Chapter 28: Nakamu (Family)

~6 Years Later~

"Hey quit playin' rough," Raph growled as two hybrid boys rolled into him.

"But he started it!" the elder of the two grumbled.

"Michael, Gabriel enough," Raph interrupted, stooping down and grabbing the boys by the back of their shirts.

Michael the elder of the two grumbled and glared at his younger brother. They were only a year apart but war seemed inevitable every time they were awake.

"Shesh you two are worse than Leo and I were as kids," Raph grumbled.

Negai resisted a snort of laughter, shaking her head instead.

It was beyond her how no one saw the resemblance between Leo and Michael, between Michael and Aki.

Whatever the lack of insight was caused by, she was grateful for it. She glanced over toward Kael as the toddler started to move toward his elder cousins. Leaning over from the spot she was sitting in she picked up her nephew.

"Now where do you think you are going?" She teased.

"Pl'y," he mumbled.

She smiled at the boy before chuckling and shaking her head.

"Nah, those two get too rough for you," she whispered, "How about we go get mommy huh?"

"Ma," the toddler agreed, twisting to find her.

Negai stood to her feet and headed toward the hall that lead to Don and Veronica's rooms. Neither of the two women had gotten used to the underground home, but they accepted it.

It was safer than anything above ground anyway.

Negai knocked lightly on the closed door when she got to it.

"Good morning I have a delivery for you," she teased softly as Veronica's head peeked out.

"Oh you rascal," She mumbled, "You're too smart for your own good you know that?"

The toddler simply reached for his mother and giggled.

Veronica smiled and took the boy.

"Sorry he bothered you," Ve whispered.

"I just didn't want him getting hurt," Negai replied.

"Those two at it again?" Ve asked as she slipped out of the room and headed toward the kitchen.

"When aren't they?" Negai sighed as she walked alongside Veronica.

Ve smiled softly.

Ve glanced at Raph as they came into the main hall, eying Negai who did the same.

"He loves you, you know that right?" Ve whispered.

Negai blinked in surprise before blushing and looking away from Raph.

"I know he cares about me," She whispered.

"Do you care about him?" Ve asked gently.

Negai squirmed internally, she still loved Leo after all this time, but…she found herself caring a great deal about Raph.

"Yes," She whispered finally.

"That's what matters," Ve said gently.

"Good morning," chimed a welcoming voice.

Negai looked up and smiled.

"Good morning Aki," Negai greeted.

"Otosan sent me to get you for the meeting today. He said he needs his best guards for the trip. Wanted to know if you were up for it," Aki replied quickly.

"Hmmm I think Raph can handle the boys for the day let me change first," she replied softly.

Raph chuckled as Negai pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek before slipping toward their rooms.

He turned his head toward where she was heading. He had fallen for her, fallen hard. He loved her, but he knew she didn't return the feelings in full. She cared about him, he knew that and he accepted it.

She was warming up to him, and Raph was determined to show he could be the right man for her.

Aki remained still, her eyes watching her half-brother and her cousin with humor. Raph grunted as he heard the distinctive sounds of the two boys going at it again.

"Alright that's it," Raph growled, whipping around to grab the boys before hauling them off toward their rooms.

The boys' cries of protests could be heard coming down the hall way.

"BUT MIKE STARTED IT!"

"ITS GABE'S FAULT!"

"ENOUGH!" Raph's shout cut through.

Aki giggled softly much to Veronica's humor.

"Aki hold Kael for me while I get stuff going for breakfast," Ve said with a grin.

"Those two are impossible," Aki chuckled.

"Oh you have no idea my dear, you have no idea," Ve replied.

Aki cuddled her cousin as the boy was handed off. He eyed her locket and picked it up.

Aki's image seemed to flicker somewhat.

"Eh no, don't do that," she said gently as she pulled it back.

Kael gave an excited giggle and reached for the locket again.

