The Demon Avatar, Korra

Korra sat in the shade right next to Naga coaching Mako and Bolin. Asami still hadn’t shown up yet to morning practice even though she was looking forward to that the most these mornings. Asami would even join in and show the boys some tricks of her own that they could add. When that would happen Korra would be in a dream like daze staring at her before Asami would catch her looking, it was quite embarrassing.

It was toward the middle of practice when Asami showed up and when she did, a big grin was placed on Korra’s face directed at the girl. Asami’s cheeks look like they were tinged with pink but Korra simply thought of it to be the trick of the sun and returned with throwing water punches at the boys while Asami sat down, playing with Naga.

Practice finally came to an end and the boys were chugging down their waters. This was Korra’s chance to ask them the question gnawing at her since this morning. The fear of them saying no was likely but she also had some hope since everything was going so well lately. Pushing fear aside, she straightened her posture and turned to them.

“Would you all like to help me with something tonight?” Korra spoke with ease thankfully.

Bolin perked up at this, “You mean Team Avatar stuff!!”

“Umm yes?” She quizzically replied, “I need help finding a certain demon and apparently she’s very well at hiding.”

The three nodded their heads in unison agreeing which made Korra smile. She noticed Bolin was beaming with excitement and Mako looked happy to help. Asami offered a bright smile which caused a slight blush to her cheeks. She quickly regained herself, “Great, thanks! We’ll meet at the hospital at 9:30.”

“You got it, Avatar Korra!” Mako and Asami laughed at Bolin’s excitement. Korra had never been referred to just Avatar Korra so it was weird but also nice in a way. She felt tears wanting to come up but willed to stop them, “Ah Bolin please just Korra is fine!” Really not sure what to do in this situation. Bolin wrapped an arm around her, “Nonsense! It is an honor to help the Avatar, right you two!” Asami and Mako, both toned down compared to Bolin, agreed with him. “Alright Bo, I think it’s time to head back. We’ll see you tonight then Korra.” Bolin unwrapped his arm around Korra and started to walk back to the docks with Mako. “See you later Korra!!”

Korra waved back to the boys and then turned to Asami who was saying goodbye to Naga. The huge polar bear dog took a huge liking to Asami and the boys which didn’t surprise Korra since Naga was very friendly, but she could also be protective of her. She walked over to them and then suddenly she was nervous since now they were practically alone.

Asami got up from her crouched position and noticed that Korra was fidgeting with her hands. She wrapped her hands around Korra’s and could feel how she relaxed at the touch, “Don’t worry, everything will be fine tonight.” Asami reassured her with a smile, noticing a tinge of pink appear on her face. “I hope so.” Korra cherished these small moments when they would be alone and kept them locked in a part of her brain. Asami then let go of her hands and embraced Korra in a hug. The hug lasting a bit longer than what a normal hug should be but nonetheless neither complained until Asami released Korra from the embrace saying she would see her later. Korra didn’t complain physically but mentally. She just smiled and waved at Asami’s now retreating figure. Friends, remember. She released a sigh from her lips and laid on Naga till training.

To say that Korra enjoyed the dark was an understatement. She practically lived in the dark of the night and shadows. She could slip out of people’s sights with ease. She only really ever lived in the night ever since then and with the fact that she had to conquer the sunlight and being reassured she could still didn’t coax her out the darkness to try but she knew eventually she’d have to. Just didn’t know when the event would rise and she’d willingly let the sun hit her body and whatever would happen, whether she died or not, she’d continue living or the next avatar would be reborn. She didn’t know what came next if she did conquer the sun and what Muzan would ask of but that was for another time.

Korra sat atop a building looking for her friends. She saw people walking and then she saw a satomobile pull up to the side and parked, recognizing the top of their heads to be her friends. Korra swiftly, without pulling notice from anyone from the street, landed in the empty seat of the car, nobody realizing she was there yet as they were all unbuckling their seatbelts. Breaking the silence, “You three wait here until I come back from talking to Kya.” They all jumped a bit from their seats from surprise of Korra’s presence. “I’ll be back so stay put!” With that she leapt from the car and made her way to the doors of the hospital.

