chapter fifty-four:
❛ dog in the fight (2) ❜

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The crowd roared with anticipation as Clementine Katz stepped onto the mat, her heart pounding like a drum. The Sekai Taikai arena buzzed with electricity, the global audience captivated by every move, every strike, every showdown. Clementine took a deep breath, grounding herself in the techniques of Miyagi-Do as she faced her opponent. Across from her, Jackson Kreese stood tall, his Cobra Kai gi sharp and pristine, the iconic snake emblem emblazoned on his back.

"Ready!" the referee called, and Clementine locked eyes with Jackson.

Jackson smirked, his cocky expression a mask for the tension in his posture. "So, Clem," he drawled, rolling his shoulders, "you ready to lose in front of all these people?"

Clementine squared her stance, her voice calm and steady. "You wish. I've got more important things to focus on than your trash talk, Jackson."

"Fight!"

The match began with a flash of movement. Jackson launched forward, his strikes sharp and aggressive, but Clementine evaded with practiced grace, the fluidity of Miyagi-Do shining through. She countered with a swift kick, her foot grazing his ribs and forcing him to backpedal.

"You've gotten better," Jackson admitted, circling her. His tone was almost casual, but his eyes were focused, calculating.

"Save the compliments," Clementine shot back, blocking a punch aimed for her shoulder. She twisted his arm, using his momentum to sweep his legs. Jackson hit the mat but rolled away quickly, springing back to his feet.

For a moment, the fight paused, the two circling each other like predators. The storm of cheers around them faded into background noise as Clementine's focus sharpened.

"So, why Cobra Kai?" she asked, her voice cutting through the charged silence.

Jackson hesitated, his smirk faltering. "My grandpa," he said finally, throwing a quick jab that Clementine deflected. "He begged me, Clem. Said it was my duty to carry on his legacy."

Clementine ducked under a high kick and countered with a spinning backfist that nearly caught Jackson's jaw. "Your grandpa manipulated you, Jackson. You're smarter than this."

Jackson's expression darkened. "You don't get it. He's family. What was I supposed to do, say no?"

"Yes," Clementine snapped, her movements growing faster, more precise. She landed a hard strike to his chest, forcing him back several steps. "Family doesn't drag you into their messes, Jackson. They support you, not use you."

Jackson gritted his teeth, charging forward with a flurry of strikes. For a moment, it seemed like Clementine was on the defensive, blocking and dodging as he pressed his advantage. But then, with a sudden pivot, she sidestepped his attack and swept his legs out from under him.

He hit the mat hard, a frustrated growl escaping his lips as Clementine stood over him, her stance strong and unyielding.

"Stop making excuses," she said firmly, her voice low but fierce. "You chose this path. Now deal with the consequences."

Jackson got to his feet, breathing heavily, his eyes searching hers for something-understanding, forgiveness, or maybe just a reason to keep fighting. But Clementine gave him none of it.

With a cry of determination, he lunged at her again, but this time she was ready. She deflected his strike, twisted his arm behind his back, and swept his legs in one seamless motion. Jackson hit the mat again, this time harder.

Clementine didn't give him a chance to recover. She executed a flawless spinning kick, her foot stopping just inches from his face.

The referee blew the whistle.

"Point! Winner, Clementine Katz!"

The arena erupted in applause, the cheers of the crowd washing over her like a tidal wave. Clementine stepped back, lowering her stance as she caught her breath.

Jackson sat up, rubbing the back of his head as he looked at her. For the first time, his cocky façade cracked, and there was something almost vulnerable in his expression.

"You didn't have to go that hard," he muttered, trying to mask his embarrassment.

Clementine offered him a hand, her gaze steady. "You didn't have to join Cobra Kai," she countered.

Jackson hesitated, then took her hand. As she pulled him to his feet, he gave her a wry smile. "You're tough, Clem. I'll give you that."

"And you're stubborn," she replied, her tone softening just a little. "Maybe next time, you'll fight for the right reasons."

Jackson nodded, a flicker of respect passing between them before they turned to their respective sides of the mat. Clementine raised her arms in victory, the crowd's cheers swelling once more, but her mind lingered on Jackson's words.

Family. Legacy. Choices.

As the announcer declared her the winner, Clementine knew the fight was far from over-not on the mat, but in Jackson's heart.

Clementine stepped off the mat, her chest heaving as she tried to steady her breath. The cheers from the crowd reverberated through the arena, but her focus was on one thing-the leaderboard. She craned her neck to look up, watching as the letters shifted, and there it was: Miyagi-Do moved up a few spots. It wasn't a massive jump, but it was something, a step closer to proving they belonged here.

A triumphant grin spread across her face as she turned to find her Sensei. Spotting Johnny Lawrence near the sidelines, his arms crossed and his sharp eyes locked on the leaderboard, she jogged over, her excitement bubbling over.

"Sensei! Sensei, did you see what I did to Jackson?" Clementine asked, her voice filled with pride. She couldn't help it-the victory felt personal. She had faced Jackson head-on, beat him at his own game, and shown everyone what she was capable of.

