Lurking in the Darkness
Ch. 7
"4th of July Weekend Fun"
Amethyst came out of her shower and approached Leonardo.
"We are moving into my house that my parents left me this weekend, and it's on the beach too. Are you four going home tonight or helping us move in with Casey's help?"
Leonardo looked at her.
"We'll go home tonight and then during the weekend we'll help Casey move you ladies in the new place. Maybe we can all spend the 4th on the beach. Mikey loves to shoot fireworks and of course to eat."
Amethyst laughed as she responded.
"Oh Osono also loves to play with fireworks she drives us all crazy. Sounds like we are going to have fun this 4th weekend. I have to go shopping for a new bathing suit anyway, and probably the other girls too."
Well Leo thanks for everything see you after I get out of work tomorrow night. She smiled and kissed him on his cheek as she yelled to the other girls.
"Come on ladies the boys are heading back home. Let's all say goodbye."
~In the dojo~
Raphael was finishing up Tara's lesson. When she flipped him on his shell and ran to him.
"Oh Raph I am so sorry! Are you okay! Sometimes I don't know my own strength. Please don't be mad at me I am so sorry."
He got up slowly.
"Damn Tara; ya definitely been paying attention to the lessons. You're strong for a 19-year-old girl. Ow my shell hurts now. It can't be worse than when my ribs were broken after the last battle with Shredder and his damn daughter."
She came down on her knees and put her hand on his shoulder causing him to flinch. He looked up and his eyes met hers and he smiled lifting up her chin. Their lips met and she closed her eyes. They broke apart and she froze in a trance. Then Raphael got up and went to where his brothers were. Tara was still in a trance touching her lips.
Leonardo looked at Raphael suspiciously.
"You okay Raph? Hello earth to Raph! Yo snap out of it already. We need to get back to the lair."
Michelangelo threw water on Raphael when he snapped out of it and ran after Michelangelo down the street toward the lair.
"Mikey get back here! I'm gonna kill you!"
Leonardo and Donatello just laughed.
"Okay ladies keep on practicing your moves and we'll see you tomorrow after you ladies get out of work."
Nikita, Amethyst, and Osono waved goodbye to the boys when they disappeared into the shadows.
Nikita entered the dojo and tapped Tara. She still didn't move. Amethyst squirted her with a water bottle and she snapped out of it.
"Why I Oughtta! That was not funny Ame! Where did the boys go?"
Osono laughed at Tara's red cheeks.
"They went back to their home. They are helping us move tomorrow when we all get out of work. We are all going to be living on the beach! Oh Ame can we please go see the house now? You mean we can finally leave our dorms? I hate living in the damn dorms too strict especially with the curfew I swear."
Tara glared at Osono.
"What is so damn funny?"
Nikita laughed.
"Are you seriously asking that? Your cheeks are red! Exactly what kind of training is Raphael doing? I never thought training would cause your cheeks to be so bright. Only something else causes that!"
Tara glared at her and lunged at her.
"What the hell are you insinuating Kita! Raphael is my damn sensei and my best friend we were only training in the dojo! You do know you sweat when you train damn!"
Osono sighed.
"I won't be training for a while; not until these stitches get removed! My 4th is really gonna suck to! I can't go in the friggin' water! Ame can I talk to you in private please?"
Amethyst nodded and the other two looked confused. They watched as the two girls exited the house. Osono turned to her.
"Okay I understand my past life is gone forever! But you are still Amethyst; didn't our clan when I was Shinah/Shinnasto or whatever have powers? Powers that we can maybe heal ourselves?"
Amethyst looked at her.
"Maybe we did; why are you asking me that? You are reincarnated as Osono. Shinah is gone and Osono remains."
Osono sighed.
"I already know that Ame. But you as Amethyst still have all your powers but the Phoenix."
She looked at her with her arms crossed.
"Yea maybe so; but I haven't used them since I was like 12 or 13. I don't even know how they work. I highly doubt I can remember how to use them Osono."
Osono shook her head as she yelled.
"So instead of you trying to remember you will let me suffer while you three can be in the water and have fun with the guys while I am stuck on the damn shore bored out of my damn mind!"
Amethyst crossed her arms.
"Well if you wouldn't have tried to be so damn tough and go take on the friggin' foot clan maybe you wouldn't be suffering Osono. You could've been killed again and then wasted your second chance! Now this conversation is over I am heading back to my grandmother's. See you tomorrow!"
