25. Night of the Ōzatō

It had taken them forty minutes to locate the wax tool. Though Michelangelo had been certain that he could use his powers to find it quickly, Donatello had nixed the idea of him going into the water with his burned hands.

Casey had gotten antsy and had called twice. He was full of questions when he picked them up, especially after seeing Mikey's hands and the injuries that Don had sustained.

Raphael and Mikey, with some help from Don, told the story of the capture to their friend on the drive back to the city. Leonardo was quiet as he flipped through the remainder of the journal containing the Kijo entry.

April was waiting for them when they got back to the house.

"I talked Master Splinter into going to bed," April told them as the group gathered in the kitchen. "Master Hidesato was sleeping fitfully until a little over an hour ago."

Don glanced over at Leo. "Do you think he sensed our fight?"

"We had to use our combined energy," Leo said. "We almost lost the wax tool." He nodded. "I think he felt that and unfortunately, the Council probably felt it too."

"Great, just great," Raph grumbled, starting to pace. "That's exactly what we need to top this all off, those jokers asking questions again."

"Does this mean I need to have another meeting with them?" April asked, looking alarmed. "I'm not sure how I got through the first one."

"We'll consult Mr. Hidesato in the morning," Leo said. "He'll let us know if the Council needs to be reassured again before he's able to meet with them himself."

"That's not going to help me sleep," April said. "I suppose it's the best answer I'll get at this time of night. Donny, do you need help with those cuts? They look pretty nasty."

Donatello had been so concerned with the burns on Mikey's hands that he hadn't paid much notice to the gashes on his arms and thighs, but at April's mention they started to throb.

"I got the bleeding to stop," Don said, "but I need to clean them better. Diving back into the river water to collect the wax tool probably wasn't the best plan."

"We can help him with that," Raph said. "Why don't the two of ya' go up to bed?"

"Do you think we could go back to my apartment instead?" April asked. "I've been neglecting the shop. I really should be there to open up in the morning."

"I don't see why not," Don said with a glance at Leo. "Mr. H has the intercom next to his bed and can call out if he needs anything."

"Go ahead, April," Leo said. "This whole situation has disrupted your life enough."

April laughed. "What you call a situation is what I call a normal day. At least since I met you guys." She dropped a kiss on Don's cheek. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Whatcha want me to do with the truck?" Casey asked. "Can't leave it parked out in front of this fancy house."

"Who wants food?" Mikey asked as he started pulling things from the refrigerator. "I'm starving."

"Watch the hands, Mikey," Don called out.

"Could you drive it to the shop? Is that okay with you, April?" Leo asked.

"Sure. We'll park it behind my van," April said. "Come on, Casey, let's get our things and head out. We can manage a couple of hours sleep before we have to open up."

She led the way out of the kitchen with Casey trailing along behind her. He looked back over his shoulders at the turtles and winked. "That's the royal 'we'."

Raph walked over to where Mikey stood in front of the open freezer and shoved him back. Taking a bag of frozen chicken wings from his younger brother, Raph asked, "What did Don just tell you about your hands?"

"But I'm hungry," Mikey all but whined. "Hungry!"

"Oh, geez, when ain't ya' hungry?" Raph looked over at Leo. "Why don't ya' take Donny-boy downstairs and fix up those cuts while I make something for the bottomless pit here?"

"Let Raph do the cooking, Mikey. If you don't stop using your hands I'm going to put you in a straightjacket," Don admonished.

Mikey's expression brightened. "That could be fun."

"Yeah?" Raph asked, eyes gleaming. "Let me stick some food in the oven and then you and me can find something to do in the laundry room while we wait for it to cook. No hands required."

Upon arriving in the infirmary downstairs, Don hopped up on the end of the exam table and sat with his legs dangling over the edge while Leo gathered some medical supplies. The Kijo's long toenails had dug into Don's thighs and Leo dealt with those injuries first, carefully cleaning and wrapping them.

Leo examined the gouges on Don's arm next. "You got lucky; no stitches needed. I can pull the wounds closed with butterfly bandages."

"I don't feel so lucky," Don replied as his brother set to work cleansing his arm. "She slashed through my protective bubble like it was nothing. Did you hear what she said to me?"

"She spoke?" Leo asked with a frown.

"Yeah. She said she was going to eat my magic and then eat all of us," Don answered. "That's what the Reiki did to Raph's power when we fought it. We need to be more aware of the strength of each of the yokai because apparently some of them can take our magic."

There was a thoughtful look on Leo's face as he used bandages to pull the wounds on Don's arm closed. "Our magic is too close to the surface, too... tenuous. It's more like it's attached to us rather than inside of us. Does that make sense?"

"I think so," Don said. "You mean it seems more like clothing that we could slip right out of and not an actual metabolic change."

"Yes, I think that describes it best," Leo said. "We're using the magic because we've discovered we have it, but we're not embracing it. I'm pretty sure Mikey even avoids using his if he can because of the side effects."

"He isn't the only one," Don said, looking hard at his brother. "You try not to sleep just so you can dodge the dreams. Don't even try to deny it."

Leo patted his arm. "I won't. You know me too well."

As he began cleaning up and putting away the supplies, Don asked, "So what has this little epiphany told you?"

"That we keep talking about practice sessions for our powers but we haven't actually done much about it," Leo said. "If we are going to succeed at this, we're going to have to fully accept and control the gifts we've been given. We're going to have to give ourselves over to it."

They were quiet for a moment. Don climbed down from the table and turned towards his brother. "Leo, I want to tell Raph and Mikey about Emiko. They need to know everything that we know. I have a feeling that it's going to be very important for us not to keep anything at all from each other. I keep getting this image in my mind of a set of gears, with us being the gears, and the things we don't share are missing teeth on those gears. Without those teeth, forward motion is limited or thwarted altogether."

Leo chuckled. "Why am I not surprised that you would come up with a mechanical reference to make your point?" He sobered. "I have to admit that it's a good analogy. But Donny, you were the one who thought we should keep the information about Emiko to ourselves."

"I know, but Mr. H is awake now and I can ask his permission," Don said. He took a breath. "Rather, I can inform him that I'm going to tell Mike and Raph. He has to understand why he shouldn't keep things from us." He remembered Mr. Hidesato's request after the Reiki fight. "For things medically related, I'll still need his permission, but I'll make it clear how his hiding anything from us increases our danger."

"Do you think he keeps things to himself because he doesn't want to appear weak in our eyes?" Leo asked. "I sometimes worry that Master Splinter does that."

Don set a hand on his brother's shoulder. "They aren't like us, Leo. They're both aging. Due to his mutation, Father is aging much more slowly than a normal rat would, but he's still getting older. We aren't."

"And we have to accept that," Leo finished for him. "I know, we've talked about it. Forever is a long time."

They leaned into each other, foreheads touching. "Forever together doesn't sound so bad to me," Don whispered.

Knowing their brothers were likewise occupied, Leo and Don remained in the infirmary for a while, their gentle lovemaking easing both body and mind.

