Together As Mutants (Book Six)

Chapter 57: Moving Forward

While Diaval's unexpected proposal is one thing to celebrate, with the dawning of the full moon comes another. Once again, Splinter gathers everyone in the dark dojo, candles laid out in a row. The turtles and April kneel in a uniform line behind Destiny, dressed in a black jumpsuit much like the one provided to April during her induction—only, where April bore yellow, Destiny bears a deep forest green. Her brown curls hang loose.

Sarina, Diaval, Melanie, Taylor, Casey, and Annalise spectate along the side wall. Destiny forces herself to focus on Splinter even though all she wants is to look back at Leonardo, search for reassurance in his eyes. She keeps her claws out, folded tightly against her palms, the sting keeping her grounded.

She feels a brief wave of calm break against her, a comforting hand on her shoulder even though no one has moved. She smiles softly and darts a glance at Diaval, mouthing "thank you" to him. He nods.

"Destiny Hamato," Splinter says. He speaks the next lines in Japanese, the exact same as April's as he welcomes her into the clan as a kunoichi.

When Splinter stops talking, Destiny tucks her wings close to her back and drops into a deep bow, palms touching the tatami as her knees touch her chest. Splinter pulls out a tanto decorated in a forest green ribbon and places the sheathed blade in Destiny's hands.

"This tanto represents the dragon: strong, fierce, intelligent," he says. "A dragon not only relies on its physical strength, but its keen intellect as well."

While Destiny feels the deja vu of having watched this ceremony before, being the one in focus brings a new light to it. She pulls the tanto from its sheathe, admiring the dragon carved into its side.

"Arigatou gozaimasu," she murmurs.

"Be at one in spirit and body," Splinter says. "Be like the dragon."

"Hai, Sensei."

"Destiny Hamato, you are now a kunoichi of the Hamato Clan."

Splinter's professional expression softens with a smile as the dojo erupts with cheers. Leonardo hauls Destiny into a hug the moment she's on her feet, capturing her in a deep kiss. She eagerly returns it, keeping him locked tightly against her even when her feet touch the ground again.

Of course, the second they do separate, the others crush in to offer their congratulations. Destiny receives their hugs and kind words in full, bursting with pride. Diaval smiles softly at her from outside the crowd, Melanie at his side as she hops in place with excitement.

Destiny never could have imagined that she'd experience something like this, surrounded by loved ones celebrating something she's worked to achieve.

"Wonderful job, Destiny," Sarina murmurs as they pull away from each other's embrace.

"Ready for patrol?" Raphael asks. "Not like we'll see anything, but..."

"Hey, last time we thought that, Shinigami showed up," Donatello says.

"Don't remind me." April bumps him with her elbow, although she smiles as she says it.

"Thanks, everyone," Destiny says. "And yes, I'm very ready." She looks at her tanto, then slips it into her belt with a soft smile.

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"Hey, Raph?"

Raphael slows even as his brothers, Destiny, and April head out on patrol. Taylor approaches, fiddling with her fingers, bottom lip between her teeth.

"Yeah?"

"Father's day is coming up," she says. "I'm gonna talk to my papá." His eyes widen. "It'll be his first one out of prison and, y'know, I..." She exhales.

"I get it," he says. "It's a good idea."

"Would you come with me?"

"Absolutely," he says without missing a beat. "But...only if you really want me to."

She nods. "I'm sure."

He steps closer, leaning over to kiss the side of her head. "Then it's a date."

She smiles a little. "Come back safe. I hear Melanie's making some celebration food."

"Nice. We'll be back before you know it."

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"Are you sure it's okay? Me just...dumping all this on you?" Annalise asks.

Melanie smiles as she mixes cookie batter in a large bowl. Everyone is going to be hungry when they get back from patrol. "You do know I'm a therapist by trade, right?"

"No, I mean..." Annalise flushes. "I mean, you're a friend. I'd be exhausted if my friends treated me like the answer to their problems all the time. I don't want you to be treated like..."

"The group therapist?"

"Yeah."

"I get where you're coming from," Melanie admits. She sets the spoon down, pausing for a second as her new ring glints on her finger. "But at the same time, I love giving advice. I love helping people. It's why I do what I do."

"Just because you love it doesn't mean you should do it all the time," Annalise says. A shudder rolls up her spine.

She slowly raises an eyebrow and somehow, her face stays kind nonetheless. "I know, and you're right, but I can assure you that I know when to set my boundaries. We planned for this ahead of time. Don't think of it as therapy, alright? Think of this as...conversation between friends."

"Casual conversation over tea, huh?"

"And cookies, of course."

Annalise smiles a little. "I...did feel a lot better after talking to you," she says. "Maybe, when you go back to Canada, we can keep texting?"

"I'd like that."