During his time playing games online and serving in the police, there was one thing Akashi hated the most: steal-kill. It could take all of your experience points.
This might not seem related to the plan, but it's relevant in the grand scheme of things.
In the South Pole and the spirit realm, Akashi had initially planned to assassinate his future uncle-in-law. Or, better yet, let Korra deal with him while convincing her to keep the worlds separate—you know, if she linked the worlds, spiritual trees would grow from nowhere, and buildings and houses would be ruined. That's pretty much like ruining the whole real estate market.
But what if, during her fight with the Dark Avatar, someone interfered? And that someone would gain experience points and get stronger from victory.
So, Akashi came up with a plan. The end result would be him taking the kill, ripping the life away from his uncle-in-law—but only after he absorbs Vatuu and Korra gets him.
"What are you thinking of?" Korra asked, noticing how Akashi smiled widely.
"I'm excited to meet my in-laws," Akashi clapped his hands. "I heard your uncle is the chief of the Northern Water Tribe."
"That's correct," Korra nodded, smiling, clearly happy with the recognition.
"So, how is he like?" Akashi asked, wondering about her point of view. Because in canon, she trusted him too much.
"He's, let's say, reliable. A good person, spiritual, and was always nice to me. He used to take me everywhere with him when he visited, and I would play with my cousins at his house," she explained excitedly.
"Hmmm… Interesting," Akashi analyzed.
In canon, Korra seemed to admire only a few people, Tenzin and her uncle were one of them. And these guys visited occasionally.
He thought that for the lonely girl, Unalaq, her uncle, was her family. And she grew up to trust him and listen to his words.
She wouldn't see him as a villain until the very end and when there would be no denying it.
"We can arrange meetings, though. But be careful. He's quite spiritual. So, you may not get along," Korra said.
"I am an airbender, I think I'm spiritual," Akashi thumbed at himself.
"Most of your techniques are science-oriented. Even the sound waves thing you explained was something no other benders or the animals could think of," Korra waved her hand. "Even Tenzin says you think out of the box."
"So, have you tried the waves thing?" Akashi leaned to her and asked.
"I'm trying. It's more complicated than I thought. Each element is different. And I find controlling the waves in water easier," she admitted. "Anyways, I'm not here to talk about bending. I'm here to have some fun and meet my family."
"Okay."
As the cruise landed, they landed at the port. After crossing the bridge, Korra and Asami gave each other a hug, before waving their hands and walking in opposite directions. Asami was too hasty to finish talking to Varrick, so she may get back at the first chance possible to her home and have a good talk with her dad. He'd never hide things from his daughter again, and she would scold him good so he would understand that.
Arriving at the Southern Water Tribe city, Akashi walked while his eyes were on the sky most of the time. It was clear, even though lights filled the streets. Everywhere he went, there were colored tents with games and rewards in them. A large wheel and other games for kids to play with. And Korra was running between the tents. Akashi smiled at the childish behavior. He wondered when the last time was that he enjoyed these kinds of things before becoming numb to them.
"Akashi…"
Someone recognized him. Turning his head, he saw Tenzin's kids running, Ikki, Jinora, and Meelo, playing around.
"Hey, kids," Akashi smiled as they arrived at him. "You got taller than the last time. And Meelo is growing hair, I see."
"We're growing," Jinora said calmly, hands behind her back.
"Akashi… are you playing? Let's play together then," Ikki invited.
"I would love to, but the trip was exhausting and I'm still nauseous," Akashi lied. "But Korra seems to be fine, so, you can join her." Akashi pointed with his thumb toward Korra.
The kids went to greet Korra, and Akashi turned his head, finding Tenzin and Penma walking. Their youngest wasn't with them. It seemed that they left him with his grandma. If Akashi remembered correctly, it's Katara.
Akashi met them and exchanged a few words. Tenzin looked tired with dealing with his wife, kids, and mother. But Akashi sensed it was just an act.
Penma had some dark circles, considering that she had just had a newborn kid, who was half a year old now.
"So, how are you doing? I've heard you started doing business," asked Tenzin.
"Nothing much. Just managing my stuff and praying that everything goes well," Akashi sighed deeply. By the time he's here to earn experience, his staff in his restaurant, the managers he hired for his brewing company, and his bar and coffee shop, were self-managing. The thing that worried him the most was employee theft. That's why he wanted to get back and look through the documents.
Well, it's not like he couldn't go back, considering that he could fly fast.
"Don't worry. Everything will be alright," said Penma.
"I hope so," nodded Akashi.
Penma suddenly pointed her finger. "Oh, Akashi. Here are your in-laws."
"Penma!" Tenzin exclaimed, and Akashi turned his head, following her finger, to see Korra with an older version of her and a tall, bulky, tanned man who could compete in Mr. Olympia.
Korra laughed with them, gave them a hug, and then pointed to Akashi. The dad gave him a tight glare, while the mother just stared at him.
'Even after two lives, I still hate meeting with the girl's parents. Chief Beifong. I miss you.' Akashi thought. 'With you, I never have to go through bullshit.'
Akashi forced a smile and waved his hand at them, before walking to them. His heart beat faster, considering everything he would have to say and every possible response.
Before he said that talking to girls was hard and replying to their compliments was harder—that's only because he forgot talking to their parents.
"Akashi. Come over here. Let me introduce you to my parents," Korra cheered as she walked to Akashi, grabbed his hand, and dragged him.
"Hi," Akashi smiled as he extended his hand.
"Hello," her mother said.
Her father kept staring at him.
"Never thought that she'd bring a man home," said the father, looking at Akashi's extended hand. "What's your intention with my daughter?"
"Staying alive and avoiding her Avatar's state," Akashi joked. But his joke implied that he knew what he was getting into, and he wouldn't play with his daughter. Well, playing with his daughter was no different than playing with a hurricane in the middle of a volcano during an earthquake and tsunami.
Korra coughed and blushed.
The stiff face of Korra's father broke, a small smirk curving in the corner of his lips.
"Good response. I'm Tonaraq, nice to meet you," he shook Akashi's hand.
'That went well beyond expectation,' Akashi thought.
"So, let's get straight to this. You're my daughter's boyfriend," he said, "So, tell me what you do, what's your job. And are you good at bending?"
"Actually, Akashi here is my airbending mentor. Though, I can't say I'm good at it as him," said Korra.
"True. I used to be a sergeant. And now I'm an entrepreneur," Akashi said.
Both of the parents looked at each other before looking at him.
"What? did you stop being a sergeant?" The mother asked, clearly wanting to know why a cop stopped being a cop and if he had some issues that could be dangerous to her daughter.
"Retired to pursue my business career," Akashi replied, feeling that he stepped into an interrogation room. But well, he would only have to handle them while being in the South Pole. After that, he would be a continent away from them.
"Not bad," she approved.
Akashi moved his eyes to Korra, and she just shrugged.
People started making ways. Korra pointed a finger, saying, "Uncle is here."
"Uncle-in-law?" Akashi turned.