Two: Fires From the Past

Korra was grateful that the next morning was cool and crisp when she and Asami drove over to the Metalbending Police Force headquarters. The traffic on the roads was light, with far more blue and green-colored spirits drifting through the air than actual cars or people. Dozens of translucent moth-wasps and dragonfly bunnies squealed and chirped at the Avatar as she drove along. She did her best to wave and acknowledge them, but most of her attention was focused on the morose Asami sitting beside her.

She hadn't slept well, and it showed. Asami always took great care of herself before leaving the house, and while she'd bathed and dressed as usual, she'd done nothing to hide the bags under her eyes or comb away the snarls from her hair. Korra didn't want to say anything, but she could see, if not outright sense, the misery that her girlfriend was carrying inside.

By the time they reached the police station, Asami appeared to wake up a little more. She looked over at Korra, meeting her eyes for the first time that morning. Her lips curved into a tiny, almost embarrassed smile.

"Thank you for doing this," she said.

Korra reached across the car and grabbed her hand. She gave Asami a loving squeeze and let her gaze linger, trying to project the full depth of her love in a single look. "We're doing it together, Asami. That's what counts."

"I certainly couldn't do this without you."

"Somehow," a dry voice from the left called out, "I doubt that, Miss Sato."

They turned to see Lin Beifong emerging from the front entrance of the police headquarters. Her standard-issue uniform gleamed like platinum as the sunlight reflected off her torso's segmented metal plating. She looked about the same as the day when Korra first arrived in Republic City, although she could see a few more white hairs in the other woman's temples, and perhaps fewer lines in her face. She was still a formidable police chief, but after everything that had occurred with her sister Suyin and the Earth Empire crisis, everyone who knew her well could see traces of a more sensitive and caring side beyond her rough exterior. A spark of fierce love and devotion that fueled her commitment to duty.

As the Avatar, Korra could relate. She squeezed Asami's hand for good measure as they got out of the Satomobile.

"As head of Future Industries, you could've put in a request at any time," Lin continued. She shook hands with the two women before leading them inside. "But better late than never, I guess."

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate this," Asami replied. She didn't once let go of Korra's hand as they passed through the front lobby. "But, please, if I'm keeping you from anything more important—"

"You're not." As they turned the corner and went down a side corridor, Lin chuckled. "In the years since the Avatar showed up in Republic City, this is one of the few peaceful months we've had in a long time."

Korra laughed as well. "Well, that goes for me, too. I take it the spirits are still playing nice?"

"Eh, that's not my department. What I mean is, even the Triads are playing it quiet these days. We've broken a record for the lowest number of thefts and muggings reported this week if you can believe that."

Shooting a sidelong glance at Asami, Korra grinned. "I can, actually."

They eventually came to a stop at a small door near the end of the hallway. Affixed to the door was an old bronze plaque, emblazoned with the words MPF Archives. Lin opened the door and waved for her guests to follow her in.

Korra held up a hand and coughed into it as a thick layer of dust assaulted her from all directions. Her eyes watered, and she clung onto Asami's hand for dear life. "Ugh! You know, you might want to consider hiring an airbender!"

Lin regarded her with a smirk from the other side of the room. "Be my guest, kid."

Keeping Asami behind her, Korra lifted her hands to eye level and began to twist them around in a slow circular motion. Her awareness sank into the drifting clouds of dust that permeated the archives, lifting and expelling them off rows of filing cabinets and their sliding metal drawers. She willed away every last particle onto the floor and back out into the hallway until she felt capable of breathing again.

"Hmm, I guess you did pick up a thing or two from Tenzin." Lin reached over and yanked open one of the drawers on a filing cabinet behind her. After flipping through several files, she pulled a manilla folder free and dropped it onto the small metal table in the center of the room. A dull, flickering light bulb swung in the air, casting a sulfur-yellow glow over the police file.

Korra helped Asami to a chair and then grabbed one for herself. "This is it?"

"One of the oldest cold cases in our department's history," Lin answered. She slammed the metal drawer shut and wiped her hands. "It's not much, Miss Sato, but it's all we have on that night." Her grim expression softened for a moment, showing a more considerate frown. "Take as much time as you need. When you're done, one of my officers will see you out."

"Thank you," said Asami, not even bothering to look up from the file. She'd already opened the folder and started scanning the first page.

