Author's Note: A different take on the origins of the New York Hamato family.
Hamato Yoshi slowly pried his eyes open. He sat up and memories flooded back to him. He had followed a strange man into an alley where he met two others who looked exactly like him, stepped on a rat, and was attacked. During the fight the canister of glowing, green ooze one had been holding broke, covering Yoshi in the strange substance. Horrible pain had consumed him as his body broke and changed. He has passed out after realizing he had mutated into a giant rat.
"Subject is awake."
He turned at the sound of the voice to see a group of people in lab coats watching him. His blood ran cold as he realized he was in a cage, like at the zoo, in a science lab. He was here as a specimen to be studied and most likely experimented on. He knew talking would most likely make it even worse, so he stayed quiet, playing the part of an animal.
A sharp pain in his left arm then made itself known. Looking down he saw a sluggishly bleeding cut and realized he must have cut himself on the broken glass on the canister. He mentally cringed but gave in to his new instincts and began licking the cut. It would make it more believable that he was just a huge rat, rather than a rat looking human.
"Subject shows natural rat behavior. Perhaps it was simply mutated bigger, it's build becoming more human, as well," said a female scientist.
Yoshi watched them out of the corner of his eye. At last he was satisfied with his wound and put his arm down. He looked at the scientists, his ears twitching with curiosity.
"Bring the four new turtles. We have so many of those, that four won't be missed."
Turtles? Missed? What did they plan to do with turtles?
A small hatch opened, and four turtles tumbled into his cage. To his shock, they began crying like babies. He slowly made his way over to them, his posture one of cautious curiosity. The turtles were humanoid! Mutated like he was!
The smallest one, who had freckles on his cheeks, opened big tearful, baby blue eyes. His gaze found Yoshi. The rat looked at the others. One had a lightning shaped chip on his shell and bright green eyes. The biggest had brown eyes. The last had blue eyes a shade or two darker than the freckled one. Yoshi leaned down to sniff chipped one and was rewarded with a smack right to his nose. He jumped, startled at the bravery and temper the little one. His answer was the roll the turtle onto his back so he couldn't move and sniffing the others, who were much more friendly.
"The rat does not appear to be interested in consuming them."
His blood ran cold. They wanted him to eat the turtles?!
He gazed down at the babies then nosed the chipped one back onto his stomach and herd all four over the nest he has woken on. He take care of them, not eat them. Nicknames were in order, as well.
The smallest one, who was utterly adorable with his freckles, baby blue eyes, and happy smile was simply nicknamed Freckles. The green eyed one was Hothead, which Yoshi mentally chuckled at. The brown eyed one was Curious, because he could see the curiosity always in the dark eyes. The darker blue eyed one was a little harder to name. He seemed to be a bit of a leader, so that became his name.
"Subject appears to have adopted the turtles. Lets see where this goes. Bring food for them all."
He let himself feel a bit of relief. At least they hadn't taken the babies away from him since he hadn't eaten them. Food came through the hatch, meat for him and fruits for the turtles. He brought the food over and watched the babies eat their food at incredible speed, while he ate at more normal rate. As he licked the last remnants of the meat from his paws/hands, he felt a tug at his fur.
Looking down he encountered the food covered face of little Freckles. He looked at the others. They all had food on their faces. A bath was in order. This was going to be fun. Not.
He pulled Freckles into his paws/hands, the baby giggling as he did so. He found himself smiling, despite himself, and began licking the turtle clean. Surprisingly, the act of bathing the baby like this felt natural and soothing. Freckles giggled the whole time until his new father released him. Yoshi watched his new son toddled over to nestle against his side.
He reached out and caught Hothead. The green eyed the baby fought him, refusing to be bathed. Losing his patience, Yoshi nipped his arm. Hothead froze then began crying, though Yoshi knew he wasn't hurt. The baby was surprised more than anything. He continued the bath, the repetitive licks soothing the turtle as the rat paid a little extra attention to where he had nipped his new son. Once satisfied, he let Hothead join Freckles.
Now it was Curious' turn. In a way he was as challenging as Hothead but for a different reason. He continually grabbed Yoshi's muzzle, whiskers, and beard, The baby even grabbed his tongue at one point. Finally he stopped the bath and waited for the turtle to finish his examination of his new father. Once Curious was finished Yoshi returned to bathing him. Finally finishing, he let Curious join his brother.
He was startled when Leader crawled into his hold. He understood what Yoshi wanted having watched his three brothers receive their baths. Yoshi smiled and began to bathe him. Leader giggled as he washed the baby's little feet. He, like Freckles, was easy to bathe, and he soon joined his brothers, snuggled against Yoshi's warm, furry side. Yoshi curled around them as they fell asleep. He lay his head down on his paws/hands and fell asleep as well. Perhaps, once he escaped, he could start over with his new sons somewhere safe.
End Note: Chapter One, Yoshi gets the boys. The scientists will not play very big roles in the story. Please review.