Midori: Chapter three
***
April O'Neil tapped her pencil against her desk, wishing that she had something more exciting to report than the same old stuff. Part of her enjoyed the slow spells, when she could relax a little, but most of her reputation had been made with stories of crime and murder.
After awhile the quiet became dullness, and she starting wishing that something would happen. Anything.
She jumped when her phone rang.
***
Taro watched as Midori went through the kata again. He was impressed by how quickly she was learning, much faster then any of the other kids they'd picked off the streets. She swung her naginata in graceful arcs, the momentum being carried through her entire body, which was building up nicely. Her skin had become a deeper shade of green, still pale where scars were, some from before she came here, some from after.
Taro was amazed by the change she'd gone through during her training, and not just with her ninjutsu. She was now reading and writing at a high school level, and they eventually estimated her age to be about sixteen.
Taro approached her after she finished the routine and she bowed. Taro returned the gesture with a smile. That was another difference between him and Saki. Where his father had always used brute force and an iron will to get his way, Taro preferred subtlety. He wanted Midori to believe he truly had her best interests at heart.
For the last six months she'd been training and during that time she'd gotten over her initial fear of humans. She seemed to understand that they feared her, and it had boosted her confidence dramatically. The only obstacle was her refusal to discuss those other four mutants. Whenever he tried to make her understand why they were enemies, she would close up and withdraw.
"Midori, I have something very important to tell you."
Midori nodded.
"We're going to do battle against the Turtles."
Taro could see it in her eyes, her uncertainty. He lifted her chin up. Her large brown eyes seemed so human, so full of intelligence, and, at this moment, doubt. "Midori, I need to know I can count on you."
"I don't know if I can."
Taro dropped his hand to her shoulder. "I believe in your skills, Midori, I will have you at my back. I cannot force you to fight, but I hope you understand the consequences if you do not."
He left her to think about what he had said.
***
Leonardo looked up from his book when April slid down the ladder. She usually took the steps slowly, but now it looked like she was in a hurry. He put the book down and hurried over, only to be beaten by Raphael.
"Where's the fire?"
April took several deep breaths. "Foot..."
"The Foot?" Raph exclaimed. "Did they hurt you? I swear I'll make 'em..."
"No," April interrupted. "I got an anonymous tip as to where I could find them."
"Smells like a set up to me," Raph said.
Leo nodded in agreement. "What'd they say?"
During the conversation they'd helped April over to the couch and Mike appeared with a glass of water for her. She took a drink before starting. "They told me that the Foot were hiding out in a few old warehouses."
"Warehouses," Raph rolled his eyes. "What else is new?"
Leo shushed him and Don came over from his computer. April went on to tell them the address she'd been given and how she figured it was a trap.
"No threat?" Don asked. The last time the Foot had used April to get a message to them it had been to tell the Turtles that they were going to release Tokka and Rahzer into Central Park if they didn't come.
April shook her head.
Don looked over to Leo. "What do you say? Do we check it out?"
"It's a trap!" Mike cried out. "You can't tell me we're gonna walk right into it."
"I know it's a trap, Mike. But if we don't go they may do something more drastic in order to get our attention."
Raph twirled his sai around fingers. "I thought those bums had finally learned that nobody messes with us, but I'm always in the mood for a little Foot stompin'."
The Turtles hit the streets at dusk. They were extra cautious tonight, because they knew they were walking into a trap. They wouldn't be surprised by anything tonight.
***
Midori stood beside Taro as they watched the four Turtles circle the area. She still had doubts about the whole situation, but she owed a lot to Taro, and she would stand beside him. She watched as the Turtles entered the warehouse, the same warehouse she'd spent several years of her life in, after she'd come up from the sewers.
"It is time," she heard Taro say. At his silent signal dozens of foot moved into position. Midori stayed in her spot, right beside Taro.
The Turtles moved as one into the warehouse. They already had their weapons out and ready for an attack. The place was dark, of course, so it was easy to imagine the Foot hiding there, even with the Turtles' superior night vision.
A slight whizzing sound was the only clue Leonardo had to alert him that a shuriken was heading straight for him. He ducked and let it embed itself into a support beam. That obviously had been the signal to attack as the Foot suddenly left their places in the shadows to close in on the Turtles.
Midori watched from beside Taro as the Foot attacked and were beaten. For every one that fell another came up to take their place. She watched them fall back, people she had trained with. It wasn't as if they were her friends but she didn't want her clan to be beaten by a mere four warriors.
Midori was shaken from her thoughts when Taro moved from his place into the light. The Turtles were slowing now. They'd been fighting for nearly twenty minutes, and even though they'd beaten back several attackers, fresh ones took their place, wearing the Turtles down.
Midori hoped that she would not have to fight, that she could just stay here, and they'd never see her, but then something happened to change that. The Turtle in blue, the one Taro had said was their leader aside from the rat, looked straight at Taro. He knocked out the ninja he was fighting and ran straight towards Taro.
Taro stood perfectly still. "Prove yourself Midori," he whispered, so softly that she wasn't sure if he'd actually said it.
Leonardo charged towards Taro, ready to wipe that arrogant smirk off his scarred face. Just a few feet from his target, Leo was halted by the staff of a naginata. He paused in surprise and turned to his new opponent only to be surprised again.
He caught the gaze of another mutant Turtle. He stepped back, not believing his eyes.
She stood in front of Taro, the blade of her weapon pointed at Leonardo's chest. Gauntlets covered her forearms and strips of black material, matching her mask, were wrapped around her biceps and thighs. Two small daggers were tucked into her belt.
The others had stopped as well. The Foot kept of them surrounded. The four of them stood staring at the new Turtle.
Taro smirked in triumph. "Midori, attack."
***