Amethyst drove off pissed when Tara looked at Osono.
"What the hell was that about? Come on Osono I'll drop you and Nikita off at your dorm so you all can pack up. Let her cool off Osono. She'll be fine tomorrow. My parents are coming home tomorrow; they will be thrilled that I am moving out. Come on you two in my car now."
They got in Tara's car and she dropped them off at their dorm right before the curfew. Then she drove off toward her house and fell asleep. As she slept she thought about Raphael and the kiss they shared.
'Maybe he didn't realize he kissed me; or it was my imagination again. He is a mutant turtle and has no interest in a human girl like me. Stop dreaming Tara you will only be Raphael's friend and student nothing more as much as you want to be.'
~Back at the lair~
Leonardo was in the kitchen drinking his tea when Master Splinter put his hand on Leonardo's shoulder.
"My son what is troubling you?'"
Leonardo looked up.
"Nothing sensei; just letting you know that the girls training is going really well. They are all very talented and can be very skilled with a little more practice. We now know who the head of the foot is now father. His name is Kahn; and he is known as the Golden Dragon. I just have no idea how he became the head and no one has seen Karai either."
Master Splinter thought back.
"He might've been a student of Saki's out for revenge. Maybe she heeded your warning my son. Or she could be hiding; there are two possibilities Leonardo."
Leonardo sighed.
"Okay Sensei I'll be in the dojo."
He entered the dojo and started to train vigorously. Raphael looked up from his punching bag and watched as Leonardo trained and shook his head. Leonardo looked over by Raphael after he wiped underneath under his bandanna.
"So how is the training going with Tara?"
He smiled.
"She got the blocks down, the sneak attacks and knows how to flip an opponent no matter their size. She showed me that tonight when I trained her. She is catching on very quickly. What about Amethyst? Donatello said that Nikita is a really slow learner and Osono just loves to play with her katana and right now she is unable to train."
Michelangelo looked in.
"Yo dudes when she heals I am going to punish her I promise. But it's gonna suck on the 4th she can still barely move."
Donatello sighed.
"Yes I know that but she has to learn Mikey. She shouldn't have gone after them by herself especially when her training just started."
Later that night Leonardo was in the kitchen eating a piece of his cake with a cup of tea when Raphael approached him. Leonardo looked up.
"Hey Raph; wuz up? I thought you went to bed after Mike and Don?"
Raphael sighed as he poured himself a cup of tea.
"I think I have fallen for Tara, after her lesson we kissed but I played it off like nothin' what am I going to do?"
Leonardo walked away and shrugged.
"Can't help you there."
Raphael looked up.
"What kind of brother are you; thanks for nothin'."
Leonardo went up the stairs after he washed his cup.
"You're welcome."
~The next day~
Amethyst finished up at the store for the day and looked at April.
"Did Casey get the truck; or is he having a real hard time getting it. It will feel so good not having to live with my grandmother."
April smiled at her.
"He is picking up the truck right now. We'll use my van to take your clothes over there and your friends will meet you by the new house. I gave them all the address. The boys are with Casey so stop worrying."
Amethyst smiled.
"Okay no problem; thanks April. I haven't stepped foot in that house for so long. Let's stop at my grandmother's to pick up my clothes please."
April nodded.
"No problem Amethyst; let's go get your clothes. It seems like you have fallen for a certain turtle in blue. I am telling you this as your friend he is not really ready for another girlfriend right now. Just let him train you and maybe within time you will be surprised."
Amethyst nodded as they headed toward her grandmother's house and packed the boxes in the trunk of April's van and hugged her grandmother. Then her grandmother handed her the keys and smiled at her. Amethyst tied her car to the back of the van and got in the passenger side with April as they drove toward her house on the beach.
As they entered Amethyst used her key and unlocked it looking around at the photos of the family when they were all alive. She sighed. Then she entered the dojo where her father trained her and her sisters. She heard a beep and realized it was Osono's car. She stepped out and approached her.
"Home sweet home."
Osono unpacked her car and entered looking around.
"Okay why was I reincarnated with this color hair and not brown. I miss my long hair too. Ame we have to forget our past and move on with our lives now. Come on then let's put our clothes in our rooms."
They both entered their rooms and put their clothes on the floor, then they both entered their parents' room and tears rolled down for a quick second. They heard more horns and exited their parents' room and ran downstairs to meet everyone else. Michelangelo saw tears rolling down Osono's eyes and approached her.
