Hey all! I've been experiencing turtle fever for the last while, so I'm gonna treat ya with a triple update to the story.
That's right: three, new, chapters! Enjoy :D
...New York's late autumns were never the driest, having frequent opportunities to nearly drown the concrete and make travel of every form just a little more perilous. Roof leaping would definitely fit into that category, especially when the weather is being particularly cruel with the heavy rainfall, thunder and occasional lightning flash...
Mind you, that would be the least of the blue-masked ninja turtle's problems, as evident by the familiar shadows stealing after his form...
"There are times in your life, when you draw on everything you have..."
He pauses atop a lower roof section, drawing out one of his katanas at ready and sending a sneer at the five Foot soldiers who emerge from the darkness to crowd in front of him with their own blades...
"Times when you reach down into the deepest part of yourself...When you know you've gotta give it your all, because anything less won't get the job done..."
The danger escalates when Hun pushes his way to the front...
"It's in times like these when you find out who you really are...That is, if you live long enough."
Leonardo maintains a fearless demeanor, gesturing the giant of a man to make the first move. They each rumble out a growl, before charging at eachother to start the battle.
...How did the turtle find himself in this situation? Hard to say considering the day's karma wasn't that horrid.
Hours Earlier...
It starts out innocently enough, the shady clouds of the appending downpour just barely forming as the sun rose over the peaks of the city skyscrapers. Zooming inside the residence belonging to April O'Neil, we see the rooms are still dark and that everyone was still asleep...
Sunlight sneaks in through the loft apartment windows, highlighting the figures belonging to Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello, slumbering near the couch, on the couch and on the rim of the couch respectively...
(Ka-chank)
The door to April's bedroom opens, and Emily quietly wanders out into view, wearing a soft gray blanket over her shoulders which matched her pajama pants, and a mud brown tank top. Allowing a quiet yawn to escape her covered lips, she turns tired jade green irises towards the sleeping turtle forms, smiling in amusement at their positions.
Heh, teenagers alright. Almost reminds me of the sleepovers April and I used to have when we were their age...
She then meets eyes with Splinter, who was previously asleep - or perhaps meditating - on the blue chair, and sends a small wave of greeting. He smiles back, and the woman continues her way to the kitchen to prepare some morning coffee...just as the fourth turtle brother slides open one of the windows and prepares to head out.
"Your morning training, my son?"
"Yes, sensei...while the city's still quiet."
The eldest of the Hamato family rises from his seat to approach his terrapin child.
"Your discipline is commendable, Leonardo. Have a good run...but I trust you're not going to scout the lair alone?"
The young ninja pauses with a silent grimace, before turning around to face his father with an innocent smile.
"Why would I do that? (Frown) Just because the sewer tunnels are overrun with Foot Ninja...so we're forced to hide out here at April's like cowards?"
"...You ask a question that is not a question."
Moving closer to his son, Splinter reminds him,
"If we are to succeed against our foes, we must act together, as a team, not as rash individuals."
"(...Nod) I understand, Master Splinter...I am curious, though: with the Shredder gone, what are they up to?"
"Patience, my son. I have a feeling we will find out all too soon."
"...I have a hunch that vengeance may be a key factor."
Emily comes from the kitchen with three small cups of coffee, adding,
"Though perhaps such a reason is a little petty even for the Foot Clan...Here, Leonardo, before you go."
She hands him one of the cups:
"I know you don't drink coffee as much as two of your siblings do, but I can sense your eyes are still a little tired."
"Oh, uhm, thanks."
The terrapin teen gently downs the whole cup, handing it back to the woman with dark auburn hair, before turning to leave out the window and start his morning training run...
"Huah, did Leo leave already?"
The next soul to wake is Shiori, exiting the temporarily shared bedroom in a light pink t-shirt nightgown borrowed from Ortensia, looking considerably healthier than a few days ago.
"Darn, I was hoping I'd catch him before his morning run..."
"You're looking better this morning, dear."
Nodding at Emily with a slightly weary smile, the girl with black beach waves and silver roots yawns out,
"Feelin' better too. I do have a bit of a headache, but I'll take that over the hot flashes, stuffiness and dry throat."
