Chapter Two- A Gift for Splinter

"Booyakasha!" Mikey laughed as he leaped into the air, driving his foot towards Leo's face.

"You realize that—" Leo held up his arms crossed in an X to block his younger brother's attack. "—your enemy would—" He lunged with a punch as he brother landed, which Mikey blocked easily. "—hear you coming? A ninja should be—" He jumped when Mikey tried to sweep his legs. "—silent. Their greatest ally—" He jumped back to avoid another attack. "—is the shadows."

"Whatever, Master Splinter." Mikey bowed teasingly. "But what about—" He leaned back, Leo's foot whooshing past his face. "—when your enemy sees you? Then you can—" He landed a few punches into Leo's plastron. "—be as loud as you want!"

Leo rolled his eyes, distracting him long enough for Mikey to grab his wrist, sweep his legs, and take him to the ground. Mikey whooped and cheered for a moment before helping Leo to his feet. "Lucky shot." Leo muttered.

"Luck had nothing to do with it." Mikey smirked.

"Way to go, Mikey." Donnie complimented. He yelped when Raph suddenly swept his legs and he hit the floor.

"Chalk that one up for the Raph man!" Raph laughed.

"Yame!"

The turtles suddenly assembled in a line and knelt before their sensei as he approached them, his jade staff tapping rhythmically on the floor. As Splinter looked at each of his sons in turn, Leo couldn't help but notice how his father's rat ears drooped and his normally bright red/brown eyes were dull.

"You have done well my sons." Splinter nodded. "Today was a day of improvement for all of you."

Mikey cocked his head a little. "Are you feeling all right, Sensei? You sound a little...down in the dumps..."

"I am fine, Michelangelo." Splinter nodded with a soft, slightly forced smile. "Just a little under the weather. You are all dismissed." The boys cheered and ran off. Mikey hung back at the door and looked back at Splinter. He stared at the rat for a moment before moving on. By the time he arrived at the living room, Raph was sitting in the pit feeding Spike, Leo was plopped in front of the TV watching Space Heroes, and the sparks coming from around the corner indicated that Donnie was in his lab again. Mikey stood some feet behind the pit.

"Hey guys." Mikey finally piped up. "Does Splinter look...sick to you?"

"Hard to tell." Leo shrugged. "A human would look pale if they were sick. But Splinter's covered in fur."

"I think he looks fine." Raph shrugged. "Considering what the Rat King did to him."

Mikey nodded in thought. Mere days before, the boys and Splinter had an unfortunate encounter with Dr. Victor Falco, now dubbed the Rat King. He had attempted to take over the city by controlling all the rats in New York City, including Splinter. It was a painful experience for all of them, both physically and emotionally. "You know what? I'm gonna make him some soup! That'll cheer him up!"

"Or make him throw up." Raph muttered as Mickey ran off to the kitchen. Leo chuckled to himself.

Mikey knew the guys had no faith in his cooking, but that's because they never tried his miso ramen in sapporo broth. It was his best dish, and he rarely made it because of lack of ingredients. He had to do quite a few favors for April in return for her to go to the surface and get the materials. Mikey made sure no one was looking before digging out what he needed. He carefully measured everything out, tested the noodles a couple times so they were the right texture, and even put water on for tea. It was the first time in a long time that he actually used slow and steady movements as he worked. Finally, Mikey had a tray set out with a bowl of the ramen, chopsticks, a spoon, and a steaming cup of tea. He balanced the tray expertly in one hand and carried a hot kettle of tea in the other. He hummed to himself as he carried the small meal back to the dojo. He knocked on the door with his foot.

"Hey Sensei!" Mikey called. "I've got something for you!" Mikey listened for his master to permit him entry, but only silence came to greet him. He knocked again, speaking a little softer. "Splinter? Are you okay?" Once again: silence. Mikey finally slid the door open with his foot and peered in. He blinked in surprise when he noticed how dark it seemed, despite the soft lights coming from grates in the ceiling. He stepped inside and shut the door behind him before slowly walking forward to stand behind his master. Splinter kneeled with his back to Mikey, his head bowed and his ears drooping dreadfully. Mikey craned his neck to look over him and noticed the shrine, where a picture of a man, woman, and infant rested. Mikey knew at once who it was: Hamato Yoshi standing with his beautiful wife Tang Shen and his beloved daughter Miwa.

Mikey cleared his throat. "Sensei?"

Splinter's ears twitched and he turned his head slightly. "What is it, Michelangelo?" His voice was laced with sorrow.

Mikey regretted disturbing his father, but felt sure that he was doing the right thing. "I brought you some of my miso ramen in sapporo broth. And some tea. I thought it would make you feel better. Are you sick?" Well that was a stupid question, Mikey.

"I am fine, Michelangelo." Splinter assured, turning to the shrine again. Mikey paused for a moment before bravely stepping forward and kneeling next to Splinter. He gently pushed the tray and kettle in front of his father and looked up into his father's face. The humanoid rat's eyes were wet and glassy. Mikey straightened up and closed his eyes, folding his hands in a meditative position on his lap. He breathed evenly and calmly, praying that Tang Shen and Miwa rested in peace and that Splinter could soon let go of his self-loathing for believing he caused it. After a moment, Splinter's hand rested on Mikey's shoulder. When Mikey looked up, Splinter was smiling softly.