But Johnny didn't respond right away. His eyes stayed glued to the leaderboard, his expression hard and unyielding. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his tone flat and gruff. "It's too little, too late, Cinnamon Girl. We're near the bottom of the standings. There's nothing to celebrate here."

Clementine froze, her grin slipping from her face as if it had been wiped away. "What?" she whispered, disbelief lacing her tone.

Her chest tightened, the pride she'd felt moments ago dissolving into confusion. She glanced toward Miguel, who was standing nearby. He looked just as taken aback, his brows knitting together in silent protest.

"That's not fair," Clementine muttered under her breath, but Johnny wasn't paying attention.

Behind them, Demetri and Eli were already walking toward the exit, their movements sluggish and shoulders slumped in defeat.

Johnny's sharp voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Hey! Where the hell you think you're going?"

Demetri and Eli turned around, both wearing matching looks of frustration.

"Uh, back to the hotel to wash off this disgrace," Demetri shot back, his sarcasm evident.

Clementine groaned under her breath, folding her arms over her chest. Typical Demetri, she thought.

But Johnny wasn't having it. His voice rose, firm and commanding. "You're not getting off that easy. Locker room. Now."

Clementine blinked in surprise. She exchanged a wide-eyed look with Miguel, who sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. The tension in the air was palpable, heavier than any of them had felt during their matches.

Without another word, the team began trudging toward the locker room, their footsteps echoing in the massive arena. Clementine lingered for a moment, glancing back at the leaderboard. Her name was there, marking her victory over Jackson, but now it felt hollow.

This wasn't how she had imagined it would feel.

With a deep breath, she turned and followed the rest of her team, her thoughts swirling with questions. Whatever Johnny had to say in that locker room, she wasn't sure she was ready to hear it.

The locker room was a storm waiting to erupt. Tension hung thick in the air, every corner of the room heavy with disappointment, frustration, and simmering resentment. Johnny Lawrence paced back and forth like a caged lion, his voice rising above the uneasy quiet. His expression was carved from stone, but his eyes burned with frustration.

"What I saw from you just now?" Johnny's voice boomed, cutting through the silence. "It wasn't karate. It was weakness. You fought like little lambs being led to slaughter."

Some of the team sat on the benches, heads down, trying to avoid his sharp gaze. Others stood against the walls, looking anywhere but at their Sensei. Clementine leaned against a locker, arms crossed tightly over her chest. She felt Robby's eyes flicker toward her every few seconds, but she refused to look back at him. Her jaw tightened, and she focused on Johnny's words, though her heart was pounding from the earlier match.

Johnny didn't stop. He pointed toward the floor as if the tournament itself were beneath their feet. "If you keep going like this, we're done tonight. Eliminated. And what then? Some of you might shrug it off, move on. But the rest of you? You're gonna carry this for the rest of your lives. You'll remember this moment, this opportunity to make something of yourselves, and you'll know you crumbled under pressure."

The room was still, but the silence wasn't peaceful. It was heavy with unspoken thoughts and rising tension. Clementine could feel her frustration bubbling beneath the surface, matching Johnny's intensity.

"And then what?" Johnny spat, turning his fiery gaze toward the team. "You'll end up living shitty lives in shitty apartments with shitty jobs, all because you couldn't get it together when it mattered. So, if that's what you want-if you're all ready to throw in the towel-why don't we save ourselves some humiliation and just catch the next flight home?"

A bitter, uncomfortable quiet followed his words. No one dared to respond, but the unease was palpable. Clementine's patience snapped. She pushed off the locker and stood up straight, her voice cutting through the silence.

"What is wrong with you guys?" she demanded, her tone sharp and accusing. Her piercing glare moved across the room. "Where's your fight? Aren't you gonna stand up for yourselves? Why am I the only one who thinks you're all fighting like crap?"

Her words hit like a spark on dry tinder. Sam, seated on a bench, looked up sharply, her eyes narrowing. "Johnny keeps blaming us," Sam retorted, her voice steady but brimming with annoyance. "Like this isn't on him. And you, Clementine-you're getting way too cocky."

Clementine's glare hardened as she stepped forward, not backing down. "Oh, I wonder why?" she fired back, her voice rising. "Maybe because you and your family drove Tory back to Cobra Kai!"

Sam's face flushed with anger as Clementine continued. "I wanted to keep fighting, but your dad said no! I know he was hoping you'd be the one to win, Sam. But guess what? I'm the captain, not you."

"Whatever, Clementine," Sam snapped, her voice cutting like a blade. "If my dad had been here today, we never would've lost like that."

Johnny stepped forward, his voice sharp and decisive. "Yeah, well, he didn't show up, did he?"

Sam turned her frustration on Johnny, her voice cold. "Probably because of you."

The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next explosion. Clementine felt her fists clench at her sides as Sam continued, her voice growing louder.

"You keep disrespecting him, trying to prove your way is better, when it's so clear we should've been using Miyagi-Do," Sam snapped, turning her glare back to Johnny. "You shouldn't even be wearing that gi."

