#and it was raining a lot after the exam ended so during dispersal there was a huge crowd we had to go through

[atlasofthestaars]

[MK X READER] New Era - Chapter .005

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NOTE: Sorry Johnny fans </3 I promise he’s getting more content in the next chapter (he still has a little crumb in this chapter to set up for next chapter, don't worry!)

Rejoice for Kenshi fans though because he FINALLY gets some spotlight here.

This should be the longest chapter so far, over 7k words! Enjoy!

Also! It’s time for yet another poll! As usual, AO3 people please let me know your thoughts on Rain! As usual, thoughts and such will be taken for about a week after this is published, AKA when the tumblr poll ends.

FROM THE EYES OF ONE WHO PREPARES SOME PLANS

It’s now been about two weeks since you’ve started to train the four, but you’ve already seen great improvement.

“Keep your balance Kung Lao! Don’t lean too far forward.” You corrected as you watched the man spar with Johnny Cage, keeping a careful eye on their technique. You crossed your arms as you scrutinized the two men, trying to keep track of the flaws they each exhibited. “Johnny, stop trying to look flashy! Technique first, please.”

You watched as the men tried to implement what you told them…one of them better than the other. You sighed as you watched Johnny Cage try to go for a risky kick which allowed Kung Lao to duck under it and quickly sweep the actor off his feet. 

“Good job, you two.” You praised as you saw Johnny Cage yield, hands help up in surrender from his position on the ground. Johnny Cage sighed as he got himself up, dusting himself off. You watched as Kung Lao shone with pride as he walked off to the side to join the rest of you. “Raiden, Kenshi, if you please.” You instructed, gesturing for the two to fight.

You watched them begin to spar, yet your mind drifted off slightly, thinking back to the progress the group has made.

From your experience, you noticed that Kung Lao and Raiden were the stand out pupils. Kung Lao was naturally gifted, and you recognized the marks of good training Madam Bo had implemented into him. He took criticism well, which was a slight surprise to you due to the self-confident attitude he had. 

Raiden, although not as quick to catch on, was rather determined and put in far more hours than the others. Not to mention, he was rather perceptive to the tips you gave him. You had a soft spot for him, which you supposed was a bit unfair since you spent a lot of time training him in the middle of the night.

Much like how you had your daily ritual with mornings with Liu Kang, now you had a daily plan to train Raiden at night. It just happened naturally. You, with your restlessness, and Raiden’s overeagerness to train, it was just a natural occurrence after that night.

You felt slightly guilty that it could be considered that you were showing some bias towards the man, but then again, if the others ever approached you it’s not like you would turn them down. 

You snapped back to reality as you continued to watch the two spar. You watched silently as the duo fought, only really speaking to give criticisms here and there. Ultimately, you watched as Kenshi came out on top. You surmised his experience in the Yakuza was still giving him some leverage over the farmer boy. 

You wondered just how long that would last. 

“You’re all dismissed.” You informed them. As usual, they dispersed. All, except for one. You blinked as you turned your head to look at Kung Lao who had taken off his hat and looked wistfully at him. You observed for a few more moments, before walking over. “What are you thinking about?” You inquired as you walked over to his side.

“I have an…idea.” Kung Lao said as he tilted his hat, the same hat he had thrown at Sub Zero during the exam. You raised an eyebrow, having a feeling on where this was leading. You hummed in acknowledgement, gesturing for him to go on. “I was thinking I could turn my hat into a razor, lethal bladed weapon.”

“I can see the vision.” You encouraged him, the little voice in your head, for once, agreeing with you to send him down this path. You had a feeling, from watching him, that he had been missing something from his fighting style. You watched with a bit of pride as Kung Lao beamed at you. “Care to elaborate?”

“Well, I was planning on basing it on a chakram.” He explained, tracing the edge of the hat as if to indicate where the blade would go. You nodded, having a memory of the hat he used to have. You wondered if he had always made his own hat previously, or if it was something passed down to him. “Maybe I could even add some additional blades to the hat to make it more effective.”

“Hmm…” You held out your hand, and he handed his hat to you. You traced the edge of the hat, making a mental note of it. “Have you trained at all with any sort of throwing weapons?” You inquired, looking up from the hat to look at Kung Lao with a raised eyebrow. 

“No.” He admitted, but his lack of inexperience didn’t seem to deter him. You watched as he looked down to his hands, clenching and unclenching them. “But when I threw my hat at Sub Zero and then threw that chakram, it felt…right.” 

“Do you know of anyone who can help you achieve this goal? Any blacksmiths?” You continued to ask. You watched as Kung Lao gave you an awkward smile coupled with a shrug. You raised an eyebrow at him, slightly entertained by his enthusiasm despite his incomplete plan. “Do you have another hat?” You watched him pause. 

“I do, why?” You held back a chuckle as you carefully took the hat into your hands.

“I hope you weren’t too attached to this one, then..” You said, watching as Kung Lao slowly processed your words. You grinned. “I’ll see if I can get some arrangements to get that idea come to life, plus I’ll talk to the monks about having you train on throwing weapons.” You told him, feeling good about yourself as you saw the enthusiasm grow within the man.

“I will!” The man said, bowing excitedly as he said your name. “I promise I will not let your efforts go to waste.”

“Good. I expect a lot out of you, Kung Lao.” You said, and you noted with amusement as he seemed to glow at the high expectations. Still smiling you turned around and walked off, ideas buzzing in your head as you did. You hummed as you traced the edge of the hat, imagining how it would look in due time.

“I see you have Kung Lao’s hat with you.”

Looking over from your shoulder, you watched as Liu Kang approached you. He was on time, as usual. He had a smile on his face, yet there was a knowing look in his eye as he approached. You smiled at him as you held up the hat you had held in your hands. You had just been idly messing with it, flipping and twirling it around in your hands, thinking of how it would feel with more weight on it. 

“I do.” You said as you turned to present the hat to the fire god. He took it gingerly from your hands, inspecting it as you did before. “I actually have a request on his behalf.” You said as you leaned back on the railing, resting against it. “I was wondering if you knew any blacksmiths so we could create a blade on his hat.” You gestured to the edge of the hat. “He also thought of adding more blades, but I thought it’d be best to try and test it with one blade first.”

“I see your progress on training is boding well, then.” Liu Kang remarked as he inspected the hat. You nodded, smiling proudly. His fingers traced the edge of the hat, and you observed the expression on the fire god’s face. It was wistful, and in his eyes you could sense what seemed to be…nostalgia? 

What could possibly cause him to feel nostalgic?

“I can contact a blacksmith to get this arranged, but it will be a lengthy process.” He warned. “It may even take almost until the day of the champion test for this to fully come to fruition since we would have to go back and forth between prototypes and designs.”

