February 16, 2013
The holidays came and went for the Hamato Clan. They invited Takesi and Karai to partake in their traditions as they were now all family. The mutant tiger appeared to enjoy the bonding of the holidays as much as his young ward, not having experienced something of this nature in quite a long time.
April and Karai now found themselves wandering around the Hidden City Markets four days before April's 17th birthday. Karai - the self proclaimed terrible gift giver - offered April lunch and her choice of gift from the markets. April was now intent on searching the jewelry stalls to find a bracelet that would compliment the chain Donnie had bought for her crystal months prior.
They passed by city hall, stopping along the edge of the large crowd that had gathered.
"What's going on here?" April adjusted her backpack.
"I think I know, but let's get closer to hear." Karai grabbed her wrist and slithered through the crowd towards the stage set up outside of the government building.
"How long must we wait for the humans to keep experimenting on the less fortunate before we do something?" A curvy humanoid woman with purple skin, white hair, and glasses slammed a fist on her podium before continuing. "These poor mutants have been seeking asylum within our bumble-borders and we've accepted them with open arms. The only problem is that we were born into our glorious forms. They have been FORCED into theirs!"
"What proof do you have?" A nameless voice hollered from the crowd.
The woman nodded, acknowledging his point. "The Hidden City Police Department has sent their best detective, Baron Draxum, undercover within the Human Realm to determine the source of these mutants. Draxum?"
A tall, cloven hoofed yokai stepped out of the shadows towards the podium. He nodded at the woman before clearing his throat. "Thank you, Big Mama. I have discovered that the majority of mutants that have escaped to the Hidden City were declared missing by their humans. The majority of the human population are distraught by their missing brethren. My team and I were able to track down where the missing humans-turned-mutants were being kept and experimented on. A human who calls himself the Shredder who runs a group called the Foot Clan, along with a hostile alien race called the Kraang. Not long after I returned to give my report, a mutant refugee came forward wanting to share his story." Draxum turned to the short gecko standing behind him. "Are you ready, Jason?"
The gecko nodded. A box was pulled forward so he could reach the microphone. He adjusted his hat.
"Hey Hidden City dudes and dudettes. My name's Jason, but my new friends have taken to calling me Mondo Gecko, but I'm good with either one." He winced as Draxum coughed, urging him to stay on task. "Right… so, a lil' bit after I turned 18, I had a pretty wicked fight with my old man. He kicked me out and I had nowhere to go. I found a soup kitchen with a cozy box set up, thinking that one night outside wouldn't be too bad. I could figure out what to do the next morning. Well… Just before I fell asleep, a big bunch of creepy metal dudes in a van grabbed me and took me back to their secret base."
The crowd murmured as Mondo Gecko paused to collect himself.
"They kept me in this glass cage, surrounded by dozens of scary mons- I mean, mutants. They seemed like monsters to me at first, but now I know that they were victims like me. Anyway, it wasn't long before I was strapped down in some kind of torchure device and covered in green ooze. The changes that happened to me were MEGA painful! When the pain was gone, I felt… different. The metal dudes said something about 'the test being a partial success'. I escaped by hiding on the ceiling and waiting for the guys to open the door." Mondo Gecko took a shuddering breath. "I left a lot of other mutants there, who were changed against their will, just like I was. I only saw the metal dudes, who I think were the Kraang, but they NEED to be stopped!"
Big Mama placed a hand on the boy's shoulder as he stepped away from the podium. "We love our mutant refugees and the skills they have brought to our fair city. However, the Shredder and the Kraang have caused quite the tissle-tassle for those poor souls changed against their wills. I am forming a committee to best explore how to best help our mutant brothers and sisters along with what to do about the nasty Kraang and the Shredder. If you would like to join our committee or donate resources, please give my office a ringly-bop. Thank you!" The yokai hopped off the stage, sauntering inside while the crowd still clamored for action.
April and Karai exchanged a look before navigating their way out of the throng.
