Chapter 2:
Chased Through Abyss
Vision blurred, barely focusing on his water stained hands, the only things keeping him from meeting a cold and hard stone.
This can't be happening
This can't be happening
The words kept repeating over and over again in his head. Immature childish words that came from a brilliant I-sha mind. A mind that wanted nothing more than to panic and hide.
But he knew better than that.
Don forced in a deep breath, thick foul air, pulling on his sensitive airway and sending a harsh cough to his lips again. His hand shooting up to cover the harsh interruptions. Cold water stung hsi eyes,his squeezed them shut in a desperate attempt to protect them as his hand went up and pulled his mask from his face, stuffing the soaked material into his pocket
Plan
He needed a plan.
Find shelter.
That was the number one priority. A secure location. His hands crossed over his chest to rub his arms furiously to instigate warmth in his frozen shivering body. A secure WARM place. He reminded himself lightly.
Number two, find medicine. Some sort of licorice root. Though his aching throat wanted to make that the first priority. Logic won over bodily need
And number three.
Find a weapon.
It was in that moment a colder dread went to his stomach.
Weaponless.
He could just remember waking up that morning, his fingers brushing against his bo staff in a mere thought to bring the staff with him. If only to keep his brothers happy.
Don had pushed that thought away so easily.
Now it was his second biggest regret of the night.
A familiarity went to his mind. Raising his hand to lay on his sleeved wrist. A thick biding over it bringing a surge of excitement through his heart. He drew his sleeve back to reveal the metal weaponry, the arm wrist
His gauntlet.
But it died when he realized that he had failed to refill the darts in it that morning. It still had a knife though. That was something.
Not completely weaponless
Don paused. He would fill in number 3 later. The first two were the first priority. The young I-sha took a deep breath, reaching back over his samue to draw on his hood. He could already feel precious heat storing up. Spirits only knew how vital it was for him to stay warm. Which was hard enough as it is.. He moved to a crouching position, his hand bracing against the ground to heave himself up to a standing position. Cold flat stone pressing into his bandaged hand-
Flat stone?
Don allowed the word to sink in. His hand running over the ground again. He was right. Flat stone. Perfectly cut. Sure the streets of Horyu City had been stone too (The parts of the city that could afford it) but even well made streets were cut up into smaller stone a bit uneven.
This ground was perfect.
Don raised his head slowly. For the first time since he 'collapsed' he raised his head.
The walls rose high above him Taller then another building he had seen. Though they didn't' reflect the sheen of wood he was used to. They were actually dull. Don pushed himself up to a standing position. Reaching his hand out. His fingers brushed against stone, not like the one he stood on. This was much rougher, but still flat. Stacked on top of one another. There was a gap between each stone that seemed to be even more stone.
A city of Stone?
A sweet putrid smell reached his beak. Almost instantly his beak went to his sleeve. Sensing an irritation to throat. His eyes searched around for the source of the horrible smell to spot several metal tubes sitting along the alley. Black bags stacked around it, he didn't recognize the material they were made of. But to be honest, he didn't want to get close enough to find out. His eyes went back up the wall; there were several squares in the wall, shining as though made of glass. Some of them were brightly lit with a strange steady frame. His head titling back further to look at the sky-
Stars?
Where were the stars?
The sky a pitch inky black, dark gray clouds drifting overhead. A light shining against him
Was the entire city lit? How many torches did they have here?!
Don looked back to the end of the alley. There was another though duller light at the end of the alley. Don reached up to tug on the edges of the hood. Before trailing down and fingering the blue cloth that was wrapped around his neck. The edge of it barely rose up past his vision. But it helped to keep the worst of the sticky smell away. He pressed the cloth to his mouth. Drawing in the minute smell that had indicated its previous wearer. Anything to stop the trembling in his legs
Aniki
Give me strength.
Donnie slowly moved closer to the edge. One hand going out to touch the corner. Slowly poking his head out.
He couldn't stop the throat irritating gasp that burst from his lips. Though by instinct, his hand going up to stifle the small coughs. Gratefully not as harsh as his last ones had been.
But no matter how painful his coughs, nothing could take the shock of that moment.
