Raphael, You Made Me Cry.... (Book 1)

My Room, Because it Looks Like I'm Staying Awhile

Of course I didn't know where I was, so I wasn't going to start fighting with four mutant Turtles and a giant rat. The Turtles stared at the rat like he was wise. Which seemed appropriate because he stayed completely calm.

When I said my name, everyone went completely silent, like they knew the name from somewhere. I wasn't that popular, so I wasn't sure if they had ever heard of me.

"Naomi....?" the rat repeated then bowed respectfully. "I apologize for my boys' behavior."

Boys? I thought. They're his? How are they related?

"My name is Hamato Yoshi. But I prefer Splinter," the rat continued. His coloration amazed me the most. He was a deep chocolate brown with streaks black and white that flaked up his snout and around his chin. Even his thin beard was white.

Turning to Blue, he contined, "You know Leonardo," then Orange, "Michelangelo," and then to Purple, "Donatello," then lastly to Raph, "and Raphael..."

All of them, besides Raph, bowed as his name was called. They must have extreme respect, but aparently not enough to freaking kidnap someone. I just calmly stared at them all before slowly getting up.

It was surprisingly warm down here and my hoodie was starting to make my sweat. So I slipped off the hoodie and tied it around my waist. I never lost a hoodie because of this. My T-shirt made me better, but the boys stared at me shocked.

"What?" I asked, crossing my arms. Raph had his arms crossed and he quickly uncrossed them, noticing me.

"You like black, huh?" Leonardo asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, actually."

"Why?" Michelanglo asked.

"You're not a Foot ninja are you?" Raph asked, glaring at me with his green eyes.

"Foot ninja?" I repeated, ignoring Michelangelo's question.

"Ninjas that are against us...." Leonardo answered.

"Well I'm against you," I answered rather harshly. They all stiffened up and reached for their weapons as I said that. But I quickly explained, "Because you kidnapped me."

"So Raph can apologize," Leonardo breathed out in slight relief, looking over at him.

"I'm not apologizing, Leo!" Raph snarled, glaring at him.

Splinter finally spoke up saying, "I think it would be wise for Raphael to apologize...."

"What?!" Raph exclaimed, jumping back a little. "You're kidding right, Sensei?!"

"No, Raphael," Splinter said, turning to him. "You need to learn to accept your faults and apologize for them."

"Fine!" Raph snapped. He looked right at me and snapped, "I'm sorry!"

"I don't believe that," Donatello scoffed.

"That's hardly a believable apology..." Leo crossed his arms.

"I take sincere apologies," I said, rolling my eyes. "Not attitude ones just to get out of whatever it is you did."

"Naomi is right," Splinter nodded, putting his hands in his sleeves. "She will stay until you mean your apology..." and with that, he turned and left.

Michelangelo was laughing silently behind Leo. Raph turned to glare at him, snapping, "Mikey, if you're not quiet in the next five seconds, you're the one that's going to be kidnapped next!"

With that, Mikey shut up and looked up at Leo. Leo sighed and motioned me over. I walked over and Mikey backed away.

"If you want, I can show you a room if you're going to stay. Raph's not going to apologize for a long time," Leo said.

"Thanks," I nodded, relaxing a little. Leo led me away toward a hallway. He lef me to a room that looked directly across from Raph's room. Growling lowly, I pushed into my room, stopping at the sight.

There was a wooly rug beneath my feet, which I now noticed were bare... Did I put shoes on before I left...? And the color was a rich, blood-like red mixed with black. A bed with deep violet sheets and a black comforter with flames dancing around its rims for decorating. The bedstand was a deep burgandy brown, and the floor itself was cool gray stone.

"Who lived here last...?" I asked, out of breath. I loved it. The room was just for me. Was just LIKE me..!

Coming up beside me, Leo shrugged, "Just a friend that passed away..."

"What was their name...?" I asked silently.

Leo looked at me cautiously before sighing, shaking head. "Just, get some sleep, alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah, sure."

He left, closing the door behind him. On the door was a small poster of a magnificent black dragon roaring out into the sky, flames dancing beneath its talons.

Other than that, there really wasn't much on the walls. A closet hung nothing but wrappings, strangely. I picked up a few white wrappings and slowly wrapped them around my hand. I had to wrap them at least a dozen times before I could stuff the end into a previous wrap.

It felt comfortable having this on. Looking at the wrappings, there was only white and dark gray. I grabbed the dark gray and wrapped it around my wrist and up to my elbow. It fit somwhat nicely, and the thread was wider and warmer too.

I heard myself sigh and I unwrapped the bandages, hanging them back up. Beside them, I noticed was a black wrapping. One of the ends were nicked and near the middle were two holes, above one was another slight cut. I realized it was a mask like the Turtles wore.

Reaching for it, I hesitated before actually touching it. When I did, my fingers felt warm, like they were welcoming the mask. I clenched it in my hand, breathing out, letting the strange warmness soak into my arm.

A knock on my door made me jump and I quickly put the mask back. Whosever's room this was last, I knew I shouldn't touch their stuff. Breathing out, I came up to the door, touching the dragon's snout gently before opening the door.

It was actually Splinter.

"You moving in nicely?" he asked, his deep voice getting lost in the walls. His ear twitched as if he suspected that.

"I'm not exactly moving in, Splinter." I replied, trailing my hand down the side of the door.

He nodded, his thin beard bobbing a few times, making me smile softly. Noticing, he looked at me curiously and I cleared my throat, quickly looking away. "Sorry...."

"You are amused quickly, no?" he asked.

"Depends on what you mean," I replied.

But, he changed the subject, "Do have any experience with fighting?"

"A little," I nodded. "Living in a neighborhood with Purple Dragons can wither weaken you or toughen you. I'm lucky I got the tounger side. They even tried to recruit me, but I wouldn't sink that low..."

He seemed pleased with that comment because he smiled softly, nodding again. "Then I would like to see what you know. I will have Raphael pick you up so he can show you the dojo."

"Raph?" I slouched my shoulders, groaning. "Why not Leo or Donatello?"

His amber eyes showed amusement as he turned and left. I watched after him, and that's when I noticed Raph staring at me from his doorway. I just realized he kept it open and I grit my teeth, closing the door rather forcefully.

Bonking my head on the door, I pulled the poster down a bit and I heard a small tear. Looking up, two tacks were keeping the top two corners up and in the left corner, I had pulled it down by accident. It wouldn't break any time soon...

I came up to the bed and trailed my hand over the sheets. Somewhat new, barely used. And they were mine. They fit me somehow...

Untying my sweater and putting it in the closet by the wrappings and mask, I pulled back the comforter and climbed in bed. The matress swallowed me up and I smiled, letting a happy sigh out. The blanket was warm like the fire that was printed on its thread, and I curled up on my side, sleeping for good.