CHAPTER THREE

BEAUTIFUL DANGER

PRESENT

RAPHAEL:

                I froze in place as the name met my ears.  My eyes darted to the woman who had spoken it and I saw her clap her hand over her mouth.  Her dark eyes were filled with surprise and horror, her long hair pulled up into a neat bun.  I saw Kat tense beside me.  "Melanie," she greeted coldly.  "KonbanwaShibaraku desu ne." (AN: "Good evening.  Long time no see.")

                She nodded slowly.  I looked to Katarina.  "You know her?" I questioned.

                Melanie's eyes hit the floor.  Kat crossed her arms over her chest as she stared her down.  "What are you doing here?" she demanded, ignoring me.

                "I... needed...  I mean...  There was a..."  Melanie looked up.  "I need help."

                Kat grinned wickedly.  "Saki-kun try to kill you again?" she shot.

                Mel's jaw clenched and hatred flashed in her eyes as they hit the floor.  "It wasn't like that, Kiara, and you know it."

                "Did he send you?" Kat demanded.

                I was slowly putting together the pieces to this puzzle.  Melanie was involved with the foot clan.  Apparently more intimately than we'd thought.  Or at least more than I had.  I'd kept my distance from the girl, but as far as I knew, everyone else had talked to her.  Our initial conversation with her had led me to believe she was in trouble with the foot clan, but she'd neglected to mention that she was a part of it.

                "What, like you?" Mel shot.  "No, he didn't send me."

                "Then why the hell are you here?"

                "Because they're gonna kill me if I go back."

                Kat broke from me and took a few steps forward.  Melanie's eyes hit the floor, her chin resting on her chest.  Kat walked a few feet in front of her and stopped.  I watched as she reached to her belt and snapped her knife up, twirling it easily in her fingers and bringing it to rest underneath Mel's chin.  Leonardo tensed and stood as Mel was forced to look up.  She and Kat stared at each other.  "You must have pissed him off good this time," Kat finally whispered.

                "You too," Mel whispered back.  "You're supposed to be dead."

                "You see the fight?"

                "Did you?" Mel challenged.

                "I already know he's alive."

                Leo blinked.  "Who's alive?"

                "Well, nobody knows about you," Mel continued, ignoring him.

                "No surprise," Kat growled.  "Can't imagine that would make him look too good if I got away with disobeying him."

                "It's more than that and you know it."

                The knife came up a little higher.  "You didn't answer me."

                The blond woman's eyes narrowed.  "I wasn't in the states when you and him fought."

                "Where were you?"

                "Japan.  Family business."

                "Family," Kat repeated.  "Which one?"

                The words grabbed Mel's attention in an instant.  Hate and anger flashed in her eyes.  "Fuck you, Kiara," she hissed.

                "Not a wise thing to say with a knife to your throat."

                Michaelangelo appeared behind me at the bottom of the steps around the entrance and he froze.  I turned and stared at him, then glanced at Leo who seemed even more confused than I was.  "What are you gonna do, kill me?" Mel challenged.

                "Don't tempt me," Kat whispered back.

                Instantly, Leo looked ready to spring into battle.  "Hey."

                Kat didn't turn.  She pulled the knife away and flicked her wrist, turning it toward her.  She shoved it back into it's sheath on her belt and she glared at Mel for a few seconds, then turned and faced Leo.  "She works for Shredder," she informed.  "I suggest you get her out of here."

                I could tell the thought struck him.  For that matter, it surprised me.  It took him a moment to find his voice.  "Kat, Shredder's dead.  I was there; he had no pulse."

                She glared at him.  "You don't know what you're talking about, Leo," she warned.

                Leo was still caught off guard by the accusation.  Kat didn't wait for a reaction from him.  She walked to our room and slammed the door behind her.  My brothers and I stared, dumbfounded, then one by one, turned to Mel.  Tears had begun to trickle from her eyes.  She closed them in an apparent attempt to stop crying.  I looked to Leo and our stares locked.  He nodded slightly toward the door that Kat had disappeared into and I agreed silently.

                He hadn't yet spoken to Mel when I turned the handle on the door and pushed it open gently. 

MELANIE:

                I sat down on the edge of the couch and buried my face in my hands.  For a long time after Raphael left, nothing moved.  Finally, Leonardo sat down next to me.  "Mel?"

                I sobbed quietly.  "What?"

                "Is there... anything you haven't told us?"

