"Hey, i need a favor?"

"Is this who I think it is? I thought you said you never wanted to speak to me again"

"I really don't, but I need your help"

"Convenience is a self biting mistress"

"I agree ... I'm sorry about the way things ended between us"

"You don't have to waste your words with an apology, the fact that you called tells me that everything that I need to know, it's good to have you back old friend"

"This is why we're friends, no words ever needed"

"Of course ... did you find what you were looking for since we split ways?"

"Yes, that is why I'm calling, I found em and I need a little help polishing it"

"You always were a little more clueless about the finer things in life"

"That where you shined the brightest"'

"I'll grab my check book and meet you in town, is that okay?"

"That works for me, it's gonna be good to see you old friend"

"You as well"

I used to think maybe you loved me now baby I'm sure.

And I just can't wait till the day when you knock on my door

Now everytime I go for the mailbox, gotta hold myself down

'Cause I just can't wait till you write me you're coming around

Miguel finished his punching combo on the punching bag as Walking on Sunshine continued to play in the background, his long wavy hair was stuck flat to his forehead as his body was slick with sweat.

Johnny was coaching him from the side, holding one end of the equipment attached to Miguel and Tory was holding the bag for him as he launched punch after punch, before working on his kicks. His back burned from the effort, his legs growing weaker and weaker with each kick. The resistance bands that pulled on his limbs and finally he gave a mighty roar as he landed a lick and Tory winced as the punching bag broke off the chain and all of the weight landed on her.

"Attaboy Miggy, I knew you had it in you" cheered Johnny as he pulled the bands off of Miguel, releasing his student.

Tory pushed the bag to the side and asked "How you feeling?"

Miguel did some light stretches, making sure to properly stretch out his back before he did some self maintenance, "a little more sore than I would like but I feel great"

"Good" replied Tory as she stepped forward and pulled him by his sweat drenched shirt into a kiss.

Johnny chuckled as he started to pack up all of the stuff that they came with while cleaning up the physical rehab center's equipment. He left the two alone to report the broken punching bag and they broke apart, Tory looking into his eyes as she reached up and cupped his jaw.

"Ugh, what am I going to do with you?" asked Tory

"I dunno" muttered Miguel, "But you're stuck with me forever"

"Forever is a long time" joked Tory, "What if I get annoying?"

"I like it when you're annoying" said Miguel as he leaned in and kissed her this time, a lot of intent in the kiss, trying to express how he felt without words. The kiss grew slightly more heated before it was ruined by the buzzing of Tory's phone and they were forced to separate it for her to answer it.

"It's work" groaned Tory as she stepped outside and answered it as Johnny reentered the room and gave Miguel a wink and a thumbs up.

"My boy Miggy is a playa" he said with fatherly approval, "Let's not tell your mom, she would tear me a new one if she found out I was letting you kiss a girl unsupervised and then a even bigger one if she found out that it was supervised"

"Don't worry sensei, secret is safe with me" agreed Miguel

"So, how you feeling? Don't give me the bullshit cop out answer you give her, tell me the truth. I need to adjust training to make sure that you're doing okay in your recovery, no unneeded risks' said Johnny with a rare sternness that he never really displayed.

"Honestly, I need some heat and ice for my back, it's feel slightly tight now that we've stopped working out and the stretches kept the tightness from hurting, but it's uncomfortable" admitted Miguel

"Ok, tight and uncomfortable but doesn't hurt" said Johnny as he wrote it down in the rehab planner that he kept for Miguel, "I say you're done for the rest of the week, take it off an relax, recover, take your girl out on a date"

Miguel rolled his eyes, "If you say so ... um can I ask you something?"

"As long as it's not workout related" said Johnny

"When am I going to get back into karate?" asked Miguel

Johnny froze as he bent down to lift up their duffle bag, unsure of how to answer that question.

"What do you mean?" asked Johnny

"We've been working out for months now, my back is much better now. At what point do we move past me simply punching and kicking a punching bag. The All Valley tournament is in about 7 months and I feel like I am getting close to being ready to start training for that seriously" answered Miguel

"I don't know" said Johnny honestly, "We probably need to get another check up and a couple more weeks of training before we move into live combat. I cannot risk you and your health being reckless"

The answer seemed to suck all of the air out of the room, Miguel felt tears well up in his eyes.

"You sound like you don't plan for us to train for the tournament" said Miguel, the accusation giving an edge to his voice.

