After Kong and Jing were done with their little fight with the two drunks, they followed LiYun, who was dragging AiLin along behind him, back to the hotel they were staying at. No one talked the whole way there. Not even Kong who loved to talk and ask questions. Many times, AiLin tried to pull away from LiYun's grip, but it was no use. Finally, they had reached the hotel and as they waited for the elevator Jing leaned in to whisper to him.
''Best thing to do is to just follow LiYun without a struggle'' he said looking at his friend.
The look on LiYun's face was a mix between hard and confused. Still, what was he planning on doing? Why was he not letting go of him? He looked at LiYun and yet still could not believe he didn't notice it before. He was a dragon. Turning to look at the others he started to wonder if they were human or Gods as well.
LiYun opened the door to the room and gently tossed AiLin on the couch ''Don't let him out of your sight'' he said then walked into a different room and closed the door behind him.
AiLin looked around the room getting up to wonder about and look at everything in the room. He had never once seen a room like this before. He walked over to the window and looked out and down then jumped back. Kong started to laugh.
''Geez, you would think this guy had never been in a hotel room before'' he said laughing.
Jing sat on the couch crossing his arms and closing his eyes ''That's because he has lived in the forest most his life, so this is all new to him'' he said.
''What do you mean, Jing'' Kong asked confused.
''Go take a closer look at him and you will see'' Jing nodded to AiLin who was looking at the big TV.
Kong huffed and walked over to AiLin and spun him around to look at him. AiLin looked back at him.
''SHIT!'' Kong shouted then looked at Jing pointing at AiLin ''The little fox?''
''Yep'' Jing said.
AiLin wanted to know what both Jing and Kong were. He grabbed Kong's hand and laid it on his cheek.
''What is he doing'' Kong said, starting to freak out.
Jing looked up and shrugged.
''Wolf God'' AiLin said softly.
Jing sat up looking shocked ''I see, he can tell if we are human or Gods.''
AiLin walked over to Jing and held his hand out to him. Jing stood and gave him his hand and watched as he placed it on his cheek.
''Tiger God'' AiLin said with a smile ''No humans.''
''That's right'' LiYun's voice came from the doorway of the room he went into. ''None of us are humans so you don't need to be scared.''
AiLin walked over to LiYun ''Li is a Dragon God.''
''Li?'' Jing and Kong asked.
AiLin turned and nodded pointing at LiYun ''Li.''
Jing walked over to AiLin and pointed to himself ''What about me?''
''Jing'' AiLin replied.
Jing grabbed a hold of Kong and pointed to him.
''Kong'' he said again.
''How do you know our names?'' Kong asked, confused as he pushed Jing away.
AiLin went back to sit on the couch and looked down. He wasn't good at talking. After all, he didn't have anyone to talk to in the forest. All three guys looked at each other, then at AiLin. Jing walked over and sat in the chair near AiLin.
''How about you tell us why you are here then'' he said softly.
Of all three of them, Jing was calmer and softer. Kong was wilder and crazier, as well as young. LiYun was the mean, tough one.
AiLin looked at Jing and pulled the note out that LiYun had left in the forest. Jing looked at it confused, but the moment LiYun saw it he knew what it meant. LiYun sat where Jing was sitting and looked at AiLin.
''So, you were there that day listening and watching'' he said calmly.
AiLin nodded looking down.
''Can you tell us your name'' he asked
''AiLin'' he said softly.
Kong covered his mouth, but was unable to hold back his laughter ''Ai....AiLin!'' he said as he fell on the floor laughing so hard.
''If I'm right, AiLin means Love from the woods'' Jing said as he kicked Kong in the stomach ''Seems fitting, don't you agree LiYun?'' When Jing looked over at LiYun he noticed he was trying to hide his laughter as well. Jing sighed and shook his head. Jing walked over to AiLin and pulled him along with him.
''I'm sorry about them, sometimes they can be childish. While they laugh, let's go get you something to eat. You must be hungry, then maybe we can talk'' he said as they walked out the room.
Down in the hotel restaurant, Jing and AiLin were eating. Jing didn't ask him anything other than what he wanted to eat. The whole time they ate Jing stayed quiet. In the middle of eating AiLin stopped and looked up at Jing.
''Is Jing mad that I am here'' He said softly.
Jing stopped and looked at him ''No, I just really want to know how you know our names. Was it when we touched you'' he said putting his fork down.
AiLin shook his head ''The first time I saw all three of you in the forest you all said each other's names.''
''I see'' Jing kind of chuckled then stopped ''May I ask why you wanted to come here and find LiYun?''
