PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!!!!
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authors note: so sorry for all the notifications! wattpad was glitching for me :)

Marisol stood in front of the tall mirror in her hotel room, carefully securing her hair into a sleek ponytail. She adjusted the strands with practiced precision, staring at her reflection. Her Cobra Kai gi hung neatly on the back of the chair, its crisp folds a stark reminder of the intensity of the upcoming Sekai Taikai tag team elimination round. Her heart pounded as she mentally replayed her combinations, each strike and block etched into her memory.

A soft knock on the door startled her from her thoughts. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand-still plenty of time before Sensei Kim would call for her.

"Who is it?" she called, walking to the door.

"It's me," came a familiar voice, slightly muffled but unmistakable.

Marisol froze for a moment, her lips curving into a surprised smile. She opened the door to find Axel standing there, looking slightly out of place in his gi, his hands shoved into his pockets. His dark hair was tousled, and a shy smile tugged at his lips.

"Axel?" Marisol asked, crossing her arms but unable to hide her amusement. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be focusing?"

"I am focused," Axel replied, stepping inside and glancing around the room. "I just... wanted to see you."

Marisol raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming. "Oh, so I'm supposed to be your pre-match ritual now?"

Axel chuckled, his eyes meeting hers with a warmth that sent her heart fluttering. "Something like that. Figured I'd wish you good luck before we get thrown into the ring."

She shook her head, the tension in her shoulders easing as she closed the door. "Well, that's sweet of you."

Axel stepped closer, his confidence growing. "You're gonna crush it out there, Mari. Like always."

The sound of his voice softened something inside her, and before she could overthink it, she smiled back. "You're not so bad yourself," she murmured.

Their eyes locked, and the air in the room shifted. Slowly, Axel leaned in, brushing his lips against hers. The kiss was tentative at first, but it deepened quickly, their nerves about the tournament fading into the background. Marisol's arms wrapped around his neck as his hands rested gently on her waist, pulling her closer.

For a few stolen moments, it was just the two of them.

Then came a sharp, impatient knock at the door.

Marisol jerked back, her eyes wide. "Shit," she whispered.

"Who is it?" Axel asked, his voice low but panicked.

"Sensei Kim," Marisol hissed, her heart racing.

Axel's face paled. "What do I do?"

Marisol looked around frantically before pointing to the bed. "Under there! Now!"

Axel didn't hesitate. He dropped to the floor, scrambling under the bed just as another knock came, louder this time.

"Cervantes!" Sensei Kim's sharp voice sliced through the air like a blade.

Marisol took a deep breath, smoothing her hair and straightening her tank top. She opened the door to find Sensei Kim standing there, her cold, piercing gaze sweeping the room.

"It's time to go," Sensei Kim said curtly. Her eyes narrowed slightly as they flicked over Marisol's slightly flushed face. "Where's Nichols?"

Marisol shrugged, feigning indifference. "No idea. Haven't seen her since this morning."

Sensei Kim's eyes lingered for a moment longer, as if sensing something amiss, but she didn't press further. "Be downstairs in five minutes. And find Nichols if you can."

"Got it," Marisol said with a tight nod, keeping her tone neutral.

Sensei Kim turned on her heel and strode down the hallway. Marisol waited until she heard the elevator doors close before shutting her own door and dropping to her knees.

She lifted the edge of the bed skirt to find Axel's face peering back at her, his expression a mix of relief and amusement.

"That was way too close," he muttered, crawling out.

Marisol shook her head, laughing softly. "You're lucky she didn't decide to search the room."

Axel stood, brushing himself off. "Guess I should get out of here before she catches me sneaking around."

"Good idea," Marisol said, her tone teasing as she guided him toward the door. "And don't get me in trouble, Axel."

He grinned, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "You've got this, Mari. Go show them what you're made of."

She rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "You better be ready too."

Axel gave her a small salute before slipping out into the hallway. As the door clicked shut, Marisol exhaled deeply, her mind already shifting back to the tournament. Whatever was waiting for her in the ring, she was ready.

