ISABELLA AND Amanda joined the class outside at the end of Miguel and Robby's fight. Because they were both her brothers, Isabella didn't know whether to feel happy or sad when Daniel LaRusso raised Robby's arm up in victory. Miguel had lost, and Isabella could tell by the look on his face that he was so disappointed.

Isabella stared at Miguel, trying to make eye contact with him but the boy didn't raise his eye line from the floor. The girl felt horrible; with everything already filling Miguel's mind, he didn't need his sister to throw a tantrum before his fight. He was unfocused because of her. It was her fault.

Her eyes shifted to Robby, who beamed a smile on his face; no matter how upset Isabella was feeling for Miguel, a part of her felt happy for Robby. He had never actually won anything before, so the boy must've felt amazing; Isabella didn't want to ruin his moment.

"Our male and female captains..." Daniel LaRusso announced, "Robby Keene and Sam—"

"Tory?" Sam interrupted, causing everybody's eyes to travel to the entrance of the backyard.

It was Tory. She walked towards the sparring deck: her hair messy, dark eyes, and Isabella noticed that she had tried to conceal the bruises on her knuckles. Only Isabella would notice a detail like that.

Sensei Lawrence said, "LaRusso, Nichols. Let's go. May the best woman win."

Amanda's posture straightened, and Isabella knew that the woman would cancel the fight. Isabella whispered quickly, "Please, don't! Please, Mrs LaRusso."

Amanda sighed, "Isabella, this isn't your decision—"

"It isn't yours either. It's Tory's." Isabella shot back, "Please, just let her fight. She needs this. Please."

The woman hesitated, before taking a long breath of acceptance. Isabella nodded in appreciation, before jogging towards the crowd of students around the sparring deck. She caught up to Tory; her heart racing in her chest; Isabella reached out to hold Tory's arm.

"Hey," Isabella breathed; she searched Tory's expression for any signs of hatred. Nothing. Tory didn't hate her, thankfully, but that's because Tory couldn't feel anything at all. Isabella added, "Good luck, Tory."

"Yeah," The girl responded, and Isabella knew that her mind was distracted by those same thoughts. Tory tried to smile, before walking onto the sparring deck to meet with Sam and Johnny.

"Ready? And fight!" Sensei Lawrence announced.

Robby was standing next to Isabella, his eyebrows furrowing in curiosity though he couldn't keep that radiant smile off his face. He asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Isabella replied, keeping her eyes on Tory.

"You say that a lot, you know? Even when you're not." Robby stated, "It's okay to not be okay."

Isabella kept looking at Tory as the two girls continued to fight, "Yeah."

"You're not listening, are you?" Robby raised his eyebrows sarcastically, before nudging the girl gently, "Belle?"

"Yeah?" Isabella finally looked at him in confusion, before adding quickly, "Well done for winning captain, by the way."

Robby smiled, before turning back to look at Miguel, who was standing at the back of the crowd of students. The boy sighed, "I just hope there's no hard feelings between me and Miguel."

"Point, LaRusso!" Johnny announced.

Isabella eyes darted back to the sparring deck, watching as Tory stormed back to her line. Isabella needed Tory to win; she needed Tory to be happy again.

Isabella watched Tory intensively, looking at the rage building up beneath her skin. It was extremely obvious to Isabella that Tory wasn't okay— how could everybody else not notice? Her thoughts were interrupted when Tory kicked Sam straight in the chest,

"Point, Nichols!"

And abruptly, Tory turned around to kick her again. Fuck.

Isabella made eye contact with Amanda, the girl's eyes pleading to the woman: please don't stop the match.

Johnny explained, talking above Daniel's complaints, "Listen, that's a warning. Next time will be a point deduction." He added, "Ready? Fight!"

Amanda attempted to walk forward, though Isabella grabbed her hand quickly. Isabella lowered her voice, "Please, don't! Just let her fight."

"This is dangerous, Isabella." Amanda reasoned, "Tory could—"

"What's going on?" Robby added curiously, listening in on the quiet conversation next to him.

"Nothing." Isabella snapped, before turning back to Amanda, "Please, just let her fight. Please!"

Robby frowned, "Belle, what's going on?"

Amanda hesitated for a moment, before taking a deep breath and turning to her husband. She insisted, "We need to stop the fight."

