#Daniel: ‘sees’ Chozen…step away from him…

[zappedbyzabka]

All photos (and a gif) of these karate men in one place

[starglaee]

Okay, let me put in some of my thoughts on season 6 part 1.

On first watch, I enjoyed it. But I’m not going to lie, this season has a good amount of negative things to talk about, and that’s what I’m going to discuss below.

Feel free to add your own thoughts to this. Maybe I’m not the only one thinking this way. We’ll see.

Spoiler warning!

The overarching thing that’s been bothering me is that I miss the chaotic little karate show this started out as. Domestic, a way to honor Miyagi, and a chance to redeem Johnny. The writers were handed a lot of good things to work with, and unfortunately I think season 6 is where they’ve really failed.

First of all, Mr. Miyagi’s new backstory and plotline are pissing me off. Leave that man alone! I’m actually shocked the actors are cool with this. The spoiler of him being a good person and in earlier seasons the writers trying to redeem Kreese and Silver just isn’t sitting right with me.

Then comes the Johnny Lawrence arc that’s been failed since like season 3. First of all, he STILL isn’t stepping up for Robby. Robby won that match - won against Miguel for real for the first time EVER - and Johnny instantly goes to coddle Miguel. It makes me so angry. He fails Robby time and time again. But don’t worry, there’s a baby to make him a better parent. Like it’s a do over. Also, Johnny has regressed to being stupid, like everything he’s learned went down the drain. And they’ve made him misogynistic to Carmen (that scene where he was talking to the realtor had a weird dialogue where he talked like Carmen wasn’t a person he chose to love and honor likeee gross). They also had him step away from Eagle Fang when that’s the one thing ensuring he’s not Miyagi-Do because Johnny Lawrence ISN’T a Miyagi-Do. I’m sick of the writers pretending he can’t find balance in a more aggressive style and that Kreese has poisoned everything. That’s just not true, and we even see that with the aggression Chozen demonstrated (also Chozen just left??).

I don’t have enough thoughts collected about season 6 Daniel right now. I’ll come back to it later maybe.

Okay so this is my personal preference, but I do believe that it captures the energy of Cobra Kai more than this tournament BS. I wanted to see more of them in school with domesticity and their senior year. I’m holding out hope that we will, but it’s been overshadowed by an international karate tournament. Everything up until Silver has been about peace in the Valley and karate in the Valley, starting with TKK (aside from TKK2 having an adventure to Okinawa for Mr. Miyagi’s sake). Let’s be so for real right now. Miyagi was not a world champion fighter or championship endorser. This man was against Daniel even fighting Johnny when he was getting his face busted in. The show has lost its magic.

This is no hate to any of the actors, by the way. Especially not to Peyton List because she was amazing this season specifically.

I thought Silver never killed anyone last season because a character death would mean the balance of power was lost. It’s the same reason you don’t add guns to a show like this. People come close to death like Stingray but not all the way. It throws everything off, and it makes you stop to think about how insignificant karate is. Tory’s mom’s death if done right would have shown this.

But the creators did not show this. Her death as a plotline makes me upset because Tory was grieving so publicly, and NOBODY went after her. For that the writers suck! You’re telling me Sam wouldn’t go check on her new friend or that Robby wouldn’t chase his girlfriend or that Amanda wouldn’t try to help Tory again? I’m SO disappointed in all of them and especially in Daniel and Johnny for just going back to arguing.

The question is where they even go from here with such a significant plot point that you cannot just brush past. And even if they did open it up to conversations with Tory and helped her grieve, it would be too late. The damage is done that nobody cared enough.

And in that same vein, I know her going to Kreese is just fanservice. They could have FINALLY had Johnny care about Tory or Daniel show that he doesn’t just care about his daughter or had healthy communication with Keenry for once. But no. She’s back in Cobra Kai.

What happened to her brother, Brandon? Why is she immediately running to the person who broke her trust (Kreese) when the people at Miyagi-Fang were finally happy enough together and seemed there to support her. Everything they went through in the first four episodes disappeared. They went give her time to grieve, either. It was just an immediate “Tory’s not coming. Join us, Hawk.” Like???

Not to mention that stylistically it’s all different. It’s beautifully shot and done, but it’s not the Cobra Kai I feel like I knew. The humor is fading.

And the plotlines are being dropped mid-season. Carmen being pregnant is barely mentioned after the shower, Johnny doesn’t mention the home again, Kenny doesn’t mention Shawn again and then Kenny himself disappears, and Chozen disappeared with a scene of a Google search and that was it. I’m also upset because the time limit of these episodes leaves out a lot of moments that I think could make certain stories hit better: the binary brothers fighting, Kreese having to answer to Master Kim, learning more about Kwon, and having Devon explain why she needs this competition so badly. Additionally, the overall the shift from “oh no Tory’s mom died. Well, here are our team captains” to “welcome to Barcelona!” I didn’t know what was even happening.

And the genuine question is are they going to give a shitton of plot armor to these American kids coming to an international competition for a sport in which they’ve only trained for two years?

I want silly school shenanigans and character development rather than plot fanservice that’s only good for the first watch or two.

I need to stop watching shows created by white men istg

[terrence-silver]

Do you think Terry silver was close with his mother, or closer with her than his father? I think we can all agree that terry had a strained relationship with his father, but what about his mother? Was he more of a momma’s boy when he was younger or protective of her against his father or just not close at all ? So many questions.

I think his mother was just...there, somewhere. you know?

Doesn't mean Terry Silver didn't love her, or that she didn't love him, but I imagine, that much like it is somehow commonplace in the lives of the uber and unbelievably rich, in the lives of those meant to be heirs of family companies, business, hereditary wealth, she wasn't necessarily fully and directly engaged in his education, not out of any malice, neglect or lack of desire to do so, but she just didn't, and in Terry's own words to Chozen, one of his many (implied) teachers could've been his own father, in every sense.

---

Ironic, because Chozen himself might've had a similar upbringing, molded by a despotic uncle...with a mother...well, somewhere, at some time, undoubtedly, yet nowhere to be seen or mentioned either.

Even the likes of Kim Da Eun, from what we can consider a clan of some substantial power and respectability...not a mother in sight. Sure, there must've been one sometime, alongside a father, naturally, but no, there's a despotic uncle, or a looming father figure is all we see for the young scion in Korea.

Such was the case for Terry Silver, I think.

The mother? The mother was a background presence for Terry Silver. The mother cannot raise a grown man; the mother overcoddles and raises a wimp. Terry's father didn't want a wimp. He wanted a man. And hey, in medieval times, the boys were sent away from their mothers anyway; sent away to learn a trade, be squires, soldiers, bankers, merchants, monks or to merely observe the comings and goings of grown men. In the old times, people had the right idea, Terry's father might've thought back in the 1950's. As such, Terry's boyhood routine could've been riddled with tutors, study, private lessons, music classes, learning and education as instructed by a helicopter, micromanaging father spending a fortune on 'raising Terry right' and making him as accomplished in every field as is humanly possible, which really, he did succussed on. Raising him his own way. Not to be softened and ruined by a mother. Not to be softened and ruined when Terry as a kid might've been already considered soft if his time as Twig is anything to go by. With this in mind, a young Terry's routine could've been so busy from an early age that he well...never even saw his mother much --- never had time to anymore, even though she was right there, merely down the wing of whatever estate he grew up on, leading to this acute, gaping emptiness where unconditional love was right down the corner, quite literally and Terry yearned for it all his life, and yet in not wanting to anger, fail, disappoint a father raising Terry into traditional masculinity, and as such, anger, fail and disappoint himself as his extension, Terry simply...stopped taking the steps necessary to grab that door handle leading down that corridor, in the chambered apartments where his mother lived, even though he was a mother's boy at heart. A father pleaser in actions.

No, he'd be in control of himself and his yearning for that mercy of a mother's love.

He'd be a man and learn discipline, train himself out of that desire.

But, it is obvious Terry understands the meaning of motherhood.

He gets it. He gets the impact, to the point he knows exactly how to manipulate it, decades later --- like someone who experienced the consequences on his own skin. Mike Barnes is there, pestering Daniel Larusso, a kid from a single mother household, in cohorts with Terry, who is staging a pretend rescue of the boy to get under his skin more effectively, and as undoubtedly instructed by Terry himself, who is always the mastermind behind everything, once Terry busts on scene as a would-be hero, Mike mockingly asks 'What, are you his mother?' 'Maybe', Terry answers immediately, because he understands exactly what weakness to strike and what is most likely to subconsciously influence Daniel. He gets it, because I see Terry as someone who understands profound pain and how to play it through experiencing it himself first. Nothing happened to Terry's own mother, no, I imagine. I don't think he was a child of divorce, don't think she died early, ran away, no dramatic fate befell her, wouldn't even say she was necessarily trapped in a loveless marriage with his father, no; Terry's mother was always there, but circumstances and the way he was raised inadvertedly distanced them, and in going to Vietnam, subsequently returning, travelling to Korea to train Tang Soo Do for god knows how long, immediately afterwards, moving into a more corporate, workforce oriented life with Dynatox as we see, then, dedicating himself to moneymaking schemes and martial arts as a lifestyle well into the 80's, did Terry ever even have time to be close with his mother the way he wanted afterwards? Tragically enough, I don't think so.

[russolaw]

prompt: sparkles from @kleenexwoman

Never would Daniel say he was the best player. He was fast, and he made enough baskets to be considered good, and he was decent at defense. But the best player would probably be Dutch or Chozen. Maybe Bobby.

But tonight, two games away from the end of the season, Daniel was playing the best he ever had. They were up by twenty, because of him, and he felt proud of himself.

A chest pass from Tommy and Daniel was dribbling down the court. He backed up a few feet and threw hard. The ball arced in the air and smoothly went in the net. His second three pointer of the game. The buzzer went off as the ball hit the floor. Cheers erupted from the bleachers and the cheerleaders lost their minds.

His mom hugged him too hard, and he had to remind her about breathing. He got a shoulder squeeze from Mr. Miyagi, and Ali and Kumiko were crowding him, jumping up and down like they were still cheering. Daniel smiled politely and attempted to surreptitiously peer around the girls, looking for fluffy blonde hair.

He locked eyes with the person he was searching for, and his heartbeat bumped against his ribcage. Johnny Johnny Johnny, it seemed to say.

Johnny had his arms folded, one foot flat on the wall he leaned on, his friends by him. His face was as sweaty as Daniel's.

Daniel tilted his head slightly, widened his eyes, movements that were barely noticeable to most people, but he knew Johnny got the message. 'How was I?'

Johnny replied with a half shrug, a sniff. 'Could have done better.'

Daniel licked his upper lip quickly, tugged his left earlobe. 'Let's see you do better.'

Johnny just rolled his eyes, flicked his nose. 'Whatever, twerp.'

His mom suggested pizza for when they got home, which Daniel agreed to. He headed off to the locker room to change, getting high fives and pats on the back from most of his teammates, except Dutch who just gave him a silent nod. Daniel turned the faucet in the shower. As the water cascaded on his body, Johnny and the five other male cheerleaders walked in, loud wolf whistles filling the air.

Tommy rolled up a towel and snapped it at Johnny's back, and Dutch gave his skirt a yank.

"Cut it out, you cavemen," Johnny said, laughing. He was the only male cheerleader who wore the "girl's" uniform, because it was more comfortable for him.

"I'm helpin' ya get changed," Dutch claimed. "Nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"Oh, you wanna study what he's got under there?" Bobby teased, ruffling Dutch's hair.

"You're sick, man," Dutch replied, giving Bobby a shove.

Daniel finished showering and grabbed his bag out of his locker, taking his clean clothes out and shoving his smelly uniform in. He went to an empty corner of the room, lockers blocking the guys still hanging around. The chatter had quieted, most guys only changing their clothes and not showering, and he didn't hear Johnny's voice.

Adjusting his grip on the gymbag, Daniel tapped his foot, repeatedly pushing his hair back.

"Hey," Johnny greeted as walked over.

"Hey, yourself." He swept his gaze over Johnny's body; his hair was wet, cheerleading uniform still on. "Not gonna change?" He sniffed him. "Or shower?"

"Nah, I'm good. Just needed a hair wash."

Daniel wrinkled his nose. "You stink, though. And the uniform is probably worse."

Johnny lifted his arm. "Come take a whiff."

"Ew. No. I can smell you enough from here."

Johnny smirked and stretched. "I'll shower and change at your place. After we eat."

"Fine, but you're sitting in the backse-" Daniel noticed sparkles on Johnny's lips, and they were shiny and pink. "What'd you put on?"

"Lip gloss."

"It's sparkling."

"Yep. Strawberry."

Daniel dropped his bag to the floor. "Does it taste like strawberry?"

"Wanna find out?" Johnny asked, stepping closer.

Daniel raised a brow and flared his nostrils. 'Stupid question.' He pulled Johnny closer by his hips, skirt brushing his shorts, and kissed him, licking the gloss off his lips.

He didn’t notice if they tasted like strawberries or not.

