Three Years Without Flowers

Written By

Stef With a F

Chapter 10

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Voices echoed in her mind. "Get out of here, or I will kill you!" Toru... "Lotus, are you alright?" Hana... "Give us the child and this will all end!"

"Kameko…" Lotus whispered, fear flooding through her. "Oh god..." Lotus started to shake.

"What is it?" "Kameko?" Mike questioned, confused. "Who's Kameko?"

"I have to go check on Kameko…"

"Kame means turtle, right?"

Lotus' eyes fell to the still figure in the grass. "I can't leave her here," she whispered. She looked back up at Mike. "Help me," she begged. "Will you help me carry her? I don't know if I can…"

She didn't finish. Mike cringed as he weighed his options. He could still hear the sounds of the battle a few yards away. "Lotus…" he hesitated.

She grabbed his wrists, her eyes pleading. "Mikey, please…"

"We have to help...." He let the words hang as Lotus turned to the four figures in the distance. Michaelangelo studied her eyes. They seemed hollow in some way, filled with pain. It was as if she knew she should be in two places at once. She cringed, and bit her lip. Mike stared at her, studying her pained features. "We'll come back, okay?" she pleaded.

He glanced again at the fight and she tightened her grip on his wrists. "Okay?"

Her voice was frantic, drawing his eyes back to hers. "Okay," he agreed reluctantly.

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Raphael caught the katana between the prongs of his sai and darted out of the way, jerking at the weapon. Shredder pulled back and slashed at him again. Raphael could hear the high whistle of the blade swiping through the air, inches in front of him. Plenty of room, he thought. This guy's rusty…

"Raphael, no!"

The authoritative voice was coupled with another weapon in the midst of the battle. Leonardo and Shredder stood face-to-face, swords crossed in front of them. Leo shoved his opponent backward, as hard as he could. Shredder stumbled, but didn't fall. He stood ready again, gripping the hilt of his katana with both hands in front of him.

"This isn't our fight," Leo mumbled to Raphael. "Just let him go."

Raphael was shocked by the idea. Let him go? What the hell was that? It wasn't like they'd started this fight! Besides, retreat was only an option when there was no way to win. He could take Shredder, on his own, with one hand tied behind his back. If Leo didn't want to get involved, that was fine with him.

"Fuck you, Leo!" Raph yelled. "And choose your side."

Leo suddenly found himself on the ground. He blinked a few times, trying to figure out what had happened, as Raphael and Shredder clashed together again. He'd been pushed aside by his brother, and with his full attention on Shredder, he hadn't been expecting it. Anger flooded through him. Dammit, Raphael, I hope he kicks your ass!

A hand on his shoulder made him look up. Donatello stood over him and offered him a hand. He took it and was pulled to his feet.

"You think we should get involved?" Donny asked, glancing toward the fight.

Leonardo clenched his teeth in anger. "Let them kill each other," he growled. "What the hell do I care?"

A concerned look crossed Donny's face. "Leo…"

Raphael didn't hear the conversation. All he heard was the clash of metal against metal. He dropped, his weight falling to one leg, and swept the other along the ground. But he didn't come anywhere close to connecting. Shredder saw the attack long before he'd even begun to implement it. He spun out of the way, fluidly slicing his katana up, around, and back down just as Raph began to stand up. Raphael saw it, but he knew it was already too late. Pain shot through him as he tried to pull back. He clenched his teeth, biting back the urge to cry out.

Donatello knew that Leo would not turn his back on his brother, regardless of what he said. Which is why he wasn't surprised when Leo suddenly sprang into motion, stepping between Raph and Shredder. Raphael tried to stand, but fell.

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Michaelanglo followed Lotus as she led him through a maze of alleys and street corners. He'd agreed to follow Lotus to find this Kameko, though he'd still received no explanation as to who she was, and to lead Hana's body to safety. He didn't regret his decision, but still, he worried about the guys. He knew he'd turned his back on a vicious battle, even if he'd been too far away to know all the details of the encounter. But when he saw the frighten expression on Lotus's face, he could not abandon her.

"We are here," Lotus said, as they reached what appeared to be an old abandoned warehouse. She breathed a sigh of relief as she realized the door was still locked. She unlocked the door, then extended the door to Michaelangelo.

