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

•Chapter 18• {|Heading To The Mountains|} •Pt.1•

It was hours later in the afternoon and everyone was fixing up the restaurant from all the destruction it got from the invasion and destruction. Wukong and Li were soon awake from they're nap and ready to leave to return home, grabbing what they needed and possessed. MK and the others although we're sad that Li was leaving, having her around was like paradise to them, her joyful snd sweet personality lightened up they're gloomy days so much when she was around, it was sad seeing her go. "Hello everyone!" Said a familiar voice from near by, they all looked and saw Li and Wukong at the doorway walking into the room to them. "Hey Li! Plz don't go! We LOVE having you around plz! I'm begging you! Don't gooooo!" Said MK as he went to her and fell onto his knees begging and pleading for his friend not to leave, Li and Wukong only seemed stunned and looked at each other and back at the boy blinking. "Kid, hehe..it's alright! I ain't LEAVING leaving in just going back to my temple in the mountains and I'm bringing you with me!" Said Wukong, ruffling the boy's hair and giving him a tired yet reassuring smile, MK gasped in surprise and then rejoiced from hearing the news and shouted out of overexcitement. "YEAH!!! Wooo!!! Thank you Monkey King!" Li giggles and joined in. "Yeah MK! I ain't leaving either, I'm just going back home to the house on the hills out of town, it'll be ok! Besides, maybe my grandpa could let you and the others visit!" She said cheerfully as Wukong looked at her while smiling. "Why I've already decided that my dear..." said a voice from near by the three, it was Kenji. "Grandpa!" Said the girl happily as she went to her grandfather and hugged him gently, smiling happily and nuzzling against his cheek. Kenji only chuckled and pat her on the head, moving away for air and then speaking once again, "Yes, Yes...now my dear, I've already decided to let the others visit if they liked, especially Wukong, ...if they don't cause trouble, then maybe I'll consider it..." he said while using his stick as a cane and walking to the couch to sit. "Wait- REALLY?! Yay! Thank you, thank you, THANK you grandpa!" Li said in pure joy as she jumped in place and squealed with happiness, making the boy and Monkey King adored at the cute display and happy at her grandfather's approval. "Awww YEAH!!! Thanks Kenji!" Said MK as he did a little victory dance on the floor, making Wukong and the others laugh and giggle at the hilarious moment, "We truly thank you Kenji, Li is a blessing to have around, she really helps us shine as much as her...quite wonderful!" Said Tang while he bowed his head as a sign of thanks to the old monkey, him smiling and looking very pleased. Wukong then joined in, "Yeah bud! Maybe she can train with us! I can tell she got some...I should say, strange power but, she got some tough skills when she fights!" He said, smiling and having his successor in a gently headlock and his hand ruffling through his hair and smiling at Li with admiration. Li blushed and quickly tried to stop herself from her face getting too red. "Ahhh! No! I feel hot agaaaaaain..!" She said as an excuse to make everyone think that the blushing was because of the heat while holding her cheeks and looking embarrassed at herself. Everyone only looked at each other with amused smirks on they're faces, for they already knew why she was blushing, but kept it to themselves. Kenji only chuckled and held his stick in hand, looking at the girl as she tried to stop herself from blushing.

