NOTES: FangHe (Pleasant-smelling Lotus flower) - also goes by Fang. Fang is a white leopard who is part of the leopard clan that follows the tiger clan. He is loyal to Su and plans to help him in getting Jing back. In doing so he ends up meeting AiLin in the bamboo forest. Fang wishes to make AiLin his.
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AiLin woke the next morning hurting. He grabbed his side where the leopard had clawed him. He slowly moved out of the bed and made his way to the bathroom. He looked in the mirror and pulled back the bandage that covered his side. When he saw the claw mark he winced at the pain of it.
''You need to clean it then cover it back up'' a voice said from the doorway.
It was Jing who had brought more bandages for him. AiLin smiled and nodded as he started to try and clean it but it hurt too much. Jing set the stuff down and helped him. Jing gave a soft sigh as he did. He felt bad for what happened to AiLin.
''I'm sorry, Ai. This shouldn't have happened at all'' Jing said softly without looking up at him.
''Jing you did nothing wrong. That guy hurt you first, so he had whatever it was coming to him'' AiLin said trying to hold back the pain ''Look, I may not remember anything about the God world before so I don't remember my family. You and Kong welcomed me, along with Li, so you are my family now and I will do what I need to make sure all of you are safe. Even if that means fighting off leopards and tigers.''
Jing laughed a bit and covered the wound ''If Li heard you say this he would be mad'' he said standing up and cleaning up the mess.
''Let him be mad. He should know by now that I'm not that easy to handle'' AiLin stood and grabbed his shirt pulling it on then looked over to the sleeping LiYun ''Come on Jing, I'll make us something to eat'' he said smiling.
''Let's go get some tea first. It's been awhile since we went out together'' Jing said walking down the hall with AiLin following behind who had agreed.
Jing and AiLin laughed and walked down the street to the tea house. AiLin stopped and pulled Jing behind him as he sniffed the air then growled. Jing held onto his arm and looked at him.
''What is, Ai?'' Jing asked in a whisper.
AiLin didn't say anything and pulled Jing into a nearby store where he hid Jing. AiLin looked out and watched as a tall guy walked past the store. AiLin growled low till he was gone. That damn tiger was back and AiLin wasn't going to let him near Jing. AiLin slowly stepped out looking around till he was gone then he softly pulled Jing down to the tea house.
Once they were inside AiLin looked around to make sure it was safe. They sat down towards the back so even if he looked in he wouldn't be able to see them. AiLin sat where he was able to see the door.
Jing reached out and touched AiLin's hand ''What is going on?'' he asked worriedly.
''That guy is here'' AiLin said, keeping watch ''Call Kong or Li and let them know that he may be on his way there.
Jing nodded and did just that. He called Kong and told him what AiLin said. When he hung up the phone he let a sigh out. He looked at AiLin whose eyes had started to glow brighter. Jing turned around and saw a leopard standing outside looking in at AiLin. AiLin stood and growled again.
Jing moved over to AiLin trying to calm him down ''Hey easy, he wouldn't dare come in here and cause trouble. It's against the rules'' he said, holding AiLin's arms.
Kong jumped out of bed after hanging up the phone. He ran down the hall and opened LiYun's door ''Li, get up now.''
''Dude what is it'' he said as he reached for AiLin only to find he wasn't there. He sat up and looked at Kong ''Where is Ai?'' he asked worriedly.
''He is with Jing at the tea house, but that is not the point. Su is on his way here and the leopard is back'' he said.
LiYun growled and jumped out of bed. He went down the stairs to find Su standing at the door of the school. Growling, LiYun opened the door and grabbed a hold of Su slamming him against the wall.
''You have some nerve showing up here after what you did not only to Jing but to Ai as well'' LiYun said, his eyes glowing bright red with anger.
Kong tried to pull LiYun off Su ''Dude, I get you're mad but let him talk. As much as I want to kill him as well'' Kong said.
LiYun let Su go and backed away. Su tried to catch his breath ''I came to ask if I may speak with Jing. Not alone of course, you may all be there. I just want to properly tell him how sorry I am for what I have done'' he said giving a soft sigh ''As for what happened to the Fox Prince, I had no idea that one of the leopards would go after him.''
