Ch.8: Evil's Influence
Karai could still hardly believe the sight before her eyes as she continued watching the scene taking place in front of her, a young Oroku Saki, crying before a shrine, frustration and grief seeping through his tone.
Karai didn't know what to think as she witnessed young Saki's tears. A small spark of sympathy lit up for her false father, which the ninja was quick to rebury after remembering what the older version would soon do.
"Have been sent somewhere in the past?" Karai thought in her mind. " Can I be seen? Or is this just a movie being played?"
A movie seemed to be the correct answer as seconds later the scene switched, and Karai was now standing in a dojo, watching an un-mutated Shredder and Splinter engage each other in a training spar.
The two fought fiercely, and bitterness and rage could clearly be seen in Saki's eyes.
An old master, and what Karai realized was her long lost mother Tang Shen, were watching worriedly from the sidelines, growing with concern as each blow became more violent.
When Saki finally aimed a move that aimed for the throat, the old master had had enough, and stepped in before Oruko could land the lethal blow.
Karai shared Splinter's glare as the master chastised Oruko Saki for his dishonorable act, but then noticed the worried expression of her mother, eyes glancing over at Saki with concern and fear.
Saki grunted after the lecture and walked off in a rage, Tang Shen following reluctant behind.
Feeling a desperate need to protect her mother, even though she doubted she could, Karai quickly followed her mother into the hall, where Tang Shen was already trying to confront Saki about his growing rage.
"Saki, what's wro..,"
Slap!
Tang Shen's sentence was suddenly cut off when a hard blow struck her face, sending her tumbling to the floor. Karai's eyes shared the same horror as her mother's as she looked with shock and frustration at her false dad.
Saki seemed to be completely surprised, quickly regretting the terrible deed he had done, but he could not stand around to face. Taking the coward's route, Saki turned his back to Tang Shen and ran away, sprinting all the way to his room.
Seconds later Yoshi appeared, comforting Tang Shen as she continued to lay on the floor. He was furious once he learned that Saki had slapped her, but before he could seek retribution, Tang Shen called, telling him to stop.
Something was deeply disturbing Saki. It wouldn't do best to get involved right now. Just give him time to relax and breathe, and maybe tomorrow he would be alright.
But as the scene changed again to nightfall, and Karai watched Saki twist and turn as he slept restlessly in his room, the young ninja knew that slapping her mother was only a sign that Saki was going from bad to worse.
Meanwhile, in his own trial, Raphael was trying his very best to fight off the creep standing in his way. Whoever this person in the black mask was, he was not going to take this little turtle away.
With baby cheering from his shoulder, Raphael stabbed and kicked at the masked man. He could hardly land a blow though as the man dodged, swiftly moving out of the way. A growl rose up in Raphael's throat as the figure dodged him again.
"Just who is this guy?" thought Raph " It's like he knows how I'm going to attack. He's countering all my best moves."
"You really are quite impressive" said the dark figure, his expression covered by the mask " I see tempting power in you. But, the Fire Child is what I've come here to retrieve. You are just a nuisance standing in my way."
With that said, he charged, and Raphael could hardly believe that he attacked with suck speed. Now he was the one on the defensive, trying to block his opponent's blows.
Yells echoed out from Raphael's jaws as painful wounds were quickly sliced across his skin. The baby turtle on his shoulders screamed, trying to hang on as his savoir jerked. He didn't last long, as a hard kick sent Raphael tumbling to the ground, and the little turtle slid from his perch.
"No!" Raphael cried, as he saw the little turtle slide over the edge and towards the lava. He tried to get up to save it, but the figure set a foot on his shell and held him down.
For a moment Raphael worried that the baby turtle could actually be dead. That worry was soon dismissed however when one of the vultures from before suddenly showed up, clasping the baby in its claws.
The baby safe, but now was in the grasp of even more danger. Anger burning in his veins, Raphael quickly pushed up, and sweep-kicked the figure holding him down. The masked man fell, and Raphael lunged, slashing at the vulture with his sai.
The vulture shrieked, and his two brothers came in, attacking Raph before he could even land the blow.
Raph knocked them away, breathing hard and bleeding cuts. The masked figure reappeared with the two vultures, standing between his path to the third.
"Nuisance" hissed the figure to Raphael, and the two vultures perched on his arms.
Raphael couldn't believe what happened next as the two vultures and the masked man merged completely into one. Wings sprouted out from the man's back, and the mask shattered, forming into a large, deformed vulture head. The claws on his hands were very clear now, looking extremely deadly and sharp.
Instinctively Raph gripped his sais, but the warrior would never get the chance to use them as the demon attacked.
In a flash, it was over, as Raphael plummeted towards the magma below, and a vulture's shriek cut through the air.
