Chapter 17
Pierce the Heart
a/n Ok so normally I'm pretty mellow about my chapters, but I'm just going to say this: I really loved this one. It shows me how much I still love writing by the emotion that still stirs in my chest when I write something I care about. It aslo didn't help that I was listening to "Into the West" by Annie Lennox (Return of the King, ) and Right here by Ashes Remain. My God , my eyes are stinging
Rain traveled down through Leo's already damp mask, his clothes reflected weeks of travel, the torn bare thread, wrappings around his palm to help protect them where the calluses couldn't but they were already stained with red.
Whose he wasn't sure
He didn't care.
He knew they were there.
He could just see their shadows between the tall trees. The same ones who had been following him since day one. Their words at the inn indicated thoughts of a 'bounty' which he knew nothing about. A hand skimmed over the swords at his hip for a moment before glancing back behind him where the muzzle of Kaze swung low, brushing on his shoulders. Logic said that it was simply the dark brown horse's sign of affection. But the part of Leo that had been around horses his entire life, joining almost every one of his major battles with the horse, told him something else. It told him Kaze was warning him. Or maybe that was his own subconscious acting through the horse.
It didn't matter
Leos' hand rose up to rub his horses neck, "I'll call you when it's done." he whispered lightly, tapping his forehead against the steeds muzzle for a moment before moving down the horses side, his palm coming up to slap Kaze on the haunch. The horse giving a grunt of irritation before turning and trotting off. His dark coat almost invisible in the trees shadows. That would mean alteast he was safe.
He turned back to the front; he could still hear the suction of hooves against thick new mud. 5. 5 warriors. 5 warriors hindering his passage to get to the Sohei temple. Leo's hand dropped behind his hand caressing the familiar daikyū bow upon his shoulder while the other drew out a yajirushu. His hands finding their place on the bow, sights over the naka-jikake.
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Because of the light that came from the reflective windows, Leo could hardly call this the ideal situation for a ninja, but less darkness for him meant less darkness for his enemies too and make it harder for someone to sneak up on them. He braced his weight in the hallway and slowly lowered himself out, despite the weigh in his arms, to the ground, sharp eyes shooting and investigating every nook and cranny of their end hallway.
Morbid satisfaction ran into his mind before he rose up into standing position, a jerk of his head brought Claire from the room, the dark wood of her rifle sending a wave of uneasiness down his spine. Uneasiness he tried to shake away as he moved forward, glancing back for a moment, "Where did you see the trespasser?"
"I saw his shadow on the window; he was heading in our direction."
"He must have passed our hallway then." that was good. Even so he pressed his shell to the wall before creeping forward. Careful not to bring about the sound of scraping bone against cement, one foot following the other till they reached the end of the hallway, the side of his head presiding against the wall for a moment before leaning his head forward. Just enough to see part the edge and down both sides of the hall. Both just as empty as they had been a hour ago, "Clear." he whispered before leaning back slowly
"That's a good thing alteast."
Maybe, though he didn't say that out loud, "Did you say there are no security guards in this building?"
"None."
"And there's no way they could have gotten in after us?"
"No, the door would have relocked itself. "
Leo looked back down the hallway, no thieves, and no guards. Something didn't sit well with him, he turned back to his companion before kneeling down, lowering Donnie out of his arms as he slid the oxygen tank off his back he took the child by the shoulders and sat him up against the wall, "I'm going to go investigate, keep an eye on him while I'm gone. Alright?"
"Nothing will touch him, I promise."
"Thank you." He honestly didn't expect anything less from her, but it was still a relief to hear. Leo reached up to his chest and started to undo the buttons of his trench coat, allowing the coat to fall away and welcomed cold brisk night air against his skin. Without a second glance he hurried down the hall.
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Leo could hear the horses tread begin to slow down, in his sights the Inui upon them glanced at the ground in confusion, shouting to one another. A smug sense of satisfaction for his tracking crept up his spine. Not only in his own skills to track, but in his ability to hide his tracks.
That was a skill he could thank his adopted father, Dorinbo for.
It looked like they were arguing now, as was the Inui way. Bitterly bickering over each other's downfalls in skills. Blaming each other for losing him. Teeth snarled into their most yellow and crooked.
The one in front slid off his horse, though Leo's eyes fell on his hand, bandaged thickly with mismatched cloth. A hand he could remember vividly stabbing an arrow through just a few days before.
He raised the arrow, the point aimed.
Just a few more feet
(#)(#)(#)(#)
It didn't take long for Leonardo to catch sight of the 'trespassers' his body. Doing so hiding in the dark corner of a conjoining hallway. Where the light of the reflective windows couldn't reach him and his body was allowed to absorb the cloak of darkness as greedily as possible. Feet braced on either side of the inverted corner and keeping his body elevated.
The 'intruder' didn't have the mismatched clothing of a thief like he had hoped. His body was completely covered in a solid black material, the only bulks coming from armor hidden in the cloth, the sheen of assault rifle hanging from his front, and all other features hidden. A square box located on his breast, just within mouth reach
A radio
This guy wasn't alone
The intruder glanced around him, before hurrying back down his back. Leo pressed his hands to the wall and slowly lowered himself down the wall. Forcing himself not to match the intruders fast gait, coming to a crossway, the intruder almost fading from sight, Low lowered himself onto the ground, trying to get a look at the man again-
Lights flooded the hallway, burning his eyes and his arms flying up to cover them, the sound of collected clicking filling the air. Guns pointed at him from all directions
A man stopped forward, dressed in a black trench coat, and black eyes glasses hiding an even darker heart
"Hello Leonardo."
Leo's hand flew back up to his swords, but the clicking of gun clips ceased his grab just a fingers brush from his handles, he glared down the 4 halls, he wasn't even sure how the ones had gotten behind him. But all he knew was that the only one that mattered was the one standing right in front of him, the grin on his face that screamed love for his situation, "What are you doing here Bishop?"
"I think you know precisely why I'm here; we both know what's here."
"I don't know what you're talking about Bishop."
"OH really? You haven't' been hiding certain 'creature' for weeks now? A creature you brought here for medical attention."
