DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN MK.
Thus, days passed and I always woke in the mornings still curled up with Raiden. However, this morning, I was going to press my luck. I wanted something more than before. Slowly, I leaned up on my arm, then stole a kiss from him. He gladly returned it, his hand caressing my face. I then pulled away and got out of bed, starting my bath. Raiden's gaze never once left me. I knew he was still trying to figure out this huge change in me. Before I'd been taken, I'd have been putting serious moves on him, considering he was all ready in the bed. I mean, I'd done that several times... and he'd reversed the game on me and then just walked away.
Once my bath was full, I let it steam for a bit, gathering the clothes I would wear this day and placing them on the counter. I then stripped and stepped in, sitting down to enjoy it... then thought about it. I looked over to Raiden as he got out of bed. He seemed to know I was looking at him and turned his gaze to me, questioningly.
"Join me?" I asked softly. It took him a few minutes of debate, but he finally began to undress. The old me would have taken this moment to appreciate (if not comment on) his body. Now, however, I didn't want to look anywhere but into his eyes. Slowly, he joined me in the tub. With a smile, I moved to lean back against his chest, enjoying his arms around me yet again. Slowly, he relaxed, letting the heated water soothe his muscles.
I tilted my head up and stole a few soft, sweet kisses from him, treasuring each moment our lips touched. He seemed as content as I was, just holding me, kissing me softly. After a while of soaking (both in the water and in one another's attention), I grabbed a washcloth and the soap. With a small smile, I began to wash Raiden, starting with his chest. At first, he was surprised, then just let me, stealing kisses once in a while. He didn't even move away like he normally would have when my hands moved down below the belt, washing there. I was well aware of his hardening member, my hands stroking it softly as I scrubbed. However, I didn't keep my attention there. I pressed my body against his with a kiss, pulling him forward to lean on me as I scrubbed his back with his attention diverted.
After I was done with him, he took the washcloth, added more soap, and then washed my own body. Kisses were stolen as his hands roamed my flesh in its entirety. My body did get aroused, but not overly so... The whole experience was exhilerating. With our bodies fully washed, we did one another's hair, just glad to be near one another, our feather-light caresses not moving any closer to third base. I don't think either of us wanted them to, either.
This was definately something new to me. When we finally drained the tub and stepped out, I grabbed two towels from the cubboard, handing him one, myself wrapping up in the other. A few more loving kisses were shared as we dried off, then pulled away from one another to dress. No words were spoken as I took his offered hand and the two of us walked down to the dining hall. At the doorway to it, he stole a soft kiss, which I gladly returned.
"I must go," he said softly, leaning his forehead on mine. I nodded, stealing another kiss.
"The world awaits," I teased. He smiled, stole one last kiss, then teleported away. I shook my head after him and then got my breakfast, taking the open seat next to Honey. She grinned at me.
"I saw that," she teased. I just blushed. "I was right, wasn't I? You are falling for him?"
Slowly, I nodded. I'd dreamt last night of him, a dream that spelled it all out for me. If I could dream of him and it not be a sexual fantasy, I knew I was falling for him... and fast. Fortunately, not another word was said on the subject, the four of us (Liu, Kung, Honey, and myself) catching up with what everyone else was doing. Finally, when the meal was finished, the boys left to train leaving Honey and I alone. So, we returned to my chambers, the two of us relaxing on the over-sized sofa.
"So... do you love him?" she asked softly. I shook my head.
"Not fully, yet," I answered honestly. "But yes, a part of me does. To say otherwise is to fight a losing battle."
She nodded with a smile.
"Do you intend to tell him?" she asked. I nodded.
"But only when I truly mean it," I answered her.
Raiden returned later that evening, finding me with Honey, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao. The two boys were trying to teach us some self-defense, but always ended up laughing at us. Honey's hand-eye coordination really, really sucked. She'd mis-step and fall over. Me, I would laugh at her and mess up my own punches. It was, over all, just an entertaining afternoon. Raiden walked up to us when all four of us were laughing too hard. Honey and I couldn't get off the ground, tears rolling down our cheeks. Kung Lao was leaning against a tree, trying not to hit the ground, holding his sides. Liu Kang was bent over, his arms crossed over his stomach, his laughter making it hurt to breathe. Raiden just shook his head at us.
"What brought this on?" he asked. Honey and I just laughed harder.
"Those two will never last as fighters," Liu managed to get out through his laughter. Slowly, Honey and I's laughter lessened into pure giggles. We wiped our cheeks, only to giggle some more.
"Honey wiped out," Kung Lao finally expanded, making us laugh again.
"Again," I added with cheek. Honey just blushed and laughed. Raiden shook his head. Next thing I knew, I was thrown over his shoulder, getting hauled off to some strange new location, to a courtyard in the temple I'd never seen before. Only when my laughter had stopped did he put me down.
