"Get down!" Raphael shouted at me and pushed me to the ground. Jeez, you would think he would've given me the chance to do it on my own. I kept low, but I couldn't resist looking up to see what was going on.
The three of them fought back to back trying to keep me in the center. I watched Raphael and realized just how sharp those things he had really were. I could just make out the grimace on his face and he seemed to actually be enjoying himself as he cut through three guys in one motion.
I averted my eyes and saw that Michaelangelo was being knocked back by four attackers at one time. They came at him with long sticks and swords, but Mike just grinned and with one nunchuck had them disarmed before I could blink. Not discouraged they attacked him with their bare hands. Idiots.
My dad seemed to be having a harder time of it. He used the nunchuck Uncle Mike tossed at him to block a sword that was ready to cut him down the center. He struggled with the guy for a minute before using a well- placed kick to send him to the ground. I watched as another came up to him from a blind side. Dad never saw him.
"Dad!" I screamed. "Look out!"
My dad spun and saved himself a fatal blow. The blade only caught his shoulder and then the man fell, a throwing star imbedded in his forehead. I turned and was able to see Raphael smirk a little before continuing his fight.
Suddenly, lights blinded me and a roaring sound filled my ears. "Come on." I felt Uncle Mike's hands grabbing me and practically throwing me forward onto something soft. The three of them fell on top of me.
"Go!" Raphael yelled.
I blinked the light spots away and saw that we were in a car. And at Raphael's command it sped off away from the battle.
We untangled ourselves and Dad pulled me closer to him. "Are you hurt?" he asked.
I shook my head but noticed the thin line of blood seeping from his shoulder.
"Let me take a look at that, Leo," Uncle Mike said.
My father brushed him off. "It's fine, Mike. I'll put something on it later." He shook his head. "Stupid. Should've seen him coming. If it hadn't been for Ren..."
"Your sorry ass would've been dead," Raphael finished for him. "When was the last time you actually practiced, Leo? Thought you would've at least kept in some shape to doTaki's dirty work."
"Hey, April. Thanks for the rescue." Mike called out in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
I finally noticed the driver of the car. It was a woman with short brown hair and a cheerful smile. She chuckled. "Yeah, just don't make it a habit." April adjusted the mirror so that she could see my father. "How have you been, Leo?"
Dad made an attempt at a smile. "Fine, April. It's good to see you again."
She tilted the mirror and her gaze fell on me. "Leo, he looks just like you!"
At that my dad actually laughed. "I never had hair April."
"And Leo was an ugly child," Uncle Mike added. "Not like Ren."
Raphael snorted at that and I glared at him. "Creep," I muttered under my breath.
It was quiet for a moment and then, "How's Splinter, April?" Mike asked and I saw my father tense up.
She kept her eyes on the road. "He's still down, Mike. Donny's with him and actually got him to eat a little this afternoon. He was sleeping when I left."
There was silence in the car for a few minutes before I asked. "Who were those guys anyway?" I looked at my dad for an answer but he just stared straight ahead. His continuing secrecy was beginning to irritate me. Heck, if I just saved his life I deserved to at least know something. But before I could say anything I heard Raphael mumble something.
"What was that?" I asked.
My dad shot him a glare, but as usual Raphael ignored it and repeated. "Foot Clan."
"Foot Clan?" I repeated with a slight laugh. Dang, if they didn't want to tell me that was fine, but they didn't have to make stuff up.
"Your mother's esteemed family," Raphael continued and I realized he wasn't kidding.
"Shut up, Raphael," my dad warned.
Raphael continued to ignore him and looked outside the car window. "Our blood enemies."
Whoa, talk about family feuds. I looked at my dad in shock, but his face was bright red and if looks could kill, Raphael would be dead. It was no wonder Raphael hated my mother. My father chose her over his family. "Do you---fight with them---a lot?"
Mike looked down, and said softly. "Not so much anymore. Occasionally, if we run into each other. We have this kinda...cease fire." He glanced at my dad before looking away.
"Why do you hate each other so much?" I didn't know much about blood feuds-- especially between rival ninja families. It did remind me a little of "The Godfather" which I saw on TV a year or so ago. Only those guys used guns.
Before anyone could answer, my dad got fed up and yelled. "Ren, it's not important right now, so drop it!"
I looked at him surprised. He rarely yelled at me. And I can't ever remember him yelling when I didn't do anything wrong. I blinked back tears and looked down at my hands. I wasn't about to let Raphael see me cry just because I got scolded.
We rode in silence the rest of the way into the city. And man was it a city! I'd seen pictures and stuff of New York but nothing prepared me for the actual sight. Everything was lit up. And the buildings were taller then any I had ever seen before. I looked across Uncle Mike and out the window. How could so many live in one place? Every sidewalk was packed with people going here or there. I tensed. What if one of them was part of the Foot Clan? I didn't want to watch another bloody battle.
We pulled into a parking garage and April parked at the first available space.
"Ahhh, home sweet home," Mike said with a grin as we all climbed out. My father had turned and was talking to April about something so I took the opportunity to whisper to Mike, "If you fight with the Foot Clan again, will they try and take me?" This whole thing seemed like too much bloodshed for a mere custody battle.
Uncle Mike didn't answer for a minute, but he didn't have to. Standing nearby, Raphael had heard. "They don't want to take you, Miren." I turned to him. "They want to kill you."
I stood there shocked not quite sure how to respond to that. My father on the other hand had no problem. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but while my brain was processing my possible death, Dad had taken Raphael hard to the ground and put a knee on his chest.
"You never quit do you?" he growled. "I told you a million times, he's my son. He'll learn the truth from me. When I think he's ready and not before."
Raphael didn't try to move, but his eyes narrowed and he said angrily. "When Leo? When are you gonna tell him the truth? When someone's holding a blade at his throat and his mom's standing by smiling?"
My dad threw a punch toward Raphael's face, but it never landed. Raphael blocked it and twisted tossing my father to the floor and pinned him. I started forward, but Uncle Mike grabbed me and held me back.
"You are getting soft, Leo," Raphael mocked him. My dad'sscowled at him but didn't try to reverse his position again.
"Now is not the time, you guys," April said angrily folding her arms. "You haven't seen each other in almost ten years. Haven't you grown up by now?" She stormed away in a huff.
My father and Raphael glared at each other and ignored April. Raphael's voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "All those years growing up, Leo. You acted like you were so much better than the rest of us. SO much better than me. Splinter's number one son, the Fearless Leader, the chunin. But you walked out and the honor fell to me." He got up and dusted himself off. "April's right, Leo. Now isn't the time. Once and for all you and me will fight to see who the leader is, but not tonight. Tonight is Splinter's time. And I want a more worthy opponent."