"Go to your brothers, Michelangelo." Splinter ordered gently. "I'll be fine."

Mikey smiled and suddenly pulled Splinter into a hug. He felt Splinter's arms wrap around his shell and knew that it would be all right.

"We'll be back soon, Sensei!" Leo called. "Kraang trouble downtown!"

"Be careful!" Splinter called as he walked into the dojo to meditate.

"Come back in one piece, okay guys?" April added from her spot in the kitchen.

"See ya!" Mikey laughed as he followed his brothers. Leo smiled as he led his brothers through the sewers, up and out of a manhole, and to the top of an apartment. There, Leo stopped his brothers. He looked around, breathing in the cool night air and making sure no one was watching them.

"So where are the Kraang?" Donnie asked.

"Nowhere." Leo shrugged. "I lied. I just needed an excuse to bring you guys up here."

"Wait, so you called us out here to talk to us?" Raph clarified. "And not to destroy a bunch of Kraang droids?!"

"Guys, it's important." Leo assured. "We can bust Kraang later."

"Why couldn't we talk in the lair?" Donnie asked.

"Because I don't want Splinter to hear. Now pay attention." Leo made sure his brothers gave him their full attention. "Now, I have an idea, and I need your help."

"Leonardo, our great leader?" Raph mocked. "Asking for our help? Why, I'm honored!"

"Oh shut up, Raph." Leo snapped. "I'm serious; obviously, you guys have noticed how he's acting."

"You mean how he's sulking a little and he's acting like a shut-in?" Donnie pointed out.

"Aren't we all shut-ins?" Raph noted. "Considering we spend all day down in the sewers?"

"That's not the point!" Leo sighed exasperatedly. "Guys, Falco did some pretty bad damage. Whether Splinter's willing to admit it or not, Falco really messed with him. And I think we can help."

"How?" Mikey asked.

"We're going to ask for Master Splinter to come up from the sewers." Leonardo said with a triumphant smile. His brothers only stared.

"Splinter?" Michelangelo clarified. "Come up from the lair? How's that supposed to help?"

"It'll be some family time!" Leo explained. "The four of us and our father. Even April could come along."

"I don't think that's such a good idea." Donatello noted. "Splinter's spent over fifteen years down there."

"That's my point!" Leonardo argued. "Look, guys, Splinter isn't just our sensei, he's our dad. And we can't even call him 'dad' inside the dojo. Doesn't he deserve a little family time since we're all he's got?"

The boys exchanged glances and they knew Leonardo spoke the truth. After all, Splinter's wife and daughter were killed by Shredder years ago. He was their father, and they owed him much for that. Mikey remembered seeing Splinter, so mournful and sad, meditating before the shrine. Some time with the family he has now would be emotionally healthy for him. So, after a few moments of pondering, the brothers agreed.

"So, how do we even ask Sensei about this?" Donnie asked.

"We'll bring it up tomorrow." Leo said. "When the moment presents itself, I'll take it from there."

"Surprise!" April cheered, holding up a large rectangular cake in her hands. The top of the cake was covered in frosting turtles and a rat, along with Japanese kanji written all around the edges.

"Aw, April!" Donatello sighed. "You didn't have to make us a cake!"

"Well, I wanted to thank you guys for everything you've done for me. You guys saved my life multiple times and you've risked so much helping me find my dad. Master Splinter, you're teaching me to be a ninja! I wanted to thank you, and I figured vanilla tastes better than algae and worms." April laughed. "I even brought you all gifts."

"Why?" Leonardo asked.

"Who cares?" Raphael laughed. "What'd you get us?"

"For Mikey." April handed said turtle a skateboard tied with a large bow.

Michelangelo's eyes bulged and his mouth split into a wide smile. "The new Rail Sander?! That's so cool!" He suddenly pulled April in a tight hug. "I love you April!" He noticed the glare in Donatello's eyes and chuckled nervously as he set April down.

"Here, guys." April laughed. "Take them without the rib cracking, huh?" The rest of the boys eagerly accepted their gifts and April stepped back as they opened them. Donnie got a new flamethrower, Raph received a punching bag that made noise when you hit it, and Leo got a whetstone to sharpen his katana.

"These are awesome, April." Leo complimented.

"Yeah, thanks." Raph nodded.

"I even got a present for you, Master Splinter." April announced, holding up a nicely wrapped present.

"That wasn't necessary." Splinter assured.

"Just open it." April rolled her eyes a little. Splinter chuckled a little and took the package from his female student. The turtles leaned in expectantly, waiting to see what would come out. When the paper had been pulled back, a set of black and gold robes lay underneath.

"Very nice, April." Splinter nodded in thanks. "I'll try and find a suitable time to wear them."

"Look inside." April encouraged. "There's something else." Splinter opened the fold of the robes and pulled out a large book. The turtles gathered around as Splinter opened the book and set it on the table. They all gasped and went wide eyed at the sight of all the pictures inside. They soon realized it was a scrapbook, full of pictures that portrayed the turtles and Splinter in their home.

