Chapter 6- "Peaceful child"
"The steel rails have been installed, Miss Sato." The lead engineer reported as he sat in front of the heiress.
"Good. How are the boilers?" Asami asked while reading through the papers that were given to her.
"We still have problems with overheating, but the tubes you suggested we used worked for one of the units. I will stop by the factory later today concerning the production of the materials." The heiress hums as she continues to read the report on hand.
"Hmm. Sounds good. Send Tin the updates for the other units as well. In six months, we should be able to do a test run for at least a hundred kilometres."
"Of course, Miss Sato." The lead engineer started to gather his stuff and stood up. "Is there anything else you want to run through?"
"No, that's all. You may go." Asami gave him a warm smile, so the engineer bowed and left the room.
A few minutes after, someone knocks at her door, and she groaned.
"Please don't tell me I have another meeting." She whines, resting her back on the chair while looking at the approaching figure.
"Nope. I booked the rest of your day off. And here, I brought you tea." Tin walks in front of the table and puts the tea in front of the heiress. Asami grabbed it and took a sip.
"What would I do without you, Tin?"
"Oh, you'd probably be in the streets right now, sleeping at an alley." Tin rolled her eyes, and Asami scoffed.
"I'm sure it will be more comfortable than my bed anyway." She looked down the table.
"Still trouble sleeping?" Her assistant questioned and was answered by a shrug from the engineer.
"Your bed too big for one person?" Tin probes, sitting down on the chair, a smirk forming her lips while looking at Asami.
"Maybe." She mumbles. It's been harder to sleep because when she does, her dreams welcome her by an image of the blue-eyed girl, making her more miserable.
Tin laughed and tilted her head. "Why don't you just go to the South Pole and visit her?"
Oh, she did think of that. The days of mindlessly walking in the docks and almost stepping foot a ship bound to the South Pole. She went to the factory and hopped on to a Future Industries airship just to sit back down and curse herself of how stupid she is. She doesn't want you there, idiot. If she did, she should've sent you a letter by now. She should've let you come when you asked the first time.
But Korra didn't say yes. So, she didn't.
"She doesn't want me there." She sighed, defeated of the thought.
"How do you know?"
"I haven't heard anything from her." She motioned her hands in the air to make it more dramatic. Tin rolled her eyes at her boss again.
"So, you just assume it means she doesn't want you there?"
"I asked before she left, she declined my offer." Asami made a sour face, remembering the encounter with Korra. She had made high points, so there wasn't much any convincing on her side to counter it.
"Oh."
"Yeah." She retakes a sip of her tea.
"She doesn't know you like her?" Tin raised an eyebrow while crossing her legs and resting her arms on the armrest.
Asami shifted to her seat, "I couldn't tell her. If only you saw her after the fight. And the poison, I.." Her voice falters at the end as she put her tea down and hugs herself.
"Damn. She must've been through a lot, physically and mentally." Tin chimed, nodding in realization.
Asami shrugs again and looks down, with worry in her eyes. "All I want for her is to get better now, no matter how long it takes."
"Why don't you tell her in your letter?" Her assistant probes again and makes a face as if it's the most obvious choice to do.
"Oh, trust me, I tried. But I think it's something to be discussed in person." Asami takes a deep breath.
"That's why you long for her return." She looks at the heiress with empathy.
"That's why I long for her return." She gave her assistant a sad smile. The pining for the Avatar is getting harder and harder, with no clue what's happening with her recovery. She started going back to the park now because who is she kidding? It's the closest thing she can get of Korra. Asami always wonders what she's doing when she has time to think, and all she has are her thoughts. Is she thinking about me at all? Did she find someone else? Did she forget-.
Her thoughts got cut off with her assistant asking a question again.
"Well, in the past, what gestures have you done before she got poisoned?"
Asami tried to rattle her brain for an answer, and then she chuckles while shaking her head. "I might've offered her a brand-new Future Industries airship to look for airbenders around the world.
Tin laughed with her. "You're hopeless, boss." She stood up and went around the table to Asami. "Well, okay then." She starts to pull Asami out of the chair, pushing the heiress out of the office. "Get out of this office and have time for yourself. You've worked hard enough. I'll reach out to you only if your presence is really needed." She pushed the engineer out the door.
