Liu and Aiko

AiKang Revenant concept — AiKang together with their dark heart gem as their source of strength, their weapon, their bond

Through darkness, diamonds spread their richest light.

AiKang as it's known to be, is a couple introduced in the roleplay known as the Unaliving War. It was done as a collaboration between TheIkranRider and Unaliving Liu Kang. It soon changed, but still remained as AiKang as there was also a different Liu RPer but in an altered timeline (based on MK1 2023,) who was a clone.

It all started as Aiko first saw her Shaolin brother as his horrifying undead self! Like deja vu of her dystopian future. She was too horrified to fight back, and Liu was declaring war onto the Elder Gods as the dead had been neglected by the living for far too long! Ikran decided for a change of pace by Aiko being lacerated by him, and the impurities of her wounds began to consume her rather quickly! When they did, her perception changed completely, and she shared the same omnipotence and ambitions as him! Because of this, her soul and even her heart gem became dark, charred black by the invigorating sensation. She understood of the Revenants' resentment as the Elder Gods were meddling and petty, and Liu shall create his New Era without them as there'd be no limits nor rules holding them back! She accepted and suggested in order to succeed, they must unite their brethren into the darkness as them. If all the realms shall be united, they will stand a chance for victory, with both Liu and Aiko leading the fray and conversion! They even took into customs from Nightwolf and the Makeba, emanating their omnipotence onto other denizens of the realms instead of endless and constant wars. With that method, both individuals became enthralled of the enticing rituals, even gaining more strength and confidence by absorbing the cadence and umbrakinesis!

They eventually held themselves as not just chieftains of the Netherrealm, but an unstoppable force, as well as becoming an official couple. This was also a way to no longer have Unaliving Liu Kang alone as when he was alive, Kitana left him.

Eventually Aiko noticed he had converted and was talking with his Shaolin Brother, Kung Lao. She was surprised, and, just as when she was alive, she continues to be his life/undead partner in conjunction with Liu Kang. She'll undyingly give her heart and soul to both; she felt since they're now ruling the Netherrealm with little to no limits, their Shaolin values seem to have become nonexistent! She had soon discovered that Liu wants to rule the underworld and soon all realms solely, without Shinnok and Quan Chi, as she found that he was free from following orders and desires to maintain his Champion title and usurp the realms.

They did emerge victorious as the Elder Gods retreated! Liu admired her for her drive to succeed as she functioned as the shield and dark power source, even giving them strength and motivation from her dark hearts and the Makeba war drums. During the respite, she wishes to carry out his desires, to be his significant other and soothe the wounds Kitana left him...

AiKang, Chieftain and Chieftess — AiKang as Chieftains of the Netherrealm and soon all realms

With their surrender and retreat, she made Kang as her konsort, and soon their followers bestowed her their own tribal demon headdress. Even though he appreciated all the work she'd done to seize victory by functioning as the shield and their dark drive during the war effort, despite their budding feelings for each other, there's still more battle plans that need to be done, especially against Darkseid whom she doesn't know and hoped for Kang to turn against without overexertion.

As the new chieftess, he enlisted Aiko to lead the next powwow as she should handpick who'd govern the separate realms under their jurisdiction. He anointed himself as her eternal consort. Aiko then made a proposal to him as she kowtowed to him, wishing he will accept her offer, and also have him show her all the tribal practices he learnt. He did more than just took in her proposal and promised to tackle all issues and objectives by her side and rejoicing all matters! He described her as the great equalizer to his reverence and she has his word, affinity and loyalty till the very end...

TribalLiuAiko — Unaliving Liu Kang and Aiko embracing

She wondered what her attraction to Liu was, and he stated it's mostly her physique like a goddess, her heart of gold, and her loyalty as they come. She then officially addressed Liu and Lao as both her lovers and made them as the Unholy Trinity; neither male was ridiculed nor backed down, they both seemed to embrace it giving her confidence to follow their chieftain to the darkest depths of the abyss where he was and increased their omnipresence. They vanquished whoever was left of the petty Elder Gods and upon Aiko's offer, Liu was deeply fascinated with her new way of communicating and converting the minds and hearts to those who listen to his new hand drum and emitting his own black heart. After that, with their victory absolute, he desired for Aiko to lead the new order of Elder Gods, and she grew worried on doing so since they usually don't watch over the realms nor the lower forms in them; after all, there was still Darkseid to deal with...

