Hanami – Chapter 19

            Leonardo was on his way to the barn.  His sensei and his brothers had things well in hand back at the house.  He would only be in the way there.  He did not mind.  Not really.  There was still the duty.  He could handle that.

            Donatello kept a stash of tools in a bin under his workbench in the barn.  Leonardo cut across the lawn, making a list of things he'd need.  'A hammer, some nails, a saw, and the lids from the crates will do as lumber.'  He left footprint-shaped puddles on the thawing grass behind him. 

            Perry's letter, Shima's miscarriage, her prolonged slumber, her sisters' pain, and he could do NOTHING.  Helplessness was something he'd spent his whole life fighting.  He trained to give himself purpose.  He obeyed to give himself identity.  He commanded to avoid losing his most precious want: Control.  Yes, Raphael tried to take it from him from time to time, but he could deal with Raphael.  How do you fight the past?  How can you grip the here and now and fix what went wrong, start over again, if there's nothing stable to start with? 

            Leonardo decided to start with what he knew: duty.  Something must be done, and no matter how unpleasant, he would do it.  He'd never built a coffin before, but such a small one shouldn't be too hard.

            Donatello set up the chessboard on the kitchen table.  The afternoon sunlight had warmed the kitchen, and the hot cocoa he'd started filled the room with its chocolate fragrance.  ThreeSee was picking up the pieces, examining them like she'd never held chessmen before.  She caught him staring, and stammered, "I-I've never played with a real board before."  He turned from stirring the cocoa.  "They taught me on computer programs."

            "Ah.  I see.  Well, for the most part I play on the computer myself.  None of my brothers like the game, and I feel bad about pestering Master Splinter about it too much."  He handed her a warm mug of cocoa with marshmallows on top.  "Careful it's hot."

            She stared at the marshmallows.  "What are these?"

            "Marshmallows.  Spun sugar.  They'll dissolve in your cocoa – makes the stuff that much better."  He handed her a spoon.  "So, what do you think of Cabbage's nickname?"

            She looked up from poking at the marshmallows.  She grinned, "I think if I had to associate her with a vegetable, cabbage would've been in the top ten."  She chuckled, "As long as she's happy with it, I think it's good that she got rid of that designation name."  Her voice had flattened again.

            Not wanting to bring it up again later, Donatello pressed on, "Have you given a thought to a new name?"  She frowned into her mug, and took a sip.  "'Cause I was thinking about it."  She glanced up.  He felt the words rush out before his courage deserted him.  "You've got such beautiful gray eyes, I thought maybe we could call you 'Sterling." 

            She sat staring at him.  'He's holding his breath.  He compliments me and he's waiting to see if I'm going to be mad.'  She smiled gently at him.  "That sounds like a lovely name.  Thank you."  'He's so sweet, but I don't know what else to say.  I'll just start the game and maybe he won't notice that he's got me blushing again.'

            Donnie's heart started beating again.  'She likes the name!  She's blushing again.  Ack! She opened with a knight!'  He quickly put a queen-side pawn into play.

            TwoSee had excused herself about fifteen minutes ago.  Raphael wasn't worried, of course.  He just wanted to find her.  She hadn't been upstairs, so he went to check the back porch.  He passed through the kitchen, ducked his head out the back door, and made a quick sweep of the area.  Nothing.  Back in the kitchen, he asked, "Who's winning?"

            "He is."

            "She is."

            Both of the chess players laughed hysterically.  Raphael left the kitchen and rolled his eyeballs, mumbling, "…nerds in love…"

            Donatello was ecstatic.  Sterling made an incredible opponent.  He had been worried when she set up such an obvious defense.  A row of staggered pawns didn't allow for much mobility, she'd have to give that up sooner or later.  Donatello felt he'd left himself with far more options since he hadn't committed to a defense strategy, just an offensive one.  He broke through one end of her line of pawns, but she'd be waiting for it.  She castled her king to the far corner!  She grinned; over the next few turns, he watched her pick off both his bishops and force his retreat.  'What a girl!'