The afternoon sun bathed Barcelona in golden hues as the Sekai Taikai stadium throbbed with life, the sound of fighting echoing like wild thunder cutting through the hot air. I arrived late, the weight of my quest for the team dancing in my chest like a melody I couldn't silence, the sound of voices shouting Tory's name reaching out to me like a flame that reignited the love that pulsed within me.
"Hey, Johnny, what's going on?" I asked, my deep voice cutting through the air as I approached, the weight of those screams dancing in my chest like a melody I wanted to understand.
"Clark… Where have you been, kid?" Johnny replied, his tone thick with concern that cut through the air like a dry knife as he stared at me. "Larusso was worried about you…"
"I was looking for you at the tournament," I explained, the sound cutting through the air as the weight of that search danced in my chest like a soft flame. "When I got back, you were gone. I looked, couldn't find anyone, so I went to lunch… When I came back, it had already started again…"
"Oh, yeah…" he murmured, the weight of that answer dancing across his face like a melody he wanted to erase. "At that point, we had gone to the locker room to talk…"
"I see…" he said, his tone filled with gentle curiosity as he stared at him. "And now, how are we?"
"It's next…" he replied, the sound cutting through the air like soft thunder as the weight of that wait danced in his chest.
"Beauty…" I murmured, the love for that group pulsing through me like a flame I wanted to protect.
Sam walked toward me, the sound of her footsteps cutting through the air like a soft melody as the weight of my absence danced across her face. "Clark, where have you been?"
I explained what had happened, the sound of the words dancing between us like a flame trying to extinguish the tension that cut through the silence. "I understand…" she murmured, the weight of that understanding dancing in her chest like a melody she wanted to keep.
Johnny called her over to talk, the sound of his voice cutting through the air as he gathered the group, the weight of a motivational speech dancing in his chest like a flame he wanted to rekindle. Roby and Sam stepped onto the mat, the sound of their footsteps echoing like soft thunder as they faced the orange team, the weight of that fight dancing like a melody that cut through the hot air.
Roby lost focus again, the sound of that slip cutting through the air as his eyes searched for Tory, the weight of that distraction dancing in his chest like a dark flame he couldn't extinguish. Each fight followed, the sound of the blows echoing like a wild melody until only Miguel remained, the weight of responsibility dancing on his shoulders as he climbed the mat. He defeated both opponents, the sound of the blows cutting through the air like thunder no one could ignore, the glow of victory dancing in his chest like a flame he wanted to protect.
"Very good, Miguel saved everyone…" I murmured, the sound cutting through the air as the love for that effort pulsed through me like a soft melody.
Some time later, Johnny received a call, the weight of that news dancing across his face like a shadow that cut through the silence as he and Miguel left for Los Angeles, the sound of urgency echoing like a thunder no one expected because of his wife's problems.
That night, the hotel turned into a Spanish-style party, the sound of the music dancing in the air like a melody that cut through the weight of the day, the glow of the lights reflecting on tired faces like flames trying to extinguish frustration. I walked to the bar, the sound of my footsteps cutting through the floor as the heat of that night danced in my chest. "Hey, friend, bring me a whiskey on the rocks…" I asked, the weight of the order dancing like a soft melody as I sat down.
"Coming soon…" the bartender replied, the sound cutting through the air as he filled the glass, the amber liquid dancing like a flame that I wanted to taste.
As I drank, the taste cutting through my throat like soft thunder, a few girls approached me, the weight of teasing dancing across their faces like a playful melody. I dismissed them with a smile, the sound of the words cutting through the air as I told them I already had a girlfriend, the love for Sam and Tory pulsing through my chest like twin flames I wanted to protect.
Sam was talking to Roby at a table, the sound of her voice dancing like a soft flame as she stared at him, until her eyes narrowed on me, a smile dancing across her face like a melody that cut through the air. Her thoughts: Hmph… I guess everything is okay…
"You noticed that…" Roby said, the weight of those words dancing in his chest like a dark shadow as he stared at me. His thoughts: I'd forgotten about that son of a bitch… He cheated on Samantha with Tory… Again… "Samantha… Do you know what I saw last night?"
"!!" Shock flashed across her face like lightning, the sound of that start cutting through the air as the Cobra Kai contestants entered, the weight of their presence dancing like a thunder no one had expected. Roby noticed, his heart racing like a wild melody as something rose in his throat, the scenes from the night before cutting through his mind like sharp knives. He stood up, the sound of his footsteps cutting through the air as he made his way to the bar, the weight of that suffering dancing in his chest like a flame he couldn't extinguish.
"Roby, wait…" Sam called, the sound cutting through the air like a soft melody as the weight of that guilt danced in her chest. Her thoughts: Damn it, Clark… This is all your fault…
Tory stared at Roby, the sound of his gaze dancing like a dark melody as the weight of his anger cut through the air. Her thoughts: What happened to him? He's looking at me with hate… She walked to the bar, the sound of her footsteps cutting through the floor as the desire for a drink danced in her chest like a flame she wanted to extinguish.
I was at peace, sipping my whiskey, the sound of my thoughts dancing in my chest like a soft melody as I reflected. Thoughts: This world isn't so bad after all... Of course, if you take out the parts of murderous vampires and werewolves running around... "Hey, friend, pour me another glass..." I asked, the sound cutting through the air as the bartender filled the glass, the liquid dancing like a flame that warmed the weight of that night.
Tory walked by, the sound of her footsteps cutting through the air until a few guys noticed her, the weight of teasing dancing in their voices like a mocking melody. "She's hot… I wish she'd pull one of my teeth too… Haha," they laughed, the sound echoing like playful thunderclaps that cut through the silence.
