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evilbihan · 2 days ago

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Bi-Han's redemption - Part 1

Warnings: Graphic descriptions of canon-typical gore and violence

Note: This is the sequel to my first fic, Bi-Han's Fate, which I strongly recommend reading before this one if you haven't yet.

Summary: With General Shao and Reiko threatening to free Onaga, tensions are high in Outworld's capital, Sun Do. Bi-Han, who set out on a quest to capture the two and restore his honor, might soon find that he has entered a treacherous snake pit. Meanwhile, an old foe arising from the shadows endangers Earthrealm once more...

Sub-Zero, Mount Tsagaan, sunrise

Ruins peak out through the mist, a circular formation of tower-like structures, man-made, yet long abandoned, jagged stone painted crimson by the early daylight. His footsteps are quiet on the narrow gravel path, eyes trained on blue fabric as he follows Kitana uphill, careful not to lose sight of her in the fog. The trees become scarcer as they proceed, the vegetation parting as the path leads further up onto steeper, rockier terrain. From there he is able to get a better look at what lies ahead. A mountain top far up in the distance, covered in snow. And below, dormant beneath their feet, lies Shao's weapon. He can sense it, the presence of something as malicious as it is ancient. The ruins he had seen on the way up must have served as watchtowers once, the remains of battlements still visible under tangled vines where rubble had given way to the elements, leaving behind gauges in the stone. Now they remind him of beastly fangs protruding from an open maw, a silent warning urging them to turn heel and flee.

Bi-Han had never fled from a fight and he would not run from this one, damned be the odds.

Should Onaga be awoken and freed from his prison, they would not leave the mountain alive, he had been told. The palms of his hands tingle with anticipation at the thought of fighting the Dragon King. He would be facing an opponent of legends, a being perhaps even more powerful than Havik's or Shang Tsung's Titan counterparts. Death should have taught him to be wiser in picking his battles, yet it had not dimmed his ambition or eagerness to prove himself and strive for glory. He cannot deny he feels prideful knowing that, while he had been missing from the fight himself, it had still been one of his counterparts who had defeated Shang Tsung atop the pyramid. It is him the Dragon King, that all this timeline's enemies, should fear.

He had offered to go alone, partially because he still believes Onaga is a myth. Then again, he had thought the same of Vaeternians until he had faced Nitara. Mileena, of course, had not been fond of his suggestion, insisting that her sister would accompany him on this mission. Bi-Han had not argued against it.

At the foot of Mount Tsagaan, Kitana lifts one of her closed fans, signaling him to halt. Below them, the ground is scorched, devoid of verdure, a battlefield still branded by the bloodshed it had seen. An eerie silence lingers in the air. Here, a last stand had been made. He knows only tales of this battle, even though he had studied Outworld's history in preparation for his grandmaster role. Not much is known of it anymore, no more than myths passed down from one generation to the next. Perhaps even the Outworlders themselves had forgotten about the war that once took place here.

Exhaustion begins to set in, even for him, the muscles in his thighs burning with exertion from the long hike across the elevated terrain, despite the durability that all Lin Kuei are known for. Mere weeks ago, he had been on his deathbed. It feels as though more time had passed since then. His strength and cryomancy have not yet fully returned. At times, he feels like they never will.

They had been marching for days, traveling by ship, by foot and on horseback, though the term horseback is a generous description for the spiked backs of the enormous beasts Outworlders use as mounts. They had left them behind further down on a grassier plateu where the animals would find water and enough plants to feed on until their return. Bi-Han regrets not accepting the simple garments that had been offered to him back in Sun Do, lighter fabrics like the dessert-dwelling nomads of Baraka's tribe used to wear against the scorching heat. He had considered the scratchy and tattered cloth unbefitting of his otherwise spotless appearance. Instead, he had decided to stick to his own armor, a mistake as the heated metal of his arm and shoulder plates now burns uncomfortably hot against his skin.

"We are here at last." Kitana announces. He can hear the relief in her voice, albeit paired with tension. It seems they had not come too late at least.

Bi-Han casts his eyes around, taking in the sights that surround him. He finds himself standing at the edge of a rounded platform, crafted into the rock by skilled hands, so that it almost appears natural should one not bother to look closely enough. Stone pillars rise up from the ground, creating a circle around it. As he steps closer, he notices thin lines stretching across the ground as if the platform is cracked, a forked pattern reminiscent almost of veins on skin. A faint light seems to be given off by them.

"What is this place?", he inquires as he crouches down, fingers tracing the pulsating lines of energy emitting a soft purple glow, symbols he does not recognize carved into the stone. Through his fingertips he can almost feel the earth stir, a low hum of magic present in the markings. His eyes follow the lines, watching them sneak up the surrounding pillars in a way that suggests they are somehow connected. The ground itself feels uneven, as if made up of shards of rock held together by this strange, humming field of magic.

"Outworld is full of secrets, Earthrealmer", Kitana responds. "Most of them are best left undisturbed."

He looks up at her, squinting at both her words and the glaring sun. Her answer does not surprise him. His help had been begrudgingly accepted, he is being tolerated in Outworld, not welcomed. Everyone in the royal court had been tight-lipped about the mission from the start, their explanations vague, allowing him to only know as much as absolutely necessary to be able to complete his task successfully. He can tell that Sindel's daughters still don't trust him and while he cannot blame them, he still can't help but feel frustrated. Is it not enough that he is willing to atone and set things right? He figures that only his blood would appease Empress Mileena's fury.

Bi-Han clears his throat and gets up, wiping the dust from his fingertips.

"In my experience secrets only tend to destroy."

He thinks back to his brothers. The bond he had broken and just now began to mend. They are amicable now, but he knows things would never return to how they used to be, at least not between Kuai Liang and him. There may be no hatred left, but the hurt and disappointment still runs deep, a river impossible to cross, with rapids so strong no bridge can hold above it.

"It's a seal" Kitana's soft but firm voice snaps him out of his thoughts. "A gateway, if one knows how to break through it."

"And Shao knows?" He asks, still examining the lines with a wary side glance. The circle where the seal resides seems undisturbed as far as he can tell.

"I should be asking you that." Kitana crosses her arms, a sharpness to her gaze that could rival that of her fans' blades.

Defiantly, Bi-Han holds the eye contact. "My alliance with him was brief. Shao never fully disclosed his plans to me."

"How could you place your faith in someone like Shao?" She shakes her head, half in lack of understanding and half in disappointment. "Did you truly think he would trust you? Treat you as an equal?"

Bi-Han bites back the defensive response that comes to his mind first. "I put my faith in no one but myself", he says instead. "If you are concerned about Shao's plans, why not have your men guard the mountain? Outworld is not lacking in soldiers."

"The capital's defense takes priority", Kitana informs him. "But more importantly, our soldiers' lives would be wasted. All those who linger on this mountain for too long, fall to madness. Its influence is corrupting."

Bi-Han snorts half-heartedly. "You believe in such superstition, princess?"

"General", she corrects him. "And these are not superstitions. You have seen the Dragon Army. Were you not tempted by it too?"

"I was tempted by false promises and lies."

"You know nothing of Onaga's power." Kitana's tone turns icy as she pushes past him to take a better look at the seal herself. "Your ignorance is most insulting, Sub-Zero."

The Dragon Army... Is it true that it had turned his ambition into greed? His desire for freedom into madness? It matters not, he decides. Whether of his own will or not, the damage his actions had caused is done and nothing would absolve him of it. If anything, Onaga's influence had only awoken what had been buried beneath the surface. He is not free of guilt, he never would be. This time, he chooses to remain quiet, instead gesturing towards the seal on the ground.

"Reiko did not arrive before us, it seems."

"How do you know?"

"The seal is unbroken."

"Yet we cannot be assured." Kitana sighs. "Shao's ancestors trapped Onaga inside this mountain. If there is another passage, he will know of it."

"All the more reason to guard this place. If no one else dares to, I will do it."

Kitana glares at him. "How can we trust you? You lied to your brothers. Deceived your own people."

"And you did not? Mileena's affliction. The nature of her relationship with Tanya. The cure to Tarkat that you withheld from the other infected. How many died while your sister lived?"

"You dare judge us?"

"As you judge me."

"Mileena's medication is no cure. " Kitana snaps. "The effects do not last. We never—"

"And yet it buys her time until a cure is found. How many Outworlders did not get that chance?"

"My sister is the Empress!"

"Thus her life is of more value?"

Kitana opens her mouth to respond, but she doesn't get to do so. From the corner of his vision, he detects movement. Out of pure instinct, his arms dart out to shove her aside, just as the point of a spear tears through the air where she stood, missing Bi-Han by mere inches as he twists his upper body to the side to get out of the weapon's way.

The spear pierces the ground in the middle of the circle and Bi-Han barely has enough time to follow the spear's ornate handle down to where it embedded itself in the center of one of the purple lines, then a burst of energy from the seal blasts both Kitana and him off the platform. Several feet away, he lands painfully on the ground, his skin burning where it had scraped along small rocks. With a grunt, he tries to push himself to his feet only to see a face twisted with rage hovering above him, blue eyes so pale they appear almost white glaring down at him. Reiko places his boot on Bi-Han's chest and pins him back down.

"Sub-Zero... The General will be pleased to know I got rid of you for him."

Bi-Han glares. "Still so full of loyalty for a man who sent you to your death?"

"To die for General Shao would be my greatest honor."

It is hard to tell whether or not Reiko had lost his mind on this mountain already. He must have been here for a while, Bi-Han figures, unless he had followed them up here unseen. Shao's right-hand man had always struck him as unstable, prone to needless cruelty and violence. But insanity? Bi-Han had not known him long enough to be able to cast a verdict, but he can tell Reiko teeters on the verge of insanity. War and years of killing leave no one unscarred.

Bi-Han's eyes widen as the flash of a knife catches his attention. Reiko had pulled the weapon from his belt, raising it high above his head. As the knife comes down, Bi-Han manages to catch Reiko's wrist, stopping the blade mid-attack, inches away from his face.

