Prologue - End of Paradise
After two weeks away on their Honeymoon, Liu Kang and Kitana must soon return to the palace, as well as a new, busy routine.
A/N - Citrus Approaching, SHOO MINORS!
30th of June, 10 A.L.* (Earth Year 2003)
With a wide yawn, Kitana gracefully arced her back and stretched her arms high above her. She gave a contented sigh as the lethargy eased away, though she still felt plenty relaxed. She stood before the large window of the bedroom she and her new husband currently resided in; which was part of a summer house in the island territory of Ao Nanmei that they rented for their honeymoon. She wore nothing but a thin, loosely tied haori* that hung just to the top of her thigh, her dark, wavy hair tossed over her right shoulder. With a contented smirk, she let her eyes roam outward over her vantage of the stretch of private shoreline, from the few scattered palm trees before the house, the plain white sand out to the sparkling, blue-green water.
She then turned about, her smile growing as she gazed upon her still-sleeping husband of only fourteen days. Liu laid outstretched on his back, his head resting on his folded arm. The sun shrouded him in golden light, shining off of his ebony hair and making his olive-tinged skin glow in its brightness. Silently, Kitana moved to the bed and sat gingerly upon the edge to observe him up close. She surveyed his serene, youthful face; his straight black brows, wispy dark lashes, gently angular cheekbones and jaw, small round nose, and thin, tan lips. Longing stirred within her as her gaze wandered over his strong neck to his broad chest, staring mesmerized as it softly rose and fell.
Kitana bit the inside of her jaw as she focused in on the small area of reddened, roughened skin at its center; a recent injury inflicted upon him by Tanya during her antics after she had been sentenced. It was a very minor wound, and in just ten days it had healed over, but Kitana had been momentarily shaken by the incident. It was not too long before now that the two of them were separated seemingly forever… and now that she had him at long last, the thought of letting him go again was far too frightening a prospect. But Liu definitely did not want to let her go either, and Kitana took comfort in the knowledge that he would fight tooth and nail to keep that from happening, just as she herself would.
Pushing her old worry aside, Kitana continued her somewhat amorous visual feast of his form. She licked her lips as her eyes roved down his chiseled abdomen, taking a long look over each of the six, well-formed muscles of his core. The sheer white sheet they used to cover themselves had fallen to just above his 'private' area, revealing his deep cuts of his hips and a hint of slick, black hair on his groin. His manhood, although laying flaccid, was clearly defined beneath the linens, and seeing it finally set her off.
With a devious grin Kitana crawled her way over him, discarding her haori and revealing her own naked body. She leaned down and kissed lightly at Liu's forehead, then trailed down his nose, his lips, chin, and finally landed at his neck. The feeling of hot, wet kisses just beneath his jaw made Liu stir, a sleep-ridden, but very pleasant rumble emitting from him. Kitana lifted her head and put them face to face, both of them smiling.
"Well good morning…" Liu rasped, voice husky with slumber and desire.
"Good morning my love…" Kitana murmured in reply before pressing her mouth heatedly to his, her tongue immediately seeking entry. Liu granted it without resistance, slinking his arms around her smaller body as they kissed. He pulled her fully against him, and a muffled groan slipped from her mouth into his. His hands caressed her slim, toned frame, making her entire body feel warmer. Her own hands glided back into his hair, lightly tugging at the shoulder-length black locks.
They continued to duel orally until Liu redirected his end of the battle to her chin, then down the center of her slender neck. Kitana craned her head back and sighed her enjoyment. Liu coaxed her body upwards over his, trailing his hungry kisses down to her chest. He grazed his teeth upon her collarbone before moving down to capture her left breast in his mouth. Kitana arched her chest downwards, engulfing her new husband's face in her bosom; not that he minded at all. Her hand caressed the crown of his head as he kissed back and forth between each nipple until both were achingly erect.
Liu suddenly flipped their position, causing Kitana to yelp in surprise before they both chuckled. They resumed their kiss; lips, teeth and tongue melding together ravenously. Lost in the passionate union of their mouths, Kitana was not aware of Liu's hand gliding deliberately to the juncture of her legs. He cupped her entire mound in his lightly calloused palm, and the warmth covering her most intimate area caused her to gasp. Grinning, he pressed the heel of his hand against her, reveling in the way she whimpered and slightly squirmed. He rubbed her entire womanhood slowly, wanting to rouse her as much as possible before he pleasured her in earnest. Kitana began to pant, the odd little mewl escaping her lips between the deep breaths. Liu could feel her slickness against his palm, making him feel both proud and privileged to be able to cause it.
