Total Turtle Transformation (TMNT Book 4)

Trust/Don't Trust Your Gut

Leo was back with a strange look. I was sitting with Sophie and she noticed it too. So did Raph and they went off and talked for a bit. Sophie and I looked at one another and just as I was about to get up to go and question Leo, Raph and him walked out of Leo’s room and toward the dojo.

“Come on, guys!” Leo called. “Time to talk with Sensei!”

All of us in the living room got up and walked into the dojo. April was there practicing by herself and Splinter and Mii-wa were already waiting for us. We sat down in a half-circle around them.

That’s when Leo started explaining Karai. We all listened, even Raph, but he was staring at him dumbfounded. But when he finished, it seems like he was leaving something out on purpose. Splinter noticed it to by the looks of it and he and Leo exchanged glances.

After a few seconds, Splinter nodded and said, “It’s possible for one to switch sides.”

“Remind you of anyone we know?” Natasha asked. We all looked at her except Leo who looked a little bit at the ground. Splinter and Mii-wa looked at her as well, and she continued, “I mean, she was with us! Now she’s gone.”

“You don’t know her!” I countered, standing up. “You have no idea what she has done to protect me or anybody here!”

“Mikito, calm yourself!” Mii-wa ordered me. I looked at Mii-wa before sitting down slowly, looking at the ground. “Natasha, I know you mean that, but yes, Mikito’s right. You don’t know her as well as the rest of here.”

“I think that’s what she’s getting at…” Leo muttered, looking up. “Maybe we don’t know Naomi as well as do.”

Raph looked at Leo as he looked down again and so did Splinter and Mii-wa. Eventually, he sighed, regretting he spoke up.

“Leonardo…” Splinter said. “As I was saying.” Breathing out, Leo looked up, probably thanking Splinter for changing the subject. “It’s possible for one to switch sides, but then they could be getting inside your head to make you think to trust them.”

“So,” Leo muttered. “You’re telling me to trust my gut?”

“Yes.” Splinter nodded.

“And yet again to not?”

“Yes.”

“It’s too bad we can’t have a Kunowichi on our side like Karai.” Donnie decided to speak up.

From behind me, I heard April stop fighting and ask Donnie, “What about me?”

“I mean a real Kunowichi.” Donnie said before stammering, “Not that you aren’t one, but a skilled one. Not that I’m saying you aren’t but… heh… Is it getting hot in here or is it just me?”

“I get it,” April said. “She may be the enemy, but, hey, she’s purrty.”

“No!” Donnie defended himself. “You’re way more prettier! I mean, not in that way, but--”

Raph stood up and clamped his hand over Donnie’s mouth and started dragging him out. “Stop struggling, you’ll thank me later.”

They left the room and then Splinter turned around, motioning Leo to follow him. Leo got up and followed Splinter in his room. Mii-wa turned to me before motioning to me and Sophie to follow her near the tree.

We got up and followed our Sensei toward the tree as everyone else got up and left for the main room again. As we got behind he tree, Mii-wa looked at me.

“Have you heard anything from Naomi?” she asked.

I shook my head, “Nothing.”

“Except that one dream…” Sophie muttered, nudging me a little. “And the projection.”

“Projection?” Mii-wa asked.

I repeated the incident of Baxter Stockman’s maze and Naomi’s projection. Mii-wa listened and then Sophie explained the dream after I was done. Sensei paused in thought and we waited in the silence.

“So you see a device, then Naomi speaking in riddles, along with this dream that you both have.” Mii-wa said finally.

“Naomi always speaks in a different language.” Sophie sighed. “Still English, but something else entirely.”

“Sophia…” Mii-wa growled at her. “You’re not seeing anything, are you? When Naomi speaks this way, she’s warning you.”

“But it never makes sense!” I said.

“Because you’re not going into the meaning of the sentence.” Mii-wa said quickly. “One of us here has seen Naomi within the past twenty-four hours, but he’s keeping it from us. Learn to look not with your eyes, but with your senses as well. That’s how Naomi knew too much.”

Sophie and I both looked at one another and whispered, “Leo…”

“See? You learn to use your sight to learn that Leo is guilty of hiding something.” Mii-wa nodded. “And if you use your senses, you can learn that whatever he found out isn’t good.”

I turned to Sensei, “Do you know anything about Naomi?”

“Plenty,” Mii-wa answered without hesitation. “But that’s because I learn from Splinter and what she’s told me.”

“You’ve spoke with Naomi?” Sophie asked.

“Not personally,” Mii-wa said, turning around. “Now, you are both dismissed.”

“We want to find out about Naomi!” Sophie growled.

“Sophia!” Mii-wa turned on her. Sophie flinched a little. “Rely on yourself more than others.” then she left us completely, going in Splinter’s room.

Sophie and I looked at one another before going in the main room. As we sat down, Sophie rubbed her sprained arm delicately. She looked up at nothing and said to me, “If you find out anything about Naomi, please tell me…”

“Right back at you,” I nodded, leaning back against the couch.