AiLin looked at Jing then looked down ''I don't remember anything about who I am or why I was left in the forest. The only things I do remember are unpleasant.'' He put the fork down he had been using and laid his hands in his lap ''After the three of you left and Li stopped coming to the forest, something deep in me said to find Li. That he would be able to help me find the truth, but I also feel drawn to him as well.''
Jing listened to AiLin as he talked. He noticed both Kong and LiYun walking up behind him. Jing shook his head telling them to stop. He wanted to hear everything AiLin had to say.
''When he touched my cheek something just drew me even closer to him. Truly, I don't understand it myself. In the hundred years I have spent in that forest I have never felt this way about anyone human or God before.'' AiLin stopped. He could feel someone coming up behind him. When he turned, he could see LiYun standing there. He looked mad. He then turned and left.
Jing got up and told Kong to stay with AiLin. Jing chased after LiYun all the way back to the room.
''LiYun, what is wrong? Why are you mad'' he said.
LiYun didn't say anything. He walked over to the window and just stared out of it. Shit, what he felt was the same as AiLin, only worse.
AiLin sat in the restaurant for a moment then spoke ''He is mad'' he asked looking at Kong.
Kong nodded a bit not saying anything.
AiLin nodded back and stood leaving the hotel. Kong jumped up and chased after him.
''Where are you going'' he said grabbing a hold of AiLin.
''Home'' AiLin looked up the tall building then sighed as he walked down the street. The one good thing about AiLin was that he had learned very fast how to get around and where he was going.
Kong walked back into the room rubbing the back of his neck. Jing turned only to see he was alone ''Where is AiLin'' he asked.
Kong sighed and glared at LiYun ''He went home.''
''Maybe it's for the best. Then again'' Jing said crossing his arms looking in the window at LiYun ''One falls in love with the idea from a story, while the other falls in love at first sight. I wonder how this will affect him later on. Maybe he won't ever trust humans or Gods again.''
LiYun huffed and opened the window jumping out as he fell, he transformed into his Dragon form and took to the sky.
Kong rushed over ''Where is he going?''
''To find Ai'' Jing said in a teasing manner.
It took AiLin four hours to get back to the forest. Once he was standing outside the entrance of the forest, he just stood there looking at it. This was where he belonged anyways. Not the outside world. AiLin shifted into his fox form and slowly walked inside. He didn't run or hop about. He walked the whole way to the pool at the bottom of the Rainbow Waterfalls where he first saw Li.
He sat there with his head hung as he looked in the water for a long time. Shifting back to his human form AiLin took his shoes off and started to walk into the water. He dove in and sat at the bottom of the pool for a very long time. He opened his eyes and looked up only to see a strange shape fly above the waters. He felt a big thud hit the ground then next came a muffed loud roar. It shook the water.
AiLin swam up to the top of the water. After whipping his face off he looked to see a very large red dragon. The dragon looked around in a panic and roared again. AiLin slowly made his way up to the bank. As he started to walk out of the water, he stopped.
''Li'' he said softly.
The dragon spun around so fast it was now face to face with AiLin. Before AiLin could ask what Li was doing there, the dragon placed its head against AiLin's chest. The next thing he knew the Dragon shifted into its human form. Sure, enough it was Li and he was now hugging him. AiLin started to freak out and pushed him away.
LiYun stood there looking at him. The look on his face was of worry. AiLin didn't know what to do. He grabbed his human shoes and started to take off. The only thing he knew was Li was mad at him for how he felt. He didn't want to make him even madder. LiYun chased after him.
''Ai, please wait'' he said, calling out to him.
AiLin stopped and looked at him ''Ai'' he said confused.
''You call me Li, why can't I call you Ai'' LiYun chuckled softly.
AiLin wasn't sure how to feel about that ''Why did you come here?''
LiYun took a step towards AiLin only to have him take a step back ''I came to bring you back with me'' he said.
''Li is mad because of what I said. I won't go back'' AiLin said, tossing his shoes on the ground then ran away.
LiYun took off after him. He had let him get away twice and he wasn't going to let it happen again a third time. Lucky for LiYun he was fast. He tackled AiLin to the ground just as they got to the path that led to the cave. AiLin looked at him, as he held him down.
''I did get mad and I'm sorry. It wasn't anything you said or did. I was the one that asked you to come to start with'' he said.
The more he looked at AiLin the more something in him told him to make him his. LiYun felt bad as it was. He got up pulling AiLin with him and dusted him off.
''Look, I'm sorry. I had been looking for you all my life and I guess you can say I'm still in shock of even meeting you'' LiYun said sitting on the small steps of the path.
''What do you mean'' AiLin asked.
LiYun looked at him for a long time then finally told him about the story he was told as a child. AiLin couldn't believe what he was hearing.