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Daniel LaRusso decided to train them differently today–no meditation, stretching nothing like that. Johnny had been giving him enough shit lately for being a pansy, so now it's time to start training them fully on the art of balance.
"Morning everyone," Daniel smiled.
Johnny wasn't there yet, he didn't particularly feel thrilled about another day of full Miyagi training. That's all it's been for the past few days but once he gets his shot to take over, it's over for all of them. They'll learn true karate. How to fight. He is, though waiting for the day that LaRusso does something to impress him–painting his house and waxing the floors didn't really do it for him. He did understand the tactic behind it though, it's smart and teaches the basic skills, but he just doesn't understand why someone would wanna go through all of that to learn how to block when you can just learn it all at once.
"Morning Sensei!" The class responded.
"Sensei Lawrence isn't here yet but I have something special planned for you all today–something I enjoy teaching my students very much."
Samantha LaRusso eyed her father, standing next to her boyfriend in line. What was his favorite teaching tactic?
"In order to truly understand Miyagi-Do karate, you need to learn balance. Balance within yourself and with the world. We've been doing breathing exercises and basic moves over the past few days. Those moves all filter in with todays lesson. It's almost like a dance, as some would say. Follow me, let's go out front."
It feels like we're doing a dance.
Still eyeing her father, the students moved through the inside dojo and back out to the front where all of the cars were parked. When everyone in front of her cleared and she saw what was out there laying in the dirt, her heart instantly stopped.
"I've taught this once before and before I taught it to my two students, I had learned it. It's the foundation of Miyagi do, you've always gotta keep moving in a circle. And that's why this circle of sand is here. You need to sense exactly what your partner is doing."
"How can you do that when you're on solid ground?" Miguel asked.
Daniel shrugged. "Funny you should ask... why not give it a try? Miguel and Sam, come over here"
Sam stood still, looking at her father almost completely bewildered.
"Sam," he said under his breath and urged her towards the circle, not sensing what was truly running through her head. "You're a pro, you've mastered this."
She gulped and Miguel looked at her, confused as to why she wasn't following.
Sam nodded hesitantly and walked towards the circle, getting on the side she was used to.
Only, the reflection wasn't the same.
Miguel stood across from her, smiling, excited to try this new form of karate and expand his skill sets. He loves training the Eagle-Fang way, but the past few days have been really relaxed and he want's to figure out this puzzle of Daniel's strategic teaching. Johnny's tactics are straightforward most of the time: offense. Kick that bag, dodge that punch, throw that punch... but this, you actually have to think about the skills he's teaching.
"Now, bow to each other," he said and the two followed his command. "Sam, show him the first pose."
Sam moved out to the familiar first pose. Miguel copied.
"And the next."
She moved and he followed.
"Now just you Sam, go through the motions so everyone could watch."
No, why are you making me do this?
"If you guys learn this, no one will ever mess with you," Daniel told them, throwing out friendly motivation.
With each move she felt the walls closing in. It felt different.
Unbalanced.
It used to come easy to her and though it seems like that to her dad and everyone else, she felt like her mind was going to explode.
It's not the same.
XXX
"This is pointless," Sam sighed, sitting down on the small edge of sand. They should have just gone to the beach.
Robby sighed tiredly and sat next to her, his head in his knees. "We've been at this for hours. When is your dad getting back?"
She looked at her phone and had no messages. She knew mom needed him, it just sucks that she did on their official day one. "I doubt he is. It seems like my mom really needed him today."
"Do you wanna call it a day?" he asked, sideways at her.
"No! I want to get this!" She stood up, frustrated.
"And I want to go to sleep," he groaned and moved his hair out of his eyes.
"Sleep is for the weak," she joked with him. "Plus you can't do that in a dojo."
Robby rolled his eyes and stood up. "Says who? Those mats in there seem pretty comfortable."
"Not as comfortable as a your own bed though. Plus we fight on those mats, ew."
He smirked slightly. "You win. Let's run it again."
The pair kept rehearsing the moves, both together and watching each other, giving out pointers.
"I just don't understand how we can even stay in sync, we both know the moves and can do them perfectly, it just doesn't make sense..."
Robby breathed heavily, sweating in the sun. "Wanna try the mat inside? Maybe we can feel it better on there?"
Sam nodded, wondering for a second why they hadn't thought of it before.
