A.N. Hello lovelies I apologize for my two-week absence, it's midterms time so I had a TON of homework and assignments. I decided to just split the end of Part II into two parts just to give me a little more buffer before this hiatus. Also because it was over 8,000 words and I thought that'd be a little taxing on y'all. I only have like six chapters done for the finale which means four more to go and rounds and rounds of editing. So forgive me if the hiatus is a long one, either way, I hope you all are enjoying this story!

I also wanted to include the trigger warnings it isn't so much for this chapter as it is chapter twelve but I want to have it here anyway, just so y'all are aware of what is coming up.

TW: Verbal Abuse, Suicidal Ideation, Physical Abuse, Psychological Abuse, and Trauma.

Part II Revelations

Chapter Eleven

The sword lodged itself into a tree just behind Shin, a triumphant look gleamed in his eyes as Akira fell to her knees hot tears rushing down her face as she hid her face in her hands. Sobs shook her body, suddenly there were hands on her shoulders tentatively turning her to them. It was Akon's stern face his lips set in a grim line, as he eyed Shin. The two men sized one another up, with animosity in their eyes. Shin laid a hand on Akira's shoulder the weight of it bringing her down further. "I'll come to collect in a week".

With that he strides out of the courtyard and into the house, Akira spotted Reli over Akon's shoulder. She saw the sadness in his eyes, but she didn't care to know why it was there. He folded the cannon back into his jacket and followed his father out. Her eyes trained on Mako as he rushed forward, she rose to her knees meeting him halfway both of them falling to their ground as they connected.

"Spirits, Mako." She breathed clinging onto him as she surveyed him her hands flitting from his face to his shoulders searching for anything out of ordinary. He grabbed her hands, still unaware of how close his life was to ending. "Akira, why…why did you do that." Akira swallowed heavily, "Because Reli had that hand cannon…the implication was if I won…"

She trailed off and Mako's eyes widened for a moment, a flurry of emotions passed his face in the next few seconds. The most immediate was shock, disbelief, concern, then something Akira couldn't quite place. "Y-your entire legacy was on the line. I…I wasn't worth that."

Akira put her hands on his cheeks forcing his eyes to meet hers, "All of it, and I mean all of it Mako, would mean nothing if you had to die for me to have it. I know that you aren't a guarantee, but I love you. I love you so much more than I thought possible Mako, believe me, I am devastated." Akira's voice cracked at that, her throat tightening at the reality of the situation. But she swallowed it down, she wouldn't regret saving the life of the man she loved.

She would not second guess this choice, because even if things ended terribly between them even if this was all for nothing, she would forever be thankful because he taught her it was okay to love. He taught her that vulnerability wasn't a weakness, but strength.

"But we can fix this, together right?" She needed to know he was with her, but she was meant with more confusion, and finally, she placed that emotion. He felt guilty, she almost scoffed at that but Mako already had started speaking. "Akira we have to get the police involved, Agni Kai's are illegal the conditions aren't binding like they were I mean…I can't be the reason you lose everything."

Akira had let her heart bleed for Mako, and he just slapped her in the face. She rose from the ground meeting Akon's gaze and followed him into the home. "No, wait! Akira that's not what I meant! I meant that…I should have known better!" He finally reached her his hand gently encircling her bicep as he steered her back towards him. Akira ripped her arm away crossing her arms over her chest as she faced him; she raised an eyebrow urging him to continue.

"I feel like I failed you, if I were a better detective, I could have figured this out if I didn't dismiss Shin as a jealous man…I feel like I just failed." He finished lamely his hands shoved in his pockets and his shoulders so heavy, as if the shame and burden had been placed on him. And Akira understood what he really meant, that he wanted to protect her, and he failed in that. But she was furious she was so angry that she couldn't accept that as a justification. She put everything on the line and he was going to take the blame? It infuriated her, she turned away from him clenching her fists tight at her sides.

"This wasn't your failure to make Mako, I made the decision to fight him. I put everything on the line just to prove that I wasn't naive and in turn did exactly that! So stop trying to make this about you and just be thankful." She spit, before storming off into the house.

Mako stood in her wake staring down at his hands, unsure of what to do next. She was right, this wasn't just about him this was a test of her principle and she fell into it. Shin wanted to know the kind of woman Lein raised, and it was just his luck that Akira was loving. Or he would be a spot on the ground, Akon laid a hand on his shoulders a small smile on his face.

He understood, he just hoped she'd understand him too.

