Someone to Count On
Ch. 1
"Starting Over"
Milani is an 18 year old ninja that just lost her father, and wants to leave her childhood home and start a new life. Then she remembers her three friends and calls them to see if they might have room for her to stay with them. When the conversation ends Holly exclaims to their best friends.
"Hey girls guess who is coming to stay with us here in New York?"
They both look at her in a puzzled state and shrug. Then one responds with an attitude.
"Yea sure for how long? She always thought she was the best cause she is a ninja! Why should I be excited? My temper was too dangerous for me to continue, and she still shoves it in my face!"
At that remark Holly glared at her.
"Aeiko you're acting ridiculous! You always picked a fight and couldn't control it. So don't go bad mouthing Milani. She had a reason to continue her training. You forget her father was taught by Hamato Yoshi. She only wanted to continue and be like her father. How can you hate her for that?"
Aeiko said nothing and slammed her bedroom door as her black hair disappeared behind it. Holly shook her head and looked at Emerald.
"Okay do you also feel the same way that Aeiko does? Come on we haven't seen her since she continued her training. Wouldn't it be nice to see her again, and have our best friend back?"
Emerald smiled.
"Of course not Holly, I am glad she is finally coming to New York. We have asked her so many times and she told us no. Tell her to book a flight and I'll pick her up at the airport. I really miss her like you have all these years."
Holly was so full of joy.
"Okay Milani, book your flight and Emerald will pick you up at the airport. Also when you come in the antique shop up the road is hiring. I am pretty sure you will get hired on the spot. You have always been perfect in your own ways. We are all delighted to see you finally after so long you being away."
Milani had a hard time believing that Aeiko ever stopped hating her, when she decided to pursue her dream and become a great ninja like her father. Who was recently killed by Oroku Saki's daughter Karai Saki and for that she hated her. Maybe getting away from this place where she watched as her father was killed with a katana right in front of her. There was more to the hatred that Aeiko had toward Milani besides her actually being able to call herself a ninja. The main reason that Aeiko hated Milani was because she tried to tell her about Karai's evil ways and was always called a liar. Because Aeiko and Karai were best friends before Aeiko was kicked out of the dojo because she almost killed a student for bad mouthing Karai.
After Milani hung up with Holly she packed and slept one more night in her childhood home. The next morning she caught her flight to New York and felt relieved that she could finally leave the place where she witnessed her father's end. Besides she was reunited with her childhood best friends. Her plane landed and she made her way to where Emerald was waiting and was surprised that all three of her friends were there to meet her. Aeiko really didn't say much but did give Milani a hug when she ran to Emerald's car.
Milani hugged all three and wondered how long Aeiko's happiness would last. They took her out to dinner in China town and talked about their childhood memories as they laughed. After dinner the four friends headed back to the apartment. Milani smiled as she entered her room and started to unpack. Then she heard a knock on the door. Holly entered with a smile on her face.
"Wow Milani you have really stayed in shape. I'd think you were still 10 years old. Here's a cup of hot chocolate to make you feel at home like old times. We are all glad that we can all hang out once again. It just wasn't the same without you. You were always the one that cheered us up when we were down. Don't mind Aeiko, she'll come and talk to you when she is ready. Another thing I have to tell you might cause you to get angry. You may want to sit down and listen."
At that Aeiko entered glaring at Holly.
"There is nothing that she wants to hear right now Holly. Let her get settled in and get some sleep. I am serious leave it alone Holly. She is back with us that is all that she needs to focus on right now understood."
Holly left the hot chocolate on the nightstand as Aeiko led her to the balcony.
"Right now is not the time to tell Milani that Karai is here in New York. She left home to get away from the memory of my former best friend slitting her father's throat as she watched with her damn katana! I want her to stay here with us. She needs us right now Holly, she has no other family. I regret calling her a liar when she told me how evil Karai was, and still have that anger inside me because she was right. But I am not ready to tell her that the one that murdered her father is here, do I make myself clear? Do I!"
Holly sighed.
"Okay I get it, but we are going to have to tell her sooner or later Aeiko. You can't deny the fact that she has the right to know. Us as her best friends shouldn't hide it from her, that is betrayal and you know it!"
Emerald interrupted.
