can you keep a secret??-tory nichols

vi. take a right

The only noise that could be heard from the Cobra Kai dojo was the tired pants and grunts of Cobra Kai students as they did burpees. To say Johnny was upset was the understatement of the century. He was livid. "This all could be over in an instant." He reminded the group. "The decision's yours. Who trashed the Miyagi Dojo?" Still, the group stayed silent. "Y'all know I'm no fan of LaRusso's, but that sort of bullshit we don't teach in here. At least not anymore. So I'm gonna ask you again. Who trashed Miyagi Do?"

"It was not me, Sensei." Raymond slurred, so exhausted he was barely standing. "I would never disrespect another man's dojo-"

"Shut your cakehole, Chubs. I'm not looking for excuses, I'm looking for answers."

"Sensei, we really don't know who did it." Miguel insisted.

"Somebody knows something." Kreese retorted. "Question is...who's gonna break?"

Suddenly, the phone in Johnny's office rang. "Keep going! We can do this all day!" He went into his office, leaving Kreese with the group.

"Sensei, we need a water break." Mitch whined to the older man.

Kreese pondered on the thought for a moment before giving his answer. "Two minute break!" Everyone sighed, relieved, before stumbling over to their bags to get their water. "Get your bearings."

"This is ridiculous, don't you think?" Isabella muttered in between pants to Tory.

"How do you know I didn't trash the dojo?" She questioned, a small smirk tugging at her lips.

"Cause I trust you." Isabella smiled, the same smile appearing on Tory's face. "Plus, I like to think that if you did trash the dojo, you'd call me to join you."

Tory chuckled. "You're right I would."

"Back on the mat!" Kreese.

XXX

Now in the back dojo, the level of exhaustion in the students did it change, as they were doing exercises with equipment now. "Keep going!" Kreese instructed every time the students started to slow down. "I have all day."

"You think it's okay if I puke in here?" Raymond asked Aisha.

"No." She responded, wide eyed.

"Navy SEALS puke all the time." He retorted.

"Do not puke!"

"He's not gonna let up." Miguel finally realized. "We gotta find out who did it." He told Isabella and Tory.

"I bet it was shit breath."

Mitch stood up to face Tory. "Hey, screw you."

"What'd you say?"

"Wanna do this right now?" Isabella went behind Tory in an attempt to hold her back while Miguel stayed in front to keep space between the two fighters.

"Stop!" Kreese's words effectively stopped his students. "Would you really like to know who did it? It was Hawk." Everyone glanced at the man. "And it was the Diazs." Miguel and Isabella had looked at each other confused. They'd been home all night, and they knew that because they spent their time gossiping in Miguel's room. "And Robinson. And it was Nichols, Chub, Red. When one of you makes a move, you all make a move. You live and you die with the consequences and the spoils. Because you are all Cobra Kai. Main dojo, five minutes. You're about to begin your real training."

XXX

"Combat. Aits!" On the mat, Tory and Mitch sparred until Tory got the point.

Miguel took a step in, raising the red flag he had in his hand. "Point."

"Hit him again." Kreese instructed. Tory looked at him, confused on whether or not she'd heard him right. "Do you have a problem with that? A fight isn't over until your enemy's finished. You show your enemy no mercy." Tory nodded, prepared to kick Mitch again, but just before her foot hit him, Miguel spoke up.

"Wait!" Everyone stood frozen. "This isn't what Sensei Lawrence has been teaching us."

"Excuse me?"

"There's no honor in being merciless." Miguel insisted. "Tory scored a point. It's over."

"Sensei Lawrence is right, of course. In a tournament, the fighting stops when you land a point. But in the real world, it's not about scoring points. It's about being a winner or a loser. And there are no losers in this dojo."