It had been a day like any other. Kira had gotten up, had breakfast with her mother and father and went to school. They usually hugged her goodbye before she left but this time they didn't. They had barely looked at her that morning. Her mother busied herself and hardly spared a glance for her daughter while her father was as stone-faced as ever. Kira was confused but she didn't want to upset them by asking what was wrong.

As Kira walked into her usual classroom she was stopped by her teacher. "Kira, Headmaster Zin wants to speak with you before class starts."

"Why miss?" Kira asked unsurely, "Did I do something wrong?" All she got in return was a shrug before told to get a move on. She entered Headmaster Zin's office and sat in front of his desk as he instructed. They stared at one another for a few moments, like he was still thinking of what to say, so in an attempt to dispel the awkwardness Kira offered him a friendly smile. She knew she hadn't done anything wrong and so had nothing to fear.

Her smile seemed to catch him off guard and Kira couldn't quite place the look he gave her. It was guilt. "Kira," the man began, holding his hands in front of him as they rested on his desk. "We've received some troubling news about you."

"What do you mean sir?" Kira asked, swinging her legs idly on the chair. Had she forgotten some homework? She was sure they didn't have any last night and she always did it on time. Was it her behaviour? But she was always a good girl? "Am I in trouble?"

The man sighed. He had a sheet of parchment in front of him and as he glanced at it he had a distasteful look in his eyes. "Kira, it's about your mother and father," he began. He looked Kira in the eyes but then looked back down. Kira was even more confused now, what about her parents? "They...That is to say your father...Your real..." he looked like he had made up his mind about something. "Your parents had no say in what's about to happen."

"Sir?" Kira said inquisitively. Just then a knock came at the door before a large man let himself in. Kira craned her neck to look at him. His face was covered in black dust, like soot or something, and attached to a well worn and marked belt was a whip. Kira eyed the instrument with curiosity and perhaps a little fear.

"This the girl?" the man had a deep, raspy voice with a thick commoners accent much like her own. He sounded like he had spent most of his life inhaling whatever stained his face. It then dawned on her that it was probably coal dust.

"Yes, this is Kira," the headmaster sighed again before standing, "Kira, there's no easy way to say this so I'll be blunt. You're performance and behaviour in my school has been below even my most lenient of expectations," Kira furrowed her brow at him, that wasn't true she was the best student in her class. "In light of this, it has been decided you will be removed from school and...and..." he looked sad for a moment before hardening his gaze once again.

"You are being sent away to the coal mines where the gentleman behind you will have you Shamed."

"What?" Kira knew what that meant. It was done to the bad people who were forced to do the worst jobs. All her life it had been an idle threat, behave or you'll be Shamed, but never did she think it would happen to her. "No...wait sir...why are you lying?"

"Take her away," the Headmaster flicked his wrist towards the door and sat down, his head lowered so she couldn't see his face. Kira was pulled from her seat and dragged towards the door.

"Liar!" she cried out, "Liar! He's lying! Why are you lying? I'm a good girl please don't take me away!" They passed into the hall and several children were poking their heads out to see the commotion. "I want my mommy!" Kira cried loudly as tears formed in her eyes, "Let me go I didn't do anything. I want my mommy!"

"Quiet!" the man barked loudly, causing her cries to lower to quiet mumbles for help and her parents. Kira looked around as teachers corralled their students back into class before closing the doors. They were just letting it happen...even when she'd done nothing wrong...

At the front of the school was a carriage with a metal cage on it. It was empty but soon she filled it when the man lifted her in and bolted the door shut. Fear gripped her as the Ostrich Horses were made to start moving...

Zuko stepped out of the carriage that had brought him to the inner city. Rows of nice houses made it clear that this was a better part of the Capital, far from the poverty and desperation of the outskirts and slums and far better guarded. Even after glancing around only briefly, Zuko saw twice as many guards patrolling than anywhere else he had been.

"Another thing I have to change," Zuko had taken to writing down his plans but right now he didn't have the tools to do so. Instead, he walked towards a two-story manor decorated with bushes and flowers in the front garden. Turtle Ducks drifted lazily atop a pond in the afternoon sun and he smiled at them, he had always loved Turtle Ducks. "Oh," Zuko turned back to his driver, "Do you mind waiting, I won't be very long?"

