Hey guys! It's FINALLY here! FINALLY! This chapter was truly a cakewalk! It's been a while, but I'm trying my best to catch up. Anyways, enjoy!
Flickering lights sting my eyes. Rubbing the sleep out of them and loosening the blanket tightly wrapped around me, I see a TV screen and a pleasant smiling face at me as he noticed I'd woken up.
"Well hey there sleepyhead!"
"Mikey." He gets up so quickly and before I know it, I'm being squeezed to death in a bear hug. I try SO hard not to wince when he presses against my raw back! His hands feel like knives grinding into open wounds. The Marshalls have become so much more ruthless when workers work up the nerve to defy them. It hurts, but I don't want him to let go. "Hey, I've missed you Mikey! How's it going?"
"Just chillin' like I always do," he giggles as he releases me. I slouch back on the couch with my blanket tucked tightly around my shoulders.
"But it's the middle of the night. I didn't wake you, did I?"
"Of course not! It's never too late to get in on some Super Robo Mecha Force Five Team 5 action. Besides, I just woofed down a jalapeno cappuccino pizza. I'm not headin' to bed anytime soon." he folds his hands behind his back and flashes a huge smile at me.
"Sooo you watch TV and play videogames all night, huh? Sounds like fun."
"It's the bomb! Nothin' compared to the nighttime city patrol, but it's great."
I yawn, rubbing my eyes to keep from falling asleep again. "Oh yeah, you guys patrol the streets at night. But if you're supposed to be patrolling at night, why are you just hanging around here at home?"
He doesn't even look up from the screen, his eyes riveted at the characters locked in combat. "One of big bro's orders….sent Donnie and Raph out with Casey to check up on some Purple Dragon showdown. Sooo I'm stuck here, with popcorn and the next season of the best TV show in world! There's SO MUCH that's gonna happen after the destruction of the argonites! I just know it!"
I ignore his little fanboy moment. "Who's Casey, Mikey?"
"A human friend of ours. Can't wait to hear the details when they get back. You'll stay til' they get back, won't ya Tess?"
He's doesn't realize how lucky he is to be so carefree like this. I'll bet my brother would be just like him if not for our current state of….no, I need to stop thinking like that. He doesn't have any idea about how we live. It's not like he's purposely rubbing it in my face. At the same time, is it so wrong that I'm so jealous of him and his brothers?! They have all the good food they can eat, friends, and every comfort of home they could ask for. They have a parent, from what Leo has told me, who loves them more than life itself. They haven't seen them...don't cry! DON'T CRY!
"Uh, Tess? You okay?" Mikey frowns.
"Oh, yes, I'm fine. Just thinking thoughts. Um, how long was I asleep?"
"Not too long, for about twenty minutes. You were out like a light. If anyone needs sleep it's you Tess."
All I can remember was Leonardo telling me that he heard me singing, and I'm so going to get back at him for eavesdropping, but after that…."I really must have been tired to fall asleep that fast while I was talking to Leonardo. Where is he?"
Mikey is now back in front of the TV, kicking his feet back and forth with anticipation."In the kitchen, six o'clock."
Right as I turn to leave, the curtain is pulled aside and none other than the blue clad turtle appears, smiling like the big dork he is when he sees me.
"Well look who's awake?"
I rub my eyes, my vision still pretty blurry. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean to-"
"Why are you apologizing? You were just tired."
As if on cue, I let out a huge yawn. My eyes feel so heavy and start to water. I really need to sleep. "Yeah, I've….just had a long day today.
"Mikey, you mind if I borrow your friend for a moment."
"She's all yours dude. I've got a Super Robo Mecha Force marathon to watch!"
"Thanks, Mikey. Come on Tess, there is someone who wants to meet you."
I follow Leo to a doorway covered with Japanese maples and cherry blossoms.
Am I going to meet his sensei? What is he going to think of a dirty trashy-haired girl like me? A total stranger? "Um, am I going to meet your sensei?"