“He seemed pretty enthused about the whole thing, I think the wait would be worth it.” You encouraged, nodding as you thought back to the bright smile the farmer boy had when you had encouraged the idea. “Plus…” You began, looking off to the side as you recalled the memories of Kung Lao in your previous life, and how he wielded a razor hat. “It feels like he has been missing something from his fighting style.”

“I see.” Liu Kang said, after staring at you with an unreadable look. You swallowed, wondering what that had all been about. Never once could you interpret that look he gave you, you just knew he always did it after vaguely referring to the memories you’ve gleaned. “I will help aid you, then. Do you have any of his designs to give for reference?”

“Ah, I forgot to ask.” You muttered, smacking your head. “I’ll go ask for them the next time I see them.” You said, sighing. You were planning on taking a few days break from training the men. You had not had a break in a bit, and you remembered Madam Bo reprimanding that you do so when you had last asked her for advice on training the men.

“Just remember my lessons.” She had told you. “You were a good student and will be a good teacher, but you will become a poor one if you do not rest. Don’t forget all those times I caught you training in the middle of the night.” The old lady had then given you a pointed look, one that seared into your memory. 

You were suddenly thankful in that moment that you had not mentioned how you had also been assisting Raiden by mentoring him at night.

Maybe you should also tell him to take this same advice.

You were planning on going to the Lin Kuei temple to ask Smoke for a favor, you supposed that you could always drop by the Wu Shi before you went. You contemplated your schedule, crossing your arms. You didn’t realize how obvious your planning face must have been until you saw the concerned look on Liu Kang’s face towards you.

“Is there something wrong, Liu Kang?” You asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“Are you certain you are not overworking yourself?” Liu Kang said, and you heard especially how concerned he must have been as he said your name. You blinked before waving your hand dismissively. “I am serious, I know you have been up late training Raiden.” You were stunned for a moment.

“How did you-” You began, before realization washed over you. “Right, God of fire.” You muttered, sighing. He nodded, and you felt slight guilt as the man continued to look at you. “I’m fine, I go there because I can’t sleep anyways, and it allows me to still be productive.” You said, shrugging.

“I’ll take you on your word.” Liu Kang replied, but you sensed the slight hesitancy in his voice. You couldn’t help but wonder why he was looking at you with such worry. Well, you actually knew, but you didn't want to think about...that. Even as his face shifted into one meant to comfort you, you could still see a glimmer of concern within his glowing eyes. “But just know you can always confide in me if you have any worries.”

“I appreciate it, Liu Kang.” You said, feeling a mixture of comfort and guilt. Comfort in knowing that the protector of Earthrealm cared about you in a sincere way, but guilt at knowing that you had been avoiding doing so despite knowing this. 

“If you ever need more time for a break, just let me know.” Liu Kang insisted, his hands now idly turning the hat. The way his hands moved the hat seemed almost like second nature. “You may be in charge of Earthrealm’s champions, but you are first and foremost, a dear friend to me.”

You felt warmth in your heart.

“Alright, I will.”

���Thank you for letting me pick these up on such short notice.” You said, walking down the hallways of the Wu Shi with Kung Lao, the papers full of the design ideas for his hat in your hands. It was early morning, and you were thankful that Kung Lao was an early riser due to his past as a farmhand. You noted with amusement how the hat he donned now was an exact replica of the hat you took.

“Of course, anything for the one helping me achieve my razor hat dreams.” Kung Lao replied, a joyful note in his tone as he walked by your side, seeming all too pleased. “I’m a bit surprised you arrived early today, I thought the monks said you were taking a bit of a break?”

“I am.” You confirmed, folding the papers to make sure that you could carry them carefully in your hands. “But I have plans to visit the Lin Kuei today, so I wanted to make sure to get these first since I’m already heading out today.” You told him, sighing as you remembered where the Lin Kuei was located. 

In the snow.

“The Lin Kuei?” Kung Lao questioned, raising his eyebrows curiously. A small smile appeared on his face as he chuckled. He crossed his arms, a common habit of his. “You’ll have to thank Bi-Han for me for inspiring my hat while you’re there.” 

“I think it would be better suited to thank him yourself.” You told him, imagining the unimpressed look on Bi-Han’s face already. “Maybe you can thank him and show it off once you get it, that’d leave a lasting impression on him. I doubt he’d think much of it if I were just to say it for you.” You suggested, glancing over to the farmer. 

“That is a brilliant idea!” The man said, an enthusiastic gleam in his eye. You matched the wide grin on his face. If there was anything you’ve learned from teaching this group, their enthusiasm and smiles were infectious. “I’ll do just that when I see him next.”

“Good, in the meantime, I expect you to keep up with the training the monks are giving you, especially the ones focused on throwing weapons.” You said, your teaching side shining through once more. “It would be a waste to create such a hat only for you to not be able to wield it properly.”

“I will.” Kung Lao promised, your name rolling off his tongue easily. “I will not let you down.”

“I’m sure you won’t.” You said, bidding him farewell. You watched as he walked away, only to be distracted by a familiar figure out in the courtyard. It only made sense that both of the farmers would be early risers. You sighed as you walked over, crossing your arms as you snuck up on him.

“Already training, Raiden?” You inquired, making the man jump. You held back a chuckle, remembering the same way he had jumped when you had first encountered him training by himself. You watched as he quickly bowed to you, and you returned the gesture. 

“I am, there’s been a combination I’ve had trouble with.” The man replied, gesturing to the dummy. He looked at you for a moment before his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “I thought the monks said you’re on break for a few days?”

“I am, I just came to pick up some papers.” You informed him, waving around the folded sheets of paper in your hands. You watched as the farmer eyed it curiously, eyebrows rising. “I wasn’t expecting to see you so up and early training already.” You said, furrowing your own eyebrows as you frowned. “You know, there’s a thing called over training.”

You knew if Madam Bo were here, you knew she’d scold you for not practicing what you preached.

“I know, but I have been struggling and…” 

“And the body needs rest.” You cut Raiden off, feeling a bit guilty for doing so, but you needed him to understand the importance of rest. You held up a hand, making sure he got the memo. “Go back inside and rest until the monks train you.” You instructed, putting on your stern tone. 

“Alright.” Raiden said, dipping his head in an almost guilty manner. You felt a twinge of guilt, but you knew it was better for him to learn this lesson now, rather than later. 

“Good. And I expect you to not overwork yourself either while I’m gone.” You continued, sending him a soft smile, trying to cheer him up. “So no practicing at night until I’m back, okay?” You saw him open his mouth to protest, and you sent him a small glare. “Consider it an assignment, okay?”

“I will do my best to honor this agreement.” Raiden said, nodding. You smiled, looking at his face and nodded in approval. “I will rest now.” You watched as he turned to leave, before hesitating and looking back with a shy smile. “Thank you for looking out for me.”

“Any time, Raiden.”

