Chapter 2: Wanted: A Best Friend

A/N: And here's Mikey's chapter. Things are really going to be spicing up as far as the plot now. I want to thank all of those who have taken the time to read and review this story. Your support means the world to me, and I hope you stick around for this chapter, too.

Disclaimer: TMNT is owned by Nick. I own only the plot.

Michelangelo jumped from the rooftops on his way to Murakami's noodle shop. This was the anniversary of April's disappearance, and it was still hard to face. It had been three years since April had vanished without a trace, and things had changed for Mikey and his brothers. Don continued to search for clues to April's disappearance as though he didn't want to give up. Raph stayed out late at night and had become angrier that they still didn't know what had happened to their friend. Leo trained more obsessively than ever before while Mikey was often by himself at times.

Although Raph and Leo had lost hope that April was going to come back to them and Donnie continued to search, though he seemed to lose hope, too, Mikey remained optimistic. He longed to hear April greet them as she entered the Lair and give them each a big hug. But as time passed, Mikey also began to long for another friend, which was why he hung around Mr. Murakami. It was April who had introduced the Turtles to Mr. Murakami in the first place, and Mikey was thankful that she had.

"Ah, Michelangelo-san," Murakami greeted him. "It is nice to see you. How are you doing?"

"Fine," Mikey answered.

"It has been a while since your last visit," Murakami noted. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah, it's just that we've been busy with training," answered Mikey. "We've also been patrolling a lot lately."

"I see," mused Murakami. "How are your brothers?"

"They're hanging in there," said Mikey. "Leo's has the flu though. That's kind of why I stopped by. I was wondering if you would make him some soup. He hasn't really eaten anything all day."

"Of course, I can help," replied Murakami. "I believe chicken noodle soup would be best for him. It often helps me when I am sick. Here, I saved some pizza gyoza just for you."

"Thanks," said Mikey as he accepted his favorite food. His eyes roamed around the shop until he spotted a bulletin board that was filled with fliers. He eyes stopped on a poster that he'd seen three years ago. It was the poster Kirby had made when April had vanished. Just seeing her picture caused a lump to form in Mikey's throat. It wasn't fair that she was gone.

"Murakami-san, why do you still have the poster of April?" Mikey asked him.

Murakami sighed. "I know it has been a long time, but I just cannot bring myself to take it down," he answered. "It has been hard for all of us, Michelangelo-san. I keep hoping that maybe if I keep the poster up there, she will come back."

"Yeah, I know," agreed Mikey. "I think if she came back maybe my brothers would be happy again. Raph goes out all the time, Leo keeps on training, and Don's just a shell of himself. If I didn't have you to talk to, Murakami-san, I don't know what I'd do. I just feel like we're falling apart as a family. It's just not right."

"What does your Sensei think of this?"

Mikey sighed. "He's just as sad as the rest of us," he replied. "He thought of April like his daughter. I mean, he's doing his best to try and help us move on, but it's just as hard for him as it is for us."

"I can understand that," Murakami said. "I have a granddaughter who is April's age. I cannot imagine how I would feel if something like this had happened to her."

Mikey didn't really know what to say to that. "Look, I gotta go," he said. "I want to make sure Leo gets his soup."

"Here, take some pizza gyoza with you," Murakami said as he wrapped them up and gave Mikey the soup. He put it all in a bag so Mikey could carry it home. Mikey reached into his belt for some money, but Murakami insisted that Mikey take it without paying. The orange-clad Turtle thanked him and promised to visit again soon.

When Mikey arrived home he found Leo on the couch wrapped in his Space Heroes blanket April had gotten him for Christmas watching an episode of Space Heroes. Raph was in the recliner reading a comic book which he put down when Mikey came in. Don was nowhere in sight, but Mikey knew that he was in his lab and that Splinter was in his own room.

"Hey, Leo, how are you feeling?" Mikey asked his older brother.

"A little better," answered Leo. "At least I'm not nauseated anymore."

"That's good. You up for some soup? Murakami-san made it just for you."

"Sure, I'll have some. I should probably try some crackers first to make sure I can keep food down."

"Good, I'll get you something to drink," said Mikey. "7-Up or Sprite?"

"Either one will do."

"Coming right up," declared Mikey. He went into the kitchen and looked in the refrigerator for some Sprite. He took it out, retrieved Leo's Space Heroes cup (another present from April), and poured the drink with some ice to keep it cold. Then he took out the bowl of soup and carried it on a tray to Leo.

"Thanks, Mikey," said Leo as he took the items from his brother. "Wait, what about the crackers?"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot about those," said Mikey with a slap to his forehead. He went back to the kitchen and retrieved the packets of crackers Murakami had given him with the soup and gave them to Leo.

