Time After Time 🌹 Daniel LaRusso [1]

Chapter 44: Make It Together

Rosalía arrives home, thanking the girl for the ride before walking into her building. She shuffles to her apartment, not really wanting to go inside. She's upset about how Daniel left her behind, but she's not necessarily angry. She knows he would never willingly do that so she's hoping for a really good explanation. She unlocks the door and heads inside, greeting her sister and parents before going to her room to take off her shoes and drop off her purse. She goes back into the living room to spend time with her family and about five minutes later, there's a knock at the door. Having an idea of who it might be, Rosalía gets up to open it. Just as she thought, Daniel is standing there with a worried look on his face.

"Come in," Rosalía tells him. Daniel nods and enters the apartment, saying hello to her parents as he does so. The girl leads him to her room and leaves the door open just a crack so her mom doesn't freak out. She turns to the boy and throws her hands up. "What the hell? Where did you go??" she questions. "I-I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you. I went back inside to look for you and you were gone... Mr. Silver pulled me out of there," Daniel rambles. Rosalía rolls her eyes and looks down. "Silver... of course," she mumbles. Daniel feels disappointed in himself upon hearing her. "Yeah... you were right. I have been acting differently since I started training with him. I've been trying to be someone I'm not and it just isn't working," Daniel rants, pacing back and forth.

"I mean, I broke a guy's nose tonight, that's not me! That shouldn't have happened, I'm so sorry. I said I didn't want to be that person and that I want to set things right and then I go and do this... I feel like I'm losing control of everything: our relationship, Mr. Miyagi's trust. I've lost everything, I don't know what to do. I've totally wrecked everything with Mr. Miyagi! Everything! And almost lost you too! I mean, I know he's written me off. And I can't blame him! I don't blame him!" he vents, sitting on the bed. "I just don't know what the hell I'm gonna do..." he finishes, softening his tone and shaking his head.

Rosalía observes him with a sympathetic look. She can see how lost he is, how he's spiraling out of control. She takes a seat beside him, placing her hand over his. "Hey... you didn't lose me. Nobody's written you off," she softly voices. "Mr. Miyagi loves you. He has faith in you. He told me that..." she continues before getting cut off. "Yeah, well, let's see how much faith he has in me when he hears about what I did tonight," Daniel interjects. Rosalía clasps his hand, giving it a light squeeze. "You should be the first person he hears about it from," she opines. The boy sighs and responds, "it's too late. It's too late. I blew it. It's blown..."

"No... or at least not yet. You made an effort with me and I gave you another chance... Now you need to do the same with Mr. Miyagi," Rosalía counters. She knows that he could never lose Mr. Miyagi's love, no matter what he does. "Yeah, I know. You're right, you're right. I-It's easy to say. It's just, I don't know if I could face him," Daniel argues. The girl stays quiet for a moment as she gazes at him. "Daniel, look at me," she says. The boy hesitates but forces himself to turn his head to meet her eyes despite his shame. "You can do it. I'll be right there with you if you want. Okay?" she softly assures him. The thought of facing Mr. Miyagi makes Daniel anxious but the thought of having Rosalía at his side when he does helps ease his fear. "Okay," he answers, slightly nodding.

Rosalía sets her hand on the side of his face and Daniel leans toward her, pressing their foreheads together. They both close their eyes, feeling relaxed due to each other's touch. "Everything's going to be okay," Rosalía soothingly whispers. Daniel believes her, because how could everything not be okay when he has her? "I love you so much," he whispers to her, opening his eyes. The girl also opens her eyes, an adoring grin forming on her face. "I love you too, that hasn't changed... Time after time, it's me and you," she replies. Daniel smiles widely and captures her lips in a loving kiss. "Me and you," he repeats.

———(🌹)———

The couple went to Mr. Miyagi's house and Daniel headed straight to the phone to call the hospital, wanting to check on the broken-nosed boy from the club. Rosalía goes to find Mr. Miyagi while Daniel argues with the nurse on the phone. They walk into the room where he is and catch the last minute of his conversation. "No, I can't wait until tomorrow, alright. I gotta talk to him now, damn it! Alright, look, I'm sorry, okay? I don't mean to be rude, I'm- Hello? Hello, Miss...? Damn it!" he yells, angrily slamming the phone down. He leans his head against the wall next to him and Mr. Miyagi and Rosalía share a look. "Oi," Miyagi voices, making the boy whirl around.

