||KICKIN' IT IN CHINA||

|CAMI

"Well what d'you expect from a place called the Scabby Dragon?" I heard Milton ask as I finished up a last minute homework assignment. Jack decided to keep me company, busying himself with a book. Milton, Eddie, and Jerry came to our table with Chinese food.

"I'll take one of these fortune cookies. Hard to mess them up," Jack told the boys.

"I'll take one too. A little reward for my hard work," I patted my history book. I broke mine open, taking out the paper.

"You are about to embark on an exciting journey," Jack read.

"That's weird. I got the same one," I laughed. "Maybe they can mess up fortune cookies," I shrugged, collecting all of my things to head back into the dojo. "Hey Kim," I greeted after putting my stuff in my locker.

"Hey Cami," she greeted back.

"Cami! Jack!" Rudy called upon entering the main dojo space.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"What's up?" Jack asked.

"I've got great news for you two!" Rudy beamed. "You two have been invited to participate in the Junior World Martial Arts Championship in China!"

"What?! No way!" I cheered.

"Seriously?!" Jack also beamed. Me and him shared a hug.

"Aww," Rudy cooed making us awkwardly clear our throats, breaking the hug.

"Sorry," we apologized in unison.

"I'm just gonna," I trailed off, pointing at the locker rooms.

"Yeah, me too," he pointed at Rudy's office.

"See ya," I waved before disappearing into the locker rooms.

"Bye," he waved, also disappearing into Rudy's office.

•••

"I cannot believe this! We are going to the Junior World Martial Arts Championship in China!" Jack exclaimed, gesturing between me and him vigorously.

"I know! I'm so excited!" I squealed.

"I was gonna go, but I'm not what they call, ya know, good," Milton told us making me stop cheering and looked at him sympathetically.

"Guys, I've been dreaming about this tournament since I got into martial arts!" Jack shared.

"I have too. The medals, the honor, the glory," I dreamily sighed. "How did this happen?"

"I may know how it happened," Rudy spoke in a knowing voice. "I might've taken it upon myself to write a letter about a certain couple students and possibly sent it to, oh, I don't know, China." As I was about to thank him and squeal some more, Jerry cut in.

"Dude, this is important. Try to remember, did you do it or not?" Jerry asked.

"Of course I did it," Rudy confirmed. "Jack and Cami's amazing! They're undefeated! They've never lost a match in their life!"

"Rudy, can I talk to you outside for a second?" Jack asked, tugging my arm to follow him. I know what this is about. He's been beat before by a guy name Kai. But no one, besides me and his family, knows that. Me and Jack walked outside nervously as a concerned Rudy followed us. "Rudy, not all the things you told those people about me is true."

"Please. Everybody stretches the truth. I do it all the time on my online dating profile," Rudy pointed out. "I'm not really a bathing suit model."

"No duh," I hit the back of his head.

"Rudy, I'm not undefeated," Jack admitted. "A kid named Kai beat me so badly, that I gave up karate til I came here."

"Jack, it doesn't matter," Rudy assured. "You deserve this. You both do. And that's why they sent you two, three first class tickets to China! You get to bring someone!"

"Ooh! Then it'll be me, Jack, and Kim," I teasingly decided. "Kidding," I laughed at Rudy's fallen face. "I'm sure we could trade in the class tickets for 7 coach tickets."

"Yeah. It'd be great if we could all go," Jack agreed.

"It's settled. Jack, Cami, and I are going alone, first class. Endless leg room, our own entertainment systems, and hot nuts," Rudy fantasized.

"Ok, first, that's selfish. Second, what would you do with the endless leg room. You are the smallest grown man I've ever met," I taunted. The boys and Kim came walking out of the dojo, looking expectant.

"Guys. We're all goin' to China!" Jack announced, making us all cheer.

•••

We were walking on the Great Wall of China, gaping at the sights from so high up. "This is amazing! We are actually standing on the Great Wall of China!" Jack exclaimed.

