AN: if you are extra curious, Tola's features are based on model, Carrina Vargas (also known as a Suicide Girl). Just picture her animated ;) Reow! Anywho, enjoy!

Chapter Six

Mako found the old man sitting in front of the tea house, fidgeting nervously with his cup. He wore a butler's attire, monocle in place as he waited. The detective watched, taking in the man's body language. At the theater he revealed his name as Gillian, and he'd been a part of the Song household before Nakago came into the picture as a commanding force. Mako was in need of more information. He was still very patient with Tola, but he couldn't resist the temptation of meeting with one of the biggest links to her mysterious past. After watching the butler fidget a little more, Mako finally approached him. He sat on the seat across from the older gentleman and declined an offer for tea. He was only here to talk.

"You've told me about Nakago, but you left out the part about him being her stepfather."

Gillian gulped before saying, "my apologies."

"I'm going to disregard that. I only want you to answer some questions, since I'm kind of Tola's boyfriend and she's very important to me."

The old man nodded before steepling his fingers together. "Please, ask."

"How long have you been a part of the Song household?"

As a butler, Gillian bore witness to nearly everything that went on behind closed doors. To the public, the Songs were a wealthy and closely knitted family. Tola's father was a very respected man of great fortune. He had worked closely with the royal family in finding solutions to create a more efficient economy. He was an adviser who saw the technical side of things, and was loved within the community for his charitable work. He was the one who'd passed down his fire bending genes to Tola.

Her father had been at sea, swept away by a rising tide when the storm raged on. It left her mother emotional crippled, and in need of a strong man to lead the household. Tola had been ten when she lost her father. She was an only child until Nakago, a respected commander in the army, asked for her mother's hand in marriage. He was a widower as well, with a son three years older than Tola.

"In the beginning, everything was okay." Gillian said after pausing to sip his tea. "The Lady Song fell in love again, and Nakago fit the part of a devoted husband." He gulped softly, unease sliding across his features. "But, Tola changed."

Mako raised an eyebrow, "elaborate."

Gillian's hands were trembling when he lifted his tea to take another sip. "She started exhibiting... odd behaviors. She stayed shut up in her room a year after the marriage, and started acting out when she became a teenager. She was often loud and screaming at the top of her lungs whenever her stepbrother - Jun - came near, and she avoided Nakago."

Mako frowned as he compared what he was hearing to the woman he was seeing now.

"Then, she was quiet. The last four years, she was docile and kept to herself. I... I was afraid, and ultimately worried. I thought that something might seriously be wrong. And then she disappeared. Right after her sixteenth birthday. When Lady Song went to check her room after the celebration, the room was empty, the drawers thrown out and empty. Tola just left without a note." Mako calculated in his mind; she was two years older than him, which meant that she'd been away from home for six years. "Her mother misses her terribly. She only wishes for a visit, for Tola to see her baby brother. He is five now."

"But you told me that Nakago was the one who sent you."

"H-he was."

"Is he really sick?"

Gillian wet his lips nervously. "Yes, Mako. Her stepfather is very ill, and wants to see her at least once."

Mako's amber stare was piercing. It made Gillian fidget. "Do you know what happened between Tola, Jun, and Nakago?"

He shakily placed his napkin on the table, and reached into his pocket, handing the card to Mako. "I'm sorry, but I cannot share anymore. It is a private matter." Mako took the card as the old man straightened his vest and stood up. He watched the tense movements. "That is our means of contact. Come with the young miss if you must, but I implore that she visits. Soon." He coughed softly into his fist and left his money on the table. Mako watched him go with the note pinched between his fingers.

Now, he was going to have to do something difficult. Like tell Tola what he'd just done.

Work kept him busy. He had stopped an armed robbery and detained the criminals. He made the public announcement. Did his interview piece, and now sat back at his desk, staring at the card with the name: Nakago Fujiwarainscribed across the front. He wasn't sure how he was going to break he news to Tola. He'd basically done that behind her back - meet with her former butler to talk about her past, when she could have very well done it herself. He had yet to see her angry, or losing her patience. He hard a time seeing her outside of her relaxed and charming state.

He slipped the card into his pocket and grabbed his coat on the way out.

He had an idea about what happened within the Song household. It was something that would cause an outcry within Capital City, and shame the family name. The thought made his gloved hands clench. If Tola had been... If they'd...

