AN: a late Merry Christmas to all of you and a happy birthday to mpowers045 who asked me if I could post this on his birthday :)
Thank you all for reading my lovelies!
Chapter 25
Both couples woke up when the sun decided to rise from behind the mountains in the east. The day had come for them to journey to the South.
Slowly but surely, all four women made last minute preparations. One of them was, Yasuko telling her daughter and daughter in law, that she was coming along. Both Korra and Asami were in a state of shock. Happy, but shocked.
Apparently the older Sato had planned it in advance, since she had her luggage ready to go and waiting. Axis couldn't help but grin.
Hiroshi however, wasn't as pleased. Although, deep inside, he knew why she went. Even he wasn't blind to what was happening between his wife and the Voodoo Master. But instead of making a scene and start and argument, which he knew Yasuko would win, he ordered the servants to help the four women with packing. Even though he did not agree with his daughter leaving, his heart clenched in his chest when he saw her being busy with readjusting the contents of one of the trunks. His eyes fell on the subtle swell of his daughters stomach and guilt washed over him.
He had wanted nothing but help his little girl after she had been returned to him. Instead, he made everything worse and she had to deal with the consequences. He swallowed the growing lump in his throat and walked over to his daughter and heir.
"Asami...?" His voice was much soften than usual.
The young woman turned around, away from readjusting the clothes and items in her trunk. She smiled when she saw her father. "Yes?"
Hiroshi fumbled with his hands, unsure on what to do. "I... I just wanted to say..." she swallowed hard, the lump in his throat still there, still growing. "I... I'm sorry... Asami..." he eventually whispered and his gaze now towards the floor.
"Dad... it's..-"
"Not my fault...? Yes, it is Asami... The part where you got kidnapped not perhaps... but the part afterwards...? Yes, that's all on me." He took a deep breath before he let it out again in a deep sigh. "I'm so sorry Asami. Truly, I am... if I could redo everything... I would've handled things differently..." He turned slightly, facing the servants behind him. "Bring it here." He simply said and the two servants disappeared from sight, just to come back within a few seconds. They carried a big trunk between them and clearly had trouble lifting it with just the two of them.
"Dad, what..."
He raised his hand to stop her and opened the trunk once it was put down on the ground. "I removed all the books from your mothers library that I thought were 'unfitting' for a lady like you. Even though I knew you loved reading them. I've been a fool, but from this day forth, I will not hold you back. Ever again." He said and stepped away from the trunk, revealing its contents to Asami whose eyes went open wide.
She slowly sat down next the trunk. Her hands sliding over the books. Books over blacksmithing. Weapons. Army. Fighting. All the books her father had removed, were now brought back to her. She couldn't believe her eyes and after a few seconds of being frozen in place from shock. She got back up on her feet and threw her arms around her fathers neck from pure happiness. Kissing his cheek once. "Thank you thank you thank you!"
He was surprised by her reaction, but embraced his daughter in a gentle hug. Patting her back with one hand. "You can take them with you on your journey to the South. Who knows, they might come in handy even..." He couldn't hide the tears that were slowly starting to blur his vision. "I'm so sorry Asami... will you ever be able to forgive me?"
Asami just smiled and nodded. Tears now formed in her own eyes. "I already have dad... I know that you never meant for me to get hurt..." she let out a relieved sigh and hugged him once more before she finally let go.
"Everything ready?" Korra suddenly asked and joined father and daughter. "Oh, uh, did I interrupt anything...?"
Hiroshi smiled, shaking his head while Asami snuck an arm around her wife's waist. "No no, don't worry Avatar Korra. As a matter of fact... I have a late wedding gift for you both." Hiroshi said and the same servants as before, came in with another trunk and placed it for the two married women. He nodded at his daughter in law and she slowly opened it.
