How Can I Survive This

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

The commissioner nodded and Tory left, having nothing left to say. She went to the gym but on the way was corned by Kwon.

"You trying to get me in trouble?"

"You did this to yourself," Tory said, trying to stand up for herself.

"Yeah, well let's see how tough you are after this," Kwon said, raising his arm.

Before Kwon could land a hit on Tory, his fist was held back by Robby. Robby, Daniel and Johnny had stayed close, wanting to talk to Tory and make sure she was okay, and they were glad they did. Robby threw Kwon back to Daniel and Johnny and they took him to the commissioner's office.

Robby looked at Tory and saw the fear in her eyes. He looked around and knew he couldn't ask what he wanted when they were in a common space. Robby gently took Tory's hand and led her somewhere more private.

When the pair got to an unoccupied room, Robby led Tory in, and Robby locked the door.

Robby turned back to Tory when he made sure no one was coming and saw her looking down. Robby walked over and gently cupped one of her cheeks.

"Robby, I really don't want to talk right now," Tory told him and backed out of his touch.

"Okay, well then I need to ask you something and I need you to be honest," Robby said, still standing in front of Tory. Tory looked up at him briefly and nodded. "Are you really okay to compete, Tory?" Tory nodded.

"I am. I'm sore, but I can still compete." Tory told him and saw Robby looking at her with doubt. "Look, I'm not some delicate fragile little girl, Robby. I can handle myself." Tory told him and walked out of the room. She sighed and made her way to the locker room. She still needed to get changed and ready for her fight which was now in an hour and a half.

When she walked in she saw Devon and sighed.

"I heard that we're fighting for a spot in Miyagi-Do," Devon said, and Tory nodded. "Well, good luck," Devon said, being able to tell that she wouldn't get anything out of Tory right now. Devon walked away, leaving Tory in the room alone. She changed into her Gi and sighed.

She was feeling sore, but she didn't work her ass off just to lose in the first round. She needed this. She needed to win. After this, She needed to return to Miyagi-Do and be on the podium alongside Robby.

Tory breathed in and out, hissing when a pain shot through her chest. She sighed. She went to her bag and took a couple of pain meds, hoping they would help her last through the match.

CKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCKCK

It was time for Devon and Tory's fight and when Tory realized she would have no one to coach her if she needed pointers but shook her head. I can do this. She looked around and saw Miyagi-Do. They saw her watching and gave her a small smile.

"To the mat, Tory Nichols and Devon Lee." The announcer spoke and the two women walked on. Tory looked around. She wasn't used to not having an audience, but they figured since this was more of an exhibition match than a qualifier match, there wasn't a need for an audience.

Devon and Tory stood face to face, fists up when Tory attacked first. She dodged a hit from Devon and continued to until she was up 2-0. For the next point, Devon had punched her where Kwon had previously, and she momentarily lost her breath. She took deep breaths, trying to get her breathing back under control. It took her a few seconds to regain her composure.

Life dealt us a bad hand. But we can change that. 'Cause we're fighters now. Tory's mom's words rang in her head. She needed to win this for her mother.

Tory stood up and faced Devon, eyes hardened, ready to get the winning point. Tory had been using her best moves, but Devon was blocking all of them. She thought about how Devon was on defense right now and smirked internally. She knew what she needed to do. Tory moved closer and after Devon blocked a couple of her punches and a kick, Tory was able to sweep her to the floor and she punched Devon in the stomach for the final point.

The ref grabbed her arm and pulled it up. "Winner. Nichols." Tory wanted to smile, wanted to cheer but she looked at Devon and saw the disappointment as she stayed sitting on the mat.

"Devon," Tory called, and Devon looked up. Tory held her hand out, offering to help Devon up. "Good match. You've gotten really good." Devon stood up.

"Thank you, Tory," Devon said, a small smile on her face. "Just make sure we win this thing."

Tory smirked and nodded. "Oh, I will." Tory pulled Devon into a hug and looked over to the rest of her friends and her sensei's. She saw them smiling at her and she looked towards Sam, not sure how she would react but was glad when she saw her smiling too. Tory let go of Devon and walked towards Sam and Robby. She hesitated a few seconds before Sam walked up to her and grabbed her hand.

"Tory, I have no idea what you're feeling right now, but I do know that we are always going to be here for you, okay?" Sam told her and Tory nodded. "I know none of us went after you after our fight and I am so sorry about that. You deserved better. I'm here now though, okay? We're all here now and we're gonna kick this competition, okay?"

Tory nodded and her eyes watered before she broke down in tears, not being able to hold her emotions in anymore. Sam pulled her into a hug and held onto Tory tightly. She hated seeing Tory like this and when Sam pulled back, Tory wiped her tears away.

Johnny wanted to give them a moment so when they pulled apart from each other, he walked up to Tory.

"Ms. Nichols, you'll need this from here on out," Johnny told her, handing her a Miyagi-Do Gi. Tory bowed to Johnny, a smile on her face. She took the Gi from Johnny and ran her hand over the logo.

Tory looks at everyone one by one. "I know I left all of you and joined the enemy and I am so sorry. I was just struggling and Kreese, despite how bad his motives can be, was always there for me. He's helped me more than any of you know and I was desperate to compete in this as a captain."

"Why?" Daniel asked.

Tory looked down. "My aunt got custody of my brother. I need money to prove to the courts that I can take care of him." Tory told the group and Daniel and Johnny looked at each other.

"God, Tory. When did you find out?" Daniel asked

Tory ran a hand through her hair, taking it out of the ponytail. "Not long after my mother died." Tory sighed. "It was actually before the fight with Sam," Tory told him.

Daniel nodded and it was silent for a few moments when Tory felt someone tap her shoulder.

"Devon, I'm so sorry. I know how much you wanted to compete, and I am so sorry I'm..." Tory was going to continue when Devon held a hand up.

"You deserve to compete, Tory. It's okay. I just hope we can win." Devon said, giving Tory a soft smile.

"We're going to kick the competition," Sam said, and Tory held a straight face for only a moment before she and the rest of the team bursted out laughing. "Yeah, yeah. I realized how silly it sounded as soon as I said it." Sam said, also laughing.

Tory looked at the people around her. She had great sensei's. she had great friends, and she had a great boyfriend in Robby. She just needed to get her brother back. She had to get him back. She needed to win this tournament.

I need to win at all costs.