The storm has come. The winds pick up. Only for a few moments do they pause, before continuing again. Droplets of rain are brought down at a light, but dense downpour. Kung Lao feels assured that these teardrops are not only what will dampen this earth by the end of this day.
He shall either fail or find victory; there is no middle ground. It is that simple: Raiden or him shall be killed. The Shaolin monk can feel the poison. It is the anger that has mounted and cut its course for this resolution. The want, desire, for revenge has driven him here for a purpose he shall fulfill or die trying.
Only Master Peace's training is able to stop him from running forward, shouting curses in a recklessly attempt to take Raiden's life as he watches lightening strikes a short distance from The Old Story. The steel blue and white clan Thunder God stands before Kung Lao full of life and strength.
'Where is Liu Kang? Is he with full strength or is he lifeless and cold upon a deserted rooftop?' Kung Lao mentally screams.
"Curse you Raiden!" The words come forth with ease. Soft petals pressed against his lips, they feel pleasing to be screamed in animosity. "You wretched traitor!"
The monk can see the surprise clearly within Raiden's eyes and on his face. Why would he be? What did he think killing Liu Kang would do? "Kung Lao, what happened to you?" he questions. The concern that covers his voice must false, the monk assures himself. His passive speaking is merely a cheap game to bring down his guard. "I have seen the truth Raiden." Kung Lao's voice quivers with anger, yet he almost on the verge of tears once more. The sensation tingles his eyes, burning shame into him. But his is determine not to shed tears before his enemy and fights them back. "I know your treachery. You betrayed Earthrealm! You killed Liu Kang!"
Hot angry tears are unstoppable as they trickle down the monk's cheeks, and he steps forth from beneath the peach tree so they merely look like raindrops. "Kung Lao you misunderstand—"
"No," he interrupt, "I will not listen to your lies any longer. You will pay with your life for what you've done!"
"Kung Lao no!" The monk charges forward, heedless to the words. He is certain he knows the Thunder God wishes to fight as well, and it is his meek cowardice is what stops him from attacking out right. "Fight me Raiden!" the warrior cries out in frustration, as the Thunder God continually dodge, parry, and misguide his frantic attacks.
In the Shaolin warrior's undeniable eagerness to take Raiden's life, his attacks are with fierce strength and quickness. Everything he has trained for comes forth to aid him with this duel. However, the monk is still weak. Cursedly weak. Liu Kang's death and feeling the exhaustion of mourning has drained him of his energy. Kung Lao is hungry, tired, cold, and especially lonely.
It begins to show as his moves steadily become slower. Determination still courses strongly threw the monk in his rage, but he cannot go on much longer at this pace. A kick to the chest knocks the breath out of him. Sent stumbling backwards, he slips on the slick grass.
"Kung Lao you have wrongly accused," Raiden urges, while the warrior is down. "I did not kill Liu Kang. He is not dead." The Shaolin warrior glares up into his pure white eyes. "He is not dead," the Thunder God repeats. They are words that could be so sweet to hear if they were not lies. "Liar!" the monk shouts.
"You must believe me," Raiden gently pleads. He steps back as the Shaolin struggles to his feet. "Liu Kang is not dead. He was only unconscious." The warrior is on his feet once more. "Let me prove it."
"You can prove nothing. You can only confess you took Liu Kang's life. And die only as a traitor not a deceiver," Kung Lao sharply replies. The words of accusation seem to offend Raiden, and the monk can see the pain within his eyes. He almost hesitates at the emotion. Would it be worth seeing if the Thunder God's words were indeed truth? With the brunt of his anger demolished and exhaustion cloaking him, Kung Lao is able to hold back and consider the offer.
His hesitation gives away his consideration. Raiden knows the monk thinking about his proposal. However, as he continually watches Kung Lao, the monk cannot help the anger that wells within him once more. A wise man once told Kung Lao that anger is like a hot coal. You want to throw it at someone else, but end up holding it, and it is you who gets burnt. The thought runs through the monk's mind now. It is he who is getting burned.
Before the monk can speak, the Thunder God reaches for the heavens, and it is all too clear: he is going to teleport. Kung Lao knows this. He cannot let him escape! Dashing forward, the Shaolin suddenly stumble unsteadily as he nears Raiden. A flashing light blinds him, and he fall to his knees. But it is not grass that he hits… it is a wooden floor?
Kung Lao looks up in confusion. "Where have you taken me?" he questions. When there is no answer he yells, "I demand to know!" The words come forth as meaning to be strong and fierce, but they tremble. "Raiden?" he questions, but the Thunder God is no longer present.
Quickly glancing around, Kung Lao indeed sees no sign of him. Perhaps this is one of his tricks? The oddity of the situation brings nervousness. Ever restless, the creaking noise that emanates from the floor as he rises causes him to flinch. From what he can see, it appears he is inside a cottage, an old cottage. But where and why?
