11 - Weaver Queen

A week had passed since the strange event at the Scarlet Rose. Like he promised, Kazir left her this time alone to rest -- or, more likely, to stew. Asami didn't have to go to work or to handle those dreadful housemaid chores, she just stayed home. It was a very strange situation to be in, Hatsunaga called it "paid leave". What a ludicrous idea! What was next, "sick leave", "maternity leave", "sabbatical", "public holidays"?

Why would workers ever want "paid leave", when working was such a rewarding experience? For Asami, it meant circling around in her tiny apartment, the same way her brain was spiraling with the same questions, over and over. "Paid leave", what crazy talk! Her father would've never accepted such nonsense in his company back when he managed it.

Then again, her dad was a terrorist sympathizer who planned for a coup and it turned out most of the technology he was famous for inventing was actually stolen; he was hardly a role model to follow after... Huh, all things considered, perhaps there was something worth exploring in this "paid leave" concept.

Whatever, this wasn't what kept Asami awake at night these days. What did was the choice Hatsunaga said he'd present her with on the final night of her term as his plaything. The dark-haired girl first imagined it'd be yet another ordeal of his making, but the way he spoke of her family's legacy, of the fact she could "decide to rule an empire" seemed to indicate he had something different in mind. And not being able to know what it was turning her mad! God, even when her awful boss wasn't here, he was all she could think about. This was infuriating!

On the final day of her wager, Asami received a package looking very similar to the one she retrieved from Kazir's desk the previous time. She immediately feared he'd once again ask her to dress in something silly or outrageous, and she wasn't wrong. However, what she found inside wasn't some scanty apparel. It was a luxurious red kimono with gold lotus pattern, as well as metallic gold chrysanthemum ornaments for her long black hair. She was amazed by the quality of the fabric, this was excellent craftsmanship.

However, alongside this traditional attire was a very modern black garter belt and stockings -- because of course Kazir was going to find a way to make even a tasteful costume slutty. At the bottom of the box, she found a scarlet envelope with and invitation to a cocktail party at her family's former mansion. Swallowing her pride for the hundredth time, Asami let out a heavy sigh and peeled off her clothes to put on her boss' costume.

"I admit it's... not what I expected," she said to herself, while looking at her reflection in the mirror. "After that stupid bunny girl costume and those wardrobe changes at work, this feels different. Still nowhere near acceptable, but... different."

This was unacceptable because, despite their obvious refinement, Asami knew what those clothes meant in the Fire Nation; what story they told. This wasn't a gift, it was just another one of Hatsunaga's mind games, or perhaps a test. Whichever it was, the young heiress had to decide whether she'd walk into that cocktail party feeling ashamed of wearing this attire, or be unabashed and own it.

Asami was tired. She was done letting Kazir have his way. She was done feeling embarrassed or humiliated by things she had no control over.

Fuck him, and fuck his costume. Tonight, she was going to own it.

***

Later that evening, Asami arrived at her former home and crossed the threshold of the main hall, which Kazir had turned into an opulent ballroom. The ambient noise of clinking champagne flutes and corporate chatter filled the air, and red lanterns cast twisted shadows over the sea of suits and cocktail dresses. The Sato estate had changed a lot, it was nearly unrecognizable now. Even as she walked in the hall where she used to play as a child, Asami felt like a stranger in a strange land.

The silk of her crimson kimono shimmered under the lanterns' tumbling lights as she glided into the crowd. Despite the intimidating grandeur of the event, her expression remained confident. Her shiny black hair was styled elegantly, and she carried herself with grace. It was far from being her first cocktail party. Being the Sato heiress, Asami had basically been born and grown in these fancy events. While she used to love them when she was little, she understood later in life that her father's guests were less friends than they were a nest of vipers.

All of Republic City's highest officials were present. Chief of police Lin Beifong, Chairman Tenzin, as well as every single councilman and councilwoman of the United Republic Council governing the city. Those people avoided her like the plague after she fell from grace, but something changed when they saw her walk in. They'd gotten used to seeing her act as a servant, either as Hatsunaga's secretary or as his maid. But tonight, it was clear she was here as a guest. Her social status wasn't clear to them anymore, and that made people either curious or wary. The slight hint of concern she noticed in many eyes pleased Asami. It was a sign that, even after all this time, they remembered what the Sato name meant in this city once.

Many heads -- especially men's -- turned in her direction. Asami could hardly blame them, and she didn't entirely mind being the center of attention. Her body language radiated poise and control, and this kimono was very form-fitting. It accentuated every curve, which made it all the more alluring on a conventionally attractive woman like herself.

Catching her reflection in the window, she stared at the striking image in the glass. Damn. She was simply on fire, wearing this!

