Scorpion heard the sound of the glass crashing.
She woke up. What was that? She became strained. A robber? But that doesn't seem to be like a robber. The robber sneaks into the house. Not like breaking the window madly. Haruna thought as she took the baseball bat at the side of her bed. Haruna does not play baseball. Young at only 23, she lives alone in this house, and goes to a nurse school. She lost her parents when she was in high school. She tightly gripped the bat with her both hands and went down stairs. This work is not for the lady. She smiled bitterly. As she tiptoed toward the living room's half opened door, she gulped before looking into the room. She breathed quietly two, three times and quickly opened the door and placed the bat in front of her for defense.
No one was attacking her. She saw a figure lying on the floor. The glasses were all over the floor. She came closer. Luckily, she was wearing slippers so she didn't have to worry about the glasses for now. She looked at the figure. It was dark and she couldn't really see its face. But then, she found out that this was a man by checking its size. She also discovered that he was bleeding. A puddle of blood spread beneath his body. Haruna looked at the window. Then she frowned. That should hurt.
When her eyes became used to the dark, Haruna gasped…Hanzo…How long did she kneeled beside him? She didn't know. Then she came to herself. He's bleeding fast. She thought. Then she stood up and came back with a big cloth. She placed it flat above his head, and brought both of her hands under his armpits and dragged him until the cloth was beneath his body. Then she grabbed the corners of the cloth and dragged him along. She came to the stairs. Now here comes the hard part. She was already sweating. This time, she took him under his armpits and started to "climb" up the stairs.
She was panting when she safely made up. She couldn't move immediately right after the climbing. She looked in his face as she crouched down. Then she remembered something and started to check around his neck. It's really him…She stared at the shining platinum necklace. She also had the same necklace. He bought for her and himself to appeal their relationship. She got up and continued to drag him toward her bed.
She sighed when she placed him on her bed. Now comes the medical treatment. Then she went downstairs to look for the first-aid box.
She undressed his top gi. But she didn't unmask him. His muscular chest appeared in front of her. But there seemed to be bleeding inside his skin. She touched his skin where the bleeding was. She scowled when she found out that one bone was broken around his floating ribs. For the time being, she placed some ice on that part. She didn't forget that his back was bleeding. She gently turned him around in a way that one of his shoulders rolled under him. Her eyebrows cocked. Sharp glasses stabbed all over his back. This gonna take time…
His consciousness came back. He slightly opened his eyes. He saw somebody above him. The figure was moving. He suddenly remembered what happened. He sat up and at the same time, his arm sprang for the neck like a snake.
Haruna was surprised. Then the next moment, her lung screamed for oxygen.
"What ARE you doing to me!?" He gripped even harder.
"H…Hanzo…it's me…" Haruna managed to speak between her breaths.
"What do you mean? I don't even know you! And my name isn't Hanzo!" Scorpion realized that every part of his body pained, especially his chest and his back.
"I'm…Ha…ru…na…" She still tried to speak. He cocked his thin eyebrows. Then he looked down. He supposed that she was wrapping bandages on him. He let her go.
Haruna felt his tight grip release her neck. She breathed the air immediately. She choked as she covered her mouth with her hands. She saw blood on her hands. She looked at him with fear. What changed him? She looked at him in his white eyes.
Scorpion looked at her as she panted. He felt strange…he felt that he saw…her somewhere.
He saw fear in her eyes. He could still see the shape of his hand on her neck. He felt tired. He felt dizzy.
"You…you lost a lot amount of blood…" Haruna spoke with a husky voice. He didn't answer. He just looked into her eyes. She continued. "Your rib is also broken…" She looked at him with courage.
"You should rest…for awhile…" Her voice was barely audible.
"Where am I?" He finally spoke in a harsh tone. His voice…Haruna thought as she listened.
"You are in Tokyo…Rest well." Haruna hurried out and close the door.
She decided to sleep downstairs on the sofa. She looked at the mess. I'll vacuum it tomorrow, or today. It was already three o'clock in the morning. She rubbed her neck.