Before going to bed later, they cleaned the river water off of their bodies. Leo gave Don a sponge bath so as not to get his bandages wet. They were just dozing off when Raph and Mikey joined them, both smelling of soap.

Leonardo was the first to rise the next morning. He was on his way downstairs when he heard the teakettle begin to whistle and stepped into the kitchen to find that Master Splinter was brewing tea.

"Good morning, Sensei," Leo said, bowing to his father. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you for asking, my son," Master Splinter said. "Some tea?"

"Please," Leo replied, watching as his father poured out two cups.

"Come, let us sit." Master Splinter led the way to the table after handing a cup to his son.

Just as they sat down, a low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. Leo looked out of the window and though it was early and quite dark outside, he did catch a glimpse of lightning.

"It's been a very wet month," Leo commented before taking a sip of his tea. "Usually this is the driest month of the year."

"Have you thought that perhaps the atmospheric changes are due to the release of the yokai?" Master Splinter asked.

Leo appeared startled. "No, that never entered my mind. Is it possible?"

"They have powers too. It would not come as a surprise to me that some of the creatures are working to change the weather to suit their own ends. Or it could be that simply being loose has had an effect on our weather patterns. The power in the ley lines is not necessarily always passive; it can be reactive as well," Master Splinter answered.

A bright flash of lightning made them both squint. It was followed by a loud boom of thunder that seemed to rattle the windows.

"I wonder if that's a message from Enma," Leo mused. "I'm pretty sure we've got his attention."

Master Splinter looked at his son. "Did you dream last night?"

"No, I got nothing." Leo drank half of his cooling tea. "I think I preferred the dreams over the visions. Those happen at the most unexpected times."

Before his father had a chance to respond, Raph strolled into the kitchen. "I saw ya' was up," he said, looking at Leo. "Good morning, Sensei."

"Good morning, Raphael," Master Splinter replied. "You slept well?"

"Up until the thunder jolted me out of bed," Raph said. Another crack of thunder seemed to emphasize his statement. "Damn, sounds like it's right on top of us."

He grabbed the coffee pot and filled it with water before putting a measured amount of coffee into the filter in the machine. As he poured in the water, lightning brightened the kitchen, followed by a clap of thunder. The lights flickered.

"Whoa!" Mikey exclaimed as he entered the kitchen. "Who hacked off Mother Nature? Was it Raph?"

"What got ya' out of bed? Ya' normally sleep through everything short of the ceiling falling on your head," Raph countered.

"Donny woke me," Mikey said, "and Mr. H woke him. Or at least the sound of him moving around did. Don got worried and went to check on him. He said I should bring up a cup of tea and some dry toast. I got the impression I didn't need to put a rush on that."

"Then you should sit and have your breakfast," Master Splinter said. "Raphael will bring you something to eat while you tell me how you hurt your hands."

"Ooh, I want pancakes, and bacon, and eggs sunny side . . . ." Mikey stopped talking when he spotted Raph's scowl. "On second thought, just some cereal."

Donatello had moved quickly once he realized the sounds that woke him were coming from Mr. Hidesato's room. He had been harboring a fear that the man would try to do too much too soon, which was part of the reason Don had made certain that they all kept a watchful eye on him.

Now standing in front of the man's bedroom door, Don took a deep breath to calm himself and hide his worry, and then tapped on the door. He was relieved to hear Mr. Hidesato speak in a firm, strong voice when inviting Don to enter.

Don's eyes swept over the empty bed as he came into the room and then he located Mr. Hidesato standing in front of a window. The man had pulled open the curtains and was looking outside.

"I heard you moving around and thought you might need assistance," Don said, to explain his presence.

"I am quite well, actually. Thank you for your concern," Mr. Hidesato said. He turned around and smiled. "All functions are normal."

"Any pain?" Don asked as he moved farther into the room.

"A twinge or two if I exert myself." He added hastily. "Do not worry, I am trying to avoid exerting myself."

Don relaxed. "It's okay, it's good for you to move around more at this juncture. It will help you heal faster. Just no heavy lifting, okay? I would like to do a wound check, if it's convenient."

"Of course." Mr. Hidesato walked back over to the bed and shrugged out of his bathrobe before sitting on the edge.

Before going to him, Don grabbed the bag containing the medical supplies off of the dresser. He carefully removed the old bandaging and examined Mr. Hidesato's wound, relieved to see that it was in an advanced state of healing.

"Do you suppose I could forgo a new dressing until I have bathed?" Mr. Hidesato asked. "Being clean has always made me feel better."

"I'll tell you what, I'll put a bandage on your wounds but I won't add the wrapping just yet," Don answered. "Mikey's bringing up tea and toast. Once you've eaten, you can take a shower, not a bath. Let me know when you're done and I'll return to finish dressing the wounds."

He was about to say more when thunder seemed to roll over the house, shaking it and making the lights flicker again.

"Does this city often have storms of such magnitude?" Mr. Hidesato asked.

"The occasional hurricane," Don said. "Some pretty wicked snowstorms. The weather forecast didn't predict this storm. They were calling for partly cloudy skies with a zero percent chance of rain. This isn't the time of year when we usually get much rain."

"I see that your capture of the Kijo did not go as smoothly as you would have liked," Mr. Hidesato said, nodding towards the bandages on Donatello's arm and thighs. "I hope that no one else sustained any injuries."

"Mikey's hands were hurt a little. Everyone else is all right." Don didn't want to be the one to elaborate. "Leo will come up later and give you a full report. The main thing is that we got her."

Mr. Hidesato stood up and donned his bathrobe once more. "No, Donatello, the main thing is that all of you are in one piece."

"Thank you," Don said. It didn't surprise him that Mr. Hidesato would worry about them, though Raph might debate that, but it was the first time that the man had expressed the sentiment. "We try not to think about being hurt when we go into a fight of any sort. Of course we do our best to avoid injury, but overthinking the possibilities clouds the mind and can actually lead to harm. Any time we were hurt in the course of a battle, we had Master Splinter to care for us."

"Your father has checked my wound a few times since he has been here," Mr. Hidesato said. "He has a delicate touch and a mastery of pressure points. If only he had trained with more than one master, he would have been a great warder."

"The best," Don said. He cleared his throat. "Mr. Hidesato, I need to tell my brothers about Emiko."

"One moment." Mr. Hidesato had walked near the window again, but now he moved back to his bedside table in order to turn off the intercom. He indicated a chair and when Don sat down, Mr. Hidesato did so as well. "You have told none of them?"

"I told Leo," Don said, "but not Mike or Raph. Keeping it from them makes me feel out of sorts. They deserve to know everything that I know." He flipped over a hand. "After you and I talked, I learned that Emiko was your wife."

Mr. Hidesato was quiet for a moment and Don watched him with some trepidation. The man was an expert at hiding his emotions and there was no way to tell if he was upset or angry.

Finally, Mr. Hidesato sighed. "I think I knew in my subconscious that you would investigate further and would learn that I had once been married. The reason I had not shared this information was that I did not want to be pitied. It was not due to a desire to keep secrets from you four. I loved Emiko very much and her loss nearly destroyed me."

