Hiya everyone ;) Thank you for leaving reviews, favoriting and following this story so far, I really appreciate the support. I'm glad everyone enjoyed chapter 1 and I hope you will continue to enjoy this story as it progresses. Chapter 2 takes place 30 days before Raphael's death, so enjoy and review.
30 days before Raphael's death
I watched Raphael from afar as he punched the punching bag, exhaling his anger into the dummy. He's so full of aggression, and he needs to get it under control before someone gets hurt. The bag is hanging onto its post by a thread, the sound of Raphael's knuckles pounding again it echoes around the dojo.
My brother lifts a leg up, kicking the dummy away from him, then punched it harder than before. The string holding the training tool up vibrates, seemingly growing thinner and thinner with every punch made. It's only a matter of time before it drops, maybe hitting Raphael. I don't want to watch that happen.
Unsheathing my Katana's, I rush froward, cutting the needle-thin rope attaching the Punching Bag to its post, and slide my swords back into place.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Raphael shoves me into the wall, his hands pressing against my plastron.
"Stopping the punching bag from dropping on you, that's what. You know, you should be a little more thankful, I helped you. If that were to've fallen, it could've broken your ankle or worse- why you are getting made about what I did makes absolutely no sense and is completely uncalled for, Raphael." I turn away from my angered brother and start towards the sliding doors.
My intentions of getting away from Raphael fail as he follows after me. "You think I need your help, but I don't, I'm perfectly capable of takin' care of myself, thank you very much." His snappy sarcastic tone floods my ears as I grasp the door handle and begin to pull towards my right. Though, of course, it doesn't move very far before Raphael pushes it shut again.
Heaving a long, exaggerated sigh, I glance at my brother over my shoulder. "Leave me alone, okay? I don't want to fight with you, so just let me exit." I speak in warning tone.
"No, you broke my punching bag and I need something to release my stress on." Stress? Pfft, he has no stress. He doesn't know what it's like to have the weight of the world resting on his shoulders, unlike me. His only problem is that 'nobody understands him.' He knows nothing about stress.
"And what are you proposing? That you punch me till I bleed?" I bark in a disgusted tone. I'm not in the mood for this, I have plans to dictate, brothers to watch over.
Raphael smirks at me menacingly. "As nice as that sounds, I think I'll just settle for a good old fashioned spar." His hand reach behind him and into his belt, taking each Sai in his hands and getting into a starting position.
I roll my eyes and purse my lips. Okay, I'll just kick his sorry ass and then he'll leave me alone. At that thought, I unsheathe my Katana's. Besides, I could go for a beat down.
I imitate Raphael's posture, readying my weapons as he does with his. Counting to three in my head, I wait for Raphael to make the first move, just as always. 1...2...3...
Raphael pounces on me like a lion on its prey. The wind gets knocked out of me as I fall to the ground, landing hard on my shell. I let out a grunt of distress and struggle to shove Raphael off of me. "Get...off!" I bring my leg up and kick Raphael in the plastron, sending him flying across the room.
The two of us stand up at the exact moment, regaining our balance, our eyes never leaving each other's. Five feet in front of, Raphael twirls one of his Sai in his left hand before running at.
I'm prepared this time, bringing my twin Katana up. Four blades cling together, mixing in with the sound of grunts and snarls.
Sweat beads down my neck as I struggle against Raphael's Sai, my Katana's bending in away they shouldn't at the strength of my brothers weapons.
Escape routes and plans roll through my mind, and I struggle to find one that might actually work. Ducking down on the ground and kicking at Raphael's legs wouldn't work, he's far too buff for me to knock over if he's standing upright. It was different when he was on me, because his weight wasn't exactly settled on anything.
Kicking at his plastron wouldn't exactly be the smartest move, either. If not thought out throughly, I could lose a toe or two against the blades, and we don't want that.
Perhaps I could remove a Katana from the wall I've made to barricade Myself from Raphael's weapons, and make a swift jab at his plastron. That would probably be my best bet, it's probably be the easiest move.
Quickly, swiftly, stealthily, I take my right Katana away and slash at Raphael's stomach area. When I go to turn around, I'm kicked in the back of my shell.
I tumble onto the ground, my face scraping against the rough carpets, burning my flesh. I wince in pain as my body stops skidding across the floors, and I lay on my plastron with my eyes closed and teeth clenched.
"You're weak, ya know that? Ya may be the leada' of this god forsaken team, but ya ain't the fighta'. I'm the strength, you got that? Ya aren't any betta' than us, just because you're the leader it doesn't mean that you can kick us around like we're a bunch'o scum bags." Raphael's foot slams into my side and I let out a yelp of pain.
I turn my head and open my eyes, looking up at my brother as he smirks down at my sluggish form. Defeat eats at me until I'm nothing but flesh over bones, making me feel hollow inside. "O-okay, I understand." My voice is quiet, a mere whisper.
"Good." Raphael's deadly voice whispers the next part to me as he bends down on his knees, coming closer to my face than I'd like. "And you better not run off to tell your girlfriend about this, eitha'. 'Cause I'm sure that Splinta'd love ta here that his precious little angel is datin' the foot, now wouldn't he?"
My eyes widen and I shake my head. No, father can't know about my relationship with Karai, he'd forbid me from seeing her anymore. I love her far too much to let that happen. "Please, Raph, please don't tell." As I beg my brother for mercy, the smirk on his face just grows larger, making him look like the smuggest bastard alive.
"Hmmmm.. I guess we'll just have ta see what I do, huh?" Chuckling, Raphael walks out of the dojo, but not without throwing my Katana's at the wall first.
When I'm alone, I finally sit up. Clenching my fists, I narrow my eyes and my breaths become heavier, louder, angrier. Flames of hatred ignite in the embers that have been stilled for so long, and all I can feel is a venomous amount of hostility being held for Raphael.
Oh, how much easier life would be without him.
Uh-oh, sibling rivalry. Obviously Raph doesn't approve of Leonardo's relationship with Karai, which will be explained in further detail throughout the next few chapters. This chapter did take place 30 days before Raphael's death, as I mentioned at the beginning. The next chapter will take place after Raphael's death, and then the next will be before, then after, and then before, etc etc. So basically you'll all be filled in on what's happening after the death and before the death.
I really hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Please review and have a nice week!
-RaphSai03
