The Enemy

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter Twenty Seven - Battle Engaged

Michaelangelo:

Soon as Rama saw Yukio, all her confidence vanished into thin air. I sensed her fear and rising panic and heard a strangle whimper escape her throat.

It made me realize, even more now, how much she was still trapped and held by him. She wasn't free of his power that he used to keep her subservient to him. It had clearly taken a great deal for Rama to do, even what little she had done, for us to this point.

I dropped a hand on her shoulder giving it a reassuring squeeze " I'm with you girl. I'll keep my promise to you every step of the way, but remember you are not a little girl anymore you are a powerful kunoichi and the only power he has is what you give him" I told her softly, " You don't have to listen to him any more."

Yukio laughed, " That is where you are wrong she must listen to me because she is my daughter and she disobeyed me so that now I must send her to be lessoned." He hissed, " perhaps Kirra will be happier back in the lab where I got her."

I could hear Rama's breath quickening but she suddenly found her voice " I'm not Kirra that is a damn lie. My whole life has been a lie. How am I to find honour in that?" Rama demanded, then she took a deep breath and announced, " I'm Ramiela and you know it too."

I felt her body tremble under my hand and I also felt the surge of energy that came, when she spoke the name I had given her with great conviction.

Yukio curled his lip and gestured to the Elite and the few Foot soldiers to attack, Rama met them full on with us just a moment or two behind her. The office area wasn't that open so it made for cramped quarters for fighting in, but it also meant there was less risk of the Foot circling around and attacking us from the rear.

At least for the moment, there was the sound of metal connecting with metal or wood each of us concentrating on the soldiers ahead of us, or with in close striking range of our own weapons.

I saw Rama glancing around and then she turned yelling to Raphael who was occupied with some soldiers of his own, " Raphael the Elite guard going after Leonardo, he is the one who killed the woman and child when we invaded."

Raph's head jerked up as he glanced Leo's direction, the woman and child had of course been Raph's wife and youngest, he let out a sound that seemed more of a roar then a yell, as he lunged that way. He knocked or tossed any soldier out of his way, as he headed towards the one that he wanted.

Rama smiled a bit, then she dropped back to take a position close to where Raph had been before, so that she was close to protect Karena and the twins but also in a position to come to our aid as we needed.

In reality that position was a good one for Rama to take, as she could come to our assistance whenever we might start to falter, as adrenaline wore down and our bodies grew tired from battle. Yes we were skilled fighters, but we weren't exactly in top shape at the moment.

I forgot my own pain and aches as I whipped my chucks to the left and right to block strikes or hit at unprotected areas.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye Raphael ram his sai into the Elite's belly and the soldier fell.

Rama laughed, it was a sound as cold and sinister as her adopted father's sounds of mirth. " Yukio seems, you have lost your son," She mocked as if goading him.

" Whose next?" Raph growled waiting for another taker and some foot soldier quickly obliged him.

First blood and first death was ours and such things often had a great psychological effect in the outcome of any battle.

I saw a spear being lunged in my direction and I wrapped a chuck around the shaft of the weapon hoping to dislodge it from the owner's hands, but the Elite on the other end knew what I was up to and compensated by shifting position and giving a sharp pull, dragging me close enough to allow him a side kick that connected with my plastron, almost knocking me over.

Then I noticed Yukio entering the fray, he was heading straight for Rama.

I knew the effect he had on her and I knew that Rama wasn't going be able to face him in battle and win. Of course Yukio knew if he got rid of her it might be easier to kill us off. After all he could kill Rama, Karena the twins and then us, like a set of dominoes all set up to fall in a swirling pattern, all one had to do was hit that first one and stand back to watch the show.

The idea of Rama facing Yukio filled me with an extra burst of energy and desire to get to her fast!

