Soul of the Dragon Queen
Chapter 25: Descent into Depression
(Li Mei's POV)
Once I was done brooding, I wasn't entirely sure about where the campsite was…that is until, I heard Kitana's vicious screaming and Nightwolf responding just as vehemently.
"WHO GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO MAKE HER FEEL GUILTY!?"
"I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT I WANT YOU PRISS!"
And more such dialogue, of course I stopped paying attention to it and just followed the noise much more than listen to it. Now that I'm in a good mood…Kenshi said he cares about me. I began grinning inwardly at the thought. Sure our feelings for each other have remained unsaid, but it's these little sweet moments that really count, at least for me.
By the time I reached the site, Liu Kang and Sonya were retraining Kitana while Jax and Kung Lao were restraining Nightwolf with Ermac and Johnny just amused by it all. For some reason Sub-Zero and Kenshi weren't there…
(Kenshi's POV)
"What's your problem?" I loudly asked.
"You know exactly what my problem is!" Sub-Zero responded.
"I can't help it if she doesn't feel the same way!"
"Hah! Please, you just say that because she's still in love with you!"
"Even if she wasn't I would still say that."
"If she wasn't, she'd be in love with me!"
"Why do you care so much anyway!?"
Sub-Zero fell silent and turned around.
"What? Answer me!"
Silence.
"Now you're just pissing me off."
"Maybe I like her. Maybe she's just more than just a pretty face to me." He said still not facing me.
This time I fell silent. This was really splitting me apart. Li Mei is the love of my life. Sub-Zero is one of my closest friends. This isn't going to be easy, I'm going to forced to make a decision. Damn, this is not fair.
"You've put me in a really tough spot here…"
"How so, Kenshi?"
"You're making me choose between my best friend and the woman I love."
"Kenshi…don't. Okay? Don't make me the bad guy here."
"I'm not. I'm just saying that you've pushed me into a corner."
"Look, I…You say you can't help it that Li Mei doesn't look at me that way. Well I can't help it that I do."
"Fair enough…"
"Listen, please don't hate me."
"I don't hate you."
"Don't be so despondent."
"Can't help it…"
"Kenshi…Let's just forget about this for now…I'm going to go back to the camp. Are you going to be joining me?"
"Uh…yeah, I guess."
Maintaining some distance between us, we journeyed back to the campsite. The whole time I was plagued with having to choose one of them over the other. Being snapped out of my thoughts when Ermac asked why I seemed so distant. I shrugged him off, saying it was nothing. He must've been concerned because I heard him asking Sub-Zero what was wrong with me. Of course he remained silent as well.
Liu Kang eventually approached me, but thankfully didn't pry. He only came to inform me that I should pack up and prepare myself for the trip to the nexus. So I did just that. Anything that could distract me even slightly was on my agenda. As we began moving, Ermac attempted to talk to me again.
"Are you in better spirits to tell us now what happened?"
"The second you genuinely care rather than be nosy is when I'll tell you."
"Well, give us a hint!"
"Why do you have to know everything?"
"From our time spent as Shao Kahn's enforcer with Mileena and our time spent as a force of good with the Princess, we require a specific quota of information regarding other people's personal lives."
"Ugh…I wonder why we're friends sometimes."
"It has something to do with Li Mei doesn't it…?" Ermac asked exasperated.
"It always does…"
"Why must your life revolve around her? And please for the sake of the Elder Gods, don't say that because she is your life."
"It's just a very complicated situation."
"We wonder how much further we must walk…" Ermac changed the subject.
"Did you even hear what I said?" My tone became annoyed.
"Kenshi, the world doesn't revolve around your love life. Please, get over yourself." Ermac said matter-of-factly
"Hmph."
"Ah, the return of your mature and well thought out retorts." Ermac feigned happiness.
"I'm just going to stop talking to you."
I walked ahead off Ermac, and either he didn't want to bug me any further or didn't have the strength to, regardless I was left to my thoughts. And once I was, I began wishing for a distraction. When all you can think off is either losing the person you love or alienate your best friend, you really feel conflicted. And if dealing with someone pestering me is the price of distraction, so be it.
"Hey Kenshi." Li Mei suddenly began speaking to me.
Well this wasn't what I wanted. She'll just remind me of my inner conflict. Ugh, just be cool Kenshi. Don't mess up.
"Huh? Oh, hi."
