I do not own any form of TMNT except for my OC(s).
So, hey… I'm still alive. ^-^" sorry bros… I know it's been an extremely long time since I last updated, but I promise I haven't given up on this story! I finally found time to update or at least type up some chapters for you guys. :) I'm super psyched! I hope you guys will forgive me for disappearing like that. :P I'll try to find more time to update. Thanks for being patient. :)
Here's chapter 11! ENJOY! :D
Hit the Ground Running
Chapter 11: Black and Blues to Green
Raph's POV
"C'mon, Raph… Time to go home." Usually, if Leo told me that, I'd fight and argue to kingdom come. "Leo…?" He turned quickly and looked shocked that I wasn't arguing. "What's wrong?" he asked in a concerned voice as he walked over. "I…I'll meet you guys at home… I've gotta sort through some thoughts…"
Leo's POV
I was shocked, again, beyond belief. Raph was not only not arguing, but requesting NICELY that he have some time alone up here. I hesitantly nodded and turned to leave with Mikey and Don. "Thanks…" I heard him whisper. I froze and glanced over at my little brother who was staring at the ground. I walked over to him and embraced him in a hug. "Be safe." I said, releasing him. As he nodded, I gave him a half smile and turned to leave with Donnie and Mikey.
Raph's POV
As soon as the guys left, I made my way to Mikey and Kai's hideout. Technically it was all of ours, but they spent the most time there. I went there more than Leo an' Don, but only 'cause my bike is there. When I got in, Klunk was lyin' on Mikey's hammock. I smiled and stroked the small kitten's back. "Heya, Klunk." I murmured softly, scratching under his chin. He purred and stretched, makin' me feel satisfied and warm inside. Spike and Klunk just had a way of makin' ya feel at peace with th' world. I guess that's with a lotta animals and pets, too. I walked to my room and slipped on my ridin' suit an' helmet. When U got to th' garage, my jaw dropped. Kai's bike was gone. "Aw, shell! Shell, shell, shell!" I ran to my bike and turned it on, setting it up to track my sista's bike. As I roared out onto the open road, a small blip popped upon my bike's GPS. "No freakin' punk ever steals from us! When I find dis guy, I'll smack the shell outta him 'til his black and blues are green!" I took a sharp turn to get on Fifth and almost ran into Casey. We stopped next to each other and lifted our visors to speak. "Raph, I heard Kai's bike go past my apartment a while back!" "Someone took it. I'm trackin' 'em right now." "Let's do this!" I nodded and we roared off to get Kai's bike back.
Kai's POV
I raced around, taking in all that I saw, remembering everything. I screeched to a halt in an alley near our favorite pizza joint. The same alley Mikey and I had decided to meet in. I parked my bike in the darkest corner and locked it to a set of pipes that ran up the side of the building. Now to retrace my steps… I carefully climbed up a ladder and made my way over the rooftops.
Raph's POV
"Aw, shell!" We found Kai's bike, but it was systematically locked and the keys were gone. I pulled out my shell cell and began trackin' the small chip in th' keys. "C'mon, Case! He went dis way!" We got on the roof and quickly followed the trail from the keys. As we continued to race across the rooftops, a strangely familiar pattern kept coming to me. Then, it hit me…and so did Casey. I stopped abruptly, causin' Casey to run into me. "What the shell, Raph?! Ya can't just stop—" "Case, this ain't no coincidence! This is the same path Kai was takin' to get away from da Foot Clan! Look!" I knelt down and picked up a torn stip of Kai's hoodie that had caught my eye. Throwing knives littered the roof and there were definite signs of a struggle. I looked up at Casey. "This was when she probably got cut on her back." I dropped the cloth and continued on. I had a hunch that we might find more where Shredder… When we almost lost Kai… I shook off the memory and continued runnin'. As we jumped to anotha roof, my shell cell started ta ring. "H'lo?" "Raph, Kai isn't here! We've looked all over the lair and through the sewers! We've gotta find her! What if Fish Face found her?! What if Dog-Pound—" "Woah! Slow down, Mamma Hen! I think we're on 'er trail. No worries. I'll find her an' make sure she's safe an' sound. Trust me on dis." Leo paused and I heard a tense sigh of frustration. "Fine. But you'd better call or text when you find her. Got it?" "Yhea, I got it, Fearless." I hung up and spotted the building where Kai had been confronted by the Shredder. "Hey, Case? I think I should—" He stopped me. "You don't gotta tell me. Take care of her." With that, he left. I silently made my way to the roof of the tallest building in the area, landing with the force of a feather. I looked up and saw a figure in a familiar ridin' suit, standin' at the edge of the roof, staring out in the distance. I could only imagine… No, I couldn't even imagine what was going through Kai's mind or what she was feeling. She was like a statue, frozen to the spot. I took a deep breath and quietly walked over to her. As I approached, I studied her. She seemed to know someone was approaching, but she didn't even make the effort to see if I were a friend or a foe. She still wore her helmet, but the visor was flipped up, allowing her to see everything through non-tinted sight. I stood next to her, not sayin' a word as the chilly wind blew around us. I glanced at her outta the corner of my eye. She was just starin' ahead, her face completely emotionless. As I was about to look away, I caught her take in a shaky breath, almost unnoticeable. I turned to face her and for the first time, she moved, looking down and away from me. "Kai…" I stopped myself as a small tremor shook through her. Is she…crying? I gently put a hand on the left side of her helmet near her chin and carefully turned her head up and towards me. She opened her glossy eyes, tears at the brims, her nose a light rosey-red color from the cold. She searched my eyes for comfort and looked overwhelmed. I brought her into a protective hug, feelin' her small frame begin to shake a little harder. She remembers… I didn't know what else to do. I was happy Kai had some memories back, but hated the feeling of not being able to make her pain go away. When I had my last concussion, realizations and memories had come back and felt like a brick wall smashin' against ya at a hundred miles an hour. I held Kai in my arms, slowly swaying side to side, tryin' my best to comfort my baby sista.
