So here is chapter 27. The feels. First half is in third person second half is in Leonardo's POV. Please enjoy and review! Sorry I haven't been updating a lot of my fics lately but my graduation so close and I am so excited, but there's just so much to do! Next week I'll be out of town so I probably won't be able to update, but I promise I'll try and update all of my ongoing stories before I leave! Please Review!
Ch. 23-You Won't Lose Me
The quiet sounds of movement in the dojo started very early the next morning. Midori emerged from her room with a loud yawn. She ventured out into the main room and immediately glanced towards the sliding doors to the dojo.
Just as she was about to go inside, Michelangelo entered the room. "Hey cuz!" When he received no reply, Mikey followed Midori's gaze curiously towards the dojo. He shrugged it off. "Eh, don't worry about it. Leo's probably just getting some early training in before breakfast. Happens more often than you'd think."
Midori nodded, but said nothing.
"You're really quiet." Mikey stated flatly, staring at her with big, bright, blue eyes.
Midori shrugged her shoulders. "I'm a slow riser. It takes a little while for my brain to charge up."
"Huh. That's not a problem for me!" the youngest turtle said cheerfully. He reached out and grabbed Midori's hand dragging her off towards the kitchen. "Come on! Let's get cooking!"
Bout ten minutes later, the smell of breakfast permeated the air and the other members of the Hamato clan began to stir. Sensei was the first to show up, followed by Donatello. As Leonardo entered the kitchen and took a seat at the counter Midori placed a plate in front of him. The eldest turtle smiled. "Well this is what I call first class service."
She beamed at him. "Service with a smile." Midori replied cheekily. She took a seat next to Leonardo leaving an empty seat on her other side for Raphael…whenever he decided to wake up. Midori changed the topic, "So how did your training go this morning?" she asked Leo.
The forest green turtle blinked and raised an eye ridge. "What?"
Mikey and Midori exchanged confused glances. Finally the youngest spoke up, haltingly. "You mean that that wasn't you training in the dojo when we got up this morning?"
Leo stared wide-eyed and shook his head.
Midori's bottom lip pushed out in a befuddled expression.
At the sound of a light chuckle, all eyes turned to Master Splinter. "There is a very simple solution, my sons. One of us is absent, and he is the one currently training in the dojo."
Everyone stared, wide-eyed.
"Raph?" Donnie asked, his voice disbelieving.
Midori let out a quiet 'hm,' considerably less surprised than the others. "Honestly," she rolled her eyes. "Raphael trains more than anyone I've ever met in my entire life."
"Leo usually trains even more…" Donnie stated informatively.
She glanced at Leonardo. "Wow, Master Splinter must really work you hard." Midori observed.
There was silence for a moment. Four pairs of eyes followed Midori as she pushed herself up from the table. Her golden eyes stared calmly back at them. "If Raph waits any longer his breakfast will get cold. I'll go get him."
"I'll go with you." Leonardo stated, pushing himself up from the table and trailing after her.
"Me too." Mikey said excitedly as he jumped up and chased them.
Donatello followed close behind, looking meekly back at Sensei and muttering, "I'm gonna just—I'll go make sure—um, I'll be right back."
Master Splinter rolled his eyes, shook his head and smiled. "Kids." Before he too, stood and made his way to the dojo.
Leo's POV
I slid the dojo door open about an inch and peered inside. I could hardly believe my eyes as they registered the sight before them. The thought of Raph getting up before the rest of us was surprising enough, but the fact that he was training this early in the morning on an empty stomach was absolutely unbelievable. I admit that I have been known to do the same on certain occasions, but then only when I was struggling with something and even then, Sensei usually stopped me and made me accompany him to breakfast. I suppose he didn't bother Raphael because Raph's never really done something like this before. I know that if it was me, I would have let Raph work whatever-this-is out of his system, and I assume that's precisely what Sensei did.
My two younger brothers grew impatient and shoved in front of me in order to open the door the rest of the way so that they, too, could see what was going on. I looked beyond their shocked faces and focused my attention on my brother's form. I have never seen, nor have I ever thought Raphael even remotely capable of moving that fast. He was little more than an emerald green blur.
Deep blue eyes narrow as I attempted to pinpoint each and every step in the kata Raphael was currently performing. It was harder than I thought. Something was different about the way he was fighting. Not only was it faster but it was also more fluid. Indeed, it was very strange. Despite this newfound fluidity, Raph's movements could in no way be considered sloppy, or 'half-assed' as Raphael himself would probably say.
