Chapter Sixteen- Leadership Challenge
Kuro looked all around her, but saw only deep, empty darkness. She looked down and saw that she wore her Moon Shadow ninja attire. But her katana was gone, replaced with the weapons she was currently working on. But the weapons were shiny and brand new, like she just finished them. She didn't wear her mask, allowing her long black hair to flow freely down her back and to her waist. Soon, a building materialized under her feet, and the New York City skyline etched itself out in the distance. When the sounds of battle reached her ears, she turned sharply and saw two, shadowy figures fighting on the roof of an apartment a few buildings down the road. One shadow looked like a giant rat in flowing robes. The second shadow looked like a strong, burly man in ninja clothing and wearing a set of claws and a pointed helmet.
The Splinter Shadow lunged for Kuro's father, swiping his katana across his face. The Shredder Shadow blocked it just in time, and the blades clashed in a flurry of sparks. Interestingly enough, the sparks weren't enough to light up the figures' faces. Only their eyes could be clearly seen, both sets glowing a heated red. Kuro watched the battle curiously, keeping her eyes on her father. The Shredder Shadow launched his claws forward again and again. But the Splinter Shadow dodged each attack. He punched, kicked, and slashed at the Shredder Shadow, forcing him backwards. Suddenly, the Splinter Shadow jumped and performed a swift spinning back kick, knocking the Shredder Shadow over the edge of the building.
"Hold on, Father!" Kuro shouted, running forward towards the pair. She leaped across the first building, but then found herself ten feet from the Splinter Shadow, somehow skipping over the three buildings that used to be between her previous position and the battle. Kuro brushed it off, reminding herself it was only a dream, and hurried towards the shadow of the rat she hated. The Shredder Shadow hung onto the edge of the building, fighting to find a foothold. The Splinter Shadow raised his katana to stab it into the Shredder Shadow's head. But Kuro jumped forward just in time, performing a perfect flying kick that sent the Splinter Shadow flying. She heard nails scraping against stone, and she grabbed the Shredder Shadow's hand just before he could slip off the edge of the building. She pulled the shadow onto solid ground, panting a little. Then, she did something that surprised even herself: she hugged the Shredder Shadow, wrapping her arms around his middle and burying her face in his shirt.
"I'm so glad you're safe, Otōsan." Kuro sighed. She felt her father's arms wrap around her, keeping her close to him in a warm embrace. She didn't care that it was out-of-character for him to be showing such affection; nor did it bother her when she realized his lack of armor, also unlike him. She felt truly relieved that her only living blood relative could live another day.
The clouds Kuro never noticed before moved aside, allowing the luminous full moon to cast a soft glow on the pair. Kuro opened her eyes and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What she gazed at was not a black shirt but instead maroon robes over brown and black fur. Kuro's eyes widened and she looked up.
Holding her in a loose embrace was Splinter.
Kuro's jaw dropped. "But...you...how can..."
Splinter's red-brown eyes gazed at the girl with kindness; a fatherly gaze that told her everything would be all right. Suddenly, he pulled her around and put himself between her and the oncoming attacker. Kuro jumped back with a familiar set of claws stabbed through Splinter's chest. Splinter screamed in pain, and Kuro could only watch as Shredder lifted Splinter up and threw him off the edge of the building. Kuro hurried to the edge and watched in horror as Splinter's limp body disappeared in the fog down below. Kuro heard heavy footsteps and turned to see Shredder standing above her, in full armor with claws unsheathed.
"Otōsan?" Kuro whimpered. Shredder's gaze hardened and he thrust his claws down.
Kuro screamed.
Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey, and April all jumped about three feet into the air. They hurried to Kuro's side as she sat up from her nest, panting and wide-eyed. "Kuro?" Mikey asked worriedly. "What happened?"
Kuro gulped, swallowing back her shock and fear. "I...just had a bad dream..."
"You screamed kinda loud." Leo noted. "How bad of a dream was it?"
