Hey guys. Been very busy and suffering from this reoccurring depression but I'm still trying. Writing is fun but I have so much to do, deadlines to do it all, and rereading the reviews makes me happy and determined to keep going! I just want you guys to know that I'm not giving up on the story, especially since I'm almost finished with it.
I'm thinking of doing a sequel (which you'll figure out why at the end of this chapter) and it starting them out as juniors or seniors in high school: what do you think of that? Please let me know what you think if you want. Thanks for the patience and understanding!
Happy Reading...
Leonardo's Point of View:
"Thank you for your statements, Leonardo. I think we've got everything we need now," Officer Sandy smiled as she shut the video recorder. I looked over at Nakano and he smiled at me in a very relieved way. He was in here with me because, as a minor, I couldn't be questioned alone with a parent or guardian. I would have preferred to have Sensei with me, but I wanted to get everything over with more.
"So, we're done now?" I asked hurriedly, eager to get back to my family. She must have realized this because she nodded, the smile never leaving her face.
"My colleagues and I have already questioned your brothers and everyone else. You should be ready to go!" She said kindly and I smiled, nodding my head in thanks. Nakano got up and said a few words to her but I didn't wait for him.
I opened the door and went out into the hall before taking the turn that took me back to the main area of the police station. I don't know why I felt heart jump a little because we hadn't been separated long at all. I turned into the main area and beamed when I saw most of the others waiting there. They were sitting around buzzing with conversation that was hard to follow.
My brothers were standing to the side with Sensei and Miwa. The others were crowded around them. The only ones I couldn't see were Slash and his Purple Dragons. Had they already left or were they still being questioned?
At that moment Raph turned his head away from Casey and saw me walking towards them, "Hey Fearless!" Everyone then turned to greet me enthusiastically.
"Leo, Sensei says he's gonna order pizza to take home!" Mikey cheered, his baby blue eyes sparkling and I laughed, not at all surprised by this. Sensei smiled over at me, "Nakano-Otosan, you're coming back with us, right?"
"Ah, yes, if that's okay. My car's at Hamato-san's place anyways," Nakano replied with a nervous smiled. Miwa rolled her eyes at Nakano's nervousness.
"Hey Raph, where did Slash go?" I whispered over at him and he eyed me from the corner of his eye before sighing.
"Slash left a few minutes ago. He got uncomfortable because Purple Dragons aren't exactly all good people, ya know?" He said quietly and I nodded in agreement, "They have a bad reputation, even if Slash and some of the others are good guys."
"So, he didn't want to be discovered as a Purple Dragon?" I questioned softly and he nodded, frowning. I frowned too at this but placed a hand on his shoulder for only a moment before dropping it. I know that he doesn't like to be touched much and only Mikey can get away with it. I smiled to myself.
Raph smirked in response, his way of appreciating my trying to comfort him. I looked back at Donnie and Mikey talking to April. I jumped when Raph shouted loudly when Casey crashed into him in one of his "incomings". Nakano and Miwa thought that was hilarious.
"What tha heck is wrong with you, Casey?" Raph growled as he rubbed his arm. Casey just laughed alongside Mikey and didn't answer the question.
"The better question is what isn't wrong with him?" Donnie drawled, his arm around April's waist. The others burst out laughing, especially Mondo and Mikey. I shook my head as Casey glared at our genius brother.
"Hey that pizza invite is for everyone, right?" Mondo joked but his mouth was watering. I chuckled.
"Yes, you are all invited," Sensei answered with amusement. Then he looked around, "In fact, why don't we leave now? I don't want us to get in the way."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
We all turned, and some of us jumped, in surprise as Officer Sandy came rushing out with files in her hands. She looked a bit disheveled and I overheard her partner call her scatterbrained. I tolerantly smiled.
"What's wrong?" Nakano asked worriedly. I knew that after the fiasco with Shredder trying to get Nakano in trouble made him very nervous around the police.