"Demon!", Reiko snarls, droplets of spittle landing on Bi-Han's cheek as the soldier tries to overpower him, his head turning red with the effort. "You should be dead. Havik killed you."

There is a flicker of something Bi-Han can't quite name in his eyes. Perhaps Kitana's words are true after all.

"I will send you back to the Netherrealm."

Reiko pushes down harder, adds more pressure onto the hilt of his blade. Bi-Han grits his teeth. The tip of the knife hovers above his throat.

Suddenly, an object flies past them, a blur of blue. Kitana's bladed fan. A moment later the blade at his throat is gone as Reiko drops it with a hiss of pain. The fan's sharp edges had left a deep, bleeding cut across his forearm. Bi-Han makes use of the distraction to kick Reiko off of him and jump back to his feet. Once broken free, he summons an ice dagger and slashes at his opponent with it. Reiko evades the point of his blade, but not the kick Kitana delivers to his side or the punch Bi-Han follows up with. Dazed, Reiko stumbles backwards and Bi-Han takes aim for the finishing blow, his dagger pointed at Reiko's heart.

He doesn't get to land it.

A hand closes around his wrist, stopping him.

"Sub-Zero, don't!" Kitana's grip tightens as he tries to shake her off. "He needs to tell us where to find Shao."

"He would never talk."

"Still... The Empress should interrogate him."

Reiko laughs. "No matter what you do to me, I will never betray General Shao."

For a moment, Bi-Han considers ignoring Kitana's plea. In his experience, it never ends well to spare an enemy.

The princess seems to read his thoughts.

"Sub-Zero.", She says again. "Don't do it."

"Fine." Bi-Han snaps. "Have it your way."

He turns away and freezes as the ground beneath him suddenly shakes. His eyes land on Reiko's spear, engulfed by the seal's purple energy, escaping like blood from a wound. Another rumble shakes the earth. A roar of fury, deafeningly loud, even from below layers upon layers of rock. He glances over at Kitana. Her face had gone pale.

"We must leave the mountain. Immediately."

The rumbling increases in volume, drowned out only by Reiko's maniac laughter. Bi-Han turns around and swings at him, knocking him out with a swift punch and throwing the soldier's unconscious form over his shoulders. With their knocked out captive on his back, he chases down the mountain after Kitana.

Sub-Zero, Sun Do, 10:51 am

"It is worse than we thought." Tanya's voice is solemn to match her expression, uneasiness evident in her tone. "The seal is damaged. Earthquakes have caused destruction all over Outworld. Even if Reiko failed to free Onaga, he achieved what he wanted." She leans over the balustrade of the throne room's large balcony and looks down at the crowded streets filled with men, women, children and elders carrying what little of their possessions they were able to salvage on their backs as they seek refuge in the capital. Li Mei and her constables have been tirelessly at work, assigning tents and makeshift housing to the people who had to flee their collapsing homes. The ones that made it here are safe. More are waiting at the gates.

"This is only the beginning" Bi-Han mutters, tearing his gaze away from the view of the street below to address Mileena. "Outworld is doomed if Onaga is freed. Let me find Shao on my own."

"How can I know you won't aid him instead?"

Bi-Han glares, but forces himself to swallow his pride alongside his anger. "You will have to trust me."

"A man whose loyalty lies only with himself dares to ask for trust?"

"I didn't come to ask for trust. I came to earn it."

Mileena narrows her eyes. "To me and to everyone else in Outworld, you will always remain a traitor."

Her words sting, far more than he cares to admit. Far more than he had expected. Will he ever be able to remove the stain of dishonor that had fallen upon his name? Still they think so little of him.

"There are conditions to your pardon." Mileena continues, leaning forward in her throne. "Once Shao is captured, you will leave Sun Do, never to return. In allowing you to walk away with your life, I am showing you more mercy than you deserve."

"Outworld's affairs do not interest me. I came to right my wrongs. Nothing more." He has no intention to help Outworld beyond that. Earthrealm and Outworld may be at peace for the moment, allies who came together to defeat a bigger threat, but he remains wary of Outworld's intentions. Were they truly as peaceful as they claim to be, the tournament would not exist. Empress Mileena's volatile nature is no secret and if no cure to her affliction is found...

"Why should I let you roam Outworld freely? So you can learn its' secrets and sell us out to our enemies?"

"The Lin Kuei are an ancient clan." Bi-Han responds calmly. "We have learned and guarded many secrets."

"Liu Kang couldn't have picked a worse person to trust with them."

"Sister, please." Kitana cuts in softly.

Mileena glares in her direction. When her eyes meet his again, her glare only intensifies.

Bi-Han holds her gaze. "Liu Kang's judgement is not for you to question."

From around him, he can hear the quiet gasps of guards and servants. All eyes in the room settle on him. He who had dared to talk back to the Empress. Outraged, Mileena jumps up from her throne. All of a sudden, the tension in the room feels suffocating.

To Bi-Han's surprise, Tanya steps forward and clears her throat. "Empress, right now Shao is the bigger threat. He is turning the people against you. If he breaks the seal and Onaga escapes—"

"I am aware, Tanya." Mileena interrupts her. "To appease the people, I will have Reiko executed in the morning. Let everyone witness what happens to those who try to take my throne."

"Sister, you must reconsider", Kitana says almost pleadingly as she stands from her seat. "Reiko may be a traitor, but before that he was a decorated soldier who fought many battles for us. A public execution would be unfitting and might demoralize our army. And no one apart from Reiko knows Shao's current whereabouts."

Mileena glares. "My general speaks on behalf of my enemies?"

"We cannot risk losing the people's loyalty." Kitana reminds her. "As your general, it is my duty to protect you."

"Your duty is to serve me."

Silence follows Mileena's words. Bi-Han despises how much her stubbornness reminds him of his own, that he used to speak to his brothers in the same condescending tone once, as a leader, not as their brother, expecting blind obedience when instead, he should have understood that they were trying to save him from the darkness taking over his soul. He can witness the same change in Outworld's Empress now, her Tarkatan half erasing her humanity bit by bit. He knows the ending of this story from his own painful experience, yet he can only bear witness to it. Just like his brothers had been witnesses to his downfall.

"Reiko's execution will be at first light tomorrow." Mileena announces with a finality that makes it obvious her decision is made.

Kitana doesn't oppose her this time, her head hung low in defeat. Despite his dislike for Outworld's Royal Family, Bi-Han feels the slightest bit of sympathy towards her.

"You both should thank me for my mercy. I should have you punished for your failure. Neither of you was able to stop Reiko before he damaged the seal."

"His attack came unexpected." Kitana protests. "Thankfully, we were able to capture him."

"After the damage was done."

"It was my fault", Bi-Han hears himself say. "It was I who started an argument. Therefore, we were both distracted when Reiko attacked."

He can feel Kitana's gaze on him, but he doesn't turn his head to look at her.

"Someone must bear the responsibility." Mileena sits back down on her throne. "Since you acknowledged it was your mistake, I shall have you punished in the morning."

Bi-Han grits his teeth. Kitana wants to step forward, but he extends an arm to hold her back. He doesn't want to be the cause of further dispute between the sisters.

With one last glare in their direction, Mileena waves her hand. "You are all dismissed."

Smoke, Hollywood, 5:48 pm

"I had no idea shooting a movie was this exhausting."

Every bone and muscle in his body aches. Tomas discovers he has a newfound respect for the acting profession. He had not even felt this tired after the Lin Kuei's most strenuous training sessions. His face muscles hurt from smiling. He's pretty sure that he's bruised all over from all the times his scene partner's prop sword had connected during a moment of distraction on set, forcing them to redo the whole take. Tomas doesn't believe he's made for the show business, but he can tell Johnny is overjoyed that he had agreed to play himself in the actor's upcoming movie.

With a chuckle, Johnny throws one arm around his shoulders. Tomas is taller than him, so the actor has to awkwardly stand on the tip of his toes to be able to do so. It nearly knocks Tomas off balance, causing the stack of boxes in his arms filled to the brim with props to sway dangerously.

"Let me tell you, it's even more exhausting when you're director, producer and protagonist all at once."

Tomas grimaces, trying to rebalance the boxes before they can topple over. "I'm not sure why I agreed to this."

"Because you needed some time away from the Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu." Johnny reminds him. "Families can be complicated. I get it. What you need is vacation. Let Hollywood work its' magic on you."

"This feels like work, not vacation, Johnny."

The actor flashes him his signature grin. "Who said you can't combine fun and productivity?"

Before Tomas can respond, Johnny's phone buzzes with a message notification.

"Well, isn't that just perfect? Bi-Han's actor called in sick today. Again. Dude's probably hungover. I should find a replacement for him, but voice-wise, he's the best we've got. Seriously, how does your brother do it?"

"I..." Tomas trails off, not saying anything more beyond that.

His heart grows heavier at the mention of Bi-Han. He misses his oldest brother and he misses Kuai Liang too. They hadn't spoken again after Bi-Han had left for Outworld. Tomas feels guilty, he knows he should be checking in on Kuai Liang more frequently, but for the first time in a while, he feels like himself again, like Tomas Vrbada, not Smoke, not the youngest brother having to mediate between two stubborn older brothers. For the first time in his life, he is having fun, away from all the duties and responsibilities that come with being part of a clan whose sole purpose it is to defend the realm. He is doing something for himself for once and it feels good. Johnny had been showing him L.A. whenever they weren't busy filming. There is so much to discover and see, dishes he had never tried, places he had never been to. Tomas likes being dragged to trendy coffee shops, stores and restaurants, exploring the part of Earthrealm that is meant to remain closed off to all Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu.

It makes the guilt weigh all the heavier. Of course, he cherishes every moment spent with Bi-Han and Kuai Liang, they are his family and he had not been any less happy with his brothers around, but they had each found their own paths and maybe it's simply time for him to do the same.