"As you wish Lord Zuko," the man said with a bow. It was one of his guards and, like the rest, he had donned a lighter uniform better suited to the summer heat. He always wondered why the female uniform showed more skin though. He looked at the female guard beside him, gazing at her exposed midriff before he caught himself and looked ahead again.

"Checking me out Fire Lord?" the woman said in a teasing tone. Zuko chuckled, once again deciding whether allowing his staff to be so familiar was a good thing. It was though, of that he had no real doubt. When it came down to it he could trust his guards to be respectful and loyal when they needed to be.

"Just wondering if you'd prefer wearing a different uniform?" he said back, deciding to be honest. All he received was a small shrug so Zuko decided to put it out of his mind for the moment. No doubt it had been this way for generations.

He moved up a small set of stairs to stand on the doorstep then knocked loudly on the large wooden door. It took a moment for a portly older woman to greet them. At first, she was confused as to who was calling but then her eyes widened in shock when she saw first his scar and then his hairpiece.

"Fire Lord Zuko?" she exclaimed loudly, "My, what an honour!"

"I'm sorry to call unannounced," Zuko said with a small bow, "But is your husband home?"

"Zin?" she fumbled with the front of her dress nervously and looked behind her, "He's home, but why do you need to see him?"

"Do not question your Fire Lord!" the female guard spoke up but Zuko put a hand on her shoulder and she stepped back.

"He used to be headmaster of one of the city's schools before retiring last year, correct?" the woman nodded, "Then I must discuss something that happened a few years ago, I must insist." The woman then stepped aside and let Zuko in. When his guards tried to follow he stopped them. "Let's not intimidate our gracious hosts," Zuko told them, "Wait here."

The guards bowed and the door was closed on them. Zin's wife then indicated to a sitting room where an elderly man was reading a book. "Who is it dear?" he said without looking up.

"It's someone very important here to see you," she tried to get his attention, to make him look up, but he either didn't see or just ignored her. Zuko bent over to see the title of the book he was reading.

"Love Amongst The Dragons," he said with a pleasant smile, "One of my favourites."

Zin lowered his book and stared right at Zuko though his expression didn't change in the slightest. "Bring tea dear," he said to his wife, "Thank you." The old woman bowed and left. Zuko watched her go before sitting down opposite the old man. "So, what can I do for you Fire Lord Zuko?"

"I've come to discuss something that happened a few years ago," he said, "Something that you helped instigate."

"Headmaster Zin, I need to know why one of the children you swore to protect and educate was Shamed..."

The carriage moved out of the city and into the nearby countryside. They had been travelling for a couple of hours but only because navigating through the Capital was hard with a carriage. The large man got off his seat and moved to let Kira out. "Out," he snapped and Kira obeyed quickly. He took her by the wrist and dragged her towards what looked to be a cave. As she entered she began to see other people.

It was a mine and Kira was surprised to find kids among the adults. Some of the adults were dressed in suitable clothing while others, including all the children, were dressed in rags. Her clever mind picked up on the fact that only those with marks on their hands wore rags. They were Burakumin, she had been taught to recognise and shun them all her life.

"Get a brand ready, a small one," the man barked at one of the Burakumin workers who seemed to be toiling over a forge as he repaired picks and hammers. The ragged man wordlessly set about heating a long pole with something on the end of it. Kira squinted to see it in the dim light of the forge but she didn't understand what it said, only that it was the Burakumin brand. Her captor turned back to her. "Take off your clothes," he said simply, "All of them."

Kira shuffled nervously. "But people are looking?"

"And?" he folded his arms, "This is a Shaming so either you do it or I will."

Kira took a step back at his threat. Several men and women had stopped working to watch the situation play out. Would she obey on her own or would she be made to obey? "Why can't I wear my uniform?" Kira asked, "I need it for school." Several of the unmarked workers laughed at her question, as did her captor.

"Child, do you really think they'll let you go back to school when we burn the mark into your hand?" He stopped laughing. "If I have to ask you again then I'll start pulling out teeth!" As if to reinforce his threat he picked up a pair of callipers and hovered them menacingly close to her mouth. "Strip."

