The Secret of the Amulet Chapter 8, a ninja turtles fanfic

AN: I don't own TMNT or any of their characters such as Michaelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo, Splinter, Shredder or the Foot Clan. I do however, own Aislinn, Kimberly, Jessica, Ana, Kojr, Sharon, Yasahiro, Amé, and the storyline. Merode belongs to Melody S., an ex-friend of mine.

I've learned a few Japanese phrases through reading and such, and you'll find them scattered throughout the story, mostly insults. Iie means no, hai means yes, kuso means bastard, bakka means stupid.

PLEASE R&R!! I like to know what people think and, while this story is complete, I need motivation to drag my ass into to post since I'm going to school full-time and working part-time.

Chapter 8

That morning the two were forced into a black limo--which surprised Aislinn. She hadn't known Shredder owned a limo, much less used one. It was bound to draw attention.

They rode with eight of Shredder's elite. About fifty more ninjas followed in two vans.

Yasahiro frowned disapprovingly as Aislinn reached over and took Mikey's tied hands in her own free ones. She smile reassuringly as they arrived at the old apartment building. "Everything will be alright," she said to him.

Once the cars were parked, Mikey and Aislinn were pulled out of the limo and forced toward the building. The ninjas quickly made themselves scarce, searching the apartments.

"What are we doing here?" Mikey asked as they waited outside the steps.

"Merode's bringing the amulet." When Mikey began to protest, Aislinn added, "If she doesn't, we'll be killed…or worse."

Mikey fell silent.

It was nightfall before Merode showed herself. Aislinn rose from the steps where she was sitting and Mikey did the same.

Aislinn swore as she descended the steps. "I told you to come alone, Vixen."

Vixen shrugged as she stopped in front of Aislinn. The others were gathered behind her.

"I don't trust these bastards." She eyed Aislinn's cheek. "And it looks like I was in the right."

A commotion behind Aislinn made her turn. Yasahiro had grabbed Mikey's arm to keep him from joining Aislinn. Mikey was protesting.

"Yasahiro," Aislinn said sternly. "Leave him be."

Frowning, Yasahiro let go of Mikey. When Mikey took a step forward, Aislinn held up her hand. "Iie, stay put, love."

Unhappily, Mikey obeyed.

Aislinn turned back to Merode who had cocked an eyebrow. "I see you haven't lost your status here."

Aislinn shrugged as if it didn't matter. "Do you have the amulet?"

Merode nodded and reached into her jacket. Sixty ninjas tensed behind Aislinn, but Merode pulled out a box. It was elaborately carved with Japanese writing, telling of the amulet's legend. The corners were lined with pure gold. The lock was a gold kitsune.

Taking the box reverently into her hands, she whispered the ancient words only she as the past keepers knew. Unclasping the kitsune and opening the lid, a bright white light made everyone cry out and cover their eyes. When it had faded, Aislinn peered inside at the amulet. It was about half the size of her palm and, like the box, made of gold. Engraved on one side was the symbol 'Ai', love. On the other side she knew was the vow the kitsune had made to her lover.

Aislinn nodded and closed the lid, locking the kitsune with another incantation. "Thank you, Merode."

Merode nodded.

Aislinn turned and said, "Yasahiro."

Yasahiro stepped forward, pushing Mikey in front of him. She handed the box to Yasahiro. "Make sure Shredder gets this."

"Hai, Miss Aislinn." He took the box, which was the size of his hand, and it disappeared into a hidden pocket. He then shoved Mikey toward the group. "Get going, freak," he muttered in Japanese.

Rafael, standing to the right and behind Merode, caught Mikey. "The hell is this?" he asked. "And where's Mikey?"

"That is Mikey, Raf," Aislinn said as Mikey righted himself. He wasn't used to balancing without the weight of his shell.

"The hell it is! Ya think I'd recognize my own brother!"

"Dude," Mikey said, "Calm it down, Raf. It's me. She's tellin' the truth."

