A Legend of Korra Fanfic
By Sakura Martinez (aka SMTsukishiro)

Author's Note

What's up, guys?

Sorry if this chapter took so long to be uploaded. I have been extremely busy as of late (and will continue to be so for a little while longer), not to mention that my Beta is also somewhat busy and had taken a while to finish beta'ing this chapter.

Anyways, this is quite a longer chapter than the previous one so I hope that, at least, makes up for the delay.

So...without prolonging the wait much further...

Allons-y~!

Summary:

A promising engineering student. A mysterious woman capable of controlling the four elements. When their paths cross, the resulting collision not only changes their lives and themselves, but the fate of the entire world as well. [Korrasami AU]

The Legend of Korra:

The Schism

Chapter 33. Stowaway

Asami was silent as she took to the helm and maneuvered the airship to the borders of the Fire Nation. They didn't have any specific destination just yet, all she knew was what Jinora had told her: to head first to the Fire Nation. She was going to let Opal and Kai decide on where they should go. Granted, it should have been up to the Avatar to decide—after all, the search for the Cores was her quest—but taking into account that Korra knew next to nothing about the world outside Nia Bayou, letting her decide was out of the question.

Prior to designating herself as the captain of their commandeered vessel—which, really, there was no debate over given that she was the only person who could fly the airship; who knew it inside and out—Korra had asked about Jinora. Instead of answering then and there, Asami had waved off her questions—likewise those of Kai who was worse than Korra was when it came to asking what had happened to the young Air Nomad.

Annoyed at the nonstop questions from Kai, she had then told the young man to go and explore their little airship, asking Opal and Korra to go along with him and just leave her there at the bridge. The thought of looking around had the desired effect on Kai, who agreed to it but not before promising that the 'interrogation' was far from over. Korra, on the other hand, declined the invitation. She didn't give a reason, but Opal could tell it was because of their raven-haired pilot (who, upon hearing Korra's decision, had bit back the urge to groan).

Asami had wanted to be alone. She had hoped the Avatar would take that chance to look around at what Korra had admitted was something she was awed by. Despite keeping to herself and occasionally poking around the controls (which had earned the shorter girl a couple of glares from the brilliant, young inventor), Korra's presence made it difficult for the Prodigy to sort out her thoughts—which was what she had hoped to do, including preparing the explanation Korra was expecting her to give not just about Jinora but about this whole airship and everything it entailed.

She was about to continue keeping her silence until they got to a good enough distance from Taku and the Pohuai Stronghold—that was her plan—until Korra's curiosity got the better of her and she tried to flip one of the switches on the dashboard to see what it did. Before the darker-skinned young woman could, Asami smacked Korra's hand away from the switch, giving the Avatar an exasperated look.

"Don't touch that," she had said with a scowl on her face. She paused for a heartbeat before amending her statement. "In fact, don't touch anything on the console."

Korra matched the expression that was on Asami's face with one of her own. "You didn't have to be so aggressive about it. It's just a lever."

"A lever that could have caused one of the engines to shut down," the Prodigy countered, not looking at the Avatar as she spoke. Korra couldn't help but notice how rigid and frigid Asami had been ever since boarding the airship.

"Oh…" She warred with herself whether she should breach the topic and get it over with, but glancing at Asami—whose knuckles had turned white from how firmly she held onto the airship's wheel—made Korra hesitate and forced her into silence, occasionally looking at the only other person in the bridge.

The chocolate-haired, young woman wrinkled her nose. She thought she already had a good feel of Asami; had thought she had witnessed all there was to her. The Asami whom she was with now was not like the one whom she had argued with before. Certainly not the one she had had dinner with. Whereas those versions of the young woman she had (dare she say it?) grown fond of were open and accommodating (even when Korra was being rather unfair about it), this Asami was a complete opposite of it. She was closed off, distant. It would be fair to say that Korra did not like this Asami much.

"If you have something to say," Asami's words jerked her away from her thoughts, cleaving the silence that had permeated the air in two. "Then just spill it out, Korra."

