Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Korra or Avatar the Last Airbender. I only own my own characters and ideas

Chapter Nineteen: Losing Game

It had been two weeks since Lin and Tenzin had been to Zaofu. Khari had stayed in her room since the two had left. No one had managed to get her to open the door for anything other than food. Khari laid on the floor, crying yet again. She held onto her pillow and tried to calm down. She soon heard knocking at the door but she didn't move. She has ignored everyone for two weeks so she wasn't going to get up for them now. The knocking stopped for a bit but the person started to play with the handle of the door. The knocking started again, making Khari throw something at the door.

"K.B., come on. Open the door already. We are all worried about you. You don't need them. You have us now and we have you. That's all that matters. We have each other. Listen, you and I are the same but that didn't stop other Beifong children from standing with me to try to get you out of there. Would you stop being such a stubborn Beifong and open the damn door. We miss you," Kuvira told Khari.

"We aren't the same. I'm not the same as any of you. Just leave me alone," Khari responded.

She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She didn't know what she expected from them. They were well them. They would never accept her the way she was. She didn't know why she always let them break her heart all over again. After a few hours she grabbed a change of clothes, quickly changing. She slowly reached for the doorknob but stopped. She didn't blame them for what happened but she wondered if they blamed her for the way her parents acted. She took a deep breath before she turned the handle. She didn't see anyone other than a couple guards when she opened the door. She took a few steps but still didn't see anyone. She made her way for Aunt Suyin's office to find it empty. She looked towards the dining room, wondering if it was time for a meal. The only reason she knew it was meal time daily was someone knocked on her door as they set a tray outside her room. If it wasn't for that she probably wouldn't have eaten. She slowly made it to the dining room to find everyone eating. She rubbed her arm as she stood and watched her family eat. No one looked up from plates or talked. She could tell that how she has been acting has really changed the family. She took a few steps into the dining room, making everyone look up.

"Khari, I'm so happy you finally decided to leave your room. Sweetheart, I'm so sorry for what they put you through. What I put you through. I know sorry doesn't really mean much but know I never meant to hurt you." Suyin tried to apologize.

Khari only stared at her before she went to sit at her spot at the table. The children stared at her as the chef placed a plate in front of her. She propped an elbow on the table and leaned against her hand. Suyin was about to tell Khari to get her elbow off the but she saw the tear drops run down Khari's cheek. She tried to give Khari a smile but she couldn't. Khari pushed the food around her plate, hoping everyone would leave the table soon so she could get up. She wasn't hungry but she didn't want a million questions. She could tell everyone was staring at her. She looked up to see concerned looks on everyone's faces. She flashed a brief smile before she started to push more food around. She placed the fork back on the table and sat there. Her lip started to quiver a bit but she soon stopped.

"Why don't they love me? Why don't they want me? Aren't they supposed to want me?" Khari started to cry.

Suyin gave Baatar a look before she gave Khari a sympathetic look. Khari didn't understand what was going on. She didn't understand why they had to show up if they were going to do what they did. At the same time, she gave them the chance to break her heart every time she saw them. Khari jumped when she felt someone try to wrap their arms around her. She saw her Aunt Suyin next to her but she pulled away. She ran out of the room and tried to avoid everyone. She ran into a guard and pushed him into the wall. Shen Tao and Ling stood off in the distance and watched as Khari stormed away from a guard. Khari felt someone grab her arm, making her pause. She grabbed the person's hand and pulled them in front of her. She saw Shen Tao giving her a worried look but she didn't want to talk much. He sighed before he nodded and moved aside. She closed the door behind her and wondered what Iroh was doing. She wondered what her parents were doing or if they missed her. She walked over to the part of the wall where the earthbenders had made it look like the picture of her with her brothers and her parents. Khari never heard the door as she put her hand on the wall. She started to run her hand along the wall but stopped when she reached her mother. The last thing her mother said before her family left Zaofu rang in her ear again. She pushed against the wall lightly, making that part of her wall go back to normal. She placed her head against the wall as the tears fell from her face. She looked back to see her Aunt Suyin when she felt a hand on her back.

