Why yes! It is another update! :D I couldn't wait till jdnj days to post up another chap so I decided to update again. This chaps with Baraka and his teachings of strength. Oy, poor Alora, having a Tarkatan as a teacher D:

Warning: Some intense language ahead.

Chapter 6: More Than A Few Quick Lessons

I was leaning on my balcony, staring out into the night, my heart beat in my ears. My arms were folded over each other and my breathing was steady. I replayed the events that happened just moments ago with Noob Saibot.

I could feel his breath right on my neck, making me break out in goose bumps and the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I shuddered and let out a shaky breath. It was December and this night was extremely cold, so I rubbed my arms to try and create some sort of warmth.

I didn't want to sleep, not with all these emotions running through my mind. My heart was still pounding and my mind was going crazy.

Why is Noob acting like this? Why after 4 years would he be acting all "flirtatious" and "touchy". Was he trying to get my guard down for when it was time for me to train with him? And what was with the interrogation about me and Ermac? Did he think that I was getting all
"love struck" for the enforcer? I liked Ermac, but only as a friend. Same goes for all my past teachers and that won't change.

Maybe Noob was looking for some sort of love but didn't know how to express it. He's been dead for so long that he doesn't remember how to flirt or act like a gentlemen. Regardless, it's weird and kind of makes me uncomfortable.

But then again, I also kind of like it.

It's been four years since I've had any type of contact with Earthrealm, friendship and romantic wise. Not that I had any sort of love life back home, all the guys in my school were either jerks, assholes, or just sex-crazed.

I'm a 21 year old girl, going on 22 in 5 months, and have yet to have any type of relationship. Not that I particularly cared for a relationship, but it would still be nice to have someone to call your own.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I wanted a relationship, and with a certain wraith.

Oh what am I thinking? Noob Saibot is a specter that cares for no-one but himself and likes to push my buttons.

That could be one possibility but also there's a possibility that he might actually have some sort of attraction towards me.

I look at myself, from my chest, to my arms, to my stomach, legs, then finally my face when I step back inside to gaze into the mirror.

I guess I'm decent enough, at least that's what I think.

My auburn hair is a little past my shoulders and wavy mixed with some curls. My bangs cover a little of my left eye, making a shadow so you can't see the flaw of my eyes, one green and one blue. I crinkle my nose a little in disgust and look at my other features.

Small nose, average size ears, full lips, skinny body, nothing much else to be attracted to.

I sigh and walk back out to the balcony, sitting down in one of the chairs, tucking my legs under me and staring at the sky.

I lean my head back and close my eyes, my thoughts still on a certain wraith, and drift to sleep.

The Next Day

I woke up, a pain in my neck, and tried to stretch only for a loud crack to go from my neck.

"Ahh, ouch." I whimpered.

I reached up and started rubbing where the crack happened when I noticed a blanket on me. I knitted my eyebrows together and stretched out my legs, only for me to feel the soreness from my weight on them.

I slowly stood up, trying to get feeling back into my legs, and turned back towards the chair. The blanket was blue with some thin lines on it. I realized after a few seconds of staring at it that it was the blanket from my bed.

"What the?" I whispered to myself.

I shook my head my grabbed the blanket, walking back to my room. I tossed it on the bed and looked at the clock on my dresser. It was 10:43 and it was also a holiday.

Christmas.

I felt a drop in my chest and sighed.

Another Christmas without my family and another Christmas with the Outworlders.

I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip. I tried to push my feelings aside, and not think about my family and how this must be hard for them too. I found myself clenching my fists and grinding my teeth.

Shao Kahn ruined my life. He kidnapped me from my world and didn't think twice about it. I know he didn't kidnap me physically but the thought that he ordered it was still a pain in my chest.

That's when it all hit me. I remember that day when I was walking at night alone and Noob came behind me and attacked me. Him and Saibot took me away from my life and brought me to this hell hole. I clenched my fist tighter and my teeth felt like they were about to chip away. I was about to punch something when I felt someone grab my fist.

