It was nighttime in Japan, where Kenshi lived, and Scorpion was currently with the swordsman as he was staying at his cottage, having been invited to visit by the swordsman himself. Both men sat in a candlelit room in which the candles had been lit by Scorpion as he used his hellfire to do so with ease. Kenshi was of course merely reliant on his other senses due to his blindness and didn't need the light, though the candles did emit a lovely aroma. The two warriors were sipping from a perfectly round cup with each containing oolong tea that had been prepared by Kenshi for himself and his guest.
"Thank you for accepting me into your home." Scorpion said gratefully between sips. "And thank you for the tea."
"Of course." Kenshi replied with a kind smile on his face. "Anything to help a friend."
"I do appreciate it." Scorpion affirmed in which it was unlikely for the Spectre to show such compassion and gratefulness. It made Kenshi happy that his new ally and quickly close friend was doing a commendable job at fending off his rage as it was something which Kenshi found admirable and had helped him with his own struggles with rage.
"If I may ask: what are your plans going forward?" Kenshi asked out of curiosity. "I'm guessing you wish to reform your clan?"
Scorpion nodded in confirmation as he was still drinking some of Kenshi's delicious tea. "I do indeed, I'm just unsure as to how I can rebuild."
"The Shirai Ryu has a legendary legacy," Kenshi pointed out. "I'm certain you'd receive applications from those wishing to join the clan almost immediately."
"I need land, I need utilities, I need gear, I need teachers and I need students." Scorpion listed in dread for he wished it wasn't so difficult.
"You're always welcome here." Kenshi promised him. "No matter how long this goal will take to reach, I shall always aid you."
Before Scorpion could once again reply with his thanks, the centre of the room which was to the side of the homely oak table that the two friends sat at began to emit a cyanish glow that lit up the entire room within the cozy cottage. From the source of the light emerged a hologram that resembled a transparent form of a woman who wore a plain robe.
"Hello?" Scorpion cautiously greeted while Kenshi immediately retrieved his katana silently.
"Do not fret, Kenshi Takehashi and Hanzo Hasashi." The figure in the hologram spoke calmly in an attempt to not come across as a threat to the two warriors. "My name is Zeraura, I am an Elder Goddess."
"A-an Elder Goddess?" Kenshi stuttered due to the shock of the event currently transpiring as he processed the fact that an Elder Goddess was in his home. "I... err… greetings."
"What brings you here?" Scorpion questioned in a not very welcoming tone due to having heard some of Raiden's recent tangents about the Elder Gods being needlessly neutral with fickle justifications for such behaviour. Though the concept of them was still rather new to the Spectre, despite his vast knowledge that came from being former Grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu.
"We have observed your services to your home realm as you two were heavily involved in protecting Earthrealm from Shao Kahn and his followers." Zeraura explained in detail.
"And where were you during the invasion?!" Scorpion aggressively asked.
"As I said: observing." She repeated before swiftly moving on from the question, "for this we have decided to grant the pair of you with gifts for helping maintain the balance."
"What is it that you offer?" Kenshi asked.
"Observe Sento." Zeraura gestured to Kenshi's ancestral sword which upon inspection Kenshi began to witness the blade start cracking.
"What are you doing?!" Kenshi began becoming concerned as it appeared that his sword was being damaged by the Elder Goddess.
"Trust me." Zeraura requested.
Kenshi reluctantly complied and continued to watch his sword be tinkered with by Zeraura before stopping with the result being that the cracks were beginning to glow a similar blue to the hologram that was emitting the figure of Zeraura and whispers began speaking from the weapon.
"What have you done?" was now Kenshi's query.
"Your ancestors now possess your blade," she revealed. "And can possess you when needed in a dire situation."
"I see." Kenshi replied blankly, not having much to say as he studied the changes made to his sword. "Can I speak to them?"
"Telepathically yes." She confirmed. "I'm sure this blessing will be of use to you."
"Indeed it will." Kenshi confirmed as he began swinging his sword around the room with his techniques already becoming more precise and elegant.
"And I did not forget about you, Hanzo Hasashi." Zeraura assured as she turned to face the Spectre. "We have decided on a special gift for you."
Before Scorpion could reply to Zeraura's claim she had already summoned a pair of avatars which were in the form of two bright orbs that resemble much of the Elder Gods alleged agent known as Damashi with the only difference being that these two avatars glowed a majestic light blue, the colour being a clear pattern amongst the Elder Gods and their gifts. Scorpion stood in silence for he was under the assumption that something more was supposed to occur. He began thinking of what powers the Elder Gods would grant him.
