Love Burns Brighter ( Korrasami Fanfiction )

by nofacemonster

korra and Asami were good friends but the things have started to change... This is a korrasami fanfiction purely written on my imaginations, story takes place after the season #3 end. please bare in mind that this is the first work i ever published and it may contain many shortcomings please bare with me.

8. Chapter 8

The news of Avatar Korra has been killed in Frozen North spreads fast like wild fire. Even though the world feared her, it is still a shocking news to a many. After taking all the facts in to consideration the authorities have officially declared that Avatar Korra is being killed in the prison by Zaheer.

General Akbar used all of his power to convince the authorities and republic city police that she was killed by Zaheer. There is no reason for them not to believe it because everyone is already aware that Zaheer is Korra's sworn enemy who nearly succeeded in killing her once and there is no reason for him not to do it again when he get a second chance.

Tenzin has already announced the untimely death of Avatar Korra to his people by holding a ceremony in her name at the Air Temple Island. Her parents were in utter despair as they heard their only child was killed in the prison by her enemy. Meanwhile Asami gathered all she wanted to go on looking for Korra under the cloak of grief and mourning. She decided to go on searching for Korra with all her power. Finally Mako has come to the light and started seeing things clearly, he has decided to lend his full support on Asami's search for Korra. Together Asami and Mako plans going for a search looking for Avatar Korra…

Somewhere in Republic City

Lin felt the cold wind embraces her as she stared in to the illuminated nightly cityscape. She has her hair down which makes her look slightly different than usual and wears a darkest green medium length bodycon dress with cross-back design. Deep in her heart she felt lonely and she curled her arms feeling the cold breeze. She thought that he would never come and it is foolish of her to wait for him. Lin already feels like a different person as things have started to change in her.

"Lin…" she heard a familiar voice from behind and he turned leaning her back against the metal railing. She saw Tenzin staring at her and she happily smiled at him.

"I thought you'd never come…" said Lin an emotional tone.

"I am sorry if I kept you waiting but…" said Tenzin pausing.

"…. But?" said Lin wanting him to continue.

"I mean… err but I never expected to see you like this… In a dress, and err your hair down, you looks…" Tenzin stammered having his attention stolen away by Lin.

"….I looks…?" asked Lin in a playful tone leaning towards him.

"Ravishing…. You look ravishing tonight…. It's been a while since the last time I saw you like this" said Tenzin walking over to her and leaning against the metal railing. Lin chuckled softly and looked down with a smile.

"I was expecting to see you in your regular metal bending police uniform because you didn't tell me the reason why you wanted me here…" said Tenzin looking in to the nightly sky as the wind blew towards him. Lin exhaled sharply.

"I just wanted to see you…. You and I now live in a world without an avatar for the first time in ten thousand years…" Lin said softly.

"I just don't know what to say…. As her mentor I'm a complete failure. She died because of my ignorance. Tonraq and Senna couldn't say it to my face but i saw it in their eyes" said Tenzin closing his eyes looking down in shame.

"I lost all hope when I heard Zaheer killed Korra back in frozen north. He knows how to get rid of avatar permanently. I understand why you are feeling so guilty but it is not your fault Tenzin" said Lin laying her hand on Tenzin's hand which was resting on the metal railing. From the moment he saw her; he knew why she asked him to come see her. She wanted some company because she felt lonely after a very long time.

Tenzin opened his eyes and turn to her. Lin looked in to Tenzin's eyes deeply. He couldn't help himself from reaching towards Lin's face. He laid his hand on her face and she closed her eyes holding his palm against her cheek feeling his warmth. She held his hand against her cheek without wanting to let go. Tenzin smiled at her as he felt the scar on her face.

"You know this is wrong…" Tenzin said very softly.

"I know it is…" whispered Lin and lightly kissed Tenzin's palm as she held it against her cheek.

Tenzin tried to pull his hand back gently but Lin didn't want to let it go. He didn't want to force it away from her either.

"In my darkest hour she has stolen you away from me…. Please Tenzin…. At least let me have this moment with you for all the love I held in my heart for you…" whispered Lin as her eyes began to fill up with tears.

"I know that you think of me as a machine devoid of human emotions…. But have you ever asked yourself how I feel when I see you with her…?" Lin added.

Tenzin felt his heart grew heavier as she whispered with teary eyes. He has never seen Lin having teary eyes after they broke up long time ago.

"You're the man I loved…. And you will always be the man I love…. Loosing you turned my heart in to cold steel. All these years, I have watched you live with her taking care of her and raising your family. I always pictured myself in her place and I cried alone…" Lin said softly.

"You know it is not true… She has not stolen me away from you…" said Tenzin as he reached her face with both of his hands and wiped her tears away. She opened her eyes and kept staring in to his eyes. There was a moment of silence between them and the old memories flash before Tenzin's eyes as he kept looking in to Lin's eyes. Tenzin saw her eyes glittering with tears.

Tenzin moved slowly towards her and kisses on her lips softly as she kissed him back. Time has just paused for a moment around them. She held him closer as he held her closer.

He leaned back away from her and saw Lin looking down smiling through her tears because she felt overjoyed to be kissed by the only man she loved after a long time. Tenzin smiled at her as she lifts her face up to look back at him.

"You and I cannot do this Lin… This isn't morally right…. I must take my leave now….!" said Tenzin wanting to walk away from her. As he tried to walk away from her she held his hand tightly. Tenzin stopped and turn back at her.

"Being "Right" has stolen the happiness away from my life and I no longer cares about what is right or wrong….." she said without letting his hand go. Tenzin moved closer and stared in to her eyes as she looked down torn between love and shame. She looked again in to his eyes and reached his face with her hands. The rain drops started to fall quickly on them adding blots of water in the clothes as they kept staring in to each other's eyes.

"….. Be mine tonight Tenzin" she whispered.

"Lin…..! Please…. I will not be able to look her in the eyes again…" Tenzin whispered wanting her to understand his situation and not to indulge him commit the act of unfaithfulness. Lin kept silent as Tenzin slowly released his hand from her grip and as he walked away from her the rain started to fall in full scale. She kept looking at him as he walked towards his sky bison that just came to pick him up.

"TENZIN" she said suddenly raising her voice as he kept on walking towards the sky bison. He turned back and saw Lin is crying all soaked up in the pouring rain. He never seen Lin cry like that ever in his life.

"I spent all my life waiting for you to come back to me someday…. I loved you Tenzin and I will always love you…. Don't do this to me…. I am the one you loved first…." said Lin as she cried in the pouring rain. Tenzin paused for a moment as she looked back at the cityscape leaning against the metal railing in the pouring rain. He quickly walked back to her and turned her towards him forcibly holding her from her biceps. She felt his anger as he held her from his hands. She looked in to his eyes shivering in cold wet clothes.

"Why…..? Why are you doing this to me…?" Tenzin asked.

"Because all i ever wanted was you…. Only you and nobody else…. I am the one you want…. You know that deep in your heart that I am the one who can feed your hunger; I see the fire that burns in your eyes…. Don't try to deny it, you're not the man you are trying to be. Let me have the man you try to disguise from the world" Lin uttered softly while being held by his arms like a helpless cat. Tenzin kept staring at her for a moment as she kept sniveling in his arms.

Tenzin knows that Lin is a woman who is not that easy to handle… When she wants something she tries to get it one way or another. She wanted to evoke his deepest darkest immoral desires which he wish to keep away from the world.

He knows that deep in his darkest fantasies, she's the monster that he always craved for. She is the one that could settle his most unsettling carnal desires; she is the masochistic queen of the sadistic dark side of his soul which Pema has never seen.

Tenzin could not control himself anymore, he kissed her on the lips deeply and she kissed him back wrapping her arms around his neck; gently caressing the back of his neck. They kissed each other madly in the cold pouring rain holding each other.

Few hours later…

The heavy rain is raging outside in the republic city along with thunder and lightning. Tenzin felt the warm breath as Lin lays her head on the side of his chest and cuddled on to him. She ran her fingers across his chest as he held her closer looking up at the ceiling. She puts her leg over him under the sheets feeling his body close to her. She closed her eyes feeling relieved to be in the arms of the man she love.

"What are you thinking….?" Lin whispered nuzzling on the side of his chest.

"Nothing…" he said softly and looked back at her.

"Are you mad at me…?" whispered Lin caressing his chest all the way down to his abs.

"Mad at you for what…?" Tenzin asked in a soft tone.

"…you know… for this…?" she whispered in his ear.

"I cannot be angry with you for taking back what was yours…." said Tenzin.

"Something I should have done long time ago…." she whispered back in his ear and kissed him softly on his jaw. Tenzin chuckled for what she said.

