A/N: I just want to say I'm sorry for such a gap between updates. School got in the way bit and made things really busy. I hope that everyone enjoys this chapter and I'll try to have the next one up quicker! :)

Liu awoke to the warm weight on his chest with a smile, as he remembered the night before fondly. They hadn't went farther than kissing and a little touching, but for Liu that had been more than enough. His only regret was that he wouldn't be able to do it again in this time or in the future. He looked out the window and saw the sun was beginning to rise and the sky become more purple, and he didn't want to leave. He glanced once more at the man sleeping on his chest and forced himself to move. He knew the others would be waiting for him.

He removed Raiden's arm from his chest and slid out of the bed. He crept out of the room and down to the library. As he entered, he instantly felt the seven gazes on him as when he looked up at them, their faces full of questions.

"Is there something one of you would like to say?"

Kung Lao didn't waste any time, "What happened with Raiden?"

Liu remained stoic. "You mean his injury yesterday? Yes it was my fault and I know that. He shouldn't have been risking his life like he did, especially not so close to the third trial."

Kung Lao just shook his head and glared at him fiercely. "That isn't what I meant."

Realization crossed his face in an instant. They knew. Somehow how they had found out about what happened between him and Raiden, but that was impossible. There wasn't anyone else there and he highly doubted Shao Kahn cared enough about Raiden to spy on him, but who was it?

"Then what do you mean?" he asked instead, still hoping that he was wrong.

This time it was Kitana that spoke up, "We heard that you and Raiden may have become a bit too close during our time and we were worried. Is that why you were angry when we curious about his knowledge of Kahn's forces?"

Liu sighed and took a deep breath in an effort to keep calm before he answered, "I became angry because you were accusing our friend, our mentor of possibly siding with Kahn behind our backs! And to answer your question, nothing has changed between Raiden and I, we're just friends; student and teacher just like in the future."

"Listen Liu," Jade began. "We just want to make sure that you haven't done anything to jeopardize Raiden or us. We have to make sure that the future doesn't change. I know it's hard, but we don't have a choice."

Before Liu could respond, Jax spoke up. "Just tell us man, did you sleep with Raiden?"

The blunt question was instantly rewarded by a punch to the ribs from Sonya and shocked look from Liu. He couldn't help if he looked like his eyes were about to pop out of his skull or if his jaw was about to drop to the floor, but he couldn't believe what they were asking. "No! I did no such thing! I can't believe all of you. Has being here with Kahn warped your minds?"

Just when he felt the others were finally believing him, Sub-Zero spoke, "Can you truly blame us for asking? Especially after what I saw last night," Sub-Zero tried not to look pleased at the look on Liu's face. "because it seemed to me that you both were incredibly close then."

"You were spying on me?"

"Unintentionally of course. I noticed that things were tense between the two of you and wanted to make sure everything was calm. The door to Raiden's room was cracked and I am sure you know what I saw. I felt it maybe a problem for our mission, so I informed the others."

Liu wasn't going to admit to anything that easily. While he did trust Sub-Zero, something seemed off about that story. As injured as he was yesterday, he shouldn't have been able to leave his room, much less be stealthy enough to spy on him from Raiden's room.

"I don't know what you're talking about or what it is you saw, but I do know that nothing has happened that would cause a problem to our mission."

"Do you expect us to believe that?" Kung Lao hissed. "Just how much of our mission did you spill to him?"

This time Liu did react. He charged at Kung Lao, wanting nothing more than to beat the other monk to a pulp for having the nerve to accuse him of such a thing, but before he could reach him, he was pulled back by Kenshi and Jax.

"Damn it Liu! Calm down!" Jax shouted and he struggled to hold onto the fighting monk.

Liu ceased struggling, but his eyes remained alight with fury. "Do you really think I'm that stupid to risk our mission?! Do you think me that weak?! He knows absolutely nothing!"

Kung Lao sneered and walked over to one of the chairs. Jade sighed and looked at the others. "Let's get back to the matter at hand. We have much to discuss before the fight today and arguing about something that may or may not have happened won't help us."

"Fine." Kung Lao said as he sat down. "Let's see if we can't salvage what we came here to do."

