I'll be updating more often now ^^ At least three chappies a week
Disclaimer: I don't own them, quit bugging me about it!
Shredder sat, watching his ninjas spar. They were skilled as individual fighters it seemed, but they were not a well-coordinated group. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, regarding each ninjas' fighting style. He could tell that at least half of them were not comfortable with their present weapons. Shredder held up a hand, signaling them to cease sparring.
They quickly filed up in neat rows and kneeled in front of him.
"Answer me truthfully. Who, here, would prefer a different weapon?" Shredder asked. They sat silently, not daring to speak out. A younger male ninja glanced around sheepishly before clearing his throat. "Yes?" Shredder said. He mumbled something very quietly.
"Speak up, don't be afraid." Shredder said firmly.
"I uh... prefer… teak… nunchucks…" He murmured. Shredder nodded. "Then you may lay your sword aside. I shall see to it myself, that you acquire a pair of teak nunchucks." He said. "Now, is there anyone else?" They all looked like deer in headlights.
Shredder sighed in exasperation.
"I know some of you would prefer something other than a katana." Silence and blank stares were all that were offered. Shredder slammed his fist on his thigh in frustration. "Leave, I'll call you in for another session later!" He snapped. They quickly faded into the shadows. Shredder realized his mistake and face palmed himself.
"Stupid, they have to learn to trust and respect you… not fear you…" He muttered. The sound of wood sliding against wood alerted him to Karai's presence.
She walked before him and bowed, she wore a business woman's attire, slacks and a blouse. "Master, a meeting with the Mayor has been scheduled tomorrow morning at 8:30. I disregarded your former orders, as you commanded. Would you like for us to begin the search of the rooftops, Master?" Karai asked.
"What time is it, Karai?"
"8:54pm, Master."
Shredder mulled it over. "No, I will search… alone. If I have need of you, and I assure you that I do not, I shall alert you." He said, silently commending himself on an excellent impersonation of the Shredder. He stood up. Karai immediately protested.
"Master, the Elite-"
"No."
"Ten Foot Tech ninjas-"
"No."
"Myself?"
Shredder thought it over in his head. "You may, now fetch me the ordinary ninja garb. I would rather surprise our enemies, than alert them of my presence. We leave immediately."
Karai bowed and called for an attendant to bring the ninja garb as she herself disappeared to dress for the occasion. Shredder draped his linen shirt on a changing screen and reveled in his naked torso. He felt strange having to wear uncomfortable and itchy clothing. He began a simple kata as he waited for the attendant to bring the garb.
He swayed with the movements of a crane, gracefully gliding into a solid and fluid kick or punch. He ducked and spun on his knee before back flipping into a crouch. Shredder closed his eyes and rolled onto his back, pivoting on his shoulders. He kicked at the empty air and landed back onto his feet into a defensive stance. He was breathing with no difficulty and no exhaustion from his exertion.
An attendant arrived, bowed to Shredder and held the garb out to him. Shredder took the clothes, bowed back. "Arigato." Shredder said in Japanese. The attendant bowed again and nervously exited the chambers. Shredder sighed and moved behind the screen as he began changing. He felt more comfortable in the ninja garb, but it was still strange to him.
He glanced down at the red symbol on his chest. He closed his eyes. "What would my brothers think of me now…"
~.~.~.~.~
Back in the lair, darkness filled the dojo. Not a light was on. Screams erupted in the darkness. "Raphie!" Mikey screamed in the dark. "Don, get the lights." Raph called out. "Kind of hard when I can't see!" Don retorted. "This is ridiculous…" Leonardo's voice echoed in the dark.
"Back off Leo!" Raph snapped and the sounds of fumbling echoed in the lair. A large sigh was heard and then a candle-light sparked to life, revealing Leo's face and shoulders as he held up the candle.
"You three need more training." He said sternly. Leo and the candle traveled through the dark towards the other side of the dojo. A snapping noise echoed from his position and the lights flickered back to life.
