#doublecherrypie

Ju Jing sat down next to Ju Ling, rubbing her back while he held Ri Shi's hand.

"Why don't we go on a little walk? I'm sure some fresh air would do you good"

The injured demon nodded making Ju Jing smile happily as he gently grabbed Ju Ling and walked out, followed by the solar monkey. 

"I know exactly where to go"

Ri Shi followed him curiously as they walked the path that brought them to the sea level. When they reached the beach, Ju Ling's eyes lit up in excitement.

Ri Shi noticed and asked curiously "Have you never been to the beach?" "A few times when I was a kid" Ju Ling answered without taking her eyes from the shimmering water "But I always wanted to go back to it" Ri Shi smiled "We all live on an island, so you have plenty of beaches to visit now."

After a few minutes, she asks, having an idea "May I take Kai for a moment please?" The dark monkey gave her son to the other demoness and Ju Jing looked at his mate curiously. Ri Shi held Kai and leans in, whispering to him. "Hey. Help me find some shells and later, you can help me make something like a necklace" She coos softly, looking at him to see his reaction. The little demon smiles widely and he nods at his mom. When Ri Shi sets him down, Kai starts to sprint around the entire beach, grabbing shells as he goes. Both Ju Jing and Ju Ling watch in amusement as their son goes

"What did you tell him Mooncake?" She grins happily at them "I gave him a little job with the promise to help me make something later." 

Ju Ling watches her son for a little while longer before turning to her husband "Could you set me down please?" The oni does as requested and he lets his wife stand on her own. She walks closer to the water until it reaches her ankle and the monkey sighed softly.

The other two yaoguais smile happily. After a moment, Ri Shi walks over and takes Ju Ling's hand. "When you are healed up, we can get you a swimsuit and spend the day here." She offers.

The injured demon turned to look at her with small tears in her eyes and a soft smile "Thank you"

Ri Shi smiles back, sweetly "You're welcome. It can be just us, a date, or a family outing. Whatever you want." She says softly, wrapping her tail with Ju Ling's in sweet comfort. The shorter demon wiped her small tears away before resting her head on the other monkey's shoulder and purred softly as her tail warped around the other.

Ju Jing watched the two with a smile and he sat down, enjoin the small breeze. After a few minutes, Kai walked up to him with so many sea shells that they fell from his arms as he walked. "Mama and Moma like each other" he whispered to his father. Ju Jing smiled "Yes they do, which is good. Here. Let me take those for you. Do you want to run back and get a bucket to carry all these? I'll watch over them if you want."

The kid run back to their house as he shouted "Thank you Baba!" and Ju Jing couldn't help the chuckle. Looking back at his mates, Ri Shi had put an arm around Ju Ling's back, helping her as she started to lean heavily on her.

"Did you want to go sit in the sand or stay here in the water for a bit longer?" asked the solar twin softly. "I don't think I can stay up anymore" Ju Ling said with a small sad voice. Ri Shi nodded, understanding, and she gently picked her up before going to sit next to Ju Jing with the monkey still in her arms. Ri Shi purrs softly to comfort the other monkey as Ju Jing puts his arm around them. They sit in silence, enjoying the peaceful moment and comfort of each other.

Kai comes back a few minutes later with the bucket. He sees how his parents had all sat together and he decided to climb in his Baba's lap. "Mama, I got the shells" Ri Shi smiled at the child. "Good job, sweetie. We can make it after we get home, okay?"

The small demon smiled happily as he nodded and he settled down as Ju Jing petted him. Ju Ling purred as she nuzzled the other monkey "You're a good mom. I'm happy Kai had you in my absence" Ri Shi blushed and nuzzled back. "Thank you. And thank you for giving birth to him and raising him. I wouldn't have been a mother if you hadn't, and he is a sweet kid. I could see your influence on him during the entire time I knew him. Thank you for giving me the chance to be a mother." The injured demon purred louder, smiling happily at Ri Shi's words.

