"Hi." Mako didn't need to look up from the mess of evidence on the table to know it was Asami, since she'd gotten a spare key to his apartment, along with his brother.

"Hey. What's going on?"

"I wanted to stop by and see you", she explained. "Based on what Tahno was telling me."

That got his eyes off the table. "Tahno was worried about me?"

"Well, not worried", she clarified. "His words were 'Why is Mako acting like he's got a baby Boar-q-pine up his butt?'"

Mako was surprised Tahno even noticed his bad mood, with how he'd been whining about Ginger. Apparently his co-star was nothing but a high maintenance airhead that only cared about whatever made her look good. So they seemed perfect for each other.

"Talking about Tahno isn't a good way to cheer me up", Mako joked.

"Then maybe another dinner at Kwong's Cuisine will? I got us a table."

Another dinner? The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember why.

"We had our first date there?", Asami reminded him with a raised eyebrow as she sat down next to him.

"Right. Sorry, with everything that's happened it feels like so much longer than six months ago."

"Seven months." Mako closed his eyes and mentally reprimanded himself.

"You seem pretty burnt out." She was still being gentle, but definitely annoyed now. "Why don't you take the night off and relax with me?"

As much as Mako wanted to, he couldn't. "I gotta figure this out. I think whoever bombed the cultural center was also the same person who stole your shipment."

"Still not sure who though?"

"...No." He hated keeping up this lie with her, but it seemed like the best option after his "chat" with Varrick. His suspicion that Asami's new business partner was behind everything felt more valid now, though no new evidence came with it. The offer to become part of his security force definitely felt like a bribe, but what stuck with him was how he talked about Asami. Whatever else Varrick was, he was smart enough to stop just short of directly threatening her safety. At least he hadn't brought up Bolin too, wherever he was.

It could be that there was something he wasn't seeing, but it was starting to feel like he'd hit a wall in terms of investigating. He might be able to piece things together if he would see what evidence Lu and Gang had gathered, but that would imply that they actually did their jobs. Maybe if he brought what he'd found to Chief Beifong she'd...yeah, right.

"You can take a break for a little while. Come on, we haven't had a date night in months."

"Yeah, because you never wanted to take a break yourself!", Mako reminded her. "I practically had to drag you away from work!"

"I was trying to make sure my company didn't go under!" The kindness in her voice was gone, and replaced with frustration. "And I wanted to celebrate with you now that I don't have to worry about that!"

"I can't. I'm sorry, but this is important."

"...And saving Future Industries wasn't important?"

"That's not what I said."

But the damage was done. "Forget it", Asami told him as she stood up, grabbed her purse, and walked over to grab her coat. "Look over that stuff as long as you want."

"Wait." He'd wanted time to work, but not like this. "I'm sorry. Maybe I do need to take my mind off things."

"And what makes you think I still want to do that with you?" That stung for Mako to hear, but he knew it wasn't unearned either.

"I'll make it up to you."

"Will you pay for dinner this time?"

"I...come on, Asami, I don't make that much."

"I know," she teased. "But you better come up with something."

"I will, I promise." He was about to lean in and kiss her, but there was banging on the door that interrupted them.

"Republic City Police! Open the Door!"

Mako complied with the demand. "Lu? Gang? What're you doing here?"

"Hope we didn't interrupt you lovebirds", Lu told them as he walked past.

"I didn't say you could come in."

"Don't need to ask with one of these", Gang explained as he shoved a piece of paper into Mako's chest, looking around the apartment while he took a look around.

"A search warrant...for what?"

"Read it, super cop."

"This search is in relation to investigating a suspect in regards to...conspiracy? Grand Larceny? This is crazy!"

"I'd like to see you tell that to the chief's face," Gang told him. "That's her signature at the bottom." Mako hadn't ever seen his boss's handwriting, but it looked genuine enough.

"How can you think I did any of this?"

"We busted some Triple Threat Triads that said you hired them for a job", Lu explained.

"Okay, that's true. We were trying to figure out who stole Asami's stuff, so I hired them for a sting operation. But that doesn't mean I did any of the things on this warrant!"

"According to them, you did more than that. They said you helped them steal a warehouse full of Future Industries property."

"You're gonna believe a bunch of criminals?," Mako challenged in disbelief.

"It's called following up on a lead."

"And what do we have here?" They all turned to Gang, who had reached into his closet, and came out with cash, and...explosives? "Exactly the kind we found on the Triads. What are you doing with these, May-ko?"

"Those aren't mine!" He hadn't checked his closet in days. They must have been planted when he spent the night at Asami's.

"Riiiiiiight."

"You're under arrest, Mako", Lu told him as he yanked his arms behind his back to put the cuffs on.

"This has to be a mistake. Mako would never do something like that!"

