Chapter 4
Leonardo and Raphael returned home not long after, grabbing a mug of hot cocoa each.
"What took you so long?" Donny asked, shuffling up to make room on the couch for his brothers.
"There were more of them than we thought." Leo explained, sipping his chocolate as he sat down. He was wedged between Venus and the arm of the couch, getting practically crushed when Raph joined them next to Mikey. The very worn piece of furniture wasn't really big enough for four giant turtles, let alone five.
"Yeah, me and Leo had to run five blocks over to finally lose those Foot creeps." Raph added, taking a large gulp and burning his tongue in the process.
"My sons, we must discuss the events of this evening." Master Splinter suddenly announced, the seriousness in his voice making the turtles freeze. Venus could feel the tension in the air, mainly coming from Leonardo next to her, who tried to stand but found himself too wedged.
"Sensei, we were ambushed by Foot Ninjas after a successful training session-"
"Yes, I know what happened Leonardo. But I want to know how it happened." Splinter looked over his sons, the guilt plain in their leader's face, the worry of a telling-off in the others. Venus' expression was also guilty, although embroidered with pain. He sighed.
"Why was Venus knocked into the water in the first place?"
"Because I kicked a Foot Ninja at her." Mikey mumbled.
"And why did you do this?"
"I didn't mean to! I didn't see her there and she didn't move so-"
"You can't blame Venus Mikey! It's not her fault!" Donatello started, outraged.
"That is not completely true, Donatello. If Venus had seen Michelangelo strike the ninja may be she would have moved."
"What about when Raph threw a bunch of ninjas on top of her from the container?" Mikey asked, earning a glare from his brothers while Venus slapped her forehead at his lack of subtlety. "What?" he asked innocently.
"Again, you both should have been aware of each other's actions. Awareness is key and a basic trait of the ninja. You cannot possibly fight if you do not know what others are doing around you. You must learn to work as a team of five now, and you Venus must learn how to utilize the power of fighting as a team, not an individual."
"Yes Sensei. But I fear that can only come with experience." Venus stated, earning a considering gaze from Splinter. Although he was impatient for his students to work as a solid unit, she was right; teamwork was something you adapted to over time. And she hadn't exactly been taught the advantages of working as one by the Shredder. He sighed.
"Very well, it shall be incorporated into your training sessions."
"But what about 'awareness' sensei? How can we improve on that?" Leonardo asked, very much aware of the stony glare he was receiving from his brothers and as usual he ignored it. He could almost hear the phrase 'teacher's pet' playing on their minds.
"I believe that your qigong training is long overdue. And now that we have a near master in our presence you may actually be able to achieve a decent level. Venus, would you mind teaching my sons how to strengthen their minds? It should help you develop your own sense of awareness too."
"Of course I wouldn't, Master Splinter. It would be the least I could do after all you have done for me."
"Good. We begin in the morning." The turtles bowed their heads towards their sensei as he made his way to bed.
"You had to ask!" Raph yelled at Leo as soon as his father was out of ear shot. Mikey immediately jumped up and fled to the kitchen, sensing an argument brewing and allowing his brothers to breathe again. "We tried before. We can't grasp this chi-gungy thing!"
"That's qigong and it's for our own sake. We don't want a repeat of tonight on our hands."
Donny shook his head and joined Mikey, not wanting to witness the squabble. Raph stared at the ground before rubbing the back of his skull.
"No offense shinobi but we're normally fine. Having you there was just an extra pressure."
Venus cocked a brow. "I know Raphael, which is why I will keep training until I can keep up with you four. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon so you'll just have to get used to me being on the team." She replied, a little indignant at his blame.
"Besides, think of all the other scraps we could have avoided if we had been a little more aware. Learning qigong can only be a benefit to us," Leo added, glad that Venus hadn't been battered by Raph's harshness.
"Yeah, and look on the bright side," Mikey began, grabbing a tub of ice cream from the freezer. "Venus is gonna be teaching us, not Master Splinter."
"That doesn't mean you can just goof around Mikey." Don chided, grabbing a spoon. Venus looked at the group in front of her and sighed: tomorrow was certainly going to be interesting.
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"Mikey, if you keep getting distracted by that fly buzzing around your head you're never going to be able to focus," Venus stated, earning a guilty nod from Michelangelo. A couple of weeks after the incident at the docks, the group were working through their 5th qigong session and they had all improved, albeit slowly.
"Sorry Venus." Mikey apologised.
"It's alright. Now close your eyes again. Try and sense Donny's movements in the room."
The turtle obliged while his brother moved around the room as silently as he could. Mikey concentrated hard, clearing his mind and listening for any tell-tale sounds. He hated the fact that he'd fallen behind his brothers again, although Venus was very patient with him. He suddenly heard a light footstep and lunged with his nunchaku.
"Ow!"
Mikey opened his eyes. "Did I get him?"
