Ch.1: First day of School; April's boyfriend?
It's been 14/5 years since April came into the Hamato Household. It's like she was already born there and was never adopted. Leo and she have gotten a lot closer and Leo loves her like a sister and protects her like he promised his mother and father.
April has become a beautiful young 16 year and she is very smart. Leo and their father are very proud of her. She also takes martial arts like her big brother but she still has a way to go but she's very good. She inherited a fan that belonged to her mother and she has treasured it ever since she was given the fan. April also doesn't take crap from anyone; she stands for what she believes in and doesn't let anyone talk bad about her or her family. She has many friends and has straight A's. She doesn't know what she wants do in the future but she has time to think about it.
Leonardo has become handsome 18 year old Turtle boy. He's shorter than most of the boys though but that never bothered him though. He's about the same height as his sister but still a little bit taller then she is or in the boys taunt words, 'girl height' but he didn't care. He trains in martial arts and is nearly as good as his father but he still had a ways to go. Leo isn't the same as he was when he was 4 but he's still values family and will protect them with his life. He's pretty shy and doesn't have many friends like his sister but he doesn't really mind. He has straight A's and he wishes to become doctor. He has some muscle but he's not buff though. He's pretty skinning even though he does martial arts.
A lot of things changed in the past 14 years…the biggest change is… their mother died when Leo was 7 years old and April was 4 at the time. A gang that called themselves "The Foot" barged in and demanded money from them. The Foot has been bothering the Hamato family for a good bit. Leo was just a child and he had no idea that he's family was being threaten. When Splinter refused them money that night…everything went downhill. They were going to move to a different part of the neighborhood where it was much safer, but The Foot came back and began shooting at them. Splinter protected his family as much as he could, but one Foot gang got passed him and threaten to shoot Leo and April. Their mother, Tang-Shin, protected them by taking the bullet…she didn't make it. She stayed alive for a little bit in the hospital and she told Leo, April, and Splinter that she loved them with all her heart. Leo made a promise to his mother on her death bed that he'll protect April and father…and to make sure they stay happy and safe. His mother smiled at him one last time…and that was the last talk Leo had with his mother.
"My son, how are you this morning?" Splinter asked his son while he was cooking breakfast for everyone.
Splinter has changed a good bit too, but he remains strong for his children. He also works more to support his family and to keep his dojo running so Splinter stays busy which leaves Leo to take care of the household from time to time.
"I'm fine father, just fixing some breakfast for April and me. Would you like some father? I've noticed you haven't been eating well." Leo asked worried for his father.
"I'm fine Leonardo, I've done ate so you don't have to worry. Don't overwork yourself my son. You're only a child once. Well…I need to get to work…I'll be home sometime this afternoon. You and April take care of yourselves." Splinter said as he kissed his son's forehead which made Leo smile a little bit.
"We will father. I'll tell April you said your goodbyes. That girl's going to complain that she didn't get to see you, but she shouldn't have overslept." Leo said to his father which made him laugh.
"Hehe. Tell her I'll give her a hug when I get home from work. Love you son." Splinter said one last time as he walked out the door.
Leo sighed as he went back to cooking his and April's breakfast. Leo tries not to worry so much but ever since his mother's death it's been harder on him. Not to mention worrying about his baby sister. But she always finds a way to put on smile on his face.
"LEO! Please tell me I didn't miss telling daddy goodbye?!" April yelled as she ran into the kitchen. She was still in her PJ's and she had bed hair which made Leo laugh.
"I'm afraid so April. He told me to tell you he'll give you a big hug when he gets in tonight. Now go get dressed. Breakfast is almost ready and if you want to walk with me to see mother's grave we have to eat and leave early." Leo said turning back to his cooking.
"Okay! I'll go do that right now!" April said then ran upstairs to get dressed.
Leo just giggled at his sisters actions. Even after everything they've been through April still remained the same silly girl. Leo wishes he could do that, but he finds harder and harder each day. April and their father are all the family he has left.
"What's for breakfast big bro?" April asked as she lean over Leo's shoulder to see what he's making.
"Nothing special really…Just some bacon and eggs. And some biscuits as well." Leo said with a smile on his face when he saw April give him a big smile.
"Sounds yummy! I can't wait to start school. I missed my friends, plus this is your last year as a high school student. Maybe I can get you to live it up in school huh?" April said with mischief look on her face.
"Not likely April. You know I don't do that type of thing." Leo said as he headed April her share of breakfast.
April pouted as she took her plate and just watcher her brother fix his meal. She wants her brother to be happy again, to have fun…to smile again. Ever since their mother died he hasn't been the same.
