Going Places (For Deezcastforms)

[CaptainL]

There was no doubt that Mizuki was out of her comfort zone here. She hadn't been in many real fights, and she was even less used to instigating anything. She was plunging headlong into the unknown, with only her instincts and what advice Nikki had given her to guide her. But she knew that Nikki sincerely believed in her, and in her potential. Mizuki, more than anything else, wanted to live up to that. Even if she was scared of what she was getting into, she could at least strive to be what Nikki hoped she could be.

Mizuki herself wasn't even sure of how much this would work. She, quite understandably, had her doubts, but she was willing to try if it was what Nikki wanted of her. She threw herself forward, using her momentum to propel her leg as she kicked it up toward Nikki's head with her rising stride. Anticipating the moment of impact, the blonde's skull against her knee, Mizuki grimaced, her muscles going tense. Would this work? Would it be too much? Too little?

With her eyes closed, Mizuki couldn't tell if she had hit until she felt the thud of her knee hitting Nikki. It was only then that she opened her eyes, looking down to see where Nikki had landed beneath her. The brunette took in a few gasps. She seemed amazed by the thought that she had actually hit, and that she was actually in a dominant position in front of her opponent. In signing up for this job, Mizuki didn't expect this to happen.

It was then she realized she didn't have a plan. She was so caught off guard that she didn't know what to do, and she froze up, staring blankly down at Nikki's prone form. A few seconds later, Mizuki shook herself. She had this, she told herself! It was right there! Nikki was down, and she had to take advantage of that! With a gulp, she threw herself forward, poised to land on top of Nikki. Mirroring what she had seen, she slipped one arm behind her, looking to hook it around Nikki's leg and pull it up to try and pin her!

[deezcastforms]

As Nikki lay there, the hesitation from Mizuki was killing her. Hesitation like this will get you absolutely killed in the ring. Even other jobbers would be able to recover and counter Mizuki with the kind of time she was giving her. This would have to be ironed out, but that would be later. For now, Mizuki pin attempt was the current focus.

It was actually pretty solid. Mizuki went for a proper hook pin technique instead of just throwing herself onto Nikki's shoulders like most beginners would. And even though Mizuki was rather light, Nikki could tell that she was properly leaning what weight she did have onto Nikki's chest and shoulder area to keep her down. As always, the pausing and uncertainty was what brought it down. But Mizuki's form was undeniably solid.

Nikki didn't bother kicking out, and she gave the count for Mizuki, "1, 2, 3. That's a pin." With that, Nikki and Mizuki would get up, and Nikki would begin her critique. "You have one, big issue that will kill you every time in the ring no matter how strong you are or how good your form is. Do you know what that flaw is, Mizuki?" Nikki posed the question to her pupil, looking to see if she recognized it as well.

[CaptainL]

Mizuki sucked in a breath and held it there as she threw herself down on top of Nikki, hooking her leg and bridging her weight to push down on her shoulders. She was tense, her body rigid. She couldn't move a muscle, lest everything fall apart. This was a position Mizuki was unused to, one that she never thought she would ever find herself in in all her time with LAW. The thought of it almost seemed surreal. But at the same time, she knew what she had to do, and she couldn't back down. She listened to Nikki counting herself out, and with each second that passed she felt the concern growing in the back of her head that she would be sabotaged somehow. But that moment never came - and Nikki announced her pin as a successful one.

All the tension in Mizuki's body was let out with a sigh, as she let Nikki go, rolling over onto her knees and brushing her hair out of her eyes. The first thing she felt was surprise; she was totally blindsided by the thought that it could actually work. But as she came down from that, she felt a sense of relief wash over her body. It had happened, she had done it, and her smile grew wider the more she thought of it.

But that too took a turn, as Nikki mentioned that something was holding Mizuki back. As soon as she heard the words, she let out a sigh, looking down at the ground. Her body deflated, her shoulders slumping. Mizuki was well aware she was hardly a good wrestler, and she was familiar with her own faults. She had no doubts of what Nikki was describing. "It's...because I hesitate, isn't it?" With a sigh, she hugged her arms closer to herself. "I'm sorry, it's just...I'm really not used to this, it doesn't come naturally..."

[deezcastforms]

"Exactly. Even momentary hesitation can turn a promising offensive into a counter hit straight in your gut. In your case, I'd wager it's caused by your lack of the killer instinct most fighters have. Most people without that instinct don't go down that path of a fighter, but you have, so it's an obstacle you have to deal with. I can't say I have the answer to it either. But I do have an idea." Nikki looked at Mizuki with a smile.

"That feeling of joy you had when you pinned me, remember it when you fight. That was the biggest, most purely joyful smile I've ever seen on your face. The first time I've seen you really look happy. You achieved that happiness by pushing through, fighting, and winning. I believe that if you keep hold of that feeling, you can wipe that hesitation from your wrestling. You've truly impressed me, Mizuki. If nothing else, your technique is far above what I would have expected from you. If you can overcome your hesitation, and grow strong enough to use that technique, you may see yourself winning more than either of us thought you could."

