A/N: Okay, here we go. Chappie three. Read it. Reveiw it. (please) And many thanks to Pirate Queen who beta-read this ficcie for me! Thanks a million, chica:-)
Disclaimer: I forgot this last chappie: I do not own the Ninja Turtles. Or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for that matter...
Hidden Truth
Chapter 3
Naomi
Akasha woke to the smell of bacon, wafting in from the kitchen. Naomi was already up, and tugging a brush through her hair. Akasha threw on a dressing gown and followed her.
Mark was at the stove, a frying pan laden with slices of sizzling bacon in his hand. Jordan was bouncing in her seat, and Bailey's tail was wagging frantically, his nose sniffing the succulent scent.
"Eat up," Mark said, sliding five pieces of bacon onto Akasha's plate.
They ate, and finished getting ready. Akasha threw on a T-shirt and ran outside. The lake was calm and cool, the early morning sunlight shimmering on its surface. Akasha made her excuses and slipped back into the cabin to talk to the turtles.
"It's me, open up!" she whispered. Don opened the door.
"Morning, Ash," he said.
"I can't be gone long, so listen. You can sneak out of here through the window whenever you like, we'll most likely be out front, in the lake. Sarah and Nicolas are coming round today, so I'd be careful. Also there's a dog, Bailey, so be careful of him too. He's friendly, but – "
"We are ninja's, Ash," Don said, waving his hand.
"Yes, I know. Just be careful."
"Hey, that's your job, remember?" his grin was mischievous.
"Whatever. I have to go. You have food, right?" she asked, eyeing his bulging backpack. "I'll try to sneak you some stuff, but I can only do so much."
"We're fine. 'Sides, we can get ourselves some stuff."
"AKASHA!" Jordan called insistently.
"See you," Akasha ran out the cabin at top speed. Naomi and Jordan were already in the water. Bailey was sitting on the dock. Akasha took off her T-shirt. She had managed to persuade Sarah to take her to town to buy a new bathing suit, and had discarded the pink frilly specimen. Naomi had promptly turned her nose up at the sight of it, so it now resided in Akasha's suitcase.
They played till lunchtime, and had home made subs to eat. Akasha snuck four subs into the spare room. Only Don and Raph were there.
"Thanks," Don said, accepting the sub Akasha offered him. He wolfed it down. "Leo and Mikey are out exploring the woods," he explained between mouthfuls. "Mikey couldn't wait to go. Leo wanted to make sure he didn't get into any trouble."
Raph was looking at Akasha.
"So, you got a new bathing suit then?" he asked. She glared at him.
"Yes. Do you honestly think I'd wear that thing?" she handed him a sub. "Are you coming out? It's hot in here." The room was indeed stifling. Akasha could see sweat beading on the turtles' brows.
"We were going to go out when Leo and Mikey came back," Don replied. He had been watching their exchange with an amused look on his face.
"Well, I'd better go, then." Akasha was uncomfortably aware of both terrapin's eyes on her. Raph kept missing his mouth with his sub, a glazed look on his face.
"Okaaay. I'll be going." Akasha departed at high speed.
Once outside Naomi took her by surprise and pushed her into the lake.
"You'll pay for that!" Akasha spluttered, spouting water. Naomi simply laughed and swam to the raft. Akasha followed.
Sarah and Nicolas came over shortly afterward, with Emily. She and Jordan threw sticks for Bailey while Naomi and Akasha read on the dock. Mark slouched out and joined them, sitting silently on a fold-up chair, surveying the lake. Nicolas attempted to engage him in conversation, but he eventually gave up and talked to Sarah instead.
They were eating lunch when Akasha noticed Mikey watching from the forest. She got up and snuck around the cottage to join him. Leo was there, supervising his younger brother.
"Hi guys," she greeted them cheerily. "Nice day, huh?" Mikey raised his eye-ridges at her.
"What?"
"Nice bathing suit," he smirked. Akasha wished she had bought her sarong.
"Shut up."
"Yeah, Mike, shut up," Leo murmured, watching the dock through narrowed eyes. Akasha couldn't help but notice he kept sneaking glances at her from time to time. Suddenly he backed up. "The dog's coming this way!" he and Mikey scaled the nearest cedar tree, rapidly disappearing from sight. Bailey came trotting up, nose raised, trying to detect the source of the unusual scent he had smelt.
"Hey, guys, it's just Bailey," Akasha said, ruffling the collie's fur. "Come say hello." Mikey couldn't resist the temptation and jumped down to pet the dog. Bailey sniffed Mikey's proffered hand enthusiastically, thrilled by the new smell.
Naomi stuck her head round the side of the cottage.
"Hey, Bailey, c'mere, boy –" she froze at the sight of Mikey. Mikey glanced up, gave a disgustingly girlish scream, and scrambled up the tree once more. Bailey cocked his head in surprise at his new friend's sudden disappearance.
"Who's that?" Naomi's eyes were practically bugging out of her head. She was staring at the spot where Mikey had been.
"Ummm," Akasha stalled for time. "Uhh, who?" Naomi glanced at Akasha sharply.
"Don't play dumb with me," she said tartly. "I'm not stupid. There was a giant turtle petting Bailey right there." She pointed to the exact spot. Akasha was silently cursing her cousin's intelligence with every fiber of her being.