"Hey dudette cheer up you okay? Wow you guys did have a really big family."
She smiled as she wiped the tears.
"Yes Mikey I am fine I am Osono now just Amethyst's friend nothing more. Just am really hating these stitches right now they are itchy."
Michelangelo looked.
"You did it. We are not talking about this right now you will be punished trust me on that one dudette."
Amethyst went back upstairs and locked her parents' door one last time and put the key in her drawer. Leonardo knew that she was upset and ran up the stairs after her.
"You know Ame; you should really forget your past and enjoy the present. This is really a nice house you have here."
She smiled and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Leo; I am so sorry didn't mean to do that. I don't know what got into me."
He looked at her.
"It's okay Ame, come on then Casey has a surprise for you and the girls."
She followed behind Leonardo as Casey and Raphael bought in new furniture for each of their rooms. Amethyst smiled and hugged Casey after he came down the stairs. He smiled back.
"Me and April thought it would be nice to get you four some new furniture for your new house. So what are your plans for this place? You can really do a lot with it Ame. Especially with the Summer here and you living on the beach. Just tell me and I'll help you ladies with it."
Leonardo looked and shook his head.
"Umm no Case that won't be necessary we will help them fix it up."
Michelangelo looked.
"Whoa bro I am not a repair man and know nothing about home improvement. Can't you and Raph just do it and leave me out of it please?"
Raphael bopped him.
"You are full of it shell fa brains or no pizza for a week your choice dude! Right fearless."
Leonardo nodded.
"Your choice Mikey."
Michelangelo looked.
"Okay what do we work on first?"
Amethyst giggled.
"Well I want to put in a pool with a screened in patio, a hot tub, maybe extend the dojo a little more since there are 4 of us learning ninjitsu. So we have a lot to do by Monday."
Raphael smiled slyly.
"Okay me, Mikey, and Osono will work on the pool and the patio. You and Leo will work on the hot tub and extending the dojo. Brainiac will put in an alarm system and a garage opener since he is the tech guy NIkita will be helping him."
Tara crossed her arms.
"Okay and me? Yo Raph I am a mechanic you know and live here to. What am I working on?"
Raphael looked at her.
"You are on the team with me, Mikey, and Osono, Tara. We get to work on the porch while Mikey and Osono work on the pool."
Tara smiled.
"Sounds good to me; speaking of the pool. Yo Ame I think the guys are here to put in the pool."
Leonardo and his brothers vanished as Amethyst answered the door.
"Sorry about the mess we just moved in gentlemen. Come this way the area where the pool is going is back here."
She walked them out to where the pool was getting put in and smiled.
"If you want anything I'll be inside unpacking thank you again."
~Tara's room~
Tara went up to her room and saw Raphael. He smiled at her.
"Ya thought I forgot about you didn't you? Tara I know something is on your mind you are blushing again when I am next to you. I saw it last night when I trained you. Ya gonna tell me or am I gona have to get it from you?"
She froze as he came up behind her and her cheeks started to turn red again.
"Exactly how ya gonna do that Raph? I am living in a dream that we will ever be anything else but friends. Oh shit did I say that out loud! I didn't mean to say that."
He smiled slyly at her.
"Yea ya kind of did say that out loud; I'll show ya what I am gonna do about it Tara."
She gulped as Raphael grabbed her arm gently and turned her toward him as he grabbed her ass and kissed her on the lips. She closed her eyes and embraced him tightly as they made out against her dresser.
~In Osono's room~
She heard the door shut and went to grab her katana when Michelangelo grabbed her from behind.
"Whoa dudette it's only Mikey put the katana down."
She yelled at him.
"Mikey I told you about that you scared the shit out of me I thought it was a ghost or something. Be careful my stitches are still in. This weekend is gonna suck I swear. I can't go in the water and I love to. Michelangelo are you listening to me?"
He smiled at her.
"Yes I am listening loud and clear. You wouldn't be in this position if you didn't try to be tough maybe you could enjoy the 4th with the rest of us Osono.
She sighed.
"I just wanted to stop her and I didn't want to tell your older brother about it."
She put her head down; Michelangelo smiled at her.
"Dudette we appreciate it but you could have been killed, but if something like that is ever heard again you need to tell us. We are trained for a reason, we protect this city and our friends and family, he looked into her eyes, Osono blushed dark red.
Michelangelo chuckled
"Osono?"
Osono looked into his eyes.
