Chapter 25: Musuko (Son)

~10 years later~

His name was Hamato Sainechomusoko, though most people knew him by the pet name his mother had given him, "Gako".

It was the first time Leo had seen the boy since he was born.

His son.

His human son.

Aki stood obediently beside him, the locket around her neck making her human.

She was beautiful already, at ten years old she was looking more and more like her mother.

Leo stood behind his children with Karai at his side.

They were taking a family portrait for the news, then they would again become to separate parts, only seen together on rare occurrences.

Like now.

Gako was five and terribly curious, he wouldn't hold still and to make matters worse he kept twisting to look at his father.

As if confused as to who Leo was.

He'd only seen Leo once before and briefly, he had no idea who this man was behind him.

Then he reached out and caught a hold of Leo's dress shirt as Karai struggled to get his attention.

Leo twitched, an almost flinch, before he glanced fully at his son.

The bright golden-brown eyes peered up at him, framed by dark hair.

Leo, to both his and Karai's shock, reached down and took the boy before cradling him to his chest.

It hurt.

Oh god it hurt Leo, it was the first time he'd ever held the boy and most likely the last.

Leo jumped as the flash went off for the camera.

"Perfect," said the photographer.

Karai reached over and stroked the boy's cheek, smiling gently.

She ignored her daughter.

Aki's eyes wavered over her parents a moment before she looked away.

Her mother had never spoken to her, nor came to see her, she only knew her father's Aijin, or mistress…Negai.

A secret she knew she could never speak of without risking her father's life.

If her mother knew, if Karai found out about Leonardo's adultery, he would be forced to commit Seppuku.

Aki shuttered at the thought.

Then as quickly as the collaboration had begun it was over, the family separated, Leo hesitantly handing the young boy back to Karai before guiding Aki out of the room.

~O~

A young girl was perched on the counter of the surf shop, her fingers absentmindedly twirling a necklace of Puka Shells. Her dark hair was in pigtails and a characteristically obvious choker adorned her throat.

It had a yellow bead with a Kanji for "Nikko".

Next to her was a Japanese male of roughly thirty years of age.

"Nikko," Makoto said softly.

"Hai Otosan?" Nikko asked softly, turning her head toward her father. (yes father?)

"Run down to Jake's stand and grab us some grub alright?" Makoto said gently, a soft smile flicking across his face.

Nikko brightened instantly.

"Can we lockup early and go swimming later?" she asked, "you know…"

She poked toward her choker.

Makoto cocked his head.

"We'll see how business goes today alright?" he replied, smiling as the girl dropped down and shot toward a stand further down the beach.

He sighed before fumbling with his own choker, he ached to move about as he was really.

He ached to be use his real name…Michaelangelo.

Jake Gold knew their secret, he'd walked into their home unexpected to see Mike standing in only his shell and mask.

Jake had agreed to keep their secret identity and their location to himself.

Things were still uneasy with his wife, Karen, who after meeting Mike or Makoto as she knew him, had freaked and it took her nearly three years to accept what he and Nikko were.

She was getting more friendly lately thankfully.

"Dude can I check out one of those boards?" Makoto turned his head to see two young men eyeing the more expensive, not for rent, boards.

"Nai, those are mine boys," Makoto chuckled, "these are the ones for rent."

He pointed toward the boards that were leaned up against the side of the shop and then to the others that were on display inside.

"Awesome dude," the second kid said after the first grumbled softly about getting to use the intricately designed boards.

~Dusk~

Makoto smiled softly as Nikko shot toward the water by their secluded home, she squealed as she hit the waves and started splashing playfully.

He whooped and shot in after her, coming up under beside his daughter and tickling her.

She giggled and splashed him.

~O~

Don glanced up as a stack of papers were sat beside him.

"Morning Ve," he sighed.

Don had taken up working in the engineering section of the Saki Industries building for over five years now.

Not because he really wanted to but because Leo had requested his help with a project that was faltering, that the company was working on for the US military.

He never left, mostly it just gave him something to do.

Veronica or "Ve" as she tended to go by glanced down at the oriental male at the desk.

"Don…you know you really need to go on vacation or something," she chuckled.

"Why?" Don snorted.

"You're tense as a spring and you are…well always here," she teased.

Don looked up and sighed.

"Yeah well that's what happens when you're oldest brother is co-chair of the company," he remarked dryly before returning to his work.

"Don…I…well you know that new restaurant that opened?" she asked.

"The one on Eastman and 3rd?" Don mumbled.

"Yeah," Ve replied.

"What about it?" Don mumbled.

"I've been wanting to go but not alone-" Ve started.

Don looked up at her.

"Are you asking me to take you on a date?" he sighed.

"Please?" Ve teased, "Please Don? I'll be just like a coworker/friend dinner date thing okay?."

Don rolled his eyes but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He liked her, had for a while, just never figured she'd want anything to do with him.

"Friday at eight?" Don offered.

Ve squealed and hugged him.

"Thanks Don! I owe you one!" Ve called as she took off with the rest of the paper work she had to hand out for the morning.

Don watched her go.

"Will I ever find someone other than a friend?" Don sighed softly.

~O~

He came here every night, same time, same sunglasses, same cocky attitude.

He'd been coming there for nearly six months now, ever since the place had opened.

Club Mystique.

Newest club in town.

She grinned and got up, waltzing toward the figure, her fire red hair falling past her hips as her black dress accented the shape of her curvy frame.

"Hello handsome," she cooed as she slid next to him.

His oriental features showed a faint scowl.

"Evenin'," he grunted.

"What's your name?" she whispered.

"Raphael, what's it to ya'?" he growled back.

"You've been here every night since the place has opened-" she started.

"And ya' want what every other b**** wants that comes up to me…nothing but a lay. I ain't like most guys. Back off," Raph growled, straightening up.

"Why are you here if its not what you want?" the woman snapped, "you just like the view?"

Raph stopped, cocked his head toward her and pulled the sunglasses off, revealing the scarring.

"What view?" Raph snorted, "Can't see a thing sweetheart. Just like the music and the few good girls who come out of curiosity and are too afraid ta' dance. I try my best to give them a fun night. Nothing more than a dance."

The woman gasped and jerked back at the sight of the ugly scars.

A/N: Transition Chapter folks, sort of a "catch up" type thing.

Reviews please!