Jing sat with AiLin petting him softly ''Ai, thank you for today'' he said as AiLin laid his head on him nudging him softly letting him know it was ok. Jing smiled then leaned against him and fell asleep. AiLin wrapped himself around Jing to keep him warm. The door opened slowly and AiLin picked his head up growling, but stopped when he saw LiYun and Kong walk in. LiYun walked over and looked at AiLin.
''Still upset I see'' he said as he placed a hand on AiLin's head.
Kong walked over to Jing that was asleep only to have AiLin turn and growled laying his head over Jing. LiYun laughed and shook his head ''Kong, leave him be for now. As long as AiLin is like this he will keep acting that way'' he said.
Kong sighed and looked up at AiLin and patted him ''Ok Ai, I understand then. Just make sure he stays warm.''
AiLin huffed at him and nudged him away. LiYun laughed and pulled Kong away upstairs. AiLin covered Jing back up with his head and closed his eyes.
''He won't even let me get close to Jing'' Kong said flopping on the couch ''Can't you do something about him?''
''If I could then I would. Would you rather I go all dragon and hold him down while you take Jing away'' LiYun said teasing.
''That could work'' Kong said looking at him.
LiYun growled at him ''Not happening'' he said.
Kong turned back around and crossed his arms. About an hour later Jing came running up the stairs bursting into LiYun's room.
''Li, something is wrong with Ai'' he said worried.
LiYun jumped up out of bed and ran down the stairs over to AiLin who was now in human form. He reached out and touched his forehead noticing he had a fever. LiYun picked him up and carried him upstairs to the room laying him down on the bed. He took AiLin's shirt off and covered him up with the blanket.
Jing stood in the doorway worried ''Is he going to be ok, Li'' he said.
''He has a fever right now. You go get some sleep, I'll take care of him'' LiYun said in a calm soft voice as he got up and went to the kitchen filling a bowl with ice water then grabbed a rag and returned to AiLin's side.
Jing stayed in the doorway watching. LiYun sighed and got up, taking Jing to the living room ''Kong, wake up'' he kicked the back of the couch.
Kong jumped up and looked around ''Yeah'' he said.
''Take Jing to get some sleep, I'm going to take care of Ai'' LiYun went back to his room and shut the door.
''Jing'' Kong walked over to him and hugged only to have Jing start crying.
''It's my fault'' he said ''Ai has a fever.''
Kong holds Jing tightly ''He will be ok, Li will make sure of it.'' He picks Jing up and carries him to the room laying him down ''Just try to sleep. I'm sure Ai will be better in the morning.'' Kong played with Jing's hair trying to help him sleep.
LiYun spent the whole night taking care of AiLin. He ended up laying next to him. AiLin woke the next morning to find LiYun laying next to him and holding him tightly. AiLin smiled and sat up. When he did the rag fell off his forehead onto his lap. He slowly got out of bed and snuck out the room closing the door behind him. He was making his way down the hall when he saw smoke coming from the kitchen. When he reached the kitchen he saw Jing was trying to cook.
''What are you doing?'' he said laughing.
''AI!'' Jing said almost in tears ''I was trying to make breakfast. You make it look so easy though.''
AiLin shook his head and walked over taking over the cooking ''You don't have to cook, Jing. I will do it'' he said ''If you want to help though you can set the table.''
Jing stood there looking at AiLin for a moment ''How are you feeling'' he walked over grabbing the plates putting them on the table.
''Better'' AiLin said smiling.
Kong comes into the kitchen yawning ''Hey, look who is all better'' he walks over and hugs AiLin ''Glad to see you're ok, Jing was worried the whole night.''
Jing looked down ''I am sorry that you got that way, Ai'' he said.
AiLin looked at him and pulled him over into a hug as well ''It's ok. If it means I can protect you all I don't mind a small fever'' he said softly.
Jing hugged him back. Just then LiYun came running down the hall into the kitchen. All three of them looked at him and smiled. Kong threw his hands up and slowly backed away leaving both Jing and AiLin hugging each other.
''You're finally up'' AiLin said.
LiYun walked over and placed his hand on AiLin's forehead ''Seems like your fever is finally down'' he said then turned and walked outside.
AiLin watched him and could tell something was wrong. He hung his head and sighed.
