A Normal Life
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Chapter Three: A Turn For The Worse
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Mike stood on his tiptoes to see over the throng of students, trying to spot his friends in the middle of the auditorium. He finally spotted Raphael's flame red hair and made his way over there. As he plopped down in the chair next to Raph, he asked, "So, do you know what this is about?"
Raph was leaning back in his seat. "The same thing the second day of school assembly is always about, Mike. 'Welcome to a new school year, bla bla bla. Staff changes, bla bla bla. Parking rates going up...'"
"They did that just last year, Raph, I doubt they'll do it again."
"I'm still bitter."
"When are you not?" Kali asked jokingly as she took the seat on the other side of Raph.
Raph smirked as he stretched his arm over the back of her seat. "You thought I was pretty sweet last night."
Mike couldn't resist. "Awwwwww!" Then he quickly ducked before Raph could smack him. He was saved by the sound of a throat being cleared echoing through the auditorium.
"Where's Principal Hamato?" Kali whispered, as Saki Oroku started his speech, speaking in that harsh monotone of his.
Raph glared at Mr. Oroku up on stage. Mr. Hamato was supposed to be giving this speech. He always gave this speech.
"Maybe he's sick," Mike whispered back.
"He's never sick," Kali hissed.
Raphael turned his head slightly and matched gazes with Leonardo, also up on stage. As class president, Leo would be giving a short speech as well. They locked eyes, but instead of sparks and tension, there were questions. And neither of them had answers.
***
Raphael didn't bother with the handrail as he went down the school's front steps to where his friends were waiting for him. "So, Mr. Student Council President, what's going on?"
Leonardo chose to ignore Raph's tone, since there were much more important matters at hand. "Principal Hamato has gone missing."
"What?" Mike exclaimed. He'd waited somewhat patiently for the news until everyone was here. He was hoping for something a little more, well, hopeful.
Leo nodded. "He's definitely not at school. I asked Oroku and he said that Mr. Hamato was sick."
"But?" Don arched an eyebrow, hearing the doubt in Leo's voice.
"But none of the other staff can confirm it. Or won't."
"You think something's up?"
"Yes, Raph, I do, and we're going to find out what it is."
***
Leonardo stopped his car in its usual spot in front of the local dojo. This place had be a part of the lives of Leo and his friends for as long as they could remember. In fact, that's how they all met, through this dojo, in the beginning karate class they all took when they were six.
Since then, they'd all moved on to their own martial art paths, rarely being in the same class. Until last summer...
*Flashback*
Mikey pulled a tight turn around the corner, jumping up to grind the bus stop bench before continuing to swerve past people and stable objects. When he reached his destination, he kicked his skateboard up into his hands. He took a deep, exaggerated breath. "I love that smell!"
"What smell?" Leo asked, which was followed by the *beep* of a car alarm.
"The smell of freedom, bro!" Mike hugged Leo around the shoulder. "Freedom!"
"It's only summer vacation, Mikey, it happens every year."
"And I love it every year," Mike stubbornly continued. "They should have it more often."
Leo just shook his head and sighed, "Mike..." as he pushed open the front doors of the dojo.
They spotted Donatello just dismissing his class. Mike and Leo smiled at the tired, yet happy, six-year-olds. Don grabbed his water bottle and walked over to them. "Hey guys, I didn't know you had classes today."
"We didn't know you did either, Donnie. What's with the munchkin squad?" Mike smiled and waved at the kids as they waited for their parents to pick them up.
"It's just a summer job," Don told them. "It's pretty fun, actually. And teaching is good for keeping your basics sharp."
Leo nodded. "Actually, I'm not here for a class. Someone called and said that Sensei wanted to see me right away."
"Whoa. You, too?" Mike asked. "You think we're in trouble?"
"All three of us? And I think Raph got the message, too." Don hiked his thumb over his shoulder. "He's in the private room, giving Kali some tips."
"Oh, I'm so sure," Leo drawled, walked off towards the adjacent room. It was smaller, no way to safely fit more than three sparring couples in at one time. It was usually used for private lessons or meditation.
Raphael was adjusting Kali's grip on her bo when Leo walked in. He gave them a you're-actually-training? look before asking, "Do either of you know where Sensei is?"
"Nope," Raph replied. "Pimiko told me to wait in here until he was ready."
"Guess we're waitin'," Mike said, plopping down against the wall.
Raphael looked thoroughly annoyed as the three sat down. A few seconds later a young woman a few years older than they were walked in and bowed. "Sensei is prepared to see you now." She looked; no, glared, at Kali. "Miss," she hissed. "You're going to have to leave."
