Chapter Two: You Got Nothing on Me
…
"So when do you fly out?"
Yasmine put her phone in her purse. "Next Monday."
Sam, Yasmine, and Moon were all chatting beneath a gazebo on a large bit of grass in a park near Encino.
"Everything okay?" asked Sam. "You seem a little on edge. Especially for someone who's going to stay in France and stuff for months."
Yasmien smiled. "Er. Yeah. Um. Just think I might miss someone when I'm gone."
"Ooh. Is it a guy?" asked Moon.
Yasmine nodded slightly.
"It can't be Luke Schwarber is it?" asked Sam. "Saw you two at the country club," she added quietly.
Yasmine nodded quietly again.
Sam sighed. "You know he bullied Miguel for all of last year right? Luke's the reason why Miguel still has to worry about bullies in his dojo."
Tory was walking toward them and Yasmine got a little nervous.
Tory looked right at Yasmine. "That was clever you know."
"What was?"
"What you did last night. You kissed Lucas to piss me off."
Moon was astonished. "What?" she looked right at Yasmine.
"Just to humiliate me. Guess what. Humiliated is one thing I don't look like. You got that?"
"I swear I didn't see you." Yasmine gulped. "Just trust me-"
"Be glad you won't be in town for this summer. Cause I don't wanna go through that again."
Sam saw the completely terrified way Yasmine looked at Tory. "Hey. Leave her alone." said Sam.
"Was I talking to you LaRusso?"
Sam spoke louder. "Again. Leave her alone."
Tory scoffed. "I'd do what you said. If you weren't half my size." she grinned before turning around and starting to leave the gazebo.
Tory was crossing the grass of the park as Sam spoke. "I won't let you threaten me or my friends. Ever. You got that?"
Tory stopped and turned around. "Your moves might be good in a tournament. Don't know about much else."
"Beat you once already." Sam shrugged as Moon smiled and Yasmine laughed quietly.
Tory's hands balled into fists upon seeing this and she easily shoved Sam into the grass next to the gazebo.
Tory began to walk away but Sam stood back up quickly and shoved Tory back down too.
The girls began to throw punches but somehow Tory knew exactly how Sam would move and she was flat on her back in the grass within seconds.
"You got nothing on me LaRusso! Give up!" Tory was pressing her foot flat onto Sam's chest, unable to move at all simply struggling.
"Tory! Let her up."
Tory turned around, surprised to see Lucas walking towards her quickly across the grass.
"What are you her brother or something?"
Lucas smirked, as if he knew exactly what to say. "Maybe." he shrugged.
Tory knew the embarrassment she would endure that would follow at the hands of Lucas if she attacked him. Miguel Diaz was publicly known as the only karate fighter in the entire Valley able to even land a hit on him.
"Watch yourself LaRusso," warned Tory before nudging Lucas out of the way strongly as she walked off.
Lucas helped Sam off the ground and spoke to her. "Sorry about that."
"Some friend." groaned Sam, rubbing her back.
Tory looked back at him for a moment beneath a tree as Lucas spoke kindly to Yasmine, Sam, and Moon.
"Look I wanted to apologize to Miguel after all that happened," Lucas said honestly.
"It's not me you should be apologizing to then."
Lucas nodded. "Either way. About Tory, Hawk. All of them. Their behavior was out of line at times. As much as it was Miguel's."
"How was Miguel responsible for what happened?"
Lucas shrugged. "He did kick some of the guys over at Halloween."
"So that meant they had to beat the crap out of him?"
"I'm not here to stir up more bad blood." Lucas crossed his arms. "That's not what karate's about. Karate's for defense."
"Then why train at Cobra Kai?"
"Because defense can take on more forms than one."
Sam crossed her arms. "Why are you really here?"
Lucas sighed. "To say goodbye to Yasmine too. Wish her a safe trip."
Moon chortled. "Aren't you gonna give her a goodbye kiss?"
Yasmine looked thoroughly embarrassed as Tory looked ready to march over to Yasmine and punch the lights out of her.
Sam just watched quietly in surprise as Lucas walked over to Yasmine and kissed her as deeply as he could on the mouth where she sat stunned on the gazebo.
Yasmine looked at Lucas as he nodded to her. "Enjoy Paris, Yas."
Yasmine nodded slowly. "Thanks."
