Hello everyone, and wow it's been too long, mainly I've been focusing on my other stories.
There was a review asking to make this story a Mako X Kuvira fic. Um...well I'm not really ruling that out, I'll think about it.
The focus of this story is Mako's growth, he is steering away from Team Avatar because of events to come. It will get ugly.
Please review, I would like to hear what you guys think of this fic. Have a listen to Naruto's music track 'Saika' while reading this.
Enjoy.
Chapter 7: Saika
Mako was back in the Blue Spirits base. By the training grounds behind the building. Ever since he came back from Republic City, Mako had non-stop training. His fighting techniques, bending abilities, swordsmanship, stealth prowess, and tactical procedures, all of his training were pushed beyond the limit. And Mako was able to adapt to the training very well.
The morning wind breezed through his hair, he spaced his legs and his right hand gripped his left. He concentrated hard and lightning generated out of his hand, zapping and sizzling around him.
He focused the lightning around him, manipulating them and directing all back to his hand.
A few seconds later all the power the lightning had now been condensed into the palm of his hand.
The lightning in his hand generated noises sparking all around.
Mako's eyes were filled with focus, he turned his attention to what was ahead of him.
Three straw dummies for practice. And a boulder rock behind them. He kicked off in a sprint, creating a trail of lightning as he ran.
Thrusting his hand forward, the lightning in his hand went through the first dummy, and the energy dispersed into it, blowing it up into a pile of burning ash.
Mako kept on running, his lightning sliced through the second dummy, and then the third.
His final target was the boulder. He lunged, and fire blasted off from his feet giving him greater propulsion and speed.
Mako let out a haunting bellow as he smashed his lightning into the boulder. And the result was truly surprising for him.
He pierced right through the boulder, he landed on his feet. The boulder had a massive gaping and glowing hole, Mako had just pierced right through a boulder with such ease. The boulder quickly lost its integrity the hole made cracks all over and the lingering lightning energy in the boulder blew it up into ashes.
Mako paced his breathing, the Blue Spirit took in the sight of what he had just done. It was an admirable yet terrible sight. Before he had no clue just how much energy this new Lightning ability had, nor the damage it could do. This sheer amount of pure Lightning energy, all gathered in this palm of his hand, cutting down anything in the way like a blade. Water, earth, fire, and air could not stop this blade.
This lightning blade.
"Well, I see you're quickly improving on that technique." Noren called over to him as he arrived at the training ground.
"Oh hey, Noren." Mako greeted.
"Captain wants to see you. In the main hall." Noren said. Mako nodded and made his way over. Inside the temple, Jiandao was waiting with arms crossed, his image of the alpha wolf in the unit never ceased.
"Kid." Jiandao greeted.
"You wanted to see me, captain?" Mako asked.
"Yes, come over here." Jiandao pointed at the front entrance of the castle. The two stood side by side, the sight of the mountains surrounding the castle was still breath-taking as ever.
"You should know that I'm aware of your goal of finding out about your mother." Jiandao said. Mako's mind went back to Lin Beifong's office that night, where he got recruited into the Blue Spirits Unit.
"I won't pry into the details, it's your privacy to keep." Jiandao added, "But I need to know if you are coping. If any new information you've learned is affecting you."
"No. It isn't." Mako was quick to answer.
"Really? It isn't?" Jiandao raised an eyebrow at Mako, not entirely convinced.
"No, it's not. Why?"
"You are a part of this unit, thus I need to know if you are having any problems. The wellbeing of this team is my responsibility." Jiandao said.
Mako's eyes drifted to the side, his mind pensive.
"You look like you want to ask me something." Jiandao said, his stoic stance demanded attention.
Mako took a breath. "You once told me that the team has their own means of coping with this life. And-"
"You don't have that yet?" Jiandao deduced.
"S-Sort of." Mako said. "To be honest I'm not sure what it is that keeps me going, not anymore."
"Alright look Mako." Jiandao faced him. "This kind of thing doesn't fall on the lap instantly. Either you find it, or it finds you. Maybe it's here with us. Just make you're functioning properly along the way. I'm not a counselor, there's not a lot I can do, but let me know if there's anything."
"Right." Mako nodded.
"Ok good." Jiandao turned away. "In two hours, assemble at the briefing room."
"Right." Mako said.