He stands by the door, his eyes starting to dart around in an obviously nervous way. "Yeah, I mean, if you want to of course. If you don't want to, it's fine. It's not supposed to be awkward, but more like a friendly chat, you know? Or if you-"
I can't help but laugh. And Leo's dumbfounded expression only makes it worse, I grab my sides and crack up!
"What's so funny?"
I wipe tears from my eyes. "You're hilarious Leonardo.
He glares at me, probably just now realizing that I had jeered at him. "I'm not uneasy. I just want you to feel comfortable meeting him."
"Cut it out. I was just playing with you. I appreciate it."
He rolls his eyes at me, but smiling all the same. He's a real page turner. "Trust me when I say, he's not really that intimidating except during his lessons. He's really been looking forward to meeting you."
"I can't wait to meet him."
He pulls aside the sliding cherry blossom door to the dojo. Under the tree, sitting in a meditative position under the sheltering branches of the tree, is a rat unlike any I'd ever seen before. He doesn't even look like a rat. The white tufts on the tips of his ears make him look more like a lynx. White fur along the bottom of his long face, curling under his jaw, and then a long thin beard extending from his chin down to his throat. He has an emerald green crystal cane laid before him on the floor and his ears twitch as I enter the room.
Without opening his eyes, the corners of his mouth curl upwards in a smile and he gestures with his hand to the empty space before him."Don't be frightened my child. Please come in."
The door closes behind me and I sit down in front of him.
"It's wonderful to meet you, sir," I extend my hand and he accepts, his paws so much bigger than my hands.
"My son Leonardo was correct. You are a remarkable young lady to be so unalarmed by my appearance."
"To be honest master, it's hard to be frightened by you, given the many….unusual things I've seen in the past few weeks."
"My sons would tell you otherwise," he chuckles as he opens his eyes, stroking his beard. His voice fills the entire room, mine sounds so meek and quiet in comparison.
His brown eyes are so much like Leo's, piercing but kind. I'd love to see Allen try to lock eyes with him for more than thirty seconds. He'd be shaking like a leaf.
"Direct eye contact too. You are quite unique, my dear. I've heard much about you from my sons, especially my oldest Leonardo."
"Good things, I imagine?"
He laughs again. It's a lot like my dad's. "Yes, my child. All good things."
I can only smile. "Good, I'm glad. Because if he had bad things to say about me, I would have a thing or two to say to him."
"You must have already heard from my sons that we do not often permit many humans to know the location of our home."
I can sense the seriousness in his voice. "Yes sir, they've told me."
"I do not wish to alarm you, my child, but you must understand that we are at your mercy. If certain people were to find this place, terrible consequences would follow suit."
"Leonardo has made me quite aware about the precautions you take in regards to the secrecy of your existence. If it's any consolation, I've asked him to keep it secret even from me. I know there are people who would do anything and everything in their power to find you and your sons. I promise you that I will never speak a word to another soul about you or where you live. On my honor." I place my hand over my heart and bow to him.
"I am grateful," he says nodding, "You are welcome to come here, whenever you wish."
My heart swells with joy! I can visit them all the time now! I want to hug him so badly, but I'm sure if that would be respectful since we just met. A suppose a simple thank you would be sufficient. "Thank you sir. It's such a privilege to be welcomed into your home."
He nods. "You are most welcome young lady. If should ever be in need of help, know that you may rely on my family to aid you."
"Thank you."
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Leonardo peeking in through the cracked door.
I need to ask him. And I should do it soon.
"If you'll excuse me, sensei," I bow to him before getting up and shutting the beautifully painted doors behind me.
Mikey is out cold on his beanbag in front of the TV, which is still playing. I pop into the kitchen only to find Leo preparing two small bowls of instant ramen. He smiles at me as I walk in. Why do I always feel so jittery around him whenever he smiles like that at me? I may need to distance myself from him a little.
"I'm sorry the guys couldn't all be here," he says, pulling up a stool, "They had to check out a possible Purple Dragon exploit in Chinatown."