"Are you going to start laughing again?" he asked. Slowly, I shook my head, though an amused smile was still on my face. He smiled back. "Good. Take my arm."
I obeyed. Seconds later, I was no longer standing at the temple, but on the edge of a cliff. Out before us stretched the open ocean. My eyes widened as I drank it in. He smiled at me.
"Honey once told me that you've never truly seen the ocean," he said. I looked at him with a smile and gladly stepped up into his waiting embrace. Seconds later, we were back in our chambers. The sight blew my mind. Candles were everywhere, their light being the only thing you could see in the completely darkened rooms. Numerous vases lined the room, each with a different type of boquet (though I noted with great pleasure that none of them were roses). Scattered on the floor were white petals. The bathtub was full of steaming water, candles floating on it on things that looked like lilypads. Several petals were spread over the top of the water. Off to the side was a small table set for two, candles lighting it. The food on it waited to be eaten. However, my eyes were on the two bottles of wine. I looked at him, speechless. His smile warmed my heart.
"Wha-what brought this on?" I asked. He pulled me back into his arms.
"Do you not remember what today is?" he asked. I gave him a confused look and he kissed the back of my hand. "This is the anniversary of the day we married."
My eyes widened in surprise. It had been a year all ready?
"Wow..." I said, trying to absorb this. "Time flew... I had... completely forgotten!"
He just smiled at that, proud that he, at least, remembered. He pulled me into his arms, his smile softening, his eyes glowing with warmth.
"The rest of this day, I am yours and yours alone," he told me. I was deeply moved by this. Tears of my joy sprung to my eyes, but rather than let them fall, I kissed him instead, telling him what words could not express. He was all too happy to kiss me back, his arms wrapping around me.
"Come," he said softly. "Let's not waste Misa's efforts to make sure you at least eat once before your mind gets too distracted by this night."
I nodded and let him lead me there, sitting me down in my seat, himself taking the other. The meal was spent with stolen kisses and a few glasses of wine. I only stopped drinking when I felt light-headed, telling me I was nearly drunk. Raiden then took me to the bathroom and stripped me. In response, I stripped him as well, stealing a few kisses. We both sank into the water, both of us satisfied to rest in one another's arms. No words were said. None were needed, not for this. The caresses of one another's flesh were loving, tender... not leading anywhere, just touching. We only left the tub when the water began to get cold. From there, I took him to the bed and had him lay on his stomach. Neither of us were dressed which would help me a great deal.
I massaged his back and neck, working out as many kinks as possible while simply enjoying how his body relaxed under my skilled hands. I may never be a fighter, but this I was born to do. After a while, he reversed our roles, taking care of my own tensions. His hands worked his own magic on my muscles, soothing each one.
Then we just laid there together, content to be the center of one another's world. I fell asleep to the beating of his heart.
I woke the next morning, a smile of pleasure crossing my face as I recalled the events of last night. I tilted my head up and kissed Raiden. He smiled and pushed the hair back from my face.
"Are you content?" he asked softly. I smiled and stole another kiss.
"So much more than that," I answered him. I didn't want to get up. I didn't want to leave his embrace... but I knew he had duties to attend to, things he'd slacked on just to give me one night of his undivided attention. He seemed to be thinking along the same lines and kissed me softly. Then he rose, dressed, stole another loving kiss, and was gone. I just smiled, savoring the feel of his kiss, my fingers lightly touching my slightly swollen lips.
I couldn't argue with myself anymore. I had tried for weeks to find a different solution, a different idea... but none of them rang true.
I was hopelessly, wrecklessly, undeniably in love with Raiden.
But when would I tell him? He wouldn't be back now for quite some time... at least not until around late afternoon. I wanted the timing to be perfect for me to tell him this, as it was sure to give him great joy.
I was pulled out of my musings as Misa entered the room with a knowing smile.
"Did you enjoy your night?" she asked. I nodded, still on cloud nine due to my realization. "You look exceptionally happy. Did he finally cave?"
I shook my head, unable to get the smile off my face. She just giggled, seeming to understand.
"So... you finally love him," she stated. I nodded, though it hadn't been a question. She smiled at me, happy for me. "It will mean the world to him. When do you plan to tell him?"
I shrugged.
"At the opportune moment," I answered. "I want... I want it to mean as much to him as last night meant to me."
She smiled knowingly.
"I'm sure that moment will come, sooner than you think," she said, then helped me get focused again, handing me a dress. "It's a gift from Raiden. He dropped it off about five minutes ago."
I nodded and held it up. It was a sleeveless halter top, all white but lined in silver. There were separate pieces that were supposed to adorn my upper arms, hanging to the ground. It was a flowing garment, not frilly or seriously girly, but simple yet elegant. I gladly put it on, then let Misa put my hair up, curling the pieces that didn't go in the knot. I then put on make-up and put in a set of dangling earrings. Then, for the first time in my life, I willingly put on a pair of silver stilts. All together, it was an astonishing difference, making me appear like a very, desirable woman versus my usual garb that made me look unapproachable.