He doesn't know who I am? His eyes… What happened to him? Now he doesn't even love me anymore? She kept back her tears.
Scorpion sat on the bed in the dark. He didn't even move since the mysterious female went out of the room. What is this feeling? He thought irritably. He felt that he met that female, but can't remember. He tried to forget it but he couldn't shake it off of his mind…He lied down on the bed anyway. So he was kicked by that fake (?) Sub-Zero and he approached inside knocked out as he broke the window. Then he woke up and grabbed her neck as a greeting when she was nursing him. For the first time (in his life?), he felt sorry. He broke her window, grabbed her by the neck, she was nursing him, he was using her bed, what else? He choked her, and he scared her. But that woman…He tried to search for his past, but couldn't…
They looked at each other. Everybody had at least one bruise on his or her body.
"Except me!" Johnny bragged.
"Because you faced the amateur fighters." Sonya glared at him. "It would be more strange if you have bruises after fighting those two." Sonya spoke bitterly.
Liu, Kitana, Callipso and Sub-Zero listened the arguing between the two as the headed for the main room. They were all tired.
Rayden and Jax were already waiting for them.
"Where is Stryker?" Liu asked. Both of them looked down.
"He's killed." Jax spat out the words. Everybody froze.
"No…" Somebody muttered.
"From now on, we most fight for Stryker as well." Rayden tried to cheer up. Some people nodded. They sat down to a chair silently. The room's temperature suddenly seemed to grow cold.
"Who killed him? How did he die?" Kitana asked Jax.
"…He faced two, very skilled warriors. Not those thugs that we faced last time." He explained." I think he was attacked suddenly, with no warning. They didn't give him any time to recover. They finished him with a knife on his chest…" Jax finished. Everybody said nothing for a long time. Then Rayden hesitatingly started.
"…Well, how was yours?" He looked at Liu Kang first.
"We faced Sung-Hee-" Callipso looked at him.
"What did you say? Sung-Hee? He was there?!" She shouted.
"Yes. Now he's working for them." Liu told her. Callipso stared into the space.
"There was also a female warrior-"
"Her name is Wabiko." Kitana interrupted. Rayden looked at her forearm.
"Is it better?" He asked.
"Yes." Kitana smiled. Rayden looked at Sub-Zero.
"What about yours?" He asked
"We also fought two warriors…" He sighed. "There was…Scorpion." He said bitterly.
"We, Sub-Zero killed one." Callipso continued.
"And yours?" Rayden asked Sonya and Johnny.
"We fought this new specie of reptile, and two fighters." Johnny said.
"That's Reptile you're talking about." Liu said.
"Yeah. A reptile." Johnny didn't seem to understand Liu's word…
They appeared at the same time. They looked at each other surprisingly.
"Did Shinnok called you too?" Wabiko asked the others. They nodded. Reiko looked around.
"Where's Scorpion?" He asked. Silent.
"Xaria's also not here." Wabiko looked around. Reiko kicked Juba's head. And said.
"Wake up." Juba opened his eyes and slowly stood up.
"Maybee they arre dead." Reptile hissed. Wabiko looked satisfied. I really hope she's dead.
"Could be." Reiko agreed. "But if Scorpion is also dead, that means they are strong."
Quan Chi appeared.
"Master Shinnok wants to see you immediately." His white face looked at their face one by one.
"Well? Did you all succeed your missions?" Shinnok asked out loud. Nobody said anything.
"WELL?" He asked again.
"Where are Scorpion and Xaria?" Shinnok asked another question. Reiko stepped in.
"They might be destroyed." He said. Shinnok looked at him.
"Well, then did you kill your target?"
"Juba and I killed one of them."
"What about the other one?" Shinnok looked at him fully this time.
"We were about to…but your highness called us…" Reiko looked down.
"Then that's what happened to all of you?" Shinnok growled. Well, we can't do it just like THAT…every warrior thought the same thing.
Quan Chi stood behind him. Fool. He looked at him with disgust. They need time. He doesn't even realize that.
