DISCLAIMER: This story and basic concept of the Karate Kid belongs to Columbia pictures. I don't own any of it. I'm merely tinkering with it to satisfy my imagination, creative juices and for entertainment.

Hello readers, as a first time writer of fanfiction who has gathered the courage to put open its work to your entertainment and valid criticism, I thank you for clicking on this story. I hope you will enjoy and review honestly. No undue harsh criticism desired, please! enjoy!

CHAPTER- 1

He saw some people rush to the airport terminal gate as the announcement for the some outbound flight droned monotonously over the p.a. system in mechanical sweet voice of a lady. A few persons were dragging trains of luggage behind them, exhausted from a long journey, yet smiling at having finally reached back home. But he was among those who were embarking on a journey. He was sitting at the waiting area awaiting announcement of his flight. He touched his own blue trolley bag instinctively and let out a deep sigh.

'Yes, he was also going home', or so his mother said. But for him, what he was leaving behind was home...His home.

The home he grew up in.

Earlier that day, he had woken up suddenly and looked at the almost empty room around the bed. Realisation had dawned a moment later. Later that day, they were going to board the plane that would take them from their home town Detroit to Beijing, China. He had already said goodbye to his school friends the day before. After that formal goodbye, he had spent the evening with his four besties. No wonder he came home last night crying bitterly. He thought with a pang of sadness how much would he miss them.

He had cleared the bed this morning, stuffing the sheets in the box as they would be donated along with other items which they could not take with them. His uncle and aunt would see through the donation process, they had relieved his mother of that tedious job. How supporting they were! Though he was not overly attached to his uncle Charles and aunty Martha, his mom's sister, he knew they were very kind and helpful to his mom. He was surprised that he would miss even them. Who would help them in the foreign land? No one. They would be there.. alone.

He had showered, got dressed in clothes that had been lying beautifully ironed and folded on the otherwise empty table in his room. His mother had been rushing about the house making sure everything was done properly before their journey. He knew his mother was determined to make it a memorable goodbye to the wonderful stage where numerous happy-sad moments of their life had played out. His mother had been tired but happy on making the final preparations for the move. He had contributed by running errands for her. But however hard he had tried, he could not share in her enthusiasm and effort.

He stared back at the small, thin, chocolate-skinned boy looking back at him in the mirror. White shirt, brown corduroy pants, and metallic sneakers.. he looked a typical American boy. He rubbed his hands along his beautiful dreadlocks, smiling lazily at the reflection. Then he donned on his favourite St. LA Dodgers baseball cap in bright orange carefully. It was then while he was observing himself in the mirror that his eye caught the side panel of the door behind him. He turned around and looked reminiscently at the graffitied vertical side panel. He grew nostalgic looking at the markings in the clumsy, round handwriting of a child. He rushed to the box carrying items-to-be-donated and pulled out a marker from within it. He then decisively marched to the panel and studied it. He couldn't help reading the graffiti again, even though he knew by heart what was written. For he himself had written it. He started reading from bottom to top. It read-

09/01/01 START KINDERGARTEN

..

...

01/01/02 (unreadable..)

12/01/02 LOST FIRST TOOTH

11/24/03 FIRST HOME RUN

..

...

.. .

As he read the inscription upwards, he instinctively touched it and numerous memories related to those inscriptions flooded him...

KINDERGARTEN. He faintly remembered crying on the very first day of his educational journey, having seen unknown faces around him at school..

He had written two more dates : 01/01/02, 10/04/02 above the first entry but couldn't remember why those dates were important. Probably he was too young and small to be able to describe it on the panel, so had left it as such; or maybe he couldn't fit it in that little space so in childish innocence had decided to abandon the pursuit. Anyway, he suddenly desired that he should have written something describing those dates. He was sure they were good memories that were eluding him. He felt angry at himself for not maintaining a detailed record. ..or were they bad memories? He didn't remember.

He moved on to the next entry. Important moment in his life. His first tooth had broken. He did agree that it was a bit silly to think of first tooth loss as important. Yet...duh! You can't put logic on feelings. He couldn't help feeling like that, grown-up boys being strong be damned!

He remembered how he used to play with the wobbling premolar in his mouth with his tongue for days. And when the tooth had finally broken, he had felt something unique had happened. Then later on his tongue kept trying to play with the wobbling tooth which by then had become an empty gum socket. He used to feel quite wierd.. but he didn't remember when he had forgotten about it. Maybe, he should have mentioned that date on the panel too. He regretted that he could not recall significant events of his life at the moment, when it had become so essential for him to do so. He so desperately wanted to cling on to his memories as he was reluctantly going to start a new chapter of his life in a foreign land.

He moved on in the list. Other major milestones in his life. First home run in baseball court("He had felt on the top of the world").. more gaps... less dates.. only major dates..

9th birthday. Yes, he did remember that. Best birthday of his life. His three best friends- Kim, Allan and Chuck had planned a surprise birthday party, complete with mom and close relatives and... dad.

He quickly moved on to the next entry, fearful of memory of that person. He did not know what his feelings were on that subject. He used to try his level best not to think of that very important piece of his life, fearing that it will bring pain and God-knows-what that he would not be able to handle.

However, the next and final entry made it impossible for him not to think about it.

11/13/07 DADDY DIED.

Ok, How was it?

Many leave this fanfiction just after reading thw first chapter. Believe me , you should persevere a bit and read subsequent chapters. you won't be disappointed.

This is my very first, ever fanfiction attempt and I'm a bundle of nerves. It would be appreciated if some reviews come my way to let me know -'how was it!":)) Thanks for reading.

See ya with the next chapter.