Raph was crouched in a corner, looking peeved. Mikey was underneath Raph's bulk, looking very uncomfortable. Don stood with his bo staff in one hand and heat vision goggles in the other. Everyone glared at Don. "Why the hell do you have those?" Raph snapped angrily. "No one said I couldn't use them." Don stated and grinned nervously at Leo.
Leonardo scowled and walked over to Don. Leo was about to slap him into submission when Mikey intervened.
"I say we dog pile Donnie!" The youngest shouted happily. Raph grinned and leaped at his brainy brother, tackling Leo in the process. Leo and Don were now underneath Raph's heavy weight on the ground. Raph braced his hands on their chests and grinned down at them. "Raphie… I think you snapped a few ribs…" Don moaned. Leo glared at Raph. "Get off me, vermin." He snapped.
Raph glared. "What the hell did you just call me?"
Don and Mikey stared at Leo. "Sounds like someone woke up on receiving end of a sewage pipe… and got covered in feces." Don remarked. Leo glared at him.
Mikey scratched his head. "What're feces?"
"Shi-" Raph began.
"Baby mice." Don cut in quickly, grinning mischievously.
"Aw, sounds cute! I want pet feces!" Mikey said happily, closing his eyes and pretending to cuddle one.
The other two snickered, Leo couldn't help but smirk somewhat. Raph got off them, chuckling. "I'm up for a surface run… anyone else?" Raph said, grinning. Leo stood up, glaring slightly at Raph. Don smiled warmly and sat up. "Hell yeah, dude!" Mikey said, grinning wide.
"I'm always up for it bro'." Don said, standing up.
Leo was about to agree as well when his left arm jerked wildly in its socket. He winced as two pops resounded from his shoulder. Don moved over and studied Leo's shoulder. "Your shoulder just popped in and out of its socket… kind of painful. You're gonna' have to sit this surface run out… And no training! Get some rest." Don ordered firmly.
Leo forced himself to nod meekly, seething on the inside.
Leo walked out of the dojo and into the living room, followed by his brothers. "See ya' Leo." Raph called as they exited the lair. "Dude, maybe we'll find some feces while we're out! If we do can I keep one!" Mikey's voice echoed.
Don chuckled, Raph snorted and managed to contain his laughter, Leo returned to his room with a smirk. "Don't you think Klunk would eat it, Mikey?" Don asked as they closed off the entrance to the lair.
Leo, back in his room, was staring down at an item in his desk's drawer. He smirked down at the syringe of arsenic-dissolving poison, which would leave no suspicion on someone after it dissolved into the blood stream, knowing that a certain elderly rat was exhausted, gullible to his sons, and very vulnerable... with no protection nearby.
Leo took the syringe into his hand and nodded. He had to be able to act and come up with a believable sob story for his brothers. "The rat will be dead before their return." Leo thought to himself, knowing from all the times he'd spoken aloud while alone that he'd been taken advantage of.
~.~.~.~.~
Shredder leapt onto another rooftop, shadowed by Karai. They were silent and kept to the shadows, searching for Leonardo. Shredder slid to a stop behind a shed, Karai did the same.
Shredder had always loved coming onto the rooftops, but it had usually been with his brothers… or alone. It wasn't the same without a cheerful Mikey to taunt and tease, a curious and easily distracted (by technology and mechanics anyways) Don, and the always rough and tumble Raph.
He sighed and rubbed at the bridge of his nose, trying to rid himself of a major headache. Shredder noticed Karai's look of curiosity and concern. Shredder felt himself smile assuringly, despite all his feelings of betrayal and hurt concerning Karai.
Karai stared at him strangely. "Master, are you-," She began, having never seen him smile in such a way.
Shredder could not make anything else out of her question. He could not hear her over the earth-splitting scream that tore through the night.
A/N: Just to set the record straight, yes I do know that feces are not baby mice. But Mikey doesn't… at least not yet. Anyways, reviews are always welcome ^^