Katas were, and always would be, as far as Raphael was concerned, boring. The date of his first ever kata was lost among the mind of a developing child, but he was sure that it was boring, as well. Forcing focus on something you really didn't enjoy doing was incredibly hard. It put him in a dream-like fog, where his father's gentle breath, and the sound of moving (mostly) in tandem with his three brothers only made the fog harder to navigate.

One morning, however, was different. There was more energy in the air, more laughter and movement. Splinter was content to let them horse around, so long as they got through their kata. Even Michelangelo was performing with ease, without having to be constantly instructed. He was in the right corner, facing away from the group but having a ball. With each step and punch, he made a noise. "Bfflt, blfft, bfflt! Bfffffflt!"

Maybe permitting him to make all the sound effects his little heart desired wasn't the best idea, though it didn't seem to bother the others.

Donatello was behind Michelangelo, eyes locked straight ahead at all times, chanting in time with his movements. "Is, am, are...was! Were, be, being, been! Has, have, had, do, does...did. Shall, will, sould, should, may, might! Must, could...Can, can, can! Can, can, can! Is, am, are..."

"Peow! Kpeow!"

When Raphael looked over, however, it seemed as though Leonardo was one-upping everyone, again. Not only was he moving as slowly and patiently as paint drying, he didn't even have his eyes open, the jerk! Raphael watched in growing jealousy as he moved, somehow managing not to stray out of his confines. It was as if his feet remembered every footprint on the mat. Frankly, it was ridiculous, and the fact that Splinter seemed so amused...Raphael ground his teeth together.

"Excellent, Leonardo," Splinter said.

Raphael grunted. "Hmpf!" He screwed his eyes shut and launched into another kata, one to match Leonardo's. After several nervous moments of trying to move blindly but confidently, brow ridges furrowed at the prospect of straying too far and socking one of his unsuspecting siblings, he heard Splinter say: "very good, Raphael."

In an instant, his fists were at his side, balled up tightly, and his eyes were open and full of anger. Very good? he wanted to yell. Leo gets to be excellent, but I'm very good? ...Fine. Apparently that wasn't the way to get attention. In a quiet, angry voice announced: "I'm tired. Can I go have a nap?"

Splinter stopped what he was doing and cast a curious eye upon the child. "You may," he said gently.

"Bfflt!" said Michelangelo.

Wearing a scowl that could freeze lava, Raphael calmly walked away.