Buildings identical to the ones next to him lined up and down the large street. Rose up on stone steps and up to Grand wooden woods leading into buildings. The strange 'rode' reflecting to the other side of a black solid stone , Tall metal poles running up and down the street.
Street?
What the hell else could they be?
But that wasn't the strangest thing.
The strange metal poles were emitting light, well, some of them were. All hanging from the extra angle. Flickering and giving off little light. Btu it didn't' have the same consistency as fire. His eyes going down. There was another weird can thing. This one didn't' smell so bad, but maybe that was cause they weren't in that alley again. He reached out and brushed his fingers against the lid. It looked detachable-
The metal can suddenly jerked to the side, a form flying from it yowling and yelling loudly.
Don stumbled back, hands flying up to his face in an attempt to protect himself from such a horrible creature. His foot catching air and his body flying through the hair to land on solid ground with a crack. His head bouncing off of solid hard ground, his already darken vision bouncing and turning. The world turning numb around him other than the pain echoing from his head
A sound like screeching filled the air, wheel tearing through water and coming right for him-
Something hooked around his stomach, his vision blurring so fast that he barely had to realize that he was upside down the thing grabbing him, shoulder in his stomach and a bugling arm wrapped around his knees rolling across the ground. The sound of feet (or what should be feet slapping up on the upper flat stone path and turning towards the screeching monstrosity turning away. Dons face all but obstructed by a broad back he couldn't even see around. He couldn't even get a look at the ground
,"-FREAKING IDIOT! ITS CALLED USING YER HEADLIGHTS!"
Headlights!? What the hell are headlights?! How do you turn one on?!-
He felt a hand grab the back of his hood lifting him right off like a how one might pick up a Neko baby or tokage kitten. Finally freeing his vision of horrible Smell-
HOLY SHIT HE WAS HIHG UP!
Donnie had never even been this far high up when he sat on Raph's shoulders! OH Sprits this was high. What the hell was this thing?! Rhinos and Bears were tall but they weren't' THIS tall. Maybe if they stood on each others shoulders, this was just a freaking Giant! A Kyojin-
He could barely see but he could the outline of the large creature. Just barely. He knew he was being lowered- he could just feel his straw sandals scrape against the ground.
Oh sweet merciful solid unnatural ground. Don all but threw his weight to the back, all set in getting as far away from the Kyojin-.
The back of his sandal caught on something, his body all but slamming into the rough wall he had seen earlier, he pushed his feet on the ground to propel him flying back, as far away as possible if another wall had not gotten in his way. His head cracking painfully against the wall obstructing his exit. His hand shooting up to hold his aching head
"Kid calm down! I aint gonna hurt you!" Oh dam the Kyojin was there! Crouching just in front of him. A hand reaching out. Before he could stop his instincts, hjis hand shot out and slapped his. His hand meeting thick cushion and cloth.
What?
Don raised his head slowly, his hand sgoing back ot hold on to the edges of his hood to pull further down his face. His vision had cleared up enough, adjusting to the dark. The creature's clothes and appearance becoming cleared. And his appearance only screamed one thing
DEMON
Even without the Demon Kyojin's height. His appearance would have sent anyone running for the hills and calling for a belle. He wore dark blue hakamas. With some sort of white stripes down the side. He could barely see them bulge tightly on his thick legs (spirits, even his thighs were thicker then Dons head). His chest clothed in the same type of sleeveless red shirt his Kuma-ni wore. His long black hair shaggy and falling around a white separate mask thing, that looked very poorly designed. Even HE could have done a better job. That though might take rocks to the face but not much else.
But that wasn't the scariest part.
The scariest part of him was his body. It was the pale flesh that replaced hair all over his body (he assumed, he couldn't see his whole body). Almost like pig skin. But it had a brown tinge to it,
What the spirits was he!?
"What were you thinking kid!?" the Akuma was talking? he could assume yes with that finger point (five fingers?! What the holy sprits!?) "Everyone knows this street doesn't have the sense to fix their street lamps or headlights! You coulda been HIT-"
Wait?
The Demon Giant was lecturing him? Was he speaking stupid? Donnie had never thought of the existence of a language called "Stupid" but if he had ever heard it, it would be now. And it would be out of the mouth of a shaggy haired Giant Demon
"What the hell are you doing out this late anyway?! It's a school night! You should be at home reading Spiderman comics or playing with hot wheels!"
