Hello everyone! Thanks for the reviews, they were amazing. One review I would like to respond to is Bluestar-TMNT-Warriors'. I do understand that there are people who are enjoying this story, and I know that you think it is unfair for me to consider ending this story because I'm not getting as many reviews as id like, but you have to look at things from my point of view. I currently have six stories in the process of being written, and of those six this is the story with the least amount of viewers. I've recently come to the conclusion that one of my stories is going to need to be deleted, as it's a struggle to manage so many stories while having school every day. I don't want to discontinue one of my more popular stories, so if I'm going to discontinue anything it may as well be mine. I do love this story, but I'm not going to spend so much time writing something that so little people appreciate. If you do snout this story, then please leave a review, I do not want to have to discontinue this. With all that said, enjoy and review.
Raphael Pov
I cling a spoon against my tall, filled to the top glass of icy chilled champagne. The beach falls silent, all except for the waves, roaring like lions of the Savannah. I take a deep breath as everyone's attention is quickly directed to me, making me feel nauseous. My stomach swims rapidly in a fast, unsettling way. I can feel the contents rising in my throat, but I shove it back down. No way am I going to mess this up. I have to hold myself together, do this right. For my father.
As if I'm pulling a string, my lips tighten together, rising into a smile.
It's show time.
"How's everyone doing tonight?" My voice booms, as if I'm holding microphone. The way my voice projects isn't even forced, I barely put any effort into it. Maybe that's because I'm used to yelling, though.
A chorus of responses flows like the ocean, flooding my ears like a current.
"Well I'm glad everyone's having as much fun as I am tonight." Taking one last deep breath, I roll into my speech in a less formal way than I'd planned, "Looking around I realize that they've obviously not given you enough to drink, considering you're all staring at me in such a solemn way." Laughs follow, and I smirk, confidence being filled to the brim of my existence
Towards the back of the crowd, my father grins at me, flashing the happiest expression as he wraps his arms around his bride.
"Nah, maybe that's a good thing. Not sure how we'd handle a group of drunk adults, but we'll worry about that later," I hop down from my chair and wink to the crowd.
My legs walk me around, leading me down pathways made by my listeners. Everyone looks so elegant and graceful here; and then there's Leonardo. Glaring me down as his fists clench the glass in his hand. It looks as if it will shatter at any second, like the peace in our family.
I remember when nothing could come between us Hamato's, we were closer than anything. No feud could ever start, and most certainly not grow large enough to send quaking ripples through our bond. We were indestructible.
And then high school happened.
Driven by the unpredictable promises of love, to have a perfect relationship; money, to never be broke; fame, to leave your name lingering on everyone's tongue in the most bittersweet way; and, finally, acceptance, to be brought into the world willingly.
We wanted that stuff so much, and finally got it.
All at once.
My father never taught us how to handle power, only how to fight the ones with too much.
Well, here we are now, with more power in the tips of our pinky finger's than the Shredder ever contained in his entire form.
So what now? Do we surrender our magic wands and brooms for what we had before? Or do we continue collecting the power we've become so dependent on, and watch slowly as we become eviler by the second?
Well the answer is quite simple, actually.
None of us are willing to go back to the life we had before, when we slept in the sewer tunnels, practically starving.
Therefore, we shall build up our, well, gift. And quietly, swiftly, kill each other off one by one with our harsh demeanors and hateful stares.
Leonardo Pov
"Every day I wake up with a smile on my face, because I know that there won't be one second where I won't have my father's love and support. And now, I can have my Mother's as well..," as my asshole of a brother rambles on, I drown him out. His words mean nothing to me, they're complete rubbish, mere bullshit said to win the hearts of the crowd. Raphael really knows how to play people, I'll give him that much. Though, I'm not quite sure that's something to be proud of.
I shift my weight from my left foot to my right, and my eyes wander around impatiently.
I wonder how long he's going to keep talking for. I really need this alcohol in my system. Yes, I'm only permitted this one glass of sweet champagne, and it does only have the same amount of alcohol as a wine glass, but champagne gets you drunk faster. And that's exactly what I want; to forget everything for just one night.
The numbness alcohol gives me is perfection. In those moments of drunkness, I can't remember my problems or my fears. I only focus on the here and now. I'm finally allowed to let loose.
"So today, as we are joined for the wedding of Yoshi and Claire Hamato, I am beyond excited for my parents. Thank you." Those were his final lines? Hell, Mikey had a better closing than that written out.
In perfect synchronization, everyone lifts their glasses, holding them high in the air, reaching up to the sky.
Then once more, we all bring them done, again in perfect harmony. And we sip.
As the ice cold beverage slides down my throat, I heave a sigh of refreshment. With the liquid gulped down and the cup empty, I set it down, and wrap my arms around Karai.
