Rising of the Moon
Chapter 9
Raphael sat on a roof tops edge as he would normally do every other night. He watched as the people down below were walking along the side walks. He wasn't exactly planning on becoming the citizens guardian angle or anything. But he was sure feeling that way. He doesn't have enough fingers to count the many times he ran into a human getting mugged or about to be torn apart by the blood sucking monsters. And he was unfortunate enough to have a pride that wouldn't allow for him to ignore the screaming sounds.
He cursed himself for again feeling this way. As well as the many times he would feel like this again and again. He was born a vampire, he was raised and trained to be a cold hearted unemotional monster. All his life he was fed meat and blood and he never had a problem with eating it. Not that he has much of a choice.
Why was he born to have feelings!? Raphael could hear a few growls escape his beak and he showed no signs of holding them back.
The fact that he practically killed Leo put guilt all through him. He doesn't have a clue if he survived the major heart wound. Though he hopes he did. It was stupid of him to attack Leo for doing his job that he didn't blame him for doing. But when the 'master' pulled up the fact that he killed his brother made him see nothing but rage. 
The emerald turtle could feel his eyes stinging with tears; blinking them away. It's been a few years since the last time he's seen his brother, and it took those same amount of years to try to get over the fact he lost the only person he trusted, and managed to run into the person responsible for his death. He had a chance to avenge him, and he took that chance without hesitation. Now he was feeling guilty. When he shouldn't.
Raphael could still remember the times growing up with his brother and though he treasured each one. He had to admit, he could have done better in protecting him. Even if he was one that hated being herded no matter the reason. His brother was always the independent one and he could have predicted in future situations that he would have ran off. Raph blamed himself for many years that he was the reason his brother died. If he been a better brother and found a way to keep him safe. His younger sibling would have still been alive. 
Shaking the thought out of his head he laid back till his shell rested on the concrete roof. He contemplated the stars that were barely noticeable in the sky. Most of them were blocked off by the many brown polluted clouds. Running away could have been the best thing for them, yes. If only they made it out of the city first. Raphael didn't have it in himself to run out of this city. This was his home. He was born and raised in the familiar territory. 
He took very slow and shaky breath of air in his lungs. Leonardo was only doing his job. He would tell himself multiple times, the last thing he wanted to do was get blinded by rage once again and kill him the next time he sees him. 
If Leonardo does survive this, he was going to have to find a way to make it up to him. Which is a step closer to impossible. He is not worring much about attempting another kill on him. He was more worried about if the leaf green turtle would kill him at the first sight. He wouldn't blame the action, but he sure as hell is not wanting for that to happen.
"This is kind of pathetic." That same familiar voice he once remembered hearing the night he got kidnapped and he growled to himself.
"Seriously? You think if you literally killed the famous Vampire Hunter. You would be everywhere but on a roof top alone." He could hear that there was a smirk on the mans lips. "Unless you haven't yet." 
That got Raphael. He let out a rage filled growl and pushed himself up from the ground.
"Yes, I killed him. His blood is on the knife. That should be enough proof."
"Then where is he?" Raph paused a second.
"He's in the ocean." He answered bluntly. The man raised one of his eye brows.
"What? Why?"
"Because, it was the only place I could think of dumping him where you vampires wouldn't go and get him."
"That's not the point. Why wouldn't you have brought him back with you? All the vampires are celebrating the death of the Vampire Hunter, without his body to feast on."
"The Vampire Hunter didn't deserve to get killed. He kills us because we are murders of the human world."
"Everyone is overjoyed all except the one who did the killing." Raph growled and clenched his hands. Instantly turning around and shoving the vampire up against the wall. His other hand in a fist and above his head. Threatening to punch him at any second. 
"I don't kill." Suddenly the man pinned to the wall started laughing. 
"Open your eyes, Raphael. It's about time you accept who you really are. Cause once you do, you'll feel a lot better. Your a killer wither you want it or not." Raph's eye lid fell as he let the vampire down. He turned to walk away for second before immediately kicking the man in the gut.
