Dream Walker

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

Chapter sixteen: Into the dream world.

Leonardo:

We knew what had to be done; now it was just a matter of working out the finer details, and getting it to all work out, hopefully, in our favour. Now that things actually seemed to be coming together, Raph became less pushy.

He always pushed for action, at times when things seemed to fall apart around us he would seek to gain control, or fight for the upper hand, he was impulsive and aggressive when it came to fighting, not always stopping to think or consider certain things. But once everything started to come together he would almost relax ever so slightly, as if he knew there was no longer any need to push for battle.

We quickly decided that the best bet was to fight Akuma first in the dream world, then when that was done face him in the real world. For if Splinter was correct that Akuma gained extra strength from the dream world then making that place, an unsafe place for Akuma, then the demon would have to stand it's ground in the real world.

The one problem though was, we would have to confront Akuma soon after in the real world, and we had to know where the beast would be found.

"What if we can track Akuma somehow?" Mike suggested hopefully.

"How the hide is too thick to get a tracer on him?" Raph grumbled.

"Perhaps if we could put the tracker in some meat and Akuma ingest it…" Don began.

"Before or after some other animal gets a hold of the baited meat?" I asked curiously arching an eye ridge, "You know as well as I do the sewer rats would make a meal of any food scraps lying around." I remind him.

I saw Jennifer glance Splinter's way at my comment about sewer rats, most likely thinking he'd take offense to those words. However when he said nothing, she shrugged and sat back. Jennifer hadn't contributed much to our conversation; if anything she seemed lost in our talk of battle strategy.

Don scowled, "There has to be a way to get Akuma to go for the food and insure the rodents don't. We can't use poison, but lets face it Akuma has to be hungry and feeding off whatever it can find. If we provide a large meal for it then perhaps it will lull the beast into being a bit more placid."

Raph snorted, "Don't count on it. It will only have a full belly so it will want to play wit us instead of killin' us out right."

Splinter sighed as he looked at his bandaged tail, he shook his head, "We must try for it is imperative to reach Akuma as soon as possible. Make this world dangerous for him as the dream world; only then can we fight him to the finish."

"I think there are some steaks in the freezer." Mike grinned. "It is only right the condemned gets a good meal before the finish."

"Ya gonna bake Akuma potato and what not to go with it?" Raph teased.

"No but I plan on serving that steak blood red, let me tell you steak tartar will be overdone to how I'm going serve this up for Akuma." Mike jibed.

Don nodded "I think I have just the thing to use for tracking if that is the case."

"The hard part is getting Akuma to accept the bait, we have to find the demon and place it where Akuma will get it." I smiled tenderly at Jennifer, "Any idea where Akuma might be?"

"How should I know?" she whispered in a petulant way.

"I just figured that you seem to have a connection with Akuma that you might know where it may be hiding at" I announced amiably as possible.

She chewed at her bottom lip for a moment then shrugged "I don't know. I guess it may be hiding out in Central Park, it would make sense for Akuma to be there wouldn't it."

Don gave a subtle nod of his head in agreement "Well either there or somewhere in the sewers, but if Akuma is hiding in Central Park it would probably be in less traveled areas like the loch."

"Great we search those areas first and keep watch; only if we are sure do we lay down the bait for Akuma and hope that the demon is hungry enough to swallow the meal quickly." I declared.

"Why not just poison the meat and be done with it?" Jennifer inquired; there was a hint of curiosity in the otherwise sarcastic question.

Splinter gave a smile, "Most animals know when meat has been tampered with, poison must be added very carefully in hopes of the animal taking, plus that poison might be eaten by family pets, like dogs as well as the undesirable animals that inhabit New York."

"Wouldn't the tracking device itself alert Akuma that something isn't right though?" Jennifer wondered aloud.

"I can hide it so that all the beast smells is the meat and if we can get some fresh blood somewhere it could be very useful as well, sort of encourage Akuma to come get it, so to speak." Don replied.

Splinter sat back in his chair "Then while you my sons prepare the meat and find Akuma I will work with Jennifer on what must be done tonight" Splinter stated bowing his head and clasping his hands together, "It is best to enter the dream world prepared for battle tonight. Akuma will not be suspecting a trap there, and hopefully we will be able to finish Akuma off within the next twenty four hours."

"I'd like to see my Aunt this morning, see how she's doing" Jennifer whispered as she twiddled her fingers a bit.

"Mike and I can take ya" Raph volunteered, "We can't do anything until we're ready to serve up dinner to the demon anyway."

…

By the time we went off in search of Akuma, Jennifer was back from visiting her Aunt, who was to be kept in the hospital for further observation as she was still very sleepy and not responding to questions properly, of course some of that could have been due to the fever she had developed, but the doctors weren't going take a chance.