Ve smiled at her son before grabbing him back, kissing his belly as she held him up.

"Oh that's enough," she cooed to the boy.

The toddler giggled again and snuggled against his mother as she hugged him.

"Dada!" Kael said suddenly, perking up at the sight of his father.

Don chuckled before grabbing the infant and hugging him.

"Morning my little rascal," he chuckled.

"Alright Aki let's go before your father has a hissy fit," Negai called.

Don snorted in laughter.

"Negai you know you are the only one who can away with saying that about him without dying right?" Don called as Negai and Aki slipped out of the lair.

"YEP!" Negai called back. If only you knew why.

~O~ Hawaii ~O~

Nikko was now sixteen, her frame had filled out and she was a picture of elegance. She had chosen to be life-guard on the beach that her father and friends worked in shops. Though lately, things had gotten bad.

Some tycoon had been buying the beach up bit by bit. Those that refused were finding their merchandise damaged or missing.

Jake Gold had been forced to sell his shop and spot on the beach after he had found his shop torn apart one morning, he couldn't afford to do anything else.

"Nikko!" a girl's voice broke the silence.

Nikko turned to see a blonde young woman come dashing up to her.

"Morning Nat," Nikko sighed.

Natalie Gold, Jake and Helen's only child. They were the same age.

"Nikko hurry," Nat ordered.

"What's wrong?" Nikko gasped.

"Your dad was attacked," Nat gasped.

"Where?" Nikko demanded.

"Dad found him unconscious in his shop," Nat replied.

The two girls scrambled up the hill. When they reached the Surf Shop Nikko pushed past and cried out at the sight of her father sitting on the floor, with his head in his hands.

"Dad? Daddy?" Nikko managed weakly.

"I'm ok Sweetheart," Makoto said gently, grimacing as he pressed a nervous hand against his bandaged head.

Nikko pushed past Helen and Jake and wrapped her father in a hug.

"Honey I'm ok," Makoto urged.

"What happened?" She begged.

Makoto grimaced weakly before looking up at Jake and Helen.

"There's a lot I haven't told you about my past…I had enemies…enemies I thought I had defeated with my…with my brothers. Their leader was…imprisoned….and my eldest brother married their leader's daughter to prevent them from ever being able to attack again," Makoto whispered.

"They were the ones," Jake whispered.

Makoto nodded.

"My real name is Hamato Michaelangelo," Mike whispered.

"Hamato…Hamato as in Leonardo Hamato and Karai Oroku-Hamato?" Helen gasped.

"Yes, he's my brother," Mike whispered.

"What are you going to do?" Jake managed after a minute.

"I'm going to call and warn them," Mike managed as he stumbled to his feet and groped for the phone.

Jake grabbed him and helped him stand as Nikko steadied him.

"Easy dad," Nikko managed.

Mike managed a weak smile her way before grabbing his cell phone off of the counter.

He flipped the device open and his hand hovered over the digits for a moment before dialing.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Leo…is that you?" Mike managed after a few seconds of shocked silence.

"MIKEY?"

"Yeah bro its me," Mike whispered.

"WHERE ARE YOU? What the…you said we'd stay together and then you…you…you walked out on us…on me…Mike…you…why?"

Mike sagged against the counter in shock, Leo sounded, broken, shocked, hurt.

"He's back Leo…Ch'rell is back," Mike managed, it was all he could get out.

"No…it can't…no…"

"Warn the others," Mike managed, "I'm coming home as fast as I can."

"You're hurt aren't you?"

"Yes," Mike managed after a pause.

He hung up and slumped to the ground, sobbing softly despite Jake and his daughter's attempt to calm him.

"I walked out on my family…on my brothers…oh please let everything be ok," he managed, "I left them…grieving…thinking…that I was…"

A/N: Will Mikey make it back in time? Will the others have time to prepare before the next strike hits?

Also there are about five chapters left tops. Hang on for the ride

Reviews Please.