A/N: Oh, I really hope everyone is enjoying this so far. I'm amazing myself at the speed at which theses chapters are coming. I've never really focused on Leo so much and I'm finding that I really like the nobleness in him. And the vulnerability he tries to hide. Well, enough of my ramblings. On with the show!
Japan
Leo sat up with a start. Something felt wrong. It was still dark out but a dim glow on the horizon announced the coming of dawn. He looked around trying to figure out what had woken him. He glanced towards the village, but it was silent and still. He sighed. It must have been my imagination.
He watched the sky above become brighter as dawn broke. The sunrise itself was obscured from view by the mountains that surrounded the valley. He rested his chin on his arms which were propped on his knees. I hope this village Amaya spoke of is Master Splinter's, because I really need to head home. He pulled out his cell and looked at the photo on its home screen. It had been taken at Mira's last birthday. Everyone was standing around laughing while in the foreground Mira was covered in chocolate cake. He smiled and decided to try for a signal, but frowned when not one bar appeared. "Donnie should have set this thing up to work off the satellites." He grumbled. Its battery too was low. So with a sigh, he shut it off.
He turned his attention to the small graveyard and the stone bench. He followed the path to the shrine with his eyes. And a vision appeared atop the hill. He knew instantly that it was Amaya, the fluidity of her movements were undeniable. In her arms she held a sack. Glancing around to be sure no one else was about he made his way towards the lovely Sakura tree. He was silent as she approached, but despite that a smile creased her lips. She stopped in front of him. "I'm sorry we were interrupted last night."
Leo fidgeted. "Amaya, can I ask you something? How is it that you knew I was here and that it was me?"
Her smile widened a bit. "As I said, although my physical eyes cannot see, I am able to see with my spiritual eyes and every soul is different. Just as every heart is different. I knew it was you because I have never met anyone with such a bright, strong soul. It is unique to say the least."
Leo felt himself smile at the compliment and for a moment they stood silently enjoying the morning breeze. Now in the daylight he could see her eyes. They were covered with an opaque blueish tint. But despite the oddness of them, he felt in some way they were beautiful.
She held out the sack to him. "I brought you some food for your journey."
He took it, careful not to touch her. "Thank you."
"To reach the village, you must travel straight east of here. You will come to large stone about my height that once was the marker to a crossroads. There you will turn north until you come to a stream. There will be a mountain to the east and the village is nestled in its side."
He bowed slightly. "Again, thank you."
She blushed. And Leo couldn't help but smile. Somehow it made her look innocent and incredibly cute. "May, I ask a favor of you? I know this is rather awkward….but may I travel with you? I have never been able to visit the grave of my own mother and father."
Leo flinched. She wanted to come with him? But she barely knew him. And yet, he wondered if she had felt the same connection as he had. The thing was she didn't know he was a freak of nature. He rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Amaya, I…"
She looked away. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to be so forward. I just…wanted to go there once." A tear trickled down one cheek before it was swiftly swept away. "I understand. It's alright."
His throat tightened with guilt. He needed to travel quickly and he wouldn't be traveling by road either. "No, you don't understand. I won't be traveling by the normal paths. It could be dangerous to take you with me. Plus, I'm…not normal."
She gave the same hallow laugh she had the night before. "Normal is relative."
Before he could even realize what he had done, he'd spoken. "Alright, but we must travel quickly. I've already stayed too long. I need to get home."
She bowed slightly. "I promise not to be a burden."
He looked around once more to be sure no one was out. "Are you ready to go now?"
She gave him a tentative smile. "Yes."
He turned and headed in the direction she had told him. Amaya followed a few steps behind.
New York
Raph stepped out of the lab and into the living room. Mikey was still cradling Mira against him. She'd quieted, but fear was still etched in her face. "How is he?"
"He's resting." Raph put a hand on his shoulder. "He'll be okay. How's Mira?"
Mikey looked down at the tot in his arms. "She's fallen asleep."
"Were you able to get a hold of April?"
"Yeah, she's going to meet us. I didn't think it was a good idea for her to come to the lair right now." Mikey clenched his fist. "I wish we knew who did this." He wanted so badly to hold Kala safe in his arms. He glanced up at the monitor over the door. "Do you think the surveillance cameras could help?"
Raph shook his head. "Even if they could, the computer console is smashed. And Donnie's in no condition to put it back together right now."
A crash came from the lab and the two brothers hurried to see what had happened. "Donnie, what are you doin'? You're supposed to be restin'." Raph demanded.
Donnie was knelt on the floor going through a pile of scanners, monitors, and handheld devices. "I know I heard it."
"Heard what?" Mikey exchanged a look with Raph. Neither of them had heard anything.
"It's got to be in here." His hand landed on a small device with a large screen, just as it chirped.
"What is it?" Raph peered over his shoulder at the screen.
Donnie smiled. "That's my girl." He held up the device. "It's a homing beacon. Sarah must have known they were likely going to be captured."
