Takashi grew impatient as he waited for his men to return to the dojo with the captive. When the warriors finally shuffled into the room, it was with an air of hesitation. Takashi's dark eyes hardened when he noticed that a couple of them were bleeding, and then took note of a set of cuts across the turtle's brow as well. He glared at Daichi accusingly. "You cannot perform a simple task without complications?"
"He was not submissive," the man answered defensively. "He would not allow us to put the manacles back on his arms without a fight."
"Did you expect him to let you? Fools, can you do nothing without me being forced to spell it out for you?"
Daichi bowed apologetically, and stepped to the side as Takashi strode forward. The turtle had been forced to his knees on the mat, and refused to look up at him. Takashi reached to lift his chin, and the turtle instantly fought his grip. At the sound of Takashi's katana being drawn from its sheath the creature's body went absolutely still. The turtle definitely knew the sound well enough without having to see the physical blade.
Takashi tapped the flat side of the katana against his captive's throat threateningly, and the turtle's head jerked up to meet his gaze.
"Yes, that is more like it," Takashi said amiably. "It is difficult to have a civilized conversation when you will not even look at me."
"That would imply that you're actually civilized," the turtle stated crisply.
Takashi drove his knee into the turtle's jaw hard enough to send him backwards, but hopefully not to break anything. If the warriors hadn't been there, he might even have let that comment slide for the moment, but he could not allow the prisoner to disrespect him in front of his men. Takashi glanced around at the nods of approval, and smiled grimly at the turtle.
"Pick him up," Takashi ordered.
The blue-masked turtle seemed unfazed by the blow, and fixed Takashi with a bold look that the man could only interpret as superiority.
Does he really assume I will not prove my power over him? Perhaps it is not wise to take such a 'hands-off' approach. He must not be allowed to believe that there are no consequences.
Takashi studied the dark eyes that were fixed on him with a scathing glare. He dearly wished to speak to the Shitenno, and he had a strong sense that the turtle had influence in the matter. Michelangelo had been somewhat cooperative for the sake of the female captives they'd taken, and that was a clear sign that this turtle should be capable of delivering what he asked for as well.
The only question is concerning what approach I should begin with. I am certain that I could get somewhere by introducing other hostages.
Takashi found himself unable to tear away from the turtle's eyes. He had experienced every reaction that was conceivable from captives in the years of this work, ranging from desperation and fear, to railing and false bravado. Michelangelo, he remembered, had been hardened and battle ready, but his courage had been mixed with concern for the ones he hoped to protect.
This one - what did the Bounty Hunter call him?...Leonardo. He has a different air about him altogether, almost striking of royalty, if that is the right word for it. The two are alike, and yet not alike. For noble speech only left the orange-masked one when he was under the power of the Shitenno, whereas this one appears to come by it naturally.
What was it that the other had said? "I am not the Messenger". That indicates there were things he was not permitted to speak of. Such a restriction would also indicate that there is yet another over him.
Takashi rested an arm over the turtle's shoulder, and Leonardo immediately tried to shrug off his weight. Takashi held on and bent closer to his captive, so that he was only inches from the turtle's face. "Your brother told me he was not the 'Messenger'. What does that mean?"
"It means what it means," the turtle answered shortly. "He was not the Messenger."
"But who is, Leonardo, and what message are they meant to deliver?" Takashi noticed the turtle flinch at the use of his name, and smiled in a friendly manner. "It does not suit you to allow your enemies to live. If you had properly destroyed the Bounty Hunter when you had the chance years ago, we may never have found you to begin with. And perhaps, Raphael would still be living. Your hesitancy to dispense a real threat was nearly the undoing of all of you."
Dark brown eyes regarded him with what Takashi imagined was the turtle's highest form of contempt. When Leonardo said nothing, Takashi took a step backwards, and needled the tip of his katana under the turtle's chin again. The creature hardly reacted to the blade this time, staring back at Takashi with all the concern he might give to a buzzing insect.
Takashi let out an irritated breath. Very well, you force my hand. I will try the old-fashioned way first, and see how long your "nobility" can remain intact.
The Asian man replaced the blade at his side and snapped his fingers at Daichi. "I want the harness. Put him in it, and let me know when he is ready."
Leonardo didn't like the sound of the harness, and he liked how it felt even less. After the new apparatus had been fitted uncomfortably tightly around his mid-section, Daichi began removing the shackles from his arms. Leonardo expected the freedom to be momentary, and he was not proved wrong. The warriors who held them still at first then began to stretch his arms out to their fullest extent. It almost felt like they would keep going until his shoulders came out of their sockets entirely.
The blue-masked turtle hissed sharply under his breath as his arms were locked into place by the bands attached to the poles on either side of him. Leonardo swallowed inwardly as Takashi approached to check the men's work.
