Thanks so much for the marvelous reviews! I am very sorry for such a long wait, I hope this chapter makes up for it. Also, if anyone wants to make a DIGITAL, and I do stress digital, cover for this story, please review or pm me. Anyway, enjoy and review.
Cabin
Yoshi and Shen had left for town around 6:30, leaving the boys alone at the Cabin. All five sat together in the living room, indulged in their phones. Donnie and Leonardo sat, looking at pictures on the formers laptop, picture that were retrieved from the latter's phone before it was traded in for a new one. After Raphael had dropped it in the fountain at the hospital, the phone had just the slightest bit of life, just enough for Donatello to upload the photos taken and saved onto his computer, so he could later share them with the eldest.
As they scrolled through the photos, Donatello gave a brief discipline of who and what was going on in the picture whenever he could, but all that became hard when the pictures came to Karai.
"Who's she?" Leonardo asked, studying the girl in the picture with him.
She had short hair, reaching just above her shoulders. Her hair was ombré, a black turning blonde, and was curled in the photo. Amber eyes glimmered as she smiled into the camera, her perfectly carved face bright with happiness.
"That's Karai." Donatello replied with a a faint smile. "She's your girlfriend."
Leonardo's face lit up. That angel staring at him was his? He kissed her and held her while she slept? Eagerness to meet her made Leo squirm, though, he managed to shove his hopes deep beneath his feet. He knew he'd have to wait nearly a week to see Karai, so he'd just keep himself occupied with his family until then.
"How long have we been dating?" Leonardo felt guilty for having to ask the question, he really did. It was horrible that he couldn't remember anything, and it set an aching feeling in the pit of his stomach every time he asked a question like this.
"Two months in three weeks." Leo couldn't help but smile at this. Perhaps they could spend it together, if, of course, if she still wanted him.
What use was he of her now anyway? He could barely remember his own name. He was nothing but a drag now, that was one thing he knew for sure.
"You should Skype her tomorrow, I'm sure she'd like that." Raphael didn't look away from his screen, his fingers tapping quickly as he texted his own girlfriend.
Leo nodded. He would do that, and he'd get to know the girl who loves him and he'll fall for her all over again.
"Dudes, can we do something?" Michelangelo groaned in boredom. He wanted to do anything but sit and do nothing.
Casey and Raphael exchanged a similar expression, one of which they could speak to one another through. The pair knew this cabin and its grounds like the back of their hands. They knew each and every path the city just south of the house held as well as they knew each other. Casey has come with his best friend every time he came up here since the day it was purchased. Needless to say, they knew how to have fun.
"Hike." Raphael put the suggestion out in the open, but only for Casey to consider.
"Nah, too late, it'll be gettin' dark soon. Lake."
"My dad would worry if he came back and we were that far from the house."
Both boys furrowed their brows. What could they do?
It was said they were telepathic, their bodies were controlled by the same brain and soul, as they both came up with the same idea at the same moment.
In perfect synchronization, Raphael and Casey leaped off of the couch they shared, pointing a finger at the other as they shouted, "Bonfire!"
Woods
Raphael lead his brother out, deep into the woods. The sun was just sliding behind the horizon as the elder swung an axe slightly at his side.
They walked in silence, Leonardo hugging him self tightly to keep from shivering as a big gust of wind came flying out of nowhere, looked around, taking note of every little crevice in the grounds and trees.
"Why do we have to chop up wood anyway? Wouldn't it just be easier if we bought wood from a store or something?" Raphael peaked and his younger brother from over his shoulder. "Now, where's the fun in that?"
They stopped at an area filed with logs. There were five piles stacked with nearly a dozen 20-foot long logs.
Raphael, using the strength he had built up in his muscular arms, rolled three off of the first stack and immediately began chopping. Though, not without first sliding a long, thick katana from his left pant leg.
He tossed the sword to Leonardo, who caught it, examined it, and looked back at his elder brother carefully and questioningly. "What's this?"
Raphael smirked mischievously. He'd brought his brother's sword just in case something like this were to happen. He wanted all of his brothers to learn the ancient art of ninjutsu, and he vowed to start teaching them the second they got home.
