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Then came the day he was invited to the estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life turned upside down.", "count": "16", "submission_left_submission_id": "2230001", "submission_left_file_name": "3241652_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_5.doc", "submission_right_submission_id": "2233817", "submission_right_file_name": "3563721_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_7.doc", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/3563/3563721_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_7.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/3563/3563721_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_7.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/3563/3563721_Sundayeyes_bell_flowers_7.jpg", "submission_right_thumb_huge_x": "300", "submission_right_thumb_huge_y": "300", "submission_right_thumb_large_x": "200", "submission_right_thumb_large_y": "200", "submission_right_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_right_thumb_medium_y": "120" } ], "description": "Michelangelo had never been known to stay in one place for very long. Taverns and street corners were his hearth and home, because roots can't take hold if you just keep moving, and why would anyone want to sink into the ground so deep that you got stuck?\n\nThey were smart words to live by and had done a good job of keeping him happy enough. At least until the day he was invited to the sprawling estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life was turned upside down.\n\nAlternate Universe, AU\nPairings: Leonardo/Michelangelo, Raphael/Donatello\n\n~*~*~*~\n[url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2230001]<--- Chapter Five[/url] __//__ [url=https://inkbunny.net/s/2233817]Chapter Seven --->[/url]\n~*~*~*~", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Michelangelo had never been known to stay in one place for very long. Taverns and street corners were his hearth and home, because roots can't take hold if you just keep moving, and why would anyone want to sink into the ground so deep that you got stuck?

They were smart words to live by and had done a good job of keeping him happy enough. At least until the day he was invited to the sprawling estate of the Hamato Clan, and his entire life was turned upside down.