Deciding he wanted the foreplay to be as intense as possible, Liu pulled his hand away and began to trail kisses down his lover's form. Kitana's heart began to race in anticipation of the pleasure she knew was coming. When his trail ended he was situated above her core, and she readily spread herself for him. He took a bit of time to marvel the sweet pink flower, lined very minimally in fine dark hairs, before going in. He pressed his tongue flat to her inner folds, dragging all the way up at an agonizingly slow stroke. A breathy moan escaped Kitana, her eyes falling shut and head tipping back. He repeated the action again and again, loving the way her hips rose to meet him each time. Her arousal spice his mouth, a taste incomparable to any other to him. He exhaled over her sensitive clit, intentionally warming her with his breath: She moaned louder.
Time to move forward: Liu delved into her division and into her passage. He curled his tongue up into the sensitive place inside her, teasing it with flickering motions of his tip. Kitana practically sobbed his name, her body writhing and hands clenching the sheets. The hot, rigidly-held muscle invaded her more persistently; in and out, in and out. The pleasure was nearly disorienting and her body was unsure of how to respond to it. She wanted to slink closer to the incredible sensation and let it devour her, then she wanted to crawl away because it was too much. Either way, she enjoyed it whole-heartedly.
"Ohh Liu… ughhn… ughhhn… ohhh Gods Liuuuu…" she breathed. That voice of hers penetrated Liu's very soul.
He withdrew his tongue and began to flicker it over her clit, and she gasped an 'oh, Gods.' Reflexively she began to squirm away from the severe sensation, but he quickly wrapped each thigh with a strong arm. Mercilessly he lapped at the tender bundle of nerves, and she went wild. Her cries slowly rose octave by octave, becoming more strained and rapid as the pressure in her stomach grew. She could feel that incredible bliss beginning to tug at every muscle in her body, causing her to grow rigid. Feeling that she was about to snap, Liu pressed his tongue hard against her, slightly shaking his head. Her thighs immediately tensed in reply, and her hands flew to his hair and pulled.
"Ahh! Ohh, OH GODS!" Kitana yelled, her body trembling violently when her climax finally hit. The explosions passed just as quickly as they came, exhausting her instantly. Liu pulled back the moment he felt her body suddenly go lax, knowing she would be overly sensitive for the next few moments. He licked her sweetness from his lips, and proceeded to lie his head against her stomach. He felt each slightly wheezing breath, each coming a bit more slowly and less deeply as she came too. Her toned abs, tense and quaking one moment, slowly melted under her slightly sweaty skin. Liu closed his eyes and relished the feeling of her; a surge of love overcoming him so strongly that it made him feel light-headed.
"Darling…" Kitana breathed. "Come here."
Liu lifted his head and obligingly went to her, ascending her languid form until they were face to face. Her eyes gleamed, her cheeks were flushed a pretty shade of pink, and a smile pulled at her slightly parted lips. Smiling himself, he ran the back of his fingers against the gentle edge of her jaw; once again finding himself awestruck.
"You're finally mine." Liu murmured gratefully.
"Yes, completely yours my dear." Kitana affirmed lustfully, pulling her husband down into another heated kiss. After a moment she withdrew, gazing up at him with desire burning in her eyes. "Now finish making love to me."
"Yes Ma'am." Liu huskily said. He leaned down and kissed her longingly again, while simultaneously reaching down to guide himself. His tip found her slick entrance, and with a bit of prodding he maneuvered himself inside, making her hiss. He began his movements gently, his pelvis grinding slowly against hers. Both sighed immediately, the sweet bliss that was making love sinking over them. Kitana wrapped her legs around Liu's waist, her arms looping under his and hands grasping his shoulders. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the feeling, whimpering as the hot, sweet thrum inside her began to reverberate through her entire body.
Liu became lost in it much more quickly: The feeling of being inside of his wife was one that entranced him, overcoming his senses with its intensity. The enjoyment covered his face immediately: His eyebrows screwed together, his eyes shut and he bit into his lower lip. His beloved marveled the sight of that incredibly sexy look. She thoroughly reveled in seeing him like this; so raw and unfiltered, just enjoying himself. Not that she disliked his usual chasteness and gallantry, for those kind-hearted, genuinely selfless qualities were what she loved most about him. But getting to see his much more uninhibited, sensuous side was just as rewarding.
Liu elevated himself above Kitana, granting her a broader view of his very strapping form. Her arousal raised to new heights as she watched each well-toned muscle contract and ripple as he churned back and forth. Her hands reached up and set themselves onto his shoulders, her fingers grazing against the base of his neck like blades of grass fluttering in the wind. They dragged down his chest, her nails pressing into his skin each time he came forward. Liu began to thrust deeper and faster: The way Kitana suddenly tensed, her eyes closing and mouth opening to release a choked cry, signaled that he was hitting her sweet spot.
