Prelude p2

Rachel looked around. She had found Jason and they started to gather others to help in the group. They needed to reduce numbers, but it always seemed like they were increasing instead of disappearing.

Even though the battle hadn't even lasted a thirty-minute mark, she already felt worn down and tired. She had her gun to her side and kept close to the cool wall, waiting in the darkness like how the ninja brothers and Master Splinter taught. Keeping to the darkness, not being seen… Hopefully it would stay that way, but she knew that there were others.

Others that knew the darkness… That only increased her guard, wearing her down even more. She felt something was going to happen, but she didn't have a flash or a vision to tell her what.

Lily was doing the rounds again trying to make sure everyone was still with them and alright. She knew Rae wanted to hide, so when she lighted down she didn't look her way, but out at the battle, "Hey, Rae-chan, what's going on with you?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Rachel murmured, "Everything's perfect except for the fact that we're in the middle of war and I'm dying from heat stroke. I think it is…I haven't felt this tired in ages."

Lily chuckled, "I'm just checking on you," she said and swirled her wind to Rachel to try and cool her off, "Karai and the Foot will be here in about five minutes. Do you need help getting to another part of the battle?"

"No, thank you." Rachel smiled, "Good luck Lily-onee-chan. You're going to need it."

"Arigato…Just to update, Gabriella had a brush with death. I don't know how she survived, but everything's fine. Scared the shit out of Andrew, though…" Lily shook her head, "You be careful yourself, Rachel-chan." She smiled before disappearing.

Rachel was surprised, but bit her lip. Already someone had nearly died and survived miraculously, that made her worry about what was going on with Raph's group plans. Hopefully, he wouldn't get that near-death experience.

He hadn't had that misfortune thankfully, but Raphael had had a different kind. He hissed as he punched another Foot Ninja in the face. They had arrived already, the five minutes turned into now and he was fighting harder, summoning up more strength from somewhere. He had lost one of his Sai and that did not sit well with him. For right now, re used his anger to fuel his actions.

The foot ninja did a flip, trying to land a chin-kick on Raph, and to get away to regain his balance and attack again with much easier force. That kick in the face wasn't appreciated.

Not a bit. Raph growled fiercely and did a Hook Kick on the dumb ass. He connected with a /crack/ and then he twirled his hands, bringing up the pebbles and small debris of the rooftops, and shot them at unbelievable speeds, making fatal wounds and instant-deaths. He never figured out why so many kills he had done hadn't made him cold, like others he knew.

A ninja came up behind him and kicked his back to make him go down on the ground. The ninja took out his kunai and tossed it at him, but her/his aim was terrible.

Raph easily caught the kunai as he turned back around and he threw it back, making it connect and sink easily into the ninja's chest. He jumped back up and back-handed another ninja before he manipulated the fire to both make a barrier and attack.

She stumbled a bit, but she didn't back down. The ninja made a fireball and threw it at him, giggling thinking she was going to win this fight for sure.

Raphael smirked evilly and easily consumed the fireball in his own. "Pathetic…this is a Fireball," he growled and copied her, throwing it swiftly at her.

The girl was surprised and let out a short shriek as the fireball caught her and literally burned her to death.

Leaving nothing but a fried corpse…

Raphael breathed deeply, trying to calm himself, but felt he was weakened as he did that. He growled and kicked his anger back up and started a fury, trying to delay or kill of Foot before they had a chance to continue.

But they just kept coming, making him weaker by the moment.

Hun had been walking the alleyways, killing off the ones that were trying to hide in the darkness. He found a Sai that looked oddly familiar lying on the ground. The leader of the dragons picked it up and twirled it before realizing whose sword that was.

He wasn't the only one that recognized it. The sound of a gun being caught rang and he turned around, spinning the Sai expertly in his hand.

Rae came out of the alleyway, her gun held up and her eyes narrowed, "That's not yours to use." She snapped, "Put it down or I shoot it out of your hand and you'll be dying from a wrist wound."

He laughed, "I think you don't realize how silly your threat sounds." He disappeared but she was fast enough to know that he was right behind her and tried to kick, but she was so much shorter than he was, by a good few feet and inches. The kick didn't do a whole lot of damage, but it did give her a chance to regain her gunpoint and shot. Hun, big as he was, dodged it and did a spinning kick at her.

Luckily her height had an advantage point. However, her height also had a disadvantage. Her kicks didn't hurt because she was so tiny compared to him, and his kicks nor punches could land a scratch. Weapons were used, dodging and aiming to hit became critical. Sometimes when they got too close they would try the martial arts again, but again the height differences and the weight were proving to be a problem.

