This fic is also on my tumblr blog where my username is Kuno-chan and my blog name is Dragoness Ramblings.

Disclaimer: Legend of Korra belongs to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko

Should you be afraid of the storm, you ask? Well, I suppose that depends on you, doesn't it?

The Storm

The next two weeks after their anniversary pretty much saw Jinora's life go back to normal. Or as normal as it was going to be. Her father was actively antagonized by anything that had to do with Kai and that had seen some conflict between her and her father, but other than that, things felt a bit like how they were before her family learned of the big secret. It was even nice how her mother tried not to ask too many questions and did her best to keep her father from getting too totalitarian on the situation. The only thing that was strikingly different was the fact that she and Ikki were still not on very good speaking terms.

It was actually getting kind of ridiculous.

Normally, she would have gone to her little sister and settled things by now, but Ikki seemed to be just as mad at Jinora as Jinora was with her. Since Ikki didn't seem to feel sorry or even give any indication that she wanted to make up, then, neither did Jinora. Why should she? She hadn't been the one to read and expose secrets from a very private diary.

Kai, on the other hand, did not feel the same.

"I'm just saying," he said over the phone. "Don't you think it's been long enough? I mean, it's been like a month now. You're not usually one to hold a grudge."

"I'm not holding a grudge," she said simply, "She doesn't want to talk to me either. So, I'm just giving her what she wants."

"Come on, she's probably just waiting for you to extend the olive branch. Besides, your parents can't okay with this."

"I have. She just snubs me about it. And if she's going to be like that then why waste my energy?" she said stubbornly. "And no, they're not, but I think they're trying to give us the space we need to work it out ourselves. Us fighting isn't a new thing. It's just odd for it to be going on this long."

"I guess. I don't know, babe. It's just that when Mako, Bolin and I have arguments we'll stay mad for maybe a day or two then we'll talk about the problem. A month seems like a really long time to stay mad at your siblings for something like reading a diary."

"It wasn't just that she read my diary! It was that she read my diary, Kai! And then she exposed us! That's a complete violation of privacy! And from my sister? That's a bit of a betrayal for me since she knows that I know where she keeps hers and where she keeps the key at! What's more is that it was all over fruit! Thank Raava it was only to my family and not the whole world, but come on!"

"Fine, fine. I give up. I'm sure you guys will figure it out. It just sounds too awkward for too long. Especially when you live with her."

"Yeah, well, it's not like I'm exactly enjoying it. It feels weird not having her pester me a million times a day, but if she's going to be like this then I can too."

He yawned. "Alright, if that's how you feel. Well, I'm gonna go ahead and turn in. Bolin had me doing these crazy workouts he found online earlier and I'm beat. Meet you at the tree tomorrow?"

"Not in the morning. I actually have to go in early to talk to Mr. Yao about my Literature essay. But I'll meet you there after school?"

"Aww, no morning kiss? Alright, I'll see you then. I love you. Don't worry about it, okay? Things will work themselves out."

"I'm sure," she said, smiling. "I love you too. G'night."

"Night."

He hung up.

She laid back on her bed with a sigh. To be perfectly honest, things were a little odd without Ikki talking to her. Sure, it's not like they were sitting down and chatting away most of the time anyhow, but having her little sister actively trying not to say anything to her was almost a bit sad.

On the other hand, Jinora was still a little bit mad at her too. The new found anxiety she'd been feeling as of late hadn't exactly dissipated as time went on. In fact, it seemed to have actually gotten worse. Her father's inherent dislike of her boyfriend had changed their relationship. She couldn't exactly explain it, but it definitely had. They didn't talk about it or mention it, but that incident had made her family life slightly more stressful. Although she always wished she could spend more time with Kai, nowadays there were times where she just wanted to go home with him and not to her own house.

Despite living with five other people, things were starting to feel kind of lonely at home.

Of course, it didn't help that most of her close friends were all older and steeped in more real world problems. Opal was buried in school work now that she was in her final years of college and, in turn, her Social Work degree. Asami was the very active CEO of Future Industries and Korra had gone back to school for Sports Therapy. Maybe one of these days they could all get together and just hang out. That'd be really nice.

She tucked her worries into the back of her mind to get some sleep that night, but couldn't shake off the feeling of them being there. Like a feather tickling her nose, she woke up every now and again to address them. The whole thing made for an unnerving rest.