Mikey felt hope swell inside him. "Can you tell where they are?"
Donnie studied the screen. "Looks like a warehouse at 21rst and Malcomb." Although, he could have led them there using their bond, the tracker was a whole lot faster and more precise. He pushed himself to his feet. "Alright, let's go."
"Donnie, you're in no shape to fight." Raph protested.
He glared. "If you were in my place, would you stay behind?"
Both Raph and Mikey shook their heads. Nothing short of death would keep them from their loved ones.
"No! Daddy don't go!" Mira came running in, new tears falling.
Donnie knelt again as she flung herself into his arms. He held her tightly. "I have to go, sweetheart. I have to find your mother."
"But I'm scared!"
Donnie swallowed hard. "There's nothing to be afraid of anymore."
"Daddy, please don't go." Her desperate plea caused his heart to ache.
Mikey knelt beside them. "It's okay, dudette. You're going to stay with Aunt April while we're gone."
"Yeah, and we'll be back before you know it." Raph added behind him.
Donnie struggled to his feet, Mira still clutched in his left arm. "Now, we need to hurry."
They met April about two blocks from her apartment in an alley, where Donnie reluctantly passed Mira to her for safe keeping. Then they headed in the direction of the homing beacon.
Cat licked the split in her lip again. She glared across the room at the large Neutrino. Then she glanced to her side, where Kala and Sarah hung from shackles just as she did. The side of Sarah's face was swollen and her eye was turning black. Kassic had obviously used more force on her. Her gaze went back to the man across the room and at the bandage wrapped around his bicep. At least she got a blow in first.
She turned her attention back to shackles. What I'd give to have that screwdriver right now. She tested their strength. There was no way she'd be able to pull them loose. She glanced at her companions again. That's when she noticed Sarah's slight movement. The girl gave her quick look and Cat looked away. She suppressed the grin that wanted to spring to her face.
Sarah worked her hand a little further down into the cuff. Her petite frame was just too small to hold her in anything made for a regular sized adult. It wouldn't take long and she'd have her hands loose.
Between them, Kala was watching Kassic's every move. A part of her still feared him, but a larger part feared what Mikey might do when he found him here.
Kassic flipped open his communicator. "Open the portal."
"Do you have the turtles?"
"No, but I will soon. I have bait that they can't resist."
There was a snort from the other end. "Call me back when you actually have them."
The line went dead and Kassic glared at the blank screen. "Slimy pink slug."
He turned his back on the three girls and Sarah saw her chance. She pulled her hands free and darted for the panel that would release Kala and Cat's cuffs. She reached out to press the off button.
"Touch it and you'll lose one of your friends." Sarah turned to look at Kassic, his rifle was leveled at Kala. "It'll be like shooting fish in a barrel."
"Make a run for it Sarah!" Kala shouted.
Cat repeated the sentiment. "Sarah run!"
Sarah glared. "No! I'm not leaving! We're family and family sticks together."
Kassic took the short distance between them in three easy strides. He grasped her again by her already tender neck. "You're a troublesome little whelp, aren't you?" He dragged her to the center of the room and threw her to the floor. "Bring me a chain." He ordered a Foot soldier. There were only four with him now. The rest had already returned to Dimension X. The reality was he didn't need them anymore.
"You're going to regret this!" Sarah growled as he wrapped the chain rather tightly around her neck and padlocked it. The other end he attached to the floor with another lock, effectively forcing her to her knees.
He laughed with a smirk. "We'll see about that."
"Yeah, we will. When Raph gets here he's going to knock that smug look right off your face!" Cat growled.
Kassic approached her tilting her injured chin up. Green locked unflinching with brown. "I wouldn't be so sure of that. They'd do anything to keep you safe. I hold all the cards."
There was the sound of a scuffle outside the room and the door flew open. Raph snarled at the sight of Kassic touching his wife. "Get your filthy hands off her!"
Mikey's eyes flared with anger, he remembered all too well the damage this man had inflicted on Kala.
Donnie's eyes locked on Sarah and her swelling face. A feral growl rose in his throat. "You bastard!"
They started forward, but froze when Kassic pressed the tip of his riffle to Cat's throat. "Don't move or this one will lose her head." Raph backpedaled a half step, his eyes growing wide. Kassic grinned. "I thought so. You'll do anything for them. How weak?"
"Weak?" Kala spoke up for the first time since they were carried from the lair. He turned to look at her and her blue eyes bored into him. "What do you know! You think hitting women is a sign of strength! Love is something that makes you stronger not weaker. If anyone is weak, it's you."
Mikey grinned from ear to ear. She was finally losing her fear of Kassic. "You tell him babe!"
Kassic shot the turtle a look before striking the Neutrino across the face. On instinct, Michelangelo shot forward as the sound of the laser blaster echoed off the walls.