With two hours to spare, Mako had breakfast in the kitchen and stayed in his room. After a quick shower, Mako changed into a fresh black suit and lounged on his bed. His mask rested on the bedside table.
He stared at the ceiling, his mind diving deep in thought.
How was he supposed to find some form of solace? Instead, he had just been droning through the motion, all the while feeling so stagnant. Everyone seemed to have their form of content, Korra and the people around her had theirs. But not Mako.
Like there was nothing for him, and he knew he should not feel that way because it was not fair for the people he had been with before. But that was how he felt.
Bolin, his brother, Mako would love him no matter what. And Bolin was now with Opal along with the Metal Clan, people who could do so much more for Bolin than Mako ever could. Bolin had found a place he belonged to and Mako was happy for him. But Mako's heart had a pang when he realized Bolin was so happy that he had forgotten the death of their parents.
That alleyway back in republic city would never leave his head, seeing the life in their parents' eyes disappearing. Mako could never forget it.
Asami and Korra, the two women he loved. Just what happened between the three of them he wondered. He was the first to admit that he was not the best lover as he should have been, it will be a sting in his heart he would have to carry his whole life. He would also be the first to speak out that Korra and Asami were not entirely fair towards him either. He tried, he really did try. But it amounted to nothing for him, absolutely nothing. And with them dating, Mako had to put on a smile and be supposedly happy for them.
Mako's eyes started to narrow with suspicion. How was it they started to become lovers so quickly? Right out of nowhere? Mako's detective mind started to think. Like as if there was actually time for Asami and Korra to communicate before Kuvira stirred trouble. But Korra was still recovering from her injuries from the Red Lotus before Kuvira, and Mako had been sending letters to Korra but with no response. Then he remembered.
"Because they exchanged letters back then. And not a single reply letter for me?" Mako gritted his teeth. Not a single reply letter was just so disrespectful to him, and he had to endure it out of decency. But now it was getting very irritating for him.
"Some things, and some people, just don't change." Mako remembered what Jun Jr told her, and now he could see some truth in it, with those two.
Turning on his bed, his eyes set on the mask on the bedside table. He reached out and grabbed it, holding it above him Mako stared at the Blue Spirit mask. And the mask stared at him right back.
Mako let out a very long groan, realizing that reflecting on where he stood with Asami or Korra would not help him now. Checking the clock he figured he might as well wait in the briefing room. He put his mask and left his room.
The briefing room was situated in the second level right above the main hall. Mako waited in the corner, he could hear Noren and Jun Jr conversing while approaching the room.
"I think the next time we get a break, I'm going to see the hot spring resort." Mako heard Noren said as he opened the door.
"Oh Mako? You're here already?" Jun Jr said.
"Yeah, figured I should just wait here instead." Mako shrugged.
"Hmm, now just got to wait for the rest."
Soon enough, the whole unit had assembled. Jiandao, Mei, Noren, Hui Lee, Jun Jr, Kuzon and Mako.
Jiandao stood tall and authoritative amongst the Blue Spirits. Mako at the corner was thankful he had a mask to wear, to hide his unsettled face. Jiandao began the briefing.
"Alright first things first, it's been about three days since Kuvira is under the Fire Nation custody. According to her intel, we think that the Red Lotus may have approached the Fire Nation from the north." Jiandao said, "But since then, we have no police reports of any activities fitting the Red Lotus pattern."
Mei then continued, "This could be good news, maybe in truth they're gone from the Fire Nation, but we have to assume that they are still here, the police will continue their patrol routines. If they surfaced, we'll be ready."
With a pause of silence, Jiandao continued the briefing. "Onto the next thing, we have confirmation. The Avatar is coming to the Fire Nation in about two days' time."
"Ah right. The nutcase." Noren snickered, followed by a chuckle from Jun Jr and Kuzon. Mako bit his lips.
"Alright, alright knock it off." Jiandao quietened them down. "No doubt she's coming over to gather any air benders here with Master Tenzin."
"How is that our problem captain?" Hui Lee asked.
"Fire Lord Izumi has instructed us to stand guard at the Royal Palace when the Avatar arrives, specifically when she meets Fire Lord Izumi." The captain said.
"Did Fire Lord Izumi explain why?" Kuzon asked.
"It's a case of first impressions always sticks." Jiandao explained, Mako had suspicions on where he was getting at.