It was an invitation, but it sounded more like a dare; a challenge. From the tone the other young woman used, Korra had no doubt Asami would not welcome anything she had to say. As though there was an underlying message—a warning of a consequence—should Korra really say something. It was enough to give pause to anyone, even the deity-turned human.

Still, Korra loved a challenge. And even though any other person might have felt the warning bells in their heads blaring enough to shut them up for a good while, they were just something the Avatar waved off, throwing caution to the wind.

"It's nothing." Korra decided to go for nonchalance, shrugging even with her arms crossed. "I was simply wondering who you are and what you have done with my…" the Avatar paused for a short while, before nodding to herself and finally adding the word she never thought she would call a human by. "…friend."

Friend. That truly was a strange word for the Avatar to say, especially to describe any human with. It rolled off her tongue strangely. The whole 'friendship-with-a-human' thing was alien to her. And she didn't even know how true the words were until she had uttered it to describe Asami and the others to Jinora.

She shook her head and cleared her throat before adding, "I am also considering the fact that I may have done something to offend you for the past hour or so that would warrant such a reaction from you. I would like to apologize if that is so, but I feel as though such an apology—when I do not even know what it is I am apologizing for—would be meaningless."

The sapphire-eyed Avatar waited as patiently as she could, trying not to fidget (another mannerism she had picked up ever since losing the Four Elemental Spirits) from where she stood. It was at that moment that Korra found she did not like the brand of silence that floated around them. Had it been a tangible thing, the Avatar would have undoubtedly wrangled and thrown it overboard, and maybe set it aflame for good measure before burying it completely into the earth. But, as it was, she could do nothing save steel herself in the midst of this uncomfortable and stifling silence.

When it became apparent that Asami was not going to give her the conversation she desired, Korra had the overwhelming urge to try her luck by messing about with the console just to get some sort of response out of the other woman. Of course, she thought better of it. Though she honestly thought it would be rather entertaining.

With a sigh, the Avatar tried to get comfortable from where she decided to sit. She wasn't going to leave Asami by herself—and it wasn't just because she really could learn the meaning of giving space, but because, despite being impressed with human ingenuity with regards to the airship, she didn't fully trust that it would be able to carry them to their destination. She wanted to be there for Asami should they end up plummeting to the earth.

Although…even with such a chivalrous reasoning (which she honestly believed that was) for staying, Korra couldn't help feeling bored. Meditating was something she would have liked to do, but she didn't feel right doing. She didn't think practicing stances was something Asami would welcome either. And even when she tried her best to stay still and not make any noise, Korra couldn't help the audible sigh that escaped her lips—despite the thrumming and humming of the engine, was one that was loud enough for the otherwise noiseless room.

The unbidden sound had Korra looking cautiously at Asami and wondering why she was doing so not soon afterwards. Really, when had she ever been afraid of a human? She was certain, as capable a fighter as Asami was, the taller girl would not be able to do anything to harm her. Asami, however, did nothing. She didn't even make any exasperated noise, nor looked at the direction of the chocolate-skinned girl. Korra didn't know whether to feel relieved or even more annoyed with how pointedly and blatantly she was being ignored.

Though Korra swore to herself that she would keep a close watch over Asami, she couldn't help the drowsiness that soon enveloped her. Though she fought—valiantly, she might add—against it, it slowly claimed her.

Opal really had no interest in looking around their newly-acquired airship. It wasn't like it was the first time she boarded one. Being friends with Asami Sato and being a member of a prominent family such as herself had made rides on airship a rather frequent thing. So she really wasn't as impressed as Korra or Kai were, nor did she really want to go explore every inch of it as the Avatar's Steward wanted to do.

It was quite a sight, however—Kai's excitement. At any other given moment it would have been contagious. But with Asami acting strange—well stranger—when it came to the company her father had built from the ground up, Opal couldn't really find it in her to join in or tease the young man about it.

