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Death's Hand

Gwen let out a sigh as she waited patiently near the entrance of North Point mall; a massive grey building that had the reputation of being not only the most grandiose shopping mall in Canada, but also a place where it brought in major profit due to its expansive and attractive stores and convenience.

She loved coming here for the best clothes and accessories that would put any girl to shame but really, it was more fun to hang out with friends, which was why she invited everyone just as soon as school started. Luckily enough for her, Rowen and the others arrived right on time and she chatted with them for a little while. As the minutes began to pass on by however, she began to worry as it has been well over an hour and she had received no updates from Xun or Justin.

"Maybe they got held up with something that requires their full concentration?" Rowen offered in an attempt to calm the ferret's growing anxiety.

Damien nodded in full agreement. "Yeah, that could be the case! Don't worry Gwen, they'll come." He grinned, but she could see that he was a little worried as well.

"Either way, they're late," Cameron said with a huff, his feline tail swishing about, "and I hate it when people don't show up on time."

Gwen didn't add to the conversation, choosing to take out her phone to read the digital clock which read 1:42pm. After putting it back in her pocket, her left foot began to tap the ground, a sign that she was beginning to grow impatient. 'What are they doing? I've told everyone about this beforehand!' She thought as a frown began to settle on her face. Just before her mind could even come up with worst case scenarios, she felt a paw land on her shoulder, startling her enough to quickly turn and see Jake standing there.

The shepherd blinked down at her, eyes wide for a moment. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to frighten you. You just seemed very tense." He said, relaxing himself enough and brought his paw back to his side. "Are you that concerned about the two siblings being late for this event?"

"How can I not be?" She threw her paws up in the air, then back down to her hips. "And I'm not concerned, I'm upset that they're not telling me what the holdup is!" She let out another sigh and brought up a paw to pinch the bridge of her nose with a thumb and index finger.

"Understandable, considering that you did tell us about this in advance," Jake stated with a nod, then smiled, "but I wouldn't be angry for too long if I were you."

"What? Why not?" Gwen asked, her confusion clearly visible as she looked up at the dog with a tilt of her head. Then she noticed that he was looking straight ahead towards the parking lot. Following his gaze, she spotted the two pandas who were just now getting out of the car and coming up to them. "How...?"

"Oh, that's easy to answer!" Jake bent down a little to lean in close to her ear, still grinning from ear to ear. "I have a power that lets me easily locate anyone I desire." He got a flat look and a raised fist, making him put up his paws defensively. "I'm joking!"

Huffing and giving Jake a quick punch to the shoulder, she greeted Xun and Justin with a pointed glare. "Took you two long enough! What were you doing? We were waiting forever here, catching dust!"

Xun scratched the back of his head, laughing nervously under her gaze. "Sorry about that, Gwen. We couldn't text anyone because our parents were busy uhh...scolding us..." He gave an apologetic smile, round ears pinned down to his skull.

Justin gave a slow nod and let out a soft sigh. "Yeah, so we're practically grounded for two weeks, starting today once we get back home. Thankfully they were nice enough to let us get out and come here."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on, what for?" Damien inquired, looking utterly confused with one of his triangular ears flipped to the side while the other stood straight up. "What did you guys do?"

"Remember when the hell hounds attacked a few days ago?" The young panda asked and received a nod. "Well, apparently some evidence of what transpired was left behind without our knowledge somehow and they noticed this and questioned us. And since neither of us can really lie..."

"You had no choice but to speak the truth." Rowen answered, getting slow nods of confirmation. "But I see...we got careless. Sorry to hear though, that really sucks." He walked up to the two pandas and gave them a warm hug, causing Xun's cheeks and the tips of his ears to burn.

Gwen felt a twinge of guilt seep into her after listening to the two explain themselves. "Oh...so that's why. I'm sorry for getting a little huffy. But wait! No one was really harmed save for a few bruises, so why the punishment?"

Both pandas looked at each other for a second, then Xun shrugged and answered. "Because we didn't let them know what was going on."

"I honestly don't blame your parents." Cameron chimed in, causing everyone to give him dirty looks. He was unphased by this and scoffed. "What? It's their job to worry and care about their children. Anyway, is that all? I want to get inside."

Again, the two siblings looked at each other, this time lasting just a little longer until finally breaking eye contact to nod.

"Sweet! Let's go! I'm gonna shop until I drop!" Gwen readily went ahead in front of the others, her pace picking up speed as she went through the automatic double doors, stepping inside the building. Her eyes swept around the familiar area, spotting a food court to her left and various shops to her right and straight ahead. She absolutely loved being in here. "Ahh...I love this...so! Where do you all want to start?"

"I've heard about this particular bookstore my sister found out about online yesterday." Jake replied, gathering the attention of everyone. "Ah, but if it doesn't trouble you Gwen, would you mind if I have Xun and Justin with me for company?"

The ferret shrugged in response. "Sure, go ahead! Just don't keep them away from me too long, okay?" She smiled, then put up a paw, palm face up, stopping the trio in their tracks mid-step. "Sorry, just letting you know that our meet up point is at the center where that fountain is." She raised an arm, pointing a clawed finger at the very thing she had mentioned, its marble stoned surface rippling with water, creating waterfalls. Artificial plants surrounded the edges and there were plenty of benches for customers to sit and relax upon.

"I see...alright, I'll be sure to return there once I acquire a certain book I have been searching for." Jake gazed at the two brothers in turn, eager to move his feet. "Are you two ready?" He asked and after receiving nods, the three of them set off at once. "We'll be back!"

Now that it was just the four of them, the ferret looked back at the others with a questioning look in her eyes. "Anyone else feel like going on their own to anywhere?"

Rowen shook his head, luxurious white mane flowing. "Nowhere in particular for me. I'll just stick with you."

Damien answered with a shrug. "Yeah, me and Cameron are in the same boat here."

"Hmph. I'm just here so you won't do anything stupid like always." Cameron drawled, bringing a grumble out of the canine.

'Good...three boys to carry all of my shopping bags for me! Well...I'll make that two since Cameron will probably be harder to convince.' She thought as an evil grin spread upon her lips. Turning herself around, she set off to the nearest fashion store, displaying the newest set of clothes and jewelry.

~ ~ ~

"Umm...any reason why you have us tagging along with you to the bookstore?" Justin questioned as the three of them walked, passing many name brand stores along the way.

Jake turned his head, looking over his shoulder so his eyes met the young panda's. "Do I harbor that much suspicion that I can't bring my two friends with me anywhere to relax and chat?" He teased, the beginnings of a smile splitting his lips at the sight of Justin averting his gaze and his cheeks beginning to burn.

"Well when we think about what you did to help us, it's kind of hard to not be that way, ya know?" Xun said, meeting the dog's stare with his own. "I don't even know if we can trust you, to be honest. I mean, you somehow know that we're all mages, knew that we were attacked by hell hounds and you also knew that my brother was tainted. So who or what are you really? What's your game here?"

In that moment, Jake stopped in his tracks and turned around to regard the two siblings, gaining some onlookers from doing so. He didn't pay them any mind, but his eyes shifted around all the same. "I fully understand where you're coming from since any of you barely know me and I'm quite knowledgeable of certain things, but Xun, do be mindful that we're in a very public area."

The panda blinked a few times, trying to register what has just been said until his eyes became wide, the realization kicking in. "Oh! Uhh, sorry everyone! Nothing to see here!" He announced in an attempt to have their interest elsewhere. Somehow this worked, for the few that were indeed curious to what was spoken out loud gave a dismissive wave and left to carry on about their business.

Justin groaned with both paws covering his face in embarrassment and shame. "Gods, you are such a dork..."

Jake slowly shook his head, his smile returning, then quickly turned himself around and got his feet moving. "Not exactly the best choice when it comes to being misleading but it works," he muttered to himself before raising his voice a little, "Let's continue! We're really not that far."

