Chapter 7: The young siblings; Mikey and Angel
New York City at 4:28 am, Friday (May 20, 2005).
The sun slowly rises from its resting spot, shining its light upon the city. As the sunlight's warmth bathed New York City's buildings, windows of the city's buildings' reflected the shine on them back to the sun. That's except for one.
Taller and higher than the buildings around it, a skyscraper building's windows' glass frames didn't reflect back at the sun. In fact, none of the building's windows budge at the light hitting them. But as the sunlight was reaching the top floors of the skyscraper. It did, for some reason, affect the dark stone steel load-bearing walls. One particular stone wall, in fact, the material was actually shifting; as if it's water waving in the ocean. Therefore, while the sunlight got higher within the air. The same wall started reflecting the sun's beam from the building, as if the wall's material wasn't stone steel at all, but actually glass.
High in its post in the sky. The sun threw more of its warmth to the city. Especially the odd stone wall, and when it threw so much. Its light went through the stone wall to reveal the wall, was a hologram. Behind the hologram, was wide curtain-walled- windows. Windows, that because the sun's shining it's light through them. Passed them to find rich purple curtains, blocking its way. But once the warm light touched the curtains through the windows. An automatic silver curtain panel was activated by the sun's beam, making the panel open the curtains, revealing a room, or precisely a teen's bedroom.
Walling's having a bright white background, with colorful printed art bird characters. In serval positions; flying or perching upon lime green or brown branch trees, while butterflies of dark pink, red or orange were hovered over or rested on a few rainbow color flowers upon the branches. Addition to the graphic wallpaper. Cube blocks; in a set of five, attached together, while one looking like a heart and two looking like a star in random spots.
As well as two long black/purple mid-size locker safe storage cabinets, secured on the wall. There station above a desk area within the room. A desk area having a dark purple secretary desk with a black/purple swivel chair. The desk's opened, displayed wild and hot colors office accessories upon it, including a lavender laptop.
The opposite side of the room from the desk area. Was a pole mounted to the ceiling, with a drape; featuring a black background and rainbow colorful pattern detail of sound waves, hanging from it. Concealing a small wardrobe area, behind the drape. Inside the area stood a purple 4 section wardrobe organizer and purple/pink/white- jewelry armoire/vanity with a white chair.
The main lighting was small round mounted lights around the room (lights that were off at the moment).
The last area of the massive bedroom was the sleeping area in the back center of the wall. A white/purple tufted headboard queen bed rested against the wall. Bedding; fresh nectarine orange. While covering the sound asleep teen, a comforter matching the color design on the wall, but although the comforter had a white background to it, it had only colorful floral flowers. Under the custom queen bed were white storage box drawers, two on each other side of the bed. Beneath the footrail of the bed was a white low chest with black 3 drawers. On either side, the bed, stood creamy white/purple stripe painted tall night table, with top open shelf -glass surface, made of unknown material.
The bedroom's flooring was heated wooden mid maple brown, with a gloss finish.
As the purple window curtains pulled away to rest on either side of the ceiling-to-floor window frames. The sunlight's shine increased into the whole bedroom. Causing the teen, sleeping in the bed, pull the comforter over her messy head of black hair, blocking out the sunlight, while cuddling a superhero plush doll as she went back to sleep. However, once she was deep into sleep once again, the teen girl didn't hear her small alarm clock go off, telling her it was 5:59 am.
Therefore, when it turned at 6:12 am. Pink light from an open compartment in the ceiling, came down in the form of a pink hologram screen, moving close to the bed where the teen was still under her comforter. As the screen came on, the face of a high-tech robotic appeared.
"Young Madam Angel," it said. "It's time to get up, and start the day."
"5 more minutes, Onee." Was the only reply coming from under the comforter?
"But Young Madam Angel," The screen came closer to the teen's covered up form. "I'm not Madam Karai. For it was her who had appointed me to wake you this morning, cause she herself wouldn't be able to." Hearing this, Angel finally peeked out her face from the comforter, and brought half sleepy but aware eyes to the floating pink screen, displaying a familiar robotic face staring at her.
"What do you mean, she can't Professor Honeycutt?" Angel asked the robotic professor, as she began raising her head up in the bed, while still holding her plush doll close to her, under the comforter. "My Onee-" Angel caught herself, before beginning again. "I mean Madam Karai has always been waking me up in the morning since I moved here but more now, that school is out," Angel stated. " So what changed now? She had an early meeting to get to that I didn't know about?" She added before placing a hand over her mouth, yawning.
"No, that's not the case." Professor Honeycutt started explaining. " Before she retired from the lab floors this morning, Madam Karai had asked me to awaken you this morning, cause, unfortunately, she informed that she wouldn't be getting up early, and she wants you to come to wake her after you're done with your morning assignments, left on your notepad tech."
"I understand, Professor Honeycutt." Angel keeping her doll hidden, bowed her head a little, at respect to the robotic professor as well as showing her gratitude to him for taking time in his busy schedule to wake her. "And thank you, for getting me up. I know you, and the other professors are hard at work with cleaning the super computer's mainframe system in the building. So you can re-build the system without Stockman's programs connected to the Foot's systems." She added, getting nervous with her next question. "Professor Honeycutt," Angel still had the professor's whole divide attention on her, so she went on. "I know I don't have the orders to ask you, but is there a chance you could tell me when the new system will be up and also will it make sure Dr. Chaplin won't have any control on it, as well the other program projects you and the other professors and doctors are working on?"
"Since you, are Madam Karai's head assistant/apprentice and sister. You always had rights to ask any of us head professors and doctors anything about the works we're doing in the Foot organization. What Chaplin told you recently about us being strictly forbidden speaking of our work with anyone beside Madam Karai. Was a lie. For when Professor Leatherhead informed this 'rule' to Madam Karai the other day. She made it known to all us head professors, doctors, high techs, and high-rank soldiers, that you always had permission to ask anything of any of us about our works or studies. So don't feel nervous about asking anything of us, for we will answer it to the best of our abilities."
Relaxing now, Angel continued to listen as Professor Honeycutt informed her of what she asked to know. "With that misunderstanding fixed, I will go ahead and tell you what you wanted to know. Starting with your first question. And that answer is, it will be about less than 4 months before it's up and running. As for Chaplin holding any control over the super computer's main system. I am proud to say he will not have control to any of the Foot's systems here or in Japan, not even the basic stuff, such as his emails and phone numbers. For they will also have been disconnected from the Foot's systems, including here, and all the private tunnels, buildings and shops in the organization."
"That's great to hear, I'm glad I won't have to see his face no more." Angel more than happy about the good news. She's overjoyed. That's why Honeycutt hated to break her happy expression from her young face.
"But unfortunately, all won't process until three weeks after the new system is up and running."
"Well, that's okay," Angel said, not dropping her good mood. "Madam Karai-"
"Forgive me for interrupting you, Young Madam Angel. But I was informed to tell you also you don't have to confer Madam Karai as her business name within the building, including in front of the Mayor or other corporation business when they visit. Karai feels there's no reason to hide yours and her relationship at all in the Foot organization. So if you want, you may freely call her sister or big sister or however you want to address her."
"You don't know how much I'm glad to hear that," Angel stated, not hiding the plush doll no longer as she rose upward more in her bed with the comforter still covering her, except from head to neck. "And Onee forbidden Chaplin from coming to the building for a few weeks, I'm sure she added a couple more weeks to his 'time off'."
"Actually I forgot to mention, Madam Karai had Professor Leatherhead send Dr. Chaplin a message of the added months as you said 'time off'." He stated, but Professor Honeycutt couldn't help but study the plush doll, that was looking a little familiar to him, in Angel's possession.
"Young-"
"Professor Honeycutt, call me Angel if you please."
"As you wish, Angel."
"Thank you, now you were saying?" She questions, while, without being aware, pulled her doll in her arms, close to her chest.
"That human earth plush doll, you have." Honeycutt started, pointing at it.
"Yeah..." Angel held the doll closer to her, nervous and worry written all over her face. "what about it?"
"Oh, nothing really, it just looks... kind of familiar that's all. If you don't mind? Can I ask what the doll is supposed to be?" Honeycutt, felt he should have kept his interest in the strange doll to himself, because Angel looked to be tearing up, looking down at the green turtle doll in a superhero costume; full-length black cape, elbow-length black gloves, calf-length black boots, a big orange T on its forehead and chest, brown belt with an orange buckle, dark/light green body suit with orange outline and a black ninja bandana wrapped around its eyes where two white tinted eye holes showed. Resisting from shaking, Angel hugged the plush doll, closing her eyes.
"It's a Turtle Titan plush doll." Forcing the tears from coming, Angel was determined to get this out without bawling like always with this subject. "It was the only one made. Because when the toy store company made plush dolls of each Justic Force member, and send them each one of the first made plush dolls of themselves. The Justic Force, however, noticed a plush doll wasn't made for their member; Turtle Titan. So, they ordered one to be made after discovering the toy company didn't make any or was going too. Cause the Turtle Titan wasn't out there as much as the other members. But since the company wanted to keep their money flowing and the Justic Force happy. They made one plush doll." She held up the plush turtle doll for Honeycutt to see better, and that's when he saw the similar appearance of one of his turtle friends.
"I realized now, why the doll shows some familiar. It looks a little like Michelangelo." He said, not missing the smile coming to Angel's face, warming the robotic at seeing the lovely smile. "But what I'm not understanding is if that was the plush doll only made, then how did you get it?" Angel started laughing, confusing the professor more.
"Oh, Professor Honeycutt." Angel paused, calming her laughing into slight giggles. "How I got this plush doll and it looking so much like Mikey is caused the Turtle Titan is Mikey and he received the plush doll from the Justic Force after it was made, and how I got it, was later on..." The 15-year-old teen glances back to the doll with sadness in her eyes but still smiling. Even if it was small, it still was a smile, more than she ever had on her face when talking about her brother and grandmother.
"When I almost fell into a deep depression as my grandmother had after my brother's death..." Wiping the little tears escaping her eyes, Angel wasn't upset with herself. For she was happy it's little tears and not her usual sobbing. She's healing, slowly but she was beginning to heal. That's why her smile grew as she carried on speaking.
"Against his father's orders, Mikey came to see me, after his father told me they couldn't help me with paying back my brother's killers." Seeing she's getting up from the bed, Professor Honeycutt programmed the hologram screen to draw back so Angel could get up without it getting in her way (AN: even if it's a hologram).
Dressed in a purple tank top with silver graphics of a star on her chest, ivory foulard full-length PJ bottom, Angel slide her legs over the left sidereal of the bed, letting her feet hover over a hot orange shag rug. Her plush doll hanging from her right hand, as she stretched going back talking.
"Mikey gave me this plush doll to keep me company and try to keep me away from my dark thoughts." Looking at the plush turtle doll in her grip, she frowned as she narrowed her golden brown eyes.
"At first when he gave it to me, I toss it somewhere in my house, not understanding the meaning or the thoughtfulness of the gift. It wasn't until two weeks after me and my grandmother were brought here. That I was told that Hun had burned down my grandmother's house..."
Again Honeycutt watched as the sad teen hug the plush doll with all her might. "Knowing this, I went back to the ruin of my home with Joi and Onee. We took all that was untouched by the fire... But I couldn't find the doll Mikey gave me..." She rubbed her face into the soft but hard fabric of the superhero plush.
"Afterwards, I was sadder and mad with myself, for not caring for the gift more." Mostly since it's that painful event alone, showing how much Michelangelo really meant to her; she loves him. And it was this thought that Angel did start crying.
However, Honeycutt didn't stop her from talking, for she was showing it was taking a lot to say what she was saying. "Five days before my grandmother passed, I was in her hospital room with Onee. It was there where she asked Karai to adopt me. That my grandmother told me. 'That she was proud of me and how strong I am. And she wanted me to follow all my dreams no matter what they are. Just make them come true'." Angel was smiling again as she wiped away her tears, that were becoming happy ones by the time she finished talking.
"Once she said that she removes my plush doll from behind her back. Before telling me she knew about the turtles for a long time. She even told me Mrs. Morrison, her best friend, knew about some teen turtles because Raphael had been to see her as just Raph with his brother tagging along, who she called Mickey. That's why when my grandmother saw Mikey give the doll to me when she had been passing by my room that time and watched me toss it after Mikey left. She said that when Onee's bodyguards came to take her to the Foot's private hospital. She snatched up the doll before leaving with them. Knowing all this, I just hug her, sobbing. Then she whispered in my ear..." Here Angel trailed off. And with blushing cheeks, got up then started redoing her bed. Realized what Angel's grandmother whispered was probably too personal for Angel to speak about. Professor Honeycutt got back on track of Angel's 'to-do-list'.
