Chapter 4

Kuvira was still confined to her bed and wasn't allowed to walk around. Her side still wasn't completely healed as there had been a lot of internal damage that took time to repair. Kya came every day to continue her healing sessions.

Kuvira gazed out the window, watching the birds fly over the trees that had grown from the Spirit Wilds. Bataar had been taken down to the precinct to give a statement. She didn't know how long she had been staring outside and was lost in thought that she didn't notice anyone come into her room. When she turned her head, she was surprised to find Suyin sitting next to her. She turned her head away from Suyin and refused to meet her gaze.

"Please leave." Kuvira demanded.

"Kuvira, please give me a chance to talk to you." Suyin pleaded.

"There is nothing to discuss. Please leave." Kuvira insisted. Suyin stood her ground. She was not going to leave. This was her daughter as far as she was concerned and would stay by her side just as she was doing for her son.

When Kuvira noticed Suyin wasn't leaving, she turned her head and grabbed a book that Korra had brought for her from the side table and started to read. It was a good book and it was interesting enough to make her forget the woman sitting next to her.

Suyin decided that she would start talking with the hope that Kuvira was listening. "I was so worriedabout you. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't make it." Suyin said quietly. She sat there as Kuvira read her book. She didn't know what to say or do...she was at a loss for words and she didn't dare try to touch her. It was still early and she knew that Lin wouldn't be bringing Bataar back until that evening.

The guard knocked on the door to deliver Kuvira's breakfast tray. He brought it in and set it on the side table. Kuvira didn't even glance at the steaming hot fish, rice and vegetables that lay next to her. She had lost her appetite. She had been under large amounts of stress and she had lost a lot of weight. Even through her loose hospital gown, anyone who knew her could tell that she hadn't been eating. Even Bataar had tried to convince her to eat more. At his insistence, she would take a few bites before she would run to the bathroom to throw up. Her stomach was so sensitive, and Kya said it would take time. That her internal injuries had been extensive. She hid her depression well enough to fool most people. Even though she had made up with Bataar, a large part of her wished that she had died in that blast. Why did Korra save her?

She returned to reading her book hoping that Suyin would get the message and just leave. She had already asked her to leave…. that woman is insufferable. Why couldn't she just leave her alone.

Suyin watched on as Kuvira was obviously lost in thought as her eyes were wandering and she hadn't turned a page of her book for the last ten minutes. "Aren't you going to eat?" Suyin asked. When Kuvira didn't answer, she couldn't help but worry. She had gotten so thin and her skin looked pale. She tried to think of a way to get her attention. Kuvira had put her book away and she lay down and turned her back to Suyin and decided to go to sleep. She had been so tired lately and would spend hours each day just sleeping. Suyin continued to sit there and watch her. A few hours later, the same guard knocked on the door with Kuvira's lunch tray. She was still asleep when he took her untouched breakfast tray and placed the lunch tray in its place. "This is normal. She just doesn't eat." The guard informed Suyin. "She doesn't eat at all?" Suyin questioned. "Well she will take a few bites here and there when her fiance pushes her, but five minutes later she runs to the bathroom and throws up. If you ask me, she's depressed, but the healer says it's because of her injuries. I kind of feel sorry for her. When no one is here she just sits and cries for hours on end, but no one wants to listen to a simple guard. I am just the one who stands out here all day." The guard admitted. "Thank you for the information, I am inclined to agree with you. I have been watching her all morning and she is obviously depressed." Suyin assured him. "Does she usually sleep like this?" Suyin asked. "Usually, though I would too, if I screamed in my sleep every night."

The guard left and the same thing happened with dinner. The same guard brought in Kuvira's dinner tray and took her untouched lunch. Suyin stayed and watched her as she slept. An hour later while Kuvira was still sleeping, Lin brought Bataar back from the precinct. Both were surprised to see Suyin there. "Su, what are you doing here?" Lin inquired. "I came to see my daughter, is there a problem with that?" Suyin reiterated clearly knowing that there was a problem. "Su, Kya told you, you weren't permitted to come here. How long have you been here? Did Kuvira allow you to stay?"

"I got here this morning and Kuvira still refuses to even look at me. She has been sleeping all day and she hasn't touched any of her meals." Su told them.

Both Lin and Bataar looked at each other before they said anything more to Suyin. Bataar couldn't understand why his mother wouldn't just leave her alone. He loved his mother, but this was getting ridiculous. Kuvira had been adamant about not wanting to see Suyin.

Lin couldn't believe that after everything, Suyin would disobey a direct order from Kya. She knows how fragile Kuvira's case is and that stress will make her ill.