I turned around and opened my eyes, only to stare into the white soulless ones.

I narrowed my eyes and tried jerking my hand away but he only gripped it tighter.

He pulled me close to him and stared at me, not moving or saying a word. I could only hear my rapid heart and my short breathing.

"What?" I snapped.

"Well Merry Christmas to you to Alora." He said grinning.

I clenched my teeth and yanked my hand away and this time he let go, giving me a mocking smirk.

"What do you want Noob? I don't have time for you." I sneered at him and started rubbing my wrist.

"Well well well, someone isn't in a jolly mood." He laughed and I could only feel my temper shortening.

I rolled my eyes and looked at the ground. He walked up to me and lifted my chin up, making me gaze into his eyes.

"Come now Alora, what's wrong? You usually seem happier to see me. Now you're just being mean and unkind." Noob was mocking me and he knew it. I narrowed my eyes at him and jerked my head away.

"Stop playing these games with me Noob, you want something, now what is it?" I tried to make my voice hard, but it was difficult with all these emotions ramming my brain.

I glanced up at him and saw his arms crossed, his typical habit, and roll his eyes.

"Now why would I want something from you? I have all these other women at my feet, now what would make you any different?" He said.

I felt myself blink a couple of times to understand what he said. I felt my face get red and I tried turning my face away before he could see it. But before I could fully turn around, he gripped my chin with one hand and forced me to look back at him.

"Ah, you're blushing? A little jealous are we Alora? Jealous that I have women swooning at my feet and you're not one of them?" He was pushing me, trying to make me say something that'll make me look a fool in front of him.

I grabbed his wrist and yanked it off my face, throwing it away from me. He only raised his eyebrow and edged me to do something else.

I breathed and gave a smile small, not letting his comments get to me. Just like yesterday, I played his game and tried to win this round.

"If you have all these women 'swooning' at your feet Noob Saibot, then why are you here with me? Obviously you must want something or have some sort of attraction towards me if you picked me over all these supposed women right?" I said with a smile and cocked my head slightly.

He knitted his eyebrows together and turned his head a little to side, trying to cover up his embarrassment. He turned back to me and, like always, started backing me up into a wall.

"What do you think makes you any different from all the other women here? Maybe I find toying with you more fun and interesting?"

I felt my back hit the wall and he put his hands on both sides of my arms, leaning in.

I wasn't about to let myself fall, so I fought back.

"And why that Noob? Hm? What is it about me that you like to 'toy' with? Do you find something interesting about me?"

He was taken back by my remark so I kept going.

"And why was it you who was sent to come and spy and kidnap me? Did you have some sort of attraction towards me? Or you still do if you're here right?"

He narrowed his eyes, but the look on his face told me that he was interested in what I was saying.

"Also, why do you back me up into walls? This is the second time that you have gotten me cornered and didn't let me have a way to get out. Do you feel more in control this way Noob? Do you not like it when I play and start flirting back?"

By this time Noob was getting irritated by the way he was tapping his fingers on the wall. I smirked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"What's the matter? No smart remarks? No comments about how you have 'sex slaves' or female servants'? Nothing to hit me back with?" I was toying with him, and he knew it, but yet he didn't say anything back.

He only leaned in closer, so close that our noses and foreheads touched. I kept my gaze into his eyes and he did the same.

"You think you got me Alora? You think you have me scared? Wrong, but yet, you are right."

I narrowed my eyes at him and he kept going.

"You are right about me having a sort of attraction towards you, I admit it. But what about you hm? I can feel your heart beating, and it going fast."

As if to prove his point, he put his hand on my chest and I felt myself go red. My heart was thumping against his palm and smirked without looking away from me.

"You like this, when I make you nervous, it gives you more of an attraction towards me right? I can feel your heart beating faster by the second, it's getting faster the closer I get to you."

He was getting closer when someone knocked on the door. Thanking god, I let out a breath when he turned around and he mumbled something under his breath. His arms fell and I quickly slipped out from under them. I ran to the door and yanked it open to see Ermac there.

