(((Thanks to my reviewers. Yeh I know its not sounding Halloween-ish yet.
It will..bear with me. I just adore chibi turtles and Mike especially.
See Chapter 2 I'm on a roll ))))
"Every now and then Softest breath upon my skin I feel you come back again And it's like you haven't been Gone a moment from my side Like the tears were never cried Like the hands of time were holding You and me."
((Diamond Rio "I Believe"))
THREE DAYS EARLIER:
I watched them patiently. Over the last year, the games that they had been playing in the dojo had turned into a more serious type of training. Lively enough to keep their attentions for the most part, but I had begun instructing them in the unarmed fighting that would be the foundation for their skills. Never once have I mentioned the reasons for training them. Of course every day I warned them of the dangers of the human population discovering us. And they knew that I was helping them learn to protect themselves. However, the mission that I had planned. The loss of honor to my sensei. Of my sensei himself.these things I have not told them. They were far too young to understand right now. One day I would tell them of Yoshi and my obligation to him. And when they were ready, I would ask them to fulfill that obligation.
The kata that I was watching them perform was only one of three that they all knew at present. Leonardo being an avid pupil knew one other. However, right now I was studying them for their timing and precision. Their ability to stay together during the course of the kata. Such skills would only help in the teamwork that was vital for them to learn.
It was not going very well.
Leonardo had set the pace from the outset. Donatello was naturally following him and Michaelangelo had started out that way. After only a few techniques, Michaelangelo had slowed and was now a few moves behind the other two. Raphael, on the other hand, had set his own pace. Ignoring instructions to stay together, he had begun with lightning quick, increasingly sloppy movements. I sighed. The child had such innate ability. If only I could convince him to slow down and concentrate.
"Yame," I called to them stopping their routine.
They all turned to me and I bowed my head slightly. "You are dismissed for the morning."
Leonardo bowed deeply and my other three sons copied him a little less enthusiastically before running from the dojo.
Michaelangelo coughed as he passed me and I caught his arm. He had been coughing a great deal during practice as well. "Are you feeling alright, My Son?"
He nodded and grinned. "Yeh Master." Even as he spoke he ran a hand across his beak sniffing.
"Michaelangelo, use a tissue," I reminded him grimacing slightly,
He looked confused. "Why?"
I shook my head sighing. "Nevermind. Go wash your hands before you play with your brothers."
He shrugged and ran from the dojo. Colds were an almost weekly part of life. Especially during these winter months. Over the last five years, I had done everything possible to make our home more comfortable and livable when the freezing cold set in. I had found four space heaters that were placed in various rooms. The three blankets that we had our first winter had grown into a collection of more than thirty. Still, until I found a way to heat our home more efficiently, it could still become bitter cold.
I walked into the living room, only to be greeted by four hopeful eager faces. I watched Raphael push Leonardo closer to me. I hid my amusement. Obviously, they wanted something and Leonardo was elected to ask.
Leonardo glared briefly at Raphael before turning to me. "Master, could we play out in the sewers? We'll stay close by. Promise."
I hesitated. It was going to be very cold out there. But being trapped within the confines of our home for weeks on end was not good for them either. I sighed and nodded. "Only for a short while Leonardo. And be sure to keep the door to our home in sight."
The four turtles nodded eagerly.
I glanced at Michaelangelo almost sadly. "Michaelangelo, because of your cold, you will have to remain inside."
His face fell into a pout. "But Master. That's not fair."
I truly felt bad for him. Of all my sons, Michaelangelo liked being confined the least. But I had no medicines save for a bit of asprin. I could not risk him becoming more ill. " I am sorry Michaelangelo. The rest of you may go."
Raphael grinned at Michaelangelo. "Have fun Mikey."
Michaelangelo ignored him and sat down on the couch his arms folded in a pout. He watched his brothers. His pout increased at their excitement and laughter as they left. I came up behind the couch. "Michaelangelo," I began.
He looked away from me. "Lemme alone." He added almost as an afterthought. "Please."
I sighed. There was nothing I could do to make him feel any better, so I left him to mope in peace. Michaelangelo was very even tempered. He would not stay angry. I went to the kitchen. When my sons returned they would no doubt be hungry. I knew I would soon have to go and find more food and supplies for the five of us. But for today, I had two cans of tomato soup I could make for them.
