Motherly Affection

生命があるところ、Kanone-thereが希望であるように不良のために! ハンターはころぶ。

The Sound of an Iris freezing and melting.

Bonjour, everyone. I do have quite a study schedule tonight, once I finish this....(Yes, I snuck on, God forgive me....)

So I certainly hope you like this! ^^

Quote:

"“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy."

~*~

8ur91

The author sighed wearily as she plunked her head on the keyboard once....

...then twice.....

99~wxccc

Well. It'd would certainly be beneficial if she'd stop that. She paused slightly, frozen in mid sentence.

Ah....what would one more hinder?

~*~*~*~

She believed, when she began this project-that she would steadily know from start to finish- the ending of this plot. Of course, it was certainly not yet the

time to conclude this tale....heavens, no.

Absentmindedly scratching the ears of the Maine Coon cat snoozing beside her on the beanbag, she stared at the screen for a bit, vaguely pondering.

Fate was a fickle creature. No WAY had she ever envisioned Kanone coming back....and yet the once handsome Foot solider stalked the poor Hamato clan....

...once again.

Although he had more or less "borrowed" Kanone....the guy was more then a little....she wasn't quite sure....oh, yes. Deranged, psycho, and perhaps more

then a little evil.

"Perhaps?"

Nope. Zip. Nada-he was worse then that. Most of her reviewers generally wished him ill will.

...and that included having an anvil drop on his head-but that was another story. She cuddled the small Leo plushie (Yes, I adore the positive power of

plushie) that was lying beside her. She hoped one day that she could track down Donny, Raph, and Mikey. Poor Leo-plushie probably got lonely.

If she could ever find a Splinter plushie, it certainly would not be safe from her.

~*~*~

Coba-(the Russian word for raccoon) jumped up to hurry to her food dish. Silly cat. Lauren managed a small smile as she turned back to the laptop.

Well-her sister and brother-in-law would not be back until tomorrow afternoon, before afternoon service. At least she already had dinner in the oven-and

the promise of a good study session in...hopefully everything, if she could sock her brain into peaceful cooperation after a few updates. More then likely, she

would be appeased by that time.

But now, when her heart was telling her to go against her instincts in what she was about to type next....!

It would be a good while, but hopefully, it would be indeed worth it.

~*~*~

Leo plushie peered at the screen as Lauren turned him to face the television screen-which was playing a graphic display of unerring talent and drama on a

geological scale that kept you staring.

In other words, static. With a grin, she flicked it off before pausing to glance back at the little turtle doll.

She loved all the TMNT. There could be no "favorites" here.

But still.....

She always did...and always would have that.....er....soft spot for the gentle Bushido.

Lauren shook her head.

Getting distracted yet AGAIN....

Finally, finally though-she could recompense her work with-

She froze.

Oh, dear.

SHE'D LEFT THE OVEN ON.....!

With another sigh, she scurried up, praying beyond belief that tonight's supper wouldn't be el flambe.'

Kanone's POV

I became an assassin of my own free will.

And a sinner of my own free will.

~*~*~

Still....

Well, the man had no problem sneaking away from the fray, momentarily forgotten.

Easily expected and unprecedented. That might occur when you discover the building that you're in is going to explode in a matter of precious seconds.

He could not bring himself to mind in sheer particularity, even knowing how the residents of Manhattan were going to take this....colorful display.

There would be no bodies to recover. In the ashes, firefighters and investigators would hardly be able to tell kit from kaboodle.

Had someone committed an act of arson?

Had the heating ducts accidentally caused a fire to overtake the old building?

A gas leak?

Maybe...maybe....maybe. There could be no conclusive evidence.

But that was a mark of a good killer, aye? To leave your mark upon the scene....

....you never appeared...nor left a trace of anything at all.

There was no chance of any of them using the old elevator as a way out. Idiots. They believed it a passport to death.....and with good reason.

Nonetheless, he had blocked the passage by this time, so it would be, nonetheless hope-a futile effort.

~*~*~*

As the man continued to silently walk along the briny beach, looking at the dark waters silently pull in and pull out with the chorus of the tide-he managed

the faintest of bitter smiles as he beheld a tiny, gasping fish that had been mistakably pushed to the shore, flopping frantically.

For a moment, he briefly considered simply stepping on the tiny organism, but much to his surprise, he found himself nudging the miserable little thing

back towards the tide-where the gentle waves encircled the small creature with watery, aquamarine hands...

