Disclaimer: I do not own Reikou, or any other Mortal Kombatants in this fic. I may kinda own his background story though, since the creators of this wonderfully violent game did NOT give me any background information, so I make it up

A note from Fenice E... Sorry about taking this long on this fic. "Life" came up and you know how it goes. So I still need a decent English-Japanese dictionary for my HD and free time. I also have major writer's blocks, so I'm trying to force myself to finish this. Sorry, sorry, sorry again!

... well.... Onward!

MKDA: The Allegiance

Chapter 5

---

Kung Lao and I talked for a while longer. It was something to do since Outworld was even more desolate than it had been when Shao Kahn reigned. I had no intention of releasing my Demons, as of yet, to anyone - they wouldn't have understood to begin with.

"So you supposedly died in the War of the Elder Gods?" he asked. Apparently Rayden mentioned something to Kang about that little war.

"I was young and a bit of a... you could say I wasn't one for onslaughts back then. I led the army to the area and stood by. When I saw that the Elder Gods had the advantage, I struck a small deal with the one who I was to do battle with, Fujin. The deal was that if he helped me fake my own death, he would never see me again. The deal was broken when Shinnok ordered me to enter the fourth tournament. Fujin had never forgotten, but at my hands, he was defeated." I gazed into the fire.

"And what happened after that?"

"Kang managed to kill Goro again and kick my ass," I replied bluntly. Scoffing, I looked at Kung Lao, the flames dancing on his young face. "Had I known that Quan Chi had managed to escape the Netherealm and join Shang Tsung, I could have prevented this."

"You're only human. You could have died."

"At least I would have gone in honor," I spat, looking away. I stood up. "Don't drop your guard, Lao." I replied softly and took my spot leaning on the pillar, watching the swirling crimson-violet sky. Eventually I sat down and got as comfortable as I could get to fall asleep.

-

Heels clicking on hard ground awakened me. I was stiff from leaning on the pillar, and perhaps a little over-tired from the lack of sleep lately. I opened an eye to see Kung Lao at the ready. At least he was better than Frost, I thought as I pulled myself up and stretched my aching muscles. An arm caught me by surprise, pulling me back against the pillar. A soothing voice whispered in my ear - femme fatale.

"What are you doing in my temple, morsel?" The figure turned to my side. A single, crimson eye stared at me from a pale face behind ebony hair. Why must they call me "morsel"?

"Nitara," I replied, pulling her arm away from my neck.

"You are not allowed in my family's temple, human." she growled and swiped at me. I blocked her arm and caught it, still holding the other one.

"Do you not recognize me?"

"I recognize you, all right... asshole." Nitara pulled out one of her hands and slapped me hard. I deserved that for what I did. "Reikou, why are you back? They're all out there looking for you... to kill you."

"I came back with an allegiance. An allegiance that will destroy Chi and Tsung forever."

"You're a traitor to your homelands, Reikou," she spat at me. I stared at her calmly and shook my head.

"These are not my homelands. I have sided with the ones that I was supposed to work for in the first place. Please, Nitara. You wish to get rid of the sorcerers as much as I. Join us. Gather Cyrax and join us for our war."

"War? I only want my crystal back. The one that you stole and placed in the lava pits. I then promised that idiot of a cyborg to fetch it for me in return for a trip back to Earth," she growled softly. I smirked.

"I can show you where it is... IF you and Cyrax join our war." I let go of her other arm. Although I expected her to slap me again, she didn't. Instead she folded her leathery wings back and held out her hand.

"I will join this battle," Nitara began," Only if you promise to help me afterwards."

I nodded solemnly and took her hand. "If we survive this onslaught, I'll let the Vampyre race return to their realm as well."

-

Two down...

-

"You did what?! That thing would lesser kill all of us, sucking out our blood than to join our fight!" Cage moaned as the others stared blankly at me. I don't know whether it was smugness or the fact that Nitara was one of the keys to getting rid of the duo that made me do what I did.

