LiYun stayed with AiLin the whole time. By morning he was still in his fox form but he had shrunk down to his small version. LiYun picked the little fox up and carried him inside and placed him next to him on the bed. AiLin snuggled up right against him. LiYun laughed and pulled a cover over them. LiYun's mom walked in and looked around.
''Is Ai doing better? Has he returned to his human form?'' she asked worried.
LiYun sat up and pulled the blanket down to show a sleeping little fox ''Not yet. This is the longest he has stayed this way. I'm worried.''
''It because his body is getting use to being in the God world and not the human world'' The Emperor said as he walked in. ''Let's hope he returns to his human form soon. If not we will have to take matters into our own hands'' he said reaching down petting the little fox. ''I had hoped to give his memories back today but I guess it will have to wait. Both of you get more rest'' he said smiling at LiYun.
LiYun nodded and laid back down covering the fox back up and staying close to him. The Emperor and The Dragon Queen left the room and went out side ''If he does not return to human form soon, I fear we will have to force the memories back. Doing that should help force him into human form. He won't be able to handle the pain of the memories in that little fox form'' he said looking up at the sky.
''What will happen if he doesn't return after having the memories back?'' she asked worried.
''He could end up staying like that for a long time till he is ready and able to'' he turned back and looked inside ''I fear it may kill him instead. Lets hope that doesn't happen.''
''I fear if that was to happen the boys will blame themselves'' she said with her head down ''Li will be lost without Ai. I saw how they were with each other. Without Ai, Li will feel no need in living.''
''For now we will put this away. Let us hope that Ai is able to return to human form soon'' The Emperor said putting an arm around LiYun's mother ''Let us leave for now.'' He pulled her away and left.
AiLin sat up and looked out the door way where they had been standing. He looked back at LiYun who was sleeping. He wasn't going to let LiYun hurt himself over him. AiLin leaped out of the bed and ran out the door. If anyone was going to be able to help him now then it was that woman who calls herself his mother. He had to find her.
AiLin ran around trying to find his way out of the Dragon Kingdom. Just then Jing showed up and noticed that the fox was AiLin. Jing knelt down and held a hand out to AiLin.
''Come here, Ai'' He said softly.
AiLin ran over and jumped in his hand ''Are you trying to find your way out?'' Jing asked standing and placing AiLin on his shoulder.
AiLin nodded and nuzzled his cheek. Jing understood and lead the way out. Just then Kong showed up and looked at the both of them.
''What is going on and why is Ai still in fox form?'' Kong said then looked around for LiYun.
''I don't know but he seems in a rush. I think there is something wrong and he is trying to find his way to the Fox Kingdom'' he spoke softly so others would hear.
AiLin made a soft sound to tell him he was right. Jing smiled and started to walk off again but with Kong following this time ''If Ai is doing this alone without Li knowing it must be something'' Jing said trying to think.
''So we get him the his mother first then tell Li?'' Kong asked.
AiLin turned and growled at him ''I'm guessing that is a no'' Jing said laughing.
After some time the three of them had finally made their way to the Fox Kingdom. AiLin's mother hurried over to greet them. When she saw AiLin she wasn't shocked and worried.
''He still isn't back to normal I see'' she said picking him up and looked him over.
''It seems that way, you highness'' Jing said.
''Call me Auntie'' she said as she placed AiLin on the ground and walked over to a table sitting down ''The three of you come over here and sit.''
They did as they were told ''Ai's father did the same thing when he was younger as well'' she said
''How did he turn back?'' Jing asked.
''Ai needs to calm his heart and mind'' she picked a cup of tea up that had been placed on the table ''As long as he fears that you and the others are in harms way of Su and Fang he will keep that in his heart and it will keep him in this form.''
She turned and looked at AiLin who sat on the table looking back at her ''Don't worry my son, I won't let them force anything on you and you won't die'' she said poking his nose.
He pawed at her playfully. She stood and picked AiLin up then carried him outside ''He will need to sit in the temple till...well he turns back'' she said as she made her way there with the boys following her ''I had it built after the first time it happened to Ai's father. It took him a few hundred years till he turned back.''
''How long do you think it till take for Ai? If Li finds out he is missing..''Jing said.
''Don't worry someone is on their way to the Dragon Kingdom to tell them he is here so there won't be a need to worry'' she placed AiLin down on the ground and opened the doors of the temple ''For all they know is he turned back and came to visit alone to get to know me better.''
She knelt down and looked at AiLin ''You just need to sit in there and relax. Clear all the bad away and leave the good. I will have someone bring clothes for when you turn back.'' She patted his head and stood.
AiLin walked in and sat on the pillow then closed his eyes. The place reminded him of the temple he lived at in the forest. He already felt relaxed. The Queen turned and left ''You boys come with me. Leave him be'' she said.
Both Kong and Jing followed along and sighed ''You knew the moment you saw his large fox form didn't you?'' Kong asked.
''I saw it in his eyes the moment he turned. He gets fevers once he turns back to human form, right?'' she asked.
Jing nodded ''Yes.''
She nodded and sat back at the table ''They will stop once he fully gains his memories back and gets use to that form.''