Leo could feel his top lip quiver in anger fingers itching for the power of his swords. But instead he allowed his fingers to scratch the tip of them, his finger nail peeling back the new paint of the kashiri-
Hot pepper spray filled the air sprayed from the kashiri of his sword like water, swinging the blade around to aim the next to immobilizing spray around, deep hacking filled the, gunshots shooting into the dark, Leo flipped around to the side, charging forward, his swords moving around for the blunt side, the two swords crossing out slamming into the faces of two soldiers and trying to ignore the satisfying crunch of goggles. He turned and flipped over their crumbling forms and ran down the hall the rapid click of gunfire raining around
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Leonardo drew out a second arrow; he could barely see the first one sink into the lead Inuis chest. The bandits breaking into chaos of shouts. Jumping down from their steeds and looking around shouting to each other. Someone had even knelt by the inui, checking him for signs of life.
He wanted to feel bad
He wanted to feel that guilt that came whenever he was forced to take a life
But nothing came
A second arrow made its way into place, a growl in his throat, "I warned you what would happen if you didn't stop following me."
The Inui looking over his fallen friend looked up, a snarl going across his face and a clawed finger pointing in his direction.
But he wasn't pointing for long
The next arrow proved that
(#)(#)(#)(#)
"ASSAULT GUNS!"
Leo's shell slammed into the cement wall, the loud rapid fire sending him down to the ground, the hand braced underneath Donnie yanked free (the arm still wrapped under Don's shoulders kept him from hitting the ground). Yanking out his sword in front of his face in time for the air to fill with the spark of metal deflecting bullet.
A separate gunshot filled the air so close to Leo's head that it took all his strength not to openly react to such a close weapon, rather forcing himself that this particular 'gunfighter' was defending his shell rather than using it for target practice
It was still a strange concept to get used to
"KEEP MOVING!" he shouted cursing the emptiness of the Clinic's hallway with no visible sign of any furniture to use as cover. The thought of jumping into the adjacent rooms for cover were next to suicidal without any knowledge if they weren't dead ends. The blinding 'reflective' light of the windows gave way to a corner, all but diving behind the adjacent angle, his shell slamming back into the wall as the corner exploded in white cement dust filling the air and tearing up the near perfect smoothness of the wall. He looked behind him to see Claire occupy the space between him and the corner, the longer wooden rifle she had brought out and aimed up. Though the meagerness of a gun used for hunting vs one used for killing seeming David and Goliath in comparison. But it was better than nothing,
Leo lowered himself down on his knees and Little Don with him his hands opening up Little Don's trench coat for a moment, moving aside the oxygen 'vein' to ensure he didn't get caught. Just behind him he could hear Claire position herself at the corner, "No one was hit over here. How many did you see?" he asked
"I didn't get a good look, all I could tell was that the gun fire came from two separate directions, who are these guys?!"
"Bishop. It's the E.P.F" Leo rebuttoned the coat in front of him before reaching into the back of Dons shirt and drawing out a hood to pull over the child's scalp before doing the same himself, "They've been looking For Little Don since he got here."
Claire's head swerved in his direction. Eyes a mixture of "AREYOUFREAKINGKIDDINGME." And a three worded one, one of which started with F-
"I know, alright?! But right now we just have to get out of here and make some distance. "He took Don gently and heaved his body over his shoulder, one hand taking up the sword he had place down before rising up again-
Something bounced off the window to their right, caching his attention in time to see something roll up to his resting sword, an egg shaped device that sent his heart to skip a beat
A hand shoved Leo hard in the shell , though he hardly needed the reminder breaking into a dead run it barely felt like a second later before a large explosion filled the air, heat rushing and burning his skin through his trench coat, launching himself forward and throw his burden to the ground to cover. Hot dark smoke blew around him for a moment as the ground shook, hands flying up to check the back of his scalp. But it was only when gunfire filled the air again did he realize the bullets were going off in the opposite direction.
Meeting their own gunfight
"ABLE." Leo heaved Donnie onto the floor with the oxygen tank; hands hovering for a moment before his hand flew up to grab his swords again, running forward through the weighed dust. Flipping his sword around, one of the gun men's shouted in alarm but not before the blunt side of his sword found the front of his chest bending his elbow to meet the others face. The sound of their collapsing bodies was all the assurance he needed before shoving them back into place, but the dust still proved too thick for visibility, "Able?!"
A thick cough filled the air, he could just barely see a form climbing off the floor brushing off itself and putting something in the back of her pants, "Yeah, luckily they can't aim for shit."
Leo tried to smile but his lips but it only reverberated to the corner of his mouth. A sigh escaping as his hand crept into his hood to rub the back of his scalp, collecting the sweat on his palm before looking back the way he had come," We need to hurry before they find where I left Donnie." His hand going up to pat his comrade on the shoulder before walking back,-
The sound of something plastic bouncing off the ground filled the air, slowly at first till he saw it roll forward through the dust and rest at his feet. The same egg shaped device as before, sending him flying back as its name screamed from his lips
"GERNADE!"
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Leonardo shoved the crumbling Inui off his body, shoving his blade back into place, before twisting his body and slamming the sheath into the stomach of the one behind him, both falling away and hitting the mud soaked ground, Leo turned his body around for another moment catching his eyes over the fallen around him, blood leaking into the mud and creating a scar through the dirt, a twist in his stomach at their twisted broken bodies.
"You were quite ruthless, kame."
He could just barely hear the voice on his impaired hearing, but enough to know the voice was coming from behind him. His hand slid back up to rest on the handle of his sword, shifting his weight back onto his heals turning slowly towards the darkening tree line behind him. Fading in the ending of day, but he could see the shape of a man, ears torn and nicked indicating a Inui but his robs tight against his skin and the shape of a long sword at his waist. But all other features hidden by the coming night
"I warned you and your friends. You chose not to listen. You chose to risk your life for a bounty rather than heed it."
A rough laugh filled the air; the Inui shook his head, "Your family must be so proud of their 'perfect samurai'. Any family would be. You would never understand warriors like us. Though the Komori have put a rather tempting reward on your body, I am more interested in the bounty itself, I wonder why the Komori Ninja would even bother acknowledging someone so young as such a threat." The glint of his teeth shone in the fading light running off his crooked canine, "And maybe that's why you have such an interesting scar, that doesn't show unless water touches your skin.
Leo felt his skin crawl lightly, fighting the urge to reach up and touch scalp, the very scar in reference too. He hadn't known that his scar would show up in contact with mud even. But he hated the idea of the dark pattern showing up on his scalp, he could still remember the look on Mikey's' eyes when they had first discovered this, the horror as though something was slowly possessing him.
He watched the sword slowly being drowned out of the Inui's sheath, irritation creeping up his gut. Battling the disgust, "I do not wish to fight. I have my own mission."