Kuro stared at her blankets. "I don't want to talk about it."
"How bad could it have been?" Raph scoffed.
"Raph, don't be inconsiderate." Donnie snapped. "Kuro, are you sure you're all right?"
"I'm fine." Kuro insisted. She pushed herself to her feet. "We all get bad dreams. What's for breakfast?"
The boys and April exchanged looks, but followed Kuro into the kitchen. Splinter joined them minutes later, also concerned about and awoken by Kuro's scream. But Kuro refused to talk about it or even look at any of them, especially Splinter. She simply ate her cereal in silence, chewing slowly and swallowing the wheat circles. She finished before anyone else and mentioned something about early training as she hurried off to change.
"Whatever she dreamt about, it hit her hard." Donnie noted.
"She does get a little stressed out now and then." April noted. "She's prone to some pretty freaky stress dreams."
"Somehow, I can't think of something that would make her stressed." Leo huffed.
Mikey smirked knowingly. "You still mad that she challenged your leadership skills?"
Splinter raised a bushy white eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Kuro doesn't approve of Leo's role as leader." Donnie explained.
"And why is that?" Splinter asked Leo.
"We just had a few disagreements since the Snakeweed incident." Leo said dismissively. "Nothing to worry about."
"I was not worried." Splinter assured as he stood and walked off. "Until you told me not to worry."
Leo groaned. "What could you and Kuro possibly disagree on?" April asked. "You guys seem to have a lot in common."
"Yeah." Raph smirked. "You're both hotheaded, controlling, and Space Heroes freaks."
"Actually, she's not that big of a Space Heroes freak." April corrected.
"What about your leadership skills?" Donnie suggested.
"That's what you guys are arguing about anyway." Mikey pointed out.
"Guys, just drop it." Leo insisted, putting his empty dishes in the sink. "I'm sure she'll get over it and we can move on." He walked off, his pace so quick that no one had time to talk.
Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. After breakfast, the boys and April went off to stretch and prepare for training. April found time to change from her kimono into her usual leggings, T-shirt, and Daisy Dukes. While they stretched their stiff and still-sleeping muscles, no one could ignore the glares cast between Leo and Kuro. Every time their eyes locked (which was often during the warm-up) their auras caught fire and they looked like they wanted to kill each other with their dagger-like gazes. But nobody said anything, not even Splinter; however, nobody could hide their surprise and disbelief when their master paired up the quarreling duo for sparring. Both of them chose to fight with a katana, making it even more deadly. Raph, Donnie, Mikey, and April stood a good distance away from the fight. It was a good thing they did, because a fraction of a second after Splinter shouted "Hajime", the two clashed in a flurry of sparks. Their fight escalated from a simple spar to an all-out battle in seconds, each trying to outwit and possibly kill the other. Kuro fought the urge to run Leo through in fear of jeopardizing her mission; Leo became blinded by jealousy and a sudden hatred for the young Japanese girl, his hard blue eyes locked with her deep brown ones, trying to figure out why she gave him a déjà vu feeling.
"Yame!" Splinter shouted. Kuro and Leo continued to swipe at each other. "I said yame!" When the pair didn't even falter, Splinter took his jade staff and put it between their two blades. He flipped Kuro to the ground and shoved Leo the opposite direction. "I do not know why you two are acting this way. Kuro, I took you in as a student for your own protection against Shredder. Leo, I trained and raised you better than this. I realize that maybe you two disagree. But I will have you know that I will not stand for it!"
"You wanna know the problem?" Kuro demanded, jumping to her feet. She pointed the katana in her hand towards Leo. "Leonardo is failing in his duties as a leader."
"I fail to see how." Leo scoffed, brushing himself off and sheathing his katana.
"Fine." Kuro shrugged. "Then I suppose you already told Sensei Splinter about that Foot Clan konoichi that tried to kill you."
Everyone's eyes widened as Splinter looked back and forth between Kuro and Leo. "A female Foot Clan ninja?"