"It's your Katana. I only brought one, the twin is at home. You were learning how to use it before you were comatized, and let me say, you're quite skilled." Raphael brought his axe back behind his shoulder, and when he brought it down, it struck the wood, splitting it clear into two. "You're turn." He said to his brother, gesturing to the log.
Leonardo hesitated as Raphael took a few steps back. He was unsure of how to use the blade. How does he hold it, how does he swing it? How much force should he use, and how skilled was he really?
But most of all, Leonardo wondered if he could really do this.
Bringing the Katana back at a range that seemed fitting, Leonardo swung at the wood, cutting it clean in half.
Raphael clapped, smirking at Leo standing in bewilderment. The former was positive that the latter would soon, under the strict course of intense training, be a great master of ninjutsu. "Why don't you finish in this log and I'll take the others."
Leo nodded his head vigorously. He loved the feeling of adrenaline rushing through his blood filled veins as he struck the fallen tree, and he knew that this was a talent he wanted to full fill.
Cabin
Donatello and Michelangelo racked through the cabinets and pantry in the kitchen, scavenging around for the essentials for making s'mores, and finding nothing. "This place doesn't have any good food." Mikey said with a pout.
Donnie sighed. "We don't really need s'mor-" He trailed off when Mikey brought his lower lip out, and tilted his head with his blue eyes the size of saucers. A faint whimper vibrated his throat, and Donatello groaned. "Fine, why don't we go into town and get some stuff?" Michelangelo leapt off of the counter, sprinting to his brother, who he quickly pulled into a warm, kind embrace. "Thanks so much, D."
The older of the two smiled, patting the younger a back. "Don't mention it. Now, if we're gonna go we better go now."
Don collected the keys to Raphael's ford dodge, and the pair headed out of the cabin. On their way out of the cabin, they passed Casey, who was collecting sticks and twigs from around the yard. "We're going into town; we couldn't find any s'mores stuff in the house. We'll be back soon."
"K, see ya when you get back; toothless." Casey added the teasing nickname at the end, smirking at Donatello.
Donnie was quick to think, and came up with a keen backfire. "Bye, Cave-mouth."
Later
Raphael and Casey set the last of the wood in the fire pit as Leonardo set five chairs in a circle around it. A bitter breeze blew from the east, curving around the mountains and finding its way towards the cabin and its dwellers. The trio shivered, the lakes water moistened the air, making the temperature about 15 degrees cooler, despite it being mid June.
Leonardo plopped down in a chair, and rested his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward. His cobalt blue eyes shifted from his older brother and friend down to his hands, linked together like a chained rope, shaking the slightest bit as another round of wind came in a large gust. Thoughts overwhelmed Leo as he sat calmly. His stance told the world he was a cool, collected young man, but his soul told otherwise.
The boy in blue felt like he was drowning. Drowning in the confusion and desperation to know who he was. Ever since awakening from his
coma, Leo has had an unbearable sense of sadness. It consumed him, ate him whole. He was trapped and he knew it.
Amnesia taunted him, laughing as he fought back tears. Something told Leonardo that he wasn't allowed to cry, that he needed to stay strong. That's what everyone else was doing, so why should he crumble? It wouldn't be fair to the others if he cried, no, it would not.
So, instead he lived in a secret misery, watching everyone build up their walls of strength while his rotted and crumbled around him. He lived in defeat; like a broken soldier, he carried his battle scars insecurely, not letting anyone see him in the sake of them seeing his true form; weak.
Leonardo squeezed his eyes shut just as he heard someone sit in the chair beside him. He clenched his hands together until his knuckles were white as snow. Only then did he settle back into his depressed state, and he realized that he needed both a coping mechanism and a way out; so he asked question.
"What's she like; Karai?" His voice cracked, as if he'd forgotten how to use it. And in a way, he did. He'd barely spoken since he broke loose of the cocoon that kept him in a deep sleep for a month.
Raphael leaned back in his chair, and ran his long fingers through his thick brown hair. He was due for a hair cut, and his brothers would most likely accompanying him, as well.