"I guess I can go visit Air Temple Island."
00000
She was met by Pema carrying Rohan as she climbed down the boat.
"Asami! It's nice to see you. How have you been?" Pema asked, side-hugging the heiress. She visits the island as much as she can, if her schedules permit, or if she's not too caught up with her feelings longing for Korra because apparently, even the island reminds her of Korra. Sometimes it's suffocating her. But then again, just being with the airbending family makes her feel less alone at least for a little while.
"I'm okay—" She was cut off by the two airbender kids riding on an air scooter towards her.
"Asami!" Meelo and Ikki shouted in unison. Meelo jumped on top of her, and then Ikki started asking a lot of questions.
"How are you, Asami? You look good today! What shampoo do you wear? Can I use your makeup too?" All the kids' commotion is making her dizzy, but she's just so happy to see them.
"Kids! Stop jumping! Meelo, get down! Go help prepare with the meal inside." Pema billowed, and both the airbenders stopped and pouted. They walked towards the temple, and Meelo called back.
"I'll see you there, beautiful lady." Then air scooters forward and into the house.
Asami giggled. "My, they're growing so fast."
"Oh, yet they still act like a bunch of babies." Pema shook her head, thinking of the headache she has to deal with her kids every time. "Come eat lunch with us. Tenzin is leaving for the South Pole after."
Asami stopped on her tracks. "He is?" Her face could only show how shocked she is. And then suddenly, all the hope she's been gathering this whole time went up and out her throat, she dares asked, "Is he going to take Korra with him when he comes back?"
Again, building herself up for disappointment, Senna answers. "I'm afraid not, dear." She looked at the CEO apologetically while leading them in the dining area. She felt her stomach drop at the response even though she knew that it wasn't possible anyway. Of course she's not, you idiot.
Still, Asami couldn't feel more hopeful thinking that it's possible to come and see Korra in the South Pole. She wanted to go.
As they round up the corner, Asami can see the people in the room.
"Ah, Asami. Good to see you again." They were greeted by Tenzin, who was now sitting in a lotus position in front of the table. Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo found their places, and Asami sat at the empty space beside Jinora. She smiled at the girl and then tilted her head to acknowledge Tenzin.
"Hi, Tenzin." Everyone settled down, and they started eating.
"How is the Central City Station looking?" Tenzin asks while taking a bite of the bun.
"Good. The tracks have been installed, just some troubles with the units, but we should be right on schedule." Asami chimed calmy as she pours a tea on her cup.
The master airbender stroke his beard. "Hm, I suppose with you as the lead contractor, we shouldn't have any concerns." He smiled at the engineer.
Asami could only smile back, if not for the nagging thoughts in her head as she kept thinking of him being able to see Korra. She nonchalantly queried, "I heard you're heading for the South Pole today?"
Tenzin swallows down his food before he responded, "Ah. Yes. Tonraq and my mom asked me to see Korra on how she's doing. I believe she can walk and run now."
When she heard that statement, Asami can't help but feel a wave of relief overwhelm her whole body as she thought of Korra finally being able to walk. The mere thought of the Avatar being out of the wheelchair brings tears in her eyes but held it. She can't shake the idea of Korra not writing back to her, and that slammed her emotions back down.
"Has she written back to you at all?" She whispers, afraid of the answer. But why would she be frightened? It's not like she's going to be jealous if Korra sends letters to Tenzin, her teacher, and not her. Like she cares that much about you. No. Stop.
"Sadly, no." He stopped eating and faced Asami. "I radioed Tonraq the first month she was recovering. She was not easy to handle. Hopefully, there is progress now." His lips form a grim line as if remembering bad memory ages ago. Ages ago. How long has it been?
Asami let out a breath she didn't know she was holding but kept quiet the whole meal. Korra was struggling. The heiress kept thinking to ask Tenzin if she could come. Still, she can't manage another vacation now. She has a lot of responsibilities right now in the city and again, Korra didn't want her there. The CEO groaned internally.
Damn it. Just one glimpse of Korra, even if she doesn't want me there. I don't have to show myself. Just one chance to see the girl.
