It was late, 10:38 to be exact. Raphael was standing on the roof top leaning on the edge of the wall, looking at the garden below. He was fiddling with a small package. He hadn't opened it yet. He was waiting on someone.
Ren appeared at the door to the rooftop. She walked over to Raphael and handed him a mug of hot tea. He accepted the drink and began to sip off of it as he stared into the cold, night sky.
Ren was the first to talk. "Nice night." She sipped her tea. "Interesting to say the least."
"Humph. Yeah." was all he could say back to her.
"Your family is nice," she drank a little more of her tea.
"Are they getting settled in OK?" Raphael asked between drinks.
"Well let's see," Ren tapped her chin and thought for a moment. "Splinter lectured Michelangelo on leaving like he did and Michelangelo apologized and was sentenced to flips and grounding when they return home. Currently, he and Donatello are playing video games with Akio."
"What about Splinter and Leo?" He continued to drink his tea and stare off into nothing. A few twinkling stars captured his attention.
"They're at the table with father. He's already told them what's going on here and I think the topic of conversation has moved on to philosophy or something like that."
"Figures," was all he could say. He wasn't trying to be rude. Raphael was deep in thought. The events of the day kept racing through his mind.
(flashback) Michelangelo was entertaining customers. He helped Akio clear tables as Ren served food and drinks. Raphael was content to stay in the kitchen away from the crowd. He stayed busy chopping vegetables, washing dishes, and so on. Everything was going quite well until Ryu's crew appeared.
They were all oriental. There were four of them. Three were fairly large in stature. One was exceptionally muscular. The smallest of the four was apparently in charge. He flung the door open and strode in as if he owned the place. He quickly pulled of his sunglasses and placed them in the pocket of his black leather jacket. The other three thugs strode in behind him. They began to walk around stopping to look at what customers had been eating. That was when they saw Michelangelo.
"Look at this! Yasuo is so desperate for help he hires some looney in a turtle costume."
"Chen!" Ren yelled. She walked over to him. "You are not welcome here. Leave now!"
Raphael and Yasuo heard the noise and began walking into the dining area to see what was going on.
"Stay behind me Yasuo," Raphael whispered.
When they got into the main area of the restaurant, two of the thugs were annoying customers and flipping plates on the floor. One had Akio in a bear hug. Michelangelo was in a face off with Chen. Chen had his left arm around Ren's neck and his left hand held a switch blade to her side.
"Take one more step and she's gonna' end up with a few extra holes. Yasuo!" he yelled. "Get out here old man! I know you're in the back. If you don't want anything to happen to your pretty little girl you better move fast." His voice was more of a tease than a demand. You could tell he was enjoying the torment he was putting everyone through.
Raphael strode up and got within a few feet of Chen. "Let her go," he growled. His voice was low. His right fist was clenched and threatening Chen. His left hand remained hidden behind his back. He didn't want Chen to see the knife he was hiding.
Chen eyed Raphael. He grinned and began to laugh a bit. Not the reaction that Raphael was wanting.
"Another nut in a turtle costume." Chen was now having a good laugh at the brothers' expense. "Yasuo!" Chen continued. "I have had enough of your poor sense of humor. Show your self now or your lovely little girl won't be so lovely."
Yasuo stepped out from the corner where Raphael told him to stay. "Leave this place Chen. You are not welcome here. Ryu has no business with me."
Raphael was surprised at how calm Yasuo was.
Raphael? Raphael heard Ren in his mind. She was scared.
It's okay Ren. Mike and I will get you out of this.
Can you burn him or something? Please help me.
It's okay. I don't want to try anything yet. I don't want to hurt you. Don't worry, it'll be okay. Raphael tried to reassure Ren while Chen still talked to Yasuo.
"Old man, Ryu is not happy with you. You have missed several of your payments. How do you expect us to protect you if you don't pay up?" He paused for a moment. "Don't worry though. Ren here can work off your debt to Ryu, can't you little one." Chen slowly moved the blade from Ren's side to her throat.
Raphael started to take a step towards him but Chen stopped him. "Take one more step and I slit her throat." He grinned and whispered something to Ren. She wriggled a little more, trying to get out of his grasp.
Raphael began to growl, deep. Michelangelo was a little surprised. He had never heard a sound like that come from his brother. When Raphael spoke his voice was extremely deep. "Let her go and I promise to make your suffering quick." He was lying. He had been craving a fight for several days now and he was ready for this. He felt Michelangelo move in beside him and wait for Raphael's signal.