Both brothers perked up their ears and nodded, following closely beside the dog. As they trekked, casual conversation began to flow, ranging from their hobbies, to school and life in general until they finally came to their destination. Truth be told, it was a bookstore, as indicated by the sign up top that read Erika's Library!. And to add some charm to the store, miniature books formed the letters.

"Here we are." The canine announced and gently pushed on one of the double doors to step inside. As he was joined by the two brothers, his eyes took in the many rows of bookshelves that were lined up on opposite ends of the walls, filled with many tomes, ranging from every possible genre.

"This...this is incredible..." Justin whispered, an expression of awe clear on his features as his eyes swept up the room. "So much to read..."

"Well at least we know where you'll be spending most of your free time." Xun snickered, making the young panda glare at him and stick his tongue out.

"If you ever-" Jake began and stopped short at the sound of someone calling out to him.

"Jacob? Is that you?" A soft, yet thickly accented, feminine voice called out, interrupting what the dog was about to say, causing him to turn his head. A female bunny with pure white fur was seen, wearing suitable librarian attire and black rectangular spectacles that rested upon her pink nose. She waved enthusiastically, a bright smile fixated on her face. "It's been so long! Ah, and you have brought friends!"

Jake sighed softly and chuckled. "Yes I have, and hello to you too Erika. It has been awhile since we last spoke to each other." He said and extended a paw to his right, "this is Xun Ling" then to his left, "and with us is his younger brother Justin Ling."

Erika giggled as she noticed the young panda hiding behind the other. "Aww this one is shy...don't worry, I don't bite." Her smile became warm, almost giving her a motherly look. "So what brings you here, hon?"

"Just a book I purchased online is all," Jake replied after coming up to the counter and looked over his shoulder, regarding Xun and Justin with a smile, "and to see what you have to offer since it's their first time here as well."

"Not a problem! I have the book right here, just waiting for you!" Erika walked away for a moment, then came back with a plastic bag and handed it over to the dog who graciously took it, thanking her in the process. "Aww, you're welcome, hon!"

"Hey, do you mind if we looked around for a bit?" Xun asked with a subtle roll of his eyes towards the young panda after having bent down a little to have something being whispered in his ear.

Erkia nodded. "Sure, go right ahead! That's what a library is for. Just don't make a lot of noise, okay?" She watched the two go and gave a playful wink, causing them to blush and walk just a little bit faster.

Jake caught sight of this and inwardly groaned. He knew the woman for being very flirtatious for quite some time, for he had been around her on multiple occasions with his sister while growing up. And whenever she saw a guy that she liked, she would let them know first hand. Thankfully she had never hit on him. "You're still the same fur after graduating with Holly...and sorry to say, but those two don't exactly find the female body attractive. Well...actually one of them does but from what I'm seeing, he's leaning more into men."

This bit of news made the girl's smile drop a little, but just as quickly as it came it went, for her grin came back. She then turned her attention back to Jake with a wiggle of her nose. "Such a shame...and they look so young and virile," she whispered, then let out a soft cackle at the disgusted expression that crossed his face. "How is your sister doing by the way?"

Hearing that question, Jake's neutral expression quickly changed into a frown, becoming serious and he noticed Erika doing the same. "She's doing well," he answered, changing his language to French.

"I see...is he the one?" She asked in her mother tongue, her vowels and pronunciations perfect sounding, which was no surprise to the dog as he knew that she was born in Nantes, France and moved to Canada at the age of fourteen. Many times he had asked why and to this day she refuses to answer.

"Yes, but I do not know how strong." Jake answered with a slow shake of his head.

"Regardless, you know what you must do." Erika said, her pink, innocent eyes becoming cold and lifeless as she stared hard at the Australian Shepherd.

"I understand. I will carry out my task." He quickly brought a paw up to his chest, then put it back down at his side, his stern expression disappearing completely and switching his language to English again. "Thank you for the book, Erika. It was nice speaking to you." He gave a small bow and walked away to find his friends.

The bunny watched him go with a smile on her face. "Anytime, hon. If you ever need anything, let me know."

Jake raised a free paw in response, waving it a little before disappearing around a corner. Now that he was alone, his thoughts lingered onto Xun and the bracelet. Just what other powers could it possibly have? He was lucky enough to have seen it in action, but this only left him with more questions than answers, leaving him completely in the dark on what it could truly do, and despite his best efforts at gathering information from various sources, there was nothing to shed any light on the matter.

'How can a simple accessory be shrouded in so much mystery?' He thought with an increasing frown as he passed through numerous bookshelves, his eyes drawn to the floor. With his mind occupied, he failed to notice Justin stepping out of an aisle until it was too late and bumped into him, causing the dog to stumble back.

"Ah, sorry!" The young panda apologized, quickly coming up behind Jake to keep him steady. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Jake replied after straightening himself up, then scanned the area before turning his eyes to Justin. "Where is your brother?"

"Right here." Xun said, making the dog turn to his right to see him engrossed in a book he was currently reading. "I'm gonna borrow this. It's actually really interesting."

Feeling curious as to what genre the two of them wandered off to, the dog tilted his head slightly to the left and saw a piece of paper plastered on the side of a bookshelf, the words 'Fantasy' written on it. A smile grew on his lips. "Are you two ready to go?"

Both pandas nodded and made their way to the counter where Erika sat, her warm smile still present and her flirting all the more dangerous. After scanning the items they had and handing them library cards, the three of them said their goodbyes and left.

Now back out into the crowd of furs, they made their way to the meeting point. As they walked, conversation flowed between them once again. "So Xun, when are you going to make your move?" Jake inquired in a casual manner, almost failing to notice the panda's cheeks beginning to burn.

"A-ah...umm...w-what do you mean by that?" Xun stammered, an attempt on trying to be coy and failing tremendously. A flat stare was sent in his direction. "Oh, Rowen! I...don't know actually. Haven't really said or done anything yet."

"Why not?" He pressed, spotting a nearby vacant bench before walking up to it and sitting down. As he sat, he patted the empty spots, prompting the two to join him. "Sit with me, please."

Hesitation clearly showed in Xun's body language as he stood there for a moment with his little brother, the two of them looking at one another until finally they nodded and joined the dog. Silence came, for his mouth didn't move an inch. That is, until he let loose a deep sigh. "I know this will sound stupid, but it's because we're friends. We've known each other since elementary and I'm scared that if we break up, the friendship that we made will be ruined and things just won't be the same anymore." His eyes fell down to the floor, his head hanging low. "I don't want to lose that..."

Silence filled the air once more, only broken by the sounds of furs walking about and chatting. No one said a word, all of them being confined into their own thoughts until Jake spoke up. "Time waits for no one," he began, the statement confusing both pandas enough to look up, ready to fire off questions but he continued, "and each indecision you make will cost you. You'll live with regret for the rest of your life if you do not choose quickly. This goes for you too, Justin."

"But-" Justin interjected and was silenced by a held up paw.

"Again, none of you know me very well but trust me when I say that Rowen holds very strong feelings for you Xun. I know you may not believe me because he doesn't show it and is frustratingly subtle, but there is a passionate flame burning in his heart, yearning to have you." A smile formed on Jake's lips now before turning away and focusing on the young panda. "The same goes for our friend Damien, waiting for his love to be reciprocated. He desires you almost as much as Rowen desires your brother. How much longer will you two wait before it is too late? Take this chance now and see where your future leads."

Xun's mouth was agape as he stared at the dog, surely his mind trying to process what was spoken, though he understood one thing out of it that made him blush more than ever before. "I...uhh...he really feels that way about me? I mean, I know we kissed one night and all but I had no idea...."

Justin sighed deeply and shook his head. "I guess I can't argue with you there. Damien obviously really likes me and I...guess I do too." His cheeks and the tips of his ears burned a crimson shade of red as well. "It wouldn't hurt for us to go out on a date but I'd rather wait some more...I'm not ready yet. Nonetheless, thanks Jake. You're pretty wise."

