Dream Walker

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

Chapter Eighteen - Hunting the Monster.

Michaelangelo:

I hoped Splinter would be all right, that he'd be alive when we got back. He had to be all right, he couldn't die on us, it just wasn't allowed for one thing. For another I really didn't know what we would do without him. I knew that I was worried and concerned, I wanted to stay with our Master, but I knew there was no possible way to do so, not when we still had a job ahead of us. An undesirable job yes, but putting it off wasn't going make it go away or make the task go any easier. Course I could maybe con or bribe my brothers into doing this job on their own, like I did with a lot of my chores but I knew I just couldn't do that, not here, not now.

If I did that my brother's lives would be in jeopardy and even though we were all hurting from the mental injury of the recent blow and the physical injuries from the battles with Akuma this all had to come to an end one way or another and we would do this as we always had together.

I glanced at Jennifer out of the corner of my eye, I could sense her trepidation as she walked along the sewer tunnels, often glancing back over her shoulder she was really out of her comfort zone and we were dragging her in deeper, not exactly a great way to win friends and influence people. Come to think of it a lot of things about us could really jeopardize a relationship with humans. I needed to focus and get my mind away from these every day worries, so that when the time came I would be ready for whatever was about to come. I fell back to join Jennifer perhaps by helping her I could get my mind focused on what was ahead.

Jennifer gave me a faint trembling smile, that faded all too quickly and I could see she was fighting to maintain composure and not start to cry. She was braver then she knew, hell if I was in her place I'd not only be running for my life I would be ready to fight tooth and nail anyone who tried to drag me into danger or trouble. I put a reassuring arm around her shoulder "How's it feel to be a hero Jen?"

"I'm not a hero. I don't even know if I can do what is expected of me, I..." she faltered and bit her bottom lip, before taking deep breaths, "I'm just so scared right now."

"You're going do just fine." I soothed.

"You really believe that Mike? Truthfully?" Jen countered.

I smiled "Of course I mean it. I wouldn't say it if I didn't think it was so. You have the strength and the ability inside you, when worse comes to worse you will find that it is there waiting for you to use." I gave her a knowing wink, "and when this is all over I plan on taking you to see New York as you have never seen it before."

"No thanks, I'll pass." Jen mumbled.

"What? Come on everyone wants to be seen with the worlds most eligible turtle." I protested.

"What about your brothers?" Jen asked curiously.

"Don he wouldn't be interested in a female unless she came with a hard drive, mega memory and some beautiful chips." I arched my eye ridges in a knowing way, "Leo he is too busy practising and meditating to ever acknowledge a girl, and Raph ...well...you've seen him, tell me would you date him, on any thing other then a dare?" I smirked.

She giggled a bit and I gave a slow nod of my head, "See!"

"When this is all over Mike, will things go back to normal?" Jen asked me suddenly.

"Normal?" I repeated, " Well I guess that depends on what your view of normal happens to be. Far as I'm concerned why be normal, being abnormal is so much easier."

"Mike hush, we are heading into the park and we need silence now!" Leo ordered.

"Bossy fella, ain't he?" I whispered, before falling silent. I was glad that I got Jennifer laughing a bit, she still seemed nervous, not that I could blame her for that, but she at least looked more ready and prepared for what was ahead. The next question was, were we ready for what was going to come.

We slipped out from the tunnels into the park, Akuma according to the tracking device was on the move, heading away from the loch but it seemed that Akuma was coming towards us, and this was not something that pleased Don or Leo, after all we were supposed to hunt the demon not the other way around. Raph however didn't seem to care which way things played out, he was ready right now and if Akuma wanted to come to us so be it. It would only hurry along the beast demise, and save us all the hassle of chasing it around the park.

"Weapons out and at the ready. Jennifer if you feel Akuma getting near let us know." Leo declared firmly.

"Okay" she stammered slightly and swallowed hard.

We moved into position spreading out around Jennifer, weapons drawn and bodies tensed, there was a cool wind blowing and I could almost detect rain in the air. We kept all our senses alert as we moved further into the shadows of the trees. Trying to detect when or where Akuma would strike first, nine times out of ten, it would do so where we least expected it, no matter what contingency we planned for. Weren't I just a cheerful optimist?

