Although Hanzo is still infuriated by this development, he nods and intends to hold a discussion with her. His focus narrows when he spots her walking on the rubble path along with the blue clad grandmaster, seemingly deep in conversation with each other. Hanzo took notice, seeing his old rival smile and chuckle amidst their conversations and Rae tilting her head at the stoic man returning an even sweeter smile. Why is it that there gestures seem so natural. He knew what it was and this fuels him of anger and perhaps a possessive jealousy which he had not felt for her before. So far, his conversations with her has been very light but he can only be himself.
They reconvene at a war room, Raiden and Kung Lao laying out the schematics. Thanks to Kung Lao, he shares a vast amount of information about the revenants and their patrols. Hanzo is still irritated that Rae, although she greeted him when she saw him again, chooses to seat herself next to Kuai Liang, both listening in the plan.
"You and I need a word," he walked up to her after the battle plans have been laid out and everyone has dispersed into the greater halls.
She looked at him for a second, followed by turning her her left and she sees Bo Rai Chi drunk and sprawled, she looks to her right and see a bunch of monks passing around armour. She then looks straight back at Hanzo and points to herself.
He rolls his eyes hard, of course he was talking to her! He grabs her hand and starts leading her away. She could have just pulled her hand away as she knew how to walk but she does listen to him, partially out of fear to not piss the Shirai Ryu grandmaster.
He brings her to a private meeting room. He inspects the hall for passerby and shuts the doors. Rae puts her hand to the neck looking at Hanzo casually and not entirely sure why this is important.
"How much do you know of Kana?" He asks reaching for her arm and not letting go.
She seemed dumbfounded and shocked at the sudden physical interaction, "You….what do you want to know?"
"I know what you really are," he looked deep into her eyes, almost as if he was swallowing her soul. "At one point of your memories, we were together, we had a son."
She sighs and tries to explain, "I…..It does not work that way. I also have memories of others who made offspring, does that mark me responsible for all of them?" Her free hand waving to dismiss his claim, how did she explain the first time around? It seemed to be easier to explain it to the blue clad ninja; he was calm and willing to listen. Hanzo seems to listen to his own self. Again his face is written in annoyance and frustration.
Now she is panicking, an angered Hanzo is his own class of level of horror. She backs up only to have him step a larger step forward until he wrapped the other arm around her waist and pulled her up against him. She managed to twist slightly to the side so only a portion of her check and shoulders were pressed into his.
"Come back to me," Hanzo pleaded refusing to let go of Rae. She did not reciprocate the hug.
"I am getting crushed," she choked. Hanzo loosened up the grip a little but he dug his chin against her shoulder. She used her free arm to wedge between their chests to finally have breathing space to say, "She is not here."
He then forcefully places his lips over hers, she manages to create distance to separate their face with her free hand again. "I am not-" her lips were covered again, she frees one last time more determined and covered her mouth this time and quickly turned her head, "What is it?!"
It also did not feel right with Hanzo so he did not attempt another forced kiss. He had hoped, his wife was simply trapped and needed strength to appear. He realizes between his senses, this is a different person but his logic tells him otherwise, he presses his forehead against hers. "I looked everywhere for her, and I have found you, can you not except that I will find you no matter what happens to you?"
She takes a deep breath, wishing she could be in a more comfortable position since Hanzo's right shoulder digs into her left side of neck and his chin angled to block her ability to turn her head to any other direction and his tight grip has caused her to arch her back. "Who were even before that? Possibly a reincarnation of countless previous beings who would have wanted to spend an extra day. Your feelings for her may continue but her feelings end at a certain point. You…do you not see me as Quan Chi's blood first?" Rae finally placed her free hand on his side almost to pat him but then dropped her hand.
Hanzo pulled back to look at her, by no means is there resemblance save for both women being petite. At this proximity, he can definitely tell there is a different scent about her, a scent of a spring forest different to scents of summer flower fields that Kana always had about her.
She found some breathing space in his loosening grip so she resumed, "Would you not have killed me I was at the Tengu outpost that day? I was not far; I was sent out to gather rare herbs. I believe it was unintentional, but the small coup you caused made it so I could not return home for now. Do you not understand I have loved ones there?"
