Chapter Thirty-Six: Brother's Keeper

In one of the many rooms that the Wushi Academy contained, Kuai-Liang sat on a small, blue mat with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. A few of the Shaolin Monks suggested that he meditate to relax himself. Being in the Lin Kuei for so long, the cryomancer always had his guard up, even though the monks have tried their best to assure Sub-zero that he was among friends. No one at the academy was out to get him. Kuai had helped Raiden and his warriors, so he was definitely a friend to the monks.

The cryomancer had no problem with the Shaolin either, but he has only been at the academy for a few days. Did the monks really expect him to open up to them so quickly? Tomas was his best friend and it had taken them a while to get along as good as they do now. Like brothers. Mostly.

Everyone was entitled to have secrets, Sub-zero knew that. But he felt that he could tell Smoke everything, no matter how embarrassing or terrible the subject may be. Kuai was not dumb. He knew that his friend has been keeping things from him. Even before they had left the Lin Kuei temple.

Sub-zero remembered one late night when he returned to the temple after completing a mission and he was heading back to his room to get some much needed sleep.

Flashback

"Another assassination completed. Well done, Tundra."

"Thank you, Grandmaster."

Tundra was kneeling before Oniro and after giving the old man a report on his mission, the Grandmaster praised him on a job well done and gave him permission to retire to his quarters. The cryomancer stood up and bowed to Oniro before leaving the throne room. Just as he stepped into the hallway, a hand clapped down on his shoulder. Kuai brought his fist up to the newcomer's face, but immediately stopped when he realized who it was. Such quick reflexes did not go unnoticed by the other man.

"You are getting better. Faster. That is good."

"Bi-han."

The elder cryomancer nodded and grabbed his brother's fist to lower it, seeing how Kuai was still tense about his sudden appearance.

"I heard what the Grandmaster said. I had no doubts about you completing your mission."

"Thank you, brother. That means a lot coming from you."

Being praised by Sub-zero was the highest of praises in the Lin Kuei. As a child, Tundra looked up to his older brother and aimed to be just like him. Bi-han's approval and compliments meant everything in the world to him. After all, he was the only blood relative Kuai had and if his family believes in him, then that was good enough for him.

"It means a lot to me that I have a brother like you."

Sub-zero gave Tundra a small smile, which was only reserved for the younger cryomancer and at times, Smoke and Cyrax. Not many people knew this side of Bi-han, but the ones who did were grateful to know that this seemingly intimidating murder machine was actually a decent person. Sub-zero moved some of his hair out of his face, which unlike his brother's, was curly and was about as long as Smoke's. He had planned on cutting sometime before, but soon decided to let it be. His hair could be one of the ways his comrades could identify him and his brother as much as they look alike. That and he was about an inch or two taller than Tundra.

"Let us go back to our room. You look exhausted."

Kuai nodded and they proceeded down the hall together. It was quiet due to everyone being asleep and the two brothers rather enjoyed the silence and solitude. They have not really had much time to spend together ever since they began doing missions and some of those missions would last for days at a time. And with Sub-zero being the Grandmaster's favorite warrior, that meant a lot more work for him. Moments like this where Kuai and Bi-han had nothing to do were moments they cherised because that meant more time for themselves.

As they walked, Sub-zero asked about things like what Cyrax has been inventing recently and what chaos Smoke has been spreading around the temple. He barely saw those two except for when they were with Tundra or if he had a mission with them. But really, Bi-han was just curious as to what was happening in his brother's life. What new skills Kuai had learned, what books he had been reading. Small talk. And that was one thing the elder cryomancer was not good at, but Tundra already knew his brother was very antisocial, as was he. Must have been a family trait with them being so "cold" as Tomas would say.

As they were approaching their room, Bi-han could see just how tired Kuai was. Once the door was opened, the younger cryomancer was bound to collapse on the bed and fall asleep. Thta thought actually made Sub-zero chuckle and Tundra looked curiously at his brother.

"What is so amusing?"

"It is nothing. Really."

After a second, Kuai shrugged and left the subject alone. Bi-han was about to say something else to his brother, but was cut off when they heard someone's voice. It was loud like that person had yelled. Out of habit, the cryomancers' hands started to emit mist, indicating that they were ready to use their powers in case of intruders. They stood where they were for a while to see if the voice would come up again. But the temple had gone silent once more.

"I must be so exhausted that I am hearing things."

Kuai grabbed his forehead and closed his eyes, silently hoping that he would be able to open them again instead of falling asleep in the hall.

"No. I heard it too, Kuai."

While Tundra was resting, Sub-zero went further down the hall. He walked past a couple of rooms before stopping to see if Tundra had followed, which he did not. The younger cryomancer was still standing where he was with his eyes still closed. Kuai really fell asleep. Bi-han shook his head and smirked.

"Such a baby."

Another shout caught the Sub-zero's attention. It was louder than before and that meant that it must be close. It even sounded like it was coming from the room just ahead. And the door was slightly ajar. Silently, Bi-han made his way to the door and opened it wider to take a peek inside. He frowned at the sight before him.

With a jolt, Tundra managed to pull himself out of the sweet abyss of sleep. It would not be a good if someone were to find him sleeping here. Shaking his head to clear his mind, Kuai looked around for his brother, but he instead laid his eyes on an open door ahead of him. That room belongs to...

