I turned my heels when suddenly, he grabbed my right arm.

"HEY, and where do you think you're going?" He growled.

"I have other places to be!" I snapped back as I tried to escape from his grip but with no avail.

"Weren't you taught to apologize when you hurt someone?"

I stopped tugging my arm and stared at his face. His brown eyes stared right into my eyes. I signed and took a deep breath.

"Sorry..." I mumbled. "I'm sorry I accidentally kicked the rock at you."

He let go of my arm and grinned.

"Now that's better."

I turned around and started walking away when he called out to me again.

"Hey where are you going?"

"Why do you want to know?" I replied as I continued walking and not looking back.

"It's rare to see humans around here, usually they don't know about this area. So..., why is a human like you here?" he asked.

I stopped. I turned around as the wind blew a strand of my hair into my face. His mask fluttered in the wind as he waited for my response. Leaves from the nearby trees fell and danced in the wind around us. It felt as time was slowing down as we continued to stare at each other. I closed my eyes and spoke softly.

"I transferred into Mutant Academy this morning." His eyes widened. "I start tomorrow and now... I'm getting something to eat... I better get going." I turned my back from him and started walking again.

"Hey, what is you name?" he shouted at me. I didn't turn around. I stared at my feet. He signed and spoke again, "...Raphael..."

"What?" as I turned quickly at him again.

"That's my name. My name is Raphael... so now that you know my name, tell me what is yours."

"...Ale... Ale Kataku..." I hestitaly reponded.

He smiled. "Ale huh?" He bend over and grabbed his coat jacket and his backpack. He flinged the backpack onto his back and strapped one of the staps of the backpack onto hs left shoulder. With his right hand, he had his coat jacket flinged over his shoulder. I stared at him, confused. He walked towards me and then past me. He turned around.

"Hey, aren't you coming?"

"What? To where?"

"Didn't you said you were going out to eat? I know this resturant that taste freakin delicious." He grabbed my arm and dragged me with him.

"Hey! I can walk on my own you know!"

"I know but I want to get there before lunch is over." He grinned again. We returned back to the pathway with Raphael leading me and head into the shopping district. To my surprise, I didn't see any humans... only mutants. Everywhere I looked, all I saw were just mutants and of all different kinds.

"I didn't know this was here..." I said aloud to myself.

"Nobody knows about this part of New York," Raphael replied. "We try to keep this place hidden from the humans."

The shopping district was breathtaking and colorful. All the buildings were painted in different colors and some shops had flowers planted in the front or in the side of the shop. In the center stood a water foundation with red titled borders for anyone to sit on. As I followed Raphael, I observed the shops we walked past. I saw a clothing store, a ice cream, a shoe store, a small local grocery store and another clothing shop but for men. Then, Raphael suddenly stopped in front of a restaurant. Because I wasn't paying attention, I accidentally bumped into him. I bumped my head against his shell.

"Ouch!" as I held my head with my hands.

"Watch where you're going then you won't hurt yourself." He snapped.

I looked up to see the name of the restaurant. Ninja Kitty ... What a strange name for a restaurant. Next to the sign where the name of the restaurant is stated showed a picture of a black cat wearing a blue ninja outfit holding a ninja star in its left paw. I looked back at Raphael.

"Ummmmm you eat here...?"

"Listen, I'm not into cute, adorable little things like kitty cats but despite the name of this restaurant, this place sells the best ramen that you have never tasted before." Raphael said, trying to convince me. He opened the door for me as I hesitantly stood there.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" He said sounding a bit irritated. I was feeling a bit doubtful but I entered inside. I was hit with a scent of noodles cooking and the room feeling a bit stuffy. A scent of spices and vegetables being cooked along with the noodles. The restaurant was barely empty, in the back of the room were two male lizards chatting quietly and slowly slurping up their noodle soup. The tables were clean and napkins, a spoon and chopsticks were placed in front of each chair. Hot sauce and soy sauce were placed in the side of the each table. The walls were decorated with paper fans with what looks like Japanese style art drawn on them. There were paintings of landscape hanging on the wall. Raphael walked up to the front counter and ranged a bell. Near the bell was a sign that said, Ring for Service. After a few seconds, he ranged the bell again.

"I will be right there." replied a wiry voice from the back of the kitchen.

The curtains that drape over the entrance of the kitchen was drawn back and an elderly man appeared. I was speechless. I'm not the only human here... thank goodness. I sighed out of relief without knowing. Raphael turned his attention to me.

"Why ere you sighing?"

"Ummmm...ehhhh.. nothing. I'm just tired. That's all."

He squinted his eyes. His stare was scary. I didn't know what to do or say.

"Hello Raphael-san. How are you today?"

The old man spoked out and interrupted us. Raphael turned his attention from me to the old man.

"Yo what's up Chong-san. I'm cool. How's business doing?" Raphael replied back cheerfully. The old man who Raphael address to wore black pants and a white collared shirt. The sleeves were rolled up towards his elbow. He also wore a fairly clean apron and wore glasses as well. His gray hair was combed back neatly.

"Business is doing well Raphael-san, thank you for asking." He turned his attention towards me and smiled.

"I see you brought a girl with you."

I panicked a little then bowed my head.

Hello sir. My name is Ale Kataku."

"I just met her today, apparently she is going to attend Mutant Academy. She is new here." Raphael added.

"Well welcome Ale-San!" He replied and then smiled.

I smiled back and bowed again. "Thank you Mr. Chong-sama"

End of Chapter Four