伴侣

Asami rolled her neck and sighed. She worked her jaw as she yawned, stretching her arms and shaking out any kinks and aches before she shifted on her sleeping bag, looking around the small hilly bank in the center of the wider grove and finding no sign of Korra.

She glanced over at the Lion-Dogs where they laid on the edge of the gurgling creek's banks, both deep in their sleep despite one of the gargantuan pair having draped itself over the other's back.

Asami sniffed and rubbed her nose, before clasping her hands over her knees. She sat back and found herself staring at the long blackened remains of the fire, a frown appearing as her mind went back to memories of her with her father during happier times. To combat being dragged into thinking about him, she instead focused on Korra's smiles and laughs from when she told her story, and kept them clear and sharp.

She soon heard faint gruffs and puffs carrying towards the campsite from the nearby forest. Asami glanced down at her pack and reached into it, grabbing one of her bottles and standing back up, the faint glow of the spirit water inside giving it a slight sheen.

Asami followed the grunts of exertion away from their campsite, moving across the flank of the hill to where the other trees in the forest grew in thicker clusters. The sunlight dappled with shadow as it shone down through the thick leaves on Asami. She rubbed a itch on the nape of her neck when she spotted Korra hanging off a tree branch nearby, her arms crossed over her chest and holding herself up with her legs.

She came over and folded her arms, watching as Korra raised herself up and down using her well-toned core, her hands laced behind her head as she breathed out sharply with each repetition. "You know this is a vacation remember?"

Korra grunted as she flopped back down, hanging in front of Asami. "I'm almost done."

"You woke me up."

Korra lifted herself up, managing a strained smile as she pushed out a breath, flopping down again. "I'm really sorry." She managed to say in between her breaths.

Asami smiled in return. "I'm lucky. You keep me from sleeping in."

"Oh, I wish I was still asleep. The morning is evil." Korra said, her legs beginning to tremble a little as she lifted herself up again.

Asami shook her head with a chuckle before peering underneath Korra's branch and spotting two strange bulbous growths on the treetrunk with straight cracks in their middles, looking very much like a pair of closed eyes. She frowned and glanced up at Korra. "Are you sure about doing that? This tree could be a spirit, for all you know."

"Nope. Haven't heard a peep." Korra gritted her teeth as she lifted herself once more before lowering back down. She blew out a massive breath, letting her arms dangle below her as she closed her eyes, breathing heavily. "I've seen plenty of spirits, and this-"

Suddenly the branch bucked and shook underneath her legs. Her eyes widened as her legs slipped and she fell from the tree branch, managing to throw out a hand to create a small cushion of air to land on. Asami moved backwards to give her some space, and pulled Korra to her feet as they both watched the tree shake and creak.

The trunk rumbled as two cracks in the wood creaked open, revealing a pair of glowing green eyes. The tree's eyes immediately swiveled onto Korra, and the twigs and boughs on it's limbs angled towards her, curling like crooked fingers.

"Get offa me, bub! I'll fall on ya! I'm not a pull-up bar for you do crunches on!"

Korra held up her hands. "Sorry, I uh-"

It's green eyes blazed as it huffed in annoyance, shaking its 'fingers' and making a echoing series of clicks.

"Shoo! Buzz off!"

Korra narrowed her eyes and took a step forward, before Asami grabbed her shoulder and spun her towards the grassy fields between the treeline and their campsite. "I already apologized, buddy!" She shot a dirty look at the spirit over her shoulder before looking ahead with a annoyed grunt. Korra glanced at Asami. "Every single time I start thinking spirits are nice, I met ten more that are total jerks!"

"We're in their world, Korra."

Korra bristled for a moment before she sighed. "I know, I know."

Asami gave her a glance. "...that tree is a jerk, though."

Korra's eyes flared as she grumbled under her breath. She looked at Asami and placed a hand on her hip. "So, any ideas on where we should go next?"

Asami opened her mouth than frowned. She looked down and stroked her chin. "Um... maybe, Wan Shi Tong's library? I've always wanted to see it-"

The grass rustled behind them and Asami turned at the sudden noise, glancing at Korra. She shrugged as a little red fox wormed through their legs, stopping in front of them and slowly rising on two legs, staring up at them with glowing blue eyes. Korra crossed her arms and pursed her lips in a frown, looking down at the fox. "Hello... little fox... thing."

Asami blinked twice as it stood stock still, perfectly balanced on its hind legs. It cocked its head at her. She raised a eyebrow. "And it can stand up."

"He is no ordinary fox, my dear. That is a Knowledge Seeker. He is my companion."

The kindly old voice came from behind her. Asami whirled around to see a little old man standing there, a basket dangling from the short arm he had resting against his portly belly. He bowed to the two of them.

