AN: well! I am quite surprised that my readers have such little faith in me! D:
Okay, I said Yakone and sons wouldn't come back... I LIED! Sue me... oh and no, not in a bad way!
NO MORE RAPING! There, I said it. (No I'm not lieing about the rape, rape won't happen anymore. The end.)
Happy shit is gonna happen! Fuck yeah! Now be nice and keep the faith in me alive!
Really people... as if I let Noatak walk off like THAT...! HA!
Enjoy! Please review! I love you guys! And galls! Even if you hate me sometimes... :P
*bows and salutes*
Chapter 15
The two women just sat there. Holding one another. Korra stroke Asami's back gently while the heiress occasionally sniffled. Her head still rested on the Avatar's shoulder. She had no idea how long they've sitting there but the sun was at it's highest when Korra pulled back slightly and looked Asami in the eye. They were red and puffy from crying. She cupped the pale face with her gentle hands and used her thumbs to remove the left over tears there stained Asami's cheeks.
"What do you wanna do...?"
Asami gulped. "I d-don't know... I never... I mean... it happened just once with him... on the ship... it happened so many times and I..." she couldn't say anything anymore, the lump in her throat only grew larger and took away her ability to speak.
"Whatever you decide, I'm here. I got your back... if you want to get rid of it... I'm sure we can think of something. If you wanna keep it, that's fine with me too..."
Asami remained silent for a few seconds. "I... it's not the baby's fault... It shouldn't pay for... what he did. B-but... I think I'd... let it be adopted b-by someone..."
Korra nodded understandingly. She took Asami's shaking hands in her own and rubbed the pale skin with her thumbs. "You're not alone. You hear?"
"I... I'm scared..." she said with a soft voice.
Korra showed her a sad smile. "I'm sure that's normal..."
"Oh Spirits... what should I tell my parents?"
"Just tell them the truth?"
Asami was about to respond when someone knocked on the door. After she covered her form with her sheets, she called out to whoever knocked to enter and a guard stepped inside. "Excuse me Lady Sato, there are guards here that request your presence at the house of Justice. It involves Yakone and his sons."
Asami's eyes grew wide in shock and fear. Korra turned slightly to answer the guard in her behalf. "We'll be right there."
The guard nodded and disappeared again. Korra then turned her attention to Asami again. "Wh-what do you think they w-want?"
"My guess is that Noatak was placed under arrest. Thanks to your mother. Now they want your statement..."
"Will you come with me?"
"As if they can stop me. Ha! Of course I'm coming. No way in hell that I'm leaving you again." She said and smiled reassuringly.
They got off the bed and made sure Asami was properly dressed. She wore a red dress that almost reached her feet, a black sash, comfortable shoes and had her hair hang loose over her shoulders and back. she had an arm hooked with one of Korra's and together they left the bedroom.
They ran into Yasuko in the hallway who smiled sadly at her daughter. "Don't be afraid sweetie... they want you to do your story... that's all." She cupped her daughter's cheeks and kissed her forehead lovingly.
She tried to stay strong but there were a few tears that escaped her nonetheless. "M-mom... d-do you love me...?"
"Of course honey! Why wouldn't I love you?"
She tried to avoid her mother's gaze by looking into another direction but a warm hand gently forced her to look back at the older woman. "You can tell me anything." She said matter-of-factly.
Asami bit her lower lip anxiously. "I'm pregnant..." she finally admitted.
There was no anger present on Yasuko's face and she pulled her child into a tight and loving embrace. "I will never love you any less. You're my daughter. My child. Whatever you decide to do with it... I'll support you in every way possible."
Asami trembled from emotion and held tightly around her mother. She let out a deep sigh of relief and when she pulled back, there was a faint smile on her lips. "Thank you..."
Yasuko let go of her daughter and the three woman made their way to the City's house of Justice. Korra was constantly looking around for a sign of Axis. She found none and was slightly worried something had happened to her friend. On the other hand, beware for those who tried to cross her in any way...
