So, turns out I couldn't stop the writing bug...

Now, I must stress that this chapter is a bit more... mature. There's a lot of heavy themes and implications so reader discretion is advised. Not suitable for little ones!

Rai sat in a room completely shrouded in darkness. The blinds were shut, keeping out any light from seeping in. Only a few small cracks of light slipped in around the edge of the curtains, dimly lighting the room. Instead of laying in the comfortable bed, Rai instead sat on the floor, leaning her back against the side of the bed. This had gone on for nearly three days since the tower incident. Rai and Takumi had managed to slip away from the tower before authorities arrived on scene. Sati and Hiro found them as they made it back to the Lower Ring and at their insistence, Rai got her wound looked at at a small free clinic. When asked about what happened, a simple mugging story seemed to satisfy their curiosity. They rented a few rooms in a small, cheap inn and it was here where Rai had practically barricaded herself in.

"It's been three days!" she heard Sati whisper urgently outside her door.

"Give her time. She's grieving," Rai heard Hiro say, "Just because she and her brother didn't get along doesn't mean she's not sad that he's dead. If she wants to be alone right now, we should give her her space."

"I just hope she's ok and that she knows she doesn't have to go through this alone." Sati raised her voice for the last part of her sentence, as if to say that loud enough on purpose so Rai could hear.

"She'll come out when she's ready." Rai heard their footsteps trail off. She leaned her head back against the edge of the bed, closed her eyes and let out a long, tired sigh. She honestly didn't know how to feel about Ryota's death. He was her brother, yes. Keyword being "was". She had put that part of her life behind her, accepted what happened to him and that she couldn't change the past. But still, part of her was sad over his death, but at the same time, happy that Takumi was alive.

As if on cue, she heard a pair of soft footsteps stop outside her door, followed shortly by a light knock. Rai said and did nothing, giving Takumi the opportunity to enter. The door creaked open as the boy poked his head inside. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room before he spotted Rai. He stepped inside, gently shutting the door with his foot as he carried a tray of food over to her. He dropped to his knees and placed the tray on the bed. He took the cup of tea in one hand and the bowl of noodles in the other. She took the cup of tea first, taking a sip before setting it on the floor next to her.

"It's beef, your favorite," Takumi smiled, remembering the first time they shared a meal. She took the bowl and began slowly slurping up noodles as Takumi settled in next to her. The two sat silently in the dark with the only sound being Rai slurping up noodles. After a couple minutes, Takumi finally spoke. "I know it wasn't true, what Ryota said." Rai finished slurping up the last of her noodles, lowered the bowl and turned to face Takumi. "I know that I'm not his replacement."

Takumi looked up at her, a smile just shining through the near darkness. She returned his smile with one of her own and affectionately ruffled his hair.

"You took me in because you knew I needed help, because you're a good person, a hero. That's why you tried to save both of us."

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that. When he pulled you over with him, I didn't have time to think. I know I fired my cables at the same time, so they should have reached you both at the same time. But the cable snagged you first and missed Ryota."

"So?"

"So somehow one cable reached you before the other. I know in my action, I was trying to save you both. But subconsciously, I chose you." She heard Takumi sniffle quietly as his hand came up to his face briefly as if to wipe something off. He leaned against Rai's arm, but she moved it to wrap around Takumi's shoulder. They sat together for a while as Rai finished the soup in her bowl. Takumi gently took the bowl from her hand and placed the empty dish back on the tray.

"I think you should go out for a bit. I know the doctor said to stay off your leg for a while, but that was three days ago. You've got people who care about you, remember?"

"I know."

"Just… don't stay cooped up in here for too long, ok?"

"I promise," she assured him.

"I'll be meeting Sati and Hiro for lunch later at the new restaurant in the plaza. You should come and join us, when you're ready." With that, Takumi shut the door behind him, returning Rai to her solitude.

"Are you sure it was a good idea to just leave Rai at the inn?" Sati asked, her voice and expression full of concern.

"She came back from the brink of death, Sati. She'll bounce back from this," Hiro said confidently as they waited in line to get into the restaurant.

