fearless_leader | 4th Kata [Voice/Action if wanted] Backdated to the 28th

[After escaping from the unfamiliar apartment, where he had awoken curled up with Karai, he fled into the woods. He thought about heading for home, but he just wasn't ready for it. The first experiment to affect him, and it hit hard.

His family is everything to him. But with what seemed like the flip of a switch, he had it ripped out from under him. They were completely replaced. Different father, different brothers. He remembered his real brothers being around, but seeing them as only friends and strangers. There was also the dislike for Raph, the fact that he was a criminal, in some ninja gang, run by Splinter. He knew Don, Mikey and Raph still considered each other brothers in that world. He wonders why he was isolated. If they could stay brothers, why couldn't he? Then there was the whole aspect of thinking he was married to Karai, for over a year. These malnosso's really liked to screw with your mind, that was clear now. Playing with emotions he had long buried.

They really were capable of anything. He hates that there's nothing they can do to stop them.

After his conversation with Robert, he gives a frustrated sigh, and rubs at his eyes for a moment. At least he knows his brothers and Sensei are all right. Even if Raph has yet to check in. Maybe the hot-head got lucky and missed this whole mess.

Eventually he'll check in himself. They're probably back at the house, waiting for him to come back. But he can't. Not yet.]

[Voice;Filtered to Master Splinter, Donatello and Michelangelo]

I'm going to be a few days before I come home.

[As much as he wants to be home, he needs a chance to get his thoughts back together. He knows it wasn't real, but it still left him with a lot to deal with.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He's falling back on familiar things, to help himself deal with this. He spent a while meditating, which always helps him to relax. Well, most of the time anyway. Now though he's doing some practicing, unarmed, as he goes through the kata. His senses alert him to someone in the woods once he's done. He goes to investigate, though the presence is familiar. He'll pause when he finally comes across Shikamaru, watching what he's doing, before speaking up.]

Trying to keep from getting lost? [He's relaxed at the moment. Shikamaru's familiar, even if it's been a couple of months since he talked to him.]

[He picks up on Leo before he speaks, but not much sooner before that. You guys really have been trained well.]

Heh, not me. Got a friend though - couldn't tell left from right.

[In actuality, he's just marking them in a place few would think to look. He has plans for these trees, eventually. And while Shino is not so directionally-challenged, he will need his help with them.]

[It helps that they've had plenty of practice back home.]

Ah, good idea then.

[He puts the kunai away before turning around to sit at the base of the tree, looking at him.]

So what's your excuse? Getting to know the fuzzy, woodland creatures? [/dry]

No. Just out here to clear my head, and regather my thoughts after the recent experiment.

[He figured as much, but an opportunity to tone it down with some humor doesn't hurt. Except for when it's not taken.]

Mm. That's a lot to think about.

[Which is exactly why he's chosen not to, even if it's not quite so easy... especially now, looking at Leo. He had nothing to do with him in this last experiment, no, but it still reminds him.

This is such bad timing.]

You have brothers, right?

[Leo noticed the humor, really he did.]

It really is. [Only ten days or so, but it gave him plenty to think about.

He look at Shikamaru at the question.]

Yes, three of them. Though one hasn't checked in.

[He was worried about that.]

Raphael, right? [And because he realizes that could be taken as suspicious:] I knew him better, in that other life.

[He'll wait for confirmation. Maybe he's wrong.]

[Right. The other life. Strange way to meet new people.

He puts a hand on a tree to lean on it for the moment.]

Yeah, he's the one. Michelangelo's said he's not seen him for a week. [He can already guess why, but it's best to check with all sources.]

Have you seen him?

[Shikamaru nods once.]

He went into the woods and didn't come back out. I was looking for him, up until the experiment ended, but I didn't find him. [He pauses, considering this. Shikamaru was kidnapped himself, but returned right in the middle of that said experiment with no memories of being taken - just the thought that he'd gotten lost in the woods. It's likely the same thing.] Hate to say this, but he was probably kidnapped.

[The malnosso have both crappy timing, and good timing.

He'll let out a reluctant sigh as he gets confirmation.]

I was afraid of that. [He had to look to the bright side. Kidnapped for a week meant his brother more than likely missed more of the experiment. Which is good. He hopes.]

Thank you, for the confirmation. [He's genuine about it.]

4th Kata [Voice/Action if wanted] Backdated to the 28th

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