Okay guys here's a heads up! This chapter is more like a filler because I didn't want the story to end so quickly. Also, this chapter is mainly Splinter-centric and Raph-centric! Thanks for the reviews and the suggestions, I will see if they can fit in the story! To be honest i didn't think this story would last this long. Here's the reminder if you need it (The first letter is the name of the real person and the second letter is the body they are in now).
**Reminder**
~L-M
~M-R
~R- D
~D-L
~A-S
~S-A
Disclaimer: I own nothing of TMNT!
(A/N: I'm using their real names in this chapter since so many people switched bodies)
April handed Splinter her knapsack after she finished explaining how to solve some Geometry problems. He slid his arms through the strap holes, receiving an encouraging thumbs up from April. Smiling back weakly, he headed for the lair entrance. "Farewell my sons, behave yourselves," he reminded as he pushed past the turnstiles. Mikey finished scarfing down his pizza slice. "Okay mom-I mean April, er, Master Splinter," he answered feeling a bit awkward.
Splinter tried remembering the directions that April gave him earlier since he had never been to Murakami's restaurant. All he could recall was something about turning right once he left the manhole, then keep going straight until he sees the second traffic light and make a left. He sighed. He didn't know how to feel right now. For years he had dreamt about becoming a human again but not in this...form. Spending fifteen years as a mutant rat was difficult to cope with and now he had to adjust to being human again. "If anyone ever asked him for his back story they would've thought he pulled it from a cartoon," he thought. He climbed up the ladder followed by him removing the lid. After cealing the manhole he stood up, taking in the smells, sights and sounds of the city. It felt good to finally get out of the sewers for a reason other than facing his archenemy, the Shredder.
The scenery was beautiful. The best part was watching people casually wave or walk past him without running away or screaming in horror. Nothing could interfere with his gaping in amazement, well, except for the itching sensation on the back of his leg. He brushed it off and continued down his path.
"Hey Red!" Yelled a familiar voice, bringing him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Casey Jones waving, beckoning him with one hand. He had reached Murakami's already? That went by faster than he expected. Splinter stared at the beaming child at a loss for words. What should he say? How would April say it? He tried thinking about all the ways he heard teenagers greet eachother on television.
"What is up Casey...my main man?" Ugh he sounded ridiculous.
"Nothing much, so do you wanna order some of that pizza gyoza stuff I heard the guys talk about? It's my treat."
Splinter felt that strange itching sensation on the back of his leg again. "Um, sure?"
Casey glanced down and smirked. "I don't have to pay for your friend too, right?" He asked while pointing at Splinter's leg.
With a confused expression, Splinter copied the boy's action. Unbeknownst to him, a cat had followed him all the way there. He nearly jumped back five feet, forgetting everything about his ninja skills/training. Casey laughed out loud making Splinter sigh in humiliation.
His laughter slowly subsided. "I never knew you had fear of cats."
"It...just startled me," Splinter replied, once he started breathing normaly.
Casey looked away as if contemplating on something. "I would've never guessed by the way you handled the cat you gave Mikey."
Splinter rubbed the back of his neck, "Well...I...um..."
Casey placed a comforting hand on the other's shoulder. "I get it. You just didn't want that know-it-all Irma finding out." Casey ussured Splinter into the restaurant. "No need to lie, but I've gotta say you've got guts for fighting against your fear. I would never stand within two feet of a rat with their fleas and their pointy teeth. They shed and carry a bunch of gross diseases. There's even an estimated amount of seventy million rats running around the sewers and sometimes the moms will eat their young when-"
"Okay Jones." Splinter interupted, taking slight offense to the boy's words since he was a rat before.
They sat on the stools in front of the counter while Casey placed their order. Splinter took the textbook out of the bag so he could review some Geometry concepts before he started tutoring. His mouth nearly hit the floor when he saw the equations, formulas, words and numbers. He hadn't seen this kind of stuff in ages.
"What's the matter Red? You look a little pale."
Splinter tried to reassure himself. "It's okay. Everything will be fine," he thought. "All you have to do is remember that the letters beside the numbers are exponents and the small numbers above the letters are variables..."
