CHAPTER 25

Although Miguel wasn't doing well after the breakup, Sam wasn't doing well at all either. She didn't throw herself into training like he did though. She couldn't do that, because that would mean spending more time with her dad. Sam was fuming at him. She knew that their break up wasn't entirely his fault, he had certainly thrown a wrench in it. Who was he to beat up Miguel?! That made him no different to people like Kreese and Barnes, who he considered his enemies, and the villains of their storyline! Instead, Sam spent most of her time locked in her room, crying. She had basically pulled out of training - doing the bare minimum - and wasn't socialising with any of her friends.

Daniel and Amanda were worried about her. Whenever someone so much as even mentioned Miguel, Sam started to cry, and she wasn't eating much weather.

After hearing their daughter cry herself to sleep for the 8th night in a row, Daniel and Amanda sat down together in the living room.

"Okay, we have to do something!" Daniel exclaimed. "We can't just sit around and watch her do this to herself!"

Amanda sighed.

"Look, this is an extremely tough time for her. She really loved Miguel. Trust me, heartbreak is rough for teenage girls. The most we can do is just be there for her. She'll get over him, it just takes time."

"How could Miguel do this to her? What an asshole!" Daniel exclaimed. Amanda rolled her eyes.

"Right, because this is all his fault, right?" Amanda remarked, sarcastically. "NO! Daniel! Don't you get it? Don't you understand why your daughter is so upset?! This is your doing, you and Johnny! Your stupid rivalry has a splash damage effect, and they were just the unlucky people who were caught in the crossfire!"

"Yeah, you're right. This is my fault. I need to fix this." Daniel said, standing up but quickly getting pulled back down by Amanda.

"Daniel, stop! You're not doing anything! The only thing that heals a broken heart is time! And besides, I doubt your daughter, who is already furious about you interfering with her relationship, will appreciate you going over and confronting her ex!"

Daniel nodded and put his head in his hands. He knew his wife was right, but that didn't take away the frustration he felt. He wanted to help his daughter, anything to get him back in her good graces, but there was literally nothing he could do.

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A couple of days later, Amanda was working in their house study late at night, when she heard footsteps walking towards her. She looked up from her laptop to see Sam standing in the doorway, tears streaked across her face.

"Mom." Sam whispered, tears rolling down her face. Amanda's eyes widened, and she rushed over to her daughter, wrapping her arms around her and comforting her.

"Shh. Shh. Sweetie, it's gonna be okay." Amanda whispered into Sam's ear soothingly.

"Why is this so hard?" Sam sobbed, hiccuping as she tried to talk. "I'm supposed to be a strong, independent woman. Why is getting over a guy so hard?"

"Because that's what heartbreak is. When you love someone and you have to let them go, it hurts, and that doesn't mean you're not an independent woman. It just means that you really cared about him. It's going to take time, but you will get over him, and you will be stronger when you come out the other side."

Sam nodded but her tears didn't subside any time soon. She kept crying and her mom held her as she cried. Daniel briefly walked past the office, and his heart broke when he saw his daughter in so much pain. This was all his fault, and he had to fix it!

Daniel walked outside of his house and dialled a number he NEVER thought he'd be dialling. The person on the other end answered moments later.

"Larusso? The hell do you want?" Johnny snapped, his voice troubled. Daniel took a deep breath, putting his history with the man aside.

"Johnny, we need to talk. About our kids." Daniel said. He could almost hear Johnny nod.

"Let me guess. Sam not doing so well?" Johnny asked. Daniel sighed.

"Yeah. She has distanced herself from everyone and everything. She doesn't even train more than once a week anymore. I'm guessing Miguel's doing the same thing."

Johnny chuckled.

"Nah, the opposite. He's thrown himself into training, to the extent that his body is degenerating. He's even passed out a few time because of low blood sugar."

Daniel winced and sucked in air.

"Look, you know I'm like the last person who would be saying this, but I think for their own good…"

"We need to get them back together." Johnny finished. Daniel nodded.

"Yeah..."

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Miguel was deep at work on a science project for school when he suddenly heard a knock on the front door. Miguel walked over and answered it to see Johnny standing in the doorway. Miguel looked at him, confused.

"Hey, sensei. What, did you lose your key or something?" Miguel asked.