"How long have things been like this? Who's the lady yokai?" April whispered.
"That's Big Mama. She's basically the mayor of the Hidden City." Karai brushed a speck from her sleeve. "She's opened up the city to become a refuge for pretty much any creature that wouldn't be welcome 'up top'. And not just mutants!" She pulled them to a stop. "I know an alien who crash landed on earth after her whole fleet was destroyed. Instead of figuring out a way home, she stayed here. I heard that she works out of the ice cream parlor in Witch Town.
"You'll have to take me over there sometime." April smiled.
Karai booped her nose. "Why not now? They give out free scoops for birthdays!"
"Did I hear something about birthdays and ice cream?"
Karai groaned at the voice. April was about to ask her what was wrong until she saw who was approaching them.
A furry weasel yokai with a gap-toothed smile strolled over to where the girls were standing. He wore a paint splattered hoodie and a skeleton beanie.
"The only way you heard anything, Jones, was if you were eavesdropping." She sneered at the boy while he rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Always a pleasure, Karai." His eyes darted away from the dark haired girl towards April. "Well hello there, Red. Who might you be?" His hand reached out to take hers, intending to kiss it.
April took a step back. "Someone who only lets her family call her Red."
"Feisty… I like that." He tsked. "Name's Casey Jones."
"I figured." April scrunched her face.
Karai resisted rolling her eyes again. Who knew what kind of damage prolonged exposure to stupidity could do to one's brain? As her eyes and mind wandered, Karai noticed a familiar head of white hair.
"Hey, Red," She started. Casey growled at the causal use of the nickname he had just been remanded for using. "You good if I leave you for a second?"
"You're gonna leave me with this?" The red-head gestured to the yokai boy.
"Hey!" He protested.
Karai pinched his shoulder. "Jones, just know that if you screw with her, she can do worse to you than what I did to Johnson last week when he tried to hit on me in homeroom. Capiche?"
Casey blinked between the girls, trying to decide if Karai was being serious. April's eyes flashed blue as she grinned maliciously. He gulped.
"Capiche." He ground out.
Karai nodded. She turned and ran to catch up with the woman she had seen exiting City Hall. "Madame Mayor!" Big Mama turned around at Karai's call, her bodyguards doing the same. They blocked Karai's approach. "Just a moment of your time, please!"
"It's alright, my garbles." The yokai patted her bodyguards's biceps. "I've seen her at several of our gatherings before. And you, my little doodlebug, may call me Big Mama."
The girl blinked in confusion at Big Mama's manner of speaking, but continued on. "Alright… Well, I have some information that should help you against the Shredder and his people."
Big Mama pushed her glasses further up her nose. "Ooohh, is that so? And how did you come across this scramulet information?"
"He raised me as his daughter for 16 years." Karai maintained eye contact with the woman, determined to not be ashamed of her past. "I recently got out and reunited with my true family. But, I still know a lot about the inner workings of his operation."
There was silence between the women as Big Mama and the guards absorbed the information sprung on them. The female yokai dropped her mask as she placed a perfectly manicured hand on Karai's shoulder in comfort.
"Oh… oh my dear girl," She stammered. "From what Senor Hueso and others have told me, that man was truly a monster. Do you have time for a meeting today to share what you know?"
"Unfortunately, no." Karai gestured behind her to April and Casey. "I'm actually out with a friend for her birthday."
Big Mama smiled, patted the girl's shoulder. "Of course. Another timbly-time, then. BE sure to leave your contact information with my body garbles and we'll be in touch."
Karai smiled. She bowed slighted towards the older woman. "Thank you, Big Mama. I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise, my dear!"
The girl waved as the mayor and her guards lumbered off to her next appointment. Karai sighed. She had stayed silent long enough. It was time to do something about her 'father'.
"CASEY! What did I tell you would happen if-" Karai dashed off to keep her sister from murdering the stupid boy.
The first chapter of 2013! How we feeling?