"You watch too many movies. And she is a perfect asset to our team. Not only can she assist in bringing down the sorcerers, but she also knows where one, if not, both of your missing allies are." I took a breath and shifted my weight. "In fact, I asked her to bring them to us."

Sonya glared at the figure in the corner. "She's untrustworthy. I can't believer you--"

"I did only what was meant to be done. She found me. Now are we going to set off or not? Because rest assured, I could stay here all day and wait for Chi and Tsung to find us and destroy us, or we could find your missing comrades and take those two kitai down once and for all." Slowly, heads nodded and waited for me to make my move. And so I did.

"Nitara, lead us to their comrades, if you would," I began, bowing curtly. She gazed at me and stood upright, stretching her wings then folding them back again.

"Only if one of your new friends becomes a meal," she replied shortly. I sighed, aggravated.

"I promise you'll get your meal."

Protests from the Earth's defenders.

"Don't forget of the other kitai I made mention back on Earth," I said. Rayden looked at me then.

"Anything else we should know about your so-called... 'kitai'?" he asked. I nodded in thought.

"Hai. His name is Mavado. He is sent by Tsung to kill Sonya, Kano and bring me back to them. But I won't allow it to happen. That's why Nitara, here, will have to wait for her meal to come to us." My, aren't I the logical one?

"If it's such a good idea, Reikou," Sonya began, "then why do I have a bad feeling about this?" I waved that question away.

"Relax," I drawled then looked at Nitara, "help me out here."

"Vampyres only feed about every two weeks on human blood. We can eat mortal foods, meat only, and drink for an animal if need be. Human blood just have more sustenance."

"And if worse comes to worse," I joked, "She can always take from Jax and have some to spare."

The big black man wasn't happy with that. I blinked and shook my head, walking off following Nitara. She laughed softly.

"Still don't trust you, eh, Rei?"

"Iie." I pondered. "But things will get better... their trust for me, I mean." Nitara looked back at the group slowly following us.

"That blonde seems the least trustworthy of you."

"Sonya?" I scoffed, "She's a stubborn, hardcore bitch. They all are, with the exception of Kung Lao who's treated me like a human since the beginning..." I gazed up at the dark sky once again. "Any word from Rain or any of Kitana's forces?"

"I've heard about Li Mei recently. It seems she met up with a blind swordsman, but I haven't figured out where he is yet. She's close though . Tell me something, though. Why team up with the ones who went against Shinnok?" she asked. I thought for a moment, looked back, and made eye contact with the Thunder God. "Reikou?"

"I'd rather not talk about it, now. Your lead. Why do you wish to help someone who took your crystal away and enslaved your race in the first place?"

"Because."

"... Because?" I asked, puzzled. Nitara glanced at me and nodded.

-

Soon after our trek through a small portion of the desolate wasteland, we came upon a small, run-down building. The warriors behind us stood confused.

"What is this?" I heard Frost ask.

"It's an old, run-down building in the middle of Outworld. How creepy," Cage replied. I sighed and turned to the others.

"Stay put, I'll return shortly. Nitara," I turned toward the Vampyre. "Lead the way." She complied, as did the others. And as we entered the building, I felt a slight ambiance that something was quite off.

-

"Brings back memories, doesn't it, Rei?" Nitara whispered as we stood in what was once a front room. The floor was caked in dust, the walls were faded; paint chipping and peeling, showing the board beneath. Where there was once what looked like furniture, there was only empty space. It felt only slightly familiar.

"She's here?"

"Yes." Nitara replied. "I can smell her blood." She raised her head high and closed her eyes. "She's close." I glanced at the floor.

"Looks like no one's been here since that night." I kneeled down and inspected the floor. Sure enough, faint footsteps that lead to the back of the building were found. No time to congratulate myself as we headed to the back and opened a broken door.

And I was met by a fist hitting me in the face.

I recoiled and held my nose, biting back curses. The person behind the fist came into view as a young woman, about 19, with ebony hair, dark green eyes and an outfit that revealed a bit too much in the torso area. She made a gasping sound and ran to my side.

