TeamB: So I've been a Donnie/April junkie since 2003, and decided it's about time I write a fic for them. I've got a couple of ideas in concerns for the pairing and just might bounce around the various universes. Watch out TMNT fandom, here I come!
It'd been a little over five years since April O'Neil has seen her uncle, and so at the first opportunity to up and visit him she took it, even if that meant she had to suffer through weeks at sea. The dragging days and shifting tides were all worth it the moment her ship harbored and she raced off the board plank into her uncles outstretched arms.
"Uncle Augie!" April dropped her luggage beside her, save for the small case in hand and wound what she could of herself around her smiling uncle.
"Bless my soul, April! Look at you." Green eyes bright and beard and mustache evenly trimmed around his wide smile, her uncle Augustus O'Neil took a step back to take her in. "When you mentioned your wishes to visit, I really didn't take it as a promise, but here you are, and my how you've grown. No more a young lass."
April blushed at his affectionate comments, tucking a strand of her wild red hair behind her ear. "It's why I wanted to come. I figure I'm old enough to see the world now, and why not start with Japan?"
Despite her avid attitude and enthusiastic smiles, she could feel a mood about her uncle in concerning the land he found himself living in these days. He sighed, took up a few cases of her luggage and helped her toward their awaiting carriage.
While the US legation was located at a Zenpukuji, a Buddhist temple, the many consuls were given lodging nearby in quaint little homes. Upon entering, April took in the contrast with the furnish stuffed inside and the architecture surrounding, many of the pieces crafted from the States or the Old Country. They all looked so out of place in a home designed for eastern essentials. It was like a westerner stepping foot in a land not accustomed to them. April could relate.
"I apologize for the mess." Already her uncle was shoving through stacks of baskets and crates not yet touched. He struggled his way into a hallway until stopping at the first door and sliding it open. "As you can see I had some last minute cleaning, but . . . your ship came three days sooner than I thought it would."
All April could do was shrug as she moved in behind her relative to take in the room he had cleared. It was a simple room with a simple cubed space. There was a desk and next to it a small closet, a stand and wash basin nearby, and then in the corner underneath the window lay a mat topped with sheets. She rose a brow at it and then at her uncle.
"Now I've ordered a bedframe, but the ship won't be in for a few weeks. I hope you don't mind camping out on the floor." Her uncle looked worried over her expression, but April only shook her head in acceptance.
"It'll be just like old times; like when we all used to crowd in that tiny apartment of yours for Christmas. I'll be fine. Besides, I think this might be the first time I've ever even had my own room."
Her response seemed to lighten her uncle's heart. "This place will be full of new and different experiences for you, I hope you're prepared."
April's smile curled more as she laid her small case down onto the desk. "I'm hoping for them." As soon as she snapped the latches open, her uncle realized why she held onto her enthusiasm for the unordinary. Inside she stashed papers and sticks of color, both new and used. The sight must have brought back fond memories from the way his smile softened and eyes shone gently.
"Wanting to paint the whole of Japan? Good luck." He chuckled and reached out to ruffle her fiery locks. "But I know you're up for the task."
"If William Gilpin can do it, then why not April O'Neil?" Even in the midst of her excitement and avid hopes of following in her hero's footsteps, come the following morning, April quickly realized why someone such as "April O'Neil" might find a struggle in doing something such as documenting the natives and landscape with pictures.
There she was with her propped case in the middle of the market, hands waving at the passing people for someone to stop, for someone to stand still so that she might draw them, but no one did. They stared and moved on. Perhaps it was simple language barrier.
In the early planning stages of this visit, April brushed up on what she could of the Japanese language, howbeit there wasn't much curricular at all, so there was likely miscommunication in her sentences and phrases. The odd looks were enough of that, but even still she honestly didn't ask for much. Just one person to sit on the stool she propped in front of her makeshift easel, but no one came.
Disappointed, but not downhearted. She was April O'Neil after all.
With a huff, April gathered up her belongings and moved toward the eating district. It's there she sat down at a corner and laid her case down on her lap. With paper and charcoal, she began shadowing her surroundings. If no one would let her sketch them then she would simply sketch the entirety of the area.
It was in that corner where she remained for a good portion of that day, flipping through different pages of different angles and vantages. With the line work done, she itched to meld her paint. She would need some water first.
