Keys

Mikey had placed blue mats from one end of the dojo to the other. Thunder roared right outside, illuminating the room in a bright white and blue flash before dying off. Each part of the wall was a sliding panel that could individually be opened and locked, and Mikey chose to open as many of them as he could. Even with the elongated roof overhanging the training room, fine mists of rain swept inside and dusted Raph's freshly washed skin as he sat close to the opened wall and away from the mats.

"Okay, I'm going to do something really cool, so hold onto your socks."

"No socks in the dojo."

Raph absent-mindedly said, earning a momentarily confused look from Mikey.

"Says who?"

"Everyone knows that."

"No, you need socks to wear those samurai sandals and stuff! People wear shoes in a dojo!"

"For grip...you have acrobatic mats out? You're gonna do a couple of flips? No socks."

"Dude, you sound like sensei. I was only joking."

"Right...well, show me what you got. You sure your ankle's fine from last time?"

"No sweat! It wasn't twisted at all! You guys overreact!"

Raph's arms crossed as he gave Mikey an iron stare that he couldn't argue against. Slouching his shoulders and throwing his arms up in defeat, he waved Raph away with both hands and went to the end of the mat set-up and pointed to Raph.

"I'll show you!"

"Yeah, yeah, show me what you've got, tough guy."

Feeling the challenge that Raph had now just issued against him, Mikey huffed out his chest and clenched his fists at both his sides.

"Prepare. To have. Your pants knocked off."

"Hey, I can wear pants here!"

"Come on, dude, I'm trying to be cool."

His whining was cut short when a crack of lightning struck a lamppost nearby, momentarily blinding the two. Wide-eyed, Mikey shook off the shock and smiled from ear to ear.

"Starting!"

Mikey nearly yelled and, from a standstill, began his acrobatic show with a single back flip. Stopping and holding his arms out to Raph, as if trying to show off that single skill, Raph immediately gave him the thumbs down.

"I didn't get my vision back to see that. I thought you got your nunchucks."

"You don't even KNOW."

He pointed an accusing finger that quickly evolved into his entire body flipping backwards. Expecting it to be over in one back flip, Raph prepared his sarcasm and eagerly waited for him to show off the second flip. When Mikey continued, flip after flip after flip, he switched it up by twisting in the air after enough momentum was gained and began a series of side flips that then, when he ran out of room ahead of him, changed into a side roll on the ground so he now faced the wall where he started. Expecting him to stop at least for a moment to catch his breath, Mikey continued still with front flips that where he lead the way with one leg and then the other. Admittedly, he was beyond impressed. When the wall at the other end quickly approached him again, his arms stretched out to hold onto the ground, his legs twisted in the air. Upside down, in more of a Mikey fashion sort of almost fighting, his hands danced on the floor one at a time, always changing, as his legs swung and spun up high to give him momentum. Always looking ahead, the air twists ended with a final hard tap on the ground with his left hand and he stopped, body curled in the air with his feet nearly dangling in front of his face, and finally he pushed himself back onto his feet after a few moments of intense suspension. Raph couldn't contain the overwhelming excitement that exploded in loud cheering and clapping as he jumped to his feet. Mikey's entire body heaved with every breath he took as he held onto his knees to keep the room from spinning.

"That was amazing!"

Raph's voice boomed louder than he could ever remember. He grasped onto Mikey's shoulders and gave him a proud shake.

"How the heck did you manage to do that!?"

"Sensei thinks I've too much pent up energy during the day..."

He panted, inhaling loudly and exhaling slowly as he tried to regain control over his breathing.

"And so! He says this is my way of spending it!"

He brought his thumb up to his chest and dug it in there with a satisfied smirk.

"I'm the best of my brothers!"

"Says you."

Raph retorted, placing his arms akimbo and smiling from ear to ear. It had slipped his mind that the brothers, too, had trained in the same thing. Only for a moment.

"Okay, okay, okay. Something I know for SURE that the others can't do is spin nunchucks like Bruce Lee."