Marisol smoothed her gi and glanced in the mirror, tying her belt with precision. The tag-team elimination round of the Sekai Taikai was about to begin, and she needed to be mentally and physically ready. Her hotel room was quiet, but the air buzzed with anticipation. She was so focused on her preparations that when a knock sounded on the door, she jumped slightly.

"Who is it?" she called, half expecting it to be Sensei Kim again.

"It's me," came Tory's voice, strained and almost unrecognizable.

Marisol frowned and hurried to the door. As soon as she opened it, Tory stepped inside, her face pale and her eyes rimmed red, as though she'd been crying. Tory never let anyone see her like this-ever.

"Tory?" Marisol asked, her voice soft but urgent. She shut the door behind her. "What happened? What's wrong?"

Tory didn't answer immediately. She walked over to the bed and sank down onto it, her shoulders slumping in a way Marisol had never seen before. Finally, Tory raised her gaze, her lip trembling.

"It's Robby," Tory said, her voice cracking.

Marisol's frown deepened. Her cousin? What could Robby have possibly done to leave Tory like this?

"What about him?" Marisol asked, her tone already hardening.

Tory's hands clenched into fists in her lap, her knuckles white. "Last night... I couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk. I was heading back to my room when I saw him..." She paused, her breath catching. "I saw him leaving Zara's hotel room."

Marisol froze, her mind reeling. Zara was a member of the Iron Dragons, a rival team in the competition-and she was notorious for her smug attitude and flirtatious behavior.

"Zara?" Marisol repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief. "The girl who's been all over him since the tournament started?"

Tory nodded, her jaw tightening. "It wasn't just that he was there. He looked..." She hesitated, swallowing hard. "He looked like something happened between them."

Marisol's blood boiled. Robby had always been impulsive and sometimes careless, but this was beyond stupid. Tory had been through so much, and for him to do this to her? Marisol's fists clenched at her sides.

"That son of a-" Marisol began, but she caught herself and inhaled deeply, trying to calm her rising temper. She sat down beside Tory and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey. Listen to me. Whatever he did, that's on him. Not you. He's the idiot here."

Tory let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "It's not even about me anymore. We've been broken up for a while, but I thought... I don't know. I thought he had more respect than this."

Marisol frowned, leaning in closer. "You still care about him, don't you?"

Tory shrugged, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought we had something real, you know? And maybe it didn't work, but I never thought he'd... stoop to this."

Marisol squeezed her shoulder. "Robby's an idiot. He's always been impulsive, but this? This is a new low, even for him. You don't deserve this, Tory. You've been through hell and back, and you're stronger than anyone I know. Don't let him or that bitch Zara mess with your head."

Tory looked at her, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You really think so?"

"I know so," Marisol said firmly. "And trust me, if Zara thinks she can get away with this, she's got another thing coming."

Tory let out a small, shaky laugh. "You always know how to make me feel better, Mari."

Marisol smiled, wrapping her arm around Tory in a brief hug. "That's what teammates are for. And as for Robby... if I see him before this match, I might just kick his ass myself."

Tory grinned weakly, wiping her eyes. "I'd pay to see that."

Marisol stood, her expression resolute. "You don't have to pay. Consider it on the house."

Tory laughed softly, some of the tension easing from her posture. But Marisol's mind was still racing. Robby needed to know he'd crossed a line-not just as her cousin but as someone who should have known better than to hurt Tory, no matter the circumstances.

"Come on," Marisol said, offering her hand to Tory. "Let's go show everyone why they should be scared of us."

Tory took her hand and stood, her confidence slowly returning. "Let's make sure Zara and her team regret showing up to this tournament."

"Oh, we will," Marisol said with a smirk. But in the back of her mind, her anger simmered. Robby Keene wasn't off the hook-not by a long shot.

The Sekai Taikai Arena buzzed with anticipation, the crowd roaring as fighters from around the world stood in their designated areas. Marisol Cervantes stood with her Cobra Kai teammates, her heart pounding as the tournament's intensity heightened. She adjusted her gi, feeling the weight of the moment settle on her shoulders.

Her gaze wandered over to the Iron Dragons, where her eyes caught Axel's mischievous smirk. He gave her a subtle wink, and despite herself, Marisol felt her cheeks warm. She quickly turned away, hoping no one noticed her blush. But as her eyes traveled to Miyagi-Do, her stomach twisted.

