The colours of the walls and dim lights made it more repelling as Asami walked the long hallways of Republic City jail. She was directed to a room with several tables and two chairs opposite one another. She took a seat at the far end corner and waited. Her eyes scanned the room, symmetrical rows of the same furniture, with all shades of grey. She took in the measurements of each door, door handle, pins, rods, a lack of sunlight due to the rectangular windows, barely letting anything in or perhaps, entrapping the objects inside.

Asami would always study the structures and materials whenever she goes into a building, more so a room to get a grip on her surroundings. What the normal eye sees, the engineer eye magnifies it. Always amused with the shapes and figures and the how, what, when, and why it was the way it was.

She learned working with tools to create a remarkable creation from the man walking towards her. He found his way at the opposite chair in front of her.

The unsettling feeling may have come out and presented itself on her face as Asami drew her father in. The colour of the walls, tables, doors, pens, chairs, and jail seemed to settle in Hiroshi's whole being. Grey clothes, grey hair, grey eyes. Hollow eyes. For a second, Asami forgot the anger she piped deep down the abyss of her soul, ready to lash out on the man sitting in front of her. But this was a different man, and she can only look at him with wide eyes.

"Asami, you came." Hiroshi started; a slight gleam caught in his eye as he settled to his chair.

Tightening the grip on her shoulder bag, pulling out a stack of unopened envelopes, but the hand holding it stayed under the table. Unsure. Asami could only respond, "Hi, dad."

"How are you?" If kill was the opposite of live, then so be it. If looks could live, Asami would've had more than one life by how her dad was looking at her.

Last night, she planned out a mission to look for Korra. As she neared the almost empty mansion, with no one to confide to but the sounds of Mako's extended family ringing in the guest house up to the desolated hallways, she became frantic.

She wasn't sure why she was so afraid all of a sudden. She wanted to look for Korra, she wanted her safe. The worry Asami felt as she tried to close her eyes and let sleep take her but didn't come that night, she needed something familiar. She needed something that connected to her, but the heiress wouldn't admit that to herself. She asked Tin for them to stop by the police station before they leave, and now she's here. Intentions unclear.

She mustered up enough energy to put the hand holding the letters on the table. "I came to bring this back."

"You never opened them." Hiroshi looked at the stack of envelopes with the same hollowness he came in with.

"I didn't want to read what you had to say." Instant regret washed over Asami as he saw her dad hurt at her words. Why is she regretting it? Isn't this what she wanted? She started again, "Wha- How are you ?"

Hiroshi's lips twitch upward for a second but formed a thin line right after.

"I've had a lot of time to reflect," He pauses, "with everything," He met her daughter's gaze briefly, then looked down, "I wanted to reach out to you, let you know how sorry I am."

Asami was supposed to return the letters, stand up, and never look back. But her body couldn't move. It wouldn't budge. Her eyes still settled at the man's whole being. She can feel her anger fading as her emotions betray her by feeling a flash of concern.

When she didn't respond, Hiroshi continued,

"I made a lot of mistakes, mistakes since your mother died. I was blindsided by rage, fear. The feeling of helplessness being in a world where bending is look up to."

Asami couldn't say anything, she was trying to fight back the tears threatening to spill down her pale cheeks.

"I was wrong, I failed Yasuko. I failed you. " The sadness in his eyes seems voluminous. "I am sorry for a lot of things, Asami. I hope you know that you are the greatest creation your mother and I ever made. And I would do anything to win you back."

Asami wipes the tear that trickled down her cheek. She took a deep breath and chided, "I can't forgive you now, not after everything. But," her features softened and looked at her dad. The same dad who brought her in the garage to look at the engines he was working with, the engines she fell in love with. "I'll try to come back here."

Hiroshi could only smile at her daughter. To have a chance to at least see her more often than not.

"Thank you, Asami."

Asami wasn't sure what came to her to blurt out the phrase she never intended to say. She wanted to move forward, but somehow, the sanity in her, the slim hope she's had for her father won. And she needed it so badly.