"Roughly three years ago in Ba Sing Se, the Avatar and Master Tenzin so-called liberated the air bender conscripts from the Earth Queen. Now whether they did the right or wrong thing is irrelevant to us. What mattered was that the event left Ba Sing Se in a state of unrest. Which also made the city vulnerable to an attack from the Red Lotus which got the Earth Queen assassinated." Jiandao explained.
"Are you saying it was Korra's fault?" Mako blurted out his question. Everyone's attention were soon on him.
"I'm saying that Fire Lord Izumi does not want any possibility of the same incident happening again." Jiandao said staring at Mako, "We know you had a hand in freeing those air benders in Ba Sing Se. So you of all people should know what is at stake here."
Mako could the lump in his throat. "I…I understand captain."
"Alright." Jiandao continued his briefing, "Now, the last item for the day. There have been reports of some people threatening the safety in the bazaar again."
"Again? Oh come on." Jun Jr started griping.
Jiandao ignored her whining, "This time it is clear cut, four triad idiots in a jeep. We have a witness description of them." He took out a picture from his chest pocket and handed it over to Mako.
Instantly, Mako recognized the culprit, the red outfit from this criminal was too obvious. "The Agni Kai triad. Bandits."
"Go on detective." Jun Jr said.
"They are one of the rival triads from Republic City, fire benders exclusively. They've gone dark and they disbanded around three years ago during Harmonic Convergence." Mako said.
"And now they're here. Gee I wonder how…" Noren sarcastically remarked.
Jiandao knew what Noren was implying. "What becomes of Future Industries in the Fire Nation is Fire Lord Izumi's decision. Our mission is to quell the immediate threat to the citizens first, which means taking out the criminals."
"What the police cannot handle it?" Kuzon pressed the issue.
"The police are guarding the bazaar and patrolling the north, with them stretched thin relatively Lord Izumi has given us this mission. These idiots keep using one road, thinking they are safe in the night. So it's a simple mission, strike them down in the night. Quick and quiet, we will need one alive for the police." Mako remained silent while Jiandao gave out his orders.
"Mako, Hui Lee, Noren. You three will be taking this mission." Jiandao ordered.
"Right." Hui Lee and Noren said, Mako nodded.
In the night, stars glittered the skies and the bandits were escaping on their jeep through the brush with their loot stolen in a sack, stolen from the bazaar.
From the treeline, a volley of kunais were flung and the driver received a kunai to the neck and head, instantly killing him. "Whoa!" The remaining bandits shouted in panic and the jeep swerved and tumbled over flinging the bandits out of the vehicle. They all brutally crashed into the ground.
"Argh!" The second bandit got up from the dirt, covered in bruises and cuts.
"What hit us?!" The third bandit shouted, turning to the driver, "Meng what happened?! Are you- Oh! Holy sh- He's dead! He's dead!" Meng the driver, was on the ground, soaked in blood and filled with kunais.
The fourth bandit took charge, both of his fists ignited in flames. "Who's out there?! Face me! Where are you?!"
"Turn around." A voice said behind him. With a gasp, the fourth bandit spun around and Hui Lee, hidden in her Blue Spirits mask, rapidly jabbed him all over his pressure points. The bandit had been chi blocked, he was completely paralyzed. Before he could fall to the ground Hui Lee gave him a spinning kick to the face knocking him away.
The final two bandits spotted her, they wasted no time, blasting streams of fire Hui Lee's way. The Blue Spirits whipped out her fan which extended into a shield. Blocking the fire, Hui Lee leaped out of the way taking cover behind the wrecked vehicle.
Mako shot down to them from the trees, wielding his ninjato sword. He intercepted the flames by swinging down his blade, making a massive gash across the chest of the second bandit. Before the gangster could feel any agony, Mako ran his blade across the neck. With a few gurgles, the criminal instantly fell with blood spilling from his neck.
The last surviving thug was cowering now, the sight of the others dying so fast and the Blue Spirit masks got him to turn and run.
As the final criminal fled from the wreckage however, another Blue Spirit landed in front of him from the trees. Noren's right arm was generating lightning condensed into his hand. Noren lunged forward with his feet shot out propulsions of fire to increase his speed.
Noren thrust his blade of lightning into the criminal's chest, right into the heart. The attack blew a hole in the criminal, turning everything inside the chest into ashes. He fell face first, the cavity completely cauterized.
