awesome chapter

Thank you, thank you. *blushes and bows*

I have got a picture of Betty Arnold, but it's kinda bleh.

Chapter 22

If Leonardo was being severely punished, he was coping very well. He didn't join in any training sessions, and was often sighted cleaning up after everybody. Raph would often drop some rubbish on the floor, simply so he could watch Leo clear it up later. Even Mikey had thought of it as immature.
On their nightly runs, Mikey would find Karai, waiting at a manhole. She stood frozen, the air slapping her face raw. Mikey teased her she would turn into a snowman, but Karai ignored him. Mikey gave up trying to talk sense into her and went off.
After a week or so, Mikey went to Leo's room and poked him awake. Leo sat up, rubbing his eyes. Leo looked at his alarm clock, "It's only 2am, Mike. This is early, even for my standards."
"What did you tell sensei?" Mikey got straight to the point, "You weren't like, completely to blame."
"I should have watched over all of you," Leo mumbled, "I failed him."
"But... you were tired from looking after him!" Mikey argued, hoping to knock some sense into him. "He really expected too much of you. Why didn't you let us look after him?"
"I'm the oldest," Leo was fully awake by now, "And... you all had too much on your heads. I thought that... that maybe..."
"Leo..." a thought appeared in Mikey's head, "How sick was Master Splinter..."
Leo looked at his knees, "... Didn't know if he would make it through the first few nights. I... I wanted to be there for him."
Mikey jumped up, causing Leo to flinch. Mikey made for the door, "I'm telling sensei."
"NO!" Leo went after him and blocked the door, "You can't. He'll punish the others as well. Don't. I won't let you."
"Come on," Mikey tried to tickle his brother, but Leo stood rooted to the spot. Mikey grinned, "I guess I could stay here. In your room." Mikey gestured to the notes, that were still littered around his desk. Leo relented, and let him through the door.
"But that's your emotional blackmail allowance for the year," Leo told him sternly.

Mikey smiled and left. Leonardo said that to him on a weekly basis.

"Enter."
Mikey sat in front of Master Splinter. Splinter had a bandage wrapped around half his face, and he seemed a lot thinner than usual. Mikey saw that he had a lot of grey fur- but then he remembered he looked like that before. Splinter stared into Mikey's eyes, "What do you wish to tell me, my son?"
Mikey felt shy, but then he remembered why he was there, "I think you were unfair to Leo." There. He had said it.
Splinter raised his eyebrows, "In what way, may I ask?"
"Leo was too tired to look after you and him," Mikey started.
"He chose to shoulder that burden, Michelangelo. He refused to let anybody else help," Splinter countered.
"Well... you should have let him off slightly," Mikey piped up, determined to win this argument, "He probably wanted to prove he was better from... you know," Mikey shivered, remembering how Leo had been taken over and forced to choose between killing Karai, making her a slave or nearly killing himself. Mikey pressed on, "He had to recover from that to look after us. He needed more time." Mikey realized that the previous incident had never been mentioned until now.
"Michelangelo," Splinter, to Mikey's shock, looked proud of his youngest son, "I can see the passion in your eyes. I feel... a family meeting is in order. Fetch them."
Mikey nodded and left, a weight lifting from his shoulders.

love the new chapter. cant wait to see what happens next.

Chapter 23

Nobody said a word. Don fidgeted, his eyes flickering from Raph to Leo to Splinter and then back again. Raph had a cool expression on his face, however his fists were clenched so hard they were nearly white. Leo sat unusually still, staring at a stain in the carpet. Splinter's eyes were closed, and he was breathing deeply.
Mikey was playing his PSP.
Splinter opened his eyes and snatched it from him, before placing it under his tail. Mikey groaned, knowing his global ranking on the game was going to drop.
"Michelangelo!" Splinter glared at him, "You are the one who requested this meeting."
"I didn't say anything about this," Mikey corrected him, "You suggested, sensei."
"Then why are we here?" Raph asked, his eyes cold and narrowed.
"You know why," Don shot back at him, in an unusually stern voice.
"It ain't my fault," Raph banged his fist on the carpeted floor. He pointed at Leo, "It's all his fault and he deserves everything he gets."
"Leo never gave you money for beer," Don told him angrily, "You made that bit up."
"Yeah, well," Raph stretched his arms as if he was yawning, "That's what you think."
Splinter cleared his throat. His sons looked at him, nervously. Splinter looked at his eldest son, "Is Donatello speaking the truth?"
"Uh..." Leo frowned. Mikey elbowed him, egging him on silently. Leo nodded, "I... I didn't want to... tell on him..."
Mikey widened his eyes in disbelief. It was like him admitting he was a hardcore gamer. Or that he hated chocolate. Mikey knew Leo loved telling on people as much as he loved sugar.
"What next?" Don joked, "You're going to tell us you cross-dress?"
"Silence!" Splinter gazed at Leonardo with pity and sorrow in his eyes, "I must admit... I was ill-mannered before. I had a terrible headache, yet that was no excuse for my behaviour..."
"Oh no, sensei," Leo shook his head furiously, "You were very sick. It's completely understandable-"

"Very sick?" Don repeated, blinking, "I thought you were only slightly unwell."
Splinter shrugged, "I had a serious infection, however that is of the past. What is present, however..." Splinter gazed around at them, "I see that I have not been aware of the going ons. I request that we all sort out our differences and tell each other what is wrong."

