Chap 5

A Ninja to Remember

"You're probably wondering where all these doors lead to right?" asked Raylene stepping into the corridor followed by Leo.

"Yeah" he answered.

"Okay, I'll give a guided tour as I wouldn't want my guest to get lost here would I?" said Raylene smiling at him.

Firstly, they worked they're way down the corridor Leo had come down revealing her bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, weapons room, training room as well as what she named the recovery room.

"You've already been acquainted with that one" she said he smiled.

She led him round the rest of her underground home further showing him, an entire area sectioned off which she didn't show him but informed was about 45 guest rooms. Her lab, which was where he met her, the door leading from that lead to a massive garage filled with just about any vehicle for any travel. Then they walked into a large hall not far from there, which was where they currently stood. There was nothing in here it was just large empty room.

"Er, Raylene, What is this room used for?" Leo asked.

"Conferences" she answered but did not elaborate any further.

"But isn't the purpose of having an underground home that no one knows where you are?" he asked.

"Yes, but this is a special case which you will learn more about later" he nodded in understanding.

"But for now" she said walking out of the room and into the corridor.

"Are ya hungry?"

Noon had approached in New York City and far beneath in the sewers music echoed slightly into the tunnels. Its source came from an old CD player fixed by Donatello, which now resided in Raphael's bedroom. He locked himself in there after training and minutes later the music had started. Donatello had disappeared as well into his room (makeshift lab) and was currently working on his computer while Mike sat at the TV flicking through the channels with a large bowl of popcorn.

Splinter sat in an old slightly chipped chair watching and listening to his sons. His hand fell away letting the cloth cover his cart window once more. He sank down into a large pillow and resumed his meditation. Darkness took him and the sounds of the world outside ceased; he felt relief, but it was not his own, someone else was feeling that perhaps his son or student. The call of Sensei made him focus harder and strain to hear the voice calling out to him.

"Sensei" the voice called.

"What troubles you my child?"

"Master Splinter it is good to hear your voice again"

"It has been to long, my child"

"Master, I have one of your students here"

"I know, it is as predicted, but tell me child when do you plan to return?"

"We will be leaving at nightfall and enter by the first tunnel, we'll have to travel a lot of the way underground that would usually be able to be done topside, but the area could be being watched"

"Do you need assistance?"

"No Sensei, it will be easier the fewer of us there are"

"Very well, I will look to your coming at nightfall"

"As you wish Sensei, I'll see you soon"

Darkness returned and Splinter opened his eyes. His candle was still burning giving off a calm glow; Michelangelo was still watching TV and Raphael still playing his music and the sound of clicking only made by a keyboard alerted him that all was well. Leonardo would be with them again soon, then the hardest of explanation; even more so than that he had kept the broken canister of the ooze would have to be given.

Once again he slipped into meditation this time he sought answers of a different kind that came only with time and patience, but he needed to decide how best to approach this situation.

Raylene opened her eyes the world returning to normal after the darkness and solitude of meditation. She leaned against the wall in the corner of her bedroom; here she did all her meditating. She like Splinter had been sitting on a large pillow sky blue in colour while candles burned on a low table beside her. She blew them out and stood up. Plopping down on her double bed also sky blue in colour she looked up at her white ceiling. She was bored and it was only 1.30pm so it wouldn't be dark for another four hours now that the nights were drawing in. She unsheathed a katana that had been hanging above her bed on the light beige wall. She looked down the recently polished blade and watched the light bounce off it, it really was a beautiful weapon. She sheathed it a moment later before removing it from the wall, perhaps Leo would like to train, if he wasn't already that is. Even though he didn't have his own weapons anymore as she'd not been able to salvage those in the attack she had offered him the use of any of the weapons in her own store. Her door slid open and her room light blinked off as she stepped out and walked a few doors up to Leo's bedroom. She pressed the button outside, the same for all bedroom doors. She heard it chime inside and waited, but he never answered. After a couple of minutes she left concluding he must be in the dojo already. She walked down the hall her bare feet slapping the floor as she went. She whistled quietly as she walked past her room again and went to the end of the corridor before stopping in front of the door. It slid open and she walked in and found her prediction had been correct. He was in the middle of the dojo skilfully wielding two of her katanas in a well-practiced kata. She moved off to one corner unsheathing her katanas she began a warm up. After 20 minutes she stopped and looked at Leo who'd been watching her the last couple of minutes.

"You want to spar?" she asked.

"Okay" he said nodding his head.

She walked over to the center of the room and stood in front of him, they bowed then began.

Leo had watched her moves as she'd warmed up and knew just from observation, she was well practiced in the art of ninjitsu. Now with those same moves now put into action in battle it was amazing. She was a challenge pushing him to his limit and making him give everything he had. Her moves were quick and graceful making it seem more like a dance. She sprang back suddenly quite a distance from him; she stood still ready to attack staring him in the eye, almost trying to feel out his weaknesses. He looked back, but she was giving no sign of any kind of weakness, he gripped his katanas tighter. She smiled as if she knew something he didn't then ran towards the door. He didn't understand, why was she running away? He ran after her, but when she reached the wall seconds before him instead of stopping like he expected she darted up the wall while hitting the switch throwing them into darkness. Momentarily stunned by her actions he realised a split second to late when one of his katanas was knocked from his hand and went flying across the room. He gripped his remaining one with both hands tightly and listened. A few seconds went by before he struck out and hit steel. He struck again and again and every time it was blocked, he went to strike once more when he felt she'd disappeared again. She came from the side jumping from above though where from he had no idea since there was no second level. He lashed out and caught her left katana from the underside by the hilt knocking it out of her hand. Now they were even again and they both only had one katana. However, while he had disarmed her of one katana her other came down upon his knocking it clean from his grasp. It clattered to the floor but he paid little notice she was in front of him now with the advantage of a weapon. He caught her wrist in her next attack and applying the right amount of pressure she dropped it. He went to step behind her but she kneed him in his plastron. The grip he had on her wrist loosened allowing her to pull free to the deliver a blow the back of his knees making him fall to the floor. Grabbing one of the fallen katana she placed it in the hollow of his throat, he gasped out loud from either previous winding or the fact to he just lost.

"You fight well, Leo," said Raylne getting to her feet and taking his hand to help him up.

"How do you do that?" asked Leo.

"Do what?" asked Raylene unsure of what he meant.

"Run up walls"

"Oh, well. That I learnt on my own with a lot of practice and many a sprained ankle".

"Who is your Sensei?"

"You'll get to meet him soon" Raylene said sheathing both her katanas and walking over to the door. She flicked the switch and the lights came on, she looked up and saw Leo also sheathing his katanas. She checked her watch, which read 3.15pm, they'd been at it for a while.

"We'll be leaving at four, you want to go take a shower?"

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"Well, you'll have to wait and see now won't you" she said before walking out the dojo.

It puzzled and frustrated him that she wouldn't tell him things he wanted to know, but also appreciated that for some things she was not the best one or the right one to be giving the answers. With that in mind he too left the dojo to his own room to take a shower before they left although where too he had no idea, he guessed in time as Splinter would say will come answers.

TBC…

Sorry this chapter a bit on the short the next will be better.

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