''It looks like we need a few more things for breakfast. I'll go out and get some'' Jing said then grabbed Kong and pulled him along.
AiLin didn't say anything just went back to cooking. LiYun came back in ''Where did the others go?''
''Jing went to get a few more things for breakfast. He took Kong with him'' AiLin said, not looking at him. He felt LiYun was upset about last night.
LiYun stood there looking at AiLin who kept his back to him. He signed and sat on the table. He waited till AiLin turned around but when he did he ignored him and just put the food on the table then went back to cooking. When he was done he walked to the room and grabbed a pair of clothes going into the bathroom and shutting the door locking it.
LiYun made his way to the bedroom and stood there waiting for him to come out. When he did he still ignored LiYun and was about to walk out the room when LiYun grabbed a hold of him and pinned him to the wall.
''Why are you ignoring me?'' LiYun asked.
AiLin looked away from him ''I'm not, I'm trying to get things done is all. Plus, you looked as if you needed the space. That's what I'm doing'' he said
LiYun growled low only to have AiLin growl back at him ''If you wanna be mad fine, but don't you dare take it out on me. I was protecting my family that you brought me into'' AiLin said then pushed LiYun away from. ''Even if that means I have to deal with a fever after then so be it.'' AiLin swung open the door and walked out.
Jing and Kong were coming back in as AiLin was making his way out ''Food is on the table. I'm leaving for a few days.''
Kong stopped him ''Where are you going?'' he asked worried.
''To the forest. Seems like we both need time to cool off and think'' he said looking back at LiYun who made his way down the hall then stopped. AiLing huffed and left without another word.
Jing wanted to follow him but was stopped by Kong who looked at LiYun ''Let him go, it seems he needs the time alone.'' Kong walked to the table and sat down with Jing following behind him. ''You got mad cause he was protecting Jing'' Kong got up and walked over to LiYun ''Maybe he should be with your brother instead of you.''
''Kong, don't say that'' Jing said getting up ''He belongs with Li. You know that.''
''Does he really? When was the last time he held Ai without it leading to sex or cause them to fight'' Kong's voice raised as he looked at Jing then turned back to LiYun ''He hasn't. When he lied to him, Ai forgave him. When he left and didn't come back, Ai forgave him then to. Just because Ai didn't listen to him and went all fox protecting you, he wants to get mad. Some boyfriend you are'' Kong went to his room and slammed the door shut.
Jing stood there and looked down ''He isn't wrong you know'' he looked up at LiYun and sighed ''Ai has forgiven you, can't you forgive him. At least he was doing something to help. Forgive him Li, cause he needs you just as you need him.'' Jing went to Kong's room to try and keep him calm.
LiYun went to his room and sat on his bed. They were right. Everything he had done and AiLin was always there to forgive him as well as be there for him, yet this one time he wasn't there for AiLin. He didn't have any right to bring AiLin back now. He laid back on the bed and looked up. That damn little fox really was in his heart and it was hurting him that he was gone. He had no other choice but to stay there and wait for him to come back.
The days seemed to go by slowly. LiYun kept himself busy with classes. Both Jing and Kong sat by and watched as he didn't want the help. LiYun also started to learn to cook as well. He wanted AiLin to have something good to eat when he got back. Every night LiYun would stay up and sit at the table with food wrapped up in hope that AiLin would be back that night.
Later one evening LiYun went out after class to get some food so he could cook. While he was out Jing and Kong sat in the living room watching tv.
''How long has it been?'' Jing asked.
''All most a week'' Kong said ''I figured he would have been back by now.''
''Ai must be really upset'' Jing hung his head ''I feel bad.''
''I told you it wasn't your fault'' Kong said hugging him.
Just then a loud thud came from behind them. When they stood up and looked around they didn't see anything at first then a large leopard walked in through the back door growling. Both Kong and Jing growled at it but it didn't pay any attention to them. Instead it walked around like it was looking for something. The next thing they knew a white ball of fur jumped at the leaper pushing it out the door. The white ball of fur started to grow in size.
Kong and Jing ran out the back to find a large white fox standing on top of the leopard growling at it loudly. The fox grabbed a hold of it and flung it through the air. Once the fox knew it was gone it fell to the ground and slowly turned back into his human form.