"Ermac! Good morning! Merry Christmas!" I said, trying to sound cheerful.

"Good morning Alora, we are having a breakfast with Jade and Kitana and would like to know if you would like to join us?" he said

Glancing back at Noob, I saw that he had his arms crossed and a angry look on his face. Mentally thanking Ermac for the save, I turned back to him and nodded.

"Yea sure, I'd love too." I said with a smile.

Ermac gave a small nod and looked at Noob. He narrowed his green eyes at him and moved out of the way so I can get out.

"Go on, I'll catch up." I told Ermac.

He nodded and started walking on, I looked back at Noob to see that he was gone.

I sighed and closed my door, my heart still going crazy.

After Breakfast

I was walking back to my room, when I noticed my door was slightly open. I knitted my eyebrows together and walked to my door, slowly pushing it open, afraid of what I might see. I glanced inside and let out a breath of relief when I saw nothing wrong.

I sat down on my bed and put my head in my hands.

What the hell happened this morning?

First Year

I was walking out to The Armory to meet up with Baraka. I'll admit, my nerves were killing me, and my heart my thumping. Baraka was a scary looking man, with those long sharp teeth and those dangerous blades. I rubbed palms together, searching around for Baraka. I something scrape against the floor and I turned around to see him dragging his blades across the ground. The sound was piercing my ears and covered them with my hands. When he got to me, he put his blades back in and folded his arms, taking what looked like, a general stance.

"Today we are learning about strength! Do you have any?" He barked at me.

I widened my eyes and shook my head.

"N-no sir! I-I mean, not that I know of! Sir!" I was stuttering! I was looking stupid!

I mentally smacked myself and looked back at Baraka who had this annoyed look on his face.

"Then we'll just have to get some in you!" He yelled.

He suddenly lunged at me with his blades out and tried to stab me. I yelped and ducked, kicking him in the back of his knee. He turned around and growled.

"Use your training from Princess Kitana! You did not train with her for nothing!" He kept yelling at me and I felt my self esteem get shorter.

I quickly got up and got into a defensive stance. Oh what am I thinking?! My puny fleshy arms are no match for a pair of sharp blades! I put my arms down and found an iron bar, putting it up horizontally, and blocking Baraka's blades.

He gave a quick nod and pushed forward, he was starting to make me skid backwards.

I gritted my teeth and tried pushing forward, I quickly replanted my feet on the ground and started forcing my strength into the bar.

Baraka grunted and pushed even harder, my nerves got worked up when the bar started to bend towards me. I gasped and lost my focus, Baraka gave one final shove and I fell backwards, the iron bar broke in two and skittered away.

"No good! Again!" He barked.

I groaned and rolled my eyes. I got up and dusted off my behind.

"Oh great I think this really is General Hard-Ass." I thought.

Mid-Year
"Again! Again! Again!"

I panted and hit the sandbag again. I was punching and breathing heavily. I could send the bag flying across the room like Captain America and he STILLs won't give me a break! Jack-Ass!

"Hit harder! You aren't working hard enough!"

I shook my head and jabbed. I spun around and gave a high kick to the sack, causing it to swing back. When it reached me, I reared my arm back and gave it powerful punch. Guess it wasn't so powerful when I heard a crack and sharp pain in my wrist.

"Sonofa! Shit!" I screamed and grabbed my wrist and started rubbing it.

"Son of fucking shit! Damn it!" I screamed and felt the tears stinging my eyes.

My wrist was broken and I could see the bone popping out from the side.

I turned to Baraka, who was shaking his head.

"Too much force, you got the consequences." He said.

I couldn't believe this! I just broke my wrist and Baraka is there doing nothing! I groaned but it turned into whining when the pain came back to me.

"Put some ice on it then get back to work!" I swear I wanted to punch him with my other hand if it wasn't holding my wrist upright.

"May I be excused?" I said through my gritted teeth.

