Chapter 8: Return
Kitana felt his lips brushing gently upon hers, as he probed into her warm mouth with his moist, soft tongue. She could feel a sense of joy growing in her once lonely soul, as she kissed back deeply and lovingly. Kitana felt his arms wrap around her cold, aching body, warming it up so much and making her feel safe and loved. It felt so comfortable within his welcoming arms and she felt incredibly contented at that moment.
When they finally parted, Kitana felt his lips placing gentle feather-like kisses on her neck, as she arched her head back, to expose more of her neck to him. As he gently licked and nibbled at her neck, a small moan escaped from Kitana's mouth when she felt his gentle, wet, and hot kisses trail down from her ear to her collarbone.
As he continued to place kisses her neck, Kitana reached out to run her fingers through his soft, touchable hair, while rubbing the back of his neck. Soon she felt his hand softly cup her breast before a thumb flicked across her left nipple through her shirt, as he gently fondled her breasts. Kitana could feel an intense pleasure rising from within her and she could feel her nipples hardening under his soothing touch and driving her mad with desire.
Reaching out and pulling his head back up, Kitana's lips crashed down upon his once more. As their lips and tongues played with one another in a gentle game of tag, Kitana couldn't help but feel her body become alive as she savored the taste and feel of his lips on hers. Love seemed to swell deeply in Kitana's heart, as she kissed with unbridled passion while pulling him closer to her. It was then the would be lovers each moaned the others name in blissful unison.
"Kitana!"
"Kuai!"
At that moment, two sets of eyes snapped open from their slumber, as each blue-clad ninja stared with shock and awe at the other. Both of them unable to speak due to the fact of their tongues being in the others mouth at that time.
Until a scream was heard from miles away. . . .
After a moment, Kitana broke their embrace and frantically scrambled out of the tent. Kuai Liang quickly sat up, as both he and Kitana stared silently at one another in astonishment. Each of them was unable to say a word as Kitana turned on her heels and ran out of the encampment.
"Kitana wait, I'm . . . . . . . sorry!" Kuai Liang finally over his shock attempted to say to the fleeing kunoichi. The last part of his apology seemingly dying on the wind, as Kitana was gone before he could finish his plea.
'By the Elder Gods, why did that happen? Now she would see me in a different light, a freak rather!', Kuai Liang ranted mentally as he wanted to knock himself out unconcious and hoping this was a dream, unfortunately for the Cryomancer, it was not.
Stressly holding his head with both hands, Kuai Liang's head hung low in both anger and despair. The anger he felt was at himself for letting his 'lighter' side get the best of him. And the despair that he had inadvertently hurt her and perhaps had forever ruined their friendship, something that he had valued ever since the beginning. Silently, the former Lin Kuei berated himself for what had happened.
'Kuai, you bastard! What's the matter with you? How could you have done that...and to Kitana? And more importantly,why did I do that? Wasn't I dreaming? I thought I was? Am I starting to develop that feeling for Kitana? I couldn't even find it, maybe I'll never will. I don't know, but it doesn't matter. Judging by the look I saw on her face, she most certainly doesn't have any for me. I need to find and apologize to her for this. I just hope she doesn't take the wrong idea firsthand...
Kuai Liang then threw on his blue vest and went searching for his kunoichi comrade.
Meanwhile, in a long distance away, Kitana had finally stopped running and sat down on an old log by a lake. As she attempted to catch her breath, a myriad of thoughts similar to her fellow blue ninja raced through her mind.
'What in the curses of Argus has gotten into you Kitana? Oh by the Elder Gods, what have I done? How could you have done that to Kuai Liang of all people? I thought I was just having a dream. I can't believe this happened. Am I starting to have that feeling for him? I... think I might be, but judging by the look I saw on his face, I doubt he has any for me... But still... the feeling of his arms around me and that kiss . . . . . . . it was sweet.'
It was then the scent of Kitana's arousal wafted up to her nose and caused the former Princess to blush furiously before calming to herself. Seeing a lake nearby, Kitana had a conclusion within her mind,
"I need to cool off."
Quickly stripping off her clothes, Kitana plunged into the cool refreshing waters of the lake. Taking a deep breath, Kurenai dove deep under the water to try and lower her body temperature as well as wash away the smell of her excitement. And as luck would have it, few seconds later, Kuai Liang emerged from the forest by the lake and looked around.