"Do not worry my love… she will not know this… I will not be the monster that steals you away from her but I want what was mine because she can't handle it, you don't have to hold it any longer because you're with me now, I can give you what your heart desires. I want to burn in your fire" whispered Lin gently running her hand down under the sheets kissing Tenzin on his chest.

He couldn't hold himself no longer as she kept on taunting him by whispering him provocatively.

Tenzin grabbed her head with her hair and stared in to her eyes as she smiled playfully like vampire reaching his face. He kissed her on the lips harder and deeply getting on top of her. He kissed on her neck and she scratched his back harder with her finger nails until he bleeds with pleasure.

"Feed your inner demons as your heart desires my love…. For I am your nightmare to be used as you wish" she whispered to his ear having her eyes closed in relief as Tenzin unleashed everything he desires on her. Deep in her heart this is the Tenzin she knew and loved…. This is the dark side of Tenzin that only Lin could evoke at will. The dark side of Tenzin that Pema has never seen and she never will.

Next Morning…

Tenzin riding on his sky bison back to the Air Temple Island. Deep in his heart he felt guilty because he has always been a man with righteous acts and thoughts. He loved Pema very much and been true to her all his life but Lin changed everything last night by claiming back what was rightfully hers. He felt torn between many thoughts in his head and began to question himself on the immoral sadistic acts he committed last night. Tenzin knows that she's like a customized exclusive drug to feed his darkest addictions and once he falls for her temptations there is no escape. Lin wants him but she didn't want to come between himself and Pema, She has always held a special place in his heart and he can't push her away anymore. He didn't want to break her heart again by denying her.

Few days later
Somewhere in Northern Wasteland

Korra slowly opens her eyes with a sudden burst of freezing breath inhaling through her nostrils freezing her down to the lungs. After a very long time she felt that she's back in her original state of health. She felt a tremendous power within her body as she drew few breaths.

Korra took a deep breath again to warm herself from inside and sits up feeling like a new born and found herself covered with warm wooly blankets.

"I feel so alive…. Am I dead?" She thought to herself as she remembered how she felt when she was back in prison but she has no memory of what happened to her.

She looked around and no one is to be seen except for worn out fire which still kept on smoking after being put out. Korra puts her legs down and found her hair is beautifully French braided to a single stem and it was longer than she remembered.

She stood up and grabbed the warm wooly collared jacket which was next to her and put it over her shirt.

"Damn it's freezing…" she said rubbing her palms together and blowing at them to warm up. She stepped out of the cave and sees nothing but the endless snowy landscape.

"Where in the world am i….?" she asked herself looking further in to the endless horizon. Korra felt her stomach growl as if she didn't have anything to eat for days.

"Urgh… I am so hungry" she said rubbing her belly.

Suddenly she noticed a man approaching in the far distant horizon wearing a hooded snow jacket and a stick with couple of fish attached to it and she decides to rush back in to the cave and hide.

Korra stayed calm until the man approached the cave. Just before he enters, he pulled the hood down and Korra felt a chill down to her spine. It revealed the fully shaved bald headed man she feared the most.

"ZAHEER….!?" She thought to herself immediately rushing towards him to attack.

He felt her approach from the behind so he quickly dropped the fish he was carrying and blocked her close quarter attack and threw Korra on the ground. She quickly stood up and tried to water bend at him and she felt all of her bending is gone. Zaheer quickly took a stance as Korra rushed towards him for a second attack. He simply avoided her attack and pushed her back on the ground and this time it was little too harsh.

"Stay away from me…. YOU MONSTER!" Korra shouted at him cornering herself against the wall of the cave.

Zaheer quickly returned to defensive stance.

"Avatar Korra… WAIT" he said quickly wanting her to stop attacking him because he felt that he has already hurt her by pushing her towards the wall.

"WAIT…? Wait and then what? Let you kill me again?" She shouts frowning at him holding on to her elbow.

"Think twice before you resort to violence Avatar Korra" said Zaheer standing straight clasping his hands together. Korra is still on the ground trying to understand what the hell is happening right now.

Zaheer walked towards her and lend his hand for her to stand up. She looked at him frowning in hatred.

"As far as I remember…. You wanted to kill me, you poisoned me and I put you in the prison for all the destruction you have done…. Now you are next to me, lending your hand for me to stand up? I don't need your hand… just stay away from me" said Korra frowning at him. Zaheer stepped back by letting her stand back on her feet again.

Zaheer closed his eyes not knowing where to start explaining what has happened so far.

"It seems that you have no memory of what happened to you…." He said looking back at her.

"Hell I don't… if I do, I wouldn't be asking you right…?" said Korra in a very sarcastic manner.

Korra's stomach growls back again and it was audible. Korra stretched her arm to see if she's alright because she hit the ground really hard when Zaheer defended her attacks and threw her on the across the cave.

She leaned against the wall of the cave because she fears and distrust Zaheer. It was shocking for her to find herself in a cave with him when she woke up.

"Don't you dare come any closer to me…" said Korra feeling exhausted in fear.

Zaheer understood that she feel insecure in his presence so he decided to let her have some time to make her feel comfortable.

Zaheer kept quiet then lit up the fire and fed it with firewood he had stored in the cave. He took a small knife then quickly gutted the fish and sticks it on the fire to roast. Korra kept staring at Zaheer with fear in her eyes. He sits by the fire in lotus position and closed his eyes.

"When the good comes your way; accept it without questioning" said Zaheer.

"I will gladly accept good as long as it is coming from a believable source… " said Korra as she rubs her belly feeling a ravenous hunger.

"I believe you have no other choice avatar Korra…. Only one who can tell you what happened, is me" said Zaheer.

Korra swallowed saliva down her throat as she kept on staring at the roasting fish. The smell of it makes her stomach growl in hunger.

"You may serve yourself as you please… that is if you wish to eat half cooked fish" said Zaheer. Korra slowly sits on the ground at the other side of the fire facing Zaheer.

"Why have you bought me here…? Where am i…? And how do I know if those fish is not being poisoned?" Korra asked.

"Just think carefully avatar Korra, if I wanted to kill you I could have easily done it while you were unconscious for weeks. If the killing you was my goal, I could kill you right now and gut you like a fish" said Zaheer.

"You…. What?" asked Korra making her eyes bigger and her stomach growled again.

"The ravenous appetite you feel right now is a result of your body being in a deep healing sleep for weeks. I know you are hungry so you may serve yourself as you please" said Zaheer. Korra kept quiet staring at the food as she felt her hunger is clawing inside the belly. Zaheer grabbed one of the fish which was roasting in the fire and slowly eats it to prove that they are not poisoned. Korra kept staring at what he eats and swallows.

"Please serve yourself with some food avatar Korra, it is bad manners to let my guest stare while I eat" said Zaheer.

"I don't want your food. You and I have nothing to talk about, I may not remember what happened but I remember who you are and what you did to me, you are a murderer and you are a monster" said Korra angrily. Zaheer kept quiet and finished the fish he was eating and wiped his mouth.

"Very well then, I could offer you two choices, I can refresh your memory with a flash by just laying my hands on your head or I could tell it to you in words…" said Zaheer.

"What makes you think that I'd trust you enough to let you touch me…? I choose the more verbal method, thank you…" said Korra.

"You are stubborn as a wild ostrich-horse avatar Korra, and your stubborn nature fogs your insight…" said Zaheer thinking to himself that "How the hell am I to deal with this girl….?"

"Stubborn alright… but I am not stupid…" said Korra.

"As you wish Korra… so let me explain how you get here and ended up with me…" said Zaheer sitting straight up in his lotus position.

Zaheer told her the whole story, Korra kept listening to him over the fire yet keeping distance from him as if a young native girl listens to a scary shaman who is telling a ghost story.

"So you are telling me that…. General Akbar cut you loose and asked to break me out of the Frozen North…?. Then you bought me here, took the poison out of my system and healed me and then took care of me for the past two weeks?" asked Korra in a sarcastic manner.

"That is correct…." said Zaheer standing up.

Korra smirked in a silly careless mocking manner and stood up facing him.

"I maybe lot younger than you alright… but it would take a whole lot more than that to convince me on what you said just now Zaheer… I know your game… You poisoned me and you tried to kill me, there is no way that you could do anything to change that. So do me a favor and step aside, let me pass. We're done here" said Korra pointing at him.

Zaheer slowly stepped aside making way for her to walk towards the exit of the cave. Korra quickly walked pass the fire and when she is about to walk pass Zaheer with a blink of an eye Zaheer grabbed her and kneeled her on the ground facing her away from him. She felt numb and had no control over herself.

"Let go of me you JERK" she shouts.

He quickly lays his hands on her head.

