❛ Okay, but I won. ❜

Standing there in front of Liana, Ayane was in a state of shock.

"Jae, my brother Kwon Jae-Sung... isn't dead? That's what you're telling me?"

Liana nodded, wiping a tear from her eye and sniffling. "Yes. But you... you have to understand what happened–"

Before she could continue, she and Ayane heard male voices in the house, seemingly approaching the door.

"Ayane, go now," she demanded, the girl having no choice but to turn and make a run for it. She darted down the steps and broke left, ducking behind the bushes in the front yard.

The door to her house opened, none other than Ennis and Silver walking out. Ayane waited to see what would happen.

"Was someone here?" Ennis questioned Liana, the woman panicking to think of an excuse.

"They had the wrong house," she quickly lied, Ayane still listening from behind the bushes. Ennis stared at Liana for a prolonged moment, then finally dismissed her. Liana opened the door and went back inside.

Ayane watched the two men, trying to remain as still as possible and not make a sound.

"Our best bet for finding Ayane is Johnny Lawrence," Silver spoke, clasping his hands together. "The Diaz boy's mother and him are together, and naturally Ayane would be with Miguel. I'll make contact with him, see what I can find out."

Ennis gave a curt nod, looking up at Silver. "I don't know how we're going to get her back into Cobra Kai. She's just turned eighteen, which means she's likely going to try and file for emancipation. I can't stop that."

Silver smiled his usual deceptive smile. Ayane was filled with rage just listening to their conversation.

"Oh, I think the answer's simple," he replied to Ennis, crossing his arms.

"We bring her brother to Cobra Kai."

Ayane whipped her head up, nearly making a sound as Silver said that. She was still trying to make sense of everything Liana had told her, as none of it felt real. But now, it was all crashing down.

Jae, or Kwon, Ayane's real last name, was very much alive.

Ayane slowly sunk down behind the bush, waiting it out until Silver left. Once he was gone and Ennis was back inside, she left her house. Her car was parked across the road, and thankfully no one seemed to take notice of it. Although Ayane had tried to pass it off to Robby, he returned it to her once they got back home. She was kind of glad for that, as that decision had been a bit spur of the moment.

Getting in her car, Ayane placed her hands on the steering wheel and just stared at nothing in particular.

She knew she should have been used to the lies and deception at this point, but hearing the truth for once seemed to be even harder. The little three year-old toddler brother she had known fourteen years ago, thought to be gone forever, was still here?

Then she recalled Liana saying something about them not being blood-related, confusing her all the more. How could they not be blood-related?

Ayane did not bother trying to make sense of it right now; she would wait until she got other things figured out. Her biggest problem, at the moment, was finding a place to stay. She had options, like the Larusso's or Miguel's, but she absolutely hated having to burden either of them again. She still had fifteen thousand dollars cash, which could get her a hotel for a few months.

She also did not know how she would even begin to tell Miguel about her recent discoveries. Ayane supposed she could start there, so she put her car in drive and made her way to Reseda.

Once she arrived at the apartment complex, Ayane parked in front of Miguel's place and walked up to the door, knocking. A moment passed, and then Miguel opened the door.

"You know you don't have to knock, right?"

Ayane knit her brows, walking inside. "Sorry for having manners?"

Miguel rolled his eyes with a smile, approaching her with an arm around her and kissing the top of her head. He then began gathering plates from the dining table, taking them to the kitchen.

"So..." there was hesitation in his voice, "how did it go?"

Ayane laced her fingers together, taking a seat at the table. "Um... you might wanna sit down for this one."

Miguel paused what he was doing, frowning. He walked over to the table, taking a seat beside her. There was concern all over his face.

"What happened?"

Ayane drew in a breath, twisting her fingers. "Uh... well. I didn't talk to my dad, and it's a good thing I didn't. My mom told me that he and Silver are currently planning a manhunt for me."

Miguel clenched his jaw, agitation growing on his face. "Do you believe her?"

Ayane nodded. "Yeah, actually. I believe her, this time. She– she also told me that..."

She trailed off, almost laughing at the unbelievable sentence that she was about to speak. Miguel waited tensely.

"She told me that my brother, Jae, is alive."