Korra gave Lin a friendly nod as the older woman left the room. Once the door closed behind her, she turned back to Asami. Her senses told her not to worry, and that her girlfriend wasn't as delicate as she appeared to be.

Scooting her chair over, Korra looked down at the report that Asami was reading.

Murder and Robbery Investigation – Ongoing

Date: 158 AG – Year of the Horse

Victim: Sato, Yasuko

Attending Officer: Lieutenant Zhen

Summary: At approximately 11 o'clock, MPF officers responded to an urgent telephone call from Hiroshi Sato regarding a break-in and act of murder at his estate. Eyewitness accounts and crime scene evidence led to the identification of several firebenders associated with the Agni Kai Triad, but no leads as to the identity of the man responsible for the death of Yasuko Sato, age 36. Several suspects were brought in for questioning on the following evening, including Chen Li, Ping "Pai Sho" Sun, and Wen Mu. All suspects had alibis for their whereabouts, as confirmed by independent eyewitnesses from the Phoenix Park borough.

All that remains confirmed is that at least six men in Agni Kai attire entered the Sato estate at approximately a quarter to 11 o'clock. The intruders acquired three silk paintings and two cases of jewelry, all priced at 12,491 yuans. Yasuko Sato attempted to intervene with one intruder, who committed a lethal firebending attack against her before fleeing the premises with his comrades. The late Mrs. Sato is survived by her husband Hiroshi and their daughter Asami…

Korra had only managed to read the final line in the summary before Asami tore herself away from the page. She pressed her hands to her face, muffling what Korra heard as a distinct sob. As a waterbender, she could sense the faint trails of moisture running down Asami's cheeks, soaking into her palms with each passing second.

"Come here," said Korra. Without waiting for a reply, she pulled Asami into a hug, burying the other woman's head against her chest.

Asami sniffed and lifted her face to Korra. Her eyes had gone red and puffy, but she had composed herself again. "I can't believe…" She shook her head. "I just can't…"

"Can't believe what?"

Wiping her nose with the back of her hand, Asami sat up and looked Korra in the eye. "I remember that night. All of it. I… I was hiding under my bed. That's what my mom said to do. And then I heard her leave, and…" She bit on her bottom lip, making Korra's heart drop. "And I heard her scream…"

Korra held her by the hand again, wrapping it in her grip with gentle force. "I wish I could spare you that pain. I wish I could bring back your parents, even if it were only for a single day."

"I know…" Asami reached into her pocket and took out a handkerchief. She dabbed at her eyes, all while giving Korra a tiny smile. "It's enough for me that you're here now."

"Always." Korra lifted Asami's other hand and kissed it. "Always."

They continued to read through the rest of the file, going over crime scene photos and addendums that the Metalbending Police had added over the years. One of those notes was a report on how the murder case had driven Hiroshi Sato to aid the rising Equalist movement with an underground factory that churned out mecha tanks and other weapons of war. Asami had been able to read through that part without too much grief. She'd made her peace with her father not long before his death, and as for the secret factory, she'd ordered it emptied and sealed off years ago.

But her thoughts lingered on her mother. She pictured Yasuko, tender and graceful as she helped a younger Asami style her hair for an upcoming party, or praising her for a book report she'd presented in class. Compared to the sorrow that her father had lived with for many years—first as a widower and, later, as a convicted felon—Asami always recalled her mother as a proud and smiling woman.

You would have loved Korra, she reflected, not sure if her mother's spirit lived on or if she could hear those thoughts. She's made me as happy as I was when you were still here…

Korra's arm hadn't left her waist since she'd continued to read the cold case file. Asami was grateful for its presence. She let her thoughts of Mom drift away and focused on the warm body beside her.

If she could only mass-produce and bottle up the Avatar's loving-kindness, Future Industries would never have to worry about its profits ever again.

"Hey." Korra's voice broke Asami out of her reverie. The Avatar leaned over and pointed to a set of photos near the end of the file. "I think I know that guy!"

"You do?" Asami pushed away the last page and grabbed the photo in question.

He wasn't a pleasant-looking fellow. His face was rough, as if hewn from a block of granite with two deep-set eyes glued onto the front. A pair of faint black sideburns lined that ugly mug, contrasting with the expensive suit that he wore underneath.

On the bottom of the photo was a short note:

Kaigo (no surname given).

Suspected associate of the Agni Kai Triad.

Photo taken at police station booking in 156 AG.

Korra examined the photo a little more. After a second, she nodded. "Yeah, I swear I've seen that face before. Way back in the Earth Kingdom."