He could pick up the signs in the way Gillian told the story. It was all piecing together. But she had to be the one to confirm t. He wanted to hear the truth from her lips.

Mako was surprised when he answered the door to find Tola without any make-up on, and her hair different. She'd dyed it back to its natural color. She also had it cut short so that it was a little past shoulder length and straight. Her hair was parted neatly to the side, with a few shorter strands tucked behind her delicate ears.

"Your mouth is hanging open." She teased and he quickly closed his mouth. He wrapped his arms around her waist without saying anything and just kissed her. She returned his kiss with a chuckle, which transitioned into a soft moan when he slipped his tongue in between her plush lips. She reached back to close the door behind them, and he had pressed against it. His hands sought her hips to grip and pull her up so that they were at an equal height. Her legs wrapped around his waist at once, thighs squeezing as they lost themselves to their passions.

He pulled away before he lost sight of his purpose. She blinked up with a lazy smile, thumbs idly stroking his jawline. He evened his breathing and rested his forehead against hers to compose himself. He couldn't seem to control himself around her. Neither could he keep his hands to himself whenever she was near.

"What is it?" She asked.

"I have to talk to you about what happened in Capital City."

He felt her tense, a carefully guarded expression sliding over her beautiful face. It pained him to see her so guarded, when she'd been so trusted and open during their affectionate behavior.

"I saw Gillian today." He was still holding her up and against his door. The strength of her legs around his waist had waned, but his hips pushed against hers kept her from sliding down, as well as his hands on her hips.

She gave no indication that the news affected her. She still wore her mask. "Oh."

"He told me about your father, that he was a good man. And then he told me about Nakago after your father passed, and that you had a stepbrother named Jun."

Her jaw tensed.

"Tola," he began softly, "I really, really, like you. And I want you to be honest with me, as I've been honest with you. Gillian wasn't allowed to tell me everything, but he is adamant about Nakago's wish to see you again. If you won't tell me what really happened, then maybe I can come with you to go see your mother. Gillian said that you have a little brother who's five years old now."

The last sentence surprised her. "A little brother?" She echoed faintly.

He nodded.

She looked away as she processed everything. Her guarded expression was waning, and he recognized more the woman he'd fallen in love with.

"I'm really sorry that I spoke with Gillian without asking you first." He said, "but I felt like I had to."

She exhaled slowly, and then wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him close. She was surprisingly different. He shouldn't compare her to his exes, but she'd been such a sweet surprise. When he thought that she'd blow up, or argue about him invading her privacy, she instead accepted his actions. "I understand." She said, "I've been withholding so much from you. I want to tell you everything, I really do..."

"Maybe we should visit Capital City, together. It was where my father was originally from. And I'd like to meet your mother." He smiled, not mentioning Jun or Nakago. He could care less about them. Their names left him a bad feeling.

She bit her bottom lip, "it's been six years." She said and slid her opal gaze back to him. "Maybe it's finally time to visit."

He gently placed his hand against her cheek, stroking his thumb over her bottom lip. "I'll request time off work. I'm sure Lin will understand. She probably wants me to take the vacation already for working so damned much."

"I'll do the same."

He leaned in to nuzzle her nose. When she returned the gesture, he knew he was back in a good place. Maybe they really did just have an argument. It was the most civil conversation; he remembered getting yelled at and it always made things worst. "By the way, I like this look." She quirked an eyebrow, and he laughed, finally pulling her away from the door as he carried her toward the couch. "I associate your pink, white, and blond with Lumia. Seeing you like this... I like it. It's like I've just met the real you." He laid her gently on the couch, and crawled on top of her. She peered up at him with a small smile.

"I figured it'd be less expensive to wear wigs instead of damaging my hair."

He chuckled and twisted a dark strand around his finger. Her hair felt soft against his skin. "Are you ready for this?" He asked worriedly. Maybe he was asking too much of her so soon.

"I'm never ready, Mako, but it's time that I just get it over and done with. If it weren't for you, I don't think I'll even have the courage to think about it." Tola reached up to hold his face with both her hands. "I'm kind of using you as my crutch right now."

"It's okay. You can use me anytime." He teased, making light of the situation. He fell silent, just to look at her face. His eyes moved slowly back and forth to take in the details, and how sweet she looked without the make-up or blond hair. It was like he was meeting her for the first time, and he was still captivated.