The wind rustled leaves and branches making it harder for us to detect what might be Akuma drawing in or if it was just the elements of nature. All of us held our breath moving with exaggerated care. Don watching his tracker assuring us through simple hand gestures and low whispers that we were still safe Akuma was closing in but there was time and distance yet between us. Raph was full of nervous energy he was more then ready to attack the demon, he kept his katana in constant motion.

Don placed the tracker away "Six feet out. That way" he pointed to the northeast section where there was a thick patch of woods.

"Lets wait here for Akuma" Leo decided holding ground. He glanced at Jennifer and smiled slightly, "You ready?"

"I think so." she mumbled.

"Will do our best to insure he doesn't hurt you Jen. Right now stay in the center of the circle but when Akuma gets here try to put distance between Akuma and us." Leo reminded her of the plan.

"I'll do my best." She promised.

Then we stood waiting, tensed and anxious. I could feel my heart pounding slightly harder under my plastron, suddenly I sensed something, I'm sure my hair would have stood on end, that is if I had hair, it was a prickly odd feeling and Jennifer whimpered "Akuma's here."

At that moment Akuma lunged from the shadows at Leo, he swung his katana slicing at the beast, who jerked away moments before the sword cut into its paw. The beast growled viciously snapping his jaws at Don who dived in, all the rest of us moved in trying to corner the demon and do as much damage as possible and also giving Jennifer a chance to get clear of the battle and use her skills to aid us by trying to gain control of the monster.

Akuma roared as we closed in upon him saliva splattering he swung out with a huge paw towards Don who jumped the leg swipe with ease as I darted in and used my sword to cut into the leg, or try to for the demon's hide was extremely thick and cutting into wasn't easy to do. Still Akuma snorted as if not caring for my bit of interference whipping his head around and snapping his teeth sharply narrowly missing me as I dived out of the way.

The Demon chuffed a bit, it cocked his head to one side snorting and then seemed to come to a decision, of some kind, or something closely approximating a decision, for the beast charged full force at Leo who was moving in for a strike. Did he know, have any idea of our ranking, how hard it would be to lose Leo? Perhaps, Akuma had proven, if nothing else that it knew a great deal more then we could ever give it credit for. Leo stood his ground, his katana at the ready, there was a hard determined look to his face as if willing the demon to bring it on, because what ever the monster might feel like starting, Leo looked more then ready to finish it.

Akuma didn't seem to slow down, if anything he was speeding up, just barrelling towards Leo paying no heed to the branches on trees or what have you around us. It was just that intent on getting to Leo, Leo widened his stance, narrowing his eyes. As Raph made a wild crazy move, that was just impulsive and totally unexpected, that is by anyone who didn't know Raph, he leaped into the air and came down on Akuma's back, using his katana to cut at the monster's neck and slash at the beast side. Akuma roared in anquish rearing up onto hind legs, and backed into a tree hitting it hard enough to jar the trunk. Raph had jumped out of the way instead of being crushed against beast's weight and the tree trunks.

Akuma shook his head grunting a bit, his side's heaving with exertion, he bared his teeth and once again made a move to go for Leo. I don't know what had caused the demon to peg Leo as his enemy but it was clear Akuma wanted to take him down now.

The rest of us closed in, to strike when and where we could and do our absolute best to insure the demon didn't get too much of a hold on Leo. Akuma growled in a savage way at the problem we were causing, but I realized we were having a little more luck in striking the demon then it was in getting at us. I wondered if Jennifer was getting a hand on her talent, slowing It's strikes down or something, whatever she was doing, we were grateful for. The whole trick was to slow the beast down and to beat him senseless. Beat him into tapioca even!

Leo swung his katana as Akuma darted to one side barely missing the sword stroke, Leo spun to follow the demon's move and dived out of the way of it's teeth as they snapped almost grabbing him by his bandanna tails, then Leo glanced up to see beast making a break for it, but not to escape, instead Akuma was clearly focused on Jennifer. She had followed orders waiting for the monster to show itself before moving to get out of harms way, yet remain close enough to do her thing. Akuma was moving straight for her.