Liu was still furious. He continued to clench his fists, still ready for a fight, but in the end, he forced himself to calm down. He could feel Kenshi's and Jax's hands still on his shoulders and ready to pull hi back again if they needed to, but Jade was right. He wasn't helping matters any with his anger. He sat in another one of the chairs and nodded to the others, and that's when Kitana began to speak.

"Well we know we have two threats to worry about: Kahn and the deadly alliance. I know Quan Chi was badly injured when teleported out of our fight." She then turned to Sub-Zero. "And what of Shang Tsung?"

"He definitely shouldn't be at full strength if he does appear here. I made sure of that."

Kitana nodded. "That's good, since all of us are still recovering from our wounds as well, they shouldn't have that much of an advantage over us. Even if they do, we still have two fighters at full strength."

"And what about Kahn?" Kenshi asked.

"He did try to have us killed, so I don't doubt he'll try something today. We'll have to make sure that there are none of his tricks during the fight."

"I don't know if we can do that." Kenshi said thoughtfully.

Liu who had remained silent up until this point, finally spoke, "What do you mean?"

Kenshi sighed, knowing the monk wasn't going to like what he had to say. "I mean any threats against us we can handle. If the deadly alliance comes after us or Raiden, we take care of them. If Reptile or Baraka come after us we do the same, but if anyone under Kahn's control goes after Raiden or if it looks like he may lose the fight, we can't interfere."

"What? We can't do that! He has to defeat Kahn, it's the only thing that will make everything right!"

"No it isn't." Kenshi continued calmly. "We don't know for sure how their fight actually ended. He never told us. That's why this fight is the one thing we can't interfere in. It's the one thing in this time that has to remain the same or we could completely change the future. We have to let it run its course."

Liu didn't know what to say. He didn't want to believe there was a chance that they had done all of this and there was still a chance their friend might die. He couldn't believe that, especially after what had happened between them, but he knew the swordsman was right. "A-Alright. We won't interfere."

"I know this is hard Liu, but it's something that we can't avoid. Even if we knew the outcome there would still be nothing we could do. Interfering in that fight would have the same effect as if we revealed who we truly are to Raiden and Kahn." Kitana said gently.

"It's fine Kitana." Liu said as he stood and walked to the doors. "I understand completely."

s the doors closed behind him, Kung Lao stood and shook his head. "I know he claims nothing has happened between them, but even I can see something isn't right! He's become too attached to this Raiden. What should we do? He's lost sight of our mission. This isn't going to end well."

"He'll be fine." Kitana said softly. "Liu knows why we're here and he'll come through when we need him."

Kung Lao continued to stare at doors where Liu had exited, "I sure hope so."

Raiden awoke early that morning, calmer than one in his place probably should have been if they knew they had to face Shao Kahn later that day. He'd accepted his fate. No matter what outcome came to pass today he would be at peace with it. Even though, he wouldn't mind seeing the look on his brother's face when he lost.

The door to his room suddenly burst open as Liu strode in, and from what he could tell, something had happened to make him very upset. "Liu? What's wrong? Did something happen to one of the others? Are their injures healing alright?"

Liu opened his mouth to speak, but couldn't make the words he so desperately wanted to say come forth. Everything he wanted to tell him would damage the reason they came here and he still refused to let that happen, so instead of answering, Liu leaned in and placed a soft kiss to Raiden's lips. "Everything is fine. I'm just a bit worried about the two sorcerer's that we came here to find and hope they don't decide to interfere in the fight today. That, and I wanted to wish you luck." He said, forcing a small smile to his face.

If Raiden could still see the tension and nervousness in Liu's face he pretended to ignore it as he smirked and said, "I'll need it, but after your help, I think I'll need it less. I highly doubt my brother could handle the great teachings of the shaolin. He understands nothing but brute force, the fact that there are styles that could be used to an advantage in certain situations would go right over his head."

Liu forced a smile to his face, "You do have a point. Besides, these teachings have beat him before and I have no doubt they'll beat him again." His eyes widened in realization as he caught what he just said. Raiden turned to him and stared at him with his eyebrows raised.

"What did you just say?"

"It was nothing. Please ignore me. Besides, don't you think we should be getting to the courtyard? The fight will begin soon."