"Stop fighting it… you will know everything in a flash…" said Zaheer as Korra started to see everything in her mind like a fast forwarding mover flashing through her mind. He suddenly released her and she rests herself on the ground kneeling with her nose bleeding.

She turned at him with a shock and the blood slowly dripped down from her nostrils.

"Now you know Avatar Korra…" said Zaheer.

"Don't you ever touch me like that..." shouts Korra in anger as she pants on the ground feeling dizzy.

"I had no choice… But now you know" said Zaheer.

She wiped the blood from her nose breathing heavily on the ground.

"It is natural for you to fear me after what I did to you." said Zaheer as Korra sits back on the ground feeling dizzy.

"What the hell did you just do to me? I feel like throwing up" said Korra holding on to her head.

"I wanted you to see the truth, that's all. Take a deep breath and hold it for a moment then you'll be fine after that" said Zaheer.

"What do you want from me Zaheer?" Korra asked angrily.

"I don't want anything from you. You need not fear me avatar Korra, I have no desire to kill you anymore. I know you hate me and you have all the right reasons to do so. I no longer wish to bother you so I will give you two choices once again. One is that I can just walk away from here and you will never see me again. Two is i can help you to become who you want to be" said Zaheer. Korra looked away and kept quiet. She couldn't think of what to choose because she can't simply trust Zaheer after all he has done to her at the same time she knows that there is no one else out there who could help her right now.

"Silence speaks a thousand words and sometimes it also means denial… So I bid you farewell avatar Korra. May the stars shine on your path" said Zaheer standing up.

"Why did you help me Zaheer?" asked Korra raising her voice as he's about to step out of the cave. Zaheer turned back to her.

"What's in it for you…?" asked Korra again slowly standing up on her feet.

"Freedom…" said Zaheer and walked out of the cave. Korra kept thinking for a while and she stood up and walked to the cave entrance. She can see Zaheer walking further in the distant horizon of the snowy wasteland.

"What do I have to loose…? I know I can't trust him after all he has done to me, but is there anyone else out there I could choose over him? The world wanted me dead, I nearly died and even though he was my enemy he saved me and offered to help me. If he wanted me dead, I'd be long dead by now. The vision he showed me was correct. Even though Zaheer is a villain he is still a man with virtues. He maybe my enemy but he's the only friend I got now. What should I do…? Think Korra, think…" Korra thought while looking at Zaheer walking further away. Then she decides to go after him. Korra trots towards Zaheer.

Zaheer felt someone is approaching him from behind so he turned. He saw Korra trotting towards him so he stopped letting her reach him. Korra came trotting towards him and stops panting. Zaheer gave his attention to her and waits patiently letting her catch some breath. She stood straight looking at him. They kept staring at each other for a while quietly as the cold wind circles them making an eerie hooting echo.

"So it is a duel then….?" said Zaheer breaking the silence.

"This is not a duel…." said Korra.

"Then what may I do for you avatar Korra…?" asked Zaheer.

"You asked me a question and you answered it by yourself…." said Korra.

"I thought you have made your choice already" said Zaheer.

"No I did not… you have chosen this willingly…" said Korra closing her eyes in a slightly angered tone.

Zaheer turned back to walk away from her. She kept quiet until he walked few steps.

"ZAHEER…!" Korra raised her voice. Zaheer turned his head looking at her.

"Just… It's just that… never mind" Korra muttered and paused then she turned away from him and started to walk towards the cave. Zaheer kept looking at her as she kept walking towards the cave. He let her walk little further and then slowly followed her.

They walked back in to the cave. Korra sits near the fire in lotus position. Zaheer put down his hood as he entered.

"A sudden change of heart I assume…" said Zaheer sitting in front of the fire in the lotus position.

"I have decided to let go of the old hatred and fear I have towards you. World itself which I fought so hard to protect has done me more wrong than you ever did. You tried to kill me once but you were my enemy, so I think that is fair and square. Killing each other is what enemies do right?" said Korra looking at Zaheer.

"I see a sign of improvement…" said Zaheer.

"It's not improvement… it is called gaining experience. Now that I trust you for a certain extent but it doesn't mean that I trust you completely. You have already given me more than enough nightmares" said Korra

"I see that you wish to progress further…. So I am open for your questions and suggestions" said Zaheer.

"I would like to know what's next, what were you planning to do when I wake up?" asked Korra. Zaheer rubbed his chin.

"So…. Zaheer, I am aimless… I don't know what to do but I do know that the world hates me, so I better be off as dead to the world like Akbar planned. I can't bend any of the elements anymore and I cannot reach the avatar state either. I have no reason to go back to republic city…. Because I have lost everything I had there…. Can't go back home as well…" asked Korra rolling her eyes.

Zaheer kept his eyes closed contemplating for a moment and the he opened his eyes.

"Almost everything in your life is broken beyond repair Avatar Korra…. You need to seek a new beginning and for that I could guide you… but it will be a slow progressive task" said Zaheer.

"Before we do anything… Just start calling me Korra alright…? You can keep out the Avatar part because I am not the Avatar anymore… I have fallen far from it and I doubt if I ever regain it…" said Korra in a hopeless tone.

"Alright then, just to begin with, we shall leave the northern wasteland for good. This is not a livable place. Food is scarce and nights are freezing cold and we cannot plan ahead by living here like this" said Zaheer.

"Where are we going to go….? I have no idea, hmmm lemme think… errr what about the fire kingdom?" said Korra.

"We should not choose any of the major cities or densely populated areas. We also should avoid all the attention as well" said Zaheer pulling a rolled map out of his jacket and spreading it open on the ground. Korra crawl towards him and peeked over it.

"We should be somewhere up here…" said Korra pointing on the North Pole. Zaheer kept on staring at the map for a while thinking deeply in his thoughts.

"We should move somewhere there, where more villages and forests exist… A place where a hermit would choose to live…" said Zaheer looking away from the map.

"That will be perfect… so when do we start…?" asked Korra.

"We start now since the weather outside is calm…" said Zaheer.

"Since you're an air bender now, I believe you can fly with me right…?" asked Korra.

"I'm afraid not…. Have you forgotten that you have taken away my bending before handing me over to frozen north….?" said Zaheer.

Korra rubs her forehead. "Too bad I can't give it back to you now…. I can't reach the avatar state… I need to be in avatar state to give back the bending…." said Korra with a sigh and they kept quiet for a moment.

"Wait a second… you flew with me out of that Frozen North right…? You don't need bending to fly… you are enlightened" said Korra spontaneously.

"I am afraid to say that only way out of this place is on foot Korra… flying and bending could attract too much attention and it is a risk that we should not take, for me to fly like that… I need months of preparation, I can't do it at will after I fought with you in mountain Laghima" Zaheer said patiently.

"Alright then… let's get going… we are not in a rush anyway…?" said Korra feeling awkward to make plans with her enemy. After few minutes with quick preparation they left the cave.

She had no other choice but to trust Zaheer even though he was her enemy. Korra feared him more than anyone in her life, but her biggest nightmare came to aid in her darkest hour and dragged her out of harm's way. He saved her from the painful, miserable death that she could have had back in frozen north. None of her friends came to aid her in the final moment…. If it weren't for her enemy Zaheer she would be long dead by now. Korra has no other choice but to forgive and forget all the bad deed's he did to her.

Korra and Zaheer who once fought to death with each other now set out on foot towards the south as allies…

The Republic City
Hotel Blue Heaven

Asami walked back in to her room after staring at the bustling city lights below for few minutes. She closed the air tight glass sliding door which separated the balcony and the room and yet leaving it with a beautiful view of the nightly cityscape. For the past few days she searched for a lead to start her search for Korra and yet she's left with nothing. She took her coat off and hanged it and undo few buttons of the light bluish shirt blouse she was wearing. She pulled the belt off her pants and walked towards the bed taking her shoes off wanting to relax.

Asami lay back on the comfortable hotel bed feeling frustrated with her inner turmoil. She sighed rubbing her forehead and felt impatient as well. Suddenly she heard the visitor bell. Asami quickly stood up and opened the door. Mako was standing outside her door. She let him in and closed the door slowly. Mako walked in to the room with a folder in his hand and Asami followed him.

"Why did you want me to come to a hotel room in 35th floor…? It would have been lot easier in a café or something" said Mako looking at Asami.

"Don't get any funny ideas Mako… I just wanted things to be discreet as possible…" said Asami sitting on the bed as Mako took seat on the sofa keeping the folder on small glass table.

"What funny ideas are you talking about…?" asked Mako in a little curious tone.

"You know… the funny… funny ideas… like…" said Asami with a pause and smiled at him.

"Like what…? Elaborate please" asked Mako forcing her to explain.