Robby breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped into the fresher air of the inside dojo. Even though the walls were thin, they still felt the cooler air and the two instantly felt better-relaxed.
Sam shook off her shoes and left them by the front of the mat while Robby's were left outside in the dirt from earlier. They both flowed through the moves quickly, feeling each other only a little bit more with the squish of the mat.
"We'll just have to talk to my dad about it tomorrow I guess," Sam sighed, sitting down against the wall. Robby sat next to her, a little closer than he probably should have but he didn't notice.
"We'll get it," he nodded. "I'm sure your dad will figure it out. You're right we know the moves."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, taking time to breathe. Robby leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to find the right breathing pattern. For the few times she looked over to him, she was convinced he was asleep sitting up.
"What do we do now?" she whispered, looking towards her partner. She saw the familiar breathing pattern he'd learned break at the sound of her voice.
He shrugged, completely aware she was talking to him. "I don't know, it's our first day here. We haven't even had a full lesson together yet."
"Yeah. Do we like-go home? Or wait for my dad to get back?"
He slowly opened his eyes and behind it, she could see pain. He didn't look at her, just started straight ahead, barely blinking. He almost seemed to tense up a bit at the word 'home' too. "Whatever you want," he forced a smile, now looking at her.
"I don't mind hanging back for a bit…" she said, looking down at her hands. They fell back into silence, a bit more uncomfortable on her end this time as the question she's been wanting to ask him since this morning dared to slip out. "Hey Robby?"
He opened his eyes once more, faster this time. "What?"
"Are you... are you okay?"
He blinked a couple of times, wanting to vomit out all of the shit that's been going on in his life–but he knew it wouldn't be worth it. Why would he want to ruin her? She's grown up with the nicest family, the nicest house... she doesn't need to know the shit that's out there, that she's never had to deal with. He's scared that she'd see him differently too, especially if he dove into his lifestyle and the people he hung around with before he met Mr. LaRusso and took the job at the dealership.
She doesn't need to know.
"Yeah everything's fine, why do you ask?"
"You were here so early today, attacking that punching bag like it did something to you. You just have this–this clouded look in your eyes."
He stared back at her, intensely. Now that pain she saw before was more intense. It looked like he wanted to tell her everything and she wanted him too.
"Sorry, I know it's none of my business. You may not think I can understand a shitty situation because most people think i've never been in them before... but I can, and I'm here for you Robby. We're partners now, right?"
A tear almost threatened to leave his eyes, but none slipped. Tears weren't allowed.
But this is the first time anyone had ever said something like this to him, the only time someone has truly cared. She watched his eyes go back and forth, searching for something to say… anything. But nothing came out.
She moved off the wall and pulled him in for a hug. His body went rigid and was overcome with complete shock.
He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her back tightly. His body felt warm, loved. "Thank you," he mumbled, voice breaking.
XXXX
She managed-managed to get through all of the moves with her classmates watching. She felt all of their eyes on the back of her neck, burning a hold through it.
"Perfect, you remembered! I knew you would," Daniel clapped. "Now, Miguel, you try to follow Sam."
Sam repeated the steps like clockwork, only Miguel wasn't completely in sync. There was a delay and he kept watching her to make sure his form was right.
"Together guys together!" Daniel encouraged them. "I know you guys can do it. Especially the two of you."
"Sensei LaRusso, I can't sense her movements! Maybe I haven't been training at Miyagi-Do long enough, I–"
"I taught this lesson on one of their first days," Daniel told him. "I know you can do this."
Sam looked at the ground, knowing her father had just said 'their'. Miguel must've put it together by now. Her and Robby Keene.
Miguel turned to Sam and eyed her suspiciously, wondering if his hunch was right about Daniel's 'their'.
As if on queue, a car pulled loudly into the dojo, stopping right in the middle of the lot. Dirt and dust covered the entire lot
"Johnny what the hell come on!" Daniel yelled as his co-sensei got out of the car lazily.
"What is this pussy shit?" Johnny said, taking off his shades and throwing them back into the driver's seat, slamming the driver-side door.
"I'm teaching them the foundation of Miyagi-Do karate…"
"What, playing in the sand? Plus isn't that what you've been doing for days? Come on LaRusso."
"No, moving in a circle! Miguel, Sam, show Sensei Lawerence what you've got so far."