“You been giving the farmer boys special treatment?”

You turned, the smile dropping off your face as an eyebrow raised to look at Johnny Cage. He looked less composed than the other two, but nevertheless still awake. He probably just woke up. He strode over as he pointed to the papers in your hands and towards where the Raiden had gone.

“Just saw you with Kung Lao with those papers, then you were talking with Raiden.” The actor paused, his face turning into a thoughtful one as he scratched his cheek. “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be on break?” He asked the question everyone seemed to be asking you today. 

“Important papers.” You explained, holding up the folded up pieces of paper. “And I was just telling Raiden to take a break, he’s always working. As for the break, yes, but I needed to pick up these papers before I left.”

“Huh, that makes sense.” Johnny conceded, nodding thoughtfully before shrugging. “So when are you going to spend extra time helping me?” He asked, sending you a playful grin. “Still need your word that you’ll take a part in one of my movies.” 

“We can discuss that after my break.” You told him, letting out a small chuckle. You weren’t certain if you were going to go help Johnny with his movies yet, but you were still curious on what Johnny was going to try and say to convince you. “You look like you need some food, go eat.” You encouraged, gesturing to the dining hall. “I need to get going.”

“Alright, I’ll keep you on your word. See you, teach!”

What an interesting nickname.

The Lin Kuei temple was located in a cold region.

It made sense since the grandmaster’s family had long trained in cyromancy, but that did not make you resent the constant snowstorms any less.

You trekked on, donned the form of a snow leopard so the cold would not freeze you to death. Not to mention, travel felt much faster in this form due to the snow that lay upon the land. The wind tried to batter you around, but you stayed resilient.

You often told yourself you would visit more often if the walk out was not as irritating. 

Reaching the temple, you strode up to the gates. The Lin Kuei guards peered at you curiously, and gracefully you took a step, transforming back into your usual form. You allowed the coat of the leopard to remain on your exposed skin on your arms and legs to battle the cold since you were still outside. How these guards could bear being out here in the cold for so long, you could never understand.

“I’m here to see the grandmaster.” You told them, your breath coming out in icy puffs. It was partially true, but they did not need to know that. You let out a sigh as you grew out a collar of fur to bury your face in. It was only a few mere moments, but you could tell your face must be flushed from the cold.

It didn’t take long for the guards to recognize you, and you nodded to them gratefully as they let you in. 

Once inside, you let out a breath of relief as the much warmer air inside welcomed you. You transformed fully back, the fur on your skin no longer necessary. You shook off the last bits of snow, huffing as you tried to prevent it from soaking in your clothes. You looked down to brush off any remaining bits of the powdery snow that had gotten on you.

“I was not aware you were going to visit.” A voice spoke, and you glanced up to see Kuai Liang approaching, a faint look of surprise on his face. You smiled at him, glad to see the younger brother during your visit.

“It was a bit compulsive.” You explained, rubbing your cheeks to return your flushed face to normal. You watched as Kuai Liang looked you up and down, probably to see if any remaining snow remained on you. “Am I not a welcome visitor?” You teased, holding back a soft laugh.

“You are always welcome here.” Scorpion replied a bit more seriously despite the teasing tone, a warm note in his voice. You took a moment to recover from his sincerity. “Were you here just to visit, or do you have business here?” 

“As much as I would like to say I’m here purely for pleasure, I do have some favors to ask of your brothers.” You informed him, placing a hand on your hip. “But afterwards, I am welcome to stick around before I depart, I just want to get my business done first.”

“That would be pleasant.” The yellow clad ninja agreed. He paused for a moment before gesturing to the hallways. “Would you like me to accompany you to find Tomas? Or to brother’s office?” He offered, and you hummed in deliberation. 

“If you could accompany me to Bi-Han’s office first, that’d be preferable.” You requested, deciding to tackle the conversation with the grandmaster first. A sense of uncertainty hit you, remembering the unresolved matter you two had never discussed. Your hands fidgeted with each other as you thought, reflecting your nerves.

You hadn’t gone out of your way to talk with him about it, and Bi-Han seemed to always sweep the conflicts you two had under the rug.

“Of course.” You saw Kuai Liang glance down at your hands, yet there was no judgement that you could see. He simply nodded and allowed you to join his side. Even without touching, you could feel a comforting warmth from the pyromancer. It was much preferable to the freezing chill of the snow outside, it reminded you of the same way Liu Kang’s warmth soothed you during cold rainy days. 

Was that just a pyromancer gift?

“Has training with the champions boded well?” Scorpion inquired, striking up conversation. It was odd, having him initiate, but it was a welcome change. You smiled at the man, looking over the man. 

“It’s actually been great.” You informed him, feeling pride for yourself for being able to say that. You had never envisioned yourself a teacher before this, but the joy you got from seeing others flourish from your teachings made you feel excellent.

It reminded you of the man who reminded you of Madam Bo so much. You didn’t remember much of him other than a warm fondness and a longing for his approval.

You hoped one day you could unravel the mystery of the man who meant so much to you.

“I told you that you would be an excellent teacher.” Kuai Liang said, a tone of pride in his tone without any smugness. You saw him smile at you, and his smile alone felt like high praise. You knew that no one in the Lin Kuei gave praise that they did not mean. “Has the actor proven to be difficult?”

“Johnny? He’s actually been fine.” You said, chuckling at the memory of the superstar working hard. “He may complain here and there, and sometimes try to be too flashy, but he has a good work ethic.” You praised the man, knowing that you could never tell the actor this, lest his ego grow twice its size. “I think you all would loathe training him.”

“You have a duty I do not envy.” Scorpion admitted. You sucked in a breath as the two of you arrived at the grand doors of Bi-Han’s office. You glanced over to the yellow clad man, who gave you an encouraging nod. You closed your eyes, steeling yourself for a moment before you opened the doors to enter.

Stepping in, you took a moment to admire the organized manner which the office was. You could spot the remains of the influence of the old grandmaster lingering in this office despite it also feeling distinctly Sub Zero. You eyes wandered around before they landed on the current grandmaster himself, who stared at you with an intense look.

“What are you doing here? What task did Liu Kang send you here for?” Bi-Han asked, his gruff voice echoing through the office. Despite his words, you sensed no outright hostility towards you. You could feel a slight disdain in his voice when he mentioned the fire god’s name, to which you were uncertain why that was. You strode up to the desk, and you felt the tension rise as you did.

“Can’t I stop by to say hello?” You inquired, testing the waters. You watched as Bi-Han kept his intense stare on you, unwavering. You pursed your lips, knowing very well that he did not believe that sentiment. “Believe it or not, I am actually here by my own volition, not Liu Kang’s.” You admitted, and you watched as Sub Zero’s gaze soften just a touch. His jaw relaxed.