Raiden sighed, "I know." Raiden then did something that once again shocked Liu. He turned and walked over to the monk before wrapping his arms around him in a tight embrace. "I also know you're worried and I don't want you to be. How can I die after just finding you?"

Oh Raiden, don't do this to me. Liu smiled and broke the embrace. He grabbed Raiden's staff and tossed it to the other man, "You won't die. I won't allow it. Now let's go. The others are probably waiting for us."

The guards surrounded the courtyard in anticipation of the final trial. The other Earthrealm fighters were there as well. Shinnok and Kahn stood off to the side as Raiden and Liu walked onto platform. Liu clapped him on the shoulder and nodded as he went to join the others. Raiden took a deep breath and stepped on to the platform, tossing his staff back to Liu, he walked to the center and waited for his brother.

Shao Kahn was dressed in his full military attire, His long spiked cape and his skull mask in their rightful positions. He shrugged off his cape and stepped on the platform as well, with a cruel smirk twisted on his features he growled, "Ready to meet the elder Gods brother?"

Raiden returned the smirk just as easily and said smoothly, "Why not? It isn't everyday they come to retrieve the soul of an evil warlord."

Raiden ducked easily as the first blow flew past his head and he dodged the rest of them just as easily. Kahn had always been more strength than speed and with his smaller size, Raiden knew that as long as his brother didn't catch him, fighting hand to hand wouldn't be a problem, but then he was caught.

The blow rocked him back on his heels, stunning him as Kahn moved in for another hit which landed squarely in his stomach. Raiden had to get his head together or this fight would be over before it even got started. He stumbled back and managed to dodge Kahn's next punch that seemed to be gunning for his head. He used this opening to land an uppercut to Kahn's chin, but it didn't even faze him, as he landed a punch so strong to Raiden's chest that it sent him sprawling on his back a few feet away.

"Well this is not going as well I as I would have thought." Kung Lao muttered to the others. "It seems this Kahn is stronger than we thought."

"Give it time Kung Lao. The fight has just begun." Kitana replied and then winced as she saw Raiden take another hard hit from Kahn. "There is still time for him to win."

Raiden winced and held his side slightly as he stood. He had forgotten just how much of a punch his brother packed. He fell back into his stance as he prepared his next move. As Kahn charged toward him, Raiden saw his opening and dived out of the way as reached his position and swept Kahn's feet, landing a kick to his face as he tried to sit up.

"Yeah!" Jax shouted as he punched Kenshi in the shoulder. "That's what I'm talking about!"

Both brothers quickly got back to their feet and before anyone could blink they were at each other again. It seemed that one hit on Kahn had lit a fire in Raiden and while Kahn managed to deal most of the damage, Raiden seemed to be holding his own now.

Kahn was beginning to get angry. Raiden was not supposed to be able to put up this much of a fight. This was taking longer than he had planned. He knew Raiden didn't have what took to be Shinnok's successor, to take what was rightfully his and rule over it with an iron fist. That's why he could not understand where this surge of power in Raiden had come from, but he knew one thing for sure, he would be damned if he wouldn't beat it out of him.

Raiden continued to smoothly dodge Kahn's attacks, even growing bolder and attempting strikes to put Kahn on the defense. This was the moment Kahn was waiting for. He easily slipped passed Raiden's defense and grabbed him by the throat, easily stopping any momentum Raiden might have had. However, his younger brother wasn't as weak-willed as he thought. Raiden's hand swiftly came up and wrapped around his own throat.

Kahn was mildly surprised at his brother's strength as it was actually becoming slightly difficult for him to breathe, so he increased the pressure as well, and just like he thought, both of Raiden's hands began prying at his own. He decided to take pity on his brother and release him, grabbing both of his wrists and twisting them behind his back.

"Are you ready to bow to me brother?" He hissed as he kneed him sharply in the back.

Raiden glared back at him fiercely, "Not on your life!" With a jump, he flipped in Kahn's grip, breaking free of his grasp and giving him a good kick to the head while he was at it.

Sub-Zero watched the fight with an air of calmness around him. If this keeps up, I may have to break my cover after all. He glanced around at the other warriors intently watching the fight. And if I have to reveal myself before Quan Chi gets here there's definitely going to be some problems.