Daniel's eyebrows furrowed in concern, as Amanda whispered everything to him; the man nodded in understanding. Isabella stood next to them, fighting the urge not to fight the husband and wife right this second; her eyes started to fill with tears again.

Robby asked desperately, "Isabella, what's happening?"

Isabella watched as Daniel rushed onto the sparring deck, though her eyes travelled to Amanda in betrayal. Her voice broke, "I trusted you."

Tory raised her fist, about to punch Sam directly in the face, though Daniel LaRusso had rushed up to grab her fist before the damage was done. Daniel reassured kindly to Tory, "The fight's over."

"That's not fair." Tory argued, "That could've been a point!"

"What the hell are you doing, man?" Johnny joined in, "I'm the Ref. I'll decide when the fight's over."

"I'll explain everything. Just not now, we can't do it in front of everybody." Daniel explained.

Tory exclaimed, "No, don't stop the fight, please!"

"I'm fine, dad, really." Sam reassured.

"No, Sam. It's not that." Daniel replied, "Come on, girls. Off the deck."

"No, don't tell them what to do." Johnny shot back, "I'm their Sensei, too."

"Well, then end the fight." Sensei LaRusso insisted.

Johnny frowned, "Why?"

"Because my mother died!"

Isabella's chest tightened again.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, but we can't continue this fight." Daniel comforted, "This is just not the time."

"Yes, it is!" Tory shot back, "I have to fight now."

"No, Tory." Sam replied, "I wanna fight too, but this is not right."

Daniel sighed, "Sensei Lawrence, some help here, please."

"It's not up to us." Johnny defended, "If Nichols wants to fight, then she should."

"Johnny." Daniel warned, "Look, we'll find a way to appoint the captain—"

"Find a way? No." Tory raised her voice, "No! You do not understand. None of you understand!" The girl looked at Amanda, "My mom would have wanted this. If I don't fight... I have to do this! I have to do this for her!"

Isabella stepped onto the deck with her, as tears ran down her cheeks; she held onto Tory's hand tightly. Isabella looked at her Senseis, "Just continue the fight. She needs this, please."

Amanda reassured, "I know what you're feeling. But, I also know that you're not in the right headspace to decide."

"I don't think you should get a say in this." Isabella argued.

Amanda exclaimed, "You two girls have experienced what nobody should, okay? You both need to—"

"You just don't want me to beat your daughter!" Tory shouted, "Because when push comes to shove, you're gonna choose her over me."

"No, it's not that, Tory." Daniel reassured, "We're not taking sides."

Johnny retorted, "Are you sure about that?"

Tory paused, "You want this fight to be over? Fine. It's over."

Isabella hesitated, glancing at Johnny, "Wait, Tory, don't—"

Tory's voice softened, "No, Issy. I can't be here anymore." The girl stormed through the crowd of students.

Isabella was left on the deck, her eyes darting to Robby and Miguel in the crowd, who both shared the same concerned expression on their faces, almost like they were putting the pieces together and figuring out what had happened with Isabella that night.

"Don't do it, kid." Johnny said, almost as if he could tell what Isabella was going to do. He added, "Belle, listen, we can sort this out."

Isabella looked at the man, tears rolling down her face, "I'm sorry, Johnny."

Isabella walked quickly through the crowd, pulling away from Robby as he tried to hold her back. Suddenly, Miguel stepped in front of her to block her way,

"I'm not letting you do this." He shook his head, as his eyes became watery. Miguel added, "This is about what happened that night, isn't it?"

Isabella sighed, "Miggy, stop—"

"No." Miguel choked back a cry, "You were there, weren't you?"

"Stop." Isabella warned. 

Miguel continued, "That's why there's medical books in the kitchen—"

"Stop!" Isabella shoved him, trying to block out the haunting memories.

"No. I know you. I know you better than anyone. I'm your brother." Miguel exclaimed, "This isn't you."

Isabella frowned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're not sleeping, you're not taking your meds, you get so angry over the smallest thing. Why are you now quitting the Sekai Taikai?" Miguel asked desperately, "You wanted to do this! You love karate."

"I don't know," Isabella cried, pushing past her brother to storm away, "Leave me alone."

Her brother watched her walk away, "Belle—"

"I quit!"

a/n:
i can't wait for part 2 of s6!!