Standing up, April looked toward a nearby shop. It was full of hanging and shelved clay, glass, and porcelain jars and she bet one had to at least contain some water. So she approached the owner and tried her best to convey what she needed.
"Mizu?" She asked slowly in what she was certain was the word for the element she needed, and yet the older woman looked at her like she didn't understand what she was saying. "Mizu?" She asked again. Again, she was ignored.
"You should leave, foreigner."
April turned to see a narrow-eyed young man. He wasn't alone, especially not in his glaring. The tension in the air was more than obvious, and April's own headstrong aptitude wouldn't be able to change it this time.
"I just wanted a little water. I don't think you'd refuse someone that, right?" They let April's question linger and further stress the air around her. She didn't need anymore comments to understand where she stood in this situation.
"Get out of here, devil eyes! You and the others!"
April rushed over to grab her case, but as soon as she had she felt a rough hand grab her hair just long enough to throw her to the ground. She scrambled back as they encroached.
"I don't mean any harm!" She bade, though she doubted they would listen to any of her pleas.
"Western lies!" Soon enough her antagonizes encircled her and one was even so bold to jab his toes into her ribs. Just as they began to bat her with their walking sticks, she rolled to her feet, springing up and outward. They had at least some courtesy to keep the circle loose enough for her to run off and out of.
April tried her hardest to keep the tears at bay when she slide the front door open to her uncle's home, but the throbbing pain of a bruise across her cheek and the ache along her side made her tremble the tears out. And Augustus O'Neil was in the lounge room, first witness to her state the moment she entered.
"April!" With wide eyes Augustus quickly moved to his niece's side. "What happened?"
"I'm fine." April didn't want to worry her uncle, and it was a quick and habitual response. She's had worse, honestly. When she was eight she had taken a tumble out of a tree and broke her arm and dislocated her shoulder. She's had worse. But even still, she wasn't fine, outwardly or inwardly. She couldn't stop crying.
"No, you are not." Twisting, Augustus called into the home. A servant quickly came running up the hall. "Minako, go run a bath for my niece. And please fetch the ointments." The older woman bowed and retreated to perform her tasks whilst Augustus looked on in grief and worry. Sitting her down in the nearest chair, he was quick to fetch a wet cloth himself and hand it to her.
Grateful for the cool relief against her tender skin, April let her sore body sink into the couch. There she sat, holding onto the moist cloth, trying to shallow her breathing to abate her aching ribs. At least the moisture from the cloth hid the amount of tears she still continued to shed. But as her puffy eyes looked toward her Uncle she realized the upset in his dark eyes would force her to relay the events that brought them to this current situation.
"I guess I just went to some places where I wasn't welcome." Even the shrug hurt. Her uncle winced along with her.
"Where at exactly did you go?" He inquired.
"Just to the marketplace. All I wanted to do was paint," she explained. The dark look in her uncle's eyes never really faded.
"April, I'm really sorry this happened. These passed years haven't been pleasant for the peoples of this land, or for peoples not from this land. I'm not sure when those feelings will ever wane." He sighed, shaking his head and patting her hands comfortingly. "Maybe next time you'll tell me where you're going so I can get you an escort?" His smile was bittersweet, even as he rose a hand to tug at one of her tangled red locks. "You're quite an easy target for all of that hate."
April loved her uncle, and adored his consideration for her, but if all she did was wander around Japan with an escort no one would want to come close to her, and in that no one would let her paint. It's not what she wanted. And as she soaked in the tub with steaming water up to her chin to dull the aches of her abused body, she ran her hand through her hair in thought, and as her blue eyes roamed over deep red she thought of a way to go about the streets less noticeable.
It was her uncle's reaction the next morning that resolved her decision.
"April, what have you done to your hair?!"
She turned to look at her uncle's horrified face. One hand ran through the newly darkened locks. "Oh, I had Miss Minako get me a dye. I figured that my red hair makes me stick out, you know, like back in the States. Maybe this time less people will look my way."
"April, it takes more than dying your hair to become invisible around here." Augustus was crossing his arms, shaking his head disapprovingly. He approached her and set his hands on her shoulders, lightly brushing through the ruined locks. He looked remorseful before he shook his head once more. "No, if you insist on going back out then you'll need this."
April's eyes were wide when her uncle came to hand her a pistol, just small enough to fit into her blouse.
