The Neglected Garden

"A week has passed since the truth about Matada has been exposed and police still don't know anymore now then they did at that time. A vigilante attack against the Black Lotus was happening early midnight and no one seems to know three important questions, whom, how, and why. When police arrived on the scene other than the eight found dead and the one man found alive the entire premises were empty. The Black Lotus leader has seemed to have fled from the city and the man who appeared to be second in command was found dead. There were reports that a helicopter was flying low over some residential areas in New York City, although nothing has been confirmed. All financial records or anything that may have been useful was thoroughly deleted before police arrived and there seemed to be nothing but fake paperwork in the file cabinets."

"The secretary for the Black Lotus' front company, Matada was found dead in her burned down apartment only hours after police arrived at the Matada compound. Police believe that she deliberately torched her home to hide any evidence that might have jeopardized the Lotus. The third in command of the Black Lotus, Tatsuya Kyou will most likely be going to prison for life. It may even be possible that he get the death sentence because the state of New York may attempt to try for the deaths of the Foot gang members that have been murdered by the Lotus. He has not been cooperative with the police; in fact we have been told that he has not spoken a word to them. The majority of the charges against him have been drug and firearm related. State prosecutors say that he will be facing at least a guaranteed minimum one hundred and twenty-year sentence due to the vast number of illegal substances and weapons on the property."

"Once the police found out that Matada originated in Japan they asked the FBI to call up Japanese officials to investigate Matada employees as well as the company itself. Just yesterday those officials told the FBI that every single Matada plant had been abandoned and all information had been destroyed. While it looks that the root of the problem will not be stopped anytime soon it seems that the Lotus might want abandon New York if the FBI gets involved."

"One thing that has been a result in the takedown is that the streets have been safe to walk again with the Black Lotus' diminished presence and a crippled Foot Clan. The police say even if the Black Lotus is terminated that their work is still not finished. The police is bewildered as to who was able to defeat the Lotus and why would they do so. The top minds in the New York City police department say that it might be a rival gang and are worried by one who could take down the best of the Black Lotus organization in only an hour. They believe some rival Japanese gang has followed the Lotus to America due to their almost exclusive use of blades and hand-to-hand combat, rather than traditional American gang use of guns. They say no American gang would even be capable of beating the Lotus with blades."

"We will keep you informed with any further developments in this case. Now to Ron with the weather."

Master Splinter called the turtles to come join him and they sat down in a semicircle around him.

"Although your bout with the Black Lotus was a much greater task to face than anything you have ever experienced before, I have a feeling that you will encounter even greater adversaries and hardships. This is why you must stay united, continue to hone your skills as ninjas, and trust in your brothers before you trust in yourselves. Now begin to do all this by meditating."

Each turtle got into meditation positions and closed his eyes. Raphael breathed in deep and closed his eyes; he tried very hard but saw and felt nothing. He just couldn't focus.

"I'm sorry sensei, but I gotta be able to trust in Raph first and I think I need to start training after getting whipped by Kyou," he thought.

Raph opened his eyes and got up; he grabbed his trench coat and hat and tiptoed out of the lair and into the shadows.

"Besides I do my best meditatin' when I'm bustin' skulls."