Mortal Kombat: Sub-Zero's Student

Chapter Thirty-Four: Bloody Icicles

-Kuai's  POV- I try to focus my breathing as Tundra continues to say hurtful words into my head.
"What about that dagger Raiden told you to go get? You remember what happened back then, don't you?" I slowly turn around, feeling my heart pound against my ribs.

I automatically reach my hand up and touch the jagged scar over my eye. "Don't," is all I manage to choke out. Tundra smiles, the cracked mirror surface distorting his face. "You recall Kano marking you, causing you to snap, freezing over an entire city and it's innocent people! People you swore to Raiden to protect! And Scorpion?" Tundra laughs. "Scorpion nearly killed you. He left you for dead. He let you bleed out on the asphalt. He killed your brother. If anything, he's the one that you should rip his spine out of!"

"No!" I yell, gripping my head as his words become clear in my mind. "That's not true! Hanzo is my friend."
"Friend?" Tundra's laugh ricochets inside my skull.
"What kind of friend calls you a dangerous person? Takes your own son away from you?"

"Kuai!"
"Brother! Where are you?!"
"Papa!"
"No..." I whisper.
"Oh, this will be interesting." Tundra purrs.
"Lose control, Kuai. Freeze Hanzo. Freeze them all if you want."
The scar over my eye suddenly burns. I slam my hand over my mouth to prevent myself from screaming. My vision fades in and out. Then I see red. But that's impossible. I haven't been marked by the dagger again.

Were Tundra's words enough to make me snap?
****
-Bi-Han's POV- As we search the main hall of the temple, a strong gust of wind blows out the remaining lit torches.

Kuai staggers out from the darkness, crying and his clothing ripped. His hood is down and his cape is in tatters. He hiccups, staring at us. "B-big brother...?" He sniffs. I instinctively begin walking forward, but I'm stopped by Hanzo's hand on my shoulder.
"Wait," he whispers. "Look at his eyes, his scar. Something is wrong."

My breath catches in my throat at seeing the purple specks in his eyes again. His old scar looks raw, almost...scabbed, like he ripped at it with something sharp. Flecks of blood stain the skin near his scarred eye, making his bloodshot eyes stand out. His breathing is hoarse, and the gauze of his bandaged hand is somewhat scuffed.

"Why won't you help me, Bi-Han?" Even in the forced voice, my heart still breaks seeing him in pain.
"Baby brother—"
Kuai's face twists from sobbing to pure anger in an instant. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" He screams, forming an ice axe in his hand and throwing it at us. We all duck as it flies past our heads and rams into the stone wall behind us.

With speed I didn't realize Kuai had, he runs up and grabs Hanzo by the scruff of his yellow clothing, slamming him against a wall. Hanzo grimaces in pain. Fear shines in his brown eyes as he grabs at Kuai's arms. "Kuai—" Hanzo coughs. "Why are you doing this?"

"Why? WHY? Because I've finally gotten some sense talked into me. Because of what you did to me after I was marked with that blasted dagger! Because you nearly killed me! Because you let me bleed out on the floor after Scorpion beat me to a pulp!" With each sentence he finishes, he keeps punching the stone wall near Hanzo's head, sending blood from his bruised hand and bits of stone flying into Hanzo's face.

"And," Kuai raises his bloody fist to punch Hanzo in the face. "You killed my brother!" He screams. Hanzo ducks at the last second, causing Kuai to punch the stone wall with full force. I cringe and gasp as I hear bones in Kuai's hand snap and crunch horribly. Kuai lets out a throat-ripping scream, clutching his hand as ice begins to gloss over it to numb the pain. I think his wrist is broken as well.

Kuai doubles over and vomits due to the amount of pain he's in. Hanzo backs away, face pale, holding Kana back as the boy sobs. "Kuai, please!" I beg, crying now. "Let's just talk! Tell me what's wrong! Are you mad because Hanzo killed me? I'm here! I'm right here!"
My little brother wheezes, lifting his head to stare at me while saliva and vomit stain his chin.

His broken hand hangs limply at his side.
"You knew I was in a bad state of mind, Bi-Han." He explains, his eyes burning into mine. "I lashed out. And what did you do? You left! That was the worst thing you could have done! And what about treating me like a baby? Hm? The name calling, the kisses, the back rubs. Was all of that just a ruse? A way to screw with me? You treated me like crap when we were kids, and now? Now that you're back, you want to—to coddle me, treat me like I'm some fragile boy that needs all the love and attention."

