{Shadows In The Snow} |Monkie Kid AU| •Book 1•

•Chapter 16• {|Being Honest With Each Other|} •Pt.2•

"I...I did it for my people..." Wukong muttered, looking away, hiding his shame. Li Mei immediately began to feel bad for bringing up the sensitive topic to Wukong and tried to comfort him. "No..." He said to her, making her immediately stop what she was doing, he then continued. "Your grandfather might've told you I abandoned him..but he never told you why.." he said, looking back at the monkey with small tears in his eyes. Li felt super bad and tried to wipe away his tears by hesitantly wiping an incoming tear from his eye with her finger, and gently holding his hands with hers. "Plz..I'm sorry Monkey King...I never meant to make you cry..plz...tell me what you have to tell me..I'll understand..." Wukong sighed and looked down at her holding his hands, then he spoke. "Macaque was my brother...my YOUNGER brother...when I was born, so was he. He was the "ugly duckling" in the group...he felt insecure about his appearance, but I didn't care, I cared for him like he was family, a part of the monkey family we was.." Wukong stopped himself and then began to have a flashback and soon, continued.

{Wukong's POV/Flashback}
"Cmon!" I shouted as he struggled to keep up with me as we held hands and I led him to the rest of the monkey's. Macaque was still struggling to keep his balance as he tries to keep up, it was honestly amusing and adorable since he was still so young and just born from the stone he came from. As we ran through the forests, I grabbed some leaves and grass and made a small piece of clothing for my little brother, helping him wrap them around his body and fur, he blinked and looked at himself and smiled a bit from the help and how nice and neat the leaves were when worn. I chuckled and patted his back while smiling proudly "You like it? It's not much but, ya cover yourself up somehow!" I said to him, he smiles back and replied, "Y-Yeah!" he said cheerfully, we then kept going back to the temple for him to meet the other monkey's, and when we got there, I introduced him as my little brother, everyone looked a little on edge because of how he looked, his black fur and identical appearance to me, sending them to a creeped out feeling around them. "B-But..m-my king, he looks EXACTLY like you..." one of the monkey's stated, the others agreeing with them, Mac began to feel a bit insecure and rubbed his arm while looking away, I felt a bit bad for him so I defended him. "Awww cmon guys! Give him a chance! He might be identical to me, but he's a monkey just like you all! I'm sure you'll love him!" I said happily while putting my hand on Mac's shoulder, him flinching and looking surprised but smiled at the welcoming feeling he began to have from my people...everything was nice, peaceful and Mac was making great progress in the temple and on the mountain, helping and loving the little ones and being my greatest support...and brother. as the years went by, we became inseparable, us fighting together for our home against the foes we've faced, and became the perfect duo, I taught him what I was taught from my old master and helped him learn what I have learned...but sadly...he began to inherit his own shadow.

His shadow wasn't..normal. Then I found out, he was born a demon...my own brother, a demon..I only realized when Guanyin told me, I was devastated, but she told me that he can control shadows, being the FAKE of myself, like...an inner demon of myself, known as "The Six-Eared Macaque". I couldn't believe what I was hearing...but I had no choice..Guanyin told me that he'll soon turn to evil once I leave him, him going rogue and trying to kill me with the powers I've earned..I felt hurt, but also angry at the fact that...I have to leave my own brother behind...just to protect my people...abandoning him..the hurt he would feel..the betrayal that would stab his back...

I soon stopped talking to him over the years, he soon noticed and stop talking to me too, we began to argue over everything, then when I became Monkey King, earning my powers, he began to feel..jealous, envious of my powers and tricks, the distance we had made him grow mad at me...then, the fight broke down at the celebration..."I have to leave brother.." I told him, Mac looked at me confused, "What?? Wukong what are you talking about-" I cut him off, "The shadows...how you was a FAKE..I-I..I have to leave you behind Mac...Guanyin told me...that I have to leave you behind and relocate my people, along with the temple...leaving you behind..I'm so sorry...but..I have to.." the immediate shock and hurt on his face, I could sense the pain and stabbing he felt in his chest, he then lashed out at me in front of everyone, "WHAT!!? You lied to me!!! I trusted you!!! Why..?! WHY BROTHER!? YOU LIER!!!" He screamed at me, everyone looked at us and I felt a deep stab in my heart, the look of rage and hurt on his face made me feel immediate guilt on that night.."YOU LIED TO ME WUKONG!!! I WAS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!!! Ever since you got your STUPID powers, you acted like I didn't even exist, leaving me in the DUST! YOU ACTED LIKE I WAS A BURDEN TO YOU!!" He added, I told stood there silent, still feeling hurt from his words...I tried to reason with him but he cut me off as soon as I opened my mouth. "After all those years of being on this mountain, we used to be inseparable!!! We cared for each other, we was family to each other, I...I felt home..found! But now that you got your stupid powers and your popularity your gonna LEAVE ME?! I....I can't believe you..." he said, sounding hurt and betrayed by me. I responded to him trying to go to him to comfort him...but..it was too late. He attacked me when I got close, him trying to destroy me and my people, we quickly evacuated but he caught me before I felt, I fought back and the battle begun..and...he left..he disappeared..only a purple mist remained..I felt guilty for what I've done, the shame and guilt clawing at me and my heart..and..we separated for good on that night. We left and relocated. I left it all behind soon after...trying not to feel the hurt anymore..but loosing my only brother was a memory that crushed me entirely..and throughout my life..
[End of Flashback]