"I should go."

"Of course. Take care of yourself." Hiroshi regarded her, he wanted to hug her daughter, but that was asking too much.

Asami stood up and, with one final glance, left the room.

Take care of yourself.

Maybe that was what she was looking for. Something to push forward. Someone to remind her to take care of herself. Somehow, the heaviness in Asami's chest was lifted as she strides towards the corridors and out the station. Among other things, she was hopeful.

Of her father, and to find Korra.

The ride to the factory was quiet. They asked a chauffeur to take them there with Tin beside her, notifying the team that they're on their way. She didn't say a word to Asami when she got in the car, eyes puffy and tainted cheeks. She was glad for it.

00000

They were greeted by six crew members as she and Tin ascend the airship. She wore her usual racing suit, button-down black and red jacket with the Future Industries logo on the shoulder, black pants and boots. Tin had a similar style, only it was grey accompanied with black boots.

Asami considered her surroundings as bittersweet memories start to pour down on her like rainfall as she vividly remembered three years ago; they flew all around the Earth Kingdom to look for airbenders. Only this time, she takes off to find none other than the master of all elements. Different airship then, but the same and upgraded airship, nonetheless.

Asami thought of telling her plans to look for Korra to Tenzin or even Tonraq. But something inside her was stopping her from letting everyone know. She needed to do this alone. She can't deny that it's been bothering here, though, with Tonraq receiving letters from Korra. Almost as if she doesn't want to be found. Asami thought the better of it.

In the common area, right at the center of the table lay a map and red pins of places saying they have seen the Avatar. With a paced briefing with the crew members, the factory's roof opens in the middle as the airship finds its aerodynamics mounting towards the east of the Earth Kingdom.

They had dinner, thanks to the chef on board. She talked about strategy with her assistant as if they're on a mission to end war. Little did Asami know, a war would be an understatement if the battle was internal. Internal in the Avatar's mind.

She finds herself reading a book in her bed, trying to repress the memory fighting its way to come out. Defeated, she looked at the side of her bed, the side where Korra used to sleep with her when they fail again to fall asleep that night and found comfort in each other's stories.

"I had to ice bend an igloo for Naga and me to sleep in the middle of the storm." Korra would say, and Asami would look at her friend, bemused, but laughing, nonetheless.

"An igloo? Or close to it?" She would retort back.

Pouting with those beautiful lips of hers, Korra would reply, "Hey! I was like six back then. And we lived!"

Another memory would come again at the same bed as they sit side by side, back on the headboard as Asami would tell her childhood memories.

"My mom used to make pancakes for breakfast and eggs and bacon, smiling at me on another plate."

"I eat whatever my mom or dad makes, as you can see," Korra flexes her arms, "I have a huge appetite."

And they snickered the night away, unaware of the developing feelings of the raven-haired girl who was oblivious to it then. More oblivious as she found her head rested on Korra's neck as they scooted closer together, platonically.

"Sing me a song," Asami mused, "My mom used to sing to me before I sleep."

"I'm gonna warn you now, I'm not as good as your mom, Asami." Korra apprised.

"Sing to me anyway," Asami insisted, unconsciously smiling in the darkness.

The other girl started singing, Asami's feelings started growing.

"Two lovers, forbidden from one another," Korra rendered.

Asami's ears perked as her best friend's melodious voice rang in the air.

"A war divides their people, and a mountain divides them apart."

The thumping of her heart is all she could feel, all the while the growing warmness in her whole body she's yet to figure out.

"Built a path to be together."

She was content for the first time in a while. She was at peace.

And then Korra started singing/shouting, "Secret tunnel! Secret tunnel!"

For the umpteenth time, they laugh. Unaware of tomorrow. Asami didn't care for tomorrow, Korra looked like she didn't mind too.

And that tomorrow was when Korra decided to think the unthinkable. Giving herself up for the sake of a nation that's yet to rise.

And Asami fell in love then. Unaware, but she did.

Sleep came easy. Not with one hand, subconsciously brushing the side of the bed where her best friend used to lay.

