Note: A few things to update you all on, I updated my profile page with links to my Tumblr, Youtube, and TMNT forum accounts…. Please check them out in your free time if you'd like! Also, some confusion as to who I am, when I opened Cowabunga Corner I didn't realize that name is widely known through a different website… I am not Michele Ivey, and to rectify this I'll be changing the name of my board by the end of this week! Once again, thanks to those that take the time to read and review! You make my day!Dis: I don't own TMNT...
Akumi awakens with a sense of panic in her chest. Breathing roughly through her mouth she pulls strands of loose, black hair around her pointed ears before wiping at the sweat on her brow with the back of her hand. A hand then rests over her palpitating heart and she turns her head as a shuffling catches her attention. There, on the couch, is Leonardo: whimpering in discomfort and she knows he is lost to the demons in his sleep once more. Since she brought him dinner a week prior they have been spending some time apart: mainly because he did ask for his privacy and she granted him his wish, but each night his nightmares plagued him and tonight it seems it is more troubling than usual.
Unlike Akumi, Raphael went out to the barn clearly disregarding Leonardo's wishes, and would come back looking more grim than before. Akumi was starting to worry about her friend once more and as she tosses her coverings aside she easily maneuvers herself to kneel beside him. Raising a delicate hand up she lowers it to rest at his brow and the whimpering diminishes and his breathing evens out as she connects with him, pressing her forehead to his temple. It is, as she can best describe, like a lifeline. A security blanket. When two people with the connection are together all the shadows of your thoughts seem to vanish with a single touch, something life mates are thankful to have each other for… NOT that Leonardo and her were mates but the thought wasn't all that… Bad. He is still young, and she would barely be considered an adult herself on her next life cycle, and she huffs in annoyance when her mother's words of finding a boy echos in her thoughts… A feather light touch against her wrist has her smiling and forgetting all of her previous thoughts before straightening to meet the half-open eyes of Leonardo.
"A-Akumi? What are you doing?" he asks softly and she pulls her hand away but his grip tightens slightly on her wrist.
"You were having nightmares. I was helping you come to peace in your sleep."
"Oh…" He looks away. "Yes, I understand. Thank you."
"You are welcome." She tilts her head to the side, hair falling over her shoulders with the movement. "You wish to speak more?"
Leonardo opens his mouth, then closes it again: gaze adverting from hers. Akumi misses their talks, her evenings now spent answering questions from those closest to him about her home world, Ch'rell, and herself. They would then share their stories with her and many made her smile and laugh like she used to when she was young, before her life became that of her dogi.
Almost reluctantly he releases her wrist but her hand travels to his injured shoulder, her mouth falling into a slight frown as her fingertips travel over the surprisingly smooth skin. Her touch draws his gaze back to her face which he can just make out in the darkness of the room.
"Your arm… Is it better?"
"It's getting there." She smiles and his heart warms. He is unsure of his feelings for this girl. The mutated turtle part of him is telling him to back off, though she is an alien too: they are still too different. However, the teenage male inside him wants to pull her down and share another kiss with her. THAT part of him he was doing his best to keep locked up in a cage. "My range of motion is improving."
"Good." She turns her head away so he can only see her profile, a deep frown on her face. "A part of me feels the same as you Leonardo. I failed my people and let Ch'rell get away. As a warrior I feel… flawed. It is my duty to slay the one who violated our lands and instead I hide and cower like a sprout* during a storm."
A single tear escapes her eye, surprising Leonardo to the point where he sits up, struggling only a little, then wraps his good arm around her shoulders and pulls her in for a one-armed hug. Her arms go around him as well and he hesitates only a moment before resting his chin atop her head. They stay like that for a while until the sounds of movement upstairs has them splitting apart. Being brave, Leonardo smiles softly while trailing a thick finger beneath Akumi's eye: wiping away a tear.
"We will have our chance again," he says. "We just need to be ready."
"Hai," she answers, making him smile more. "I'll let you get some more rest."
"No, I'm awake now. I should start my day." He stands, and then offers his hand to her, which she takes and he helps pull her up. "You take the couch for a while. Ok?"
She nods and he watches as she settles in against the cushions, pulling the same blanket he uses over her and is it his imagination or does she sniff the pillow and smile before closing her eyes? Emotions warring he practically runs out of the living room to his safe haven: the barn.
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The day passes in a flurry of motion. Michelangelo makes the mistake of being caught on camera and to be safe while he rectifies his mistake, Splinter asks Akumi to stay inside the house with him. She wants to go to the barn, to keep Leonardo company, but something in the way she feels has her hesitating… Like he was making a break through and with Raphael missing, she wonders of perhaps he has a hand in the turnaround. So instead she follows April around, helping her clean some more with Mikey, Don, and Casey out trying to protect their secret. Akumi often hears Splinter muttering about his sons, especially Michelangelo, but she reads no contempt, just worry. Hours pass and when she's ready to burst out of the home and deal with the woman herself, Donatello is beckoning them outside to watch the retreating vehicles.
