Chapter 63"Clark vs

The morning sun bathed the dojo in golden hues as I stepped onto the mat, the solid ground beneath my feet echoing with the weight of the promise I carried in my heart. I stared at Tory, her kimono hugging her curves with fierce grace, the sheen of sweat dancing on her skin like stars against the night sky. "Wow, you look so sexy in that kimono…" I murmured, my voice thick with admiration I couldn't hide, my love for her burning within me like a flame that wouldn't go out. The sound of my words cut through the air, and everyone around me stopped, their eyes fixed on us, the silence dancing like a curtain I couldn't pull aside.

"You pervert…" she snapped, a mischievous smile curving her lips as she got into a fighting stance, her brown eyes sweeping over me with a precision that made my heart race, her fire shining like a melody I wanted to dance to.

"Okay, let's count the points," Daniel announced, his firm voice echoing in the dojo as he stood as a judge, his eyes like beacons in the darkness. "It'll be just like a tournament. Whoever scores three points wins…"

"I have no idea what deal you guys made for the winner," Johnny said, his tone thick with dry curiosity as he crossed his arms. "I hope you fight fair…"

Miguel watched us, his eyes narrowed with a curiosity that hid the weight of his thoughts. His thoughts: There's more here than meets the eye… Tory wouldn't do this out of the blue… His silence echoed like thunder that I could feel but ignored, my focus fixed on Tory.

Roby stood still, his eyes fixed on her, his heart clenching as he thought. His thoughts: Shit, what are you doing, Tory… Confusion danced across his face like a shadow he couldn't erase.

My thoughts: Okay… This is it. I got into position, my body tense as love for her pulsed through me like a flame I couldn't contain, the desire to reach her mixed with the weight of the promise I'd made.

"START!" Johnny shouted, the sound cutting through the air like thunder.

Tory ran towards me, her kick slicing through the air like a sharp blade. I narrowly dodged it, the wind brushing my face as I tried to punch her. She parried gracefully, her fist meeting my stomach in a swift blow that stole my breath. I blocked with my left, trying to hit her in the chest with my right, but she dodged it, her foot coming back to hit me in the stomach with a force that made me double over.

"ARRRG…" I fell to the ground, the impact echoing in my bones as the air escaped my lungs. "Shit…"

"ONE POINT TO TORY!" Daniel announced, his voice firm as he pointed. "GET BACK TO YOUR POSITIONS!"

I looked up at her, contempt dancing in her gaze like a flame that challenged me, a mocking smile curving her lips as she stared down at me. Love for her burned within me, mixed with a determination I could not extinguish.

"START!" Johnny shouted again.

"Argh!" I ran toward her, my body propelling as I attempted a flying kick, the air cutting around me like a broken promise. She dodged with an agility I underestimated, her foot meeting my stomach in a blow that sent me staggering.

"ONE POINT TO TORY!" Johnny announced, his tone filled with dark amusement as I stood up, the air rushing back into my lungs in shuddering gasps.

"Clark, Clark…" she said, her tone laden with seductive teasing as she stared at me, the smile dancing on her lips like a flame that drew me in. "It seems you don't like me enough, huh?"

Thoughts: Man, I really underestimated karate… Especially Tory. I suck at it, so weak compared to her… I need to train a lot… The weight of defeat danced inside me like a melody I didn't want to hear, but then I remembered—everything I knew about fighting came from something other than karate, something raw and visceral that I'd read in Baki . Okay, Tory, if karate doesn't work against you, I'll use what I know…

"START!" Daniel shouted.

She ran towards me, her kick cutting through the air like lightning. I braced my legs, my body steady as I dodged to the side at the last moment, my knee coming up in a swift blow that hit her ribs with a force I couldn't contain.

"ARRGG…" She fell to the ground, her hand clutching her ribs as the air escaped her lungs, the sound echoing like a wail I didn't want to hear, love for her mixed with the weight of that blow.

"ONE POINT FOR CLARK!" Johnny announced, his voice firm as he pointed, shock dancing in everyone's eyes.

She struggled to her feet, her brown eyes fixed on me with a seriousness that cut like a knife, her fire still burning despite the pain. Thoughts: If this were a street fight, I would win… But there are rules here…

"START!" Daniel shouted again.