000000

When Asami woke up, they have landed. Quickly showering and dressing up, she found her way to the common area and was greeted by Tin.

"You ready?"

"Think so."

The doors of the airship sprang down as they descend down the mainland. They walked a path towards a small house where they saw a woman sweeping the outside the house in her sixties. Tin was the one who approached the woman. Asami didn't realize she stopped walking when her assistant motion her to come inside the house.

This is it.

She braved the steps towards the humble home and went inside.

"We found her wandering in the streets one night. She didn't want to say her name but looks like the Avatar to me." The woman commented.

They were in the kitchen. She could see the girl's back. Her hair was laid down, and Asami can note the back muscles from where she was standing. She walked towards the girl, a hand reaching for her. She could only smile, hopeful. Until the girl turned around. Shattered all her expectations.

Don't get her wrong, she could easily pass off as Korra. Just different in the nose, eyes too wide, and lips too thin. Asami knew she would get disappointed, and they wouldn't be too lucky if the first house they go into was Korra but damn it, she still hoped. And it hurt.

"That's not her." She smiled apologetically at the girl and then quickly went out of the house.

Tin caught up and looked at the map they made. "The other house is close to this one so we can just walk. You okay?"

"I just," Asami takes a deep breath. "I should know better. Not get my hopes up, you know?" She let out a shaky laugh.

Tin rub her shoulders in a sisterly manner, "Hey, we'll find her. We'll do our best." She gives Asami a knowing smile.

Asami took a deep breath and let it out. "Okay. Let's go."

They went their way on the other house just a few blocks ahead, and Asami tried to tone down her expectation, but alas, it conveyed on her face again. It wasn't Korra.

They spent the whole day stopping by houses. Checking to see if the people who think saw Korra was right.

Still no luck, though.

"Let's call it a day, boss. We'll head out to the next town."

Asami could only nod, and soon after, they went back to the airship.

Reading Korra's letters to her became a habit every night before she goes to sleep. Reading line, every word, every letter like her life ever depends on it. Something that only connected her to Korra.

She knows what's written in every letter, every date, and what mood Korra was in. If you ask her to recite all the letters, she'll do it in a heartbeat.

She looks outside the window. Dark, almost pitch black, but the moon shines bright.

"Where are you, Korra." Asami rested her head on the wall, hugging herself.

The following day they had the same tactic to run through. They went to every house that reports they saw the Avatar. Every house was another disappointment. Still, Asami was hopeful.

It went on for two days. The girls they were presented with just got worse.

"Her eyes ain't even blue!" Tin exclaimed as they yet again walked out of the house for the sixth time in the day.

To no avail, they went back to the airship flying over to the next town. Asami couldn't bear to think of Korra any more so than her brain can allow her, so she kept herself busy in the engine room.

Asami was on her tank top and pants working on valves when Tin entered the room.

"There's a reason you hired the crew members for that, you know." She held two cups of two tea and sat beside the engineer, lotus position.

"It keeps my mind busy. Thanks." She took a sip of her tea and went back to tinkering the engine parts.

"Okaay. Let me help you then."

Tin pulled up her long grey sleeves and worked beside Asami.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You already did," Asami smirked.

"Wow. Here I was thinking you are the smartest CEO I've ever worked with I keep forgetting you're still a kid."

"I'm 22."

"Exactly." They both remove the metal covering some parts of the machine when Tin chimed, "I haven't asked you the first night 'cos I know she's the Avatar and she's your friend whom you really like but, why do all this?"

Asami continued working on the engine and shrugs, "It's Korra. I want to make sure she's all right. No one knows where she is, so I-I wanna know."

"That's it?"

She puts down the wrench she was holding and straightened her posture. She started, "I have been through a lot in my life the past four to five years than I have ever been since my mom died. Ever since she left us, I was forced to take care of myself. My dad didn't take it well, so I had to take care of both of us."

"He's gone cold when I was growing up, but I didn't mind. I kept myself busy, I loved cars since I was five, and I just went with the flow."

