The sun was shining bright over Shang Tsung's lush gardens. Marvelous, green bushes spotted with ripe fruits were growing beautifully around a gourgous stone walkway. The bridge of the pit could be seen in the distance. One man was now walking down the stone path. This man was tall, and thin. He had short black hair, and wore a skin tight full body suit that was black, and red. Across his eyes laid a red blindfold. On his back was a red handled sword that gave off a blue glow. He had his head down as he walked. He seemed to focus on the sound of wind rushing throughout the garden bushes. He stopped walking suddenly, and held his head up. He was facing down the path in front of him. He drew his sword slowly. Farther down the path was a man quickly making his way torwards him. This man had long white hair, and eyes that were brown. He had on heavy armor that shined silver, and green. He had a large, sharp spear in his hands.

"I heard you coming Hotaru." The blindfolded man said as Hotaru made his way closer.

"You'll pay for what you did in the Orderrealm, Kenshi!" Hotaru said aloud.

"I was just a sword for hire. Darrius is the one you want." Kenshi said calmly.

"I came here under the impression that he'd be here, but it seems he gave you his spot in this tournament." Hotaru spoke in disgust.

"It was my payment for the Diarou job." Kenshi expressed softly.

"You brought the downfall of that honorable man's family for your own ends. You disgust me!" Spat Hotaru, as he now stood a few feet from Kenshi.

"I did what I had to." Kenshi said remaining calm.

"Now I will do the same!" Shouted Hotaru, who swung his spear at Kenshi who had heard the whoosh of the spear, and ducked under the swing. Kenshi held his glowing sword up to block another swing. Hotaru swung repeatedly, and Kenshi dodged each shot. Kenshi was being pushed back the force of Hotaru's merciless swings. Kenshi was pushed a few feet away from Hotaru. Hotaru gave a shout as he brought his metal spear from over his head to come down apon Kenshi's back. Kenshi fell to the floor. He laid there face down. He could hear the swoosh once again of Hotaru's spear, and rolled out of the way of a life ending jab from the end of the spear. Kenshi stood back up to his feet, and gripped his sword tightly, and lowered his head, and focused on Hotaru's movements. He heard Hotaru making his way to his postition. Hotaru thought he could be tricky, and go for a sweep with his spear. Kenshi jumped over the low swing, and kicked one of his legs out to connect with Hotaru's face. The kick stumbled Hotaru who dropped his spear on impact. Kenshi tried to take advantage of the situation. He charged in the direction of Hotaru, and tackled him to the ground. He mounted Hotaru's chest, and brought his sword over his head, hoping to split Hotaru's head in the process. Hotaru, however blocked the blade with the metal gauntlets around his wrist. Kenshi was thrown off of him, and Hotaru crawled hurriedly to his spear that he managed to pick up. Kenshi now had a strong offense, as he brought his sword over his head down onto Hotaru's spear repeatedly. Hotaru had to roll out of the way for the punishment to stop.

Hotaru stood to his feet, and managed to get the tip of his spear to break through Kenshi's body suit. Kenshi grasped his pain as the tip of Hotaru's blade forced it's way into his abdomen. Hotaru forced Kenshi into a tree. He pulled his blade, and stood a few feet from Kenshi. He aimed his spear torwards Kenshi. He tossed it in one hand, and prepared to throw it at Kenshi. Kenshi was too focused on his pain to listen for Hotaru's movements. As soon as Hotaru threw his spear, Kenshi heard a voice ring aloud in his ears. Kenshi listened to the voice, and dropped as fast as he could to the ground. Hotaru's spear stuck in the tree above him. Kenshi rubbed his hand across the hole punctured into his body suit. He felt the blood dripping from the hole. He then turned his head in the direction of Hotaru who kicked Kenshi square in the face. Kenshi rolled from the impact, but quickly got to his feet. The two stood facing each other.

"It's not too late to walk away from this Hotaru." Kenshi said tauntingly.

