After about four days, AiLin's fever had finally broken and he was able to walk around without help. After what happened that one night both Jing and LiYun started to take shifts. Jing was walking with AiLin along the path in the garden behind AiLin's palace. AiLin didn't say a word the whole time. Jing stopped when AiLin did.
''Ai'' he said softly.
''Will he be by today'' he said, not turning around to look at him.
''No, since you are now better there is no reason for him to'' Jing said.
AiLin nodded and started to walk again with his head down. That's right, since he broke up with LiYun he would understand him not coming around anymore. He sat on the bench near the pound and looked into it.
''Jing, please go ahead and leave. I can make it back on my own later'' he said.
''I should stay'' Jing said, walking over to him.
''No, I wish to be alone, plus you have Kong to worry about and your clan'' AiLin looked back at him and smiled ''Really, I'll be fine.''
Jing sighed and nodded ''Very well, but please be sure to head back in before it rains.''
AiLin nods. Jing patted his back then left. On his way out he ran into AiLin's mother ''Hello Auntie'' he said bowing.
''Jing dear how are you?'' she said with a smile.
''Well and you'' he asked in return.
''A lot better now that Ai is doing good'' she looked around for her son ''Where is he by the way?''
''In the garden he wished to be alone for a bit'' he said.
She nodded and sat down ''I worry about him. Since he broke up with Li, he hasn't seemed himself.''
''I sadly have to agree. He asked if he was coming today. I had to tell him the truth and when I did he seemed more down then anything'' Jing sat next to her and hung his head ''Neither of them seems like they can live without the other.''
Just then they both heard a loud splash from the garden. A servant came running yelling that AiLin had jumped into the pound and hadn't come up. Jing and AiLin's mother ran to the garden and looked into the pound. Neither of them could find him nor did he seem to show any signs of coming up at any time soon. Just as Jing was about to jump in after him LiYun ran into the garden and jumped right in.
Jing held AiLin's mother tightly. A few seconds later LiYun popped up holding AiLin in his arms holding him close tightly. Jing handed AiLin's mother to one of the servants standing next to them as he went and helped LiYun pull AiLin out. Once they were both out of the water safely LiYun picked AiLin up and carried him to his room. Jing and AiLin's mother stood there watching them. This is what they were scared of.
LiYun laid AiLin on the bed and pulled his wet clothes off and put his dry clothes on ''The hell were you thinking, Ai. You just got better and now you jump into the pound. Do you want to die or something'' he growled the whole time.
AiLin opened his eyes and sat up. LiYun tried to push him back to lay down. AiLin shoved LiYun away and growled ''DO NOT TOUCH ME!'' he yelled ''You have no right.''
AiLin through the blanket off him and got out of the bed. Just then it started to rain and thunder hard. AiLin turned and walked out the door into the rain. LiYun ran after him grabbing his arm trying to pull him back inside.
''You will get sick again. Come back inside, Ai'' LiYun said.
AiLin pulled away ''I said not to touch me and so what if I get sick again, it has nothing to do with you'' he said getting drenched.
''Fine, go ahead and get sick again, but I won't be here to take care of you again'' LiYun yelled over the thunder and the heavy rain.
''Fine, then leave'' AiLin yelled back.
LiYun stood there looking at him while AiLin looked at him back. Neither of them said a word. Jing and AiLin's mother stood near the gate watching them.
''They look as if they are about to fight'' she said worried.
Jing smirked and shook his head ''This is just the way they show their love without even showing it. Let's go back and let them deal with it.''
She nodded as they turned and left. AiLin just sighed and finally looked away. LiYun took a step forward towards him ''Ai, please just go back inside'' he said softly.
AiLin took a step back ''Just leave me alone, Li'' he wrapped his arms around himself. He felt like crying and in the rain if he did no one would notice.
''I can't do that'' LiYun said, taking a few more steps towards him ''You keep pushing me away more and more. I'm done playing these games, Ai. You either have feelings for me or you don't, which is it?''
AiLin didn't dare look at him ''Please just leave'' he said pushing past him going back to his room.
LiYun grabbed his arm and pulled him to stop ''Not till you answer me. Do you still have feelings for me?''
AiLin growled and pulled away staring at him ''Of course I do. How could I not?'' Tears filled his eyes ''You mean the world to me, but I will not have you get to the point you feel like you can't live without me if something were to happen. Unlike you, I only have myself and my mother. You have two of the coolest friends, a brother and a mother plus a whole clan that would miss you if something happened. I mean nothing and I have no one.''
LiYun walked over and picked AiLin up, throwing him over his shoulder going back inside ''You mean everything to more than you think. Jing and Kong care for you. You have a clan that needs you. Your mother needs you and my mother cares for you as well.'' He sits AiLin down once they were inside, then cups his face tightly in his hands ''Then there is me who loves you like no one else will. Of course I can't live without you because you are my life.''
