AN: Thanks to all who have provided feedback on this story. It is not a perfect gem in hindsight. As I see some things I would have prefered to do differently I would also dislike altering the story so much after getting this far. I will stay the course until it is done. I do not own either Yu Yu Hakusho or Mortal Kombat they belong to their respective owners. /AN

The roar of the crowd within the Koliseum meant nothing to Sheeva. It was not taboo among the Shokan for females to fight, just unprecedented for one to have such success that she gains the attention of the Emperor. She was used to the cheers when she took her opponent and broke their spine across her knee. She reminisced on her upstaging victory against a centaur champion. She ripped off his arms and used them to beat him to death. The more the Shokan warrior thought about past triumphs the more she thought about the conversation she had with her mother this morning before she set out for the Koliseum.

Sheeva walked along the mountainside trail that led up to a cliff sacred to the Shokan. It was here that the prophets of old dictated visions to the tribe. Sheeva's mother, Ganesh, mediated upon the tip of the cliff. Once the elderly Shokan heard her daughter arrive, she greeted her without breaking her concentration, "Daughter, should you not be at the Koliseum for the tournament? The Shokan do not need further disgrace."

"I was concerned." Sheeva replied, "You have been here for three days straight."

Ganesh nodded, "The spirit world has enlightened me. Prince Goro's killer is present at the tournament."

"What?! Who is the defiler of our honor?" Sheeva cried out in fury.

"Emblazoned upon his chest are the words 'Johnny Cage'." Ganesh stated.

Sheeva steeled herself, "I will ensure all of the Earthrealmers pay the price if that will restore favor with the Emperor."

Ganesh removed her hand and backed away, "For if you do, you shall find no sanctuary here if you fail."

Sheeva looked hurt for a moment, but then nodded in understanding, "All the more reason to not fail."

Sheeva stood at the foot of Kahn's throne slightly troubled about the fewer warriors with her. Although, such a situation favored the Shokan warrior as that was more time for her to shine. Kitana and Jade flanked their master. The koliseum filled up once again with beings from all over Outworld eager to see more blood.

The Shokan glared as the Earthrealmer fighters entered the Koliseum for a fresh day of combat. She noted the lack of the grey-garbed ninja, probably fallen in kombat during the night. Whether legitimate or illegitimate, a death in combat is a death in combat. This only violated the rules if the two realm in kombat assassinate one another.

When Sheeva saw the man with Johnny Cage written across his chest like a badge of honor she scowled. She stepped forward singling out Cage, "You! Killer of Goro! I challenge you to Mortal Kombat."

Johnny looked stunned. He only narrowly beat Goro when they fought, but in hindsight, he suspected that it was mostly due to Goro being tired from his defeat by Liu Kang, "How'd you know I did that?"

Sonya elbowed him in the ribs, "You just told her dumbass."

Johnny winced rubbing where Sonya hit him, "Hey! I'm an actor not a master spy. Are you trying to help her beat me?"

Sheeva growled clinching her fists, "I will kill you for killing Prince Goro."

The action star glanced over to Raiden nerviously, "You think I can do this?"

"Do not doubt yourself or you are already defeated." Radien whispered, "Remember what you did when you defeated Goro."

Johnny nodded doing a few warm up jabs, "Right. Punch him in the- "

Sonya elbowed him again, "That won't work this time."

Raiden nodded, "True, but don't forget that once challenged you only have two choices: fight or surrender. However, surrender counts as a defeat for Earthrealm."

"Hey Cage," Kuwabara shouted, "Don't back down. Kick this ugly chick's ass like you did to Croissant Heureux in Ninja Mime."

Johnny grimaced, "I will pay you any amount of money to never mention that movie again."

Sonya placed her hand on the actor's shoulder chuckling as he flinched, "You can do this Johnny."

Johnny nodded and took off his glasses, "Mind holding my glasses? I learned last time to not bring $500 shades."

Sonya nodded and took them, "Good call. Now focus on not dying alright?"

Johnny saluted before he stepped into the arena with Sheeva. Although, Shao Kahn raised his hands and suddenly the two warriors vanished in a flash of bright green.

Sonya stepped forward angrily but Raiden stopped her, "He merely teleported them."

"To where?" She asked suspiciously.

"I don't know." Raiden answered.

Kahn strummed his fingers upon his throne, "Feel free to challenge my warriors Raiden. I thought of sending our fighters to other arenas so that we could speed this tournament along to its inevitable conclusion."

Raiden nodded, "Fine, I will be glad to see Earthrealm warriors return victorious. They will win fast enough to keep you from getting too impatient."