Her introspection was cut short by a wolf whistle near her. The young dark-haired girl turned around and found herself face to face with Kazir Hatsunaga and Mr. Cai. Her lecherous boss was openly ogling at her dress, and his associate was doing the same, though in a less blatant manner. Heat rose to her cheeks. Asami was unsure whether it was because of embarrassment, annoyance or an... unexpected flush of flattery.

Nah, definitely not the latter.

"How kind of you to bless us with your presence, Ms. Sato," Kazir said, with a wry smile. "And I see you dressed for the occasion."

Asami would've loved to tell him she looked far better than he ever could, but despite the fact she resented him, she had to admit the man from the Fire Nation was looking particularly sharp in this dark-grey suit. Furthermore, it wasn't a smart idea to antagonize him in public. Who knew what this maniac was capable of?

"Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Hatsunaga," she replied graciously, bringing her red fan over her lips. "This venue is absolutely breathtaking, though I admit I preferred this space in its... earlier arrangements."

The irony in her words wasn't lost on him, but Mr. Cai spoke before he could answer.

"That's an interesting dress you're wearing, Ms. Sato, very traditional. It's uncommon in this day and age. You're making a few heads spin, but perhaps that is your aim."

Remembering how her father's former right-hand man recognized her at the Scarlet Rose the week prior, Asami felt her confidence dwindle for a second. But she pushed through, refusing to cave in.

"It's called taking a fashion risk, Mr. Cai, not that a man your age would understand what it means. As for making head spins, women shouldn't have to stop wearing what they like just because some men can't control themselves," Asami replied sharply, tossing a lack of black hair over her shoulder. "Men are such weak creatures, so easily dominated by their baser instincts. Some even mistake women for preys..."

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to be inconsiderate," Mr. Cai replied, taken off-guard by her retort. "It's simply that the clothes you're wearing are outdated, even in the Fire Nation."

"Perhaps it's a statement about the immutability of certain things," Kazir pointed out. "Fashion may change, but some things do not. This kind of garment was worn at the Fire Lord's court, and while you may not see it, Mr. Cai, this Republic City works just the same."

"How so? We're not a monarchy, unlike the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation."

"And yet none of the United Republic Council's members are elected, and most officials earned their positions through nepotism," Kazir continued. "Nobles still roam this city which so proudly calls itself a republic, they just go about with different titles. Like "Chief of Police", "Councilman"..."

"'Head of Hastunaga Industries'?" Asami added, almost innocently.

The young heiress fanned her face with slow delicate movements, her green eyes gleaming with mischief. But instead of being offended, this brought a smile to Hatsunaga's face.

"Yes, that too," he nodded.

Mr. Cai noticed the unspoken tension between the two. Being the sly man he was, he understood his presence wasn't required anymore, and he faded away into the crowd. Now alone, Asami saw the way Kazir's gaze lingered on her attire. A soft blush crept up her neck, but she maintained her composure. While she hated being objectified, there was a certain thrill in knowing she was desired. Even surrounded by men and women who dressed to impress, she was in a league of her own.

However, the lavishness of her kimono did not make its historical significance any less tolerable.

"A 'garment worn at the Fire Lord's court'," she repeated, with a scoff. "That's a polite way to put it. The red and golden kimonos were worn by the Fire Lord's concubines, back when the country didn't have laws regarding monogamy. You think I don't know what this dress means? By making me wear this, you're labeling me as part of your personal harem."

"I'm impressed by your knowledge and culture, Ms. Sato. But you needn't worry. I have no harem, nor do I need one."

"Yes, as it turns out I'm not just a dumb heiress or an engineer, I know my history too. My family came from the Fire Nation before my parents moved to Republic City."

"Don't I know it..." Kazir said, with a mysterious darkness in his eyes.

Asami wasn't sure what he meant by that, but it wasn't important at the moment.

"You think you slighted me by making me dress in this concubine kimono?" she asked, baring her teeth. "If you know the History of our country half as well as I do, you must also know there's power in it. Remember the legend of the Weaver Queen? She was the Fire Lord Jao's favorite, so much so that he neglected his official wife and all of his other concubines. She ruled the Fire Nation in all but name for half a century, all from the Fire Lord's marital bed. Jao had to crawl in it every night, hoping and begging for crumbs of her affection."

"And is that how you see yourself tonight, Ms. Sato? As the Weaver Queen reborn?"

They were currently near a window leading to darkness, away from prying eyes. Seizing the opportunity, Asami bent her knee slightly and swayed her hip so as to open the side of her red kimono. Doing so, she revealed the black garter belt she was wearing underneath, as well as her black laced underwear.

She put both her hands on her waist, taking a confident pose and feeling an exhilarating thrill as she taunted him shamelessly. There was definitely something to that costume. The surge of self-assurance she gained from it had completely washed away the dread she'd carried all week about this last appointment.

