Dedicated to AbbyWatson4 and Robby2Keene

"I can't believe I let LaRusso talk me into this," thought Johnny as he stretched his left arm out, annoyed.

He and Daniel were standing inside a run-down storage facility (also known as the Eagle Fang dojo) waiting for Chozen to arrive. The metal walls were covered in large patches of rust and the floor was littered with bricks used for endurance training. A constant drip of water dropped from a nearby exposed pipe.

It's not like this stuff is "dangerous" or anything, just makes training more interesting.

"So remind me again how you met this guy?" asked Johnny, lifting his knee up to chest.

"Through a battle to the death over a girl," repeated Daniel, sighing as he sat with his legs crossed, mediating.

Johnny could only imagine how boring it must be to just sit around all day staring off like an old man.

"So you stole another man's girl, again?"

"What? No, it wasn't like that, either times," countered Daniel, defensively.

"If that's what you want to tell yourself, LaRusso," shrugged Johnny before reaching to the ground and taking a large sip of his Conquer's Banquet beer.

There! Now that's the good stuff.

Daniel just rolled his eyes before returning to his mediation.

"I see that both my students will be attending, today," announced Chozen as he stepped through the open front doors.

He was wearing an ugly red Hawaiian button-up paired with khaki dress pants that would have been unflattering no matter what they were doing, especially karate.

"We wouldn't quit on day one," stated Daniel, pushing himself to his feet.

Chozen merely stared back at him with a look of skepticism.

"Yeah, we both know that's not true," scoffed Johnny, honestly.

Especially, considering I didn't wanna be here in the first place.

"I don't believe we've met. Mr. Lawrence, correct?" confirmed Chozen, curiously.

"Yeah, and you're the guy who's supposedly like a master at Miyagi-Do offense or something," added Johnny, extending his sweaty hand forward.

Daniel scrowled agitatedly at Johnny, clearly trying to tell him off for his disrespect, although Johnny just smirked in return.

"No, it's alright, Daniel-San. He will soon understand the way of peace."

"Wait, what do you mean by that?" asked Johnny, confused, though Chozen was hardly listening for a response.

He gestured for Johnny and Daniel to follow him to the left corner of the room where a metal gymnastics pole had recently been attached to the floor and ceiling.

Finally, something interesting.

"So, we're gonna compete to see who can reach the top," smiled Johnny, eagerly.

"That is inaccurate, Mr. Lawrence. Today, you two will learn a very common concept which we call, teamwork," explained Chozen as he pulled out a stack of thin ropes from beside them.

"Ha,ha,ha, now what are you actually teaching us?" pushed Johnny, agitatedly.

Of course, all LaRusso's friends only talk in riddles.

Chozen once again said nothing, the ropes still held firmly in his worn hands.

"No, I think he's being serious, Johnny," clarified Daniel, sighing.

"So, you're telling me that I wasted a whole weekend for a stupid therapy lesson!" exclaimed Johnny, angrily.

"And a much needed one at that," finished Chozen.

"I don't mean to be disrespectful or anything-" started Daniel before he was abruptly cut off by Johnny.

"I do! You're supposed to be teaching us lessons we need to beat Cobra Kai!"

"Trust me, this lesson will suit you both fondly," responded Chozen, calmly.

If I could just punch that smug look right off his face...

"You have both already shown that you excel physically, in fact, working together, you may even have a chance at defeating Terry Silver (Johnny and Daniel exchanged a look of agreement at these words). But your minds are far from open to one another," explained Chozen.

"I'm not sure any amount of training could change that," said Daniel.

"Yeah, and I don't want anyone poking around in my head," added Johnny.

Daniel just shook his head, disapprovingly.

He always has to think that he's better than me...

"See, this is exactly why you need this exercise!" shouted Chozen, exasperatedly.

Silence fell upon the wide room as neither Johnny nor Daniel said anything. They wanted to deny his accusation, but honestly, they couldn't.

"Okay, we'll do it," conceded Daniel uneasily.

"Yeah, fine," agreed Johnny reluctantly as he kicked an empty chip bag into the air.

Chozen nodded.

"You both must sit down on opposite sides of the pole with your hands in front of your chest," instructed Chozen before demonstrating the motion with his own hands.

Daniel sat down exactly as he had suggested, his palms flat against one another in perfect formation.

Johnny rolled his eyes sarcastically before dropping down on his butt, his legs laid out comfortably.

"What's next?" asked Johnny.

"Now, we use these," answered Chozen, holding out two sets of manila ropes.

This guy really is crazy.

He carefully tied one set of ropes to Daniel's and Johnny's left hands before repeating the same steps for their right ones. The ropes felt tight and itchy against Johnny's skin.

"What now?"

"Now, I get myself what you Americans call a cheeseburger," smiled Chozen, rubbing his hands together hungrily.

"Wait, you can't just leave us here!" insisted Daniel, making a futile attempt to get to his feet.

"You will be able to escape quite quickly so long as you work together," reasoned Chozen before exiting the room.

What is he talking about?!