He then walked away from Sam and her friend without a word.
Moon smiled. "Not so bad eh Sam?"
"I don't think my dad misjudged him. But if you trust him Yas. I, I don't know." Sam muttered.
Tory had kicked an entire piece of a nearby tree so hard a piece of tree bark flew off after seeing what happened.
The whole time she had been glaring at Sam and Yasmine after the results of her confrontation with the girls.
…
Miguel and Sam spoke, stretching in Mr. Miyagi's backyard.
"He actually helped you?" Miguel asked, wearing his lotus headband like always.
"Yeah. The strangest part was he was being nice to Yasmine and the rest of us for once. Even said he felt bad after everything that happened."
Miguel looked quiet.
"What?" asked Sam.
"The night of the tournament. I went to his house to talk to him."
"And?"
Miguel nodded. "Yeah. He was sorry."
"Sorry isn't enough to excuse what he did."
"I think it might be but um. As long as I'm a Miyagi-Do and he's a Cobra Kai. Which for all I know is forever. I'll never trust him."
Miguel smiled at Sam and she smiled back widely for this.
"Okay guys line up."
Daniel walked into Miyagi-Do wearing a dark blue jacket and jeans as his two students stood in front of him.
"I know the tournament was. A loss for both of you. But you still did well. Mr. Miyagi always said that winning or losing. Doesn't matter."
"I think a win might've actually saved me a great deal of hassle later on." Miguel said as Sam nodded next to him.
Daniel cleared his throat. "I wouldn't be too sure on that one. Speaking from experience. Anyway. Let's start with the basics. First kata."
Daniel bowed to Miguel and Sam and as they lifted their hands to the sky, someone spoke.
"Excuse me. Is this Miyagi-Do?"
Daniel turned and saw Demetri, Chris, Frank, Nate, and Abe all standing nearby in Mr. Miyagi's backyard.
"Yes. Yes hi!" Daniel shook Demetri's hand. "Welcome to Miyagi-Do."
"We saw the post on Sam's Instagram," Demetri said. "Miguel also told us about all this a while back. Most of us were just afraid of Cobra Kai and what they might do for a while if we joined."
Daniel smiled. "Well there's no reason to be afraid anymore."
"What were you guys just doing?" asked Chris.
"Kata." said Daniel. "Wanna join in?"
Demetri and all of his friends looked excited.
"Perfect. I'll go get the paint cans and brushes." Daniel said.
"Whoa. Paint cans," asked Nate. "Why do we need paint cans to do karate?"
"I promise you guys. Stick around. It'll make sense." Miguel said.
Demetri sighed. "Whatever keeps the Cobras away. I'm all in."
Chris and Nate both looked skeptical but still followed Sam as she led them towards the paint cans in the front of Miyagi-Do.
Daniel smiled. His dojo had almost quadrupled in size in a single day.
As Demetri learned to 'paint the fence' Miguel spoke to him.
"What made you change your mind?" asked Miguel.
"The way you fought Lucas for basically the longest karate match in history apparently. I was in the crowd, you looked great." Demetri said as he began to paint. "Plus. The safety in numbers aspect of a gang. Top notch stuff."
…
Robby blasted Green Day's Holiday as loudly as he could in the backroom of Steel Eagle Karate's new dojo.
On the 'grand opening day' a total of one person had walked into the dojo after four hours. A homeless lady named Lynn who was looking for a bathroom.
"Come on blondie." shouted the woman as Johnny Lawrence shoved her away. "Come on pretty boy just a tinkle-"
"Find your own place to piss in or whatever!" Johnny muttered as he firmly but not excessively pushed Lynn out of the dojo.
Aisha and Charlotte quietly and awkwardly chatted on the new mat as Johnny looked out over his new dojo.
A massive steel eagle had its wings lifted on the American flag behind it where STEEL EAGLE KARATE was written in bright red letters.
Next to the banner Johnny had printed, the dojo's rules were written.
1. Follow all lessons or do knuckle pushups.
2. Don't be a pussy. Ever.
3. Don't be an asshole.
4. Be tough and aggressive when necessary.
What Armand Zarkarian normally used as storage Robby had instead used to pump iron and as a backroom for extra training with a punching bag, a single black mat, and other workout equipment.
He hadn't moved from the backroom for over an hour and hard rock kept blaring on his speakers as he worked out his arms.