“For what purpose?” He inquired, still a hint of suspicion in his tone, though he seemed a bit more relaxed knowing you were not here on behalf of the fire god. 

“I wanted to ask for your permission to ask Tomas to help train the champions I’ve been responsible for training. I thought having him duel them for a day would help test them.” You told him, not beating around the bush this time. Bi-Han’s lips pursed as he narrowed his gaze slightly. You heard him exhale, and you wondered why he was still so tense.

“And you sought my blessing for such a minor task?” The grandmaster huffed, the tone in his voice making it clear that he thought it ridiculous that you came all this way for just that. You held back a scoff, simply opting to keep your calm gaze on the man. “Was that all you came here to ask for?”

“No.” You said, crossing your arms as you closed your eyes, remembering the events that had gone down in Johnny Cage’s manor. “I wanted to talk to you about what happened at Johnny’s mansion. What was up with all of that? You know I can defend myself, there was no need to be hostile.”

You felt the temperature drop in the room a bit. Goosebumps crawled up your arm, and you held back an instinctual shiver. 

“The actor was being foolish and arrogant.” Bi-Han huffed, contempt filling his tone at the memory of Johnny. You watched as a small snarl curled at his lips. “You would have let the man off with a glare, he needed a proper warning to put him in his place.” He explained, but you did not feel satisfied.

“That’s a rather stupid excuse to fight someone.” You pointed out, and Bi-Han’s nostrils flared at the insult. You stared at him with the same glare he gave you. “You’re telling me you had the urge to humble an actor for being egotistical?” You inquired, feeling like there was more to the conversation.

“It was the principle of the situation.” He insisted, shaking his head dismissively, as if trying to move past the conversation. He fixed you with another glare before waving you off. “Don’t you have to ask Tomas for your favor?” Bi-Han’s voice dropped to a growl upon mentioning his adopted brother.

“Yes, I do.” You confirmed, nodding, seeing as how the two of you were not going anywhere past this point about the conversation about the actor. You sighed, shaking your head. If there was one thing you learned from your years of knowing Bi-Han, it’s that you both were stubborn to a fault. Still, this conversation felt better than trying to move past the conversation entirely. “Let’s spar next time I come here, it’s been a while.”

If there was one thing you knew, it’s that the two of you could always duel out the frustration. Perhaps not the healthiest way to deal with issues, but it was better than butt heads relentlessly.

You watched as Bi-Han nodded approvingly. The two of you were fierce competitors during spars, with your drive for competition and his lust for fighting strong opponents. The tension in the room relaxed a bit, and you cracked a small smile.

“Prepare your bandages next time, I’ll have to patch you up next time then.” You said, a tone of confidence in your voice. You heard the man scoff at your trash talk, and you turned and began to walk out of the room with a sense of satisfaction. As you opened the door, you turned back, sending the grandmaster one last look.

“I still think you fighting the actor was crass of you but, I appreciate you trying to defend me if that was the point of your stupid squabble.” You admitted, tearing your gaze away from the cyromancer. “Next time you’ll see though, that I could easily do it myself.”

You shut the door, leaving Bi-Han to stare at where you had been mere moments ago. HIs jaw tightened as he looked down at his desk, a sigh leaving his lips.

“I know.”

It didn’t take long for you and Kuai Liang to find Tomas.

Much like you, Smoke often found himself aiding those in training, and you watched with interest as he instructed a younger generation of Lin Kuei. You crossed your arms, silently waiting for the lesson to end. You stayed back with Scorpion, waiting patiently. Luckily, you seemed to have caught the tail end of the current lesson, watching as the man soon dismissed the group for a break.

Turning around, you were not surprised to see the look of surprise on his face as he spotted you and Kuai Liang.

“I was not aware you would be visiting.” Tomas said, yet despite his unpreparedness for your arrival, he gave you a warm smile. You returned the gesture, nodding. He looked between Kuai Liang and you, raising an eyebrow. “Was there something you needed from me? Or were you here just to say hello?”

“I was just here to help find you.” Kuai Liang said. He glanced at you before nodding his head. “I’ll leave you to your conversation.” The pyromancer said, before walking off, letting the two of you have privacy. 

“I’m assuming that you’re here to say more than hello?” Tomas inquired, crossing his arms, His eyebrow raised as he gave you an expectant look. Your grin grew and you mimicked his actions, crossing your arms as well and raising your eyebrows. 

“Is it so strange for me to come all this way just to say hello, Tomas?” You asked, a light teasing tone in your voice. You were met with a look that told you that he did not believe you, yet there was a slight playful look in his eye. You returned the look with a laugh. “You’re right.” You admitted, rolling your eyes. “I’m here to ask a favor from you.”

“A favor?” Smoke inquired, his curiosity growing. He leaned towards you slightly, his head tilting. “What possible favor could you ask from me?”

“I was wondering if you’d be interested in aiding me in training the champions one day.” You said, getting to the point. The Czech man seemed surprised at your offer. “They stale from training with only each other during my teachings, so I thought bringing someone with a much different fighting style would help.”

“I’m not against the offer, but why me?” Smoke said, a note of disbelief in his voice. His face scanned your face, as if searching for an answer “Would Kuai Liang or Bi-Han not be better options?” 

“The way you move is unpredictable compared to them.” You explained, recalling his fighting style. “It would help them learn how to do better defense against an opponent who likes to attack from angles they aren’t ready yet.” You paused before sending him a look. “Plus, are you doubting my judgement on who’d be best?”

“No, not at all.” Tomas admitted, sending you a slightly sheepish look as he smiled at you. He seemed to take in your words, nodding slowly. “I’m just surprised.” He said, shrugging. He considered your offer, before nodding. “I wouldn’t mind helping you.” He opened his mouth to speak, but you cut him off, predicting what he was about to say. 

“I already discussed this with both Bi-Han and Lord Liu Kang, they’re fine with this arrangement.” 

“Wow, you were really prepared for this.” Smoke said, stunned for a moment that you had already discussed the plans with the others. “Alright, I’ll help you.” He agreed, and you sent him a big grin. You placed a hand on your hip as you reached for his shoulder, squeezing it gratefully. 

“Thank you, Tomas, you have no idea how much this means to me.” You said letting out a sigh of relief. It felt like your worries washed away. You felt your smile grow as Smoke sent you a look that you couldn’t quite identify, but it filled you with warmth. You let out a chuckle as your grin turned a tad bit mischievous. “I’d hate for my students to miss out on a chance to duel the King of Smoke.” You teased, and you watched as Smoke coughed into his fist.

“Let it go! I said that one time.” Tomas groaned, a bit of embarrassment in his voice as you reminded him of the nickname he had used one time before the two of you had dueled. He pulled at his face with a hand, playful distress on his face. You sent him a look that told him that you were not going to let it go anytime soon. “What would it take for you to stop using that nickname?”

