Chapter 1

"You know, it's almost been a year and I still get jitters everytime she visits..." Rapheal said with a sigh as he looked at his newly photo-covered wall. Before his room had been plain, four open brick walls, but over the past few months, one had started to accumulate a bit of a collection of different pictures of him; and his girlfriend, June

One summer ago, April O'Neil's neice June had come to New York City from California for her summer break, and befriended Raphael and his brothers. And after a breif dating experience between all four of the brothers, June had chosen Raphael to date exclusivley; something Raphael was still extremely pleased with.

Since they had started dating, June had visitied every break she had- which wasn't a lot, since she was attending an all-girls Japanese high school for her final year of high school, but every time she came to visit was more than wonderful, even though the time was always too short. But now that June was graduated, Raphael was looking forward to this visit from her a lot- now he had all the time in the world to spend with her; well, at least more time with her before she went back to Japan in order to go to University.

Raphael's sentimental smile faded- university. That was still quite the sore spot with him. It would mean that he would have to end his relationship with her so she could move on and get on with her life. Afterall, who was he to try holding her back from her future?

Common Raph, he thought, shoving his melancholy thoughts aside, she's going to be here today, and I can't be all upset around her- it would ruin everything. I'll just play it as it comes.

"Welcome back, sweetie!" April called through the airport terminal with a huge smile on her face, her arms spread wide.
"Oba-san! Tadaima!" June called back from her end of the terminal. She dashed toward her aunt and gave her a big hug. "Oooh, I missed you!"

"I know- I missed you too, sweetie," April said. She then put her hands on her neice's shoulders and held her back to take a look at her. "Wow... You look so grown up! And congratulations on graduating!"

"Thank you so much, Aunt April... I wish you could have come to the ceremony. Well, I wish mom and dad could have come to the ceremony, too, but it was a private thing," June explained with a little laugh.

"Well, we can celebrate all we want this month," April said with a big grin. "And there's someone else who's been looking forward to celebrating with you, too..." April said, a playful twinkle in her eye. June's cheeks flushed and she looked at the ground, embarrassed, "I know... I'm looking forward to seeing him, too..." The thought of seeing Raphael's deep chocolate eyes and smiling face always gave her butterflies in her stomach. She really was crazy for him, and she had a feeling he was crazy for her, too.

"So, are you ready to go see him?" April asked her neice as she started to make her way out of the airport.

"If you don't mind, I would like to go to the apartment, first- you know for a shower," June replied.

"But why? You look fine in just a t-shirt and jeans!"

"Um... Aunt April, I've been on a plane for 18 hours... I stink."

"Oh! That's right! Well, alright, let's go get you freshened up!"