I replaced one nunchuk in my belt and withdrew a small throwing dagger; I tossed the knife towards the soldier I was fighting. The Elite made a move to block and send it off its trajectory, but in that moment his concentration was slightly distracted and off of me. I used that instant to act tossing a second dagger and disarming him.

The fact his weapon had been ripped from his hands startled him, the knife finding its mark was his final mistake.

By now Yukio was closing in on Rama, and of course during the fight we had, been drawn slightly apart so while we were close to one another we still had soldiers surrounding us in almost every direction.

I knew that Yukio was going get to Rama first and that was the last thing I wanted. I looked around frantically and noticed that Leo seemed closest to Rama so I yelled over the melee to him " Leo, Yukio. Karena and Rama!"

Leo nodded enough to let me know he had heard, but in that moment the Foot seemed to rally, effectively cutting Leo off, and he had to deal with them, before he could get near his wife and children.

Damn it all! This did not look good for us right now.

Ramiela:

As far as I was concerned the woman and children were the weak links, the girl for all of her shy introverted ways was a better fighter then Ryu was and I had a feeling that she had probably spent a great deal more time on her studies, and learned the lessons of ninjitsu faster then her impulsive brother. Still I knew they lacked the discipline of facing an opponent in battle and with the intense fighting going on it was clear that they would fall first.

True, with the male turtles badly weakened they probably weren't much of a match for the Elite either but they were more skilled in battle, and they had something worth fighting for.

I knew it came down to this, how badly did they want to live? From the way the male turtles were fighting they strongly desired to continue living.

I used my katana to kill one soldier barely noticing the blade stained with blood as I moved the sword to block another strike, I was using both swords to kill where I could and cause severe crippling injuries where I could not kill.

I sensed father's approach more then I saw him but as he drew near the other Foot backed off, allowing him to take their place.

I felt my insides churn, as my heart began to pound as I stared into his dark eyes.

Traitor! Deceiver! My mind screamed, and a part of me longed to drop to my knees and beg forgiveness for my lapse, the only reason I think I managed to keep my feet under me was the fact that I knew how I'd be forgiven.

" Kirra!" he hissed.

" Ramiela!" I responded though not half as sharp as I had meant it to be.

I knew I was going die, I had all ready accepted that fact, for I knew before I started that this would be my last battle. I knew it in my heart and my soul but I refused to die living my life a lie.

I knew I had nothing really to live for, not any more at any rate, but those I fought for and with did have something and since I had thrown in with them for this battle, I was going do my best to not just throw my life away. To have honour in death, I had to insure my death was, at the very least, honourable.

We stood before each other and I did my best to show no weakness before him, but I admit it was impossible for me to act self-assured too. I know I bowed my head slightly and I think I took an involuntary step or two backwards.

" Shinu ga hangyaku-sha" ( Die traitor) he spat out.

" Motte kuru sore wade" (Bring it on) I responded with false bravado, " Usotsuki" (Liar)

I knew that I was goading him into attack and this was not necessarily a wise thing to do, but I had all ready chosen many foolish paths to walk on this day, so really what was one more?

Father unsheathed a katana of his own, a fine piece of workmanship well crafted and honed, it was a superior weapon in very skilled hands, and he swung it with practiced ease.

In spite of the part that seemed to scream at me that I shouldn't be doing this, I readied myself for father's first blow.

This was my father, the man who had done so much for me, how could I possibly be taking a stand against him in this way, or in any way? How could I be so disloyal?

It was wrong, so wrong!

Yet I knew it couldn't be stopped or prevented now.

I met the first blow deflecting a quick strike but I was sure that father sensed my fears and doubts about confronting him. Nor did it help me to feel the sudden fear and panic rising in Karena and her two children, I knew they would be of no help to me, even if they tried father would kill them.

I glanced around for a possible source of help, not that I expected any of the male turtles to come to my aid, but they would most likely come to protect the weaker members of their clan. I doubted Leonardo would permit his wife to be harmed, no he had to play hero for her.