Spiderman? A full grown spider? Making comedy? What were hotwheels-Ow! Don's hand went up to swipe at the hand that had tapped his head, wanting to verbalize his disdain, "Anyone in there?! Hablar English!?"
Hab-wht? What did that mean? Why didn't this Akuma leave him alone? Oh spirits why didn't he have water-
Just behind his strange white mas, dark blue eyes darkened. Almost in a frown hair. His hand going to his hakamas. Don shell met hard wall again, "DUDE CHILL!" the Akuma snapped at him, waving a hand
Dude?
Why was this Akuma referring to Don as an elephant ass hair-?
Don could just see something in his gloved hand, it wasn't one of the sticks he had strapped to his back (he kind a looked like a hobo) putting it up to his head what was he-
"Yo babe!" Babe? Who was he talking to? Was Donnie supposed to be the 'babe'? No, he seemed to be talking into that device (he almost wished he could see what it was); "I think I have a runaway on my hands, he's giving me trouble." Wait, no, "babe' was the person the Akuma was talking to. A runaway? That had to be him. There was no one else there! But Donnie wasn't causing any trouble. Wait, the Akuma wasn't talking now. His big gloved hand was tapping on his huge knee. He didn't really seem to be paying attention anymore. If anyone could be a master of 'stupid' language, it was this pig skinned creature. Don's eyes glanced to the gap of space that the Akuma giant wasn't obstructing. Don looked over to make sure the Akuma Kyojin was still frozen before leaning forward, ever so slowly towards the opening.
A hand slapped against his forehead and forced him right back in place. Don couldn't stop his own hand from going up and slapping his hand away; if he had any control over his words then he'd definitely have a well thought out one for him
"Are you sure that aint a bad idea?" oh great now he was talking to that weird thing again, or rather he was questioning it "I don't know bringing him back home is a good idea-"
Wait
WHAT?!
No way in hell Don was going anywhere this joker was going. Who the hell knew were demons lived anyway! Underground? IN lava?
Either way Don wasn't going with him.
Instinct sent his foot flying forward slamming against the weird white mask. The demon crying out in shock before falling flat on his back. Don's foot found a second place on his chest, he just met eye contact with the wild haired Akuma just long enough to jab his fingers into his neck. At least the body was the same as it was at home. "SORRY!" before finding sweet freedom on the elevated path again.
A hand suddenly tightened around his ankle, Dons face met hard stone and an aching beak. But the pain was soon overrun by a panic shooting through his body, kicking his foot frantically, "LET ME GO! LET ME GO!" he shouted
"I aint going to hurt you freaking brat I'm trying' to help!" Help who!? THAT was a good question. The hand all but drug him back. Don's heart was beating so hard in his chest he could barely breathe. His fingers desperate to find something to hold on to, he could just feel the hand release his ankle long enough to hold on to his shell-
Then the movement stopped
"What the hell-"
Don didn't know what had stopped the Akuma. But he didn't care. Don rolled onto his back, his foot slamming hard against the Akuma's face again. The release of his shell sent him forward on his feet again
By now the demon should have been feeling the full effect of nerve paralysis. It should have numbed alteast half of his body, more than enough to help Donnie get away (and enough to explain the frantic thrashing after him. Don doubled his steps,
"KID WAIT!"
Don knew better, his steps doubling. Carrying him far from the yells of the Akuma. Though the street was barely visible. He didn't even have time to take the world around him.
He just wanted to run
He just wanted to go home.
And away from the giant demon-
Something slapped hard into his face. Vision suddenly darkening over. He couldn't stop the scream of panic from tearing free of his mouth. Hands shooting up to claw at the attacker, fingers digging in and pulling, but it only made him panic more. Tears pouring free-
Wait.
It wasn't an arm.
And it wasn't' holding him. His fingers ran over the obstruction again, it was almost soft. , wet but soft. His fingers ran over a bend in the obstruction, pulling on it, the obstruction freeing his sight.
Paper?