"You are welcome. The two of you are very lucky to have someone wanting you badly enough." Jake said as he stood up from the bench with a yawn, stretching his body in the process.

"Why is that?" Xun arched a brow, curious as to what the dog might reply with.

"Because if I were any different," he looked over and grinned before giving a sly wink, "I would take either one of you in a heartbeat." His body shook with laughter at the stunned expressions on their faces. "The two of you are adorable, what can I say? Now come on, let's go."

Grabbing his bag and waiting for the two to grab theirs, he motioned with a free paw, then made their way to the meetup point, the atmosphere having greatly improved between the three of them.

~ ~ ~

Rowen growled to himself, just low enough so nobody could hear him. He was annoyed, his feline tail lashing about behind him a clear indication to anyone that he shouldn't be messed with. There were five bags on each arm, all of them heavy with clothes and accessories, which Gwen gleefully purchased from one store to the next. "I'll never understand women and their obsession with fashion," he grumbled, casting a hateful glare in her direction.

"You and me both..." Damien said, fully agreeing with the complaint, his triangular ears pinned down to the sides of his skull. He also had bags on both arms, straining to keep them up. "I don't know how she got Cameron to hold anything, though he's a lucky bastard."

The husky had a point, Rowen realized as he eyed the cheetah that was a few paces ahead of them, staying close to the ferret's side and chatting with her. He noticed that Cameron only had two in his paws. 'Very lucky indeed...'

Although he was annoyed at having to carry things, the lion's mind wandered, going back to the conversation he had earlier with Gwen about him wanting to date Xun. Naturally this caused his face to flush, which was easy to see thanks to his fur color. He could recall her poking and prodding, desperately trying to get an answer out of him. Eventually he caved in and told her how much he loved the panda and how he wanted him to be his, regardless of their friendship. He would gladly risk it if it meant being with him.

Yet despite how he felt, he could never bring up the nerve to say anything whenever the two of them were together. Sure, there was the kiss that happened in the panda's bedroom and having told him that he did in fact liked men, but when it came to confessing his feelings, everything just fell flat and he never brought it up. Nor did Xun for that matter. It also hurt him that he was not obvious with his affections.

Gwen had listened to all of this, surprisingly with enough patience and hanging onto every word, then gave her own advice in a very blunt way, but to the point. She had told him to stop being afraid and ask him out already. And it wasn't the lion that she focused on either, for she had her sights on the husky as well and told him to be patient.

Although her method of helping was not so subtly tact, Rowen had to admit that she had an astounding way of getting people to open up to her, to which he was thankful for. 'And she has a bloody point.' He thought reluctantly and let out a soft sigh before shaking his head with a smile, having decided to not dwell on his own mistakes.

"You must really like him," Damien suddenly spoke up, causing the lion to snap back into reality and look down at him in confusion. "Xun, duh! Who else would I be talking about?"

"Oh, right. Sorry, my mind was...elsewhere." The lion responded as his face began to flush once more. "But yes, I have been thinking of him lately."

"Well that much is obvious." Damien chuckled then hummed with a slight tilt of his head. "It's weird though...you don't really show it."

"Show what? My affection for him?"

"Yeah, you just keep it all hidden away. Totally different from James' straight forwardness."

Just as that name was uttered, Rowen's lower lip twitched and his muzzle scrunched up before letting loose a loud snarl, causing not only Gwen and Cameron to look back in confusion, but also a few passerby. In his small fit of rage, he failed to notice the shocked reactions he was receiving until someone coughing snapped him out of it to look around. His cheeks burned in embarrassment and his round ears drooped.

Luckily Gwen came to the rescue. "Are you two still angry over that movie we watched earlier?" She asked, coming over to the lion and husky, grabbing both of their paws and laughing casually as she gently pulled. "You guys have some major issues..." her eyes flicked to the two of them, a knowing look apparent on her face.

Damien quirked a brow, more than likely wondering what was going on, then caught on quick to her scheme. "Yeah," he spoke up and turned to Rowen with a cheeky smile, "sorry, I just didn't like the main character is all."

For a long moment Rowen was utterly perplexed, yet he allowed himself to be led to Cameron, not saying a word. As the four of them were together, they started walking away and the various furs that stared after them shrugged, then continued about their business. "Ummm...thank you."

Cameron snorted with a shake of his head. "And here I thought mutt brain was bad enough out in public." He said, ignoring the husky's glare.

Gwen giggled at that. "This makes me want to hang out with you two more often now. But Rowen," she regarded the lion now with a mix of intrigue and concern, "what was that all about?"

"James," the lion admitted with shame, all the more apparent in his voice and expression. He despised that cougar with all of his being, which was strange since it takes a lot to get him riled up this way. 'Then again, he is trying to muscle in on my panda!' He thought to himself, his abating anger ready to surface again, then stopped as his cheeks and the tips of his ears began to flush for the third time today.

"Him? Why would you think about--" the ferret began to question, but stopped short as her mind began to process how this happened before staring daggers at Damien who looked ready to drop the bags and run for his life. "You caused this."

"Well...okay yeah, but I was being helpful, honest!" Damien smiled nervously down at the ferret, which was almost funny considering how short she was compared to everyone around her.

"You're not equipped to help others. Leave that to the professionals." Cameron quipped as usual, not showing a shred of mercy.

Rowen watched the scene in front of him with a smile, almost forgetting about what he was holding until he felt his muscles aching. "Ah...Gwen? If you don't mind, can we all find a seat? I don't think I'll be able to hold on any longer."

Gwen jumped as she took notice of Rowen and Damien's arms struggling. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't realize we were walking for so long. I was planning on going to another store though..." she mused and got flat looks, causing her to put up her paws. "Okay, okay!"

Satisfied at having to rest for a spell, Rowen followed the ferret to the fountain that was everyone's meetup point. At the angle they were in, he could see that one lane had various game rooms and in another, name brand stores with some shops he had never heard of, though he didn't care for anything at the moment. A heavy sigh of relief escaped him after planting himself down on a nearby bench, letting the bags gently slip from his arms before settling them on his lap. "Thank you for this. I truly appreciate it." He said, watching the others expressions as they sat.

Shrugging her shoulders, Gwen smiled and shook her head. "Not a problem! Again, sorry for not noticing. I got caught up on chatting with our cheetah friend here!" She regarded Cameron with a genuine smile.

Face flushing, Cameron snorted and turned his nose upward. "Yeah, whatever. I only talked to you because you kept bugging me."

"Aww Cam, always being tsundere..." Damien grinned and leaned his head in close to the cheetah's, then suddenly brought an arm over to grab at his waist, "but no matter how much you try to shove, I'll always be your friend."

"You...!" Cameron started as he tried to back away, then froze as he seemed to realize where he was. After a moment or two, he settled down, although his expression was telling everyone he was annoyed. "You're such an idiot. And a complete weeb!"

"Hey! There's nothing wrong with liking anime!" The husky countered, his tongue sticking out playfully.

"Awww that's so sweet!" Gwen cooed and giggled, getting a glare from the cheetah in response, but ignored it nonetheless. Her eyes then settled onto the lion, tilting her head curiously. "So what brought James up?"

Rowen groaned, not at all wishing to speak about what was talked about but he had no choice. "Well..." he gazed at the husky with an apologetic look before turning his attention back to the ferret and relayed everything to her, watching her smile disappear to be replaced with mild anger.

Gwen sighed softly and brought a paw to her head, shaking it slowly. "Honestly, I can understand why you get like this when his name is mentioned. You're worried that Xun might actually like him don't you? Because of the kiss." She received a nod and laughed, making him frown slightly. "I'm sorry, but you really don't have to worry about that. He can't stand him at all. You've seen how James is, he's an arrogant and cocky bastard. Can you really see those two going out? Trust me, that relationship will not work."

Having been reassured a little, the lion had a small smile on his features. "Well that does make me feel better and it makes sense, but I'm worried that he won't have the same feelings like I do. And...I haven't been showing how much I do want him to be mine..." He averted his gaze and focused on the light brown marble tiled floor.

