One of these days, boredom was going to kill him. Casey hung his head trying to remain awake while blocking our Splinter, Karai and Tigerclaws growing argument regarding the plan. None of them could agree on what to do. It seemed like the argument was going on for hours, the hockey vigilante was so ready to go to bed, he should have taken up Raphael’s advice and escaped while he still could.
"ENOUGH!"
All heads turned towards Mikey, who did not look impressed.
"April, has something to say" Mikey turned to their good friend who nodded in thanks.
"I think you are all looking at this wrong. We agree we need to save the city but we can't run in blind. We must plan ahead which is why none of your plans will work. We are a big group who should really split into smaller groups to help regain the city back but we must think about our vulnerabilities" April spoke with her head held high, she looked over at Diana who watched with an impassive expression. She turned to a scientist in the room who had been glared at since he rudely commented about a certain hothead.
"Myself, Leatherhead and Donatello, have been working on a special formula that can be watered on the city to get rid of the Armies of Lord Dregg and any extra mutants Kraang has created. The problem is, anyone with mutant blood could be affected and…" Rockwell was interrupted by another.
"You need someone to risk their life and place it in the bomb beneath the city that you are sure will help save the city without the authorities working it out" Ikkou spoke up in a bored tone from where he was sitting in the rafters above, his twin nowhere in sight.
"Yes, how did you?" Leatherhead looked confused at the Saki brother who jumped down avoiding the formula that the former crocodile had a hold of.
"Because, if you actually paid attention to the news. You would see that the said bomb had been moved to TCRI, the Kraang have it and…"
"Ikkou enough, go see Akio" Oroku Saki interrupted his trigger happy brother who rolled his eyes behind the mask vanishing from sight. Leaving many of them smirking.
"He still never knows when to quit, do continue" Saki said, crossing his arms over his chest as they took in the new information. Ikkou had been very sarcastic as he commented to pass the time, creating more issues than normal but Saki understood. This was Ikkou's way of worrying, Akio was unconscious in one of the rooms, he was sick and wasn't getting any better. His fox was healing him but very slowly. They were all worried, especially the Saki family.
Leonardo looked ready to murder the arguing ones as he left the room, intending on getting some sleep knowing he didn't have much time for rare moments to sleep. He entered the room he was sharing with Mikey, Donnie and more importantly Raph who was sleeping beside the makeshift crib holding their baby girl.
A smile filled his features seeing Raph curled up on the edge of the bed almost like he was trying to be near the crib as much as possible while he slept.
Carefully, Leo placed his katanas against the wall before he climbed into the bed. Sliding in behind his mate, he couldn't help but connect hands with his lover and tangle their legs. Leo was quite surprised Raph slept through him getting into bed but he also knew his lover was equally exhausted. It wasn't long after Leo settled down that the door reopened and his two brothers made their way to bed. He barely lifted his head in greeting as the other two waved only to slump into the darkness.
Several hours passed before Leonardo found himself disturbed by someone knocking on the doorframe, the first thing he became aware of was his arms being empty and the lack of Leah in the room.
“Leo, I know you’re tired but we may need your help. Raph’s lost it” Karai exclaimed loudly waking the others. Leo was on his feet within seconds grabbing his katana’s, Donnie and Mikey grabbed their own weapons following after their oldest brother.
“What do you mean! You won’t fight for the city!” Casey yelled at Raph who was being held back by Tigerclaw.
“Like I said to the rat! I am not fighting for this bloody city when I have a daughter to watch!” Raph shouted in frustration. Oroku Saki had moved to stand in between the two. Originally it had been Splinter and Raphael arguing when Karai went to get help but it seemed Casey and a few others had said their words.
“We are doing this for you! We have been protecting you and yet YOU turn your back on the city, our home just because of some kid! The same kid which we…ack!” A hand wrapped tightly around his neck squeezing tight.
“CASEY! RAPHAEL LET HIM GO!” April screamed, only for red eyes to connect with her own. Raphael’s eyes glowed a deadly red, dropping Casey, he pulled away from Tigerclaw. He turned his back on them all, intending on leaving when a hockey stick came out of nowhere hitting him in the back. He stumbled only to whip around to see Casey holding one of his bats.
“Guys! Don’t!” April shouted trying to calm the situation as Casey lunged for Raph, the younger teenager just grabbed the bat using his strength to his advantage. Yes, being pregnant had made him weak but he wasn’t going to be beat by his arrogant best-friend. April went to move forward when it was Leonardo who ran in the middle kicking both Raphael and Casey to the floor.
“ENOUGH!” His yell had all attention moved to the leader in blue.
“We are better than this! We need to stop fighting each other and actually sort a plan out. Raphael! Casey! Apologise!” Leo ordered the two, Casey looked off to the side while Raph just shook his head walking away.
“Sure! Walk away! Like you always do, you Saki’s are all the same” Casey shouted in frustration, he sat down apologising to them all. Oroku Saki didn’t say anything as he watched his son walk away. Tigerclaw felt quite conflicted as he and Alopex shared a ‘look’, this wasn’t something they could deal with instead it fell to Aruma who sighed, following after his conflicted son. The one who was still finding himself and trying to battle his inner demons.
“Leo, what do you suggest?” Karai asked, turning back to their plan. Leo could only sigh as he and Donnie came to join the table while Mikey wandered off somewhere else in the caves of the Hawk Clan, he had a few questions for a certain Saki brother. He was hoping to find him and get some answers before they all splitted up.