Strange paper, large pieces of paper binded in the middle. It was thin, very light. He closed it over together. He held the weird folded scroll by the binding, fingers running over the edges. The smooth sticky pages pulling free. He peered closely at the page. Pictures? Too pure to be ink, but-
Wait
There appeared to be some sort of pale skinned creature on this page. Almost identical to the creature he had just escaped. Except this one was shirtless. And its chest was much larger-
OH SPIRTS!
IT WAS A SHIRTLESS WOMAN!'
Don had already slammed the binded scroll shut. A horrific red blush shooting across his face. Oh spirits he had seen naked women before, naked woman from HIS world that were in labor or asking him to look at a rash. Not this! At least he had time to prepare-
Wait.
Don looked back down to the binded scroll.
It didn't like it was very expensive. It had to be perishable to be flying around with no one running after it. That meant whatever was written (or put) into this scroll was common knowledge). So the strange creatures, like the giant that had been chasing him, were not strange creatures. At least not here.
They were normal
He was not.
That's why the Giant had freaked out when he touched his shell. He had probably not seen another kame like him before.
Or anything like him
Donnie thought he had been about to suffer a heart attack before, but his heart had almost doubled their speed in the last few seconds.
Alone.
Suddenly every building was no longer an extraordinary feat. The strange metal boxes he could barely see, running up and down the lowered path and the metal cans were no longer curiosities.
They were threats.
Each one of them.
Don turned his head, noticing one of those dark alleys similar to the ones he had seen earlier. It was no longer a dark secret but a refuge. His head shooting from side to side before ducking down into the darkness. Despite the cold that almost immediately swarmed over him, he wrapped his arms tightly around himself. Spotting one of those big metal squares he had pointed out earlier. It might of smelled bad, but it was more than enough to hide his shape from any wandering pig creatures.
He moved over to sit down, without thinking he had already tucked the binded scroll into his pocket. He drew his knees to his chest.
This place was NOT safe. His previous plan all but thrown out of the air. There was no sanctuary, nor warmth, nothing.
He needed to get home now.
His mind wracked back to the design he had seen on the cave wall. There was a chance he could replicated the 'window' he could get home that way.
Except he didn't know what had triggered the window opening in the first place.
But his mind already hit on one hypothesis.
Water
If he could get enough water he might be able to force the window open.
Then he could get home.
Slowly, he rubbed his arms a bit harder. Looking up to scan around, question was, where could he FIND wa-
His body froze, stiffening in an age old reaction to panic. Almost painful to even move, he was stuck in a stare, past white misty breath that came from his lips.
Don had almost missed it. Looking up in an attempt to see the stars again, a comfort in similarity to his home world, his eyes had risen up to those rooftops he had seen.
And there it was
A dark form, packed with thick muscles, he could just see the outline. Either it wasn't wearing any clothes or they were very tight against his skin. Something just fluttering past its head. White eyes looking out.
Right at him
He had been seen.
Before the thought could even going through his mind, Don was back on his feet, charging down opposite end of the alley. His footsteps echoing heavily off of the close walls.
This street was much better lit then the last one. The weird angled posts giving off bright steady light up and down the elevated sidewalk. He turned to the left, shooting down the path.
He didn't know where he was going
But he wasn't staying there.
Another cross roads. Don glanced to side to side (to ensure that annoying metal headlight wasn't going to hit him again) before jumping down on the lowered path. Jumping up to the opposite side he glanced a moment to turn.
Just on the roof, he could still see the form, running just on the edge. A show of perfect balance. He could just see the outline of the creature's massive arms swinging with little to no effort.
Oh spirits
The freaking thing worked out and jogged for fun
Don turned forward again. He could already see the scenario running through his head. The creature was obviously fast4er, trained for it even. Don had secretly been hoping changing streets would alteast slow him down
No such luck
This creature was going to catch up with him.
He was going to get caught
He was going to be a prisoner again
The word sent aches through his arms, a growl that would have made Raph proud through his throat.
No
Not again
He would rather take his own life-
Don turned sideways, his feet sliding across the ground, staring right ahead.
Another pair of white eyes
Glaring at him from the dark of the opposite roof.
Another one
Don bit back a well-chosen cuss. A summary of his luck. His body twisted, left had done him no good. In fact, it gave him a second creature to chase him. His arms pumped hard, he could see another crossroad up ahead. With a pump of his back leg he easily covered the gap. Sparing another glance behind him
3
There were THREE things chasing him now. One had joined the newest chaser.
