LiYun rolled over to his side facing the wall with just the blanket covering his lower half. AiLin shakes his head and laughs as he climbs out of the bed and puts some pants on. He walked over to the window and sat on the edge of it watching it rain. Just then Kong walked in and looked at the bed surprised.
''Let him sleep'' AiLin said smiling.
Kong turned and saw him then pointed ''Umm, what happened'' he asked confused.
''Nothing, just slept'' AiLin turned his head and looked back outside.
Kong walked over and saw the mark on AiLin's neck then nodded ''I get it now'' he flicked the mark on his neck and laughed.
AiLin growled and covered his neck while blushing ''So what'' he said.
''Chill Ai, I'm not saying anything bad about it. I'm just glad you both noticed you can't be without each other'' he sat on the window seal as well ''You need him just like he needs you.''
Just then LiYun had woken up and hit Kong with a pillow ''Stop teasing him'' he said as he got out of the bed and walked over to AiLin hugging him.
''Put some clothes on'' Kong said covering his eyes.
AiLin laughed and grabbed a blanket off the chair near him and wrapped it around LiYun's waist. LiYun growled and walked off grabbing some dry clothes putting them on. Kong shook his head and looked at AiLin who was staring out the window once again. The smile on his face had faded away. Kong reached out and placed a hand on his.
''How's the head'' he asked worriedly.
AiLin looked at him then at LiYun ''There is something I need to deal with but Li can't know.'' There was something AiLin had remembered from his past ''It could hurt him if he knew. I'm scared he will hate his brother once he finds out.''
''What is it'' Kong said, confused. What could be so bad that AiLin would want to hide something from LiYun about his brother.
AiLin shook his head and moved to jump down from the window then walked over to LiYun and hugged him tightly, laying his head against his bare chest and stomach. LiYun looked down at him confused then looked at Kong who just shrugged.
''Kong'' Jing's voice came from the doorway.
Kong smiled and ran over to him kissing his cheek ''Let me help with that'' he took the tray from Jing and carried it to the table. LiYun picked AiLin up with one arm and carried him to the table sitting down, placing him on his lap and hugging him tightly. AiLin smiled and fed him a grape.
''It's about time'' Jing said smiling sitting on Kong's lap as well.
''You knew'' Kong asked.
Jing nodded ''It was a strong feeling'' he said pouring all three of them tea.
''I'm sorry about yesterday, Jing'' AiLin said looking down.
''As you should be. You scared both me and your mother. If it wasn't for LiYun showing up when he did who knows what would have happened'' Jing said ''But everything is fine now.''
AiLin looked at Jing ''You were born before LiYun right?''
''By only a few years, me and his brother are the same age.'' he said.
AiLin nodded ''Can you come with me somewhere later, Jing'' AiLin asked.
Both Kong and LiYun looked confused ''What is going on'' LiYun asked.
Kong didn't say anything at first then spoke up ''It's ok, Jing can help Ai with what he needs. Li, you can come with me to the Wolf Kingdom. I still have yet to go'' he said then looked at AiLin.
Once they all finished talking and had something to eat both Kong and LiYun left for the Wolf Kingdom. AiLin stood in the doorway watching till they were out of sight. Jing started to clean things up.
''So, where is it you want to go'' Jing asked, looking at him.
''I want to go ask LiJiang what he was thinking, setting me up like that in the village'' AiLin said, crossing his arms.
Jing stopped what he was doing ''What are you talking about'' he asked worriedly.
''You will find out once we get there'' AiLin sighed and clinched his fist tightly.
The Dragon Queen met AiLin and Jing at the front gate. She hugged AiLin the moment she saw him. Tears filled her eyes as she held him tightly.
''I'm so happy you are alright, my dear'' she said looking at him with a smile.
''Thank you auntie, but sadly I'm here for a whole different reason'' he said ''I need to speak with Jiang.''
''He is inside, come in the both of you'' she led the way to the main building where Jiang was talking with some people.
Jiang turned around and saw AiLin with Jing and rushed out to meet them. The moment he reached out to touch AiLin he was slapped. AiLin's eyes started to glow and Jing pulled him back.
''What are you doing'' Jing whispered.
''How long did you think you would be able to get away with what you did to me, Jiang'' AiLin shouted.
''Ai dear, what are you talking about'' LiYun's mother said, confused.
''Ask Jiang'' he said.
Jiang looked at him surprised and in shock then hung his head ''So you do remember'' he said softly.
''Did you think I wouldn't'' AiLin said pulling away from Jing ''You should be grateful I haven't said a word of this to LiYun.''
''Yun'' He laughed and took a few steps forward ''Tell him, see if I care. It's not fair he gets everything. If I wasn't born first before him then it would be me who would get to be with you. He doesn't even deserve you.''
