Katara looked down at Zuko. His face had gone beet red, not unlike the face of a man who had been interrupted doing something no one else needed to see. Katara's eyes travelled down to Zuko's lap, fixing upon the little girl who appeared to be sound asleep.
"I can explain!" Zuko said quickly. He wanted to get up but every time he tried he found himself feeling guilty at just the thought of waking Kira up. It had taken weeks but she was finally able to relax during the day instead of worrying that she should be working. He kept on sitting and instead met Azula's eyes with his own.
"This is Kira," Zuko explained with a firm voice and serious glare, "My ward."
"You're what?!" Azula's hands were at her side, fists clenched so hard her skin went even whiter. "Don't tell me you plucked some orphan off the street?" When Zuko didn't answer Azula gave a very forced laugh. "Zuko you're the Fire Lord and that means you can't just go around picking up kids and bringing them home. What would people think?"
"I'm well aware of what people will think," Zuko snapped back. He had been accused of bedding Kira on more than one occasion simply because he was the Fire Lord.
Kira suddenly stirred on his lap and her eyes fluttered open. A look of confusion spread on her face as she tried to make sense of where she was but smiled when she saw Zuko looking down on her. When she sat up she didn't notice Katara or Azula at first but after a long yawn she turned her head towards the open door and her eyes went wide. In a split second she had scuttled on all fours to hide behind Zuko, only daring to peek over his shoulder but nothing more.
Zuko laughed. "Kira, I'd like you to meet my sisters," he told her gently, his voice was softer than either Katara or Azula had ever heard before.
"Is that Princess Azula?" she whispered from behind him and Zuko nodded. "So that must be?" Her eyes went wide again. "Katara!?" Zuko was well aware of how Kira idolised Katara but he only then realised how much more special this surprise visit had just become.
"Want to say hi?" Zuko then offered.
"No way, why would she wanna speak to a Shamed kid?"
"I like speaking with you and I'm the Fire Lord, why should Katara be any different?"
His logic won out and Kira very nearly rushed towards her idol but at the last second, she restrained herself and simply walked up to them slowly, hands clasped nervously in front of her. Azula's eyes quickly found the brand and though she was about to say something she felt Katara squeeze her shoulder.
"She's just a child," Katara said softly as she too stared at the brand, "That mark doesn't mean a thing." Azula nodded and did her best to not react as the girl approached but was surprised when she was ignored completely. Kira stopped right in front of Katara who gave the little girl her usual friendly smile.
Kira was blushing. Her lips were pressed so tightly together she looked like she was wearing white paint on them and her small shoulders seemed to quiver with nerves. Katara waited patiently for the child to speak. When her mouth opened only a small squeak escaped but then she took a deep breath and said.
"Thanks for the cup!"
To say that she 'said' this is an understatement. Her words came out in a loud shout, one that startled the three adults and even caused Iroh, who was sitting in his lounge at the other end of the house, to jolt awake from the nap he had been enjoying.
Katara's smile changed from friendly to confused. "Excuse me?" she asked politely...
Kira watched as Katara bent the hot tea from her mug. Her eyes seemed to glow in astonishment as she witnessed her very first act of Waterbending. Katara skilfully looped the tea around Kira's head, who craned her neck to keep it in her sight, before bringing it back down into the mug. Kira was still using Katara's mug, who had decided to let her keep it but Kira had insisted that they share it.
"Wow!" Kira exclaimed with excitement when the tea was guided back into the mug, "That was amazing!"
"You should see a real Master at work," Katara said, a slight note of sadness in her voice, "All I know is from some old scrolls and the rest is self-taught."
"I bet you could beat any Waterbender in a fight!" Kira said with confidence, "You're the greatest Burakumin who ever lived!"
"Kira, I've told you a thousand times that Katara isn't Burakumin," Zuko said with a heavy sigh. Azula raised an eyebrow at her brother. "Long story," he said to her.
"She was though!" Kira said stubbornly.
"Well, maybe I was for a time?" Katara put out, "My first year in the Palace wasn't easy."
"No love, you were my servant."
"I recall you calling me your slave?" Azula blushed at the remark, still embarrassed by her childhood behaviour.
"Wow, that's worse than being Shamed!" Kira said to them.
"Let's just move on," Iroh finally spoke up. "Whatever the similarities we can all agree that, be you a prisoner of war, slave or Burakumin, neither title is worth bragging about."
