It wasn't until 11:55pm that I finally made it back to Ms. Adams's. I unlocked the door and tip-toed inside. Instantly there was movement in the living room and Ms. Adams appeared.
"Thank goodness! Donatello Laird do you have any idea how worried I've been?!" she asked, running over and giving me a hug. I didn't answer or return the hug. When she released, her hands were on her hips and looked absolutely pissed at me. "You didn't take your phone and I was about this close to calling the police, but I held out hope that you would be like your brother and come back no later than midnight or one at the very latest!" My gaze was now on the floor. Then she grabbed my chin and harshly jerked it up to look at her.
"I'm talking to you young man! What would I have done if you didn't come back? Huh?! You know how dangerous New York is at night; especially for young kids like you! What was your plan, huh?! Just run off with no money or food to survive?! Mr. Hamato was terrified when he couldn't find you!"
"He was?" I asked looking up at her at last.
"Of course he was! He was the one who chased after you. I couldn't leave the kids behind so I had to quickly get everyone situated in the car, and then drive to your normal spots to look for you. I finally made him go home after six, but I promised to call him as soon as we…Donatello, crying isn't going to get you out of how much trouble you're in!"
"I don't care!" I snapped.
"Shhhh! There's no need to wake up the whole house," she stated.
"Why?! It's all Sophie's fault! Everything was perfect between us! He never had to know I was a hopeless foster kid!" I said crying now.
"Don, there's no way he wouldn't have eventually found out. We've had this conversation before. There's nothing wrong with being a foster child and that information didn't stop Mr. Yoshi from looking everywhere for you. I feel like a master of ninjutsu would have found you sooner if he knew the city a little better," Ms. Adams said.
"But it's all over now," I sobbed.
"What is?"
"Everything! Not once did Mr. Yoshi judge me or feel sorry for me because of my situation. Yeah, he and Murakami-san were curious about me, but that didn't distract us from just talking and having a great time with each other. He inspired me and taught me all about his country and culture. For a short time, he made me forget about the others and how I'm an orphan. How can we continue to have a relationship if he knows that I'm a foster kid waiting to be adopted? He'll be too scared to talk to me or feel nothing but sadness for me now," I explained.
"Is that all you and the other foster children I've raised both past and present are? Donatello Laird, the foster kid? Stella and Sophie Marble: the twin foster girls waiting for their mom to get out of jail, and into rehab? No. You and Mr. Hamato didn't connect because you were a foster kid. You did because you're a kind, intelligent, and committed person who wants to do everything in his power to fix or help someone with a problem; who also just so happens to be involved with New York City's Social Services. You were the clever one who went back and tried to find Mr. Hamato to ask why he decided to save you from those muggers. I've only formally met him in person once, but his whole face lights up when he sees you or is around you. I don't know what that poor man has been through, but the bags under his eyes and wrinkles tells me it traumatized him. I agree that you didn't have to tell him that little secret of yours right away, but he likes you because of who you are and the commonality you have about helping those in need; not the circumstances that you just happen to be involved with."
"But our relationship will never be the same again," I said.
"True, but that's why we have to learn to work around it. I doubt Mr. Hamato and Mr. Murakami would throw away all that you've done with them over being a child in a group home."
"I don't think so," I said downheartedly. "Look, I'm exhausted. Can I just go to bed already?"
"Not quite. You're grounded for a week for scaring me half to death which means no phone, T.V, robotics, and extra chores," she said. "Go get some rest," she continued with a big, phony smile. I didn't respond, and then went past her quietly into my room. Without changing my clothes, I plopped down on the bed and went to sleep just as a few stray tears rolled down my face.
One week later
After a week of forced labor, I was finally given my toolbox back and my pride and joy; Metalhead. This was my robot that I was required to build for my summer project for school. After a quick thanks from Ms. Adams, I took my stuff upstairs and continued tinkering with his head which is all I managed to do so far. Normally, I liked it when I had music on, but today I just felt like listening to the sounds of angry drivers beeping or trucks going by the house. Probably 45 minutes after I had started, I heard the back door open up and gently close. The person didn't immediately move or speak and I felt my heart stop. It couldn't of been anyone that lived in the apartment as they would have immediately spoken up. At this, I froze only for a moment before continuing with tightening the screw I was working on. Then they slowly started to walk towards me. I saw the person's shadow stop right in front of me before he sat down near me and I looked away from him.
"Hello, Donatello," he said, but I continued working on my robot not giving him the slightest glance.
"Look, I don't want or need your sympathy, so if that's why you're here then you might as well leave," I hissed, and instantly felt guilt.
"Good, because I wasn't going to give it," he said, but I still refused to acknowledge him. "I came here to ask why you stopped coming to visit." My eyes went wide, and I stopped working on Metalhead and slowly turned to look at Mr. Yoshi with a raised eyebrow.