"Just think, thousands of years ago, the emperor could've stood right here, leaned out over the edge of the wall, and yelled, 'you darn kids aren't gettin' your ball back!'" Rudy joked, leaning over the wall.

"This thing is over 3700 miles long. The biggest landmark back in Seaford is the water tower somebody spray painted 'fart' on," Kim recalled.

"I remember that. Harvey never did end up washing it off like he promised," I glared at nothing. "Not that I'm surprised. He's a great liar."

"This wall is awesome," Milton nodded. "But you know what else is awesome? Cookies with fortunes that come true. So we're gonna head over to the Panda Moon Cookie Company."

"It turns out it's just a few miles from here," Eddie informed us.

"Once we get the other half of that fortune, we'll be able to find where our treasure is," Milton said.

"Guys, Jack and Cami's tournament starts in a couple of hours, don't get lost," Rudy reminded the three.

"Don't worry. We won't be late," Jerry promised. "We found a great cab driver."

"If you three found it, I'm not sure how 'great' he'll be," I deadpanned. "Well, have fun at the cookie shop," I waved as they walked away, sending me a couple 'good lucks' and glares.

•••

"Who's the man? You're the man!" Rudy tried hyping up Jack. Ever since Rudy discovered his imperfect streak, not that it's not impressive, Rudy's been smothering Jack with cheers and hypes. "Say it!" Rudy demanded.

"You're the man," Jack repeated.

"Right!" Rudy cheered until he realized what Jack said. "No no no no no no I'm not the man. You're the man. I'm just a man. Just a man in a world of men and some women-"

"-hey Cami. I was down in the market and I picked you up these bowelding stones," Kim cut off Rudy.

"Thanks!" I thanked happily. "What do I do with them?"

"By rotating them in your hand it will center you, build your chi, and help you compete," Kim explained.

"Ah cool," I gazed at the stones, rotating them in my hand, feeling my tension relieve until I felt Rudy throw them across the room.

"What is wrong with you?" Rudy asked Kim, who stood there, baffled. "Why don't you hop on your unicorn and ride to yoga class moon princess. We don't need your magic rocks!"

"Right. Right. You need to be smothering Jack with encouraging words while you ignore Cami completely! You're her sensei too ya know!" Kim snapped.

"I know that, but sometimes Cami needs to have a little tough love!" Rudy insisted, slamming his fist into the table making it collapse.

"Do you realize, you just broke an a thousand year old table?" the grandmaster asked.

"You've had that table for a thousand years? You people ever hear of a garage sale?" Rudy tried to play it off. Oh dear lord.

•••

Everyone cheered as I beat my first opponent. "I did it!" I cheered, hugging Kim, high fiving Rudy, then hugging Jack.

"Great job, Cami!" Jack beamed.

"Thanks! But where are the boys?" I asked.

"No idea," Kim sighed.

"Alright, Jack, you're up. You got this!" I encouraged as he walked up to far his opponent.

"Hey, can we wait like 5 minutes? I'm sure my friends will be-" Jack's as cut off by the ref starting the match and the opponent nailing Jack's stomach. "-or we could just go now." They fought until Jack claimed victory.

"Winner," the ref pointed at Jack causing me to cheer loudly, giving him a quick hug. And that's how the rest of the day went. Me and Jack fought different opponents, winning, until we both made it to the semi-finals which'll be held tomorrow. Of course, in the middle of everything, Rudy managed to break an a thousand year old vase. His tab is really piling up.

"Jack you did it! You're in the semi-finals!" I cheered, hugging him.

"We're both in the semi-finals!" Jack corrected, getting a little too excited and lifting me off the ground. I didn't mind though. It was kinda cute.

"Now as your sensei, I know you look at me as the guy that's responsible for your success, but I want you to know, that in some sort of small way, you were a part of it to," Rudy told me and Jack. I was still off the ground, so I would be less intimidating, but I decided to still be the sarcastic queen I am.

"Gee thanks, Rudy. Working our butts off for hours was definitely small," I sarcastically thanked. We watched as a guy in a black and yellow gee took down a guy in a purple gee.

"Get up punk!" the yellow gee yelled.