"I can understand that," Don said, his voice soft. "And for something so deeply personal I would normally never insist on sharing such news."

"Except for the fact that Emiko became a grudge spirit," Mr. Hidesato stated for him. "When my past can do harm in the present, it is necessary to know that past. I understand, Donatello."

There was a knock on the door. Donatello got up to open it and found Leo standing there with a tray.

"Toast and tea," Leo said. "I brought it because I thought you might like to have breakfast with Raph and Mikey."

A look passed between the brothers and Don nodded. "Yes, I would. Mr. Hidesato is going to take a shower after he eats and then call for me so I can re-wrap his wounds."

He left the room, pulling the door closed behind him. Mr. Hidesato cleared a space on the bedside table and Leo set the tray down.

"I thought you might like a report of last night's capture, unless Don has filled you in?" Leo asked.

Mr. Hidesato lifted his tea cup but before drinking said, "Please sit. He told me that you would give me a full report."

While Leo did so, Mr. Hidesato had his breakfast. There was a teapot on the tray and Mr. Hidesato refilled his cup as Leo completed his tale of the Kijo capture by explaining how they had sealed the coin after having lost the wax tool.

Mr. Hidesato paused with his cup halfway to his mouth and then slowly lowered it. "Michelangelo was able to seal the coin with his power?"

"Almost. It took a combination of all of our powers to complete the process."

"For a time last night my sleep was not restful," Mr. Hidesato said. "I was sensing something and the combined use of your powers was probably the cause."

"We had no choice. The Kijo was more formidable than we could have known. Allowing her to escape the coin would have been devastating," Leo explained.

"I am not going to offer a reprimand, if that is what concerns you. Warders must do as they see fit during a capture in order to make that capture," Mr. Hidesato said. He sipped tea. "If the Council needs to be placated, Mr. Juma will let me know. I am well enough now to meet with them, though Donatello may fuss at me. What interests me most is that Michelangelo not only thought to turn himself into a wax tool, but that he was able to manifest that ability so quickly."

"Never underestimate Mikey," Leo said with a smile. "He has hidden depths and I'm not sure we've even touched the surface of his talent."

"The ones who are the most disarming usually do," Mr. Hidesato said. "His hands?"

"First degree burn," Leo answered. "Don has applied a salve, which he'll do a couple of times each day until the burn heals, and he's making Mikey keep a sterile wrap around his hands. Mikey is of course milking it for all he's worth and using it as an excuse to avoid housework."

Mr. Hidesato set his tea cup down. "Donatello told me that he has informed you of my relationship with Emiko and that he will be telling your brothers as well. Judging from the look that passed between you, I am assuming he is doing so now."

"You are our guide in this endeavor, the person we must trust in order to accomplish a successful capture of the escaped yokai," Leo said, taking his time as he chose his words. "We have to believe that you aren't keeping things from us or there will suspicion, unwarranted or not."

"Years of living alone, of guarding my secrets from the world, have made me overly cautious," Mr. Hidesato replied. "I realize that Raphael has sensed this in me, because he is highly intuitive. Donatello seeks to understand, to give the benefit of the doubt, because of his great capacity for empathy."

"With Donatello you speak freely. You offer more of yourself to him, more of your history and your thoughts. I would like for you and I to communicate in that fashion as well," Leo said. "Perhaps if Raph feels that I know all that you know, his suspicions will ease."

"You are a leader, Leonardo," Mr. Hidesato said. "When you speak to someone, you weigh and measure their every word. You seek the balance in what they are saying, and if you find it lacking, you assign suspicion to what you have been told. That is what a leader should do. However, your concerns are partly what Raphael senses. I acknowledge that it is my fault you all feel this way. I have been enigmatic and aloof."

Leo leaned forward. "We aren't asking that you bare your soul to us. There are things all of us would prefer to keep to ourselves. But you have to ask yourself if the things you aren't telling us have a bearing, direct or indirect, on the job we've undertaken. If the answer is yes, then it's imperative that you speak up."

"Donatello expressed the same to me," Mr. Hidesato said. "As much as I would like to bury the past, or certain aspects of it, I have to remember that when dealing with yokai, past pain is of no consequence."

A brilliant flash of light outside was followed almost immediately by thunder. The lights flickered and dimmed, before coming on again.

"We may lose power," Leo said. "When we're at home, we have a generator that takes over during outages."

"There is one here as well," Mr. Hidesato said. "And a plentiful supply of candles."

The mention of candles reminded Leo of something he wanted to address. "You once said that you could teach us a mental exercise meant to focus one's inner power. Mikey shouldn't have to burn his hands in order to use his gift. None of us should have to suffer such harmful side-effects of the powers we have."

"Then let us have a meditation session together," Mr. Hidesato said. "I can guide all of you. It will benefit me as well, as touching the power of the symbols speeds the healing process."

"We'll do it here, in your room," Leo said. "Don will insist that you not attempt the stairs just yet."

"He can dress my wounds before we begin," Mr. Hidesato said. He smiled. "I will take the shower he has so kindly given me permission for."

"We'll report here in an hour, if that sounds good," Leo said as he stood and picked up the tray.

"Yes, very good. An hour."

Leo left him and took the tray to the kitchen. He wasn't surprised to see his brothers and Master Splinter gathered around the kitchen table.

"So, Emiko was his wife and he got her killed," Raph said in a low, dangerous tone.

"You passing judgment without knowing all the facts, Raph?" Leo asked.

Raph glowered at him. "I guess we'd have all of them facts if he didn't make a habit out of lying to us."

"It was an omission, not a lie," Don said.

"Potato, tomato," Raph snapped. "As far as I'm concerned, leaving stuff out is still hiding the truth."

"There are some things that are simply too painful for people to speak of," Splinter said. "The death of my Master Yoshi . . . it is not something I share with those who are not closest to me."

Lightning flashed, with the boom of thunder right on its heels. This time the lights went out completely.

"Oh great," Mikey mumbled.

Before anyone had a chance to move, the lights came back on. "Mr. Hidesato said that the house has a generator," Leo told his family.

Normally Don would have asked about that, but Leo saw that the genius was focused on Raph. Don lightly set the tips of his fingers on the back of Raph's arm to hold his attention.

"It's really painful to me to think about some of the bad stuff that's happened to us, but it's worse when I remember the things I myself have done," Don said, his voice soft. "It hurts and it's embarrassing and so I bury it. You've been there, Raph, we all have."

"She was his wife, Raphie," Mike said. "He thought he'd spend the rest of his life with her."

Leo walked over to the table. "If something ever happened to one of you . . . ."

His voice trailed off. From where he was standing, he could see a film of moisture on Raph's eyes, and then his brother blinked rapidly to clear them.

"Yeah," Raph said, sounding gruff. He cleared his throat. "Okay. I get ya'. Are we done with the sappy stuff now?"

"Is there anything else we haven't been told?" Mikey asked, looking from Don to Leo.

