The blue-masked turtle's gag reflex was what welcomed him back to feeling. The offending instrument was smoothly withdrawn from his throat, and Leonardo immediately tried to clear it. His throat felt like sand-paper; as if he hadn't tasted water in weeks.
"Donny? Doc?" he mumbled hoarsely without opening his eyes.
He was met by an unexpected voice in return. "Wake up, demon."
Leonardo's eyes jerked open, and he stared at Yukiko long and hard. Confusion was the first thing to register, rather than anger. He was coming up empty for what had happened, and still not sure that any of this was real. The woman smiled at him triumphantly and patted his cheek with a slap. It took Leonardo a moment to realize she was holding a sports bottle out to him.
Now I know I'm dreaming.
But Yukiko persisted, and he wasn't about to refuse water. Without further hesitation, he accepted the straw from her.
She's got no reason to poison me, not when she already could have killed me outright.
Despite his thirst, swallowing was difficult. Leonardo only forced a couple of sips down before backing off.
Yukiko shook her head sharply. "You need more - your throat must be flushed out completely. I want you in the best condition possible before you go to Master Takashi."
A chill coursed down Leonardo's spine, and he tried hard to contain it. His arms and shoulders were aching severely from their locked position. When he tried to shift on the seat, the Asian woman's hands braced against his shoulders.
"Do not underestimate me for my 'kindness', demon. I am glad you survived - I am certain Takashi will be more pleased to have two of you. But it is still possible for something to happen to one of you en route. You would not want that, now would you?"
Leonardo glared at her darkly, even as a pit formed in his stomach.
Two...so she didn't get everybody. But that means-
"Drink, demon. Would you rather have the tube put back in? I could arrange that too."
Leonardo detested accepting water from her hand, even for the relief that it eventually offered. The bottle almost seemed never-ending, but Yukiko was relentless.
"Ayumu," she called to someone on the seat behind Leonardo. "Check him for me."
The blue-masked turtle held his breath as someone slipped around the outside of the seat, and joined Yukiko up front. Leonardo warily eyed the bespectacled man, backing further against the seat when his cold hand grasped the turtle's wrist. The man held on for what felt like forever.
Yeah - it's a pulse. Have you ever felt one before?
The dark eyes behind the glasses were regarding him with cold curiosity.
He's going to need to blink eventually.
Leonardo stared back at him disdainfully, trying to convey every ounce of his disgust in that single look. Whatever spell Ayumu was under suddenly snapped, and he prodded the turtle's chin.
"Open up."
Leonardo didn't respond. The unassuming man wrapped a hand around his collarbone, locating a pressure point with practiced ease.
"There are many ways I can hurt you that will not leave evidence behind," he warned.
The turtle wouldn't give him the benefit of letting him see how much the grip hurt, though he couldn't stop the automatic reflex to retreat. The protective reaction was worthless; there was nowhere for Leonardo to go, and he had a strong feeling the man wasn't bluffing. Leonardo was tempted to try and bite him as the human took a long look at his throat, but decided against it.
The blue-masked turtle forced his calm exterior to remain intact, allowing an unfeeling expression to take precedence over his features.
Don't let him get a reaction out of you - don't give anything away.
Ayumu seemed satisfied, and shut off his light. "Most of the swelling has gone down, Yukiko-san, and there do not appear to be further complications. You would be safe to remove him I think." The man shook his head in Leonardo's direction. "They are the most peculiar things I have ever seen. You are quite certain they are rational?"
Take off these chains and I'll show you who's rational, Leonardo fumed.
"Underestimate them at your own peril, Ayumu - you have not seen what they are capable of," Yukiko warned him. "This one you are hovering over wields two katana in battle, as if it were all he was born to do. They are perceptive and intelligent, as well as violent."
Ayumu cast a glance at Leonardo, and the turtle could tell the man wasn't convinced.
No, that's fine, Leonardo assured him inwardly. You can think what you want; by all means, underestimate me. You'll never know what hit you.
Yukiko communicated something softly with the driver, and Leonardo sensed the van was slowing down. As the vehicle pulled to a stop the woman called out two names, and the men hopped out of the side door to lift Leonardo down.
Leonardo fought to get his own feet on the ground to restore some of his dignity, but the warriors were unforgiving in their grip. They intentionally held him off the ground far enough that he couldn't reach it. As the back doors to the van opened, a gasp escaped Leonardo like the last bit of air leaking from a balloon. Donatello was lying completely still on his side in the cramped space, with a worn rag bound around his mouth. Leonardo's eyes rapidly scanned him, and he was partially relieved not to see any obvious injuries. The purple-masked turtle grunted something determinedly behind the gag when he locked eyes with Leonardo, as if desperate to communicate a message.
"We have a schedule to keep!" Yukiko called from the front.
