Hey everyone. Sorry it's taking so long for me to do these chapters. School has been a bear and fun at the same time. I just have one class that's giving me a hard time. Anyway, thanks to those that review. I welcome any comments you have on my writing.

This next part was supposed to go with the last chapter but I couldn't get it to work. I'm still not happy with it. Anyway, it takes place right after Raphael wakes up from his dream.

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Ren frantically ran into the house calling to her father, "Chichioya! He's coming! Raphael is coming!" Yasuo quickly and half awake stumbled from his bedroom

"What is it Ren? What is wrong? You are going to wake the entire household."

"Sorry father," she replied and began to calm down. "It's just that I was outside and……"

"Outside?" he interrupted her. "Ren, you know better. Ryu could have been out there. It is too dangerous for you to be out alone at night. Especially at," he looked wearily at the clock. "2 in the morning! Water Lily, what am I going to do with you?" He plopped into the chair by the fire and eyed his daughter.

"I was perfectly safe papa. We've just been through a blizzard; no one is going to be outside in the cold and snow. Besides, I can take care of myself." And with that last statement, Ren created a dagger of ice in her hand to prove her point.

"Ren," his head fell into his hands exhausted. His daughter could be so headstrong and determined sometimes. "I am glad that you have accepted this gift from Okami and I could not be more proud of you for vowing to protect our people. But, Ryu, he will stop at nothing to…." He paused. How did he explain this to his daughter?

Ren answered his question. "I'm 17. I'm not a child anymore. I know the evil that is in Ryu's heart. Not just the greed he has for money and power, but the desire he has for me. I have seen the way he looks at me." She sounded so serious and adult. She surprised her father sometimes with her maturity.

Yasuo eyed his daughter and gently touched her left cheek. "I forget sometimes. Forgive me. You had to grow up so quickly when your mother died. You have taken such good care of your brother and me. But it is not fair how you were robbed of your childhood."

Ren knelt beside her father and spoke to him looking him in the eyes," I have been robbed of nothing Chichioya. Mother may have died when I was ten, but you have always made sure that Akio and I have something to smile about."

"You make me proud Water Lily," he smiled. Yasuo kissed his child on the cheek and stood up. Come," he said. "I am sure that,… Raphael, is it?" Ren nodded yes. "I am sure that after a journey in this cold, Raphael will need to rest. Let's go make sure that the spare bedroom is ready."

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Raphael kept a steady pace through the sewers. He was listening and paying attention for Kagu's voice telling him which way to go. He had been traveling for approximately five hours when he heard a noise. SPLASH!

Raphael stopped and became very still, his senses extending out around him. He retraced his steps carefully and quietly wanting to know what made such a loud noise. Raphael squinted into the darkness and saw the silhouette of a figure lying in the ice cold sewer water. He immediately rushed to the body and turned the figure over. His eyes widened in shock. "Mikey!" he yelled.

Michelangelo was shivering and unconscious. Raphael immediately took his sai out and cut away at the wet clothes his brother was wearing. He grabbed the blanket from his duffel bag and wrapped his little brother up in it. He picked him up and sated to walk back to where he came from but stopped. Which way? He asked himself. I don't know how far I am from Ren's but I don't know if I can make back home to the lair in time.

"This way," he heard a voice whisper. It was calm and soothing, like wind chimes. "This way. You are close to your destination." The voice was stronger this time. He knew it was Okami. He followed her voice, running as fast as he could. With each step he took he became more scared and angry. Stupid Mikey! Why'd ya' hafta' follow me! Gonna' get yourself real sick or even killed. Why? Because you can't stay home where you belong. Stupid kid! I swear Mikey, if you die on me I'm gonna' kill you.

Raphael stopped. He had reached a ladder and a manhole cover. He felt Okami leading him in that direction. Michelangelo was still shaking but not as bad as before so Raphael put him down for a moment. Raphael climbed the ladder and tried to push the manhole cover up but it was stuck. Water had gotten in between the cover and the outer rim and froze. It wouldn't budge. "Now what?" He said to himself. He had an idea. He looped his legs around the ladder so he could sit up and keep his hands free. He places his hands on the edge of the manhole cover and tried to heat it up. The metal disc began to warm up and Raphael started to push it out of the way. He jumped off of the ladder and bent down to pick up his bag and brother. He slowly peered out of the hole. It was still early in the morning andevery9ne was till inside because of the snow. He recognized the restaurant in front of him from his dreams so he decided to make a break for it. He climbed out, struggling from his brother's weight and began to run for the front door.

"Overhear!" A voice yelled. Raphael turned and looked. It was Ren and she motioning for him to come around the corner. He followed her and she took him to the back gate which led directly to the house. She opened the door for him and led him inside. "Chichioya! He's here!" she yelled. "Come quickly, we need help!"

Ren shut the door behind him. Her father and little brother came around the corner. He knew who Raphael was. Ren's description matched that of a picture he had. Yasuo looked at the covered figure with a puzzled look on his face. "Who is this?" He asked, pointing at the blanket.

"My little brother," Raphael replied. "He followed me but he couldn't keep up. He's not used to the cold and I guess he just collapsed."

Yasuo pulled the blanket back to see the face of another turtle, shaking slightly. "Quickly," Yasuo commanded. "This way." Raphael nodded and followed as Yasuo led him to the spare room. Raphael laid his brother down and they began to cover him with blankets to warm him up. "Akio, quickly, go put a blanket into the dryer to warm it up. Only for a few minutes then bring it back to me. Ren, put some water on. If we can wake him up we can get him to drink some tea."

Everyone but Raphael moved about. He moved into a corner out of the way. Yasuo noticed him standing quietly and spoke to him. "Come here please." He said. Raphael moved quietly and stood next to his brother. "You control fire, do you not?"

"Yeah? Why?"

"You will probably do the most good. Place your hands over your brother but not on him. I don't want you to burn him."

"Why?"

"I'm going to pull the blankets back. I want you to let a little heat out of you. It will warm your brother up quicker than anything else."

"No. I….. I can't" Raphael stammered. "What if I burn him?" Visions of what he had done to the lair still hung in his mind. He started to move away.

"Listen to me" Yasuo said sternly. "Your brother is ill and does not have time for you to be frightened." Yasuo grabbed Raphael by the hand and placed it over Michelangelo. "Now then," he said a little softer this time. "You will not hurt him. Concentrate."

Raphael tried to focus and slowly let a little heat out of his hands. It washed over Michelangelo and began to warm him up. After a minute or two he began to stir and open his eyes.

Ren returned with the hot tea and Akio with the warm blanket. "You can stop now," Yasuo said smiling. "He will be fine." Yasuo took the blanket and laid it over Michelangelo. Raphael felt a sense of relief wash over him.

"Raph…." Michelangelo's voice cracked as his eyes opened.

Raphael looked at his little brother. He was glad to see him awake but was also as mad at him as he could possibly be.

"Raph, where are we?" Michelangelo looked around at the three strangers standing beside him.

Raphael just growled, turned around and walked out of the room. "Ren," Yasuo sighed. "Will you please see to Raphael? I will explain what I can to his younger brother. Akio, you can stay with me and keep him company." Ren smiled and nodded to her father, then, she turned and left the room.

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Okay. I'm stopping here. I'm sorry the last chapter was so short. I've already got the final chapter worked out I just gotta' figure out how to get there. Until next time,

read and review please. I love to hear what other's have to say.