Charlotte had enough and finally moved off the mat to go speak to him.
Robby stopped pumping a barbell the moment his Green Day music stop blasting.
"Hey what're you-"
"You've moved on from being stoic. To sulking all day long by working out and listening to rock so badly and so loudly even your dad's annoyed."
Robby frowned. "That's not true."
"It is. You know I wish you and Luke could just cut all the macho I never needed my best friend bullshit out of the way and just admit you miss each other."
"Well, we were never best friends. Besides." Robby muttered, picking up his water bottle and drinking from it. "I don't need a lecture from you Char."
"Cause Aisha and I are still out there with Sensei Lawrence. We're actually taking your side in all this. We understand where Kreese went wrong."
Robby glared right at the blonde girl.
"You really think I miss that selfish arrogant douchebag?"
"I think we both do. I think he misses us too."
Robby laughed. "So what'll happen. Everything will be fine the moment he's awakened to the power of friendships? I never got what you saw in him now, or why you went out with a guy so obsessed. With power, and clout."
"Robby he knocked Xander Stone around the mat barely not breaking excess contact and now you completely gave up on him?"
"You like him so much. Go back to Kreese and Cobra Kai. Go."
Charlotte's jaw tightened. "Kreese did try to kill your dad before. And I admit. It was out of line for what he did to Topanga Karate. But Robby. Let it go. Sulking like this. It's not good for your dad. And it's not good for Aisha and I."
The bell connected to the Steel Eagle door rang.
…
Johnny walked out from his office to meet us.
"Welcome to Steel Eagle Karate. We-"
He watched quietly as Sensei Kreese, Tory, and Hawk and I walked into their dojo. I was a little shocked to see Johnny open his own dojo in the exact same location he would reopen Cobra Kai.
"What the hell do you want?" asked Johnny as Aisha stood directly behind Johnny and I watched Robby and Charlotte exit the backroom together.
For some reason I could tell both Tory and I did not like the sight of them near each other.
I shook these thoughts away as Sensei Kreese spoke. "To get the measure of this place. And of you. You took off the moment the tournament ended. Left us. In the moment of our greatest triumph. We got the win we deserved, that you deserved. Over Miyagi-Do."
"Well not like how we won it. I couldn't let you fill all these kids with your garbage. Had to take action." Johnny said.
Sensei chuckled. "I'm not here to cause trouble Johnny. Maybe we can speak privately. In your new office."
I saw Johnny's hands untighten from fists.
"You got five minutes," Johnny said quietly.
They left us awkwardly. Hawk, Tory, and I stared in awkward silence at Robby, Aisha, and Charlotte.
"Quite the dojo you guys got. Plenty of takers." I said looking at the completely empty mat besides where we stood. "I think the last time we said we were taking new people, some lined up for, I think, two blocks around Lankershim and Magnolia. Can't remember."
Hawk and Tory smiled at this as Robby sounded unimpressed. "You're still flexing on people just to try to justify following a man like Kreese."
"He's just a lot more honest about everything than your dad is."
"Don't talk about Sensei Lawrence that way," said Aisha.
I glanced at Charlotte. "Sensei Kreese never seemed to bother you. What changed?"
"What changed is you Luke. I never knew you could do that to someone. What you did to Stone."
"I guess the way of the fist means only acting tough." I glanced at Johnny's new dojo kun or rules on the nearby wall. "When it suits you. Or rather, when it suits Johnny Lawrence."
"There is such a thing as too much aggression," Robby said. "And you know that best. You'd fit right in with us."
"Then why don't you train with Miyagi-Do?" I asked as Tory and Hawk now laughed at this.
"Says the Miyagi-Do."
I walked towards Robby.
Aisha and Charlotte stood right on either side of him as Hawk and Tory stood directly behind me.
It hurt a whole lot to see Robby train anywhere but with me. But it made me angry. Very angry he'd just leave my dojo after everything we've been through.
"Why don't you tell Char and Aisha the truth man. That you'd never even be an um." the name was a bit better than Eagle Fang but still a bit ridiculous so I laughed as I said it. "Steel Eagle. If it weren't for me."
I didn't want to say more as it would honestly be a bit cruel to reveal that much about Robby's past but it got the reaction I wanted.
"What's he talking about?" Aisha asked.
Robby looked at me up and down. "Congrats man. You're officially a complete asshole."
