~The Edenian Tigress and the Shaolin Dragon~ [Chapter 6]

As the distant light of the rising sun began to peek over the peaks of the northern mountains, nimble fingers that were outfitted in onyx gloves punched through frigid water as Jade privately trained under the waterfall where she had met with her Princess; her curvaceous figure clad in a forest green bustier and onyx pants.

"Hmm...if I did not know any better, I would think that Kitana has been in an rather mischievous mood lately, if my introduction to that Earthrealmer yesterday was anything to go by," the verdant eyed seductress pondered as indulgent chocolate hair that was pulled into a high ponytail moved and swayed with her agile movements. "But, why would she do that, I wonder?"

As wrappings as white as the first snowfall of winter winded around the dusky caramel skin of well defined arms as they helped their owner to steady her balance, as Jade gracefully kicked a toned leg into the air; the water droplets from the force of the kick catching the light of the sun in their glassy visage before they silently slid down dewy blades of grass, she quietly muttered to herself "I know that I have always trusted her judgment before, so I trust that my best friend is looking out for my interests. But, somehow, in the back of my mind, I cannot help but feel that she has some ulterior motive in mind. I just hope that whatever she is planning will help to benefit me in the end."

As the golden rays of the afternoon sun gently filtered through the leafy foliage of the tree that Jade climbed; pearly white teeth biting into the juicy, violet flesh of a fruit that similarly resembled a Earthrealm pear as she leaned against its thick trunk in content, she asked the draconian creature that rested comfortably in her lap "The weather has been quite pleasant for the past few weeks, hmm, Rai?"

"Yes, it has, Mistress," the dragon lowly growled in response. "And that is good, because I enjoy feeling the warm sunlight upon my scales."

As Jade bit into her sugary treat again, a gentle call suddenly sounded from below her.

As another chunk of fruit smoothly slid down the caramel toned seductress's throat as she carefully swallowed, when she looked down to the base of the tree's trunk to see who had called out to her, she noticed that it was the Earthrealmer that she had been introduced to yesterday in lieu of her Princess's antics, and as he looked up at her, he politely replied "My apologies if you did not wish to be bothered, Miss Jade. It is just that Princess Kitana told me that I would be able to find you out here."

"Of course she did," Jade thought in light irritation before she answered gently "No, it is fine. I am not bothered."

"Oh, okay. That is good. I did not want to feel like I was intruding upon a private moment," the Earthrealmer gently replied as he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "If I may have your permission, may I be allowed to join you on that tree branch?"

As the emerald eyed seductress mulled over her decision for a moment, she quietly replied "Yes, you may join me."

As the newcomer tipped his bladed hat to her in thanks, mistress and mount both witnessed him disappear in a whirlwind of concentrated chi energy, and a moment later, when he reappeared as he joined them, a mace-edged tail began to sway in an agitated manner as a low, angry growl rumbled deep within the dragon's throat, and her master reprimanded "Hush, girl."

As onyx nostrils blew out thin tendrils of inky smoke in annoyance, as the dragon quietly bared her lethally sharpened fangs, carnation painted lips uttered in apology "I apologize for my companion's behavior. She is usually well-behaved."

"It is alright," the monk answered gently. "Your friend is right to exercise caution around me. I am a stranger, after all."

As Jade looked over the man who had asked to join her under the shady retreat of the tree, she quietly asked "Hmm...If I am not mistaken, your name is Kung Lao, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am," the shaolin monk answered honestly as he looked to the beautiful woman who relaxed against the coarse bark of the tree trunk. "I hail from the noble Shaolin temples of Earthrealm."

As Kung Lao's attention momentarily turned to the leafy treetop; gentle sunlight finding his lightly tanned skin as it streamed through the leaves, Jade asked curiously "So, Kung Lao. I'm curious. How is it that you know Kitana? She has never mentioned you before yesterday."

"Well, to make a long story incredibly short, I met Princess Kitana during the second Mortal Kombat tournament. She had been sent to assassinate my good friend, Liu Kang, under direct orders from her Emperor. And just last year, we, alongside other brave Earthrealm warriors, were united in a just cause as we singlehandedly thwarted the short-lived uprising of the Deadly Alliance."

"Yes, I remember that time well," Jade thought bitterly.