Kara couldn't stop herself from crying as she removed her uniform layer by layer. By the time she was naked, she was keenly aware of the eyes on her, from men and women alike. Next, she was moved towards the forge. "Hold her hand steady," her captor demanded and the man who had heated the forge made sure she couldn't move away.

"I'm sorry but this is going to hurt," he said to her quietly, "We've all been through this, all you need to do is breathe." Kira watched as the now burning hot iron was lifted from the furnace. Her eyes widened in fear as terror set in.

Without ceremony, the brand was brought down onto the back of her right hand and Kira screamed out in agony as her flesh burned...

"I see," Zin said to Zuko after he told him he had met Kira and taken her in. "You found little Kira then, I'm glad to hear she's alive."

"That means nothing coming from the man who ruined her life," Zuko said sternly, "Why did you have her Shamed?"

"She was performing poorly in school," he said back though even he didn't sound convinced. Just then his wife reappeared with hot cups of tea. When the tray was set down she placed a cup each in front of them before joining her husband on their sofa. "Thank you, dear," Zin said pleasantly.

"Thanks," Zuko also said before returning his gaze to Zin. "Does your wife know what you did, Zin?"

"That I had that girl Shamed," Zin looked at his wife who looked just as glum as he did at the mention of it, "Yes, I confide in her about most things as she does with me."

Zuko didn't even move to drink his tea, his guards would have a fit if they found out and he hadn't asked them to check it for poison. "I don't believe you that she was Shamed for poor performance in school," Zuko then said, "I demand you tell me the truth."

"Fire Lord Zuko it is beneath you to care about such things."

Zuko then stood up quickly and with a burst of flame, the cups shot off the wooden table which was also thrown to the side, smoking from the singed wood. "I will decide what I care about, Headmaster Zin, now I demand you tell me the truth!" Zuko hated himself for resorting to fear tactics. It reminded him too much of his father but he had been polite for long enough in front of this pathetic little man.

"Please Fire Lord, I can't!" Zin moved to beg in front of Zuko, his cool composure now lost as he whimpered at his feet. "The ones who called for her Shaming are powerful and dangerous."

"More dangerous than their Fire Lord?"

"Yes!" Zin said pleadingly, "Please Fire Lord, please do not press me for more." He put his head on the ground now and his wife followed suit. Zuko stared down at them and he now believed they were afraid for their lives. Zuko moved over to them.

"Rise," he told the older couple, "I apologise for my outburst." He held out a hand for Zin's wife which she took, allowing Zuko to help her get up again. "Is there anything you can tell me, anything at all?"

"She was a model student," Zin admitted, "I only lied about her performance to make her hate me and not those who raised her." Zuko raised an eyebrow at that statement.

"Those who raised her?" Zuko repeated, "Are you saying her parents aren't her birth parents?"

Zin went stiff when he realised he had let something slip. "Oh Agni," he said with a sigh.

"Just tell him, dear," Zin's wife put out suddenly, "There's no point in hiding it now."

"Yes, I suppose you're right." The couple sat back down and so did Zuko. "What I tell you cannot leave this room, if the wrong people get wind of it then we may very well be killed."

"I promise," Zuko said though deep down he knew this promise depended on what was said.

Zin looked thankful however and so began to speak. "I know very little of the situation but I was made aware that Kira is not simply the daughter of two soldiers," he stated, "While her mother is indeed her birth mother, the man she called her father is actually her adopted father."

"He came to me one evening and told me that Kira's mother was raped by her commanding officer and a high ranking noble no less." Zuko felt his stomach lurch at that revelation. This was the kind of abuse of power he didn't want to believe existed in the Fire Nation but it was a childish dream after all.

"The nobleman who fathered Kira knew of her existence but left her alone. When his wife gave birth to a legitimate child it seems he saw Kira as a threat, one who could claim his family's fortunes if she ever learned of her parentage."

"Kira's mother promised the girl would never be told but who were they to deny the command of a powerful noble?" he looked grimly at Zuko now. "Kira's adopted father asked me to be the one to have her Shamed. It was that or she would be killed."

"Though she is Burakumin the fact remains that Kira has noble blood."