MIND-MAIMED-TMNT fanfic

Chapter 8: The Familiar Feeling of Loss

Hey! Hope ya'll are enjoying this. I just entered the story into the Watty Awards so we'll see how well I do. I have actually been motivated to update my Big Four fanfic as well, but im just writing it down for and I'll reboot it up in September. This chapter is dedicated to my own friend "Leo" and tmnttruth cause they be awesome people and they support me very much. srry its a little short, but I want to focus on Splinter this time. I aim for about 2000 words a chapter but fall short so plz forgive. anyway enjoy!

Splinter POV:

"IIE! YAMERU!"

My eldest son's plea sounded in my ears as I felt myself being awoke from my restless sleep. Fresh tears stained my already matted fur, as I hung my large head in my clawed hands. My right shoulder screamed in protest as it came loose from it's sling, but I pushed the pain aside. My head was pounding and crying was just making it worse. I couldn't seem to remember why I was so injured, but I had the feeling it had something to with my son, Leonardo's plea. His plea for someone or something to stop. I finally managed to calm myself and take in my surroundings.

I was lying in a small four poster wood bed in an grey, bare room. Bare meaning it was just the bed and an old chair sitting by an open window. A cool night breeze blew through the curtain-less lonely and dirty pains. It was a little must musty, telling me the room was old, but I could also tell by studying the falling wallpaper and the creaky wooden floor. A crescent moon was the only light in the room, but it added a more country feel to it. My ears twitched as faint insect and strange animal noises came from outside, telling I really was somewhere else than the noisy city.

I shifted the scratchy blankets that were covering me, and found my burgundy kimono covering my lower half. Bandages covered my shoulder, arm, and chest. The sling hung that held my arm swung uselessly on my neck, so I slipped it off. My shoulder hurt, but not to badly. My joints were the ones that were really sore. Band-aids scattered my fur here and I felt a lump on my head the size of a golf ball.

I forced myself to sit on the edge of bed. Again, my sore body protested. I tried to remember what had happened that caused Leonardo to plea in Japanese like that, but it just made my head hurt more. My memory was so cloudy and foggy, and what I did remember was just bit and pieces. Flashes of Saki and my sons battling with his minions went by, but nothing more.

Something shimmered at the corner of my eye. I turned to see my blue-masked son's battered sword. Something white, which I guessed to be an envelope, was sitting right on the blade with the word "SPLINTER" written across it. It was laying in a corner, right beside the worn-out door. The moon was shining on it like a spotlight. Curious, I tried to make my way towards it. It took several attempts before I was able get off the bed, but I managed to rise on my shaky legs. Using the wall as support, I clutched my chest as I made it painstakingly towards the objects on the floor.

As I got closer, I recognized the font as Miss O' Neil's handwriting. I felt my knees start to collapse, so I just crawled rat-wise the rest of the way. I pulled myself in meditative position, taking a few calming breaths before I reached the white paper on the floor. My hands shook as I started to tear open the envelope, and read what was inside:

Sensei,

You were hurt pretty badly and very sick so we decided to just leave you alone to rest. We've been taking shifts watching you because you also had pretty bad fever. It broke the other night, but you were in still in bad shape. Don put you in medically induced coma so you would heal, physically and mentally.

There's no one in with you right now cause Don said you were out of harm's way and would wake  up soon. He also knew you wanted to be alone so you could gather yourself and restore your thoughts from the fight with Shredder.

As you can tell, you're not in the sewer. We're at my family's farmhouse. The Foot are prowling over the sewers and rooftops of New York. Dr. Rockwell said a change of scenery would be good for you and the guys too. He also said you might have trouble remembering what happened before Raph got you to safety, so I'll try to be brief in my explanation as to not overwhelm you with information.

After you tried fighting off Shredder, Leo knocked you away and you hit your head pretty hard. Raph managed to get away, while Don radio us for help on his T-Phone. He also radioed Slash and the Mutanimals. They barely made it out alive while trying to save you and the guys. Don almost lost his leg, and Raph's arms were almost torn to ribbons. Mikey was barely conscious but he told us everything...

Sensei...

Leo...

We couldn't get to him. 

By the time we got there, Leo must have been gone. He was badly wounded Sensei. Shredder really did a number on him. Not even you could have survived the wounds that Shredder inflicted on him.  

We couldn't even get to his body. Slash barely managed to grab his sword and what was left of his mask. Bebop and Rock-steady beat him pretty bad. He's resting now, but feels guilty he couldn't save Leo. We all do.

I'm sorry Sensei...

We are here if you need us.

April.

My whole body shook as I ready the last paragraphs. Hot tears pooled around my eyes as I laid the crumbled letter down. 

"No...It can't be so...God, please don't let it be so..."

Yet, I couldn't deny what was before me. I choked back a sob as I closely inspected the maimed weapon before me. My poor son's usually top-notched katana was chipped and scratched. The lower blade had broken off, so just the handle and top half remained. Tiny drops of dried blood encrusted the bottom of the jagged blade. The handle piece  was covered in ribbons of blue, which I recognized as my son's mask. My hands shook uncontrollably as I untied one of the larger pieces. Dark purple stain's littered the blue fabric. As I brought it up to my face, Leonardo's scent hit my nostrils as well as the stench of blood.

His blood...

Reality set in as I clutched what was left of my brave ninja. I let the tears fall. They plunked and splattered as they hit the once proud weapon. Flashes of the battle set in my mind. 

Saki ready to strike me down...

Leonardo pleading for me life...

The way he had moved with ultimate ninja grace in his last moments I saw him when he saved me and his brothers...

The brave look on his face when Shredder intimidated him...

When he stayed silent as Saki slashed him...

I let out an inhuman wail as the all to familiar feeling I had almost forgotten washed over me. It was like an old wound that didn't properly heal, and would flare up from time to time. I felt it when Saki destroyed my clan and first family in Japan. I felt it when I lost my daughter Miwa again when she mutated. I felt it time and time, that I became familiar with, but it was still like a stranger to me. However, it seemed to be the only thing right now that was keeping my mind together, and comforting me in my darkest hour. It was the feeling of loss.

I placed my throbbing head in my  throbbing head in my claws and sobbed. I was so lost in myself and in my grief, I didn't hear the door open. I faintly felt several pairs of arms cradle my sore body. It was like an anchor holding my soul to my human self. I brought myself briefly out of my daze to cuddle what was left of my broken family.

"I'm so sorry my sons..."