A/N: Ah yes, an update. I was originally going to make you wait for a week, but I changed my mind. Thanks to Pirate Queen for giving me that much needed kick-in-the-butt to get me going. Thanks chica! And many thanks to all who reviewed! It helps.
Hidden Truth
Chapter 2
Chicks Are Weird
"Leo?" Raph dropped all stealth in his shock. Leo whirled to face his brother, an uncharacteristically guilty expression on his face.
"I was, um…" he was saved by the appearance of Mikey and Don.
"Hey, Leo!" Mikey greeted him happily. "What brings you to this fine part of town?"
"I… uh, I was… following Akasha." He mumbled the last two words so that Raph could barely hear him. But he did.
"Am I mistaken?" he asked, a wide grin on his face. "Or is our Fearless Leader breaking his own rules and chasing after Akasha?"
"I… no… but…"
"We're doing that too!" Mikey squealed. "Now we can all go together! Neato!"
"No!" Leo interrupted sharply. "Not neato! You guys aren't coming! Master Splinter wants me to look after you, and you need to stay safe. That is, in the lair."
"Akasha's Raph's girlfriend," Mikey pointed out, confused. "Shouldn't he come?"
"Yeah! You ain't leavin' me behind, Leo!" Raph was fuming. "Now can we please go? We're losing daylight!"
Leo hesitated for a moment, trying to come up with a suitable excuse. Finally he sighed heavily and followed his brothers.
"C'mon, Asha!" Jordan called from the raft. "It's fun!"
Akasha was seated on the dock of the cottage, a book cradled in her lap. Jordan was standing on the wooden raft in the lake, long hair plastered to her back and arms, dripping lake water. She grinned and executed a perfect dive off to one side, and swam over to the dock.
"It'll be fun! You can swim, you said so!"
"Of course I can swim," Akasha grumbled. "But it's cold! And slimy, and there're probably leeches in there, too."
Jordan heaved herself up on the dock, droplets of water peppering Akasha's book.
"The leeches are at the bottom," she said matter-of-factly. "If you keep your toes up and don't touch the ground, they usually don't get you. Besides, if you're in deeper water, you don't have to worry."
"I just want to read," Akasha replied.
"Then let's take the canoe out!"
"Last time I fell in," Akasha pointed out, remembering the tippy, unpredictable craft, lovingly nicknamed the Blue Heron by the family.
"Practice makes perfect!"
Akasha sighed.
"You're not going to give me a moment's rest, are you?"
"Nope!" Jordan grinned mischievously. Akasha swiped playfully at her, but the younger girl managed to slip into the water again and swam off, calling, "Catch me if you can!"
Akasha considered for a moment, then unwrapped her sarong, folded it around her book, and jumped in after her cousin.
The water was cold, but it was also clear and had a distinct feeling of cleanliness around it, of purity. Akasha struck around for a few moments, assessing the situation, before diving under the surface. Opening her eyes, she saw long strands of lake-weed floating eerily, and she swam hurriedly away from them. The lake bottom dropped suddenly, and she was swimming above blackness, a seemingly endless void. Shivering slightly she came up for a breath before going under again. Ahead she saw Jordan's legs disappearing under the raft. She followed.
Under the raft was a chamber. The air stank of algae, and water-skaters and spiders crawled above her. There was about eight inches of space above the water, and Akasha surveyed her surroundings, searching for Jordan. She was at the far corner, just ducking back under the water.
"Oh no you don't!" Akasha muttered, and dived after her.
When she came up Jordan was scrambling onto the raft. Akasha hauled herself laberously after her younger cousin. But she simply dived off the opposite side.
Akasha flopped onto her back and gasped, "I give up!" Jordan's head bobbed up beside the raft. She was grinning, the very image of pre-teen smugness.
"Isn't it fun?" she asked, sitting beside her exhausted cousin.
"More like a workout with the turtles," Akasha puffed. Jordan cocked her head in confusion.
"Who?"
"Oh, nobody," Akasha said hurriedly to cover her mistake.
They passed a couple of enjoyable hours together, racing, playing tag, and watching minnows under the water. Bailey, upon realizing he was missing the fun, came loping out of the cottage and played with them, chasing deerfly and splashing around. The sun was low in the sky when Naomi stuck her head out of the cottage and announced that dinner was ready.
'Dinner' was mac 'n' cheese, slightly burnt around the edges, but delicious all the same. They ate on the dock, stretched out on their now very damp towels, watching the sun sink lower and lower, and listening to the bullfrogs start to sing. A loon cackled in the background. One of Bailey's ears twitched, but he remained where he was.
"I love the lake," Jordan said softly. She was wrapped in her towel, watching damselflies dance on the water's surface, the sunset reflected in her large eyes. "It's so peaceful."
"Tomorrow we can take the Blue Heron out," Naomi said. "Maybe we can teach you to paddle, Akasha."
"Maybe," Akasha agreed sleepily. She yawned and rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand.
They stayed out until the mosquitos came out. Then they picked up their towels, books, and dishes and trooped inside the cabin.
They got ready for bed, and bade Mark goodnight.
"I have to use the outhouse," Akasha said to Naomi.
"Your funeral. The mosquito's'll be something vicious at this time."
Akasha slipped on her flip-flops and snuck out of the cottage. She had gone two steps when a mosquito bit her hand. She raced to the outhouse as fast as she could.
When she was done, Akasha was just heading for the cottage again when she heard a snapping twig behind her. Her ninja instincts kicked in, and she settled in a fighting crouch.
"You idiot, Mike!"
She couldn't believe it.
"Raph?"
"Er, heh, hey, Asha." He sounded a bit nervous.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Now she's going to break up with you," Mikey said as he dodged Raph's swipe.
"I am not! What are you doing here?" Akasha was furious. "I can –"
"Take care of yourself, we know," Leo said, putting his hands up in defeat. "We were worried."
"Apparently!"
"Look, can we – ouch! – Please just – OW! – Go inside?" Mikey asked, slapping away the cloud of mosquito's hovering around his head. Raph was trying to endure them best he could, but he did wince every so often.
"Come in? Are you mad?" Akasha exploded angrily. "My uncle and cousins are in there! You'll have to spend the night in the outhouse."
"Urgh, no way!"
"Fine. Sleep in the car. Or better yet –" she grabbed Raph's arm and towed him toward the cottage. "There's a guest room full of junk and stuff. You can sleep in there."
She led them round the back of the cabin to a small window. She pried it open and stood there expectantly, one flip-flopped foot tapping the ground impatiently.
"Go on. In. Now."
"Thanks for the warm welcome," Mikey grumbled, climbing awkwardly through the small window. The others followed. Akasha slipped through after them and closed the window.
"Okay, you'll have to keep the door locked. I'll see if I can smuggle you outta here tomorrow, maybe find you a better place to stay." She considered them for a moment. "Why did you follow me?" she added softly.
"We were worried," Don answered, taking in their surroudings interestedly. "You're our friend." Akasha's mouth twitched. Then she rushed forward and hugged Don round the neck. Don was taken by surprise and almost toppled backward.
"Wha-What was that for?" he gasped, massaging his throat.
"I've never had anybody worry about me so much!" Akasha said, and hugged the others too. Then she was out the door, closing it behind her.
"Chicks are weird," Mikey said, confirming the others thoughts perfectly.
Beta Reader's Note: I must, on this particular subject, agree with Mikey. Despite the fact I am female, I will never understand how women can pour boiling hot wax onto they're upper thigh and rip the hair out by the root, and STILL be afraid of a spider.
A/N: (laughs) Yup. We girls can be scary. (cackles evilly)