"Of course," Kali replied with just as much venom. "I'll be waiting outside," she told Raph before bowing out of the room.
After Pimiko left the room as well, the four remaining students took their places along one edge of the mat. Their wait was not long. A few moments later an old, and deceptively slow, man entered the room. The four students bowed low, waiting for their Sensei to take his place. Sensei gave them the order and they all raised up into a stiff sitting position.
The Master Sensei spoke slowly, as if every word was of great importance. And that was true, what the Sensei was about to say would change the lives of the students before him.
"Every few years I choose from my top students, those who show the skill, desire, and ability to go beyond what is taught to the general public. You four... are about to enter a level of training more intense than anything you have experienced before. It goes beyond mere self-defense and confidence building, to the depths of your very being, and it will change your entire view of the world."
He paused, taking in the reactions of the boys before him. They were all curious and excited, but containing themselves well. Leonardo and Raphael kept their serious faces, but their eyes showed much emotion. Donatello was quietly thinking, and it was quite obvious that he was intrigued. Michael was almost an open book to Sensei, his excitement was shining in his eyes, and a smiled tugged on his lips.
"You are free to decline," Sensei continued. "But I doubt any one of you would pass up an opportunity to learn the ways of the Ninja..."
*End Flashback*
Leo gripped his car keys tightly. Their lives had changed so drastically since then. Just three short months of training and they were practically entirely new people. He wasn't sure if anyone else noticed it, but he and the others sure did. And they hadn't even scratched the surface...
Leo was pulled from his thoughts by Mikey's exclamation.
"Mei Pieh, dudette! I didn't expect to see you here!"
Sure enough, standing over in one corner with another student was Mei Pieh Chi, wearing a uniform that none of them had ever seen before. She looked over and smiled. She spoke quickly with the person next to her, then walked over to them. "Hello again. Do you train here?"
"Yeah, since we were like, six," Mike told her. "Did you just sign up?"
"Actually, the head of this dojo is a friend of my father. I am staying here with him while I am in America."
"So you're living with Sensei upstairs?" Don asked, looking upward. They all knew that Master Sensei lived in an apartment on the second floor of the dojo, but none of them had ever been up there.
"Yes, I am," Mei Pieh answered. "And I am allowed to practice here in the dojo."
"So I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of you then," Raph commented.
"I hope so," Mei Pieh smiled. "I would like to count you all among my friends."
"Count us in!" Mike replied enthusiastically, giving her a thumbs-up.
Leo nodded in agreement, as did Raph and Don. Leo held up his hand. "Excuse me for one second." He walked over to the desk near the door. "Pimiko, has Hamato-sensei been in today?"
Pimiko looked straight into Leo's eyes. "No, he has not. He missed his beginner's class yesterday, as well. His wife called and said he was sick."
"Awww, poor Hamato-sensei," Mike frowned. Leo cast an annoyed glance over his shoulder only to see that the entire group had migrated over to the desk. "We should go see him."
"No!" Pimiko exclaimed. Leo looked back at her with a suspicious glare. Pimiko cleared her throat and regained her usual cold manner. "He is very ill, and wishes no visitors."
Leonardo held Pimiko's gaze a few seconds longer, then turned away. "Thank you, Pimiko. Have a nice day." He then walked right out of the dojo, the rest of the group following, all casting curious or downright hostile looks at Pimiko as they passed.
"So, anybody else smell a rat?" Raph asked as they reached the parking lot.
"Something's definitely wrong," Don agreed.
"I still say we go visit Mr. Hamato," Mike said.
Leo pulled out his car keys. "I was thinking the same thing, Mikey." Leo didn't want to worry the others needlessly, but he was getting a very bad feeling about this.
"May I come as well?"
Leo looked over in surprise, he hadn't realized Mei Pieh had followed them all the way out here. "Well, I..."
"That girl was lying," Mei Pieh told him bluntly.
"I coulda told you that," Raph sneered. "If she's breathing she's lying."
"She does not know the truth," Mei Pieh continued. "But she knows that what she told you is not."
Raph looked at her suspiciously. "How do you know that?"
Mei Pieh suddenly looked shy. "I... study techniques that allow me to gather more information than mere words can provide."
"Like mind reading?" Mike smiled. "Can you read my mind? Can you see the future?"
"Don't be silly, Mike," Don said. "Mind reading isn't possible."
Mei Pieh blushed, but spoke with a steady voice. "Not exactly mind reading. More along the lines of reading... body language."
Leo looked at her. Mei Pieh got the distinct impression that he didn't believe her. But instead of calling her on it, he simply smiled. "I'm impressed. Usually Pimiko's a good enough liar to convince even those who know her well. Welcome to the team, Mei Pieh."
***