"Ughhn… ohh yes like that Darling… ohhh Gods that feels so good…" she exhaled through clenched teeth. Her hands continued to grasp at his brawny torso, pulling at him and urging his cadence onward. He leaned down and crashed his mouth onto hers, muffling both of their groans. She returned the kiss with just as much fervor, wrapping her legs around his hips and flexing her own up into him. He felt himself slip further inside with each bucking motion, and his mouth fell from hers.
"Ohh Kitana…" Liu shuddered deeply. The feeling of hot, wet tightness rippling around him almost becoming too much. He elevated himself above Kitana onto his right arm, looping the left underneath the small of her back and lifting her waist. He let go then, and began to buck himself inside of her at a nearly inhuman pace. Kitana threw back her head and wailed, digging manicured nails into Liu's shoulder's for some sort of desperate, instinctual anchoring. His own grunts and cries of enjoyment began to mingle with hers; their urgent, euphoric voices resonating through the large room.
Finally it was all too much for them to bear: Kitana went rigid and released a cry that sounded something between a gasp and a scream. Her passage clenched around Liu's manhood, the sudden pull and sweet pulsation causing his seed to explode from him like a geyser. He cried out when his climax peaked seconds after his wife, temporarily blinding his senses with its sheer gratification. A flood of endorphins immediately overtook both lovers when their high ended. Liu crumpled down onto Kitana, his face burying into the snug juncture of her neck and shoulder, and her head limply fell to one side. Both lay rasping for breath, and trembling from a combination of their rapidly cooling sweat and the embers of their ecstasy. After a while, Liu found the strength to lift his head, his eyelids drooping and a lopsided grin on his face.
"Well… that was fun." he drawled, and the dopey expression on his face made Kitana break into a fit of chuckles. He pressed a brief kiss to her lips before he pulled out and laid beside her, propping himself upon his elbow. "Think we could wake up like that every morning?"
Kitana shrugged. "We can try at least."
"Fair enough." Liu chuckled. "So… we have two full days left, counting today. What will we do with them?"
"The same thing we've been doing; sleep, relax, spar a bit… and definitely have more sex." Kitana replied with a cheeky smirk, and Liu snickered at her forwardness.
"A woman who knows exactly what she wants… I like that." he suggestively said, briefly stealing another kiss. "But do you think we could eat before we do more of the latter? You make me work up quite an appetite."
"Sounds good. The cook should have set our breakfast out now." Kitana said.
The pair freshened up from their morning tryst in the bathroom, then dressed in light clothing over swimwear before heading toward the kitchen. Resting upon the table, they found a basket full of fresh bread and an assortment of fruit, along with a pitcher of chilled water and glasses; all left by Minako, a kindly local cook they hired for the duration of their stay.
They took the basket outside to eat while they sat on the engawa,* the two guards greeting them as they walked through the door. They walked around the house to the small courtyard on it's left side, sitting down on the polished wood. Within moments, beads of sweat began to appear on their skin, as summers on this island were very humid. Liu poured up two glasses of water and passed one to Kitana, who gratefully accepted it and downed a large gulp.
"If there's one thing I miss about home, it's the cooler temperature. It has been so hot here." she said, fanning herself with a small uchiwa*
"Good thing we've had the ocean to help keep us cool." Liu said, tipping his own glass toward the not too distant shoreline. He took a few swigs of water, then let out a slight sigh, shoulders slumping. "The boat will be back here the day after tomorrow."
Kitana smiled somewhat sadly, resting her head on his shoulder. "I know… our honeymoon has gone by too quickly."
"Yes. It was fun." Liu agreed.
Indeed it had been fun. They had spent two weeks in almost total seclusion, only two guards and a cook accompanying them (all of whom slept in the servant's lodging behind the main house). Their days were spent without any worries and in complete leisure; full of slumber well after noon, swimming in the ocean, sparring sessions on the shore, and of course plenty of making love.
Kitana smirked to herself as she thought of the latter: Being that the house and beach were naturally separated from the rest of the island by a large, nearly impassable ridge and miles of palm forest, the two had plenty of space to let their passions take them whenever and wherever they wished. There were plenty of trysts that occurred right near the edge of the water, beneath the shade of the palm trees, and plenty of nude swimming as well. They were totally free and totally blissful: But that was about to come to an abrupt end.