Republic City

Tenzin had told the other councilmembers he still needed some time from his trip. Lin had already gone back to the station the day after they had gotten back. He didn't understand how she could go back so easily. He felt nowhere near ready to go back. He missed his little girl. He didn't understand why they couldn't stay to talk to Khari. Tenzin heard the clicking of Lin's armor against the floor, making him look at the door. He sighed as he continued with his paperwork. Things seemed a bit different after they had left Zaofu. Lin seemed a bit more distant and she had removed the picture they had of Khari from their room. There was a soft knock at the door but he didn't acknowledge the person due to the fact he wanted to finish his paperwork and be lost in his thoughts about Khari. He looked up briefly to see Lin bringing him a cup of tea but he didn't really want it. Lin kissed him on the cheek but he still said nothing to her. He only nodded when she mentioned dinner would be done in an hour. During dinner everyone ate in silence like every other night since their return from Zaofu. The boys both watched their parents as they didn't even look at each other during dinner. When Tenzin was finished, he simply stood and made his way for his and Lin's bedroom. As he laid in his bed, he heard the door slide open, making him pull the covers up higher.

The phone rang, making Tenzin sit up. He looked over to Lin who was still asleep. He jumped out of bed to get the phone before it could wake her. He didn't know why he could hear the phone from his study in their room but he did. He started to rush down the hall as quickly as possible to make sure he got the call. When he got there the phone stopped ringing, making him sigh. He turned around and started to make his way for the door when the phone started to ring again. He grabbed the phone but the person on the other line spoke before he could.

"D-Daddy? Daddy, are you there? I'm scared. I think I messed up. Daddy, I want to come home," Khari sobbed.

"Khari? Khari, sweetheart where are you? What's wrong? Khari!" he shouted into the phone.

"Daddy, to find me you have to wake up. Wake up! WAKE UP!" Khari's voice was soon starting to sound like Lin.

"Khari!" Tenzin shouted as he sat up and grabbed some of the blankets.

Tenzin was breathing heavily and sweating profusely. He covered his mouth with one of his hands as he thought about his dream. He thought maybe it meant Khari wanted to come home. He felt a hand on his back but he stood. He looked back at Lin before he slid the door open to get a glass of water. He didn't walk far before he ran into both of his sons. He turned to go into his study and shut himself in. He told himself he was just going to stay there the rest of the night.

Zaofu

Khari stared at the wall and tried not to think about Republic City. She heard the clicking of armor outside her door get closer then get further away. She sighed as she sat up in her bed. She ran her fingers through her hair, telling herself to lay back down. She got up and started to pace around her room. She started to feel like a trapped animal in her room. She started to look around as she tried to calm down. She took a couple deep breathes and walked towards her desk where she placed the picture of her with her parents. She knocked the picture to the ground and watched the glass shatter everywhere. When she was done staring at the picture, she decided maybe it would be best to try and lay down again. She slammed her head on her pillow and exhaled. She stared at the ceiling for what seemed like forever before she heard the clicking of armor again. Khari rolled on her side and tried even harder to sleep.

Khari had promised her Aunt Suyin she would start training more so she stood at the training area with Kuvira. She jumped, pushing herself higher with her staff. She spun to hit Kuvira with the staff but she was gone. Khari started to look around but she didn't see her. Khari made her way for the Beifong Estate to see if maybe she had decided she no longer wanted to train but her Aunt Suyin stopped her. She followed Suyin into her office to see her parents and her brothers. She walked in and Mica kept yelling how excited he was that she was coming home. She looked up for a second before she looked back down at him. Something felt wrong but she didn't know what. She smiled at her parents as Tenzin walked over to her. He crouched down and smiled at her.

"Khari, sweetheart we are here to take you home. It's time we all finally fixed everything," he said.

She stared at him for a moment as he smiled at her. She started to look around the room. Something didn't feel right but she couldn't see anything wrong. Suyin nodded when Khari looked over at her. Khari looked down at her arm when she felt Tenzin touch it. She heard her name, making her turn around. She saw Air Nation attire and she spun again. Her father mentioned going home over and over again but Khari knew it wasn't real. It couldn't be. She started to run in the direction of the person calling her name which made Tenzin shout he was taking her home no matter what. As she ran the ground started to collapse under her. She sprinted even faster but her foot slipped and she grabbed the closest piece of earth. Someone who had airbending tattoos grabbed her hand. Aang poked his head out so she could see him and she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Khari, it isn't real. I'm sorry," he said as he let go of her hand.

