Letter's Home (Sequel to Grace's Path)

Chapter 1: First Letters

“Grace, there is an envelope with your name on it addressed to here,” Raiden said, through the phone. “Can you pick it up today at all?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there soon,” Grace said, chewing her lower lip.

It’s been a week since the turtle brothers had left for Japan and no phone call has been from them as of yet. Grace placed the phone back on the hook and turned to three other girls.

“Who was that?” the pink haired girl asked, her eyes wide.

“Raiden,” the red head responded, tucking her short hair behind her ear. “He said something about an envelope being delivered at the pizza shop.”

“Let’s go,” smiled the blue haired one.

The four girls, pink, blue, brown and red haired, made their way to the surface, the brunette checking under the man hole cover to make sure the coast was clear. The girls, now twenty one, trekked the short walk to Pizzeria Town, the popular pizza store in this part of town. The bell above the door chimed as Grace pushed the door open and Raiden smiled at the girls. He knew about the turtles going to Japan and he also knew how hard it was on the girls.

“Here,” he said and slid the envelope to the red head. “Go upstairs and read whatever is in it.”

Grace smiled and the other girls followed their ‘leader’ through to her old room. The leader made herself comfortable on the bed with Haidley beside her, Rosie on the computer chair and Sophie on the floor. Sophie pulled out a shuriken the sleeve of her black leather jacket and handed it to Grace, who took it gingerly.

“Okay,” she whispered, taking a deep breath before ripping the envelope open, being careful of what could be inside.

Pieces of paper fell out, each labelled with Sophie,Gracie,Rosie and Haidley. Haidley handed Rosie and Sophie theirs before grabbing hers.

“Who wants to go first?” she asked and Rosie gulped, raising her hand.

She carefully opened her letter, tears threatening to fall as she read it out loud, the same happening to the girls listening. 

“I miss you so much and I love you,” she read in a whisper and looked up, a single tear sliding her cheek, making her brown eyes sparkle.

Sophie read hers out loud, sometimes finding it hard to talk. Haidley read hers but could finish it as she started crying.

“I don’t want to read mine,” Grace whispered and gave it to Rosie. “Can you read it for me?”

Rosie nodded and opened it, her eyes skimming over the page.

“Grace, you need to read this,” she said and Grace took it, hands shaking.

She read and once at the bottom line, I’ll be home soon, I love you, she burst into tears.

“I miss him so much, I need him home.”

“They’ve only been gone for a week and we already miss them,” Haidley chuckled, wiping her eyes.

“Being pregnant is messing up my emotions,” Sophie blubbered, the poor girl wiping at her blue eyes furiously.

“At least we can say we got word from them.”

“Look,” Rosie said as she picked up a piece of paper, labelled to Master Splinter. “We should take this to him.”

The girls nodded and stumbled their way down to the shop. Raiden glanced up and noticed their tear stained face, not asking but knowing it was from the turtles.

“We’re going home Raiden,” Grace said and the other girls waited outside for her. “Master Splinter has a letter he needs to read. Thank you for the call.”

“I’ll send them down the next time there’s a parcel for you,” the older man smiled warmly and Grace hugged him, a single tear trekking down her face, dripping onto the floor.

“Here Sensei,” Grace said, handing the wise rat the paper. “This is for you. We didn’t read it.”

Splinter nodded and retreated to his room, closing the door behind him. He sat down in the lotus position and open the letter, his claws shaking. As he ready, his eyes widened. They are lacking skill and discipline towards how we use our weapons.

“Oh my sons,” the Master whispered and buried his face in his hands, his black eyes watering. “Good luck my sons.”

There was a knock on the door and Splinter wiped his eyes, folding his arms and closing his eyes.

“Yes?” he called and his ears twitched when the doors slid open.

April walked over to his side and sat beside him, a hand on his shoulder. He sighed and opened his eyes, head bowing.

“I already heard from the other girls what the boys had said,” she whispered. “The poor girls are huddled together crying.”

“I did not receive a letter from my sons, but from their Masters.”

“Oh.”

“Turns out they won’t be coming home when expected,” he whispered, voice breaking. “It could be years before they come home.”

With that, the rat let out a sniffle and April wrapped her arms around him, holding him as he wept, praying his sons would be alright.

“They got the letters,” said a girl with a Japanese background, her voice as smooth as silk.

“It seems we have caused a disruption within their lives,” continued a girl with pale skin, her voice filled with a British accent.

“What can we do?” questioned a voice filled with emotion, a worry etched on her porcelain skin.

“Nothing but train the turtles to be the best they can,” a bored voice filled the air, the owner a tanned girl with a thick Australian accent, her past a mystery to her sisters.

“I agree sister,” said the British voice.

“We mustn’t push them to hard,” retorted the caring voice, her eyes opening from the meditation the four were conducting. “They are expecting children from the ones who are their wives.”

The oldest, Quing-Ma, often hated it when Sahara could sense the emotion of those who they are training and the ones they love. The Japanese born sighed and relaxed, her three sisters doing the same.

“They can go home when we deem them ready.”