[fangirlstorycreator]

Hey Bestie I have a request for you 😁We know the fight between Terry and Chozen but I wanna know what would have happened if we were there too. Like someone called us and told us what was going on. How would that end and how would Terry react? Take your time as always. Love you Bestie 🙏🖤

Omg yes! I'm so happy to write this one 😁 I hope you like it, love you too bestie 💚💚💚

You were at home just trying to chill out after a long and stressful day, work had been a nightmare and to top it all, you and Terry had been arguing about the dojo. He was trying so hard to get the students ready for the next tournament against miyagi do that he barley spent anytime with you. You told him that he had to stop what he was doing with Daniel, Johnny and Chozen, and that if this carried on, someone was going to end up badly hurt, or worse! But he was so focused on being the strongest one, that it was like he was a different person. He wasnt the same Terry you fell in love with.

You still loved Terry with all your heart, and you knew he loved you too. But he was stuck in his own world so much that he didnt take you into consideration, and that hurt you more than you thought it could. You told him that until he stoped this stupid revenge scheme he had, you didnt want to talk to him. And that's why you were at your flat on your own. You were feeling upset, and hurt by the whole situation, and just wanted the old Terry back. The Terry who would stop at nothing to make you smile, make you happy and protect you no matter the cost. Where had that Terry gone?

As you sat on your sofa in a flood of tears, your phone started to ring, and when you answered it, you were surprised to hear Carmen's voice. "Y/N! Y/N something is going on I need your help!" "Woh woh take a breath Carmen, what's wrong?" "Its Johnny, he drunk dialed me and told me he, Mike and Chozen are all heading to Terry's place to fight him!" "He what?!" "Y/N please can you stop them? I dont want any of them to get hurt" "Dont worry Carmen, I'm heading there now" You end the phone call and grab your phone and handbag, leaving your flat, slamming the door behind you. You get into your car and you head over to Terry's place as fast as you can, hoping that nothing serious has happend.

When you arrive you see a limo parked outside, which is confusing? But it must be what Chozen, Mike and Johhny came hear in. Then you hear loud grunting and smashing of some kind and without hesitation, you run into the house. The front door was wide open and there on the floor you see Mike knocked out. "Mike? Oh my God!" He isnt answering you, so first you put him into the recovery position to prevent any other problems happening, then you shout out through the house. "Terry!? Johnny?! Chozen?!" But there was no answer. You walk around the house, careful not to step on any broken pieces of art work, and that's when you can see something though the large glass window.

Terry is outside by the pool, and he is attacking Chozen with a samurai sword! And it appeared that chozen is fighting back with two sai. "Terry! Stop!" You scream at the top of your lungs, but neither of them hear you. That's when you see Chozen sweep Terry by his feet and Terry falls into the water, with Chozen holding his sai to Terry's throat. You were terrified for both of them, you couldn't let this happen. You ran towards the glass door, still shouting to them to stop, and Chozen was about to kill Terry when you ran towards them. "Please stop!" Chozen looks away for just a second and sees you running towards them. But that's where everything goes wrong.

Everything happened so quickly, and Terry couldn't hear you or see you behind Chozen. You managed to run to Chozen just in time to push him away from Terry, but.... what you didnt see, was Terry grabbing his samurai sword from the water and swinging it upwards to attack Chozen. But you had pushed Chozen out of the way, and that split second that Terry didnt see you, his sword swung up and sliced right across your arm causing a large and very painfull cut all the way from your lower arm, all the way to your shoulder. The pain was excruciating and you fell to your knees as grabbed your arm screaming in pain as blood flowed from your arm.

"Y/N!" Terry screamed, he threw his sword away and tried to get up to help you, but Chozen stopped him. "You dont touch her Silver! What have you done to her!" Your clutching on desperately to your arm, but the pain is getting worse and blood is pouring from your arm into the water below, and your crying tears of pure pain. "Sweetheart! Im-Im so sorry I- I didnt mean to-" He tries to reach out to you as he is filled with guilt, but you scream at him. "Dont touch me!" He takes a step back from you, his eyes are filled with pain and tears run down his cheeks as he realizes what he has done, to the only person who has ever loved him, his soul mate.

"I begged you to stop this Terry! I begged you to stop this war with everyone but you wouldnt listen to me! I told you that something bad would happen! That someone was going to get hurt, but I didnt think you would do this! To me!" His eyes are pouring out with tears of shame, he cant belive he has done this to you, but your also crying, but tears of pain. "Come on Y/N, I take you to hospital, they help you there" Chozen said as he ripped a part of his shirt and wrapped it around your arm, before helping you to your feet. ""Sweetheart please, let me help you, I'm so sorry I never meant to hurt you, please-" "You have done enough Silver! I take her to hospital, and you should feel shame for what you have done" You give Terry one last tear filled look before being lead out of the house by Chozen, and Terry falls to his knees and cries harder than he ever had before. He hides his face in his hands as he screams out in pain at what he has done. He loved you with all of his heart and soul and his heart smashed into pieces, knowing that he has hurt you, scared you for life, and probably lost the only person who has or would ever loved him.

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Karate Kid Part II (1986)

The Karate Kid Part II has just enough scenes to make it a good movie but it’s a disappointment and a major step down from the original film. Unless the latter chapters turn out to be amazing, this is the kind of sequel that belongs in a box set. You would never go out of your way to add it to your shelf but if you just happened to obtain it, you're not sorry.

Six months after the events of the first film, Daniel (Ralph Macchio) and Ali have broken up, and the karate champ is living with Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Morita) while his mother works in Fresno. When Miyagi learns his father is dying, he and Daniel travel to Okinawa Island. There, Miyagi is forced to confront Yukie (Nobu McCarthy) the woman he loved but was forced to leave behind, and his vengeful old rival, Sato (Danny Kamekona).

So much of what made the 1984 film succesful was the budding romance between Daniel and Ali. To see their relationship tossed away in the first scenes of this sequel is frustrating. It doesn’t feel like an organic development at all, more of a “the actress didn’t want to come back again” hole Robert Mark Kamen had to write himself out of. The void does give Daniel the opportunity to get close to a Japanese girl named Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita) - a relationship that parallels the one between Miyagi and Yukie - but it feels rushed. By the time they’re announcing their love for each other, you want to tell them to slow down and quit exaggerating. I mean what’s Daniel going to do? Move to Japan so they can be together?

The best scenes in Part II center around Miyagi and Daniel. Their relationship has evolved since we last saw them. Daniel trusts his mentor - though not completely, as the man is full of wisdom but devilish tricks as well and sometimes, his advice doesn’t seem to make sense. Their time together means they’ve moved on to a point where both can learn from each other. As a pair, the actors are so good and it’s a delight to see Morita in this role again. He’s a great actor, and Miyagi is a great character.

But you probably didn’t come to see a Karate Kid movie for the tender stuff. You want to know about the bad guys and the action. On the upside, this film successfully raises the stakes. Daniel isn’t fighting in a tournament where three hits means victory. He’s going up against Sato’s nephew, Chozen (Yuji Okumoto), a vicious bully who delights in abusing anyone who’s afraid of his uncle - which is basically everyone. You love to hate him (maybe not quite as much as John Kreese or Johnny, who make brief appearances at the beginning of the film) but he also has the worst scene in the entire film and it comes right at the end, single-handedly dropping this movie down at least a half star, maybe even more.

Consistently, The Karate Kid Part II is almost there but not quite. A lot of it feels a little too convenient, or manufactured. As you’re about to write it off, it’ll have a great scene between Daniel and Kumiko, or between Daniel and Miyagi, an unexpected moment of depth, or a pleasant snapshot of Japanese culture. I appreciate the way it shows that anyone - regardless of where they came from or studied - can abuse martial arts, and instead suggests that it’s those with truly “empty hands” who will learn to appreciate the strength and wisdom it provides… but I also question the reason why this movie was made.

Overall, I’ve decided to give The Karate Kid Part II a mild recommendation. It has some laughs and memorable scenes. It’s a treat to see (most) of the characters one more time and you'll appreciate the heightened stakes. The good outweighs the disappointing ending, rushed love plot and lesser story. (On DVD September 24, 2021)

[crimsonblackrose]

.

The sekai taikai people have shown up.

I love how they crash the interview for Silver and Amanda's curtsy with her karate adjacent.

Johnny: We will (win) and when we do I'm going to shove that pony-tail straight up your ass (Amanda starts giggling) You can translate that.

Johnny checking on Miguel and telling him he won't force him to compete, blaming that and himself fully for Miguel running away.

Is this what fatherly advice sounds like?

K.O by Robby, whose just teasing Johnny.

SATO'S PHOTO IS ON THE DOJO WALL NEXT TO MR. MIYAGI!!!! Did Chozen bring that from Okinawa?

Johnny proving he remembers the story. Though it's not the story Daniel planned to tell.

They also showcase the abandoned warehouse. With Sam kicking a watermelon

Sam gets watermelon all over Gunther Braun. And Johnny uses a Rock reference to try and smooth it over and Gunther Braun goes all in on it, apparently Rock is his hero. Gunther Braun: Show me more. Johnny: Yes, sir.

While Robby and Sam show off their ability to balance together on the wheel, Eli leans over to the guy next to him from Sekai Taikai and starts wiggling his eyebrows. What are you doing?

What Johnny told Kreese threw him, so when Tory comes for advice Kreese tells her to do what's best for her. (Good advice)

Tory's mad at Kreese for giving up on the plan after she's gone through so much but his advice is good. Look after yourself. He is trying to do right by her.

The students are inhaling pizza faster than Amanda and Carmen can get them on the table.

I'm pretty sure Amanda's apron says LaRusso American Born Italian Made

Johnny sitting in the living room with Eli, Robby and Miguel to figure out which one wants to fight.

Miggy's little yeah I did that face

Awww Robby and Miguel already talked about it and they picked Hawk.

You know what they used to call me? Twig

Kenny's face lol

Silver shows Kenny the silver bullet, a move that rips the dummy and strikes with enough force between the ribs to take someone's breath away.

Mitch distracted by the girls and the smoothie bar. Hint 3 I think that he won't remain loyal.

Eli's hair is green.

Kenny seeing Robby traded sides and is now talking to Anthony pisses him off.

Hate to say it, but he's right.

Silver did you pay off the ref again?

They didn't show it this time, as slowly as they did in the tournament, but Johnny says Hawk made contact in bounds.

Once again Johnny is right, This is directly after the strike, Kenny isn't out of bounds.

The way the ref looks at Tory then Tory looks at Silver and realizes this game is rigged too.

Kenny grabs Hawk's leg and goes for the knee with his elbow the way once was done to Daniel and has been done a lot in this show, I think Hawk even did or tried to do it to Kenny. Kenny gets a warning for that but Eli says he's okay.

Johnny once again being the fastest to get to a student's side. Miggy's soft: Hawk?

Johnny very softly leans down next to him and asks what's wrong.

Hawk struggling to breathe: I...can't....breathe. Johnny looking around shouting to ask where the medic is

the medic showing up the ref calls it a forfeit even though in the all-valley they literally get a half hour.

They help him up and Hawk leans against Johnny.

It's kind of a mirror to after Sam's loss. Though eventually Daniel stops to stare down SIlver and Johnny continues with Hawk alone.

Tory realized Silver was cheating again and peaced out. Good for her.

Daniel warns Sam that they're fighting dirty and in the background Johnny is sitting and talking to Hawk who the medic is still checking on.

Devon steps onto the mat, surprised she's fighting Sam because Tory left, only to meet Johnny's gaze, seeing him rubbing Hawk's back.

One bonus of having so many sensei's is Johnny can care for his injured students and stay with them.

Ref said no point for a shoulder hit. And everyone is confused because it should be because she got her below the shoulder, and she blocked the point Devon got.

If I was Silver I'd be pissed this guy kept looking at me after every bad call.

Sam has to ensure every point is completely undeniable.

I love that Johnny is cheering from the back with Hawk. One of the unnamed background dojo students puts a hand on Hawk's shoulder as comfort when Cobra Kai gets to qualify.

Our Eagle-fang/miyagi-do dojo also qualifies.

Chozen and Johnny hug...but no one hugs Daniel other than Sam, but that was earlier when she beat Devon. (She also hugged Chozen which was very sweet) (Johnny and him fist bump, and even though it looks like they're going to hug Chozen and Daniel just sort of slap each other's backs/shoulders while staying at a distance) Poor Daniel, all he's ever wanted were hugs from Mr. Miyagi and now pretty much the only one giving him hugs are his family. Y'all need to hug him some more.

Like Johnny runs into join the merriment and cheer on his kids while Daniel just stands alone and stares down Silver.

Awww Johnny looking at their students then stepping forward "We are Miyagi-do" and Daniel looking at him, realizing probably how hard that was, stepping next to and in front of Johnny to say "And we are Eagle fang"

Daniel's speech is so good.

Summary of both their journeys.

Okay, Johnny and Daniel do a sort of side hug back pat after that too. I think both pleased with the other.

I like Eli telling Sam, "Maybe some day we'll both win"

Johnny has plans to take her and Rosa to dinner and a late night movie. That's cute. I love that Johnny also hangs out with Rosa and likes her, especially since Carmen's last two guys hated Rosa.