Alternate Universe, AU
Pairings: Leonardo/Michelangelo, Raphael/Donatello

~*~*~*~
<--- Chapter Five __//__ Chapter Seven --->
~*~*~*~", "writing": "[center]~*~*~*~\n\nChapter Six: Splintering\n\n~*~*~*~[/center]\n\nThe ride back to the estate seemed to take no time at all, maybe it was because his horse was a fast runner, or maybe it was because he had his eyes squeezed tightly shut the entire time, there was no way to know for sure. But it was a system that worked for Mikey, clinging to the back of the gray dappled gelding with his head down, knees pressed so tightly into the animal's side they were starting to ache, so he didn't stop to think about it.\n\nIt was only as they neared where the road turned from dirt back into carefully quarried stone that he felt like he could open his eyes to peek at where they were.\n\nSigns of the caravan's passage were everywhere. The road was a trampled, muddy mess, grass and flowers and the small weeds that grew from underneath the stones that lined the road were crushed under so many hooves and heavy cartwheels. There was no sign of any of the people who lived near the estate, everyone seemed to have retreated into their homes and barns for safety the moment the caravan appeared.\n\nLeonardo slowed and sat up straight in the saddle, looking sharply to the east where a cloud of dust was still settling. Mikey followed his gaze, not sitting up quite as straight, but enough to see what Leo was looking at.\n\nA mile or so away, near the edge of the forest was a wide-open meadow. No farmers had claimed it, so it was all tall grass and wildflowers, and at the farthest edge he spied the caravan, it's men milling around the horses and carts, like they were waiting for something. But no equipment or tents were being set up, no fires were being lit. Maybe that was a good thing.\n\nThe estate was as eerily quiet as the village as they rushed into the front courtyard, there weren't even any servants running about. The noise and activity that he had grown used to as being the normal everyday of this place was completely absent.\n\nAs they swung down from their mounts the captain from before appeared at Leo's shoulder. \"Your father is receiving him in the main hall, my lord.''\n\nLeo's face was grim as he immediately turned and stalked toward the large building at the center of the square. Mikey followed quickly, not really sure if he should, but wanting to stay by his side all the same.\n\nThe steps leading up to the wide-open massive doors of the hall were carved slate, spaced apart by a swirling pattern of small pieces of obsidian. His breath caught as they entered the interior. The main hall was long and wide, the roof held twenty feet above their heads by six thick columns, standing in two rows down the center of the room. He gaped at the silk tapestries hanging at the edges, each emblazoned with the Hamato sigil in sparkling thread.\n\nAt the far end of the room was a raised dais with three chairs. Raphael sat in the one on the left, his signature scowl drawing down his features with his eyes locked on a group of roughly dressed men standing in front of the platform.\n\nThe center chair was occupied by a tall, gray haired, handsome man who was obviously Lord Hamato. Taking in his features for the first time, Mikey thought he looked wise, but cold and distant, the despair he carried with him was clear in the way he held himself. But to someone who didn't know his story, he could see how the lord might simply look regal or commanding.\n\nThe sound of hushed whispers filled the air from richly dressed men and women that were gathered in small clustered groups, half hidden in the shadows along the outer walls of the hall. Nobles of Hamato's hierarchy, he assumed, gathered to watch whatever was about to happen.\n\nLeonardo's stride was full of purpose but conspicuously relaxed as they approached, like he wanted the room to think he wasn't at all concerned with the scene before him. He turned his head and motioned to a chair set against the wall near the dais, indicating Mikey should sit and remain quiet, then he joined his father, sitting in the chair to his right.\n\n\"Finally.'' A thick, deep voice grumbled from the front of the group.\n\nMikey didn't need to crane his neck to see who had spoken. The leader of this rival clan was massive, a hulking beast that towered over the other men gathered around him. His hair was so lightly yellow it was almost white, pulled back into a long tail that was tied at the base of his neck with a length of cord. The sleeves of his tunic had been removed, or never sewn on to begin with, obviously to accommodate the bulging size of his muscled arms. Twisting down from his shoulder almost all the way to his elbow was a dark purple tattoo of a slithering dragon. And just below that, wrapping around his forearms and down to his meaty fingers, Mikey could barely make out a filigree of multiple jagged purple lines, much lighter in color than the dragon.\n\nLeonardo inclined his head with a stiff but diplomatic gesture in response to the man's complaint. \"Apologies, Lord Hun, I was detained elsewhere.'' There was a distinct twist on Leo's lip as he spat out the honorific.\n\nThe man called Hun did not look in any way appeased.\n\n\"Thank you for joining us, my son.'' Lord Hamato said, his voice was soft, but it captured the room with a gravity that gave no doubt of who was in charge. \"And thank you for waiting, Lord Hun. What brings you to my estate today?''\n\nHun rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck, before he began to speak. \"I am here to formally request a parcel of land that my clan may stake claim to. The land is empty and away from other settlements, it is perfect for my needs.''\n\nLord Hamato frowned suspiciously and both Leo and Raph raised eye ridges in surprise.\n\nHun crossed his arms defiantly, his men moving in an agitated wave around him. Mikey had seen weaselly, shifty eyed men like these before. They rarely bothered with the hassle of the law, simply taking what they wanted with no regard for anyone else. So, he guessed the fact that this man was here to make such a request at all, was completely unexpected.\n\n\"Interesting,'' Lord Hamato replied, carefully. \"I'm sure you must know that I am aware the council has rejected your petitions for land claims six times in the past year. Why do you think that coming to me directly would bring about a different response?''\n\n\"Because these lands are under your banner and of no use to anyone. They lay unused and abandoned. Why shouldn't my clan make good use of it?''\n\n\"To which lands are you referring?'' Lord Hamato said patiently.\n\n\"The rocky fields to the south of the great river that back up into the canyon. That pass collapsed last winter, and none have been able to use the road through there since.''\n\nLord Hamato nodded in acknowledgement, \"Yes, I know the pass you speak of. Unfortunately, those lands are in the jurisdiction of the Shobu Clan and as such they are not mine alone to parcel.''\n\n\"The Shobu Clan are your allies and banner men,'' Hun growled impatiently. \"They answer to you and would accept your order if you would simply grant me the land.''\n\nMikey leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees as he listened to the two men bandy negotiations back and forth. He didn't know anything about politics, and so didn't even try to keep up when they started talking about border laws and the rights of villages, but he did know about merchants and the importance of location. Living on the streets he had spent most of his days talking to many traders, not only to gather information, but because more often than not there was no one else to talk to.\n\nHe didn't know where the land that Hun was arguing for was located, but he had picked up the tidbit about a road, which meant the pass was likely a trading route. And, knowing greedy men like Hun all too well, he guessed that the leader of the Purple Dragons wanted control of the pass so he could clear it, and charge anyone who wanted to use it more than their lives were worth for the privilege, either in goods or coin.\n\nIt was the oldest scam in the book, and as he watched Lord Hamato skillfully deflect every one of Hun's requests, he could see that the old Lord knew it too.\n\nWhat Mikey was trying to make sense of was why Hun was stooping to this level at all, lowering himself, asking for permission instead of just taking the land by force. Thugs like these men did what they wanted when they wanted, and dealt with the consequences later, usually in the form of fighting off assassins or soldiers, relying on their brute strength to keep them alive.\n\nOh. That was it then.\n\nThe pass was on Hamato lands, and he may have lived his life moving through the villages near the coast, nowhere near the inland estates or the clans and nobles with their politics, but even he had heard of the might of the Hamato army.