"Oh, that's okay. Your missions come first. But aren't you supposed to be with them. I'm not distracting you from your priorities, am I?"
"No no no, of course not! I thought I should check on you….You look exhausted."
Do I really look that bad? "I'm just sleepy."
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?
"Yes! I'm fine! Why do keep asking?!" I lie through my teeth. These cuts on my back are killing me! I'll need to have Kat look at them when I get back.
"Because you don't look fine. Listen, I need to talk to you."
Suddenly I can't look him in the eye. His eyes are so penetrating as if he could look straight through stone. I can feel myself breaking out in a nervous sweat. He's really serious. I have a faint idea of where this is going, and it makes me feel nervous. Geez, those eyes! If I even try to look at him with a straight face, I'll completely lose it!
"Oh, yeah? What about?"
"Tell me Tess, besides looking like something out of science fiction, have I done anything to make you suspect that I'm some kind of criminal?
That was unexpected! "No? Is this some kind of joke?"
"No, it's not. Now, have I?"
"No, of course not!"
"Okay then," his face is totally unchanged as he leaned towards me with his hands folded, "Answer me this. Are you satisfied with the way your life is right now? What do your parents do profession-wise?"
"I...I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"No. All I know is that their work is private."
"Really."
I hands my hands into fists. There he goes again being all over protective again! It drives me completely insane! Why does he feel the need to know everything about me? Does he suspect that I'm one of those lunatics, the Purple Dragons!? Does he really? Although, it's not like I have been straightforward about my family's current predicament. So I can understand if he suspects that I haven't been entirely truthful, but I wanted to be sure I could trust him. It's something that someone has to earn! It can't be given freely.
"Why do I feel like you're dancing around the actual question?! It's irritating!
"I'm just asking you questions."
"Yeah, really really personal ones! This whole conversation feels like an interrogation."
He's quiet for a moment and when he doesn't say anything for a long while, I finally look up at him. His expression has softened, resting his palm on the counter near me and he leans closer. "I'm not interrogating you Tess. I'm sorry if it came off that way. I'm asking you these things because I'm worried about you. Your wellbeing matters to me. Friends are supposed to look out for one another."
My stare finds the floor again, but I can't think of anything to say. He's right. I haven't been fair to him at all. He has done so much for me: kept my family alive, saved my life twice, and even gave me something I never thought I could ever have with anyone again—a friendship that I could trust in! If I trust him, why is it such a problem to tell him the truth about my family and the cruelty they've endured for so long? He deserves to know, I owe him.
"I understand Leonardo," my voice comes out so quiet. "Don't think for a moment that I don't appreciate having such a kind and caring friend as you in my life. I act like I hate that you worry, but in all honesty, it's one of the things that I like most about you. I owe you after all, and I've been waiting for the most appropriate time to tell you. Since it's important that you know, I need to tell you something before we say anything else."
"For many certain reasons, I have a hard time trusting people. Before I really got to know you, for all I could tell you and your brothers could have been a gang of ruffians. The things I told you, about me and my siblings, everything I said was completely true. But….there was a number of things about my parents, what they do, that were….not entirely true."
"Well, I found this last night and thought you should see it." He pulls his phone out of his belt. He scrolls with his finger over the screen and then holds up a picture.
I gasp! The picture is of the side of a brick building with graffiti all over it. The graffiti depicts a bright purple menacing snake-like dragon! I've seen that very same dragon before!
"Do you recognize this symbol, Tess?"
My eyes start to blur and my head aches like crazy! Allen has the very same dragon symbol tattooed on his arm! And...Cher had one too! She had one on that snaked around her wrist! Are they…?!
"Where….where did you find this?" I can only breathe my words.
"It was painted on the side of your apartment building, Tess. I think that building where you live….is a Purple Dragon nest. Uh...Tess? Tess!"
My mind is spinning! My words come out as mumbled hysterical little bits and pieces. I'm just so dizzy and exhausted, my head's drooping and I can feel myself….falling.