With that, Nikki stood up and held her arms out at her sides. "Consider this your final test for today: submit me. Come at me however you please. I understand I could probably power out of any hold you can throw at me so I won't. So long as you never let up, and don't hesitate. Now I do pride myself on submission resistance, so you have to earn this." Nikki let out a chuckle. "Now come at me Mizuki!"

[CaptainL]

Mizuki sighed, hearing the words come out of Nikki. The same words that she figured she would be hearing, but that she really didn't want to. She looked off, casting her gaze sheepishly to the floor; she felt too ashamed to face Nikki. She even sniffled a little to herself. She knew she couldn't possibly be doing even half as well as she thought she was, and now, she was too afraid to admit it. She knew she had let Nikki down, proved wrong everything she had hope in her for...

But then, she stopped. Mizuki raised an eyebrow to the sound of Nikki's voice, hearing her propose an idea. "Huh..?" After a few blinks, the brown-haired girl looked back at her. "What's that..?"

Mizuki was still tense, even if Nikki might have had a smile on her face. Despite the blonde's warm demeanor, Mizuki was sure that she had proven herself a disappointment, as usual, and there was still the concern in the back of her mind that she'd be berated for it. But that never came. Instead, Nikki described the joy and relief Mizuki felt when she pinned Nikki - when she pinned anyone - for the first time. And just hearing the words brought the memories flooding back, as another smile crept across her face. More than that, though, her happiness was born from knowing that Nikki truly believed in her.

"You...really think that? Wow..." She was left basking in the afterglow, looking dreamily back at Nikki. Though she might have tried to put words to what she was feeling, or what she wanted to say, she couldn't. Nothing would do it justice.

Nikki really believed in her. And she was sure that if Mizuki strived for it, she could claim not only wrestling success, but true happiness. She could feel her heart beating faster just thinking about it, and her smile grew across her cheeks. Mizuki had never felt like she was this close to answering everything, putting all her concerns to rest. "Okay! If you really think that, then..." She tightened a fist, now feeling more eager than ever before. "...I'll make sure I make you proud!"

Leaning in toward Nikki as she readied her stance, the girl bit her lip. She knew she was jumping in blindly to something she barely knew anything about...but Nikki was counting on her for it! She knew she had the chance to really prove to her that she could be a capable wrestler, and she wasn't about to let that go! That was all the encouragement she needed to drive her forward, as she charged for Nikki, holding her arm up in front of her to hit her with a clothesline. Of course, that was just to stun the blonde long enough for Mizuki to get in position for a submission, and she would quickly circle behind her, grabbing her arms to pull back with a Nelson hold! Mizuki clenched her teeth, leaning back with all her might to compress Nikki's back and restrain her arms. She didn't have much faith that she could do much good, but she was willing to try her best now, for Nikki's sake!

[deezcastforms]

Nikki was nervous when she agreed to coach Mizuki. She had never really instructed anyone in her life, and Mizuki was a girl who needed more help than Nikki thought she could give. Though Mizuki didn't realize it, both girls came into this with a fear of failing the other. But now, to see Mizuki like this: happy, excited, eager. She was proud of both Mizuki and the job she had done. Now it was time to bring it home.

Nikki would let Mizuki's clothesline knock her down to a seated position, where Mizuki would then swing in behind her and lock in a Full Nelson, putting pressure on her neck and shoulders. It was a solid start, but Nikki needed more. "Alright. Good start, what's next? I hope you weren't thinking this would be all it took. Keep going!"

Nikki's words were maybe a bit harsh for the delicate mind of Mizuki, but that was a bit of a side effect of Nikki getting excited for this. She figured Mizuki would be fine.

[CaptainL]

When she arrived at the gym, Mizuki had been unsure what she was getting into. She had no training in wrestling to speak of, and her confidence in herself to do even a half-decent job at it was even less. She was afraid of doing something wrong and letting Nikki down. But over the course of their training session together, Mizuki's confidence had grown. Little by little, she began to realize there was nothing she could do that would make Nikki upset with her. And with that came a new sense of freedom, a sense that she could do anything - and, perhaps, even succeed. When she wasn't holding herself back, she could truly push herself to her true potential.

It was a feeling that made Mizuki's heart pump excitedly in her chest. It was a feeling she was unused to, one she couldn't remember the last time she had felt it. But she would hold onto that feeling and never let go. It was all she needed!

Mizuki's heart was still racing as she swung behind Nikki, grabbing her arms and pulling them back into a full nelson. It was a basic hold, one that she recognized enough from seeing it on TV to feel like she had the intuition to pull it off. And so far, it was working - Nikki even said as much. But Mizuki knew she'd need something more. Even before the blonde had said anything, she was already hatching her next plan.