"If anyone disserves to be killed. It's you." The vampire came back up and laughed again.
"You see. That was your mistake." The two on his side came in and grabbed his arms. Holding him from any struggling. The man punched Raphael right in the gut, causing the emerald turtle to curl forward. Coughing and hacking. The harsh assaults continue to come, till the red eyed turtle snarled as he felt like he's had enough. Wrapping his hands around the two's wrists that held him in place. He pulled the one on his right towards him and kicked his knee out of socket, causing him to scream. Raphael swung his leg up and kicked the one on his right in the head. Knocking that vampire out. 
The man in front of him growled in fury, revealing his long fangs. Raph glared, sitting in a fighting stance as he was ready for the attack. The vampire immediately jumped foward, planning on tackling the emerald turtle till Raphael dived to the side, missing completely. Turning around swiftly, he kicked the vampire before he could get to him. He ran after him thinking about pinning him but that thought was shattered right when the vampires foot connected with Raph's already sore stomach area. The red clad turtle fell backwards, stunned by the move as his gut was screaming at him. He fell to his knees, coughing up blood as he tried to get breath back into him. By the time his minor nausea subsided, his opponent was already up. Leaping at him like a lion with his prey. Raphael's only move for defence was raising his arm up. Rolling onto his shell, the vampire jumped on him prepared to naw at his throat till his mouth was filled with a reptiles arm. Raphael hissed at the pain on his limb. The blood thristy monster with a mouthful of limb bit down harder and pressed farther, causing the turtle to shout at the pain. 
He thrashed his legs foward, getting in a lucky kick and knocking the vampire off of him, accidently smashing his head against a brick knocking him out completely. Raphael struggled with getting up. Once he got to his feet, he studied his bloody wound, finding multiple deep holes from where the fangs had burried in his flesh. He took a shirt off of one of his knocked out enemy's, wrapping his arm in it as it slowly started to bleed through the cloth.
He crawled up the fire escape to the roofs where he ran away from the crime scene that would surely be discovered by someone and having multiple cops showing up as well as the fire department and ambulance. It takes the whole emergency squad. Raphael would have smirked at that if his mind wasn't taken away by the infuriating pain on his right arm.
He ran till his lungs were screaming with pain and ended up at the docks. He bent down from where he was standing at the edge of the roof. He watched the garage where he made sure that's where the Vampire Hunter was living at. Suddenly a car pulled off the intersection and onto the docks next to the garage. He watched suspiciously at the vehicle before the door opened and the turtle he assumed was Leonardo's brother walked out. He wasn't sure what his name was but he had sea green skin and liked the color orange from the looks of it. His eyes were sky blue and he was fairly skilled as a fighter from what Raph watched. 
The turtle walked up to the passenger seat door and opened it, helping what looked to be the all high and mighty Vampire Hunter out of the car. His face lit up to a bright smile when he spotted him. He did survive and he seemed to be doing okay since they allowed for him to go home. Raphael felt the guilt leave his chest, at least for now. He had to admit that Leonardo looked weird in every day civilian clothes instead of his familiar coat and swords, but he can't say that Leo didn't look good in jeans and a white t-shirt the hospital obviously supplied him with. Once they walked into the garage and closed the door, Raph turned to leave with a smile on his face. 
He was more then relieved to find out that Leo lived through the major heart wound he inflicted on him. Then the guilt he thought he could have dismissed for a few minutes immediately came back. He stuffed his hands in his temporary black hoodie pockets-at least until he get's a new leather jacket.
He was going to have to figure out a way to apologize to Leo. Even if he was sure that Leo wouldn't accept it. At least he would have said it and hopefully be able to freely walk away and never see him again with no more guilt on his shoulders. Then that horror thought came to him. Leo might want to kill him. Then when he heals fully he might want to get back into the Vampire Hunter gig and every vampire would know about his lie and then he would be the most hated thing ever. He was going to die. It's not like he's saying he doesn't diserve it, but if he really wants to continue on living, he was going to have to leave this city. 