To her utter displeasure, while she knew how to use a gun and her aim was shitty because of his movements, Hun did know how to use Raphael's Sai. He knew how to twist his hand to make it turn in his will, and he knew just the simplest turn to make the sword's hit become more powerful, and it wasn't just the weight behind it. He knew as if he had been trained just in case.

Rachel's eyes narrowed. This was not a fight she wanted to be in. She knew that it was going to be a game of skill and luck, but she also knew that if he knew how to use a Sai by wielding it, she would be highly scared how well he knew how to throw. She knew Sai were easily thrown and depending on the wielder the aim was accurate.

She was just afraid whether or not it occurred to him. It had, but Hun was waiting. He was trying to bait her to come closer. With every bullet she wasted and he dodged, he knew that she doubted her distance and was coming closer, but cautiously.

When she got close enough and was about to shoot, he reached over and grabbed her wrist, twisting it to make her drop it, and just because he felt like he could, he snapped her wrist and kicked her side. She dropped to the ground, some ribs might or might not be broken, but it was most likely that they were.

Hun twirled the Sai and impaled it right through the stomach, her eyes went wide and her voice never reached a high octave until now. He casually turned and left, she was going to die…there wasn't a point in staying.

She was shaking, blood was being poured and she was shaking…shock was settling in just almost immediately after he left. She was going to die...she felt scared. Very scared, 'Raph…' She didn't know why she was calling him, but she knew that she wanted him……for some reason.

Raphael had sensed her wrist breaking and the kick, and so swiftly got away from where he had been and was down on the battlefield. He was searching through the flames and fire for Rachel, and just as he parted a particularly high, thick, and hot bit of fire, he felt Déjà Vu hit him as he saw Hun impale his missing Sai into Rachel's stomach.

He felt sick as he heard her scream, wanted to scream as well, but harnessed all of that into his right fist. Raph sensed it grow hot with his fire and once he saw Hun round the corner, he sent a full-blown jaw-breaking right-hooked punch into Hun's face. He watched in satisfaction as the mammoth of a man flew into the building across the way, making a huge hole and debris fell onto him.

He cared not whether or not he was still alive. All he focused on was his love the moment he heard his name called through their link. Raphael ran around and saw Rachel lying on her side. Rushing to her, he picked her up, "Lily! Nao!" he called desperately sensing the terror, pain, and distress in his own voice, "CHOUDAI!" he pleaded into the roaring fires and the skies.

Rachel felt it…he was scared. Scared of losing her, the pain that she was feeing, and the distress...possibly from them both.. Everything was getting blurry. "Raph," Her voice was in a whisper. She was scared, shaking the shock was getting bad, half of her wanted to pull out the sword for a faster death, and the other half wanted her to keep it in, just to live a bit longer. She was terrified…very terrified, but she knew…

She knew somehow that everything was going to be better. "I love you, a lot. I know I don't……treat you like I should…and I kick your ass a lot…but you mean a lot to me." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to keep the shock at bay. Trying to at least get everything she wanted to say out of the way. She was scared, scared that she wasn't going to walking out of this alive, but she was happy…that she was able to see him.

"No." Raph's voice was firm, but it was also thick with tears that wanted to spill. "No, I refuse to hear that from you. Not now. Keep your eyes open, do you hear me, Rachel Hamato? Stay. Stay with me," he held her tighter, closer, and finally felt Nao and Lily both light down next to him. He felt himself being teleported and then sensed Andrew and Gabriella.

She struggled to keep her eyes open, she wanted to keep them open, but…will power was getting harder to scrape up. "I love you." She murmured again, "Always, always." Andrew bit his lip, the sword was right in the stomach, unless Nao was feeling up to taking a lot of energy and healing the hole just enough to so he could stitch the rest and send them out of the battlefield, Rae's number might be up.

And he refused, he didn't want that. There had to be something if Nao couldn't do it all the way. Maybe Lily…but Lily would need her strength, just in case something major happened. And Nao wasn't feeling well…his mind was spinning.

Gabriella placed her hand on Andrew's shoulder, her finger to her mouth in a silence motion, "Let's just wait and see," she told him, smiling ruefully.

Raphael fell to his knees and he laid her down. He knew this was a safe area, protected by a barrier created by Ella. He relaxed for that bit, but he was tense still. He moved and placed Rachel's head on his lap, and watched Nao. "Stay…fuck, Rachel…we promised each other. I'll follow you to Hell and back, remember?" he murmured desperately.

"I remember." Her eyes fluttered and her breathing started to get softer. "You have…much more to live for…it'd be selfish…to take you away…from that potential. Without me…you have life. See? It's good…you won't suffer…so much as you…did with me around."

