What's up everyone I am back! I've worked on this the last day or two in between school work. Just to tell remind people. but if you look at the reviews and see that somebody has already said something please don't repeat it. I get so few reviews that it takes the enjoyment out of reading them if people are saying the same things over and over. When you review tell me your favorite part of the chapter or story and maybe why it stood out to you. Also if you notice things like typos and such (NOT the Format) then please try to tell me and I'll try and fix it in my spare time. I'd like to thank anyone who has read this story and is reading it. If you like it then please follow or favorite to see when I post. I try to update as often as I can, but remember I do have a life and a lot of things I still need to do. Enough of that let's get on with the story.
One last note that I forgot to put in the last chapter. The amount of time between chapters 1 and 2 is about a week.
CHAPTER 4:TRIP AROUND THE CITY
The three were silent for a seconds. Smoke and Jade just looked at each other idly without speaking a word. Kitana just laughed a little to herself on the inside.
Kitana smiled at her best friend, "You two may know each other from our mishap in Outworld. Hopefully you'll get along just fine." she said calmly.
It had seemed that during her short time as Queen, Kitana has learned that patience is a virtue that she must have. Either that or she's become calmer without the influence of Shao Khan and Outworld.
Jade nodded, "We've met on a few occasions. We shouldn't have any problems Kitana." she reassured her friend.
The queen sent then on their way, they didn't speak until they were a short distance from the palace.
Jade started off, "So what brought you here to Edenia?" she asked the ninja.
Smoke tried to talk without staring at her, "Sonya thought it would be a good idea to help you all out here. I volunteered because I'm still not used to Earthrealm. I just feel so out of place. When you spend your entire life in a temple in the mountains as an assassin, the outside world isn't exactly an easy adjustment." he said rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
Jade gave as appreciative smile, "Whatever your reason is we are always grateful for the help." she said.
Smoke smiled, "No problem." he replied.
The two walked together in a comfortable silence until they got to their first stop.
Jade waved at a few people that were walking towards them, "Jade your back from the palace already?" one of the two children asked.
She knelt down to the girl's height, "Yes I'm back. Someone has come to help us. He's a friend from Earthrealm." she introduced Smoke.
The girl smiled at Smoke, "My name's Krystal. I've never met someone from Earthrealm before." she said.
Smoke smiled back, "My name's Tomas, but people call me Smoke." he replied.
Krystal was excited learning about this person from a realm she didn't know about, "Why do they call you that?" she asked.
He chuckled a little, "Watch this." he said simply grinning.
The older boy who was with the group stepped over to watch in curiosity. Smoke the used his powers to morph into smoke and move to the other side of Jade before returning back to normal.
The kids clapped, "Wow your one of those people with cool powers. Most people need magic to do that. Is yours magic?" the girl asked.
The boy put his hands on the girls shoulders, "Stop questioning the man will you?" he said.
Smoke shook his head, "She's not bothering anything. To answer your question, No It's not magic. I actually have no idea how I got my abilities. I've had them for as long as I can remember." he said sort of to the kids and a little to himself.
The truth was it slightly bothered Smoke that he had no memory of how he got his powers or why he did. All he knows is that he has them.
Jade noticed the strange look in his eyes, "Are you okay?" she asked him.
He came out of his thoughts quickly, "Yes. I just remembered something that I've gotta do when I've got the time and I remember." he said telling half the truth.
She smiled, "Alright. Well let's get started. This is our first stop today. We're helping build some better quality homes for some of the residents of the city. Since we've had to rebuild quite a bit of Edenia, we didn't have time to make proper homes like we'd hoped. Most people are living in tents or crudely made houses on the outskirts of the city." she explained.
Smoke smiled, "Let's get these homes built. We wouldn't want to keep the people waiting." he said confidently.
She smiled brightly at his change in mood before nodding in agreement.
Smoke and Jade spent a good couple hours or so putting the finishing touches on houses and starting the foundations for ones that could be completed later. Smoke used the time when she wasn't paying attention to study her. He had to make sure he was studying her face and actions more than other things. He was almost caught a couple times, but Jade didn't seem to notice him. If she did then she didn't mention it to him. When they were done, they were sitting in the shade.
Jade looked over at Smoke, "Tired already? What Lin Keui training never prepared you to build a house?" she teased.
Smoke looked over at her breathing heavily, "We were trained in stealth. Construction isn't exactly needed to be an assassin or a ninja. How are you perfectly fine?" he complained.
She just shrugged, "I don't know. I guess working for Shao Khan all these years has made me more resistant to pain and exhaustion than I realized." she replied.
He just went with it, "Alright. Where to next?" he asked.
Jade leaned on her arm, "Let's see. We have to aid residents in another part of the city. After that I was thinking I could show you around the city a bit more before we return to the palace for the night." she told him her plans.
Smoke nodded, "That sounds alright to me. Although I was aware that I would be staying in the palace." Smoke agreed.
The both stood up simultaneously and turned to each other.
Jade spoke first, "Kitana insists. You are a guest and a friend. I stay in the palace along with Mileena and Kitana herself." she said.
Smoke chuckled, "Wow. For the first time in my life I get to stay with women instead of a bunch of bloodthirsty men." he said his chuckle turning to laughter.
