BACK AT HOME, my father was waiting for me. "I thought we could get dinner tonight."

I nodded, "Okay."

Even after what happened my first day here I knew that he was trying to be better. He seemed like he had come to terms with me being here now and he was trying to show whatever fatherly care he had.

"Let me change and I'll be ready to go." I was glad my father pulled through with his offer from the other night. I did want to get to know him. He was my father after all. But these long years apart separated us. His caring for me was more cold but I could tell he was trying.

We went to a small restaurant called the Orient Express. I ordered a meal of spaghetti with a soda. While we were waiting for our meals, I caught sight of a karate school across the street.

A smile started to drift across my face. "I didn't know there was a karate dojo in town."

My father looked at me and then to where I was gazing down the street at the karate school. "You like karate?"

I sipped some of my soda, "I know it's not really a girl thing but I actually took lessons back home for a few years. I was kinda hoping to see if there was a place I could join. I've not been able to do it since mom...".

My father was watching me while I spoke, studying the expression of longing that was probably written on my face. "I know the Dojo's Sensei. The school does not accept girls but I'll put in a good word for you. I know practice starts at three-thirty tomorrow. Why don't you come by after school and I'll introduce you."

I sat there for a moment, just staring at my dad. I smiled, finally realizing that this perhaps was some type of growth in our relationship. "Okay," I said. "Yeah, I would really like that."

My father smiled slightly with me and I could almost see the gears turning in his head as he was working out the details in his mind.

We got our food a bit later and we ate quietly the rest of the time. He did ask about how school was but after only my first day there wasn't much to say yet. I wasn't sure how my life here would be but so far, it was better than I had expected. I had made friends and went to a good school. Sure my father had some issues but who didn't? I'd make this work out. I had to.

The next day after school I went over to the Dojo. I noticed the place was called Cobra Kai. I told Daniel about the place and he decided to come with me to check it out. He wasn't okay with being bullied by Johnny and his gang so he wanted to be able to defend himself in case anything happened again. We were both hoping that wouldn't happen.

We walked into the Dojo. I could hear the Sensei's sharp voice instructing the class on what he expected from his students who trained at his Dojo. "Fear does not exist in this Dojo, does it?"

"No Sensei!" The entire class replied in a shout.

"Pain, does not exist in this Dojo, does it?"

"No Sensei!"

"Defeat does not exist in this Dojo, does it?"

"No Sensei!"

The teacher told the class to get off the floor and everyone jumped up at once. That's when I noticed that the Sensei leading the class... was my father. I froze, unable to move from the utter shock that had me rooted to the seat I just sat on.

"He's sort of scary," Daniel mentioned. He had no idea who the man in black gi was to me.

I had no words to say as I watched in disbelief as my father ordered a student to lead the class in a series of techniques.

Bowing in recognition to each other, I saw it was Johnny who was leading the class. I head Daniel sigh. He got up and walked out without me. Johnny was smirking.

When my father noticed me, he halted the class. "Students! We have a visitor. Fall in!" The class fell into line and faced where I stood. "How do we achieve victory?"

"Strike first! Strike hard! No mercy, Sir!" The entire class shouted this curriculum.

"Our visitor would like an opportunity to join our Dojo," My father said.

I heard some of the guys snicker and I saw Johnny glance at my father and then back at me. He seemed confused I was here yet slightly impressed too.

"On the mat," My father ordered me.

I took off my shoes, bowed to the flags along the wall and then stepped onto the mat. I was still in my street clothes. My father told the class to fan out so I had the floor. With a breath I tied up my hair, guessing that I was about to have my abilities tested.

"Bobby, Dutch, Jimmy," My father motioned to a few of the class members. I noticed that all three were from Johnny's cadre. They surrounded me on the mat.

Oh. Oh. Realization began to connect as one thought became clear, My father mean't for me to fight all three of them off. No mercy. There would be none for me. I was a girl and if I wanted to prove myself, I'd have to show them what I could do. That I had the right to be on the mat too.

"Alright," My father said. "Let's see what you can do." He turned to the class, "No mercy!" The he started the match.

The other blonde boy named Dutch lunged at me first, his teeth were bared in cockiness as he swung his fist, I blocked it upwards and used my other arm to halt his opposite leg that was coming up to collide with my torso. I ended our face off when I used a knee strike to his gut and swept his legs from underneath him. Dutch went down, grabbing his stomach and groin.

There was no rest when Jimmy came at me next. He used a side kick and continued with a roundhouse. I blocked the first but the second kick came so fast it collided with my shoulder. I stumbled a step but didn't stop as I performed a reverse roundhouse kick to his head. Jimmy fell backwards onto the floor.

I was on the mat a second later. I sprang up at Bobby and blocked four strikes to my face before he swept my leg from under me again. Bobby was good. But I had to be better. I kicked out from the floor and sent my foot into his torso. Bobby stumbled and I sprang back to my feet.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw my father standing with his arms crossed. I couldn't read the expression on his face but I hoped I was proving myself. I realized if I wanted to be accepted as a girl, I'd have to end the match with a finish to remember.

My attention went to Bobby as I saw him go in for a strike to my ribs. I took the advantage of his lower stance and launched myself over his back. Landing, I struck his shoulder and then slammed my elbow to his face.

I stopped when Bobby went to his knees, holding the side of his face. I realized I had taken on three opponents in one match. That was something I'd never done before. I couldn't help but barely hide the smirk on my face as my father came forward, his face still unreadable. He came to stand right in my face, studying me. "This Dojo does not accept girls."

I was crestfallen. I had just tried to prove myself to the one person that mattered most to me right now. How could I have failed?

My father continued. "Never, have I ever let a girl fight in this Dojo until today. Girls are soft and complain too much. They whine and flinch at the sight of a fight." My father turned and pointed to me, "Except, for you. My breath hitched and I stood taller if that was even possible. "Today, I let my daughter join this Dojo as a Cobra Kai!"

The boys whispered to one another, obviously not knowing I was their Sensei's daughter.

My father, John Kreese came back to stand in front of me. "You will train here. And train hard. I will tell you when you succeed and when you fail. But listen, I do not accept failure in this Dojo. Do you understand?"

I looked my father in the eyes. Terror and delight and excitement were running through my body as I felt more at home than I ever had before. I would do it. I would train and train hard. I would prove over and over that I belonged in the Dojo and that I could do anything these other boys could. I would prove myself wrong about moving here and find a place for myself in this town. In this life. In Karate.

With a driven breath I shouted, "Yes, Sensei!"