Author's note: Well, its been almost three months since this was last updated, so I decided to take a little time to write a new chapter for this. I kind of know where I'm going with it but just having a little trouble getting there.
To: Sassyblondexoxo, Lioness-Goddess, BubblyShell22, Kellie Fay and Rev. Thanks for the wonderful reviews! I love reviews!
Not much in the way of romance this chapter but I promise the next one will!
2021 could very well be next, I have a couple of ideas for the next chapter and both practically written up, I just need to pick the best one for the overall story. I'm struggling with it slightly, if anyone has any ideas, I would really appreciate some brainstorming with it!
Okay, here's chapter 9!
Infiltration.
Faith crept slowly about the room, a small part of her wanting to see her father again but an overwhelming feeling of curiosity pushing that need aside. Her father's room was grand and powerful with its ornaments screaming his leadership, she noticed very little in the room to show a family man, a father. It did not deter her in her search for answers. She moved to the desk set along the opposite wall from the door and passed by the chest of drawers and wardrobe on the right and the large king size bed on the left. His silk sheets were untouched as if no one had ever slept beneath them, the pillows untouched as well. Leo had said that he would wait outside for her, trusting her to come back from her infiltration of her home. The computer on the desk was still active and running but she knew little about how it worked so the filing cabinets on the right of the desk became her primary target. Pulling open the top drawer she rummaged through the different folders and found nothing of interest, the next drawer and the same result. The bottom drawer was locked shut with a small padlock but it wasn't a problem, she pulled a small clip from her hair and bent it into the desired shape and took another repeating the shaping process. After several seconds the lock released and she pulled open the drawer, a small thump when it opened completely drew her attention and she pulled all of the files forward to reveal a small package tucked at the very back, the tape holding it to the back had dislodged and allowed it to move about. Curious about it's contents and the fact that it was hidden she pulled it free, tucking it into the inside pocket of her jacket and after closing the filing cabinet, replaced the lock She fastened the belt of her jacket and stood, glancing about to make sure that everything was in its place before heading for the door. As she reached the door the handle began to turn, someone was coming in.
Leo paced the small storeroom as well as he could, his nervousness was beginning to build and he felt that something was wrong. Faith hadn't been away for that long a time but he was hiding within the Foot headquarters and within a room that contained only one escape. Trusting his intuition he decided to find an alternative hiding place and cautiously pushed open the door, checking it was all clear he moved out.
"Something troubles you my son?" Splinter's cane tapped lightly on the cold concrete floor, he watched Raphael as he performed a kata with slightly more effort than was required. Raph stopped and faced his father. Splinter picked up the towel resting on the bench and offered it to Raphael, which he gratefully took and mopped at his brow, continuing the dabbing down his arms.
"Why did ya let Leo go Sensei? She can't be trusted and she'll lead him into a trap"
"By 'she' you mean Faith" Splinter admonished.
"Okay, Faith" he relented, "I've only just come to terms with Mike getting all cute and cuddly with Charity, it doesn't mean that I trust her or anything but I certainly trust her a whole lot more than Faith. She's too dedicated to her father, not like Charity, her upbringing has been totally different. Why the hell did Leo even agree to this stupid stunt?" he waved his arms frustratingly to add emphasis to his point.
"Faith should be given a chance, her sister, as well as your brother, believe that she is merely misguided, a thought that I happen to agree with but without answers she will continue to feel torn between her father and her sister. Perhaps the reason for your distrust is her unwillingness to detach herself from a man that you clearly see as evil" Splinter rested a comforting hand on Raph's shoulder.
"That still doesn't explain why Leo is so keen to help, I mean, he's at the Foot headquarters with her, she could easily reveal him to them. What then?"
"Then there will be answers to your questions" with that Splinter turned and walked away.
"Faith?"
"Father"
Masuyo held out his arms, summoning his daughter into an embrace, she welcomed it and moved into him returning the gesture but keeping her body slightly turned to prevent him feeling the package that she had taken from the cabinet. His warm body soothed her fragile nerves and soon she leaned into him fully, happy to see him once again. His pleasure at her return was soon overruled by his curiosity and he reluctantly pulled away, keeping his hands wrapped around her upper arms as he studied her.
"I was concerned for you, little kitten. Where have you been?" A small smile appeared on his face and Faith smiled at his gentle expression.
"I didn't know you cared so much dad?" she replied, letting a small chuckle escape. Her attempts at avoiding his line of questioning didn't work, he wasn't going to be fooled.
"I do care kitten, I have missed you greatly. Tell me, where have you been?" The grip on her arms began to tighten and she winced slightly at the pain that began to form.
"Safe father," she replied formally, "I have been with friends"
His grip didn't falter as he studied his room, there didn't seem to be anything out of place but he had trained her and knew that she could infiltrate any establishment without being detected during or after the event. Faith watched him nervously, his grip still firm and she knew that he was angry, his joy at seeing her alive and well short lived. Another aspect of his life that she now seemed to notice, her time with his 'enemies' had opened her eyes to such insignificant things.