"Hi, Miguel." Someone else said, walking up and standing next to Johnny. Miguel's eyes widened. It was Daniel. Instinctively, his hands balled into fists, preparing to defend himself in a fight, but Johnny quickly stood between them.

"Easy, Miguel. He's not here to fight. He's… we're here to talk to you. Together." Johnny stated. Miguel raised an eyebrow.

"Wow. Guess you don't have to live that long to see everything, huh?" Miguel remarked. "So what's up? We're not going back to Miyagi-Do, are we?!"

"Oh, no! God no!" Johnny exclaimed.

"Thank God." Miguel let out a sigh of relief, and Daniel glared at both of them, but wasn't about to confront them. "Anyways, come in. What can I do for you guys?" He asked, leading them into the house and into the living room. Once they were all seated on the sofa, Johnny and Daniel looked at each other and Johnny took a deep breath.

"Listen, kid. We need to talk about you and Sam." Johnny stated. "Neither one of you is doing too well right now. You two need each other in your lives."

"Johnny's right." Daniel continued. "For what it's worth, I'm really, truly sorry for everything my rivalry with Johnny has done to push the two of you apart. Truth is, you're an amazing guy, Miguel. You're nothing but kind, sweet and respectful to my daughter, and you clearly care about my daughter a lot, she loves you a lot too. It would be a shame for you two to throw all of that away because of Johnny and my differences."

"Yeah, Larusso's right. So, what do you say, Miguel?" Johnny asked. "It's in both of your best interests to get back together. So, will you?"

Miguel looked at both of them and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and pausing for several moments.

"No." Miguel eventually replied. Johnny and Daniel's jaws dropped, and they looked at each other in disbelief.

"No? But Miguel…" Johnny started.

"Shut up." Miguel growled, cutting Johnny off extremely harshly and causing Daniel and Johnny to look even more shocked at Miguel's outburst. "You don't get it. Neither of you do. I didn't ask to end things with Sam because I didn't want to be with her anymore, nor did I end things because of your dumbass rivalry. As far as I'm concerned, your rivalry to me is nothing but two man-children trying to relive their glory days by making their next generation fight their battles for them!"

"Well, that's a little harsh!" Johnny exclaimed. Miguel rolled his eyes.

"Is it? I really don't give a fuck!" He snapped. "Look, Mr. Larusso, could you please go? Sensei and I need to talk."

Daniel nodded, noticing how agitated Miguel suddenly was, and he left the house. When he was gone, Johnny turned back to Miguel, his facial expression concerned.

"Miguel, what's going on?" He asked. Miguel took a deep breath.

"Do you have any idea the kind of stress I'm under?" Miguel asked. "NO! Of course you don't! You're too busy with your all-consuming karate rivalry to notice anything else! I just came out of one of the most traumatic experiences of my life with my dad, and I'm still dealing with the psychological impacts of that. I need to talk about it, but the only person I possibly trust enough to talk about it with is too busy trying to one-up his high school rival! And another thing, do you remember why I started karate? It was when I was getting bullied, and I wanted to learn just enough to defend myself from Kyler and his bullies. I've done that, I've learned enough, so I could quit tomorrow. I'm CHOOSING to stay, and for what? To feel the weight of the entire soul of the Valley on my shoulders? I see the way you treat me, and how Larusso treated me when I was training with him. You both treat me like I'm your only hope of winning the All-Valley! You don't think that takes a toll on my mind?"

"Miguel, it can't be news to you that you're the best fighter we got." Johnny stated.

"BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE!" Miguel yelled, tears starting to roll down his cheeks. "I didn't want any of this! I'm training for several hours a day, and on top of that, trying to keep up straight A's because I don't have the money to go to fucking college unless I get a scholarship, and college is the only thing that's going to prevent me from becoming a plumber like every other Latino in this city! And on top of all of that, I have to work a fucking job every other afternoon/evening to earn money to pay hospital bills that I incurred from last time this stupid karate war got out of hand, a job I might lose because I keep showing up late BECAUSE OF FUCKING TRAINING! And if all of that wasn't enough, having to fight Cobra Kai, having to fight Robby… you don't think that triggers mental issues for me?! That boy, YOUR SON, almost killed me before! I want out... of all of this. The only thing I actually wanted, my relationship with Sam, has had to be sacrificed because of all of the other shit I'm going through. I physically can't keep up a relationship with her! God knows I want to, but I CAN'T!"