"No!" Raphael snapped, "No, no, no, no, no. I want you here. I need you with me. If you're not here, I don't have a reason to stay! I love you, damn it, don't you understand that?!" He was shaking violently now, and he was so upset he could no longer fight back his tears. He rocked back and forth, sobs escaping his lips. "Stay, damn you, stay…"

She let out a weak chuckle, "Damning me while…wanting me to stay." Her eyes closed softly, "Why…why do you want me to stay? Me gone…means less pain…less everything. Hell it means…less……less of my attitude, and my insecurities…it means so much…with me gone……so why…do you want me to stay? Some……masochist…I bet…"

"I love the arguments you make, your spirit, your insecurities make me want to help you get over them, or just help you through it. You leaving mean me feeling empty inside, darkness, nothing…I love you attitude, it's what I fell for in the first place…" Raphael rambled out, just so long as it would keep her talking he didn't care if it was rambled or planned, "If you go…it means even more pain…" he murmured.

"Do I……mean that much to you?" She asked softly, her eyes opened just a bit, but not a whole lot. Just enough to see blurriness, "Pain doesn't last forever……I bet you'd find some other girl…that'd love you more than I ever could, and give…more than I ever gave."

"What other girl?" Raph growled as he held her tighter and still felt tears fall. He placed a hand over her abdomen, rubbed the small pouch there. He sensed Nao was done, and saw the glint of his Sai next to him, bloody, but out of his love. He smiled in relief, but the danger wasn't completely gone. If she decided to give up, she would die anyway.

He had to get her to stay.

"The four girls…Kayla I think she's nice…she actually wanted you to come…regardless." She murmured, her eyes fluttering closed and opened, unsure which to go for subconsciously.

She felt something slips down her cheeks, but she wasn't sure if it was her crying or if it was him. "No lying…no hiding…and I mean that much?" Her voice went high in her surprise. "You'd throw your life away because I mean much more than it?" She wanted to cry, to laugh, to do something, but she couldn't…she was just shocked.

"Hai…hai, you do…I would give my life up if it meant keeping you safe, or if it meant I would be able to stay with you. I won't lose you, not again," Raph surprised him at that, and heard his voice deepen an octave with the words. He remembered the talk of his past life with Ian and Nicky first came to them those few days after New Years. "You are worth much, much more than my life," he and his inner self, Jason, said together.

Her eyes closed, thinking. "You won't lose me this time." Her voice intertwined with a soprano voice as she answered, "I'll be here. Always…"

Raphael felt his heart skip a beat and he took deep relieved breaths. He gripped her tightly, happy tears flowing now, "God I love you...arigato, arigato, my love…"

"I love you too." She murmured, "You shouldn't be thanking me though, Raph."

"And why not?" Raph pulled back but only far enough so he could look her in the eye.

"Because I'm the one that should be thanking you," Rachel said, softly. "You keep doing…so much for me…and I never get to say it, instead you say it to me…when I'm undeserving. You saved my life; you kept me from leaving……you're my guardian angel, Raph. Just like your name."

Raphael smiled softly and brushed his lips against hers, "That's my job," he said simply but smirked. He ran his fingers along her cheek softly, "Are you alright now?" he asked gently, keeping his forehead against hers.

"I believe I should be fine...how much blood did……oh my god." Her cheeks went pale, "Nao!" She looked over at the woman, "I just realized…the baby! I forgotten about it…it's fine right? It's not hurt or anything is it?!"

Nao grinned, "Yes, yes, Rachel-san, he's fine," she soothed though her voice was raspy. The smoke was finally getting to her, but she hid it.

"What?" Rachel was once again surprised. She regained herself and squeaked, "What?" Fainting was a good option, but she fought with herself. Raph already had a panic attack. There wasn't a need to give him another one.

Nao clapped her hand over her mouth, eyes widening, perfectly saying 'oh shit, did I say that?!' "Oops…" she muttered.

It was fortunate Lily was sitting down because she fell over on her back laughing hysterically.

Raphael had the most dumbfounded expression on his face. He tilted his head, "What?" he and his soon-to-be wife said together.

Andrew was smiling, "Looks like you two are going to be welcoming a baby boy." He paused, "At least, that's what I'm taking from the pronoun used."

Nao giggled and grinned, "Hai, Gomen…I was going to keep it secret, but I'm so out of it, I let it slip," she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

Rachel just blinked in surprise. "That's…actually kind of cool. A boy…wow…I always wanted to have one…"

Raph smiled, and then it turned into a grin. He shifted Rachel on his lap and wrapped his arms around her waist, his hands crossing and resting over her abdomen again, "You do?" he kissed her neck lovingly.

"Yeah," Rachel said looking at him with a smile, "I do, and you get an heir to the family name. Win-win."

Raph laughed heartily and nuzzled Rachel, "Win-win," he agreed.