They cuddle together for a few hours, enjoin the gentle breeze of the sea before it was time to leave. The solar monkey got up with Ju Ling still in her arms and Ju Jing chuckled at the adorable surprised expression his wife made. 

As they neared their home, they came across Bai He and Mami who were grooming each other and hanging out. Ju Ling looked curious at the interaction between the demon and the monkey.

"Hello" greeted Bai He with a smile.

Ri Shi smiled back before turning to the woman in her arms "Ju Ling, this is my cousin, Bai He. Her parents are Ba and Beng, my Fuquin's old generals. Next to her is Mami, my nainai."

"Hello. I would bow to you but" Ju Ling looked at Ri Shi with a little laugh "I'm incapable at the moment"

Bai He smiled and waved her off. "there is no need to bow. Thank you though. How have you enjoyed being on the mountain so far?" "It's a lovely place. It's exactly how my mother described it in her stories" she answered with a bit of a sad tone. The solar twin noticed it, and she held the other a bit closer.

Bai He nods slightly. "Yeah... I can understand that..." She pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath before giving a soft smile. "By the way, if you need clothes, just let me know. I enjoy sewing and I am always open to making clothes or something else for people. I'd just need measurements, and you are also welcome to come to pick from my fabric library." She says warmly with an adorable smile.

Ju Ling looked at the demon, surprised at her gesture "Thank you. I won't make use of your kindness but that's very thoughtful of you"

Bai He nodded slightly. "I can understand that. The offer is still on the table." She grins a bit.

Mami got up from her spot and walked up to the two monkeys. She looked over Ju Ling as if deciding if the demon was in good shape, before she nodded her head "I have taken care of Kai now and then. He's a sweet kid. I know his baba is sweet too. And I know you will be sweet as well" She patted Ju Ling's shoulder before continuing "My granddaughter is not fragile, but she has a heart. Be sweet to her too"

Ju Ling smiles and nods as  Ri Shi blushed "I will do my very best." "Nainai!" She whines a bit, feeling a touch embarrassed.

The old monkey snickered a bit and Bai He couldn't help but follow. Ju Jing and Kai looked at the two confused, unable to understand the monkey language "What did she say?" the oni asked as Ri Shi kept blushing. Ju Ling giggled "She said that you and Kai are sweet, how she knows I will be as well before asking me to be sweet to Ri Shi as she has a good heart." Ri Shi blushes brightly, wanting to hide her face from the world but unable to. Ju Jing chuckled at his mate's blush and he gave her a small kiss on her head "She's telling the truth Cream Puff"

Ri Shi blushed more "I-I think it's time for us to go home. Goodbye Bai He, goodbye Nainai" and she marched in the direction of their house.

The ancient monkey and gibbon crack up as the group leaves. The only one who wasn't chuckling or giggling was Ri Shi who was becoming more flustered as they neared the house.

"You still look very cute in this shade of red" teased Ju Ling as she smiled more at the other's tiny squeak of surprise. The flirt almost causes her to trip, but she catches herself and holds Ju Ling a bit closer to protect her. Thankfully for Ri Shi, they made it to the house fairly quickly, and to avoid further incidents, Ju Ling halted the teasing. But when Ri Shi was about to put her back in the nest on the bed, the monkey started again "I know you can lift me, but you were able to hold me for a very long time. I wonder what your muscles look like when they are not covered"

Ri Shi squeaks loudly in surprise, a faint trail of light pink smoke leaving her mouth. As soon as she realized what she had just done, she quickly covers her mouth, eyes wide in shock. Ju Ling looked at her with quite the same expression.

"Mooncake, Kai brought the shells in the kitchen if you-" he walked into the room as the two monkeys stared at each other, and he watched them in confusion "Did I... miss something?"

Ri Shi looks toward Ju Jing and moves her hand slightly to let a bit of the pink steam through. It wasn't as light as it usually is when making love, but it definitely was showing how flustered and warm she was feeling. As soon as some escapes, Ri Shi tightens her grip again.