And they were getting closer.
2 buildings away.
He wanted to scream his frustrations. But he feared the aches coming from his throat, the coughs that would follow and send him to his knees
Donnie couldn't afford that.
His hand took a hold of a building edge, using the momentum to swing himself around hard. Before his feet slammed against the ground and bringing him to a complete stop.
One of those angled lights lay up ahead, shining down brighter, over the crowd standing by one of those larger metal squares filled with window
More of those demons.
All standing, talking lightly, (properly clothed) though more heavily dressed then him. That was something he could envy in that moment. They seemed waiting to get on-
Wait
Could you ride one of those-?
The sound of bare feet against stone hit his ears. Without even having to look he already knew what was behind him, a street away, but there.
The creature.
Don made a decision
He ran forward, towards the crowd. He could just hear the sound of squealing. It looked like something was folding away from the metal Headlights, the crowd surging towards it-
All that was obscured by pounding in his ears. Both by his heart and the feet behind him. A muffled shout. His mind only repeating one thing,
Get to the box.
He could just feel something brush against his hood. Don's hands shot up, grabbing the edges of his hood and yanking it down to almost obscure his vision. Acid building in the back of his throat, the shout just inches behind him-
Don all but threw himself into the crowd, his feet finding enough ground to slide into the hoard, his feet moving with theirs, climbing up strange plastic steps. His vision all but swimming. A pig skinned fat creature giving him a nod. His eyes went to the back of the metal bus, all but pushing his way. His sweaty hands all but sticking to their clothing, even with the bandages still wrapped over his hands. Don put his hand up to keep from slamming into the back window. Turning to the crowd around him. All still dwarfing his six (but not even comparative to that giant he had seen earlier) and, blessedly, not paying any attention to him.
Don allowed the panic breathing to go through him. Slowing down, his sleeve going up to wipe his burning eyes.
His theory had been right
The creature would not go near the pig skinned creatures. As long as Donnie didn't show his face, the crowd wouldn't panic.
It almost made him cry in relief.
Until the metal box jerked under his feet and almost sending him up through the roof. Moving forward
Oh shit
Why didn't he realize this sooner?! He could have gotten into a metal Headlight sooner and just rode it away! Had he the time to figure it out-
Something passed by his vision. Don's head jerked up, just outside the window he saw one of the creatures run out into the middle of the lowered street, the light of the metal Headlight catching his green skin ever so lightly, red trailing behind him and eyes dead on him. Was that a shell-?
Don broke eye contact. The tears he had been so careful to keep at bay ran free in a few moments of horror. His arms wrapping around himself, face buried into his scarf. Hoping not to draw attention to himself.
But he was scared.
As much as he wanted to deny it, he was scared. Horrified. He wanted to lie down and freaking cry like a child. Until his brothers found him, and held him close.
They would protect him from those strange horrible creatures.
Because he sure as hell knew he couldn't do that himself.
Don forced his aching airway to take in several slow breaths even as his body craved more. Sobs fighting for reign but remained locked in his chest.
His hell was not over
He wasn't sure when this metal Headlight would stop again, but he highly doubted he could hide on there forever. And the Chasers knew that too.
He would be on the run again.
he could feel the cold of the floor just through his left foot, bringing about the face that, on top of Dons aching body and traitorous airway, he had also lost his sandal .It took Don a bit to realize someone was looking at him. From over his scarf, he glanced up to see a child his size staring at him, pale hand clutching the hand of the man next to her.
Her?
Yeah it looked like a her. Her blonde hair thick with curls, long eyelashes. She was obviously much younger than him. (So the fact they were so close in height almost made him irritated) but she didn't' look aggressive, almost curious. Don ducked his head ever so lightly though, hoping to break her attention
NO such luck. The girl put her hand into her sleeved cloak pocket, drawing out a bright orange bag, some sort of Neko with shaded goggles on the cover and held it out to him. Don almost wanted to ask what she wanted, but she shook the bag lightly. Don slowly raised it hand and closed his fingers over the bag. THE little girl let go with a small giggle and smile putting her hand down before facing the front.