Johnny nudges him with his elbow. "Next time you see Bi-Han, tell him I'll let the Hitchuli incident slide if he agrees to star in my movie."

Tomas offers him a half-hearted smile. "Will do, Johnny."

He keeps to himself that he very much already knows Bi-Han's answer.

The actor drops the arm around his shoulders and suddenly stops dead in his tracks, causing Tomas to nearly bump into his back.

"Hey now... Would you look at that?"

Tomas follows Johnny's gaze to find a blonde woman with a ponytail talking to a bunch of confused looking costume designers. Well, talking is not the exact word Tomas would use. She is more so barking orders at them, loud enough that he can hear every word from here.

"Johnny Cage. Where is he? I need to speak with him. Now."

The woman, whoever she is, sounds anything but amused. From her posture, hands resting on her hips and foot tapping against the ground, Tomas can tell she is tense and in a hurry. He wonders if Johnny knows her.

He glances over at the actor whose expression doesn't give much away besides that he is smitten, which doesn't surprise Tomas at all. He clears his throat quietly to get Johnny's attention. "Seems like she's looking for you."

Johnny pushes his sunglasses up into his hair with a smirk. "The fans are calling. You'll excuse me for a moment."

She does not look like a fan, Tomas thinks as he watches Johnny stride over to the woman. Her attire makes her look official. Important.

Two burly men dressed in military uniforms flank her on each side. They look up as the actor approaches. This time, the woman's voice is lower as she talks and he's standing too far away to catch any snippets of what is being said.

Tomas doesn't mean to evesdrop, but his interest gets the better of him. He sets the props down and steps a bit closer until he can hear more of the conversation.

"… don't think I caught your name."

"I'm Lieutenant Sonya Blade. Special Forces." the blonde woman introduces herself.

Speical Forces... Why does the name of this unit sound so familiar? Tomas is sure that Kenshi had brought it up at some point before. According to him, the Special Forces had been founded as a separate department dealing with anything that ordinary Earthrealmers couldn't know of, like the existence of gods and other realms and the threats that brings with it.

Tomas watches Johnny's most charming smile fail to earn anything more than a frown from Lieutenant Blade. "Look, I'm very honored, but if you're here for autographs—"

The woman glares. "I don't have time for this nonsense. Where is the other?"

"Who?"

"Your companion."

It takes Tomas a moment to figure out that she is talking about him.

"I'm here." He says, awkwardly coming closer as everyone's attention turns to him.

Lieutenant Blade looks relieved to have someone other than Johnny to speak to.

Johnny gives him a pat on the back. "Oh, right. This is—"

"Tomas Vrbada. Codename Smoke." Sonya Blade interrupts him, casting only a side glance in Smoke's direction. "I know who you are. We have no time to waste."

"What happened?", Tomas asks.

"What I have to say to you isn't meant for the public. Can we go somewhere more private?" She casts her eyes around as if to make them aware of all the set extras, make-up artists and camera crew members staring at them, trying to figure out what is going on.

"Sure." Johnny gestures for her to follow, his face a dark shade of red.

The actor leads them outside to his trailer, spacious and lavishly decorated, as one would expect from any space belonging to Johnny Cage. They squeeze into the trailer, (which now seems much less spacious with five people standing shoulder to shoulder inside it), and Sonya Blade takes the word again.

"I have orders to escort you both back to a location known as the Temple of the Elements."

Tomas and Johnny exchange confused looks.

"Woah, what for?", Johnny asks. "We're in the middle of filming. I can't just leave."

For the first time since the beginning of their conversation, there is a flicker of emotion in Sonya Blade's eyes. "I'm afraid this matter takes the highest priority."

Tomas can sense that something is wrong. Terribly wrong.

"Can you just tell us what happened? Did Lord Liu Kang send you here?"

"Not quite." She pauses, lowers her head to avoid meeting his eyes. "Earthrealm no longer has a protector."

Liu Kang, Temple of the Elements, the day before, midnight

Lately, he often reflects back on his choices, every decision, every mistake that had shaped this timeline into what it is today, all the incidents and consequences, unforseen or not... Shang Tsung's scheming, the Tarkat outbreak, General Shao's betrayal, Sindel's and Bi-Han's deaths, the creation of Noob Saibot, the destruction Havik had wreaked upon the timeline... How much of it could have been avoided? Had he gambled away the only chance at giving all these people the peaceful lives he had intended for them by opting for inaction? Should he have done more? Guided them more, instead of allowing them to find their own paths? Liu Kang thinks back to his mentor, Raiden, trying so desperately to fight fate, falling to darkness, turning into a tyrant, no longer a protector. Deep down, he had been afraid of becoming like Raiden.

At times he wonders how much he already is like his old mentor.

Liu Kang stares down at the scroll rolled out on his desk, brush hovering above the paper.

Whatever it was that he had intended to write down, he had long forgotten about it now. It had gotten darker in his office. The sun had already disappeared behind the mountaintops hours ago. Only a candle in front of him and some light coming in through the opened door illuminate the room. Even Geras must have retired for the night by now. The construct does not require sleep and neither does Liu Kang, but he still reserves the hours until sunrise for resting, a leftover habit from his mortal life that Geras had also adjusted to. Even as a god, it feels good to have a routine, a structure to his day.

As he debates whether or not to stay up for another hour, the light in the hallway suddenly goes out.

In an instant, the room is bathed in darkness.

The flame of the candle on his desk flickers briefly. A shadow darts past. There one moment and gone the next. Liu Kang lowers his brush.

Something must have extinguished the torch outside. A gust of wind, perhaps? With a sigh, the fire god pushes his chair back to stand up. If he wants to stay here for a little longer, he will need more light than just a candleflame to be able to take notes.

Just as he gets up, he can hear a quiet crunching noise, as if heavy boots are crushinh shards of glass beneath them. He waits a few more seconds. Nothing. But he is certain he did not imagine the sound.

"Who goes there?" He calls out.

The darkness swallows his question and sends no answer back.

Liu Kang makes his way towards the door, summoning a fire ball in his palm to re-ignite the torch in the hallway. He cannot explain why he is overcome by a sudden feeling of uneasiness, a tingling at the back of his neck, like a shudder crawling down his spine, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Is he imagining it or did it also get colder? A window must have been left open somewhere.

It's quiet in the hallway. As expected, he sees no one else out here. The torch is ignited again quickly, the orange glow of its' flame forcing the shadows to retreat. Liu Kang doesn't know why he had been so on edge just a few moments ago. Maybe he should really turn in for a rest.

The scrolls on his desk can wait until morning.

He goes back to his office, blows out the candle on his desk and as the flame goes out, two bright spots appear in the dark.

Eyes, milky-white and empty. Soulless.

The face they belong to hovers no more than inches away from his own, a shape seated in his chair, unmoving as it pierces him with its' gaze. Even sitting down, the other seems tall, as tall as Liu Kang himself, his shoulders wider than they should be, enlarged by spiked armor plates. The shape leans forward and the stench of rot and decay enters Liu Kang's nose.

Startled, he takes half a step back, squinting as he waits for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He blinks and the shape is gone. His chair empty.

Liu Kang clenches his fists, his palms heating up, ready to summon lightning and fire if needed. He is not in the mood for games.

"Show yourself!" He demands.

Nothing happens. Only the hairs on the back of his neck begin to stand up slightly.

Liu Kang spins around and finds himself face to face with a nightmare all too familiar to him.

Bi-Han. Mangled beyond recognition.

Not the Bi-Han he had saved. The other half of him. The part of his soul that died.

"How is this possible?", Liu Kang breathes. "You were—"

His own blood silences him as Noob Saibot's clawed fist punches a clean hole through his sternum and comes out on the other side, crimson dripping from his metal glove. With a gurgling sound, Liu Kang gasps for air. There is no sympathy in Noob Saibot's eyes, no remorse. He takes a step back when Liu Kang tries to grab onto him. With a grunt of pain, the fire god collapses to his knees. As his vision fades, he sees Noob Saibot standing above him.

"Night has fallen", Noob Saibot's ghostly, whispering voice rings out through the fog threatening to overtake his consciousness. The wraith turns his head as if to speak to someone else in the room, but the fire god cannot see who he addresses. Before his eyes fall shut, he catches only a glimpse of boots made of steel as red as blood.

"Let us make sure it never ends."

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evilbihan · 2 months ago

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First off, I would like to thank you for spending the time and effort on writing such a detailed and wonderful review of my story. I feel truly honored that you've decided to analyse my fanfic and I'm sorry the original review was lost. I would have loved to read it. I also want to apologize for taking so long to respond, I'm currently working on a paper that's due on Friday and will (finally) conclude the exam period.

As always, your style is concise and precise, and your words are carefully chosen and crafted, allowing you to get straight to the point while striking the reader with a powerful, evocative style. I admire what you have accomplished with this fic even more considering that English is your second language and that you were in the middle of your studies and exams!

Thank you so much, this really means a lot to me! I was hesitant to begin writing at first because I wasn't sure if my English is good enough, but it seems I was, as so often, just needlessly overthinking. I'm happy to hear that you like my writing style!

I also really appreciated how you gave Bi-Han the humanity that NRS deprived him of in MK1, while filling in the gaps in his personality and story, particularly the reasons that led him to let his father die. All of this was done with consistency and intelligence, leaving nothing to chance, which then allowed you to set Bi-Han on a path to redemption that was impossible for him to achieve in MK1 or Khaos Reigns, given the caricatured, one-dimensional portrayal of evil and meaninglessness that NRS gave him.

Bi-Han is a character I hold so much love and admiration for. I was so upset over what happened to him in Khaos Reigns that I couldn't bring myself to return to this account or the fandom in general after its release. Part of me regrets not writing this fic sooner in a less tumultous time of my life and back when the fandom wasn't as dead as it is now, but alas, I'm glad I was able to do my favorite character justice. Bi-Han deserved so much better and I wanted to give his story the conclusion it should have had.