"Angel I believe your grandmother was a very wise lady." That was after he gave his opinion on Angel's grandmother.
"Thank you, Professor Honeycutt," Angel spoke still blushing, as she gathering her plush doll, kissing it on the beak and then placed it into the left locker safe storage; locking it up with her other keepsakes. Then went to the other nightstand near the bed and placing her hand face down on the top surface of the nightstand, waited as a square compartment opened under the glass surface, and pressed against Angel's hand as a green light scanned her palm. And once it scans her whole hand. The green light and the center surface top of the glass disappeared as the square opening revealed her purple notepad tablet (a custom made iPad) that's design and created by the Utroms's technology.
Once she touched it, the screen came on to show, a 3-D image of Michelangelo's head smiling back at her. "Mickey, bring up my today assignments will you, please." As Angel said this, the square opening in the nightstand closed back up as well as the glass reappeared, to leave a normal-looking nightstand in its place once again.
It seems there's a new code to be put in, before accessing account files, Miss Oroku.
"Oh, I knew I forgot something." Professor Honeycutt spoke up.
"What do you mean Professor Honeycutt?" Angel questioned as she took her ivory sweater robe off a hot pink hook near the nightstand she was still standing nearby.
"I mean; cause we're messing with the super computer's mainframe system. Everybody within the tower has to have new code and password to access any of the files in the organization. I'm very sorry, you were the only one who's haven't been informed or giving a new access code and password."
"Don't worry about it. Just give me full access now, to the whole Foot's system. So I won't have any problems later."
"Very good, Angel. I'll get right on allowing you access, once I get to my office. If that's alright?"
"That's fine." She confirmed, then watched as Professor Honeycutt's image disappeared from the floating hologram screen before the hologram screen light went back into the ceiling.
Two minutes after she finally places her robe on, she got all access in organization entire system. Which had her getting her assistant turtle avatar- Mickey to work with bringing up her assignments.
"Barely three weeks' summer started and I'm still doing work..."
After Karai fully adoptive her, Angel started going to school; something she didn't get much of before she became Karai's little sister. Therefore, almost had the private high school; Pur'ell School, Karai enrolled her in, place her in the last grade she was in, which happened to of been the 4th grade. Luckily thanks to her private tutor; Miss Arizona. Who taught Angel before Karai fully adoptive her. She was able to take a test of what the 9th graders had gone through so far in their studies. And passing the test, Angel was qualified to join the 9th grade with students her own age. In that short time (two months) she found she was very smart and had creativity, especially when she found having skills in designing things from clothing to rooms. And also made friends at Pur'ell School, was allowed, after passing the classes with flying colors, able to pass the 9th grade and go on to the 10th grade after summer vacation is over.
Going over what she said, had Angel re-thinking her earlier comment. "Then again, if Onee is right and Leonardo has agreed to be allies, then that means..." A rose blush appeared on Angel's face as those baby blues came to thought. But before she could go into those lovely thoughts and images. She's interrupted by her 3-D assistant, that had the same color eyes looking up at her.
I have your assignments up now, Miss Oroku.
"Thank you, Mickey." She thanked the avatar mutant turtle, before looking over the window he pulled up.
=Make sure the breakfast fest is prepared for the Japan Foot teachers, as well our regular family group breakfast. The new Japanese breakfast menu is attached to this list.
Call Master Splinter to confirm Master Oroku's offer to him. Then if Master Splinter agrees to the offer, please invite him and his sons to the breakfast feast. (Angel saw all the Hamato family's contact numbers on the side near her sister's letter).
Afterward have Tora pick up Master Splinter and his sons through the private bubble tunnel and make perfectly sure Tora is the only one with this(896522344SLRDM) private code to the tunnel path, leading to Master Splinter and his sons' lair. For Dr. Leatherhead holds the only control over those secret tunnel paths. However, for this time only, he'll allow Tora to use the code and device to get through.
Then come wake me up... For I'm not sure if I'll be awake to take these tasks myself.
Oh, don't forget about me checking over your result in training. We need to go over what I was talking about last night. After doing all this you have the rest of the day off. Enjoy it. =
"Mickey get the Foot's main kitchen contact numbers up online."
Angel scanned over the new breakfast meal as well as the usual western style one. While Mickey went to her address contacts and down the lists until it came to the Foot's contact member tab bar list, pulling up the main kitchen's contact numbers and called the first number on the list. Angel was moving her eyes from the new breakfast menu as the three head chefs of the Foot tower names came up on the screen. Luckily it was the head chef in charge of the Breakfast floor; Mr. Peurl's voice and face, Angel saw on her video call screen.
"Yes, Young Madam Angel, how may I help you this morning?" Mr. Peurl said, a charming, short-length neat chestnut brown haired French man with coal black eyes.
"I'm just reaching you to inform you of the new breakfast menu changeup, that I'm right now sending you a copy to look over." Within minutes of waiting. Mr. Peurl returns to the screen, speaking.
"I believe we can do this list without any trouble, but it will make breakfast a little late, for we need to send out for some of the ingredients on the list if that's ok?"
"That's fine, thank you for all your cooperation with the change. Also before you start on the menu. Will you be so kind and send an email to all the Foot members, about the breakfast changes, so they can choose which breakfast they want." Angel, taking a seat at her desk, said.
"Will do Young Madam Angel." Mr. Peurl replied, bowing on the screen.
Ending the video call with him. Angel went back looking over her assignments, which had her nervously getting Mickey to call a certain phone number, and as it rang, found herself hanging on pins and needles, looking at the screen picture of her pad as the video phone kept ringing.
Come on girl, you can do this? You rejected all guys in school... Cause your heart's already picked the one for you, so don't chicken out with just talking to him!
Angel kept coaching herself before the ringing stopped, to show the words 'voice only' as a deep male voice reaches her ears. And couldn't help giggling slightly, as his way of answering hasn't changed even after almost 5 months. "You still answer like that, Mikey?
…
Hamato family's lair- (before Angel awoke)
Unable to sleep, Mikey returned to the main floor, to watch some TV inside the media area.
"Ah man, nothing, but stale talk shows."
Sighing, the turtle shut off the TV, then rose from the couch and left the entertainment room, heading to the 4th floor.
Going through the cherry wood finish automatic sensor double sliding door, Mikey stepped into his new domain. The Kitchen.
A kitchen that's been through a whole new remodeling, a few weeks ago. The full L-shape kitchen cabinetry was cherry wood with the cinnamon finish, with flat panel door style and panel drawer style with sensor system built into the whole kitchen. The flooring was light natural wood with a black finish, the walling areas was hunter green, the trims were lavish lavender and the countertop areas were cyberspace black with white/purple specs (like stars) over the black background. The long G-shape 'Island' was cinnamon finish (like the cabinetry) with a black counter surface, and a hunter green round table attached to it.
All of the main appliances were custom made, stainless steel, built-in-the-cabinetry-and-sensor system, blending in the cabinetry kitchen. Hoods; island hood, and another hood; wall-mounted stainless steel hood over the counter cabinet cooking top, with a sage green and cream swirl recycled subway glass tile design as a backsplash behind it with a single-hole wall-mount pot filler kitchen sink faucet with extended spout and lever handle mounted to the backsplash wall. However, Mikey, his brothers, and father, wasn't the only ones who lived in the lair. Mikey's cat, Klunk also lives there, that's why there's a cat-feeding/waterer station built- in the island.
But the main appliances weren't the only items built-into the cabinetry. There are storage solutions and storage kitchen accessories drawer compartments. Keeping everything organized and easy access. Even counting the mounted wall filled cabinetry pantry, beside the built-in-refrigeration-station-cabinetry, facing a black Lacquer dining room set -classic Ming oval table, featuring a traditional 'eight ladies' design mother of pearl applique- with six black colored chairs with two of them -with arms- set at the breakfast round table attached to the island. Each chair has green cushions and subtle, beautiful sateen covers to them. While behind the dining room set, was a wide-screen television hidden in the wall. This television connected, like the TV in the entertainment room, to the main computer in Don's laboratory.
The lighting was a few cherry wood pendant lamp, mounting the ceiling, making a good lighting in certain areas of the kitchen. And two - three lights-white fabric pendant -in polished chrome- were hanging from the ceiling between the island hood, placed there for great light because the island holds most the working space; chopping and preparing food.
Taking in his domain in joy, Mikey realized if it hasn't been for April, the kitchen/his domain, wouldn't be possible.
"I can't thank April enough."
Remembered Leo said he placed the leftover rice balls in the glass-door refrigerator last night. Mikey went for said refrigerator while going over which of his family's rice balls he was going to 'borrow' from.
"I'll just take one of Master Splinters. He still has three left. Man, I need to get my hands on the recipe from Karai. I never saw Master Splinter stuff down so many rice balls in one sitting, but again, it was cream cheese filling."
However, Mikey walking for the main refrigeration section of the kitchen, stopped as his sight fell on some dirty and greases pots and pans. Not just any cookware. These usually orange cookware pots and pans were also half of a gift set April gave him after the remodeling of the kitchen.
"Weeks with my cookware, and sadly meets Raph's cruel ways to any kitchenware." Narrowing his eyes, in thought, Mikey suddenly looked over to the 3 glass whiteboards, seeing today is Leo's cleaning kitchen duty. Putting two and two together.
"Raph did this, to make Leo stuck cleaning them. But..." Frowning, the youngest turtle, drag his feet toward the countersink, holding said cookware in it. "did he have to ruin them this bad. It's gonna take a lot of elbow grease getting them even ready for the dishwasher?" Saying this Mikey groaned as he realized 'why' Raph made sure the cookware was going to be hard to clean. "Shell! He wanna be sure Leo had a tough time cleaning these... Damn Raph, I can't tell they were orange! Fuck Bro. Leo's on kitchen cleaning duty, but these pots and pans our my 'Property'!"
Only the silence of the kitchen hearing his ranting. Mikey, still cursing, got down to work, scrubbing his former new cookware. "Man, I hope April doesn't kill me if I can't get them normal?" Continuing scrubbing the dishes, Mikey's thoughts drifted back to when the remodeling, or just not the kitchen, but other floors in the lair became possible.
Actually, the lair's floors changing didn't start with April first. But started late November, right after the turtle brothers and their rat father came back to the lair from celebrating their victory against the Tengu Shredder. They found on the main floor, many new wooden types of furniture, and special gifts for them separately as well note from the Ancient One saying 'Farewell and thank you'. The furniture and personal gifts were tokens of his and the Tribunal Ninja's gratitude to them.
Mikey and his family were speechless, even Master Splinter, who got two Chinese mythical guards; called Fu Dogs, and an oil painting picture of Splinter's parents; Yoshi and Shen, as his special gifts. While the turtle brothers' special gifts, were their god-like-powerful weapons returned. Excluding Leo who was given Yoshi's first butterfly katanas; the same katanas the Ancient One gave Yoshi as his first weapons.
The main wooden furniture was five full-size hard wooden walnut tatami platform beds in black lacquer finish/w head-board with different scenes of Japan on them in gold ink. And the other furniture; nightstands, end tables, cabinets, tables and chairs, armoires, drawer chests, stands, stools, etc. The Hamato clan took it and put away for extra wood later. Except for the nightstands, tatami flooring, and a few stands and one dining room set. While using the new beds to sleep on.
In the beginning, since they had been only sleeping on old mattress or hammock earlier, (except Master Splinter; being he had a futon each time). Usually the extra rooms -made for bedrooms- had been either enough for two brothers to share or -like their former lair- Raph and Mikey had separate bedrooms (along with Splinter) and the last room Leo and Don shared. But now, with several rooms in the current lair, each brother had their own rooms. Despite not having much but a mattress -or hammock in Raph's case- to sleep on and nothing else. So they were pleased, having a bedroom set for their rooms.
That is until Master Splinter decided he needed a floor to himself; for his deep meditation (AN: which the turtles didn't know Splinter was at that time training Karai through those deep meditations). So with Mikey and his brothers not able to 'leave' the lair, until Master Splinter says otherwise; not counting the rebelling Raphael. They got to work on their father's floor forming into, the 5th floor.
Therefore, while working on Master Splinter's floor. Leatherhead brought over some kind of metal looking material he recycled from Bishop's old hideout; that had a lot of scraps of material left over from the self-destruction it went through. Leading Don and Leatherhead working together on this unique material, using it within the lair.
Progress had Mikey and his other brothers finding themselves remodeling more floors. Ending with them all having a floor to themselves: Leo-3rd floor, Raph-6th floor, Don-2nd floor, and Mikey-4th floor and Splinter- 5th floor. They even made private bathrooms for themselves (AN: both Leo and Raph's idea).