Officer Sandy walked up to us and handed Mikey a card. Raph, Donnie, and I leaned close to him to read it. It was her name and a phone number. Raph and Donnie shared a shocked but stupefied look while I simply blinked. Miwa crammed close and leaned her head on my shoulder to see it and I blushed.
"If you remember anything else or if somehow, you're contacted by Oroku Saki then please call me at that number," She smiled, her expression friendly.
"Thanks!" Mikey exclaimed with a wide grin on his face. She giggled and excused herself to give those files to someone with her partner following behind her, "She's so nice!"
"I think you really impressed her," Miwa grinned over at him as Casey snickered loudly.
"I don't know how…" Mikey replied, scratching his cheek with his finger.
"No tellin'," Raph shrugged it off before stretching, "Can we go now?"
"Yes, let's go now," Sensei said calmly before we gathered all our stuff and walked out of the police station together. We got into the cars we'd gotten into before and I sat beside Miwa, smiling at her.
"What?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at me. She was smiling back though and I could tell she was embarrassed that I was looking at her so much. Behind her I saw Raph look in our direction and pretend to gag. I fought against rolling my eyes as Mikey snickered.
"Nothing," I answered before forcing to look away from Mikey and Raph's silly faces. Donnie looked up from his phone and saw what they were doing before he let out a big laugh that startled Miwa, "I did want to ask you if you were okay though."
She turned back to me and blinked, "Sure, I'm fine."
"Ya could tell us…I mean Leo if you're not," Raph but in with a smirk on his face. I glared at him and Miwa looked over at him flatly. Couldn't he at least try not to listen in on our conversations.
"Why can't you put your phone in your face like Sheldon?" She quipped and I laughed when Donnie looked up from his phone in a startled way again. Mikey laughed along with me.
"But you could tell us too if you wanted," Mikey added in between laughs. Donnie frowned and blushed at the same time before making a big show of putting his phone away. I shook my head and noticed Sensei grinning in the review mirror.
Miwa rolled her eyes before sighing, "It was kinda disturbing to come face to face with Shredder again…. he was my father for 15 years after all…"
Something painful happened to her face and Sensei's face too. Raph and Mikey stopped laughing and looked at her seriously. Mikey frowned sadly.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that Miwa," Donnie chipped in with a gentle look on his face, "But you won't have to live a life of a lie anymore. He won't hurt you in any way anymore."
"That's true. Please rest assured that I will make up for all the lost time, my daughter," Sensei promised with an equally gentle look on his face. Miwa's painful expression slowly vanished and she gave a small smile that only made her look cuter in my eyes.
"Thanks," She whispered to us all and Mikey beamed before shoulder rubbing against her until she laughed and moved away. I smiled.
Michelangelo's Point of View:
We were parking in Sensei's driveway when Leo leaned over to kiss Miwa on the cheek. Gross! I looked away and met Raph's shocked gaze. Leo was such a private person that he also wasn't expecting Leo to kiss Miwa in front of us. Or maybe he knew it'd gross us out.
Donnie simply rolled his eyes and got out of the car as almost before the car stopped. Raph and I followed him out. Nakano and Sensei went to unlock the door while I looked over to see Miwa grin at something Leo was telling her. Maybe I don't want to know.
"Are you textin' April?" Raph questioned and I turned back around to follow Raph and Donnie up the small steps to get to the front door. Donnie nodded without looking up from his phone, "Will ya get yer face outta that phone for one second ta talk to me?"
"No," Donnie replied in a way that I could tell he was joking around a bit. I snickered and made a small plan in my head.
"Hey Donnie, wanna hear something?" I questioned and refrained from laughing at the look on Raphie's face when Donnie put his phone away to give me his full attention.
"Oh, I see how it is," Raph grunted in annoyance as Donnie winked at me and I grinned. Sensei pushed the door open as Leo joined us, apparently having seen what went on because he and Miwa were laughing.