"Mother you are not supposed to be here. Was she sleeping when you got here?" Bataar interrogated his mother.

"She was awake." Suyin Answered.

"Su, did Kuvira say anything to you?" Lin asked her sister.

"She asked me to leave."

"Then why did you stay?" Lin couldn't believe she had to ask this question.

"I stayed because I miss her and I was worried about her."

"Mother, if you love her than you will stay away from her. I love you, you're my mother, but Kuvira...she…. she hates you. I didn't want to tell you that. I thought that Kya telling you to stay away from her would be enough to dissuade you." Bataar Jr. huffed. "I mean look at her…. she isn't doing well. She refuses to eat, and even when she does, she can't keep it down. She can't sleep at night. She gets no peace. The thing that hurts the most is that she asks me every day why I let Kya save her. Why I just didn't let her die peacefully. I honestly don't know what to do and you coming here is just one more thing I have to worry about."

They didn't realize how loud their voices were and they were too distracted to notice her stirring in the bed. Kuvira turned her head and saw Bataar and Lin arguing with Suyin. She couldn't understand why that woman refused to leave her in peace.

She couldn't take their arguing any longer. "Bataar?" Kuvira called. All three of them turned around to see Kuvira sitting in bed. "Kuvira, love, you're awake? Did you sleep all day?" Bataar asked as he sat on the bed next to her and took her in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. "I slept most of the day." She answered snuggling into his embrace. He kissed her forehead. "How are you feeling? Here, why don't you try to eat something?" Bataar coaxed as he brought a dumpling to her mouth. She turned her head as Bataar tried to feed her. "I'm so tired. I feel nauseas, and I just want to go back to sleep." She didn't think she could keep any food down especially after all the stress from earlier that day. "Come on Kya told you that you have to eat?" Bataar pleaded. "If I eat anything, I am going to be sick. It's too painful." Kuvira whispered resting her head on his shoulder and trying to go back to sleep.

Lin and Suyin watched them converse. "Mother, I think you should leave. I will talk to you later." Bataar Jr. stated. Suyin was about to protest, when Lin took her arm and started guiding her to the door. When they were, outside Lin started, "what was that all about Su? I honestly don't understand you when you get like this. You aren't even capable of listening to reason. Why can't you just stay away? You are making her even more ill by coming here, didn't you see the look on her face?"

"I didn't think that it would get that bad. I honestly thought that if she saw that I wasn't leaving her than she would at least acknowledge me." Suyin admitted.

"That kid is more like you than the daughter you gave birth to! Anyone who sees the two of you would have you pegged as mother and daughter. The similarities between the two of you are uncanny." Lin asserted.

"It's been over a month since the incident and she still won't even look at me. Kya told me to put all my efforts into helping them prepare for the trial that is coming up in a few weeks. I have managed to convince Tenzin and Wu to agree to a plea bargain in which they would each have to spend at least six months in jail while working to reconstruct Republic City. After they served their time they will be required to work with Asami at Future Industries on projects related to redesigning the city's infrastructure." Suyin disclosed.

"And Asami is okay with this?" Lin asked guessing that Asami would never agree to allowing the woman that killed her father to get anywhere near her or her company.

"Actually, it was her idea." Suyin noted. Lin stared at her sister in shock at a loss for words, "you've got to be joking!"

"Asami told me that she was originally hurt when Korra told her she was going to try to get Reiko to grant Kuvira and Bataar leniency. Evidently, Korra was able to convince her that Kuvira and Hiroshi aren't that different. They both went through traumatic experiences that led them to take their ideals to the extreme. Not to mention it was you who busted Hiroshi out of prison when we needed help. And then there's the fact that Reiko pardoned Varrick even after he attempted to kidnap him. I think we have a pretty solid case." Suyin beamed, hoping when Kuvira found out how much work she was putting in to try to help their case that she would at least acknowledge her again.

"That is quite surprising!" Lin replied. "Su right now you need to go and I will stop at the hotel to see you so we can talk more about this after I am finished here. I will send Bataar Jr. out here so you can see him before you leave." She knew that Suyin was about to protest.

"OK." Suyin responded.

Suyin waited in the hall for Bataar Jr. knowing full well that it wouldn't be a simple good-bye, that she would get it. As Bataar Jr. stepped into the hall, he embraced his mother. "How is Kuvira?" Suyin inquired.

"She is not well. She mentioned that when you came this morning, she asked you to leave twice and you just sat there. Mother, she still hasn't fully recovered from her wounds. Kya is concerned because her injuries should have healed by now. I am beginning to wonder if I did the right thing in bringing her back. I know she loves me, but watching her get worse each day is breaking my heart. Was I being selfish in insisting that Kya bring her back even though she obviously wanted me to let her go?" Bataar wept.

