It was later when the cryomancer bumps into the the welder of hellfire that a conversation sparked.
"We must speak our minds, but we shall do that privately," Hanzo suggested.
Kuai Liang understood this day would come and they went into the study room and both men leaned against end the balcony railing.
"What is your intention with Rae?" Hanzo asked boldly.
"I cannot deny she is someone I have grown to care for," Kuai Liang lamented. His eyes saddened as he would never have thought that meeting the Tengu would result in this situation. Both men fighting for a woman.
"The Shirai Ryu believed that in reincarnation, a soul would retain some previous essence but would take a new form based on the current conditions and environment. Due to the sorcery that has cursed us, this is as close as me finding Kana reborn. With hellfire, I will not experience reincarnation in the way we had believed in. I vowed to find her in the next life and after. You would dare take away my chance to reunite my family?"
"You are looking at the situation one sided, Rae is her own being and has her own thoughts," Kuai Liang explained standing in front of his rival.
"Only that she is as closest thing to the reincarnation of Kana concerns me," Hanzo held his head high.
"Then let me ask you, if you did not associate Kana with Rae, would you even have taken notice of her? If she had nothing to with your wife, would you have even be as determined now?" Kuai Liang defensively asked.
Hanzo tilts his head down pondering this. "It would seem we are at an impasse? I am willing to be with any form she now takes on."
"If I have to back down, I will back down on one condition, alone," Kuai Liang held his head confidently was unmoved he had only one condition in mind and he also needed to know the answer.
"Name it," Hanzo narrowed his eyes.
"That your feelings for only Rae exists to the level that is of mine," Kuai Liang states. "I need to understand what is it about specifically you are interested in."
Hanzo took some time to consider this as if he was creating a list in his mind. She was easy on the eyes, her upbringing unique but that does not necessarily bring out interest. She is normal in regards of mental health, unlike most of the crazier female fighters encountered. Their interaction had been sweet, short and perhaps had its few rough ins. Perhaps there is a bit of reflection of his early days with Kana.
Kana at first paid little attention to him but he was attracted to her. Small framed, proportional physique, dressed for the occasions, long straight soft hair just like Rae. He was young, keeping notice of the girls his age in the village of the Shirai Ryu. Kana was well mannered and timid, studying to master every quality which the village coined a proper woman. Rae less so, delved into magic and knowledge and her mannerisms depended on who she was around. Still, they are qualities that are attractive. He remembered his determination that he would become a gentleman to Kana one day after he frightened her. Ever since that eventful day, it was as if some sort of spark ignited; it was a challenge. How would he get a beautiful, soft creature to fall for a man who some would regard as frightful and tempered? The concept he once coined for a soft creature usually implied a delicate woman who was not a fighter and would need to be protected. Although times changed and the meaning encompasses more qualities.
He changed much after picking up the kunai in his early days, he assumed that learning to fight would protect the woman he would marry. He became so exceptional, others knew of his name and Scorpion was born. A name he now loathes, had he not become such an exceptional fighter, Quan Chi may not have taken notice of him. Now the name Scorpion is more of a curse than a source of pride.
But Rae also gave him the challenge, she was also scared of him: how was he going to get a beautiful, witty creature to fall for a man who some would regard as frightful and bitter? His mind raced through their interactions, he took notice in Rae the day she marked the book on the history of the Shirai Ryu; how articulate she was in writing. He had his suspicions the day she woke up with him at her side. He had only sat there out of pity; that no one was there by her bed that with Raiden focused on Kung Lao and Kuai Liang reluctantly returning back to deal with matters with his clan. He was amused to say the least by their interactions that day.
He had not really considered being in love with her at this point, he planned to get there eventually. It would seem Kuai Liang is already at that point and she may already be there with the Lin Kuei grandmaster as well.
"It is true, I may only be infatuated with her, the time we spent together was not as long as you experienced. Time and time again she has proven to be honest and genuine, those are qualities I believe are valuable in any partner. Humility is something I value in her. I would admit she has desirable traits that a man would look for. I believe given time where she spends with me, our relationship would flourish. I can see that you have been there already. As if prompting me to stand down; but you two have yet engaged in a physical relationship, that much is certain. It is still all fair at this point."
Kuai Liang held back his frustration. In most situations, when a suitable man and a suitable woman spend enough time together their attraction does grow, be it a flourishing or disastrous experience. Hanzo seems to be making a heavy promise to himself should things go well. Kuai Liang kept quiet, now was not a time to simply compete and Hanzo had his points.
Kuai gathered his thoughts. She had warmed him into to her sense of humour which day by day he grew to adore. They had grown to trust each other with their deepest, darkest secrets. They understood how to provide support to each other. For every day she had been at the Lin Kuei Palace, he ached to spend some form of time with her, even when it meant showing up unannounced when she was lecturing medical associates. Interacting with her sought peace and solace in his own being. He knew what that kind of feeling meant.
SHORTLY AFTER
Hanzo and Kuai Liang step out of the upper hallway together and spotted young Yodaba reunited with Rae one floor below a grand stairway. Kuai Liang smiles to himself and intended to walk over to greet the boy. Hanzo stops him by putting his hand on the stoic man's shoulder. Kuai Liang turns to him at look and was surprised to see the reaction of his competitor. The Shirai Ryu man was regretful. The man in blue turns to look back at the woman he has grown feelings for.