"Alright, let's see them. Just go slow. I didn't see some of those spinny moves you did."

"Aw, man, really?"

"Mikey, I'm not one hundred percent in my vision. I can see, but not everything. Like your hands sorta meld together sometimes on the ground."

Raph could see Mikey's entire body sag a bit in disappointment before brightening up again.

"Well, that just means I've gotta show you in a few days!"

Nodding, Raph placed a hand on Mikey's head and rustled his hair.

"Sounds like a plan."

"And another plan would be getting pizza! We've been here, what, ten minutes?"

"Something like it, yeah."

"Pizza should be here then! First, help me close up here!"

"You withheld my son's belongings from me?"

Yoshi snapped, fuming. The contents of the box, now spread across the table, contained a heavily charred and torn backpack still full of now scorched schoolwork, broken pencils, keys, and a wallet.

"It was evidence."

The female officer, Kennsworth, her badge read, said.

"It was not yours to keep!"

Yoshi exclaimed. Donatello and Leonardo sat quietly on either side of him. Leo kept glancing over at Donnie every so often so see him having problems keeping himself in line. He wanted to lash out and grab the evidence and run, he knew, but if their father was there, he'd be able to handle it.

"It was, actually."

Baker, the male's name.

"And we held it for the allotted six month period to allow investigation. Which is was investigated."

"And did you find anything worth investigating?"

Yoshi demanded, wanting to scoop the contents in his arms and hold them close. Baker and Kennsworth exchanged glances and shook their heads.

"No," Kennsworth answered, "but we tried."

Sighing, trying to expel his anger, Yoshi nodded.

"Thank you."

"We have a hunch on what happened, and who is behind this, but without any clues, we can't ID anyone. Even if you tell us the exact gang, we could try and extract information but not without risking the life of someone else."

The doorbell rang again, and before Donnie could get up to answer it, Leo had sprung forwards and jumped at it. Donnie needed his closure more than he did. Paying for it and leaving a generous tip, the driver tipped his cap and ran back out in the pouring rain. Bringing the boxes to the kitchen and placing it on the counter, Leo looked back over to Donnie to gauge his mental state. Raising and dangerous.

"We're sorry for this, Mr Hamato. Unfortunately, we have no new information. No one's come forth as new witnesses, and the area is still under renovation. You know how slow it goes in New York."

Kennsworth offered a small smile, but Yoshi was not in the mood to humor her. Donnie finally reached out and picked up the wallet and opened it. Folded bills and various cards bound with a paperclip were carelessly stuffed inside. Yoshi watched as he rummaged through the knick-knacks until he came across a worn out high school card with his picture on it. Pausing, breath held in his chest, he stared at it before closing it back up. It was as if he had forgotten how his brother looked like.

"We cleared the shrapnel from the bag for evidence. Everything's been dusted and replaced just as it was. We still have a piece of his clothing that can be used with K9 dogs, and has, but the area is too charred up to find anything."

Baker could see that Yoshi was growing tired of hearing them and their excuses.

"So, you've come here to return his items to this family, yes?"

Yoshi spoke slowly and with care, maintaining eye contact with each of them. His hands clasped together on the table clenched and unclenched.

"Yes..."

Kennsworth was growing uneasy with Yoshi's candid manner of speaking now.

"And nothing else?"

"We're sorry."

"Don't be, officer Baker. I do not blame you. But I would like for you to leave now. By your presence, you've upset my sons. And worse yet, you return items that were rightfully ours in the first place and taken without our knowledge. Now, you tell me that there is nothing more you can do for my dead son?"

Leo stood by his father now, shoulders bunched up and following his lead.

"Mr Hamato, we-"

"We've said our goodbyes, officers. And now you ask us to do so again tonight. So please, if you will, I'd like for you to leave until you can tell me something good about this situation."

Yoshi stood up, and, contagiously, the two officers stood up as well. Donnie stayed quiet in his chair, his eyes flickering over to the backpack and desperately wanting to go through that as well, contained himself as best as he could. Silently, the two officers made their way to the door and turned back to look at Yoshi. Kennsworth noted the two additional boys watching them from a doorway leading to the long corridor.