"She'll come out when she's ready. We shouldn't push her," said Takumi.

Hiro nodded in agreement as the line finally moved to inside the restaurant. It was exceptionally crowded inside and the trio just managed to find a table in the corner at the back of the restaurant. A stressed and visibly overworked waitress stopped at their table briefly to place glasses of water and menus, apologizing for her slow service and remarking how overcrowded they were compared to normal. As the three of them browsed through the menu, a large broad-shouldered man with a burn scar over his shoulder approached the table.

"I'm sorry, but the restaurant is just so crowded. Do you mind if I take this seat?" he asked, gesturing to one of the two empty seats at their table.

All three looked up from their menus to the man. Before either Sati or Takumi could say anything to him, Hiro suddenly shot up from his seat and slammed his fist angrily on the table. "You!" he shouted, venomously spitting. This drew no attention from the rest of the patrons, however, as their own conversations filled the restaurant with enough noise to drown out Hiro's shouting. "Give me one reason why I don't gut you now!" He reached for his swords, preparing to draw his blades.

"Now, now, Hiro, easy!" the man raised one hand and gently ushered Hiro to sit down. "You don't want to cause a scene in such a public place."

"I-it's you, you're the one who restored my bending," Sati gasped.

"What?" Hiro yelled.

"See Hiro? I'm not such an awful master, aren't I?"

"Master?" Takumi asked before he suddenly gasped in realization. "Wait… that means you're…"

"Goro," the man answered. "I'm sure my dear Rai and Hiro have told you all about me," he smiled, taking a seat at the end of the small table. "I'd put those swords away boy. You wouldn't want to cause a scene in such a public place, would you? Besides, I have my men in places all around this building, even in the restaurant with us. Try anything and they'll kill you and your little friends. Now please. Sit. Down." Goro said those last two words firmly as he slammed his hand onto the table, forcing Hiro down to his seat.

A shiver went up his spine as Hiro let out a shuddered breath. This was nothing like the bloodbenders they had encountered at the Black Cliffs. Goro's bloodbending made it feel like there were tiny little snakes slithering underneath your skin.

"Rai's not coming if that's what you were hoping," Takumi said firmly, hoping Goro would believe him while also silently hoping that Rai wouldn't take his earlier advice.

"That is most unfortunate, I'll admit, but I have a feeling my dear will be joining us shortly."

"What can I get you folks tonight?" the same waitress from before asked, holding out a pad of paper and pencil.

"Oh, we're not ready yet. Thank you," Goro waved her off with a smile. "You all deserve some fine dining after the hardships you've had to endure. My treat."

"What are you playing at?" Hiro muttered through angrily grit teeth, narrowing his eyes viciously at his former master. "Whatever game it is you're planning, it's not going to work. Rai won't fall for it."

"If you're not going to be civilized, you're free to leave. Just, well, I won't be directly responsible for what happens to you if you refuse my hospitality," Goro remarked, not even looking at Hiro and instead browsing through the menu.

Hiro looked to the door then back at Sati and Takumi. The entire restaurant could be filled with Goro's men, hidden in plain sight. He knew he couldn't just leave Sati and Takumi in Goro's clutches and that Rai would never forgive him if he did. So, he begrudgingly settled into his seat.

"Now then, what are you all having? We don't want to keep our waitress waiting after all. I'm thinking that I'll have the spicy shrimp pasta. Yes, that sounds delicious." He closed his menu and placed it on the table before looking at the others, clasping his fingers together in a casual business-like manner. "So, I'm curious about you. How do such… disjointed individuals come to be companions to the Avatar?" Goro suddenly blinked in surprised and brought his index finger to his lips, "Oh, that's right. It's a secret. Shh…"

"W-well…" Takumi began nervously. Something about this man frightened him more than Ryota had and it left him with this unnerving feeling that left him utterly paralyzed in his presence.

Goro sighed impatiently, yet non-threatening and encouraged Takumi to continue, "Go on, speak up, boy. Why don't you just start with your name?"