They entered the building together and were led into a private room. There were rows of seats on the left and right in the room, in the middle was a path that lead up to a big table. On the right side were Yakone and his sons. Noatak was bound in chains and a guard on his left and on his right. The moment the three women entered, his icy gaze fell upon them and he glared. His nose was still swollen from the punch Korra had given him. They walked over to the other side of the table and settled there. Asami in the middle, Korra and Yasuko on her left and right. Lord Raiko nodded at them.
"Ah, I see my lovely fiancé is here to join us as well. How lovely." He snarled.
"Silence Noatak, you're here to stand trial." Raiko held a piece of parchment in his hand and held onto it. "You are charged with rape. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty." He said simply and without any sign of remorse.
"As could be expected... Miss Sato..." he turned towards Asami. "Do you care to explain?"
The heiress gulped but nodded. She started with the day it happened. She left no details. She explained how his pride must've gotten a dent when Asami had snatched her letter from her husband to be and that he wanted to take revenge. She also mentioned how he blackmailed her emotionally with something that she eventually learned was false.
Raiko sat there and listened to her explanation. Nodding every often and occasionally asked her a question. Asami seemed to grow more confident the more he asked and answered to the best of her ability. She let out a shuddering breath when she was finished.
"Thank you miss Sato..." he smiled slightly and turned his attention back to the accused. "What do you have to say for yourself? We have proof of your blackmail. Lady Sato said herself that she and her husband, Hiroshi Sato, were no where near ruined."
Noatak growled and suddenly stood up from his chair. Asami flinched from his sudden outburst. "This woman doesn't know her place! She needed to be taught a lesson!"
"By raping her...?" Raiko asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It wasn't rape. She enjoyed every second of it. I am her future husband and because of that, she is mine to do with as I see fit."
"I didn't enjoy it! I hated every second of it! Every second that you lasted I wished I was dead! After you were finally done, I crawled to the bath house to try and scrub off any sign of you!" Asami yelled and all heads turned towards her. The vixen was panting from held back emotion. "Stop calling yourself my husband! I'd never in a million years marry you! I'd rather die!"
He smirked at her. "That's exactly what will happen... no man would ever want you. Not anymore, no matter how much gold and silver your daddy will promise them. Especially now that you carry my child."
"How..."
"Some earth benders have the rare ability called, seismic sense... they can sense when people lie... and can even sense the smallest of heartbeats."
Suddenly, the doors of the room opened and another person walked in. "I'm sorry for the interruption... but I'd like to be present as well." Axis eyes were focussed on Raiko who nodded in response. The Southerner held a thick, leather bound book as she walked over to the other three.
"Another savage... why not..." Noatak grumbled and send a deadly glare into Axis's direction who just ignored him and settled next to Korra.
"Where were you...?!" the Avatar whispered to her friend.
"Later... I'll explain later..."
Raiko sighed deeply and looked from one end of the table to the other and back. "Well... I'm a bit lost... it is not that I do not believe you miss Sato... but it's a difficult case. I have no idea of the Northern Tribe traditions when it comes to marriage..."
"If I may Sir. I might be able to help..." Axis said and stood straight again.
Raiko's eyebrows rose in surprise and genuinely curiosity. "Really? And how, if I may ask?"
"I... I am... or was a Northerner myself..."
All heads suddenly turned towards her and Axis walked to the middle of the table. "I used to live in the North... with my mother and father. My mother was a skilled Voodoo Master. Known for her skill and power. Something my fellow tribe's men loved to exploit..." she frowned and turned to Yakone and his sons. "My father died when I was young and we were left to care for ourselves. My mother taught me all I know but she did so in secret. She didn't want me to have the same future as she did. Our power comes with a price and the Northerners... they forced my mother to cross a line she shouldn't have..." she swallowed hard. "Before she died... she told me to leave the North and seek out our sister tribe that lived in the South. I promised her that I would try... not long afterwards... she passed away..."
It was silent in the room until Axis started once again. "I did leave but I clearly remember the Northern traditions. Once a marriage is arranged, the men hold claim over their future wives. To do with as they see fit. Forcing them to do things they'd never do other wise... women that live there know about their fate and blindly accept it."