"Nothing," Don answered as he too looked at Leo.

Leo shook his head. "That's everything that I'm aware of. Along those same lines though, I did arrange with Mr. Hidesato for the four of us to join him in his room in about forty-five minutes. He has agreed to teach us a mental exercise that will help us strengthen our warder gifts."

Mikey looked at his hands. "I'd say mine is pretty strong already."

"It is strong, but you should also have the control to prevent it from hurting you when you use it," Leo said.

"Is he gonna teach me to do that?" Mikey asked hopefully. "'Cause that would make this whole power thing a lot more awesome."

"It will only work if we trust him," Leo said, looking at Raph.

Raph made a face. "How about I trust you? If something seems hinky about this mental thing, you're gonna be the one to sense it first anyway."

"I have spent time with Mr. Hidesato," Splinter said. "I do not perceive of any evil in him, but he is a man with secrets. I believe you can trust him to make you as strong as you can possibly be, if for no other reason than it benefits him to have these creatures recaptured. He will not knowingly have you face unnecessary risks."

"Hope that goes for Casey and April too," Raph said. "'Cause having Casey do dangerous stunts don't seem to bother Mr. H at all."

"He has great respect for Miss O'Neil," Splinter said. "Casey Jones is important to her, so by proxy, he will be important to Mr. Hidesato."

Raph snorted. "Yeah, unless he figures Casey's holding her back or something."

Leo decided to change the subject. "How about we spend the next forty-five minutes in the dojo doing stretching exercises?"

Don stood up. "Releasing some endorphins sounds like a good plan to me."

When they completed their mini-workout session, Raph appeared to be in a better mood. It helped that he was paired with Mikey for the partner stretching exercises. The younger turtle was the most flexible of the brothers and always offered a challenge, which Raph found exhilarating. He would never admit that, but Mikey, with his incredible insight, knew.

At the appointed time, the four turtles climbed the stairs to Mr. Hidesato's room. The door was open and they entered to find that the lights were out and the interior lit only by candles.

Mr. Hidesato turned from the window when he heard them. He indicated the large, circular rug which covered a good portion of the floor and said, "Please, sit. Assume whatever position is most comfortable to you while meditating."

There was a scroll lying on a section of carpet nearest the bed and the turtles sat in a semi-circle facing it. While they were arranging themselves, Mr. Hidesato carefully drew the curtains. They did not keep out all of the light from the flashes of lightning, but they were effective in keeping too much of the brilliance from reaching the room.

Once he was satisfied that the lighting was properly muted, Mr. Hidesato picked up the scroll and sat crossed-legged on the carpet. He moved slowly and carefully, quite aware that Donatello was watching him.

"For hundreds of years, my family has protected human-kind," Mr. Hidesato began, placing the scroll in the center of their circle. "We have been Gokuri – keepers, jailers, or the term we tend to use most often – warders. Our calling requires that we prevent the legendary creatures from roaming free. That is our primary task."

He looked around at the turtles, pleased to see that all were attentive. "In order to do this job, we soon found, we had to acquire a level of magic that was equal to or greater than what our adversaries possessed. We had to become stronger, not just physically and mentally, but spiritually as well. Only by being completely in touch with our inner-being could we access the true power of our core selves. This is the power that fuels the symbols. This is the power that makes each of your gifts unique to you."

"I thought we were the only ones to ever have these gifts," Mikey said.

Mr. Hidesato nodded once as acknowledgment. "This is true. Never have there been warders with such incredible powers. There have, however, been warders with special abilities. Warders who were born with extra-sensory perception. The warder brand enhanced the gifts they had been born with."

Don stroked his chin, a gesture he was prone to when deep in thought. "Perhaps it's the combination of our natural survival instincts as turtles, and the mutagen that changed us, which makes the magic function differently in us."

"That would account for your enhanced abilities," Mr. Hidesato said. "The level of your training must also be credited, as well as the close bond you four share. However, you have come so far, so quickly, that you have not grown into your gifts, rather, they have become nearly unmanageable."

Raph snorted in a derisive fashion. "They haven't grown enough to keep some of these damn creatures from busting right through our defenses."

"I have given this some thought," Mr. Hidesato said. He took a deep breath and exhaled. "There has been little else I could do while in recovery. While it is true that you four are the strongest, most gifted warders throughout our recorded history, it is also apparent that the escaped yokai are also strengthening, changing."

"Father says they are drawing power from the ley lines," Leo said.

"Possibly some of your power extends from them as well," Mr. Hidesato said. "Or it may be that to maintain the balance between good and evil magic, the yokai are adapting to your abilities. We can only guess, but perhaps Lord Enma is balancing the scale."

"Maybe that's why Leo feels like we're being watched sometimes," Raph offered.

"Much of my knowledge about the yokai, that which isn't in the journals, is anecdotal," Mr. Hidesato said. "Verbal stories handed down through generations. For example, I do not recall my father ever mentioning the Reiki being quite so bold as to make itself known to not just one, but several warders. Nor do I know of anyone who ever heard a Taka nyūdō speak. And then there is the Kijo."

He paused and Don prompted him. "What about the Kijo? Other than she broke through my protective bubble without much effort."

"My concern is with the level of sophistication the creature exhibited in its destructive intent," Mr. Hidesato said. "She settled near a dam, a location that would not have afforded her nearly as many victims as choosing somewhere inside the city. She was not only taking tourists as her victims, but also workers charged with caring for the dam itself. It was as though she knew the city needed that water and was preparing something more damaging than merely killing people who crossed her path."

"Are you saying the creatures are making plans?" Mikey asked. He looked at Leo. "Please tell me he didn't just say the creatures are making plans."

"There is not enough evidence to support that theory," Mr. Hidesato said, "but it is something we cannot discount entirely. Most creatures of different origins do not communicate or interact. There are exceptions, of course. The Suiko and Kappa are one such exception, in that they have a hierarchy within what is known as water goblins."

Mikey put a hand to his temple. "My head's gonna explode. Do we have to know all of this?"

"It would help," Mr. Hidesato said. "It will require study and research in order to acquire the knowledge."

"Leave Mikey out then," Raph said. "Stuff goes in one ear and out the other."

"Har-de-har-har." Mikey stuck his tongue out at his brother.

"Focus you two," Leo chided.

"You must remember that Yokai came into being throughout the whole of Japan," Mr. Hidesato said. "Here they are remaining inside a much smaller area. The chances of two separate creatures encountering one another are much greater. Whether they battle for dominance or join forces matters not to us."

"Either of those things spells trouble," Don said.

Mr. Hidesato nodded. "Exactly. To counter that, you four must achieve a greater level of control over the powers you have acquired."

"If we grow stronger, won't Lord Enma just try to balance the other side as well?" Leo asked.

"Enma Daiō's chief duty is to judge the souls of the dead," Mr. Hidesato answered. "His wish is to save each soul from damnation. Our warder magic comes in part from him, as one of the series of tests and trials he forces these creatures to endure. The fact that the world is not overrun by yokai is only partly due to our efforts, it is also because many of these tortured souls regain their humanity."