"You do not have a few moments, a moment to risk your life?" The blade slowly raised, straight to the front, aimed for him. Leo allowed a snarl past his lips, his hand reaching for his sword, then the other, one raised up over his head while the met the Inui's.
"Koun."
(#)(#)(#)(#)
He had to be losing his mind
That was the only explanation for the water now pooling around him. Rising up to brush the lips of his aching head. He could feel weightlessness from his fingers that only reminded him of his predicament. Even more than his swirly vision. Had the floor collapsed? Where was he? How badly injured were they? A burning crept up his arm indicated skin injuries on the flesh level. But a quick flex up and down his fingers indicated he still had them all-
A boot slammed down on his hand, his teeth gritting in pain as his other hand pressed down to shove himself up on his elbow before a weight fell on his shell, slamming his body back into the water, Claire had to be passed out, and if Bishop was here that meant he wasn't anywhere near Half-shell.
"It's almost comical, isn't it Leonardo?" He could just hear something slide across the water away from his location. He could only assume it was his sword, a growl warmed its way up his throat, his other hand pressing harder on the ground, anything to force the weight off his back, boots surrounding them. Even if he had been free, he wasn't' sure if he would have been able to fight them off, "I've been hunting you and your brothers for years. But your 'skills' provided it difficult to catch you off guard. And all it took for was for you to allow a stranger into your home. All I have to do now…" there was a scraping of plastic, a pipe being pressed into the base of his skull, and the click of a belittle going into place
A ripple ran up to Leo's fingers, it was almost unnoticeable at first, then it happened again, each wave growing, pushing over his hand and spraying his face forcing his vision past his own apparent death. A figure kneeling in the water, a small figure, almost a child-
"RASSHU!"
Leo felt the weight being thrown off his back, his own body flipping completely out of the water before colliding with something glass and crashing under it but bouncing him back to the ground, he threw himself up to his knees already. A large crack ran underneath them (the other soldiers still struggling to realize what had happened) Leo tried to leap up to his feet but the ground suddenly gave way, sending him flying along with the floor, hitting the floor beneath them hard and hands underneath his head.
"LEO!"
Leo forced himself back up onto his knees, a cough escaping his lips and sending a shiver of pain up side, his hand ran up his side to check for any breaks in the skin or blood, "H-here." he coughed, wiping his lips on the back of his wrist. Hand going out into the darkness to meet another hand. A tug sending them both standing up, "what about the soldiers?"
"Unconscious, weaponless." he could just see the gun slung over her shoulder (which was probably why she mentioned 'weaponless'), "I couldn't find the MIB though."
"Bishop?" Leo turned, climbing over the cement rubble around them, looking over each fallen moaning soldier for a moment desperate to find the trench coat of endangered animal skins, "No, no, no,' Knowing it was too much to hope he was lying under the wreckage. Till his gave went up to the massive hole he had fallen down," no," he whispered, "Nonono."
What was worse than being trapped in a building with a terminator unkillable solider?
Trapping the Terminator Unkillable Soldier on the same floor with his prey
"DONNIE!" Leo turned, running back towards the cracking window leaping and pushing off of it to grab the ledge, dragging himself up to hoist his chest over the water trickling edge. He could see the form of Agent Bishop heading away from the wreckage, towards a form laying on the ground, risen on his elbows and dragging himself back-
Something thin wrapped around his legs, yanking him down and slamming him onto the rocks, a shout of pain escaped his lips as a hand flew over. A black wrapped face glaring down at him, but all he could see was the blade on his neck.
Foot Ninja
He searched for his companion out of the corner of his eye only to be welcomed with the sight of countless other Foot. Leos' hand shot up, grabbing the wrist of his 'threatened, shoving him off as his elbow caught the blade, already blood started to run down his arm as he yanked it free jumping up to his feet and sliding his foot back, "Listen," he growled through his lips," You're not going to get in my way between me and one of my brothers-"
A knee kicked in on the side of his knee, sending him flying down he flipped his hip around to land on his feet. All he had to do was get to the staircase, and then he could intercept Bishop-
Something slammed into the side of his face, blood exploding in his mouth and sending him falling to the ground
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Leonardo bound the blade up away from his chest, twisting his hip and tracing his foot through the mud, second sword flying down to meet a metal arm guard. His body shoved away and sliding hi back, shells meeting the trunk of a tree scraping bone against wood. He glared over his bleeding forearm the Inui grinned back at him, his thumb running down the blood smeared on his blade, "Samurai blood is always so much smoother than normal blood."
He fought the urge to snarl his disgust, knowing that a heated irrigational brain would lose him more than a little bit of blood.
"You still haven't' told me, Kame." He couldn't ignore the hitch in the Inuis' breath, or the deep stain at his chest. Alteast Leo knew he had gotten a good hit in. A broken bone and a flesh wound, his advantage, an even clearer sign being his attempt to talk, to put a hinder on the fight, "What you did to piss the Komori Ninja enough for them to want your head on a stick."
"Does it matter?" He hissed through his teeth he hadn't realized how much his left arm hurt till now. Maybe that was the Inui's strategy, to let him stew until the adrenaline kicked off and the pain took its toll on him. He slid he left handed sword into its sheath, "You planning on singing my legend when I die?"
"Of course not, I just like to know whose head I'm bringing for moment."
What was with this guy and his head? But that didn't matter; he had a few minutes before his injuries began to set in, his other hand resting over his hilt to hold onto the blade, fighting the uncomfortable itch crawling over his skin. Telling him he should be going
He should of left
"The Komori Ninja shouldn't have threatened my little brother."
The smile crawled to the Inui's ears, ceasing all misconceptions of clear logic. A flash of lightning filled the space between trees the Inui's body disappearing for a moment. Instinct sent Leo's blade shooting up, catching the thin blade aimed right for neck, his eyes reflecting the piercing yellow of lighting. Contact was broken, Leo twisted the blade to the side, the sharp edge shooting forward but only slicing air the screech of metal overshadowed by roar of thunder. The lightning reflecting wildly off of the Inui's teeth and eyes. Like demon of war, looming over him. Leo threw his shoulder into the Inuis' chest. Throwing his blade upward, catching the blades together. He could the opposing sword slice his hand before the sword went flying up through the air in a flash of light. His sword rising high above his head before slicing down. The lightning fading before his felt the kiriban slice deep into flesh though unseen, the spray of warm blood sprayed across his front and the echo of a body hitting the floor. Disgust sent his hand flying up to wipe his face, desperately trying to free his face. Before looking back down to where the body had collapsed.