"Oh come on Leo…You need to do more things then take care of me and dad. Join a club, make a friend, get a boyfriend!" April said after she took a bite of her food.
"April…just because I like boys and not girls doesn't mean I want to have a boyfriend. Please drop it. I'm happy the way I am. I love watching over you and father. You guys are all I have left. And your one to talk about boyfriends. Whatever happens to that…uh…what was his name…Casey? I thought you two were serious." Leo said with a smirk as his sister blushed.
"Well we were but…I don't know it's hard to explain. I just had a feeling that he wasn't the one you know. Mom always said I would know when I meet my true love…and I never felt like that with Casey. Plus he had to move away from New York anyway."
"Yeah I remember mother saying something like to me as well. Well… you know yourself best. You'll find the right person someday April and I'll be here to help you through it. Where did he move to?"
"He moved to Ohio with his mom. He said they had family down there so yeah."
"Well at least you two left on good terms. Most couples that break up become enemies from what I hear." Leo said as he finished the rest of his food.
April hmmed at her brother as she finished her food as well. She and Leo put their dishes in the sick. Normally Leo would have cleaned them before they headed to school but they didn't have time.
"Leo I wish you changed your style of clothing more. You always ware such boring clothes." April said as she looked at her brothers clothes.
Leo is wearing a long sleeve dark blue shirt and blue jean pants with black shoes. Leo never liked fancy things anyway so he doesn't understand why April always gets on him about his clothes.
"April I like the way I dress. I don't talk about your clothes now do I?" Leo said with his hands on his hips as he looked over his sister.
She had tight light blue jean, tight yellow long sleeve shirt, and brown boots. She also had her hair in a ponytail with her favorite hand bane in her hair.
"What? This is what girls wear now Leo. Just be glad I'm not wearing and gothic clothes hehe." April said with a laugh as she saw her brother shudder from the word 'gothic clothes.'
"Hai, hai…Well…we better get going if we want to see mother before school starts." Leo said as he grabbed his keys to his Boonville.
Leo and April always visits their mother's grave on the first day of school. It's been like that ever since they were kids and still today, they hold that tradition to tell their mother their starting a new grade.
"Hello mother…April and I wanted to come see you before we started a new year of high school. This is going to be my last year so…yeah…" Leo said in a strain voice. Even after 14 years, he finds it hard to talk to his mother's grave.
April touched her brother's shoulder to comfort him. She knows it's hard on him and she admires her brother for being so strong around her and their father.
"Hey mama! It's me April. This year I'm starting out as a 10th grader! Isn't that awesome? I'm a little nervous this year but I know you'll be there when I need you…I love you mama…and…we miss you very much…" April said trying her best not to cry.
Leo wrapped his arm around April's shoulder to give her comfort. He knew April missed their mother very much. Leo has to remain strong but it gets harder and harder.
"We…We brought you some flowers mom…your favorite…lavender. We hope you like them." Leo said as he placed the flowers on their mother's tombstone.
On the tombstone it read: "Tang-Shin Hamato: Loving mother and Beloved Wife. A brave woman we shall never forget."
Leo took a deep breath to calm his nerves and to try to stop himself from crying.
"We better get going April. School will start soon." Leo said softly as he led April away from the cemetery.
April walked a head while Leo lingered be hide. He took one more look at his mother's grave.
"I'm sorry I failed to protect you mother…I love you and…I pray you watch over us…" Leo thought as a tear escaped his eyes.
"Leo! Come on bro, we're gonna be late!" April yelled from Leo's car.
Leo snapped out of his daze and started walking toward his car.
Leo and April made it to their school right on time. April had enough time to go see her friends and Leo went to go check on his schedule and go by the library to be by himself for a little bit and to read about biology books since he wishes to become a doctor.
"Is that you Leonardo-san?" a familiar voice brought Leo out from reading.
"Usagi! Usagi Yojimbo!? What are you doing here?" Leo said with a smile on his face as he got up from his seat to hug his old friend.
They broke the hug and just smiled at each other.
"I've moved back to New York with my mother so here I am. How've you've been Leonardo? You still do martial arts?" Usagi asked his friend with a smile.
"That's great! Yes I'm still in martial arts. I'm trying to be great like father but…It'll be a while before I'm great as father but…I try. I'm happy that you're here. I'll actually have a friend in school." Leo said with a true smile on his face.
Leo was happy…He hasn't been able to smile in a long time but now that his best friend is here…he feels like he can make it through life more.
It was lunch time, and Leo was on his way to sit with his sister. Usagi was also walking with him to the table.
"I haven't seen April-chan in so long. Is she still the same as ever?" Usagi asked as he carried his tray with Leo.