"Arrgghh. Get out of my sight! All of you! We will discuss it tomorrow!" Shinnok waved his hand. Ahhh, always tomorrow…Quan Chi looked at him coldly. Shinnok turned to Zafria, who sat on a chair holding her harp.
"YOU!" He yelled. Reiko turned around and stopped, as he was about to go out of the throne room. Zafria sat up, tensed.
"Yes…?" She asked fearfully. Then she felt a little better when she saw Reiko stood and watched about 10 meters away.
"You also get out and leave me alone. That's also to you!" He pointed to Quan Chi.
"Yes, my master." He bowed politely and went out. Zafria stood up.
"G-good night your highness." And she scurried away.
She sighed loudly.
"You okay?" Reiko peeked into her face. She nodded.
"He always behaves like that?" He asked as he put his arm around her.
"Sometimes." She said as they walked in the dark corridor.
"How was your mission? Were you okay? Are you injured? Are-"
"Hey, hey, calm down." Reiko smiled. "I'm alright. See? I'm here and I'm alive." Zafria leaned much closer to him.
"But please, whatever you do, be careful." She looked at him in the eyes.
"Don't worry. I won't do anything stupid." Reiko said. They reached his room.
When he closed the door, he turned to Zafria.
"Do you want to take the shower first?"
"I took it already." Reiko smiled and vanished into the bathroom. Zafria slowly sat on his bed. She looked at her fingers. She played music and sang all day. Her arms felt very languid and her voice was hoarse. She shacked her hands, and started to massage her hand with her other hand. She could hear Reiko taking a shower fiercely (?). She touched her lower part of her stomach and made a difficult face. He had planted his little seed in her womb. How can I tell him…she thought…that…that I'm pregnant? What if I tell him? How would he react? What if…what if he doesn't like it? She knew he loved her, but…he might not like the three weeks old baby in her stomach…She jumped up as Reiko came out. He looked at her surprised.
"Don't worry, it's me." Reiko laughed as he came closer. He wore a gown on top of his naked body. Zafria smiled. She stood up.
"Re…Reiko…I need to tell you something-" Again, she was interrupted by his kiss. She opened her eyes furiously. Damn it Reiko! She thought as she tried to speak.
"Dam iit Weiko!" She failed. Reiko ignored her as he held her closely in his chest. Then he brought his hands on her back and searched for the fastener of her dress, then zipped it down.
Zafria stopped moving. Reiko kissed her tenderly as he let the dress slip to the floor from her smooth, silky skin. Then he hugged her tightly. He slid his lips down to her neck. Zafria slipped her hands into the gown and took it off from his shoulders. She looked at his well-muscled chest.
"You have a big bruise on your chest." She spoke softly as she stroked that part. Reiko remembered that he received a powerful and painful dashing punch between the fight.
"It's nothing." He reassured her. Then he kissed her to make her forget about it and pushed her lightly down to the bed.
Reiko was on top of her kissing her almost everywhere (?). Zafria closed her eyes.
The Shirai Ryu ninja opened his eyes, or he woke up. I was sleeping? He was. He was in the bed curling the blanket around his body. And he was indeed in a comfort position. He never slept so deeply. He looked around as he lay. The room was clean, bright, and comfortable. There were make-up furniture, a cheap looking armchair and a work desk with a chair. Then he heard a small knock on the door. He said nothing and stared to the door, tensed. The door opened slowly. The "mysterious" young female came in with foods on a tray. She made a thin smile, a frightened smile.
"Did you rest well?" She asked as she looked into his eyes timidly. He looked away. What is this feeling?
"I brought some food if you are hungry…" Haruna placed the tray on the small round table next to the bed. Then she left the room without saying any word. Scorpion just stared at the closed door for a moment. Then he heard his stomach roar. He looked at the foods. There was bread, fruits like grapes, a cup of water, and a cup of miso soup (a typical Japanese soup). He first touched the cup of water. He brought it close to his nose. He smelled at it as he remembered the hard ninja training then he sniffed at the rim of the glass. There could be drugs or poison plastered on it. Nothing there…He pulled the yellow mask under his chin. He took a long drink. Then he took the bowl of miso soup in his hands. And he did the same investigation to it. Then he sipped the soup. He gave a sigh when he swallowed it. The soup is good. I remember this taste…he thought hard. He gave up and continued to eat.
