Ch 5 Don listened to the music coming softly from the kitchen. Mike’s voice overpowered the radio. I wish I could fly from this building from this wall, and if I should try would you catch me if I fall…when I fall…. Don didn’t get into music as much as the others. It always seemed that either Mike or Raph had the radio on. Leo usually had it on once in a while tuned onto some classic rock station. But Don found himself mouthing the Bare Naked Ladies song along with Mike as he typed looking for information on their problem. Don could here a subway train rumbling in the distance. Then the song changed… Hello City…..You’ve found an enemy in me. Mike had only been back for a few minutes and had found sanctuary from the strange essence that lurked in the lair by being in the kitchen cooking and the CD. Mike had a cup of flour ready to pour when he heard Leo walk in. “Hey.” “Hey, yourself. Where’ve you been.” “Around.” “Ya?” “Mm-hm, you?” “Same.” “Oh. Ok.” ‘That was a real honest conversation,’ they both thought at the same time. Leonardo had actually been at the restaurant for more than an hour, talking to Tess. It was rare that Leo ever really let anyone in that much. For once, he jabbered on not caring what he looked like or whether or not the other person was going to lose respect for him because of the things he said and did. Because of this, soon Tess was laughing and going on just about as fast as he was. Leo forgot all about what time it was and soon Chu was coming back from the front to say that restaurant was open. “Oops.” (Leo had actually said oops!) was the only response he could think of and Tess had invited him over to begin on her lessons right away since she was done for the day. Leo said he would have to go home and check on things, but would give her a call. With that, Leo left. Leo walked to his room and stared at the phone number. Heh. Some girl gave me her number. Then he felt bad for thinking like that. It doesn’t hurt to make another friend though, Leo thought. He went to the living room glad no one else was in there and picked up the phone noticing that Mike still had that CD still in the player… When I was born, they looked at me and said what a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy…… He picked up the receiver and swallowed as the phone began to ring. Leo rationalized this the best he could. Splinter still wanted to be alone. And no one here really needed him so why not leave…. He would be doing Tess a favor. So her purse wouldn’t get snatched any more or worse. That would be real bad. Yeah, I’m doing her a big favor. Yeah. “Hello?” Ohmigod. She picked up the phone. “Hey. It’s me. Do you still want me to come over today?” “Hey! Yeah. That would be cool. How’s your home situation?” “No change.” “Aww. Sorry.” “Don’t worry about it. So, when do you want me to come over?” “How bout now….I just put some hamburger helper on if you want to grab a bite.” “Really, you eat healthy Tess…” She laughed. “I try. Come on over. I made the whole box.” “Ok you talked me into it.” “Sweet.” “Give me a half hour.” “Ok” “Bye.” “Later.” The song was still on when Leo hung up. I wake up scared, I wake up strange, and everything around me stays the same….. Raph wondered out of the bathroom, steam rolling out behind him. “Who was that?” “Some girl. She’s making me a homemade Italian dinner.” “Really, wow, Leo you are lucky.” “I know. I know. I’ll have her find you a brunette.” “Really thanks, Leo.” “No problem, Raph.” Hmph. No one ever believes the truth. Splinter walked into the living room and overheard the conversation He wasn’t really ready to deal with any of them yet so he waited for Mike to exit the kitchen before preparing himself a small sandwich. Splinter sighed. Michaelangelo had left his stereo on. He walked over to turn it off. He stopped for a moment to listen to what his son was listening to. I want them back……I want them back….. This is where we used to live….I want them back…. This is where we used to live. Splinter sighed once more as he turned it off. Hiroshi woke up as the pilot announces that within ten minutes, the metropolis would be visible. He yawned and straightened. He groaned as his back cracked. Old Bones. Too old to make this plane trip as often as he did. Uncomfortable plane seats. He noticed that his awakening had gathered the attention of a few people around him who had been talking together. “Hello” He wasn’t awake enough to make his accent less noticeable. It came through strong. “First Time to New York?” Inquired a young man with a British accent, sitting next to him. “No. I lived there for a while.” “Really? Wow. That’s interesting. This is my first time in the States.” “Oh?.” Hiroshi appeared polite. “Yes. New York has so many strange stories I decided to land there. Hey boyo, I bet you could answer me a few questions.” Hiroshi’s eyebrows lifted slightly at ‘boyo’ but he smiled and nodded. “Do you think those turtles are real? I mean the ones that were all over the TV for like a year?” Hiroshi cleared his throat slightly. “Did you say turtles?” “Yeah, walking, talking turtles.” “I am very doubtful that that could be real.” Hiroshi decided that the young man wasn’t worth talking to and turned back to the window. “No, for real! They were on a talk show in New York!” Hiroshi pushed his finger on his temple noting that next time he was going to buy the seat next to him as well. “And they knew martial arts…yeah the story goes that they were trained by a guy who used to be part of the… the…ummnnn some body part…” Hiroshi sighed. Why hadn’t the plane