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

Author's Notes:

Internet data caps SUCK.
I was supposed to upload this a week into October, but because of how stupidly unfair our ISP is, they decided to cut our internet off as early as October 7 with no explanation other than that we have reached our data cap (which wasn't true. We weren't even around much during the first week of October), so I was unable to update this fanfic (among other things) as much as I want to.

Anyways, I do appreciate you guys sticking around for this fanfic (as slowburn-ish as it is). Don't worry, though. We ARE getting there. :D

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 42: Getting Back On Track

Opal didn't know what to expect when she went to bed the night before. She had stopped presuming things ever since being embroiled with the Avatar, Korra. Indeed, she still had hopes and aspirations—her ever-imaginative and inquisitive mind still throwing one thing after another for her to ponder and anticipate—but she had been schooling herself into putting all that into a minimum. She had certainly told herself to stop envisaging things and instead put stock on her surrounding even more, observing things more closely than she had.

The young Historian couldn't help but lay a little bit of blame on herself for the rift that had blossomed between her closest friend and the Avatar. She thought that if she had been more observant, she would have prevented what had happened.

She had made it a point to apologize to both parties the night before. But Korra had been somber and had refused to even dine with them, saying she was not hungry. The Avatar had been the first to turn the night in, and they ate in silence after that—Kai eating more aggressively, as though pouring his anger out on the grilled beef they had for dinner. Later, the Avatar's Steward had marched out of the inn and to the stables where they had allowed Naga to sleep, in search of (what Opal supposed) was a more pleasant company.

Opal had tried talking to Asami then. But Asami looked so forlorn that it seemed bringing the matter up with her was not a good idea. The Prodigy had looked bad enough, she didn't want to add to that.

When she awoke the next morning, finding none but Kai still snoring loudly, as though he intended to inhale the entire inn, she had waved off Korra and Asami's absence as the former going off to check on Naga and the latter having breakfast before them. She did not expect—for she had stopped expecting things—to find the two sharing a table and speaking to one another.

She watched, baffled. Rubbing her eyes as though what she was seeing was a mirage. When she saw Korra grin and Asami laugh at whatever the Avatar had said, Opal went from thinking her eyes were fooling her to weighing the probability that, perhaps, she was still asleep and this was some sort of dream. Well, it was either that or she was going crazy from all the worrying she had been doing.

The youngest of the Bei Fongs was about to turn around and head back to bed—I don't think I've rested enough, she thought to herself—when Korra noticed she was there and, smiling, called for her to join them.

So, what was she to do—dream or not—but to go and join them? As Opal sat on one of the free stools by the head of the table Korra and Asami were occupying, she never let her eyes off of them. She was looking for any sign that may point out what was going on. Korra and Asami, for their part, paid her no mind. They resumed whatever discussion they were having, talking in between bites of their respective breakfasts.

To keep herself from continuously gawking and looking like an idiot in front of the two, Opal chose to call for an attendant, placing an order for a plate of dumplings and noodles to go with it. She waited, doing her best to keep herself from drumming her fingers, clearing her throat, and doing all the other things one would do to break a flowing conversation in hopes of getting an answer.

It wasn't like she didn't want to know. She did. She absolutely did. But she didn't want to break whatever peace had befallen her two companions. Although, she did feel left out.

It took a while before either of the two noticed her somewhat peculiar attitude, and by then, her breakfast had been served—though she had only thus been playing with it, only taking one or two bites.

And, of course, it was Asami who expressed her worry first.

"Opal, are you alright?" the raven-haired heiress asked with a frown. "You've been awfully quiet."

"I am perfectly fine," Opal replied. Startled though as she was, the young Bei Fong managed to regain her composure immediately. "And I see that you both are as well."

The two glanced at each other before turning their attention back to the young historian. Both shared a smile with Opal; both looked equally apologetic.

"We've patched things up," Asami said while Korra returned to devouring the contents of her breakfast. A raised eyebrow from Opal had the Prodigy add, "Last night."

