Chapter 9 – Finding the Dragon
He could hear the howling of the wind, the sound of rain beating against the window, the deep breathing of his brother beside him, the constant tapping of Casey Jones's ever impatient foot, the sound of dishes banging against each other in the kitchen and a sneer coming from his teacher..."what the hell Donnie, I said concentrate!"
Opening his ambers Don glared back at his younger brother, "easier said than done Raphael."
"Well Mikey is doing it, and you're supposed to be older," Raph said his voice echoing with impatience and annoyance. They had been at this for hours and Donnie's teacher could only keep calm for so long. "Look if we're really going to find Leo we need to work together."
"Why don't you just do it Raph, I mean you're the one with the superpowers as Mikey so calmly puts it," Donnie replied, embarrassed and annoyed. How could Raphael really expect him to accept he has abilities so easily? Actually all of it seemed so – crazy...
"Well because I tried and I can't do it alone..." Raph growled his answer back at Donatello, annoyed as hell towards his older brother. In truth everything was starting to annoy him without the leader around. Leonardo really did play an important key in calming the burning fires within him.
Raphael sighed as he looked at Mikey, sitting there cross legged, eyes closed. He could feel Mikey's chi emitting from him – vibrant, full of life, and energetic. It was constantly moving and causing Raph to get a headache to try and even follow it.
This stuff Leo was better at...
The thought of his lost brother made Raphael sit down, crossing his legs. Don had nudge Mikey who stopped trying to call upon his abilities. Once again Raphael was going to attempt to contact Leonardo. The sad thing was the hot-headed turtle had been at this for hours already. Donnie had a sinking feeling that this time was not going to be any different.
Raphael concentrated on Leonardo, his mind bringing up those wonderful golden eyes, the smooth green skin, and his smell...mixture of scented candles and whatever herbal tea he had decided to drink that morning. A smell that he missed dearly – and that voice, that wondrous voice telling him what to do. It was a good thing the leader had no idea how much his damn voice affected him. And just as Raphael thought he could feel Leo, something hit him hard. Causing pain as he was forced to be brought back within his own body – he could almost hear the faint distant noise of laughter...
Gentle hands helped Raphael sit back up, "got forced back again Raphie?" Mikey asked lightly, earning a nod from his older brother still trying to come back to his senses.
"You know you can't keep doing this, it is dangerous to yourself – of course I am pretty sure you don't care about that..." Don had muttered the last part under his breath. He was still not happy with Raphael's destructive nature.
"Exactly!" Raphael had growled, obviously not hearing what Donnie had muttered. He sat up muttering something to Mikey that he was alright, "that is why we need to do it all together – overwhelm whatever block was placed over Leo..." Raph could not understand it. If Leonardo had really been communicating with him this entire time, then how come he couldn't do it? How come could he not communicate with Leo himself?
Anger took over his emotions again as Raph pictured an all knowing smirk on Leo's face. The one that Leo would have when he knew something that Raphael didn't. He hated that smirk, he hated Leo besting him, and yet...
...Yet he loved it all...
Guess my emotions for Leo is a walking contradiction...Raphael thought, as those golden eyes turned towards the window. It was raining, whatever light the morning would bring to the apartment snuffed out by the storm. The rain reflected his thoughts. His heart lounged for the leader, his very soul desiring to be close to him.
Splinter had awoken to a feeling. A feeling he was familiar with when it came to raising four young boys. It was the look he was being watched – studied. As the old rat open his eyes, he glanced at those familiar pools of golden brown. Those eyes narrowed with disappointment, anger, betrayal, and distrust. Splinter felt himself squirm under the glare coming from Leonardo. This was not the look he was familiar with...he could sense the negative chi emitting from Leonardo. "My son, what is bothering you?" Splinter asked lightly, keeping a neutral expression as best he could.
Leonardo was never like this towards him. Love, admiration, and loyalty were the emotions he was use to seeing within those pools of golden brown when directed at him. Something was wrong; something that he did...a sick feeling was beginning to form in the pit of Master Splinter's stomach.
"I remember..." Leo muttered eyes now looking away, somehow knowing they were currently betraying his thoughts. "I remember the soul devourer, I remember the Ancient One, I remember Raphael's abilities, and most of all I remember you agreeing to have my memory wiped." Venom echoed in his voice full of hurt, betrayal, and sadness. Leo felt sick to his own stomach – the last person he thought he could trust – his own father had taken that security away from him.
