The Way of the Fist 🐉Tory Nichols🐉

13. BEHIND ENEMY LINES

I walked the sidewalk before coming across the Miyagi-Do Karate sign. I walked in and looked around at the classic cars. My eyes widened. "Sweet car collection." I muttered. "Thank you." A man said coming out from under the yellow car. "What are you doing here?" He asked losing his smile. "I take it you already know who I am?" I asked walking over. "You're a member of Cobra Kai." He said unamused. "Yeah. Uh...can we start over? My name is Jack. Jack Holland." I said walking over extending my hand out. He furrowed his brow before shaking it. "Daniel LaRusso." He answered. "Um, look. I wanted to apologize for my dojo overshadowing yours. It wasn't right. If it makes you feel good, I really wanted to see your grand finale." I told him. He smiled. "Tell me, Jack. You don't seem like the type of kid that would be at Cobra Kai. Why do you attend?" He asked. "Well, my dad got a teaching position there. We just moved down here a few months back from Miami. He used to teach at his own dojo. But...something happened and...we moved here. Dad got back into teaching karate and I closed myself off." I said before hearing the sound of vinyl being punched. "I'm sorry. Are you in the middle of teaching? I can come back later." I said. "No, no. It's no problem. Here, follow me. I wanna show you something, Jack." He said waving me over as he headed towards the building. I followed him out back and looked around at the yard. "Wow. This...this looks amazing, Mr. LaRusso." I whispered. "My old sensei did this." He told me. "The old man?" I asked. "Hey, he may have been an old man but he taught me everything I know." He countered. "Okinawan karate. Very formal." I said. "You know your stuff, kid." He said impressed. 

"I wasn't always a snake in the grass." I said with a smirk. "About the commercial--" He started. "No, no. It's fine. I'm just poking fun at you." I stated. "I was wondering...if you teach Okinawan karate why don't you tell people that? Wouldn't it bring in more kids?" I asked. "Are you helping the competition?" He asked. I opened my mouth before looking down. "I guess I am, aren't I? Do me a favor and don't tell Johnny...or Kreese. They'd skin me if they knew I was here talking to you." I said. Daniel shook his head. "That's not how a sensei should treat their student, Jack. It's supposed to be a mutual respect between the two." Mr. LaRusso told me. "I know. That's why my dad doesn't act like the others. He wants me to be better." I explained. "What's he doing here?" A girl asked. I turned my head to see Sam and Robby. "Hey." I said with a wave. "I just came over to apologize for Cobra Kai. In secret anyways. You know how they are. But I'm not like them. Kreese and Johnny say that I'm real Cobra Kai material. But I'm not. I'm a dragon in and out." I explained. "A dragon?" Mr. LaRusso asked. "Yeah. That was my old dojo. Green Dragon Karate. My parents were the instructors. They didn't teach self-offense, like Cobra Kai does. They taught defense and what to do if the situation became more dangerous. That's why my father taught me Okinawan karate like you teach them. I don't know as much as you guys do. But I know the basics. And the two rules of karate. "Rule number one, only use for self-defense. And number two, remember rule number one."" I said. "Your father seems like a respectable man." Mr. LaRusso told me. "He is. You'd like him. But...he's different now." I said with a sigh. "How so?" He asked. "A few months before we came down here, I was competing in a karate tournament. I made it into the finals. My dad was constantly on the phone calling my mother, wanting to know where she was." I started. "Before my fight started, my dad got a call. My mom was killed in a car accident on her way there." I breathed. "I was already stressing enough trying to win the tournament. Now I was expected to do so, knowing I had just lost my mom. I wanted to win because I know that's what my mother would have wanted. At least, that's what my dad tells me. So, I didn't worry about it. I did my fight...and I won. But it wasn't the same. Because as soon as I was handed the trophy, my dad walked onto stage before I collapsed to the mat in tears." I explained. I took in a quick breath blinking away the tears in my eyes. "Anyway, uh, my dad became hardened after she died. And Cobra Kai is his way of dealing with it." I finished. "I'm sorry for your loss, Jack." Mr. LaRusso said quietly putting a hand on my shoulder. "Thanks." I voiced. "Hey, if you ever feel like Cobra Kai isn't for you anymore. My door is always open." Mr. LaRusso stated with a smile. "Thanks. And...would it be okay if we all forget this ever happened? I don't think it would be good to see Miyagi-Do hanging out with the competition and vice versa." I said. Mr. LaRusso chuckled. "Sounds good to me." He said. "Guys?" He asked Robby and Sam. They nodded their heads. "Yeah. Of course." They announced. "Right, so...I have to go. Johnny thinks there may be new students coming in because of the--sorry." I said noticing their saddened looks. I scratched the back of my head. "Hey, don't worry about it." Robby told me. I nodded my head before leaving.