\n\nIf the slimy snakes that surrounded Hun now, plus the dregs outside with his caravan, were the extent of his forces then he must know that Leonardo and his soldiers would wipe the floor with them. The amount of Hamato men standing guard around this room alone already outnumbered the men Hun had grouped around him, and this was only a sliver of the Hamato clan's numbers. The Purple Dragons didn't stand a chance. It was a tactical gamble, and it was the only reason a brute like this would bother to play at being a diplomat.\n\n\"You're not listening to me, Hamato!'' Hun seethed, his hands curling into fists, even as he plastered a fake smile on his face, \"I have spoken to the villages surrounding the pass. They all agree that the land is worthless. No one there voiced any problem with my suggestion.''\n\n\"Yeah, I'm sure ya' asked real nicely.'' Raphael grumbled, rolling his eyes at the claim. Hun's lip rose in a sneer and Lord Hamato shot his son a look of warning.\n\n\"If the land is so worthless, why do ya' want it so badly?'' Raph continued impatiently, obviously fed up with the farce of these talks. \"That canyon is rocky and dead, ya' won't be able to grow crops or raise livestock, so why is it so attractive to ya'? I'm sure it has nothin' to do with the seaport that's on the other side of that pass.''\n\nHun's lips disappeared into a thin line, red flushing his face. \"Are you accusing me of something?'' He said with ice on his tongue.\n\nRaph's answering smile was challenging, \"No. I think you've made what ya' want perfectly clear.''\n\nHun hissed, stepping forward, reaching for a thick chain that hung from his belt.\n\nSensing conflict, Lord Hamato quickly stood, speaking with force. \"Raphael! Enough. Lord Hun, I can see your men are weary from your time on the road. Please accept the hospitality of my house.'' He turned with a sharp clap of his hands, toward a set of double doors set into the wall behind the dais. \"Donatello. Food and drink for our guests.''\n\nInstantly Don swung open the doors and stepped to the side, directing the fleet of servants that poured out after him, carrying trays piled high with food and large jugs of wine.\n\nHun's men were vibrating with excitement as the offerings appeared. Retreating to a sunken area in the floor behind them filled with plush rugs and oversized pillows, yelling and laughing in celebration of their good luck. Hun reluctantly joined them there, glowering at anyone who dared look in his direction, wine dribbling down his chin as he drank from a goblet the size of his own fist.\n\nThe rival leader was more than he appeared, and Mikey figured that was on purpose. Using his tiny head and frighteningly large shoulders to his advantage to make others think he was a typical dumb brute, driven by his muscles more than his brain.\n\nBut you didn't become the leader of your own clan by being stupid, and taking a second to really look at him, he could see the cold and calculating way Hun's eyes darted about the room. Scanning, memorizing, reading each and every person that passed in front of him, looking for weaknesses that he could exploit.\n\nAnd it was that small detail that brought Mikey's hackles up the most. A muscled moron was predictable, all you had to do was stay out of arm?s reach and you were fine. But give those muscles the ability to think and anything could happen.\n\nUsually that was enough to make him grab his things and bolt for the nearest door. But instead, he took in a deep breath, a surprising calm settling over him as he realized he had no desire to do that. In fact, what he wanted to do was get closer to Hun and his men to see if he could pick up any interesting information from a wine loosened tongue or two.\n\nThe nobles jovially moved into the center space to partake of the food and drink, seemingly unconcerned with the dangerous men they were sharing the room with, like it was all a fanciful game. Mikey shook his head, noting that nobles were all the same no matter where he was. Soon the room was loud with conversation and buzzing energy.\n\nUsing the cover of so many bodies to slip into the crowd was easy enough, it was only a couple dozen people, but that was plenty for his purposes.\n\nSliding up next to Don, he grinned, snagging a dumpling off the tray he held. The steward was focused on monitoring the servants and making sure they were all performing their duties correctly, but he did spare a second to wink at Mikey with a grin of his own as he handed off the tray to another servant and hurried away to manage a mess caused by the raucous guests.\n\nHun's men were obnoxious in the worst sense of the word. Loud and crude and handsy with the staff. More than once Mikey watched a young maid almost drop her tray sliding sideways out of reach of the filthy hands trying to sneak their way up her skirts.\n\nDonatello for his part was doing an excellent job of making sure none of his people were within arm's reach of those vile men for longer than was necessary. But it meant that he was spending most of his time circling the lounge area, close to where Hun was seated.\n\nAnd it didn't take long before Mikey noticed the very air in the room had changed, thickened like a heavy winter fog, gooseflesh pricking the back of his neck. Confused, instinct kicking in like he was prey in a wide open field, he looked around for the source of the danger, expecting a thug with a knife or someone trying to pick his pocket, but nothing jumped out at him.\n\nEverything in the room seemed completely normal, the nobles continued to laugh and gossip, Hun's men were bellowing their approval as a servant brought over another large jug of wine, it was almost like any night he had ever spent in a tavern.\n\nBut something was scratching at his skin, there was a shift that made him fidget uncomfortably. Stopping, he slowly scanned the room, looking into each face, searching for the root of his unease. It was almost like the buzzing sound of a fly in a window, caught behind the curtain where you couldn't see it. If he could just pull back the fabric...\n\nThere. It was so subtle he almost missed it. The nobles were elegant and swaying around each other, delicately eating and drinking in the haughty way they always did. Completely opposite from them, Hun's men were rowdy and frantic, gorging on their drink with large, loud, obvious glee.\n\nAll except for Hun. Hun was as still as stone.\n\nAnd that was the change. Before, the hulking man had been agitated, rolling his shoulders, cracking his neck, grinding his teeth when he wasn't taking long swallows from his cup. This little stunt obviously hadn't gone as easily as he had planned and his face was flushed red in annoyance while his beady, dark eyes flit around the room, searching for anything that could help him sway things in his favor.\n\nBut now, he was frozen, not even a finger twitched. Only his eyes moved in his skull.\n\nMikey followed his gaze, trying to see what had narrowed his focus so intently, jerking with a start when he realized what it was.\n\nLike a cougar locked on its prey, Hun had his eyes locked on Donatello, following the steward's every move as he paced the room. There was a hunger in the man's stare that sent cold ice shooting straight down Mikey's spine.\n\nHe'd seen that look before, had it directed at himself once by a sleazy brothel owner in an old, run down village so far south he couldn't even remember what he had been doing there in the first place. It was the look of a hunter with too much ego and nothing to lose.\n\nHun licked his lips as Don passed behind him, and Mikey's stomach twisted.\n\nHe turned to look for Leo, finding the eldest son and Lord Hamato with their heads close together in an earnest discussion. Neither of them seemed to have noticed the change in the atmosphere. But Raphael was another story, he had definitely noticed, and going by the dark look on his face, Mikey was sure that wasn't a good thing.\n\nHe had stepped down off the dais, his glare locked on Hun, his jaw clenched. Mikey was surprised he couldn't hear the grinding sound of his teeth. The second son fingered the hilt of his weapon resting at his hip as he watched Hun's gaze follow his mate around the room.\n\nHun was kicking the embers of this fire now, and something was about to catch.\n\nKnowing he needed to do something before that happened, Mikey decided to get Leo's attention, to make him look around and see what was happening. But before he could even take a step, Hun moved.\n\nDonatello was trailing after a young maid as she struggled with a tray that was too large for her, dashing up and reaching out to lift the side before it tumbled out of her grip and onto the floor.\n\nSmoothly, swiftly, far faster than Mikey would have ever thought something so big could move, Hun rose to his feet and his meaty hand shot out, closing around Don's forearm, swinging the steward around and pulling him flush up against his sweaty chest.\n\nDon grimaced and went stiff, quietly trying, and failing, to twist out of Hun's grip without making a scene, leaning away as far as he could as Hun bent down and pressed his face into Don's neck, inhaling so deeply Mikey could hear the hiss of his breath over every other sound.