"Last night?" Opal asked, thinking she might have misheard what Asami stated. Though she did direct her next question to Korra hoping to be enlightened about it, saying, "I thought you retired early last night. I saw you sleeping soundly by the time I came to rest."

"I did, however briefly." Korra affirmed. "But I woke up in the middle of the night and found difficulty in falling asleep again, so I went out for a walk."

"And you ran into each other then?" When both Asami and Korra nodded, Opal gave the Prodigy a withering look. "Have you lost your marbles?"

"What?" Asami was, of course, surprised to hear such a thing directed at her. "Excuse me?"

"Have you forgotten people are looking for you?" Opal was exasperated. "You shouldn't be walking around, alone, during the dead of night. Especially not while we're still within the borders of the Fire Kingdom. Not after what happened…"

Though the young inventor knew her friend's words had merit, she still couldn't stop herself from being defensive of her actions.

Crossing her arms with a huff, she retorted, "Well, they didn't come after me last night. And even if they did, I can take care of myself."

"Still, if you were taken by surprise and whisked away, we wouldn't have known. You have to be a lot more careful now, Asami."

"I agree with Opal." Korra shared her opinion. "You would not have a choice then but to meet your father if that were the case."

"Wait!" It was Opal's turn to be caught in surprise. "You know about Asami's father?"

"I do," the Avatar replied.

The aspiring historian, however, noted that Korra looked a little bit embarrassed. At first, she thought it was just the Avatar being surprisingly emphatic with the Heiress.

That understanding was corrected when Asami told her, "Apparently, our dear Avatar isn't above snooping."

Those words sent the Avatar blushing deeper than a freshly picked tomato. Uncharacteristically stuttering, she stood up for herself, saying, "I-I didn't mean to! It was not I wished to hear what you were both discussing back at the airship. I just happened to wake up at the exact moment you talking about your father. I have told you that, Asami. Besides, you can't fault me for being able to hear things more clearly than you humans."

"Or so she says," the Prodigy added with a smirk.

"It is the truth!" Korra hissed, glaring at Asami. Though if there was even a hint of warning from the Avatar not to challenge this fact she had stated, it was lost on Asami and Opal both. This only served to make the two other young woman laugh, causing the Avatar to growl in frustration in return, before letting herself focus on the remainder of her breakfast instead, muttering something about how annoying humans could be.

It was the middle of morning, Korra, Asami, and Opal had retired back to their room, when the Avatar finally breached the topic they most-needed to talk about at that moment: the Elemental Cores, specifically, the Elemental Core of Fire.

"We've dilly-dallied far too long already," Korra said. "Jinora had said that the state of the Spirit World is deteriorating, and I fear what I might see when I try to meditate myself to the other realm, we shouldn't prolong our search any longer."

"That is true, but we don't have any leads, Korra." Asami tried to be sensible about it. "Even if we want to find the Elemental Core of Fire, we don't know where to look for it. The Fire Kingdom is vast and combing through it is no joke."

"There must be something, though." Korra did not intend to be dissuaded any time soon. "A way that we can find these Elemental Cores without having to traverse the entirety of this planet."

"Well, if what we have gathered from Jinora is true—and I doubt she had any reason to lie about it—then perhaps there is a way." Opal spoke a few minutes later, when silence had settled and all three, young women were left to ponder on what they should do next.

"You have something for us, Opal?" the Avatar was excited to hear what it was.

"Hold on a second, Korra." It wasn't the Historian's desire to have to burst the Avatar's bubbles, but she didn't want to get the other girls' hopes up as well. "This may not be something of value. What I have is merely a conjecture. We might be grasping for straws here."

"It's better than nothing," Asami interjected.

The young Bei Fong sighed before delving in what she had realized the night before, as she was writing and perusing her journals. "The Elemental Cores are, by the by, related to the Elemental Spirits' powers, correct? Their heart, if you will, made dormant in our world? And they are guarded by, well, the Guardians."

"That is what Jinora had surmised," Korra nodded. "It is my task to awaken this cores in order to revive Alignak and the others and save the Spirit World."