Hours passed, Akira had locked herself away in some far corner of the massive home, it wasn't until Akon and Mako heard the crashes escaping the study that they knew where she was. When Akon and Mako reached the room she was throwing things about, the office was a mess. Papers flooded the floors as she pulled open drawers throwing them across the room.

"Where are they?" She muttered under her breath searching through the piles of paper. She looked up at Akon a rage in her eyes as she pointed an accusatory finger towards him. "It's true, isn't it. I didn't put it together till now but you knew!" Akon didn't say a word, he walked towards the shelves, the only place Akira hadn't torn into. He reached between the beautiful display of swords and pulled out that small ornate wooden box. Akira tore it from his hands and opened the first letter.

Akira,

I have written down my grief and my apologies, so do not expect that in these letters. Their purpose is to save your life and our legacy. I hope you will learn from my mistakes, and I sincerely hope that you never need to bring up the safety measures I had created to keep you safe. But your father does come, I want you to know something about him. He was the biggest reprieve and the most abhorrent mistake to walk into my life. He is greedy, narcissistic, and has a drive and rage to get whatever he wants.

He is a monster.

His name is Shin Ito.

Akira looked up at Akon, her eyes filling in tears and her hands shaking in rage. "Why didn't you tell me!? You had to have known Akon, why leave me oblivious?" In two quick strides, he reached her his hands carefully settling on her shoulders as he tried to calm her down. She pushed him away grabbing the letters and rushing from the room.

But not before turning over her shoulder and whispering words Akon never knew he wanted to hear, "I always wished for it to be you."

The Story

When Lein was sixteen years old she met him, it was another sweltering day, and instead of splashing in the river with Kili; she was here sword fighting in the hot sun under her grandfather's watchful eye. And as much as it annoyed her she did enjoy it, Lein darted forward and Kili dodged her attack stepping to the side and bringing down her sword in a sweeping arc.

Lein dodged it easily, tripping up Kili's feet and sending the girl stumbling. She laughed at that their swords singing in the afternoon sun as Kili deflected her attacks. In a few more moments Lein knew she won, that was until he entered the castle fully distracting her, Lein's eyes focused on the young man and she felt her face heat up as his gaze met hers. Kili swept her legs from under her and Lein landed hard on the ground the sword held directly in front of her nose. Kili let out a huff blowing a long strand of black hair from her face, her icy eyes sparkling.

Kili turned to Piandao bowing respectfully at the aging swordmaster, her grandfather was well past middle-aged now. His hair had transitioned from the greyish brown hue to entirely white a few years before. Not that he minded it, her grandfather carried his age like a badge of honor. His gaze focused fondly at the two young women before him, "Excellent Kili, use your opponent's distractions to your advantage."

He turned to Lein a small smile on his face, "Perhaps there is such a thing as being too aware of your surroundings." He said with a smirk holding a hand out to his flushing granddaughter, she took it getting off the ground, and shoved Kili playfully.

"You might have won this round, but I'll get you next time." Kili rolled her eyes, "I may have only been training for a year but I am good! Admit it, Lein." The two girls continued teasing one another, and it was moments like this that Lein thought this is what having a sister felt like. Kili had come starving, on one of their boats from the Southern WaterTribe to "escape a small life" and trekked from the docks to their home and wished to learn the sword. She was the third student her grandfather had since Chief Sokka.

And while Lein did try to listen to Kili her eyes wandered to the young man standing there. He looked about two years older than Lein, and she thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen….and she'd seen Fire Lord Zuko. He had what once must have been pale skin like most Fire Nation citizens but he had tanned to a golden hue, making his gold eyes shine from beneath his long shaggy hair. Lein's heart stuttered when his eyes met hers again, and a faint pink blush bloomed against his cheeks.

He turned back to her grandfather bowing respectfully, "Master Piandao." He then kneeled before him, her father likely wanting to know what was going on came from the house an amused smile on his face as he patted his father on the shoulder.

"What's this? Another prospective student hoping to learn from my father?" Her grandfather quieted him quickly, his eyes studying the boy before him. The boy continued ignoring her father's teasing, "I know you are selective about your process master, and I know you've only taught two students since Chief Sokka…three if I include your granddaughter. But I beseech you, master, I know I have nothing to prove my worth but I am from a family who was loyal to a terrible cause. One that still wished to cling to the old ways of our country, and I do not want to live with that shame. I have been traveling for two years since I have renounced them because I want to find a way to prove I am more than my family. That I can hold my own and one day…become someone."

