A Bond Of Friendship

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter Twenty One: What makes you so good? (AKA Raph's Rant.)

RAPHAEL:

I saw Ramiela come charging from out of the playground, looking very upset and like she was about to bawl, I felt a tinge of sympathy for her, even as I heard Mike calling her to come back. I moved quickly to cut her off and I had to grab on to her with both arms to keep a hold on her.

" Ramiela, what's wrong?" I asked, though a part of me all ready knew.

" Don't you know we're freakin' animals!" she snapped at me.

Those words, coming from her in that way shocked me so much that I let her go, and she zipped past me running for her bedroom. I felt like someone had just slammed into my gut, and I felt a sudden wild rage, such as I had not felt for some years build up inside of me from out of nowhere.

I had been expecting her to be upset because she had to say good bye to her good friend. But this, this was not what I expected or wanted for her. I knew what she meant though, how could I not?

For many years, I had thought about our existence and what had changed us. I hated and I envied the human race. I hated them because, they were free to live their lives, not having to live a half life of the shadows, hiding in fear. Hated them because I knew to most of the population we were nothing more than freaks, something to be locked up in a zoo or experimented on. I envied them because in many ways, I wanted to be human and not have to live the life we were forced to. I wanted to be accepted.

I didn't want to be forever looking at something that I knew I could never have, no matter how much I dreamed or wanted it, it would always be a figment- like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We existed yeah, if you could call it that. We would live and die alone, unloved and no one would mourn our passing, except for the few family who might be alive.

All those thoughts fueled my anger and hatred of the outside world and what I was. The very things that set us apart. My brothers were at best mirrors of my own pain and hurt.

Some of my anger faded when Rama was born, I guess that she gave me hope that we didn't have to be alone. Who couldn't love the lively bundle of energy, the joyful mischievous antics and her merry little laugh. Yeah, in no time at all I loved that kid more than I loved anything else.

Then Karena entered our lives, if Rama was a ray of hope, Karena was simply put the sunshine in our otherwise dark and dreary lives. Here was a human, willing to give up everything just so she could be with one of us. I respected and admired Karena far more then I respected her husband.

Personally, I figured Leo had been crazy letting Karena suffer with that no good Melody. By the time we got home Karena looked so frazzled and ready to kill, and I didn't know if she intended her husband or Melody as her prey. She looked so on edge, that I had sidled up to her and whispered in her ear.

" Karena say the word and I'll make sure Leo suffers for what he put you through."

I would do it for her to.

Now it seemed as if Melody had a fresh victim of her venomous attacks, but her hatred had caused her to mess with the one person in my family, that I would not let anyone mess with.

I was raised to respect females and not hurt them, unless they were trying to hurt me and then well I'd use what ever force it took. I know Melody was a guest!

But there are limits. Even a guest ought to respect their host, no matter how they may feel. Hurting Rama in that way, meant Melody had far more then crossed the line and she was going find out there was something's we, or I should say I, took great offence to.

All of this flashed through my mind so fast, my hands clenched and I stormed into the playground with a menacing sneer on my face.

Mike glanced up and yelled " Raph, no!" He moved to block me and I glowered at him in return.

" To hell with you Mike. Ama gizenteki na is going get an earful whether she wants it or not. She will listen to me and she ought to be thankful that when I am done all I would have done to her is talk, and not doing one thing that I'd really love to do to her right now" I growled, " though she deserves a stronger lesson then just talking. She's got Rama believing she is a kikei and a dobutsu besides." I informed Mike. ( Ama- Bitch. Gizenteki na- Hypocritical. Kekei - freak. Dobutsu- animal.)

Mike's eyes narrowed, and his back straightened. As he moved to one side, " Jessie, it seems Raph and your mom are going have a little talk." He said as he took Jessie's by the arm.

I knew Mike was just as angry as I was right now. Yeah, you might not want to get between any mother and her child, but where Mike was concerned he was both mom and dad to Ramiela. I nodded and moved past the two grabbed Melody and forced her against the wall pinning her there, I shoved my face so it was mere inches in front of hers.

" Rama was nice enough to teach your son, Jessie, that he wasn't a freak for the way he talked, that he was special. You have in return taught that little girl she is a freak!" I roared the last bit. " Jessie, informed us that you often say how people ought to be tolerant of each other but your actions don't suit your words, because deep inside you are a prejudiced hypocritical bitch and I hope your satisfied and happy with yourself." I hissed.