Both she and Asami gasped in amazement at the contents of the trunk. It was filled with golden and silver coins. Small but precious gems. Korra had never seen so much wealth, even with her father being the chief of their tribe. She sat down on her knees in front of the trunk, her hand on the coins and moved it side ways a few times. Her eyes still wide open from shock. Finally, she snapped out of it and got back on her feet. "We can't possibly... I mean... it's to much..."
"Please, accept it. It will make everything so much more comfortable on your journey. Do with it what you wish. Share it with the people you see on your journey." He said and put a hand on Korra's shoulder. His other on Asami's.
The heiress swallowed hard but nodded. Her hand entwining with Korra's. "No use to refuse Korra. He'll have someone place it on your ship anyway." She said with a chuckle.
The Avatar rubbed the back of her neck and smiled sheepishly at her father in law. Giving Asami's hand a gentle squeeze. "W-well... if you put it like that... we gladly accept then, sir."
"Please call me Hiroshi."
"If you'll call me Korra, I will." She said with genuine smile.
Out of the blue, Asami threw her arms around her fathers neck. She hugged him with all the strength she could muster and kissed his cheek. "I love you dad..." she said while Hiroshi's arms wrapped around his daughter.
"I love you too, Asami."
Finally, they pulled back and broke their embrace. Both Sato's now wiping their eyes with the back of their hand. Korra and Asami continued to pack everything and the servants brought everything outside where Axis helped to put the trunks onto the cart.
The Voodoo Master was happily helping out the servants while Yasuko admired her lover's biceps. A huge smirk on her face as she bit her lower lip. She eventually realized she was staring and that the Southerner was staring right back at her. A shit eating grin decorated her face along with her wiggling eyebrows. They both burst out laughing and the older Sato walked over to the Master and gave her a kiss on her tanned cheek.
She couldn't help it. Her heart ached from this new feeling and she wanted nothing more then to stay with Axis, no matter where she'd go. She smiled when Axis hopped off the cart and walked over to her. Her strong hands taking a firm hold onto her waist and lifted the older woman clean off of the ground and onto the cart. "Pretty ladies don't walk." She said, her grin never fading while Yasuko's cheeks showed a faint pink.
"What am I to do with you...?" she said with a chuckle. Her hand moving through Axis' soft hair.
"Am sure we can think of a few things..."
Yasuko became a stuttering, blushing mess after that and gave Axis a playful slap against her upper arm. Axis just started to laugh harder and gestured to Korra and Asami to come. "Time to go!"
Korra, Asami and Hiroshi joined Axis and Yasuko at the cart after the last trunks had been put onto it. Korra placed Asami next her mother by lifting her up like Axis had done with Yasuko. The entire group started to move and left the Sato estate behind with each step. Yasuko and Asami both looked over their shoulder. Asami remembering her protected youth. How she had pretty much been locked up her entire life, even though she knew her parents tried nothing but do the right thing.
Yasuko looked at it with a mixed feeling. She had been grateful for everything that Hiroshi had done for her, but she no longer could lie to herself. She had buried her true self for to long. She had loved Hiroshi more than she had loved any man in her life. But she couldn't deny her growing feelings for the Voodoo Master. Her heart skipped a beat when her lover looked over her shoulder, their eyes locked in an intense gaze and she smiled warmly at her. A smile that Axis returned. I'm sorry Tari... I will always love you... but I cannot ignore these feelings. She thought, realizing that what she and Axis shared, was more than just sex. The older Sato was still deep in thought when the cart came to a halt.
They had stopped near the docks. The was a small ship waiting for them. Both Southerners had hopped off and helped their better halves off of the cart. Along with the servants and dockworkers, both Korra and Axis helped unload the cart and brought everything aboard their ship. It was a mini version of the other ships that were laying at other docks, but still. Big enough for four people and a polar bear dog. Axis and Korra both lead the Sato's around on their ship. The two proud Southerners spoke with pride about how they had build it themselves several years ago.
Below deck there were two bedrooms. One for Korra and Asami and one for Axis and Yasuko. It wasn't big and spacious but warm and cosy. There were also two storage rooms. One for all their luggage, and one where all the food and water barrels were stored. There was another room where Naga would be sleeping. Right in the middle of the ship.