I looked behind me to see that Leatherhead was pulling up in his truck. It was then that I noticed the other car parked on the curb in front of our house. My mouth fell open when I recognized the black Nissan Quest. I pushed past Raph and Donnie to run into the house as they shouted in surprise.
There sitting on one of our couches in the pit was my Mom, picking at her purple bandana. Tears filled my eyes as the guys and Miwa came in behind me. Sensei and Nakano didn't seem surprised to see her there though.
"Mom!" I cried as I ran towards her. I almost couldn't see where I was going because of the tears flooding my vision.
"Mikey!" She cried in a louder voice. I finally made it to her and we hugged each other tightly. She squeezed even harder and I heard the waviness in her voice, "Oh, Mikey…. I was so worried about you! Are you alright?! Did he hurt you at all?"
I remembered about Chris Bradford and then the time Shredder slapped me but I was totally okay now! I pulled back and smiled, wiping my eyes before looking into her hazel eyes.
"I'm uh-ma-zingly okay, Mom! I'm glad you're okay too!" I exclaimed as I hugged her again, "I missed you so much!"
"And I missed you more," She giggled though she sounded like she was holding back heavy tears, "And is Leatherhead okay?"
"Yes, I am, Aunt Macy," Leatherhead replied heavily as if he were suddenly emotional again too. We turned to see him and the others coming in. April looked touched at our reunion. I parted from my Mom and smiled again.
"Miss Levard, I have ordered pizza. Enough for everyone," Sensei informed her with a fond smile on his own face. He suddenly looked at me, "I remembered all the toppings you like, my son."
"Wow, thanks Sensei!" I beamed excitedly and he chuckled. Raph walked towards me and grinned.
"You were only gone a few days and everyone's actin' like it's been a year!" He joked as he slung an arm around my shoulders comfortably. I grinned up at him as everyone started getting settled on the couch.
"Turn on some sports, dude!" Casey fussed at Leo, who guarded the remote with a glint in his eyes that made Miwa laugh. April shook her head as Mondo joined Raph and I.
"Sports would be rad!" Mondo chimed as he turned to me and grinned. We shared a fist bump and I laughed before Raph dragged us both to sit by him on the couch. My Mom sat back down at the end beside me.
"I will sit on the floor, Nakano-san. You may sit by Donatello and April," Leatherhead said politely. It was sudden and I noticed that aside from Sensei's chair there was only one spot left. I felt my heart warm at how much I missed my cousin and best friend, Leatherhead!
"Oh, thank you, Leatherhead…but where will you sit?" Nakano-Otosan questioned fretfully but Leatherhead only smiled before walking around to sit on the ground next to my legs, "Oh…I see."
Everyone shared either a smile or a laugh. I smiled down at Leatherhead who patted my knee before turning to watch the TV. Leo had chosen to put on CSI which I thought was both cool and funny, considering all that's happened.
It was so much fun to hang out with everyone again. I laughed when Donnie eerily predicted things that would go wrong on CSI, which ended being right. It wasn't any better that April predicted the killer's behaviors accurately. Between them both none of us were ever bored watching the show. It was hilarious when Miwa began to tease them at how much they belonged together. They both had blushed.
I talked with my Mom as much as I could. I found out that she has another appointment soon to have bloodwork done so that her doctor can make sure the chemotherapy treatments are working like they should. I was happy that at least she didn't look as sick as she usually does when taking that stuff. Leatherhead assured me that he would take over most of the housework which Raphie had a good laugh at that mental image.
The pizza got here soon after and I actually felt a bit embarrassed when Sensei and Leo made a big deal about me getting first serve. Usually I'd just get first pick anyways because that's how I roll, but getting special treatment in front of the others made me want to blush. I did it anyways to make Leo and Sensei happy before everyone resumed eating and watching the next episode of CSI that came on.