''SHIT AI!'' they both shouted then ran down the stairs. Kong caught him before he fell on the ground.
''Let's take him in'' Jing said, leading the way.
Kong carried AiLin to LiYun's room and placed him on the bed. He was covered in bite and claw marks as well as blood. Jing ran around getting stuff to clean him up while Kong stripped away his clothes. Just as he reached for his pants he stopped.
''What are you doing, hurry'' Jing said as he started to whip AiLin's chest clean.
''Yeah, but LiYun'' Kong said.
''Then you clean him and I'll take them off'' he handed Kong the rag and took his spot taking AiLin's pants off without thinking.
They dressed his wounds and put clean clothes on him. They checked to make sure he didn't have a fever. They both sighed as they walked out the bedroom. When they walked into the kitchen LiYun was there looking at the mess. He turned and looked at them and noticed they had blood on their hands and shirts.
''What happened here?'' he asked worried ''Are either one of you hurt?''
Kong shook his head and started to pick things up ''No, we are fine'' he said.
''Li, Ai is here'' Jing said softly. ''A leopard followed him here. Ai took care of him of course, but he is hurt a bit. The blood is his.''
LiYun dropped the bags in his hands and ran to the bedroom where he found AiLin trying to sit up. He walked over and helped him then sat down. He looked at AiLin all over. Tears started to form in LiYun's eyes. AiLin reached up and whipped them away.
''Seeing you cry almost makes me happy, but it doesn't fit you'' AiLin said in a joking manner.
LiYun grabbed a hold of his hand and held it to his face ''You finally come back and look at you'' he said ''What happened?''
''When I first went to the forest nothing and no one was there it was like it had always been, but when I got ready to leave a leopard showed up and started to attack me. I thought I had lost him when I got to Ciqikou but it seemed to have followed me'' AiLin said ''I wasn't going to let anyone get hurt so I had to change into my bigger fox.''
LiYun pulled him close and held on to him softly so as not to hurt him ''You're home and safe. I'm glad.''
AiLin closed his eyes and hugged him back. He had missed LiYun's smell and being in his arms.
''Li, I think I know why that leopard came here'' Jing said walking in ''Leopards and Tigers sometimes run together. He could have been sent after Ai cause of Su.''
''I'll kill him'' LiYun said standing.
''No'' AiLin said ''If he wants a fight let him come to us. Till then we act like nothing happened.''
Jing nodded and closed the door behind him. AiLin took LiYun's hand and pulled him back to sit down. LiYun looked at AiLin and placed a hand on his cheek.
''I'm sorry I was mad before. I shouldn't have been. You were protecting Jing so I had no right to get upset. I was just worried more than mad'' he said looking at him.
''Then you won't get mad next time I don't listen and have to use my bigger form'' AiLin asked.
''If it's for a good reason then no'' LiYun said leaning his head against AiLin ''Forgive this stupid Dragon for upsetting you again.''
''Of course I will, Li. I love you too much not to'' AiLin said softly and moved close to him.
LiYun looked at him ''What did you say?''
''I said that I love you'' AiLin said again and pulled him close and kissed him.
LiYun kissed him back holding him close but not too tightly. He pulled back ''You should rest'' he said.
''Screw resting'' AiLin pulled him back into a deeper harder kiss.
LiYun growled lowly and pulled him to sit on his lap holding his hips tightly ''Ai, you're hurt, we shouldn't...''
''Shut up, I don't care if I'm hurt. I have missed you and all I can think about right now is how bad I want you'' he said as he kissed on LiYun's neck.
LiYun closed his eyes and rubbed his hands against AiLin's hips then ran them up his back ''Screw it, as long as you're fine with it'' he said rolling AiLin on to his back and pulled his pants off in one go.
AiLin pulled him close wrapping his arms and legs around LiYun who kissed him hard and pushed his tongue into AiLin's mouth exploring every inch of it. AiLin let soft moans out. LiYun touched and kissed every inch of him. AiLin couldn't have been happier.
AiLin fell asleep in LiYun's big arms afterwards. LiYun smiled and played with his hair as he slept. Having this little fox in his arms next to him in bed made him more happy than anything else he could think of. He held AiLin close and closed his eyes, going to sleep himself.