Exclamations broke out in the group of friends. All along the lines of: "What did they do to you?"

Aislinn turned to the ninjas. In Japanese, so all could understand her, she said, "They will be allowed to leave unharmed. Do I make myself clear?"

Mutters of agreement reached her ears.

"Good. Let's go, then."

"Wait a minute," Merode said, understanding Japanese. "I thought you were coming with us?"

"I can't, Merode. The deal was the amulet for all of your protection and Mikey's freedom for my own."

"No way!" Mikey protested. "Aislinn, I won't let you do this!" The others voiced their agreement.

"I have very little choice."

"Course you do," Raf said, pulling out his sais. The others followed suit.

"Iie," Aislinn said sternly. "I don't. You are outnumbered ten to one. Will my efforts to keep you all alive go to hell? Put your weapons away. I've survived Shredder before, and I'll do it again." She turned, trusting Jessica's and Leonardo's common sense as leaders.

"Aislinn!" Mikey cried.

Aislinn turned in time to see him break free from Rafael and rush toward her.

Her heart bursting painfully, she opened her arms. He hugged her to him, pressing her head to his chest. "Don't do this, Aislinn. I love you."

She raised her head and he kissed her full on the mouth. "Don't leave me," he said.

"I'm sorry, Mikey," she said tearfully. "I don't have a choice."

A hand grabbed her arm and pulled her away. Yasahiro shoved Mikey back to the group with his other hand then dragged Aislinn toward the limo.

"Aislinn! Aislinn, no, don't do this!" Raf grabbed Mikey to keep him from running after her.

"I'll be alright, Mikey!" she shouted as Yasahiro literally shoved her into the limo.

She turned in her seat as they drove away so she could see them. Mikey was fighting to get free from Raf. As the limo turned the corner, he fell to his knees. Aislinn heard him scream in rage and sorrow. It tore at her heart.

"It is better this way, Miss Aislinn," Yasahiro said as she straightened in her seat. "They are a bad influence on you."

Aislinn glared at the man who had once been her friend. "I don't see how Shredder is any better. Those people have only killed in self-defense. Can you say the same for Shredder?" She sneered at him, her anger overriding her reason. "Or for yourself, for that matter? After all, my parents would still be here if it weren't for you."

Surprising both himself and Aislinn, Yasahiro backhanded her so hard she fell against the door. Stilling his shaking hands, he said, "Your parents disobeyed Lord Saki. They got what they deserved." That said, he moved to the front of the limo to speak with the driver.

Aislinn fought tears and sat in stony silence, staring out the window.

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"We can't just leave her there!" Mikey said. "Something's gotta be done! I mean, look what he did to me! What's gonna keep him from doing the same to her?"

"We can't just go rushing in," Jessica said.

"She's right," Leonardo said. "We need a plan."

"We know where they are and where the doors are," said Raf. "What more do we need?"

"Finally someone agrees with me!" Mikey said.

"I want to get her out of there just as much as you do, Mikey," said Merode. "She's like a sister to me. But they have guards and passwords." She had followed the 'parade' back to their headquarters without the Foot knowing in order to scout. "Without some kind of plan, we'll never get through the doors. And if the alarm is sounded, Aislinn could be harmed."

Frustrated, Mikey began to pace. He kicked a pizza box out of his way as the others continued to argue. Fleeting, an idea formed and he grasped it tight as he picked up the pizza box. "Guys!" he shouted over the din. "I've got an idea!"

Hiroshi was on guard that night. He grumbled as he glanced at the screens. Nothing. There never was. He looked back at his own portable TV and leaned back. His shift didn't end for another hour. Watching 'Jeopardy', Hiroshi couldn't help but think of how stupid Americans were. His four-year-old sister could answer these questions.

A knock startled him and he looked up at the screen. A teenage boy in a baseball cap stood there holding a pizza box.

Hiroshi pressed the intercom. "State your business."

"Uh…I've got a pizza here for some chick named Aislinn."

Hiroshi frowned. "I wasn't aware she ordered some."

