A.N. Hello all! I just wanted to thank the new follower to the story! Welcome the journey and hope you're enjoying it!

As always leave a review and let me know your thoughts!

Part II Revelations

Chapter Eight

The fleet continued its journey over the horizon, and each time they got closer Akira felt her heart drop deeper in her stomach. She had to fight the bile that rose in her throat, her vision began to blur and the world itself felt like it was turning the opposite direction. Akira clenched at the railing in front of her, her hands burned from the heat but she held fast letting the pain center her.

General Iroh turned to Akira his face marred by confusion, but Akira couldn't even look at him she was so shocked. As the ship made its way to the docks Akira politely excused herself and waited for the ramp to be put down. Before it even touched the dock, Akira was storming onto the boat. She took a step back when she saw who exited, Reli dressed in a deep burgundy suit. He stepped forward a bright smile on his face, his green eyes shining in mischief as he strode forward forcing Akira to take a step back.

"Hello Ms. Piandao, two months is too long from your beautiful face." He winked wickedly before walking past her, Akira grabbed his bicep turning him towards her forcefully. "What are you doing here? And where the hell is my chief engineer?"

Reli's smile widened deeper and Akira's heart dropped. She never thought to ask Kili who she promoted into the position. She trusted her implicitly and if she hired Reli that means he was the most competent engineer in her company. She felt like a fool for not knowing he worked for her company, he had to have been employed for at least three years to be considered for any higher position.

Akira wanted to fire him right then and there, but she knew how it'd look. Especially with General Iroh's furrowed glance. Reli smirked before taking his arm away from her hand, "While you pick your jaw off the floor I'll explain. I was an engineer since your mother was in charge, and if you bothered to look into the Ito's you'd have known my name was familiar to your payroll."

Reli's smirk deepened, "And then our wonderful COO Kili, recognized my talents, and here we are." Akira took in a shaky breath trying hard to quell the rage that shook in her hands.

"I will ask this only once Reli, where are my other four ships?" She whispered her voice sharp, Reli's smile widened. "You do know I can fire you for negligence. I saw those ships with my own eyes before I left!" Reli opened his arms in that irritating way of his as if saying what can I do? Before turning to General Iroh he looked towards him his face transforming to that of a downcast apologetic turn.

"General Iroh, it is an honor," Reli said bowing his head down, the general waved away the formality getting straight to business. "There was an unfortunate accident while leaving our homeland it seems there was a mechanical issue with the remaining four ships. We know for a fact that this issue is unique to those four ships."We, unfortunately, had to speed rail the last four, which is unusual compared to our standard procedure."

He flicked a glance towards Akira a frown on his face before his eyes returned to the General. "I sincerely apologize, if we had our usual time frame, they would have been successful. Such a waste of material…" He trailed off turning his head towards Akira a wicked smile on his face at her rising anger.

Akira had to fight back the words that wanted to spill vehemently from her mouth, she had put the orders for the battleships almost a year ago. Which was more than enough time for the conception and construction of the ships, he was lying, and she knew exactly why this was happening. Reli wasn't dumb enough to sabotage her ships, but he had full access to her facilities.

Meaning Shin Ito had direct access to her facilities, and he tampered with her ships, making her look insufficient. A little girl playing dress-up, too naïve to run an empire, and while Asami was an example of a success Akira was a girl who performed across the Earth Kingdom. It was hard enough for them to take her seriously in her own company, but now Shin just jeopardized how she was viewed by world leaders.

Akira turned to General Iroh her face pinched. "I would like to personally apologize General Iroh. We, unfortunately, had just hired a new Chief Engineer when Mr. Ito got the job and he is unfortunately misinformed. I will take full responsibility for these matters; it seems that this was an engineering failure. I will personally attest to the construction of the next ships as I had done with the first four." General Iroh nodded, a small smile on his face as he had sensed the tension between Akira and Reli.

"Accidents happen, we'll make do with what you've given us which is more than enough." He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder before going off with Asami to discuss how to adjust. Akira turned to Reli her eyes burning into him. Reli knew he had caught her now and he was ready to use her anger against him.

"Come, Mr. Ito, we have much to discuss." Akira's voice was cold and clipped as she climbed up the ramp not stopping until she got to the captain's quarters the man rushed out with a simple bow of the head as he closed the door shut behind him.

"Why?" She demanded her hands shaking so hard she was afraid that flames would burst from her fingertips. She felt it too, the flames so close to being released, the energy wanting to form and shape into an inferno. Akira took in a deep breath centering herself, trying hard to adopt those techniques Korra had taught her. "You have to be the most capable engineer at Piandao Industries. Kili wouldn't have hired you otherwise."

Reli smirked stepping closer to Akira, but she was in no mood to be intimidated or have this man touch her with his slimy hands. She firebended a stream of flames into a dagger forcing him to keep a safe distance.

Reli held his hands up in surrender that mischievous gleam returning to his green eyes. "I didn't do anything Akira. I value this company and I am good at my job; I cannot control my father's actions." He gave her a condescending smirk before turning to leave the room, Reli's hand stopped as he reached the door.