Eventually Casey and Donnie got into a heated debate about how the killer should have handled the body after the murder which made a lot of us shocked. Leo, Raph, and I were the only ones not surprised that Donnie was so into the show so far. Casey on the other hand seemed to have a lot of ideas, some of which made Mondo and I laugh together.
"You want to know what I would do if I had just murdered someone?" Sensei asked Casey and Donnie, interrupting their heated debate. I laughed when Miwa and April leaned in with interest. Leo looked at me with a smile.
"What is that, Sensei?" Donnie questioned curiously, tilting his head in almost confusion. Sensei smiled calmly.
"I wouldn't have murdered someone in the first place," He replied absolutely and the rest of us burst out laughing. I should have known that's what he'd say!
"Oh, come on Splinter!" Casey groaned as he smacked his forehead, "You're supposed ta humor us!"
"You were expectin' somethin' else?" Raph grinned, totally amused by Casey's annoyance. I looked towards my Mom and grinned brightly when I saw how entertained she looked.
The rest of our time was pretty much this eventful. Only when Casey and April announced that their parents needed to know what was going on did everything start to settle. Nakano offered to drive them home, which they gratefully accepted.
"I'm going to go as well. I need to get the house in order," Nakano addressed as he turned to my brothers and I. We blinked in surprise and I jumped up.
"You're not staying the night?" I asked, wondering why he seemed mysteriously up to something. I tried to remember, but I couldn't remember at all if the house needed to be in order like he claimed. Raph and Leo frowned at Nakano while Donnie seemed just as confused as me.
"I'm sorry, Mikey. I'd love to spend more time with your four, but I do have something to do," Nakano smiled and I frowned worriedly. Mom put a hand on my shoulder and gave me one of her looks that I knew meant not to pry. I sighed and nodded.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow," April told us as she exchanged a look with Donnie, "Text us if anything else happens." I rolled my eyes when she looked in my direction teasingly then I grunted when Casey slapped my shoulder.
"Yeah and you guys better be at school Monday!" He exclaimed to which Sensei assured him we would be. Raph and I groaned in distaste. It wasn't that I hated school, but I knew that some gossip had possibly gone around by now. We've been absent a lot….
After that Nakano left with April and Casey. Mondo turned to me and grinned sympathetically, "Are you worried about what people have been saying at school?"
I turned to him in shock, "How did you know?!" My brothers laughed behind me.
"I know you well," He teased before looking a bit more serious, "It's nothing bad that I've heard so far. A lot of people just think you like to skip school. Some people think Raph and Leo get into fights with Seniors."
"Oh my God it happened ONE time," Raph growled behind me and I laughed as my Mom giggled.
"And some people think you and Donnie are avoiding school because you're bullied by the Seniors….and that's why Leo and Raph are starting fights with them," Mondo explained with an amused smile on his face. I wanted to sweat drop like in the comic books and anime.
"Oh, now I'm starting the fights?" Leo questioned in amusement as my brothers got closer to Mondo and I to be a part of the conversation.
"I never avoided school for anything before!" Donnie retorted in outrage and I chuckled, shaking my head. Donnie hates missing school.
"Well, I'm sure we'll be questioned a lot when we go back," I said lightly as I turned to them. Leatherhead stood suddenly and had a very serious look on his face as if something had bothered him. We all looked at him with wide eyes.
"If you are ever bullied then you must let me know," He grumbled, his shoulders bunching up like a predator ready to attack. I promised him I would just to see the tension bleed out of his shoulders.
"Is anyone actually going to bully him with Leatherhead being around him?" Leo commented as Raph snorted and Donnie laughed. I chuckled because a moment ago Leatherhead had again reminded me of an alligator ready to tear into something.
"I wouldn't. Plus, there's always us too and Casey," Donnie replied with a pleased grin on his face. I rolled my eyes.
