Chapter 1-A Departed Son

New York City…the night took over the skies. The City flicker their lights, honking their horns. Is one of those days…But not only on the surface was roaring. Below the decks of the streets was the sewer. Two mutant turtles fight over a TV remote…Michelangelo laid his arm on Raphael shell pinning him down on the floor as Raphael struggled to get free. Michelangelo yawned with boredom.

Mikey: U gonna try harder then that Raphael." He looked at his brother, anger rise in him.

Raph: "Oh I will!" He yelled as he grabs his brother arm and swung him over. Mikey yelped as he flew off to the ground losing the TV remote. That when Raphael caught it from thy air. "HA!" Suddenly in a quick set, the TV remote disappeared from Raphael hand. "Hey!" As he noticed Leonardo had took the remote from him.

Leo: "Sorry fellows. It's my night." He said with a smile across his face then he clicked on thy remote aiming the TV. Raphael sighs as Mikey whined on the floor, as their older brother had token over the TV. Raphael decided to seek something else to do. But as Mikey, there was only one option in his mind, Rough House. He looked at Raphael walking towards his room. Michelangelo blocked his path.

Mikey: "Hey! U wanna rough house Raph?" Raphael crossed his arms, pouting.

Raph: "No thanks Mikey. I got enough of you already." As he gently nudge him away, to his room. Mikey sadden as he plop himself on the crouch.

Inside Raphael's room, Raph took out his Sais from his belt and placed them on thy counter. He laid himself on his bed. Looking around his surroundings, he noticed something at one spot. He spotted a small black jewelry box. With curiosity, he went over and opened the jewelry box. Inside amaze his sight. He stared at a sparkling Ruby, Surrounded with golden linings, connected with a golden chain, as nothing merely special about it. It's was only a necklace…as Raphael stared at it. He started to memories once happened in his childhood.

About 9 years ago…somewhere in the alleys of New York City, He ran as fast he could, chase by ruthless, hungry dogs. Catching much breath he can. The toddler Raphael was dead-end by a metal fence. He looked behind him seeing the dogs growled at the toddler. 'Why? Didn't I listen!?!?' He blame himself for bring himself to the surface alone. The dogs slowly approached him as their face expression means death. The toddler back away and hit the fence with his mini shell as he looked how high the fence was. He decided to wing it. He started to climb. The dogs yelped as their food ran off to the night. The toddler was lost…as he tried to find a manhole cover…he couldn't find any…soon time had pasted by quickly. The toddler Raphael leans against the wall and let himself plop to the ground. He started to whimper as no one had found him yet, holding his knees close. He was found. A figure of a person approached the young turtle.

"U lost little one?" he asked politely to the toddler. Raphael was startled as he back away from him, shaking uncontrollable.

Raph: "Who r u?" He asked bravely.

Katsuro: "Katsuro." He looked at the toddler still scared by the look of him. Dark long hair covered by his Stetson cavalry hat, tied with a grey ribbon, dressed in a white t-shirt then grey trench coat over top, followed by black baggie pants. "And don't worry little one. I'm not gonna hurt u." He kneed in front of him showing his palm in front between them. Toddler Raphael looked at his cheery pale face. The small turtle decided to trust him as he gave his little palm on his. Then Katsuro stood up holding his hand. "Come child. I'll bring u to my home." As he looked at the toddler smile, the toddler looked upon him as he was his father. Katsuro then brought him to his home. Between the alleys was door inside was simple household enough for one. But it was filled with books, medicine, potions, and things Raph had never seen as much in the sewers.

Raph: "Wow. I can't imagine that u keep this much stuff in here." He looked at him, Katsuro shrugs his shoulders.

Katsuro: "I live alone." Then he let go of his hand and walked towards his small kitchen. "Hungry?" He asked the toddler that sat down on the floor near to the low flat table. The little one nodded his head. "Alright, hope u like Hawaiian pizza." As he started getting the ingredients, while he was cooking he asked the toddler without even looking at him, who was staring around his surroundings. "So, what you're name?"

Raph: "me?" He asked in such a child way. Katsuro chucked as he looked at toddler.

Katsuro: "Of course u. You're thy only guest here." Raphael shuffled his head between his shoulders.

Raph: "Raphael." he replied, Katsuro smiled.

Katsuro: "Nice name." then Raph smiled also.

Next day, Katsuro had leaded him to a manhole.

Katsuro: "U sure you'll be fine?" Raph nodded his head at him, as he removed the cover. "If u wanted too, u can visit me. I don't often get visitors." The toddler looked upon the Asian man.