"T-Takumi," he stuttered.

"Takumi. And how is it a young lad like you came to her? Why aren't you with your family?"

"Well, it's a long story but, basically Rai saved my life," Takumi answered, gulping nervously.

"She did, did she? I'm not surprised. My Rai has always had a soft spot for strays in need. A natural protector, she is," Goro casually remarked, handing his menu to the waitress and giving her his order.

"Don't call her that," Hiro spat. "She's not yours!"

Goro took a sip of his water and narrowed his eyes at Hiro before placing the glass back on the table. He leaned forward over the table, resting his elbows on the surface. "It seems you've forgotten an important lesson, Hiro: how to hold your tongue. I'd remember if I were you, or will I need to remind you?"

With a small flame in her palm lightning the room, Rai reached over to the clock on the bed side table. It was well past one in the afternoon. They should surely have been back by now. She set the clock back in place and put both her hands on the bed behind her, lifting herself to her feet. Her leg still ached, but it was still getting better. She could put some weight on it, but still kept most of her weight on her other leg, resulting in a noticeable limp as she walked. When she stepped out into the street, she had to raise her hand to shield her eyes from the bright rays of the sun. That's what she got for spending three days in a dark room. She greeted Haku in the stables next to the inn before setting off into the city. When she arrived in the plaza, she noticed the new restaurant Takumi had mentioned with a long line up of people waiting to get in. Perhaps they were still waiting or had only just gotten a seat, she reasoned. She stepped inside, pushing past the people gathered at the podium waiting to be seated. Bobbing and weaving her way through the waiters and waitresses coming and going, she spotted her friends sitting at a table in the back. As she got closer, she noticed a fourth person with them. Her body immediately froze when she realized who it was; all the sound of bustling patrons around her suddenly died out and all she could hear was a high pitched ringing noise that grew louder and louder with each passing second.

Goro turned, noticing her presence and smiled. "Aaaah, Rai, how kind of you to join us this afternoon. There's a seat still open for you as well." He motioned to the empty seat next to him, gesturing for her to take the seat.

Her stomach turned uncomfortably as he spoke to her in that nonchalant manner, as if everything was all right between them, as if every wrongdoing was so easily forgotten. She thought that when she saw him again, she would be ready, that she wouldn't hesitate to end him. But right here, right now, all she could feel was the stinging pain of every bruise, every scar he inflicted on her. When she finally returned to her senses, her eyes narrowed murderously like a feral beast as she yelled, "You!"

"It's been so long, my dear. I see that life has been kind to you," he remarked, glancing at her companions before returning his unsettling gaze to her. "Love the new hair. You've certainly grown into a beautiful young woman," he smirked, licking his lips.

She shuddered in disgust as his eyes seemed to pierce through her and admire her body. Even with her thick layers and baggy clothes, she still felt uncomfortable in his gaze. But she wouldn't let it show; she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing how much effect he still had on her. "Yes... it has. And now it's delivered you right to me!" she declared, bending out her arm blades.

"Ah, ah, ah!" Goro cautioned, waving his index finger back and forth, giving her a disapproving tsk before motioning to the patrons all around them. "Not in public, my dear. It's rude. Have you forgotten your manners so quickly?"

Rai looked around her and noticed the few civilian eyes that are on. She wouldn't have cared if there were witnesses; she would easily disappear into obscurity. But she noticed some patrons and wait staff subtly reveal their weapons from inside their jackets and sleeves in a threatening manner. Of course Goro hadn't come alone, she realized. This was planned; he was expecting her. She growled in defeat before begrudgingly sheathing her blades "What game are you playing at?"

"Just a nice afternoon lunch with company," he answered plainly, but Rai knew there was more to that. This was all a game, a sick game. It always was with him. "It's my treat, so order anything you like."

"Unless it's your head on a platter, I'm not interested."

