SUP! Long time no read! I've been livin' life and writing other things :D Anyway I was reading different TMNT stories and I found this one and the Author put it up for adoption. So I was like MINE! Kida The Freak (The author) was kind enough to let me adopt it! I'm really excited and this initial idea is not mine, but the rest of it and how it all fits is! The first three chapters belong to her and starting with the fourth chapter on is mine! Also real quick note. I'm not going to be doing any T-Cest. For one I just don't care for it so sorry about that, but there will be some Apriltello and maybe LeoXKarai. The cover image belongs to lorna-ka on Deviantart. You guys should check her out. She's really freaking good! Anywho on with the story!
"Yame!"
The instructor's shout halted the two sparring teenagers in the middle of their motions, the youth performing with two shinai glancing the thrust of one bamboo sword against the wrist of his opponent. The shout of "stop" summoned the end of the unfinished match, and the students took their respective bows. The sensei stepped forward, beckoning one of the students to speak with him.
"Leonardo," The elder man began with pride when his pupil stopped to stand before him, shinai still in hand. "Your kendo skills have yet to disappoint. However, I am sensing an inner turmoil that is distracting both the mind and the sword, and it would do you well to share your burden and make it lighter."
Leonardo sighed, feeling the sweat covering his face as he pulled off his men and ran his fingers through his black hair. He really didn't want to bother his sensei right now with his petty qualms. The wise instructor had enough on his plate as it was, what with the kendo tournament rapidly approaching.
"I'm fine, sensei Tsuyoi, just… just a little worried about the tournament."
"Ah, yes," Tsuyoi agreed with a brief nod. "If you felt no fear, I must have raised a fool, and you are no fool, Leonardo. You are one of the most studious and respective of my students, and your devotion echoes through your kendo skills. You will be fine, and bring honor to our dojo. This I know."
Leonardo relaxed subtly, not quite totally reassured, but feeling his confidence taking on a stronger root. His face reddened slightly under his sensei's praise, and he ducked his head to smile shyly.
His teacher reached out, patting him firmly on the shoulder. "Go change and rest for the evening. Tiring you out before the competition will do you no good, my student, and you have already done well."
"Thank you, sensei." Leo said, bowing to his teacher, then the dojo as a show of respect before he left through the door to put his equipment away for the day.
The dojo Leo trained in was just an unused part of the neighborhood gym that had become the training room for the local high school's kendo club. As such, the gym had its own locker rooms and showers, for which Leo was grateful. It would be a pain to walk home smelling like the fish the cafeteria served in third grade.
Leo splashed the sink's water onto his face, having finished his shower and dressed in a tank top and shorts. He dabbed at his face with a sweat-soaked towel and studied his appearance in the mirror, reaching for the comb in his gym bag.
He stood about average height for a fifteen year old boy, with neat black hair cut to just the right length. He was obviously of Japanese descent, having close ancestors directly from Japan himself. But his most striking feature was his brilliant blue eyes.
He wasn't quite sure where he got them from, honestly. Neither of his parents had them. He supposed it had something to do with recessive genes, but he didn't think too deeply into the matter. It was what it was, and Leo never obsessed about anything beyond his control.
He gathered up his gym bag and slung it over his shoulder after he tugged on his jacket, pushing open the locker room doors and wandering down the hall to the front desk. It was customary to sign in and out when entering and leaving, and although it wasn't a rule enforced at the gym, Leo made sure to sign his name every time.
It wasn't until he was passing the weight room that the hairs on the back of his neck prickled under what Leonardo could assume was someone's gaze. His steps faltered and he came to a halt before the glass wall of the weight room, looking through the windows with curiosity etched on his face. Instantly, his blue eyes met the radioactive green of a scowling redhead. Like anyone would when they meet the eyes of a stranger, the short-but-muscular redhead turned back to what he was doing; in his case, beating the heck out of the poor punching bag.
Leo didn't know what the other boy's deal was, but that look had sure felt like a challenge.
A challenge he couldn't back down from.
And even though Leo tried to shake that feeling from his mind, it stuck like glue, clinging to his thoughts. He gritted his teeth, tightening the grip on his bag as he turned and left. He didn't look back at the room, but he wanted to.
It wasn't until he was outside that Leo felt like he could breathe better, away from that oddly-inflicted frustration. He sighed, coming down the steps to sit on the bench while he waited for the next bus. The congregation of New Yorkers that usually filled the streets to the seams was less than they usually were on a warm fall evening. Only a few other people were walking up and down the sidewalks. Leo leaned back, closing his eyes for just a few moments of rest…
"Hey, dude, you okay?" A cheery voice asked, a finger poking him in the cheek. Leo grunted, squeezing his eyes tighter as he tried to swat away whoever was bothering him.
"Duuuude…" The voice complained. "You've been asleep for an hour! Aren't you like, supposed to catch the bus or something?"
Leo's eyes snapped open at that with a gasp, and he sat up quickly. "What time is it!?" He looked over to the kid kneeling on the bench next to him, a shorter boy with curly blonde hair and a smattering of freckles on his face. He looked like he had the energy of a seven year old, though he couldn't have been much younger than Leo.
The kid grinned cheekily, obviously amused. "Its five thirty, dude, and you just missed the bus five minutes ago."