"The only assholes here are the ones who refused to even say goodbye or so much as give me a text when I won the All Valley and threw a party over it for the second time. Think about that." I muttered.
"You're a piece of shit Luke. For what you just said."
"Am I," I said quietly. "If you had won a trophy. I'd be at your victory party. I'd shake your hand. Like an actual friend of mine would."
"Okay." Charlotte now stood between us. "I think with all the testosterone and posturing out of the way. It's time to stop measuring trophy sizes. And shake hands after everything we've said."
I looked at her. "You're as bad as Robby if you think I'm cool with you guys just. Not being there at last week's party. And ditching the dojo after everything."
"Am I?" Charlotte looked a bit angry now.
"Yeah." said Tory as Hawk instantly nodded.
…
Kreese closed the door behind him as Johnny sat down in his office.
"This is unfair Johnny. Very unfair." Kreese said.
"The John Kreese. Complaining about what is and isn't fair."
Kreese scowled as Johnny chuckled. "How would you like it if I took two of your best students and then trained them? Without any discussion. Over, a single disagreement we had one time, least of all. The day. We finally. Beat LaRusso and Miyagi-Do."
"This has honestly been a long time coming. There's a difference okay. Between no mercy and no honor."
"No mercy means honor," said Kreese. "Is it honorable to let your opponent sink a knife into your back after you fail to leave him knocked out? After you failed to finish him? Is it honorable to fail your comrades? Your family and your brothers? What you've done to those two boys. Keene and Schwarber. This is unforgivable. You tore two brothers apart."
"You're insane," muttered Johnny. "You really think the real world is still a battlefield? That every random person on the street or in a bar fight or something is some Vietnamese villager hiding a gun or a shiv or his pocket?" asked Johnny. "The assumption of something that extreme. Is no honor."
"I'm leading these kids towards the right path. I will never let them lose. Even if it means letting them learn the hard way."
"You're leading them towards the wrong path."
Kreese muttered. "I gave this kid the same opportunities you have. To send a message about strength. His strength. And now he's accomplished what you and LaRusso have merely days after he turned sixteen. You wanted to make him weak."
"I wanted to make him honorable. Karate can make you tough, that's fine. But it needs to build your character."
"Johnny all I do, is build character. Do you really think your son, and all of our students. Would be as well recognized in karate throughout the entire state's traditional martial arts community now. If they won that tournament. The fiftieth. All Valley ever. If they wore red GIs, and went by the name. Of Steel Eagles?"
"Eagles of Steel can be badass. Can be strong."
"There is nothing stronger than Cobra Kai," said Kreese quietly and calmly. "You know that better than anyone." Kreese nodded slowly. "I've said all I could."
Kreese began to leave the dojo with his students and Johnny spoke loudly before he left.
"You threaten me old man. Or your kids threaten mine!" said Johnny. "I won't hesitate to put you in your place."
Lucas looked ready to say something but Kreese held him back.
"Oh really. You." Kreese looked past Aisha, Robby, and Charlotte at the entirely empty mat. "And what army?"
"How'd you even find this place?" wondered Lucas, sounding extremely curious.
"It was the only thing I could find within my budget."
"Surprised you could afford a dojo at all then," Lucas said, sounding very bitter.
They left without another word, just minutes before Bobby entered the dojo with a bow and started warming up the class of only three students.
…
Johnny was working on paperwork for his new dojo when his son walked in wearing a light red GI with no symbols or markings on it except for a red uniform with a steel eagle and American flag on his back.
"What was that?"
Johnny glanced at Robby. "Hey kid. Shouldn't you be warming up?"
"No, I mean. Antagonizing Kreese and not expecting a response. Why? He just came to talk and you set him off."
"He's a right real asshole," said Johnny. "And because I didn't realize it sooner. Everyone's gonna suffer."
Robby sighed. "Dad I mean. I'm glad Bobby is with us as a Co-Sensei. But it's not enough. We need to consider teaming up with Miyagi-Do or something."
"Ha!" Johnny exclaimed loudly. "You think I'm gonna let you go near that guy after what he did to you."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about last year during Halloween. He hurt you real bad."
Robby shrugged. "I can take it. And I took it."
"Maybe if LaRusso was still a kid like you are you should take it. You're sixteen and he's a grown ass man. He shouldn't be leaving you that injured even on accident."
