Chapter 1: Chapter 1

I do not own The Karate Kid, or any character affiliated with it. This is set directly after the events of the first movie. In this chapter the fight with Kreese is changed, mostly because I didn't want to have to write in all the other characters involved in this scene. This is a slash story so if that bugs you, DON'T READ IT. Inspired by the song Cry, by Mandy Moore.

"I'll always remember, it was late afternoon…"

For the first time in months Daniel was floating on cloud nine. After being dragged across country by his mother, and systematically bullied since starting at a new school, Daniel had finally earned the respect and street cred he'd been so desperate for. Now here he was, champion of the All Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament. As an added bonus he got the girl he'd been crushing on, not to mention veneration from said girl's ex-boyfriend Johnny, the ring leader of the very group of delinquents that had been bullying him. Life was taking a turn for the better. And if it hadn't been for his mentor Mr. Miyagi it might not have ever happened. He reflected on the journey he had taken over the past few months as he showered himself off after the tournament. In the beginning he had felt more like Mr. Miyagi's slave than his student. But in time the wise sensei had shown him that there are many ways to learn the discipline of karate.

As he dried himself off and dressed after exiting the shower he wondered what tournament he should enter next. After all he had walked away the champion in this one, why not try it again. Gathering up his duffel bag, and his shiny new trophy he made his way out of the arena and headed for his car. The pain in his leg had subsided some, but he was still walking with a noticeable limp. Now it was time to meet Ali, his mom, and Mr. Miyagi for a celebration dinner. As he made his way to his car he heard shouting not far from where he had parked. Curious he looked over to see Johnny embroiled in an argument with Kreese, the sensei from the Cobra Kai dojo. Daniel had gotten over his hostel feelings for Johnny, but he couldn't say the same for Kreese. The ex-military muscle head just an asshole, plain and simple. After witnessing his teaching style first hand, Daniel finally understood why the Cobra Kai boys had such an attitude problem.

Curiosity getting the better of him Daniel quietly limped closer to get into hearing range of their conversation. He could plainly hear what Johnny was saying as he stepped within 30 feet of the two. The other Cobra Kai boys were nowhere to be seen; Daniel guessed they had already gone home. Johnny and Kreese were the only two people left in that area of the lot.

"That's not fair I got second place!" He heard Johnny shout.

Kreese got in Johnny's face. "Second place is no place! You're off the team!" He turned to leave but stopped short at Johnny's retort.

"I did my best!" Johnny shot back.

Daniel mentally agreed with him. Sure Johnny had been a total prick to him up till now, but Johnny had worked hard, and even if he had cheated a little second place was nothing to scoff at. What was Kreese's problem? Why did this guy feel compelled to kick everyone when they were down? Kreese turned back and got right up into Johnny's face again.

"What did you say!?" He snarled.

"I said I did my best!" Johnny answered, reflexively sticking out his chest. Signaling to Kreese he had no intention of backing down.

"You're nothin'! You're a loser!" Kreese exclaimed poking a finger aggressively into Johnny's chest.

Daniel felt something tugging on him deep inside. An involuntary empathy was welling up in him for Johnny. No teacher should talk to their student that way. No one should talk to anyone that way.

"No, you're the loser!" Johnny roared back in Kreeses face. It was obvious that Johnny had had enough of his tyrannical sensei.

"Oh I'm the looser huh!?" Kreese growled narrowing his eyes.

Daniel felt his jaw drop when in the next instant Kreese grabbed Johnny's own trophy out of his hands and snapped it in two. He tossed the broken remains to the ground. Again something tugged inside him. Johnny had earned that trophy, and who was this guy to break it and tell him that he was nothing. Under that tugging Daniel felt a small flame of anger. Johnny was not a loser. Sure, he wasn't exactly Daniel's favorite person but no one deserved this kind of treatment.

"You're really sick man." Johnny said looking from the broken pieces of his trophy back to his former sensei. Johnny's tone had lost some of its aggression. It sounded resolute now.

It appeared that Kreese had said all he intended to say. With one final glare he turned on his heel and stomped off in the direction of his own car. Daniel watched as Johnny stooped down to pick up the pieces of his trophy. Johnny held them in his hands for a moment before throwing them back down again. It was obvious that Kreese's harsh words and actions had wounded Johnny. Daniel mentally fought with himself as to whether he should go and comfort Johnny. But it seemed like such a strange impulse. Why should he care if Johnny's feelings were hurt? It wasn't like Johnny had ever come to pick him up after he'd had his ass handed to him by the Cobra Kai's. Yet, Daniel couldn't seem to fight the growing urge to walk right up to Johnny and hug him.

Daniel must have scrapped his shoe against the pavement or made some other audible noise during his mental struggle, because Johnny's head snapped in his direction. Their eyes met, and Daniel noticed in the light of the street lamp over Johnny's head that there was a glistening on his cheek. That pulling feeling inside Daniel pulled harder than ever to see that Kreese's abuse had brought Johnny to tears. Daniel opened his mouth trying to find something to say that would make the situation better, but before he could utter a word, Johnny angrily wiped the tear from his cheek with his sleeve. Turning on his own heel Johnny jogged off into the shadows.

Daniel sighed. He hated to think it, but found himself thinking it anyway, Poor Johnny. All those times Johnny had been so mean to him all made sense now. With a man like Kreese as your moral compass, you were bound to lose your way. Daniel limped over the remains of Johnny's trophy that lay strewn on the pavement. It was difficult but Daniel managed to balance his own trophy with the pieces of Johnny's and make his way back to his own car. Depositing both into the truck's cab he slid behind the wheel. Maybe he was going crazy, but he just couldn't let Johnny leave the tournament without the recognition he had earned. And, like it or not, he couldn't get the image of that one solemn tear running down Johnny's cheek. I guess the dickhead does have a heart, Daniel thought.

He started up the car and pulled it out of the lot. Right now Daniel just wanted to focus on celebrating his victory, plus he was starving. But he put it in the back of his mind to do something about getting that trophy back to Johnny where it belonged. And maybe, that would be enough to bury the hatchet between them for good.

"It lasted forever, and ended so soon."