"Mikey"
Michelangelo leaned in and kissed her on her lips holding her gently to him.
Osono embraced the kiss and closed her eyes kissing him back. The kiss broke he smiled at her, Osono smiled back at him.
"Wow amazing! "
Michelangelo smiled at her once more.
"Come on let's go back out just relax babe and yes we are together come on. "
Osono smiled at him and followed him downstairs.
Two days passed and Leonardo sighed as he saw Michelangelo and Osono making out as they helped Raphael and Tara finish up the pool and screened in patio.
Tara looked inside and whispered in Raphael's ear.
'I think your brother Leo is jealous because you and Mikey have girlfriends. He won't stop looking ova here. Why doesn't he just make a move and get with Amethyst?'
Raphael shook his head.
'My brother is not looking for a girlfriend Tara babe; he's been through too much with his ex. Just leave it at that will ya!'
~In the dojo~
Amethyst was putting down the new tam tam mats, and hanging up the weapons on the wall. She looked and saw how upset Leonardo was. She went by the window and tapped his shell.
"Leo are you going to help me finish up the new expanded dojo? What is bothering you?"
He looked at her.
"Nothing Ame, just watching how they did the pool that's all? I am perfectly fine; Let's go finish up that dojo. We all have a long day tomorrow. "
~Outside in the front~
Donatello smiled.
"Well the new alarm system is up and running. Now you four can feel more safe. Even when we aren't staying here with you ladies. Let's go see how Amethyst and Leonardo are doing with the dojo."
Nikita nodded.
"Then we can go look at the pool? I can't wait to see how they are doing also. We got a lot done this weekend."
The night went on and everyone turned in.
Amethyst, Nikita, Leonardo, and Donatello entered their rooms and just fell asleep. In Tara and Osono's rooms Raphael and Michelangelo were asleep holding the girls in their arms.
~4th of July~
Michelangelo was the 1st one up and made breakfast while Osono was still fast asleep in her bed. Raphael was the 2nd one up and entered the kitchen to make some coffee
while Tara was in the brand new dojo training. Amethyst was the next one up and smiled at Tara.
"You up for some sparring?"
Tara nodded.
"Sure you're on, but don't cry if I beat you Ame."
Amethyst laughed.
"We'll just see about that Tara."
Tara lunged for Amethyst and she grabbed her arm with the Jutte and pulled it back. Then she flipped Tara on her back.
"You are not supposed to let your guard down Tara."
Tara flipped back and lunged at Amethyst again. This time Amethyst used her katana and blocked it making Tara lose her footing.
"You forget one detail Tara I have been practicing the art of ninjitsu since I was a child; you just started training with Raphael. You are really no match for me."
Tara laughed as she grabbed Amethyst's arm and flipped her on her back holding her Jutte to her neck.
"You were saying! I guess that means I win this round."
Amethyst laughed.
"Guess again Tara."
Amethyst flipped back up and front swept Tara causing her to fall holding her katana to her neck.
"Keep practicing."
Leonardo smiled.
"Well done both of you, come on let's go eat breakfast."
Throughout the day the 8 friends BBQed and swam in the pool. When it got dark Michelangelo and Osono shot the fireworks while the rest looked on in amazement. Raphael held Tara's waist as they watched the fireworks go up. Amethyst kept staring at Leonardo and sighed. Nikita was sitting next to Amethyst and turned to her.
"You know this sucks; our two best friends landed the guys. While you and I are just stuck standing here dreaming that one day we will also. Look at Leonardo and Donatello all they care about is the fireworks; neither of them know that you and I exist. Don't try and deny it either Ame you are so into Leonardo. He has no idea either; he is just as blind as Donatello over there."
Amethyst shrugged.
"I don't know what makes you think that I am into Leonardo, because I really am not. All I am concerned about right now is advancing my ninja skills and being able to defend myself if we ever get attacked by Kahn and his foot clan. Leonardo and I are just friends nothing more, and we never will be anything else. In your case you might be lucky Kita."
After Osono and Michelangelo finished with the fireworks everyone cleaned up and got ready for bed. Once again Amethyst shook her head when she saw Tara and Raphael making out against Tara's bedroom door. Then her bedroom door closed and they both fell asleep soundly in one another's arms.
Michelangelo smiled as he kissed Osono goodnight and they both drifted off to sleep soundly. Amethyst and Nikita watched as Donatello and Leonardo's bedroom doors closed and sighed as they entered their own rooms.