The next morning, Jinora got up at six am sharp like normal. She showered and brushed her teeth. Ate breakfast and walked the same path to school. Fall had definitely arrived in Republic City, so, she pulled on a jacket over her long sleeved shirt and and a pair of fleece leggings under her skirt, but other than that it was the same type of morning she always had. Just like normal. Like every morning.

Everything stopped being normal during first period.

Nothing could have prepared her for the moment when Keun who sat behind her that day in History leaned forward in the middle of class and whispered in her ear.

"Hey, if I'd known that was your type I would have taken a shot myself."

Jinora frowned and turned around to give him a strange look.

"What?" she whispered back.

"Jinora, Keun," said Mrs. Mang, now crossing her arms and drumming her fingers on her arm. "If you two think you could conduct the lesson better yourselves why don't you come up here and talk to the rest of us instead of each other?"

"Sorry," murmured Jinora as she turned back around. Mrs. Mang snorted then went back to the board.

Type? She wondered. What did he mean by type?

Keun's comment hadn't stopped bothering by the time lunch came around. In fact, it only got worse as the day went on. People kept smiling and staring oddly at her. The girls giggled when they saw her. Even a few of the guys, many whom she often steered away from, were giving her looks that made her quite uncomfortable.

"You lucky girl, Jinora. Didn't know you had it in you," winked Devani as they passed each other in the halls.

Devani, who barely ever talked to her, or anybody who's family wasn't making a six figure salary for that matter, just paid her a compliment. On what exactly? Whatever it was, it must have been something she wanted herself. Devani never paid anybody a compliment unless it was out of respect.

She then became downright alarmed when Kumi and Meng Meng came up to her table during lunch.

"Congratulations, Jinora. Don't listen to everybody. As long as you two are happy I think that's all that matters," said Kumi with a smile.

"Hmph," sniffed Meng Meng, pushing up her glasses with one finger. "You could do better, you know. Someone of a better league if you know what I mean? "

"Don't be rude, Meng Meng."

"It's true. You know he lives in that downtown district, don't you? Where all those gangs go running through? He's probably with one of them."

"That's mostly in the dragon district. Downtown isn't great, but it doesn't mean that he's in a-"

"What are you two talking about?" asked Jinora.

"Oh. I'm sorry, did we hear it wrong?" Kumi blinked. "You and Kai are kind of dating... or something... aren't you? Everybody's talking about it."

Jinora froze.

She swore to Raava, Vaatu and every great spirit in existence and morality that time stopped right there and then for at least a second.

What?

She was damn sure that she'd just lost her ability to blink.

What?

"I've... I've gotta..." she got up, making a weak wave the two puzzled girls and not even paying enough attention to pick up her lunch tray.

She was starting to panic.

"Please be there, please be there, please be there..."

She scurried down the halls. Right, left, right again.

Quite frankly, she could find her way to the library blind. Who was she kidding? She was practically was walking blind as it was. How could everybody had found out? There was no way he could have told anybody. He wouldn't. He knew good and well not to say anything to anybody. It had to have been another way.

The library was just about empty during this time of lunch. First month of school and no major tests yet meant low activity for studying. She walked past aisles in the front, in the back and any other place she could think of. Admittedly, her brain was overheating at the moment and if perhaps a whimper or two escaped throat then she barely noticed.

A hand suddenly clamped down on her elbow and pulled her into a back corner.

She and Kai were face to face. He was holding her gently by her elbows, seemingly both concerned and agitated by his expression.

"Did you tell anyone about us?" he asked quickly.

"No," she said, her voice now starting to croak at a high pitch. "Why?"

"Because I have had five guys ask me how you are in bed and the last guy was Skoochy so, of course, I nearly punched him."

"This can't be happening," she could feel her breath shortening, bringing her fingers to her forehead. "This can't be happening, how could this have happened? I can't believe-"

"Jinora, calm do-"

"I can't calm down! Somebody said something and I don't know wh-"

How could she have not seen it?

She took her hands away from her face, staring into space for a moment as it all came together in her head.

Who had started this mess in the first place?

"Ikki." she hissed, now close to seething.

How could she?

How dare she.

Jinora wasn't sure when was the last time she had been this mad – it wasn't often that she got very angry at all – but it had definitely been a long while since she'd seen red like this.

"Your sister?" asked Kai incredulously. "You sure?"