She had a bowl, which was full of water on her head. She threw kicks and punches smoothly in the air. The water wiggled (?), but did not spill out. She continued. If somebody was here watching her few weeks ago, she would spill it, but now, she is used to it. Callipso got used to Sub-Zero who always stood around her like a shadow.
Sub-Zero was also in the same training room with Callipso. He was sitting on a single rope with his legs crossed. He closed his eyes. He enjoyed sensing the female's present. He felt so proud (?) being with her. He felt himself warm (unlike ice) every time he saw her. It was very difficult to explain this…
"Uff, I'm bored of this." Callipso said out loud as she carefully took the bowl off of her head. Sub-Zero opened his eyes.
"Hey, do you want to do some combat training?" She asked as she turned to him.
"Combat training…?" He asked still sitting on the rope.
"Yea. You know, just practice fighting." Callipso grinned.
"Okay…" Sub-Zero he stood up. Callipso stood few feet away from him. Then she bowed respectively. Sub-Zero bowed in a hurry.
"Here we go." Callipso said as she took a posture of defense. Sub-Zero did the same. Instead of making her face emotionless like in the battle, she grinned. Then she brought her leg up. Sub-Zero blocked it with his arms in an x-shape. She brought her leg back and this time; she brought her hand that formed a fist to his chest. With a great speed, he blocked it and threw a kick that came from her side. Callipso bent her arm to her side and dodged the kick.
Their attacks turned into a faster speed. Sub-Zero finally jumped and landed behind her. Callipso missed the kick when he jumped. Without turning, she crouched herself and did a low-spin kick. Sub-Zero tripped and fell to the ground. Callipso stepped back. Sub-Zero jumped up without using his hands. Then in nanoseconds, he stepped toward her. Callipso opened her eyes in surprise. He grabbed her upper right arm with his left hand, and then did the same thing with his right hand. Before Callipso used her legs to shove his hands off, he tripped her with his legs.
Callipso's back stunned. She couldn't move immediately. Sub-Zero was still holding her. They looked at each other. Callipso laughed out loud beginning with a sigh. Sub-Zero laughed quietly.
"You win. Again." She smiled. Before Sub-Zero answered, the training room's door opened. Johnny's head appeared. Then stared at the two figures in a strange form.
"O-Oops! So-Sorry!" With speed (?), he rushed out of the room, door shutting behind him.
They paused for a moment. Then laughed out loud.
"Oh, sorry." Sub-Zero realized that he was still holding her lightly so he let her go.
"It's all right." She came up in a sitting form. They became silent. All Sub-Zero could do was just look at her. She was smiling sweetly. He was already feeling that he was boiling inside him. His breath was slightly quicker but barely noticeable.
Callipso smiled as she looked into his cold eyes. His eyes reflected her clearly. He sat only a meter away from her. He watched her in his cold eyes. Callipso could see his shoulder rise and fall.
"Too much exercise?" She asked.
"…No." He said finally. Now is this the time…? He thought. To tell her…that- Suddenly, a mean alarm interrupted him. His hope faded. In front of him, Callipso stood up.
"Let's go." Callipso turned her head around.
Sub-Zero slowly stood up.
She woke up. She looked to her side. She was surprised that Reiko was still sleeping beside her. His arms around her to make her sleep close to him. He rested his head between her head and her shoulder. Zafria looked into his face. His eyes were closed peacefully sleeping soundly. It was a rare scene that she saw him sleeping (?). She watched him quietly then smiled. He is sweet. She suddenly thought. What would his baby look like? Then she turned her head straight. When should I tell him? She felt Reiko moved. She looked at him again. She found his eyes opened. His shining eyes looked into her dark eyes and smiled.
"Good morning." Reiko smiled. Zafria smiled back sweetly. Zafria stretched her neck and reached his face to kiss him lightly. He yawned luxuriously.