I could see that Leonardo and Michaelangelo were both close but at the moment otherwise occupied, which meant I would have to be on my own. I turned all my attention onto my father knowing I could not allow myself to become distracted.

Father was doing his best to slip his katana past my defences but so far my blade continued to meet his the ringing of the metal as it clashed time and again sounded in my ears.

At the moment, my only saving grace was my ability to hone in on my opponent's moves, before they made them, and the knowledge I bore from sparring with father numerous times in the past.

I blocked each blow, tried to feint and attack but he was ready with a strong counter attack move that pushed me back. Suddenly he withdrew his katana and stood there his dark orbs penetrating into my gaze, and then he made a move with his sword.

It came so quickly, I did my best to block it only he switched the trajectory and as my katana blade came down, his went up and bit into my right arm just below my shoulder. I felt the sudden stab of pain as blood splattered but I refused to cry out.

That strike, however, lucky or skilled on his part, was enough to shake my confidence. I knew I was way out of my depth; it was rare when I could beat father in even a friendly sparring match, and this was life and death. I started to falter and his blade seemed to connect more often, not badly but I knew I was making foolish mistakes and it seemed all I could do was retreat.

Father gave me one of his cold dark sinister smiles as he began to press the advantage, as I backpedalled hurriedly before him. I had a feeling he was very slowly going chop me into bits with his sword, if only for his enjoyment.

Suddenly another sword was against father's katana, and father was forced to give ground or deal with a sharp blow of a katana blade.

Leonardo glanced at me just briefly " Get my family out of here" he growled before focusing everything he had on father.

" Come on Rama, we have to get out of here and we need your help to do it girl" Michaelangelo insisted, " Most of the Soldiers here are down or out for the count" he declared as he knocked one soldier out with his chuks.

I looked around startled to see that he was right, had I battled father that long?

The girl looked towards her father " But dad how is he…?" she began faltering.

" Mike I am not leaving Leo" Karena declared.

" You don't have a choice Karena, we have to get out of here now before the reinforcements arrive." Michaelangelo explained.

I knew he was right but I could also see that Karena was not about to leave her husband behind, not, when she knew he was not likely to make it out alive.

I knew Leonardo was right but I caught Karena's frantic worried gaze and told her in all sincerity " You might not believe me Karena, but I promise you that I will come back and help him as soon as possible after you are safe." I vowed.

I knew this was Leonardo's choice, as Leader of his clan it was almost expected of him, and he was ninja like I was, which meant he had a right to chose his death just as I had a right to chose mine. I still had another promise to keep the one about trying to get them all out alive, and I meant it. Once his family was safe I was sure Leonardo would gladly allow me to take his place; that was if he was still alive.

" But you must hurry now Karena for every second counts."

I could see her indecision and her fear but saw her nod her head in agreement. I smiled as we started to fall back heading towards the rear exit leaving Leonardo and father locked in mortal combat with one another.

TBC

Reinbeauchaser: Not too complicated of a fight scene, just broken up between a few different chapters to prolong suspense. I find fight scenes are hard to write to begin with and when told from first person view, it tends to be even more of a challenge. He, he LOL you calling Rama, Ramica. Ah, getting it together and keeping it together are two different things. A gratitude for your insight.

Lunar Ninja: ( writing review with a frosty cold screamer close at hand. Slurp! Mmm)

Sequel is a done deal and still posted, at least until I start the rewriting of it, which won't be until this one and The Legacy are finished. ( Slurp, aaaah soooo gooood.) So the way you read you might have it done before I start the rewrite. Cliffys are an author's right, as they keep you readers coming back for more. ( Hey, what happened to my SCREAMER! Ramiela!) A gratitude for your insight. Excuse me I have to kill a turtle girl.

Red Turtle: I do my best to portray the conflict and turmoil Rama is going through. LOL the second one to confuse the author with the OC. I guess that is what I get for having Rama's name so close to my own. A gratitude for your insight.