CHAPTER 5
"So there's no chance of you ever walking again?" Kreese asked as he stood in the corner of the room, talking to Miguel. Miguel had just told him the grim diagnostic of his situation and Kreese had a sympathetic expression on his face. Kreese had seen plenty of his soldiers back in 'Nam hit with debilitating, career-ending injuries and the look that he would see on their faces was one of the worst looks a man could possibly have. It was the exact same look that was on Miguel's face: resignation and helplessness.
"Well, basically." Miguel replied. "There are apparently some really high-level physical therapists in the country but my family and I don't have the money to pay for one session with them, let alone a couple of months. But even with physical therapists, there's only like a 10% chance of me being able to even walk again, let alone running, karate and everything else, so…"
The two of them lapsed into silence, and Kreese's empathetic expression turned to a look of deep thought. Miguel could practically hear the cogs whirring in Kreese's head, and this caused the young boy to be extremely curious.
"Sensei, not that I don't appreciate the company, but what are you doing here?" Miguel asked. Kreese didn't respond for several moments, but just as Miguel was about to follow up, Kreese finally did.
"I want you to come back to Cobra Kai, son." Kreese stated. Miguel raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"Um…. Sensei? I… I can't move. I'm paralysed." Miguel pointed out. Kreese chuckled.
"Yeah, I know. I may be old, but my memory isn't going that fast." Kreese made a rare crack of humor, and Miguel couldn't help but laugh. "No, Miguel. What if I told you that I would be able to get you all of the medical help you need to fully recover - and I'm not talking about just walking, I'm talking back to how you were before - on the condition that you come back to Cobra Kai when you're done?"
Miguel's jaw hit the ground in shock. His mind spun furiously and he was rendered speechless for several moments before he finally gathered his words again.
"You… you could do that? How? It costs like a fortune!" Miguel stated. Kreese understood what Miguel was implying as Miguel manages to get his point across without having to say the exact words. Kreese was indeed pretty strapped for cash, and Johnny had even told Miguel that Kreese spent a while living at various homeless shelters around the country.
"I'm sure it does cost a fair bit, and I might not have the money to be able to pay for it myself, but I have a buddy of mine from back in 'Nam. He owes me one, and I just need to ask him to do this and I'm sure he'll do it in a heartbeat. You don't have to pay a dime of your coma bills, and your rehab bills. You have my word on that."
The conviction and honesty in Kreese's voice when he gave Miguel his word was what made Miguel believe that the man was being serious.
"You would do that for me?" Miguel asked, surprised. Him and Kreese had never really had that great of a relationship. Although Miguel had exposed his lies about his Army service and the two had definitely gotten off on the wrong foot, they had grown to respect each other greatly as time wore on. However, Miguel never was as close with Kreese as he was with Johnny, so he was shocked that Kreese would go to such lengths for him.
"Yeah, of course I would." Kreese nodded. "Miguel… there's something I see you that I haven't seen in any other student I've ever taught before. You have potential coming out of your ears. It would be a shame to waste all of that, and it would be an honor for me to be able to coach you."
Despite Kreese's unusually kind words, Miguel was still torn.
"Sensei, I… I'm not sure. I mean Karate is what got me into this bed in the first place. What happens if my first fight back, I'm sent right back into this hospital bed? I can't do that to myself, can't do that to my mom and my family."
Kreese slowly nodded.
"Miguel, I guarantee you, if you let me train you, you won't have to see this hospital bed ever again. You will be unbeatable. I won't fail you like Johnny did, I swear. Remember, I was the one who doubted Johnny's strike last, strike soft, show mercy tactic from the very beginning, but no one believed me. I could see something like this was going to happen from a mile away. But you insisted on going with his tactics. Well, you have a chance to change that, and with it, become unstoppable."
Kreese watched as Miguel's face flushed crimson in anger at the mere mention of Johnny's name, and Kreese had to hold back a smile. Miguel was clearly furious at Johnny and rightly so. Getting Miguel back to Cobra Kai would be easier than he thought.
"Sensei, I want to come back, trust me I do. But I don't know. I can't be back in this hospital bed again. If I have to wake up from another coma, I don't think I would be able to." Miguel murmured. Kreese nodded.
"I understand, and I respect that." Kreese said. "But what happens now, when you get out of the hospital? Keene put you in the hospital; you put him in jail. Your battle with him is far from over. I'm sure both of you want retaliation. A rematch is inevitable. But how are you going to do that if you're still in this wheelchair, or even if you have recovered, not be trained well enough to take him. You'll get eaten alive, Miguel, and that will be what puts you back in this hospital bed."