The way Johnny tells Robby and Miguel that as a way to be like you can use our place to host the celebration. The way Miguel totally gets it and just grins.

Miguel trying to clean up his apartment, the courtyard is already trashed. Robby's sitting on the kitchen counter.

Miguel this is too many people. How did this happen. (Poor boy's first party while his parents are out freaking out. Even though he has permission from Johnny) Moon texted a bunch of people from East Valley.

Sam ubered there.

I would like to point out, technically Sam and Miguel are broken up and she's made no notice of anything that they might be back together.

I do love that every time in this show someone tries to escape unnoticed (Usually Johnny) something keeps them from letting that happen. I.e. Sam trying to leave when she catches Miguel and a random girl kissing.

I think Chris puts two and two together when Miguel calls after her and Sam runs off in tears.

Tory coming to tell the truth about the All Valley

[teachesdiscipline]

SOMETHING THAT DOESN’T GO UNNOTICED BY VANESSA, OLEN, JOHNNY, DANIEL, CHOZEN OR WADE IS THE LIVELY CHATTER COMING FROM—& THE HAPPINESS ROLLING OFF FROM—THE MIYAGI-DO & EAGLE FANG STUDENTS IN WAVES. thanks to amanda's, sam's, ethan's, & robby's combined efforts, daniel has a reinstated passion for karate. it's wonderful to see. ( she’s also incredibly relieved; she wasn’t sure if anything else other than this effort would have successfully worked. vanessa’s not fully sure what was said specifically, but it all turned out okay. better than okay, even. )

vanessa makes her way over to robby, lucienne & olen. the two adults are quietly talking with him over near the koi pond. olen’s expression is friendly, which is a good—great, even—sign. they hadn’t been talking about anything serious. ❝ hi robby, olen, & lucienne, ❞ vanessa greets all three of them, but she’s particularly smiling at @taughtpain. ❝ i hope i’m not interrupting anything. ❞ her eyes flash towards olen & lucienne for confirmation. the latter quickly reassures her that they were just chatting, & the interruption is fine with her—with both of them, olen adds, because they were just finishing up. ❝ i just wanted to say that i'm really happy you decided to rejoin miyagi-do, ❞ vanessa begins, her cadence warm & friendly. she places a gentle hand on the teen's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

for a few seconds, her eyes flicker towards a certain ( clearly ecstatic ) brunet standing with miguel, sam, emma, seth, paze, hawk, charlie, rhydian, calla & chase in a big circle on the grass near the fence, donning a soft smile. he’s holding paze’s hand gently, & vanessa’s smile widens as she hears him laugh at something charlie jokes about. for the first time in weeks, her son doesn’t look as weighed down anymore, not like he had ( even if there’s a new sort of haunted look in his eyes, he’s no longer locking himself away in his apartment for weeks on end, or only having auryn for company ). her other students are scattered through the dojo in their own little, broken-off groups, talking quietly with each other. ethan keeps sneaking glances at robby, & without fail, his expression goes so soft & warm. it feels like vanessa’s going to burst into putty… & it’s not even directed at her.

in her alternate life where wade’s deadpool & ethan’s kidpool, she wasn’t even sure if her younger, blonder son was capable of feeling romantic love—he’d been learning emotions, & restraint, & how to actually be human. but when he saw robby on the television screen for the first time, his eyes had widened. he immediately he’d stopped everything he was doing to fixate on the screen. his eyes never left the tv as he clung onto every word that was said, every time the camera cut to robby… she knew she was so wrong. in fact, she’s more than happy to admit she was wrong. borderline giddy, even. obviously, her older, brunet & much taller son proved her even further wrong. ( it’s the best kind of feeling, watching her son fall for & be so wholly encapsulated by his love & devotion for robby. )

❝ i can tell eth in particular is. ❞ she adds softly, then winks at robby with a slight chuckle. olen nods his head in agreement. while his dynamic with johnny isn’t at all smooth, he’s not faking his relief in the fact that robby rejoined miyagi-do, too. & he can see how happy robby makes ethan. ❝ definitely. ❞ olen adds lightly, then quickly excuses himself to go make sure that uriah & merrick aren’t going to start doing something chaotic to ruin the good mood… or pull ethan away from the circle he’s in so they can add to the chaotic shenanigans, that they’re undoubtedly going to get into together. vanessa watches olen & lucienne leave to go be with their son & student, but then her eyes are pulled away from them, & towards her son & his friends instead.

ethan has let go of paze’s hand to attempt to ruffle charlie’s hair, much to his annoyance. she watches as the two of them step a little away from the group—probably so they don’t accidentally hit anyone in their friendly scuffle. the senseis & the students watch on, smiling or egging one of the boy’s on with their words of encouragement. daniel rolls his eyes over near the dojo doors, but there’s a smile on his face. johnny barks at them to quit being so damn noisy. wade laughs out loud. vanessa already knows what’s going to happen before it does, & boy, does it: wade quickly follows in ethan’s footsteps, trying to mess up johnny’s hair, his quickness causing johnny to go on the defensive—& vanessa chuckles. like father, like son.

finally, vanessa turns her attention back to robby. she carefully pulls her hand away from his shoulder, & she doesn’t look away from his eyes. her next words are quiet, so no one overhears them. ❝ um, do you know if everything is okay with..? ❞ she subtly motions towards ethan, who laughs as he successfully takes charlie down to the grass.

❝ point, wilson! ❞ he cheers boisterously, & charlie huffs. their friends laugh loudly, congratulating ethan for the calculated but swift—according to chase—takedown. vanessa feels pride swell up in her bones, but her concern for her son’s mental health is written all over her face.

[thornyrose463]

Exposed (Cobra Kai story): Chapter 6

At the airport, Terry greeted Kim Da-Eun, the granddaughter of Master Kim Sun-Yung, who had brought along some of the best instructors from her dojang at his request. “Sensei Kim Da-Eun. Welcome to the Valley. How was your flight?”

“Last minute. Is Sensei Kreese not with you?” Kim asked.

“I'm afraid John Kreese is no longer with Cobra Kai. He had some legal troubles.” Terry said.

“That is disappointing to hear. You asked me to bring the best senseis my dojang had to offer. I have done so.” Kim said.

“You must be exhausted from your trip. There are refreshments in the limo.” Terry said.

Terry led Kim and the other senseis to a limo.

“Limousines and private planes. This sort of extravagance might impress your former shareholders, but it does not hold sway for me.” Kim said.

“That attitude is exactly why I wanted you to teach at my dojos. I need you to see which of my students are ready to take the next step. I'm offering you full autonomy to test my students your way. Just one of the many perks you'll have as my business partner in Cobra Kai.” Terry said.

“Your offer is very tempting, but I did not get on the plane for money.” Kim said.

“50 percent is just a number. What I'm offering you is legacy. Your grandfather didn't teach American soldiers the Way of the Fist just to use on the battlefield. We have to share his style with the world.” Terry responded.

“And you think your American students are up to the task?” Kim asked.

“I do.” Terry said.

“We shall see.” Kim responded.

Everyone got in the limo.

The limo drove down the road.

Amanda, Chozen, and Johnny were sitting at the LaRusso family’s kitchen table.

Sam was standing in front of the counter, pouring milk into a bowl of cereal.

“It has been a week. The longer we wait...” Johnny trailed off.

Chozen spoke. “We must let Daniel-san heal.”

“Chozen's right. I want to do something too, but we can't just go after Silver without…” Amanda trailed off.

Daniel walked into the kitchen.

Sam spoke in a surprised voice. “Dad.” 

Daniel’s eyes landed on Johnny.

"Johnny, what are you doing here?" Daniel asked.

"Figuring out how to make Silver pay for what he did to you." Johnny said.

"What's with the suit?" Amanda asked.

Daniel sighed. "I can't wear my pajamas to LaRusso Auto, can I?"

"You're going to work?" Amanda asked.

“Daniel-san, we need to make plans...” Chozen trailed off.

“Guys, I appreciate the sentiment. I do. But I'm out of this thing with Silver. If he wants the Valley, he can have it. I'm done with karate.” Daniel said.

“What do you mean you're done with karate?” Johnny asked.

“Must not give up.” Chozen told Daniel.

“I am giving up. Trying to go toe-to-toe with Silver was a mistake. It almost cost me my family. I'm not making that mistake again.” Daniel said.

“Daniel, we're with you.” Amanda said. “You don't have to stop fighting.”

“Yes, I do. I became a sensei to help kids. Instead, I'm making everyone's lives worse.” Daniel said.

“What are you talking about, man? You did help kids.” Johnny said.

“Want me to make a list of how many ways they're hurting because of this, including my daughter? Ask Robby how much I've helped him.” Daniel responded.

Johnny sighed.

“You know, growing up, I never understood why Mr. Miyagi walked away from a fight. But I understand now. It's not our job to fight the monsters of the world. Not anymore.” Daniel said.

Daniel walked away.

A police officer led Tory to the visitation room at the prison. “Kreese, your granddaughter's here.”

Tory sat across from Kreese. "Hi, Grandpa."

“Hi, granddaughter. How'd our little sting pan out?” Kreese asked.

“Not the way we hoped. Sensei Silver didn't even bat an eye. He has just been focused on expanding the dojos.” Tory said.

“That's unfortunate. Is there something else?” Kreese asked.

“Yeah. Mr. LaRusso got hurt because of us.” Tory said. 

Kreese chuckled. “Well, that's one enemy gone. When I get out of here, I'll take care of the other.”

“You don't care about what happened?” Tory asked.

“He was a means to an end.” Kreese said.  

“Is that what I am?” Tory asked.

“Of course not. You and I are the only ones who can trust each other.” Kreese said.

“How much longer do I have to stay at the dojo?” Tory asked.

“I know how difficult it is to be behind enemy lines, but I need you there for a little longer. I’ve got a plan to get out of this place.” Kreese said.

“You do?” Tory asked.

“Yeah. I'm going to play the good soldier, which is what I need you to do. So, do whatever Silver says, but keep your eyes and ears open. Now, he's smart, but he'll slip. And that will be the opening we need. Can you handle that?” Kreese asked.

“Yes, Sensei.” Tory said.

“Good.” Kreese said.

With Eagle Fang having closed, Devon had joined Topanga Karate. She was shocked when Terry and his entourage entered the dojo unannounced. After greeting Terry, Sensei Rosenthal informed his students that the dojo was now under new management. He was taken aback when Terry replaced him with Kim and Hyan-Woo. He argued that this was not part of the deal. Terry ignored him and addressed the Topanga students, claiming their new leadership would mold them into winners. As the Topanga students assimilated into Cobra Kai, Terry started to leave with Tory, but Kim insisted that she stay, intending to use her to test the Topanga students.

Johnny was shocked that Daniel would surrender so easily. “I don't get it. ‘No be there’ is one thing, but LaRusso letting Silver win?”

“That walking oil spill got into Daniel's head in a way I didn't think was possible. He'll come around. He just needs time.” Amanda said.

“Do not have much time. Silver's empire growing every day.” Chozen said.

“Sure, but…” Amanda paused. “I mean, the Valley only has so many kids. How many new dojos can he open?”

“He's not just opening new ones. He's taking over other dojos now too.” Sam said.

Sam pulled out her cell phone and showed Amanda, Chozen, and Johnny a video of Terry’s takeover of Topanga Karate.

“When did this happen?” Johnny asked.

“It's live. It's happening now.” Sam said.

“Perfect. I'm going to go down there and beat his ponytailed ass.” Johnny said.

“You can't march there like a one-man army.” Amanda told Johnny.

“The hell I can't. Guy's whole M.O. is hiding in the dark, waiting for us to fall into his traps. Right now, we know where he is. He's not on his home turf.” Johnny said.

A modus operandi, commonly abbreviated as M.O., was a term used to describe an individual’s or group's usual way of doing something. It was a Latin term, roughly translated as “mode of operating.”

“Chozen, please say something to him.” Amanda pleaded.

“Amanda-san is right. One-man army not good.” Chozen said.

“Thank you.” Amanda said.

“I come with you.” Chozen said.

“That's not what I meant.” Amanda said.

“You do know this isn't some kata competition, right?” Johnny asked Chozen.

“Hai.” Chozen said.

“Is that a yes?” Johnny asked.

Chozen sighed.

“I don't understand how this is going to help Dad.” Sam said.

“I don't know, Sam. At this point, I'm not sure what will.” Amanda said.

At the prison, a group of inmates mocked Kreese about his age and stole his lunch. The leader of the group told Kreese that he would give him his Jell-O from now on.

Kreese was in a therapist’s office.

The therapist’s name was Emily Folsom.

Emily was holding a notebook and a pen.

“One thing that really surprised me was how easy it was to get along with all the other men.” Kreese said. 

“Is that so?” Emily asked.

Emily wrote something in her notebook.

“I didn't realize you were making friends in here.” Emily said.

“Yeah, well, I make friends pretty easily. I find that a little kindness goes a long way.” Kreese said. 

“Mmm. I'm happy to hear that you're doing well with the others. Not all prisoners your age have the same experience. They're usually easy targets.” Emily said.

Kreese chuckled. “Well, I'm made of stronger stuff. You could throw me right through a window, and I wouldn't even get a scratch. Emotionally speaking, of course.”

