Ch 10 Ride the Night

Raph removed his sais from their place in the rack and hefted them in his hands. He twirled them around and swung them back and forth before finally putting them into his belt. He turned to leave the dojo but stopped short when he saw Splinter standing in the doorway staring at him. In his hands he held a black bag.

"Is everything alright father?" He asked rather nervously.

"I was going to ask you that." Splinter made his way into the dojo and stood in front of his shrine. "Especially after what happened earlier today."

"I'm doing my best to come to terms with what Leo told us Sensei." Raph looked down at the floor feeling rather miffed about the whole situation. "I suppose if…."

"I am talking about what happened between you and Leonardo in the bathing house Raphael."

Raph looked at Splinter quizzically. "You must forget about him my son." He turned to the rack that held his katanas.

"But father, I…"

"You may not follow where he goes." Splinter picked up his katanas and placed them into their sheaths. He placed them into the black bag. "His destiny will not allow it."

Raph watched as Splinter walked out of the dojo A strange feeling of sadness came over him as he made his way outside.

"Wish I was going with you guys." Casey grumbled as he brought out the last horse. He and Splinter watched as the four young turtles mounted their horses.

"I have already explained to you Casey." Splinter said as he assisted Mikey. "I am going to need you to assist the royal guards in rounding up the traitors to the royal family after we get the documents that are hidden in the old abandoned house Leonardo and Michelangelo were staying in." He turned back to Leo. "Are you positive the documents will still be there?"

"Under a flagstone under the sacks where you saw Mikey was hiding under." Leo told him. Splinter nodded and took a step back.

"I still wish I could go with you." Casey again muttered.

"And deal with your mouth the whole time." Donnie glared at him. "I think not." He adjusted his belt that held his bo staff.

"Yeah, besides Casey." Raph looked down at him from his horse. "All we're doing is going to the Daimyo's which is a long, boring two day ride."

Leo brought his horse up to Mikey's and looked down at Master Splinter. "Thank you again Sensei." He said with a warm smile. He then took out a small bag from the pocket of his kimono and handed it to Splinter. "This is the money I was given for my…um…services." Splinter smiled and put his paw on Leo's hand. Leo smiled back shyly. "Since you are allowing me time off from my sentence, I would like you to use it toward a charity or something that might help others."

"No Leonardo." Splinter told him, pushing the bag back into his hand. "There will be a village at the base of the mountain, you will need your money to get supplies there." Leo bowed and placed the money back in his kimono. He then watched as Splinter bent down and picked up the bag he had brought out with him. He handed the bag to Leo. "And I want you to have these." He smiled up at Leo with pride in his eyes. "My son."

Leo's eyes widen and he quickly opened the bag and gasped in surprise. "Your twin katanas." Leo whispered in awe. "Master Splinter…I…I don't know what to say."

"Say you will protect yourself as well as your brother and my sons." He looked at him with a stern gaze. "I would like to see all of you when I make it to the Daimyo's and for you to continue assisting me in keeping my weapons looking their best." Leo smiled at Splinter with gratefulness in his eyes.

"You have my word Sensei." Leo assured him.

Splinter then looked at his two sons. "Be safe my sons." He told them. "I will say a prayer for you each night that we are separated from each other." Donnie and Raph held a hand out to him which he took in each paw and nuzzled with his cheeks. "I will miss you my sons."

He then walked over to Mikey. "The Daimyo will be able to help you young one." He told him, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. ""You were brought into this world with a special gift my son, and I look forward to the night when all clans everywhere are united once again."

Mikey smiled at him. "Thank you for everything Sensei." Splinter held his hand for a moment longer, noting the feeling of warmth that spread through it. The two stared at each other and Splinter smiled at him and stepped away from his horse.

Splinter looked up at the sun setting in the sky. "The moon will be full and red in thee days." He noted. "I pray you reach the Daymo's stronghold by then." Splinter and Casey stepped back and he nodded to the four turtles. "Be safe my sons." He looked from one turtle to the other. "All of you, be safe."

"See you soon father." Donnie told him. Raph bowed his head respectfully to Splinter. "Good luck with your mission Sensei." He told him.

Mikey smiled at him and Leonardo reared his horse. "Domo Arigato Sensei." He said as he lifted a katana to his face in a salute before sheeting it. "Turtles, ride!"

"GOOD LUCK GUYS!" Casey called as he waved his hand high in the air.

Splinter watched as the four horses took off with Leonardo leading the way and Raph taking up the rear. He once again looked up at the sky and Casey could hear a whispered prayer coming from Splinter's lips. They stood and watched til the horses were out of sight before finally turning to go back into the house.

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The four turtles rode through the night for almost four hours. Leo took lead while Raph kept watch behind. After a while of riding, Mikey began to complain he was getting hungry and tired so Leo decided to look for a place to make camp. After several minutes, they came to a small pond and dismounted. Raph quickly went about making a fire while Donnie brought out bed rolls and Mikey pulled out food rations. Leo brought the horses to the pond and tied the reins to a nearby tree. He then stood at the edge of the water and stared through the trees.

"Watcha looking at Leo?" Raph came up behind him and peered into the night.

"Nothing." Leo muttered. "Just enjoying the quietness of the forest." He went back to the fire and sat on a fallen log.

"You do know where we're going and how to get there right?" Raph asked.

Leo took out a map Splinter had given him. "Right now we're here." He said pointing to a small pond on the map. "We're trying to get here." His finger moved along the paper up to a mountain range. "Once we get pass the cliffs, we'll be halfway there and that should be sometime tomorrow in the afternoon." He put the map away. "We'll make camp after that and then the next day we should reach the village that will lead up to the Daimyo's mountain and then his home hopefully before nightfall."