The two adults meet the young lady in the kitchenette, and Splinter reaches over to double-check his daughter's physical condition.
"Hm, I do not feel any signs of a new fever, and the colour has returned to your skin..."
Chuckling slightly under her breath, Shiori gently brushes off the humanoid rat's hand and punctuates,
"I'm fine, dad, really. It was just a cold."
"Yes, I know, just as you well know it's only natural for me to worry about you and your brothers when either of you are unwell."
"Right..."
(Knock, knock)
"Morning. Anybody up?"
Recognizing the voice behind the door, the youngest of the Hamatos hurries to open the door, meeting eyes with one of her other friends that lives none too far away from Second Time Around.
"Hey, Shun, good morning. You get here okay?"
"Yeah, nothin' to report. You're lookin' bright-eyed today; finally beat that cold?"
"Mhm."
Entering the apartment, we see that the young adult with curtain bangs is dressed in his usual cerulean blue windbreaker, a beaver brown long-sleeve shirt, indigo track pants with a white star at the end of each cuff, and his dark grey tennis shoes...
"Ah, good morning, Shun."
He locks his deep forest green irises with with Emily and Splinter, smiling slightly in greeting.
"Morning, Emily, sensei Splinter. Tal, Ari and Ori asked me to say hi for them."
"And how are you and the others doing?"
Knowing there was more to the older rat's question, Shun answers while walking with Shiori back to the kitchenette,
"About as okay as we can be. There is a new level of, caution whenever any of us head out the door now, but that was already there before the Foot."
"I see..."
The boy then brings out a package of bacon from under his jacket to set on the counter.
"Anyway, all we can do is take this one step at a time, right? I mean, those bozos have gotta get tired of playing hide-and-seek in the sewers at some point..."
Shiori pulls a skillet out from one of the cupboards and sets on the stove, before turning to give her friend a knowing frown.
"You know I'm not buying that, the casual brush-off?"
"...Your point?"
"Hauh, just don't go looking for a fight like Raph or Casey would, okay? (Half-smirk) I prefer all my friends staying in one piece."
"Teh, sure...I just wish I could do something for you guys other than sneaking in some extra clothes or groceries. This feels way too much like Witness Protection."
Watching the children get things ready for breakfast, Emily then says to the boy,
"The fact that you and the other three are helping us make sure we don't hike my cousin's bills up is enough."
Splinter adds,
"All we can do now with regards to our common enemy is remain patient and observe their actions carefully. They will eventually become impatient as you said, and when they do, that's when our advantage will rise."
"...I sure hope you're right, sensei Splinter. I really do."
...
We now catch up with Leonardo several blocks away from the locale he and his family have taken temporary residence in, continuing to run and leap fast over the quiet rooftops of the city's tall structures. Pausing to catch his breath, the turtle smiles slightly when he recalls the wave sent his way by Shun as they passed one another from their vantage points a little earlier.
Looks like Shun and the others are staying safe...
Haven't heard anything from Casey, but, if he was in trouble, he would've called by now...
That's all I'm really concerned about at this point, that all the people in our family stays out of harm's way.
Puffing out a sigh, the double katana-wielder sets off again while concluding to himself,
But it's like sensei said: we're better off acting as a team than searching for answers individually...
All we can do is wait for the enemy to make their next move.
...Unbeknownst to the young ninjitsu practitioner, he wouldn't have to wait for much longer...
Suddenly, four soldiers from the Foot clan pop out from the shadows in the lower alleys, and hurry to tail after him...Thankfully, he becomes wise to their presence, and stops fast to duck out of the way of one enemy ninja, leaving them to go slamming into a raised portion of the current rooftop...Leonardo turns around to face the other three, sliding out one of his katanas...just as three more Foot soldiers join the party behind him!
Deciding that he didn't want to waste too much energy fighting all of them at once, the turtle opts for an alternate course of action by leaping off the back of the ninja he just dodged, and grabbing a nearby rope-line to swing down once he cuts the middle...He lands safely on the roof across the way, and hurries to start a new sprint so he can hopefully lose his pursuers.
Well, they finally made their next move...
Now I just have to make sure it doesn't carry over to the ones I hold dear.
