already?" she hissed, spotting the four figures walking up the narrow beach toward the courtyard from the ferries. Mako swung Ikki from one powerful outstretched arm, while Bolin had Jinora on his shoulders. Korra cursed. "They were only gone two hours!"

"I suppose I'd best be going." Amon turned, looking down at Korra. "The pro-bending arena reopens in two days' time. Be there at sunhigh, no later."

Korra nodded, that familiar fire burning hot in her sapphire blue eyes. Amon had to catch his breath.

"We'll bring her down for good this time," she declared. She stepped closer, and it took all of his restraint not to pull her into his arms right then and kiss her. Reluctant to do such a thing in front of Sato's daughter, he simply brushed his thumb softly over her cheekbone and stepped back.

"Can you get out without being seen?" Korra asked, worry dancing across her face.

Amon laughed. "Are you truly asking me that question?"

And then, in the space of time it took her to blink, he was gone. Korra didn't know if he leapt out the window or took the door, he moved so quickly. She felt a shiver wash through her. The man must be part phantom. He'd made not a sound nor movement as he ghosted away.

Asami's soft intake of breath made her turn. Her eyes met her friend, and she barely had time to register that confounding gleam in the other girl's eyes before the words were out of Asami's mouth.

"Frolicking Spirits," she exclaimed. "He's hot."

Korra groaned, a blush searing across her face. "Don't even start."

"He hardly looks a day over twenty-five! You'd better be grateful he wears the mask in public Korra, or you'd be having a world of competition."

"Will you shut up already? He could still hear you!"

Asami only laughed, and reached out to thump her friend on the shoulder. "If I wasn't so into Mako…"

"Oh, don't even." Korra couldn't resist returning the lopsided grin plastered over Asami's face. For a moment, both girls stood there, grinning stupidly. Finally Asami broke the moment.

"We should go meet the boys."

Korra cleared her throat. "Right."