She stood there, waiting, her body tense as a taut string as she stared at me. I walked calmly toward her, my heart beating fast with a determination I couldn't lose. When I got close, she attacked, her foot aiming for my chest in a quick kick. I defended with my left arm, trying to hit her stomach with a punch, but she blocked it with one hand. I tried to knock her down with a swing of my leg, but she jumped, the kick coming at me like a bolt of lightning. I threw myself to the side, my body rolling as she tried to hit me on the ground. I dodged, spinning to the side, getting up quickly to land a kick on her chest, which she blocked with her hands, the impact echoing like muffled thunder.

She leapt, spinning in the air, her foot aimed at my arm in a blow that cut like a blade. I ducked, the wind brushing my face as she regained her footing, our bodies so close I could feel the heat from her. I gripped her arms tightly, sweat dripping between us as I held her, her kimono slipping slightly, revealing glistening skin that made me look down at her chest, my heart racing as I tried not to look. She noticed, the gleam in her brown eyes sparkling with a mixture of anger and victory as she brought her knee up in a swift blow that connected with my stomach.

"ARRRG…" I fell to my knees, the air escaping my lungs as I gasped, the cold floor against my skin like a defeat I didn't want to accept.

"ONE POINT TO TORY, WINNER!" Johnny announced, his voice echoing in the dojo as silence fell like a heavy curtain.

"Arf… It seems like it's over, Clark…" she said, her tone laden with a mocking smile as she stared at me, her blonde hair falling over her face like a golden curtain, her fire shining like a flame I couldn't extinguish.

"Yeah, it seems like it…" I muttered, eyes downcast as anger danced over me like a shadow, the weight of defeat falling like a stone I couldn't shake.

"…" She fell silent, her brown eyes softening for a moment as she stared at me, a sadness dancing there like a melody I couldn't hear, love for me mixed with the pride of victory.

"Don't worry, Tory…" I said, standing up with an effort that hid the pain, a slight smile curving my lips as I looked at her, the love for her burning inside me like a flame I didn't want to extinguish. "I'll keep my deal. A defeat is just another chance to grow… To see where I went wrong and improve on that…"

She smiled, the light returning to her brown eyes like the sun breaking through the clouds, a soft nod as she faced me, the weight of the fight dissipating like a breeze that carried away the tension between us. I walked over to a piece of wood nearby, my fist connecting with it in a sharp blow that echoed like thunder, the sound erasing the weight of defeat as I struggled to find my footing.

Miguel laughed in the distance, the sound echoing with Roby, their voices cutting through the air like soft blades. Thoughts: Okay, I deserved this… I kind of took their girlfriends, so it's fair… I chuckled softly, the sound dancing through me like relief as I shook my head. Okay, if I didn't win this fight, I'll win the next one…

I walked over to Sam, her warmth pulling me in like a beacon in the darkness. "Hey, beautiful, I need your help…" I said, my voice full of love as I stared at her, the smile dancing on my lips like a promise I wanted to keep.

"With what, love?" she asked, her brown eyes shining with soft curiosity as she moved closer, the warmth of her against me like a hug I didn't want to let go of.

"I want you to teach me what you know about karate…" I replied, my tone firm, but filled with a tenderness that came from the bottom of my heart, the desire to grow for her and with her dancing within me like a flame that I could not extinguish.

"Me?" she asked, her eyes wide as she stared at me, shock mixed with love shining there like a soft melody. "Why don't you go to my father or Sensei Lawrence?"

"To tell you the truth…" I said, my tone playful as I leaned closer, love for her dancing in every word. "I'd rather fight you than sweaty old men… Yuck." I grimaced, the sound echoing like an exaggerated whine that made her laugh.

"Pff!" She laughed loudly, the sound echoing like a melody that erased the heaviness of the morning, her eyes shining with an amusement that warmed me like the sun. "Hahaha, okay, but don't expect too much. I don't know how to teach…"

"The basics will do," I replied, my smile softening as I stared at her, my love for her burning in me like a steady flame. "They always have…"

"And your eyes?" she whispered in my ear, her tone filled with soft curiosity as she leaned closer, the heat of her against me like a promise I wanted to keep. "So much less green… Does it have to do with you taking away your powers?"

"Clever girl…" I murmured, my voice thick with love as I patted her lightly on the head, the gesture dancing between us like a caress I couldn't help but touch.

"Hey, you idiot, I'm not a dog…" she snapped, her eyes flashing with playful anger as she hit me in the stomach with a kata, the light blow echoing like soft thunder.

"Arf… Sorry about that…" I laughed, the sound echoing as I pulled her closer, the love for her dancing in me like a flame I knew would never leave me, the weight of defeat forgotten as her warmth enveloped me like a home I never wanted to leave.