Okay...I'm just taking a crack at this. I was convinced to try to write, again, by a friend. I don't see why she wants me to write, but as long as i get good reviews, I will contiue this.

I, RozBen, do not own TMNT or its charaters; all rights go to their proper owners...which sucks ass.
Chapter 3: The Storm

Leo tossed and turned in his bed, wanting to sleep but couldn't. Giving a sound that sounded like a sigh and growl mixed in one, he tuned onto his shell, shoving his hands atop the blankets in a huff, then pluffed his pillow, and stared up at the canopy of his bed. Light flashed into the room, before the sound of thunder screamed across the sky. The palace creaked as wind howled and shoved against it, slanting the rain at it in rage.

Yet, it wasn't the storm keeping him up.

It was the person sleeping right across the hall from him. Usagi didn't realize, and for this he was grateful but somehow pissed, how much of an agony he was putting him through. He and Elidi were so damn close. He had given her a lesson in samurai sword fighting after dinner, still insisting that there was nothing romantic going on bewteen them. She even called him Usa! What the cock sucking hell? There were no bounderies between them! They were so close, that he felt so small and realized that, comapred to her, he was. He was just a small part in Usagi's life. Groaning, he threw off his blankets in anger. His feet connected with the cold, hard wooden floor. It almost made him jump. The air was chilly and moist because of the raging storm. It's probably freezing outside. Decideing to close the wooden shutters, in hopes of blocking out more light to try to sleep, he got to his feet.

It was then did he hear it, in between the moment of thunder and pounding rain. An unnatural creek of wood. Then another, but even softer. Someone was stalking down the hall.

Grabbing his swords, he tied his headband on. He padded to his door completly silent. Slowly he cracked his door open without a sound. Realizing it could very well be Usagi or someone else going to the restroom or getting a drink or something, and he didn't want to scare the shit outta him, he peeked into the hallway, expecting to see his favorite white rabbit. Instead, several shadowed figures were clustered around his family's rooms. They all went still, having a hushed conversation. He saw eight. Another flash of light lit the hall. There were at least twelve, all spreading out slowly. He drew back in shock. How could all of these people gotten past him? He also saw his brothers' doors open a crack, as well as his father's. Only four doors remained shut. The Damiyo's, the little ninja's, Elidi's and Usagi's.

The shadowed figures spread out, two taking each room. A particulary large figure stood in front of Usagi's door. He slid it all the way open. Another flash, which lit Usagi's room, was fallowed by rolling thunder. Inside, Usagi laid on his side, his blanket up around his waist. His ears were down, his face buried into his pillow, and his kimono was on the trunk, folded neatly. He was wearing sleeping attire.

As if they rehersed it, the entire family jumped out of their rooms, taking out several of the cloaked figures. But many more of them were prepared, instantly fighting back. Raph was back to back with Don, both fighting off five. As soon as one was taken out, another appeared in their place. Mikey was mocking his oppents, laughing loudly at his own stupid jokes. He was hitting his oppents fast and hard. Master Splinter jumped, catching two in the chest and landing hard on them. He did a roundhouse kick to one who approched him from behind.

Leo, seeing red, tackled the largest figure-the one who had opened Usagi's door. They clattered to the floor, grappling and throwing punches. Leo block three in a row but was caught in the jaw. White hot pain caused him to see stars as he stumbled back, landing on the bed and waking the rabbit.

Usagi had slowly became aware of his surroundings when he heard his door open. At first, he felt a stab of fear because he was slightly disorented, not remebering at first where he was. Realizing where he was, he thought it was Elidi because she hated waking up in the middle of a thunderstorm. She always set his nerves on edge when she snuck into his room to talk. He peeked his eyes open, prepared to tell her to just crawl into the bed and go back to sleep.