Normal POV
Raph and I hugged for a long time as I cried. I remembered everything that had happened. I remembered fighting with Raph and him catching me as I was falling. There were just so many different emotions running through me and all I could do was cry in my older brother's arms. That could've been the last time I'd ever see my brothers… Master Splinter… Casey and April… I could've died, my last words to Raph, full of anger. I felt completely drained as I tried to calm my breathing, softly hiccuping from crying. He kept swaying us back and forth, gently rubbing my back in a circular motion. I'm sorry Raph… I inhaled and gently pulled out of the hug. I looked up into my brother's glowing amber eyes which stared back in mine. "Raph… I… I…" I sighed and went to sit on a nearby AC unit. He joined me, but all I could do was stare at the ground in front of me. "You what?" he asked. "I…" I closed my eyes and took off my helmet, my blonde-streaked, bronze hair gently blowing about in the calm, cool breeze. I brushed it out of my eyes as I opened them and stared down at my reflection in the shiny helmet. "I could've died… I almost did die… You guys risked everything for me… I…can't do anything. I am a kid… And all I do is cause trouble or argue or fight when all you guys are trying to do is to help me…" I stood up and walked to the building's water silo. I'm an awful sibling… Why can't I do anything right? I sighed, leaning against one of the support beams. "Kai, you're not just a kid—" "Yhea, I am. You've said it lots of times. All I ever get treated like is like a kid… I can't even—" "Kai, stop!" Raph said in a commanding tone, catching my attention. I did and looked up at him.
Raph's POV
"You can't go around beatin' yourself up over this! Kai, you're not a kid. You are a teen just like us… We just… We…" He sighed, giving up on being 'Mister Tough Guy'. "We love you. And we can't stand knowing that every day, you are in danger. Danger of Kairai at school, danger of the Purple Dragons while walking home or where ever, danger of being taken by Xever or Dog-Pound, and danger of so much more. Kai… Whether you like it or not, you are our baby sista. Our only baby sista. …I guess we do smoth'a you a lot, but… I guess we're just your overly protective big brothas. Now I'm startin' to see that you aren't a kid anymore… And… And maybe I…" I took a deep breath. "Maybe I shouldn't worry as much… Treat you like you're olda…" I had been staring at my hands or at the ground, trying to avoid eye contact, but when I looked up at her, she looked surprised.
Leo's POV
I had tracked down Raph and saw that he and Kai were talking, so I stealthily found a place to listen in without being caught. I was surprised, too. My hot-headed, over protective, tough guy, little brother was wearing his heart on his sleeve. I had no idea he would be so open and vulnerable like that… I watched as Kai slowly walked over to him and gave him a hug. "Thanks, Raphie." I smiled as I watched them hug and chuckled quietly to myself as Raph got Kai in a gentle head lock, ruffling her hair. "But that doesn't mean I'll let you get away with all teenager stuff." He joked, letting her up. She playfully pushed him, laughing. They began walking back to where Kai's helmet was. "You know, Leo's gunna be mad at ya for sneakin' off like this." Raph said. "Yhea… Well… In a sense it was worth it. I just hope I don't have to train extra. My knee and ankle are killing me. I practically walked all over New York trying to find answers…" She pulled on her helmet and I decided to head home. As I leapt from rooftop to rooftop, everything felt right again. I felt a peace of knowing that Kai had her memories back. All I could do now was smile, not really wanting to stop. Kai had made it through this, ad things looked like they were going to only get better.