A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews. If this part wasn't already written out though, I might not have updated for a long time due to the simple fact…I died. I got sick and died. Please send flowers. How am I writing this then if I died..? (checks pulse) ok so I didn't die. But quite frankly I think I'm gonna pass out. Please enjoy for that is why we write…

"Ry get down!" he ordered as more arrows came over, the ninja wrapping his sash over the wheel to keep it steady as he tore out his swords and ran towards the side where the arrows sailed in from.

Ry jumped down barely in time to avoid being hit by three arrows as they pierced the night. But she wasn't about to let her master face them all alone either…she couldn't. Scrambling up and barely dodging some she ran towards Leo skidding over by him.

"I want too help!" she said her eyes widening with horror as some of the ninjas swam after them, full intent to board and kill.

"I don't think there's much you can do Ry! Just stay down!" he ordered slicing another arrow in half.

"But they're coming!"

"They're what?" he looked at her noticing the arrows stopped and the sudden sound of metal grappling hooks latching over the sides. "Oh shell…" he growled a bit as two came over the side, their black masks barely concealing their seething eyes.

"Sensei…" Ry whispered nervously biting her lip yet refusing to back down. To say she wasn't scared would have been a lie, but to say she wouldn't try to at least defend her Sensei would have been a greater one.

"It's alright Ry, it'll be alright. Just follow my lead and avoid the sides." He instructed noticing they were heading further out of port and into sea.

The girl nodded, fists up though hardly threatening and a determined look played in her eyes as they came forward. Some wore swords, others had staffs and Sais held at the ready. One even held what looked to Leo like a small…gun? That didn't make sense. People here had never even seen a gun and they sure didn't make them! A frightening click went off in Leo's mind…it was small but looked modern...how long had they been here?

He didn't know and he didn't have time to dwell on the idea as several of them launched an attack. He nodded towards his student and in a split second they were in a battle of swords, wood and combat. The gun for now was concealed again, but that did nothing to help Leonardo's nerves as he elbowed a man and back handed a fist into the others face forcing him down. Then with a kick over the side with a splash!

Ry wasn't doing as well as her master but at least she was holding her own. More than often though she took the defensive position letting them attack until she saw an opening and then swung a fist or foot into them, or her Master jumped in front of her and finished it.

Ducking a sharp blow from a naginta and lacing his arm over the weapon, Leo forced the other back into two oncoming soldiers; his foot solidly connecting with someone's head and the blunt side of his sword someone's ribs as they fell over the side a well gasping for air. Turning his gaze for a split second however, Leonardo's eyes widened with horror as he saw they were fast approaching a sand bar. Letting out a low growl Leonardo raced for the wheel jumping over an oncoming assailant and barely catching it before they ran into it. The ship bumped it, but that was it. Letting out a small sigh of relief a small yelp from behind let him know they weren't out of the fire just yet.

Several ninjas had used the turtle's distraction to begin boxing in on his student, their fists struck wildly some connecting with her body, others she was able to parry and send back attacks. Mentally swearing Leonardo ran towards them, swords out and in the next second several more bodies went over the side. Whether they would surface again was yet to be seen.

"Are you alright?!" he yelled to his student

"Hai!" she shouted back as waves crashed against their boat almost as if a silent wind was beckoning them away and towards deeper waters. Towards the shadows…

He nodded with a grunt satisfied. For her first battle she was going better than thought, but still didn't change the fact that Leo never wanted her in this situation again. Two more were coming up the sides…and a small smile crept on the turtle's lips as an idea hit him.

"Ry, I need your help." Leonardo said in a lowered tone slightly moving back towards his student whispering to her. "Do you see the grappling hooks the others are using to climb up?"

She nodded not sure what he was getting at. So they were able to get up here all that meant was that there was a good chance they were dead! However when he handed her a small blade directing her towards the ropes she got the idea.

"Slit the ropes, don't wait for anything if someone's on there cut it anyway. I'll watch your back."

She nodded gripping the small handle of the knife with new determination as she ran towards the side her Sensei directly behind her as she went to work, fending off black shadows and sending a few heads slamming into the wooden mast before kicking what was left of them into the others forcing them over the edge. His heart thudded as more waves crashed taking them further out…in a matter of minutes they would be gone.

"Almost done!" Ry informed her Sensei preparing to slit the next rope, her hands burning from the coarseness of the ropes. But it was a good burning, it was the kind that let her know she was doing something.