He wanted to look away, to leave that blood crazed Akai. But the part of him couldn't help but think back to Raphael, knowing these Inui shared a similar job.
Maybe he was just homesick
"Anata no chi wa umakatta."
Disgust shivered down Leo's stomach, like cold water, his hand snatched up his sword before throwing himself down to his knee, sword jabbing down. the sound of tearing flesh filled the air again, a pained gasp along with the slow exhale of breath. Leo squeezed his eyes shut as much as he didn't want to he found a whisper leaving his lips
"Jōbutsu suru"
It's what his fathers would expect from him, his mothers, his grandfather and his brothers. And he wasn't' about to turn his back on their beliefs.
After a few moments he rose back up to his feet, sword finding its place back in his sheath and drawing in several quick breaths, the back of his hand running across his forehead. Grateful that the rain hadn't come yet. Grateful that the hunt after him was finally over.
Now he could focus on getting to Sohei
To saving his Otouto
Leo ran his mouth across his sleeve for a moment, a whistle leaving his lips, "Meikakuna Kaze." he called, "Meikakuna." He wanted water, clean water, maybe a stream to clean him. Scratch that, especially a stream to clean him in. And a way out of this blood, he glared down at his feet in disgust, he wished he had realized he had been sinking this entire time. Leo's eyes glanced around again till he saw a boulder, he yanked on his left for a moment, "Chikusho, "he bit, yanking harder-
A tearing sound filled the air as he leg gave way, freezing his body for a moment. Fearing damage and pain, but then realizing his leg was just fine. But the bottom of his foot was strangely cold. Leo twisted and sat on the boulder for a moment, swinging his ankle up to rest on his knee.
The string that had held his sandal in place was gone, hanging between his toe and the wooden block of it gone, glaring back into the deep trap like mud beneath him. He took the sandal off his foot before tossing it to the side standing up slowly on the boulder, holding on there to stand. His eyes still didn't see the form of his horse, cupping his hand around his mouth, "Meikakuna Kaze!" before listening for a moment, Listening for the sound of approaching hooves, of his companion.
A small gasping sound reached his ear, whimpering and weak.
A dying sound
"KAZE!" He jumped from the boulder, running from the fallen warriors, eyes searching the lightning ridden forest. The trickle of rain falling against his skin, "Kaze!?" searching for the broad form of his horse. Lightning filled the air again, illuminating a shape of an animal lying on the ground, a long object protruding from its side staining it in red
No
Nonono, Leo ran forward, falling down to his knees. He could barely see the long sword that had been previously used to try and slice his stomach open, his hands grabbing the weapon by the hilt and yanking it out, a loud horse scream filling the air and sending the sword falling with a painful shiver through his hands,
"I'm sorry Kaze." he whispered, taking the mud up with his hands and pressing the thick liquid into the horses wound, "This can't happen not now, not now." he rose up onto his knees pulling off his kimono top and laying it across the horses side, trying to ignore the sticky dark liquid forming on his hands "You'll be fine, I promise you'll be fine." he ran his hand across the cloth, the liquid staining the cloth. even in the darkness he could see the dark blue fabric darkening, spreading. The pained noises of a dying animal.
Dying
But not yet
Slowly suffering, slowly bleeding through torn organs.
No hope.
Leo squeezed his eyes shut unable to take the sight the dying creature. The same creature that had carried him through so much suffering carried him through his first fight, to find his grandfather, to find his brothers. How many times had he taken his little brother riding on this horse? He had been there when this horse had been BIRTHED even.
He couldn't bear to see it suffer.
And the thought of leaving him made him sick to his stomach.
Slowly he took the blade from his side, drawing out his katana, "Gomenasai" he whispered to the horse, forehead dropping down to rest skin against coat. Tears running down his face, trembling with deep thick sobs, "I'm so sorry Kaze." slowly rising up onto his knees, sword high above his head hands trembling with the strength of a child, eyes squeezing shut.
He loved Kaze
Too much to let him suffer.
His grip tightened, with an angry yell the sword went flying down
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Raph's fingers touched around the fridge, growling at the labels of 'diet' and 'dew' glaring back at him. He wasn't' sure why he let April talk Mikey into changes to their shopping list. Maybe it was her concern for their health and diet of simply pizza, Chinese food, and other junk food. But alteast Mikey talked her into getting the junk food they liked
"Next thing I know they're going to be buyin' wine. I draw the LINE at menstruation juice. "Though he knew if he used that word he would find a heavy slap upside his head both by an angry red head and by an angry rat father (both known to drink the fermented grape juice together).
With an unsatisfied snarl he snatched the bottle of diet coke, a single finger tore the tab off about to sip the soda before he noticed the bottle of iced coffee. He knew better than anyone the mad addiction his little brother had to the coffee bean. And that Leo was constantly trying to get the 'drug' out of the lair many times.
OH well
This made life more fun.
He took up the long narrow bottle before hurrying off to the lab. There was no point in even guessing if Donnie was in there. His foot sliding the door open, "Yo Don! I got your drugs!" he waved the bottle above his head. The computer screen was still on, casting the room in the swirl of screen saver and casting the shape of Don, sleeping with his head on his desk.
For a moment he wondered if his brother had suffered a asthma attack before he forced his ' Leonardo' like narcissisms from his brain and walked forward ( it was nice to se the sticker covered inhaler resting by his head ( along with several empty cups of nerdy descent). The portalstick still resting on a small table infront of the desk. A small swarm of guilt ran up his gut. The poor kid stuck here in a world he could barely breathe in
Raph could admit he felt sorry for him
But he would never admit it out loud
Speaking of Donnie's. His eyes fell back over to his younger brother and strangely exposed neck, a smile creeping across his face as he tiptoed over to his sleeping form. Rising up the icy cold bottle of iced coffee and lowering the surface onto his brothers exposed neck, "Wakey wakey Donnie."
The instant the surface met skin; Don sat up with a wild yelp. the stool clambering over and crashing as the younger bounced around, hand slapping the cold spot on his neck before blood shot eyes fell on a laughing perpetrator 'RAPH!' he barely had time to raise his arm up to save himself from the onslaught of girly slaps, "You BASTERD! I was asleep!"
"Coffee is supposed to wake you up, isn't it?" he couldn't stop laughing though, a hand fell over his mouth, a glare meeting his face, "Whm?" he asked through Don's hand
"Everyone's asleep, You shouldn't be loud."
