I don't own 12 Prince

It was the day after Ling Bin had forced Feng Lan into a kiss that she obviously hadn't wanted. He was standing on the grass where he would be able to see her when she got to school. He wasn't sure if she would be willing to talk to him, or if he would even approach her yet, he just wanted to see her, and make sure she was doing okay.

He didn't know what happened after he left the game last night, but he'd been unable to sleep worried about how his actions would affect their relationship. It had already been strained because of his confession ... now this? He had to make it up to her. He couldn't believe he had let himself go like that. He was always in control of himself. His lapse of judgment had him worried in more than one way. If he could mess up this way with something as important to him as her, then what else would he mess up? He was suddenly determined to hold himself in check even more harshly than normal. He wouldn't say anything without thinking first and there's no way he was going to allow his emotions to get the better of him again.

As he stood around thinking about things, he remembered the way she looked as she ran away from him. He hoped it wasn't fear he'd seen. What would he do if she was afraid of him? He prayed that all he saw was hurt. He could heal hurt. He could make it better, but fear? He tried so hard to show her that he would always protect her. He always tried to be the safe place for her. His insides twisted as he thought of what the consequences of his actions might be. More than her getting angry with him, more than her not trusting him, he hoped she had another safe place. Her brother was always protecting her too, but there are some things you don't go to your brother for ... now who will she go to? Who else knew about her life as Prince and about all the frustrations she grew up with? Who else had she trusted enough to propose to when she was younger? He knew he held an important place in her heart, and more than his own worries, he was concerned that she'd feel like she lost him. "You'll never lose me, Feng Lan, I swear it." He said to himself as he caught sight of her walking up to the school.

He watched her as she came. She seemed distracted and like she was on autopilot, but she seemed okay. He just stood there as she completely missed him in her daze and continued into the building.

Continuing his thought from earlier he again spoke to himself. "Even if you don't choose me in the end, and I have to move on, I'll always be your Zhuo-gege." Her brother wasn't with her and he wondered about it, figuring he'd wait for Yang Ming to show up and walk into the building with him instead. Maybe Yang Ming would have some insight on how to fix his stupidity.

When he saw Yang Ming, his spirits lifted. Yang Ming was walking like he was on top of the world. Feng Lan couldn't be too bad off if Yang Ming was so happy. He stepped out into his path with a greeting, "Hey, what's got you in such a good mood?" He asked his longtime friend.

Yang Ming grinned at him in reply lifting his hands to the heavens and declaring loudly, "My sister is amazing! She cooks like a goddess! Oh the food I had this morning!" He put his hands to his stomach and sighed deeply. "I think I'll have left overs for days, wanna come over after school and help me with them?" He asked grinning at Ling Bin.

Ling Bin was speechless. "I ... " He was about to speak but remembered that he had to think things through from now on before deciding on what to say. He closed his mouth and looked at the ground trying to figure out why she had cooked and why everything seemed too perfect to be true. He glanced at Yang Ming, "She's not mad?" He asked quietly.

Yang Ming was thoughtful for a second before answering. "I don't think so. She was obviously mad when she killed me though! Things must have gone well with her and Gui, because she even told me 'Thank you!' well ... not to my face, but then I wouldn't expect her to do that. Since you helped me with my plan, if she's thanking me then she's thanking you too! So you should be fine to come over today." He adjusted his book bag and began walking again.

Ling Bin suddenly realized that Yang Ming had no idea what he'd done yesterday to keep her out of the game. He stopped walking again causing Yang Ming to stop as well and look back at him. He stood there for a second staring at this very protective brother, and best friend ... I have to tell him. He thought to himself. I can't keep something like this to myself in good conscience and continue to act like nothing happened. If I were him, I'd want to know. He set his jaw, "I have to apologize to you Yang Ming." He said bowing his head. The weight he felt on his shoulders was such that bowing his head suddenly didn't seem like enough, so he knelt on his knees. It felt good to be doing something active instead of letting it all stew inside of him.

Yang Ming was shocked to say the least, "Zhuo-dage ... what is this? You don't have to- ".

"Yes I do!" Ling Bin blurted. "I kissed your sister yesterday." His words came out sounding angry. He was angry at himself, and he expected Yang Ming to be angry as well.

Yang Ming just laughed. "Oh yeah?" He said. "That's great! It's about time you show her how you felt." The only thing keeping him from grinning like an idiot was the seriousness that Ling Bin had spoken with, the fact the he remained on the ground, and the slowly growing concern that maybe it was more than he said. Ling Bin was quiet, just kneeling on the ground in front of Yang Ming. "Ling Bin ..." He said, his voice getting serious and maybe a little dangerous. "I know you ... it couldn't have been that bad. What happened?" He wanted to give Ling Bin the benefit of the doubt but the thought of someone doing something to his sister, someone he trusted, someone he had practically given her to, doing something to her ... he NEEDED to know what happened.

