Chapter 10: Katas and Questions

A/N: Yep, I'm back with another chapter. I swear, I'm getting a good vibe for where this story's going, and it makes me happy. I never thought a story would take such shape so fast like this one has, and I just hope I can keep it up and make sure I don't have writer's block. Thanks to all of those who have read and reviewed. I love your kind words. And, Guest, Tony rocks. Thanks for the review. Here's the next chapter.

Disclaimer: TMNT belongs to Nick. I only own the plot.

I slept well for the rest of the night and was awakened when the Turtles woke up. It was pretty early, and I wondered if we were going to have breakfast, but no one went to the kitchen just yet. I was surprised and wondered what was going on.

"Good morning, Tony," Leo greeted me. "Did you sleep well?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I did," I answered. "So, when do we have breakfast?"

"Not until after practice is over," Leo answered. "We always train first and then eat afterwards. If we ate first we'd have to let our stomachs settle before performing the katas."

"Oh, I see," I said. "Do you guys mind if I watch?"

Mikey smiled and patted my shoulder. "Not at all, little dude," he said. "You can watch me kick some serious butt."

I laughed and followed them to their dojo. My side was still a little sore, but it wasn't anything I couldn't handle. I saw Splinter sitting and waiting for his students to enter. They bowed to him and knelt in front of him. I stayed on the sidelines and watched to see what would happen.

"You have done well, my sons," commented Splinter. "Today we will be covering the basics as you have all endured a difficult battle."

"That battle was nothing," scoffed Raph. "Just some Purple Dragons lookin' for trouble. We wiped them out good."

"Yes, but someone was hurt in the process," replied Splinter. "That is something that has taken a toll on your minds. You will all start with warm up katas and then spar two on two. Leonardo, you will spar with Raphael, and Michelangelo will spar with Donatello."

The Turtles bowed to him and got up, ready to do what Splinter asked them to do.

"Hajime!" Splinter barked and then called out a series of katas. The Turtles all flowed in formation as he called out the movements, and I was amazed by their technique and how graceful they were. They really were a pretty good team.

Once they were done, Splinter called out, "Yame!" and directed them to spar, signaling them to begin again. I was floored by how competitive they got with each other though they all were trying to be good natured. As I watched them, it made me think that maybe I could do that, too. If I could learn to be a ninja, the Purple Dragons would leave me alone for sure, and I wouldn't have to put up with Gia's constant attitude. I would just take her down with a kick.

When the sparring was over, Leo and Mikey were the victors and faced off together. I could tell Leo had a bruise from where Raph hit him, but he was doing his best to hide the pain. Raph came and sat down next to me, though he didn't talk. I guessed that the rules were that no one could talk while there was a match going on, so I didn't say anything either. Leo won the match and helped Mikey up as they bowed to each other.

"Well done, Leonardo," praised Splinter. "You fought a good match. Michelangelo, you did well, too, though it would be more prudent for you to not yell as many insults while in the midst of battle."

"But, Sensei, you always tell us that distraction is a good form of defense," Mikey protested. "I'm just distracting in my own way."

Splinter smiled. "Yes, I have said that, but you must remember not to lose focus during your battle," he warned him.

"Hai, Sensei," Mikey said, giving his father a bow.

"Training is finished for the morning," Splinter declared. "You may go eat some breakfast."

Mikey shot out of the dojo as soon as Splinter dismissed them. Raph helped me to my feet and started walking with me as we exited the dojo.

"So, what did you think of our session, Tony?" he asked.

"That was awesome, guys," I said. "I knew you guys were good, but that was just amazing. I hope Leo will be okay though."

"He'll be fine," Raph assured me. "I know I sometimes get carried away and hit too hard, but I try my best to stay in control. It's just a little bruise and it'll clear up in no time. Look, I'm gonna go take a shower first then I'll see you in the kitchen." He patted my shoulder and headed to the bathroom only to discover that Mikey was in there singing some song way off key. I tried to place the song and realized it was "When I Grow Up" by The Pussycat Dolls. I laughed at the thought that Mikey would know that song, even though he had the lyrics messed up on one part. I decided it would be funny to correct him, so when he came out, I said, "Nice singing, Mikey. I didn't know you liked to sing in the shower."