"Well, she did, an did and I expect to be paid for it, dude."

Hiroshi sighed. Big people never thought how they inconvenienced the little guys. He rose and went to the door. Unlocking and opening it, he said, "Give it here."

"Sure thing, dude."

The next thing Hiroshi knew, a pizza box slammed into his face with enough force to knock him to the ground. Then a fox-woman sprang past the 'pizza-boy' and knelt next to him, pressing a sai to his throat.

The fox grinned, showing tiny, sharp teeth. "You're going to tell me where Aislinn is, aren't you?"

When Hiroshi hesitated, she pressed down on the sai, drawing blood. In Japanese, she said, "Aren't you, kuso?"

"Hai!" Hiroshi whispered. "Hai, my lady Kitsune!"

Merode laughed.

They found the room easily and met no one until they reached their destination. Merode stuck her head around the corner. There were two guards. One was the man Aislinn had called Yasahiro, the other she didn't know.

As she thought this, Yasahiro glanced her way and saw her. She began to rise, lest he shout the alarm, but then he did a strange thing: he moved his hand in a gesture to wait.

"Kenji," Yasahiro said. "I'm thirsty. Go get us something to drink."

"Hai," Kenji said and hurried off in the opposite direction.

"And don't run! Take your time."

When Kenji was out of sight, Yasahiro motioned them forward.

"You need to get her out of here, quickly," he said as he unlocked the door.

"Why are you helping us?" Raph asked.

"She saved my life," Yasahiro said as he threw open the door. "Besides, Shredder's being inhumane of late."

Mikey rushed into the dark room. "Aislinn?"

"Mikey?" a weak voice asked from a shadowed corner. "Mikey! I told you not to come after me!"

He took a step toward her, but she stopped him. "Iie, Mikey! Stay back! Yasahiro, get him outta here!"

"Aislinn, don't be ridiculous," he said rushing to her. "We've gotta…Oh my god."

"I told you," Aislinn sobbed.

"What? What's wrong?" Merode asked, flipping on the light.

Kimi made a soundless gasp and her hands flew to her mouth in alarm.

The ooze had claimed another victim.

Aislinn stood so they could see her better. She looked like a half-human, half-horse. From her waist down she looked like a pie-bald pinto. She had knees like a human but at the shin it was like they changed their minds and decided to be the bag legs of a horse right down to the hooves.

Her jeans were shredded and hid very little, but her sweatshirt was still intact, covering her. She still wore her glove.

"I refused to open the box," she said softly as if in explanation. A tear trailed down her cheek. "He…he said it was a shame he didn't know a cure because I was hideous." She sobbed and looked to Mikey. "How are we going to get back to normal?"

Mikey took her into his arms and hugged her tight as she sobbed into his shirt. "Shh. It'll be alright. We'll find a way."

"Time to go," Yasahiro said. "Kenji's coming."

"Hiroshi," Lee said as he approached the entrance. "Time's up." He entered the control room and stopped in his tracks. Hiroshi was tied to his chair with a gag over his mouth. He made frantic noises as Lee walked in. "Holy shit, Hiroshi! What the hell happened?" he asked as he pulled the gag off.

"Intruders!" shouted Hiroshi. "The turtles are here!"

They were halfway back to the entrance when the alarm went off. Lights flashed and sirens sounded. A voice came over the intercom. "Turtles in the building. Don't let any of them or those with them escape! Lord Saki wants them alive! I repeat…"

"Ah, shit," said Raph.

"Come on!" said Aislinn. "I know another way out."

They turned, but a group of ninjas turned the corner they had just passed and spotted them.

"Other way!" Mikey said. They turned back only to find themselves boxed in.

"Shit," Raph repeated.

"You guys shouldn't have come for me," Aislinn said.

"Iie, they shouldn't have," said Shredder's laughing voice. The ninjas cleared a path for him. "But no one can change the past, though sometimes even I wish I could." He studied Aislinn and smiled. "Hai, I would've done things differently. I should've killed you when I had the chance, little niece."