Hui Lee went back to her paralysed captive. She stood tall over him, and all he could do was whimper. "D-Don't kill me please. Please." Hui Lee drove a boot into his face, knocking him out cold.
The Blue Spirits gathered, Noren was the first to speak. "Alright, let's get the stolen items out of the vehicle." Hui Lee took the sack from the jeep while Mako and Noren dragged the bodies to the wreckage. Mako could feel those dead eyes staring at him, this was not the first time he killed someone. But it was the first time he had done it so ruthlessly, though he understood that this was the nature of the missions the Blue Spirit Unit took.
Soon they left the site with their captive, heading for the capital prison. Dropping off the prisoner, Mako was now outside the prison's entrance, waiting for Noren and Hui Lee. He had never taken off his mask throughout the whole night. He stared at the moon with arms crossed.
He heard Noren and Hui Lee exiting the prison.
"Alright. Well there's that nonsense dealt with." Noren took off his mask and sighed lazily. "I'm heading to the markets see if there's enough time to get those glutinous peanut rice balls." He announced. "Anyone want to come?"
"No way, I'm heading back to my home." Hui Lee said stretching her arms.
"Alright then suit yourself." Noren shrugged. "Hey what about you Mako you want to come?"
There was a moment of silence from the still masked Mako, Hui Lee raised an eyebrow. "Kid?"
"U-Uh I'm heading back to the base." Mako finally answered.
"You alright?" Hui Lee asked.
"Yeah, yeah I'm alright why?" Mako turned to them.
"Well for one, you have not taken off your mask the whole day. And you've been silent for this whole mission." Hui Lee crossed her arms at him like a big sister. "What's eating you?"
"It's nothing, just thinking about the visit from Korra- from the Avatar in two days." Mako said, "It's going to be a real headache when they come here."
Noren had both of his arms lounging behind his neck, he said, "Oh yeah, nutcase comes barging into the Fire Nation like a hothead. I cannot wait to see that happens."
"Noren stop calling the Avatar a nutcase." Hui Lee gave him a stern look, before turning to Mako, "Is there bad blood with you and them?"
Mako tipped his head down, "Sort of. I tried to warn Asami about Future Industries being compromised, she did not believe me. None of them did. And now things are kind of sour between me and those guys." Mako gave a sigh, "I guess that shows where I stand with them."
"Ohhh." Noren clicked his tongue.
"Mako." Hui Lee softly said.
"I'll head back to the base." Mako took his leave. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
Hui Lee and Noren exchanged glances, seeing the new pup leaving to brood on his own. Hui Lee then had a change of mind. "Hey Mako."
He turned to the two. Hui Lee then said, "Let's get some peanut rice balls."
"Huh?" Noren looked at her a little confused.
"Feeling a little hungry now." Hui Lee shrugged. "Come on let's go, the three of us. Yes, you're coming along Mako." Mako stood there stunned and silent.
Hui Lee had an elegant smile, she said to him, "Take off the mask Mako come on." And he did, finally he felt the breeze on his face.
She approached him with a closed fan in her hand, tapping him on the forehead with it. An aura of grace and elegance exuded out from her. Taking the lead, Hui Lee strolled with Noren behind her. And Mako quickly followed, he could not put a finger on how he felt with everything happening so fast. But it did feel nice to have these new people showing concern and doing something for him.
When he was in Team Avatar, he was thrown into the mix and kept being told what to do. When he broke up with Korra he could feel he was drifting from them. They kept pulling him back into their group. He was there, back he did not know if he felt like he was genuinely a part of them. Maybe it was just a superficial bond.
With the Blue Spirits however, Mako could not pinpoint what about it that made it different, but it felt better.
A smile crept into Mako as he joined up with Hui Lee and Noren.
In the following days, Mako's training did not stop. Until it was the day where the Fire Nation is expecting the Avatar. In the rooftops of the Royal Palace, the Blue Spirits were scattered hiding in the shade.
Mako hidden behind his mask, peered his head out of the shade catching sight of the giant object hovering through the sky. Mako recognized it, Asami's Future Industries airship. The rest of the Blue Spirits concentrated their sights on the incoming airship. Soon it descended and set down on the landing dock of the Royal Palace, by the east side.
"Here we go." Mako said.
Avatar Korra has arrived in the Fire Nation.
Hope you've enjoyed this chapter, hope to see you in the next one.