***Author's Note***

This one took a little longer than I expected, and it's still shorter than I'd like, but hey - what can ya do? Little more plot-y goodness in this one...and it sure is thickening, as they say! Oh, man. Me and my terrible jokes. Anyway, enjoy, my lovelies!

***End Note***

Yao Yao and her father sat at the table, one at each of Wu Dao's elbows. Yao Yao fidgeted where she sat, clearly uncomfortable. Professor Ding raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat awkwardly, "Ahem, so. Ah – Your Majesty…What is it that you did not want to discuss where we could be overheard?"

Wu Dao's cold brown eyes warmed slightly as they shifted to his left where the good Professor was sitting. "I see now why your daughter has always spoken so highly of you, Professor. You're quite brave, aren't you? And you're not one for…What is the phrase? Ah, yes. You're not one for beating around the bush." Wu Dao steepled his fingers and leaned onto the table. "There are a few things I wanted to discuss." Just then, the door opened again, and a slew of men and women paraded into the room, each carrying a massive tray of food or a pitcher full of drink. Wu Dao nodded graciously at them as they set down their burdens, bowed, and exited as quickly as they had entered, sliding the doors shut once more behind them. Wu Dao sighed and muttered something about timing. "What I was saying," he said, "Is that things are not quite the way you remember them, Yao Yao. Many things are different, but…Well, not all of them are good changes."

Yao Yao's eyes narrowed, "What exactly do you mean by that?"

Wu Dao lowered his head to his hands and rubbed viciously at his temples. "Many things, such as the relations between the various demon and celestial races, are greatly improved in the last few hundred years. I was aided greatly in this and other improvements by…by my brother. The worlds are at greater peace and work better together now than they ever have before. There are far less humans now that know we exist, but all World Leaders are let in on the secret. Many times, we demons and Dragons have stepped in to various wars that…Well, they were becoming a hazard to our kind, as well as yours. The most infamous of these is, of course, World War 2. And unlike what many people assume, we were not on the side of this country, but we were on the side of the Allies. We are a large part of why they won. The Dragon Clan is far more prosperous now than we have ever been, also in part due to my brother's efforts. However, there is a sect that is growing ever more powerful that wishes to return to the old ways, and the old wars. They wish to return to human hunting and biting at each other's throats like wild animals. It is dangerous these days, I'm afraid." Wu Dao fell silent, subtly avoiding Yao Yao's eyes.

Ding Yao raised an eyebrow, "What? You thought I wouldn't notice?"

Wu Dao did his best to look innocent. "I can't imagine what you mean."

Yao Yao's hands clenched on the table, "You never once referred to him by name. Just called him 'my brother'. Where is Wen Tian, and why aren't you talking about him?"

Wu Dao flinched as though he had been slapped and a look of immense sadness and guilt came into his eyes, "Ah, yes. That. I had hoped that you would overlook it. I suppose I should have known better." Wu Dao met Yao Yao's eyes for the first time since they had sat down. He sighed heavily again, "It seems, Ding Yao, that I have failed my brother. I was so consumed with my own pain and grief at losing Yu Die that I did not notice his. Once I took back the throne, I made myself so busy with the dealings of the Clan that I failed to notice the change that was growing in my brother." Wu Dao shook his head sadly, regret clear in his eyes. "Sometimes I forget that my brother is half human, and therefore changes far more easily than I do. I fear that you would no longer know him, Yao Yao."

She paled, "What do you mean? Why would I not know him anymore?"

"I fear that the fun-loving young man you knew no longer exists. He is now full of anger and bitterness. He very rarely leaves the Celestial Realm, and when he does it is usually to help me with a business meeting or whatever new war the humans have started. He cares little for this world of yours anymore and can barely stand to be near me these days. It seems that I remind him too much of the time we were all together. Perhaps he blames me for not being more cognizant of his pain. I don't know. Hell, I blame myself for that. But whatever the case, he is rarely seen in this world these days. His loyalties remain with me, but he is now as cold as I once was. However many times I ask him, he refuses to say what has changed him so much. The root of the matter is your choice to leave, I believe. He never did understand it." His eyebrows drew together slightly, "And neither do I, for that matter. I will never comprehend, if I live to be one million years old, why you chose to come back here, rather than live out the rest of your days with the man that you loved."

Yao Yao looked guiltily down at the table and picked at her bowl of rice with her chopsticks. "I've wondered that many times in the last few years, myself. I thought at the time that it was the right thing to do, but lately I haven't been so sure. I thought that my father needed me, and that it would be better to leave the pair of you alone. I thought you would resent him more if I stayed. I…I don't know. I made a mistake, truth be told."

Wu Dao narrowed his eyes at her, "He loved you more than anything." His voice was calm and cold, but his eyes were alive with fury. "He still does. I have told him that your era has finally arrived, but he still refuses to return to this world. I have tried many times to contrive some way to get him to return and find you, but they have all failed. His current excuse is that I need him in our lands to keep them safe from our enemies and the rebels that wish to return to the old ways. He and I both know that this is a lie, but there is little that I can do to convince him. I had hoped that you may be able to think of a way. You always understood him on a level that I do not – that I cannot."

Yao Yao chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip and was silent for a long moment before she smiled. "Your father's tomb. It's where my father and I want to dig, isn't it?"

Wu Dao tilted his head, confused. "Yes, of course it is – and you well know it."

Yao Yao's smile grew wider, "It's simple. You tell him that you want to visit the grave, and you want him to come with you. Don't give him a choice. Tell him you fear attack from the rebels, and you want your most trusted and faithful bodyguard by your side when you go."

Wu Dao smiled like a wolf stalking its prey. "Oh, I like the way your mind works, Ding Yao." He was silent for a long minute as he sampled the meal in front of him. "Yes, I can see this plan of yours working. Keep me closely informed regarding the progress of the excavation. I will provide you with my personal cell phone number. When the tomb has been sufficiently cleared, I will drag him there, if I must."

Professor Ding smiled along with them. "I can easily arrange for this to happen. You should do regular site visits to see the progress for yourself so that the crew won't find it unusual when you and your brother arrive."

Wu Dao glanced in surprise at the aging Professor. "I am beginning to see where Ding Yao gets her mischievous mind," he said with humor in his voice. For the remainder of their meal, the three of them ate companionably, trading stories back and forth.

***Author's Note***

I certainly hope you enjoyed this chapter, my dears! Well, as always thanks ever so much for reading, and lots of love!/

- Lady Darkwind