"Tsk tsk tsk," he sighed in disappointment while pouring himself a drink. She hated it when he made that noise, and him acting so casual about it only made her want to kill him more. "Such a temper. I'm looking forward to softening that. It's just too bad we could not do business together. After all, you've proven yourself most formidable. Even helped me remove a thorn in my side."

"What are you talking about?" she demanded. She was far from being in the mood to play his games.

Goro casually took a sip of his drink before speaking, "That nutcase of a slaver, Ryota. I really must thank you for removing that inconvenience."

"How do you know about that?"

"Look, sweetheart," she mentally cringed at his pet name for her, "if you want to talk and be civilized, then take a seat and we'll talk. Otherwise, you're bothering me and my guests."

Rai glanced at her companions, noticing that Hiro was just barely holding himself back while Takumi and Sati sat uncomfortably. "Then we'll leave." Under normal circumstances, Rai would just kill him now and be done with it. But that was when she originally planned on being alone when she confronted him. Now she had companions, friends! Friends that she couldn't let get caught in the crossfire.

Goro's smiling facade faded as he frowned disappointingly at her. "Please, have a seat," he said, raising his hand and twitching it slightly, "I insist."

Rai gasped under her breath as she realized she couldn't move. Her skin felt like it was being pricked by a thousand needles. She tried pulling away from his influence, but her body disobeyed her. In an instant, images flashed in her mind of every time he used his bloodbending on her, every time he made her do things for him… to him… In an uncharacteristic and panicked tone, Rai just managed to choke out, "Stop that."

Goro simply chuckled at her half-plea, half-demand, amused by how easily he could affect her and leave her begging. "If you won't be civil, then I'll just have to make you behave. You remember how to behave, don't you?" He turned his hand, palm facing up, as he beckoned her closer to him with his index finger. Despite her attempts to resist and struggle against his hold over her, her feet started moving on their own, stepping closer towards him.

"Stop it, Goro. Right now!" Hiro shouted as he leaned forward from his seat. However, he pulled back when he felt something cool and sharp press against his neck. He looked up at the waiter that appeared next to him, holding the small dagger to his throat. Though his mind was screaming in defiance, Hiro leaned back into his seat. The waiter sheathed the dagger and walked off, serving another table as if nothing had happened.

Goro brought Rai closer to the table and she was only a few steps away from the seat next to him. She stopped, planting her feet firmly in the ground, unwilling to move under his command no matter how much it hurt. She would never sit next to him. Goro sighed in disappointment as his efforts to guide her forward proved fruitless. He sat up from his seat and began walking around her, as if to examine every part of her. Rai tried to turn around and face him, maybe even punch that creepy smirk off his face, but he held out his hand, firmly keeping her still in place. "That stunt with Ryota...very impressive if I do say so myself. Even my best assassins couldn't reach the likes of him, and yet you managed with minimal help. Or did he just off himself for you?"

"What's it to you?" she asked, as he came back around to her front.

"Just wanted to thank you for your help in removing that thorn in my side. Perhaps in the near future, you and I could engage in more...intimate business ventures." As he finished his sentence, he reached his hand out and took a hold of one of her blonde strands. He brought his face closer to hers, running her blonde locks against his cheek before bringing it to his nose and inhaling deeply through his nose.

Her stomach turned and she felt herself just barely holding in her disgust at just how much he was getting off on this. With all of her strength, she just managed to break out of his control and smack his hand away. This left Goro visibly shocked, but his expression quickly darkened into a mixture of grim intentions and lust. "You've gotten stronger," he said, reasserting his control as he took her chin into his hand. She tried pulling away, but Goro kept her in place more firmly this time and kept a tight grip on her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Good, that'll make it all the more fun. When we're finished, you'll be begging for me and you'll realize just how much you want this too."

The corner of Rai's mouth twitched angrily and through grit teeth, she muttered, "What I'd like is your head on a platter." Goro merely chuckled in amusement at her defiance and released her. "And why would you want my brother dead?"

Goro returned to his seat. "He became a liability and was more trouble than his services were worth. He may have been an excellent supplier in the trade, but he was unstable and unhinged. I can't be associating with someone so unreliable. But, if I can't interest you with a beverage, then consider your debt to me, settled," he said, taking another sip of his water.

