Chapter 8
Elizabeth (POV)
The days turned into weeks, and the turtles decided it was time to go back to the city. New York was like nothing I had ever seen. I stared with awe out the windows at the giant buildings. Michelangelo giggled at me. "Wait until we are up there tomorrow night." He pointed at another larger building. My stomach turned as I followed his finger. I was going to end up making a fool of myself.
The lair was new to me. I had been unconscious the first time I was brought here and I was amazed at how homely it felt. Donatello had graciously given me his room and set up a small sleeping station near his computers in the living room. The guys had definitely talked it over and Leonardo obviously thought he had already drawn the short straw by training me every day. My body adapted well to his instructions and I learned quickly. My new form was able give the impression of years of training and I was now able to control myself, most of the time. Splinter had given me a heavy wooden practice sword, and with Leo my skills were lethal. Leonardo seemed proud with my progress and although we spent more time together than anyone he would often avoid me in our free time. I was left to find my own amusement. I decided I wanted to learn Japanese. The turtles spoke it freely while I was left dumbfounded by the unfamiliar words. I picked up a few phrases with the help of Michelangelo. Communication was his strong point and I could tell he liked teaching me, but he was also unfocused and I would often have to bring him back to my attention.
Night were often spent on what the guys would call 'patrol' but it became clear that it was more about the freedom of being in the city than protecting it. I would stay back on the rooftop if there were signs of trouble, watching the criminals fall at their green feet. They laughed and climbed the ladder to join me. "Where's Leo?" Raphael noticed as he jumped over the roof ledge. Donatello waved his hand in indifference.
"I saw him run through the alley, he knows where we are. Leave him." We sat on the roof and I gazed over the city. The noise of so many people was hummed into my ears. The smell of gasoline and sweat waved around us.
"Nice night" Raphael walked beside me pressing his hands against the ledge. I nodded in response. "How are you feeling?" he turned away to look at the skyline as I faced him. I narrowed my eyes.
"You aren't great at small talk Raph, just spit it out" I leaned into my own hands feelings the cold stone beneath me. He looked shocked, and I laughed at his expression.
"I was being serious, you…" something caught his attention behind me and he squinted to see. "Oh man, is that Leo?" We all turned to face where Raph pointed. It was Leonardo. He stood on a similar rooftop, two or three blocks away, but he wasn't alone. Her hair flew violently in the sudden wind and although they did not stand too close. I could tell there was no malice between them.
"Are you fucking serious?" I was livid and ran towards them. Hatred filled my veins as I approached the woman who had ruined my life. I could finally have my revenge. I jumped over every rooftop and ignored the pleas behind me. I had no weapon, but I couldn't stop. I needed to make her pay. I stopped short of them. Keeping to the shadows. Leaving no trace. I listened for a moment.
"Leonardo, my father had commanded me to board that spaceship, I could not disobey my master. It would have been dishonourable." She stood closer to him, placing a hand on his bicep. He slowly puffed out a sigh.
"Karai, you left people to die. Innocent people. They were lucky we came when we did. That is not the bushido way. You chose to leave them behind, you could have saved them," he stopped to turn away from her. "All of them" his face was full of angry and sadness.
"What did they mean to me?" She pulled him around leaning in closer to his face. Her hands moved up to his shoulders and rested and his face. I could tell he was tense but his own hands covered hers. I could see their breath in the cold air. "Don't you think you carry enough burdens?" I had heard enough, and leapt from the shadows. I grabbed a katana from Leonardo and pushed him aside, kicking Karai away in the process. She slid across the ground but recovered quickly unsheathing her own weapon. She growled at me.
"Zee! Please, now is not the time for your revenge." Leonardo called to me but I ignored him. I lifted the katana towards her. She seemed hesitant then smiled, lifting her own arm.
"Foot ninja, to my location!" within seconds we were surrounded. I was momentarily concerned for Leonardo, but as the guys' arrived I focused on Karai. Dashing forward. The metal clashed and rang into the night air. I kicked at her knee attempting to bring her down but he jumped and twisted around me catching me unguarded and punching my waist. I was pushed forward with a sudden pain. I curved my arm with the katana but she blocked with her own, I saw an opening by her rips and I elbowed sharply then flipped her over my head. Her back cracked against the ledge of the roof and I lifted the katana for the final blow as I neared.
I was pushed aside firmly and suddenly. The katana skidded across the roof away from my grasp. I looked up expecting a Foot ninja. Leonardo stood with his hand out to Karai, helping her to her feet. When she regained her footing she kicked Leonardo backwards sending him towards me. I couldn't believe what he had done. Karai pulled a smoke bomb from her belt and disappeared as we coughed away the dust. The foot were gone, and so where my chances of vengeance.
"Is everyone okay?" I could hear Donatello's voice come from behind the smoke and as it cleared I picked up the katana and we gathered into a circle. I was angry and I knew the tension could be felt by everyone. I couldn't help myself, I swung my fist. It landed hard on Leonardo's cheek and sent him flying back towards Raphael. It was silent in New York for those few seconds and stunned green faces peered at me.
"If you ever do that again" I pointed his katana at him. "I will kill you" I threw the blade to the ground and it crashed at his feet. I left them on that rooftop and walked to April's apartment. I wasn't staying in the lair tonight.