Can't Have Both

Kreese's Advice

Less than an hour later Tory had gone through and blocked all the Miyagi Do's. She was finally on the last one. 

Robby Keene. 

She knew she shouldn't. She knew what would happen if she did. But Kreese was staring over her shoulder and to help her with her pain she blocked him. On everything she ever had him on. But Kreese wanted her to delete him. Babysteps. He thought.  

" Tory, let me have a chat with you." Kreese said, hoping this would bring her to delete it. He needed his Queen cobra in the game. Not lovesick over a boy. Bringing her to sit with him in the courtyard. A bird was chirping in the distance. 

Tory sat.

" Tory, you know I care for you . I want what's best for you. So let's talk about it. Why are you still hanging out with Robby. " He asked. 

The look in Tory's eyes told him everything.

" You love him... don't you?" He asked. His voice didn't sound dangerous though. It sounded different. Something she hadn't heard before. It sounded like regret. Or sadness. But not for him. For her.

She just shook her head.

" I was in love once." He started. " Her name was Betsy. She was the love of my life. " He looked away. He tried to cause an effect on Tory, but she didn't seem to care. So he continued.

" I went away to Nam. For the war. The war changed everything for me. I found out Betsy was dead at some point. And we got captured by the other troops. Many of our men were dying including one of my dearest friends, who got shot. "

Tory was listening now. She knew he had been in a war, but she didn't know it was this bad. She felt bad for him.

" At one point, Terry Silver was chosen to fight for his life. " He said. The name Terry Silver brought up bad memories for both of them. Tory shivered in fear, Kreese sighed in disgust. 

" There was a pit filled with snakes, and you had to fight the other selected person. Whoever won would get to live. It wasn't...ideal." He said. 

" I took Silver's place and fought our captain. I was losing severely. But then I did what I have been teaching all of you to do. The reason I'm here today is because I didn't show mercy. He fell onto the edge, clinging on. Planes flew over and the Vietnamese left, because they couldn't be found. My captain was still clinging there, holding on for dear life, and had the nerve to ask me to pull him up. After everything had happened, and he wanted me to fall. So I pushed him. Into the pit, then released everyone from the cage. " He said. Tory couldn't believe it.

" And after all that, I started my own karate dojo, because I wasn't going to find someone who cared about me as much as Betsy. Falling in love didn't do me any good and it won't do you any good. Its bad and just causes problems. If you really care about Keene, then leave. But if you want to be a champion, stay. And don't go near him or be in contact with him." 

" Love is your weakness and strength. Love is always against you. It never wants what's best for you. Love made you two enemies, to lovers, and now enemies again. And if that's fate, I think it should stay that way." Kreese ended. " So pick. Cobra Kai, or Robby Keene." He said.

Tory thought it over. Winning the Sekai Tekai, the thing that will avenge her mom. Or staying with Robby. But risking the chances of ever winning. She was entering the Sekai Tekai, and while she was away the All Valley would be happening. And that was her last one before she turned 18. After that she was done. 

She knew she should be with Robby. Stay happy for her whole life. With Robby to keep her safe. 

But that anger came again. The one telling her that if she didn't do it, Robby would probably be up their with Samantha Larusso.

But Sam was her friend... right? No. None of them went after her. Except Robby. She couldn't let Larusso win again. She didn't want Daniel to keep picking her daughter. He didn't play by the rules. He just wanted his daughter to shine. 

But Amanda. She wanted what was best for her. She had to. Then again she didn't want her daughter to get hurt. So maybe not. 

It all came down to the fact that Robby wasn't in Cobra Kai. She knew he would never leave it. So she had to do something so despicable he wouldn't want her anymore. Then she got an idea. An idea that made her sad, and she knew she would regret it.

She looked at Kreese. He was like a grandpa to her. The one she never had. He had helped her during the tough times, kept her landlord from sexually abusing her, and even paid rent. He really did care, just like Robby. All the things about Cobra Kai came back. The memories of when they were both in Cobra Kai. She knew she shouldn't be thinking what she was thinking. Robby would never talk to her again. But she knew what had to be done must be done. 

After giving it some thought she looked Kreese in the eye and said, " Cobra Kai. " Her heart was telling her no. Everything in her body was telling her no. The pain, and the suffering. But her brain told her, revenge. That's all she wanted. After how Miyagi Do had treated her. That's all she wanted.

" Looks like we're on the same page then." Kreese said. " If that's so let me tell you again. Delete his number." 

Tory got out her phone and scrolled to Robby's number. 

Delete. 

Tory knew she was going to regret this. Because deep down she knew Kreese was right. 

She was in love with Robby Keene.