"You know," Kai broke her reverie as they were just about to take the stairs down to the lower levels of the airship leading to the maintenance areas. "You don't have to come along with me if you don't want to."

"Huh?" Opal wasn't certain she had heard the young man right.

"You're worried about them, aren't you?" Kai asked, stopping in his tracks just one step short of getting to the landing. "Well, I am too but I don't think either of them would really say anything to me if I asked."

"I'm not sure they would speak with me either." Opal admitted. "I'm not even a hundred percent certain I know what's going on."

"Well, compared to me, you know Asami better. And even if I had been with the Lady Avatar for much longer, it's not as if she and I actually have any connection to spark a conversation like this with. Our…friendship is still budding, after all."

Opal crossed her arms and frowned. She didn't really like what Kai was suggesting—even though she was just as curious as he was to get to the bottom of whatever was eating Asami. She knew how talking with Asami was when she was like this. It would be like getting a child to go to the dentist to have their tooth pulled.

But, even amidst the withering gaze she had been directing at Kai, the young man continued to look expectantly at her—as though waiting for Opal herself to volunteer for the task. She had the sudden urge to give his head a good whack.

She controlled herself however, and instead, ran a hand over her hair, contemplating on what should be done; what would be the healthy approach would be for their team. It didn't take long after that for her to relent to what Kai wanted.

When she told the young man that she would be heading back to the bridge, Kai didn't give a whoop of victory nor did he looked smug at all. He simply nodded, looking quite happy with her decision. It was a gentle smile—a rare kind from the young steward—that Opal couldn't quite wrap her head around.

"Are you sure you're going to be alright by yourself?" Opal just had to ask, readying herself to climb the stairs back up.

Kai rolled his eyes and snorted. "You're kidding, right? I find it highly unlikely for me to get lost here. It's not as if this place is even big enough to get lost in."

Opal wanted to tell Kai that just because they were in an enclosed space, doesn't mean that it was impossible to get lost, but she chose not to, figuring that experience would be a better teacher for the messy-haired youth. She also didn't want to kill the excitement that the young man obviously felt at the thought of exploring the remaining part of the airship by himself.

And so, Opal simply nodded before turning on her heel and climbing right back up the spiral staircase, retracing her steps back to the bridge, hoping that Asami and Korra hadn't started arguing with each other yet again.

She glanced behind her and couldn't help the sigh of relief that escaped her when she saw Korra sleeping. For the first time since taking command of the ship's helm, Asami eased her iron-clad grip on the wheel and allowed the tension to leave from her body, which leaned further in on the wheel as though it was not just meant to steer the ship but also to support her weight.

What am I doing? She wondered as her gaze returned to the serene landscape of the sky and clouds, remembering how she was with Korra. She knew the Avatar was only showing concern, but she couldn't help the way she handled that situation.

It is what fear does, she wagered. She was honest enough with herself to admit that was what she was feeling. Fear. It twists you. Makes you feel anger towards anything and anyone in the hopes of making it seem like you're not afraid.

Her introspections were cut short when Opal spoke up from behind, saying, "I'm not sure if I should be relieved or worried that Korra is slumped unconscious over there. You two didn't end up having a fist-fight while I was gone, did you?"

Asami rolled her eyes. "That's stupid. What would even you the idea that Korra would be the one out cold should that ever happen?"

"Because I don't think Korra would raise a hand against you, no matter how she might feel about being forced into submission by a human." Opal sounded so honest and sure about that that the young prodigy couldn't help but wonder where her friend was getting all of these ideas from.

But instead of questioning this, all Asami could manage to ask was, "What are you doing here, Opal? Shouldn't you be with Kai right now?"

The Historian made her way to stand right beside the Prodigy, keeping her hands to herself, knowing that Asami would chop her hand off (if she could) should she touch any of the buttons, levers, knobs, and all the other switches that were on the console.

She let a few beats of silence descend upon them before she replied—all notes of playfulness in her tone gone—with, "I was worried about you."

That caused Asami to soften yet again.