Shiori's POV
Hah, another quiet morning above ground...
It's been a little weird camping out in April's apartment these last couple days, almost like we moved all over again. I mean, this isn't the first time I slept over somewhere above ground since I have slept over at my friends' place a few times...but still. It feels like we're waiting out flood repairs or fumigation for a pest problem...which, given our home's locale may not be completely inaccurate.
The Foot clan is starting to feel like a nest of cockroaches. They just don't know when to quit...
"Hey, pass me the peppers, would ya?"
I do as Shun asks, lifting the small cutting board of diced vegetables and sliding it into his waiting hand. I watch him add it to the big concoction of eggs and hashbrowns, smiling a bit while thinking to myself,
Well, at least we're not cut off from our allies...our family...
"Whauh!"
I snap out of my thoughts to Mikey's yelp, and turn to see him and my other two brothers scramble awake on alert.
What the shell?
"What? What is it?!"
"...Hehahah, hoh man. I slept on my hand, and it got numb and hit my face, and I thought somebody slapped me. Don'chya hate that?"
...
...
Raph's next set of words summarize the reaction for all of us.
"Words fail me..."
"Heha, I guess that's one way to wake up. Mornin', guys."
They turn focus on Shun's smirking form, before waving back,
"Oh, hey, Shun!"
"Morning, dude!"
"When'd you get here?"
"About twenty minutes ago."
I then take a turn to say good morning after they say it to sensei and Emily, leaving the bacon to do its thing.
"Hey, bros."
"Morning, sis."
"You feelin' better?"
I nod at Mikey and joke,
"I think I finally bashed that cold on its head, otherwise I probably would've gagged at the coffee by now."
Donnie forms a mock offended expression and exclaims,
"Blasphemy! Coffee is life!"
"Ha, maybe to your caffeine-charged blood, Don, but that doesn't apply to everyone first thing in the morning."
"Oh ha ha..."
A couple more laughs are traded before we settle back into today's morning routine...
"First dibs on the bathroom!"
Which is completed with Mikey stealing the bathroom from Raph, much to his exasperation...
"Better luck next time, Raph."
"Oh shut it."
...Anyway, the last of us to wake after another five or ten minutes would be the owner of the apartment and shop. It almost surprises me that she's become that comfortable with gracing us in her bathrobe and slippers and a little bedhead...but I guess we've just gotten that close.
"Huuaoh...So I really do have four turtles and a rat sleeping in my living room. I thought I was just having a really bad dream."
Emily chuckles out while approaching our favourite redhead,
"If that were true, then Shiori and I wouldn't be sharing your room."
"Oh, morning, Em. That coffee in your hands?"
"Just for you."
Taking the cup for her hands, April then focuses on my form and Shun's.
"Oh, and we have another guest. (Sniff, sniff) Say, what smells so good?"
Shun answers for us,
"Vegetable Hash and Bacon," and I add,
"With Strawberries!"
"(Slight smile) Sounds good, and, thanks for cooking, you two."
"Hey, one less thing for you to worry about, Ape."
"Just be glad Ari's not here, or she would've tried to add pancakes to the mix."
April forms an understandably confused expression at Shun's comment.
"Is she that bad at cooking?"
"Well, she can boil and fry, but don't let her bake anything unless you want your kitchen to look like World War Three, Batter Edition."
"Oh. Noted..."
Mikey then bounds our way and asks,
"Any way I can help?"
"Well, you can take over the bacon while I get those dishes."
"Sure thing, sis."
We trade places, and just as I fill the sink with some hot soapy water, that's when my brother notices someone missing.
"...Say, where's Leo at?"
Sensei answers,
"He is engaged in his morning exercises."
Don notes with a bit of mild worry as he looks out the window on the other side of the apartment,
"If he doesn't get back soon, he's gonna get soaked. That sky's looking angry..."
A flash of lightning startles me into dropping the cup in my hand, and it plops back into the sudsy water as I cast my eyes to the outside.
Hm, looks like a fall storm...
Hope you do come back before those clouds open up, bro.
Breakfast preparations were soon finished just as I clean that last juice glass, and while Shun and I work on setting the food onto a few larger plates, Mikey and Raph took the responsibility of setting the table...