"What's it gonna' be?" he asked again. "you gonna' let her go or do I hurt you and you let her go?'
The one holding Ren laughed. "Look you little turtle freak, I came to speak to Yasuo. Not you! Yasuo! Pay or your daughter goes with me."
"Let my daughter go Chen." The three larger men stepped in and surrounded Raphael, Michelangelo and Yasuo. One of them still held a kicking Akio. Akio would have been screaming if a hand was not over his mouth. The customers were all huddled in the corner. They were told to be quiet or Akio would be hurt.
Chen grinned evilly and spoke again, his voice dripping with malice and contempt. "Have you not learned yet old man? Ryu will have your daughter and there is nothing you can do about it." Ren struggled as Chen pushed harder with the blade.
Raphael fought the urge to jump at the guy. He took a step forward and Michelangelo followed. Raphael quickly moved and threw the knife at the thug holding Akio. It hit him in the stomach. He dropped Akio and hit his knees, clutching at the knife. Akio ran and hid in the corner, clutching to the leg of one of the customers.
"You're next," Raphael warned. "Let her go or you die."
"Bad move turtle boy." Chen glared at Raphael and immediately moved the point of the knife on Ren's throat. She gripped at his arm trying to pull it away as a drop of blood trickled down. "Make one more move and I WILL SLIT HER THROAT!"
"And I'll have taken your head off before you even make a move with the knife."
Chen was surprised. This voice was from behind him not in front and he felt a cold steel blade against his throat. He swallowed and began to panic. He was no longer in control of the situation.
"Now lower your knife."
Chen did as he was told and the knife was snatched from his hand. THUMP! Suddenly everything for Chen went black.
Leonardo was standing just inside the doorway holding Chen's knife. He had knocked Chen out by hitting him with hilt of his sword. "Are you Ok?" he asked Ren.
Ren nodded yes, she was shaking. Raphael moved over to her and held her for a moment. "She'll be fine Leo. C'mon Ren. Let's go check the scratch on your throat." He started to walk Ren to the back but stopped in front of the two remaining thugs. "Take Chen and the other guy and get outta' here. Tell Ryu to stay away if he knows what's good for him. Or he will regret it." The two nodded blankly, grabbed their fallen comrades and made a hasty retreat.
"Hey guys!" Michelangelo enthusiastically greated the rest of his family. Donatello and Splinter stepped inside. Splinter eyed Michelangelo as Leonardo and Donatello removed their hats and scarves.
The elderly lady that had spoken with Raphael greeted the new visitors. "You must be Leonardo, Donatello, and Splinter. Welcome." She then said her goodbyes to Yasuo and that they would be back tomorrow to speak with Raphael and the others about what to do.
Yasuo nodded in agreement.
As all this was going on Michelangelo noticed that his brothers and father were still standing in the doorway, somewhat dumbfounded at the lack of effect their look had on others.
Donatello was the first to speak. "Would someone please tell me what is going on here? Raph's in an apron, Mikes juggling for humans and no one screamed when they saw us. Who were those guys and who's the girl? I would like to know what's been happening!"
Leonardo was next. "As would I. Raphael what's going on here?" His hands were on his hips and he glared at Raphael.
Raphael was about to snap back at Leonardo when Splinter intervened. "Raphael, perhaps you had better see to the scratch on your friend. I am sure that Michelangelo will be more than happy to relay the events of the day to us." Raphael and Ren went into the kitchen. Three sets of eyes turned to Michelangelo. Michelangelo just grinned and pointed to the back wall. Both turtles and Splinter followed Michelangelo's arm and saw the large scroll and smaller drawings on the wall.
"oh." was all Donatello could say.
(end flashback)
Raphael was brought back from his wandering by a nudge from Ren. He turned to look at her and she gave him a crooked smile. He couldn't help but grin back at her.
"So," she stared. "Are we going to open these up or what?" Raphael peered at the package she was holding and looked at the one in his hand. One was wrapped in red silk, the other blue. Both were tied up with ribbon and fit nicely in the palms of their hands.
Raphael nodded in agreement. "You first," he whispered.