Don appeared thoughtful. "So if they can grow past the desire for vengeance or whatever else has driven them to become a yokai, they can move on?"

"Yes. They move on and they avoid the eternal suffering in hell," Mr. Hidesato said.

"So, like, what we do doesn't just save humans, but souls too?" Mikey asked. "That's pretty awesome."

"It would be if we'd seen any that looked repentant," Raph groused. "Which we haven't."

"Do not lose hope," Mr. Hidesato told him. "Only time will tell. Now, let us begin to work on strengthening your connection to your powers."

He carefully unrolled the scroll. On it were symbols and characters that Leo recognized as a written language that predated kanji.

Mr. Hidesato waved a hand over the scroll and began a murmured incantation. Sitting quietly, the turtles watched as the lettering on the scroll started to glow.

As soon as it did, Mr. Hidesato straightened and placed the backs of his hands on his thighs. He looked at each of the turtles in turn before speaking again.

"Rest your branded arm across your thigh, keeping it relaxed," he instructed. "Close your eyes and look inside yourselves. As you do so, use your other hand to trace the symbols on your arm. In your mind, see those symbols and follow them. No matter what else appears in your mind, remain with the symbols. Follow them. Let them guide you to the inner core of your being, to the place where they have settled. Find that core. It is the source of your gifts and your strength."

The brothers did as instructed, each relaxing into their own minds. One by one they found the symbols inside of themselves, discovering that the symbols shone with their own individual colors.

Mr. Hidesato watched them, looking for any outward sign of discomfort or agitation. All the while he murmured encouragements, urging them to slowly go deeper.

Leonardo's fingers slid across the symbols on his arm, a subconscious action now that his mind moved deeper into his psyche. The shining blue symbols he followed fluttered just out of reach, and as he went after them, they lead him toward a rippling sea, its tranquil waters beckoning.

He plunged into them, overcome by a feeling of warmth and contentment. The water gave the sensation of weightlessness and Leonardo allowed himself to float in its grip. All around him images played across the glittering water and he found that he could pick and choose which to examine more closely. He practiced removing himself from the visions, learning how to do so with seeming ease.

That feeling of mastering his visions emboldened Leo. Nearby floated an opening in the water; an opening so dark that Leo could not catch even a fleeting glimpse of what was inside. He swam closer to it, seeking to see past the blackness, when it suddenly engulfed him.

Mr. Hidesato observed the warder symbols on each of his students' arms begin to glow. Their bodies were relaxed, fingers slowly tracing the symbols, their faces expressionless. He began to feel power emanate from each of them, power stronger than any he had ever experienced.

Michelangelo's entire body was suddenly bathed in a bright orange light. A sort of sigh escaped his lips as the light slowly left other parts of his form to pool in his hands.

Donatello was likewise covered in shining purple, with darker patches of that color gathering around his injuries. Next to him, Raphael had manifested the color most associated with him, the vigor of his passions causing the red to pulse energetically.

The blue luminousness that surrounded Leonardo's body began to grow slowly outward before spiraling into a thick cloud above his head. Mr. Hidesato was fascinated by the phenomenon, curious to see what would happen next, when Leo suddenly jerked.

Alarmed, Mr. Hidesato saw the quick movement of Leonardo's eyes beneath his closed lids. Whatever he was viewing, it was clearly time to draw the young turtle back.

Waving a hand once more over the scroll, Mr. Hidesato spoke a few words. The symbols on the parchment faded rapidly and then Mr. Hidesato clapped his hands together.

"Warders, return!"

The colors surrounding the turtles snapped off like someone had flipped a switch. Three of them immediately opened their eyes, but Leonardo took a moment longer to come back to reality. Mr. Hidesato felt instant relief at his return.

"My hands!" Mikey exclaimed as he unwrapped the gauze. "They're all right!"

He practically shoved his hands into Raph's face. "Damn," Raph said before turning to Don. "What about your wounds?"

Donatello carefully lifted a bandage away from one of his thigh injuries. The skin had healed completely.

"Amazing," Don murmured, next examining his injured arm and finding it too no longer carried wounds. "How about you, Mr. H?"

"I didn't meditate," Mr. Hidesato replied. "My concern was to guide the four of you."

"Man, I hate to say it, but that felt good," Raph said. "First time that it's seemed like I got some control over this thing." He suddenly noticed that his oldest brother was very quiet. "Ya' doing okay, Leo?"

"I'm fine. It was a very good session." He stood up and stretched. When he turned to walk away, his toe caught Donatello's knee and he stumbled.

His brothers jumped to their feet and Raph grabbed Leo's arm to steady him. "Ya' ain't fine," Raph said, noting the blank expression on Leo's face. "What's going on?"

"I really am okay," Leo responded, "other than the fact that I can't see."

Don hopped in front of him. "What do you mean you can't see?"

"I'm blind, Donny. Completely blind."

Raph spun around, glaring angrily at Mr. Hidesato, who was also standing. "What happened to him? What'd ya' do?"

"I assure you this has nothing to do with our meditation," Mr. Hidesato said. "Leonardo, what occurred during your mental quest?"

Leo's brow furrowed. "There were images flashing past me, but I could stop and explore them easily, moving on from each with no problems. I spotted an area of darkness and went to investigate. As soon as I entered I realized something was wrong, but it closed in on me and I couldn't escape."

"It was a vision, I am sure of it," Mr. Hidesato said. "It touched and blinded you. Was there anything else, a sound perhaps?"

"Hmm. . . yes, as a matter of fact. I heard music. It sounded like a lute," Leo answered.

"Does that mean something?" Mikey asked.

"I believe that Leonardo has encountered an Ōzatō," Mr. Hidesato said. "It's name translates as 'giant zatō'. Ōzatō resemble the blind entertainers who were a protected class of people during the Edo period. During that time, the zatō had a near monopoly over the shamisen and biwa performances, over the massage businesses and debt collectors. Some became so powerful and corrupt that they turned into Ōzatō, doomed to wander the streets, especially in red light districts."

"We were inside ourselves!" Raph shouted. "We were touching the damn symbols that are supposed to be protecting us! How could some damn creature get to him?"

"Raph, please." Leo touched his brother's arm.

"He went to it, that's how," Don said. He turned to Mr. Hidesato. "Am I right?"

"Yes, this is the best explanation." Mr. Hidesato rubbed his chin. "You all accessed your powers in order to commune with them, to connect on a deeper level. There was no danger nearby, so your powers remained dormant while you explored them. But Leonardo's gift has a far reach. It activated and did what is natural for it to do; it found a yokai."

"Peachy, just peachy," Raph growled. "So now what?"

"So now we find and capture the Ōzatō," Leo said.

"How exactly are we gonna do that when ya' can't see?" Raph asked.

Leo chuckled. "I don't need to see to be a ninja, Raph."

"Yeah? Well, ya' kinda need to see to be able to tell us where we find this bastard," Raph snapped.

