Kuvira's Assistant

Chapter 6

"HelLO Republic Cit-AY!!" Bolin cheered as he ran into the Four Elements hotel lobby, the rest of Kuvira's team walking behind.

Kuvira walked in, arms behind her back, with Akemi to her side. Bataar lingered in the back with an unwavering frown on his face. As Kuvira signed some paperwork handed to her by one of the Empire team members, Akemi waltzed over to Bolin.

"Bo... Those two over there, why do they keep staring at us?"

Bolin looked around, only to find, dead ahead, Eska and Desna, "AH!!!" he shrieked.

"What?! Do you know them?" Akemi asked, trying to quiet him down.

"Th-that's Eska... Sort of an ex-girlfriend, sort of the Avatar's cousin, sort of-" before he could finish, Kuvira looked back and motioned for Akemi to join her with the tilt of her head. As Akemi walked away giving Bolin puppy-dog eyes, Eska scooched over to him.

"You and I will be staying in the presidential suite, it's up on the 9th floor," Kuvira informed her. Akemi's face visibly lit up, convincing Kuvira enough to say, "alright, seems like you're happy about that." The Great Uniter knowingly made Akemi blush. Akemi turned away slightly to hide, it, only to hear the comical:

"I'm afraid there's been a mistake, your eminence. We have you and your brother booked in the same room, with only one bed!"

"It's no mistake. Desna sleeps in the tub."

Akemi's blush disappeared as she bit her lips and her cheeks puffed up, holding back a holler of a laugh. She looked at Bolin, who did the same. She turned her attention to whoever put their hand on her back; it was Varrick, "never thought I'd be let back into Republic City Four Elements... Reiko must've turned purple when Kuvira made him pardon me of my alleged crimes!"

"You're an upstanding citizen, Varrick," Akemi chuckled as she walked off alongside Kuvira. She overheard Bataar talking to his mother and leader of Zaofu, Suyin Beifong, about how he and Kuvira were engaged, making her shudder at the thought. She thought she liked him before, but now... She really found him irritating. Like a bad rash. Only stuck to Kuvira, as well as her own ass.

UGH she groaned in her head... What now?

"I hope I'm not out of order saying this," they were stopped by Prince Wu, "you're pretty easy on the eyes for the military type..." he said in an attempt to flirt, foolishly raising and lowering his brows. Akemi didn't mind it; she knew he wouldn't get anywhere with Kuvira. But why was she even starting to care about that so much?

"I'll put in a good word for you with the hotel staff," he continued, "maybe get you a little upgrade. I've been living here for years, they love me!"

Akemi's attention darted onto Kuvira, who responded, "I won't be needing your help. We've reserved the presidential suite," she said, not even looking at his face.

"Well I think someone is pulling your chain, gumdrop. See I'm in the presidential suite."

"Not anymore. I had you moved out," Kuvira snickered, giving Akemi a brief glance. Akemi was stunned. She really had the audacity to speak to a prince like that, and take his room. Dayum.

"Wait, what?!" the prince exclaimed, grabbing onto the collar of one of the hotel staff.

Akemi got distracted for a moment, however. She noticed someone familiar by the reception desk of the lobby, standing next to Bolin and what looked like another firebender. Her attention was drawn back to the exchange between Kuvira and Wu, however, when she heard Kuvira say, "something you should know about me. I always get what I want."

"Ooooooohh!" Akemi cooed, impressed, yet slightly in shock, "... Sorry." She said as all eyes lay on her blushing face.

"Kuvira, could you excuse me for a few minutes, please?" Kuvira nodded, and turned to sign some more paperwork. In the meantime, an uncertain Akemi cautiously approached the group she'd noticed Bolin in.

"Hey," she said, "I'm Akemi. I work with Bolin." Her genuine smile garnered warm smiles from the rest of the group.

"Oh yess, guys!!! This is Akemi! She joined us about two months ago. Akemi, meet Mako, my brother, and Asami, of Future Industries."

Akemi bowed to both Mako and Asami individually, with a huge smile on her face.

"Asami Sato?" she asked.

"That's me," Asami smiled, expecting the usual shock or excitement at who she was.

"I've got a question for you!"

"Go for it," she chuckled at the enthusiasm.

"Is your mother's.. mother's?.. surname Ikedo?" Akemi asked, in a hopeful tone.

Asami's eyes widened in surprise; that question is far from the usual that she receives from a stranger.

"Yes, it is...? How'd you know that?"
"Well, one more thing - your mother's name is Yasuko, right?"

"Yes...?"

"We're relatives, Asami!" Asami looked surprised but impressed.

"How so!" she asked Akemi.

"Well, your grandmother Ikue Ikedo is my grandfather Gidayu Ikedo's sister! So we're second cousins!"

"Oh spirits!! That's amazing, I've never met any cousin, or relative as a matter of fact, before! How is it that we're meeting just now?!" Asami asked with pure excitement. Bolin and Mako were surprised, but smiling at this coincidental family reunion.
"This is so cute...!" Bolin whispered to Mako, who nodded in agreement. They hadn't seen Asami this excited in a long time. The girls continued to chatter as the brothers let them have their space and walked elsewhere.

Asami teared a little, "you don't know how amazing it is to find a relative of my mother's... I lost her when I was six, so this is really beautiful for me."

"Oh my... I'm so sorry, Asami," Akemi stated, wrapping her arm around her cousin, "may I ask what happened, or...?"

"Well, firebenders raided our estate one day in an attempt to steal valuables, and they took her life - they took her from me - in the process..." Akemi was very saddened but also uncomfortable at this piece of information.

"Asami, I-... I'm just so disgusted and upset to hear that. I'm a firebender myself," she said looking up at her cousin pleadingly, "and I think that is literally the most horrible, horrible thing you could ever do with your bending. It's appalling."

Asami was quite comforted by the genuine and sensitive words of her cousin.

"So, did you grow up here? It's crazy how we've never run into each other before," Asami changed the topic.

"Actually, I grew up in the Fire Nation, trained under Firelord Izumi, became an architect, began to visit Republic City with the Firelord from time to time so we could make our Nation's contributions to the city, then I moved here a while back, and soon after President Reiko put me in touch with Kuvira, who recruited me, and here I am!" Akemi swiftly explained.

"That's great! Bolin has told me some great things about Kuvira and what you do on your journeys. You must be proud... I'm proud of my cousin," she winked, really happy to be able to refer to another member of her family.

"Thanks," Akemi smiled, "I've heard some fantastic things about you too! Boss ass lady building the city an-" before she could finish her conversation with Asami, Kuvira walked behind her and grabbed her waist slightly. Akemi turned her head to make eye contact, during which Kuvira nodded at her to follow her.

"Agh, I gotto go Asami... It was so amazing to finally meet you and catch up, even if it was just a little," she said as Kuvira waited a little patiently and slowly started to pull her away, "we'll catch up soon again, probably after the coronation?" she continued as she slowly slipped away, "Akemi Ikedo, we'll keep in touch!" she laughed as she stumbled away, enticing a sound chuckle from her cousin Asami, as well. Asami stood there, unable to help the smile on her face as she looked into the vastness of the lobby.