"Hanzo?" One of the avatars spoke in a voice that was very familiar to Scorpion.
"Ha-Harumi?!" Scorpion immediately replied before hurrying towards the avatar. "Is that you?!"
"It is." She confirmed to an emotional Scorpion who immediately tried hugging her but to no avail due to her current state as an ethereal being. "You have no idea how much I've missed you."
"And nor do you know how mutual that feeling is." Scorpion replied as tears began forming in his clear white eyes, overwhelmed with emotions just from being able to speak to Harumi once more.
"But I do," Harumi revealed as Scorpion tried clearing his tears. "I have been watching you immediately since I entered Heaven… and I was not the only one."
"Papa!" yelled the other avatar in joy.
"Satoshi!" Scorpion called back in equal amounts of happiness. "I'm sorry that I wasn't there to protect you."
"It wasn't your fault, papa." Satoshi said to try and relieve his father from feeling blame.
"It was Quan Chi's fault," Harumi clarified. "Not yours."
"Quan Chi?" Scorpion was confused by Harumi mentioning the sorcerer's name. "Don't you mean Shang Tsung?"
Harumi shook her head before confidently detailing, "Quan Chi organized the attack in an attempt to get highly trained ninjas from our clan into the Netherrealm to serve his causes."
"I…" Scorpion was now beginning to feel anger, hate and rage again. "I don't understand…"
"Watch." Harumi commanded as a vision was presented by Zeraura which took the Spectre back to the attack that killed the Shirai Ryu as a whole but in the perspective of the mastermind murderer himself: Quan Chi.
He ruthlessly began chopping at the wooden door with an axe made of ice, Quan Chi was getting used to utilizing Bi Han's abilities. Soon the door collapsed after several effortless blows dealt to it by the sorcerer, each chop bringing out frightened cries from a child inside the walls that Quan Chi dismissed. He stepped inside and entered the living area. He found a mother standing in front of her son in the corner of the room.
"Leave us alone!" she begged.
Quan Chi, as much as he loved to monologue, felt no reason to respond to the woman and simply began approaching her with an axe still in his icy hand.
"Please..." She proceeded to plead only to no avail.
Quan Chi laughed sadistically before raising up the axe he held and going to strike down at the neck of the woman called Harumi. To his surprise, Harumi countered and caught the axe by it's slippery and cold ice handle to hold off the strike and launched her knee into Quan Chi's stomach which winded the shapeshifted sorcerer and caused him to stagger back to recover. Harumi then darted across the room to grab one of his husband's Ninjato swords that lived on a weapon rack that rested upon the living room's fireplace that was currently burning firewood and create a bright flame that alited the warm room.
"Leave these grounds at once, Lin Kuei dog." Harumi demanded as she unsheathed the sword.
Quan Chi once again laughed evilly, amused at being referred to as a Lin Kuei. To further toy with Harumi, Quan Chi decided to strip off his shapeshifted disguise to reveal his true form to the already overwhelmed mother, figuring that it was safe to use these mind games behind closed doors. The Shirai Ryu were too busy being occupied with the manipulated Lin Kuei members anyway.
"You're right," he agreed. "The Lin Kuei are indeed as dumb as mutts. It was so easy to manipulate them into doing my bidding merely with a convincing disguise."
"So who are you?" Harumi questioned.
"That matters not." Quan Chi replied as he realized he was beginning to derail away from his true task: eliminate the Shirai Ryu and employ those who survive afterlife in the Netherrealm into his services. "Let us proceed."
Quan Chi refocused his attention to the son who remained frozen in place in the corner of the room in complete fear while sobbing and crying uncontrollably. The sorcerer took a step towards the boy and Harumi immediately made him regret such a move. Harumi lunged forward almost instinctively and impaled Quan Chi in the stomach with the Ninjato and pushed him back against the wall, pinning him against the wooden wall using the handle of the sword with the blade also stabbing into the wall to further hold Chi in place. Being all too familiar with a backed against a wall situation after the Black Dragon compound attack that Quan Chi endeavoured single handedly.
