"Wow, intense." Mikey breathed as he looked at Splinter with wide-eyes that didn't even blink, before taking one big sip of his tea, still without moving his eyes.
"What were your feelings at that time?" Leonardo asked.
"Mostly I was confused, I didn't know what to believe yet." Splinter told his students. "I could tell that Teng-shen was upset and that Oroku had done some-thing, but in my mind I still could not connect my trusted comrade with any dishonourable behaviour." He told. "My master saw it and tried to warn me, but still I refused to listen. Still I refused to believe that Oroku would do any-thing really dishonourable."
"But that also changed at some point." April breathed.
"Evidence would slowly but surely start to stack up against Oroku Saki." Splinter exhaled in a tired voice. "As time went by I was handed more and more responsibility, on ninja field missions it was now natural that I be assigned leader, since I one day was supposed to take over the lotus clan." He told. "As you can imagine Oroku never liked that one bit as he felt like he should never have to take orders from any-one, since he was the strongest among us. And especially didn't he like to take orders from me. What was more, the more time that went past with me having gained this new responsibility, the more Orokus ruthlessness started to disagree with me, until what must never happen on a mission did happen, we openly argued."
"Just go in and attack now!" Oroku hissed. "What are you waiting for?" he asked.
"Oroku, we are outnumbered three to one." Hamato whispered. "Beside there are innocents among them."
"So?" Oroku asked. "We got the two of us! the greats nin-jitsu proteges of the lotus clan! And what matters the civilians, they wont be any problem against us." He stated. "We just need to go now!"
Annoyed Hamato looked at Oroku, and the other ninjas in the party looked uncomfortable at each other, if there was a bad rumour that had gone around about the young ninja master and future leader, it was that he was way to easily giving into Orokus word on field missions. "Civilians might be hurt." Hamato tried to reason. "If we wait, they just might get out of the way, along with some of their tropes."
"That's also what you said half an hour ago!" Oroku hissed impatiently. "I said lets go now!"
"And I said no!" Hamato hissed back, making the rest of the ninja party sigh relived over Hamatos rare display of backbone against his friend. "Mercilessly barging forward is not the way." He stated.
And Oroku grumbled annoyed as he fell back in sitting position, grumbling crossing his arms as they remained in their hidden spot, all though suddenly, a slight movement happened down in the village, a door were open up and.
"There he is!" Oroku pointed. "our target."
"Wait." Hamato whispered holding up a hand.
"What do you mean wait, he's clearly on the move! And he is right there in front of us!" Oroku hissed.
"Silent." Hamato whispered as he held up a hand, signalling for the people to lay down. "Keep down." He whispered.
For some moments, they did manage to remain hidden like this, Hamato keeping up his hand like that as if it was a signal, but at last, it seemed like Oroku just snapped and hissed. "Fine! I can even do this on my own! It's not that hard!" he hissed and rose up to broke through all of the branches with arms raised to head into battle.
"OROKU NO!" Hamato yelled and then hissed. "Our position has all-ready been compromised, just go." He told his ninja team and they all nodded as they grabbed their weapons, Hamato un-sheeded his own sword and with a yell, barged into battle after Oroku.
Hamato raised his sword, and easily swiped three opposing ninjas away at the time, as were they nothing, the battle was over barely before it had become, Hamatos team with Oroku in front had easily won the whole game, but that didn't necessarily make Hamato happy as he sheeded his sword and walked towards Oroku in angry steps as Oroku triumphantly held the collar of the man they were supposed to abduct.
"Oroku, what were you thinking?" Hamato asked in a big hiss.
"I was right wasn't I, they were never any match for us." Oroku snorted as he threw the vimpering man on the ground.
"That's beside the point!" Hamato exclaimed. "You disobeyed a direct order while we were at a battle-field! You openly challenged me! This was my decision to make! There's a reason why a leader is needed on missions, so the team has a guide line, and you did not have any right to disobey me!" Hamato stated.
"You would have let us wait this entire night, maybe even have let our target slip right by us, when easily we two alone could had solved this mission in ten minutes." Oroku proclaimed.
"What? Is that how you think?" Hamato asked.
"The others seems to agree with me." Oroku smirked as he gestured at the village, where villagers now looked at them with big scared eyes not even daring to step up, there were even enemy ninjas deliberately staying on the ground, looking afraid of being attacked again.