Li Mei listened to all the story, she then felt something wet on her hand and looked down, seeing droplets of tears on the back of her hand, she then looked up and saw Wukong crying, looking tired and old, he then looked up at her and spoke in a shaky voice. "N-..Now do y-you understand...I-I never had..in-intentions of l-leaving him...but Guanyin told me the truth about Mac and...I-..I was at a lost...but I had no choice....I-I left my own brother that night....idk where he is right now...but...I hated myself every since..." he said to Li Mei with pain in his voice and face, streams of tears rolling down his cheeks, Li began to cry as well, then without warning, Wukong felt a force and a pair of arms wrap around his neck and back. His eyes then went wide and he saw Li hugging him, on her knees and with arms wrapped around him. Li could feel his heartbeat, it sounds broken, the hurt from the past wrapped around it...the guilt. "Wukong..I know your pain...your heart is aching, the guilt and pain is killing you...I'm so sorry that happened to you and Mac..I never knew...plz..stop crying..I'm here for you..you didn't mean to.." she said softly and full of empathy, Wukong being shocked and tears freely roaming down his cheeks and his lips quivering from the feeling of completely breaking down. Then Li heard sniffles and hics and felt a pair of arms wrap around her back and felt Wukong hold her close, Li did the same. The monkey's watched the two with sadness and worry on they're face and kept watching. Li just stayed there, embracing the hug he gave her and Wukong embracing her, the two sitting on the floor into each other's embrace, both in tears and broken. "I-...I never knew this was how you really felt Monkey King...I never ever knew...I'm so sorry you lost your brother...I thought that he was a blood thirsty monkey who stalked and tried to hurt me...but I guess he wanted to be loved and wanted...unlike what he got years ago.." Li said, Wukong responded in tears, "I-I tried to stop him from breaking down, but his anger and hatred grew and he became a whole new monkey on that night...only shadows being his friends.." Li nodded in agreement to the Monkey King and let him go, wiping his tears gently and holding him in her arms tightly, helping him calm down. Wukong started to calm down and breathed slowly and heavily, nuzzling his head into her arm, wiping away more of his tears. "There there..I'm here Wukong...I'm here..everything is gonna be ok..I promise you..I'm sure that we can fix this...together.." she said looking into his eyes as he rested in her arms, the two making eye contact with one another. Wukong still was teary eyed, his golden hazel eyes puffy from crying and him sniffing a little, his nose twitching. Li did the same, making her nose twitch and still looking at him, a small smile on her face. Wukong's pouty and depressed frown soon turned into a small smile, a blush appearing on his cheeks as he smiled at her, Li Mei soon returning the blush and kissing his forehead. Wukong flinched from the sudden action and a brighter blush appeared on his face, making him red. They were both silent, but loved each other's embrace and comfort, Li Mei gently ruffling his hair and wiping his cheeks of the tears that came. Wukong rested his eyes, enjoying the girl's love and hug and soon fell asleep, napping in her arms. Li only giggled from the Monkey King's quiet snores and soft yawns and him looking as if he was in dreamland and soon began to feel sleepy as well. She grabbed a pillow with her tail and lie it under his head, earning a small purr from him along a small warm smile. She laid against the wall and let him sleep, soon began to doze off also, but then she saw a blanket near her and grabbed it with her tail and wrapped it around Wukong, giving him warmth and soon falling asleep. The rest of monkey's joined them and rested near them, one on her head and another on Wukong's belly. Peace filling the room...

"Have a wonderful nap...Monkey King...and to you all adorable monkey's..." Li said and then embraced slumber.

[End of Chapter]