“Of course.” Emily said.

Emily glanced at the clock on the wall.

“Oh, looks like our time is up.” Emily said.

Kreese chuckled. “Oh, we were just getting into a groove. Well...Thanks, Doc. I really enjoy our time together.”

“Me too. You're not just sweet-talking me to get a good recommendation, are you?” Emily asked.

“Oh, of course not. I just find these sessions so very helpful.” Kreese lied.

At the Topanga dojo, Kim ordered the students to pair up and practice their knife-strikes. Devon found herself without a partner and had to practice her knife-strikes on a training dummy. When Tory walked by, Devon told her to keep walking. Tory observed her poor technique and told her she would break her hand if she hit someone like that. She showed Devon how to do a proper knife-strike. 

“Why are you in that gi? Don't think you have what it takes to join Cobra Kai?” Tory asked.

“I'm still deciding whether your dojo has what it takes to earn me.” Devon said.

“Guess you forgot who kicked your ass at the tournament.” Tory said.

Devon scoffed. “Please. That ref was blind. He gave you a point when I was out of bounds.”

“Why are you here?” Tory asked.

“My mom always said the only way you really lose is by giving up.” Devon said.

“Sounds smart.” Tory said.

“She was.” Devon said.

Tory was sympathetic. “I'm sorry.”

“For what? You didn't do anything. I'd love to kick cancer's ass, though.” Devon said.

“Yeah. I know how you feel. But you have to take all that anger and put it into your fist.” Tory told Devon.

Kim decided to end the exercise.

Kim yelled something in Korean. It translated to “Stop.”

“I have seen enough. You have used your strength to train each other. Now you will use your strength against each other. Nichols, get them ready.” Kim ordered.

Johnny and Chozen were in a parking lot.

Johnny was holding a bottle of beer. 

“You didn't have to come. I can handle this.” Johnny said.

“Not likely. Silver very dangerous.” Chozen said. 

“Yeah, I know. I'm ready for him. I can be dangerous too.” Johnny said.

Chozen chuckled. “Daniel-san told me how dangerous you can be.”

“Did he mention how I kicked his ass back in high school?” Johnny asked.

“I robbed him while he was on date.” Chozen said.

Johnny smirked. “Oh, yeah? I pushed him down a cliff.”

Johnny took a sip of his beer.

Chozen spoke dramatically. “I fight him to death!”

“Oh, yeah? What are you? A ghost or something?” Johnny asked.

Chozen chuckled.

“No. Daniel-san showed me mercy.” Chozen said.

“Yeah, sounds like LaRusso. Man, he was such a twerp back then.” Johnny said. 

“Real pain in ass. But he always fight for what he believe.” Chozen said.

“He never backed down from a fight, even when he should have. A few months ago, I saw him take on an entire hockey team. Five-on-one. He beat 'em all.” Johnny said.

“I saw him save young girl from typhoon.” Chozen said.

“He took a man down with a single strike to his pressure point.” Johnny said.

“Who do you think teach him that?” Chozen asked.

Johnny and Chozen arrived at the Topanga dojo.

“We're here.” Johnny said.

Through the window, Johnny saw Devon training alongside the Cobra Kai students.

“Devon? What the hell?” Johnny asked.

Johnny was about to walk into the dojo, but Chozen stopped him.

“What are you doing?” Chozen asked.

“One of my students is in there.” Johnny said.

“Not here for student. Here for Silver. Must wait for right time. Run into den of lions, you will get eaten.” Chozen said.

“Fine. We'll wait.” Johnny said.

At the prison, Kreese received a letter saying that his petition for early release had been denied.

Kreese walked into Emily’s office.

“Doc! I just got a letter from the warden. I think something went wrong with your recommendation.” Kreese said.

“Really? It felt accurate to me.” Emily said.

Kreese chuckled. “Yeah, but you're recommending against my petition for early release. Why? I thought we were making great strides.”

“John, cut the crap.” Emily told Kreese.

“Excuse me?” Kreese asked.

“You think this is my first day? I know the difference between a breakthrough and saying what I want to hear.” Emily said.

“I had no other option. The court assigned me some bullshit attorney who was in over his head.” Kreese said.

“If you want to get out early, you really need to think about why you're here in the first place. I'm free all morning tomorrow if you'd like to chat. That should be plenty of time for us to dig deep.” Emily said.

At the Topanga dojo, Kim devised a new exercise for Tory and Devon: placing a piece of bamboo on a table and telling Tory to use any means necessary to stop Devon from taking it. When Tory failed to do, Kim chastised her for holding back and demanded that she try again. Although Tory successfully thwarted each of Devon's attempts thereafter, Kim ordered her to strike Devon harder each time, ultimately leaving Devon crumpled on the mat. After Kim dismissed the class, Devon ran out of the dojo in humiliation.

A petulant Kreese was in Emily’s office. His arms were crossed.

Emily was sitting across from Kreese. She was holding her notebook and pen.

“All right, enough of this. You're sitting here sulking like a kid who got in trouble in class.” Emily said.

“What do you want me to do? Cry into a tissue?” Kreese retorted.

Emily spoke derisively. “I thought you were a sensei.”

“I am a sensei,” Kreese growled.

“Then act like one! Look, I'm not here to scold you. I'm here to help. I believe that deep down, you're a good man. I don't believe that you were always this violent a person.” Emily said.

Kreese was shocked that Emily called him a good man.

Emily transformed into Betsy.

Betsy was Kreese’s girlfriend before he was drafted for the Vietnam War.  

“I think something happened in your past,” Betsy said kindly.

Kreese was shocked to see Betsy. He leaned forward and spoke softly. “I did lose someone. Years ago.”

“Who was she?” Betsy asked.

Kreese smiled sadly. “The love of my life.”

“I'm sorry to hear that, John. Where were you when it happened?” Betsy asked.

Kreese frowned. “Overseas. Her death allowed me to do what I had to do.”

Betsy transformed into George Turner.

George Turner was Kreese’s commanding officer during the Vietnam War.

George sneered at Kreese. “Whatever it took to save yourself.”

“Don't judge me like those long-haired hippies. It was war!” Kreese yelled.

George looked at Kreese in disdain. “Oh, but that violence followed you home. I read your file. After Vietnam, you became a sensei, opened a dojo, taught kids how to fight.”

“I taught them to be strong! To take the anger they feel and turn it into power!” Kreese yelled.

George burst into laughter.

“I’ve had enough of this!” Kreese yelled.

Kreese got out of his chair and walked towards the door.

“What an interesting choice of words.”

Kreese turned around and saw that George had transformed into Terry.

“Take the anger they feel. Do you feel angry, John? At who?” Terry asked.

Kreese walked towards Terry.

“The people that put me in this cage!” Kreese yelled.

“But you did this to yourself.” Terry said.

Kreese leaned down and looked into Terry’s eyes.

“Don't be ridiculous. None of it is my fault. I did nothing wrong!” Kreese yelled.

Terry transformed into Tory.

“So, you don't feel any regret?” Tory sounded disappointed.

Kreese took a step back.

“Regret?” Kreese asked.

Kreese sat across from Tory.

Kreese appeared to be deep in thought. “Tell me…What exactly am I supposed to feel regret for?”

Tory transformed into a teenaged version of Johnny.

“The people you've hurt.” The teenaged version of Johnny said.

Because of his affection for Johnny, which was buried deep inside of him, Kreese appeared to regret his actions.

Kreese’s eyes were locked on the teenaged version of Johnny. The teenaged version of Johnny was looking at him in disappointment.

“I wasn't trying to hurt anyone. I was trying to make my students tough.” Kreese said.

The teenaged version of Johnny looked at Kreese scornfully. “You wanted them all to be like you.”

Kreese shook his head. “No. I wanted them all to be better than me.”

The teenaged version of Johnny transformed into present-day Johnny.

Present-day Johnny smiled, as if to say Kreese had a breakthrough.

Present-day Johnny transformed into Emily.

“I know you can be better than the person you've become. He's locked inside you. Somewhere deep.” Emily said.

Emily transformed into Kreese’s younger self.

Kreese’s younger self smiled. “You just have to find him.”

Kreese looked grateful for his breakthrough. He smiled at his younger self.

Johnny and Chozen walked into the Topanga dojo and found themselves pitted against Hyan-Woo. They struggled individually, but they managed to overcome Hyan-Woo together.

Kim arrived with the rest of the Cobra Kai senseis.

“Enough! You must be Chozen Toguchi. Far from your pathetic little island, aren't you? And I'm surprised to see Daniel LaRusso has healed from his injuries so quickly.” Kim said.

“What? I'm not Daniel LaRusso. I look nothing like him.” Johnny said.

“Silver must answer for what he has done,” Chozen growled.

“You bark like your blond dog.” Kim said.

“I do more than bark, trust me.” Johnny responded.

“You wish to fight?” Kim asked.

“Joon-bee.” Kim told the other Cobra Kai senseis.

The other Cobra Kai senseis stood with their fists by their sides.

Johnny appeared eager to continue the fight.

“Too much advantage. Their dojo. We fight when time is right.” Chozen told Johnny.

Johnny looked at Kim. “We're not going to let you take the Valley.”

“We already did.” Kim said.

“You think you did.” Johnny responded.

Chozen and Johnny walked out of the dojo.

Devon arrived at Cobra Kai’s flagship dojo. She was wearing a black long-sleeved gi with the Cobra Kai symbol on the back. She told Tory that she beat her on the mat but she only lost if she gave up. Terry informed Tory that Devon reached out to him after class the previous day and asked to join Cobra Kai, intending to learn more from Tory. 

“She failed the test. She ran away.” Tory said.

“The test was not for her. It was for you. I wanted to see how much strength you had in your heart to accomplish what you need to do.” Kim said.

“And what's that?” Tory asked.

“Something greater than you could ever imagine.” Terry said.

Amanda, Sam, Johnny, and Chozen were in the LaRusso family’s kitchen.

Chozen spoke. “It is obvious Silver has plan.”

Johnny spoke. “Now he has these international ringers. Son of a bitch refuses to fight fair.”

Chozen spoke. “All have trained under Silver's master, Kim Sun-Yung. I defeated six senseis from Valley by myself. It took two of us to stand against just one.”

Johnny spoke. “Still think we could have taken 'em. Give me nunchucks, and it's lights out.”

Amanda held up her hand. “Okay, let's take a breath before we start entertaining assault with deadly weapons. Chozen, you're still new around here, and no offense, Johnny, but strategy isn't exactly your forte. You're more of a...Blunt instrument.”

Johnny took Amanda’s words as a compliment. “Thank you.”

"If we're going to mount a resistance, we're going to need Daniel to lead it." Amanda said.

"You heard him. He clearly doesn't want to fight anymore." Johnny said.

"I thought I was done fighting too. But I was wrong. I thought the same as Dad. I felt like karate just made everything worse for everyone. I've even got the scars to prove it. But years from now, if my scars have faded, the lessons that I learned, Mr. Miyagi's lessons…” Sam paused. “They’ll be more powerful than the first time I put on a gi. Dad was right. Mr. Miyagi avoided a fight whenever possible. But he also fought when he had to. And if he were here right now, I think he would tell Dad that this a fight we can't walk away from."

"Well, Daniel may not have Mr. Miyagi to rely on anymore, but he has us." Amanda said.

At the prison, Kreese was reading in his cell. The door opened. The group of inmates who had mocked him for his age wanted their Jell-O cups. The leader of the group punched Kreese, knocking him down. Kreese stood up. He delivered a vicious beating to the group as the rest of the prisoners cheered him on. Having successfully taken back his power, he ordered the leader of the group to give him his Jell-O from now on.

Amanda parked her and Daniel’s car in front of Mr. Miyagi’s house.

"What are we doing here? I thought we were heading home." Daniel said.

"Uh, we just have to make a quick stop." Amanda unbuckled her seatbelt. "Come on."

Daniel sighed before unbuckling his seatbelt and following Amanda into the house.

Amanda led Daniel to Mr. Miyagi’s room.

"Amanda, I can't go in there." Daniel said.

Amanda rubbed Daniel’s arm. “Hey. It's okay. You're hurting right now. But I want you to heal. And I'm right here.”

Daniel sighed.

Daniel walked into the room. Amanda followed him.

"It's like a time capsule in here." Daniel said.

"The night before we got married, I was so nervous. I came here to see Mr. Miyagi. He sat down, poured me a cup of tea…And some saké." Amanda said.

Saké was an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin made by fermenting rice that had been polished to remove the bran.

Daniel chuckled.

"And we talked about you. He loved you so much, Daniel. He said, 'Amanda-san, in life, always easier to hide head in sand.' He told me you could be a bit of a handful sometimes. That you would always fight for what you believed in. And there was nothing you believed in more than your family and friends. And what I believe in now is standing up to Terry Silver. It's the right thing to do for you, for me, for our family. Sorry it took me so long to realize." Amanda said.

"That means the world to me, Amanda. But what if standing up to Sliver just make things worse again? Every time I try to fight for what's right, somebody gets hurt. I can't fail these kids again." Daniel said.

Robby and Sam walked into the room.