"It's the Shredder and the Splinter." A child whispered as a little boy hid behind a door-frame. "The stories are true."
Wide-eyed Hamato looked around and saw all the whimpering fear in peoples eyes at their mere present, as the names 'Shredder' and 'Splinter' were repeated in whimpering tones and no one dared to meet their eyes.
Then Hamatos eyes landed on Oroku, and he to looked at the villagers, only he seemed proud and pleased by their reactions towards them, he was grinning as his eyes shined with triumph and pride over their scare, he almost looked like he was about to laugh.
"Without me even realising it, I and Orokus reputation had grown along with our accomplishments, all around in the smaller villages of Japan had people started to whisper about the Shredder and the Splinter, that we were unstoppable and merciless. Beware of the Shredder and the Splinter was what people had starting saying." Splinter told his students. "We had become known and feared through-out the country.. Perhaps even for good reasons." He told.
"Isn't it good that you were feared?" Raphael asked in a slight frown. "I mean, you were working as professional warriors, isn't that just a sign that you were doing a good job out of it?" he asked.
"Of cause in some regard you are right." Splinter nodded at Raphael. "A warrior would want respect, but such relentless fear coming from the ordinary people living their own life in peace? That has never been any kind of fear I desired. Respect and fear, those are two very different things. You could argue that your enemies fearing you is well and good, but the people?" he asked. "I would not want you my own students to fear me, or the regular people of new-York." Splinter stated as he pointed upwards.
Donatello exhaled. "Yeah, it would be nice if new-yorkers weren't afraid of us, but I think we have all-ready proved that that can happen regardless of what we do." He pointed out.
"True." Splinter nodded. "But that doesn't mean you should encourage it or give people any actual reason to fear you." He stated. "What I realised then was that I and Oroku in fact had given them a great many reasons to fear us, they were in their good right. And while I was shocked by this revelation, Oroku was very pleased, he only wished to continue in that very same bane, and it had gone so far now, I could no longer follow him." Splinter told.
"Oroku!" at late evening Hamato wandered through the supposed empty dojo of the lotus clan, but he had been told, a certain old friend was supposed to be in there. "OROKU!" he shouted louder, until he head it, clashing steal against wooden objects, in the practise area, Hamato turned to the left on his heels, to walk in steady strides for that practise area and finally, opened the door wide to see exactly as he suspected it, Oroku Saki with his metal claws, making a good work out of several practise dummies at ones.
Though as he was done Oroku stood up straight, and then looked at Splinter with squinted eyes. "Ah, my old friend, the Splinter." He stated as he pulled off the metal claws and dropped them on a ground where the landed with a big clatter. "What owes the pleasure."
"I really think it's long over-due that we talked." Hamato stated. "This past half year, it hasn't been good between us, and tomorrow it's my wedding day, I want that day to be perfect so I want to cleans the air between us to the best of my ability." He stated.
"Ah yes, the wedding day. Congratulations to the young couple I suppose." Oroku rolled his eyes. "The groom and his lovely bride!" and by the last two words, Oroku kicked another dummie so it flew into the wall.
"What's the matter with you?" Hamato asked as he wildly gestured with his arms. "Oroku is it because I was appointed next clan leader and leader on the field missions were you used to have the command?" he asked. "I beg you to remember, that is not my own decision, that was all master Toris decisions! But as I am the appointed leader, I will be taking the leaders decisions, and expect them to be followed."
"Oh Hamato, you are so close, and yet so far away." Oroku sneered. "Almost there, almost taking the power and command you ought to take." He stated. "But you are to weak, and yet every-one thinks you are the better ninja, the better man." He told glancing coldly at Hamato. "I try to crack to code of why, I really do, but I can see no logical explanations."
"Oroku, I don't understand what you mean." Hamato frowned slightly annoyed and slightly confused.
"Why are we still sticking around here?" Oroku suddenly asked.
"Because this is our clan and our home." Hamato replied still in a frown.
"We could be so much more! Nothing is great enough to stop us." Oroku stated. "Take this clan Hamato! it's ours for the taking all-ready now! And then we take over the other clans, till we have the biggest most unstoppable clan the world has ever known."