Asami's heart was racing faster than a Satomobile. "And when was that?"

"Back when I was at the cage fighting ring," Korra admitted. She looked away for a moment. "Not one of my proudest moments, I'll admit. But there was this one fight. I took on some girl from Omashu, this metalbender…" Looking back at Asami, she didn't quite meet her concerned gaze. "Well, she beat me pretty badly. Cracked a rib or two. Anyway, I caught a glimpse of the guy she was with. He had this very expensive Earth Kingdom suit, and he was flashing yuans around the place, making bets and taking everyone's money. He never even looked at me, but…"

Clutching at Korra's hand, Asami felt as if the floor was about to give out underneath her chair. "But what? Korra, please. Just tell me."

Sighing, Korra met Asami's gaze. "But I knew something was off about him, even then. I could tell he had the look of someone born in the Fire Nation. Like you."

A cold ball of dread formed inside the bottom of Asami's stomach. "And you think it's him?"

She couldn't even bring herself to look at the photo.

"I don't know," Korra admitted, "but if he left Republic City after the night your mother died, then it might explain why the police never caught him."

Asami almost didn't hear her. In her mind, she wasn't at the police station anymore. She was back in her room, six years old again and hiding under her bed while she listened to the man yelling outside her bedroom. Squeezing her eyes shut against the terror that filled her whole body, especially when she heard her mother's voice for the last time, crying out—

"Asami? Hey!"

She blinked away a fresh set of tears. Asami wiped at her eyes with her handkerchief. Back in the police archives, she stared at Korra's concerned face. Asami didn't resist when the Avatar pulled her in for another hug.

"I'm sorry," Asami whispered. "You didn't ask for this—"

"Shut up, and yes, I did." Korra squeezed her even harder. Her voice was warm against Asami's ear. "As the Avatar, I'm responsible for keeping balance in the world, but as your girlfriend, I'm here to share every moment I can with you. Including the bad ones."

Asami sniffled, almost chuckling despite the pain in her heart. "When did you get so wise?"

Korra pulled back, letting Asami see her tender smile as she reached up to stroke her face. "It's mostly your fault, you know. You were there for me with your letters and your support when I needed them. And now I'm here for you. If that means hunting down this Kaigo, then that's what I'll do."

"Korra, no." Asami looked at the floor and the fresh layer of dust on it. "I won't let you risk yourself for my sake."

"It's bigger than that." Korra brushed at Asami's hair, tucking it behind her ear. "Lin would agree that we have a known fugitive from the law somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. If we can put him behind bars, then I know I'll sleep better at night." She paused and looked Asami in the eye. "If not for you, then for your mother's sake."

Asami didn't have an answer for that. She sighed and buried her face against Korra's shoulder. She knew she had to get back to her company at some point, and that Korra would return to Air Temple Island as well, but for one all too brief moment, all she wanted was to be with someone she loved and trusted.

In days past, Republic City had been a beacon of hope for thousands, from its rising silver and gold skyscrapers to its ever-expanding commercial and industrial sectors, thanks in no small part to corporations like Future Industries and Cabbage Corp. Of course, in a big enough city, not everyone enjoyed the same opportunities, and so they turned to their friendly neighborhood Triads for aid.

For the right price, of course.

As he stepped off the train platform and descended a flight of stairs, Kaigo slipped his hands into the pockets of his crumpled old suit. Everywhere he looked, he saw familiar scuff marks from Triad fights that had long since passed or the faces of many a victim he'd roughed up for his boss, Chen Li. But he felt secure that no one would recognize him, not with his Earth Kingdom-style suit and a full-sized beard to mask his face. Not to mention the fact that Kaigo the Killer's last whereabouts were reported in Ba Sing Se, just before Zaheer's Uprising broke out.

He'd paid good money to his friends back home to make sure that his police file listed him as another casualty of the violence. Quite a shame.

In his pocket, he gripped a telegram that he'd received two days earlier in Yu Dao. A nice little note from Chen Li himself: Mr. K, we've got your reservation. Will see you at the east entrance to the Spirit Wilds in RC. Safe passage, old friend.

Emerging from the shadows of the train station, Kaigo stopped to breathe in the almost smog-free air of Republic City. Satomobiles of every size and color roamed up and down the block, along with one or two blue spirits trailing in the air overhead.

