Note: Thanks to those that reviewed last chapter! Sorry this update has taken so long, I started on One-Two as well as Fall Out and got a lil distracted with updates on the forum as well... so without further adieu...
Dis: I don't own TMNT, however, Akumi is MY creation
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Akumi's gaze was drawn to the man standing on the rooftop away from them and that was when she felt a tingle between her shoulder blades. Drawing the weapon from the Gods she saw that the blade was glowing lightly, mists swirling along the deadly sharp edge. Looking up at the man, the one Leonardo calls Shredder, she knows she found Ch'rell. Slowly, she lifts the blade up and points it at the man and from her vantage point she can see his eyes narrow before he points his three-pronged blade attached at his knuckles at her.
However, before she can think of an attack the men that travel through smoke with ease were upon them. She was too busy dodging attacks to keep her focus on her people's number one enemy. Lashing out she sheathes the taki and pulls out her dogi just as a massive kick to her stomach sends her into the hard shell of Leonardo.
"It is him!" she shouts during battle. "Ch'rell!"
"You mean the Shredder?" he asks before he is kicked in the jaw and then a dual kick has his swords flying in the air.
"No!" shouts Akumi, knowing that it is a warrior's worst pain to lose a weapon in battle but someone grabs her hair through the wrap and she finds the attack childish before she is forced to cross her dogi in front of her to block another kick. A slice at her arm draws blood and a punch to her jaw makes vision dim then she is flying. Gripping her dogi tight she tries her best to focus and wishes she hadn't because a large building is coming up upon her fast. Suddenly, strong but shaky arms encircle her from behind and twists them so that he takes the brunt of the fall as they crash through a window. She is dimly aware of gasps of surprise around her but she is too busy trying to find her breath to care about whom they intruded on.
"LEO!" shouts a gruff voice and Akumi can relax a little, knowing they are in safe company.
"Who's the girl?" asks another and she opens her eyes and moans from the dizzying pain before trying to sit up but the heavy weight around her shoulders and waist that was Leo was inhibiting her movements.
"A-Akumi..." whispers Leonardo against her hair before his grip falters and she shifts to a sitting position only to be met with the tip of a dogi. Slowly she looks up and realizes that her wrap is no longer covering her face and was more like a scarf around her neck. "R-Raph... No... Friend."
"Who are you and what has happened to my son?" asks a stern voice that has Akumi looking to her right and seeing a sight. A large, furry creature stands before her with a large nose wearing a garment of some kind and holding a walking stick. She is certain her eyes are as large as the moons on her home world.
"I did no harm to Leonardo. Ch'rell did," answers Akumi.
"Who da shell is Ch'rell?" growls the one with the dogi.
"R-Raph," speaks Leonardo weakly and the one known as Raph bends to his level to hear him speak. "He's back..." Leonardo winces, truly in pain. "Shredder is back."
A collective gasp resonates through the living space.
"What? What did he just say?" asks a woman with red hair.
"He said the Shredder's back!" answers a turtle wearing orange. Yes, that was the right word. Using the connection she had with Leonardo she was able to put words to those around her. The woman was known as a human. The green creatures turtles. The large furry thing was a rat.
"No way," growls the turtle holding the dogi. "No way he is back."
"Who you call the Shredder here is known as Ch'rell from my world. He is, indeed, alive and we barely escaped his men. I happened upon Leonardo when he was being attacked."
"But no human could've survived that fall," said the last turtle wearing purple and she met his eyes.
"Ch'rell is not, as you say, human."
"WHAT?" squeaks the one in orange. "Not human?! What is he? A zombie? A ghost? AHHH!"
"Would ya quit it, Mikey?" growls Raph, hitting his brother upside the head.
"You are not human either," observes the one in purple as he makes a movement indicating her pointed ears. "You are elf-like."
"I am no elf. I am Akumi, of the Yakitan Village, where your planet is named..." Once again she reaches to the connection. "Earth... Mine is known as Luneah. I have come to avenge my people against the evil that almost destroyed my world."
