Chapter 26 There's No Goin' Back
Once again, the sun had risen over the high school, it's gentle rays of light lazily seeping into the shadows of the night overpowering the darkness, bringing colors and hues to the previously dull dark world, and showing that it, once again, was day, but it wasn't just any day, as you may know. For today was the day Raphael would join me in school for the first time. I felt my black skirt flow behind me as, on six inch black high heel ankle boots, I rushed through the air conditioned halls pulling the red clad mutant turtle along with me. My red tank top allowed the cool air to meet my skin, both black and pale creme in color, and the black belt tightened around my waist while my lungs expanded making room for the air that flowed through them. My tail was swaying like a cat's, the anxious motions of my orange and white tail matching my emotions as I tried to beat the tardy bell.
"Autumn, could'ja slow down! We ain't runnin' from da foot or anythin'." I looked back at the turtle behind me, still running. Raphael wasn't panting, he wasn't sweating, and he certainly didn't look exhausted, but I was pulling him by the arm and running thereby yanking his arm and causing it to be sore but I had to hurry. "We gotta get ta class ba'fore-." The shrill sound of the bell ringing interrupted my response, we were late. A string of curses left my lips as we approached the door. As the door opened, I shaded my eyes from the bright room, but Raphael stayed in the shadows of the hall, out of the direct view of the humans in the room. Chairs squeaked as people turned, a couple dozen pairs of eyes staring... But two pairs of eyes didn't stare.
Eyes of obsidian and sky blue widened before the people connected to those eyes jumped up. Running forward the two enveloped me in a hug. The owners of the eyes were none other than Drew Hunter and Kitonia Katina, my best friends. As I was released from the strong grip of my friends.
An attention grabbing cough stopped the reunion short and eyes turned to Ms. Thomas as she began to speak. "Welcome back, Autumn. I trust the Hamato's and you traveled safely home from Nevada." "How'd ya know-"
I was cut off by the woman's response. "Your current caretaker and I spoke. Sakuhen Hamato told me that he and his sons were on their way to pick you up." Of course, Master Splinter must have been called when Ms. Thomas found me to be absent. It makes sense considering how the elderly rodent is. Based upon where Yoshi lived, Japan, it makes sense that Splinter would call himself Sakuhen Hamato, taking the last name of his unknowing sensei and taking the name Splinter and saying in Japanese as his sensei would've more than likely done.
"Yes, I'd been kidnapped again, but I managed to escape with the help of a new friend and the Hamatos brought us both back to New York. Because of the second kidnapping Sakuhen-san and the Hamato brothers agreed it would be be best if one of them comes to school with me and acts as a bodyguard. Can you promise not to freak out?"
The responses to my question were varied, from a vigorous nod to a calm yes; from a rather loud "Hell Yeah", to a soft shrug or raised eyebrows. Taking their word for it, though I still didn't trust them, I called Raphael into the classroom. Slowly a large dark figure moved toward the identifying light, and slowly the light of the classroom revealed a dark forest green bald head, flame like amber eyes covered only by a worn blood red mask torn slightly around the edges, and a small frown on the green lips connected to his round beak.
Light gasping and whispering met my ears and my brain immediately went to listening. "It's him. The guy that sang during the Halloween party with the freak." "Why's he wearing that costume? It's weird." "I think he's cute." My eyes flickered between classmates as they spoke amongst themselves.
When I felt muscular arms wrap themselves around me and something round resting on my shoulder, stiff muscles I hadn't even noticed relaxed. My head turned toward the head on my shoulder to see my hothead and with a soft rumbling voice he said, "Ya know, I kinda think you should tell them I ain't wearin' a costume."
Hearing his deep resounding voice the class went silent looking on in surprise but they hadn't heard what he'd said. No, they only heard a deep unfamiliar voice and had turned to see if it was the bodyguard of their previously missing student. The small plethora of students hadn't heard what the red clad reptile had said, that much was obvious, but the voice of the mutant was easily noticed amongst the boisterous babble. "Nah... if they don't know by now they can find out on their own. It's not our job ta point out the obvious."
A smirk came to his face, "then I guess we also don't have ta tell 'em that we're t'getha'." My eyes turned to meet the eyes of a certain jock who was scowling at the turtle, remembering the night of the Halloween party, the night his time playing sports ended. Raphael, though he went easy on the human, had messed the teen up enough to destroy his athletic abilities. Cole Scarsini, a typical everyday jock, had made a grave mistake that day, he had made Hamato Yuudai Raphael angry and he would pay the price for countless years to come.
I was drawn out of my musings by the surprised words of my teacher. "Um... Autumn why is he dressed like a giant turtle?" Her eyes were wide, her mouth was gaping, and her voice had a hint of surprise in it. "Ma'am... I ain't in no costume, 'cept maybe da jeans, da shirt an' da jacket 'cause I don't usually wear those. I am Hamato Raphael, son of Splinter, and I'm a mutant turtle."
Her reaction was surprising to say the least. Her eyes closed, her chest expanded as she took a deep breath, and her face relaxed. For a moment she was completely still, not even her dark auburn brown hair moved from it's place. When her light brown eyes opened they were calm. Calm as the surface of the ocean on a cloudless day, when the sun shines brightly in the sky. She was as calm as the focussed Hamato Leonardo when he meditates, when not even a twitch threatened to move his still body.
"Well then, Raphael if you would sit down with the rest of class I will begin today's lesson." Was all she said, her voice emanating authority, and for once in his life the rebellious turtle obeyed joining me, Kit, and Drew in the way to our table. Even if his words weren't displaying his usual rebelliousness, he didn't go down silently. In his loud baritone voice he said with a smirk, "Call me Raph."
Class went by without a problem. Actually it was quite the opposite of a problem. It was a class to remember. Through out the lesson Ms. Thomas and Raph threw jokes and sarcastic remarks almost as if they were best friends. They had an almost instant unforeseeable incomprehensible friendship. Ya know how there are some people that just click, well, strangely, that's Ms. Thomas and Raphael.
For the first time class seemed to fly by and when the bell rang signaling the end of class the students were actually disappointed. The presence of Raphael had made first period enjoyable instead of just some boring lecture during which Ms. Thomas would occasionally make jokes if we behaved. If we behaved... That was the problem. During my class something always went wrong. Whether it be a fight, "inappropriate language", or people just not paying attention, something always happened. Well... Almost always.