"Well we settled up," said Robby. "At the tournament remember. How much longer before Cobra Kai starts causing some real problems."
"Look I get you're worried about our class size. And. How new the dojo is. But it'll work. Plus, it gives you a chance to strike back at both Diaz and Schwarber for beating you to the finals." Johnny raised a finger. "Diaz is turning into LaRusso as a kid, and Schwarber's turning into a younger version of me but a bigger asshole. You need to put both in their place."
"You still think I care about a damned trophy!?" cried Robby. "That this won't be over unless we put all the bickering aside for once? You know what."
Johnny was surprised as Robby bowed back onto the mat and joined Aisha and Charlotte. "Hey."
Robby ignored him.
…
After the first class of Steel Eagle, Aisha walked out to see Sam sitting in her car.
"Hi!" Sam said brightly.
"Hey," Aisha muttered. "Everything cool?"
"Yeah everything's fine," said Sam. "Yas just flew out today and Moon said we could go shopping. Wanna come with?"
"Can Charlotte come? And Robby too?"
Sam frowned. "I only really meant to give Sensei Bobby a ride back to my dad's. And you."
Bobby and Johnny were talking as Robby and Charlotte exited the Steel Eagle dojo chatting.
"After the tournament and everything it'd really be great if we could clear the air. I mean. Our co Sensei is kinda your co Sensei too." said Aisha.
Sam cleared her throat. "Sorry. I can't."
Aisha nodded slowly and turned around.
"Aisha wait-"
Bobby walked up to Sam. "Hey, thanks for the ride. I wanted to talk to you about your front sweeps real quick. And a nice new application of your jab punch. Johnny just gave me the idea."
He got into her car and Sam sighed.
"What?" asked Bobby. "What is it?" he saw how upset she looked.
"This karate stuff. Aisha's finally on the right side of things and we're still fighting."
Bobby smiled. "Give her some time. The best friends. Are always the most patient with you."
…
Robby was done with showing Aisha and Charlotte some moves on his skateboard.
Aisha put her phone away. "Good job at practice guys. Nice work."
Charlotte and Robby both bumped fists with Aisha and she walked towards her father who was waiting in his car.
Robby was going to keep skating and Charlotte spoke out. "Wait. About today-"
"I want to talk about anything but today."
Charlotte spoke much firmer now. "About exactly what Lucas said. What did he mean by you needing him to become a Steel Eagle?"
"He was just being an asshole," Robby muttered under his breath, scowling.
"Luke can be casually heartless sometimes. I get that. Believe me, I know that personally, had to take action on that at one point. But he never. And I mean never would say something like that unless it was true."
Robby gruffly sat down on his skateboard.
"I can't tell you."
"So that'll be hanging in the back of my head forever. And Aisha's too."
Robby spoke grumpily. "This karate bullshit has gotten to his head. I wanted to join Cobra Kai. To compete in that tournament. Take those pictures. Lift him with that trophy. All of it. Because Luke was my friend. At one point, my only friend. My best friend."
Charlotte listened, people nearby chatted quietly as they rode skateboards and talked.
"I was in a bad spot. I can't tell you all that much. But he got me out of it. But Luke sided with someone who tried to murder my dad. Like actually murder him, over a karate tournament. And from what my dad tells me. Is the same person."
Charlotte frowned.
"What?" asked Robby.
"He told me. Luke told me that happened."
"When?"
"On our first date," said Charlotte quietly.
"Why am I not surprised." Robby chuckled bitterly. "What a prick. My dad knows Kreese better than anyone. They trained for nearly four years together back in the eighties. And according to him and what he saw at this last tournament they won at. He has not changed."
"Do you think Luke knows that?"
"I think he knows Kreese suits him, regardless of who he truly is. Which is pretty hypocritical of him after what he said to us today. Or worse. He actually doesn't mind who he's becoming or what Kreese is truly like."
"So break the cycle. Forgive him. Apologize to him." Charlotte insisted. "Mend your friendship before it's too late."
"I think Lucas is probably going to be a Cobra Kai for the rest of his life at this rate. I know him. As much as you do. He's just that kind of person. He's that obsessed with trophies, leather jackets, heavy metal, working out. Everything that makes my dad's karate cool but the wrong parts still attached."