"Maybe I didn't want you to fight again, there is more to life than fighting in a tournament" said Johnny, "I won one, LaRusso won one, you won one. Your name will forever be part of the tournament and the history, isn't that enough?"

"No" said Miguel, his voice raising, "You're asking me to give up on what makes me happy, what helped me when I had nothing else, when I had nobody else. All because you're scared I might get hurt again? What happened to being badass?"

"Being badass goes out the window when you get kicked over a balcony and nearly lose the ability to walk" roared back Johnny, "You think there isn't a second that your mom and me aren't happy that you can simply walk"

Miguel grit his teeth as the tears rolled down his face and he glared at Johnny, but he was too choked up to say anything else to his sensei.

"As for before? Miguel I helped you" said Johnny pointing at his chest, "When those kids jumped you outside of the store. I helped you stand up for yourself, I helped you become the person you wanted to be, but I guess that doesn't matter. Your mom, your grandma, me, none of us matter. You had nobody right?" said Johnny as he was clearly hurt by the words that Miguel had chosen to use and he slung the duffle bag over his shoulder and stormed out

Tory entered the room a couple minutes to see a fuming Miguel alone in the room, "Hey Johnny left in a hurry, are things okay between you two?"

Miguel felt his anger melt away upon hearing that question as he rapidly came to the realization that he was the one being a dickhead.

"I have to apologize when I see him" mumbled Miguel

Tory frowned but didn't press him for an answer, she trusted him to tell her anything that needed to be said in due time.

"Well, he left you here alone with me, so if you want a ride home, you're going to need to shower because you are not getting in my car smelling like that" said Tory as she wrinkled her nose in disgust

Miguel knew better than argue with Tory and just agreed to shower, grabbing his own bookbag and heading off to the showers, focused on scrubbing himself clean as he thought of a way to apologize to Johnny.

As Miguel was focused on getting clean, across town Robby Keane was sitting in a police station with Kreese beside him, watching as an officer pulled up all of his charges.

"Okay, so it says that your name is Robert Swayze Keene, is that correct?" asked the officer

"Robby is fine" said Robby, "But yes, that is my full legal name"

"Thank you for confirming that, Mr. Keene" said the officer as he pulled up all of the charges that Robby had going against him.

"So, you are currently being charged with Aggravated Assault, Battery with intent of bodily injury, attempted murder, grand theft auto, several reports of fraud and identity theft" listed off the officer before Kreese gave a cough and he nodded.

"The good news is none of these charges are going to stick, the trio of charges that you would normally have from the fight against Miguel Diaz, but the case was thrown out due to you being a victim of Samantha LaRusso's manipulations. Then Daniel LaRusso wanted the charges dropped for the stolen car, and they don't have enough proof to arrest you on the fraud or identity theft" continued the officer, "Yeah, you're free to go"

"What really?" asked Robby, "Just like that"

The officer nodded, "yup just like that"

He offered Robby his hand to shake and when Robby accepted it, he pulled Robby in close and whispered "No Mercy, Cobra Kai never dies" before pulling back and walking away as if nothing ever happened.

Robby watched his retreating form and frowned "What just happened?"

"Nothing much kid, just an old man calling in some favors with some old friends. I told you that i would take care of everything and I did" replied Kreese as he put his hand on Robby's shoulder and led them out of the police station.

Waiting for them was another elderly white man, a tall white man in an clearly expensive black suit, a black dress shirt, a black tie. His shiny silver hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, his eyes seemed unusually sharp and focused to Robby. Starting at him as if he was deciding whether or not Robby was worth a single dollar, a sign that this man was very much one of those rich snobs that Robby had encountered before at the clubhouse with the LaRusso family.

Kreese seemed to know the man as he greeted him with a massive crooked smile, the kind that made your inside bubble with panic as someone like Kreese should never smile at anyone.

"Is this the boy?" asked the man, "He doesn't look like all that much, let alone worth making the call to me like you did"

"You know as well as I do, old friend, that you cannot judge a book by the cover" replied Kreese as he gestured to Robby, "There is more to him than there appears, this is the son of Johnny Lawrence, the future of Cobra Kai"

Robby felt a shiver run down his spine at those words from Kreese. Him? The Future? Nobody had ever expressed anything about him and the future unless it was about him not having a future or being locked up. Yet, Kreese had already taken care of his legal problems and was calling him the future of Cobra Kai, that was insane.

Of course Kreese was saying what he knew Robby wanted to hear, but also what his friend would want to hear. After all, it was his money that had managed to spring the little shit and clean up his record.