(Swoop)
"Got it!"
Not that they were doing the exercise very safely. I mean, it would've been fine back home since the risk of broken dishes has become commonplace, but I would've thought they'd have the foresight to be more careful with other people's dishes. Sighing aloud as another plate is thrown and caught, I turn around from the sink and call,
"Guys, can you please not use the plates like shuriken?"
"Relax, Yori, we got this!"
April seemed to disagree as soon as she came out of the bathroom.
"...Ah! No!"
"One more, up high!"
"Not the china!"
"Whoops!"
(...Pap)
Luckily, Emily would save that last plate when Raph misses, occupying an expression I'm very familiar with from those times sensei scolded us for misbehaving.
"Ahem! Gentlemen...if we can avoid any hazards related to broken china, please? I'm sure April would appreciate having most of her plates staying in tact."
I hear an equally familiar sigh of 'kids' from our father behind the morning newspaper, and my brothers nod sheepishly before replying,
"Uh, right. Sorry."
"Sorry, April."
Smiling halfheartedly, our host puts her hair up in a casual bun with her fringes framing her face, and moves to sit in a chair at the dining table Don pulls out for her.
"Don't sweat it. I realize it's tough for eight people to share a one-person apartment."
"We'll be out of your way as soon as we can."
"Don't get me wrong, I love you guys. I really do. It's just, my place is too small."
I say to her,
"If we had thought fast enough, we might've split up so a few of us could've crashed at DLRH and you would've had less bodies to deal with."
Shun jokes,
"Oh sure, and then we'd have to put up with more people."
"You know you love us."
"I like your company; never said love."
We playfully shove eachother as April cuts back in with a barely contained laugh,
"It's okay. I know you all had to think fast before, they found you...If anything, I'm glad to provide a safe place for the people I care about."
Sensei ends the conversation by saying,
"We will leave as soon as the Foot ninja are gone from the tunnels surrounding our home."
With that, we focus on finishing with setting the table, though given how small it is, Shun and I decide to eat our portion of breakfast from the counter, despite a few polite protests...
"This looks awesome, guys!"
I look over to see Mikey giving us the satisfied stomach smile and thumbs-up of approval, and Donnie adds between mouthfuls,
"The peppers are a nice touch."
We smile modestly and chime,
"Thanks," and Raph comments,
"Pays to have a sister, a brother and friends who know how to cook."
...Of course, April and dad couldn't help but take notice of the lack of, neatness my brothers were displaying. I mean, Donnie's a little better off since he's not chewing loudly, but he's still eating with gusto like the other two.
"So, one would think that, table manners would be a part of their training?"
"...One would think."
As Shun and I fight to contain our snickers, Emily comments in her own amusement,
"Oh I've seen worse in the college dorms, believe me. I used to live in frat boy territory at one time ago, so this is pretty tame in my eyes."
"Frat boys? Does that mean you partied?"
She indulges Mikey's curiousity:
"Not as much as some of the other girls, since my studies always came first. (Light smirk) But, I did have a minor reputation on campus as the one woman men should avoid being provocative around, lest they feel my left hook."
"No way!"
Emily lets out a chuckle and nods,
"Way. I distinctly recall one party April and I attended, and this young man with blond hair had the gall to ask me if I wanted to 'have a good time' in the backyard of all places."
What?!
I nearly choked on a strawberry while April adds with her own amused smile,
"In his defense, he was a little wasted by that point...Still, it didn't stop you from kicking the jerk so hard he went crashing into the coffee table with his buddies."
"He was trying to get fresh with me, Ape. What was I supposed to do?"
"Oh, I dunno, slap the guy like a normal woman?"
"Normal? Oh cousin, that ship's sailed since day one."
We all let out a laugh at that statement, and I notice sensei eye Emily with a new level of interest...which made me smirk on the inside while I scooped up another forkful of hash.
Heheh, dad, you're not as subtle as you think you are~...
"Say, shouldn't Leo have been back by now?"
"Hey, out of the four of us, Leo's the one turtle you never have to worry about."
...Hm...
Frowning, I look out the window to watch the rain pour, reluctant to agree with Donnie's judgement, especially with everything going on.