Raph nodded. "Good to know." He commented and settled back to eat.

Mikey handed everyone a small plate of vegetable and pork rice. He also heated some water for tea which everyone accepted. They all sat quietly and ate. At the end of the meal, Donnie and Mikey worked together to clean up then Donnie laid back in his bed roll and began to read.

"Hey Donnie?" Mikey turned to look at him.

"Yeah Mikey." Donnie kept his eyes looking at his book.

"You've been pretty quiet about all this. Are you okay?"

Donnie let out a loud sigh and laid his book down on his plastron. "I'm a little conflicted about everything." He admitted. "I'm trying to wrap my head around everything that is going on without blaming…." Donnie looked at Mikey. "I know you are not to blame for any of this Mikey." He assured him. "But I just can't help but feel a little angry about it all."

"Trust me D…"Mikey turned back onto his shell and looked up at the starlit sky, Donnie was sure he saw a tear roll down his cheek. "I'm a lot angry about it."

"Mikey." Donnie began but Mikey quickly interrupted him.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened Donnie." Mikey told him. "I'm sorry for what I am and what Saki did and for what my brother ended up doing." Tears now flowed freely down Mikey's cheeks. "I just wish I could turn back time and find a way for me to never be born." He wiped his arm across his face and let out a choke sob. "Maybe our village and our parents would still be alive and life would be happier for everyone."

"Oh Mikey." Donnie rolled onto his side and placed his hand on Mikey's shoulder. "My life has been just fine and now that I've gotten to know you, it's been even better." The two smiled at each other and Donnie brought Mikey into a hug. After Mikey calmed, Donnie rolled back onto his shell and took out his book while Mikey looked back up to the sky.

"Thanks D." Mikey said with a sniff.

"Any time…bro."

Raph walked over to where Leo was currently sitting on a fallen log, he sat next to him and looked up at the sky. Out of the corner of his eye he watched as Leo occasionally looked up and then lowered his head and began to poke the ground with a stick.

"What's on your mind Raph?" Leo finally asked him.

"Uh..oh..um…nothing." Raph nervously rubbed the back of his head. A stern look from Leo had Raph letting out an exasperated sigh. "Okay Leo." Raph turned to look at him. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened in the bathing room this morning." He kicked some of the rocks away. "And me shouting at you in the kitchen about your brother and everything."

"Why don't we just forget about it Raph." Leo told him as he continued to poke at the ground.

"I'd rather not forget." Raph whispered. Leo looked at him curiously. "At least not in the bathing room." He smiled shyly at Leo. "Leo, I'm not ashamed of what almost happened." Raph admitted. "I'm just wishing we hadn't been interrupted…and I…uh…I think you do too."

Leo looked away from him. "You are betroth Raphael."

"I don't care Leo."Raph whispered harshly. "And I don't think you care either." Raph placed his right hand on Leo's cheek and made him look at him. "From the moment I saw you, all I could think about was being with you." He brought their faces closer. "Holding you at night." He placed his lips gently on Leo's. "Loving you." Their kiss was tender and gentle and as Raph stroked Leo's cheek, Leo closed his eyes and let out a soft churr. Raph began to press his lips harder onto Leo's. He was just about to play his tongue over Leo's lips in hopes of widening Leo's mouth but before he could, Leo suddenly opened his eyes and pushed Raph away from him.

Raph frowned. "What's the matter Leo?" He demanded.

"We shouldn't be doing this Raph." Leo stood up and began to walk away but Raph grabbed him and made him turn back to look at him. They stared at each other for a few moments before Leo looked away from Raph. "I am tainted Raphael." He told him, tears starting to glisten in his eyes. "And I am broken and used." He turned his shell to him and wrapped his arms around his body. "You deserve better."

"You're none of those things Leo." Raph whispered softly. He walked up to him and placed his hands on Leo's shoulders. "You're brave and fearless." He placed his mouth against Leo's ear slit. "And I love you."

Leo turned to him with a shock face. "You must not say that." He implored. "Your heart belongs to another."

"No it doesn't Leo." He encircled his arms around Leo's body and brought him in close once again. "My heart, weather you like it or not, will always belong to you." He touched his forehead to Leo's and stared deep into his eyes.

Leo stared back at him, desperately wanting to give into the urges he was feeling. But after a few moments, he turned his head away from him. "We can't allow this Raph." He started walking toward the fire pit.

"Why not Leo?" Raph demanded.

"Because our destinies will not allow it."

"Destiny…destiny." Raph threw his hands up in exasperation. "You sound like my father. He told me the same thing about how your destiny will not allow me to go where you go."

"And he is right!" Leo snapped. He looked back at where Donnie and Mikey laid by the fire, they were sitting up and staring at them but neither spoke. "We all have a destiny we must fulfill Raphael." Leo had lowered his voice but his look was stern. "Mine is to guard my brother and get him to safety." He looked toward his brother. "Mikey's is to make the Terrapin Nation whole once again." He looked at Raph then turned away from him. "And your destiny is to bring two kingdoms together and end an on going feud between our clans and the Salamandrians." He looked back at him. "Weather you want to or not."

Raph scowled at Leo. "You say we all have destinies?" He sneered. "Then what about Donnie huh?" He looked back at their brothers who were laying back down but still watching them curiously. "What's his destiny?"

Leo looked at Don solemnly. "His destiny is to be a witness to my brother's powers."