Unlike most floors in buildings held floor numbers in order. The lairs weren't. For the main floor in the middle of the lair was consider the 1st floor, and under it, the 5th floor, then 6th floor and 7th floor (basement/cave garage) underneath it. And over the 1st floor was 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors, completing the lair in that order. Each floor had sections they could take to get to each floor (AN: without jumping from one to the other).
April helping came second in the middle of Dec when she got wind of the remodeling. So she decided to give their early Christmas from her uncle August, who had sent them while in Thali, during his trip around the world (AN: He's now in England at the moment). Where his presents were - Lustrous Thai silk bedding set, with each bedding in their favorite color; pure white, navy blue, burgundy red, violet-purple and sun orange, and gold/creamy beige coloring added to each main color.
But, before April did this, she received a big surprise early in the month, during staying at her sister Robin's hotel who was in New York. Someone had wiped her out of all the antiques in her shop.
However, once checked if her insurance covered that many robberies, due to it looking like the shop wasn't broken in. April found, by her bank, a big summary of money been wired to her shop's account over the website. But informed by her business partner; her uncle, through an email. He allowed an unknown person going by a username; the Dragon Demon Keeper. To buy the whole stock in the store as well as the antique items he had put online to sale. And over 15 million in her account. April happily (without telling Casey) told the turtles, to write what they needed to finish remodeling the floors. And after Master Splinter approved the offer. Mikey and his brothers (who still couldn't leave the lair) gave April each a list of stuff they wanted for their floors, and with other friends; Faraji Ngala, Adam McKay, Joi Reynard, and Tora Yoshida, they helped April get items on the lists. It took the rest of Dec before everything was finally finished with the personal floors; thanks to their friends help (mostly April).
Unfortunately, after New Year, the turtles decided Mikey taking the 4th floor where the kitchen was... Was a bad idea. Since he couldn't stop having mid-night snacks every night. Resulting, Leo deciding, - with their father leaving him in charge while he's busy with his solo meditation sessions and the turtles didn't want to remove the kitchen from where it was- one of them had to share their floor with Mikey. But Don sharing his floor with the laboratory, Raph held the training/dojo room on his floor. Leo shared his with Mikey. Fortunately, since Leo didn't use his whole floor, -is he's used to sharing space- there was a spacious section Mikey made into his room. Followed by him and Leo dividing the floor, with a hallway between them. Then the turtle brothers took most of the extra furniture, and took it apart, using Mikey's old room on the 4th floor, made a few guest bedrooms.
But in January, they got some tragic news, when April, with a sobbing Angel, came to them, telling of Ryan's sudden death. Death changing Casey afterward, having him not giving any mercy to any thug that was in his eyesight (AN: regardless of what the turtle brothers and their father told him).
However, Angel had it worst when her grandmother had a stroke not long later. Then as she came back to them asking help to get back at Ryan's murderers; the Purple Dragon and the mob. And Master Splinter refuse them getting involved. Angel took it in her own hands. Which Mikey seeing what Angel was planning. Sneaked out the lair, to convince her not go for her brother's killers, leading to him giving his only Turtle Titan plush doll to her, saying; that if she ever felt alone, the doll will keep her safe until he's back to do the job himself.
Sadly, not even week later, Casey came to the lair with bad news. Angel and her grandmother were missing from their home. And barely four days later, -after going with Don and April looking for clues in the Green's house- the Hamato clan was told by Casey. Angel's grandmother's house got set on fire by the Purple Dragon.
Following those horrible events, Mikey was heartbroken and depressed. He wasn't the same. Wouldn't smile, laugh, or even joke around. And barely left Master Splinter's floor for weeks, except checking the news for unnamed teen bodies found that might be Angel.
The start of March, where some trouble placed in their hands again, had April staying with them, and by the end of March. April decided to remodel her kitchen in her apartment building. Which she thought, if Mikey helped her with details of the remodeling of her kitchen, maybe help him get through Angel's missing. Thinking it a good idea, Master Splinter allowed April to do this. Fortunately, it did work, keeping Mikey's mind off his sadness about Angel, but also, once finish her kitchen remodeling, had April deciding, to remodel the lair's kitchen with Mikey's help and ideas of the remodeling through all of it. Where afterward, she gave Mikey a 232 pieces' kitchen set.
Not counting the kitchen's remodeling and the 4th floor. The turtle brothers didn't change anything with the main floor; that wasn't just their entertainment/sports/goofing off the floor, it was also the main entryway to the lair and living room. So they decided to leave it the way it was. And it being a circle-shape within the center of the main entrance floor, gave access view to the upper floors.
But, before April stayed with them and both kitchens remodeling was even thought of. Hamato family had found out Casey, without informing them, tried to spy on the deadly unnamed gang. And almost got killed in the process. That was until two cops, in the area, broke the gang up on Casey. After the life-threatening ordeal? Casey decided taken a career in police work; which is why he's getting ready for his police training; a year training, he's leaving for next week.
Pushing his thoughts off his doubt feelings about Casey's new personality; that started after Ryan's death. Mikey put his attention on cleaning, making him sigh, shaking his head.
"Damn Raph and his evil ways to cookware."
He couldn't stop grumbling while continuing washing dirty pots and pans in the sink, causing his thoughts returned back to Raph and his problem with Leo trusting Karai...Or more like having feelings for her. There's gotta be more to Raph's hate towards Karai then Leo not being the responsible older brother, but what?
"So you couldn't sleep either?" Stopping his thoughts and washing the 'deadly cookware', Michelangelo's head turned to Donatello, coming in from the double sliding door.
"I had too much in my head if you would believe that." He joked as his carefree side came to the surface, as he pushed his deep thoughts to the back of his mind for now.
"And you decide to wash dishes instead of using the dishwasher?" Don asked before he saw the shape the cookware was in. "On second thought, I see why you're washing them in the sink first." Then he glances at the chore list whiteboards, written in Master Splinter's handwriting with a black marker. Seeing Leo's on kitchen cleaning duty today. "Then again since it shows Leo's on kitchen cleaning duty. Why are you doing them, when you hate washing dishes?" Mikey paused in his back to scrubbing and faced his brother behind him, who's waiting for his reason.
"Yeah, I hate washing dishes." Mikey began, as he watches Don with his baby blues, move to the table at the island and pulled a chair out to sit on. "But I can't overlook the state my cookware are in."
"Shell, how did they end up this way? They hardly show any orange on them." Don stated, glancing back to the sink filled with soapy, but black looking cooking pots and pans.
"Raph's the blame," Mikey informed Don, grabbing a wash towel and drying his hands, leaning his shell back against the sink counter, with his baby blues still on Don, instead of the sink. "It seems Raph earlier noticed Leo had kitchen duty today when he came to the kitchen after finding out Karai had made all that home cooking food."
"Same food, Raph himself finished before the rest of us." Don pointed out, before Mikey went on, agreeing with his youngest, older brother.
"Exactly. But before he joined us. I'm sure he made this mess to pay back Leo. But for me, April's gift had suffered the payback." Noticing Don's face drop when he said April's name, Mikey turned back to the sink, trying once again to save his kitchenware from being thrown away. "But enough of me, why are you up?"
Trailing his view away from his little brother's turned shell-back, Don laid eyes on the table, looking at the little chestnut-brown specs on the green background of it that the specs had the same color as his eyes. "I guess you can say I have a lot on my mind also." Was all Don said before going completely quiet for a second.
"I wonder if our older brothers are going through 'can't sleep virus-like us?" But when Don began speaking again, it was more questions than anything.
"Well if they are, they're keeping it to themselves. But Raph probably exhausts himself out, punching his bag into dust or got knocked out when it came back at him from one of his angry swings, either way, he's mostly out cold in the training room." Mikey commented, making better progress with the cookware that's starting to look like cookware and not some burnt up metal.
"And Leo?" Mikey's mouth opened but closed a moment before answering.
"He looked tired on our way back to the lair, and two shouting matches with Raph, and telling us Karai's story. Not counting whatever happened in the Foot's headquarters." Mikey didn't hide a smirk slipping on his lips. "I'm sure big bro's too tired to think. He's probably got his face in a pillow, dead to the world."
"You're probably right." Don chuckled, before once again going silent. A silent Mikey was starting to hate. Causing him to forget the dishes once again, looking back to Don.
"Ok, Don. Spill."
"What?"
"You heard me, Bro," Michelangelo said while folding his arms, throwing a stern expression to Don. "What's on your smart mind... And I think it ain't got nothing to do with you making out with April. So share." Knowing it will be impossible to avoid this now with Michelangelo dead set on knowing. Don took a deep breath and let it out before telling what was really on his mind.
"I've come to some terms, that there's nothing I can do to change what happened between me and April, and us betraying Casey. So you're right. My mind was on something else." With his thinking pose, Don went down his many theories. "I have been trying to go over in my head, after knowing the truth about Karai. Why does Raph still hate her?" He narrowed his eyes in deeper thought. "So first I thought it was because she's from the Foot. But with our friends; Faraji, Adam, Tora, and Joi, is not only part of the Foot but also the Elite Foot. I decide to cancel that theory. Then I thought maybe it was because she hurt our family, but then again. Raph showed his dislike to Karai before she even harms any of us."
"Yeah like the first time we met her on the water tower building," Mikey said, stepping in, back to washing the cookware.
"Exactly." Don agreed, before going on. "So that theory wasn't it... But it also brought to mind about the event alone. And that's where I came to the result, that maybe Raph hated Karai so soon because he felt she was lying from day one. You know like he was suspicious as we were with her. I mean even in the beginning Leo himself called her 'the devil'."
"Ok, I'll go with that," Mikey said, done with the cookware, and place them in the top drawer of the dishwasher double drawers, then went to sit at the table also. "But all of us know the truth and why Karai lied." He pulled out the other chair on Don's left. "So what's his problem now?" Mikey stated, dropping into the chair, waiting for Don's respond.
But before Mikey got a chance to see if Don had a comeback to his question. His shell-cell rang out in the kitchen, from his belt, he put on as he had left his room.
"You remember your shell-cell, but forgot your bandana?" Ignoring Don's remark, Mikey took his shell-cell from his belt, answering it.
"Talk to the Turtle."
Don rolled his eyes at Mikey's way of answering his cell. That was until he saw his baby brother relax expression, went down right to shock, fear, before turning to disbelief and falling into a big grin, and then suddenly jumping up from his chair, excitement filling his voice.
"Angel!?"
Not heard that name since Leo told Karai's story. Don stayed quiet as Mikey started talking to his cell, with an upbeat mood. "Sorry sounding shock, but you sound older. Shell, if you didn't say your name, I wouldn't believe it's you." Mikey didn't drop the silly expression that seems stuck on his face as he listened to Angel. "Oh, you wanna talk to him." This, however, had Mikey frowning a little. "What? You don't wanna talk to me?"
Don put a hand over his mouth, stopping himself from laughing at Mikey's pouting look. I haven't seen that pout look on his face since 4 months ago. Coming out of his thoughts, Don saw Mikey was leaving the kitchen. "Mikey where are you heading off too?" The replied Don got was.
"Master Splinter's floor. Angel wants to speak with him." Which had Don scratching his green bald head, as he watches Mikey left.
"What would Angel have to talk with father for?" Not expecting an answer to his question. Don using the remote panel built-in the island, turned on the television that came from its hidden compartment in the wall.
As it came on to show a petite short-ear length blond haired woman, who said her name was Miss June Starlite, telling the morning news. Don, after adjusting his seat to see the news better, went to the hot/cold drink system machine. Taking a white/purple coffee mug from the warmer drawer under the drink system machine. Don pressed the type of hot drink he wanted; coffee, and then pressed the flavor type of coffee he wanted on-screen panel; hazelnut coffee.
Watching the dark liquid pour into his mug, Don was trying to think if it's safe in asking Mikey to make his famous 'scribble eggs' once he comes back from Master Splinter's floor. For Don wasn't sure if Mikey wanted to cook after what Raph did to his kitchenware.
"Oh well, I guess I'll settle for something warm to drink for now." With this choice Don took his filled mug and relaxed in his chair watching the news, to learn the Purple Dragon was making more trouble... You think Hun would take it easy by now. What with him being the 'top dog' at the moment. Don thought as he took a long sip from the mug. Then again, with us becoming allies with the Foot... Are we helping Karai become the unbeatable gang once again? Don not leaving his deep thoughts, was also still listening to the news, which the lady reporter continued talking.