"If you really think this kid can be that special, then that's all I need" said the man with a clasp of his hands, "My name is Terry Silver kid, nice to meet you"

Robby shook the hand that Terry extended towards him and he could feel the hidden strength in elderly man's grip. But then again, Kreese was also surprisingly strong as well for an older man, so maybe there was something to this whole Cobra Kai method that makes you strong and keeps you that way.

Terry looked up at the bright sun filled sky and winced, using his hand to shield his eyes before he turned his attention back to Robby and Kreese, "We should get out of the sun and head to the dojo, we can take my towncar, my driver is always ready"

He gestured to a small limo and led them to it and as Robby slid into the car first, he couldn't help but stare out of the window as the car pulled off and Kreese and Terry Silver had a hushed conversation, but Robby ignored them as he figured that Kreese and Silver were just catching up.

Just as Robby was staring out the window, so was Miguel as Tory and him made their way to the mall. Miguel usually just went home with Johnny after working out with him and Tory, but Johnny had left without him and Tory needed to pick something up from the mall. So, with his girlfriend being his only ride, here he was on the way to the mall.

Tory whipped the car around a tight corner and Miguel's head bounced off of the window, causing him to glare at his beautiful girlfriend. Tory giggled and gave him an innocent smile.

"That wasn't funny" moped Miguel

"Ah my little baby" said Tory as she reached over and gripped his chin as she pulled into a parking spot before she leaned over and pressed her lips to his cheek.

"I'm not a baby" mumbled Miguel as she pulled back and rolled her eyes at his pouting face.

Tory slid out of the elevated car and said "Come on Baby Diaz"

"I much rather you call me Daddy Diaz" retorted Miguel causing Tory and him to both turn red in the face when the words registered to them.

His left hand slipped into her right hand and he tried to suppress the smile that threatened to split his face as he held her hand. This was honestly the best part of the day for him, his time with her. He loved his mom, his grandma, and even Johnny now, they were his family.

But that was a different type of love. Every morning for the past couple of months, he would wake up and either text Tory some version of 'Good Morning' or would have a text telling him 'Good Morning' from her waiting for him. He would climb out of bed and recently he started doing his school work from home, so sometimes if he didn't feel like doing the morning run, he would invite Tory over for a morning tutoring session.

If she did not come over, they would spend the entire time texting, talking about school work, work drama, how they slept, what they wanted to eat, literally anything in the world because it just felt right with her. If she did come over, they would do school work while talking about all of those same topics until about noon before they along with Johnny would make their way to the gym and they would go through the normal physical therapy routine. A lot of stretching, minor lifting, some cardio usually 2-3 miles depending on time, followed by the punching bag so that he could get use to using all of his limbs again.

Usually he went back home with Johnny, texting Tory on the way home, only pausing to take a shower before resuming the marathon text exchange. Around like 3:30 PM maybe 4 PM, they would take a break to attend to their family or Miguel would go for another cardio session of another 2-3 miles depending on how he felt at the time. He would return home, shower, eat dinner and then resume texting Tory to catch up on whatever they had missed over the past couple of hours. Then at around 9 PM, he would go on a long walk while on the phone with her, walking around the apartment complex until it was time for him to go inside of the night.

It felt very different than what it felt like when he was dating Sam. With Sam, it always felt like he was walking on eggshells. He was always afraid to say the wrong thing, afraid to do the wrong thing, afraid to not be what was expected of him. The LaRusso family was very nice, but that felt so fake and manufactured compared to real life. With Sam, he never got the chance to be himself, he always had to be the version of him that would be accepted by not only her, but also her parents as well unfortunately.

That was not how things were with Tory, things were much more simple and natural. Like two puzzles pieces that didn't fit anywhere else or with any other pieces, but then suddenly lining up and fitting perfectly with one another. The world was a little brighter, food tasted a little better, the sun felt more pleasant, life was more enjoyable when she was around. About 8 months of officially dating and Miguel knew that it was crazy to think this, but he could honestly see the future for the two of them playing out before his very eyes.

He wanted to have kids with her, she would make an amazing mother as she was kind, caring, and patient. He knew that last one for sure because he waited for him to walk again, she waited with him through his dark days, his bad moods, his asshole-ish ways. He could see them leaving California, going some place with snow and getting a modest house. He could see a future with her, that was not what he could envision with anyone else at this point. He knew that he had fallen for her really bad when he couldn't even find other woman attractive anymore.

He squeezed her hand as they walked into the mall, the smell of floor polish, CinnaBon, and greasy food court food.