So we had left Jennifer with Splinter, knowing the Master could help her with the task of preparing her for what lay ahead.

We searched every bit of Central Park that was little, or rarely used and sure enough found fresh signs of Akuma around the loch. The loch was a secluded area of the park that was home to small waterfalls and the like, it was a great spot for bird watchers, at least normally it was. Today however there seemed to be no birds in sight any where within the tiny thicket of woods that made up the brambles.

There were no birds hopping in branches, or trilling softly, or playing in the waterfalls, or flitting from place to place, in fact the only sign of a bird we saw were a few scattered feathers.

I sensed the darkness that did not come from the bush around me, my instincts told me that we were far from alone, and I knew that my brothers felt it too.

A low growl emanated from somewhere in the densest of bush ahead of us, it was a warning, or seemed to be.

I could almost picture Akuma standing up preparing to charge us, or attack, there was the unmistakable sound of breathing as the animal took great breaths in hopes of scenting us, to get a better bead on us.

Mike moved cautiously forward and dropped a pile of meat down and we retreated slowly, though not too far for we had to make sure Akuma would eat.

The smell of the blood, and fresh meat drew Akuma from his den, the beast stalked forward; it paused a few feet from our gift. It licked its lips, a long strand of drool dripping from its salivating mouth. Akuma dropped its head sniffing the meat then raised his head staring into the bush, grunting fiercely as if it half expected us to come and challenge for the right to the meat.

Or perhaps maybe Akuma expected a trap, and was not going to eat, though it seemed to be hungry.

I silently urged Akuma to eat, to swallow the meal whole, to choke on the stuff, anything, just so long as Akuma ate.

Akuma stood over the meat, while we could only watch from our vantage point and hope, feverishly that the demon would do as we hoped it would, though why we even expected it to follow the script now, when thus far it had proved to go strictly its own way, seemed so unreasonable and stupid of us.

I was sure we had done nothing more then err again.

Then finally Akuma dropped its head and snapped up the prize swallowing the meat quickly, stopping to bite only a few times. Then it licked at the blood that stained the ground and grunted with pleasure.

I was elated; as we withdrew from the bramble leaving Akuma to, believe that perhaps like Baxter we were going feed him, for whatever reason and the demon wasn't one to turn down a free meal.

As we headed back towards the sewers Don pulled out the remote that would show us where Akuma was, from his belt pocket "All systems go Leo" Don cheered giving me the thumbs up.

"All right!" Raph and Mike whooped. Mike jumped up punching the air.

"It is about time something went our way." Mike gloated.

"Yeah looks like Akuma is going be one dead monster before morning." Raph grinned wide.

I smiled with relief, it was good to be right about this, it was good to feel that once again, we had things fully under control and we knew what we were doing. It was good to think that it was merely a matter of time before Akuma was stopped forever, that we would overcome and rise above.

It was a pity that it didn't work that way.

Jennifer:

I knew what my new friends expected of me, what had to be. I was still scared enough that I really didn't want to do it, I just didn't see any other way around it.

Not only that I kept thinking of that one vision I had, concerning Splinter the one of the dream within the dream, the one that had so much blood in it. I was afraid for Splinter to join us in the dream world.

"Why can't Leo do it, he's the leader right?" I hinted.

"I am more familiar with the dream world Jennifer" Splinter answered, "Now please concentrate." He chided gently, then he paused arching an eyebrow at me, "You are worried about tonight, hmmm?"
"Yes, but I am also worried about you. I'm afraid you may die." I confessed. "Your sons need you Splinter."

Splinter smiled as he reached over and rested his hand on my knee cap his eyes were warm and gentle, though they sort of misted up a bit at my words. "My sons may need me it is true, but death is inevitable. I have taught my sons this and to honour the code of ninjitsu." He soothed, "In ninjitsu a ninja who hides from death has no honour. A ninja must face death and even welcome it. It may seem strange to you, but my sons know I can not be with them forever, and they would not deny me the right to die in battle fighting or aiding them." Splinter gave a compassionate smile, "I would sooner die then see one of my sons leave, for no parent wishes to outlive their child, and I know any of my sons would give their life for me, as I would for them."

"But Master…you know so much that.." I couldn't continue as it was I was fighting back tears.

"Child, Knowledge comes with age, but then again so does death. My sons might need me, but they need one another more." He assured me, "Do your best child to focus."

I bowed my head taking deep breaths, wondering how he could accept this chore that lay before us in such a calm way, especially after Akuma had taken part of his tail off and then some when he last entered the dream world.

Splinter smiled as if he knew what I was thinking, "The dream world is for enlightenment, not for creatures of darkness, and I will not run from the beast, nor let it have free rein where it has no right being."