"I'm not asking you to shoot anyone, in fact that's the last thing I ask," her uncle explained. "But if you ever get into that kind of situation then just shoot into the air. It won't hurt anyone, but it'll scare them away."
April understood, however, she felt that perhaps carrying something like a gun would agitate her relations with the Japanese further. But it wasn't at all unwelcome given what she had gone through the other day.
"Now, let me call in an escort for you." April blinked again and made a disapproving sound as her uncle moved toward the door. He motioned her silence and continued his pace. "Don't fight me on this, April. It's for your own good, as well as mine."
As soon as he stepped out to do just that, April grabbed her painter case and rushed out of the house just as quickly. Would Uncle Augie be mad that she left without an entourage? Likely. But April didn't focus on that angry face waiting for her when she came back, instead she clutched her case to herself and went off into the streets and gardens, heart pounding to memorize and immortalize.
By midday April had an array of sketches of structures around the city, her favorite ones being the jutting temples on its outskirts, one of which she was currently finishing up. Her self-touring was met with wary glares and untranslatable mutters. All in all it was a better day than the previous, enough to put a proud smile back on April's lips.
A rumble in her stomach finally got through to her and reminded her that she had forgone breakfast and lunch and by the position of the sun it was drawing near dinner. Confounded bodily needs. With a sigh, April packed her papers and utensils back into her case and moved to locate a nearby restaurant. She found a noodle shop and sat and dined even when lanterns were lit and the nightlife wandered in to fill their own bellies.
Dying her hair certainly didn't deter eastern eyes from her other prominent western features and as the booth crowded, the more the air rose with agitation, that is until someone sat down left of her.
"It is not wise to be out after sundown in your condition."
April turned to look at a young woman with sharp eyes. The corner of her mouth quirked into what could almost be seen as a smirk, but April wasn't one to judge on first impressions—much. The kimono that she wore was red with swirling patterns. Even with such a rude comment, she certainly held no threatening aura about her.
"Condition?"
The woman gave a snort this time. "The western kind."
Oh. April's brows lowered and she turned to look back at her empty bowl and then at her case. Western or not, she meant no harm there and never will. She was just a scenery romanticist is all.
"You speak better English than anyone else here. Is that your way of telling me to be off?" April shot her blue eyes back toward the woman.
"Just take it as advice," she said. "I am Karai."
April straightened in her seat, even as she twisted more toward the woman after the introduction. She was one of the first to actually politely greet her, well, as politely as circumstances allowed. "April O'Neil." She offered her hand, but Karai only stared until she retracted it. Right. "Anything else I should be aware of during my stay here, Karai?"
She noticed the woman's eyes turn and then she pointed down a road. "Avoid that district, and the one next to it at any time of day. I suggest this one to avoid during the busy nights, and always avoid the forests, there are worse things than foreign haters lurking in there."
April's wide eyes followed her directions and logged the information internally. Perhaps with the advice, she would be able to maneuver better around the city.
"What is it you do?" April looked back toward Karai and noticed her looking her over until her brown eyes fell upon her case. "Why stay out so late and so far away from your brethren?"
Patting her case, April felt her protective side pull it from the bar counter back into her lap. She smiled politely at Karai. "I paint. And I lost track of time. I want to paint this place, its cities and towns and its people, but it's harder than I thought it would be."
Karai nodded, understanding her dilemma no doubt. "What have you painted?"
"Buildings mostly," April said, popping open the case and showing Karai some of the sketches. "But people are a lot harder to get to stand still."
"You wish to paint us?" Karai's smile curled more and she nodded, hopping off the stool. "Come. You are in the wrong district. I'll take you to more docile individuals."
April followed where Karai led. And true to her word, the Japanese woman introduced her to individuals who submitted to their terms and obediently settled and let April sketch their forms. Enthused and ecstatic, April hadn't realized how late in the day it was until it was blacker than black outside. Whatever the hour was, it was likely her Uncle Augie wouldn't approve of her staying out during such.
"Karai, I can't express how grateful I am to have had the honor of meeting you and having you guide me around tonight." Despite how awkward it was, April was all smiles as she dipped herself in a native bow. With her case clutched close she backed away, entering into her farewell. "I hope we run into each other again. Maybe next time I'll get to paint you."