"Winner," the ref pointed to yellow gee.

"Looks like that's the other semi-finalist," Kim pointed at the ruthless yellow gee.

"That's your opponent for the semi-final," Rudy pointed out.

"Yep. Kim just said that," I nodded. "I'll be against that red gee guy." I pointed at a pretty big lookin' guy in a red gee, but I knew I could take him down. I can take anyone down if I really try to.

"That's Kai," Jack pointed at the yellow gee in horror.

"Ah I saw your fights, Jack. Surprised to see ya here," Kai spoke as he walked up to us.

"Thought I'd swing by and pick up a trophy or two," Jack replied, setting me down to advance on Kai.

"That's funny," Kai fake laughed. "I thought I beat the karate out of you 2 years ago."

"I'm a lot better fighter than I was 2 years ago," Jack retorted.

"I see you're more confident too. With your girlfriend over there," Kai pointed at me.

"K, we're just close friends," I put my hands up in surrender.

"Listen loser. This time when I take you down, you're not gettin' back up," Kai promised. "See ya later, pretty lady," Kai winked before leaving.

"Ok, why am I always hit on by the guys I never like?" I thought out loud.

"He's not afraid of you, Kai!" Kim yelled after Kai. "Right, Jack?"

"Kim, I can't beat this guy," Jack sighed before turning away.

"You can beat anyone! You're undefeated!" Kim exclaimed.

"Kim, remember when Jack talked to me and Rudy outside?" I asked. She hummed 'yes'. "Well, Kai is the only one who ever beat him. He only began karate again when he moved to Seaford."

"Jack," Rudy called as Jack started walking away. "You can beat this guy. Think about everything I taught you. Think about everything your grandfather taught you. He was a master sensei!"

"He taught the same things to Kai," Jack told us. "Kai's my cousin." There goes my jaw muscles again. Rudy sat down in a red chair, just for it to collapse.

"Oh my god," I groaned, looking away.

"You really need to get some stronger furniture in here!" Rudy yelled, struggling his way back to his feet.

•••

After a half hour or so, everyone started packing up and leaving. When a few people were left, Rudy decided to bring up the Kai topic as me and Jack were packing. "What happened between you and Kai?" he asked.

"We both studied with our grandfather. But to Kai, it wasn't about honor and discipline. It was about intimidation and hurting people," Jack explained.

"Jack, it doesn't matter," I assured. "You can take him."

"Yeah, you are not gonna give up on yourself," Kim agreed.

"Not after I flew all the way out here in coach stuck between a screaming baby and a man who cleaned himself with his tongue!" Rudy was quick to add.

"Rudy. We all flew in coach. Although, we were placed with each other so I guess it's not half bad," I thought it over. "Besides, this isn't about how you got here! It's about how close Jack is to becoming a champion!"

"You have a chance of becoming a champion too ya know," Jack reminded me.

"Yeah, but you need the encouragement," I told him. "Like we were saying, you can take on Kai. You're not the Jack you were 2 years ago."

"Maybe you guys are right," Jack sighed. "My grandfather taught me to live by the Wasabi Code. We swear by the light of the Dragon's eye, to be loyal, honest, and never say die."

"Never say die, Jack," Rudy told him. "You too Cami. You both are so close. I believe in you."

"I don't know if I can beat Kai, but he's gonna know he's been in a fight," Jack assured.

"Why didn't you tell us Kai was your cousin?" I asked. "Or more importantly, why didn't you tell me?"

"My family- we're really embarrassed of Kai," Jack answered. "And my Uncle Carl who wears flip flops to the post office."

"That's not so weird," I shook my head, laughing a little.

"It is if that's all he wears!" Jack pointed out making me grimace. "You do not wanna know where he keeps his stamps."

"I'm honestly concerned that you do," I shuddered.

•••

Me, Kim, and Rudy were in the locker room waiting for the results of Jack's hand examination. Apparently, after Jack showered, some gang jumped him, causing pain in Jack's hand. "Jack, after a thorough examination of your hand-" the doctor was cut off by Rudy's whimper "-I'm afraid I have to be honest with you-" another Rudy whimper "-based on my diagnosis-" another Rudy whimper.