Mikey smiled. "Yeah, sometimes I just get carried away," he said.

"Well, you did mess up the lyrics a bit," I said. "It's groupies not boobies."

"It is?" Mikey asked, tilting his head a bit. "I always thought it was boobies."

"I thought that, too, when I heard it, but then I listened to it closer," I said. "Don't worry you'll get it right next time."

After the other Turtles took their showers, it was time for breakfast. Mikey was making omelettes, and they turned out pretty good when they were done. I ate mine and then decided it was time to ask some questions.

"So, how did you guys become mutants?" I asked.

Splinter smiled and told me the story of his own life back in Japan and how he had come to America. The whole story fascinated me, though there some things I felt he was keeping from me just the same. He told the story of how he'd bought four pet turtles and how they had become mutated into what they are. The story was awesome and something I probably would have read in a comic book.

I said no more and listened as the Turtles talked about other things. I wanted to ask Splinter another question, but I waited until breakfast was over and the Turtles were doing their own thing. I approached the rat, who was sitting in the dojo under the tree.

"Sensei, can I ask you something?" I asked him.

Splinter smiled as he looked at me. "I can already tell what you want to ask," he said. "You would like to learn how to defend yourself."

I was amazed. "How did you know that?" I gasped. Was he some sort of mind reader?

"I can just tell by the look on your face," he replied. "I saw the look in your eyes as you watched my sons training."

I hadn't realized that Splinter had been looking at me while the Turtles had been training. Was I that easy to read?

"Well, I think it would be a good idea since I've already come up against the Purple Dragons once before," I replied. "I just don't want to get hurt again, and I want to show them that I can take care of myself. The job I have can be dangerous."

Splinter nodded. "Yes, I see what you mean," he said. "Normally, I would be very hesitant to teach you the art of ninjitsu. It takes great dedication and will drain you mentally, physically, and spiritually. I have already begun to train April as a kunoichi, but if you would like to learn and are willing to commit to this, I will teach you as well."

"I'm definitely willing," I replied.

"You say that now, but you must also show that you are willing, Tony," he told me. "This will be a test of your willpower, and I want to see you commit to it fully. There are also the conflicts of school and work as I do not want to take you away from either commitment. Education is important for you, and your job is also a very important thing. We will have to work around both of them."

"I can do that," I said. "I'll be working nights once school starts back up from our break, but I can always come down on the weekends if I don't work during that time."

"That sounds like a good idea," Splinter answered. "However, we will see how it goes. If your grades slip or there are problems at work, I may have to stop training you until things improve. See to it that you do not neglect your other duties."

"I won't, Sensei," I answered. "So, when do we begin?"

"We will begin once you are healed," he responded. "For now, you should go home so that your uncle will not worry about you. I will have Leonardo escort you home."

I nodded. "Thanks, Sensei." I bowed to him and left the dojo. "Hey, guys, I'm going to train to be a ninja just like you," I told them.

"That's great, Tony," Leo said. "Do you think you'll be able to do it?"

"I think so," I said. "I can't let the Dragons get the best of me again."

"Well, as long as you can handle it, I think it's a good idea," Leo told me.

"I better get home before Uncle Gino gets worried," I said. "Splinter said you're supposed to escort me, Leo."

"Sounds good," Leo said. "We'd better get going so you can get there in plenty of time."

"Nice seeing you guys again, and thanks for saving me."

"No problem, Tony," Mikey said. "Come back again."

"Oh, I'll be back," I said. Don and Raph said goodbye to me as Leo and I left the Lair.

"So, what did Sensei say when you asked him if you could learn to be a ninja?" Leo asked me.

"He just said it would take a lot of dedication and that I had to be prepared for it. He said he's been training someone named April to be a kunoichi. What's that mean?"

"A kunoichi is a female ninja," Leo explained.

"Oh, I see. Wait, is her last name O'Neil?"

Leo nodded. "Yeah, it is," he answered. "Do you know her?"