"Sez da person screamin'" He knew Donnie couldn't see him smile through his hand, but he couldn't help it. Don glared hard before giving him one last slap on the shoulder and stepping away, snatching the iced coffee from his hand. "Ass." Don moved back to his computer A twitch of the mouse bringing the screen back to life
"Ya heard anything from Fearless yet?" he asked, "Or the kid?"
"I got a text actually." the younger smiled at him lightly, "Just an hour ago, he said that Mini-Me is doing fine,"
"That's good." Raph smiled lightly, snatching up the stool up and siting down. pushing over the rolly chair for Don. But the invitation was declined with a look, "Isn't it?"
"Yeah course it is. You heard that kid coughing, he was in pain, he was miserable. I just wish I could of done more for him." eyes met his for a moment before looking back forward. to the portal stick resting there. Raph couldn't help but sigh lightly, rising back up from his seat and his hand resting on his brothers shoulder wrapping around them slowly, "You'll find a way to send him home Don I know you will."
"That's just it; I know he should be able to. I've done everything right, I've rebuilt that dam stick ten times hell I've even upgraded it to have foldable capability and a cupholder." his hand shooting up to gesture, slowly moving down to balance his elbow on the table his head following to rest on his palm, "I honestly don't think I'm doing anything wrong in this."
Raph bit the question that threatened his throat, knowing it would do nothing but spiral his brother into a pit of despair. Instead choosing to pull him even tighter, holding him against his side, "We'll think of something. And in the meantime the kid's getting better. So there's not so much pressure. And he aint annoying like those other brats so I don't mind keeping him around."
His younger brother smiled at him lightly, Raph could feel the one armed hug bring returned across his lips. Raph's free hand going up to rub his scalp for a moment before pulling away and standing, "Come on bro, it's the one time of day we can play video games without Mikey biting our ankles."
"Yeah sure."
"Come on then." with a grin, he reached down and took Don by the hand, heaving him up to his feet clapping his shoulder for a moment before turning for the door, he couldn't help but smile as he pulled the door open-
A bright flash of light filled the air behind him; his arm shot back and grabbed a hold of Don's arm, shoving him behind him, while his free hand grabbed his sai. All remnants of the room drowned in white, Raph's hand shoved Donnie harder in the chest, if only to ensure he was still behind him, a growl moving past his lips
A line appeared in the light, running down almost to the ground and spreading out. Creating a black square in the light. Slowly the black began to fade, light blue sky replacing, large plains of grass and rolling hills. A grouping of rustic houses in the distance, a village? Raph fought the urge to lean forward (having had too many experiences with portals, Don especially. There was no way in hell he was getting wrapped up in an interspace traveling adventure. He was too tired).
The image faded, and one came up closer to one of the houses. Raph could just remember the mange Mikey had shoved in his face; it almost looked exactly like one of the houses from it. Feudal Japan-
He could just see a figure sitting on the walkway, a small form of a child, dressed in a short orange robe and torn sleeveless shoulders and white pants. The skin began to fade to green, a familiar emerald green he saw every single day of his life and a bright orange mask wrapped around his eyes.
"Mikey?" he could just hear Don whisper the name behind him, Raph almost screamed the name himself if he didn't remember that his brother was currently sleeping in bed. He was home; not only that but this turtle was obviously younger. Much younger, though healthily toned, his body lacked obvious muscles of a fighter.
The younger Mikey pulled one of his knees closer to his chest, a shimmer in his eyes as they rested on rustic padding that covered them. A leak running out of his eyes and down his cheek. Closing as his he lowered his head, resting his forehead against them arms wrapping around his face as trembles shot up and down his shoulders. The sight of a child in grief.
Raph felt his gut begin to twist, running his arm down slowly to hold on to his brother's hand. If only to ensure himself of his brothers presence, his brothers hand slowly squeezing his back, "I don't' think he can see the window bro."
"I don't think so either." He could just feel Don's free hand press against his shoulder in an attempt to move past him. With a growl Raph pushed him back in place , he wasn't sure if the portal even worked but there was no way he was going to give this world THEIR Donnie in exchange for Mini Don.
A shadow fell over the young crying Mikey. Before a familiar form approached the child from the walk way. A white rabbit with black pants and blue top that Raph could recognize from anywhere, "That IS Usagi, he really is their brother in this world" he whispered lightly. The rabbit had a blanket draped over his shoulder, the young kame turned his head to look up at Usagi for a moment, and hand wiping his tear stained face and forcing a smile. But Raph could see the sympathetic smile on his face. The rabbit kneeling down and carefully wrapped the blanket around the alternate Mikey, hugging him close as the younger kame pressed his face into Usagi's robe. The tremble overtaking his shoulders again and sobs consuming his small form once again as he watched Usagi's' lips pursed ever so lightly, shushing the child.
The image began to change, slowly fading to black before color began to swarm over it again. This time it seemed to take place inside the house, a plain looking room with 5 long mats on the floor. Expect on of the matts lay a figure, a thick bulky figure with the same green skin as Mikey, wearing (what appeared) to be a red tank top and black pants but one of his legs was set between two slaps of wood and tied in place by a cloth, a white cloth belt wrapped around tight muscular stomach, knuckle wrapped fingers barley sticking out under his head and a red masked face with amber eyes glaring hatred at the ceiling. But Raph knew that face; he saw ti even more often than he saw Mikey.
he was staring at himself.
"Dam Raph," he heard Don whisper behind him, "He's even more muscular then you."
Though Raph hardly considered it a contest, he shoved his shoulder back for a moment to hit Don in the chest with a frown.
The 'window' Raph twitched lightly, head rising up from his arms as his eyes looked around the room for a moment. Raph leaned his head back ever so lightly, whispering, "He can't hear us can he?"
"I don't think so, Little Mikey and other Usagi couldn't-"
Window Raphael sat up, bleary tired eyes looking around the room, Raph could just see his alternate's horribly scarred shell. Amber eyes glaring around the room accusingly till they met his and froze. For a moment Raph wondered if someone had entered the room and drawn his attention. But the eyes glared at him with wide horrified eyes,
His alternate could see him
He could see him.
He heard a small shuffling sound behind him, his brother peering around his head for a moment. His alternates' eyes widening as he hobbled his way to his feet, "Don?!" the name left his lips, faint and echoey, but clearly aimed for them, "Donnie!"
"how the hell can he see us?!" Raph demanded, looking back to his brother, "What the hell is the portal doing here?!"
"I-I don't' know, it-"Don paused," It's possibly that Little Don's appearance created a path between our worlds that didn't heal right.