"Well, the Shredder sure gets around to making peoples lives miserable," grumbles Mikey who was now looking out the window. "We should have known. The bad guy ALWAYS comes back in the comics!"
"Time for proper introductions can be made later," said the human woman. "We need to get Leo out of here."
"April is right," said the rat.
"Uh, guys? We've got company!" Mikey backs away from the window and as Akumi stands on her two feet he starts to, as the Earth-Clan says: freak out. "What's the plan? Leonardo always has a plan! So what are we going to do without Leo to come up with a plan?"
"No time for a plan," says Raph, crossing his dogi, or as they call it here: sai, in front of him.
"Why not?" asks Mikey.
And like that, the battle commences. Bodies clothed in black burst through glass and Akumi draws her dogi as the rest of the turtles bear arms. The one in purple implores the rat and human to help Leo while they battle and feeling that the only part of her that was sore was her shoulder: she knew she was good to fight. With skill bestowed upon her from her teachers she moves with grace, lashing out with sharp kicks and punches against easy enemies. As she sends one Foot right back out the window it came in from the one in red, Raph, nods to her in appreciation.
"Nice!" he shouts, snapping the ankle of one that tries to kick him in the head and fails.
"Retchu wendium... Um, thank you."
Just then the one in orange is grabbed by a large opponent but before harm falls upon him the rat brings himself into the battle to protect the turtle. The rat then orders the turtle to help Leonardo out and Akumi sighs before she moves beside Leonardo.
"Leo?" asks Mikey.
"My swords... Where are my swords?" asks Leonardo, in delirium. Akumi places a warm hand on his shoulder and their eyes meet once again.
"Be still, Leonardo, for we are getting out of here. Do not worry." She met the eyes of the worried turtle in orange. "Trust me, brother of Leonardo, that I will make it my warrior's oath to help him. Join your other brothers in combat."
"Right. Okay," says Michelangelo and he was gone just as Akumi braces herself and then lifts Leonardo up. He groans, trying to take some of his weight off of her but the human woman goes to his other side and braces him on her shoulders as well.
"April," he moans. "Run. Akumi... This isn't your fight. Save yourselves."
"Not my fight?" asks the one called April. "Leonardo, we're family. Your fight is MY fight. I'm not leaving you guys!" They make their way to the door. "I'd never run out on you."
Akumi is touched by the sense of family she feels from these individuals. No matter how weird the combination of beings, the love was evident. They open the door but there are many Foot there and before Akumi could think about fighting, Leonardo is using strength he shouldn't have to close the door by kicking it. The men in black burst through anyway and the turtle in orange, Mikey, kicks one and they all fall down a set of stairs.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Turtles and rats and elves. Run, do NOT walk, to the nearest exit!" orders Mikey.
April and Akumi take to the stairs, traveling downward with the others following. The one in purple orders Mikey to check their exit and Akumi can sense his fear as he opens the door. The rat is at her side and Akumi can tell he wants to be near Leonardo so she lets him take her spot at she travels down to where Mikey is. He looks at her.
"It's quiet," she whispers.
"Yeah, a little too quiet." He smiles at her. "Always wanted to say that." He flicks on the lights and Akumi instantly draws her weapons. It is the men that defeated her and Leonardo before. "Whoa... Nice hats!"
Mikey closes the door. Akumi watches, almost amused as the one in purple named Don and Mikey argue before Don opens the door and comments on the hats as well. He goes to battle the men and when one almost skewers him with a staff she steps in and deflects it with her dogi.
"Raphie! We got some serious problems down here!" shouts Don.
"Like I don't got them up here?!" shouts Raphael from upstairs and Akumi has to admire his stamina and skill defending against numerous foes.
"The Shredder's Elite guard. They are the deadliest of his warriors," announces the rat and Akumi had to agree they were formidable foes. Then, Splinter is gone and Raphael replaces him and its four against four. Not horrible odds.