Her back is turned to me, and she leans back as my buff arms surround her thin, delicate frame. I bury my head in her neck, inhaling her thick lilac scent.
"Hey there beautiful," I murmur softly into her clear skin.
Chuckling, Karai untangles herself from my grasp and grabs my hands in hers as she sits us down next to each other at a small table reserved for us and my brothers and their girlfriends. "You act as if we haven't been standing beside each other for fifteen minutes."
I smirk at my fiancé, completely ignoring what she just said. She looks so beautiful, with her eyebrow raised and a smile on her red lips. Not only did that fine grin look like candy, but they also tasted just as sweet.
With a mischievous gleam in my cobalt blue eyes, I bring Karai's small hands to my mouth. I press a soft kiss to each, and then drop them back down to rest upon my thighs. "I love you so much, Karai."
Karai's angelic laugh escapes into the open air. And in that moment, I swear, I wanted to freeze time and never have to worry about anything but her. She's so pure, so amazing. I love her. Karai is my world, nothing else matters but her. Nothing.
My brothers, they can burn. They're nothing but disrespectful assholes. They don't understand how much I've done for them, they don't know how heavy the burden of leadership is. And yet they make me feel worthless. Raphael said just today that it was my fault that my daughter is dead. He doesn't understand how much pressure is put on me each and everyday! He thinks that the world as as simple as cake, but it's not. It's stressful and unpredictable and wretched. If it weren't for me, my brothers would be dead. They owe their lives to me, but they're too scared to admit it.
Only one person in this world has always respected me, and that person is the one sitting before me. With her Amber eyes staring at me like an owls, and her short royal blue dress hugging her curvy body in a way so attractive that my heart melts at the sight. Karai's black and blonde hair has been curled and put into a high ponytail, a long strand let loose on either side of the bangs that hang over her forehead.
"I love you too..but is this champagne talking?" Why does she question my love for her? Why can't she just understand that she's the only thing on this shitty planet worth dying for, the only one worthy enough of life.
"Maybe," I whisper as I search her eyes, "but even if it is, that doesn't make me love you any less. You are perfect to me Karai. You are perfect and nothing else is."
She looks uncertain as she stares at me with a sad smile and raised eyebrows. Those orbs, the colors of honey, wander around the beach, avoiding me.
It annoys me, how she looks at herself like a piece of scum. What can I do to show her that she's worth more than gold?
I lift my hand to her chin, and move her head until she's facing me. We lock eyes, our gazes never shifting. Though, this stare is different than the rest. I'd be lying if I said it felt like time had stopped, because it wasn't like that. Not at all. It was more like tension has stunned us, freezing our rigid bodies.
"Karai, I love you, you do know that, don't you?" My brow furrows together in unison.
My fiancé's lips sink lower on her face, into a deep, painful looking frown. I glare at the frown. Hopefully she doesn't think it's directed at her.
"I do...but...I've kept a secret," her voice shakes in fear, and my eyes widen, to which she bites her lip. A secret? What kind? What could possibly be hiding behind Karai's luxurious smile?
"Tell me," I blurt. A little too sudden, perhaps, but I suppose that I'm a little desperate.
Karai brings my hands up to her mouth, and breathes in and out, warming my chilly fingers. "I will. When we're alone."
Then, she drops my hands, and grabs her champagne.
Bottoms up.
Michelangelo Pov
We're all here, me and my three brothers and our girlfriends. Dad and Mom are floating through the crowd, thanking everyone for their congrats and thanking them for coming all the way from New York. Jake is sitting with his aunts and uncles and cousins. I suppose that they're my family too now, but I just can't seem to consider anyone other than my father and brothers—and maybe Claire and Jake—family. My brothers are my everything, I have no life without them. I wish they felt that same way towards me.
Looking around at this table, all seven of the teens surrounding me have a scowl on their face as they glare each other down. Don is on my side of the war now, leaving me only to be cross with Leo and Karai, and Kala.
Kala...
The one person I can never be mad at is the same person sending glares so sharp that they pierce my skull, cutting deep into my skin. She watches as I bleed from the pain of her strike, but doesn't do anything but stare further. Stab, stab, stab, stab stab stab stabstabstabstab!
Why me?
Why must I be the one in the center of this?
The blame pinned on me stings as much as the wound brought upon my knuckle this afternoon preparing lunch. It bled for a while, and has stung deeply ever since. The aftermath is always painful. Kinda like what happened last night.
Shaking my head, I clench my fists until they turn white. And even then, I don't stop. Even the feeling of numbness is heaven to what I'm feeling in my head.
I need to come clean, say I'm sorry. Apologizing may be hard, but it'll be worth it, even if they don't accept my words, at least I've had said it.
