TMNT: Cherry Blossoms of Life
Ch.3~ Past and Present
I raced around the farmhouse, something about being here like this made me feel a sort of giddy and full of a sort of childlike wonder. Everything felt new, even though I had been to the farmhouse before, I was looking at in a new way. The woods reminded me of freedom I never got to have of adventure and exploration. The child side of me was in full wonder and wanted nothing more than to run around in excitement.
'Come on we can play; you want to start fresh right?' Renoir said, I looked at him and nodded.
Quickly I tore around the yard cartwheeling and flipping around the entire yard around the house. Till I found a low hanging thick branch jumping up I climbed up it to survey the scenery, finally, I got my eye on Daddy. He was looking at me fondly, but he also looked off like he was extremely tired. Soon I saw Mikey racing over to me, he flipped onto the branch looking at me with a big grin.
"Having fun bro?" he asked, I nodded and looked around.
"Mikey maybe this can be my fresh start." I stated, he looked at me confused. "I hated who I became, I was awways angry, I was bitter against the worwd that I felt wronged me. This time I want to change, I want to grow up and be more wike I used to be."
"So, you don't want to be fixed?" Mikey stated, I looked around awkward shifting knowing how selfish my truthful answer was.
"Yes, but I know we need me back in fighting action, I just, maybe being back wike this will hewp me change even if I don't have the wongest time to change," I replied, he patted my head and I looked up at him.
"Bro, at this point we don't know if we can ever fix you, you have time. Besides I doubt we would make you change back if you didn't want to, I mean after all that happened you do deserve a second shot at this. Last time none of us were prepared or handled your trauma well, we isolated you and snapped at you. But this time things will be different, maybe this time we can finally work through all that happened to you and help you move on. I know that's one thing you never did, even after all those years."
"Was I that obvious?" I muttered; he patted my head again this time gently stroking my bandana.
"A bit, but you went through a lot in that year, and we didn't help things. This time we can, we want to, even Leo, will you think about giving us a chance?" he asked I nodded eagerly.
"Yes, I want to be better, I want to make amends with Weo…" I confessed he scooped me up hopping out of the tree.
"No time like the present to start, also Don wanted me to stop you, no need to strain your wounds." He teased, I nodded leaning into his chest.
"I was so caught up in my excitement, I barely noticed the pain," I grumbled as I began to feel the dull ache of my hurt body.
"You seemed to be having fun, my son," Father stated as we entered the farmhouse.
"Yep!" I chimed as Mikey set me down Casey walked in filling the fireplace with wood.
"Don't run around too much, you don't want to make your wounds open up more." Don lectured I nodded looking around Leo entered with another arm full of cut-up wood.
"How are feeling?" Leo asked I shifted awkwardly, I wanted to have a fresh start with him the most.
"I'm okay, it's kinda weird, aww I want to do is run around the yard and pway." I answered he smiled setting down the wood.
"That's good, once you're healed up, you'll have tons of space to play here." He replied which made me nod.
"Yeah, hopefuwwy I heaw soon, I'd wove to pway with you guys, wike ninja tag or something." I chimed, he smiled fondly and walked over kneeling to pat my head.
"I'd love that, just don't strain yourself until you heal up." He reminded I nodded as he continued to pat my head.
"I won't, just I have so much energy and it feews so much bigger here!" I yelled Leo chuckled as Mikey picked me up and spun me.
"No worries Raphie-boy that's what I'm here for, I will keep up with all your adventures and make sure you don't strain yourself. That sound good Leo?" Mikey cheered, Leo nodded as Casey lite the fire and looked at the woodpile.
"This should do fer tonight," Casey commented, Leo nodded and sat on the couch with Don as father rested in his chair on the other side of the room.
"Daddy, can I sit with you?" I asked, he nodded, and I quickly raced to his side and he helped me into his lap.
"You look so cute Raph." April complimented, I turned to see her exit the kitchen blushing. "Any requests, me and Casey are going to head into town for food."
"Pizza." Mikey chimed she chuckled and nodded.
"Tea." Father requested she nodded with a smile.
"Chocolate miwk!" I chimed, she seemed surprised before walking over to pat my head.
"I'll get you a treat too, I'll stop and get more bandages and peroxide for your wounds." She stated, I huffed.
"The treats because your gonna cover me in peroxide, right?" I whined, she nodded and kissed the top of my head.
"It's for your own good, I'll make sure to get you a special treat." She soothed, her and Casey walked out with a final wave.
I leaned back into father turning to my side to hug him and hold his robes. Burying my face into his chest I listened to the slow beating of his heart. Closing my eyes, I wanted to fall asleep against him, he put an arm around me rubbing my arm.
"It is alright now, you can sleep." Father hushed, I smiled and let myself fall asleep in his arms.
(Leo's POV)
Raph twitched in his sleep lightly snoring unlike he did at our current age; it was so soft you could barely hear it. We all looked at each other as he slept, father was dotting over him. He was soothing each of his twitches and whimper in between snores. I remember waking up one night to witness a sight similar to this.