Khari gasped as she opened her eyes. It was just a dream she told herself. She stayed in bed for a bit before her growling stomach told her it was time to up. She slowly placed her feet on the ground and started to walk towards the bathroom to look for something she needed when she tripped. She hit the ground with a thud, falling on the shattered glass from the night before. Kuvira ran in when she heard the thud to see Khari on the ground and blood from Kuvira had no clue where. She screamed for Suyin and Baatar as loud as she could, trying to help Khari off the ground. When the two entered the room, they entered they saw Khari on the floor with small shards of glass in her arm and side. Kuvira looked up at them with tears in her eyes. Khari turned over a bit, trying to push herself up but the pain in her arm. Suyin and Baatar helped her off the ground and told Kuvira to go clean the blood off herself. Khari made a fist, trying to not think of the pain. She started to make her way towards Jia's home, hoping that Jia could help her. She knocked on Jia's door and waited as the blood continued to drip from her arm. When Jia opened the door, she gasped when she saw Khari and quickly pulled her in. Jia had Khari sit while she went to go get some supplies. When Jia sat, she had Khari put her elbow up on the table. Khari gave Jia a small smile before the woman started pull little pieces of glass out of her arm. She winced each time Jia pulled a piece of glass out. After Jia had finished pulling all the glass out of Khari's arm and wrapped it, she started on her side. Khari managed to sit through most of the pain but once Jia got to where her scar was located from when she had been stabbed by her own dagger she yelled. She swung her arm, knocking Jia to the ground as she had a flashback of that day. She finally snapped back into reality when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She saw Jia with a concerned look on her face.

"Khari, are you okay?"

She nodded and apologized for knocking her over. As Jia continued to clean the glass out of Khari's side, Khari thought about her dream. It didn't make any sense to her. Was this her minds way of telling her to try to go back home? When Jia was done Khari thanked her and made her way for the estate. She knew she should probably check on Kuvira but when she got to Kuvira's room she saw her aunt and uncle standing outside. She could tell they were having problems so she walked over to them. She started to knock on the door but there was no response. She knocked again only to receive a loud bang which made her jump a bit. She gave her aunt and uncle a small smile and turned to the door again. Opal ran up to the three, standing close to Khari on her tip toes.

"She's just mad because mommy is having a baby. She'll have to share the attention she gets now," Opal said.

"What is wrong with you?! What is so bad about sharing your mom with Kuvira? You're such a spoiled brat!" Khari shouted.

"I shouldn't have to share her with YOU or Kuvira. Your mom and dad were just here. You should have gone with them. Plus, it isn't my fault Kuvira's parents don't want her. I shouldn't have to share mine. You don't share your why should I?"

"I did though. I shared my parents. I shared them and now I don't have them because I over shared them. I share everyone and that's why I'm alone but I wouldn't expect a brat like you to get that."

Khari turned her back on the three and started to walk away. She didn't know how she could get Opal to understand. She was just a little kid who had most likely never left Zaofu. Khari figured when her Aunt Suyin had the baby if she wasn't already gone, she would make sure her things were packed and she would leave. She made her way to a place that looked peaceful and sat. She closed her eyes and began to meditate to see if she could try to calm herself or figure out her dream. After about a half hour Khari heard screaming coming more towards the city. She stood and started to sprint towards where the civilians of Zaofu were. When she got there, she saw a tigerdillo and saber-tooth moose lion running around the city. She saw that guards started to gather around the two animals. She started to sprint to get to everyone before someone got hurt. Before Khari could get there one of the guards sent his cables for the tigerdillo. The cable was wrapped around one of the tigerdillo's legs, making it roar. Khari stopped where she was to try and figure out what she could do. She looked over at the saber-tooth moose lion to see multiple guards with their cables ready. She started to panic until a voice told her what to do.

"Stop! Wait, don't hurt them! They're only scared!" Khari shouted as she got closer.

"Well Miss Beifong, what do you suppose we do with them? Keep them? I think not. Suyin has entrusted me to keep this city safe and I'll do exactly that. Now step aside and go back to the estate before you get hurt," a higher-ranking member of the guard bossed.

