Chapter 10

When we were driving home, Terry told me that there was a surprise for me when we got home. I pondered to myself what it could be.

When we reached home, Terry parked the car. Someone opened my door. I thought it was Milos. As I exited the car, I thanked Milos, "Thank you, Milos." But when I saw Johny opening my door for me, my jaw dropped to the floor. "Not quite," he said smiling. I screeched out of joy and gave him a tight hug. "Oh my goodness! You're back already?" Johny nodded laughing, "That I am."

Terry joined the circle gave Johny a side hug and patted his back, "Good to have you back, man. Hope you enjoyed your vacation."

"Thanks to you, man. Thanks to you. I feel like a brand new person." I smiled hearing that he was doing better.

"You ready for the tournament? It's in two weeks," Terry perked up. Oh shit. That also means that I have three weeks until my departure. "Hey, Lana, John you two should go ahead and go inside and play a little catch up."

"What about you?" Johny asked.

Terry shook his head, "I got a little something to take care of. I'll fill you in on it later." Johny and I nodded our heads in unison. Johny wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me inside as Terry waved goodbye. When Johny looked away, Terry raised his index and middle fingers to his lips and blew me a kiss.

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"Tahiti was so beautiful and quite refreshing," Johny told me while I poured him tea. 

I smiled, "I'm glad you enjoyed your vacation. I missed you."

"I missed you too. It has been a year. Hasn't it? Since I last saw you?"

I nodded and slid the cup of tea toward him, "Yes, it has." I took a seat across from him and grabbed my cup of tea blowing the steam away. He smiled, "You have changed a lot since the last time I saw you."

I nodded, "Are you trying to call me old?" I joked. He laughed raising his hands in the air in defense, "Alright."

"What do you think you're gonna do after Cobra Kai wins the tournament?" I asked with curiosity.

He shrugged, "I'll open dojos across the valley with Terry, then we can all fly to Hawaii and call it a victory vacation." I chuckled.

"You're an ambitious man, Johny. I'm sure you will win."

Abruptly, me and Johny heard the front door open which made us turn our heads in the direction of the door. Terry walked in and took a seat at the table smiling. "What's gotcha smilin', Terry?" Johny questioned smiling.

Terry let out a laugh, "Danny boy has officially snapped."

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Later Terry explained to us what happened at the club where Danny Boy punched a man because he was hitting Jessica as we were in his car and going to the dojo. Johny and I laughed at his story. Johny was sitting in the passenger seat and he grabbed Terry's shoulder and patted it, "Great job, man! You're good, really good."

I grabbed the edge of both seats got myself in between the men and hugged them both, "Ooh, I can just sense Danny Boy's loss at the tournament. I can feel it!" We all laughed in unison.

When we reached the dojo, we went out back to the backroom to wait for Mike Barnes as Terry and Johny changed into their gis. After they finished changing, the backdoor of the dojo opened, and Mike came in wearing casual clothes while holding a black duffle bag. Terry greeted Mike with an aggressive pat on the shoulder, "Mike, meet John Kreese, owner of Cobra Kai," he introduced John. He moved his hand in my direction, "And you're already familiar with our very special lady," I smiled waving.

Mike smirked before he spoke up, "Yeah that hot stuff? I already met her that day at the Miyagi-do." Terry immediately slapped the back of Mike's head making his head bend down aggressively. Mike grabbed the back of his head where Terry slapped and looked up to him in disbelief. "Hasn't your mother taught you to respect women, little shit? Apologize to her!" he yelled. Mike rubbed the back of his head and groaned, "My apologies." Terry patted his shoulder, "Good boy." Johny gave Terry an approving look.

Promptly, we heard the bell jingle signaling that someone had entered the dojo. We stayed quiet listening for a voice to speak up. Terry signaled Johny and he left the room through the back door.

"Hello? Mr. Silver!" we heard Danny Boy call out. We watched the lights in the dojo being flicked on. "Hello?" Danny Boy called out again. We heard his footsteps getting closer to the backroom room. "Mr. Silver?"

Before Danny Boy can reach the backroom, Terry walks out. "Hey," Terry greeted him.

"Hi," Danny Boy greeted him back.

"Here you are. Where'd you go?"

"I had to go think about some things. and-"

"And?" Terry cut in.

"And, I've- listen, I've decided not to defend my title," Danny Boy informed Terry with obvious anxiousness masked in his voice. "Look, I really appreciate everything you've done for me. I mean, you've been great I just- you know, when I hit that guy, that's just not me. I just wanted to come here and tell you in person 'cause I figured after everything, I owed you at least that."