Raiden had managed to turn the tables again, landing a few kicks to Kahn's chest and almost causing him to lose his footing on the platform. Raiden noticed this and sped toward him before leaping into the air, preparing to land a flying kick that would finally land his brother on his back.

What happened next shocked everyone standing around platform, as Raiden was about to land his kick he was suddenly shot backwards by a bright green spear that forced him to land hard on his back, clutching his chest in pain as the spear slowly disappeared from sight.

Kahn smirked at the injured form of his brother as he struggled to stand. "How did you like that brother?" He said mockingly as he formed another light spear and threw it, this one landing on the other side of his chest. "I always told you that learning the dark arts would be useful one day."

The Earthrealm warriors looked on in shock and horror at what was about to happen. They had no idea that his knowledge of black magic was that advanced at this time. It look all of Liu's control to keep from firing a fireball to give Raiden a chance to escape, but he forced himself to remember Kenshi's words. If it looks like he may lose the fight, we can't interfere.

He balled his fists in anger, his blunt nails slowly cutting into his palms. I know I can't interfere, but how do they expect me to me to not even try to do something to help him!

Kahn poised another spear over his head, ready to strike, "I'll see you in the Netherrealm." He slammed the spear down in the platform with every ounce of his strength, sending a shock wave through the ground and causing the stones near the impact site to crack and nearly shatter.

When the dust settled both Shao Kahn and the rest of the fighters were shocked at what had occurred. There was nothing but destruction in the spot that Raiden was in, but the future God himself was perfectly fine, standing behind Kahn as blacks sparks disappeared from his body. While Shinnok and the Earthrealm fighters noticed this immediately, it wasn't until a hard kick to his back that forced Kahn to stumble forward, made him take notice.

"What?!" He roared. "How can this be?!"

Raiden smirked and slowly fell back into his fighting stance. "You aren't the only one with a few tricks up their sleeve."

Kahn roared in anger as he began to swing wildly. Every punch missing Raiden by mere inches as they began to dance around the platform once again.

Sub-Zero was starting to get angry. This is taking much to long! Raiden should not be that strong! That's it! I can't wait any longer. It is time to end this and complete my mission! As he began to make the motions to form an iceball, he caught something beginning to glow in the corner of eye and smirked. Just in time. His hand motions caught Jax's attention and the other turned to him curiously.

"Sub-Zero what are you doing man? You know we can't interfere."

He smirked beneath his mask. "All of you may have said you wouldn't interfere, but I said no such thing!" He fired an iceball at Jax, freezing his lower body to the ground before making the motions to fire another.

"Guys! We got a bit of a problem over here!" The others turned to where Jax was frozen and Sub-Zero was ready to fire again, this time at Raiden. Liu fired a fireball at the Lin Kuei warrior, but just barely missed from keeping the iceball from firing and froze as he watched it speed toward Raiden.

"Raiden! Look Out!"

Raiden's head snapped to the side to see the ice flying toward him, but Kahn took advantage of his distraction and sent a hard punch to his jaw, sending him sliding across the rocks to the end of the platform. He moved to follow up his attack when he saw a glowing skull flying toward him from one side and a ball of ice from the other and stepped back, allowing them to destroy each other. Growling, he turned to the figure perched on the wall of the courtyard.

"You're the sorcerer that Reptile spoke of." He formed another light spear in his hand and prepared the throw it. "You will pay for interrupting this battle!" He fired the spear and the sorcerer easily dodged it, landing a few feet away from the other fighters.

"Not bad, but the Kahn where we're from is a bit more powerful than you are at the moment, so why don't you stay out of our way."

The others looked over at Sub-Zero's form on the ground when they heard him begin to laugh evilly as he stood, "I can't believe you all fell for it! I should have done this years ago." Sub-Zero's form faded and Shang Tsung's appeared. "We have no quarrel with you emperor, all we want is your brother. I would think you wouldn't have a problem with that. He dies and you get the throne and our mission is completed."

Kahn chuckled evilly as he stepped down from the platform and over to Shang Tsung. "Usually I'd gladly let you do whatever you wanted to my pathetic brother, but today...", he summoned his hammer and to the shock of everyone else in the courtyard, swung it hard, hitting Shang in the chest and causing him to slam into one the castle walls. "You both are going to pay for getting in my way!"