"RUDY!" I yelled, stopping his whimpering.

"Jack, your hand is broken," the doctor reported. "You can't fight in the tournament tonight."

"What? No no. I didn't come all the way out here to forfeit!" Jack said.

"I'm sorry," the doctor shrugged.

"I know things didn't turn out the way you wanted, but you proved you belonged here," I told Jack.

"Right here," Rudy agreed, almost in tears. "With the best in the world. I'm really proud of you. Now I'm just gonna walk behind this wall and if you here what sounds like a grown man crying, it's probably just the pipes." Rudy ran behind the wall, crying.

"I'll give you two a minute," Kim offered, backing out of the room.

"But we don't need-" I started but she ignored me, wiggling her eyebrows, closing the door. "Jack, I hope you know that I'm really proud of you. You're the best fighter I know and to see that you almost made it to the finals really shows how talented you are."

"Thanks Cami. I really hope you win. And I'm also really proud of you," Jack smiled softly. We sat in a comfortable almost silence, thanks to 'the pipes', looking at each other, admiring each other's faces. We slowly started leaning in. I felt Jack's breath against my face when-

"Stupid pipes!" Rudy wailed causing me and Jack to jump backwards.

"Um. Ahem. I'm just gonna go find Kim, can you wait on Rudy?" I asked.

"Yeah yeah. Go ahead," Jack quickly agreed, allowing me to shuffle out of the room.

•••

As we watched the drummers perform before the championship match, which I am proudly in, Jack's phone went off. "Who's that?" I asked. Thankfully things haven't changed between me and Jack since the almost kiss. I've never been so grateful for anything in my life.

"Its a text from the guys. They said they're sorry I had to forfeit, they wish you good luck, and they'll be here as soon as they....ditch the wives," Jack replied.

"What does that mean?" Kim asked.

"Uh, try to stay hip to the jive, Kim. Ditch the wives is what the kids say these days when something is cool or rad," Rudy explained.

"Sure it is, Rudy," I agreed sarcastically.

"Hey Jack. Check out that judge's beard, it's so ditch the wives," Rudy tried.

"And now, the champions for the Junior World Martial Arts Championship, Camille Martinez and Kai Brewer," the judge announced. "We will begin the match momentarily. In the meantime, I must take care of some....private business."

"I'm gonna go congratulate Kai," Jack told us, getting up from his seat. However, when Kai started hugging his friends, Jack stopped in his tracks, pausing, then continuing his way over. "Congratulations Kai. This guy a friend of yours?" Jack asked, gesturing to the guy Kai just hugged. 

"Yeah, why?" Kai answered.

"Oh cause he's got the same tattoo as one of the guys that jumped me," Jack replied, lifting up the dude's arm. 

"Jack, you had to forfeit. I won. Let it go," Kai spoke through gritted teeth. He also seemed to try to rush past a certain subject, an obvious sign of a liar. Yes, I'm a pro at identifying liars. You can thank Jerry for that.

"You won because you're afraid to fight me," Jack countered, taking me out of my thoughts. "So you sent your friends to take me out."

"Better watch your mouth," Kai glared. "You're still just a little punk."

"And you're still a liar, a cheat, and a coward. But good luck against Cami. She can take out a guy two times her size," Jack sarcastically wished well. He walked back towards us, just as Kai attacked Jack from behind.

"Jack!" I exclaimed as he fell forward.

"That is so not ditch the wives!" Rudy yelled.

"Come on Jack. Get up, you got this," I told him, helping him up. I noticed Kai's friends started to gang up on him, causing Rudy and Kim to push them away. "Show him up," I muttered to him, kissing his cheek before helping Rudy and Kim with Kai's friends. The fight moved outside, on the wall, making everyone migrate to see what was going on. 