Then they are at war. Akumi gives a battle cry before performing an aerial kick that hits home in a warriors chest. She ducks and dodges and tries not to feel dissuaded as Raph and Don are immediately thrown against a wall. Mikey seems to have the best agility, back flipping his way out of harms way before landing an attack on his opponent, who ends up crashing into a glass crate. Akumi swiftly kicks her opponents legs out from beneath him and he lands on his back before another takes his place. It goes on like that for a while where between the four of them they are defending more than attacking, but staying on their feet. Then a scream has them all losing focus and Leonardo is suddenly thrown into the room, the back of his shell connecting with a metallic pillar that bends due to the force of the throw and Akumi recognizes the rock of a man that comes into the room. Raphael, enraged, runs forward and manages to attack the man before slamming the door on him. Akumi gladly takes on two of the warriors so that Raphael can protect his brother but like that they are suddenly gone in smoke and blocking the front door that is kicked in by Ch'rell.
The Shredder.
"Ah, crud," growls Raphael.
"I-It's really him," says Mikey in almost a whimper.
He speaks and every word has Akumi's skin crawl. He calls the turtles freaks and he speaks of revenge from their last encounter and that is when she stashes her dogi and pulls out her still glowing taki.
"And what is this?" hisses Ch'rell. "I do not believe we had the pleasure of meeting."
"I am Akumi Tigahari of the clan Yakitan. You decimated my home world. Enslaved my people and murdered thousands. Prepare to meet your end."
He laughs. LAUGHS! She loses herself. She cannot believe her enemy laughs mockingly at her and with the protests of those around her she charges into battle. She manages to dodge the first punch and kick but suddenly a meaty fist slams into her face, making her stagger back and before she can regain her footing she is flying: her back slamming into the same pole Leonardo had moments ago. She is aware of yelling and warm hands on her face that have three fingers and a rough texture and she is certain she blacks out for a moment until there is a crash and she sees another man. Human. Riding a steed of steel as he takes out the Elite guard. The turtles know him. Casey is his name and she slowly stands to her feet as they face off once again against the Foot. She is aware of the taste of her life's essence on her tongue, what this world calls blood. She does not care, for she charges forward once more.
She is weak but still seeks out Ch'rell and finds him watching the battle. Coward, letting his men fight his battles for him. Seeing the one called Casey defending Leo and the brothers attacking Elite and Foot she goes for Shredder once more. She screams as he dodges her attacks and a small spike of fear travels through her. He is good. Almost TOO good as he tosses her aside like a rag doll, right into Leonardo who had been trying to stand up. Shredder was over them and she had her taki up to defend them both when the rat laid in another attack that sends the Shredder back and Akumi sees this as an opportunity to attack as well. Together, her and Splinter fight: dodging and kicking until the Shredder is cornered but she is surprisingly taken out of the battle and in the grip of the large man someone calls Hun. The man as large as a mountain squeezes tightly and she lets out a painful cry until the one known as Raphael kicks him away from her. She falls to the ground just as the rat calls for retreat.
No. No! She would not retreat until Ch'rell was dead! She growls, spitting out more blood before looking up to see the Shredder before her. She strikes out, catching him in the side with the glowing blade and she hears a choked gasp as he falls to his knees just as someone lifts her up into their arms. She watches, as the Shredder remains on the ground, her taki still in her hand as she is brought into a small room.
Slowly her eyes start to close and she looks up. It is Mikey that has her in his arms and she smiles her thanks before the darkness overtakes her and she passes out. She awakens sometime later to the feel of something wet on her face. Opening her eyes she knows she is moving and looks up to see Mikey still carrying her. She moans as he lands after a long jump and he looks down to see her eyes open.
"Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty."
"What happened?"
"Place blew. Going to a friends. You're safe."
"Leonardo?"
"Raph's got him."
"Good," she whispers softly before falling back into the black.