But the central point for me remains the relationship between Bi-Han and his brothers, and their reconciliation after so much mutual hatred and misunderstanding amidst which, however, the faint flame of longing and a disappointed and betrayed love still burned.

I wanted the story's focus to be on the relationship between Bi-Han and his brothers because in my opinion, that is what a dlc centered around the Lin Kuei/Shirai Ryu should have been about, not the mess that was Khaos Reigns. The conflict between Bi-Han and Kuai Liang could have been resolved all while adding more depth to the lore of the two clans. So much within the original story hinted at how close the brothers were before they ultimately decided to go their separate ways. It seemed unrealistic to me that underneath all the hatred, there wasn't any care left still.

I know that you and I have always shared this conception of a romantic Bi-Han (in the 19th-century literary sense of the word, of course), and in that sense, you don't disappoint. Bi-Han remains "in character" in relation to what we see of his personality in MK1, but you still give him back his nobility, his substance, and his complexity, which Midway/NRS have only ever touched upon for 30 years, before completely abandoning them in MK1. It's brilliant and touching at the same time, and I thank you for that!

Yes, Bi-Han has always been a tragic hero and I wanted to portray him that way. This particular part of your review is my favorite, it made me smile the first time I read it and I'm even smiling as I read it again now. It makes me happy to know I managed to write Bi-Han in character, but still give him more depth and humanity. That was by far the most difficult part of writing this fic.

Speaking of Kuai Liang, I'm grateful to you for exploring his dark side and his moral failings, and for making him realize them and pushing him to apologize, because it's obvious that he can't be the perfect, virtuous character that NRS wanted him to be.

I agree, it always bothered me that Kuai Liang got away with all the awful choices he made in MK1 and no one ever criticised him for it. Tomas finding out that Kuai Liang had intended to let Bi-Han die was one of the few scenes I had outlined before I began writing the story. It was important to me to include that aspect.

Secondly, and this will be my only criticism: I doubt that Sektor will obey Bi-Han's instructions for long. It seems highly unlikely to me that she won't end up betraying him to cyberize the Lin Kuei (which is more than implied, in KR, to have been her intention from the start) and resume her plan for conquest.

Your criticism here is more than valid and I understand why Sektor might seem out of character in this fic. It's because to this day I know nothing about Khaos Reigns outside of the incomplete leaked script I read and the trailers that were released before the dlc came out. I refuse to soil my eyes with Khaos Reigns, so I never watched the story. I based Sektor on small bits and pieces I picked up here and there, through intros or gif sets I saw, but I know very little about what her character is canonically like in MK1.

Bi-Han's decision to fly solo and earn his redemption reminds me of his ending in the original MK1, where after winning the tournament, he takes the reward offered by the Lin Kuei and leaves them to live a normal life. Bi-Han is meant to be a lone warrior who comes to the aid of Earthrealm Defenders when the need arises.

I have you to thank for the ending being what it is today. Originally, I was thinking of having Bi-Han return to the Lin Kuei and resume his position as grandmaster, but then I saw your post "Bi-Han, an imagery of bondage" and I realized the best thing that could happen to his character would be to finally be free of his bonds, be it to Earthrealm, Liu Kang or the Lin Kuei. I've always loved his original ending, so finishing the story like that felt like coming full circle.

PS. Thinking of Johnny suggesting names for Kuai Liang and Harumi's baby makes me laugh, given how much I love Johnny. I can just imagine him pestering the couple with ridiculous names and Kuairumi giving in out of exhaustion, worn down by his constant attempts and the labor and delivery aftermath!

Fun fact: I got this idea from playing Sims. In the game, Harumi and Kuai Liang have four kids and I let NPC Harumi name all of them by herself. She named them Frankie, Honesty, Caiden and Shooter. The last one is especially diabolical. But my in game lore explanation always was that Johnny suggested the names because they're western and modern.

He's been unjustly objectified by NRS in KR, reducing him to being Kuai Liang and Harumi's lapdog and third wheel. Yet he's one of the franchise's most interesting characters—one with an intriguing story and an engaging personality that deserved to be genuinely explored in MK1.

This is so true! They could have done so much with the enenra and Tomas, but they chose to sideline him completely instead. Tomas indeed deserved better and I feel like that applies to many of the characters in MK1.

Once again, thank you so much for your review!

Bi-Han's fate - Pt. 5 (ENDING)

Warnings: Graphic descriptions of canon-typical gore and violence

Notes: All things must end, even this fic. Up until last night, I had no idea how I wanted this story to end, but then I saw @inflamedrosenkranz's latest post and suddenly, I knew. I hope the ending feels satisfying and I was able to wrap up everyone's character arc in a way that feels realistic and makes sense. If this feels rushed towards the end, it's because I have a massive headache from committing twelve pages of a paper to memory two hours before my exam today. (Yes, this is how I study.) But alas, let me know what you think of this chapter!

Disclaimer: see previous posts

Pairings: Bi-Han x Sektor, Kuai Liang x Harumi

Previous parts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Tags: @yandere-transformers-rock @lacymarygold chapter 5 is out!

It nearly kills him.

The chaos magic surges through his body like a wildfire, a flash of white-hot, scalding pain, burning through everything in its wake, ripping open the barely healed scars deep within his soul, damaging it beyond repair.

He doesn't know if he screams or if he makes no sound at all.

The confused and bewildered faces of the Tengu warriors surrounding him become blury shapes, their voices distant and distorted echoes, drowned out by Havik's mocking laughter blaring through his head. The marks of chaos on his skin emit a sickening greenish glow, pulsing and squirming to the rhythm of a heartbeat long gone. Like a parasite coming alive to feast on its host, the madness Havik infected him with awakens once more. His soul feels like it's being torn in half, ripped apart like a piece of paper to give way to the terrifying power clawing its way to the surface. He summons a shadow clone, then another, watching them split and multiply, each clone coming to life bringing him one step closer to his own demise.

Liu Kang's treatment had diminished his strength, weakaning the chaos magic inside him, but he had gone days without it now, and like a disease flaring up without the medicine to suppress it, the darkness corrupting him bursts forth once again. It takes every ounce of his willpower to keep it at bay, to keep it from overtaking his mind completely. He has to hold onto his sanity to maintain control of the shadow clones or the chaos magic would begin to control him, rendering him unable to distinguish between friend or foe. With newfound vigor, his eyes settle on the two sorcerers in front of him.

The Tengu warriors don't stand a chance.

One of the shadow clones grabs hold of a spear being pointed at them and wrenches it away from the warrior wielding it, impaling him on it. Taking advantage of the distraction, Bi-Han plunges Smoke's karambit into the chest of another nearby enemy, killing him in an instant. More opponents try to swarm him, but one after the other, they fall victim to his terrifying powers. Beside him, shadow clones had piled onto a helplessly screaming and struggling warrior, drowning him under a roiling mass of their ghost-like silhouettes. Bi-Han grabs hold of a Tengu clan soldier's arms, the remaining shadow clones attaching themselves to his other limbs, pulling them off and tearing him apart. The world around him errupts in chaos, turning into a blur of screams and blood. The corrupted part of his soul thrives in it, welcomes it. One last time he indulges in the feeling of invincibility as he unleashes his powers, tearing through armor and flesh alike.

After a few seconds of being frozen in shock, Tomáš jumps into action, activating the rope spear and taking out the nearest opponent. Together, they protect the prone form of Kuai Liang, coordinating their moves and attacks as they had practiced it in hundreds of sparing matches, relying on each other, trusting each other. With their efforts combined, they manage to drive their enemies back far enough to create an opening. A chance to escape.

"You said they would be defenseless", the Tengu grandmaster growls, furiously turning to the sorcerers. "I knew we should have killed them."

"Do not harm them!", Shang Tsung commands. "I want them alive."

Even with the help of the shadow clones, they are outnumbered. Bi-Han doesn't know how Sektor and the Lin Kuei army are faring outside. Through the thick stone walls of the fortress, he can hardly hear a sound, not even the noise of a battle. Even if they make it out, they won't be getting far with these many Tengu warriors pursuing them. Not with Kuai Liang being unable to walk and Liu Kang still unconscious.

He watches as a Tengu clan soldier spears one of his shadow clones, obliterating it. A sudden sharp pain rips through him, leaving him breathless and almost forcing him to double over as if the spear had pierced his own chest. For a brief second, he shares the shadow clone's agony. It should be impossible. These beings made of chaos and darkness are not supposed to feel pain. It shouldn't be affecting him like this. It never had before. A shadow clone getting destroyed should have no impact on him at all, and yet... it almost feels like a part of him had been destroyed with it. His last bit of strength had been used on creating these clones. Once gone, he knows that he won't be able to replace them.

He has to get his brothers out. Now.

"Tomáš!", Bi-Han calls out over the commotion of the fight. "Take Kuai Liang and leave."

"What? No!", His brother protests. "We're leaving together, all three of us!"

"None of us will be leaving unless you listen to me", Bi-Han snaps.

"I'm not abandoning you."

"I have to stay behind to save Liu Kang. Go!"

Tomas shakes his head stubbornly.

They don't have time to argue. Another shadow clone is destroyed, vanishing into a puff of black vapor. Bi-Han feels blood crawling down his lips and chin. He tastes it on his tongue, bitter, thick ichor. The taste of death.

Suddenly, a sickle flies past them, embedding itself in the forehead of a Tengu warrior advancing on them. Simultanously almost, Bi-Han and Tomáš spin around to find Sareena and their other allies rushing into the room, fists raised and weapons drawn.

The demoness retrieves her weapon from the fallen warrior and flashes him a grin. "Need some help?"

"What are you doing here?"

"We're here to save you, Frosty", Johnny responds in her stead, cracking his knuckles as if to get ready to step into the fray.

Bi-Han holds him back. "This is not a fight you're prepared for."

"You're a real pessimist, you know that?" The actor pushes past him with a smug smile, earning a glare from Bi-Han for his annoying ignorance. He has to admit, however, that it is indeed admirable that Johnny and the others had at least managed to evade captivity up until this point. Maybe he had been wrong about them after all...