Wukong chuckled as well, amused by her, thinking to himself. "Man, she really is a blessing...ah, I wonder if she'll be ok back at home alone with Kenji...hopefully Mac won't be around to hurt her or my friend...if he did anything to her...so help me......" he thought as his face slowly turned from happiness to a bit of anger, but then was snapped out of his thoughts by MK. "Hey Kenji, maybe we could bring Li back to the temple!?" The boy asked the old monkey in excitement, Li looked at the boy and then at Kenji and saw him looking at her and nodded his head to her as sign of approval to decide, then she smiled a bit and looked at MK. "Of course bud, I'll come with you guys, I bet it's gonna be great there!" She replied with a warm smile on her face. MK then jumped out of Wukong's grasp squealing and leaping with joy, making everyone look stunned but admired by his enthusiasm. "Yeah!!! This is so going to be, the best. day. EVER!!!" He then began to do his victory dance again, Mei joined him, dancing with him as he danced in victory, hyping him up. Li then joined, hyping the two teens up and laughing from the all the fun. Wukong chuckled and stopped the boy by patting on his shoulder, "Alright Kid, let's get goin, I'm sure the monkey's miss me! Knowing how clingy they are, they'll be so attached to me!" Said the Monkey King. Li added, "Yeah, they would've been clingy to me too..." she said looking at Wukong smiling, Wukong was about to see something to her but she went to get ready to leave, grabbing her bag of stuff she packed and needed and carrying it over her shoulder. Wukong offered to help but Li said she was ok, giving him a reassuring smile and going to the others to say goodbye. Kenji felt a little uncertain about this, but he thought that maybe she'll be safe with Wukong, he IS way stronger than him and could easily defeat a foe if needed to...but Mac, Mac is the only person who's strong enough to take on Wukong...what if...what if he fails and Li gets in grave danger, her being taken away by the monkey and NEVER to be seen again....who knows what he'll do...he then began to overthink, him having flashes of the demon attacking the three and only Li at his mercy..it made his blood boil, his hand began to shake as he gripped onto his stick, the anger he's been hiding in for so long beginning to show. He then heard a faint voice calling him, it kept getting louder and louder, until he finally was snapped out of his thoughts by Li. "Grandpa!!!" She shouted, making the old monkey flinch and look at her and everything around him in surprise. "Grandpa...are you ok??? You look like you've seen a ghost..." Kenji responded, "Yes my..I-I'm fine...just a little tired, tiredness is all.." he said in a gloomy tone, looking at the ground a bit, breathing fast and seeming to be nervous. "Grandfather plz....I can sense that your nervous or scared about something...you helped me when I was distressed..let me help you.." Li said empathically, looking worried for her grandfather and Wukong joining her side. Kenji then fessed up, "Alright my dear, I'll tell you...I'm scared for your safety dear, Mac is still out there in the city, maybe in the woods or even near the house..or worse, the temple..I don't want him to hurt you or the boy...I believe that Wukong can handle him..but the risk is too much for me...idk if you'll be ok.." he said under his breathe, looking sorrowful. Wukong tried to calm him, "Hey old buddy, it's ok...I also made a vow to protect Li...if she's coming with me on this trip to the temple then it's my responsibility, it's ok...I got her. She'll be ok...don't feel bad, it'll be fine.." he said reassuringly, patting him on the back. Kenji smiled a bit and nodded to his response, looking thankful at him. Wukong smiled and looked back at MK and Li and said "You guys ready to go?" Li nodded and MK responded while holding up his staff high in the air. "HECK YEAH!!!" Wukong chuckled and led the two outside, Li stopped tho, looking back at her grandfather and the others, Sammy stepped out from the crowd and went to her, offering a gift. "Hey Li! Before you go, here's some teabags! They'll be great for the tea, and you can pet Mo as much as you'd like before you leave..." said the blue giant while he smiled, giving her the teabags and offering his pet cat for her to pet. Mo jumped off his shoulders and onto the floor, making his way to Li, nuzzling against her leg and purring. Li smiled and gently pet the cat on his head and scratched under his chin, earring a small meow and purr from him. Li then looked at Sammy, "Thank you so much Sammy...I appreciate the gift, I hope you have a great day with the others...I'll miss you all so very much.." Sammy smiled under his beard, "Awww! Well your welcome Li! Anything for a friend! It's my pleasure to let you go with something to calm ya, and I thought tea was a great way of showing that..." Pigsy then added, "Li, you might be annoying and so, SO irritating to me, but you sure put a small piece of confidence and comfort in our hearts, sure, you cause mischief like MK and Mei, but ya do help out in the restaurant a bit...and..I thank ya.." said the pig, crossing his arms and smiling a bit at the monkey, Tang added in, "WE thank you Li..." he said fixing his glasses and smiling as well.

