"Ya know what I like best about weapons practice? The weapons," Raph grinned as he came down on me with his sais. I blocked the blow with a wakizashi, making a face.
"I could have never figured that one out."
Behind us, Mikey was in a clash with Donnie though of course, he couldn't resist not being part of the conversation, "Too bad you're stuck with those lame toothpicks and not a real weapon like the nunchucks!"
And while Mikey was busy integrating himself with more he could handle, Donnie managed to sweep him out from under his feet with his bo, "Sorry Mikey, but the bo staff is where it's at."
"Boys and girl, put away the toys!" Leo, seemingly coming out of thin air, flipped over Raphael and I, "Double katana is the only way to play!"
Leonardo was talented. I didn't like choosing who was best, but Leonardo was bred for this, to be a ninja. Although, as the most dedicated student, it was hard for him to not be a tad more skillful than the rest of us. I didn't know about my other brothers but once I was kicked in the stomach, I was done for the afternoon. I could hear everyone else and I knew no one would be coming out on top except for the eldest. Not that it was a shock or anything, at this point it was almost old news.
When it was all said and done, Leonardo grinned triumphantly and waved his swords in front of his face, probably admiring his egotistical reflection on the blades, "What did I tell ya? Double katana? Pretty sweet, huh?"
"Nice one, Leo," Donnie muttered, adding an annoyed tone as he emphasized Leo's name.
Splinter held on a curious look on his eldest son. There was something, but I wasn't sure what it was. Clearly, he was proud and perhaps impressed, but there was something else. He called for all of us to kneel, "Well done, Leonardo. You have won, but do you know why?"
Leo, still holding his katanas in his hands, held them up once again, "Well, I do have the superior weapons. I read where swordmaster Usashi said that the katana blade holds the soul of steel and is the truest guide to the warriors way... Which is kinda how I feel."
Oh, Jesus help us now. I mean, Leo has always been a little prideful of himself but since we'd started patrol, his ego has blossomed into something unimaginable. He was no team player when it came to sportsmanship.
"Many things are said but few are true," Master Splinter said holding up a finger. The look I couldn't figure out was crystal now, he was about to rat Leo out and we all knew it.
Raph smirked, "Master Splinter's got that look."
Donnie chuckled beside me, "I think someone's gonna get it."
Mikey bursted out laughing.
"Michelangelo! Do you think I am funny?" Master Splinter asked, raising an eyebrow.
Clearly he wasn't joking but Mikey, as usual, didn't get the hint to shut his mouth, "Um… Ya. I mean, sometimes?"
Facepalm.
"There was that time you told us that joke about the ox and the sparrow… It wasn't really a joke but it was funny and…" I elbowed him in the plastron, "I mean… No Master Splinter…"
Splinter sighed irritably and turned his attention back to the eldest, "Leonardo, stand and attack me with your katana."
Leo stood but stepped back, bewildered by the command, "Master Splinter… I…"
"Do it! Now!"
Leo swung his katana, bringing it down toward our fathers skull. I flinched but Splinter didn't even draw back from the attack. Instead, he caught the metal between his palms.
"Dang," I murmured in awe. My father never ceased to surprise me.
"Is this the great and glorious weapon you speak of? Helpless before a rat such as myself? In the hands of a true ninjutsu master, anything can be used as a deadly weapon. Remember, a weapon is only as good as the arm that wields it. Until you have learned this lesson, you have learned nothing," Master Splinter released the sword with a mildly disappointed look before backtracking to his room. He didn't even tell us we were dismissed. Maybe he hadn't been impressed with Leonardo's performance today. Maybe he was disappointed?
Leo said nothing. He was stuck in a state of shock for a moment before he roughly slid his katana a back in their sheaths and stormed up the stairs and out the lair door, avoiding eye contact with all of us.
"That was entertaining," Raph said after another silent moment, grinning widely.
"Do you think what Splinter said was really necessary? He was kind of harsh," I bit my lip. Leo kind of deserved it, but damn, I hated seeing him so lost and upset.
Raph and Mikey threw me a look that would make the answer to that completely obvious but Donnie shrugged his shoulders with a short sigh, "Maybe. But right now, Leo is a little too cocky for his own good. Some criticism wouldn't hurt."
I frowned. Donnie gave me his best attempt at a sympathetic smile before ruffling my hair and getting to his feet. I followed, figuring that jetting after Leo wasn't the smartest idea right now so instead, I plopped myself on the couch.
Mikey wandered toward the kitchen, "Let's order some pizza."
"Okay," A monotone reply from all of us.
I flipped through the channels on the TV, finding myself bored with everything that was on. Mikey's voice was more entertaining in the kitchen.
"I want a large, thick crust with double cheese, ham, pepperoni, sausage and chicken."
Pause.
I raised my voice so he could hear me, "No anchovies."
"Oh and no anchovies. And I mean no anchovies. You put anchovies on this thing and you're in big trouble, okay?"
Pause.
"That will do. The clock's ticking dude."
Whilst clicking through the stations, a special news report was on about some new vigilante that had been popping up around New York the last couple months. A man in a red and blue suit going by the name Spider-man.
Raph rolled his eyes, "This guy again?"
We'd never actually seen Spider-man before. He was usually spotted in Queens and my brothers and I didn't really leave the Manhattan area when we were on patrol. New York was a big place, there was only so much we could cover in one night.
"Woah!" Miley exclaimed, hands pressed to his cheeks, "Spider-man! He is so cool!"
Any superhero had Mikey geeked out, at least in fiction. He had practically a comic book for any superhero in existence. Spider-man was making headlines since he was the first dubbed "superhero" in existence. He took out a Lonnie Lincoln, more known to the public as Tombstone, a huge bulky albino looking dude with defiled teeth and a naughty reputation as a notions crime boss affiliated with drug lords and illegal weapon dealing. I didn't know much about him until Spider-man started getting on the news. There were loads of bad guys in New York, it was impossible for my brothers and I to take them all out, especially out in Queens.
"What's with the costume though?" I asked, "Why couldn't he just wear a mask to cover his face if he didn't want his identity revealed?"
"It looks so cool! You should have a suit, Jade!" Mikey turned to me excitedly, "We all could!"
"What I want to know is what kind of material that webbing is," Donnie rubbed his hands together thoughtfully, watching the TV contently. Spider-man swung from building to building using some kind of web-like material, just as a spider would. He used it for transportation and combat. The stuff was pretty strong, "It's gotta be some kind of nylon-material. Maybe carbon nanotubes but that could only be part of the equation."
"Maybe you can ask him if we bump into him?" I remarked, shrugging my shoulders, "One vigilante geek to the next."
"We should go patrol in Queens!" Mikey squealed.
New York was too big for us to go district hopping. There were enough problems in Manhattan the way there was. It was nice knowing another part of the city was being looked after but we didn't need to share enemies. Spider-man seemed to be able to take care of himself and that was good enough for me.
Woah! Spider-Man? Ya, I did that. I finished the new Spider-man game and I'm more in love with Peter Parker than I ever was before. Our beautiful vigilante will have a future in this story!