Ju Jing blinks surprised for a moment before chuckling "Oh... You really managed to fluster her hard Windchime" Ri Shi glared at her mate as the other monkey still looked confused between the two.

The solar demon takes a deep breath and slowly lowers her hands. "I-I...." After another deep breath, she tries again "Yue Shi and I have an ability to create smoke. But in a situation where we begin to feel warm or... Turned on... Pink steam will escape from our mouths. The lighter, the more heated." She managed to explain without looking at Ju Ling, steam slowly escaping from her mouth.

Ju Jing went to sit down on the bed next to his wife as she processed the words. Then a slight smirk appeared on her face "It amazes me every time I learn something new about you. And I have to admit, that lovely shade of pink paired up with your cute blush makes you look even more gorgeous"

She squeaks, more steam escaping, lighter this time. She looks over at Ju Ling, eyes open widely. Ju Jing chuckled again and decided to play along with his injured mate "She's very pretty in any situation, but she's even more beautiful when I see her concentrate on a task. It's like her eyes became that of a predator studying her prey"

Ri Shi groans softly and backed herself into the wall, legs weakening from her flustered state. Her tail flicks quickly in restless energy. Ju Ling motioned for her new mate to come to the bed as she kept teasing her "Aww, come here dear. Come to cuddle again so I can see that soft gorgeous fur of yours up close"

Ri Shi nods slightly and walks over quickly, reaching for Ju Ling with a trail of pink steam following her. The injured demon giggled softly, amused by the pink trail. Ri Shi hid her face in the other's chest, allowing Ju Ling to run her hands in her fur "I have never seen someone like you. So pretty"

Ri Shi purrs softly and smiled slightly "Well, my brother and I were created using my baba's shadow clones and my fuquin's magic. So we are the only ones like us."

"That makes you even more beautiful" Ju Ling nuzzled her head with a happy purr as her hands continued to play with the other's hair "I'm a bit jealous that my husband got to spend so much time with you. Maybe we can make up for it somehow" she winked, teasing the monkey further. Ri Shi blushes more and nods slightly.

"O-okay...I've never tried anything like this with a girl before...." She says, nuzzling into the monkey's chest a bit more.

"Oh honey, no" the monkey laughed slightly as she held Ri Shi close "I was just teasing you. We don't have to get intimate. Just .cuddles and spending time together is fine" she reassured her

"I've only snuggled or hung out with my sister, cousin, aunt, or nainai. You will be the first girl I am having a relationship with in general, let alone cuddles and spending time together." She admits softly.

"That's fine" Ju Ling reassured her as she petted her head "You don't have to do anything different. It's the same as when you spend time with Ju Jing"

Ri Shi nods, purring happily. "Thank you." She says softly and kisses her cheek sweetly before hiding her face in Ju Ling's chest. The monkey purred louder as her tail wagged happily. She nuzzled Ri Shi's head, bringing her closer to her.

Ju Jing had watched the entire interaction with a fond smile. His heart was filled with warmth as he watched his two mates not only get along but clearly like each other. He gently pulled both of them in his arms and kissed their heads, making them giggle happily.

A moment later, they hear soft movement by the door. "Mama?.. Are we still gonna work on the seashells?" Comes in a very soft and shy voice. Almost sounding guilty for breaking up the cuddling.

"O-Oh!" Ri Shi get out of the small pile a bit reluctantly as she walked up to Kai "I'm sorry Muffin, I got distracted. We can go work on the shells now, okay?"

The little demon looked down "I-I'm sorry... You can go back... I just wanted to know..." He says softly, ears lowered in guilt. He could tell his mom didn't want to leave the pile.