"In other news, it seems the city's getting back to normal after the nightmare we all went through,7 months ago." Picture of Karai aside the mayor with the mayor's new rebuild estate in the background, appeared as the news reporter kept speaking. "And we all owe it to this woman, Karai Oroku. Who, like her late father; Saki Oroku. Has rebuilt the mayor's home and the city to their beautiful selves once again. We truly are lucky Karai Oroku has the same warm heart as her late father. A man who I'm sure everyone, like myself, feels touch many people's hearts and still terribly missed..." Scoffing to himself, Don tuned out the news as Miss June Starlite's went over all Oroku Saki's 'good deeds' he had done for the city.
I feel I shouldn't... But I'm still not completely sure I should let my guard down around Karai. Even if Leo and Mikey say it's okay too. I mean I'm not saying I don't want to be allied with Karai and the Foot but...
Sighing, Don took another sip from his coffee, before shaking his head of his doubt thoughts. No, Master Splinter wants us to give her and the Foot a chance. And that's what I'm going to do. Coming to this decision, he returned to listening to the news. Luckily Miss June Starlite's wasn't talking about her earlier topic; Oroku Saki. But instead, a weatherman named David, talking about the forecast. Which although it was the beginning of the summer, it was mostly partly cloudy for the week.
On the stairs between the floor levels
As Angel explain what happen since the last time Mikey saw her. Mikey took the long way to his father's floor instead of taking the shortcut; jump from one floor to the next. As he did, Michelangelo learns that if it wasn't for Angel's grandmother, Angel wouldn't still have the plush superhero Turtle Titan. Something Mikey, in quiet prayer to himself, thanked Angel's grandmother, as he bypasses the smallest guest room that's been changed into a laundry room (AN: April's idea).
"Sorry, you lost your grandmother..." He paused when he heard Angel give a deep sigh through the speaker.
"It still hurts. But I'm not crying as much as I have done. So I believe that's a good sign. And fortunately, if it wasn't for my big sister Karai and the Foot members who had become a family to me. I don't think I would have made it this far."
"I'm just glad Adam and Joi were there to save you from Hun..." Feeling his voice breaking, as the many images he thought to happen to Angel through those three months, rush around in his head had the usual carefree orange wearing ninja turtle, gripping his shell cell in his hand near his ear. "Knowing you was missing was painful. But..." Blinking to keep his tears at bay, while reminding himself Angel was ok and currently talking to him. Mikey continues with what he wanted to say to Angel before wimping out.
"But if you been killed... I would been lost..." By that statement, Angel was speechless. But Mikey wasn't finished. "Not counting my brothers...You're my best friend Angel and I care for you like I do my family." Hearing the pain in his voice, Angel allowed a few teardrops trail down her cheek while feeling her heart trying to reach out to him. Biting her bottom lip, silencing her whimpers, Angel's teardrops became many.
"You're my best friend too. And I'm sorry I couldn't contact you sooner, but-"
"Hey, it's ok." Feeling a little better, Mikey smiles to himself for telling what he wanted to tell her. "You're alive. That's all that counts." Angel smiled, nodding her head, though Michelangelo couldn't see her. "So how about we change the subject to something else. Hey, you said you're in school... Do you like it? Have you made friends there? What school subject you like? Or-"
"Whoa, one at a time, Mikey," Angel said, laughing at Mikey's suddenly excited voice about her school life. Something herself didn't believe she ever be happy to talk anything school related in the past. But this school and new life was something to talk and be happy about. "Well starting with the first question; Yes, I love the private school I'm going to. It's actually a high-rank private school called Pur'ell, and has many programs and clubs too, and before summer started, I did make groups of friends." Hearing the last part, Mikey stopped walking.
"Groups... of friends?" He questioned, frowning.
"Yeah, in my art club, martial arts club, Asian/American club, and of course my regular classes. They're pretty cool." Angel explained, with excitement.
"Cooler than your old friends?" Telling Mikey was becoming jealous for some reason (AN: she doesn't know Michelangelo might have romantic feelings for her -_-), Angel holding back from laughing, spoke with nothing but seriousness in her voice as she called him by his first name.
"Relax, Michelangelo." She started while leaning back in her office chair, looking to the ceiling. "No one can ever take your place as my best friend, so stop getting jealous."
"Jealous? I wasn't jealous." If Mikey wasn't holding his shell-cell to his ear, he would have folded his arms over his chest. Instead, he decides to lean his right shoulder against the metal wall he was near, as he crossed his ankle over the other. "I was just curious that's all."
"Whatever you say, Mickey," Angel said, not buying his lame excuse.
"Don't call me that, you know I hate that nickname." Mikey said, hating Angel was around when Raph started teasing him with the 'nickname' Mrs. Morrison called him every time he went to her place with Raph.
"Sorry I couldn't resist..." Michelangelo grumbled to himself at Angel's teasing as she went on. "Well anyway, on to the third question; the school subject I like most will have to be art. Because it was my art class I'd found I was interested in fashion and decorative design. And after I was allowed to design my whole living quarters on my floor, I discovered I want to go into a career of being a designer."
"That's good to hear. I have, with April's help, re-did the kitchen in the lair, and also found I would love to be a chef with my own restaurant." But after saying this, the orange bandana turtle hung his head in sadness. "But unlike you... My dream career can never happen." Catching that Mikey's mood became negative. Angel frowned as she stared at her notepad screen that showed ' voice only' on the black screen. Her angry reflection was looking back at her as her grandmother's words pop into her head, which had her picking up her notepad from her computer desk's top surface.
"Don't give up on a dream, Michelangelo. If you wanna become a chef, then become one. Everybody's dreams, no matter who they are. Can come true."
"Uh, Angel did you forget, I'm a 'Mutant Turtle' you know people scream when they see me."
"So what! My grandmother told me to follow whatever dream I want to have, and I'm telling you to not give up on your own dream, heck I wish I could cook as you and my big sister do. I mean I never tasted anything you have cooked? But I'm sure it's good if I tried it." Noticing his bad mood was upsetting Angel. Mikey forced himself to have an upbeat attitude as he started his way to his father's entry hall, which also had him and Angel once again changing the subject to something completely different then what they were talking about...
Sametime within the kitchen
Don was in his thoughts once again as Miss June Starlite, on the news, was discussing, beside her co-reporter; a neat short red-haired man named Mr. Bob Gamble, who was showing footage on the screen about most teens this summer had headed for the beaches in FL.
I'm starting to come to the conclusion Karai was, in fact, the person who bought all the items in April's shop... I mean now looking at it in another angle. It fits. Especially the username she used; The Dragon Demon Keeper. How could I not catch on sooner? Then again, if it's true. Does August know Karai? Coming up with more questions than answers, Don changed his train of thought to the news, which was showing the new 'fashion summer's swimsuits', which quickly had his whole attention. -_-
So, therefore, while Don was enjoying his coffee and watching the bikini women on the screen. He almost jumped out of his shell as the lair's phone line started ringing with a small green shell symbol appearing on the left side of the screen. Seeing this had Don pressing another button on the remote panel to answer the call and to, unfortunately, show April's beautiful face. "April?"
Was all Don got out, before suddenly feeling like he wanted to run and hide as he placed his empty mug on the table?
"Hello, Donn- I mean Donatello." It didn't take a rocket scientist to know April wasn't expecting Don to be the one to answer when she called. "It's been awhile." Slowly Don rose from his chair, heading back to the hot/cold drink system to get him a refill.
"Three weeks and two days." He said, with his back to the young woman who still was holding his heart in her hand without knowing it.
"Yeah." If Don would look back to the screen, he would catch the hurt and sadness in April's eyes. But sadly he wouldn't. That was until April told why she was calling. "Well, I was calling to tell that Casey has left for his police training an hour ago-"
"What!?" This time April was able to look into those chestnut-brown eyes of Don's as he had turned to face the screen in shock for the unexpected news of Casey leaving. Looking at him, without showing it, April took in her turtle friend and found her mind going back to their heated making-out a few weeks back, before immediately shaking her head of that memory and going back to what she was speaking of.
"Yeah, it seems they change the time for this morning instead of next Wednesday. I thought you and the guys knew about the change?"
"Well, how could we, nobody told us anything?" Don knew, he probably wouldn't have gone, but that didn't mean his brothers especially Raph didn't want to bid Casey a goodbye. However what April said next almost had him dropping his mug as he went back to his seat.
"But Donatello," April begun. "Raph knew about the change, he was even here to say bye to Casey before he left. But when I asked him why you, Mikey and Leo wasn't here to wish Casey a goodbye. He said that you and the others had decided to not come."
"What?! That's not true!" Don couldn't believe Raph would keep this from them. "Leo and Mikey and I had no idea about the change. Where the shell is Raph now anyway?!" Don boiling now, laid his mug on the table before he could throw it. This childish attitude of Raph's has got to stop.
"He left on his motorcycle. I don't know where to, but if I knew he didn't tell you guys I would have called sooner-"
"It's ok April, it's not your fault Raph's starting to be an ass towards us." Once saying this their conversation stopped, for neither of them knew what to say next to each other, which brought an awkward silence to them. But April wanted to try, for she missed her talks with Don...And no matter how much she been fighting her real feelings for her purple bandana wearing ninja turtle friend. April couldn't avoid it forever.
"Donny..." She let his nickname slip off her lips, as she had many times in the past, and was hoping Don would answer to it without looking at her with shame in his eyes.
Don was calming down as he heard April call him by her favorite nickname for him. Which caused him to stare once again back to the screen at April, with no shame in his eyes but just questioning ones. "Why did you call me that? I thought we were on first name base again, and not nicknames?" There was bitter hurt in his voice but April wasn't sure if it was against her or what Raph had done. Watching quietly as he reached for the remote panel, had April fearing he was going to end their call, making her shout out without thinking.
"I miss you!" Pausing with going to turn the vol up on the screen's speakers to hear April better. Don raised a brow as he looked to April who started blushing for her outburst but didn't regret what she cried out as she pushes herself to go on. "And don't think I'm saying this because Casey is gone, because that's got nothing to do with it. I have tried many times to get you out of my head but I can't. And to be honest I don't want too." April could feel her heart wanting to jump out of her chest with how nervous she was with finally saying what she needed to say sooner than later.
"Come again?" Knowing Don heard her with that cocky smirk coming to his lips, April frowned at him while giving out a huff of annoyed.
"You heard me." She said.
"I did, I just want to hear you say it again." Now he was full-out grinning.
Sighing, April repeated herself. "I said that I miss you... We were close, deep best friends even. I want all that back."
"I miss you too, April." Don finally said, having April's former frown be replaced with a lovely and beautiful smile. "And I want our friendship back also, but before we get into our relationship and how we're going to work this out, without getting caught." April didn't drop her smile at Don's words, for he knew like her that she didn't want to have just an innocence friendship. No, she wanted their friendship that involved many heated alone times with each other. She came out of her thoughts as she heard 'her' Donny's voice reach her ears. "I need to bring you up to what has gone on in the last 24 hours. Starting with telling you, I know who the 'Dragon Demon Keeper' is."
"You do? Well, don't leave me in the dark Donny. Who is it? I've wanted to thank the person for early retirement." April was getting anxious to know this person.
"One name... Karai." Don wasn't surprised with April's disbelieving face. "I know you don't believe me, but wait until you hear how I know this before you think I'm joking." Wanting to know where Don was going with this, April stayed quieted and listened as Don explained...
...
Approaching his father's entry hall within his floor, Angel was telling Mikey, in detail, of how his brother Leonardo said 'hi' to Karai when he went to the Foot's headquarters, something that Leo left out of his story he told Mikey and their brothers, as well as leaving out that he almost killed Karai.
"Wow, if Leo told that part about his visit to the Foot. Raph probably would have used that information to his favor against Leo." Mikey said, stepping into his father's entry hallway.
Stone, of unknown metal material, carved-in custom-made wall fountains. Made up the walls on either side of the long hallway. Where in the fountains, water cascade (clean water), down them, and end at the deep wide planter basin attaches to the bottom of the fountains.
Thanks to Don's magic gadgets, every time the water flows down into the colorful rocks. It ports into long two pipes under the concrete walkway in the hall to a custom-made Zen garden/Koi pond, inside Master Splinter's washitsu (meaning: Japanese style rooms) bedroom quarters, before re-circulates back to the fountains.
The source of the lighting of the hall, are illuminating water lights, mounted atop the fountains, giving an alluring look inside the dark hallway, with the water lights changing every minute into white, blue, red, purple, orange and green before going back to white, before starting over. Just like all the water within the lair. Don, with Leatherhead's help, created a device machine for their water supplies; bath, drinking water and etc. To keep their water clean and fresh, by divided it from the sewer and their toilet water (AN: Thankfully).
