Scorpion had Kung Lao at his mercy as his sword was dangerously close to his jugular vain. There was absolutely nothing Kung Lao could do to save his life. He hung his head in shame and felt that he deserved to die for failing to claim the victory. Scorpion then moved his sword away from his throat and put it away. To this sudden action, Kung Lao was beyond confused and baffled.

"Why do you spare my life?" Kung Lao asked, with the thought that every combatant that did not represent the Shaolin in Mortal Kombat was nothing more than ruthless murders.

"You are not the man I came for," Scorpion respond, and then turned and walked off the stage.

Shang Tsung was again bitterly disappointed that yet another life was spared. Liu Kang had the opposite reaction. He was relieved that his long time friend would not be finished in Mortal Kombat. As Kung Lao was exiting the stage, Liu Kang ran over to help him down the steps and walked him over to Raiden. Kung Lao looked at Raiden as if to apologize, but Raiden wouldn't even acknowledge his presence. This enraged Liu Kang as he could not understand why Raiden was reacting this way. Before he could confront Raiden on how he was treating Kung Lao, Shang Tsung called for everyone's attention. At first he was going to call another match just as noon was arriving, but was signal by one of his guard's of an urgency.

"For those of you who have already fought, you will be excused from tomorrow's exhibition. For everyone else, the tournament will continue tomorrow," Shang Tsung state and than walked away with a couple of his guards, including the one that had the message. The rest of the guards escorted everyone to their rooms for the night. Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and Raiden were place in the same room. Liu Kang laid Kung Lao down to rest, making sure not to aggravate his dislocated elbow.

"Bite down on this," Liu Kang said handing Kung Lao a stick on the floor.

Kung Lao took the stick and place it between his teeth. Liu Kang slightly picked up his injured arm and looked Kung Lao eye to eye.

"Are you ready?" Liu Kang asked.

Kung Lao leaned up a bit, removed his hat, and nodded as he knew this was going to be extremely painful. Liu Kang popped his elbow back in place, which caused Kung Lao to grunt heavily. A few tears came from his eyes, but Kung Lao soon calmed himself as he began to control his breathing. Kung Lao then sat his arm down lightly and removed the stick from his mouth. Liu Kang turned his head back to look at Raiden, who was staring out of the circular whole in the wall that represented a window.

"Can I speak with you outside?" Liu Kang asked, trying to hold in his anger.

Raiden did not respond, but simply stepped outside. Liu Kang stepped outside behind him, but made sure Kung Lao was alright, in which he was lying there silently and staring blanking at the ceiling. Raiden was standing with his arms cross, having a feeling of what Liu Kang wanted to talk to him about.

"Why are you treating him this way?" Liu Kang asked furiously.

"He should not have been here," Raiden responded.

"By the rules of the Shaolin he should have, and you know that Raiden."

"I admit I was wrong to have the White Lotus change their decision, but you were always the chosen one," Raiden stated.

"How do you know? Apparently you think everyone you choose is the chosen one."

"Are you questioning my decision? Clearly his performance almost got him killed. If I had chose him to represent the temple, let alone Earthrealm, we would all be doomed at this very moment. I chose you because you were always more disciplined, focus, and overall better than him. Why can't you see that Liu Kang?!"

"I can't see it because that could have been me up there," Liu Kang snapped at him.

"Do you even believe what you are saying Liu Kang? If I had chosen Kung Lao, would you have still been here against the temple's wishes?"

Liu Kang thought for a second before saying anything. He then stood silently as Raiden had made a point, he would not have been there if he was not selected to be.

"Exactly. You keep putting yourself on the same grounds as Kung Lao, when you two are clearly night and day. I understand you two have a blood brother pack, but you have always been the one Liu Kang. Whether you except it or not."

Although Raiden had a point, Liu Kang was still bitter at him and turned to walk away.

"Were are you going Liu Kang!"

"To get some fresh air!" Liu Kang yelled back as he continue to walk in the opposite direction.

Raiden didn't want Liu Kang on his own, but felt pursuing him would only make him angrier. Raiden walked back in the room and awaited for him to returned after he blew off some steam. Kung Lao was lying on his back, still staring at the ceiling. He tilted his head a bit to look at Raiden.