"Well, you guys don't need me anymore," said Raph. "I'll see you later."

"Where are you going, Raph?" asked Leo.

"Out," Raph replied. "Mikey's here, so he can watch you for a while I need some air."

"Look, maybe you should stay here tonight," Leo suggested. "You've been out all week."

"Why? So I can watch you almost hack up a lung while you watch your stupid cartoon, or so I can wait for Don to come out of his lab? Forget that! I've gotta get out of here right now."

Leo normally would have challenged his temperamental brother, but he was still sick and didn't feel like getting into a fight. With a sigh of resignation, he said, "Okay, Raph, you can go out. Just try to be careful, okay?"

"Leo, I'll be fine," Raph reassured him. "Stop worryin' before you make yourself sicker."

"Make sure you keep your T-Phone on and call us if you get into trouble," Leo cautioned.

Raph rolled his eyes. "Yes, Master Splinter," he mocked. "Besides, if I do get into trouble, the only one who'd be able to help me out is Mikey. Look, I'll see you guys later. You don't have to wait up." He waved to them and left.

Mikey couldn't help but feel sad as he watched his red-clad brother leave. He really wanted everyone to stay together. He turned to his blue-clad brother. "Hey, Leo, has Don come out of his lab at all?"

A sad look crossed Leo's face. "He's only come out to use the bathroom," he replied. "You know how Donnie gets when this day rolls around."

Mikey nodded. While it was hard for all of them to fathom that April was gone, Don was taking it the hardest. They all knew that Don had liked April as more than a friend, and it was this fact that made it harder for him to accept that April wasn't coming back. None of them really knew what he did in his lab, but they all suspected it had something to do with finding out what happened to April.

"Maybe someone should go talk to him," Mikey suggested. He couldn't stand the thought of Donnie just shutting himself away from everyone.

Leo shook his head. "We've tried that before, remember?" he reminded him. "Donnie won't budge. It's just best to leave him alone. Hey, Space Heroes is almost over. You want to play a video game?"

Normally Mikey would have jumped at the chance to play a video game with Leo, but today he just wasn't in the mood. "Nah, I'm gonna go to my room and work on some drawings," he answered.

"Okay, have fun."

Mikey nodded and made his way to his room. Once there, he took out his sketch pad and began to look at some of his other work. He stopped on a picture of April he had drawn shortly before she disappeared. She was in the middle of practicing a kata Splinter had taught her, and Mikey had decided to draw it. Her leg was up in a kick, her eyes focused and determined to get the move right as she always was whenever she tried something. As Mikey looked at the picture, a memory came to him and hit him hard like a charging bull before he had time to really think.

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"Wow, these are really good, Mikey," April commented as she looked at his drawings.

"Nah, they aren't that great," he replied as he waved his hand dismissively.

"Mikey, they are!" April insisted. "You're really good at this stuff. Have you ever thought about showing these in an exhibition?"

"What's that?"

"It's an art show where people come to see your work," April explained. "If someone sees a painting they like, they can pay to have it."

"Really? Cool. But I don't think that would work, April. I'm a mutant turtle. No one would want to see art made by someone like me."

"Well, maybe you could send in your art anonymously," April suggested. "I'm sure there are contests where you can enter your stuff."

"That's not a good idea, April," Mikey told her. "I'm a ninja, remember? I operate in the shadows. But if it makes you feel better, I'm flattered that you think my work is cool."

April smiled. "I really do like it," she said. "Would you draw something just for me?"

"Sure," Mikey replied. "Anything in particular?"

"Nope just whatever you can come up with," she answered.

Mikey nodded and watched as she left his room. Shortly after that, Mikey had drawn the picture of April performing the kata and had intended to give it to her for her birthday in June, but he'd never had the chance.

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Mikey sighed as he snapped out of the memory. It wasn't healthy to dwell on things like this. He found a blank page and got ready to draw when his T-Phone went off. He pulled it out and saw that he had a new text message. It was probably from Raph saying he was in trouble, Mikey thought, but when Mikey read the text he saw that it wasn't from Raph.

Hey, Mikey, how's the drawing coming? I can't wait to see how cool it is. Talk to you later. –A.

Mikey's mouth hung open as he stared at the text. He knew Raph wouldn't send him a text like that, not even for a joke. Besides, none of his brothers knew about the drawing he had been planning to give to April. This could only mean one thing.

April was back.

A/N: Dun! Dun! Duuuun! And now the plot thickens. So, is it really April who's texting them? Well, you'll have to read on to find out. Next up is Don's chapter, and it'll be an interesting one to say the least. In the meantime, feel free to leave a review, and have a shelltastic day.