"Care to explain, Leonardo?" Kuro asked with a smug smile. "Or shall I?"
Leo glared. "Everyone has their flaws! Even you! That doesn't make me or you a bad leader! It makes us human!" He paused when he realized what he just said. "You know what I mean!"
Kuro huffed and stabbed her sword into the floor. She left it sticking there and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Leo demanded.
"None of your beeswax." Kuro waved him off.
Leo narrowed his eyes and leaped into the air, landing between Kuro and the door. "What's the matter? Running away because you're afraid to lose the fight?"
"As if someone like me could ever be afraid of you." Kuro growled.
"Leonardo." Splinter said in a commanding tone. "That is enough."
Leo didn't listen. "You need to get this through your head. I am the leader of this group. I was chosen, not you. Therefore, my word is law." He leaned in close to Kuro's face. "Got it?"
Kuro stood straight and tall, undaunted. "Then how about a challenge? To see who the true leader ought to be."
"I'm listening." Leo said.
"I challenge you to a battle, tonight." Kuro declared. "The winner of the battle will become the new leader of the team."
"Weapons?" Leo asked.
"Any single weapon of the fighter's choice." Kuro said.
"Time?" Leo inquired.
"Seven o'clock tonight." Kuro replied. "The winner will lead the team on patrol tonight."
"No sabotaging until then?" Leo guessed.
"Absolutely not." Kuro shook her head. "Take the time to train or something."
"Done." Leo nodded. He and Kuro grasped each other's hands, each looking like they wanted to crush the other.
"You best be prepared, Leonardo." Kuro warned. "I've got quite a surprise for this evening."
Leo scoffed haughtily and turned to walk back to his brothers. He hardly took two steps when Splinter's staff bonked him on the head. "Ow!"
"What were you thinking?" Splinter demanded.
"I'm not handing over my leadership, Sensei." Leo assured. "I'm simply going to put her in her place."
Splinter whacked his son on the head again. "Leonardo, pride goeth before a fall. Prove that you are a leader; do not try and show that your opponent is weak, but rather show that you are strong."
"So, you're not going to object to this thing?" Leo asked.
"I will not stop you two from doing this." Splinter shook his head. "I only advise you to think long and hard about what you are about to do and the consequences." He turned and walked off to his room, slamming the door shut with so much force the wall trembled and everyone flinched.
"I hope you know what you're doing." April sighed. She and the rest of the boys remained silent throughout the whole ordeal.
"Yeah, I've seen Kuro fight against Snakeweed." Donnie noted. "She's pretty tough."
"I can handle it." Leo assured.
"I hope so." Raph crossed his arms. "If you lose, we'll have to take orders from Kuro."
"That won't happen." Leo insisted, drawing his katanas and starting to practice.
"We'll be rooting for you." Mikey assured.
"Thanks, Mikey." Leo smiled.
"Unless you start losing, in which case we'll be rooting for Kuro." Mikey added.
"Thanks, Mikey." Leo droned.
Kuro spent the entire afternoon locked away in Donnie's workshop, working on her new weapons. Donnie gladly left her alone and even brought her lunch so she didn't have to stop working. Mikey ran off to grab whatever notes she needed from her backpack or any weapons she had to study from the dojo. Raph sparred with Leo, sais against katanas, to help him practice. April simply watched Leo train, giving him pointers about his stance and a few tips about Kuro's katana fighting style, seeing how Kuro would most likely use a blade against the turtle.
"Make sure you fight fair." April reminded him. "The only reason I'm telling you this is because I want Kuro to get the picture."
"Is she always so temperamental?" Raph grunted as he blocked another attack.
"She's had a rough life, so I suppose she's a little angry now and then." April sighed. "But I feel like this challenge is more than just showing up Leo."
"What makes you say that?" Leo asked, swiping his katana.
"It's just one of those feelings I get." April shrugged. "I think her intentions go deeper than just defeating you."
Leo continued to spar. Somehow, I doubt that.
