Chapter 17

Battle Nexus Feud

"Cover me, Mikey!"

"I can't! We're surrounded!"

"AHHHH! No, Mikey! You can't die on me, you little traitor! Awright, OFF with the kid gloves! DIE! DIE FLOOD SCUM!" Andromeda screamed as she furiously clicked on the fire button of the X-Box player.

Mikey's jaw dropped as the redhead managed to save the game AND gain him another life back.

"Whoa…Andro you rock as the Arbiter!"

Daphne pouted," She's just the bloodthirsty type, whether the foes are real or virtual."

Andromeda snarled," You betcha!"

Nerissa rolled her eyes as she muttered," Video-games…why waste time play acting when you could be doing the real thing?"

Andromeda sneered," Said the girl who reads Jane Austen, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, Shakespeare, Emily Dickenson and John Keats."

"So do you!" Nerissa chuckled.

Andromeda blushed and was about to retort when Daphne noticed something," Hey… Mikey, what's that trophy up there?"

Mikey looked up and grinned," That's my Battle Nexus trophy!"

Nerissa sneered," Is that ANOTHER video game? Perhaps a tournament?"

"Well, it IS a tournament, but it's not a video game." Mikey grinned," it's a multi-dimensional warrior's tournament!"

"Um, virtual or real?" Nerissa rolled her eyes.

"Oh, it's real alright." Raphael chuckled as he came in time to hear the conversation.

Andromeda looked up sharply," Seriously? You expect us to believe that you guys participated in a multi-dimensional tournament and MIKEY won?"

"Yeah…join the club." Raphael rolled his eyes and Mikey grinned," You're so jealous dude!"

"Of what?" snapped Raphael.

"Me, the... BATTLE NEXUS CHAMPION!" Mikey dramatically declared.

"AND speaking of which, it's nearly time to train for the tournament." Leonardo came into the room, looking fiercely excited.

Raphael turned and asked, "Seriously?"

"I just spoke with Master Splinter. He said that the tournament is in a week," Leo turned to the girls," Will you girls be okay for three days without us?"

Nerissa frowned," You mean we can't come?"

Leo, sensing trouble brewing, raised an eye ridge and responded," Yeah."

Nerissa frowned," Why can't we come?"

"Because you're not warriors." Leonardo replied, immediately regretting the words that left his mouth.

Nerissa glared hotly, alternating between solid and transparent, but unable to voice what she felt as she stormed from the room.

Andromeda rolled her eyes," Not that I care, but if you like her at all, you're not doing a very good job of letting her know."

Leonardo whirled on her," It's none of your business!"

"Actually it is, because she's my sister!" Andromeda snapped as she stood to her full height and glared at him," And let me tell you this, blue-boy, you hurt her and I WILL tear your head OFF!"

Leonardo snapped," I'd like to see you try, hothead!"

Raphael quickly leapt up and grabbed Andromeda before she could make good on her threat.

"Uh, C'mon, Andro, leave the stiff alone." Raphael steered her away, shooting a glare at Leonardo.

Daphne and Mikey bother stared and Daphne exclaimed," Mikey, didja see what I saw?"

"That did NOT just happen…" Mikey whispered back.

Leonardo spun on his heel into the dojo.

Not a second afterwards, they heard Raphael's motorcycle roar as Nerissa stormed out of the garage, revving the engine, her twin blue eyes stormy as a hurricane at sea.

Mikey sighed," Now I've got no one to play with…"

Daphne sighed and muttered," Um, can you teach me? I'm no good at video games…but I'm willing to learn, if it will make you smile, Mikey."

Mikey looked at her, touched. She had expressed her disinterest in video games when she had caught sight of the X-box, but now… just to make him feel better, she was expressing interest.

Mikey took her hand and kissed it, grinning," Dudette, being with you makes me smile. You want to practice skateboarding?"

Daphne nodded as she grinned, her amber eyes shining brilliantly.

Nerissa moodily sat in April's livingroom, fuming," He's such a…a…a JERK!"

April closed her eyes, trying to keep back a retort as she listened to Nerissa rant. The turtle girl had knocked at her window and had looked so upset, that April invited her to open up…apparently that had been a mistake.

"Nerissa, have you considered that maybe he didn't mean to insult you? After all…you and your sisters are the only girls his age he's ever met. He and his brothers have dealt with me, and Angel…never with girls who were their age."

Nerissa snorted as she tucked her knees to her chest.

April gently prodded," Nerissa, do you like him?"

The golden haired turtle nodded sullenly.

"Why are you so upset?"

"I dunno. I like him, but it's like everyone is EXPECTING me to be with him…and I don't want to be with him just because everyone's predicting it! Ugh! I hate this…"

April smiled softly as she chuckled, "You're Raphael's sister alright."

Tilting her head to the side, Nerissa sighed," And who am I? For the longest time…Andromeda and I did sort of fight for leadership, but I think it was because we were all we had, that she let me be the big sister… But that doesn't mean I'm like Leonardo." Nerissa added groaning," I'm so confused."

"My daughter, why the hurry?"

Nerissa looked up in surprise as her father came in, smiling gently at her.

"Father, I didn't realize you were there."

"I'm back from my job review. I'm to start in a week."

"Who are you working for?" Nerissa inquired.

"Ms. O'Neil." He chuckled," I met with Raphael's friend, Casey Jones, and he agreed that we could share his apartment; s'long's I help pay rent and don't mind him keeping late hours."

She smiled, but her smile choked a little.

He noticed and April left them as he sat next to his golden haired daughter," Nerissa, do you remember why I named you as I did?"

"Cause you said I was like the sea, a paradox, calm and wild all at once."

"Aye. You have done as I trained you, and kept your sisters safe."

"But, father, that year we were-"

"Don't speak of that time, love, for I failed you as well. You broke out of that bloody hell, and you kept your sisters safe, Nerissa. I am proud of you."

He kissed her forehead, and she felt tears prickle her eyes.

"Now, my daughter, concerning this young man, Leonardo… I have not known him long, but I am not inexperienced in the emotions that run through a young man in love."

Nerissa jolted as she looked at him, her blue eyes widening, "Father, he cannot be in love with me!"

"But he is. I've seen the way he looks at you. And though you don't know it, he has done acts of kindness that you have not seen…he goes out of his way to make sure you have what you need without asking, he is reluctant to put you in harm's way…which is why, I believe, he does not plan on you participating in this tournament you spoke of. Not because he doubts your ability to- how does that Quicksilver-tongued rogue put it?- "Kick shell"."

Nerissa laughed aloud, as her father chuckled slightly," My daughter, as I said before, there is no rush for you to be getting a sweetheart and getting married, you are reaching your prime years…but you need not doubt his feelings. He cares for you. And besides…he dares not hurt you, for if he does, ninja or no, I will break his neck." Horatio added grimly.

Nerissa hugged her father tightly," I'm so glad you're back, Father."

He kept his arm around her, his fiery brown eyes misting slightly.

"Me too, my Nerine. Me too."