Adult-FanFiction.org : Comics

Perseverance	By : EvaBrick Category: Comics > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Views: 9920 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 66
- 67
- 68
Hi guys,
Sorry about the delay. Thanks so much for reading. I've got big plans for our favourite boys. ;) Lola, send me an e-mail. (eva.brick@hotmail.com)
~Eva

“Do you remember that time we wanted to watch ‘Earnest Scared Stupid’ but Master Splinter wouldn’t let us because he said we’d have nightmares?” Mikey said quietly. “So we got Donnie to tape it and we watched it in the dark after he’d gone to bed and then none of us could sleep?”

“Yeah,” Raphael said. “What were we - ten?”

“Something like that,” Mike said. “He sat with us until we fell asleep for like, three nights in a row.”

The turtles were sitting on the deck of the little cabin, watching the sunrise. When they’d gotten there about an hour ago, Master Splinter was awake, waiting for them. He was greatly concerned about their injuries, but he was also very proud of them. He had agreed to the mutagen injection, but April caught his eye and knew that he was only doing it to humour them and that he didn’t believe that it would actually work. Donatello put on heavy rubber gloves and carefully injected the goop into one of Splinter’s thin veins.

The turtles were shocked at how weak he was; his voice was frail and his body looked a little deflated. His eyes brightened when they gave him the blow-by-blow of their different fights, but when he heard of the third fire of the night - the one in the museum, he frowned a little.

“Oroku Saki lives still,” he whispered, before breaking into a long, plegmy cough. He gasped for air and the turtles all panicked, not knowing what to do. He calmed down after a minute and lay there, wheezing for several long moments while he regained his strength. “There is something that I have never told you,” he rasped, clearly in great discomfort, “something that you must know... something about when Shen was killed...” he paused and shut his eyes.

The turtles looked at each other - Splinter had told them about her - the one who they considered to be their mother. He’d told them that she was beautiful and artistic. She could sing and had a voice like a little bird. She liked children and had dreamed of becoming a painter. She had a flower cart and sold them in the market every day. She was beautiful, smart, gentle, witty, and exceptionally kind... Donatello had realized a few months ago that Charlie reminded him of his mother - he wondered if Splinter had noticed the similarities... he probably had. But despite everything he had said about her, he had never given any details about how she’d been killed.

“I met her in the fields where she picked her flowers every morning,” Splinter wheezed. “Only that morning... all I could see was her over-turned cart as I approached... she lay in the long grass, in the dew, surrounded by a thousand flower petals... her sternum was broken from a lethal blow... there was blood under her fingernails... she had tried to fight him off... I have wondered every day since if she prayed that I would come in time and save her...” his voice choked for a moment. “My master banned the Oroku family from ever setting foot in the dojo again. After I killed Nagi, there was a fire at the dojo... my master and many of the clan... many of my friends... were killed... I have always believed that Saki set that fire, and now that you have told me about Charlotte’s store and the museum, I know I was right... until you cut off the head of the serpent, he will always lie in the grass to strike at innocents...”

April sat in the corner of the bedroom on a little stool with a tissue clutched in her hand. She dabbed her eyes. Spliter had told her this years ago, when the turtles were fifteen. She had developed some very strong feelings for Splinter, and she knew that deep down he reciprocated, but he had felt like he would be betraying his love for Shen if he declared his love for another.

He was also extremely concerned with his rat appearance, not that he’d ever specifically said so. Once, after he had walked her home, there had been a moment where they’d said goodnight, but just stood there, not departing, looking each other softly in the face. He had taken her hand and placed it over his chest so she could feel how fast his heart was beating, then he’d lifted it away and looked at how ugly his claws were next to her pretty painted nails. He’d bowed low to her, turned, and walked away. And so for years, the two had sat together on the couch, elbows almost touching while they drank their tea and chatted about the news, the world outside, and the growing turtles.

April had dated a few guys over the years, but she hadn’t really clicked with any of them. She’d cried her heart out every time a relationship ended, sure that she was going to die a childless, old maid. Every time her heart was broken, she’d go to Splinter and he’d make her a cup of tea and they’d talk. Once, he’d even reached out and stroked her hair...

