AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well, ladies and gentlemen, yet another chapter! I'll try to make this one as long as I can since the last one was kinda short. Gah. Writer's block does that to me sometimes...it's frustrating. Oh well! it didn't stop me from writing this chapter though, so points in my favour! I know this first part strays from my first person point of vew that I've used throughout this story, but that's the way I wished to write it. read and enjoy! oh yeah..pardon my spelling on the boy's fighting style...if I got it wrong, I am profusely sorry. my spelling sucks.
AUTHOR'S NOTE PART TWO: I'll do better to drag out the shredder parts so that it doesn't seem so rushed this time. And lastly, I'm so sorry this took so long to put up, but renovations on the house made that impossible as I had to disconnect my computer until all the work was done. ugh.
AUTHOR'S SHOUT-OUTS:
S.H.M.J.: yes! I would love to read and be a part of your story.
abandoned building, The Bronx, evening
Several men were running around, gathering odd objects and placing them at the feet of a mysterious figure who was cloked in the darkness. Well, until some of them came in carrying candles of varying size, shape, and colour. As the light poured into the room, the unmistakable face of The Shredder came into view.
"We shall not fail this time." he said to one minion who was carrying in a tray of sushi. The man nodded, not daring to disagree with his master.
"The first plan," he went on, "was far too rash and needed more time to think through. In my rage, I did not care. Not so this time. While I was in the hospital recovering from what those blasted reptiles did to me, this new plan came to me. I thought it through from every angle." He smiled, supremely proud of himself. "They will NOT succeed in saving her this time."
Shredder glanced at the all the materials his minions had brought him. There were vials of special mixtures, animal blood, several amphibian and reptile parts, boxes with crystals, sand, and other mystical powders. Several spellbooks were stacked up aswell. Some were meant to enhance the spell's power, others were for far darker purposes that Shredder couldn't wait to discover. Almost everything was there. Soon, he would be ready to start.
The only thing that discouraged him was that girl and the turtle were once again together, as his spies had told him. Her amnesia was slowly fading. He had hoped that his enemies would suffer for much longer. But now, he decided, it was no matter. He would win either way.
The Shredder picked up a spellbook that sat on his desk. "This second time," he said, flipping to the all-familiar spell, "You will not be so lucky, young lady." And with that, he laughed coldly.
Despite the sinister air around Shredder's lair, the sewers were as merry as ever. I was doing well in the memory department. Mikey and I's friendship and romance were all now fully formed in my mind. What a freeing experience it was to have all the pieces to my life. Never, I decided, was I ever going to take any day for granted again. I was going to live each the fullest. I was going to write down every memory I had with all my friends and family and especially Michelangelo.
I wanted to remember everything we did together, talked about, the whole works. Never was I going to forget again. I was sick of that and was eager to leave that chapter of my life behind. So each night I wrote in a journal splinter had so graciously given me all my memories. Man, I loved that rat like a father. Every void that had formed since my accident was gone now. I was once again a whole person. And it was great.
The only thing that still remained fuzzy was how I had lost my memory in the first place. Just as well, I thought. I didn't want to remember that anyway.
It was the sound of the stove timer that broke me out of my thoughts. I had a homemade pizza baking in there for everyone. I walked to the stove with what I was sure was a goofy grin on my face, and pulled out the pizza. It looked and smelled wonderfull. The cheese and pepporni were cooked to perfection, I noted. Feeling even happier at my success, I grabbed the slicer and cut enough pieces for all the turtles and Splinter and I aswell.
"Man, you're lookin happy as a clam, girl." Raphael commented upon seeing me.
I nodded. "I am. I can't tell you how nice it is that I have every memory back. It's like getting a hundred gifts at Christmas or something."
Raph chuckled. "Yeah, I bet."
The sounds of several other pairs of feet were heard entering the kitchen.
"Hey guys! food's ready!" I announced upon seeing them.
Mikey let out a whoop for joy and quickly grabbed a slice. The others, though hungry, managed to get theirs in a much more dignified manner. I just laughed and grabbed one for myself. In no time flat the pizza was consumed and the boys were ready to engage in some evening training. I watched all but one of them leave to retrieve their equipment.
It was Raphael who had stopped, then turned around and faced me. "We gotta chat, kiddo." he said.
Curious as to what this was about, I let him lead me just outside the lair.