"I wouldn't put so much trust in him if I were you," Gang warned Asami. "Didn't work out too well for his little brother."

"Gang, shut up!"

"What's he..."

"Saw the whole thing ourselves," Lu told Asami. "The kid had a plan with General Iroh to help out the Avatar, but super cop here sold him down the river to kiss up to President Raiko. Ended up cracking May-ko in the face when he found out his own family stabbed him in the back."

Mako was being forced out the door, but maybe that was some sort of blessing in disguise, since he didn't have to see the look on her face now that she'd pieced together what he'd done to her.

"Hate to be the one to tell ya, but your boyfriend is only interested in looking out for himself. That sting operation was just a way to lure you away from your warehouse. He was using you the whole time."

"Asami, that's not true! I'm being set up, it was-"

Mako's last ditch effort to explain and warn Asami was interrupted by Gang's outstretched foot, sending him falling over onto the wood floor, with no way to brace himself, nose first.

*Crack*

"Mako!" He heard Asami's footsteps getting closer, but then came a warning.

"Don't get any closer, Miss Sato", Lu told her as he hauled Mako back onto his feet, while blood was flowing out of his nose, onto his lips and chin. "Unless you want to share a jail cell with your Dad for interfering with an arrest."

(-)

Korra's meditation with Tenzin in front of the Yangchen statue wasn't getting her any better results than yesterday.

"Focus, Korra," Tenzin lectured.

"I am focusing." He'd already insisted they cut out all possible distractions, so Bolin, Kya, Meelo, and everyone else were waiting just outside the temple.

"No talking. Just feel the energy of the universe around you."

"Okay, I think I feel it."

"Korra, really! I'm trying to concentrate here! I don't think this location is going to work either."

"First you're Meelo, then Kya, now me? What is going on with you?", Korra demanded.

"Well, nothing is feeling right to me. Perhaps we should go to one of the other temples, or try back in Republic City."

"I don't want to rush your feelings, but we're kind of in a hurry. What did you do when you first got into the Spirit world, let's try that."

"Actually...", Tenzin confessed. "...I've never been into the Spirit World."

Bolin and the rest of Tenzin's family poked their heads in. "But you used to spend days in the temple meditating.

"Trying to get in," He clarified to his wife. "I've been trying for as long as I can remember, but it's never happened. It's my greatest shortcoming as an airbender, spiritual leader, and son of Aang."

Bumi just laughed. "Ha! Welcome to the 'I disappoint Dad' club." Tenzin bristled at the comment, but he didn't provide a verbal reaction.

"How were you planning to get Korra into the spirit world if you've never gotten in yourself?", Kya wondered.

"I've spent years studying the techniques and theories of ancient spiritual leaders. Korra, I need you to trust me. I can help you."

"But we're running out of time. I need to get into the Spirit World before Vaatu escapes, and I can't just wait around for you to figure it out."

"We might have another option," Kya offered, walking forward with Jinora. "Is there something you want to tell Korra?", she asked her niece.

Tenzin was skeptical of that idea. "She's too young and untrained to have any knowledge about spiritual matters."

"Actually, I think I do know where Korra needs to go to get into the Spirit World."

"How?"

"My spirit friends showed me." She looked up and said it was "okay to come out," and out of nowhere...

"Bunnies!"

"Dragonfly bunny spirits, actually," Jinora clarified to Meelo.

"Jinora, I...how long have you been able to do this?"

"I don't know," she told her dad. "I guess I've always had a connection to the spirits."

"Guess she does know a thing or two about spiritual matters", Kya added.

One dragonfly bunny spirit landed on Bumi's shoulder, but the rest flew out of the temple, followed by Ikki and Meelo. Bolin looked like he wanted to join them, but he stayed by Korra's side.

"I think they want you to go down there", Jinora told Korra as the spirits descended the cliffside.

Tenzin was a little hesitant "The spiritual energy has been historically strongest near the temple."

"No offense, but I'm guessing the spirits have the best idea of how to get to the spirit world," Korra told him.

"If we need to get to the Tenzin world, we'll call you," Bumi teased.

Tenzin sighed, and blew his bison whistle for Oogi. He steered his companion in the direction the spirits were flying, while Kya, Bumi, Bolin, Korra, and Jinora talked amongst each other on the saddle.

"So where do you think Bum-Ju and his friends are taking us to?", Bumi asked. "Some secret tunnel into the spirit world?"

"Bum-Ju?"

"Yeah, it's short for Bumi Junior. The little guy is just so cute. Don't you think he looks like me?"

"The resemblance is uncanny," Tenzin told him, without even bothering to turn around. "Anyway, there aren't any ways for people to enter the spirit world physically except the portals in the North and South. We'll have to do it the old fashioned way."