"Go home, western girl," Karai nodded. "And be safe on your walk home." She returned the farewell bow.
The first thing April noticed when she came out of her pleasant stupor was the full moon. It was also the last thing she noticed before she realized she was being stalked. Her eyes darted to the people she passed, many turning to glare, to pass comments. Though the ones that worried her were the ones bouting at her, and when she ignored them on her rushed walk home, they antagonized further.
With a quick turn back, she realized she was being followed by said rowdy individuals, and in the lantern lit dark, it was hard to discern if they were the same that had assaulted her yesterday. However, she had no intention on waiting until they caught up with her to find out. With her case clutched against her bosom, she sprinted down the road. And they gave chase.
She was too far from home to keep up her run, and stall after stall that she passed bore no signs of help or western build. She shouldn't have stayed out so late, her uncle was going to kill her if her pursuers didn't bring her half way there first. Her fright took her through residential areas and gardens in hopes to evade, but after every turn they seemed to come closer, finding shorter cuts than herself. So she darted into the forest.
As soon as the branches brushed through her flowing hair, and bushes pushed against her dress, the sound of her chasers began to dwindle. April didn't look back though, she just kept running, knowing that if she did, if her directional sense was on par then she would eventually return back to her uncle's estate. But the forest was vast and seemed darker than even the unlit streets she had passed through a little earlier, so dark that she hadn't seen the upward log that would send her falling down a slope and into vines.
A startled scream helped her body shake out of the tangle, and as she crawled away and laid her back against a tree trunk. She was shaking, the case in her hands rattling as her heavy breathing shuddered out of her trembling lips. The weight of the pistol in her blouse burned, and the fear of taking it out had her frightened. But the quiet around her gave way to noises, of which alerted her to an approach.
Jumping to her feet, April shook her pistol out and pointed into the darkness. "Don't come near!" She turned when another noise startled her to another direction. "I-I'll shoot!" And then another noise caught her attention, one close, so very close, as if it were just right behind her. So she turned and in her fragile alarmed state pulled the trigger.
In the flash of the fire, April's wide eyes caught sight of something. Something she couldn't explain. Something that came so clear and detailed in that moment of panic. Green, eyes as wide as her own. A figure much taller than she, with a face that showed the same amount of fright.
April screamed just as the creature did, just as her bullet struck, and even as it ricocheted, bouncing back toward her, into the dirt. She jumped back in reaction, body shaking to the point her eyes closed and her muscles locked. She didn't really feel herself hit the ground, nor did she remember the world going dark, but it was already dark to begin with.
. . .
Was it stupid to venture toward the edge of safer territory, leaning just close enough to be seen by the opposing clan? Yes, yes it was, but where others—especially the adults—might chide, berate, and call you upon your folly, Dennosuke's reasonable excuse was that he was there to protect his little brother Michitaro, because it was young Michi's idea and despite its absolute absurdity Dennosuke knew that if Michitaro set his mind to do something then no one was stopping him from doing it. So it was best someone chaperone him, and who better than his big brother?
While Michitaro's curiosity about the western humans pulled him to take a peek at one, Dennosuke followed out of necessity to oversee a successful mission and protection if need be. And perhaps because he too secretly yearned to see one as well. Not that his brother needed to know, Michitaro's excitement was enough for the both of them.
It was nerve-wracking though, standing so close to human territory, just a rock's throw away from the nearest housing structure. In the distance they could see one of their main roads where their offspring ran across, and where their beasts of burden worked to pull heavy loads for their tugging masters. Couples, wanderers, armed soldiers, all sorts moved up and down along the road, and as soon as Dennosuke about pulled his brother back in their failed attempt to see anyone different than the usual typical human they've witnessed over the centuries, they see three at once.
They stood tall, strange hats atop their head, and their facial hair came in all sorts, all so very well mannered and kept. Their attire was something else as well. Leggings tight across their long limbs, and tighter shirts as well. The shiny golden disks lined along their shirts mesmerized the two for just long enough to realize it was late.
That was when Dennosuke reluctantly pulled back, taking an equally reluctant brother with him.
Their pace back was less than ideal, and Dennosuke blamed it on his brother's dragging feet than his own stiff-limbed refusal to return in favor of going back to gluing his eyes on the strange differences of the western humans. It had, however, been Michitaro who pointed out the noises coming just ahead. The high pitched cries had triggered their wonder towards identifying the sounds, and while Michitaro suggested a deer, Dennosuke assumed more of a young bear. They were both wrong.