"Ah, Liu," the shaolin warrior reminisced. "Even though he would deny the truth until he turned blue in the face, I always knew that he had became quite smitten with the Princess."

As Jade hummed thoughtfully to herself, she lightly rolled her mesmerizing verdant eyes.

This news was not new to her.

She had known this about her best friend for a while now.

"So, Miss Jade. My curiosity has now been piqued. If it is alright, may I ask you a question?" Kung Lao asked curiously.

"It depends," the emerald eyed warrior answered. "Can I ask you to drop the "Miss?" I have never been one for formalities."

"Oh, yes. Of course. My apologies," the shaolin dragon apologized as a lightly heated flush colored his cheeks. "So, may I ask my question now?"

When Jade nodded in consent, Kung Lao thanked her before he asked "How is it that you know Princess Kitana? She has never mentioned that she had a gorgeous friend before."

"Oh, yes. I have never heard that compliment before," the emerald eyed seductress sarcastically thought to herself. "Does he think that I am an idiot?"

While she thought that she was nothing special, she had heard those same words before from noblemen who obviously thought different and clamored to ask for her hand in marriage.

And every one of those marriage proposals were deftly declined.

She was much too intelligent to fall for words that held nothing but air.

No, she knew the true reason that those sniveling dogs lusted after her.

They only wanted her to become their wife so not only could they further increase their social status within certain circles, but show her off like a prized trophy instead of a woman who deserved to be respected and loved unconditionally.

But, some men were such stubborn mules, and they continued to pursue her even after they were turned down.

So, to set an example for any future suitors who would view her as the object of their desires, she injured one man's leg so badly that the healers told him that he would never be able to walk again and in the dark of night on another occasion, she used a concealed dagger in her boot to slice open another man's belly; watching the life leave his eyes with cold, dark satisfaction in her own emerald twins as he bled out like a squealing pig on the ground.

She did not like to resort to killing if she was not directly ordered by the Edenian crown to do so.

But, really. It was their own fault.

They were warned on several occasions to not pursue her again after she had rejected them.

That is why she made the conscious decision to remain single.

She did not have the time or the patience to deal with the complications of entering a relationship.

However, when this stranger, this Earthrealmer, uttered such words, they sounded genuine.

They sounded...real.

And despite her best efforts to control her body's urge to rebel against her, the verdant eyed goddess could not ignore the heat that silently crept into her dusky cheeks, and as she promptly cleared her throat, she answered "I am Kitana's friend from childhood. That is all that I will say on the matter."

"You are not a lovesick schoolgirl, Jade. You are an assassin," her inner voice sternly scolded. "And the sooner that you remember that fact, the better off that you will be.

"Heh. Fair enough, I suppose," Kung Lao chuckled softly as he lightly shrugged his shoulders.

And then, as sincere cocoa eyes looked focused upon the beautiful woman by his side again, the shaolin dragon corrected himself before he continued "Well, Mis- Jade. I wish that I could stay longer, but I am afraid that I have to return to Earthrealm. I have an afternoon class to teach. It has been a pleasure talking with you like this. Will we be able to hold a conversation like this again?"

"I cannot make any promises," Jade gently answered. "But, yes. If I am not busy running errands for the Royal Family, then I would like to get the chance to talk to you again."

"So, it is settled, then," Kung Lao softly responded. "Well, until we meet again."

As the shaolin warrior tipped his bladed hat to her in appreciation, he leapt of the tree branch with the grace of a cat, landing in front of the thick trunk without injuring himself, and as he waved goodbye, once he disappeared from sight, as the fleshy violet fruit that the caramel skinned temptress had been nibbling on earlier now lay abandoned in her lap, disappointed emerald eyes looked down at her draconian companion, who had been silent for some time, as she lightly scolded "What has gotten into you, Rai? You do not bare your fangs unless you sense evil intent."

"My apologies, Mistress," Kuraiatsu lowly growled. "But, you must not be fooled by that man's words."

"Rai, did you somehow forget that I can discern lies from the truth in a person's words?" Jade lightly answered. "He was only making polite conversation."

"Oh, yes. That is what all human men do," the ancient beast lightly huffed as she rolled her liquid metal eyes. "Mistress, please. I am only saying that even though he may seem polite and well mannered on the outside, my beastly senses could detect a hidden layer of cockiness lying just underneath the surface."