"Right," Opal then flipped one of the notebooks scattered on her bed over to a dog-eared page. In it was a very-well-done cartograph of the world. "And from my understanding, Jinora also implied that each of our four continents house one of those elemental cores and that the volcanic eruptions that occurred weeks ago was caused by the Elemental Lord of Fire's absence." The young Bei Fong then pointed to three places on the map marked by a different colored pen. "These are the volcanoes that erupted at that time: Mount Makapu, Mount Erebus, and Mount Norikura. Normally, I would suggest that each of these places housed these mystical cores."

"And you don't think this now, why?" Asami asked, before coming up with her own conclusion and sharing it with everyone. "Is it because of the lack of volcanic activity within the borders of the Air Nomad's domain?"

Opal shook her head. "That's not it. The Air Nomads no longer have a domain to begin with, which explains why there was no volcanic activity involved even in the lands they once owned."

"Then why?" It was Korra's turn to ask.

"Because it is too obvious, for one." Opal replied, sounding frustrated as though she was faced with an impossible conundrum. "If we are to go about with the assumption that each nation hides an Elemental Core, and that these cores are a part of the Elemental Lords, add to the fact that those volcanic eruptions were because of the unbalanced caused by the Fire Spirits, one could easily deduce a possibility of where the Elemental Core of Fire could be."

"Mount Norikura?" Asami guessed, and guessed correctly, if Opal's nod was anything to go by. "But, that's not far from the Fire Nation's capital!"

"Which is why I said it was too obvious."

"I do not follow," the Avatar was obviously was lost. She frowned at the notebook sitting between the three of them, before looking at Opal. "Again, why is it a bad thing? Should we not rejoice that we've found something of note, even if it is too obvious?"

"Well, think of it this way, Korra, would you place something so valuable in a location that could easily be figured out? The Elemental Cores are very important. If it were up to me, I would have hidden it in the most unlikely of places and not somewhere someone who hasn't even finished her studies would be able to conclude." The young Historian tried to explain her stance as best as she could.

Asami, for her part, could see where Opal was coming from. The Elemental Cores were artifacts that needed to be kept safe and hidden. Mount Norikura was not a place she, herself, would have suggested. Even though it was a volcano, it was still among the Fire Nation's tourist destinations. To place it somewhere anyone could stumble upon was counter-productive to whomever was guarding it. Of course, that wasn't the only problem they would have to deal with if Korra decides go and check for themselves whether Opal was wrong.

"Even if there lies a possibility that the Elemental Core of Fire can be found there, we have another thing we need to deal with, Korra," Asami thought it better to inform the Avatar sooner rather than later.

Korra's brow furrowed even deeper.

"Something else to deal with?" she asked. Sighing, the Avatar added, "Can we, for once, not be faced with trouble?"

At the chocolate-haired girl's statement, Opal couldn't help but snicker. A questioning glance from the other girl propelled the Earth Kingdom native to say with laughter still bubbling up, "Well, we wouldn't be facing this other problem now if it weren't for Asami."

"Pardon?" It wasn't what Korra expected to hear from Opal. Turning to Asami, she asked, "What has this other problem have to do with you, Asami?"

"W-Well, as I have said before, Mount Norikura is only a short distance away from the Fire Nation's capital…" Asami had hoped that explanation was good enough, but Korra proved to be ignorant of what that entailed when the only response she got was a blank stare. "The coastguards from before are from the Fire Nation, Korra. The chances of news not spreading of what had happened on our airship is close to null."

"Oh." Now, she understood. "That is indeed troublesome. I do not think they would take either of your words that I am no terrorist, nor did I kidnap any of you, not after the stunt we all pulled. Can we not just pass through the capital, then?"

"We can. But, it won't change a thing." Again, Opal pointed out the map she had drawn herself and the location of the capital. "See, here? This is the Fire Nation's capital. Then, over here－" she then pointed to a nearby dot on the hand-drawn map. "－this is the Royal Palace. The only way to get to Mount Norikura is either through the capital or the palace. Of course, even if we can pass as ordinary tourists there, we're not entirely certain they would allow anyone to get close to Norikura, not after that eruption…"

"Our troubles, it seems, are piling up one after another," Korra mused. "What of the airship?" She turned towards Asami for this. "I am not certain where we are in that map, but I have a feeling we are far from course."