Raph: "Don't worry Katsuro, I will!" Soon the toddler was gone though the sewers. Many days had pasted, Toddler Raphael had visit Katsuro as much as he can. They became better then friends more like father to son. Till one day…the tough little toddler came to the surface and knocked on his friend's door. But as he did the door slightly open.

Raphael: "Katsuro?" he called, he seen his friend quickly packing his things into a brown gym bag. "Katsuro, what's wrong?" he asked. Katsuro looked at his friend; confusion was marked on his face.

Katsuro: "I have to go Raphael-san. There some problems I have to deal with." He finally packed his bag. Raphael approached him.

Raph: "Must u leave?" he replied worried. Katsuro looked at his friend.

Katsuro: "Yeah. I have too."

Raph: "But u can't! You're like a father to me!" Katsuro was shocked. He looked at toddler Raphael with an innocent face. He sighed…then he remembered something. He grabs a small black jewelry box from the shelves and gave it to Raphael.

Katsuro: "Keep this safe Raphael-san. It belonged to my father's, since I have no son. You'll do. Protect it till I return…" Then he walked towards the door holding his tears back, as Raphael watched him, covering his face into the darkness but the toddler knew he was crying. "Good bye, Raphael-san." As Katsuro left, Raphael opened the jewelry box, seeing the shining red Ruby shined into his eyes. Then he looked at the door and thought would Katsuro ever come back?

Raphael: "Good-bye, father."

Mikey: "RAPH!! Open up it's an emergency!" He shouted out loud from thy other side of the door, Raphael sighs as he thought it might be one of Michelangelo pranks. He quickly put away the jewelry box where it once was placed. Raphael opened the door as he sees no pest younger brother.

Raph: "You better not be toying with me Mikey." He stood there pouting as suddenly Mikey tackled him as both of them fell to the ground inside Raphael's room, Raphael growled at him and pushed him off of him.

Raph: "Do that again Mikey and u wouldn't be here for seconds!" He said as he stood himself up. Michelangelo looked around his surroundings of his brother's room. He had spotted the black jewelry box.

Mikey: "Hey what's that." He asked Raphael, as he just crossed his arms and grunted. Mikey grab hold on the box and opened slowly as Raphael noticed what he was doing. Raph snapped at him as he quickly slam the jewelry box lid close and swipe it away from Mikey. He gave a dagger stare.

Raph: "Get out of my room Mikey!" As he pushed him out of his room and slammed the door behind him. Leaving Mikey stunned as ever, he looked at door behind him.

Mikey: "Hot-head!" He taunted but he relieves no respond afterwards. Michelangelo sighs as he walked off to Donatello's lab. Inside Donatello tech-lab, Mikey spotted Donatello fixing one of his gadgets.

Mikey: "Hey Donny. What yea making?" He approached next to him, over at his table. Donatello seems slightly confused as he carefully looked at his gadget. Mikey felt annoyed because of this. "Smarty-pants, you listening?"

Don: "Nope!" He said quickly, that startled Mikey. His tech brother then kept his focus on his work. As Michelangelo tries to think of an idea of getting attention, that when he thought about the black jewelry box in Raphael's room and also remembered how Raphael acted after he tried to open it.

Mikey: "Hey Don. Have u ever thought Raphael cares about anything?" Donatello finally snapped out of focus as he looked at his brother. Merely confused.

Don: "Yeah, he cares about us and his friends even your cat Klunk." Mikey sudden waved his hands at him.

Mikey: "No. I mean something he actually cherished something special." Donny raises his eyebrow.

Don: "He has a girlfriend?" Then Mikey slapped his face.

Mikey: "No I mean there something in Raph's room." Finally Donatello took noticed.

Don: "What r u up to Mikey?" He asked suspicious that made Mikey nervous even to answer his question. "And what is it?" That question Mikey could answer, he grinned at him. Giving him a hint they together should check it out. Donatello eyes went blink…

Don: "U crazy Mikey! U know how tight Raphael is if we are snooping in his stuff!" Suddenly Mikey eyes went so, puppyish. Donny twitched as he stared at his puppy eyes. He begins to sweat as he slowly repeated to himself don't resist the face. But it was too late he gave it in. "Alright! I'll help u." He said finally as Mikey reduce his previous eyes.

Mikey: "That the spirit Donny! All we have to do is to check what Raph keeps in that black box." He said happily as Donatello sighs with grief. 'How in the world did I get myself into…?'