"I don't understand, her trail led to here, but I don't see Kitana anywhere..." Kuai Liang said to himself, as he made his way to the edge of the lake and he was not prepared of the sight that fell onto him.
It was then, at that very moment Kitana came bursting forth out of the water, her long dark hair hanging down in front of her face, as she walked towards the shore. A quick flip of her head sent the locks obscuring her face cascading behind her in a spray of water before she stopped walking and suddenly found herself standing face to face in front of a very stunned Kuai Liang only a few feet away.
Kitana was standing before Kuai Liang in the water and he gazed at her beautiful face with her hazel eyes. Kitana's long dark hair, which was still wet, framed her gorgeous face like a dark silk curtain. The sensual curve and beauty of her neck and chest and her full breasts that were firm and thrust out proudly before him with her profound dark nipples and areoles still dripping with water nearly took Kuai Liang's breath away. The Cryomancer also took note of Kitana's slender arms and of her lean flat stomach before his eyes fell upon her slim feminine hips and then to the patch of dark hair between her thighs encased within her long supple legs. Never in Kuai Liang's life had he beheld the sight of a more beautiful goddess before him than he did at that moment, before his widened in realization, and...
He ran away, ashamed of what he had become with a blush on his face while giving self-loathing insults to himself, from pervert to a dishonorable bastard.
Forgetting her predicament, Kitana stood on the water when she saw Kuai Liang running away from her in embarassment. Sighing, she continued her bath as she thought.
'I can't believe he saw me like this, I'm naturally embarrassed. When l come back, I have to ask him of his intentions but I can tell they were not off any malicious intent But still, the fact that he ran away from me upon seeing me like this, I don't know why, but I find that kind of . . . . . sweet, knowing he had manners.'
Hours Later
Kitana and Kuai Liang walked in silence in a paved path. It had been a few hours since the. . . . incidents earlier in the morning and neither of the two spoke a word since packing up their belongings. As they walk towards towards the Sky Temple and to give the dagger as promised, Kitana decided to break the silence between the two of them otherwise this may turn permanent.
"So Kuai . . . . ., are we almost there?" Kitana asked, deciding to set aside her own embarassment. The Cryomancer slowly turned his attention to her, his expression being void of emotion in an attempt to forget what has happened before.
"We'll continue walking north, and either tonight or tomorrow morning, we can reach the Sky Temple by that time as long as we continue our trek", Kuai Liang said as he pulled out his water jug and took a sip on it, then passing it to Kitana, not before cooling it down for her. "I just want to apologize what happened earlier, I was not being careful of my surroundings.", Kuai Liang inquired, but not before berating himself mentally. 'Great, you just had to keep your mouth shut, Kuai'
Kitana turned to him, and replied. "It's quite alright, Kuai. I didn't really know what were my surroundings were, so I could clearly see that was an accident and so did you, we are both at fault here", she said, recognizing they both commit mistakes that neither person wanted though she blushed at the memory.
Kuai Liang sighed in relief, thanking the Elder Gods for getting over it quickly, "I guess so. By the incidents that had happened recently, I could perhaps say that I broke my principles as Lin Kuei", he said with humor.
Kitana remarked, "If there's anything, you are not Lin Kuei, technically though what happened could also be called disgraceful to a Princess, but I'm not one either."
"So, we're okay now?", he asked.
"We are, Kuai. Let's agree to be more careful next time and to never talk about what has happened this morning", Kitana said with a smile with Kuai Liang returning with his own with a nod. As they continued their trek, Kitana felt a familiar feeling as they keep moving forward, and she stopped while raising her hand in front of Kuai, indicating him to stop.
"Is something wrong, Kitana?", Kuai Liang inquired as she felt tense of the area surrounding them.
"You may think that I'm insane, but I have the feeling we're being watched", Kitana remarked as she held her folded tessen, ready to use in case of any attack.
"I agree with you", Kuai Liang replied with caution, as a ice particles formed on his hands. "I too had that feeling. Stay sharp"
Kitana nodded, and she and Kuai Liang walked with weapons in hand and in caution. As they did, Kuai Liang sensed someone was targetting them as his caution increased, and he was quick enough to grip Kitana's back and shouted, "Get down!"
Moments later, a rain of sparks went upon them and the two laid against their chest to avoid the pending crossfire. Going to the defensive, Kuai Liang quickly formed an dome that covered all directions and Kitana gritted their teeth in anger.