Kung Lao entered the arena, "I am tired of waiting. I am ready to fight."

Kahn laughed, "Someone, accommodate this boy who if he is so willing to die."

The ninja in purple garb made to move in, but Nitara flew into the ring first. The woman in purple stepped back disappointed.

"I will fight him." Nitara said. Both Kung Lao and Shao Kahn eyed her with interest before the emperor teleported them both away.

Kahn shifted in his throne, "Any other takers? Don't be discouraged, we all must die sometime."

Mileena stepped forward, "I too am tired of waiting. Come and challenge me if you dare."

Kitana raised an eyebrow in confusion. This stranger's voice bore a resemblance to hers. The Earthrealmers looked to the shapely woman in purple then wondered who would face her. Kurama shrugged and causally went into the arena to face her, "I would not mind being your opponent."

The woman brightened at the sight of him looking at him hungrily. Kurama accessed her for a moment until Kahn teleported them. The crowd booed at the prospect of all the violence taking place elsewhere, Kahn raised his hand silencing them, "The next fight shall commence here. Ermac, prove your worth."

Ermac hovered into the arena and landed gracefully. Hiei entered the arena a hand on his katana hilt. Kahn laughed at the short warrior, "This affair shall be quick."

Hiei threw off his overcoat. He smirked as he placed his hand on the hilt of his blade, "Go ahead, make my day."

Ermac raised a clenched fist, "We are many, you are but one."

Hiei in the blink of an eye lunged at Ermac. However, Ermac held out his arm catching Hiei in midair telepathically. Hiei struggled against the hold but he was helpless as Ermac slammed him into the ground. Hiei gasped in surprise and pain as he was tossed like a rag doll into a wall of the Koliseum. Before the demon's stunned body could hit the ground, Ermac caught him mid-fall. The warrior of many souls telepathically punched Hiei in the gut a few times before slamming him against the ground again.

Hiei got up stretching his sore spots. He wiped blood dripping from his nose and reassured himself by making sure that his sword was still there. "It's good that Kurama isn't here to see this. I grow weary of him trying to tell me strategy as if I have no idea how to fight. He could probably stop a Fist of the Mortal Flame, and I should conserve my ultimate technique for last resort. Hopefully I shouldn't need it to be a scrub like this one."

Ermac stared at the demon waiting for him to try again. Hiei drew his sword slowly; then in a flash threw it at Ermac like a boomerang. Ermac managed to catch the sword with his power, but could not react fast enough to block Hiei's kick to the back of his head. Ermac lost concentration and Hiei's sword clanged as it hit the ground. Hiei then unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks against Ermac's back as if the warrior were a combat dummy. He then grabbed the ninja by the torso and with a great shout suplexed him.

Hiei then rolled over to seize his sword, but Ermac psychically pulled the sword to himself. Hiei failed to keep a hold of it. Ermac readied Hiei's own sword, "Come and get your weapon from us if you dare."

Hiei came at Ermac again. However, Ermac used his psychic power to kick up a dust storm to repel him. Hiei was knocked back yet again but managed to keep his footing.

Ermac then sent Hiei's blade spinning at him. However, Hiei charged it, caught it in mid-air, and went on to slice off Ermac's right arm. Ermac barely had time to cry out in pain before Hiei twirled around then cut off his opponent's head. No blood spewed out of the neck stump as the corpse slumped over, only the green aura of souls escaping. Shao Kahn raised his hand to beckon the souls to him. "The Earthrealmer, fatality."

Hiei sheathed his sword before picking up his overcoat. The crowd erupted into cheers overjoyed to see more death. Hiei walked back to his group as if killing Ermac was no trouble.

Kahn merely wore a straight face as he watched the fighter leave the center of the arena. Kitana looked to her father concerned. He seemed neither happy nor furious at the fact an off-worlder killed one of his personal creations. She fully expected half of the audience to disintegrate from his rage. Jade appeared equally surprised. Although, she recognized the expression of her master scheming silently.

Meanwhile, Johnny Cage and Sheeva ended up on a junk sailing the Blood Seas navigating the jagged rocks. There was no crew, but the ship was guided through the rocks as if by master sailors.

"By killing you, I will restore my people's honor!" Shiva sneered as she clinched her fists.

"And what good'll that do ya' when you are all still ruled by Kahn anyways?" Johnny shoots back cracking his knuckles making sure the bandages over his hands were secured.

Sheeva's mouth hung agape for an instant then she steeled herself, "Fool. Do you not realize that the strong follow the strongest while the weak are crushed under their heels?"

Johnny loosened up swaying his arms, "Leaving the strong to kill each other to prove who is the strongest. I guarantee you the strongest does not like threats to their power base."