Don scratched where his nose should have been, thinking about coffee and Betty.

Raph glowered at sensei, thinking about beer and Angel.

Leo sighed, thinking about many, many things.

Mikey thought about everything, and about his PSP.

great chapter livi. i cant wait to see what happens next.

Hehe, thanks.



I have a lot of coursework for school to do, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to put the next bit up for a while. >:O

well get it up when you can.

Chapter 24

It was a long night. Karai, who had invited herself in, placed herself against the meditation room's door and pressed her ear onto it. When she couldn't hear anything, she groaned. The room was well-padded so nobody could disrupt what was going on inside of it. Karai stood up, wondering what was going on.
Donatello had started first. He recounted the nights he had stayed up, a cup of coffee loyally at his side each time. How he had been so desperate to see Betty again; if only to say goodbye. The coffee had got to him, but Donnie said, "I've gotten over it. I shouldn't have so many late nights these days."
Raph had refused to say anything, so Mikey had told them his own worries. He took a very look time, going over what had happened in the past few weeks. Other than a few details ("When did you jump in the way of Raph's fist for me?" Don had asked), it was accurate. Splinter smiled at Mikey, pleased that he was trying to be serious and focussed. Raph sat in a stupid position, looking bored. Splinter glared at him, but it only made Raph snort at him. Sighing, Splinter turned to Leonardo, "Now, what do you have to share with us?"
"Oh..." Leo frowned, worriedly, "I don't think I have anything to add. Mikey pretty much explained it all. It's nothing, really."
Mikey clapped his hands, "First prize for Mr Modest goes to... Leonardo!"
"And first prize for Mr Big Mouth goes to Michelangelo," Don chortled. Don and Mikey gave each other wide, happy smiles.
"Leonardo..." said Splinter, "I want to hear what you have to say."
Leo took in a deep breath, "Well... I wanted to make sure you were okay. And... the others seemed too occupied with other stuff... I didn't want them to worry about you too, so I burdened myself... Hm... Also, I guess... I failed looking after everyone."
"No you did not!" Karai was at the door. Mikey blinked, realizing she must have opened it and listened to everything. Mikey smiled, glad he hadn't confessed about 'Venus'.

Karai ran into the room, and knelt in front of Splinter. She looked him in the eyes and said, "I understand that you and I are enemies... sworn enemies... However, I wish to make amends... I wish to be... be..."
"Chums?" Mikey beamed at her, "Mates? Buddies? Pals?"
Karai ignored him, "... Friends, if I say so myself. I understand if you are wary of me. I shall leave and never return if you say so."
Mikey's mouth was open. He had never seen Karai act like this. He wished he had a camera.
Splinter bowed to her, "I can see it in your eyes. The anger that was once there... is gone."
"How do you see anger?" Mikey asked.
"With your eyes?" suggested Donnie.
"Leonardo," Splinter rounded on his eldest son, "What do you suggest we do?"
Leo jumped slightly, before mumbling, "I guess she can be our friend."
Splinter raised his eyebrows, "It is nice to see you are so enthusiastic, my son. But I warn you..." Leo watched him, "I wish for you to be back by ten. And you are not to miss any training sessions."
Leo looked at him blankly, before understanding what Splinter had said. Leo grinned, before bowing and saying, "Thank you, sensei."
Splinter looked at the others, "However, I feel that the rest of you are not ready for any sort of relationship. I suppose Michelangelo may be soon, what with him and the late Venus-"
"Oh, I've gotten over it," Mikey laughed.
Splinter shook his head, "Oh, no, Michelangelo. It must have been truly heartbreaking for you."
Mikey didn't trust the glitter in his master's eyes. Instead, he jumped up and said, "Well, I must be off, you know. Stuff to do. Comics to read"
Everybody got up to leave. Splinter lifted a bony finger, "Raphael. Sit."
Leo, who was holding Karai's hand, whispered to him, "I hope you have a nice time with Master Splinter." Mikey noted the sarcasm in his voice, "By the way, I suggest you get an early start on those stains in the kitchen."
"I hate you," Raph hissed, before Don closed the door on him.