Chapter VI

"Something's not right," Don said as they ran, never pausing or faltering.

"Wadda ya mean?" Raph questioned.

"I'm not sure, but something defiantly not right."

As if to confirm Don's feeling that something wasn't right, an attacker came jumping from the shadows and knocked Don off his feet. Mikey and Raph quickly stopped and whirled around, searching for their attacker.

"Where'd he go?" Mikey questioned anxiously, squinting in the dark in search of the mystery man.
His answer came when the shadowed figure emerged and kicked Mikey to the ground. Raph narrowed his eyes at the darkness, obvlious to where their mystery shadow had gone.

"Come out and fight!" he invited. "Stop being such a coward and face me!"

From the shadows stepped a human figure, the face still shaded from view. This human held two blades tightly, ready to fight, and wore a black t-shirt with the foot symbol printed across it in red.

"If you leave, I'll go easy on you," a voice said, the grip on his blades loosening some what.

"Likely story," Raph spat back.

The figure sighed.

"Have it your way."

Before Raph could process the meaning, the figure knocked him off his feet.
Don and Mikey leaped up, ready to protect themselves.

"Jeez," Raph said, dizzily sitting up. "Who is this guy?"

No one answered while he stood up and they began to circle around, looking for their attacker.

"Where'd he go?" Mikey questioned.

His answer came when moonlight caught the end of a blade that sank into Raph's lower abdomen. The wound wasn't large enough to kill him, but it was enough to knock him back to the ground. Don and Mikey instantly let their guard down to kneel by their brother.

"Raph!" Don cried as what sounded like another blade began to come down.

The blade and the attacker faltered.

"Raph?" the shadow questioned almost silently.

Don glanced up as the figure stepped into view, dark eyes lowered towards Raph, who was groaning in pain. The human had blue hair and held a blade in each hand, a confused look across his face.
The "Shadow" knelt down and glanced over Raph. Don watched with caution, uncertain of his sincerity. He placed his blades on his back and stood forcefully, spinning and disappearing back into the shadow at a run.

"Yeah!" Mikey cried victoriously, jumping up with glee. "Who's your daddy?!"

"Mikey, I don't think this was a very victorious battle," Don explained, looking up at a now dancing Mikey. "Even if he gave up, Raph is still injured."

"Oh. Yeah."

"Why'd he run off?" Raph questioned, trying to sit up painlessly.

"I donno," Don admitted in a half pondering voice as he stood, glancing off in the darkness where the Shadow had run off towards. "That was strange."

"Can we figure this out later?" Raph questioned with a grunt. "I need to get back to the sewer."

Don nodded, his mind turning with questions and possible explanations. Mikey and Don helped Raph to his feet and allowed him to lean on them for support as the made their way back towards their sewer lair.

* * * * *

Leonoardo ran through the darkness until he was sure he was alone and completely out of sight. He found a spot and sat down, propping himself up on the wall behind him.
What he had seen had scared him, and it had also pained him. To see his brother lying on the ground, bleeding from a wound he had created was un-nerving to him and he was confused as to what he could have done or should do: fight for Shredder or fight with his brothers?
Fighting for Shredder meant battles against his brothers, yet - to his knowledge - fighting with his brothers meant fighting what was good.

Maybe Shredder is wrong, Leo thought hopefully before shaking his head.
No. He had chosen this side on his own, without the help of his brothers, and he would stay with it. So far he had gotten a chance to be a normal teenager, not some mutant that couldn't risk being seen, and he had gotten nothing but respect from Shredder.

Master Shredder, Leo reminded himself with a small shake of the head. I can't think evil about him... anymore.

Leo sighed and looked around to make sure no one had followed him. He slowly rose to his feet, straightened out his t-shirt, and ran back into the darkness of the shadow.