"Yeah, I do. I've seen her in school, and she even stole my pizza bike while I was out on a delivery. She was being chased by some chick with black and blonde hair. I wanted to do something, but I didn't know what to do."

Leo hissed when I mentioned that. "Karai," he muttered.

"Who's Karai?"

"One of our enemies and a deadly kunoichi herself," he answered. "That must have been when April was running from her. At least she was able to escape."

"But why was Karai after her?" April didn't seem like a bad person, and I couldn't see anyone wanting to hurt her.

"Probably because she was in league with us," Leo answered. "I guess Shredder wanted her for something, though April never found out what that was. Shredder is another one of our enemies and Splinter's rival. They were friends back when Splinter was human." Then he told me the story of how Splinter lost everything one night due to Shredder's hate.

"Wow that sounds rough," I whispered.

"Yeah, it is," Leo told me. "Sensei told me that he's learned some things from Shredder after their last battle, but he won't tell me what."

"Do you think he'll ever tell you?"

"I hope so," said Leo. "I don't want him to hold it in. But I know if I ask him, he won't tell me, so I just have to be patient."

"Yeah, I think Gia's hiding something, too, and I really want to know what it is," I said.

"Well, you already know she's in the Purple Dragons," Leo replied.

"I know, but I think she's the one who killed my dad. I mean, she's being initiated, and the Dragons make the new recruits do different things. Maybe they ask people to kill others, and Gia wanted to be one of them so much she just did it."

"That's a pretty heavy accusation," Leo remarked. "Do you think she'd tell the truth?"

I shook my head. "Gia always lies, so I know I can't ask her straight out. I'm just going to have to see if I can catch her in the act of telling someone about it. She's so careless she's bound to spill her guts sometime."

"Just be careful, Tony," Leo warned me. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'll be fine, Leo," I reassured him. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Well, here we are," Leo declared. "I'll go up first and make sure the coast is clear. Then I'll escort you via rooftops till we get to your apartment so that I know you're safe."

"Sounds good to me."

Leo went up first and then indicated that I could climb out. I followed him into one of the alleys where he climbed a fire escape to the roof. I walked on my own, wishing that he could be beside me so we could talk more, but I wasn't confident about jumping rooftops, though I knew I'd have to do it sometime as part of my training. Still, it was nice to know that he was looking out for me. When we reached my apartment, I wave to him and went inside. Gia was sitting in the living room watching some dumb reality show on TV.

"Where have you been?" she demanded like she was my parent.

"Out with some friends," I answered. "Where's Uncle Gino?"

"He left to take care of some business," she replied. "So, when you say you were out with friends, do you mean those freaks that rescued you the other day?"

I glared at her. "They're not freaks," I insisted. "And at least they're doing something good for the city unlike your pathetic friends."

"The Dragons are not pathetic," she responded. "At least they follow their own rules and not the rules of the stupid world. At least they care about me."

"You have a father who cares about you, too," I told her. Why couldn't se be thankful for what she had?

"No, he doesn't," she said. "He cares about you more because you don't have any parents. I can't wait to get out of here and be away from all of this."

I shook my head but said nothing else. It was obvious to me that Gia didn't care about anyone but herself. I went upstairs to our shared bedroom and just sat on my futon trying to work out everything. I knew there was more going on with Gia than she was letting on, and I was determined to find out what even if she couldn't tell me. I also thought about the lessons I was going to have with Splinter. He told me that I was to start tomorrow by observing the Turtles first, and since I knew I didn't have to work the day shift, I figured it would work out to have a few hours of practice before I started for work. I was still tired, so I fell asleep, dreaming that I was battling the Dragons with the Turtles and that I had defeated them my first time. I knew it wasn't going to be real, but it was still nice to imagine. I just hoped that I'd turn into a true warrior and show everyone that I wasn't just some pizza guy with no parents. I had a purpose in life, and I believed that befriending the Turtles and learning to be a ninja was what I was made to do.

A/N: So, that's another chapter done. Yep, Gia's up to something, and we'll find out more about that in the next chapter. So, did she kill Tony's dad? You'll find out soon enough. The next chapter will deal with Tony learning new skills courtesy of Master Splinter. In the meantime, feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.