After he had returned, he and I began to share a bed again and he always slept holding my hand. I awoke and not feeling his hand in mine made me leave the room to investigate. When I left the room, I saw him in father's arms falling asleep while also crying and whimpering. I had dealt with his nightmares myself; he always cried and need to be held close. A part of me felt betrayed that he hadn't gone to me.
Pulling myself from my memory I felt Don lean against me, we remember when he left home all those years ago.
(Flashback)
I rubbed my sleep-filled eyes and gazed beside me in bed, it was empty. That's funny Raph never gets up before me, he should still be sleeping, unless he had to go pee. Hopping out of bed I turned back again to check for Raph, I still saw nothing.
I opened up the door to search for him, hopping down the stairs I enter the main living/kitchen area. Turning towards the bathroom, I notice the door is wide open, walking over I peek inside. There's nobody in here, where could he be, could he have actually woken up before me.
"Ah, Leonardo you're awake, what are you looking for my son?" Splinter greeted, I turned to him and bowed.
"Sensei have you seen Raph, he wasn't in bed when I woke up and he isn't in the bathroom either," I asked, Splinter looked at me in a bit of shock.
"No, I haven't seen him, was he there when you went to bed Leonardo?"
"Uhuh, I wonder where he could be, I bet he's playing a joke on me and hiding somewhere. But I'll find him, wherever he went. Oh, maybe he hid under the bed."
I ran up the stairs, I slide into me and Raph's room, dropping down I peered under the bed. There was nothing down there, besides a piece a paper. Reaching under I grabbed the paper, I looked at the blocky letters. This was definitely Raph's writing.
I began to read the text 'Dear Leo, I went out exploring don't tell Splinter if you wake up at night and notice me gone, I should be back way before you wake up. Signed Raph.' That idiot, he's probably hurt out in the sewers, now I'm gonna have to go find him. Walking back downstairs I ran up to Splinter note in hand.
"Sensei Raph snuck out to go exploring he left me this note, do you want me to go search for him," I said, handing Splinter the note I found.
"Yes, please search quickly around the lair for your brother, if you do not find him come back and I'll search for him farther away." Splinter said, nodding I ran out the front door.
"Raph! Where are you? " I called, the water splashing as I ran through it.
I stopped at the limit I thought Splinter would want me to go and began to circle around the liar. My heart sped up with every empty tunnel I found, please don't be hurt somewhere far away from us. If he is, I will never forgive him, how can he be so stupid?!
"Raph you are so annoying, why can't you tell me this kind of stuff!?" I growled.
(End Flashback)
It had been a horrible morning, we all found it hard to deal with the pain of it all. We didn't want to admit our brother; our friend could be dead. All of us were in denial of what had happened and held onto that small hope that he would return.
(Flashback)
I heard my door creak open, turning to the door I saw Mikey and Don in the doorway. They both had their soft fleece blankets in hand, they look on the verge of tears. Walking up to me they look at me with sad eyes, I patted beside me, they climbed onto the bed next to me.
"Is Daddy giving up on Raphie?" Mikey asked I looked at him sadly.
"I think he has; I don't blame him; it's been two months since Raph disappeared. He probably doesn't want us to be upset if Raph is actually dead." I replied.
"But Leo, he's not dead is he, Raph's too stubborn to die. He'll come back, he's too strong to let himself die." Don cried.
"I know how you feel, I don't think Raphie is dead either, but if he is still out there, I highly doubt he's in good shape. Since Splinter isn't going to search for Raph anymore I will, every day I'll search for him, pretending to go on a walk." I soothed.
"Are you gonna find him for us Leo, you gonna bring him back home so he can play with us again?!" Mikey cheered.
"Of course, I will, I promise I'll find him, wherever that idiot went." I stated.
"Can we stay here?" Don asked, Mikey nodded in agreeance.
"Of course..." I said, letting a sad smile slip onto my face.
(End Flashback)
We held onto that hope especially me, I had begun to ritually search the sewers for him. I didn't care if he never showed it was my way of honouring him. I needed to do this so that I knew I wasn't failing him by not finding him. It was as much in hope as it was to soothe myself since father had seemed to give up.
(Flashback)
I walked down the tunnel, like I did every morning since Raph disappeared, it was out of habit now. I would just roam the tunnels only heading back home in time for morning training. Looking at the water I saw it was red in places, I began to run down the tunnel what was going on.
Then I saw him, it was Raphael. His emerald-green skin stained with blood; his red mask torn in places. Tears fell down my cheeks as I ran to his side, please tell me he's alive. I touched his neck to check for a pulse. I felt his pulse beating like it should be, I began to sob, my brother was finally back, after a year he was finally home.
Slowly I picked him up in my arms making the treck back home to show him to father. Whoever brought my brother back home, was a true saint? I thought I would never see his face again. Nuzzling his cheek, I kissed his forehead. I'll protect you, little brother, no matter what, I'll protect you.