                I wiped my eyes and shook my head furiously.  "No.  I told you.  He'll kill me.  And that's the truth."

                He and Mike glanced at each other.  "Why?" Mike finally asked.

                I shook my head.  "Because... I said things.  I challenged him.  I didn't mean to."  I sobbed harder.  "He was doing things that I felt were wrong and I didn't know it until I found out just recently and I said something and he got angry and now he wants to kill me."

                I turned into Leo and threw my arms around his neck.  I felt him tense, but after a moment, his arms circled me protectively.  "He's going to kill me," I cried into his shoulder.  "When he finds me, he'll kill me."

                He raised one hand up and placed it on the back of my head.  "You're safe here," he promised me.

                I sniffled and pulled away, wiping my eyes.  "No.  Not with Kiara here I'm not."

                He straightened slightly.  "Why do you say that?"

                I looked away.  "She hates me.  She'll...  I can't stay here.  I don't trust her."  I looked up and met his stare, brushing my eyes.  "Please.  I appreciate everything you've done.  But I...  I know her.  She... hates me.  And I don't want to find out just how much.  Especially when she knows how badly her father wants to kill me."

                I went out on a limb to assume that they knew about her family history.  I don't know why, but I would've been surprised if they hadn't.  Leonardo didn't seem at all confused.  "Melanie, you're safe here," he assured me.  "Whether or not Kat likes you, she can't kick you out unless we're all agreed on that."

                Mike sat down on the edge of the loveseat, watching me, and nodded slightly in agreement.  "An' even if she doesn't like you," he offered, "I don't really think she'd try to make you leave if it might get you killed."

                My eyes closed as they dropped to the floor.  "I do..."

RAPHAEL:

                Kat was on her stomach in the center of the bed, writing furiously.  I studied her for a moment before I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me.

                I studied her for a moment in the flickering light from the oil lamp.  She didn't look up.  "Hey, did I miss something?" I started.  She didn't respond.  I walked to the edge of the bed and stopped, waiting to see if there was any chance that she wasn't going to ignore me.  "Kat?"

                Nothing.  She continued writing, her hand moving quickly, almost violently over the notebook.  I eased onto the bed and put my arms on either side of her shoulders.  I leaned down and nudged her hair aside, then I kissed her neck, putting some of my weight on her back.  "Hey, I'm talkin' to you," I informed.

                She paused and her head lowered, stretching her neck.  It gave me more room, and I licked and kissed at her skin gently.  "Just get her out of here, Raph."

                I rolled off of her and propped my head up on my arm, leaving my other hand on the small of her back.  "Why?" I questioned.  "Who is she?"

                "I told you, she works for my father."

                "I know that," I whispered.  "I mean what does she do?  How well do you know her?"

                "Better than I care to," she answered coldly, beginning to write again.

                "Tell me," I prodded.

                She sighed.  "Raph... it's old wounds, okay?"

                Her hair fell in front of her face, creating a wall between us, and I brushed it back behind her ear.  "Don't you think we should know what we're dealing with?"

                "I think you should just trust me and get her out of here."

                I sighed deeply and ran my fingers over the back of her neck, brushing back and forth lightly.  She squirmed.  "Stop, Raph, that tickles."

                I smiled and ran my hand further down her back.  For a minute, it was quiet.  She went back to her writing and ignored me again.  "Kat?"

                "What?" she questioned, not looking up.

                "You want me to bear down and fight to get her out of here, and make enemies out of my brothers, I can do that.  But I want to know what I'm fighting for."

                She hesitated for a moment, then turned her eyes to me.  I studied her quietly and she sighed.  "Later, Raph," she promised.  "I just need some time to think.  But believe me, she's not someone you want to let your guard down around."

                I nodded slowly.  "Later?" I verified.  Her eyes closed and she nodded once.  "Okay."  I kissed her forehead.  "Just don't keep me hangin' for too long, alright?"

                "I know," she whispered.

KATARINA:

                I opened my eyes slowly and realized that I was alone.  The bed beside me was still warm, and I knew Raphael had not been gone long.  I glanced at the clock.  It was nearly midnight.  No sound came from around me.  I fumbled for the lighter on the bedside table as I sat up and flicked it, lighting a candle.  I stood and grabbed my robe, tying it around me as I pulled the bedroom door open and peeked out into the living room.  There was no one there, but I could hear voices from the kitchen.