"Those sparks", the former Princess seethed, "Only Tarkatans are capable of creating those projectiles", she recounted, remembering them as part of Shao Kahn's army and his favorite troops.
"It would only mean Outworld is on our heels", Kuai Liang commented as he knew this was bound to happen, if he hadn't killed Kano back at Linxia when he had the chance. By the looks of it, it seemed that they have both the Cyber Lin Kuei and Outworld to worry about and it made him worry about the woman beside him even more.
"We have to make a move. The ice walls will not last long with the sparks continuing to assault our positions", Kuai Liang inquired as Kitana held her temples to try and find a valuable solution. They could not attack head-on with the crossfire ongoing and if they wait instead, the sparks would go through at the ice dome with them until something went up through her mind. "I have an idea"
As the Tarkatans continued their assault, Kitana began to twirl gracefully as Kuai Liang launched an ice beam towards her, making it part of her small tornado that was slowly forming within. As the wall began to disintegrate, Kuai Liang jerked both arms to destroy the wall from the inside, catching the Tarkatans off guard and they witnessed Kitana forming an icy tornado with her fans and is still getting stronger. With no time to react, Kitana then blasted the Tarkatans with an intense icy gale towards them, freezing them in contact while some were stabbed with large icicles on their bodies.
Panting, Kitana went down to one knee as she struggled to breath with the amount of force she had committed on the tornado. Kuai Liang approached her and rubbed her back to help her rejuvinate her strenght, while being cautious of any possible survivors.
"Are you alright, Kitana?", Kuai Liang inquired as he knelt beside his companion and was relieved that her move didn't exhaust her that much nor caused any major alctercations within her system.
Giving him an assuring smile, she replied while clutching her chest. "I am, Kuai. I just needed a rest"
Kuai Liang smiled before looking over the frozen individuals, they were indeed Tarkatan, judging by the 6 inch teeth that they possesed and by the arm-blades they used to create the sparks. As Kuai Liang tended to Kitana's form, he felt a sharp kick landed on his ribs then his back before two blade sparks came upon him to which he countered with an ice ball, destroying the projectiles in mid-air.
As he regained his vision, along with Kitana, they saw two figures walking towards them, one is a Tarkatan but his uniform differed from the others as he wore a black and white gi and the other is a Lizard-like humanoid who wears a scaly white, green and black ninja-like suit, to which Kuai Liang recognized him from Outworld during his quest of vengeance for his brother.
"Baraka. Reptile", Kitana seethed as the two saw their forms with malice in their eyes.
"The Empress requests your presence, Kitana", Reptile inquired as the duo was surrounded by several Tarkatan warriors with Baraka at his side.
"Requested or demanded?", Kitana harshly replied as she pointed her tessens towards the two Outworld elites, taking note on how they were two of Shao Kahn's favorite henchmen. "Either way, I am not going back to Outworld!"
"You have no choice, Princess", Baraka replied with a hint of sarcasm on her former title after Shao Kahn had disowned her and even humilliated her by chaining her on the Kolisseum before he retracted his long wrist-blades.
"You will go back to Outworld to face the Empress on her command.", Baraka said before turning towards the Cryomancer. "You also had something the Empress requires. Return the Princess and the dagger, and we'll let you live"
Kuai Liang was angered at this, thinking what atrocities Mileena was capable off with the dagger and the possibility of turning Kitana's life into a living hell. After hearing what she went through and how she had been a victim for so long, Kuai Liang could not bear to see what lies before her, and he would fight for her and Earthrealm's safety.
"Not as long as I breate", Kuai Liang declared as ice began to form at his hand with Kitana unfolding her fans while he saw Reptile spitting acid on the ground and Baraka sharpening his blades. "You may have fangs but yet with no bite to prove otherwise"
Reptile sneered as he went to a fighting stance, "Then we'll have to break you and the Princess". Without another word, the Tarkatan warriors attacked as Kuai Liang and Kitana charged towards them.
AN:
Phew! That took long! Sorry if you find the first part of the chapter to be suggestive but I figured that some awkward moments would be great of the two people being closer together. So yeah, I'm planning now is of the dagger's curse and I'm planning Kuai to get possessed by it, no not really the jack-shit insane type of possesed but we'll see. Spectre, signing off!
