I DIDN'T STAY long at the man's home. I helped Daniel inside and then was on my way home after the man gave me some healing poultice to put on the cut over my temple. The man never spoke and I could tell he knew I didn't want to either. I had just watched one of my friends get beaten down before my very eyes, and I still barely did anything to stop it.

Why was it that I could beat up those guys at the mall and then when it came to protecting just Daniel, I could barely do anything useful? Sure they were both different scenarios but it was still sort of the same... right?

A voice in my head told me I cared too much about those guys from the Dojo and while a part of me wanted to deny it, I also knew that they were bad news, just like Ali had said. They liked trouble, especially Johnny. I shuddered at the thought of him now. He had been out of control, it was like there was a demon inside him and it had become unleashed.  A raging beast.  

I didn't even want to go to the Dojo today, but my father would have had my head if I refused to go. I ended up not saying anything to my father about what happened last night but I saw Johnny telling Sensei Kreese something before class. I was a tad nervous though. What had he mentioned to my father about me?

The class was going through a bunch of jabbing drills. I focused only on my technique, trying not to look into the mirror and see Johnny's face. He had a black eye now because of me, I guessed that was some resolve for myself.

When I did accidentally meet Johnny's eyes, he was actually the one to look away first. Was he embarrassed about what happened? A stroke of pleasure ran through me at the thought. He should feel that way.

"Combat!" I heard my father command and instantly everyone broke formation to form a squared outline around the makeshift taped arena on the mat. Johnny and Dutch both grabbed flags which would help determine who won a match. I knelt on the mat with the rest of the students and watched as my father called up Bobby and another student to fight each other.

They both entered the middle of the mat and faced off. I didn't need to watch to know who'd win the match. It would be Bobby hands down. He was the better fighter and he knew it. It took no time to disable his opponent.

My father narrowed his eyes, "What are you looking at? Finish him!"

Bobby only hesitated a split second before diving down and delivering a chop to the boy's back.

Satisfied, my father ordered us to stand again and he walked around the class, instructing us on his curriculum.

"We do not train to be merciful here. Mercy is for the weak," He cast a quick glance my way that was so fast I almost didn't see it.

Was he referring to when I refused to strike Johnny at Coyote Creek? Or was this about last night? Did Johnny tell him I that I was weak because I wanted to stop them from beating up Daniel?

"Here, on the street, in competition," He continued. "A man confronts you, he is the enemy." My father passed us one by one, "An enemy deserves no mercy." Suddenly he was in Johnny's face, "What is the problem Mr. Lawrence?"

I didn't turn my head but I did let my eyes sneak a look to my right. Johnny glanced at Sensei Kreese then to the back of the room before whispering a few inaudible words to my father who listened and then turned to a pair of visitors at the back of the room.

Not visitors really. It was Daniel and the man who had bailed him out last night. What were they doing here?

"Class, we have visitors. Fall in behind me," My father ordered.

I obeyed right away, but did sneak another glance at Johnny, who was smirking a little and staring at Daniel. He stood slightly behind Sensei Kreese and at attention.

My father crossed his arms and looked down a the man beside Daniel, who actually was looking quite calm. Daniel on the other hand looked as if he was ready to bolt out the door at any moment. "I hear you jumped some of my students last night."

The man with Daniel never moved only causally mentioned that the facts were mixed up.

"Are you calling Mr. Lawrence a liar?"

The man shook his head slightly, "No call no one nothing."

Sensei Kreese grunted, "Then what are you here for old man?"

"Come ask leave boy alone," he said and motioned to Daniel with a tiny jerk of his head.

Daniel's eyes went wide as if he was afraid of what was coming next but the man with him still stood tall even with my father towering above them.

"What's the matter?" My father asked, "The boy can't take care of his own problems?" I could tell by the way he spoke, he was disgusted with Daniel's weakness.

The man shook his head, "One-to-one problem, yes. Five-to-one problem, too much ask anyone."

My father tilted his head, "Is that what's bothering you? The odds? Well, we can fix that." He turned a little to Johnny who still was at attention, "Feel like matching Mr. Lawrence?"

In a loud and clear voice Johnny answered. "Yes, Sensei!"

The man with Daniel grunted, "No more fighting."

My father was annoyed now and spit back his reply that this was a karate dojo and not some knitting class. "You don't come in my Dojo and drop a challenge and leave, old man."

Johnny was trying to keep his face from contorting into a smirk but he wasn't doing a very good job of it.

Sensei Kreese stood taller, "Now you get your boy on the mat, or you and I will have a major problem."

The man did not back down though and simply said he had too much advantage since it was his dojo. I admired the man not only for fighting and defending Daniel last night but also that he could stand up to my father. Sensei Kreese was a very intimidating person. And not at all easy to speak to.

My father stared at the man for a moment, considering what to do, "Name a place."

The man nodded, "Tournament." It was all he said.

My father, Johnny and Daniel all looked up at the poster plastered on the wall above their heads. It was the poster for the under eighteen All Valley Karate Championship. Johnny snickered ever so slightly and I realized that I remembered hearing he won the championship the last two years in a row. If Daniel entered and made it to fight Johnny, he really was going to pay. I prayed they would drop this silly foolishness and move on. But I knew in my heart that none of them would let it go.

"You got real nerve, old man. Real nerve." My father said and then with another tilt of his head he continued, "But I think we can accommodate you." He turned to Johnny again, "Can't we Mr. Lawrence?"

"Yes, Sensei." This time when Johnny replied to my father it was under a cool but also smug calm. Johnny knew he already had the tournament in the bag. My heart went out to Daniel and sank when I was reminded yet again of what would happen when the two of them met on the mat. There would be no mercy from Johnny. Not now. Maybe not ever.

"Fall in," My father ordered Johnny who then turned around to join the rest of the class. Johnny's blue eyes flitted to mine briefly before he turned to face Sensei Kreese again. All of us were at attention.

Sensei Kreese started to turn away when the other man spoke again, "Ask one more small request."

My father halted, tipping his chin back and stuffing his hands under his belt. "Make it fast."

"Ask leave boy alone to train."

A sly smile slowly worked on my father's face and he turned around, "You're a pushy little bastard, ain't you? But I like that. I like that." My father turned back to the class again, finally addressing all of us. "All right. No one touches the prima donna until the tournament. Is that understood?" He hollered.

"Yes, Sensei!" All of us howled.

Sensei Kreese looked at Daniel and the man again. His eyes narrowing as he stepped closer and closer. "But you don't show, and it's open season on him," he pointed to Daniel then slowly let his finger drift to the man beside him, "And you."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Johnny and Dutch exchange a glance and a smirk.

The man did not reply to my father again, only ushered Daniel backwards and out the door again. I didn't realize I was holding my breath until they were gone.