Out of Place [Cobra Kai OC x Robby Keene]

142 - Places You Belong

Where... am I? In front of me is a forrest... I think I see the tree Robby and I trained on... but that's the koi pond from the Miyagi-Do dojo... and behind me is a beach? God I miss the Miyagi-Do dojo. I walk up to the pond, kneeling at the water's edge. The stones are cool beneath my hand. The bright orange koi fish swim in graceful circles. I wonder if they know they're not where they're supposed to be... I wonder if I know the same thing... a reflection in the water causes me to stand up quickly, turning to face- Sensei Barnes..?

"You're a long way from home now, kid," he says. Just like the koi fish...

"I... I don't know what I'm doing here," I admit. I'm not sure why I'm telling him of all people, but there's no one else around.

"I know you don't," he says, "but I do. Your senseis know. Your friends know. Your teachers and peers at your dojang know. Seems like you're the only one who can't see it."

"Yeah... not the first time that's been the case.." I say. He chuckles.

"I know, I know," he says, "I do hope you figure it out though."

"Figure out what I'm doing in Barcelona, more than six thousand miles away from home, fighting in a dangerous karate tournament?

"Not quite," Sensei Barnes says, "I hope you know what you're doing here, of course, but more than that... I hope you figure out what's holding you back. There's something about you, Reyes-LaRusso, something that sets you apart from everyone else... even the people you think are better than you."

I shake my head, looking at the ground. He's wrong. He's wrong about me. I know I'm talented. I know I'm skilled. I know I have what it takes to fight at this level. But beyond that? I'm nobody.

"I know that I have what it takes to fight here. I've been training for nine years to make that the case," I respond, "but I'm nothing special, sir.."

He smiles at me, and I can't place the look in his eyes.

"There it is again," he says, "you have no idea what you're capable of... when you figure out that puzzle, whatever it is that's holding you back? Nothing and nobody will stand in your way."

Wait... he's said that to me before... what is this? What's going on?

"I'll see you around, kid," he says, patting me on the shoulder, "just don't be the one getting in your own way."

With that, he walks past me. I turn around so I can try and talk to him again, get clarification as to what any of that meant, but it's as if he was never even here in the first place. Not a twig on the ground is out of place. The koi fish continue swimming peacefully. The waves behind me crash upon the sand, just as they did before. Leaves rustle in the trees as a breeze blows through the forest. The sound of someone breathing behind me. Wait-

"I think you already know what holds you back," a new voice says. I whip around, freezing in shock when I see who it is, though the voice gave it away. Silver...