After a while, Liu told her upon her anxieties that they're actually Titans, capable on controlling time and space even speed. Every realm shall bend to their whims although Liu had still decided to stay as a God in Earthrealm while she patrols the realms. If they ever need each other, they're always a snap and a portal away. Days had passed and she still pined for his return, hoping to have the chance to assist him on Earth. She once drummed for him, and he actually appeared before her! She just poured her heart out to him, being isolated and alone; she didn't know the new Elder Gods, contrary to the older order, they can mingle with the realms anytime. By being in her presence, he described as an instant breath of fresh air, as he'd been dealing with wars destroying the realm itself.

Since they were both feeling irritable upon their duties, Liu suggested to vacate to either a peaceful place or one bustling with activity. She picked the former in order for both of them to relax, and she just hated overstimulation and being around large crowds. So, via a portal built by the Shaolin, Liu took themselves to a balmy, calm and peaceful isle within the Lost Sea, whereas the Titans and Elder Gods wouldn't see with their watchful eyes. It was actually close to the Edenia beaches.

After taking some dips into the warm sea, then Liu teaching her basic skills like swimming more properly from a dog paddle, or making a fire without elemental means, Liu discussed to Aiko that he had been restless and troubled for many moons. As he was unsuccessful to maintain peace throughout the realms. Aiko felt sympathetic and was willing to soothe his angsts, and the only way to do so is to "conquer the stars," while also bring an end to Darkseid and strip themselves of their powers! Aiko was reluctant, but Liu was willing to make that sacrifice, no longer fight, and live a peaceful life. She eventually accepted, and he vowed they'd stay together until the end.

Koherence[]

Aiko's living form heard some tremors emanating from her heart gem as her closest cohorts (Liu, Lao, Nightwolf and Raiden) visited Nightwolf's Matokan land. They were intermixed during the warmups, making Aiko get mesmerized and succumb to the drums making her do the same on the mattress and having the urge to join and be a part of the distant tribe with her family...

That was until her Revenant self was doing the same inside the Bone Temple with the chieftain, Liu Kang, with her as chieftess. Within her own dark gem, the two dimensions merged, and she was the first to notice her lively self! The human was shocked, and the darker counterpart explained she'd seen this happen as when reality's disrupted, the timelines converge. She stated she's in March 1996 but in an altered dimension and in the Netherrealm much to the human's shock! She stated that Liu killed her and converted her after he also caved into his corrupt half by Darkseid and were about to wage war onto the Elder Gods. The emperor greeted Aiko's human self and her undead self said they can't talk too long, otherwise the dimensions may swap. She encouraged to return to whatever it was, which was to rehearse a number counteracting the Matoka's ceremony, in which her Revenant was intrigued by it! She ensured to no longer fear and just accept and embrace that part of herself as the fascination is part of who she is. The undead self ended the transmission.

Separate reality/roleplay[]

It was possible that Aiko was created in Liu Kang's New Era. For months since last November, he'd been suffering from anxiety and depression when his love, Titan Kitana, and their daughter, Liuxei, abruptly left him and never returned.... He'd been heartbroken, and Aiko was the closest confidant to him always trying to soothe his angsts and be the significant other Kitana was... One day, she confessed her true feelings for him and had a meltdown giving her entire heart to him; he was reluctant, but upon her overexertion, he took her inside to rest at the Fire Temple's bedchamber. It was comforting and little by little, they began to bond. Slowly but surely, they became closer than ever. and when he suddenly noticed Titan Kitana while Aiko was away at work, he decided to clone himself and their Fire Temple, so their relationship remained constant. They even went on several dates including at a museum with one room filled with beautiful, illuminated environments, an arcade (which triggered her painful overstimulation), to a Chinese restaurant that specialized in sushi and bobas in which she never had before! Even to their own single tree on a hill in which they'd carved their initials in located above a campground they made once... There were also times of intimacy as well as her discussing the experiences of her other counterpart.

On mid-June, Liu Kang took her on a surprise date and gave her a gorgeous red dress while he wore a tux (he actually owns a long, black car!) and drove each other to the same sushi restaurant on their first date, then went to their tree with the engravings. He then stated how much he loved her and appreciated her thru tough times with his original, then he popped the question; thru tears of joy, she accepted almost instantly, and they plan to be married by the end of July! Unfortunately, due to time consuming and overwhelming, they have decided to be married on August 19th, 2024!

Aiko aikang wedding koncept art — Koncept art on Aiko's wedding apparel konsisting of red dress, ruby slippers, white pantyhose, and a red gem necklace

Aikang koncept art — AiKang koncept art feat Aiko's wedding apparel and Liu's red tux with latter from Liu RPer

The trip to the wedding started at 11:50 and the ceremony began around 12:30, just enough time for the couple being set up by the ushers and bridesmaids who're clones of the original Liu Kang's allies. It was a bit difficult since Aiko wasn't sure how they'd arrive without seeing their wedding apparel as it's bad luck to see them before the ceremony. Nevertheless, they got dressed and everything went as scheduled, although there were no parental escorts down the aisle. Aiko went down alone to her lover at the altar and the reverend asked for their wed, exchanged the rings, and kissed. They had a great reception with a large chocolate cake, even feeding each other, and Liu flirted by giving her frosting on her nose and licked it off, and soon danced slowly to a few numbers before getting in a limo taking them to their honeymoon.