"If it hurts now when you two are arguing. Imagine how much more it'll hurt for both of you if and when you start throwing punches at each other."
Robby couldn't say anything.
"Exactly," said Charlotte before she left.
…
Miguel answered the door as Carmen smiled.
"Sensei Daniel!" Carmen said kindly. "Do you want to come in? We made frijoles and chowder."
"That sounds excellent but um. I'm actually here to talk to Miguel," said Daniel.
Miguel looked at his mother. "We were in the middle of dinner so."
"I'm sure Sensei LaRusso will make sure you won't stay out too late," said Carmen. "Right?"
"Of course."
…
Daniel sat on a bench in between the hallway where Johnny and Miguel lived.
"I wanted to talk to you. After the tournament. After-"
"My loss." said Miguel.
"It's okay to come in second place."
"Maybe if it was a regular karate tournament," said Miguel. "But I was fighting my bullies. Now the Valley's biggest bully is a two time champion. And all his friends won't let me forget it until I graduate in two years."
"Miguel. Did I ever tell you Mr. Miyagi didn't want me to fight?"
"He was a pacifist. Of course he didn't."
Daniel smiled. "No," he said softly. "Sensei Bobby who you knew well. Was ordered to break my leg by Cobra Kai's Sensei. Kreese. I was out."
He remembered quietly.
"Mr. Miyagi said I had done enough. And even though I could walk away with some pretty major leg injuries. He healed me."
"But your leg was broken."
"Not entirely, but the doctor said I was out. He healed it. Somehow. Whether it was some sort of reiki, or just. Whatever he knew. He healed my knee."
"Did he teach you how?"
Daniel shook his head. "The important thing to remember is that I'm always here for you. Always."
"Why?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why do you want to always be here for me? You're just my Sensei."
"Mr. Miyagi was more than just a teacher to me. He was like a father. He passed on a kind of wisdom I'd always keep with me. It's a wisdom that's touched me. But more importantly, I've realized something."
Miguel listened.
"Mr. Miyagi once told me that I could move on from doing just his karate. His way. That I could find my own way. And while that way will always be Miyagi-Do. I've learned that a part of that isn't just embracing being on offense where needed from Bobby. It's about being a better person."
Miguel kept listening.
"My dad died when I was eight. So. I never had a real father until I met Mr. Miyagi. I want to be as good a mentor to you as Mr. Miyagi was to me."
"So you want to be my father."
"No. I want to be whatever you need Miguel," said Daniel kindly. "Anything. Any advice, any help. I'll be there. I'll always be there."
Miguel sighed. "I never even met my dad. And um. It sounds really weird to call a car dealer from Encino my dad. And I don't think I will but um. You're definitely the best Sensei I could ask for."
"That's good enough for me."
Daniel and Miguel hugged.
Johnny approached with Robby.
"Go inside kid."
"Was gonna do that anyway," muttered Robby.
Johnny gave Robby a quick look as he entered their apartment across the hall from Miguel's.
"Can you um. Give us a moment?" Daniel asked Miguel.
He quickly nodded. "See you tomorrow at practice Sensei."
Daniel returned the smile Miguel gave him.
Daniel and Johnny struggled to say anything to each other for a moment.
"I wanted to apologize. For hurting Robby the night Miguel was attacked."
"He wasn't attacked, they were responding the same way I would've in their shoes. Those boys were hit first by Diaz over there."
"Really. You're defending your students after everything they've done."
Johnny squinted at Daniel. "They're not my students anymore."
"So Miguel deserved to get beaten that badly."
"Maybe not that badly but any other group of guys would've done the same. What the hell do you want LaRusso?"
"To give you a courtesy Mr. Miyagi never gave you or your friends. He beat you all up to protect me. Then he challenged your dojo. There was the tournament. The incident in the parking lot. And he never saw from or heard you again. And he simply never apologized for having to hurt you guys on Halloween, even if it was in a way, necessary at the time."
Johnny frowned. "That's real nice to hear. Unfortunately, accident or not. Anyone hits my son. I have a problem with that. Especially if that person is you."
"Johnny-"
"How'd you like it if Sam gets into a fight with my kid. And I slap them around. Or is Diaz your son apparently too?"
"I just want to be a mentor to him."
Johnny nodded slightly. "Okay. I let Bobby on board at my dojo not just because he's an old friend. But because I trust him. He'd never hurt Robby, even if Robby was attacking him. So again. What do you want?"