The ferret bit her bottom lip, her brows furrowed with worry and concern. She opened her mouth, then immediately closed it and looked down at the ground herself.

Both Cameron and Damien had no idea what to say in the situation since neither of them really know Xun so they kept their muzzles shut.

A deathly silent atmosphere fell upon them, only broken by the sound of trickling water and furs wandering about. Everyone kept to their own thoughts, wondering what to say to relieve the tension and get the flow going.

Self doubt began to circulate within the lion, thinking of the most horrible things about himself. He hated doing this, always putting himself down and fully believing that he isn't worthy of love from anyone. It was why he started working out and continued doing it; so he would be noticed, appreciated even.

Yet despite his outward physical appearance, he couldn't change how he was on the inside, and that's what hurt him the most. Was he not showing how much he cared? Did Xun even like him to begin with? Did the kiss even matter? A low growl escaped his lips and he began to stand, the feeling of wanting to go home and forgetting this whole day ever happened beginning to overwhelm him.

"Rowen, don't leave." Gwen called out, causing him to pause and slowly sit back down before slowly turning to regard her. "Thank you. I...actually have something tell you that I've been keeping secret. No, Xun didn't tell me to, but I figured I did since we're the best of friends. Anyway, he told me about the kiss you two shared and..." she trailed off.

"And?" the lion prompted, waiting and wanting for her to continue. He kept a steady gaze on her, his intrigue peaked, filling him with both hope and despair at what else she was going to say. After waiting for what felt like an eternity she had continued, telling him everything that the panda had told her from beginning to end. By the time she had finished, his face flushed and his eyes were wide in astonishment. "So that's how he feels...I see. Thank you for telling me."

"No problem!" Gwen gave a thumbs up, her smile and joyful atmosphere returning in full force. "I think the two of you would make a great couple! Just promise me you won't hurt him. Otherwise I'll give you a beating you'll never forget, okay?" She turned her focus to the husky who was already nodding before she could even give the same warning.

"I won't hurt Justin, I promise!" Damien pleaded, getting a smirk and a light pat on the head, causing him to sigh in relief.

"I'll make sure he doesn't." Cameron blurted out and again ignored a hard look from the husky as he paid attention to Gwen.

As the four of them began to casually converse amongst each other, Rowen noticed Xun walking up to them with his brother and Jake following close by. He felt his heartbeat increase, his paws getting sweaty and mouth going dry. Panic slowly began to rise but as he settled his eyes on Gwen and receiving a reassuring smile, it slowly began to fade. 'I can do this...no pressure.'

"Hey, guys! We're back!" Justin greeted everyone as they came into close proximity, then furrowed his brows, an expression of concern crossing his face as he gazed at the lion, noticing that his body was somewhat tense. "Umm...are you okay Rowen? You look sick."

Rowen looked up at the young panda and gave a bright smile, trying his best to keep himself and his emotions under control but it was hard due to his love interest being nearby. "I'm fine, Justin. Don't worry."

Gwen took notice of this and suddenly stood up, clearing her throat to gather everyone's attention. "Hey guys, let's head on over to the food court! I'm sure everyone here is hungry!" She eyed Justin and Jake, then the bags that were near the lion's feet. "Can the two of you carry those please?" She requested and watched them do exactly that.

"Sweet, I'm starving!" Xun said cheerfully as he began to fall in with the group who was already moving, but stopped short as the australian shepherd put up a paw. "What? I can't come! Aw, come on!"

"You'll have your sustenance after the two of you talk." Jake responded with a nod toward the lion, then let his arm come down to his side before turning around and began marching away with everyone.

"I like Gwen. She has a great personality. Although she could do with a little more tact." Rowen spoke up after everyone left.

A chuckle passed through the panda's lips before turning to have his green eyes settle on Rowen, smiling a genuine smile. "Yeah, that's how she is. Sometimes she can be surprising though."

The lion chuckled as well with a nod of his head, agreeing to what was said. "I'm starting to realize that the more I spend time with her." He really was beginning to enjoy her company, despite knowing how she shopped.

Soon silence fell between them, neither not knowing what to say next. It was almost uncomfortable and whenever either of them did try to speak, no words will come.

Needing to break the ice, Rowen cleared his throat and stood up from his seat, then walked up to the panda. He smiled nervously and scratched the back of his head, wondering just how to put what he wanted to say into words. "T-there's something I wish to speak with you about."

Xun blinked in surprise, his cheeks starting to turn crimson due to how close his friend was, though it seemed he didn't mind this at all. "I think I already know. It's about the kiss...isn't it?" His eyes fell upon the lion, then quickly looked elsewhere, his own nervousness showing.

"No," Rowen suddenly answered and quickly shook his head at the questioning look he received, "I mean yes, but not only that. It's...umm..." he stammered, his cheeks and the tips of his ears beginning to burn brighter than before as he fought his inner fears.

Panic began to rise to the surface again, threatening to burst free at any moment. He growled softly and began to turn himself away. However, he didn't get far as one of his wrists were caught, causing him to look back and see the panda smiling, his eyes showing patience and care.

"Ya know, this is the first time I've ever seen you look so upset." Xun said, then laughed softly at the embarrassed expression that crossed his friend's face. "Don't worry, it's cute. You don't have to be this calm, collected person all the time. Everyone has feelings. So what's up?"

"I..." He trailed off and looked over to the water fountain, watching the sparkling water trickle down to the mass within the small pond. For a moment, there were no words spoken, even after the hold on his wrist was released. Then suddenly, he grabbed both of the panda's paws, enveloping them and looked straight into his eyes. "Do you want to go out with me?"

"W-what?" Xun blinked his eyes a couple of times, surprised by the sudden outburst and his face flushed even more. "I-I mean, umm..." He stammered, not at all sure on how to respond.

"Xun," Rowen persisted and inched his face closer, feeling hot breath washing over his muzzle and tickling his whiskers, "I really like you. I want us to be more than friends. Yes, I know we've known each other for quite a long time and we split apart but now we're together again! And...despite not showing how much I do want you to be mine...I...no, you've been on my mind the first moment I laid eyes on you. I want to protect you...to be by your side. T-that is...if you'll have me. If not, I understand."

For a long time there was silence, Xun simply staring back at the lion with the same intensity. His expression was one of shock and the look in his eyes spoke of confusion. Soon, he averted his gaze and his voice was low, almost sad as he spoke. "I'm glad that you feel this way about me. Really, I do...but," he picked his head up and looked into the lion's eyes, almost searching for something within, "aren't you scared of losing the friendship we built up if things don't work out?"

In answer to the question, Rowen gently squeezed the paws he held onto and a warm smile came upon his lips. "I've already thought of that. And...Gwen did mention this," he chuckled as Xun turned his head and gave the ferret a look that would frighten demons before reaching out a paw to caress his cheek in order to gain his attention, "but I'm not afraid. I'd rather risk this if it means being with you."

With one of the panda's paws being free, he reached up to his cheek and touched Rowen's paw that was still on his cheek and gently nuzzled it. "Well if you're sure about this...I guess I'll take the risk too."

"S-so that's a yes?" The lion inquired, his heartbeat increasing and body heat rising to the point where he wondered if Xun could even feel how hot he was getting. He watched him for any sign that he was possibly declining, for anything that would indicate he was possibly dreaming.

"Yeah. I umm...to be honest, I had a crush on you a long time ago. Although I think I told you that already..." Xun answered, the sweet expression he had soon turning into one of surprise, for the lion suddenly grabbed the back of his head and pushed their muzzles together into a kiss.

In that moment, nothing mattered to Rowen. All of the doubts and fears that he held within himself for so long washed away. He had no clue if anyone was watching, but even if there were eyes of disgust or curiosity he didn't care in the slightest because all that mattered to him was right now.

For Xun, the state of shock quickly faded and after closing his eyes did he embrace the lion, bringing their bodies closer together.