With their allies joining, the fight seems to take a turn in their favor.

Regardless, it's a bitter struggle. Even as their numbers dwindle, the Tengu clan warriors are nowhere near admitting defeat. If anything, the more of them fall, the more tenaciously the remaining ones fight. Bi-Han knows that the best way to render an army disfunctional is to take out the ones leading it. If only he can find a way to get to the Tengu clan's grandmaster...

Over his shoulder, he catches a glimpse of Kenshi cutting down a few enemies with Sento while Johnny delivers an uppercut to an already dazed soldier, knocking him out. Another Tengu warrior meets his end through the blades of Kitana's fan. They lock eyes across the room.

"Sub-Zero! We've got this. Take care of the sorcerers."

He nods, burrying the karambit in the eye socket of an opponent trying to step in his way. With the help of their allies, more and more Tengu soldiers fall around them. Bi-Han looks around for Quan Chi and Shang Tsung. It doesn't surprise him that those cowardly sorcerers have retreated to avoid the fight. He finds them well guarded by a smaller group of soldiers in the center of the hall, atop the steps leading up to the throne where the Tengu clan's grandmaster resides. Liu Kang hangs limply between two guards holding him up. Gathering his remaining shadow clones, Bi-Han begins to pave a path towards them.

As he spots him, Quan Chi raises the Arctikan Hailstone above his head. "One step closer, grandmaster, and I will destroy the stone."

"You won't." Bi-Han responds coldly. "If you wanted to destroy it, you would have done so already."

"I would prefer to have a capable cryomancer working for me, but if you make it necessary, I will–"

Bi-Han doesn't let him finish. His fist meets the sorcerer's jaw, punching him so hard it causes Quan Chi to stumble back and spew out a mouthful of blood, accompanied by a molar. While the sorcerer is still reeling from the punch, Bi-Han kicks the stone out of his hand, watching it sail through the air, and for a few tense seconds, waiting for it to shatter once it hits the ground. But it never does. A slender hand catches it in mid-air. Sareena's hand.

Quan Chi reaches out his arm towards her. "Sareena, be good and bring me the stone."

She hugs the gem to her chest. "No."

The sorcerer glares. "You go against your master's wishes? Against your own nature?"

"You are no longer my master and you know nothing of my nature."

"You're a demon, Sareena. You and these humans have nothing in common. Why help them?"

Bi-Han steps in front of her. "Leave her alone, Quan Chi. You can't manipulate her anymore."

"She will serve me again. And so will you."

He knows what Quan Chi is about to do and he won't let it happen. Before the sorcerer can summon a portal to the Netherrealm to trap Sareena in it, Bi-Han commands the shadow clones to attack. Two more of them are destroyed in the process, but they manage to restrain the sorcerer long enough for Bi-Han to land a few more hits on him.

With a final powerful axe kick to the back of the neck, Bi-Han knocks Quan Chi unconscious.

"Guard him", he instructs Sareena. "Don't let him wake up."

"I got it."

He turns his attention to Shang Tsung. The man who lured him with false promises of greatness, separated him from his brothers and made him betray Earthrealm. Today, Shang Tsung would pay for all he had put him through.

"You tricked me." He scowls, pointing angrily at the sorcerer. "You made me give up Kuai Liang's secrets to you!"

"And how easily you sold out your own flesh and blood." Shang Tsung chuckles to himself in amusement.

Bi-Han wants to rip his heart out right then and there, but he knows better than to give in to his anger. "I was fooled by your lies."

Shang Tsung clicks his tongue. "Oh, please. Will you blame me for your own greed?"

With a roar, Bi-Han throws himself at the sorcerer, attacking him with a flurry of rapid punches, followed by a devastating kick to the chest that sends Shang Tsung crashing into one of the pillars of the throne room with such force it leaves a crack in the stone. Shang Tsung groans as he slides to the floor.

"You're making a mistake", he sputters. "Liu Kang means to enslave you."

Still trying to talk his way out. How pathetic, Bi-Han thinks to himself.

"I was a slave to my own ambition."

He had been wrong about Liu Kang. Havik had enslaved him, torturing him and corrupting his mind, turning him into a mindless puppet to force him to serve his cause. The fire god had shown him nothing but mercy and compassion time after time, agreeing to treat him, staying by his side during his recovery, and throughout it all, being a friend to him. Perhaps he had needed the experience of Havik to teach him what it truly means to lose one's freedom, to become someone's servant. He understands now that Liu Kang had never treated him as his servant. He owes Liu Kang his life and he wouldn't let any harm come to him.

With a swiftness Bi-Han had not expected from Shang Tsung, the sorcerer jumps to his feet and lashes out at him with the claw-like needles of his bracers.

The blades stop inches away from his face, narrowly missing his left eye.

Bi-Han's eyes widen as he sees that Kuai Liang had crawled up the steps and grabbed onto Shang Tsung's ankle to hold him back. The sorcerer whips around and kicks him as if to get rid of a pesky insect. Kuai Liang whines in pain, but doesn't let go.

"You worm! Get your hands off me!" Shang Tsung steps on Kuai Liang's wrist and Bi-Han's heart shatters at the sickening crunch of a bone breaking, followed by his brother's pained outcry.

With a howl of fury, he attacks Shang Tsung, dodging a fireball being hurled towards him and lunging at the sorcerer, barreling into him and sending them both to the ground. With the help of the last remaining shadow clone, he pins the sorcerer down, punching him again and again until Shang Tsung's eyes roll back and his body slackens. He wants to keep hitting him. The infected part of him wants to kill Shang Tsung, but he knows better than to give in to that urge. Despite his hatred for him, he leaves Shang Tsung alive.

Only the Tengu clan's grandmaster remains.

Bi-Han watches him descend from his throne, a disgustingly sweet smile on his face.

"Such mettle. You truly resemble your mother."

"Do not dare to speak of her", he seethes.

"I remember her stubbornness. She wouldn't beg or scream. We shall see if you do."

Bi-Han's hands tremble with rage. "You bastard!"

The enemy grandmaster draws two identical swords.

One blade takes out the last shadow clone. The other almost impales him.

At the last second, Bi-Han manages to evade it. As the shadow clone disappears, his vision goes white. A burst of pain shoots through his skull, so intense he momentarily forgets about everything else around him.

Using Smoke's hunting knife, Bi-Han slashes blindly at the other grandmaster. His opponent dodges easily. A knee to the stomach knocks the air from his lungs, causing his insides to cramp up painfully. Bi-Han grits his teeth, ignoring the agony, blinking rapidly until the dizziness disappears. Albeit still blurry, enough of his vision returns to let him take aim at his enemy. He attempts to stab the hunting knife into the other's shoulder, but his opponent is too fast, moving out of the way and backhanding him across the face.

"You call yourself grandmaster?", the Tengu clan leader taunts him. "All I see is a boy, useless without his powers."

Another blow sends the karambit flying out of his hands and clattering to the floor a few feet away from him. One of the grandmaster's blades leaves a stinging cut on his upper leg. He pays no mind to it, catching the second blade between his bare hands as it comes down, enduring the pain as steel bites into skin. Instead of letting go, he grips the sword tighter and with pure strength alone, he tears it out of the other's grip and raises it to pary the next strike. Their swords meet with such force that both their weapons are knocked out of their hands. Once disarmed, Bi-Han wastes no time, diving for the hunting knife he had dropped, closing his fist around it... His hands are slick with blood, the blade's handle slippery in his palm... As the Tengu clan's grandmaster grabs a fistful of his hair, brutally pulling his head back to expose his throat, he twists his body around and drives the karambit straight into the other's heart.

His opponent's eyes widen. The grip on the back of his head loosens.

Satisfied, Bi-Han watches his enemy drop to his knees as he retrieves the blade. Back on his feet, he stands over the other, watching him take his final breaths.

"Your ancestors in the Netherrealm await. Go tell them how this boy defeated you."

He kicks the grandmaster's body down the stairs, watching it come to a halt at the feet of his warriors. Shock and panic begin to spread among the Tengu. Some continue to fight, others seem to have agreed to stand down. The ones still resisting are quickly overwhelmed. Bi-Han watches as the haze of the chaos magic possessing him slowly fades away. Shakily, he tries to take a few steps, not really knowing where he even intends to go. He has no more fight left in him.

Behind him, he hears a weak groan. Turning around, Bi-Han sees Liu Kang stirring awake as the surrendering Tengu guards let go of him. The fire god is dropped down onto his hands and knees as the soldiers step back. It seems to take him a few moments to fully regain his strength. Confused, Liu Kang looks around, taking in the aftermath of the fight. Finally, his eyes settle on Bi-Han.

"What happened?" The fire god frowns at the sight of the two sorcerers. "Shang Tsung... and Quan Chi? Are they–"

"They are alive", Bi-Han assures him. "They should face your judgement, not mine."

Before Liu Kang can respond, Lin Kuei warriors storm the throne room, rounding up the remaining Tengu soldiers. Sektor is with them, but she's not alone.

Bi-Han arches an eyebrow. "Cyrax? What's the meaning of this?"

His former subordinate crosses her arms, no less displeased to see him than he is seeing her.

As if she can read his thoughts, Sektor places her hand on his arm to calm him down. "The Shirai Ryu came to help. It was Liu Kang's idea. I used the technology in my armor to send a distress signal to Cyrax. Because our armors are still linked to each other, she was able to receive it."

"At first, I didn't want to respond", Cyrax cuts in. "I thought it would be some kind of trap. Harumi insisted that I come here."

Sektor nods. "Liu Kang was able to open a portal before he got taken away. Together with the Shirai Ryu we were able to overwhelm the Tengu and force them to surrender."

Bi-Han chooses to say nothing, even though he's relieved about this development of events. He still detests his brother's new clan and Cyrax is still a traitor in his eyes. He's anything but happy to see her or any of the Shirai Ryu.

