He’s shoved back up on land. Kazuki makes no sign of being aware, slumping in the shallow water. On one hand, he is actually in pain. That hadn’t been an easy stunt to pull. He estimates he won’t last much longer with his wounds and remaining energy—which is why it’s important he bides his time, acts on the verge of unconsciousness, and see what Verai will do.

He hears the splash of Verai following after him, collapsing next to him. He turns his head to face him, sees Verai on his side, laughing. The other man hadn’t accrued nearly as much damage as he had, but he still looks drained; soaked to the skin and lacking most of his armor. The muscles in Kazuki’s body that had tensed in preparation unwound, realizing that this wouldn’t be much of a worthy fight to continue anyways.

The hand brushing against Verai’s fingers tenses, fingers curling inward.

Kazuki doesn’t say anything as he picks himself up, rising to his knees. The sound of their breaths echo in the empty cave. The waterfall sounds farther away than it should be.

A hand shoots out to grab Verai by the throat, the skin of it freezing as nails make to dig into his pulse. “Ver,” the name without its usual purr. Bloodshot eyes in the cave’s dim light look no less sinister than if they were seen looming in the depths. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

This isn’t ENOUGH.

The fight hasn’t ENDED.

K̵̞͝E̸̠̚E̵̪͒P̶̩̉ ̵̩͒G̶͎͌O̵̟̓I̵̖͊N̸̺̈́G̴̖͐.

The veins of his arm are glowing. An energy begins to hum in the air, a scent like ozone mixing with the iron of Kazuki’s blood. Kazuki looms over Verai, adrenaline coursing through his body. He hadn’t intended to use this move – it’s a cheap fucking trick – but all he can think about now is how he needs to see this fight to the end.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Prompts}
KAZUKI (BLACK BELT) - SNEAKY/CAREFUL
- use a teammate to cover your attack
- attempt to conceal yourself
- engage in distracting banter
- attack from behind your opponent
- try to blind your opponent
- fake an injury
- lay a trap
- create a distraction
- observe your environment carefully
- bide your time
- wait until you're in position
- carefully line up a precision shot
- anticipate a move before it hits
- take a hit on a non-essential part of your body
- find cover