Upon entering the extremely lit receptionist area, everything smelt sterile and clean, usual hospital smell. Korra scrunched her nose not in disgust but of the strong scent which was especially much stronger to her. She looked around looking for Kya and thankfully she was at the front. No needing to do any further search to find the said woman. Korra casually walked up to her, “Hey Kya.” Kya turned from looking at the folder in her hands and was surprised to see Korra here at the hospital. She gave a smile to the girl, “What are you doing here punk! Having any trouble?” She quirked an eyebrow, lightly teasing Korra. She just laughed at Kya’s aunt like antics, “No no, just came by to ask you something.”

“Shoot kid!”

“Is there anyone that works here by the name of Tamayo?”

Kya pondered for a moment, hand coming up to her chin. There were some new hires in the research wing of the hospital and possibly someone with that name. She wasn’t so sure yet, but she was headed up there after she was done reading the folder in her hands.

“Hmm, maybe. We did get some new hires in the research wing; I think there is someone that’s name starts with a T which may be the new head researcher. Why, what’s up?”

Hmm so my hunch is probably right.

“Oh, just needed to ask them a question! Please do let me know once you find out, I’ll see you later Kya.” Korra started to walk out the hospital but right before she stepped out the doors, “Oh you should stop by for dinner soon, the kids miss seeing their aunt!” and with that Korra was heading back to the krew.

Kya just waved while Korra left. The name Tamayo bouncing in her head. She thinks that’s the new head researchers name, but she wasn’t at all paying much attention during that meeting a couple days ago. She was heading up to that wing of the hospital anyway so maybe if she was there, she’d introduce herself.

Asami and the boys were hanging outside the car waiting for Korra to come back. They made conversation amongst themselves wondering what they would be helping Korra with and what the hospital had to do with it. “So, you think this demon is working at the hospital since we’re here?” asked Mako steering the conversation. Bolin hummed for a moment thinking, “Maybe? Korra did say she was going to talk Kya.” Asami then remembered from their first visit at the hospital with kya, “Hey since Kya knows about demons and stuff, do you think she could spot one if they were living amongst us?” The boys hummed in thought. “Well, do they all look the same or would they all be different?” Mako questioned. The group didn’t notice Korra walking their way, determination written all over her face.

She had heard the last of Mako’s question and figured what they were talking about. “There are demons that can blend in well with society, there are the ones that lay in the shadows but the one thing we all have in common is that we still prey amongst humans and usually they don’t live to tell the tale.” She leaned on the hood of the car next to Asami, “Also we’re searching for a woman with dark brown hair and a man with green hair and black tips. I believe my hunch of them working at the hospital is right.”

“Hey Korra, if you don’t mind me asking, how do you know how they look like if you’ve never seen them before?” Asami turned to face Korra who looked a little tense.

Korra turned her head up to the sky, trying to search for stars but came up short. “I saw it in his memories and then in my past lives memories.” Asami quirked an eyebrow at the word “his” but chose not to breach into that topic further since it looked like Korra’s eyes turned empty once she muttered that word. She just hummed back at her and gently grabbed her hand in hopes of comforting the girl.

The action did not go unnoticed by Korra and she simply tried to distract herself. Glancing briefly at the boys who were looking around for the said description of the two people she described, it brought her a bit more joy that her newfound friends were really in this. However, was she afraid? Yeah, because she didn’t know how long this would last but who could blame her. As a demon, you outlive every single human and move along with the world. Though Korra, with her, she had a chance of dying but she sometimes didn’t fear it. If it happened, she wondered if she would die with a smile on her face. She looked at all the people passing by them and wondered if they would go to heaven or hell, or even the spirit world. I think I would go to hell. The thoughts wandered until she saw someone with green hair and black tips leaving the hospital and off into the direction of a nearby neighborhood.

She wasn’t the only person who noticed, everyone else did and so they hopped into Asami’s car except for Korra who took the approach from following from above. Before she did, she warned them to not be suspicious. The krew nodded and they started to tail the guy casually.

As Yushiro left the hospital he was aware of the eyes on him as he was heading to his and lady Tamayo’s clinic. Though, he could not tell who they were, he knew one was a demon, possibly the one Tamayo has been waiting for but could not be sure.

He blended into the small crowd on the sidewalk until he reached the corner of the street. As he turned, he swiftly grabs a paper talisman from his white kimono and placing it on his forehead suddenly masking his presence invisible from the people following him.