"Are you okay? Since you and Sub-Zero came back from the forest, you two have been really quiet."
"Nah, it's nothing you need to be concerned about."
"Be that as it may, I don't want you to be all sad."
"That's sweet."
"Well I was feeling sad earlier today and you cheered me up so it's only fair if I do the same when you're down."
I faintly smiled. If only I could be honest about my feelings. I just want to tell her everything, but after this whole Onaga business, I just associate that evil smirk she sent my way as she walked over to Onaga…
-flashback-
Me and the other warriors fighting for the Forces of Light fought viciously against Onaga's henchmen. The Tarkatans, his mummified army, even those warriors who perished against the Deadly Alliance. As I drove my katana deep into the body of a mummified soldier I tried sensing Li Mei. Sure she ripped my heart out and roasted it on a spit a few moments back, but I'm still entitled to be concerned about her.
My focus was broken by a soldier who almost decapitated me .I successfully dodged and slashed his back with my sword and effectively pushed him away via telekinesis. While a Tarkatan lunged at me from behind and slashed me on my back, I fell to the ground in pain, but the Tarkatan was lifted into the air and violently smashed onto the floor, losing his head. Ermac came and helped me up.
Ermac and I fought as a team from that point, we slashed, killed and incapacitated various opposing forces as we moved around through the battlefield. I requested Ermac to not levitate into the air and land on his back to create a slight tremor as it would've hindered my own progress whilst fighting. We both began force-pushing our adversaries away, and sometimes telekinetically slammed them against the ground hard enough to kill them.
Eventually Ermac and I got closer to our other allies. And I still couldn't sense Li Mei. I asked Ermac and he said he remembered seeing her somewhere a while back but couldn't remember more than that. Which was not helpful at all. But suddenly I noticed how close all of us were to Onaga, and that's I when saw her. She was walking towards him. She was going to fight him…
"LI MEI DON'T!" I shouted at her, while avoiding a blow from a soldier.
And that's when she shot me the look. It was a smirk, no it was something much crueler than that. It was the ultimate facial expression of hate. I felt like such an idiot. She wasn't going to fight him, she was going to join him. Her face remained in that smirk. Her sudden treachery was enough of a distraction for Onaga to fuse together the Kamidogu. As he finished, a deafening roar was heard and a powerful vicious blast followed.
All of us were propelled into the air and landed a great distance from our original locations. Our landing was hard and painful, I could swear that I've broken a rib. But worse than that I think, is the present condition of my heart…
-flashback over-
The fact that I remember it with such detail is almost frightening. In fact thinking it over like this is only further increasing my fear of telling her.
"Kenshi? Are you there?" Li Mei responded bringing me back to the real world.
"Uh, yeah. Just thinking."
"About what?"
"I don't want you to get upset…"
"Why? What were you thinking about?"
I deeply inhaled. "The day you betrayed us."
"Oh." Was all she managed to say.
"See, I said I didn't want you to get sad."
"Well, I'll always get depressed whenever people bring it up. But I just have to keep reminding myself that it wasn't me. So I should blame myself less."
"You've really lightened up."
"I needed to sulk, to get it out of my system."
"Hmm, maybe I need to do that too."
"Sooo, why were you thinking about that day?"
"It's complicated…"
"Why can't you tell me?"
"It's…."
"Got something to do with 'us' doesn't it."
"Why do people just assume that?!" I said out of shock.
"Well does it?"
"…Yeah…"
"Then I guess I'll never know."
"What does that mean?"
"You aren't exactly the type of person who opens up easily."
"So?"
"So, it means that anything related to 'us' is disclosed to nobody."
"Do you have to make it so hard?"
"I'm getting irritated will you two morons just shut up already!" Nightwolf hollered.
"I swear that's all he ever does. Tell us to shut up." Li Mei softly added.
I faintly smiled at her remark and she patted my shoulder.
"Oh, you two sweethearts." I heard Kitana say in the background.
"Kitana, drop it." Liu Kang could be heard replying.
(Nightwolf's POV)
The day I depart from these people will perhaps be the greatest day of my life. I can't begin to describe my hatred for them. And more so at Darrius for not being smart enough to arrange some other kind of transportation to the NetherRealm. I mean all these people do is talk about Li Mei and Kenshi. I don't care if I'm difficult, they are just stupidly nosy.