"Goodness, I didn't mean to hit you that hard!" she cried out as she observed blood dripping from behind my cupped hands.

"Kisama..." I spat as I yanked the cloth from her hand before she offered it to me wiping the blood from my face. "That's no way to greet someone."

"I'm sorry! Christ, a girl can't defend herself these days?" Li Mei snapped and took another swing at me. I caught her fist with one bloody hand and sneered gingerly.

"Now, now, Li Mei," Nitara sighed, "Is that any way to treat your brother?"

Gasp. If I could remember anything about my childhood, I would vaguely remember her, but I don't.

Li glanced at me and then Nitara. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Take a look. I haven't been watching over your family for years unwillingly for nothing, you know."

What the fuck is Nitara saying? This had gotten completely...

"Excuse me, but don't we have more important matters than digging up thew past I can't remember? Like getting rid of Chi and Tsung, for instance? If you ladies don't mind, I'll take my hurt pride outside and do what I promised to do; lead the idiot Chosen Warriors to their doom." I retorted and started off, letting go of Li Mei.

"... Wait." She replied. I kept moving and she repeated herself, only louder. Again, I refused to stop and turn until she latched onto my arm. "... Oniisan..."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Li Mei. Get off of me."

"Matte ne, Oniisan... let me come with you. To help get rid of Shang Tsung would be a great honor. We could free my people..." she begged. I pulled away from her once again and started walking again to the front of the building. This time Nitara piped up.

"Reikou, we need Li Mei! She's a formidable fighter, if you could remember sparring with her after you were taken from Shinnok after he stole you from your birthmother!"

Me? Spar with this child? Just how old was I?

"Don't remember... don't care to. Let's just go, okay? I'm sick of this place and I want those two sorcerers dead." I tossed the bloody rag aside after I was sure my nose stopped bleeding and walked out the door, leaving Li Mei to stand in shock. "That was certainly a waste of my time," I mumbled and looked toward the Earth warriors.

"What was that about?" Kung Lao asked. I shook my head and looked past the warriors to the sky.

"We should get heading out. It's nearly high noon. The Heat and Light get dangerous this time of day."

"Why can't we take leave in there –"

"No!" I snapped, interrupting Sonya's question. "We leave now." I finished and began to walk away.

-

I was seriously beginning to doubt what I was fighting for and why I was with the Chosen.

-

Minutes before high noon, I found a cave beneath a Cliffside where we could rest for the time being. Li Mei and Nitara followed us for reasons of their own accord.

As I stood at the mouth of the cave, Rayden came up behind me.

"Li Mei is the only one of her people that wasn't enslaved. She's just a young woman, there's no telling why she still followed us, even though she knows the mission at hand is rough and she could be killed."

"She wants to follow Big Brother," Rayden replied lightly, slapping me on the back. I growled and rubbed where he hit.

"I don't see why people have to keep hurting me today... and why you know more about our apparent relationship than I do..." I folded my arms and leaned on the cave wall. From where the Light was positioned, I saw shadows being formed from the cliff above us. The melded together with the Heat waves on the ground. Inside the cave, we were all cool, thanks to the ice warriors.

"Shinnok brainwashed you... he made you forget the past."

"Don't speak "past" with me, all right?" I snapped. I was feeling tense because of the bad vibes I was getting from miles away. Even this far from the tower, the sensation was powerful.

Something told me that it would be the fight of our lives.

-

AN: I figured it's be a bit more interesting if Li Mei and Reikou were siblings... even if they were only siblings through "adoption". I'm pretty sure more of his past will be revealed later on in the story.

On a different note, I'm very dyslexic, it's sad. I tried to spell "revealed" as "releaved"... twice. So if I screw up on some words or something (something my spell-check misses), let me know.

Also, it's been a while since I've worked on this so I may be a little rusty. Bear with me, here.

Iie – No

Kisama – Damnit, Bastard

Matte ne – in my crappy Japanese, I assume it means "wait for me"