I'll make sure to have something hot for you to eat when you get back, Leo.
...Please don't be too much longer.
Leonardo's POV
It took me about a half-hour (or maybe longer than that), but eventually, I put enough distance between me and those ninja, not to mention enough distance between them and the more vulnerable locations of my family, that I could afford a moment to suck in some well-deserved air...
Or so I thought.
"...Gh!"
Unfortunately, these guys are as persistent as ever, and I nearly curse aloud when I look up to see those six ninja staring me down with their swords at ready...
Oh the heck with it.
I pull out one my own blades, then my second as soon as I back too close to the edge of the roof...and wait until they charge closer before making my move.
"Hyrrrrgah!"
I leap off a few of their shoulders, then split-kick two down before unleashing a flurry of steel and feet against these losers...They go down hard...but as I somewhat expected, this was only the start.
"...Mph!"
I spot three more in the distance, just as the storm clouds above my head release their rain at the sound of a lightning crack...which became a signal for those three ninja to turn into more than a dozen!
Shell...
I knew there was no going back, so I just mentally prepare myself for what's to come...Luckily, the style of the standard Foot grunt hasn't changed much since I last engaged them in battle, and while it did take some energy, I managed to defeat each one.
"Hah, hah, hah..."
Putting my swords away in their scabbards, I wipe my forehead to get rid of the mix of sweat and excess rainwater...only to sense the presence of some arguably tougher opponents.
"Hm?!"
Looking up across the way, I spot three of those Foot Tech Ninjas staring down at me.
Oh great...
I hurry to backflip as they make the grand leap down to my level, and I slip my weapons out with a glare.
Alright...Come at me.
They don't act as quickly as their human counterparts, instead activating their cloaking devices.
"Drh!"
I dart back and forth, waiting for some sort of attack from seemingly nowhere...I get my wish when a ghost kick is dealt to my shell, and I barely stop myself from face-planting. I feel my frustration increase, but try to focus on straining my ears for the sound of footfalls in the growing puddles...
(WHACK)
"Yaaaah!"
I'm suddenly vaulted by an even stronger kick and go flying to the next roof over, landing on my shell. I wouldn't have the time to try and pinpoint their next location, before I'm kicked again and slide into a raised wall.
"Drrrh!"
Shell, this isn't getting me anywhere! Stupid weather...
I swing my swords against the air, but hit nothing and left myself open to being seized by two sets of invisible arms, which don't waste time tossing me off the building!
"Aaaaaaaah!"
No, no, no!
I act fast, putting away one katana and reaching my free hand out to latch onto the ledge of the closest rooftop about halfway down.
"Gh-h!"
Hah...hah...that was too close.
I pull myself up to safer ground...but spot three sets of watery footprints heading my way.
Grh...Okay, time to change tactics.
Drawing a calming breath through my nose, I then shift my mask so it's covering my eyes...
They want a blind fight? They'll get one.
I wait and listen...before dishing out a spin-kick, finally connecting with one of these sneaks. I twirl and re-grip my single katana...then bring it down against the cloaking device of the second Foot Tech, before punting them away with another kick...The last one I dealt with a little more elaborately, by jumping upward and slicing the invisibility module in half as I vault over the ninja, then finish them off with a leap kick.
...Heh.
I move my mask back to its original position, and bow to my opponents before getting a move on.
This probably isn't the end...but I refuse to make it easy for this clan.
No POV
As Leonardo works to keep the enemy at bay, we check back in on his family in April's place, breakfast having been consumed and the dishes currently being taken care of by Donatello and Raphael...Their youngest brother suddenly pops his head from around the corner heading to the bathroom.
"You guys need any help?"
"...Keep him away from the dishes!"
The turtle in the orange bandana mask grins at the stern order from the woman with red velvet hair.
"Yes! It worked!"
He steals himself away, leaving the turtle in the red mask to comment half-jokingly,
"Is it just me, or is he gettin' worse?"
He and Donatello then form frowns when another round of thunder and lightning choruses...
"Leo must be nuts to be out in this weather..."
"Ey, you know Leo and his trainin'. Nothin stops 'im."
Yet even upon saying that, there was no mistaking the worry line in Raphael's brows.
