Author's Note: OMG, it's been forever:0! I don't know how many times I'ce changed this chapter, or switched it around...and finally it's sitting the right way! And I can't believe it - I'm almost done! XD! Thanks for being patient guys, really, and lemme know if I have any grammatical/spelling errors. Please enjoy!

Rating: R, for language, violence, mild gore, and innuendo.

Chapter Eight: Dead Meat

The atmosphere around Raphael seemed to pulse with energy and emotion, the armed thugs around him beginning to blend in with the back background. Only the white-suited Shiramoto and shirtless Hukai stood out from his surroundings, each glowing in an almost evil aura. Raphael couldn't help to cringe when he heard that arrogant, menacing laughter again, his narrowed eyes glaring at Shiramoto.

"((What's the matter, Yom? Did he fool you? Did you actually think you could win?))"

Lumbering over to Hukai, who was about shoulder-level to him and much thinner, Shiramoto rested a massive hand on his inferior's shoulder, giving the weeping Yom another cruel grin.

"((He's not your Big Brother anymore, sweetheart. He's my assassin. He was hard to break, I admit; but after the operation, he found his proper path.))"

Still on her knees, fighting the emotions that begged to break her control, Yom raised her head up, her tear-glossed eyes widening in question. Giving her a sideways glance, Raphael pondered the same thing, his dark eyes tracing the stitched scar on Hukai's temple while Yom finally managed a response.

"((…Operation?))"

"((Why, yes. You see, I sent him off to surgery, and told the doctors to remove part of the frontal lobe. You'd be surprised how obedient one can get after that little piece of grey matter is taken out. Especially when you've shown them their correct purpose.))"

With almost a howl Yom leapt to her feet, growling out at Shiramoto through her bared teeth, her fist held out at him and clenched tightly. Taking a step forward and away from Raphael, her body shook with determination, her eyes a blazed.

"((You fucking monster! You mutilated him, brainwashed him!))"

His mask-clad eyes burning in building anger, Raphael watched both men exchange humored glances, Shiramoto sauntering forward boldly, stepping in front of his armed guards and resting half of his weight on his cane.

"((You didn't seem notice before, did you Yom. You came to the America's with him, you stayed with him, confided in him…all while he was working for me…))"

Raphael didn't like how comfortable he was so close to them; He was too proud for being a big, fat pompous ass. His eyes darting to his comrade, Raphael noticed that Yom's entire body tensed at Shiramoto's approach. Her bloodied sword was held out tightly in her hands, the tip following the direction that her enemy was moving in. After pushing his way through his wards, Shiramoto stopped, faking a look of contemplation while he threw a glance at Yom, a small grin on his thin, pale lips.

"((…You even let him touch you, didn't you?))"

His beady eyes swept over Yom and his lips pulled back further in an ugly, conceited smile. Shiramoto's words slowly began to sink into Raphael's skull, and he managed a brief glance at Yom, her back to the Turtle. She remained silent, but her body was rigid; her head down and arms stiffly at her sides. Raphael offered a quick glance at Yin, watching as tears cut a watery path through the drying blood on her cheeks, the silent Hukai still stroking her in his demented way. His insides twisted violently and he immediately looked away, the sickness in his stomach slowly turning into anger. With narrowed eyes he turned to Shiramoto, who was continuing to droll on.

"((He didn't just touch you. He took you, and you let him do it. You let him fuck you, didn't you? You let my brand new assassin fuck yo—))"

"Shiramoto…"

Yom spoke loudly and evenly. As Raphael watched a stray droplet of blood trickle from her katana, his brain played over the weight of her tone. Stoic. Deadly. Her body screamed it even while she stood perfectly still, and it seemed the pompous Shiramoto hadn't noticed – he grimaced at her interruption like a parent at a child. She slowly raised her head to speak again, her ruby eyes no longer fiery, but filled with a strange, empty calm. The connected with Yin's briefly, and after a short silence she spoke again, her tone perilous.

"…You're dead right now. You just don't know it yet."

She spoke in English. Deliberately.