"What's up with you, Asami?" The question came as expected. "You've been acting pretty strangely ever since we saw this airship docked at Pouhai. I can't really think of any other reason why you would be acting like this except, maybe, it has something to do with your father's company. Either that, or you and Korra had another fight we didn't know about, and well…the involvement of Jinora."

"I didn't have an argument with Korra," Asami knew she had to clear that out. "And this has nothing to do with Jinora either. She—Jinora—was the one who chose not to get on-board. She all but pushed me inside when I made it clear my conscience would not agree with me leaving her behind."

"So, your father's company then?"

The emerald-eyed, young woman bit her lip. She didn't know how to explain it. She wasn't even certain she was ready to. She still didn't have any proof—except for those that had been hastily scribbled on her notebook—that it was as she had feared.

Opal saved her from answering outright by continuing on with her train of thought as though there was not a moment of silence that passed between them. "I know you don't like people knowing you're the daughter of Hiroshi Sato and realizing that you're not just a brilliant, beautiful, young woman aspiring to be an inventor like your father but also the heir to the most powerful company in the world—" That got a raised eyebrow from Asami, and a small—almost non-existent—twist on her mouth. "—but it's not as if you could keep that secret for long. Sooner or later, we're going to run into someone who knows who you are. I don't think Korra or Kai would appreciate you hiding the truth from them. Besides, I don't think you can beat the Avatar. I mean, sure, you are considered to be amongst the elite but Korra's kind of…legendary, being the Avatar and all."

"I'm not…hiding it." It was a pathetic attempt, Asami knew. Even she didn't sound believable to herself.

"Really?" Opal, obviously, didn't believe her. "So, all those times you were giving me that look whenever we breach the subject and the way you always segued away from it, what do you call those?"

The raven-haired, young woman heaved a sigh that ended with blowing a raspberry. She ran a hand through her hair as her mind began to construct the sentence that would allow her to explain properly to Opal just what it was that made her act that way. Opal, thankfully, was quite patient with her, allowing her the time to do so.

After a short while, Asami finally spoke.

"My father," she began. "I think he might be working with those masked men that attacked us."

There were many things Opal thought Asami would say when she began with the phrase "My father". Hearing her friend say that she thought her father was working for the enemy was definitely not one of them. So, it should be understandable that the only thing the otherwise chatty historian would say was, "What?"

"I know what it sounds like, Opal." Asami began, for once the dam was opened she found it hard to stop. "It sounds utterly ridiculous. As much as my father has changed since my mother died, he wouldn't do something so terrible as to lend a hand to those people. I am actually hoping to be mistaken in this."

"Okay, hold up!" Opal raised a hand to make her point. "What made you suspect Mr. Sato, Asami? I'm guessing this didn't just come right out of the blue and isn't just one of your rebellious streaks."

"I never had a rebellious streak," Asami placed a free hand on her hip, challenging Opal to say otherwise.

Not one to back out of a challenge—especially one she believed she could win—Opal began to enumerate, "What about that childhood friend of yours you used to tell me about? Or the time when you got fed up with your old man and ditched an entire week's worth of classes? Need I even point out that time when you snuck into your father's office when he specifically told you not to just because you were looking for some inspiration for your thesis? There's also that time when you had me lie to your father about your whereabouts when you went to that party he told you not to attend and ended up almost making out with—"

"Alright!" Asami had to raise her voice just to cut Opal off, and then immediately glanced behind them just to make sure they hadn't stirred the sleeping Avatar awake. "You have made your point."

"Thank you." Opal grinned. "So? What made you suddenly think that of Mr. Sato?"

"Do you…Do you remember those days I was tinkering with the glove trying to figure out how it works? To understand how it was able to make use of the spirits?" Asami asked, eyes again focused forward and both hands tightly gripping the airship's wheel.

Opal nodded and Asami caught the gesture on the corner of her eyes.