He could understand why his sensei did not tell him about Raphael. Leo could even understand the secrets that were kept from him, and Leo could even understand why he was lied to all these years. But, what he could not accept – was this! His father had agreed to have his mind read, he agreed to have his memory wiped. He agreed to let another person invade the one area that was so private to Leonardo.
"Leonardo, my son," Splinter replied, looking sad.
To Leo that softened his anger, he could not remain angry at his father for so long. All those years of Splinter being his guidance, his control, his master, his father and the one being that he turned to when troubled in spirit, mind and body – it was something Leo could not turn his back away from. He felt torn inside – wanting to remain angry but he could not.
That was a talent that was reserved for Raphael.
"I only did it for one reason. Raphael had changed once he became part of this other realm; he changed in a way that I could not heal. This change was so drastic that I wished for it not to happen to any other of my sons. For that reason alone I made a decision that I regretted for the rest of my life. I allowed someone to enter your mind and take away something important to you and for that – my son – I am truly sorry."
Leonardo sighed – how could he even attempt to stay angry after that? From growing up with Raphael he could understand what it was that his master feared. To have those memories taken, had allowed Leo to grow up in a pretty normal way – well as normal as giant mutant ninja turtles living in a sewer could be. If he lived life exploring deeper into this other realm Leo had a feeling he would not be the same turtle he was to this very day. "Sensei...Father, I'm sorry. I rushed to anger without thinking."
"No my son, no one is at fault here," there was silence as Master Splinter studied Leonardo. "But I do wonder, the Ancient One had said those memories were never to return. How did you even get them back?"
He rubbed his wrists to try and loosen the chains more, "I don't know Master. It all just came back to me through a dream, after you explained everything. It felt like a veil that was covering my mind was lifted." The rune had slipped out from Leo's left wrist band, a sigh of relief overcoming him as he realized that his captor had failed to find it.
It was Splinter that had picked it up, studying it with his fatherly browns. Something twinkled in those eyes of his, a light of knowledge and understanding. Leo looked confused, even Raphael when he had given the rune seemed to know so little of it, "where did you get this, my son?"
"Raphael gave it to me, saying it was a protection rune or something," he did not mention what Raph said on how he got it – "a person who died helping me out gave this to me..." Something in the way Raphael had said those words made Leo feel that was personal, a special knowledge between each other.
"This rune, Leonardo, is very powerful. The fact that Raphael had given it to you," Splinter shook his head, "this is why your memories where never erased, this is why the block placed on this very cell has not block your abilities – it seems Raphael has made steps to one day include you to fight alongside him."
"What do you mean?" Leo asked, getting annoyed on how little he knew things now.
"It means Leonardo, that Raphael knew me better than even I thought. He probably knew that I would erase your memories – there was something about that day, that made Raphael decide to give you this, a reason why he wanted you to remember one day."
Leonardo instantly knew what it was. He had remembered sensing Raphael's innermost feelings when he was sick not so long ago – Fear, loneliness, shame and anger – it was such a simple answer, loneliness. Raphael did not want to be alone in this, he never did. That was why Leo was given this rune. Because Raphael turned to his older brother hoping that Leo would join him in this battle that had started so long ago.
Handing the rune back to Leo, Master Splinter opened his mouth to say something. But both father and son had instantly turned their heads to the sound of a door opening. Footsteps made their way towards their cage. A soft plop, but each step caused a feeling of dread to overtake the leader. As the steps got closer a light begun to shed their darkness, revealing both father and son, as the visitor approached their cage, "hello Leonardo."
The voice of Derius, caused Leo to glare at those silver eyes shimmering from the light which was illuminating from a ball of light energy hovering above his hand. "So our captor finally decides to show," Leo angrily muttered, eyes shimmered with a dangerous look.
"Are you threatening me turtle?" Derius said with a playful laugh, "I know what you been doing. Saving Raphael from behind these bars – your interference has ruined my fun too many times. I could have had the little fire-bringer in my grasps long ago..."
Leonardo wanted so much to hit this man for even mentioning Raphael, "well I am glad I could have been some assistance to you." Leo answered sarcastically; Master Splinter had place a hand on his son's shoulder. The touch was gentle and conveyed the unspoken message – calm down.