"NO!" I screamed, "Jennifer."

Jennifer tensed suddenly as if she felt that death was about ready to totally trample her and take her down, her eyes got large and I could sense panic shutting out her new found meditative skills. She was in deep trouble and we had to stop Akuma from getting to her now. I put on an extra burst of speed though I knew the others were of the same mind as I was at this particular moment. Suddenly the beast let loose a strange noise and I almost stopped dead in my tracks, because it didn't sound like any other noise I had ever heard it make to this point, but I swear I heard the word. "Killll herrrrr" come out in that noise.

Jennifer screamed as if she had heard it too, and I knew in that instant she lost it, she had no more control over Akuma, at least not at this given point and that realization spurned me on. I decided to try Raph's trick of jumping on it and riding him out while slicing him up, only Akuma must have been expecting that move for before I had even landed, he went up spun in a circle snatching me from the air in his fore legs, and then gripping me into a tight bear hug.

I could feel my shell practically cracking under the pressure of the weight, my breath taken quickly from me, I could hold what air I had but under these circumstances I would have to breath sooner or later and then what? Akuma then tossed me to the ground, and came down full force right on my plastron. I screamed, as I felt blood flow and found myself blacking out.

Leonardo:

"MIKE! Michaelangelo?" I yelled as I watched the demon's head flash down to tear away skin from under the plastron, I gritted my teeth and charged towards Mike and Akuma, knowing I had to get the demon away from Mike now, before he killed him, before it was too late, that was, if it wasn't all ready too late for all of us.

The Demon saw me coming towards it and it made a low pleasurable half growl half purr sound as if it was pleased in bringing one of us down.

I would get my revenge, I mused, so help me Akuma was going pay for what he had done to the family.

As I moved in Akuma struck with such blinding accurate speed, I realized then that Jennifer had been helping us, even to a minimal degree, but the most recent moves of the demon had caused her to lose what she had. That blow sent me reeling into a tree. As Don struck seconds behind me the monster kicked out with a hind leg and pinned Don under a hind foot, Raph darted in slashing at the leg that pinned Don and the demon almost reluctantly lifted it as it turned back to Mike.

Mike was bleeding badly, and I had to help him, somehow it was up to me to get Akuma away from Mike and Jennifer. I moved in this time being far more alert to Akuma's strikes, or points of attack, I moved in close and slashed with first one then the other katana across a front leg and the demon's chest drawing blood on both strikes. Then Akuma moved his head to bite at me, I dodged the jaws and cut with my sword towards the head, then it brought up a front paw trying to catch me that way. I dived hitting the ground prepared to roll to avoid the demon but then it happened Akuma pinned me with a leg. His teeth drawing close to me and I felt the skin tearing and the bone breaking rendering my left arm useless for the moment. A gleam in Akuma's eye told me that my right arm would be next and then I wouldn't even be capable of using my sword to strike Akuma, to defend myself or to protect Mike. In a moment the demon was crunching down on my other arm, and I winced in pain.

I had failed! When it mattered most I had failed, my brother, father and my family!

Then I heard an enraged shout coming from behind me "NO! Enough of that! You are a horrid evil beast and you have no right to live!" Jennifer screamed as she stalked down towards Akuma.

Akuma snarled once again giving off the strange noise it had made when it had focused on Jennifer "Killllllllll herrrrrrrrrrrr" it seemed to hiss.

"No your killing days are through, you can't hurt me" Jennifer declared jutting her head into the air and giving the demon a dark furious look, "You can not touch me unless I permit it. You may harm people in dreams but you aren't in the dream world and you aren't allowed back there" she insisted firmly, "You will leave the turtles alone. You will not kill them!" she fumed as she stalked ever closer towards Akuma.

Akuma snuffled a bit, backing up quickly and for the first time I swore I sensed fear in that Demon, because we all have our weakness and in that moment Jennifer had become the Master of Akuma, and she hated him enough to see him destroyed, and he was wise enough to realize that and knew that his life was now nothing. Jennifer stood just a few feet away a dark look etched on her face, a small smirk flited onto her face. "Face it Akuma you are in my world now and you have to play by my rules."