"How did you manage such a feat?" asks Akumi, smiling widely.
"Well, you see…"
And he tells how they actually DID find a creature out in the woods, and the thought had April looking worried before Donatello assured that the creature was friendly. How they had Casey impersonate the creature was smart, and Akumi shares what is called a "fist-bump" with Mikey when he says they saved the day. Casey then comes out of the woods and Akumi giggles with how ridiculous he looks. He says something about reporters being vicious and that is when Raphael comes around the back of the house: trying to gain their attention.
"Hey Guys! Guys! Come around back. There's someone I want you ta meet!"
"It's not the furry creature from the woods, is it?" asks April timidly.
"What? No," answers Raphael, clearly confused. "C'mon!"
They all follow, Akumi hanging around the back. She smiles secretly as they near the barn. The emotions she's picking up on through the bond are a mix of not just nervousness, but bravery and determination. Raphael opens the doors to the barn and walking out of the shadows is Leonardo with a brand new pair of katana.
"Allow me to introduce you ta Leonardo, new and improved."
"Uh, hey everyone," says a slightly bashful Leo, a large grin on his face.
The group speaks at once, each welcoming the one and true Leonardo back into the fold. Smiles, small hugs, and pats on the shell are given to the ninja turtle and Akumi smiles as he comes to her. She places a hand on his shoulder in welcome and he smiles widely at her until she releases her hold and he turns to address them all.
"Guys, I think it's time we return to New York, and finish our business with the Shredder once and for all."
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"I'm almost going ta miss this dirty hell-hole," says Raphael as he puts the last of their stuff in the small trailer. He then thinks of the night he had to sleep with Mikey in the room from his worst nightmares. "Almost."
"I'm not," answers Mikey, eagerly getting into the trailer, wrapping himself in a thick blanket. "I miss my comics, and the TV, and my video games! I say HORRAY for going back!"
"Guys," interrupts Leo. "Remember that when we go back into the sewers we will have to be extra careful. Shredder is more than likely still scouring the city looking for us."
"Leonardo is right," answers Splinter. "Do not forget your ninja training. We are all eager to go home after being gone for so long but we must remain cautious."
"All set, guys," says April cheerfully, though the turtles did frown because the cheer was false. She had no home to go back to, and it was their fault. Immediately they had offered her to stay with them until she figures something out and she had given her thanks by crying into Don's shoulder and hugging them all.
"I am excited to see your home," says Akumi and all eyes turn to her. She is back in her own clothing, the black silk and armored plates hugging her body in ways ALL teenage boys would approve of, which had Splinter frowning darkly at his sons if their gazes linger on certain parts for too long. "How long has it been since you've been there?"
"Almost three months," says Leonardo sadly. "We had to leave because of Shredder's presence in the sewer."
"I've gotten no security blips in our time gone," assures Donatello. "It should be ok, Leo."
After announcing the desire of returning home, Splinter had the turtles and even Akumi train hard for three days. Their training must have been satisfactory for that morning at breakfast Splinter made the announcement that they could go home. Now they are closing this sad chapter from their lives, and also ready to take their lives back.
"Akumi, ya comin?" asks Raphael from the back of the trailer.
Since that awful night of teasing, he's been nothing but nice: the teasing only light now. Like a reehan*, a brother: and Akumi nods before following Splinter and the turtles to the back of the trailer. Mini lights turn on and they settle down for their journey equipped with some snacks and drinks for the road as well as a small radio that plays music and by the time they make it back to New York Akumi decides that she does not like anything with what was called 'bass'. It makes her sensitive ears hurt.
"Ready?" asks Leonardo as they dim the lights when the car comes to a stop.
"Ready," they all answer.
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Akumi looks around her, filled with curiosity as they travel the sewer. Leonardo had to assure her that where they were going wasn't a sewage tunnel, but a storm drainage system, especially after the list of things Mikey said could be found in their sewer: including alligators! She was skeptical at first but after walking along the dripping tunnels she decided it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. It was also very quiet. Though they travel in the shadows, there is not a soul in sight and even when Casey kicks an object and then insists no one is around-all is quiet. Splinter sniffs the air and Akumi reaches out for any form of negative emotion and once again there is… Nothing.
She watches as Donatello twists a pipe and a series of pipes move, he turns a wheel then presses buttons and the whole wall opens and she steps back, pressing into the plastron of Raphael. He chuckles, hands going to her shoulders and giving her a playful shove forward and she follows the group in: Mikey the most eager of them all.
"Welcome home everybody," says Donatello.
"Ah, just like we left it," says Leonardo and Akumi can feel the happiness bubble in her chest.