There was no telling how long the two of them stayed like that. To Rowen however, it felt like eternity. He felt complete, as if a missing part of his soul finally became reunited and made him whole. Just when he was about to fully make out though, sudden cheering from nearby disrupted them and without so much as turning, he knew who was doing it. "Glad to know they all approve." He said flatly after parting from the kiss.

"Yeah, but can you really blame them? You're the first guy I'm going out with." The panda gave a sheepish grin before he suddenly face pawed and gave a loud groan of annoyance. "Aw man, my parents are gonna freak! Uugh!"

"I'm sure they'll approve...hopefully. But if they don't, I'll still be with you regardless." Rowen grabbed a paw and gave it a gentle squeeze to show his resolve. He wasn't going to back down from homophobic parents. "Wait...I'm your first date?!"

"Pretty much...I haven't been with anyone because I wasn't sure. And plus, no one at the school is really my type so...yeah." Xun scratched the back of his head and giggled. "Oh! Right...parents. They fully support me on being gay, which I'm thankful for to this day. I love them, truly but they're...too ecstatic about it. I mean, they had a bet on when I was finally going to come out of the closet to them! And they hound me almost everyday about finding a guy." He sighed and shook his head.

"Well that's a relief. I'm glad they're supportive. As for the other thing, they want what's best for you, I'm sure." Rowen countered, his smile never leaving him. To know that his feelings were reciprocated and not have to worry about Xun being disowned made him as happy as can be.

"Yeah, you're right," the panda grumbled and turned his head, eyes settling on Gwen and the others before focusing back on the lion, "I guess it's not so bad. And not to ruin the moment here but can we eat now? I'm really starving!" His stomach growled to emphasize that he was, indeed in need of sustenance.

Rowen suddenly burst out laughing, from not only the agonized expression he was seeing but also at how adorable his friend-now possible lover sounded. "Sure. I'm sort of peckish myself." He looked down and noticed that he was still holding on to the panda's paw.

Xun followed the lion's eyes and heavily blushed. "Umm...do you mind if we...uhh..." he trailed off, his shyness becoming all too apparent. There was no need to say anything more however, for the lion quickly gave a light peck on the forehead and nodded.

Rowen couldn't help but feel elated, even more so when Xun shoved his face in his chest. "Sorry, couldn't help myself." He said, getting a glare, only making him smile even more. After teasing him even further, the two of them made their way over to the rest of the group.

~ ~ ~

"Oh thank the gods, I thought I was going to wither away there!" Xun said as he held his stomach with both paws, feeling full from the meal he had. "Thankfully the food court here is nearby."

Justin shook his head and sighed, sounding annoyed but the smile that was displayed said otherwise. He seemed to be enjoying himself. "Well you would have gotten here sooner if you weren't so busy looking like a dork back there."

"I'm not a dork!" Xun stuck out his tongue and folded his arms, already beginning to pout from the statement. However, doing this only proved his little brother right and he was soon feeling embarrassed. "Okay, maybe a little..."

Everyone around the table laughed, the atmosphere around them filled with positive vibes and all around goodness. It was a refreshing feeling to relax and have a good time and not spend it on worrying about all of the stress and events that went on during the week.

And while the bracelet was still a mystery, he knew the answers would come in due time. For now, all the panda needed to think about was finishing high school and what he would do once he finally chose a university.

Rowen, who was sitting next to Xun, noticed he was spacing out and placed a paw on his shoulder, then gently shook him to get his attention. "Hey, are you alright?"

His internal musings disturbed and having to snap back to reality, Xun looked over to the lion with a tilt of his head. "Huh? What?" He was confused and after having the question repeated to him did he answer. "Oh! I was just thinking about how relaxed we are right now. That's all."

"Well of course we are!" Gwen said cheerfully after taking a bite of her salad and sip of water. "And I'm very happy that the two of you finally asked each other out. You two are so adorable!"

"I have to agree," Jake said with a nod and smiled, amusement showing in his eyes. "The both of you do make a good pair." He chuckled at the sight of them flushing from the compliments being thrown their way.

"Umm, thanks guys....really." Xun gave a sheepish grin, not knowing what to do and trying hard not to hide himself. It was still a little hard for him to believe that he was going out with someone who's quite the looker. Not only was his friend smart with a thick accent, but his body was built and he played sports. As for what kind, he had no idea. 'I'll ask him about that at some point.' He thought, his ears soon perking up at the feeling of his left paw being touched and enveloped, causing him to turn and see the lion smiling at him.

"I give my thanks as well. Especially to you Gwen, for setting this up in the first place." Rowen focused his attention to the girl and gave an appreciative nod.

Gwen gave a thumbs up. "No problem! I figured I might as well do something since you stole my bestie's heart away." She teased, pretending to sound and look hurt.

"Which is a very good thing," Justin piped up after sipping some juice, "otherwise our parents, along with Gwen here, would hound him forever." He got a glare for that comment, but he smiled through it.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever!" Xun huffed and pointed a finger at both his little brother and Damien. "What about you and little firecracker here?"

The grin the young panda had quickly turned into a sheepish one and his gaze traveled elsewhere. "Well..." he drawled, trying to come up with some excuse or another it seemed but nothing came as he became interrupted.

"He's not ready yet." The husky answered, his tone indicating that he was upset about the news but his wagging tail belied his frustration. "And what do you mean, firecracker?!"

"You fly off the handle when it comes to his little brother here." Cameron said, fully ignoring the hard look he got from the husky and focused his attention to Justin. "But mutt brain here has a point...when will you be ready?"

"Soon!" Justin answered and wrung his paws together, looking nervous and bashful as usual.

"Well I'm not going to hear the end of this..." the cheetah mumbled, albeit too loud, for Damien gave him a flat look, to which he noticed and scowled. "Oh don't give me that face! I know how you are."

Another round of laughs was shared before Xun's bladder started to tell him he needed to go. After standing and excusing himself, he ran to the nearest restroom to relieve himself. 'Thankfully the people working here like to keep their public bathrooms clean!' He thought as he stood near a urinal to take a piss, letting his eyes roam around the white and marble tiled area. Having finished with what he had to do and after washing and drying his paws, he made his way out, only to bump into a rat. "Oh, sorry!"

The male rat stumbled slightly, then quickly regained his balance and looked up at the panda with the beginnings of a scowl before becoming replaced with shock. "Oh no, it's quite alright my good sir! My deepest apologies. I wasn't paying attention." He said, giving a deep and sincere bow.

"Uhhh okay...?" Xun looked around, hoping no one was around to see this. He didn't know how to respond, let alone do because it was somewhat out of the ordinary. Sure, the guy was apologizing but he didn't have to go to such length. "It's no big. Uhh I'm gonna go hang out with my friends, so later!" He gave a small wave and started walking back to the group. However, before he could even take three steps, his right wrist was grabbed.

"Wait! This bracelet...do you mind if I take a closer look at it?" He asked and before a response could be heard, the rat was already engrossed on the accessory.

Xun inwardly groaned as it was too late to give protest. He hoped this wouldn't take up too much time, for he really wanted to get back to his friends, but mostly to Rowen. His hopes were dashed way however, due to the male taking an extreme interest in his bracelet. Heaving a sigh, he waited patiently for him to finish. While he did this, he decided to do a bit of inspecting of his own.

The rat was almost the height of Gwen and looked to be in his early thirties. He seemed to be quite healthy too, for his posture was straight and his fur looked smooth and groomed to the touch. There was what appeared to be a scar on his left ear, presumably from a nasty bar fight or some sort of accident. His fur color was a natural shade of grey while his eyes were a striking hue of amber. His style of clothing -albeit a bit strange- definitely made him stand out, for he wore a clean-pressed black trench coat, complete with slacks and dress shoes.

"I see...yes, I do believe this is it." He mused, then looked up at Xun, a grin creasing his lips. "Say, do you mind coming down to the shop? It's really not that far."