"Don't worry, I wasn't!" she called back. "I've got...this!" Mizuki released Nikki's arms just long enough to throw her arms around her throat, applying a sleeperhold. At the same time, she raised her legs up from the ground, using Nikki as a support to hoist herself up in order to throw her legs around her waist, compounding the hold with a bodyscissor!

[deezcastforms]

This was going great! Mizuki was actually projecting confidence in the face of Nikki's challenge. She was ready to push on and push harder. As Mizuki declared her next move, Nikki felt Mizuki's arms slip out from under her shoulders, and then go back over them. Then her arms started to wrap around Nikki's throat, and her eyes went wide.

Nikki's weakness, was chokeholds. She didn't know why. Maybe she had a weak throat, a small windpipe, could be something with her lungs, or something else entirely. The fact of the matter was, Nikki could not handle chokeholds. She was skilled at not getting locked into them in the first place, so it had never been too big of an issue for her. But whenever she did get locked into one, it was like she ran out of air before she could even think of escape. The bodyscissor Mizuki comboed the sleeper hold with was practically an afterthought.

Nikki's fighting instincts kicked in, and she very nearly forced her way out in a way that would've been very painful for Mizuki. But thankfully her conscious thinking stopped her before she did. Still, Nikki really didn't want to be in this position. Even if it was Mizuki's weak arms doing the choking, which thankfully gave Nikki more time to work with than normal before she would have to genuinely tap.

Nikki said she wouldn't force her way out of holds with brute strength, but she never said she wouldn't try to escape at all. Plus, it would probably be good for Mizuki if she offered at least some resistance. At the very least, that's what Nikki told herself to justify getting out of this chokehold. So, with one arm, Nikki would try to snake her way between her throat and Mizuki's bicep to create some breathing room. With her other arm, Nikki would reach above her and start swatting at Mizuki's face to distract her.

[CaptainL]

As her body fell into position, leaning into Nikki's directions, Mizuki could feel every breath she took as her heart quickened in her chest. She could hardly believe she was really doing this, and that she actually seemed to be having an effect on Nikki. Was this potential she had in her all along? Or was this what happened when she allowed herself to move freely, with no concern to how she'd be judged?

Either way, Mizuki had gotten her legs around Nikki's waist at the same time her arms encircled her throat, lifting herself up along the girl's body and holding herself there like a backpack. She was so surprised by what she'd found herself capable of that she didn't even notice it at first - but soon, she realized the effects she'd had on Nikki as well. The blonde had gone quiet; instead of praising Mizuki or offering encouraging words, she only coughed and gagged, and from how closely they were pressed together Mizuki could feel each motion of her body as she jostled back and forth. This didn't seem like acting, but as though she was genuinely trying to escape.

The hairs began to stand up on the back of her neck now, as Mizuki's confidence turned to unease. Was she hurt? Did she go too far? Even when she had actually succeeded at something, was it only causing more problems?

"Huh? Nikki? Are...are you alright-?" Mizuki stammered. The muscles in her limbs began to slacken, though they still held on - she was using Nikki to hold herself up, after all. But when Nikki got her arm in through Mizuki's hold, it caught the girl by surprise - and then, as she delivered a few slaps to the face, it was enough to break her concentration! Peppered by the smacks coming this way and that, Mizuki's head went cracking from side to side. At last, unable to hold on any longer, she let go, dropping to the floor beside Nikki, where she was left wincing and rubbing her head. "Gah..."

[deezcastforms]

Nikki's escape happened in what was probably the worst way possible. Mizuki recognized Nikki was in genuine distress, and chose to let up. This went beyond a hesitation problem for Mizuki, she went out of her way not to hurt her. And now Nikki had to balance lecturing her for that on top of explaining what happened, and making sure Mizuki didn't break down and good lord this was probably ending up a mess. Nikki decided she needed to keep her calm and stay strong, though the coughs she let slip after being released didn't help.

"Why'd you do that?" Nikki started. She didn't want to get harsh but her heart was still racing. "You didn't just hesitate, you showed concern for me, and let up your hold before releasing it outright. I'm your opponent in this scenario, if I'm in your grip, gagging and coughing, you put the dagger in the heart!" Nikki jabbed her finger at Mizuki's chest, before she realized that she needed to calm down this second, or all of her pupils progress could be ruined.

Then Nikki realized something. This whole time, Mizuki had been the one showing her weakness. She'd shown her doubt, her fear, her tears. But now, maybe it was Nikki's turn. "But to be honest, I was seriously trying to escape. I can't handle chokeholds, they're my weakness. I don't know why, but feels like my face goes straight to blue the second anything presses down on my throat." Nikki paused with a sigh as she rubbed her throat. "But don't think you did the wrong thing by putting me in a chokehold, it was a perfectly fine decision. The only thing I can say you did wrong was letting up."