Chapter 11: Darkness before the Dawn
She never once thought it would begin and end with her getting shot, but there it was. She was in mid jump and a gun was being pointed in her face. Nowhere to go, no moves to make, no way she could dodge this bullet. So, Asha turned her body trying at least not to take it to the face. It seemed like forever. Who knew five seconds was enough time for so much action. There was a gunshot but Asha never felt the impact. She opened her eyes to see Karai still holding the gun in her hand, but grimacing at a small knife in her arm. Asha spied the turtles in her periphery. Bless their reptilian hearts. Asha landed on the car where Karai had just been, but she was gone. What the hell? Franticly Asha looked around. She saw Karai running, seemingly away from battle, but there was no way that was possible. Karai was trying to skirt around the turtles. They had formed a loose line between where Karai and Asha were on top of the cars, and the rest of the mostly dead or severely injured mutants. Nothing was getting past them and that included Karai. Raphael saw where she was headed and ran at an angle to cut her off. She turned instantly and went the other way, angling towards one of the delivery trucks they had arrived in. Where was she going?
Leonardo watched the scene unfold. It was his knife that stopped her from killing Asha. Karai was constantly trying to make her way to that truck, so that's where one of them needed to be. Leo turned to Donnie.
"Donnie, you see this right?" He asked nodding towards the general fuckery that was happening.
"Yeah, she's really intent on making it to that truck. I wonder why though."
"I need you to find out. My gut is telling me it has something to do with those collars. Someone has to be controlling them. They're certainly not for show."
Donnie was on it. If he was woozy or otherwise suffering from his encounter with the spider-woman he didn't show it. You don't think a nearly seven foot tall, mutated turtle could move silent as death, quick as a cat until you witness it for yourself. Karai made no move to alter her route, indicating that she either didn't see Donatello or didn't care for whatever reason. He made it to the truck before she did, thanks to Raphael and Michelangelo threatening to cut her off, but not actually doing so. Donatello climbed into the truck. No one was in it, but in the cargo hold there was a command center. There was a monitor displaying a small map of New York and it was lit up with small green lights, concentrated at their very location. Donnie assumed they were the locations of the collars and thus the mutants wearing them. Some of the lights were moving in a circular pattern. He thought maybe these were the bird creatures. On a panel below the monitor, were some simple command buttons. They were labelled 'shock', 'release', 'lock', and one other labelled 'terminate'. Closing his eyes briefly and hoping he didn't screw anything up too badly, he pressed the one labelled 'terminate'. The green lights on the screen flashed red. A few brief moments passed then he heard things falling from the sky, making loud thudding noises upon impact. One landed hard on the roof of the truck he was in, crashing it in and destroying the equipment inside. Donnie made a hasty retreat. He didn't want to be stuck there just in case another mutant fell on top of it.
Karai stopped trying to advance towards the command center. She stood with a stoic look on her face as she saw the bodies begin to fall from the sky. How had the plan failed so badly? Yes, it had been rash and risky, but she intended on this being a get-in-get-out kind of operation. They had already been there way too long, and most if not all her henchmen were dead. Now, her last hope, the purpose of the attack, the mutants were dead also. This was an ultimate failure. A kunoichi of her position, a chunin, should never fail in such grand fashion. Karai shook with shame and fury. Shredder would most likely kill her, or give her a punishment other than death if he was feeling merciful, but that was a rare occasion indeed. She was no samurai that would commit seppuku upon being defeated, but she would meet death on the battlefield nonetheless. There was simply no way she could live with such shame. There was no way she was going to come crawling back to her master, graveling, begging for one more chance that she was not going to get. No. She would fight until her last breath, and she would take as many of those mutated freaks with her as she could. She would start with their so-called leader Leonardo, or perhaps she would hit them where it would hurt the most, their rat father. Steadying herself, Karai turned to face all of them. They were advancing towards her in a loose semi-circle. Donnie had fallen in behind her, but she gave no notice. She had forgotten about Donnie. Her mind was racing, she was infuriated. It was the very state of mind one should not be in when engaging in a fight.