"I thought only the Avatar could get into the spirit world," Bolin wondered aloud.

"It's rare, but it's happened before," Jinora explained. I know Zuko's Uncle Iroh was able to do it, and I'm guessing Korra's Uncle was able to if he's working with Vaatu. But maybe we all can..."

Jinora looked back to her father staring off into the distance, and her face crumbled. "I think Dad's mad at me," she murmured.

"Your Dad's not mad," Kya reassured. "His pride's just a little bruised since he isn't able to see spirits like you."

"You have a natural gift. That's pretty lucky."

"You're the lucky one," Jinora told Korra. "I can't believe you got to meet the first Avatar. I know about a lot of Avatars, but I don't know anything about him. Is it even a him? Or is it her?"

"It's a him, Wan. He became the Avatar when he fused with Raava, the spirit of light."

"The Avatar is part spirit," she realized. "Of course! That's how the Avatar can be the bridge for the physical and spirit worlds."

"We're here!," Bumi announced as Oogi landed. The rest of the journey was on foot, though, and Tenzin was starting to get skeptical as the path started to resemble more of a jungle.

"Are you sure the spirits are leading us to the right place?", he asked.

"Of course! I trust Bum-Ju with my life!"

His older brother's confidence didn't do much to change his mind, but eventually they came to "An ancient airbender meditation circle."

"There's a lot of spiritual energy here," Jinora observed. "But it feels really weird."

"Then we'll have to perform a spiritual cleansing ceremony."

"A what?"

"Dad showed it to me," Tenzin explained. "We used it when we were meditating in the Air temples while they were being renovated, to help repair the neglect and strengthen it's connections to the spirit world."

They sat in a circle again, in meditative poses, while Tenzin bent the smoke that came out of the incense burner, to the displeasure of the spirits nearby.

"Nice job," Bumi chastised as the dragonfly bunnies flew away. "You 'cleansed' the area of the only spirits that want to help us. And you scared away Bum-Ju!"

Tenzin ignored his brother, and continued to bend the smoke into circles. After the third one, the ground underneath them started to shake, and...

"Agh! Bats! Evil Bats!"

"They're dark spirits!," Korra corrected as they ran for cover.

"Why are there so many of them?", Bolin yelled.

"I don't know!"

Korra, Kya, Tenzin, and Bolin bended the four elements at the spirits, but it didn't seem to have any effect. Korra struggled to come up with an idea, but then she remembered.

The Avatar reentered the circle, and began meditating. Then, she bent water into circles to enclose the spirits, using the same technique her uncle had performed, and after a few moments, they started to glow gold, and eventually dissipated.

"Amazing," Kya murmured.

"Wait, where'd they go?"

"They must have chosen to hide themselves, like those dragonfly bunny spirits did before," Jinora explained to Bolin.

"Your spiritual training has come a long way, Korra," Tenzin praised.

"Say what you want about Unalaq, but his spirit powers are no joke."

"He taught you how to transform dark spirits. I can't even get you into the spirit world."

"Everything he taught me was to help himself," Korra reminded him. " Everything you've done was meant to help me. I am so sorry for turning my back on you as my mentor, and I need you now more than ever."

"I won't let you down."

But as the setting sun was replaced with the night sky, meditation still wasn't working, even before Bumi started poking Tenzin with a stick. "Stop bugging me," he told his older brother as he bended the branch away.

"Maybe we should try the whole where the dark spirit bats came out of?", Bolin suggested.

"I don't think the location is the problem", Kya said. "I think it's the guide."

"Don't be ridiculous, just give me more time!"

"Stop being stubborn. I think it's Jinora's destiny to guide the Avatar into the spirit world, not yours."

"She's not ready! But I am. I've spent years training, studying, and mastering everything there is to know about the-"

"I can do it."

Tenzin looked down to see his oldest daughter grabbing onto his sleeve. "I can guide Korra into the spirit world."

"Jinora, please."

"I'll be careful. We'll just get in, close the portal, and get out, I promise."

Tenzin looked like he wanted to object further, but the words didn't leave his mouth. "I'm so proud of you," he told her. "Go, close the portal. We'll keep your bodies safe."

Notes: Not too much to elaborate on in terms of writing this chapter, since it was a little shorter than I planned. Might've been better to make one big chapter, but it would've taken a lot longer to put out.

Spoilers for Kyoshi Books: I wanted to reference Father Glowworm and Yun here when they were discussing traveling into the spirit world, but I remembered Kuruk's battles with the spirits weren't really known by anybody except for Nyahitha, Yangchen, Kyoshi and maybe Jianzhu. And as for Yun, if I remember correctly there was an effort to hide his existence from any sort of public record.

Back to Regular notes: Still haven't finished the Yangchen Book, but I like what I've read so far, so I recommend it too!