Elsewhere…
Silver eyes pierced through the darkness, as a shadow moved silently amongst the darkness watching for anything that could jump out.
“I never thought you’d come back, Enzo”
“Didn’t have a choice”
“And why’s that?!”
“You killed my daughter”
“Collateral damage”
“I think more like jealousy. You didn’t like the fact she was doing better than you”
“I would clap if I could be bothered but it would seem my swords are ready for blood”
“Good”
“Once I’m done with you, I will find Akio and make him scream without Ikkou’s permission”
“That’s if you defeat me”
“Last I checked Enzo, you didn’t do very well with an ambush”
“You always play dirty don't you Z”
“I try my best, now would you like me to call you Enzo, Dantzer? Or does Traitor fit you better?”
“Whatever floats your boat, sweetheart”
Z lunged hearing the teasing tone, he knew what this young man was capable of and despite Dantzer being quite young. He always managed to sneak his way past them all, someway somehow. But, not this time. Z, head of the Crux Clan would not be bested by this man, instead he would reunite Dantzer with his dead family members. Before, he went after the Saki brother who started it all, Akio Saki.
Z knew one thing, even the so-called ‘good guys’ were in over their heads. The truth would come out about Akio Saki and he would be there to see it.
Meanwhile…
He was furious, so he decided to do the only thing to sort his head out, knowing his father had Leah, he ran grabbing his weapons. Slash was outside at the time and had handed over his sai. He still didn’t want to use them, ever since having his daughter he just couldn’t carry them so he left them embedded in a tree and took a spare katana. It was one of Akio’s but he knew his uncle didn’t mind knowing his nephew wouldn’t break the blades. Slash ended up grabbing the sai’ and replacing them back in his belt, he would hold onto them long enough for his brother knowing the teenager needed more time.
He continued running down the path he had found as a child when Dantzer had brought him to the Hawk Clan for the first time all those years ago. Dantzer had claimed Diana would be able to answer his questions regarding his human side, much more than his uncle could.
It was times like these, he missed Dantzer. Due to his uncle being younger than the others, he just understood him. It was almost like they were the same person sometimes, it certainly caused issues for the others.
“I thought I’d find you here, talk to me son, what’s on your mind?”
Raphael whipped around to see Aruma leaning against a nearby tree.
“I just feel useless, I know they sacrificed a lot for me but Leah, I can’t fail her not like her twin. I can’t…” Raph stumbled to his knees, tears slipped past his control as an individual kneeled down in front of him.
“You are not alone Raphael, you don’t have to hide who you are anymore. I know you don’t believe that Leah can be kept safe without you being there but you need to learn to trust others. I promise you, if you want to help the others, I will personally protect and watch Leah, I will fight for her until my last breath. She will be safe with….argh!” Aruma collapsed to his knee as a sword went straight through his chest.
A pained shout left Aruma as the sword was taken back, away from his body which crumpled. Raphael gasped out catching the one who had become a mother to him over the years.
“Hello, you must be Raphael. Now I suggest you make no noise and come with us”
“Or what?” Raph couldn’t help but challenge.
“We kill your friend and then make sure you can’t talk ever again”
Looking up, Raphael noticed the seven individuals surrounding him. He frowned, gently lowering his pained mother onto the ground. Holding a stance, one he had used for years to defend his loved ones. Something that he had been taught by the rat, he would put to use.
“Gator, take him out. We haven’t got much time left before the sun goes down”
With a smirk, one of the individuals lunged forward only to be punched in the gut by a red hooded teenager. Raphael smirked as he made a come on motion with his hands. Only for two more individual’s to jump into the fight. Aruma watched through tired eyes as his son defended the two of them, he watched Raphael’s doubts fade away as he refought for control over his mind and his fighting skills made him stronger. Aruma felt pain as one of the individuals stepped on his chest, looking around Aruma found a rock and managed to throw it at the individual making them back away. Painfully, he climbed to his feet only to witness Raphael’s eyes glow red and for a red wave to spring off in every direction throwing off the seven individuals who scurried off towards their leader.
“Just who are you!” One of the individual’s roared out.
“My name is Raphael Saki and I am from the Claw-Saki Clan. Now, I suggest you run back to your master and tell them that the red gem is home” Raphael roared at them all, he smirked watching them scurry off. Once he was sure they were gone, he turned to see his mother leaning against one of the trees with a pained expression on his face. His jacket and shirt were covered in blood.
“Mother” Raph gasped out just as Aruma slumped, running forward Raph caught him just before he hit the ground.
“Son, it’s okay. I just need time to heal. I need you to do something for me”
“Anything” Tears dripped down his face, Aruma reached up to wipe the tears from his son's face.
“We both know, I can’t be healed from this…I’m not going to survive much longer…which is why, I want you to lead the way…if not for me, for Leah…she is too young to understand but she needs…a life after this, one that isn’t in the shadows…it’s…Raphael, your friend was right…the city is your home…protect it…you are their protector…I love you son…you need to find Dantzer…he’s in trouble…Z…has killed his children, but not all of them…he sees you as a son…don’t let him forget about it. I’m sorry son, tell the others I’m sorry, tell Tigerclaw, I love him, please…I love you son”
Silent tears slipped past his normal control, Aruma went limp in his arms. He couldn’t help but let out a sob, a pulse of his powers sent an orb elsewhere, he silently called for help unaware that someone had heard.
More Chapters on the way very soon, stay tuned for updates - I will try and get them out quicker!
Thank you to every reader for reading this book! I didn't realise how many reads I've had!
Thank you for your lovely messages! :)