Raph grinned, he clearly was enjoying this.

Akuma shifted uneasily on his four legs, whining in a plaintive way, then in a bid to escape he whirled and dived into the surrounding trees, this time the demon didn't go silently, instead there was the sound of breaking branches as the beast bolted.

"We can't allow Akuma to escape, we have to get him." Don said.

"You two go on, I'll stay and help Mike" I told them, "I don't think we need Jennifer to go with you, she has control and Akuma is very much aware of that fact. He wants to be away from her." I decided, "Besides I could use her help with caring for Mike."

"We can move faster without her anyway Leo" Raph agreed, "Come on Don we have that monster running scared."

Raphael:

I was eager to end this; bad enough the beast had taken down our Master, but to go after my best friend, my brother, to hurt Mike. Yeah that beast was really askin' for it and I was ready to be the one to give it to him, just on general purpose alone.

I was not abouta let that beast get away now not when it were running for its life afraid of us, or perhaps more afraid of Jen, either way didn't really matter now did it?

Fact of the matter was that beast were high tailing it and there was no where it could go without us being but one second or so behind ready to cut its throat and end this whole charade once and for all, it had gone on too long for my liking as it was.

Akuma was headin for the zoo maybe it thought it could get the beast in there to hide it or to distract us somehow, darn wishful thinkin that. It weren't about to work. Don and I raced along together, neither of us gaining or givin much ground ta the other but both of us pretty much of one mind one purpose. Don glanced slightly my way and smiled, I gave a nod. Some people might think that Don and I were the oddest match up of all but I could talk shop with him, least when it came to fixing my bike or cars or the like. I had good automotive skills. But I sure as heck hated it when Donnie started using all his big words for the day, I mean really couldn't he evah talk like we was just people and not some dictionary?

Don made a slight gesture of one hand tellin me in very simple fashion he was gonna try ta get ahead of Akuma. I smiled and gave him the thumbs up, a very silent "go for it bro" as encouragement for his plan, sure it may not have been much but it was all we needed right here and now.

As he made his move I quickened my pace a bit and flung a throwing star at Akuma's back end, smacking him good and I had to chuckle a little at my accuracy even at pace we were going at. Akuma turned the beast was breathing heavily and he saw I was the only one followin after, he immediately rose to hide legs roaring loudly and his one good eye, hell his only eye seemed to spark just a bit.

I smiled wickedly it was time to bring it on and bring this suckah home. I knew that Don would now have a chance to get around, I just had to keep the demon occupied. Yeah, I could do that, I could make bigger distractions then Mikey when I put my mind ta it.

Akuma swayed a bit on his hind legs, and grunted raising his head to sniff the air, just as the first large drops of water began to fall from the thick clouds that blotted out the night sky.

"Come on Akuma lets see how well you dance" I said as I began tossing shuriken at the beast. Nimbly the demon dodged or ducked the throwing stars, bouncing and weaving like he was a pro wrestler. He dropped down and took hold of a shuriken tossin it back my way, I blocked it with a katana and gave up the shuriken less I lost them all, instead I took the handle of my sai and pitched it with much force toward Akuma, it struck home in the beast chest, and with a clawed hand the demon pulled it out, with a snarl the beast flung it back my way.

I had to leap out of the way before I got caught on my own weapon, I heard it whistle past and lodge into a tree trunk, I didn't zactly have time to fetch it just now though.

Don came in from behind his sword swiping at Akuma's hind leg, he musta done a fair job of that strike for it bit deep and Akuma howled, in a deafening way that shook me to the marrow of my bones. Akuma turned to see Don disappearing. The monster moaned licking his lips and shaking his head in agitation and pain. That was when I darted in, Akuma saw my move and guessed at my intent moved quickly to avoid the blow, the demon was bleedin badly from the injuries we had caused and I was sure that victory wasn't all that far off. You know, not that I was getting cocky or feelin that this was a sure thing, but the fact that it was slowing down it was bleeding badly, and we stood a chance.