"Shu Jing is over here," Opal pointed out to one of the smaller islands dotting the north-eastern part of the Fire Nation continent before Asami could speak.

"I don't know," Asami answered Korra's question about the airship. "I didn't really get to check everything before we left. But, just based from the ocular inspection I conducted, we're going to need a lot of Yuan to get her right back up to the skies."

"We could try to board a ship that's bound for the capital…" Opal offered, but immediately took it back, saying, "But, then again, the coastguards might have redoubled their security."

"What then?" Korra questioned. "Naga could swim the distance, perhaps, but I do not think she could bear the weight of all of us on her back."

"Then we just have to find another means of transport. Something that won't draw suspicion…" Opal hummed in thought.

The three, young woman sat in silence, pondering their next course of action. It took several moments before an idea sparked within Asami Sato's mind.

"I may have a way," she said, hoping that she could get an old friend to help without sharing any details.

Kai had chosen to steer clear of his companions. Though he was allowed to share a room with them, the young Steward opted to stay with Naga instead, sleeping with the Polar Bear Dog. The air around those three were stifling that even if Kai had wanted to keep close to the Lady Avatar's side, he found himself unable to bear it.

Ever since the whole fiasco with the Fire Nation's coastguard fleet, Kai's mood had soured－doubly more so than Avatar Korra whom (Kai couldn't believe he was even thinking it) had been brooding. He wanted to strangle Asami Sato so bad for it; for making the Avatar act so unlike herself and for not apologizing when she should.

But, at the same time, Kai couldn't really fault Asami for what he thought to be cowardice. He didn't want to be hypocritical of her when he, himself, felt he would have done the very same thing of avoiding the Avatar had he been in her shoes. It was, after all, difficult to ask for forgiveness especially when you didn't even know where to begin.

Hence, the Avatar's Steward had sequestered himself with Naga's company. It was also why, upon waking up as early as he could and partaking in an equally early breakfast prepared by a very groggy cook, Kai decided to be far from their group as possible without causing alarm to his companions. This decision led the young man, who took Naga along with him, back to the airship they had "borrowed" from Future Industries.

Of course, Kai didn't just travel all the way back to their dilapidated vessel just to get away from all the drama currently surrounding their group, he had also remembered what the others had forgotten: Mako.

Much as he didn't particularly like nor cared about the Mercenary, Kai didn't want them him to accidentally die due to thirst and hunger there. He didn't want the trouble that would hound them if such a thing were to happen and if authorities were to discover it. They have so many problems to deal with already that their plate was practically on the cusp of overflowing.

As Kai and Naga made their way through the empty corridors of their downed airship, the young Steward didn't think that anything was off. He didn't realize that the silence which had welcomed them back to the metallic vessel was an indication of the Mercenary's absence. And so, when Kai－with food in hand－entered the make-shift cell, one could imagine his surprise to find it empty and devoid of their prisoner.

Eyes widening in surprise and muddled with confusion, the young Nia Bayou native quickly looked around the room, scanning it for any place Mako may have hidden himself. He came up empty, as with his search for clues on the missing Mercenary. Even with Naga's help, they found no trace of him within the airship. Surprise and confusion quickly turned into a combination of annoyance and frustration as Kai realized him gone. He couldn't help the string of profanity that escaped his mouth.

"This isn't good, Naga," he found himself turning to his furry companion. "Avatar Korra isn't going to like this one bit..."

Of that the Polar Bear Dog could only whimper in agreement.

It was hard not to be impatient with the Avatar in tow. The Avatar who happened to not be in the mood for it. She could understand the restlessness that emanated from the darker skinned girl－the desire to do something now that they had a semblance of lead on their search. Even she didn't want to wait for as long as they have been doing. For a moment, she had wished to trade places with Opal who, instead of waiting for their turn at a chance to speak with Bolin, had chosen to look for search for Kai instead.

