Dream Walker

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonian.

It may be those who do most, dream most – Stephen Leacock

Chapter Nine - When Evil comes calling

Donatello:

I glanced at our Master, he seemed deep in thought, reflecting silently on Jennifer's words his hands locked in one of the finger knitting exercises of the kuji kiri I recognized it as the one meaning knowledge. The kuji kiri was said to bring power to a ninja, or affect those a ninja might oppose, for it was said everyone knew what the simple hand movements meant if only on a subconscious level. With the kuri kiri a ninja could control his own mind or the mind of others.

Splinter turned and raised his cup of tea to sip at it quietly before returning to another of the kuji kiri elements this one was enlightenment.

Raph raised an eye ridge, giving me a rather puzzled look as if he couldn't fathom why, Splinter would be sitting meditating on certain elements while sipping his tea. He looked like he was about to interrupt our Master, but I shook my head urging him silently to not disturb Splinter.

Raph shrugged indifferently before heading towards the dojo, while I waited for Splinter to acknowledge me, I sat back to wait and contemplate in my own way, Jennifer's words.

I knew enough to realize that parapsychology wasn't a well known or even an exact science, it was theories and conjectures. It was a case of pro versus con with some scientist trying to prove, and others trying to disprove such things existed.

There was many such areas of the world that scientist seemed to agree to disagree on whether certain aspects were possible or not, any study of the paranormal, or those who studied creatures like Bigfoot or the lochness monster, or any one interested in little green men from other worlds all faced the same thing. Having to prove one hundred percent that such a thing could exist, so that there was no room to doubt or deny.

With many psychics it was believed that the person was capable of reading other's body emotions, and language then taking volunteered information from the person, to come up with their readings and knowledge of the other side. The Psychic might ask leading question I sense there has been a loss or birth in the family - death and birth happen frequently odds are that they would be correct. They might go through the alphabet trying to connect a name to a person, watching the target for any sign of what letter may be the first initial and then start giving common names saying they were trying to narrow it down.

I didn't know what to believe, but I have seen and done things in my time, that many people would not accept as being real. Face it with all the comics and things about us; most people wouldn't even accept that we were real.

I had no idea how a ninja could use his mind to influence another being, it was like some trick of a magician worthy of the masters of the illusionary art form, yet I knew a ninja could do it.

I also knew it was possible for a ninja to kill with only a hand gesture, it was a technique known as the vibrating palm, or dim mak. It could kill quickly or slowly over time, but it was also said only the highly skilled and trained ninja were able to do such a thing. I doubted Splinter could do it, and I knew we were nowhere near that stage in our training.

A simple hand gesture couldn't kill but I didn't doubt it was possible. I remember facing a ninja once who was able to hit us, strike us down though we were nowhere near to him. He was dangerous and lost his way, and eventually Splinter had taught us to close our minds to his mental attack on us and we were able to defeat him. He committed seppuku when he realized what he had done.

The mind truly was a wonderful and remarkable thing, no one was really sure what it was capable of doing or achieving, and so I thought it strange with a world full of mysteries, when our own bodies could be a mystery to science then why would a scientist close his mind to the obvious. One had to keep an open mind and be willing to not just look outside the box, but beyond it.

I knew all of that, I was fully aware that something had distracted Akuma, I knew Jennifer had knowledge of things that she had no way of knowing. No human topside was aware of Akuma as of yet, and that was probably for the best. Jennifer did know and that meant that she was either connected to Baxter and Shredder, perhaps even helping in the creating of the beast.

Or Jennifer and her intuitive knowledge were real.

The former seemed laughable, ludicrous really, for she was only in her early teens and I doubted she had much to do with the Foot, or creating a genetically altered nightmare of a beast. The latter was far more plausible.

Then again there could be another possibility.

Splinter opened his eyes, his nose twitched and he turned to raise his teacup again " You have something to say Donatello?" he asked.

I sighed nodding slightly, as I leaned forward in my chair " Master it may be possible for Jennifer to intuit certain things but she may not have any control over Akuma." I insisted, " I wouldn't want to endanger her life."

" Her life Donatello is all ready in danger. Her dreams gives her a certain power, she is naturally connected to what others must train to achieve" Splinter replied carefully, " It is clear to me that the beast and Jennifer share a connection through her dreams, and it is something that Akuma may very well be aware of." Splinter bowed his head, " Only with training might she and others be spared the darkness I see that lies before us my son."

I was about to respond when I heard a loud thumping against our door. Another huge bash caused the door to buckle.

Raph came in looking my way as he pulled the katanas from their scabbards on his back, there was another powerful thump and our door broke and part of the sewer buckled and collapsed in a small rain of rubble and debris.