"Donatello, do you think that everything that we've done together is because of pity?" It was then that I felt my cheeks grow warmer. "I see. Then forgive me, but you must admit that it took a lot of effort on my part to keep up feeling sorry for you; from letting you sit with me every morning and discussing my home country, to the manual labor that we did for Murakami-san, and even assisting you with your Japanese. And all for the sake of feeling sorry for a child who happens to be in foster care which I already knew about." I meanwhile squeezed my lips together, and tried to focus back on my robot.
"How long have you known?" I asked.
"Since the day we met. Remember why I followed you home from the park that day? Just because I saved you from those muggers didn't mean that I wasn't going to give up on my quest," he stated. I froze.
"So…you followed me all the way home?" I asked.
"I did. I apologize for it, but I was worried about you. You looked at me for only a moment, but I saw sorrow and pain in your eyes; similar to my own," he said slowly.
"You?" I questioned. It was then that he nodded.
"I have been living with this guilt for months, but somehow, both you Murakami-San have taken away some of that pain." It was then that Mr. Yoshi reached into his back pocket and pulled out a photograph. It was Mr. Yoshi with his arm around a woman with long black hair and gentle blue eyes smiling. "This was my wife, Tang-Shen," he stated.
"Was?"
"Yes. Remember when I told you about leaving my family behind in Japan? That wasn't entirely true. The truth is that my brother and I got into an argument that led to us fighting. We both lost our tempers and fought. Somehow, our fighting caused the Hamato Dojo to catch on fire. I begged my brother to stop, but he wouldn't listen. Then…..Shen…"
"You don't have to Mr. Yoshi," I said looking in his misty eyes.
"I was dazed and my brother jumped to finish me. But Shen…she tried to protect me, and…was struck in my place," he finally said. I saw a lone tear roll down his face. I felt my heart racing and seeing his grief hurt me.
"I'm so sorry," I said with a big lump in my throat.
"Shen had always dreamed that we would move to the United States together and raise a family. But I was too focused on continuing the Hamato tradition. Why didn't I listen to you, Shen?" he cried. His eyes were now closed with his head bent down. I felt tears start to form in my own eyes. That's when, I reached out and touched his wrist in comfort.
"I had no idea," I said. He opened his eyes and looked over at me. Then, he gave a soft smile. "Wait, that's why you look like you haven't slept in weeks!" I announced, letting my own tears fall.
"Because I haven't. My anger and eagerness to continue the tradition of the Hamato clan without regarding Shen the way I should have is what got her…killed. I often wonder, what she would have accomplished in life if she never met me. She would have had everything she could have ever wanted; something she deserved. She was the kindest and most beautiful person I had ever met."
"You sound like you loved her a lot," I said.
"I loved her more than my own life. If I was given the chance to trade her life for mine, I would with no hesitation," he said. More tears started to roll down my face, and I turned my head away from him while taking away my hand. That's when, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I wanted so much to look back at him, but my broken heart forced me not to. Yet, he still kept his hand on my shoulder. "Yet, since the day we met, you have somehow given my life meaning again. Your intelligence and curiosity and the spark you have when you manage to say a new sentence in Japanese makes me think that my life without Shen is not as awful." I still refused to look at him. Then I heard Mr. Yoshi sigh and put his photograph away. "I understand if you don't want to speak to me again, however there is one thing that must happen before you are able to do that." Then I saw some movement from the corner of my eye. I at last looked over at him again, and saw that Mr. Yoshi held two tickets in his hand.
"I seem to recall you promised to take me to a certain Statue of Liberty. A promise is one of the most powerful things that you give to a person. If it is broken, it is not so easily gained back," he told me.
I hesitated for a good minute, and then I gave him a smile.
Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break
Mr. Yoshi and I with our cameras/phones packed waved goodbye to Ms. Adams and we walked to the subway that would take us to downtown Manhattan. This time, I was the one doing all the talking surprisingly.
"…and this is Ellis Island where our first stop will be. I think if I remember right it should take us at least an hour to do that, and then we'll board the ferry again to take us to Liberty Island also known as Bedloe's Island but no one ever remembers that. That will give us enough time to maybe grab a quick snack before our appointment time for the crown. Then we can walk around, quickly go to the museum, or just head back and grab some real food. We'll see how much time there is left but I guess no tour would be complete without seeing Times Square or Rockefeller."
"Or we could just do whatever we want to do without worrying about planning our day. The only thinking required was the tickets that we already have," Mr. Yoshi said. "You are required to also enjoy yourself today or I will consider your promise to me unfulfilled."