"No, sweetie. I want to" She gently picked him up in her arms and nuzzled his head "I'm sorry for getting distracted. I promise you, I do want to work on this"

Kai nods slightly and lays his head on her shoulder as they head for the kitchen. "I'm sorry." He says, sounding a mix of tired and on the verge of tears. The monkey's heart broke at his tone and she did her best to hold him closer "You don't have to apologize Kai. You did nothing wrong" "B-But I took you away from cuddling moma and baba... You all looked so happy and comfy, but..." He says as tears slip down his cheeks. "But I promised you we would work on this little project together" she gently wiped away his tears "Besides. We can all cuddle together later. All four of us"

Kai nods slightly and wipes his tears away. "O-okay.." He sniffles softly. "Can we bring some fruit for everyone to eat as well?" "Of course Muffin" she reassured him before giving him a sweet kiss on his cheek.

In the bedroom, the two demons had watched as Ri Shi walked away with their son before Ju Ling relaxed again in her husband's arms. The oni smiled at her and kissed her softly "You seem to really like her"

Ju Ling giggled softly as she kissed back "Yeah. I do. It's hard not to honestly. She is a sweetheart and truly beautiful. I can see why you fell in love with her." "I'm glad you do" he says before gently guiding her to lay down with him "I was worried this morning to tell you the truth. I wasn't sure if all three of us together would have worked. But my worries were clearly unfounded"

She chuckles softly and got comfortable in his hold "I don't blame you for that. I have a feeling that if it hadn't happened this way, she would have left the relationship altogether."

Ju Jing's hold tighten a little on her and his expression turned dark. His mate looked at him in worry at the sudden change.

"Ju Jing?"

"S-she... She tried to. She tried to leave. W-when she gave you Kai and walked away... I found her here. She had taken off the courting necklace I made her, and she was taking her clothes out... I-I had to beg her not to leave" the oni did his best to keep his tears in as he hid his face in his wife's shoulder.

Ju Ling frowns more and pets his head softly. "That's..." she didn't know what to say. She felt horrible, knowing that her presence had caused this to happen. But at the same time, she was happy to be here now. Ju Ling could feel her eyes burning from unshed tears as well. "I-I am so glad you were able to get her to stay. You are truly amazing for doing that."

He murmured a soft "Thank you" before he turned his head around for her to see him "She still thinks she's just a substitution. That I only need her and not love her... Maybe whit your help we can convince her that's not true"

Ju Ling nods, determined "We will make sure she is loved to death." She says seriously. The oni chuckles a bit at the promise "Thank you" She kisses him sweetly. "Your welcome, my handsome baker."

-

It was a few hours later that Ri Shi and Kai had finished their little project. Some of the sea shells that weren't used for Ju Ling's necklace were used to make a small crown for Kai that the kid now wore proudly.

"Come here, little prince" Ri Shi giggled softly "Let's get some fruit ready then we can go show moma what we just made. Okay?" the kid nodded happily and went to grab a large bowl while the solar monkey grabbed the fruits. She took what she knew were everyone's favorite, as well as a few others. Kai insisted that he brought the food while she brought the gift and Ri Shi wasn't able to change his mind as she chuckled at his determination.

She carefully hands him the bowl, following close behind as they head back to the bedroom, ready to catch the bowl and Kai if needed. Thankfully the kid was able to bring the food with no issue, but Ju Jing had to help him up on the bed when they reached the room. Ri Shi hid the gift behind her back and watched in confusion as Ju Ling whispered something to her husband and he nodded. Kai watches his moma and baba, curiously. He had heard what they whispered but said nothing about it. He just reaches in and grabs a piece of fruit to eat. Ri Shi walks over to the bed, making sure to keep the surprise hidden.

"Come on dear, why don't you come to sit?" Ju Ling patted the spot next to her but Ri Shi only got closer to the bed. Her face was heating up as she found the courage to give the other monkey her gift, something that Ju Ling had noticed "Is everything alright?"

The solar yaoguai takes a deep breath and slowly holds her hand with the necklace out. "H-Here. We made this for you so you could always have the beach with you."

