Con't II
Aiko was flabbergasted on Kenshi's last statement...
"Train my heart...? I already know how to use it."
"Not by using the technique of koherence, the ability to use both the heart and the mind in unison."
She then suddenly remembered Kenshi's promise, back when she was weakened by the Makeba drums, and he sabotaged the Dragonfly. "Who knows. Maybe I can help you enhance your mind, which would also empower your heart." She thought that it was easier said than done, as both the heart and mind have a tendency to klash with one another! Logic over emotions, Kenshi mentioning the heart is a second mind and the brain's the third eye, or being a slave to either organ...
"Well...did you know that the heart is the very first organ...! To be developed within any organism, in all the realms, even the most simplest?"
She was shocked, "What!? I always thought it was the mind that was developed first! I mean, the brain affects everything in your body. How can that be?"
"It's always synonymous with life. The brain only affects 10%, after all."
She was just lost in the mists of doubt...
"Shall we?" Aiko grabbed the small kluster of food and sundries Jin's mom laid out; the majority of products were made to enhance the heart, even fresh beets, kale, rice, sushi, some dark chocolate, and a thermos of green tea. The beets and sushi gave off a very immense odor from the little basket.
The duo walked out to an open field with some distant mountains shading the rising sun. "To start, you need to do some warmups before we proceed. Jogging is usually the best option, but make sure that you pace yourself. I've heard about your anemia and limited stamina."
Aiko found a nearby sturdy tree and began to draw out her legs out.
"That's it, stretch it out. Stretch it out before your first run."
After a few bending and stims by shaking her hands, Aiko stated she was prepared. "I'm ready, Kenshi. I'm ready to empower my heart and mind."
"Alright then, let's do it!"
She kould've sworn that the Matokans would be banging their drums right about now as either a way for a powwow or rehearsal for the last born's ritual for her official name. But Aiko was invigorated! And they were only several feet away from the Kung cottage as she began to jog around the perimeter! She made a lap, then kaught her breath. Kenshi encouraged her to take several sit-ups. She recalled when she first started training with the Shaolin, she managed to make 40 which seemed to be quite the personal record! After that, she ran a suicide across the field and back a few times.
She managed to catch her breath and Kenshi urged her to take a break. "It seems your heart is in a state of readiness, and it's overriding your angsts over the Matoka kustoms. Your endorphins have increased which is vital to your training."
"Yeah, I guess so..."
"Only you can see what is in your heart, I can only see the mind, and you must unite them both."
She worried it'd be as almost impossible as aligning all planets in the galaxy, although she remembered Liu's lesson with Kai...
The Champion was with his new prodigy sparring with each other at another grassy null, and the latter had fallen.
"Damn it, Liu! I'll never be as good as you! You being the Mortal Kombat Champion and all...!"
"Remember what I told you, Kai. There's more to martial arts than just fighting. You must become one with your inner spirit. Only then can you summon your real inner strength and have that power that you've only dreamed about."
Same with Lao as he was stunned by a sudden impact on his back after Liu knocked him into one of the nearby stone statuettes.
"Do you see now? Why we still train?"
"That was a lucky strike. Let's go again, I will show you/"
"No, Kung Lao. The training you require is mental, not physical. You cannot surpass your limitations until you acknowledge them."
"Indeed, Liu has a point on both sides, that the body, soul and mind must be one to achieve anything! You seem to lack mental awakening, on account on your multiple birth defects, as I seem to lack the heart ever since I found Sento. And I guess it was from the loss of my wife to the Red Dragons. Both of us descended into the abyss, as did I with the tragedy, and you with your dystopian future. ...And also, how you kan't understand how you've been the only one affected, ever since the day we first met."
Aiko knew damn well that last statement was from the nosy swordsman reading her mind. She didn't find him intrusive, though, just kurious and koncerning. "Raiden and Nightwolf were well aware of this, but they never said why. Maybe it's just tension."
"They are irresistible, I'll give you that. Tension is a powerful occurrence, especially under stress. Even if you are not, it is still adhesive and dangerous. Dopamine is usually the kase."
She recalled Raiden warning her of the dangers of that particular chemical, mostly due to overindulgence in alcohol, drugs and other vices.
"And you believe your heart is the opposite of a... Gem of Tetsurri. That should be your goal."
"I'm...not as powerful as a sorcerer, though... There was a lot of tension then, how I relied on Nightwolf so much and I miss the Koopalings-"
"Aiko!" She looked up. "Let's try and focus. You must avoid all distractions from within, attain klarity, and emit positive energy while also receiving it. Koherence kan help you achieve this positive energy. We will start with steady, deep breathing."
Kenshi taught her some breathing exercises to soothe her. The procedure slowed down her racing heart and pulse. She even took some beets as an iron provider while the compound also churned more oxygen.
"How do you feel?"
"A little better. Now what?"
"Your heart and mind are relaxed; they feel kohesive to one another. Now it's time to face your demons. How and where do you think this trance started?"
She discussed of her weakness as she went in depth over the history of those incidents similar to their encounter with the Makeba, starting with the same experience the missing quartet are endeavoring to. She believed it all began with a similar occurrence, only it was in Montanna back when she was 4, watching it on TV. Then, her mind shifted to the various klips she discussed with Jin, followed by a field trip to some reservation during October, perhaps during yesteryear.
"I see... Have you made any defense mechanisms?"