Just how hard was she hit?
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She awakens much later, squinting because the sun is in her eyes. They are moving but she is warm and dry. Sitting up she moans in pain and the one called April moves around in her seat.
"Hey! How are you feeling?"
"Like a quazik rammed me then stamped me to the earth."
She gains questioning glances from Casey and April. April, however, smiles before offering her a bottle filled with clear liquid. Looking at it curiously, Akumi shakes it then gives a questioning look to April.
"It's water. Unscrew the top and drink."
"Right," answers Akumi before doing just that. She downs the bottle in less than five seconds. "Do you have more?"
"Uh... Yeah, hold on." April offers her another. "So, who taught you to fight like that? You were really good. Even managed to get a slice out of the Shredder."
"My master Kenji has taught me since I was three life cycles," says Akumi before drinking the second bottle of water gone.
"Uh, what does she mean by cycles?" asks the male named Casey almost awkwardly.
"Not what YOU are thinking I'm sure," mutters April. "You were young."
"Yes very."
"So like three years OLD, Casey."
"Oh, yeah, hey, I get it," stammers Casey and Akumi is wondering what he was thinking she meant by cycles... Humans were weird.
"Where are we going? Where are the turtles? Is Leonardo all right?"
"To my grandmothers, the turtles are in the back. Leo is fine," says Casey. "As far as we know anyway."
Akumi straightens. "Stop this... This THING."
"What?"
"STOP!" Casey puts on the breaks, the steel contraption they are in... Oh, the connection to Leonardo is so weak she cannot even find the word of the thing they travel in! "I wish to be with Leonardo."
"It's cold as heck back there."
"I do not care..." Akumi looks around. "How do I exit this thing?"
"Ah, let me help you," said Casey and soon she is outside. She is curious and wants to observe what the white stuff is... She's never seen anything but green grass and it IS cold outside and she shivers as Casey opens the door and she is met with the curious looks of three turtles and the rat.
"She, uh, wanted to come back here."
"DA SHELL its FREEZIN! Couldn't she wait?" growls Raph.
"Apparently not," said Casey as Akumi ignores the simmering turtle and instead kneels before Leonardo. "Uh, be there in about an hour guys."
The door closes and its dark save for a single source of warm light. She would study it later and instead places her bruising and slightly cut hand on Leonardo's forehead.
"I am sorry to delay your journey," she says to the others, eyes still on Leonardo. "I just feel our connection dimming. I had to see him."
"What's dis connection yer talkin' about. Who ARE you?" asks Raph.
"Let me explain..."
Knowing she could trust Leonardo, she told his brothers everything from her people's fate due to Ch'rell to her growing up a warrior and her destiny to her dreams and arrival upon their planet. Mikey would interrupt to ask questions that had her almost smiling and she would answer them patiently before continuing. When she finishes she is met with silence until Splinter rests his hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you for sharing," he says. "Now let me tell you our story."
She listens intently. When she shivers from the cold she is offered to share a blanket with Mikey who wraps a friendly arm around her bruised shoulder. When Splinter finishes their tale, with no interruption, she is also in awe of their story and the rest of the ride is made in silence save for a few weak whimpers from Leonardo which she soothes away with a sweep of her fingertips on what would be considered his brow.
"Your connection to my son. I can feel it... See the thread that binds you." Splinter's gaze bores into hers and she shifts in her seat. "I feel that not only his body but spirit is injured... It would be interesting to see how your presence will help his healing."
"I..." Akumi nodded, licking her lips then wincing from the pain. "I've never made a connection before. This is as new to me as it will be for your son."
Splinter nods and soon they are stopping. The doors open and the group wince as the sun and bright snow glare inside. Casey is standing there, motioning them out. Akumi steps outside and though she shivers she looks around. The scenery is beautiful. White dust covers everything and her breath leaves her body in a smoky mist as she bends down to touch it. It is very, very cold and melts against her fingertips as she raises them to study the... Ice? No its...