                "Is she asleep?"

                "Yeah."

                Melanie and Raphael.  I stared at the shadows for a moment as my eyes adjusted.  She was leaned back against the counter, her knee bent and protruding out of the loosely tied robe.  Anger flared, but I remained silent.  "I've never imagined Kiara with anyone before," she mumbled.  "She's always seemed really cold.  That can't be good for your sex life."

                I could feel my blood boil.  I slipped out into the living room, careful to stay out of sight, and pressed back against the wall near the kitchen, my fists clenched at my sides.  "No," Raphael answered casually.  "Actually, our sex life is great."

                She laughed quietly.  "Does she keep you satisfied?"

                That's none of your fucking business, you bitch!  There was a long pause.  I wished I could see them, but I didn't want to take the risk of being seen.  "You do realized you're smashed, right?"

                She giggled again.  "Yeah...  What're you gonna do about it?"

                "Do you want me to do something about it?" he challenged.

                She moaned slightly and I swallowed hard as I caught a glimpse of their reflection on the dark TV.  She was pressed close to him, her arms draped over his shoulders.  His hands were at his side, one of them holding a glass of water.  She rubbed her breasts hard against his chest and I tensed, waiting to see what he would do.  "A girl is easily taken advantage of when she's drunk..." she whispered up at him.  I could barely make out her words.

                For a moment, he was silent.  I didn't breathe.  Don't do it, Raphael... 

                He stared at her.  From this distance, and through a reflection, I couldn't read his expression.  Finally, he laughed at her.  For a moment, I was surprised.  I watched as she stepped back, not sure how to react to the fact that he was mocking her. 

                "Oh, come on, baby, you can do better than that," he chuckled.  "Just how desperate do you think I am?"

                As the shock wore off, she wasn't deterred.  "Mmm...  Maybe I could offer a little more incentive."

                I considered stepping in and beating the shit out of her for even suggesting such a thing.  But I remained still.  Raphael could take care of himself if he wanted to.  I was confident in that.  I knew I couldn't watch him every minute, and I was much more interested in seeing how he handled this on his own than I was in kicking her ass.

                He laughed and raised the glass to his lips again, downing the rest of the water.  He set the empty glass on the counter and stepped toward her.  I tensed as he slipped his hands into her robe, resting them on her hips.  She tossed her hair back and smiled up at him, thrusting her chest out toward his.  He stared at her for a minute, his lips no more than a few inches from hers. 

                Again, I didn't dare breathe.  She took a slight step closer to him and he allowed it, her hips pressing to his.  She rolled her shoulders and the loosened robe fell down her arms, catching at her elbows.  The lingerie beneath it was lacy and very revealing.  Her hands were raised, fingering the grooves along his plastron.  A million thoughts ran through my mind as he held her and seemed to seriously consider doing more.  Would you forgive him again?  Burn me once, shame on you... Burn me twice, shame on me.  Raphael, please...

                For a long time, they stared at each other.  I could hear my heart beating in my chest.  After a long, uneasy silence, he finally spoke.  "I don't even like white lingerie."

                I blinked, shocked.  She took a step back, as surprised as I was, and he turned away from her, his face expressionless.  I pressed back to the wall, smiling with satisfaction as he exited the kitchen, leaving her alone and likely turned on by the brief brush with intimacy.  At any rate, he'd made his point, loud and clear.  To be that close to her and so easily turn his back rather than kiss her, he really didn't want her.

                He didn't notice me as he walked past.  "Hey sexy," I called quietly, almost a whisper.

                He jumped, startled, and spun around braced for combat.  For a moment, he just stared at me in that same confused but delighted way he did when I seduced him out of nowhere.  I wasn't being seductive.  I was just wondering why he hadn't sensed my presence.  He shook his head slightly, as if to clear it.  "Wow.  I must really be tired," he mumbled, answering my silent question, although he was speaking more to himself than to me.

                I smiled at him and he stepped forward, out of sight of the kitchen.  I wondered if Mel had seen him stop, but didn't want to take my eyes off him to look.  "Either that or your guard's down," I grinned as he approached me, his hands slipping around my waist.

                He hugged me and I ran my nails up his biceps.  "My guard's always lower at home," he whispered as he kissed my cheek.  "But still..."

                I smiled as he pulled back, rocking me slightly.  "So what are you doing up?" he asked.

