Hey guys, missed me? Hope you all like this chapter just before the new year starts. I don't think I'll have a lot of time to update anything tomorrow so here's a HAPPY NEW YEAR for everyone

And on with the story.

Chapter 9: A Man

Everything is going according to plan. The man shrugs off his black vest, revealing a light blue t-shirt with red edges on the rims of the sleeves and the V-neck. His black hair is supplied with a fresh layer of oil but not before a few red specks are carefully washed off of his lightly tanned palms and fingers. While steady paces quickly bring him towards his desk, a grim smile slowly sprouts on his face. A normal man, some would say. A handsome one, some might think. But what you can see does not say anything about this man. What goes deeper are his deeds and his thoughts that are as dark and black as the jeans he is still wearing.

After he watches the Orange one die for a second time he will beg me for his own death. I will not grant it though. He'll live. I'll make sure he'll live continuously in his own nightmares for as long as I might stretch his pathetic life. He'll pay.

How did this happen? Before one can judge a man on his deeds, they will need to learn about the history of the person in question. A harsh history in this case. One that the man feels better to burry as far and deep within himself as he possibly can. It's the story about his younger brother.

"Hey Raph, you're going again?"

"Yeah, see ya."

The brothers were growing apart ever since Raphael, the eldest of the two, decided to join the ninja clan known as the Foot. His martial arts sensei told him he had potential and initiated him with the clan. Raphael had always been an ambitious child, especially when it came to fighting. He loved the arts but the rules surrounding the sports when he would participate in a competition were a restraint to his wild and violent nature. A free-for-all while fighting the 'green menace' as they were so affectionately called, sounded good to him.

His little brother, Carlo, was different in many ways. He was only fourteen at that time which made him three years younger than Raphael. He wasn't only younger but also more patient and passive. He liked to have a little fun from time to time and didn't have a care in the world. Except for his brother's nightly outings.

The brothers have had nothing but fights about the matter, one becoming so bad that Raphael had slapped Carlo across the face. That was three days before. What really bothered Carlo is that, sure Raphael had apologized, but that he didn't stop fighting on the streets.

"Why would you? It's dangerous out there, you could end up dead! You had to carry one of your mates home last night, didn't you? Your hands and face were all covered in someone else's blood, I've seen it!"

The larger boy turned around swiftly which caused Carlo to wince and take a step back. A lingering hand kept close to his face in case he would be hurt again. A clear sign of the distrust between the two.

"Have you been spying on me?"

There was no answer but Raphael knew already. For a second his face went red, his anger steadily growing. He shook it off, however, taking in the innocent face of his younger brother. The only person in his life he truly cared for. His face softened, as it did always when he looked into those blue eyes.

"I'm going to be alright, okay? We need the money and these guys are paying good. I promise I ain't gonna do anything stupid," he added when Carlo showed a frown instead of the reassured smile Raphael hoped for.

"I gotta go back to you right? There ain't no way I'm leavin' ya to fend for yerself."

A small wink and a pat on the head earned Raphael a small grin and a laugh.

"Just watch yourself, stupid," Carlo muttered before he went back into their apartment, his elder brother not knowing that he was planning something. Because maybe Raphael was there to protect his little bro, but Carlo's mind was set on getting him back home safe and sound as well. A big mistake with a lot of consequences.

The man, no longer completely dressed in black, opens one of the drawers in his desk and pulls out a small necklace together with an old notebook. The notebook is opened on the first page, a little Carlo smiling up at everyone who would look at the picture taken of him when he was eleven years old. The necklace has a small silver owl hanging on it. The eyes are made out of blue glass with a diamond shape, sparkling so much it always makes Raphael think of his own brother's beautiful eyes. He had given Carlo this necklace on the same day the picture was taken. His eleventh birthday. According to the younger boy it was his most prized possession.

The man growls at the memory and chucks the necklace somewhere where he doesn't have to look at it anymore. It isn't fair, according to him. Why would the stupid thing mean so much to his baby bro? Raphael can't even remember why he had chosen the owl instead of another animal. He just can't. Because he doesn't care? He hopes not but he cannot come up with another answer. He cares, but if he really did he wouldn't be sitting here. He knows that, but yet his hunger for revenge is too strong, the taste of it too sweet. It's the only thing he can do, even with the knowledge that Carlo would never approve of his actions. When he came up with the plans, he tried to project the awful looks of disappointment Carlo would sent him. But he couldn't. He tried to feel ashamed off the misery he was going to put someone through; a child not much older than when Carlo died. He couldn't. The urge of having payback was too vicious. It still is. And now there is no going back. The only way for Raphael now is forward as his plan draws to an end. And end he knew he would face all along.

"He has paid, baby brother," the man speaks out loud, his eyes locking with the ones in the picture. "That red-masked monster had paid for what he did to you. By having a hand in the murder of his own younger brother."

And at that moment, the man let a tear slip. His story is clear. His deeds and emotions are too. And the verdict is there.

This man has lost everything. His family, his honour, his ninja-clan and his compassion. In that body, void of emotion and a soul, void of reason and sanity, the humanity inside is killed at last. This man is not a man anymore. The poison has run its course through the body and eliminated everything that made Raphael the human boy he once was. The older brother with a soft spot for his little one, the average student with a passion for the martial arts, a mind capable of love; all gone.

And this is what the poison of vengeance has done to the older one.

He takes a knife which sticks to the back of his notebook; the end of his notebook with the picture as it's beginning. The pages in between are filled with letters to his deceased baby brother Carlo.

"I told you I wouldn't let you fend for yerself. I told you I would go back to you."

With that the monster's throat is slit by his own hand, the small bit of passion in his last deed restoring humanity just before he bleeds out.

Seconds later a radio called in, informing the now dead man an escape has taken place.

So yeah, uhm…. I don't know. Seriously, I don't know where this came from. The idea was to write another chapter in Raphie's point of view. Something cute. I even had Disney music going for the cuteness! Then this happened. Is it good or too much? Please let me know.

What I do wanna tell ya is that this is by far the most important chapter in the story. The whole reason of why this story is called the way it is called. And I know some of you want to kill me for Raph not having a go at the monster but hey, my story :p

I'm going to bed now and think about what went wrong tonight, see ya!