"I just want to bury the hatchet in a way. With you cut off of Kreese's puppet strings I-"
"Puppet strings? You really think I couldn't change Cobra Kai?"
"No Johnny I really couldn't." muttered Daniel. "Bobby had enough sense to realize violence was never the answer. Kids shouldn't learn aggression, whether it's taught properly or not. Miguel's a good person, if he wasn't. Your lessons could be applied the wrong way."
"So I'm a bad teacher."
"Bobby actually knows how to balance Miguel's anger as well as his patience and character. Same with me. You on the other hand. Really thought helping Kreese again after all he did was a good idea."
"So did Bobby."
"When he was seventeen," Daniel muttered. "Not last year."
"Some kids do need aggression. Like it or not. What I teach. Works. Aggression can work."
"Not yours."
Johnny scoffed. "Here I was thinking you wanted to apologize. Keep your bonsais. And your namby pamby hand wavy yoga meditation kata." Johnny said as if the word disgusted him through the entire second it took him to say it. "Away from my son. And my other students. You got that?"
"And you keep your absurd Eagle garbage away from Miguel. My daughter. And my own students too."
"I didn't even know you had other students. And by the way, it's Steel Eagle."
Daniel crossed his arms and walked closer to Johnny. "My mistake, I made it slightly less ridiculous. I don't just have two students. As of today. I added five more."
"Congrats. The next time they do a kata. They'll look slightly less ridiculous." Johnny turned around.
"Think you learned up close Johnny how effective that kata can be. On more than one occasion."
Johnny waved a hand. "You're not worth it LaRusso."
"Then stop acting so petty."
"You're the one who's petty," Johnny muttered before walking into his apartment.
After ten minutes of pure silence in the hallway between Johnny and Carmen's apartments, their sons walked out to speak after exchanging glances between windows.
Robby and Miguel spoke.
"That sucked."
Miguel nodded. "Yup."
"At this point, both of us have learned parts of each other's karate. Sensei Bobby even offered to teach me the first kata and um. The other part I already." Robby shook his head. "Anyway. This is not ideal."
"It's not."
"Can we um. Declare a truce my dad and your Sensei are too dumb to declare?"
Miguel looked at the hand Robby offered to shake.
"You always were one of the better ones."
Miguel and Robby shook hands.
"Thanks man. Think we can manage a dojo alliance without our Sensei's approval?"
"Honestly we should tuck that into our back pocket in case things get too hairy. Besides. I don't think we need your help just yet. Miyagi-Do just grew almost four times larger today."
Robby shifted where he stood. "What does that mean?"
"I'm sure you mean well but um. You did try to jump me on Halloween."
"I was actually the one telling Hawk he was going too far."
"Right. So you waited until after Kreese and Cobra Kai won the tournament. By beating me. To finally quit."
Robby pressed his tongue towards the upper part of his mouth with a nod. "You know what? Keep that truce tucked into your back pocket man. Keep it there as long as you want."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah really."
"Oh, it's like that."
"Yeah."
Miguel sighed. "We had a good semi final match. I think we both might've. Said some things we shouldn't have just now."
"I can take on Kreese and his Cobras any day of the week. Whether or not it's just me, my dad, and two other people. You don't need to bother yourself."
"I literally just said we both went too far in what we've just said."
That seemed to touch a nerve with Robby after that day.
"You might not know what that exactly means for me."
Robby and Miguel went back to their homes without another word to each other.
"Talking to Diaz?" asked Johnny as he made a bacon, ham, and beef sandwich.
"Yeah. I just now realized what a waste of time it was. I was wrong to think you didn't know what's best for me."
Johnny smiled. "Thanks."
"The sooner I can prove how much I don't need any of that dumb bonsai and kata nonsense and prove how much better than LaRusso, Kreese, and all of them we are." Robby shrugged. "Who cares what happens?" he smiled before walking towards his room.
Johnny smiled at first but before he could take a bite out of his sandwich he frowned at what his son said.
He looked unsure of whether or not he fully agreed with him for a moment. Before he continued to eat his dinner.
…
…
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A/N: Okay. That makes 12 thousand words to mark the begginng of the fic and setting up each conflict and character arc and development.
That's enough writing from me for one weekend. I'll see you all soon after my finals are done.