Chapter 24: Rematch Pt. 1

James's POV:

Sam, Demetri, Eli, and I all saw the match between Chase and Kyler. I was pissed that Kyler went for his injury. I hope someone kicks his ass during the tournament. The final qualifying matches are set to begin. If I win this match, then I move on to the quarterfinals. I see that Chris has to fight Kyler and Nate has to fight some smaller Cobra Kai kid. I step onto the mat and see my opponent. It's Steve. What?! I'm fighting him this early?! Oh god. I start thinking about everything he did to me and I get nervous. However, I take some deep breaths and manage to, once again, turn those feelings into anger.

"I've been wanting to kick your ass for so long." Steve says. Robby, Tory, and one of the Cobra Kai Sensei's stand behind him. I look behind me but I see that Mr. LaRusso is busy with the other matches. However, I see Sam and Demetri approach me. They must have won their matches.

"Remember what Mr. LaRusso taught you." Demetri says. I smile at him. I look at Sam and she just nods her head. Oh yeah, she wants me to do that move. I lift one leg and hang my arms over my head. I'm gonna do the crane kick.

Third Person POV:

"What the hell?" Steve says while laughing at James's stance. However, Robby, Tory, and Terry know what this move is.

"Hey! Be careful!" Robby shouts.

"Don't underestimate him!" Tory shouts.

"Don't get too close!" Terry shouts. However, a combination of not hearing them and not knowing what the move is, causes Steve to get overconfident.

"I'm gonna get the first point, easy!" Steve shouts.

"Ready? And…fight!"

Steve runs up to James and that's when it happens. James does the crane kick and hits Steve square in the face. Steve collapses on the ground and James stays upright.

"Point! 1-0!"

"Yes!" Sam shouts. Demetri is also smiling and clapping.

"Dammit!" Steve shouts as he gets up. His face is stinging like crazy.

"Timeout." Terry says. Steve approaches him.

"What happened to getting the first point easily?" Robby says while smirking.

"Shut up." Steve says angrily.

"Instead of directing your anger at Robby, direct it at him." Terry says while pointing at James.

"Also, remember to counter attack." Robby says. Steve nods and he gets back to the middle of the mat. The next round starts and Steve strikes first. He does a front kick and James backs up. He then tries to sweep James's legs but James steps back again. Steve then does a spinning back kick aimed at James's chest. James uses both his arms to block it, but it makes him stumble back.

"Out of bounds!"

James gets frustrated but calms down and gets back to the center of the mat. For the next round, James decides to strike first. He attempts to punch Steve in the face but Steve uses the Wax On Wax Off movements to block all of James's punches. James is shocked that Steve knows Miyagi-Do moves. This realization distracts James and Steve takes the opportunity to aim a punch at James's chest. However, Jame blocks it at the last minute. Steve continues to try and punch James. James is forced to back up while blocking all of Steve's punches. Suddenly, Steve performs a roundhouse kick aimed at James's head. James manages to put his arm up just in time to protect the side of his face. However, this also causes James to stumble back even more.

"Out of bounds!"

James's POV:

I was getting angry now. Maybe I can beat him by doing the same thing I did during the house fight. The next round starts and I block Steve's punches by using the drum technique. When his face is open, I try to kick it. However, Steve is prepared this time. He catches my leg and quickly takes my other leg out from under me. I fall on the ground. Steve did the same thing I did to him during the house fight. He gets on the ground and tries to punch me in the chest, but I block it. However, he uses his other hand to punch me in the face.

"Point! 1-1!"

How am I supposed to do this?

"James! You have to fight back!" Sam shouts. The next round starts and Steve attacks once again. As I'm blocking his kicks and punches, I try to find a weak point. Where is it? There's gotta be an open spot somewhere. Wait…I have an idea. Right when Steve is about to get me out of bounds, I duck under his punch and try to sweep his legs. As expected, he backs up. When he tries to kick me, instead of blocking it or pushing his leg down, I push his leg back towards him. This causes him to stumble back. I do the same thing when he tries to punch me and he gets angry. The next time he tries to punch my face, I move to the side and get behind him. By the time he turns around, I'm able to sweep his legs. However, when I try to punch him while he's down, he rolls out of the way and gets back on his feet. I try to roundhouse kick him but he blocks. He then jumps and tries to kick me in the face. I barely block it and he lands back on his feet. He continues to try to kick me using both front and side kicks. However, I block them all using a combination of Wax On Wax Off and the Drum technique. The next time Steve tries to kick me in the face, I duck under it and try to punch him in the stomach. However, he's prepared for my counter attack and blocks it. We both take a step back.

"No point! Continue!"

I have a new plan, but it's very risky. If I mess this up, Steve will get a point. When the round begins, I let Steve come to me. He aims a kick at my chest and I block it with both my arms. Then, Steve sweeps my legs. I fall on the ground and I can see Steve smirk. However, right when he's about to kick me in the chest, I grab his leg and pull him to the ground. When he falls over. I get up slightly and punch him in the face.

"Point! 2-1!"

"Time out!" The Cobra Kai Sensei shouts.

Third Person POV:

"What are you doing? You need to get aggressive!" Terry says.

"I'm trying, but we both know each other's fighting techniques." Steve says.

"Well, you know something he doesn't. Remember, a man can't breathe, he can't fight. You know what to do." Terry says. Steve nods and gets back to the center of the mat. When the round starts, Steve tries to kick James but he uses the drum technique to push his leg out of the way. James tries to get a point by hitting Steve in the chest, but Steve blocks it. Steve kicks James in the shoulder and then tries to roundhouse kick his face. James ducks under it and tries to kick Steve in the chest. Steve puts up his arm and is able to block it. Both boys take a step back.

"No point!"

That's when Steve thinks it's a good time to say it. This will truly break James.

"Damn you really are weak. Just like your brother was." Steve says.

James's POV:

What the hell did that prick just say? Did he just…insult my brother? My dead brother?

"Ready? And…fight!"

Without thinking, I run up and tackle Steve. I then slam his head against the ground.

"Hey! That's a point deduction for unsportsmanlike contact! Score 1-1!"

"James?! What the hell?!" Demetri shouts. However, I'm still mad.

Third Person POV:

Steve turns and looks at Terry Silver. He nods. It's time to get James out. The next round begins and James is still angry. He's blinded by rage and keeps trying to hit Steve in the face despite Steve blocking every punch. Suddenly, after James throws a punch, Steve ducks under it and gets behind James.

"No mercy." Steve says loud enough for only James to hear. When James turns around, Steve front kicks James right in the side of the chest. The same spot James had his broken ribs. James collapses on the ground.

James's POV:

When the kick lands, I know that something is wrong. I collapse on the ground and find it a bit painful to breathe.

"Point! 2-1!"

Even after I hear the score, I don't get up. I'm in immense pain and I struggle to even sit up. I look around and see everyone. All the other qualifying matches had finished and all the Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai students had gathered to watch the fight.

"Hate to put everything on hold…but…I think something's wrong." I say.

Author's Note: That concludes the first part of the James vs Steve fight. I've been wanting to write this for so long. What are your predictions? Who will win? How will that person win?