"These vile sorcerers", Liu Kang mutters. "I told them I would tolerate no more of their scheming." The fire god steps in front of Shang Tsung and Quan Chi, watching the Lin Kuei warriors restrain them. "This time, they will be punished for their misdeeds."

Bi-Han clears his throat. "May I suggest something?"

Liu Kang sighs. "I already know what you want to propose."

"You don't." Bi-Han looks over at Kitana and gestures towards the sorcerers. "These are the men responsible for your mother's death. It wasn't me. My only mistake was falling for their false promises. A mistake I'm afraid I won't be able to correct in this life. However, Shang Tsung and Quan Chi are Outworlders and they belong under Outworld's jurisdiction. With Liu Kang's permission, I would like to hand them over to you and your sister, so they can be returned to Lei Chen prison."

Neither Liu Kang nor Kitana seem to have expected that.

The fire god is the first one to regain his speech. "Your intention is noble, but I'm afraid I cannot agree to this. Empress Mileena won't spare them."

"Then that is her decision to make."

"I–"

"Liu Kang", Bi-Han says calmly. "Earthrealm and Outworld will never know peace as long as these sorcerers roam free."

He stumbles to the side as Johnny practically elbows him out of the way. "Yeah, that's movie 101. Letting the bad guys walk away always ends badly for the protagonist."

Bi-Han grimaces. "For once, I agree with Cage."

"Me too", Ashrah joins in. "We cannot let evil fester in this timeline."

Kitana steps forward. "I cannot promise you anything, but I will try to convince Mileena to keep them alive."

Liu Kang seems to ponder over it for a few more seconds, but eventually he gives in. "Very well. You may return them to Outworld, Kitana."

Bi-Han doesn't know what the princess says in response. He pays no more attention to the rest of their conversation.

At the bottom of the stairs lies Kuai Liang.

He pushes past the others, stumbling down the steps.

"Kuai Liang..."

Gently, he scoops his brother up off the floor, cradling him in his arms, being as mindful of his injuries as he can be. He holds Kuai Liang just like back when they were kids, when his younger brother had fallen out of a tree or when he had come down with a particularly persistent illness. It's an embrace meant to offer comfort, to let Kuai Liang know that he's safe, loved, protected. Bi-Han rests his forehead against Kuai Liang's, feeling the scar he had given him.

With visible effort, Kuai Liang blinks one eye open. The other is swollen shut. "Bi-Han?"

"I'm here."

"Is it... over?"

He nods weakly. "Yes, brother, it's over. You're safe now."

"Are you... crying?"

His brows furrow. "What? Nonsense, I–"

With the back of his hand, he wipes at his eyes. It comes away wet, blackened with tears of blood like oil melting off a painting. He knows what this means...

"Bi-Han! Kuai Liang!" Tomáš rushes over to them, falling to his knees beside them.

Bi-Han hugs both his brothers and they cling to him, burrying their faces in the fabric of his uniform. He ruffles their hair, a quiet gesture of brotherly affection, so rarely shown. Right now, he doesn't care if anyone sees it, if they think of him as weak. All his life he had tried to live up to his father's impossible standards, trying to be the perfect heir, to meet the expectations the Lin Kuei elders had placed upon his shoulders long before he even ascended the grandmaster throne. He doesn't want to live out his final moments like that too, thinking of what others expect of him. Those minutes and seconds belong to him alone. That bit of time he still has, he wants to give it to his brothers. It pains him that he cannot give them more.

His hands begin to slip off their shoulders. Suddenly, he feels tired, his eyelids heavy, his body numb... Finally, he lets go, slumping forward until Tomáš catches him.

"Lord Liu Kang!", he hears his brother shout frantically. "Over here! We need help!"

Bi-Han opens his eyes to see the fire god standing over him, mouth agape in shock.

"By the Elder Gods! What have you done?"

The right thing. For once in my life.

He doesn't get to say it.

He drifts in and out of consciousness. At some point he registers that he is being moved. Through half-closed eyes, he catches a glimpse of Kuai Liang being carried next to him on a makeshift stretcher. His brother lies motionless, his eyes shut, brows drawn together as if the pain had followed him into his unconscious state. Only the steady rising and falling of his chest indicates that he's still alive. Bi-Han wants to reach for him, but he finds that he can't.

"Don't move", a soft voice whispers.

He looks up and into Sektor's concerned eyes, the traces of dried tears still present on her cheeks. Bi-Han swallows and tries to gather up the strength to talk, to comfort her, but only a weak cough comes over his lips.

Sektor squeezes his hand. "You'll be alright. You just need to hang on, do you hear me? Hang on, Bi-Han."

He doesn't know if he can. Weakly, he squeezes her hand back, hugging it tightly against his chest.

I'm sorry, he means to say. He owes her a better apology than that. He owes her a thousand apologies for what he had put her through, but this is all he can give her now.

He wants to hang on for her, for his brothers... If only he still had the strength, he would have laughed at his own foolishness. After all the times he had tried to deliberately seek out death, the only thing he wants now is to live. And he knows he won't get what he wants.

The darkness overtakes him once more.

This time, it feels final.

The Lin Kuei emblem in the palm of his hand reflects the rays of a slowly ascending sun. Morning dawns, casting its pale light into the room. He sits on the edge of the bed, gazing at the sky, blood red as his palms had been after his fight against Kuai Liang. His brother's blood is on his hands. It doesn't matter how many times he rinses them under icy water, how many layers of skin he scrapes off until his own blood comes forth, nothing will ever erase that. Even the badge Kuai Liang had left behind seems to glisten bright red, as if to remind him of his guilt.

Bi-Han looks over his shoulder as the mattress shift under him. He woke Sektor up. Again. He feels a pang of guilt at the thought. Maybe he shouldn't sleep next to her anymore. At least, not until he's calmer, stable again.

"You need to stop doing this to yourself", Sektor chides him, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head against his back. Through the thin material of her nightgown, he can feel her shiver against the coldness of his skin. He is made of ice, an unfriendly element, driving others away. Just like the cold of winter, he is difficult to love and even more difficult to get through to. A stubborn man, set in his self-destructive ways. Sektor had chosen to love him regardless. Bi-Han still doesn't know why.

His grip on the Lin Kuei badge tightens. "I should kill him for betraying me."

"You miss him."

Bi-Han says nothing. Even if it's true, he wouldn't admit it, not even to her. Not even to himself.

"Kuai Liang is dead to me."

He doesn't know who he's trying to convince, Sektor or himself. Not a single day goes by where he doesn't think about his brothers. He misses them both and he loathes himself for it. He shouldn't miss them. He shouldn't care. And yet...

Sektor sighs. She knows him well enough not to argue with him on this matter and he's grateful for that. Some of the tension falls off him as she presses a soft kiss between his shoulder blades.

"It's still early.", she mumbles against his skin, voice sluggish from sleep. "Come back to bed, alright?"

The day of Kuai Liang's wedding. Another bitter memory.

From where the Lin Kuei army had gathered outside the gates, he can hear music and laughter, the voices of chatting guests. There are many. Not that he had expected anything different. Everyone had always loved his golden brother. Kuai Liang has a family of his own now and he made sure to let Bi-Han know he is not part of it anymore. It pains him that he hadn't even been invited to his brother's wedding. Despite everything, he had been hoping for at least this much. That Kuai Liang would come to his senses, ask for his forgiveness, rejoin the Lin Kuei. They could have brought their clan glory, together. Instead, Kuai Liang had cut him off like a rotting limb. The pain only feeds his hatred, his determination to take away his brother's joy, just like Kuai Liang's betrayal had taken all the joy away from him.

He doesn't want to do this, but it's too late to go back.

Bi-Han opens his clenched fist, looking down at his brother's Lin Kuei emblem pne last time before he gives Sektor and Cyrax the order to attack.

The badge falls out of his pocket and lands on the ground, the boots of Havik's underlings stomping it deeper into the dirt. At the sight of it, he struggles harder, kicking his feet. They drag him away from it, away from the last remainder of his bond with Kuai Liang. It is lost now, gone forever.

Looking back, he feels as though he had died twice that day.

"You're awake." Liu Kang greets him with a warm smile.

Bi-Han can only groan in response. Sunlight, gentle and bright, heats up the left side of his face, causing him to squint as he opens his eyes. It's daytime outside. He doesn't know how long he had been unconscious for. In fact, he doesn't know how he's still alive. He feels... well, surprinsingly enough. The constant dull ache in his body is gone and so is the dizziness. Gone is the nausea, the taste of blood accompanying each intake of breath. His mind is finally still, the chaos magic he had felt like an itch in the back of his head, silenced. If anything, he's merely a little tired now. And hungry.

The memories of what happened come back to him one by one.

Suddenly, he shoots up straight, so fast it causes his head to spin and pain to shoot up his spine.

"Kuai Liang...", he rasps, his voice hoarse from disuse. "Is he..."

"He is recovering from his injuries", Liu Kang explains calmly, resting a hand on his shoulder and gently pushing him back down. "Harumi is with him right now. He already asked about you as well."

Reluctantly, Bi-Han sinks back into the soft pillows. "I want to see him."

The fire god shakes his head. "You should rest a little more first. You can see him tomorrow if you'd like."

Tomorrow. He doesn't want to wait that long. He needs to know that his brother is safe. Regardless, he's aware that it's pointless to argue with Liu Kang and perhaps another day of bedrest would benefit him as well. He might feel fine at the moment, but he doesn't know for sure if his legs can carry him yet.

"How long have I been out?"

"A week, almost."

"A week?"

Liu Kang exhales slowly. "Restoring you was no easy feat, Bi-Han. When we brought you here, Geras and I were almost confident that you were already too far gone to even attempt the procedure. We tried it anyway, but saving your life came at a cost."

"What cost?"