The old stove, I had found and brought down here, was something of a hazard in itself. Old and with frayed wires, it was the best I could manage. And for now, it worked just fine. Hopefully this spring, I would find something better. I had just started the soup when I heard the chattering of my sons. Puzzled, I went to see what had brought them back so quickly.
"My sons?" I asked. They were crowded near the small space heater that was in the living room.
Donatello looked at me. His teeth were chattering. "It's freezing out there sensei."
I chuckled slightly. "Come into the kitchen, then. I am preparing some soup. And it will probably be much warmer in there."
They all went eagerly and I noticed Michaelangelo was no longer pouting on the couch. "Leonardo, Michaelangelo is probably in his room. Will you get him for me?"
I followed my two remaining sons into the kitchen as Leonardo went to retrieve his brother.
Raphael was standing on his toes looking into the pot on the stove. "Tomato? Yuck." He made a face and sat down at the table.
I was not willing or able to debate with him, so I ignored his complaints.
"Sensei," Leonardo said walking into the kitchen. "Mikey's not in his room. Or the bathroom neither."
I turned frowning slightly at that. I turned the stove off spooning the soup into bowls. "Alright, sit down and eat. I will be back in a few moments."
I went in search of my pouting child. He could get like this sometimes. If he felt he was being treated unfairly, he would hide to try and punish whoever was treating him like that. In this case it would be me. I searched his hiding places, calling out to him. When cajoling did not work, I tried threatening. In either case, there was no response. I was quiet and listened. Certainly the sounds of his cold would give him away. Coughing or sniffling. But I did not hear any of these things. The only sounds I heard was the dripping of the snow melting out in the sewers and the quiet talking of my three remaining sons in the kitchen.
After searching for more than twenty minutes, I came to the conclusion my son was no longer in the lair. He must have slipped out without my knowledge. I sighed in both worry and anger. I called my sons together in the living room.
"Did any of you see Michaelangelo?" I asked. "While you were out in the sewers?"
They shook their heads slowly.
"Is Mikey gone?" Donatello asked worriedly.
I sighed. "I will find him. I want the three of you to stay here. Play a quiet game until I return. If Michaelangelo returns home, tell him to wait for me in his room." I retrieved my coat and went to the door.
I overheard Raphael whisper. "Mikey's gonna get it."
I was not surprised that his brothers each elbowed him. Shaking my head, I left our home and went into the cold sewers to find my son.
"Every now and then Softest breath upon my skin I feel you come back again And it's like you haven't been Gone a moment from my side Like the tears were never cried Like the hands of time were holding You and me."
((Diamond Rio "I Believe"))
THREE DAYS EARLIER:
I watched them patiently. Over the last year, the games that they had been playing in the dojo had turned into a more serious type of training. Lively enough to keep their attentions for the most part, but I had begun instructing them in the unarmed fighting that would be the foundation for their skills. Never once have I mentioned the reasons for training them. Of course every day I warned them of the dangers of the human population discovering us. And they knew that I was helping them learn to protect themselves. However, the mission that I had planned. The loss of honor to my sensei. Of my sensei himself.these things I have not told them. They were far too young to understand right now. One day I would tell them of Yoshi and my obligation to him. And when they were ready, I would ask them to fulfill that obligation.
The kata that I was watching them perform was only one of three that they all knew at present. Leonardo being an avid pupil knew one other. However, right now I was studying them for their timing and precision. Their ability to stay together during the course of the kata. Such skills would only help in the teamwork that was vital for them to learn.
It was not going very well.
Leonardo had set the pace from the outset. Donatello was naturally following him and Michaelangelo had started out that way. After only a few techniques, Michaelangelo had slowed and was now a few moves behind the other two. Raphael, on the other hand, had set his own pace. Ignoring instructions to stay together, he had begun with lightning quick, increasingly sloppy movements. I sighed. The child had such innate ability. If only I could convince him to slow down and concentrate.
"Yame," I called to them stopping their routine.
They all turned to me and I bowed my head slightly. "You are dismissed for the morning."
Leonardo bowed deeply and my other three sons copied him a little less enthusiastically before running from the dojo.
Michaelangelo coughed as he passed me and I caught his arm. He had been coughing a great deal during practice as well. "Are you feeling alright, My Son?"
He nodded and grinned. "Yeh Master." Even as he spoke he ran a hand across his beak sniffing.
"Michaelangelo, use a tissue," I reminded him grimacing slightly,
He looked confused. "Why?"
