The Way of the Fist 🐉Tory Nichols🐉

29: Enlightenment

I stood in Cobra Kai looking at the students around me. "What's the deal with that dragon tattoo guy? What makes him so special?" Kyler asked. "His father is a Sensei here. Guess that makes him Daddy's Little Princess." One stated. I squinted my eyes before telling everyone to line the square. "Why should we listen to you?" Kyler asked me. "Yeah, you're not our Sensei." His lackey added. "Excuse me?" I asked. "You heard me. Get your bitch ass out of here. You ain't my Sensei." Kyler told me shoving me back. "Get your hands off, Renshi!" Miguel sounded shoving Kyler. "Hey, Hey! HEY!" My father shouted from the doorway of his office. Kyler looked at him with wide eyes. "Mr. Diaz, that is enough!" Dad spat. "Yes, Sensei." Diaz voiced. "I appreciate the help, Mr. Diaz. But my son...can very well handle his battles by himself." Dad told him. "As for Kyler..." Dad added. "Don't worry, Father. I can handle this." I said getting in Kyler's face. "In the square." I told him. "What?" He asked. "In....the...square." I snarled.

He looked at his friends before walking into the middle of the square. I stood before him and circled him. "Do you take me before a fool that can be ridiculed?" I asked him. ""N-No sir." Kyler sounded. "No what?" I asked. "Renshi. No, Renshi." He restated. "Then...WHY DID YOU?!" I snapped kicking his feet out from under him, knocking him to the mat. "I'm sorry, Renshi." Kyler stated. "DO NOT APOLOGIZE! WHAT ARE YOU?! SOME WIMPY DOUCHEBAG? HUH?! GET UP!" I snarled. Kyler rose to his feet. "You have repeatedly disrespected my students, this dojo, and me. You're lucky I don't break your legs." I growled. "That is something...that I do not stand for. I DO NOT TRAIN BULLIES!" I snapped driving my fist into his stomach. "That goes for all of you! Am I understood?!" I yelled. "YES, RENSHI!" The class responded. 

"Outside this dojo there will not be any fights with any Miyagi-Do students." I stated. "So, you want us to just take what they throw at us? Not stand up for ourselves? That's not Cobra Kai." Hawk voiced. "You're right....it's not. It's called fucking common sense." I spat. "If you are bullied in school...does that give you the right to bring a gun and shoot your fellow classmates because of it?" I asked him. "N-no Renshi." Hawk answered. "No. It doesn't. If they throw the first punch. Take it. Channel that pain into anger. That anger will make you stronger." I explained. "Is that how you got where you are today?" Miguel asked. I looked over at him. "Something like that." I answered. "Renshi, a word?" Dad voiced. 

I walked into the back room and looked at him crossing my arms. "What's up with you?" He asked. "What are you talking about?" I questioned. "The way you're acting. This isn't you. What the hell happened to my son?" He asked leaning onto his desk before me. "He's dead. Died right when Robby kicked him over the railing. Now...I'm going to train even harder to make Robby wish he had never done so." I answered. Dad stood up and got in my face. "ENOUGH!" He snapped grabbing the collar of my gi. "You think your mother would have wanted this for you? Huh?!" Dad added. I smacked his hands away. "DO NOT! SPEAK TO ME! ABOUT WHAT SHE WOULD WANT!!" I raged, my voice carrying out into the dojo. My dad stared at me shocked by my outburst. "SHE IS DEAD, DAD! ALRIGHT?! SHE IS GONE!" I sounded as tears watered my eyes. "She's gone." I stated as my voice broke. "And she's never coming back." I added before he pulled me into a hug. "She is not gone, Jackie. She never was. And never will be. The Spirit of the Dragon will always be with us." Dad whispered.

"Then why does it feel like it?" I asked. "Because these teaching are warping your mind. Making you forget everything that we've taught you." He explained. "Do not forget who you are, Jack." He continued. I lifted my head and looked at him. "You will never be Cobra Kai. But you will always be a Dragon." Dad explained. He looked away before furrowing his eyebrows. "Maybe it's time I also started remembering that. Because let's face it...Kreese is an asshole. He's made you more violent, Jackie." Dad told me. Dad, I've always been--" I started. "Not like now." He interjected. "You may have been a fighter. But you never went out of your way to start them." He pointed out.

He was right. Ever since Kreese joined Cobra Kai...I've noticed that I've become a completely different person. I get set off by more things than usual. I've become rageful. Vengeful. I wanted to hurt people. I wanted to hurt Robby. For hurting me. That's not how my mother taught me. 

I let out a sigh. "What have I done?" I asked as my voice broke. Dad pulled me into another embrace. "This is not your fault, Jackie." He told me. "We're gonna figure this out." He added.