"Well, now..." Kaigo tilted the brim of his hat, shielding his eyes from the glare of the setting sun. He let the crowds pass around him as he took his time to watch the blue-winged creatures chase each other through the air. Like watching demented rabbits with butterfly wings, making him wonder if he'd accidentally ingested a bad mushroom on the train ride into town.

Chen Li had promised that things would be different when he returned. And Kaigo was looking forward to seeing what new opportunities his hometown had to offer.

He whistled for a taxi and dropped a stack of wrinkled yuans into the driver's hand. The kid at the wheel didn't even blink. His hand blurred, pocketing the cash and taking a sharp turn off the main road, right toward where the Spirit Wilds were said to be. Kaigo, meanwhile, dropped his hat over his face and tried to catch a little shut-eye.

It had been years since he'd been back, not since the night of the Sato estate job. The Agni Kai Triad had promised its foot soldiers a boatload of yuans for whoever took home the biggest steal, from jewelry to corporate prototypes. Anything that they could fence on the black market, with a fifteen percent finder's fee of course. Kaigo himself had been the most daring of the thieves that night, making off with two pocketfuls of gold earrings and bracelets and an ancient Fire Nation scroll tucked into his waistband. Chen Li had given him quite the cut for his efforts.

He'd been less approving, of course, of the blood that had been spilled.

Kaigo hadn't planned on it. The job was supposed to be quick, a simple smash-and-grab before any police could show up. But when he got close to one of the upstairs bedrooms, he'd found himself on the receiving end of a backhand blow from a dark-haired dame in a nightgown. The hot sting of humiliation flared inside the back of his throat at her touch. He'd spun around, already summoning a fireball to his palm and aiming it for her head. She'd screamed, but only for a short time. What remained of her was a smoking, twisted wreck of a body, barely recognizable as human. Kaigo had been the first to abandon the estate after that, waiting only to ensure that the rest of his gang made it back to the getaway car, with only minutes to spare before the police finally arrived.

Republic City was too hot for him after that night. Chen Li had told Kaigo himself: Hiroshi Sato wants your head, and the police chief is putting out a big reward. Better split now and keep up your trade elsewhere, you hear? And so Kaigo had booked passage on a freighter out of Yue Bay, heading into the Earth Kingdom under the name Tian Tan.

It had been fun traveling the world, turning a few profits and roughing up marks in different corners of the world. But nothing could compare to the thrill of the big city, and Kaigo was glad to be back where he belonged.

Night had fallen by the time the taxi reached the Spirit Wilds. Kaigo thanked the kid before getting out, taking his time as he did. His wingtip shoes brushed up against unfamiliar green vines that littered the end of the street. Looking up, he followed the vines toward a grove of massive trees, taller than the apartment buildings they had threatened to engulf in their branches.

"How in the blazes does anybody get used to this?" Kaigo wondered out loud.

A chuckle from inside the forest answered him. "Well, that's the trick, old friend. You gotta adapt, and no one makes do like the Triads."

Chen Li stepped out from behind one of the giant trees. He looked exactly as Kaigo remembered him, except for a little more white in his hair and a thinner beard. But the dandy red suit and hat looked as sharp as ever.

Kaigo laughed and slapped his knee. "Still know how to make an entrance, old man."

"Kaigo the Killer, back in Republic City." The two men embraced, slapping each other's backs and laughing in the deserted street. Chen Li held his old friend at arm's length, appraising him with a quick eye. "You've missed out on all the action. The Equalists, the spirit monsters, the mecha war—and all the reconstruction jobs my boys have pulled, too!"

"Yeah, but being in retirement has its perks, too. Less cops snooping around my turf being one."

"I hear ya. Now, let's go for a walk..."

Kaigo followed his old boss deeper into the Spirit Wilds, stepping over fallen logs and bundles of spirit vines that writhed and even hissed when he passed. At least, he could've sworn he heard them hiss. He decided not to give the matter much thought. This place was too bizarre for his tastes, like a spot of mold on a clean wall. Republic City had its seedy underbelly, but an overgrown jungle was too crazy a concept, even for a seasoned con like him.

After a long trek, Chen Li came to a stop. Kaigo almost bumped into him. He steadied himself against a nearby tree trunk and gazed up at the portal.

He'd read up on the Wilds before he came back into the city, but nothing could compare to the majesty of this sight. A pillar of light reaching up into the heavens, born of the purest gold and flanked by delicate spirals of emerald, ochre, and violet. Something in the air around the spirit portal hummed and throbbed for attention, and whenever Kaigo caught sight of a flock of spirits flying near the gate, he saw them disappear for a moment, only to reappear on the other side, perfectly unchanged as far as he could tell.