"Ah!" Asami almost jumped a mile. She caught herself, placing a hand over her chest as Korra stepped towards the old man, leaning in for a warm hug.

"Iroh!" Korra grinned at him before turning to Asami. "Asami. This is Iroh. He lives in the spirit world."

"Oh... hello." Asami blinked twice and mouthed Iroh's name. "Wait... the Iroh?"

The old man gave a gentle nod. "I apologize if I scared you, young lady."

Asami glanced to the side and scratched her nose, unable to help the perplexed smile she gave Korra, who smirked. "Thank you." She loosed a breath and chuckled. "This is so weird. I've heard so much about you, but I never thought that I would-" Asami stopped herself. She smiled at Iroh. "It is a honor to meet you. My name is Asami Sato."

"That is a very wonderful name. It suits you well."

Korra leaned in between them, clasping her hands behind her back and peering at Iroh. "So, did you find that teapot?"

Iroh looked at her and nodded, patting his basket. "Indeed I did, Korra. I thought that I could ask the tree spirits around here if they have seen any tea leaves. And I was curious to see where the Lion Dogs had gone. They usually don't roam far from their home." He looked between them. "May I sit with you both at your camp?"

Korra nodded, before shaking her head. "Actually, we were about to move on from Xai Bau's grove to see the Spirit Library."

Iroh chuckled. "The Spirit Library? Wan Shi Tong is not very fond of humans. Especially the Avatar."

Asami paled a little, remembering the picture books her dad read to her as a kid, recalling the curious old owl that looked over his shelves, and the demonic creature he turned into when his wrath was incurred. "Okay. Maybe we should go somewhere else?"

Korra folded her arms. "Hmm... the only other place I can think of is..."

Iroh beamed. "You are both very welcome at my home. I have not had guests from the material world before."

Asami put a hand on her hip. "You're sure it's okay? We don't want to be a bother."

"I do not mind. I would be honored to have the two of you as my guests. Follow me."

Korra's nose twitched as wafts of lazy warm steam tickled her nostrils. She glanced at Iroh as the old man straightened and moved around the other side of the small outdoor table to Asami's side, pouring a graceful stream of reddish liquid into the tea cup in front of her. There was a distinct freshness that the aroma carried, and even a small whiff focused her thoughts.

Iroh finished with Asami's teacup and gave a nod to the two of them, humming to himself as he took his seat opposite Asami. "Have a taste."

Asami hooked a finger through the teacup's handle and brought it to her lips, blowing to cool it before tipping the little cup back ever so slightly. Her eyes brightened instantly. A grin grew as a question formed. "You brew your tea with spirit water?"

Iroh nodded. "Of course! It is the freshest you'll ever find. It is a shame that I must squirrel it away from the Aye Aye spirit." He hung his head and sighed.

Korra raised a eyebrow at Iroh. "Wait, you stole from the Aye Aye Spirit's oasis, too?"

Iroh held up a finger. "It is dishonest of me, but it is a ingredient integral to my teashop. I have sent many samples as my apology, but he has turned them away. Ah, it is unfortunate. Many spirits love my tea."

Korra folded her arms, sharing a look with Asami. "We're not exactly in his good books, either. I don't think any human is."

"Yes. Do not think I did not notice the spirit water in your bottles."

They both grimaced as he chuckled.

He then took a deep breath to inhale in the warm wisp curls from his brew, Korra just took one look at hers and downed it one go. She grinned as the liquid filled her with warmth. Suddenly she opened her mouth with a loud burp.

Iroh and Asami both paused and looked at her.

She frowned. "What?"

Asami smiled and shook her head. "Nothing. How do you play Pai Sho?"

Iroh chuckled as he indicated the thick circular board sitting on the center of the table. "With my own special style. Observe where I place my pieces."

"Okay."

Korra's brow furrowed as she stared down at the dense grid of colored squares on the surface of the board. She stroked her chin, watching in wonder as Asami and Iroh both opened a draw on their side of the board underneath the top, taking out circular chips and stacking them on their ends of the table. Asami waited until Iroh selected his pieces before taking out her own. She saw that Asami's pieces sported red symbols, while Iroh's were white. The only symbols she recognized were on the brightly colored tiles they both had - one for each of the four elements. Those she understood.

Iroh took out a tile with the White Lotus symbol and placed it on the intersection between of his Home triangle on the edge and the central red and white square that dominated the center, flanked by his air tiles. he placed a fire tile on the West triangle, and placed the other on the intersection between the outer edge of the board and the red quadrant of the center square. His water tiles were spaced equally on the edge of the white inner quadrant on the opposite side of his half, while his earth tiles each sat on the center of the uncolored squares on the edges. He finished and placed his non-elemental tiles on the uncolored squares around his earth tiles, each pair sporting the symbol of a weed or a rock.

