I get on my knees and cough a few times due to that wicked gut punch. I look up and see Robby offering a hand to me. I look at it suspiciously because why would he want to help me? Robby's expression looks mostly sincere. I reluctantly take it and he helps me to my feet.
"Thanks," I begrudgingly say and Robby doesn't respond.
This doesn't mean I like him.
We get back on our lines and ready up. The ref signals and we go at it once more. Both of our arms and legs are very bruised so each block causes us to wince for a second. He goes for a reverse punch, but I catch it and go for a backhand. He shoves me back and I miss. I go for a right hook which misses, but out of habit, I swing back with my elbow and Robby throws a jab at the same time. My elbow connects with his right eye and his fist smacks against my nose. We both cry out and fall to our knees clutching our faces.
"Break! Break! Illegal contact both of you! Warnings to both of y'all! One more results in disqualification!" The ref shouts.
I slowly take my shaky hands away from my nose and curse when I see that my fingers are covered in blood.
"Woah, go see your Sensei. Medic!" The ref calls.
Robby gets up holding his eye. He uncovers it and I can already see the swelling. I walk over to Sensei Lawrence as Miguel and Hawk run to fetch the medic. Sensei Lawrence grabs my face with both hands.
"Let me see kid," he says soothingly.
"Jesus," he cringes as both my nostrils are gushing and it's dripping down my chin.
"Look, if it's too bad, then—" Sensei begins to say.
"No! I can do this," I say cutting him off.
The trainer arrives.
"I can fight," I snap as I brush her arm away.
"If it's broken then by tournament rules, you're automatically medically disqualified," the trainer says calmly, but sternly.
She examines it and wipes away the blood with tissues.
"It's not broken. Can you continue?" She asks very motherly.
"Yeah, thank you," I rasp out.
"Get some water while I check on your opponent. I haven't seen an All Valley match as intense as this since 1984," the nurse says.
I smile and she walks away. Miguel tosses me a bottle of water.
"Dude, your killin it," Hawk says.
"It's tied," I respond.
"Yeah, but Keene's about as stable as a three legged chair," Hawk says smirking at me.
"Just focus up and kick his ass. You got this Murphy," Aisha says squeezing my arm affectionately.
"Thanks, I won't let y'all down," I say before turning around.
"Win or lose, you gave it your best," Aisha says.
I step back on the mat as the audience claps and cheers at my return.
"Murphy refuses to go down folks! Some true courage right there!" Daryl yells into the microphone and the audience cheers.
I kneel as I wait for Robby to come back. About a minute later, I hear clapping as Robby makes his way back up. His eye is puffy and will definitely turn into a black eye tomorrow.
"Sorry about that," I say.
"It's okay. It was an accident," Robby responds.
"Let's agree no touching of the hair or face from now on. Wouldn't wanna ruin that man bun," I say jokingly while smiling.
Robby's lip curls into an amused smile.
"Kicking in the face is allowed," he says.
"Deal," I say and we step back up to our lines.
"Ready, and fight!" The ref says.
The fighting continues just as intense as before. We're both exhausted, but won't go down easily.
"Focus Robby! You can do this!" Mr. LaRusso yells in encouragement.
"Remember the pitching machine! Don't get hit!" Sensei instructs.
That clicks in my mind instantly.
"Remember where your power lies!" Mr LaRusso yells.
Robby's strikes get much harder as he transfers his energy just like I did before. However, I picture his arms as the baseballs I've spent months blocking. One ball, my arm blocks it. Another front kick ball, I jump into the air and knee his leg away. I do a wheel kick which Keene blocks and then backs up toward the edge of the mat.
"Let him come to you!" Mr. LaRusso yells.
"Fair enough," I mutter to myself as I charge Robby once again.