"Don't you have to go to the…" She asked him. He looked at her with no panic (?).
"Shinnok didn't call me yet."
"Oh…" Zafria smiled. So Reiko could stay a little longer now. Her face was filled with smile. They both looked at the ceiling. Feeling their presents in silent. Enjoying the only moment of which they could be together. They lay closely together, feeling the warmth of their body. Reiko brought his hand to hold her hand tightly. And his other arm coiled her thin body. Zafria felt his powerful arm wind up her body. She brought her other (getting complicated huh?) hand to lie lightly on his wide chest. Oh, how I love him…Zafria thought with a sigh. Then she realized that he was sleeping. I can wait to tell him about the baby. She decided. She didn't want to spoil this moment. Then she closed her eyes to copy the same thing what Reiko is doing.
"Master?" Quan Chi bowed deeply. Shinnok turned around.
"Did thought of any plan?" He asked. Quan Chi brought his face up.
"Well, yes." He told the fallen god.
"Ah…" Shinnok gestured with his hands. "Let me hear about it."
What an idiot. Can't he think by
himself? There's only one way…
"Just eliminate them." Quan Chi had a hard time hiding the irritating voice.
"But this time, unlike your idea, call them to one place. Kill them there. Our warriors can now help each other there. I suppose that there will be less possibilities of losing our fighters there." Quan Chi smiled slyly. Fool. Shinnok didn't even catch the sarcastic tone of Quan Chi's words.
"Aha…we have lost two warriors…Xaria and Scorpion…I can't believe we lost Scorpion." Shinnok said.
"He might be not dead." Quan Chi added an idea. Shinnok looked at his white face.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh master, it's just my trifling idea." Quan Chi said.
"You mean he could be alive?" Shinnok asked. Quan Chi acted as he was hesitating.
"Well…yes."
"Then why doesn't he want to come back?" Quan Chi didn't answer.
"A traitor." Shinnok decided. What a nitwit. He just believes everything I say. Quan Chi stood emotionlessly.
"But it's not still certain." Quan Chi decided to help (?) Scorpion.
"Then send two soldiers to the place where Scorpion was sent. Then they could report whatever they see." Shinnok concluded.
"At once." Quan Chi bowed and went away.
Shinnok pressed one button next to his chair.
Reiko and Zafria sprang up. Then heaved a sigh that it was only a bell ringing. Zafria's face changed into a disappointed look.
"The bell…" Zafria said as Reiko nodded. Reiko stood up from the bed.
"Shinnok wants me-and the other warriors." Reiko said as he dressed quickly. Zafria watched him as she sat on the bed as she covered her front with a blanket.
When he was done, he came toward her and brought his face close to her face.
"I'll be careful." He whispered and kissed her lightly on her lip then to her forehead.
When he was gone, Zafria smiled. Before she could say her usual words, he said it. She had to admit that she was very sluggish. Oh well, she stood up and picked up her dress where it was from yesterday night.
They all bowed in a kneeling position in front of Shinnok.
"You have another mission." Shinnok said proudly. The warriors looked up.
"You all go to this place. They will be there. Kill them there." Shinnok continued. Pathetic words…The warriors thought quietly.
"Now go." Shinnok gestured.
Quan Chi entered one room full of soldiers.
"You two!" He pointed two soldiers not faraway from him. They came to him immediately and bowed respectively.
"You have a mission-." When Quan Chi finished explaining the mission, the soldiers bowed and thanked (?) him. "Remember, kill him." He reminded the fighters.
When Quan Chi exited the room, he smiled evilly. Scorpion will be no match for them. That ruthless ninja will be no match for only two soldiers. Quan Chi knew that Scorpion would kill them immediately. This will proof that Scorpion is alive, and he will be a traitor by killing Shinnok's soldiers, Shinnok will finish him somehow. There will be no more of Scorpion. He met that female; he might remember his forgotten past. He will be no use to me anymore; instead he might come and kill me. Quan Chi smiled.
Callipso and Sub-Zero rushed into the room.