"Which is precisely why I've been trying to change things around here," Zuko then said, "I know the stigma runs deep but I hope the majority of my subjects will welcome the Shamed back into their lives with open arms."
"Speaking of their lives," Azula looked back at Zuko now, "That building near the centre of the city, one of the guards said it was a school for the Shamed children?"
"I think it's a wonderful idea," Katara added.
"I wish more people did," Zuko said glumly, "I received a petition with signatures from several community leaders among the nobility and lower classes to stop construction until a better use for the land can be decided over giving it to the 'Unclean'," Zuko almost growled out the last word, "I burned it myself."
Azula clicked her tongue and shook her head. "You might regret that if they feel you aren't listening," Azula warned him, "Your offering charity for people who are seen as lesser by even the poor but then what of the poor themselves? What are they to think if you put a lesser caste before them?"
"The Burakumin are poor Azula, poorer than poor, most don't even have homes."
"And do you think a beggar sleeps in an alleyway out of choice?" Azula fixed Zuko with a steely gaze, "I'm not against housing the Burakumin or giving them a proper chance at a better life but the poor need their Fire Lord too, more so after the earthquake."
Zuko was surprised when Iroh hummed in agreement and no matter how much he tried to rebuke her, he realised she was right. There were children among the lower classes who probably lived worse than the Burakumin. At least the Burakumin did the jobs people still considered unsavoury and there was no shortage of those he had found. He sighed heavily and looked over at Kira as she watched Katara perform more Waterbending tricks.
Kira was a good girl. She had an amazing work ethic that would put most adults to shame but at the end of the day, learning this trait had robbed her of her childhood. Children needed to play and learn among other children instead of working but that just wasn't always the case. He knew that the children of poor families didn't go to school and instead worked in their parent's trades. If they were lucky they'd apprentice to a middle-class merchant when they came of age but more often than not they were stuck with their lot in life.
And he had been prepared to ignore them.
"Thank you, Azula," Zuko said humbly, offering her a small smile which she returned, "As always, you're right, and I still have so much to learn."
"Well of course I'm right," she said with a shrug, "But what will you do now, Fire Lord?"
The War Room was more full than usual today. Pai Min and Lee were in attendance while Piandao was still miles away tending to his personal affairs at home. This time, his Uncle Iroh and Azula sat with the Generals along with a handful of the community leaders who had signed the petition against the school.
Uncle Iroh had managed to gather those he could find within a few hours. "No doubt they think they've convinced me to stop construction," Zuko thought to himself, "I almost can't wait to dash those hopes." A wicked smile must have crossed his lips as he spotted Azula staring at him, shaking her head with a disapproving glare. Zuko wiped the grin off his face before anyone noticed and cleared his throat.
The chatter in the room died down slowly and Zuko finally spoke. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Zuko felt he said that a lot now but in truth, these men and women had no choice but to attend. Still, it made him feel better. "Last week I gave an announcement that had...unfavourable reactions."
Throwing fire at him and Kira was more like assassination than a petty disagreement but he had decided to not imprison or execute the attackers that had been caught on the day. No doubt they'd strike again but tensions were high enough without giving the dissenters martyrs to rally around.
"I trust the Fire Lord has come to his senses then?" said the familiar voice of Zhu Fa, the noble who had first spoken out against him at the announcement. Zuko had no doubt he had been among those who had attacked him on that day but he had no real proof.
"I've been convinced that focusing purely on the plight of the Burakumin is unwise," Zuko relented, earning an annoying grin from the man, "But understand this, I have not given up on them."
"Then why are we here?" said a new voice. An old woman who wore clothing typically donned by the middle class. Merchants and business owners mostly filled this group while the lower class were labourers, dockworkers and the like.
"Let me answer with you a question," Zuko stated, not really asking, "Did your children go to school?"
"Yes, of course, it wouldn't do for them to be illiterate if they are to inherit the family business one day," she told him.
Zuko then glanced around the room and his eyes fixed on someone else. He looked to be middle-aged and was wearing clothing that was barely acceptable for a court appearance. There was dirt caked in under his fingernails and even in his skin which told Zuko that he was of the lower class.
"Can I ask your name?" Zuko said politely and the man looked around, obviously thinking he was speaking to someone more important.
"Y-Yin, Fire Lord Zuko," he said nervously.
"Do you have children, Yin?" he nodded, "Do they go to school?"
"No Fire Lord Zuko," he said with a sad look, "We barely make enough money as it is."