The injured demon looked at the gift with shining eyes. She put it on carefully as her eyes started to water before looking up at the other monkey "Thank you, Ri Shi. This means... a lot to me" she motioned again for the other to sit down, and once Ri Shi was next to her, Ju Ling hugged her close. Purring loudly as she nuzzled her. Ri Shi blushed more and nuzzled back with a purr of her own. She wraps her arms around Ju Ling's waist and holds her close.

After a few minutes, Ju Jing gently picked up Kai "Why don't we go cook something Pumpkin? So we won't just eat fruits for lunch" The two monkeys watched as they left the bedroom.

When they were far away enough, Ju Ling turned to her new mate and moved Ri Shi in a way that made her face the other monkey. The injured demon's expression was a serious one, but it didn't hold any anger. It almost looked sad.

"Ri Shi, I am grateful for all you've done for my family and for me. I'm happy that Ju Jing fell in love with you, and I'm even happier that I get to see why he did" she sighed before continuing "But I don't want you to feel like you were my substitution. Your worth in this family does not change just because I'm here now. I will understand if you will never prove for me the same things you prove for Ju Jing. But I want to at least be your friend. And most of all, I don't want you to leave this family"

Ri Shi blinked in surprise and listened closely, tearing up more as the other monkey kept speaking. The twin tried to wipe her tears away quickly, but they kept coming.

"I-I...." She swallows thickly. "I just don't want to pull them away from you. You have been through a lot and have jumped through time just to survive. They have missed you immensely. I don't want to leave them, but I know that I will if I have to..." Ri Shi hiccups softly, wiping more tears away. "I want to see you all happy...I've.... I've been raised believing I was a defective copy. I don't want to be someone's substitute. But I sometimes feel like that's all I'm good for. Being a defective copy and substitution..." She says softly through her tears.

The injured demon gently cupped her face and moved it to look at her "Ri Shi. You are not a defective copy, mine, or anyone else. And you're certainly not pulling Ju Jing and Kai away from me. You did quite the opposite, you brought them back to me, my dear." Ju Ling wiped away her tears gently before she continued "No one will force you to leave Ri Shi. And if anyone did try that, all of us would do our best to make sure that didn't happen" she rested her forehead against the monkey's "I want you in this family. I want to wake up with you and Ju Jing by my side. I want to see you and Kai play. I want to see how you perform and hear more of your beautiful singing"

Ri Shi cried more, leaning into the touch. "Y-you mean that? I... I feel like I don't deserve it... I have don't such horrible things in my past... I don't deserve having you both as my mates or Kai as a son. You are all so wonderful and amazing. A-And I-I... I'm not..." her voice grows softer as she speaks.

"I mean every single word I said" Ju Ling looked at the other girl even more worried now, trying her best to understand what deep seethed fear was eating up at her new companion as her hands gently petted her face "I don't know of your past my dear, but I don't need to know that to know you. You deserve happiness just like everyone else. Whatever negative thought is running in your mind, whatever doubt or fear you have, please voice them so I can show you that they are wrong" she had almost a desperate tone as she spoke.

Ri Shi looked down, unable to hold the other's sight "I'm... I'm scared... I have so many fears and doubts. I... I'm terrified of what you would think of me... Once you learn about my past... Who I was back then... I..." She let out a shuttering breath. "I'm scared you will hate me and push me away. Like I'm a monster... That I won't be able to see any of you again... Ju Ling... I...." She takes another shaky breath as she works up the courage to tell her the deep fear and dark truth hidden in the back of her mind. "I was worse than the demons who hurt you, killed your family, and traumatized the three of you... I was a killer. A destroyer. Created to eliminate anything and everything..." She says softly, refusing to look at Ju Ling and feeling how the girl had begun to shake at the twin's confession.