Akuma reared up on hind legs walking forward on them giving a mighty roar as if it was claiming victory now. Then Akuma dropped to all four legs shaking the dust and grit from it's coat.

" Master stay behind us" I snapped glancing over my shoulder, Splinter was now behind his rocking chair his walking stick raised, his teeth bared, eyes narrowed and hair bristling while his long tail slashed and thumped the ground.

Akuma grunted with pleasure, its beady eyes beginning to glow making me wonder if the beast recalled how easy I was to defeat at the dump. Of course then he had caught me by surprise, this time I was ready for him.

I knew in Akuma's mind I might be no more then a plaything for it, but I didn't have time to show it that I could fight back.

Raph ever quick and impulsive dived in first swinging the katana. Akuma shifted his weight, moving remarkably quick for such a bulky creature, and then it swung around sweeping out with one forearm. The beast caught Raph in the plastron, scooping him up and tossing him across the room into our TV.

The screen broke and I groaned.

Great just great another electrical item I had to fix! Like Raph couldn't break enough of those on his own!

I charged Akuma swinging my converted staff, ducking and rolling under the next swipe that caught the armchair and tipped it onto its side. I reached up to jab the spear tip of my staff into Akuma but it didn't seem to cut the thick hide.

Akuma dropped its broad head grabbed the shaft of the staff in its jaws, rearing up on hind legs; Akuma began to shake its head violently.

I let go of my bo and dropped to the sewer floor, cursing the fact that I hadn't switched to another weapon, I had been hoping that my staff would be enough, especially with the modification.

I preferred to use the non-violent weapons of ninjitsu as much as possible, but I knew that I could not afford to have such qualms regarding Akuma.

I dodged the next swipe Akuma made my way.

" Don heads up" Raph yelled as he darted in toward me, ducking and dodging the next massive arm swing.

As he got in close he tossed the katana towards me and pulled the second blade from the scabbard on his back in one easy fluid move.

" Where the hell is Leo?" Raph snarled, " Trust him to be out when we have company."

" They should be back soon we just have to keep Akuma at bay until then." I responded.

Only problem was Akuma was all ready starting to look as if he was angry as well as agitated, and that meant trouble for us, no matter how you looked at it, we were all in big trouble if Leo and Mike didn't get back in record time.

Akuma growled and snorted, bits of liquid shooting from its nostrils and spraying about as it did so, it charged towards me giving a massive roar that seemed to deafen me in the confined area of our living room.

I was ready for it and held my katana waiting for the first opportunity to present itself, Akuma opened his mouth to grab hold of the weapon, as if it expected me to be holding another staff. I jammed the tip of the sword into the beast's mouth.

Akuma roared in pain backing off quickly, shaking his head and splattering blood droplets everywhere. The monster pawed at is sore mouth whimpering, but its eyes locked in on me and I knew I was in for it. The beast came at me again, this time it moved more cautiously. I backed up a few steps and grabbed one end of the coffee table trying to get it between me, and Akuma, though with one damaged arm I quickly had to give it up.

Akuma swiped out in anger catching the other end of the table in its clawed hand and sending it toppling over knocking me backward as well as down.

Raph moved in fast from behind but Akuma whipped about slashing at him as he made his move, then it whirled and jumped right on to me. The weight of Akuma as it crashed down was incredible, the wind was knocked from me, blood from Akuma's mouth dripped down on top of me. I could feel the massive power and strength of the demon beast as it stood over me, each of his limbs pinning mine to the ground. Akuma roared causing bloody saliva to go everywhere. Then it bowed its head ready to make what could only be a killing stroke.

A shuriken zipped over top of me planting itself in Akuma's eye. I hadn't been aware that Raph had been in position to make such a strike, but where I was with Akuma over top of me, my view of the room was somewhat limited, and my mind was definitely on other things.

The beast tossed its head back making a strange eerie shrieking yowling noise.

" Get off my brother!" Raph roared coming in to strike Akuma on the blind side, the blow from his katana caused a deep jagged wound on the left side of Akuma's face and removed part of the left ear.

Akuma shrieked again, it was ready now to make a retreat; it was in pain and badly, though probably not fatally wounded.

Raph growled ready to dive in for another strike when Akuma's head shot down and grabbed hold of me, its teeth sank into my skin on my shoulder, Akuma's grip held me firmly as he began to half carry, half drag me back towards the lair door.

Akuma either by luck, or perhaps by some show of intelligence had grabbed me more on the left side of it's mouth, but that meant that Raph could not strike on Akuma's blind side without possibly injuring me.

Raph growled shaking his head, as if he couldn't believe what he saw " Let my brother go you giant flea bag."

I heard Splinter's soft words of advice " Hold your anger Raphael and plan your next move with care." His voice was full of concern, " I do not wish to see Donatello injured any further."