She retakes a sip of her tea, and so did Tin. Now stopping what she was doing as well as they sat side by side.

"And then I met Mako 'cos hit him with my moped." Asami chuckled at the memory. "That's when it all changed. I met Korra through him, we used to fight over Mako, believe it or not."

"Really? Mako? That guy?" Tin bemused.

"Mhmm."

"The stiff, awkward guy? Mako?"

Asami laughed again. "Yeah. We were young back then. After that, with my dad being one of the equalists. My life changed again. And Korra was there the whole time. For me. I wasn't always fond of her the first time, but she was by my side. She even invited me to stay at Air Temple Island. She always said to me, 'Nobody gets left behind Asami, you're family now'". She wiped the tear on her left cheek and continued.

"After that, we spent most of our time together. She broke up with Mako, that's another story." Asami waved her assistant as she was about to question the man's existence. "And then suddenly there were airbenders around the world, and you know that part, I gave her a brand-new airship." No big deal, right?

Tin cackled, "You were not even aware you were falling for the Avatar. It's sweet, though."

Asami could only shrug. "That's when we grew closer to each other. She would knock on my door to see if I was awake. She always worries that she isn't doing everything right as an Avatar. I always tell her that she's also human. A human that would always put everything first before herself."

Her lips quivered as she realized she understood her feelings than for Korra. "And then this Red Lotus. They wanted to take her. Spirits, she was 18 at that time. She was just a kid." Asami could only laugh, remembering what her assistant jibed her with. "How can you put your hate to someone who only wants to help the world be a better place?"

She looked at her assistant, who could only look at her apologetically. She continued, "And-and then she told us one night, she's gonna give herself up to the Red Lotus just to save the air nation. I knew she was going to come up with that decision, but it still shocked me. We tried to stop her, but her mind was set."

"I could only look at her in awe." She gives a shaky laugh, "I wanted to tell her not to go with it, be selfish, but I didn't. She's the Avatar anyway. It will always be her duty."

They finished their tea now, Tin went closer to Asami, trying to soothe her. "She told us to save the airbenders first and then come save her. I made a vow to myself that I will do what it takes to save the airbenders and her. We marched in the cave where they were keeping the airbenders, I electrocuted the hell out of the guard."

"You can be a badass if you allow yourself to be." Tin chimed. They both laugh.

"I was so mad. And then, we were in Laghima's peak, and I saw her fighting Zaheer, I—" Tears fall endlessly on her face as Tin tried to stroke her back.

"You don't have to finish your story hun."

"No, no. I. It's good. I actually have never told this to anyone, not even to Mako. Well, if my mom doesn't count." She wiped her tears and began again, "She went down hard, the poison. Her dad holding her. I thought we lost her. I thought I lost her. At that moment I thought my life will change again and I can't stand another person leaving me for the last time. That's when I knew I didn't want to lose her."

"I was by her side the whole time she was recovering. Those three years, I waited and waited. And now. I- Not seeing her come out that ship was the last straw. I needed something constant in my life. I wanted her to be that constant. I'll do what it takes to bring her home, that's why we're here." She motioned her hands in the open, the airship, the plan to find Korra.

"You have the biggest heart, Asami. You're a good person, and you deserve to be happy." Tin hugged the heiress, who awkwardly hugged her on her side. "I have no regrets working for you." Both girls chuckled.

"Why did you leave your place, Tin?"

"Uh, well, you know. Family problems, they wanted me to take firebending seriously. Still, I didn't want it, and then I fell in love with someone who turns out doesn't support what I wanna do, which is to become an engineer, so I fled. And I never looked back." Tin responded nonchalantly.

"Did you ever regret it? Leaving them, him?"

"I've had many regrets in the past. Don't get me wrong, I miss them, and sometimes I wonder if I did the right thing. Leaving him. But I wanted to do it for myself. I wanted to be the person I wanted to be before I give my heart to someone else. I've been doing okay, I guess I mean, look at me, the assistant of the most influential CEO of Republic City and escorting her to find the Avatar. I'm good." Tin said matter of factly.