But besides the clean water flowing down the fountains. The relaxing sound and healing benefits of the falling water, given the hall a peace, calm and tranquility feel. Led to all the turtle brothers creating their hallway entry. Counting when Mikey had his floor. Him, Leo and Don had the same wall water fountains. But each only had one solid lighting color. The color of their signature bandana.
However, Raph's was different, because he has real red flames running up his walls; with some fire-proof glass around them, keeping them from burning anything. And despite Don added purple flames to his water fountains. The flames are fake; giving his hall a science feel. But after Mikey moved from the 4th floor. The hall's light color went from orange to green.
Hearing usual smoothing water flow in the fountains brought a smile to Mikey. That is until he realized he spoke his thought out loud instead of to himself. Loud enough Angel heard him, resulting in him reading the less shock tone to her voice while speaking.
"Raph? Raph's against Leo in something? That's not new."
Reaching the end of the hall, Mikey came to a Shoji; a Japanese sliding door, with a honey color finish coating. It was the front door to Master Splinter's bedroom quarters, with his doorway size Fu Dogs on either side of the door. Letting out a heavy sigh, Mikey rubbed his forehead, still holding the shell-cell to his ear-hole.
"It's not their usual sibling-lash out. Raph's against being allies with the Foot caus-"
"What!?" Angel screamed out, cutting the turtle off, which Mikey pulled the cell away from his face. "BUT JOI IS ONE OF THE ELITE FOUR! DON'T HE KNOWS THAT!?" Remaining the cell out of ear-reach, Mikey glanced to the door's hard fiber (thick rice paper), seeing no lighting through his father's door. Having another sigh escape, but this one in relief.
"Angel! Calm down!" Mikey finally got in, making Angel realize she been shouting at him.
"Oh, Mikey I'm sorry. I didn't-"
"Hey, it's ok," Mikey said, eying the double thick sliding door, and the dark quarters behind the door for any movement.
"But I don't understand?" Mikey heard his confused friend, as she was trying to stay calm with a slightly low tone of voice. "Don't tell me Raph still mad with the Foot... Or is there more to his reason that I don't know of?"
"To be honest Angel. I thought I knew," Mikey begun. " But really I don't get Raph's real reason. But he's decided not become allies with the Foot because of Karai."
"Onee?" Mikey blinked eyes in confusion by Angel's chosen word.
"Uh, what did you say?"
"Huh? Oh sorry... I mean my big sister, that was what I was saying in Japanese."
"Oh, that's what I thought you said, but I wanted to be sure."
"You know Japanese?" The shock was in her voice, making Mikey frown.
"Hey, I know stuff besides comic book material." Hearing she might have offended him, Angel quickly tried to save face.
"I didn't mean to offend you, Mikey. I just never saw or heard you speak anything but English. But anyway forgive me for sounding like I was insulting you. Cause I wasn't. I'm just shocked is all." Hearing she's being sincere, Mikey forgave her. And him in a good mood again, Angel went back to their former conversation. "So Raph's got something against my big sister. But Leonardo did tell the whole story didn't he?"
"Yeah, he did. But Raph unknown to us has hated Karai from the first time we met her, so I don't really know his reason, and Master Splinter told us to leave him be, so that's what I'm gonna do."
"I guess that's the best choice. Ok, I'll leave it alone also. Sounds like you're against Raph's choice? So does this mean you're ok being allies with the Foot?"
"Yeah I am, and so is Don... Well kinda." Mikey stated. "He's gonna give Karai a chance for now. But I'm all for it." He finished, earning him, without knowing, a sweet smile from the young 15-year-old.
"I'm glad to hear that... It would be boring without you around again." She pointed out, giggling.
"Oh, so you just want me for my humor, shame on you, Angel." With nothing but teasing in his voice, Angel returns back her own teasing while giggling more.
"Well let's see... Leo's the serious one. Don is the smart one, and Raph is the strongest one as well as the stubborn one, so that leaves only the clown one, which is you, my funny friend." This time Angel burst out laughing and almost fell out of her chair.
"Ha, ha, ha. That was 'so' 'funny' I forgot to laugh." Mikey sarcastically said as Angel's laughing haven't stopped yet. "Is that really what you think of me?" That stopped Angel's laughing as quickly as it started.
"What? I was just joking, though I do think you're pretty funny most the time. But out of all your brothers, you're the kindhearted one. And that makes you the best in my book." Michelangelo was blushing now at Angel's innocent comment. And that's how Master Splinter found him outside his door.
"My son... Are you okay?" Though there was a concern in the rat's voice, there was amusement in his knowing eyes. "Is there a reason, why you are outside here?" Keeping himself from stuttering, Mikey clear his throat then spoke.
"Uh," With his outreach hand, Mikey gave his shell-cell to Master Splinter. "It's for you, it's Angel. She wants to talk to you." Smiling to his son, Splinter took the cell and spoke to Angel a bit behind his door before he slid it back open a while later, handing the cell back to Mikey, who was now wearing a questioning expression towards him, having Master Splinter explaining his conversation with Angel.
"I have agreed to Oroku Haru's offer, Karai had in the letter she sent. So we're invited to have breakfast at the Foot. Therefore, in a while, Tora will be here to escort us to the Foot's headquarters. Fortunately, since breakfast will be a little late, I asked Angel to have Tora come back for me after I finished my usual morning meditation. Then I'll join the rest of you for breakfast. So go tell Donatello and Leonardo about the invitation. I'm sure Leonardo would want to go."
"And Raph?" Splinter slowly shook his head no.
"Raphael... is still..." Master Splinter actually paused to come up with the right word. But Mikey beat him to it.
"Lost at the moment." Chosen this was the right word, Master Splinter agreed.
"Yes, my son. I believe your brother is in fact 'lost'. But with some time he'll see... I hope."
Nodding to this, Mikey watched his father slip back into his bedroom quarters, closing the sliding door behind him.
Mikey didn't know how long been staring at his father's closed-door before he heard Angel speaking from his shell-cell.
"My bad, what you say, Angel?" He asked once he brought the shell-cell to his ear.
"I was asking you if you are accepting the breakfast invitation also?"
"Oh, yeah I would love to join you for breakfast."
"And your bros?" He almost felt his heart fall at her question. "Cause Master Splinter said he was sure Leonardo will be coming, but wasn't sure of Don, and he said that Raph wouldn't come. But I'm very happy knowing that you're joining us for breakfast. And since the breakfast's going to be a little late, you and I can catch up face to face, and I can show you around the building. Unless you want Tora showing you around instead of me-"
"NO, I WANT YOU!" Mikey burst out as his heart was starting to beat fast at this chance to not only see Angel again but also spend time with her alone. "Just let me get my brothers' answers then I'll call you back." Hearing her heartbeat speeding up as she felt the warmth on her cheeks, Angel tried to keep her words together before she would start stuttering.
"Well... I got to call Tora and wake my big sister up... so how about I …...give you mine number now, so you can call back when you're... done speaking to the guys..." Angel wanted to bash her notepad against her head with speaking like that.
"Sure that'll work," Mikey said before Angel gave her personal number, where once she did, Mikey end the call and then, placing the shell-cell in his belt, left his father's floor. And as he left the floor, he decides to go back to the 4th floor to tell Don about the breakfast invitation. For he thought he'll let Leo sleep a little longer before informing him of the news…
…
Foot's headquarter-with Angel
End the call with Mikey and Mickey placed all the Hamato family's numbers in her contacts, while she gives a ringtone for Mikey's number. Angel checked the Foot's contact lists, pulling up the tab saying 'Foot Elite'. And as the computer pad began ringing, calling Tora from the business cell all the Elite got by Karai. Furthermore, with a tracking chip installed in the cells, giving their location at the time of the call.
Showed Angel, Tora's within his 2 level apartment. A high luxury apartment building, beforehand been a warehouse building. Before Tora and the other Elite turned it into their divided living floors. But later some lower floors were made into housing apartment for members of the organization; who live within the city instead of the Foot tower. However, there's another –separate- apartment building holding members such as doctors and scientists.
Although the call's not answered yet. Angel wasn't dropping the call while exiting her bedroom, by leaving through a beautiful wall mirror, revealing it was a door as well a mirror. Leading Angel into a full luxury walk-in closet; holding Asian style clothing as well, being Angel's sewing area; for creating her current chic style clothes, while the Asian dresses –from Karai- were only to wear for special occasions such as; business parties, meetings and etc.
The tablet in her hand hasn't stopped ringing even after she'd bypass a Shoji sliding doors, leading to the hallway outside her wardrobe closet room. But being Angel needs to do her 'morning grooming', she continued down the wardrobe room until coming at the end where frosted glass sliding doors are; the entrance to her private/master bathroom.
Like her whole floor, she designed the layout of the master bathroom; dark gray tile flooring and underfloor heating, with the room automatic sensor main lighting being low-level light in the ceiling, made each of her trips to the full height 'Glass Shower Enclosure', relaxing and comforting even during late night showers. Close by from the shower area, was built-in dark black platform stairs (2), with at the top stairs a white wooden door gave access to the back entrance door of her private family/living room.
The other side of the shower a small makeup area with a dark purple fluffy chair to the station table. Across from the makeup/hair station area was a floating vanity in a dark espresso, with wide dark espresso three shelves on either side of it.
The tub bath area, behind a curved wall covered in purple glass mosaic tiles, offers the bath area a cocoon design. And with the scented (vanilla) flameless candles (4) above the shelf gave the bath area peaceful, serenity atmosphere. The wall near the bath area, where the frosted glass sliding door entrance is, Angel was.
As Angel stepped fully into the bathroom, the ringing from the tablet went silent as Tora's fiancé Sorami Jergens Brown's face appeared on-screen, and displaying her wet chin-length honey brown hair, sticking to her red flush cheeks, told Angel the 32-year-old woman had either just finish showering or was just starting before she called.
Whatever the reason, Angel overlooked it as she watched the older woman start looking uneasy. Which the 15-year-old girl didn't understand the odd behavior. Of course, she's seen Sorami act this way around Karai in the past; after it became known Sorami was, in fact, the chairwoman of New York Times Company and Publisher of 'The New York Times'. But since Sorami's deep in love with Tora, she vowed herself to the Foot family, swearing work wouldn't interfere with her home life.
Nonetheless, it has been one month ago when Karai allowed Sorami to join the Foot's usual morning breakfast in the 'breakfast floor' on the 6th floor (under the 5th floor- where the main kitchen is) with the rest of the Foot ninja members.
But not only do every Foot member -within the tower- have breakfast there every morning. Its where Karai gave everybody's agenda for the day. And later Karai even hired Sorami's sister Pearl Brown as the main entrance reception to the building. As Angel shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She caught Sorami's uneasy look fading as the woman began socializing with her.
"Sorry it took long before answering, and I'm not Tora." Listening during Sorami's speaking. Angel study more her face expression, and picked up on Sorami's sky blue eyes kept avoiding her eyes.
"Sorami I'm not bothered with the long wait for someone picking up the line. Nor am I upset you picked up instead of Tora." Angel saw Sorami sigh in relief to this, though Angel acted she didn't notice, cause, for some reason, Tora's fiancé's cheeks were still flushed. "That said," Angel continued while putting on her business face Karai taught her. "I would like to know where he is and why he isn't answering his cell?" Sorami's cheeks became redder at the request.
"Well," Angel raised an eyebrow as she took Sorami becoming nervous as she's speaking. "since my week vacation starts today...Um..." Sorami's voice trail off where Angel had trouble hearing her.
"Can you speak up; I didn't hear you that well." She said, watching Sorami starting to laugh unsteady.
"Quick question first, before I repeat what I said."
"Sure, what is your question?" Angel asked, not sure where the older woman was going.
"Are you sexually acted?'" With that question, Angel almost drops the pad in her hand but caught herself. Then cleared her voice.
"I have no idea why you just asked that?!" She cleared her voice again. "But anyway, my answer is no I'm not having any kind of sex."
"Do know about sex?"
"Of course I do... But seriously. What brought this on?"
"Well, you see since you're still a teenager... I figured I wanted to be aware of it if you are or not educated on sex ed. Before I could finish our recent conversation."
"Ok... I guess?" Angel's still lost but didn't stop her from wanting the question answered.
"Yeah, well back to our conversation." Sorami began trying to forget what they were talking about just now, and from Angel's expression, she was more than happy to move on. "You see since I didn't have to go to work this morning I happily joined Tora's shower..." Now Angel knew why Sorami asked odd questions as her own face became warm. "which he's still taking-"
"So," Angel butted in, not wanting Sorami to finish. " how long do you think he'll be?" Forcing herself from laughing at the young girl's embarrassed and shy expression, Sorami tightened her bath towel around her wet lukewarm body.