“Nothing can ever change my mind.” You teased, chuckling at his embarrassment. “Why would I let such valuable teasing material go?” You pointed out, and you squeezed his shoulder to emphasize your point. The Lin Kuei member looked at you before rolling his eyes before sighing. 

“One day I’ll get you to change your mind.” Tomas promised, saying your name with such conviction you almost believed him. You couldn’t help the laughter that left your lips. He stared at you with a look you weren’t certain what to call it, but it made you feel happy. 

“Tough luck, Tomas.” You said cockily, dropping your hand from his shoulder. You were surprised as he caught it, squeezing it with both of his hands. 

“I mean it.” He said, his voice teasing. Yet, there was something there that made it feel a bit more serious than a joke. Nevertheless, you leaned forward with a challenging look in your eye. You watched as his expression changed slightly as he looked at you, opening his mouth to speak. You found yourself attracted to the movement in the background, and you cleared your throat, interrupting whatever he was about to say. “Looks like your class is back.”

“Ah.” He said, dropping your hand quickly as if it were on fire. You wondered briefly whether the final squeeze he gave it was on purpose or not. He looked at them, beckoning them in before looking at you. “Since I’m helping you out, would you also like to assist me?” He offered, and you couldn’t help the excitement that surged through you.

“Of course.”

It was late at night when you made your way to the Wu Shi academy. 

At first, you were planning on going back directly to the Fire Temple after spending the day at the Lin Kuei temple, but your footsteps drew you back to the academy.

Between visiting the Lin Kuei on business and being back here, you figured you were doing a shitty job of taking a break. You could practically hear Madam Bo scolding you. You stared at the entrance for a few moments, before sighing.

You were just going to check if Raiden was awake, and send him to bed. That’s all. 

You watched in, making sure to be stealthy as usual. Not only to keep the peace, but you figured that if Raiden had been training behind your back, you could give him a good scare as punishment for not listening to you. 

That and well, it was a bit funny to see the man jump.

Much to your displeasure, you heard the familiar sound of a dummy being beat up…rather frustratedly too. Sighing, you shook your head as you lurked in the shadows as you made your way to the courtyard. Yet, what was waiting for you was a sight you were not prepared for. 

It was Kenshi Takahashi there, swinging his sword adamantly at a dummy. 

Furrowing your eyebrows, you crept closer, keeping to the shadows as you did. Unlike Raiden, the man did not seem to be practicing any forms. Although his strikes were precise, they were done without much direction and thought. This seemed more instinctual than training.

You watched as he grunted, huffing as he gripped the sword as he knocked over the dummy. You saw pain, anger, and the like on his face clear as day. Unsatisfied, you watched as he righted the dummy. You observed for a few more minutes.

Interestingly enough, you watched as time went on, he tensed up. Kenshi seemed to mystify himself why he was doing so. He looked around for a moment, seeming to sense something. He had glanced at you for a moment, not realizing you were there at first, before doing a double take.

“Have you always been there, watching me?” Kenshi asked, an intense stare at you. You held up your hands to show you meant no harm. He narrowed his eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be on break?” He inquired, much like everyone else did. His tone was accusatory, and you sensed he was in a bad mood.

“I only arrived a few minutes ago. I heard the commotion and decided to check it out, I thought it was Raiden, I was surprised to see it was you.” You said, defending yourself. You crossed your arms as you leaned back on the pillar you always seemed to gravitate towards. “I am on break, but I came here to make sure Raiden wasn’t training late at night since I told him not to for a while.” You paused. “You have good senses to notice something was off.”

“Raiden trains late at night?” Kenshi inquired, mystified, before shaking his head dismissively and sighing. “Being in the yakuza instills that instinct in you. A useful skill, even if I hated being there.” He said, sheathing his sword before facing you. “Sorry for being so short with you, I wasn’t prepared for my instructor to sneak up on me.”

“No need to apologize.” You said, waving off his apology. “I was being a bit weird standing here.” You said, shrugging before sending Kenshi a concerned look. “I might be overstepping here, but you seemed distressed.” You pointed out. You watched as Kenshi grimaced and glanced away. “Did you want to talk about it? It might do you some better than slicing that poor dummy into wood chips. I promise no judgement.”

The dummy seemed to be on its last legs. Funny how Kenshi just happened to choose the one that Raiden always seemed to use. Regardless, you gestured to the spot next to you, taking a seat on the ground.

The swordsman seemed to contemplate for a moment, his face shifting before he walked over and sat beside you. He rested on the pillar, turning his gaze to the stars like you did.

“I dreamt I was still stuck with the yakuza.” He said, after a few minutes of tense silence. You tore your gaze away from the stars to look at the man. He seemed haunted as he confessed this. His fingers tapped idly on the sheath of his sword. “The things I did while under their control, it haunts me.”

“How bad are the yakuza?” You inquired lightly, not all too familiar with the group, only knowing the basics of what Liu Kang had told you. 

“They’re a horrible group. I hope you, or anyone you know, never encounter them.” Kenshi said. Although he did not elaborate too much on them, the resentment that carried in his voice told you enough of what you needed to know. 

“I see.” You said, pursing your lips. You watched him for a few more minutes. “Well, you aren’t with them anymore.” You pointed out, curling up your legs to squeeze them to your chest. Your arms wrapped around them, as if giving yourself a hug. “Lingering on the past won’t help.” You said, knowing how hypocritical you were being. 

“Easier said than done.”

“It always is, isn’t it?”

There were a few moments of silence, before you heard Kenshi agree. 

“You never relished in the power the yakuza gave you, correct?” You asked, looking over to the swordsman once more. You saw him think, before shaking his head. “Then why feel guilt for things you were forced to do?” You continued, trying to guide his thoughts.

“That doesn’t change how horrible the deeds I did were.” The ex-yakuza member pointed out. You reluctantly agreed, some deeds, no matter how guilty the person felt, were dirty deeds still. “My family is still stuck in their grasp, and I’m here.”

“You’re bettering yourself for them, trying to go back unprepared is worse.” You countered. You paused before continuing. “I may not fully understand the extent of your guilt, nor the pain you carry, but I do understand that you are truly sorry.” You searched Kenshi’s face, noting the pain he carried. “It’ll take time, but learning to forgive yourself is what I think is truly best.”

The silence stretched between you two, but it was not uncomfortable. It settled in gently, like a slow realization. You knew he could not change his mindset in one mere conversation, but you knew that the words you told him were still comforting at the very least.

“How about we change the topic, get your mind off of that nasty nightmare of yours?” You offered, feeling happy when the look on his face didn’t seem to disagree with your line of thought. “How has it been, training with Johnny Cage?” You watched with slight amusement as Kenshi rolled his eyes at the actor’s name.

“He’s been irritating.”