Asami chuckled, "Thank you for this."

"Hey, I can be your big sister of you want someone to talk to." Tin looked at her sincerely and Asami could only smile. "We'll find your girl."

"Excuse me, Miss Sato?"

They both looked up the door. One crew member peeked through, "Mako is on the radio. He wants to talk to you."

She looked at Tine, who was ushering her to go, "I'll finish up here."

Asami nodded and went inside the communication room.

"Mako?"

"Asami! You need to come home. During the coronation there was a problem—"

"What happened?"

"It didn't go through. Kuvira was there and, and she didn't step down. She wanted to rule the Earth Kingdom."

"What?" She was becoming nauseous, her mind running around.

"Just. Come home, Asami. It isn't safe in the Earth Kingdom right now."

"But Korra." Her voice broked because she knew the rational thing to do but didn't want to.

"I know. We'll figure it out. Just come home."

"One more day."

"Asami-"

"One more day. Then we'll come back home."

There was silence on the other end of the line. Mako knew there was no arguing with Asami on this one.

"One more day."

"Okay."

Asami turned the radio off and took a deep breath. They might have to wrap things up sooner than expected.

000000

"Here, put this under your jacket."

"What is this?" Asami asked Tin bewildered. The small device had small buttons with red beeping on the side. She clipped it on her shirt anyway.

"It's a tool I invented to track down someone's location, It will transmit your position on this thingy," She held out a bigger device with a full screen. "I'm not sure if it will work, but I can know where you are in about ten to fifteen kilometres. You press the button here." She brought the device back out and pointed on one button, "Then it will send me a signal if you know, need back up or something. We'll come to get you then."

Asami gaped at her assistant. "You invented this thing?"

"I got bored, and there's not much left to do after you go to your meetings, and I finish all my work before lunch anyway." Tin shrugged.

"Oh my god, Tin!"

"What?"

"You- This- We'll talk about this when we get home. What do you call this thing?"

"Uhhhhh. Well, I was thinking Tin's Locational System?" She scrunched her nose, "Nope. I'll think of a better one. You ready?"

Asami went to the door of the airship as it slowly opened from the outside. It was morning. They landed in the last location they were pointed to. Hoping that Korra will be here. She takes a deep breath.

"Uhuh."

"You sure you don't want us to come? I mean Mako said—"

Asami cut her assistant off and smiled at her. "I'll be fine. It's better to stay low if what Mako said is true. I'll see you later." She walks down the platform and out of the airship.

"Don't stay out too late!" Tin shouted at her boss.

"Okay mom!" She looked back, shaking her head while smiling. "Okay. Where do I start." She said to no one in particular.

Asami walked around the village and found her way in the market. People were bustling around, hurrying to deliver carts of fruits and vegetables. Asami was no stranger to people looking at her. Still, she felt uneasy as people look her way, gaping at her as if they've never seen a girl that beautiful casually strolling in the market. To be fair, her beauty radiates like a glow in the room, so she can't really blame the people.

She found her way on steeper alleyways and concrete roads. The place looked modernized enough, but there was a mix of old and new buildings, she noted. People went on with their lives, but their looks were attentive, waiting for the worst to happen.

Asami didn't know how long she was walking, but she knew it was noon. She was looking for a place to eat when she noted a woman being followed by a bunch of guys, Bandits. She remembers the way they dressed up when she and Korra fought them in Ba Sing Se.

Not to be hypercritical, but she knows one was in trouble when thanks to the past encounters she had from before. She followed the group in a small alley, glove in the pocket, ready to turn it on. She was glancing around the scene, up the roof. Five guys looming around the woman. She hid behind the dumpster as she prepares herself.

"Please, I have no money left. I have a son. Please don't hurt me."

Asami was ready to charge towards the men, positioned herself in a fighting stance. But before she was able to move—

Clang!

She was smacked in the head from behind. She didn't think to look behind her as she realized there was a sixth man. She was about to stand up, but her vision blurred, then turned black, losing consciousness.