"I'm sorry for my actions Raiden," he started to say, "I was just so mad when you pushed me aside for Liu. I trained all my life for this, while he didn't even want to be here. Seeing you push so hard to have him replace me just made all my hard work seem meaningless. Now I see you were right to choose him instead of me. I have disgrace my temple, my brother, and you. For that I am sorry."

Raiden stood silently in front of the window without saying a word. Kung Lao felt a hard lump in his throat as he knew that he had truly lost Raiden's respect and honor. He turned his head to look at the ceiling once again. At first Raiden didn't want to respond to Kung Lao's plea for forgiveness, but realized that he was still young and needed guidance.

"You have lost my trust and respect," Raiden said, "And if you wish to earn it back, you must stop thinking of yourself. From here on out you will remain close to me until I feel you can be more responsible, and capable of making better decisions."

Kung Lao didn't say anything back, but hearing these words put him at ease a bit. He knew it was going to be hard to except having Raiden treat him like a child, but felt like he acted like a child for sneaking into the tournament. He excepted what was coming to him, placed his hat over his face, and proceeded to fall asleep. Raiden remain standing, staring out of the window into the distance, awaiting Liu Kang's return.

Liu Kang went down by the lake as the sun was setting, giving off a purplish, orange color in the sky. He was squatting down, skipping rocks across the water. The view brought him at ease. As he was clearing his head, Kitana was slowly approaching behind him. She had here bladed fan behind her back closed up, with the tip dipped in poison. Shang Tsung wanted her to poison Liu Kang in hopes that it would eliminate him from the tournament, and she finally had her opportunity seeing that he was alone and distracted. Unbeknownst to her, Liu could hear her every footstep.

"I take it that you are woman from the sound of your heels," he said not looking back, "And also from the smell of your perfume."

Kitana was shocked. She spent years training in stealth and could not believe he realized that she was there. Suddenly, she did not know whether to strike or stand down. Remembering his fighting skill, Kitana made the decision to not make a move yet.

"Impressive. I have met few men that could detect my presence," She complemented, hoping he would let his guard down.

Liu Kang skipped one more rock, stood up, and brushed the dirt from his hands. He then turn around to see it was the woman he had fought earlier standing there. He was unsure why she was there, seeing that she was possibly apart of Shang Tsung's arsenal of warriors. He decided to greet her gently, but kept his eye out for any threatening moves.

"Kitana right?" he asked.

"Uh, yes. I was just passing by and thought I should thank you," she said.

"For what?" Liu Kang asked, stepping close to her.

"For sparing my life," she answered.

"Why should you thank me for that?" he asked curiously.

"Where I am from we are taught to be ruthless. I would not have thought twice about finishing you, yet you knew that and let me live. I don't understand that logic," she responded, blindly forgetting about her mission as she was as curious about him as he was of her.

"What is there to understand? Just because you lost in combat doesn't mean you should die," he said her, standing only inches from being chest to chest.

"In my realm it does, which makes it hard to trust anyone," she told him.

"Is that why you where a mask?" he asked her.

Kitana couldn't respond as her heart was starting to pound. She had never met anyone like Liu Kang, and quickly realized that he was different from every male she had ever met. She couldn't help but stare deeply into his eyes as they were filled with trust and honesty. Liu Kang was beginning to feel the same way as she was. He gently removed her mask from over her mouth. He placed his hands on her waste, slowly drew her to him, and started kissing her lightly. Kitana could not understand why she was surrendering herself to him. It was as if she wanted him to do it. The two slowly pulled away and just stared at one another.

"I must go," Kitana said hastily, confused and heart racing.

Liu Kang watched as she quickly scampered away. Of all the women he had met, Kitana seemed different. It was as if she was kindhearted, but forcing herself to be ruthless. Liu Kang decided to go back to the room to accompany Kung Lao and Raiden. Raiden was still standing in front of the window as he never sleeps. Kung Lao was clearly knocked out. Liu Kang was no longer angery with Raiden, but still did not wish to speak to him. He laid down on the floor, but couldn't sleep as he could not stop thinking about Kitana.