Japan
Leo glanced over his shoulder at Amaya, she was still keeping pace with him despite the fact that he wasn't using the road. It was true that he could have probably moved a lot faster if she wasn't with him. But the fact that she was keeping pace with him now, impressed him. She quietly followed, hands clasped in front of her. They hadn't spoken much since leaving the village.
He stepped around a large rock and she followed placing her feet where his had been, literally walking in his footsteps. He glanced at her again. "So, how did you learn English?"
She smiled. "An American teacher visited our village some time ago. She and I became good friends. We learned from one another."
"Oh, I see."
"Was your father Nihonjin? Is that how you came to speak our language?"
Leo sighed. "Yes, I suppose you could say that."
"Tell me, what is it like in America? Do you still have family there?"
"Yes, I have three brothers, their wives and niece." He frowned. "They're probably pretty worried about me. I've overstayed the time I said I would. But finding the burial ground has proved a lot harder than expected."
She smiled slightly. "That's quite a large family. Do you also have a wife?"
He glanced at her, admiring the way the shadows from the trees and sun danced across her porcelain skin. "No."
She looked away. "I'm sorry, I assumed that as the eldest you would…"
He chuckled a little. "No, I haven't met anyone that would be interested in me. My brothers were lucky to find their wives. And I'm happy for them. Do you have any siblings?"
She shook her head. "No. I was an only child at the time my parents died. Will you tell me about them to pass the time?"
He smiled. "Sure." They had reached the stone that marked the ancient crossroads, and he turned due north. "There's Michelangelo, he's the youngest of my brothers. He likes to play jokes on everyone and goof off a lot of the time. But he's genuine and tender hearted. He'd give you the shirt right off his back if you needed it." That is if he wore shirts. "Then there is Donatello. He's a genius by anyone's standards. He can invent the craziest contraptions as well as the most amazing things you could ever imagine. He's pretty calm and level-headed, but sometimes he can be a bit impatient." He smiled to himself, remembering the many explosions his brother had caused as a child. "Then there's Raphael. He's stubborn and hot-headed. He can be reckless and crass at times and way too blunt. But he means well, most of the time. In a way he's a lot more sensitive than Mikey could ever be."
He weaved a path between two boulders and Amaya followed, listening intently. "And what of their wives?"
Leo smiled again, picturing the three girls. "Mikey and Kala just got married a few months before our father died. But we've known Kala a long time. She's a lot like Mikey in that she always looks on the bright side of every situation. She's sincerely kind and generous." He laughed. "They're still kind of in their honeymoon stage so we have to remind them to keep it in their room a lot." Amaya chuckled behind him, a hand pressed to her lips. "Raph and Cat have been married for several years now. She runs a motorcycle shop. She's a tough one, that's for sure, otherwise she wouldn't be able to handle Raph so easily. He and Donnie usually go up in the evenings and help her out, so the shop's been doing pretty good."
"And what of your last brother's wife?"
Leo sighed. "Sarah…she's been with us in some ways most of our lives. She's more of a little sister to us than just Donnie's wife. No, that may not be quite right either. In a funny way, she's been sort of a mother-hen. She's incredibly smart and her cooking is out of this world." He laughed lightly. "At least it's a lot better than Mikey's. But she loves us each for everything that we are and everything we aren't." He paused looking up at the sun through the trees. "It's strange to think they've only been married seven years. It feels like she's always been there. She's been there to pick up the pieces of our lives so many times, just like she was this time. She and my brother have a very special connection. And they also have Mirakuru."
"Is that your niece? What a lovely name."
"Yes." They had come to the stream. "Do we need to cross here?"
She nodded. "Yes."
He stepped down to the water's edge and without thinking leapt the few feet across. Not to be deterred, Amaya pulled up the ends of her kimono and stepped down into the water. She let out a small cry as her foot slipped on the wet rocks and she started to fall forward.
In a flash, he was in the water, her wrapped safely in his arms. "Are you okay?"
She nodded against his plastron and then blinked as she felt the soft leathery skin of his biceps. He gasped as her hands slowly moved up his arms to his shoulders. They felt like fire as they crawled gently up his body. Fear of rejection suddenly overcame him as her hands moved higher. "Amaya, wait…I…"
"Shh…." She said softly as her hands moved across his face and mask. He watched her, waiting for the scream of freak and panicked cries that usually followed. But she remained still, her face impassive. He shuddered as her hand slipped behind him, finding his shell. Her fingers ghosted over him until he felt she knew nearly every inch of his body as well as he did. There was an intimacy to her touch that he had never known before.
At last she spoke. "Shall we continue our journey, Leonardo?"
He couldn't help but smile, his heart pounding with joy. She had accepted him, imperfections and all.
A/N: Awww...it's too sweet! I can just picture this so clearly in my head (thus the cover art). I can imagine Leo blushing like crazy the whole time too! Poor Leo... Don't forget to tell me if you like it!