He turned back to Akira, "But I'm not surprised that he found a way in, even without my help my father easily could have gotten into your factory. Do you know how easy it would be to hire someone to get those ships taken care of?" Reli took another step forward this time Akira let him, letting her flame dissolve, her face still set hard. "How many more people need to get hurt before it gets through your thick skull?" Akira took a step forward her body seething with rage she stepped closer to Reli her face inches from his.

"I will not be bullied by you or your father. So, tell him if he wants to threaten my credibility, he could do better than to send his son." Akira pushed past Reli making him stumble off balance a bit. She turned over her shoulder, "At least when your father threatens me, I feel a semblance of fear." Reli's nostrils flared and he stalked towards Akira his hands hovering over her shoulders as if he wanted to throw her against the door. It was the first time Akira had seen him lose his cool.

"If you want this over then face me! Agni Kai! The loser loses it all, how do you like those stakes Ms. Piandao?" he sneered a wild edge to his eye, "Because if you refuse, I will destroy everything! I have that power now Akira, I will set it all aflame!" Akira watched calmly before tilting her head to the side.

She let out a laugh causing Reli's already flushed face to redden deeper, the thick vein on his temple practically pulsing from his rage.

"I'm sorry it never occurred to me you were a firebender. You don't look like you have the spark." Akira smirked, but then she thought about it. She thought of those men trying to bully her, the strides they took to discredit her. The sneers she got from the men when she walked in on her first day in the factory. The whispers that she was ill-fit and unmotivated, she couldn't allow this to happen anymore.

That and that fire that always raged in her, Akira met his eyes invigored by a dangerous fire within her. One that was burning dangerously hot, "I accept your Agni Kai, and when I win you will resign. You and your father will never return to the Fire Nation. And should I ever see you near my home again, near the people I love, or my company? This face will be the last thing you ever see."

Reli looked down at her the same rage burning in his eyes he held out his hand and she grasped his forearm forcefully. With that their fate was sealed, and it would change everything.

The Past

Lein received an anxious letter from her father and took the next opportunity to return to the mainland. Which had her here, now… She was facing the ornate doors of her father's home, the beautiful lotus gleamed back at her a pristine golden color. While her hand hovered lamely in front of it, she hadn't seen Akira in the six months since her mother's death. The wound was still fresh in her heart, and she knew that her young daughter must have been devastated.

Lein never handled grief well, she shut down whenever she lost something. This time was no different, but her father's letter didn't sit well with her. She took a deep breath before knocking on the door, it opened quickly by one of the many servants of the home and she was ushered inside.

"Lein?" She turned to see her father's warm smile, and her heart broke a little at how sad he looked. His soft grey eyes looked tired; the crow's feet more prominent on his brown skin. Lein took two quick strides towards her father and embraced him, he held onto her tight a shuddering sigh escaping him.

"You look so much like her." He whispered and Lein broke away a frown on her face. She never agreed with that, her mother hailed from the Earth Kingdom colonies her heritage was mostly from the Earth Kingdom causing her to have those lovely pale green eyes. Her skin was a deep warm brown that Lein had inherited and pin-straight black hair that she got as well. But other than that Lein felt she favored her father especially their eyes.

Lost in thought she saw a small shadow hiding behind the wall. She could see the soft halo of curls even in the shadow and her heart stuttered. Her father followed her gaze a warm smile gracing his face. "Akira, come say hello."

Footsteps padded forward and she watched the little girl emerge, she had grown in the past few months. A little taller but still the same rounded baby cheeks and warm brown skin; her round reddish-brown eyes looked up at her tearfully as she held on to her father's pantleg fearfully.

"Papa, is that mama?" Lein's heart broke, as her father leaned down and coaxed the girl forward. Lein knelt down her arms out to her daughter, "Hi Akira, can I have a hug."

The little girl smiled shyly before stepping forward and wrapping her small arms around her neck. Lein held her tight fighting back the tears threatening to fall, it happened whenever she'd visit. She let her go after a moment and straightened holding her hand out to her daughter, "Would you like to go on a walk with me?"

She nodded her pigtails bouncing with the force of her happiness as her a grin took over her cherub-like face. The rest of the day she spent with her daughter talking to her, letting her try (and fail) to braid her hair. She let her put flowers into it and fed turtle ducks with her at the small pond.

But as the night progressed, she had to have a conversation with her father, especially when Akira roared in anger when she found out her mother was leaving in only two days. She already exhibited a prowess for firebending something Lein wasn't sure how to handle. She could understand her father's stress now and felt ashamed that she was relieved that she wouldn't have to be around it for much longer.

Because the flames frightened her, "Was her father like this?" Lein looked up at her father's expectant glance, and he sighed realizing she had been ignoring him. "Lein your mother and I made no question about it… I guess we both assumed Akon was the father…" Lein flushed fiercely scowling at her at father.

"No Akon isn't..." She trailed off, shutting her eyes tight. She didn't want to let her mind go there anymore; she opened her eyes to find her father furrowing his brow at her. He took in a deep breath reaching for the bridge of his nose before looking back at her, "Lein...do you not know." He asked gently, she rolled her eyes at that a snort escaping her.