Harumi continued to use all her strength to push the Ninjato as far as she could into Quan Chi's stomach to increase the pain inflicted on the sorcerer as well as securing his trapped position against the wall. Harumi then took a quick moment to attempt to comfort his son but knew she had to be rid of this evil being who threatened them both. Harumi returned to the weapon rack and grabbed a second Ninjato as his husband tended to duel wield a pair of identical blades, hence having two in possession.
Harumi prepared to use this second Ninjato to kill the evil invader by using his temporarily trapped state to her advantage. Harumi pointed the blade towards the sorcerer as she prepared to charge the blade into him once again. Before being able to accomplish this, the sorcerer quickly used his wits and scanned the nearby area, it hurt to bend down but it was necessary to reach the ice axe that still maintained it's form on the ground below despite having dropped it in the conflict. As Quan Chi went to pick up the axe, the other end of the weapon was met by Satoshi who tried his hardest to seize the axe from his grasp after seeing what he was capable of with it. The difference in strength between the child and the sorcerer was very drastic and Quan Chi easily snatched it from the boy, but it was a good enough distraction for Harumi to reach Quan Chi with a second Ninjato.
Though she had intended on stabbing the second Ninjato into the heart of Quan Chi, the sorcerer managed to kick her in her right shin at the last moment which tripped her up and caused the sword to stab beneath his corrupted heart which saved the sorcerer from death. Quan Chi groaned in pain before spitting out blood in the face of Harumi, he was suffering a great deal of blood loss from being stabbed not once but twice. Harumi used one of the impaled swords as a support to pull her back to her feet after being tripped which made Quan Chi's situation even more agonising. Harumi went to draw one of the Ninjato's out of Quan Chi's torso but Chi reacted to this attempt by cutting the ice axe into her hip which shattered upon impact and caused Harumi to fall back onto the floor with her blood spilling onto the carpet. Satoshi immediately ran to his mother as he became even more concerned and afraid as he watched his mother struggle to stand in pain. Satoshi began holding Harumi tightly and not wishing to let go.
"Stay out of the way, Satoshi." Harumi instructed with a clear weakness in her voice. "And do not watch… please."
Satoshi did as his mother wished and stepped away from the conflict, trembling with each step as he got further away from his wounded mother. Satoshi was unable to comply with the latter part of his mothers request however as he was afraid of what he wasn't seeing, despite being horrified at helplessly watching the action unfold. Meanwhile, Quan Chi had ruthlessly tore the two Ninjato swords that were impaled through his body out of him and now carried them in one hand each, his blood seeping from the blades and his wounds as they dripped onto the floor below. Harumi could still fight and kicked the sorcerer which knocked him back head first into the wall which bought her time to retrieve a chair within the room which again consisted of a wooden material and she smashed it over Quan Chi's back with aggression, knocking the sorcerer to the floor as well as causing him to drop one of the swords.
Harumi hurried over to retrieve the sword, it's hilt was slippery and lacked grip due to the blood that soaked it. Quan Chi sprung to his feet after seeing Harumi grab the Ninjato and the two engaged in a sword battle. Quan Chi was an expert in sword combat whereas Harumi merely had what she had been taught from Hanzo when the couple would engage in sword sparring sessions as an occasional fun exercise. This meant it was easy for Quan Chi to eventually overpower Harumi with relative ease, disarming the mother and kicking her beside the fireplace. Harumi stood up but was immediately caught off guard when a green skull summoned by Quan Chi came at Harumi at full force and brutally headbutted her. The impact of the skull caused Harumi to stumble back with part of her clothing catching fire from the fireplace behind her. Harumi quickly fell and rolled on the floor to put the fire off of her, though it had spread to the carpet as a result of rolling across it.
The fire began spreading rapidly as Harumi was occupied with dodging the aggressive attacks made by Quan Chi as he now held both Ninjato swords and was going in for the kill. Harumi used her agility to continue reversing all attacks that came her way but she couldn't do this forever, especially when a fire was continuing spreading across the highly flammable house.
"Satoshi!" Harumi quickly called out as the fire was getting out of control and was beginning to become even more concerned that her son would become trapped in the flames.
"Mama!" he cried out.
Following the direction that the sound of Satoshi's voice came from, Harumi ran through the room that was beginning to be engulfed by smoke and found him still in the corner of the room as she had instructed minutes ago. Harumi went to grab Satoshi and retreat from their home but a sharp pain entered her back and pierced through her.
