Chapter 3
April had arrived at the turtles lair a little bit before Leonardo's brothers were about to leave on their evening patrol. It was a patrol to keep the Street gangs like the Purple Dragons and others from hurting too many honest people. Normally, all four brother turtles and sometimes April and Casey along would go, and Splinter would wait for them. But in the last few months there were at least two members of this unusual family. April Splinter often looked upon like the daughter he never had. And April had very little memory of her father. Her mother had been busy trying to support both her and her older sister Robin. And Robin being 8 years older than April didn't really spend much time with her little sister, more than often she was out with her friends. And then later working herself. And so, when April met the turtles, gotten to know them and their father, she in effect gained four younger brothers in the turtles, and a father figure in Splinter.
This particular evening after the others had left, April had dinner with Splinter and Leonardo. After which she wanted to her ninjutsu with Leonardo. She had become quite skilled since the first time Splinter had started teaching her. But since his return from cyberspace and had his heart attack the turtles and April had taken to practicing with each other. It might have been argued that students practicing with students were not a good thing, Leonardo had actually surpassed what Splinter had to teach him, and learned from another master, who was simply known as: 'Ancient One'. While it cannot be said why he is simply called that, if I had to surmise it would be because he was so old that even he didn't remember what he had been called in his younger years. Leonardo had learned a great deal from this fellow so that he was more than capable to teach his brothers and April new tricks. It secretly irked Splinter that they were capable to practice without him, but he was too weak to argue the point. He watched the practices with a great deal of pride. And he could at least say that he was the first one to start them on their way to being great ninjas.
But today, for some reason, after dinner, Splinter said he didn't want April and Leonardo to spar. It is noteworthy to say that during the dinner, April had eaten twice as much as Leonardo or Splinter. Leonardo jokingly remarked that she was catching up with Michelangelo in hunger and scoffing. Splinter meanwhile told them a Japanese legend. Leonardo and April were always the most attentive when he told stories. But once he finished it he said:
"Leonardo I think that you had better take April home to get some rest."
Before Leonardo could protest April said:
"But the others are not back yet Sensei! I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone! What if you have one of your attacks?!"
Splinter trying to keep the subject on April asked her to throw her knife (that Splinter himself had made for her it's handle bounded gold and black) she didn't understand why Splinter would make such a request complies. She threw the knife pretty well, but it missed the bullseye of the target by a few inches. She shrugged and said that it was nothing. People often make mistakes after all.
"I still think that you should go home and rest. Leonardo you will escort her home. Take the long way. And come home the same way." Splinter instructed
"But father that will leave you alone for an hour!" Leonardo exclaimed "And the others have not returned home yet!"
"I am old enough to look after myself. I will be fine for hour that I have to wait. Besides your brothers may return home early." Splinter said in an effort to get rid of his two watchers.
They agreed to go and take the long way. It relieved Splinter because he felt that Draco was coming. He had a sixth sense of danger coming, he thought to himself 'come now, Draco. I am alone. And I am old. I don't care what you do with me, but you will not hurt my family.'