He shook his head slightly. At least the fish had SOMEthing worth living for....

...death.

After all, was that not all you could really garnish out of life-albeit the occasional pleasure and frustrations?

But, in the end, you returned to the tide. It was indifferent to who it took in....

....but what it left lying on the shore.....

Kanone's brow wrinkled in disgust.

Trash.

Like that of the four turtles and their rat master.

Still.....

Those EYES....

They had truly been disturbing, this night. Well....two minutes to twelve, anyway.

The infants had been drugged when he attempted to hunt the wraith of the sewers-in truth, they hadn't been nearly as interesting as Splinter to him at

the time. There was a good chance they were just oversized turtles. Perhaps they weren't sentient at all.

At least the rat provided a challenge.....one Kanone had lost to.

But not this time. Even those brown little eyes that had peered up at him....

He violently shook his head.

But the blasted images would not fade....!

~*~*~*~*~*~*

The Mikells had had a lot of nerve. He should of eliminated them once the opportunity presented itself. There was no need to keep them alive just for THAT

aggravation, he thought.

His fingertips lightly found the place where Mary had slapped him upside the face. It was still a bit sore. She had quite a punch, that woman....

Kanone's fingertips traced from his cheek to his pocket, grimly pulling out a small device.

Electronic jamming. So easy to procure, so deadly to insure.

There was no hope of them using the elevators. And no hope of disarming the machine.

Kanone silently counted down the remaining seconds.

09....

He had no interest in hunting down the Mikell children. They were of no concern.

08....

So much for taking a step forward, Donatello.

07....

The waves lapped at the shoreline.

He would not mourn them. They were going to fall into eternal, peaceful slumber.

To think, that Haanaken and Mary had any right calling HIM a coward....him EVIL.....

....this act would protect them forever in death.

03....02....

He stooped down with an inquisitive look in his eyes to the sand, turning his back upon the factory as he picked up a rather interesting looking shell.

01......

BOOM.

Kanone's eyes narrowed as he heard the factory explode, thousands of shrill whistles echoing as spluttering fireworks crashed into each other-exploding into

earshattering noise after exploding into brilliant sparks in the night sky.

I became an assassin of my own free will.

And a sinner of my own free will.

Kanone closed his eyes as the violent echos of the explosions reverberated in the gloom.

He glanced at the waves.

That was a mistake-the vibrant colors were still racing against each other to explode into the air, crackling as the fireworks combusted into brilliant waves of

colored flame-scarlet, violet, emerald, gold, sappharine.....

Why didn't he feel any better? This was the thing he had lusted for so long.

Instead, the hollowness seemed....tangible now.

There was nothing left to live for now.

He turned his face towards the water once again.

Well, better late then nev-

The man's eyes narrowed.

His senses were prickling slightly.

He slowly turned around.

And his yellow eyes dilated in shock.

Coughing, dusty, eyes narrowed, Splinter the rat stood in front of him, the waves brushing gently at his feet.

Mary was leaning on the man's-what's-his-name- shoulders-but aside then sightly static hair, dust, and a slightly ashy face-seemed unharmed.

Albeit for the four blackened little faces staring resentfully from behind the rat's faded and dusty robes.

~*~*~

It was some several seconds before Kanone's lips finally moved.

"N-no."

~*~*~

He'd killed them.

KILLED them! Saved them!

And yet they were standing in FRONT of him!

Ken was giving Kanone a particulary nasty look.

"It's a funny thing," he said at last, breaking the silence. "About...oh, I don't know....factories or warehouses with a fantastic amount of explosives or

chemicals."

Kanone continued to stare blankly at him. Ken sighed.

"Another interesting thing. Being with the fire department, you just might realize these factories are legally omited to have more then seven escape routes,

jack."

Ken gave Kanone a scowl.

"Mary, hon-you hold him down. I'll punch."

"I can't do that, sweetheart."

"Why not?!"

"YOU hold him-let ME do the punching."

Splinter quietly held up a palm as he stepped forward, dark eyes glinting.

"I did warn you, fool."

_______

Why?

What had he done wrong?

Where had he gone wrong?

Why had they lived....?

Mikey was timidly pressing closer to....okaasan as the rat drew near him. Bah.

What was the rat going to do? Kill him?

The thought was almost amusing. Kanone managed a smirk.

What a way to end.

Still-it was the best he could hope for, being who he was.

WHAT he was.

________

So many ways for someone to follow a less then desirable path....