"Oh, Mr. Miyagi, look at this. Look at this. Loo- Look at my sweatshirt. I got some poor guy's blood all over me!" Daniel yaks, walking toward the two and gesturing to his sweatshirt. The dude was no saint but sure, Rosalía thinks. "Everything you taught me, I-I did the opposite. Everything! I couldn't have been worse! I did everything wrong! I just- I feel like your tree. You know, you know, the one that I wrecked. I feel just like that! I feel like I'm- I'm falling apart!" the boy exclaims in despair. Mr. Miyagi merely replies with, "come. Miyagi show you something." He walks into the backyard, making the couple follow him.

"I feel like the whole damn world is coming down on me! And it's my fault, it's all my fault, I did it myself," Daniel whines. Rosalía rubs his arm as they walk, hoping it'll somehow comfort him. "Everything can heal, Daniel-san. Just take time. Take patience," Mr. Miyagi states. "Oh, God, I'm sorry, Mr. Miyagi. When I started out, I- I never meant for it to end up the way it did," Daniel apologizes, the guilt apparent in his voice. "Sometime when take trip, better know where trip end. Otherwise better just stay home," Miyagi phrases. Daniel only sighs in response. "Oi," the older man voices, nodding his head toward the bonsai tree in front of them.

A sense of glee fills the girl's chest upon seeing it. Thank goodness we didn't completely destroy the tree, she thinks. "Hey... Hey, it's budding," Daniel points out, touching a few of the leaves. A soft grin appears on his face, it's a relief for him to know that the tree was able to be saved. "Look at that. It's gonna make it, huh?" he comments. Rosalía smiles, admiring the content look on his face. "Hai," Mr. Miyagi confirms, nodding. He pats the soil in the pot as he speaks, "make it because have strong root... just like you, Daniel-san." He turns to the boy when he says that, and Daniel stares back, processing his words. "Rosalía-san and Daniel-san... Inside you have strong root," he claims, looking between the two. The girl gazes at him with a surprised look. She didn't expect him to bring her into this.

"No need nothing except what inside you to grow," he lectures, patting Daniel's chest and Rosalía's shoulder. He knows that they're both lost right now but all they need is a little push. He has faith that they'll find themselves one day. Daniel will regain control of himself and Rosalía will figure out what she's meant to do with her life and stop letting her family's opinions hold her back. He takes one of Rosalía's hands and one of Daniel's, and connects them. The pair glances at each other before eyeing the man curiously. "This has strong root. You make it together," he claims, referring to their relationship.

Not only does Mr. Miyagi have faith in them as individuals, but he has faith in them as a couple. The two look at each other and smile, understanding what the man is saying. They both know he's right. They can face anything together... they will make it together. "Understand?" Miyagi asks them. The pair turns to him and nods. "Yes, I do," Rosalía affirms. "Yeah, I do understand," Daniel answers at the same time. Mr. Miyagi gives them a proud smile. "You're right, you're right... about everything. Look, I gotta go. I'll- I'll be right back. I'll just be a little while, I'll be right back," Daniel blabbers as he strides off. "Wait, where are you going?" his girlfriend asks. Daniel stops and turns around. "Well, I- Y-you remember that guy, Terry Silver?" he stammers.

"Hai."

The boy keeps walking as he explains, "yeah, well, he- he's the one that's been helping me train. I just- he meant well but I just wanna tell him it's over." Rosalía cocks an eyebrow as she stands there with her arms crossed. "Did he really, though?" she mumbles under her breath. At least he's finally getting rid of him, she thinks. "It not wait for tomorrow?" Miyagi calls out. "Oh, well, no. I'll feel better if I get it over with now, okay?" Daniel responds. "You like Miyagi come help you?" Mr. Miyagi questions again.

"No, Mr. Miyagi. I-I- I did it myself, I'll get out of it myself, alright? I'll just be back in a little while," Daniel insists, walking through the front door of the house. He's adamant that he has to do this by himself. The girl and older man's concerned eyes linger after him. They have a bad feeling about this. Rosalía doesn't trust Terry, so she doubts it'll be as simple as just cutting ties with him. "We're following him, right?" she asks. "Hai," Mr. Miyagi affirms.