"Of course, I do…I just... I think I wished he was for a while… Her father had a lot of issues with control and rage when it came to bending. I don't want that for her dad…Which is why I'm hiring her a master; she needs to learn to control her rage and her anger." Her father looked at her helplessly and she knew what he was going to say. That she needed her mother, but Lein couldn't be there she had an empire to run.

And seeing those red-brown eyes every day, that reminder… Lein had to walk away.

Akira was furious, and at first, it had been aimed directly at Reli and Shin but now it had morphed. Her anger was centered on her own naivety, she thought she could be what her mother couldn't. Akira thought that she wouldn't have to compromise but she was wrong, the sacrifice was necessary. She needed to harden herself so no one could ever take advantage of her again, and it didn't matter how much General Iroh and Asami tried to comfort her their words didn't reach her. It was strange how one event broke something inside her, and she had just gotten the pieces together again.

It didn't help that every time she closed her eyes she was greeted with her mother's face, her lips pursed in a tight line, and her eyes holding that same mixture of disappointment and disgust. Just like her return with Reli the look that said This is what I am stuck with, this is my legacy.

Akira hadn't realized she had been driven back to her apartment until she felt the keys being gently removed from her hands by her butler. She nodded at him absentmindedly making her way into the home before seeing Mako sitting on the iron staircase.

"I-I need you to leave," Akira said walking into the kitchen and fiddling with the utensils in the holder on the counter.

"Akira I'm not going anywhere." She whirled around her eyes wild, she saw Mako's outstretched hands and his concerned eyes but couldn't bear to let him comfort her.

"Maybe that's the problem, Mako! Maybe you were onto something this morning, we shouldn't move in together we shouldn't even be together!" She paused wiping her hand down her face in frustration. "I let myself get weak! Because I love you! I love you and you are my weakness! I let myself believe that I could have it all, but I can't. I can't have you and a company it's one or the other and I want to be selfish I want EVERYTHING!"

Mako watched wide-eyed, as Akira continued her rant. "I want us to be happy I want us to live together I want to marry you one day, and I always hated the idea of raising children, but you make me want to consider it! Which is crazy, but this world is crazy and fucked up...and I fucked up!" A sob left Akira's mouth and she was surprised by it; she hadn't even registered that she was crying.

"I fucked up Mako." He took a tentative step forward as Akira leaned against the countertops. "I love you." He whispered softly, and Akira looked up shocked. She realized that she ruined it, a moment they were waiting for and she just blurted it out in her angry rant.

"I fucked that up too." Akira sobbed, Mako wrapped his arms around her and she weakly pushed him away. He had none of it firmly wrapping himself around her his head resting on her shoulder. "No, you didn't, I wanted to say it nights ago. But the timing just never felt right, and then this morning I froze like an idiot because I was trying to find a way to tell you that I loved you and wanted more than anything to move in with you."

Akira looked up her eyes wide, "Don't you dare push this away Akira, what we have its… We can fix this together; we will get through this together because love is not a weakness Akira. And I'm sorry you were taught that it is. But I want all those things too, I want a future with you and that can't happen if you get scared. So, I need you to decide right here right now what you want."

Tears streamed down her face and she saw that Mako wasn't too far away, "I love you." She said softly, and the tears fell freely from his face this time he removed his hands from her and stepped away. Akira stepped forward reaching for him her hands on either side of his face, "I want you, Mako, forever." He let out a watery laugh before kissing her.

"I am so in love with you Akira, that sometimes it scares me too." And maybe that was what she needed to hear because the worry flowed out of her body like a stream. Mako made her feel light again, he was like the sun coming out of the storm clouds that had been bringing her down. He was light, a beacon in the darkness; a sunny sky after a storm. Somehow when she wasn't looking Mako had become the sole source of light in her life. He had beckoned her from despair after her mother's death, and he guided her caged heart to freedom. And now he stood here before her willing and ready.

Akira took his hands in hers looking up at him, "It's terrifying, but I choose you." She stepped closer to Mako her arms wounding around his neck, "I love you". He murmured into her neck and when they kissed one another passion brewed like a storm. It was like the beginning of a story, and the epilogue of an epic saga. It was a merging of beginnings and endings, a dizzying array of sensations that they didn't know how to breathe when they separated.

Akira tugged on Mako's hand and he followed her willingly up the stairs, the door shut between them and she wouldn't let the evil inside. Mako's hands caressed away her troubles, his lips kissing away her worries and she let herself get lost in it. The feel of his skin against hers made her tremble, and when he murmured in her ears if she was sure the resounding yes was met with a heartbreakingly beautiful smile.

Their sighs and gasps rang against the night, as Akira held onto him tightly afraid that he'd melt away from her fingers. His arms were strong as they held onto her as if he too needed the assurance that she wouldn't disappear.

But as Akira laid there that night admiring the illumination of Mako's pale skin in the moonlight. Her heart clenched in fear of what was to come because although she confessed to him her fears, she neglected to tell him what was coming. But there would be time for that, for now, she took comfort in the arms of the man she loved and traced the scars on his arms until she too succumbed to slumber.