Leonardo groaned, slouching back into the bench. "Great. Dad's going to kill me…" He covered his face with his hands, feeling ashamed that he let the time slip away from him. Sensei was right. All this worry was wearing him down.
A few moments passed before Leo peeked out from behind his fingers, confused as to why the kid was still sitting next to him, energetically bouncing in a way that was obviously habit. Leo sat up, fixing the boy with a curious look.
"Did you miss the bus too?" He asked.
"Nah, man, I just live over there and saw you still sleeping. Thought you had somewhere important to be."
Leo looked over to where the boy pointed; a cold brick alley without even a fire escape that could have led to his home.
"You're homeless?"
The boy nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh, but I'm not lonely, 'cause then I get to meet people like you. It's boring to just live like 'regular people' do." He said, air-quoting "regular people". Leo couldn't believe how nonchalant he was towards his homeless status, and he looked down at the boy with a feeling of… regret? Pity? Horror?
"How do you keep yourself alive?" He asked, disbelieving.
"Simple!" The boy said, with what Leo was coming to know as one of his signature mischievous smiles. "I just take meals that people throw out, as long as they still smell okay, and I know the best hiding places from the shady guys. I'm good, bro!"
Even as he was speaking, Leo could see how skinny this boy really was. He probably hadn't had a proper meal in a few days. Leo settled on the feeling of pity, and pulled his gym bag from underneath the bench, not answering the curious eyes of the boy. He dug out his wallet, relieved to have found it untouched. At least the boy was not a thief as well as homeless. He fished a twenty from his allowance, handing it to the kid. "Here."
Instantly, the boy put up his hands as if to decline. His blue eyes were wide with surprise. "No way, bro! I just came to talk to you for company, not to take your money! I mean, thanks for offering and all, but-"
"Just take it. Please? It'd make me feel better."
The boy's eyes flicked at the twenty, then to Leo, as though debating whether or not to take it. Reluctantly, he let Leo hand it to him. He looked up at the kendo player with a look of admiration, like a younger brother would to an older brother.
"Thanks dude! If there's ever anything I can do for you in return-"
"Just be sure to spend that on food, and not comics or something, okay? By the way, I never caught your name."
"Michelangelo!" He said, holding out a hand. "But you can call me Mikey!"
Leo smiled a little, accepting the handshake, or a bro-shake, as Mikey later called it. "I'm Leonardo."
"Okay, Leo! You're my new bestest friend!" Mikey said, practically dislocating Leo's shoulder with his shakes. "I won't ever forget your gift of awesomeness, my brave man!"
Leo couldn't help but chuckle at his antics, despite his arm being yanked. He managed to disentangle himself gradually, and had to shake the numb feeling out. "Okay, that's enough. I still need my arm."
Mikey grinned sheepishly, ducking his head. "Sorry, it's just… I haven't had a permanent friend in a long while." His face fell ever-so-slightly, but it still wasn't enough to dim his bright outlook.
Leo smiled gently, putting his hand on Mikey's shoulder. "You're definitely a good kid, Mikey. If anyone wouldn't want to be your friend, I'd be shocked."
Mikey looked up, hopeful and happy. "Thanks bro. And Leo?"
"Hm?"
"You're about to miss the bus again."
"Shoot!" Leo said, jumping to his feet and grabbing his bag again. "I'll see you around the next time I've got kendo practice! See you later Mikey!" He shouted over his shoulder, waving as he jumped up the steps of the bus.
"Bye Leo-dude!"
..::-::..
The ride back to his apartment was rather uneventful for Leo. He would've fallen asleep again if it weren't for musings about Mikey. He was an interesting kid for sure, not letting anything get him down and depressed. Leo realized with a start that he was already coming to think of the boy like one would feel towards a little brother.
There were few homes in New York. Most people lived in apartments. If you were Leonardo, however, your apartment was pretty close to a mansion. When your dad owns one of the most successful smartphone companies, you tend to A.) Have a lot of money lying around, and B.) Not see your parents very much. Leo unlocked his front door, pushing it open with his unoccupied shoulder. It was no surprise that no one was home to greet him.
Leo sighed and tossed his bag next to the door, kicking it out of the way as he walked over to the fridge. A note was taped to it in perfect cursive, his mother's handwriting, explaining that they wouldn't be back until next week. They had a last-minute business trip. Ignoring the letter, Leo opened the fridge in hopes of finding some of the leftover pizza, which he grabbed and took to the couch. It looks like he'd be ordering pizza the rest of the week. His parents always turned up their noses whenever Leonardo tried to explain that it was his favorite food.
He flicked on the flat screen TV, flipping channels until he finally settled on a re-run of Space Heroes, his favorite show. He leaned back into the cushions with a sigh, tossing the empty pizza box onto the coffee table. Guess it was just going to be him this week. Normally, that would signify another boring seven days.
But then again, no one is ever really sure when their life will take a complete U-turn.
..::-::..
Beneath the nighttime city, an aged, but not yet elderly being stirred from its meditation, whiskers twitching in the dim light that filtered through a grate above. Red-brown eyes snapped open, and the sound of a sharp breath broke the silence.
"Gureto Totsuzenhen'i…" It murmured. "It is rousing."
