Hello Loves! This will be the last chapter of Part II! I wanted to get this chapter up to curb my anxiety on the election right now, so hope you are all doing well and taking care of your mental health. With that said, I sincerely hope you all are enjoying this and will see you all again on November 25th!

Also big thanks to all the new followers/favorites to the story!

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

(I also apologize this isn't a light-hearted chapter)

Part II Revelations

Chapter Twelve

The Story...

Lein sat at the desk a headache blooming at her temples at the bills flowing in, at this rate they would lose it all. Without a substantial loan, they were going to lose everything, and it'd be her fault. It was her own ambition that caused it to happen, her father said it wasn't ready that they shouldn't have approved the design so fast, but she was bold.

Her designs before had all been effective, it hadn't mattered before. But she was distracted now, Akon's lingering glances made her heart flutter. And sure, he had been off back in action, but his letters felt like he was in the room with her, the days he'd visit she'd be up long hours in the night. But he couldn't comfort her now, what might have sufficed as an eighteen-year-old girl was now an illusion.

His words were a fantasy, she needed security she needed to crawl out of the hole she dug herself into. But nothing was proving, no one wanted to invest in such a new cause, and the ones that did were asking for half of her company it was ludicrous. And then he came, and it was like the world had handed her an oyster, and who was she to deny its treasures?

Lein and her father abandoned their estate in the mainland and came back to Shu Jing, trying hard to save money where they could. It was that first day back that Shin Ito walked into the Piandao estate one warm day in the spring, he had an arrogance in his eye and a swagger in his walk. He had bowed respectfully towards her father where he entertained him in the sitting room, but when his eyes flashed to Lein a light blush spread across his cheeks and he began to stutter. Lein smiled back, eyeing him carefully.

He was handsome she had to admit that, he shared the same pale skin as Akon and thick dark black hair. But where Akon was gentle, Shin was severe; he had a sharp jawline and a pointed chin. His brown eyes gleamed with a reddish hue in the light making them shine like rubies, his eyes were a rounded almond shape. And something within those eyes intrigued Lein, there was a fire within them that spark so many benders spoke about. She could see something boiling beneath the surface, an inspiration a desire for more than he could chew.

He didn't kneel, he didn't say anything to her father but instead sipped the drinks the servants brought and asked like asking to borrow a shoe. "I'd like to learn from you, sir." Lein sucked in a breath looking towards her father, he put his cup down and leaned forward meeting Shin's severe eyes. He looked like he was on the cusp of triumph, but she knew before her father spoke what his answer would be.

"No." He rose from the chair leaving a shocked Shin in his wake, he rose to his feet to go after him, but it was no use. He clenched his fists and flames erupted from his hands in a fiery heap. His nostrils flared in outrage as he opened his mouth to shout, Raiso turned, his eyes narrowed. "That is the exact reason you should not learn."

Shin extinguished the flames taking in a deep breath, running his hands through his already neatly combed hair. "So, you will not teach benders?" Lein watched her father take a step towards him, his height enveloping the young man and giving him enough sense to be intimidated by the swordmaster before him.

"I will not teach you because you lack restraint, before you master the sword you must master yourself." With that Shin let his hands hang at his sides in defeat, as her father walked deeper into the home. And Lein didn't like this man much, he was quick to anger and materialistic from the approving glances at her home. But she had seen the fine quality of his clothing and the shiny new Satomobile that had dropped him off. She knew that if she played her cards right, he could provide for her in a way that love alone could not.

She could redeem herself, so Lein bit down the protests of her heart and stepped towards Shin placing a tentative hand on his shoulder. She smiled timidly looking up at him through her eyelashes. "I apologize for my father Mr. Ito, but I mastered the sword five years ago…And I would find great pleasure in teaching you…."

She watched a blush bloom on his cheeks as he stammered out his thanks, after a moment he came back into himself the suave man from before making a resurgence. He reached for her hand raising a brow in question, she allowed it and he brushed his lips against her knuckles maintaining eye contact as he did. "It would be my pleasure, surely."

The following weeks Lein let Shin take her out on dates, she humored him and laughed at his jokes. And after some time, he dug deeper asking what was troubling her why she couldn't sleep at night, and Lein convinced herself that she truly cared for Shin. But when Akon returned one night, and she kissed Shin on the steps her heart had broken. He simply walked away; he appeared the next morning furious with her.