Lein watched holding her breath as she studied her grandfather's face, she saw his eyes flick towards her quickly an amused expression on his face before turning back to the boy. He nodded briefly before clapping his large hand against her father's shoulder. "Now that is a worthy student, I believe you've found your first official student." Lein watched proudly as her father turned toward his own father his face a mixture of confusion and excitement.

"F-father? But you've always…" He was cut off by an amused look from him, "I believe it's time for me to retire." He turned a sharp eye to Lein and Kili a small smile on his face, "But don't you worry I will comment on forms from my spot, right here." He said pointing to the lounge chair on the large porch before wandering back into the home.

Kili nudged Lein forward, and after shooting her an annoyed look the two made their way to Lein's father's side as the boy rose to his feet. "What's your name, young man?" He had a large smile on his face, as he bowed towards Lein's father. "Akon, sir." Her father put a hand on his shoulder a smile on his face, "Come, Akon, we have much to do."

The years passed, Lein had finished her training the year Akon arrived but stayed, either way, to spar with Akon and Kili under her father (and grandfather's) watchful eye. As time continued on it was Kili and Akon who were by her side when her grandfather died, they grieved with her and in time were the first to make her laugh again. It was those two by her side when her father expanded their company and Akon who suggested the name.

"After the man who brought us all together, Piandao Industries." Her father had never looked prouder. But as time passed the three aged, their aspirations were different Kili left first on her eighteenth birthday she wanted to bring relief to those still suffering from poverty. Then on the night of his nineteenth birthday, Akon announced that he enlisted in the Fire Nation Navy, again Lein saw her father look so proudly at Akon.

But she felt cold.

That night Lein crept down the halls, slipping quietly from her room and tiptoeing to the room at the end of the hall. The servants she passed pretended to be blind to the eighteen-year-old girl sneaking through the empty halls, but she paid no mind to the small smiles they hid behind their hands. She reached the door her hand hovering above the doorknob, her heart racing.

It's a door Lein, open it!

With a quick breath, she slipped into the room, but Akon was trained better than that. He woke with a start his hand reaching for his sword before his eyes focused on her, "Relax Akon, it's just me." He scowled, his brows furrowing at Lein; and she found that she was fond of the way his brow furrowed. She had seen it often in the past two years she had known him. And it was something she was going to miss every day he was away from her, She hesitated at the entrance of his room unsure of what to do now, knowing what her heart wanted but her mind clamping her mouth shut.

"Is everything alright Lein, it's late?" And Akon, being Akon, he just looked concerned unaware of her intentions…and her desires. A hot flush came to Lein's cheeks at the thought, she had always been aware of Akon since he entered her life. He was handsome, intelligent, and skilled. He had these callused hands that were strong but also the most gentle, his mind was quick and he'd help her with a solution to an engineering problem' or at the very least humor her until she found it on her own.

He made her feel invincible, and Lein didn't want to lose that. "I want you to stay." She rushed out, her heart hammering in her chest, especially at the way his eyes widened in shock. He sat fully erect now, the blanket slipping from his well-defined chest his skin gleaming white in the moonlight. Leaving a breath strangled in Lein's throat as she stared.

A blush began to form at Akon's neck before spreading to his cheeks, his shaggy hair shielded his face as he looked down at his hands for a moment. As if coming to a decision Akon rose from the bed, slowly making his way towards Lein as she found herself walking closer to him. She noticed he hadn't bothered to reach for the robe hanging right by his bed. Lein swallowed heavily, and Akon stopped close enough to her that she could feel the warmth radiating off him but far enough to maintain some semblance of modesty.

"Lein, this is what I've always wanted. I want to serve our country honorably, and your family helped me do that. Now I am more than ready, this is all I want." He finished reaching out for her hands, Lein stepped away walking past him. Her heart still hammering, and with a boldness, she didn't know she had she turned back to Akon.

"All you want?" She could feel her face getting hot and thanked the spirits for her darker complexion. Akon didn't have quite the same luck his face resembled a ripe tomato, but his eyes locked with hers with an intensity she had not seen in him before. "Not all I want."

It felt like the room was getting hotter to Lein, she could feel her face getting hotter from the way he looked at her. That and the implications behind the throaty growl that escaped him as he uttered those dangerous words. Lein reached for Akon her eyes wild, she supposed he never saw her look this way either.

"I feel like something is going to change, what if this is it Akon? What if this is the moment where we have to make a decision that changes the entire course of our lives. I know you're leaving and so am I, as we expand our business but…" Lein had unconsciously placed her hands against Akon's chest, his breath coming out in short strained breaths as he looked at her.