"Oh you do not understand, water-dancer, you have been saving your brother unconsciously for years! So, so very honourable..." Derius had paused in his speech, silver eyes picking up on the mark on Leo's left upper arm. Oh he definitely recognized that mark..."Raphael..." Derius said his eyes brightening, a dangerous smirk spreading on those sharp features. "It seems that waiting has finally paid off."
"My son!" Master Splinter said about to tell Leo something but Derius threw the ball of light at him. The ball hit Splinter squarely in the chest causing the rat to hit the wall hard with a loud thud.
"Father!" Leo yelled rushing towards his aid, only to find a grip on his wrist. Turning around he realized that Derius had open the cage.
He jumped and kicked the man squarely in the chest, only to find he had hit some sort of invisible shield. Leonardo could feel pain travelling throughout his entire body as the shield seemed to shock him. He tried to hit Derius again and again, but the shield was strong and soon the pain had gotten to the leader. Once the pain subsided he felt drained, falling to his knees he tried to pull away from Derius.
The man just laughed as he picked up Leonardo, throwing him over his shoulders. His captor had amazing strength it seems. Derius, closed the cage behind him as Leo watched his unmoving slumped father against the wall. He was being carried away by his captor. Helpless and weaken – Raphael...
Raphael felt it; it was like a pin prick at first, small twinkles along his skin, dancing. It caused him to shiver. Don and Mikey had both came out of their once again attempt to call upon their abilities, for they could see it around Raphael, as if his shield was suddenly shattered before their eyes...
"Raph?" Don went to ask, moving towards his brother whose aura was now as visible to him as a picture on a TV screen, but the aura around him only glowed brighter.
The pain was suddenly intensified, and Raphael found himself squirming. As if his body was being shocked inside and out, he gritted his teeth refusing to cry out, but the tears stung his eyes. Not because of the pain but he could also feel – him. Raphael could feel him as if he standing beside him; he could feel the pain Leo was feeling, he could feel the panic, he could feel the weakness... Raphael reached out trying to grab a hold of Leo trying to find where he is...the pain was so distracting...so painful.
Once it subsided, Raphael felt weaken, his form slumped on the ground. But he refused to collapse using his knees and the palm of his hands to keep upright, he panted. Sweat beading down his face mix along with the tears that had managed to escape without his knowing. Then the whisper, it was just his name but it echo faint in his mind...
Leo was reaching out to him, and Raphael was quick to act. He closed his eyes concentrating, he could feel Leonardo – he was...then something hit him hard again. This time being forced back, as if he was shoved violently by some unknown force. Then Raphael had sensed it...at that exact moment.
His mind was a haze; Raphael could feel cold hands against his heated skin, Donnie's hands moving along trying to find where the pain was. Another hand was pawing at his cheeks and slowly he regained his hearing, "Raphie!" He heard Mikey calling him, sobs of worry coming from the youngest. He realized the one pawing at his cheeks was Mikey.
"What happened?" Donnie asked pulling back once he realized the pain was not physical.
"I..." Raph said his voice hoarse and distant...Mikey had dived on him. Clinging onto Raphael tightly, "you scared us Raphie, you were crying, and squirming in pain...I don't want to lose another brother..." Mikey had whispered the last part softly as he cling even tighter onto his older brother.
Raphael sadly wrapped his arms around Mikey, "I know now...I know who took Leo, and I know where he is."
"Where?" Donnie had asked, worry was also in his eyes as he kneeled beside Raphael, one hand on the back of Mikey's shell rubbing it in a comforting way. A way that a brother should not be rubbing... Raphael looked at Don suspiciously. "Raph, where?" Don prompted again.
"Well," Raph muttered, "I recognized his aura – a demon that I pissed off. The one that captured me so many years ago – Derius. And Leo, he is in the other realm. What I don't understand is how I felt that..."
Mikey had pulled back, "so we have to find a way into the other realm?" Knowing that Raphael was starting to get uncomfortable, he himself had magically appeared to calm down.
"I know how to get there...but..." Raphael went to take off his bandages. Somehow knowing the unhealed wounds were probably healed now. "It is not easy."
"Why is that?" Don asked, but something had suddenly caught his attention, "Raph when did you get that?"
"What?" Raph went to look where Don was pointing. On his right upper arm, a mark tattooed into his dark green flesh, it was lighter than his skin tone and in the shape of a dragon, wings spread.
"Whoa! Dude!" Mikey then turned to Donnie, "oh yeah so you let him get a tattoo and not me!"
Raphael's face paled at the sight of the mark on his arm, "Oh...fuck...this is not good."