“Now that’s something we can both agree on.” You jested, even though you didn’t quite think that low of Johnny Cage. You felt satisfaction as a tiny smile appeared on Kenshi’s face.

Helping people felt great.

part six

[sunsetpan0rama]

my leftover feelings for my last crush have still not gone </3

[sesamerolls]

Like Clockwork

Like Clockwork

Title: Like Clockwork Rating: G Characters:  Ichigo, Orihime, Kurosaki family, Assorted characters Pairing: IchiHime Spoilers: Post-Bleach canon, before Bleach 685

Sequal To The Clockwork Switch Three Parter. Read the beginning

Part(s): I, II, III

He took in the soft furnishings, the scattered baby toys and suddenly he worried his father had kicked him into a dysfunctional suburban-afflicted coma.

It was much later in the day when Ichigo returned, slamming his bedroom door shut behind him.

The late afternoon sun had cast a long shadow on the pale white sheets of the bed. The frantic evidence of his morning preparations remained scattered across the room, the pile of rejected shirts sulked in a corner and his forgotten wallet mocked him from on top of the pile of notebooks on his desk.

Ichigo groaned as he sank himself on the sheets.

It had been a disaster.

He had tried. Really he did. He had left early that morning fumbling with his keys, his hair, his laces, everything.

It wasn’t change. That was what he had told himself, told Sado, told Tatsuki, told everyone.

He had hung out with Orihime before, knew all her favourite places, the quirks and the deserts from that restaurant she liked near the town centre.

Sure he had made reservations and something in his stomach felt fluttery whenever he heard her name (and felt a nervous sickness while waiting for her near the station) but it didn’t matter.

It was simply a transition. One from being friends to…something else.

And he blew it.

Ichigo flattened his spikes with the cup of his right hand. He was stupid.  

The restaurant lost the reservation. They made do with snacks from a yatai stand which Orihime had to pay for as he had forgotten his wallet. The vender threw him a filthy look, before passing over the food and complimented the skirt Orihime had worn. She reddened with delight and Ichigo felt a fool. He had noticed earlier but said nothing, the words lost in frustrated sheepishness.

The movie might have as well been a porno. Ichigo and Orihime sat awkwardly during the excruciating love making scenes followed by several gags involving slapstick mishaps and genitalia. In the two hours it took for it to be over, Ichigo fantasised about murdering Keigo several times(and himself for considering the recommendations in the first place).

Orihime remained silent as they left and nodded when he offered to walk her through the park. It went well, that is until it started raining and Ichigo realised they had no umbrella.

That was how they found themselves back at her place, soaked to the brim as he dried his clothes. Orihime made attempts at small talk but Ichigo felt the gloom of the day consume him. He made his apologies before grabbing his coat and left, the sun back, Orihime faintly protesting as he felt the world laugh at him.

Ichigo huffed as he retracted his phone and began to scroll. Seven missed calls. The guilt consumed him.

Orihime had tried hard. He knew she did. The outfit she wore that day was new, a pale pink skirt with lavender flower petals, the way she had packed her hair, the new scent that lingered on her skin and the soft glow of her smile.

And as much as it was embarrassing to admit, he was looking forward to spending time with her, after hectic exams, the change of scenery from high school to college and the odd limbo they found themselves in with everyone dispersing in different directions.

He knew he wasn’t good at this, that for some bizarre reason Orihime had agreed to go out within but the intensity of the embarrassment consumed his thoughts.

He shuffled down the stairs to the kitchen, mumbling something inaudible to his sisters who shared wearied glances.

“How was the date?” asked Karin.

Ichigo visibly winced. There were no further questions as the girls turned to watch television.

He hoped it was the end of it.

“ICCCCCCHIGO!”

He was wrong.

He didn’t see his father approach.

Yet the kick was swift enough to make his vision fade to black.

---

“Ichigo-kun?”

The voice was new. Far too soft to be his father’s and a lot different from Yuzu and Karin.

Ichigo groaned, rubbing his eyes. Damn that asshole. He was so distracted he wasn’t prepared enough to defend himself.

He blinked into a world of blurred shapes and an alluring yet familiar scent.

Ichigo sighed. He was going to kill his father. Right after he got out of this bed and shifted the weight on his chest....

Ichigo blinked.

Weight?

Something warm and small clung to his t-shirt. Really warm. Almost like a small animal and yet it smelled sweet.

That only compounded his confusion.

Where on earth was he? This didn’t feel like his room and he couldn’t sense the Kurosaki Clinic residents anywhere. To make it worse, his head was throbbing and he felt something soft and heavy on his chest.

Then he heard the gurgling.

He nearly lept out of his skin.

As he sat up, He was suddenly conscious of a trail of wetness on his shoulder, softly cradling the warm object as it began to wail.

Ichigo’s eyes widened.  

A baby?

He looked down to see soft tuft of orange hair.

“What the fuck….”

“Ichigo-kun?”

He froze. He knew that reaitsu. He knew that voice but it couldn’t be….

Tilting his gaze, he confirmed his suspicions.

And nearly shattered in pieces.

“Inoue?”

But it wasn’t Inoue. Well the Inoue he knew, the one from this afternoon, who seemed more bashful, less forward than the woman in front of him.

“What are you doing here?”

This only seemed to confuse her as she approached. She titled her head slightly.

“Tatsuki didn’t seem to need me at the community centre.”

She seemed to know immediately that wasn’t what he meant. Orihime watched as Ichigo alternated between staring at the baby and her face increasingly becoming more alarmed.

What the fuck, what the fuck...

The air seemed to thin around Ichigo. Just what the hell was going on? One second he was at home, the next he was....he was....

Despite himself, he felt his eyes linger over Orihime once more. She wore a loose white tee and had her hair swept to the back, emitting a soft pretty glow which made him pink slightly. Before he knew it, Orihime began to slowly retract the child he was awkwardly clinging to.

“Aww Kazui-kun…” she cooed softly “Did you wake daddy?”

Something within Ichigo broke.

“D-daddy?” he spluttered.

Orihime turned back to him, flashing a small smile before flickering a few strands of hair from his face.

“Did he disturb your nap?”

Ichigo felt his cheeks heat even more. He had no idea what was happening, why his heart was beating faster and why his throat was drier than he could have ever imagined.

If this was a prank it was probably the worse anyone could ever pull.

He swallowed as she continued to soothe the baby in front of him. He felt a numbness take over and suddenly everything felt too hot and strange.

“I’m fine…” he admitted, now unsure where to look “I-I mean the room..”

Nothing was making sense. He felt her fingers brush against his forehead once more, the distance between them disappeared and he could breathe in the scent of her skin, something light and airly, while being so familiar.

His eyes widened.

“This perfume…”

It was her time to flush.

“I know its your favourite.” She pinked before lifting the baby to the crib “Is that what’s making you dizzy?”

