My sixteenth birthday was uneventful. With only about seven kids in the orphanage, all of whom I didn't really know since they were new, the "celebration" was short and awkward. Akash had tried to start a chorus of "Happy Birthday." But the kids didn't really want to sing along.

I sighed. Without Isi, my heart felt robbed of its warmth, of its ability to connect with people.

"Kira!" Akash called.

I turned around to meet his gaze. In his hands was a colorful fruit pie. "For being the best sister a kid like me could have!" he grinned.

I beamed with delight. "Wow…thanks bro!" I hungrily devoured a piece of the pie, making sure to leave enough for Akash and the rest of the kids.

"Wow Aku! Dis pie is sooo good!" squealed Tuan, a boy who had been abandoned by his parents a few weeks ago.

"Yeah!" squeaked Kim Li, a seven year old girl who had found the orphanage with help from her much older brother.

"Akash," I started. "I know that when we were younger, I didn't treat you the way you deserved to be treated. You always loved me, and I failed you. I won't be able to forgive myself for that. But I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will always love you. You're the most important person to me, the one I hold closest to my heart. Don't ever forget that," I apologized.

Akash rubbed his eyes. "I love you, Kira," he proclaimed, embracing me.

"I'LL TAKE HIM!" a voice boomed.

An incredibly buff man was standing in the doorway, Zhixu at his side. His muscles rippled as he flexed them, much to Zhixu's delight.

"My my, Mr. Gang! Why, you can have whichever one you want," she gushed, gesturing towards Akash with a flip of her hand.

I almost vomited in my mouth. The man, although incredibly strong, was quite odd-looking. He wore a white skin-tight sleeveless top and black knickerbockers, with huge black combat boots. His hair was thick and weaved into an intricate braid that snaked down his well-defined backbones. Both his nose and his jaw jutted out of his face as if something from the inside was shaping it that way. His grey eyes seemed mad, and he was unnecessarily loud, although I didn't think he meant to be. Mr. Gang produced a miniscule brush from his pocket and proceeded to stroke the ferret that slept across his upper lip.

I almost screamed when the ferret, which I thought was an ugly mustache, squeaked in irritation and scampered up the man's face to rest atop his hair. "EW!" I shrieked.

Akash parted from me and looked up at the tall, burly man that was making his way toward him.

"KIDDO, I WANT YOU!" he shouted, his forehead touching my brother's. I scowled and moved Akash away from the strange man, shielding him.

"You can have me, but you have to take Kira too!" Akash asserted, this time stepping in front of me. He was brave for being only eight years old.

The man stroked his chin, his eyebrows raised.

"SORRY KIDDO, I CAN'T AFFORD BOTH OF YOUS!" Mr. Gang bellowed.

"Well then you can't have either of us!" Akash growled, getting in his face. Mr. Gang stepped back, surprised at my brother's moxie.

"ENOUGH!" Zhixu roared, her shrill voice comparable to the sound of chalk scraping against a chalkboard. She grabbed Akash by the shoulder.

"YOU UNGRATEFUL SPIDER RAT! MY PAY DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET ADOPTED! AND WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF, I WILL NOT LET IT GO TO WASTE! YOU WILL GO WITH MR. GANG OR I WILL THROW YOU OUT OF THIS ORPHANAGE! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?" Zhixu shrieked, the volume of her voice shattering my eardrums. I cringed.

Akash stood there, amazed at the woman's heartlessness.

"Zhixu…please…don't make me go without Akira…" Akash whimpered, tears threatening to fall from his emerald green eyes.

I didn't know what to do. I wanted more than anything else in the world to be with Akash. He was my life, my heartbeat, the only reason I had survived for that long in that forsaken orphanage with that wretched woman. Yet, at the same time, Akash deserved so much better than the life he had lived.

I hadn't even been a real sister to him for a huge chunk of his life because of my own selfishness.

Akash deserved better than me. He deserved the world and everything more.

Mr. Gang was loud and obnoxious, but he was kind-hearted and genuine, and I knew he would take care of Akash.

So with a heavy heart, I placed my hand on Akash's shoulder.

"Little bro…" I started, crouching down to reach his level. "You're going with Mr. Gang, no exceptions, an-"

"KIRA!" he interrupted. "How could you even say that?!" Akash began backing away from me.

"Listen to me!" I croaked, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt. "You'll have a better li—"

"NO! STOP IT! I'M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT YOU!" he cried, yanking away from me.

I had to figure out a way to get through to my brother, or else he was going to live the rest of his life shackled by the chains of poverty. And I wasn't about to let that happen, not to someone with such bright dreams and sky-high potential.

"LISTEN TO ME!"

"NO! YOU'RE MY SISTER AND I LOV-"

"SHUT UP!" I boomed. "I'M NOT YOUR SISTER, GODDAM IT!"

Akash stood, shocked at my words. I wanted so badly to bite my tongue, to stop myself from expressing such false, fowl sentiments to my younger brother. But at the same time, I had to make him take such an amazing and lucky opportunity.

"You were born from that vile beast of a man, Seiji. When I see you, all I can think of is him…you're just dead weight, Akash…a burden on me and this orphanage and this city. Go with him. It'll be better for me if you just go…" I lied, turning away from his heartbroken expression, trying not to let him see the tears streaming like waterfalls down my cheeks.

"Kira…how, h-how c-c-could y-you?" Akash gasped between sobs.

"GO!" I barked, pointing towards the door, my face still turned away.

"LET'S GO, KID," I heard Mr. Gang say.

And slowly, the sound of their footsteps faded away, just as how a dream dissipates into nonexistence as dawn approaches.

The sounds of Akash's weeps rattled in my ears long after he had gone.

What had I done? I had lost Momma, Isi, and then Akash? How was that even possible?

For what seemed like a thousand nights after Akash left, I bawled myself to sleep, unable to escape the pain that his absence inflicted upon my soul. Not one thing or person could save me.

Even the mask stopped visiting me in my dreams.

I couldn't take it any longer.

It was a beautiful night when I decided to bolt.

I ran and ran and ran throughout Republic City, not caring where I was going or how I would get back. I never wanted to go back to that place. All I wanted to do was feel the evening air chill my face, the wind rush through my hair, and the rejuvenating burn in my muscles that accompanied such rigorous exercise.

I felt free. Like I did when I was a little girl in Momma's arms.

Various buildings and lights blurred past me as I ran through the streets without a care in the world.

Republic City Park looked so peaceful at night. The cherry blossom tree Mr. Fa had showed me was as beautiful as ever, the moonlight bathing the petals, illuminating them in the night.

The lights of the pro-bending stadium danced in the sky, their glow rivaling that of the stars.

Everything was perfect.

I suppose I should have seen the manhole when I turned into that alleyway…