Ling Bin answered haltingly at first, "I … I couldn't come up with anything to tell her ... I needed to keep her out of the game. She didn't want to just chat so I told her it was important. When she decided to let me talk I panicked! I didn't know what to say so I kissed her. I shouldn't have done that but the worst part is I didn't let her go. I forced her to kiss me Yang Ming. She was trying to get away and I forced her to stay." He kept his head to the ground, not daring to look up, just waiting for Yang Ming's reply.

Yang Ming took a moment to gather his thoughts before bending down to help Zhuo-dage off the ground. Ling Bin was confused to say the least, getting up but now on his guard.

"You really had me concerned there for a moment Zhuo-dage. I almost thought you had really done something to her. You know, something that might deserve a good beating ... or ... something worse." He sighed and continued, "I mean, yeah I'm disappointed in you and you probably shouldn't come over just yet and she's probably gonna be even more awkward around you than she was after your confession, but you knew those things already. I don't really care that you kissed her, but you should have let her go." Looking at Ling Bin he couldn't exactly say he wasn't angry about it. If it had been anyone else, they'd be getting a lot worse. "Forcing her into something like that ... while I was in game … from you of all people... " He shook his head and let out a big groan. This is Zhuo-dage though! If he can't trust Zhuo-dage with his sister then who can he trust? "I can't always be there ... and you ..." He paused to look at Zhuo-dage imagining the scene for a second, his sister struggling and Ling Bin who is so much stronger than her, and that did it. Forming a fist he hit him as hard as he could in the gut. As Ling Bin doubled over from the blow, Yang Ming felt a bit better. "She trusted you, and I think losing even a part of that will be worse punishment then I could ever give you. So for my part, I'll forgive you, as long as you go apologize after school." He suddenly slapped Ling Bin on the shoulder with only a little more force than normal, "Then we can eat all those amazing left overs!"

Feeling better, he went to head to the class where he knew his sister would be making eyes at her professor, leaving Ling Bin in the hall. As an after thought he shouted back to him, "Ling Bin! You know you deserved worse, but if you do something like that again, what I did to Gui in game will pale in comparison!" Oh man, the things I do for my sister. He thought to himself. I'm gonna have to annoy the hell out of her for the next month to keep things even between us. As he opened the door to their class, the perfect opportunity for said annoying to take place presented itself to him on a silver platter. Thank you Professor. He thought with glee as he rushed in to destroy whatever romantic moment was currently not happening. Not on HIS watch anyway!

Out in the hallway, Ling Bin stood up straight and held his stomach. Yang Ming really hadn't held back. He found it strange thinking about how he felt better after getting hit like that. Not physically of course, but he felt strangely reassured. It seemed like even though he messed up, nothing changed in their relationship. He would have to apologize to Xiao Lan, but he would have done that anyway. Now the only question was, how could he get her to listen to him again? He only had to think for a moment before it came to him. Food. He would have to take her somewhere with really good food. Maybe he could find some place where they used to go as kids and remind her of their history and all the times he was there for her. It was these thoughts that kept his mind occupied during his class, and the sudden alarming remembrance of something Yang Ming had said just a few moments ago, "Things must have gone well with her and Gui..." What in the world did that mean? His eyes widened as the possible implications of that statement hit him. He needed to apologize … now.

When his class was over, he went straight to the library where they'd usually meet to go home together. Xiao Lan wasn't there, but he caught Yang Ming in the distance flirting with a random junior student. When Yang Ming saw him, he said his farewells to the girl and greeted Zhuo-dage. Looking at Ling Bin, Yang Ming couldn't help the teasing in his voice when he asked, "So what are the daisy's for? Not for me I hope."

Ling Bin was too nervous to care about the dig as his eyes searched for Xiao Lan. "They're for your sister. Where is she?" He asked finally looking back at Yang Ming.

His smile dimmed as he heard Yang Ming's answer, "I don't really know, though I imagine she's hiding somewhere with Professor Min."

He was shocked to say the least. "Hiding? Why would she be hiding? And with her Professor? I don't get it."

Yang Ming looked grim, "Yeah, I was surprised too. I didn't think he'd do anything that brazen, but I really can't fault the guy. Man, he's got guts. That was good." Ling Bin was totally lost as Yang Ming grabbed the flowers. "Let me borrow those real quick and I'll tell you about it on the way home." He watched as Yang Ming went over to the girl he'd been flirting with earlier and gave her the daisy's. He must have said something corny because she was laughing as he came back.

Ling Bin was annoyed, "Hey, those were ..." but he sighed and let it go. "Aren't we waiting for your sister? I don't really want her going home alone ..." He sounded a little worried and maybe he shouldn't have been but he really didn't want her going home with her Professor either.

