A/N: Y-eah. I couldn't resist. snickers.
CHAPTER 12
Splinter crouched, his ear swiveling like radar to pin point his advisory's location. He tensed immediately when he heard the light patter of feet circle behind him, pause then rush in. He waited until the last possible second before stepping to the side, avoiding the attack. The attacker quickly pivoted on the balls of his feet, executing a round of alternating punches and kicks. Splinter blocked the attacks, backing away. The figure kept pushing, his attacks becoming more and more forceful. Splinter did his best to avoid being hit, counteracting with his own defense movements. Finally, his opponent leaped forward with a front kick, ending with a quick foot sweep, connecting with the Rat's ankles, toppling him to the ground.
"You almost had me," Sato commented, flicking the light switch to on. He wiped his forehead with a hand towel and offered Splinter a bottle of water.
Splinter stood and bowed. "I still have...a lot to... practice."
"Do not get frustrated, Splinter-san. You have developed so much in a short period of time. You should be proud. Ninjitsu, its techniques, its essence... takes years to grasp and comprehend."
Splinter felt humbled by the compliment. "Thank...you, " he replied, stretching his legs, waiting as Sato looked over the display of weapons. The man selected a pair of bokkens, passing one to the Rat. Splinter studied the wooden swords raising his eyebrows to Sato.
"You have proven yourself in katas and hand to hand combat," Sato told him, rubbing his arm where Splinter had placed an accurate strike earlier. "Let's see how you fair with weapons."
Splinter mimicked Sato's stance, holding the sword firmly in front of him.
"Loosen your grasp, Splinter. A tight hold hinders the ability to move fluidly. Loosen your muscles and keep relaxed until the very last moment. Then you strike hard."
Once Sato rechecked Splinter's hold, the man took four steps in the opposite direction, and took position.
"Let us begin."
The pair launched at each other, both wielding their weapons as if they were an extension of their own limbs. Splinter did his best to match Sato's skill, while the man barked out instructions. A few times Sato almost disarmed him, but he quickly regained composure, refusing to give up. Not even when he began to tire.
"We can rest," Sato offered.
Splinter shook his head. "We ...continue."
The pair continued their dance across the floor, when suddenly, they were interrupted by a faint sound of footsteps descending the basement stairs.
Sato went still and Splinter lowered his weapon as Mae stepped on the floor.
"Sato-san, I am retiring for the evening. There is a fresh pot of tea on the stove, biscuits on the counter, " she told them. To Sato, she added, "It is almost ten o'clock. I know you do not like to miss your night time shows." A ghost of a smile feathered her lips before she returned to the main floor.
Sato turned to Splinter. "I think we can call it a night, " he suggested, claiming the weapons and replacing them to their rightful place on the wall.
Splinter hummed in amusement, following Sato to the kitchen. Once they collected their evening snacks, they retreated to the living room. Sato slid the coffee table closer to them and placed their cups of tea and the plate of warmed biscuits on top before he picked up the remote, and flicked through the channels. He stopped on channel forty four, just in time for the opening theme song. He eased back, releasing the built in ottoman. Splinter relaxed on the opposite end of the couch, his eyes focused on the pixels of the television. They remained in silence as the sitcom started. The scene was in a living room, with a young couple embracing, tears in their eyes.
"I got something to tell you, Martha," the handsome man choked, stroking the blonde's hair.
"You can tell me anything, my love, " the woman responded.
"This is going to be hard. But my love for you is so great, I cannot bear to be misleading anymore." The man gently pushed her a few inches away, so he could gaze into her sparkling azure colored eyes. His Adams apple bobbed as he swallowed, he shook his head, flipping a strand of his ebony hair out of his eyes, the rest of his shiny mane tousled around his head. "Martha...I am really Jack. You thought I had died in the fire, but I survived! I didn't mean to deceive you by pretending to be your cousin twice removed from your mother's sister's aunt's side. Please don't hate me."
"I could never hate you! Now we can be together forever."
The couple fell into each others arms once more, unaware of the narrowed watchful eyes of the evil Vincent, as the man hide in the adjacent room, a knife, clutched and ready in his hand. Fallon, his accomplice stood at his side, her long gnarled fingers clutching a bottle.
Splinter chewed his bottom lip, watching how the rest of the show played out. He couldn't understand how such an odd show could be appealing and yet the more he watched, the more he looked forward to the next episode. Sato watched the series religiously, like it was his job in life.
Oh Jack! Go and start the car. I just got to grab my purse," Martha told her lost lover. She strutted into the kitchen, heading to the counter where her purse was waiting. There was a flash of movement, a blood curdling scream. The last scene before the credits showed Martha, eyes wide before she fainted.
Splinter looked at Sato. "Do you... think.. it is Vincent?"
