TMNT: Cherry Blossoms of Life
Ch.4~ To The River
After a few days, I was pumped to be approved to go on a forest walk with Daddy. I wanted to run through the trees and see all the nature with him. I wanted to run around; I had even woken up early for that exact reason. I sat in bed giggling as I looked at my father as he meditated, I couldn't hold myself back anymore.
"Morning Daddy!" I cheered, I hugged him from behind.
"You seem energetic my son." He replied he was speaking a little slower than normal
"I was wondering if we couwd head out for our forest wawk now?" I asked, he chuckled and rose to his feet taking me up with him.
"Who am I to discourage early morning activity, my son." He replied, I chuckled as I took his hand.
"There is so much woods here Daddy, maybe we can find some new pwants or animaws." I rambled, he chuckled as he led me downstairs and onto the porch.
"Morning sensei, oh morning Raph, you two gonna head out this early?" Leo asked, I nodded.
"Yes, I think the early morning is the best time to take a stroll through the nature around us," Father replied, Leo bowed as Daddy and I headed to the forest, I took one last glance back to see him begin katas again.
"Daddy I wonder what coow things we wiww see, I awways wanted to spend more time out here under the sun." I chimed, letting go of his hand I did a few cartwheels. "Why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what's on the other side? Rainbows are vision, but onwy iwwusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide. So, we've been towd and some choose to bewieve it. I know they're wrong wait and see. Someday we'ww find it the rainbow connection. The wovers, the dreamers and me."
"Now I have not heard you sing that song in many years my son, I remember how many times you would watch that movie and sing with the frog on the log," Father replied, I blushed I had forgotten how much I had loved that film.
"Who said that wishes wouwd be heard and answered when wished on the Morningstar? Someone thought of that and someone bewieved it. Wook what it's done so far. What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing and what do you think we might see? Someday we'ww find it, the rainbow connection. The wovers, the dreamers and me. All of us under its speww. We know that it's probabwy magic. Have you been half asweep and have you heard voices? I've heard them cawwing my name. Is this the sweet sound that cawws the young saiwors. The voice may be one and the same. I've heard it too many times to ignore it. It's something that I'm supposed to be. Someday we'ww find it the rainbow connection, the wovers, the dreamers and me." I sang sitting down on a log.
"That it is a nice song, but do you remember the lullaby I used to sing to you." He asked, I hopped off the log and began to hum the tune.
"Nenen korori yo, Okororiyo. Boya way oi ko da, Nenne-shina. Boya no omori wa, Doko e itta? Ano yama koete, Sato e itta. Sato no miyage ni, Nani morotta? Denden taiko ni, Sho no fue." I sung. "There was another one wasn't there? Uhmm… Mori mo iyagaru, Bon kara saki-nya. Yuki mo chiratsuku-shi, Ko mo naku-shi. Bon ga kita-tote, Nani ureshi-karo. Katabira wa nashi, Obi wa nashi. Konno ko you naku, Mori wo ba ijiru. Mori mo ichi-nichi, Yaseru-yara. Hayo-mo yuki-taya, Kono zaisho koete. Mukou ni mieru wa, oya no uchi. Mukou ni mieru wa, oya no uchi."
"I am surprised you remember both of those my son." He complimented.
"Thanks Daddy, I aways did wove to hear those songs, before this happened, I used to sing them when I ran off mad. They hewped me cawm down." I replied, I held my head low, I had been a fool.
"I am proud of how you have matured over the years." He commented, I turned to him in surprise.
"M-me, but Daddy I was just a hothead, I never changed," I replied, he reached over to rub my head.
"You have to trust me, my son, after all that you have been through, I'm so surprised by how you have grown, even now you make me a proud father." He soothed.
"Weww you are the best Daddy, come on wet's see what I can see maybe I can find a river?"
"A river, that sounds relaxing."
"Uhuh you can meditate, and I can go for a swim, been so wong since I swam."
"I remember you would try to swim in the bath."
"I did, hehehe, water is cawming, and I wike to swim, kinda nice."
"Enjoy the wilderness, it is a great place for healing."
"Heawing, I guess so, I don't think of the bad stuff out here…"
"If you ever need to talk you know we are all here for you my son."
"I know, this time I am gonna heaw right, I am gonna make a better future."
"You are loyal to a fault sometimes my son."
"Woyaw to a fauwt?"
"I am proud to see you grow more, but I do not want you to think your past self was horrible. It was still you, my son, all of us in life are students always learning. You are only finding your hidden potential; this was always in you my son."
"Thanks Daddy."
"Ah I can smell the stream; seems we are close."
"Reawwy?!"
I grinned and raced off ahead and entered a clearing seeing the river, I was here. Giggling I raced and jumped into the stream swimming and diving, this made life seem so much better. Guess I really am part turtle, heh, that's silly, I am a turtle. Popping up I looked up onto the banks I saw Daddy kneeling with his staff in hand as he seemed to be breathing hard.
"Daddy?" I questioned, climbing out of the river I went to his side.
"I.. am fine… Just out of breath…" he soothed patting my head.
(Flashback)
"Raph you gotta calm down!" Leo yelled.
