Letters with Liutana

Forlorn

Takes place after 'The Price of Longevity' twoshot in Tales of Liutana II. Contains a light lemon (yeah I know I just wrote some smut, but this one is less detailed and kind of necessary -_-').

Kitana rolled onto her left side, her eyes clenching slightly as the warmth of the sun's early rays warmed her face. Releasing a sleep-ridden huff, she scrubbed at them before they blinked open. Her husband's figure out near the entryway of the balcony settled into her vision. He stood leaning against the doorway, near the drapes that he had pulled aside. His brawny arms were wrapped vulnerably around his strong torso. He was clad only in his paijama, his hair loose halfway down his back. Immediately Kitana's heart sank yet again for her beloved. His form, so strong and sturdy, was contrastingly wrought with frailty and vulnerability. Even from her position several feet from him, she could feel every bit of his suffering nearly as if she felt it herself.

Three days ago, their longtime ally and dearest friend Kung Lao had passed away. He was eighty-two years old, just as Liu Kang himself was. The latter, however, had been granted longevity decades ago after his first victory in the tenth tournament, and thus had only very slightly aged since that time. The fellow Shaolin had been his closest friend since the two were boys, and had over time become as close to him as the birth brother he had also lost.

Liu's closeness to Lao continued as the years went by, taking on new significance as he also grew close to his growing family. He always made the time to visit twice annually since the final war, and even lived at the palace for one year a few decades back. Lao stood for Liu during his wedding and watched as he became a father. He'd consoled and advised him through Kitana's depression after the miscarriage, and played the role of his living children's beloved 'uncle.' And in the final weeks of his life, Lao had come back to the palace to spend every moment with them all.

And now he was gone.

Suddenly to Liu Kang the world seemed darker, larger, and far more lonesome. Even though he knew rationally he was far from such. He had Kitana, the friends he made since making Edenia his home, even his beloved children did what they could to support their father in his time of need. He loved and appreciated them all for their steadfast support, but the pain was still nearly overwhelming. But as Liu rose this morning it felt at its worst. Tomorrow it would be time to say their last goodbyes as Lao was laid to rest. The Prince had seemed nearly to be in a stupor of sorrow since the monks came from the portal to take Lao's body away. The thought of his friend leaving forever the next day was especially difficult for him to cope with. He was barely functioning, hardly spoke and was definitely losing sleep.

Slowly Kitana rose from bed and crossed the short distance to her mourning husband. He felt her approach but remained still and silent until he felt her arms slinking around him from behind, her neck craning over his shoulder to place a kiss upon the edge of his jaw.

"It's still so early Darling." she murmured. "Come back to bed."

"I can't sleep." came Liu's despondent reply. "I keep dreading tomorrow."

"I know." his wife crooned, leaning onto his shoulder. "None of us are looking forward to it. It's going to be a difficult day."

"I still haven't written the eulogy. It's like I can't think of anything to say no matter how hard I try. Nothing comes..."

"It will come Liu. Don't stress yourself over it. You're under enough as it is." Kitana insisted, pressing another kiss. She stepped away from him, taking one of his hands in hers. "Come, you need a long bath. You're tense."

In spite of her own deep sadness over losing the man she had come to consider her brother-in-law, Kitana had been Liu's pillar of strength. She made sure he ate properly, that he rested, stayed by his side when he needed her presence and dried his tears when the hurt overtook him in waves. And she did it all while still caring for their family and handling their political affairs. Liu knew he was being a neglectful, emotional and needy mess, but he was paralyzed by his grief. And all the while the Eldest Princess didn't complain, didn't scold him or lose patience. His love for her grew even deeper over the past three days, a feat he never believes to be possible until that love's sheer limitlessness found new ways to astound him.