With a soft hum of thought I made up my mind and jumped into my immediate younger brother's path, initiating a counter-attack. He deflected it easily, throwing me back several feet. I back-flipped and was able to land softly, baring my katanas in mid-air. Our eyes locked. Sometimes out ability to speak with our eyes comes in handy. I can tell that Raphael is asking me if I'm really up for this. I smirk, which is my way of telling him to give it everything he's got. Surprisingly, he doesn't smirk back, which is his usual response when I challenge him. Instead he merely nods and draws his sais. There is something…strange in his eyes.
With no further ado we begin to circle slowly, each of us trying to see into the intentions of the other. It feels almost like a dance. I couldn't help but smile. I loved a challenge. Raphael's focus made him twice the warrior he usually was, and I decided to be cautious. I remained on the defensive. I intended to allow Raph to make the first move, but surprisingly, he did not. He pulled away and moved back. So I threw caution into the wind and charged. An expression of shock crossed my face as my brother swooped in, bending low as he used the handles of his sais to knock my legs out from under me. He sheathed his weapons disarming me with that new kata of his, and then proceeded to flip me over before he pinned me to the ground. I blinked up at him in disbelief. My brothers stared open-mouthed.
"Well done, Raphael. It seems that your devotion to that kata has served you well." Master Splinter stated.
Midori smirked. "Yeah, I bet he's glad I taught it to him." She ignored the contemplative glances that she received for that remark, never turning her attention away from Raphael. "Good show." Midori told Raph with a smile on her face.
I glanced up at Raphael and realized he was blushing. I smirked and took advantage of the moment to free myself from underneath the emerald green mass of muscle.
I expected to find my brother gloating and celebrating his success, but instead he appeared to be brooding. Tentatively he asked, "Does that mean I can use it in combat?"
Midori turned to Master Splinter, uncomprehending. I guess Raphael hadn't told her about his agreement with Sensei.
"Yes." My eyes narrowed. It wasn't like Sensei to agree that easily. Raph's face brightened. Master Splinter looked down, "…and no." Raphael deflated faster than a punctured balloon. I shook my head. Raph really should have seen that one coming.
Raphael looked down. My protective instincts surged. Without eye contact I had no way of reading my brother's expression. After about half-a-minute he finally looked up. I frowned and my face darkened. The look on Raphael's face didn't bode well. It was that same expression that had been appearing more and more often these days. I didn't really understand what was going on with Raphael lately. Something had changed. It was strange because there were times when things were as normal as they had ever been and then suddenly there would be moments like this. Moments where he didn't feel like my brother anymore. I really don't know how to explain it.
That strange look crosses his face again and I can't help but frown. He pays my face no heed and stares straight at Sensei. Master Splinter frowned deeply. I faintly noted that Midori had stiffened and I shifted my attention to her. Raph, too, shifted his gaze and for a moment the two of them just stared at each other. She must have seen something that I could not because she blanched. She literally changed color as all the blood seemed to drain from her face.
Midori tore her gaze from Raphael's and murmured, "You can't."
"I have to."
"He'll kill you."
My eyes narrowed as I slowly began to comprehend what was being discussed.
"I won't let him." Raph stated. "I admit, I'm not quite ready yet, but in a few days I will be. I'm going after him whether you like it or not." He paused and allowed that to sink in before going on, "I'm not going to allow him to get away with what he tried to do, mark my words."
The next thing I knew, Midori had shot forward and grabbed his arm. "Revenge isn't going to undo what happened. And it won't take back what he tried to do. Raphael, don't do this." There was a moment of silence and Raphael refused to look at her. Midori grabbed his arm forcefully and turned him around so that she could finally achieve eye-contact. "Don't do this. Please." she added, in a much smaller, broken tone, "I can't lose you too."
Raphael tenderly reached out and put his hands on her shoulders. "You'll never lose me. I promise. I will always come back to you."
Midori sobbed and threw herself against his plastron. Raph held her close for a moment before pushing her away slightly to look down into her golden eyes. It was a very tender scene that made my heart clench.
"I've lost everyone. I just…can't lose you." She said as she wrapped her arms tightly around him.
Raph tilted her head upwards with a gentle touch. "I swear it to you on my honor. I'm not going anywhere. But I have to do this. No one hurts the people I love and care about. Especially you. I will not let him get away with hurting you, Midori. Please. I need you to trust me. I need you…to believe in me. I can win this. Please trust me."
"I trust you with my life." She whispered.
The look in Raphael's eyes was a look I had never seen before. His eyes were filled with the colors of emotions. So many emotions. It was as if her words had brought life into his eyes. But there was one thing that was clear. Raphael was determined to see this through.
And there was absolutely nothing and no one, Midori included, that could stop him.
Review Please! I'm really anxious to know what you think!