The King, The Prince, and The Warrior

Chapter 32

When they were a good distance away from them Macaque came to a stop and placed Wukong next to a tree, he looks at the circlet and tries to pull it off but the circlet wouldn't budge, the tanned simian keeps trying until a hand grabs his "Mihou, please don't, it won't come off, I've already tried" Wukong said looking at the tanned simian "Wukong why didn't you tell me about this, that he hurts you for protecting him!" Macaque said slightly angry at the copper simian, Wukong sits up properly his headache finally gone "I didn't want you to have any stress because of it, you were still recovering and if you saw me when master used the circlet I...I didn't want you scared by him, he really is a kind monk I swear and he doesn't use the circlet that much" Wukong said

"Does Sha Wujing, Zhu Bajie, and Ao Lie know about this?" Macaque asked, Wukong nodded his head "I asked them to not tell you and to take you with them when Master is about to use the circlet, I didn't want you to see me like that, don't be mad at them or master, please" Wukong said looking at the tanned simian. Macaque looks at him and sighs "I'm not mad at you or them, but I am mad at the monk that hurt you for protecting him from those demons, if anything you should just let them have the monk" Macaque said making Wukong chuckle "yeah, but that wouldn't be a good idea" Wukong said with a small smile "this is sort of a redemption for me, I help my master go to the west for the sacred scrolls, and they will pardon and forgive all the crimes I've committed and take the circlet off" Wukong said smiling

"And you trust that they'll take the circlet off?" Macaque asked looking at the copper simian "yeah, I've got to at least" Wukong said with a small shrug, Macaque looks at the copper simian and sighs "alright, I trust you" Macaque said smiling, Wukong smiled back and lean in for a kiss until a voice made him stop "big brother, Macaque!" Ao Lie called out looking around until he spotted them "there you are" Ao Lie said running towards them but his foot gets caught in his robe and he falls forward if Macaque didn't caught him before he fell to the ground

"Ao Lie?" Macaque said helping the dragon boy up to his feet "I was looking for you two, we were all worried, especially master" Ao Lie said standing back up "when you stormed off we thought you and Wukong left or worse" Ao Lie said looking very worried, Macaque saw the dragon boys worry and gently placed his hands on his shoulder "it's okay, I just needed to calm down a bit, that's all" Macaque said giving the dragon boy a gentle smile "so you're not mad at us?" Ao Lie asked looking at the tanned simian "of course not, I'm not entirely mad at any of you" Macaque said

"But you're mad at Master aren't you" Ao Lie said, Macaque looks at him and sighs "yes, I am, but not forever, I just...don't know when I'll forgive him" Macaque said, Wukong stands up looking at the tanned simian, Ao Lie looks at him and sighs "okay" Ao Lie said, Wukong walks up to them "we should head back before something happens to master" Wukong said, Ao Lie nodded while Macaque hesitated but nodded and they went back to the camp area. When they returned they see Zhu Bajie preparing lunch with the help from Sha Wujing while Tripitaka sat on a fallen log

"We're back" Wukong said smiling, Sha Wujing and Zhu Bajie looks up at the copper simian "Wukong, Macaque, Ao Lie, you've returned" Sha Wujing said in relief Tripitaka looks up as well glancing over to the tanned simian who looked away from him and sighs "food smells good" Wukong said taking a seat on the ground "yep, Macaque helped get the vegetables for it so it'll be delicious" Zhu Bajie said with a proud smirk "let's hope so" Wukong said chuckling as he easily dodges the butt of Bok Choy thrown at him "I'm kidding I'm kidding" Wukong said with a cheeky smile

After they had lunch they were back on the road Wukong and Sha Wujing talking to one another with Zhu Bajie joining the conversation while Macaque listened, Tripitaka also was listening but his mind was still on the things Macaque said to him 'I'm not....I never.....' the monk thought trying to think of a reason. But he was cut off from his thoughts by the sound of thunder making the others look up at the very clouded sky "do you think it's going to rain?" Zhu Bajie asked, then 3 seconds later rain began to pour down on them "you had to ask" Wukong said glaring at the pig demon who smiles sheepishly a sweatdrop on his forehead