"How could you?" Akon paced in front of her his hair sticking up in odd angles as he ran his hands through it in agitation.

Lein let out the breath she was holding before stopping him her hands on his torso. "It is more than us now Akon, I have to save this company we are going to sink; but if I can get Shin to invest in half a million…" Akon stopped her his eyes filled with disgust, she had never seen him look at her like that. The disappointment was crushing, "I wish you nothing but happiness Lein." With that, he left and Lein felt her heartbreak once again, it would never happen again.

Lein was heartbroken and sensitive so she did the worst thing she could do, she called Shin over she let him comfort her she whispered her fears and he told her he'd make it all go away. Shin held her hands a tenderness in his eyes, that Lein was shocked by.

"Lein, let me shelter you, I ask for nothing in return…Only your devotion, your loyalty. Love me, Lein, choose me and I will fight for you." Lein breathed a yes and let him kiss her lips, she let him take her to bed, but when she laid in Shin's arms it was Akon's face that crossed her mind. When he kissed her lips, it was Akon's that she yearned for, but she buried it down because it hurt too much to feel.

One Year Passed…

"It's the least you could do Lein." She looked up from her papers, in the coming year her company was back on track Shin's money had saved her and she was stuck now. He now held a paper for her to sign, she eyed it carefully not wanting to speak to him longer than necessary. The year had hardened them to one another, Shin had three failed marriage proposals on his belt and Lein chocked down herbs every night to prevent herself from having his child.

"You won't give me any shares, and spirits Lein we barely like one another now. This is what I deserve!" Lein scoffed at his paper, throwing it back at him. "No Shin, you're not getting thirty percent of my company." She watched the flicker in his eye and knew what was to come, he shoved the papers off the desk, Lein watched on as he raged on foaming from the mouth. Shin had stopped looking at her with wonder months ago, and it was a relief. She no longer had to fake the affection he had so readily accepted.

He wanted more, and it was her own fault. She had promised him loyalty and devotion and he was met with false smiles. "Fine, the only way you will get a part of my company is if we share a child. You would have controlling shares until they reach 25, happy?" Shin stopped his rampage and nodded mutely before leaving the room.

Lein's hands shook as he left.

Three Months…

Lein looked out the window, what once felt like her home was a prison. But then she saw him, she knew that black hair anywhere. Lein felt the first bubbling of emotion for the first time in over a year, she rushed down the stairs only to be caught by Shin's harsh grip. "Calm yourself, Lein." He scolded, she turned towards the stubborn man her eyes mirroring his anger. She had thought he'd leave her by now, but the man was stubborn, he prided himself in getting what he wanted. And Lein happened to be that thing, she wanted to make him hate her, but nothing worked.

Instead, she drove her own father away, he was too aware of her sacrifice and fled Shu Jing permanently to the mainland with her mother. He buried himself in the day to day work of their factory, and whenever her mother would visit her distasteful stares haunted her mind. Could they not see how willing she was to ensure their legacy, that she'd stay with this hateful man? A man that she would admit terrified her some nights, the nights when his rage-fueled him. The nights that she regretted vehemently for teaching him the sword, the man she's fought bitterly in the courtyard until he was satisfied and then lie with him at night hating herself for it. The man who used his bending as a method of controlling her when other men would look her way.

The man who tried hard to make her submit to his will, but unable to because of her own. Lein ripped her arm away from him her voice even, "Please Shin, let's not do this today." She tried to move past him, but Shin reached for her again she pulled away wildly her head hitting the wall hard. A wave of nausea took hold as she viciously held back the bile. Lein slid to the floor while Shin brought her to her feet, she moaned in protest as he walked her the rest of the way down seating her on the last step.

"Very convenient for you that I'm leaving when Akon has arrived. What will you do Lein?' He pressed closer his hot breath against her face as she turned her head away. Still trying to fight the nausea, "Will you let him have you? Will he be your new salvation?"

Lein groaned her nausea and his false jealousy were causing a headache to bloom. "In three months, I'll have the rest of your investment and pay you back in full. No need for us to be together anymore." But Shin just smiled at her, that annoying smile she had seen once before.

That damned I know something you don't know, smile.

He left shortly after and Lein was too emotionally exhausted to wonder what he meant because as he left Akon entered and Lein felt joy bubble its way in. "Akon!" She rose tottering dangerously, she reached for the rail settling herself before she saw the haunted look in his eye. This wasn't the Akon she knew; his eyes were hollow he had thinned out and he favored his left leg.