"No! Fuck all of you, thinking that Master is gonna die! He is so much stronger than that!" I screamed; I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"That is not what we are saying Raph, he strong, this is about age…" Don argued.
"He ain't that old!" I hissed.
"Raphie you know Donnie is right with science stuff, I don't wanna hear it either," Mikey admitted tearing up.
"I will nurse him, I will… Dad can't die… He just can't…" I sobbed.
(End Flashback)
Tears filled my eyes, I quickly turned and raced back to the farmhouse, I need to get Don. Daddy can't die, I will nurse him, Daddy can't leave before I show him who I can truly be. I've caused this family nothing but heartache, I want to make Daddy proud, I will show him. Through my tears, I could see Leo's silhouette.
"Weo!" I screamed, he turned, and I saw Don in front of him blushing.
"Raph, what's wrong?" Leo asked a bit flushed.
"You two can make out water, Daddy is finding it hard to breathe!" I ordered, grabbing them I dragged them back to Dad.
On our way there I stopped as I saw him collapse on the forest floor. No, why didn't he stay? Letting go of them I went and tried to help Daddy up. But soon I felt him being lifted up by bigger arms, I looked down at my hands. I am so weak; I need a safe place.
'See you needed me.' A voice chimed; I saw Renoir leaning against a tree. 'You need to talk.'
"Not now!" I screamed, I raced to the tree and punched it. "Daddy needs me… Forget about me…"
"Raph!" Leo yelled, I turned to see him walking over to me.
"Weo, I am okay I just…" I began, he scooped me up and began to walk, I couldn't see Don or Daddy.
"You zoned out for a while there, little brother," Leo stated, I blushed and buried my face in his plastron.
"I am okay, just hewp Don with Daddy…" I muttered.
"And bring you in there only to have another episode, you need to talk and get back control, you remember your exercises." He soothed.
"I don't wanna wose Daddy I never got to show him aww I couwd be… I can't even nurse him anymore, if I am so woyal how did I not keep my promises…"
"Raph it's not your fault Karai did this to you, besides, as much as it hurts, it is his time. He would want to go with peace of mind."
"What do you mean?!"
"I want to show Father that we will be okay, Raph I know it's hard, but we talked about it. We will finish raising you, we are still family. I want you to tell Father that it's okay to move on. Let him be with his own Master…"
"I… can I have some time to think about it Weo…"
"Of course, now come on."
Leo scooped me up and rocked me, I looked at him confused, then I felt tears slip down my cheeks. Sniffling I leaned into him and began to cry softly. He patted my shell and hushed me, usually, I would fight off these feelings, but I couldn't. No, I needed to deal with this pain, no more hiding, I will become the best me I can be. For you Daddy.
(Leo's POV)
I was startled to a rise, turning I saw Raph scream as father lay on the ground clutching his chest. Oh god, I raced to Father's aide and soon I saw Don in front of us. He motioned me to let him down, I nodded, and he began CPR. I grabbed Raph and pulled him over and hide him against my plastron.
"Ah, thank you…" Father muttered his eyes closing.
"Is he?" I asked, Don shook his head.
"No, he passed out, I assume this was a heart attack…" Don answered, I nodded as he picked up Father laying him down in a bed. "I need to wake up April to fetch some supplies."
"Okay."
"Wemmie go!" Raph cried.
"Raph, calm down, Father will be fine."
"Leo..nard..o" Father wheezed, I got up and went to his side.
"I am here, Father." I soothed.
"Me too Daddy!" Raph called.
"My sons, Leo..nard..o please I.. ask that you k..eep our c..lan to..geth..er, help raise Raph..ael to his po..ten..tial." He stated, I nodded and Raph fought in my arms.
"No Daddy! Donnie wiww fix you, I want you to see me grow!" he cried, I hugged him closer.
"I will father, me and Don will raise him… I swear on my honour" I promised.
"You.. and Dona..tello have my bless..ing… I love you…"
"Thank you, Father, we will make you proud."
"Love you.. my sons…"
(Raph's POV)
I went straight as a board before I lost the world, looking I saw HIM standing there looking down at me with a kind look. I stepped back but hit something, looking up I saw a multitude of hanging women. Turning I saw his face directly in mine his eyes flames and his smile turned cruel. I looked down and saw blood which was followed by that pain.
I came back to reality and looked up to see Don looking at me, tears in his eyes. I reached up with a trembling hand which he grabbed, I turned to see Mikey being comforted by Leo. So, Daddy really did die, I picked at my arm but felt Don pull me into a hug.
"I was worried you were gone for so long, it's okay now Raphie you can cry now." He hushed, I gripped onto his shoulder strap.
It didn't feel real. I held the fabric tighter, feeling its rough texture in my hand. This felt real. I leaned my cheek against Don's plastron, this felt real too. All of this was real, I was really here. Now I could feel my heart racing in my chest and my hurried shallow breathes. It was like the world was coming back.
Tears were falling down my cheeks and my throat hurt as I was racked with sobs I had barely even registered. How long had I been doing this? It hurts, it hurts. Everything is too much. It's all too much… I felt someone rubbing my shell and head soothingly. Real, this felt real. I was here.
"You're here, it's okay, just feel it." Don soothed, right, I had to feel this. "It's alright to feel bad."