In the flash of the loud BANG wide bright eyes and full round lips stared at them. Its appearance in the middle of the woods startled the brothers as much as the odd looking stick in its hands. On reflex, Dennosuke slid himself in front of his brother and no sooner did he that he felt something bounce off his plastron. A frightened step back pushed Michitaro back as well, even as he clung to him in fright of their safety.
It wasn't until the human's knocking knees brought it down that the two try and capture their racing hearts.
"You alright, Denno?" Michitaro was in front of him now, looking down his shell. Dennosuke felt him poke him at a certain place. "Something nicked you here." He turned then and looked down at the limp human. Instantaneously his eyes widened with fascination.
"Wooow, look at it!" He excitingly circled. "What's it wearing?"
Dennosuke could care less what the human was wearing. His concern leaned toward the alarming proximity they were from it, as well as Michitaro touching it—which he was doing that right now.
"Don't touch it!" Dennosuke paled at the sight of his brother lifting the wide girth of the odd kimono and taking a glance inside. The moment his shout was abided by, he prepared to goad Michitaro to leave the unconscious human and continue their path homeward. But Michitaro's curiosity took hold of him, and there wasn't really saving him until it passed out of his system.
Michitaro lowered the dress and moved, he looked down at the human, taking in the facial features. It was only a short moment later before an enthused gasp sounded. He looked at him with a wide smile. "Denno, I think it's western!"
Dennosuke only let the familiar tingle of related curiosity take him to step closer—not so much to examine the human lain out, but to be near his brother . . . just in case. After a quick glance over he could see what his brother saw. Its face was unusual, with a nose more pointed, face more square, and skin more pale. Looking down further he noticed a low-cut bodice and from the swell along the chest area, he determined the gender of the human.
"It looks like she is," Dennosuke concluded. He placed his hands on his brother's carapace, tugging. "Now, back away before she can hurt you."
"Hurt me?" Michitaro looked up at him with narrowed eyes. "She's completely still, I think she's dead."
Dennosuke was also able to determine the life inside from the rise and fall of her breast. "Were it so easy."
"What do you think she's doing out here?" Michitaro once more pulled away, leaning in closer, crouching just too close to set his older brother's nerves on edge. "It's a far way from human territory, farther still from where she came from." After a pause, Michitaro's mouth opened in concluded shock. "What if she's a sacrifice?"
Dennosuke sighed. "They don't do those anymore."
"Maybe she ran away?" The look in Michitaro's eyes made Dennosuke groan. "Can we . . .?"
"No, we are not keeping a human," Dennosuke finalized. "She's likely just lost, humans do it all the time, especially in a forest like this. She'll find her way back, now come on."
This time, his tug to move his brother along was met with resistance. Michitaro jerked himself away and turned in challenge. "She might not find her way back, a lot of humans don't. If that's the case then it's up to us to bring her back."
Dennosuke shook his head to try and brush the frayed logic of his younger brother out of his skull. Then he paused for a moment to retain his composure and impulse to reach over and slap that idea from him.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."
"Then I'll say it again!"
Startled and shocked, Dennosuke looked at Michitaro strangely. He's been stubborn before, but never on matters concerning the Clans. Something must be in the air to take what little common sense he had and suffocate it.
Perhaps it was Dennosuke's look that made Michitaro turn, his eyes roaming over the human again. He smiled. "She's kind of pretty, you know?"
"Okay this was a bad idea. There's something in the air, you've lost your mind." Dennosuke moved, this time pulling Michitaro away with a force that wouldn't relent, and despite Michitaro's protests, Dennosuke refused to let go. "I knew I shouldn't have let you get this close to human territory."
"But you wanted to come just as much!" Michitaro protested as he wiggled in his brother's grasp. "That's why I asked you."
Dennosuke stopped, gapping. How dare he say such things—such incriminating but completely true things? In his moment of weakness, Michitaro escaped his hold and darted back to the human. Before Dennosuke's very eyes he watched his brother kneel down and lift her up. He should have had a heart attack right then and there. But he didn't. Shame.