"But why the hell is it here?!" The figure moved closer to the 'window'
"I DON'T KNOW-"
"Little Don?!" Raph as confused for a moment at his own question before he realized he hadn't asked it, turning back to the window to look at his alternate. Now fully aware of the 'third' member of the conversation, "You said Little Don. That's' my little brother isn't' it?!"
"Ye-"he really wished Don would stop talking and stop trying to move past him, 'yeah, your brother is here,"
"Is he alright?!" Raphaelnate demanded, moving closer, hobbling on his broken leg (Raph could only assume the ancient looking cast wasn't for style), "Is he breathing alright?! Does he have any medicine?! Is he warm?! how about food, is he eating!?I have to yank out his freaking teeth to eat-"
"He-he was sick for a while, but he's doing better." Raph really wasn't sure why this conversation was taking place between his younger brother (his Don) and his Raphaelnate (he wasn't' even sure when he came up with the differentiating name), "He's safe, we've been protecting him."
"So he IS there." what part of that wasn't going through his Alternates self's brain?! But he could see the look on Raphaelnate's eyes. Mad panic shooting through amber eyes, he knew that he had that look so many times. His alternate's eyes went up the edges of the window, as though challenging it, his body loosening and shaking up for a moment. Before Raph could say anything, his alternate threw himself into the window, he half expected to end up with him his lap. But the much thicker turtle collided with an invisible force, his body hitting the ground hard, "Hey!" He shouted, running closer to the window," What are you thinking?!"
, "I'm comin' over there." came the thick aggravated growl, "NO freaking Spirits are getting' between me and my baby brother." His from rising back up to the ground. Before Raph could say anything, his alternate slammed into the window again, a large shout of pain filled the air as Raphaelnate stumbled away, one hand flying up to rest on his shoulder. Raph could see the singe of burnt skin where the impact had been made, but his body braced again, like a football player ready to tackle the offensive, "STOP!" Don shouted, Raph shoved his brother back before running closer. He could feel a pressure start to push him back, a force he could only assume his alternate was feeling, as his body collided with the window again, "STOP IT YOU IDIOT!" Raph shouted, "It aint working."
"It's GOING to work." came with angry bark, Raph could see angry burn marks welling on his Alternates skin, blood smearing against his skin, "NO it AINT! Don't you get it?! The portals aren't opening' we woulda sent your brother back by now if they were-"
"What are you saying you old ass, that my brother is stuck there!? Cause I aint ACCEPTING that-"
"What are you going to do!? Throw yourself against a brick wall till you kill yourself?!"
"Anything is better than THIS!' a bleeding hand waved back into the room colliding with the invisible wall again, "Waiting day in and day out for a worthless older brother to get home, who only left on a freaking HUNCH that some monks might know how to get my brother home?!Leo might not even be ALIVE! and I aint taking my chances with him."
"I know Leo's, and your Leo is working his ASS off trying to help, he left cause he HOPED you and Usagi would be there for Mikey." Raph was sure this was the biggest form of irony he would ever be faced with. stuck in a literal screaming contest with himself, "He's crying himself sick over kneepads YOUR Don made him and you can't even get off your lazy ass to be there for him!"
"he DOESN'T need me. DON needs me," a fist slammed against the window, though Raph wasn't sure if it was for the window or actual attempt to hit him, "You LIVE with him, I RAISED him, I was there for his first Dam word, I WAS his first Dam word!. You don't know how to help him, how to make him feel better when he's clawing the skin off his wrists, when he's screaming in the middle of the night cause of night mares, you don't know how to be there for him, you don't' know how to protect him from himself-"
"You're right, I don't know dam thing about your brother, but I know that MY big brother hasn't left his side since he got here, he aint you. But he sure as hell is working tooth and nail every day to make him feel safe. How would you think your Don would feel if he found out how bad you were neglecting your Mikey just cause you were thinking about him?! He'd never forgive you, hell MY Don would never forgive me. He'd even kick my ass. "
Amber eyes glared into his, bearing hard as the sun. Raph wasn't sure but in that moment, he was sure that his alternate self would have killed him. Slowly the flames began to fade, settling behind closed eyelids. The fist rising up against the wall for a moment before turning to tap the window, with the side of his fist. Though with not nearly the strength he had before. Slowly the muscular kame slid down, knees hitting the ground with a loud crack. He wasn't sure why, but Raph followed, his hands going up to press against the invisible force
"I need my baby bro…" the voice was weak, broken and barely audible. Raph squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force out that pathetically weak voice and fighting the sorrow filling his chest. For the turtle who so desperately wanted to be with his brother,
He knew exactly how he fell
He knew Raphaelnate's hell
"I know you do. I know you do man." he whispered back, slowly closing his eyes, "But you can't do anything for him right now. I promise to protect him; I'll keep him safe, until we can get him to you. Home to you family. I swear on my honor, on my family. I will lay my life down to get him there-"
"Raph."
Raph fought the urge to snap at his younger brother, but he felt the invisible force fade beneath his finger tips and, raising his head and opening his eyes to see the 'window' gone from sight. The room a state as though there hadn't' just been a conversation between alternate brothers. As though he hadn't seen himself living out his deepest nightmare. Raph slowly lowered his hands to the ground, resting against closed fists like a primates before sliding his elbows down to the ground and pressing his forehead against cold cement floor. His chest tightening and eyes burning in a rare sensation that mad him want to tear them out. If an arm hadn't wrapped across his shoulder wrapping around his form and covering him, like a comforting blanket. squeezing him, "Do you think he heard me bro?" he whispered. Fighting the cracking in his voice
"I know he did." As always, Don's voice was the calmness seeping to his bones, the tamer of his anger. More and more, he leaned his weight against his younger brothers. An Act even he himself didn't see but ones every few years
But right now?
He needed his brother
(#)(#)(#)(#)
It wasn't' often Leo wondered about the actual concept of 'Turtle Luck' he always dismissed the idea of a supernatural force being behind the misfortune of him and his brothers. He often favored the idea of them creating their own destiny and any acts of misfortune out of their control were simply coincidental.
Except Leo had lost count on the number of time he had woken up with a aching head with absolutely no memory on how he had been moved. And he wasn't even sure how to explain Mikey's' clumsiness otherwise
THE mere thought sent another headached through him and a groan with it. His hand going up to apply pressure to the aching spot. NO restraints? That was a plus, and the fact his injury was bandaged rather then bleeding and leaking on the floor was a MAJOR plus. Except his swords were missing
"You waking up Leo?"