"If the things made their money in red light districts, wouldn't they still be drawn to red light districts?" Mikey asked. He shrugged. "Just saying. Go with what you know."

"Was there anything else, Leo? You heard music; did you smell anything?" Don asked.

"Flowers," Leo answered. "Something sweet, too sweet actually. It was only there for a second."

"Perfume," Mr. Hidesato said.

"Hookers splash that crap on themselves to cover other scents so they can keep working all night," Raph said.

"Is there an area considered to be a red light district in the city?" Mr. Hidesato asked.

"A few of 'em," Raph said. "If we're gonna include music, that'll knock it down a little."

"I heard the rattle of train tracks," Leo said.

"Like from an elevated line?" Don asked him.

"Yes."

"The industrial area of East New York in Brooklyn," Raph said. "Ya' probably heard the L train at Livonia station. There's a couple of elevated stations in the Alabama Ave and Wortman Ave area, but Livonia's the halfway point along the area the prostitutes work."

"You know way too much about that, Raphie," Mikey said.

"The music?" Don asked.

"There's a few bars, some massage parlors, and street performers," Raph said. "I mean, if this blind yokai's gonna be someplace that's like its old haunt, that'd be the spot."

"What else can you tell us about the Ōzatō?" Leo asked. "Does it kill?"

"The Ōzatō does not kill," Mr. Hidesato said. "They appear on the streets as blind beggars, usually on rainy nights. Ōzatō wear ragged clothes, carry a cane, and sometimes also a musical instrument. In life, they were often quite wealthy, but as a yokai, they are forever begging for money. Those who drop a coin or bill into its outstretched hand may pass without incident. Those who ignore its entreaty will go suddenly blind."

"Sounds like they're kinda vindictive," Mikey said.

"What it sounds like is we're gonna have a buttload of blind people wandering around," Raph said. "This is New York, ignoring strangers is what people here do best."

"If the Ōzatō can be captured before the sun sets the day after a person is blinded by it, then that person will regain their sight," Mr. Hidesato said.

"Please say catching it is as easy as dropping the trap coin in its hand," Mikey said.

Mr. Hidesato smiled. "Actually, yes." The smile faded. "However . . . ."

Mikey interrupted. "No, no, don't wanna hear 'however'."

"Shut it," Raph told him.

"However," Mr. Hidesato continued, "Ōzatō may be blind, but their other senses are greatly enhanced. This makes it quite difficult for someone to approach the creature without being heard."

"Hey, no problem," Raph said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Leo could do it. Oh, wait, our best stealth-meister is blind."

"More than that, Ōzatō can feel auras," Mr. Hidesato said. "Once you became a warder, your aura changed to incorporate the magic in the universe. An Ōzatō is quite adept at sensing that aura. It will know you are near. Then there is its sense of smell."

"We definitely do not smell like humans," Don said. "The fact that we're turtles, won't that confuse it enough for us to get close?"

"Wait, wait, wait." Raph held up a hand. "Why are we even talking about this? The damn thing is blind. We walk up, grab its hand and shove the coin into it."

"And promptly go blind," Don said.

"So what? As soon as its caught, we get our sight back," Raph countered.

"I get the feeling it isn't that easy," Leo said.

"Unfortunately, it is not," Mr. Hidesato replied. "If an Ōzatō senses that it is in danger, it vanishes. It may wait a night and reappear in the same location, or it may move to a different location."

"How was it caught in the past?" Don asked.

"The method which has worked best for warders is to disguise our auras within that of a non-warder," Mr. Hidesato said. "We have always had household retainers who would provide that type of service."

"Ya' mean people who are expendable," Raph said.

"Not at all." Mr. Hidesato shook his head. "The people who served us were always given a choice. There were no repercussions for declining to help. Most often, those in service to our clan were people who had been rescued from yokai, or whose family member had been saved. Our cause was theirs. They believe in what we do."

Don noticed that he had switched from past to present tense. "Is your Mr. Juma one of those?"

"Ameen has served in many capacities," Mr. Hidesato said. "And yes, he has aided in captures in the past. I would ask him to assist with this, but I do not wish for him to know that you are turtles."

"What other option do we have?" Don asked.

Just then the front door slammed, the sound reverberating through the house. It was followed by the boom of thunder, and then a loudly raised voice.

"Guys! Where the heck are ya'?"

"Casey," Raph muttered. "Great damn timing."

Mikey grinned widely. "Looks like we have a volunteer."

He rushed towards the door and Raph gave chase. Donatello turned on the lights while Mr. Hidesato rolled up the scroll. Together they extinguished the candles and put them away.

Leonardo stood in the center of the room, listening carefully to the sounds around him. He'd been in the house long enough to know his way around even without his sight, so he focused on what he could hear. He felt his brother move up next to him.

"What are you thinking about?" Don asked.

"My senses," Leo said. "In particular, my sixth sense. Perception. Something I've spent years honing. That's why I was gifted with my particular powers. Or is it a gift? It seems that I pay a price each time I use them."

"Your sight should return whether or not you capture the Ōzatō tonight," Mr. Hidesato said. "You are blind because you see as it sees. When the connection is broken, you will no longer have its eyes."

"Has this happened to any other warder?" Leo asked.

"None of whom I am aware."

"Then you can't know that for certain." Leo turned to his brother. "Let's go downstairs and find out what they've said to Casey."

Leo did not ask for help descending the stairs so Don did not offer. They found Casey and their brothers in the office. Both Raph and Mikey were talking at once and Casey looked confused.

"Yo, Leo! Would ya' tell me what the hell is going on?" Casey asked. "I can't make head or tails of what they're saying."

Raph punched Mikey's arm. "Ow!"

Ignoring the glare Mikey shot at him, Raph said, "They wanna use ya' as bait to catch a yokai. Tell 'em to shove it."

"Ya' got a bead on another yokai? If ya' need me to draw it out, then I'll do it," Casey said.

"Yeah? It just so happens that if this thing gets pissed off, it'll blind ya', ain't that right, Leo?" Raph turned to his older brother. "What color shirt is Casey wearing?"

"That's not fair, Raph," Don said.

"But it's fair to ask Casey to be bait and not tell him what might happen?" Raph demanded.

"I was gonna tell him, but you wouldn't let me finish a sentence," Mikey griped.

"Not bait," Leo said. "I just need a shield so that the yokai doesn't sense my presence."

"Oh no, uh, uh," Raph said. "If one of us is gonna catch the thing, it ain't gonna be you. Ya' can't see a fucking thing!"

"That's right, I can't see," Leo acknowledged. "I have a gut feeling that if I'm not the one to capture the Ōzatō, then my connection to it won't be broken. We might catch it in a trap coin, but my sight could be trapped in there with it."

"What about if it gets my sight?" Casey asked. "You guys might be able to fight without seeing, but I can't work on engines without my eyes."

"Just give it a coin," Mikey said. "It doesn't blind the people who give it money."

Raph crossed his arms. "The way they're changing, that ain't no guarantee."