I gave a weak trembling smile, he had such bravery to him, I only hoped when the time came I could do the same.

…

That night we were all prepared to enter the dream world, I was to go ahead, more or less, as Akuma would be searching for me in the dream world anyway, but my new friends assured me that they would be near by, and they wouldn't let Akuma hurt me.

I felt their resolution to end this matter, to finish Akuma off, and I had to admit that I wanted that too, more then I wanted anything, I wanted to face a world that no longer had Akuma in it.

I just prayed I had the strength to see this through, even with all of Splinter's teachings I felt I wasn't quite adequate for the job, maybe because my lessons had to be rushed and the ability was still so new to me, plus there had been no real way for me to use this new ability to fully understand.

I just knew, or at least accepted by now, that I did have the ability to control Akuma to some extent, how far that control went was anybody's guess really.

I entered the dream world, with my friends and gave them a longing look as I headed off in the mists that shrouded the place.

The dream world is nothing like the real world, it was all fog, that shifted and changed, according to whim, or the subconscious, otherwise it was nothing dangerous. Splinter told me the dream world, in this level, was supposed to help the enlightened reach a higher plane of understanding. It was not meant for beast like Akuma to come and restore their strength for doing evil.

I didn't fully understand, everything Splinter revealed to me about the dream world, but I guess, I knew all I really needed to know.

I hadn't gone far when I was sure that my friends had been left somewhere far behind me. For a moment I paused looking over my shoulder, wanting to go back to them. I didn't want to be alone, but then again I wasn't so sure I could find my way back to them through the mist and fog anyways. I shrugged a bit, taking some deep relaxing breaths before continuing on.

I felt Akuma drawing near, heard it grunt in pleasure, as if it sensed or believed I was truly alone. Then the fog parted revealing the demon, which had moved in on quick silent feet.

Akuma stretched up on hind legs letting loose a roar, that shook the ground, there was an evil gleam in the beast one remaining eye, as it smacked its lips and made a low chuffing noise that sounded almost like a pleased sound. Akuma stood watching me, and then it squatted on hind quarters beating its chest with the fore arms before it lumbered towards me.

I froze, unable to concentrate, or focus my thoughts, I felt like I had been paralyzed, dunk fully and totally unsuspecting into a vat of freezing water, caught so completely unawares that I couldn't for the life of me make a move, never mind recalling a scrap of Splinter's earlier lessons.

Akuma seemed to sense this, for it jumped a bit on all four legs, before swiping out a massive forearm.

I was sure that it was over, before it had begun.

Then Akuma roared in fury, causing spittle to spray over me as it whipped around to face Leo and Mike who seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"Jennifer, focus, block out Akuma" Leo ordered.

Akuma snarled, as it realized that I was not as alone as it first thought, that is if a beast like this could even think, and from what I had seen it was fully capable in that area. He darted towards the turtles roaring, but was attacked from another angle, this time by Raph or Don; it seemed the turtles were working as a tag team, using the swirling mist as cover.

Splinter sidled up to me from a different angle "Now Akuma will try to fight us, knowing that we are a threat. We need your help Jennifer try to keep Akuma from causing too great of an injury." He advised kindly before he darted off.

Akuma whirled the one eye blazing, the beast, the demon knew that the ninja were all present and accounted for. Still it stared at the ninja that circled him, all of them had been hurt in some way by the beast, even Leo, for it had injured members of his family, and Leo did not take threats to his family lightly. Yet, in spite of their injuries they were still ready for the long battle ahead.

Akuma snarled shaking his head, as it advanced cautiously towards Raph and Don, but Mike ran in with startling speed, slashing at a hind leg then, diving to roll out of the way as Akuma whipped about to face him.

Akuma shook his head growling as it once again stalked towards Don and Raph with a single minded purpose that only it knew. Raph stood trying to draw Akuma's attention to himself as Don still had his one arm in the cast. Leo and Mike both moved in to strike but this time neither of their blows got Akuma's attention, it seemed that the demon found their attacks to be bothersome and painful, but it was not about to divert from the task again.

Don held his ground "You want me you baka, then come and get me Akuma" Don roared a strange look coming to the otherwise passive turtle's face, he looked as if he had been pushed to the brink and had taken all he could from the monster and would now make his stand.

Akuma snarled, moving with dangerous cunning he, swiped out with a forearm, towards Don, who jumped over the arm and rolled thrusting his sword towards the side of Akuma. The beast head moved fast as it snatched Don up in his teeth, he shook the turtle roughly from side to side.

"Jen anytime now would be good" Raph fumed as he moved in with his katana to strike at Akuma, the other turtles doing likewise, but Akuma, moved one hind leg catching Mike off guard and sending the turtle flying.