He sighed and bent down on a roofs edge again. Unwrapping his arm and finding that it hadn't improved the slightest and the shirt was already half soaked in blood. It was going to take forever for the wound to heal. Being a vampire may have supplied him with ability's that was far better then a normal humans but it also had it's disadvantages. Such as not being able to heal as quickly. But there was also one way that could speed up the healing process that he didn't exactly approve of, but he would most likely die from lack of blood in his system if he doesn't. At least at this rate.
He stared at a fairly young man walking down the side walk. He was in a suit and tie and sported a trench coat and hat. Briefcase in hand and phone in the other; up to his ear. He supported the phone with his shoulder as his hand dug in his pocket for key's. He took a turn down an alleyway. A smirk forming on Raph's lips. 
. . .
Leonardo started to wake up, finding himself in a white room. He slowly pushed himself up from where ever he was laying. Grunting and groaning as he felt an uncomfortable feeling in his chest. He looked at his surrounding and saw medical supply's and instruments on tables around him and he was laying on a hostital bed. He saw a tube in his arm that connected to an IV. 
It was only a few seconds later before a nurse entered his room. Giving him a bright smile when she spotted him up.
"So you finally waken up." She had a sort of Scottish accent which surprised Leo at first.
"W-What happened to me?"
"Not sure. You were delivered in front of the hospital two day's ago with no escort around. You had a serious knife wound to your heart and was put under immediate surgery. You seem to be fine now. No negative reactions went on your body. In fact from what I've read here you should be able to go home today." The sound of home made Leo sigh in relief, and plus the fact that he was alive of course. Then that night came back to his memory's. His eye brow muscles forwarded, not wanting to think about things that hurt other then his chest. 
"Alright, let's replace your bandages last time. Get you changed and we'll call your brother to pick you up." His eyes popped open at the mention of Michelangelo. What could he be thinking right now? His getting stabbed in the chest. He would never leave him alone at this rate.
The nurse helped him into a sitting position as she changed the bandages. He could see a large stapled cut on his plastron before it was covered with the bandages. After she was done, she helped Leonardo on to his feet and find his balance. Handing him jeans and a white t-shirt to put on. He quickly changed as gentle as he could.
They helped him out of his room and down the hall to the waiting room. Noticing that Mikey was sitting in the lobby. A bag of what looks to be extra wraps and medication which he was not looking forward in taking. 
"Oh Leo. Thank god your okay." He said with such relief in his voice as he ran into his arms. Leo smiled and wrapped his arms around his friend. Tucking his head into his neck and accepting the comfort that he realized that he very much needed.
"I'm fine, Mikey. I'm glad to see you to." Leo said in a soft soothing voice after a while when he realized that the sea green turtle might need more comfort then he does.
"Don't ever do that again!" He demanded to him that Leo thought he probably deserved. "It's not like I could help it." He wanted to say, but the words didn't seem to make themselves out of his mouth before Mikey grabbed his hand and pulled him to the front desk where he signed out for him. They walked out of the hospital and over to Michelangelo's everbeloved burnt color wrangler jeep. Leo smiled when he remembered the first time Mikey saw the vehicle on advertisement and he instantly wanted it. Leonardo thought about getting a car, but he never knew what kind to get whenever he would go car hunting. Plus, gas has always been really expensive. And besides, everywhere he ever needed to go was in walking distance, and his job was right in his house. And if there was ever a place that he couldn't walk to usually Mikey would either drive him or he had to go with him anyway. Leo just hasn't yet found the need to buy a vehicle.