What was that? Don looked down on the strange bag, a gift? That was kind. Don would have thanked her if he could without crying. He put the bag in his pocket before looking out to the back window. Grateful to no longer see those Chasers running after the bus.
But that didn't mean they weren't out there. And the sooner Donnie found water the better.
What if he didn't need water though?
The thought pulled in the back of his mind. A curiosity. How was the window activated before? What had he and Leo been doing?
Was it the ink?
The mirror he had used to fill the room with light?
What about Leo's shouting when he had grabbed the mirror-
Don's body all but froze.
THE MIRROR
It had cut Leos' hand.
He had been bleeding
Not even a second before the window had lit up.
SHIT! It took all his willpower to keep from banging it against the window, he was no freaking genius! He was a dumbass! The biggest dumbass to ever crawl over the ground! SPIRITS why didn't he see that sooner!?
He didn't need water
He needed BLOOD
And he had plenty of that.
Don's hand shot into his bag at his side, YES ink! He still had an unbroken clay pot of ink. And a brush! Oh Spirits. This was a mercy he so needed. But how was he supposed to get the metal Headlight to stop-
Another jerk went under his feet. The crowd shuffling around, the familiar screeching that had indicated when that folding door had opened.
He felt lucky indeed.
Don moved back to the crowd, trying to squish his way back in between those giants around him. Moving forward, he just caught a glimpse of the Headlight Tamer who had nodded to him earlier, whispering out, with a nod of his head, "Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita." Before jumping down the steps. Don knew that safety remained with the crowd, but even then he took a step away. From the sanctuary he had found. The little girl he had seen looked over at him one more time. Her gloved hand going up to wave meekly.
Donnie smiled, he couldn't help it. He raised his hand to return to affection before turning and running down the dark alley.
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Spirits it was hard to find a street that wasn't lit. He didn't know how long he had been looking, but it was long enough for the clothes on his body to harden from the water and send a rank to his nose.
Thankfully those chasers hadn't returned yet.
That was something to be grateful for.
Don poked his head down the latest alley he had found. There. The end wasn't lit up like the others. It was dark, almost like an abyss, but the shading indicated it was open ended and lead to a street much like the one he had ran into earlier. Something he might normally steer clear of.
Except his situation wasn't normal.
And he was running out of time before those chasers found him again.
He ran down to the end of the alley, poking his head out again. Yes! Almost completely dark, it would be harder to spot him there. But there was a threat of a another metal Headlight hitting him like it had earlier before that masked giant has saved him
Huh
He almost felt bad for paralyzing half his body.
And this was a risk he had to make. If he wanted to get home.
Don jumped down to the lower street, reopening his bag, his fingers brushing against warm metal, and a friendly reminder.
His extra mirror!
Don dug it out, a solution to his other problem of having to draw in the dark. He licked his thumb to run over the edges of the mirror, warmth going through his stomach that he had learned to channel years ago, a whisper leaving his lips.
"Watashi no michi o terasu."
The surface of the mirror shivered ever so lightly, like a skip of stone over water. A dull light began to shine from the center, spreading gout till he had to turn his head away turning the mirror around to catch a glimpse of those large thick tires he had seen earlier. Don went over to brace the small mirror against it, the light shining onto the street. A wide circle.
Without hesitating, Don drew out his ink jar, paint brush in one hand, biting into the hard metal to twist the lid off, spitting to to the street before kneeling down. Memory playing key, blending design over the stone. A reflection of the design in the cave playing over the stone ground. Small, careful to grab each detail greedily from his memory
His chance
His last chance.
The sound of crunching glass filled the air. His heart jumping to his throat to escape the terror that shot through his stomach
They were here
They had found him.
