AN: I don't own TMNT or any of their characters such as Michaelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo, Splinter, Shredder or the Foot Clan. I do however, own Aislinn, Kimberly, Jessica, Ana, Kojr, Sharon, Yasahiro, Amé, and the storyline. Merode belongs to Melody S., an ex-friend of mine.

I've learned a few Japanese phrases through reading and such, and you'll find them scattered throughout the story, mostly insults.

PLEASE R&R!! I like to know what people think and, while this story is complete, I need motivation to drag my ass into to post since I'm going to school full-time and working part-time.

Chapter 7

The door closed and Aislinn looked back to Mikey. She felt something stir within her chest and she smiled as she remembered the words she had blurted out to her mother. She loved him.

Was it true? She asked herself. Or had she just been worried? Was love the same as pity? She shook her head. No, far from it, she knew. But how did he feel? He had said he loved her the other day. But had he just been joking?

She sighed and grabbed the mop she had used to clean the ceiling the day before, and began soaking up the mess on the carpet. She wrung the mop out in the bucket at regular intervals until the carpet was moderately dry. She would have to ask Yasahiro for more towels to soak up the rest. She wiped her forehead with her arm and bent to wring out the last of the water from the mop.

"Ooo," said Mikey's voice from behind her as she felt a hand squeeze her behind. "Soft."

Aislinn shrieked and turned, swinging the mop.

"Oof!" The mop hit him square in the face with a wet splat!

"Mikey!" she scolded. "Don't scare me like that!"

Mikey rubbed his beak where the mop had hit him. "Dude, what is it with you and hittin me in the face with cleanin' supplies?" He acted as if to get up, but Aislinn dropped the mop and pushed him back down.

"No," she said. "You're going to need your rest."

He smiled slyly, leaning back against the pillow. "Why? What do you have planned?"

"Nothing," she said seriously, ignoring his suggestive tone. "Mikey--" she was cut off as the door opened and Yasahiro stepped in with her herbal basket.

Aislinn stood and took the basket from him, saying, "Thank you, Yasahiro. Did you get the herbs I asked for?"

"Yes, Miss Aislinn. I've placed them in the basket for you."

"Thank you. And could you get me a few more towels, please?"

"Of course, Miss Aislinn." He bowed and left, locking the door behind him.

"Wow," said Mikey as Aislinn sat and began sorting through her herbs. "What was that?"

"What was what?" she asked, not looking up.

"The 'Yes, Miss Aislinn' an 'Of course, Miss Aislinn'. You got somethin' on the guy or what?"

"No. He's just being polite. Believe me, I've tried to get him to stop, but he doesn't listen."

"Aislinn's got an admirer," Mikey teased, "Aislinn's got an admirer."

"I do not," Aislinn said, mixing some of her crushed herbs. "He's old enough to be my father and it's disgusting of you to think otherwise." She went to her sink and added some water to her mixture, stirring with her finger.

"What are you doing?" Mikey asked.

"Making a salve for that wound on your shell."

"Is it safe?" he asked, eyeing the concoction with distrust.

"No, Mikey, it's going to poison you and kill you slowly," she said sarcastically. "Of course it's safe! I wouldn't give it to you otherwise."

"I ain't too sure of that. I mean, you never did forgive me for the shower incident."

She looked up at him, still stirring the salve. "Mikey, I forgive you." She looked back at her salve and shrugged. "Like you said: It was bound to happen living under the same roof."

"Street, you mean," he said smirking.

Aislinn smiled and kneeled next to the bed. "Is it supposed to be cold?" he asked as she spread the salve over the wound.

"Yes. And it's a good sign, too. It means the nerves weren't too badly damaged." As she finished, she asked, "Do you remember who did this?"

"How could I forget? It was Shred-head. Metal bat one of the ninjas handed him. He's a real bad aim, though, cause he was going for my head."

Aislinn winced. "You're lucky." She put the bowl aside. "I need to put a bandage on that so you gotta sit up."

She helped him up and he winced as he finally settled. "Dude, that hurts. I feel like my tail has been pulled out of its socket."

"Sorry," she said sympathetically as she dug out her gauze. "I don't have anything for dislocated bones and I ain't pushing it back in, either."

"Why not?"

"Because a diet of strictly pizza tends to give some people gas and I'm not willing to find out if you're one of them."

He laughed then both were silent as she wrapped a long strip of gauze around him to cover the wound. As she tied it, he asked, "Why did he hit you?"

She gave a sad smile. "Just goes to show you that you should never make Saki angry."

He grinned. "What did ya do?"

She tied off the bandage and sat back on her haunches to grin back. "He wanted something and I wouldn't give it to him."

"What was that?"

She explained to him about the amulet and its legend as she pushed him back down on the bed and cleaned up after herself.

"If it's so powerful, why are you giving it to him?" Mikey asked when she finished.

She was now seated on the edge of the bed, her hands folded in her lap. She looked down at them, suddenly shy. "He threatened to kill you and the others if I didn't."

"Don't give it to him! The others will fight!"

I can't take the chance."

"But--"

"It's settled, Mikey. We go tomorrow to pick it up. So get some sleep."

For once, Mikey didn't argue, but Aislinn could tell he wasn't happy about it as she rose and turned off the lights.

She curled up n the floor and tried to make herself comfortable. After a while she heard Mikey's breathing even out, but sleep wouldn't visit her. She was too worried about the next day. What would her friends do when they realized she wouldn't be going home with them? What would Mikey do? She turned on her side so as not to see his sleeping form

A 'guinea pig' Shedder had said she would be. For what exactly? Would she be subject to the ooze again as Mikey had? Or did Sake have something else in mind?

She was startled out of her thoughts by a gut-wrenching scream.

"Mikey?" Aislinn asked as she bolted to her feet.

The turtle was holding his stomach and rolling back and forth, screaming.

Aislinn turned on the light and rushed to Mikey's side. What she saw almost made her scream also. The ooze was taking effect.

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When it was finally over hours later, both sat on the floor, leaning against the wall. Aislinn's arms were wrapped around Mikey's newly clothed form, holding him through his misery. Yasahiro had thrown used jeans and a t-shirt into the room without looking at them earlier that night.

"Why?" Mikey asked suddenly, his voice choking in the silence.

Aislinn sighed. "Because Saki's an asshole."

They were silent. Then Mikey gave a half-hearted chuckle. "My brothers ain't gonna recognize me."

Aislinn brushed his now shoulder length blonde hair out of his eyes. "Maybe not, but they'll love you just the same."

Mikey shook his head and looked down at his hands. So familiar to anyone but himself. Why have five fingers when three were sufficient?

"My brothers and I," Mikey said, "Have been searching for years for a cure. Anything that would make us…well, normal. We wouldn't have to hide in the sewers or wear those stupid trench coats anymore." He studied his hands with intensity as if they held some kind of secret. He sighed. "And now I've found it. But they can't have it." He gazed up at Aislinn. "They'll hate me."

"Shush, Mikey," Aislinn said, hugging him. "They won't hate you. "They're your brothers and they'll love you forever."

"How can you be so sure?"

Aislinn hesitated before saying, "Because I feel the same. I know they'll love you forever because I will too. And if they don't, I still will."

Mikey had sat up during her small speech and stared at her with wide eyes. "You mean that, Aislinn/ You love me?"

Aislinn smiled. "Of course I do, you big goof! I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."

Laughing, Mikey kissed her. As Aislinn responded, Mikey couldn't help but think: There are some advantages to having lips…and clothing.