Chapter 41: Language Barriers

"Where did Donnie go?" Leo called out, playfully, ducking down to look under the couch as a bundle of blankets nearby started to shake and giggles escaped. Leo rolled his eyes, trying to suppress the smile that sprang to his face. Raphael and Karai had gone out on a food run while Leo was left babysitting Donnie. He would have had Mikey watch over him but Master Splinter had ordered Leonardo to take care of their littlest brother.

Leo vaulted over the couch to check under the table. After finding his younger brother extremely fast in the first few rounds and nearly causing Donnie to cry, Leo needed to take his time. That meant ignoring the giggling bundle of blankets. After checking through the kitchen, Leo decided it was time to 'find' his brother. "Hmmmmmm, do you think Donnie is…. Under the blankets!" Leo grabbed the blankets and threw them in the air.

"Nope!" Mikey smiled, jumping up from the couch.

Leo rolled his eyes. "What are you doing there?"

"It's hide and seek, duh?" Mikey answered.

"Exactly. I'm playing with Donnie."

"Well, you're not doing a good job," Mikey bluntly stated.

Leo turned around, gazing around the room. "Well, why don't you help me? Donnie has to be around here somewhere." Mikey nodded and jumped off the couch, running around the lair, looking for their littlest brother. Leo turned, looking over at the entrance to the lair.

"There's no way Donnie would leave…" Leo spoke softly to himself. As he took a step towards the turnstiles, something landed on his shell. Leo shouted out, turning around rapidly as tiny arms wrapped around his neck. "Where were you hiding, Otouto?"

"Up there!" Donnie nearly shouted in his ear.

"In the rafters?" Leo asked, reaching around to pull Donnie safely off his back. The little turtle nodded happily, squirming to get back on the ground. "You really shouldn't….."

"But I'm a ninja. I can do everything you can do," Donnie glared.

"Of…..of…..of course you can, Otouto," Leo reassured, knelling down to gather his brother in a hug.

"Hey! Who wants a snack?" Mikey called out.

"I do!"

Leo shook his head as Donnie dashed into the kitchen. Master Splinter was right. The old Donnie was in there, just buried under the child the he currently was.

"You sure it will be alright to visit?" April asked, glancing over at Raph and Karai.

"Of course," Raph said, rolling his eyes. "Donnie always love to see you."

"The nerd," Casey breathed. "It's only cause he's so cute right now."

"It must be the end of the world!" Karai smirked, teasing the boy. "Casey Jones just admitted Donnie was cute!"

"Hey. Babies, kittens, and penguins are cute. Donnie happens to be a baby," Casey said, rolling his eyes.

"Donnie's not a baby anymore. Rockwell gave him the next cure."

"He's four now," Karai finished for Raph.

"He's older now? Awwww, I feel like I didn't get to spend a lot of time with the cutie," April pouted following the others through the turnstiles.

"Leo! Mikey! We're back!"

"Oniichan! Oneesan!" A blur of green dashed forward and skidded to a stop. Donnie froze at the sight of the newcomers, his brown eyes wide. With a quick turn, he nearly screamed. "Aniki! Koko ni atarashī dareka ga arimasu!"

"Otouto?" Leo asked, turning the corner to gather a small Donnie in his arms. "Dō shimashita ka?"

"Ningen," Donnie whispered, burying his face in Leo's shoulder.

"Why is Donnie not using English?" April asked.

Raph smiled, reaching out to stroke Donnie's head. "At this age, we hadn't learned English yet."

"So, he's speaking Chinese?" Casey asked.

"Japanese."

"Same difference."

"Not really," Mikey drawled, coming out of the kitchen with a plate of miniature pizzas.

"Aniki," Donnie whispered, pulling on the blue tails. "Chichi wa, ningen ga kikendearu to nobemashita."

"Korera wa watashitachi no tomodachidearimasu," Leo tried to reassure. "Naze anata wa aisatsu nai nodesu ka?" Donnie looked up from the shoulder, glancing at April and Casey. He shook his head and tried to bury himself further in Leo's shoulder. "I'm sorry guys. Donnie's a little shy."

"It's okay," April said, her smiling fading slightly. "I'm sure he'll get used to us."

"How about we get something to eat? Food is always the best way to make people friendly!" Mikey trumpeted, setting the plate down on the table. "Otouto, anata ga o yatsu o shitaidesu?"

"Hai," The small voice answered from Leo's shoulder. Leo walked over to the table and set Donnie down on a chair. April, Casey, Raph, and Karai all joined the table watching as Mikey set a small plate with food in front of him. Donnie glanced at April and Casey once before reaching out to take a small pizza to nibble on.

"Wow!" Casey raved with his mouth full. "These are great, Mikey!"

April rolled her eyes at the boy and looked over at the little turtle. Donnie had finished his plate and was looking at the larger plate. His brothers were engaged with Casey and didn't see that Donnie wanted another. April reached over and snagged a couple pieces and placed them on Donnie's plate with a smile. Donnie froze, looked at his plate, and then up at April. Donnie reached over to his plate and took another piece, giving April a very small smile.

Author's Note: Finally been able to write! YAY! I have a special thanks to all those who continue reading this! Thanks so much! Special shout out to Pilyartquitect, Fever To Write, Juanita27, Rhodesincolumbus, and YellowOnix for the lovely reviews!

Translations: There is someone new here!

What's wrong?

Humans

Father said humans are dangerous.

These are our friends

Why don't you say hello?

Do you want a snack?