tmntloverxoxos '09 Entry P2

At last. The big day has arrived. Christmas day had come at last, and all the people of New York City were feeling as merry and bright as a turtle with a slice of pizza. Speaking of turtles, let's go down to the sewers and see how their Christmas is going.

All about the floor is torn rapping paper, ripped up boxes, and eight very contented turtles.'
"Whoa, awesome!"Michelangelo cried. "A new game for my psp! Wicked," Michelangelo became so excited with his gift, he almost forgot to read to card.
"Hmmm, let's see who you're from,' Michelangelo mumbled as he read the card aloud.
" 'To: My little gamer. Merry Christmas! Love, Clover' Aww, that's so totally sweet of you, Clo!" Michelangelo ran over to Clover to give her a hug.
"Okay, now you open mine," Mikey said excitedly, offering Clover a long, narrow box covered in wrapping paper.
"Probably a box of pencils," Raphael sniggered, immediately getting elbowed in the chest by Mona.
When Clover unwrapped the box, it certainly wasn't a box of pencils. It was a beautiful, silver bracelet that sparkled like a great big diamond. The charms on the bracelet were adorable, marked by little momentos of their friendship; something Clover had always wanted.
"Oh, my stars," Clover exclaimed, "Michelangelo, I have to admit, I wouldn't expect this kind of present coming from you, but I absolutely love it!!"
Nobody else expected that kind of gift coming for Michelangelo, and Clover looked so happy with her gift she nearly cried. Oh, and boy was Raphael's face red when Mona opened her gift from him.
"Why is it that Clover gets a bracelet and I GET A HAIRBRUSH!?!?!?!" Mona growled at Raphael.
And the only way Raphael could responde was"Uh, well, I , eh, djo, whaii..." and that's when Mikey cut in again.
"Oh RAAAAAAAAAAPHIE!!!!!" Mikey sang.
Raphael sighed and nearly walked away, when Michelangelo popped out in front of him with big innocent eyes looking up at him with a small package in his hand.
"Pwease open it?" Mikey asked with that puppy dog face of his.
"Grrr; Alright! Whatevah- I'll open it, but then will you leave me alo--" Raphael couldn't believe his eyes. Inside the little present, there it was. Raph's favorite glass ornament that Michelangelo had broken was sitting right there in the box as if it were never broken. At first, all Raphael could do was sputter in befuttlement, but then once he got his speech back, he asked, "M-Mikey? H-how did..."
"Boy, do I love eBay. Don't you?" Michelangelo said crossing his arms.
"C'ere, you knuckle head," Raphael shouted, "And give me a big hug!"
Michelangelo paused for a moment. Then saw Raphael charging toward him and let out a loud 'AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" as he ran away.

After everyone else had opened up their gifts (Katana sharpeners, bladed fans, tools that can withstand electric-wave length pressure, and Japanese perfume), the gang began talking about their plans for Master Splinter's gift.
"Okay," Leonardo said, "So everybody's clear on the..."
All of a sudden, Master Splinter walked into the room, and everybody stopped and stared at him like he had three heads. And, of course, as a counter reaction, Master Splinter did the same. Two minutes of staring-no talking; just staring.
That is, until Michelangelo went to break the silence.
"U-ummMerry...CHRISTMAS, SENSEI!!!!!" Mikey cried.
Splinter stared at his youngest son who was now down on one knee, big goofy smile on his face, and arms held out wide to each corner of the rooom. Then, the old rat blinked, gave a kind smile, and replied, "Thank you, my son."
Thus, everyone joined in.
"Merry Christmas, Sensei!'
"Yo, Masta Splinta! Merry Christmas!!"
"Merry Christmas, Splinter-son!
Leonardo then looked at the clock, walked over to his master, and they embraced with a tender, loving hug.
"Merry Christmas, Father," Leonardo piped up calmly.
"And a most merry Christmas to you, my son. *Pst!* Did I not tell you Miss Nari would love th perfume?" Splinter whispered (only, Nari still heard him anyhow, and began to giggle)
"Umm, yes, Sensei. You were right about that," Leonardo replied, looking over at Nari who had given the secret signal they all had agreed on the other night to see if it was time for them to give Splinter his gift yet. Leonardo nodded 'yes', and then redirected his attention back to his small rat father.
"Eh, Master Splinter..." Leonardo began, sheepishly.
"What is it, my son?" Splinter asked.
"Um, well, it's just that, we, um, have a...gift for you," Leonardo answered.
"Oh, my children! You need not get me a gift," Splinter remarked, subtley searching under the tree for his present; only to find tissue paper and empty boxes of presents that once were.
"But...my son," Splinter pointed out, rather sadly, "There is no gift for me underneath the tree."
"That's because," Mikey chimed in, carefully forcing a blindfold on Splinter's little head, "The gift isn't heeeere."
"But, where, my children? Where is the gift," Splinter asked eagerly.
"You'll see when we get there, Masta," replied Raphael as he repeatedly kept gently nudging his Sensei to the opening to the surface.