"I got hurt, I'm discharged this was the closest…" He trailed off motioning towards the home vaguely, Lein nodded trying to reach for him but he brushed past her without a word. Two days passed and Akon was silent, he'd murmur politely to the servants but other than that if Lein was in the room he'd say nothing. After the third day, Lein had enough of it, she barged into his room unannounced causing a yell to escape Akon; and Lein was not prepared for what she saw.

His back was scarred and from the look of it still fresh, the wound was caused by fire she could tell that much, cuts littered in other places. She also could see the beginning of a long slash at his ribs, the gauze was soiled and from the looks of it, he was attempting to change it himself.

"What?" he spit, and Lein was shocked by the harshness. Because this was Akon, her Akon and he was looking at her with so much anger and disgust that it tugged at her heart. Akon was the one who was always gentle, the only calming source in the sea of her over extensive energy. The one who would gently remind her to take a break, this was the man she loved. But now she could see no trace of the man that loved her, there was so much resentment and Lein didn't even know when it began but tears were pooling in her eyes.

It was so out of character that Akon rose from the bed quickly his hands hovering in front of her. "This isn't fair Lein." He paused before carefully enveloping her in a hug, "Please Lein, don't." She clung to his shoulders careful to avoid his wounds as she sobbed harder, and she could lie to herself and say she wasn't sure why, but she knew. She was terrified every day in her own home, she felt empty so much of the time that she thought she'd be swallowed whole by her despair.

After letting her cry for a moment Akon spoke, "You abandoned me, Lein, you choose him over us. If anyone should be upset…" Lein pushed him away cutting him off violently, the tears still rushing down her face. "I had to make a choice Akon! I have a legacy to uphold, you think I want to be with Shin? I promised him a minimum of one year on the board for his contribution I had to fight so hard for him not to get more. He manipulates, he tortures both psychologically and physically. But I did it to protect what my family created and the people I love!"

Akon laughed bitterly, "That's bullshit, and you know it, Lein! You did this to protect your pocket, he was the fastest and easiest way to fruition. You did this to yourself; you choose a dynasty over happiness. I would have done anything for you! Kili too! I LOVED YOU!"

He roared, and Lein had never seen him like this, or cry either, now that she thought about it. It made her cold heart, burn with her own self-hatred. She opened her mouth but nausea returned, she rushed from the room Akon hot on her heels and threw open the nearest balcony. She emptied her stomach over the railing until she dry heaved. Lein slid down the stone wall, her face feeling flushed, Akon watched in alarm a robe thrown over his shoulders as he crouched down in concern.

"Lein, what's going on?" And suddenly Shin's smile made sense, the smugness on his face when he left. "I have to find it." Lein rose to her feet ignoring the pounding in her head and rushed into the hall tearing down the hallways as fast her legs would carry her. "Lein wait!" She heard his faint yells but made no move to slow down.

Lein burst open the doors of the largest bedchamber and opened the drawer at her bedside table, finding the herbs she had hidden there. She grabbed a handful and sniffed them; the bag dropped from her fingers her mind spinning. "Tell me what those are," Lein said softly, Akon almost didn't hear her until she stuffed the small bundle into his hands. His eyes widened in realization, he grabbed the herbs from her hands and studied them closely, smelling them before ultimately chewing them himself.

Akon was better at herbs than she was he was on his own for so long, she knew he'd know better than her. When he met her eyes Lein knew, she had been stupid enough to trust that her servants hadn't been compromised. Her hands trembled as she thought back counting down the days and realizing over a month had passed. Silent tears tracked down her face as she sobbed into her hands, Akon held her through the entire night.

A month passed; Shin wrote a letter that he'd return in two month's time. He asked if she was doing alright, he asked if she was feeling sick. She was, she would throw up her breakfast almost every morning. She had been crying for weeks, but the tears changed from herself to the child she held. She didn't want her child to be owned, she felt there was only one way out of this with Shin…

Lein walked that night out to the waterfall, her stomach was slowly beginning to swell with the life inside her. She sat at the edge taking off the sweater that clung to her shoulders and let it go and watched as the wind whisked it down. Lein wanted to be like that fabric flowing freely, down into a dreamless slumber. No more pain, no more deceit, and no more regret.

