I am released from the hospital after about a week. The nurse has been very kind to me and has made me a hood with a face covering attached to it so that only my shadowed eyes show. I am grateful to her but can't help being frustrated that she shrugs off any attempt I make at explaining how the fire really started with "I know you're upset about this, but you're just confused, if he was the last thing you saw before you passed out I can understand why you think he was the one who started the fire."

I walk down the street and try to breathe the fresh air through my face covering, but the cloth is damp with my breath and hot. I am tempted to pull it up and take a few untainted gulps but I would rather not have people seeing what lies beneath. I walk on for a couple more minutes then, unable to stand the hot suffocation any longer, I step in between a big sign filled with various advertisements and the wall and pull the mouth part up. After some minutes of drinking in the cool refreshing air, I put it back down and sigh, it's warm still. I don't know how long I'll be able to keep it down this time.

I step out from behind the big sign and, for lack of anything better to do, start reading the different things that are on it.

"Ember Island Players come to Republic City! See them perform tonight at 8:00!"

"Edlin Brothers Detective Agency! Open All Hours!"

"Narook's Noodlery! Grand Opening! Everything Half Price! Today Only!"

But one unparticular stands out to me: "How is it done? Learn chi-blocking from Ty-lee! For benders and non! A limited time only!"

Learn chi-blocking?! This sounds like a perfect opportunity! But where am I supposed to come up the money? I don't have any. I don't have anything for that matter. No money, no home, no family, not even a face. I look at my feet, what am I supposed to do? I haven't thought about that yet. Maybe the chi- blocking place needs a janitor and maybe they have a place for that janitor to stay. It's a long shot, but I may as well try.

I don't have anything else to do or anywhere else to go, so I decide to head over there immediately. I find the location written on it and go to a gym building that's for rent. Well, not currently. I walk inside and go over to the counter.

"Excuse me?" My muffled voice comes through the cloth and alerts the man sitting at the desk.

He peers over the counter at me. "May I help you?"

"Yes," I resist the urge to pull my face covering up so that I can talk more properly. "Can I sign up for the chi-blocking classes?"

"Yea, of course. Name?"

I wonder if I should give my real name, I don't think there's any harm in it. "Solu."

He looks at me. "Wait, you're that kid who lost his face in the house fire, aren't you?"

I redden, but whether it is in anger or embarrassment, I don't know. "Yes."

"Could I-uh..." He glances around nervously. "...see your face?"

My eyes flash indignantly, not that he can see them. "NO!" It wasn't a yell, more of a growl, or a snarl.

"Oh, sorry," He seems to realize how offended I am. "Anyway, about those classes, do you plan on taking them all or just a few?"

"All of them, but...um-there's one little problem, I don't have any money to pay for it."

"You don't expect us to give them to you for free do you?"

"No, I was actually thinking I could do some work here, if that's needed. And, I-I also don't have any place to stay."

He stares at me for a long moment, pity and uncertainty written all over his face. "I will, ask my boss if something can be worked out. Come back in about an hour and I should have an answer for you."

"Thanks," I walk out.

An hour later I re-enter the building. I have nothing else to do so I am right on time. The man is not at his desk. I glance around and see an open door. He emerges from it after a moment.

"Uuuh, you're back."

"Yea, you told me to-"

"I know, I know, I just wasn't expecting you to be so on time."

I shrug. "What did he say?"

"She actually," He corrects me, "Ty-lee, said it would be alright for now, but don't go inviting all your friends to come over, your case is special. Since, you know, you don't, really, have anything..."

"Yea," I put my hand to my face, I feel for a moment like Firelord Zuko, he had a scarred face and no family. Except that his family wasn't dead, and he is a bender. I am not like any bender.

"Don't worry, I won't. What do I do first?"

He starts out giving me a tour of the place and it turns out they already made me up a room. It's getting late so he tells me to get some sleep and I'll start in the morning.