Chapter One

Aimi

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The day started like any other day. I got out of bed, brushed my teeth, and went ahead to eat breakfast. Today, Mom had cooked something special. Fish. Who ate fish for breakfast, along with a side of salad and a glass of vegetable juice? This family. Apparently, it had a lot of protein and kept our bodies in shape. The thing was, that, no matter how much I hated it, my mother was always right. Why? Becuase she said so. It was important for me to keep my body in shape, because of one reason, and one reason only. I was the first and only child of my small little family, and unlike the other 50 percent of the world, I was a non-bender for the first seventeen years of my life.

That was probably the reason I freaked out when it happened. Sometimes, I really felt as if I was a let down for my parents. I was born without any bending skills, and so my father made me study. He loved to work. My father, Taro, worked for Future Industries that was once owned by Hiroshi Sato, but now belonged to Asami Sato, his daughter, after they'd had a kind of 'falling out'. And he wanted me to work there as well. I wasn't very interested, but I was not going to refuse it. Being a non-bender didn't give you many other choices. You were already looked down upon by so many, even though they never mentioned it. Their stares said it all.

The Avatar, Korra, had already fought Amon about this issue a year or two ago, and it had been 'resolved'. But no one could change the way we felt inside. It wasn't anyone's fault; just luck, I guess. And I hadn't been born with that luck.

Today was a special day. Dad was taking me to visit the main building of Future Industries, just to see how all the machinery worked. So I got dressed, and met him outside.

"Hey daddy," I smiled sweetly, tucking a lock of dark hair behind my ear.

"Hey, You ready?" he smiled.

"Of course." No, I wasn't. I didn't want this. I wasn't fit for Future Industries. I would only make a mess out of things. But I still got in the car. I still let him drive me to the giant building. I still walked in, hesitating, but I pushed myself. And I walked through the giant doors with the logo written acros the clear glass.

"This is it," Dad said. "Remember, Asami is visiting today. Please act professional." I nodded. Dad always looked professional. His clothes were always ironed to the crisp; his collar flat and his shirt buttoned up. His hair was always gelled over. He never left the house with a single wrinkle on his shirt.

Dad didn't work in the 'build your butt off' section. He was a designer. Is that what he wanted me to do? Obviously. Let me restate this; I was not meant for designing.

"How are you, Taro?" people greeted, nodding their heads and bending slightly to greet him. He greeted them. I stood next to Dad. He gave me a tour, and finally stopped in front of giant double doors, a smile on his face, his green eyes twinkling. I hadn't even inherited that from him. I had my mother's dark eyes that always made me look like I wanted to murder somebody, almond shaped and my eyebrows arched dangerously. Dad said it was 'beauty' and that's why he'd married my mother, but I waved it away. Dad must've had a thing for murderous looking women. And when I said that to him, he'd cracked a lame joke about Mom being a 'killer woman' and then slapping his knee as he bent over, laughing. Mom and just I stared at him. She never needed to frown, like me; just one look was enough to get someone down on their knees. And then Dad just smiled at me and winked.

"This is the place you will work in the future. I know you and Asami will get along vey well."

This was my last chance. It was do or die. "Dad, I think-"

"I know you're very nervous. But once you get to know this place, you'll fit right in. I know you'll be good at this. This is your last-" he froze, the muscles in his body tensing. I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. I knew what he was going to say. "This is your last chance." And it was. So I took a step forward, and opened the doors for him.

The first thing I saw was a long table, with many crisp-looking people, causing me to glance at Dad. And then I saw her standing there, at the edge, her arms behind her back. Her raven hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her green eyes were so bright when she looked up, I cringed. Her face was relaxed. So this was Avatar Korra's friend. Who knew I'd get to meet her face to face one day?

"This is Asami." Dad said, gesturing towards her as she came and stood in front of me.

"Nice to meet you," I smiled, reaching out my hand. She took it, shaking it firmly. "I'm Aimi."

"Hey, Aimi." she smiled. "Are you planning to join us soon?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but I Dad's voice cut me off. "Yes, she is." I felt heat rising to my cheeks. My smile faded.

"That's great! Do you want me to give you a tour?"

"I-" but I didn't have a chance to answer. Dad was there again, completing my sentence for me.

"I already gave her one. I'm hoping she fits right in."

"She probably will," Asami looked right at me. "You look smart enough."

"She is," Dad agreed, and I could feel my face tighten up. Something was bugging me about this entire conversation.

"I'll see you around, then?" Asami said. I nodded, quickly speaking before Dad coul say something again.

"I look forward to it." And as she walked away, I pulled on Dad's sleeve and dragged him out of the room.

"What was that?" I asked him, outside.

"What?" he looked surprised.

"Don't 'what' me, Dad. You just totally took over what was supposed to be my first meeting with Asami. How can I work here if you won't let me speak for myself?"

"Sweetheart, I just didn't want you to say something wrong."

I could almost hear the sparks in my brain, and I'm sure he did to. "Um, do something wrong? Like maybe learning from my mistakes, or, you know, starting off nicely with the owner of the company I'll pretty soon work for? Dad, have you ever thought of my choice?" I said, my boot tapping on the polished floor.

"Choice?"

"My choice. You know, the thing where you get to choose."

"What else do you have to choose from, though?" Dad asked, and I really knew he didn't mean it in a bad way, but the sudden weight of being 'useless' suddenly crashed down on my shoulders, something I'd been holding up for so long. I turned away from my father, finding my way to the nearest bathroom.

And there I stood alone, staring into the mirror, breathing deeply. My reflection stared back at me. Plain. You've got nothing. My knees felt weak.

And then I let out a frustrated cry, slashing my hand against the empty air.

Except the air wasn't empty.

I didn't exactly remember the details on what happened. The only thing I recalled was one of the doors to the bathroom stall slammed open, ripping right off the hinges and crashing into the toilet. The pipe broke and water burst everywhere, soaking me. I screamed at the top of my lungs.

And then my dad and Asami burst through the doors, staring straight at me.

"What happened?"

Dad asked. My mouth was wide open as I stared at the mess I'd made. "It . . . It just . . . Happened."

"How could this just happen?" Dad asked, looking so disappointed. "I knew this would happen," he sighed in defeat. "Something like this always happens."

"No, Dad." I said, trying to keep my voice even and calm, even though my teeth were chattering from the sudden splash of cold water. "Dad. I just moved and it happened. You have to believe me."

"Hey. let's go home." He said. Turning away. Asami looked sympathetic.

"But Dad!" I yelled after him, hating myself. "I only did this!" And I slice my hand against the air. I was thrown backwards off my feet while the tiles cracked on the wall in front off me, pieces falling to the ground. I hit the wall and fell to my knees with a groan.

What was happening?

"I know what this is," Asami said, her eyes brighter than ever, a warm smile on her face. "Don't worry about the damage. All that can be fixed."

"What do you mean, 'you know what this is'? Is this some disease? A psychic illness? Is she okay?"

"No, Mr. Suko. Your daughter," Asami said, as if it were a very normal thing to say, "is an airbender."

I thought Dad was going to pass out.

~~~~~~~

Yay! First chapter of the sequel to Doubled Elements! I'm so glad to have started this chapter. I'm really, really excited about this new story.

If you have not read Doubled Elements, click on my my username and please, please read it. You will not understand one inch of this story if you haven't read my first book.

And, if you have not watched season 3 of the Legend of Korra, you might not understand this story either. So please either ask someone for a brief summary, or watch the legend of Korra season 3, most importantly.

Thanks, guys! I wouldn't have made it this far without you all.