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[He only gives Hinata a defiant glare. It's a greater insult to his pride to stop here than it would be for him to be defeated. Komaeda makes a beckoning gesture from his defensive stance. He knows he's going to lose but he'll do it with his diginity intact, thank you.]

[...]

[ This is what he gets for actually caring. Of fucking course. Fine, have it your way, Komaeda. Sighing, he just simply nods before getting into stance again. He's serious this time. No holding back the punches (literally). Because he's going to attempt to toss him again.

Attempt being the key word here. ]

[It isn't that he doesn't appreciate the caring. It actually makes his stupid heart beat that much faster. But the first time he was useful and felt real control over what happened to him has been in combat. Also the principal of the thing. As he predicts, he's too slow dodge the grab this time. But he has one last trick up his sleeve.

His back hits the stone wall and protests his nearly half a year long love affair with walls. While the pain makes him hiss through his teeth, he transfers what is left of his power into his right hand. If he times this right he can get one last strike in. It won't turn the tide. But he'll have fought with all he had.]

[ Of course, Hinata can see it coming from miles away, and he feigns a punch to the left when in reality, he plans to catch the right hand that Komaeda is attempting to throw at him.

That's... enough, isn't it? ]

[Correction. Right fist. He had times it damn near perfectly. He even used the wall behind him for leverage. It didn't work and the space he can fight in has shrank to nothing. His opponent is almost right up against him. He can't even kick out if he wanted to. It's a bit distracting.

Komaeda looks at Hinata's eyes and lets his head fall, hair obscuring his face as he breathes hard with every exhale. With a soft, breathy laugh as Ultimate Luck says right in Hinata's ear.] I. Give.

[He smiles slightly as he draws back to take a little space for himself.] Thank you for the interesting fight. Truly, I enjoyed that immensly! [He looks up, making eye contact.] Did you?

Edited 2016-05-06 14:58 (UTC)

[ He finds his cheeks growing a bright pink as he takes a step back, away from Komaeda, rubbing at the nape of his neck as he goes to grab his shinai. ]

Maybe just a little.

A little? [Komaeda watches him go for a moment and wipes sweat from his face. He feels oddly focused but he can't quite place why he's hyper aware of where Hinata is. Huh. Something to think about later.

He picks his way back over to the porch with a wince. Work is going to be a lot of polite smiling and very little moving. At least he can't feel it just yet.] If you'll come inside I can patch up both of us.

[The backdoor creaks as he pushes it open. Raijin's orange glow condenses into the creature itself just inside the door. Well, at least there will be a bit of healing arte to keep tomorrow from being too hellish.]

[...]

Actually, you shouldn't push it, Komaeda. I didn't hold back there; I can tend to my own injuries, since I didn't get injured as much as you did.

[ Although he's slightly wincing a bit. He might be a weenie who collapsed before due to shock but he's rather durable?? ]

[...] It's less injury, and more reality sets in. In order to fight at an equal capacity I already expend a great deal of energy to temporarily banish my illnesses.

Until I can find a cure. My stamina is significantly lower than a healthy Dunamis user, as that has to be established at the start of any fight. Once the energy is gone... [Then he's back to the terminal illnesses and weakness that comes with them.]

I'm not at my limit, Hinata. [His smile is rueful as he adds,] Though I admit I would have been if that last strike had struck. Either way you should come inside as that's where my medical supplies are.

That's why I told you not to push yourself too much.

[ He lets out a rather annoyed groan before sighing. ]

We'll definitely find a cure, though. That's a promise. But alright.

[ .........he's just ignoring the whole "last strike" thing because uh. He was lying about being 100% serious during that fight but Komaeda doesn't need to know that. ]

[Actually, he's well aware Hinata wasn't being 100% serious. He just isn't saying it because to be honest. He lost his own head like he always does around Hinata. In a much more serious fight, he wouldn't have run around even half that much.]

I've considered talking to Peromei about it. She did help Colette.

[He steps inside as Raijin begins casting healing artes and lets the spirit follow him to the bathroom. Said room has changed a bit since last time. There's the shower stall, wall cabinets, and sink but the room is wider and contains a bench on the far wall. He gestures for Hinata to have a seat as he retrieves the first aid kit.] And Hinata, I push myself because I want to be taken just as seriously as anyone else. But, I do understand your concerns.

Don't think that I wasn't taking you seriously.

[ Because even if he wasn't going all out, it doesn't mean that he wasn't. Hinata does, however, take a seat, letting out a sigh before wincing a bit in pain. Shit, did he overdo it? He doesn't think so, but... ]

I just don't want you to do that... especially if it's a real fight.