He placed his forehead against AiLin's and closed his eyes ''I only exist for you. If it is not you then I would rather be alone the rest of my life. You can push me away as much as you want, but I will not stop caring for you.'' He pulled back and looked at him ''You can go wherever you want and be with whoever you want as long as you are happy and alive, but you are not allowed to leave me alone in this world that doesn't have you in it.''
AiLin started to cry so hard and he felt so weak that his knees started to give out. He grabbed a hold of LiYun to keep himself up who wrapped his arms around his waist and held him tightly.
''That is why I allowed you to have your mark removed, but I kept mine. At least this way I could be there to save you if something ever happened. As long as I'm around no one and nothing will ever hurt you. I swear it.''
''Stupid dragon'' AiLin said looking up at him.
''Stupid fox for not believing in me enough'' he kissed AiLin's forehead ''Now before you get sick lets get you changed and in bed.''
AiLin nodded and moved to take his clothes off but LiYun was a few steps ahead of him. He picked AiLin up with one arm and stripped him then placed him in the bed and covered him with a blanket. He smiled as he leaned over him pushing the hair from his face. A few drops of water from LiYun's hair fell on AiLin's face.
''If you don't change you will get sick as well'' AiLin said sitting up.
LiYun smiled and laughed ''I will be fine'' he said.
AiLin shook his head and pulled LiYun's shirt off him, tossing it onto the other wet clothes. He then reached for his pants only to be stopped by LiYun ''Ai.''
''If you don't take it all off you will get sick'' AiLin said pushing his hands to the side and stripped him of his pants as well.
He pulled LiYun to lay next to him then threw the blanket over both of them. LiYun laid there looking at AiLin who laid on his side with his back to LiYun. LiYun sighed and pulled AiLin over to him wrapping his arms around him. AiLin loved how warm LiYun was. He laid against him wrapping his arms around him.
LiYun held him tightly as he looked at AiLin's neck and thought about how bad he wanted to mark him again making him his once more. Yet, without AiLin's say he wouldn't even do it. The next thing he knew his head was being pushed down against AiLin's neck. His lips softly brushed against his softly pale skin. LiYun kissed his neck down to his shoulder softly. The scent that came from AiLin drew LiYun more.
''Ai, I think I should go. At this point I may end up marking you again'' he said as he moved to get up.
AiLin reached up wrapping his arms around his neck and pulled him back down on top of him ''Then do it'' he said softly.
''Ai, you know what that means'' LiYun said looking down at him.
AiLin nodded ''Of course I do.''
''If I do, you can never leave me again'' he said.
He laid there then leaned up and kissed LiYun hard ''I won't, I swear'' he said.
LiYun pulled him close and kissed his neck then bit down hard drawing blood. AiLin clung onto him tightly tossing his head back. The feel of LiYun's muscular body against his had never felt better. He ran a hand down LiYun's chest, his fingers softly brushing against every inch of him. LiYun finally let go and licked the bite mark softly. Once again a small red dragon with blue eyes appeared.
LiYun stared at the mark then touched it softly with his finger tips. AiLin winced a bit. LiYun looked at him and sighed ''I must have bit too hard, I'm sorry'' he said pulled AiLin into a soft hug.
''It's alright'' AiLin said running his hand back up his back and into his hair holding him close ''As long as it's you then I can withstand any pain given to me.''
LiYun hid his face against AiLin's neck ''Stop talking like that. You have no idea how bad it hurts me to hear that. Rather it's me or someone else you should never be in pain.'' He laid AiLin down on his back and hovered over him.
AiLin looked up at him and smiled ''I understand, really.''
AiLin pulled him back down and kissed him hard. LiYun pressed his body against AiLin's and kissed him back. He slipped his tongue inside AiLin's mouth and held him close by his hips. LiYun kissed him rough then started to kiss along his neck down to his shoulder. AiLin dug his nails into LiYun's back softly. LiYun placed a soft kiss over AiLin's heart on his chest then laid his head down on him.
LiYun laid there on AiLin and closed his eyes while he listened to his heart beat. AiLin looked down at him running his hands through his hair ''Li, are you ok'' he asked.
''Tell me, are we back together or...'' he stopped. In truth he didn't want to hear that they weren't.
AiLin pulled LiYun up and kissed him then smiled ''If you will still have me then yes.''
LiYun smiled and kissed him then rolled over onto his back pulling AiLin along with him ''For now lets sleep and get rest'' he said, holding onto AiLin tightly.
AiLin nodded as he laid his head on LiYun's chest. LiYun wasn't going to let AiLin go again no matter how hard he tried to pull away from him.