Khari narrowed her eyes before she continued towards the tigerdillo. She heard the guard yelling at her and at the other guards to make sure she was safe. When Khari finally reached the tigerdillo she placed her hand and head against its head. The guards that were trying to capture the tigerdillo watched as it purred and began to headbutt Khari. Khari slowly made her way to the saber-tooth moose lion. She didn't know why but bigger animals scared her since the Sakata incident. She slowly reached her hand out but pulled back when it moved its head. Suyin and Baatar finally came when Khari reached out again. The saber-tooth moose lion roared in Khari's face, leaving saliva everywhere. She started to shake as it took a step closer to her. She closed her eyes and stuck her hand up, hoping to not be the animal's next meal. She felt something at the top of her head before she felt her hair go up. She knew it had to be smelling her by the sound. She didn't dare to open her eyes or say anything. Oh, spirits I'm gonna die today she told herself. She felt a giant pressure push her against the ground which made her open her eyes. The next thing she saw was a tongue and she screamed. When the animal finally moved Khari stood and wiped as much saliva off of herself as possible. Everyone watched Khari as she laughed with the two animals like they were two small domesticated cats. The tigerdillo soon started to nudge Khari, making her give it a confused look. She looked back at her Aunt Suyin as she followed the tigerdillo and saber-tooth moose lion. Khari was soon outside of Zaofu but still confused on where she was going. She suddenly heard a noise which made her run until she found a steep drop off. When she looked down, she saw two tigerdillo cubs. Khari gave the tigerdillo a look before she pulled a chunk of earth out. She jumped on it and started to slide down to get the cubs. When she reached the cubs, she picked one up and started to look around. She wondered how they managed to get down there but she stopped when she spotted something. She started to walked towards it but froze when she saw a uniform. She put the cub down and ran over to the person in the United Forces uniform. When she turned him over, she could tell he was viciously attacked by someone. She didn't know how she was going to get him back to Zaofu. She used her earthbending to get him to the bottom of the steep drop. She grabbed both cubs and tried to get them all up to the top. When they finally got there the cubs ran over to the tigerdillo. Khari wondered what the saber-tooth moose lion needed. It looked at the man in uniform and turned, walking away. Khari wondered if the two animals knew about the solider and went to get help. Khari did remember Ty Lee mentioning her aura being strong. Maybe the animals picked up on her aura and found her. Khari tried to get the guy back to Zaofu but was struggling. The tigerdillo picked him up with its mouth and lifted its head a bit. Khari stopped it before she drug the man to the tigerdillo's back before she lifted the earth. She rolled the man onto the tigerdillo's back and nodded at the animal. The group made their way for Zaofu but Khari wondered why this guard was close to Zaofu. When they finally reached Zaofu Suyin ran over to Khari.

"I found him. I don't know what happened. I don't even know why he is out here. He is part of the United Forces Aunt Suyin. We have to help him," Khari told Suyin.

"Suyin, I do not believe given the events since your niece's arrival that her idea is the best. I think we should send him somewhere else and notify the United Forces," Aiwei chimed in.

"I don't care what you think you spider snake. I don't trust you and I haven't trusted you since I stepped foot in this city. You're hiding something. I feel it. I don't even think you're a truth seer. You couldn't get anything out of Yun when he hurt me so for all we know you were in on it. So, no you don't get a say on what happens to him"

"I really could care less if a child such as yourself trust me. The important thing is your Aunt Suyin trust me. As for the Yun thing I have no reason for why he didn't want to give me information. He did give me one bit but I noticed that already. You, Miss Beifong have a temper."

Khari snapped her head towards Aiwei before she took a deep breath. She turned her attention to the soldier and smiled briefly. She pulled him off the tigerdillo and wrapped his arm around her neck. Suyin smiled at her and thought about no matter what she said Khari was going to do what she thought was best. Suyin asked a guard to help Khari get the solider to Jia's home. When they reached Jia's home Khari began to bang on the door as hard as she could. When the door finally opened Khari quickly brought the solider in and laid him down. Jia ran over and started to examine him.

"Khari, who is this? What's going on? Where did he come from?"

"I don't know. I found him outside of Zaofu with the help of a tigerdillo. That's all I know. I don't know who he is or why he is here. I just know he is hurt and needs help."

Jia instructed Khari to get supplies out of her cabinet so they could work on the solider. Once Khari gathered all the supplies the two started to work on the soldier. Khari began to clean the blood as Jia examined the wounds better. She then handed Khari stuff to stich a wound. She wanted to close as many wounds as quickly as she could. Khari stood there as Jia explained what she would have to do. She told her if she stated there was no going back. Khari stared at the wound on the soldier's arm. She knew it was at least three inches long. She took a deep breath before she began to stich the wound. When she was done Khari looked at the blood on her hands. She looked for the next thing that could be fixed when she noticed the cut on his head right about his eyebrow. She glanced at Jia to see that she was still working on the wound on his leg. Khari began to clean the head wound but after it was cleaned, she thought all it would need is a few steri-strips. She wasn't sure so she glanced over at Jia hoping she would be done soon. She turned her attention back to the wound, hoping he would be okay. She started to think about why he would be out here. She soon got lost in her thoughts and was brought back when Jia touched her hands to look at the head wound. Jia told Khari to go clean up while she finished with the soldier. Khari slowly made her way to the Beifong Estate to change and wash up. When Khari entered the estate, she saw the children. She knew she couldn't let them see her with blood on her clothes and hands. She signaled for one of the guards to go get the children and make them leave. After the guard got the children to leave Khari sprinted for her room and yanked her clothes off. She threw them in a pile in the corner, reminding herself that she would have to get them cleaned as soon as possible. She quickly jumped in the shower, letting the hot water run on face. She didn't understand why this soldier bothered her so much. She quickly finished her shower, dried and dressed herself. She started to run towards the area her aunt had the radio to communicate with other people outside of Zaofu. When she entered the room, a guard was sitting there writing on some papers. She startled them when she asked for help to get a hold of someone in the United Forces. She picked up the microphone and took a deep breathe.

