Chapter 21

Rai slashed his sai up and left, whacking the ninja's blade away and into the wall. He smirked seeing the wide eyed look on the unarmed ninja. He spun and jumped up into a round house kick, knocking the ninja and a few others behind him clear across the room. His smirk widened. That was fun. Almost made him forget that Don had forbidden him to talk. Almost. He looked around carefully. There was a wall of ninja between him, Mikey, Don, Splinter, and Raph, Leo, and Keith. The ninjas no longer surrounded the four, but now they couldn't help Raph and Leo against Keith. And even though Mikey, Don, and Splinter weren't hurt that bad, he knew they had to get out of the building now. And Leo... He didn't know how he was holding up. He scowled. They had to break through. He turned to look at Don.

Don looked at the unmoving wall of ninjas. "We have to break through," he whispered.

Rai opened his mouth.

Don glared and shook his head.

Rai closed it and almost growled. He so hated Don's order not to talk.

"We cannot all go through the ninajs," Splinter said.

Don nodded. "You and Mikey stay here. I don't think they'll come over here anymore. Rai and I can try and break through. We'll have a better chance. Then we get out of here."

"Be careful then," Splinter warned.

Don and Rai nodded. They took a breath and stared at the black ninja wall. Rai eyed Don. Don eyed Rai. They bolted toward the ninjas, weapons held firmly in their grasp.

---

Keith eyed Leonardo, spinning his blade in his right hand. So close. Leonardo would be dead in minutes. The poor sap was wearing down. He'd be doing the turtle a favor by ending this now. But then he wouldn't get to see Leonardo finally break. And he so wished to see that. He lurched forward, eyes narrowed into daggers, sword lifted and aimed to sear straight into Leonardo's shoulder.

Leo ducked right and spun, coming around in a half circle, left leg extended.

Keith felt the kick before he could do anything about it. He quickly found himself on the floor, staring closely at the concrete. He growled and leapt up to his feet, lashing out at Leonardo, slashing down with quick and precise force.

Leo's swords came up, crossing to catch Keith's blade. "I will not let you finish this Keith." He pushed against Keith's sword with surprising strength.

Keith pushed back. "You don't have to let me. I will do it because I must." He inched his face closer to Leonardo. "And I will do it because I can."

"You are thinking too much of yourself. It will be your downfall." Leo pushed again.

Keith held his ground. He was prepared for anything else that Leonardo tried. There was another reason to spending so much time at their home. Get to know how Leonardo fought so he could be brought down once and for all. And that little feat belonged to Keith and only Keith. Today he would fulfill that feat. It brought a chill down his spine. "The only downfall there's going to be is yours Leonardo. It's time you were taken out. For good. You've been in our way for far too long." He almost felt like laughing the end was so near. It would be fitting.

Leo shook his head as if not believing what he was hearing. "I guess you are blinded by your own dark heart." He uncrossed his swords, pulling outward quickly and forcefully, slicing Keith's blade in two.

The blade's end clattered to the ground. Keith's eyes watched it fall and slowly came up to meet Leonardo's narrowed eyes. Keith's heart pounded, rage filled him like never before. He growled at the mutant before him who had just sliced into his only friend in this begotten place. He tossed the rest of the broken sword on the ground and leapt at Leo, jumping up into a round house kick and connecting with Leo's slashed arm.

Leo yelped, falling to the ground and clutching at his arm under Keith's weight.

"No one. And I mean NO ONE! Breaks. My. Sword." Keith breathed in Leo's face, keeping him pinned down on the ground.

Leo's grip tightened on his hurt arm as he glared up at Keith. He didn't utter a word.

Keith became furious that Leonardo would not answer. He pushed his forearm against Leonardo's throat, attempting to crush the turtle's windpipe. His own breathing started to escalate, his chest heaving as he pushed harder. Taking pleasure with slowly widening eyes of the mutant beneath him. Leonardo's final demise was close at hand. And Keith relished it. Relished it like a cool drink on a hot day. He...

Two hands gripped Keith's own neck, squeezing tight and jerking him off Leonardo. He stumbled on his feet, grasping at two furry hands choking him. The grip tightened still. Keith's vision slowly started to darken, his mind going on overtime as he was quickly loosing oxygen. He slumped down to the ground hoping whoever it was would let go if they thought he had passed out. The grip loosened as he touched the ground, but didn't let go. Getting a little more air, he tightened his grip on the hands and pulled with every ounce of strength he had left. The hands slowly came loose. He lifted his leg, kicking his attacker in the stomach. Free, Keith gasped for much needed air, chest heaving even more. He turned around, his vision slowly returning. A spinning kick met him in the face, propelling him through the air and into the wall. Head smacking against the hard wall with a thud, Keith immediately crumbled to the ground, the room quickly fading on him.