Miracle on New York Hills (Part 1 of New York Hills)

Should've stopped and smelled the roses

Just over a year ago, Cassandra and April were seven. They had decided to become members of the clan and were already considered sisters by the youngest four members. The Yokai were struggling to be accepted by the humans, because two mutants had gifts so far and two more were due to receive theirs in a few months, once they turned five, but no humans had any, despite the leader of the Hamato Clan being one. Hence, Sho made his decision. Despite their mothers' reservations, the two had agreed and were given powerful gifts. Sho was surprised it worked, but the girls were family.

Just under a year ago, Leonardo and Donatello were five. When they grabbed their doorknobs at the same time, the doors glowed. Twin grins split their faces and their gifts first showed themselves together. One moment, the twins were in front of their doors grinning and the next there were two Leonardos, the one on the right with flowers blooming around and on him. They appeared to be many blue delphiniums and purple anemones. Very fitting in Sho's opinion.

Four gifts last year means that there is much anticipation for this year's gift. Sho has heard many bets being placed. It seems many are expecting a gift to do with Michelangelo's artistry, love of cooking or boundless optimism. As his great-grandson rests his hands on the miracle, Sho is proud and knows this gift will be just as special as the boy.

He's wrong.

The room erupts into chaos as the boy's door fades and no gift shows. Michelangelo turns to look at Sho, confusion and fear dancing across his face, and all Sho can do is stare at him, frozen. It feels like eternity, but, in reality, it is little more than a few seconds.

Leonardo snaps out of his shock first, pulling himself free from the vines that he cannot convince to release his ankles. He sends a flurry of petals over the balcony, catching everyone's attention. The fading sound of arguing and the yelling turning into whispering snaps Sho to attention. This is his village. They are scared, with the threat just beyond their mountains, and he needs them to calm them.

"There may be no gift to celebrate tonight," he begins, "But that does not mean we should let the drinks go to waste," he gets a few quiet chuckles at that, "The magic is strong. The lantern still burns bright and we still have six gifts in the clan. So enjoy the celebration!"

There are a few cheers and the volume rises again. Sho sighs in relief that the voices are filled with more merriment than terror this time. He turns around to face his family. Leonardo is right by his side, retracting a flower arch from behind Sho (no orange, he notes), and Yoshi (or Lou as he goes by now) is stood with a disapproving frown etched onto his face, one of the few expressions his rat body can still express...

It is exactly the same as his mother's.

"Blue, leave us," Yos- Lou says to the boy once he has finished removing the arch.

Leonardo glances at Sho before bowing and returning to his own room next door, seeking the nearest shelter. Sho expects him to try and eavesdrop, just like his father would have done at that age, but he seems to have shut the door firmly. He waits for Lou to return his full attention to him before he speaks.

"Yosh-" Sho cuts himself off at Lou's flinch, "Lou. Grandson. We have a duty to protect the village, no matter what," Lou opens his mouth to protest, but Sho continues, "The same village that fled their home when we were invaded by Yokai led by the Baron," Sho doesn't need to say anything more, judging from Lou's guilty face, but he does, "They never abandoned us or turned us in, despite-" Sho hesitates but Lou motions to himself with a raised eyebrow, the few white hairs obvious.

"This whole situation?"

Sho nods silently. Lou sighs.

"You couldn't have phrased it better?" Lou asks bitterly.