...Where the heck are ya, bro?
Following the rolling clouds, we find the katana-wielding turtle a good distance away from the neighbourhood of his loved ones, still being tailed by members of the Foot Clan...
Fortunately and unfortunately, he wouldn't have to fight more of the Foot Tech Ninjas, they moving aside to allow Hun to walk into view...Leonardo isn't flinched by the hulking man's appearance, instead repositioning his single katana blade forward, then gesturing the latter to make the first move. Letting out a roar, Hun obliges the turtle and charges at him, only for the terrapin to leap out of the way and taunt again. Growling, the beefy blond switches tactics and rips off a thick pipe to use as a makeshift club against the turtle's sword...
After a few blocks, Leonardo is sent flying into a pigeon house after a failed shooting star kick. Letting out a few groans, the turtle hurries to roll upright and grab his sword before leaping over Hun to avoid being crushed by the pipe...He waits for the blond to charge, before shifting swiftly to one side and shoving the human hard against a chimney, forcing them to let go of their weapon before being buried by the bricks!
Grinning slightly, the turtle then turns to the Foot Techs.
"Boo!"
They get spooked and end up falling backwards off the roof, allowing Leonardo the chance to escape again...
"Panthers, Rams, Bears; they even got Dolphins! You'd think they'd have room for somethin' a little more, reptilian."
So is the observation of Raphael, he sitting on the couch in the living room area with Donatello and Shun, watching some football after the turtles finished their turn of cleaning the dishes. We see that Shiori is sitting on the floor at the curtain-banged boy's feet, while April, Emily and Splinter are sitting together at the kitchen table...
Anywho, the tech genius of the terrapin brothers couldn't help but comment on the complaint of diversity.
"The Turtles? My friend, unfortunately, the lowly turtle has been saddled by society with the stereotype of being 'velocity-challenged'."
"...Say what?"
Shun translates,
"He means that people don't think turtles are fast enough for football."
Shiori chimes in,
"Which is totally unfair. I mean, sea turtles can swim a decent speed if you motivate them."
"You mean scare 'em."
"Same-dif...Meanwhile, you've got names like Buffalo Bill and New York Jets. How lazy do you have to be to name a team after an engine?"
Donatello jokes,
"Careful you don't let any die-hard fans hear you make fun of the names. They could try to retaliate."
"Oh please, like I'm scared of superfans? They'd be even easier to take down than Purple Dragons; I guarantee it."
"Alright, let's wait for the rain to stop, and then you can go outside and shout something like-I dunno, 'The Buffalo Bills stink', and we'll see how many fans you have to fight to get back into the shop."
The four teens break into a chorus of laughter over such a thought, and over at the kitchen table, we see the adults fighting down a laugh or two.
"Heheh, how many do you think she would have to fight?"
"I'd say about close to two dozen. This neighbourhood does have a good Buffalo Bill fanbase."
"It would certainly be one of the more challenging fights either of my children has engaged in."
April would then get up to deal with the singing tea kettle, leaving Emily and Splinter to engage in a more, intimate conversation.
"...Hey."
"Hm?"
"Despite the, underlying uncertainty...I'm actually glad we've had more time to, spend in eachother's company."
The woman with dark auburn hair reaches out her left hand to gently hold the rat's right.
"I feel like, these last couple of days have deepened something...Does that sound crazy?"
"...Not at all."
Splinter matches the grip, smiling at Emily with a new shine in his black-brown irises.
"For I have, felt the same."
"Oh...is, that right?"
"Yes..."
...Unbeknownst to the two adults, a pair of honey orbs was watching their interactions, widening slightly when she watches them begin to, lean closer.
Hh! Oh my gosh...Are they...?!
...But just when it looks like something new was about to spark between these old friends...
"May I have your attention please?!"
They're startled out of their atmosphere at Michelangelo's call, and glance over at the turtle with everyone else...
The apartment grows silent...and he lets out a very vocal burp!
...
...
...
The three boys on the couch applaud his efforts like the young males they are, while Shiori facepalms in time with Emily, the latter's cousin opting to mutter a 'eww' before joining them on the action. Poor Splinter could only sigh,
"This is what I live with all the time."