"First time seeing snow?" asks Donatello and she looks to him, smiling self-consciously.
"Um, yes."
"It's a pain, but beautiful out in the countryside. Here, let's get inside and clean you up a bit."
Akumi nods and follows her new friends into the... Well it was supposed to be a home but it was falling apart and she jumps as a piece of wood falls and almost lands upon their heads.
"Geez, Case, if Shreddah can't finish us off den yer house will!" grumbles Raphael.
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"Sorry, I didn't have much I could get before we left," says April as she hands Akumi a bag. "There is a toothbrush, hair brush, and some clothes in there for you."
"I, uh, thanks," says Akumi, peering into the bag. Donatello had been adamant about cleaning her wounds and now, sitting in a room where it had been explained how a toilet and sink works, which had been embarrassing at the time, she is left alone for the first time since arriving here. Sighing she places the bag on a small counter and starts disrobing. Carefully she puts the cloth of her people in the basket she was indicated to before standing bare before the reflective surface known as a mirror.
Frowning she leans forward and prods her bruising cheek, wincing as her fingertips gently push on her split lower lip. She has a cut on her left brow and another bruise on her upper right cheek where Ch'rell struck her. Lower, near her ribs, there were purple and red bruises but luckily it did not hurt to breathe. Wincing slightly from the movement she pulls on the simple pair of white cotton underwear and gray sweatpants. She puts on wool socks and skips the contraption known as the bra and instead pulls a thick sweater like piece of clothing that had large, comfortable sleeves and a hood on over her head. Knowing others are waiting she quickly brushes her hair but not her teeth then rebinds it atop her head. Exiting the room with her bag of items she realizes there are many rooms upstairs but they are cold and some rooms have holes in the walls so she decides to keep her stuff downstairs with the others.
There is a crowd surrounding Leonardo and she can sense their worry and fear. She stays in the background as Donatello, Michelangelo, and then Raphael speak to him. With Raphael, she is tempted to hit him but his anger and attacks against Leo and calling him chicken fall away as tears streak down his cheeks and she now knows that his fear of his brother not waking up drove him to lash out. He reminds her of not only herself but her cousin, who she is missing dearly.
She follows him to the window and places her hand on his tense shoulder. They stare out into the darkness and she speaks. "His spirit, though weakened now, is strong. He will pull through. As your master said. All he needs is some time."
"Yeah," he answers, turning his head back to stare at her. "Yeah. Yer right. He'll wake up." Raphael then looks at his brother. "He has to."
"He will," Akumi says, squeezing his shoulder comfortingly and leaving his side just as Splinter finishes up a tale about Leonardo's fear of heights. Then, that's when it happens... It's a small groan and whisper and suddenly Leonardo's eyes are open and he's speaking!
"No... Fear..." he whispers.
A massive cheer erupts around the room and Akumi smiles as she takes in the familial scene. Leonardo speaks of them bringing him back, that he had almost been gone and he heard their pleas and returned to them. He asks about her and she steps forward. He frowns at her for a moment and she isn't sure why and doesn't ask as Splinter tells them all he now needs his rest. Akumi turns to leave but Leonardo's soft plea has her slowly lowering to the floor beside the couch.
"I'm sorry... you got hurt... because of our fight..."
"No, Leonardo, you helped me. Without you I surely would've perished had I found Ch'rell on my own." Hesitating for only a moment she places her hand atop his bald head and his eyes lower almost instantly. "You need your rest. Sleep. We will talk more when you wake."
"Ok..." Then he is silent and she smiles as she closes her eyes and reaches out to the connection. It's getting stronger and stronger, and it is then that she knows he will be all right.
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TBC...
Ok I followed the episode: The Shredder Strikes Back as close as I could with adding a new character to the mix. From now on out this story will have more MY spin than canon... Until next time!
Reviews are loved, cherished, and placed on my altar of WOOT WOOT! ;)