Standing on the Rooftops

Hamato Raphael wrote:His free fist was raised quite menacingly... but what came next was a single bonk to Mikey's head, before he was released. "There, first bonk of the year. You're welcome." Raph grinned smugly, but it was quick to fade a tad. All fun and games, but the night was yet to be over.

"C'mon, I bet Leo and Donnie are still out somewhere." He motioned the younger turtle to follow as he darted around a corner through the back alleys. He still had no idea what sort of business Leo was up to, but he'll bet his entire magazine collection that he won't like it.

Only a few blocks away from where the purple-clad brother stood now...

Mikey braced for impact between Raph's knuckle to his noggin but it wasn't like he expected.  Raph only gave him a knock on the head.  Being the dramatic Turtle he was, Mike still let out an emphatic "ow" then stood up, narrowing his eyes at his brother.

"Thanks, bro," he said sarcastically.  "Happy New Year to you, too."

Then he sighed and shook it off.  He would get revenge later, oh yes.  But right now they had two other Turtles to find.  Though he was surprised that Leo and Donnie were up here.  "So we all snuck out tonight?" he wondered out loud.  Well, on the bright side, if one went down with Splinter's wrath, then they all would.

He followed Raph closely as they disappeared in another alley.  He remembered Raph's text and it made Mike really curious what Leo was up to.  It wasn't like him to just go off by himself and not tell anyone what he was doing.  "So what's Leo's deal, bro?"  He kept his voice at a whisper.

...you sure are slow.
Leo's cheeks heated, his face twisted in vexation.
The turtle took a step back and came to a full stance. Inside, his anger twisted and coiled around his gut like a snake. But he forced it back before any venom could spit from his lips. Instead, he shifted in the snow, breath visible while he spoke.
Fantastic.

"Keep them out of this." Leo breathed, half hoping Donatello will take the hint and leave. If a scuffle were to start right here on the rooftops, he would need back up from all his brothers, and Donnie would have to be the one to go after Raph and Mikey.

Thankfully, Karai's little device wasn't spotted anywhere near the lair, but the Kunoichi didn't need to know that. It was bad enough the Foot already suspected them of being underground.

Of course Donatello got the hint, but he was very hesitant to leave Leonardo out here alone what if she attacked him? Leo would need all the help he could get. He could go after Michelangelo and Raphael but... There's still the possibility that the leader in blue would need him here. His thoughts went split, Don could either stay or he could go find the others. With remorse Donatello decided to leave and call the brother in red . looking at the deadly kunoichi and carfuly making sure she didn't spot him as he moved. The purple banded turtle jumped from the snow piling around him and grabbed hold of a water cooler pipe, merging into the shadows . Donnie's maroon eyes glanced at the pair one last time before rushing off silent and quickly to find the other brothers . taking out his phone the tall one dialed Raphael first.

"What.. y'don't think you're the only one who's got guts around here, do ya?" Raph responded to Mikey's question, even if it wasn't actually directed at him. They continued down the block until the next query was heard, his eyes narrowed while lips pressed to a line. Oh that he was just dying to know...
"That's what we're gonna find out."

Just then, as if on cue, he received a call. Pulling out his phone, he noted the caller ID. Raph was just about to accept the call, until his eyes flickered upwards when he spotted movement. It was Donatello himself, heading their way. No point in answering the call now. Giving a quick signal to Mikey, he nimbly made his way over to his immediate younger brother.

"Donnie," the brawny one called just as he stood before him, expecting Mikey to be right behind. "Where've you been? And what's with that look? Y'look like someone just kicked your puppy.."

"Come on you stupid piece of tech. Where's the signal out here .." Donnie muttered to himself looking around hoping to spot the red clad turtle from his point. Leaping over the many apartments in the city . snow crackles under his dashing feet sending chills through his shell. Even with this thick coat and his running the turtle was cold. About to give up and hurry to the lair to see if the others were there, Raphael's voice called out from the soft whistle of the wind . "well then.." He said to himself, hanging up the shell like device and slides it in his belt. Upon the elders questions Donnie let out a shaky breath, taking a moment to breathe and regain a calm composure . clouds could be seen as he spoke in the cold. "its.. Leo . he's with her." Donnie emphasizes that last part of his sentence to indicate to Raph that it was their stepsister.

"You know I can't do that, Leo, your everyday safeguarding only makes me want to throw off your game."

Her hand seized the handle, though her intentions weren't malevolent. As malevolous as they will ever get. She stood frozen-solid, the snow seemed to curl around her feet. Though Karai was well aware of the fact New Year's Eve have just begun, mixed in with the appearing normality of the crowd, she tried to pin-point exactly the location of the three brothers with peripheral vision. The beacon antenna remained untouched from the tap of her fingers, as she followed the purple head disappearing through the swallowing darkness, Donatello's moves remained unheeded for the time being. For the sake of Shredder's orders, for the sake of her game.

"I'm not the one who unwisely brought the bomb to your hiding cavern," she pointed. "Hamato Yoshi is at risk because of your imprudence. Make a move and the mousetrap will snap down. And that goes for your brothers, too." She cautioned.