"Also your boys?"

"Yes."

"I thought you only our..."

"I do. Recently, Michelangelo has been bringing a friend home. To cope with the loss of his brother."

Yoshi turned back from the entryway to look straight into Mikey's face. It was drawn back in sadness and horror at the mention of his dead brother.

"And so, he is trying to move on. By default, that makes him one of my 'boys' and most welcome in our home."

"Messed up..."

Baker muttered under his breath behind his hand, pretending to scratch at his beard. Yoshi would have stabbed his cane into the ground to silence him if only he had it with him. Kennsworth nodded towards him knowingly, with embarrassment, and extended a hand for Yoshi to shake.

"We're sorry to bother you with bad news."

"Couldn't be helped."

He retorted, sticking his hands inside his sleeves while staring her in the eyes. With a deep sigh through her nose, she retreated her hand and opened the door, tipped her hat, and left. By the time they actually left, Yoshi was fuming. His shoulders heaved and he wanted to get angry at something, but one look at his boys behind him and he knew that this wasn't only about him now.

"Boys, come here."

He called out. The three of them rushed over to their father, Raph watching from the doorway still. Yoshi looked at the three of them, all kneeling in front of him and waiting for him to speak. Raph waited at the doorway for something to happen now that they were in what seemed to be training mode, or maybe a lecturing mode.

"Boys."

Raph's eyes flickered upwards to see that Yoshi was looking at him, too. Taken aback, he returned the patient stare. Deciding that it meant him too, he crept beside Mikey and folded his legs behind him, kneeling as Mikey did, hands on his legs, and looking up at Yoshi. Looking up at sensei. Satisfied, Yoshi closed his eyes momentarily and began choosing his words carefully.

"We are still in mourning, yes. But know that I am proud of each and every single one of you and how you cope. Your brother would be very proud. Donatello, thank you for being so thorough on your brother's search and never giving up hope. I recognize how much strain you are put under from all of us, and know that you have already done more than enough to aid us in our grief. Regardless, I am sure you are eager to go through your brother's belongings in search for more clues. You may be excused to do so. Thank you for waiting all this time."

"Hai, sensei."

Donnie quickly jumped to his feet and he sprung around to the table, scooped all the belongings in his arms, and doubled back upstairs without a second glance. Raph's eyes followed him all along, frowning at how distraught he was.

"Leonardo, thank you for caring for your younger brothers and Nightwatcher. You prove yourself to be an exceptional leader with each passing day. You carry the burden of your brother's death every day and make an example of it. You are more cautious and wary of your surroundings. Thank you for your constant vigilance towards your brothers. You may go now, as well."

"Hai, sensei."

Leo bowed, Yoshi doing the same, and Leo took his leave too, going after Donnie.

"Michelangelo."

Mikey's back tensed up and chest huffed out. Squinting his eyes a bit, Raph wasn't too sure if Mikey's cheeks were flushed or not, and unintentionally loomed forward ever so slightly to try and make out the proper color. A slight pink, but maybe from the acrobatics? He wasn't crying, was he?

"Nightwatcher..."

"Sorry. Lighting is getting dark."

He snapped back into place at Yoshi's warning tone. A few moments of recollecting his thoughts, he began again.

"Michelangelo, you are holding your brothers together. With your kind heart, and optimism, they are truly leaning on you for continued support. You keep them smiling when they can't do so for themselves. I thank you for that."

Mikey bowed and, once again, Raph questioned if his bottom lip quivered or he was getting tired and the lighting was growing dim.

"And Nightwatcher."

Raph's heart lurched. He hadn't expected to be called on. Sure he lined up, but to be recognized as one of his own was probably a bit much on Mr Hamato's part.

"Yeah?"

"Please rely on us more. Michelangelo is fond of you, and by proxy, so are we. Thank you for giving us the ability to care for another once again. It has been difficult to do so for too long."

"Uh..."