He nodded and I ran out of the training room, trying to find Kitana or Jade.

Guess who I found instead.

Yup.

We bumped into each other, his chest causing my wrist to bend even more.

"Fuck!" I screamed and bit my lip to keep from crying.
I looked up at Noob to see him raise an eyebrow and cock his head slightly to the side.

"What happened to you? Broke your nose again?" He said with a smile.

"Broke your nose again? Shut up." I tried to mock him but the stinging in my wrist was distracting me.

"Well, someone is a little irritated aren't they?"

"Noob I swear to god, if it wasn't for my wrist I would kick you in your fucking-"

He grabbed my arm and I winced in pain, he pulled me closer to him.

"Now now watch your language Alora, don't want to ruin that pretty mouth with such foul words now do we?" He smirked and let go of me, leaning against the wall.

I growled at him and was starting to walk away when I realized that he was probably the closest thing to a nurse I'll find for now. As much as I hated asking him for help, I had no choice but to.

"Noob." I started.

"Yeees?" He knew what I was going to ask, and was going to make me suffer.

"Would you…um."

"Would I what, Alora?" He was stalling me! Trying to make me beg for help!

I clenched my teeth and looked at him.

"Would you help me with my injury oh dear Noob Saibot?" I said it through a smile and kept my eyes locked on his.

"Why yes my sweet Alora, I'll help you." He said through a grin.

I rolled my eyes and followed him back to his room.

When he opened the door, I scanned his room, not surprised at how it was decorated.

Red walls, black sheets, dark brown dressers, not one bit of a bright color in his room.

He gestured towards his bed and I sat down, still holding onto my wrist. Noob went into his bathroom and came out with some gauze and a wooden spoon.

I understood the gauze but why the spoon?

He knelt down in front of me and grabbed my wrist. He inspected it a little before placing the contents on the floor next to him.

"Alright, now since you're a whiny little baby, I brought you this." He grabbed the wooden spoon and handed it to me. I raised my eyebrow and grabbed it with my other hand.

"What is this for? Are you making me some soup later or something?" I smirked a little and he smirked back.

"Just put it in your mouth and bite down when I tell you to." He said

"What for?" I asked.

"Just do it, you trust me right?" I opened my mouth to respond but kept quiet. He nodded and I put the spoon in my mouth.

He took hold of my wrist with one hand and he placed the other over the bone that was sticking out. He prodded it a little before looking at me.

I broke out in a cold sweat when I realized what he was going to do. I felt my breathing become rapid and I closed my eyes.

He pushed the bone back into place and I bit down on the spoon so hard that some pieces of wood came off.

I screamed but it turned into whimpering when the pain passed. Noob was wrapping my wrist in some gauze and he looked up at me.

"Baby, you whine too much." He said with a chuckle.

I was about to yell at him for calling me baby, till I realized he meant baby as in infant, not as in the other thing.

"Shut up….um…thank you, Noob." I said looking away from him.

He gripped my face, but gently, and turned me towards him.

"You're welcome." He said softly.

I sighed and stood up, walking to the door. I looked back at him and gave him a small smile. He smiled back and turned walking away.

I left his room and walked back to Baraka, who was waiting impatiently.

"Where were you? You've been gone for almost 10 minutes!" He screamed.

"Yea yea, sorry." I mumbled not caring for Barakas words.

"Just get back to work." He replied.

I walked back up to the sandbag and started punching it with my left fist. After about 10 minutes of punching and kicking, I tried with my right.

It hurt, like hell, but if I was going to learn strength I had to deal with the pain.

I kept hitting for about 2 hours before Baraka finally told me it was time to end.

Final Year

"Lift! Go Alora! Use all your strength!"

My wrist healed and right now I was lifting a 150lb weight over my head. My arms were starting to shake from all the weight but I wasn't about to give up.

I managed to push it all the way up and I heard Baraka grunt.

"Good! Here comes more!" He yelled.

He put 50 more pounds on each side of the dumbbell and I felt my arms starting to give up on me.