Once Usagi saw Leonardo clutching his jaw, somthing dark dripping from his mouth, he jumped the assaliant, who was just standing up, with a furious battle cry, his blades swinging. He was seeing red, breathing rage. He caught him in the chest with a blade, swinging the other higher, intending to sever his arm. He slashed down, but his arm was jarred back when his oppent gave an uppercut with his own blade. He slashed relentlessly. He contiued advanceing, hoping to give Leonardo time to recover. A moment later, his friend was right by his side. An ear was over an eye, so he tried to flip it back, not having his ribbin in to hold them back but, in the heat of battle, he couldn't just stop and put it on.

The only noise coming from Usagi's room was the clangs of metal striking metal and flesh, most of it was drowned out by the rain and thunder. Flashes of steel was illuminated by the lightning.

"Dude, where did these guys come from?" Mikey dodged a blade to his shoulder.
"How the hell am i suppose ta know?" Don huffed, striking another oppent. Their enemy's numbers were dwindling, but not fast enough.
"Jus' suddup and fight!" growled Raph, knocking another out.

The Damiyo came out, after a ninja was thrown through his door.
"What is happening out-?"
"-under attack!" shouted someone amongst the battle. Elidi. She had jumped out and slit two throats of the foes advancing on Don. He gave a nod of thanks.

The storm's rage seemed to increase with a vengence, screaming and howling.

With the use of his staph, the Damiyo had put down the rest of the threat, save for the one Raph was roughing up for answers.
"What the hell are you doing here?" he snarled into the faceless shadow, slamming him up and onto a support beam, holding him a good foot off the floor.
"It...It was a simple retreval mission." came a starled reply.
"What were ya suppose ta get?" he leered threateningly, tightening his hold.
"The...samurai rabbit." he coughed.
"Uh...guys? Where's Leo and Usagi?" Mikey looked around, his nunchucks still in hand.

Clangs of metal and shouts, somehow being heard over the storm, came from down the hall. Snarling, Raph knocked him out, with more force than nessicary, and ran down the hall, his brothers hot on his heels. Damiyo and Master Splinter were finishing up with the trash they left behind.

"Leonardo, to your right!" Leo brought up his sword, catching the chain and having it tugged roughly from his hand. It slammed against the book shelf, clattering uselessly to the floor. He growled low in his throat as Usagi was forced to the side, further away from him. Usagi had also lost a sword. You would think one boar wouldn't do this much damage. He felt nicks and cuts bleeding and bruises forming along his jaw and body. But, he just knew, Usagi had taken the worse deal. He was panting and his fur was splattered with his own blood, his fur soaking it up and sticking out in weird angles. It seemed like the boars main objective was to...Shit! He wants Usagi!
"Usagi-!" he shouted, running at the boar, but being cut off by being slammed through the wall and into the other room, slamming against a beam and collapsing.

Usagi was forced to keep his eyes on the large, nearly black boar that stood tall before him. His claws were curled slightly and both of his horns were sharpened, but worn looking. He wore a long, flowing balck cloak that was dripping. They circled each other, looking for weaknesses or somthing to tell them what the other was going to do next. Usagi saw it first, the stiffness of his shoulder. Usagi jumped back, bringing his sword down and slicing the other away from him.

But that had left him open for a mere moment and that was all his foe needed.

His arm shot out and caught one of Usagi's free ears and twisted it rougly, dragging the rageful rabbit twoards him. Usagi, having not been ready for such a forward move was easily overbalanced and tumbled to his knees, his sword clattering away from him. His oppent gave him a sadist grin, curling his ear into a fist and dragging him up higher, but not so high for him to stand. He was still on his knees, withering and trying to pull away, but the pain was too much. His vision was already swimming dangerously.

Stuffing his hand into a hidden pocket the boar pulled out a greyish-black powdery substance.

"Bro! Usagi!" Raph barreled into the room. What he saw shocked him.

A large boar was heft Usagi over his shoulder and da rabbit wasn't putting up a fight! It was then he saw Usagi's eyes were closed and his body was limp and almsot looked lifeless. The boar turned twoards them, small red eyes glared at them.
"Put him down. Now!" The boar backed up, a angry growl rumbling in his throat, as three turtles advanced slowly. Leo got up, dizzy as hell, but he grabbed his sword and fallowed Raph's lead. The wind howled louder and louder, whisling through the palace. The windows burst open as pelting, freezing rain washed into the room. The boar didn't spare them a second glance as he jumped out the window, slinding down the slanting roof, spraying green shingles, and jumping. Catching a statue, he swung around it and disappeared into the darkness.

