Kano has actually got a Thing for Kuai and I will die on this hill. (MK Snowblind spoilers)
Look at this scene. This takes place during the final battle between Kuai and Kano in the Hourglass chamber. While Kenshi may have been the main character of the movie, for all intents and purposes, Kano's true rival in this movie is Kuai Liang. The final battle is between the two of them.
But look at the vision Kano is showing Kuai in the Hourglass: Kenshi, the failed hero impaled on the end of his sword while Kuai Liang sits at his feet in chains, expression horrified. On a leash, like the spoils of war. The princess who could not be rescued.
Up until this point, the only people Kano's been shown to keep around are those who will serve him and those who may give him a challenge, like Shang Tsung. But here, he's showing Kuai Liang a picture of his ultimate defeat, not a future where he's prolonging the game so Kuai can gather his power and challenge him again. But Kuai Liang will obviously not serve him, so--why would Kano take him prisoner? It's not like there's anything he can get from Kuai that he couldn't get from anyone else, and if he just wanted a trophy, Kuai's corpse would've worked just fine.
Also, I feel like the absence of Scorpion is telling on its own. He turned the tides of the battle at times up until this point, (and may even have the prestige of being King of the Netherrealm, though it's never stated outright) but he's absent from this scene. Would Kano pass up the chance to depict himself with even more glory, unless there was something else going on? Maybe he doesn't care for Scorpion being so close to his prize.
Anyway, I read WAY too much into this scene but I just love these two in a one-sided love-hate MESS. I mean, the MKX comics origin of Kuai's scar is not my favorite, but I have to say Kano having left such a deep mark on Kuai has so much potential. Especially considering he didn't have to do that, and would've been able to easily complete his mission of retrieving the Kamidogu if he just slit Kuai's throat instead when he managed to sneak up on him. But no, he haaaad to leave his permanent mark on one Kuai Liang instead.
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Man, if you ship this please interact I'm dying out here lmao 👁️👁️