"Oh, I'm a Weaver Queen alright," the young heiress smirked, her voice unwavering and defiant. "Take a get a good final look, Hatsunaga, because in about three hours, you'll never get to touch me ever again. No matter how much you beg, no matter how much you crawl like Fire Lord Jao did... I'll forever be unattainable to you, like a dove flying above a toad."

His grip tensed on his crystal glass, to the point she feared he'd break it. He gazed intensely at the strap of her garter belt, at this glimpse of her pale leg; he looked mesmerized. The Weaver Queen spell was definitely working on him.

"We've had our fun, you and I. Haven't we, Ms. Sato?" he finally said, drinking a sip of Mijiu.

The sudden distance in his words caught Asami off guard. It's not like she expected him to lunge at her to kiss her or to disrobe her in public, but... really, that was it? She closed her kimono before anyone noticed.

"No, we have not," she replied cuttingly, her voice low amidst the chatter of the party. "You've been torturing me for a month, and the ordeal will soon come to an end. I just have to survive whatever you planned for a few more hours, and I'll finally be free of you. Good riddance."

"You wound me, but you're right. We have so little time left together. Let's make the most of tonight, shall we?"

The 'most of tonight'? Oh, she did not like the sound of that at all. It meant that the real event he invited her for tonight was about to start, and perhaps she'd been too bold, taunting him beforehand. However, instead of dragging her to a secluded room or grabbing her by the waist and making her dance at the center of the room to show all of his guests that his secretary was his to play with, Kazir turned on his heels and went back into the crowd.

"I'll see you later. Do enjoy my party, Ms. Sato," he said, without looking back.

Asami remained frozen in place. Wait, "later"? But... didn't he understand what she just told him? That in handful of hours, the wager would be completed, and that she'd no longer be his plaything? After a whole week without seeing each other, wasn't he going to use this last occasion to torment her or to use her body for pleasure? It's not like she wanted this to happen or anything, but... she'd come prepared for everything tonight. Except this! Expect disinterest!

After making her dress so scandalously, he was choosing his guests over her. This was so anticlimactic. She hated the fact that made her jealous, but it did. It really, really fucking did!

"You pompous prick, what are you playing at, exactly?" Asami muttered to herself, hiding her resentment behind her red fan.

Suddenly, she spotted her former boyfriend Mako in the crowd. It was unusual for a mere policeman to be invited to such an event, but Kazir seemed to have taken a liking to him that time he... came to his office while she was giving him a blowjob under the desk. Ugh, another great memory with her boss, huh?

Mako was standing next to a young woman dressed in the style of the Earth Kingdom. He mentioned he started dating a coworker of his, that was probably her. After some hesitation, the dark-haired girl weaved through the crowd of socialites to reach them.

"Oh, hey Asami!" Mako said, with a big warm smile. "It's so great to see you again, and your costume is... just, wow. I don't have the words."

If Kazir kept his fascination of her red kimono slightly contained, Mako did not. He was in complete awe of how stylish and sexy it was, and the woman next to him had to nudge him to remind him it was bad to stare.

Yeesh, Asami forgot how bad he was at social interactions, sometimes. Ogling at his ex's outfit while his new girlfriend was right next to him was not smooth; the policewoman from the Earth Kingdom looked legitimately jealous. She was by no means a bad-looking girl, but it was hard to compete when Asami's allure dominated the ballroom ever since she walked in.

"Oh, huh, forgive me," Mako said, understanding he messed up. "Let me introduce you to Kyoshe. She's my coworker at the police department and... well, my date tonight!"

"I'm not your 'date', Mako," the young woman corrected him, dryly. "We've been in a relationship for the past six months."

"Y-Yes, yes, sorry. Not my date, my girlfriend. My very serious, very lovely girlfriend."

Yikes, this felt like watching a man dig his own grave... Whatever, she didn't come to discuss his love life.

"Look, Mako, I came to you because I need you," Asami said, trying to keep her voice low. "I know we haven't seen each other a lot since my father was put in jail and, well, our break up. But we're still good friends, right? And I could use a friend right now. There are some things about Kazir Hatsunaga that you don't know. Things that could be of great interest to the police department..."

Mako was all ears, but Kyoshe suddenly handed her empty glass over to him.

"Mako, could you be a dear and go fetch us some drinks? I'm thirsty," she said.

"But... It sounds like Asami has something important to tell me."

"Yes, but it's work-related. I also work for the police department, if you recall. She can tell me everything."

Mako hesitated for a few seconds, looking successively at Asami and Kyoshe, but he ended up nodding before taking their glasses and walking to the bar. Honestly, it was a smart move on his part after his earlier blunder, though it made it quite clear who wore the pants in their relationship.