Zuko nodded his thanks before addressing the room again. "I realise now I almost made a stupid mistake in focusing entirely on the Burakumin, I saw them as people who needed me more than any other group but despite my good intentions my reasoning was flawed." He indicated to Yin, "Thanks to some sound advice I've realised I can't just focus on the Burakumin and must now include those who can't even afford to let their children be children. The construction of the school will continue but its doors will be opened to children from all walks of life."
"You expect us to let our children mingle with the Unclean now?" Zhu Fa spoke up angrily, "It was bad enough that you wanted to waste resources on educating those animals."
"Zhu Fa, you've made your disdain for the Burakumin very clear," Azula spoke up in Zuko's place, "Now, I'm sure the Fire Lord would appreciate it if you stayed quiet until you are invited to speak, understood?" For a brief moment, Zhu Fa looked furious but Azula kept her eyes on the man until he finally looked away with an angry grumble.
Zuko felt like they had won a small victory in just silencing the fool. "As I was saying."
"Under my rule, I will not allow Fire Nation children to be denied an education," he stated, "Even now the Fire Nation prospers, even more so after the war, so I will see that any family who sends their children to the school is given a monthly stipend until their children are old enough to strike out on their own."
"For a hundred years the Fire Nation waged a war on the backs of its hard-working citizens, namely its working classes, and I feel it is time we gave back what is owed."
"For the good of your children, I must urge those who represent the poor and displaced to forget the Old Ways and find a way to live with the Burakumin. They are people, like you or me." Zuko spared a sideways glance at Zhu Fa. As expected, the man was red in the face. He dearly hoped he didn't kill himself like Jinn had even if it would remove him as a problem.
"Just so we're clear, this is not an order but an invitation to make the Fire Nation a more welcoming place, one where we can all live freely and without fear of prejudice."
"I know I've spent the better part of my reign dealing with the other nations but I promise, here and now, that your Fire Lord will put his people before all else. Regardless of background or status."
"I am here to serve you, not the other way around." Zuko then moved to prostrate himself before the room. He felt that by humbling himself he would prove his sincerity. That those gathered might be more inclined to believe his vision...
Kira watched as Azula, Iroh and Zuko left the house. She had wanted to go with them but Zuko had said it was too risky and had been instructed to stay with Katara. Then it hit her. She would be alone with her hero! The second the door slid shut, Kira grabbed Katara's hand.
"Come see my room!" she said eagerly. Katara smiled as she let the girl drag her through the house. They even passed her old room which, much to her delight, was entirely unchanged. Kira slid open the door to her room and spread her arms out. All in all, it was pretty bare. There was a bed opposite the door with an empty bookcase at one side of the room and an undecorated chest of drawers opposite that and a single window.
"Isn't it amazing?" Kira said excitedly, "Can you believe I get to sleep here?!"
Katara felt her heart hurt at Kira's genuine excitement over getting to sleep in a real bed like it was the height of luxury. She forced the feeling down and instead smiled happily. "That's amazing!" she said. Katara walked over to the bookshelf. "Why don't you ask Zuko for some books?"
"I don't need them though?" Kira said back.
"Can you not read?"
Kira shrugged her shoulders. "I can but I haven't needed to do it in a while," she told Katara.
Katara could understand that much. Kira had told her that she had spent at least two years living hand to mouth. Living only to work jobs deemed appropriate for someone with her brand. Katara had considered trying to heal it but, like with Zuko's scar, it was too old. The Northern Water Tribe had their spirit water but there was no way they'd part with any for a foreigner, much less a Fire National.
"Did you know Uncle Iroh has a library filled with books?" Katara told Kira who nodded, "Why don't we go and see how much you remember?"
Even if she didn't want to, Kira was more than happy to just be beside Katara. As it happened, Kira picked up reading and writing quite quickly. Yes her penmanship was untidy but at least she could do it. There was no doubt in Katara's mind that the school would help this little girl immensely and perhaps give her a better future.
Just as the sun was setting and their thoughts turned towards dinner, Zuko, Azula and Iroh arrived back from their meeting. Zuko looked exhausted though the smile he wore told Katara that things had probably gone well. Azula kissed Katara in the hallway, holding her tightly and seeming to steadily relax in her lover's embrace.
"How'd it go?" Katara asked gingerly, trying not to sound too eager to wrest what information she could get from Azula.
"Better than expected," Azula said happily, "The nobility hate the idea of course but when Zuko promised to support poor families so that their children can attend school, not one of the lower class representatives objected."