Without hesitation, the cryomancer ran to the room and skidded to a halt at the doorframe. The room was dark, but Kuai could make out two figures on the floor. Seeing a shadow from the doorway, one of the figures jerked their head up.

"Close the door and turn on the light! Hurry!"

Tundra recognized his brother's voice and quickly did as he was told. He closed the door and locked it before flipping the light switch. When he did, Kuai could see Bi-han pinning someone to the ground. The silver-haired person beneath him was struggling to break free from the elder cryomancer's hold.

"Tomas?"

Indeed it was Tomas. He was fighting against Bi-han and even started to growl at the cryomancer. He was twisting and turning and throwing his head back like he was in pain, but he also had his eyes closed. He must be dreaming.

"Come on, Kuai! We have to wake him up before someone hears the commotion!"

Bi-han's voice snapped Kuai out of his thoughts and the younger cryomancer nodded. He rushed to Tomas' side and Sub-zero told him to grab Smoke's wrists while he held down his legs. Tundra obeyed and climbed on top of Smoke to hold his wrists.

"Tomas, it is okay! Wake up! Whatever you are seeing is not real!"

Tomas did not seem to be listening as he fought even more against the cryomancers. Kuai tightened his hold on his comrade and tried to talk to Smoke again.

"Stop, Tomas! Open your eyes!"

Unexpectedly, Tomas' eyes flew open, but what Kuai saw was not right. Smoke's eyes, they were...they were red. Blood red. Hesitantly, Tundra spoke again.

"Tomas?"

It was as though a switch had been flipped when Tomas heard his name and his eyes turned back to their normal gray. He closed his eyes again and collasped beneath Kuai and Bi-han. They were all panting heavily and the cryomancers slid off of Smoke when he suddenly stopped struggling. Tundra was on his hands and knees trying to calm himself and when he finally did, he turned his head to look at Smoke, who was staring at him with half-lidded eyes.

"Has...anyone ever told you...you have beautiful eyes?"

And with that, Smoke fell straight back to sleep.

End of Flashback

That was Tomas. Always trying to get out of a situation with humor. He was out like a light after that stupid statement, which was weird because usually it would take sometime for someone to fall back to asleep after having a nightmare. Especially one as bad as Smoke's must have been for him to be so violent. For that reason, Tundra and Sub-zero had confronted their friend to make him talk about his dream. It was no surprise when Tomas just smiled and constantly told them he was fine.

That incident happened about two weeks before Tomas and Kuai left the temple, but the cryomancer suspected that that night was not the only night that Smoke had trouble sleeping. The the morning on the day they left, Sub-zero knew why his comrade had come to the dojo the time he did. He could see how exhausted Tomas was, but he did not say anything. Kuai Liang wanted his friend to tell him himself. He just had to be patient.

But his patience was running really thin. If Smoke did not say something soon, Sub-zero was going to make him. Thinking about it now, the cryomancer wondered if Tomas had been sleeping well ever since he had been living in the city. He honestly hoped that Johnny Cage was being good company, even if was annoying and quite frankly, stupid.

Someone knocked on the door of Sub-zero's room and the cryomancer frowned wondering who is could be.

"Who is it?"

"Uh...it is Li Mei. And Master Bo Rai Cho is with me."

Kuai sighed. He had no problem with Li Mei, but if Bo Rai Cho hugged him one more time, he was not sure what he would do.

"You can come in."

The door opened and Li Mei stepped in followed by her master, who had his flask up ready to take a drink from it. How the man managed to fight with alcohol always in his system would remain a mystery to Sub-zero.

"Hello, Cryomancer. Ah, isn't this the best room for meditation?"

"Well, it was..."

Kuai mumbled that part to himself as he got up from the mat.

"So, what brings you two here?"

"We were wondering if you would like to take a walk with us around the academy. We thought the fresh air would do us all some good."

"You came here to just ask me that?"

Li Mei looked slightly offended by Sub-zero's tone when he asked that. The cryomancer noticed and sighed.

"What I mean is I do not feel that is your only reason for coming here. I did not mean to sound rude."

"She knows that."

Bo Rai Cho placed his hand on his student's back

"She just does not want to admit that she is worried about you. Isn't that right?"

The drunk laughed when he saw Li Mei's face become red like a tomato. The woman then growled before striking her master with an uppercut. The move was so sudden and unexpected that Kuai could not help but look surprised. He watched as Bo Rai Cho fell to the ground and held his jaw.

"Ow...why, Li Mei?"

"I apologize for hitting you, Master. But I do not regret the reason for it."

Li Mei folded her arms and turned her head away from her master with a scowl on her face. Sub-zero tried to stifle a laugh, but it was too much. He started to chuckle and that soon grew into a unstoppable laughter. Seeing the cryomancer laugh almost made Li Mei and Bo Rai Cho forget what they were fighting about. Once he had collected himself, Kuai looked up at his visitors, who had shocked expressions on their faces. Now it was Sub-zero's turn to be embarrassed.

"I...uh...I think I will take that walk with you."

The cryomancer tried to walk past his two comrades, but just as he stepped outside of his room, a projectile was thrown at him. A spear. Kuai quickly ducked under the weapon while the other two jumped back so they would not be caught by the flames that engulfed the spear. Looking up, Sub-zero did not have time to react before a hand appeared from the floor beneath him. It grabbed the cryomancer by his collar and dragged him into the the floor along with it, both disappearing with fire surrounding them. The very fires of Hell.