"Hehe, yes she's still the same as ever. She knows how to make everyone laugh and always puts a smile on my face. I bet she'll be happy to see you." Leo said as he carried his tray as well.
Leo spotted April and she was texting on her phone and she was smiling and blushing which made Leo suspicious.
"April." Leo said surprising April that she almost dropped her phone.
"Oh hi Leo! Man you scared me! Is that Usagi? When did you get back you silly rabbit?" April said with a huge smile as she got up from her sit to hug her old friend.
"Haha! It's nice to see you too April-chan. I moved back her with my mother. You've changed so much. Hard to believe you were that little girl I used to play tag with." Usagi said with a smile as he thought of the time when they were kids.
"Well we all change Usagi! I'm so happy your back! Now my brother won't be so lonely." April said with a smirk when she saw Leo blush a little at her comment.
"Oh hush April! You know I don't mind being alone. You say I worry too much, well you worry about me to much you silly girl, hehe." Leo said with a little laugh.
April just gave him another smirk and went back to eating her pizza and Leo just shook his head with a small smile on his face.
They're quiet moment broke when Usagi heard his phone vibrated and he took a look at it.
"Oh dear. I'm sorry guys but I have to get going." Usagi said in a quick voice that worried Leo.
"Is everything okay Usagi?" Leo asked with a worried voice.
"Oh it's nothing really serious Leo-san, it's my mother. She's saying my girlfriend is over and she has very important news that I need to know right away. So I'm heading home to make sure everything's okay. I'll talk to you two later!" Usagi said as he nearly ran with his tray to dump it and nearly ran out the door.
"Hmm…hope everything's alright." Leo said worried about his friend as he went back to eating.
April just hmmed as she started picking her food which made Leo a little worried.
"April…hey you okay hon?" Leo said with a sweet voice when he's worried about his sister.
"Oh…I'm fine Leo, I don't mean to worry you…It's just…I have something to tell you and…I'm afraid of what you'll think of me when I tell you…I don't want you to be disappointed in me." April said nearly in tears which made Leo really worried.
"Wh…What could possibly make me be disappointed in you? You know I'll help you through anything April…Remember when I told you to live your life and not worry about what I think?" Leo asked with a kind voice.
April nodded.
"And I'm sticking to that. As long as you're happy and safe…I don't care what you do…Now…what's the big news you want to tell me?" Leo asked as he moved his food away and just concentrated on his sister.
April just sat there for a little bit messing with her phone showing that she's nervous. Leo calmly waited for his sister to tell him what was wrong.
"I…I have a boyfriend Leo…" April said with a little smile and blush.
Leo's eyes widened and then he smiled.
"That's wonderful news April! Why are you so nervous to tell me? How long have you known him, and where'd you meet?" Leo asked in an excited voice.
April breathed in a shaking breathe and had a small smile on her face.
"Well…I meet him during the summer time when me and some friends went to the mall. I forgot my purse and…he brought it to me. And here's the neat part Leo…he's a Turtle just like you Leo!" April said with a bright smile.
"Really?! Wow! There are not that many Turtles that I know of. Well that's wonderful April. Please tell me more, and what's his name?" Leo said as he leaned in closer to hear more of his sister's boyfriend.
April just laughed at her brother happy to see him smile.
"He's name is Donatello, but some people call him Don or Donnie. I prefer to call him Donnie. He's a real great guy. He's smart…sweet…and he always texts me to check on me to make sure I'm okay. I think I may even start to love him." April said with a dreamy smile that made Leo smile.
"Aww…I'm so happy for you April…Do you have a picture of him. May I see it?" Leo asked with a smile.
April smiled and began looking through her phone to find a recent photo of her boyfriend.
"Aha! Here we go! Here's a picture of me and him at the park." April said as she handed him her phone with the picture.
Leo took a hold of it and he couldn't help but smile. April looks so happy in the picture with this Donatello guy. He's wearing a purple shirt and a leather black jacket. He's smiling and showing his teeth, and Leo saw that he had a gap in them.
"He looks like a nice boy. He's pretty cute April." Leo said with a giggle as he saw April blush and grabbed the phone back.
"Well he's mine Leo! You can't him!" April said with a little smile and she laugh which made Leo laugh as well.
"Well…he seems nice enough…why were you so nervous to tell me about him?" Leo said breaking their laughter and April gotten quiet again.
"Well…Leo…the reason is because…I wanted to show and tell you about him…before I tell what he's into because…you may change your mind. Just remember he's nice and he treats me well." April said with a serious voice and a determined looking face.
"Okay April…What's…he into..?" Leo asked getting nervous.
"Leo…My boyfriend is…in a gang called "The RayGunz."