4/29/17 Note: I just stumbled upon this fanfic. I wrote it several years ago but deemed it not good enough to publish. People have asked for a sequel to "Geeky Wimp Of A Brother", so here it is, almost nine years later even though I wrote it days after the first one.
Perception
By Kellyanne Lynch
24 May 2008
Beta-Readers: Quoth The Raven, Alyssa Barnes, Heather King
Disclaimer: I have borrowed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from Mirage Studios and from Eastman and Laird. I hope they don't press charges. This story is for entertainment purposes and for my own enlightenment only. I am not making any money off of it. Actually, Raph now owes me thirty bucks.
Summary: Leonardo feels Donatello's pain, in more ways than one (a sequel to "Geeky Wimp Of A Brother"), which can be found here: s/4270989/1/Geeky-Wimp-Of-A-Brother
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: This story takes place a day after the first one. Also, this fic is truly multiverse. While I draw upon the comics, the 1987 and 2003 TV series, and the movies for inspiration in all my fics, this one is going to specifically reference an event from the original comics. Your enjoyment of the fic, however, should not hinge on whether or not you have read that issue.
Dedication: This fanfic is for Jen (Quoth The Raven) and for everyone else who inspired me to write a companion fic. She is also responsible for the reshaping of the end of chapter one. Thanks!
Glossary:
Chudan no kamae – middle level posture (a kendo stance where the hilt of the katana is set just below the waist with the tip of the sword pointing to the opponent's throat)
Cosmic mudra – a hand position in meditation where the hands form an oval at ones midsection
Tsuka – the hilt of the katana
Seiza – sitting on the back of ones legs, a traditional Japanese posture
Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye
- Miyamoto Musashi
Chapter One
I stand in the center of the dojo, amidst my three brothers. Katanas deflect sais, nunchaku, and bo. I defend myself yet make no advances. I can't. I am unable to focus.
I lunge into the air, duck into a ball, and land behind Mikey. As the three turn, I take several paces back. I sheathe a katana and, with my free hand, pull the tails of my mask so the holes no longer line up with my eyes.
"Show off!" I hear Raph mutter.
Raph, you give me too much credit. If only you knew how wrong you are! If only you could see my sixth sense for the crutch that it is. If only you realized how desperately I clutch it to escape the pain I see in Donatello's eyes. But you just keep thinking I'm a show off, little brother.
Both hands grip one katana at chudan no kamae. Loosening my grip, I place my hands in cosmic mudra. The katana nearly drops, but the tsuka catches on my thumb. I turn my ki – my life energy – to my chakras. Striking before they are in tune with one another is of no avail. I have to clear my mind.
A warrior must be an open vessel. He must empty himself of the cares of the material world to concentrate on the battle at hand. The mind, as an empty vessel, invites knowledge, allowing for the lesson the moment teaches. Ki can then flow through the warrior. When I live in the moment, I strike with perfection.
In this moment, I feel pain. It is not my pain, as it did not originate within me, and yet, it is my pain. It is within my brother, and therefore, it is within me.
He pretends that he is well; however, I saw him fall. I heard that bone crunching thud that makes me cringe, even now, as I remember his twisted form at the bottom of the stairs just a few days ago. I can feel the pain in his neck as my own. I can feel heat swelling through my own shoulder, stabbing from my brain through my entire left side. But that is nothing compared to the heartache…
White hot pain slashes through my bicep. I barely manage to block out one brother's anguish and to deflect another's swing. I raise my katana, which vibrates and clangs with the unmistakable cadence of katana against sai. Now I can feel flaming amber ki radiating against my left side. That energy shifts, as do I, and my katana clashes with the second sai. I extend my leg, and the bottom of my foot slaps a plastron.
"Ungh!" I hear Raph's grunt, followed by a thunk.
I feel movement behind me. I jump, and air whistles beneath my feet. I land and jump again, but not before wood strikes my left ankle. I had put that sprain out of my mind when we first started sparring. Don's bo brings it back to remembrance in spades. I stagger back a few paces, holding my breath.
"Nice one, Donnie!" I compliment him.
Anger erupts from the place where I sense my peace-loving brother standing. Even as I block Mikey's next advance, I feel Don fuming. I catch his bo with my katana. I feel it pulled away and strike with greater force. When it detracts, I shove my katana back into nothing. Mikey must have moved. I raise my katana, and the tip narrowly catches the oncoming bo. Don's rage envelopes my spirit.
With the first katana barely holding off Don, I reach for the second. Wood cracks at my wrist, and I recoil. I hadn't felt it coming, not in the least. I catch the nunchucku's second strike with my katana. The third bites my jaw. I try to focus on Mikey… but I can't. Don's aura consumes me, glowing muddied red as Carolina dirt over my soul, pelting me with insecurity and anger.
The bo slams harder and harder. Crossing my katanas, I block the onslaught with my blades at an X. His pain cripples my third eye; I am blind.
I throw myself into another backward somersault in the air, away from Don. Breaths come hard. "Okay," I pant. "That will… do it for now."
As I reach for my mask, a guttural growl rips through the dojo. Before I get over the surprise to even begin to place it, I am flat on my back and gasping for air. Katanas clatter to the floor.
"Don!" I hear Raph exclaim.
Mikey cries out, "Leo!"
Pain sinks its teeth into my soul, well before the pressure against my throat devours my breath. I thrust my hands against the bo on either side of my neck. My world is blurring fast, and my shoving quickly fades to batting. I can no longer hear the desperate cries of my brothers.
My mind scrambles to make my peace. As a bushido warrior, I need to accept death, but at the hands of my brother? No! Don is going to hate himself for this when he realizes what he has done. He is going to hate himself forever. I need to stop him!
But I can't… I can't push him off me. I can't even breathe! Squeezing my eyes shut, I push back tears. He's still on top of me, still pushing me – so, so angry.
I have failed you, Don, my soul cries. Consciousness slips from my body, and I tumble into darkness.