"I would say... Less than 20 more minutes."
"Ok," Angel said. Chosen to take her shower after waking Karai. Angel thought, during waiting for Tora. She'd take care of oral hygiene. "Just have him call back once he's done." She added before taken her mouthwash from the mirror medicine cabinet above the sink. Getting an "ok" from Sorami, the young teen cut the call off before starting to brush her teeth...
…
3rd floor- awhile later after leaving Splinter's floor
Once stopping by the kitchen, telling Don of the invitation, and learning of Raph's actions. Mikey was pleased Don and April were talking again. And after Don accepting the offer, and April saying she'll join them. But will go when Master Splinter does, for she has things to do, before fronting Karai about her odd shopping spree at the shop. Mikey headed for the 3rd floor.
The entry hall is similar to Master Splinter's hall. Except the wall fountains' lights on the right were blue and orange on the left. And within the fountains are mounted Koi fishes, swimming up design, through the flowing water. The walkway flooring wasn't concrete, but bamboo. At the end of the hall, were two separate double metal automatic door. His and Leo's individual entrance door. The door, on the left, with an orange gloss finish was Mikey's. Whereas the right door, with a maple wood gloss finish, was Leo's.
Between the two doors, stood an oak wood table, in a brown espresso finish. Above the table hung horizontally a cherry wood frame mirror, with alongside it, two black square wall sconce with rice paper cover. While station upon the table, three wise monkeys made of volcanic stone from Bali. An item, along with others, April ordered online for Leo.
Approaching Leo's door, Mikey knocked. But after changing his knocks to banging and still getting the same response; nothing.
Mikey glance to the screen panel aside from the door, seeing the light on the screen was blue, meaning Leo was in his bedroom. He just wasn't answering. Knowing this, and believing that Leo was too deep in his sleep to hear him, Mikey decides to leave his brother to his sleep.
However, as Mikey turned to leave. He paused as he was reminded of why he had come to see Leo. And believing, whole heartily, that if he didn't tell his brother of the invitation. Leo would turn him into turtle shish-kabob. Mikey pressed the button under the screen on the panel and then stepped through the doorway once the double door slide open.
Entering Leo's half of the floor, Mikey felted he stepped into a Japanese bamboo forest.
The walling was wallpaper murals of a bamboo scenery; with the front wall in a mural of a wide realistic bamboo pathway with a scene of Mt. Fujiyama at the end of the pathway. The right and left side walls displayed more realistic looking green bamboo stem plants, that not only went with the front wall mural, but also continue to the ceiling in another mural showing the top of the bamboo plants stretching to the blue sky on the background of the mural. With on the ceiling a honey Japanese ceiling lamp, hanging in the center is the main lighting in the massive room.
Mikey's eyes shifted from the room to behind him as the entry door slid close automatically, revealing more wallpaper mural of green bamboo stem plants, blending with the entire room. Tatami covered the former concrete flooring. Outside the wallpaper scenery, the room's decorative as a dojo. Such as the few Japanese brush painting frames; hanging on the walls. In the front of the room's wall (with Mt. Fujiyama mural) was Yoshi's twin butterfly katanas. On the swords left side, a picture of the Ancient One and on the right side, a recent picture of Master Splinter. While above the swords was an old picture of Yoshi. All the frames were in brown.
Facing the wall is a meditation area; with a blue square zabuton, a long rectangle coffee table; with a carved jade Lotus flower and a Zing garden yin yang incense holder upon it.
Directly across the room from Mikey was a built-in-the-wall rectangle library nook. Inside the nook, on the side walls, was shelves filled with books. While a wall map covered the back wall, with under it a comfortable nap bed. Outside the nook were pulled back curtains in the same look the walling in the room has. However, the bamboo forest scenery walling wasn't on the back wall of the room. No instead a fusuma; with a printed graphics of a front traditional Japanese house. The rectangular wall panel offers Leo to split the room in two, as well as be a door. A sliding door giving access, in center of the panel, into Leo's sleeping room.
But due to the three-centimeter thickness of the panel wall (and door). Mikey couldn't hear sound through the other room. Thereby he knocked upon the door, just to get no response. Sighing to this, Mikey slide open the door, walking into the sleeping room.
Doorway to the next room is where the tatami ended. Its place was solid dark bamboo, with the walling showing a traditional inside Japanese house scenery. All the furniture's in a design of hand-carved gold bamboo dancing within an unseen wind with a black lacquered matte finish. Such as a sideboard, with the glass top surface, hold the sword stand which held Leo's double katana (that weren't there). These two pieces of furniture were on the left side of the room, near the doorway Mikey was still standing, with a black Shoji showing tall bamboo design. The Shoji is the door to Leo's private bathroom.
Since the turtle brothers aided each other in designing their bathrooms. Mikey knew each detail of his eldest brother's bathroom.
Most of the wallings in a strong but a relaxing grayish blue stone texture. But the glass walk-in 'sky' shower had sea-blue tile walling. Adding to the utilizing nine body sprays, steam shower and lighted overhead rain head, formed the shower area into a spa-experience feel for Leo after his heavy training sessions. Tucked within a corner, a large, with multicolored blue glass tiles, soaking tub was, offering Leo private area of relaxation.
"Oddly Raph has the same style tub too," Mikey said in afterthought. Though Raph's in red colors.
But blue textures weren't the only color to the bathroom. A compact vanity with sand-colored added a calm and peaceful feel, along with simple bamboo mirror above the vanity. Though the big saltwater tank –built in the grayish blue stone wall- stood out from the rest of the bathroom. By Leo's word, 'the Koi fish inside the tank complete the serene aura in my bathroom'. Said differently.
But beyond that and since Mikey's orange/brown color bathroom was on the other side of Leo's. Both turtles shared the fish tank through the wall, despite it gave a view of the other's bathroom. However, that's where the similarity of their bathroom ends. Cause Mikey, like Don, only has simply a two-one shower-tub; though Don's in white/purple.
To the right side of the doorway of the bedroom, was a desk w/chair, in the same design gold color bamboo, black background. Above the desk, on a gold leaf background within a lacquered wood frames, are four side-by-side Japanese poems.
Since the 3rd and 4th floor has access windows to the outside. Leo has a bamboo Shoji roll-up blind, shielding out sunlight from his window. Under the window stood a hand-painted grand imperial sofa chair w/ gold silk cushion.
Despite the blind hide the sunlight. Four 'Japanese-style Light Bamboo Wall Sconce'; on each of the wall, providing simple, subtle and beautifully crafted wall lighting, offered the room a soft ambient glow as well as also giving enough light to see around the room.
Completing the room, was the sleeping area. The same area Mikey can see his brother sleeping on his side with his shell-back facing him, on the black platform full-size bed. The turtle brothers have the same platform full-size bed, but unlike Leo; who kept the same design look on his bed. Mikey, Don, and Raph change their design by painting them with their own style décor.
Either side of the bed stood two black end tables with of course a rich clear lacquer finish. The right one held its glass top, a 'Sun Moon Yin and Yang' desk clock and Leo's shell-cell, and a Styrofoam manikin head wearing his blue bandana.
The left one, closer to the window and the sofa chair had a 'national tree cedar Bonsai in a rectangular dark brown plastic pot, and a wooden frame with a picture of Leo, his brothers, their father, April and Casey smiling for the shot. Above the bed were set of 4 decorative Japanese symbols 'kanji' wall plaques; 'Good Luck', 'Prosperity', 'Double Happiness' and 'Long Life', all carved from dried Rosewood, finished in a beautiful oriental black lacquer.
While Leo's sleeping atop of his Friday bed sheet set; creamy white silk soft leaf design embroidered. His usual navy blue/beige/gold Thai silk comforter was folded neatly onto a blanket trunk at the end of the bed. Laying on said the comforter, in a furry orange ball, was Mikey's little cat, Klunk, purring in his sleep.
Once the floors were made into the Hamato family's bedroom floors. Don redo the in-ventilation throughout the lair. And with Leatherhead's help, made air ventilation throughout the lair and even put in heated flooring. And with only cooling coming through the vents, Klunk started using the vent system to get around the lair, and allowing him to get into everybody's bedroom floor. Although Klunk became fonder staying in Mikey's bedroom. He became comfortable with Leo's bedroom, mostly after Angel went missing and Mikey stayed to himself inside Splinter's floor.
So unsurprised seeing his cat here, Mikey gave out a slight chuckle. Which Klunk raised his head to the sound, ending his nap. Seeing this, Mikey approached his cat, scratched its ear as it started stretching, before jumping on his shoulder, brushing its head against his face.
"I guess you came here when I left my bedroom." With a "meow" as his answer, Mikey gently places Klunk down at his feet, so he could wake Leo as he reaches a hand to shake his shoulder.
However, once getting closer to his oldest brother, Mikey froze with his hand hovering over Leo's shoulder when he heard Leo groaning in his sleep. Although if it was painful groans he wouldn't have a pause in actions. But pleasure groans reaching his ears, had Mikey stopping in his tracks. Basically, these groans told Mikey his brother's actually having a wet dream. A habit Mikey and his other brothers have plenty of them. But Leo having one was unheard of.
This unexpected event left Mikey unsure how to handle it. Especially when it been Leo who always woke either Mikey or the other turtles from their 'wet dream' before Master Splinter would do it; an awkward scene Mikey never wanted to have with his father.
But, regardless Mikey had no clue what to do, apparently, Klunk did. So while Mikey's stump in waking Leo without ending up toss to the wall or worst a substitute 'lover'(o_O). His orange fur ball jumps onto the bed, climbing to Leo's side shoulder, before bringing its brush-like tongue to the side of Leo's sweaty forehead. Klunk kept this up until Leo's groans stopped as he turned on his back, leaving Klunk now on the turtle's chest. However, right after Leo return to groaning, but now moaning Karai's name, Klunk restarted brushing his tongue against Leo's forehead.
"Hey bro, rise and shine!" Mikey, noticing what Klunk's doing, starts shouting Leo to wake up (at a far distance from the bed). And while he did, Klunk continued licking Leo's forehead but now he's brushing his tongue between the turtle's eyes. Doing this showed Leo was actually shutting his eyes tighter as if he was trying to stay asleep. "Come on bro, get up!" Getting a little brave, Mikey stepped back to the bed, shaking his brother as Klunk pulled back and just sat on Leo's torso, watching Mikey started getting Leo to wake.
Unsure how long his owner was shouting and shaking his brother. But as soon as Klunk saw those shut eyelids raise up to show chocolate eyes, Klunk, a second later, found its body flying into the air and was more blessed to be a cat, for when it's unexpected flying trip ended. Klunk landed safely on his feet near the bedroom door. But instead of running out of the room, as he should, Klunk heard his owner's brother's voice.
"Oh Klunk, I didn't mean to do that. Are you ok?"
When Leonardo came out of his 'dream', he had heard Mikey calling to him. But unfortunately, since he didn't fall asleep normally. He was shot out of his mind leading his body jumping in a jolt, causing dear old Klunk to be catapult off Leo's chest. Knowing Leo wouldn't really ever hurt him, Klunk made his way back over to the bed and jumped on to Leo's lap. Where Leo started petting Klunk's back, making happy purrs leave the cat's lips. With Klunk forgiving his brother, Mikey was aware, with light coming through the blinds, Leo was, in fact, sweating all over. And with a quick glance at the bedding, he saw it was also wet.
"Shell, must been an intense dream." Not realizing he spoke this out loud, Mikey didn't notice Leo moving his attention from Klunk to him.
"Mikey, how long have you been here?" Hearing the straight question from his oldest brother caused Mikey to break out of his 'inside thoughts', speaking in a weary voice.
"Awhile." Not responding back yet, Leo pat Klunk's head, then gently moved him from his lap. Blinking his eyes a few times, Leo turned aware eyes to Mikey, while getting off the bed.
"And while you were here, did I speak in my sleep?" Letting Klunk hop on to his shoulder, Mikey answered.
"Well, kind of... It was more like moaning than speaking."
"I see." Fully awake, Leo found he's sweaty, but for some reason felt refresh and not tired. Him noticing this, him, Mikey or Klunk didn't see his swords appear, out of thin air, to rest back on the sword stand.
"But tell me, why you're in my room or woke me up..." Leo paused to take in the time from his desk clock, only a moment later wide his eyes before narrowing them towards Mikey. "After only two hours of sleep? Is Master Splinter having early training for us?"
"Not really. I mean Master Splinter sent me to wake you, but not for training. It's a breakfast invitation." This had Leo's narrowing eyes replace with puzzle ones, looking away from his brother.
