Braving it in the New World

“Yoshi, are you sure this is the right place?” April asked. The little house looked like it was empty. She adjusted her backpack on her shoulders and looked at her friend, skeptically. He’d been so sure that Shen’s sister would still live here.

“Yes,” Hamato Yoshi said, sadly. “This was Shen’s house.” He walked up the overgrown pathway and knocked gently on the door. It fell off it’s hinges and hit the floor, sending up a cloud of dust and cobwebs. April followed Yoshi inside; there was an old table and chair in the kitchen, but the rest of the little rooms were empty.

“Come on,” April said kindly. She took his hand and led him back out to the little lane that he kept calling a road. “Let’s keep walking - the village is up ahead somewhere, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” he said, not releasing her hand. They’d been holding hands a lot as they walked, but nothing else had happened. Of course, he’d thought about kissing her. He’d thought about that for years! But there was always he beloved Shen in his heart... there was always his promise that he’d love only her... “It’s another mile or so.”

They walked on in silence for a few minutes before April said, “None of this is your fault. You do know that right?” Splinter opened his mouth to speak, but April cut him off. “And don’t give me any of that honor stuff, either. Honor’s all well and good, but you shouldn’t torture yourself over all the would-have, could-have, should-haves in your life.”

Yoshi gave her hand a squeeze and let it drop from his grip. They were getting close to his old village now and well... it was Japan. Hand-holding and hugging was a Western thing that the villagers would see as strange. They’d think he was strange enough, appearing after all these years, and April... Yoshi suppressed a small chuckle. Her red hair made her stand out like a sore thumb. At least her Japanese wasn’t good enough for her to understand that young boys commented on her breasts everywhere they went.

April sighed audibly as he let go of her hand. Yoshi was always like this and she didn’t think she could take it much more. He loved her - she knew that. He never said it, but she just knew... didn’t she? Why wouldn’t he take things further? She’d helped him raise the turtles... he and she had always been so close... they’d shared so much... their dreams, their lives, their hopes, their fears... everything except a bed. He always had to keep a buffer between them and it was finally starting to wear her out. Maybe she should stop waiting for him to come around.

April straightened her back as they hiked over the top of the hill and looked down at the village in the valley. She hadn’t become a good journalist by mooning around for a man. If he wouldn’t hold her hand in public or make any kind of move in private, then she wasn’t going to find someone who would.

Yoshi could hardly believe his eyes. He’d been so worried about what the village would look like after they’d seen Shen’s house, but here it was, exactly as he’d left it. He picked up his pace as they followed the narrow road down into the sunny valley. Nothing had changed at all; it was like the place had been frozen in time.

Everyone looked up and stared at April as they walked through maze of homes. Splinter knew exactly where he was going. He felt wonderfully alive and excited. These were his people, his family! Cries of “Yoshi? Yoshi!” began to surround him as long-forgotten cousins emerged from a cluster of houses to greet them. He almost hugged them, but then he remembered himself and bowed low to each of them. Most he remembered, some he didn’t recognize until they re-introduced themselves with a laugh.

April understood just enough Japanese to get that almost everyone was asking if she was his wife. April withered inside slightly every time she he said no.

“Hello there,” a strong voice said next to her in Japanese. April turned away from Splinter and gasped slightly at the handsome man who stood before her.

“Hello,” she said, bowing slightly. He bowed in response and immediately asked if she was his cousin’s wife.

“No,” April responded. “I’m not. We’re just friends.”

The man raised an eyebrow a little, but smiled. “I am Hamato Kiyoshi,” he said.

“April O’Neil,” she said, sticking her hand out, without thinking. “Oh!” she said, suddenly realizing her error. She pulled her hand back quickly. To her surprise, Kiyoshi reached his hand out for hers.

“You are very respectful of our customs,” he said, as she shook her hand. “I can be respectful of yours, too.”

“Thank you,” April smiled. “I try to remember, but it’s hard. I only speak a little Japanese, too.”

“Then I will teach you more,” Kiyoshi said in perfect English. He still hadn’t let go of her hand as he bowed to her again.