"You might want to demand a sexual bribe for giving me all the Intel information from republic city police or maybe you might think I have asked you to come to a private hotel room because I would give you a striptease in exchange of those information…" said Asami with deep sarcasm in her tone pursing her lips and raising her eye brows.

"Oh for heaven's sake Asami… You and your vulgar fantasies…" said Mako being slightly embarrassed to hear her say such things right on his face.

Asami smirks and then giggled.

"I was just kidding…. It's just so easy to make you angry Mako…" said Asami quickly standing up from the bed. "Can I get you something to drink….?" She asked reaching towards the mini-bar after turning on the slow smooth jazz music on the record player.

"A cold beer will do…" said Mako scratching behind his right ear with the pinky finger. Asami took a beer out of the cool box and walked over to him.

She kept the chilled beer on the small glass table in front of him and took the folder along with her. Mako took the beer and opens it.

"Thanks for the beer" said Mako taking a sip of it. Asami sits back on the bed with the folder in her hands.

"What's in this… what have you found out?" asked Asami before opening the folder. Mako kept quiet for a moment.

"I couldn't find anything in the archives… But I have found out that Zaheer has strong connections with fire nation because his girlfriend P'Li was originally from there, and the red lotus originally formed within walls of fire nation. So in that folder there are two authorized clearance papers to enter fire nation as tourists. I think that's where we should start our search, maybe…. We might be able to uncover some clues which could lead us directly to Zaheer's current whereabouts. We find Zaheer means we find Korra as well…" said Mako leaning back on his comfortable chair.

"Excellent Mako…. Thank you for all this, so fire nation is where we should start the search…" said Asami with a smile filled with hope.

"Asami…? Does Korra knows that you are alright…?" asked Mako leaning forward finishing his beer. Asami looked down as he asked.

"Unfortunately not… She thinks I am dead… Senna has told her that i was killed in the crash to calm her down back in republic city asylum when she started attacking everyone wanting to leave the place and find me. Tenzin told me she did that for Korra's own good and the safety of others. Besides even if she finds out that I am alive…. We still don't know what her condition is…. She could have lost her memory or Zaheer might imprison her… there are many other possibilities that could arise when you think like that…" said Asami with a deep sigh.

"Yeah… you're right…" said Mako feeling slightly tipsy over the strong beer she gave him.

"Alright then Mako, Thanks for everything. We should head to fire nation to start our search in few days, I will keep you updated about it over the telephone" said Asami standing up from the bed with a deep exhale. Mako stood up along with her.

"Alright then… I am gonna head home now then have a hot bathe and a long good night sleep, I am exhausted" said Mako tidying up his shirt.

"Good night Mako…. Thanks again for everything, I really appreciate it" said Asami. Mako walked close to her and she stared in to his eyes with gratitude for all his help.

"So… what are you going to do now…? Go back to your beach house…?" asked Mako. Asami shrugged pursing her lips.

"Can't be bothered now to drive all the back there… I am gonna have a nice warm shower and have a good night sleep here… besides I have already taken this room for tonight…" said Asami. Mako walked towards the door and Asami followed him and opened the door for him. He walked outside and paused looking back at Asami staring in to her emerald eyes.

"You take care, Asami…" said Mako.

"You too Mako…" said Asami serving him with a smile again. She watched him walk towards the elevator at the far end of the corridor and closed the door.

Several days have passed...
Around mid-day somewhere in northern wasteland

Korra and Zaheer walked a long way from where they were in northern wasteland luckily for them the harsh weather was calm for past few days. First few days she feared him but then slowly her fear towards him started to diminish. He stayed up all night long letting her sleep keeping watchful eye for nightly predators. The little things that he did for her really won her over. The indomitable enemy she once feared slowly started to transform in to a formidable ally.

"Can we just stop for a break…, Please? I am exhausted…" said Korra falling on the snow on her knees.

"I am afraid we can't do that Korra… Look to your left… it looks like a blizzard is heading this way, we need to keep moving fast as we can till we find someone shelter" said Zaheer looking at the approaching forest area upper head.

"We've been walking like this for days… How far do we have to go…?" asked Korra wanting to stop and rest.

"We should be out of northern wasteland by now… On the first day I took you out of the frozen north… i came a long way… the cave was almost at the edge of the wasteland. Once we cross that dried up forest we should be out of snowy wasteland" said Zaheer walking further.

"I appreciate you saving me and all that but Zaheer, do you really know where we are going…? Because I think we are lost… and I am hungry as well" said Korra.

"Let's get moving… you don't want to get caught in that blizzard storm" said Zaheer moving further. Korra got back on her feet and followed Zaheer.

After a while they have reached the forest area. A place that has so many dried up trees and there is a pathway falls through it. All the surrounding trees were covered in snow.

"If we hurry, I think we could reach the port town at the end of this road before it gets dark… so tomorrow we can get a ship towards mainland" Said Zaheer pointing at the road which falls through the forest.

"Sounds good… at least we can have some proper dinner there… I am sick of eating beef jerkies and fish" said Korra. They walked through the dried up forest at the edge of northern wasteland for many hours and came to a part where road has an incline up to a small hill.

"OH NO! not a mountain… please…" said Korra with a groan looking at the climb.

"Sun is about to set and we are not that far from the port town, let's keep moving… we're almost there" said Zaheer.

"URGHH" said Korra following Zaheer. After almost an hour they climbed up to the top and stopped at the peak overlooking at the small port town at the edge of Northern Wasteland facing Northern Sea. Korra took a deep breath of relief as she saw the small town illuminated with lights.

"Finally… Here we are at the port town you've been talking about" said Korra and smiled at Zaheer.

"Well… we made it out of the wasteland" said Zaheer walking down leading the way towards the town. Korra followed him. They walked in to the Port town and by the time they reached it, sun has already set. Korra and Zaheer walked through the street and the place has few old buildings and very little population. Korra kept on looking around fascinated to see some civilization after a long time. Zaheer lead the way in to a small building at the center of the town with a sign "Saloon & Bar" and Korra followed him in to it. They walked in to a small bar with few people drinking around. Zaheer walked up to barman.

"Good evening to you sir… What can I do for you…?" asked the barman as he wiped the table.

"I want two rooms for tonight and something to eat…" said Zaheer.

"I am afraid I cannot issue you two rooms sir… we are full today because all the cargo ships have arrived and some of the crew is staying over here… If you like I can give you one room for tonight..." said Barmen.

"Very well… that'll be fine and what's on the menu…? What is the fastest you can serve?" asked Zaheer.

"Well… we can serve boiled potatoes with gouda cheese" said Barmen.

"We will take it thank you… please send it over to our room" said Korra jumping in and Zaheer looked at her.

"Very well… Would you like to have any drinks with it…?" barmen asked.

"A pot of tea will be fine…" Zaheer added.

"A bottle of wine too…" said Korra with a grin.

"Alright then… we will serve it to your room in half an hour and here is the key… room number 012. Just go through that stairway to second floor" said Barmen giving a key to Zaheer.

"When are the cargo ships leaving back to mainland…?" asked Zaheer.

"They will leave tomorrow afternoon. If you like I can get one arranged for you to tag along" said Barmen.

"Thank you very much… I will talk to you tomorrow morning regards to it" said Zaheer.

"You're welcome… Please enjoy your stay…" said Barmen.

Zaheer lead the way to upstairs and Korra followed. They walked in the corridor looking at the numbers of the room doors until they came to room number 012. Zaheer opened the door and they walked in.

"Finally… A bed to sleep…" said Korra quickly walking over to the bed and sitting on it. Zaheer took off his gloves and warmed his palms from the fire hearth.

"Zaheer…? Do you have money to pay for all this…?" asked Korra.

"I don't…" said Zaheer.

"What do you mean you don't….? Tomorrow you have to pay for all the services we have taken from this place or we are in a big trouble…" said Korra sitting up on the bed. Zaheer removed a gold ring which he was wearing in his hand and showed it to Korra.

"That's a gold ring…" said Korra.

"Yea, and it's worth lot more than all these services we have taken but I guess I have no choice" said Zaheer with a smirk.

"You don't have to do that, we can always sneak out…" said Korra.

"We are not going to attract any attention to us… remember?" said Zaheer.

"Yeah but that ring is yours... and" said Korra and Zaheer breaks in.

"P'Li gave it to me long time ago… She wanted me to wear it all the time so it will remind me of her" said Zaheer looking at the ring holding it in his palm.

"I am sorry about P' Li…" said Korra looking down.

"It's alright… in battle someone has to die… they showed me her body, her face and head was completely beyond recognition" said Zaheer. Korra stood up and walked towards Zaheer.

