Dark Past, Strange Future

by Dramatic person

I never had a good set of cards. I was raised by the Shredder, so what good could I expect? But I had always wanted to escape. Then I did. But now the farthest I can think ahead is the next meal. It's like a prison. Then life throws something strange, REALLY strange. I mean, their turtles! And kids! And mutant kids! What can a random Jack like me do? (To remain Unfinished)

2. For real

Author's Note; Thank you to all who reviewed and to you who are reading this I hope you like my story :)

() Means translation for foreign languages. Makes sense when you get there.Below is a line break and will be used later on.

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This. Should. Not. Be. Real.

It can't be. Those turtles are standing up with legs, arms, faces, and-and shells? Shells and masks and, and everything!I swiped my head back, pushing against the wall for some sort of comfort in support but found none. Is this a dream? All my dreams are about my past, not-whatever those were.

Okay. I have a plan.I pinched my cheek. Hard.

That always works.

Oww! That…hurt…I…I'm not dreaming am I? I pinched again. Oww.

Nope, not dreaming. I stopped pinching myself, allowing that to sink in. I'm not dreaming. Those turtles, kids, whatever-they-are, are real.

But, should I still help them? I mean what if they are monsters that want to eat me!? I felt hysteria creep through me, but small question entered my mind like a whisper.

Then why were they crying?

Wait, were they crying? Monsters don't cry! I listened deeply, two small sobs reaching my ears. They sounded so scared, like their whole world was shattered at their feet. I thought I knew plenty of sadness to not be affected by it anymore, but...this wasn't just was despair, the deep kind you have when you reach rock bottom. Like living in a dark, damp cave with no way out. That was a feeling I knew very well.

I don't know what's going on but I can't hide behind a wall like a coward through this. I peeked around the wall just to make sure they were still there, that I wasn't imagining them after all. They... were kneeling on the asphalt were I could clearly see that they both have no hair, shells and green skin. Okay. There is no way I could be dreaming this. Then I saw that they…are hugging? What?

Am I crazy after all?

"R-Raphie, what will we do? We don't know were the others are, we can't find food, people don't like us, no one is here to help us, we can't-" one of the turtles babbled but was stopped by the other.

"Will-will be fine Donnie, we just need to find our brothers and Sensei and will be fine." Another one spoke, scared but trying to comfort the other.

I looked to their faces seeing masks around there heads but I can't tell the color. The babbling one was taller than the other, even when kneeling down; his eyes wide open with falling tears, like he had realized something watery eyes had a warm brown color, that his scaled arms were loosely wrapped around the other turtle.

Wait. Monsters don't cry. Kids do.

The shorter turtle had his back shell faced to me, squishing the turtle-it-I mean him- close, and even from here I could sense the protective care that he put in his embrace. I had never seen anyone put that much care into another being. Real full on care, ignoring the rest of the world just for the moment.

The only person who had cared for me during my foot years was…Karai. But…something happened. Something weird.

Stupid memories. They don't help anything.

"Will-will be fine Donnie, we just need to find our brothers and Sensei and will be fine." Another one spoke, scared but trying to comfort the other.

"Don-Don't say that Raph. The possibility of us even surviving long enough to search for everyone is extremely low, while we have no knowledge of this place and this is our first time out here and-and-" he babbled even more, but it died down into small sniffles. The protective one seemed to darken, but hugged the babbling one all the tighter. He stayed quiet like he couldn't think of an answer his brother would believe or one he would even believe himself. The silence lingered, chocking the world all around.

I felt embarrassed, shocked and useless all at the same time.

Embarrassment; I shouldn't be here.

Shocked; to me, nobody with a close relationship lasted long.

Useless; I have no idea what I should do.

I'm just a passerby, so what could I do?

Part of me wants to keep walking on, but another part wants me to stay and help. Both were screeching within me, fighting for victory within me. Just like the night when Karai woke up from a nightmare, came to my room for help. Back when we were friends...

Wait, no!

I can't go back! I can't-I can't relive-

But it was too late.

I collapsed, having no choice but to relive the memory like an old DVD that I could not burn away.

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"Jack? Anata ga me o samashi?" (You awake?) I heard a sort voice call out.

I opened my eyes looking over to the now open door. A little eight-year-old girl with short raven hair was standing in the doorway, looking in at me. I could see that her eyes were wide and even though her voice would have sounded strong, normal, I heard the small tremor of despair. My firist instinct was to go right back to sleep, but the softer part of me wanted to make sure she is okay. I started to nod before realizing she probably can't see me.