Finally, after everything was stored on board, it was time for the four of them to leave. They made their way back to the upper deck and walked over the plank that connected the ship to the dock. Hiroshi was waiting. Sadness decorated his face but love filled his heart. Tears shimmered in his eyes which he quickly wiped away with the back of his hand. He opened his arms and held his wife and daughter both. "I wish you both good luck on your journey. Where ever it may take you." He whispered. His voice trembled from emotion.
Yasuko and Asami returned the embrace with equal love. Two pairs of lips kissed either of his cheeks and after several seconds more, they broke their embrace and pulled back slightly. Stepping back from one another. He then turned his head to the Southerners that stood a few feet behind his two girls. Axis tried to avoid looking at him at all but Korra smiled brightly at her father in law. He walked over to them both and hugged them as well. Yasuko and Asami both stunned.
"You take care of my girls." He said and pulled back to look at them. First at Korra and then at Axis. When his eyes met Axis', he continued. "Both of them."
Korra and Axis both nodded. Although there was a sheepish smile plastered on Axis' face. Both of them assured him that they would and were released from his embrace. The four women walked over the plank and back onto the ship. As Korra and Axis readied the ship for departure, both Sato women stood near the railing. Tears slid down their cheeks as they waved Hiroshi goodbye. Slowly but surely, he got smaller and smaller as they left Yue Bay behind. Up to the point where they couldn't make out who he was in the rest of the crowd. Everything became a blur except for the watch towers that stood at the entrance of the bay.
Asami was in thought when two arms snuck around her waist unexpectedly. Tanned hands rested on her belly and soft lips kissed her neck. "You okay Sami...?"
The Heiress nodded, the faint traces of her tears nearly gone. "Yes... even though it hurts to leave, I know the cause. I know our destination." She turned around in her wife's arms. Her own slipped around the Avatar's neck. Their foreheads rested against one another when she let out a content sigh. "I'm scared... of the journey ahead. Last time I was gone from home, bad things happened."
Korra opened her eyes and locked with Asami's emeralds. Her embrace tightened and a smile appeared on her wife's face. "I'll be with you, always."
Asami let out a soft chuckle and rested her head on Korra's shoulder. "I know. You make me strong. I might not look like it, but I'm no longer the same person you met on that ship all those months ago... you think you can love the new me?" Asami's eyes showed a flicker of fear when she asked the question but that fear was extinguished when tan lips found hers as an answer. They melted into the kiss and both closed their eyes in this intimate moment.
Korra held her pale beauty lovingly. One hand on the small of her back, the other placed neatly on the back of Asami's head. Buried in black locks. When they finally broke free from their kiss, both women were breathless but laughed. The ship continued it's journey smoothly as they stood there at the prow of the ship. Enjoying the view of endless water at the horizon.
The days went by slowly as their ship sailed smoothly over the ocean's surface. Korra and Axis didn't have to do much except make sure that they were still going into the right direction. They always made sure that they could still see the shore. Asami and Yasuko enjoying the view of land sliding by slowly. On the third day, they docked at a small island and enjoyed its beautiful flora. There were flowers everywhere and while Korra, Asami and Naga remained in the forest a little longer, Axis and Yasuko decided to do something about dinner. Fishing to be exact.
Axis couldn't help but laugh at the older woman as she explained everything. All the wisdom in the world, but fishing was something she had never done in her life. Ever. After Axis managed to get Yasuko a rod in hand and bait in the water, she started to ready her own. A shriek made her flinch and turn around with the speed of an airbender.
"Axis! Axis! It's pulling me down!" Yasuko shrieked while she held onto the rod for, what she made it look like, dear life. "What do I do?!"
"Pull it up! Up! Get it out of the water!"
Axis rushed to Yasuko's side and together, they held the rod and pulled. Or tried at least. Somehow, in the heat of the moment, one woman tripped over the feet of the other. With a loud splash, they fell off the docks and landed in the water.