Sheeva snarled, "I am through talking to the likes of you. I shall rip off your arms and use them to beat you to death."

Johnny grimaced, "Um… that doesn't seem excessive at all to you?"

Sheeva growled then breathed a fireball at Johnny who rolled aside.

"That's right, half dragon." He reminded himself as she came at him spinning around with her fist bared like a murderous top. Johnny somersaulted backwards quick enough to evade her bizarre attack. When Sheeva stopped to regain her balance, Johnny launched a Shadow Kick into her stomach. The Shokan was knocked back a step but caught herself in time to come forward again. She use her lower set of hands to grasp Johnny around the torso. She then used her upper arms to backhand Johnny with her left hand before she slammed her right elbow down upon his collarbone causing Johnny cried out in pain. Sheeva gave him a sinister grin as she reared her top right fist back for a powerful strike.

However, Johnny managed to raise his left arm to block her, "Wax on."

He focused his energy into his hand and threw a shadow ball into Sheeva's face that made her drop him. The actor rubbed his color bone to try and soothe it, "I've had a lot of women grab me and come to think of it a lot of women beat the shit out of me. Gotta say, that was a new one."

Sheeva rubbed her eyes with her upper set of hands from the sting of the blast and her lower set of arms tried to compensate with her balance. Johnny noticed that she stumbled back towards the cabin door near the stern of the ship. Johnny exhaled; then sprinted towards his opponent. He leapt into the air performing what he liked to call a Shadow Dropkick against Sheeva's stomach knocking her into the cabin door buckling it. Johnny then shot back up use a Shadow Kick that sent Sheeva through the door.

Johnny backed away from the door taking a moment to breathe. He had used a lot of spirit energy thus far. Hopefully, he would not need too much more to finish this fight. He heard a great enraged cry come from the cabin and Johnny made for the bow of the ship as Sheeva came barreling out of there in a berserk rage splintering any wood that got in her way. She saw Johnny and beat her fists together before jumping from the stern to the bow narrowly missing the startled movie star.

Johnny tries to punch her left side with his right hand, but Sheeva grabs his fist with her upper left hand. She then quickly grabbed his other fist so she could raise Johnny into the air. The Shokan punched him a few times in the ribs with her lower arms to keep him from struggling too much; finally, she started to pull at his arms working on ripping them out of their sockets.

Johnny grunted as he aimed a kick at Sheeva's groin. The female warrior still recoiled from the pain despite holding on to Cage. Her lower arms covered her waist as she doubled over. Johnny then swung back and forth to gain enough momentum to knee Sheeva in the chin. This forced her to let go of him as she staggered back clutching her face. She crashed into the mast that creaked but remained intact.

Johnny shakily landed in a three-point stance. Sheeva got over herself and slowly came at him again fists ready to tear him up, but Johnny dropped down into a split punching her in the groin. Sheeva collapsed onto both knees with both sets of hands covering the part of her body that Johnny was punishing. The movie star stood up; then unleashed a series of Shadow Punches into Sheeva's head.

"One, two, three!" He counted each left-right alternating punch out loud until the final blow knocked Sheeva down leaving her sprawled out on the floor bleeding from the nose and many other cuts over her face. Johnny stepped over to Sheeva his bloody fists bared. He looked down upon her posed to strike. Sheeva glanced up pathetically, and braced herself for a killing blow. However, the final blow never came. The actor calmed himself knowing his victory was complete. Johnny then sat on the nearest boat railing too tired to do anything else. Ten seconds later, the shadow priest that hovered over their match disappeared.

Sheeva stared at him astonished, "I… I don't understand… I am at your mercy, why have you not killed me?"

Johnny sighed, "Not my style."

Sheeva managed to push herself up onto one knee weakly. She panted hard from their intense battle, "What if I were to… continue fighting to the death? Disregarding the rules?"

Johnny placed his hands behind his head, "Look, I'm not going to kill you so don't even worry about it. If you were to come at me I'd continue to defend myself without killing you. Simple as that."

Sheeva wiped the blood from her nose, "I see… I would rather you have killed me. My defeat has disgraced not only myself and my family, but all of the Shokan dead, alive, or ever conceived."

Johnny cast a sidelong glance to her, "That's from the whole 'working with Kahn' thing. I'd wager that it's about time that you stop thinking about what that asshole Kahn wants and think more about what you want."

Sheeva pondered his words silently. Johnny kicked himself in disbelief that he of all people was giving advice to someone who swore to murder him just moments ago.

Suddenly, lightning struck the mast catching it on fire.