Yang Ming shook his head, "I think she won't be coming home for a while, and she definitely won't be coming home alone. You'll need to be prepared for that when she gets there." He suddenly stopped and looked at Zhuo-dage. "Do you have money for pizza?" He asked with a hint of desperation entering his eyes.

Ling Bin shook his head no, "But didn't you have all those leftovers this morning that you were bragging about?"

Yang Ming shouted in a delighted surprise, "I'm not going to starve! Thank you, Sis!" He exclaimed to no one and then making sure he had everything, he began his long story of what happened with his sister and her secret admirer in class today.

By the time he was finished, and they were at the Feng house, Ling Bin was feeling hopeless. How could he compete with that? He didn't want to just give up, and he knew that Gui was not right for her, but a secret admirer? Dozens of roses? Dramatically escaping class just to spend some time together? What in the world was he supposed to do to compete? It's never been in his personality to do things like that. He didn't want to try to be someone he wasn't either. He's always just been there for her and hoped it would be enough. Now though, he was beginning to see why he was losing this battle. Of course he was always going to be her "Zhuo-gege" if he never showed a more romantic side to her. With Gui pouring on the charm, and his own mistakes holding him back, he needed a plan. He didn't know how, but he would show her his true feelings. Feelings that have been there for eight years. Feelings that were deep and strong. He would show her that she was not some game to him, and that he would not let pride or fear get in the way of their relationship. He wouldn't turn into a play boy like Gui, but he would do everything he could to convince her that he was better for her. He would apologize when she got here, even if he had to do it in front of Gui. Actually, he hoped he did have to do it in front of Gui. Gui would need to know that he wasn't going down without a fight. He wasn't just going to stand by and let him have her. He wouldn't be stupid enough to try and force it again … that had blown up in his face, but he wouldn't just hand her over either. In fact, he already knew how he would win her first date. She might not see it as a date, but Gui would know what he was doing. Now all he had to do was go eat left overs with Yang Ming, and wait for her to arrive.

As he sat there pushing his food around on his plate, he felt only slightly guilty about being such terrible company for Yang Ming. By the time the third sigh left him, he wasn't any closer to figuring out how to win her over. Sure he had a starting place, but what could he do after that? Apologizing and getting her to agree to lunch was one thing, but that wouldn't make her see him as a romantic interest. "Yang Ming … can I ask you something?" He inquired, looking over as Yang Ming was finishing off his second plate. Yang Ming nodded quickly without saying anything and reached for his drink. "Ok, well … do you think it's possible to go from being seen as a brother, to being seen as a lover?" He asked. There was a moment where Yang Ming had this disgusted look on his face thinking about Feng Lan changing in his mind from sister to lover before understanding dawned and he scrunched up his face with some complicated emotion. He took a few more swallows of his drink before setting it down and facing Zhuo-dage with something that settled into pity.

"I think…" he began slowly, "That it's entirely possible, but you would have to change the way you treat her." When Zhuo-dage didn't say anything, he decided to elaborate. "Right now, you treat her like a little sister. You give her what she wants and you take her to her favorite places. You are very protective of her. That's very close to how I treat her … well, I'm a bit more subtle about it I think." He paused trying to put his words together. "One of the best parts of developing a romantic relationship is the first stage of flirting. Well … I haven't really gotten past that stage … but I really enjoy it, so there's not really a reason to go any further for me, but you … You've always been very straightforward in your feelings for her. She knows that you care, but have you taken her to places that you like to see if she might share an interest? Have you given her things that you like to see if she would like them too? Have you tried to understand the changes in her since you last spent time with her?" He chuckled then, thinking about some of the things he'd read in her diary. When he spoke again it was with a soft sort of fondness. "She's really changed a lot in the 8 years you've been away. Especially these last few months."

Zhuo-dage was slowly nodding his head, a thoughtful look on his face. "I guess, I need to show her more of myself, is what your saying?" He asked with a smile, finally feeling like he might be able to do this after all.

Yang Ming nodded, "Yep, you need to show her that not only are you strong and good looking, you're also thoughtful, and gentle, and definitely someone she can depend on for the rest of her life." Yang Ming let that statement settle a bit before getting up and glaring at Ling Bin over the counter. "You better not come to me for advice for a long time after this." He said getting into the fridge and pulling out the sweetest thing he could find. "All this touchy feeling stuff leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

Ling Bin, feeling relieved and happy that not only did he have a friend like Yang Ming, he also had a plan, simply laughed and asked if he could have some too.

AN: I feel like Yang Ming is too violent. In my defense, he's so much stronger than Gui so that bit of violence in chapter one wasn't as bad as it seemed like it was from Gui's point of view. Gui is just week.

As always, I appreciate your thoughts.