Ren slowly and carefully undid the ribbon and slowly unwrapped the blue silk. It shimmered in the moonlight and the light breeze made the fabric flutter around. It fell away revealing a shitoki. It was a small necklace with two strands of shimmering beads. They were a soft blue and reminded Raphael of a stream, mainly because of the dark lines running through them. In the center of the two strands was a silver medallion. The medallion itself represented a white tailed sea eagle.
Ren was amazed. "It's beautiful," was all she could manage to say.
"Do you want me to put it on you?" Raphael asked.
She nodded yes, placed the shitoki in his hands and turned around. Raphael took the strands of the necklace and lowered them over her so the medallion rested on the front of her neck. Ren put her hands on the base of her neck and pulled her hair up and out of the way. Raphael looked at her bare neck and drew in a breath.
He couldn't understand why he was so nervous. It wasn't like he had never been around a girl before. He had rescued plenty in his lifetime. Of course, they were either unconscious or ran away screaming when they caught sight of him. He absentmindedly fiddled with the ends of the necklace and tied them up making sure they wouldn't come loose. He allowed his fingers to 'accidentally' brush the bare skin of her neck.
"Finished," he told her.
She quickly turned around fingering the beads. "How does it look?"
"Beautiful" he said.
Ren blushed when she realized he wasn't looking at the necklace. She quickly grabbed his gift and placed it in his view. "Open yours," she ordered.
Raphael began to undo the ribbon, he wasn't as careful about it as Ren but he got the ribbon off anyway. Immediately the silk wrapping fell away to reveal a gold talisman in the shape of the sun. It had a round, polished disc in the center with flames twisting out around it. Two brown leather bands were attached. One on either side of the flames.
"Cool," he said to himself.
Ren took the talisman from his hands. "Here," she said. "Give me your right arm."
Raphael did as he was told. She took the leather straps and tied the talisman to his arm halfway between his shoulder and elbow. He shuddered for a moment when her fingers touched his arm. Ren looked up at him, "tickles" he explained. "Thanks though."
Raphael turned back around, leaned on the ledge and began to stare off into the distance again. It was too late at night to actually see anything but stars. Ren leaned in close to him and they stood together in silence for a moment.
Ren?
Yes Raphael?
Earlier today when Ryu's crew came into the restaurant.
What about it?
I'm sorry. Raphael looked down at his feet. He was feeling guilty for what he didn't do.
Raphael, its okay. She leaned in closer and rested her head on his shoulder. He placed his arm around her.
It's not okay. I was being stupid. I coulda' got you and Akio hurt or killed. If Leo hadn't been there………
Ren interrupted his thoughts .You would have figured a way out of it. She began to speak to him. "Look, I know you said you wanted to do this alone, but what's wrong with family?"
"I don't know. I just keep thinking that I'm supposed to be by myself. That maybe, I don't know, I don't deserve to have a family."
"Raphael," she sighed, she was still leaning on his shoulder. "You never cease to amaze me. There have to be a million other people out there," She stretched her arm out to the lights far away. "that don't have what you do. You must be the only person I know of who doesn't want to be around a father and three brothers who obviously love him."
"Ren?" He looked at her funny, thinking about her last statement. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm a turtle. A mutant. I don't think I qualify as 'people." He used his hands to put quotations in the air for the last word.
Ren stood up straight and folded her arms. She shook her head. "Quit kidding yourself. You're more human than most people I've met." She kissed him on the cheek and grabbed his hand. "Now c'mon. I need a snack and if we're lucky, Mikey hasn't eaten what's left of the Oshirulo." And with that the two went back inside.
Elsewhere, in another part of town:
An oriental man sat in a leather chair in a poorly lit office. He was staring at a man before him. He had a smooth red line across his neck. There were two other large men behind him. The old man in the chair noticed one was missing. "Where is Ty?"
The one in front bowed, "He is dead. A freak in a turtle costume killed him with a knife."
"Really?" the old man inhaled on his cigarette. The light illuminated his wrinkled face. He held the smoke in for a moment and exhaled. "Did this…. freak…. say why he was here?"
"He said for you to stay away from Ren or you would regret it." Chen cringed, expecting to be punished for the message he delivered.
"Interesting." was all the figure behind the desk could say. "Still no matter. Ren will be mine along with the rest of this town, freak or not. This…. turtle…. will simply have to learn how things work here. Won't he Chen?"
"Yes Master Ryu." Chen bowed and left. Ryu began to think to himself. I am too close to full control to have some freak come in and ruin it for me. If they have made the decision to interfere then they have made the decision to die.
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