Kuro bit her tongue in concentration as she welded the final piece to her weapon. When she finally finished, she lifted the welding mask to stare in wonder. They were perfect. Absolutely perfect. She couldn't possibly lose now. She set down the torch and mask and continued to stare at her creation. She seemed to glow with pride, smiling and eyes glittering.
Knock knock knock. "Can I come in?" Donnie's voice called from the other side of the door.
"Just a sec!" Kuro called, covering her weapons with a towel. "Okay!"
Donnie came in with a couple slices of pizza. "I brought you an early dinner. Finish the weapons?"
"Yeah, they're awesome!" Kuro jumped in her seat. "Thanks for letting me borrow the torch."
"No problem." Donnie waved it off. "Honestly, I'm hoping you win this thing. Leo can get pretty overconfident, and this might be the kick in the shell he needs."
"It'll be more than a kick." Kuro laughed.
Donnie smiled. "Hey, go easy on him. He's overconfident, but he's got a heavy burden."
Kuro sighed. "That's just it. Leadership is such a burden to bear, and Leo's not ready. I can tell."
"And you want to take the burden off him?" Donnie guessed.
Kuro nodded. "I know I can do a better job. Even if I couldn't, at least he will be spared the burden."
Donnie smiled. "Well, good luck. I'll leave you to your training." He walked off, shutting the door behind him.
Kuro uncovered her weapons and stared at them as she ate. That's not entirely a lie. I do want to relieve the burden. And my leadership will guide the Turtles much better. Kuro finished her pizza quickly and took up her weapons. She immediately started practicing, slicing and stabbing invisible opponents.
Splinter stood solemn and silent, clearly displeased, in front of the large tree in the dojo. Donnie, Mikey, April, and Raph stood behind him, waiting anxiously for the battle to begin. Kuro and Leo stood in the middle of the dojo, one warrior on either side of the room. Ocean blue locked with deep brown. They kneeled to the ground in respect to their opponent.
"Onegaishimasu." Leo said.
"Onegaishimasu." Kuro said.
The two of them stood, their eyes still locked. Kuro held her fists behind her back, no weapon in view. Leo drew his twin katanas. Splinter's gaze hardened.
"Hajime!" He ordered.
Leo darted forward first, raising his katanas to slice them down on Kuro's head. But there was a loud SHING!, and something metal blocked Leo's attack. Kuro's weapons crossed in an X in front of her face. She pushed Leo back to his original spot, holding her weapons ready. They hugged her wrists snugly, like wristbands. The weapons were shiny metal gauntlets, with small spikes and long, retractable claws.
They looked just like Shredder's.
Everyone's eyes widened at the familiar (but much smaller) weapons. Instantly, the Turtles were hit with flashbacks of their battle with the Shredder—the same battle they barely escaped with their lives. But before anyone could speak or truly react, Kuro lunged into battle again. Leo held up his blades just before the claws could scratch his face. He jumped back when Kuro advanced, slashing her claws. She punched and kicked, sometimes retracting her claws to lunge with a couple swift jabs. Leo countered, trying to sweep her legs and using both the handles and blades of his swords to attack. But every time Kuro unsheathed her claws, the painful memories resurfaced. He kept flashing back to his fight with Shredder. When he stared into Kuro's eyes, he saw Shredder's terrifyingly scarred eyes. When Kuro cried in effort, he heard Shredder's enraged shouts like a lion's roar. When their blades clashed, Leo felt a stab of pain even if he wasn't hit.
Donnie, Raph, and Mikey remained caught in an internal conflict. On the one hand, the memories made the battle hard to watch; on the other hand, the intensity of the battle kept their eyes glued to it. April, having seen only the results and not the battle itself, worried about the outcome of the current struggle. Splinter's grip on his jade staff tightened so much his knuckles turned white. He watched, wide-eyed, as the battle progressed. He kept seeing the battle between himself and Oroku in the battle between Leo and Kuro. He wanted to stop the fight, but held himself back out of respect for his son's challenge.