Liu didn't argue as Kitana led him to their spacious bathroom. She ran the water and Liu used his pyrokinetic abilities to heat it as he usually did. Kitana then filled the water with soaps and healing oils, their fragrance already doing wonders to ease his troubled thoughts. She had her husband enter the tub first, then seated herself before him. After quickly tending herself, she lovingly washed him over with thorough attentiveness, her every touch strangely making him aroused and yet soothing him all at once. His eyes, reddened and murky, never broke contact with her own. His gaze always communicated far more than any words; more than the words he found so difficult to speak in his current state. Once his body was clean Kitana turned her attention to Liu's hair, massaging his scalp and gently dragging the lather down through his tresses. After it had been rinsed she shifted to sit behind him, having him lean forward slightly.

"Heat the water again for me Darling." Kitana gently commanded.

Liu complied with her, infusing the water with his chi and making steam rise around them. Kitana reached for more of the oil she had placed into the water and applied a bit in her right palm. Rubbing both hands together, she then set to work massaging the base of his neck. A groan swelled from Liu's throat, his head inclining back slightly as his lover worked dainty fingertips at the juncture of his neck and shoulders, her thumbs pressing circles into the nape. So much tension had gathered there and already he felt such relief. She worked down to his broad shoulders next, then inward to the space between his scapulae. His head lolled forward and his eyes slipped shut as Kitana patiently worked on each muscle, and for the first time in what felt like weeks, a genuine smile spread over his face.

"Elders that feels good." he slurred.

"Glad I can help." Kitana replied.

"And you do so in more ways than I could ever tell you." he said gratefully, making her cheeks flush.

Kitana patiently continued with the massage, lavishing prolonged, special attention to the most tense spots on his body. Liu sat and let her lavish him, feeling every knot slip free one by one. She worked her way down all the way to his tailbone, and he noted he felt considerably looser by the time she finished. The task complete, Liu drained the tub, assisting his wife as they stepped out.

As they dried each other, the hurting Prince felt the familiar pang of lust suddenly stab at his body. He rapidly hardened as his towel covered hands glided over the familiar contours of his wife's curves, his emotional distress fueling his ever-present desire to be one with her. She was so beautiful and sexy, and she gave to him so willingly and endlessly during this time of distress while asking for nothing in return. He didn't know what he would do without her being here through all of it. Kitana's breath hitched when Liu suddenly reached down to stroke himself with his right hand, his left reaching to clasp her breast. When she lifted her eyes up to his again she found them clouded over with desire, so dark they almost looked black. Without a word he released himself and snatched her against him, seizing her lips in a fiery kiss. She moaned as his tongue aggressively tangled with her own, wrapping her arms around him on instinct as he hoisted her up and curled her legs around him.

"Ai Ren... need you. Right now." he murmured thickly against her lips.

"Then take me Darling. I'm all yours." came her heady reply.

Liu carried her into the bedroom, depositing her gently beneath him. She was already wet and he wasted no time entering her. His pace was strong and steady, and his beloved moaned and writhed beneath him as pleasure took over her. Their lovemaking was tender yet passionate, and oh so terribly sad. She could feel every bit of Liu's pain as he pushed within her, as if he was trying with every thrust to force his heartache away and convey his insatiable necessity for her comfort into her body. She reached up and ran her fingers back through his hair, her gaze still locked with his. The sheen of tears in his eyes broke her heart a hundred times over, making her own gloss over. The intensity built to a breaking point quickly. It didn't take long before both succumbed to their simultaneous climaxes, shivering and crying out for one another before they both went lax.

Liu pressed a kiss to Kitana's throat before burying his face in the nook of her left shoulder. His chest suddenly constricted and the tears fell silently, and she could feel them dripping onto her skin. Kitana too allowed her own fall, trails seeping over her temples and back into her hair. Her fingers combed through his damp tresses, her other hand rubbing circles on his back. He, in turn, wrapped his arms tighter around her, holding her close in a show of solace for the first time since their loss. They laid silently like that for so long, quietly releasing their hurt as they embraced. It was far more peaceful than the weeping they'd done in the past few days, a gentle wave of emotion rather than an uproarious storm.