Korra and Asami sat on Naga's back as they came rushing back to shore. "Axis! Yasuko!?" The Avatar jumped off of Naga's back and rushed towards the docks but stopped dead in her tracks when she heard laughter from under the docks. "Oh for Spirits sake...!" She muttered and let out a sigh of relief.
Asami caught up with her wife and raised a curious eyebrow. "I guess it's not as bad as we thought...?" She said with a giggle and took a gentle hold onto Korra's arm.
She rolled her eyes playfully while she and Asami stepped closer. "What are you two doing in Raava's name?"
It took a few seconds and after a few more giggles and snorts, they finally got an answer. "We caught dinner!" Yasuko said proudly and held her catch in her arms. It was so big that she had to hold it with both her hands. Axis stood behind her, a big and proud grin on her face.
Both Korra and Asami helped the other two out of the water while they chuckled softly. They got onto the shore and the two Southerners cleaned the fish while the Sato's got a fire going. Korra turned the fish above the fire slowly while Naga laid next her. Her eyes focussed on the fish. Her tail wagging happily while her nose wiggled every so often.
Once it was time to eat, they all settled against Naga's side comfortably while the polar bear dog munched happily on her own food. They enjoyed the sunset while they all slowly finished their meal and got ready to get back onto the ship to crawl in bed and sleep. Asami laid on her side in bed and smiled when two warm arms wrapped around her from behind. Her wife's chest now against her back. Sweet lips kissing the back of her neck.
"How are you feeling...?" Korra asked, her lips continued to brush against pale skin.
"Mhn... I'm feeling good. I think the baby liked the fish too." She giggled.
"That's good to know. Last time you ate you didn't feel that well." Korra whispered and placed a kiss just behind Asami's ear. She felt her wife shudder in her arms.
"T-that... feels nice..." Her tone light and her voice as soft as Korra's. "And yes, I guess my diet needs to change..."
"Good thing we're close to water." The Avatar snickered softly, her fingertips stroke Asami's bare stomach. "More then enough fish..."
Asami let out the softest moan but slowly turned around to face her wife. She cupped Korra's face with both hands and closed the gap between their faces when she pulled her closer. Kissing her tenderly at first. It didn't take long before the kiss deepened. Pale hands now buried in short, chestnut hair. "Korra..." she breathed. Her heart swelled with love for the other woman as they kissed again. Her hands held desperately onto her wife.
"Asami... I love you..." Korra whispered to the pale beauty in between kisses. She changed positions slightly and leaned over Asami's body once she got her to lay on her back. The kiss was broken but her tan lips found other skin to kiss. The Avatar heard her wife whimper underneath her. One hand still buried in her short hair, the other pressed between her shoulder blades. "I love you so much..." She continued to shower the Heiress with words of love as she removed her sleeping dress. The pelt would keep them both warm.
Asami's hands moved to remove Korra's sleeping clothes while the Southerner helped her out of her own sleeping dress. Her heart thundering in her chest. "I love you... I love you more then I could ever say..." She breathed before their lips locked once again in a deep and passionate kiss.
Their room filled with soft sounds of pleasure as their bodies moved in sync with one another. Their bed cracked only slightly as they moved. Backs arched in passion. Nails leaving thin, red marks on pale and darker skin. Teeth grazing over sensitive flesh. As their love making continued, the volume of their cries did as well. In an attempt to keep it down, they kissed. Their sounds muffled as they held onto each other for dear life as the peak of their passion ripped through both of them. Their movements slowed down. Their foreheads rested against one another as they milked their joined release for as long as humanly possible.
Slowly but surely, every movement stopped and Korra lowered herself on top of her wife. Arms wrapped securely around the Heiress. The kiss they shared was slow. Their hearts beating as one. Pale arms wrapped around Korra's waist, holding her beloved close. Slowly, they drifted to sleep. The Moon the only witness to their love making.