“But there is something else...” Splinter wheezed. “Something I have done that greatly shames me... I found Nagi hiding in a shed at a small farm in the next valley... he tried to run from me but I chased him across the barnyard... I could have killed him quickly... but I chose to make him suffer... my heart was broken and I was blind with anger.”

Leo, Don, Raph, and Mike exchanged quick glances and looked down, ashamed of the ‘kill everything’ strategy. It had been very dishonourable. Don shook his head - no, he did the right thing - it was war.

“Nagi was not wearing a shirt when I killed him... I did not notice until it was too late and it has filled me with such shame... his skin was not scratched...”

Leo leaned forward. “So then Nagi was -”

“He was an innocent man,” Splinter gasped, shutting his eyes in shame. “That is why Saki has hunted me down... I killed his brother in cold blood...”

“But if he didn’t do it,” Raphael said, “who did? Shredder?”

“I do not know,” Splinter said, shaking his head sadly. “I have not seen him without a shirt to see if there are any scars... perhaps he too is innocent.” He looked at the turtles fondly. “I wanted you to know the truth so that you will know why Saki hates you so... I am truly sorry for what I have done and that I have not told you before now.”

“It doesn’t matter, Master,” Leo said. “We understand how angry you must have felt... you should have seen Don last night - he went berserk trying to find Charlie. It wasn’t your fault, Sensei. Besides, if Nagi was completely innocent, he wouldn’t have run away - the innocent don’t run.”

Splinter reached for Leonardo’s arm and the blue turtle took the old rat’s clawed hands in his strong, green one. “Take care of your brothers, my son,” Splinter said. His heart was starting to beat irregularly and he knew he was running out of time. “You are a fine leader - never doubt yourself, and never doubt your brothers, either.”

“I will, Master, I promise,” Leo choked.

“Raphael, don’t spend too much time alone - it is not good for anyone to do.” Raphael looked away and squeezed his eyes shut tightly, but didn’t speak.

“Michelangelo, it is not your job to make everyone happy. Make yourself happy.”

“Yes, Father,” Mike nodded.

“Donatello, it brings me great peace to know that you have found a companion. I think that Charlotte is a lovely woman and a fine choice for you. Take your time with her - do not rush things... just allow the magic of love to unfold itself like a flower and you will find the greatest peace and happiness that a man can feel.”

“I will, Sensei,” Don sniffled.

“Leave me now, my boys, so that I may leave you,” the old rat croaked. His voice sounded watery. Don knew that his lungs were nearly full of fluid. Each in turn, the turtles leaned down and hugged their father, their large, muscular bodies eclipsing his weak frame before they sadly walked out onto the deck to watch the sunrise take their master away with the morning dew.

Raphael hung back and knelt down at Splinter’s side, choking on tears. His throat felt so thick that he could hardly breathe. “Don’t leave me, Dad,” he sobbed in Japanese. “What am I gonna do without ya?” He put a hand over his plastron where his heart was hurting. Splinter reached a weak hand out and pulled Raphael’s head down to his chest. He kissed his son’s bare head and took a heavy breath.

“Grieve for me, Raphael,” Splinter responded, also in Japanese. “Cry, break your things, drink the whisky you have hidden in your room that you thought I did not know about... grieve Raphael, but then let yourself heal. Find some books on loss and read them, my son... I worry about you... please do not hurt yourself... you are so much like me... April has a book for you... it is my most prized possession...”

“I love ya, Dad,” Raphael cried. April moved to sit on the edge of the bed and rubbed his shoulder comfortingly. “I promise I won’t do anythin' stupid.” Raphael sat up and looked at Splinter, then ran from the room. His heart felt like it was going to explode out of his shell.

April took Splinter’s hand and placed it over her heart, smiling through her tears. “I promise you that I’ll take care of them and love them,” she whispered.

“I know you will,” Splinter smiled, the light in his eyes fading. “I never told you that I loved you,” he sighed.

“Oh, Yoshi... I’ll miss you so much...” her throat was too thick to speak, and so she just sat with him, holding his hand while his breathing slowed... then stopped. April reached out and shut his eyes gently. She stood and laid his still-warm hand on the bedspread and walked to the door, turning to look at him as the early morning light shone through the window.

“Good-bye, Yoshi,” she whispered, before shutting the door quietly behind her.
- 66
- 67
- 68
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Perseverance