For awhile it was move in and strike fade, and distract, those were the rules of engagement and Akuma wasn't gonna be given a chance to go back to the dream world to recupperate or whatever the hell Akuma did when he was in that world. The rain was pelting harder making it just a bit more difficult to see, I mean in a matter of minutes it was a torrential downpour, gallons of the stuff just bucketing down, the ground was turning to mud and it was getting pretty hard to see the monster, never mind scoring a strike on the demon.

Don moved in for a blow but his foot unfortunately slipped in the mud and he crashed down, Akuma was on him in a heartbeat, I moved in fast knowing I had to stop him, but suddenly the demon grunted and backed off of Don. He might want ta, kill but the beast couldn't kill.

I couldn't believe it Jennifer had control of Akuma alright she had convinced the beast not ta kill, cause I couldn't see any other reason why it wouldn't finish Don off. Sure it had been fighting us, but merely only for self defence. I laughed this was just too good, I mean it was friggin priceless.

Realizing that gave me a surge of energy and I leaped up, doing some flips to land right on the ugly beast's shoulders, I bent down with one katana in hand doin' my best to cut the monster's throat right out.

Akuma roared frantically backing up quickly, he shook his head tryin' to dislodge me or some thin like that only I was stuck on and I weren't gonna give up till I got this monster down. The Monster moved faster then I expected, faster then I thought it was capable of at this point of the game. All of a sudden it was bashin against the trees and throwin its weight aroound, the demon managed to pin my leg between it and a tree trunk leaning hard, I heard the unmistakeable sound of bone breakin'. trust me in our business we all knew the sound of bone breaking on ya, then the demon up and over crashing hard onto the muddy ground, pinning my broken leg under it and rollin on it.

Akuma got up and growled low blood from the demon flowin so fast there was no doubt it had been mortally wounded, and then the demon grunted and moved off staggering as it went.

"Raph I'm sorry. Are you all right?" Don's frantic voice was coming from somewhere close by.

Through the driving rain I managed to spot him "My leg is broke Donny. I can't go on after Akuma, not in this condition but I think the demon is just about done for Don" I gave a wry grin, figurin it was sorta fittin that the turtle who had first been injured by Akuma would be the one to strike the killing blow, yeah it was fitting all right, pretty darn ironic too if you ask me, and I just loved the circumstances of it all at this moment "We have to make sure the Demon is dead, we can't leave it like this." I declared.

"I know Raph he might recuperate and hurt someone, or a human might come across Akuma and be hurt." Don agreed shouting a bit over the wind and rain.

"Donny do me a favour?" I called to him.

"What Raph?"

"Give him hell Don, Make that monster pay before you send it back to the hell it came from." I told him.

Don gripped my hand firmly in his for just a second or two before telling me "You can count on it."

With that Don went off alone to finish the task we had begun, I could only hope that he wouldn't get hurt or end up being the one dead instead of Akuma.

Donatello:

I was alone now, I knew that my brothers would be no further help to me, it had come down to this, just Akuma and myself. Yet I knew that I would have to be the one to prevail and finish the Demon because the consequences of failing to do so was something that I just didn't want to consider, not for one moment. While the monster was close to finished he wasn't done for yet, and in his injured state the beast could be many times more dangerous.

Knowing this I was being extremely cautious, but a part of me longed to hurry and get this over with, destroy the beast and go on with my life. I wanted to kill the demon for the trouble and pain it has caused all of us. I honestly meant to keep my promise to Raph, all right I wanted revenge. I was glad to have the chance to deal the killing blow on Akuma. In fact I really didn't want it any other way, simply because this went beyond every thing else. This had become very personal. It had been for a long time, since the demon had first struck me, and with each attack it added another grievance to the list.

So I hunted Akuma through the dark night, the wind and the pouring rain that pounded down upon me making tracking the beast a bit more difficult under the circumstances and I knew I had to be on guard for while it might be trying to make an escape to freedom, working more on flight mode, I knew at any moment Akuma might sway from flight to fight, and if it were to do that I probably wouldn't stand much of a chance on my own.

I figured the monster was heading towards the carousel and followed along hightening all my senses to the point I would hopefully sense Akuma long before he drew near me, suddenly I wished Jennifer was here to aid me however, I knew that Leo and Mike had both needed serious attention. So Jennifer had been needed there.