Asami imitated his placement, scratching her cheek with a nervous chuckle. "Heh. My dad never played with elemental tiles. He always stuck with spring flowers and wheels. I do know the basics, though."

"Excellent."

Long before the two of them had finished laying out their pieces, Korra's eyes had since crossed over and her thoughts blanked.

"Okay. So I think you should go first."

Iroh laced his hands together with a smile. "Thank you. Although it is traditional for the guest to go first. I can see the glint of strategy in your eyes, Asami."

Asami grinned. "If you say so."

Iroh bowed his head.

Everyone's attention focused on the board. Asami frowned as her thoughts worked. "Hmm." She stroked her chin with her finger for a moment before sliding one of her knotweed tiles forwards a square until it rested on the edge of the inner white quadrant.

Korra uncrossed her eyes and refocused, touching Asami on the shoulder. "Asami, I think you should-"

Iroh held up his hand as Asami continued to rub her chin, deep in thought. "Korra. Please. We are watching a keen mind at work here."

Korra retracted her hands and clasped them on her lap, clearing her throat. "Sorry."

Asami narrowed her eyes as strategy after strategy ran through her mind. She stared at one of her air pieces, and shifted it forwards, deep into the intersection of the inner white and red squares.

"Excellent starting move. I've never seen it before."

"It's from one of my dad's strategies. He taught it to me years ago. I wasn't sure if it would work with these rules, but I think you'll be surprised."

Asami's eyes flicked to look at Korra with a wicked light. "I actually remember a promise a certain someone made that she was going to standardize the rules of Pai Sho."

Korra tilted her head. "Huh?..."

Iroh looked up from the board and nodded in approval. "That's a wonderful idea!"

Korra looked at them both and scowled at the knowing grin on Asami. "What? I- that was Bolin! I barely listening and was kind of busy keeping a eye on Aiwei's room!" Korra folded her arms and pouted, sinking lower in her chair. "Ugh. Fine. After we get back, first thing I'm doing is- aside from helping the city rebuild... standardizing the rules of a game I don't even know how to play."

After refocusing on the board, Iroh shifted one of his earth tiles to the edge of his uncolored squares to counter one of Asami's earth pieces. He glanced at Korra. "I think that will be recorded as your greatest achievement by future generations, Avatar Korra. Despite your greatest failing."

"Greatest... failing?" Korra narrowed her eyes in suspicion at Iroh.

Iroh gave a solemn nod and closed his eyes, shaking his head. "Why, yes. You have never played Pai Sho in your life." The old man grinned at Korra as she scowled and Asami chuckled. "That is the greatest failing a person can make!"

Korra fumed quietly under her breath, as Iroh and Asami shared another laugh. "Yeah, I'll work on that."

Turning back to their game, Asami and Iroh began playing in earnest. Before Korra's eyes they moved their pieces about through out the red and white tiles and along the edges of the board, spreading them out, tightening them, withdrawing them, trying to get them next to each other to form a Harmony, only for the other player to break the link and force them to reconsider - the silent game of wits ran for the next few minutes, and as Korra's eyes flicked to each side of the board, beginning to pick up what they were trying to do, she felt a pressure inbetween her legs.

She blinked twice and glanced at Iroh. "Hey, uh, Iroh, do... you have a place where you can... do business?"

"There are no bathrooms in the spirit world. I had to build one. Around the back of the house."

"Okay... I'll be right back." Korra stood up from the table, and jogged across the grass towards Iroh's house with a look of desperation. She skirted the corner of the path running around the house, before disappearing from sight.

"My turn?"

"Yes."

Asami nodded, her eyes narrowing in cunning as she spied a section of the white square Iroh had left undefended, and without thinking rushed her water tile forwards. In return, Iroh hummed as he moved his fire nearby fire tile onto the line separating the red and white quarters.

Asami smiled.

Iroh scanned the board for a few seconds, his brow knitted in deep thought. he rubbed his beard and hummed in approval. "That was a excellent trap you lured me into. You are a very good thinker, Asami."

"My dad taught me everything there is to know about Pai Sho." Asami gained some warmth to her voice, even though her eyes stayed distant. "Although, not quite enough for me to ever beat him without him letting me win."

"You speak of your father a great deal. He must be close to your heart. I am sad to say that it was not the same with my own father."

Asami's fingers stiffened as she went to slide one of her water tiles. Her eyes widened for a moment before she glanced away. In a instant she smiled and nodded. "I am. There was a time when I didn't anything to do with him, but I made up with him. We are... were... closer than ever."