\n\nRaphael barked out a single warning that silenced the room in an instant, his knuckles white as he gripped the hilt of his weapon. The nobles deftly sensed the danger and quickly cleared the space, retreating back into the shadows along the walls as Leo shot to his feet, scooping up his swords where they had been placed against his chair, and leapt down from the dais with deadly grace.\n\n\"Lord Hun,'' Lord Hamato said, his voice low in the quiet, stepping down and motioning for his sons to stay where they were. \"May I ask why you are manhandling my steward?''\n\nHun laughed quietly, \"This is a waste of time,'' He said with menace. \"You think platitudes and cheap wine will distract me from what I came here for?''\n\nMikey pressed up against the column at his back, desperately wanting to sprint across the room to help Donnie but knowing that he would be about as effective as a gnat against a monster like Hun. A burst of pain blossomed in his chest, his friend needed him, and he was useless. His fingers curled into fists, drawing blood where his fingernails dug into his skin.\n\nLord Hamato stood tall with his sons fanning out on either side of him, prepared to strike at the slightest provocation, all three of them frightening in their command of the room.\n\n\"Hun,'' He spoke with authority, dropping the pretense of the honorific. \"I believe these negotiations have reached their limit for today. We will pick them up again tomorrow when you...''\n\n\"Negotiations, pha!'' Hun spat on the floor. \"You never had any intention of granting my request. But that's fine, I have a better idea now.''\n\nHe looked down at Don suggestively, his men laughing behind him, bobbing their heads in anticipation while the steward continued to struggle against Hun's grip.\n\n\"What do you want, Hun?'' Leo demanded, his posture threatening.\n\nHun jeered, leaning down to sniff at Don's neck again. \"I claim the right of bonding, on this sweet thing.''\n\nDon jerked, the color draining from his skin as he stared wide eyed up into Hun's face, his arms trembling as he redoubled his efforts to escape from the brute.\n\nLeo moved quickly, placing himself between Hun and Raphael. There was a low rumbling growl coming from the second son that reverberated through the room.\n\n\"It looks to me like you have more than enough bonds as it is, Hun.'' The eldest accused, staring pointedly at the rival leaders' forearms, \"I'm sure the council would be very interested in seeing the evidence that you so blatantly display.''\n\nHun laughed, booming and deep, throwing his head back in his mirth. \"Like your laws mean anything to me! I haven't added to my harem in quite a while, and I always have room for one more.'' He finished with a deathly glare.\n\nNot waiting for any of the Hamato clan to challenge him, he turned to leave, practically lifting Don off the ground as he swung the olive turtle around, snapping at his men to move.\n\nToo much happened all at once to even try and make sense of it. There was a bellowing howl from Raphael as he ducked around Leonardo, the steel of his weapons flashing in the light. Leo rushed after his brother, his teeth clenched and bared.\n\nMikey thought for a second that if he was quick he could leap onto Hun's back, dig his thumbs deep into his eyes or his nose or the hollow of his throat, anything to get him to let go of Donnie.\n\nBut before anyone in the room could take more than a few steps, Donatello moved, and time itself seemed to slow to a crawl.\n\nWith a determined grunt he managed to plant his feet, reaching up to grasp Hun's wrist with his free hand. He twisted and ducked under the brute's arm, pulling Hun down and backward, off balance.\n\nThe man grunted in surprise as he tried to gain his leverage back, but Don kept moving, bending low and shoving his entire body up with all of the force he could muster, releasing a raspy yell from low in his throat as his shell slammed into Hun's gut, knocking the wind right out of him.\n\nHun doubled over, coughing, gasping for air, but Don didn't give him even a second to recover. The rival leader released his arm as he bent forward, clutching at his middle and Don stood, spinning quickly, bringing his knee up to connect with an echoing crack against the massive man's forehead.\n\nThe rival leader's head snapped up and he flew backward, sliding to a stop a few feet away, stunned on his back, staring wide eyed up at the roof, wheezing in his shock.\n\nFor a moment that seemed to last forever no one moved, all eyes on Don as he crouched with his fists clenched, heaving gasps shaking his body. Then [i]everything[/i] moved in a flurry of activity.\n\nHun's men crowed in anger, jumping forward to defend their lord. Lord Hamato answered by swiftly ordering his soldiers into action, the men quickly surrounding the unwelcome guests, forcing them back into a clustered group near the main doors where they were held in place by the points of many swords.\n\nDonatello had gone very still, his eyes as wide as dinner plates as the realization of what he had just done slowly came over him. He turned, shaking, facing Lord Hamato with a look so pale that Mikey was worried he was about to pass out.\n\nLord Hamato stepped forward, looking decades older with disappointment heavy on his face.\n\n\"Donatello,'' He began, and Don started shaking his head, as if that alone would stop the lord from speaking. \"I... understand why you have done this; however, the laws are clear. It is forbidden for a servant to raise arms against a lord, even one such as that...'' He said, throwing a disgusted look at Hun's prone form. \"I have valued your loyalty tremendously over the years, but I cannot give you preferential treatment. Please understand that you leave me no choice. Guards, take him into custody.''\n\nLord Hamato gestured at two soldiers positioned near him and the men moved forward.\n\nDonatello's lip was trembling, but he wasn't looking at his lord. He mouthed a silent apology at Raphael, desperate tears brimming in his eyes, gasping as the guard came within reach.\n\n\"No!'' Raphael roared, pushing against Leo leaving nothing but a green blur behind him as he rushed to Don's side, clutching the smaller turtle to him protectively, pressing their foreheads together as Don stared up into his face, whispering desperate pleas over and over again, \"No, no, no, Raphie, no, you can't...''\n\n\"Raphael? What are you doing?'' Lord Hamato said firmly, but the bewilderment in his tone was obvious.\n\nRaph made no indication that he had heard his father with all of his focus on Don as he slowly backed them both toward the main doors, the olive turtle still begging him to stop, \"Raphie, please, no, you're too important, you can't do this, I'm not worth it...''\n\nRaph jerked to a stop and grabbed Don by his face, staring hard into his tear-filled eyes, shaking him a little to make sure his full attention was on him, \"Don't ya' say that, Don! Don't ya' ever say that! You're worth everything to me...''\n\nDon stopped his frantic whispers as Raph trailed off, smiling through a sob at hearing the tremble in his mate's voice. There may as well have been no one else in the room for how little attention they were paying to anyone but each other.\n\n\"Raphael!'' Lord Hamato yelled, impatient at being ignored, \"You know the law. Donatello must be brought before the council to answer for what he has done. Release him to the guard immediately!''\n\n\"No!'' Raph yelled right back, leveling a hate filled glare at his father. \"I'm done playin' this game. We're done hiding what we have because of your fear! If it weren't for ya' we'd already be bonded, and this never would've happened! I will [i]die[/i] before I let anything happen to Don!''\n\nThe roar of his voice echoed through the hall, shocking Lord Hamato into a stunned silence. You could have heard a pin drop; the room was so still.\n\nA coughing groan finally broke the stalemate, Hun was rolling to his side, struggling to get his feet under him, a good-sized goose egg shining bright red in the center of his forehead. \"Hamato!'' He wheezed through his teeth. \"I have issued a formal claim on the servant. I will take what I am owed, or there will be war between our clans!''\n\nLord Hamato ignored the rival leader, his face glowing with anger, \"Raphael. You [i]will[/i] heed my order. If you defy me on this, then you are longer my son. Do you understand? Would you throw everything you are away... for this? For a steward?''\n\nThere was a coldness in the way he said the word that chilled the entire room. Don hid his face against Raph's plastron in shame. The second son drew his shoulders back with determination, turning to look at his brother, \"I'm sorry, Leo...''\n\nBarely waiting for Leo's accepting nod, his brother's eyes closed in resignation, Raph spun with Don still in his arms and disappeared out the main doors, Hun making a shaky attempt to lunge after them before being quickly stopped by Hamato soldiers and their swords at his neck.\n\n[center]~*~*~*~\n\ntbc...[/center]", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "
~*~*~*~