"What?" Hamato asked bewildered. "No!" he stated. "Oroku are you even listening to yourself?" he asked. "Why would any-one need such a clan? only thing it would be good for would be to dictate and tyrannize the people and that's not what ninjas do. We don't control the land! we serve it!"
"And thus again the spineless Hamato returns." Oroku almost rolled his eyes. "It's that woman isn't it? All this trouble began the moment she came." He stated.
"Teng-shen has nothing to do with this." Hamato stated firmly as he crossed his arms.
"She has every-thing to do with it." Oroku replied. "The Hamato from before she came would have agreed with me, and gone with me out to be the greatest."
"Perhaps, but this Hamato just wants to settle with his wife, and restore honour back to the clan he has been handed. So people will talk of us with respect again, instead of fear." Splinter stated.
"The clan should have gone to me, and you are very aware of that!" Oroku hissed.
"Perhaps, but it went to me." Hamato returned back in a sharp voice. "As did Teng-shen, she by herself, chose me, so back off." He stated. "She doesn't want you around." He almost but hissed.
At that Orokus eyes widened.
"Teng-shen refuses to say any-thing, but I can sense her feelings." Hamato told. "When ever your enter the conversation she withdraws, when-ever you enter the room she looks away, and you keep persisting her. I don't know what's going on between you two, if that is adding to the fact that you are acting so… irrationally." He finally put it. "But I think perhaps, it'll be better if you do not attend the wedding tomorrow." He stated.
Oroku sneered grimly at Hamato. "Very well then." He hissed. "Master Splinter." He bowed in that mocking way of his.
Which made Hamato frown even deeper before he took a deep breath. "Good then." He stated. "Good-night Oroku." He stated as he bowed his head before he turned around and walked out.
In complete opposite to the dark gloomy atmosphere of that evening, the day after was genuinely joyous, the bride and groom looked like two people whom had never been more in love as they exchanged their vows at a ceremony sat out-side, so the sun could shine down on them and the cherry trees be in full view. It was very much on purpose that Hamato and Teng-shen had elected spring to be their day of re-union.
After that, all of the guests were invited to Hamatos and Teng-shens new home, a traditional Japanese house, with a lovely garden where of cause, cherry trees had been planted.
Every-one was just commenting about how well suited the bride and groom seemed for each other and what an honourable home they were going to have.
Hamato how-ever, barely noticed, he just had his eyes on Teng-shen in her white kimono as they slowly danced to the sound of string music and old Japanese tunes.
"This day." Teng-shen sighed as she leaned against Hamatos chest. "Couldn't be more perfect."
"I agree." Hamato told as he rested a hand on Teng-shens back, all though as he didn, a little shadow came over his eyes.
"Hamato, what is it?" Teng-shen asked.
"I'm sorry, I was just thinking about.." Hamato hesitated.
"You thought about Saki-san didn't you?" Teng-shen asked, and resitantly Hamato nodded. "I'm sorry things are not going well between you two." She then sighed deeply. "I hope it doesn't spoil this day for you."
"No no, nothing could." Hamato assured as he gently held Teng-shens cheek. "For I love you dear Teng-shen, and it's the best thing that has ever happened to me, all-right?" he asked in a little smile.
"All-right." Teng-shen smiled back at him.
But just then, a commotion sounded from the other side of the garden, people were standing back, murmuring as they looked at what-ever had happened. Hamato frowned, and finally let go of Teng-Shen as he pushed himself through the guests. "Excuse, me." He breathed as he pushed himself through until he finally got a clear sight of where all the commotion was about, for standing right there leaning up against one of the tables were none other than Oroku Saki standing with crossed arms and a smirk on his lip.
"Oroku?" Hamato asked as he stepped forward into sight. "What are you doing here?" he asked in a frown.
"You did not think I would miss your wedding day did you?" Oroku asked in a slight smirk as he stood there nonchalant with crossed arms.
For a moment, just one tiny flimsical moment a hope blossomed in Hamato, for one delusional moment he thought that Oroku had come to apologies and make peace at this joyous occasion, but of cause it wasn't so, for his next word stunned every-one.
"I also thought it was only fair to tell you what a hore you have married yourself to." Oroku finished.
Every-body gasped and stood back by the harsh languet, and Hamato, it felt like he had just been punched hard in the stomach.
