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"...And so we ended up with our first human friend." Mikey finished the tale of their first encounters with the Krangg.
"April sounds like an amazing girl." Phoenix put down her brush, and stood to rinse her hands in the little sink in the room. "So she's a friend?" She dropped the brushes into a bowl of water.
"She's JUST a friend, but Donnie's wanted her to be more than a friend for years. Nothing ever happened, though... except that one time..." Mikey smiled, and gave her a wink, "But that's another story."
"Save it for later." Phoenix gestured for him to come around. "What do you think?" At his expression, she continued, "It's not done yet, it'll take a few more sessions."
"Wow..." Mike turned, and looked at her, "That's Leo, all right." There where swirls of green in various shades, blues, and touches of silver. It looked nothing like Leo, but still, it was.
"I think, when it's done, I'll call it "Shido-sha". It's Japanese for 'Leader'." She looked at him. "You inspire me, I guess. Will you tell me more of your stories tomorrow?"
"I have one condition." Mikey tried, and failed to hide the mischief in his eyes, "No Tofu?"
Phoenix burst out laughing. "Deal. I don't like the stuff anyways." She opened the door into the hall. "Do you still feel up to some sparring?"
"Uh, let me think...YEAH!" He laughed back.
"Remember, light sparring, I don't want you to get hurt." She walked with him, and went into the dojo. Phoenix pulled her hair up into a bun from her normal pony-tail, and stretched. "Unarmed, basic no-throw style, ok?" She took her stance, and Mike did the same. "Begin."
Her focus wasn't on her form as She moved sideways to avoid Mikey's lunges. Did he realize what had happened while she had painted? It hadn't just been words he'd given her. He'd almost made her cry from the emotions he'd been feeding her. He felt jealousy, yes, but his pride and confidence in his eldest brother was amazing. Despite everything that'd happened, he hadn't let it make him bitter, just sad; and he LOVED his brothers and father.
'Maybe that's it,' She thought, 'I've felt every emotion through other people, but Love? That's... different, and he's so full of it.' Phoenix barely ducked in time to avoid a fist. 'Is his family blind? Don't they see what a blessing he is, or how rare a warrior with a true heart is?'
Suddenly, her legs where swept out from under her, and she found herself looking at the celing. "Ooff."
"Are you ok?" Mikey looked a little worried. "I thought you where going to jump or something, I, uh, didn't think it'd knock you over..."
Phoenix felt an ugly retort and a flash of heat inside her. 'STOP IT!' She demanded to herself. 'We are NOT hurting him!' The force dissipated as quickly as it had come. She looked up at Mike, and took his out stretched hand.
"Sorry." She blushed. "I wasn't focused on what we were doing. Careless of me."
'Is that all?' Mikey thought. "You looked strange for a sec."
"I told you about what I have inside me... I have to keep a tight leash on it all the time." She explained. "Even something as simple as embarrassment can make it rear it's head." Phoenix sighed. "But I... I'm having a better time with it now."
Mike smiled. "I'm glad... do you want to keep going?" He waited for her response.
"Why not?" She smiled back. "The only thing bruised is my pride. I think it's safe to try again." She took the starting stance once more. "Begin."
After another 2 hours, the de-cyrption program was almost finished. April sat on the couch pretending to read a magazine, when her phone rang.
"Blocked number?! Guys!" She exclaimed. "Hello?" She answered.
"Hey April." Mikey smiled. "It's me again."
"Mikey!" April waved at Leo, and handed him the phone.
"Mike! Are you ok?" He demanded. "Where are you?"
"I'm fine, and I'm with a friend." Mike replied, without adding any details. 'Like I'd give you an address?' He thought.
"We ran into Dog-Pound the other night, and after we convinced him, he said he thought you were with a ninja named Fushicho." Leonardo explained carefully. "Are you?" To his surprise, Mikey laughed.
He shook his head, and rolled his eyes. "She doesn't like being called that."
Leo felt his blood go cold. "Mike, listen to me. You HAVE to leave. If Dog-Pound was telling the truth, she could be more dangerous than Shredder!"
"She's not dangerous, Leo." Mike rubbed the side of his head. "Trust me. She wouldn't hurt me. She's... amazing." He defended her.
"Mikey! LISTEN TO ME!" Leonardo shouted into the phone, feeling panic building within him.
"NO, YOU LISTEN!" Mike interrupted him. "My God! WHY can't you believe me?! Is it too much to ask that you'd trust your BROTHER before one of Shredders' flunkies?!" He felt his face grow warm and closed his eyes. "Maybe it IS too much to ask." He finished quietly. "I'll call next week, but I don't think I'll be coming home for a while. Tell Sensei... tell Sensei, he was right;" Mikey paused, "Training with someone else was EXACTLY what I needed. Goodbye." He hit 'end-call' but not before hearing Aprils phone hit the floor.
"Leo?!" April looked at his face. "Oh Leo...What, what happened?"
"He's with her." He replied, his voice barely audible. "Don... we have to find her. We find her, we find Mikey."
"Mike, are you all right?" Phoenix looked up as he re-entered the dojo, and saw his face. "What happened?"
"I talked to Leo. He, that is my brothers tracked down Dog-Pound..." He explained.
"Wait, Dog-who?" She cut in.
"Um, he used to be called Chris Bradford, anyways, and he told them about your... inner power?" He searched for the word. "Leo didn't believe me when I said you wouldn't hurt me." He frowned.
"Bradford. Now there's a name I remember." Her face twisted in a grimace. "Why do you call him 'Dog-Pound?" Phoenix asked.
"He got hit with the same mutagen that made me'n my bros like this, only he turned into a dog-mutant." Mike explained.
"Oookkkaaayyy... didn't know about that. So Bradford warned your brothers about me, huh?" She smiled. "That must've been an interesting conversation... and I understand your brothers' concern, although I find it odd that they believed him."
"Well, they believed him more than they believe me. But that's normal." He tried to joke, but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "But they'll figure it out when I'm NOT deep-fried or something, right?"
"Ancient Japanese Proverb:" She held up one finger. "When all else fails, prove them wrong." Phoenix smiled. "And you will."
'She always knows what to say." Mike thought. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I know things." She replied. "And sadly, I don't think your brothers know how you've changed, either."
"True dat." He nodded. "Man, if you'd met me then, you NEVER would've agreeded to teach me. You would've run in the other direction!" He thought back. "I was such a moron, and I didn't even know it... I was... what's the word?" He wondered.
"Oblivious?" She suggested.
"Yeah, oblivious. I really thought I was hot stuff. Then, about a year later, I realized I wasn't even STUFF." He shrugged. "That was a bad month."
"Oh, I know how weird it can be to realize what you thought and what's real are two different things. When I figured out that I wasn't some kind of noble ninja, just a thief with fancy clothing... it shocked me. Not that I'd figured it out," She frowned, "But that it took me so long!" She shrugged. "I was an idiot not to know it sooner."
"Well then, we're a pair of former idiots." Mikey smiled and touched her shoulder. " 'Cause I think we're both on the right track, now."
Phoenix nodded, and covered his hand with hers. "By Jove, I think he's got it!" She smiled. "You Hungary?"
"Always!" Mike exclaimed. "Pizza?"
"Nope." At his crest-fallen expression, she continued, "Have you ever had honest-to-god Italian food?"
"No, but April says it's good..." He didn't look convinced.
"Tell you what. I'm going to cook, and if you hate it, we'll order pizza." She compromised. "Deal?" She headed towards the kitchen.
"Deal!" He agreeded, and followed. 'Yeah, like there's a better food than pizza!'
The file was finally readable, and it looked like Dog-Pound had done the unthinkable.