I shuddered this wasn't going well at all. I found myself close to hyperventilating and feeling that I was as useless as tits on a bull. I tried to calm myself and focus, tried to gain the upper hand.

"Akuma let them go" I squeaked.

The monster gave a barking sound in reply, as it focused on the two turtles still near by.

"Let go of my son Akuma" came a more commanding tone, Splinter dived in slashing at the beast hind leg causing the beast to howl, thereby dropping Don who landed unceremoniously on his rear end.

Akuma's beady eyes focused on the rat, who had become almost a whirling dervish, it moved in and out in a constant streak, slashing and striking the beast, yet the demon was growing angrier with each blow. It huffed it's side going in and out at a quick pace, one eye focused on the blurring motion.

I knew something was clicking in the demon's mind and I was sure that whatever came of it would not be good I had to get Akuma's attention and focus it towards me now.

"Akuma" I ordered briskly.

The monster ignored me, now it turned to the turtles who had joined their master in the battle, darting in at lightning speed, slashing and moving out of the way.

It snapped and slashed once in awhile to no avail, never once getting the streaks that moved about him.

"Akuma look at me!" I snapped, knowing, feeling that these mistimed strikes of Akuma's paws was leading to something, and fearing where it may be going to.

The beast growled irritably, as if to acknowledge me in a fashion, but refusing to bend to my whim. While the ninja had many strikes on the monster it didn't look badly injured as of yet.

Mike suddenly reappeared, "I lost my sword." He grumbled, "But I can't let them fight alone. Keep at Akuma Jen" he encouraged.

"What do you plan on using on Akuma?" I wondered noting that he was limping badly.

"Throwing stars, throwing daggers, hell any pointed object I can throw that might do some damage." He responded before moving to join the others, as he moved out to aid his family I saw that the leg he was favouring suddenly seemed to grow stronger, for he was no longer limping on it, either that or he had blocked the pain in some way.

I had to get it together and now!

I turned back ready to gain control of the situation and Akuma because I felt, even more that something terrible was about to happen. "Akuma, leave them be!" I demanded.

The Demon looked up at me, and I thought for sure he was going to listen now, that I did have him, all of my worries evaporated knowing that the turtles and their Master had been right all along.

I smiled in triumph.

It was then everything went to pieces.

Akuma slashed out a paw suddenly tripping up a streak, the Master lay stunned on the ground and the beast slashed a paw quickly over him, causing long red welts to form and drip blood.

"Akuma Stop!" I yelled my heart pounding.

The beast grunted as his head went down, he grabbed up the ninja master in his jaws, Splinter raised the sword and struck the monster across the bridge of the snout, causing Akuma to roar, dropping the Master.

Immediately Akuma pounced on the ninja Master, not allowing the rat to get to safety, his jaws came down ripping a chunk out of the rodent's side.

"Splinter!" one of the turtles, or perhaps all of them yelled.

I saw Raph suddenly by my side "Stop him Jennifer" he growled making it almost a threat in itself.

"I'm trying" I whimpered, not sure why Akuma hadn't responded as of yet.

Meanwhile the demon was smacking his lips, almost gibbering with joy at the sight of the blood, his teeth and muzzle was stained with red.

"Try harder!" Raph growled, "Now!"

I found myself growing angry at his demands, and that anger was fueled perhaps by my fear for Splinter.

"Akuma back off!" I roared sounding like I meant it, "Leave the ninja Master alone" I ordered as I stalked towards the battle scene.

The demon made one last strike at Splinter, tearing at an arm, but he dropped it grunting uneasily.

"Get out; you have no place here Akuma. You are not welcome here!" I snarled at the beast.

The monster raised his head and howled, roaring in fury he looked as if he wanted to disobey but instead backed off into the mist vanishing.

Leo went to pick up the master who lay limp and still.

"I'm sorry" I whimpered sure the Master was dead, and it was my fault.

"We have to get him back, and we have to finish this" Leo said not even acknowledging my apology.

"Go after Akuma?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Perhaps Leo was now out for revenge.

"Leo is he?" Don asked.

"He is alive Don, for now" Leo replied "But we can't waste time now." Leo declared he looked at me, "Remember what you did the last few minutes, and be ready to do it again when we need it, which will be very soon."

"What are you talking about?" I stammered uncertainly, "Aren't you going stay and help Splinter, he is your father. How can you hunt Akuma now?" I wondered totally confused.

I returned from the dream world still very much confused and looking at the limp bloodied body of the Master, the shallow rise and fall of his chest, here in the real world filled me only with an all consuming quilt and I thought for sure the turtles wouldn't carry on.

How could they? Under the circumstances, no one could or would condemn them.

TBC