Finally, we moved on to a different topic with Leo asking Sensei if he knew what might be wrong with Nakano, but sadly he didn't know either. I asked Sensei why he was so quiet only to discover that he was receiving text messages, yes, I said text messages, from Frank, Terry, and Mr. Kurtsman.
Soon after that my Mom said that she better leave if she wanted to get some rest and I hugged her tightly before wishing her and Leatherhead goodnight. Mondo went with them because Leatherhead was his ride so I hugged Mondo too and promised to go skating with him again soon.
After that it was just my bros, Miwa, Sensei and I left. I turned when Sensei cleared his throat and turned to us, "I have only one question left."
We all looked up at him in confusion but I noticed that he focused his attention on Leo, "So, Leonardo, are you serious about my daughter?"
He asked this in a playful tone but Raph literally had to turn away and bite his lip when Leo's mouth dropped open in stunned silence. He looked so shocked that I thought you could push him over. I was biting my tongue too as Donnie looked at Sensei as if he had just sprouted a daisy on top of his head. Haha!
Miwa had actually blushed a little and gasped, looking suddenly a tad uncomfortable. She looked as shocked as Leo. Sensei laughed when he saw how frozen they both were and I nudged Leo to hopefully bring him back to life.
"I…u-uh, well yes, I am b-but is it we-weird, Sensei?" Leo stammered, his whole body turning red and I wanted to laugh now that Donnie suddenly looked sympathetic towards him. Raph looked at me with tears of laugher in his eyes and I choked back at hysterical laugh, almost slapping my mouth with my hand. Raph shook his head at me as his body trembled from suppressed laughter. At least he was trying not to laugh out loud and embarrass Leo more.
"It is not weird because you are not biologically related but I was concerned about how serious you were about her. I raised you to be a very respectful young man," Sensei replied seriously, his face calm. Miwa looked ready to walk away from us at this point and I grabbed her hand before squeezing it. She looked at me in surprise, her face still red. I closed my eyes and smiled brightly at her, hoping to comfort her if not distract her for a moment.
"Hai, Sensei. I'm very serious about her," Leo managed to assure him, but Leo's whole body was still red. Raph began to calm down now that the worst was over.
"Good. I am relieved to hear that," Sensei grinned before looking at Miwa, "Tomorrow we can have a Father-Daughter day and pick out some stuff for your new room together."
Miwa blinked and I let go of her hand when her face started to clear. She looked pleasantly surprised now, "Really? That'd be great!"
"Which room are you takin'?" Raph asked as he and Donnie leaned in curiously. Hmmm, I wonder if she'll want to repaint the room? I'd love to help with that!
"I'm taking Sheldon's old room," Miwa answered with a small grin as she turned to look at Raph. Donnie immediately frowned while Leo and I chuckled.
"Who's Sheldon? I had no idea a stranger lived here," Donnie grunted while crossing his arms. I laughed harder as Sensei shook his head with a fond smile.
"Oh, you know him," Miwa smirked playfully, "My tall socially awkward genius brother with straight brown hair, brown eyes with a hint of red in them?"
We all looked at her in surprise. Although I had told her many times that I was excited for her to join our family as my sister, this was the first time she called any of us her 'brothers'. Hey, wait, if she married Leo one day then she'd for real be my sister!
"Awwww yeahhh!" I beamed, startling them as I jumped towards Miwa for a hug. She laughed as I squeezed her before letting her go, "This is gonna be so great to have you as a sister!"
She grinned and we shared a high five, "Heck yeah it is!" I saw Leo smile happily out of the corner of my eye while Donnie finally came out of his surprise.
"I'm still not Sheldon," Donnie retorted stubbornly while Miwa rolled her eyes and Raph, Leo, and I laughed. After that, Sensei asked us to help clean up the pit a little bit before we did anything else. After that he left to the dojo for a while.
We all helped clean, though I complained when Raph threw one of the pizza boxes at me. Miwa went to take a shower after that while I tried to find us all a movie to watch. While I did this my bros were setting up the usual pallet on the floor in front of the TV where we'd most likely fall asleep together. We teased Leo when he made the couch up for Miwa so she could sleep there if she wanted.