"Hello? Hello, is anyone there? I need to speak with someone from the United Forces immediately!" Khari shouted.

"Khari?" a voice finally responded.

"Iroh? Iroh, is that you? There's something wrong."

"It's me. Khari, are you okay? What's wrong? Why do you need to talk to someone from the United Forces?"

"I found a solider in severe condition outside of Zaofu. Iroh, what was he doing here? Who is he? Did you guys really send a soldier this way or did I let someone dangerous into my Aunt Suyin's city?"

"No, it's okay he is a solider. Bumi and I sent him. He is one of our good buddies he was supposed to be delivering two letters for us. One from each of us. So, how severe is his condition? I know you said severe but how severe?"

"He has a head wound that isn't too bad but it's still a head wound. A decent size laceration on his arm and an even bigger on his leg. To me it looks like he has a broken hand. He is covered in bruises and has a busted-up lip. That's all I know about as of now. Aunt Suyin's person she uses for medical told me to go get cleaned up. She was still working on him when I left. This is going to sound weird but is there anything in those letters that would make someone want to do something like this?"

"No, they are like every other letter we have sent. Thank you for the information I will pass it on to the people above me. Oh, and Khari be careful."

Khari smiled a bit as she held her necklace. She stood and made her way back to Jia's home she was going to make sure that they really did bring a United Forces soldier into Zaofu. If they did, he would have Iroh and her Uncle Bumi's letters if not there was a problem. When she got to Jia's she knocked before she opened the door. As soon as she opened, she went for the soldier's jacket. She started to dig in the outer pockets before she started to dig in the inner pockets. She soon felt the letters but stopped when she pulled three out. Iroh said he was only supposed to have two. All three letters had her name on them. She laid them on one of Jia's table and looked at the handwriting. She didn't recognize the handwriting on one of the envelopes. There was soon a knock at the door making Khari look up to see her Aunt Suyin walking in.

"I spoke with Iroh. He told me that he and Uncle Bumi sent him so that he could give me letters. So, it is confirmed he is from the United Forces. I just came across another problem though," Khari told them holding up the third letter. "There's three letters and I don't recognize this handwriting. I-I'm going to open it."

"Khari, you can't be serious? It's covered in that man's blood. Leave the third letter alone," Suyin demanded.

Khari had already begun to open the letter as Suyin finished her sentence. Suyin sighed heavily as she watched Khari open the letter. Khari hesitated to pull the letter out of the envelope. She had no clue who sent this letter. For all she knows she was going to be poisoned again. She grabbed the letter and slowly unfolded it. She looked at Jia and her Aunt Suyin before she looked over at the soldier. She finally looked down at the letter.

Khari,

We need to meet. They will listen to you. They need to know the truth. You will know where to send the reply.

I.K.D

"I.K.D.? I don't know any I.K.D. but apparently, they know me. This letter doesn't make sense."

"I told you to leave it alone. It looks like the envelope had it was an accident written on it. We will make sure the guards patrol more. Have more guards on duty at a time. I'll put a guard outside your room."

Khari stared at the letter again. Who was I.K.D. and what did they want with her? She didn't understand how almost killing a United Forces solider was an accident. Jia and Suyin stepped out to discuss some things but Khari stayed behind. She walked over to the soldier and stared at him. She felt bad calling him the soldier but Iroh never gave her, his name. She smiled as she gently touched his face. She almost cried as she saw all the bruises, his busted lip, all the lacerations, and the confirmed broken hand. She also saw Jia had his abdomen wrapped.

"Don't worry, we'll take really good care of you. Plus, you're in one of the safest cities in the world. Jia will make it so you can go back to the South Pole with Iroh and Uncle Bumi. Then you three can take care of each other."

(Author's note: So, you have kinda already knowish I.K.D. I wanted to introduce them when Khari is having problems figuring everything out. I also liked the idea of letting Tenzin's guilt get to him for what happened in Zaofu. I also liked the idea of Khari getting her own little dream. I wanted the children to find out about the twins but technically no one knows they are twins quiet yet. I also wanted Opal to act poorly about getting the news and I turned it into she claims Kuvira is taking it hard. So, I hope you liked the chapter. Reviews are always appreciated. Thanks for reading)