A year had passed since the heroes of the city had saved their home, many of them had to find homes but thankfully they were provided by a good few allies. Those who were originally mutants found themselves with special abilities, they had the ability to change into their spirits. Akio had taught many of them with Ikkou demonstrating even Casey could shapeshift. His favourite was a snake, which he liked to prank others with especially Pete, the young man always ran away in fear.
Although the Hamato and Saki Clan were sworn enemies from years of history, one little bundle of joy had united them for the first time in history. Her name was Leah Hamato-Saki, she was one year old and was a troublemaker.
Thankfully Aruma never charged any of them rent so they didn't have to worry about that but they did have to pay gas and electricity bills as Aruma couldn't cover it all. So many of them got jobs, due to his intelligence Donatello ended up working in a science lab, something he had always wanted to do. Looking for cures to diseases. Mikey ended up going to college with Casey and April while Leo ended up getting a job teaching children in self defence such as Karate. He used his lessons for good. The foot clan headquarters had opened their doors to these types of lessons. Leo and Karai ran classes and made the place look more welcoming while the foot clan, the human side, was divided between New York and Japan.
Even Rahzar and Fishface had been saved by Donatello's retro mutagen. A few older ones of the group decided to help out while one individual actually studied from home while he raised his daughter. Yes, Raphael was training on engineering while he watched his daughter. He was able to do mechanics but needed qualifications as he couldn't exactly explain that he was a turtle most of his life and he worked on bikes/cars to go into battle in an interview.
But for the time being, Leah was with Hamato Yoshi who had taken many months to come up with an apology to Raphael who just rolled his eyes and told him to promise to never to hurt Leah and then they were even but it didn't mean he wasn't going to stop calling him the 'rat'. Yoshi could only accept those terms as he knew the hothead of the family was basically an exploding temple half of the time.
With Leah being away, gave Raphael time to do what he had been wanting to do for quite a while. He left the apartment he shared with Leo and his daughter while their brother's lived across the hallway, technically they all lived in the same apartment, it was just separated by a living room in the centre. Mikey just liked to call it two apartments.
Climbing on the bike he had passed on through a driving test that his father made him take and soon enough his dad and mother agreed to. He had three pushy parents and a helicopter big brother who was always watching, sometimes he couldn't get enough of his family but he wouldn't change them for the world. Of course he was thinking about Saki, Tigerclaw, Aruma and Slash, he wasn't even going to bring his lover into this. That was another story that could last for many years and quite frankly there wasn’t a word in the universe that could summon up Leo’s protective behaviour for his family.
Placing his helmet on he blasted down the highway, heading for one direction, a place unknown to many but he knew it as a calming place where he first learned many things about his childhood. It took a good twenty minute drive as he found a place to park his bike just outside of a hidden hut. He climbed off only to walk around the hut, he was always on guard ever since having Leah, he became very protective more so than he was beforehand.
Silently he walked towards an old willow tree that sat on a hill surrounded by many flowers, all different kinds. It was a place called the 'eternal' garden, very few knew about it and only one individual lived there. Raphael couldn't help but smile as he walked through the gardens until he reached the willow tree where a certain individual sat in a meditation position. Moving slowly, he lay down until his head was resting in the individual's lap. He stayed there, remaining silent until the other made the direct move.
"What brought you here, Rap?"
The whisper barely reached his ears but it brought a smile to his face as his emerald eyes met his uncles, a gleaming silver like no other which held very little brightness.
"To be honest, I've been wanting to come here for a good year but it's hard to sneak out. Ever since everyone blanked your name bar very few, I can't talk about you to anyone, I miss you Dantzer"
"I miss you too, kid. But, it's the way it has to be"
"It doesn't have to" Hearing his nephew protest, Dantzer could only sigh.
"No, I agreed with Aruma and Akio that I would stay out of the way so trouble wouldn't find the others. Of course the two protested but it's not like I have much to go back to" Dantzer said with a small smile as he ran his hands through Raphael's hair. His blood nephew went silent as the two sat watching the way the flowers swayed in the breeze.
A good three hours passed as the two reconnected whether it was by playing old games, meditation or reminiscing memories, the two bonded again. Even to the point that when Raphael's phone rang, none of them took notice as they had settled into a sleep. For once, Dantzer slept and he wouldn't have without his nephew who lay sideways across his lap.
Elsewhere…
Leo was worried, he had been trying to contact Raph for a good six hours and he had no response so he wasted no time in getting Donnie to track Raphael who seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Leo grabbed a few to go with him which ended up being Ikkou, Donnie, Mikey, Tigerclaw and Saki. The six of them took off in the direction of their missing member.
It wasn't long until the car they took arrived where Raph's bike was stored. Ikkou immediately saw the symbol on the door of the hut and turned to face them all.
"All weapons must remain here, this is a place of remembrance. I think I have an idea why Raphael is here, just be silent until we reach my nephew. Leave your phone's to" Ikkou said, removing his swords and bag. He threw a few daggers on the floor followed by his mask, he replaced it with some sunglasses before he led the way into the forest. The others were quick to comply, Leonardo took time to place his katanas down on the bike knowing Raph wouldn't mind.
Silently they walked for a good thirty minutes before Ikkou led them past many flowers. Mikey had to prevent himself from sneezing, thankfully Leo had a tissue for his younger brother.
'Wow' Donnie couldn't help but mouth to Leo who nodded, the view of flowers was breathtaking. The gardens were beautiful as was the giant willow tree that sat on a hill right in front of them. The leaves were all different colours, Ikkou continued to lead the way until he stopped to take a picture with his phone, confusing the others until they caught up. None of them were allowed their phones so why did Ikkou have his. He had instructed them to leave them behind with their weapons.