"But I'm just happy that Zuko pulled it off, he was always such a meek little dumb-dumb as a child."
"He's grown just as much as we have," Katara reminded Azula, "I'm so proud of the Fire Lord he's trying to be."
"He's a better fit than I could have ever been," Azula nodded in agreement. "I only wish our mother was here to see the man he's become."
Katara had fond memories of Lady Ursa and her kindness. Her first year in the Fire Nation would have been terrifying if not for the affection she had shown her. After losing her mother the day she was taken Katara had been unwilling to see Ursa, a Fire National, as a motherly figure but now that she was much older all she felt was regret. "I miss her too you know," Katara admitted, "I wonder if she's even alive?"
"No idea, maybe?" Azula sighed, "I wouldn't put it past father to have had her killed, or for him to have done it himself."
"We'll find out someday," came a new voice. Zuko walked into the hallway, now wearing more casual attire. "It's been on my mind lately too."
They stood in silence for a moment before Katara spoke. "I hear things went well at the meeting?"
"They did," Zuko's smile returned as he stood with his arms folded, "I'm hoping the school will be finished by the end of Autumn and then we can see how many people we can convince to enrol."
"I don't think it'll be that hard for those among the Burakumin," Azula told him, "It might take a while but once they see that this is a good thing I see no reason for them not to come."
"And they'll be with other kids who aren't branded," Katara added, "It's a good first step to forgetting that awful practice." Suddenly the sound of bare feet slapping on wood sounded and Kira tottled into view as she looked around for something but when she saw Zuko she immediately moved towards him and threw her arms around his waist.
Azula was still surprised at how close they were. Zuko had never been cruel to other kids but, being royalty, he had never really had any friends which had left him quite socially awkward. As far as Azula knew he had never even had a girlfriend. And yet Kira adored him. Despite how scary he looked with his scar or how cold he could seem she wanted nothing more than to be with him.
It seemed she idolised Katara as well but that wasn't surprising considering the life she'd lived. It was no wonder she inspired the little girl. But she didn't show that kind of sentiment to Azula. When their eyes met Kira would look away immediately and when Azula had tried to speak to her all she received were polite replies. Like the servants before Katara became her handmaiden who had been afraid of angering her.
Was she still so menacing after all this time? Children back at the South Pole liked her well enough though she had heard them call her scary on more than one occasion. Perhaps it was because she rarely smiled? She had tried to force a smile once but it didn't end well.
"You okay Azula?" Zuko said, making Azula jump, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes," she said assuredly, even if she didn't feel very sure. Kira looked over at her but, as ever, she looked away when their eyes met. Azula decided not to worry about it. They'd have plenty of time to get to know one another.
Instead, she enjoyed the beautiful summer evening. Kira stayed by Katara's side more often than Zuko's during this time and Azula found herself smiling at the jealous looks Zuko gave Katara. It wasn't like him to be jealous but it was rather funny. Iroh even sang an old favourite of his. A song called 'Four Seasons.
Just as they were getting hungry Iroh's head servant announced that the staff had been working in secret to celebrate Katara and Azula's return to the Fire Nation. So much so that even Iroh didn't know about it. When the spread was laid out before them Iroh couldn't help inviting the staff to eat with him.
It was a merry gathering. Good food and good company. Servants, royalty and friends dined together that evening under Iroh's roof. Family, one and all...
END OF PART ONE
Zhu Fa enjoyed the sensation of the woman's neck his hands. How her muscles quivered every time he pressed down on her throat. She struggles to swallow what bile she brought up when he punched her in the stomach once again. He enjoyed denying her the right to breathe.
"That boy," he growled, "He's weak, he'll lead the Fire Nation into the ground." As his rage grew again he delivered another hard blow to the woman's stomach. "And now he wants to abolish the tradition of Shaming, a tradition that has served as the dirt upon which the foundations of our great nation has stood upon since the times before the Fire Islands were unified."
He pulled the woman close to his face, staring into her golden eyes with his cold amber ones. She didn't fight him, she hadn't fought him for years now and just accepted her place as his punching bag. She had the singular honour of being the tool with which he relieved his stress and anger so that his darling wife needn't feel his wrath.
Despite his anger, he found himself smiling at the wretch. "While it is true that the royal family is a shadow of its former self, at least you remain loyal to the Old Ways," he clasped her branded hand and ran his thumb over the rough skin. "You know your place."
"Don't you?"
"Lady Ursa..."