[It's a strange mix of emotions whirling through his mind and he isn't sure what to say to that. Hinata obviously cares about his well being, he'd be an idiot not to see that. As he sets the kit to one side of his friend he finally says,]

I can't make any promises about real fights. But I will be more careful when fighting against you.

[He'd need to very careful in order to keep up anyway. He turns back away to grab a towel and passes it to Hinata before he sets to work.] I assume your back is giving you some trouble.

I won't forgive you if you end up dying, alright? [ Wow, look at this guy and his mother henning. ]

Thanks.

[ He takes the towel and wipes his sweat, sighing. ]

I just need an ice pack for it and I should be fine. I didn't break any bones.

Then it's good I don't plan to die. As I said, I won't kill or allow myself to be killed. [He pauses and strides out of the bathroom. Komaeda returns with the ice pack and presses it into Hinata's hand. He withdraws before the contact can linger too long to clean up cuts and abrasions. His face still stings where he felt the burn of a bullet ripping across it. At least it stopped bleeding.]

But this goes both ways. I will be very angry with you if you die. I might even shout. [He doesn't sound like he's joking.]

I won't. [ There's strength behind his words as he stares directly at Komaeda. ]

That's a promise.

Well. That's settled. Put the ice on your back already before it melts. [He does believe Hinata. But he also knows that the world so does love to break a promise. Komaeda leans back and winces with a hiss of indrawn breath. It's not as bad as it would have been if he'd tensed up.]

Ah, didn't expect that to start hurting yet. [By now Hinata should be more than used to Komaeda's casual catalogue of his injuries. He joins his companion on the bench and starts very carefully working his boots off. The going is very slow because he's in more pain than he predicted.] To get back to our original discussion, your theory proved true. So it's likely the more you remember, the more you will regain. Whether that is unique to you or not, we'll see.

You went through three different styles of martial arts during that fight. You adapted quickly and that's all while you're not being serious. [Yes, he knew. He swears through his teeth when a knot he'd made means bending further forward to work at it. Damn leather lacing.]

Yeah.

[ He nods quietly as he does so, sighing as he leans against it. ]

I wanted to be wrong, but -- I guess it helped out a little. But I'm not surprised you noticed. Both the amount of styles and how serious I was.

[His back hurts like hell as he straightens up. Komaeda's boot hits the floor.] Of course I did, I didn't take it seriously as much as I should have either.

[There's a whole host of nasty tricks he could have employed but he went at things like a charging horse. All the subtly of a brick. He pulls his leg up and works at the lacing on his other boot.]

I was too excited and having fun, so, well. Neither of us took it too seriously. Still...fighting with you at level was...incredible.

[That is his embarrassing factiod of the day. He pretends his face isn't a little bit pink. His shoulder brushes Hinata's as he struggles with back pain and doing something that requires dexterity.] I guess I should admit this makes me feel a bit relieved. Should anything happen here you can defend yourself.

You know, if you took it a little more seriously, I might have had to raise the bar a bit.

I spar with master, I know when someone is massively holding back. [Their master could flatten the both of them even with Hinata as he is now.] But I didn't really think that far once we started.

[He had fixated on seeing what Hinata could do and stupidly chased after him.] Forgot rule one of a fight, like an idiot.

During that spar match, when I noticed what was going on, I knew that I couldn't use my full abilities. So I just decided that it was best to hold back a bit...

[Next time will be a vastly different story. He won't underestimate Hinata ever again. The other boot hits the floor and he sinks back against the wall. Komaeda tips his head back as he slowly inhales. The damage isn't terrible he can recover from it fairly fast but fighting at full capacity is beyond him for at least a few days. He's too tired to even take care of his injuries.] Probably...for the best.

[Raijin appears at his side, flicking his tail and curling up against his side.] ...We need to talk about what I learned from Thras. I might have, [He laughs tiredly, it sounds more like a cough.] Surprised him.

As a result he will never underestimate me again, so I'd call that a small victory.

Well before you start talking about what you learned, I'll go ahead and treat your wounds for you, then. You already seem exhausted.

I'll get- [He sighs and relents. Komaeda doesn't like being vulnerable. He hasn't been this weak around anyone in a long time outside of the despair disease and after Sosyne's attack.] ...alright. I trust you.

[He doesn't make any further remarks as he shuts his eyes.] But if you don't mind I'll keep talking. This isn't something that can wait and I'll prefer the distraction. Fair enough?

[He hasn't met Hinata's eyes, his are still closed.]

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