"Aw, look!" Mikey pointed to a picture of him grinding a rail in the lair on his skateboard. "The first time I ever grinded a rail."

"I remember that." Raph nodded. "You face planted after you hit the ground."

Mikey sighed. "Good times. Good times."

"Thank you April." Splinter said. "But you should have put more pictures of yourself in here. You are a part of this family too."

"Thanks Master Splinter." April bowed with a smile.

Now's the time. Leo cleared his throat. "Uh….Sensei, the four of us has a gift for you too."

"Oh?" Splinter raised a bushy white eyebrow.

"We have a combined gift." Donnie announced. "A gift that's something we could do as a family." Splinter blinked in surprise, but allowed them to continue.

"Sensei, you are a valuable part of our lives and training." Leo started in a sort of lecturing tone. "You adopted us and taught us ninjutsu and kept us safe all our lives and—"

"GET ON WITH IT!" Leo's brother's shouted.

Leo cleared his throat. "Sensei Splinter, we wanted this gift to mean something, so—"

"We want you to come on patrol with us!" Mikey interrupted excitedly.

Splinter blinked in surprise. "On patrol? You mean, in the city?"

"You spend too much time down here." Donnie reasoned. "You need fresh air."

"For your information, I do go up to meditate on top of the apartments once in a while." Splinter corrected.

"This'll be different!" Mikey protested. "Come on, Splinter, please? The only time we see you in action is when we're training! And April can come with us and we'll be a family!"

"Boys, I understand your intentions, and I believe they are quite sincere." Splinter nodded. "But they aren't necessary. I came down to the sewers because I knew my life would never be normal up there."

"We're not asking to move." Donnie protested.

"We just want to spend time as a family." Raph added.

"Come on, Sensei." Leo pleaded. "Come with us on our patrol tomorrow night. You'll have fun!"

Splinter looked towards April for her input. She only shrugged, indicating she didn't care either way. But the smile on her lips hinted that she liked the idea. When Splinter looked back, his sons' hands were clasped and they looked up at him with that puppy dog pout that Splinter secretly found adorable. He finally sighed.

"If I don't agree, are you four going to pester me about it?" He asked with an eyebrow raised.

The turtles nodded.

Splinter inwardly smiled. "Very well. I will join you all tomorrow night."

The turtles erupted into cheers.

Kuro took a deep inhale of the cold night air, sighing in content. She looked around, her keen eyes searching for the turtles. She caught glimpses of them numerous times in the months she lived on her own. She guessed they patrolled the city on a nightly basis. But, as she noticed tonight, sometimes they didn't go on patrol at all. In those past months, she played witness to many of the Turtles' feats, including their battle that caused Chris and Xever's mutations. Honestly, she found the fact that the two transformed into a mutant dog and fish hilarious. They even put up a good fight with Shredder; he still beat them to the ground, of course. Kuro watched the Turtles fight and even she had to admit that they were getting better.

Still no match for her, of course. But she knew to study her enemy before fighting them. Besides, she wanted time away from fighting; a normal life for a few months. Kuro eventually shrugged it off and stood from her spot on the edge of the roof. She jogged to the alleyway and leaped off the building. She fell headfirst for a moment before flipping around and landing cat-like on the pavement below. She looked up sharply at a small scream and found herself face-to-shoe with an orange-haired girl.

"Kuro?" April asked nervously.

"Hey April." Kuro greeted, standing and wiping her hands on her pants. She pulled off her mask and smiled at her friend.

"What are you doing out here?" April asked.

"I'd ask you the same thing." Kuro huffed, crossing her arms. "It's dangerous in New York at night."

"I can handle myself." April assured.

"You sure?" Kuro's eyes shown with concern. "I only gave you a few self-defense lessons."

"I'm taking more." April explained. "I have a...family friend of Mr. Murakami teaching me ninjutsu."

Kuro noticed the pause, but she didn't push it. "So, you don't need me to walk you home?"

"Nah, I'm fine." April nodded.

"I just worry about you." Kuro shrugged. "What with your dad...you know..."

April smiled. Of all the people in New York City, Kuro seemed to be the one person that showed the most concern for April. She took the redhead teen under her wing and looked out for her like a younger sister, yet the girls shared their birthdays. "Kuro, I'm fine. Trust me."

Kuro nodded in thought. "Very well."

"I gotta get home before my aunt starts to worry." April said. "I'll text you tomorrow?"

"Why don't you come over to my apartment?" Kuro offered. "We should talk for a bit."

"Sounds good." April nodded. "See ya!" She jogged off around the corner. Kuro sighed and pulled her hood over her head. She scaled the wall to the roof and started running across the rooftops, her sights set on her home some blocks away.

I'll always protect you, April. Kuro promised. No one, not even the Turtles, will hurt you.

A/N: Oh the irony of that final comment! :D I just had to mention that, because it's one of my favorite lines of this story.

In case any of you are confused, the first chapter is set soon after "New Friend, Old Enemy". The rest of the story is just after the newest episode, "I, Monster" (most favorite episode so far). Any questions? Say them in a review and I'll respond soon!