Donnie all but scampered to the middle of the circle. He could just hear their bare feet. Oh spirits. He bit hard into his thumb, hard enough to draw bitter blood to his lips and into his mouth, he spat out to the side, intelligence winning over panic of fast approaching feet. Of shouts he couldn't discern, words leaving his mouth, through trembling lips. His palms pressing together, feeling the blood spread over to his other palm. 4 eyes, oh spirits they were multiplying
This was his last hope
"Hōmu watashi o eru, Ohaio-shū watashi wa negatte nyūshu shite kudasai. Watashi no michi o terashi, watashi wa watashinokazoku o shutoku shite mimashou. Watashi wa, anata ni kono 1 kōi o o kiki kudasai, "the last leaving his lips in a desperate plea. a prayer. "Watashi wa ie o tebanasu"
A glow began to form at his feet. Shining from the drawings in stone. A warm wind began to flutter his clothing. Pulling on his clothes like the hands of playful children. He could have cried in relief
It was working
He was going home
His eyes opened, if only to laugh at his Chasers. TO see the anger on their faces as they failed to do the Giants doing. The stupid-
But the word froze in his mouth
The light of his 'window' barely caught their skin, their body. But enough to aluminate green skin. Pale brown plastrons and padded knees. Arms drawn up to protect masked eyes
Masked
Turtle bodies
Kame bodies
Masked eyes.
Trailing just behind their heads.
Red
Orange
Blue.
Raph, Mikey, Leo-
The last one caught his vision, the Kame standing near the back almost obscured by his vision, but he could just see purple trailing behind his head.
Purple
Donatello
Himself
Air choked in his throat, a loud cough escaped his lips as he momentarily choked on the awful thick air. Panic, confusion pumping through his blood as his eyes ran down the line again.
Kame
Turtles
Brothers
HIS brothers
Himself
HE was standing over there-
A spasm of pain shot through his leg, like a bolt of fire, his knee cracked against hard stone, pain shooting down his spine, through his arms. The warm comforting air that surrounded him intensifying, turning hot, as though someone had just stuffed him into a komodo-
"GET HIM OUT OF THER!"
Don couldn't tell which of them had said it, but he heard something crack against stone, His head refused to look up. TO see who was trying to save him-
But the crack grew louder, he could just barley feel it under his sandalless foot.
Then he was standing on nothing
His body fell through air, but before he could think of screaming he met cold water, dragging him with a thick current, digging into his very body. The sour horrible water forcing their way into struggling lungs. The horrible truth since his childhood reaching his ears
He couldn't swim
And he couldn't see.
Legs kicked out trying to find a freedom from the current, in the few lessons Leo had given him on swimming, proving futile
He was going to drown
He was going to die-
An arm hooked over his chest, his shell meeting chest in a tight hug. Don forced his eyes open through murky water to see a green arm hooked around him. His head turning and jerking but he could just see a blue mask above his head
Leo?
Other Leo had grabbed-
But his mind interrupted, the body holding onto his jerked heavily, but the arm tightened around him. He could just feel Other Leo's legs kicking, more methodical then his squirming, but they didn't seem to be doing too well either. Maybe if they moved with the current-
It seemed like Other Leo was thinking the same thing, his body suddenly changing direction. Going with the current. Donnie seriously hoped this doppelganger knew where he was going, or could see because he sure as hell couldn't-
Hell Donnie didn't even know which way they were going-
The body holding his jerked heavily. The arm around his chest lessening. Without a second thought, Don twisted around and wrapped his arm around The Other Leo's upper torso, his blurry vision just seeing a dark red spot on his scalp
What had hit him?! Was there debris floating down here?! Oh spirits-
His vision caught sight of something; it seemed to be standing still, dangling in the water. One arm tight around the other Leos' chest, his other shot out and grabbed the pipe-
It held.
Only the fact of its true form almost sent his oxygen deprived mind into over panic
A ladder
Oh sweet spirits a ladder.
Don could barely keep his arm around the copycat's chest, his shoulder twisting painfully in trying to hold him against the powerful current. Donnie slammed his feet into place, dragging himself up, finding footholds. His hand finding a grip in the Copycats belt-
Belt?
The copycats refused to wear pants but said yes to leather belts? Where was the logic in that-?
Don's head broke surface, his other arm all but heaving the body after him. His chest meeting cold stone, Leos' copycat form next to him.
A heave filled his gut; Don barely had time to turn to the water before he began to vomit. Water pushing out of his mouth and lungs and splashing into the water below that had just tried to drag him into the afterlife
He didn't mind so much getting revenge.
Glorious warm rank oxygen filed Dons lungs, his shell meeting hard stone. Coughing filling the air, hands to his eyes to clean them of the wretched water
Then he just lay there
Cold
Bruised
Aching
But alive
Don wanted to laugh, but his stomach and lungs fought against that logic. His vision finally clearing enough to see stone ceilings, his vision running down the walls to realize how much it fell around, almost like a cave
This was under their stone city?