Just then AiLin and Jing walked in with the leopard following behind them. AiLin walked over to LiYun and hugged him tightly as Jing went over to Kong. Su looked at the leopard who bowed its head and whined. Su looked at LiYun and AiLin.
''Please, I'm asking'' he said.
LiYun looked at Jing then sighed ''Fine, but we will be there and he stays down here'' he said pointing to the leopard.
''Fair enough'' Su said, agreeing.
Everyone headed upstairs where Jing sat on one side of the table and Su sat on the other. AiLin stood at the top of the stairs keeping an eye on the leopard who stared back at him. Kong sat behind Jing on the half wall that separated the kitchen and the living room. LiYun stood in the kitchen leaning against the counter so he could keep an eye on AiLin as well as Jing. Jing sat there with his head down. He dare not look at Su.
''Jing, look I'm truly sorry for what happened in the past. We were both young and two male Gods dating at the time wasn't seen as normal'' Su said softly ''I was stupid for letting them get to me like that and because of it you got hurt.''
Jing sat there not saying anything at first ''Rather it was normal or not, I do know a few things. One you don't do that to someone you say you love and two no one but you and your friends saw it as wrong'' he looked up at Su with hate in his eyes ''Even the Emperor promised Li to Ai even after finding out he was a boy. Even the Emperor had no problem with it as long as it meant you could be with the one you love, but you must not have truly loved me enough if you had let others change your mind about it'' Jing stood up.
Su reached out and grabbed a hold of Jing's arm. AiLin turned and growled at him only to have the leopard growl at AiLin who turned back to it. Kong jumped in and pulled Jing away from Su while LiYun slowly made his way to AiLin.
''Everyone needs to calm down'' LiYun said ''Su, don't touch Jing and Ai, try to not go after anyone'' he said placing a hand on his shoulder.
Su held his hands up and sat down ''I'm sorry, I overstepped.'' He looked up at Jing ''Jing I just hope you can forgive me and maybe give me another chance.''
''That isn't possible'' AiLin said, his eyes never leaving the leopard.
''Why not?'' Su asked.
''Cause he is with me'' Kong said holding onto Jing tightly.
Su glanced at Kong ''A tiger with a wolf? Now that is funny. Jing belongs with his own kind'' he said standing ''Plus, I don't see your mark on him or his on you.''
Jing looked at Su ''I never marked you either nor did you mark me. I belong with who I want to be with.''
''Jing, listen to me, you can do so much better than a wolf like him. If you don't wanna be with me fine, you can find someone else in the Tiger Clan to be with. If you do come back to me I will make sure to never hurt you again'' Su said walking over to Jing and Kong.
Jing looked up at Kong then sighed ''I'm sorry'' he said.
''For what'' Kong looked down at him confused.
Jing pulled Kong's shirt down enough till his collarbone showed. Jing leaned up and bit down hard till blood started to trickle down. Kong yelped and looked at Jing. When Jing let go he licked the mark softly till a tiger appeared in the middle of it, just like LiYun's did on AiLin. Jing turned and looked at Su as he whipped the blood from his mouth.
''As you know once you mark someone you can not mark another'' he said glaring at him ''So my answer is no, Su. I will never go back with you. Kong is who I choose, deal with it'' he growled. This was the first time in a long time he took a stand for himself.
Su sighed and shook his head ''Very well. I hope you are happy with the wolf'' Su walked down the stairs and took his leave with the leopard who still had his eyes on AiLin.
As they left the leopard started to talk ''You gave up that tiger easy'' he said.
''No, any mark he gives or is given can be removed. Let him play with the wolf a little longer. I will make him mine again even if I have to kill the wolf'' Su said growling and looking back ''Also you hurt the Fox Prince what were you thinking, Fang?'' he said looking at the leopard who changed into his human form.
