July, 16th, 2011, 9:12pm:
We were thirteen now. A year before my life turned into a living hell. Father had called us into the dojo at an unusual time. He normally didn't call us back in after 4:00pm. We all knew something was up. We sat in front of him, cross legged, in respect.
"My sons, when you turn fifteen years of age I will be allowing you to go above ground." Our eyes widened. We thought the day would never come. "So I will chose a team leader. I will now be training you to fight as a team instead of seperate. You will have a leader. He needs to be stealthy, caught up on their ninjitsu, and dedicated to the martial arts. He must be diligent, confident, one who makes mistakes and learns from them."
We all waited with anticipation. It was obvious that we all wanted to be leader. Splinter chuckled at us in amusement. Mikey looked at Donnie, then Leo, then me before looking down at his lap. He believed he wouldn't have a chance at being leader. I guess our derogatory remarks don't help none.
"I have chosen Leonardo to lead you all." All of our anticipated faces fell into rejected ones. All except for Leo's. His grin was wide enough to split his face in two.
"Really, father?" He asked in ecstacy. Splinter smiled and nodded. Leo jumped into the air with a fist pumped up. "Yes, alright!" He shouted. I looked at him dejectedly. He must have noticed because he lost his ecstatic stance and bowed before his father. "Thank you, father. I will lead this family in honor just as strong as your own."
I had just realized I had anger issues four years ago. It was hard as shell to control. I stood from my sitting position and bowed to my father, representing my desire to be dismissed. Once he gave me the permission I was seeking I walked out of the room and into my own. I couldn't help but punch my wall. Fighting helped releave my anger, but I wished not to take it out on my brothers.
That was the last thing I wanted to do.
I heard a soft knock at my door. I decided to ignore it. It began to grow louder, and finally I mumbled a come in. I wasn't all that surprised to find that it was Leo who was knocking. He slowly and quietly shut my door. "Hey, what was that about?" He asked gently.
I just hugged my knees to my chest. Leo knew that this was odd behavior and sat next to me on my bed.
"Raph, what's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong, Leo."
"Raph, we've been over this. It isn't good to keep your emotions to yourself like this. That's what triggers your anger."
I felt something snap in me. I hated the fact that I couldn't control my anger. Why couldn't I be ten again?
"Don't talk about it." I snarled. I knew I scared him a bit. I've found that our relationship was growing further and further apart. He's more dedicated to ninjitsu than I am, and now this would make us grow even further apart. He'd be spending more time in the dojo than he already does.
"Raph, it's not healthy to do this."
"I never said it was." I growled. He was slowly becoming this new person that I had never known. Or was I becoming the new person? I didn't feel new, but, then again, I don't think Leo did either.
Leo sighed. "Please? Raphie?" I almost bolted upright. Leo hadn't called me Raphie since we were ten. He stopped calling me my childhood nickname just up and out of the blue, but I never asked about it. It was just a stupid nickname, right?
"You're gonna forget me." I finally grumbled out. He gave me a confused look.
"Raph I don't know-"
"You're gonna be so caught up in training and formulating plans that you're gonna forget about me. Ya already have. We don't spend as much time as we used to together."
He looked at me sadly. "Raph, I'll never forget you. You're my best friend."
"Really? Because it doesn't seem so anymore." I replied coldly. Leo was shocked. I had never really been so cold to him before. I used to let him in.
But times change.
I looked to my pet turtle, Spike, who was sitting on my pillow eating his leaf. He was so young then. An amazing campanion none the less. Spike looked at Leo's eyes. Spike's eyes could have told a thousand stories. I told him everything, and if Leo could learn one thing from Spike it was to look at Spike's eyes.
Leo looked into Spike's glistening eyes. It looked almost as if the two were comunicating with each other.
"Raph, you are my best friend. I'm sorry it hasn't seemed like it though."
I growled lightly. "Yeah, well, there's nothing you can do about it now. You're going to have to work on being a leader more than any of us now. You're going to forget me. Well, that's fine. I've been alone for a while now. I have Spike. He's the only friend I've had for a while."
Leo's eyes were wide and he stretched a hand out to touch me, but he hesitated. "Raph...I...I don't know what to say."
I sighed. "I don't think there is anything that you can say."
Leo sighed. "Raph, I promise, I won't forget you. You are my best friend, and you always will be."
I sighed and looked Leo in the eyes. "Promise?"
Leo smiled. "I promise."
Promises shatter and break. I didn't expect him to keep it.
How right I was.
So short! I promise chapters will be longer in the future! Did you like it, love it, hate it? Let me know. Your opinion matters. :)