Yoshi bowed to him too, and Raph quickly followed suite, his cheek flushing a deep crimson.

"You two are excused."

"Hai, sensei."

Their voices chorused in unison. Mikey's arm raised in Raph's peripheral, and he instantly knew that he had done so to wipe away tears of frustration. Psyching himself up, he puffed out his chest and looked straight at Raph.

"They all forgot their pizza! I'm gonna go drag their butts downstairs!"

Mikey took off in a whirlwind, leaving Raph alone with Yoshi for a moment. Feeling rather sheepish at the whole situation, he scratched at his drying stitches on his hand and smiled uneasily.

"Uh...thank you, uh, sensei? For everything...and letting me into your home. I'm not great with this whole sentimental thing, but you've been awesome to me for the past while and without you, I wouldn't have been able to see again. So...that..and the stitches...and food...and showers and clothes and-"

Yoshi let out a few laughs, trying to contain himself in a graceful manner. Stopping and blushing furiously, Raph cleared his throat and tugged at his sleeve.

"Well, that solves that. Phew. Nice chat. I'm gonna go."

"Wait."

Pursing his lips, his eyes darted back upwards to Yoshi and prayed the awkwardness away. Yoshi approached Raph and drew his arms around him in a hug, the teen freezing up instantly in the warm embrace. "Uh..."

"You are always welcome in our home. It can be your home too. We've always room."

"Yeah, thanks..."

Giving him a quick hug back, obviously awkward as heck, he skedaddled off after Mikey. Yoshi watched with a small smile. Hopefully, they would remember that despite the police peeling back old wounds, they were still loved and cared for, and that they were appreciated for their hard work. He wanted to let them know that they were still doing the best that they could with their life given their circumstances. And for that, for his boys, he couldn't help but tell them how much he welcomed it.

Stopping short in the stairwell, his chest with every breath he took as he tried to reorient himself. The whole exchange was awkwardly familiar. His knees felt accustomed to the strange feeling of being bent the same way for prolonged periods of time. And Yoshi's scent was somehow ingrained in him and it felt comforting. It was awkward. Unusual. He didn't hate it. But it wasn't comfortable at all.
He snapped out of his thoughts when a trio of boys toppled over one another making it to the stairs, a clump of metal falling to his feet. Leaning over to pick them up and inspecting them closer, he realized that they were a set of keys. Instinctively, he reached into both his pockets and felt around them. Almost obligated to clip these ones to the loops around his pants, he refrained from doing so as soon as he caught himself on his actions and paused mid-motion.

"Whoa..."

"You guys saw that, right?"

Leo questioned Mike, whose mouth was agape in awe.

"Dude, you remembered something, didn't you?"

Mikey, who lay flat on the floor with his two older brothers piled on top of him, stared wide eyed at Raph.

"Unless homeless people own keys, I think he might have."

Donnie concluded, wiping dry streaks of tears from his cheeks with the heel of his palm. As if he snapped out of the momentum of remembering, he looked at the boys and blinked a few times.

"Yeah...I used to own keys, I think...in my pocket all the time...attached here..."

As if grasping for invisible keys at his side. It was something so insignificant that it almost frustrated him. His memory jogged with a set of keys. How was that supposed to remind him of who he once was?

"Anything else?"

Donnie asked, peeling himself away from the pile and standing up straight. Raph looped the hook attaching all the keys together around his finger and flipped it constantly in his hand. Pressing his lips together until they formed a white line, he stared at them for a final moment before shaking his head. Holding the keys out to Donnie, he shrugged.

"Maybe that, but I'm not too sure. Just keys, for now. Not sure where or what for."

A jagged headache began materializing behind Raph's eyes and he couldn't help but let out an aggravated sigh. One look at the outstretched hand and Donnie pushed it away.

"Keep them."

Mikey and Leo swapped concerned looks. Donnie would usually want to keep any and all evidence until he was done with it; and considering he had only just managed to take a hold onto them, he hadn't had the time.

"What? No, they're yours."

"It'll be your perfect metaphor. The keys to unlocking your memory."