Claire? That was Claire's voice, the last time Claire had woken up she had dumped a cold cup of water on him (to be fair, he had fallen asleep next to a candle and his blanket had caught on fire), "I think so." he hated how slurred he sounded, the metal bed quaked under him, were they in a van of some sort? Claire didn't have a van
"What is his condition, Miss Able?"
The second voice send a shock through his stomach and shooting up to a sitting position, despite his bodies protest, the vehicle was lined with standing Foot Soldiers, holding on to hooks from the roof ( were they in a RV? It was long enough) and though the familiar face of his comrade knelt by him. There was also a second face he recognized, standing with black hair spilling from a hood.
Karai
A hand flew up grabbing his bandaged shoulder (bandaged? How hurt was he?) keeping him from flying into the insane situation of him fighting for his life against the Foot Clan. His eyes meeting faded dark ones, bearing at him, "Leo, calm down. They're the only reason we're not Bishop food right now."
What? Weren't they there when Bishop's men were? He could remember the ground giving way, they had knocked him out! How was knocking him out HELPING!?
"The Treaty may not mean anything to you, Leonardo." Karai's voice was soft, if Leo didn't know better he would assume that she was being respectful of his aches, hell the way she was holding his shoulder was even more convincing, "But it means something to me. Even if you did break into my fathers clinic."
"Its not Able's fault. Or my families. "he had to protect them, Despite the hands he forced himself up into a siting position , "Please Karai it was my idea. My little brother was sick, and I didn-" His eyes shot around the room, suddenly realizing the most important missing factor, "where is he?! "grabbed the leather strap above him and heaving himself up to his feet hoping the younger kame was stuck in between one of the Foot, " What happened?! Did Bishop."
"He's here." Claire's voice assured him. A short relief sent his hand up to his face, if only to hide the sigh escaping him, "They haven't let me see him though."
"Why not?!" Leo demanded, looking back over to Karai, "Please, he's just a child-"
"Hideaki is fine, we were allowing him to rest and use our oxygen machine, my medic has already looked at him. He has not said much though."
Another sigh of relief escaped him, before a note in the question hit him, "He's awake?!"
"Indeed, he was awake when Bishop was about to find him. if I didn't know any better, and judging by the position we found him and the damage to my father's building, I would assume that HE was somehow the cause why the Oroku Saki Memorial Clinic is now a pile of Insured rubble."
Leo felt his tongue snake in between his teeth and taste the pain of his sharp incisors, as though his own body was warning him against his next few words. careful, he had to be careful,
Except he had almost broken the treaty once tonight
"It might have been him, I honestly don't know. Bishop was about to shoot me in the back of the head when it happened." He watched something flicker across Karai's' eyes, he almost thought it was interest or some sinister delight. Except he knew Karai better, he knew her amused look. She turned back up to the row of Foot Ninja (honestly it looked like they were all standing in a subway train), "Go get the Kame-ko."
Two of the Foot released their straps and started to head for the back of the RV. Leo hadn't realized there had been an entirely cut off section till the door slid open He could just see a small form siting there, olive green beak turning to the Foot now standing in his doorway. Leo almost jumped down there when the two reached in and drew him out, Both holding onto his arms and dragging him out, "Don't hurt him!" Leo snapped, he probably would of thrown them off if a hand had not fallen on his shoulder, yanking him to look at the dark eyes of the Foot Clan Head, "When we found your brother he could not walk on his own and still has difficulty doing so-"
"What do you mean he can't walk!?" he shouted down the RV, "Are you alright!? Did you get hurt-"
"I-I'm fine." He honestly hadn't been expecting a answer, even one he could hear, light brown eyes met his though nervously they were still his, "I-I've been sick and bed ridden. I-I'm always a little weak afterwards."
That made sense, but the sight of Little Don being drug between two Foot made his stomach twist in ways he swore would never turn back to normal. He moved up the line, (ignoring the Foot solider next to him reaching for a blade). But instead kept his eyes on his charge he hadn't realized the black cloak wrapped around his shoulders till then it almost looked like something the foot would wear, on his target before finally reaching them, "I have him." he bit to the 'holders. Though the yellow of their masks only glared back at him, till they looked behind him (Leo could only assume they were getting the 'ok' from Karai.) Before nodding to him. Leo leaned forward and wrapped his arm around Don's shoulder and under his knees scooping him right up into his arms. He glared around to the Foot around him, as though daring them to do something, before leaning his head down lightly, "It's alright Halfshell." he whispered before walking back up at the way he came. Trying to ignore the amused smirk on Claire's face, and instead looked to Karai, "Where are we going?"
"We are going to drop Miss Able off at her building, and I'm sure you and your 'brother' can find your way home from there."
Leo fought the urge not to blink in surprise as the RV slowed down, the door next to them opening, allowing the faint light of first morning come into the van not until a hand slapped his shoulder as Claire moved past him," Just like a school bus." before moving down the steps and exiting. Leo watched one of the Foot reach out of the bus for a moment, handing down a familiar rifle hand pistol to her. Alteast he knew who had their weapons
He wasn't sure how to describe all the emotions rolling in his stomach, all the apprehension and nervousness. But there was a emotion that he did recognized, and should of earlier, reaching back in time and putting his swords back in place with one hand He turned back to Karai, slowly bending at the middle (without crushing Little Don), "Thank you Karai."
"it is what comrades do. "her bow followed, a word Leo never though he would hear her use. He slowly moved down the steps, when he stepped on the side walk, a hand shot out and grabbed the doorway ,ceasing his descent, and his gaze back down to Little Don," What is it?"'
"T-Turn around."
"Bossy." he smiled lightly before doing so. The form in his arms squirming lightly before Leo lowered him down to his feet, (but he sure as hell wasn't going to let him go.) hands gripping Little Don's shoulders (ignoring the Foot cloak on them), as the young kame looked up to Karai (still standing on top of the steps) he bent at the middle, bowing the best he could, "Tōhō, misu Karai o go kyōryoku itadaki arigatōgozaimasu."
Leo was almost surprised to see the corner of Karai's' mouth to rise up ever so gently in the closest thing he had ever seen to her smile, before she bowed once again. The RV door closing, the giant black vessel driving and disappearing between two buildings. Almost as quickly as Foot had arrived
"You do realize they left my car behind right?"
A blink sent Leo looking behind him (careful not to send Little Don flying to the ground) to the former Marine standing behind him, her arms cross and glaring in no particular direction with a small shake of her head, "sorry, I'll drive it back for you later if you want."