"I am sure that you are just imagining things," Jade argued. "But, if it pleases you, I will be more cautious the next time that I speak to him."

"Thank you," Kuraiatsu half-thanked her master, not sure whether to feel appreciative that she would take her words into careful consideration or insulted that she was being mocked. "That is all I ask."

As Jade's beastly companion used her forked tongue to bring the fruit that lay abandoned in her lap into her fanged maw; swallowing it whole in a single breath, when she disappeared into her shadow after she was finished, she let out a weary sigh.

"No, I am certain that Rai was just imagining things," the verdant eyed goddess muttered to herself quietly, dead-set in her conviction. "There were no underlying traces of cockiness in his words. He just wanted to hold a conversation with me. That is all."

As Jade cleared her head of any further confusing and contrived thoughts, she leapt off of the tree branch and landed in front of the thick trunk with grace just as the Earthrealmer did earlier, and as she made her way back to the Palace; gentle sunlight finding her nearly exposed back as it warmed dusky caramel skin, she couldn't quite tune out the nagging of her inner voice, and in turn, it left her feeling mildly annoyed.

Why did her life have to be so damn difficult?

Kung Lao: *his hat is covering his face as he sleeps against the trunk of a willow tree*

TMoSD: Now, who would be so cruel as to disturb someone while they're taking a nap? *grins toothily * I would!

TMoSD: *places a pot next to his ear and loudly bangs on it with a wooden spoon as she shouts* WAKE UP, HOUUUUUUDINI!

Kung Lao: *nearly cuts himself as he yelps angrily* Damn it, Mistress! What the hell is wrong with you?! Have you no boundaries?!

TMoSD: *failing to keep her laughter in check* Nope!

Kung Lao: *pinches the bridge of his nose in agitation as he lowly growls*

TMoSD: Well, now that you're up, I need your help with something.

Kung Lao: Are you insane?!Why should I help you after the stunt you just pulled? What are you scheming this time?

TMoSD: *holds her hands up in defense* Nothing. Jesus, can't I ask for your help without being expected to get into mischief for once?

Kung Lao: No, because that is the persona that I have come to expect of you.

TMoSD: Well, while you're right about that, as loathe as I am to admit it, I'm being 100% honest right now.

Kung Lao: *replies sarcastically* Yes, I bet you are. So, what is so important that you all of a sudden need my help? Can you not get it yourself?

TMoSD: Because, smart-ass, if it weren't for the issue of my height, I obviously wouldn't be asking you for help, now would I?

Kung Lao: *sighs wearily* All right. If it will get you to stop pestering me, I will help. What is the problem?

TMoSD: *grins toothily again as she points to a tree on the other side of a river* See? I knew that you would understand! Okay, see that tree over there? Just follow me across the river.

Kung Lao: *follows the authoress across the river to the aforementioned tree, where a lone cat is yowling loudly*

TMoSD: Okay, when I say 3, get down onto all fours so I can climb up onto that branch. Ready? 1...2...3.

Kung Lao: *kneels onto all fours like a dog; groaning as he struggles to support the authoress's weight on his back as she steadily climbs onto the tree branch after a couple of attempts*

TMoSD: *smiles smugly* Go ahead. Say something about my weight. I fucking dare you.

Kung Lao: *wisely remains silent*

TMoSD: *gently nuzzles the black and white feline before she lands on the ground with her in her arms*

TMoSD: Now, then. This little cutie's owner should be coming to pick her up any minute now.

Little Girl: *runs up to the authoress and takes her cat back from her* Thank you for rescuing Oreo, miss. I was so worried about her.

TMoSD: No problem, sweetheart. Now, make sure she doesn't climb any more trees, okay?

Little Girl: I will. Thank you again. *runs to her mom with her beloved cat in tow*

Kung Lao: Well, I never thought that I would see the day. Mistress, you never told me that you have a soft spot for animals. Maybe now, you will have learned to use your mischievous side to do good instead of-

TMoSD: *raises a eyebrow as she counts a stack of $100 dollar bills* Hmm? You say something, Houdini?

Kung Lao: *sighs in exasperation* Why do I even bother?

Takeda: Please review so that The Mistress of Shadow Dragons can keep writing.

Kung Jin: Or don't. It's your choice.