I shook my head sighing. "Nevermind. Go wash your hands before you play with your brothers."
He shrugged and ran from the dojo. Colds were an almost weekly part of life. Especially during these winter months. Over the last five years, I had done everything possible to make our home more comfortable and livable when the freezing cold set in. I had found four space heaters that were placed in various rooms. The three blankets that we had our first winter had grown into a collection of more than thirty. Still, until I found a way to heat our home more efficiently, it could still become bitter cold.
I walked into the living room, only to be greeted by four hopeful eager faces. I watched Raphael push Leonardo closer to me. I hid my amusement. Obviously, they wanted something and Leonardo was elected to ask.
Leonardo glared briefly at Raphael before turning to me. "Master, could we play out in the sewers? We'll stay close by. Promise."
I hesitated. It was going to be very cold out there. But being trapped within the confines of our home for weeks on end was not good for them either. I sighed and nodded. "Only for a short while Leonardo. And be sure to keep the door to our home in sight."
The four turtles nodded eagerly.
I glanced at Michaelangelo almost sadly. "Michaelangelo, because of your cold, you will have to remain inside."
His face fell into a pout. "But Master. That's not fair."
I truly felt bad for him. Of all my sons, Michaelangelo liked being confined the least. But I had no medicines save for a bit of asprin. I could not risk him becoming more ill. " I am sorry Michaelangelo. The rest of you may go."
Raphael grinned at Michaelangelo. "Have fun Mikey."
Michaelangelo ignored him and sat down on the couch his arms folded in a pout. He watched his brothers. His pout increased at their excitement and laughter as they left. I came up behind the couch. "Michaelangelo," I began.
He looked away from me. "Lemme alone." He added almost as an afterthought. "Please."
I sighed. There was nothing I could do to make him feel any better, so I left him to mope in peace. Michaelangelo was very even tempered. He would not stay angry. I went to the kitchen. When my sons returned they would no doubt be hungry. I knew I would soon have to go and find more food and supplies for the five of us. But for today, I had two cans of tomato soup I could make for them.
The old stove, I had found and brought down here, was something of a hazard in itself. Old and with frayed wires, it was the best I could manage. And for now, it worked just fine. Hopefully this spring, I would find something better. I had just started the soup when I heard the chattering of my sons. Puzzled, I went to see what had brought them back so quickly.
"My sons?" I asked. They were crowded near the small space heater that was in the living room.
Donatello looked at me. His teeth were chattering. "It's freezing out there sensei."
I chuckled slightly. "Come into the kitchen, then. I am preparing some soup. And it will probably be much warmer in there."
They all went eagerly and I noticed Michaelangelo was no longer pouting on the couch. "Leonardo, Michaelangelo is probably in his room. Will you get him for me?"
I followed my two remaining sons into the kitchen as Leonardo went to retrieve his brother.
Raphael was standing on his toes looking into the pot on the stove. "Tomato? Yuck." He made a face and sat down at the table.
I was not willing or able to debate with him, so I ignored his complaints.
"Sensei," Leonardo said walking into the kitchen. "Mikey's not in his room. Or the bathroom neither."
I turned frowning slightly at that. I turned the stove off spooning the soup into bowls. "Alright, sit down and eat. I will be back in a few moments."
I went in search of my pouting child. He could get like this sometimes. If he felt he was being treated unfairly, he would hide to try and punish whoever was treating him like that. In this case it would be me. I searched his hiding places, calling out to him. When cajoling did not work, I tried threatening. In either case, there was no response. I was quiet and listened. Certainly the sounds of his cold would give him away. Coughing or sniffling. But I did not hear any of these things. The only sounds I heard was the dripping of the snow melting out in the sewers and the quiet talking of my three remaining sons in the kitchen.
After searching for more than twenty minutes, I came to the conclusion my son was no longer in the lair. He must have slipped out without my knowledge. I sighed in both worry and anger. I called my sons together in the living room.
"Did any of you see Michaelangelo?" I asked. "While you were out in the sewers?"
They shook their heads slowly.
"Is Mikey gone?" Donatello asked worriedly.
I sighed. "I will find him. I want the three of you to stay here. Play a quiet game until I return. If Michaelangelo returns home, tell him to wait for me in his room." I retrieved my coat and went to the door.
I overheard Raphael whisper. "Mikey's gonna get it."
I was not surprised that his brothers each elbowed him. Shaking my head, I left our home and went into the cold sewers to find my son.
