Puppeteer (TMNT AU)

Chapter 2: hate-filled lies

A.N.: I'm trying to do a chapter a day, boy, this one is long... anyway, on with the story!

They walked pointlessly around the garden for a bit. After a while they had agreed on going to the fountain in the forest, and now they walked silently side by side, trees swaying in the artificial wind.

"So..." Venus said after a while. "Hm?" Leo stared at the ground in front of him, kicking any pebbles that came near his feet. "The kitsune earlier. What did they show you?" Leo felt sort of uncomfortable at the question. 'Show me?' He didn't think that the Kitsune would show him anything, for all he knew, they were simple shapeshifters, but they had shown him his siblings, dead. He should tell Venus.

"It showed me...I...I really can't explain it...I..." he trailed off, "I'm not sure what... I can't..." he realized that he had completely forgotten what they were talking about. He looked at Venus for advice, but she just asked another question.

"Can't explain what?" "W-what are we talking about? I...don't remember." Leo said, scared by the fact that he'd completely forgotten their conversation. He never did that. Venus gave him a look as if he were an alien. "Can't remember? Can't remember?! Leo, are you nuts? You never forget anything, like, ever. Heck, I share a room with you and you're telling me that you can't remember?!" She yelled, a more violent reaction than he'd expected.

"Shh... don't get father all worked up! He'll have all the foot soldiers guard our room 24/7/365." Leo whispered, trying to get Venus to calm down. But she was shaking her head, "Leo, you saw a Kitsune, they're shapeshifters and deceivers, they bewitch people, and you don't want Jonin to know? You could be cursed, and you'll just...let it slide?" Leo felt hot under his skin. He was embarrassing himself badly, and worst of all, he could hear footsteps coming, and fast.

"Venus, please, don't say a word! It's Karai's birthday, father has enough to worry about making preparations. We tell him when the party's over." He begged. Venus rolled her eyes, but gave a quiet and stern 'fine'. The rustling grew louder, and Splinter came into view. They dipped their heads.

"My children, why do you fight? I could hear your bickering from my room, a new record, is it not?" He said in his sensei/father's voice, a very intimidating tone. "Sorry." Venus said, passing the word to Leo, who whispered 'seriously?' Under his breath, then turned to his father.

"Gomen'nasai, watashitachiha Karai no tanjōbi no koto o shinpai shite ita ndesu." (sorry, we were just worried about karai's birthday.) He replied, hoping that it would be convincing. "Why is it that you always felt the need to speak in japanese? You do remember that I do not know the language, right?" Boy, Leo was so busted. How did he forget something so obvious? "I...erm...of course..." that was even worse than he could've ever imagined, but of course, the situation just had to get even better.

More rustling came from the woods, and the trio turned towards the sound.

"Jonin, Chunin, we have a bit of a problem." Jennika stumbled into the clearing. "We will continue this discussion later," Splinter whispered, and turned back to Jenny. "What is it?" He asked her. "It's Karai! Just come, I can't explain it very well, but it has something to do with Leo." His older sister said, pointing at him with her head. "Is it the same thing again?" He asked. Karai always felt that she should have what Leo had, and more, because she was the oldest, but jealousy had eventually turned to rage, and then hate. Karai hated Leo, he just always denied it, and nobody else really caught on.

"This is much, much worse." Now Jenny sounded worried, and she was hiding what she knew about whatever was happening, but at the same time eagerly waiting to tell them. "Just show us." Venus said, moving so that she was face to face, or as close to that as she could get, with Jenny. Jennika nodded, and rushed out of the forest, all of them hot on her shell. Trees rushed by, and with each second, Leo felt that the situation was getting worse.

Before they'd even reached the deck, they could hear screams and whispers. Something really bad was happening. They came closer, and then they heard Karai's speech.

"... and now the time has come to choose between those dirty mutants, and us clean humans. Whoever opposes me will die, but for every one of you who joins me...there is great reward." The crowd broke out into chaos, and Splinter, along with three of his children, pushed their way through it.

"Karai!" Splinter yelled, avoiding punches and such. She looked over the crowd at him. "Stop this madness, and get off my throne!" Karai looked taken aback and confused.

"How did I..." Splinter slammed his staff down before the eldest could finish her question. "What is going on here?" Splinter demanded, a killing look in his eyes. Karai stepped back, Splinter used his tail to pull her closer, she yelped.

"Now, speak." Splinter commanded this time. "I'm so sorry father, I can't remember anything, only that it was in my head, Ling-Ping warned me, but I ignored him, and now it's too late..." she stopped, and looked at Leo, "and him," she pointed at him, "he's just as bad as I am! Tell me, Leonardo, tell me that it is true! You saw them too! You saw the kitsune!" Leo shook his head, backing away, but Karai grabbed him by the scarf and brought him up to her head, so close that he could smell the mint and tea on her breath, then she continued her insults.

"You saw the kitsune and you said nothing! It will devour you just like me! You're a traitor! A useless Chunin, a horrible fighter, protector, and brother!" She spit in his face, getting ready to punch, and Splinter had to hold her back so that she didn't hurt Leo. "I hate you, Leonardo, you hear me? I know you do, you know that I hate you! And now the kitsune will use our hate against us!" Karai was yelling at the top of her lungs, and Splinter pulled her away from Leo.

"Karai, I'm so sor-" "save it, coward!" She roared, still trying to get to him, and making Leo flinch. "Leonardo, it is no use. She is being irrational, perhaps from lack of sleep. Do not disturb her until our test this evening." And with that, Splinter forced Karai to her room, then assessed the angry humans and mutants, a very guilty Leo behind him.

"Whatever Karai has told you is a lie. Go, sleep, eat, read, whatever you must to forget about this, but please, no longer disturb my family." The crowd nodded and went about the rest of their day. "S-Splinter?" Leo asked, drawing the attention of his sisters and a few mutants, who were then shown away.

"Yes, my son?" He asked kindly, Jenny and Venus cocked their heads. Leo's voice was just a whisper, but it said all it had to. "Karai is right, I saw the kitsune." He looked back up at his father. "It's coming for me, and I won't be able to stop it, I never will." Tears began at the tips of his eyes, and yet his voice was still nothing but an unwavering whisper.

"No my son, she is wrong, you saw nothing, you are not being stalked by a kitsune." Leo stared at his father in disbelief. 'But...I am, it's already here. How can father just...lie?' "Y-you... you're l-lying?" He couldn't believe it. Splinter pushed his hands into his head. "Perhaps tonight is a good night for a story..." he mumbled, and headed back to his room. Leo's gaze followed him all the way there, "liar!" He yelled, trying to get to his father, but Jenny and Venus held him back.

"Let go of me! Let go! I just want to know the truth!" He yelled, trying to pry himself from his sister's grip. They were strong, despite being rather skinny, actually, they were all pretty skinny.

"Just let go..." he whispered, dropping to his knees. "Okay, but you're not gonna attack father if we do, right?" Said Venus. Leo nodded, and his sisters let go. They sat there in silence for hours. Nobody moved, and everyone around them ignored them. Then it was time, the bell rang three times. Now they couldn't escape whatever truth would be told tonight.

A.N.: Plot twist! Did you guess it? Welp, I'll be back tomorrow, hopefully. Thanks for reading, if you have any ideas, I'm all for it.