Leonardo was startled when his captors flipped him over completely, before hurling him into the back of the van. The thought of the warriors fled his mind instantly however, as he tried to edge closer to his brother. Leonardo was surprised to feel tears threatening, and blinked them away angrily.
I was supposed to protect him at all costs.
A muffled sound from Donatello didn't let that thought progress any further.
"I'm sorry, bro," Leonardo barely whispered loud enough for him to hear. "I didn't realize it was them, not until it was too late. Are you hurt badly? Have they done anything to you?"
Donatello shook his head slowly.
"What about the others? Have you heard anything said about them?"
His brother hesitated, then shook his head again.
"That's a relief," Leonardo said softly. "They'll come after us."
Donatello nodded with certainty.
"So I guess we just need to hold on in the meantime. They really didn't hurt you?"
Donatello only shook his head once more.
"Right, I guess this guy wants us in one piece. They didn't hurt Mikey that badly last time either, with the exception of the sedative."
Leonardo shivered slightly at the memory of finding the orange-masked turtle in the basement cell-block, when it had almost felt like it was too late to save him. "You didn't try to fight them, did you?"
Donatello's eye ridges rose, and annoyance flickered through his steady gaze.
"Yes or no, Don?"
Donatello couldn't quite shrug his shoulders the way his arms were pinned, but Leonardo could still read the gesture.
"Did they use me against you?"
Donatello's look became somewhat pained, and Leonardo knew his feeling was correct.
"We'll get out of this, Donny. I want you to keep your head down, and don't try to upset anyone. Don't give them a reason to hurt you."
His brother blinked dutifully, but then gave Leonardo a pointed glance. The blue-masked turtle studied his eyes for a few seconds, trying to read the emotion that registered behind them. Donatello's looks were usually complicated to decipher; he was not as straightforward as, say, Raphael. His expressions always appeared to be a mixture of more than one thing.
It was clear Donatello had questions himself, and Leonardo began mulling over what he would want to know in Donny's position.
"I'm all right," he told him first. "I don't know what they hit me with, but it took me down fast. I didn't come around until a few minutes ago, with a dumb tube down my throat."
Donatello nodded vigorously.
"There was a reason for that, wasn't there? Did they save my life, Donny?"
Another nod.
"Wow. Takashi must want his hands on us pretty badly; which is bad news and good news."
Donatello broke eye contact with him and gazed up at the ceiling, discouragement reading strongly. The helpless feeling welling up inside Leonardo was almost enough to cue tears again. He couldn't stand to see Donny like this. His brother's gaze became fuzzier, and Leonardo guessed that Donatello's mind was reeling in a dozen different directions, even though he couldn't utter a word about a single one.
"Donny, I'm here," he said softly. "I know that doesn't do you any good right this second, but it will. I'll get us out of this if it kills me."
At Donatello's sharp look, Leonardo chuckled under his breath.
"Okay, not the best choice of words, but I mean it. We'll make it, Donny - hang in there."
Changes in acceleration and deceleration were happening more frequently now, and the quiet chatter of other voices picked up more as well. Leonardo strained to listen to them, and separated Yukiko's feminine tone easily from that of the men.
"...I do not think so...That could work, but then..."
From the way she paused without someone filling it in, it sounded like she was on the phone.
"Yes, Taskashi-sama, we will move forward with it...We are nearing the harbor, so we should be ready for transport in minutes...I will call you from the boat."
Boat? We have further to go then, before we get wherever they're taking us. More time to escape.
Donatello's questioning glance fell on Leonardo, and it was apparent he'd heard that last part too.
"For every second that we're traveling, we have better hope of escaping," Leo said thoughtfully, and then noticed the knowing smile in Donatello's eyes. "You've got something in your head, don't you?"
Leonardo smiled broadly at Donny's nod that time. "I wish you could tell me what it is, but knowing you, it's probably genius."
The light of day was suddenly blotted out around them, leaving Leonardo with a shaken feeling. He swallowed hard, and his sore throat regretted the action. The van pulled to a stop.
We must be inside somewhere. Now what are they going to do with us?
Leonardo could hear movement, and could tell the passengers were getting out of the van. They came to retrieve him and Donatello a few moments later. The minute he got his head outside the door, Leonardo looked around swiftly. He could make out very little of the shadowed building. The overhead lights were flickering, as though warming up. A few more seconds revealed what appeared to be a warehouse full of the expected boxes and supplies, as well as much larger shipping units.
As he continued to scan the space, he noticed a warrior opening the hinged door on one of the over-sized containers.
"I want the chains reinforced, take no chances," Yukiko ordered someone. "They must be secure."
Leonardo caught his breath as he was carried that direction by two of them.
Traveling in style I see. This should be fun.