I still had the katana that Raph had passed to me, now that Akuma was only holding me, and not pining me securely to the floor, I raised the weapon striking Akuma on the right side of its face.

I felt the force of my blow cause Akuma's teeth to sink further into my shoulder, and I gritted my teeth in pain, as Akuma gave voice to his own injuries, but in doing so he also let me go.

By then he had backed almost out of our door and into the sewer, and I was thankful that Akuma hadn't made it that far, for I doubted my chances in returning alive if Akuma had taken me out of the lair all together.

" Don are you all right?" Raph asked making his way over towards me.

" Yeah, I just have a sore shoulder to go with my broken arm now" I muttered, then gave him a grateful look " Good toss with the shuriken there, Raph." I took his proffered hand rising to my feet on unsteady legs.

" That was Splinter's work" Raph confessed, " A heck of a shot too."

I glanced towards our Master who stood just outside of our dojo and was surprised to see that he had strapped on a belt over his old faded robe, and had a single wakizashi at his right side, while a kusari gama was strapped to his left side.

I had never seen Splinter with such equipment on him, I mean other then the years he spent training us in ninjitsu and the weapons, the only weapon he had ever had was his walking stick.

It had been all that Splinter had ever needed, for there was times that he fought with us, mostly when we had been younger and just starting to protect the city, but even on occasion he would join us on patrol.

Splinter saw my look and smiled slightly " If Akuma ever comes to visit again I will be ready" Splinter vowed, his back straightened, " Come Donatello we should care for your injuries."

Leo and Mike returned then, they had their weapons drawn and ready.

I turned to glower at them " You guys are late" I informed them.

Raph gave a quick grin " No they aren't Akuma was badly hurt, if we go after it now we may be able to finish this" he declared.

" Akuma again" Mike whispered, staring at the damage of the front area of our home before turning back to Leo, " Jennifer was right about that and what if she ends up being right about…" Mike began

" Michelangelo stop!" Leo barked quickly glaring hard at Mike, who lapsed into sudden uneasy quiet.

Raph passed a scowl between Leo and Mike, probably wondering, as I was, what Jennifer had said.

" Between us three Leo we managed to score some damage on Akuma. It just left we ought to be able to track it easy" Raph insisted, " If we don't it might start causing trouble topside."

" This isn't one of your video games where you score hits and try to take out the bad guys Raph," I snarled.

Splinter shook his head " It may be possible but you all need to rest first. Raphael and Donatello have received a few more injuries in this" he wrinkled his nose, " skirmish and it would be better to wait even a few hours before trying to hunt it down." Splinter disputed, " Besides now it could be more dangerous then ever due to the injuries it has received."

Raph looked like he was ready to refute that point.

Leo glanced from one to the other of them, silently debating both options as he placed his katana away, or perhaps considering his own plan of action.

Contrary to belief, we knew Leo was far from perfect; he made mistakes, some of them had been pretty dangerous, nor was he a suck up. He and Splinter had disagreements over courses of action many times in the past, and probably would again.

Yes there were times that what Leo had thought of did work, extremely well, other times they worked just enough to get us through, but he was good at strategy and the same could be said for Splinter's advice, which Leo was more willing to listen to now.

Still that is how it goes in battle things shift quickly and one must change with it or be struck down.

" Lets rest for a bit then maybe all of us together can go after Akuma and put a stop to this" Leo decided, " while it is still weak."

Splinter nodded accepting it.

I was glad for that, I didn't want to be left behind when the others went to hunt Akuma but I decided to go with the short sword, as I preferred it to the longer broad sword.

TBC

Lunar Ninja: Get started? Trust me it doesn't take much to start Rama, I'm still trying to figure out how to get her to rest, finish whatever. Rama has her ways. As to knowing where she lives, you still have to get past all the ninja. A gratitude for your insight.

Chibi Rose Angel: All I can promise is I don't know who where, why, when or even if anyone will be axed. Raph just doesn't have an impressive vocabulary and hates for people to think he is an idiot. A gratitude for your insight.

Goddess of Twlight: I have a few books about ninja at home, one of the books deal with ninja mind control or the kuji kiri, so it is quite possible that ninja can give such subtle mental nudges to influence others, especially some of the things I have read about ninja, it really seems they are capable of more then what we know. A gratitude for your insight.

Pacphys: Ah yes, Leo will be Leo and Mike will be Mike. The dream of Jen's bunny and her other dream of the roller coaster that fell off its tracks, were both dreams that I had when I was younger. In the case of the rabbit much younger. Yes both dreams did come true, and I remember them both very clearly even after all these years. A gratitude for your insight.

Hazlov2004: Jen's visions are like the dreams we have at night, some are good' some are bad. The ones dealing with Akuma though are truly the stuff of nightmares. A gratitude for your insight.