In the morning duo ate before heading forward on their journey. Raphael hadn’t any clear plan where to go so he lead the way on the road, keeping his gaze straight. Leonardo was holding on his hakama pants, still yawning as sun was rising higher, warming small turtle’s face. Heat clearly did something since Leonardo soon became more energetic, releasing his hold on Raphael. Little turtle walked a bit in front of bigger male, doing some skipping at times. It made Raphael smile. “Where are we heading?” “Don’t know. We just walk forward and see what we come up with.” “Is this how you live your life? Not planning things, but just going forward and facing whatever may come?” “Is there a problem with that?” “No. As long as you are happy, I think.” The kid was smart. In silence they walked a bit further, Leo finally starting to hum a song. It could had been a song what his grandfather had hum or sing to him. Raphael didn’t ask since he didn’t want to bring up any painful memories to a child. After walking for hours Leonardo was slightly limping. His feet hurt, but he – even once – had not complained. Raphael watched little turtle limp a while before picking him up. “We will stop to rest soon. I can smell water so let’s find it and rest near it.” ** Raphael’s nose never lied when it picked a scent of water. Once again he found calm nice spot where the turtles sat down to rest and eat. Raphael gave one onigiri to Leonardo who took it with gratitude, thanking older turtle. Sitting on small grassy hill, near the river under the tree, was so nice. But also a good spot to see if anything or anyone was going to approach them. “Do you have any other family?” Looking down at the child by his side Raphael sighed silently. “No. Just me.” “So everyone died with your mom or it was just you and her?” “Just the two of us. Why you keep asking things about me and my past?” Leonardo smiled after swallowing rest of his onigiri. “Because I want to get to know you better. After all I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you, right?” Raphael started to cough hard when a piece of rice from his own onigiri went in wrong direction. He had NOT even think anything like that! However when he looked at the worried looking child, Raphael knew Leonardo had thought about it and based on Raphael’s reaction, Leonardo now knew big turtle hadn’t. Dropping his head down, hiding his pained expression from older turtle, Leonardo sighed. “You are going to dump me in the next village. Are you not?” “No. I’m not leaving you anywhere. I’m keeping you with me. I just… hadn’t given it any thoughts that you actually would be with me the rest of your life. I… Kind of thought you would go on your own way when you’re old and strong enough.” “So I can’t stay with you even if I grow up and become strong?” “I never said that. I have nothing against it if you want to stick around.” Raphael’s words didn’t seem to cheer the kid up so big turtle placed his hand on top of small head, gently rubbing it. “Besides I like you. You are fun company.” “Huh?!” Big eyes turned towards Raphael’s direction, bright and surprised. “You mean it?” “I wouldn’t lie to you, kiddo.” Tapping Leo’s head gently few times, Raphael got on his feet, putting remains of the foods back in their own small bags – and those he put in his small backpack. As he stood, a dust cloud not too far from them caught his attention. It wasn’t a good sign. Taking Leonardo’s hand Raphael ordered him to hurry. They needed to move. Leonardo obviously tensed, but hurried with his little steps by Raphael’s side. However the sounds of running horses and yells of men reached them quicker than Raphael had hoped for. They had no places to hide either since it was very open area where they were. If they could make it more closer to the river with some trees and bushes, they might could have a chance to hide. But no. Samurai group reached them too fast, surrounding them. Men yelled, screamed and laughed as they rode around the turtles, eyeing them. Leonardo hugged Raphael’s leg, big hand pressing turtle even closer to him, fury filled eyes observing enemy’s every move. “What do we have here? Two kappas?” “Let’s kill them! They are nothing but horrible yokais!” Most men laughed, some drawing their weapons already. Raphael’s hand stayed by his side, but still close enough to his wakizashi if he needed it. Tho Raphael had no any intention to fight these guys since he was greatly outnumbered, not to mention small frightened child hanging on his leg. “Are you blind or just stupid? How come you can’t separate a turtle from a kappa?” Some men fell silent, some starting to laugh at Raphael’s comment. The leader stepped forward on his ride, pointing his blade at the turtle who didn’t even flinch. “I don’t give a damn are you a yokai or something else. I don’t give a fuck even if you would be human. All what I want is your stuff and life.” Raphael snorted. “I get why you would want my stuff, but my life? What does it do for you? Makes you younger? Or perhaps smarter?” The man growled. He couldn’t stand it when someone was insulting him. In rage he lifted the blade, swinging it towards Raphael who grabbed small turtle in his armpit while dodging. With simple roll Raphael managed to roll under one horse, spurting to run towards the river as fast as he could, hearing samurais coming after him. “R-Raphael!” “It’s okay, kid. I’m not letting them have us.” As Raphael kept running he heard one horse approach him behind from his left. Soon the horse went past him, stopping to stand in front of him sideways. Raphael smirked as he, in the middle of running, threw himself on his shell, sliding under the horse. As he jumped back up, Raphael smirked over his shoulder. Luckily the road was more moist and slightly muddy near the river so he was able to do that. He finally made it to a small rocky hill road, which lead to the river, trees and bushes decorating the scene. Samurais had now abandon their rides, coming after the turtles by foot. Stopping at the edge of the river, Raphael looked around panting, Leonardo