Miguel's mouth fell open, speechless. He shook his head in disbelief, the same way Ayane had.

"A-Are you serious?"

Ayane nodded again. "Dead serious. He didn't die from a brain tumor. Ennis sent him to South Korea, to a dojo called Tang Soo Do. I don't know much about it, but enough to know that it makes some very ruthless people."

Miguel swallowed, trying to comprehend this. "That's– that's crazy. I mean, this is crazier than me finding out my dad is a criminal."

A slight chuckle came from Ayane, the girl running her hands through her hair. "I didn't have time to ask a lot of questions, because the three 'psycho senseis' showed up and I had to make a run for it. But, uh, yeah."

She looked up, meeting Miguel's eyes for a moment, then looking away.

"I, uh, I also don't have a place to stay," she muttered quietly, reluctant to say it.

Miguel did not hesitate. "Oh, well you can just stay here," he replied as if it were obvious.

Ayane placed a hand to her temple, sighing. "I just– I feel bad. I don't wanna be a burden–"

"Ayane, I love you, but shut up."

She raised her eyebrows at Miguel, taken aback.

"You're staying here," Miguel said assertively. "At least until we can figure out another situation for you. My mom and Yaya, they don't care. They love you."

Ayane slowly began to smile, glancing down. "Are you sure, Mig?"

He reached over the table for her hand, squeezing it tightly and looking into her eyes.

"Ayane. Why would I not want my girlfriend to live with me?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "I know, I know. I just feel bad, you know? Having to live with other people."

"Well you don't have to feel bad about staying here. Do you wanna go do some shopping, get stuff you need?" he suggested, Ayane shrugging.

"Yeah, I guess I should. I don't have many clothes, either. I'm having to lay low so, I need a new wardrobe."

Miguel nodded. "You're kinda like Bucky Barnes in Captain America: Civil War."

She tilted her head, trying to remember if she had seen that one. "Uh huh..."

He rolled his eyes at her lightheartedly, standing up and reaching for Ayane's hands. She took his, Miguel pulling her up into a kiss. He let go of her hands, placing his own around her waist as he pulled her in closer. Ayane's hands went around his neck, furthering the kiss.

Miguel finally pulled away, meeting her eyes with a smile.

"The shopping trip can wait a little longer."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

After going to get herself some necessities and clothes, Ayane and Miguel decided to make a date out of it.

They no longer had to hide that they were still dating, which was a relief. Although Ayane had to keep herself on a low profile as to not be discovered by any Cobra Kais, so they went to a small Mexican restaurant that Miguel knew of.

"I'll be your sugar daddy today," Miguel said, Ayane laughing with an eye roll.

"Mig, I can get it–"

"Nuh uh. Today is for Ayane. You've already spent enough money," he gave her a stern look.

Ayane sighed, but couldn't help but to smile.

"We getting margaritas?" she asked, opening up the menu.

Miguel laughed. "One of us has to drive. And if you have one margarita, you will not be able to drive."

She tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"That you're a lightweight."

Ayane scoffed, smacking Miguel's arm with her menu. "I have to have a fatal flaw, right?"

He shrugged in agreement.

"So," Miguel set his menu down, clasping his hands together. "Tell me about this cage fight you got into in Mexico?"

Ayane's mouth fell open a little, the girl covering her mouth as she burst into laughter.

"Well you see... I had taken some shots."

"And this is exactly why you don't need alcohol," Miguel interceded, Ayane giving an eye roll.

"Okay, but I won. So."

Miguel only sighed with a smile and a shake of his head. "You're crazy, you know that?"

Ayane's eyes widened, her jaw dropping. "I am not. I was just having some fun. Light sparring."

"Against a professional MMA fighter?" Miguel raised an eyebrow.

She brought her shoulders up, feigning innocence. "I like a challenge."

He shook his head once more, the waiter appearing and taking their orders.

"So... what about karate?"

Ayane paused midway through stuffing her face with chips and salsa, glancing sideways.

"...What about it?"

Miguel seemed timid upon bringing it up. "Are you– are you still doing karate? I mean, you've been in Cobra Kai for the last few months."

Ayane wiped her hands on her jeans, waiting until she was finished chewing.

