Chapter Fifteen- Moon Shadow Strikes
April pushed through the crowds as she hurried Hamato towards the door, noting his whiskers already starting to grow back. Hamato dashed out the doors while April thanked the women cleaning up the ticket table. When April got outside, Hamato was nowhere in sight.
"Dad?" April called. "Er, I mean, Master Splinter?" She walked down the road, calling out softly for her Sensei. Suddenly, she heard a sharp shout from a nearby alley. She ran down it, lifting her kimono skirt to move more freely. She paused halfway down the alley, carefully stepping forward.
"Splinter?"
"Here." Someone panted.
April spun around as a figure stepped out from behind a dumpster. He wore Hamato's black and gold robes, but now stood in the form of a humanoid rat.
"You know what?" Hamato, now Splinter again, asked. "I missed having a tail." He swished his newly returned rat tail for emphasis.
April laughed. "Come on. Let's get back to the lair. I bet the guys are still waiting for us."
"I am sure Michelangelo is still bouncing off the walls." Splinter chuckled. April laughed in agreement as they journeyed through the shadows. They stayed silent, not wanting to draw attention to themselves. Splinter insisted they get as close as they could to the lair before going down the manhole so that April's "lovely kimono" didn't get dirty. April went along with it, happy that Splinter was being so considerate. Soon, they reached a manhole close enough and slipped around the corner. They barely got a few feet down the alley when April hugged Splinter again.
"You're a great dad." April sighed.
Splinter returned the hug, smiling warmly. "Thank you April. This truly means much to me." He pulled away and brushed away a happy tear from April's cheek. "Come. Let us go home." April smiled and walked beside her sensei towards the manhole that would lead them to the lair. Splinter suddenly froze, holding April back. When she looked up, she noticed his eyes narrowed, his ears twitched, and his tail swished back and forth the way it did when he was agitated.
"What is it?" April asked. Splinter shushed her quickly, his eyes looking all around them.
"Follow me." Splinter ordered in a low voice. April nodded and let Splinter steer her back to the alley entrance by her shoulders. They barely made it to the entrance when a black figure landed hard in front of them. They jumped back, Splinter pushing April behind him. April peered around the rat to stare at the ninja that landed before them. Whoever they were, they were clothed completely in black. It was so dark she couldn't tell what was her shirt and what was her pants; it looked like one whole, black body suit with a ninja hood pulled over her head. The only reason April knew the ninja was a girl was because of her eyes; they looked very feminine, even when they bore through her very core. A katana sheath and handle, both black as her clothing, was strapped to the ninja's back.
"Who are you?" Splinter demanded. "What do you want?"
The ninja didn't answer. She unsheathed her katana, its blade just as black as the rest of its wielder. She kept her dark eyes on Splinter and lunged, swiping her blade towards the rat's face. Splinter ducked just in time, pushing April back as he moved. He shoved April behind a dumpster. "Stay down." He ordered, grabbing a pipe to block the ninja's attack. He used the length of metal as a makeshift sword, countering the ninja's swift and deadly strikes. Splinter lost track of how many times the black blade came close to hitting something important. April stayed behind the dumpster, watching the battle with wide eyes. She felt like she should run and find the boys, but her feet remained glued to the ground. So she tried to stay out of the way while the rat and ninja fought.
The ninja stabbed with her blade, but Splinter knocked the black steel aside. He swung the pipe for her head, but she ducked and tried to sweep his legs. Splinter jumped up just in time, twisting around to kick the ninja's shoulder. The ninja jumped back, landing on all fours. She lifted the hand with her sword, staying crouched like a cat on her feet and free hand. She glared at Splinter with her dark, soulless eyes. Splinter mirrored her glare, holding the pipe ready like a sword. The ninja lunged again, her elaborate movements making her look like an elegant yet deadly ballerina. Splinter blocked her attack, gritting his teeth as the force and impact threatened to push him backwards. He glared at the ninja, his red-brown eyes drilling into her nearly black ones. He launched a foot forward and kicked the ninja backwards. The ninja back flipped and landed softly on her feet. She launched herself forward for another attack. April shrunk in the shadows, not sure what to do at that point. Splinter may have trained her to fight, but there was no way she'd get in the middle of that.