Raphael was grinning. A surge of adrenaline spread the dangerous smile across his lips and he stepped forward, to Yom's side, waiting with weapons drawn. His gaze burned into Shiramoto – it was about time to shut his fuckin' mouth.

"((What was that?))"

Shiramoto's voice boomed impatiently, showing his distaste for her dialect shift. His thick brow furrowed over his tiny eyes, and Raphael's heart roared in his chest with anticipation of the oncoming battle. He decided to speak up.

"You heard the lady: yer fuckin' dead meat."

Shiramoto cupped his large belly and threw his head back, the night around them booming with his hideous laughter. His loud chortle ended abruptly when his head snapped forward, and his eyes danced with his growing insanity.

"((You're out-numbered, fools. Do you really think you have a chance?))"

Shadows dancing silently across the rooftops and along the walls caught Raphael's attention momentarily, the familiar shapes and movements alerting him that the odds were about to shift in his favor. A slight shift in Yom's stance told him she had noticed as well.

"I think you talk too much!"

With an almost feral cry and perfect timing, Raphael and Yom both darted swiftly toward the crowd of men. From three different parts of the motel, Raphael's brother's leapt out, a shower of throwing stars shooting from their three-fingered hands and into the crowd of thugs. Wails of surprise and pain echoed into the night, and with delight Raphael barreled into Shiramoto, who was roaring and pulling two stars out of his round shoulder. Yom had already cut her way further into the mob, nearing her sister, while the horde of masked men surrounding Shiramoto disappeared to fight the newest intruders.

Only one man stood between Raphael and his giant enemy. To the Turtles' surprise, it was Shiramoto who dropped the man, his massive hand swinging out and concaving his masked head with a small crunch as he lumbered toward Raphael, his eyes burning. Pulling the top of his cane, Shiramoto revealed a katana inside it, and in a split second it was slicing at Raphael's neck. A quick dodge back saved the Turtle for only a moment before Shiramoto's blade came at him again and again, the tinge of Raphael's sais stopping the sharp edge from severing anything.

As the battle progressed, Raphael soon noticed that for a big man that had fresh wounds, Shiramoto was incredibly fast. He thrusted his blade at the Turtles' middle before spinning, slicing at neck level, growling when Raphael dodged and ducked each strike. His advances kept pushing Raphael to step back further and further, and rage was now beginning to course through Raphael's body, along side the adrenaline. From the left another ward charged Raphael, howling, and with a throaty growl he spun and lodged his sai into the man's chest from behind. He then had just enough time to duck as Shiramoto swung his blade at his head, the heavy man's eyes still dancing wildly inside his head. His wild rage was beginning to make him careless, and with a vocal heave Raphael threw the guards' body, still impaled on his sai, at Shiramoto. The body crumpled against the large man's body like paper, and with veins popping out of his head and neck, Shiramoto lurched at Raphael again, swinging wildly.

Having only one sai now, Raphael struggled to avoid the sharp edge of the katana as he fought back. He had only seconds to block the sword from slicing his thigh before Shiramoto's threw his knee into Raphael's middle, knocking the Turtle back and out of breath. His katanas' blade then found the flesh of Raphael's forearm as the Turtle swung against it to protect his head, the timing for sword and sai to meet only a second off. The pain registered only after Raphael spun and sent Shiramoto stumbling backward with a powerful kick to the gut, his hot blood stinging his skin as it spilled over the ground. Through tightly gritted teeth Raphael hissed an obscenity, knowing from the way the laceration burned that blood was escaping him in hurried spurts.

"/You stupid freak/"

Raphael's eyes darted to the large man trudging heavily toward him. Shiramoto had dropped the katana and came at him with his massive hands, his face red and teeth bared with blind rage. Using this opportunity, Raphael met him half way and threw his sai into Shiramoto's neck with all his strength, just as a huge fist struck him across the mouth, splitting the side of his lip. Spitting the blood rushing his mouth all over Shiramoto's face, Raphael watched as the large man curled his lip wildly and then suddenly closed his hands around Raphael's neck.