A stone river?
His clearing eyes went over to the body of his brother. NO., his brother's copy. He was obviously still breathing. Eyes closed and lulled breath indicating that he was indeed knocked out. If nothing, that large gash in his head proved that. IT couldn't have been easy to swim with those swords-
Don paused in mid, barely coherent, thought.
Swords?
Yeah, there they were. Crossed over his back. It was a weird place to put them. But they were there. They looked like katanas. His eyes going back to his face.
He looked just like his Aniki
That thought alone almost made his eyes burn again.
Don moved his leg when pain shot down his knee, bringing his hands to grip it tightly with an angry hiss and cough. Shit, he must have busted it when he had fallen making that window
The window
Why didn't it work?
Why wasn't he home right now? Running to his house, to be embraced by a worried family?
The burning was back.
Why weren't his brothers looking at him right now? Why weren't they hugging him and lecturing him on his stupidity? Why wasn't his Kuma-ni threatening to belt him while Leo just held him? OH sprits he wouldn't of scared if he really did get belted; he just wanted to be there. Anywhere but this cold dark world. He couldn't stop the sniff from escaping his lips, his hands to his face. Eyes begging to let loose the begging in his heart
Scratching filled the air.
Don's head shot up. Despite his bodies protest he went to his knees, ignoring the stinging on his feet (he didn't want to think how badly his 'Art' attempt had burned them.). IT was then he noticed that he was lying on a path, much like the sidewalk he had been exploring earlier. Though this one ended behind him, the other end turned and disappeared around a corner
That's where the noise was coming from
Don bit his lip, fighting the panic welling in his gut, only anger finding a place, "I can hear you!" he shouted, "You're not scaring me!"
The large footsteps stopped their scratching. Don looked back to the pathway. He wasn't sure where the light was coming from, but it barely illuminated a form. Shaped like the pig skinned creatures.
He was just around the corner.
And Donnie was too ticked to think rationally.
Then the anger began to fade, when the shadow didn't fade. He hated being angry, it always made him feel horrible for hours.
This creature had done nothing to him
And neither had the giant
"I'm sorry." Don moved forward on his knees, sitting just to the other side of the Other Leo. Watching the shadow, "I didn't mean to yell. I-I'm just a little lost." a little was an understatement. Don looked back to the stone walls around him. There had to be a reason this pig skinned creature was living under the stone city. Maybe he was poor? Maybe he was scavenging? The mere thought only added to his guilt, "I" don't have anything to give you." Don admitted sadly his hands going to his sides, brushing his pocket, a crinkling sound filled the air
Wait
The bag with the spotted Neko!
Don dug it out, though wet, the bag was unbroken. Whatever was inside had to be good, he looked up to the corner again before tossing the bag lightly. It finding a place in the center of the path.
There was a hesitation. Don saw the shadow of the creature bend down and a pale hand reach out, wrapped in brown bandages, long fingernails holding onto the bag and dragging it back toward him. The sound of footsteps returned, but this time began to fade, the shadow lowering to the path until it fell from sight.
Don turned back to the Leo clone. Even though all his natural instincts told him to run and leave him behind, he had a much more innate instinct that won out
The need to help others.'
His hands to the ground, thumb stinging from the bite of his teeth, his drug himself over to his fallen form. Reaching to his arms and pulling free a strip of bandage
Even if he was just a ghost of his real big brother.
a/n
Charmy, "Yeah its true, a dude is actually a word for elephant butt hair. Weird right?"
Raph," You think that's weird/ YOU clearly don't own a mirror."
Charmy, "Ok dude."
Kyojin: Giant
Akuma: Demon
Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita: Thank you very much
Watashi no michi o terasu: Light my way
"Hōmu watashi o eru, Ohaio-shū watashi wa negatte nyūshu shite kudasai. Watashi no michi o terashi, watashi wa watashinokazoku o shutoku shite mimashou. Watashi wa, anata ni kono 1 kōi o o kiki kudasai. Watashi wa ie o tebanasu": Get me home, get me hope. Light my way, let me get to my family. I ask you this one favor, please. Let me go homeg