. . .

"Wanji"  Xichen nudged his meditating brother slightly at their arrival at Yijiang. The 'Su clan' was visiting their old ally and friend state'Yijiang' for strengthening their political ties. Or more precisely establishing marital ties. 

Lan Quiren along with Xichen and Wanji was seeking the hand of the twin princesses for the 'twin Jades'. 

Situated at a waterway land, Yijiang was a sight to behold. The farmed lotuses bloomed through the rivers which surrounded the semi inhabited rainforest. White, Pink, Crimson and hued rose-coloured. The docs were lit with lanterns, the land was neither too foresty nor too inhabitedly constructed. The houses and mansions were carved through the bases of the big tres, Keeping the canopy heads. The lanterns lit the bricked streets. The hustle-bustle of the vendors greeting the guests with warmth, as the colourful robes flocked by. The place was warm, inviting resembling a bloomed lotus. 

The twin jades walked along with their uncle, in pristine white robes strewn with inlaid cloud patterns, with a forehead ribbon tied across that had a semi aquarel hued crystal that dangled below. They stood out  in contrast to the colourful robes of the people. People gawed in awe at the ethereal people that had just set out of their boats.

"Your Highness, this way, please. The Yijaing's have sent you the royal sedan." An escort quickly approached them leading the way.

"Uncle, I had heard the Yijinag's Palace is not farther, Why not walk through appreciating the beautiful town?" Xichen suggested.

"But, your highn_

"Indeed," Lan Quiren smiled at the suggestion dismissing the escort.

It was quite a rare opportunity to be able to walk freely in the streets of Su being the royal family. But the people here never saw the royal clan'jade dragons', they know nothing except for names. So why not.

The trio walked admiring the place's beauty, looking through the selling delicacies, slightly stopping at some as their attendants followed them at a distance. 

Xichen slightly ahead walked to Wanji's side who walked a little far from them. Lost in thoughts, walking silently, observing as the place stirred a certain feeling within him.

"Wanji, Are you sure about this?" Xichen asked concerned indicating his acceptance of the marriage proposals. He knowingly suggested uncle to walk as he needed to talk to his brother in seclusion. He needed confirmation from his didi again, for sudden agreement at uncle's suggestion of getting married. And to be precise this proposal felt too rushed, moreover, Wanji, Can not. For he was fated with someone else.

Being tied to someone else's spirit in a soul marital bond, who already has a fated mate. It was a crime. A crime against the wishes of nature. It shall cause him immense pain, piercing him through, each day, each moment he spends time bonding with someone who is not their fated mate. As it threads out the soul's connection from the latter. 

Wanji sighed as he nodded slightly to his brother.

"But_ " Xichen stopped saying as he felt his brother has become absolutely resolute.  He let out a long exhale for he knew why he was doing this. 'To save him' As most people seemed to have forgotten about the prophecy, as he never met a nine-tailed as he was supposed to. Wanji never stated to anyone that he did, except Xichen. For he calculates if he is tied to someone else, he shall not be able to get his mate's scent and without him, the world could never find him let alone harm him. Nine-Tailed are masters of disguise, if not their will, they can never reveal their true form. Only his true mate shall be able to see through, but till they are not tied to anyone. This was the only way.

The twin jades walked along as Xichen looked at his little brother's impassive face. 'How could be willingly going through something so painful, to save someone he met just once, How much  deep was that one moment of innocent affection?' Xichen shakes his head. It was how his little brother always had been, impassive face with the most affectionate sacrificing heart.

" AAAAAAAHH YOUU!!" A fierce shriek was heard accompanied by someone's giggling cheeky laughter. 

Xichen and Wanji turned to find the cause because that seemed like their uncle's voice.

"Hahaha! Aiya, Old man! Look you look so handsome now!" A youthful boy dressed in deep dark robes winked to Lan Quiren peeking behind the hair dressers' mirror as he flashed his innocently notorious smile.

"YOUUU" Lan Quiren was furious. Not only has this young fellow lured him somewhat forcefully, but also managed to cut his beard. Just right before he has to visit such an important household. His beard was his dignity. Talking out his jade sword Lan Quiren tried to obstruct him. But to his amazement, this young fellow was quick enough to dodge him and the Su soldiers that came to Quiren's rescue. Grinning mischievously, he fled out as Lan Wanji and Xichen came rushing to their uncle. 

A pleasant walk had to an utter chaotic embarrassment. Lan Quiren clutched his heart as he panted holding on to his sword as Xichen came to his held him stabilising. 'Such Audacity, insulting a royal jade.' Wanji clenched his jaw looking at the situation and quickly dashed in the direction of the abomination.

 Wanji dashed seeking the person who was in dark robes as his white robes fluttered in the air behind him. The mischievous person was too fast, as he jumped from building to building giggling as he enjoyed being chased by the ethereal man. They ran across crossing the building, shops, as the people gawked at the charming duo. It was a play for the cheeky man in dark robes but not the person but Wanji was getting irritated by the second. His patience was at threading away. 