"Aw come on! What good is a tour guide if…"
"Yes, you are considered my expert on the city, but I refuse to let you not enjoy yourself; otherwise I won't enjoy myself," he warned. I squeezed my lips together, and then allowed the tension on my face to relax.
"Hai, Mr. Yoshi," I said.
"Good," he said, giving me a smile which I returned.
At last, we arrived at our stop and got off and walked to Battery Park where Statue City Cruses was. The line was long even for the very first tour of the day, but it wouldn't be as bad as later in the day. We were in line for about forty-five minutes before we finally boarded the boat named The Miss New York Diva. As soon as we boarded, we immediately headed towards the top deck and took our seats all the way to the right. Soon after, she pulled away from the dock and we were off.
"There she is!" I said, pointing out to the distance. Mr. Yoshi and I stood up and leaned over the railing. "That castle fortress-looking' thing is Ellis Island."
"Then that is our first stop," he said. When the boat docked, we went inside and did our tour of Ellis Island.
One hour later
"That was so cool. Man, I love history," I said dreamily. "I can't believe that some of the physical exams that were done were only like six seconds. I mean how does one even do that? You can't just look at someone and then give a diagnosis!"
"Yes, I found that interesting myself," Mr. Yoshi said.
"What did you have to do to come here Mr. Yoshi?" I asked.
"A lot of paperwork, an interview with the U.S embassy in Japan, and a lot of patients. I did not know if I would ever get here, but it was definitely worth it. I even started looking for a job recently. I'm ready to get back on my feet," he said.
"Anyone would have to be crazy to not hire you," I said. "Oh, look. The boat's here. Let's head over there. Our appointment with the statue is in 45 minutes and we can't miss it."
"Very well. Are you hungry yet?" he asked.
"A little bit but I don't think we'll find anything good here besides snacks. I think I saw a little snack store on the boat. We can eat something to hold us over and then eat some real food once we get back to New York," I suggested.
"Lead the way," he said.
"Wait, are you having a good time?" I asked stopping dead in my tracks.
"Are you?" he asked.
"I'm having a really run time, Mr. Yoshi," I said.
"Then so am I," he said. I chuckled, and both of us walked over to the boat.
Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break
"Whose idea was it to build so many steps?!" I said out of breath. Mr. Yoshi and I had made it inside the statue, and were now climbing up the 162 steps. "And why are they so small?"
"Come on, Donatello. We must be close," Mr. Yoshi said behind me.
"Ugh! We'll never make it up," I said. I went up a few more steps using mostly the railing, when I saw sunlight. I gasped and walked up the last few steps and saw the beautiful sight of the Hudson River.
"Mr. Yoshi, you gotta look at this!" I said in awe. Mr. Yoshi came up to join me and we saw a bunch of tiny windows at an arch held together by black steel. If you looked through the window, you saw a long dock that looked to be about the size of my finger. From there, it was just miles and miles of blue with about four or five boats gliding through it. In the distance you could see the traces of my home; our home. Skyscrapers that looked so big when we left didn't seem as big, but you could still see them from the island we were on.
"Wow," I whispered.
"Beautiful," Mr. Yoshi said.
"Those steps were a pain to climb, but it was worth the struggle," I muttered.
"Life is not about the destination itself, but the journey. Only then, will your arrival at the destination be more meaningful." Both of us stared out as if the water and distance city hypnotized us. It wasn't until we heard someone laugh hysterically that both of us snapped out of our trance.
"We need to save this moment reaching the destination," I said pulling out my phone. I went in front of the window and started to line up my shot. "Come on, Mr. Yoshi," I said. He walked over to me on the other side of the window I was at. "Okay, and…" I muttered. Both of us smiled and I took the shot of us with NYC and the Hudson behind us. "Got it!"
"You guys want a picture?" a woman behind us asked.
"Why not?" I said handing them my phone. This time, Mr. Yoshi and I got closer towards each other. He put his hand on my shoulder again and both of us smiled as the pictures were taken.
"There you go," the woman said handing me back my phone.
"Thanks a lot," I said.
"Yes, we appreciate it," Mr. Yoshi said.
"No problem," she said. After triple checking that the pictures were good and getting stuffy, the two of us made our way back down the 162 steps.
"Why does coming down seem scarier than going up?" I asked. Mr. Yoshi laughed.
"I will admit, it is a little tight in here," he said.
"At least it's a little easier coming down then going up," I commented.
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"Well, now that we're back, I know just what we should do now," I said.
"What is it?" Mr. Yoshi asked.
