Ch10
Michelangelo walked into his bedroom. He smiled and scratched Klunk's belly, enjoying how she stretched out before his baby even opened his eyes.
"Hey, Klunk ready for a trip? You get to go and stay with Angel while I'm away, won't that be fun?" he asked
Klunk arched into his hands purring even louder and Mikey smiled. He was going to leave Klunk with April and Casey, but they were up in Northampton, so they were out of the question. He had asked Leo what he should do and Leo had suggested Angel, who, with some studying help from Donatello, had been accepted at NYU. She had her own place and when Mikey had called her, she gladly agreed to take care of Klunk while they were gone.
This wasn't going to be like any of their other trips; this one they were planning for, and hopefully nothing would go wrong. Mikey was happy to have someone actually look after Klunk. In the past she had been left to her own devises and he had come home to find that she had gotten really fat because she would get in to the food and eat as much as she would like. He wanted her to have someone to take care of her while he was going to be gone.
Mikey got up and started to gather Klunk's stuff. He got down on the floor and started pushing stuff around under his bed looking for Klunk's favorite toys. "Maybe Leo's right, and I do need to clean my room," he murmured to himself as he tossed an old pizza crust behind him.
Raph, passing by Mikey's room on the way from the bathroom, grinned at the sight of Mikey half under his bed mumbling about cleaning.
"Hey Mikey!" he yelled. Mikey jumped, hitting his head on the underside of his bed.
"Ow! Why did you yell like that, Raph?" he whined
"To get your attention," Raph smiled, "Whatcha doin'?"
Mikey stood up rubbing his head, "I'm looking for Klunk's mouse, have you seen it?"
"Yeah I saw it."
"You have? Great! Where?"
'I don't know… what's in it for me?"
"Raph, come on," Mikey whined, "Just tell me!"
"Only if you promise not to tease me about bugs again,"
"Yeah… I promise." Mikey crossed his fingers behind his back.
"Alright, Last I saw it; Klunk was dragging around the garage."
"You mean the garage that has lots of bugs?" Mikey teased
"Why you little twerp," Raph growled, lunging for him.
Mikey back flipped over his bed, and as Raph landed on it Mikey grabbed his shell and sprang across him and out of the room laughing. Raph pushed himself up and ran after him for a few steps. He debated going after him but he promised Don he would help him go and set the perimeter alarms before they left, so he left the chase and walked towards the dojo where he thought Leo was most likely to be. He stopped in front of the dojo and took in the scene.
Leo was there like he thought, but Tomas was there also and it looked like Leo was teaching Tomas the beginner katas. It was simple stuff and easy for someone like Raph who had been training his whole life. As Raph watched Leo help Tomas with a kick he finally started to understand why Leo was so close to Tomas. First, it looked like Tomas had a natural talent, and second, he was a mini Leo… same behavior… same logical approach to everything…same bravery. Raph had to hand it to the kid. He had a lot of guts coming all the way to New York. Leo finished with a bow and Tomas bowed back smiling at the praise Leo was giving him as they walked towards Raph.
"Are we ready to go," Leo asked Raph.
"Almost, Donny wants to check the camera in one of the tunnels and Mikey still has to take Klunk to Angel's but other than that were good to go"
Leo nodded. "Alright" he looked out into the lair and saw Master Splinter exit his room with the small pack over his shoulders
Splinter looked in his direction and smiled.
Leo smiled back. "Go and catch Don and Mike before they leave." He instructed his brother. " it looks like Splinter is ready to go."
Raph turned in the direction Leo was looking and saw his father. "Alright, I'll go get them."
Leo walked towards his father with Tomas following close behind.
Splinter set down his pack as Leo approached. "Ah, my son, are you already to go?"
"Almost father, just a few last minute things and then we'll be gone." Leo paused, "I hope everything will be ok."
Splinter smiled. "My son, do not give into your fears. Trust your brothers. They will need you to trust them so that they can grow as well."
Leo smiled and hugged his father. "I'm going to miss you, Master." Leo needed his father to know that he would always consider Splinter as their master.
Splinter blinked back a few tears. "And I you," he released his son form his grasp and said sternly, "now I expect to see you next year at the tournament, but if you want to come and see me before then, you won't hear any complaints from me."
Leo laughed lightly. "Of course, father."
Splinter smiled warmly down at Tomas who stared back at him with wide eyes.
"You're a brave young man, Tomas." Splinter said. "In fact, you remind me of someone else I know." He glanced at Leo and bowed towards Tomas.
Tomas, awed that Leo's dad was bowing toward him glanced at Leo, who smiled and motioned for Tomas to bow back.
Tomas smiled and bowed. "Thank you senior."
Raph approached with Mikey and Don in tow. Mikey was carrying Klunk and a bag full of Klunk's stuff when they reached Leo and Splinter Mikey gave them to Leo and hugged his father.
"Do you really have to go?" he asked.
Splinter rubbed the back of his shell soothingly. "it will be alright my son. You will be fine without me."
"Of course I will, after all I'm the Battle Nexus Champion." Mikey replied rubbing the tears out of his eyes.
"Yes you are." Splinter smiled and let him go. He then turned to Donatello who sniffed slightly.
As he opened his arms Don rushed in and clutched at his kimono.
"I will miss you father."
"And I will miss you. Remember, this is not a 'goodbye forever', but an 'I will see you soon goodbye' alright?"
Donatello nodded. "Right" he reluctantly let go and Raph moved to give his father and strong embrace.
"See ya around dad," he gruffly replied.
"Goodbye, my son." Splinter gave Raphael a comforting rub on his shell before letting go. He stepped back and looked at his sons now and he said wistfully, "I expect you boys to stay out of trouble"
Mikey beamed. "What are you talking about father? Trouble hates us." He grinned at his joke. "Ow!" Mikey rubbed his head from where Don had lightly smacked him.
Don ignored him. "We'll try our best."
Splinter smiled. They all turned as a glowing blue light filled the lair. Tomas stepped back, but Leo's hand on his shoulder calmed him down enough to keep him there.
"Ah, Splinter, are you ready to go?" the Ultimate Daimio asked after he had stepped through the portal.
"Yes, my friend," Splinter said as he walked towards the portal. Before he stepped through he turned around.
"Remember, you are always my sons, and I love you. Stay safe, and stay together, and remember that you will always be a ninja." he then turned and walked through the portal.
The lair was silent, save for the quiet humming of the machines in the background. Mikey finally tore his eyes away from the spot where Splinter had disappeared, and looked at his leader and big brother.
Leo felt four pair of eyes on him, and he looked away from where his father had disappeared .I'm in charge now. Then his father's words floated back to him. "You may not think you are ready but I know you are."
Now it was time to prove him right.
"Alright, Mikey go and take Klunk to Angel's, but be quick. I want to leave soon."
"Alright," Mikey took Klunk and the bag of stuff for her, and ran off towards the elevator.
Leo turned to Don and Raph. "You guys said something about the outer alarms, Don?"
"Yeah I want to go and change the camera on the outer perimeter."
"Okay, can you get it done before Mikey gets back?"
"Easily"
"Alright go, but hurry"
Leo watched as Don and Raph ran towards the exit. He smiled and looked around their home. The last time he had left, he was gone for two years. He hoped that this trip wouldn't take as long.
so tell me what you think i had to retype it about four times and it still sounds off. review please