"Un, anata wa ichi kuru koto ga derkiru" (Yep, you can come in.) I responded, partially knowing that she wouldn't be here without a reason. I tried kept everyone at a distance, especially other Foot ninja who had zero boundaries, so my firist thoughts were always of ignoring or running.

But Karai was at least polite, and actually pretty cool once you know her. We even shared the same classes sometimes for sparing sessions and respected each other skills at this point. It still surprised me that even though Karai is Shredders daughter, he still treats her like any other solider. I think that was why I opened up to her at first. Simply out of sympathy and pity.

She didn't mind the company at the time and before I knew it, we quickly became close friends, to the point were she had shown me the picture of her murdered mother.

That picture, the reminder of an important absence in Karai's life was now clutched in Karai's hand. A white blanket was wrapped around her being held in place by the other hand both in fight little fists. She walked toward me, dragging the blanket behind her like a dress. I couldn't help a bit of envy that she had a source of warmth other than her clothing. I never got any blankets or even a bed, just a skinny and hard futon, the equivalent to a mat of sticks on the floor. But I quickly stomped the bitter feeling down, having learned a long time ago that just because you have nice things never means your better off in your soul. That was especially true for her.

She walked up to me while I was still lying down with zero pillow or blankets. Her eyebrows tightened while her lips formed a frown. No one had told her that I was given harsh treatment and I hated complaining. It usually just made things worse for me since everyone thinks it means I'm going to rebel against Shredder. So he always heard about it. And I always went hungry to near-starvation, but not enough to kill me.

Karai didn't know about that either. I not planing on telling which would surely get her mad. She'd take it out on anyone near maybe even Shredder. Then we would both be in trouble.

She stood there wondering how to react. Her frown deepened saying "Watashi wa betsu no mōfu o shutoku suru hitsuyō ga arimasu?"(Should I get another blanket?)

I expected her to ignore it and sit down anyway so the offer surprised me a bit. I quickly shook my head, giving her a small crocked smile at her kindness.

"I'm used to it." I spoke, but quickly realized I said so in English. I corrected myself at the sight of her confused eyes "Watashi wa sore ni narete imasu." I repeated in Japanese. Though she knew a bit of English she wasn't fluent like I was. I have no idea why but I can speak English and Japanese like both were my native language. Just another mystery I will never know the answer to.

Karai shook her head giving me a small but true smile "Anata no totemo kimyō." (Your so weird.) I couldn't deny the truth so I gave her a smile of my own in return. I rolled onto my heels standing straight up too fast, causing my head to spin but I ignored it.

"No watashitachi ni meiwaku o hozon suru yō ni heya ni ikimashou" (Let's go to your room to save us the trouble.) In a huge building filled with ninjas they not be happy to be awoken by anyone Shredder's daughter or not. It would also get Karai out of my almost barren room, which only had a wooden box for weapons, the foot uniform nearly everyone had to wear… and the bathroom that was just the small sink, a shower and toilet. Even the grunts had bigger bathrooms or a closet, but not me. Why is yet another mystery that I'll never know, other that the fact that almost everyone in my life has hates me.

Karai looked at me, questions in her eyes but she opened her hand to me, the one holding the last moment of her mother. Knowing full wellthe photo's importance,I gently took if out of her hand into my own. The other one went on top of hers. They closed around each other while we walked side by side to her near-by bedroom.

Everyone that is, except Karai.

And even though she would never admit it, I could tell she needed the company to get through the night.

The tearstains on the ripped photo said it all.

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The first thing I noticed was that I was not alone. I heard breathing around me and felt something like a hand on my head softly shaking me awake. I didn't dare look, still in shock at the overwhelming memory.I could tell that I'm sitting up, my arms scrunching against my legs to my chest, my eyes only seeing a dim dark. My breaths were harsh and shallow, cramped in the tight and dark space. I still didn't move.

I'm not sure if I ever wanted to move again.

"Hello? Are you okay?" I heard a voice say, one vice spoke. I think it was the babbling one, wasn't his name….Don? Donnie? Something like that?

Either way the kid kept talking , "Don't worry we won't hurt you. Were lost too, so you're not alone." Wait, what?

They thought I was lost? How did they get that idea?