When they finished their lunch, everyone went out to say goodbye to Tenzin. Some of the airbenders started practicing on the training grounds.
Asami stayed and sat down beside a tree with her sketchbook and pencil. At first, she started sketching the surroundings, trees, the water, the temple, and then she focused on the airbenders. She drew each one of them, including the air they make as they practice the different bending forms. The flying lemurs got her attention as one jumped from a tall tree and spread its limbs to control their descend. She sketched them with specific details, and the engineer stared at the airbenders she also drew.
"Hmm, I wonder if this works." She muttered to herself.
Asami started drawing one of the airbenders with wings on the arms down to the legs. She then started designing a suit that will go with the made-up wings to suit the aerodynamics better. She bites the end part of the pencil, her mind running with ideas.
"If the air generates in one direction, it will counter the solid object. Huh." Asami did calculations of similar to the biplanes she has helped build. Then soon after, she said goodbye to Pema and the kids and went straight to Future Industries.
00000
"Asami what are you—"
"Can't talk, new invention." Asami cut her assistant off as she went inside the office and went straight to the drawers of prototypes that the company did in the past years. "Can you bring me the threads we use for the interiors of Satomobiles, please?"
Tin didn't say a word and went to find the materials. As she gathered all the stuff she needed, she went to work immediately.
Wingsuits. It kept the engineer busy for a few weeks.
Dear Korra,
I was working on a suit for the airbenders, and it's actually working! I can't wait for you to see. Ikki and Meelo were the first ones to test it, and they loved it. Tenzin wasn't fond of it at first, but he eventually came around with a slight push from Jinora. How are you? You know, my offer still stands. I can travel down the South. Let me know.
Love,
Asami
Of course, if Korra asks her to come right this instant, she will. No questions asked.
Dear Korra,
I had a bad day at work. The fixed axle on the locomotive parts of the train seems to extricate whenever we go for test runs—nothing I can handle, though.
Whenever I order takeout food, I always get your favourite, Seaweed noodles. It's delicious. Say hi to everyone for me.
Love,
Asami
00000
Two years. To say that Asami almost got over the fact that Korra wouldn't write back is all but lies. She still checks the mailbox regularly. She only doesn't if she's too drunk to get out of the car, and her employee drops her off the mansion.
The engineer tried to repress her feelings' cos it's already eating her alive. She swore to Raava if she's given a chance to see the girl, even if it means not showing the love she's yet to unleash, she will throw her heart away. Just one glimpse. One letter.
And just like regression, she cries herself to sleep again.
When Tenzin came back from the South Pole, she hoped that Korra was with him, but she again disappointed herself. He says Korra was doing better, but she needs more work. Spirits! What more does she have to accomplish? Korra can come back. She can walk now. Maybe come back even if it's not because of Asami. Just to see her again in Republic City, that's all she asks.
She writes to Korra again.
Dear Korra,
I heard from Tenzin that you could walk again! Also, you're able to run and bend now too. I miss you so much. Everyone is asking about you. I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I'm always here waiting for you in Republic City. Please come back.
Love,
Asami
She purposely made the word love prominent. Put all her emotions and feelings in that word. Maybe, just maybe, Korra would understand that she is loved and that she's not alone. Funny how irony works, though, as Asami had never felt more alone in the last two years.
Two years and twelve days.
She drinks her pain away one night, and she swore she saw Korra. Only to find out that it was a different girl but also from the water tribe. They talk, they drink, and the heiress thinks maybe she could get away with this one. Perhaps she can forget about Korra if she does it with another girl.
They went out of the bar, and the girl who looked like Korra kissed her. At first, she was shocked, and then she went with it. She kept pushing for any feelings to come out, but there was nothing. She tried to close her eyes and feel any pleasure, but there was emptiness. She tried to think that it was Korra. Still, the lips felt different even though she never tasted the Avatar's lips yet. The arms were different, and the girl's face was different against her. And so, she stops the kiss. It wasn't Korra.
She breaks down right in front of the girl. She says her apologies for being a mess, and eventually, the girl had to hail Asami a cab to go home.
Dear Korra,
When are you coming back? Please come back.I miss you so much.I think I'm really drunk.I kissed a girl that looked like you, but I had to stop 'cos I know she wasn't you.