"Nah, I have a guy who owes me a favor. I'll ask him to drive it back for me when the chaos goes down a bit."
"How many people owe you favors?"
"Well, he wrecked my last car and its my cousins so only her. You're fine though." a smile smirked up her face, "But if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sleep for a few days. You should get your buddy back home. He's doing better now, but recovering is still recovering so he's' going to need lots of sleep, and on oxygen and antibiotics, oh and for Gods' sake let him cough."
Leo smiled lightly, looking back down to Don in time to see him tilt his head back and return the look, only his face was twisted up a bit in disgust that made him laugh, arms crossed over his collar bone . To squeeze him tighter to his chest before looking back up, "I owe you Claire, I really do."
"The sooner you get over that the happier you'll be." The young woman already heading back toward her building, "Get back to your sewers before the paper boys see you."
He couldn't stop shaking his head or the faint laugh escaping his lips. Slowly lowering his head down to rest his cheek against Dons scalp for a moment before wrapping one arm around Don's shoulders, "Alright back up you-" A hand slapped his face lightly. Not enough to hurt him but enough to snap him back out of the 'state' he had been in. Looking down to see Don glaring up at him with a small accusing look on his face, "What?"
"I'm awake now , so you don't get to carry me around like a damsel anymore."
"My apologies, next time you're passed out for a week I'll let you walk." though sarcasm wasn't his strong suit, it brought about a deeper satisfactory scowl on the young kame's face and a laugh through his, "Alright, how about I carry you on my back, would that be less insulting for you?"
Little Don's looked away for a moment, as though considering his proposal before nodding, "I can deal with that."
Maybe it was the fact he was actually hearing his charges voice, but a great weight seemed to fall off his chest. Almost as though it was then he knew the battle with his disease was over. Leo turned back to shout after Claire, a sheepish smile on his face
"Can you hold a manhole open?"
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Leo knew the sewers by hearts.
So it wasn't long before he was on a path he knew all too well. his hands situated behind him and making a seat for Little Don by holding onto his thighs by the pants. Thin arms limp around his neck and most of his weight going to his shell. He almost hated how he could almost over look the fourteen year olds weight. if not for the fingers twiddling with this chest strap, "Stop that." he reprimanded lightly, "While you're' back there you should go to sleep."
"I dun wanna." though his voice indicated otherwise. Leo almost felt that the younger of the two was only staying awake to keep him company. Judging by the way his arm kept slipping behind his neck and the soft yawns barely on his ears, "Come on Halfshell, its all you're going to be doing at home anyway."
"Says you, I have my Kuma-ni's stubbornness."
Leo smirked before lowering his head, digging his chin into the arms around him, "Little Brat."
"Am not." But the sound of sleep covered his voice. Leo almost thought if he stopped talking altogether, then maybe he WOULD fall asleep. He felt a beak nuzzle into the back of his neck lightly, as though softening it for a makeshift pillow and another yawn reach him, "Taisho?"
"Yeah buddy?"
"I saw a human before your ninja friends." another yawn and a closer step to sleep, "He was dressed like one of those people on your Mikey's' 'Men in Black" wall hanging"
Leo fought the cramping in his fingers, the urge to tighten them into fists, he knew better, "What about him?"
"He wouldn't stop coming after me. I-I thought he was after something else but his 'dark glasses' were right on me. HE- he." Don's voice broke for a moment, the arms around his neck tightening and the beak pressing tighter into the back of his neck. Leo stopped walking for a moment turning his head though unable to get a sight of his face, "Donatello?"
"I-I know that look Leonardo. I-I" his voice cracked softly, "I don't want to be a prisoner again."
His eyes closed softly a sigh going from his lips. All instincts and everything his mind had told him and he had tried to ignore were right. The horrible fact, the horrible thought of someone so young being forced in chains,
How was there any comfort from that?
Leo turned his head, pressing his beak to tap against Don's bicep, "Halfshell?" a small sniff indicated his attention, his beak slowly ran up down from Don's elbow all the to his shoulder, pressing his forehead against it, "I promise, I swear that as long as you remain by my side, as long as you are with me you will never be his prisoner. Alright?"
A small sniff filled the air, the face pressing once against into the back of his neck. And the gently nodding that indicated his understanding.
It wasn't long after that, but the burden on his back tried his best to keep up conversation but it wasn't long before the soft snores filled the air. A inevitable descent into sleep in the arms of someone trusted.
He didn't want to admit it, the fear he had felt in his stomach when he realized Bishop had been left with Don. When the building had started collapsing around him to think he had been taking prisoner by a horrid monster as Bishop. Or even worse, when Don had been lying in that hospital bed, growing thinner by the day with the darkening hue around his mouth, being forced to wipe the blood from them.
He never wanted to admit how scared he had been.
But things were different now; he knew what he had to do. A complete lock down, little Don couldn't leave the Lair. Not until he took care of Bishop. He had to stay there at all costs; he couldn't even leave his side. He couldn't risk breaking his promise
Eventually
He would send Don home
and he would finally be safe.
Leo nuzzled the arms around his neck for a moment before using one hand to yank on the circular handle of the door, turning it and pushing it slowly. He was surprised the lights were still on, (even more so that the TV was off) . The only light coming from the kitchen, where Raph sat at the table with a open beer in his hand, Don across from him, one hand placed firmly on his wrist. He wasn't sure what they had been talking about but it was deep enough that they didn't notice him till he stepped into light. Don's eyes fell on him and lit up, rising up to his feet. Raph's head swerved till they fell on him. Leo felt a smile slowly crawl across his face, a simple phrase marking relief, his happiness. His joy
"We're home."
(part 1 complete)
(I don't know why I put that, I'm still posting to this story, I guess it just makes it officeisl for me. Oh well)
Raph, "I don't get to say anything this week?"
You said plenty today, so :P
Translation
Yajirushu: arrow
Daikyu: long range bow
Koun: Good luck
Rasshu: rush
Anata no chi wa umakatta: your blood was sweet
Jōbutsu suru: Rest in Peace
kashigiri: very tip of the sword hilt
Geta: wooden sandal, it is considered very unlucky if the strap breaks. (Or to put bluntly, misfortune will follow you)
Meikakuna kaze: Come Kaze
Chikushō: Dam it all
Kame-ko: turtle child
Tōhō, misu Karai o go kyōryoku itadaki arigatōgozaimasu: Thank you for helping us, Miss Karai