Amongst Four
By: Kuroi Neko-kun
Summary: A discovery made by one of the turtles leads the four brothers to a secret of the earth and their place on it.
Warning: For people who drop dead like flies.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Wishing I did… Oh well…
---
Chapter 5: Aftermath
---
He leaned against the wall, allowing the grieving raven-haired girl to tend to his wounds. She had cleaned her sister's body that was left inside Houki's room. Leo could only let the scene play in his head, not wanting to believe it. After which Lirin was done, what remained of his family came inside his room with turmoil of feelings in their hearts. Seeing Leo fallen was the worst but knowing that this was the work of their own brother was below that.
"Leo…" Don started, placing his now clean swords beside him. Leo just watched before turning away. He did not want to speak. He could not. All he could remember was a few pieces to what happened. Master Splinter placed a hand onto Don's hand, stopping him from reaching out to his brother. Donatello was not the one who should be talking to. He turned to the Sai wielder who had been staring out of the open door the whole time. He was still frustrated from not able to help and that he was not the one Houki took heart. The silence in the room was unending. Don could not do anything but wait for a reaction. Sure enough, Raph did. He turned to Leo, slamming his fist onto the wall near Leo's head.
"Why didn't you call me?! Or Don?!" he shouted, letting out some of his anger," we could've saved Houki for gods sake!!" Raph felt a kick connected to his abdomen. He looked up to see a glaring Leonardo. It seemed like an unexpected reaction from Leo as the others gape at him.
"My objective was not for anyone to die. To find out that Mikey was the one I had to fight was painful. I thought my death was the only way. Houki prevented that by sacrificing herself," he muttered," she said that I can't die." Any retaliation from the younger turtle disappeared.
"Leo, where did Mikey go then?" Don asked, rather meekly.
"I don't know… there was an incantation by Shura's spirit and I can't remember much," he muttered.
"Then try," Raph said, with irritation in his voice.
"Well I am!!" Leo finally shouted," you were never there!! Of all people, why Mikey?! All in all, I hoped it was you, Raph! It would've been much easier if it was you…" The other two turtles were tightlipped, understanding how it would have felt. Despite his annoying self, his lame jokes, his chicken gut… they never had any hatred towards Mikey. Leo was always ticked off by Raph's inability of being responsible and Raph was pissed at Leo for being such a pain in the butt. Don felt that his older siblings looked down on him and never gave any credit for his work. But when it came to Mikey, they never had any hard feelings. Mikey had an innocent aura surrounding him and they all took advantage of it.
"He's an innocent little kid," Don mumbled," and it's the reason why this will be hard on us."
"He never hurt anyone, less killed… Do you think he'll remember?" Raph asked, uncertainly. Leo sighed as he picked up his swords.
"He won't. I'm willing to tell him that I killed Houki while defending him…" Splinter looked at his sons and smiled. They obviously loved their little brother, no matter how much they denied it. He believed that Leonardo could make sure the survival of their brotherhood.
"Then my sons," he finally spoke," it is time you approached the one who could help you the most." They looked at each other before turning to the door.
---
The remaining two sisters sat in front of them, still saddened by the loss of Houki. Leo knew that it was a bad time to actually ask them anything than their grief. But now the three turtles along with their master sat cross-legged in front of them, all with hardened expressions. Don found it hard to because Yumi looked paler than before. She had begun swaying. The turtle wondered if it was because of her grief. But he knew that she was fragile. Maybe this was her breaking point… Maybe it was Yumi's time as well… He could not take it anymore.
"Guys, we can't do this to them… Not now," he voiced his concerns in a hushed voice.
"As much as I don't like it, we have to," Leo said before turning to Yumi. "Is there anything that you can tell us from your dreams, Yumi?" They stared at her, watching her constantly sway before she finally stopped with a dazed expression she had when she had a vision.
"He will come… to a place once called home…" she mumbled," and the dream seer's awakening will soon pass." She calmly looked at them, her amethyst eyes staring into Don's. "Houki's death came with a greater price. Without her I will live in a mindless drivel. That is why I chose to die if my sister ever did. It is time for me to pass and you will take my place." They all stared at Don who was shaking his head. Tears welled in the eyes of the young turtle.
"Yumi… no…"
"Maybe you can control such a power that is beyond man's control," she said as she closed her eyes. The turtle rushed to her before she fell.
"Yumi!" He held her in his arms, tears falling to her face.