In four days time, Liu would be joining the newest recruits of the Edenian Knights. He would be required to spend the first of the eight months of training right in the barracks with the others. Both of them were dreading it. If the day of separation prior to their wedding taught them anything, it was that they strongly disliked sleeping apart. Kitana was not sure how she'd get through a month with out Liu's strong arms wrapped around her through the night, nor was he sure how he'd endure without the feeling of her soft curves pressed against him; and both became especially downcast at the prospect of a month without intimacy. Kitana found it a bit funny too. Before the previous spring, she hadn't had sex in centuries and didn't even mind it. But then again before Liu, before love, it wasn't something she really cared for much of.
On top of Liu's training, there would of course be the regular political duties to attend to. Sindel sent an amusing letter days ago stating of how the Assembly had been complaining that their new Prince and Princess had been absent far too long. Neither really cared though: This was their honeymoon and nothing was going to spoil it, and Kitana emphasized that in her response letter.
"… Only if Edenia is crumbling around our ears will Liu and I budge from this house. Feel free to tell all of those old bogies just that…" she wrote, to which Sindel laughed aloud when she had read it.
Exhaling a sigh, Kitana pushed all thoughts of home aside. She and Liu had a little less than forty-eight hours before they had to cope with all of the mayhem; so to hell with it all until then.
After they finished their light meal and let their food settle, the couple decided to head down to the shore. They briefly collected a few towels and a large umbrella from the house before they departed, and then made their way to the ocean. After the short walk, they found a somewhat shaded spot beneath a forked palm tree, spreading out the largest towel and planting the open umbrella firmly in the sand.
Ready to alleviate himself of the ever-present perspiration on his skin, Liu shed his loose tunic and headed for the water. Kitana removed her tunic as well, leaving her clad in a pale blue, Edenian equivalent of a bikini, and a sheer, gold sarong. She stretched back, leaning on her elbows as she watched Liu run into the shallows and dive under, his head coming up a few moments later; observing with a languid smile as he swam about in the shallows. She then stretched back, content to lie under the shade and simply allow her mind to wander. It felt good, this inactivity they had enjoyed. The Princess knew she'd best make good use of it too; for it would be over quite soon. After a few minutes Liu waded back to the shore, bounding up to where she lay.
"You aren't coming in?" he asked, kneeling next to her.
Kitana shrugged. "In a moment…"
Liu was mute a moment, then flashed a devilish smirk.
"Alright your moment's up!"
"Wha- Ah!" Kitana yelped as Liu suddenly scooped her up and made a beeline for the ocean with her. Kitana shrieked with laughter as he trekked through the water until the waves splashed up over them both, and suddenly they were submerged. Kitana twisted out of his hold and kicked up to the surface, immediately swallowing a gulp of air. Liu's head bobbed up right after, and he laughed aloud as she glowered at him.
"You…" she snarled, though a smile was plastered over her face. Before she could get to him he sank under again, and she went right behind him. They immersed themselves in the emerald water, chasing and gliding around one another, lithe and graceful. When they surfaced again, they were in each other's arms, foreheads resting together and smiling warmly.
"These have been the most incredible weeks…" Kitana murmured. "I wish time would stop, and that we could just stay right here… right where we are."
"I know…" Liu replied, kissing gently at her lips. "It will be a bit depressing to leave this place, but…" he paused, kissing her once more, then again, "we're together now… and that's more than enough to make me happy. And we still have a bit more time left…"
"Mmhh, yes we do…" Kitana purred, a languid smile spreading over her as Liu trailed down her neck.
They spent plenty more time out near the shoreline; swimming, playing, walking along the sand, his hand in hers. They briefly returned to the house for more food, taking some back down to the beach to nibble while they lounged beneath their umbrella. Far too soon, evening came, and with it came a band of grey gloom over the horizon and increasing wind that smelled of rain. A very distant, subdued rumble caused Liu's head to snap up; his eyes cracking open to see the looming storm clouds in the distance.
"Guess we'd better go inside." he muttered reluctantly. Kitana, who had been curled into his side half-asleep, rolled onto her back and stretched.
"Perhaps so." she said.
They packed up the blanket and umbrella and made for the house for the last time that day. Within the hour, the evening sky darkened and rain began to fall: Initially it was merely light trickle that increased dramatically into a downpour, complete with rolling thunder and flashes of lightning. The storm continued into the night, neither growing worse but not growing lighter. Both Liu and Kitana lay under the sheets, both nude and damp from a recent, long bath. He was stretched out on his back beside her sound asleep, while she drowsily watched the storm unfold outside. Rain pelted down on the rattling, glass panes, the odd flare of blueish white allowing a brief glimpse of gently swaying palm trees, their leaves whipping in the wind. She wondered if it would continue to pour tomorrow and hoped it wouldn't; she didn't want anything to damper the last day of their honeymoon. Liu flinched suddenly beside her, startling her a bit, but he settled down a moment later and she dismissed it.