"She's the only person who both knew and had a motive! It had to have been her!" she almost cried. "Meelo and Rohan are too young and don't even go to our school yet. She's the only one unless my parents came down to the school and told everyone for kicks."

"Okay, okay. How about..." he seemed to be almost lost for words. "Forget about meeting me at the tree later. How about you go home and talk to her?"

"Oh, don't worry, I will."

"I mean it, babe. Just talk to her. If you can keep yourself from killing her. There must be an explanation."

"There better be."

Rubbing his neck, he let out a restless sigh. They were both probably thinking the same thing.

This was going to be a long day.

-:-:-:-

Ikki's lack of appearances around school only enhanced her guilt in Jinora's eyes. It was as if her little sister was purposefully avoiding her. She hadn't seen her all day. Not on her way to class, not after school and not on the way home from school. Nowhere was Ikki to be found.

When she got home, Jinora threw her bag on the couch and stalked into the kitchen. Only her mother was there.

"Oh, hi sweetie," noticing her mood, her mother frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Where's Ikki?"

"Upstairs. Jinora, are you okay?"

"Just fine," she growled and stormed upstairs, practically skipping steps on her way up. Her anger was mounting as she crossed the hall and down to her little sister's room. By the time she got there she might has well have been a heaping, walking pile of smoke.

"I. Cannot. Believe you!" she shouted, bursting in the room with such force that the door hit the wall and she had to catch it to keep from hitting herself.

Ikki, seemingly expecting this, jumped back and now had her hands up defensively. "I-I-I didn't mean it this time! It was an accident!" she cried. "I swear!"

"Accident!? You call telling the whole school about my relationship when you specifically knew not to an ACCIDENT!?" Jinora was getting louder at this point, but she didn't care. She'd had it with Ikki's attitude and secret ruining tantrums.

"It was! I swear it was an accident! You got to believe me, sis!"

"Oh, don't go sissing at me now! You've barely spoken to me for a month and now you can't wiggle your way out of this just because I'm yelling at you! Do you have any idea what happened to me today!?"

"What is going on up here?" their mother stood at the door "Jinora, why are you shouting? You tell me what's wrong right this instant."

"She told everyone!" cried Jinora, gesturing harshly to Ikki. "About me and Kai! She went to school and told everyone!"

"Ikki, why would you do that? That wasn't yours to tell." asked her mother disbelievingly.

"It was an accident, mom! Really it was!" Ikki moved away from her bed so that she was standing across Jinora, but a little closer to their mother now.

"Yeah, right! I don't know how you would do that by accident!"

"Hang on, Jinora. How did this happen?"

"I was just a little frustrated today with everything that's been doing on in the house with Jinora and dad and me and I was just venting to one of my friends about it in the bathroom and it just kind of... slipped...out..." said Ikki, nervously playing with her fingers. "But I don't know how it got around because I told her not to say anything and she gave me her word! I can trust her! She'd never tell anyone!"

"Was it Yuma?" asked their mother, now looking a bit like their father the way she was rubbing her temple.

Ikki nodded.

"...I believe you. Yuma doesn't seem like the type to go blabbing about things like that."

"But mom, that still doesn't explain how everybody found out!" said Jinora.

"Is it possible somebody might have just overheard it?"

"There was nobody in there but us..." said Ikki.

"Maybe passing by the door?" suggested their mother.

Ikki went silent. Jinroa groaned. Both sisters knew that was entirely possible. The acoustics in the bathrooms weren't bad at all and if it was a quiet enough hallway while someone was walking by then they could pick up every word of a conversation.

"It can't be helped," said their mother finally, turning to look at Jinora. "Cat's out of the bag, sweetie."

"What? That's it!? Mom, that's just not fair! She-" Jinora pointed at Ikki. "Has made my life so much harder now because of this! People won't stop bothering me now at school! Especially the boys! I can't go anywhere without someone making some remark about Kai to me! It's ridiculous!"

"This she is your sister. Who did not mean it. She can't take it back otherwise she would," said their mother firmly. She turned to Ikki. "But Ikki, you should have known better than to just go discussing that type of stuff with just anyone for that very reason."

"Oh, now I can't go talk about how I feel with my friends?" snapped Ikki.

"Don't take that tone with me, young lady. Or I will ground you again so help me Raava."

"Me!?"

"Yes, you!" spat Jinora.

Ikki started turning a shade of red.