"Yes Mikey, you got me, right on the skull!" Donny answered, rubbing his head.
"Well done Mikey. Now you just need to watch where you hit your assailant."
Mikey nodded, a grin spreading across his face, making Venus smile.
"Now we're going to try and decipher who is moving around."
"How we gonna do that, Shinobi?" Raph asked, sarcasm tinting his voice. He hated this whole qigong thing, preferring to just lash out at an attack rather than guess who they are.
"Nicely volunteered Raphael. Please sit in the centre of the room."
Raph growled before staggering to the middle of the dojo and kneeling down.
"Raphael, I know for a fact that Master Splinter has told you that anger is self-destructive," Venus lectured the red-masked turtle. "It can only hold you back, not allowing you to progress."
"Who says I'm angry?"
"Raph, a part of a Shinobi's training is learning to read people's emotions. We must able to glance into your central chi and see how you feel."
"So you can read minds?" Mikey asked, both out of fear and awe. Venus chuckled.
"Only emotions, Mikey. Like now, I can see that you think the idea of me being able to peer into your mind is both amazing and terrifying." She twisted her face to Raph slightly. "And your brother here thinks I'm annoying and showing off at this current moment."
Raph looked up in surprise before growling slightly again.
"Now, Leo, Don and Mikey, I want you all to go to specific parts of the room and move when I tell you. Raphael, all you have to do is guess who I have asked to move. Okay?"
"Yes Miss Venus." Raph replied, mimicking a child speaking to their teacher. Venus rolled her eyes and directed the others to stand in different corners of the room once Raph had shut his eyes. She signalled Donny to move as quietly as he could, but when Raph made no comment, she signalled Mikey and then Leo.
"Raphael? Did you not sense them?" Venus asked, confused at Raph's lack of response.
"Oh sorry, did they move?" Raph replied. Venus frowned.
"Look Raph, I'm not going to waste my time training you if you're not even going to try."
"Well look who's getting all defensive. I didn't hear them move, alright?"
Venus sighed. She was still getting to grips with this teaching malarkey. "Fine. Let's try again. Donny, can you try please?"
Venus made all four turtles try the exercise, but only Leo was able to deduce when Donny and Raph moved. Mikey, however, remained elusive.
"I'm just too quick for you!" He grinned, earning a slap from Raph.
"Yeah, whatever. Can we do some real training now?"
"What do you call this Raphael?" Venus asked, not liking the turtle's tone.
"Oh come on, Venus. Do you seriously think is gonna help us fight?"
"Maybe if you actually gave it a chance it might!" Venus replied, getting defensive. She was sick of Raph's constant critique and moaning.
"Well may be it weren't so boring then I might!"
"Do you mean 'boring' or 'hard'?"
That did it. Raphael had had enough. He drew his sais and moved into the defensive.
"Alright, Shinobi, why don't we put your training to the test?"
A small gasp went through the dojo, but Venus picked up her sword nonetheless.
"Guys, be reasonable. This isn't going to solve anything!" Leo pleaded, standing between the two.
"Don't act like you aint bored of this Shinobi muck, Leo."
" 'Shinobi muck'?!" Venus seethed, pointing her blade.
"Venus, please. Think about this." Leo tried to reason with her but he just earned a scowl.
"What is it, Leonardo? Do you think I will not beat him? Am I not skilled enough to take down the 'mighty Raphael'?"
"What? No, of course not, I just-"
"Damn right you aint," Raphael sneered, causing anger to rise in Venus' chest. She planned to tire the opposing turtle with quick dodges and reflexes, as she knew he dominated her in strength. The pair raised their weapons while Donatello and Michelangelo watched in slight amusement. Venus growled as the pair made ready to strike.
"What is going on in here?" Splinter's voice made all five turtles jump. "Why are your weapons raised?"
"Venus needs to be taught a little lesson." Raphael growled. His father frowned, and in a flash disarmed his son before knocking him to the ground. He pointed his staff at Raphael's throat.
"You would threaten and challenge a fellow warrior that is weaker and less experienced than you? Have you no honour, Raphael?"
"Sensei, I doubt-" Venus began, but Splinter spun round and cut her off.
"And you! Rising to his bait. You know better than that, Venus de Milo. You must control your temper or risk burning the whole lair down!"
Venus bowed her head in shame while Raph slowly stood up. Don and Mikey smiled again before Leo flashed his eyes in warning. Suddenly their father turned to them.
"You three know to not let Raphael's anger consume him; know the consequences when he does. And you would stand by and allow him to challenge another who has not witnessed his fury to its full extent? Someone who you have seen engulf our enemy in flames in rage? Things you may find entertaining can quickly become disastrous.
"Now, I was going to begin your team-work exercises but now, we shall all learn how to exercise control... After 50 laps of the dojo!"
The rat clapped his hands and his sons and Venus immediately began running round the room.