The turtles, Jessica and Kimi looked confused.

Aislinn glared at Shredder.

"What's this? You never told them of our relationship, Horoku Aiko? Oh, hai, that's right! You go by Aislinn now, don't you?"

"You are of no relation to me, Saki. My father disowned you as was his right as the elder brother."

Shredder laughed. "Maybe, little Aiko, but now he's with the ancestors, therefore I am the eldest and only child. Kenji!"

"Hai, Lord Saki?"

"Bring the traitor."

"Bring the traitor!" Kenji said. Two ninjas dragged forth a very beaten Yasahiro.

"Yasahiro!" Aislinn cried, rushing forward as they dumped him on the ground.

"Take them back to the girl's room and lock them up," Saki said.

"Hai, my lord."

Shredder smiled at Aislinn and the others. "See you in the morning."

"Is it true?" Mikey asked as the door closed.

Aislinn busied herself in her first aid from where she knelt next to Yasahiro's prone body.

"Aislinn?" Jessica asked. "He's lying isn't he?"

Aislinn gave a sigh that seemed to deflate her and she stilled. "Before I say anything," she said softly without looking up. "I want you all to remember the saying, 'you can't choose your family'."

"You lying bitch!" shouted Raph.

"Rafael!" Merode scolded.

"We opened our home to her, Merode! And she's a fucking spy!"

"Iie! I am not!" Aislinn surged to her feet. "I don't like Shredder any more than you do!"

Kimi signed with hard features, "You are related to the man who made me watch my parents die."

"Hai, Kimi, I am. But I don't work for him. I can't help it that my father was Saki's half-brother."

"That's why everyone here is so polite to you," Mikey said. "You could be their next boss."

"Mikey," she said, reaching a hand out to him. He lurched away as if burned.

Tears blurred her eyes. "I don't believe this. You're all turning on me because my father and Saki had the same father."

Everyone was silent.

She looked at Mikey. "Come on, Mikey. Are you going to let a few words Saki said come between us You said you loved me."

"I…I do, but…Shredder's tried to kill us so many times. And when you had the chance to leave, you stayed--"

"To save you!"

"How do we know he didn't tell you to get close to us?"

"Mikey! I love you. I can't fake that. I…" she dissolved into tears. "How can I get you guys to believe me?" You've got to understand, I hate him with all I have! He killed my parents. How could I work for a man like that?"

"Come on, guys," Merode said, putting an arm around Aislinn's shoulders. "This is Aislinn. Our little clumsy friend. She's hardly a spy or assassin. What kind of spy would drop a candle on her foot and howl like a banchee? What kind of assassin would reduce herself to tears? If she's working for Shredder, she's doing a lousy job. I mean, she can't even punch! And aren't Shredder's people supposed to be trained killers?"

"Maybe," Raph said, "But if it weren't for her, we wouldn't be here."

"I told you not to come after me! Then again, you've got a point. If I hadn't give Shredder the amulet, you'd all be dead!"

Everyone was silent. Merode moved over to Raph and glared at him. He lowered his gaze.

Aislinn looked at Mikey. Anger and hurt shone in her eyes. "And you, Mikey. How dare you accuse me of betrayal? I took your place! Yes, you got dipped in ooze but if you had stayed, you would've gotten more injections into your bloodstream to see if it would take the same effect!"

Mikey looked down at his feet.

Yasahiro chuckled where he lay on the floor. "She has simplified the truth." He groaned, grabbing his side.

"Yasahiro," Aislinn said, kneeling next to him. "You shouldn't speak. It'll make things worse."

He shook his head. "Iie. They must understand." He looked at the others. "Aislinn gave up a powerful family heirloom to keep you safe. She ruined a friendship with a woman she'd grown up with to get to Mikey when he cracked his head on the wall. For some reason, Shredder values her life so when he refused to let her tend to Mikey, she threatened to kill herself. If that wasn't enough, she agreed to be his guinea pig so Mikey could have his freedom." He looked at Aislinn and smiled, gripping her hand. "She's also saved my life and been the friend I never deserved."