When Liu lifted his head, he seemed renewed. Rubbing the last few tears from his eyes, he flashed his wife that warm, loving smile of his that stole her heart all those decades ago. Sweetly he thumbed Kitana's tears away, then leaned down to press a soft, chaste kiss to her lips. When he withdrew he rested his forehead against hers, his honey-brown eyes once again fixed with her cerulean.

"I don't know what I would do without you." he whispered to her. "Thank you my love. Thank you so much." Kitana returned his smile, reaching up to cup his cheek in her palm.

"There's no need to thank me Darling. No need at all."

All that held Kung Lao dear gathered at the Wu Shi Academy for the day of his funeral. Kung Jin, the younger cousin of Lao, led the chanting, other members of the family beside him. Jacqui and Takeda had come with their sons, as had Robert and Cassandra with their spouses and children. The Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu, and even the Shokan had also sent representatives to pay their respects.

When the time came for Liu to give his final words, they came unencumbered and unrehearsed; his face serene and eyes bright. He spoke of Lao's endless support, his wisdom far beyond his years that only grew exponentially over his lifetime, his jovial nature and the freedom of his spirit. He spoke of a generous, pacifistic and fiercely loyal soul that had grown to become as close to him as flesh and blood.* His speech moved everyone in attendance and Kitana's heart soared with love and pride as she listened to him. The ceremony inevitably came to an end and Liu took up his position as one of the pallbearers. Also serving in this task was Jin and Bingwen, Kung's prodigy and in many ways his surrogate son. The procession moved to the burial site and Lao's body was lowered into the ground and laid at last to rest. More tears spilled forth from Liu and Kitana and the children, but they held firm, the shadow of their grief for the most part dissipated.

"Bingwen tells me he plans to travel." Liu told Kitana, handing her a cup of green tea. The Royal Family had retired to Liu's old cabin overlooking the academy. In years past it had been plenty of space for him alone, but now was just enough for him and his loved ones. Husband and wife had settled for the evening in one room, Sindel in another and their three children slumbering in another still.

Kitana smiled. "Planning to follow in his master's footsteps..."

"Seems that way." Liu replied, pulling the covers over them both "Bingwen believes that Lao was at his happiest when he traversed the world. He wants to do the same to feel close to his spirit while he finds himself."

"I hope he can come to terms with Lao's passing and find peace." the Princess said wistfully. The young man, barely twenty, had often come to the palace with Lao and they too saw him as family. Abandoned at the temple at the mere age of 3, Lao had a soft spot for the child and kept him in tow. The Prince remembered years ago how his friend confided that Bingwen's circumstances reminded him of how he had come to live at the temple himself.

"When I first laid eyes on him on the night he was found near our gates, looking so vulnerable and full of fear... it was like time moved backward and I saw you and your brother coming to stay at the academy for the first time again." Kung had said. "Something in me just felt... compelled to help him. It's so funny. For years I had thought to settle down and have a family wasn't really for me when I was younger, yet now in my twilight years I look upon Bingwen, and it feels like he was meant to be my son all along."

Liu turned his gaze to his lap, staring down into his teacup.

"It will be difficult for him. Lao was the only father he ever knew..." he quietly said. Kitana's eyes softened and she moved closer to her husband, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"And you?" she quietly asked. "What of your difficulty?"

Liu heaved a sigh, then turned to her again with a somewhat somber smile.

"I'll get there." he said. And he was confident in his words.

I write Kung Lao's personality as a bit of a mixture of his original portrayal and a light dusting of his retconed persona, along with some of my own interpretation. Originally as John Tobias envisioned him, Kung Lao is actually a much more pacifistic than Liu Kang and didn't even WANT to be involved in the Mortal Kombat tournament by choice. But starting as far back as the game Shaolin Monks, his personality was altered to make him jealous of Liu Kang while resepecting him at the same time. The way I combine them is mostly with his old temperment in tact, but with him occassionaly having a bit of teasing banter with Liu. Plus I threw in him being a little bit of a free-spirited vagabond. IDK why but I pucture him beign a drifter during his time between the battles.

Anywho, here's another one-shot for this series. Don't know when I'll be back but I have a feeling I will again. Please review and enjoy!