Miguel gave Sam a worried look, but she just bowed towards him, no change of expression on her face. She started re-following the steps, losing touch with Miguel about a quarter of the way through.
Johnny laughed. "This, this is great. You're teaching my champ how to be a pussy!"
Daniel glared at him. "Alright guys enough of this, let's switch gears. Follow me."
Johnny smirked, had he won a sensei battle he barely had to fight?
Everyone walked back through the indoor dojo and out to the garden. Sam felt her stomach churn the further they got to the back of the dojo, more specifically the back left corner. She knew where her dad was going, and it wasn't giving up and learning Eagle-Fang for the rest of the day.
No. No, not this. Now now. Now without-
"Mr. Miyagi built this not long before he died. He said it was a monument to balance. Normally I let it balance bonsai trees, but I found that using it as a human balance board works well too. You guys need to sense what each other are doing without having to see each other and on this deck, trust me you will!"
Johnny squinted, trying not to show interest. "A human what?"
"It's a lot harder than it looks, right Sam?"
She didn't look back at him, only stared at the water.
XXXX
The next day she noticed he seemed more off. She thought that he would feel a little more relaxed after their conversation, but he was closed off, angry. He stormed through the dojo with her in tow and they came out the other side to see Daniel in the koi pond.
Getting there before him, she started practicing what they learned yesterday. She eventually turned around and saw Robby prominently walk into the lot. She couldn't help the small smile that formed when she saw him, but looking a bit closer she saw bags under his eyes and a slump in his posture. He was wearing a blue tank that highlighted his eyes and cut far down under his arms, showing off his torso. Why was she looking?
He didn't smile.
"Hey um-was the first turn clockwise or counterclockwise?"
He stopped in his tracks and looked at her.
"I don't remember," he shook his head. "What's the point even? How's that stupid dance gonna save us in a fight?"
She watched him walk away and scrambled to follow him through the inside dojo and out to the back. Her dad was out back inside the koi pond taking the bonsai trees off of the deck-balance-board thing.
"Dad! Dad what are you doing?" Sam ran over to help him.
Daniel explained the method he had come up with in his absence yesterday.
"Mr. Miyagi built this a few years before he died, he said it was a monument to balance. And today, it's not going to balance bonsai's. It's going to help you two learn the wheel technique. Hop in."
"You actually want us to get in there?" she gasped, pointing to the pond.
"Yeah," Daniel said nonchalantly.
Robby looked towards her, not really knowing what to say. "You could've at least told us to bring our swimsuits," Robby sighed.
"A little water never hurt anyone."
Sam stared at the gross looking water. "Do we actually have to go in there?"
"You can do it guys I know it," Daniel encouraged, excited to try this for the first time.
The two slipped off their shoes. She shoved Robby to go in first and earned a look back. She grabbed onto his arm as he stepped in for his support.
"Oh god it's cold," he cringed. "And the rocks are really slimy."
"Ugh dad," she groaned and looked at him."Do I have to?"
"Go Sam, follow Robby. Get on each side."
She rolled her eyes and grabbed onto Robby's arm when he offered his hand, slipping in. "This is disgusting."
They both waded through the water and stood on either side of the board, putting their hands on it and feeling how lightly they had to touch for it to make drastic movement.
"How are we supposed to stand on this?" Robby asked. "If we can't do it on land how can we do it on here?"
"Oh my god dad what did I just step on?!" Sam screeched.
"It's nothing it's nothing," he blew off. "You guys were complaining yesterday about not being able to feel each other's movements right? Well you're sure as hell going to feel it on there. Go on, hoist yourselves up."
The two internally rolled their eyes and struggled to stand on top of the soaking wet, slippery balance board meant for bonsai trees.
"Easy easy, just relax. Find your balance, guys."
Finally, they both got up there, struggling to relax themselves.
"Dad this isn't gonna end well–"
"Okay there you go! Sense each other. Take your starting positions," Daniel said calmly.
They struggled. A lot.
Kept slipping and falling into disgusting water.
Over and over again.
Only progressing a small amount each time.
But they felt each other.
Each little movement, each breath.
They became one. One fighter.
And they didn't want to admit it, but they had a lot of fun falling into the murky water and slipping all over each other. She watched him laugh, get out of his funk from earlier. The more that messed up today, the more they laughed unlike yesterday.
"Hey it took me forever to dry off," Sam giggled, running into the dojo as Robby stood up, putting his stuff in his backpack. "Today was… awesome."