trembling in his hold. A cave behind a waterfall! Just when Raphael’s mind started to make a plan, he heard a sound which he didn’t want to hear. Not in this situation. Not being able to keep his eyes on the cave, Raphael was forced to look at the samurai who was coming at him. There was nowhere to dodge so Raphael pulled out his blade, blocking samurai’s sword with it. Movement at the corner of his eye made samurai look towards the cave, Raphael hearing how the man behind the mask gasped. Looking at the huge red figure emerging through the water made Raphael gasp too. It was big Yoki yokai! The biggest what Raphael had ever seen. Shit! He didn’t need this on top of the samurais! What the hell that yokai was even doing here?! And in the middle of the day! Samurais clearly were confused as to what to do so the leader ordered half of his men on Raphael and rest on the yokai. Yoki, obviously, wasn’t too thrilled when men started to shoot arrows at him. Roar echoed in the air as the yokai pulled out his massive ax, coming after the attackers. With few simple swing most men lost their lives, their bodies cut in half. “I-Ignore the yokai! Everyone, go after the kappas!” Men hesitated, but did as they were told. Raphael cursed in his mind as he now was blocking attacks, dodging them, trying to find a way out in this situation while also eyeing the yokai – who was following the men, coming towards them. Red eyes shined in yokai’s head while mist came out of its mouth, black hair hanging down on his shoulders, tight muscles moving under the red skin, veins popping out. Ground under them shook with each step this yokai took, trees falling all around when the ax cut them after reckless swings. Raphael had no choice but to turn and run as fast as he could. Luckily those idiotic samurais weren’t all that quick in difficult surrounding with their armors. Plus Yoki seemed to be more after them in the end so it gave the turtles some relief. The road turned more rocky and slippery and, no matter how careful Raphael was, he slipped and twisted his ankle. Cursing while holding his ankle Leonardo was tightly by his side, listening the surrounding. More top on the road, yokai was still rampaging with samurais, covering the sounds of approaching steps. Suddenly, Leonardo was snatched away from Raphael’s side. Raphael growled as he turned around, getting up to stand on one foot. Samurai leader had lost his mask and kabuto during the fight against the yokai, his ugly face disgusting Raphael. There was lunatic look in his eyes. Holding small turtle tight, this man stepped closer to the river, hanging Leonardo above the raging stream. “Don’t you dare…” Raphael growled, his hold tightening around his wakizashi. “Give the kid to me. You don’t get anything from killing him.” “You don’t know that, kappa. Perhaps I enjoy killing, no matter who’s the target.” “Give him to me or I swear...” “What? You can barely stand so what makes you think I will obey you, kappa?” Just when Raphael was going to do his move, Yoki appeared behind the trees, falling them down towards them. One of them fell right on top of the samurai leader, who lost his hold on Leonardo, being crushed under the trunk. “NO!” Raphael jumped at the edge of the river, trying hard to reach and take a hold on small hand which was reaching towards his voice, but the stream took Leonardo fast outside of his reach. “R-Raphael! H-help! I… I can’t swim!” “H-hold on, Leo! I’m coming!” But Raphael couldn’t – since Yoki was now walking towards him. Tears in his eyes, Raphael growled as he stood up, facing the yokai with fury shining in his eyes, matching the fury in yokai’s eyes. “GET LOST! I HAVE NO TIME TO FOOL AROUND WITH YOU!” Turning to look after Leonardo, who had managed to take a hold on a rock, Raphael turned his attention back on the yokai who now stood still, staring at the turtle. “I need to save him so get lost!” Raphael was so pissed he didn’t give a damn about turning his back on the yokai, rushing to Leonardo’s aid as quickly as possible. “Hold on, Leo! I’m coming!” “H-hurry! This rock… It’s slippery! And I don’t have strength to hold on much longer!” “I know, I know! Just, hold on!” Raphael started his slow and careful approach by stepping on rocks what he could see above the water, but he didn’t got very far when a dead samurai body went past him, heading straight towards Leonardo. The child screamed in surprise when dead body hit him, taking Leonardo with him towards the big waterfall. “No! NO! Fuck, NO!” Raphael heard how Leonardo’s voice faded away, calling his name. Big turtle got back on the ground as quick as possible, rushing towards the waterfall – only to witness how small body fell over the edge with the dead body. “LEOOO!” Reaching down, Raphael watched how small body faded into the fog, his heart dropping to his feet. This was… Unreal… No… NO! Finding a way down, Raphael rushed at the end of the waterfall, jumping in the water, making his way towards the dead body which was floating on the surface. Turning the body around, Raphael hoped to see Leonardo hanging onto it… But no. Growling in despair Raphael turned around over and over again, calling Leo’s name, diving few times as well. Nothing. *** Now more than exhausted, devastated and fully soaked big turtle sat on the shore after hours of searching the water and near by area, for nothing. He was panting, his eyes teary. This couldn’t be… A wave gently went past his feet, bringing a piece of shell to him. Raphael eyed it a moment before picking it up. This color, the feeling of it… It was part of Leo’s shell! He was sure of it! Looking around Raphael held the piece tightly in his hand, screaming Leo’s name one last time. He’d been screaming so much that he was losing his voice and getting a sore throat. Now sobbing more freely Raphael took his blade, making small hole on the shell piece. Taking small string of leather from one of his belts, Raphael pushed it through the hole, hanging Leo’s shell around his neck. He would carry this small piece of that turtle child with him to the rest of his life.