But even if it meant slaughtering the false road he had spent SO MUCH time and effort on.....

It had all been a lie.

Kanone had been....frightened when Mother and Daddy...replaced him.

Why hadn't he done enough to be better in his grade point average?

His existence was a lonely one, but if it meant the impossible dream of growing up to LIKE something, to LOVE something-to be so blessed in return-!

The man stared at Ken and Mary for a moment, Mary clasping Donatello in her hands. Anyone could tell the turtle was frightened.

What had he done wrong?

Surely, there must of been a reason WHY he had done what he did.

WHY he felt...justified in attacking his...little brother.

Why he had almost murdered....

....family.

Kanone's butterscotch eyes widened again as Splinter stepped closer.

But this time, not out of fear.

__________

Kanone stared at violently trembling hands.

Dear.....God-!

What had he-?!

But all thought ceased quite abruptly at the moment.

For, as Ken whipped around-!

Too late.

One of the bottlerockets was heading straight for them now, in a flash of silver and gold stars.

Splinter whipped his head around in a barrage of gray.

His eyes dilated.

"RUN!"

_____

Quite needless of the rat's cry, the exhausted turtles scattered-as did Ken, who violently twisted around.

"MAR-!"

The woman staggered a step to the right, Don still in her arms....

....and Kanone cursed under his breath as he drew up from his crouch, removing face from pale, innerlocked fingers.

"&^%WN!"

With a wild snarl, Kanone threw himself forward, and screamed....

"ALEX!"

~*~*~*~*~

"Eyyaauugghh!"

Don let out a cry of alarm as the man violently shoved the two down into the icy waters, who was releasing a yell himself as the rocket...

...raced away to explode a few kilometers off.

Mary, now to the knee soaked, staggered up.

That.

Was.

IT.

Once she got her hands on....!

But Ken wasn't staring at her.

Splinter wasn't staring at her.

Don wasn't staring at her.

Mikey, well....was staggering by this point, and staring at the ground.

Leo was hiding behind Ken...and Raph behind Mary.

The woman turned her gaze towards the man who had just shoved her down into the surf, and was now trembling violently.

Near his shoulder and chest cavity.....

......white had turned to red.

"Y-You...."

Mary faltered, staring at the steadily soaking crimson spot on the man's once white jacket.

"You're hurt."

The man shrugged halfheartedly as he continued to stagger.

"I've been hurt before."

~*~*~*~

Kanone took a quivering step forwards.

He vaguely felt the dampness of the sea curling itself around his ankle.

A small smile made its way to his mouth as he drew his head up, breeze ruffling brown spikes.

"Y'know," he said thoughtfully, as if he were commenting on the weather.

"I think I'm finally gettin' to understand."

And then, he fell.

______

Silence.

Leo stepped forward with a cry of alarm-but the rat grasped the turtle by the wrist, silently shaking his head.

The turtle's eyes filled with tears.

"Isn't....?"

The rat silently shook his head before drawing the little turtle into a quiet embrace, stooping to carry Michelangelo as well.

Sirens were wailing over the distance. Ken hurriedly scooped up a swaying Raph as Splinter bowed his head.

"We cannot stay here."

Mary glanced at the man's limp form.

"B-but...."

The rat limped forwards, dark eyes gentle.

"Miss Mary," he said quietly, putting a gray palm on her wrist, "We must leave. The last thing we need is to be discovered....."

His tone was sorrowful.

"...especially at that of a scene of a crime. The area is dangerous enough as it is."

Ken quickly looked down at the little turtle in his hands, biting his lip.

They couldn't be in this air for long. That much was obvious.

Still, the thought of running from the scene of a crime was....!

Mary swallowed, nodding faintly as she rubbed at her eyes.

"A-Arek and J-Jess....?"

"Safe."

That was good. The woman managed a shaky sigh as Splinter wordlessly pointed towards the shadows.

"Come. My home is closer in this region."

Mary wearily stepped forwards to where the rat beckoned near an old....

....manhole?

Well, things could be worse.

She managed to give Don a glance.

The poor guy didn't look well at all....

....and he wasn't the only one.

Before she scurried down the ladder, helping Ken lower Raph and Mikey, she managed one glance back towards the waves as police began to spill from their

vehicles.....

And so, Kanone lay there, an uncomfortable reminder of things they did not yet understand.

~*~*~*~

Whew.

I'm....pretty.....out of it....n-now. Hoping...this chapter More updates to come.....zzzzzz.....