"I had not thought too much into this as it was new information," he looked away almost timid and then looked back at her, his eyebrows both raised. As if he was afraid to know of the answer, he had to ask anyways, "Do you have a spouse or a family of your own there?"
She could lie….she could, but she would sure raise hell in him if he found out. Although she would admit, the fluctuation of his facial expressions is kind of attractive in his own way. After narrowing her brows and debating she should be truthful here, she answers, "Wu Lae is my father now and I have a brother, whom you have injured heavily that day…I am the head medical officer there, I still have students…" she was hoping she can bring up more names but most were deceased such as her parents.
Hanzo seemed to form a small smirk. Brows narrowing at her.
She is rather annoyed he seemed to celebrate internally about her marital status but is rather unaffected about hurting her loved ones. Narrowing her brows again, she decides to throw another scenario at him, "Alright, loved ones are still loved one no matter how few there are….If…I had turned out evil, then what? Your earth realm allies would have to kill me."
"I would not let them, I do understand it is almost impossible to change the mind of one affiliated with evil. But your fate would be my decision."
"What if Kana was never a part of me?" She threw an ultimatum.
"It may be true, we would not be in this position but since it is so I believe love disregards change," he replied flatly. "I am willing to accept you for who you are now."
She gives herself a face palm, then drops it and looked scared at him again. Her own true nature coming into play which she was not comfortable Hanzo see at this point. His face remained unchanged.
Why does she need to be afraid of him? Just because he has a temper and she is not used to being in front of one in the Tengu villages? She narrows her brows yet again, "You say that as though you are not seeing Quan Rae in front of you. That is what I really am in the end, a bastard by-product of someone who gave you much suffering," she looks away. This is true, he only got to know this woman in front of him. It was not that she lacked appeal, she had an innocent pale face and had a thin and proportional body. If a man who to judge what kind of woman she is, she would be identified as someone who was serious in matters of love.
She needs to change the topic, tried to smile at him but it came out a little distorted. She sighed and realized her argument had little point, "She did love you very much and she did not feel much pain when her life ended, it was quick. When she was in the Netherlands, she never got to see Jubei again, infants disintegrate due to the lack of development of their souls. For that, I am sorry. When Quan Chi found her, he only said a few frightful words to her. He never touched her before he extracted her for transfer."
Heartbroken, he released his clutch. His forehead still resting on hers. She does not dare move and he places his hands on her shoulders. She had to admit, he is attractive and very masculine. Though she is not sure whether she, herself, appreciated such a dominating man. She feels the rising of temperature to the cheeks but it likely just because of her timid nature. She worried to give him any other hints so she just looks at his collar bone. This was a bad timing since she had grown attracted to his rival, the Lin Kuei Grandmaster.
Due to the past memories of the former souls, she can differentiate between a beautiful and destructive relationship . She would not describe that Hanzo would be the destructive type but possessiveness was not a very attractive trait to her.
"I will win your heart," he proudly declared, stepping back and sliding his hand so it holds hers and he lets go of it at the end of his step.
"Pulling it out during a fatality will not count," she rolled her eyes attempting to lighten the situation. Although even time she tries to be a little sarcastic, she always darts her eyes back at him as if being sure she would not stir a reactive response in the man.
Hanzo does not laugh or chuckle. He just gives a smug look. This is one the reasons why Rae does not it 'fun' around him. She can recall Kana's memories, this is not the same Hanzo from years ago, much has changed.
"I plan to pretend our rough in did not occur. After all, I have worser memories of the others being forced against their will," she looked away, a bit angered as she let her mind linger on those negative emotions and she seemed to stare off into space that moment.
He digested the comment she made carefully. He was deep down an honourable man and his actions just now were of a desperate man. Knowing the mention of unfortunate memories which she would have felt present in, made him remorseful. "I…apologize, I stepped out of line. But know this, I will be asking that you come with me after the battle."
Rae mentally snaps back into the room, "That would involve winning a heart first." she needs to get out of there. She pushes through the door, storming off. Next thing he is going to tell is she needs to stay away from his rival she thought.
THAT EVENING
The earth realm fighters have all retired to their rooms. Kuai Liang noticed Rae seemed rather troubled for the day, brows narrowed most of the time. He approaches her in the halls standing in front of her, arms folded. "Something on your mind?"