"You owe me a lot more than that, Danny Boy," Terry replied coldly.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought the lessons were for free, but-"

"No, no, no. No, nothing's for free. You are going to defend. You're getting in that ring," he threatened lowly.

Danny Boy scoffed, "Excuse me, Mr. Silver. You can't make me do something I don't want to do."

Terry let out a small laugh, before walking away from Daniel. "Danny, Danny, Danny. From the moment you met me, I've been making you do things you didn't want to."

"What are you talking about?" Daniel asked in disbelief.

"What am I talking about?"

"Yeah, what?" Here comes the grand reveal.

"Let's show him what I'm talking about," Terry yelled giving us the cue to reveal ourselves. Mike walked out as I followed close behind. The look of horror on Danny Boy's face was irresistible. I wish I had a camera at that moment to capture that look. Mike raised his hands, "I'm what he's talking about, shithead." Mike approached Daniel a little close but Terry stopped him from getting any closer with an abrupt pat on the chest. I stood next to Terry and smiled at Daniel.

"You're in on this as well?" Daniel questioned me with disbelief. I shrugged, "Don't worry about it kiddo. You'll understand when you are older." 

"We have an agenda here, Daniel. It's really simple," Terry explained as he moved a step closer to Daniel.

Daniel hurried on his feet toward the other end of the dojo trying to get away from us, "You guys are crazy."

"Either you fight one fight on one day, or you fight every day for the rest of your life," Terry continued.

"You're all sick!" Daniel shouted as he walked toward the exit door.

"What's it going to be, Danny Boy?" Terry demanded.

"It's gonna be I'm not gonna be there. So just forget about it, all right?" Daniel was about to leave but before he could do so, Johny leaped out from behind the cardboard cut-out of himself and scared Daniel. Daniel screamed briefly and he was backed toward me, Terry, and Mike by Johny. I laughed clapping my hands and watching the scene unfold in front of me.

"Let's show Mr. Kreese how he's going to get his business back," Terry commanded Mike while grabbing onto both of his shoulders.

"I'm not gonna fight, you can't make me fight," Danny Boy defended.

"You don't have to. You can just stand there and let him kick your ass!" I laughed so hard after Terry made that joke. Johny joined in on the laughter. Mike got into a fighting stance. Daniel attempted to throw a punch but Mike easily blocked it and pushed him against the wall. "Do the crane, Danny Boy," he mocked and made him turn around before grabbing the hem of his shirt, "You're doing this to yourself, man." Mike started throwing several punches at Daniel starting from his stomach. Daniel held on to his stomach as he fled the scene and went out the front door.

"You wanna see some more?" Terry yelled excitedly and grabbed Johny's shoulders.

"I wanna see a lot more," Johny answered him. Terry snapped his finger at Mike, "Bring him back!" Mike scurried off to get Daniel back inside. I laughed along with Terry and Johny as I took a seat on the bench and lit myself a cigarette.

"You see his face? See the trail? I think he peed in his pants!" Terry remarked which made me and Johny break into laughter again. Suddenly, Mike was pushed through the front door. It was Miyagi. I didn't bother to stand up. I stayed seated and continued taking drags from my cigarette while watching the situation unfold in front of me.

"Well, well, well. Look who's here. The big war hero," Terry remarked in a sarcastic tone. "What are you waiting for?" Mike attempted to throw a punch but Miyagi easily grabbed the boy by his hand and threw him over his shoulder. On impact, Mike's head hit the light switches turning them off.

Terry and Johny bowed to each other, "Party time."

Terry was about to attack, but before he could do so Johny stopped him, "We're old friends." Johny obviously threw the first punch but the old man easily brought him down.

When it came next for Terry to fight Miyagi, he made silly noises while waving his hands around. I giggled holding my hand to my mouth. This man cannot take anything seriously, "Come on, little man. Let's see how you really are," Terry challenged Miyagi. Daniel walked back inside the dojo as Terry and Miyagi were fighting. Daniel glared at me. I smiled at him took a long drag of my cig and went back to watching Miyagi and Terry.

Eventually, the fight came to an end when Miyagi pushed Terry into the mirrors and the buckets of white paint fell on him which took me by surprise. Miyagi waved his hands around and mocked Terry. "You think this is the end of it, old man? I'm gonna open Cobra Kai dojos all over this valley." I stumped out my cigarette on the mat and approached Terry. "Hell, I might even teach for free!" Terry continued as he slowly stood up, "From now on when people say karate around here, all they'll mean is Cobra Kai karate!" Terry grabbed John and pointed at him, "John Kreese's karate. You won't even be a memory!"

"Yes, he will. You won't," Danny Boy replied. We laughed at his response. I grabbed Terry's shoulders for support as we laughed our asses off. This was about to get fun...