Asami would've preferred to disclose all of this to someone she trusted, but Kyoshe was also a cop. And cops always helped when women came forward regarding sexual harassment cases, right? Yeah, definitely. They weren't delusional psychos thinking their badge made them part-time Gods allowed to do whatever they wanted, they could always be trusted. Always.

"Okay, so the thing is, Hatsunaga isn't what he seems, at all," she said, looking around to make sure her boss and his associates weren't looking their way. "He pretends to be this eccentric businessman, but there's a darker side to him. He made me accept a strange wager a month ago, and ever since, he's been..."

Asami was speaking, but Kyoshe didn't seem to be listening. She looked at her coldly, almost with disgust.

"You think I don't know girls like you?" she abruptly cut her off. "Girls who get all cozy with their boss to get ahead, then start crying to the police when they get burned? Girls who leave good people like Mako behind and reach out only when they can use to them?"

Wait, what? What kind of victim blaming bullshit was this? She thought policemen were trustworthy, but it seems law enforcement wasn't particularly good at handling sexual harassment and abuse cases. Who could've seen it coming?

"O-Okay, look, I think you've got the wrong idea about me," Asami replied, taking a step back. "It's not because I'm your boyfriend's ex that I'm trying to 'use him' or to get back with him. As for Hatsunaga, I'm certainly not trying to 'get all cozy with my boss'!"

"Nope, I'm not falling for that. You think you can just dress in a slutty kimono and then complain about your boss acting inappropriately around you? Be the belle of the ball before playing the lady in distress to Mako? I know who you are, Asami Sato, we all do," Kyoshe replied, insisting on her last name. "Everyone here knows what your family has done to this city."

Oh, so that's what it was. This wasn't just a fit of jealousy or a systemic problem in law enforcement -- though it definitely didn't help -- this was about her name, her legacy, her father. It didn't come as a surprise to Asami; the only reason people respected Hiroshi Sato was because of his influence and because of the fear he inspired.

Now that the mighty head of Future Industries had fallen, and her along with him, the Satos were hated and mocked. The fact she helped Avatar Korra stop his terrorist coup meant nothing to Kyoshe, nor did it matter to the other guests in this room. In their eyes, she'd always be a Sato, with all the baggage that came with this name.

What did Kazir tell her, again? That she had to "become a woman who understands the world". Well, it seemed the world had a pretty clear idea of what kind of person she was; and that person would never be a victim. To everyone, she was an heiress, someone who never earned her place in society. She'd always be considered a fraud, someone to condemn or make fun of in private conversations. Whatever she achieved throughout her life, everyone would constantly remind her she was here because of her father's wealth, and nothing more. Despite being the one who put him in jail, she'd have to carry his sins.

Now, Asami had two options: either to spend her life excusing herself for who she was, or to own it. And once again, she decided to own it.

"You dare speak to me this way because you think I'm a ruined heiress, a secretary with too much debt to her name," she said, straightening her stance to tower over the policewoman. "But tread carefully now, girl. Remember who you're speaking to. Us Satos have our way to get back on top, especially when everyone thinks we've fallen. You'd be smart not to make an enemy of me..."

Kyoshe shivered, and this time around she was the one who took a step back. The change in the young heiress' attitude was frightening. There was something snake-like, spider-like in the way she talked and stared at her. Her beauty had turned into something dangerous, venomous.

"I'm... I'm a law enforcement officer, you have no right to threaten me..." she muffled, weakly.

"You think your little badge protects you from me?" Asami snapped, looking down on her from all her grandeur. "Don't be mistaken, I may have put him behind bars, but I'm still very much my father's daughter. A Sato I am, and a Sato I'll remain. And Satos don't just roll with the punches. We strike and strike and strike until our opponent lies bleeding in the dirt. We've built this city with sweat and blood. Our sweat, but never our blood..."

The policewoman made herself as small as possible, and Asami realized the strength and power she retained, even in the precarious situation she was. Despite all of Hatsunaga's humiliating games, her name still carried weight around here. Kyoshe was relieved when Mako came back with their glasses, and she nearly hid behind his back to shield herself. The young policeman gave one glass to each of them, surprised to see the vibe had tensed in his absence.

"So, did you tell her about that... thing regarding your boss, Asami?" he asked, confused.

"That's no longer necessary. I'm a big girl, I'll handle it on my own," she replied, cuttingly. "Take your little girlfriend home, Mako. I don't think she feels at ease, playing in the big leagues."

The young heiress turned on her heels and left the couple behind. She'd been wrong, thinking she needed anyone's help. Big things were going to be settled tonight, and she didn't want any interference. Hatsunaga told her she'd have the choice either to let the Sato name vanish and lead a quiet life, or to sacrifice a part of her to live at the top, surrounded by wolves.

But then again, why would Asami be afraid of living surrounded by her own kind?