                I slid my hands up his hard muscles and draped my arms over his shoulders.  "Spying on you," I answered quietly.

                I half expected him to tense up, but he didn't.  I was sure he hadn't known I was watching him, and he was probably running back over the things he'd said.  But he didn't seem bothered by any of it.  He nuzzled my cheek, running his tongue along my earlobe.  I squirmed, but he tightened his grip around me, holding me still while he explored along my nerves. 

                I ran my nails up and down the back of his neck, smiling.  "And... thinking about all the reasons I love you," I continued quietly.  "And all the ways I'm gonna show you."

                He pulled away to stare at me, watching my expression with a slight smirk.  "You're not wearing white lingerie under this, are you?" he teased.

                I smiled and dropped my hands, pulling at the tie around my waist.  The black robe fell open and I pressed my naked breasts to his chest, slipping my fingers into the space between his plastron and carapace.  He covered me with his body, his hands sliding into my robe and around my waist.  He ran his fingers up my sides, confirming that I wasn't wearing anything above my waist, then brushed his fingers along the waistband of my panties.  "Don't tell me," he whispered, massaging gently at the lace.  "Let me guess."

                I laughed quietly as he tried to remember what I was wearing without looking.  There was really only two colors it could be, so he had a fifty-fifty chance.  He went with the more likely.  "Red?"

                I pressed into him, rubbing my leg between his.  "Black," I corrected quietly. 

                He moaned quietly as his lips claimed mine, his tongue snaking into my mouth and running over mine.  My eyes closed, but my guard was still raised.  I was well aware when Melanie stepped out of the kitchen and stopped to stare.  I pressed into Raph, raising my hands again and gripping his head as I kissed him harder.  Part of me wanted him to fuck me right here, just to see the look on her face. 

                He held off on that, but continued to kiss me even as the passionate hunger died down, giving me the option of pulling away when I wanted to.  Maybe he knew I was proving a point.  Maybe he was trying to communicate the same thing.  I didn't care.  I held him to me as his hands roamed, and didn't slow until she turned and walked toward the bathroom.  As the door closed, I pulled away from Raphael

                We exchanged dark glances and both laughed quietly.  He pulled me into a casual hug, still chuckling to himself, and I pulled my leg back from between his.  "Bedroom?" he grinned.

                I smiled back.  "Bedroom."

LEONARDO:

                "What are you doing up?"

                Melanie's eyes raised and she glared for a moment before she sighed.  "I couldn't sleep.  Decided to put in a movie.  You wanna watch?  It just started." 

                I approached her slowly and looked over her shoulder at the screen.  I didn't recognize the starting credits.  "What is it?" I questioned, glancing at the clock.  It was almost three in the morning.  I smelled alcohol, but it was faint.  If she'd been drinking, she stopped quite a while ago.

                She stretched her legs out and then recoiled, pulling them underneath her.  She hugged her blanket around her neck.  The couch wasn't the most comfortable place in the world to sleep, but she hadn't complained.  "It's called 'The Fall'," she answered.  "I've never seen it but it sounded pretty good."

                I watched the screen for a moment.  Had to be one of Mike's.  Mel shoved the end of her blanket off the couch and patted the cushion beside her.  "Come sit," she invited.  "I feel funny watching movies alone anyhow."

                I walked around the sofa and perched on the edge of the cushion beside her, not totally sure yet that I was staying.  But after a few minutes, I could feel myself begin to relax into the sofa.  It wasn't long before the words began to slur into each other.  I knew I shouldn't be up.  I was tired.  I'd only come out here to check on an unfamiliar noise.  I should go back to bed.  But the warmth from the space heater by the couch, combined with the low sounds from the TV and the dim lights, was making it hard not to nod off right where I was.  Why does it matter?  My confused thoughts played over each other.  It's night.  You need to sleep.

                My mind drifted to a place of darkness, my body shutting off sensation.  I could still hear the movie, but it seemed far away.  I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and blinked, waking up suddenly.  A blond-haired woman smiled at me.  Madonna...  No, it's Mel.  Melanie.  But she looked so much like Madonna...  "Shh... it's okay..."  She rubbed gently at the muscles in my shoulder and they relaxed under her touch.  "Just relax.  You can go to sleep."

                Reality was slipping.  Part of me knew not to trust her.  But a larger part of me couldn't resist the warmth and comfort as she lay back, guiding my head to her chest.  I fell asleep.  And I dreamed.