"The way they operate hasn't changed," Don said. "They just become stronger. So far they've functioned pretty much the way the journals say they will."

"So far," Raph said.

Before he could say more, Casey spoke. "I'll do it. If ya' guys can take dangerous chances to catch the things I let out, then I can take some chances too."

"I don't like it."

"It ain't up to you, Raph, it's up to me," Casey said. "What's the plan, Leo?"

"We believe we have an idea as to where it will be," Leo said. "It will probably have a unique appearance which should help us to locate it quickly."

"Not to mention there'll be a bunch of blind people roaming around," Raph said.

"It might also be raining," Don said. "Not that I mean to add another level of difficulty to the equation."

"If we can find it, what's the plan?" Casey asked again.

"Oh, I can find it," Mikey told him. "Just get me in the general area."

"Once we've located the creature, I'll walk right behind you, Casey," Leo said. "I'll be close on your heels so that my aura and scent are masked by yours. When the Ōzatō holds out its hand for money, I want you to drop a coin in its palm and then grab its wrist so that I can place my trap coin in its hand. When I've placed the coin, you let go and back away fast."

"How far away do you think the rest of us need to be?" Don asked.

"Not on the street," Leo said. "I think if you guys post up on the rooftops, you should be out of its range but still close enough to be my backup."

"Hey, Case, weren't you supposed to be working in the shop today?" Mikey asked.

"The power went out on the whole block," Casey said. "Power's out in a lot of areas of the city. April sent me over here to check on ya', but this house seems to be the only one that ain't dark."

"Generator," Don said. "I suppose Master Splinter's up in his room meditating."

"Could be in the media room," Casey said. "Me and April showed him how to work that big TV so he can watch his shows. He sure does like that daytime stuff."

"Then I think I'll start making some lunch," Mikey said.

"I thought your hands were burned," Casey said.

Mikey held them up for him to see. "Not anymore."

He trotted out of the room and Casey turned a questioning look on Raphael.

"Mikey finally got his powers to do him some good," Raph explained. "Mr. H is teaching us to control them. Mikey healed up, Donny healed up, I found a way to tap into my power a lot faster, and Leo got blind. Great session, all in all."

"I'm going to sit with Sensei for a while," Leo announced. "I want him to be aware of the situation."

"I'll help you find him," Don offered.

"No, thank you," Leo said. "I need to move around on my own."

He left, maneuvering his way out of the room with no difficulty. Don stared after him, a worried expression on his face.

"What's the matter?" Raph asked. "Other than the fact Leo's blind."

Don turned to Raph. "Doesn't he seem a little too calm? I know Leo is usually pretty stoic, but he's not unemotional. He says he needs to be the one to catch the yokai in order to get his sight back, but he stated that in a really flat, detached sort of way. Like it really didn't matter one way or the other."

"Maybe he doesn't want ya' guys to know how worried he is," Casey said. "He does that, ya' know. Keeps things to himself I mean. Like he's always trying to keep hard truths from ya'. My dad did that sort of stuff with me and Mom."

"Problem is he ain't our dad," Raph said. "We've got one of those and don't need a second one. Dammit, I've had this talk with him before. It's like it goes in one ear and out the other."

"Just for the record, does that mean we're going with his plan or not?" Casey asked.

Don sighed. "I say we're going with it, though I have reservations. If he's right and breaking the connection with the yokai means he has to use the trap coin, then we can't take any chances. We have to let him be the one to make the capture."

"Well, it's raining and there's no way I'm perching on top of a building that far away from him," Raph said, sounding firm. "We're gonna be wearing disguises anyway, since people are still gonna be out and about. I'll trail along behind the two of ya', Casey."

"The yokai might sense your presence," Don warned.

Raph's tongue clicked against the top of his mouth. "I ain't stupid, Donny. I'll use other humans as shields the way Leo's gonna use Casey."

Casey looked from Raph to Don and back again. "Lemme guess. We ain't telling Leo, right?"

Grinning, Raph punched Casey's arm. "Ya' ain't as dumb as everyone says ya' are."

"Nobody says that," Casey said, returning the punch. "They're too overwhelmed by my good looks."

The remainder of the day passed, albeit slowly. Casey called April to update her on their plans and to make sure she didn't need her van for anything. Mikey prepared lunch and dinner for the family, transporting food up to Mr. Hidesato as well. Raph and Don put Casey to work scanning journals under their supervision.

When Leonardo wasn't with his father, he spent his time walking through the house, floor to floor, room to room. He wasn't merely testing his memory; he was also using skills he'd learned while practicing blindfolded. By using his senses, he could perceive objects almost the way a bat used its echolocation to do the same thing.

His brothers left him alone, other than to call him to meals. They recognized the type of mood he was in, though after Raph promised Don that he would let their older brother be, he added that once Leo's sight was back, all bets were off.

Reading Leo the riot act was one of Raph's self-proclaimed jobs. Everyone had to admit that he was exceptionally good at it.

Nightfall brought with it an early dinner, though the only way anyone could tell that the sun had gone down was by looking at a clock. The rain continued, sometimes coming down hard, at other times not much more than a mist.

News reports stated that much of the city was still in darkness and that power company officials had no estimate as to when the power would be restored.

"There ain't gonna be a lot of night life when there ain't no electricity," Raph said as Casey drove towards their destination.

"Do you think the Ōzatō will still be out?" Don asked.

"He'll be out," Leo said. His face was turned towards the window next to him, though he couldn't see. "I can feel him."

"I guess that means I don't need to burn myself finding him," Mikey said, grinning.

Raph was about to chide his younger brother when he saw someone walk into the road. "Look out!"

Casey slammed on the brakes, causing the van to skid on the wet road. Raph gripped the dashboard, eyes wide as the pedestrian stood frozen in place and made no effort to get out of the way.

After what seemed an eternity, the van stopped. Casey threw the van into park before jumping out and Raph slapped his wide-brimmed hat on his head before hopping out to join his friend.

"What the hell, man?!" Casey yelled, coming around the front of the van. The bumper was mere inches from the man's legs. "Were you trying to get hit?"

Raph noticed the blank look on the man's face and hissed at his friend. "Casey."

"What?" Casey shouted, still pumping adrenaline.

The man answered for himself. "I can't see. It just suddenly happened. One minute I could and then I couldn't. Help me!"

"Okay, pal, come on, let's get out of the street first." Casey caught the man's elbow and began guiding him to the sidewalk.

While he did that, Raph climbed into the driver's seat and pulled the van down a "deliveries only" side road next to a liquor store. He parked the van and the turtles got out, sliding into their long trench coats before walking back over to where Casey waited. Mikey held onto Leo's shoulder to guide him.

"You gotta take me to a hospital," the man pleaded as Casey forced him to sit down.

"Where were you when you lost your sight?" Don asked.

"At the station," the man said. "I was trying to catch a train."

"Did you see a beggar while you were there? A man maybe in tattered clothes?" Don asked.

"What does that have to do with anything? I need help!" the man whined.

"Answer the question, fella. It's important," Raph told him.