"I will take your headless body back to the Orderrealm to show all those who wish to bring chaos into my realm the price they'll pay for causing havoc!" Hotaru yelled. Kenshi laughed at Hotaru's words. Hotaru sprinted at Kenshi, and the two traded both attacks and blocks. Kenshi pulled his sword out again and begain swinging at Hotaru who once again blocked those swings with his wrist gauntlets. Hotaru then procedded to bust Kenshi's lower lip with a hard right fist. Kenshi was then kicked hard in the gut and then forced back with a uppercut. He dropped his sword in the process. He stumbled around stroking his hands hurriedly around the stone floor looking for it. Hotaru stopped to look at Kenshi struggling around.

"The blind Kenshi." Hotaru said mockingly.

"Without your sword you are useless in terms of fighting." Hotaru smiled. Kenshi paid Hotaru's words no attention. He was too busy focusing on the location of his sword. Hotaru saw that Kenshi was getting close to his fallen blade, and picked it up. Hotaru stared at the blade as he was intrigued by the sword's blue glow.

"This sword will fit perfectly in my collection." Hotaru said glaring steadily at the sword. He then looked down at Kenshi.

"You made this too easy." Hotaru smirked. Kenshi gave a small laugh.

"You laugh in the face of death. You are both brave and stupid." Spoke Hotaru.

"I laugh because Sento will not appreciate you holding her." Kenshi said lifting his head up at Hotaru.

"I have beaten you brain dead." Hotaru said darkly. He then felt the blade in his hand shaking softly. He stared down once again at the blade. The blue glow had enhanced itself to shine brighter then before. It then suddenly gave off a bright flash. The flash caused Hotaru to scream at the top of his lungs in agony. His hands went straight for his eyes, as the sword fell onto the ground with a loud clank. Hotaru moved his hands from his eyes. They were inflamed, glassy, and red. His screams filled the air. Kenshi managed to grab his blade from the ground. Hotaru had managed to get himself in a crouched position. He looked around, but could not see anything. Kenshi walked torwards him.

"Anyone other then a Takahashi cannot wield this blade without paying a price. You found this out the hard way." Kenshi said. Hotaru had his head down. His hands in front of his face. Hotaru had given up. He dropped his hands by his sides.

"Kill me." He said with a dead voice. His brown eyes had turned pure white.

"No. Learn to live with it." Kenshi spoke as he placed his sword on his back. Kenshi then kicked Hotaru over onto his back, and proceeded to walk away. Hotaru was shouting for Kenshi to come back and finish him. Kenshi ignored him, and continued his walk on through the garden. He continued to walk with his head down until he heard that voice in his head again. It had told him to stop. He had heard a large number of footsteps infront of him. He pulled his sword from off his back. He then heard a voice.

"Woah! Relax man we're friendly." Kenshi raised an eybrow.

"We are not here for combat. We are here to talk." Came a deep voice.

"What could you possibly want to discuss?" Kenshi asked wearily.

"We have come to offer you a place as a member of a team of Earthrealm warriors." Said yet another voice.

"I have no need of a group. I am here for one reason only." Kenshi explained.

"We are aware of your intentions Kenshi." Said the deep voice. Kenshi was baffled that the group of warriors knew his name.

"Then you know that I care only for Shang Tsung's death?" Kenshi asked curiously.

"Yes, and with a group of people watching your back that goal can be achieved easily," Said a voice.

"There is safety in numbers. I will only join if it's guaranteed that I will be the one to slay Shang Tsung." Kenshi said placing his sword on his back. There was a long silence within the group. A few seconds passed before a female spoke.

"Winning this thing is our number one goal. If it comes down to more then one of us at the end of the tournament then he'll be all yours." She said forcefully. Kenshi thought it through. He then nodded once very quickly.

"You got a deal then." He said calmly.

"Nice, now that thats out of the way it's time for introductions. You can call me Johnny." A voice said aloud. There was another long pause.

"Okay, never mind then jerks." The voice said finally.

"Kung Lao, lead Kenshi and the others back to the camp." Spoke the deep voice.

"Where are you going?" Asked the female voice.

"Shang Tsung's temple. I have a second round fight as you all will have soon enough."

Kenshi could hear the footsteps of the man as he walked farther and farther away from the group.

"Are you ready to go?" Asked a man that Kenshi precived as Kung Lao.

"Lead the way." Kenshi said looking behind him. They begain walking down the stone path once more and faded into the blinding sun.