Reaching the outskirts of the town the duo dashed into the deeper region of the forest, chasing through the branching bushes and the age-old trees covered trampling the autumn leaves that laid by the way. White It was being difficult for the 'jade dragon' to keep up with the dark-robed man's pace because he seemed to have the forest paths memorised, Lan Wanji seemed to have caught the mischievous man's interest. After all, no one was ever able to keep up with him.  He smirked gleefully as quickly sat hiding on a branch as he looked carefully at the man below who chased him.

''High nose, Pale sharp eyes, height slender as the tall lotus stalk. Ethereal Indeed," Hmmf. The dark-robed man smirked mumbling observing Wanji as he walked on the highest branch twirling his flute in one hand. 

Lan Wanji was annoyed, he could not believe his incompetence. He could not even catch the person who slandered his uncle, let alone punish the abomination. His years of cultivation, and he could not...Being disappointed at himself he unsheathed Bichen as about to slash across a tree.

" Aiya, Wait Wait Wait! Don't hurt. I am here. They say tress are souls of our ancestors you know." Someone voiced out as the dark-robed man propelled in front of Wanji hanging upside down from a branch out of nowhere, making him draw the sword dangerously to the man's chest.

 "Why ?" He asked in an impassive deep voice, as he looked at the person from the corner of his eye. Giving the convict a chance to reason out. One should have a reason to insult the royalty as he could be a pawn something deeper.

"You sure are ethereal." The man-robed said giggling, showing his toothy grin as he still hung upside down totally ignoring Wanji's question. The sword pointed quivered in confidence. 'The Smile' Wanji thought as his heart thundered a bit faster than usual. For He noticed the man now.

 The warming toothy grin he could not forget in 100 years, his full lips, the mole underneath, the way his eyes gleamed with innocence and mischief. It stirred an unknown feeling within Wanji, that he could not address proudly. 'Was it really him?'

"Wei Ying?" He asked almost a silent whisper, quietly withdrawing the sword as he looked the other way. He was troubled, confused, and somewhere delighted. The pain was evident in his impassive eyes. 'But then why he still could not smell him?' He doubts.

'Him or Not. Must go' He turns, walking away deciding to go back, when..

'CRRAAKK' The branch Wei Ying was hanging gave up causing the person to crash down 3 feet below. And the tree also tumbles as Wanji did have accidentally used Bichen slashing a bit of that trunk unknowingly.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH" Wei Ying screams fear of pain, revealing his nine tails in covering protection. But to his astonishment, he can't feel any. Peeking his eyes open slightly, what he sees takes his breath away. The view was stunning. The Jade dragon Lan Wanji was in his semi-human form, a blue aura emitting as he was transforming. His visible beautiful jade twisted white horns through his thick black locks of hair. A jade scaled tail, and the whisping scent of sandalwood within the powerful glow of aura. 'So, they do exist.' Wei Ying thought for he saw something similar in his dreams.

Wanji's breath raging as he was being crushed by the tree saving Wei Ying. Pale ones looking the dark orbs as if seeking to drown within. The faint smell of the moist lotus lingered along with the sandalwood. The touches of the fluffed tails of the nine-tailed with the dragons'. And the dominant horns and meekly peeking proud fox ears. They laid almost on top of each other, their faces dangerously close almost touching. Unknown and confused about the emotion that was tugging attracting them both.

Looking at the scratched person as Wei Ying moved first thinking of the pain. Both of them freed themselves from the crashed tree. "I should be afraid" Wei Ying mumbled as quietly eyed the jade dragon behind him, who was adjusting his robes that were now a bit tattered along with some scratched bruises. 

But Before Wei Ying could apologise or think something to say, his fox ears perked at a sound far away. Someone has called He must go. 'But.. He mumbled thinking about something as he chewed his lower lip in confusion, looking back at the hurt dragon.

"Suibain" He breathed as he quickly zoomed close inhumanly, closing up to the jade Dagon as he crashed their lips against. Giving the person out a soft sloppy touch, transferring some of his qi of healing to the person before disappearing into thin air.

Lan Wanji stood stunned, his hands still in the position of adjusting his robes, his breath erratic, his heart throbbing out of the chest."Wei Ying" He finally addressed as he held onto his heart. Closing his eyes, as he touched his lips with his fingertips. Wetness dwelled in his eye, as the scent of moist lotus lingered. 

Was it fate? For to meet him, like this, in this situation, at the very moment in his life making him now fall for something deeper than what was before. After 100 years. Just another brief moment. Another stringed feeling. An entangled fate. Was it a blessing? Or the curse? 

. . .

A/N- Another unedited, break writing. Maybe this one is written on a too-long break. Can someone guess the next chapter? And is it getting too sad? Comment down. ;p