International Connections - Axel Kovačević

CHAPTER 2

I woke up with a cold sweat, I didn't remember what my dream was but it must've been stressful. I turn to my blaring alarm and I turn it off, I begin my daily morning stretching followed by meditation. Having a calm and balanced body is just as important as having a strong one in battle. Majo and Paloma slowly wake up as I am already starting my day for our first event.

Once I finish I make my bed and get ready for the day, I make sure my hair is again presentable for a large crowd of opponents and spectators. I put on a tank top and some shorts to wear under my gi today and I begin to curl my lashes afterwards applying some tinted chapstick on my lips. I finished and my roommates were almost ready. I sat on my phone for a while, texting my grandpa that I would be heading to the first event. Majo sat in front of me smiling, it made me scared of what she was about to say, "everyone is in love with you Y/n! They're all talking about you and how you beat that Kwon guys at the aquarium." Mierda. I didn't want the attention on me like this, I wanted to do what was right but now I have everyone with their eyes on me. I pinch my nose bridge and sigh, "Let's just get ready and go, we have things to do today." I chose to ignore it and go on with my focus on the competition and not the people that will be around me. Majo frowns, "But your like una champeaona in their eyes Y/n." I reply with my usual neutral tone, "That's not what this competition is about right now, we need to focus more and be prepared for today, not being involved in gossip. Especially when it's about me." Once my girls were ready we grabbed our duffle bags to head down to the lobby to meet with our team. 

We went to our assigned van to head to the place we will be fighting. When we all arrive we are in awe with how the structure is built and how amazing everything is on  the inside. We go to our personal training room, which included a place to change. I sit down and listen to Andres address the team with Sensei Castro. "Okay everyone, we have to be out on the mat with the other teams in 30 minutes, change into your gi's. After introductions we will come back to have 1 hour to warm up before our first event. Go now." We all grabbed our gi's and got changed, I was nervous to step out as a captain for my team today in front of everyone. I have a bigger spotlight on me than I wanted there to be, and it's before I even got to fight. I sat on my bench spacing out a bit with my head against the wall. "You'll fine out there, you got us a good reputation already." I chuckle at Andres's comment, "yeah but I wanted to have my first impressions on the mat, all they know is a have a high kick and suddenly it's everything to them." "You'll get your chance out there today, you know you can beat them." 

A voice booms over the intercom of the facility, "All dojos report to the mat and arena, we will begin the welcome ceremony in 5 minutes." I get up and grab my captain hachimaki, I look at it before clutching it in my hand to line up in our walking line. The two captains in front and the others behind us, girls and boys behind the designated captains. We walked out with our head held high, I was about to stand on business here. We enter the fighting area and we were placed near the mat with some of the other dojos. There were dojo's from everywhere scattered along the mat and on the observations deck from above. I had my game face on, which meant I probably looked like a bitch to everyone in this room. My eyes were scanning everyone when I stop at a familiar guy I had seen before. I observe his team but he catches me looking so I keep looking around, playing it off with no reaction.

We get called o attention by Gunther Braun, the head of the Sekai Taikai. "Welcome all dojo's, We welcome you the Sekai Taikai! We will now introduce all the dojo's participating this year and their captains." They started in alphabetical order, which was great since we were towards the end of the alphabet. I really wanted to speed this along so we could just get to the main events but I stayed there, obviously, and kept my chin up watching the other dojo's and clapping a bit for the first couple dojo's. "Cobra Kai!!" people begin to clap and everyone can see how inflated Kwon's ego is, disgusting. I did not clap for their team, I would not let myself clap for such a rude person. "Captains Kwon Jae-Sung and Tori Nichols Please step forward and put on your captain bands." They bowed and tied them before going back into the line with their teams. 

They called out some other dojo's, Dublin Thunder seemed to be hasty competitors, I hate people that have big egos. Show it on the mat not by already thinking your the best by just existing. I find myself analyzing each them and their behavior, Spain looked strong but made sure to present themselves as ready fighters. We went down the list and I was looking at the the Thailand dojo, Hornet's nest, when they announce the next dojo. "Iron Dragons!!" I looked over to see the guy I saw training the other day, "Captains Axel Kovačević and Zara Malik please step forward and put on your captain bands." They bow, the guy, Axel, seemed serious and put the band on with honor while the girl smiled and sent blew a kiss to the crowd. She's definitely a character. They stepped back and I observed him, he looked at me and i swiftly looked to the next team.

We got to Miyagi-do and they were good. "Miyagi-do!!" I clapped gladly for them, I could tell they were good competitors and honorable people. "Captains Robby Keene and Samantha Larusso please step forward and put on your captain bands." They stepped forwards with proud smiles and put on their bands. I smiled a little bit as they put on their bands. We continued down the list and when Russia stepped back I realized how aggressive some of these dojo's are. My attention is strucken by the announcer, "Tigrillos del Valle!!" People begin to clap, a little more than they did for the other dojo's. A let a out a little smile as the rest of my team stood proud of they accomplishment of making the tournament. "Andres Martinez and Y/n L/n please step forward and put on your captain bands." We take two steps forward and bow, I take a look around and smile a bit while I put my band on. We begin to step back and I noticed Axel looking at me a bit then looking away. 

They wrapped up the introductions and Gunther Braun presented the first challenge to us. "This morning you will have one of the first challenges to determine where you will stand on the leaderboard. The first event is The Captain's War. Let's see how you work together to protect your team."  We all clap in excitement, "you will have one hour to warm-up and prepare. Good luck!" We bow and head back to our training rooms.

"Okay everyone circle up to warm up," Sensei Castro lead us through our usual stretches. When we finished we created a small block and we practiced our taichi to be ready for competition. When we finished, Sensei tells the rest of the team to leave to have a debrief with Andres and I before the event. He begins to address us, Okay. This tournament is very important and you both very significant roles to fill in it. I know I picked the right people to lead this team to victory so do it. I know you can." We nod and bow, "Yes Sensei." "You're dismissed, the event begins in 15 minutes, take your last moments and be at the mat in ten. He leaves the room and i let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding, "I'm going to go fill up my water, I'll see you in the arena." I start to head for the door with my things, bottle in hand, but Andres stops me. "We're going to do good, we will be champions." I nod and give him a meek smile before heading down the hall to fill up my water bottle. I begin to hear two people in combat in another room. I stop to look and who else would it be but the tall Iron Dragon himself.

I witness him training with his sensei, he's tough just like how my grandfather is with me. I watch his sensei be aggressive, "what are you doing wrong," Axel stays silent, this causes his sensei to punch him in the face. My eyes widen a bit, "Again." They go back to practicing combat, his sensei strikes him again, making his head face me. He looks up at me and my eyes begin to worry, but I can't do anything about it so I move to fill up my water. I fill it up quickly and rush to  my team on the mat. Andres see's me a little distressed, "Estas bien?" I take a swing of my water and shake it off. "English Andres, and yes I am fine." They call us to to mat to announce the event, so we line up with Andres in I in the middle of our team. "The time has come! Welcome to our first event! I hope you are all prepared and are prepared for this new and unique competition, Captain's War. We told you how important your captains will be, so let's see how well you protect them. Four dojo's will take the mat and only one will be left standing. If you hit the mat, you're out. If one of you captains hit the mat, you're entire team is out. For this round. Check the board for your designated groups decided by random draw. 

"Group A, You're up."

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Hi readers!

I'm sorry if this is a little boring and taking a while, I want to go in detail about everything, But don't worry, the next chapter will have some more action and then the beach scene.

Thank you for reading!

-s