"You didn't fail me. Sam and my dad told me and Sarah what was going on. You know, when you met me, I was a messed up kid. But you gave me a job. And a home. And a purpose. You can't just give up.” Robby told Daniel.

Amanda walked out of the room.

Daniel walked towards Robby and Sam.

“Robby, the things I did…Juvie…I was…I was just trying to help you.” Daniel said.

"No, I'm…I'm sorry. I should have listened to you about Cobra Kai. But I didn't understand until I started mentoring someone myself. Now Silver has a hold on this kid. There are some others in there I care about too…And…Uh, we need to stop Cobra Kai. But we can't do it without you, Sensei." Robby said.

Daniel and Robby chuckled.

"Dad, not everyone has someone like you to protect them and teach them. It's time that all of us join this fight." Sam said.

"All of us?" Daniel asked.

Sam and Robby led Daniel to the backyard. Daniel’s eyes landed on the Miyagi-Do students, the Eagle Fang students, Amanda, Johnny, and Chozen.

"You're not alone anymore." Sam said.

"So, what do you say, Mr. LaRusso? Will you fight?" Sarah asked.

Sarah was wearing a red t-shirt with horizontal white stripes, light blue denim jeans, and red low-top Vans sneakers with white laces. Her naturally straight blonde hair was down. She had on a light amount of black eyeliner, a light amount of black mascara, and soft brown eyeshadow. Her lip balm was a pretty peach colour.

Daniel glanced at Amanda, the Miyagi-Do students, and the Eagle Fang students. Amanda, the Miyagi-Do students, and the Eagle Fang students bowed. Daniel looked at Johnny and Chozen, who nodded. Daniel, Johnny, and Chozen bowed.

[amorphousgenderlesscryptid]

Crazy Ideas

Daniel recognizes the head of spiky black hair as soon as it enters the banquet hall. “Baby,” he says, patting Terry’s arm, “I think one of my friends just got here. I’m going to say hi, I’ll be right back.”

Terry smiles, looking the most content Daniel’s ever seen him. “Don’t be too long.”

“I won’t.” Daniel gives his husband (husband, he still can’t believe it) a kiss before stepping away.

As he walks across the room, he spots Johnny standing by himself, nursing a drink and staring forlornly at Ali and Susan dancing. An idea pops into Daniel’s head. It’s probably crazy – but, his last crazy impulse did end with getting married to the love of his life. What’s the worst that could happen?

“Johnny!” Daniel makes a detour to grab his friend by the elbow. “Come over here.”

Johnny sputters around a mouthful of scotch. “What, why?”

“There’s someone I want you to meet!”

Johnny lets Daniel drag him along, complaining the whole way. It takes them awhile to get through the crowd, but finally they reach the entrance where Daniel had spotted the familiar figure.

“Chozen!”

Chozen walks over as soon as he spots them. “Daniel-san,” he says, shaking Daniel’s hand, “I am sorry I missed the ceremony. My flight –”

Daniel waves his hand. “Don’t worry about it, just glad you’re here! We’ve got a lot of catching up to do. But first –” He tugs Johnny forward. “I want you to meet Johnny Lawrence, an old friend of mine from high school. Johnny, this is Chozen Toguchi, an old friend of mine from Okinawa.”

Johnny is looking at Chozen, slightly slack jawed. “I uh – hey.” He holds out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Chozen takes his hand, staring back with steely intensity. “And you.”

Daniel rubs a hand over his jaw to hide his grin. “Johnny, how ‘bout you show Chozen where to get a drink? I need to talk to Terry about something, see you both later?”

Quietly, he slips away, heading back to where he left his husband, feeling quite pleased with himself. Man, he had some good crazy ideas.

[zappedbyzabka]

The lawgusso kick has gotten to me once again

Johnny has a huge bratty side and it gets him in some real trouble. Most times though, he's only bratty when he feels like riling up his husbands. Johnny feels like having a rough night, but Daniel and Chozen are being affectionate and slow. So, Johnny doesn't listen to them when they kindly ask him to get on his knees.

"Cmon Johnny, don't be difficult." Daniel presses a kiss to his neck. Johnny grumbles, he's being difficult on purpose, he needs to be used tonight, he wants it. He wants them to take him from the living room to the bedroom and tie him up or spitroast him.

"Be good for us." whispers Chozen, stroking Johnny's hair, obviously trying to persuade him to obey. Johnny wishes instead that Chozen would grab his hair and pull, that Daniel would bite his neck instead of pepper little kisses. Johnny wiggles away from their grasps and leaves to the bedroom, hoping that it would get under their skin. It did.

"Johnny, what the hell?" Daniel asks as he enters the room, Chozen quiet behind him. Johnny shrugs, doesn't say a word. He knows he's going to get what he wants, even when he doesn't want to directly ask for it.

Johnny hears Chozen shuffling through some drawers, a very familiar sound. Then he sees his favorite thing: a soft yet firm rope. Chozen steps forward.

"Hands." Johnny puts his hands behind his back and keeps them together. He feels Chozen tie them up, tightening them for the perfect pressure.

"You've been very disobedient." Chozen frowns at him. Daniel nods in agreement.

"Like we said. Knees, now." Daniel orders. Johnny wants to resist again, but from the look in both his husbands eyes, they’re already going to give it to him roughly. Johnny, with some help from Daniel, gets to his knees, looking up at Chozen and Daniel. They undress and Chozen slides into Johnny’s mouth first, going faster than he usually would. Johnny still isn’t satisfied. He pulls off.

“Stop going easy on me.“

“Don’t want to hurt Johnny.” Chozen says. Daniel comes up to Johnny and holds his face:

“You want it to hurt, don’t you?” He asks. Johnny looks away. He loves riling them up but doesn’t have the guts to say it out loud, to say he likes the pain.

“Answer.” Chozen reaches his hand into Johnny’s hair and tugs lightly, drawing a whimper from his mouth.

“Fuck. Fuck- yeah. I… I want you guys to rough me up.” Johnny finally admits. He feels like a weight has been lifted from himself. But a new weight is in his mouth now. Chozens fucking his face like he wants, tugging at his hair. Johnny moans, going pliant, embracing the side of him thats grown to love being hurt by his husbands, because he knows they still care for him after, if Chozen and Daniels constant checks are any indication.

Sometime after Chozen decides to stop, Johnny is maneuvered onto the bed and untied from the ropes. He frowns at the loss of being useless until he sees Daniel pull out their cuffs. Now Johnny knows they’re getting into it. Johnny ends up cuffed to the ends of the bedposts, almost immobile, with some slack for his safety.

Then, Johnny’s mind goes blank, with his only thought being pleasure. Daniel’s pulling at his nipples, biting Johnny’s neck to leave marks that will last for at least a week. Meanwhile, Chozen is slamming into Johnny’s hole and once he cums inside him, he starts fingering it back in. Johnny’s overstimulated but it feels so good and he doesn’t care, he likes the feeling, and of course, both his husbands ask him once more if he’s okay.

And when it’s all over, when every pleasurable pain is given to Johnny, he blacks out. Johnny swims in the wonderful feeling. He wakes up later to free hands, with little marks from the handcuffs he had been pulling on. He presses into them and whines, partially from discomfort but mostly from that little burn that makes Johnny’s brain go off the rails.

Chozen and Daniel notice how Johnny presses the bruises on his neck as well, letting his touch linger to draw out the feeling. They know sometimes Johnny likes being hurt and they respect that. Still, whenever they get rough, they cook Johnny food after and tend to his every need. And if Johnny ever asks why, Chozen and Daniel explain:

“Because you are special. Precious to us, Johnny.”

“You’re ours, and we take care of what’s ours. We want you to be safe.”

(got sucked into the fluff for a moment there-)

This is so sweet and hot❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Makes me think, what if Johnny was trying to make them jealous in this scene⬇️

Perhaps hoping to be fucked roughly for flirting 👀

[desolateice]

This would’ve been chapter 91 and the start of chapter 92 for Root Beer Floats and Green Tea. Like I said before, originally I’d written a lot in this section and then scrapped it. Some of it may be familiar because I did reuse parts and I am kind of bummed because I feel like I enjoyed a lot of the cobra interactions here. But I went a different direction when I published. You can read the previous to chapters (what would’ve been chapter 89 and chapter 90 here)

It was morning and Daniel had to find Johnny and explain everything asap. He looked through the garden, in the kitchen, the bathroom, all throughout the house and then hurried out into the lot. There was a black car sitting out front and a man was putting Johnny's things into the trunk. He shut the trunk.

"Hey what are you doing? That's Johnny's," Daniel said.

"Yeah, whole point," said a familiar voice behind him and Daniel spun.

Chozen brushed past him, holding the bonsai that he careful put into the darkened back seat. Johnny was in there, Daniel knew it he just couldn't see him. Couldn't find those blue eyes in the darkness.

"What are you doing here?"

"You broke up with him," Chozen said.

"I didn't-"

"Breaking up, like knife, don't say it if don't mean it, don't hold knife if don't plan to use it," Chozen said shutting the door and leaning against it, blocking Daniel from Johnny.

"You didn't use your knife," Daniel said.

"I did, not to hurt, motivate. So now I come and get Johnny-san. Take somewhere safer. Somewhere peaceful and quiet. Johnny-san like Okinawa, take to Okinawa. Far from your," Chozen waved his hand in a circle towards Daniel. "danger."

Daniel stepped forward, "Just let me talk to him."

"Change mind too late, should've caught self before saying it."

"I don't want him to get hurt,"

"Too late."

"You hurt him too!"

"Accident. You led him straight to enemy. Straight to Kreese. Didn't fight back, didn't fight for him," Chozen pushed off the car and pointed a finger at Daniel. "I warned you. You didn't listen. I said You take Johnny-san into dojo, but not defeat his enemies. They will come back. Must squash like bugs. His enemies will become yours. Old sensei will come back, bite harder. I was right. Came back. Bit harder. Hurt Johnny-san."

"I didn't mean to. I was learning how to keep him safe."

"And instead became a cobra. Left your dojo and joined other dojo. Betrayed dojo. Betrayed Miyagi. Betrayed Johnny-san. Worst of all betrayed self," Chozen said shaking his head.

"I just wanted to go somewhere else to practice-"

"Excuse. Silver stroked your ego. Thought maybe false things were real. Stranger saw promise. But you're a coward and stranger lied. Silver lied. Learned nothing."

Daniel stepped closer, "I learned plenty."

"How to destroy enemies? It's not Miyagi sensei's way. Did not befriend either. Failed. Failed Johnny-san. Nearly died. Yet you think you should keep him?"

"Yes!" Daniel said. "I was tricked. I was upset because I was scared. I owe him an apology and thanks for- for coming when he did and I'll learn. I'll learn how to stop Kreese next time."

Chozen let out a mirthless laugh. "Did not even try, and think next time, there will not be a next time," He turned and opened the back door.

"Wait," Daniel said rushing forward, heart pounding, if Chozen left with Johnny he'd never see him again.

"Don't worry," Chozen said. "I will treat Johnny-san like prince. Live happy life. Just away from you. Like you wanted."

The door shut and the car drove off.

Daniel ran to the Ford to try and get it started, to give chase, to get Johnny back. But his keys kept slipping out of his hands, he couldn't find them under his seat. He cursed and cursed and tried again and again.

"Daniel, bud, you should wake up," Jimmy said.

Daniel's eyes flicked open and he looked around. Tommy and Jimmy were sitting up in the bed, a warm hand on Daniel's shoulder. Tommy was looking at him worried.

Daniel jumped up and out of the bed. There was no way in hell he was letting Chozen take Johnny away. He darted out of the room ignoring the calls after him. In the garden was a tent.

Johnny. He ran through the grass, it was unzipped and there were beer bottles outside of it that he stepped around. He didn't know what to say, standing awkwardly in the morning dew covered grass.

Fuck it.

He went in, there was a little bit of space between Johnny and Dutch so he wiggled in. Sitting with his legs crossed.

Johnny was holding his bonsai carefully on his chest.

He'd just talk. So he did. Explained meeting Silver. Straight from the start. How he worried about Barnes getting Johnny because Johnny always got hurt, and Daniel was worried it was his fault, his fault that Johnny was getting hurt. He'd seen Johnny get choked by Kreese in the parking lot after the tournament and hadn't done anything. And he should've. And then Chozen. Chozen had hurt him too, had put that knife to Johnny's throat and yeah maybe the guys mentioned that was fake, but the fear was still there. Fear that the next person would succeed. And he had tried to think the best of Silver because he'd known what it was like to loose someone you cared about and he didn't want to loose Johnny.

"Daniel," Dutch groaned slapping Daniel's back. "Quieter man, my brain is gonna leak out of my ears."

Daniel glanced back outside at the bottles sitting out in the grass. Smelled the beer in the air. He lowered his voice. He wasn't going to stop though.

He had thought some of what Silver had said made sense. It was a bit violent but it made sense. Went over those three rules again. They were worse than Cobra Kai. And yeah, that was fucked, he couldn't believe he'd joined Cobra Kai. But he wasn't a full member. He hadn't paid for classes. He'd really just gone to use their dojo because he couldn't keep his hands off of Johnny when they sparred.