Chapter Six: Splintering

~*~*~*~


The ride back to the estate seemed to take no time at all, maybe it was because his horse was a fast runner, or maybe it was because he had his eyes squeezed tightly shut the entire time, there was no way to know for sure. But it was a system that worked for Mikey, clinging to the back of the gray dappled gelding with his head down, knees pressed so tightly into the animal's side they were starting to ache, so he didn't stop to think about it.

It was only as they neared where the road turned from dirt back into carefully quarried stone that he felt like he could open his eyes to peek at where they were.

Signs of the caravan's passage were everywhere. The road was a trampled, muddy mess, grass and flowers and the small weeds that grew from underneath the stones that lined the road were crushed under so many hooves and heavy cartwheels. There was no sign of any of the people who lived near the estate, everyone seemed to have retreated into their homes and barns for safety the moment the caravan appeared.

Leonardo slowed and sat up straight in the saddle, looking sharply to the east where a cloud of dust was still settling. Mikey followed his gaze, not sitting up quite as straight, but enough to see what Leo was looking at.

A mile or so away, near the edge of the forest was a wide-open meadow. No farmers had claimed it, so it was all tall grass and wildflowers, and at the farthest edge he spied the caravan, it's men milling around the horses and carts, like they were waiting for something. But no equipment or tents were being set up, no fires were being lit. Maybe that was a good thing.

The estate was as eerily quiet as the village as they rushed into the front courtyard, there weren't even any servants running about. The noise and activity that he had grown used to as being the normal everyday of this place was completely absent.

As they swung down from their mounts the captain from before appeared at Leo's shoulder. "Your father is receiving him in the main hall, my lord.''

Leo's face was grim as he immediately turned and stalked toward the large building at the center of the square. Mikey followed quickly, not really sure if he should, but wanting to stay by his side all the same.

The steps leading up to the wide-open massive doors of the hall were carved slate, spaced apart by a swirling pattern of small pieces of obsidian. His breath caught as they entered the interior. The main hall was long and wide, the roof held twenty feet above their heads by six thick columns, standing in two rows down the center of the room. He gaped at the silk tapestries hanging at the edges, each emblazoned with the Hamato sigil in sparkling thread.

At the far end of the room was a raised dais with three chairs. Raphael sat in the one on the left, his signature scowl drawing down his features with his eyes locked on a group of roughly dressed men standing in front of the platform.

The center chair was occupied by a tall, gray haired, handsome man who was obviously Lord Hamato. Taking in his features for the first time, Mikey thought he looked wise, but cold and distant, the despair he carried with him was clear in the way he held himself. But to someone who didn't know his story, he could see how the lord might simply look regal or commanding.

The sound of hushed whispers filled the air from richly dressed men and women that were gathered in small clustered groups, half hidden in the shadows along the outer walls of the hall. Nobles of Hamato's hierarchy, he assumed, gathered to watch whatever was about to happen.

Leonardo's stride was full of purpose but conspicuously relaxed as they approached, like he wanted the room to think he wasn't at all concerned with the scene before him. He turned his head and motioned to a chair set against the wall near the dais, indicating Mikey should sit and remain quiet, then he joined his father, sitting in the chair to his right.

"Finally.'' A thick, deep voice grumbled from the front of the group.

Mikey didn't need to crane his neck to see who had spoken. The leader of this rival clan was massive, a hulking beast that towered over the other men gathered around him. His hair was so lightly yellow it was almost white, pulled back into a long tail that was tied at the base of his neck with a length of cord. The sleeves of his tunic had been removed, or never sewn on to begin with, obviously to accommodate the bulging size of his muscled arms. Twisting down from his shoulder almost all the way to his elbow was a dark purple tattoo of a slithering dragon. And just below that, wrapping around his forearms and down to his meaty fingers, Mikey could barely make out a filigree of multiple jagged purple lines, much lighter in color than the dragon.

Leonardo inclined his head with a stiff but diplomatic gesture in response to the man's complaint. "Apologies, Lord Hun, I was detained elsewhere.'' There was a distinct twist on Leo's lip as he spat out the honorific.

The man called Hun did not look in any way appeased.

"Thank you for joining us, my son.'' Lord Hamato said, his voice was soft, but it captured the room with a gravity that gave no doubt of who was in charge. "And thank you for waiting, Lord Hun. What brings you to my estate today?''

Hun rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck, before he began to speak. "I am here to formally request a parcel of land that my clan may stake claim to. The land is empty and away from other settlements, it is perfect for my needs.''

