TMNT

Mutant Kunoichi

A girl from our world is somehow transported to the TMNT world, where she is subjected to becoming a mutant not in body, but in spirit. Protected by the turtles, and hunted by Foot Clan, will she find protection or even love?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Mary's Family Secret

"Emma, are you alright?" Master Splinter asked me. I had come home from school that day, and was now back at the turtle's lair, sitting at the table and not concentrating on my homework, which was due in the next day. A cup of green tea was on the table in front of me, and I was wrapped up like a bug in a rug, since it was cold down here in the sewers.

Now, however, I looked at the elderly rat, and tried to smile. "Yeah…I just…had a full-on day, you know?"

Master Splinter sat down across the table from me, with his own cup of green tea. "How was your day, Emma?" He wanted to know.

"Well…if you really want to know…" I wasn't used to this kind of involvement in my life but, whatever. I recounted my day for Master Splinter, glossing over a few things which he was probably knew I was glossing over anyway. I mentioned that I was finding things new but at the same time familiar, which felt good, and that I had made a new friend. I told him that we were getting together at Mary's house tomorrow night to start rehearsing for the festival (when we still hadn't agreed on what to do yet), and then I mentioned the dance.

"I hate dances, Master Splinter," I confided in him, unawares that the conversation was no longer private. "But the St. Valentine's Day Dance is compulsory. I also hate Valentine's Day in general, but…"

"Why is it that you feel so strongly against this day, Emma?" Master Splinter wanted to know.

"Well…" I thought about it for a moment. "Maybe it's because…I never had a boyfriend, you know, someone to make me feel special on any day of the year. I don't hate Valentine's Day exactly, I just feel sort of left out…" Hato landed on my shoulder and cooed softly. "Like, if I had a boyfriend to give me the four great gifts I've always wanted…" I broke off suddenly, and blushed.

Master Splinter didn't look at me, but seemed thoughtful as he asked: "The four great gifts?" He was looking off into the distance somewhere.

"Yeah," I said, embarrassed. "Just a little dream I've always had…that, on the one Valentine's Day I don't hate, I'll get a hand-made card with a hand-written poem, home-made chocolates in a red heart shaped box with a satin ribbon, a hand-sewn stuffed animal of some description, and six red roses and six white roses…then a special dinner spent talking and laughing with friends and family…" I laughed self-consciously. "Heh, it's no wonder I don't have a boyfriend yet! Who has time to do all that, anyway? Okay, this conversation is getting weird…Donatello!" I called suddenly, and was surprised when the turtle in question appeared almost instantly.

"You called?" He asked, in a good-natured tone.

I nodded. "Yes! I need your help, how much do you know about topography!"

I could feel Master Splinter's eyes on me, as Donnie and I took my school books over to his desk.

"I dunno if I'll be going…" I confided in Mary, as we walked back to her place after my second day of school. It had been a fairly good day, except Oliver Hillsby had tripped me on the stairs, and I'd gotten mud and snow all over my new sweater. Man, that guy was a jerk!

"You'd go if you had someone to take you," Mary replied seriously. We were talking about the Valentine's Day Dance. "I heard that a few guys wanted to ask you to go…"

I turned scarlet. "R-really?" I gulped. "Wow, that's new…or…maybe we could just go doe…"

"Like how guys go stag?" Mary seemed impressed. "Where did you think up that one?"

"I read it in a book." I admitted, and she laughed.

We arrived at her house.

"Oh!" I stopped at the gates. I can't believe this is her house! "I mean, I didn't think there were any places like this in New York City…"

Mary blushed a little self-consciously. "My Dad has a very well-paying job…" She admitted. "But, he's hardly ever home," She went on, as we walked up the driveway to the three story mansion. "And, my Mum's ill, so my Aunty Irma takes care of me…"

"Oh…" I wasn't sure what to say to that.

Luckily, Keno and Danny arrived at the same time, and their being impressed by Mary's house put a stop to the conversation.

We went into the 'house' and a butler was there to greet us. He came down the grand staircase, looking just like James Bond.

"Good afternoon, Mistress Mary," He bowed to us all. "The parlor is all ready for you to use."

