5.21 How can it be mutual?

The next morning Shu XinYi went to farewell the dragon fleet, they now had the culprit and they could use him to find the little dragon. The 3 dragons had said that they would revisit soon to negotiate terms for peace. Once Shu XinYi made sure that they were safely outside the capital gates, Shu XinYi went back to his place.

Obviously this wouldn't be the end of Bane, even with his spritual veins destroyed Bane could still become the protagonist of the story. "There is a 7% probability of Bane becoming the protagonist. Considering that Bane's luck as a protagonist is already very high then this probability can be achieved. That's why Master, we have to make sure they have 0% probability of becoming the protagonist before we consider this world as disrupted." Snow answered Shu XinYi's question.

Shu XinYi undid his robes and got ready for a bath as he answered, "My guess is he'll seduce one of the dragons. Or he'll kill one of them. Apart from that, there is not much he can do, or is there?"

"I can't say, But he's under the dragon's jurisdiction now so even if we want we can't do anything Master." Snow replied.

"Oh, so you think I am going to leave my amnesiac husband just trapped there? No. FengYi also wants to meet his grandfather and have a face to face talk with him." Shu XinYi said matter of factly. He would use the time in his so called banishment to go save Saye. He had no plans to leave FengYi behind in the dragon kingdom and he has a plan for that as well.

After a nice warm bath, Shu XinYi had some breakfast along with FengYi, "We'll go to your city in a few days, so you should prepare." Shu XinYi mentioned while eating.

FengYi dropped his spoon on his plate to say, "What? Why? You said I don't have to go back."

Shu XinYi picked up the spoon and handed it to FengYi, "And you said you would talk to your grandfather. If we don't clear this matter, your family will come after us sooner or later. But obviously you don't have to stay there. Hear me out." Shu XinYi explained his plan to FengYi who had calmed down.

"For now just know this much. Zither and Yuè will be back today. If I can invite them then let's have dinner together." Shu XinYi said as he cleared the table.

---------×---------

"You did well, both of you. We now have evidence to evict the western ministers and place trustworthy men in their place." Levay said looking at the reports. He stood up from the study table and moved in closer to pat both if them saying, "You both work really well together, should I organize more feats like this in the future?"

Shu XinYi who was also inside the study obviously saw the silently clenched fists and the soft gulps that both Zither and Yuè expressed. Clearly indicating well ... something. Shu XinYi couldn't tell if they were uncomfortable or embarrassed or both at the same time. Levay didn't notice this and laughed it off talking about their experience.

After some very awkward talks which Levay didn't notice at all, this reunion was finally over around lunch lime. They were all dismissed by Levay.

Shu XinYi didn't know how to start a conversation with those idiots so he just planned to head back. Once he was in the west courtyard Shu XinYi heard Zither call him out. "Brother Ilseu. C-can I talk with you?" Zither nervously spoke as Shu XinYi faced him.

Shu XinYi put his hand forward indicating for Zither to walk beside him. "So?" Shu XinYi said after a few steps. It was lunch time so the west courtyard was empty; just perfect for a stroll.

"I- uh.. So.. Back in the valley Yuè-g- Yuè didn't talk to me at all." Zither said as he awkwardly walked beside Shu XinYi, he took a deep breath and continued, "He just talked about the mission and he occasionally asked me if I was doing okay being away from home. Since that night when we .. umm.. well you know, we haven't conversed properly."

Shu XinYi nodded as he said, "Well.. and? Do you like that he is behaving like this or..?"

Zither stopped walking and faced Shu XinYi to say, "No. Obviously not. I definitely don't want to go back to how we normally were, atleast I don't think I can go back to being just..brothers. But this is so much worse. The only personal thing Yuè said to me was, "Don't call me ge from now on." So we can't even go back to being brothers." Shu XinYi wanted to speak but Zither continued, this time he was more irritated, "Did he hate it so much that we can't even be brothers? I don't understand what's his problem. He kissed me fi-mmph"

Shu XinYi covered his mouth and closed in to say, "Just say "that"." Then he removed his hand to allow Zither to continue.

"Point is, it's his fault. If not for "that" I wouldn't even know I felt this way. Brother Ilseu, I still don't understand my feelings but your letter helped a lot. I am glad I can talk about "that" and "this" with you." Zither said fiddling with his hands and facing the ground.

The letter Shu XinYi sent was for them to be patient and true to their feelings. Yet such a medicore advice still helped them open up to Ilseu. "Zither, have you thought that maybe Yuè feels bothered by the fact that you still call him brother, because he doesn't see you as a brother. But as someone he wants to do "this" and "that" to?" Shu XinYi said patting his head.

Zither looked up with disbelieving eyes as he said, "No. That can't be. Whenever we are in a meeting or something together, his face becomes all scary and irritated. How can it be mutual?"

Shu XinYi mentally face palmed to say, "Well.. Yeah. That happens when your precious one is near other people, you tend to be insecure. Which makes you angry and irritated. Also, didn't Yuè keep check of your well being. You said he doesn't see you as a brother, yet he still takes care of you. So what is doing that as? Just some person you are traveling with?"

Zither was in midst of processing Ilseu's words when his thoughts were interrupted by a very irritated voice that Zither was well known to, "Zi'er what are you doing here? It must be important and secretive talk that you must have with him huh? Am I disturbing you?"

Shu XinYi rolled his eyes, he couldn't take anymore of this, "This is the exactly kind of behavior you shouldn't have. You know what Zi thinks, he thinks that you are irritated of him instead of me. And that's what messed it up for you little man. Get your game together."

Yuè took 30 seconds to process Ilseu's words and the first thing he did was to look at Zither as he asked, "Why would you think I am irritated with you?"

Zither scratched his head to ask, "You aren't?"

Yuè dramatically said, "No. Obviously not. During the journey you talked to everyone but me. Now too. So why wouldn't I be irritated with them?"

Zither face palmed to say, "I thought you didn't want to talk to me, since you asked me not to call you brother."

Yuè slowly approached Zither to say, "You can still call me Yuè-ge but not intended as a brother. It's just that I never saw you as a brother." Yuè took a break to slowly make Zither understand his words, "I always saw you as someone I darely cared about. Someone I want by my side. I can't imagine the idea of you getting married to someone else, while I am just "Yuè-ge" to you."

Zither's whole face was gushing blood as he said, "So I can still call you Yuè-ge? But I also .. I also don't see you as a brother." Saying this he quickly covered his face with both hands.

Shu XinYi had to interject again, "Okay, now that you have reconciled. Let's talk. Walk with me."

Zither and Yuè obeyed him and walked beside him, "Firstly, Although I approve of your relationship, others may not. So you should be careful when you are not alone. Secondly, Instead of fighting with each other over misconceptions, you should talk it out. Lastly, don't be stupid, and if you do something stupid then you can come to me. Understood?"

Zither and Yuè both simultaneously said, "Understood."

Shu XinYi had reached his palace gate as he said, "Okay, so would you like to have dinner with me? You have to wait 2 hours before dinner and this palace actually has privacy. No one lives here now except for me and a few servents. You decide."

Zither and Yuè both awkwardly said yes. They needed time to talk with each other properly. Back in their own palace, they had other relatives and their mother living with them, So privacy was out of question.