He can tell that something is wrong with him, even though he feels absolutely fine. The best he had felt in a long time, in fact. Perhaps it's exactly that part that should be alarming him. Now that he's fully awake, he notices something else that he hadn't noticed before. He feels cold. Not because it's chilly in the room, no. The cold comes from within him. It courses through his veins. Cryomancy. Slowly, Bi-Han lifts his arms, only to find that the green lines, the last signs of his infection with chaos magic, had disappeared too. He tries to freeze his hand as he had done countless of times, but his cryomancy doesn't obey him quite yet. It is there though, he can feel it, just slightly beyond reach. Bi-Han is almost certain that, were he any less exhausted, he would have been able to use it.

"My powers... You were able to restore them fully?"

The fire god's smile fades a little. "It's... complicated", he sighs.

Bi-Han raises an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue talking.

"The damage you've done to yourself when you used your chaos magic was irrepairable", Liu Kang says quietly. "To preserve your life, I had to split your soul in half. The part I was able to salvage still resides within you now, but the other half... It became pure chaos. A separate being we chose to name Noob Saibot. We restrained him for now. Ashrah is still trying to find out if there's a way to purify him, but...", the fire god trails off, never finishing his sentence. "As for you... You are a cryomancer and mortal again."

Bi-Han can only stare at Liu Kang as the words slowly sink in. He had lost half his soul? He doesn't quite know what to do with that information. Perhaps he should be shocked, confused or angry... But he feels nothing anymore. Too much had happened. He had almost lost Kuai Liang, had almost died himself... He is too exhausted to feel anything at this point. However, the thought of another being, another self made entirely of chaos and darkness, is still enough to make his skin crawl.

"Can I... live like this?"

Liu Kang nods. "It won't have any lasting effects on your physical health and it won't affect your lifespan. However... you might experience certain side effects."

"What kind of side effects?"

The fire god refuses to meet his eyes. "I can't say that for certain. You might have trouble remembering things. Maybe you will feel confused and disoriented for a while. I... really don't know, Bi-Han. I never attempted anything like this before."

His concern must be written all across his face because Liu Kang reaches out to give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You will adjust to it in time, I'm sure. And you're not alone. If you need help, you can come to me. You have many people who care about you, Bi-Han."

He doesn't respond, so the fire god keeps talking.

"Speaking of that, Sektor has been staying with you day and night. She's currently waiting outside. Would you like me to call her in?"

Absentmindedly, Bi-Han nods.

He survived. His cryomancy had been returned to him. Perhaps he should be joyful, but he can't help feeling numb, disconnected. Finally, he got his life and his powers back, only to lose another part of himself.

He wonders if fate itself had cursed him.

The next morning, he chooses to visit Kuai Liang.

Even though Liu Kang had assured him that his brother is recovering well, that he's in stable condition and none of his injuries would leave any serious lasting damage, Bi-Han needs to see for himself that Kuai Liang is doing better. He owes him that much. The closer it gets, the more he begins to dread the moment he will see his brother again. So much had remained unresolved between them, so much still needs to be said, apologies and explanations, a conversation long overdue. Bi-Han isn't sure if he has the energy for it right now and he doubts that Kuai Liang does, either. But he didn't come here to talk today.

He doesn't know if he's disappointed or relieved to find that Kuai Liang is still asleep when he arrives at his room. His brother's left arm is wrapped up in bandages and held up by a sling. The smaller wounds had been cleaned and bandaged up as well. Kuai Liang looks tired and pale, but he's alive and being cared for.

Harumi is with him. She looks up as the door to the room opens.

Awkwardly, Bi-Han stands in the doorway, unsure if he should approach or retreat. He's certain that Harumi must be anything but pleased to see him. After the Lin Kuei's attack on her wedding day, they hadn't encountered each other again.

A little hesitantly, Bi-Han nods towards Kuai Liang. "How is he?"

"The healers said he will make a full recovery. He's resting now."

Bi-Han nods. "I will come back later then." He turns towards the door, but stops, despite his pride urging him to leave silently.

He had come to check on his brother and he had done what he came for. He could just go. It would be easier that way. But he doesn't want to walk away from his mistakes anymore.

"About what happened at your wedding...", he begins quietly. "I owe you an apology. To attack you on your wedding day... I know that what I've done, what the Lin Kuei have done, is inexcusable."

Harumi strokes the back of Kuai Liang's uninjured hand with her thumb. "Prior to all this, I would not have forgiven you, but you saved Kuai Liang's life. You brought my husband back to me and I also saw what you did for Tomáš. Your choices have proven that your regret is genuine. For that, I am willing to put the past behind us."

Bi-Han doesn't know what to say. He had expected anger and mistrust, resentment, not immediate forgiveness. He doesn't deserve to be forgiven so easily. She has every reason to hate him and so does Kuai Liang.

"The Lin Kuei won't threaten you anymore", he assures her.

Harumi's eyes meet his, her expression stern, but gentle. "I hope you will still be part of your brothers' life."

"It is for the best if I'm not."

She lets out a sigh. "Kuai Liang misses you. I know he has his faults, but he needs you. Both your brothers need you."

"Tomas and I have talked", he tells her. "We are amicable now. As for Kuai Liang and I... Some things cannot be mended."

"Maybe an apology would fix more than you think. He owes you an apology as well. You were both blinded by anger and too stubborn to sit down and talk."

"I-"

"I'm pregnant, Bi-Han", Harumi interrupts him softly. "And I would like my child to meet both their uncles."

Pregnant. Her confession leaves him speechless.

Kuai Liang would become a father. And he would be an uncle.

"Does Kuai Liang know?", he asks once he has gotten over the initial surprise.

She shakes her head. "No, I haven't had the chance to tell him yet."

"I... congratulate you and Kuai Liang", Bi-Han says stiffly. "You will have a future heir for your clan."

Harumi smiles. "I hope you choose to be part of our lives. To be with your family."

Family.

"You have many people who care about you, Bi-Han."

Perhaps, Liu Kang's words are true. If only he had been able to see it earlier... Even if he reconciles with his brothers now, things wouldn't be the same anymore. Because they are not the same anymore.

Bi-Han slowly shakes his head. "That is not where my path leads me."

He doesn't know why, but she seems saddened by his response.

"Then I hope the Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu can coexist peacefully from now on. But I must warn you. Should the Lin Kuei ever attempt to harm us again, I will do what I must to protect my family."

"I understand."

Harumi turns her attention back to Kuai Liang and he knows there is nothing else she will say to him. With one last look at Kuai Liang, Bi-Han turns around and leaves the room.

Outside, he nearly bumps into Liu Kang.

"Bi-Han." The fire god smiles. "I was looking for you."

"Did something happen?"

Liu Kang shakes his head. "There is a matter I would like to discuss with you." He gestures at the hallway ahead of them. "Walk with me."

Bi-Han sighs, but doesn't protest, instead following the fire god. "Is it important? If not, tell me another day. I don't know how many more news I can handle today."

"I believe this is something you'll want to hear."

"I'm listening."

„After their defeat, the Tengu have scattered and abandoned their fortress.“ Liu Kang tells him as they walk. "The Tengu clan's territory stretches far. No one else has a claim to that land, but since the Tengu clan no longer exists, I have made the necessary preparations to have it signed over to you. Consider it a reward for the Lin Kuei's many years of loyal service to Earthrealm."

Bi-Han suddenly stops in his tracks. "You're willing to give it to me?"

"You have proven worthy of it."

Once again, he doesn't know what to say.

The man he had been two years ago would have welcomed this opportunity. He would have expanded the Lin Kuei, instructed them to build factories, allowing Sektor to produce more advanced armor and weaponry. He would have made the Lin Kuei known and respected all across Earthrealm. But now? The man he is now doesn't know what to do with that offer.

Slowly, he shakes his head. "I cannot accept that... But if you truly intend to give that land to the Lin Kuei, I'm sure Sektor will find a way to put it to good use."

Liu Kang blinks. "What do you mean?"

He takes a deep breath. "There is something I must tell you, too."

He stands under the temple roof and watches the rain fall, observing the tiny droplets gathering on the leaves of the trees around him. It doesn't calm him. There is nothing serene or healing about watching rain, despite of what Liu Kang might claim. Bi-Han only finds that it bores him. That boredom reminds him of precisely why he had never bothered with such things before.

As he's debating whether to go back inside or to force himself to stay out here for a little longer, footsteps suddenly approach him. He doesn't turn around although he recognizes them.

"Brother?", a tentative voice asks. "Can we talk?"

Bi-Han doesn't respond. Kuai Liang shouldn't be out here. He should be inside, resting. However, Bi-Han knows that it's pointless to tell that to his brother. Kuai Liang is no less stubborn than he is.

"How are you feeling?", his brother asks.

"Better. How is your arm?"

"Still hurts." Kuai Liang winces as he tries to move his hand inside the sling. "I suppose it will take some time to heal."

Bi-Han only nods in response and they both fall silent again.

"I don't expect forgiveness, I know I don't deserve it", Kuai Liang says quietly, his voice almost drowned out by the sound of the rain getting heavier now.

"We have both done unforgivable things to each other." Bi-Han turns his head to look at his brother. "I scarred you."

"But I'm the one who hurt you first." Kuai Liang drops his gaze. "I thought you let father die because you wanted the grandmaster throne for yourself. I thought all you wanted was power."

Bi-Han smiles sadly. "We were close once. And yet you knew me so little."

Kuai Liang seems to flinch at his words. "Brother, I–"

"Leave it." There is no blame or bitterness in his voice, only exhaustion.

His brother clenches his fists. "I wish we had never met these damned sorcerers. Think about it, Bi-Han. If we had never met them, maybe we would still have meals together, laugh together, light lanterns together on New Years Eve. Maybe... we would still be brothers."

We are brothers. We will always be brothers, he wants to say. But he says nothing.

"You were right", Kuai Liang continues, his voice strained. "I wish I had never asked you for the truth. I don't want to remember father like this. A confused, broken man who sent mother to her death... What Geras showed us that day still haunts me. I'm sure it pleases you to hear that."