The gang led the "blind" rat to an open field, which was not too far away from the city, but just far enough so you could still see the flickering lights from the buildings.
"May I please take this infernal bandana off," begged Splinter.
Everyone turned to Leo. Leo nodded, and thus rang a simultaneous "YES!!"

Just as Master Splinter took off the blindfold, he noticed before his eyes adjusted that he was outside; a place he had not been for years.  On the ground he felt the icy cold touch of--could it be?! Why, yes, it was; snow! Then the old rat looked up to find that beautiful little crystals of white fluff were whirling around an infinite sky; and perfect snow day that Splinter had not seen for 20 years. The scenery so magnificant, its beauty could make you cry.
And, as if that wasn't enough, but Splinter look of at Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, Clover, Venus De Milo, Mona Lisa, and Nari all standing in a neat little row singing a few "ooh's"  behind Leonardo, who stood about five feet away from Splinter.
...And then, he began to speak.
"Father," Leonardo began, and already was Splinter crying, "Father, we understand that you miss your good friend and master, Hamato Yoshi, especially seeing that this was his favorite time of the year. But, that is why we brought you here. The snow, you said, was only a memory of 20 years ago; and that it hasn't been around since Hamato Yoshi left you. But, now you must see that Yoshi isn't gone; he lives in the small things- in the world around you. You must know that from this moment all, whether you're thinking of a Yoshi/ Splinter traditon or being our Sensei and father,  you will never be alone because we love you and would never let that happen to you. Bringing you hear was sort like, well, the ultimate Christmas present, where we hope you realize that though people die, memories do not, and neither do their spirits. And we hope that you always remember that you've got family that'll stick it out 'til the end, and we love you."

Splinter smiled at all his beautiful children, as they smiled back, and thought he was choked up with tears, Master Splinter somehow muttered a soft "Thank you".

"Oh! I almost forgot- another Yoshi/Splinter tradition," Leonardo thumbed russled through his jacket pocket to pull out a small harmonica and played a single 'A' flat, and immediately after Donnie, Raph, Mikey, and the gang hummed the tune to "White Christmas".
"I'm, eh, sorry it isn't in Japanese, Sensei," Leonardo apologized.
And all Splinter could do was laugh and smile, but the smile grew bigger as Leonardo began to sing.
"Ahem... IIIII'm dreaming of a whiiiiiiite Christmaaas. Just like the ooooooones I used to knoooow..."
Master Splinter could hardly believe how marvelously Leonardo sang. He sound just like Bing Crosby- No! Better than him: he sounded like Hamato Yoshi when he sang it all those years ago. Soon, Splinter's ears were flooded with the beauty of the American version his son sang and the Japanese version that he knew so well, and the joy was almost too overbearing that Splinter started to sob tears of pride and joy.
".....May you daaaaaaays be meeeeeerry-and briiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii........"
And as Leonardo held that note, Splinter looked up at the sky and here a voice echo "Kurisumasu odato, Splinter-son."
"And a very Merry Christmas to you too, Yoshi-son."
".....And may allllll your Chriiistmases be whiiiiiite." Leonardo finished softly.
After the song ended, the eight mutants began to jump and cheer and be merry and gay and just plain happy!!
"Okay, ok- on three, we yell 'Cowabunga', ok?" Mikey egged on, and everybody seemed to agree.
     "ONE"
     "TWO"
     "THREE"
   "COWABUNGAAAA!!!!!" shouted Splinter alone.
There was a long awquard pause, but then the whole bunch of them started laughing and singing all the way home.
"WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS," they all shouted at the top of their lungs, all except for Master Splinter and Leonardo.
"Leonardo...."
"Yes, Sensei?"
"I know you put your brothers up to this."
"You....do Sensei?"
"And let me just say......this is the best Christmas present I've ever received."
"You mean....after Yoshi died."
"I mean 'ever'." Splinter looked up at his son with a sly look, and gave hime a wink. Leo, at first, didn't understand, then after catching on, gave his father a hug and said, "Merry Christmas, Dad."

THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!