"Quite a view, isn't it?" Chen Li stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes were fixed on the portal, and he smiled when Kaigo came up beside him.

"Yeah, sure is something." Pausing to wipe at his brow, Kaigo scanned his old friend's face. Something about the boss didn't seem right. Call it a gut instinct, born from years of evading arrest.

Giving the old man a nudge, Kaigo found his voice again. "Hey, you never did tell me what this new job of yours was about."

"Oh, right. That." Chen Li turned around to face him, but the smile on his face had gone from warm and admiring to deathly cold. Kaigo retracted his hand almost immediately.

"See, Kaigo, things are changing in this town, and I don't like it one bit. This old body doesn't suit me anymore, so I'm looking for someone to take the reins, so to speak. Someone who'll do the job right and put our little enterprise back on top."

"You're serious." Kaigo's face lit up. He offered his hand to the old man. "Chen Li, this is the best news I've heard in years. I'll do the Agni Kai proud. You have my word."

"Good!" Chen Li's eyes flashed, and then something broke loose.

That something was long and black, billowing out from behind the old boss's head like a serpent uncoiling. Kaigo stood dumbfounded, unable to move when he saw the giant spirit unfurl, stretching out its shadowy body to block out the constant light of the portal behind it. A long, violet tendril snaked its way down from the top of the creature's head, right where a pair of large golden eyes opened. The eyes of a winged lemur, but with no curiosity or joy inside them.

Kaigo didn't move. He couldn't move, no matter how much his instincts screamed at him. All his years of firebending practice, all those hard-earned victories, rendered useless in a heartbeat.

"You have my gratitude, human," the spirit hissed in a low, grating voice. "I spoke no lie to you: the body of your friend wears thin for me. I require a new vessel for my pleasures."

With a flicker of smoky tendrils, Chen Li's eyes rolled up into the back of his head. He was still grinning from ear to ear as he dropped onto the ground. Kaigo watched him shudder once, then go completely still. For good, he imagined.

And then he met the spirit's eyes again.

"Wh-what are you?" he demanded. "What the hell is this?"

"I am called Indri," the spirit hissed. "And you are Kaigo, my new servant."

Before he could even blink, Kaigo felt his legs freeze. The spirit darted forward, passing through him as a cold, dark wave that made him sick to his stomach. He dropped to his knees, unable to summon his fire and his rage to protect himself. The damned spirit had wormed its way inside him, twisting around in his gut and seeping through his every pore with cold, revolting precision. He could almost see it, even feel it. A hideous torrent of murky violet-black water, cold and thick as it slid through his veins and swarmed through the inside of his skull without relenting. He shuddered and wept and cried out for help, but the only thing to answer him were cruel echoes of his voice.

"There, there," Indri whispered inside his head. "You'll feel better soon. All you need to do is let me assume control of this vessel, human."

"N-never..."

Kaigo's protest died in his throat. It took him a second to realize that he'd gripped his throat with his own two hands, crushing his windpipe with surprising strength.

He struggled to break free, but his hands refused to obey. Everything about his body turned fluid and hazy. He could no longer keep control or balance, stumbling onto the vine-covered ground with a thud.

Indri's laughter echoed through the Spirit Wilds. "You see? Much better..."

It horrified Kaigo to realize how little time the creature had needed to take over. The worst part was hearing it speak with his voice, through his mouth. He could still see through his eyes and hear through his ears, but he couldn't command anything. Couldn't scream for help or look away from the portal to fight back the nausea that boiled in his chest.

He'd once spent six months in a prison near the South Sea, but that Earth Kingdom hellhole was nothing compared to this nightmare.

"This is how it should be," Indri said. He forced Kaigo onto his hands and knees. Using his newfound fingers, he gripped at the nearest cluster of spirit vines and savored their hiss of protest. "Humans are so weak and limited. It is a miracle that your kind has managed this long in your world. Even the lion-turtles and their gifts can only grant you so much help."

"Please..." Kaigo had become so very small. A tiny little thought, a mere whisper inside his head, trapped by his own flesh in an endless void. "Please, don't do this!"

"Oh, but why stop now?" Indri stood up in his new body. He picked up his hat, dusted it off, and set it atop his head with a smug little grin. "I'm just getting started!"