His Wants

22

The last day of the tournament was finally here, everyone involved was tired and looking forward to this long week to be over. The students had done well, as well as they could considering the competition they were up against, most had trained since they were small children; the cobras had only trained for a year or less.

"You all must focus! Many of you have faltered and caused a loss for your team, you must lead," Sensei Da Eun was stern as she spoke to the kids, Terry had me down with everyone, I wore my gi just as everyone, "You shall win, by any means necessary. Is that clear?"

"YES SENSEI!" The students all hollered in unison.

"The end is finally here," Terry spoke up, "You've all fought long and hard for this, there's only a few of you left in the standing. Remember what we taught you, do not accept defeat, and remember: your opponent can't stand, he can't fight; your opponent can't see he can't fight; and your opponent can't breathe, he can't fight. No mercy!"

Watching Terry do his thing was a non-sexual turn on for me, thoroughly in his element, among what he loves, he was perfect. Seeing him get wound up as the final rounds of one-on-one began, he cheered the students on, stern, yelling for them to show no mercy and show no weakness. Sensei Da Eun did the same, I watched in quiet nervousness, Kenny Payne won his round, just barley, he was sent back to the medical wing upon his victory.

"I'm so nervous for them," I said quietly, Terry bent down, placing a hand on the small of my back, leaning in, "What was that?" he said so softly, softer than he had been speaking. I repeated myself, telling him I was nervous for the remaining students. He softly chuckled in his chest, "Don't be. They're strong, they can do this, even if they don't win they need to be proud of themselves."

Sensei Da Eun overheard his words and scoffed, "You have grown soft. Victory and winning is everything in this world. You don't win and you are a loser, your American students may be up to the task to be here, but they do not have what it takes to win."

I scowled, "That's a piss poor way of thinking, Kim. Perhaps you're the one who isn't cut out for this. These kids face more than many of the others that are here, some work and pay the bills, fighting for their lives in the ghetto, fighting to be better and be stronger. You're no sensei, you must raise them up, cheer for them, not say things like that."

Terry's hand slid around my arm, a slight grip at that, Kim scoffed again, squaring up to me, "YOU think this, but it is my grandfather's teachings they are learning, if they are not strong they will not survive, they are all lucky they even made it this far. Americans are soft, you have made Sensei Silver soft, there is no victory for this dojo."

My face was heated, "You've never been more wrong!" I raised my voice, capturing the attention of some of the cobras, "Terry is strong, he is a good sensei, he teaches these kids to be strong, he teaches them values and how to defend themselves and fight. You just care about victory, there can also be victory in a loss, learning from what you did wrong and growing from there on. YOU are weak. Hiding behind this mask you wear, I feel sorry for you."

"Alright, alright, that's enough," Terry said loudly, "Both of you stop, the next round is to begin soon. The LAST round, stop. Sensei Da Eun, I will speak to you later," he gave her a look of discontent.

His large hand stayed wrapped around my arm, much like... a warning? Being proud? I couldn't be sure, all I knew was my words and Terry's had to have lit the fire inside of the last cobras to fight. Out of the two left, they each won two of the three rounds fought, boosting Cobra Kai to third place overall. Third was a victory in my book in a national competition between dojos from all over the world, and here they were, American students who hadn't trained their whole lives and winning against kids who have all only known fighting and martial arts.

Tori and the other cobras ushered me to the back once winnings had been announced and trophies distributed. I told them all I was so proud of each of them, Kim stood in the corner, a look of utter disgust across her face, I heard her and Terry speak, she said a great deal of things, many of which were along the lines of how the cobras were 'losers,' 'weak,' 'incapable.' The remaining Sensei that she had brought did not all agree with her, a few did, but the majority did not. I stood with the kids, celebrating with them, letting Terry sort out his staff. At the end of the day, third place was a huge win, the kids fought so hard, some suffering injuries but still smiling proudly, a small lump sum winning was in store for each of them.

Third place was certainly not first place, and that was alright, not everything had to be first place. After a short time, only Terry and I remained in the hallway, a few people moving through kept the chatter in the halls, he looked at me, and smiled, holding out his hand, I happily took it and looked up to my handsome husband to be, "You did great, Sensei Silver," I smiled, "You've got some good kids here."

His strong hand caressed my cheek, "We do... Thank you, for everything you were saying, you didn't have to. Sensei Da Eun made the decision to leave Cobra Kai." I was taken aback, he smiled, "It's nothing you have said or done, she honestly thinks that the cobras aren't worth it for her to stay."

I shook my head, "I don't like how she was talking about them, any victory is a victory, no matter how small or large; even a loss can be a victory when there's a lesson to be learned from it." Terry cupped my face, kissing me with heat, "I love you so fucking much," he said against my lips, "Sensei Kreese was a lot like her... Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise," he paused for a long moment before he said we should go change and take the kids out for a victory dinner.

We quickly changed in one of the back rooms and had the students meet us a nice restaurant down the road, all the cobras were abuzz, happy with their win. I sat with Terry watching them all, a love in my heart so large for each and every one of these kids. Kyler was loud, boisterous, he made everyone quiet down, Kenny had something to say, "I just wanna say, this has been the best experience I have ever had, I've gotten faster and stronger. I made some awesome lasting friends, but I gotta thank Miss Ella and Sensei Silver for getting us here, if it wasn't for you both, I doubt we would have all made it here, so," he lifted his glass of Coke with his uninjured arm, "A toast to Miss Ella and Sensei Silver, thank you," all the cobras lifted their glasses in a toast to us.

This brought such a tear to my eye, "You are all the most wonderful group of kids I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, I don't feel like I have done much in this whole karate business, not much in comparison to the lessons Sensei Silver has taught each of you," I began, "Thank you for letting me be a part of Cobra Kai, and thank you, for letting me know I am home."

We all enjoyed our meal, courtesy of the restaurant when they found out the cobras had placed so highly in the tournament, Terry stole glances at me out of the corner of his eye, his hand and fingers slowly wrapping around my thigh, I wanted to rip his clothes off, but I also wanted to wait until after our wedding to have my fill of him.

Later that evening, I sat with Terry on the balcony, "I couldn't have imagined this going any other way," Terry began, sipping his whiskey, "I never would have thought that I'd be sitting here, my students champions and a beautiful fiancé sitting next to me," he gave me a sultry grin, "I love you, thank you for being here with me, and trusting this journey with me. I am more than ready to marry you and have you be mine."

I grinned, rose and sat on his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck and straddling him his hands came up to grip my hips, "Terrence Silver, I love you so much. Thank you for being there for me. I'm excited to be Mrs. Silver," I kissed him sweetly, his tongue asking for permission to enter my mouth, I let him in. We bathed together in that large tub that night, babbled on about our wedding, it was the day after tomorrow and we could barely wait.

The following day we relaxed, slept in, ordered room service for breakfast and journeyed the city's districts that Terry wanted to show me. Buying me more and more trinkets and souvenirs, snapping photos of me every chance he took. We'd run into many of our students enjoying their last days as well. Some tagged a long with us, chatting our ears off.

Terry treated me to Tokyo Disney, letting me in indulge in the snacks and sights. This would be a week I would remember for the rest of my life, laughing and being hand-in-hand with Terry was like a dream, I knew there would be a day we'd move here, Terry would talk about it from time to time. He knew the language, customs and the way of life, it would be an adjustment for me, but, as long as I'm by his side that's all I wanted.