Me, Kim, and Rudy were struggling to hold back all of Kai's friends, but, thankfully, were able to do so. Jack was able to kick Kai into knight armor, delaying Kai's fight. Unfortunately the armor had a bow staff like stick that Kai started to use against Jack. Jack climbed onto the wall, his balance slowly slipping as he battled Kai's staff. He grabbed the staff, giving Kai the chance to flip him onto his back. I winced, still holding back the others, as the fight continued to play out. Jack got up, blocking Kai's swing before, accidentally, flipping him off the wall. Jack caught Kai's arm, abandoning the staff.

"Ok, Jack. I'm sorry. I'll admit it. I planned the attack against you," Kai admitted, a little over a normal level voice. Since everyone was dead silent everyone could hear what they were saying. "Just don't let me fall."

"Don't worry. I got you, man. Come on," Jack pulled Kai back onto the wall, smiling happily. It dropped once he saw Kai's smug smirk.

"Oh that proves your weak. I would've let you drop," Kai smirked, grabbing Jack's injured hand, punching it. Jack screamed in pain, but blocked himself from Kai's kick, throwing Kai into an old a thousand year old bench.

"Ok, I think everybody saw, I was no where near that bench!" Rudy yelled, pointing at Kai on top of the broken bench.

"The grandmaster's not here, hon," I told him. Everyone settled down slightly, migrating back into the dojo space.

"Sorry we're late!" Eddie called as he, Jerry, and Milton ran in, in weird costumes.

"You would not believe what we've been through," Milton sighed. Jerry's phone started ringing, causing us all to look at him expectantly.

"Ooh. It's the wife. Ignore," Jerry put his phone back in his pocket. "Did we miss the championship match?"

"No," I shook my head. "I'm not sure if we're gonna have one. Kai just tried to take out Jack again."

"Alright! I'm back from....my private office. Let the championship match begin," the grandmaster spoke, unaware of any of the previous events.

"What? But we just-" I was cut off by Kai's foot connecting to my shin, "-oh ow, ok, we're just gonna do this? Ok." I heard everyone settle in their seats as I fought with Kai. It took about a minute to get him on the ground.

"Winner," the ref announced, making me jump up and cheer. I ran up to Jack, giving him a big hug.

"Do I get a kiss on the cheek with that too?" he asked teasingly, referring to my previous slip up.

"That was a one time thing, Brewer," I smirked, high fiving everyone else surrounding me.

"And now, our Junior World Martial Arts Champion, Camille Martinez!" the grandmaster announced, handing me my trophy. I bowed shortly before taking the large trophy.

"I think we should share this trophy," I told Jack.

"And why's that?" he asked.

"I have a feeling if Kai hadn't jumped you, we'd both have been in the championship match. I would've won, obviously, but it would've been a little more fun if it was against you," I smirked, letting him hold the trophy with me.

"I would've won," he sang.

"No you wouldn't've," I shook my head.

"Would've."

"Wouldn't've."

"Would've."

"Wouldn't've."

"Wouldn't've."

"Would've. Damn it, Jack! You used my own method against me!" I complained while he stood there, holding the trophy with me, smirking.

•••

We all sat around a round table, eating Chinese food. "So after all that you found out your great treasure is in your friends?" Jack asked.

"Yeah," Eddie nodded. "Can you believe that?"

"I can. You could have all the money in the world, but if you don't have what we have, right here, you've got nothin'," Rudy replied.

"Wow, Rudy. That's the first meaningful thing you've said since I met you," I laughed. Rudy glared at me. "Hey! Don't glare at the champion," I spoke pointedly.

"To friends," Rudy moved on.

"To friends," we all repeated in unison, clinking our glasses.

"So, do you think your wife is going to be mad you ditched her?" Jack asked, laughing a little.

"Uh excuse me, my wife has a name. K, I may not know what it is, but she has a name," Jerry spoke defensively.

"They're not our wives. We're 13, there were no rings, and one of us was dressed like Elvis," Milton denied.

"Really? You might wanna tell them that," Kim pointed at the three angry women standing in the archway. The boys screamed, getting up.

"Honey, I can explain," Milton said before all three boys went running. I hope they get home ok.