"Yes, yes, I saw some old guy," the man answered.

"Went right by him, didn't ya?" Raph asked.

"Never mind that," Leo said. "Stay here and don't move. We're going to get you some help."

They started to walk away and the man cried out, "You're just leaving me?"

Mikey looked back at him. "Help is on the way, fella. Just don't start running around again or the next time the driver might not stop quick enough."

The group went about half a city block before seeing more signs of life; a prostitute leaning through a car window. Both the driver and the hooker ignored them.

"How far to the station?" Leo asked.

"'Nother couple blocks," Casey said.

When he spoke, Leo moved up close to him and pinched a section of the back of his jacket between his fingers. "Don't run off and don't make any sudden moves. From here on I need to stay directly behind you. Guys, time to hit the roofs."

Don glanced over at Raph, who pointedly ignored his stare. After making a disapproving sound in his throat, Don said, "On our way."

They'd barely started moving when a myriad of sounds suddenly assailed them, the most strident the raised voices of multiple people. Ahead, men and women shuffled around, hands outstretched, yelling for each other and for help.

"I can't see, I can't see!" "It's acid rain!" "My phone, I can't see the pad!" "Help!" "Police!" "Someone, someone call for help!" "Can anyone see?"

Music could be heard coming from inside a bar, whose doors were open and candles inside providing light. There was the rumble of a train going by on elevated tracks. A car swerved to avoid a blind pedestrian and then kept going.

"Oh shell, we ain't going anywhere," Raph muttered, darting into the street to grab a blind woman and help her to the sidewalk.

Don and Mikey began moving through the people, catching the ones who'd been blinded and guiding them into the bar. The bartender tried to protest, but Raph came in with the woman and told him to shut up and call for help.

"Keep going, Casey," Leo urged. "The best way to help these people is to stop the yokai."

"I ain't seeing him," Casey said. "Damn it."

The last was a curse at nearly colliding with a man who went striding past, ignoring the pleas for help. A second later the man let out a loud gasp. "I- I can't see! Someone help!"

"He's close," Leo murmured. "Very close."

"I hope to hell this works," Casey said. "Ya' got that coin in your hand? Don't need ya' fumbling for it at the last minute."

"Since when do I fumble anything?" Leo countered. "Just don't freeze up when you see him."

"I don't freeze . . . ," Casey began hotly and then cut himself off. "There he is."

Standing near the entrance to the Livonia Avenue station was a short, disheveled bald man wearing a patched up shirt that was too long for him, pants that were torn at the bottom, and clogs. He gripped a cane in one hand, and was holding out the other hand, palm upwards.

Though Leo and Casey were still thirty yards away, they could hear him chanting in a low, sing-song voice as he held his hand out towards anyone who passed him. There weren't as many people moving about as was usual due of the rain, but there were enough for his purposes because of the yokai's proximity to the station.

A man dropped a coin into the yokai's palm and then jogged towards the stairs that would take him up to the train platform. A woman, holding a child's hand, took a moment to fish out a bill and gave it to the yokai before walking on.

Both continued on their way without incident. Another woman ignored the outstretched hand and Leo could almost hear her disdainful sniff. She didn't get much farther before she cried out in dismay over the loss of her sight.

"Ya' know, this might be a good lesson for some of these folks," Casey whispered as he drew near the yokai. "Not everyone has something to give, but ya' don't gotta be snooty about it."

"They shouldn't be blind for the rest of their lives to learn that lesson," Leo said, his voice low. "Which hand are you going to grab him with?"

"Uh, um, left," Casey said. "Hang on, gotta get a coin."

Leo could feel his movements as Casey dipped a hand into his pants pocket and drew out a coin.

Raph left the job of rescuing blind people to his brothers when he heard the man who'd nearly walked into Casey cry out. He moved towards Leo and Casey, watching as the snooty woman put her hands to her eyes and began wailing.

"Don't move, ma'am. Let me help ya'." Raph caught her arm when her heel got trapped in a grate, causing her to nearly fall.

As Leo drew close to the yokai, he could make out that the chanting was a plea for alms, though the words could be construed as a blessing or a curse alternatively. A quick couple of steps put Leo practically on Casey's heels so that his aura would be shielded by the man's bulk.

Casey was still a few feet away from the Ōzatō when he stretched out his arm, the coin between his fingers.

"Here ya' go, fella."

"Take the damn shoe off, lady," Raph growled impatiently as he saw his friend reach for the yokai.

He wrapped an arm around her waist to lift her out of her shoes, but unfortunately, she misinterpreted the move.

"Thief! Mugger! Pervert!" she screamed, the words running over each other. She began hitting Raph with her purse before wrenching her feet out of her shoes and turning to run.

Still unable to see, she collided with Leonardo.

The blow threw her backwards onto her rump, but Leo managed to hold onto both Casey's jacket and the trap coin. He couldn't, however, keep from being knocked out of his previous position directly behind the man.

Casey was just dropping his coin into the creature's hand when Leo was pushed into the Ōzatō's sensory line.

"Grab him," Leo hissed, perceiving that the yokai had located him.

The Ōzatō opened its mouth and wailed. Quick as a flash, Casey's caught the creature's wrist and held on.

Bright, blinding light shot from the Ōzatō's mouth and eyes. The light expanded outwards to strike every person in a two block radius.

"Fuck!" Raph yelled as his sight was stolen. He heard both Don and Mikey cry out as well as anyone else who had previously been able to see.

"Leo, I can't see!" Casey yelped.

"Don't let go and don't move!"

Leo slid his hand along Casey's back, following the curve of his body around to his left arm. Keeping his hand on Casey's arm, Leo walked forward towards the yokai.

The Ōzatō continued to wail and try to pull its wrist out of Casey's tight grip. Those struggles grew more frantic when Leo extended the trap coin.

Casey grunted as he fought the yokai, surprised at how strong the seemingly old man really was. And then Leo dropped the trap coin into the Ōzatō's outstretched hand.

"Move now!"

At the sound of Leo's order, Casey let go of the yokai and stepped back.

The wailing abruptly stopped. Casey blinked as his eyesight returned and then squinted as he watched the light being pulled back into the creature's head.

When the light faded, so did the Ōzatō. First it became transparent, and then it vanished into the trap coin.

The coin hit the sidewalk with a clink and Leonardo snatched it up quickly. As he employed the wax tool, his brothers ran over to join the pair.

There were joyous cries all around them as people's vision was restored. The rain turned into a fine mist and lights began to come on inside buildings.

"Would ya' look at that," Raph exclaimed, clapping both Leo and Casey on their shoulders. "Ya' think the power company's on the ball, or was it the yokai that made all the lights go out?"

Don shook his head. "I guess that's something we'll never know. We should get out of here. With the street lights working, these disguises aren't very good."

"What do you say, Leo?" Mikey asked. "Job well done? Everyone has their sight back."

When Leo didn't immediately answer, his brothers stared at him.

"Leo?" Raph asked.

"Not everyone, Mikey," Leo said. "I still can't see."

End Ōzatō