"Oh god," Bobby groaned grabbing the blanket and pulling it up over his head.

"If you're praying over there oh holy father, pray for my hangover," Dutch said.

Daniel scooted a little closer to Johnny as he spoke. He'd gotten so much better. He let people touch him again. Let people touch his neck. Didn't run off if something came near his neck. Could handle hugs, and so much more. Tears filled Daniel's eyes. But because of him, because of Daniel they were back to square one. Kreese had tried to kill Johnny again. And Daniel had once again done nothing. He hadn't saved him. He'd wanted to learn how to get stronger to keep Johnny safe. So that there wouldn't be monsters out there in the darkness to get him. So that the next person wouldn't go after him because like when you supposedly are supposed to scare a bear you pretend you're bigger? Well Daniel was just going to be stronger and scarier so they left Johnny alone. And he'd failed. He'd failed horribly. He'd let Silver get in his head and he'd let Kreese get to Johnny. He was so stupid and he was so sorry. He didn't want to break up with Johnny he just didn't want him to get hurt because of Daniel anymore and he'd failed at keeping Johnny safe.

"Does this mean we can't throw Johnny into the pond?" Dutch asked.

Bobby sighed. "I mean I'd feel better if we could throw Johnny in the pond."

"No one is throwing me in the pond," Johnny said.

Daniel leaned forward, over him. "I-I didn't mean to say that. I was so damn scared. But I'm going to beat Mike Barnes and send Silver and Kreese packing and I'll keep you safe. If-If you'll still have me."

Johnny shifted the bonsai carefully off of his chest, blue eyes looking up at him and reached up to brush away Daniel's tears and cupping the side of his face, thumb brushing over his cheek.

"Do you really want to fight Barnes?" Johnny asked softly.

"Yes," Daniel said grabbing Johnny's hand and holding it to his face. "I think it's the only thing that will stop them."

"Dutch," Johnny began.

"Yes," Dutch groaned.

"I didn't even ask anything yet," Johnny whispered. "Mind chaperoning?"

"You mean cockblocking so you two actually spar and don't act like some nature documentary bullshit?"

"Yeah, something like that," Johnny said softly.

He let go of the side of Daniel's face and Daniel nearly grabbed it back, his heart still pounding, still panicking.

Johnny held out his arm. Daniel curled up next to him, pressing in close.

"How about a deal?" Johnny asked.

"A deal?"

"We both worry about the other. Want to keep the other safe," Johnny said. "I feel better about Kreese. So when we destroy Cobra Kai, you can take him. I'll take out Silver."

Daniel pressed his cheek against Johnny's chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heart beat, and wrapping his arms around him.

"We have each others backs instead, like the balance wheel," Johnny whispered, arm coming around him.

"I will, but you- you don't want to break up with me? You don't want to run?" Daniel whispered because he couldn't calm down until they got this out in the open.

"No," Johnny said. "I'm tired of running. I like being...I like-"

Johnny turned rolling onto his side looking at Daniel, arms wrapping gently around him. "I like spending time with you. I like the way you take your favorite mug from me when I make coffee in the morning with both hands and hold it up to your face and breathe in it, and how sometimes you don't seem like you're really awake until that moment. I like how you hum and sing while you cook sometimes and dance, and the way when you're driving you get so distracted when you're talking by the signs we see along the road that remind you of other things. I like the way you hold my hand and I don't want to let that go."

"I'm sorry Johnny, for saying that, for-"

"You were scared."

"Still."

"You'll just have to make it up to me."

"Anything," Daniel breathed.

"One billion kisses," Johnny said.

Bobby and Dutch groaned on either side of them.

"A billion huh? That's, that's a lot."

"Problem Daniel?"

There was that playful spark. The little bit of mischievousness. The panic in his heart quelled.

Daniel licked his lips. "I've got a lot of work to do." He leaned in kissing Johnny.

"You two idiots do know that if the goal is to spar and not be horny messes, that this is going to lead to the exact opposite of that, right?" Bobby asked.

"I'm the one stuck with them, while you're off at college," Dutch complained.

"You're birthday gifts for the rest of your lives are just going to be Chap-stick."

"Not that lip gloss all the girls like?"

"Hey, oh, I guess things went well?"

"Please be quieter Jimmy."

"Why are you two still in here, like isn't that a bad idea with... you know?"

"My head would prefer if I didn't venture out into the sunlight yet."

"So we're suffering, on like multiple fronts."

"Poor boys. Can't believe you didn't share the damn beer."

"So everything is better?"

"No, we were really looking forward to our plan."

"Which was?"

"Put Johnny in a tight white t-shirt and short grey gym shorts he'd wear at school and throw him in the pond."

“Oh, that is a good idea."

"Yeah but he requested a billion kisses, so this is like the rest of their life."

"That's- you know I don't know if that's sweet or just overkill."

"Right?"

Daniel pulled away.

"So do we have a deal?" Johnny asked.

Daniel's brows furrowed.

"We take them down together. You fight in the tournament if you want to and we train until then. You train here and Dutch or I guess Jessica can buffer, or heck we can go to my mom's and she can buffer-"

"Oh god," Daniel said, the thought of sparring in front of Ms. Lawrence was scary. "Johnny, I mean Mr. Miyagi said he'd train me, it's-"

Daniel stopped Johnny was trying to repair the damage between them with a carefully laid out bridge and Daniel was jumping on it, testing it's strength already.

"It'd be nice to have both," he said softly.

"And I'll take care of other things. We see Kreese, you can fight him if you want. I see Silver, I'll take care of that."

"Take care of-?"

"I won't kill him."

"That wasn't what i was worried about, he's dangerous Johnny."

"So am I."

Johnny was dangerous? Since when? That first semester Daniel would've barely believed it if he'd had to do a line up of who was most dangerous it would've been Silver and Barnes, then Chozen, and last would've been Johnny. He barely sent up the register in comparison to a scheming monster like Silver. Someone who tried to befriend him only to destroy him, who tried to teach him in a way that actively hurt him, a guy who Daniel had to keep telling that he could stretch on his own and didn't need help. A guy who stalked him.

He worried what would've happened if he'd gone in there without friends. With only Jessica and Miyagi, without people telling him that he didn't need to be treated badly. That it wasn't normal. That it wasn't okay. It would've been worse. It was still bad, but he would've actively sought out Mr. Silver's teachings. Would've let him help him stretch and that sent revulsion through him.

Johnny looked serious and it reminded him of Ms. Lawrence. The look she'd had at their table the first time they'd had dinner together with his mom, in tears but so pissed off. He looked a little hurt but also so damn pissed off.

 Johnny pushed himself up slowly.

"Give me time," Johnny said. "And I'll take care of it."

"What do you need?" Bobby asked.

"I'll let you know," Johnny said looking back at him, then his eyes going over the guys. "Just be on stand-by if that's okay?"

"Of course."

Johnny held his hand out to Daniel.

"Is that okay? Is that a deal?"

"Are we okay?" Daniel asked taking Johnny's hand.

"We're on our way there," Johnny said softly.

And now that he could see him better he caught the somewhat puffy red rimmed eyes. Johnny hadn't slept. Had been crying. Daniel's heart ached. That was his fault.

 "How's it feel to be an ex-cobra?"

There was a little teasing in there and Daniel knew he was trying to make Daniel feel better, trying to show he was okay but he'd been hurt. Daniel pulled on that hand holding his, pulling Johnny into his arms. He held him close, fingers in Johnny's hair and felt Johnny's arms wrap around him.

"I'm going to tell Mr. Miyagi that his adopted mongoose tried on a cobra costume for nearly 2 months."

"Huh?"

"I guess it's an inside joke between Mr. Miyagi and I," Johnny said. "He'll probably laugh."

Daniel ran one of his hands down Johnny's back. He'd practice. He'd win. He'd get rid of Cobra Kai once and for all. The ghostly traces of his nightmare whispered in his head and he frowned.

"If Chozen showed up you wouldn't just leave with him would you? Like you wouldn't get into some strange black car and just leave right?"

Johnny pushed back and Daniel thought about tightening his arms so he couldn't, so he could keep Johnny in his arms but he didn't and let his arms slide, brush across him as he moved back.

"Nightmare?" Tommy asked.

"Daniel had a nightmare last night we think, so it was probably that."

"I want to stay here with you," Johnny said gently cupping the sides of Daniel's face in his hands. "For as long as possible."

--- [This was then the start of the next chapter]----

Sometimes Daniel got overwhelmed. Johnny knew that. He'd remembered the last time he'd gone to Jimmy's family bar, how worried he got every time he got hurt. Remembered Bobby talking to him about how worried he got about Daniel and how it'd taken time to remember that Daniel had still won, and kept doing kick ass things and would probably be fine.

They took the van to Bobby's house, Dutch complaining so Jimmy drove, muttering about why no one ever invited him to the drunken heart to hearts. About how he always had to take care of everyone else. Daniel seemed to be wavering by his side between wanting to touch him and not. Johnny turned to him.

"Do you remember when you got hurt the first time in Okinawa? When Chozen kicked you in the stomach while we were out at night? I was getting beni imo?"

"Yeah," Daniel said.

Now that he'd gotten everything he'd wanted to say off his chest he was so quiet.

"Do you remember how I barely touched you when bandaging you up? I was so scared I'd hurt you more. I was so panicked. Like with your knee. I spent a good couple of months, especially in New York, worried about your knee. Was there something on the ground that you might trip over? What if while you were talking and showing us around you missed the step off the sidewalk? Or if a biker wasn't paying attention and bumped into you? But then when you kept getting hurt and I was nearby and couldn't protect you because I didn't see it happen or I was too far away or heck, knocked unconscious, I felt awful. But I remember a lot from that first night I tried to bandage you up. I told you I felt bad that I hadn't been there and you'd asked me if I wanted us both to be beaten and bruised. And then I called Bobby. I pretty much broke down over the phone to him and he told me I couldn't always be watching you and trying to keep you safe. He made me practice my breathing and told me to not beat myself over it. Told me you'd get hurt and I wouldn't be able to protect you. Asked if I was going to get upset every time you got a paper cut. Reminded me that you could take a hit. I mulled it over, and I still worry, but it no longer is that same level. Like it's not overwhelming," Johnny said softly. "So...are you going to get upset every time I get a paper cut?"

"I-"

"You saw when we went to the mountains how frequently I hurt my hands right?"

"Yeah-"

"My point, Daniel, is that you will exhaust yourself worrying about me. You gotta trust me. And I know that's scary. I know that it's hard to not be overwhelmed with everything going on, with Silver being a manipulative bastard, trust me that I won't let this end well for him. Let me help you. Let me stay by your side, not just behind you, unless we're back to back to fight, like on the wheel," Johnny took a breath, pulling his eyes away from Daniel and down at the carpet of Dutch's van. "And just give me time. I know you're panicking about yesterday, on like multiple levels, and I'll be honest, okay? It hurt. Kreese scared the shit out of me. I wasn't expecting him to be there. And I was mad at myself for not noticing him. And I'm sure when I closed my eyes it scared the shit out of you. But Mr. Miyagi taught me what to do and that's what I'm doing. And yeah I'd rather not see him again if I can help it, but I feel better knowing I can get out of that move. That I didn't freeze up this time. I didn't give up. Because I won't give up Daniel. I know you want me to run and be safe. But I don't want to run anymore."

Johnny sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I planned to run all the time before. I planned all these places I would run. I'd go here or there if Sid got too bad. If the bullies got too mean. If you didn't forgive me, if you told me to leave. But I don't want to run. I want to stay. And that means digging my feet into the dirt and fighting back when people come for us. And that means I'm going to get hurt. But it's progress in a different way. A different type of healing. I'm not digging my feet into the dirt to fight like cobra kai, like Kreese wanted me to. I'm fighting because I have things worth fighting for. Things I like. Things I want to keep and help them grow and flourish. I'm not asking you to not worry. I think that's impossible for anyone. My mom worries, Mr. Miyagi worries, the guys worry, your mom worries, I think everyone worries. But know that I'm not going to run away from you or leave you for trusting the wrong people or bringing Kreese back into my life. I like you Daniel I'm not going anywhere, even though that hurt like hell. So just, trust that if something's wrong I'll tell you, or like ask. Please don't jump straight for the game over button."

His eyes stung a little but Daniel's hand took his.

"I thought I'd been getting better about it. But whenever I see you hurt, I get scared and angry and it's overwhelming. I shouldn't have said that, shouldn't have put it on the table because I didn't want it, but I was so scared that you might die because I let Kreese back in and I started panicking. I was also so mad at myself. Twice now with Kreese," Daniel said softly. "But, you are right."

One of Daniel's hands found Johnny's cheek and gently turned his face towards him, he'd taken his seat belt off and was leaning close, cupping the side of his face, thumb on Johnny's lower lip. "I am proud of you. Impressed. It was very cool to watch you flip Kreese onto the ground. Very brave," His leaned forward kissing him.

"Daniel seat belt! You two can tongue later when I'm not driving!" Jimmy called from the front.

"How can you even see from all the way up there?" Daniel called back with a pout, pulling away and putting his seat belt back on.