And now Sub-Zero and Kenshi are all broody, and everyone must shout to the heavens 'WHY?' out of sheer stupidity. I could hear Li Mei and Kenshi's predictable, typical yawnfest of a conversation right now. No doubt it had something to with their romantic past. If there are idiots here, those two take the cake. I mean they can tell everyone other than each other that they love the other…Ugh stupidly retarded.
But I will not let these moronic thoughts prevent us from reaching our destination in time. Now what had Darrius said? Ah yes. I must take the portal to the NetherRealm, while they enter Outworld. Hopefully we'll have a means of communication so that if they mess up, I'll know. And I'll be able to get such joy out of it…I suddenly remember that Liu Kang has to teach Ermac that teleportation manoeuver. Of course you can't leave these people to do anything on their own.
"Liu Kang! When will you finally teach Ermac that technique?"
"I have already begun. I had forgotten to tell you." Liu Kang responded.
I have a very strong feeling that Liu Kang is lying about teaching Ermac. And only saying he has so that I wouldn't lambast him. Oh these idiots. I told them all that we would begin moving faster, and by that I meant running. I forced them all to begin running and once I finally gave in to their requests for a breather they all collapsed save for Liu Kang.
"Finally!" Johnny sighed with relief.
"I have to start training again." Jax groaned.
"I'll join you on that." Sonya replied.
The rest of them just kept going 'ahhh' or 'uhgr' so basically groaning. I didn't understand why these supposedly well-trained warriors couldn't run a few miles without getting tired. I honestly didn't have patience for this. I told them to get up and just walk fast rather than run. Which was more kindness than was needed. They all complained, of course but I scolded them for not being able to run a little and planning to take on Onaga. Honestly, these people have no idea how hard it is to deal with themselves.
-W571-
Through some divine intervention, we finally managed to reach the portal. I was inwardly grinning. And just for the hell of it, outwardly too. Of course the rest of them (save for Liu Kang again) fell down exhausted not wanting to get up. I smacked my forehead and began another verbal assault. But Liu Kang advised me to calm down. Then an idea formed in my head. These nosy twits would love it if two or more people in this group would be fighting…So let's give it to them.
"HOW DARE YOU TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!" I angrily stated
"There's no reason to be so worked up. Give them 5 or so minutes then at least they'll have some strength." Liu Kang calmly replied
"5 minutes?!" Ermac expressed disbelief. "By the Elder Gods!" And he seemingly lost consciousness.
"Oh just get up! Rest in Outworld!"
"Outworld?! I'm not going there." Kenshi piped up.
"And why is that mister diva?" I feigned care.
"Last time I went there I was almost slashed open." He finished.
"Oh, well. Good for you. Now everyone get up!"
They all made moaning and groaning noises in protest.
"Once we enter the nexus, I will go to the NetherRealm so we will all be rid of each other."
And it was quite infuriating when they all got up and ran through the portal.
(Li Mei's POV)
Once Nightwolf said that after we enter the nexus we'll part ways, we all willed ourselves forward to move on, just to be rid of his presence. His annoyance was quite apparent and the rest of us found it quite amusing. As we entered the portal one by one we entered the nexus. It was an open space with a few pillars, six portals and a stand of some sort in the middle.
Nightwolf said Outworld was the purple one and entered the red portal. He dematerialized and must have been transported to the NetherRealm. We all decided to take a short break and regain some lost strength. I decided to take this opportunity to ask Ermac why Kenshi is so crestfallen.
"He has yet to tell us."
"All he told me was that it had something to do with me and him."
"Well even we figured out that much."
"But still. I'm concerned about him."
"Of course you are." I was so sure he was smirking underneath his mask.
"Stop that!"
"What? We are just innocently stating that you are concerned."
"I'm still in love with him, and that is why I'm concerned for his well being."
"Oh, fantastic. In our opinion. You should go and tell him that yourself." Ermac began pushing me in his direction.
"Don't you dare!"
"We are very capable. Remember that the Princess is our mentor in such acts of cruelty."
"Liu Kang shouldn't we leave!?" I panicked.
"I suppose. Come on everyone we'll rest at our next campsite." Liu Kang said.
-W571-
Before we had entered the portal we were all very concerned about where we'd land. Of course once we did land, it was in a safe enough location. It felt nice to be home, but it also felt wrong. I noticed how hideous it had become, well more so than usual. All of the plant life was either dead or dying. The ground was bumpy and rugged, and there was an unusual stench in the air.
