Blake's P.O.V

I wok to voices outside my room. After last night, when I left the Dojo, I had almost immediately after the door was shut. gotten under the blankets and falled asleep. A good bed was one this, I had not received in a long time. The voices were right outside the door. I didn't even open my eyes to know it was the turtles.

"She likes you better, you wake her!"

"No go dude! Your the leader, you go!"

"Nope, ain't doing it. Donnie, you go."

"Me? I've never talked with her!"

"Okay, Raph, Your gonna train her. You do it. No buts about it."

"What! I never- *sigh* okay. Fine."

I heard the door open, and the footsteps come closer. There was a faint, "Go Raph!" and then a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, Blake, get up."

I sit up and rub my eyes. My room lights were still off. I could barely make out the silhouette that Raph's large figure made. The light from the hall was blocked by Donnie, Leo, and Mikey. I tilted her head up, and my eyes met Raph's eyes. "Morning." I said. Raph gave a small laugh. "More like night. It's almost 9:30 P.M." He lowered himself to sit on the bed. "Did you sleep good?"

I gave a lazy nod. "Yeah. best bed I've had in years." then I glanced down. "Hey, Sorry about yelling at the other night.you hit a sensitive spot is all." Raph leaned forward and put his hand on My knee. "No, my fault. Ask my brothers, i lost my temper easy. My bad." I jump a little at the touch. Raph pulled back, then mover his hand to my face. I didn't even take the time to find out why. A moment later i'm on the other side of the room, back to the wall. Raph did a double take to see what happened. Leo,Donnie, and Mikey gasp and walk in. "Blake! How did you do that!" Mikey jumped over to me, his arms open. But i was still on edge. I wait for him to come closer, and i pounce. I grab his shoulder and use it to pull myself over him. I try and run for the door, but Leo had one arm out and Donnie did also. I crash into their arms, and Leo said, "Hey, your okay." i look at him, panting. He gave me a smile. "Raph and Mikey weren't gonna hurt you, Okay?"

I pull back, still short of my breathing. Leo grabbed my shoulder and looked me in my eyes. I came to like that. That he never looked away when he spoke with me. Always in the eyes. He turned his head to the side. "Why did you jump?" i looked at his worried eyes before answering. I looked at Donnie's concerned face before answering. I looked at a stunted Mikey before answering. I looked at Raph, who was still sitting on my bed before answering. I looked at the ground before answering. Then i looked at Leo. "I sorry, but i needed to know you better first." Leo gave a nod. "Okay, that's fair. Now, how about Breakfast?"

***

Okay, the turtles knew how to cook. Especially Mikey. The pancakes, despite being pizza flavored, were the legit best thing ever! "Mikey, this is the best!" I said, looking at him, "And i'm not just saying this because i like you!" Mikey turned a bright red. "Aw, thanks." he opened the freezer and stowed the extra away. Then he turned and chirped, "Good Morning Master Splinter!" I turn to the doorway. Master Splinter had walk in. he stopped and turned to me. "Good Morning, Blake. May i speak to you privately?" i give him a smile, and hoped up. He lead me to his dojo, and tuned to me. "I take that some of you belongings, such as clothing and worldly goods are still at your former home?" i felt my eyes widen, and i face palm. Of course, everything i could still call my own were with Mrs. Holly at her house. I look at him. "My i go get them?"

Master Splinter gave me a smile. "Of course. And i will come with you. I have not be outside in a long time, and wish to do some, 'things' to...to... what is the name of the woman that formally owned you?"
"Mrs. Holly, sensei. May i call you that?"
" of course, but Raph is going to train you. I'll help him, for he has no experience. Is that right, my sons?"

He walked over the a round doorway, pulled the blanket/door aside the show the turtles, eavesdropping, agine.

Raph leaped up. " think we sho-

"Stay here and train?" Master Splinter interrupted. "That's perfect." Raph open his mouth, likely to argue, but instead shut it and bowed. His brother sat up and copied. Master splinter turned back to me. "Ready?"

***

After i slip my old dress on so that no one could see my scales, which would have been bad, we slip out to the night. The ally was dead quit. The only other breathing being was a homeless man, sleeping on a piece of cardboard. The sky was all black, the stars from the other night were gone, as if they were making my last normal night the best for me. The last time seemed years ago. Master Splinter pulled his hood up, and turn to me. "Which way?"

I whisper, "This way,"and turned. We run past apartment after apartment, building after building, bus station after bus station. Master Splinter was keeping an even pace with me. And gave the breaks i needed to catch my breath. Soon we turned down Barro (mud in Spanish. Found it fitting for the history there with Blake) street. The street that held Mrs.Holly's house. One bad thing about the street was that every house was 3 stories tall, 3 windows on each floor, with no space next to the neighboring house. On the first floor was 2 windows on either side of the front door. All red brick with stone steps and the same dark wood doors with brass handles. The only differences were the curtains in the white pane window, welcome mats, flowers in the plant pots, and door numbers. I stop at number 536 Barro street. Mrs.Holly's house. Unlike the other house's, this house had the same white lace curtains in the 8 windows and had no welcome mat or flowers. Unlike the other night, not one light was on. I creep to the front door, and juggle the knob. "Locked." Master splinter stepped forward and grabbed the knob. He closed his eyes for one moment, then let go the knob. Then the door swung open. I jump back, Expecting Mrs. Holly, but it had on its open. I look at Master Splinter, my mouth gaping like a fish. He turned to me, and smile on his lips. I had a feeling Raph could not teach me what Master Splinter had just done. We walk. The stairs were right in front of us. The kitchen was to the left, and the door to the dining room was on the right, past the stairs. A table was under the right window. On it was a mug and a brown handbag. Master Splinter turned to me. "Go retrieve your things. Take this. "He passed me a red satchel. "Put your thing in this. I will be there in a moment."

