Chapter three: Confliction!
The little metal window slid aside and the turtles peeped through it.
"Leo!!" Mikey squeaked, catching a glimpse of his brother in blue inside the dimly lit room.
"Guys?" Leo looked up to see them and stood up to come to the door. "Uh- What are you doing here?" The young leader seemed just as surprised to see them, as they were to see him.
"Leonardo." Leo was half shocked to hear Master Splinter's voice.
"Sensei?!" He gasped. Suddenly the door opened and the team flooded in.
"Are you alright?" April asked.
"I'm fine." Leo confirmed, as April took his hand and examined him carefully. "But- What are you all doing here?! I thought I told not to worry about me?"
"Yeah, well, since when do you not come home for the night." Raph interjected, sarcastically crossing his arms; his eyes challenging Leo's. "What are doing here anyway?" He gestured to him briefly.
"Wish I knew." Leo responded, looking at Karai; who sheepishly looked away.
"My son, there must be an explanation." Master Splinter said, stepping forward to place a hand on his shoulder.
"I know Sensei. But I'm not the one who can give it..." Leo responded simply. "It's Karai." He looked past his master; to which he followed, peering at her through the corner of his eye. Karai turned to face him and dropped her head in shame.
"Father, you must know that, I want nothing more than to tell you everything." The girl began. "But Leo's life is severely in danger. And mine as well... And I cannot in good conscious endanger the rest of you.. Please; go back to your Lair, where it is safe."
"Karai. If there is someone after you, please let us help you." Splinter gently begged. "We are your family, and we want to help you. I want to help you, my daughter." Karai dropped her chin and closed her eyes once more.
"I can't." She sighed remorsefully. "I won't let my bad decision endanger all of you. It's bad enough I've put Leo in this position. I won't allow it to go any further."
"Miwa, can I talk you; alone." Splinter asked, after a moments pause. Karai looked from her father to the turtles beyond him; all of them gathered around Leonardo.
"Fine." She decided finally. "Guard the doors." She ordered her ninjas, as she and Splinter strode for the door. Before leaving the room, Splinter stopped and turned around again.
"Remain here. I will return shortly; stay with your brother." He told the turtles, then left. As soon as they were alone, everyone turned their gaze on Leo who gazed around at them; slightly surprised by the sudden stare they gave him. And was taken aback by the emotions he saw panning across their faces.
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"Karai. You are my daughter; and Leonardo is my son. And I, as your father, know that there is nothing more important than family. And I am willing to take any risk I can to protect you both." Splinter paced about around the main throne room. With the lights off and the moonlight shining through the many glass windows, it created a natural light almost like daytime.
"I understand that father, but I'm afraid it's not that simple." Karai's responded turning her shoulder to him. "Our lives are both in danger because of what we did. And now it's coming back to haunt us. I can't let the rest of you be caught up in all of this."
"What is it that you have done to be in such danger?" Splinter asked, half begging for an answer. Karai turned to face him squarely.
"I should have never gone after Shredder's facilities. Someone has been sent to take us out, and I don't think Leo is safe anywhere until he is stopped.
"So you make him an easier target by locking him up?" Splinter answered dryly.
"I don't know what else to do." The kunoichi protested in a slightly panicky manner. "If he's not properly protected, they will find him and take him out. Leo is skilled but even he doesn't stand a chance against them."
"Then let us help you. We can be his protection. The Shredder may be missing, but he is still out there; and anyone who works with or for him must also be stopped."
"But what if we're not enough? What if he overpowers us? Then we'll all be in trouble."
"That is a risk I am willing to take, my daughter." Splinter told her coming to place a hand on her shoulder. "Your lives are too important to me to sit back and watch, while this new enemy threatens your lives." Karai stood there staring up into his tender loving eyes.
"An old friend from Japan is here to take us out." Karai told him, an intense expression of her face. "He likely wants revenge on Leo, Shini, and I for attacking Shredder's operations."
"Then we must prepare for the battle, to protect you all." The old rat master decided. Karai flashed a slight smile that faded immediately after, as her eyes settled on the floor once more.
Glass suddenly shattered in an explosion that released a cloud which enveloped the entire room. Splinter and Karai jumped clear, as something burst through the explosion at them. Karai drew her weapon holding it up horizontally across her face. Splinter stood back to back with her; their shoulders, and attention, pointing in the direction in which they'd just come from. A figure stood in the dying cloud of dust, they reached for something and the slice of a blade being unsheathed sounded.
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Everyone looked up at the thundery bang that shook the ground, which originated from above them.
"What the heck was that?!" Raph cried.
"Something not good." Donnie answered nervously. "Come on, let's go check it out!"