The boy ran up and hugged her. He is her height. When they separated she started talking and looking upset, "It was the roughest days for me. I went to the Lin Kuei palace and Tengu academics do not translate equivalently there so the only role I was qualified for. A slave who trimmed toenail clippings for other slaves. Yes, slaves because they do not have servants. Finally, I got promoted as they started importing new briefs but it this very scratchy tag to it so I would cut threads to remove the tags. It is believed cutting brief tags improved efficiency by 30%. But it was a sweat shop, it took so long to deal with that, I was getting carpel tunnel. Do you know much people live there? To the point that many chose to wear their briefs tags still on because they grew impatient; they would get this rash. I finally can put my medical skills to use. They coined a term for the condition as assrash? Ashrash? Ashrah? The point is: all I was permitted to do was tend to Ashrahs all day, mostly 24-7. Even when I got a break and napped, I had nightmares of seeing rashes everywhere."
Sub zero smile broadened at yet another one of her elaborate fictions.
Yodaba then started his competing story. "You think you had it bad? My father started saying I need to man up, he tried to set me up with Mina since fengshui suggested we were a match in heaven. My father set everything up, making hunting events for me to test my might but then rig all the dead animals in front of me so I would get the highest score. Mina still thought less of me, during our supposed dates she would grab my hair in public, slap me around and demand gifts. Her friends laughed at me for being her bitch. Before the wedding day, I had to run away, I stole her dress, knowing she cannot step outside without it, then disguised myself as a leaner fitter version of Mina but it was so hard to stop some of the guys from hitting on me. I don't know they said something about how she could do better, yah right! One molested me, and then….they took turns! When I was able to go and made it out of Arctika, but no one would help a guy in need, so I had to continue to be a woman to get cart rides, free food and offer them lip services, for while I was doing okay until the dress started getting dirty and smelled badly from me not being able to wash it or take a shower, no one wanted the idea of Mina." He started to cackle a little near the end.
"That is too far off our agreed off side topics that this round is forfeit," Rae scolded the boy. He suppressed his laughter while Rae still looked displeased. "I care little that she is the rudest and most conceited girl within the Tengu but you cannot disrespect a woman. I am going to suggest to your father that Mina and you have the body parts to produce offspring."
"That is almost too cruel, I would consider you evil," Yodaba chided.
"I did not say you both would be a match made in heaven, you said that! Just that you both have the body parts." she mocked.
"Yeah like how pretty much any man and any woman within breeding age could!" He whined loudly.
"The grandmaster does think about you getting married in the future, regardless you are far too young now but he would interpret that meaning as though you two make a pair. What better choice then his trusted general's daughter? I do not think the other clans have mail order brides with status," She folded her arms, head raised high.
"Psh, if father was like that, he would have shipped you out first," Yodaba snorted.
"The other clans no longer have villages or outposts where there are families. They are more like…our training camps. We may be the last breed of traditional ninja clans. Even so, you and I behave already little of such," she scratched her jawline with a finger.
"Oh yeah,…I have been meaning to ask you. You know, I started noticed a lot small things that are different ever since you left. Others noticed it too and many talk about having you back." Yodaba leaned a little closer and gave a barely audible whisper, "….Did you cast spells for birth control?"
"Who told you this?" Rays narrowed her eyes.
"It is kind of obvious when women start getting pregnant and not being all that happy about it. I was wondering if I can…recommend someone to see you."
"You absolutely may not forward someone to me!" She crossed her arms defensively. "My patients are old enough to make those decisions. Who are you seeing?"
"Ooh no one," he pulled back mischievously.
"No…No, I do not want to know, it will ruin the illusion that I still have a baby brother," she waved her hand dismissively. Her eyes drifted away momentarily as though various thoughts were occupying her mind.
Yodaba tilted his head at her, he kind of knew that look when she was battling to not let memories dominate her persona, "Rae? Are you…?"
She snaps back into her herself seconds laters and continued the conversation as though the time lapse never occurred. "You better not be playing around."
He smiles delightfully that his sister figure is alright. "…..Well then, I suppose you shouldn't have healed my face last time I got hurt," he snorted. Hanzo now recognized the boy to be the first to defend her when he was last at the Tengu outpost.
"Women do find men with scars attractive," she raised an eyebrow and give a sly smile. Sub-zero felt some heat to his cheeks only to feel it disappear by her next comment. "Mind you, most of those women…are Tarkatan."
"You are actually evil!" Then he started chanting, "Bad spirits leave me be, bad spirits leave me be-"
"This is brutality, you are such a teenager!" She puts her one finger on his forehead and pushes him to distance from her. Her face then grows serious, "I appreciate your visit but…You cannot stay here. You need to go home. It is not really safe here."
"The rest of clan are settled and putting that problem behind them. I was so happy about this that I had to see you. You know, I started hearing children cry at night now when I open the windows when it gets too warm. It is annoying! I never realized you cast spells on them too."
Rae coughed a little, "I hope you are the only person who realized that. I do not like being considered manipulative," she looked away slightly, "Hah….well….what has magic touched which remains unspoiled?"
"Meh it is not like you casted harmful things," he shrugged. "Sooooo….When are you coming back?"
"I believe we still have to deal with Netherrealm problems. I cannot promise you anything but I do miss…Wu-our father," Rae gulped. Being separated apart made her forget about certain formalities.
"You don't have to hide it, I know we are not really related by blood," the young boy shrugged. "I had to study history and I have the best source to ask for what really happened. It is too bad….if our clan had stood strong that day….Umm, well that is all hindsight…. It won't change us."
"We still will change, even our little story telling game ends on day; you are getting too old," she looked a bit saddened and then loosens her expression until it becomes flat. "By then, I am sure I will out score you."
"Uh-Un!" He grunts playfully slowly stepping away from hoping to get her to say something to imply she misses him, "Ehn, fine I am going home! Made me come all this way only to be rejected in everything."
"Yes, your pride must be shattered, therefore, thank you, bye!" she waves at him causally as though they will see each other again.
He runs back to her like a dog who missed a friend and gives a her one more hug. When he lets ago and she offers to walk him out, both walking towards the entrance. It felt like the next time they will reunite may be a long time.