"I…..yes," she replied by scratching her jawline and looking her hand.
"We…can talk in private," he suggested and lead her towards his room only for her to stop him by grabbing his arm and seemingly uncomfortable with the gesture, "Another room, then?"
She nods and releases his arm.
While Kuai Liang never thought of using his own room for any purpose other than to talk, he guides her to a study room. Rae seemed concerned about ensuring the room would be locked.
"Are you alright?" He put his hand on her shoulder to turn her around.
She looks at him briefly and then turns to the side. "No….Master Hasashi had approached me, he knows. If he simply settled with just the facts, that would be simpler-"
"I know of the man, Hanzo and Scorpion, both are emotionally driven and determined. Both clutch on the past as if it moves at the same time as their present. Allow me to guess, he is suggesting you belong to him already?" He asked, he felt a little hurt by this.
"I believe that is what he wishes for," she fidgeted. "Seeing life through his wife's eyes, I know what kind of man he would be, I would say a very caring man, if not possessive. I had some clarity now from last time I had this conversation with you. I do want want to live for any one of the old souls, I can see them as teachers but I am not their substitute here to give them closure. It is impossible to provide closure to those souls, they do not digest new information or new feelings. If one wanted revenge, even if they achieve it, they still want revenge. Mind you, if I were to ever leave behind nothing but a soul, the last thing I want to think of is something from my happiest of days or thinking of nothing would be good too."
"He…did not force himself upon you, did he?" the blue clad man asked with much concern.
Somehow seeing Sub Zero's reaction did not make her want to tell him the truth on that…Would that not be..kinder? This did not make sense, her willing to tell Hanzo the truth out of fear that he would find out but then withhold information to Kuai Liang because…she wished for his happiness. "He may have been a little rough and pressed his lips to mine but he realized he was wrong in doing so. He instead decided would actively pursue me."
Kuai Liang looked a little angered but also felt upset by this development. She looked curiously at his expression as he had always been calm and collected in front of her. Truth is, he would have wanted to be in that spot extending his touch instead. He was inexperienced in love even today and his training would have prevented him from affection. Due to the events that folded up to this day, he had no time to even try to fall in love with another. While some women in his clan expressed interest he felt it most inappropriate to develop feelings for anyone in the clan. He felt a smack to his own face as whatever emotional courage within him only allowed him to simply say, "Thank you for telling me this."
"I do not wish for you to take action against him. But…can you, hold me?" She asked timidly looking away and down towards the floor. She felt the strong pair of muscular arms go around her back and waistline and a warm forehead resting on top of hers.
"I mean not change you or persuade your thoughts," he felt a overwhelming feeling of warmth in his soul. When he let her go, that feeling lingered but it felt incomplete.
"If I was in the same situation was Kung Lao, it would be easier to confuse my own desires with just one soul residing. There is more activity going on in my mind with memories and feelings belonging to forty five individuals. Fortunately, most can be blocked out."
"Fourty…five?" He looked a little surprised, softening his shoulders as the number would not one to take lightly. "What makes up these individuals?"
"Some are doctors and scientists, I would think Quan Chi keeps them for their collective knowledge. Some are his previous enemies and his enemies' loved ones and friends, such is Master Hasashi's case, simply for black mail should things go sideways. Some of these souls do not have much brain activity during their final moments so their personas do not bother me much. It is the ones who were tormented with failure or lost that haunt me most. None of the less, I am the one who take precedence," she tapped her fingers together and steps back from the cool breeze she felt around him. "I am not going to throw a story at you on this. It is something I learned to bear and most days there is more good out of it rather than the inconvenience."
"How does it work?" he asked.
"My brain activity is lowest during rapid eye movement. This is also a reason why I do not mediate. Should their desires be that strong, flashbacks of moments important to them appear in such state. Other than that during my waking hours, a thought or two may interrupt mine. At times it twists my perception of what I desire."
"Then do not mind if I dare ask, what is it you desire?" He brush some hair behind her eyes and leans in close to whisper the last fragment .
She looks as if she were about to answer that but the alarm rang. Kuai Liang opens the door and sees everything from ninja's to monks scrambling to get weaponry and take defensive measures.
"Grandmaster! The revenants are attacking!"
