7. Matters of His Heart

"Watcha doing?" Yuki asked leaning over Raph's shoulder. He and Casey were hunkered over their bikes doing repair jobs, something Yuki found them doing often when they hung out for their guy time.

"Uh…just….just working." Raph said not looking at her.

"Fixing up our bikes." Casey said.

"You two do that a lot." Yuki replied.

"Gotta keep'em runnin well just like our butt kicking ninja bodies." Casey chuckled. "Right, Raph?"

"Uh huh…." Casey blinked at his friend.

"You two really care for your bikes, huh?" Yuki reached over Raph's shoulder, bringing her face right next to his, and places her hand on his bike. Raph blushed bright red. "They're, like, your friends."

"I never thought of it that way." Casey rubbed his chin. "They are like our friends. We look after them like the people we care for the most."

"Uh…." Raph's eyes widened. "They are like our friends. We look after them like the people we care for the most." Yuki laid her head on his chest. Then she whispered low, without knowing it. "I love you, Raphael."

"Do you need some help?" Yuki asked picking up a wrench and waving it.

"Sur…"

"No. We're fine." Raph suddenly said a bit louder than normal talking but not quiet yelling.

"Huh?" The two looked at him.

"Oh." Yuki put the wrench down, stood up and walked away. "Ok then."

Casey watched her go back to the lair then turned and gave Raph, who was back working on his bike, a confused look. "Dude, what was that about?"

"What was what about?"

"You know what I'm talking about. You've been acting really cold towards Yuki since you got back from Usagi's dimension."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Come on, Raph. I know you. I know how you treat Yuki. Something happened, did it?"

"Hn." Raph twitched.

"Will you tell me why you are acting like this? You care for her don't you?"

"Care for her…." Raph repeated in a low voice. "I care for her. That's the problem."

"Huh?"

Donny was busy working on his computer, Mikey was playing a video game and Leo was practicing with his swords when Yuki came rushing through the lair at a fast pace walk. Leo lowered his swords and smiled at her. "Hey, Yuki, what's…"

He noticed a hurt look in her eyes as she rushed passed him and into the kitchen. "Yuki?"

He tried to enter her thoughts but she was blocking him out. Leo took a look at Don and Mikey, they didn't notice she came in, he put up his swords then followed her into the kitchen. When he got there she was moving around it in a bit of a huff trying to make some cookies. "Yuki? You ok?"

"Fine." Yuki practically snapped. Leo knew she wasn't fine and not just because of the fumbling around with the cookie supplies. She kept dropping things, grabbing the wrong ingredients and blocking her thoughts until Leo grabbed her hands, forcing her to look at him.

"Yuki…what's wrong?"

"Why? Why is he…he's never….but now…."

"It's Raph, isn't it?" Yuki nodded.

"He's changed. He's became so….distant….so cold….he won't talk to me."

"Yeah. I've noticed that too."

"Why?" Tear began to stream down her face. She leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his chest. "Why he is pushing me away?"

"I don't know." Leo placed one hand on her back and stroked her hair with his other. But I'm gonna find out. "Don't worry, Yuki. I'll go talk to him."

Yuki looked up at him and her thoughts opened back up to him. Leo smiled gently as he sensed what happened between her and Raph. "You go on and play with Mikey."

Leo lead her out of the kitchen then gave her a gentle shove towards Mikey. Yuki looked back at him, he waved and smiled. She gave him a small smile then went over to Mikey. "Hey, kid."

"Hey." Yuki sat down beside the playful ninja. Leo watched her for a couple more seconds then went to Raph.

"Oh Raph." Leo hear Casey say as he came upon them. They both looked at Leo when they noticed him stomping up to them. Leo placed his hands on his hips and glared at his brother.

"You are the worlds big idiot!" Leo practically screamed.

"Leo I…."

"No excuses, Raph! How dare you make Yuki cry?"

"She was crying?" Raph asked.

"She cares about you more than anything in the world! Why are you being such a cold heart jerk to her all of a sudden? You owe Yuki an explanation of why you are a shell for brains, hot headed, egotistic jerk!" Leo continued to rant.

"Hey, Leo…" Casey tried to tell him something.

"Not now, Casey. Raph has some explaining to do. If not to me then to Yuki. You care about her, right? You need to talk to her, Raph!"

"I know, Leo. And that's what I'm gonna do. I can't keep running from the truth."

"And one more thing, Raph….huh?" Raph rushed passed Leo. "Where's he going?"

"To make things right with Yuki." Casey said putting his arm around Leo's shoulders and leading him back to the lair.

"To make things right?"

"That's right. He finally realized his true feelings."

"True feelings?"