''At first I wanted to hurt him but now he makes it all the more fun. I will make him mine and take him away from that damn dragon'' he said smiling and running a hand through his white hair ''He is so cute in his human form, almost makes me want to eat him alive.'' He licked his lips and laughed as he turned and walked away.
Su shook his head ''Why not go after someone more your type, like a nice human girl or even a Goddess'' he said as they walked away ''He is the next Fox King. You should have bowed to him instead of hurting him.''
''That little fox may be the next Fox King, but he will be nothing once he becomes mine. I'm sure I will be better than that damn dragon is in bed'' Fang's blue eyes lighten up thinking about AiLin.
Su sighed and patted his friends back ''Just be careful. That fox isn't just anyone. The Emperor favors him as well as he favors that damn dragon.''
Fang nodded ''I do know that.''
What they didn't know was someone was watching them from the shadows as they left Ciqikou. Jiang stepped out and growled low ''Like hell will either one of you bother them'' he said to himself. Jiang looked back at The White Dragon and slowly made his way to it.
LiYun sighed as he walked over to AiLin wrapping an arm around his waist and laying his head against his. Kong was looking at the bite mark in the mirror on the wall behind the couch. Jing rubbed his head and sighed but he had never felt better. Kong growled and threw Jing over his shoulder.
''Hey, put me down'' Jing said.
LiYun and AiLin looked at them and laughed a bit ''I wonder where he learned that from'' AiLin said looking at LiYun who was acting like he didn't know what he was talking about.
Kong turned and carried Jing to the bedroom, shutting the door then tossed him on the bed. He took his own shirt off and walked over to Jing pinning him down.
''I'm sorry'' he said looking up at Kong ''If your mad about the mark I'll have it removed.''
Kong growled more making Jing scared and closing his eyes. Kong flipped Jing over onto his stomach then pulled the top of his shirt down. Kong leaned down and whispered into Jing's ear.
''You care for me right'' He asked.
''Yes'' Jing said without daring to open his eyes.
''Other than to piss Su off, is there any other meaning behind the mark you gave me?''
Jing opened his eyes and looked up at Kong ''Of course there is. As I said you're the one I choose to be with'' he said.
''You better not change your mind ever'' Kong said. He moved down and kissed the back of Jing's shoulder softly. Just when Jing started to relax Kong smiled and bit down hard. Jing let a loud yelp out as he looked back at him.
Kong let go finally and licked the wound till a wolf appeared in the middle. Kong moved back and sat on the edge of the bed. Jing sat up and touched mark then looked at Kong.
Kong didn't look at him ''Don't look at me like that. Did you really think I would be mad or hurt you'' he said then turned around and looked at him ''I'm not Su, Jing. I wouldn't do that to you.''
Jing looked down ''I'm sorry and I know that'' he said in a low voice.
Kong reached over and lifted his head up to look at him ''Then stop putting me in the same group as him. Wolves tend to love only once in their life time and to me you are my one.'' He pulled Jing close and hugged him tightly.
Jing hugged him back ''Kong, I'm sorry, truly I am'' he said.
''I know, Jing. I also know that it will take time to forget the past, but it's time to focus on the now'' Kong said, pulling Jing away to look at him ''You're mine now. Remember that.''
Jing nodded and smiled at him then leaned up and kissed him deeply ''We should go out there. I'm sure they are listening.''
''I don't think so. I'm sure Li has Ai pinned against the counter or the couch having his way with him'' Kong said, laying Jing back and kissing his neck.
Jing bit his lip and smiled ''Ai will be making food soon'' Jing said.
Kong snapped up ''That's right'' he got up and ran down the hall with Jing following. Kong turned and covered his eyes ''I knew it'' he growled ''LI GET OFF AI SO HE CAN COOK!
LiYun looked up at Kong and growled ''Go play with Jing, plus Ai isn't your personal cook'' he said.
AiLin sat up half necked ''Li, Kong is right I still need to cook'' he said only to have LiYun give him an angry look. ''Oh don't give me that look'' he said leaning up kissing his cheek ''We can play later.''
''You all can play with each other after you figure out what to do about that damn white tiger and white leopard'' a voice came from the back door. They all turned and growled.