I slip up the first flight of stairs. At the top was a single hallway, with a french door way. One of the 3 windows was at the end, with a table under it. The table had a flower pot with white dove feathers. The bathroom was on my right, the hall with Mrs. Holly's room and the window was on the left, with a slim staircase between the french doors and first staircase. I watch Mrs. Holly's door, almost begging her to come out so that i could rub in her face that i was leaving. But the door never moved.i slip up the second staircase.

There was a small bedroom on the far side, right above second floor window. Under the middle window and far right window (the windows are told on the directions of the outside perspective.) was a long bookcase filled with cheesy romance novels and a wine cupboard.

I slip into the bedroom. It was empty, with white bed sheets, one pillow, a chest at the foot, and a wash bin. The only that that was uncommon in a house like Mrs.Holly's was my shrine.

I had seen one in the dojo, no doubt it was Master Splinter's. It was on a folding table that you'd find at a picnic or something. On it was a picture of a woman holding a small girl. It was a black and white photo, but showed the happiness. Nether the woman or the child were looking at the camera, but smiling at each other. The woman was long haired, and had a Yukata on. The girl was also formally dressed, but was in a Kimono. He hair was in a short braid. You could only see the woman's upper half, but girl was wearing tall socks and wooden sandals. The background was a street festival, with fireworks and food booths on the streets and sky.At the top was, in kana (Japanese writing.) was:

阿波おどり祭り8月14日。 Ryu Mirthと彼女の娘、Blake Mirth。

(Date August 14 at the awa odori festival. Ryu Mirth and her daughter, Blake Mirth.)

I kneel at the shrine. I bow my head and whisper, "Okāsan, watashi ga hokori ni omou tame ni watashi wa anata ni jinja o ataeru koto ga dekiru koto o dono yō ni nozomu ka. Aitaiyo, itoshi teru." (Mother, how i wish that i could give you a shrine to be proud of. i miss you, and i love you.)

Lifting my head, i grab the photo frame and slip it into the outer pocket of the satchel. Then i go to the chest, flipping the lid back. Inside was the few clothing possessions i owned, and a circle box with the yin yang symbol carved into it. Instead of black and white, it was bright yellow and dark black. This box was the gift i had been given by my mother when i was one. My first gift, and its survived all 11 years I've had it. (Shout out if you can guess Blake's Age. tell me if i said it somewhere else.)

I grab my few clothing options. A white no sleeve top with a black tree, a black flanlly pair of socks. 2 pairs of sleep pants, one was black with purple stars, and the other was green with red flowers. 3 shirts, all short sleeve with cheese images. One was orange with a black cat. One was light blue with dolphin. And one was green with Pusheen eating a rice ball. The last was my only long sleeve top was a black hoodie with a green/blue sea turtle with big green eyes like Raph's. 3 pairs of faded black pants and 2 school uniforms.

I never brought school books home, so that wasn't a problem. I jam everything into the bag. Then i grab 2 things from their hiding place under the floorboards. Both were my mothers. On that night, that evil night, i took 3 things. The yin yang box, and 2 things of my mothers. One was a fan, that had been in her family for years, and a bag that she made for me when i turned 2. I have few memories of her, but her telling me about that fan, and her giving me the bag stood out so much, it sometimes hurt.

I take one last look around before leaving. There was nothing left for me. Master Splinter wasn't on the third floor anywhere, so i slip downstairs. He wasn't there either, so i keep going. I find him doing something i'm pretty sure he'd never do. He was pawing around Mrs.Holly's handbag. I race to him. I whisper yell, "What are you doing!" he turned to me, and said in the same low tone, but not yelling, "Taking what is yours.

"What!"
"I know my fair share of foster systems. The money the government sends is for you, right?"
"Yess, but this is stealing!"
"Isoide! Kore wa anata no monodesu. Ima ī ko ni natte soto de matte. Kore wa kaishūde wa arimasen ka? (Hush! this is what is yours. now be a good girl and wait outside. is this not payback?)"

Well, he wasn't wrong. And i was kinda happy he spoke in Japanese. It felt right. So i wait on the front step. When he came out, he had Mrs. Holly's plane brown wallet in his paw and was pulling money out. When he was done, he flung the cash to me and tossed the wallet to the floor outside. Then he turned to me.

"Ready to return home? The boys must be ready to play with their new sister."
"Hai.(Yes) I'm ready to go home."

Home. I don't say that often.