She reached the bar, the sound of her hand waving to the bartender cutting through the air as she ordered a drink. "Is that on the bill?" he asked, the weight of doubt dancing in his chest.
"It's on me…" said a voice, the sound cutting through the air like a flame I didn't expect to recognize.
"!!" Tory turned, the weight of that surprise dancing across her face as Zara approached, the sound of the taunt dancing in her chest like a mocking melody. "You know, my sponsors pay for everything… You should get one for yourself… You know, you should have taken a picture today, to remember your one moment at the top…"
"…" The weight of that affront danced in her chest like a dark flame as she stared at her. "Maybe I'll take a picture of you, on the mat, in the finals, knocked out with your teeth on the side… Thanks for the drink…" she snapped, the sound cutting through the air like a sharp knife as she grabbed the drink and left, the weight of that response echoing like a thunderclap that cut through the silence. Roby stared at her, the sound of that gaze dancing like a dark melody, until Kwon approached, putting his arms around her and whispering in her ear. "Does your little boyfriend over there kiss as well as he does karate?"
Tory shoved him away, the sound of it cutting through the air as she glared at him, the weight of anger dancing in her chest like a flame she couldn't extinguish. "Roby's not my boyfriend…"
"!!!" Kwon's eyes widened, shock flashing across his face like lightning as the sound of that revelation cut through the air. "What? Seriously? I thought he was, he's always checking you out…"
"It's just that some things happened to him in the past…" she murmured, the sound cutting through the air as she took a sip, the weight of that memory dancing in her chest like a dark melody. "But…" Her face contorted, the sound of sickness cutting through the air as she stood up and ran to the bathroom, the weight of that nausea echoing like a thunderclap no one expected.
"Wow, what happened?" Kwon asked, the sound cutting through the air as the weight of that surprise danced across his face like a flame he couldn't understand.
Almost everyone noticed, the sound of her footsteps cutting through the air as Sam and Devon followed her into the bathroom, the weight of worry dancing in their hearts like a melody that cut through the silence.
"BLEEEE… ARF, ARRG…" Tory retched, the sound cutting through the air like a dark wail as the weight of that weakness danced in her chest.
"Tory, are you okay?" Sam asked, the sound cutting through the air as he placed his hand on her back, the weight of tenderness dancing in his chest like a soft flame.
Devon moved to the other side, the sound of her hand slicing through the air as she did the same. "Are you okay, Tory?"
"Sam… Devon…" she murmured, the sound cutting through the air as she rinsed her mouth and wiped away the dirt, the weight of that answer dancing across her face like a faint melody. "I'm fine, just a little nauseous, that's all…"
"…" Devon fell silent, the weight of that doubt dancing in her chest like a dark flame she couldn't extinguish.
"Oh, I see," Sam said, the sound cutting through the air like a soft melody as he stared at her. "That drink you had must have gone down badly…"
Tory smiled weakly, the weight of that lie dancing across her face like a flame she wanted to hide. "Yeah, that must have been it…"
"I'll be going now, thank you for worrying about me…" she said, the sound cutting through the air as she left the bathroom, the weight of that gratitude dancing in her chest like a melody that cut through the silence.
She met me at the bar, the sound of her footsteps cutting through the air as she tapped my back, the weight of that touch dancing like a soft flame I wanted to embrace. "Clark, I need to talk to you…"
"Hi, little one, what's wrong?" I asked, my tone filled with tenderness that cut through the air while my love for her pulsed in my chest like a flame I wanted to rekindle. "Sit here with me…"
"Come with me, it has to be in private…" she said, the weight of that urgency dancing across her face like a dark melody that cut through the air.
"!!" The weight of that gaze dancing in my chest like a flame I couldn't ignore as I stood up, the sound of the chair cutting through the air. Thoughts: Her gaze… I left the money on the counter, the sound of the notes dancing like a soft melody as I followed her, the love for her cutting through the air like a flame I wanted to protect.
Kwon watched the scene, the weight of it dancing in his chest like a mocking flame as he approached Roby. "Hey, champ…" he taunted, the sound cutting through the air like a playful thunder as he glared at him. "Look at your girl hanging out with your teammate…"
Roby turned, the weight of that gaze cutting through the air as he watched Tory walk away with me, the sound of a "wow" escaping like a whine that danced in his chest. "Wow…"
"Hahaha, man, what's that like?" Kwon continued, the sound cutting through the air like a sharp knife as he stared at him. "Knowing that the girl you like is giving herself to someone else?"
"SHUT UP, DAMMIT!" Roby yelled, the sound cutting through the air like dark thunder as he grabbed Kwon's shirt, the weight of that anger dancing in his chest like a flame he couldn't extinguish.
"Easy, easy, champ…" Kwon said, the weight of that taunt dancing across his face like a mocking melody as he held up his hands. "I'm not the one fucking your girl, relax…"
"GRRR, FUCK!" Roby roared, the sound cutting through the air as he pushed Kwon to the ground, the weight of that fury dancing in his chest like a dark flame. Kwon stood up, laughing as he walked away, the sound echoing like a playful thunderclap that cut through the silence.
Outside, the cool night air danced against my skin as I stared at Tory, the weight of the moment cutting through the silence like a melody I wanted to understand. "So, little one… What's wrong? Why is your face so serious?"
"Clark…" she murmured, the sound cutting through the air as the weight of that revelation danced in her chest like a flame she couldn't extinguish. "My period is late… And I feel sick…" She paused, the sound of that confession cutting through the air like a soft thunder that echoed between us. "I think I'm pregnant…"