Twelve hours, ten washcloths, eight towels, four pots of boiling water, and three confirmed heartbeats later, a finally-tranquil turtle awes at the sight of the beautifully glowing mother and her new baby boy.
Leo was sure he was going to pass out a few times. He found himself breathing deeply when Anju breathed and held his breath when she pushed or screamed. He was sweating so much he had to remove and wring out his bandana a few times. He had melted buckets of snow to boil and kept the laboring woman hydrated by running icicles along her panting lips. He made sure he kept her legs covered. He felt for the crowing and guided the baby out of the birth canal but he couldn't bring himself to look down there. He had cleaned her until the bleeding stopped and set the used materials outside to burn in the spring. He almost lost consciousness when he had to cut the umbilical cord, but managed to pull through. He had wrapped them in clean clothing and carried them up stairs to the Lord's chamber, which is where all three are resting now.
Leo kneels on the tatami floor beside them, struck by the wonder of it all. It is a warm and peaceful Thanksgiving evening and he is almost overcome by how thankful he is. He may not be with his brothers and father, or human sisters and friends, but he is thankful for this moment of witnessing life. Life will go on. He can go on. No matter what happens, another day is always on the horizon.
He watches as Anju removes the silk robe from her shoulder and bares a swollen breast. The infant takes the nipple in his mouth and suckles happily. Leo averts his eyes. He wonders how long he should stay here.
Anju sees Leo's discomfort and grins. "You were wonderful today. Thank you."
"It is you who's wonderful. You are the one who just had a baby." He whispers.
"The body always knows what to do. It is we who fight the nature of things. Thank you for enduring this with me."
Her words sound like something his father would have said. "Are you comfortable? Is there anything you need?"
"No, thank you. The little one and I are quite content." She smiles at him.
He sheepishly returns a smile and nods. "I should get going. I will be by tomorrow to check on you if you'd like. He stands. "Goodnight, Lady Anju." He turns to leave.
"Wait, Leo-san. There is something I would like for you to do." She stops him.
He comes back to her side. "Yes, what would you like?" He asks.
"I… would like you to stay and talk with me. It must have been very lonely being out there all by yourself for so long. I have been lonely here as well."
Her words make him a bit nervous, but he sits again. He pours himself some tea. He offers her some and she declines.
"Tell me about where you come from. Are you from the distant past or far off future?"
He sips his hot brew and sets it down. "I am from the future. Two hundred years. In my time, there are large cities with tall buildings and flying machines."
"It sounds like a dream. Did you live in these tall cities, did you own a flying machine?"
"Actually my brothers and I lived beneath the buildings and very few owned flying machines. Not many people knew of our existence. We were very unique and if the wrong people got a hold of us we wouldn't have been treated kindly."
"I see. This is because you are 'mutated'."
"Yes."
She nods. "You have brothers, others like you? What were they like?"
"I have, had… three brothers. I was the oldest. My brother Michelangelo was the youngest. He was… funny and light-hearted. He liked to play jokes and keep everyone smiling. He was so loving and optimistic. He never knew this but he pulled me out of some very dark places… and then there is my brother Donatello. He was so smart. He was an inventor. He had a love for learning about all things. He read so many books. He was shy and introverted but so intuitive. I could have learned so much from him… I wonder what has become of him… Then there is Raphael." He laughs.
"What was Raphael like?" Anju asks.
"Raphael was…" He could say he was an irritable, angry, blowhard, always undermining authority, always causing trouble, always the thorn in his side. "Raphael was a wonderful brother. He was passionate and strong. He always stood by his brothers. He was faithful and fought with everything he had. All of my brothers fought beside me. We were a team."
"So you were warriors of some kind… You mean to say you fought for people who would most likely cage you and treat you like animals if you were discovered?" He nods. "Why would you do this, Leo-san?"
"It's what we trained for. Our father, who was also a mutant, taught us how to fight, to become ninjas. We protected the citizens under the shadow of night. In return we survived off of their resources. In time, we did meet some humans who accepted us, let us eat with them and live with them. Some of us even found love…"
Anju raised a brow. "Did you lose some one that you loved… in the future?"
"No, fortunately." He doesn't think he would have been able to handle finding someone like Amber or Arimi and then losing them. That is another thing he is thankful for. He finishes the rest of his tea and sets down his cup. "Alright Lady Anju, it's your turn. Tell me about where you come from. Tell me about your family."