I made my way to the carousel. Usually the carousel was secured over night so vandals couldn't wreck it or so people wouldn't try to run the thing but it didn't keep out those who were determined to get in, and it looked very much to me that Akuma wanted to get in. I eased into the carousel and out of the rain, feeling the darkness and staring at the bright painted and jeweled steeds, standing frozen with necks arched, legs lifted, ears back tails and manes flared out as if at top speed, even in the silence of the dark night.

I recalled when we were younger Splinter would bring us up to play ninja games in the park, and I would turn on the carousel, without the music, so we could all ride it, I know Mike still enjoyed riding the carousel at night being the sole passenger. Yes I had shown him how to get past the security devices to do so. That brief recollection, the moment of nostalgia, hit me hard, especially considering how Splinter was now, not to mention the condition Mike was in. I quickly pushed the sorrow and pain to the back of my mind focusing my attention on the demon, I gripped the sword in my hand and gritted my teeth as I moved to the circle of prancing horses. Yes, Akuma would have a great deal to pay for and I was more then ready to get the monster.

I stepped onto the wooden platform, getting out of the rain, my eyes looking at the still horses. I dropped my eyes to see a great deal of blood on the platform, I gave a dark smile, so Akuma thought it could hide amongst the animals and I would not find him. He might have had better luck in the zoo. I heard a snuffling sound and a low noise, that sounded weak and defeated, huddled between a palomino and a black horse stood the demon. Akuma rolled his eye seeing me, he moaned trying to go back on hind legs, but it was clear the demon was too weak for that. He came down staggering hitting the horses and causing them to move and sway ever so slightly.

I paused as I looked at the beast feeling the anger inside of me subside a bit, but knowing that the monster still had to die. We couldn't allow it to live.

Akuma licked and smacked his lips then coughed splattering blood with the sound "Killlll r-at."

"You're going be the one who dies, Jennifer was right your killing days are over" I snarled as I came toward Akuma ready to strike the blow, or blows, that it would take to finish this monster.

Akuma backed up snuffling and whining his head bowed and blood flowing in a steady stream leaving bright red path, that was all too easy to follow.

"Killlll" Akuma hissed.

"That's right" I growled, moving towards the beast watching it, knowing at any moment it might decide to strike even in its weakened condition.

Akuma swallowed "Killlll me" it hissed finally.

I didn't stop to think then of what I heard or thought I might have heard. I let loose a yell and leaped towards Akuma, the demon rose slightly onto hind legs, and my sword bit deep into the demon's throat. Akuma gave one final roar and then slumped to the wooden platform, in my rage I struck the demon a few more times, if only to insure it was dead and finished. No longer a threat to me or those I cared about. The genetic nightmare of a beast had finally reached his end. I waited then for the euphoria of the battle to hit, the feeling of being victorious over overwhelming odds I was sure that it would fill me but it never came.

I felt no glory or pride, not even a sense of victory, as I had when I and my brothers had won against challenges before. Only there was nothing like that in fact what I felt was something I had never felt before after battle, well not since my first kill at any rate, I felt that the death I had just caused was wrong, a terrible injustice and against all I believed in.

Akuma had asked me to kill it, had it known it couldn't survive and wanted the suffering to end? Had the monster come to the conclusion that death for it was the only way to find peace? I don't know. I will never know. Akuma had even assisted in his own death making it so that I would not miss the blow to finish it off. I then had to wonder who the real monster was in this world. The Demon couldn't help his existence, he had been created brought into the world and designed to destroy to kill. He had been made to be the ultimate weapon against us, he never knew freedom, he never really had a choice.

The real monster here had nothing to do with Akuma, the real monster was Baxter and Shredder who thought they could create such a thing and control it for their whims. The Beast had broken free, killing Baxter and then it had followed instincts and training because it had no other option, it didn't know what else to do. Yes Jennifer had managed to control it to some extent but in the end Akuma would rebel against her as he did against Baxter.

I sighed wanting to bow my head and cry, in sympathy, regret for so much but most of all for Akuma, with a heavy heart I went to find Raph, hoping that he would not rib me for my change of heart or the compassion I suddenly felt for the enemy.

TBC