"Um, I haven't really thought about it, honestly. I mean– if I go to Miyagi-Do, or Eagle Fang, it's only a matter of time before my dad and Silver find out. So... I don't know. I'm trying to figure out the best way to avoid them but it seems like it's gonna be really hard to do."

Miguel nodded solemnly, afraid that this would have been her answer. "Yeah, you're right. I just– I miss my karate partner," he smiled up at her.

Ayane returned his smile with a bit of a sad expression. "Yeah, I know. I miss doing karate with you, too."

In truth, Ayane felt a bit burnt out from karate. It took up so much of her life, and it felt like her only option. Karate or nothing. It was all she was really good at.

"Tell you what," she continued, meeting Miguel's eyes, "how about we go to Miyagi-Do later, and we can spar? It's been awhile."

Miguel's face lit up, instantly nodding. "Yeah, let's do it."

He raised a hand, then adding, "Let's wait until our food settles first. I don't wanna puke on you."

Ayane wrinkled her nose in slight disgust, still smiling.

For once, she was beginning to feel some normalcy again.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Miyagi-Do was empty when Ayane and Miguel arrived.

"The dojo's really closed down for good, huh?" Ayane asked, placing a hand on the punching bag beside her.

Miguel shrugged, his face dejected. "It seems like it. Cobra Kai won the All-Valley, so. Our senseis made a deal with Silver and Kreese to close it down if we lost."

He dismissed the thought, bringing his head up. "Anyway, we gonna spar or not?"

Ayane held her hands out to the side. "Let's do it. All-Valley champ versus All-Valley champ."

Miguel laughed a little, stretching his arms. Ayane took note of his biceps, raising an eyebrow. She stepped closer to him, reaching out and squeezing his upper arm. Miguel paused what he was doing, giving her a look.

"You're buff," she remarked, Miguel unable to help feeling a bit flustered.

"Thanks. You're– also buff."

Ayane squinted a little at him, a smile forming on her face.

"Thank you, Miguel."

Without warning, she took hold of his wrist and twisted around him, judo flipping Miguel onto the ground. He laid there, looking up at her in shock.

Ayane began to grin, offering a hand to him.

"You're really offering me your hand after that?" he scoffed, a hint of a challenge in his voice.

"Fine, have it your way then," she withdrew her hand, turning away with a cross of her arms.

Miguel got to his feet, starting toward her to grab her from behind. But Ayane quickly turned, hitting away his arm and jabbing him in the abdomen.

He gave her a coy smile, throwing another strike that she deflected. Ayane struck at his head, Miguel dodging sideways and throwing out a kick that got Ayane in the hip.

"A little rusty, are we?" he bantered, Ayane narrowing her eyes.

She jolted forward, kicking at him and turning on her heel to kick again. Miguel hit both kicks out of the way, bringing his own leg around to try and sweep her shins, but Ayane quickly jumped upward to avoid it.

"Trying to sweep me off my feet in the literal sense, huh?"

Miguel laughed, Ayane running at him and throwing another strike. Miguel, busy laughing, barely had time to guard her strike. He deflected multiple jabs, finally getting a hold of her arm and swinging underneath it so that he was now behind her.

He wrapped both arms around her, kissing her on the cheek, Ayane beginning to smile.

"You're a dumbass."

Miguel let Ayane go, the girl facing him with her hands on her hips. "Someone's been improving," she remarked, taking a breath.

"It seems like you both have."

Ayane and Miguel turned their heads at the same time, looking to see where the voice had come from.

Her heart suddenly dropped, eyes growing wide at the man standing there.

Terry fucking Silver.

Notes.
terry fucking silver, am i right

so... what do you guys think about ayane and kwon? it's kind of crazy how similar 'cain' sounds to 'kwon', so i decided that her last name could be an americanized version of kwon (if that makes sense)

i hope you guys enjoyed all the ayane and miguel content in this chapter, because it's not gonna last LMAO

the plans i have for season six... you guys, it's gonna be absolutely crazy

all imma say is, there is one of two boys in ayane's life that aren't miguel that are gonna cause problems... won't say who though

p.s. go follow my tiktok, cobrakais.wp, for austerity edits :)