TMNT: Cherry Blossoms of Life
Ch.5~ Need Help
I sat on the porch step, I wanted to be left alone out here, but Mikey refused to leave me alone. He sat on the porch swing sipping on a soda. How could he not sense the mood, or maybe he could… Mikey was strange like that, even stranger now that I am the little brother. But Father was gone, and I had to live with that and not have a parent as I grew up.
Everything felt like it was fading away, I kinda wanted it too. Maybe then it wouldn't hurt so much. I heard the porch creak and I felt a hand begin to rub my head. I focused in on the sensation of my bandana rubbing against my head as Mikey moved his hand back and forth over it.
"You gotta feel it out." He reminded. "Raph will you talk to me and tell me why you are so depressed?"
"Are you fucking kidding me!" I screamed, I stood up and turned to him. "Our Dad is dead, and aww he knows me as is the son who disappointed him! It's my fauwt, aww of it… I wanna die…"
"Raphie in no way could any of this be your fault, Raph I am here so please talk to me." He pleaded, grabbing my forearms.
"I hate this…"
"I think we all do…"
"Mikey, I wanted to show Daddy that I couwd become the man I was deep inside, now he won't seem me grow. After aww I've done, and I can't even do one wittle thing for him, or do as Weo wanted…"
"What did Leo want?"
"To teww Daddy it's okay to go… I didn't wanna wie to Daddy more than I awready have."
"Saying it's okay for him to go isn't about us being happy about it, it's us telling him we can handle this pain together…"
"I am done with pain!"
(April's POV)
I teared up as I looked out the window to see Mikey holding a sobbing Raph. I never realized what kind of a person Raph was, he always seemed prickly and a loner. Now I can see he was just acting; he is a sweet boy whose heart is too big and left on his sleeves. He loves to adventure, he wants to see the world, curious, bright, funny. That is what Raph always was behind that façade.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked to see Casey with a sad look on his face. He pulled me close, I didn't know him well before either. He and Raph were so close, I bet Casey knew him better.
"That is Raphie, a new side, but still him, I always knew he was a softie…" Casey stated, I nodded.
"It's good that he can be himself… I just worry about the timing…" I muttered, he nodded kissing my head.
"I know, a while ago Raph told me that they all had a chat about Splinter dying, he told me he would nurse him back to health if he got sick. I don't think Raph can forgive himself for not sticking to his word…"
"We should keep a better eye on him for a bit, I am gonna research his conditions. I refuse to lose Raphael too."
(Raph's POV)
I sat up in bed, everyone else was asleep, Mikey was hanging off his bed clutching a bag of chips. Leo was asleep holding Don they were so busy arranging things for the cremation. I got up from my bed and went to the window and climbed out onto the roof. Casey and April were downstairs probably asleep, looking around I walked closer to the edge.
Gripping my hands into fists I jumped off the roof landing funny and hurting my ankle. Ignoring the pain, I kept running heading for the river to end this. Arriving at the shore I went to jump but was hauled back by my shell.
"Wet me go…" I pleaded.
(Casey's POV)
I looked down at him his eyes void of life and his face was almost expressionless. I kept a firm grip on his shell as I brought him into my arms. Once he was in my arms, I pulled him into a tight hug and stood up cradling him. Turning I saw April who was finally catching up with me, she sighed in relief when she saw Raph.
"Thank god." She sobbed breaking down at the tree line.
From my hold, I heard hiccups and I looked down to see Raph finally breaking down. I hushed him as I walked over to April who pulled him into her chest as she hushed him. Seems all the research paid off; he really was going to drown himself. Looking away I let a few tears trail down my face.
"I just want it to end, it hurts, it's aww my fauwt! I am becoming a monster!" Raph cried, I looked at him in shock. "I don't wanna be wike HIM!"
"Raphie you will never be him," I stated firmly he looked at me with watering eyes. "Raphie you are a good kid, angry but caring, a guy like you could never be a monster."
"Oh, Raphie look at me." April hushed and he met her gaze. "You are not a monster; I can't know how you feel but I want to help. You are a great kid with a heart of gold and love so deep, don't let the past define you. You mean so much to all of us, and none of this is your fault, none of it."
