chapter sixty-one:
❛ strike last (2) ❜

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The low rumble of Arizona's car filled the quiet streets as she pulled into the parking lot of Miguel's apartment complex. The streetlights cast a dim glow over the cracked pavement, and the distant hum of the city lingered in the air. The drive had been mostly peaceful-windows down, warm night air rushing in, the occasional sound of a car passing by.

As she eased the car into a parking spot, she shifted into park and turned to Miguel. He was already stretching, rolling his shoulders with a small wince.

"Thanks for the ride," he said, flashing her a tired smile. "You didn't have to."

Arizona smirked, resting her hands on the steering wheel. "Please, you say that like I was gonna let you Uber home when I was already heading this way."

Miguel chuckled, shaking his head as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "Yeah, except I'm pretty sure you just wanted an excuse to drive like a maniac."

Arizona gasped, feigning offense. "Excuse you, I am a fantastic driver."

Miguel shot her a look. "You ran a yellow light-"

"It was basically still green."

"-cut off a truck-"

"He was crawling."

"-and flipped off a guy at a stop sign."

Arizona grinned. "Okay, that one was personal."

Miguel huffed a laugh, pushing the car door open. As he stepped out, he leaned down, resting his forearms on the edge of the open window. "You coming up?"

Arizona raised a brow. "Your mom's gonna be home soon, right?"

Miguel glanced at his phone, frowning. "Nah, she picked up a late shift. Johnny and Robby are still at the dojo, and Yaya's staying with her friend tonight."

Arizona hummed, drumming her fingers against the steering wheel. "So, you're all alone?"

Miguel nodded, and before she could say anything, he hit her with the look. The one where his eyes got all soft and wide, his lips just slightly parted in a plea.

"Stay over?" he asked, his voice dipping into that sweet, coaxing tone he definitely knew worked on her. "Just for the night?"

Arizona snorted, shaking her head as she leaned back against the seat. "I dunno, man, I'm exhausted," she admitted, rolling her shoulders with a wince. "Training today was brutal. I'm probably gonna knock out the second I hit your couch."

Miguel smirked, tilting his head. "We can't have some fun?"

Arizona arched a brow, her lips curling into a smirk of her own. "Depends what the fun is."

Miguel grinned, stepping back so she could get out of the car. "Guess you'll have to come inside and find out."

Arizona rolled her eyes but popped the door open, stretching as she stood. "Alright, Casanova," she teased, nudging his shoulder as they started toward the building. "But if this 'fun' involves anything other than food and Netflix, I make no promises."

Miguel laughed, slinging an arm around her shoulders as they walked. "Noted."

The living room was bathed in the soft glow of warm light, creating a quiet, almost intimate atmosphere as Miguel and Arizona stood a few feet apart, preparing to spar. The apartment was calm, with the faint hum of the city outside barely audible. The mats on the floor were a casual arrangement, but they'd make do. Arizona slipped off her shoes and rolled up her sleeves, giving Miguel a determined look.

"You sure you're ready for this?" Arizona teased, stretching her arms to get her blood pumping.

Miguel smirked, his eyes glinting with playful confidence. "Of course. You think I'm gonna back down?"

Arizona raised an eyebrow, a smirk of her own forming. "I don't know... I've seen you get knocked on your ass before," she joked, stepping toward the center of the room.

Miguel rolled his shoulders, getting into his stance. "Yeah, well, this time's gonna be different. You're not gonna know what hit you."

With that, they both charged at each other, moving swiftly in sync, like a pair of fighters well-acquainted with the art of combat. Arizona sidestepped a quick jab Miguel threw, ducking under his arm and spinning to the side to take a quick swipe at his ribs. Miguel grinned, narrowly evading it, as the two of them danced around each other in the small space.

They were like fire and ice-quick, sharp, fluid movements that were a mixture of both playfulness and skill. Arizona's eyes were locked on him, her muscles coiling, anticipating his next move. The two of them had fought like this before, but tonight there was an electric intensity to it, something different in the air.

Miguel threw a low punch aimed at her abdomen, and Arizona dropped down, sliding beneath it before pushing herself back up with a fluidity that barely made a sound. She countered by aiming a high kick toward his chest. It landed just inches away from him, enough to make him stumble back, his chest heaving from the exertion.

He grinned. "Nice try."

"Thanks, I'm just getting warmed up," Arizona replied with a smirk, already moving into her next position. But before she could react, Miguel swept the leg out from under her, sending her crashing down to the floor with a soft thud.

She laughed, rolling her eyes as she pushed herself up with one arm. "You really love throwing me on the ground, huh?"

Miguel offered a hand to help her up, but as soon as she grabbed it, he pulled her forward into a swift maneuver, flipping her over his shoulder and pinning her to the floor. The move was fast, calculated, but unexpected.