"What? It's improper for her to sleep with just us guys on the floor," Leo justified with a blush.
"More like there'll be no more room between Mikey and Raph moving in their sleep," Donnie joked as he looked towards me. I shrugged as Raph pushed Donnie out of the way to get at the spot he wanted, "What the heck, Raph!"
"What? I wanted this spot," Raph grinned in a shark-like manner and Leo shook his head as he took the other end, forcing Donnie and I in the middle. I smirked before settling in my place beside Raph.
"At least the cool kids can sit in the middle, right D?" I retorted, still smirking. Donnie laughed and nodded his head as Raph playfully hit me upside the head.
"Let's just start this episode of CSI over," Leo said slowly after a minute. He was still safe-guarding the remote from us, which I found funny. Raph rolled his eyes.
"Sure, sure. Can't wait ta hear Donnie ruin tha episode in tha first 10 minutes," Raph muttered while Leo and I burst out laughing. Donnie's face dropped and he glared at Raph before they got into their own debate of keeping ideas to themselves. I shook my head.
It was so good to be home!
Oroku Saki's Point of View:
I had no words to describe how utterly furious I was. I felt not only furious but betrayed as well. Why did Karai betray me? What were the last 15 years for that I spend raising her? That insolate brat!
To be outwitted by the Hamatos made me see red. On my way to a holding cell I managed to injure two police officers but did not escape. I did request my phone call session which they had to allow and called the very person I knew wouldn't fail me unless he wanted his pathetic life to end. Now it was just a matter of patience.
Tigerclaw and Bradford were in the cell in front of mine. Soon we'd be transferred to prison to wait for a trial. As if you can keep someone like locked up. How dare they think they can do this to me of all people!
It was a few hours before the transfer vehicle arrived and I was growing impatient. I didn't rise any suspicion as they loaded Bradford, Tigerclaw, and I up with smug smirks on their faces. It took much willpower not to beat them until they bled. They locked us in and after a few minutes the truck was loading. Tigerclaw looked over at me.
"Master, why did you not resist?" He asked me calmly. I glared over at my best pupil while Bradford shrunk back.
"Because there was no need to arouse any suspicion," I replied simply as I looked towards the side, where the window connected a talking space with us and the driver was shut. A moment later it shifted open and I smirked. Tigerclaw's eyes widened.
"But how?" Tigerclaw breathed in confusion and awe. There in the driver's seat sat Xever and in the passenger's seat, Baxter Stockman. Both were disguised in police uniforms.
"We ambushed the two policemen on there way here," Xever explained in monotone, "We stole their uniforms so that we could blend in enough so that you guys would get in here and we'd get out quickly." I nodded slowly.
"I made a call. They were fools to think I wouldn't have a way of getting out," I sneered with a cruel smirk on my face. Stockman looked nervous, "Rest assured, Stockman. You will be rewarded for aiding me." He smiled a little and dipped his head. I could not see Xever but I did see how his hands on the wheel were practically white. I ignored whatever his problem was.
"I secured you a private plan using my own influence Master Shredder," Stockman told me and I felt pleased.
"Good work, Stockman. You have proven yourself very useful to me," I grumbled and he dipped his head again, quickly looking away. Tigerclaw sat back looking pleased as well. Bradford did nothing for a moment.
"Where are we going, Master?" Bradford asked as he finally looked over at me, "It doesn't seem wise to stay around here for the time being."
"It isn't wise. Which is why I instructed Stockman to get me a private plan back to Japan," I explained while Tigerclaw nodded, looking unsurprised, "I will recuperate and train my clan harder than before." Tigerclaw looked excited at this.
I smirked again, "Then when I am ready, I will be back for my daughter and to extract revenge on the Hamatos for what they have done to my clan and I."