Ichigo managed to sit up from the bed, drawing his gaze across the room. He took in the soft furnishings, the scattered baby toys and suddenly he worried his father had kicked him into a dysfunctional suburban-afflicted coma.

He watched slowly as Orihime played with the baby in the crib next to the bed. He observed the care, her tired eyes and felt pangs of guilt was over him. Was this really a dream? It felt real, the bed, the warm light from the pale windows and the steady concern from her eyes once she returned his gaze.

He was surprised she wasn’t smiling. In fact, she appeared to be pouting.

“Your last patrol was a long one. You don’t have to act tough.”

Ichigo looked dumbly at her. “Act tough?”

It was something he had heard of before. From Sado, his father, even Tatsuki. But he never expected to hear it from her.

But it was to be expected it some extent. Orihime was and always concerned about him. And he in turn would always want her to be happy.

Ichigo shook the thoughts away.

“Hmm! You always do this after patrols Ichigo-kun.”

Her smile was weak. And Ichigo felt wretched.

She was worried. Regardless of what this was, he didn’t like seeing her like that. Her long hair cascaded over her face as she tucked some strands behind her ear.

“You don’t have to hide it. It’s okay if you’re tired.”

Ichigo’s gaze softened. Despite his confusion, the nerves shooting through him he took her hand.

“I’m fine.” His throat itched. “I just don’t know-I feel a bit strange that’s all.”

He could feel her concern pour over him. He felt her fingers brush against his knuckles and a course of electricity through his body. It was a familiar feeling her felt anytime he stood close to Orihime, guiltily or not.

His thoughts soon went back to the date. Was it really as bad as he had thought? Was there a chance, even a small one that Orihime saw it differently?

“We are a team right?” she asked.

Ichigo smirked. He remembered the afternoon date. The hints of laughter from Orihime and her musings after the movie. She always seemed to make things brighter, even when he felt lost.

He managed a nod.

“Yeah,” he swallowed “We always were.”

It was then he saw her smile again. The smile. The one she always seemed to use on him.

Beside himself, he cupped a cheek feeling the warmth.

He leaned closer, his breathe hitched and bravery within his grasp…

And was suddenly head butted by a sleepy Orihime.

----

When he woke, the moonlight had filtered through his window.

His sisters had been there a while. Their reaistus had lingered in the room and he could just about hear some whispers from the next room.

Turning sideways, his found his phone sitting on his desk. He rose, feeling his joints ache with an unfamiliar pain.

What was that dream?

It didn’t make sense. The baby, the domestic setting, Orihime with the flowing hair, loose shirt and sweet perfume…

…the one he remembered her wearing that afternoon.

“We are a team right?”

He managed to reach out for his phone. Even if it was bad, even it was horrible he still wanted to try. For even one of those moments. Now more than ever, he wanted to see her smile again. No matter how much he screwed up.

He just wanted to try once more.

Finding strength, he picked up his keys

***** Orihime opened her door in befuddlement. 

“Kurosaki-kun?”

Ichigo smiled at her.

“Hey Inoue….sorry I didn’t call but….would you mind if we did a do over?”

*****

END

[finalyearfugitive]

The Inca Trail

The Inca trail is often the first thing people associate with South America. When I signed up for the 42km walk, I remember being incredibly worried about whether and how I would survive it considering my very lacking level of fitness. Now that I’m on the other side, I wanted to write a bit about the concerns I had and how they eventuated as well as all the things I did and didn’t expect from the trail. As a disclaimer, this is all very subjective information and I have no doubt that every person has a very different and unique experience of the trail.

Most importantly, if you have the choice between the trail and other ways to get to Machu Pichu and you don’t have any medical conditions preventing you, DO THE INCA TRAIL. The four days of the trail were four of the best on my trip and very much a bucket list-ticking, perspective changing experience. Besides suddenly now having muscles in my legs and a much greater stamina, I have a greater appreciation for many things in my life and in the world. Finishing the trail was definitely one of my proudest moments of life.

Walking the trail

Hire walking sticks. Prior to the trail I had spent a long time mentally preparing myself for the uphill battles ahead, however one of the biggest surprises was just how painful it was to go down. On the afternoon of day two, after conquering dead woman’s pass, a steep decent of a couple of hours awaits you. This is when the only significant injury in our group occurred and it wasn’t hard to see why. As a 23 year old who has never had knee issues in her life, my knees were in a lot of pain at the end of each downhill segment. The only respite were my two walking sticks, without which I’m sure I would definitely have fallen on the slippery, steep Inca stairs. The sticks are also helpful on the uphill slopes, acting like a second pair of legs and after my sticks were taken away at Machu Picchu I found myself grasping at phantom sticks (I also may have been slightly delirious from exhaustion at this point);

My group agreed that half (or possibly more than half) the battle was mental and psychological rather than physical. Before leaving Sydney I had all the best intentions of improving my fitness before the trip, but uni, exams and life inevitably got in the way. Nevertheless, while travelling prior to the trail I did a few hikes and walks in Brazil, Chile and at altitude in Bolivia and Peru. These were enough to prepare me physically for the particular challenges of the Inca trail, namely inclines, altitude and stamina. By the time I arrived at Km 82, my body was fairly well prepared and I had learnt how to pace myself and keep hydrated. Nevertheless, unlike the other walks I had done, the Inca trail is 4 days long and offers little in the way of physical and emotional respite at the end of each day. Despite sleeping mats and warm sleeping bags, there were sore limbs waking up each day and the exhaustion wasn’t helped by the altitude. Waking up on day 2 to the coming hours of uphill climbs proved that the challenge was largely emotional. I remember at one point on day 2, I was channelling all the anger and emotion I had built over the previous year into my walking sticks to keep going. Day 2 is when walking groups disperse and perseverance and determination become particularly important when you’re own your own. Prior to starting the trail I had hyped it up mentally to the point that I felt sick on the bus ride to Km 82, but had I not done this I’m not sure I would have made it to the top of dead woman’s pass. I knew this would be one of the biggest challenges I had faced and because of this I was able to fight with it and feel the incredible sense of achievement at the top;

I’m not sure if it was because of altitude or rainy season but my nose wouldn’t stop running through the trail, and I ended up with tissues in every pocket of my hiking pants. It sounds trivial but having a runny nose while struggling to breathe on a steep incline at altitude isn’t much fun. Keep lots of tissues with you;

Seriously, lots of tissues. Tissues and toilet paper may be your saviours on the trek, particularly since they will be your only glimpse of luxury while using inca trail toilets. Toilet options include the ‘au naturale’ (which our boys used most of the time) or campsite pit toilets (the state of which was the reason the boys preferred nature). If you have had experience with camp toilets it’s not that really that bad, however I highly suggest wearing your hiking boots to the bathrooms rather than thongs as some suggest to change into at camp. It rained as we arrived to camp on our first night and as a result I kept my hiking shoes on until I slept. On the second two nights I changed into thongs after going to the bathroom. Toilets on the morning of day 4 in the dark are a particularly interesting experience, my only advice is to hold your breath;