"I do not like your refusal to answer my questions. Why are you in my room? And how is it that no one here knows of your return? Were you hiding from us?" his tone wasn't threatening but his eyes told a different story, he wasn't happy.
Leo quickly ducked into a small corridor, the Foot soldiers walking past without noticing him. He stepped back into the shadows as they disappeared through a doorway, leaving the corridor quiet and empty. His senses were in overload and he knew that something was wrong, he left the safety of the darkness and ventured out to find Faith and leave.
"I'm not hiding anything father, I came here in search of you but you are a difficult man to find…"
An alarm rang out through the complex and Masuyo immediately released Faith, heading to the door as it swung open. A Foot ninja stood there, slightly shocked by Masuyo's sudden appearance and left a pause that he was not pleased with.
"Well?"
The ninja was quick to reply, "An intruder has been detected Master, we believe it is one of those freaks"
Masuyo spared a glance towards Faith and frowned heavily then turned back to his ninja, "Find him" he looked at Faith, "You. Stay here"
The door slammed as Masuyo and the ninja left, leaving Faith staring at the closed door.
If Raph found out about this, he'd never let me live it down, Leo thought as he stood ready against four ninja. This is embarrassing.
They attacked and Leo dodged to the side, drawing his weapons as he did so. There was little room to fight in the corridor and Leo pulled back, searching for better battle-grounds. A half open door to his right answered his prayers and he dived inside, the Foot ninja following closely behind. He ducked the katana swipe meant to sever his head and retaliated, sending the ninja flying into a bookshelf on his left, it collapsed on top of the ninja, pinning him beneath it. One down, three to go. Another swipe, this time aimed at his knees, Leo jumped and brought his leg up to smack the ninja hard in the face, he stumbled slightly but didn't fall. One more kick, this time to the other side of his face and the ninja fell. Number two. A blow to the his carapace pushed him forward and he pivoted, swinging his katana around with it, the ninja ducked and a heavy blow from Leo's foot kicked his head back, he groaned and Leo punched him across his face, the katana in his grip providing extra power to the blow. Three. With a quick back flip, Leo avoided the nunchaku that swept past his head, one end of the chuck flying harmlessly over his plastron. He kicked back and the ninja fell to the ground. A final glance at his opponents and Leo darted from the room.
Masuyo stood outside the open door, several of his best men at either side of him. When Leo emerged, he signalled for his men to attack.
Faith waited within her father's room, she knew that Leo had been discovered and that her father had sent his men to track him down. She pondered her next course of action. Should she stay and allow Leo to be captured or should she find him? Leo could get out of here easily without the added burden of taking her as well, but she knew he wouldn't. He said he wouldn't leave here without her and from what she had discovered about Leo in the time she had spent with him and his family is that Leo kept his promises.
Faith disobeyed her father and went to search for Leo.
Leo fell to the floor hard, a foot pressed against the side of his head and he tried to bat it away but a hard shove and his face scratching against the cold, rough floor told him that he should stop. Masuyo ordered his men to pull him up and Leo felt hands wrap around his arms and he was quickly lifted. Masuyo stepped closer and back slapped Leo hard across the face, he tasted blood in his mouth and knew that his lip had split open.
"You. Freak. Have tried to steal my daughter from me. And failed." Masuyo glared at Leo as he spoke and allowed a small smile to cross his face, "Did you think that something like you could sway my little kitten? She knows where her love lies and it is not with an abomination like you!"
Leo smiled, "Sounds like you consider me a challenge, you think your daughter would abandon you for me? You call me an abomination, when it's you that's the abomination! You killed her mother!"
"I see Charity has been speaking with you. Well you can keep her, she is no longer of any use to me. In fact, it would stop her from tainting my daughter's image of me, she is very impressionable" Masuyo stepped back to allow a ninja to bind Leo's hands.
"Funny. That's what her mother said" Leo responded dryly. Masuyo punched him hard and Leo smiled further with his success at enraging him.
"You know too much"
Masuyo turned and walked away, speaking quietly with one of his ninja before turning and leaning on the wall. He crossed his arms and waited.
A blow to his stomach sent him doubling over and Leo let the air in his lungs expel violently. More blows rained down on him and he started to feel dizzy, one final glance upwards and he noticed Masuyo smile before he walked away. The blows didn't cease and Leo watched the room growing dark, but it wasn't the lights, he felt light headed and weak. He slipped into the comforting embrace of darkness.
The smoke bomb exploded as Leo was released to the floor, the ninja now confused and panicked, several murmured about the freak's brothers coming to rescue him and fled the room. The rest stayed and drew their weapons but with the smoke making it impossible to see anything, they soon found an invisible opponent sending them sprawling onto the ground. After several moments, no ninja were left standing and Leo was dragged away.
