12. He's A Protector

Raph yawned as he made his way to Yuki's room. Much to his surprise, she wasn't there. He dashed away from there and out into the training area, that's when he heard someone in the kitchen. "Yuki?"

"Hey, Raph!" Yuki looked over her shoulder and gave him a big, healthy smile. She and Mikey were cooking breakfast. "Pancakes ok?"

"You shouldn't be up! You need to rest!" Raph rushed over to her and snatched the mix bowl and spoon away from her.

"Huh?" Yuki looked clueless at her empty hand.

"Hey! Why'd ya do that for?" Mikey whined. "She's making breakfast!"

"You dipstick!" Raph whacked him on the head with the spoon. "She's needs to recover! Not make you breakfast!"

"But, Raph, I'm fine." Raph looked at her. "Really. I'm just so sick of sitting around doing nothing."

"I don't care. I want you to take it easy." Raph swept her off her feet and left the kitchen.

"What about my pancakes?" Mikey whined.

"You are going to take it easy until you are back to a hundred percent." Raph ordered as he carried her over to the couch. "Now, you sit there. I'll make you breakfast."

"Hm." Yuki crossed her arms and pouted.

"Now, that's not going to work this time." Raph tapped her nose. "So, stop that. You know I'm only doing this because I care about you."

"Yea….I know. Alright."

"Good, girl." Raph kissed her cheek then headed back to the kitchen.

"He's such a worry wart." Yuki snorted.

"Heehee…" Splinter chuckled. Yuki smiled at him then noticed Leo watching her. She looked at him. It's ok, Leo. Everything will be just fine.

I know but…Yuki…I know you're hiding something from me.

"Uh…." Yuki started in disbelief. That gave Leo enough to confirm what he thought. She was hiding something from him. Why don't you tell me what it is?

It's nothing you have to worry about.

Yeah right! Since when does anything having to do with you or us has never been something to worry about?

Well…you do have a point there. Yuki raised an eyebrow. They were Grand Central Space Station for stuff happening.

Will you at least tell me what that monster was?

It is what it is. It is me and I am it.

That doesn't make any since.

I know but that's what it is. It's like… Splinter watched quietly as his two children were making face gestures as if they were speaking with their words. He then remember Leo asking him about someone being able to read each others minds. He figured that's what they were doing and closed his eyes. …well I guess the easiest way to explain it is to say that that creature is like my magic twin. He's always been with me. Ever since my birth.

I think I understand. Can he enter into the real world?

I'm not sure. I never asked him. It might be possible if I opened the right portal.

And if he does enter into this world?

Nothing. He's like you guys. He's here to protect me.

Alright then.

"This isn't a good idea." Leo said as he tugged the collar of his disguise up higher.

"Relax, Leo." Raph replied. "We've been cooped up in that lair for almost two months. We need a break."

"I still don't think this is a good idea." Leo said as he scanned the area of the mall they were in.

"Relax, Aniki. We'll be fine here. There's too many people for even my father to cause a scene." Yuki looped her arm with his.

"But not the Foot." Leo continued on.

"Hey, there's April!" Mikey pointed at their friend waving to them.

"What's she doing here?" Don asked.

"I asked her to come." They all looked at Raph. "She's gonna help me with some shopping I need to do."

"Ooooo." Don and Mikey cooed. Yuki awkwardly looked around as Raph shook his head.

"Shut up! It's just a present for Yuki's birthday." Raph replied as he released Yuki's hand and headed over to April. "Leo, keep an eye on Yuki for me?"

"Sure."

"Meet you at the food court later." A few hours later the group gathered at the food court then headed home.

"So, whatcha get Yuki?" Mikey asked.

"None of your business." Raph replied.

"Come on. Give us a little hint." Mikey probed.

"Not gonna happen." Raph crossed his arms.

"Give a little help here, Yuki." Mikey said.

"Sorry." Yuki shrugged. The teens blissfully chatted as they headed back to the lair. None of them aware they were being followed by an unsuspecting being. They entered into the lair with it still following and the alarms went off. They all stood ready and looked around.

"Donny, what's going on?" Leo asked.

"Don't know. I can't find anything." Don replied as he typed on his computer.