There were so many memories associated here. But I'll try to think of the good ones. Me and Kenshi first met in the Vingli Forest. My mother would take me to pick flowers with her when I was younger. I would aimlessly walk around the forests for fun…Then the bloody Deadly Alliance had to come and- Happy thoughts, happy thoughts.
With all this playing in my head, and the immense pain developing in my feet because of the rugged ground and my exhaustion. I felt like collapsing and sleeping my head off. But finding a nice discreet and hidden location was nearly impossible to find. Sub-Zero joined me and we began talking.
"As painful as this is, at least Nightwolf isn't here." Sub-Zero began.
"I know, it would just be like having your soul ripped from your body. And trust me, I know how that feels."
"What exactly were you doing before all this?"
"It's a long, dreary story."
"And you just don't want to have to tell it."
"It's a painful memory. I don't want to poke it."
"Then I won't make you. Anyway, what are we exactly going to do now?"
"Probably wait till Darrius shows up, as usual."
"Yeah, probably."
"Do you still hate me?"
"I never hated you. I just disliked you for…your not so nice way of dealing with me."
"So does this mean we're okay now?"
"Of course, I mean…you are a great friend."
"And you're even better."
"Oh stop, you'll make my pale skin look normal."
"What?"
"You'll make me blush." Sub-Zero explained a little annoyed.
"Um, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why are you and Kenshi so silent, since you came back from the forest?"
"That? Oh it's nothing."
"It has to be something. I mean neither of you are telling me what happened."
"Because it doesn't matter…"
"How can it no-" I was interrupted by Liu Kang.
"Everyone, let's just camp here, for tonight. Let's quickly set up our tents and go sleep." Liu Kang instructed.
"Oh, I'm so tired, I'll go sleep." Sub-Zero yawned.
I felt pretty exhausted too, so I thought I'd set up my tent quickly as possible and sleep like there's no tomorrow. Once my tent was done, everyone else had already gone to sleep. I really did not have a knack for setting up tents. When I was sure the tent wouldn't fall down, I heard someone.
"Li Mei? Can we talk?" It was Kenshi.
"Can it wait till morning?" I yawned.
"No, it can't. I'm not even sure when we'll get such privacy again."
"Alright, what is it?" I went and stood next to him.
"Well it's not going to be very easy to say."
And suddenly my heart began racing, he was going to say it! He was going to tell me he loves me !
He inhaled deeply. "I'm in a tough spot right now."
"What do you mean."
"I mean, I'm in the horrible position of either choosing to rekindle our romance or maintain my friendship with Sub-Zero."
"What? I don't understand."
"Li Mei, I-I love you. I really do. But, Sub-Zero does too. And if things didn't work out with us once, maybe they wouldn't the second time around."
"This is not how I expected to hear you say it…" My eyes became glassy.
"Neither did I. I'm sorry."
"Kenshi, I love you too, but how can you- How can you just throw away what he have?" I began choking on my tears.
"Li Mei, what we had was over the day you gave me that hateful look when you betrayed us."
"Is-is that why you don't want to get back together?"
"Surprisingly, no. I just don't want to be the wrong guy for you."
"And what Sub-Zero is?" I began crying.
"What you think this is easy for me?!"
"The fact that you've done it makes me think so." My crying became slightly louder
"Oh God, don't cry. Please." He grabbed my shoulders.
"Why shouldn't I? You said you love, just so that you could give me up."
I walked away from Kenshi, tears flowing freely on my face. I went into my tent and cried myself to sleep.
*Sniffle* *Sob* I hate me for that ending. *Sniffle* Sniffle* How could I? After all this build up Kenshi gives up? UGH! WHAT A JERK! I swear, making all of us fangirls depressed. God, I must update soon. Can't leave it here for too long.
On a brighter note a warm, loving and most appreciated thank you to en-lumine, Raphael's Sis1 and Nerdette92 for your motivating reviews. :)))))))))))))
And Nerdette92, your Oneshot has been posted, so I hope you like it. en-lumine your Oneshot is a work in progress, and Raphael's Sis1, you know what, you can have a Oneshot too! :D
I hope you people enjoyed this chapter. Personally, I felt it dragged (among other things) and please, don't hate me for the ending. I will right this wrong…as soon as I figure out how ;)
-Warbird571 signing out-