Yushiro makes it to the end of the neighborhood where to everyone is a dead end but as he walks through the wall, the clinic appears where he and lady Tamayo stay. Hopefully not having to relocate again after their run in with Muzan’s lackeys.

The krew turns down into the neighborhood where they saw the guy head into but saw nobody except for houses and a dead end.

Korra descends while Asami parks the car.

Once out the car, they all follow Korra down into the street looking around for the guy.

It’s just a regular neighborhood, nothing out of place, just a dead-end street. Though the brick wall staring right back at Korra says different. She can’t place it, but it seems off.

She grits her teeth while letting out a growl of frustration.

Korra then breaking the silence with anger seeping in her tone, “I saw him come through here so where the hell did he go.”

Everyone sensed the change of tone in Korra’s voice, a little rattled by it but not deterred.

Mako was the first to respond.

“Do you think he could be in one of these other houses?”

Still staring at the wall as if she was burning holes into it, “No. If he was, I would’ve noticed but it’s like he just vanished.”

Vanished…this dead-end…

There has to be a connection. She saw him turn in here and then he was suddenly gone. Was this some demon technique?

Korra took a couple steps back, now standing behind Mako, Bolin and Asami. They all turned to see what she was about to do.

Korra shut her eyes, steadied her breathing and focused. She would transform, she could do it. The amount of human blood she’s consumed and the extra blood from Muzan had triggered something enough for it to happen, it was time to just get even more comfortable with it.

She felt the mark pulse on her back, suddenly circling around her arms, legs and chest as dark blue and red vines. Her fangs felt sharper and a bit more extended. She could feel a short horn coming out on the right side of her forehead. The last thing was a vein like pattern appearing around her left eye.

Korra then opened her eyes and saw 3 pairs of eyes stare back at her in surprise.

To say that the krew was shocked would be an understatement. They didn’t think Korra could change her appearance like that. Asami was quite entranced with the view in front of her. Korra looked so badass and she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t also say that she was looking very attractive. What? Asami get it together, now is not the time for that.

“Woah, Korra you look so freaking amazing!!” said Bolin in excitement. It’s like he was always in a cheerful mood and there was no switch to turn it off, but it was nice.

She flashed her pearly sharp fangs at him and then kneeled into a squat resting her elbows on her knees. She breathed in through her mouth and breathed out blue flames.

Now it was Mako’s turn to gawk. He had never seen a fire bender with blue flames or even knew that was possible. The majority of fire benders had red orange flames so to see someone with blue flames, to see that it was Korra, was unique and cool.

Korra focused on the wall in front of her and suddenly she could make out a two-story house. It was faint but something was being used to mask the presence of this house and that’s why she couldn’t see it before but now her senses had heightened and Korra could see it faintly.

Her eyes widened in glee, she stood up fast and pointed at the brick wall. “He went right through that wall, that’s why we were all confused,” She crossed her arms, “so he and Tamayo must be behind this wall then. I’ll give them credit for being able to hide so well.”

“How do we get through that wall then?” asked Asami genuinely curious. The boys also curious as well.

“Oh, that’s easy, don’t worry about that but we won’t be going through it tonight.”

“What? Why not?” asked Mako and Bolin.

“I’ll give them some time to think of a counter since I’m sure he figured out that I know their secret,” Korra started to walk back towards the car, “I’m also a bit hungry so I actually planned on doing a quick blood run after this,” she smiled sheepishly while scratching the back of her neck. Even though she had told them she drank blood she was still worried how’d they react but surprisingly everyone nodded in understanding.

They all got back into the car except for Korra.

Asami sitting in the driver’s seat, “You’re not getting in? We can take you,” she said nicely.

“Yeah I wanna see how you get your blood!!”

“What Bolin is trying to say is that he’s curious and I am too a little,” said Mako.

This was a bad idea. She should have never said anything about her quick run. She hadn’t found a different place to get blood packets from and she didn’t feel like stealing from the hospital so she continued to get her blood fixes from Daki when she would visit her for stuff.

Now here she is, all friends curious and staring awaiting an answer. She really didn’t want to give Daki what she wanted but it seems that they weren’t going to take no for an answer.

She started to revert back to her usual self and got into the passenger seat in defeat.

She sighed, “To the red light district then, please.”