Arizona's breath caught as Miguel's weight pressed against her, his body hovering over hers, their faces inches apart. She blinked, her heart hammering in her chest, but before she could regain control, Miguel leaned down, brushing his lips against hers in a kiss that was fierce and unexpected. She froze for a moment, the warmth of his breath mingling with the feeling of his hands on her waist. Her brain quickly caught up, and she responded, her hands instinctively reaching up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer, the kiss deepening with the same intensity that had defined their fight.

The room seemed to fade away, the only thing that mattered was the connection between them. The heat of their bodies, the thrill of the fight still lingering, and the raw chemistry that neither of them could deny. But just as their kiss grew more heated, a loud, unmistakable voice cut through the moment.

"WHAT THE HELL, MIGUEL?!"

Both of them immediately froze, their faces burning with embarrassment. Miguel scrambled off Arizona, his heart racing as he sat up, trying to adjust his disheveled appearance. Arizona sat up quickly, smoothing her clothes, her face a bright shade of red, desperately trying to avoid eye contact with the doorway.

Johnny stood there, looking a mix of annoyed and bewildered, his usual stance of frustration exacerbated by the tiny bundle in his arms-Miguel's newborn sister, Laura, wrapped tightly in a soft pink blanket. His eyes were wide, disbelief written all over his face.

"Sensei!" Miguel exclaimed, his voice a mix of surprise and panic. "This-this isn't what it looks like!"

Johnny took a step inside, his gaze darting between the two of them with a raised eyebrow. "Really? Cause it looks exactly like what it is," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He shifted Laura slightly in his arms, making sure she was secure before shooting a pointed glare at Miguel. "I come home from dropping off the kid with your mom, and what do I find? My student making out with my son on the floor? Really?"

Miguel groaned, rubbing his face in frustration. "Sensei, we were just sparring-"

"Sparring?" Johnny interrupted, raising his hand in a dismissive gesture. "I don't wanna hear it, kid. You two should've been sparring with punches and kicks, not-" He gestured to the both of them with an exaggerated motion, emphasizing his disbelief. "-this. Seriously. At least close the damn door next time!"

Arizona, now sitting upright, was struggling to hold back her laughter, though it was clear her cheeks were still bright red. She caught Miguel's eye and couldn't help but grin, trying to mask the awkwardness with a sarcastic, "Guess we're just too good at sparring, huh?"

Johnny turned toward Arizona, his look softening but still a little disapproving. "And you, Bubblegum-" he said, his voice laced with the same playful sarcasm, "-you're supposed to be a good influence on him. What happened to keeping things respectable?"

Arizona blinked, taken aback by the nickname. "Bubblegum?" she repeated with a half-chuckle, her eyes narrowing. "You're calling me Bubblegum now?"

Johnny shrugged with a grin. "You know, it's fitting. With your personality and all." He made a mock gun gesture with his free hand before turning his attention back to Miguel. "Alright, Miguel, I'm going to put Laura down for a nap. But you better cool it down, because I do not need to walk in on you two making out in my living room again. Understood?"

Miguel was completely embarrassed now, his face burning with shame. "Yeah, okay, sensei. No more... uh... making out. Got it."

Johnny eyed both of them one more time before he turned and left the room, muttering under his breath. "Honestly, these kids... No respect for their sensei."

Once the door closed, Arizona and Miguel sat in silence for a moment, both still processing the awkwardness of what had just happened. Miguel sighed heavily, sinking back into the couch, clearly mortified.

"I swear, I can't win with him," Miguel muttered, shaking his head.

Arizona chuckled, finally letting herself laugh out loud. "Well, at least now you know your sensei has a real issue with your training methods."

Miguel looked over at her, offering a sheepish smile. "Yeah... that was definitely not what I had planned for tonight."

Arizona smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "Next time, maybe we just stick to regular sparring and avoid the make-out sessions, huh?"

Miguel grinned, his usual cocky confidence returning. "Sure, sure. But no promises."

Arizona couldn't help but laugh again, shaking her head. "You really are impossible, you know that?"

The room was dim, with the soft golden glow of the lamp casting a peaceful ambiance. Arizona sat on the couch, a soft blanket draped across her legs as she cradled baby Laura in her arms. The newborn was so quiet and peaceful, her tiny hands curled into little fists, her eyes fluttering closed as she snuggled into Arizona's chest. It was surreal, how something so small could be so perfect, and Arizona felt an overwhelming sense of tenderness wash over her.

She gently rocked Laura back and forth, humming softly to her, her eyes glancing down at the little face, so calm and serene. It was a quiet moment, the world outside momentarily fading into the background as Arizona focused entirely on the baby in her arms. The rhythmic motion of her rocking and the soft hum of her voice seemed to soothe the baby, who slowly drifted into a deeper sleep.