"Stay here at the door, for a moment," she whispered.

Mike nodded. He placed Hana's cold, lifeless body on a near by cot as Lotus vanished into the next room.

"Kameko," she called. "If you can hear mommy, please come out?"

"Mommy?!" the child shouted as she entered the room.

Lotus opened her arms and picked up the child. Tears ran down her eyes, yet this time happy tears, relief tears that started to replace the sad, grief filled tears.

"Hana told me to hide and to not come out until you heard your voice, Mommy," Kameko shared. "Mommy, are you alright?"

"Yes," responded Lotus, wiping away her tears. "I'm just so glad to see you! I have another friend for you to meet my sweetie."

"Michaelanglo!" Lotus yelled.

Mike ran in. "Lotus, what is it?" he said.

"Oh…sorry," Lotus apoligized. "Didn't mean to scare you."

Lotus seemed to be a bit more relaxed, as if huge burden was removed from her shoulders. This child, the child she held in her arms…must have been the reason for all her worry.

"Mikey, I would like you to meet my daughter Kameko," she said.

Mike just stood there, shocked.

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"Get the hell out of here, Shredder," Leo snarled. "I don't want to kill you."

"Why not?" Shredder smiled back. "Don't wanna take that pleasure away from
your little girlfriend?"

Leo's grip on his weapons tightened at the patronizing tone. He knew where
this was going, and he didn't like it. "You want to stay here and fight me, you leave Lotus out of it," Leo snapped. "If we cross swords, it has nothing to do with her."

Shredder laughed. Leo tensed. "You wouldn't even be facing me if not for her," Shredder snarled. "Running to her rescue like some knight in shining armor…"

The tone was threatening. Leonardo stared at his enemy, waiting for the
attack that he knew would come. Raphael had already started the adrenaline flow through his veins, and he would not walk away now. "And for what?" Shredder continued. "You somehow think you can ride off into the sunset with her?"

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Michaelangelo blinked. The words that came out of Lotus's mouth were a bit surprising.

"Hi Mikey," Kameko said.

Mike smiled. The young girl was quite beautiful. She had long black hair that was braided in two pigtails and emerald green eyes.

"Hey little one," Mikey said in a gentle voice, kneeling to be in the child's eye levl.

The child laughed.

"You are a kame just like Leo," she said.

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Leonardo felt movement behind him, but knew it was only Donatello. He knelt next to Raphael, whose eyes were squeezed shut. Blood spilled from his calf. "You alright?" Donny asked quietly.

Raph opened his eyes and glared at his brother. Do I look all right? he screamed inwardly.

Leo could feel the tension all around him. He knew Raphael was in danger. He knew there was nothing that could be done for him here. And he knew that Shredder was in no hurry to end this. So he attacked. The katanas came together with a force that shook both of them and he moved like air into another attack. He was countered, and jumped back, spinning into action again.

"There's something you should know about the love of your life…" Shredder growled as they stood eye to eye, weapons locked between them.

"Yeah?" Leo challenged. "What's that?"

They pushed away from each other with equal force and quickly regained their footing. "Do you know why there is so much confusion as to who the father of her child is?"

"Do I care?" Leo snarled. It wasn't a question. He wasn't allowing his enemies words to seep into him. He wasn't thinking about them. He had to remain focused, regardless of what kind of poison spewed from Shredder's mouth.

"Well, let me tell you," he smiled. "You may find it interesting…"

"I doubt that."

They clashed again, and the sound of metal hitting metal filled the night. Leonardo kicked at Shredder, and he jumped back, breaking the stalemate.

"Toru never really believed the child was his," he explained as he circled
slowly. Leo turned with him, careful to stay between his enemy and his brothers. "And I'm not so sure I do, either."

Raphael, barely conscious, tuned into the conversation, forcing his mind to comprehend the words. "But I suppose it could be."

A long pause. Raph felt darkness circle him. Donny pressed his hand to the wound, trying to slow the blood. "Come on, Raph, stay with me…"

"After all, she was fucking him only a matter of days after she was doing you."

Shock caused Raphael's eyes to open as the bits and pieces of the conversation began to fall into place. Doing him? Leonardo? A child? What the hell…?

"You lie!" Leonardo's voice was laced with fury. Raphael heard the words fade into a dark oblivion.

