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Title of Chapter: Sub-Zero Is a Chemical I Do Not Mix With
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for Lucipher and Hadoken!
Warning: Not really a warning for this chapter.

Enjoy!

Next Day

I wandered out of my room, hunger forcing me to walk. My legs were still worn out from all of the running I had done the previous day, but hunger, hunger is a pain that I find far greater than aches in the calf area. The carpeted stairs softened the thud of my booted feet. I was too wrapped up in my thoughts about Sub-Zero's and Raiden's conversation to hear the footsteps coming up behind me. A voice startled me out of my reverie, and it said, "How much of that conversation did you really hear?"

My eyes shot up to find Sub-Zero's gaze planted firmly on my face. "Not very much," I replied with a shrug. I reached the next set of stairs (I was on the fourth floor) and kept going. "Just some stuff about Raiden telling you not to tell someone some weird secret," I responded. I directed my blue eyes back to the stairs. An icy hand made contact with my elbow and I was suddenly against the wall. Sub-Zero moved closer to me, until our faces were only a few centimeters apart. He still had his mask on, but I didn't really make a difference.

We stayed like this for a little while, just gazing into one another's eyes. My gaze was not particularly dazzling; it was just a very average type of look. Like one you'd gain from a passerby, but Sub-Zero's was very easy to get lost in; it was like drowning in a pool of beautiful blue water; there was no fear, even though there seemed to be a storm raging behind the calm waters. I had nothing to lose, nothing to gain, and nothing to reach for when looking deep into his eyes. All I had feared was that he would break the gaze and leave me hanging there with nothing but a simple memory.

And I was supposed to hate Sub-Zero, after what had been done.

The gap between us began to close, but suddenly Subs pulled back. I reached out and put my hand on his shoulder, coming in contact with the cold shoulder plate with the design of the dragon on it. Sub-Zero pulled back again and walked downstairs, leaving me there alone, staring after him. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and mind. "Ugh!" I exclaimed in frustration, hitting the wall. I thudded down the stairs, storming off towards the dining room. I bypassed Li Mei, fury pouring out like water from a jar.

Hadoken's head lifted up off of his paws, as wolves and dogs can sense anger, fear, happiness, and most other feelings as well. He followed after me, head at my heels, and tail flicking back and forth in an anxious sort of manner. I pushed open the doors to the dining room, while Li Mei followed us, saying, "What's gotten into you, Luci?" I ignored her questions, sending the already seated Sub-Zero my hardest glare. He returned the gesture, folding his arms across his chest.

Before I could reach the table my water sword formed in my hand, and Kenshi was quick to step in front of me. Hadoken snarled at my side, snapping his jaws at the blind swordsman. "Luci, calm down," Kenshi eased, pushing my sword down. I handed him the swords, holding out my hand afterward. The water drained from the middle of the sword and formed in my hand. I tossed it into the air and moved my hand down, shaping it into a bow. I pulled water from the jug on the table to form an arrow.

I drew back my hand, in turn drawing back the bow. The arrow was in place, and with a quick flick of my fingers, my palm was facing outward. The arrow shot forward but Sub-Zero's hand came up, and the arrow turned to ice. He caught it just before it hit the table. I snorted and drew the water bow towards myself, using both of my hands to shape it into the cobra. Many of the others in the room scattered out of the way as it slithered along the ground, hissing at everyone it passed.

Sub-Zero put out his hand and attempted to freeze the cobra, but I moved my hand out of the way and it escaped – narrowly. Before the fight could go on any longer, a spark of lightning flashed around the room. The light was extremely bright, so I covered my face. When the light dimmed, I uncovered my face and froze up. Standing in the midst of it all was Raiden. "What is it with you two, dancing around each other like a pair of hyena!" Raiden said in annoyance, looking at the both of us.

The Grandmaster and I traded glances, filled with anger. Raiden continued by saying, "I want this fighting to stop, now. Lucipher, until you can learn to control yourself, you'll eat with the wolf." I gave him a questioning look and he added, "Because of the way you act. You act like a savage wolf when in Sub-Zero's presence, so if you want to act like a wolf, then you can eat with the wolf. And for you, Sub-Zero, I know there are a lot of angry feelings between you and Lucipher, but I'd expect you, of all people, to be able to keep yourself under control."

"Yes, Raiden," Sub-Zero and I replied in unison. He folded his arms across his chest and dismissed me, so I turned towards the dining room doors and walked out, with Hadoken at my heels. I was furious, but it just all bubbled up and came out in frustrated tears. It was raining too hard to go outside, so I sighed in anger and walked back up to my room. I wasn't as hungry anymore, so I skipped breakfast. Hadoken looked up at me with eager eyes, so I let him run off to find his own food.

That Evening

The doorbell to the house rang loudly, causing me to start awake. I rubbed my eyes furiously, before standing up and stumbling out of the bed. I had spent most of the day sleeping, so I was groggy. I heard the door open and a familiar voice floated up the stairs. It sounded like a certain blonde friend of mine.

