Chapter 28: Distractions

"Hey, Musashi."

"Whmm?" She glanced at Don curiously, chip between her teeth and controller in her hand.

"So, Karen is always the one to initiate the arrangements?"

Musashi made a weird face, nodded, and finished chewing, "Koji too."

"It's pretty selfless of her to take it all on, considering she gets worried and sick and all."

Musashi nodded, snarling as Mikey snagged the gem she'd had her eyes on. Then she stopped, "Huh? No, Karen never gets nervous or sick. Well, okay, there was this one time she caught the flu, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Interesting."

"Why would you think she has some sorta nervous-disorder? I mean, panicky's the one thing I can't honestly call her. Karen!" She yelled.

Karen irately poked her head out of the other room, "What is it? I'm in the middle of something."

"Why are you lying to Donnie for?"

She growled, "What?"

"Karen, if you don't tell me what's really bothering you, how can I or anyone else help you." Don tried.

She would have said something, but just then Leo interjected from behind her, nearly frightening her to death, "You know it won't do you any good to stay brooding over it. It'll blind your senses and jeopardize your wellbeing. Your behavior right now reveals that you are unfocused."

She froze, eyes wide, realizing everyone was staring at her, even Mikey and Musashi had pulled their gazes from the glowing screen.

"I just had a bad dream! It's no big deal. Why does everyone make a big fuss over this?! It's nothing! It's none of your business." She ranted, fully worn, as she marched to her room and shut the door (never slamming, but locking instead).

Everyone else just looked at each other before going back to their business.

"Yep. Something's definitely eating her." Mikey concluded.

"Yeah, she sounds like you, Musha." Raph said, sitting next to Musashi. She responded by flicking him in the head, not so good-naturedly, he punched her on the arm not so lightly, she shoved him, and soon the two were at it again.

Mikey was upset. He'd been just about to win the game too.

Kojirou merely glared at Don, as if he thought it was his fault. He was tempted to read minds and find out what was really going on, but he'd promised Karen never to thus intrude upon such a personal ground without permission.

Feeling bad that he'd gone about it wrong and pushed her further away, Don took a step towards the door. Ura put a hand on Don's shoulder. "It's okay. She ought to be fine after a while."

She turned, "So Leo? Are we supposed to be meditating now or something?"