Dancing with Fire

Chapter Sixteen

It's 2:00 in the morning, and I can't fall asleep. You would think that I would be able to, but NO. So instead of sleeping, like any sane person would be at this hour, I'm downstairs in the dojo, training.
Punch. Twist. Jump. Kick. Dodge. Roll.
Kick. Kick. Flip. Weave. Stab. Repeat.
My muscles are screaming in protest, and I'm sweating buckets, but I'm still wide awake. Sleep is not looking like an option for me tonight.
Stab. Avoid. Flip. Lunge. Kick.
After working on my moves for another hour or so, I lean against the dojo wall to catch my breath. I'm breathing pretty hard, but I'm not panting yet. I know I need to be panting before I even begin to be tired, so its back to training- conditioning this time, though (a/n: conditioning is working on skills that will make you better in a particular activity). I lay down and begin doing crunches.
100 crunches. 100 knee-touch crunches. I lay still for a second, regaining my breath. Then I roll over.
100 push-ups. 100 clap push-ups. 100 lunges. Then its on to gymnastics. I haven't done anything for it in a while, and I'm starting to miss the fluidity of it.
Handstand. Cartwheel. Back handspring. Half-twist flip. A move I call "scissoring" where I perform a handstand, and "scissor" my legs by kicking them back and forth. The worm, which believe it or not, is a great core exercise. I finally begin to pant, and I stop at once.
"Rach? W-w-what are you doing up this early?" Raph yawns, interrupting my thoughts.
"Oh, I couldn't sleep, so I, uh, wanted to train." I said sheepishly. Raph nods, then snorts.
"You know in training later we're doing core conditioning, right?" He asked me. I groan. I completely forgot, and Master Splinter is not going to cut me any slack.
"Maybe we can talk him into me leading training." I said weakly. My eyes are starting to droop, and I'm finally getting tired.
"Racheal. Rapheal. What are you two doing up this early?" Splinter interrupts us. Raph and I both bow.
"I couldn't sleep, Master." I said respectfully.
"And I heard her out here, and I wondered what she was doing up." Raph said, yawning again.
"I see. Rapheal, go up to bed. Racheal will follow you in a second." Splinter commands. Raph doesn't even put up a fight, that's how tired he is. Splinter turns to me.
"You were conditioning, no? Knowing that we had conditioning today?" Splinter asked.
"No, I forgot we had conditioning today Master. But conditioning usually calms me down." I admitted. I yawned.
"I see. Is there anything you would like to ask me?" Dang, that rat is good. It's almost like he can read minds.
"I can't read minds, Racheal, my goodness." Splinter said, chuckling.
"I said that out loud?" I exclaimed. I sure am tired.
"Yes, you did." Splinter said, still smiling.
"Well, I was wondering if I could teach this morning?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yes..." Splinter said, thoughtfully.
"Really?! That's awesome! Thanks so-"
"And no." Splinter interrupted me.
"Much." I finish, muttering the word. He could just give me a straight answer and that would be nice, ya know?
"Well, I'm going to train for a few more minutes." I said. Splinter nodded, and left, most likely to go back to bed.
I throw a few more punches at the punching bag, and then I'm overwhelmed by fatigue. I start for the stairs, pausing halfway up them. Blackness overwhelms me, and I'm not sure if I fall asleep in my room, on the stairs.

A/N: Filler, sorry! But I hope you like the new update. Please read, and leave comments if you would like. I'm going to be introducing 2 new characters in my second book, so if it interests you, send your bio in a message to me.

Love,
Emily