Right?
Clearing my throat, I glance around at my friends.
"Guys, I'm sorry," I come right on out and say it. No one should be afraid of words.
Everyone stops and stares at me questioningly. All eyebrows are furrowed, making everyone look more fierce, as if they're scowling at me. But these scowls have confusion mixed in with them. When I study their expressions, it makes me want to look in a mirror, as the stare at me like I've grown a second head.
"Yesterday was shit," no one should be afraid to speak their mind, "I was causing trouble with that damn crab, Kala, you stormed off on me; Leo, you called me a screwup; Donnie, you locked me in the fucking car! Raph, you took me out drinking and then came home and started this godforsaken war! April, you yelled at Donnie; Karai and Mona, you two were tearing each other apart; and Leonardo and Raphael, the words you shot at each other were harsher than any wound that could've been inflicted by the Shredder!" I have to pause to take a breath, I'm talking so quickly. "What are we, a family? Or enemies? I think we all know the answer to that."
Standing, I surprise both myself and everyone else, and the shock ignites with flames as I stop in front of Kala. With my arms outstretched, I grab her hands and yank her up. Kala places her delicate heads on the crease of my elbows, and I wrap my long arms around her waist.
Standing chest to chest, our faces only inches apart. Her eyes are wide as saucers, reflecting the stars in the sky. Within the reflection, I see a shorting star.
I wish she would only ever be mine.
"I can't stay mad at you any longer," I whisper just loud enough for her to hear. Then, I throw myself at her, and we plunge into a long, deep kiss.
Clothes lost to the floor, we lay beside each other. When Kala cuddles up to my side, I wrap an arm around her, pulling her closer.
I'm still panting, even after our, er, activity has been finished. I close my eyes and smile. No one words can ever describe how amazing it felt to be that close to the girl I love the most.
Kala's position shifts, and I open my eyes to watch her lay her head up in my shoulder. Her fingers laced with mine on either side of our bodies. She heaves a long sigh as her eyes seal shut, and a grin creeps onto her lips.
I lean down and press a kiss to the crown of her head. "I wish you would only ever be mine," I murmur for Kala to hear within her last few seconds of wake.
And I, myself am drifting into a pleasant dreamland.
But just before I'm out for the day, a thought crosses my mind.
Never tell someone the wish you've made, because then, your wish will come out in a reverse affect.
Meaning, Kala won't only ever be mine.
My eyes shut.
Donatello Pov
I smile as I glance over at April. Sitting beside me, she looks out at the overlapping waves, just as one hits our feet. I scoot towards April and pull her closer to me, allowing her to rest her head upon my shoulder.
In the sand in front of us, April draws lightly with her index finger. A heart, with D+A within it. I smile, thinking back to the exact carving I'd made on my desk back at the lair. I had always hidden it neatly beneath my keyboard. It's still there, and still, no one knows of its existence other than me.
"I love you," I whisper softly.
April tilts her head up to stare me deeply in the eyes, her azure blue eyes. Her pink lips smile at me gracefully. I brush a piece of hair away from her face, giving me a clearer view of the beauty. "I love you, too, Donatello," the way she says my name melts my heart each and every time it's heard by my ears only. My blood pumps faster, my blood pressure spiking dramatically.
April cups my head in her hands and brings her soft lips to mine. Connecting, our lips move as swiftly as the breeze brushing past us, sending April's hair blowing.
When we pull apart, my eyes wander down to the heart and initials inside. Because of the wind, the A has transformed into a K, leaving a heart with D+K inside.
I wonder what it means. A sign, perhaps?
I shove the thought aside. Let's only worry on the here and now.
April.
Leonardo Pov
The party ended later than expected. Michelangelo and Kala fled back to their house after the apology speech given by him. Donnie had taken April to the shore shortly after, where they stayed for quite some time.
Them four had it all made up, and I guess I'm not cross with Michelangelo any longer, just slightly annoyed.
Raphael is the only I'm still blazing with anger for. I didn't want to cause a scene, and he clearly didn't either, so we avoided each other as much as humanly possible. But still, any time our paths crossed, we glared so fiercely that it hurt.
My father noticed; obviously, considering he's so observant. At one point he'd been talking with me and Karai, and as my eyes scanned the area, my gaze had fallen upon my tempered brother, a gaze so deadly it sliced the peaceful conversation I had been indulged in in half. When I looked back to my father, he'd sent me a warning glance, one so cold I'd felt guilt rain over me.
At the end of the party me and Karai came back to the house, heading straight to our room for a conversation I was both eager and apprehensive to have. A secret be told.
I quickly switched my suit out for a pair of pajama pants, leaving my chest bare. I slumped down on the bed, watching Karai slip out of her dress and into a t-shirt and shorts.