"Where are we going?" asked Miguel as Tory didn't even glance at the map of the mall near the entrance and tugged on his hand, leading him through the mall.

"I said I had to pick some stuff up, I need new underwear and new bikinis" said Tory as Miguel slammed on the breaks.

"I don't think I can go with you to get that" stammered Miguel

"Why not" asked Tory as she turned back to look at him, "It's just underwear"

"Well ... I ... um ... we haven't gotten that far yet" stuttered Miguel, his cheeks darkening with embarrassment.

Tory seemed to realize this as well, but she went the other way, "Well, isn't this as good a time as any?"

Miguel felt his mouth go very dry, he was struggling to breath and was completely unable to even swallow the air in his mouth, but he tried to think of a reason to prove her wrong.

"I kind of imagined it would be someplace nicer than the mall" said Miguel, hoping that she would find that reasonable.

"Oh, you're right. I don't want you to see me naked for the first time in a changing room" said Tory realizing the significance of the moment. Their first time being more intimate then kissing and some minor butt groping should not take place in the changing room of a knock off version of Victoria's Secret, he had a point.

"How about this, you go grab us some lunch from the food court, grab anything you want and I will go pick out my clothes and stuff, you can pick whatever you want us to eat" suggested Tory

Miguel nodded in agreement and Tory smiled brightly before she used her grip on his hand to pull him in and into an intense kiss that scramble's Miguel brain and left his pants a little bit tighter than before.

As Tory pulled away from the dazed Miguel, he couldn't help but ask "What was that for?"

"Just a little reminder not to get distracted out there" said Tory with a wink before she turned and walked away, "I'll see you in like 45 mins to an hour, have fun"

Miguel couldn't help but smile in a goofy manner before he gathered himself and went a little window shopping. He stopped at the GameStop and looked at the promo for the new PS5, something that he knew he would probably never get. It was expensive and people would use bots to buy them up for the resale market.

Leaving the GameStop after about 15 mins, he slowly made his way around the mall, stopping at Lids and getting a Dodgers snapback hat that was on the clearance rack at 50 percent off. He liked it so much that he decided to pop the tag off it and wear it out the store, the hat backwards like the old baseball card of Ken Griffry Jr always showed him wearing his hats.(A/N: I am not a Dodgers fan, but a sad Mets fan, but I think the Kid is the goat)

Finally bored out of his mind with wandering aimlessly around the mall, he finally made his way to the food court and he scanned the options: Chick-Fil-A, Panda Express, Jimmy John's, Auntie Anne's, Subway, and a Moe's Southwest Grill. (A/N: All of these are at my local mall, your results may vary)

Miguel licked his lips as he looked at the chinese food, his mom tended to not order out especially since his grandma was usually home and would cook something them. But the greasy chicken with fried rice was calling his name, so he went into the line and ordered what he knew Tory would get, the Boneless Spare Ribs with vegetable fried rice while he went with his favorite General Tso's Chicken with house special rice.

He paid the 20 something odd dollars and grabbed the receipt, waiting for them to call his order number when he noticed Kyler Parks and some of the other cobra kai generics messing around with a small slender blond boy, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose. They took his tray of food and were holding over his head, threatening to dump it on him if he didn't give them something.

Miguel felt anger bubbling up inside of them and he asked the cashier how much longer it was going to be before his food was ready. The response of '7-10 more minutes' was more than enough for him. He didn't need that long to put these losers in their place.

Walking over there, Miguel was taking deep breathes, trying to slow down his heart as he knew this could result in a fight.

"Hey, leave the kid alone" interrupted Miguel

"Oh shit, it's half man, half foldable" said Kyler as he shoved the tray back towards the small kid, "I didn't know that you were walking around"

"I'm doing more than walking, so why don't you leave him alone and walk away" said Miguel, his heart pounding in his chest

"And if I don't?" asked Kyler

"Then I make you" answered Miguel, his eyes locked on the form of Kyler, his body tensing as he prepared to defend himself

Kyler let out a growl before turning around, grabbing the tray of food from the small kid and dumping it on the kid's head, sending the kid into a crying fit.

Tossing the tray away as he turned back to Miguel, "Oops, now what are you gonna do?"

Miguel slid into a fighting stance and Kyler looked nervous for the first time, but slid into one himself. Miguel left a small opening on his right side open on purpose, knowing that Kyler would do the typical cobra kai thing, try to strike first. Kyler threw a punch at the opening Miguel gave him on the right and Miguel saw it come at him in slow motion.