"Listen, somethin's been eatin' me up since you got knocked on your noodle there." Raph pointed at my head.
"What is it?"
"Well, I'm sorry for being such an ass and bustin' your chops for goin' back home. It's just that Mikey was always mopin' around, looking miserable for six long years. I jus' couldn't take seein' my bro in so much pain so I swore that I wouldn't let 'im get hurt again. And when ya got back, well, ya know...I hope ya can forgive me."
I smiled at Raph and tenderly touched his cheek. I could only imagine how much of his pride and anger he'd had to stomp on to say what he just did. The weight and importance of his appology were felt by both of us.
"Thanks, Raphael. And I forgive you. I wish, though, that I had been able to come back sooner but my funds and of course school didn't allow me that luxury. Sure, my parents are rich and could have easily afforded it but there was no way they would have believed me about you guys."
Raph sighed. "Aint that always the case? anyway, the important thing is, you're here now."
I nodded. "Indeed. And thanks again, Raph." I drew him into a comforting hug. "And congrats to you for being able to snuff your pride to appologize."
Raphael had the good grace to blush a little. Clearly, my compliment meant alot to him. "Thanks, kiddo." And with that, we walked back into the lair.
Raph's P.O.V.
There, I'd done it! I had managed to appologize to her. I felt lighter as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. And indeed there had been. Everything that was wrong, I figured, had righted itself now. I smiled as I remembered how kind she had been about it. That made the pride stompin' all worth it. I felt a new respect and friendship towards Christine now.
Mikey, ya picked well bro. I thought and went to grab my sai.
Christine's P.O.V.
Practice, as I knew, usually went on late into the evening so I curled up with a book that April had brought me from the store. Funny, I liked being in the sewers more than I did topside. That, I realized, was because this place felt more like home than it did.
That's when I wondered about my condo that I remembered having. Was it possible that I could back there and get more things that were mine? It would be nice, I thought, to make my room that they had set up for me feel a bit more like my own. After practice, I decided, I would run the idea by Mikey.
A couple of hours later Mikey entered my room, patting himself with his sweat towel. "Hello, babe." he said, and kissed me softly.
"Hello to you too." I said, and deepened the kiss for a moment or two. He mumured his approval, then playfully kissed my neck before snuggling with me on the bed. I rested my head on his shoulder and put my arm across his plastron.
After a moment of contented silence, I said "Mikey, there's something I wanted to ask you."
"Shoot."
"Well, I was thinking that I'd like to go back to my condo to retrieve a few things. You know, just to make my room seem a little more like mine. I was wondering if you and the guys would come with me?"
"Sure, babe. No problem. We'll go tomorrow after morning practice."
"Thanks Mikey. This means alot to me." I kissed his cheek. Mikey grinned. "You're welcome."
"I love you." I said softly.
"And I," he kissed me deeply, "love you too, babe." And much to my delight, my body was worshipped by my darling boyfriend for the second time...
The next morning, as was promised, we headed out for my appartment. I was excited about finally having some of my own things once again in my grasp. I wished I could take everything, but the lair I figured wouldn't be big enough for it all. Not that it mattered too much. The fact that I'd actually have things was most important anyway.
Once we got there, I looked around. It was just as I had l remembered last seeing it. there were still several unpacked boxes sitting out everywhere and some tucked into the one bedroom and the art studio in the basement. While I was walking about in the studio, I noticed the painting I had done of Mikey when I had gotten here.
I smiled at it and sighed. Soon, the four of them were standing behind me.
"Wow. it's me!" Mikey said, astonished.
"Yes it is. I did this when I got here. I was gonna give it to you at some point, Mikey. As sort of a 'hey I'm back!' gift."
"Cool! Thanks babe!" he hugged me and kissed me soundly on the mouth. Everyone laughed.
"You've got some serious talent there, Chris." Donnie said. "You should do the rest of us." he joked.
I grinned. "Not a bad idea. I think I will." Donnie and the rest of their faces lit up like Christmas trees. I chuckled at their enthusiasm, but loved it all the same. I made a note to get them started as soon as I got a hold of some of my art supplies and had an area to do them in.
I walked upstairs and into the kitchen. It was immaculately cleaned. Nothing was out of place. Now, to me, this was weird since I was rarely neat and I was sure that when I left it, it wasn't like this. It was as if someone had come in and had done it at some point. Maybe the manager? That was entirely possible. Perhaps he made sure that it was tidy for when I recovered. I made a note to thank the person for it.