"I think we found out why Raphie left," Ikkou teased looking at Saki who smirked. Donatello remained silent beside Tigerclaw who clenched his jaw.
"Can we talk?" Mikey whispered only for Ikkou to nod. "That's adorable" Mikey said with a smile, moving out the way to allow Leo to pass where he saw what the others did.
There against the tree was the missing assassin, Dantzer and within his arms was Raphael. The hothead of their group who was too stubborn for his own good and liked to make others have heart attacks was asleep in his uncle's arms.
"So, how do we wake them up, safely?" Donnie turned to Saki like he had a clue but the older man just shrugged. Ikkou grinned, going to wake Dantzer when he soon found himself on his back and a sharp rock at his neck.
"Nicely played" Ikkou said with a smile when Raph only nodded, his nephew grinned turning to Leo who raised an eyebrow until Raph punched him and the two hugged.
"Where's the love for me?" Mikey jokes only for an arm to pull him close, he laughed hugging the assassin back. Dantzer had a smile on his face which was clearly fake to his brothers and Raph, but the others didn't need to know that.
"So, what brings you to the garden?"
"Someone didn't reply back to Mr Worrywart over there, so he called me to track Raph" Donnie pointed out, watching the way Leo blushed at the nickname while Raph only cursed.
"You do know I am quite capable of looking after myself?" Raph turned on Leo who nodded, the two had a whispered conversation that none of the others wanted to listen to knowing it would either turn into an argument or something stupid.
Blocking the two out Saki turned to catch Dantzers eye when he found his younger brother avoiding his gaze.
"So, will you be returning for the Clan Treaty amongst the Hamato-Saki and Crux Clan?" Oroku turned to Dantzer who looked up at his older brother with a fake expression.
"No, I won't"
"Why not? Your part of the Saki and Diablo Clan"
"I'm just not, drop it Ikkou"
The colder tone had many of them sighing, it would seem Dantzer didn't want to or more like he couldn't.
Tigerclaw remained silent watching his former brother-in-law since Alopex had broken up with Dantzer a year ago. Even though they weren't married, it sure felt like it so Dantzer was family only for now to not be.
"No you have to turn up, I announced that you were Leah's guardian the other day" Raphael exclaimed, Dantzer froze, turning to face his nephew who was accompanied by the Hamato brothers, each of them nodding.
"Dantzer, you do know if something happens to Leah and you're not there…"
"Fine, you win. When is it?" Dantzer interrupted Mikey who silently cheered. The Hamato brothers let out a deep breath while Raph only grinned.
"Saturday 17:00, don't be late," Saki warned.
"Fine…" Dantzer only looked off to the side while gritting his teeth.
"You can bring a guest," Ikkou said with a grin.
"Trust me, no one likes me at the minute. Now go away, I have stuff to do" Dantzer said in a frustrated tone. Ikkou only smiled as he watched Raph hug his uncle one last time before the group made their way towards their vehicles.
"Dantzer, can I have a word?" Tigerclaw hung back watching the others leave. The younger assassin only nodded, taking a seat beside the willow tree.
"Look, I want to apologise for what happened a year ago. I shouldn't have attacked you…"
"It's fine, I was in your territory and I'm the enemy, trust me. I know" Dantzer waved him off, still hiding the left side of his face. Tigerclaw growled, lightly jolting Dantzer who looked at him strangely.
"You know she misses you. I didn't mean to throw you out of your home, Aruma still won't speak to me about the clan treaty until you return. You're always welcome, just because we don't get on and you betrayed the…"
"I never betrayed the clan because I never joined it in the first place. I was just the little kid that did everyone's bidding whether it impacted my health no one cared. My life was perfect until I lost too much, so tell Aruma to visit if he wants to talk but other than that, I'm not returning. Not when I did a lot for everyone only for them all to turn their back on me the second they heard bad news. I'm gathering Akio is the saviour while I'm the fall guy…"
"I'm just going to interrupt but no one has seen Akio for four months. Not even Ikkou, not that he's worried" Tigerclaw muttered, Dantzer only raised an eyebrow.
"All I'm trying to say is the offer is there, take it or leave it but the Claw Clan is open. If you are ever in trouble, just ask…even if you are hiding something…we will help…oh god…where did you get that?" Tigerclaw turned to look at Dantzer who had dropped his hood and showed the left side of his face where the old claw scars from Tigerclaw's past attack were down his neck while across his face were five large cuts.
"Have you ever heard of the Razor Clan?"
"I have but only in stories"
"Well it turns out they are real pains in the arses. I was out of recon when I found them sneaking into the Claw territory. Eight razor scaled reptiles, they were going to take some of the young, I heard them chatter until I had it. I basically defended your clan from them, they were a good seven feet tall. During the fight one of them caught my face and eye which is still healing. I suggest you double your guards"
"Dad!" Raphael's shout from down the hill had Tigerclaw on his feet.
"You best go" Dantzer turned to look at Tigerclaw who frowned, "It's okay, I don't blame you" he gestured at his neck as he pushed Tigerclaw towards his cub. The older assassin turned to say something when he found Dantzer had vanished. Instead he sighed and walked quickly over to his curious cub.
I believe this book will be ending soon! But not sure when, I appreciate everyone reading this book!
Next chapter I will try and get done in the next week, no promises! :-)
Feel free to drop an opinion in the comment section, I appreciate any feedback ;)