It doesn't.

"You choose how to remember father", Bi-Han hears himself say. "And that memory of him will live on. I know how much you valued father's traditions. Now they live on through you and your clan. Father would be proud of you."

Kuai Liang's cheeks glisten wet. Bi-Han doesn't know if with tears or rain.

"And mother would be proud of you."

I don't think so. Not anymore... Another thought Bi-Han decides to keep to himself. He forces a smile regardless, for his brother's sake, just as he always had. Some things, he notices, never truly change.

"I spoke to Tomáš earlier", Kuai Liang says after a while. "He resigned from his position as my second in command."

Bi-Han looks up in surprise. He hadn't seen that coming. Tomáš and Kuai Liang had always been close, inseparable even. To think that Tomáš would leave the Shirai Ryu... He can't even picture it.

"Did he tell you why?"

Kuai Liang shakes his head. "No, but I can imagine... And I don't blame him. What I've done to you, I can never–"

"You found the Arctikan Hailstone and you saved my life", Bi-Han interrupts him. "All the things we've done wrong, all our past regrets, we can't carry them with us forever. Let them go, Kuai Liang."

"But–"

"Maybe it was inevitable for the three us to go our seperate ways one day", he continues. "Maybe... this is for the best."

He can see Kuai Liang is fighting back tears.

"I don't want to be apart from you and Tomáš."

Bi-Han's heart aches. His brother sounds just like back when they were boys. Lost and scared... And just like back then, Bi-Han still wants to protect him, to comfort him and tell him that somehow, everything would turn out fine. Only now, they are not boys anymore and he knows better than to tell white lies.

"You still have a family, Kuai Liang", he says instead. "Being grandmaster... it means being lonely. I never wanted that for you, but you have chosen it for yourself." He shakes his head and sighs. "Give Tomáš some time. His anger will cool down eventually."

Kuai Liang forces a smile. "It's alright. I am glad to see you and Tomáš getting along now. He always admired you so much."

"I know."

For a while, they both watch the falling rain. It is getting colder outside. Despite the return of his cryomancy, Bi-Han's body hadn't fully adjusted to the changes in temperature yet. He's about to turn around and head back inside when Kuai Liang grabs his arm, holding him back.

"One last thing."

"What is it?"

Kuai Liang swallows audibly. "Can you ever forgive me?"

"Fool", Bi-Han huffs, but there is no malice in his voice, only the gruff, but gentle tone of an older brother scolding his younger sibling. "Don't you already know the answer?"

When he returns to his quarters to gather his things, he finds that he has no belongings worth packing. He regards his old clothes, the ones he had been forced to wear, with a look of disgust. Havik's severed hand is still attached to his old belt. He has no intention of taking any of those things with him. In fact, he hopes Liu Kang will burn them. Three years of his life... lost. Spent in agony and seclusion. Bi-Han had always preferred solitude to the company of others. Social gatherings tire him out quickly, he has little patience for them, but the quiet moments spent with his brothers, with Sektor, the few people he cherishes, he had missed them dearly. Despite that, he had never truly been lonely during his stay here or at the Temple of the Elements. He feels gratitude towards Liu Kang for that, for continuing to engage in conversations with him every day, for silently staying by his side, for saving him, in more ways than one. He's grateful that he got the opportunity to save Liu Kang, too. He hates it to owe favors.

He also hates goodbyes.

He's tempted to leave quietly. He is not one for big speeches or sentimental gestures. Maybe he should sneak away to make it easier for everyone, especially for himself, but his plans are foiled by a quiet knock on the door.

"You're leaving?" Sareena sounds surprised.

"I have been here for so long", he responds. "It is time for me to move on."

"Of course. I just wanted to stop by to thank you."

He raises an eyebrow. "Thank me? What for?"

"You helped me and my sister. With Quan Chi finally locked away, I am free to stay in Earthrealm." Sareena explains. "His evil magic can no longer corrupt me now."

Bi-Han smiles. "You should thank Liu Kang and Ashrah. I hardly contributed."

"But you defeated Quan Chi."

Bi-Han scoffs. "He made it easy for me."

Sareena shakes her head with a smile. "By the way... Kuai Liang asked me to deliver a message. He would like you and Tomáš to join him for dinner before you leave."

He frowns. "I don't think that's a good idea. I should–"

"I told him you are coming."

Before he can protest, the demoness is already out the door, waving a cheeky goodbye at him.

They sit in awkward silence, quietly picking away at their food. The company of his brothers doesn't feel the same anymore. He can't help comparing the present to the past, the good memories to those that came after. Kuai Liang's cooking has improved, Bi-Han notes. The meat is no longer overcooked and underseasoned. The fried vegetables no longer charred. Perhaps Harumi had been giving him directions or maybe he had been practicing more. Bi-Han could ask, start a conversation, but he chooses not to. Instead, he continues to push the food back and forth on his plate. His stomach isn't fully used to eating food again. He can only keep small portions down and he feels full quickly now. Still, he forces himself to choke down a few more bites to not disappoint Kuai Liang. He can tell his brother has put effort into this. Preparing a meal with one arm in a sling surely isn't easy.

His brothers don't seem to have much of an appetite either. The uncertainty between them is almost worse than resentment.

"I see you are no longer wearing Lin Kuei symbols", Kuai Liang eventually breaks the silence.

There it is. The moment he had dreaded so much.

Bi-Han swallows the last bite and lowers his chopsticks. "I won't go back."

Tomáš drops the food back onto his plate. "What? What do you mean? Where will you go instead?"

"To Outworld", he responds. "Empress Mileena agreed to pardon me if I can bring in Shao and Reiko. It was I who helped free them. It is my duty to capture them now."

Across the table, Kuai Liang and Tomáš exchange a confused look.

"Well, I'm sure Sektor doesn't mind looking after the Lin Kuei a little longer."

"The Lin Kuei are her clan now. I won't be returning."

He watches his brothers' faces fall.

"But you were so proud to be grandmaster." Kuai Liang looks almost distraught. "Arctika is your home!"

He smiles faintly. "It was my home. In another life. The Tengu grandmaster doomed his clan. To think that I almost became like him... It is because I value the Lin Kuei so much that I can't return to them."

"You are nothing like the Tengu clan's grandmaster", Tomáš protests. "I understand that you feel guilty, but you don't have to do this."

Bi-Han can't meet his brothers' eyes. "I want to do this, Tomáš. My decision is final."

Kuai Liang's eyes are full of concern. "Brother, are you really sure about this?"

He nods.

"What about Sektor?"

"She understands."

The silence that follows after his words is even more unbearable. Neither of his brothers will look in his direction. Bi-Han doesn't know if they disapprove of his choice or if they don't know how to react. It doesn't matter much. He won't change his mind. He knows that nothing can erase the stain on his name. He can only try to lessen the damage and restore his honor.

"I... wanted to come back", Tomáš says quietly. "I wanted to join the Lin Kuei again."

Bi-Han swallows. "I know. But you shouldn't have to do that. Serving the clan that caused your family's death... I didn't want that for you. I knew you would have only returned for my sake, so I made the choice for you.“

Tomáš looks away, but he can see the tears in his brother's eyes. "Then allow me to come with you to Outworld."

"You are needed here, Tomáš. Just look at our brother", Bi-Han jokes, hoping to lighten the mood. "Kuai Liang needs someone to keep him out of trouble."

"But I... I don't understand...", Tomáš stammers.

"I lived my whole life for the Lin Kuei. My oath binds me to my clan until my death. Since I died, I am no longer bound to it. I feel that I don't belong there anymore."

He doesn't expect his brothers to understand it. To be truthful, he doesn't quite understand it himself. He only knows that his choice is made, for better or for worse.

"I hope you can find what you're looking for then, brother", Kuai Liang says as he forces a smile.

Bi-Han already knows that he won't.

He would forever be incomplete, a jigsaw puzzle with its final piece missing.

A portal awaits him in the yard the next day.

It feels strange to leave this place after he had stayed here for so long. The fire temple had become familiar to him. Not a home, but a safe haven, somewhere to retreat to. Now, he has to leave that behind too. Liu Kang and his brothers are there to send him off.

The fire god steps forward and shakes his hand. Bi-Han would never say so out loud, but he will miss him.

"Thank you, Liu Kang", he says genuinely. "For everything."

Liu Kang smiles. "There is no need to thank me. I believe we both learned much from each other."

Tomáš hugs him and doesn't want to let go. Bi-Han holds his youngest brother, rubbing his back as he feels tears seep into his clothes. Although it pains him, he's the one to break the hug first.

"I almost forgot." With a small smile, Bi-Han takes out the karambit and hands it back to Tomáš. "This belongs to you."

To his surprise, his brother shakes his head. "Keep it a little longer. I know you have to get used to using your cryomancy again."

Bi-Han hesitates. "I can't keep it."

"You'll give it back to me next time we see each other, alright?"

"Next time might not be so soon, Tomáš."

His brother blinks back tears. "I know."

"Keep an eye on Kuai Liang for me, will you? Don't let him name the baby anything Johnny Cage suggests."

Tomáš snorts, but it sounds more like a sniffle. "I promise I won't."

Kuai Liang doesn't hug him. They shake hands instead.

"When you're back, Harumi and I would like to invite you and Sektor for tea some time."

"Don't worry." Bi-Han smiles. "We will stop by one day."

Reluctantly, he steps back, knowing that he has a mission waiting for him. Maybe, after all this is over, he can return as someone other than the man who betrayed his own realm for power. Maybe after this, he will finally know who he is again.

"Bi-Han?"

He stops and turns around.

"Look after yourself", Kuai Liang reminds him. "Try not to get into a fight with a god again."

Bi-Han smirks. "Why not? I've already defeated one. I'm sure I can take another."

His brother rolls his eyes. "You haven't changed one bit."

"Good luck, Kuai Liang."

With that, he steps towards the portal and as its light embraces him, he knows he is free.

#inflamedrosenkranz #reblog

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