A/N still don't own the turtles!
OK, one more chapter to go. I hope this is ok, not too hard or painful to read.. thanks again for all the reviews! it's great to get some feedback!
I'd really like to thank Kyaserin Marii and BubblyShell22 cos they've been awesome, so thanks you two for readin' and reviewin! I hopa ya enjoyed!
Chapter Eight - Connections
Raphael felt the strength leave him. So, Raphael substituted the strength that had taken over for his own hot, violent anger. With that, the final bit of peace was removed from his body.
"We gotta find Leo!" Michaelangelo cried out suddenly.
"What?" Raphael gaped. Of course, he knew they had to find Leo- but...
Michaelangelo just stared at his older brother. Raph would never admit it. Never. That's even if he felt it, he's so thick-skulled he probably didn't.
"Mikey's right." Donnatello said quietly. "I'm worried."
"So- let's finish up here and go get Fearless." Raphael said, tone almost consending, as if he thought they were both over-reacting. But Michaelangelo decided a few seconds later, that Raph did look suitably worried.
Raphael leapt forward to attack the Elite he was fighting- but suddenly, he cried out, right hand going to his left side, his knees buckled and he crashed to the ground.
"Raph!" Donnatello cried out, abandoning his fight with the Elite infront of him, and leaping forward, to stand infront of Raphael, he blocked the Elite Raph had been fighting. "Raph?" He demanded.
"I'm..." Raphael breathed out in a gasp and inspected his left side- already, the pain was fading, he stood up gingerly. "I'm OK..."
"What the shell happened?" Donnatello asked.
"Raph! You OK?" Michaelangelo shouted.
"I don't know... I... I feel OK." He turned to Donnatello, nodded. "It's OK." The pain had faded to a small, dull throb. Donnatello frowned worriedly. He jumped back, to fight the Elite that had poofed to Raphael's side.
Leo. Ya had better be OK. Raphael said softly. That pain... it wasn't mine...
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"Your bonds with your brothers are still strong. But it won't last much longer, you won't last much longer." Satoshi said vehemently.
Leo smiled.
"Why are you smiling?" Satoshi demanded, anger sparking. "Don't you understand?! You're going to die! I'm going to hurt your brothers so much they'll wish they were dead!"
The dead truth is... I don't stand a chance.
I'm not getting through this, not this time. Leo watched Satoshi patiently. He was possessed by the disinterested courage of one who already knows they are close to death. The strength of one who knows they have nothing left to loose, but everything to fight for.
"Surely- you must know! There is no defeating me! Not now, not ever! You are simply not strong enough." Satoshi snarled, aggravated by the peaceful, confident look on Leo's face.
Leo stood slowly, still holding his left side in his right, he pushed away the pain- ignored the dizziness that clouded his head when he moved. He swayed a bit, left foot moving back a little for more balance.
Satoshi stared at him for a second, judging Leo's expression. Then he laughed. "You still think you can fight and defeat me?"
"I've fought after worse injuries." Leo replied honestly.
"But have you won?"
"I'm not counting the battles I haven't won. I won't get anywhere by that. I'm counting the battles I have won." Leo said flatly. Being negative isn't going to win this... Being stupid isn't gonna win it either.
Satoshi laughed again. "Oh, ignoring your weaknesses, then?"
No. Exploiting them. Leo answered silently- catching himself from swaying. He blinked- as if he could get rid of the blur of his vision by merely blinking- then shook his head, trying to get rid of the dizziness. Of course, shaking his head merely made it worse- he staggered- nearly fell-
caught himself-
Satoshi leapt for him.
Leo dropped heavily, Satoshi's katana sliced over his head somewhere- Leo's right hand abandoned it's place at his side and slammed up- hopefully, to grab the hilt of the sword. He swept Satoshi's legs from under him, rolling backwards- he twisted and kicked Satoshi in the chest- hard.
They both cried out, Satoshi cried out as the breath was knocked from his chest- and Leo cried out when he moved.
No time. Leo told his body flatly. You can feel it later. If... if there's a later. He swung onto his feet, twisting Satoshi's katana from his fingers.
Leo faltered, now standing- holding Satoshi's katana.
He turned. Satoshi flinched away.
"Wai-" Satoshi shouted.
Strike quickly, and you'll end it quickly.
"You can't kill me!" Satoshi cried- sounding like he had complete faith in his words. Leo didn't falter- couldn't risk it- his body was going to fail-
Leo slammed the blade down- he didn't care if the metal cracked or broke, it wasn't his katana. He wanted to hurt Satoshi- for everything he had done to Leo and his family. But he couldn't risk it- his body was close to failing.
Satoshi laughed as the blade came down-
All Leo's memories lifted- to be replaced by-
the blade shattered on impact with the ground-
Impaling Satoshi--
Leo staggered back- then landed hard, heavily. Painfully.
The world began to go dark-
Satoshi kept laughing.
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duh duh duh! personally, I just think Satoshi is just a masochist or something... lol.
anyways, the last chapter is gonna be uploaded bout two seconds after this one!
so, I passed about last night at about 7 and slept steadily until about 6 this morning, ahh! 6! in the morning! so I went back to sleep until bout 9... which is a little better... still pretty horrible tho... 9 in the morning... what an ungodly hour...
anyways! I hope you've enjoyed it! thanks for sticking by it- and... I'm definitly thinking about a sequel - oh no, don't let it be so, I hear you cry, well, it may be so, so there. bleh...
woot- it's friday! OK... thanks again for reading- and now... I'm going to POOF away, using my amazing ninja master skills... ha ha don't laugh... I'm serious... if ninja master skills include falling over your own two feet and throwing yourself on the ground to avoid being spotted by your younger cousin!
(poof)