"You over exagerate, Yasahiro. Hush now and save your strength."

As she looked over him to see if anything was broken, the others exchanged glances. Aislinn studied them out of the corner of her eye as she stitched a deep cut above Yasahiro's cheekbone.

They seem to have accepted it. All but Raph--who never trusted anyone--and Mikey. The last hurt the worst. She felt tears sting her eyes, but she blinked them away and bent her head over the wound.

"Aislinn," Yasahiro said.

"Shh. Don't move or I'll end up sticking you."

"He has no reason not to love you," he whispered in Japanese.

She switched to Japanese as well. "I am the niece of his mortal enemy. He has every right."

"It doesn't work that way."

Aislinn was silent.

"Your mother and father should be proud of you."

She snorted. "For giving up the amulet?"

"For giving it up for a good reason."

Aislinn shook her head. "I failed my ancestors." She looked up at her friends who, even though they couldn't understand them--save Merode--avoided her gaze. "I was weak. I love them all." She gazed at Mikey who looked away then back again and locked gazes with her. "Especially him." She looked back down and cut the thread. "Maybe that's my problem. Saki has no weakness and loves no one. He has no weakness because he doesn't love."

"Iie. Shredder's weakness is that he doesn't love. He doesn't know how. That is what makes him weak and you strong, Aiko-san."

Aislinn looked at him, surprised. He'd never called her by her birth name.

He nodded. "Hai, I call you Aiko-san. Because Aiko means 'little loved one' and you are loved. I envy Horoku Minoru because he is your father."

Aislinn smiled. "If it were anyone else flattering me so, Yasahiro, I'd ask what they wanted."

Yasahiro laughed but was cut short by the pain in his side.

"I think you might have broken a rib," said a voice. Aislinn looked up and found herself face to face with Mikey.

"Or two," Yasahiro said. He sighed. "Boy, lean over here."

"Why?" Mikey asked, suspiciously.

"Just do it. I'm in no condition to hurt you."

Mikey did so and Yasahiro whispered in his ear. Mikey nodded. "I know."

"Good. Then do it." He whispered something else and Mikey looked him up and down with a cocked eyebrow.

"I lied."

Mikey rolled his eyes but got to his feet. He held his hand out to Aislinn. "We need to talk."

Aislinn hesitated, but took his hand. He helped her to her feet and led her to a corner.

"Mikey," Aislinn said quickly. "Whatever Yasahiro said, he's wrong. You have every right to hate me and--"

"No, Aislinn. Yasahiro's right. I don't have a right to hate you. Like you said, 'you can't choose your family'. I just don't understand why you didn't tell me sooner." He took her hands as she looked down at them.

"I was afraid you'd hate me. For a while there, I thought you did."

"No, no, Aislinn." He took her face in his hands. I could never hate you. I love you too much."

Tears of relief spilled down her cheeks and over his hands.

"Hush, love," he said, wiping her tears with his thumbs and kissing her gently. "Hush, now. Don't cry."

Aislinn smiled. "I can't help it," she said trying to wipe them away. "I'm just so relieved."

Chuckling, Mikey hugged her tight, kissing the top of her head.

Aislinn sighed. "I'm so glad you don't hate me. I could stand it if the others did, but you…" she shook her head.

"Hush. I don't hate you." He pulled her far enough away so he could kiss her lips.

"All right, you two," said Jessica, laughing. "Enough making up."

Kimi smiled and sighed, "You mean making out."

Aislinn and Mikey laughed and joined the others.

"Aislinn," said Donetello. "Tell us of this amulet's powers and weaknesses. Maybe there's a way to destroy it."

Aislinn shook her head. "There's only one way and it's near impossible."

"Tell us anyway," said Leonardo.

"Yes, it'll pass the time," said Jessica.

So Aislinn told them everything she knew of the amulet.