Lord Hamato frowned suspiciously and both Leo and Raph raised eye ridges in surprise.

Hun crossed his arms defiantly, his men moving in an agitated wave around him. Mikey had seen weaselly, shifty eyed men like these before. They rarely bothered with the hassle of the law, simply taking what they wanted with no regard for anyone else. So, he guessed the fact that this man was here to make such a request at all, was completely unexpected.

"Interesting,'' Lord Hamato replied, carefully. "I'm sure you must know that I am aware the council has rejected your petitions for land claims six times in the past year. Why do you think that coming to me directly would bring about a different response?''

"Because these lands are under your banner and of no use to anyone. They lay unused and abandoned. Why shouldn't my clan make good use of it?''

"To which lands are you referring?'' Lord Hamato said patiently.

"The rocky fields to the south of the great river that back up into the canyon. That pass collapsed last winter, and none have been able to use the road through there since.''

Lord Hamato nodded in acknowledgement, "Yes, I know the pass you speak of. Unfortunately, those lands are in the jurisdiction of the Shobu Clan and as such they are not mine alone to parcel.''

"The Shobu Clan are your allies and banner men,'' Hun growled impatiently. "They answer to you and would accept your order if you would simply grant me the land.''

Mikey leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees as he listened to the two men bandy negotiations back and forth. He didn't know anything about politics, and so didn't even try to keep up when they started talking about border laws and the rights of villages, but he did know about merchants and the importance of location. Living on the streets he had spent most of his days talking to many traders, not only to gather information, but because more often than not there was no one else to talk to.

He didn't know where the land that Hun was arguing for was located, but he had picked up the tidbit about a road, which meant the pass was likely a trading route. And, knowing greedy men like Hun all too well, he guessed that the leader of the Purple Dragons wanted control of the pass so he could clear it, and charge anyone who wanted to use it more than their lives were worth for the privilege, either in goods or coin.

It was the oldest scam in the book, and as he watched Lord Hamato skillfully deflect every one of Hun's requests, he could see that the old Lord knew it too.

What Mikey was trying to make sense of was why Hun was stooping to this level at all, lowering himself, asking for permission instead of just taking the land by force. Thugs like these men did what they wanted when they wanted, and dealt with the consequences later, usually in the form of fighting off assassins or soldiers, relying on their brute strength to keep them alive.

Oh. That was it then.

The pass was on Hamato lands, and he may have lived his life moving through the villages near the coast, nowhere near the inland estates or the clans and nobles with their politics, but even he had heard of the might of the Hamato army.

If the slimy snakes that surrounded Hun now, plus the dregs outside with his caravan, were the extent of his forces then he must know that Leonardo and his soldiers would wipe the floor with them. The amount of Hamato men standing guard around this room alone already outnumbered the men Hun had grouped around him, and this was only a sliver of the Hamato clan's numbers. The Purple Dragons didn't stand a chance. It was a tactical gamble, and it was the only reason a brute like this would bother to play at being a diplomat.

"You're not listening to me, Hamato!'' Hun seethed, his hands curling into fists, even as he plastered a fake smile on his face, "I have spoken to the villages surrounding the pass. They all agree that the land is worthless. No one there voiced any problem with my suggestion.''

"Yeah, I'm sure ya' asked real nicely.'' Raphael grumbled, rolling his eyes at the claim. Hun's lip rose in a sneer and Lord Hamato shot his son a look of warning.

"If the land is so worthless, why do ya' want it so badly?'' Raph continued impatiently, obviously fed up with the farce of these talks. "That canyon is rocky and dead, ya' won't be able to grow crops or raise livestock, so why is it so attractive to ya'? I'm sure it has nothin' to do with the seaport that's on the other side of that pass.''

Hun's lips disappeared into a thin line, red flushing his face. "Are you accusing me of something?'' He said with ice on his tongue.

Raph's answering smile was challenging, "No. I think you've made what ya' want perfectly clear.''

Hun hissed, stepping forward, reaching for a thick chain that hung from his belt.

Sensing conflict, Lord Hamato quickly stood, speaking with force. "Raphael! Enough. Lord Hun, I can see your men are weary from your time on the road. Please accept the hospitality of my house.'' He turned with a sharp clap of his hands, toward a set of double doors set into the wall behind the dais. "Donatello. Food and drink for our guests.''

Instantly Don swung open the doors and stepped to the side, directing the fleet of servants that poured out after him, carrying trays piled high with food and large jugs of wine.

Hun's men were vibrating with excitement as the offerings appeared. Retreating to a sunken area in the floor behind them filled with plush rugs and oversized pillows, yelling and laughing in celebration of their good luck. Hun reluctantly joined them there, glowering at anyone who dared look in his direction, wine dribbling down his chin as he drank from a goblet the size of his own fist.

The rival leader was more than he appeared, and Mikey figured that was on purpose. Using his tiny head and frighteningly large shoulders to his advantage to make others think he was a typical dumb brute, driven by his muscles more than his brain.

But you didn't become the leader of your own clan by being stupid, and taking a second to really look at him, he could see the cold and calculating way Hun's eyes darted about the room. Scanning, memorizing, reading each and every person that passed in front of him, looking for weaknesses that he could exploit.

And it was that small detail that brought Mikey's hackles up the most. A muscled moron was predictable, all you had to do was stay out of arm?s reach and you were fine. But give those muscles the ability to think and anything could happen.

Usually that was enough to make him grab his things and bolt for the nearest door. But instead, he took in a deep breath, a surprising calm settling over him as he realized he had no desire to do that. In fact, what he wanted to do was get closer to Hun and his men to see if he could pick up any interesting information from a wine loosened tongue or two.

The nobles jovially moved into the center space to partake of the food and drink, seemingly unconcerned with the dangerous men they were sharing the room with, like it was all a fanciful game. Mikey shook his head, noting that nobles were all the same no matter where he was. Soon the room was loud with conversation and buzzing energy.