''Watch what you say'' Jing said.
Jiang laughed more ''You should have been mine, not Yun's'' he said glaring at AiLin.
''What did you do, Jiang'' his mother asked.
''Oh yes by all means tell her'' AiLin said ''Better yet allow me.'' He turned and looked at her ''Your son tried to force himself on me and even forced his mark on me as well. When I refused him and he found out what village I was going to. He paid the whole village to attack me. If it was not for the Emperor taking his mark off me and removing the memories, well we all know where this would have gone'' AiLin looked at Jiang who was still in shock.
''He needs to be punished for the crime against the Heir of the Fox Clan'' Jing said, holding onto AiLin.
The queen nodded ''I will ask the emperor to do so'' she said softly ''Ai dear, please accept my apologies on his behalf.''
''You are to be my mother in law, you have no reason to apologize for his actions'' he said placing a hand on her ''You did what you could as his mother.''
''Mother, you can not be serious'' Jiang said.
''Ai is not only the Heir to the Fox Clan, the moment he and your brother marry he will also be half ruler of the Dragon Clan as well'' she turned and looked at him ''You, my son, have caused a crime against him and should be punished.''
She called for the guards to take her son to the Emperor. They all soon left for the Jade Castle. Once inside, AiLin and Jing stayed back behind The Dragon Queen and Jiang.
''What can I do for you all today'' The Emperor asked.
The Queen knelt down and bowed ''I ask for a punishment for my son, Prince LiJiang.''
''And what is the crime'' he asked.
''He has committed a crime against the Prince and Heir of the Fox Clan, AiLin.'' she said.
She spoke of what was told to her. When asked, Jiang did admit to the crime against AiLin. The Emperor sighed.
''This crime not only hurts the Dragon Clan, but the Fox Clan as well. Two clans that will soon be brought together through marriage'' he turned and looked at AiLin ''Does LiYun know of this?''
''I could not bring myself to tell him. LiJiang is his brother and I fear it will hurt him'' Ai answered by lowering his head.
The Emperor nodded in agreement ''This matter does leave me no choice but to give a punishment'' he turned to Jiang ''Your punishment will not be easy. You will spend six thousand years in the bamboo forest as it's guardian. You will also live in your dragon form till your punishment is over. Once it is you must come back and ask AiLin for forgiveness only then will you be allowed to come back, but if he declines it you must then serve him till he has changed his mind. You title as Prince will also be stripped away as well.''
Jiang was led out by the guards. The Queen walked in front of AiLin and Jing. AiLin hung his head. She turned around and walked over to him ''Do not feel bad. It is not your fault this happened'' She smiled and hugged him softly.
Just then LiYun and Kong came running up the steps. He walked past his brother who looked at him then hung his head. LiYun was confused as to what was going on. He finally saw AiLin and ran over to him.
''What is going on? Why are you all here'' he said looking at his mother.
She shook her head and patted his shoulder. He looked at AiLin who looked away.
''Kong, take Ai back. I'll talk with Li about what happened'' Jing said. He passed AiLin to Kong who walked him back.
Once they were out of sight Jing looked at LiYun and sighed. He told him everything that happened. Even LiYun's mother told him that Jiang said everything was true. They told about how he was punished and how AiLin felt bad towards LiYun.
''He didn't want you getting hurt'' Jing said.
LiYun sat on the steps and rubbed his head ''It would kinda make since seeing how Ai acted to Jiang then first time they meet, but why couldn't he just trust me enough to tell me?''
His mother sat next to him and sighed ''We all hide things from those we love in order to save them from the pain. Your father and I have done it to each other. It's not that we didn't trust each other but the fact we want the one we love to stay happy'' she wrapped her arm around his shoulder and pulled him close ''Ai did the same thing for you. You mean the world to him so he didn't want to see you hurt from the pain of finding out what happened. It's the same thing he did when he knew the risk of getting his memories back. That is why he wanted to break up with you.''
''She is right, you of all people should know how Ai feels.'' Jing said.
LiYun got up and headed down the steps heading back to see AiLin. When he reached the courtyard Kong was walking out of the building. He stopped and looked at LiYun. He placed a hand on his shoulder softly.
''Ai already told me what happened. Try not to be too hard on him'' Kong said and left.
LiYun walked inside and looked for AiLin who was sitting near the window again. AiLin turned and looked at him shocked to even see him there.
''Li, I'm sorry I didn't tell you'' AiLin said getting up and walking to him.
LiYun didn't say anything he walked over to AiLin and grabbed a hold of his face and kissed him deeply. He knew deep in his heart AiLin did what he did for him. How could he be mad at him for it? He picked AiLin and carried him to the bed laying him down.