Li smiled back at the two but then turned her attention to Kenji, him looking at her smiling and looking tired. He gave her a small nod as a sign of thanks to her and his smile growing. Li began to tear up a bit and she went to her grandfather, hugging him and sniffing from the incoming tears. Kenji patted her back and hugged, trying to enjoy the last few moments that she's around, before she has to go. "Be careful my dear, there's danger around in those mountains...plz be careful.." he said to her, holding her hands and looking worried for her. She responded to him, "I'll be fine grandpa, Wukong and MK is on my side! I'll be fine, you need rest from all the worry and stress..plz take care of yourself while I'm away..I'll be back soon...I promise it.." She then gave him a teabag and hug for his troubles but then heard MK calling out to her. "Hey Li! Are ya coming?!" She said back to boy, "I'm coming!!!" she then gave her grandfather one last hug and looked back at the two, rushing to the door and waving goodbye to everyone. "Bye everyone! I'll return shortly!" She shouted to everyone, going out the door and going to Wukong and MK, smiling.

Wukong then whistled and his nimbus cloud appeared right in front of the three, MK went ahead and jumped on and Wukong jumped after, Li was not a fan of heights, it scared her to the core whenever she was above ground or in the air off the surface. She hesitated but then Wukong held out his hand to her, offering to help her. "Need a hand?" He asked smiling at her, Li looked surprised but felt thankful and nodded to him, taking his hand and getting on the cloud and holding his hand tightly. Wukong smiled and looked at her and then looked at MK, "Ya ready bud?" MK replied, "Yeah I am! I'm so excited!" holding the staff tightly and sitting tightly on the cloud. Wukong chuckled and then looked at the mountains in the distance, he then looked at Li. "You ready Li Mei? It's a bumpy ride and I want you and MK to be safe on the way there..." Li looked at him and smiled, "I'll be ok, just make sure MK is safe, I'll be fine.." she says giving him a reassuring smile and resting calmly in her spot. Wukong nodded to her and the cloud took off, zooming around the area and straight to the direction of the mountains far from the city. "AHHHHH!!! I'M AFRAID OF HEIGHTS!!!-" Li screamed in a shaky voice, holding onto Wukong and shaking as they flew through the city and with Wukong chuckling from her outburst. "It's ok Li, I got ya! I made a promise to protect ya! I'll make sure you'll be ok.." he said in a reassuring tone and giving her a smile while letting her hang onto him. Li began to calm down and smiled a bit, feeling the breeze and closing her eyes in the closure of the comfort, the three flying into the horizon.

[Meanwhile]
"She's moving to the temple....with Wukong?" Mac asked himself in a cold tone, him looking at his lantern as it glowed, not taking his eyes off of it. He then chuckled and his eyes grew wide, a purple hue glowing around in them, his pupils growing small and black. "Hehehehe....she couldn't have gone far....find her...and bring her to me." He said, shadowed clones of himself crookedly coming out from his shadow, they're limbs crooked and bending in inhuman ways, smiling with twisted smiles and sharp teeth, they're eyes widened with small dilated pupils and them giggling unsettling chuckles and snickers. Mac then spoke to them, "I want her to be in one piece...I'll kill you all myself if I ever find a single scratch on her...I want Kenji to feel the pain I've felt...when everything I had was taken from me...make him feel my PAIN! NOW!!! GO!!!" Screamed the monkey, him slamming his fists into the ground, making it rumble a bit and the shadows simply obeying him, them morphing and shifting into monstrous forms and ways on the walls while laughing in they're echoed voices, them slithering fast across the walls and floors and out the doors, them escaping out the museum and into the streets, past all the people around and down the roads, following the three to the mountains.

"Be ready brother....I'll only be RIGHT behind...hehehehehe...hahahahhaha! HAHAHAHAHAHEHhehehe!!"

[End of Chapter]