Mortal Kombat: Afterlife

Hell yeah! A new story! I haven't written about Mortal Kombat before and it's about bloody time I did, so here goes. As is customary for Mortal Kombat, excessive, brutal violence will occur. There's also gonna be fatalities and we'll see what else we find along the way. Enjoy and please review!

Chapter One: Declaration

Lord Aizen sat upon his cold throne, waiting for news from his scouts. He had felt a disturbing presence within his castle and had dispatched his ten most prized warriors to find the source of it. His Espada would kill the intruder, or at least put up a great fight.

Aizen sighed and turned to his left where one of his Espada had just arrived, emerging from the shadows as if he were part of it. The pale skinned man observed his master with cold, emotionless eyes.

"Ulquiorra, have you defeated the intruder?" Aizen asked curiously.

Ulquiorra closed his eyes and bowed. "My apologies Lord Aizen. I did not kill him."

"Why?"

Ulquiorra looked up at his master with a look of grave urgency. "Because he want's to speak with you."

Aizen's eyes widened and he flash stepped away from his throne and into the centre of the room. He turned back to his throne which was now a pile of rubble. A large, muscle-bound man strolled out from the wreckage.

"Who are you?" Aizen asked calmly, though inwardly he was very wary of this man.

The intruder laughed cruelly. He wore a flowing red cape and spiked red armour plating. His face was concealed behind an intimidating skull mask; similar to a hollow's but this man was not an arrancar. The skull mask was attached to an armoured helmet. He looked like an ancient warlord, but that only made things more intriguing to Aizen.

"I am Shao Kahn!" The towering figure bellowed. "I have come here to propose a contest!"

"Contest?" Aizen's eyebrows rose curiously.

"Yes, a tournament between our greatest fighters. If I win, I claim this land." Shao Kahn's glowing red eyes flickered with excitement.

Aizen placed a finger on his chin. "Interesting. What do I get if I win?"

"You gain control of my land, Outworld. Do you accept?" Shao Kahn asked.

Ulquiorra approached Aizen and whispered in his ear. "Shall I execute him now?"

Aizen waved a hand and grinned. "Very well, I accept this challenge...But on one condition." Aizen grinned wickedly.


WORLD OF THE LIVING – KARAKURA TOWN

A group of high school students gathered in a wide circle. Within its confines, a boy with striking orange hair stood his ground against a trio of brutish thugs.

"So, you still wanna be like me eh Kurosaki?" The tallest in the group growled. He also had orange hair, though it was in an afro rather than the untamed spikes of his foe.

The other boy, Kurosaki, closed his eyes and sighed. "Why would I want to be a worthless pile of shit like you?"

The taller boy clenched his fists. "Now you've done it!" He charged head on, fists drawn back, ready to pulverize his foe.

The human barrier called out like vultures over a carcass. "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

A lone girl amidst the crowd reached out to the Kurosaki boy, pleading for mercy. "Ichigo! Get out of there!" Several pairs of hands grabbed her and dragged her back into the crowd.

Ichigo didn't even blink, his eyes trained on his assailant. The carrot topped thug swung his fist in a wide hook. Ichigo ducked under the fist effortlessly and rose into an uppercut into the thug's gut. The thug made a choking noise and staggered back.

His two minions rushed forth to fight with him. One of them took out a knife and one took out a pair of brass knuckles.

The crowd cheered on excitedly at the prospect of seeing blood spill. Phones were taken out to film the carnage.

Ichigo performed a run-up and leapt high into the air, spinning around 180 degrees and extending his back leg out to catch one of the thugs full in the face. He was sent flying into the human barrier and thrown back in. He got to his feet quickly and ran towards Ichigo, swinging wildly with the brass knuckles.

The boy with the knife neared his opponent and slashed in a horizontal arc. Ichigo leaned back, barely dodging the blade which cut through the front of his shirt. He fell back and rolled away from him, landing in a crouch.

The leader lunged at him but a precise snap kick to the knee brought the giant down.

The knife wielder hacked at him but Ichigo weaved to the side and caught his arm. He wrenched it around and folded it behind the thugs back in an arm lock. The thug dropped the knife and cried out as his arm reached breaking point.

The boy with the brass knuckled attacked from the side, throwing a straight punch. Ichigo spun the knife wielder around so that he took the blow. The punch alone was devastating but the added damage of the brass knuckles tore the thug's face open and he dropped to the ground, unconscious or dead.

A raucous cheer erupted from the crowd as the guilty thug paused to check on his friend, leaving him open for Ichigo to tackle him and lay into him with a furious combo of punches that left his knuckles bloody and raw. When the thug was knocked out Ichigo rose to his feet and glared at his final foe, the orange haired ringleader.

Excited whispers ran through the crowd.

"You..." The thug snarled. "You...You motherfucker!" He charged blindly, roaring like an animal. Ichigo assumed a martial arts stance and waited until he was within reach then he dived around him and spun around to throw a thunderous punch into his kidneys.

The thug dropped on one knee and lashed out, back handing Ichigo and knocking to the ground.

The concerned brunette in the crowd cried out. "Ichigo! Run! He'll kill you!"

Those around her covered her mouth to stifle her words and then roared over the top of her muffled ramblings.

The thug kneeled over Ichigo and took out his own brass knuckles. He bashed his fist against Ichigo's face, drawing blood and fuelling his rage. The thug punched again and again until Ichigo's face was a bloody mess. He stopped moving and the crowd gasped. The thug was still beating the life out of him.

The ring closed in and everyone tried to drag him off. Although they would stand around and cheer while someone was beaten senseless, they still had some kind of etiquette for school fights.

The mighty brute was dragged away and the crowd dispersed, wary of the consequences of their actions if caught. The victims were left where they fell, forgotten.