"No no! Come on Alora! You can do this! Come on! Think of things that get you angry!"

My mind started wandering back to all the times that I was irritated. Thoughts of my family, sister, and school flooded back to my mind.
I lifted the dumbbell a little higher but that wasn't good enough.

I thought about how I was never going to see my family again, how I was made fun of in school, how I was taken away from my life.

I pushed a little higher but it still wasn't good enough!

I kept thinking about all my failures during my trainings and my mind wandered to one person.

Noob, I thought about how he toyed with my emotions, how he pushed my buttons, how he got me so angry, how he treated me like a child.

I felt the anger boiling up inside of me, my vision started blackening around me. I knew what was happening, my anger was going to consume me and take over for while.

My vision was black and I felt my arms push all the way up, lifting the dumbbell back into its holding bars. My arms felt limp and they fell to my sides. I sat up, feeling dizzy and my vision started to return. I turned around to face Baraka, who had his arms folded and gave me a nod of approval.

Thank the lord!

I passed my exam and I ran out without even looking back at Baraka.

I kept running back till I ran into Jade and Ermac.

"Woah there sweaty! Where are you going?" Jade exclaimed.

"I…I just…somehow…manage to survive a whole year with Baraka! And I'm not dead!" I chirped.

"That's great Alora!" Jade said.

She pulled me into a hug but quickly pushed me back.

"K, go shower now. You stink." She said laughing.

"Hardy har har." I laughed.

I turned to Ermac who was smiling and nodded.
I smiled back at him and walked to my room, glad that Baraka was over with but nervous that next was Noob.

I walked into my room and ran to the shower, soaking my head in the water and letting the cold sensation chill my body.

I couldn't help but think of how my training with Noob might go. Would he be nice or brutal? Caring or cold?

Either way I wasn't looking forward to it.

After about 20 minutes, I stepped out of the shower and walked to my dresser.

"About time."

I screamed and turned around to see Noob sitting on my bed, with a leg crossed over one, his arms folded, and a smirk on his face.

"Noob! What the hell are you doing here! Ever heard of something called privacy!?" I screamed at him but he only chuckled.

"Well I could have come earlier but you were all sweaty and gross." He said laughing.

I rolled my eyes and tugged the towel around myself tighter.

"Can you just get out please? I have to get dressed." I groaned and pointed towards the door.

Without answering, Noob got up and started walking towards the door.

Wow he actually listened to me for once.

But once again I was proven wrong.

It looked like he was heading for the door but no, once again he backed me up into my dresser and placed his hands on both sides of me.

"Noob, I really don't want to play this game now. I'm tired, sore, and just want to sleep." I said kind of whining.

He leaned in and I felt his chest pressing against mine, which made me feel uncomfortable since the only thing protecting me was a towel.

"N-Noob, s-stop. Please."

"Why? I want to finish what I started last year."

I was confused by his comment. I was about to protest when he suddenly pulled down his mask and kissed me.

I was so shocked by his action that I didn't know what to do. My first kiss was with a wraith and I wasn't doing anything.

When my brain finally decided to comprehend, it was too late. I was about to wrap my arms around his neck when he pulled away and lifted his mask back up.

I just stared at the floor, my face feeling extremely hot and red.

He smiled and leaned back into my neck.

"3rd time." He whispered into my neck and I shivered from his breath.

He back away from me and chuckled, walking towards the door and going through it.

I felt myself starting to fall so I gripped the edge of the dresser. I slowly slid to the floor and hugged myself.

"What the fuck….why did he…kiss me?"

Weird thing was,

I liked it.

Jeesus Cheese finally -.- I've been wanting to get that part out since I started this chap. I was originally gonna put it after he "when I get close to you" but I decided that at the end would be better. While I was writing the Mid-Year part, I checked my email and saw two new reviews from guests :D YAY! Your reviews made me extremely happy! Thank you guests and silent reader! :D Until next chap, the one we have all been waiting for, training….with Noob Saibot.