Using the cover of so many bodies to slip into the crowd was easy enough, it was only a couple dozen people, but that was plenty for his purposes.

Sliding up next to Don, he grinned, snagging a dumpling off the tray he held. The steward was focused on monitoring the servants and making sure they were all performing their duties correctly, but he did spare a second to wink at Mikey with a grin of his own as he handed off the tray to another servant and hurried away to manage a mess caused by the raucous guests.

Hun's men were obnoxious in the worst sense of the word. Loud and crude and handsy with the staff. More than once Mikey watched a young maid almost drop her tray sliding sideways out of reach of the filthy hands trying to sneak their way up her skirts.

Donatello for his part was doing an excellent job of making sure none of his people were within arm's reach of those vile men for longer than was necessary. But it meant that he was spending most of his time circling the lounge area, close to where Hun was seated.

And it didn't take long before Mikey noticed the very air in the room had changed, thickened like a heavy winter fog, gooseflesh pricking the back of his neck. Confused, instinct kicking in like he was prey in a wide open field, he looked around for the source of the danger, expecting a thug with a knife or someone trying to pick his pocket, but nothing jumped out at him.

Everything in the room seemed completely normal, the nobles continued to laugh and gossip, Hun's men were bellowing their approval as a servant brought over another large jug of wine, it was almost like any night he had ever spent in a tavern.

But something was scratching at his skin, there was a shift that made him fidget uncomfortably. Stopping, he slowly scanned the room, looking into each face, searching for the root of his unease. It was almost like the buzzing sound of a fly in a window, caught behind the curtain where you couldn't see it. If he could just pull back the fabric...

There. It was so subtle he almost missed it. The nobles were elegant and swaying around each other, delicately eating and drinking in the haughty way they always did. Completely opposite from them, Hun's men were rowdy and frantic, gorging on their drink with large, loud, obvious glee.

All except for Hun. Hun was as still as stone.

And that was the change. Before, the hulking man had been agitated, rolling his shoulders, cracking his neck, grinding his teeth when he wasn't taking long swallows from his cup. This little stunt obviously hadn't gone as easily as he had planned and his face was flushed red in annoyance while his beady, dark eyes flit around the room, searching for anything that could help him sway things in his favor.

But now, he was frozen, not even a finger twitched. Only his eyes moved in his skull.

Mikey followed his gaze, trying to see what had narrowed his focus so intently, jerking with a start when he realized what it was.

Like a cougar locked on its prey, Hun had his eyes locked on Donatello, following the steward's every move as he paced the room. There was a hunger in the man's stare that sent cold ice shooting straight down Mikey's spine.

He'd seen that look before, had it directed at himself once by a sleazy brothel owner in an old, run down village so far south he couldn't even remember what he had been doing there in the first place. It was the look of a hunter with too much ego and nothing to lose.

Hun licked his lips as Don passed behind him, and Mikey's stomach twisted.

He turned to look for Leo, finding the eldest son and Lord Hamato with their heads close together in an earnest discussion. Neither of them seemed to have noticed the change in the atmosphere. But Raphael was another story, he had definitely noticed, and going by the dark look on his face, Mikey was sure that wasn't a good thing.

He had stepped down off the dais, his glare locked on Hun, his jaw clenched. Mikey was surprised he couldn't hear the grinding sound of his teeth. The second son fingered the hilt of his weapon resting at his hip as he watched Hun's gaze follow his mate around the room.

Hun was kicking the embers of this fire now, and something was about to catch.

Knowing he needed to do something before that happened, Mikey decided to get Leo's attention, to make him look around and see what was happening. But before he could even take a step, Hun moved.

Donatello was trailing after a young maid as she struggled with a tray that was too large for her, dashing up and reaching out to lift the side before it tumbled out of her grip and onto the floor.

Smoothly, swiftly, far faster than Mikey would have ever thought something so big could move, Hun rose to his feet and his meaty hand shot out, closing around Don's forearm, swinging the steward around and pulling him flush up against his sweaty chest.

Don grimaced and went stiff, quietly trying, and failing, to twist out of Hun's grip without making a scene, leaning away as far as he could as Hun bent down and pressed his face into Don's neck, inhaling so deeply Mikey could hear the hiss of his breath over every other sound.

Raphael barked out a single warning that silenced the room in an instant, his knuckles white as he gripped the hilt of his weapon. The nobles deftly sensed the danger and quickly cleared the space, retreating back into the shadows along the walls as Leo shot to his feet, scooping up his swords where they had been placed against his chair, and leapt down from the dais with deadly grace.

"Lord Hun,'' Lord Hamato said, his voice low in the quiet, stepping down and motioning for his sons to stay where they were. "May I ask why you are manhandling my steward?''

Hun laughed quietly, "This is a waste of time,'' He said with menace. "You think platitudes and cheap wine will distract me from what I came here for?''

Mikey pressed up against the column at his back, desperately wanting to sprint across the room to help Donnie but knowing that he would be about as effective as a gnat against a monster like Hun. A burst of pain blossomed in his chest, his friend needed him, and he was useless. His fingers curled into fists, drawing blood where his fingernails dug into his skin.

Lord Hamato stood tall with his sons fanning out on either side of him, prepared to strike at the slightest provocation, all three of them frightening in their command of the room.

"Hun,'' He spoke with authority, dropping the pretense of the honorific. "I believe these negotiations have reached their limit for today. We will pick them up again tomorrow when you...''

"Negotiations, pha!'' Hun spat on the floor. "You never had any intention of granting my request. But that's fine, I have a better idea now.''

He looked down at Don suggestively, his men laughing behind him, bobbing their heads in anticipation while the steward continued to struggle against Hun's grip.

"What do you want, Hun?'' Leo demanded, his posture threatening.

Hun jeered, leaning down to sniff at Don's neck again. "I claim the right of bonding, on this sweet thing.''