"Fan out! Find this intruder!" Leo ordered.

"Yuki, stay close." Raph said. They began to look around. Suddenly something buzzed in front of Mikey. He swung his weapon at it.

"There!" Mikey cried as he dove for the blur.

"I got it!" Raph leaped at the blur as it buzzed by him. Don and Leo charged at the thing. None of them could even come close to catching the thing. It spun around the lair so fast that they all were now crashed on the floor. The blur flew over to Yuki.

"Huh?" Yuki looked at the small buzzing thing in front of her face. "Chip?"

"What the heck is that thing?" Raph asked as they gathered over by her. They all looked at the mechanical humming bird.

"This is Chip. My ma gave him to me when I was five. He allowed me access into the factory under our house." Yuki explained as she held up her index finger for Chip to land on.

"Factory?" Don asked.

"Yeah. My father's factory for all his robot inventions." Yuki replied.

"You mean that factory where all those robot toys were built is under your house?" Mikey asked.

"Yes. Do you know how much money there is in all that high tech equipment? You didn't think that my father would just leave it in some other building for anyone and his uncle could walk in and rob the place?" Yuki shrugged. "He might be the worlds biggest jerk at times but when it comes to his business he doesn't mess around."

"Then why hasn't he made anymore toys in the past year?" Don asked.

"Uh…." Yuki raised an eyebrow. "I'm not sure."

"So, where have you been hiding this mechanical cutie?" Mikey asked wagging his finger at the bird. "Ain't you a cutie bird? Yes you are!"

Chip poked his beak at Mikey's finger. "Yow!"

"Heehee." They turned to chuckles from Splinter.

"What's so funny?" Mikey whined.

"Just thinking, my four brave TMNTs got their shells kicked by a tiny mechanical hummingbird." Yuki snickered and soon was joined by the rest of them in a good laugh. Later that night everyone was sound asleep. Yuki was sure that Chip was no threat so they allow him to stay. But now in her room there is a small red light flashing on Chip.

"Are you finally going to bring me the girl?" Shredder asked with a seriously impatient tone.

"Absolutely." He smiled as he held up a tracker with a red light flashing on it.

"Happy Thirteenth Birthday, Yuki!" Everyone yelled. The guys, including April and Casey, all gathered for Yuki's birthday. They chatted happily until it was time for her to open presents.

"Here! Here! Here! Mine first! Mine FIRST!" Mikey shoved her his present. She unwrapped it. He gave her a new video game, Don gave her a Japanese learning CD so she could learn more about her culture, Leo got her two katanas so they could train in more tense form, Splinter gave her a beautiful light changing picture frame with a group photo in it, Casey got her some nail polish and April bought her a baby blue mini dress with matching choker and shoes.

"Thanks guys. They're all wonderful gifts." Yuki hugged them all.

"Come on, Raphie! It's your turn!" Mikey sang.

"Shut up! I'll give it to her when I want too!" Raph snapped. He'd been a bit nervous all day. April gave Yuki a small clue to what Raph had gotten her. She said it was something that would always keep them connected no matter how far apart they might end up.

Raph waited until the party died down a little before pulling Yuki away from the group. "What's up, Raph?"

"I….I wanted…..to….I….wanted to…"

"Raph?"

"Here!" Raph shoved a small black box with a red ribbon tied around it into her hands. Yuki looked at the small box then up at Raph. He was even more nervous now. She opened it. Her eyes widened at it contents. "Raph?"

Inside the small box was a beautiful silver ring with a baby blue star crystal on top with smaller dark blue crystal stars going all the way around the ring. "It's a…uh….it's a pro….promise ring."

"A promise ring?"

"Yeah," Raph scratched his head. "I want you to know that…..no matter what happens, no matter where our relationship may go, no matter where we may end up, I will always be there for you. I….love you."

"Raph…..I love you too." Yuki smiled. Raph took the ring and placed it on her left ring finger. Yuki then through her arms around him and they stood there embracing each other. The others watched and nodded.

Suddenly the elevator door was blasted open. Several cans were thrown into the room.

"Guys! Get to…." Was all Leo said before they all blacked out.