"Keep it down you two. Milani's room is next door. We will tell her when she is settled in. We all have to swear that not a word will be spoken about it until the time is right. She will go back, or go on a rampage to avenge her father's death you both know that. She is a ninja, but we can't tell her the truth yet. Now drop it both of you here she comes."
Milani looked at her friends suspiciously.
"Tell me the truth about what exactly? What are you three hiding from me? Is there something I need to be aware of about New York? Well is there?"
They saw her arms crossed and knew she was a bit mad.
"Nothing at all. It's just a big city, and you have to watch yourself when you walk around here that's all. Don't worry; we aren't hiding anything from you Milani. We are all bushed, goodnight Milani see you when we all come from work. Remember to stop at that antique shop. They really need someone to work there. "
They all entered their rooms and sighed with relief as they got ready for bed. Milani was still suspicious and sat on the windowsill of her room looking up at the moon. As she looked up at the moon she held her necklace tight and tears rolled down as the memories of the night her father was murdered came back to her. Finally hours passed and she fell asleep when her head hit her pillow.
The next morning Milani woke up and her friends were already at work. She entered the kitchen and looked at the pot with the coffee already brewed and smiled as she poured herself a cup of coffee. Then she looked out of the window and saw the antique shop her friends were talking about and got the address. She went on her laptop and printed out her resume to give to the owner of the shop. She really had a good feeling that after today she too would be working like her friends. She dressed professionally and made her way to the store.
In the meantime April and Casey were talking to their friends and heard the bell ring. The four brothers put their disguises back on and acted normal as April made her way to the counter. The eldest brother looked up and saw the girl standing at the counter and couldn't stop staring. Then his 2nd oldest brother approached him and bopped him.
"Yo bro will you stop looking. Trust me if she knows what you really are she will freak out and run out of the store. April needs someone to help her in the store we have to lay low. Hello are you listening to me?"
The one in blue looked up at his brother in red and glared.
"You ever bop me again I will seriously kick your shell in! Do I make myself clear? Do I!"
The brother in red glared back at his older brother.
"I'd like to see you try oh fearless one! Besides you were staring at her and she was looking ova here Mr. Thinks he's so damn perfect!"
The brother wearing the blue glared back.
"You are cruising for me to injure you aren't you? I wasn't staring, I was trying to figure out if she might be a foot member undercover you hothead!"
The youngest in Orange tapped his brothers to stop them from getting into a fight.
"Guys come on let's get going, April doesn't need us to mess up the interview. Besides the last thing we need right now is for that girl to see us. "
The one wearing purple cleared his throat
"Uh bros let's get back. We've been gone for two hours now. Splinter is bound to call us and we will get another lecture. Besides we have a training session or have you all forgotten what he said when we left."
The eldest brother looked up. Then he saw the girl he was staring at earlier go by the time clock and punch her numbers in.
"April when you get a chance, can you call me later I think I heard Master Splinter talk about a similar girl like that in one of his stories. We gotta get back see you and Casey later."
April responded.
"Her name is Milani Toshi. Didn't Master Splinter mention that last name to us in one of his lessons? It was something about one of his best students that tried to warn him about Saki's plan to get him in trouble. Ask him when you get back, and call me back see you four later Leo."
The one in blue nodded.
"No problem April, I'll call you back when I get a chance to ask him."
April nodded.
"Okay. I'll be waiting for that call Leo."
The four brothers exited the shop and made their way back to the lair taking off their disguises. When they entered the lair Splinter was in the kitchen and Leonardo approached him.
"Father, does the last name Toshi ring a bell to you by any chance?"
Splinter looked up from his tea.
"Yes my son why are you asking me? Leonardo what is it?"
He responded to him.
"April just hired a girl and her name is Milani Toshi. But she seems so young to be here by herself. Could it be possible that her and her father came to New York?"
At that Splinter shook his head.
"No my son, because Milani's father was brutally murdered a couple of years ago. It is said that Karai was the one that ended his life as Milani watched on in horror. She may be here to escape the memories of her father's brutal murder at Karai's hand. I have a letter from him written a couple days before he was murdered. I am going to look for it. So begin the lesson without me my son. We will read it together."
Leonardo bowed.
"Yes father, see you after you find that letter. "
He entered the dojo with his brothers behind and carried on the lesson without Splinter as he was told to.