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Like Leo? Michaealangelo thought. Kameko must have met Leo before. How long ago?

"Yes," he stammered. "Yes, I'm a kame. A turtle. Like Leo."

He eyed Lotus. "Leonardo met Kameko a few days ago," Lotus answered the unasked question. "Hey sweetie," she continued. "Do you have any new pictures to show me?"

Mother and daughter entered the warehouse room that was used as Kameko's bedroom. Lotus wanted to make sure that Toru was not hiding in the shadows.

Kameko went under her mattress and picked up a yellow piece of construction paper.

"Yes, Mommy," she said. "I did make a new picture."

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Donatello knew his brother was gone. Unconscious, that is. Hopefully not comatose. The wound wasn't actually that bad, but he had no way to stop the bleeding. As he considered his options, he suddenly realized that there was a battle going on. He'd hardly heard a word of it. Shredder was laughing as he stood to his feet and joined Leonardo.

"No," Shredder snarled. "You think I'm lying?" he laughed cruelly.

Leonardo sprang into action. Donny couldn't have beaten him to it if he'd tried. He could barely follow the movements with his eyes, and he knew then that he had no right or reason to get involved. Still, he stood ready in case something were to happen. Leo was not oblivious to Donatello's stand. He just didn't care. Shredder was prodding too close to a nerve, and he knew he had to put a stop to it now, before he caused any real damage.

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The piece of construction paper contained yet another family portrait.

Kameko proceeded to point out the members. "That's me. And this is you Mommy," said Kameko. "And there's Leo."

Lotus stared at the 2-year-old's drawing. She saw "mommy", she was smiling. Next to "Mommy" was Leo. He had bright green skin, a yellow chest, and an arm sticking out that looked joined with Lotus's.

"Why's Leo in the picture?" asked Lotus, a little confused.

"Well, he's family now, right mommy?" the girl asked.

Lotus stared at the picture and forced a smile, for the sake of her daughter. But she felt tears sting the backs of her eyes. She studied the figures through blurred eyes. Between Leo and Lotus, Kameko stood smiling. Lotus couldn't help but figure out the subtle message. It was Kameko, Mommy, and "Daddy". She brushed her eyes roughly, wiping away the salt tears before her daughter could notice them. How she wished Leonardo was her child's father. She wanted nothing more. But she couldn't change the past. And she couldn't change the truth.

Stop it, Lotus! she screamed at herself. Just stop it. It's over. It's done. No regrets, right?

"Who's that?" Lotus asked, pointing out another figure. She was set apart from the others. She also was grinning.

"That's Hana," Kameko informed, her voice quiet.

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"But I don't claim to know who the real father is, either," Shredder growled as
he spun and clashed their weapons together. "Nor should you."

Inches apart once again, I saw cold cruelty in his eyes. "For all we know…" he whispered harshly, "it could be mine."

The suggestion caught Leo off guard. Shredder had known it would. Without
giving his opponent a second's warning, he kicked at his legs. Leonardo crashed to the ground, a stunned and angry look on his face. Shredder saw his remaining brother grip his weapon, but he didn't move. Perhaps it was because the tip of Shredder's katana was at Leonardo's throat.
He glared at Donatello, a silent challenge passing between them. Donny backed down, not prepared to put Leo's life in jeopardy. Without another word, Shredder stepped away, his eyes not leaving his enemies. Confused and defeated, Leo had no intention of following him.

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Michaelangelo paced in the front room of the warehouse, nervous tension wracking every muscle in his body. Was it right to leave with Lotus? Yes, it was. He totally understood the need to check on the safety of a child. Yet, he knew something was wrong. Something bad had happened… It was time to go back. He glanced again at the child, and the woman kneeling in front of her. Even now, he wasn't sure they were safe. But he had to go. Something was wrong…

Leonardo was pacing back and forth. Where did Mikey and Lotus go? Are they all right? What about Kameko? He could have been the one that led Shredder to Lotus. Raph lied on the couch, unconsious, pale, and unresponsive. Damn it Raphael! Why, did you have to do this? Why do you have to keep being you?

Leo sighed, as he tried to claim his raging thoughts. He knew he wasn't going to change who Raph was no matter how long he tried.

To Be Continued…