From left to right stood Raphael, Splinter, Leonardo, that lion cunt, and Michelangelo. Like an arrow shot from a bow she darted towards the rat. He was prepared, he saw the attack coming, they all did but they were also all completely exhausted. She was not. Deftly she dodged Raph's swipe with his sai and jumped over Splinter's head. He crouched slightly, intending to knock her back with his heavy tail, but she caught hold of it, and in a flash she managed to cut the tip off. Splinter gritted his teeth in pain and shock, falling to all fours on the ground. The brothers moved swiftly to his side, but not before Asha could get there. She saw the intent behind the attack. She had gotten the tail but that wasn't the end of it, Karai was attempting to stab Splinter through the back. A literal back stabbing bitch Asha thought as she launched herself at Karai knocking the wind out of her. Karai was a warrior with nothing more to lose. Wind or no wind she recovered almost immediately and struck a stance with her sword in hand, stained with master Splinter's blood. Mikey, had tears running down his face as he knelt next to his father, trying anything to comfort him. Donnie came not two seconds after, also trying to see to the injured tail. Leo and Raph were enraged. How dare she touch their sensei!
Asha was on her, no preamble, no fancy stances, no taunting. Karai was hard pressed under the fury of Asha's attacks. For all her skill as a ninja, Karai was human and her opponent was not. Asha was frightfully strong and fast, but Karai noticed one thing. Asha did not favor her ribs but she was guarding them, the wrappings telling the tale. Strike and counter strike, Karai and Asha performed a deadly dance. Karai knew that if she was disarmed she was dead. Her only chance of surviving Asha's attacks was with her sword.
Karai was a cunning warrior. Human though she was, Asha did well to maintain focus and not allow her emotions to be her undoing. Karai had no doubt spotted the ribs and would be attacking them at first opportunity. Asha had to be on guard. Her staff came down in blow after blow, then blocking and guarding as Karai let loose her own offensive. Karai was like a Tasmanian devil. She was seemingly everywhere at once, and Asha's ribs begged her to cease. Her breathing was very ragged, as she clenched her teeth. Her breath came out in hisses and she unconsciously began to favor her left side. This was Karai's chance. Quickly spinning out of Asha's reach, Karai used her height against her. Karai got underneath Asha and tried to cut her ribs but the strike was blocked. Karai countered with a hard kick to Asha's rib that sent her to her knees clutching her side. Asha rolled away angry that she was showing such weakness.
Without hesitation or pause Leonardo jumped into the fray. This time Karai paused for a moment. Leo, with both katanas brandished gave her a dangerous look. There was no forgiveness or mercy, only the cold hard of revenge.
"The next time I see you will be in battle, and I will remember your lies." Leo said with a snarl.
"A bigger fool than I took you for. A freak, a monster, who could want you? Love you?" Her words stung but the waviness in her voice betrayed them. She had been the fool hadn't she? At the critical moment, she realized she did have some feeling for him. No matter now. It would be over soon. If she had to give her life tonight it should be at his hand. She could not atone for all that she had ever done in service to the Foot or to her father, but she owed him that. Somewhere from deep within her she felt something like regret. It was foreign to her and she willed it away with a great pain. It retreated but did not die.
"Those who love me are with me now. Where is your precious Foot? Where is your master?" Leonardo sneered. He had hoped the words dug deep into her. They had.
Karai felt a large salty tear roll down her thin cheek. Her master had spurned her. Without a hint of remorse, no knowing depth behind the eyes, he had dismissed her as he would any other failed henchman. She could not remember a time where he had praised her openly or in secret for her many sacrifices in his service. The bitter truth diminished her. She could and would be replaced summarily after her demise. She would be spoken of with derision if at all, and her actions would have been for nothing. The thoughts reduced her to but a shadow of her former self, and also steeled her. Her life to this point had been nothing but a lie, full of false promises and approvals that fell just out of her reach. She would die tonight. It may not be with honor, but it would be her choice. The only choice she could ever remember making that was not a command. She stood ready.
Leo advanced. She expected him to be out of control considering his master's injury, but Karai did not know Leonardo. He was angry, furious, hurt, drained, and focused like a laser beam in her direction. His mouth was nothing more than a line, his blue eyes capturing her every motion and anticipating her every move. Karai, not wanting to waste any more time ran towards him, and like that they began to dance. A dizzying display of clashing swords, as they hummed and trembled at each strike. Karai was doing more than holding her own, her single sword against his twins. They were both beyond fatigued, but this was a test not only of swordsmanship but of will. Her shame, regret, anger, and moment of clarity was no match for his fury, hurt over his injured master, protectiveness over his family, and the last vestiges of his guilt concerning her.
