Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT.
Warnings: Angst, torture and goodbye
Mindless Babble:
dojo- practice area for martial arts
Otóosan- Father
kata- form or shape- in this instance a type of meditation or discipline that moves from one stance to another in a flowing motion.
ki- life-force
kanji- Japanese writing
Break the bones and the body will heal. Break the spirit and the body will die.
The sounds of combat reached the ears of the one who was trying to meditate and it brought a smile to him. His adopted sons were practicing again. The steady rhythm of wood on wood and metal on metal soothed him. Splinter silently made his way to the door that separated his room from the makeshift dojo.
What he saw when he opened that door could only be described as beautiful. It was like watching an intricate dance performed by four forms of green liquid. One would slash, the other would parry. One would jab, the other would dodge. A sai tried to stab only to be blocked by a pair of katanas. A bo, aimed to crack a skull, was yanked away by a nunchucku that had wrapped around it.
Splinter saw what was about to happen and called out a warning, knowing it would be too late.
"Raphael!"
The turtle in question did not react. In fact he stood like a statue carved from malachite. An instant before the bo slammed into the back of his head, a look of horror crossed his features. His body went slack as his mind slipped into darkness.
But not before the vision had finished with him.
The room was small and dimly lit. It reeked of mildew and musk. A new scent was present, though it was less pronounced. It was something organic yet metallic smelling.
There were two eyelets protruding from the stone walls that were like those of the lair's. From these stretched two ropes made form coarse hemp. Strung between these ropes was a figure. It was almost impossible to tell what color the creature's skin had been so covered in blood, burns, and bruises. The poor thing looked like it had been tormented for weeks,
The creature lifted its head and Raphael was horrified to find himself looking into his own eyes. His mask had been torn away but it had been replaced by a liquid of the same color. The rough sounding voice cut through the dankness of the cell.
"Kill me."
The turtle struggled back into the waking world with a groan. He opened his eyes briefly before slamming them shut again. Seeing one Mikey was bad enough; seeing three was nauseating. He touched the back of his head, discovering the ice pack that was covering the rather large lump that was forming there. He groaned again.
"What happened?"
"What do you remember?"
Raphael half opened his eyes to confirm what his hearing had already told him. "I was sparring with ya, Leo, and then…" His brow furrowed as he tried to remember. "Things just get real fuzzy after that."
Leonardo smiled. "Mikey got a little carried away and accidentally smacked you with Donnie's bo."
"I'm sooo sorry, Raph!" The orange masked turtle had tears in his eyes. "I didn't mean to- Master Splinter even tried to warn you."
Raph opened both eyes in surprise. "He did?"
Michelangelo's head bobbed. "But I guess you didn't hear. I'm really, really sorry though."
The injured turtle wrapped a hand around the back of his brother's head and pulled him down so that they were face to face. "I forgive ya," he whispered. "But don't let it happen again, 'kay?"
Mikey nodded emphatically. Raph chuckled before closing his eyes in pain. He felt someone gently prop him up from behind. A cup touched his lips.
"Drink this," Leo's soft voice commanded. "Master Splinter said this would help dull the pain and keep you from being sick."
Raph gratefully drained the entire contents of the cup and was soon asleep.
The vision seized him again.
Raphael awoke in a sweat, a scream in his throat. The dream that had haunted his hours of darkness for the past six nights had steadily gotten more vivid. Tonight, the smell of blood had been so overpowering, the young turtle had nearly thrown up in his sleep.
Raph sighed. There was no way he was going back to sleep after that. He silently slipped from his room, intent on going topside. He was so intent that he didn't notice his sensei sitting quietly in a corner.
"Does something trouble you, my son?"
The words, spoken in a hushed whisper, sounded like a thunderclap to Raphael. He froze and looked over his shoulder at the old rat that had raised him and his brothers.
"No, Master Splinter. I just wanted ta get some air," the turtle replied, hoping that he really didn't sound as nervous as he felt. He hadn't told anyone about his dreams simply because he didn't want them to worry. That or think he was going insane.
"You do know that you are always welcome to speak with me if ever you are so inclined."
Raphael smiled. "Thank you, Otóosan. I won't forget. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
With that the young ninja disappeared. Splinter grinned. Perhaps his lessons in Japanese weren't useless.
An hour passed. Then two. Leonardo woke and entered the dojo. He began his morning katas. After about half an hour, Donatello joined him and a few minutes later, Michelangelo. It wasn't until they finished an hour later, that they noticed Raphael hadn't joined them.
"Mikey, you and Donnie start getting breakfast ready. Raph probably just overslept."
"He's been doing that a lot lately," Donnie observed.
"Yeah, since Mikey hit him with your bo," Leo replied. The remark had its desired effect as two green faces turned slightly pink.
They parted ways with Michelangelo and Donatello heading towards the kitchen and Leonard to his brother's room. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but himself, but he was worried. Raphael hadn't been himself lately. Leo had often fallen asleep to the restless pacing coming from his brother's room only to wake later to the steady sound of a punching bag getting a workout. The worst part was how quiet the usually obnoxious turtle had been. The last time they had fought some street thugs, Raph had quietly, almost methodically, eliminated his opponents.
"Hey, Raph! You missed…" Leo stopped speaking when he realized there was no one in the room.
"He left some hours ago, wishing to get some fresh air. He has yet to return."
Leonardo whirled around. As usual, Splinter had approached him without his knowledge. Not for the first time, Leo wished he knew how his sensei had done that.
"Then he's probably at Casey's or April's."
Splinter looked crestfallen. Had his son, whom he loved so very much, felt he could not talk with his adopted father?
Leonardo saw where his mentor's thoughts were going and quickly said, "Don't feel bad, Master Splinter. Both April and Casey have cable. Raph probably just sacked out in front of the TV."
The rat chuckled. "Of course."
"I'll call him up and let him know that he needs to come home.
Splinter nodded, still smiling. As his son walked away, a feeling of dread suddenly overtook him. He barely managed to withhold a shocked gasp. A few moments later he was able to dismiss it as fatherly concern. The feeling didn't leave, though.
"So you haven't seen him either?"
Leo had been mildly annoyed when Raph hadn't answered his shell phone. Then he had called April and irritation melted into worry. Now, with Casey telling him the same thing, worry was steadily deteriorating into fear.
"Nope, haven't seen him since the accident last week."
"Well, if you see him…"
"I'll send him home with a boot to the shell," finished Casey. Leo could hear him grinning.
"Thanks." Leo hung up the phone and took a deep breath. He went into the kitchen and found his brothers and adopted father at the table with breakfast ready. He told them about the phone calls.
"We need to find him," Donnie said, concern creeping into his voice.
"Then what the shell are we waiting for?" Mikey asked as he stood up. Then his brain caught up to him.
All three turtles turned to look at their master. A look of sorrow had settled on the grey rat's face. Dark eyes were filled with despair. He bowed his head.
"I have had a heavy heart since Raphael departed this morning. I feared that something had happened to him, but I ignored it, thinking I was simply being overprotective. Go and bring him home."
And so, the search began.