This was highly unexpected but the first day and a half is highly populated by horses, donkeys and llamas which leave droppings to be avoided as you walk. This disappears as rescue from the trail by these animals gets more difficult on day two;

I carried a camel pack for water however I didn’t end up drinking nearly as much as expected. This may have been because we were hiking in the clouds during rainy season so didn’t really feel the dehydration. Nevertheless, my camel pack was one of my best purchases for the trip and helped through the two months along all the hikes and walks I did;

It doesn’t matter what the weather is like at the Sun Gate or at Machu Picchu. That stereotypical photo at the top? It doesn’t matter. I learned that the inca trail to Machu Picchu isn’t about getting to a picture perfect location and taking the perfect cloudless photo, it’s about the journey and everything you learn about the Incas, about the world and about yourself on the way. It rained when we got to Machu Picchu, but as it turned out this was one of the most enjoyable days of the trip. Three of us decided to ditch our ponchos and run around the wonder of the world in the rain, stopping to take frantic photos with the sites and the llamas and it was one of the most liberating experiences of my life. The sense of achievement at getting to the top is unmatchable and because of this it is important not to worry too much about the weather and perfect images particularly when hiking in rainy season.

Teamwork is everything on the trail, and when one member of the group is struggling it’s important that everyone chips in to encourage them. From the moment we were tattooed with some sort of dead insect blood on day one, it was a team effort to get each other to the top: the Inca trail is not and should not be a race. You will come across other groups along the way, and I enjoyed getting to know different people on the trail and occasionally having mass Disney sing-a-longs. Keeping our collective spirits up was on of the most important things, and I’m glad I had a good group to walk with.

Packing and clothing The weight porters are able to carry is limited and after subtracting the weight of the sleeping bag and air mattress (both which I recommend because the former is warmer than anything in the world, and the latter will be a life saver when camping on rock), this leaves only 2.5kgs for personal items.

Clothing: I wore my Kathmandu hiking pants for 3 days of the hike, adding cotton leggings underneath for day 2. This was a perfect balance for me as the excessive number of pockets on the hiking pants will be more helpful than you anticipate when having to carry tissues, quick sugar fixes, torches, and a variety of other things on your body. Day two can be very cold and I was also grateful for my leggings. I was advised to wear long pants through the trek because of flies and the terrain and as I think my whole group followed this advice I cannot comment on the alternative but I don’t see any reason to wear otherwise. I wore three quick dry active wear singlets on the three first days, and I appreciated the quick dry material as well as being able to change every morning (my clothing was light so this wasn’t a big issue). In addition I carried a thin long sleeved top, a thin sweater and my down jacket. Dressing like an onion is ideal on the trail, and I constantly altered between different combinations of these items. Day two is particularly confusing because as soon as you stop walking, you freeze enough to throw on your down jacket only to feel incredibly hot again 10 minutes later. Apart from this, I always had my beanie, gloves and scarf in my backpack and this was a periodic lifesaver as the weather kept changing. I also wore a bandana everyday or the hike which was one of my favourite items: it dealt with sweat, rain, kept my hair out of my face and did a multitude of other things. I also wore my cap (which provided protection from both the sun and rain) and sunglasses. As we were hiking in rainy season, my poncho was always easily accessible and used excessively enough that it was the first thing to be thrown out when we returned back to Cusco. There are plenty of rumours regarding what to wear at night to keep warm: I wore just a thermal top and bottom every night and never felt cold, while some in our group were wearing all their jackets to sleep and getting cold. One hypothesis is that the sleeping bag works best when it’s closer to body heat but this isn’t verified. I carried four pairs of hiking socks for each day on the advice of the Internet - this comprised a lot of my weight and I’m not sure if it was entirely necessary to change socks everyday (particularly since my boots were waterproof) but I don’t know the alternative well enough to comment.  I changed into a new set of clothes for the last day (a t shirt and leggings): this was a good idea because you are more likely than not to only finish the Inca trail once in life and you might as well look decent (and smell relatively decent) for the photos that await. 

Shoes: We grappled with the hiking boots vs hiking shoes vs sneakers and the buy vs rent decision before leaving. Ultimately we both bought Colombia leather waterproof hiking boots which we used as our closed shoes for the entirety of the trip. I found myself in huge relief for this decision throughout the trip, as the boots served us well on all our walks and hikes and the ankle support and waterproof material was a life saver on many occasions. All the girls in our group wore hiking boots, most were bought but two hired boots in Cusco and were happy with their hire. Some boys wore sneakers and they appeared to be okay with that decision. Ultimately the decision is a subjective one and is dependent on how much walking you intend to do on your travel and whether you have another pair of sneakers that could fulfil this role.

Other items: I enjoyed my wet wipe shower at the end of each day. Take all the medications you need in your backpack - altitude tablets, panadol and asthma medication were my most used. I took two spare camera batteries in my backpack which is important if you want the freedom to take photos throughout the trail without being concerned about a lack of photos at Machu Picchu. I kept these in my sleeping bag at night to prevent them draining. I didn’t take my phone on the trail because I wasn’t using it as a camera, and didn’t find I needed it as we were awoken each day either by the sun, each other or the porters. One of my biggest regrets is not carrying a proper head-torch (still haunting me in the Amazon with a lack of electricity)- invest in one. Besides this I carried glasses, contact lenses and spares and contact solution, many plastic bags and deodorant. I was considering taking a blow up neck pillow (one girl in the group did this and appreciated it), however I was tired enough at night to sleep soundly on my clothes stuffed in the top of the sleeping bag. I think any luxuries beyond this are unnecessary and I enjoyed having little to worry about.

The Porters

The porters on the Inca trail are some of the most incredible men I’ve come across in life. Besides lugging tents, our belongings, food and literally everything we needed every night, they treated us as some sort of Inca royalty, even waking us up with cocoa tea in the mornings (drink this even if you don’t like the taste - it helps with the altitude). They cooked our food (including three courses for lunch - a healthy soup, main course and dessert), set up our tents and always had smiles on their faces. On our third day they even baked a cake to celebrate, ‘New years eve’, a feat I’m still coming to terms with. It’s almost impossible to fully appreciate these men until you actually experience their work. From learning their names and backgrounds on the first night to cheering them on along the trail with claps and ‘vamos amigos’ to saying goodbye on the last night, the porters were one of the most overwhelming aspects of the trail for me.

The Camino Inca is an experience that I’m sure has a profound and varied meaning to everyone who complete it. I am extremely glad I recklessly signed up to walk the track, and I hope my little guide helps someone else make that decision in the future.