Before Clementine could respond, Devon shot to her feet, her face a mix of indignation and anger. "Hey! Don't talk to my Sensei like that," Devon snapped, her voice full of conviction.

Sam's eyes flicked to Devon, her lip curling with disdain. "Your Sensei got you knocked off the board in ten seconds. So I would sit down if I were you."

Clementine groaned, stepping between the two girls and holding up a hand. "Back off, Sam," she said firmly.

But Sam wasn't finished. She looked past Clementine, her glare boring into Devon. "You're not helping us. I don't even know how you made this team."

Devon scoffed but sank back onto the bench, muttering under her breath.

From the corner, Demetri decided it was time to speak, his voice cutting through the tension. "Well, I, for one, will be putting all this behind me when I'm off to MIT-"

"Shut the fuck up about MIT!" Eli exploded, whipping around to glare at Demetri. "Some of us actually care about winning this tournament. It'd be nice if you did too."

Clementine nodded in agreement, her voice laced with irritation. "Seriously. This MIT talk is giving me a headache."

Demetri turned his glare to her, his tone biting. "Says the one who isn't even going to college."

The words hit Clementine like a slap, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Wow, okay. Thanks for that," she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Robby stepped in, his voice steady but firm. "Guys, can we cool it? This isn't helping. We need to focus up."

Miguel, who had been sitting silently, finally muttered under his breath, though loud enough for everyone to hear, "Maybe you should listen to your own advice."

Robby's eyebrows shot up, his posture stiffening. "Got something to say?"

Miguel stood, meeting Robby's gaze without hesitation. "I already did."

The room went silent again, the tension now crackling like electricity. Without another word, Miguel turned and walked out of the locker room. Clementine, her patience with the chaos entirely worn out, pushed off the wall and followed him, the sound of Johnny's voice still booming behind her. She didn't look back as the door slammed shut, leaving the mess behind her.

Clementine stormed out of the locker room, her head buzzing with frustration from the argument inside. Her hands clenched at her sides as she replayed the heated exchanges in her mind. The crisp air of the hallway hit her, cooling her flushed cheeks, but it did little to calm her anger. She didn't even notice the figure walking toward her until she collided with him.

"Whoa, slow down there, champ," the boy said, stepping back with a smug grin.

Clementine blinked, taking a moment to steady herself. Standing in front of her was a tall, broad-shouldered Cobra Kai fighter she recognized from the tournament. His black gi bore the unmistakable cobra emblem, and the cocky smirk on his face told her all she needed to know.

"And you are...?" she asked flatly, raising an eyebrow.

"Kwon," he said, his grin widening as he looked her up and down. "You must be Clementine. The one who knocked out Jackson, huh? Heard you're Miyagi-Do's big shot."

Clementine crossed her arms, her expression unimpressed. "Yeah, that's me. Got something to say about it?"

"Relax," Kwon said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just surprised. Didn't think someone like you had it in them to take down Jackson. He was supposed to be one of our best."

"Guess he wasn't as good as you thought," Clementine shot back, her voice sharp. "Anything else, or are we done here?"

Kwon chuckled, clearly enjoying her fiery attitude. "Easy there, tiger. I'm just making conversation. It's rare to see someone from Miyagi-Do with actual bite. Most of your teammates are all 'peace and harmony.'" He mimicked a meditative pose, then smirked. "You? You've got some fire. I like that."

Clementine rolled her eyes, already tired of his cocky demeanor. "You think I care what you like?"

Kwon tilted his head, unfazed by her hostility. "Just saying. If you ever get tired of Miyagi-Do holding you back, you'd fit right in with Cobra Kai. We appreciate fighters who actually fight."

Clementine narrowed her eyes. "Not interested. You can tell your Sensei Kreese to save the sales pitch."

Kwon's smirk deepened, but before he could respond, Clementine felt the weight of someone's stare. She glanced over her shoulder, catching Robby standing near the locker room door. His jaw was tight, and his eyes were fixed on her and Kwon, a flicker of jealousy unmistakable in his expression.

Clementine quickly turned back to Kwon, brushing off the uneasy feeling. "If you're done wasting my time, I've got somewhere to be."

Kwon laughed, stepping aside with a mock bow. "By all means, Miyagi-Do princess. But remember, the offer's always open." His tone was laced with arrogance as he added, "Good luck surviving the next round."

Clementine didn't bother responding. She pushed past him, her irritation bubbling over. As she walked away, she could feel Robby's eyes still on her, but she refused to acknowledge him. Let him stew in whatever jealousy he was feeling. She had enough on her mind without worrying about Robby Keene.

ASH SPEAKS!

splitting this episode into 3 parts again cause i do NOT feel like writing those fighting scenes on the platform 😭🫶🏻🙏🏻

kwon and clementine have met... 🤭

jackson is going by jackson kreese at the tournament... but thats not his real last name

also please please check out my other cobra kai fics!! especially matching scars and paper rings!!:)

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE. IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)