Mikey helped him slide into the passenger seat and the leaf green turtle found it a real struggle. Every time he scrunched up or stretched too far a sharp pain came from his chest. He cursed his brother for buying such a high jeep only to get giggles from the sea green reptile. The ride back was filled with awkward silence. Not one of them knowing what to say. Though Michelangelo was bursting with joy on the inside for having his brother coming home with him safe and sound. He was still annoyed with the fact that he was still kept in the dark about this whole thing. He still has no clue how Leo even got the knife in his chest in the first place, and how he managed to get to the hospital. While Leonardo was still ashamed of how he even ended up in there in the first place. He had his elbow propped on the door of the car as his chin rested on the palm of his hand. Watching the moving scenery passing by him. 
"So what's going on?" Mikey's sudden voice shattering the silence made him jump.
"Huh?" He asked. Straightening his back and looking over to the orange clad turtle.
"Leo, a week has passed since I got the message from the hospital you got stabbed. How did that even happen? Who did it?" The leaf green body stiffened. Though he believed he could trust Mikey that he wouldn't do something stupid. He would prefer to keep Raphael a secret just for now. Just in case of future situations. If Mikey knew about Raphael and Raph get's himself into trouble. Who's ever after Raph could go after Mikey. He knew that's probably something he should ponder about, but definitely not now.
"I got into a fight with vampires that out numbered me. I couldn't fight them all off and one of them got in a lucky shot." Leo explained easier then he would feel comfortable with.
"That doesn't explain how you got to the hospital."
"I don't know. I was unconscious." That wasn't a complete lie at least. He was unconscious from serious blood loss and he has no memory of how he got to the hospital, but he could probably guess and he rather not think about it at the moment. Silence once again fell on the two turtles for the rest of the ride. Michelangelo knew there was something Leo was not telling him but he chose not to push his friend too far. At least not now in the car.
It was only five more minutes of driving before they arrived at the garage. He pulled up beside the building and got out of the car. Walking to the other side of the where Leo was at and helped him out. Getting quite a few hisses and groans, making him feel bad about buying such a high car. Leo allowed his friend to help him into the garage. Leonardo suddenly had a strange feeling that they were being watched. But of course this was New York, the feeling was not unusual, especially with a night job like his, but when he felt so vulnerable, he didnt trust the feeling.
Swiftly turning his head around and finding a building next to them. He eyed the roof where he was sure he saw someone at. Not finding anybody he decided to shrug the whole thing off for now. It's not like he was able to do much at the moment. Mikey would never allow him to go anywhere even if he was capable to walk on his own. 
They walked into their home as Mikey helped him to his bed. Leo sat down as he felt himself relax of what seemed to be a very difficult and painful walk from the car to his bed. Mikey sat down on his own bed across from Leo's. The room was uncomfortably quiet between the two of them before the sea green turtle couldn't take it anymore.
"Leo, I know there something your not telling me. Please, I was worried sick about you." He demanded. The sudden outburst scared Leonardo as he looked back at his brother with wide eyes. Nervousness piled in his chest as he tried to hide his fear. He felt guilty for keeping such a secret from the most important person in his life, but it was the only way to keep him safe.
"There's nothing, Mikey. I told you everything I know in the car." 
"I know your lying to me, Leo. Please tell me. I was so scared when I found your sword and coat on the door step with blood all over them. I thought you might still be on the roof top; dead." Leonardo could feel his eyes stinging with tears and he quickly blinked them away. Praying that Mikey wouldn't see them. He was pressed deep into a corner and he couldn't have his brother detecting any hint of nervousness; it would only get him deeper into his corner.
"Wait, my coat and swords were on the door stop?" He asked when what Mikey said processed in his head.
"Yeah, I don't know how they got there. I assumed it was the person who hurt you, trying to give me a warning or something. And stop trying to switch the subject!?" How close Mikey was to the truth was far from pleasant. Then something hit him. Obviously it would be Raph who would have brought his stuff back for him, then that would mean he knew all this time where he lived. He growled mentally.
"Are they okay?" Mikey gave him that unimpressed look.
"Are you serious, Leo?" The blue clad reptile raised an eyebrow, showing his friend that he was serious with what he was saying.