"I am sorry… I know how it feels to lose the one you love" said Korra laying her hand on Zaheer's shoulder.

"This ring has no use anymore… P' Li is gone and I don't want anything that reminds me of her, so her soul can rest in peace" said Zaheer closing his eyes and gripping the ring in his palm. Korra kept silent as respect even though she knew they were all her enemies trying to kill her that day.

"Give me the ring… I will hand it over when the time comes for the payment, you don't have to do it…" said Korra sticking her hand out with an open palm. Zaheer kept the ring on her palm and smiled. Suddenly someone knocked the door and Zaheer opens it.

A woman walked in to their room with a small covered trey, a bottle of wine and a pot of tea, she left it on the small table in the room and left. Korra quickly jumps on it and opened.

"mmm Yum, Potatoes with gouda cheese" said Korra smelling the air. She quickly grabbed one potato and started munching on it like an animal.

"Zaheer, have some of this, it's amazing" said Korra turning back with a mouthful of potatoes and she saw Zaheer starring outside from the window glass.

"You go ahead and have it… I am not that hungry, I actually ordered them for you" said Zaheer. Korra took one potato and walked up to him and gave it to him.

"Here… have it… its really good…" she said and Zaheer took it from her since she offered and then she poured some tea for him.

Korra finished the whole plate of potatoes and poured two glasses of wine.

"Yummy! that really hits the spot… now for a glass of wine and this will be a perfect meal" said Korra standing up with two glasses of wine and walked towards Zaheer again who is sitting behind the window on a wooden chair looking outside. He looked at her as she approached him.

"Let's have some wine…" said Korra giving him a glass. Zaheer paused for a moment then he took it from her without refusing it.

"I am just so exhausted I could sleep while standing…" said Korra. Zaheer silently tasted the wine she gave. Korra finished her glass and poured another and finished that as well.

"Zaheer… do you want some more…?" Korra asked him waving the bottle at him from her bed. Zaheer did not answer.

"You don't talk much do you Zaheer…?" Korra suddenly asked him as he kept staring outside the window.

"Alcohol impairs the mind and clouds the judgment… It will be wiser to use it in moderation" said Zaheer looking back at Korra.

"I just had only two glasses, or err make it three. It's not a big deal, I am just too exhausted to sleep" said Korra. Zaheer smirks.

"Well… I am gonna roll over and sleep… Are you sure you gonna be alright over there…? I could give you this other extra blanket if you want…" said Korra feeling kind of guilty seeing him without a place to sleep because he would never share the bed with her. She wondered if he ever sleeps because every time she wakes up, he's always meditating.

"I will be fine on the floor…" said Zaheer. Korra stood up from the bed with a thick rolled up blanket and a pillow and walked over to Zaheer and kept it near him on the small table.

"Thank you… it is very kind of you" said Zaheer.

"That's the least I could do for you… You saved me and I owe you for that…" said Korra softly walking back to her bed. She got on the bed and dimmed the lights.

"Thanks for everything Zaheer… I know I should have thanked you much earlier…." Korra muttered falling asleep closing her eyes.

"Good night… Korra" said Zaheer as Korra turned down the lights in the room.

Zaheer sat on the ground taking up his lotus position for meditation. He looked at Korra and smiled as she slept peacefully on the comfortable bed and then he closed his eyes wanting to meditate.

Next day morning the barmen got them to meet one of the captains from those cargo ships. He agreed to take them along with him to the mainland. When it was time to make payments to the services, Korra explained her situation and offered the ring but the barmen did not take it. He said he cannot accept something which has a sentimental value, However as the payment Korra and Zaheer offered to clean all the rooms in the floor they slept and barmen agreed upon it. Korra gave the ring back to Zaheer and even though he didn't show it he was happy to have it back.

As the time goes by Korra's fear of Zaheer completely faded away to a point where she decided she will no longer distrust him at all. Even though Zaheer was Korra's sworn enemy, He became a powerful ally in her darkest hour earning her respect and trust. After so many days of travelling on the foot in harsh climate conditions, Korra and Zaheer finally left the Northern Wastelands and sailed towards mainland. The cargo ship they got aboard dropped them off at a port in mainland and from there they travelled further in to the country towards a small village on the way between fire nation and earth kingdom. Zaheer spoke to few people around the town and he was told that there is an old abandoned house in the far end of the village which was previously being owned by the village hermit but since he passed away, no one lives there anymore. He thought this will be an ideal place for them to stay.

Korra and Zaheer came to the vicinities of the old house that villagers mentioned about. It is an old house built up on a small hill neighboring the forest at the edge of the village.

They walked towards the entrance through the shady garden of the house that has dry leaves clattered all over the place. Zaheer stepped on to the front porch and Korra followed him. The front porch was a mess with all the leaves have blown inside by the wind. He opened the door and walks inside and a musky stench came welcoming them.

"It seems like this place has been kept closed for quite a while" said Korra rubbing her nose.

"I am surprised that inside of the house doesn't need much maintenance other than airing up and cleaning the washroom…" said Zaheer looking around the small living room. He opened up the doors which lead to rooms and it has two bed rooms with one common washroom, a small area for cooking and a living room with fire hearth.

"This will be an excellent place for our purpose…" said Zaheer. Korra opened up the two windows of the living room to let the fresh air in to the house.

They cleaned up the house and aired up the place since there isn't any furniture in the house they gathered some firewood to light up the hearth at night and arranged the sleeping bags they bought from the village in the living room. It was almost sun down by the time they finished up.

Zaheer came out of the house and saw Korra sitting on the ground of the front porch staring outside waiting for the darkness to fall.

"Zaheer…! Where do we go from here?" asked Korra as he approached. He sat beside her on the front porch quietly.

"You know… I never really thought something like this would ever happen…" said Korra looking at Zaheer.

"Life is full of unexpected surprises Korra… whether we like it or not, it does not give us a chance to choose, we have to accept whatever it chooses for us" said Zaheer.

"You speak of so much wisdom Zaheer… I just don't understand how you ended up being a killer…" said Korra.

"One must sometimes kill to get things done the way he desires… Killing is in the nature… but that was in the past" said Zaheer.

"You still do believe that everyone you killed deserved it…?" asked Korra.

"I am not the man I was… Korra, but I still do not regret the ones I've killed" said Zaheer.

"What if you succeeded in killing me, you did some horrible things to me…" said Korra making her eyes bigger.

"Yes, I did… and I do not regret it as well, you were a different person at that time so as my goal" said Zaheer admitting it.

"I just don't know how things ended up like this… Everything was just so perfect and happy" said Korra.

"All things in this universe are bound by one law and that is called impermanency, nothing lasts forever. Everything has an end and a beginning and we just have to accept that never ending cycle until we break away from it" said Zaheer. Korra stayed quiet for a moment.

"How did you feel when you lost P' Li at Mountain Laghima" Korra asked suddenly.

"I was sad for a moment because I loved her…. But I accepted it, I let her go…." said Zaheer closing his eyes.

"But you still love her don't you….?" asked Korra.

"My love for her is just a mere memory now…" said Zaheer and sighed looking back at Korra.

"Have you lost the one you loved….?" Zaheer asked.

"Yes, I did and that was the beginning of all this… I still couldn't bear the thought of it" said Korra as few drops of tears rolled down her cheek.

"Do not despair… you will see him again someday in afterlife" said Zaheer.

"It's easy for you to say that but I am not enlightened like you… and I miss her so much, No matter how hard I tried I couldn't let her go" said Korra sniveling.

"I am sorry… I thought it was the fire bender boy…" said Zaheer.

"No it wasn't him… she wasn't a bender at all, you might have even seen her, Remember the girl with dark hair, fair skin, green eyes and heiress to the future industries…?" said Korra wiping her tears away.

"Yes I do, you're referring to Hiroshi's only daughter, Asami Sato" Zaheer said wanting Korra to stop sniveling.

"How do you know all that information…?" asked Korra.

"Before I came and attacked you, I did a long research about you and those who are around you" said Zaheer.

"You should go and take some rest Korra… Tomorrow we begin the training and you will need all your strength for that" said Zaheer.

"Training…? What type of training?" asked Korra.

"A training that will teach you how to get through obstacles you may face without your avatar state or any bending, a training that handed down to me by my ancestors" said Zaheer.

"Alright then, I will be looking forward to it after all I got nothing left to loose" said Korra walking back inside the house.

"You may have nothing left to loose but you have to avenge the one who did wrong to you…" said Zaheer.

Korra already slipped in to her sleeping bag.

"I don't know about that Zaheer, Let them win… They got what they wanted, they destroyed the Avatar" she said closing her eyes trying to catch some sleep.

Next Day….