The eldest of the quadruplets focused on the starry sky, as if it hold the answers.
"She's amazing, like an angel. Graceful, stunning, beautiful. She's everything you could ask for." Raphael hated to say it, but his heart ached for Karai. He'd do anything to be back with her, even if it meant leaving Mona. Yes, Raphael loved Mona, but he was with Karai for three years, he can't just move on from her.
Leonardo shook his head. No, no he did not care about how Karai looked, he cared for what she was like on the inside. "Ya but, what is she like?"
Casey stood in silence, eyeing the two brothers he considered his friends carefully. The only sound was their shallow breaths and the waves overlapping each other at the lakes shore. The wind whistled through the trees, igniting the area with a pine aroma that tickled each of the teens noses.
"She's like a blissful night in the city. Alive and exciting. There's a mystery to discover around every corner, and you can't help but adore the adrenaline that courses through your veins as you race down every alleyway, in every shadow, to uncover its secret. Karai is like a humming bird, mischievous, yet, optimistic. She looks on the bright side of everything. She forgives, but never forgets. She draws the line at her family, she won't let anything hurt them. She's such a loving person, but feisty at the same time. To sum everything up, though, Karai is a wonder. Something too pure, too beautiful for this harsh, violent world." Guilt flooded Raphael's mind as he spoke these words of integrity. He was supposed to love Mona Lisa, not Karai Bradford! If either of the girls found out..well..he'd be neck deep in hell.
Leo smiled. He felt lucky for having Karai, she sounded amazing.
The other two Hamato brothers pulled into the driveway and ran straight over to the trio. Michelangelo reached the group first, and immediately flipped down next to Casey. "'Sup, Bruh!" He exclaimed as he fist bumped his buddy.
Donatello took the last chair, sitting between Leonardo and Michelangelo, the two people he trusted most in life. He wasn't all too sure about Raphael. Could he trust him, or was he dangerous?
"Here, make your s'mores, Mikey." Donatello tossed a bag over to Michelangelo, who caught it and removed the contents.
Raphael started the fire, which blazed furiously with a burning heat. The scene was immediately resplendent from the flow of the fire, setting light to everyone faces as they stared deep into the embers.
"Look at this, it's a stick! I'm gonna make like, ten s'mores! And put five pieces of chocolate on each! It's gonna be rad!" Mikey laughed as he slid Marshmallows onto roaster.
"Nope, no, you are not eating ten s'mores and you will only have one chocolate on each because we are not going to deal with you being hyper all night long." Donnie shook his head and folded his arms.
Raphael glanced between the two, watching them silently and intently. He didn't like how Donatello was constantly babysitting Michelangelo. He was almost 16, he didn't need his older brother ruling his life.
"Don't listen to him, Mike, you can have as many s'mores as you'd like." This earned Raphael a death glare, but he didn't care. What Donatello thought of him didn't matter, he could care less.
"You can't just let him do what he wants, he needs discipline." Donnie scolded, a glare in his maroon eyes.
"He's six-fucking-teen! You gotta let him live a little for fucks sake." Raphael was getting impatient. He hated it when people disagreed him and his actions. "Why don't you worry about your goddamn older brother here who forgot everything and leave Mikey be?!" Raph yelled, his harsh words sending wind flying backwards, set birds into flight in fear of the noise.
That was it, Leonardo broke. The dam holding back his tears shattered and a loud sob roared out of his throat as years rained down his face. Everyone went silent as Leonardo crumbled. The sight was horrifying for all. The strong teenager was now left vulnerable and pulverized.
"See what you did? You need to calm down, Raphael!" Donatello bellowed in rage as he held Leonardo in a comforting embrace.
Raphael laughed a hardy laugh. He disagreed with that completely. "You can just shut the fuck up now, Donatello because-" He was cut off by a cold hand on his shoulder.
"You can come with me, Raphael." Yoshi's voice sent chills running down his eldest sons spine.
"Okay." Raphael followed his father into the house. He braced himself for the yelling, he stacked as many bricks as he could, guarding his heart, his soul, from the world. He blocked everyone out, and lived on his own.