6738 Miles

Walls

Now that I'm back writing more again, I plan to finish this story and also to get more updates to Brotherly Baggage.

-------------

Brick by brick, he built a wall, blocking the flow of his thoughts from his young student. Gradually sealing the gap between their minds. He had to be careful—oh so careful—to elude the younger's sharp perception. It was like closing a window. If sealed too abruptly, the disturbance in the flow of air was sure to be noticed.

Once the final brick had been laid, the old master's mind danced, spinning colorful ribbons of thought. A few weeks had elapsed, and in them Raphael's power and cunning had grown to rival his own. Fortunately, he still had much to teach the youngling and could fall back of some of the more ancient tricks.

For the most part, the turtle's anger had faded. Of course, there was still the occasional outburst of temper, but there was no longer a buildup of inner rage. All the child had needed was a patient hand to instruct him. One could talk at the impertinent teenager until they were blue in the face, but once properly motivated, there was very little that Raphael could accomplish on his own.

As far as Raphael's training was concerned, Adachi could sense the turtle's inner strength was much greater than Raphael himself realized. This rather unsettling discovery had become apparent when Raphael had come to him, unexpectedly, midday Monday...

--------------------

"My eyes are green."

He looked up at the young turtle and narrowed his eyes, trying to get a reading of the emotion underlying the words. He tried to reach out to Raphael's mind and bumped a wall. Though he couldn't peer into his student's mind, he received, in response, a brief flash of doubt. The barrier was soft. Raphael wasn't consciously trying to block him. He could break through it if he wanted to, but decided that he wouldn't.

"I had noticed," he'd responded.

"They changed during training two days ago."

Adachi made a sound of acknowledgement. Raphael sighed and averted his eyes. A meaningful silence passed before he spoke again.

"Didn't change back."

"This bothers you?"

"Yes—I mean no—I mean—of course it doesn't—ugh," Raphael's shoulders fell and he looked up into his Sensei's eyes.

"What is really bothering you, Raphael?"

With a sigh, the turtle confessed, "You haven't been saying much in our training lately. Haven't done any vigilante-ing lately either. Guess I'm not as 'all-powerful' as you thought I'd be, huh? You're disappointed."

Adachi studied his student in stunned silence. There was a dull undercurrent of hurt in Raphael's voice and the unfamiliar emotion of guilt gnawed at his gut.

"I am not. I apologize if it may have seemed so."

"You're doing it again." Raphael accused.

The statement startled him. "I'm not certain what you're referring to."

"You were the one lecturing me about opening up and you keep doing this."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You know damn well what I'm talking about!"

"Raphael—"

"You're a hypocrite," Raphael growled and turned to stomp out.

"Yes," he had sighed.

The admission brought the turtle to an abrupt halt.

"You're right."