It takes all my strength to open my eyes.
"Tess!" I can feel his hands against my back. The pressure of them on my fresh cuts sends a horrible pain through my back, right where the lashings are etched into my skin! I can't stand it! It hurts too much! I scream! Why does this always happen with just him? It's getting old, and I can imagine he's tired of it too. It's so embarrassing! Looking so pathetic, I want to shove him away, if only I wasn't so tired.
"Tess, are you okay?"
It's a stupid question, but I can't stop babbling."Leonardo…it...hurts."
I wince as Leo's arm presses against my lashings, suppressing a yelp. He carries me into a room that I've never seen before. Is this his room?
"Tess, please speak to me," He says as he sets me down on the bed.
I feel like I can't breath. "I don't know what….what to…wait, what….you….you think that….that I'm….I'm a-"
Despite my mumbling, Leo understands what I'm saying. "No Tess, I don't think you're a Purple Dragon. But are you seriously telling me everything about your parents?"
Why did I never see this before?! Cher and Allen both have that mark on their skin! That's it! I'm done hiding this. Leonardo is not my enemy. He's proven more than worthy of my trust. Sure he may annoy me sometimes, but he's the only one I feel safest with. I just hope he'll be willing to help me, after I've kept all this from him for so long. It doesn't matter anymore, I'm willing to risk it to save my siblings! I'll take the heat for my own dishonesty.
"Le-Leonardo?"
"Tess? Please tell me. Are you feeling alright?"
"No," I wince and squeeze my eyes shut, "My-my back. The lashings on my back...they hurt really bad."
"Lashings?! Tess, they lashed you?"
"Yeah, it's-"
"Don't you dare say it's nothing. It's clearly not nothing." His voice is very stern! "Let me look at it."
"Leonardo, listen to me," I say as firm as I can, pulling away from him and keeping the distance between us with my hand on his chest, "That's not important right now. Please, don't be mad."
His hand latches onto my wrist that's pressed against his plastron and he slides the sleeve of my shirt up to my shoulder, revealing the numerous scratches and cuts on my arms. He caresses my arm as he looks up and glares at me with utter disdain.
"Are you kidding? Someone is beating you to a bloody pulp and you're telling me to be MAD? How can I not be mad? Why would keep this a secret from me? This is serious Tess!"
He's really starting to annoy me! I try so hard not to cry. "Because what happens to me is not important right now Leonardo. My siblings-"
"Leo! Leo, get out here!"
Leo releases my shoulders, absently telling me to stay there as he runs out into the hall towards the living room.
Several loud voices emanate from inside in the living room, two of them I clearly recognize to be Raph and Leo's. They're fighting!
Despite Leo's orders to stay put, I toddle out of his room and into the living room.
Raph, covered with cuts, and a black-haired boy that I can only assume is Casey, carry a barely conscious Donnie on their shoulders! Mikey appears from the double doors of Donnie's lab, arms full of medical supplies.
"Oh my gosh! You guys, what happened?!"
Both of them turn in my direction, and Raph looks even angrier when he sees it's me. "What is she doing here Leo?" He growled lowly.
"She's welcome to come here anytime Raph, so lay off," Leo barked, slowly lifting Donnie from their hold and onto the couch.
"Ha, you're gonna regret that."
"Raphael enough!" I jump at the booming voice of their sensei as he comes up behind me. I didn't even notice he was there until he spoke.
With an exasperated huff, Raph falls silent.
"What happened my son?" he demanded.
Raph looked almost shamefully at Donnie, who now seemed to be coming to while Leo and Mikey treated his wounds. Then Raph's gaze turned to me, his eyes gleaming with anger.
He clearly doesn't want me listening to whatever they are talking about. What is his problem with me?! What have I done to make him hate me like this? I want so badly to yell at him! But right now, I'm more worried about Donnie. I shouldn't let it bother me.
"Nothing personal sweetheart, but this kind of top secret."