"Breakfast invitation?" Mikey nodded, as Leo's heading toward his bathroom.
"Yeah, from the Foot..." When he said the Foot, Leo halts a second from the doorway of the bathroom. Making a smirk cross over Mikey's lips. "Or more importantly Karai." Mikey's smirk didn't drop as he saw Leo blush after he said Karai's name. "The invitation has something to do with Master Splinter taking an offer from the Ancient One-" Leo's whole body froze up as he let his mind recall Karai informing him about the same offer.
"So, father accepted the offer." Clearly, his voice was stating, not asking.
"Right, that's why we're invited to have breakfast with them. And Tora will be here to..." As Mikey was going over the details of the invitation. Leo went through his head about the offer. An offer meaning Master Splinter's taken the Ancient One's place as the secret member of the Foot, including being one of the Foot's teacher. Something causing him hating himself because he was so high on Karai earlier. He didn't think over the offer. But now going over it, Leo's unsure how to feel. However, when Mikey finished speaking, he tried to linger Leo into telling about his 'wet' dream in detail. Therefore, Leo kicks Mikey out of his room, saying, "Somethings even brothers don't need to share."
Leading to Mikey finding himself outside Leo's main door. Thereby, once dropping Klunk off in the kitchen to eat, Mikey went to his room, to clean up, before calling Angel.
…
5 minutes later in Foot's headquarter; Angel's floor
Done in the bathroom, Angel left her private living quarters, going through the shoji screen doors within the wardrobe/sewing room. To enter into a beige hallway with artwork covering the walls.
Firstly, as Angel designed the layout of her floor. Which use to be Karai's full floor dojo/weapon station. She didn't think dividing rooms and spaces in it. But Karai convinced her to with stating, 'everybody needs privacy even in their own home'. Where Angel's glad she took Karai's advice to enclosed her bedroom, wardrobe room, master bathroom and living room from the rest of her floor's quarters. Because once she made friends at Pur'ell, she had hangouts and sleepovers back to back.
Angel continued on her path, bypass dark color French doors, that lead into the private living room. And although Angel keeps the doors locked at all time. Thanks to the door within the master bathroom, gave only Angel access into the room. Reaching the edge of the hallway to enter into a wide-open great hall upon the floor. At the end of this great hall, was the elevator entry door.
To Angel's right, where an arch-doorway stood, housed Angel's kitchen room. A kitchen's décor made to look similar to her grandmother's kitchen. Although Angel hasn't inherited her grandmother's cooking skills. The 'GE Monogram appliances made it easy for someone like Angel to make simple things to eat. Even if it's just a sandwich.
Outside the kitchen nearby, three dark wooden platform steps led into an open space made into a modern/retro dining room with half-windows for the background of the dining room. Also inside the open dining room, a white door entry into a traditional/modern powder room (sink and toilet).
Passing the dining room, further down the hall was a red-wooden door/w center Asian detail round glass, which the door gave access to the staircase leading to the only way up to Karai's private living quarters (not counting the passageway through her private office). The door wasn't too far from the elevator entry.
On the left side, opposite of the open dining room. Stood a wide doorway, to the great/bar/conversation room; where Angel mostly has her hangouts or sleepovers in. A room she designed into a modern style. While beyond the great room, are two guest rooms with a full Asian/modern guest bathroom between the rooms.
And being Angel shares talent of painting like Karai. Angel helped Karai brush paint serval wall mural, mostly the door to her private office. Thereby once Angel told Karai of a dream she had, of her being a yellowish pink/white cheetah with glowing orange/brown eyes, within a wild jungle. Her sister told her the cheetah is her animal avatar spirit. Leading to, with Karai helping on the colorful jungle, Angel painted the cheetah on the wall, across the only windows within the great/conversation room.
Taken the access door, Angel left her floor for Karai's. It was here as she took to the staircase, Tora called back.
"Forgive me, for making you wait," Tora said with his usual black/brown ponytail hairstyle down, fell over his back like a black river.
Angel shook her head to his words. "No need," she began while continuing her way to her sister's private living quarters. "I just wanted to see if you are able to pick up Mikey, Leo, and Don and bring them here to join our morning breakfast as we welcome them as our allies."
"I can do that, but what about Master Splinter and Raphael-san?"
"Once dropping off the guys. I need you to go back to pick up Master Splinter when the breakfast is ready. As for Raph, he's not coming."
"I see..."
Not glancing down at pad to see Tora's expression. Angel opened a look-alike door to the access one for the staircase. Leaving the staircase into Karai's front entrance. Which is a Japanese décor Zen garden?
"Might be unsurprised of Raphael-san's stubbornness since Joi said he won't be 'on board' in the beginning. But as I said. I'll be more than happy to escort them to the tower. To be honest I was getting tired of leaving them in the dark of everything." Angel agreed entirely while waving through the garden.
Thanks to the Utroms's technology, the indoor garden's real from the grassy flooring, to the few dark red plum trees and fiery red Japanese maple trees that with their leaves contrasts perfectly with the lavender specs on the stone pathway steps in the entryway.
Angel knew gardens are a good place to plant symbolism and with the meditation part of Karai's garden having a red/brown winding stone pathway heading to a Buddha statue resting in the center to a koi pond with complete custom-built wood benches, surrounded around small white river pebbles, facing it. Gave the whole garden a peaceful and natural atmosphere to it.
At the end of the main stone pathway steps was a Japanese style door; in dark redwood with a green circle/w an upside down Foot symbol in the center of the circle of the door. There were shoji fixed screen panels on either side this door.
"I know, I felt the same way," Angel replied to Tora, before opening, entering through the door.
Having her enter the genken (space just inside the door), with cement material as the walkway in the entrance garden. Therefore, Angel pause here and despite only wearing her slippers removed them and place them in front of a full-size wooden level step that marks the border between 'inside and 'outside', then she took some personal 'indoor' slippers from a wooden freestanding cabinet on the level step against the wall. Before allowing herself to continue on while finishing her call with Tora, as she came up to a plane fusuma leading into Karai's first living quarter.
"Before we end this call, can you tell Mikey to come to my floor, and Leo also. I'll have the elevator system up and ready for them, so all they have to do is tell the elevator their names and it will do the rest."
"I'll make sure to do that. I'm also going to call Joi, seeing if she's already 'talked' with Raphael-san."
"She probably has. But it doesn't hurt to make sure. Oh yeah? Is Sorami coming to breakfast?"
"I'm sure, but let me ask first." Waiting for Tora's answer, Angel didn't even bat an eye at the first room she came to, which was a washitsu (literally 'Japanese room') with tatami floors, a low table, also a kotatsu (a traditional heated, foot-warming table), surrounded by zabuton, and a tokonoma (decorative alcove) that are simple and elegant vase of arranged flowers. It goes without saying the atmosphere of the washitsu is very much a traditional Japanese one.
Still not paying much attention of the room, Angel went through another fusuma displaying only the Foot's symbol on it, but like the front door, also had the symbol upside down.
"No. Since she's been too busy these few months. She's going out to eat breakfast with Pearl, to have some 'sister time'." Tora explained, coming back on screen, making Angel pause in place, answering.
"Oh, that's too bad. Well, tell her I said 'have a great time'."
"Will do. I should get going."
"Ok, and thanks for doing this for us. Oh and one more thing."
"Yeah?"
"Do you have your travel bracelet on or with you?"
"I do. It's the fastest way to get around without getting stuck in traffic. But why do you want to know?"
"Cause that's how you going to pick up Mikey and the others, by using the device."
"But I don't have the coordination to their lair programmed in my bracelet-"
"Of course you don't. Cause their location area is Professor Leatherhead's department. But just for this time. He's allowing you to use his locations. So get ready cause I'm sending you the private code to your mobile pad." And Angel was doing just that, as she was speaking. "And once you're bringing them, answer all they're questions, cause I know Mikey's going to ask 100 of them."
"Not a problem, I'm used to Michelangelo-san's ways. But I'll answer their questions if I can. Well, I better get going, breakfast won't stay on hold forever." Angel laugh at this.
"Yeah, you're right. Thanks again for this, from both me and Karai." Ended the call there. Angel pressed a button on the side of the pad, where the pad starts shrinking until its small enough to fit in her robe's pocket. Angel left the washitsu room behind and stepped into an Asian modern style living quarter; family/living/entertainment room.
Not counting the floor-to-ceiling glass windows in this room. The family/living/entertainment room had red walls; symbolic of good luck in Asian tradition. U-shape neutral furniture sectional sofa with built-in side tables sit above a silk handmade 'Cha-Cha rug. The coffee table in the room has beautiful wedge wood finish within the center of the table, in a rectangular shape, under glass was 'Cebu' river rocks. With two wooden river rock lamp tables that had blue and white temple jar lamp/w silk shade, matching the coffee table as well match the glass Bonsai tree centerpiece resting on the coffee table.
A Venetian Plaster fireplace wall, holding a mounted screen TV above it, was faced the family/living/entertainment room, with a circular shape drum table facing it. Most of the lighting came from the honey Kata Japanese ceiling lamp, attached to the low ceiling in the area. There was even an antique Asian round mirror on the red wall behind the sofa and, all the television equipment, CDs and DVDs stored in a dark-stained floor-to-ceiling cabinet that went well with the rest of the wooden furniture in the room.
All in all, the family/living/entertainment room wasn't too big or too small but fit everything without cluttering the space.
Another shoji screen door was also in this room, but this screen door was further back in the room. Leading to Karai's kitchen/dining room. However, Angel eying the solid wood treads spiral stairs with black railings; that went into Karai's second level of her living quarters. Her master bedroom.
Took to the spiral stairs, only to come through the opening into Karai's bedroom floor.
The bedroom was enormous in size. Thanks to the hologram coating the building since the rebuilt of the tower, kept others from seeing inside the ceiling-to-floor windows of the room.
The room's focus was the furniture piece in the center of the bedroom; a king size 'floating platform bed/w night shelves', in a brown espresso finish. Colors going well with the beige/gray walling, and the light wooden –heated- flooring.
The computer monitor mounted to the wall behind Angel and above two wide shoji doors. Allowed Karai control/watch the headquarter tower and able to keep in touch with the Japan Foot headquarter base. Only two members –within the tower- had access to reach her through the computer. The Foot tech division head scientist and second in command; Dr. James Chaplin and Professor Leatherhead. Fortunately, the first no longer had access to the computer.
Under the computer screen and between the two shoji doors, Angel could still see the daybed. That used to be her former sleeping space in Karai's room while waiting on her floor to be modeled into her own private living quarters.
She's touched it still had all its bedding still covering it neatly as if she was still sleeping in it.
The shoji door to the daybed's left was Karai's weaponry room, along giving access into Karai's private office. While the door on the daybed's right. Is Karai's Asian master luxurious wardrobe room.
"Oh, rise a shine Onee!" Shouted Angel, while going to the floating bed. Only a second later, pause at the side of the bed in shock. For she found Karai's bedding, -with the design of a detailed embroidered Shantung floral pattern in shades of spring green-, on her bed was made, but unfortunately meant Karai was up and gone. But to where Angel wasn't sure?
Choosing to look in the master bathroom behind the shoji screen door on the right side of the room. Angel slide it open, walking in, looking around.
The master bathroom featured warm, gray-tinted Venetian plaster walls, a bamboo towel ladder adding a hint of Asian spice. Behind some glass doors, were a Japanese tub and shower to make up a wet room. A frosted glass door, parallel the room on the other side to hide the toilet room. And to complete the room was a gray, Eco-friendly veneer, a LACAVA sink and folded white towels that gave the room a spa-like feeling.
The bathroom was nice and Angel loves her sister's taste, but she would be happier if her sister would appear.
"Now if I was my Onee. Where would I be right now?" She thought to herself but spoke out loud.
"She would be right behind you." Hearing that, Angel whipped her head around to find Karai behind her, in the doorway of the bathroom, leaning against it with her ankle crossed over the other one. She's wearing a green mint/white cami and boy short/w side slits set with a thigh-length pink kimono, she had a blow dryer in one hand and a gold color ribbon in the other. Not saying anything more, Karai stepped out of the bathroom doorway, re-entering her room, turning back on the blow dryer, to finish drying her hair.
"How long have you been awake?" Angel wanted to know why she had to come and awaken, her sister if she was going to wake up early. But decide against it at the last minute, as she sat on the daybed, waiting for Karai's respond. Karai, on the other hand, stayed quiet a little longer as she continued drying her hair.