"Please, please, you're too kind!"
(...Whap)
"Oww!"
Rubbing the back of his head, the previously boastful turtle looks over to see his sister giving him a pointed glare.
"What?"
"Your humour has the worst timing sometimes, you know that?"
"Whaddo you mean?"
"Ah-...Oh, nevermind. You won't get it until you get a partner."
That comment just serves to baffle Michelangelo all the more, and he watches Shiori sit down while thinking to himself,
...Girls are so confusing.
Emily in contrast caught onto the meaning rather quickly, barely hiding a smile and blush behind her hand.
Well, nice to know one of the kids is vouching for Splinter and I...
Focusing back on the couch trio, Donatello stops his actions when he realizes just what he was applauding.
"...I can't believe I just clapped for that."
Raphael and Shun hurry to stop themselves as well, the second muttering in disbelief,
"Wow, I never thought I'd reach a point where I'm that bored. Where's my life gone?"
"...That's it."
The sai-wielder then gets to his feet, deciding that his older brother's been gone long enough.
"I'm gonna go look for Leo so we can get dis show on the road. No offense, April, bu' we really need to ge' back to the lair. I'm goin' stir-crazy!"
Shiori gets up and adds,
"That, and you're worried about him...and so am I. I'm going with you, Raph."
Splinter shoots their plans down like fish in a barrel.
"Neither of you are going anywhere until your brother returns. Sit."
...Both teens reluctantly do as their father orders, and Raphael complains,
"Man, what a jib. We gotta sit around on our butts, while Leo's ou' there havin' all the fun!"
Shiori says nothing, instead casting fretful eyes to the disquieting weather, her heart beating with growing concern.
Leo...Where are you, big brother?
Catching up with the terrapin teen in question, the poor boy had only gotten so far down the path back home to his family, but was forced to take another detour when he finds Hun and the Foot chasing him again!...Almost as if he could hear the concern oozing from the souls waiting for him, he thinks to himself,
Don't worry, everyone. I'll be home soon...I hope.
He stops in a slide near the raised edge of yet another unfamiliar rooftop, fighting for some breath as he stares down his foes...Letting out a roar, Leonardo jumps up high and brandishes out his swords once again, unleashing his fury left and right against the enemy ninja. Hun attempts to catch him off-guard in a charge, but the turtle counters by bouncing off an antenna, which whips against the hulking man's face with enough force to make him fall on his back...
Just when it looks like they would engage in hand-to-hand combat, Hun freezes...before grinning and emitting a low chuckle while backing away, just as the Foot soldiers that were still standing straighten and bow to something in the distance. Confused, Leonardo turns his head up to where they were looking...spotting four new foes.
They appear to be ninja from the enemy clan as well, but unlike the usual soldiers, they were dressed more elaborately, donning blood red caped masks that covered up to their noses, matching in colour to their footgear, black bodysuits with ripped sleeves, tan arm guards and kneepads, and Sugegasa, known commonly in the English language as the Asian conical hat. Each of them has their own distinct weapon, they being a yari spear, a jūmonji yari (or magari yari, which is essentially the Japanese equivalent to a trident), an ono battle axe (though with a much larger and sharper blade), and a pole weapon that can only be sanely described as a more sword-inspired version of the Chinese monk's spade.
...Inbetween and in front of them is another more familiar face, thanks to the bad blood forged between him and Talon, and the ō-naginata he carries as his main weapon.
Argon...
The devillock-haired ninja - now donning an outfit similar to the ones behind him, minus the cape and hat - narrows his teal brown irises at the turtle teen, who glares back in return before pulling out his swords and leaping up to attack!
...
But, the five imposing ninja vanish in a smoke cloud before the terrapin could even touch them, and he darts his head back down below to see them reappear with Hun and the other soldiers.
What?
Leonardo would only become more confused, when the whole group suddenly pivots to their left, and bows at yet another arriving figure...
He follows their direct of sight...and felt his blood turn as cold as liquid nitrogen, when he spots the leader of the Foot Clan, The Shredder!
"No..."
No...No way...It can't be!
Sensei, Emily...they finished him! There's no way-!