The very next day Zaheer led Korra little further in to the forest where there was a small waterfall and a river. A secluded place surrounded by trees. Korra was impressed at the location he has chosen.

"So I assume that this is where the training begins….?" asked Korra.

Zaheer quietly stood before her in a very attentive posture with his eyes closed.

"What I am about to teach you is something that has been handed down to me by my ancestors. Please learn it, take it serious and use it wisely" said Zaheer opening his eyes.

"I will…" said Korra standing before him.

"You need not call me Master and I don't expect anything in return for this but I want you to take it seriously" said Zaheer. Korra nods.

Korra began training under strict guidance of her sworn enemy Zaheer. He has decided to teach her the art of hand to hand combat, a kind of deadly marshal art called "Fist of the blood dragon" which is handed down to him by his ancestors. It requires no bending, and once trained under its strict discipline, the body itself will transform in to a perfect lethal weapon even at the absence of bending. It involves breathing meditation, Flexibility, rigorous physical training and discipline with concentration. First few days were hard for Korra because her impulsive nature but with guidance of Zaheer she began to implement herself in to the training perfectly. He trained her from morning till evening and Korra has realized what Zaheer is teaching her is not something to be taken lightly.

Republic City
Mako's Home

Mako answered his door just right after the bell rang and he saw Asami standing in front of his door with an annoyed look on her face. She's wearing her vintage brown riding jacket over a dark reddish top and black jean with riding boots. Mako is just in his shorts and no top.

"OH! Hi Asami…" he said with a grin on his face. Asami kept staring at him for a moment.

"Just tell me this Mako… Are you in or are you out…?" she asked angrily.

"Well er… Just come on in and take seat, then we can talk" said Mako scratching his head.

"I don't have time to sit back and chat with you Mako… Just tell me why you didn't answer my calls. I just want to know one thing; are you in on this with me or not…? Just say the word. I won't trouble you no more. It's your choice. I can do it with or without you. It's just that we were supposed to leave three days back" said Asami.

"I am sorry alright, I just didn't know what to say, my post is been transferred to act as Prince Wu's personal security guard, you know the earth kingdoms heir to the throne and…" Mako tried to explain.

"All I wanna know is if you are in or out…? You don't have to force yourself to do anything" said Asami.

"I am sorry Asami… I really wanted to but I can't… my duty calls for me…" said Mako.

"Very well then…" said Asami turning back and walking away.

"Asami… Just wait and listen to me…" said Mako wanting her to stop but she left without looking back, got on to her car and drew away. She drew the car fast through the traffic thinking in her thoughts.

"Great, Now Mako is being selfish and he backed out… I can't go and ask anyone else to help me with this because only I myself and Mako knows about what really happened to Korra. I just don't want to tell anymore people about this"

She felt frustrated to hear that Mako will not be joining on her search for Korra. In her mind she knows how resourceful he could be when it comes to things like this. She felt angry at Mako because he did not inform her that he won't be coming, because of him everything got delayed by days. Asami decided that she will take a train to fire nation as if she's going on a vacation. She wanted to keep a low profile on everything.

Four days later…
Republic City Central Train Station
Intercontinental Departure Lounge

Asami checked in at the departure lounge with her tickets for a long train ride. It will take three days for her to reach the destination via train. She walked on to the platform along with a suitcase trolley wearing dark blue jeans, a comfortable cotton shirt and a dark brown jacket along with a red scarf loosely tied around her neck to keep away the cold wind. She looked at her wrist watch anxiously waiting for the train to arrive at the platform.

In few minutes the massive train designed to run for long distances has arrived at the platform and stop for the passengers to get in. All the conductors of the train along with porters to load the luggage rushed in to the platform.

"Your ticket please ma'am…?" asked a man walking up to her. She handed over the ticket.

"Very well, First class cabin… Please follow him… Have a pleasant journey Ma'am" he said handing her luggage over to a porter. She followed him and when she's about to enter the train.

"Going somewhere alone…?" a familiar voice said from behind. Asami turned to see who it is and she saw Mako standing behind her with a small suit case. She felt so happy to see him.

"MAKO!" she said hugging him as he hugged her back with a blushed face.

"I thought you'd never come…" she said leaning back from him. Mako smiled.

"Ma'am, the train will be departing in exactly three more minutes" said the porter wanting her to follow him.

"Oh! I am sorry, let's go then…" she said following him in to the train and Mako followed her. The porter led them to the private cabin Asami booked previously.

"Private Cabin No 03. Have a pleasant journey with us ma'am" said the porter opening the cabin door for them to enter then he placed the luggage inside. Asami sits back on the comfortable plush rest seat near the observation glass. Mako took the seat facing her in front. The porter left the cabin after Asami tipped him.

"Whoa, convertible plush rest seats, first class private cabin with observation glass. You sure know how to do things in style Asami" said Mako stretching himself on the comfortable seat.

"Tell me, what changed your mind Mako…?" asked Asami in a curious tone.

"How could I let you go all alone, so I thought, to hell with the work…" Mako lied.

"The truth… MAKO!" said Asami raising her left eyebrow.

"Alright, you win again. Yes I got the job and Price Wu is a fun loving nice guy. So I explained him my situation and he told me to go… he just gave me a fully paid vacation on the first day of work" said Mako with a happy tone.

"YOU TOLD HIM WHAT…?" asked Asami with a sharp inhale.

"Relax girl, I haven't told him the real story, I just told him that I was planning to go on a vacation with my girlfriend by the time they announced my transfer to work as his bodyguard. Since he is such a nice guy and he really felt bad about it, he gave me a vacation straightaway and said "Go ahead… take her on the unofficial honeymoon"" said Mako. Asami exhale feeling relaxed that Mako didn't do anything stupid by telling the whole thing to someone else.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack…" said Asami.

"You take me for a fool Asami…? I am not Bolin you know" said Mako in a little angered tone. Asami smirks.

"No I didn't, just little worried over the way you said it and please Bolin is not a fool Mako, don't say such things about him, he's your own brother after all. Talking about Bolin, how is he doing by the way? Haven't seen him in ages" said Asami.

"Argh, he's just too busy doing all those stupid movers with Varrick. Actually he is doing pretty good being rich and famous" said Mako.

"It's good to hear that he's doing well. Anyways I am glad you came Mako. Thank you for coming" said Asami.

"Finding Korra is also partly my responsibility as well because I am a member of team avatar. Remember? I can't just sit around while you go on looking for her all alone. I loved her, and she's my friend and if I were in her shoes, she'd do lot more than this to help me out" said Mako.

"I am glad you have seen through all the dark clouds Mako" said Asami while pressing the button on her arm rest and the seats back rest slowly declined making it like a bed.

"I am gonna take a nap" said Asami.

"Go ahead and rest Asami" said Mako grabbing a book to read.

Meanwhile….

At first everything about the training was hard for Korra but after few days she got the hang of it. She is meditating near the river sitting on lotus position and having her eyes closed. Zaheer asked her to meditate and relax her mind from all tensions because she needs a calm mind to move further. That was her assignment today and Zaheer left for the village market to get the essentials by selling some skins of the animals he had hunted for past few days. Korra felt happy as she opened her eyes. She thought of having a fresh water bath in the river will be great. Korra quickly got off the ground and walked towards the stream. She touched the crystal clear clean water from the stream and giggled.

In a moment she walked in to the water leaving all her clothes on the ground. She felt the cold clean water embracing her body as she immerses herself in it. She went all the way until water comes up to her neck covering the rest of her body. Korra loosened her fairly long hair dipping her head down in the water feeling it cleansing her. She rubbed her face and eyes and giggled in to the air feeling happy and carefree after a long time.

Meanwhile Zaheer has already arrived back home with some dry food, fruits and few other essentials. He dropped them back at home and thought of going to check on Korra to see how she's doing with the training. Zaheer walked slowly through the trees towards their training ground. As he approached closer he heard a distant giggling and splashing. He slowly walked through the trees and peeked through the bushes to see what's going on. Zaheer sees Korra in the water, she is immersed in it up to the neck and he instantly saw all of her clothes are on the ground. He quickly decides to head back home quietly because he felt awkward even to accidentally see her like that. He thought he'd leave her to enjoy what she's doing. As he turned Korra looked the other way turning back and slowly began to emerge out of the water revealing her back almost up to the lower waist. Her wet long hair is wreathed all around her body.

Zaheer felt as if his pulse began to rise tempting him to wait and keep staring at her until she reveals all of herself. Even though he is a man with so much self-control he couldn't resist her youthful dark beauty, mocha skin and long dark hair soaked with water. He felt a shiver going down on himself as his eyes observe the water dripping all the way down on her youthful mocha skin. He couldn't understand what is happening to him. He felt a strong voyeuristic urge to watch her coming out of the water all dripping wet and naked.