"I've been up for about 25 minutes so far." With her hair dry, Karai stepped up to a wall near the bathroom's shoji door, that opened up to showing a custom made dresser station, where Karai place the hair dryer in its slot holder, grabbed her brush resting on the station's top surface, and looking in the attach mirror to the dresser, started brushing her hair. "Since you didn't have to wake me up. Why don't you tell me what you got done with the assignments?" She suggested while taking the ribbon in her hand, putting up her hair in a long high ponytail upon her head. As Karai left her dresser, the wall hid the dresser area once again, as Angel started speaking.
"I called the main kitchen and gave them a new menu as you asked. But unfortunately, breakfast will be a delay, cause the kitchen staff had to pick up a few things on the menu." Karai nodded to this, walked to her wardrobe's shoji screen door, opening it. As she stepped into her Asian luxuries wardrobe room; resembling a spacious high-end boutique with custom cherry cabinetry (to add elegant look), she kept the door open so her sister would hear her.
"I'm not surprise, most of the ingredients that go to the menu, our kitchens don't carry. But with the Japan teachers joining the America Foot's base, today I wanted to serve both breakfasts, so our members could choose from which breakfast style they want…"
Slipping on her slippers and taking off a gold color obi belt from the wardrobe's belt hook section, Karai was tying it around her short kimono as she was re-entering her bedroom, while still carrying on with her and Angel's conversation.
"Especially Master Splinter taking the offer to become the head teacher of the Foot-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Angel suddenly said, jumping off the daybed, cutting Karai off. "How do you know about Splinter's decision to join? I didn't even get that far into telling you that, so how did you know?" Karai hiding a smile, look at her sister's puzzled expression.
"Oh that's easy." she begun, walking over to the ceiling-to-floor windows. "Before I woke up, I had a visit from Master Oroku. Who told me Master Splinter had agreed to the offer." Karai watched and bathed in the sun's light. She never felt this good about where her life was going, especially when a blue bandana wearing mutant teenage turtle turned avatar dragon with deep chocolate-brown eyes started surfacing to the front of her mind. "Now that explained, please continue what is already done." As Karai said this last part, she turned from the windows to her sister, who unknown to her, noticed her older sister's cheeks becoming rosy, however, Angel kept this to herself as she went back to her finish assignments.
"Since you're aware of Master Splinter's choice, I can say that now I know Mikey is coming once Tora picks him up. And I'm sure," Mischief filled Angel's eyes as she stared Karai's way, smirking at her big sister's face as her rosy cheeks become darker. "Leonardo is coming also." If Angel thought her sister's face couldn't become more flushed she was wrong.
Knowing she's blushing up a storm, Karai quickly turned her face from Angel's curious eyes, staring back outside her windows. "I'm glad to hear two of Master Splinter's sons are joining us for breakfast." Clearing her throat, making sure her face wasn't still warm, Karai with a content expression moved a little from the windows. "But do you know if his other sons are coming to the honorable banquet that's for them as well as Master Splinter and the Japan teachers."
"Yeah," Angel begun, rubbing the back of her head. "well see, that's the thing. I had to call Tora to see if he'll be able to escort Master Splinter and his sons here, so I had to end my call with Mikey-"
"Oh, I bet you hated doing that..." Karai threw in with teasing in each word, followed by Angel playfully sticking out her tongue at her. It wasn't a lie Karai knows about Angel's affection for the goofball mutant ninja turtle. Mostly when Angel realized her deep feeling for him, it been Karai's arms she cried in for being so slow to see what was in front of her. Which also had Karai revealing romantic feelings for Leonardo. And with both knowing this, their sister bond became stronger if not unbreakable. However, that didn't stop each other from teasing the other about they're 'turtle passion'.
"Anyway," Angel went on, acting like Karai didn't say a word to her just now. Which had Karai, snickering to herself at Angel's blushing face. "As I was saying, Tora agreed to pick them up, and since the breakfast is going to be a delay. Tora will go back and get Master Splinter, after dropping the guys off here, cause Master Splinter wanted to do his usual morning meditation, before coming here."
"That makes sense," Karai said with teasing forgotten about. "Did you give Tora the passcode for his travel bracelet?"
"Yeah, I did that also." Angel began turning for the spiral stair built-in the bedroom floor. "Well, I better go get ready as well as wait for Mikey to call." She just got to the start of the stairs, when she paused, looking back to her sister. "But before I go. I got to ask you something."
"Ok, what is it?"
"You remember when you told me everything has a reason for happening no matter what it may be? Cause fate and destiny are the drivers to all our meaning, emotions and life... Or something like that?"
"Yes, I believe I said 'something' like that to you. But pray to tell why are you asking?" Karai said, wanting to know where Angel was going with this.
"Well if that's true. Does that mean love or..." Angel blushed again. "…True eternal love. Are also part of fate or destiny, that it's these two who pick who we're meant for?" Karai had the words on her lips and was going to say yes. But then, as her mind brought those brown chocolate orbs to the surface once again and her heart began racing, while warmth crept to her cheeks as her hand laid against her chest, where her heart was. Karai knew if fate and destiny were truly involved then she wouldn't be feeling like she could fly at any minute. No those two things she believed held her life and her meaning, did not hold what she was feeling. "Angel," Karai in a soft voice, walked across the room to her sister, who had lowered her head when Karai went quiet, but now was looking at her with sister love and fear.
Fear of what her answer would be. Which showed Karai, she's glad she took the time to think over her words before speaking. "Oh, my dear Imoto," hearing Karai calls her 'little sister' in Japanese while opening her arms to her. Angel fell into her sister's arms hiding her face in Karai's chest, as Karai started brushing her hair with her hand. "forget about what I said, for I'm learning love or any love, stands on its own." Moving back a little from Karai to see her face, Angel allowed her sister to brush her wet tears from her eyes as she spoke.
"I don't understand?" Karai gave a nod, showing Angel she wanted her to go on, so she did. "Are you saying that fate and destiny have no control over who we fall in love with?"
"Yes, that is what I'm saying."
"But how is that? Isn't love an emotion, feeling and doesn't it give us meaning as well as life?"
"Well yes, it does."
"Then why did you say it stands on its own, if it's like emotions, feeling, meaning and life. Who you said controls by both fate and destiny." Angel explained, making herself more lost. Seeing how confused Angel was coming. Karai decided to take another angle with it.
"Let's think of it another way. For example, take my feelings for my father. Yes, he's bad, cruel and evil. However, it doesn't stop me from loving him as my father. No matter how much I was against everything he was."
Karai saw a little understanding appear on Angel's face but she was still looking lost. Therefore, Karai tried another example.
"Okay seeing you're still unsure, I'll try another example. Like for instance," Angel watches Karai's milky skin cheeks become, for the third time, rosy red. "me and Leo." Karai knew she's blushing but carried on speaking. "I was forbidden by the Ninja Tribunal and my father, to keep my distance from Leo. But though many held my life in they're hands." A smile slowly graced Karai's lips, this Angel noticed. "I did not listen, for there was something about Hamato Leonardo had me drawled to him. And the more I saw him and got to know him. The more I fell in love with him. And it was my love for Leo had me many times going behind my masters to keep seeing him." As the smiling bit by bit left Karai's lips, a frown took its place. "Unfortunately the Ninja Tribunal didn't approve of my disobeying them, especially when Master Oroku brought it to their attention after they got wind of my secret meetings with Leo. Telling them, if I had met Leo early in life, before meeting the Tribunal. I would refuse to help them in treating the turtles the way I did. Cause my heart wouldn't let me hurt Leo or any of his loved ones. And Master Oroku was right, I would have walked away to it all." Karai closed her eyes, fighting from crying.
"Onee..." Was all Angel could get out of her shock mouth. And as Angel's taken-back tone of voice reaches Karai's ears. The Foot's leader rose to her feet, holding her arms, made her way until she stopped in the middle of the room close to her bed.
"Imoto," Karai turned back to Angel who hasn't moved from her place near the stairs. "If love was controlled by fate, then I would be madly in love with someone of my own kind." Angel gasp at this statement but nothing else, while Karai went on, for she was far from over. "If love was controlled by destiny, then I wouldn't be doing everything in my power to be with him and make him happy. Even when I know from Master Splinter, I won't be able to have any children with Leo, for him and his brothers can't or able to help make babies."
With her hands on either side of her head, shutting her eyes, Karai pushed her pain down, but sadly she was slowly losing that fight. "Or I'm passionately, deeply devoted to a mutant turtle instead of a human being!" That did it for Karai. As her hands drop to her side, so did the tears from her face. Which fortunately for Karai. Angel crossed the floor to reach her when she started breaking down, which Karai was surprised when she felt Angel hugging her. But it wasn't long until she was over her surprise that she hugged Angel back while crying in her hair.
Might look odd to witness someone as powerful as Oroku Karai turned into a bubbling mess to an outsider. But Angel like a hand full of others knew the powerful person that's Karai pretends to be out in public. Is not her. The woman who just had a breakdown, that's the true Oroku Karai. And knowing Karai trust her enough to let her see her true self. Made Angel hug the older woman more.
"I believe I understand now." The teen girl spoke up once she and Karai were sitting on Karai's bed.
"You do?" Karai asked, using a tissue to dry her eyes as she began to calm her tears.
"I think so," Angel said, going in thought while speaking out loud to Karai about her thoughts. "You're saying love stands alone cause it's stronger and powerful than both fate or destiny. And love controls not only your heart. But also," Karai silently, watched Angel rose a hand to her chest over her heart. "the body, mind and even one's soul."
The older woman let her smile return to her face as she was seeing Angel was indeed understanding her meaning. "Cause though we live and die. Love does neither for love is just there. But it's the most amazing feeling, as well as give you many emotions taken over you. Such as scared, happy, sad and even anger. Love gives everyone the strength to live or the pain to die. Love does truly stand alone to a point." Karai raised her brow, trying to see where her sister was going with this part, which she didn't have to wait. "Though love can't be controlled or have a reason why it's there, it does, however, need to be a part of these things that make it love." Karai was impressed with Angel's words and how she used them.
"That is true..." Karai leaned back, with her hands supporting her up, on her bed. "My Imoto. You are becoming more in tune, deep and insightful with your thoughts and words then you did when I took you as my sister. I'm very impressed."
"Thank you, Onee. But it was my grandmother's last words, she whispered to me, that's made me truly believe in myself."
"Oh, and what, if you don't mind sharing, were her words?"
"She said I should never doubt myself for she believed full heartily that I'm meant for great things..." Angel trailed off a second before going on. "She also said when I fall in love I should hold on to that love, for it will be true eternal love that many are not that lucky to find or have." Angel smiled to Karai who couldn't help smiling back at her. "It wasn't until the week after her funeral that I realized she was talking about Mikey." Angel giggled, blushing proudly. "So if I want to get the courage to tell Mikey how I feel, then I can't doubt myself no matter what. I can't let my grandmother down in believing in me."
"I must say Amy really was a wise elder. And I know she, like myself, is very proud of the young woman you're becoming." Saying that Karai leans over to Angel and kissed her head in sister love. "I hate the things that you've been through. But I'm very honored and happy to have you as my Imoto, Angel."
Both sisters hugged one another, "And I'm overjoyed to have you as my Onee, Karai." As Karai kissed the top of Angel's head again. Her cell, resting on the built-in bed stand, begun ringing. Giving her one more smile, Karai pick up her cell, and started talking.
"Hello... Oh Joi, how are you this morning?... Really? Oh, sure you can miss 'the breakfast'... No that's fine. I rather you be there when he needs you, then not. …..." As Karai was listening to Joi speaking on the line. She quickly turned her head to Angel, as an unknown song came from the pocket of Angel's robe.
HEY MICKEY
You're so fine
You're so fine
You blow my mind
Hey Mickey!
Hey Mickey!
Karai watched in quiet amusement as Angel quickly shot off the bed, pulling out her pad, unshrinking it, answering the 'caller', leaving the room by going down the spiral stairs. Shaking her head, Karai holding her laughter in gave her full attention back to her conversation with Joi.
"No, that was a ringtone from Angel's computer pad... Yes, I'm sure that ringtone was without a doubt Michelangelo's ringtone. …...It is cute and sweet. Oh, ok. Then I'll see you tonight or tomorrow, cause I'm telling everybody at breakfast that they have the day off. …... Oh! Well, I hope things go well with you and Raph and your talk with him-..." Karai's eyes went wide as they can get. "You and he did!? But how?!" She was blinking her eyes now, trying to find her voice. "Yes, that does sound exciting... It tastes like what!?" Mischief, as well as lust, filled Karai's emerald green eyes. "Oh I'm very interested," Karai got off her bed and started leaving her bedroom. "Now tell me more about they're 'turtle soup' cause I'm all ears."
To Be Continued.