Akumi stills in the middle of the main chamber. It is large and beautiful. Mikey rushes immediately to a room on the right and Raphael goes to a bag hanging in the air to give it a few hits. Splinter is moving at his own pace, while Casey follows Mikey into what looks like the kitchen. Donatello is sitting on a chair before many screens on a… She tilts her head for a word.
"Computer," whispers April into her ear before she goes to Donatello's side at his chair.
"I don't get it," says Raphael loudly between punches and kicks. "Last time the Foot goons were all over the sewers looking for us. Why would he just send them all home?"
"Maybe he thinks there's no one to search for," says Leonardo, moving from her side to catch the bag.
"Y'know… Being dead might have its advantages," says Raphael with a sly smile.
"A very large advantage," chimes in Akumi.
"Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?" asks Mikey, returning from his journey to the kitchen with a damp Casey behind him.
"I think he's thinking what you think he's thinking," chirps Donatello.
"If he's thinking what I'm thinking then I'm thinking we shouldn't just be thinking," says Raphael, making a fist and slamming it into his opposite palm before looking at Casey. "What do you think?"
"Uh… huh?" asks a confused Casey, wiping damp curls behind his ear, a stench wafting from him to the others.
"Ugh," says April. "What's that smell?"
"Three month old milk," answers Mikey with a grin.
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Akumi sits on a blue sofa while they hatch a plan. She feels sort of out of place and in the middle of planning, Leonardo's gaze shifts to her and she wonders if he can feel her slight discomfort. She lets them plan, because she has her own thoughts to process. She was going to get another chance at Ch'rell and she would NOT, could not, mess it up this time. What she needs now is somewhere quiet to think of her own battle plan and she is about to ask if such a place is around when a burst of energy catches her attention. An energy so similarly familiar that she snaps her head to the right in slight fear and before she can even move the large body of Raphael is upon her, slamming her into the sofa.
"Akumi!" shouts Leonardo.
"Ah, crud," says a still smoking Raphael who immediately gets up and frowns when seeing Akumi bleeding from the nose, looking scared out of her mind. "'m sorry, Akumi, I forgot that when ya touch the sword it packs a punch and sends ya flyin' unless yer wearin' that glove."
"Is she ok?" asks Donatello, rushing to be the medic.
"I am fine," says Akumi, doing her best to shake her fear away.
"You're bleeding," says Leo. "Let Donnie look at you. Are… Are you ok?"
"I have had much worse," says Akumi, almost smacking Donatello's hands away. "Where is your bathroom?"
"I'll show you!" offers Mikey.
"Thank you." Akumi starts to walk away but Leo catches her arm. She looks at him almost pleading. She feels stupid, more so now as they speak of worms in the computers and codes and all those other things. She just needs one moment of peace... A moment to shake off the uncontrollable need to suddenly run. "Please let me go…"
Almost reluctantly Leonardo lets her arm go and as she walks away he turns around to continue planning their assault. Mikey, now the one holding her arm, guides her to the bathroom. She awkwardly holds her nose while he gets a cloth and runs it under the water, wrings it out, then presses it to her nose.
"I know how you feel," he says in an almost whisper. "I don't get half of what they're saying about the computer stuff and Leo and Raph are usually the ones that run the battle plan. I just sit and wait instructions because half my ideas get shot down anyway. Don't feel like you're being left out…"
"I don't…" Akumi takes the cloth from his hands. "I guess just… How fast the plan is coming together it's…"
"Overbearing?" he asks before grinning. "My big word of the week!"
His small joke does the job and she smiles while going to the sink to rinse the rag out, her blood sliding down the drain. She sighs before dabbing at her nose again, turning to face him and speaks while keeping pressure on her nose.
"That sword belongs to Ch'rell…. Doesn't it?"
"Yeah, the Sword of Tengu."
"Its energy frightened me. It's familiar, like…" Her blue eyes turn sad as she looks to the floor. "I feel like he used a similar weapon on my people."
"Oh…" He puts a hand to her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Akumi."
"I feel… Useless."
"Don't worry," he says, switching the topic. "I've seen how you fight. You're far from useless."
Akumi smiles, and then places her free hand on his shoulder. "And you, Michelangelo, are a worthy warrior. You have a true heart, a heart of a champion and battle master. Any warlord would be happy to have you at his side."
"Daw!" Mikey snaps his fingers. "I like the sound of that! Michelangelo: the Battle Master! Has a nice ring to it."
"Mikey? Akumi? Can you come out to talk the plan over?" asks Donatello from the kitchen doorway.
"Ready?" asks Mikey, offering his hand.
Akumi smiles, checks the slightly cracked mirror for any bleeding, and quickly washes her hands before taking his.
"Ready."
TBC…
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Sprout- child, kid
Reehan- brother
Note: For anyone who has seen 'Return to New York' in the 2k3 series, you'll get that "3 month old milk" joke, haha.