I already have my move planned out and it will definitely work. When I reach Robby, I upper cut him right in the chest. Robby leans back as he grits his teeth. I jump, lean back and spin around. While horizontal with the ground, I spin and my shin slams against the dazed Robby's chest as the momentum of my leg sends him crashing to the ground. The impact literally shakes the mat as he cries out. I land on my side, then shuffle to get up.
"Haaah! Point Murphy!" The ref shouts.
Robby struggles to get up as he wheezes slightly and sweat drips off of his forehead and onto the mat. Robby on his hands and knees as he pants in tiredness.
Third person pov
The crowd watches as Blake Murphy and Robby Keene have the most intense match in decades. The other dojo's that have been knocked out only watch in awe as these two warriors continue to surprise everyone. The crowd as shocked when Murphy slammed Keene into the mat with his leg then proceeded to feel the slight rattle.
"Go go go, Blake!" Sarah Murphy cheers for her son.
"You can do this Robby!" Samantha LaRusso yells.
"You okay Robby?!" Daniel asks concern as Robby still sits on all fours.
Robby lifts his head up and nods.
Daniel LaRusso glares daggers at Blake Murphy who slowly walks over to Robby. He had always liked Blake and held nothing against him for yelling at him during Christmas, but this was too far. He had not only sided with Miguel Diaz and Cobra Kai when he hit his baby girl, but he had straight up insulted his family following the incident. Sam told him everything when she got home that night. The kid he took to his sacred training spot in the woods was gone.
Murphy walked over to Keene and offered a hand. Robby looked at him and took it after some hesitation. Murphy pats his shoulder as they walk to their lines.
"What a display of sportsmanship from both sides folks! As Murphy currently leads the match 2-1, Keene shows true courage as he refuses to back down. Who will come out on top and move onto the finals?!" Daryl yells.
The ref signals and the fight continues. Murphy bumps Keene aggressively which causes him to stumble back. However, Robby sprints forward, spins around, and slams his heel into Murphy's solar plexus as he miscalculated his defense. Murphy grunts and falls back.
"Haaah! Point Keene! 2-2" the ref yells.
Grunts of disappointment come from the Cobra Kai's watching the match.
Murphy shakily gets to his feet while grunting in struggle.
"Wow powerful," Jim Murphy junior whispers in awe and respect at his baby brother.
"They're still hanging in there," Jim Murphy senior whispers back in shock.
"The match is all tied up! These competitors are both winners in my book! But unfortunately, only one can move on! Will it be Blake Murphy, or Robby Keene?!" Daryl says into the microphone.
Blake pov
Despite my entire excruciatingly aching body, I want this to continue. I'm having an awesome time battling it out with Robby, but this is gonna be over soon.
"Hey Keene," I call out.
He raises his eyebrows in acknowledgement.
"Whoever wins no hard feelings, okay! I'm coming at you with everything I got and you better do the same," I say with a confident tone and smirk.
Robby pov
What a competitor! Fighting him makes me wanna give it everything I got. This is more exhilarating than any petty heist I pulled with Trey and Cruz. I don't even care that my dad's student is against me. I don't want this match to end despite the fact that every part of my body hurts like hell. I can tell that Murphy has the same problem.
"You got it," I respond smirking and walking to my line.
Third person pov
Both fighters get in stances as the ref signals for the fight to begin. Both give it everything knowing that it's their final shot at moving on to the finals.
"Attack!" Johnny tells Murphy which he obliges as he pulls out every move in the book.
"Cmon Robby stay focused! Don't give in no matter what!" Daniel yells toward his student.
The two are locked in close combat. Blake jumps up an blocks both of Robby's punches with one knee at a time. Blake then goes for a kick that Robby maneuvers around and shoves Murphy in the back which makes him fall to a knee. Robby then leaps at Murphy to finish him off, but Blake's head turns at the last second and he leaps back.
"LET'S FINISH THIS!" Both Johnny and Daniel yell unison.
Robby goes for a double kick which Blake blocks. Blake uses his limited knowledge of Miyagi Do Karate to block Robby's onslaught while Robby uses his Lawrence genetics to perform an aggressive approach.