He cracked a genuine smile and she tried to hide the flutter in her heart. That's the first real one she had seen in a while besides from constantly falling under the water earlier. "Yeah-yeah I think we finally got it!" he shrugged, grinning ear to ear.
"Yeah," she laughed, trailing off.
It couldn't end yet, not not yet.
"Hey do you need a ride?"
She watched that expression completely change, he was no longer smiley. He seemed to think for a moment, averting his eyes from her. "Ummm, no," he said honestly., nodding.
Sam frowned, wanting to turn away but stopped when she heard him continue. "And look," he paused, eyes closing for a moment. "I'm sorry about earlier."
Those eyes, those damn eyes matched his shirt. She could see how apologetic they were, it's almost as if he was speaking double... a secret language being told through his eyes.
"I just-i've been dealing with some stuff at home... my mom took off-I guess she missed some bills..." he told her, though he didn't seem as sad as she expected. He sounded, tired.
Used to it.
Expecting disappointment.
"But, i'll see you tomorrow?" he smiled hopefully.
She was surprised though, surprised that he actually told her what was bothering him the past few days-the shittier side of his life that he's been shielding from her.
He was surprised too, surprised at the fact that he even told her anything. He never told anybody.
"Yeah, sure," she smiled warmly.
"Cool," he laughed, pulling that beautiful smile back out. It's the widest smile she's ever seen from him.
And it was beautiful.
She didn't know what it was in this moment-this whole day too, just really this one specific moment between them... but her perception of Robby Keene just changed drastically.
XXXXX
"After you, m'lady," Miguel joked, allowing Sam to step into the gross koi-pond water first.
She stared at him and sighed, kicking off her shoes. He grabbed onto her arm as she slowly stepped in, trying not to screech because of the cold. Cold she should be used to by now.
On the other hand, Miguel expressed it. "Why don't you have this thing heated?" he panted, trying to avoid the top half of his torso getting soaked.
Daniel laughed. "No time for that, go on guys get up there."
"Go on the other side," Sam told Miguel. He waded over to the other side, while she stayed on the one she was comfortable with. "Up on three.. One… two.. Three!"
On three they both hoisted themselves up, Sam a bit more successfully than Miguel. He had to move a bit further towards the center of the board to even out their weight.
"You can do it Miguel, just find your balance."
"Easier said than done!" Johnny said, stepping up. "LaRusso, you sure this is a good idea?" he whispered directly to Daniel.
"Are you questioning me?" Daniel squinted, half joking.
Johnny shrugged. "Never," he said sarcastically. "But you've got my champ on a balance deck! I mean look at this thing it's impossible!"
"I did this with Samantha and Robby when they first started training. They ended up using this technique in fights."
Johnny ignored the way he tensed up when Daniel mentioned "Robby''. He knew he shouldn't get mad at the fact Daniel was training him, but Robby is still his son. His son. The son he should've been training. The son he should've been there for. He looked over at Miguel, struggling to find his balance. Maybe he does need this Miyagi-do balance shit, he's really wobbling up there.
"All right steady yourselves," Daniel slowly moved his hands down, conducting them. "Now bow and go into first position."
Sam bowed with Miguel following a bit behind. "Sensei LaRusso, it's so slippery–"
"Quiet!" Johnny shouted, earning the full attention of his top student.. "You once moved a cement barrel, and you were standing in slippery, wet cement that was about to harden! You can do this pansy balance shit. Remember the walls of that truck? The way you had to work to even find a grip? Work to find your damn balance. Work to find your will to stand steadily on that board."
Daniel shot him a look. "He's… right? Interesting choice of phrasing, but right. I know you two can do this. Find. Your. Balance."
"Come on guys, that's all this guy says it should be drilled into your brains by now!" Johnny said in a motivational voice, overpowering Daniel's.
"Now slowly, start moving," Daniel commanded.
Sam started the first move, Miguel following swiftly–but just as she did with Robby, they both fell as soon as they started to move.
"Okay okay good start!" Daniel smiled. "Get back up there! I know you guys can do it."
Sam went to hoist herself up and noticed her arm shaking. This isn't going to work.
And it didn't.
Try after try.
Fall after fall.
Her and Miguel couldn't sync up.
Something was off, and they both knew what it was.
He did the moves.
She did the moves.
But they never did it together.