Mortal Kombat Fan Fiction ❯ Of Butterflies and Blizzards ❯ Butterflies ( Chapter 7 )

It had been five months since she began her training with Grandmaster Liang and she had found herself falling into a comfortable routine. They had worked on using her other senses in certain situations...like scouting at night as she could maneuver in pitch black now. He had even taught her Dragon Style and how to form and use ice daggers as well.

Every morning when she woke up, she would emerge from the dormitory and immediately be pelted with snowballs. Those she could dodge perfectly but he always switched up the attacks that followed. But this time...this time she would ace this test. Some part of her wanted...no needed to show Kuai that she was worth his time. To prove that his training was working. Her heart raced at the thought of seeing his eyes once again...of seeing the face that that beautiful gravely voice came from.

It was a fine line she was walking...being attracted to him, but he had proven not only to be an excellent teacher but an amazing man as well. He listened and always gave his advice respectfully. And he always took her advice when she gave it, not making a joke of it. He seemed to truly value her input. He was patient and very rarely lost his temper with her. If he did, it was well warranted. And he has never once acted in a dishonorable way.

Isabeau respected him greatly. Trusted him just as much. 

She would follow his example, no matter how much it might pain her. She would uphold the honor of the Lin Kuei.

She would not disappoint him.

She smiled to herself, and held up her hand as a slight twinkling filled her ears.

But today, she was going to throw everything she had into this.

She was going to see Kuai's face again.

/  -  /  -  /  -  /

He waited with bated breath for her to emerge. Something about today felt different.

Training Isabeau had turned out to be quite easy. She was a quick study and she did not complain...well not openly.

Kuai smiled.

"You're smiling again, little brother."

"Don't you have somewhere to be?"

Bi-Han laughed loudly, smacking his shoulder. "I thankfully let my students get up at a decent hour, not right at first light."

He looked at his older brother and noticed how much more at ease he was. Looking back the last few months, he could tell a great change in him. He was more open with himself...joking around and pulling pranks much like he used to when they had been children.

"You have become more yourself, brother. I have enjoyed having you back to your old self."

Bi-Han smiled, looking up at the stars still above their heads.

"Its surprising how a person can open up when there is someone who understands them."

"Brother...are you...is there someone?"

His brother grinned and winked at him. "there might be...but I know what you're going to say and no, I have only been respectful towards her. We have only talked. Well after she sings."

"She sings?"

"She has the loveliest voice."

"Who is this woman?"

Bi-Han held up a hand, pointing to the door.

"You have more important things to worry about now. I'll tell you later."

Kuai looked at the door and when Isabeau emerged he sighed and squared his shoulders.

'Alright, little one. Let's see what you've got today.'

/  -  /  -  /  -  / 

When she opened the door, she ducked to the left, then to the right, then bent forward and flipped over another snowball.

Then turned and ran up the wall and flipped mid-air dodging an icy blast before rolling across the floor and flipping to her feet, dodging a second blast of ice.

She threw a small icicle with one hand in the direction of the last blast following it closely with another icicle from the other. 

He dodged to the right, giving a grunt in surprise as the second one connected with his shoulder.

"Good."

Her head tilted left and right, her brow furrowed in concentration as she focused on the sounds around her.

He watched her from the shadows, noticing the set of her shoulders and the look of concentration.

'She has come far.'

He smiled proudly.

He found himself smiling a lot like that lately.

'Alright, little one, next test.'

He followed close by, silently and waiting for his chance.

It was always the common area now that she would fail at. The noises of the other students tended to cover his attacks.

When she reached the doors, she paused, tilting her head to listen again. 

Kuai waited patiently for her to reach for the door handle. That was when he would strike.

He watched confused as she snapped her fingers and suddenly the air filled with a sharp chiming sound. It was coming from his back.

When he reached a hand there he felt something odd and cold attached to his clothes. He pulled it off and looked down at it and grinned.

It was an ice butterfly, its crystalline wings rubbing together to make the chiming sound.

'When had she placed it on him?'

He touched his shoulder...The icicle! Of course!

"So, you going to stand there all day? Or are we going to do this?"

He nodded before he surged forward suddenly attacking, sending a punch flying at her right temple but it was blocked by her arm. Which she sent a punch toward his jaw in retaliation.

He quickly dropped and swept at her legs which she flipped over.

When she landed, she turned, sending a roundhouse at him which he blocked before sending a kick of his own. She surprised him by catching it and throwing a punch into his abdomen. He threw another punch and she ducked, spinning and throwing an elbow at him, finally catching him in the jaw. She spun again, fist flying toward the other side of his face.

He grabbed her fist and pulled her to him and over, slamming her to the ground. Or he would have if she hadn't twisted around, wrapping her legs around his arm and throwing her weight down to the ground and flipping him over her.

A handspring at the right moment kept him from sprawling onto the ground.

His chest ached with pride as she easily fell back into a defensive posture, head tilting each way.

She had done it! Isabeau was jumping up and down internally. She had successfully defended herself against his morning attack and she had landed a hit as well. She would see his face again after five months of the hardest, most grueling training she had ever done.

He stood and approached her.

"Well done, Isabeau. You no longer have need of the blindfold."

"Really?"

He walked closer to her and gently pulled the fabric up and off her head.

She grinned up at him. "Hi."

"Hello, Isabeau."

He touched her shoulder softly as he locked eyes with a lone green orb. He smiled again at her but softer this time.

"You have succeeded."

His heart fluttered at the brilliant smile she flashed him with and suddenly it was as if he had been the one blindfolded all this time. His eyes were crystal clear now.

He knew then that over the course of these last five months he had come to care for her. Greatly. 

Cheers came from the windows of the common area startling the two of them. He nodded to the other students. 

Even Bi-Han clapped.

Kuai had seen her determination firsthand. She had never once given up in their training, never complained openly, always throwing herself at every challenge with everything she had. She was strong. But now, now he could see her beauty.

His chest ached as they held each other's gaze.

She lifted her hand and formed another butterfly, gently blowing it up into the sky. It fluttered in the air above them and as its wings caught the sun, the light fractured into tiny rainbows dancing out across her features.

He smiled softly.

And her own smile answered.

His mind sighed, 'Wǒ de xiǎo xuěhuā...'