Personality Adjustment
Ch 6
"Drastic Decision"
A few days after Usagi and Gen's visit his anger built up deeper inside of him. He still continued to call Stacy, but he still got no answer. He knew when he went aft6er her that night she had it with his behavior lately and wanted nothing to do with him. Raphael entered and said.
"Leo what you did that night was really wrong. I have never seen fear in her eyes like I did that night. If I was you I'd stop trying to call her. To be honest with you I don't blame her either. She just can't deal with it anymore. You're taking your anger out on your best friend that is only trying to help you, and her heart just can't take it anymore. I advise you to take your shell over to her apartment and talk to her. That's the only way she'll talk to you. I was actually on my way over there to check on her arm that you gashed. You're more than welcome to join me bro; if you don't try to kill me again like you did that night."
Leo looked and glared.
"The only reason I went after you is because you just don't know how to quit reminding me of what happened on Saki's ship and to tell Stacy that Karai is my girl really pissed me off! I am not in love with that back stabbing no good bitch, and the sooner you realize it then the better off you'll be! Now if you'd excuse me I have to go practice with Master Splinter! Move Raph I'm not in the mood to see anyone right now! Why are you going over there anyway? What are you up to?"
At that Raph gulped and responded.
"Oh no reason just to check on her to see if she is ok. What reason do you think I am going over there bro?"
Leo remained silent and entered the dojo where Splinter was waiting for him. When Raphael left it seemed to be going well and he actually thought that experience on the roof when that assassin attacked them brought Leo back to normal and he was relieved. At that thought he headed top side and proceeded to their apartment using the shadows. When he got to the stoop he rang the doorbell and waited. Stacy was making lunch when she heard her door bell ring and went to the door. She peeped through the hole and answered.
"Hey Raph what brings you here? Casey hasn't really been over because he's been working long hours. When he does come home April and I are both fast asleep."
Raphael entered and said.
"I'm not looking for Casey. I just wanted to see how your arm was doing? I mean when you left that night that was a lot of blood. I'd never imagine you being cut by his blade like that. Especially since he was the one that taught you how to use the katana in the first place."
She looked in his eyes and asked.
"Raph what is with you? I mean after the night Leo and I got into that fight you've been right there comforting me. Is there something you want to tell me? You've been acting really weird lately."
He took off his disguise and said.
"No I haven't. I've just been worrying about my brother's behavior lately. I can't deal with the way he's acting any more! It kills me inside. I only want my elder brother back that's all!"
His eyes filled with tears and she grabbed him in a tight embrace.
"Raph you're crying! I've never seen this side of you before! Its ok we all feel the same way you do. Don't be scared to let it out…I mean you're part human it's natural!"
At that point he knew he had to tell her how he really felt about her and why he tried so hard to comfort her when Leo took his anger out on her.
He took a deep breath and said.
"Stacy The reason I've been trying so hard to get close to you is because I am in love with you. I just don't understand how you can fall in love with him when he's so cold toward you. I mean he doesn't go out his way like I do to comfort you when you're upset. Can't you forget that you're in love with Leo and give me a chance? I'll never yell at you like he did when we were up by Casey's Grandma's farm."
After he said that to Stacy he blanked out for a minute and thought Leo was staring dead at him glaring!
Stacy stared at him puzzled. Then she looked and said.
"Raphael; Leo isn't here its only you and I. Snap out of it will you! I love your brother and want to be with him. Deep down inside I know he feels the same about me but yet he is too shy to tell me he is. Don't be mad at me I'm only being honest with you."
Raphael looked and sighed.
"Yea I know that you love him, but who knows how long it'll take him to be back to himself. Stacy can't you at least try to forget him and give me a chance?"
She shook her head and said.
"No I'm sorry Raph I just can't."
She was so exhausted that she fell asleep on the couch and had a dream; in her dream she dreamt about kissing Raphael.
'There eyes met and then their lips. Then before she knew it her arms were wrapped around him and there lips were also locked. She felt her body descend to the couch as they continued to kiss and embraced him more tightly. While he kissed her his hand stroked her forehead gently and his fingers ran through her thick, long, brown hair. Stacy heard Raphael's shell cell ring and said.
'Aren't you going to get it?'
Raphael heard her talking in her sleep and said.
"Whoa Stacy wake up and snap out of it. I wouldn't imagine doing that to my brother. How can you even think I'd do such a thing?"
She looked up and said.
"You just told me that you want me to forget about Leo and give you a chance. You would try to kiss me if you ever had the chance."
Raphael looked and sighed.
"I've been here for almost a half hour and haven't even attempted to try and kiss you. I may be in love with you but I'd never stoop that low when I know he loves you also. That would be against my ninja honor."
She also sighed and said.
"I'm sorry Raph. I shouldn't have thought that at all. I know how close you are to Leo even though all you two do is fight. How long do you think he'll be like this? Maybe I should go by the lair and talk to him instead of ignoring him like I have been lately. He's really been calling me a lot especially after what I said to him that night. I just hope what I said to him hasn't made him worse than he already is."