"I don't know what to do with these feelings Akon," Lein's hands migrated to his neck as she pressed her forehead against his. "It frightens me." Akon's hands had been firmly at his side, but now as Lein looked up at his closed eyes she was terrified by what it meant. She was too bold, too rash she moved back but his eyes opened molten gold melting into her the earthy hue of her eyes. "Don't be."

Their lips met one another's, and it felt like an electric shock coursed through Lein's body. She held onto him firmly, her lips learning the trail of his body. Every touch left a brand on her skin, she memorized every inch of him, and he did the same in turn. Every touch let out a string of sighs and breaths of pleasure. And Lein knew that by morning he'd be gone and that for the next few years she would have to live without him. But tonight, she would indulge herself in the fantasy that they had forever.

Three Years Pass…

Time passed and after a tearful goodbye, Lein tried to harden herself, because for the first few months she was crippled by the loss of Akon and Kili. But what came out of it was worth the tears she shed, Piandao Industries was thriving and Lein's priorities shifted. She revolutionized their approaches, created and innovated and on her twenty-first birthday, her father named her COO.

After months of nonstop work Lein was in desperate need of a vacation, she had called Kili and told her to meet her in Shu Jing. And as her family estate loomed across the horizon her heart tugged at the prospect of rest and seeing her friends again.

What Lein didn't expect was Akon to walk through the doors a few short hours later, she had been lounging on the chairs in the sitting room indulging in a new novel she had neglected for months. But she would never mistake the sound of Akon's voice, she put the book face down on the chair her eyes meeting Kili's. They sparkled in mischief as she picked up Lein's book to hide her smirk, "This looks interesting."

Lein rose from her spot and wandered through the halls following the sounds of her father's laughter, she stopped in the entryway her breath caught in her throat. "Akon." Lein breathed, she watched as a small careful smile spread across his face.

He looked the same yet different, he was a twenty-two-year-old man after all. He was dressed in the Royal Navy uniform, and Lein was ashamed to admit that her schoolgirl's heart thudded at the look of him in it. Gone were the sharp shoulder pads and replaced was a black jacket embroidered with gold and reds. It suited him, as did his newly cropped hair as it highlighted the sharpness of his jaw.

She noticed his shoulders had broadened more, and he had gained more muscle. In all, he was the same, yet different and still devastatingly handsome. His eyes shown with the same warmth she had seen long ago, "Lein." He said simply before erupting into the most dazzling grin she had ever seen, they laughed meeting each other halfway and embracing.

He held her tight, his body firm beneath her fingers as she clung to his neck, still not registering that he was in front of her. "I've missed you," Akon whispered against her hair, her arms erupting in chills from his warm breath against her neck. Her father left the room moments ago, and it was like time stood still in the foyer with Akon. His eyes surveyed her face before he stood back keeping Lein at arm's length before his eyes returned to her face.

"You look beautiful." Lein blushed, surprised by the demure behavior that escaped her. But Akon brought out the softness in her. "Mind if I cut in?" They both turned to find Kili and a large smirk on her face as she tossed her long braid over her shoulder.

"Been too long Acorn!" Kili pushed her way between the two winking at Lein as she went and throwing her arms around his middle. He laughed at that wrapping his arms around her as he tousled her head. "Always the pleasure Sealy." They both swatted one another their sibling-like rivalry starting right where it left off. And it warmed Lein's heart to see her friends again, and when they made eyes at each other and launched at Lein her laughter pealed across the expansive home.

But that night as she slept by the fire where they had fallen asleep from hours of talking, Lein had the same feeling she had all those years ago. They were on the precipice of something, and nothing would be the same again.

She was right

Lein was covered in grease her overalls were doused in the fluid as she grunted in annoyance with the cannon. It was her idea for the United Nations ships, operated by benders the point of the mechanism was to amplify their natural elemental powers. Yet she was struggling severely with the component for the non-benders, a fuse that was activated by gun powder and caused an explosion. She shoved her hand inside the machine searching blindly for what she needed, but something went wrong she could smell the burning.

Lein bolted upright, "Everyone out!" She shrieked sprinting down the factory floor, grabbing people as she went before the entire room erupted in flames. Lein shielded the younger girl who had been there taking the brunt of the blow as a piece of metal slammed the two women deeper into the factory. Lein gritted her teeth at the pain as they slid, the sounds of the machines creaking and groaning were deafening. But after a moment it was silent, Lein let go of the girl who looked up at her in a mixture of awe and surprise. But Lein didn't meet her eyes, all she saw was the factory floor.

Her entire inventory.

Destroyed.