''That's good to know'' Kong said holding Jing's hand.
''There is something I do hope you could tell me'' she said not looking up.
''What is it, Auntie'' Jing said.
She looked up at them and tilts her head ''Can you tell me...who plays the female part in their relationship?'' she said with a smile.
Kong spit his tea out and coughed while Jing started to blush a bit. They both looked at each other then at her. Neither of them could speak. She started to laugh and took a drink ''From the looks of it, it seems Ai takes that part. Am I right?''
Again neither of them could speak.
''From the looks of it Jing plays that part as well'' she said laughing again.
Jing blushed even harder as Kong slammed his head on the table as if he was trying to knock himself out ''I...I think we should leave'' Jing said.
''How did this even come about to be talked about?'' Kong asked in a whisper.
''Oh you boys, there is no need to be nervous'' she smiled and placed her cup down ''In truth there are more gay couples in our clan then in the others. Ai's father never saw it as anything bad. When The Emperor said that Ai would marry the next child born in the God world and that child turned out to be a boy, Ai's father didn't even seem bothered at all. He once said that love is love no matter what gender or breed you are. He would have liked the two of you.''
Kong and Jing sat there listening to her as she went on and on. They started to understand. AiLin seemed not only to look like his mother but he acted like his father. He was the perfect mix of them.
Hours seemed to pass faster the more the three of them talked. A servant girl ran up the path.
''Your Highness the young Prince as changed back and has a fever'' she shouted.
The queen stood and walked over to her ''Take him back to his room and start working on getting the fever down. I will go and gather some other things'' she turned and looked at Kong and Jing ''You boys ago with this girl and stay with Ai.''
Kong and Jing followed the girl to the palace AiLin was taken to. They both started to help clean AiLin up. Jing placed a cold rage on his head while Kong wiped his body down with another cold rage. Soon the queen walked in holding a small box.
''Give him one of these. It will help the fever'' she said holding the box out to Jing.
He nodded and did as he was told. After what seemed like hours AiLin started to wake. Jing checked his forehead.
''The fever broke'' he said smiling.
Another servant walked in and bowed to his mother ''Your Highness, Prince LiYun of the Dragon Clan is here to see you'' she said.
His mother nodded and looked at AiLin ''Rest I will go and speak with LiYun.'' She turned and left before he could say anything.
Jing smiled and laid AiLin back down ''Let her deal with Li for a bit. You have been through a lot.''
Kong nodded and sat down behind Jing ''He is right. Li will understand.''
AiLin looked at them both ''If something was to happen to me, what would Li do?''
''Something like what?'' Jing said.
''If I died'' he said
Jing lowered his head a bit ''He may feel as if something was missing from his life'' he said looking back at him.
''He may not want to live in a world without you'' Kong also said.
AiLin got a look on his face of being upset ''He would choose to die then to live?'' he asked.
''Possible'' both Jing and Kong said.
''Once a dragon finds someone they love whole heatedly that's it for them'' Jing said.
AiLin growled. Just then LiYun walked in and went straight to AiLin and hugged him tightly. Both Kong and Jing backed away giving them room.
''I'm glade you are ok'' LiYun said smiling.
AiLin pushed LiYun off him ''I want to break up'' he said.
LiYun looked at him confused ''What?''
''I don't want to marry or be with you'' AiLin pushed him away and got out of bed.
He slowly made his way outside to find his mother standing there ''You shouldn't be up. Get back in bed'' she said grabbing onto him.
''Mother, ask the Emperor to cancel everything between me and LiYun'' he said.
''Ai'' she looked at him right in his eyes as he looked back. She took a deep breath and nodded ''I understand. Now get back to bed.'' She handed him to Jing who took him inside then turned to LiYun ''Prince LiYun, I ask that you please take your leave now. My son needs his rest. Since he has made his choice there is no reason for you to be here anymore'' she bows her head then turns back around and walks inside shutting the doors behind her.
LiYun stood there confused and lost in what just happened. Kong stood there as well looking at him ''Let's leave for now, Li'' he said. LiYun growled and walked off with Kong following behind him.
Once AiLin knew that LiYun was gone he fell to the floor and started to cry. He held onto Jing tightly. Jing looked at the queen confused.
''Let's put him to bed first then I'll tell you'' she said.
Once AiLin was back in bed sleeping the queen and Jing walked back to the main palace. Kong meet them half way mad.
''What the hell is Ai's deal?'' he said.
''He is doing it for Li'' she said sitting down. ''He thinks if he breaks it off now before going through the process of getting his memories back it would be easier for him.''
Jing sat down looking at her ''There is something you're not telling.''
She looked at Jing and sighed ''Getting ones memories back is hard. Sometimes the pain is so hard to deal with, it can cause one to die'' she said ''Ai is saving Li of the pain of losing him.''
Kong flops on the floor in shock ''We can lose Ai?'' he said.
Jing sat back and felt like he wanted to cry as well ''That's why he asked what Li would do if something happened to him.''
''It's true'' a voice came from the door way.
They turned and looked to see the Dragon Queen standing there ''Ai could die'' she said.