"Ape…" he chocked out.
"I will do everything I can to help you, we all will, don't give up on yourself because we never will." She finished and he hugged her tightly sobbing.
(Mikey's POV)
I saw April and Casey walk back to the house with Raph in April's arms I let out a huge sigh. I raced over to them and picked him up and pulled me close into a hug fighting back my tears. Pulling back, I saw his poor face his eyes were red and full of big tears. I smiled as Don took him and pulled him into a tight hug and Leo hugged Don and Raph. I looked to Casey and April and smiled.
"Thanks, I thought we would be better this time…" I admitted; Casey put a hand on my shoulder.
"Don't…" he stated I chuckled.
"No self-degrading talk from any of you," April stated I smiled at her.
"April to be honest we're all kinda lost on what to do," I replied, looking as Raph cried with Don and Leo.
"We're here to help Mikey; I am just curious on how to get him the help he needs." She replied, I nodded and looked up at the sky a tear rolling down my cheek. "You can be so mature."
"Can't be goofy all the time," I stated.
(Leo's POV)
April and Casey were gone to town to pick up some things and do a bit of research. I looked at Raph curled up in a big quilt snuggled up to Mikey. They were playing a game together and it seemed to keep him in a better mood. Don and I had our plans done we were cremating father tonight. Don was working on a container, he sent me here to keep an eye on Raph.
"Mikey, dummy, look there it is." Raph teased and Mikey laughed at the small pokes he received with the words.
"Okay, I'll get it." He whined playfully.
A heard a truck, it was loud, was it a semi, I stood and looked out the window. I froze as saw a large, armoured truck block the driveway, scanning I saw the letters, EPF… I spun to look at my little brothers, I raced to them and pulled them off the couch. Mid yell they got silent and I turned to see a red dot on the wall.
"Woods now," I ordered, I heard Mikey scramble and I watched him race with Raph out the side door.
I followed them and raced for the barn, I had to get Don as I got closer, I saw an all too familiar figure. I drew my katanas and faced off against the heiress of the foot clan. She rushed me and I blocked her blade but then I felt an arrow pierce my thigh. I groaned as she used the pain to overpower me pointing her blade at my neck.
"I win." She stated.
(Raph's POV)
Mikey slowed down as we settled into a big bush, I peek through the leaves looking for Leo and Don. Please they better be behind us, or maybe they had to escape on the other side. I froze as I heard shots, I began to shake, and Mikey set me down and poked his head out.
"Foot and Government…" he muttered barely loud enough for me to hear.
"Fuck…" I groaned as I tried to stop my shaking.
"Shh Raph." He soothed and picked me up and raced out of the bushes.
I looked over his shoulder I could see black shadows chasing us, I felt myself stiffen. I close my eyes and tried to breathe and opened them only to see him in their place. I could feel something sticky, looking down I saw a pool of fresh blood and I felt sick. Gagging I finally began to throw up feeling my body shake more.
I felt pain and I came back to see Mikey down on the ground and I saw them closing in. Whipping my mouth with my hand I stood up and raced to Mikey and took two Kunai from his belt. Getting into stance I rushed at the shadows I heard fire and the soldiers fell to the ground I saw Bishop looking at me.
"Stay back!" I hissed he smirked and took a step. "I mean it!"
"Of course," he said and tossed an object at me and I heard the gas disperse and I felt weak and collapsed, I glared at me as I began to fade into unconsciousness.
(Later)
I awoke and gasped and jumped to my feet and looked around, I was in an empty room. Looking I saw a door and I raced for it yanking on the knob desperately. Angrily I kicked the door and turned to see a mirror I walked over and gasped, I was… I collapsed as I stared at the reflection that could not be real.
"I… this can't be…" I muttered and I heard the door open turning I saw Bishop entering the room the door clicking loud as it shut.
"It's a thank you." He stated and tossed a bag at me. "I have made you human."
"Why?" I asked, he motioned me to the bag I unzipped it and pulled out a shirt and shorts.
