"He killed your dad?!" Johnny asked. It seemed too insane to believe, but David looked to be anything but joking.
"My father used to own the dojo. He had a reputation for being the best fighter around which attracted other senseis and fighters who wanted that title. He accepted every fight no matter the opponent…" David paused, "no matter how challenging it was becoming for him. He ignored his age and kept winning. Finally, there was a challenge from a new dojo that was new to the area. At first, it was dojo versus dojo, but we won, so the sensei changed his mind and wanted a battle of senseis. He was much younger, but it did not deter my father from giving his all during the fight. It lasted a long duration; however, the opponent finally got the upper hand and knocked my father unconscious. He fell and when he did, he hit his neck, breaking it."
Johnny quietly observed the other man. He could certainly understand the desire for revenge, but now he could not understand why Kaldur would not fight. It was only a challenge and it was to honor his grandfather.
"I'm really sorry about that." he said. "And you just want Kaldur to spar against the other dojo?"
"Arthur-the sensei-has a prized pupil. If we can take him out, that will hurt him more than anything else. I have seen them together. They are practically like a loving father-son duo." David explained, sounding venomous. "They are there, bonding, while my own son wants nothing to do with me."
"I'll try to talk with Kaldur. Maybe I can help convince him."
David shook his head. "He is not an easy person to dissuade once he has made up his mind." His solemn expression brightened with an idea. "But if you could just get him to agree to speak with me, put him in a mindset receptive to hearing what I have to say, then that might be enough."
"Sure, I can do that. It might take a little bit, but I can manage it." Johnny told him.
David gave a heartfelt "Thank you" before they returned to Cobra Kai. Kreese closely watched him the whole time. He was not the only target of Kreese's attention. Hawk had caught Kreese's eye as well. His attacks were so vicious, his movements so brutal. David noticed also, but he did not mention anything. There would be time for that later. When the session ended for the day, Kreese pulled Hawk aside before he could leave.
"Is something wrong, Sensei Kreese?" he asked.
"Not at all." The man assured him. "I just noticed that you were doing really well. When you hit your targets, it seems like you're killing an enemy each time."
Hawk's face lit up. "Thanks!"
"I heard there is another dojo that started...Miyagi something."
"Miyagi-Do." Hawk told him, frowning. "They think they're going to be the best in the Valley."
"Well, there is a way to prove they aren't." Kreese saw that Hawk's interest had peaked. "The All-Valley tournament. Cobra Kai used to win those every year."
"Sounds cool. It'd be fun for us to do it too. Finally put those Miyagi-Dos in their place."
"Maybe Johnny will agree. Of course, there are times to get in the heads of opponents even off the mat."
Hawk was not sure if he was completely understanding what Kreese was telling him.
"Sensei, what do you mean?"
Kreese had a devious smile. "I mean what I said. There are always opportunities to weaken your opponent. You just need to find them." His eyes turned cold. "Strike first, strike hard, no mercy. Don't forget that."
Hawk said he would not and he left with the other students. The next day, Kreese arrived even earlier to Cobra Kai, already being there when Johnny arrived.
"You're early." the new owner noted.
"I wanted to mention something to you." Kreese calmly said. Johnny unlocked the door for them to enter and he continued. "I think we should sign the dojo up for the All-Valley Tournament. It's been too long since Cobra Kai has been there."
"I don't know if they're ready for that." Johnny mentioned. He did not fully believe his words, but he did not think he was ready to see Kreese at the tournament again. Too many memories were there.
"They are, and you know it." Kreese stated. "It will persuade anyone on the fence about which dojo is the best. Also," he began, "there could be another dojo coming this year."
"Which one?"
"Atlantis-the one with the sensei who killed David's father."
Johnny stopped, surprised. "How did you know about that?"
"Do you really think I would let a complete stranger teach the students? I found out who he was. There were articles made about the death."
"You didn't let anything happen." Johnny grumbled. "Why would they come to the Valley, though?"
"I'm sure David could arrange that. I'll tell him about our upcoming tournament." Kreese said. "It just would be a shame to not let the students get to display what they can do. I spoke with Hawk and I think he really could use a boost in confidence."
"Maybe." Johnny said. He did not want to commit to anything, but it would be nice for the students to outshine Miyagi-Do again. He would think about it, but he would not give Kreese the satisfaction of knowing that. Little did he know, he already had.
The next day at school, Hawk seemed off to Kaldur and Miguel. When he was going to his class, he kept looking at his classmates with disdain. They thought he might just have been having a rough day until lunch. As soon as he sat down, he was ready to start a fight. He pointed to the Miyagi-Dos and the others who were near them.
"We need to teach them a lesson." He said. Hawk did not feel ashamed to talk like this in front of them anymore. Even their new sensei agreed it was for the best.
"What?" Miguel asked, looking at the group. His eyes met Sam's and he brought his head back to their table. "They're not really bothering anyone, Hawk."
"Speak for yourself. They're a disgrace to karate. The only way to prove that is to beat them."
"That will only prove the disgraces are those in Cobra Kai." Kaldur said, looking at him intensely. "Little is gained through fighting out of rage or for revenge."