Elidi appeared a moment later. They all looked back at her, horror written on their faces. They had just lost Usagi. Screaming in anger, Leo threw his swords down and hit the wall before doubleing over in pain and dizziness. His eyes narrowed as he tried to force the tears back.

-X-

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow! Don, quit it!"
"Stow it, lame brain. We can't let it get infected."
"But its just a scratch!"
"Needing ten stitches isn't just a scrtach!" Don was never one to lose his temper, but right now, a friend was missing and hurt and there hadn't been a thing anyone could have done.
"Leo! Tell Don to quit it!"
"Shuddup Mikey! Now ain't da time fer yer childish bullshit!" Raph moved in front of Mikey, blocking his view of Leo.
"But-!
"No 'buts' Mikey. This is serious. We have to get Usagi back." Leo stepped away from the beam was leaning on and walked over to his brothers and Elidi.

Right now they were in the Damiyo's immence study. It had a fireplace behind a large cherry wood deak, that was cluttered with papaerwork, books and scrolls. Elidi sat on its edge, looking pissed, scared, worried and over-all tired, defeated. The walls were lined with books and scrolls. A window was set on the right side of the room, overlooking the maze. The fire crackled as it filled the room with warmth and an orange glow.

Master Splinter and the Damiyo were doing a sweep of the area, trying to find clues.

"Okay, what do we know?" asked Leo, looking around.
"They came in the dead of night, having not been heard. Ninja, definetly." Elidi said with disgust, her eyes flashing an apology to the brothers.
"There were a lot of them, meaning they knew there were trained fighters in the same area." Don stood from his crouch in front of Mikey.
"Dey were after Usagi. Dey knew where he was sleepin', meanin' someone on de inside was in on it." Raph put in, deep in thought.
"Were they even after Usagi?" asked Mikley from his cross-legged position.
"That's who they took!" snapped Leo.
"That's not what i mean, Leonardo." Mikey stood rigidly. He only ever used full names when he wanted undivided attention and it was serious. But he fidgited a lot. "Elidi. You said...you said there were people after you. And..."
"You look so much alike." Leo's eyes narrowed, looking at her. Her face turned thoughtful.
"I did not think...Where are they holding them?" she was refurring the the ninjas they had fought earlier night. Her eyes held the promise of murder.

Not even a half hour later, five warriors stood outside. The rain had lessened to a mist, covering the land in a silky mist. They wore dark cloaks, going down around their ankles, and were preparing their horses for a hard ride.
"Not all of us can go, sensi. That's why we decided that you should stay here." Donnie had pulled their father aside and was talking to him quietly as hios brothers and samurai rabbit readied their horses.
"Be careful my son." he placed a firm hand on Don's shoulder, his eyes twinkling with pride and sadness.
"We will father." Leo said from his mount.
"Do any of you even know how to ride?" Elidi asked, trying to force the lump in her throat down. Not long ago, she had found out that Usagi had been taken in her place. Leonardo had not been understanding and blamed her, though he had not said it aloud or put it into any word, she could see it in his eyes. He was awfully protective. Now, they relied on themselves and were only using her as a guide. She would wait outside with the horses while they infilrtated the palace of Lord Genkai. She was the one after her...but that was another story for another time.

"We'll make do. Let's go." Leo spoke curtly, nudgeing his horse forward to prove he could ride. His brothers mimicked his movements.
"Of course you will." she muttered under breath, flicking her reins to get her horse to trot. I do not see what he sees in you, Leonardo-san.


Coming up,

But one turtle and one rabbit aren't seeing eye to eye.

Can they get their friend back from the enemy?

Will Leo lose it when he sees Usagi again? If he sees him alive again that is... *laughs evilly and gets punched repeatedly by Jc.* OW!

Hakama-pants/trousers

kimono -shirt