His right forearm slid upwards as the punch got close to his face and he pushed the punch out of the way, his left knee arcing perfectly as it found it's way into his ribs, knocking the air out of him. As Kyler coughed, trying to suck air back into his lungs, Miguel elbowed him in the back as he bent forward, sending him crashing to the ground.

Looking at the other Cobra Kai goons, Miguel said "Anyone else want to try me?"

Seeing no takers, Miguel turned around and started walking back to Panda Express when a plastic tray slammed into his slower back and he flinched as he felt a phantom numbness travel down his spine and into his legs.

Turning around, he glared at the man with his hand still extended, the coward Kyler.

"No mercy" said Kyler as if it explained the cheap shot to Miguel's back. But Miguel was actually feeling a lot better now, knowing that the blow to his lower back didn't actually hurt more than any other blow.

Miguel marched forward as Kyler tried to throw a flurry of punches, but Miguel just leaned back to avoid the first one, then dipped under the next before sliding around Kyler as he grew more wild and less disciplined. Find himself behind Kyler, Miguel tripped him, sending Kyler crashing to the ground face down, before slamming his heel down on Kyler's lower back.

"You were under the assumption that I'm not still the All Valley champ Kyler, well let's hope you learned from your lesson. I am still better than you and if I catch you bullying another little kid, I will not be so nice" hissed Miguel as he stepped off Kyler and turned back towards the Panda Express, only to see Tory standing near the entrance of the food court, her eyes clearly locked on him and a frown on her face.

Grabbing the food from the cashier, he quickly made her way towards her marching form, but much to his surprise, she blew right past him and over to towards Kyler who flinched at seeing her angry expression.

"What the fuck Kyler?" she demanded

"He started it - " started before Tory cut him off

"And I'm ending it, if you think Miguel kicked your ass, they're not gonna be able to air what I do to you on the news. Because this wouldn't be a dojo spar, I will not hold back on you. Not take your friends and leave" hissed Tory

Kyler looked like he wanted to argue but he just scoffed and said "Let's get out of this boring ass mall guys"

Tory watched as the group of guys left with a very pleased lock on her face, she had unknowingly just squashed a lot of the Cobra Kai resistance towards her by publicly punking Kyler in that moment. Happy with the result, she whirled around and made her way back to Miguel.

"And you" she started but was cut off by the crashing of Miguel's lips on hers, silencing her for them moment. The kiss was short, yet fiery, and when they pulled apart, Miguel chuckled.

"Oh my god Tory, watching you tell them off was so hot" blurted out Miguel

Tory tried to blow it off, but she couldn't stop the smile the crept onto her face upon hearing that. His words made her a lot less angry, but still didn't stop him from getting lightly slapped across the face before she pulled him into a tight hug.

"Oh you idiot, you can't be getting into fights, let alone with those assholes. At least not by yourself" muttered Tory

"I'm sorry" said Miguel, guilt worming it's way into his chest as he realized that he had actually just fought someone in the middle of the mall over a kid he didn't even know.

"Don't be sorry, just don't worry me like that" said Tory as she broke the hug, "But I will say that your form looked good"

Miguel gestured for them to take a seat, "I felt good"

Tory ripped the top of her food off, "I'm glad, but next time imma beat your ass if you pick a fight like that"

Miguel just blew her kiss, a wide smile on both of their faces,

A/N: This chapter was hard to write, because the show is overly dramatic and sometimes I be like that's unrealistic when this a show about karate gang wars, so I just be letting it rip. I don't know if any of you have ever been in love, it's a weird thing to try to explain, but I hope that I did it justice in the middle of the chapter. This is supposed to be not a romance story per say, but there is supposed to be have some sappy young love moments.

Now, I only have my own personal experience to go off of, but when I met the girl that i currently love, it was very different than anything else I ever felt before. I stopped finding other girls attractive and I couldn't help but think about how great it would be to grow with her for years to come. Now, that was like 2 years ago and she's annoying now, but I like that in a woman.

Also, I am one episode from finishing season 5 and they stole my entire flow, Cobra Kai stole my story's plotline with Tory being asked to quit Cobra Kai. And I wrote that before the season came out, so they need to send me my check.

Anyway, Miguel got in a fight with the Cobra Kai dickheads, more on that in the next chapter.

Join my discord man, there is a lot of great people from all over in there, fans of this story or other ones that I write. And you get a say in what story gets the next story gets the next update.

Join using this invite code: DRj46PRx

That is (slash) DRj46PRx

Well, until next time, HighKey_Mars out