I smiled, then made my way down to the dining hall. Honey was the first to see me as I glided into the room. She was so shocked to see me in a dress that she dropped her fork. That, of course, got Liu Kang and Kung Lao to look over, only for both of them to do a double-take.
"Frost!" the three chorused.
"You look like a girl!" Honey said, stunned. I chuckled.
"That's what I am, last time I checked," I teased her. She just shook her head.
"Yeah, but today you actually look it!" she answered. "Where did this come from?"
"Raiden," I answered, taking my seat with my food. "Last night was glorious..."
"He finally caved?" the boys chorused. I laughed and shook my head.
"No," I answered. "Not hardly... but it was our anniversary."
Liu immediately looked guilty, only to grin when he realized Honey'd forgotten, too. She looked at me, astonished.
"A guy actually remembered an important day?" she asked. Liu was immediately offended, but then shrugged it off. I giggled and nodded.
"It was perfect, like a dance!" I answered her, that dreamy look coming back into my eyes. "Candlelight... dinner... wine... petals all over..."
I closed my eyes, remembering it all, my hand subconsciously going to touch my lips. They weren't swollen anymore, but I could still remember how each kiss had felt.
"It was beyond perfect," I told her, pushing aside my dreamy state-of-mind. She finally managed to shake off her surprise and grinned at me.
"Where is he now?" she asked. I shrugged.
"Doing everything he put off yesterday," I answered. "He set the whole thing up himself, minus the meal. That was Misa. He went out of his way to guarantee he would be mine and mine alone all night."
She got a soft, knowing smile.
"When are you gonna tell him?" she asked. I smiled warmly.
"At the first opportune moment," I answered. "I want it to mean as much to him as last night meant to me."
She nodded, understanding.
"What is she gonna tell him?" asked the boys, completely lost. We giggled.
"What else?" I asked them. "But that I love him?"
Both of them got surprised, then they both whooped and jeered, laughing at me. Apparently, they knew I'd fall sooner or later... and had placed bets on how long it would take. I just let them have their amusement. Nothing could ruin my mood this day.
"I see you finally took my advice and grew your hair out. It looked unsightly as short as you kept it."
Nothing except that. I lost my good mood and turned to Kenai with a less than friendly expression. I wasn't the only one.
"So nice of you to dress up for my visit," he said, his tone superior. I glared.
"Your disrespect is not welcome here," I told him coldly. "Leave."
He just shook his finger at me.
"Well now, you see, that's something I simply cannot do," he answered, his tone a sneer. "Or have you forgotten a line in the treaty?"
I frowned, my insides turning to ice. I had a terrible feeling about this... Sure enough, he pulled it out and read a specific line to me.
"In the event that the clan leaders are destroyed and only the heirs remain, both must return to run the clans... side-by-side."
I snatched it out of his hands.
"My father would never put something like that in the treaty!" I accused, reading it over. "You changed it somehow... and forged my signature."
"Prove it," he said, his eyes flashing. He knew he had me. I had no way to prove my theory! "Since you cannot, you will be coming with me, my wife."
Then, several things happened at once. He grabbed my arm tight enough to bruise. I cried out in pain. Liu Kang shot fire at him. Kenai dodged, releasing me... only to get frozen seconds later. I looked at the door in shock, stunned to see a member of the Lin Kuei standing there.
"Wha-what just happened?" I asked, trying to absorb this mess. The Lin Kuei gave me a bow.
"Forgive me, Lady Raiden," he said. "I was assigned by the grandmaster, Sub-Zero, to keep an eye on this man. Lord Raiden had expressed his ill wills to my master. In the interest of protecting you, I was to act only when needed."
"What did he mean by the clan leaders being... destroyed?" I asked slowly, dreading the answer. The Lin Kuei hung his head.
"This man, Kenai... he killed them all and burned the origional treaty, forging one of his own through sorcery," he answered. My entire being felt shattered, tears springing to my eyes. Some even fell down my face.
"Raiden!" I all but screamed, the agony in my voice. He appeared almost immediately, then saw the Lin Kuei and the frozen Kenai... and my distraught features. He quickly walked over and pulled me into his arms. "He killed them... he killed them all..."
I buried my face in his chest, soaking his robe. Raiden looked at the Lin Kuei.
"Destroy that," he said, gesturing to Kenai's frozen form. "You are relieved of your charge, though I request that you return to Sub-Zero with this message: the clans of Shushi-Warren and Glima-Sozen are in need of a leader. Tell them my wife sent him. They will fall into place among the Lin Kuei."
The ninja nodded and Raiden teleported us to our room. There, I barely noticed as he removed my stunning dress, then pulled me into his embrace on the bed. There, in his arms, I let my grief pour out on him.