Her little sister, Mila, stood at the forefront of the Miyagi-Do team, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel. Marisol flinched slightly under Mila's icy stare but didn't look away. Behind Mila, Eli Moskowitz-Hawk-stood with his arms crossed, his jaw clenched. His piercing gaze bore into Marisol, a mix of anger and betrayal radiating off him. She didn't need to guess why-he was still furious at her for moving on so quickly with Axel after their breakup.

Before she could dwell on it, Gunther Braun's booming voice echoed through the arena, commanding everyone's attention.

"Over the course of the tournament, you have each proven yourselves worthy of your place atop the leaderboard," Gunther announced, his tone filled with pride and authority.

Marisol's eyes shifted to Terry Silver, who stood with his usual smug confidence beside the Iron Dragons. His presence made her skin crawl. As much as she hated him, she couldn't help but notice the absence of her mother, Katherine. It was strange-Katherine had been vocal and present during the earlier stages of the competition. Now, she was nowhere to be seen.

"And after today," Gunther continued, his voice cutting through Marisol's thoughts, "only the best of the best will gain entry into our tournament of champions. Now, here are the rules of this round."

Marisol straightened her posture, focusing on every word.

"Each team will face three opponents, determined by random draw, in an all-dojo tag team competition!" Gunther announced, gesturing dramatically to the arena.

The crowd erupted in applause, the fighters exchanging determined glances.

"Two fighters inside the ring. One from each dojo at a time. The other ten fighters remain outside, waiting to be tagged in by their teammate," Gunther explained, his tone final.

Marisol exhaled deeply, her eyes darting back to Mila. Her sister hadn't looked away, and Marisol could feel the unspoken tension between them. This wasn't just about the tournament anymore-it was personal.

Marisol's Cobra Kai teammates clapped and cheered as Gunther stepped aside, but she remained quiet. Her mind raced, caught between her growing feelings for Axel, her unresolved tension with Hawk, and the strained relationship with her sister.

This wasn't just another match. It was a chance to prove herself-but at what cost?

Tory stood on the sidelines, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her sharp eyes scanning the arena. Her body buzzed with anticipation as she watched Marisol step into the center of the ring. The crowd was alive with energy, chanting and cheering for their respective dojos, their voices blending into a cacophony that echoed off the walls of the Sekai Taikai arena. Marisol's face was calm, but her eyes burned with focus as she bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, sizing up her opponent-a lithe, sharp-eyed girl from the Wolf Fang dojo who had a reputation for her speed and agility.

The referee stepped forward, raising his hand between the two fighters. "Ready?" he asked, his voice booming over the noise. Both Marisol and the Wolf Fang fighter nodded, their stances tightening.

"Fight!" the referee barked, stepping back swiftly to give them space.

Marisol didn't hesitate. She darted forward, aiming a sharp kick toward her opponent's midsection. The Wolf Fang fighter anticipated the move, dodging fluidly to the side, her feet light as a feather. Marisol pressed on, not giving her opponent a moment to regroup, throwing another quick kick. Again, the girl retreated, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Marisol's frustration flickered, but she kept her composure, pivoting to swing a hard punch at the girl's face. The punch was caught mid-air. Her opponent grabbed Marisol's arm in a lightning-fast move and twisted it, pulling her off balance. Before Marisol could counter, the Wolf Fang fighter delivered a brutal elbow to her forearm.

Marisol winced, a grunt of pain escaping her lips, but she held her ground. Pulling her arm free, she stepped back, adjusting her stance. Her opponent smirked, confident she had the upper hand-but Marisol wasn't done.

With a sudden burst of power, Marisol snapped her leg out, delivering a thunderous kick to the girl's chest. The impact sent her opponent stumbling backward, her balance faltering as she struggled to stay upright.

"Cobra Kai, point! 2-0!" the referee declared, his arm shooting up toward Marisol.

Cheers erupted from the Cobra Kai side, with Kwon and the others clapping and yelling their support. Across the arena, the Iron Dragons' Axel stood up, pumping his fist in celebration. "Yes!" he yelled, his voice cutting through the crowd. He caught Marisol's eye and grinned widely, throwing her a wink.