It was a surprise, really. She didn't think he would actually have a secretary. A very strict secretary. Asami had thought that she only needed to retrace her steps back to that posh hotel room and ask Bolin for his help. She didn't expect for someone to come hinder them from meeting with him. Though, in retrospect, she should have seen it coming.

Bolin is a Mover Star. She had to constantly remind herself.

It still boggled her mind how Bolin had turned from a snot-nosed street rat, running and hiding from the law, whom she had met and befriended all those years back and into a famous Mover Star whom she had to actually ask for an appointment to meet. It was still a strange concept to wrap her mind around.

As they waited for Bolin's secretary to return－hopefully with him in tow－Asami allowed her mind to wander, trying to come up with the words she needed to say in order for Bolin to lend them his aide. She knew it was selfish of her to ask; knew that by seeking him out to help them, she would only draw him into danger. Yet, what other choice was there for them? Bolin was their sole ticket to get close enough to the capital without rousing suspicion.

"It will be alright, Asami," Korra jarred her from her thoughts. The words came as a surprise for the young, aspiring engineer.

"You seem awfully confident of that," Asami shook her head, wondering how Korra could even say such a thing when they are met with nothing but uncertainty. "Did you develop some kind of psychic ability that allowed you to see what will happen?"

The Avatar guffawed, causing the majority of those waiting in the lobby along with them－including the concierge and the other staff of the inn－to look at their direction. Korra, true to form after seeing that they were no threat to her, paid them no mind.

"I wish!" Korra said in the midst of her laughter. "That would certainly make things a whole lot easier. It would make this quest－how do you put it?－a slice of cake!"

"A piece of cake," Asami interjected. When she was met by a confused look from the other girl, she added with a grin, "The expression. It's a piece of cake, not a slice. Nice try, though."

"A piece, a slice, there is no difference, yes?" the Avatar huffed as she crossed her arms. "Besides, you understood what I was trying to say."

"If you say so," the raven-haired, young woman teased. "So, if you haven't developed any kind of precognitive gift, what makes you certain that things will go to our favor, Korra?"

To that the Avatar shrugged.

It wasn't long after that when a loud, booming voice cried out "Asami!" A rush of wind, as soon as she had stood, was all the warning the raven-haired, young woman had before she was enveloped in another one of Bolin's rib-cracking hugs.

"I knew it was you!" the Mover Star added, letting Asami go briefly but not completely. His hands remained on her waist as he spoke. "Although, you should have just said it was you who was trying to meet with me. You didn't have to be so cryptic. If I wasn't so certain you would be coming back, I wouldn't have guessed from what Duo Xin told me that it was you."

Asami returned Bolin's cheek-splitting grin with a smile of her own. Choosing to ignore the first part of her old friend's statement, the Prodigy replied, "Well, I'm glad you realized it was me then."

"So, tell me? How did it go? Ooh! It went well, didn't it? You don't look as stressed as you were before!" It was really difficult to get a word out edgewise. It didn't seem as though Bolin noticed, however, that he wasn't giving Asami a chance to reply as he continued barraging her with one question after another.

"Calm down, Bolin," the Sato Heiress chuckled. "Give me time to respond, will you?"

The hardy young man had the decency to look abashed. "Y-Yeah, you're absolutely right. I'm sorry. Well, go on then. Tell me what happened!"

It was at that point that the Avatar could not bear it any longer. For some reason, seeing Asami all friendly with this other human irked her. She had tried to be respectful and give them time, but it didn't seem like doing so would hurry things along. It didn't help that Korra's eyes seemed to find themselves being drawn to the hands that were still on Asami's waist.

Her brow furrowed. She could understand what was going on. Even as she cleared her throat as loudly as she could, causing both parties to jump in surprise and remember that they were not the only ones around, Korra couldn't fathom what emotion she was currently feeling. It was new. Frighteningly so.

"I do not wish to ruin your moment, Asami," there was a bitterness with the way the Avatar spoke that surprised even herself. "But, we need to hurry, don't we?"