She lifts the infant to her shoulder and pats him on the back. "I grew up on a small island just off the mainland. I lived in a big beautiful palace. My father was a successful merchant who traded domestic goods with the westerners. We really wanted for nothing. I was the youngest of two older brothers and a sister. My brothers where trained to follow in our father's footsteps. My sister and I were taught how to sew and serve tea. Once my sister turned sixteen, she was given into marriage to a wealthy westerner and I never heard from her again. I was not forced to marry until I was nineteen. Haruto gave a hefty dowry for me. My father often boasted about how beautiful and obedient I was. That is how I ended up here, owned by a brutal man who made his wealth on the debts of others. Those indentured servants I set free worked this land and Haruto made a handsome profit. Since he was gone I had to let them go." Anju felt the infant burp and she set him down, cradling him again. "My brothers took over my father's business when he died. They moved to other parts of Japan and regularly send money to my mama… I wonder how she is doing… if she's still alive..." She trails off.
"Lady Anju, you have a son now and may need more help than ever. Don't you think you should go or maybe send word to your mother or brothers? They may want to you to stay with them, considering your circumstances."
She shakes her head with sad smile. "No. My family will not let me return. I am Kenoshi's burden now. A husbandless mother has no value."
"So, you are left to survive all alone?"
"I am not alone now. I have a son… and a friend." She looks at Leo.
He looks back and her and grins. "Yes, you do, Lady Anju."
"Could you do me another favor, since we are now on speaking terms?"
"Ok." He says.
"Please, just call me Anju. I never fit the 'Lady' title. Besides, there is no one here to govern. Anju is who I am and who I want to be."
"Very well. Then please, just call me Leo."
"As you wish, Leo."
The turtle blushes, enjoying the quiet pause in their conversation. He hears the baby gurgle and he hums to himself.
"Leo, could you hold him? I need to get a bit more comfortable."
"Uh, sure." Leo sits up on his knees and carefully secures the infant in his arms.
Anju shifts down to lay on her side. She watches as the large man-turtles holds the infant as if it were the most delicate porcelain vase. His strong arms could look intimidating and harmful, but to Anju, there could be no safer place for her son to be. Leo looks up at her and she smiles.
"He still needs a name… unless you've already thought of one." Leo whispers.
"I think it is appropriate for you to do the honors." She says.
"Me?" He asks in surprise. She nods. Leo gazes at the tiny, squirming being. He has never held someone so small. His little hand takes a hold of the tip of Leo's finger. Leo had never thought he would ever get the opportunity to name a child. He's so excited he can't even remember his own name. Just calm down and think. His father, Splinter, named him and his brother after great artists. He supposes, he too, should pick a name that holds some significance. If Leo ever had a son, what would he name him? A name to honor his father, a name that without whom he would not be the ninja turtle he is today. It seems very fitting. It is Japanese, after all. "Yoshi. I name him Yoshi."
"Yoshi." Anju hums. " Such a happy and righteous name."
They stay there, resting a while longer until Anju and baby Yoshi are fast asleep. Leo lays Yoshi in his crib by the bed and makes sure Anju s tucked in. He grabs his scarf and heads for the door.
"One more thing, Leo…" Anju whispers.
"Sure, Anju." He turns.
"Please stay. Do not leave. Do not go out in that cold. Please stay here and live… with us."
"I, I shouldn't. I promise I will come back tomorrow. I won't disappear again."
"No." She sits up, even though she is still very sore. "No Leo. You should stay."
He wants to tell her to le back down but his hand is gripped to the door.
"Leo. You saved my life from Haruto. He would have surely beaten me to death in the stables. You saved my home and preserved my freedom from those treacherous thieves. You have fed me and watched over me. You save my life again today. And then you helped deliver my son into this world. How much more do you think you have to do before I can accept you as the dearest person in my life?"
He stands in the threshold, his cheeks burning. He does not know what to say.
Anju bows her head to him. "It would be an honor to have you stay. This is your home. Please, Leo?"
Leo closes his eyes and smiles. He looks over at her. She is so… "You are a good friend, Anju. Have a goodnight… I will be down the hall if you need anything."
She smiles brightly at him and then lies back down. She reaches out and caresses Yoshi's hand as he dreams in the wooden cradle.
Leo creeps down the hall and finds a spare bedroom. He lights a candle and stretches out on the bed. He lets outs the events of the day in one big breath. Tears fill his eyes. He is so very thankful.
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AN: I know from experience that holidays can conjure up happy and hurtful memories. In spite of how your day may end, I pray you recognize the good and endure the hurt and have a safe Thanksgiving.