Marisol couldn't help herself. A smug smile tugged at her lips, and she blew Axel a playful kiss. Her confidence was radiating, but the moment of levity didn't go unnoticed.

From the Miyagi-Do sidelines, Eli's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists at his sides. His glare burned into Marisol, anger bubbling beneath the surface. She hadn't just moved on; she was flaunting it, and it stung more than he cared to admit.

But the momentary distraction cost Marisol. Her opponent, still reeling from the kick but quick to recover, used the opportunity to strike. With a swift spin, the Wolf Fang fighter swept Marisol's legs out from under her, sending her crashing to the mat.

"Marisol!" Kwon's voice rang out, urgency thick in his tone. "Hurry! Tag me in!"

Dazed but determined, Marisol shook off the fall. She scrambled to her feet, wincing as she pushed herself forward. Stretching her arm, she smacked Kwon's waiting hand, making the tag just as her opponent lunged toward her.

The shift in energy was palpable as Kwon stormed into the ring. His intensity was unmatched, his strikes calculated and ferocious. The Wolf Fang fighter tried to keep up, but it was clear she was outmatched. Kwon's kicks and punches landed with precision, forcing his opponent to the defensive.

The crowd roared as Kwon seized the opportunity, pivoting into a powerful roundhouse kick. His leg swung through the air like a battering ram, slamming into his opponent's chest with a bone-crunching thud. The impact sent the boy stumbling backward, collapsing onto the mat in defeat.

"Point! Cobra Kai wins!" the referee announced, his voice cutting through the thunderous applause.

Kwon threw his fists into the air, roaring in triumph as the Cobra Kai team erupted with cheers. Even Tory allowed a small smirk of approval, though she quickly masked it with her usual steely demeanor.

On the sidelines, Marisol clapped, pride swelling in her chest despite the lingering ache in her arm. The victory was theirs, and they were one step closer to cementing their dominance in the tournament. But as she looked across the arena, her gaze briefly met Eli's. His expression was a storm of emotions-hurt, anger, and betrayal-and for a moment, Marisol's smile faltered.

Shaking it off, she turned her attention back to her team, her determination only hardening. Cobra Kai was on top, and she wasn't about to let anything-or anyone-distract her from the fight ahead.

The tension in the Sekai Taikai arena was electric as Mila and Kenny stood off to the side, their hands hovering in anticipation over clenched fists. The stakes were high, and the seventh spot on Miyagi-Do's lineup had to be decided quickly.

"Alright, on three," Kenny said, narrowing his eyes at Mila.

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!" they both chanted.

Kenny threw scissors, but Mila's rock smashed it with triumph. "Yes!" Mila exclaimed, pumping her fists in the air as Kenny groaned in frustration. "Good luck, Mila," Kenny muttered, stepping back as Mila confidently stepped toward the circle.

The match had already begun with Demetri squaring off against Diego, a ferocious fighter from Furia De Pantera. Demetri bowed respectfully, his usual nerves barely hidden, but Diego didn't reciprocate. Instead, the Pantera fighter raised a clenched fist high, his expression cold and unflinching.

Demetri furrowed his brow but shrugged it off, getting into his fighting stance.

"Fight!" the referee called.

Demetri started with a quick front kick, but Diego easily countered, slamming his foot down to block the move. The rhythm of the fight picked up as Demetri tried another kick, followed by a leg sweep, but Diego dodged each one with practiced ease.

From the sidelines, Mila was already getting frustrated. "Come on, Demetri! Do something!" she shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.

"Demetri, tag me in!" Eli yelled, his fists clenched as he watched Demetri struggle to land a hit.

Demetri glanced toward the sidelines but shook his head. "No! I got this!" he insisted.

Diego smirked at Demetri's hesitation, taking full advantage as he spun into a high kick. Demetri barely ducked in time, the wind from Diego's leg whistling past his ear. Diego then launched a flurry of attacks-kicks, punches, and sweeps. Though Demetri managed to dodge and block some of them, it was clear he was on the defensive.

"Demetri, tag me in!" Eli demanded again, his voice firmer this time.