Before I could stop myself I moved my head slightly up, taking a look at the concerned voice. I met warm brown eyes, filled with curiosity and concern encircled by a light purple mask. I had forgotten that they were still here, but why the concern? I had nothing to do with them, really.

I heard a snort nearby and I moved my eyes from the warm brown to the sound, lifting my head just a bit higher. Again I made eye contact with emerald green eyes filled with a strong burning fire encased by a bright red mask. Both were rebellious, defensive and aimed directly at me. I also saw a flicker of something else, something almost like...concern? It was hard to tell with the storm of emotions already in the orbs.

I simply stared, expecting him to say something along the lines of "Stop staring!" or "Get lost, street rat!" in response. That seemed to fit him.

Instead he just stared intensely back like leaning towards me, almost like he was daring me to stand up and threaten him. I simply stared back feeling my gaze dull like an overused blade. I do not have the strength or the want to return the intense stare after what I just went through in my crazed mind. I must be crazy if I'm having flashbacks and seeing turtles.

After a little while the intensity died down, like he had been assured of something vital pulling away while crossing his arms like a shield though he didn't break eye contact. So I just kept looking back not thinking anything.

The memory had wiped my brain clean, chocking any instincts, emotions or reactions I may have had.

I just felt blank. Numb. Cold

I felt something remove itself from my head then replaced at my shoulder, shaking it to get my attention. I fully lifted my head back to the brown eyed one, connecting my gaze with his. His entire face is full of concern, his eyes and mouth wide in wondering. I wanted to say something, anything so I wouldn't feel like this, like nothing.

"Hi there." The small whisper escaped me. Why do I have to be that stupid? What am I thinking? What was that?

The turtle looked surprised, his eyes widening to the size of eggs. He quickly recovered responding with a "Hello, are you okay?" he asked with concern, curiosity and fascination all sewed tougher.

Funny, how they were the ones who were crying earlier, the ones who needed help. Now their worried? About me? I wonder how that works. Maybe I'll never know.

I wanted to answer but wasn't sure how too. Other than Karai I never talked to anyone in a friendly or even equal way. It just seemed like everyone I met could find some reason to squish me down again and again until I felt equal only with dirt.

Which makes it hilarious that the only other beings I have met who are being nice aren't even human. Then again I'm being sarcastic. As for his question, I really don't know.

"I don't know. I really don't." I heard a new voice say. It sounded so quite like a whisper I wonder if there was something wrong with it deep down.

Wait…that sounded like me. I flipped my eyes up, the look on both the turtles faces saying they heard me loud and clear. Their faces were now confused and worried both green and brown looking at me.

My brain scrambled with something else to cover the mess up, but I came up with nothing. But I have to say something, right?

"I-I mean that, I-I wanted, well, I mean-I thought- well, um…"I trailed off. Well that was a butload of help. I just felt stupid and embarrassed looking away from both of them to my knees.

Now what?

"Well, um, what's your name?" The red masked one asked. That surprised me since he had basically not said a word to me, though his gaze said it all. I took my eyes away from my knees to look at the tough turtle. His arms were more loose, his eyes now glowing with a gruff concern and a want to break the awkwardness. I looked back to purple seeing that he was just as confused at and worried as the other. His eyes darted to me, waiting for an answer.

A simple question, but…I really don't want to answer. My whole life everyone has stomped down on my name. Even my best friend Karai had cursed it, believing in the lies he father spewed at her only a year ago. That was a big reason behind why I left. Deep down I believed my name was cursed for real now.

A part of me believed that if I said my name they would turn away from me and never come back.

So I did something pretty cowardly. I made up a new one. A name that I could remember easily and hopefully respond to.

A name I liked.

"Masaccio." I whispered out, the same name I had found in a big fat old volume on Renaissance art at the age of eight while exploring…

Sad, stupid memories.

Now three years later I could only remember the name.

But that was enough.

The turtles looked surprised at the answer, almost like they recognized the name themselves.

"Like that Renaissance artist'?" Purple asked putting his other hand to his chin in thought. Oh, they did know the name.

I responded to them with a nod.

"Weird, we were named after the same guys." Red stated coming just a bit closer, visibly relaxing more with each second that flew by. Did I just give myself a name? My eyes widened that out of all the names I could have chosen I chose one of the Renaissance artists which happened to be aha they are named after. Weird. Like that was meant to happen. Just maybe.