Miguel was rendered silent once more, as he took in what Kreese had said. He knew the man was absolutely right. While he was stuck in this stupid hospital bed, Robby was rotting in juvie, and Miguel was sure that the brunette's anger at him was only growing with every day he was stuck there. He would definitely want revenge the second he got out, and Miguel couldn't be prepared to fight him without Kreese's Cobra Kai training.
"Look, think about it. You don't have to make a decision now. Just know that whether you decide to come back to Cobra Kai or not, there will always be a place for you in the dojo. You are a leader, Miguel, and you could do so much with the talent you poured blood, sweat and tears into achieving."
"Th… thank you, Sensei." Miguel stammered, still reeling from all of the compliments he was being given.
"Anyways, I'm going to go and let you rest now. Think about it."
As Miguel's mind raced, debating all of the benefits and disadvantages to him returning to karate and Cobra Kai, Kreese then turned on his heel and began to walk out the door when he heard Miguel call after him.
"Sensei Kreese?" Miguel called. Kreese slowly turned around in the doorway and looked at him.
"Yeah?" Kreese asked. Miguel smiled.
"I want to do it. I want to rejoin Cobra Kai." Miguel decided. Kreese grinned.
"That's awesome, Miguel. Well, I will contact my friend to arrange for him to pay for your treatment, and I look forward to seeing you back in the dojo soon."
"Hold on, sensei." Miguel interrupted. "I do have a condition first."
Kreese raised an eyebrow. He wasn't expecting this. After all, he was going to be paying for all of the boy's doctors bills. But Kreese put on a smile and nodded.
"Sure, what is it?" Kreese asked. Miguel took a deep breath. Saying this part was a risk, and Miguel didn't want to overplay his hand as Kreese was already offering him a great deal, but he felt it necessary if he was going to return to Cobra Kai.
"Look, sensei, I want you to train me. I want to strike first. I want to strike harder than I've ever fought. And so help me God, if I'm in a fight, I'm not making the mistake of showing mercy again. However, having said that, I have heard a lot of stories about Johnny and his friends from back in high schools, and I know that they became absolute assholes. They abused the sudden power they had gained by bullying people and picking unnecessary fights. I've been bullied my entire life so I can tell you for certain, that I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to become the asshole that Johnny was back in high school, nor am I going to knock on Samantha, Demetri or any Miyagi-Do's door, just looking for a fight."
Kreese nodded.
"I respect that, Miguel. However, if your fellow brothers and sisters of Cobra Kai are in a fight with Miyagi-Do or anyone else for that matter, I expect you to help defend your dojo and fight back, not just stand around and refuse."
"Yeah, for sure. If a fight presents itself with anyone, I can assure you I'm not running away or saying no." Miguel responded. "But I want to train as a Cobra Kai to gain the ability needed to beat Robby, not to bully innocent people. I'm not going to go down that dark path. I really, really want to rejoin Cobra Kai but that's my condition, and if it's not acceptable, I'm sorry but I'm not coming back."
Kreese slowly walked back towards Miguel, his expression unreadable. Miguel's heart was pounding slightly and he could feel the back of his neck start to bead with sweat. Kreese quickly stood over Miguel, and as Kreese raised a hand, Miguel flinched, expecting a hit. However, Kreese merely held out a hand for Miguel to shake.
"You have yourself a deal, son. Welcome back to Cobra Kai." Kreese stated. Miguel gratefully shook Kreese's hand, smiling widely. "You know, Miguel, you have the ability and the mentality to become an infinitely greater warrior than Johnny was. You aren't blinded by your own strength and become too big-headed to see the bigger picture. You remind me of myself back during my Army days. It's a good look, Miguel. Never lose that."
"Yes, Sensei." Miguel grinned in reply. Kreese nodded.
"Anyways, it's almost midnight. I'm going to let you get some sleep now. I'll talk to you about rehab once you're out of the hospital. Just focus on feeling better. See you soon, Miguel."
"Bye, sensei." Miguel murmured as Kreese left the room. When Kreese left, Miguel couldn't help but smile and let out a small whoop. An hour ago, he felt like his life was over. Now, he was revitalise, rejuvenated with newfound hope. He could be back to how he was before! No, he could be better!
As Kreese walked out of the hospital, he smiled to himself. Getting to Miguel was even easier than he thought. And with Miguel on their side, Miyagi-Do didn't stand a chance!