"Thank you, Jeeves." Mary said, and directed us into a room on our left. "I'll go and get us some drinks." She added.

The parlor was clearly also a music room, with a piano and a big golden harp, among other things. Danny, Keno and I stopped in the doorway, gazing at the floor-to-ceiling windows and the beautiful shining floors.

"I feel so…out of place…" I whispered.

"I feel so under-dressed…" Keno whispered back.

"Who's that?" Danny interrupted us.

We turned to look.

Sitting on one of the lounge chairs was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen outside of TV – she had coils of golden blonde hair and the same beautiful blue eyes as Mary, which matched her long dress. Her face was pale, however, and she wore a slightly vacant expression.

"She's so kirei…" I commented, just as Mary came in with a tray of drinks.

"Oh…" She said, almost distantly, setting the drinks down on the coffee table. "Mum, what are you doing in here?"

Mum! That lady's Mary's Mum! ? You're so lucky, Mary!
Mary walked over to her Mother, who regarded Mary with that same vacant expression as she allowed her daughter to help her up and lead her out of the room. Her steps were slow and uneven, but Mary matched her pace exactly. She didn't look at any of us as she led the beautiful woman out the other door.

Danny, Keno and I watched them go.

"What was that all about?" Keno murmured.

"I dunno." I whispered. I was almost afraid to speak any louder. "Maybe her Mother's…you know…"

Keno and Danny nodded silently.

Presently, Mary came back, to find us still standing by the door. One look at our faces, and she seemed about to burst into tears.

I immediately unshed my backpack, leaving it by the boys as I guided Mary to the piano stool where I sat down with her.

"I never know how to tell anyone." Mary whispered.

I nodded. "I have an Aunt who was brain-damaged at birth – she was unable to walk and talk properly. After my Nanna died, we took care of Aunty Cheryl for a few years, and they were very hard years. Sometimes it got so frustrating, I'd get annoyed that we had to take care of her. Then I felt bad, because it wasn't her fault and I still loved her just the same."

Mary looked down at her shoes. "I know…I mean, I love my Mum so much, none of this is her fault…before the…accident…" She paused for a moment. "I mean, before all this, I used to think that my life was perfect…"

"No one's is." I assured her.

She smiled. "I know that now…my Dad's trying to make my life as easy as possible by working…" She looked at a picture on top of the piano, of her Mother and a man who was clearly her Father. Something about his black hair and glasses was very familiar…and then I remembered Mary's last name.

No way…a

I focused on her Mother. "She's beautiful." I told Mary.

Mary's smile grew. "I know."

"Did you come up with a song yet?" Mikey asked me, as I climbed down the ladder into the sewers after him (when I'd told Mary I was going home, I'm pretty sure she hadn't pictured this!).

I shook my head. "At least we came up with a band to work from."

"Which band?" Mikey wanted to know, as he led the way down the path.

"The Corrs," I replied, tightening my backpack straps as we walked. "You know, it's only when I sleep I see you in my dreams," I sang. "Anyway, so we just have to choose a song from that. It fits, because Keno plays the drums, Danny plays electric guitar, and Mary and me combined is enough for the genre of music The Corrs play…" I suddenly watched Mikey unearth a skateboard from underneath a pile of rubble. "Ah, and what am I gonna do, walk?" I hate walking – I was gonna die during sport class this semester...

"No," Mikey grinned, and tossed me a pair of rollerblades which, somehow, I caught. "Come on, hurry up!" He said.

I rolled my eyes, and strapped on the skates. "Only for you Mikey, only for you…" I said, hoping I wouldn't fall and make a fool of myself. In my mind, I remembered going to my cousin's birthday, and carrying a plate of food across the dance floor. I'd tripped, and spilt my plate of food all over my brand new black and pink dress. http:/ dark-anmut. / art/The- Dress-2025161 95

You know how to rollerblade, don't be so panicky…
Yup.

I decided then and there not to ever worry about what I looked like in front of Michelangelo. Because, clearly, he didn't care. He might even…accept me, for who I was.

The thought gave me some confidence.

I also made another vow, as I jumped over a seemingly bottomless pit. I vowed to help Mary and be her friend, any way I could.

Little did I know how important a role Mary Bishop would play in my life later on that year…