After Miguel's revelations, Johnny was rendered speechless. He felt awful. Miguel was right. He had been so caught up in his rivalry with Daniel, that he hadn't realised everything that was going on with Miguel.

"It's too much, Sensei. It's just too much." Miguel whispered, tears rolling faster down his face. "And you have the audacity to think that I don't want to be with Sam anymore, one of the only people who makes me forget about all of the shit that I'm going through?! You know what, good night, Sensei. Good talk." He snapped, before storming towards his room and slamming the door shut behind him.

Once he was gone, Johnny looked down and a couple of tears rolled his cheeks. It was all his fault. He had ruined that cheerful, innocent boy he met a year ago's life. If only he had just quit teaching Miguel that day after the cafeteria fight when he knew Miguel could hold his own. Instead, he had to drag Miguel into the karate world that had ruined 30 years of his own life from age 18-50.

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"Hey, kid! Get up!" Johnny whispered, standing over Miguel the next morning as he slept. Miguel groaned as he opened his eyes. The sun wasn't even out yet, and it was pitch-black outside.

"Seriously, Sensei? After I just told you about how all of the extra training sessions are too much last night, you pull this shit?!"

"Shut up. This isn't training. Now throw on a hoodie and get up!"

Miguel reluctantly did so, throwing on a jacket, and following Johnny out of the house and into his car, still in his pajama bottoms. The two drove for nearly half an hour, before Johnny parked at the top of an extremely high hill. Miguel stepped out of the car and couldn't help but gasp. The view was incredible! From their vantage point, they were looking out on the whole city in front of them (It's the same spot Johnny went in the pilot when he got fired).

Miguel was standing at the edge of the cliff, looking out on his surroundings, and Johnny walked over to him, a bag and a small drinks cooler in his hands.

"What's this? Some kind of training?" Miguel asked. Johnny shook his head.

"Not training. Just time to catch up." Johnny said, taking out a tin-foil wrapped sandwich from the plastic bag and a Coors Light from the drinks cooler. He handed them to Miguel.

"Here. Best breakfast sandwich in the city, I guarantee you." Johnny stated. Miguel unwrapped the sandwich and saw a delectable looking sandwich containing egg, cheese, bacon and a special sauce. It was indeed sublime, and Miguel groaned in ecstasy when he ate it.

"Damn it. That is good." Miguel remarked. Johnny chuckled.

"Damn right, it is." He replied. The two sat together in silent, staring out at the gorgeous sunrise, and taking in the calmness and tranquility that was around them.

However, eventually, Johnny broke the silence with the question that had been burning on his mind for the past 12 hours.

"Hey, Miguel?" Johnny asked. Miguel turned to him and nodded.

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Last night, you said you were dealing with the psychological aftermath of the crap that happened with your dad. What exactly does that mean? Are you okay?"

Miguel sighed and looked down.

"It's just that everything with him ended so fast, you know? And I don't know, for some reason, I feel like things aren't over."

"What do you mean?" Johnny asked.

"I know I might sound crazy and paranoid, I probably am, but there's a small part of me that feels like he's going to try and get payback on me somehow. Crazy, right?"

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Meanwhile, across town, Miguel's father's cell door buzzed open and a guard walked inside.

"Diaz! You got a visitor!" He called. Miguel's father's eyes furrowed in confusion. He hadn't had a visitor in the two months he was in prison for, nor did he expect it to be honest. Who was going to come see him?

"I do? Who?" He asked.

"I don't know, and I don't give a crap. Now get your ass up and let's go before I tell him to leave!" The guard demanded. He nodded and followed the guard out of the cell and into the visiting center. An elderly, white man was sitting at the table, and smiled at him as he sat down.

"Mr. Diaz?" The man asked. Miguel's dad nodded.

"Yeah, who are you?" He asked. The man smiled and held out a hand for him to shake.

"I am retired Army Captain John Kreese. I know that you are having trouble with your son and a man named Johnny Lawrence, and I know that you want revenge for what they did to you. I think I can help you, and I think it is in our best interests to work together…"

So I know that things are looking kinda bleak for Miguel/Sam fans, but trust me, it's not over. As Johnny would say, the fight's not over until we say it's over