"Hamato what is?" Teng-shen now also emerged through the crowds before her eyes widened as they landed on Oroku. "Saki-san." She barely whispered. "Hamato, don't" Teng-shen tried to say as she grabbed Hamatos hand but had all-ready run dry for words.
"Why don't you tell him yourself?" Oroku asked as he crossed his arms. "Little manipulative wrench."
"Oroku it's my wife you are talking about!" Hamato hissed. "Keep your tongue." He demanded.
"So you don't even want to know?" Oroku asked. "She sure seems like she is squirming."
At that Hamato looked down at his bride and now noticed how she had her eyes closed. "Teng-Shen, what is he trying to say?" he asked.
"She belongs to me, we love each other." Oroku stated. "But you stole her." He stated.
"That is not true!" Teng-shen exclaimed. "Hamato, what is true is that Oroku and I shared a kiss!" she finally admitted as she looked up at Hamato, tears now escaping her eyes. "But it was just that one single kiss! A year after we had met, two years before the two of us even got engaged, but it didn't mean any-thing! I regretted it immediately after, I even told Saki-san that I had no feelings for him. Please believe me!" she begged Hamato. "I would never bring you dishonour." She told, as another tear escaped her eye.
"An old kiss from before we even started is hardly a crime." Hamato told Teng-shen as he used a hand to dry away her tear. "I believe you." He assured. "And there's nothing to forgive, Oroku how-ever." His eyes now turned hard as he looked at the challenging man. "You have gone to far!" he stated. "You are only bringing yourself more dishonour, leave this party at ones, and I will talk to you in the morning." He stated.
"Afraid to face me Hamato? You know I am stronger." Oroku responded.
To which in respond Hamato took Teng-shens arm and turned around, leading her away. "Don't listen to him." He whispered to Teng-shen as he lead her towards the entrance door of their house, intending to leave the party together, so Oroku could see that they were not interested.
"You coward!" Oroku yelled after Hamato. "You rat, taking every-thing even tough you are so weak." He stated. "All your talk of honourable actions, those are just cowardly excuses to not do what needs to be done."
Hamato bit together as he closed his eyes.
"Don't listen." Teng-shen whispered back holding Hamatos arm close with both hands. "Keep calm." She asked.
"Actually, you are dishonourable! Bringing only dishonour into our clan!" Oroku yelled. "Ever since we were boys, you brought weakness. I took you under my wing so you could be strong, and what's the dishonourable thank you?" he asked. "You owe me every-thing Master Splinter. That title isn't even deserving of you, without me you got nothing, you lying twitching dishonourable rat." He hissed.
At that point Hamato and Teng-shen had reached the top of the stairs and stood in the door opening so the warm light from inside silhouetted them.
"Then I suppose it's a good fit, the dishonourable weakling and the hore. The lying deceitful, manipulative, snakelike wench." Oroku stated. "But what does it matter, you continue being a coward, you are not even man enough to face me head on."
And right there, Hamato stopped in the door, and looked up, his eyes now burning in deep anger.
"Hamato. No." Teng-shen tried to say.
"Not this time Teng-shen, this time he wont get away with it." Hamato stated and turned around, now facing Oroku. "Oroku Saki!" he yelled so every-one could hear, and from the wall Hamato reached out and grabbed his long katana sword, to slowly unshed it. "Do not dishonour me further." He stated as he stepped down the place. "And don't you ever dare, to say any-thing else like that about her ever again!" he hissed as he stood on the grass with a raised blade in his hands. "It's a fight you want, COME AND GET IT!" he yelled.
To which Orokus mouth broughtened in a wide grin as he raised his hands, that carried those metal claws of his, and the two jumped at each other, so the steal clashed sharply in mid air, and they both landed on the ground.
The audience gasped as they stood back for the two, no one dared to interfere as the two young men attacked one another, one attack quicker and more ruthless than the next, steal against steal.
Suddenly Orokus claws hit Hamatos shoulder and easily cut through the white wedding robe to the flesh, so small tingles of blood now poured out.
"NO!" A womans scream sounded. "HAMATO!"
But Hamato didn't even waste any-time as he attacked again, only for Oroku to jump aside and land up on the table.
And the fight continued, both men seemed so quick and strong, unlike what any of the guests, including heir old Master Tori had ever seen before, all though it seemed like Oroku was that slightly stronger and slightly more direct, he had the overhand, and it was clear from Hamatos face that he was aware of that.