landed yet? “The foot clan. That’s what they said.” “Really. How interestin—wait what did you say??!!” “About what? The foot clan?”” “Yes, that” Hiroshi’s voice was urgent. The British man stared at him for a second, confused by his sudden interest. “Yeah, they were being accused of things during this show and needed to show why they knew to fight and stuff…..Ninjitsu, cool stuff. Hey I have a paper.” The young man reached up and grabbed a magazine. It was Newsweek. With a picture of walking, talking turtles on the cover. One appeared to be blinded and was being lead by a Japanese girl with short hair. There was also a familiar looking red-haired young woman walking with them. Hiroshi turned to the page and read on. The red-haired woman was April O ‘ Neil a television reporter for the New York City area. She apparently knew the creatures, but when questioned would answer only with ‘no comment’. It was the same for her camera-girl Oyuki Mamisha, who was the other girl in the picture. The article went on to tell the tale that had been told by the turtles on the talk show. Hiroshi scanned the article quicker. Ah! “…taught ninjitsu by sensei who was once member of foot clan was the explanation for the weapons, as well as their need for self defense….” Hiroshi scanned the rest of it, which asked whether or not this was a scam or did NYC truly have green heroes in its sewers? “Those stories were all over, see not only in the tabloids….The pictures look real.” The man interjected. Hiroshi examined them. “Indeed, they do.” Hiroshi remembered watching April on the Television from when he lived in NYC. He knew she looked familiar. A few other people were listening to the conversation by this time, with nothing else to entertain them as they sat. “Does anyone know if this lady still works on the television?” “Yeah, she does.” A slightly overweight man with a plain black tie commented. He looked tired and disheveled from the flight. “Interesting.” “You’re not going to try to find those turtles, are you boyo?” Hiroshi sighed. Was it not obvious to this twenty- something year old child that he was not a boy or a boyo? “Ah…no. I do not have that much time while I am in New York.” He handed the paper back to the man. April O’Neil and talking turtles. Well at least that is a start, no matter how strange it is. Hiroshi watched out the window as the clouds appeared and then disappeared as they lowered beneath them. They swung around the city, preparing to land. They didn’t leave Manhattan too often. There was really no major need too. Don sometimes would go on a ‘junk hunt’ as the others had deemed it at a local scrap yard, but for the most part, they were one- borough turtles. Leo knew enough to take an old abandoned sub-way tunnel. But then had to go above ground. There were still people walking around, but there was a lot more residential area and lounging about then Leo was used to. He followed the directions she had given him earlier, and found an older but nice looking apartment building in Brooklyn Heights. Leo took a deep breath and walked in the building. Knock. Knock. “Hello?” Tess sounded far away from the door. “Ummm…it’s Leo.” “Oh! Hey!” He heard a bunch of locks unlock and the door swung open. “How’s it going?” “Good, you?” “Fine.” “That’s good.” “Yeah” Then came that smile and nod thing followed by an uncomfortable silence. “So…” “So…..” “Hungry? Just got finished.” “Sure. Smell’s good.” They sat down. She poured him a bowl. Thinking of that album Mike had been listening to all day, Leo smiled. “If I had a million dollars, we wouldn’t have to eat Kraft dinner.” Tess smiled. “But we would…..and Leo this is hamburger helper, not Kraft dinner.” “Oh, sorry. My bad. I like the generic stuff.” “Really?” “Yeah you know like ‘just as good as real’ Mac and cheese. Stuff like that.” Tess laughed and a chunk of Hamburger flew out her mouth. Leo laughed. “Now, that was nasty!” She hid her face in her hands. “Oh, no” That only made Leo laugh harder. Tess looked up. “Hey! It’s one!” “So?” She grabbed the remote. Flipped it to some channel. “What are you putting on?” The TV answered the question. “Like Sands in the Hour Glass, so Are the Days of our Lives.” It was Leo’s turn to say “Oh, no” “Do you watch?” “Heh. No.” “It’s great to digest to. Hey you like cheesecake? There’s some in here.” “Mm. Yeah. That sounds good actually.” “Cool.” They never actually got around to practice. The cheesecake was really good, and Tess felt the need to explain everything about Stefano DiMera and everyone else on that horrible show. After it ended, he looked at her CD collection flipping something on, taking another thing off and just talking. Leo glanced at his watch. “Four! Oh geez I’ve been gone for about four hours! Oh no! They are going to…” He looked at Tess to see her giggling. “Busted.” “No I’ll just think of something really good. I really have to take off. The food was real good. We’ll actually get around to doing something next time, I promise.” She smiled. “That’s ok.” “Ok, then. Sorry. Bye. See you at work.” And with that he was gone. And Tess laughed at herself again, because in the huge city of New York, the most interesting guy she could find was a turtle. Hiroshi ignored the constant announcements going on in the background as he listened to the operator. “1324 W. 67th? Apartment 72? Thank you. Yes, Thank you very much. Good-bye.” Hiroshi went out and hailed a cab. It would be expensive, but he didn’t have time to get on the subway.Other Angelfire Services
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