"I said I got it!" Demetri shouted, but his confidence wavered as Diego landed a brutal kick straight to his face. Demetri stumbled backward, clutching his nose as Mila snickered from the sidelines.

"Point!" the referee announced, and Demetri grimaced as he trudged over to tag Sam.

Sam stepped into the ring with a sharp focus. She crouched low, placing her hand on the mat before spinning into a fluid kick. Her foot swept toward Diego, but he dodged with ease. Sam followed up with a low sweep, forcing Diego to step back, narrowly avoiding the strike.

The crowd was on edge as the two fighters exchanged blows in rapid succession. Sam's foot connected with Diego's side, making him stumble. He gritted his teeth and tagged in his teammate, Maria.

Maria charged into the ring with speed and aggression, throwing a swift kick toward Sam, who dodged just in time. The two exchanged rapid blows, each countering the other's strikes. Sam managed to grab Maria's arm mid-swing, using the opportunity to land a punch to Maria's side.

"Point! 1-1!" the referee called. Sam quickly tagged in Eli, who stormed into the ring with a determined roar.

"Let's go!" Miguel cheered from the sidelines as Eli squared off against his opponent, a towering boy with raw power. Eli struck first with a sharp kick, but the boy blocked it with his fist, slamming down on Eli's leg and forcing him to stagger.

Eli retaliated with a series of punches, but the boy blocked each one, countering with a brutal punch to Eli's stomach. Eli stumbled back, struggling to stay on his feet as the boy unleashed a flurry of kicks, forcing him to retreat.

"Hawk, tag me in!" Mila shouted, her voice cutting through the noise.

Eli ignored her, his jaw tightening as he pressed on.

"Hawk, tag in Mila!" Sam called, concern evident in her voice.

But Eli still didn't move.

"What are you doing? Tag Mila!" Robby yelled, frustration spilling into his tone.

Eli glanced toward Mila, her glare burning into him. Instead of tagging her, he turned and tagged Robby in. Mila's eyes widened, and she scoffed in disbelief.

"Seriously?" she muttered under her breath. She turned to Sam, who shared her exasperation.

"What are you doing?" Robby asked Eli as he stepped into the ring, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Eli didn't answer, his face stony as he backed off.

Robby barely had time to focus before the Pantera fighter swept his legs out from under him. Robby hit the mat hard, grunting as the boy followed up with a twist kick and a punch to his stomach.

"Point!" the referee announced.

Robby got to his feet, wincing as the boy tagged in a female teammate. The girl wasted no time, launching into a rapid series of kicks and punches. Robby blocked as best as he could, managing to hold her off until Miguel called out from the sidelines, his hand extended.

"Robby! Tag me in!" Miguel shouted.

Robby reached out, their hands almost touching-but the girl intercepted, kicking Robby's hand away before slamming a punch into his stomach.

"Point! Winner, Team Pantera!" the referee declared. "With an impressive victory, Miyagi-Do's loss puts them on the verge of elimination after their first match."

The announcement hit like a punch to the gut, the disappointment radiating through the Miyagi-Do team. Miguel marched over to Eli, his face set in anger.

"Eli, why didn't you tag in Mila when you had the chance?" Miguel snapped.

"She just got here," Eli retorted, crossing his arms.

Mila stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "You're pissed because I told you you're the reason Marisol's back with Cobra Kai? So, by association, you're pissed I'm her sister too?"

Eli rolled his eyes, his posture defensive. "It's not like that, Mila. You don't understand-"

"Oh, I understand just fine," Mila interrupted. "You can't handle the truth, so you took it out on me and cost us the match!"

The argument escalated, both voices rising as they hurled accusations at each other.

"Enough!" Robby's voice cut through the tension as he stepped between them, holding up his hands. "We're not doing this here. We've got bigger things to worry about."

Mila and Eli glared at each other, neither backing down, but Robby's firm stance forced them to retreat.

"This isn't over," Mila muttered under her breath, turning away in frustration as Eli clenched his fists at his sides.

ASH SPEAKS!!

who do you guys want endgame???

AXEL AND MARISOL ARE SO CUTE (might just have them be a fling idk yett)

mila and eli fightingggg (the ex bf and the exs sister fighting)

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