Xun hesitated and turned his head, looking over his shoulder to see everyone chatting before focusing on the rat. "I guess, but can my friends come?"

The man immediately shook his head, giving an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, but only one customer can come inside. For you see, the space is quite small and my companion who owns and runs the shop isn't quite...fond of dealing with a large group. This won't take long, I promise."

'Then what's the point of having it be in a place where there's thousands of people walking about?' The panda thought, feeling annoyed about the whole thing. As much as he wanted to tell this man to shove it and leave, he just couldn't find the heart to do it. Besides, he wasn't doing anything wrong. Letting out another sigh, he reluctantly agreed. "Alright. Just don't take too long, okay? I got a date."

"Of course! Right this way, good sir." The rat gave another bow and spun on his heels before his feet started to move with Xun following close by.

Truth be told, the shop was not that far from where they were and its size truly was small. It was a run of the mill antique store, displaying all sorts of things ranging from clocks that were used in the eighties to mere trinkets. The inside held more items; some fascinating and some downright boring.

"Nice place you got here! Not my sort of thing, but it has its charm." Xun said and walked around, all the while doing his best not to knock over anything, cursing his stocky frame. As he carefully maneuvered himself, he noticed a petite and fairly dressed female deer working the cash register. "Oh, hiya!"

"Hello, welcome to odds and ends, where the perfect item is waiting for you! What can I do for you today?" She greeted in a polite tone, her eyes gleaming with joy.

"Nothing really, I guess. Just--"

"Pardon the interruption, but Elise, do care to take a closer look at what is on our beloved customers' wrist, hmm?" The rat pointed at the bracelet.

Elise said nothing for a moment, her expression flat as she followed his suggestion. Suddenly she gasped and quickly reached out with her paws to grab hold of Xun's right wrist, inspecting the bracelet. "No, this can't be! Thomas don't you dare play tricks on me or I will knock you into next week!"

Thomas only chuckled in response and his warm smile soon turned into an evil grin. "I assure you my dear, this is the real deal. This boy is in possession of the Jade Bracelet!"

Xun looked back and forth between the deer and rat, his mind racing. 'What the hells is going on? Is this a joke?' He thought, confusion showing in his body language and face. "Alright, guys...nice prank but this isn't funny." He growled in annoyance and tried to jerk his arm back, only to find that he couldn't. Eyes settling on his wrist, he saw that the deer was trying to pry the item off of him, but was having much difficulty.

"This...darn...thing...won't...budge!" She huffed, pulling with all of her might and beginning to lose her grip. After one final attempt did she slip and lose her balance, causing her to fall back and collide onto a tall shelf that held many a variety of priceless items. "Oh, no..." she mumbled, looking up to see everything rattling and threatening to fall over.

A heavy sigh came from Thomas as he shook his head before locking the door and raising a paw, unleashing magic to keep his companion from getting hurt. "Why must you always be so reckless?" He made his way over to the panda and spread his arms out. "Forgive her, she likes to be hands on. Now, I'm afraid that you'll have to come with us. You have a very valuable item and, to be blunt, we desire it."

"Excuse me?! Hold on...what?!" Xun exclaimed and facepalmed, letting out a loud groan of frustration. "What is the deal with this darn thing? First I get attacked by--" he paused, then quickly shook his head, "know what? Never mind. I really don't have time for this right now. And your attempt at trying to kidnap me is pretty lame. Might wanna work on that!"

"Hmm. Says the one who fell for it so easily." Thomas spat back. He chuckled at the look of embarrassment that crossed Xun's face. "But you're quite right about one thing. You don't have time."

"Sleep tight, sugar." Elise giggled, raising a paw and unleashing magic of her own.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Xun felt the bracelet give off its familiar power, infusing into him. He could feel the tinge of magic in the air, knowing it was a simple sleeping spell. However, it did no good whatsoever as it had no effect. "Now I'm pissed off. Any other tricks up your sleeve?"

The two partners in crime looked at one another, then back at him and began to attempt at releasing more spells to throw. They never got far, for black holes appeared in front of them, swiftly pulling them inside before disappearing out of sight. The only sounds that were heard were their panicked screams.

"Oh, hush...you're not going to die. Just be transported somewhere else, jeez." Xun said out loud to no one in particular and made his way to the door. As he neared it, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted something reflecting the fluorescent light. Curious, he walked over and picked it up. In his paw was some sort of medallion with an emblem of a skulled paw emblazoned on it. "Huh. Must have fell off of one of them." He stashed it in his pocket and unlocked the door after returning to normal and left, making his way back to the group.

Rowen was first to notice his return. "Hey, where were you? Are you alright?" He inquired as he looked him over, making sure there weren't any injuries.

Before he could even answer, questions were coming left and right at a rapid rate, everyone wearing expressions of both worry and concern. "Whoa, guys. I wasn't gone that long. Cut me some slack."

"Cut you some--you dork, we were worried about you!" Justin began with a huff, crossing his arms and giving a hard stare at his big brother. "None of us knew where you went!"

"Next time, please inform us if you plan on going anywhere." Jake chimed in, then tilted his head curiously. "In any case, where did you go exactly?"

Xun sighed before relaying what he had went through just a few minutes ago. Once he had finished, everyone gave him flat stares. "W-what? I took care of myself! I'm not a kid!"

Gwen slapped her forehead hard with a paw and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Hun, I don't mean to be harsh here but do you have ANY idea how dangerous that is? Have you not been taught of stranger danger? Where is your common sense?"

"And here I thought mutt brain here was the really dumb one. I was wrong." Cameron quipped, cracking a small smile before quickly turning back into a scowl.

"Yeah, as much as I really hate to admit it...he's right." Damien said with a shrug. "You really should have known it was a kidnapping from the start."

"You're the older brother here...gods, you're a dork and a dummy!" Justin placed a paw to the left side of his head, shaking it from side to side in disappointment.

"I know, I know. I screwed up, but at least I got something out of it." The panda went through his pocket and pulled out the medallion, holding it up for all of their eyes to see. "I don't know what this really means, but it looks cool!"

"Well that's strange..." Rowen mumbled with a rub of his chin and looked at the Australian Shepherd. "Do you know anything about this?"

Jake shook his head. "I haven't the faintest clue. This is a first for me as it is to all of you." He turned his gaze to the panda, his face serious. "I would suggest keeping your guard up however."

Xun huffed and rolled his eyes. "Like I would need to do that with those two clowns. I don't know if there's more of them but even if that is the case, I can take them on no problem."

Rowen gave him a flat stare. "Are you sure you want to be boasting, considering how you almost got kidnapped?" He smiled at the panda deflating from the comment and blushing in pure embarrassment.

"Hey, at least this time it didn't involve me getting physically hurt, unlike yesterday when an angel attacked me!" Xun said in an outburst and everyone -save for Justin- stared at him with wide eyes.

"An angel?" Gwen repeated the word, then threw up her paws in exasperation. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"

"Because we didn't want to worry you..." Justin answered in a small, timid tone of voice; his gaze downcast and head hung low.

Damien reached over and gave the young panda a hug. "I get that but we're all friends here and that's what we do when someone is in trouble or has gone through some stuff. We help and support each other."

Jake nodded, then turned his eyes on to Xun with a tilt of his head. "Exactly. Now tell us, what happened?"

Letting out a sigh, the panda recounted everything that happened in the incident with him and the entity. Even so far as recalling the spell he had never learned before. By the time he was finished, slacked jaws and awe struck expressions was all he was seeing, save for Jake.

Rowen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "All of these events and incidents that has happened so far has been because of that bracelet. It greatly boggles my mind to think how such an item can cause so many strange things to happen to and around you."

"And then there's the mention of a...Dianu Tianshi is what you called it?" Gwen inquired, getting a nod from the panda. "Well whatever it is, it could be connected to your bracelet and your magic. But we're still getting more questions than answers here..." she sighed with a shake of her head.