"Haha, check it out, I'm actually holding a human." Michitaro was grinning ear to ear. It might be seen as adorable if he wasn't holding a vicious creature that wouldn't think twice about killing his kind and using his meat for their stews and his shell for their home décor.
"Michi, what are you doing?! What if she wakes up?"
Michitaro shrugged. "Then she'll scream, you'll scream, I'll scream, and one of us'll faint, hopefully her."
Dennosuke sighed, looking down and noticing her dropped belongings, one being the stick she had aimed at them. He knelt down and picked it up, Michitaro leaned forward, just as curious.
"Is that the thing she pointed at you before? How can something so small make such a loud noise?"
That is what Dennosuke wanted to know, but he refrained. Instead he looked at Michitaro and then at the limp figure in his arms. "I think you're right about this one, Michi. If she is lost then others like her will come looking for her, others with things like this." He held up the iron framed hollow stick. "And that wouldn't be good for us or anyone else that lives here."
Despite the direness of Dennosuke's explanation, Michitaro only seemed more excited. He nodded his head quickly and swung his form around, toward where they had just come from.
"Then that leaves us with the duty of dropping her off! Let's go!"
The entire walk back, Dennosuke didn't take his eyes off of the human in his brother's arms, jumping at each twitch she made as if any moment she'd wake and throw her hands around Michitaro's neck. If that ever happened, Dennosuke would be able to stop it quickly. But in his paranoia and prolonged stare, it gave him the unintentional opportunity to look at her, actually look at her. Western features really were different than the humans they were used to. It was fascinating how different they were from one another, reminding Dennosuke of his own people in a way.
Where they came from there was a variety skin tones, heights, even shell shapes and designs. And while the land held many different humans in their own sense, most of them were dark haired and dark eyed. This human's hair was similarly dark, but her lips were fuller, swollen and plump. Her nose was sharp, bigger than he was used to seeing, but fitting for the rest of her facial features. Her cheeks weren't set where usual human females were—at least not the ones from around there—but it was unique, exotic even. Her lashes were quite long as well, giving deeper shape to her eyelids. Her pale skin fascinated Dennosuke, he's never seen a human so pale outside of sickness, perhaps she wasn't healthy and that's why she was left in the middle of the forest? No, it couldn't be. Her earlier screams sounded strong enough to determine internal longevity. That left him with further curiosity, further wonder, and further observation.
Michitaro's earlier comment might not be so wrong-said actually.
When they reached the edge of the forest the previous lit lanterns that had lined the homes and steets had all been snuffed. Deep night had set in and many of the humans crowded in the streets and shops have either dwindled or settled inside their homes and beds. This was a great relief for Dennosuke who currently motioned for his brother to lay the girl down.
"What, right here?" Michitaro questioned. "What if no one finds her?"
Dennosuke ran a hand down his face. "They will. Humans look after their own, just like we do."
That fact didn't seem to win Michitaro's confidence however. His gaze was deep in thought, in thoughts he shouldn't be thinking especially when they lead him to leave the shelter of the bushes and foliage to venture toward the comparted homes and lined roads.
"Michi!" Dennosuke gasped with absolute horror as he watched his little brother move out of their cover and toward the dark road. Maybe his terror would have died down if Michitaro would have put the human down and then rushed back over toward him, but he didn't. No, he stood there in the middle of the dark road looking around, eyes wide and mouth agape. It's like he forgot the human in his arms and the reason he was there for.
Grinding his teeth, Dennosuke made the foolish decision to jump out of the forest and run toward his brother. Even as he slid to a halt beside him, Michitaro seemed in another place, lost in the contrast of his surroundings. He only jumped back into his senses when Dennosuke took the weight in his arms away.
Those big eyes of his blinked as he looked down at his empty arms and then turned toward Dennosuke who was laying the human female down onto a bench.
"Wow, Denno, didn't think you'd be the type to willingly go into open human settlement," Michi commented.
Dennosuke groaned again as he pulled away from the human and quickly took a hold of his brother, pulling him back into the forest as fast as he could. "We're so getting yelled at for this!"
Michitaro giggled behind him, but at least he was trailing. "I won't tell Raijirou if you don't tell Ienari."
Dennosuke groaned again, knowing it was a long track home and if they didn't get back before sunup then they'd get plenty of lip from their two older brothers. Lip he wasn't entirely innocent of unfortunately.