"You guys go. I'm staying here." Leo told them. The team looked back at him to protest.
"Don't worry." Shinigami told them, stepping up next to Leo confidently looking at them. "I'll stay with Leonardo." She placed a hand on him and they smiled at one another. Raph was going to protest but lowered his head and sighed.
"Fine." He said, only slightly loosening his grip on his Sai. "Let's move." He called, racing out the door, followed by everyone else. But as soon as they'd left, Leo began to get a sinking feeling; one he didn't want to see fulfilled.
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The moonlight glinted off it, as the hand that held it gripped the handle; then the cloud spilt a part and the blackness lurched forward from it. Karai lunged forward as well going low, Splinter preparing to defend on high. The sword wielding stranger blocked the upward attack and knife handed her aside, clashing blades with Splinter's jade katana. Splinter was shoved off balance and managed to adjust in time to block a punching frenzy from the dark newcomer. Landing a few combos himself, they continued to battle each other. Karai groaned and looked up to see this and somehow saw flashes of Splinter fighting Shredder. She gasped as a sense of fear began to claw its way into her very soul.
The door was pulled open by Raph and Mikey, and they all peered in to see the battle that was now going on.
"Woah!" Mikey gasped, as Donnie went to help recover Karai. Unfamiliar Foot ninja appeared around the throne room in front of them.
"What's going on?! Who are these guys?!" Raph questioned no one in particular.
"*grunt* The ones who want me, Shinigami, and Leo dead." Karai breathed, regretfully kicking herself for allowing this to come about. Splinter blocked the stranger's blade with his own, stepping back and dodging attacks skillfully as best he could. Splinter recognized these moves as those of the Shredder; and knew that he belonged to that loyalty.
"We've gotta help Master Splinter!!" Mikey cried. A ninja landed a kick to Donatello from behind; sending him tumbling into the glass casing on their far right.
"Donnie!!" Raph cried leaping over toward him, and the turtle in purple recovered himself. Raph looked from him to the ninjas in front of him; weapons drawn, and anger bubbling up within him. With an angry battle cry, he launched himself into battle. April helped Donnie up and they too immersed themselves into battle.
"We can't let them get to Leo!" Karai declared, determinedly. She then rushed forth, leading the rest of the team into battle.
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Leo and Shinigami stood waiting, the anxiety of the mysterious explosion from above, fully on their minds. The sudden sound of grunts and clanging weapons, put both of them on high alert. Each of them grabbed their weapons and held them ready as the scuffle outside ceased. The door opened and a single mercenary ninja stood in the door way. The two stood there staring intensely at it, the ninja's eyes rolled back into his head and he limply fell to the ground. And immediately an object flew at them from the darkness behind him. The mutant and witch girl split off to dodged the object which hit the wall between the cells and burst. The cloud that resulted hung in there air, as though it were fog that had somehow been brought inside. Leo and Shini held their weapons diligently, pacing about waiting for the attacker to show themself. Both being skilled warriors themslves, they sensed their silent attacks and evaded as best the could. Leo held his blade up in front of him, listening for the wisp of movement; his eyes tensely darting about in search of them. A blade stabbed at him from behind and he managed to dodge it. Then whipped around to catch it, only for its owner to slice at him a few times and disappear again. Leo looked left then right and edged backwards, keeping all his senses peeled for the intruders. He and Shinigami found each other, stepping back to back into each other; proceeding to step around in a circle. Hearing a wisp here and a whisk there; the witch girl turned her head to peer at Leo from the corner of her eye, and the two exchanged a nod. Reaching behind her back she took out something, which she concealed at her side. Another attack came and Leo caught the blade both of his; defending Shini. About four or five more leapt at them, and before they reached her, Shinigami blew a dust around into their faces. Leo threw the ninja's blade off his, and covered his eyes as the dust caught his opponent in the face. Then Shinigami stood straight up, flapping her cape out in a single movement, scattering the dust cloud with her own. Leo uncovered his eyes and smiled at her; giving her a thumbs up. When... BLAM!!! Another exploding object sent them to the floor. As the dust from it cleared near immediately, Shini looked up, and she received a blow to her back sending her down once again. Looking up with her eyes, she saw Leonardo laying perpendicular to her. He wasn't moving, and his arms were up by his head, hiding his face. Her own vision blurred in and out a little, as she vaguely heard voices above her.
"Secure the turtle." A strange ninja said. "Leave the girl. Master Kai wants them both to be saved for later." The last thing Shini remembered before passing out was... why is that name so.. familiar?
Here's the next chapter everybody!! Can't wait to see that you guys think and I hope you find it interesting. Thx!