The monkey looked at her in confusion, she couldn't understand how Ri Shi could be any of those things. How could she be worst than the demons who tortured and killed her family? "Ri Shi... I fail to see how any of that can be true. I'm sure there's more to your past that you're omitting now, but I won't ask you to explain it to me. I can see how much it pains you." Ju Ling gently moved the other's head to look at her again "But one thing I know for sure is that Ju Jing knows about your past and is still by your side. He only told me what very little I needed to know, and what he told me worried me, but not for the reason you think. If you truly are as scary as you say, we will work through it"

Ri Shi seemed confused for a moment before understanding what Ju Ling was meaning. She takes a deep breath. "I-I was created to be a weapon by the Lady Bone Demon. To kill off her enemies, anyone who stood in her way. Even... Even the Great Sage himself... My brother was the brains of the two of us... He would make the plan of attack. He would figure out the weakness of our opponents... From humans to demons, both old and young. Innocent and guilty. I was the brawn. The brute force. Angry and deadly. If...if we did something the lady believed was wrong, she would punish us... Both of us. No matter who did it... I... I would lash out at her and... And watch as she punished my brother before being punished myself... I learned to remain quiet because anything I said brought pain... That's why I'm so quiet today... After she was defeated, we had nowhere to go. We moved from place to place, leaving destruction, pain, and death in our wake. Even when we tried not to..." She looks down at her paws. "I spilled so much blood... Murdered so many innocent lives. And try as I might, it still happens to this day... I killed the demons who hurt you... I wanted to destroy a clan who kidnapped Yan and injured him so badly..." She sighs, tears dried up, and resigned to her fate now that Ju Ling knew the truth. She hadn't meant for it all to slip out, but she was emotionally exhausted and couldn't find the energy to stop herself. Her tail hit the bed in anxiety behind her.

Ju Ling listened with growing horror as the solar demon spoke. Then suddenly Ri Shi was being pulled into a tight hug. Ju Ling held her so close she almost blended in with the other demon's fur "Ri Shi... I-I... I can't imagine what any of that feels like. How you and your brother had to survive... The Lady Bone Demon was a horrible creature, that much I knew already... But to use and torture children..." She held Ri Shi closer, afraid that someone might take her way "My dear, you can't shoulder the wrongdoings of someone that used and manipulated you. You can't call yourself a monster for defending the people you love"

Ri Shi clings tightly to Ju Ling. "T-The worst part... The girl the bone demon had possessed was Bai He... I was terrified of my own cousin for so long. I didn't trust her or showed her any sort of love during a time she needed it the most... Struggling to regain her memories, figure out how she fit in and try to transform into her true form without hurting herself only to learn that not only was her magic messed with, but she no longer looked like she did as a child. And here I was, hating her and terrified she wasn't who she said she was..." Ri Shi hides her face in Ju Ling's neck. "I have been so scared... I break everything I touch... I'm surprised I haven't broken any of you..." She says, voice hoarse and heartbrokenly depressed.

Ju Ling nuzzled the monkey gently, trying to give her as much comfort as possible as their tail found each other "It wasn't your fault Ri Shi. You can't blame yourself for a trauma you can't control. And my dear" she held Ri Shi's hand, intertwining their fingers, and brought them up for the monkey to see "You don't break what you touch, that's why I'm here. That's why Kai cuddles with you. That's why Ju Jing holds you close"

Ri Shi tears up again, internally surprised that she had more in her. "I try so hard to make sure I don't. I don't want to lose you guys. You are my life, my everything. I don't know if I would make it very long if I lost any of you." Her grip on Ju Ling's hand and tail tighten slightly. Enough to express the seriousness of her statement.

"You won't lose us, my dear. We have you to protect us, don't we?" She rubbed her back, hoping to lift her mood a bit. Ri Shi smiled slightly and let out a soft laugh. "R-right... Thank you... And I'm sorry for all that. I didn't mean to share as much as I had... You are just easy to talk to and trust." She expresses softly, kissing Ju Ling's cheek tenderly.

"You don't have to apologize sweetie" she gave her back a kiss as she kissed her forehead "And I'm glad you trusted me. You can come to talk to me any time you want"

She nods slightly, purring in happiness. "I extend that offer to you as well. I'm not the best with advice, but you can always talk to me or vent or whatever. I... I want to truly feel like we are mates." She says quietly, holding Ju Ling close.