"Hey, you're good with her," a voice said from the doorway, interrupting the silence. Arizona's head snapped up to see Miguel standing there, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, a soft smile on his face.

Arizona looked up at him, her heart swelling with affection as she gazed at him standing there, still looking as handsome as ever despite being on crutches. "I think she likes me," Arizona replied with a soft smile, glancing down at Laura again. "She's so sweet. I could totally get used to this."

Miguel grinned and hobbled into the room, carefully wrapping his arms around her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder as he peered down at the baby. "You're making me look bad, you know?" he said with a playful smirk. "I could barely hold her for five minutes without feeling like I was gonna drop her."

Arizona chuckled softly, her voice almost a whisper as she replied, "You just need a little practice, that's all." She shifted slightly to adjust Laura in her arms, leaning back into Miguel's embrace. His warmth felt comforting against her back, his presence always so grounding, especially when it was just the two of them.

He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, his voice low and playful. "I think it's just that she's drawn to you, honestly."

Arizona smirked, teasing, "Well, who can blame her? I'm a natural with babies."

Miguel chuckled, but there was something deeper in his gaze as he looked at her, his arms tightening around her slightly. "I'm really proud of you," he said softly, his breath warm against her ear. "You know that, right?"

Arizona blinked, a little caught off guard by his sudden sincerity. She turned her head slightly to look at him, her eyes meeting his. "Proud of me for what?"

Miguel's smile softened, his eyes shining with affection. "For everything. For being so good with Laura... for being you." He paused, his expression growing more serious, but still full of admiration. "And for whatever else is coming your way, because I know you're gonna knock it out of the park. You've got this, Arizona."

Arizona's heart swelled, warmth spreading through her chest. She could feel his genuine pride in her, and it made her feel more connected to him in that moment than ever before. She let out a soft breath, her lips curling into a smile. "You know, I just got the email today... I got into the Okinawa study abroad program through Stanford." She said it softly, almost as if testing the waters, but her heart was racing with both excitement and nerves.

Miguel froze, his arms still wrapped around her, but he straightened up slightly, a wide grin spreading across his face. "Wait, what? You're going to Okinawa?" His voice was full of surprise and excitement, but there was also a hint of pride that made Arizona feel like she could burst with happiness.

She nodded, looking up at him with a nervous laugh. "Yeah. It's through Stanford's program. I've been working my ass off to get in, and I just found out today. It's... it's a big deal for me."

Miguel's grin only grew wider, and he turned her in his arms so he could face her more directly. "That's amazing, Arizona," he said, his voice full of pride. "I knew you were gonna make it. I knew you were gonna get in, no question."

Arizona laughed nervously, feeling the weight of the achievement settle on her. "I mean, it's Okinawa... the birthplace of karate. It's such a huge opportunity, but it's also... kinda scary."

Miguel gently cupped her cheek, lifting her face to meet his gaze. "Hey," he said softly, "this is huge. You've worked so hard for it, and you're going to crush it. I believe in you, Arizona. I'm so proud of you. And... if you need someone to visit you in Okinawa, you know I'm only a plane ride away."

Arizona smiled at his words, the nervousness fading slightly, replaced by a quiet pride that settled in her chest. "Thanks, Miguel. It means a lot to hear you say that." She gazed down at Laura, who was still peacefully sleeping in her arms. "It's a little scary, though. I'm gonna miss you, and everything here."

Miguel chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'll miss you too, but you've got this. You've always been meant for big things, Arizona. And I'll be here cheering you on every step of the way."

There was a long moment of silence as the two of them stood there, lost in the moment. Arizona felt Miguel's warmth against her, the sense of comfort that he always brought her. And in that moment, despite the nerves swirling inside her, she knew she was ready for whatever came next. Because she had Miguel by her side, and she had her own strength to rely on.

"I'm so lucky to have you," Arizona said softly, her voice full of sincerity.

Miguel smiled, pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head. "The feeling's mutual, bubblegum."

Arizona laughed, shaking her head, the tension from earlier melting away as they stood there, holding Laura together, both knowing that their journey was only just beginning.

Arizona slid under the soft covers of Miguel's bed, the faint glow of the bedside lamp casting a warm, cozy light across the room. She pulled the blanket up around her shoulders, feeling the comfort of being in Miguel's space after a long day of training. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts of the upcoming Sekai Taikai finals, but for now, she wanted to relax. Miguel's room was always so calm, and tonight, with the anticipation of tomorrow's match, it felt like the perfect place to wind down.