I could give him what he wants, but I can't fold that easily. He can't have the power to force that reaction out of me. I have to let this play out for a little while.
Leonardo met Takashi's gaze resolutely, willing the nerves in his body not to show in his eyes.
"You have learned much in the thousands of years you have dwelt on this earth," Takashi said solemnly. "And yet respect still seems to be foreign concept to you."
"I'll give respect where it's due," Leonardo shot back. Disgust consumed him as Takashi rested an arm around his shoulder again.
"You will pay me heed, turtle," the man said pointedly, and turned his head to nod at someone else.
Leonardo followed Takashi's gaze to where it landed on Daichi. The warrior had what appeared to be a leather strap laced between both hands.
Oh shell, c'mon.
Takashi took a couple of steps to the side, and Leonardo let out the breath he'd been holding in. The moment Takashi was out of the way, Daichi began without any kind of warning. The strap whipped across Leonardo's face so hard that it could have given him whiplash. The turtle swiftly ducked his head to cut off the man's easy access to his face, but it didn't stop Daichi from trying.
The strap rose and fell indiscriminately, lashing across his exposed skin without a visible pattern. The rain of blows under the warrior's hand felt like it could last indefinitely before Daichi would run out of steam.
"Get your head up." Daichi growled at him, actually capturing Leonardo's attention. It was the first time the man had ever spoken to him directly.
Leonardo didn't obey, and yanked his chin away from the meaty hands that tried to turn it. One of the hands turned into a fist, and struck a savage blow across his eye. As consciousness faltered the turtle sagged in the harness, while the rest of his body went limp against the restraints. He was hardly aware of the additional strain on his shoulders, until the stinging fury of the strap snapped across his mask. Leonardo clenched his eyes shut as pain lanced through them, and felt the wind from Daichi winding up again.
"Enough." Takashi's curt command ended the attack on the spot. "Let him be, Daichi, and all of you are dismissed."
Leonardo was dizzy, and content to keep his eyes shut. Shell, that's going to swell like crazy. I hope I can still see out of them...as if that's the biggest of my worries right now.
Leonardo heard the sound of the door clicking shut, though he had to admit to himself he hadn't heard the warriors filing off the mat. He was trying to settle his breathing down into a normal pattern, but couldn't get his chest to stop heaving yet. He could feel Takashi standing over him, no doubt waiting to see how long it would take for him to recover.
I'm not going to give him any more satisfaction than he's already gotten.
Leonardo sniffed softly and forced his eyes back open. Hazy surroundings came back into focus, and Takashi's "friendly" smile greeted him.
"That was not bad for your first time. It is always a joy to watch Daichi work - he does have much enthusiasm," the man said casually.
Leonardo scowled at him. "I'd like to see you let me go, and try unleashing someone with that strap again."
"I would love to see what you are capable of, Leonardo, but I fear you have not earned the right."
"You're scared you mean." Leonardo snorted derisively.
Takashi's gaze appeared to be trying to pierce through him, and for a moment, the turtle thought he might strike him again. The human curiously refrained, choosing to trace the outline of one of the turtle's biceps instead.
"Call it not fear, but wisdom. I look at you, turtle, and I can see the strength of your frame. Only a fool would be blind to it."
Can't argue with you on that one.
"Then what do you intend to do with me?" Leonardo asked. "Leave me chained up until I starve to death? Keep me restrained so that all of your warriors have a chance to get an unfair piece of me? Where are we going with this?"
"I do not know," Takashi said unexpectedly. "It is impossible to say for certain, until I have met and conversed with the Shitenno."
"And you think having me beaten is the way to get him to appear? You're not going to provoke him, Takashi."
"That I do not believe. I know I can push you far enough, Leonardo - it is only a question of how much you want to suffer. Or watch someone else suffer, lest you forget the other offer that will be on the table."
The blue-masked turtle exhaled sharply, and ended with a growl.
"I know that the animal is in there, underneath your controlled exterior. I will reach that element of your identity, Leonardo; it is only a matter of time. I told you, I am not in a hurry. I have no reason to be." Takashi chuckled and patted the back of Leonardo's head. "Get some rest if you can, and we will continue this exchange later."
Leonardo struggled against the harness once more as the man disappeared, biting back another growl at his retreating form.
Shell, he would just leave me in this thing, wouldn't he?
The turtle hung his throbbing head wearily, strangely relieved that he couldn't see the cuts the strap must have inflicted. It was bad enough to feel them bleeding - particularly the lashes he'd taken across the face. Takashi turned the lights off as he left the dojo, but Leonardo sensed the presence of a couple more men in the darkness.
Ah, yes. The babysitters are back.
The stress on his shoulders was getting worse, the longer his arms were outstretched.
This isn't going to work for me. I guess I'm going to have to step up the charade sooner than I wanted to.