"I noticed something strange then." She continued. "My father always told me that each inventor has their own signature—a certain way they do things. And that includes the way they build what it was they invent. He said, no two inventor could build a single thing exactly the same way. Their difference could lie on how the wires were soldered, or what the cogs, panels, and circuits looked like, and not just the general design of their inventions. Growing up, he encouraged me to find my own, unique signature and he always showed me how he does things. I've seen it enough times that I've memorized his signature on each and every single one of his works." Asami paused, turning to look at Opal before saying the words she already knew the Earth Kingdom native had pieced together. "The glove had his signature, Opal. And not just the one I've modified for myself. Even those we've pilfered from the guards when we came to rescue you. The gloves are his handiwork. There is no mistaking it."

"Are you sure? Are you really positive about this, Asami?"

"I don't know. It could be someone is just copying him," the porcelain-skinned young engineer replied, biting her lip. "That was why I couldn't say anything. And I'm even more frightened to know the truth. I…I don't want to have to choose between my father and Korra—what she is fighting for."

Silence once again covered the duo, but it was one Asami welcomed and allowed to stay for a little while longer.

"You know…" Opal began after a little while. "I understand why you would feel frightened of it, but…I think you should be honest with Korra. She deserves to know what she might be getting into. And besides, I think it would be better if she hears it from you."

"I know…but—"

"Asami…" Opal whined. She was about to go into a tirade when an explosion suddenly rocked the airship and alarms started blaring around them, red lights flashing in tandem.

Asami quickly checked the airship's readings, wondering where the explosion had occurred and what had caused it. She was about to get Opal to wake Korra up when she found the darker-skinned girl already on her side asking her what had happened. She tried not to make any sounds of surprise but was certain a little squeak made its way out of her mouth.

Choosing to ignore it, Asami began to look at the meters and gauges that dotted the airship's console, looking for any hint as to where the explosion occurred and what caused it. Her trained eye immediately saw the irregularity in the information being displayed on the console and allowed her to confidently make a deduction.

"The cargo bay," Asami answered with a frown. She turned on her heels and hastily began to make her way out of the cockpit. She didn't get far, however. She didn't even manage to reach the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Korra asked, her fingers tightly wound around the Prodigy's wrist.

"Where do you think?" Asami asked right back. No one could miss the angry look at her face. It took not just Korra by surprise, but even Opal.

The grip slackened for a bit, but Korra didn't let go of her. And the two had an intense stare-off that could only occur between two, very strong-willed people.

"Do you even know what caused the explosion, Asami?" Opal stepped right next to the Avatar.

"That's why I'm heading there. To find out."

"No." Avatar Korra spoke sternly.

Her words caused Asami to straighten and give her a stink-eye. "Excuse me?"

Korra, noticing the look Opal was giving her, quickly amended her statement by adding. "You needn't bother yourself about that. Opal and I will check the cargo bay. You should stay here and ensure this thing remains air-born. You are the only one here who can fly this airship."

"Korra's right," Opal nodded in agreement. "Leave the cargo bay to us. We'll use the internal radios I've noticed installed around here to contact you if we need anything."

Asami took a look at the door as well as the hallway that stretched behind her, then to Korra and Opal, before her eyes settled on the airship's console. She knew what they said made sense and she could find nothing to argue against them with and so all Asami could do was resign herself to the fact that she was going to be stuck in the cockpit of their airship.

"Fine," she huffed. "Just…be careful you two."

At that Korra smiled confidently at her and relinquished her hold on the young prodigy. "I'm the Avatar," she reminded the raven-haired girl. "I can deal with anything." As soon as those words were said, Korra made a mad dash to where she thought the cargo bay was.

With a sigh, Asami looked at Opal who immediately assured her, "I'll make sure she doesn't end up wrecking anything," before following after the dark-skinned girl.

As soon as they were gone, Asami quickly began inputting commands to the console, setting the built-in sprinklers in the cargo bay on and noting that the flames caused by the explosion was slowly creeping into the other parts of their ship.

Kai was glad he hadn't left his staff as well as his pockets filled with make-shift weapons behind. Had he done so, he wondered how he would be able to deal with the stowaway. He was equally thankful that he had come across Naga as well. The Polar Bear Dog gave him the backup he required.