"Humans wear clothes." He muttered he turned and left leaving me alone as the door shut again.
I dumped out the bag and looked at what was inside, clothes, a granola bar and a bottle of water. I looked in the mirror in confusion before I began to get dressed. Once I was done, I looked back to the mirror, I looked just like any other kid minus my wounds…
"It's really me…" I muttered and began to pull my hair, yep it hurts. "Okay, now what...?"
(Leo's POV)
I awoke and looked to my right I saw Don and Mikey tied up next to me and I looked around the room. It was a Japanese-styled room so we must be at Karai's base. Now where is Raph, I began to panic when I couldn't find my baby brother.
"Looking for someone?" Karai mocked I turned to see she had entered the room.
"What did you do with him?" I demanded, she chuckled.
"A trade-off, Bishop agreed to help me capture you if I gave him Raphael, not my original plan but the outcome will be the same." She explained, I glared at her as she opened a cupboard to the side.
"Is this plan honour-bound too?" I hissed, she turned me her eyes cold.
"It is my duty to avenge my Master and Father." She replied and went back to looking in the cupboard.
She approached me with a ceremonially decorated blade, I glared at her as she raised the blade above my head. Suddenly a shot rang through the room and she was knocked back, dropping her blade. Before I could process the room was filled with men in combat gear.
"Double-crossed," I muttered as Karai was taken from the room and a gas grenade landed a few inches from me and I was knocked unconscious again.
(Raph's POV)
I let a large man lead me into a new room there I was three humans, but they had my brother's gear. I raced forward and saw a boy with short trimmed black hair with Leo's mask. Running to the next I was a chubby-faced boy with wild sandy blonde hair that was past his shoulders. Looking to the last bed I tip-toed over and I saw a boy with Don's mask, his hair was long and jet black. Why was his blanket was up to his neck?
"I made them all human like you," Bishop stated I turned to see him in the doorway.
"Why?" I asked, he smiled.
"An order from the President, something about good deeds being repaid, I will explain more when they awaken, their bags are under their beds." He said and left the room and the door clicked behind him.
"I have so many questions…" I muttered, I raced over to Mikey and began to shake him. "Mikey!"
"Hmm, no more sleep." He mumbled but I kept shaking him till he opened his eyes blue like the sky.
"Mikey it's me," I said, he began to register the world and gasped. "It's Raph, I swear."
"Raph you're human…" he stated I held up his hand. "Ah!"
He flung back and looked down at himself in shock, I turned to see the others waking up. I got off the bed and tossed him his bag and raced to grab Leo and Don's. Leo look confused as I set the bag in his hands, then I went to Don. I reached to grab his bag, going to hand it I saw his chest. Wait those were.
"Raph...?" Leo muttered I raced over to him nodding.
"Yeah it's me, you guys might want to get dressed," I advised I saw Mikey looking down at himself turning red.
"I'm naked!" he screamed and began to fumble to open his bag.
I felt arms wrap around me and I turned to get a face full of boob, I squeaked and flung back to see Don looking confused. He didn't notice them. I poked one and he looked down and then screamed covering himself up. I sat down facing the wall as they got dressed in embarrassment.
"Okay does anyone know what happened?" Don pleaded I turned to see them all dressed looking at each other in confusion.
"Aww I know is that Bishop made us human keeps mentioning it was the President's orders," I explained.
"Too vague…" Don groaned burying his face in his thighs.
"You are handling this well," Leo stated.
"I think I just went into survivaw mode," I admitted as I felt myself relax.
"Why is Don a chick?" Mikey asked; Leo blushed as Don groaned louder.
"I have no idea," I muttered.
"And you?" Mikey probed, I never registered anything and quickly looked down my pants, nothing.
"Fuck…" I groaned, welp at this point I kinda don't care.
"I need a minute my brain is complete mush," Leo muttered, Mikey got up and walked over to me.
"You're not hurt, are you?" Mikey asked, I looked at him and saw his concern.
"No more than before," I answered, he smiled and reached over and tousled my hair.
"Well, at least we are all safe and together for now." He mused I couldn't help smiling with him.
"Yeah."