"Hmm, I believe I've heard of this actually." Jake said with a paw cupping his chin, drawing everyone's attention. "Just the name and translation, nothing else. It's Diànw? ti?nsh?, meaning tainted angel."

"So wait, this means Xun has an angel inside his bracelet? That's cool!" Damien's said cheerily, his tail wagging in excitement. Everyone gave him strange looks. "Oh, come on! I can't be the only one who thinks that's awesome!"

Cameron sighed and punched the husky's arm. "You really need to learn to not say stupid things like that."

Xun raised a brow but didn't comment on Damien's little outburst. "Anyway, thanks for clearing that up. But do you have anymore info? Anything at all?" He asked the Australian Shepherd, his curiosity about the mysterious item growing. 'Just what is this thing?'

Jake slowly shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't. That's all I know. I'm sorry."

"No, it's alright." The panda heaved a soft sigh, then brought his right wrist up a little, eyeing the accessory that was the same color as his eyes. "I'll get my answers eventually."

"Yeah, and look on the bright side! No one can take it off of you even if they tried!" Gwen commented, her usual upbeat smile present on her lips.

"Although you have a point, that doesn't mean he's free from being sought after." Rowen said, frowning. "And besides, we don't know the limitations to these abilities."

"Umm guys?" Justin spoke up and drew everyone's attention. "As much as I want to sit here and discuss this to try and figure all of this out, I want to go home. I'm kind of exhausted from all of the walking."

"And the day's almost over." Cameron said, his gaze traveling up to the roof.

Xun looked up as well to see that the cheetah was right. The beautiful blue canvas above was now painted orange from the sun slowly sinking into the horizon. As he stared, images from his dream suddenly flashed into his mind; ruined buildings, corpses littering the ground, a shadowed silhouette, raging infernos and finally a floating mirror. It was all happening so fast that he couldn't make out anything and to make matters worse, his head started to hurt. He shut his eyes tight and placed a paw to his forehead, groaning in pain.

Rowen noticed this and quickly put a paw on the panda's shoulder, his eyes filled with worry and concern. "Xun?! Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Xun replied and gave a smile to reassure the lion and everyone else who was looking at him as if he would pass out at any moment. "Guys, I'm okay. It's just a headache." He told them and chuckled, resting his paw on the table.

"Hmmm, if you say so. But your brother is right, we should all head home." Gwen grabbed her belongings and hopped down from her seat. "If anyone would be so kind to grab my bags please and put them in my car?"

Just as the question left her lips, Damien, Cameron and Jake were already out of their seats and grabbing what bags they could before coming up to her. Once that was done, the three furs remaining at the table got their own belongings and joined up with them, then made their way to the entrance.

Stepping outside into the crisp, cold air of fall, Xun took a deep breath and let it out. "Ya know, despite being a fire mage, I like the cold. It's weird."

Justin huffed and shook his head, smiling. "Yeah, weird how it doesn't affect you being hot headed sometimes." He teased, quickly putting up his paws at the glare he was getting.

Rowen let out a deep chuckle. "I'll have to agree with your brother here. When we were kids, you would always get so angry whenever you saw someone being bullied." He smirked at the flat expression on the panda's face. "But that's what I like about you. You have a heart of gold and you wear that heart on your sleeves."

Xun blushed like a tomato from the compliment, not at all expecting to hear such a thing. It was true, for he always felt the need to protect the weak no matter the cost. It was who he was and nothing would ever change that. "Thanks...hehe." He averted his gaze for a moment, feeling slightly embarrassed. Not paying attention, he failed to notice the lion coming close to him until he felt hot breath washing over him. Looking up in surprise, he felt tender lips being pressed into his own. Melting into the kiss, he wrapped his arms around the lion's torso.

"Oh, this is so adorable!" Gwen squealed, practically jumping in joy at the couple sharing a romantic moment. "I wish I could stay and watch, but I have to take these guys home. I'll see you later, hun! Hope your head feels better!" She waved goodbye and quickly made her way to the parking lot to get to her car, the three boys following close by. After getting the bags inside the trunk, everyone save for Jake climbed inside and she drove off, disappearing down the road.

"You're not going with them?" Rowen asked after breaking the kiss.

The Australian Shepherd shook his head as he came up to the others. "No, because my sister is my ride. I sent her a text a few minutes ago so she'll be here soon."

"Won't you get cold?" Justin spread his arms to emphasize his point, then suddenly face pawed at what was spoken. "Disregard my question. We just came out of a mall...ugh."

"I'll be fine. Thank you for your concern." Jake smiled softly, his eyes gleaming a little in the light. "Will you be alright driving down the road?" The question was directed at Xun.

"Yeah, I'll be okay. My headache is surprisingly gone now so there won't be any problems." He responded cheerfully, then groaned. "Right...I almost forgot. We're grounded."

"Which means I'll only be seeing you during school hours." Rowen frowned, his round ears flattening down to his skull. "I know it sounds silly, but I'd like to be with you at all times."

Xun laughed and nuzzled the lion, loving how warm his body felt. "It's not that long of a punishment. Don't worry, it'll be over before you know it." He reached up and gently touched his cheek. "It's sweet that you want to be with me...really."

Justin let out a sigh and then cleared his throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but can we please go home? It's quite cold and like i said, I'm tired." His tone was a clear indication to this and he was beginning to scowl like Cameron.

Jake looked between the three of them, amused. With a shake of the head, he turned and walked to the entrance of the mall. "I'll be waiting for my ride. It was nice seeing all of you and this was a great experience to have." He gave a sincere bow before heading inside.

"Well, I won't hold you up any longer. I'll see you at school." Rowen said and gave the panda one last kiss, then turned, heading to his truck, giving a wave goodbye.

"Alright, let's head home." Xun let out a yawn, stretching his arms high over his head and brought them back down to his side. Feeling somewhat refreshed from that, he walked across the parking lot, making his way to his car with his little brother following.

After getting close and climbing inside, they made their way home. The ride back was silent, but Xun didn't mind this for it gave him plenty of time to think. He was overjoyed to know how Rowen felt about him and vice versa. After so many years of not seeing his best friend and coming back for good was the greatest thing to have ever happened. Those thoughts soon turned to the bracelet and how he was almost kidnapped. Once again, someone was after him because of it and he was developing newer abilities each time he fought. Just what on earth was this thing? And what could be sealed inside of it? 'And then there's my dream...what could all of this mean?'

His internal musings came to an end however, for their house was within sight. Fully parking in the driveway, the two of them stepped out and got inside, greeting their parents.

"How was your day boys?" David asked, sipping a mug of what appeared to be green tea while he watched something on television in the living room, though he wasn't paying attention to it right now.

"Did you buy anything special?" Amanda eyed the two bags that were held, her curiosity glaringly apparent.

"We only borrowed some books from the library. And Xun here finally has a date." Justin said before his brother could even open his mouth. The glare he got for that reveal was so strong, it made the young panda shy away a little.

Xun quickly turned his attention away from the young panda and to their parents to see their reactions. Judging from the look of annoyance on his father's face, it was easy to assume that the two of them made another bet. "You two did it again, didn't you?"

"Yup! And I won!" Amanda gave her husband a cheeky grin from where she sat across from him. "Better pay up that fifty!"

"One of these days..." David grumbled and dug out his wallet, handing her the money which she graciously took. "So who's the guy? Someone we know?"

"Yeah...it's Rowen...Graham's son." He answered in a timid voice, preparing for what was to inevitably come. In an instant, his body was embraced in a soft and firm body belonging to his mother.

"Oh, I'm so proud of you! I knew this day would come!" She nuzzled her oldest son affectionately, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Mooom!" Xun squirmed in her grasp, trying to break free but it was no use. Having no other choice, he simply endured it until it was finally over and she backed away a little to give him some breathing space. "You two are way too supportive..."

David grinned at that and chuckled. "Of course we are! Better to be this way than be hateful!" He said, soon groaning in annoyance at the smug grin he was getting again from his wife. "I should stop betting with you."