"Because I can see you in the damn rear view mirror, why you thought you were safe from view? I can seem most of you idiots, including those two who can barely function because they drank too much."

"Please just shut up," Dutch groaned.

"Invite me next time and I'll be nicer."

"Bastard."

"You're so lucky I don't turn on your damn radio. Do you remember how loud you normally keep it?"

"Evil."

Jimmy laughed turning onto the road into the Hills.

Daniel was holding his hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of his hand, and they were moving past where the mansion used to be and that was weird. He hadn't been on this side of the Valley in awhile. They stopped at Bobby's and they got out of the van.

Johnny wanted to stay in the back, to curl up and take a nap, but Daniel was pulling him along, into the house and through the familiar halls to where the kids sat in the experimental testing kitchen. One was dressed as a dragon the other a witch, they jumped up and charged straight into Bobby who groaned at the loud shriek of his name. He sunk down next to them giving them a hug but the dragon stole his sun glasses.

"Mom! Bobby's hungover!"

"Brat," Bobby hissed, no bite to it, mostly pain.

"How old is your brother again?" Mrs. Brown asked.

The witch wrinkled her nose. "Ancient?"

"Hey," Bobby said.

"90?" the dragon asked.

"If Bobby is 90 how old do you think we are?" Mr. Brown asked.

"25," the witch said with a big smile.

Mr. Brown laughed. "Oh, you flatterer."

"Dad," Bobby whined.

"You know where the aspirin is."

"Want some?" Bobby asked Johnny.

"Yeah."

The witch and dragon turned on Johnny. "Are you also hungover?"

"Do I look hungover?" Johnny asked crouching down next to them.

"You look tired."

"And sad."

"But that's normal for you."

Johnny laughed softly. "So is this you testing your first Halloween costumes of the year?"

"Yes," the witch said spinning.

"I'm not sure about this one," the dragon said picking up his tail. "Think people will step on it?"

"Hmm, well you have time."

"What are you going to be? A skeleton again?"

"I don't know. We've been a bit busy."

"Dating?" the dragon asked with a frown.

"Well Daniel's been training and we've been running the bonsai shop," Johnny said.

"Being old sounds boring."

"I like boring," Johnny said then leaned towards them a little closer. He dropped his voice down low. "But we got into a fight yesterday. A karate fight."

"Where?"

"Cobra Kai dojo."

"Why'd you go back there? Isn't it dangerous?"

"Bobby said it was dangerous."

"Daniel was there. I went to go get him."

They turned their gaze to Daniel. "Why'd you go to Cobra Kai? It's dangerous!"

Daniel held up his hands. "I got tricked."

"By a demon?"

"Or a fairy?"

"An elf?"

"An old witch?"

The guys had walked off to sit at the counter and talk to Mr. and Mrs. Brown and Bobby gave Johnny a glass of water and some aspirin that he took. It'd help with his splitting headache at least.

"Demon might be accurate," Daniel said bitterly.

"I like old witch," Johnny said.

"Did you win?"

"Yes, this time," Johnny said.

"Is there going to be another time?" the dragon asked.

"I'm going to fight in the tournament, so hopefully that ends it," Daniel said.

"Aren't you too old?"

"Someone erased his age on the forms," Johnny said, pushing himself up and heading into the kitchen, helping them back onto their stools to wait for what their parents were going to set out.

"How old do they think he is now?" the witch asked.

"16," Johnny said.

"How old is he?"

"18," Daniel said.

"Same age as me, I'm not 19, you little terrors."

"Oh! Mom Dad can we be terrors for Halloween?"

Bobby groaned.

"What makes a terror?" Mrs. Brown asked setting a pile of cupcakes and treats out.

"You want to be gory? Like a zombie?" Mr. Brown asked.

"Or like a different kind of terror? Taxes?" Jimmy asked.

"Oral presentations?" Tommy asked.

"Pop quizzes?" Dutch asked.

"Those are boring," the witch complained.

Johnny took a cupcake off the tray with two little red marks in the icing like it'd been bitten by a vampire and was bleeding. He studied it while the guys went around again saying common mundane fears while the kids complained and he bit in. It was full of a red strawberry liquid. It tasted good but it was messy.

"Okay, too much strawberry filling," Mrs. Brown writing down her note.

"I always thought vampires looked a little too clean, but that is what I'd expect a vampire to look like, just covered in blood," Tommy said with a soft laugh.

Johnny sighed looking for a napkin and turning to find Daniel.

"Stay still," he said wiping off the blood off of his chin with his thumb.

"You okay?" Johnny asked.

Daniel blinked, focused with making sure he'd gotten it all before brown eyes met blue.

"I know this is fake," he said softly, before licking his thumb.

They tried more. Bits of other cupcakes, cookies, little gravestone parfaits with little shovels and chocolate bones that felt a little weird, but the kids loved it. They were shown the designs of candied apples and sliced them so they could taste the glaze and the dips and tell them which ones work and Johnny started to think that maybe going from a night of no sleep and beer was rough. Even if it was followed by a simple breakfast of rice and fish with Mr. Miyagi looking worried between Daniel and Johnny but not saying anything, nodding kind of relieved when he saw Daniel gently take Johnny's hand. Bobby had invited him to come along but he'd declined. Wanted to work on bonsai.

Add sugar on top of all of that and he felt awful. His head hurt. Whatever he'd done to hold himself together was unraveling and unraveling fast. Like he was a cartoon mummy and someone had just taken off in a run past him with a strip of the bandage and he was about to become a pile of dust.

A warm hand sat on his shoulder and then gently guided him off the stool.

"You gonna be sick?" Daniel asked softly. He gently led Johnny through the hall and to Bobby's room. "Maybe you should get some sleep."

"I'm fine."

"See this time? That is a total lie," Daniel said with a laugh.

Johnny laid down on Bobby’s bed.

 He'd heard Daniel talking to Bobby and Mr. and Mrs. Brown but he hadn't paid attention because he'd felt so awful. The bed dipped and after a moment Johnny peeks up. Daniel is sitting with his back against Bobby's headboard with his legs crossed and a pillow on his lap. He pats it gently and Johnny pushes himself up to sink face first into the pillow.

Daniel's fingers immediately go into his hair, gently soothing circles.

"Are you-" Johnny swallows looking out at Bobby's comic book collection, he shut his eyes. "sure you don't want to break up?"

The fingers in his hair still.

"No, I don't want to. I didn't want to when I said it."

"Did I scare you, like me fighting, did that scare you?"

The fingers began to move again. "No."

"You're not still scared of me? Like even a little? Like worried that I'll-that there's something wrong with me?"

Daniel leaned over and gently kissed the side of Johnny's temple. "You don't scare me in the least. Not any more. Not for a long time. I was scared for you. Kreese appearing like that and getting to you before I could terrified me. Chozen also appeared out of nowhere behind you. But you fighting him didn't scare me."

"You weren't worried I'd over do it?"

"I thought I would over do it."

"But you didn't-"

"I was really tempted, I nearly did something I'm sure I would've regretted if the guys hadn't arrived when they did."

Johnny wrapped his arm around the pillow, around Daniel's leg under it, blinking away the tears that had appeared again.

"I should've told you earlier, about Terry Silver teaching Barnes and Cobra Kai. I knew, and I didn't tell you-" Johnny said.

"I didn't tell you either."

"But I knew. I knew that the things you said after my fight with Barnes sounded like Cobra Kai. I knew that and I shouldn't have just ignored all your injuries."

"You didn't ignore them," Daniel said softly leaning back over Johnny and gently brushing his cheek with his thumb. "You patched me up every single time, stayed with me, read to me, said things I needed to hear. If you'd had asked I don't think I would have told you. I was so determined to get stronger so that I could protect you. And the way Mr. Silver had talked about it. I felt like I was betraying everyone for trying to study somewhere else. I wanted to keep sparring for fun with you, to let it lead wherever it led, but I also wanted to continue to prepare and he said he'd be there no strings attached and I wanted to believe that. But he also had such bad teaching methods and everyone who did meet him, or who I talked about it with told me to run. Even your mom."

"You told my mom?"

"She told me to be careful. But I was so terrified that I was making all the wrong choices. I got all twisted up and confused because what he said he said with such conviction and with actions to back it up that I fell for it. I had to try and escape and face it head on. And I'm glad you were there. I just...you getting hurt was everything I'd been terrified of happening happening. Like the nightmare I feared right in front of me and I didn't act. I couldn't act and I'm so sorry Johnny."

Johnny twisted back to look up at him. He looked like he was about to cry again.

"You didn't know Kreese was there," Johnny said softly.

Daniel looked like he was struggling to say something and he leaned down and kissed Johnny instead.

When he pulled back the glassy look was gone from his eyes.

"I also need to talk to you about something else."

"Okay."

"We're doing okay at the shop. Which means we can pay you, I- how do you want to be paid?"

"In kisses," Johnny said.

Daniel laughed. "Johnny I already owe you a billion kisses, I'm going to drown in kissing debt if I also pay you in kisses."

"You're smart," Johnny said rolling over again onto his side and yawning. "You'll figure it out."

"Figure it out? I meant did you want to be paid by a check or cash. How much is each kiss worth? Are different kisses worth different amounts? Like a peck how much is that worth versus like a long slow french kiss? Does it lose value if it's too messy or does it gain value? What if I kiss like your hand? or neck? What if it's a hickey leaving kiss? How much is that one worth?"

Johnny shut his eyes listening to Daniel ramble as he tried to figure out the worth of a kiss and how much he owed Johnny in back pay, adding and subtracting from that billion. He fell asleep somewhere when Daniel whined that he'd never be out of this debt and then realizing, "Oh, that's the point isn't it?" with a soft laugh and pulling one of the throw blankets folded up on Bobby's bed over Johnny's shoulders and rubbing his back. "At the amount of debt I owe my ghost is going to still be in kissing debt."

[thedepthsoffandomminds]

Collidescope hearts Part 13

Master list

No one could believe it, the days after the All Valley fire were strange for everyone. Seeing the Cobra Kai kids at school, they walked in a daze, hardly spoke and avoided you all.

Eli and Sam would be congratulated for their wins but it was always twinged with sadness. Teachers kept away from the subject, each one concentrating on getting you all exam ready. The S.A.T.s were coming up in a month. You felt fairly prepared for it.

After school you all went to the dojo at the strip mall. It had the eagle fang symbol across the top. The front had been decced out in a new sparing matt and the walls painted red with black stripes, like the gis worn by the students. The back room now had a large amount of gym equipment, including punching bags, tredmills and spin bikes. The room was warm and inviting with TV screens dotted around playing music videos. You noticed the bonsai trees dotted around the decor and it made you smile.

"This is amazing!" You said to Eli and Johnny.

"Hawk, this is your desk, we can't wait for you to start." Johnny said showing Eli into the office. The pride on Eli's face made you feel happy, inside you the baby reacted to your happiness and gave you a few kicks to the ribs.

Behind you the door opened, ringing the bell. You turned expecting to see new students. Your heart jumped into your throat when you saw who it was. The Cobra Kai students. Eli was standing beside you, his hand interlacing with yours helping to calm you.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Johnny asked.

Piper stepped forward.

"We don't have a sensie anymore. We thought..."

"You thought wrong. This is not the dojo you used to train in. Cobra Kai is dead here." Johnny growled.

"Look man we're sorry." Kyler tried.

"Sorry? You put Tory in the hospital! You hurt y/n and you think you can just walk in here? Think again." Eli spat.

"Al right, alright, we just want to belong somewhere." Piper said.

"Well it isn't here." Johnny stated. The Cobra kai's turned and walked away. You felt Eli's grip on your hand loosen as he relaxed.

"I don't want them anywhere near here." He breathed out.

"Come on lets just enjoy tonight." You said turning him towards the back and your friends, dragging Johnny along with you.

In the hospital Sam sat beside her mother and brother as Danny had some checks done by the doctor.

"Well you're looking good Mr LaRusso, just a few signatures and you can be on your way." The Doctor handed him a clipboard to sign before walking away. He had suffered from smoke inhalation and dislocated shoulder from a beam falling on him. Danny slid off the side of the bed and hugged his family to his side.

They were all walking down the corridor when he spotted an old friend, Julie Pearce was also signing paperwork. Her daughter lia and husband beside her. She was going to be working with him and Johnny Lawrence teaching a mix of miyagi-do and Cobra Kai to their students, that would be the legacy of Eagle Fang.

Chozen would be heading back to Okinowa in a few weeks having fullfilled his deal with Daniel.

Amanda couldn't help but feel like their happiness wouldn't last. Silver was dead that was the headline but no one had seen his body except Kreese. Who knew if he could be trusted. She held her husband's hand on the walk to the car.

No one wanted to talk about it.

No one would acknowledge him.

The lonely old man who would stand outside a closed dojo, four decades of memories lurking inside.

The one time great Sensie of Cobra Kai looked up at the symbol above the door with sad eyes. Eyes that on this day turned dark. He went inside the building not bothering to turn on any lights. Walking to the back room. Another man sat with his hands tied to the back of a chair. Kreese ripped the fabric bag from his head pulling at the hair.