"Specking of our names, I'm Donatello but everyone calls me Donnie or even Don. You can too if you wish." He stated looking back at my eyes with an absorbing stare, as if whatever information I may give away next would be packed away in his brain like a sponge. I'm guessing he is a big brained one. Donnie.

"Yeah well, you can call me Raph, just Raph" the tough one, now Raph stated, looking down at me with the same fire in his eyes, just far more calm then before.

"His full name is Hamato Raphael, but you'd better just call him Raph." Donnie clarified for me glancing at Raph himself to see his reaction to the comment. Raph seemed fine with it, just shrugging in response.

Wait, Hamato Raphael? That was how you said Japanese names, which means no-no way…

"You're Japanese? For real?" I questioned in loud confusion. How could mutated turtles even have last names in the first place?

"You recognized it?" Don questioned my question ,sounding curious and fascinated all at once.

Before I could answer Raph answered with "Yeah, Master Splinter is. He was a human before he mutated into a giant rat but he kept his last name and gave it to us sense were basically his sons."

What? Rats, mutated, sons, what?

My brain drowned in confusion at the piles of information, but my swirling brain didn't miss the way Raph's face suddenly darkened. He turned his face away from me, looking down at the sidewalk sadly.

I felt a hand tighten on my shoulder, a three-fingered hand with surprising strength behind it. I looked toward Donnie's face but I could see a veil of sadness over it, the kind that would quickly turn into despair if something didn't change it.

This is bad. Whatever happened is bad and I don't like it. I tried to think of what to do but something buried deep within me told me to do something simple.

Comfort him.

With nothing better in mind I reached out a timid hand toward the turtle, placing it were his plastron and green skin connected. His eyes turned back to me in surprise but his deep despair shone like dark pools in his once warm eyes. Before I thought about it I started talking clear and true to the little turtle "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" I surprised myself at the direct question but I didn't regret asking. If I wanted to help I had to know what was going on.

"I'll tell you what happened!" Raph exploded but sounding far closer to me than before. I looked up past Donnie noticing that Raph had moved away from Donnie's shell closer to me. His huge hands noe clutched in huge fits at his sides, his emerald eyes glaring right into me. I think that whatever I said lighted some sort of sort fuse in him, causing him to explode like a nuclear bomb.

"I screwed up! I thought I could scavenge on my own even though we were in the sewers way to far away! I thought I could back track since Sensei was right there with Leo and Mikey but Sensei told me to stay with the family and I-I…" he visibly deflated the anger in his voice now gone. Donnie had now removed his hand from my own shoulder turning a bit more to face Raph but not enough that I had to move my hand. Which was good because I still don't think I can move to much.

Raph continued in a self loathing whisper that I could just barely hear, "I shouldn't have gone so far, I shouldn't have let Don come with me, Sensei's orders or not. I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have been so stupid." He stopped for a long moment of silence while he glared at the cement at his feet, grounding his foot into the ground in a desperate gesture. I thought he was done but after an eternity he spoke again in an even smaller whisper "I didn't hear the flood until it was too late…not until we couldn't go back." His eyes dared upward making contact with Donnie's in the saddest look of regret and guilt I have ever seen.

"Sorry little bro. I'm sorry for everything." He apologized in a sincere way, his eyes true and wide. Bro. There brothers. That explains a lot. I looked at Donnie who looked absolutely shocked at the apology. His eyes were bulging like his eyeballs were about to roll out of their sockets, his jaw practically hitting the floor.

I'm starting to wonder what kind of guy Raph is if simply apologizing was that big of a shock. I shook Donnie a bit by the shoulder to snap him out of it and it worked. He shook his head a bit then looked back at Raph with nothing sort of compassion and understanding.

"You don't have to apologize Raph, you didn't know until it was too late." He spoke, but he the guilt still lingered in Raph's whole being.

"And…I forgave you already. A long time ago." he said with a smile at his big brother in a sweet show of brotherly love and forgiveness.

Raph had seemed just as shocked as Donnie was a moment ago but his eyes showed a gratitude and love that come from a protective brother.

"Thanks Donnie." He said with a happy smile adorning his usually grumpy face.

Then I realized that I should probably feel awkward at observing such an intimate moment but I just stayed quiet. I still don't think I can move that much.

They looked like they wanted to hug or something so I gently let go of Don's shoulder, hoping he wouldn't notice. But he did, taking his gaze away from Raph and back to me. He looked me over again, his eyes widening as if though he just realized something.