Raphael heard his shell cell ring and answered.
"Yo Raph here. What's up Don?"
Stacy could hear Don yelling at Master Splinter to watch out. Then he yelled.
"Raphael get your shell back to the lair pronto he's lost it completely! He's going after Master Splinter!"
Raphael looked at Stacy and then responded.
"We're on our way bro. Just try to hold him back until we get there! Stacy hurry up we have to get there before my brother kills my father!"
They both darted out of April's apartment down to the lair. Raphael ran in and yelled.
"Leo don't do it! Snap out of it Bro! That's not Karai it's our father Leo!"
They all watched as Leo's katana cut Master Splinter's forehead. Stacy ran to him and grabbed the blades screaming.
"Leonardo snap out of it! LEO please snap out of it before you kill master Splinter! LEO!"
Leo shook his head and realized what he had done. He dropped his katana and yelled.
"What the shell! Oh no Sensei! What the shell is wrong with me! Master Splinter I didn't mean it!"
Splinter got up and held his forehead trying to stop the bleeding. Leo tried to help him but he waved him off and entered his room silently. Stacy watched as Leo stood there in shock after he had nearly killed his father. She took a deep breath and held onto him tightly. For the 1st time she saw him crying and attempted to comfort him asking.
"Leo what has gotten into you? How could you attack your own father answer me dam nit! This is really out of hand now; first you nearly kill Raphael, then you attack me and now your father! What the hell is your problem?"
He still didn't answer and she sighed still holding onto him tightly. He was about to embrace her, but Splinter called.
"Leonardo in my room my son!"
He entered their father's room and kneeled with his head down.
"Sensei I'm sorry I don't know what has come over me!"
Splinter sighed and said.
"Leonardo I can no longer train you! You have mastered every skill that I have taught you! Besides you have so much anger inside! I can't get through to you my son! I'm afraid only one person can help you! Go to Japan and seek out the Ancient One! You will know it's him! I have tried everything, your brothers, your best friend Stacy, and Usagi couldn't even get through to you!"
Leo looked and said.
"Sensei I don't want to leave I want to stay here with you! Please don't send me away!"
Splinter shook his head.
"I'm sorry my son. It's time you move on! You'll leave tonight and take as long as you must! We'll be fine in your absence!"
He bowed and said with tears in his eyes.
"Yes Sensei!"
He exits Splinter's room and Stacy watched as he entered his room. Then when no one was watching her she entered right behind him. She watched as he packed and asked.
"Leo where are you going? What was that all about? Please talk to me."
He continued to pack and said.
"I have to go to Japan for a while! My father is right my behavior is out of hand!"
She stared and tears filled her eyes as she said.
"Isn't there another way? Leo why do you have to go so far away? How long will you be gone! Please don't leave me; without you I'll be lost and feel so alone!"
She ran to him and grabbed him crying onto his plastron.
"I'm in love with you and now we'll never be together! Leo please listen to me."
He stopped packing and embraced her tightly. Then he stroked her forehead gently and lifted her chin. Then their lips met and he held her more tightly as they descended to his bed still kissing. His fingers ran through her long, wavy hair and she embraced him tightly. They broke apart and he smiled down at her.
"I love you too Stacy. It's just something I have to do. Please try to understand and don't cry while I'm gone. Just keep an eye on my family while I'm away. That's all I want from you ok sweetie. Come on now before my brothers come in here and see us like this. Let me finish packing."
He got up and continued to pack. Then she entered the living room and sat on the couch staring into the air. Raphael looked and stared. Then he asked.
"Stacy are you alright? He didn't yell at you again did he?"
She smiled at Raph and said.
"No he didn't. We actually had a conversation without him yelling. I should be getting home anyway I have work in the morning. See you guys around bye now!"
Leo exits his room and says goodbye to his brothers and father. Then Stacy watched as he got on the boat and disappeared into the sunset. She headed home and April stared.
"Stacy are you ok? You didn't get into a fight with Leo again did you?"
She just shook her head and said.
"No April we didn't get into a fight. Everything between us is just fine. He's just going to be out of town for a while to get his mind together. I just promised that I'd watch over his family while he's gone. Just like any guy's girl would do for her man."
At that April and Casey spit their coffee out and at the same time said.
"You and Leo together? Come on you can't be serious. Leonardo in love with a human?"
Stacy looked as she poured her coffee and said.
"Yes we're together. Why is it so hard to believe? Well April why do you find it so hard to believe?"
She just looked and said.
"Oh no reason. Just curious I guess; well I'm happy for you."
Stacy just stared and said nothing as she drank her coffee and ate a brownie across from where April and Casey were sitting. When she finished her coffee she got ready for bed and turned in for the night thinking about how Leo's lips felt on hers while she lay on her back gazing up at him smiling down at her.