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Decisions

Chapter 2

My brothers and I quickly donned the packs that contained our supplies and set out to reach Hyogo. The clan said their good-byes and accompanied us as far as the edge of the valley. Many of Mikey's young protégé begged us to bring their teacher back safely. I placed all thoughts of guilt from my mind. Now was not the time to dwell on what could not be changed. Now was the time to take action. Katsuro was going down once way or another. I swear it on my own blood.

We traveled in silence until we reached the nearest town. Luckily Donnie had thought to remind us to bring our monk disguises and we quickly donned them to blend in better. Donnie and I had to grin at Raph's grumbling that the kimono's were "in' itchy."

"We only have two weeks to reach Hyogo," I said, "Donnie you go and see what you can do about speeding up our trip. Raph and I will wait for you here."

I did not have to speak the word "hurry." Our speed was of the essence if we were going to reach Michelangelo in time. Donnie was gone in a flash and I was left watching as an impatient Raphael paced uneasily. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth…

"Please stop," I snapped, "You're making me nervous."

"Well sooorrry," Raph growled, "I just can't stay calm thinkin' about what Katsuro may be doin' ta Mikey!"

"Stop it," I said.

"I can't just switch off my emotions like ya can Prince of Ice."

"Stop it," I whispered.

"I can't just make believe that everything is goin' ta be okay just because I've said it will be."

"Shut up!" I yelled, "Do you not think that those same thoughts are not all running through my head? My God Raph! That monster has Mikey and will be able to steal his very soul if we can't reach Hyogo and defeat Katsuro in two weeks time! We'll lose Mikey forever and I don't think Splinter will be able to handle such a loss! Dammit, I don't think we can handle such a loss!"

It was suddenly hard to breathe. I realized that I was panicking. I had to force myself to sit and take several deep breaths.

"I can't lose him," I whispered laying my head on my knees to ease the dizziness.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Raphael said dropping to sit beside me, "Hey, calm down. Look I'm sorry okay? I guess this is just gettin' ta me. We were supposed ta keep the kid safe. This wasn't supposed ta happen. Let's get a grip."

"Yes," I said sighing softly, "I'm sorry for yelling at you. I know you are just as upset as I am. We have got to finish this one way or the other."

"Look. I knows that I can be a real damn punk at times, but it's hard ta stay focused when your family is involved," Raph said with sincerity in his voice, "I want this ended and I want it ended now. I can't wait ta tear into that piece of !"

"We will do this the honorable way Raph," I warned, "We are not going out to kill anybody unless we have absolutely no choice. I still have hope that we can defeat Katsuro without causing any bloodshed."

"But if we can't do that?" Raph asked.

"Then Katsuro is mine," I growled, "He first attacked to get to me and in the process hurt Mikey. I have vowed to stop him at whatever cost to my person."

Raph looked at me startled. I was deadly serious and he knew it. I had vowed the first day to avenge my family and I would do so with honor. God forbid any he stood in my way.

"Guys! I got us a ride…" Donatello said running up and then stopping when he sensed the tension in the air, "What's going on?"

"Nothin' Donnie," Raph said, "We was just getting' ourselves ready for the journey."

"You got us a ride?" I prompted as I stood.

"Um…yeah. I got us a ride with one of the locals that are heading in that direction. He thinks we are heading to a medical emergency that will need our 'healing skills.' He has agreed to go very fast. It will take about five days to drive to Hyogo and our ride will be able to drop us off within a few days hike to Katsuro's fort."

"What?" I said, "Why can't we go straight to the fort?"

"There are no roads that lead straight to Katsuro's place," Donnie said, "We will have to hike the rest of the way."

"Ain't that cuttin' it a bit closer than what is comfortable?" Raph asked, "We've only got less than fourteen days ta get there before Katsuro does his hocus pocus on Mikey."

"It's the best offer we have," Donnie said sighing sadly, "This would be right about the time that being green can be the real pits."

"You've got that right," I said, "Let's go."

There was exactly thirteen days, eight hours, and twenty minutes left before the full moon. We had to make it in time or we would lose our baby brother forever. But not if we had anything to say about it.

To be continued.