I'm in love with you.
Please write me back.
I'd accept you with open arms if you'll have me. Just please come back.
Why don't you ever write back?
The modernization of the city's transport system is looking good. Raiko's been actually pleased with Future Industries. The pro-bending arena has been renovated and will soon host games. I hope you're doing well.
Love,
Asami
Asami woke up with the lights beaming through her windows, and a terrible hangover. Her eyes were bulging from crying the whole night. She felt miserable from the alcohol, the woman, kiss, and the words she almost put in the letter.
She groaned and ran a hand through her hair.
The heiress got up and took a quick shower. Quickly after, she put on her makeup, and her usual attire then found her way to the garage. She got in her satomobile and drove out.
She quickly stops by a flower shop to buy a bouquet.
The CEO parked right in front of the cemetery and got out. The wind picks up and washes in Asami's face. There weren't many people around, and she was glad. She found her way on a tombstone and placed the bouquet in front of it.
YASUKO SATO
She sat down beside her mom's grave.
"Hi, mom. I'm sorry I haven't visited in a while, got caught up with projects at the office." She scooted closer to the headstone and rested her head on the left side.
She visits her mom's grave every once in a while and talks her heart out. There's always that calming feeling in her stomach whenever she lets out her frustrations to her mother. Asami also never failed to talk about Korra.
"The train station is almost done now. The buildings we renovated looks promising." Her lips started to quiver, so she bit it. "I miss you." She took a deep sigh and then continued, "I guess its wishful thinking that it will all be easier for me if you were here. Dad sends me letters, but I haven't opened a single one. I just wish you're here and tell me everything's going to be alright." A single tear ran down her cheek, and so she wipes it.
"Korra is still in the South Pole. Still recovering. I-I don't know what's going on in her mind right now, but I just want to know that she's going to be okay." Tears were falling in both her eyes now and lets it.
"It's tough to love someone from afar."
Truer words have never been spoken. How do you love someone if you can't show it to them? How do you make someone feel the candidness if they're too dejected to even acknowledge what you're offering?
At this point, all Asami could do is wait. And she is. Still waiting. Waiting for the Avatar to come back. Duties or not, she wants her best friend to come back.
Asami's shoulders start to tremble. She put both her palms in her eyes. "What do you think I should do?" She let the question in the air, not waiting for an answer, but she hopes for one.
To break down and let herself lose control somehow makes the heavy feeling in her chest gone. Even just for a little bit. Elegance and grace. Oh, to hell with elegance and grace. What are dignity and beauty if all she wants is for the void in her soul to be whole again? For that someone to fill it. But doesn't want to come back.
Sometimes Asami just wants to run away from all the responsibilities, just meddle with machines, fix an automotive part that is broken, and Korra right beside her. Why can't it be that easy?
Like a boulder smacked in her body, the reality settles in. She knew the answer. Because Korra's the Avatar and Asami's the CEO of the most well-known company in Republic City. They can't do normal. They will never be normal. Yet, Asami was hopeful. Why did she have to be hopeful?
She stayed there for a while until a red butterfly started flying in circles in front of her. Asami watched it in astonishment as it landed on the tombstone on her mother's name. Right on top of theS.
She stared at it for a whole minute and then as if her tear ducts haven't let out enough tears, she started sobbing again.
How did she not think of that sooner?
It took her a while to compose herself, but she finally stood up.
"I love you, mom." She whispered into the air and then eventually walked towards her satomobile.
The engineer drove her way to the little Watertribe neighbourhood and park her car on the side of the street. She went inside a restaurant that serves all kinds of water tribe dishes and then ordered seaweed noodles. It's starting to be her favourite dish as well.
Asami looked at her surroundings, a familiarity washing over as she never felt more at home. The server placed the order in front of her and started to eat. The bittersweet flavour emerged from her taste buds and had to close her eyes on how good the noodles are.
She got her bag and grabbed a pen and paper. Asami moved her bowl of noodles and placed the paper on the table and started writing the words:
Dear Senna.
If she couldn't get any response from Korra, maybe she can ask the one closest to her. Just one glimpse, even from the eyes of another. Perhaps just one conversation with the water tribe girl, and then maybe, she'll be alright after all.