He stands up straight, anger hardening his eyes. His face suddenly changes, looking more sympathetic. "Oh, my precious baby brother," He mocks, copying my voice in a high-pitched, sneering tone. "Let me clean your cut for you and help put on fresh gauze. Does that feel better? Here, let me kiss your palm in a joking way to get an embarrassing reaction out of you. You might as well just kiss me on the lips while you're at it." Kuai spats, his voice back to normal.

"I did it because I care!" I yell back, my voice hoarse.
"Do you think I had fun bullying you?! Did you view this as nothing but some sick joke? I wanted nothing more than to keep you safe! But this," I motion to his broken form, both physically and mentally. "Seeing you like this cuts me deeply, Kuai. Yes, I coddled you, perhaps a bit too much...but I did it because I know you needed it. You craved that affection, the kisses, the need to be loved. I saw how you blushed every time I showed you that. How you...laughed." Tears burn my eyes as I see Kuai's face twitch, a flicker of emotion glazing over his blue and purple eyes.

His face twists, showing a mixture of anger and sadness. He suddenly snarls, forming another ice axe as he stalks towards me. "Kuai, stop!" I yell, bracing myself as he gets closer, dragging the weapon behind him. He lunges for me, axe raised. Out of reflex, I shove him away with more force than necessary by kicking him in the abdomen.

He flies back, striking his head on the metal handle holding the burnt out torches to the stone wall. Blood stains the handle and the wall as he slides down into a crumpled heap, unconscious.
The axe he was holding lays askew beside him.

I fall to my knees, letting out a mixture of a laugh and ugly sobbing as the reality of what I did sinks in.
"Look at you!" I scream to myself. "You haven't learned a thing! You're still as much of a bully as you've ever been! Nothing's changed!" I clutch my head and scream as I press my forehead to the stone floor.

"Bi-Han," Hanzo's voice is hoarse. He coughs.
"Kuai is still alive. He's moving."
I look up, my sight blurry. Kuai groans, lifting his head up as his eyes flutter open. His face twists in pain as he looks down at his mangled hand.
"Kuai," he looks startled as I get up and run to him. This time, Hanzo doesn't stop me.

"Are you okay? You're bleeding! Let me help you walk to the medical room." I hold my hand out. Kuai cringes away, his good hand close to his chest.
"Duìbùqǐ. Wǒ rènshì nǐ ma?" Kuai looks absolutely petrified. (I'm sorry. Do I know you?)

I whirl around to look at Hanzo, who looks just as lost. Both he and Kana rush over. "That's not good."
"Kuai," My breathing is rapid. "Stop screwing around! It's me! It's Bi-Han, Hanzo, and Kana!"
Kuai tilts his head, brows furrowed.
"Bì hàn?" He repeats my name, then shakes his head. "Yuánliàng wǒ. Wǒ bù míngbái."
(Forgive me. I do not understand.)

Fear shines in Kuai's blue eyes as I grab his arm, shaking him slightly. "Don't to this to me!"
"Stop! Stop!" Hanzo yells. "You're going to hurt him more!"
I yell and let go, running my hand through my hair.
"What language is he speaking? Can you understand him?" I demand.

"Watashi ga iu koto o wakarimasu ka?" Hanzo asks.
(Can you understand me?)
Kuai lets out a frustrated cry, clutching his head with his good hand and shaking. "Nǐ zài shuō shénme?! Biéguǎn wǒ!" (What are you saying?! Just leave me alone!)

Hanzo looks defeated. "It's not Japanese. I think it's Mandarin Chinese. How come you can't understand him?"
"He was more in touch with his Chinese side of our genetics than I was, going so far as to learn the language at a young age to impress father. Not that it got his attention like Kuai wanted. But I never learned the language, only focused on fighting." I explain.

"Then that bump must have really messed with him, going to far as to erase his memory and cause him to forget English entirely." Hanzo looks at Kana, who looks just as scared and confused as Kuai is.
"What should we do?" Hanzo asks.
I glance at Kuai, who is trying to get up off the floor, but crying as he puts pressure on his broken hand.
"Gānggāng líkāi!" (Just go away!)

"I.." What can I say at this point? What can I do?