Chapter 16: Raph's Consequence

Shortly after that ordeal, Shifu and Splinter were walking back to the palace, just thinking about how this problem could be solved between Musaki and Raphael. Splinter looked at Shifu and asked, "What are going to do about this?"

Shifu sighed heavily and answered, "I don't know."

"You know, Raphael has always been like this ever since he was younger. He would completely start a fight with any one of his brothers and often times, he can be violent."

"Like how?"

"It is unsure, but mostly, when he and his brothers argue, Raph wants to solve it his way by fighting. He would think of many ways to get his point across, but it does not work like that. We solve it by words and just settle this in a calm way. But, Raphael...the only way to solve it is by his fists."

"Fighting isn't everything here. We solve our problems by talking it out as well." Shifu said.

"I am sure you do."

"I can recognize his temper quickly."

Splinter looked at Shifu and looked astonished. He asked, "How?"

Shifu sighed heavily and said, "When I saw his fighting stance, it reminds me of a student I used to know."

"Who?"

Shifu couldn't stomach the fact that he had to tell Splinter about his 'student', but he just wanted to get it out of the open real quick. He turned to Splinter and asked, "Have you ever heard of a name called Tai Lung?"

"No, I have not. Should I have?"

"Tai Lung used to be my student...and my son. A long time ago, someone put him in front of my home and when I first saw him, he was pretty much like my son and I raised him myself. When he showed interest in kung-fu, I trained him and knew that he could be destined for greatness. I was responsible for making him all powerful, a decision that could turn into something I couldn't stop. When the day came to give him the Dragon Scroll, Oogway saw darkness in his heart and rejected it. Tai Lung was completely outraged and took out anyone that got in his way and when he came back to get the scroll, I wanted to end this once and for all, but when I looked at him as a little cub, how could I? Oogway stopped him and he was taken to Chor-Gom prison. After that, I have never loved anyone like him before and since. When Tigress and the rest came in, I was their master and I was pretty harsh and critical at what they do over the years and I was completely strict and demanding. Since Tai Lung, that's how I've been."

Splinter looked at Shifu and noticed the look in his eyes that he really lost more than just a student, he lost his son. He said, softly, "I am sorry that you lost your own son. I never actually realized that this sort of thing would happen to you."

"Yes, I know. That's why I saw the look in Raph's eyes and...never mind."

Shifu knew that Raph would show a little bit of Tai Lung and didn't want to make Splinter upset, but he was understanding and told him, "It is okay. Raphael can be rebellious and somewhat angry at times, but he tries to take responsibility for his own actions at times and things are okay for a while."

"Yeah, I know. But the fact that him and Musaki are at odds with each other...it's like...seeing a nightmare come so close to reality. I'm really scared for him."

"So am I, but for both Raphael and Musaki. Maybe it will be beter if these two can put this behind themselves and move along."

"Raphael has to suffer the consequences for what he almost did to Musaki."

"I agree. What do you have in mind?"

Shifu began to think of something to see what the outcome of his action is and he had one idea. He turned to Splinter and asked, "How does Raphael deal with chores?"

Splinter groans and said, "He s chores."

Then, an idea sparked both Shifu and Splinter and had the same idea as they looked at each other with mischievous smirks on both of their faces and nodded their heads together.

Later, they went to the room Splinter and the others were staying and saw Raph there. Raph looks at them and asked, "What do ya want?"

"For almost Musaki, you are gonna have to do some chores around the entire bunkhouse, as well as the inside of the Sacred Hall of Warriors." Shifu said.

Hearing this made Raph heated. He stood up and asked, "Are you giving me...chores?"

"That's right."

"Did Splinter tell you I chores?"

"You are going to have to do them, my son."

Raph was shocked to hear Splinter agreeing with Shifu. He turned to him and asked, "Are you gonna let this guy do what he tells me to do?"

"He is not my master, but I am your master. It will be your punishment for tormenting Musaki."

"Man, what's so special about him, anyway?"