His brothers stood back watching. Raph stood there with so much anger his body shook and he couldn't see straight. His master had commanded him not to jump in. He said that this was Leo's fight, but that was wrong. She had hurt his master, could have killed him were it not for Asha, and that alone made the fight belong to all of them. Then again, Raph knew what kind of older brother he had. The atmosphere had changed, and this was a sword fight between two skilled opponents. If he jumped in, it would be seen as unfair and his brother's pride and honor would be wounded. Raph swallowed hard. It wasn't in his blood to stand by idly while there was fighting to be done, but he stood by just the same. His own warrior's honor and code taking precedence for once over his emotions.
Asha recovered but did not rejoin the fray. Like everyone else present, she sensed the change in mood for this fight. It had become a sword fight between two masters. As much as she hated her, Asha was never one to deny skill and mastery when she came across it. Karai was a master, had to be to hold her own against a fighter the likes of Leonardo, with his augmented strength to boot. Asha saw that Leo was content for the moment not to overwhelm Karai with that strength. He was allowing his prowess to speak for itself. He was proving to her he was her better. His eyes shone out, almost glowed in the darkness. Among his other thoughts and feelings, he seemed to be enjoying the opportunity to put all his hours of training to the test. Leo had been fighting all night long, yet still moved with a grace and skill that awed Asha. The way his muscles stood out like thick cords on his neck and shoulders, his large thighs quivered with the effort of his quick strikes, blocks and parries. She understood now why he was the leader. His level of control under the circumstances was beyond admirable. Asha decided then and there, that if she could and if he would have her, she would submit herself to him utterly.
Karai was near to collapsing. This was the second mutant she was fighting tonight and she had never been tested so thoroughly, not even when she used to spar with her fath- the Shredder. The other one, Asha was skilled beyond what she would have thought and strong willed. To be fighting with broken ribs, to be moving with broken ribs was a testament to that strength. She now understood why Rocksteady had been killed. He had brute strength, but was weak-willed and would have caved under the pressure of an injury such as the one Asha sustained. When she kicked Asha, Karai felt the complete give under her as she connected with already damaged goods. Yet, as she saw from the edge of her vision, Asha was standing and doing little more than readjusting her meager wrappings. Her breathing seemed extremely shallow and every once and again she winced, but that was it. Karai also saw something else she didn't like at all. It was the way Asha was looking at Leo. It was downright predatory but not in a bad way. She was looking at him like she admired him, like she wanted him or something. A brand new emotion washed over Karai, one that she didn't think she had ever felt before, jealousy. Simple female possessive catty jealousy, and it was to be her undoing.
For the briefest of moments, the fractions of seconds she had taken her eyes off of Leo's swords. She blocked the one coming overhead, but didn't react in time to catch the other, and then she felt it. It went through her, she was impaled on it. It began as a small burning sensation, and then bloomed into a searing intolerable pain. Her own sword fell from her hand, clattering to the ground in a flat harsh note. It wouldn't sing anymore. It would cut down no more enemies. She felt her body go numb then go limp as the feeling and life drained from her. Her consciousness was still intact as she inhaled every scent, saw every color vividly, and heard every sound clearly. Uncannily, her vision filled with the sight of his face. She expected to hit the ground but he was cradling her, laying her down with a gentleness that twisted her heart and broke it. He was looking at her intently and his expression was one of sorrow that she had seen so many nights on the water tower. She reached up feebly and grazed her fingertips over his cheeks. He blinked and flinched, but just slightly. Karai thought he might cry but no tears fell. Why would he cry for her? He had no reason to be sorrowful. She would have been gloating had the roles been switched. Then to her surprise he wore another look, one that she despised. It was pity. Anger flared in her and she spit in his face. He didn't even blink, he just kept looking at her with that stupid look she hated. In her final moments the last thing she wanted was pity. She swallowed hard. Her mouth was very dry and her extremities were getting cold. She willed herself to speak.
"I…I'm s-sorry L-Leonardo." She spoke slowly trying hard to form the words. He tried to shush her but she grimaced in protest. He let her speak without interrupting.
"F-Foolish, I w-was foolish. About e-everything." She squeezed her eyes shut.
