To Zuko's great relief, his new family were not part of a cult. Instead they seemed to be rather normal people – they were well-mannered, cultured, fire breathing people who were very assured of their own superiority, and had a family history of insanity.

Zuko had never felt more at home.

His new mother was a gentle woman, much like the Princess Ursa had been. She obviously loved him very much, and while it felt weird to be cared for after years of looking out for himself like the adult he was, Zuko found himself hesitantly enjoying a mother's unconditional love.

They also had an obsession with training all the time, just like his old family. Zuko thought he really couldn't have gotten a closer copy to his old childhood even if he tried.

There were some differences though, one of which being his new father who actually liked him and hadn't tried killing him. Or at least he hadn't yet, but Zuko wasn't going to hold his breath on that lasting. It's just how his luck worked.

He was also an only child this time! His second birthday passed with Zuko spending that year in suspenseful trepidation. And then his third went by and still no sibling. His fourth and now his fifth and Zuko couldn't be happier!

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He spent his years exploring the compound, getting into places he had no right to be, setting his incompetent tutors who knew nothing of fire manipulation ablaze with his 'magnificent hand-seal free jutsu', and generally drove everyone up the wall with his wonderfully mischievous cousin Shisui. Life as an only child was fantastic!

It was a mild winter day that saw Zuko heading back to the Clan leader's house after a productive time of attempting to get past the mysterious and fascinating chakra seals on the archives.

"I'm home!" he called cheerfully, shucking his sandals off and putting on his slippers.

"Welcome back Itachi!" Mikoto greeted him from the kitchen, the smell of her excellent cooking drifting through to tickle and tantalize his nose. "Would you set the table dear?"

"Of course."

Another thing was the lack of servants, but that was fine. It turns out that the people he lived with were just as paranoid as he was, and nobody trusted servants not to poison them. Fugaku came back not five minutes later as Zuko was finishing setting the chopsticks. Soon enough the small family settled down to eat.

However, just as Zuko was about to dig in, Mikoto spoke up:

"We have wonderful news Itachi. You're going to be a big brother!"

Fugaku and Mikoto beamed at him, their happiness lighting up their faces. Well, Mikoto looked overjoyed. Fugaku looked less constipated than usual, so Zuko assumed he was happy.

Zuko, meanwhile, felt all his previous joy and contentment vanish, and his soul shrivel and die.