Panicked, Raphael struggled for a moment before toppling over on to his back, gasping and clawing at the tight grip of Shiramoto as the heavy man fell on him. The sweaty paws around Raphael's neck held on tightly, despite the green fingernails dug into the flesh, and with bloodshot eyes the Turtle glared up at Shiramoto, seeing the insanity and rage sparkle in his beady grey ones. Shiramoto's breath was hot and rancid and he wheezed in and out, and the stench burned Raphael's nostrils when he struggled to speak.

"Freak…DIE…die…"

Strength and alertness was leaving his body fast, and the darkness that was trying to sneak it's way across his vision was quickening it's pace. Shiramoto's large body made it impossible for Raphael to reach passed his bugling biceps, and his legs were pinned under his massive weight. Fear now ignited inside the Turtle, and with a gurgled moan he claws desperately at his attackers hands. He was frantic.

He was helpless, and he was going to die. With regret…and without being able to tell her—

With a yank that jerked both the Turtle and Shiramoto, a familiar hand pulled his sai free from his attacker's neck. Blood sprayed the Turtle's face in periodic throbs, the smell and feel making the blackness sweep across his eyes completely. The grip on Raphael's windpipe began to weaken however, and it wasn't long before that same blackness retreated slowly. Gasping hoarsely for the air that he so desperately needed, Raphael was pulled out from under the dying Shiramoto, and out of the fading fear and panic he writhed wildly. A familiar voice, attached to the arms that had dragged him free, spoke quickly but softly. Soothingly.

"It's okay Raph, It's okay – relax. It's Leo, Raph. It's okay. It's OKAY."

Blinking furiously to rid his sight of the blackness, his eyes connected with his brother. Wheezing loudly and cupping his throat, Raphael scrambled back several paces, his eyes darting back to the fallen Shiramoto. His huge body was slumped awkwardly to the side, and the rage shining in Shiramoto's eyes had faded into a dull and lifeless glare.

"Raph – RELAX. He's dead. It's okay, you're okay. My God, you gotta relax so you don't bleed to death."

His brother bent down to his level, pulling the mask off Raphael's head. The bandana was then wrapped around his forearm until it was painfully tight, and slowly Raphael realized that he was bleeding still.

"I'm fine, Leo. Leggo…"

His voice came out in a strained whisper, and the vocal chords he had just used buzzed with pain. He jerked away from his brother's grasp, and ignoring the click of irritation that came from Leonardo, Raphael's stumbled to his feet.

"I'm fine…"

That was SUCH a lie. His head spun in huge, sloppy loops as he forced himself to walk, and his body was incredibly weak. He managed to spot the rest of his brothers, and with almost determination only he sauntered toward them. Leonardo was close at his side.

"Slow down Raphael! You can barely stand, let alone walk!"

"I said I'm fuckin' fine!"

He squeaked loudly and rawly, dropping down to a fallen ward. He plucked up his missing sai, embedded still in his back, and then carried on, holstering it. Giving his head a vigorous shake, he focused on running, his destination where Donatello and Michelangelo were.

It was also were Yin and Yom were. And Hukai.

As he neared he realized Yom was in a heated battle with Hukai, and by the way the sweat glistened off both of them, he assumed it had been a long one. Yin was slowly being freed by Michelangelo. A rock seemed to drop right into Raphael's stomach as he neared her, and thought of scooping her up and never letting go seemed the most logical thing to do at that moment. Instead, as he neared the group, Donatello was trotted over with what looked like a slight limp.

"We gotta go guys, NOW. April gave us ten minutes before she called the cops here, and it's been ten minutes two minutes ago. The police are already out front."

Leonardo, who was nursing a gash across his face Raphael realized, nodded once before he spoke.

"We gotta get Yom away from him. It doesn't matter how. There's no time for settling scores."

Before Leonardo had a chance to exhale after he spoke, a blur of green and blue flew by noiselessly and drew Raphael's attention. His eyes widened as he realized who it was, and it wasn't long before his other brothers' noticed. Yin, who was supposed to be with Michelangelo, darted toward the battle between her sister and Hukai, Donatello's bo in her grasp.