Leo nodded turning to survey the ship almost ready to let his guard down before a cry and a splash caught his attention as he whipped around toward his student only two feet away. The knife was now gone, the grappling rope cut but she was hanging near over the side a black gloved hand gripping her wrist.

"Ry!" he yelled racing the short distance that felt like an eternity as she screamed going over the side and waiting the cold splash that never came. Instead a large hand had managed to grab her shirt holding her up while another threatened to pull her down. Leo growled a sudden surge of rage whipping through him as he pulled out his blade and slammed it into the man below forcing him to let go.

"Ry look at me! Don't look down, just look at me!" he ordered the last bit of the man slipping into the foamy broth of the sea.

A small pool of red surging up as Leo pulled his student up and away from the side; setting her down and holding her head cupped in his hand to keep her eyes from seeing if any blood got on her. There was a small amount on her wrist but from the way she held his gaze he knew she merely thought it was water when he wiped it off both their hearts thudding at what had just happened.

As a master and student they beat before Ry finally spoke a bit out of breath. "I really don't like that clan."

Despite the situation Leo chuckled nervously with a hint of pain, squeezing her shoulder. "Not too many people do…just quit scaring me like that." he sighed getting up and silently berating himself for not thinking of cutting the ropes when they first started boarding.

"Think they're all gone now?" She asked as he offered her a hand up, her balance slowly adjusting to her new sea legs.

"They aren't gone…but at least they're off this ship." he offered tiredly going over towards the wheel his shoulder suddenly throbbing as he tried to raise it to steer. He didn't remember getting hit, but at the same time battle fever had coursed through him, probably blocking out any pain or wounds he did receive. Either that or it was just extremely sore from being in a cramped space for so long and then out and used so fast.

He shrugged to himself, he would look at it later. Right now though…he needed to use all of his concentration to simply stop himself from turning around and going back, fear cringing inside of him at what he was bound to find in New York. He just couldn't get this lump out of his throat…nor the dread of how his family would react…in the words of his youngest brother, he felt like a dead turtle walking.

"Go get some sleep, Ry, tomorrow we'll work on meditation alright?" he said looking ahead then hearing no reply he quirked an eyebrow in concern, looking around for his student. Was she injured…he sighed though finding her curled up by him already asleep for the most part. Leo chuckled a bit resting his head on the rough wood of the wheel, that girl was going to give him a heart attack one of these days and she probably wouldn't even why it had happened, except to say he worried too much.

Leo's chuckle died though as he set a course for home, thoughts assaulting him at who he had left behind for others to deal with. Others less prepared and less knowledgeable about them, hopefully the fact he took his ship however would mean they would be more focused on that than senseless killing. It would take them at least six months if not a full year to make a new sea worthy boat and for doing that they needed friends not enemies that would sabotage it.

The turtle's worry grew however the more he dwelled on the fact they would come after him, somehow some way they would track him back to his home, and though he wanted to keep his student safe he wondered if he wasn't doing more harm to his family now then good…sighing and shaking his head Leo set the wheel then walked over towards the rudder, setting it in place as well before he finally collapsed to the ground. He wouldn't sleep he knew that…but at least he could sit down and breath easier for once…

X

Several shadowed figures emerged from the water that night some helping their injured brothers towards the shore and towards horses. One tall one stood in the center of the small group, the arm of his fallen comrade slung around his shoulder as he told one that looked uninjured and also was a fast rider.

Directing him towards a horse as black as night, he instructed him swiftly. "Go tell Kenoki what happened here tonight. Get his orders and meet us back here in two nights time, stop for nothing." The other bowed then went about to do so, the horse raised by ninjas not making a sound as hoof beats clattered along the ground. A slow smile spread on the others face as he grinned down at his comrade who looked more than disappointed at what he had failed at.

"Don't worry my brother, I believe Sensei has a plan for just this occasion." he sneered helping him towards a small more shady part of town. And he was right, whether Leo ran into the mountains or into the sea, Kenoki had thought of both and arranged for certain measures to be taken. Though the fact they were a day behind would anger him…the fact he still had a chance to squeeze the life out of Leonardo's soul would still intrigue him…he would simply do it different this time…and bide his options till they met again rather on land than sea. Although by the time he was done with him, the master wasn't so sure Leonardo wouldn't preffer a quick death to one he was going to hand him.

To be Continued…

A/N: (is currently to tired to ask for reviews or make comments) hope you guys liked it.