Splinter blocked an attack from the ninja and she jumped back. She swiped and slashed, but her blade only met the steel of the pipe. She seemed to get more and more frustrated every time her attacks were blocked, because her movements became quicker. Splinter kept up with her attacks, not allowing her attacks to harm him. He glanced at April now and then, just to check on her, and the ninja finally seemed to notice the redhead still in their presence. The ninja smirked under her mask and suddenly flung a black kunai knife towards April. She barely had time to scream before Splinter knocked the kunai aside. This left an opening for the ninja and she jabbed her katana into Splinter's hand. He dropped the pipe and yelped in pain, holding his bleeding hand. The ninja slashed her katana again, forcing Splinter to jump back. Luckily for him and April, the ninja ignored the redhead girl. Unluckily, she now had the advantage. She stabbed her katana forward, aiming for Splinter's chest. He clapped his hands over the end of the blade, stopping the sword before it could penetrate his skin. The ninja glared and pushed harder, clearly trying to run him through. Splinter held his ground, straining under the pressure. She is so strong, yet she looks so young.
April looked around and found a stray piece of rubble on the ground. She scooped it up, glaring at the ninja trying to kill her master. "Leave him alone!" She ordered, throwing the rock. It nailed the ninja in the head, and she yelped in pain. Splinter finally managed to push the blade aside and spin back kicked the girl down the alley. The sword flew from her grasp and Splinter caught it. When the ninja lunged for April, she found her own blade thrust in her face. Her glare never faltered as she dodged Splinter's attacks. She pulled a couple more kunai hidden in her belt and threw them. Splinter deflected them with ease, but was unprepared for the flying kick that nailed him in the chest and sent him flying backwards. The ninja lunged once more, drawing a kunai and aiming to stab it into Splinter's head. April suddenly ran up, pipe in hand, and whacked the ninja on the back. The ninja paused, gasping from the initial shock and jolt of pain, and then back kicked April to the ground, all the way to the alley entrance. April lay on the sidewalk, gasping and trying to regain her breath. The pipe clattered from her hand.
Splinter's eyes widened. "April!" He called. But April couldn't respond. Splinter tried to rush towards her, but the ninja blocked his path. He angrily blocked a few of her attacks before grabbing her wrist and throwing her aside. He rushed to April's side, not realizing he dropped the ninja's katana when he got up. He placed a paw on her shoulder, shaking her a little. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." April sighed. She looked past Splinter and her eyes widened. "Look out!"
Splinter turned at a cry of effort and realized the ninja leaped into the air above his head, her sword aimed for his heart. Thinking quickly, Splinter grabbed the pipe April dropped and swung it like a baseball bat. The metal connected with the ninja's side, and she slammed into a wall. Splinter quickly picked up April, bridal style, and hurried off down the alleyways.
"Hold onto me." Splinter instructed, staring straight ahead. April only nodded, wrapping her arms around Splinter's neck. Keeping one arm hooked under her legs, Splinter used his free arm to help propel himself up a fire escape and to the top of the apartments. He quickly opened the door to the stairs and slipped inside, quietly shutting the door behind him. He crouched down, still holding April, and listened. April stayed quiet as a mouse, hardly breathing. After a moment, they heard hurried footsteps. The footsteps stopped some feet outside the door.
Moon Shadow gave her surroundings a scrutinizing glare. But Splinter was nowhere in sight. He seemed to disappear out of thin air. Then, her gaze fell upon the door to the apartment stairs. She walked toward it slowly and silently, holding her katana ready to make it a quick and easy kill. She grabbed the door handle...twisted the knob...and yanked it open, raising her sword to strike whoever hid there. But she saw no one. Not Splinter, not April, not even any of the tenants (thankfully).
