Chapter 8; Sinker!
"That is good to know …" pausing, Lotus stretched herself out slowly, pulling one arm above her head so that she could bend the elbow back down. Arching her back, her partially crossed legs flattened against the bamboo mat that lay on the floor. Letting out a slow purr like sound she tilted her head back, as she expected Leonardo was watching over her. "Why do you do that?" she asked, with a gentle almost friendly smile upon her features.
"Watch over you?" Leonardo asked, blushing once again in spite of himself. "I told Raphael that I would take responsibility for you." It was a half truth, and he hoped that she would not keep pressing the matter. Over their time together his admiration for her fighting skills and overall appearance was deepening into something far more dangerous. He was beginning to genuinely like her.
He watched as she stood up, crossing her arms in front of her torso to stretch the muscles out some more, rolling her shoulders a satisfied grin came to pass. "I – I feel that I am ready to train." She had watched the four brother's train together on her first morning, and pleased to find her aches fading she now wished to resume her own regime. When she was told with all seriousness that he disapproved she turned up her feminine wiles. "Not even a small spar Lee?" Lotus pouted slightly, trying out the name she had selected for him. Eyes locked with Leonardo in expectation of his retreat. "I know you will not hurt me. You could not."
"Lee?" At first he wasn't sure that he had heard her correctly, he hated that shortening of his name. When she gave another one of her sweet, shy smiles he relented. "To you, and you alone." Crossing the dojo floor he selected two smooth, hollow, wooden poles, taking up a length of cloth he wrapped both of them carefully before tossing one to her. Despite their weight, and apparent lack of use they were the oldest weapons that Splinter had. Training swords, weighted with cloth to give a better swing, as well as protect both of their bodies from serious injury. Watching Lotus experiment with the toy he gave her and easy shrug and half smile of his own. If she wanted to train, then they would, but not with real weapons. Holding the tip of his wooden katana up he moved towards her slowly, his other hand beckoning that she should make the first move.
Lotus mimicked Leonardo's actions, giving her sword a customary sweep, she approached him slowly, her bare feet crunching crisply on the bamboo shoots that made up the floor. With a graceful leap forwards she succeeded in extending her weapon to strike Leonardo's. Beneath her swelling she managed a small smile, before flicking her eyes away from his face and to his shoulder. Observing muscles contracting she ducked backwards, bringing the sword up across her torso, feeling wood strike wood Lotus grimaced as the minor vibration echoed down her arm.
"This is a bad idea." Stepping up Leonardo lowered the 'blade'.
Regaining her balance Lotus studied his face, noting the concern. "No, Lee, a true warrior must be prepared to fight no matter what." Bowing her head to him, she lifted up her own 'blade' and waited. "Do not hold back, "she added as an after thought, "I shall not." Preparing herself with a single deep breath, she attacked the wood moving up and through the air with a muted hiss before swinging downwards in a sharp stabbing motion towards his chest. Surprised at the audacity of such a manoeuvre Leonardo swung his own pole around, succeeding in deflecting the blow, but paying for it with a jarring that ran up the length of his inner arm. Wincing, his own eyes flicked from her shoulder briefly; the face he observed sent a chill up his spine. It was a mask of cold, calculating, determination a 'game' face he had never seen before.
She moved low, her movements lacking the grace and fluidity they had in their previous meeting. Dodging over the extended limb Leonardo swung his sword over his shoulder and towards her exposed side. Completing a smooth revolution near the floor, Lotus ended up on her haunches, her sword held between her spread legs to aid in balance. In her peripheral vision she saw the blurred wood coming towards her side. Throwing herself back towards the hard floor she landed with sufficient force to disturb her bruised, healing ribs. "Gah!" Sucking air in through her lips, she studied the extended hand, and friendly face that accompanied it before sliding her hand into the firm, ready grip. Tightening her fingers around his palm Lotus searched internally for the strength needed, before bringing up her right leg, jamming it into the Leonardo's side and using her own momentum swinging backwards, and gravity to bring him crashing onto the floor.
"Yagh!" Her foot jarred into the exposed area between his groin and hip, feeling his leg go numb his weight was pulled off balance and into a surprisingly powerful toss. Crashing onto his back Leonardo stared at the ceiling winded, his mind reeling. The sweet scent of lotus that always hung on the girl wafted over as she pulled herself up and towards the fallen turtle. Crawling over she straddled him with a smug smile on her face. Grimacing with pain she reached forwards to grasp both of his wrists and hold him in place on the dojo floor. Her shorter hair fell down over the bruises that adorned her face to brush against Leonardo's. "I win!" she whispered quietly, her smoky breath tickling his face.
"No you don't." he replied quietly, feeling her hands wrap around his wrists and apply minor pressure. Staring into her eyes, he let out a soft sigh, before licking his lips. Turning his head to either side he smiled slightly "That was illegal …" before tipping to the side, dislodging her weight and reversing the positions. Landing on his knees he pinned her to the ground breathing hard, a smug smile of his own on his lips. Struggling beneath his grip Lotus glared at him, her brown eyes burning angrily into his. Biting on her lip, she let out a long sigh after seconds of pointless struggle, "You win."
--
"Yagh!"
The three brothers broke from their show again to stare at the dojo. "I went last time." Donny stated simply, his eyes returning to the TV screen.
"Mikey …" Raph jerked his head towards the door. "I'm delegatin'…" he yelled in response to his brother's pleading expression.
Getting up Mikey traipsed over to the steps, taking his time to hop up them one at a time, glancing up all entertainment was interrupted by a loud "EW!"
--
"EW!"
On the floor of the dojo Leonardo pulled back from Lotus, a wide smile spreading over his face as he turned to look at Mikey's horrified mock expression. "Get a room!"
"Busted?" Lotus queried, favouring one of Mikey's expressions. Feeling Leonardo's weight shift off her arms and to her side, she slowly sat up, turning her head into his. Moving onto her knees to better reach his face she did not stop the turtle as he brought up his hand to caress her cheek before moving in to kiss her again. Letting him pull her into a warm embrace, she wrapped her arms around him with a degree of automation. Resting her head on his shoulder she turned to raise cold eyes to stare at a surprised Mikey, a small manipulative smile on her lips.