Iroh frowned as he watched the girl's features, while she intensified her attention on the board.

In the hallway, lit by bright orange lamps fixed at points along the walls, Korra stood in front of the closed door. She stared at the hard wooden surface, still frozen in place. She should just wait until morning.

Still. Her knuckles were raised.

But still. Maybe she didn't want to talk. Maybe she wasn't ready.

Korra continued to stand there in the hallway.

"Korra? Are you alright?"

She almost jumped a mile as she lowered her hand, glancing down the hallway to see Iroh. Korra nodded. "Asami went to sleep early."

"I can see that." Korra winced as he chuckled.

She sighed and turned away from the door, walking to the end of the hallway to Iroh. She followed him out into the main living area.

He moved towards a grouping of floor cushions laid out in front of a quietly crackling fire place. Iroh sat down, crossing his legs. Korra did the same on the cushion next to him.

She looked him, then at the fire. In the silence, a thought came to her, and she accidentally voiced it out loud. "Do you... sleep?"

Iroh raised his eyebrow as she pressed her lips together and looked away. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"

He chuckled. "Of course I do. But when I dream, I am able to walk in the material world. I like to check up on Zuko and his family every now and then."

"And the robes? I doubt you can find a clothes shop in the spirit world Did you make them?"

"Goodness, no. I am terrible with a needle. These are from the royal palace. They make the comfiest robes."

Korra's curiosity was satisfied and they returned to their silence, watching the fire.

After a short while, Iroh turned to her. "Asami is a wonderful young woman. I am glad to have met her." Iroh paused and stroked his chin. "Yet, something is troubling her? Her father?"

Korra raised a eyebrow. "You...uh, yes, actually." She peered at him. "How did-"

"Before you ask the question, you should probably remember my reputation, Korra."

At the old man's warm little smile, Korra's shoulders sagged as she smiled too. She glanced down at her lap."I... Yeah. She is. She lost him pretty recently. She only just got to reconnect with him, too."

"He sounds like a honorable man."

"I wouldn't call him that."

The hardness in Korra's tone made Iroh frown as he took the tray back from Korra, placing it on the sitting table between them. "And why is that?"

"Well, he was part of this group of nonbenders who wanted to take away bending from everyone else to make them 'equal'. They were ruthless and fanatical... and he asked her to join him." Korra rubbed her elbow with a grimace. "She picked her side... and lost everything because she decided to stick with me and stop him. She's had it so rough ever since then." She bowed her head.

"Do you blame yourself for her misfortune?" Iroh said.

Korra looked up. Her eyes lowered as she nodded. "I... I guess I do, sometimes. She doesn't show it, but I know she must think the same thing at times. Why wouldn't she? After all, I ruined her relationship with Mako, her company nearly went bankrupt trying to help my tribe, and she lost her father because of me!" Korra blinked twice as she realized how loud her words were. She gritted her teeth and groaned as her shoulders sagged. "She's lost so much by being my friend. I just don't really know how to fix any of that." Korra grunted with frustration as she stared into the fireplace. "I was able to help a dictator, and I can't even help her."

"Sometimes I'm still surprised that she wants to even know me." she whispered.

"If I recall, when we first met, you were in a bad place too, hmm?"

Korra paused. "What?"

Next to her, Iroh chuckled. He clasped his hands. "Would you like some free advice from a old man, Korra?"

Korra turned to him. "Always."

"I suggest that you accompany her on a short walk to Hai-Riyo Peak in the morning."

Korra looked at him. "Hai-Riyo Peak? The mountain where the Dragon-Phoenix nests?"

"You can see much of the spirit world from there. Maybe it will boost her spirits. And I'm sure the Dragon-Phoenix won't mind you being there. You are its lifelong friend."

Slowly, a smile appeared. "I... thank you. I think that's a wonderful idea." Korra uncrossed her legs and stood up from the cushion. She smiled at Iroh. "First thing in the morning, then! Nice and early." Despite the idea of being awake in the early morning horrifying her a little, she was willing to do anything to help Asami.

"No need to thank me. You are guests of my hospitality."

伴侣

A/N

Pai Sho... is kind of difficult to write. It turns out there's at least a bajillion different interpretations of it, and the pieces can change with each one. I managed to find Iroh's personal style of Pai Sho, and tried to write that as best as I could. Then the concept of harmonies made the scene a little too complicated, so I ended up streamlining it a little. I also figured that one of the best ways for Iroh to figure out something was bothering Asami was through a Pai Sho game with her.

So, apologies for the 'slight' delay in the release of this chapter. My attention was kind of divided between my other stories and this one. Anywho, it's safe to say that the next chapter should be released fairly soon.