I headed downstairs, coming to stop on one of the last steps. I hid behind the wall and listened and watched the scene unfold before me. Sub-Zero was standing in the corner, looking at the pair at the door. He looked at me swiftly, before turning his attention back to the pair. Raiden was on one side of the room, looking at the pair as well. Sonya had answered the door, and Kenshi and Li Mei were sitting on the couch, as a dead silence filled the room.

Standing before us was none other than Luna and Scorpion. Something was so different about them both, they seemed intertwined. I know it's odd, but they just seemed closer than before. I realized that it had been them in the little hut back in the other village. Of course Luna would be the one to throw fire balls at Scorpion.

Raiden put on a hospitable face and said, "Ah, so I see you've come to visit." Luna nodded and eyed Sub-Zero, brow furrowing in anger. Scorpion rested his hand on her shoulder and she eased up considerably – it was obvious by the way she softened her expression. Something about the way they looked together made me jealous. At one time, I must admit, I almost believed that Sub-Zero and I would've ended up like that, but life is not a fairy tale, and I'm almost positive that true love does not exist.

"Sub-Zero," Luna finally said, nodding towards him. Subs only nodded back, folding his arms across his chest. His stance was wide, and his shoulders were square. I don't think he was all too pleased to see Scorps and Luna here, but oh well. I contemplated whether or not to walk out into the open and see my friend face to face. "So, I see Luci was smart enough to avoid you." I turned my blue eyes to Sub-Zero, who just stiffened slightly. "Where is she now, huh Sub-Zero? Did you go after her and kill her, or did you just give up on her?" Luna was getting a little aggravated.

I stepped out of my hiding place and watched Luna's expression change from anger to excitement. "Luci!" she exclaimed, running over to me. I didn't want to hug her, but she wrapped her arms tightly around me, so there was nothing I could do. "I thought I wasn't gonna get to see you again!" I shrugged and nodded, escaping her hug. A little louder, she said, "Now that I've found you, maybe I can ask you this question: Would you mind coming along with Scorpion and me? You won't have to deal with Sub-Zero over here anymore!"

I could almost feel Sub-Zero's gaze snap to me. Technically speaking, if I left, wouldn't that be considered abandoning my clan? And if you leave the Lin Kuei…there are harsh consequences to pay. On the other hand, getting away from Sub-Zero may very well be a good idea. "I don't know," I responded finally. She sighed and gave me the pouty lip, but I waved her actions off with my black gloved hand. "I'm going back upstairs."

My booted feet thumped against the carpeted stairs as I continued upward, and just as I reached the third floor, Sub-Zero appeared next to me. "You know full well what happens when you abandon the Lin Kuei," he warned, his tone cold.

"Yeah, and so do you," I shot back, walking forward. Sub-Zero stepped in my way, stance wide and shoulders squared yet again. Quirking an eyebrow, I folded my arms across his chest. "Why does it bother you so much that I would consider leaving?"

"It breaks the code the rest of us hold so highly," Subs responded.

"You broke it."

"Before I was Grandmaster, and the clan was corrupt back then. You should know this," he responded.

"Right," I replied sarcastically.

"Why do you disrespect me so?" Sub-Zero asked, pent up anger flowing out, before he quickly bottled it back up.

"Why shouldn't I?" I shot back, temper flaring slightly. "After what you did to me, you left me to teach myself!"

"So that's what this is all about?" Subs questioned, looking down at me incredulously.

"Yes, it is. Kenshi and Ermac had to freaking take your place, and then you almost killed me during the tournament! Now that, that I understand. But then, you insulted me. All I wanted to do was prove that I could fight, just as well as any other ninja. I just wanted to show you that you had done a good job teaching me, and that Kenshi and Ermac had done well, also. But it didn't seem to matter, because you didn't really seem to care," I replied, looking down. "I left because I was angry…but I felt like I had disgraced you and again it didn't seem to matter."

Sub-Zero just looked back at me with his brilliant blue eyes. I shrugged and walked past him, heading back up to my room. It's not like any of it mattered, so I wasn't really going to stress over it. When I reached my room, I pushed the door open and walked to my bed. Climbing onto the unmade bed I pulled up the window shades and looked out at the black sky. Little drops of rain gathered on the window, and I closed the blinds soon afterward. I put my hands behind my head.

Sonya called everyone down for dinner, but I didn't follow. Facing Luna and Scorpion seemed like too big of an obstacle; I had been defeated in a sense when I ran upstairs. And facing Subs was not something I wanted to do, either, as I had run from that, as well, in the end. I kicked off my boots and climbed under the covers, resting my head on the pillow. It had been a long day, and so all I needed now was a bit of rest.

And what did I learn? Sub-Zero is a chemical that I do not mix with.

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