Kuro swiped her claws, only to be blocked by Leo's swords. She punched him hard in his plastron and he stumbled back. He stabbed his sword forward, but Kuro caught his blades in her claws, twisting it from his grip. She expertly caught the blade, pointing it at Leo. She retracted her claws and lunged with the katana. Leo, remembering what April told him, skillfully blocked and countered her strikes. He pushed her back, swinging his blade towards her head and arms. Kuro glared, gritting her teeth from the strain and effort. She jumped up, bounced off the wall, and raised her sword above her head to slice it across Leo's head. He held up his blade and the two pieces of metal clashed in a harsh and loud CLANG! The two of them stayed locked in position, glaring at each other. Leo suddenly kicked Kuro's abdomen, sending her tumbling. She rolled across the ground and landed kneeling on one knee. She unsheathed her claws, darting into battle once more.
Leo held up his katanas to block Kuro's attack. He struggled to stay on his feet as Kuro pushed against him.
"Tell me where Splinter is and I promise your demise will be swift."
"No..." Leo growled so softly only Kuro heard him. "Won't...tell..."
Kuro's eyes narrowed a little, but she shook it off and grabbed Leo's wrist. She flipped him over her shoulder and onto his back.
"Tell me where Splinter is..."
"Never." Leo again growled so quietly only Kuro heard. Leo broke free from Kuro's grip and jumped to his feet. "Not my father..."
Kuro's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. But no one else seemed to hear except her. What's wrong with this guy? He's acting far more scared than expected.
Leo lunged for Kuro, but she caught his blades in her claws. She twisted her wrists, and the blades flew from Leo's grip. She sharply kicked him in the chest, forcing him to fall on his back. His eyes widened when Kuro leaped into the air, falling straight towards him with her claws aimed for his exposed throat. If Leo wasn't so terrified, he would've counted with a sharp kick to her stomach. But he remained frozen in place, watching the claws come down and...
"No, don't!" Splinter suddenly shouted.
THUD!
Leo stayed still as a statue. Kuro knelt on one knee, her foot pressed against the turtle's chest. Her claws pierced the bamboo tatami mats just inches from Leo's head. Kuro looked up in confusion and shock.
"Yame!" Splinter snapped. He rushed to his son's side, dropping his staff in the process. Kuro jumped back, her eyes wide in surprise. She stared as Splinter knelt beside Leo and propped him up, holding the turtle's head in his paw. April, Donnie, Mikey, and Raph surrounded the pair. Kuro retracted her claws, curious over the scene unfolding before her. What a reaction. I didn't want to put the guy in shock.
"Leonardo?" Splinter shook his son gently. "My son, are you all right?"
"Leo!" Raph shouted. "What's wrong with you?"
"Snap out of it, dude!" Mikey cried. But Leo remained motionless, staring off into space. His pupils dilated a little. He wouldn't respond, not even when Splinter kept shaking him. The rat master's panic levels rose higher and higher as his son refused to even acknowledge his presence.
"What's wrong with him?" April asked desperately.
"I don't know!" Donnie panicked. He turned to Kuro. "Did you perform a nerve attack or something?"
"No." Kuro walked up and stared at Leo with a scrutinizing gaze. "Mikey, can I borrow your nunchakus?" Mikey cocked his head, but gave her one of his nunchakus. Kuro twirled the weapon around for a second before bonking Leo on the head with it.
"Ouch!" Leo yelped, squeezing his eyes shut and holding his head.
"Leonardo, are you all right?" Splinter asked, helping his blue-masked son sit up.
"I'm okay." Leo replied hesitantly. He stared at the ground, obviously hurt in more ways than one.
Splinter sighed through his nose and looked up at Kuro. "Congratulations, Kuro. The team is yours."
Kuro stood straight and tall and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Sensei Splinter." She did it. She scared Leo into losing. She now had control over the Turtles.
So why did it feel like a hollow victory?