It had a lot of restaurants, a spa, a little beach, a pool, a movie area, shower rooms, a park, etc! Liu decided to go to the sushi restaurant which had a circular conveyor belt with every type in Earthrealm; they avoided the spicy ones, although Aiko was reluctant on the avocado ones till she remembered she liked the avocado with rice he made, so she went to get a few; she also stated she disliked guacamole since her freshman Spanish class during a lil banquet for the Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Nevertheless, they were full and eventually got intimate. They couldn't wait on what they'd do for tomorrow on their honeymoon.

Unfortunately...Day 2 wasn't as promising. They had a nice breakfast of 3 pancakes each with chocolate smothered on them, Liu wanted to try the mud spa which was awkward but interesting, although it made Aiko's skin oily and a bit filthy. Luckily, they rinsed off and emerged into a very relaxing jacuzzi! It was very nice, especially since they cuddled as he massaged her with the warm water, then snuggled for a while. After that, Liu decided to head to the cafe, but...the lack of communication occurred, as the RPer was gone for an extensive period of time (about 4 hrs). After that, he offered to go to the pool either inside or outside in which Aiko chose the latter, which was nice, but...he didn't stay as long as she did. She soon got out and had a refreshing glass of orange punch with a cherry with him, then he pointed out a very high swing! Aiko became nervous and reluctant, and she became uncomfortable as it rose several feet! He enjoyed swinging on it, while she became stagnant until the ride ended. She was nervous with heights, but he urged her to go, then she changed back and just sulked, and denied it was as romantic as he thought mostly from the lack of communication and the RPer being gone for so long... He tried to assure her that tomorrow'd be better with a cup of hot chocolate, some snuggling, kissing and getting intimate; she hopes that their relationship won't take a turn for the worst.

Thankfully it wasn't. They started by going to the cafe, the one Aiko vaguely remembered (and wasn't described) and she had 2 scrumptious chocolate muffins while Liu had bacon pancakes with the usual tea. They soon got dressed into their swimsuits and tried out the indoor pool, which was pleasant and they're the only ones there! Liu always complimented her on swimming like a mermaid! Several minutes later she was hesitant, but soon decided to go skinny dipping to which they both admired! After that, Liu escorted her to a yacht which moved fast thru the smooth waters; she soon felt as if she was flying and wondered if angels and gods go that fast! It was exhilarating, although she was reluctant to leave that amazing ride! They then watched a movie, Aiko preferred the original MK film, then they went to the small beach! She collected a few conch shells and some sea glass, then rinsed off at the ocean and it was too salty to swim in. Eventually they'd returned and got intimate. Later on, he stated tomorrow'd be the last full day as they'd leave on Friday morning before she'd go to work; they'd miss that beautiful place so much....

On the last day, they'd breakfast consisting of chocolate Pop Tarts, coffee and tea; he actually managed to get the former from home. Liu said they'd done every activity except for the animal park. They saw several birds there including a dove and lovebirds which the latter reminds them of themselves. They relaxed and walked there for almost an hour, and then they took a shower together. After that, he suggested to visit the sushi conveyor belt one last time which had lesser sushi than before; they still ate a hearty meal, and Aiko drank a Coke while he'd tea. She'd surely miss the variety the place has, and Liu asked to see if they deliver; to her ecstasy, they do! She even paid half the fare and gave a $20 tip! They then relaxed for a movie for a few hours until they'd decided to dance at that tranquil park; it was splendid with the calming music and the sparkling stars above. It was just the perfect ending to their amazing honeymoon.

A couple days later, Liu planned on adopting an orphaned dragon that's yet to be hatched in a distant cave and keep it as their pet; Aiko hopes it'd be a red one similar to Caro. Liu eventually went to the mountains up high to hopefully find one. He came across an old looking man in a hood and cape. He said that Liu can take an egg and keep it, the man somehow knew when the babies would be born or if it's a male or female. So, Liu took it then he didn't see the elder again. A couple days later, the egg gradually moved, Liu knew it'd be a male, and soon hatched, it cried greeting them, Liu fed him after Aiko filled a bottle of milk, he licked her, though he loved Liu's warmth and comfort. They promised to take care of the pet.

More is cited here.