A/N: I don't know if this will go anywhere, but it's been asking to be written. It's the sequel to A Different Side.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Turtles. Only Rea.
Two weeks later...
"Come on, Mikey," Rea droned.
"Just a minute," Michelangelo said.
Rea growled and crossed her arms. Why had she agreed to this? She could have shoved it into Leonardo's or Donatello's hands. She had a date. And at the rate Michelangelo was looking she was going to be late. Rea rubbed her eyes and groaned loud enough for the orange masked turtle to hear.
"I have to find the perfect ninja-esque artifact," Michelangelo explained.
"Mikey, c'mon. This isn't fair. I have a date in half an hour," Rea whined.
"You agreed to come."
"Because you said you'd be ten to twenty minutes. We've been searching for your 'perfect artifact' for six hours!"
"You don't understand. If I don't find the perfect artifact Leo will win...again."
"Win what again?" Rea asked.
"Every year Master Splinter sends us topside to search for something that we think best represents the 'spirit of the ninja'...or something like that. And every time Leo finds the perfect thing. Some times I think he steals it from Raph. But both of them always deny it," Michelangelo informed his friend.
Rea sighed and looked at her watch. Forty-five minutes left.
"Mikey!"
"Do you know how important this is?"
"You mean my life?"
"Raph isn't going to kill you, Rea," Michelangelo said.
"How do you know?" Rea asked.
She was getting anxious. She had never been late for anything in her life, and she wasn't about to start now.
"He loves you too much," Michelangelo answered simply.
He picked up a gold chain. From the chain hung a glass oval medallion.
"How about this?" he asked, holding it up for Rea to see.
"How does that depict the 'spirit of the ninja'?" Rea asked.
"No idea. But, it looks cool," the turtle told her.
Rea growled.
"Mikey, if we're not out of here in three minutes I'm leaving."
"Hey, look. You can see your reflection."
"Michelangelo!"
"And I thought you were supposed to be the voice of reason," Michelangelo said.
Rea put her face in her hands and whimpered. She was never going to get out of here. Two weeks of freedom and she was a prisoner again. Only this time her captor was her boyfriend's brother.
"Should I get it?" Michelangelo asked.
"Whatever, Mikey. I don't care. I just want to go home," Rea replied.
Michelangelo reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out an old weathered wallet. He opened it and counted the bills that lay inside.
"Awesome. I have enough."
"Are you sure it's safe?" Rea asked.
"Is what safe?"
"That thing."
"Chill-ax, Reason. It's not a mirror. It wasn't made by Ralph," Michelangelo pointed out.
He made his way over to the cashier. Rea glanced at her watch again. Raphael was probably searching the city for her. Someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"Let's go," Michelangelo said.
The two friends made their way out of the shop and started walking in the direction of April's apartment. They were almost there when they heard the hum of a motorcycle. The friends stopped walking and turned around to see a red bike slow down and pull up beside them.
"There you are. I've been lookin' everywhere for you."
"Raph," Rea sighed in relief.
Raphael pulled off his bike helmet. His mask tails were instantly caught by the wind.
"Mikey, Master Splinter wants you back at the lair for private trainin'."
"Aw man," Michelangelo moaned.
"And you, young lady," Raphael said, looking at Rea. "Have an appointment."
"Raphie, I'm so sorry. He kidnapped me," Rea explained, pointing at the turtle beside her.
"Did not," Michelangelo argued. "You agreed to come."
"Save it for the lair. You. On. Now," Raphael told Rea.
Rea gladly climbed on to the back of the Shell Cycle and put on the extra helmet that was waiting for her. When it was on, she wrapped her arms around Raphael's broad chest. The jacket he wore felt warm against her cold skin.
"You two love birds have fun," Michelangelo said.
Raphael put his helmet on, started the Shell Cycle up again and drove off. The youngest turtle watched as his brother and his girlfriend disappeared around the corner. He made his way across the street. He would say hi to April before he headed home. Plus, he wanted to ask her about the medallion.
Michelangelo knocked on the back door. A few minutes later it opened and April's smiling face greeted him.
"Hey, Mikey."
"Hi-ya, April. Ya busy?" Michelangelo asked.
"Not at all. Come on in," April said.
Michelangelo stepped into the antique shop. April closed the door.
"What brings you here?" she asked.
"I was just on my way back to the lair and decided to drop by and say hi. That, and I also want your opinion on something," Michelangelo added.
He reached into the shopping bag and pulled out the medallion. He held it out for April to take. The human took it and held it gently in her hands.
"Mikey. Where did you get something like this?" she whispered in awe. "I've never seen anything more beautiful."
"Do you think Master Splinter will approve?" Michelangelo asked.
"Artifact searching again?" April guessed.
The ninja nodded in confirmation. The red-head held the medallion up by the chain and held it up against the light. A rainbow of colors emitted from the glass.
"April?"
"Yeah, Mikey?"
"Why are there ten of you?"
April looked around. Sure enough, several clones were standing around the shop. As soon as April brought the medallion away from the light they disappeared.
"Kinda reminds me of a light catcher," Michelangelo commented.
"This is perfect, Mike," April said.
"Ya think so?"
"Isn't Master Splinter always saying that a ninja has to face all sides of himself?"
"It was kinda the theme when Ralph was around," Michelangelo replied.
"What better way to show that with a light catcher?" April asked.
Michelangelo took the medallion from his friend. He turned it over in his hands a couple of times then held it back up to the light. This time, when April's doubles entered the room, they had different expressions. Feeling a little uncomfortable, Michelangelo slipped the medallion back into the bag. It reminded him too much of Ralph's mirror. He hoped it hadn't been made by Ralph. He didn't know if he could take another trip into someone else's mind.
"Well, I guess I'd better get going," he announced. "Sensei is gonna make me do flips if I'm late."
"Okay, Mike. I'll see you later."
"Bye, April."
Michelangelo headed out the door and dashed up the nearest fire escape. He couldn't wait to get back to the lair and show Splinter what he had found. Leonardo was in for a surprise. The leader's perfect record was going to be wiped clean after the weekend. Michelangelo couldn't help but smile. He picked up the pace and soon he was running like the wind across the rooftops.
What do you think? Worth continuing?