"Yes, you can." Leonardo insisted with utmost urgency. He was losing his patience fast now that she was threatening his family. The leader would never forgive himself if something were to happen to them. He woul never forgive her either. "Everyone has a choice, Karai. There's always a choice."

He had to make a choice as well.

Leo quickly slid his hand down to his belt, retrieving a hidden knife. Light flashed from the blade as he brought the weapon forward, twisting his body into a defensive stance. The turtle out stretched his arm, trapping her between himself and the brick wall. If Karai were to take a step forward, she's impale herself to the thraot. Now they both were trapped.

Mikey ran alongside his brother until Raph halted suddenly.  He was about to ask Raph what was up then saw their purple-clad brother. "Oh."  Well, that answered one question.  And also the mystery of the phone call.  

But Donnie didn't look happy at all.  When Don said Leo was with 'her', it took a few seconds to register who that might be.  But, considering the history between 'her' and their eldest brother, it wasn't that hard to figure out.

But what Mikey didn't understand was why it worried Donnie so much.  Leo was more than capable of taking care of himself.  True, he was head-over-heels in love with the girl, but Leo wouldn't be stupid enough to go off by himself if he really couldn't handle it...would he?

Waiting not so patiently in the growing cold for Donatello's response, Raph blinked once at what he heard next. The young genius need not say more. He knew who he was referring to. Oh, he should have known. It was always her.

"Not for long.."
With that, he took off without a second thought, abandoning his younger brothers. Perhaps blinded by the building rage within him, as he dashed towards the direction Donnie came from before scaling up the fire escape to the rooftops.
He cared not for the reasons and explanations. The thought of Leo spending so much as a minute alone with that conniving Kunoichi just aggravates him. Who knows what could happen?

Not long after, sure enough, he spotted two figures atop a building... standing so close you'd think they were studying each others' noses in great detail..
So this is the oh-so-important personal business, huh?

A light 'thud' sounded from behind Leonardo, Raphael landing on the snow a few feet away.
"Hate to break up this little date... no, wait-- I don't."

With a sudden wrench, Karai struggled to break free. She jerked Leo's forearm with a spiked glove, making her race a long, thick line of blood across the back of his hand like red ink on paper. Her wrists throbbed as she attempted to twist free from his seizing hands, and the blade pointed straightforward, she cared more about the fact that the Clan emblem blobbed her glove palms than his grip and circulation lack.

"You're a fool! Do you really think you can impose your authority like that, do you?!" She seethed, as infuriated as she was sniggering, somewhat maniacally, Karai was managing for a leg-sweep, at the same time Raphael let his brother's guard down, she stopped mid-way and crashed a header off Leo's face in attempt to loosen his grip then pin him down.

"No wonder where you got that impetuous negligence of yours; the same thing your hot-headed sibling would do at inopportune times. You two are just the same, wouldn't you agree, Raphael?"

After seeing the brother's reaction Donnie tried to reason with Raph . And inform him of the danger they might put Leo in if they intervention at the wrong moment. But the hot-head wouldn't listen to reason. He just bolted after the brother like a juggernaut. "Damnit Raph.. Come on Mikey !" Donnie motioned the younger to follow as he's feet began to run behind Raphael. Soon after karai was able to counter Leos moves and snap at Raph Donatello landed utop the roof with the snow beneath his feet.

Leonardo gasped. His eyes rolled. The leader was forced to clamp his mouth shut as an unspeakable pain surfaced. The skin was ripped across the side of his arm, exposing sensitive flesh now bursting with red. It stung! But he didn't scream or utter as much as a whimper. Leo fell hard on the back of his shell, Karai's body weight pressef against him.  Quickly, he raised his good arm and slammed his fist down onto her back. He tried to curl his legs and push his knees up to jab against Karai's chest, while the left arm layed limp at his side.

"She's after Splinter!"

Seeing Raph take off wasn't really a surprise, but it still wasn't a good idea for the hothead to go off to confront the kunoichi alone.  "Raph, wait!"  He was right on Don's tail as they followed Raph in hot pursuit.

But they were too late.  Mike watched as Leonardo fell to the ground, eyes widening.  "LEO!" He screamed.  "I'm coming, bro!"  Without waiting for the others, Mike ran over to his eldest brother's side and tried to pull Karai away from him.  "Get away from him!!"

"You! Don't even start!" Raph pointed an accusing finger at Karai, obvious irritation displayed in his features.
He took note of the streak of red running along Leo's arm; but he knew his older brother enough to assure himself that the leader was able to retaliate in spite of the stinging wound. As expected, the blue ninja did as such, while Mikey came to his aid.

Leo's words were nowhere near pleasing though. "Oh no she's not. If you think we're lettin' you get anywhere near Splinter, you're off your rocker, Princess.." With that, Raph drew his weapons and advanced closer.

"You lay one finger on our father and you'll get a face pounding with my staff! " he growled at the girl with two different colors of hair. Donnie went up with Raph close behind him with his staff ready for the fight . Seeing Leo wounded on his arm made the tall one even more angry. There was no way he would let that happen again. "Are you alright Leo?" He asked out of concern, not taking his maroon eyes off the girl.