"Debt? The only thing I owe you is a blade in your throat!"

"Mm," he grunted as he swallowed his last sip, pointing his index finger at Rai. Once he swallowed, he continued speaking, "My apologies. That last statement was directed at her." He gestured to Sati.

"What does Sati have to do with this?"

"She can tell you, I'm sure," Goro replied, urging Sati to speak.

Sati's blue eyes were wide in fear and apprehension, whether of Goro or fear of Rai's anger one couldn't be sure. But the uncharacteristically quiet airbender spoke, her voice stuttering as she struggled to get her sentence out. "H-he was the one wh-who restored my bending…" she admitted, then braced herself for the result. "I'm sorry, Rai! I didn't know who he was then!" she quickly added with tear-filled eyes.

Rai held her hand out, gesturing to Sati to stop talking or even perhaps to let her know it was ok and that she wasn't mad. Either way, Sati cast her eyes down at the table as Rai continued speaking. "Why would you do that when you ordered the attack on her to begin with?"

"An error on my part, I'll admit. I never actually ordered anyone to attack her. I was simply playing around with the idea. But that idiot Manta didn't seem to know the difference between orders and a hypothetical situation. Fear not, my dear. I dealt with him personally and he won't be a bother to either of us anymore. As to why I helped her, maybe I'm not as bad of a master as you thought," he said, cracking a smile at her.

Rai grit her teeth angrily. "You. Are. Not. My. Master. You are a monster."

Goro let out an amused laugh followed by a sarcastic slow clap. "Everyone has a monster inside them." He smiled darkly at Rai as he stood up and marched over to her. "Isn't that right," he leaned in close and whispered into her ear so that only she could hear, "Avatar?"

The feeling of his hot breath on her skin made her sick to her stomach. But she wouldn't let that show. As he pulled away and smiled at her, she narrowed her eyes into a vicious glare. "I am what you made me."

"And I'm so proud," he grinned widely. "And now that we're together again, we can go home… the both of us."

"I am not going anywhere with you," she muttered, still through angrily grit teeth.

Goro's smile dropped as his expression morphed into a serious one. "Yes you are. You've had your fun, but now it's time for you to come home. You don't know how much I've missed you."

"I will never go anywhere with you," she spat at him, reaffirming her previous statement.

"You don't have a choice...You never did."

"Rai!" Takumi called out, noticing her begin to lose her temper.

"Stay right there, boy!" Goro quickly turned and pointed his finger at Takumi. "You're forgetting your place, just like she always did," he said, turning back to Rai. After a second, Goro chuckled "Look at them, my dear sweet Rai. Even if they tried, they can't stop me from taking back what is mine. Like anyone else who crosses me, they are powerless. Just as you will always be powerless. And here I thought you learned your lesson after the last time with what's her name. But you seem to have replaced one with three more, so I'd say that you got a good bargain out of that."

Rai gasped at the mention of Kala. She clenched her hands into fist and growled under her breath between laboured inhalations. In a split second, she drew back her fist and punched Goro in the chest, sending him flying directly through the wall of the restaurant and rolling into the plaza outside. Suddenly, her eyes turned bright white and a sphere of swirling air surrounded her. The strong currents overturned tables and chairs, causing patrons to panic and flee. Rai dashed forward through the hole, the swirling winds ripping the hole wider. As she hovered high above the plaza, she drew back her hand and unleashed a torrent of flames down to Goro. Citizens fled as Goro drew water from a nearby fountain to douse the flames. In a loud, booming and echoed voice, she yelled, "Kala! Her name was Kala! And you don't get to talk about her!"

Goro chuckled slightly while coughing and wiping the dirt off his face. "O-Okay, let's talk about this," he said, holding his hands up in surrender in a clear attempt to make himself look like the wronged party.