"Oh, that's right!" Asami replied, then returned her gaze back at Bolin who had taken a step back and (Thankfully, Korra thought, had released his hold on the other girl). The questioning look she received from Bolin quickly prompted her to add, "Bolin, this is Korra." And to Korra, "And this is Bolin, an old childhood friend of mine."

Hearing whom the other girl was made Bolin's face shine bright with a smile. Korra found herself, yet again, lost as to the reason why this human seemed so happy to see her.

"So you're Korra!" Again, Bolin's voice was booming. Alarmingly so, that the other patrons of the lavish hotel all swiveled their gazes towards the trio. And, like how he had greeted Asami, Bolin likewise gave Korra a massive hug. It was enough to get the Avatar all rigid, not knowing what to do while trying to keep her defenses from kicking in and harming the human Asami had called her friend.

Asami, seeing the danger Bolin unknowingly threw himself in, quickly tried to pry Bolin off. She did so even before Korra gave her a pleading look asking her to do something. The taller girl tried her best not to laugh at the horrified look Korra was sporting.

When Bolin finally let go of Korra, he continued to say, "I have heard about you from Asami last night!" And, much to Asami's chagrin, went even so far to say, "I'm glad you two patched it up. You should have seen how forlorn Asami was last night when we spoke. She was overwrought with what was going on with both of you, she wasn't even paying much attention to her surroundings. She's lucky I was the one she bumped into when she was wandering around last night. As peaceful as Shu Jing may seem, one still should not discount the possibility of muggers and pickpockets roaming about. I should know, I've been down that road before!"

"Bolin!" Asami tried to reprimand the Mover Star from divulging such things to Korra. But she only got as far as uttering his name before someone else beat her to it.

Bolin's secretary－the one whom Bolin said was named 'Dou Xin'－spoke with such crispness like a winter's wind that it was enough to cut the young man's jovial attitude short.

Standing tall in her well-ironed, white, long-sleeved, button-up shirt, pencil-cut skirt, and her high-healed black shoes that screamed at Asami of what a corporate attire would look like (as it always was what most of her father's female employees wore), Duo Xin looked disdainfully at Bolin when she reprimanded him saying, "It is not wise to speak ill of the place that had welcomed you so warmly, Bolin. What if word spread of your slander? Losing fans will be the least of your problems then."

Bolin winced. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. Besides, it's not just Shu Jing who might have have that problem. With how difficult life is all over, it's impossible for a city or town to not have at least one criminal around…"

"Again, watch how you speak, Bolin." Another reproval. Then, turning towards Asami and Korra, the Secretary asks, "Are you girls done talking with Bolin? He has a lot of things he needs to accomplish still before we leave."

"No, actually," Asami was glad she found her voice, even when it seemed as though Dou Xin was glaring at her.

"Then please hurry up." Duo Xin retorted. "Bolin doesn't have all day."

Thankfully, Bolin spoke up. Frowning at his secretary, he said, "Don't be rude now, Duo Xin! We haven't even begun properly talking yet!" Then, to Asami and Korra. "I apologize for Duo Xin. She means well, but she's not really a people-person."

The said older woman's eyes only seemed to blaze with annoyance upon hearing what Bolin had to say. But Duo Xin chose to be silent instead. Though, the look was not only directed at Bolin. Whenever Asami chanced a glance at her, she managed to catch Duo Xin looking at her and Korra as well with derisive look on her face. If Korra had noticed, Asami was glad the Avatar wasn't baited by it and was keeping her cool.

"So, why did you come to me again, Asami?" Bolin asked, changing topics quickly. "It can't be just to tell me that you and Korra have patched things up."

"You're right. It isn't." Asami was careful with her words. She had prepared what she was to say to Bolin and had made Korra promise not to jump in on the conversation until the time called for it, but having to speak what was needed to be said was difficult with Duo Xin looming behind them.

"So, what is it?"

"Well…"

A pause; a quick glance－captured and noted by the young man－was enough. Bolin understood the reason behind Asami's hesitancy.