"We'll show everyone how great we are!" Hawk insisted, rising slightly from the bench.
Kaldur did not move and just kept looking at him. "We do not need to."
"You just don't get it." Hawk said. "If you were like us, you'd want revenge too. Even Sensei Kreese wants us to get some."
The teenager got up from the table and sat at one occupied with the same students he had gone with before to antagonize the Miyagi-Dos.
"He'll probably calm down in a bit, right?" Miguel asked Kaldur, looking worried.
"I hope so, but this new sensei is not helping matters." Kaldur said. "Hawk is already prone to be vengeful. He does not need someone encouraging that."
The two mildly observed their friend whenever they could for the rest of the day. When the day was brought to the time of going to the dojo, it seemed like Kreese had gotten his hooks into more people than just Hawk. Johnny had spent his day thinking about what his former sensei had mentioned. It was so tempting, but the final decision came when he saw that same stupid commercial with LaRusso's smug face. When the students had all arrived, Johnny stood in front of them.
"Quiet!" Johnny shouted, getting everyone's attention and stopping the mild chatter. They stopped and got into their stances. "You all will start training with a goal in mind. The All-Valley Tournament is coming up and we'll be going. This way, we'll let anybody who's still unsure know that Cobra Kai is the best."
"Where is this coming from?" Kaldur wondered. "Sensei Lawrence did not mention this before now. Sensei Kreese must have talked him into this. We already proved we are better when we had that park showcasing. This just seems unnecessary."
As Johnny began to work with the students, David entered the dojo and went over to Kreese. Kaldur suspiciously watched him out of the corner of his eye.
"David, I'm glad you could come today." Kreese said.
"You said that you wanted to tell me something?"
"Yes," Kreese told him, grinning. "there is an All-Valley Tournament we host here. In the past, I've seen even dojos who are not from this area participate if they are challenged."
He watched as a light appeared in David's eyes. "Interesting." The younger man said, keeping his calm. "I will have to look into that further."
Looking pleased with himself, Kreese returned to seeing how the students were doing. Every once in a while, he would have someone think of their least favorite person as they hit targets. Kaldur noticed each time this would happen.
"He is trying to bring out their aggression." he thought. "Maybe that's why Hawk was speaking the way he was today."
Kaldur kept a close eye on the sensei as he continued doing this. He might not have been able to stop Kreese immediately, but he could stay aware of his actions. Preparedness had often been Kaldur's best weapon. He only hoped he would be prepared for his father's next plan. He knew he was up to something, but he hid it with such a calm and instructive demeanor. If the students did not end up liking him, it would be a miracle in and of itself. Kaldur did not miss the joyful light behind Hawk's eyes whenever David helped him fix a weak point, or the crazed one when Kreese told him to think of an enemy (who Kaldur guessed for Hawk would be Kyler). Kreese and David would be a lethal duo if they wanted to be, and Kaldur was worrying this would be the case. When the class ended, Johnny came over to him.
"Kaldur, let's talk for a second."
Kaldur, still side-eying his father and Kreese, followed Johnny to the back.
"Is something wrong, Sensei?" he asked.
"No, but I was talking with your dad." He immediately saw Kaldur's demeanor change from curious to frustrated, though his expression did not become less calm. "He was just saying that he wanted to talk to you."
"He does not really." Kaldur assured him.
"You don't know that, though. If Robby never stopped thinking like that, we'd still hardly be around each other. He had faith in me and I really don't know if I even deserved that after everything I've done."
There was a silence as Kaldur observed his sincerity.
"I don't know David, so I can't for sure say that he wants to fix things, but he might. When we first talked, it sounded like he really wanted to make sure you were okay." Johnny said.
Kaldur let out a barely audible sigh. "He really is insistent on this". He mused. "Could it be his own previous guilt making him empathize? I just cannot allow myself to be tricked because of his feelings. He comes from an ill-informed place." Aloud, he said, "I will not avoid him while here, but it is only here that we will interact. That is all I can offer for now."
"Well, progress, I guess." Johnny though. "That'll work. I hope you start seeing what I do."
Kaldur gave a mild, mostly disagreeing but doing so to be polite, nod. When they left the back, Kreese and David were there and naturally Miguel and Robby too. Johnny glanced at David, silently telling him there was some hope. David got the message and said goodbye to the others before he and Kreese left. Kaldur left with the other three, not trusting the two senseis by themselves. When he left, David went to his car and got on his phone. On the screen, the words Martial Arts of Atlantis appeared. He scowled as he dialed the number. Someone he did not know answered, but he did not care. They said their typical opening and he got to the point.
"There's an All-Valley Tournament in the Valley. If your dojo is as good as you all claim it to be, you should try to prove it there." His fist clenched on his lap, longing to make contact with someone. "Atlantis is going to be destroyed no matter what you do. You can either try to defend it or let it happen. The choice is yours. Let your sensei know that this promise comes from Manta."
David hung up, and roughly put the phone back down. He owed Kreese for this information. The man had done him quite the favor. He could already smell their fear, taste his victory, and see their blood.