Mortal Kombat: Sub-Zero's Student

Chapter Thirty-One: No Time For Caution

(Dark On Me by Starset.)
-Bi-Han's POV- I stir awake, feeling a sense of dread linger over me. The sudden urge to check on Kuai is overwhelming. But why? Why now?

Regardless, I get up and walk into the hall. The sudden sound of faint singing catches my attention.
Walking down the hall, the singing becomes clearer, to the point that I can understand the lyrics.
"There's no hate.
There's no love.
Only dark skies that hang above.
I call your name as I walk alone,
Send a signal to guide me home.
Light the night up, you're my dark star.
And now you're falling away."

Interesting, I never realized Kuai could sing.
I continue down the hall, his sad song leading me towards the kitchen. I decide to stay in the hall, my back against the wall, smiling and listening.
"But I found in you what was lost in me...
In a world so cold and empty.
I could lie awake just to watch you breathe.
In the dead of night, you went dark on me."

I hear him shuffle something around.
"You're the cause,
The antidote.
The sinking ship that I could not let go.
You led my way, then disappeared.
How could you just walk away and leave me here?
Light the night up, you're my dark star,
And now you're falling away."
I tilt my head, frowning. Is that how he explains the situation that occurred with me leaving for the first Mortal Kombat Tournament?

"But I found in you what was lost in me.
In a world so cold and empty.
I could lie awake just to watch you breathe.
In the dead of night you went dark on me. 
Blinded, I can't do this on my own!
You are all I've got to guide me home!"
He sounds so sad...
"Kuai," I walk into the kitchen.

He gasps, cheeks flustered pink. "B-big brother! You..I—uh..." He's an embarrassed mess, stammering and blushing.
Kuai sighs, messing with the pan he's cooking eggs on. "You heard all of that, didn't you?"
"Yes. Forgive me for intruding. I just wanted to check and make sure you were okay. I did not realize you could sing, Kuai."

Kuai shrugs, focusing his attention on the eggs.
"I used to sing to myself all the time when I was alone. Nobody knew, of course. Lin Kuei Assassins were never expected to sing, only carry out missions from the Grandmaster."
He holds the skillet out towards me. "Hungry?"

I nod. "Yes, thank you."
We both sit down after Kuai hands out plates full of food. "Speaking of Grandmaster," I begin between forkfuls of egg.
"I have thought about what you said earlier. Kuai Liang, if you are still not in the best state mentally, I would be happy to accept the title as Grandmaster. It would be an honor."

Kuai blinks, setting his fork down. His eyes fill with tears. "You really mean that? Oh, Bi-Han, th-thank you. That may be the best option." He lowers his voice. "Because I heard the voice again."
"What?" I gasp. "Just now?"
Kuai nods his head, rubbing the back of it.
"What did he say? Are we in danger?"
Kuai looks worried, unwrapping the old gauze and placing it on the table.

"No," He shakes his head. "But he keeps taunting me. Maybe I should just stay away."
"What about Kana? He must be worried sick about you. He is probably asking Hanzo many questions."
Kuai heaves a sigh, angrily wiping his tears away.
"You do not need to remind me."
He sighs, looking down at his healing hand.
"Come on, let me help you clean your wound. The dirty gauze has clogged it with dust."

We both get up and walk over to the washroom down the hall. I turn on the sink after gathering fresh gauze and pain reliever cream.
Kuai cries out as warm water and soap enter the large cut in his right palm.
"Will you be okay?" Kuai nods through his tears.
"You're doing great, brother. Take your hand out. It looks clean enough."

I pop the cap off the cream bottle and squirt some on his palm. He lets out a sigh as the medicine does its work as he rubs it in. I wrap the clean gauze around his palm, placing a strip between his middle and ring fingers to make sure the gauze doesn't become loose.
After that is finished, I have my hand linger on his, my finger brushing his wrapped palm lightly.
"Better?"
"Yes, thank you, Bi-Han."
I grin. "Oh. I almost forgot."
I take his bandaged hand and kiss the palm. "There. Now I assure you it will heal."
Kuai looks stunned that I did that.
"What?" I tease. "Mother would do this to all of our wounds. She said it would make the healed skin stronger. I figured I'd try it out on you....since mother isn't here."

"O-oh," Kuai stammers, staring down at his hand while color floods to his cheeks. I laugh.
"But I should change, since my clothes are torn to shreds."
"Go ahead," I whisper. "Shower if you need to. I'll be in the library."
****
-Kuai's POV- I try my best to brush my hair after the shower, but the brush keeps falling out of my weak grip. I huff in annoyance, staring at myself in the large foggy mirror, just letting my wet hair drip down my back.

"Struggling, my sweet boy?" The voice, who I've since called Tundra, mocks, his form distorted by the foggy glass.
"Why do you care?" I ask, bending down to pick up the hair brush.
"I just came to check on you. Make sure you haven't dropped dead ever since you passed out on me."
Tundra gasps, staring at me with something resembling sympathy. "Oh, you aren't too hurt are you?"
"Spare me your fake sympathy," I spat, turning away and wrapping the towel around my waist tighter.
Tundra sighs behind me. "Such a killjoy."
"Why you little—!" I whirl around, but cut my sentence off, only seeing my normal reflection.

I shake my head. "Calm down. Just get dressed and go read with Bi-Han."
I hastily exit the washroom and go into mine.
With a grunt, I slide open the door to my closet.
An older costume in the back catches my eye.
It is a dark blue, with a hood and cape. The shoulder pads are curved up to resemble armor. It looks flexible and warm. That's all that matters.

Once I'm dressed, I look at myself in the shattered dresser mirror. I exhale, looking at my back in the mirror as the cape flows down like a dark blue waterfall. The cape itself isn't very long, only going down to my calves, but it is a nice touch.

"I don't recall wearing this before," I say, putting the hood on. The black and blue sleeves flow down all the way from my shoulders to my fingertips, like one large glove. Icicles decorate my shoulders like crystals. Odd, but pretty. The black cloth on the sides of my rib cage have bits of blue woven in, like ice is jabbing out from between my ribs. Images of human skulls act as padding for my knees. Huh, Hanzo would be amused.

"Kuai? Are you done with your shower? Kuai...woah.." Bi-Han stops mid sentence as he walks in, scanning me up and down.
"Where did you get that outfit? It surprisingly looks good on you."
Thank the Gods that I'm currently wearing the mask that came with it. But I feel my cheeks burn red.
"I found it in my closet. But I did not know I had it."

Bi-Han grins. "I love it. Come on, we should visit Kana and Hanzo. I just hope Hanzo will understand..."
"I'm sure he will," I chirp with a little too much enthusiasm. But I can't tell them I heard Tundra again. I need to learn to deal with him on my own.