Chapter Text
After their first class together in Miyagi-do Karate, Sam and Tory said goodbye for now to Miguel and Robby and the rest of their classmates. As the others headed for the gate, the girls made their way to the edge of the koi pond. Sam wrapped her arm, gently but snugly, around Tory’s waist. Tory smiled and put her arm around Sam’s shoulders.
“You did great today,” Sam said. “And everyone’s so glad you’re with us. Could you feel it?”
Tory nodded. “Yeah, I really could.” She stared into the pond, gazing past its surface at the fish circling idly. Then she sighed and added, “Feels like so much is changing. I mean, Miguel and Robby are like brothers now. Literally, even.”
“Yeah, I’m glad they worked everything out… just like we did, you and me. Though I’m really glad we did it without fighting again.” Sam paused suddenly, frowning a little as she shook her head. “I mean, not like the way I heard they went at it.”
Tory laughed. “I know, right? Robby said they beat the shit out of each other, and that Miguel almost sent him off a balcony… but they finally gave it up at the last second.”
Sam swallowed. “Thank God,” she whispered. Then she turned to face Tory directly, laying a hand on Tory’s cheek. She gently turned Tory’s face so they could look each other in the eye, while they each kept one arm around the other. “Tory, I am so sorry I tried to fight you, that I didn’t listen when you tried to tell me what happened at the All-Valley.”
Tory reached up and covered Sam’s hand with her own. “It’s alright, Sam. You had no reason to believe me. But, honestly, it meant so much to me when you changed your mind and showed up at my place.”
“I know.” Sam held Tory’s healed hand in both of hers, brought it close to her face, and kissed it softly. “Maybe I thought I didn’t care at the time, but when I remember it now…” She sighed and swallowed once again, harder this time. “I really hated seeing you hurt like that.”
“I know. The whole thing just sucked, all of it.” Tory let Sam keep hold of her hand, and with her other arm she pulled Sam a little closer. She softly stroked Sam’s right bicep, the one that had been scarred by her spiked bracelet nearly a year ago. “Does it still hurt?” she asked softly. Sam shook her head, and Tory let out her breath. “Good… because, baby, you didn’t deserve any of that shit I put you through.”
They stared at each other wordlessly for a moment, then put their arms around each other, close and tender. They found themselves running their fingers through each other’s hair as well. They stayed like that for a while, and then Tory whispered in Sam’s ear, “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
Tory moved back a bit so she could look Sam in the eye. “How do you deal with stress? I mean, it seems like karate really helps you, and Miguel and Robby and all the guys, but how? I joined Cobra Kai to blow off steam, but I’m starting to realize I’m still pissed off so much of the time. And I really don’t want to feel like that anymore.”
“Tory,” Sam leaned closer and kissed her on the cheek. “You have so much going on. Of course you’re stressed out. But you know what I find is really helpful? That breathing exercise we do at the beginning and end of class.”
“You know, I really don’t get the point of that motion.” Tory pressed her hands together in front of her heart, and then shrugged.
“The motion itself doesn’t actually do anything,” Sam explained. “My dad says it just helps take your mind off things, so you can focus on your breathing.” She pressed her hands together as well. “Come on, do it again with me. Breathe as deep as you can, as slowly as you can, alright?”
Tory nodded and closed her eyes, and so did Sam. Side by side, they each took a deep breath and held it for a moment. Then they let it out slowly, extending their arms forward, hands pressed together at their centerline. With their next inbreath they brought their hands back to their hearts, and with their outbreath they extended them overhead. They continued like this for several breaths, until eventually they opened their eyes and looked at each other.
“Feel any better?” asked Sam.
Tory shrugged. “A little, I think.”
“Keep practicing. It really does start to work after a while.”
“I’ll take your word for it. Probably can’t become zen in a day.” They both laughed.
Then they heard the sliding door of the dojo open. Daniel stepped outside, holding the small watering can he used for the bonsai trees. “You know,” Sam said, “my dad knows a lot about this kind of thing. Want to ask him about it?”
Tory gazed over at Daniel for a moment, then nodded slowly. “I actually would like to talk to him about some stuff.”
Sam held on to Tory’s hand as they made their way over to the door. “Hey, Dad, I think we need your advice.”
“Of course, Sam.” Daniel looked closely at the girls. “What’s going on?”
Sam and Tory looked at each other for an instant, then Tory took a deep breath and turned back to Daniel. “Sensei LaRusso, could you tell me how you met Terry Silver, and what it was like when you were in Cobra Kai?”
