Love Never Lost

Never Say Xever: Part 2

Brooke's POV:

We all sit beside one another, excitedly watching as Murakami works in the kitchen. Once most of the work required for the meal is done, Donnie voices what we are simultaneously thinking.

Donnie: "Murakami-San, that was awesome!"

Mikey: "You're like a ninja, but for food!"

Murakami smiles at us in gratitude as he provides each of us with a plate of dumplings and April with a bowl of soup.

Murakami: "Pizza gyoza."

April & I: "Pizza gyoza?"

The guys poke at their food with their chopsticks before they each pick up a dumpling and eat it. I do the same, and I'm speechless. These dumplings are the best things I've ever eaten. The others speak up to express their delight.

Donnie: "It's like I got a one-way ticket to Flavorville."

Raph: "Wow! I know where I'm bringing you on our next date, Beautiful."

I giggle at his remark as April holds up her bowl of soup.

April: "This is really good too, you know."

The guys glance at her before returning to their food. I put a hand on her shoulder in reassurance before turning to Murakami.

Me: "Murakami-San, do the Purple Dragons come around a lot?"

Murakami sighs as he explains the seriousness of his circumstances.

Murakami: "Yes. They demand protection money, but I refuse to pay. They will surely return."

I nod before straightening my posture.

Me: "Well, if they do, April knows how to find us."

As Murakami nods with a small smile in gratitude, I spot Mikey stealing Leo's dumplings. Leo notices this a second too late as he turns to Mikey with a glare, the goofball's mouth stuffed with food. I chuckle before offering my plate to the blue-clad turtle. He turns to me with a grateful smile as we each take two dumplings.

{Time skip}

Leo & I are standing on opposite sides of the attack dummy, blowing off steam from our altercation with the Purple Dragons. After Leo delivers a punch to the dummy, Raph steps up to him with a mocking tone.

Raph: "Whoa, whoa, Leo. I think he's had enough. You better let him go."

Leo: "I get it. You're making fun of us for not mercilessly pummeling a helpless man."

Raph: "Not Brooke. She's my girlfriend, so I have to stay on her good side.."

He winks at me as I roll my eyes with a playful grin before he turns back to Leo with a frown.

Raph: "But with you? Yes, I am. You showed weakness. Those guys only understand one language."

Mikey interjects as he looks up from the comic he's reading on the opposite side of the room.

Mikey: "Chinese?"

I laugh as Raph leaps to stand before Mikey with a fist raised.

Raph: "No, fists."

Mikey: "What about feet?"

Mikey wiggles his right foot, causing Raph to roll his eyes with an annoyed sigh.

Raph: "They understand feet."

Now it's Donnie's turn to interject as he sits with a magazine on the side of the room across from Raph & Mikey.

Donnie: "That would make them bilingual."

At this point, I'm doing everything I can to hide my laughter at their counterclaims to Raph's statement. Raph raises his arms into the air in annoyance.

Raph: "The point is, we can't go soft on them."

Splinter walks to stand a few feet away from Leo & me as he offers his advice on the subject.

Splinter: "To show mercy is not soft, it is a sign of true strength."

Raph turns to face Splinter in an attempt to win the argument.

Raph: "But, Sensei, they're criminals. This is war!"

Splinter turns to me for assistance.

Splinter: "Brooke, remember I once told you about a daimyo of the 16th century? What was it he once said?"

I smile as I recite the saying I've come to know by heart.

Me: "In times of peace, never forget the possibility of war."

Splinter: "Yes. And in times of war, never forget...?"

Me: "Compassion."

Splinter nods with a warm smile. We both turn as we hear Raph mutter with his head turned away.

Raph: "I'm guessing that guy lost a lot of wars."

Splinter moves to hit Raph in the face with his staff, pausing as Raph gasps in surprise.

Splinter: "See? Mercy."

Splinter whacks Raph on the arm with his staff. Raph rubs his arm as he relents on his side of the argument.

Raph: "Ok, look. Compassion is great. But the Purple Dragons are not going to leave Murakami alone."

Me: "So we'll track down the Dragons and make sure they got the message."

Leo: "And if they didn't, we'll send them one."

Leo makes a fist to show how serious he is.

Leo: "Special delivery."

Raph turns to him with a look of confusion.

Raph: "Was that supposed to sound tough, or stupid?"

Donnie: "How are we gonna track someone down when we can't talk to anybody?"

I send the three of them a confident grin.

Me: "I may have someone on the inside working from the outside."

TO BE CONTINUED