That's when I noticed something on the table, and gasped. A large katana was embedded in my table, piercing a piece of paper. The boys heard my gasp and headed upstairs to see what had caused it.
"What the hell?" Raph asked, his eyes narrowed.
It was Mikey who walked over to the sword and pulled it out of the table. "There's a note here." he said.
it read:
This is not over yet.
I watched Mikey's expression change from one of curiosity to that of steely anger. Never had I seen him look that way. I wondered just what the note meant and why it would envoke such a response from a normally calm, and collected turtle. Donnie, Leo, and Raph, I noticed, wore the same one. Clearly, they all knew something I didn't.
"What does it mean?" I demanded.
"It has to do with how you lost your memory." Leo said slowly.
"How I lost my memory?" I echoed.
"Yes. It's a long story."
"Can you please tell me?" I pleaded, "It's been plaguing me not knowing that part of the puzzle."
Leo sighed and began the long tale. When he finished, my first thought was that it felt as if he spoke of someone else. The telling of it didn't trigger anything in my brain. It was as if it had subconciously decided it didn't want to ever remember the events. What did my therapist say that was called? selective amnesia? I made a note to ask her next session.
"That's crazy. That all really happened to me?"
Leo nodded. "It was a horrific night."
"Yeah, you were in a coma for like six months. It was brutal worrying about you." Mikey said, putting his arms around me from behind. I leaned into him.
"At least I woke up."
"Yes, that's the good part. The shitty part is that the foot clan knows," Raph pointed at the letter, "and they're comin for ya again."
"What are we going to do?" I asked, my voice shaking with fear.
"We'll protect you." Mikey said firmly and rested his head against mine.
They all nodded in agreement. "Yeah," Raph cracked his knuckles, "They aint gettin ya this time."
I smiled. "Thanks guys." I hugged them all, making their cheeks turn a light pink.
Despite the note, they managed to get all the things I wanted back to the lair without detection. Well, that was probably due to them all taking turns keeping an eye out, but whatever granted us safe passage I was gratefull for it.
Once we got back, Leo told Splinter about the message. The old rat frown for a moment before speaking.
"The best thing we can do is keep her down in the sewers with us." he turned to face me. "You musn't go for any reason otherwise they will be able to capture you."
I nodded in understanding. "Also," Splinter took my hands in his, "I have decided that you should have the ability to defend yourself as my sons do."
I simply stared at the rat in shock. He was inviting me to practice ninjitsu! That offer, I knew, was a big deal. Leo had once told me that the rat had never extended the offer to anyone else before. Not even their first human friend, April. I took a deep breath before answering Splinter.
"Yes, I would be honoured." I was excited and nervous about learning their style of fighting, but that didn't mean that I wasn't up for it. I just hoped I would make Splinter proud.
Splinter smiled at me, clearly pleased that I had accepted his offer.
"Thank you, Splinter." I said, and gently hugged the rat. He returned the hug with a surprising firmness. The wise old rat may have looked frail, but he still had strength.
"You are welcome." I looked up to see that all the boys, especially Mikey, looked very proud that I had had the offer extended to me.
"For today, however, you will simply observe the boys practicing in their evening training. Tomorrow, your lessons begin."
I gave him my thanks one more time, then turned to Mikey with a huge grin on my face.
"Congrats, babe!" Mikey said, and hugged me.
"This calls for celebratin'!" Raph announced. Enthusiastic whoops filled the room. I had to smile. Despite everything that was going on, the boys managed to find a way for me and themselves to keep on ticking. I couldn't ever thank them enough for it.
And with that, tons of Pizza and soda was consumed.
By the end of the afternoon, I was stuffed with food. Splinter called the boys for evening practice. I eagerly sat down to watch them. They all moved, I noticed, with perfect grace. One would not have thought such a thing possible considering how they were built. struck with inspiration, I ran out quickly to grab my sketchpad and pencil. When I returned I sat down and began to scribble quick pictures of their movements. Some were of just parts of their bodies, and some in their entirety.
At the same time, I studied their movements with the eyes of a brand new student. It would be me, I realized, that would be doing the same things tomorrow. I watched each of them handle their specific weapons. They wielded them as if they had done nothing else in life. It was truly amazing.
By the time they were done, I had filled several pages with sketches and had found and even bigger respect for just what these turtles are capable of.