Noatak started to laugh, she was actually defending his case.
"However..." she said with a deep growl. "Asami Sato isn't a Northerner. Unaware of their traditions and the behaviour of the women there. Someone should've have explained it to her before hand. Even so, she would still not be a Northerner and should have been able to say no, which you" she pointed at Noatak. "should have accepted. But you choose to ignore it and forced your will onto her anyhow."
She slammed her hands onto the table and pointed towards Noatak. "You, Noatak of the Northern Water Tribe, are guilty to the charge of rape. The proof is found in her abdomen. Your child grows within her. The child that you made by force." She turned her head towards Korra. "The Avatar is able to tell you all the extensions of Asami's injuries."
Raiko raised both hands up in the air. "No, enough. I've heard enough." He turned towards Noatak. "As far as I can see, the only savage is you young man. I, Raiko, judge and jury of this meeting, find you guilty of all charges." He turned towards Axis and the other women who were all smiling and happily hugged Asami. "As for a punishment... I am aware what Avatar Korra did... but," he then turned to Asami. "You're the victim here Miss. I let you decide the punishment for this... man."
Asami nodded slowly and looked over at Noatak who only glared right back at her. "I know violence isn't always the answer but... in this case... I think only one punishment is in order. To make sure that he is never, ever able to hurt another woman like he hurt me..."
Raiko nodded. "I agree, tell me dear, what do you have in mind."
She took a deep breath and on release, she gave Raiko her answer. "Complete castration... removal of both balls and the penis."
Noatak's eyes flew open in pure horror and shock. He got up from his seat and slammed both hands on the table. "What?! Are you all insane!? Why would you believe the word of a WOMAN above that of a man! What the fuck is wrong with you!?" he screamed, both guards had serious trouble keeping their prisoner in check.
"Take this filth out so his sentence can be executed." Raiko said and turned back to Asami again. "Miss Sato, if you'd like, you can be the executioner?"
Asami shook her head. "I... I'd rather not. I want to stay away as far as possible from that... thing."
He nodded understandingly. "You can always point out someone who will do it for you?"
She looked from Korra to Axis and back. "Would... either of you two...?"
"Me!" Both Korra and Axis yelled at the same time.
Asami smiled at the two of them. "Well, I guess I have two instead of one?"
Raiko grinned. "I don't see why not... Ladies?" he said and turned to the two Southerners. "I can see you two have knifes of your own, if you'd be so kind to follow me outside?"
Axis smirked and pulled out two daggers that were hidden behind her leather belt and handed one of them to Korra. "Come on, Avutar... time to get to work..."
Korra smirked and took the weapon which was handed to her. She and Axis followed Raiko outside where Noatak was presented on a wooden table. Arms and legs spread and tied to the table to keep him in check. There was a big crowd that were curiously watching what was to happen. Lord Raiko made an announcement to the crowd that the Avatar and her friend, the only Voodoo Master left in the world, would carry out a punishment on behalf of the victim's request.
The crowd roared with approval after Raiko announced what he had been found guilty of and Korra and Axis both went to work. Axis cut off Noatak's belt and grinned wickedly down at the man on the table. "men like you..." she shook her head and started on the buttons of Noatak's pants. She cut them off one by one in an agonizing slow pace. "You deserve everything that we're going to be doing to you..."
Korra growled when she eventually just ripped his pants off and revealed what's hidden behind it. "This, is for Asami." She said, the dick in her hand and she made a small cut first the moment that Noatak was about to say something. The only sound he made now were screams in agony and pain. He screamed at the top of his lungs while his male parts were cut off from the rest of his body.
He continued to struggle. To fight. It became so bad that the table started to cracked from his violent movements. The guards were asked to hold him down. They stared off into the distance in an attempt to keep their stomach contents where they were. Blood seeped onto the ground and coloured the sand under the table a crimson red.