But when he began to tremble a moment later, a quiet, but very distressed whimper escaping his lips, she knew something was wrong. Kitana gazed at Liu, instantly noting the furrow of his brows, the sweat beginning to bead there, and the obvious disquiet of his countenance. Normally Liu was a very sound sleeper, he'd barely even turn over during the night: So Kitana instantly knew what this sudden, subdued distress was related to…
His nightmare had come again.
Kitana grasped his shoulder. "Liu… Liu Darling wake up. Come now Darling wake up."
Liu started awake, his widened eyes blinking rapidly and breaths quietly heaving. When he registered Kitana's concerned face staring intently at his, he blew an unsteady breath outwards.
"You alright?" she asked quietly, brushing his bangs back from his clammy forehead.
"Yeah… yeah…" Liu shuddered, forcing another deep breath to compose himself.
"It was the nightmare again, wasn't it? The one about… him?" Kitana cautiously asked. Liu affirmed with a stiff nod, his fear-stricken eyes averting slightly from hers.
Wordlessly, she pulled him to her, holding him tightly while he took a moment to right himself. He returned her embrace, burying his face in the crook of her shoulder as he willed his breathing to slow. Kitana's heart was heavy with worry and sympathy. Liu thankfully was not plagued by the horrid vision very often anymore, but when it did resurface it always affected him profoundly. Often it would come from nowhere, springing out at him like some predatory animal pouncing on its victim from the shadows. Each time, he would momentarily shrink into himself, become shaken and guilt-ridden all over again; and Kitana's heart broke into a million pieces for him every time. She was all too familiar with crushing remorse; something she herself frequently battled with given the grittiness of her past. She hated that Liu now experienced it. He was far too good to have to feel something so dark and constricting. But at least now Liu allowed Kitana to comfort him, was willing to discuss it with her; instead of shutting her out like he initially did when the dreams first began taking a toll. After a few silent moments Liu rose from Kitana's hold and offered her a genuine, grateful smile, planting a kiss at her lips.
"You're alright now?" she asked.
Liu nodded. "I am. I always am, thanks to you." Kitana smiled, though her eyes were still weary.
"I just wish I could take all of it away from you." she told him, caressing his cheek. "I wish I could just take all your pain and guilt and make all of it vanish. You don't deserve it."
"I know you would Ai Ren," Liu murmured lovingly, taking her hand from his face and kissing it, "and I love you for that. But it's just something I have to get through on my own. And Iwill… I am."
"I know you will." Kitana faithfully said, kissing long and tenderly. When they withdrew they curled up into each other, cheeks pressed and entangled in each other's arms and legs. They fell asleep soon after, neither disturbed through the remainder of the night.
The storm had mostly cleared the next day, but rain still fell on and off. With the weather unsteady, and the shore sodden, Liu and Kitana spent their last day on the island in the house. They mostly laid in bed, sleeping, talking, making more love. They took their meals in their room as well, feeding each other and making a romantic time of it. It was perhaps their most languorous day, which neither minded at all. Before they went to bed, they packed away their clothing and other items in their single, shared trunk, and the guards carried it to the entrance to sit for when the boat arrived early the next day.
All too painfully soon, they were standing on the stern of the royal vessel, watching as the island drifted farther and farther away. Both leaned against the railing of the ship, Liu's arm wrapped around Kitana's shoulders.
"Well, guess that's that." she said, slightly downcast.
"Yes, but it's only the first two weeks of our entire marriage. There'll be more vacations, more time when we can be alone." Liu said with his usual optimism. Kitana shot him a smile.
"You're right." she agreed, straightening up and wrapping her arms around his neck. "So… ready to begin the rest of our 'entire marriage?'"
Liu smiled, pecking her lips. "Absolutely."
*A.L. - After Liberation. In my head-cannon it's been ten years since Edenia and Outworld were separated again.
*haori - a shorter-length Japanese robe that goes over a kimono or yukata.
*engawa - wrap-around porch of a traditional Japanese house.
*uchiwa - small paper fan, particularly those cut in a rounded shape glued to a wooden stick.
It's finally here! Sorry it's been so long folks, but I've been chasing other endeavors lately, and still am. So early warning now… my updates might get REALLY sporadic for a while.
Anyway, please review and enjoy!