Daniel put down his watering can and nodded. “Absolutely. Let’s go inside for a bit.”
They sat on meditation cushions, with Daniel facing Tory and Sam. Daniel recounted his story from his initial disagreement with Mr. Miyagi about defending the All-Valley title, to the way Terry Silver had manipulated him into leaving Mr. Miyagi to train at the Cobra Kai dojo, to the grueling and painful training Silver had put him through - bruising his limbs and bloodying his knuckles on the boards of the training dummy. Tory winced as she heard this part and once again cradled her right hand in her left. Sam slid her cushion close to Tory’s and put her arm around her, while Daniel grew quiet for a moment.
“Are you okay?” Sam whispered.
Tory swallowed hard, then nodded and took another deep breath. “Yeah.” She looked Daniel in the eye. “Please go on, Sensei.”
Daniel folded his hands in his lap. “I know what you’ve been through, Tory. It was a terrible experience for me as well. And the worst thing about it was the way it twisted me up into someone I wasn’t - angry, aggressive, looking for a fight, hurting people needlessly.”
Tory stared at Daniel with her eyes wide and misty, while Sam gently rubbed her back. “That’s exactly how I feel,” she said, in little more than a whisper.
Daniel sighed, looking at her for a long moment. “You’ve been through a lot, but try not to be discouraged. Anger is something many people struggle with, sometimes for a lifetime, myself included. I was a bit of a hothead at your age, even before I got mixed up with Silver, but I was very fortunate to have Mr. Miyagi.” He gestured toward his mentor’s picture where it hung on the wall. “He was always there for me. Even after I had left him for Cobra Kai, he helped me back on the right path. He taught me how to breathe and focus and keep things in perspective.” He pressed his hands together and bowed his head in the direction of Mr. Miyagi’s picture, then turned back to Tory and Sam. “After he died, I tried to maintain the example he set, but I got distracted by my career and family… and there’ve been times when I still let my anger get the best of me. I’ve had to learn how to rediscover my own balance, and that’s really why I started teaching Miyagi-do.”
Tory sat quietly, letting Daniel’s story sink in. Sam nestled close beside her, her warm touch easing the pain Tory felt in her chest - that she felt keenly aware of for the first time. The forgiveness, and newfound friendship, of her former rival meant the world to her. She pressed her own hands together in front of her heart, drew in her breath as deep as she could, and let it out slowly from her diaphragm. Finally, she found her words. “And how can I find my balance, Sensei?”
Daniel smiled. “You’re already on the path, Tory. The things you’re learning in Miyagi-do, that Sam’s been helping you with - breathing and kata - will help you get there. Like any other skill in karate - punches, blocks, kicks - you just have to keep practicing. Eventually, you will find it easier to focus, and to let go of that anger you’re carrying around. And, if you ever need to talk about what’s bugging you, you can always come to me, or Sensei Lawrence, or Sensei Toguchi whenever he’s around. Alright?”
Tory said nothing for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Yeah… yeah, thanks a lot, Sensei. I needed to hear that.” She gazed over at the picture of Mr. Miyagi, then let her eyes wander about the dojo. Looking back at Daniel, she added, “I’d actually like to stay awhile, but I really shouldn’t be late for work.”
Sam gently squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll walk you out.” The girls got up and bowed to Daniel, who stood as well and bowed back. Then Sam and Tory headed for the gate, hand in hand.
“Wow,” said Tory, when they were outside, “your dad’s actually a really smart guy.”
“Yeah, he’s great, for the most part.” Sam giggled. “We used to have our spats now and then, but not so much ever since I took up karate with him last summer.”
“I can see why.” Tory squeezed Sam’s hand. “And you know what else, Sam? Your mom was a huge help to me, letting me get back into school and everything. I’m not sure I’d even be here now if she hadn’t taught me to let people help me sometimes. Say hi to her for me, alright?”
“Of course.” Sam turned to face Tory, holding both of her hands. “You can also come over and say hi to her yourself, anytime you want. I’m sure she’d love to see you.” Sam suddenly felt her face flush. She looked down at her sneakers, though she kept hold of Tory’s hands. “I mean, I know you’re busy as hell these days.” She took a breath and looked Tory in the eye again. “But if you ever have some time and want to come over to our house… we could go swimming, or just hang out by the pool, or whatever you like.”
Tory laughed and flung her arms around Sam, kissing her cheek. “Thank you, baby. I would love to come over and go swimming with you sometime!”