"Terry, Terry, Terry, you never should have put me in that place." He laughed. "How are we doing?" He asked the shadows.

A blonde man stepped forward.

"I should thank you, Kreese, for looking after my little girl the last few years."

"Anything for Cobra Kai, Mike. Glad to have you back." The two laugh as Terry Silver watched, a gag in his mouth.

"We're gunna hurt you Silver, and we're gunna hurt other people too." Mike Barnes laughed.

part 14

Super short one, sorry but the next part is crazy.

@lulubutton34 @carliim @buckysdemonsimp @space-helicopter @slytherinroyalty16 @shotosgirl @hannyhoe @torynichcls @hurricanerex666 @sabrinablack1 @harulindao @sarcastically-defensive17 @peppamultifanimagines @1-fuzzy-squirrels

[fangirlstorycreator]

Hi can you do when we are married to terry and we are there at the dojo when he has the fight with Daniel

You were at your flat when you got a call from stingray. "Hey stingray, what's up?" He sounded out of breath. "Sensei L/N- its, its really bad over hear- we need your help!" "Wow wow stingray calm down, what's going on?" "Larusso and Silver! There was some kind of fight at silvers place with Johnny, Mike and Chozen, and now larusso and silver are fighting at the dojo!" "Their what!" With that, you jump straight in the car and head towards the dojo. You run inside and see all the students of miyagi do and cobra kai all crowded around Terry and Daniel. You push through the croud, trying to stop them. But just as you manage to get to the front of the group, Daniel high kicks Terry right in the face, making him smash into the cobra kai glass sculpture on the wall, falling to ground covered in glass. "Terry!" You shout out loud. You run over to him and kneel by his side, while the cobra kai students throw their gi's on the floor next to him. "Terry? Terry are you alright? What the hell has gone in tonight?!" "Sweetheart, please move away, the glass-" "Terry dont change the subject, your bleeding and stingray told me you have been fighting everyone! Tell me the truth!" Daniel walks over to both of you. "Terry's lies have finally caught up with him Y/N. I'm sorry you had to see this, but he brought it upon himself. The police are on their way. Terry and his dojo are done" Daniel walks away with the rest of his family and the students as you help Terry to his feet. You hold his face in your hands, filled with worry, you wipe away the blood from his cheek. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry, I didnt mean for any of this to happen" "terry, please just tell me the truth" he exhales out deeply and looks you straight in the eyes "Y/N, I paid the guy at the tournament to make us win. I had to do it for cobra Kia's survival. And tonight, those 3 idiots attacked me, in my own home! THEY broke in and attacked ME! I defended myself as I should have" "stingray said Mike, Johnny and Chozen were there. I can see Johnny and Mike outside through the window. What did you do to chozen?" You ask worriedly. "I did what I had to-" "what did you do to him?!" He looks down to the floor in shame. "I cut up his back with my samurai sword" you cant belive what he's saying to you. You even take a step back, not recognising the man who stood before you. "Sweetheart please, he attacked me, and I was only defending myse-" "enough terry" "Y/N please i" "ENOUGH!" You shout out. Your eyes filled with tears, and you feel so angry and upset. Terry's heart breaks as he sees you like this. He tries to reach out to you but you step away. "Y/N, I love you. Please..." "I love Terry silver...I dont know who you are" then the police walk in and put Terry in handcuffs. Both you and Terry have tears in your eyes. "I promise I will make this right Y/N. I promise" that's the last thing you hear before a police officer escorts you out of the dojo. When your outside, everyone seems to be happy. Daniel, his wife and all the kids look relived of what happened. But you just stand away from everyone, all on your own. When you see Terry being escorted out of the dojo and put into the police car. Your eyes meet, and there is a sadness in both yours and his eyes. The car drives away with him, and everything just collapses on you. You fall to the ground in floods of tears, unable to hold back the pain anymore. Daniel and Johnny see this, and give eachother an understanding look before walking over to you. Daniel rests a hand on your shoulder, and johhny gets to your level putting his arm around you. "None of this is your fault Y/N, he deceived all of us. Were sorry" Johnny says as he tries to comfort me. But you barely take his words in. All you can think about it the look on Terry's face, when you were taken away. You have never felt more heartbroken.

[morgansdeb]

What do you think about Miguel being a part of Robby’s redemption arc? Do you think it’s possible and how would you like it to happen?

Oh, damn, I love this question. Thank you!

I think Miguel 1000% needs to be a part of Robby’s eventual redemption. Robby did a terrible thing that nearly cost Miguel his life, and once he’s out of Kreese’s influence (which who the hell knows when that’ll be. He’ll definitely get worse before he gets better, but his thing with Kreese won’t last forever, because at some point, he’ll have to be defeated), one of the first things Robby needs to do is apologize for his actions.

I realize why saying sorry might be hard for Robby. In his eyes, Miguel has taken his father and girlfriend away from him. He’s jealous and bitter, and I think anyone in his position would be. He’s probably wondering “what does he have that I don’t?”. But a big part of Robby’s development should involve letting go of that anger... which I’m guessing won’t be easy, since Kreese will exploit the hell out of it next season.

I guess everything depends on what happens in s4, whether or not Cobra Kai wins the tournament, and if anyone can somehow manage to reach out to Robby.

I don’t think it’s far-fetched to think Robby and Miguel could let go of their differences and be on good terms. Daniel and Johnny eventually got to a mutual understanding, and Daniel and Kumiko forgave Chozen for trying to kill them. So I could see Robby and Miguel burying the hatchet at some point. They might never be friends, or “brothers”... but if Johnny marries Carmen, they’d legally be step-brothers, which would be kinda awkward, lol. But maybe they could try to behave in each other’s presence for Johnny’s sake.

This is just a theory, but I think that Robby might end up losing the tournament to Miguel, and then Kreese will try to choke him (like he did with Johnny back then), and maybe Miguel tries to help him? And then Robby realizes Miguel isn’t a bad kid who’s out to get him, and we get some scene where he’s like “why did you help me after what I’ve done?”

idk, like I said, it all depends on how s4 goes. I think Kreese will exploit Robby’s hatred for Miguel as much as he can, and that Robby will be going through a dark path that could last more than one season. But I do hope we get some proper one-to-one scenes with the two of them and no Sam.

[aion-rsa]

Cobra Kai Season 3: What to Expect

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This article contains spoilers for Cobra Kai season 2.

It’s been a year and a half already since the Cobra Kai season 2 finale cliffhanger took the show literally over the edge. 

The climactic West Valley High School fight in “No Mercy” pushed Miguel (Xolo Maridueña) over that cliff – off a hallway balcony and onto a back-shattering staircase rail. It was a first-rate “long take” fight scene (what’s called a “one-er” in the film biz), the epitome of stunt cinematography because it is so technically challenging. The slightest mistake from anyone involved and everyone must start all over again. That season 2 finale fight was the best piece of fight choreography of the entire franchise, finally levelling up Cobra Kai to the martial arts showcase it always deserved to be. The challenge for season 3 is whether the show can top itself.

Cobra Kai has been a surprise hit from the very start, already triumphing against major challenges. Launched in 2018 as a tentpole show for YouTube Red, Cobra Kai appeared doomed after YouTube’s foray into a subscription-based premium access service model fell short of expectations. YouTube let go of all their original scripted shows not bound by contract. Even though the Cobra Kai season 2 premiere set a record for the platform, it seemed destined to end after two seasons all the same. That was until Netflix picked it up, restoring the series like Mr. Miyagi’s healing hands. The show has since become a breakout hit all over again on its new home.

Now season 3 is the first true Cobra Kai Netflix exclusive. After the “cruel summer” of 2020, Cobra Kai season 3 is set to arrive in January  and Den of Geek spoke to its stars about what it means for the beloved Karate Kid franchise.

Flashback to Karate Kid Part II

Netflix dropped its first Cobra Kai season 3 teaser last August, and ended it with a mysterious offscreen line “Are you sure about that?” Fans quickly surmised that the speaker was Chozen (Yuji Okumoto), the villain from The Karate Kid Part II. It wasn’t hard to guess. The teaser showed Daniel (Ralph Macchio) returning to Okinawa, and some press coverage revealed that season 3 had shot there, so who else would it be? The stabbing sai was another telltale giveaway because it was Chozen who brought traditional Okinawan weapons into the Karate Kid fray. 

The potential of Chozen’s inclusion in Cobrai Kai has enormous, and perhaps dangerous implications. While Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) beat up Daniel-san in some high school fights, Chozen and Daniel were full-on prepared to fight to the death. As Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) said just prior to their match, “Daniel-San, this not tournament. This for real.” Cobra Kai has been masterfully placing Easter eggs that hail back to the original ‘80s films throughout the series with cameos of many members of the original cast. Adding Kreese (Martin Kove) to the cast for season 2 was a game changer. Chozen was a perfect tease from Netflix because anyone who saw The Karate Kid Part II would hazard a guess that the conclusion of their death match did not restore Chozen’s honor.

When the official Season 3 trailer dropped in December, Netflix gave Chozen’s inclusion away. Not only did we see Chozen, but we also see Kumiko (Tamlyn Tomita), Daniel’s second love interest from The Karate Kid Part II. Tomita just beamed down from playing the inscrutable Commander Oh on Star Trek: Picard. She’s been working steadily in television ever since her breakout role in The Karate Kid Part II. 

What’s more, there were a lot more merciless fight clips in that trailer. It was another well played lure for fans of both the original and the ongoing series. Great throwbacks, great humor and great drama are what makes Cobra Kai so engaging. And now that they’ve upped the ante in the fight choreography department, can they keep the momentum going? Will we see another death match between Daniel and Chozen? That stabbing sai landed so close to Daniel’s head and that’s a good way to put out an eye. 

Growing Challenges

“The challenge of season 3 is obviously cleaning up the mess that was created both on LaRusso’s watch and Johnny Lawrence’s watch,” says Ralph Macchio, who first began playing Daniel LaRusso in 1984. 

The “No Mercy” High School fight left every character horribly scarred, both physically and emotionally. In its wake, Amanda LaRusso (Courtney Henggeler), Daniel’s wife, told her family “No more Karate. It’s over,” prompting Daniel to take down Mr. Miyagi’s picture from the Miyagi-Do dojo wall. Carmen (Vanessa Rubio), Miguel’s mom and Johnny’s (William Zabka) love interest, told Johnny “I never want to see you again.” When Johnny goes to his Cobra Kai dojo, he is greeted by Kreese who repeats his meme-worthy line from the original The Karate Kid, “We have a visitor.” With both Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai dojos out of their hands, what’s left?

“The biggest challenge of season 3 was probably stepping out,” reveals Zabka. 

“What is Johnny going to be without the skin of Cobra Kai? But it was also kind of a rebirth because at the end of season 2, Kreese takes the Dojo. So who is Johnny without the Cobra Kai banner wrapped around him? That was a fun challenge.”

After all the tragedy that befell their teenage kids, can Johnny and Daniel finally bury the hatchet for the sake of their children? Macchio says they will try in season 3, but we’ll have to watch and see how that goes. 

“From a performing standpoint, there was an excitement to it because I knew script wise, I was going to step up to Johnny Lawrence and say, ‘Let’s put our differences aside and let’s go help this kid, your son, my student,’ and set off on that journey,” Maccho says. “Upfront in the season, these two rival characters have to coexist and work together, where so often in the previous two seasons, it wasn’t until late. We have a handful of scenes during the year in the season.”

However, there’s much more to Cobra Kai than Johnny and Daniel’s 30+ year feud. This is a Karate soap opera for the next generation. Teen drama was the heart of the original films, the story of Daniel-san’s coming of age. Now it’s about Johnny’s son Robby (Tanner Buchanan) and Daniel’s daughter Sam (Mary Mouser) and all their high school friends and rivals. It’s their turn to find themselves and they’ll have to do so in a much different world than that of Johnny’s and Daniel’s. 

“I’m excited for people to see it,” says Mouser. “In Season 3, it’s just recovery and growth, and learning from her own mistakes, learning from other’s mistakes, and trying her best to be the better next generation. I think that’s everybody’s goal all the time. We’re learning from our parents, we’re learning from the past, we’re learning from history, and we’re learning from each other. We’re doing our best to improve as people. So I hope Samantha continues on that path. Although, sometimes she falls off the wagon.”

What about Ali with an ‘I’?

Prior to the season 3 premiere, the possibility of the most requested cameo remains unknown. At the end of season 2, Johnny’s Facebook pinged the acceptance of his friend request to Ali Mills Schwarber (Elisabeth Shue). What a tease! Fans have been clamoring for the return of that Encino cheerleader who stole all our hearts so many years ago. 

Shue has been steadily working in TV and film since her breakout role in The Karate Kid. She was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her gritty soul-baring performance in Leaving Las Vegas and was recently seen playing Madelyn Stillwell in The Boys. With the return of Chozen and Kumiko, might Ali make a cameo too? There’s no hint of her in the trailer. No spoilers here. You’ll just need to wax on, wax off, and tune in. 

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Cobra Kai season 3 premieres Jan. 1 on Netflix.

The post Cobra Kai Season 3: What to Expect appeared first on Den of Geek.

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