"I have never met anyone quite like you, Donatello," she mumbled," I know you can fight the power of the darkness as a blue moon." Yumi passed away in his arms. He cradled her body before lying her down on the pentagon that she laid in.
"Yumi…" the last of the sisters mumbled," she's gone, isn't she?"
"How can you not know?" Raph muttered," can't you see that she did?" A cane hit the turtle's head as those words escaped his mouth.
"How can you be so daft, Raphael?" Don asked, wiping his tears.
"Well, explain it to me then…" he muttered.
"You mean you don't know? Houki should have at least told you…" the turtle mumbled before turning to the two. They had blank expressions on their faces. "The two of you… don't know?"
"Don't know what?" Leo asked, staring at Lirin.
"She's blind," Splinter finally spoke," it was her price to pay for killing her own sister. She can only see our inner beings, our true forms."
"And that is why she could not see her sister's dead body. There is no essence of life anymore." It was that simple explanation that got them into an uneasy silence. The more they got to know the Murasakisuishou, the more they wished they didn't die. It was too late for that now… Don turned to Lirin who had done somehow managed to touch her sister.
"Is there anywhere we can hold a funeral, Lirin?" he asked in a soft, caring voice. She nodded.
"We can only place them where Shura is lying. The basement…"
---
The raven-haired girl led them to a dimly lit walkway. She lit a torch and walked before them with small steps. Behind her was Splinter who kept his head low. Leo was behind his master. He held a stony look on his face as he walked. Lirin had told him that Raphael, who was the last who fought for the right of gatekeeper, should carry Houki's body. He wished it was him, not the younger turtle. Behind Raphael was Donatello who had Yumi in his arms. This was a funeral procession. They had to pay their respects to the wishes of the dead. Lirin started mumbling something that the rat realized was a prayer to the gods. Once and awhile she would stop and bow at Goddess of Mercy statue. They would as well. It was until she stopped completely and stared down at a staircase.
"I cannot lead you down there. This is a sacred ground of the Murasakisuishou. We can only walk her twice in our lives. Once in life, the other in death," she passed Leo her torch," I will wait here for you." They nodded before proceeding. They walked down the winding steps to reach the bottom. There was a death silence that hung in the air. Even with the heat of the flame, Leo shivered. It was eerie, even for him.
"What do we do now, Leo?" He lit the torch sconces on the walls. That was when he noticed four glass coffins in the center of the room. He knew then that they were prepared for their deaths. He did not want to look at Shura's coffin, not wanting to see her decaying body. Instead, he helped them place the twins into their respective coffins. Don did not let go of Yumi yet as he place her inside the box.
"It's like Snow White…" he mumbled, not able to control his tears," except love's first kiss can never wake her up…" Leo placed a hand on Don's shoulder, hoping to comfort his brother. He could only bit his lips to keep him from sobbing.
"She loved you, you know." The sword wielder turned to his brother. "She knew that she was going to die… Either way, she led you to your choice because of your feelings for her. And she loved you because of it."
"Raph…" He need not see his brother to know he was crying.
"Houki left me this box the day she left with you," he took out the box," I used it to find us a way out of the center of the earth…" Leo curled his brother's fingers around the box.
"She chose you… in the end," he mumbled, tears welling up in his eyes. He could not take it anymore. If there was anything that could turn back the clock… He would do it. As they bowed to the coffins behind their master who offered prayers and lighted joss sticks, the three brothers cried, forgetting about ego and pride. They never experienced the pain of death in their lives. It was hard. As they were about to leave, Splinter caught Leonardo's hand.
"You forgot to say your goodbyes to your predecessor, Leonardo," he said, pointing to the extreme left coffin. He stopped, not wanting to and sensei knew that. "She deserves at least that." Gulping, Leo walked up to the coffin, not wanting to look in. He gasped. Instead of skeletal remains or decaying flesh, the body in the coffin was pristine. There were not any obvious marks of a fight either. Shura lay in there, as if sleeping. "The last of the Murasakisuishou spells, my son. They preserve the bodies so that they will be remembered forever."
"This clan doesn't believe in headstones. And harming the body is harming the soul to them," Don mumbled, continuing," it's a good thing. We can always know what they look like and how they were…" He started to choke up. Leo turned to Shura's body before staring at Houki's. Shura, Houki… You saved me from death. Thank you… I guess I will fight my brother to change him back. With the help of Don and Raph, I think we can… You two rest in peace. I'll deal with the rest…
"Are you done, Leo?" Raph asked softly. With a small nod, he answered.
"Let's go…"
---