I shook my head, " Understand one thing, I'm not against all humans. Lucky for me my family has known some wonderful humans, and I've heard stories of other people who are shining examples of the human race and humanity itself. But I got to know what makes you think you're so much BETTER then ME! I'm nothing more then a dumb animal in your eyes right?" I demanded.

Melody didn't move, she didn't even struggle. She was probably too frozen in shock to do much. But I wasn't complaining.

"Well last I checked lady animals don't go around destroying the environment, animals don't go around raping and murdering their own kind for the fun of it. Animals don't start wars over religion or for any other reason for that matter." I stated firmly. " You know something though, your kind of hatred has lead to many atrocities through out the history of man. Your kind of thinking is what lead Adolph Hitler to kill the Jews. Your kind of thinking lead to the bombing of Hiroshima as payback for Pearl Harbor."

Yeah, I knew my history.

" Your kind of thinking lead to someone believing they were superior then Americans and so they attacked on nine eleven and war has been going on ever since due to and because...someone somewhere just had to be better then his neighbours. Prejudice and hatred has been the root of so many violent crimes that I've lost count of them all." I raged.

I pointed a thick finger at her, " You are no different because you hate us. You want to hurt us anyway you can, because we challenge your thinking of what is normal, and you feel you are so damn superior to us because you are human," I snorted spraying some spittle and watched her grimace in disgust, " as if being human makes you better, more worthy then being an animal. Let me tell you something, it doesn't give you fuck all."

I gritted my teeth, and let that sink in but only for a second or two before I continued, " After meeting you I can proudly say, I'm glad I'm an animal because I don't want to be a part of the same race as you are. Let me tell you something else, your son is better then you are at this moment but you will only end up hurting him and turning what he has into a bitter poison, you'll teach him to hate." I promised her, " You'll teach him he is so much better then others are. But remember while you teach him that, no matter what or where, or how good you are there is always someone who is better then you."

I took a deep breath before I continued, " What makes you so great? What makes you superior to us? What the hell makes you human? It sure as hell isn't your ability to emphasize or show compassion to others."

" Raph let her go!" the strong firm voice from behind me ordered.

I recognized the voice but turned to see Leo in the door way, his arms crossed over his plastron and glaring at me.

" Leo she has Ramiela believing she's a freakin' animal" I growled his way.

Leo stood up straighter and his eyes narrowed, " Raph." His voice wasn't as firm but there was still the order to it.

I sneered and backed off as Leo stalked over to my side, he looked into Melody's face. " I know you don't care for us Melody and the only reason we wanted you to stay this long was so your son could have a chance to part with his friend on a good note." Leo gave a sad shake of his head, " You have made that impossible. Your hatred has blinded you so you can't even consider Jessie's needs before your own. Where do you think that anger will lead you, now, Melody?" Leo wondered. " Wherever it may lead you I wish you and Jessie both well. But I fear the outcome won't be good."

Leo sighed, " You have done enough damage to my family. You have caused enough trouble and hurt feelings to last for a long time to come. Your path of destruction is as clearly marked as what is left in the wake of a tornado. I will escort you home to assure your safe arrival, and then since you wish it we will no longer be a part of your life." Leo raised his head to meet her gaze and now his tone took on that of an authority with just a hint of underlying threat.

" If you choose to endanger the lives of my family and cause us further pain then you will regret your choice." He declared.

I flashed an evil smile " I can make her regret it right now Leo. Hurting Rama like that." I snarled.

I suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to go work out because the anger that was rising up inside of me was about to explode, and I knew that this time going topside to blow off steam just wouldn't do it.

I wanted to go to Rama and comfort her but I didn't know what to tell her to ease her pain and her own doubts about who or what she was.

It was a damn good thing I knew people like Karena, people, who accepted us fully for who we were. If it wasn't for those sort of people in my life I'd be willing to say to hell with the human race all together, they could look after themselves.

Though I must say I felt sorry for Jessie he seemed like a good kid. Pity he had something like her for a mother. I mused as I left the playground heading for the dojo. I had an important meeting with a punching bag, and by the time I was done I had a feeling there wasn't going be a lot left of that bag.

TBC