A.N. So I totally flubbed when editing and this chapter was supposed to be a part of Chapter Two but I really liked that ending...So with that said this is a baby of a chapter and I am sorry but next weeks will be back to normal length!

Part II Revelations

Chapter Three

Akira

Akira had been sitting outside for a while now, dusk came and went and now the sky was a deep blue giving way to the darkness of night. She could make out the lights from the nearby town, it illuminated across the waterfall before her. As she sat, Akira realized that she hadn't stepped foot here since the last time she came to Shu Jing. Her grandfather had told her the story of his father teaching Chief Sokka the sword, and asking him to recreate the image before him, it had made her laugh then. She wasn't sure why she sat there now, only that she wanted a moment for herself.

More than that, what she really needed was a moment to process her grief alone. She wanted one piece of her mother that no one else could have. But also, she knew that when she opened that letter, that there was going to be some sort of disappointment from her mother's words. And that would only lead to more sympathy and more of those mournful glances from Akon and Kili. It was better alone, because she could se the words aflame if she saw fit, she could eat them, she could do anything she wanted with no judgment. The only opinion that would matter would be her own, and yet as she looked down at her mother's neat handwriting she realized that wasn't exactly was one opinion that mattered, one opinion that she still clung to. And she held her writing in her hands, after a breif moment to compose herself she opened the letter.

Dear Akira,

There will never be enough time for me to lament on my failures as your mother, and in truth it would be a waste of paper trying to voice to you why I made the decisions I did. So instead, I left you letters explaining everything, and I mean everything. It will tell you about your father, his name, who he was and why I thought he never belonged in your life.

There are a lot of things I regret Akira, but I never regretted having you. You were a gift from the worst time in my life, a time you will understand once you read my letters. I made the decisions I did to give you the best shot at life, I knew my parents were better equipped to raise you than I was. So I did what I had to; because you deserved a loving home, and emotionally stable parents. And I couldn't be that parent, and I know you resent me for it. but if I had raised you... I think you wouldn't have been nearly as extraordinary as you are.

Becase you are fierce, determined, intelligent, and so talented. You my love are a force of nature, you are my light. And I know I didn't show you that enough but I mean it. So live your life and live it well, and let no one stop you from reaching your potential. As you said, not even I can hold your power. Remember that.

And while this letter was my last attempt to show you how much I cared. There is more important things for us to discuss, I wrote this letter Akira as a warning. I fear that something will come, and I truly hope I am wrong. Even so, I created a failsafe for Piandao Industries. Only you, Akon, and Kili know of the factory in Shu Jing, and only you control my fortune. Should anything happen you will understand what to do, I know you will my clever girl.

I know there are not enough words or time for us to begin anew, and perhaps in another life I would have been less selfish, if I could change anything in my life, I would have chosen love. But we all have our destiny's, mine was to be the catalyst to your greatness. If I am a villain in your story, I hope you will be the most extraordinary hero the world has to offer.

Until we met again,

Your mother

Akira smiled down at the letter, and although she still had some resentment for her she understood now. She did have a wonderful childhood, she had two people who loved her with all they had. It made her naïve to the world, and as much as she hated her mother; she taught her to harden herself. She taught her not to share her wonders with everyone, and for that she was thankful. She was too naïve to realize that everything had been done for a reason, she just wished her mother would have explained it to her sooner.

"Of course, you had to be dying to be nice." Akira said through tears laughing, she looked up into the night sky the stars making a multitude of speckles, Akira liked to believe her mother was among those stars. "We'll meet again."She murmured pressing the letter tight against her chest.

Akira returned to the home late, the only lights in the home were coming from Akon's room and the deck. Akira found Mako sitting on the deck reading a letter, his face pinched but a peaceful look on it. Akira sighed realizing that he had to leave soon, she was content to stay for the next three months but she couldn't ask that of Mako. Akira put a hand on his shoulder, he turned to her smiling warmly causing a warmth to bloom over Akira.

"You read it." He stated already knowing, Akira nodded her hand still firmly on his shoulder.

"She left me letters about my dad, come with me?" Mako stood and she held her hand out to him, he took it without reservation as she led him to the study. It was a simple room, (as simple as a rich person's room could be) there was a mahogany desk facing the door and large windows that brightened the room with natural light during the day. There were swords presented elegantly on one wall, while the rest were shelves of books all neatly ordered. Akira led Mako towards the desk releasing his hands to open the bottom drawer, inside was an ornate wooden box. Akira opened it and revealed pages and pages of letters, her hands hovered over them.

And she thought for a moment, did she want to know what kind of man her father was. The kind of man that could leave her mother, the strongest woman she had ever known feel helpless. A man that caused her to abandon her daughter because she felt too broken to do much else. Akira looked down at those letters and she thought she'd feel anger and hatred for the man bloom in her chest, but she just felt much like she had the rest of the day.

Sad.

Akira closed the box a resigned sigh leaving her mouth, "I don't think I'm ready yet." Mako placed his hand on the small of her back kissing the side of her head sweetly.

"Then you'll have it here waiting when you are." "She turned towards Mako her eyes shining, as she placed both hands on his chest gazing up at him. The sadness was there, but it was different than the sadness she had felt during the past two weeks. "You need to go Mako…Asami wrote to me a few days ago, I know Chief Beifong asked you to be Chief Detective and you deserve it! And I know you're being incredibly sweet by trying to stay but Mako I can't let you…"

Mako kissed her effectively cutting off the conversation, and while Akira indulged herself for a moment, she pushed away a severe look on her face. "Did you just tell me to shut up?" Mako laughed at that, "No, I mean I did need to get a word in. A little nicer right?" Akira slapped his arm playfully, "Rude."

Mako took her hand in his, and his heart raced just like it had done before. He'd never get used to touching her, and it was something he wanted to feel for as long as he could. "I turned it down Akira, I told you I'm not going anywhere."

Of course, Akira argued with him for hours to come, trying hard to convince him to go; even going as far as radio their friends as backup. But his mind was made, Mako wouldn't leave her; and as much as she wanted him to follow his dream, her heart warmed at the gesture. Because today was an easy day, and the days following would be harder. And when needed a hand to hold, or for someone to let her cry in their arms for hours; Mako wasn't far behind. And she was thankful then that he had stayed.

Each day Akira was falling deeper and deeper into the depths, and she was content.

A.N. Leave a review if you liked it! See y'all next week!