"These competitors have appeared to master each other's fighting styles! SUCH INTENSE COMBAT!" Daryl screams incredibly fired up.
Murphy knees Robby's hands which breaks his defensive move and causes him to stumble slightly. Murphy reels a roundhouse kick and let's it go with a scream of determination. Robby puts up his arms at the very last second, but Murphy's strength causes his arms to slam against his face as he stumbles back and let's out a grunt of anguish. Due to the face that Murphy's leg never made contact with Robby's face, there is no point called.
Blake rushes toward Robby one last time. He jumps in the air as Robby falls to his side and charges up the most powerful move in Miyagi Do Karate. Blake spins around in midair and attempts to deliver a powerful heel kick, but Robby gets on one hand and ready's himself.
The next movement might as well happen in slow motion. Blake goes for the kick, but sees both of Robby's legs shoot out. His brain moves too slow and his eyes go wide as Robby's legs slam against his ribs and send him backward. Blake stumbles and falls to his back.
"Haaaah! Point! Winner!" The ref yells holding up Robby Keene's arm.
"And that's all she wrote! After multiple fierce rounds and plenty of blood, sweat, and tears, ROBBY KEENE and MIYAGI DO KARATE MOVE ON TO THE FINALS!" Daryl announces.
Blake states at the ceiling in a daze, he can't believe it. He lost the match. All that dreaming just to fall short. He wanted to cry, he wanted to punch a hole into the mat, he wanted to yell in fury, but all he could do was feel proud. He leans up and sits on his butt as he pants in exhaustion. Then he does something he'd never thought he would do after losing, he smiles.
"He's strong, wow," he mutters to himself.
"Aww man Blake lost," Demetri says.
"It was a great fight though. Blake did his best," Melody says as all three friends clap for Blake Murphy.
"Blake has a smile on his face. Of course he's proud. He gave that match everything he had," Moon says as she smiles brightly for her boyfriend.
Blake finally gets up and walks over to the line. He and Robby bow.
"Man, that was a great match. Lots of luck in the finals," Blake says with a smile.
"Thanks, I'll do my best," Robby says smiling genuinely.
The two of them firmly shake hands and the audience roars in applause.
"I love it ladies and gentlemen! The faces of two fighters smiling after a hard fought match! But unfortunately, all great things must come to an end! However, don't relax just yet. We've still got a final match between Miguel Diaz from Cobra Kai Karate and Robby Keene from Miyagi Do Karate. The match will take place after a short break," Daryl says into the mic.
Blake pov
I walk off the mat feeling bummed out that I lost, I'm proud of myself for how far I got. I have mixed feelings about Robby Keene
What do you call intense dislike mixed with immense respect? I guess he's not all that bad. To my astonishment, Sensei Lawrence is smiling at me.
"Sensei I'm sorry. I did my best," I say looking him in the eye.
"Come here kid," he says affectionately.
I'm surprised when he pulls me into a side hug and pats my sore shoulder rather hard.
"Murphy, I'm very proud of you. You demonstrated not only the strength and badassery of Cobra Kai, but you also fought with honor. I'm grateful to have a dojo full of not just strong warriors, but also good kids," Sensei says as he pats my shoulder.
"Thank you Sensei," I say with a wide grin.
In the end, I got what I wanted. Success in the tournament and to know that my Sensei was proud of me.
I walk up to Miguel.
"Great job man. I really wanted to fight you in the finals, but you kicked ass even though you lost," Miguel says.
"It's all yours," I say courageously to instill confidence and determination in him as we clap our hands together in a high five.
Authors note: I thought it would only take one more chapter to finish season 1, but the chapter would be way to long. The finals are set now and things won't be as similar as you would think. It's halfway written and I'll be up tomorrow around 1pm (CST). Those who've stuck around since chapter one, your support has been an amazing thing and don't worry, there's only more coming in the future eth seasons 2&3.