"You say that, but we both know you won't." Amanda giggled as she was handed a thirty dollar bill into her awaiting paw. "Never doubt a woman's intuition."

"Well I'm scared of mom now." Justin gulped and looked up at the woman, his eyes showing nervousness.

"As you should be." She gave a light hearted and innocent smile, the mask clearly intended to hide how sinister she truly was. This feeling intensified as she let out another feminine giggle.

"Evil as always, dear..." David shook his head, cracking a small smile before he grew somewhat serious, his face firm. "Don't forget that the two of you are grounded."

Both brothers hung their heads low, muttering a 'yes sir' and then made their way upstairs, ready to call it a day.

However, Xun paused in mid-step and turned on his heels. "Hey, dad?" He asked hesitantly, his gaze directed at the old man.

Fully having his attention, David looked up to face his son with an eyebrow arched. "Yes? Is something on your mind?" His ears were perked up in interest and intrigue along with Amanda's.

'Such a simple question.' The panda thought, yet as he opened his mouth to voice his curiosity about the bracelet and all of the strange things that have been happening this week, no words were spoken. He stood there, frozen and even more hesitant. 'Should I? Do they even know anything?' These thoughts swirled in his mind and the more he wondered, the more frustrated he was getting.

"Sweetie? Is everything okay?" Amanda asked, her face filled with worry and concern as she noticed how disgruntled her son was appearing.

Breaking out of his reverie, Xun looked between the two of his parents, his heart being filled with joy. He truly loved them with all of his heart and would do anything to protect them. They may be overly supportive, but they loved their two children with all of their being. With this in mind, he sighed inwardly. "No, it's nothing. I'm fine."

Not at all looking convinced, David let it slide with a smile. "If you say so, son. Have a good rest."

Justin, who stayed near the foot of the steps listening in gave his brother a questioning look and mouthing silently 'you're not going to tell them?'

Xun shook his head in reply. He didn't want them to get involved in this and would rather keep it that way if possible. With nothing else further to say, he watched the young panda trek up the stairs before following him, soon coming upon his room and entering it.

Now that he was in solitude, he quickly stripped off the clothes he wore, leaving only his underwear on. And as much as he wanted to take a shower, he was honestly feeling pretty exhausted so he dove into the bed and wrapped himself up. Sleep soon overtook him.

~ ~ ~

Hours slipped by as the panda slept peacefully during the night, his dreams calm and normal. However, something didn't feel quite right. Suddenly opening his eyes and slowly leaning up, he checked around his room. Although it was dark, there was visible light thanks to the moon outside. "Nothing wrong...weird." He muttered, then fully got up out of bed and onto the floor, making his way out of the bedroom.

Entering the small hallway, he began checking on his brother and parents to make sure they were alright. Relief filled him as he saw their sleeping forms, but the feeling never left him, which was odd. He didn't sense any intruder so there was no immediate danger. 'And if that's the case then why do I feel like there is?'

Still feeling unsure, Xun crept his way down to the kitchen and living room area, summoning up a ball of light as he did. Thoroughly checking, there was still no sign of anything or anyone, leaving him slightly annoyed and definitely more cranky. With a grumble, he made his way back up the stairs and into his room before closing the door. His bed had never looked so inviting.

Just as he was about to go back to sleep, he froze in mid-step as he felt a presence to his right. Quickly turning, he could almost make out a silhouette. Startled, he jumped back and he was lucky that he did for he heard something sharp slicing the air. "What the hells?!" He exclaimed, then quickly sidestepped to the left after another attack came in his direction.

There was no telling who was doing this, for they were shrouded in all black. At least, from what he could see. However, the only thing he could notice was their eyes; a shade of yellow. What weapon they were carrying, he had no idea but he assumed it was very sharp and capable of taking his head clean off if he wasn't careful.

"Who are you? What do you want?" Xun shouted after nearly escaping another swing, almost grazing his fur and skin. He felt the side of his left cheek burn a little and throb in pain. He didn't need to reach up and see if he was bleeding. Whoever this person was, they were fast.

The figure was silent, choosing to not answer. Without any hesitation, they lunged at the panda, successfully knocking him down to the floor and almost pinning him but not without meeting resistance.

Growling, the panda pushed and fought back, trying to gain momentum to roll himself over. He was not going to die tonight. With both paws on the other's shoulders, he grunted and used every ounce of strength he had within, successfully managing to move his attacker over and onto the floor. Now that he was on top, his muzzle split into a cocky grin and his confidence was all too apparent as he spoke through gritted teeth. "Heh! Not so tough now, are you?"

As he struggled to keep his assailant pinned, his mind began to race rapidly. From what he could tell, this person was male. If it were a woman (and he felt a bit angry at himself for thinking this), he would have easily overpowered them.

Suddenly a loud groan escaped from Xun as he felt excruciating pain down below. He got kneed in the balls...hard. Using this moment of opportunity, he was pushed aside and the figure quickly sprang to his feet, the sound of a sword being unsheathed echoing through the space.

"Bastard..." Xun growled and stared up at the figure, anger and fear coursing through him. He was going to get assassinated by someone he barely knew, he was in the fetal position which made him feel terribly humiliated and he had just started dating! But he wasn't going to give up, not now. He began to tap into the power of the bracelet, already beginning to feel its effects.

However, before he could even stand, the door burst open with Justin and their parents standing in the doorway, startling the assailant.

"What on earth?!" Justin began, completely bewildered by what he was witnessing. His momentary confusion didn't last long as he put two and two together. "Get away from him!" He shouted, quickly summoning up the element of air.

David quickly stepped inside, his paws surrounded in flame and threw out three fireballs. The figure quickly gained his composure and dodged all of them with deadly grace. "I don't know who you are, but you're in for a world of hurt!"

Amanda summoned up a blade of wind, sending it in the direction of the attacker, only for it to miss. "Hmph...fast. I wonder for how long?"

Everyone began advancing toward him, putting him in a corner. He was almost within reach when suddenly, he raised up a paw, then quickly brought it down and a bright flash came, causing everyone to shut their eyes tight and put their paws up to shield themselves.

A few moments passed until finally Xun was the first to slowly open his eyes. His vision was blurry, then eventually clearing up as he opened them further. Realization kicking in, he fully stood up and checked to see if the figure was still around. To his disappointment, he was gone without a trace. "Damn...got away."

"Just who was that anyway?" Justin asked once his own sight came back to normal, frowning at the damage that was caused to his older brother. "And you're bleeding."

"Oh, no!" Amanda cried out and came over to Xun, already checking his cheek and noticing the injury. "Does it hurt?"

"I'm fine. It's just a scratch." The panda answered, trying his best not to shake. He was terrified. If his family hadn't saved him, he would have been dead on the spot. "And I don't know who they were, but I do know that it was male and his eyes were yellow."

"I see..." David mumbled, his face still contorted in a snarl before letting out a heavy sigh and calming down. "I'm glad you're not seriously hurt. I don't know what me and Amanda would do if we lost you."

"Well our son is still here and alive so let's not think about that. Here, let me clean up that wound." Amanda reached out with a paw to her son's cheek and soon, it was enveloped in soft, white light. It didn't take long for it to heal, as it was a small cut. Having finished with her work, she gave a soft smile and hugged him.

Xun let out a groan, feeling embarrassed to be coddled like a child like this, but a small smile on his lips told them that he did somewhat enjoyed the treatment. "Thanks, mom." He said, returning the affection.

David came over and embraced the boy as well, then went over to Justin and did the same. "I love the both of you. I don't ever wish to see you two harmed."

Justin giggled. "We know, dad. We're fine." He let out a yawn and stretched, his stub of a tail wiggling from the effort. "Can we go back to sleep though?"

Everyone agreed to that and shared a quick laugh. After everyone left the room, Xun crawled back into bed, exhaustion hitting him like a truck. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that this attempt wouldn't be the last.