Surely, he wouldn't go down the stairs. Moon Shadow assured herself as she closed the door and sheathed her sword. He wouldn't risk getting caught by humans. Moon Shadow growled in frustration before sprinting off and disappearing into the shadows.
Meanwhile, one flight of stairs down, Splinter sighed. "I believe we are safe."
April sighed in relief. "Thank goodness."
Splinter stood and carefully ventured outside, keeping an eye out in case the ninja came back. "I believe we have just met the konoichi that has been tormenting my sons."
"Moon Shadow?" April asked as Splinter leaped down to the alley and slipped down a manhole.
"Yes." Splinter nodded. "Though I am not sure how she came to find us."
"She's good, I guess." April sighed. She tried to get down, but Splinter gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"I will carry you." Splinter offered.
"No thanks." April pushed herself from Splinter's arms. But the sudden movements and the fact that her legs fell asleep made her nearly collapse once she hit the floor. Splinter scooped her up again, carrying her bridal style through the sewers.
"We will be home soon." Splinter assured with a smile.
April smiled too. She sighed, settling down in Splinter's arms. Pretty soon, Splinter felt her head slump against his shoulder, and he looked down to find April fast asleep. He smiled, giving her shoulder an affectionate squeeze. When he arrived at the lair, he chuckled softly at the sight. His sons lay sprawled all over the pit; Leo two feet in front of the TV, Mikey spread-eagled beside him, Donnie leaning back in his spot on the couch, and Raph lying on his stomach with Spike asleep on his shell. All of his sons slept peacefully, unaware of their father's return. Splinter quietly stepped around his sons and lay April down on a bare spot of couch. He tucked a pillow under her head and draped a spare blanket over her, gently brushing her hair out of her face. He knelt beside her head and smiled warmly, gently stroking April's hair.
"Hey." someone said in a soft voice.
Splinter looked up and noticed Kuro coming from the kitchen, a steaming cup of tea in one hand and a notebook in the other. "I would think you would be asleep by now."
"I'm usually a night owl." Kuro shrugged, sitting cross-legged above April's head. "I would be asleep, but I'm kinda jumpy, I suppose. I'm hoping tea will calm my nerves." She looked down at April. "How was your evening?"
"Very enjoyable." Splinter said. "I think it was for her as well."
Kuro smiled at her sister-like friend. "I'm glad. I always felt sorry for her because of the situation with her dad. And she knows it; she constantly tells me not to worry about it."
"She is exceptionally brave." Splinter commented. "Both physically and mentally. But I fear she hides her feelings too much. I only wish she would be more open to us."
Kuro sighed. "Me too." She yawned.
"I will leave you to sleep." Splinter stood and brushed off his robes. "Sleep well, Kuro."
Kuro bowed her head. "Thank you." She watched Splinter leave before continuing to sip her tea. She set down her cup and opened up her notebook, scouring the notes scribbled inside. She only paused in her reading to drink her tea. When she finished both the notes and her tea, she stood and returned to the kitchen. She set her cup in the sink and leaned against the counter, hugging her notebook to her chest.
Splinter fights better than I thought. Kuro determined. I suppose I should've expected that, considering he fought my father and lived. And here I thought he would be more vulnerable when he was with April. Kuro inwardly groaned. Oh, April. I'm so sorry for that. If I ever get the chance to apologize, I will. I promise. Kuro stood up straight and walked off, stowing her notebook safely away in her backpack. But, back to business. It is clear now that I cannot fight Splinter to kill him. Such a shame, really. But if Shredder wants him dead, I'm going to have to use stealth and shadows to take him down. Then we have the Turtles and even April to think about; I'll have to get Splinter alone in order to effectively dispose of him. If I can kill him without the Turtles knowing, it'll make the bombshell even bigger when I kill them next.
Kuro settled down in her blanket nest, closing her eyes to sleep. For now, I will focus on taking out Leo. If I become leader, I can slowly influence the Turtles into their own destruction.
A/N: Oh, Kuro, you evil, evil little konoichi. I don't know who's worse; her or Karai. What do you think? I don't know, I think Kuro is worse.