"I… don't know what you're talking about," she finally managed. Naomi folded her arms and tapped one bare foot on the ground.
"Uh huh." She was clearly not budging. Akasha sighed heavily.
"Okay, they're friends of mine." No sooner had the words left her mouth than she was cursing herself for being foolish enough to utter them. Naomi pounced on the hint.
"There are more of them?"
Akasha took a deep, calming breath.
"Yes."
"How many?"
"Four hundred."
Naomi stared at her hard.
"Okay, four. Look, can we just forget about it, please?"
Mikey climbed down the tree, a determined look on his face. Akasha stared at him.
"I'm Michelangelo," he said, holding out a hand to Naomi. She took it hesitantly.
"I'm Naomi."
Leo clambered down, looking wary.
"This is Leonardo," Mikey said. "My oldest brother."
Akasha smacked herself of the forehead.
"What the hell are you doing, Mike? Have you lost it?" she demanded. "You're introducing yourself to a complete stranger."
"She's your cousin," Mikey shrugged.
"So? What's wrong with you?" Akasha was fit to burst.
"Guys, I –" Don and Raph had appeared. Raph stopped dead and drew his sai's threateningly.
"Put them away," Akasha snapped. "It's Naomi. She's alright."
"I'm going," Naomi said, backing up. Leo blocked her way.
"You'll tell," he hissed, casting her a distrustful glance.
"I'm not a little kid," Naomi growled. "Do you think anybody'd even believe me?" she shoved past him and stalked off. Bailey followed her. Akasha rounded on Mikey.
"Great! Just great! What were you thinking?" she demanded.
"I thought it was a good idea at the time," Mikey murmured.
"You are unbelievable!" Akasha was nearly in hysterics. She turned on her heel and followed Naomi.
Akasha was sitting by herself by the lake. She was on the outskirts of the forest, where a group of trees made a sort of alcove away from prying eyes. It was dusk, and the sun was rapidly sinking below the horizon, painting the lake a deep crimson. A loon warbled nearby, and a mosquito buzzed in her ear. She flicked it away impatiently.
There was a rustle behind her, and Raph appeared. He sat down beside her.
"Hey," he greeted her.
"Hey." She glanced at him guiltily. "Sorry about earlier," she mumbled. "I kinda went postal."
"Yeah." He grinned at her. Her cursed stomach flipped. She swallowed as descreetly as possible and stared out across the lake to save having to look at him.
"Naomi won't tell," she added. "She's good about that sort of thing. Did you notice she didn't even scream when she met you guys?"
"Neither did you," Raph pointed out. The sat in silence for a while, enjoying each other's company. Finally Akasha spoke what had been on her mind.
"I really am glad," she said. "That you came after me, I mean. I can take care of myself, but it's good to know you have my back." She smiled at him. He put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. She rested her head on his shoulder.
Naomi came up behind them.
"Asha?"
Akasha nearly jumped out of her skin and whirled to face her younger cousin. Naomi raised her eyebrows at Raph, eyes flicking between them. Akasha turned red.
"You didn't tell me you liked one of them," Naomi said to Akasha reproachfully.
"Do I have to tell you everything?"
"I'll find out anyway."
"Oh really?" It was Akasha's turn to raise her eyebrows. Naomi giggled, and sat down on her other side. Raph eyed her warily.
"You're takin' this well," he grumbled.
"What? You expect me to scream and faint or something?" Naomi asked. She picked up a stone and skipped it across the lake. It broke the surface with a satisfying splish.
"Well, kind of," Raph shrugged. "We aren't exactly your normal acquaintance."
"Mikey was telling me your 'origin story'," Naomi announced. "It's more… possible than I thought."
"Possible?" Raph chuckled. "Not the word I'd've used."
"No, but it is," Naomi said earnestly. Akasha was looking at her interestedly.
"You will never cease to amaze me," she said. "You've just met a giant walking talking turtle, and you're having a conversation with him."
"Hey, you're his girlfriend," Naomi replied. "Mikey told me."
Akasha did not grace the comment with a reply, sniffed and turned back to the lake.
"What does your mom think about this?" Naomi persisted. "If she knew her daughter was dating a turtle –"
"Would you drop the subject?" Akasha cried, a little louder than intended. "You don't need to know the details of my love-life!"
"So you do love him?"
Raph burst out laughing.
"You're just like Mike," he said.
"I'll take that as a complement," Naomi answered, nose in the air. Akasha was now seriously debating murdering her younger cousin who was sitting there, a smug look on her face.
"Hey, Raph!" Don hissed. He was hanging by his feet from a branch above them. "Leo wants us inside; he's being paranoid again."
Raphael sighed and got to his feet. "Well, I'll see you in a bit," he said to Akasha.
"That's okay," Akasha said sweetly. "I have a cousin to kill." Raph melted into the shadows with Don.
"They really are cool," Naomi grinned. "Leo's a bit uptight, but other than that –"
"Yeah, they're really cool." Akasha yawned. "Just don't tattle, or they suddenly won't like you anymore."
"I'm not going to tattle," Naomi said, looking offended. "I'm going to bed." She got up and departed, slightly huffy. Akasha did not worry; Naomi never stayed angry for long. She leaned back against the cedar tree and closed her eyes.
A/N: Okay, well, that's it folks. I will update as soon as possible... maybe... (laughs evilly)