She sighed contentedly, adjusting herself in bed as she made herself comfortable. The sound of footsteps echoed from down the hallway, and she figured it was Miguel coming in to join her. She was about to call out to him when the door suddenly swung open-only it wasn't Miguel who walked in.

Johnny Lawrence stood in the doorway, a serious expression on his face, eyes narrowing slightly as he surveyed the room. He had his usual authoritative air, but there was something different about his stance tonight, something that immediately made Arizona feel like she was about to get scolded.

"Alright, you two, get ready," Johnny started, his voice firm but not unkind. "Miguel, you're sleeping on the floor tonight. Arizona, you're in the bed." He pointed to the bed with exaggerated emphasis, clearly enjoying the power trip he got from issuing orders.

Arizona and Miguel exchanged a glance, trying not to burst out laughing. Miguel's eyes twinkled with amusement, and he leaned against the doorframe, his smirk barely contained. Arizona bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Johnny had a way of making everything sound more dramatic than it needed to be.

"What?" Arizona said, her voice trying to sound more innocent than she felt. "Why the floor?"

Johnny crossed his arms, leaning back slightly as if he were delivering some kind of ancient wisdom. "Because I'm the sensei around here, and I don't want you two getting any funny ideas. Keep it PG, alright?" He raised a brow, looking between them with a knowing look that clearly said he wasn't as oblivious as he appeared.

Miguel shot Arizona a playful grin, clearly enjoying how Johnny's "rules" had taken a turn for the ridiculous. Arizona rolled her eyes, her lips twitching into a smile.

"Alright, Sensei," Miguel said with mock seriousness, nodding as if he were agreeing to the most reasonable request in the world. "I'll sleep on the floor. But only if you promise to keep the door open exactly three inches. Can't risk you getting too grandpa on us."

Johnny's expression shifted from stern to a little less serious, and he smirked, shaking his head. "You two are impossible. But fine, three inches. Just keep it open. I don't want any grandbabies around here anytime soon." With that, Johnny turned to leave, clearly satisfied with his decision-making.

"Thanks for the protection, Sensei," Arizona called out, grinning as Johnny disappeared down the hallway.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind Johnny, Arizona and Miguel burst into laughter. The sound of their shared amusement filled the room, and for a moment, it felt like they were back to their old selves-teasing, lighthearted, and carefree. Arizona leaned back against the pillows, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.

"Three inches?" she said between laughs, still catching her breath. "Really?"

Miguel snorted, flopping onto the bed beside her. "He's the best when he's trying to be serious, isn't he?" His eyes were bright with laughter as he settled next to her, pulling the blanket up and cuddling close. He wrapped his arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder as he relaxed against her.

Arizona turned her head to smile at him, feeling the warmth of his presence beside her. "Best sensei in the world," she teased, nudging him playfully with her elbow.

Miguel chuckled, his breath warm against her neck. "No kidding. But hey, he's right about one thing."

Arizona tilted her head, curious. "What's that?"

"Tomorrow," Miguel said softly, his voice filled with quiet excitement, "we compete in the finals of the Sekai Taikai." His words were heavy with anticipation, and even in the calm of the moment, Arizona could feel the weight of it. Tomorrow was a big day for both of them. It was everything they'd been working for.

Her heart skipped a beat as she looked into his eyes, the seriousness of the competition now settling in. She nodded slowly, the reality of what was to come finally starting to hit her. But even with the pressure mounting, she couldn't help but feel a sense of calm as she lay there with him. They were in this together, after all.

"I know," Arizona whispered, her voice soft, but confident. "Tomorrow, we make it count."

Miguel smiled, his hand gently caressing her arm. "We've got this. Together."

Arizona smiled back, her eyes closing in contentment as she rested her head against his chest. The soft sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear was reassuring, grounding her in this moment before everything shifted again.

"Together," she repeated, a sense of peace settling over her as they drifted into quiet, peaceful sleep, ready for the challenge that tomorrow would bring.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

a sweet filler chapter before we get to see arizona fight one last time<3

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!!
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PLEASE STOP BEING FREAKIN A GHOST READER!!! PLEASE VOTE! PLEASE!!!!! stop being ghost readers!!!! its really annoying!!!

the reason i keep unpublishing and republishing is chapters is because when i see views go up and votes aren't... its really annoying. cause its not hard to vote and show support on fanfics.

can you guys please stop being ghost reader and just freaking vote please. this is so annoying

THIS IS VERY ANNOYING TO SEE VIEWS GO UP BUT NOT VOTES. its annoying for us writers. so please just vote and comment!! its not that hard!!!!!!

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! i dont how many times i have to say this. i am so sorry for the notifications but this is really annoying to see views go up when the votes aren't. PLEASE JUST FREAKIN VOTE!!!