The crowd continued to roar with every agonizing scream that the rapist made. Finally, after several long and torturous minutes, the two young women were done. Axis whipped her hands off of Noatak's remaining clothes. Korra did the same and spat on his face. The guards were about to untie him but the Avatar shook her head. "I'm not done yet... I won't have him bleed to death." And with that, her eyes started to glow for only a second before she set the remainders of Noatak's genitals ablaze. He started to scream once again but this time it was short lived. The flames disappeared. The smell of burned flesh filled the nose of many.
"Now I'm done." And she turned around, followed by Axis they made their way over to Asami and her mother. Korra smiled warmly at the heiress. "I'd hug you but... I don't want to make your pretty clothes dirty..."
Asami chuckled softly, without hesitation she threw both her arms around the Southerner's neck and hugged her tightly. "I don't care... I'm so happy you're here." She mumbled and buried her face in the crook of Korra's neck. Something she loved to do and something she had greatly missed the passed months. Without thinking, she pecked Korra's cheek and suddenly realized what she did. "Sorry... I'm just...-"
Korra wrapped her arms around the other woman and shook her head. "Don't be... I've missed you." She said with a soft voice.
The two remained like this for a little while. Yasuko and Axis stood a few feet away and the older woman watched the Voodoo Master curiously. Before she could say or do anything, she was snapped from her thoughts by the same woman she was watching.
"Well, shall we get back? I got a lot to tell you..."
Korra and Asami broke off their hug and nodded in agreement. They remained silent all the way back to the Mansion and were lead into the big Library. Axis crawled behind the massive oak desk that stood in the middle of all the packed bookshelves. There was an open book that laid on top of the piece of furniture. Pages were filled with runes that Korra wasn't able to read. Although there were symbols she recognized, the runes remained a mystery.
"What's this...?" The Avatar asked confused, her finger tips touched the parchment of the old book and slid smoothly over the surface. "I can't read it."
Axis grinned. "I can... and what this is? This, is the solution to our little problem..." she said and nudged towards Asami who's eyes grew wide.
"I don't..." the vixen started but Axis raised a hand in the air.
"Please, hear me out... and I'm sorry I kept my true identity a secret..." she turned to Korra. "Even from you..."
Korra smiled at her friend. "You're still a Southerner to me Axis. Nothing changed for me."
"Thank you. That means more to me then you'd think..." she said and cleared her throat. "So, I figured that you wouldn't want to... abort your pregnancy... and so I started to look through your mother's library." She saw the surprised look on both Asami's and Korra's face. "Oh... yeah... this all belongs to your mother..." she said with a grin and winked at Yasuko who looked like she had won a prize.
"I might be a woman... but knowledge is power after all." She said with a chuckle.
"That is indeed true." Axis said in agreement before she continued. "So... I found out there had been more cases like this. Most of them from the water tribes. During a war many years ago, the Southern tribe was attacked, women were raped, children abducted, the elderly were killed on sight..." she said with a shuddering breath. "Many of those raped women fell pregnant but back then, there were many more Voodoo Masters than now." She picked up the leather bound book and held it with one hand. "During the night of the Blood Moon, the Mother of life can be summoned to the Mortal world. She is the one responsible for all every birth and every conception of a child."
"So? What does..-" Korra started but was shushed by the other woman.
"I wasn't finished, geesh don't be so impatient." She said and smirked when she saw the Avatar pout. "As I was saying... the Mother of Life can be summoned. The Voodoo Master can make a request on the future's mother behalf. She is able to remove the unwanted essence from the unborn child... and replace it, with that of someone else."
Asami, Yasuko and Korra all gasped at the same time. "But... that means..." Korra stared.
Axis rose a finger up to Korra and she immediately shut up again. "The essence that is removed, must be replaced with that of someone else's."
"So..." Korra looked from Asami to Axis, to Yasuko and back at Asami. "Whose essence will replace Noatak's?"
Axis smirked and with one fluent motion, closed the book with both hands and gave Korra her desired answer. "Yours..."
AN: HA! Bet neither of you saw that coming... :P
*evil laughter of doom*