"Yup. You know how he feels, right? About Yuki?"

"Yeah…."

Yuki had pulled her feet up on the couch hugging her knees and watching Mikey play his space game when Raph's shadow fell over her. The two looked up at him. Mikey was the first to speak. "Hey, Raph. You wanna play?"

"Not now, Mikey." Raph replied then turned to Yuki. He rubbed the back of his head. "Yuki…um….can we….talk or something?"

"You wanna talk?" Yuki asked. "That's a switch."

"Uh yeah…." Raph held out his hand. "Will you, please, just come with me?"

Yuki looked at his held out hand then up at Leo, who just walked up to them. Leo smiled and nodded to her. She sighed then placed her hand in his. "Ok."

Raph gently pulled her off the couch and the two headed for the door.

"Going out, my children?" Splinter asked as the two teens walked towards him.

"Yea." Raph rushed passed him without an explanation.

"Hold on a second." Splinter called.

"It's ok, sensei." Leo said walking up to him.

"Raph just has something he needs to tell Yuki." Casey added.

"I see." Splinter nodded then smiled.

Raph and Yuki stood about eight feet apart on top of a roof. Raph was in such a hurry to talk to Yuki but now….he couldn't find the words. "Raph?"

"Yes?"

"Why?"

"Uh…."

"Why are you pushing me away?"

"Un…."

"Please! Answer me!" Tear began to stream down her cheeks again. She grabbed her star necklace. "Raph, you mean more to me than anything or anyone else in the world. You were the first to accept me for who I am. You never turned away from me because of my powers. So please….."

Yuki dropped to the ground. "Please don't…..don't turn away from me."

"Oh Yuki…." Raph rushed over to her and put his arms around her. "Please don't cry. It…hurts me to much to see you cry."

"Then why? Why are you making me cry?"

"I'm sorry, Yuki. I didn't mean to hurt you." Raph stroked her hair. "It's just that…well….you scare me."

"Huh?" Yuki looked up at him. "I scare you?"

Raph nodded. "I am so afraid that you might get hurt or someone might take you away from me. But what scared me the most was…..when we were back at Usagi's home. When you were drifting off to sleep…you said that you….that you love me."

"I did?" Yuki asked and he nodded.

"The truth is….I…well I….I love you too."

"You do?"

"Yes. I was just….so scared to tell you that because….well because…."

"You're a mutant turtle?" Raph nodded. "To be honest….I was scared of that too. But no matter how much I tried I couldn't get you out of my mind. I guess when you're in love it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from. You just fall in love with that person."

"I guess so." Raph placed his hand on her face. "Yuki, I promise never to hurt you again. Will you….stay by my side?"

Fresh tears began to stream down her face again. She smiled and nodded. "Of course, Raphie. I will always stay by your side."

Yuki threw her arms around Raph. "I love you, Raph!"

"I love you too, Yuki." Raph hugged her back.

"I wonder if I should go after them." Leo said pacing around the lair.

"Chill out, Leo." Casey said. "You worry like a mother hen."

"I can't help it." Leo protested.

"Where did those two go anyway?" Don asked.

"Raph had something important to tell Yuki." Casey replied.

"You mean he's gonna tell her he loves her?" Mikey asked.

"You bet." Casey nodded.

"You bone head. Can't you ever keep your mouth shut?" Raph asked. The group looked up to see Raph and Yuki had return and were holding hands.

"What? Everyone knows you two have feelings for each other. It's not like it was a big secret." Casey replied.

"Geesh!" Raph smacked his face with his free hand. "I'm I really that readable?"

"Like a cheesy love novel, bro." Mikey laughed.

"You little!" Raph started to dive for his youngest brother when a glowing see through energy hand smack Mikey. "Huh?"

"Ouch!" Mikey whined and rubbed his head. "Yuki! Why did you do that?"

"Felt like it." Yuki replied.

"That's my girl." Raph put his arm around her.

"So does this mean you two are finally a couple?" Don asked.

"Uh….yeah…." Raph blushed and scratched his head. Yuki chuckled at how cute he looked. Don and Mikey busted up laughing at their older so called tough guy brother blushing.

"Who knew Raph would be such a lovey dovey softy?" Mikey laughed.

"You little…." Raph snarled then turned to Yuki. "May I?"

Yuki just shrugged. Raph turned back to the two laughing and tackled them. She smiled and shook her head. Boys, watcha gonna do? She sensed Leo staring at her and turned to him. Leo smiled. Way to go, Baby Girl. You sure melted his tough guy exterior.

I often heard a woman could do that, Aniki. But he'll still always be there to knock Mikey down a peg or two.

That's true.