"F-forgive me." The last words were whispered. The light in her eyes faded and her body went limp in his hands. Carefully, he laid her on the ground and closed her eyes for her. He stood and closed his own eyes. The fighting now over, his body shook as the adrenaline decreased in his blood stream. Slowly he was beginning to feel his various injuries and his fatigue was setting in fast. He rolled his shoulders and fought back a tide of emotion that threatened to not only wash over him, but carry him out helplessly to sea. It was his first kill. It was horrible and it was wonderful also. The mutants he didn't count. They needed to be put out of their misery, because that was all they were going to face for the rest of what would pass as their lives. This was different. Karai was human. She had tested his limits and he passed. It was bittersweet to say the least of it. This was ultimate closure, and the finality of her ending drained the last of his venom and hatred. She would not be a phantom in the night like her master. He and his brothers would not wonder if she were truly dead.
Leonardo felt a hand on his shoulder that gradually turned into arms that wrapped him in an embrace. It was Raphael. The sibling rivalries forgotten. Raph drew his brother in close and said nothing. So out of the ordinary this was, at first Leo resisted but when he looked up into his brothers eyes and saw an expression of both pain but pride swelling in his chest, Leo relented and almost fell into Raph's arms. He stayed in that position, Raph patting his shell.
At no other time since they were little kids, had Raphael felt more pride for his brother than right now. He glanced down at Karai's body and wanted to kick her or something, but honor stopped him. He would not disgrace Leo's victory with petty acts of unnecessary retribution. Instead, he finally released his brother from his grasp. Raph knelt down beside the dead kunoichi. Leo tensed, thinking his brother would kick her or something, but Raph was full of surprises tonight. He instead picked up her sword, found her sheath and handed both to his brother while slightly bowing his head.
"What? What are you doing Raph? I don't want that."
"You earned it. I saw it in a movie once and I liked the idea. When two warrior's fight to the death, the other one earns his weapon. It's a sign of respect or something like that." Raph said shrugging his large shoulders. He hoped Leo wouldn't reject the idea. Slowly Leo reached out and grasped it. Raph let out a small sigh of relief.
"I know that was difficult for you my son." At the sound of his master's voice Leo whirled around, concern etched on his face.
"Master, I'm sorry. Are you alright? We need to get you back to the lair!" Leo said grabbing his father gently by the shoulders and looking at his tail, which Splinter had wrapped around his body. Donnie had once again done the impossible and did an emergency bandage job. It seemed to stem the tide of blood good enough for now.
Asha stood aloof, not wanting to infringe on a moment so sacred and important. She was not yet family, her motives not necessarily altruistic. She felt a little cheated out of her revenge, but as she looked at Leonardo with his family it could be forgiven. Then they started to leave. They were making their way to a nearby manhole, Mikey and Donnie carrying master Splinter between them. She stood, thinking about where she would go next. She would not return to Philly. There were too many bad memories there, and her only family and friend had been killed. She was aimless, lost, homeless, and really without purpose. Maybe she would make it her life's work to hunt down and kill Shredder and crush the Foot. Maybe. She looked over at the group with a sense of longing, but knowing her place was not with them. They hadn't really wanted her around, it was simply a matter of circumstance that she had been with them at all. Suddenly, Leonardo looked up in her direction. They studied each other for a moment, sharing a silent acknowledgment of mutual respect. Then he smiled a brilliant smile that touched his eyes. His resilience, all of their collective resilience was astounding. He beckoned her over.
"You coming, or nah?" He waited patiently with a smile for her response.
"Nah." She said grinning like a fool from ear to ear, and hobbling towards the group holding her side. When she reached them, he put an arm around her companionably and helped her down the ladder into the sewer below. As they walked on in silence everyone was in thoughtful recollection of the events that unfolded. Everyone apparently except for Mikey who began to sing.
In the jungle the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps toniiiiight
In the jungle the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps toniiiight
Aweembaway aweembaway
"Shut up Mikey," they all chorused, even Splinter and then they all dissolved into fits of laughter and coughing as Mikey continued to sing.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the story. I may do an epilogue just to wrap up some loose ends and fill in some blanks. It will either be as a very last chapter, or perhaps a series of one shots and snippets to flesh out more of the characters. I do want to explore Asha and Leo's potential as a couple. Those will certainly be more lighthearted one shots. Once again thanks so much for the views, follows, and favorites. It means a lot.