"Well...I tried thinking of a song with the same tempo. Whatever komes to mind helping resist them. I never actually used this method, but I'd been...speculating."
"Right. These rituals are just as potent as lingering tension and darkness itself, like when you and Lao were once assimilated by Shinnok. I haven't met him, but I've heard the worst. Never let your mind and heart go astray, they're unstoppable together. And if you are in doubt, let them BOTH guide you."
They took a little picnic before she resumed training, only this time, Kenshi made some new koordinates on his portal generator, specifically to the Wu Shi Academy. While the Shaolin warriors were busy doing warm exercises by making fighting poses and alternating stomps, it distracted Aiko a bit, though they were giving her some konfidence. She paced herself around the perimeter before she returned to Kenshi.
Before they knew it, the sun was starting to set; their training was not only riveting, but also time-konsuming. Aiko hardly noticed that the young Jin already returned from school as Kenshi kalled the segments to a klose!
Night fell, and the fatigued kardiokinetic sat on the queen-sized mattress within the shared bedroom. She took the photo of Kung Lao's younger self grinning up at her, which lifted her spirit; it actually warmed her heart! As she tilted and lifted to kiss it, a small audio kassette fell out from the bottom. She kuriously gazed at it, then inserted it into her Panasonic tape recorder. She bought it last year, as her kid self had one as well talking gibberish into it in the past one evening back in 1995. Inside one of those foldable cushions at the rear of the backseat, she inspected it. She noticed it was twice smaller than those larger kassette players like the one being advertised after Home Alone 2 kame to be. And she became hooked ever since!
When her mind kleared the nostalgic kobwebs, she played the micro cassette she found.
The first voice she heard was Raiden's.
"Ok, Liu Kang. Do you remember your Wu Shi training?"
"Yes, Master Raiden. I am ready."
"Alright then. Let's go."
A catchy beat followed as the talented Thunder God actually rapped to it!
It's your boy Raiden, with the thunder and the shock.
I'm gonna strike you down in battle like your name was Shinnok.
So, I use my amulet to rewind up this clock.
So, I can kick your ass again, with Round 3 a cakewalk.
Hear my omnipresence, the thunder and the bang.
When I walk up to the girls, they call me hella Hat Gang
My troops and I will tag you like we're the next Wu Tang!
So now I'm gonna pass it to my boy, Liu Kang
Sure enough, it was him! Using the same rhythm as his mentor.
Champion of Kombat, I'm the greatest of them all.
When I put both these legs it's like I'm running up a wall.
You better beg for mercy, or I'll cripple like Kotal.
When I beat you down in kombat, It's your mother you should call.
Fireball, last call, Hara Kiri at the stall.
It's a brawl, free-for-all, stand against me you will fall.
Once I set my sights on you, I go up to speed like Kabal.
So, you better run and hide before I turn to aerosol!
Stand down, Liu Kang!
I think they've had enough.
Wu Shi Gang is on the rise, time to let them know what's up.
Shao Kahn shown up on my doorstep, time to show that we don't bluff.
Now let's finish it like Toasty. Kung Lao! Blow it up!
This made her face brighten, hearing that her lover has his own special verse! He seemed to be rapping twice as fast, just as he would like the swifter in battle!
Splitting and a flippin', get my hat spinnin' coming from a Shaolin Monk
Sippin' up Earthrealm's rice wine, real fine, still gonna beat you while I'm drunk.
Stand up, slice up, dice up, put you in a vice just like in a live tree trunk.
We're defenders of the Earth, and I know what I'm worth. Take your life when you fight me punk!
Aiko was so thrilled by his rapid pacing and phenomenal, attractive voice! She even rewound it to hear him again, and this time paying attention to the main MC.
I think we've set a warning, for this Fatality.
Call us the Deadly Alliance cuz we're on a killing spree!
This is no Deception; I will bring an end to this Brutality!
Armageddon begins, Raiden wins a Flawless Victory!
Aiko replayed the Wu Shi rap once more and snickered at times. She was indeed receiving some happiness and enjoyment from this random, hysterical stunt! She also wished she would be included to add in her own verse one day...
The female Shaolin discussed his training with the two Kungs over supper, and even they had been thrilled! Jin's mom was grateful Aiko loved the fresh heart-healthy foods she made, then she stored the leftovers inside the basket as she loaded them in the fridge. She helped tuck in Jin and wished him goodnight before she too hit the sack.
A/N: The Wu Shi rap was first encountered during last October made by Evil Emperor X. Unfortunately, he had to take it down because he was too ashamed on using characters' voices with AI tech. I was so upset he took it down! I used to hear it several times as catchy and hilarious Raiden, Liu and Lao were! And Lao's voice has always been my favorite part! So, I had to improvise to make up for my limited memory of the lyrics. I surely hope Evil Emperor would reupload this!
Also, I find a lot of Lemmings' songs to be very riveting and catchy, specifically the Genesis version, ever since I was 5! NO ONE ever talks about them, as I mentioned in my 12 Petites list! NOBODY! The nostalgia and energizing numbers kan work well here! Even though I'm still uncertain how to include them at the moment... Sometimes, Aiko would have a training montage similar to Rocky's. And it took a lot of research to put the facts together on how to enhance and train the heart.
So, she has four days left to fight the temptation and achieve her goal to make her heart gem as powerful as the Gem of Tetsurri. Let's hope she and Kenshi will succeed!