The Prodigy could imagine how strange and questionable it must have been that she wouldn't wish to speak of her reasons for seeking Bolin out while anyone, particularly his secretary, was present. She could hear the cogs of Bolin's brain churning as he pondered the reason behind it. So thankful was she that her friend didn't try to question her right then and there, however, and instead, turned towards Duo Xin and asked that she make sure all of their things were packed and ready.

The contemptuous look was once again back on the Secretary's face at the request. She raised her head slightly and sniffed before turning around to leave the group behind.

Asami watched as Duo Xin went up the stairs and waited until she was out of sight before she turned her attention back towards Bolin. Similarly, the aspiring, young inventor noted, Korra was looking at the direction the Secretary vanished from. Even the Avatar seemed distrustful of Duo Xin.

Not that Korra doesn't distrust anyone, Asami had to try her best not to roll her eyes at the thought. Though, she supposed, this time around, she could let it pass.

"So, what is this all about, Asami?" Bolin snapped her attention back to the task at hand. He looked from the taller of the two, young woman before him, and then to the other.

Asami and Korra both looked at each other－and with the Avatar's permission－the young prodigy began to speak in a hushed voice, all the while being wary of those around them.

Opal felt absolutely and positively bored as she lay on her bed in the room they had rented for themselves. She had wanted to go with Asami and Korra to speak with this person Asami had promised would provide them the aid they sought…or, at least, Asami hoped would. But someone had to stay behind and wait for Kai to return. Someone had to assure the Avatar's Steward that his charge had not run off somewhere and had left him behind.

Although, at that point, Opal had half-a-mind to let Kai panic just a little bit for leaving without telling them where he was off to himself.

I can't truly blame him though, the aspiring Historian mused as she lazily flipped through her notes in the bid to find something, anything, to do. He mustn't have known those two had patched things up. Not to mention that he is the Avatar's Steward. Korra must have rubbed off her disregard to tell anyone where she is going on him.

Opal's mouth quirked up into an amused smile at the thought. For a moment, she entertained what other traits Kai might have gotten from Korra, and vice-versa. It wasn't so far-fetched (though Opal was certain the Avatar would be adamant in rejecting that idea), Kai was the only person Korra had been in frequent contact with back at Nia Bayou.

These thoughts were quickly chased away, however, when the door came swinging with so much force it was almost thrown off its hinges. Opal was immediately on her feet, hands reaching for her staff that sat at the edge of her bed, ready to defend herself thinking that their enemies had found them and they were under attack, only to find that it was just Kai.

"Gods, you almost gave me a heartattack, Kai!" the young Bei Fong fumed, glaring at the young man in front of her whilst holding her chest, the erratic beating of her heart vibrating through her rib cage. "Are you trying to kill me?"

Instead of apologizing for the fright he had caused her, however, Kai didn't miss a heartbeat speaking, even when he was out of breath.

In a quick flurry of words－words that Opal, herself, should have seen coming－the Avatar's Steward blurted out, "We've got a problem! That man, Mako, has escaped! He's gone!"

She bit at the skin of her thumb－a nervous tick that she had never been able to put to rest－as she tried to think of a way to get as close to the group as possible without looking suspicious. It was a difficult task, especially with how the Sato girl seemed to have found reason to distrust her already.

She wondered what it could have been to make Hiroshi's daughter mistrust her so. Did she manage to blow her cover already? Did Asami Sato recognize her? It was impossible, but she would not so easily discount it. Duo Xin Xiao knew how sharp the Great Republic University's most prized student was.

Her introspection was cut short when her communicator began beeping, a call waiting to be answered. She knew who it was even before she answered; and answer it quickly she did, but not before taking a deep calming breath.

"It's been a while, Councilman," Duo Xin Xiao greeted, her voice a mask of complete seriousness that was required of her station. "You called just in time. I have news that you will find most interesting."

Post Author's Notes:

And there you guys have it.
I hope it is to your liking.

I hope you guys still remember the character I brought back in this chapter. She isn't "new" in regards to this fanfic, after all.

Thoughts?

Until the next update, dream on; fly on!