"Okay. Fine." Michelangelo rolled his eyes but further more did as Leo was wanting him to do. Going to the closet and taking out the now stain free coat and clean and polished twin katanas. Walking them back over to the injured turtle and handing them to him.
"Satisfied?"
"Did you clean them?"
"Yes, I cleaned them Leo. And before you go ballistic. I was careful. Now back to the topic. . ." 
"Thank you." Leonardo smiled sweetly. Ignoring completely that Mikey was trying to keep them on topic. Michelangelo couldn't help but forget being mad at Leo. It's been a while since Leo had smiled like that with them. He's always smiled amusingly or smirking, but never sweetly for being grateful, and Mikey couldn't help but smile back.
"Your welcome, Leo."
"Did you see the person who dropped them off?" 
"No. I saw a shadow in front of the door and I thought it was someone trying to break in, but then they left. I soon came out and found the coat and swords. I thought I was the one that was suppose to ask the questions!?" 
"You went out of the garage right after the guy left!?" Leo's voice started to rise to panicky.
"No. Not right after. I waited to see if he would come back before I checked. Then when I saw your stuff I panicked, thinking that you were hurt badly and I went to look for you." Mikey sighed out. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. Leo took a moment to think about what Mikey said before he snapped up with wide eyes.
"You what!? You looked for me!?" He shouted. Causing the sea green turtles heart to jump.
"Yes, Leo. I went to look for you because I thought you were hurt."
"What happen!? What did you do!? Did you find anything!? Anybody!?" Leonardo asked frantically. Mikey looked back up at Leo and bit his lip. Rubbing the back of his neck. Leo may be hidding something from him, but that gave Mikey no reason to lie to him.
"Well. . . I didn't exactly find anybody. It was more like they found me." Leo's face softened to confusion.
"What?"
"Look Leo, don't freak out. When I was looking for you, I accidently ran into a group of vampires." The leaf green terrapins eyes widen to abnormal size. His hand covering his mouth before it moved across his face and rubbing his head. This was exactly what he was afraid of. If something like this happened to him, he wouldn't be there to protect him. And to think, when he was out at the hospital his own brother and best friend could have died from his worst enemy, and he was beating himself up about loosing a fight.
"Were you okay?" Michelangelo took a second before answering.
"Well, I almost got eaten. But. . . someone saved me." 
"What? Who?"
"I don't know who. I didn't get a good look of him. I was tackled by a vampire while the others was about to attack me. Then they suddenly all got stabbed. I saw him at the edge of a roof." Leo forwarded his eye brows in thought. Could it be possible there was another vigilante?
"Do you have anything to discribe what he looks like?"
"Yeah, he has red eyes." 
"That's it?"
"That's all I could see before he took off." Leo took a second to figure on the matter. As much as he didn't want to believe it. All the facts seem to turn to him. Did that emerald, red eyed turtle that stabbed him just saved his brother from getting eatten?
"Did he have one eye?"
"I guess. I'm not sure, I thought that it was just the angle of his head." Leo nodded his head. "I assumed he was a vampire. Do you think this vampire is good. . . In any way? He did save my life." The leaf green turtle looked back at his brother before his gaze dropped to his lap.
"Yeah. . . Maybe."
"Do you know him?"
"What!? No!" He said a little too fast.
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"You never seen him before on patrol?"
"I've fought millions of vampires, Mikey. I don't think I would remember if I saw him." The orange clad reptile nodded his head. 
"Leo, why won't you tell me what's the matter?" Leonardo allowed his head to drop. Giving an annoying sigh.
"That's enough, Michelangelo. I'm exhausted and I want to sleep. We can talk more in the morning." The sea green turtle sighed. Pushing himself up from his bed and making his way next to his older brother. Helping him lay down properly, putting the blankets on him, giving him a small kiss on the forehead before turning out the light.
"Okay bro. Sleep well, and heal fast."