OooOooO
Raph strutted out of his room after waking up from his well-deserved nap. He stretched his arms above his head until he heard a pop. Surprisingly, the living room was empty with the exception of a certain ginger. She continuously scribbled something down in her notebook without acknowledging his appearance. For some strange reason his stomach flipped in her presence. "Hey April, where are the guys?" He asked. April glanced up upon realizing someone else had entered the room. She resumed scribbling in her notebook. "Out." She answered simply. "They're looking for parts that Donnie can use so he can reverse the effects of the Kraang device."
"You'd think they'd take me along with them," Raph muttered.
Raph headed for the kitchen. Stopping abruptly, he did a double take. "Wait! When-how did you change back into your old body?!" He asked, feeling stupid for not noticing it earlier.
"I was wondering when you were going to ask that." She smirked. "Anyways, when Master Splinter came back from the tutoring session we miraculously switched bodies just like that! Donnie said it might be temporary so he would study the machine a little more. A few minutes passed and he asked for Leo and Mikey to join him topside." She explained nonchalantly.
Raph shrugged, it wasn't like it was any weirder than what they've been through already. He grabbed a soda from the fridge and headed back for the living room. The television screen showed two boxers punching eachother. "Never took you as a boxing fan."
"I wasn't really watching it," she replied.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Not at all."
Raph could've sworn he saw a slight blush in her cheeks when he sat down beside her. They sat in silence for a few minutes until the program went into a commercial. April shifted in her seat. "Hey can we talk?" She asked.
He shrugged like it was no big deal. "Knock yourself out."
April hesitated before speaking. "Let's say I've had a crush on someone for awhile and I don't know how to tell them. I know you're not the person people normally go to for romatic advice but what do you think I should do?" She refrained from using eye contact during her explanation.
Now it was Raph's turn to feel nervous. He sheepishly rubbed the back his neck. "Well, like you said I'm not the romantic type but I guess you should atleast tell the guy how you feel or whatever and if he rejects you I'll be there to shove my sai up his-"
"What if I said it was you." April interupted.
Raph froze. Had he heard her correctly? Did she just admit that she loved him? He glanced at her, waiting for her to start laughing and say something like "Gotcha!" or "I'm just kidding". Instead he saw her cheeks turn bright red. Wow, she looked kind of cute when she flushed. Wait did he just say she looked cute?! Great now he's delusional! Everyone knows it's Donnie that has the crush on April not him! Though he can see why Donnie likes her with those adorable freckles on her cheeks...ugh what was he saying?!
Raph didn't realize that April had scooted closer towards him. He could feel the heat rise in his cheeks when she rested her head on his shoulder. She tilted her head upward so she could look into his eyes. She had big beautiful blue eyes...
April used her index finger and thumb to gently turn his head so that he faced her. She closed her eyes and puckered her lips, leaning in towards him...
Raph shot up out of his bed in a cold sweat. A dream! It was just a dream!
OooOooO
Leo, April and Mikey sat in the kitchen discussing plans for later until Raph barged in. He was out of breath and still shaken up from the dream. "Raph, what's wrong?!" Leo asked, beginning to worry as well.
"Guys I just had one of the craziest dreams! Well, nightmare actually!" He practically yelled.
"...about?"
"APRIL!"
"Ha ha! Raph's totally fallen for April!" Mikey taunted.
"I have not!"
"Yes you have and now you wanna make out with her!"
"I'm still here guys." April sighed.
"Oh sorry April but you might want to stay away from Raph for awhile before he gets any ideas!"
"Mikey!"
"You should also check your sheets Raph."
"You are so gonna get it!"
Leo managed to ignore their bickering and resumed working on the plans. April noticed his constant huffs in frustration. "What's up Leo?" She asked.
Her words were ignored by him. "We could try...no that won't work. Maybe if we...ugh not a chance! Why is this so difficult?!" He asked himself, clearly annoyed.
"Well maybe if you made better plans they wouldn't fail as much!"
Leo glared accusingly at Raph, who held his hands up in defense. "Wasn't me." He said. Leo's eyes fell on a guilty Mikey, whose hands covered his mouth. "I'm really sorry Leo! It's like I have a sudden feeling of hatred towards you." Mikey apologized.
"Hey I don't hate Leo!" Raph retorted.
"You're right, it's more of a jealousy feeling."
I bet I fooled some of you with the dream scene! Sadly, this is all I will put about the study session between Splinter and Casey because I have something else in store for later! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! R&R! ^-^