The man he was fighting against was no joke. He was skilled—and dangerously so. He didn't seem to care if the airship ended up being destroyed, if the gun he was using—or was it a portable canon? The Avatar's Steward wouldn't be surprised if it was—if the power behind it had anything to say. He fired the weapon with impunity, not caring if he missed and damaged the cargo bay's structure.

"Tired already?" the man shouted, goading Kai from where he and Naga were currently hiding. Laughing, he added, "Come on…I thought you said you were going to kick me out of your airship."

Kai gritted his teeth and was glad when he heard the low, guttural growl that was coming from his Polar Bear Dog companion. Yet, as much as he was itching to shut the man up and get him to taste his fist, Kai knew better than to simply attack the intruder head-on.

He looked at Naga whose teeth were bared, eyes that had often looked bored and gentle now ferociously eyeing the spot where Kai guessed the Polar Bear Dog could sense their common enemy. Though Kai would have liked to keep Naga safe—knowing how much the Avatar cared for her—he was left no other choice than to seek the furry animal's aide if he wished to keep the airship from being destroyed.

Looping an arm around the Polar Bear Dog's neck, Kai leaned in and whispered what he intended to do, knowing that Naga would understand him and that she would do her part in his haphazardly concocted plan. As soon as he was done instructing Naga, he nudged the Polar Bear Dog on her way, watching as the large, white mass of fur stealthily maneuvered around the towering cargo boxes and crates.

Kai then took a steadying breath, counting to ten in his head. At the count of ten, he dashed out of his hiding space, jumping through obstacles as he made his way to the man making sure to look every bit as a target as he possibly could. He was, after all, the bait. As he had anticipated, the man quickly aimed at him, firing away with his portable canon and blasting the crates—and whatever else was inside them—into smithereens.

The man confidently made his way while continuously firing at the Avatar's Steward, taking one step after another in order to get to his prey. A wrong maneuver on Kai's part, sent metallic crates avalanching and cutting off any escape he may have planned on his head.

"Game over, brat," the man's grin was malicious. His amber eyes blazing. The hand holding on to the portable canon never wavering from his target.

With every calm—yet eager—step the man took, the more Kai's heart pounded in his chest. He tried to keep the fear he felt from showing, not knowing if he was doing a good job or if it even really mattered.

Just when he was sure the man would shoot him, Naga came to his rescue—as Kai hoped she would—leaping into the air and tackled the intruder, knocking the gun away from his hand and pinning him down.

"Naga! Good job, girl!" Kai couldn't be happier at the sight of the Polar Bear Dog. Quickly the young steward scrambled towards the portable canon that had skidded away from its owner, taking it in his hand and pointing it at the amber-eyed man.

The man struggled beneath the snarling, hundred-pound animal. Punching and kicking Naga's underside in hopes of getting the Polar Dog off of him. This, of course, angered Kai who kept telling the man to stop.

Despite having a gun trailed on him, however, the man did not stop. He was confident Kai wouldn't be able to use the weapon on him; that he would be too weak-willed to fire. It was true, though. Kai couldn't do anything but fire warning shots that were unheeded.

When it would appear as though the man would soon be getting the upper hand, though, he suddenly stopped. His eyes went wide, face puffing with exertion yet he just laid there.

The confusion dissipated however when Korra's voice echoed throughout the cargo bay asking, "What's going on here?"

Post Author's Notes:

And there we have it. I'm pretty sure you guys could already guess who was causing a ruckus at the cargo bay and who Kai and Naga were battling against.

Anyways, I will not be able to update next week this coming week will be another busy one for me... (so many events, so little time). But, I will try, provided that my Beta could return the "fixed" chapter back to me on time. Otherwise, expect a double update for when I return.

So, anyways, I hope you liked this chapter.

As always, comments are welcomed-especially constructive ones! I am always eager to hear from you guys!

Until the next update...dream on; fly on!