"Fighting is always the last answer to problem, Daniel-San."

Daniel couldn't seem to shake these wise words of Mr. Miyagi out of his head. Sure, the kids needed the extra defensive skills that they could learn from Chozen, but was that the only reason he was dragging them back into the fight? Or was he making the same mistake he made with them last year?

"Are you ready for demonstration, Daniel-San?" confirmed Chozen.

They were standing on the smoothly sanded wooden sparring deck in the backyard of the Miyagi-Do dojo. Prosperously growing trees surrounded them on both sides. They reminded Daniel of the apple blossom trees he saw in Okinawa. In front of them stood the Miyagi-Do students, eagerly awaiting their first lesson.

"Yes," answered Daniel, seeming to snap back to reality at the sound of Chozen's voice.

Both opponents bowed traditionally to one another, their heads at level height to show respect to one another before taking their respective fighting stances. They walked in a circle, their eyes locked on their targets as they moved. Their hands were held at the ready, never wavering position as they looked at their opponent.

The movements they performed next were so quick that most of the Miyagi-Do students couldn't even recognize the motions performed. Daniel was first to attack with a front kick aimed at Chozen's side, but it was blocked effortlessly and parried with a straight punch to his shoulder. Daniel slid back, his bare feet rubbing against the wood. Chozen spun around and side-kicked him, although this time, Daniel used an outward block to prevent the attack.

His left arm's exposed.

Daniel parried another of Chozen's attacks and reverse punched him in the arm.

"Woah, Sensei LaRusso is demolishing him!" exclaimed Demetri, surprised.

"I wouldn't be too sure," argued Chris, gesturing towards the fight.

As if on cue, Chozen flexed his hands, his eyes closing and released a hard punch to Daniel's leg, knocking him off his feet, his back hitting against the floor. For a few seconds, all the students stood in awe and then, they burst into a stream of loud clapping. Chozen bowed to his audience before offering Daniel a hand up.

I think he enjoyed that a little too much.

"How'd you do that?" asked Sam as soon as the two Senseis had exited the sparring deck.

"Much training in the art of karate by father in Okinawa," stated Chozen, plainly.

Sam nodded understandingly. Daniel had spoken of his adventures as a teenager with Mr. Miyagi and his Miyagi-Do training an excruciating amount of times for any of the kids, especially Sam.

"And it helps that your father doesn't block well," smirked Chozen before he went over to talk to the other students.

"Aha, I was just trying not to embarrass you in front of the kids," retorted Daniel, intentionally raising his voice so, Chozen could hear him.

Chozen either didn't hear him or didn't care, either way he didn't respond. Daniel just rolled his eyes.

"You know that I could beat him, right?" confirmed Daniel, turning his back to talk to Sam.

"Sure, dad," reassured Sam, but she couldn't help but laugh while saying so.

The rest of the day's training focused on the positions needed to properly block a leg sweep (somehow Demetri managed to not only fail to block Eli's kick, but also tripped over a pointed rock and knocked them both into the coy pond). Sam was up next and she managed to block Daniel's kick on only her second try. Daniel smiled as Chozen nodded at Sam, approvingly.

I couldn't be more proud.

"Good job, today, everyone. And remember, don't mention this to any," stated Daniel as the students started to disperse after class.

"Oh, Eli, wait here a minute," he asked as Eli dried the last spots of his soaked clothes with a towel.

He said a few quick words to Demetri before heading over to Daniel.

"Yes, Sensei?" he inquired, a look of confusion covering his face.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright? Sam told me that Cobra Kai attacked and you got pretty injured."

He looked around, uncomfortably for a minute before answering.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just a few bruises. But thanks for asking," thanked Eli before grabbing his backpack and heading out of the dojo.

Even though he was saying he was okay, there was a bit of a crack in his voice.

Something happened. I can just feel it.

Daniel sighed as he sat down on the edge of the dojo's porch, watching a flower's petal softly float to the ground.