Author's Note: Chapter two. Yoshi meets the turtles.
Yoshi waited in the dark and cold of the winter evening. He sighed and could see his breath. The man jumped as the manhole cover moved, and Splinter emerged from the sewers. So much for a ninja being aware of his surroundings.
"Master Yoshi," he said, bowing in greeting.
Yoshi bowed back.
"Hello, Splinter."
He followed him into the sewers. It wasn't much warmer here than it was above on the surface. He looked enviously at Splinter, who, with his thickened winter fur, wore only a fall jacket.
"How do the boys like the cold?"
"They do not. They are not cold-blooded anymore, but the cold still bothers them more than it would a human. I hope the heaters I found will last."
Yoshi nodded, though Splinter did not see the motion.
"If you need to bring them someplace warmer, you're welcome to come to the apartment. I hope you will still consider it your home. Only other Guardians live in the building, so you'd be safe."
"Thank you, Master, but I pray it does not come to having to risk taking them above ground."
They reached the Lair and hurried into the warmth.
"Papa!" cried four young voices happily.
Splinter hung up his coat and scooped up the tiny turtles, nuzzling them tenderly.
"We have a guest, my sons."
He set them down so they could see Yoshi, who smiled kindly at them. The babies huddled behind their father, clinging to his robe. Splinter smiled and rubbed their little heads.
"It is all right, my little ones. He will not hurt you. I will not let anyone hurt you."
Four little pairs of eyes peered around the rat to look at Yoshi, who sat down so he wouldn't be as intimidating. He could see two blue pairs, a pair of bright green, and one pair of brown eyes.
"Hello, little ones."
They disappeared behind Splinter once more at the sound of his voice.
"You do not have to be afraid now, my sons. It is all right."
Yoshi cradled his chin in his hand, watching the babies peek back around the rodent at him. He smiled at them but did not speak, not wanting to frighten them again.
"You may go to him, little ones," Splinter encouraged gently.
Slowly the smallest turtle, with baby blue eyes and freckles on his cheeks, stepped out from behind Splinter. He took two steps towards Yoshi then stopped and looked back up at his father. Splinter smiled at him and gave him a gentle nudge with his tail.
"Go on, Michelangelo. He will not harm you."
Mikey took a few more steps then once more looked back. The rat chuckled softly.
"I am right here, my son. I will not leave you," he reassured the baby.
The turtle slowly walked up to Yoshi, looking at him curiously. Yoshi found himself longing pick him up and cuddle him. The baby was utterly adorable, especially when he put his thumb in his mouth and gazed up at Yoshi with those big eyes. Slowly he took Yoshi's hand, which rested on his knee, and began examining it, bending each finger and comparing it to his own.
Mikey turned back to Splinter and pointed at Yoshi with a questioning sound.
"He is a human, my son. His name is Yoshi."
He took his thumb out of his mouth and seemed to concentrate on something.
"Shi-Shi?"
Splinter and Yoshi smiled at the baby's attempt to say his name and the resulting butchery of it.
"Yes, Michelangelo, Yoshi."
Yoshi chuckled softly, and Mikey jumped at the sound. However he recognized it as a sound of amusement and smiled at the Guardian.
"Shi-Shi! Shi-Shi!"
Encouraged by this, the other turtles came over to the human and began their own inspection of him.
"I would say that this introduction is a success," Splinter said, chuckling.
Yoshi grinned.
XXXX
In the weeks that followed Yoshi learned his way to the Lair and could soon make the trip himself. The weather was getting worse and colder. The trip through the sewers was not a pleasant one on a good day, but when it was below freezing, even in the sewers, Yoshi practically ran the journey, seeking to escape the cold for the warmth of the Lair. It was getting harder to keep the Lair warm enough for the turtles, as well, so Yoshi always made sure he got the door shut as quickly as possible when coming or leaving to keep the heat in.
"Shi-Shi!"
The ninja laughed as he caught Mikey.
"Hello, Mikey."
He joined the rest of the family and was hugged by the others.
"Shi-Shi, wook!"
He looked to see a toy truck in Donnie's hands.
"You have a new toy. Did Papa find that, Donnie?"
"Uh-huh!"
Splinter came into sight, Leo in his arms.
"Hello, Master Yoshi."
"Hello, Splinter. Hi there, Leo."
The turtles sniffled and waved.
"Has cowd, Shi-Shi."
"Poor little guy. It's never fun being sick."
Splinter sat down with Leo in his lap.
"It is getting harder to keep them warm enough," the rat admitted.
As if to prove their father's statement, Raph and Mikey snuggled up to Yoshi, shivering slightly.
"We could take them to the apartment until spring. You'd be safe there."
Splinter looked thoughtful, gazing down at each of his sons then nodded.
"Perhaps that would be best."
So the turtles were bundled up, and it was decided that Splinter and Yoshi would take turns making trips back to the Lair to gather their things, mainly what was needed for the babies. Yoshi led the way with Raph and Mikey in his arms. He had them in his coat with him to keep them as warm as he could for the trip through the freezing sewers. Leo's coughing urged the two ninja to make the trip at a run to get them turtles into the warmth of Yoshi's apartment as soon as possible.
End Note: Yoshi meets the turtles, and the winter move begins. Please review.