That was until suddenly, Hamato closed his eyes and took a breath, and as Oroku landed the next attack, instead of pare, Hamato slightly bowed his head and dodged he took in another deep breath, and suddenly easily began to merely dodge the attacks, move with the sword almost as if he all-ready knew where Orokus attacks came from.
Oroku how-ever, didn't stop using the same amount of force in his attacks for that reason, but what he didn't realise was that he was being slowly worn down, Hamato only attacked sparingly now, but the attacks he did deliver was precise and forceful, filled with all of his anger, now all of them hitting their mark. And though it wasn't to obvious.. the fight was actually turning around.
Until at last, Hamato in three extremely well planned and precise moves, tripped Oroku on the ground, disabled him and now held his sword firmly against Orokus throat as he rested a food on Orokus chest. The battle was over.
And there was complete wide-eyed silence from every-body as they looked at them, Hamato with a stern face holding the blade in place.
"Well then?" Oroku asked in a sneer. "Finish me!" he stated.
"You've dishonoured me greatly, and even more yourself." Hamato stated. "You dishonoured the entire lotus clan with your decisions and your behaviour." He told. "And now you've gone to far. Master Tori gave me a big responsibility as he appointed me successor to the clan, you." Hamato stated. "You were handed to me that day along with the choice of what should happen to you. It was always up to me to decide what was to happen to you, I gave you many chances, I let you stay close to me so you could redeem yourself and prove yourself worthy, but it now seems that you are incapable of bringing this clan any honour or redeem any of the dishonour you brought." He stated not removing his blade nor his food. "There-fore I from this moment of expel you from his clan!" Hamato hissed. "Leave the old dojo, leave this village and don't ever come back, you are not welcome here." He stated and at last removed his blade. "You are no longer a part of the lotus clan, and as such you are an enemy ninja, you know how such are treated when on the ground of a clan." Hamato stated.
Oroku sneered dangerously at Hamato, then he looked up, and it seemed like he slowly started to realise.. and it was a realisation that was like a foot in the stomach.. he had lost! And not just a little fight, he had lost in front of every-one!
Wide-eyed Oroku looked around at all of the people whom looked down at him. Hissing Oroku got up on his feeds and looked around. "You'll regret this Splinter." He hissed. "You'll regret the day you humiliated me!" he stated. "I swear to you." He stated as he looked directly at Hamato with burning eyes. "I will never rest before you pay the price! The full price!" he stated as he turned around, picked up his metal claws, and then walked out in full steps, to vanish amongst the crowds.
"HAMATO!"
Hamato turned around, and saw how Teng-shen now came running amongst the crowd, before she at last threw herself in Hamatos arms and embraced him tightly. "God I was so scared." She whispered as she held him close, another tear falling down her eyes. "I'm so sorry Hamato! I didn't mean for any-thing like this to happen because of me!" she told.
"I know." Hamato told as he held his wife close. All though he himself looked sad, like he was also in pain.
"Yoshi-san." This time it was master Tori whom approached the couple. "I am sorry that what should be a day of happy unions and a new family became the day you lost your brother." He told a little sadly.
"No." Hamato shook his head. "He had been slipping away for a while, I don't know what I could have.." he tried to explain but had trouble finding words.
"Every-thing came to easy for Oroku Saki, he was naturally gifted." Master Tori told as he exhaled. "In his mind, it was only natural that he would be able to take what-ever he felt he deserved, and there-fore couldn't handle it when there was some-thing he had sat his eyes on he couldn't have." He shook his head, but then at last looked up. "But please, don't grieve, you have today gained a most honourable lovely wife, and have earned the lotus clan much honour." He told. "You earned your title." He stated as he reached Hamatos sword back o him. "Master Splinter, let that title now be associated with strength and wisdom."
Slowly Hamato reached out and took his sword. "Thank you Sensei." He told as he retrieved the sword. "I will do my best, to honour what this clan is supposed to stand for, as always." He told.
"I have no doubt you will." Teng-shen told as she leaned towards her husband. "I always knew, that you are a great man Hamato don't forget it, and more importantly a very good one. That's why I love you." She told and kissed him on the cheek. "My husband." She addressed him, making Hamato look warmly at her, for a little while forgetting the bittersweet sadness of the situation, Teng-shen was really good at that, making him forget about every-thing.