Sato shook his head. "He is to cunning to do something like that himself. It has to be an inside job. The housekeeper. It's always them. "
They fell silent when another show came on and for the next two hours, the pair sat, engrossed in the world of the rich and famous. Eventually, Sato sank deeper into the couch and rested his feet on the coffee table. His head dropped towards his chest, waking him up instantly.
"Sorry, Splinter-san. I think I will retire for the night." He stretched out his arm, flicking his wrist to shake his watch from under the cuff of his sweatshirt. "It is two in the morning," he said, surprised, removing his feet from their perch. He picked up the remote and shut the television off. Splinter leaned forward, gathering the dirty plates.
"Sleep well." Sato bowed to Splinter before ascending the stairs and disappearing into his bedroom. Splinter turned, heading to the kitchen. He froze before he could step over the threshold, titling his chin upwards, testing the air.
There is a faint smell. Someone is here. His eyes snapped opened, remembering the distinct citrus scent. Michiko?
Cautiously, Splinter continued to cross the room, placing the dishes in the sink, pretending he was none the wiser. He controlled his breathing and focused on the intruder hiding beside the fridge. He moved slowly, his mind racing to plot what his course of action was going to be. There was a slight shuffle, and instinctively, he looked over his shoulder.
A gasp broke the silence.
Immediately, Splinter dropped to the floor, pressing tightly against the cupboards.
How foolish of me. Have I not learned from my previous encounter? I can not allow myself to be seen by others.
Splinter remained firmly in place, waiting for the intruder to make their move first.
I got to alert Sato-san.
Seconds stretched into minutes and eventually Michiko moved from her spot, dashing towards the hall.
I can not risk her going to the basement and finding the turtles.
Splinter leaped through the air, springing towards the figure. His swift movement caught her off guard, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. The intruder wheeled, pulling a short knife from inside her coat. Splinter kept his eyes trained on the hand clutching the hilt.
"Mich-iko-chan?" The word fell out of his mouth before he could stop them.
Michiko's hand started to vibrate as she raised the knife higher, more threatening.
"Don't follow me," she warned, keeping her voice low enough to only fall upon Splinter's ears. "And not a sound. I will hurt you if I have to."
Splinter kept a safe distance between them.
"Why do you sneak.. . into your... grandparents home?" he whispered.
Instead of answering, Michiko stood, tilting her head to the left, then to the right.
Splinter felt uncomfortable under her examining stare.
"What...a dog? " she stammered, lowering her arm slightly. "No..you're not." Michiko shook her head and steeled herself. "Nice costume," she remarked sarcastically. " Grandfather really has gone crazy."
The floor on the second level creaked as someone, Sato Splinter assumed, walked across the room above them.
Nervously, Michiko glanced over her shoulder then towards the ceiling. Footsteps approached the top of the stairs sending instant relief through Splinter, but obvious distress in the girl. Quickly, she yanked a jar off the counter, tossing it at Splinter.
"Get out of my way," she snapped, dashing past the Rat, heading towards the back door. In her haste, she tripped over Splinter's thick tail, crashing to the floor. She squealed and crab walked away.. Splinter saw terror in her dark eyes.
Her mouth dropped open. "No..you're not." She paused, her gaze following along the tail, up his body and looking him squarely in the face. Weakly, she mewled, "You are not a costume. What kind of freak are you?"
Frantically, she scrambled to her feet and thru the kitchen with new found fear. She managed to yank open the door and run out of the house before Sato burst into the kitchen.
"Splinter-san, is everything okay? I thought I heard-" He stopped mid-sentence when the back door slapped against the door frame. "Who was that?"
Splinter looked up at his friend.
"Sato-san. It was Michiko," he answered ruefully.
Sato frowned. "Are you sure?"
Splinter nodded. "Yes."
Sato stared at the back door. "That little-"He stopped and sighed in frustration. "She has gone too far."
"Sato, she... seen me," Splinter added.
Sato groaned. "As in seen you, seen you?"
Splinter nodded once more. "I did not... think clearly," he apologized.
Sato rested a hand on Splinter's shoulder. "I wouldn't worry about her. Nobody would believe that I have a four foot tall talking rat in my house." He chuckled darkly.
Splinter didn't find assurance in Sato's words. "I should have known my being here... would be a mistake."
"Nonsense," Sato scolded, shutting the door completely, twisting the dead bolt. "First thing tomorrow I am changing these locks. I will not have my Granddaughter breaking in to my home." He exhaled a defeated sigh. "Why don't you go to bed. "
Splinter didn't argue. "I shall see you in the morning Sato-sensei."
The pair departed ways and Splinter went down stairs and stretched on the single bed, closing his eyes. He felt restless, still haunted by the idea that Michiko now knew of his existence.
I hope you are right, Sato-san, he thought. I hope Michiko-chan will not speak of our existence. For if she does, I may have put all of us in grave danger.