Jade grinned, "I knew you wouldn't mind. After all I saw you staring." she said and started walking away.
Her words slowly sunk in as Smoke turned bright red and his laugh went down to a nervous chuckle. He silently followed her with his head slightly lowered from embarrassment. Jade found it slightly amusing that a man, who was trained as an assassin, could become so flustered from something from being caught looking at a woman.
The people who they had planned to help had already completed the tasks on their own so the two were free to start the tour of the city.
They were walking through a rather large market with Jade pointing out several things.
One thing in particular caught Smoke's eye, "Is that pie?" he asked looking at a vendor not too far from them.
Jade smiled, "Edenian pie is considered a delicacy. It's delicious. I've never seen anything like it in Outworld. I assume from your question that Earthrealm has this as well." she informed him.
Smoke nodded, "Yes we actually have many kinds of pie. They're usually filled with fruit or some other kind of filling like chocolate." he explained.
She smiled, "Why don't you try it? I have a feeling you'll like it. I'll even pay for it. After all my best friend is the queen." she suggested.
As he was about object, his stomach growled. He then realized that he had skipped breakfast and lunch.
He sighed, "Alright. A slice or two won't hurt." he said giving a sheepish grin.
Jade laughed lightly, "Okay then, give me just a moment." she excused herself and walked up to the vendor.
Smoke noted that Jade got along with people incredibly well. He began thinking to himself, 'She's beautiful, smart, funny, friendly,and helpful. What more could I ask for?' he thought. He chuckled a little to himself at that last thought. He's acting like she's his girlfriend or something. The thought of the beautiful woman being his girlfriend made him blush badly.
By the time Jade returned, he had calmed himself down and brushed all the thoughts aside.
She held out the pie to him, "Come on give it a try." she told him.
Smoke took a bite of the very ordinary looking pie, only to be amazed by it's flavor, "This is better than any desert I've ever tasted in Earthrealm. I'm gonna have to take a trip here every so often just for that." he said with a look on his face like a kid on Christmas.
Jade laughed, "Wow I wasn't expecting that reaction at all." she said smiling.
Smoke finished a pie while Jade finished showing him the city. It was getting late so Jade brought him back to the palace.
Kitana was waiting for them at the palace entrance when they arrived.
She smiled at them, "I assume you enjoyed your first day in Edenia." she said looking at Smoke.
Smoke nodded, "It's a beautiful place with delicious pie." he said that last part out loud unintentionally.
The two girls giggled while Smoke looked mildly embarrassed.
Kitana put a hand on his shoulder, "I expected Jade to show that. Don't feel bad though. I've got quite a problem with it myself. If it wasn't for my training then I don't know what I'd look like right now." she said giving him a reassuring look.
The queen turned to her friend, "Jade can you show him to the guest room near ours. After that I wish to speak with you. " she instructed.
Jade bowed slightly, "As you wish Kitana." she said and motioned for Smoke to follow.
At the room, Smoke was taken back by the size, "Wow you really go all out all these rooms." he commented.
Jade walked beside him, "Of course. It is the royal palace after all." she replied.
Smoke looked away, "Despite my purpose for coming here, I enjoyed myself today." he said bashfully.
Jade smiled, "I'll take that as a compliment. I enjoyed my day as well. I got to learn a little about Earthrealm, maybe I can visit there someday when you are adjusted to it and you can show me around the city where you live" she said calmly.
Smoke smiled, "That would be nice. Although I'm not sure if I'll ever be used to it." he admitted.
She gave him a meaningful look, "Maybe not, but I'll be there either way." she told him.
They shared a brief moment of silence before Jade turned to leave.
She looked over her shoulder, "Good night Tomas." she said.
He gave a small wave, "Good night Jade." he said and watched her leave.
He took off his everything except his black ninja pants and climbed into the large bed he was given and fell into a peaceful sleep with thoughts of Jade.
Jade knew she would be heading to Kitana's room for one of their what Earthrealmers would call a "girl talk".
She quietly opened and closed the door before taking a seat on the bed next to her best friend.
Kitana smiled, "What do you think of our Earthrealm friend?" she opened with.
Jade knew this was coming, "He's very nice, funny, strong, helpful, and maybe a little quirky." she answered.
The blue clad woman laughed quietly, "I have a feeling you two might have something in common. So I'm assuming that means you'll be fine doing errands or helping out like this over the next few days?" she asked.
The green clad woman nodded, "It would be nice to have some help and company for a short while." she said.
Kitana covered her mouth as she let out a yawn, "That's all I wanted to know. You can go to bed now Jade."
Jade bid her farewell and retired to her own rom for a peaceful nights sleep, unconsciously she starting to think about Smoke more and what he looked like under the mask. She smiled in her sleep as those thoughts entered her mind.
This is the longest chapter I've ever written so I hope you guys liked it. One think I forgot to mention is that in this chapter and the last Smoke is in his MK9 outfit. As well as Jade, Sonya, Johnny, and Jax. What Kitana is wearing is completely up to each reader, just remember she's a queen. I'm really liking how this story is turning out and that I'm getting a pretty decent amount of views and reviews for it. I always appreciate when someone takes the time to review. That's all I really got to say this time. So until the next chapter I'm out!
~Trevyler