"You know what? It's always like this! You were the one who was FUCKING YOUR BOYFRIEND-" she practically screamed in Jinora's face. "-all over the house while we were gone and I'm still the one who's being punished!"

"Ikki Gyatso!" their mother shouted now. "We do not use that language in this house!"

"But you know it's true! You know it is!" Ikki shouted back, eyes overbright. "She could be pregnant right now and I'd still be the one punished for that! She chose not to get her tattoos and I'm still the one that gets punished for that too!"

"Me choosing not to get my tattoos has nothing to do with this or you! I chose not to! Simple as that!" bellowed Jinora.

"That's even worse because it's like saying you're too good for them! You've been able to get them for years and just decided they're not worth it!? What!? You don't want to be too much of dad's perfect princess!?"

"That's ENOUGH!"

They both looked at their mother who was rubbing the bridge of her nose at this point. "You both are incredibly lucky that your father isn't home yet. Jinora, go to your room. I'm going to talk to Ikki then I'll be there with you shortly."

"But-"

"Right now."

She left in a huff, only vaguely hearing Ikki's crying responses as their mother closed the door. Back in her room, she checked her phone. Kai had texted her, asking, How did it go?

She texted back. About as bad as it could have gone.

Shortly after, her mother came into the room and sat down on her bed wordlessly. She was silent for a moment before sighing and finally speaking.

"First, we need to establish some things. I am going to trust that you are not pregnant?"

"No," said Jinora, shaking her head.

"You're absolutely sure?"

"Positive."

"Good, we'll have that entire discussion on a different night. Next thing. Ikki was right," Jinora looked up at the mother sharply. The older woman held up a hand. "Wait before you speak. Ikki is right. Jinora, I should have punished you that night. For a year's worth of lying. We've always taught you to be honest, but you lied to us for a straight year. But I understood where you were coming from and I was worried for you and your health. The reason why I say that I should have punished you is because your father wanted to put you on complete lockdown and never let you leave the house, but I convinced him otherwise because I knew... I knew he was going to make this hard for you and I was so worried about you that night. You looked like your were going to have a breakdown.

"So, let's get that straight. And the only reason why I'm not punishing you for what you did tonight is because I'm not punishing your sister for her mouth. But let me say that if I had decided to then you were going to share in that time as well."

Her knees drawn up to her chest, Jinora lifted her chin off her legs. "But I-"

"Do you honestly believe your sister deserved that? To have you burst into her room like that and scare her so bad that you had her backed up against her bed? To just go in there and practically attack her like that? Now, she's over in her room a weeping mess over all the shouting you two did and all the bad feelings that got brought up. Sweetie, you're seventeen years old and I've rarely seen you that mad before. Jinora... you terrified your sister tonight."

The more her mother kept talking, the worse Jinora felt. Now that her head was clear and she'd calmed down a bit, she could see Ikki's teary eyes and pleading face as she'd been trying to convince her of the truth and screaming at her after her feelings had been hurt. A heavy lead like weight settled in her chest.

Spirits... she was a miserable excuse for an older sister.

Her mother patted her knee. "I think you know this, but you owe your sister an apology. You know she's not going to be ready to hear it for a good while, but when she is... please make up with her, okay? Your father and I have tried to let you work this out yourselves as best you can, but we hate seeing you two fight like this."

"I will. I promise," murmured Jinora gloomily.

When her mother left, she sighed heavily, laying against her pillows.

What else could go wrong?

Because great lies are going to have great consequences :P

Here we go! Another chapter!

I hope how Jinora's normally viewed at school is really starting to show now. The way she's viewed at school is somewhat similar to the way she's sometimes viewed at home and they kind of correlate although they are inherently different.

This chapter was fun to write, but I also hope that it showed how Jinora's got to face her consequences now. I'm trying to work from the inside out (internal to external influences/issues/consequences). Both she and Kai have a great sense of accountability of their lying. While Jinora was more or less the one who really wanted/did spin the lies, Kai still definitely had a very willing part in them. They're both going to pay for that in different ways individually. Kai's is going to play more into his background (which I'm so excited to write about guys). Secret lovers is fun and all (I'm really only down with it when there's nothing morally actually wrong with the relationship. I.e. they're both uncommitted people except to each other like Romeo and Juliet persay), but you better be ready when the bubble bursts because damn is it going to burst whether you're prepared or not.

Anyway, I really hoped you liked this chapter!

Thank you for reading! Tune in for next chapter!