The poor young ninja was caught so off-guard by Oroku Saki's arrival, that he failed to sense the quintet reappear around him! They waste no seconds in beating the turtle senseless, their skills far greater than the average Foot soldier...Leonardo is soon brought to his knees, panting in exhaustion and feeling the sting of his new bruises and cuts...
Grinding his teeth, he draws on the last of his strength to attack again, but barely manages to block each weapon...before one of the enemy manages to get lucky and completely rid him of his double katana!...He drops to the ground hard, and is quickly restrained by two of the nameless caped ninjas, despite his weak struggles.
"Drh! Nnh!"
"...It's like I told you all before."
The battered turtle glances up to see Argon staring down at him, a mocking gleam in his teal brown irises.
"As long as his followers remain, the Shredder will live on."
The latter leans down and yanks the former's head up harshly by the knot of his mask.
"Nh!"
"Which is more than I can say for you...and your so-called family."
"D-Don't...you, dare...!"
Argon releases his grip on the teen, and meets eyes with his fellow ninja, sharing a nod before stealing away in a cloud of smoke, taking the turtle with them...
By this time, the worry in Second Time Around had spread to everyone with regards to the missing katana-wielder. The boys are currently standing on the carpet near the staircase, glancing at the clock and noticing how close to evening it was becoming. Shiori had moved to sit with the other women, each of whom has since changed into proper outfits. The teenage girl is wearing her paisley monochrome kerchief in her hair like a hachimaki, a fern green tank top, red jeans and a pair of black ankle boots, while April opted for a cream white turtleneck, ultramarine cuffed pants and brown sneakers, and Emily a black long-sleeve v-neck under a red-brown button-down shirt, gray jeans and some simple white canvas shoes.
...This time, it would be Michelangelo who first addresses the elephant in the room.
"Hey, guys? I'm really starting to get worried. Leo should've checked in by now."
"I know this is a first, but, I'm thinking Mikey's right."
Shiori argues back to Donatello,
"He's been right more times than you guys are willing to admit...but that's a topic for another time."
She turns attention to Splinter:
"Sensei, I get that you want us all to keep a low profile...but even you can't ignore this feeling anymore. Something's wrong...We need to track down Leo."
Meeting the eyes of each of his children...the humanoid rat lets out an uneasy breath before uttering only one word.
"...Go."
They don't hesitate, and prepare to head out.
"Geez...What if something really happened to him?"
Michelangelo would come to regret asking that question in less than three seconds, when suddenly-
(CRASH)
The missing turtle is thrown through the largest window of the living room area, taking shattered glass with him in a harsh landing against the floor!
"Uh!" "Hh!"
"Leo!"
"Leo, what happened?!"
Everyone hurries to his side, the other three turtles and Shiori reaching him first.
One look at his badly bruised and cut form sent the girl into a turmoil.
"Leo! Leo, are you okay?! Say something!...Leo...?"
He lets out a few gasps, and barely summons enough strength to open his eyes and blur back to reality.
U-Uh...S-Sister...Bro-thers...S-Sensei...?
"Who did this to you?!"
He isn't able to answer Raphael, instead closing his eyes as he fights to contain another grimace of pain...Standing up with a new fury burning in his blood, the turtle with the red mask slips out his sais and prepares to head out the same way his injured sibling came in.
"I'm gonna find out who did this!"
...However...
"N-No! Raph...wait..."
He immediately turns back around and returns to Leonardo's side on his request...The katana-wielder gestures him and his other siblings closer, before uttering the following warning.
"H-He's, back...The, Shredder."
With that, the eldest turtle passes out, leaving everyone in the apartment to grapple with a new wave of fear hitting their shoreline...
...
...
Across the way atop another building, the four fiercely-dressed ninja and Argon eye Second Time Around with interest, before turning to meet eyes with their leader.
"...Master."
They drop down and bow on one knee, the devillock-haired soul holding up the double katana that belonged to their victim...
Saki wanders over and takes the swords for his own gloved hands, holding them high in the air...before bending them hard and snapping them in two!
...
Shards of metal dance in the stormy winds,
the lightning capturing an image of their helpless terror amplified by the laugh uttered by their destroyer,
their eradicator,
that madman of a clan leader.