Karai sat beside me, crossing her legs over each other. I laid back, propped up on my elbows. I stare up at Karai with a tilted head.
"So..you have something you want to tell me?" Karai's voice goes pale white and she heaves a sigh of defeat, nodding her head slowly.
"Are you sure you want to know?" I can tell that she's as terrified to tell me as I am to listen. But nonetheless, I must know.
"Yes," I answer simply.
With her hands resting on the comforter between her legs, she squeezes her eyes shut, jaw clenched. "Leo, I'm only with you because of my father."
I jolt upwards, going from relaxed to on edge faster than light. Sitting in my feet, knees bent, I lean forward, coming close to Karai. My hands find hers, and I grasp them tightly. "What?"
Karai's eyelids flutter open like a butterfly's wings, revealing those Amber orbs that I could stare at all day long. Sadly, I don't have the time to admire Karai's beauty, not when I have questions that need answering.
"It's a long story, you have to hear me out, don't jump to conclusions. Please," I shake my head at Karai's pleading, shaking voice. For once in our relationship, she looks scared. Fear consumes her, sucking the light from her eyes. My fiancé, Karai Oroku, the girl who would stand strong no matter what, is afraid. Right here in front of me.
I know that this is what I've been waiting for, this is my chance to calm her, to comfort her. I'd be lying if I said I weren't even the slightest bit excited.
"I would never. My heart is yours, as well as my ears." Karai's face grows dark with pain, and that's when I see the tears welling in her eyes. "That's what I'm afraid of," she murmurs."
"Karai, tell me what's going on."
She nods, and speaks.
"When my father left for Japan, he'd given me a task; find you and your family. It's just been announced that mutants were to be welcomed with open arms and a smile; no judgment. We knew you'd come to the surface, and we were right. Under the instructions of my father, I became your friend. That's all I was told to do. Be your friend, gain your trust. I was to find your lair and my father would send soldiers to New York. I'd then lead them into a battle when you were in your most vulnerable state.
"I was doing pretty good, it seemed. You trusted me quickly. I'd questioned why you did, and then the party happened. We kissed, if you do recall, and that's when I realized—you didn't just want me as a friend, you wanted more.
"So, I would play you on. When you confessed your love, I repeated your words. It wasn't until you became human for me that I truly started to love you. You have up your mutation for me, so we could have a normal relationship. You loved being a turtle, and yet you through it away.
"I thought about you all night after that. Admiring the painting and flowers you'd given me in favor of your love. You really did see good in me, you really wanted to be with me. I'd called up my father and fed him lies. I made him believe that you and your brothers and father fled the city, moved to someplace up state. He seemed to believe me, but he still checked in every so often," Karai reached her hand up, trailing her long, cold fingers over my chest. "I do promise though, we aren't fake. I really started loving you when I found out I was pregnant with yours. I wanted an abortion, you wanted all but that. That child was us, ours, and you wanted it more than anything. And I guess that a small part of me did to. Of course, we didn't get what we wanted in the end..."
Karai's mascara runs down her face as tears flee her eyes.
How broken she looks right now, how impaled (too soon?).
I wrap her in my arms, and pull her against me. I lay back down, her head on my chest, her tears wetting my skin. Hand rubbing her back, my eyes close as I inhale the words spoken to me.
"Are you going to breakup with me now?" Karai's voice squeaks, cracking as if she'd never before spoken.
"Never," I hiss scoldingly. "I love you, nothing will ever change that. Nothing."
I bring my lips to the crown of her head, just as weave of hiccups over comes her.
We lay here for a while, me rubbing her back, until she's finally cried her eyes dry.
I fetch a cold, wet wash cloth, and use it to clean her face, ridding her beautiful cheeks of the makeup streaks.
When Karai looks as normal as before, we pull the blankets over our head, and lay inches apart, sharing the stuffy air that surrounds us.
"Will you sing to me?"
I don't bother suppressing my smile, I just, well, sing.
"Heart beats fast, colors and promises. How to be brave, how can I love when I'm afraid to fall? But watching you stand alone, all of my doubt suddenly goes away some how."
Karai takes the next line, her fingers trailing over my lips. "One step closer."
Together, we whisper the chorus, sounding so beautiful together that even the Angels would be jealous.
"I have died every day, waiting for you. Darling don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years. And I'll love you for a thousand more."
Silence surrounds, neither of us willing to move forward with the love song. Though, Karai does ask me a final question before calling it a night.
"Will you love me for a thousand years?"
"Mhmm. I'll never stop calling you mine." I press one final kiss to her lips, and our eyes shut, sending us into a deep, peaceful sleep, our arms still holding onto each other.