Zaheer wanted to fight the feeling, he felt a struggle within him and he closed his eyes.

"What am I doing…? If I ever had a daughter, she'd probably be her age now. If I kept looking at her, I will never be able to forgive myself for this sin. It is another earthly desire to tether me in to this world. NO! I will not give in to her alluring beauty…" Zaheer thought to himself strongly with his eyes closed and then he turned away slowly walking out of the bush and heading back home.

Korra's smile fades as she felt a strange presence. She quickly walked out of the water and grabbed her clothes then put them on. She walked back home rolling her wet hair gently squeezing the water out. As she approached the house she saw that Zaheer already arrived from the village. He walked out of the house.

"Did you manage to get in to deep meditation?" Zaheer asked and Korra smiled at him.

"I assume you were strayed in to the comforts of water stream…." Zaheer added.

"It's been a while since I bathed in a river… it was lovely. Yes I am sorry, I couldn't concentrate on it" said Korra looking down. Zaheer smirked.

"I managed to get a good price for those skins, so I bought some clothes for you. I hope you like them" said Zaheer giving Korra a parcel. She took it from him with a smile.

"I have never ever done shopping for a girl, so don't get your hopes too high" said Zaheer as Korra opened it up. She found two comfortable cotton collar-less ladies t shirts in two colors. One is purple and the other one is dark maroon and two pair of pants, one is a dark blue fit jeans and the other is a light blue pajama.

"They are lovely…. Thank you, I think you are pretty good at shopping" said Korra with a smile. Zaheer looked away raising his eyebrows.

"All I ever did in my life was to follow the hard rigid rules of red lotus… I guess it's a good change for me to go shopping for you" He said walking back in to the house. Korra followed him inside and saw that he already prepared a pot of green tea for them. She grabbed a cup of it and slowly starts sipping on it. Zaheer poured a cup for himself as well.

"I spoke with few villagers while I was at the market. It seems like most of them are nice people and they are less aware of the modern day world" said Zaheer.

"I think everybody who lives outside walls of major cities are like that" said Korra.

"Lack of knowledge can serves as an advantage for us" said Zaheer. Korra sighs.

"I don't know Zaheer, sometimes I feel like why am I doing this…? I mean yeah of course If I ever get caught they'll put me back in some kind of dungeon and all that but why….?" said Korra finishing her cup of tea.

"As I said earlier, you are doing this for yourself Korra! You are born to this world for a purpose. So seek that purpose, it doesn't matter how things turn out to be, face them and fight it" said Zaheer.

"Do you think I will ever be able to reconnect myself with the avatar state and have my bending back?" asked Korra.

"You are born as avatar, it is there in you, all you have to do is find a way to reconnect with it" said Zaheer.

"Someone is coming this way…" said Korra looking outside the window. She sees a man running towards their house and he looks like a villager.

"I think your new friends are coming to see you" said Korra and chuckled. Zaheer walked out of the house to meet the man and Korra followed. He came in running and stopped at Zaheer trying to catch his breath.

"Please! Please help me…!" he said panting.

"What happened….?" Korra asked.

"Bandits…. Those bandits… They took my daughter…. She's all I ever had. Please save her for me" He said crying and begging them.

"Tell me exactly what happened?" asked Korra.

"I am a trader from the fire nation, once in every three months I come to this village with my daughter to sell my cabbage Harvest, I was on my way to the village with my truck and bandits attacked and they took my daughter with them. Please save her for me…. I don't want anything else, just please bring my daughter back" cried the man begging them.

"I am sorry, we cannot….." said Zaheer and Korra broke in.

"Alright, we'll save her for you, just tell us which direction they went….?" asked Korra.

"They can't be far, they just went that way. If you hurry, you can catch them. Here take the key to my truck; it's parking right where this road starts" said Man handing the key to Korra.

"Let's go Zaheer, come on" said Korra pulling Zaheer to follow her. Korra ran towards where the truck is parking.

"Korra, what kind of madness is this….? We don't know who he is, we don't even know whether if he is telling the truth or trying to lure us in to a trap" said Zaheer running along with her.

"He was telling the truth Zaheer, I think you know it better than me" said Korra.

"We can't risk ourselves by taking part in these kind of peril, Please remember that both of us are fugitives" said Zaheer.

They reached the truck; Korra quickly took the driving seat and fired the engine.

"Do you know how to drive a truck?" asked Zaheer.

"Well it can't be that different from driving a car right?" asked Korra with a smile.

Korra accelerated the truck and got it moving. They drew on the gravel road which falls around through the forest area. After few minutes of driving they saw a small truck parking beside the road and two men were outside taking a piss. Korra jammed the breaks and stopped the truck. They got off the truck quickly and walked towards those two men. One of them gave an evil look and the other one whistled.

"Well look here man, it seems like our lucky day…" said one of the men facing Korra and pulled up his zipper.

"Where's that cabbage traders girl…?" asked Zaheer. The two men giggled sarcastically.

"Oh! That little cunt we picked up on the way….? Well I think my friends took her behind those trees for some personal examination. Don't worry, they won't take too long, five of them are really fast and they do it all at once. By the way we would like to take a closer look of this exotic beauty…" said the other man pulling out a machete licking his lips.

"Release the girl at once and you shall not be harmed" said Korra. Two men laughed loud as they can. As they laughed four more men armed with clubs and chains got off from the truck and walked towards them.

"You….? Harm us…? Pffft just look around bitch, I hope you can count…" He said as the other one whistled loudly signaling the others to come along.

Five other men walked out from the bushes pushing a girl along with them as well. Her clothes are all torn and she's all roughed up.

"What the bloody hell….? Can't a man have a little fun without being nagged….?" another one shouts walking towards them.

"Look what I found, Delicious isn't it….?" said the man who was talking with Korra pointing her to the others. They all whistled looking at her.

"Chocolate mocha dessert tonight…" the one who whistles stick his tongue out at Korra.

"Alright, You had your little fun now…. I see she's still unharmed so hand her over to me and we all can go home peacefully" said Korra. One quickly pulled a knife on her and rushed towards her.

"I am gonna carve you out real good today…" He shouted and when he's about to reach Korra, Zaheer grabbed his arm with a blink of an eye and snapped his neck twisting it like butter. He dropped the man dead with a bleeding mouth.

"WHAT! YOU KILLED HIM…. KILL THEM, KILL THEM, KILL THE BITCH" they all shouted running towards Korra and Zaheer in full force. Zaheer and Korra moved through them swiftly taking down one by one avoiding all their attacks. Korra managed to take down two who came at her and Zaheer killed rest of them, snapping their necks and crushing skulls with his bare hands. In few minutes Korra and Zaheer standing on the ground in their defensive stance and all the bandits are dead on the ground. The girl is shivering in fear trying to cover herself with her torn clothes.

"It's alright…. calm down now… we're friends, we'll take you to your father" said Korra walking towards her and she ran and hugged Korra.

"Thank you…. Thank you so much" she cried. Korra held her back. Suddenly a gun is being fired out of nowhere. She turned quickly and she saw Zaheer staring at one of the bandits. Korra couldn't instantly grasp what just happened but she saw Zaheer stomping on one of the bandits head crushing it to bits. Zaheer started to walk towards her with blood splattered all over his clothes and face.

"Is she alright…?" asked Zaheer.

"Yeah, let's get over with those bodies quickly and be gone" said Korra looking at Zaheer keenly to see if something went wrong with him but she didn't notice anything.

"You just wait over here, we'll be back in no time" said Korra to the girl and she nods.

Korra and Zaheer got together and loaded all the bodies to the truck that bandits came.

"Alright, I am gonna drive this truck little further in to the jungle and set it on fire. You follow me with the other truck so we can both go back together" said Zaheer. Korra nods.

They drew both the trucks further deep in to dense forest on the gravel road. They drew for almost an hour and they came to pass a very high cliff which falls even further in to the heart of dense forest. Korra saw Zaheer stopped at the edge of the cliff. He quickly walked over to the Korra's truck.

"I got a better idea, I am gonna set the fuel tank on fire and drop this down from the cliff" said Zaheer.

"Do as you wish…. You're the master of the game now" said Korra with a smile.

"Should I take that as a compliment…?" asked Zaheer running back to the other truck. In few minutes he set the fuel tank on fire and pushed the whole truck with dead bodies down the cliff. They watched it fall all the way down and burst in to flames.

Zaheer looked at Korra.

"You have learned the first of the blood dragon well Korra, I saw how swiftly you moved among then…." said Zaheer feeling proud of his only student he ever trained in his life. Korra smiled at him and led the way back to the truck. They drew all the way back with the girl after cleaning up the whole incident. They stopped the trader's truck where it was and walked back. As he saw they are returning with his daughter he jumped in joy running towards them. He hugged his daughter as she hugged her father back.