Slowly walking across the floor, he makes for the door that is in front. Perhaps the outdoors will offer more answers? Slowly pushing the wooden frame outwards, the Shaolin warrior is welcomed by a quite different scenario: wilderness surrounds the shack. A short porch is set in front with a few buckets and assorted tools within it. A small clearing is then seen farther out. Overgrown grass and wild flowers flourish. And there is a figure. A figure that looks strangely familiar…
It couldn't be. Yet the excess lengths of the silken red headband that rests gently upon his back, the stark black hair, and thigh guards whisper otherwise. "Liu Kang?" Kung Lao whispers. His words quiver with hope and disbelief. The figure turns. A brilliant smile, and immediately recognizable face greet as a response. "Liu Kang," Kung Lao says his name once more. He is saying it and knowing his friend will respond. It is unbelievable and so overwhelming.
All this grief? And here he sits. Well and waiting.
"Kung Lao," he replies, standing. Kung Lao begin to feel faint headed upon hearing him speak. He had believed he would never hear his friend speak again. Kung Lao can clearly see the concern and relief that cover Liu Kang's face. He begins to approach, and Kung Lao, too, moves. Almost tripping on his way down to the steps, he looks up to see him right before him. In flesh and blood. No… it couldn't be.
Hesitantly, Kung Lao raises his hand, and gingerly places it against his friend's cheek. This touch will prove if he is a mere illusion or if he is really here standing before me. Yes. Yes, he is real. Liu Kang is not dead. His hand rests against real, warm flesh. A smile illuminates his face upon seeing the relieved happy one upon his fellow monk's.
Liu Kang presses his hand against Kung Lao's, and they share a deep moment. It is short lived because Kung Lao quickly pulls his hand away to tug his longtime friend into a tight embrace. The monk latches himself to Liu Kang, afraid that in some moment he might wake up to realize this had all been a dream. Liu Kang's arms hold Kung Lao equally tighter. It is wonderful to be embraced by someone only to be embraced harder.
Guilt floods threw Kung Lao as he realizes Raiden had spoken the truth, yet he had shown great disrespect and ignored it. "I thought he'd killed you." The monk is surprised to hear his own voice is so weak. "I saw you…" The words falter, as he does not want to speak them. "Raiden was near you, I could only assume," he says instead.
Kung Lao head rests upon Liu Kang's shoulder as he listens to his response. "Raiden forgives you." His words are reassurance, but Kung Lao still feels the undeniable guilt.
"It's alright, I'm here," Liu Kang whispers into his friend's ear when he feels a few tears wet upon his shoulder. The later shivers at the hot breath against the shell of his ear. He is still in shock and the grief has yet to vanish completely. "I though you were gone, too. When Sindel had ambushed and I couldn't find you…" he pauses at the words, and sighs hesitantly before squeezing Kung Lao tightly. "I thought she had killed you."
"No, I was unconscious behind the stairway."
Kung Lao frowns, realizing the irony of the situation: Liu Kang had mistaken him for dead, just as he had mistaken Liu Kang's death.
"I was afraid I'd lost you," Liu Kang says, pulling back. He cups Kung Lao's face, to stare into his friend's violet-blue eyes. Kung Lao knows the pain and grief of thinking a loved one is gone, and makes to reply, but suddenly his mouth is sealed.
Kung Lao's eyes widen in dumbfound. Liu Kang's lips line flush to his, and the course, yet somehow soft lips make the shorthaired monk's tingle. The action is too surprising to be given a reaction, and Kung Lao is motionless. Stiff. Liu Kang pulls back after a few moments of nothing returning his embrace. Kung Lao can see the wonder immediately. Yet… he is not sure if he couldn't or didn't want to react.
He wants to say something, but does not seem sure what. The moment might have been awkward, but he is too occupied with the sudden inner decision: should he return the embrace? Liu Kang and him had gone through so much together. Perhaps they are soul mates…
Master Peace words come to the monk abruptly. He can nearly hear the old man speaking them— as though he says them now. "The bond between Liu Kang and you was more than friendship." Had Master Peace known all along? That their friendship was turning into something more?
Having averted his eyes from Liu Kang's in the thought's embrace, Kung Lao returns his attention. This Shaolin Monk before him means more than anything. It is Liu Kang who stood at his back so that they would never be overcome by our foes and now loves him simply for who he is. The words Kung Lao had wished he could tell his friend come back.
Now, the monk looks to see his emotions. Liu Kang seems choked-up, embarrassed, and disappointed. Kung Lao can read his friend's emotions like seeing pebbles at the bottom of a clear pond. After all, the monks have known one another for nearly all of their lies. Kung Lao realize the time he had not known Liu Kang was… empty.
Kung Lao can't help but to smile slightly: nothing can bring him more joy then making Liu Kang happy. "Kang?" he question. The said monk's attention is instant. It dawns on Kung Lao, then, how much the man wants him… and he, in turn, is realizing that he, too, wants him. Leaning forward hesitantly, Kung Lao stops halfway. The thickness of the moment is easing away the young warrior's confidence.