"No! No more talking!" The earth shook around Goro as boulders rose up from the ground around him and hovered in the air around Rai. The boulders floated around her in a circle and with sharp movements of her arms, one by one they flew towards Goro at high speed. He rolled out of the way with surprising agility, letting the boulders hit the ground harmlessly. Goro sprang to his feet, facing the Avatar with the utmost defiance in his eyes.

Back in the restaurant, Hiro quickly took advantage of Rai's sudden attack and flipped the table over onto two of Goro's disguised henchmen. "Come on!" he shouted, running for the exit Rai had created, followed quickly by Sati and Takumi. One of Goro's men, the one disguised as the waiter that had threatened Hiro, rushed towards them with a dagger in each hand, but Sati easily blew him away with a powerful gust of wind. When they got outside, the stood back in awe as Rai continued unleashing wave after wave of elements onto Goro, who either deflected or avoided the attacks.

In the midst of the fight, Takumi noticed the few civilians hiding behind the corners of buildings or watching the spectacle from windows. Each of them had a shocked expression on their face and pointed up at Rai in wonder. "She has to stop! She's drawing attention!"

Hiro was about to say something, but was interrupted by a sudden flash of white light. He turned to his right and noticed a young man with a camera, having just taken a picture. Hiro quickly seized the camera and smashed it beneath his foot.

"Hey!" the man cried.

"Beat it!" Hiro glared, scaring him off easily. He noticed another person with a camera just a few steps away, and moved towards him, but Sati placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"There's no point, Hiro! Even if you were able to destroy every camera in Ba Sing Se, too many people have already seen this!"

Rai continued unleashing all her might onto Goro. But each strike, guided by pure rage and hatred, never seemed to hit its intended target. Noticing the growing crowd, Goro smirked confidently and yelled up at Rai, "No longer hiding, Avatar? Finally going to show the world your true colors?!"

Rai blinked in surprise at his words as she suddenly became aware of the crowd of people gathered around them, but still far enough to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Slowly, she began to realize that she was what they were all staring at.

"Seems you're left with a choice, Avatar! So what'll it be? Your vendetta or your precious anonymity?"

In her rush and angered state, Rai struggled to maintain a coherent thought. She knew she couldn't choose one without losing the other. Her mind was filled with too many thoughts, each one trying to shout over the other, as if beckoning her to listen to them. She gripped her head and cried out in pain as the thoughts became louder and louder to the point where she couldn't focus on what was around her. She doesn't think; she acts. In a gust of wind, she flew up over the walls of Ba Sing Se and disappeared into the distance. Hiro, Sati and Takumi ran off back to the inn to retrieve their animals in a desperate attempt to catch up to her.

Goro smiled over his victory as he watched her disappear before quietly muttering to himself. "I win again, slave."

"Could it be?"

"Was it really?"

"It had to be!"

"That was the Avatar!"

"The Avatar has returned!"

As the citizens of Ba Sing Se began buzzing over the revelation, Goro was able to slip back into the shadows. Upon returning to his hideout in the city, one of his men greeted him. "She got away, sir. What do we do now?"

"Not to worry, that was all part of the plan," Goro answered casually.

"Plan? You mean you wanted her to run?"

"I just had to push her buttons enough to push her over the edge so she'd slip up. Soon, the whole world will know that the Avatar has returned."

"I'm not sure I understand, sir," his henchman said.

"If there's one thing I know my sweetheart values more than anything, more than her friends or her vendetta against me, it's her anonymity. She's had all this time to come forward as the Avatar, but she didn't. What does that tell you?" he asked, but his henchmen merely shrugged his shoulders. "Ugh, it means she doesn't want to be found. Now that that's gone, she'll do whatever it takes to keep from being discovered, even if it means crawling on her hands and knees and begging me to take her back. Make sure you boys help spread the word: the Avatar is back."

God, I cannot tell you how creepy and just gross I felt while writing Goro. I mean, I've had fun writing crazy villains before, but I seriously felt so creeped out writing this one. Seriously, he's a disgusting creep... and it only gets worse in the next chapter.

Next chapter: Rai confronts her former master, but for all her Avatar powers, Goro may very well break her will.