Brotherhood

Chapter 29

SCREAMING AT THE RAIN

Hey, many times I've prayed

Hopin' life won't stay the same

Hopin' life will fuckin' change

Just screamin' at the

Hey, they called me insane

Hopin' I won't be a face

Hopin' I won't be a phrase

Just screamin' at the rain- City Morgue, SCREAMING AT THE RAIN

Hey, guess ya'll thought you wouldn't see me again huh? Pandemic stuff been crazy, back to the story.

Let's get it.

Leonardo felt as if he failed his team. He led them straight into a death trap. Raph had been carrying his friend's lukewarm body as they escaped back to their base. The leader's blades were bloodied, and his heart was heavy. Mike had a tear in his eye for his brother for he felt his pain. Donatello wanted to help save Mona, for he knew that Raph had deep seated feelings for her.

They approached their tea shop and went underground.

"Mike, we weren't followed?" the leader asked the scout of the group, Mike. He looked around and shook his head accordingly. Raph ran to their father in a panic. "Yo pops, something happened, and shit got fucked up and I messed up—"

Splinter's comforting hand rested on his shoulder. "Slow down, my son. Who is this young woman?"

Raphael laid her out on the dojo's floor. "It's my homegirl Mona, we gotta help her bro!"

April was woken up by Donnie and immediately got supplies. The genius went to work immediately on Mona, trying his hardest to stop any more blood loss. Splinter, April, and Donnie all worked together to save her poor soul.

Mike was in the other room trying to console his brother. He tried sitting him down, which didn't work as Raphael ended up with wooden pieces in his bleeding fist. The mute looked to see a splintered training dummy on the floor.

Leonardo kept pacing back and forth because he couldn't think straight. His brain was wracked with his past mistakes, Shredder put more fear in his heart than he'd like to admit.

He couldn't shake the fact that there was something strange about the Shredder, he almost moved like a ruthless and vicious parallel to Splinter.

"My son, what has transpired tonight? No one has seemed to tell me anything." Splinter looked to Leonardo. It was almost as if he was summoned by the leader's thoughts.

With a sigh, Leo began, "We had a really shitty run in with this Shredder character. We were totally unprepared. I felt as if I led them into a death trap, it's all my fault."

Splinter glared at his son. "A good leader recognizes his flaws and shortcomings; a better leader focuses on fixing them. Shredder is a very formidable opponent and my worst fears have come to past. I never thought he would turn."

He? It was almost Splinter was referring to the murderous shinobi as a second half or something.

The grey metal armor, the black clothing, the cold-hearted glare in his eyes. It just wasn't anything normal about it at all. After a while of silence, sliding doors opened to reveal Donatello.

The scientist made his way over to the street tough. "I've got good news, she'll be fine. Father used some sort of ancient technique, coupled with science and medicine of course." Donnie couldn't even finish his sentence before Raph pushed past him to run to his friend.

Mike followed suit and Leo shortly after. Raph stood over a slumbering Mona. His acid green eyes were filled with worry and relief. He couldn't stop himself from stroking her hair as a loving gesture when the young woman stirred. Her hazel eyes slowly blinked open and immediately landed on Raphael's face. His green eyes bore into hers.

"Rojo? Is that you?" the girl's groggy voice put Raph's heart into a spiral of emotions. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and gripped her tight. His tears flowed freely, and he breathed in the cinnamon spice scent of her skin.

"Yo, I'm so fuckin' sorry! It's all my fault Mona. I never shoulda did any of that fuck shit in the past. I pissed you off so much and I fuckin' love you." Raph pulled away and smashed his mouth against hers and although she had just woken up, she kissed him back.

Mikey slid open the door only to freeze and slowly close it back. Splinter approached the prankster near the door when he grabbed his arm. "What is wrong, my son?" the old master questioned the blonde shinobi. All Mikey did was shake his head slowly and lead his father away from the door.

Saki woke up in his room covered in blood. He had no idea what had happened last night. The last thing he remembered was working another late night in his office.

You had a girl murdered and we finally took out that fool of a loose end Hun. We've come so far!

"NO! What are you talking about, you demon!" Saki screamed at the voice, anger and denial in his tone.

I'm not sure why you're denying that I am some mere demon, Saki? We are one in the same!

Saki did everything he could to make it go away. Pills, alcohol, cannabis. None of it worked, he was stuck with him and he couldn't escape. Was he deemed to be a monster in the eyes of the others his whole life? "No, I'm a good man! I've done so much for the community!" he cried.

Are you, Saki? How can you be such a good man when you run an organized criminal group of ninjas? Face it, Saki. The only way to get me out of your head for good is to find Hamato and those four sons of his….and make them pay.

Saki couldn't take much more of this torture. He had to speak with Yoshi about this and soon.

"They seem to be getting along quite well." Donatello analyzed his street tough of a brother and his Spanish girlfriend.

The group's heads were turned, and their hands shot forth for their weapons when they heard a noise. It was Casey and Sebastian. They had so much worry and distress in their eyes it could fill a room. "Raphie boy told me what happened. Yo, is Mona alright?" the hockey player couldn't shake the fear and hurt in his voice. He saw a sleeping Mona in Raph's arms, and he let out a deep breath he didn't even know he was holding.

"Yeah Case, she good. She just needs some rest man." the street tough had anger and rage hidden behind his acid green eyes. He then turned to the team. "We gotta do something this bitch nigga Shredder bro. We just let bro get away with this shit, dog."

"We will, my son. But for now, we must regroup from this loss and focus on what lies ahead for us." their father spoke out and grabbed a scroll from one of the shelves.

"Now I must tell you of my past."

It's going down. Se ya in the next one! Peace.