"Raph, will you PLEASE GIVE HER A-"
"No Leonardo." I try very hard not sound hurt, my voice cracking only slightly. "It's fine. It's not like this is my deal anyway. It's a family matter after all."
I walk slowly towards the kitchen, several objective voices that I recognize yell across the room, but the only one I could hear the clearest….was Raph's.
"I don't trust her! It was exactly the same routine with the Foot Princess. She fooled us with her lies and almost got Mikey killed. I'm not gonna fall for the same old tricks of some stupid orphan!"
Right at that moment, I suddenly feel something inside me crack. It rang out louder than all the commotion happening behind my back. Those words flash in front of my eyes. Stupid orphan? Sure, I guess I am. I mean after all, I have no parents anymore. That does make me an orphan. Still….how could he….
"Stupid orphan?" my voice is almost a whisper, "Yes….I guess I am."
Silence instantly replaces the earlier chatter.
"Both my parents are dead."
The next minute is a blur! I no longer feel in control of my body. First a dash of footsteps, a stir of confused voices, a loud SLAP, a sting against my palm...then nothing. Nothing but silence.
"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME RAPHAEL! And of course, how could you!? You take every privilege you have in your possession for granted. You have a roof over your head, all the food you can ever eat. You have freedom, no fear that you or your siblings, the very last bit of your family may die the next day. Or even worse, you don't have to cry yourself to sleep and wake up every morning with the awful memory of your parents being SHOT AND KILLED, RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! Be glad that a horrific moment like that isn't forever branded into memory, haunting you for the rest of your life! You have a parent who is ALIVE for crying out loud! A father who can love you! You have everything, and that's more than neither me or my siblings can ever have again!"
Without looking back and ignoring the pain coursing through every part of my body, I turn away towards the turnstiles and leave the entire Hamato family to their thoughts.
An Hour Earlier...
"Message to Base. This is Scout 4 reporting."
"Jack, it's after hours," the receiver groaned on the other end,"You were supposed to have checked in ages ago. What are you up to?"
"Just patch me through to the Head. He'll want to hear this."
"This had better be good. Alright, you're connected. Frequency 53."
"Hello, sir? This is Scout 4."
The growl from the other end nearly shattered his confident composure. "Have we looked at your watch in the last few hours, young man? You've been relieved."
"Please sir, forgive me for the intrusion. You won't be disappointed."
"I doubt that. Whatever drawl you have can wait 'til the morning."
"There is detected movement at Detainment 500!" He cried frantically.
There was a long pause before he responded. "Very well. Report Scout 4."
"Your suspicions never fail sir. It would seem that one of the chicks has flown the coop. And it appears that she isn't alone."
"Hmm...interesting," the voice murmured with pleasure over his device, "Most interesting. You did well to contact me young man. Well done."
"The pleasure is all mine sir. I'll signal for a retrieval squad immediately to-"
"No, that will not be necessary."
"Sir?"
"I do not like to repeat myself. You will do no such thing."
"Sir, she will surely expose us! For all we can tell, she won't go back."
"Do not get ahead of yourself young man. You lack any sense of imagination. She would never leave without the shambles of her family. Why not kill two birds with one stone? We need not dirty our hands when there is no need."
"What will you have me do sir? There must be something-"
"I'm giving you an order, Scout 4. Follow but do not intercept under any circumstances. You will not harm a single hair on her head. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal, sir," he replied reluctantly.
"And one more thing. Bring G43 along with you."
"Xander? I assure you sir, I can handle-"
"Your assurance is unfounded young man. I make the decisions, and you will take him with you. Besides, he's proven to be worthy and needs some hands-on experience for these kind of situations. Dispatch him."
"Understood."
"Excellent. Speaking of which, I do believe that it's about time that I paid a visit to my hard-working little benefactors."
DUN! DUN! DUN!
What beef does Raph have with Tess?
What dangers wait just around the corner for Tess and Leo?
What will happen to her siblings?
Who is behind it all?
Until next time...Please comment!