"What about you Masaccio? Are you…I mean are you okay?" confusion filled my head at the question and the name. It took me a few seconds to realize that that was my new name now. It took me another few to wonder what he was asking.

I looked at him with all this confusion in me and I asked, "What do you mean?" Translation; Why do you care about me?

Donnie became puzzled for a moment but quickly figured out an answer, saying, "I mean how did you get here? How and why are you lost? And how are you not scared of how we look?" Donnie questioned putting his hand back on my own shoulder.

I had to process all those questions, barely believing that they were said with curious concern for me. I was still getting used to their closeness with each other. I didn't expect them to reach out to me, Figuratively and literally.

Then it slammed into me. They have been worrying about me this whole freaking time. Asking questions, my name, and the shoulder thing, all because they wanted to see if someone they didn't even know was okay. That hit me like a speed train, because it has been a very very long time since anyone else had shown me anything other than anger and indifference.

So I shrugged my shoulders out of surprise and a lack of other ideas, just to give some short of answer. But that didn't go to well, both the turtles gaining looks of confusion and annoyance. I could tell they wanted actual answers. Something I hadn't given in a long time to anyone.

I felt myself deeply sigh looking at each of them as their annoyance at my silence grew. I decided to answer at least one question. Just to let them know there not that scary. They are definitely not monsters.

"I'm not…I'm not scared now. You guys are actually the first things that have talked to me nicely in a long time..." I trailed off but I quickly added in "So…thanks for that."

I glimpsed the shock in there eyes but quickly looked back to my knees in embarrassment.

Why was I being so open? That isn't safe. I scolded myself but I couldn't stop a small speck of light that spoke of hope in me. Of happiness at finally starting to make good connections again. Of hope.

"Um, you don't have to-I mean- we just thought-" Donnie tried to speak but awkwardly stopped, rubbing his masked head with a green palm. I noticed Raph walk a bit closer to me standing right next to Donnie. From my fetal position Raph looked enormous. I didn't know a turtle could look almost scary.

"We just didn't now that humans could not be scared of us. We both thought you'd tuck your tail and run like the wind once you saw us." Raph spoke, pointing a green thumb down the street for emphasis. "So when you didn't we assumed you were lose too, then, well, you know the rest." He finished brining his hand back to his crossed arms. More questions bubbled out of me before I could stop them, "Why do you think I'm lost?"

The turtles looked at each other like they were reading the others minds, looked back at me and answering in unison "Ninja Thing." Oh great.

"Right…your so telling the truth." I spoke with sarcasm filling every syllable. How could they actually be telling the truth? Mutant turtles were bad enough but ninja mutant turtles? That is a huge pill to swallow. There is no way they are being serious.

"Were serious." Raph simply stated no nonsense in his voice. I didn't know he was a mind reader too. Wow. Maybe I should be scared of him. But he was actually serious.

"So who's your Sensei? Is he that Splinter dude you mentioned? Is he cool? Or super strict?" I started babbling out questions like no tomorrow. That may be because I haven't talked to anyone like this for nearly a year.

But I must have messed up somewhere because both of the turtles dimed down a bit looking away from me. Wait, what I'd do? Oh. Right, there lost moron, they don't know ere there Sensei is I insulted myself while realizing my mistake. I opened and closed my mouth like a fish for a bit, wondering what I could do to solve this.

Then I remembered something. Maybe i can help after all.

"You two live in the sewers,right?" I asked hoping the answer is yes. They both turned their eyes to me at the question, somehow both nodding in unison. Do they have to act creepy now?

I ignored it, continuing onward to the point "I think I can help you get back home."

()()()()Dark()()()()Past()()()()Strange()()()()Future()()()()

Author's note; I stopped here since it seemed like a good spot and I am dead tired now ;p And by the next chapter newly named Masaccio will help the turtles find there way home!

But tell me how I did and if you like this chapter. Are the turtles in character so far? How did I do on Karai? Any of you confused about what's going on?

For those of you that still have questions about Jack/Masaccio let me know and they will be answered as the story continues…eventually. It's just that Masaccio really hates his past, it has haunted him for most of his life. He always just wanted to run from it. But it will be reveled in the a way he never expects…

Let me know what you think and Happy Reading! Here's a quote too.

"The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted, uncared for and deserted by everybody. The greatest evil is a lack of love and charity."

-Mother Teresa