Not So Secret Tunnel

By Kyatto

Chapter Five

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Ursa and Tai: Age twelve

Aiden: Age eleven

Netami: Age nine

~*~

Having a genius for a child, it was very hard to keep anything a secret. Especially in a small flat, with certain things easily accessible.

Netami made it a point to break Aiden's brain every time their parents would mention Reno. Wondering aloud if they'd go off on any sexual endeavors together again. She viewed sex as the science it was. Nothing more than an act to procreate, which was why talking about it didn't faze her in the least. Aiden on the other hand, was very shaky around the subject. His sister suspected he might have a girlfriend or something similar, so she chose not to press into it. Making him squirm was a lot more fun anyway.

She had known about Kira for months before she mentioned it to her father. Of course, she was fond of the idea, so she didn't bother reporting it to the police, but he didn't know how long she had known. All he knew was that she did know and he worried something would have to be done about it.

"You're being irrational, love," Ginny insisted quietly as she set down a cup of coffee for him after they had closed the door to their bedroom. "Obviously it doesn't seem to bother her if she isn't up in arms about it."

"She could be making phone calls right now."

"You're being paranoid."

"You know what I have to do…" He started to say, but was cut off by a soft pair of lips.

"Stop it," she said flatly, looking him directly in the eye. "Nobody's turning you in, banging down our door. You've got nothing to worry about, sweetheart."

"I don't know," he sighed, pulling a pillow over his face. A feather fluttered out and into his mouth, causing him to cough.

"Angsting into a pillow won't help you," she smirked, pulling it away from his face so she could look at him again and smile. "You're pouting."

"Am not," Light replied, affronted…and pouting.

"Yes you are," she cooed and kissed him on the lips again.

"No," he pouted more without realizing it.

"Yes," Ginny teased, and again she kissed the pout.

He sighed. "…Maybe a little."

This sparked a typical married couple make out session which got interrupted by a loud knock on the door.

"Yes sweetie, what is it?" Ginny asked the door.

"No more siblings please!"

'Alright Aiden," Light chuckled. "Anything else?"

"Netami used up all the toothpaste!"

"There's a whole 'nother tube in the cupboard," Ginny informed him, smiling. "You can't miss it."

"Mum!" Netami yelled from the bathroom. "Aiden left the toilet seat up!"

"I'd better make sure she didn't get stuck," Ginny giggled as she slid out of bed.

"Wake me when they move out," Light groaned, but in an amused tone, and rolled over.

"Will do."

~*~

On the couch in her room in her parents' old house Mai sat in between Ty Lee and TenTen, soaking her feet in a basin of warm water. They'd spent a good week on a mission and she had been on her feet the entire time. Meanwhile, TenTen was working on painting the nails on her left hand a pretty shade of violet, and Ty Lee was reading names from a baby book.

"What do you think, Mai? I may go easy and call him Chan Junior."

"Can't believe you settled for that chump. Azula's sloppy seconds? Ew."

"He was such a gentleman at that ball two years ago, I couldn't help it. Azula scared the manbeast right out of him."

"Oh?" Mai snickered.

"Let's just say this," Ty Lee patted her bulging stomach. "Was all my idea."

"I'm glad you're finally happy," Mai smiled and nudged her friend.

"This is so nice," TenTen sighed. "The twins have been such a handful lately."

"My books on child raising say that they're usually at their worst around this age."

"That, along with their genetics," Mai groaned, lolling her head back. "They just won't stop arguing!"

"Tai wants one of Zuko's cars," TenTen informed her.

"Which one? The Corvette?"

"The Lexus convertible," she replied. "He wants to look fly when he goes to Tokyo."

"Kid's not old enough to drive in any country," Mai rolled her eyes. "Please tell me Zuko thought with his head for once and said no."

"I don't see Tai zipping by so I'm guessing he was told something along those lines."

"Thank heavens they're his problem for the next two weeks. I don't think I could take anymore…"

"Mai," Ty Lee crooned. "Calm down. Your aura's losing color again. That's totally bad for your parenting vibes."

"Put a sock in it."

~*~

"You're such a bitch Ursa!"

"Am not! You're just jealous because I'm more popular!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Well, you're a whore!"

"And you're mentally impaired!"

"Well, la deee da!"

"La deee doo deee da!"

"La dee doo deee doo deed a!"

"Hey!"

Both of them stopped arguing, halfway up the staircase, and turned to face their father as he approached them.

"Over fifty-thousand square feet this place is! And I can hear you on the other damn side of the building! What is going on here?"

"Sorry, dad…" Ursa said quietly.

"Ursa was going through my computer!"

"Was not! I needed to borrow your scanner!"

"I don't call my documents folder the place where you use the scanner!"

"I had to get to the program! Not my fault you're so unorganized!"

"You were in the saved emails folder!"

"Knock it off already! For fuck's sake! Can't you two be in the same room for five minutes without starting something?"

Both Tai and Ursa's faces paled. They knew their father never swore at them unless they were in trouble.

"Take your own advice dad. You still always fight with mom." Ursa said quietly.

"That's different."

"Not really."

"Yes it is."

"No."

"Yeah huh."

"Ursa! Shut up!" Tai smacked the back of her head.

"Can't believe I was arguing with a fucking child…" Zuko rubbed his temples.

"Sorry, dad…Um…We'll try to be quieter…" Tai said, biting his lip.

"Wouldn't want to cockblock you anymore," Ursa teased with a grin.

"For the love of-" Tai smacked the back of her head again. "Stop it!"

Zuko's face reddened and he glowered at her for a moment. "To your rooms. Both of you. And I don't want to hear another sound until tomorrow. You hear me? I'll have the servants check on you to make sure."

From the way their father looked, they could tell he meant business. He never really dressed "casual" unless he was planning on doing a certain something. The half up half down deal with his hair spoke volumes too. At least they could guarantee a good breakfast the next morning. He glared at him, and did the gesture with two fingers from his eyes to the two of them before storming off.

"Damn kids," he muttered under his breath as he heard the noise of them scurrying up the stairs.

~*~