Lein let her body relax and felt her body slip down the cliff, she felt the feeling of weightlessness for a moment before branches hit her face. She didn't scream as it happened until she felt a strong arm cling to hers. She screamed then, as the force almost broke it. She looked up into the angry eyes of Akon he had tied himself to the tree and held onto her tight.

He yelled at the force his biceps straining to bring her closer to him. "Let me go, Akon." He didn't bother saying anything he shifted his footing causing her to drop further. Her hands weak and useless at her sides. "Akon just let me go, it's better this way. Shin can't claim them, I will never let him take my child. That's why I have to do this, for both family and for them." Tears started flowing down her face because as much as she hated Shin, she didn't hate the child. Because in the midst of the bleak life she lived her heart had stuttered with the tiniest bit of joy because she could create something that was part of her. Sure it would share DNA with the most vile man she had ever known but they would be hers, until Shin found out.

"Lein you didn't let me help once and look at what happened. We can figure this out." Akon grunted finally finding his footing and letting go of his sturdy arm on the tree and heaving her body into his. The cord loosened and soon Akon and Lein were tumbling through the trees, he caught her before further harm came but her body hit the ledge and she heard the snap of a bone-breaking.

Lein cried out the pain blinding her before her head banged hard against a stone, then she fell into that blissful sleep she had yearned for. When Lein woke Akon was by her side his hand firmly in hers, she couldn't bear to look at him. He still looked at her the same as always, but Lein couldn't return it.

"Will you let me help this time?" Lein nodded numbly, her head still felt like it was stuffed with cotton but listened to Akon's plan. It was her best bet and the child's best bet.

Shin Ito returned and Lein smoothed her dress down her bump was small enough not to show, but due to her small physique, there was still a small enough change to notice. But easy enough to convince a man that she wasn't three to four months into her pregnancy. Shin looked at Lein in his jaw clenched.

"I need to know if it's true." Lein's eyes cast down the ground before meeting Shin's eyes evenly. "It is, I…" Akon covered for her smoothly his arm wound protectively around her hip, "She lost your child. But we have been blessed, Lein is with my child about a month now."

Shin's jaw set, he watched with wild eyes. "You're lying." He hissed, he tried to reach toward her but Akon stepped in her path his eyes narrowed. "It is our word against yours Shin, I think it'd be best if you left."

Lein stepped forward a glee in her eyes at the fit he was throwing, fire escaped his fists and she watched on. "Leave with some semblance of dignity Shin." She taunted, he lunged forward but Lein's newly hired guards were quick to intervene. They dragged him out of the home foaming from the mouth. "You may think you have won Lein, but I know the truth! We will always be bound, and I will get what I want."

Lein turned away from him calmly, walking back into the home and as she walked, she felt herself grow colder and harder with each step. In the oncoming weeks, Kili returned and Lein clung to her friend, and each time Akon tried to reach her she shied away. She couldn't allow it to happen, she wouldn't ruin the only man she loved. So she let Akon go, and he did for a while he returned to the Navy in a non-active duty. And when the child was born Lein looked down and saw the same eyes that looked into hers with hatred, she felt her stomach drop. She knew there was a chance, but she felt the bile rise in her throat and her hands shake in fear, she passed her to Kili to quell her shaking hands.

More time passed, Akon retired after some time and asked to stay by her side. Despite their arguments, she allowed it because deep down they both couldn't be without the other. Their relationship stayed strictly friendly, they slipped in the coming years but for the most part, they remained friends. Lein couldn't handle hurting him again, she wouldn't sire children more than Akira and she had exhausted herself of love.

Lein hardened herself as punishment for choosing Shin.

I hope you understand now, why I was so cold to you and why I had to bury myself in my work. I had seen firsthand what an Ito can do Akira and I am afraid that he will come again to stake a claim. Because he made me include a clause, that if we shared a child, he could own your shares until your 25th birthday. But I planned for this day Akira, and when the time comes the answer will be clear.

All of my love,

Your Mother

Akira looked up from the letters, she had been reading for hours. Mako was seated on the floor his head bobbing as he tried desperately to stay awake. She felt herself soften as she looked at him, she didn't know he had stayed with her this entire time. Her eyes trailed back to the letter, "All of my love". Akira smiled and shook Mako awake a wicked fire twinkling in her eyes.

"I have a plan."

End of Part II

Falling Into You, Will Return on November 25th!