The brunette girl ran over to Ichigo and cradled him, screaming his name. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she hugged his limp body. She ran a hand gently through his hair which was soaked through with his blood.

"Ichigo?" Someone cried from nearby. A girl with spiky black hair ran over to them and stared at the remnants of the bloody battle. "Orihime what happened to him?"

Orihime sniffed and gazed at her friend with clouded eyes. "A fight. Oshima and his gang attacked him! He knocked Ichigo out and kept hitting him. Even when he stopped moving he kept on hitting him!" Orihime wept uncontrollably and the other girl laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Where is he?"

"Huh?" Orihime sniffed.

"Where is Oshima? I'll pound his head in for Ichigo's sake!" She stormed off in search for the one responsible.

"Tatsuki, don't-" Orihime stopped herself, knowing full well she could not stop her.


Tatsuki only had to walk a block until she found him, around more of his gang members, laughing and rejoicing in his victory. Tatsuki rolled up her sleeves and clenched her fists. She walked over, barely catching their attention until she picked up a rock and hurled it at Oshima.

"Hey! What was that for, bitch?" Oshima looked over to two of his comrades who advanced upon her, one with a steel pipe and the other with a knife.

"Which one of you is the black belt at karate?" She asked confidently. Both opponents shook their heads. Tatsuki smirked. "That's what I thought. Well guess who is?" Before they could answer, she had chopped one of them in the throat and snatched his steel pipe. She then bashed the other boy over the head with it and strolled calmly over to the leader.

"Who the fuck are you?" Oshima growled.

"Tatsuki Arisawa! Black belt and junior Karate champion! A friend of mine was beaten up by an ugly son-of-a bitch named Oshima, know anything about it?"

Oshima's face twitched. "Arisawa? You're Kurosaki's friend aren't you! You just had to stick your nose in it didn't you? Fine then, I'll beat you till your dead too!"

Tatsuki grinned. "You can't hit me! I'm a girl. But I can hit you!" She rushed forward with the pipe held like a sword. She waited for Oshima to throw a punch and then slammed the pipe down on his knuckles, breaking his hand. As he doubled over clutching his hand she brought the pipe up, catching him in the face and throwing him into the brick wall behind him.

"If I ever see you near me or Ichigo again you're dead! Got it?"

Oshima cursed and spat blood onto the pavement. Tatsuki rammed the pipe under his sternum, winding him.

"Answer me! Do you understand?"

"I'll kill you!" Oshima snarled.

Tatsuki lost sight of herself and bludgeoned him, beating him beyond dead with the steel pipe. When she was finished she backed away slowly, panting heavily. She bumped into someone and whirled around, only to have handcuffs placed on her.

Two police officers restrained her and led her to a marked car where she was taken to the station. The drive there was silent, as was the walk up the stairs into the station.

Tatsuki showed no resistance as she was led to a holding cell. Her cuffs were removed and she was locked in the small cell. The cell was bare except for the single bed which looked harder than the cement floor. Tatsuki sat down and stared at her hands which were still soaked in Oshima's blood.

"Caught red handed, it seems." A tall slender woman approached her. She was wearing a skimpy pink bodysuit and a pink veil over her mouth. Long, straight black hair flowed down over her well built shoulders.

"Excuse me ma'am, it is prohibited to see the prisoners without authorised permission." The officer who arrested Tatsuki earlier crossed over to the woman, hoping to drag her away.

The woman tore off her vale and appeared to have kissed him on the neck, but when she shied away blood was spurting out. The officer's eyes widened at the sight of her fanged mouth which grinned maliciously. He reached for his holster but his throat was slit before his eyes and he dropped like a bag of stones.

Tatsuki screamed and backed up against the wall of her cell.

The woman laughed. "Do not fear me. I am merely here to send a message."

"Who are you?" Tatsuki cried.

"You may call me Mileena. Now, I've been sent here to give a message to the people of Karakura town." Mileena's fanged smile was made even more hideous by the scraps of flesh stuck between the long pointed teeth. "You have been requested to attend a tournament."


Orihime sat at the dining table inside the Kurosaki house. She had delivered them Ichigo and decided to stay the night to check up on him. The house also served as a local clinic so Ichigo's father patched up the worst of the wounds and sedated him.

Isshin Kurosaki stumbled into the kitchen with bags under his eyes. He glanced wearily at Orihime and sighed. "I did all I could for now. The bleeding has stopped but there is going to be some terrible scarring afterwards." He leaned against the fridge and sighed. "This is awful. The fighting has to stop before somebody gets killed."

Orihime averted her gaze. She felt somewhat guilty for standing around and watching helplessly as her friend was beaten. She could have done something to help, she knew karate after all, but she just stood there.

Isshin smiled at her. "Ichigo's told me a lot about you."

Orihime's face lit up. "Really?"

Isshin chuckled. "The way he talks about you...I'd say he's fallen for you." Orihime said nothing, instead trying to conceal her blushing. "I think it's nice. You've been friends for so long."

"Thank you." Inoue mumbled, looking away.

"Thank you so much for helping Ichigo get home. He could have been in serious trouble if you hadn't brought him here so fast." Isshin placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "You'll make a fine woman one day. Ichigo had better make his move while he has the chance before you're whisked away by someone else."

Orihime giggled sheepishly.

The conversation was cut short when they both noticed a scantily clad woman standing beside them. They both backed away from her, causing her to laugh.

"You humans always react like that."

"Who are you?" Isshin roared, a knife in his hand.

"I am Mileena. I bear a message for your son."

"Ichigo? What's this about?" Isshin pressed.

Mileena rolled her eyes. "Must I repeat myself each time?" She gazed at Isshin, a sinister look in her eyes. "Your boy has been selected for a tournament."


Contest? What contest? Read on to find out.

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