"R-run." Harumi continued to give Satoshi instructions despite being impaled. "St-stay clear of the fi-fire… and g-get out of he-here…"
"Ok..." Satoshi tearfully replied, unable to speak much due to his uncontrollable crying.
"I love you…"
Satoshi was so overwhelmed but did as she asked despite the sadness and fear that was coming over the young child. Satoshi went to run past her mother and the sorcerer but as he did so, Quan Chi ripped out the Ninjato in Harumi's back which caused her to collapse in agony and took the blade and sliced it at Satoshi. The blade cut clean through the boy, savagely decapitating him. The sorcerer kicked Satoshi's corpse into the fire to feed the hungry flames. Meanwhile, Satoshi's severed head rolled towards Harumi as she lay on all fours now staring horrified at the sight of what remained of her son.
"No!" she cried. "Satoshi!"
As Harumi was mourning the sudden and savage loss of his son she was approached by Quan Chi who crossed the two Ninjato around her neck, prepared to execute her.
"Ju-just… do it." She begged between sobs. "Ki-kill me al-already… you bastard…"
Quan Chi happily complied and mercilessly beheaded her with the two Ninjato before throwing the blood covered swords to the burning ground and shapeshifting back into Sub Zero. Using Bi Han's abilities of Cryomancy, Quan Chi froze over the fire so that he may exit the building safely, clutching his wounds as he left with a wicked and sadistic smile on his face behind the Lin Kuei mask.
The terrifying vision finally came to an end with Scorpion's blood boiling from the horrific sight of his son and wife being murdered.
"I didn't ask for this!" Harumi suddenly yelled at Zeraura. "I told you to show evidence that Quan Chi was our murderer!"
"And I succeeded, no?" Zeraura arrogantly asked which only enraged Scorpion further.
"I'LL KILL HIM!" Scorpion screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Hanzo, calm down." Kenshi advised him.
"Listen to your friend," Harumi told her husband. "Please."
"I will avenge the two of you," Scorpion promised. "And our clan."
"Do not let anger consume you." Harumi pleaded. "This isn't what I wanted, Zeraura!"
"I've given the three of you enough time to talk now." Zeraura claimed before bossily adding, "Conclude your conversations now."
"No!" Harumi and Scorpion both yelled in unison.
"Yes!" she fired back. "Finish up your conversing or I'll cut you off and send the pair of you back to Heaven."
Harumi sighed before figuring she had to comply, "I understand." She said. "Say goodbye to your father, Satoshi."
"Bye-bye." Satoshi said with his avatar approaching Scorpion and spreading a warm aura to the Spectre which gave him at least some feeling of touch with his son. "Will I see you again, papa?"
"Someday yes." He promised. "Goodbye son. I love you."
"Love you too." Satoshi returned the love in his kind, pure and innocent tone of voice.
Scorpion waved goodbye as he watched as Satoshi's avatar dissolved as it was transported back to his home in Heaven.
"I wish we could talk longer," Harumi stated. "I truly do."
"I know." Scorpion replied. "And know that I will make Quan Chi suffer for this."
"I know." She repeated her husband's own words. "Just don't become consumed by anger and hate."
"I will try." He promised.
"I will be watching." She informed him. "Goodbye. I hope we can meet again soon."
"As do I." Scorpion felt the very same way. "I will always love you Harumi. Goodbye."
Harumi's avatar repeated what happened to Satoshi's as she also began being transported back to Heaven by Zeraura, leaving just her and Scorpion and Kenshi in the room. For a brief moment Scorpion was actually calmed down despite the sick and horrendous sights that he had just witnessed, and it was all thanks to Harumi. Now that she and Satoshi were gone again, Scorpion began shaking in uncontrollable anger.
"I must pay Quan Chi a visit." Scorpion stated before teleporting away on such short notice.
"Are you happy with yourself?" Kenshi asked the Elder Goddess. "Toying with a man's emotions… does it please you?"
"I have just provided him time to reconnect with his loved ones!" Zeraura argued. "Not only that but I also unveiled the truth."
"But at what cost?"
"I advise you do not question the handling of an Elder Goddess." Zeraura suggested to the swordsman. "Do not forget the gift that I have bestowed upon you, Kenshi Takehashi."
"I will not forget any of this." Kenshi assured her.
Without saying a farewell the hologram of a clearly annoyed Zeraura faded away, leaving Kenshi alone to finish drinking his cup of tea while thoughts concerning his friend surrounded his mind.