Don jerked, the color draining from his skin as he stared wide eyed up into Hun's face, his arms trembling as he redoubled his efforts to escape from the brute.

Leo moved quickly, placing himself between Hun and Raphael. There was a low rumbling growl coming from the second son that reverberated through the room.

"It looks to me like you have more than enough bonds as it is, Hun.'' The eldest accused, staring pointedly at the rival leaders' forearms, "I'm sure the council would be very interested in seeing the evidence that you so blatantly display.''

Hun laughed, booming and deep, throwing his head back in his mirth. "Like your laws mean anything to me! I haven't added to my harem in quite a while, and I always have room for one more.'' He finished with a deathly glare.

Not waiting for any of the Hamato clan to challenge him, he turned to leave, practically lifting Don off the ground as he swung the olive turtle around, snapping at his men to move.

Too much happened all at once to even try and make sense of it. There was a bellowing howl from Raphael as he ducked around Leonardo, the steel of his weapons flashing in the light. Leo rushed after his brother, his teeth clenched and bared.

Mikey thought for a second that if he was quick he could leap onto Hun's back, dig his thumbs deep into his eyes or his nose or the hollow of his throat, anything to get him to let go of Donnie.

But before anyone in the room could take more than a few steps, Donatello moved, and time itself seemed to slow to a crawl.

With a determined grunt he managed to plant his feet, reaching up to grasp Hun's wrist with his free hand. He twisted and ducked under the brute's arm, pulling Hun down and backward, off balance.

The man grunted in surprise as he tried to gain his leverage back, but Don kept moving, bending low and shoving his entire body up with all of the force he could muster, releasing a raspy yell from low in his throat as his shell slammed into Hun's gut, knocking the wind right out of him.

Hun doubled over, coughing, gasping for air, but Don didn't give him even a second to recover. The rival leader released his arm as he bent forward, clutching at his middle and Don stood, spinning quickly, bringing his knee up to connect with an echoing crack against the massive man's forehead.

The rival leader's head snapped up and he flew backward, sliding to a stop a few feet away, stunned on his back, staring wide eyed up at the roof, wheezing in his shock.

For a moment that seemed to last forever no one moved, all eyes on Don as he crouched with his fists clenched, heaving gasps shaking his body. Then everything moved in a flurry of activity.

Hun's men crowed in anger, jumping forward to defend their lord. Lord Hamato answered by swiftly ordering his soldiers into action, the men quickly surrounding the unwelcome guests, forcing them back into a clustered group near the main doors where they were held in place by the points of many swords.

Donatello had gone very still, his eyes as wide as dinner plates as the realization of what he had just done slowly came over him. He turned, shaking, facing Lord Hamato with a look so pale that Mikey was worried he was about to pass out.

Lord Hamato stepped forward, looking decades older with disappointment heavy on his face.

"Donatello,'' He began, and Don started shaking his head, as if that alone would stop the lord from speaking. "I... understand why you have done this; however, the laws are clear. It is forbidden for a servant to raise arms against a lord, even one such as that...'' He said, throwing a disgusted look at Hun's prone form. "I have valued your loyalty tremendously over the years, but I cannot give you preferential treatment. Please understand that you leave me no choice. Guards, take him into custody.''

Lord Hamato gestured at two soldiers positioned near him and the men moved forward.

Donatello's lip was trembling, but he wasn't looking at his lord. He mouthed a silent apology at Raphael, desperate tears brimming in his eyes, gasping as the guard came within reach.

"No!'' Raphael roared, pushing against Leo leaving nothing but a green blur behind him as he rushed to Don's side, clutching the smaller turtle to him protectively, pressing their foreheads together as Don stared up into his face, whispering desperate pleas over and over again, "No, no, no, Raphie, no, you can't...''

"Raphael? What are you doing?'' Lord Hamato said firmly, but the bewilderment in his tone was obvious.

Raph made no indication that he had heard his father with all of his focus on Don as he slowly backed them both toward the main doors, the olive turtle still begging him to stop, "Raphie, please, no, you're too important, you can't do this, I'm not worth it...''

Raph jerked to a stop and grabbed Don by his face, staring hard into his tear-filled eyes, shaking him a little to make sure his full attention was on him, "Don't ya' say that, Don! Don't ya' ever say that! You're worth everything to me...''

Don stopped his frantic whispers as Raph trailed off, smiling through a sob at hearing the tremble in his mate's voice. There may as well have been no one else in the room for how little attention they were paying to anyone but each other.

"Raphael!'' Lord Hamato yelled, impatient at being ignored, "You know the law. Donatello must be brought before the council to answer for what he has done. Release him to the guard immediately!''

"No!'' Raph yelled right back, leveling a hate filled glare at his father. "I'm done playin' this game. We're done hiding what we have because of your fear! If it weren't for ya' we'd already be bonded, and this never would've happened! I will die before I let anything happen to Don!''

The roar of his voice echoed through the hall, shocking Lord Hamato into a stunned silence. You could have heard a pin drop; the room was so still.

A coughing groan finally broke the stalemate, Hun was rolling to his side, struggling to get his feet under him, a good-sized goose egg shining bright red in the center of his forehead. "Hamato!'' He wheezed through his teeth. "I have issued a formal claim on the servant. I will take what I am owed, or there will be war between our clans!''

Lord Hamato ignored the rival leader, his face glowing with anger, "Raphael. You will heed my order. If you defy me on this, then you are longer my son. Do you understand? Would you throw everything you are away... for this? For a steward?''

There was a coldness in the way he said the word that chilled the entire room. Don hid his face against Raph's plastron in shame. The second son drew his shoulders back with determination, turning to look at his brother, "I'm sorry, Leo...''

Barely waiting for Leo's accepting nod, his brother's eyes closed in resignation, Raph spun with Don still in his arms and disappeared out the main doors, Hun making a shaky attempt to lunge after them before being quickly stopped by Hamato soldiers and their swords at his neck.

~*~*~*~

tbc...
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