"It's a surprise," I said. We waited at a crosswalk for a minute before the signal told us it was safe to walk across the street. "We don't have a whole lot of time left, but I there's one place that I want to show you. We can see the rest of the sights of New York another day, but can't wait to show you around," I continued and started walking backwards in front of him. "…and I mean the real sights of New York. Times Square and Central Park are fine and all, but you've seen them once you've seen it enough; especially if you live here and have to worry about thousands and thousands of tourists. N-not that tourists are a bad thing, but…"
All of a sudden, we heard some loud honking that caused me to stop. It was then that I saw a speeding car driving up the shoulder lane and showed no signs of stopping. And it was headed straight towards me!
"DONATELLO!" Mr. Yoshi screamed. He grabbed me and pulled me against his chest protectively. The car sped by and ran the red light with more honking horns with other people cursing at the driver. Afterwards, I saw a bright flash of a camera going off.
"Are you alright?!" Mr. Yoshi and a few others asked me. Mr. Yoshi and I locked eyes for only a second, before the two of us instantly started nervous laughing.
"And that's one reason why I sometimes can't stand living in this place!" I said. Mr. Yoshi laughed once again, and then let go of me so we could continue crossing the street.
Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break*Break
Raphael
Mikey and I had managed to find another alleyway full of homeless people and had no trouble fitting in with them. I left him fast asleep, while I quickly went to search for food. True it was broad daylight, but we'd been traveling for I think a week at this point and hadn't eaten for almost two. Mikey had been complaining about his stomach hurting for most of the way. We had finally managed to make it to Greenwich Village and would make it to Chelsea later that night. Then Donnie would be ours, and we could finally get out of this city for good. I was searching around, when I heard a familiar laugh nearby. By instinct, I looked over at where the laugh came from, but what I saw made me do a double take. I couldn't believe it!
Across the street despite the speeding cars, was Donnie looking to cross over right where I was! This was perfect! Finally, we could talk about our plan and he could go with us upstate. I ran forward and ducked behind a stairwell to a house where I could grab him when he came. I waited patiently for the damn light to turn red since I knew Donnie wouldn't break the rules and cross in the middle of traffic like a lot of other people were doing. Finally, the cars had stopped and the light was now red with the walk signal now displayed. Donnie was the first person in the crowd to step into the street and start walking, but that's when I saw an Asian man tagging along close with him. I've never seen that man before in my life. Donnie turned around and started walking backwards facing him.
"I can't wait to show you around Mr. Yoshi. And I mean the real sights of New York. Times Square and Central Park are fine and all, but you've seen them once you've seen it enough; especially if you live here and have to worry about thousands and thousands of tourists. N-not that tourists are a bad thing, but…" he said.
All of a sudden, a speeding car drove up the shoulder lane and showed no signs of stopping for the walkers; including Donnie.
"DONATELLO!" the man yelled before I could scream it too. Donnie stopped in shock at the man's harsh tone. All of a sudden, the Asian man grabbed my brother's arm and pulled him against his chest protectively. The car sped by, barely missing Donnie and various shouts and angry car horns blasted the car that was now speeding towards the next intersection only to be stopped by traffic. I saw a flash go off from the stop light, but I was mainly focused on Donnie. He was panting, but otherwise unharmed.
"Are you alright?!" The man asked. Then, he looked at Donnie, and the two nervously started to laugh.
"And that's one reason why I sometimes can't stand living in this place," he said. The man laughed louder at his comment and released his hold on Donnie. After reassuring some of the other walkers that he was alright, the two continued to cross the street. With that, I put up my hood and started following them with my hands in my pocket, but I kept my face down as much as I could.
"…There was this one time when we were leaving the grocery store, and some girl flipped Ms. Adams off for no reason. Then I swear, she put the car in park, jumped out of the van, and confronted her in the middle of the street! This girl was white as a ghost and even tried to play dumb. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen Ms. Adams do," Donnie said as the man chuckled.
"Anger can do strange things to a person," the man said, and I saw him bow his head.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't meaning to make you think of them; especially her," Don said.
"Fear not. I miss Shen more than anything, but my journey here to honor her memory led me to meeting you," the man said.
'No,' I thought as my heart skipped a beat.
"I think she would have wanted you to be happy again," Don exclaimed.
"Perhaps."
It was then that Donnie grabbed the man's hand. "Come on, Mr. Yoshi!" he said, and the two ran off together for a moment. Pure horror was going through me as I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Now then, where is our first stop?"
"I told you, it's a surprise!" he said. The rest became muffled as I watched them ran off smiling and laughing away. People meanwhile walked past not caring about me in the slightest as I felt my heart shatter.
Uh oh! Raphie found out about Mr. Yoshi. I originally wasn't going to add Raph's part to this chapter, but since it would just be replaying it from Raph's perspective, I decided just to do it. There will be more Raph in the next chapter. Hope everyone is doing okay and if not, I hope this update might cheer you up even just a little. (I mean it's been half a year already.)
Thanks for all the support,
LaurenHardy13