"I just don't know how to thank you for this… How did you free her from all those men…?" the man asked.

"Let's just not worry about it, important thing is we got your daughter back" said Korra.

"Allow me to introduce ourselves, I am Gon and this is my daughter Vela, she's the only family I got, if I've lost her I don't know what I will do" said Gon wiping the tears away from his eyes.

"I do not know how to repay you for this… all I have is a truck full of cabbages, Keep this as a token of my gratitude, this is a family heirloom which is handed down for generations in my family, Please take it" said Gon taking off the gem studded locket out of his sash and gave it to Korra.

"We don't want anything from you Gon, Please keep it and hand it down to your daughter someday. We did what is right" said Korra refusing it.

"Well then I cannot force you to do anything can i…?" said Gon taking it back.

"You can do us a favor though…" Zaheer said breaking in to the conversation.

"What may that be…? Name it, anything you want….!" Gon said eagerly.

"Whatever that happened here, Just keep it to yourself" said Zaheer softly.

"I will not utter a single word about it to anyone and I swear I will take it to the grave with me, no one will know about it. You have my word" said Gon.

"Very well then, that's all we need from you" said Zaheer.

In few minutes Gon and his daughter left with their truck. They wanted to reach the village before dark. Zaheer looked back at Korra and smiled.

"Now I know why you're the avatar, you have it in your blood to help people who are in need" said Zaheer walking back to the house. Korra followed him but she noticed that Zaheer is walking little unsteady. Just before they stepped in to the front porch he sat on the porch with a painful expression on his face.

"Zaheer…? Are you alright?" Korra asked in a curious tone. He took off his stained shirt clenching his teeth in pain. Korra started to panic as she saw Zaheer is been shot on the left of his gut.

"FOR HEAVENS SAKE, ZAHEER, why… w… why didn't you tell me before….? You're being shot" said Korra stammering.

"Calm down now… if I have told you, you will try to take me to a doctor with that cabbage merchant and I don't want that to happen" said Zaheer in pain. Korra kneeled near him to check on the bullet wound.

"How can you be so careless….! You could see all of my past but you couldn't see a man aiming a gun at you…! Now you're hurt…" Korra yelled at Zaheer.

"Just help me up to go inside, we need to take the bullet out first" Zaheer said in pain. Korra did as he instructed, she helped him and walked inside the house and lay him down on the ground.

"Alright, now you do as I say, get that small knife, sanitize it by holding it to the fire" said Zaheer. Korra is already panicked not knowing what to do. She got the knife sanitized and bought it quickly over to him.

"Now, stick it on to the wound, open it up and ease the bullet out" Zaheer said in pain.

"I can't do this Zaheer… You are asking me to cut you open alive…?" said Korra with a knife in her hands.

"Just do it, I can't do it on my own" said Zaheer clenching his teeth forcing Korra to do as he says. She took a deep breath and dig in to his wound with a hot knife. Zaheer groaned in pain as she moved the knife in him taking the pieces of the bullet out of the wound. Zaheer nearly passed out in pain as she finished with it. Her hands are soaked in his blood and she's sweating like crazy.

"Done…" said Korra breathing heavily.

"Good girl…" said Zaheer groaning in pain.

"You're bleeding…" said Korra putting the towel on his wound.

"Now go get one of those burning wood logs from the hearth" said Zaheer. Korra quickly ran back to get it. In a moment she came back with a glowing hot tipped log.

"Shove the glowing hot tip in to the wound and hold it there…." said Zaheer. Korra didn't think twice, she closed her eyes and showed the burning hot tip in to the Zaheer's gunshot wound and he held on to the pain clenching his teeth and groaning. Korra could smell the burning blood and flesh already and she pulled it back breathing heavily.

"That's it, it's over" said Zaheer breathing heavily on the ground in pain. She threw the log back in the hearth and sits on the ground near him and lay back as she couldn't stomach what she just did right now.

"I hate you for taking me through all this shit…" said Korra in a little angered tone. Zaheer chuckled and then laughed.

"How in the hell are you laughing after being cut opened and burned?" said Korra turning her head at him.

"Laughter… is a powerful painkiller" said Zaheer.

"I just want to ask you something…. I know what you can do, I've seen it and I even fought with you once, but why haven't you used those powers against those men, I know you can fly as well. You broke me out of Frozen North. I took away your air bending but you have something else, the dark energy" asked Korra keenly.

"I…" Zaheer paused at the face of Korra's question.

"The truth Zaheer…." said Korra wanting him to speak up.

"I… I can't use it anymore. I was enlightened after I've lost P' Li… I had nothing in this world that could hold me and…" Zaheer paused and coughed.

"And...?" Korra pushed him further wanting to hear it. Zaheer kept quiet not wanting to continue further.

"Zaheer…?" Korra nagged him wanting to explain it to her yet Zaheer kept silent.

"I can't do that because… Because of you Korra…" said Zaheer softly.

"What do you mean…?" asked Korra raising her head looking at him.

"I do not know how to explain this to you. After I met you I think I have become emotionally attached to you, I feel protective over you. More I spent time with you, more I get close to you… I just can't help it, I am sorry, until I break away from this attachment I have towards you, I will never be able to reach that state anymore…" said Zaheer. Korra smirked.

"You're weird… one time you wanted to kill me and then you rescued me from certain death and now you say you have something towards me…" said Korra chuckled playfully. Zaheer didn't reply he just lay there quietly.

"Zaheer….?" Korra asked lifting her head up looking at him. She saw that his eyes are closed.

"Zaheer….? Talk to me…" She said quickly sitting up and gently slapping on his cheeks, trying to wake him up. She panicked again because he didn't wake up.

"Zaheer…?" she kept calling his name and he is completely out.

"You're not leaving me like this alright…" Korra said hysterically. She grabbed his hand and checked his pulse and figured out that he is not dead but passed out because of pain.

Korra took a small pillow and kept it under his head, and covered him with a quilt.

"I just don't get it either Zaheer… Why would you be having any kind of feeling towards me…? I am sorry I've made you completely powerless" said Korra looking at Zaheer as he lay unconscious on the ground.

Five Days Later….
Fire Nation Capitol…
Hotel Excelsior

Asami and Mako has arrived at the fire nation capitol and they looked around for any clues they can find which could lead to Korra. So far all their efforts have failed. Asami has figured out that finding Korra will not be that easy because she's with Zaheer and he is a master of disguise.

Asami heard the door bell and she answered the door. Mako was standing outside and she let him in quietly.

"Any news….?" She asked.

"This is a wild goose chase… I searched everywhere and I couldn't find a single clue" said Mako feeling desperate. Asami sighed.

"I know that finding Korra won't be easy….. But I will not give up on it" said Asami.

"We should go back to republic city and give it some more time. Just the two of us is not enough to deal with a man like Zaheer. He nearly took down Korra once on his own and she was the avatar at that time" said Mako. Asami rubbed her forehead thinking for a moment.

"You are right on that Mako…" she said softly with a sigh.

Asami and Mako returned to republic city after few days of searching in Fire Nation capitol for any clues. They have failed to uncover anything that relates to Zaheer or his whereabouts.

Two years have come to pass and Asami has never given up on her search for Korra. She has taken a long hiatus from everything she had in her life and used her full force on search for the one she love. She knew that she has to do this alone to protect the secrecy of Korra being alive. She went all over the world looking for a clue which could lead her to Korra, but all her efforts went in vein. There was never a night for Asami that she has not though of Korra. She yearned for her because deep in her heart she knows that she's somewhere out there waiting to be found.

As for Korra she has aided Zaheer to fully recover from his injury. Luckily he has recovered without any serious infections. After he recovered he wanted Korra to continue her training with his guidance.

Zaheer thought her the "fist of blood dragon" as well as his own methods of meditation which ultimately led her to harness the power of dark energy. He trained her and thought her everything he knew which transformed her in to an invincible killing machine who could survive out there all on her own. Through meditation and Extensive training over the course of two years, Korra has managed to heal her soul up to the point where she could reconnect with her inner self. By doing so she regained the power of extreme blood bending. As she progressed even further, Korra figured out the power of combining extreme blood bending with dark energy and to be able to summon it at will.

Even though she managed to summon the power of extreme blood bending at will by harnessing the power of dark energy and combining them together; she still couldn't reconnect with the avatar state nor get her bending back yet.

Summer came and gone leading its way to harsh winters and rainy seasons. Two years have come to pass slowly. While Korra was busy finding herself back again with the help of Zaheer the world kept on moving on in its own direction.