"Shit!"

Leonardo took off after the sisters, his katana already drawn. He called out to Raphael and Donatello, who were following close behind him. Donatello more than Raphael – Raphael's body was still fighting with his will power. Michelangelo joined them soon after.

"Grab them! We need to get them and go – I'll deal with Hukai in the mean time."

The dance of ninjitsu between Yin, Yom, and Hukai was quick and intense, but Leonardo slipped between them flawlessly, his skill and experience guiding the way. The split second pause that followed was enough for Raphael to pull Yin off balance and into his arms. She struggled against him to get free and continue attacking, and if it wasn't for the extra one-hundred pounds Raphael had to anchor him, she would have gotten away. The sound of Yom struggling with Donatello was enough to tell Raphael that she was taken care of, and with a resolute effort he steered Yin toward the docks at the other end of the hotel, his brother Michelangelo only footsteps behind him.

"Let go! Let go of me, I must stop him!"

Drawing in a ragged breath Raphael rasped at her, trying to keep hold of her and pull her toward the water. Michelangelo was already half-way under the docks.

"It's too late. The police are here, and we gotta get the hell outta here! They'l—"

"NO! He must pay!"

The last bit of strength Raphael was nursing wanted to expire, but with grunt her summoned more, yanking her in close.

"God damnit Yin!"

She stilled when their bodies connected, his arms wrapped tightly around her shoulders. He squeezed his eyes shut; his throat screamed in pain from his continuing forced speech, but that wasn't the reason why tears dotted the corner of his eyes. He drew in a measured breath, swallowing thickly before he whispered.

"I can't loose you again. Not again."

Raphael let go of her enough to see her face. She blinked slowly at him, seeming to almost measure his words. She opened her mouth slowly, hesitating before she spoke.

"I can—"

"NO!"

Both Raphael and Yin jerked their attention to where the wail sounded, seeing Yom break free from Donatello's grasp. She dashed toward Hukai, who was in an intense exchange of katanas with Leonardo. Her legs carried her hastily across the grounds, and as she neared the battle she scooped up a fallen katana and leapt into the air. She looked to have cleared almost six feet in that bound, and just as she landed Hukai spun and to strike her, his katana swipe aimed toward her head.

She spun and dropped.

"Yom, NO!"

Yin cried out and lurched against Raphael's arms, her eyes panicked. Time throbbed to a stand still, the air around them silent. Raphael gaped at what had happened, unbelieving.

Yom had dropped one knee, her hands held out straight on either side of her. Her katana was straight and motionless in her hand…and dripping with blood. It was then Hukai who fell to the ground.

In pieces.

Yom righted herself, kicking away one of Hukai's legs. She had sliced him across the knees, separating the man from his lower legs. Dropping the katana calmly, Yom then spit on Hukai.

"Enjoy your death. I hope it's slow…"

Raphael could barely hear her speak, but knew the jist of what she was saying. He watched Leonardo immediately tugged Yom into his grasp, hurrying towards them. They all dropped down into the waters under the docks just as a whirring helicopter neared the hotel, spotlight on. Just as speed boats with loud sirens and bright lights pulled in.

"This is the Police! We have the hotel surrounded! Surrender NOW!"

Slipping into a sewer tunnel that connected to the shore, the Turtles and girls moved silently. Leonardo led the way, with Yom between Michelangelo and Donatello. She didn't need to be restrained anymore. Raphael was at the rear, one of his arms slung over Yin's shoulder. It was difficult for him to walk, and he struggled to keep as much of his weight off Yin's tiny body.

After several moments of quiet, Yin adjusted her grip in him. She leaned her head in, and her lips pressed into the place where his ears were hidden.

"Thank you…"

He squeezed her body back in response, closing his eyes at the sound and feel of her soft words against him. His body was screaming in pain and exhaustion, but somehow her touch made the ache not as bad. Somehow, the rage that was tearing his insides every which-way came to slowing stand-still…just from that touch.

God damn – he missed his bed.