"Raphael! That is enough! Just do what he tells you!"

It looks as if he's gonna start a fight, but looking at both of them, it wouldn't be a good idea. He sighed heavily and asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"Clean every single one of these rooms, sweep the floors and polish every one of the items from the Sacred Hall of Warriors."

He knew that there was no way out of this, so he goes off to do his chores and dusted every part of the room. Splinter was impressed with how he does and asked, "I got to bring that back to New York and make him do chores."

"The Five and the others in here do chores and they are fine with it. Anything to please their master." Shifu said.

They walked off the room and let Raph do his cleaning. He sighed heavily and said, "This sucks."

2 hours later...

Shifu and Splinter were outside with Musaki and Zeke at the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom. Shifu figured it was the one place that both Musaki and Zeke could go in their spare time. Splinter asked, "So, how often do you come here?"

"Well, it's strange, but both of us like walking there, because it's only place where one of us could have space, have some alone time or something like that." Musaki said.

"When I first came here, it was like a quiet place to get away from and it was so peaceful and nobody could bother me." Zeke said.

"I want to ask you something, Zeke-san. How did you get to be Musaki's brother?"

Zeke sighed heavily and said, "I don't know. It's weird. I never even knew I had one. I guess it started about a few weeks ago when someone told me that my parents were Musaki's parents. I didn't believe it and someone from my dad's side told me that Musaki's my twin brother. Two of my guardian parents' friends took me here and when I saw Musaki for the first time, it's like me only so much different. At first, I didn't know if I could trust him or not, but as the days go by, he seems pretty cool and is a great brother. We've been doing everything together ever since."

"How did you react to it?"

Musaki said, "Well, I didn't know he was my twin until he came here. It just took me by surprise and I guess it's how it came to be. We've become friends rather than brothers in some cases."

"Zeke had a little bit of a trust issue when he first came here." Shifu said.

"Like how?" asked Splinter.

"Well, my foster parents were not exactly a happy one. Let's just say they were doing wrong things when I was younger. Doing wrong and illegal things."

"Zeke doesn't like to talk about it much." Musaki said.

Splinter nodded his head a little and said, "I understand."

All of a sudden, Raph comes out of nowhere and as Musaki and Zeke turn around, they saw him wearing an apron around him. Both of them were snickering and started laughing hysterically. Raph didn't like that one bit and said, "Viper gave me this stupid apron."

"I'm suprised that Tigress didn't send you one." Zeke said.

"Where did Viper find it, Tough s Wardrobes for Tough Guys to Wear-a-lot?"

Zeke laughed a lot and said, "Good one."

"Are you done with the chores?" asked Splinter.

Raph sighed and said, "I've swept the floors, dusted everything from the Hall of Warriors and cleaned up every room, especially Musaki's. Musaki's room was the nightmare-ish room I've ever done."

"Yeah well, get used to it."

"I've seen his drawings. They are scary."

"Oh, you've noticed me drawing my alter-ego? Yeah, I looked pretty good."

"Okay, the thought of it is scaring the crap out of me."

"Well, you have done the chores and now is there something you would like to say to Musaki?" asked Shifu.

Musaki looked at him, waiting for an apology. Raph was totally hesitant about this and Musaki said, "Spit it out, otherwise, I'll call Po and he'll sit on you again."

"Okay, okay, okay! I'm sorry!"

"And you're sorry for..."

"Tormenting, teasing and for scaring you."

"And you'll..."

"I'll treat you with respect."

"Okay, apology accepted."

Musaki took out his hand and waited for Raph to shake it. He asked, "Are we cool now?"

He looked at his master and Shifu and they nodded their heads. He sighed and said, "Yeah, we're cool."

They both shook hands and knew that this is over. Raph said, "Maybe if you teach me those moves, I might use it when I come back to New York."

Musaki chuckled and said, "Count on it."

Well, they're cool now. Thank goodness. Wonder what's gonna happen now? Stick around to find out!