Legacy Mutation (Book Eight)

Chapter 50: Time Passing By

Seconds become minutes, minutes become hours, and hours become long days full of the Hamato Clan trying to put their lives back together.

They buried Splinter, taking him outside the city in the Party Wagon and laying him to rest in the serene quiet of the woods. It reminded the turtles and Destiny of the forest back in Japan when they had gone there with Renet.

Mr and Mrs Byrd, Kelly's parents, had a private funeral for their daughter, but chose to arrange another funeral for when Dakota wakes up, one that all their classmates can attend. They wanted Dakota to be present, hoping that she would wake up soon.

Casey and April came over often with Blake. He hadn't talked at all since the fight, only saying a few words to Venus. His parents remained hopeful that he'd work past it. Venus was the only one he spoke too, and she kept his feelings secret.

Copeland, Asher, and Mitch tried going back to school, but they didn't last a single day. Everyone was swarming them, begging to hear about the accident, wanting to know about Dean and Dakota's condition and buzzing about how sorry they were about Kelly. Katie even started crying about Dean, something they all ran away from without any hesitation.

Asher couldn't even last through first period, which was science. Him and Lukas sat next to each other, but the empty lab table beside them only made the pain worse. His teacher accidentally called both Kelly and Dakota's names, and Asher broke down crying. He was sent to the guidance counsellor, who asked him, "How are you feeling right now?"

His answer, "Lost."

Mitch got up and left his math class after the hundredth person asked him about the accident. His teacher let him go, alerting the office that he needed to stay home until his mental health was under better control.

Copeland went to the guidance counsellor herself, knowing that she would do something she regrets soon, running into Asher there. The counsellor called their home, informing Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo that perhaps it was best for them to return to school when they were feeling better.

At home, Asher spent most of his time sitting in him and Dakota's shared room, holding her hand and telling her about what he was feeling. His twin always understood him better than anyone else, so he chose to talk to her even if she wasn't awake to hear him. He played his violin often.

Dean didn't wake up, and according to Donnie, his condition didn't seem to be improving except for the fact that his cuts and bones were healing. The wolf-raven was moved to his bedroom, still hooked up to the needed machines. Copeland stayed by her oldest cousin, watching and waiting for whatever may come. Venus would come in and watch too, just sitting in silence, while Destiny would just cry every time she saw him.

Lukas, Tiki, Elisabeth, and Nixie didn't say a word to the people at school, keeping their friends' secrets under wraps. Each of the remaining four friends came by the lair often, acting as support. Tiki stayed in dog form and cuddled with Copeland, knowing that it helped her relax. Elisabeth came by to check on Dean often, and Nixie would come and take Mitch out for skating or playing video games; anything to take his mind off of his troubles and get him feeling happier. Lukas simply sat next to Asher in Dakota's room and gave him a listening ear.

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo's time was spent working out treaties with the former Foot Clan mutants. Them being human again allowed them a chance to restart their lives, and the turtles wanted to make sure that there was peace between them before they left each other alone.

Taylor and Annalise went back to work, but everyone in their workplaces knew that they weren't doing so well either. They refused to leave and take time off at home, claiming that, "Work takes their minds off of the...other stuff."