"You weren't the only one who insisted that Kya not give up. I couldn't bear the thought of losing Kuvira. What's worse is the last thing she remembers me saying to her before she passed out was that it was good that she was in so much pain. When I spoke with Kya last night, she told me that Kuvira wasn't doing well, but I never imagined that it would be this bad. To be completely honest, after seeing her that way, I couldn't bring myself to leave because I feared what would happen if that was the last time I ever saw her. I would rather be there with her even though she completely ignores me than not get the chance to see her. We have to figure out a way to help her because even if the plea bargain is granted, it won't do you any good if she's starving herself to death. When I spoke with the guard this afternoon he mentioned that he has been watching her and he thinks the cause of her symptoms is depression. I am inclined to agree with him. Maybe she isn't eating because she is unable to keep food in her stomach. He is very observant, if he didn't work for Lin, I would try to recruit him to work in Zoufu." Suyin reiterated.

"I wish I could tell her everything you said, but she shuts down whenever I mention you, even if it's just casually. Mother, I am sorry to say this, but after everything you put her through when we were growing up, I wouldn't blame her if she's never able to forgive you. I love you, but you must understand that even though you changed, it is too little too late. Before we left Zoufu, she told me about what transpired between you and Reiko and that she tried to convince you to help. She saw it as a final attempt for the two you to work together to salvage your relationship, but you turned it down. Even though she tried to be as civil as she could with you after that, she did that only for me. I may not be able to bend and I am no truth seer, but every time I watched her when you were around, I loved her even more because I know what it did to her to be around you and she suffered through that for me. I didn't tell you all this to hurt you, but it is time you knew the truth." Bataar confessed hoping that his mother would understand. As he waited for her to process everything he watched the agony and hurt in her eyes. He had not meant to hurt his mother, but if she wanted Kuvira to get better than she had to back off at least until she recovered.

"I understand…I won't bother her anymore or attempt to contact her until she recovers." Sunyin promised and with that she kissed Bataar and left.

Bataar went back into the room to check on Kuvira and Lin.

"So what's going on?" Bataar asked.

"We were just discussing the upcoming trial and the proposed plea bargain and that your mother has been working tirelessly on it for the past month." Lin disclosed.

"I don't want anything from her. I would rather spend the rest of my life in solitary confinement. I'm sorry Bataar, but that is just how I feel. I am not going to lie to you."

"I know….I told my mother that even though she is doing this, it is too little too late. Love, I know you don't want to talk about this, but I have to ask, what is the last thing you remember my mother saying to you before you passed out." Bataar asked.

"The last thing I remember her saying was that the fact that I was in pain was a good thing….I don't remember anything after that. Why do you ask?" Kuvria inquired.

"Because my mother told me that you both apologized to each other after that."

"I honestly don't remember, but if that happened…. I... I thought I was going to die…. I wanted to die. It would be only natural for me to seek closure. I can't discuss this further, I'm sorry." Kuvira professed as she lay her back down to try to sleep.

"I know, love. I'm sorry I brought it up." Bataar sighed as he looked at his aunt. "I am going to step outside and talk to Aunt Lin. I will be back in a few minutes."

Lin followed her nephew out the door. "I spoke to Kya this morning about her progress and after seeing her now, it is worse than I imagined. I think we might have made a mistake in fighting to bring her back. She is miserable. She is becoming emaciated. If I didn't know that was her, I would never recognize her."

"That's what I am afraid of. If she keeps this up, she will die anyway."

"She obviously hates your mother that's for sure!"

"When I think about it, I don't think Kuvira truly hate her. I believe that somewhere deep down, she still loves her even though she doesn't realize it. My mother hurt her so deeply that it changed her. She is not the person she used to be. When she came to live with us, there was a spark in her eyes. She would brighten up the room when she walked in. She was just so full of life. Now she is pining and wasting away. I can't lose her Aunt Lin. When she woke up, I took that as a sign that she would be okay. She was fine for a few moments before you entered the room, but as soon as she saw Mother, I lost her again." Bataar mumbled the last few words.

"We are going to do everything we can to help her. She is your future wife, which means that she is as good as my niece. I will do anything I can to protect our family." Lin comforted her nephew. There was no getting around it…. Kuvira was her niece even if she never married Bataar. Suyin was adamant that Kuvira was her daughter, so regardless of the direction that Kuvira and Suyin's relationship took, she would regard the girl as her niece.