Donnie was always a fan of satire. Kurt Vonnegut always wrote admirable satire that earned more than a few sensible chuckles from the family's genius.

"If you're sure."

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be offering it to you. Take it."

Hesitantly, Raph nodded and stuffed them in his pockets and latching them around the loops.

"Thanks, Don."

"Donnie's not letting go of his hunch, is he?"

Mikey whispered to Leo, the two of them now standing up and straightening their clothes. Leo nodded and sighed. "

I mean, I think I see it, but..."

"Leo, stop."

Mikey was deadpanned now.

"Stop right now."

When Mikey was firm, everyone knew that things were getting out of hand. A frown and several stern glances later and they all filed downstairs to grab pizza before it got cold. Leo lingered behind and bumped Raph with his elbow, smiling softly.

"Congrats."

He whispered, earning a smile back from the Nightwatcher and watched as he rubbed at his neck, letting Leo drape his arm around his shoulder and walk side by side for a while.

Donatello stared at Raph as he slept. The stranger slept in a curled up ball under the covers as if he were trying to tuck himself away from the world. As a million and one thoughts processed though his brain and his eyes tried to keep up as they quickly moved from left to right. They were scanning him to find some familiarity, any familiarity, that he once knew. The backpack had brought evidence. With evidence, it brought proof that hope was not in vain. And for all his hoping, his gut was telling him that this person, this blind, moody, panicked wreck of a human being, was Raphael Hamato.

"Raphael."

Donnie whispered his name into the air, forming every syllable with care. His eyes had locked onto the figure, unwavering now, as his muscles tensed with unabashed fear. If he answered, then they had found their brother. But at the same time, he didn't want this to be Raphael. Not this person who looked like an anorexic, drowned rat that smelled like sewer water to match the first time he walked through their door.

"Raph."

He whispered a bit louder, unconsciously biting his bottom lip as he waited again. Still, the figure never roused, and that somehow brought about a massive amount of relief to Donatello. Still, his 4am bought of paranoia wasn't yet quenched. He hungered to find out the true identity of this person, and starved more to discover the truth of his brother. There was no way that an entire corpse could disappear. He had done his research on cremating bodies, and couldn't tell his brothers just yet. The fire just was not hot enough to burn away bone, or even render it brittle enough to break. Inhaling sharply, he felt a presence creep up behind him and stop.

"You saw the way he swung those keys, Leo." Donnie whispered, "and Mikey did too."

"Lots of people swing their keys like that."

"Leo..."

"This isn't Raphael."

Leo responded in Japanese. Donnie always did think better in Japanese, Leo knew, but he didn't want him to hide behind it either; and right now, it was definitely Donatello's defense mechanism. Donnie hadn't moved from his spot as he studied Nightwatcher's sleeping face. Mikey had his arm slung over Raph protectively as he slept beside him. From the looks of it, he crawled in sometime during the night to make sure he didn't take off.

"Even if it is, how can you prove it? Use that brain of yours. Think. This is a challenge. The most important one you might ever have. If this is him..."

"I know...but you saw him die."

"You did too. And look where you're standing now thinking that this is our brother. I'm not stupid enough to think you, of all people, are wrong. I don't think it's him. But I'm not stupid enough to completely disagree with you."

Donnie whirled around. Leo believed him?

"I'm maybe just going crazy."

"You need sleep. Leave them alone. We'll figure things out together when he leaves."

"Right...thanks, Leo. I know it isn't...but what if he is..."

"Donnie...bed. I'll personally help you figure things out tomorrow."

Satisfied with that answer, Donnie allowed his big brother to take hold of his shoulder and lead him out of the room with a large yawn. Maybe he was going crazy. Maybe he was even hysterical. But until he could scratch that itch in his brain, he wouldn't be completely satisfied. He was no detective, but the blistering ache in his stomach told him to keep on going until he found the answer they all so desperately needed. The answer was within their reach, they just had to find out how to grasp it.

AN: Oh gosh so many favorites and stuff eeeee tank joo berry much gaiz you're the best!