Chapter Text
15 years later
Himari was finally closing up shop, a small comic book store that paid good. Well, good for her, considering where she lived.
The job wasn't bad. Manageable. Fun in some cases. She got a discount, and was always able to snag comics for her brothers, which they appreciated. So the job was good. She made enough to be able to buy stuff for her family, so they wouldn't have to steal. Not anymore
It was getting late, the sun starting to set and the city lights becoming brighter. They used to dull and disappointing, nothing like Himari wanted, but, now the lights led her home. She could always count on the city that never sleeps.
Himari walked to her designated alleyway, one that was between an apartment complex and an old building that used to be a thrift store before it went out of business. She was able to lift the manhole cover with ease, which only came with years of experience. The smell that came from below no longer bothered her, but it was still distasteful and unpleasant. She kept her bag close, sheilding it from whatever goop or gross thing could possibly fall from the pipes above, as she climbed down.
Walking through the sewers of New York wasn't bad, in fact, after she got used to the smell, it was exciting. Underground tunnels leading everywhere, it just screamed adventure. Not that she was even allowed to explore, but the thought was still there, even now. She walked a while, following the same path she took everyday, and eventually coming to an abandoned subway relay station. Home sweet home. It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t much, it wasn't even that clean, but it was where she lived. It was where she built her home, and it looked better than when she and her father found it. It was here where her little brothers grew up.
Yawning, she lazily threw her bag onto the couch, undoing her hair. Looking around, she didn’t see anyone, and heard no noise from the dojo. Instead, the kitchen light shown through the dirty and stitched up curtains that acting like doors.
They must be eating.
Heading to the kitchen, Himari was met with the sight of her brothers and their father sitting at the small “kitchen island” which was a weird metal box with pipes coming out. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it acted as a table.
Her presence was made known quickly, with her youngest brother jumping up.
“Himi!” Mikey cheered, happy as ever. He hugged her tightly, as she patted his shell.
Her other brothers smiled at her, each excited to hear of her day, not matter how boring she thought it was. They always seemed to look up to her, which she understood to some extent. They always asked for stories of her time in the city, but it wasn’t like she did anything exciting. So, she made some things up here and there.
Her brother. Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael. Yeah, they didn’t have the original names she gave them when she was six.
Smiling, she led Mikey back to his seat before her eyes closed in on what they were eating.
Algae. And worms.
Her face showed clear disgust. “Uh…okay. What the hell?” she groaned.
“Seriously, why are you guys eating that,” Himari asked, opening the fridge, to find nothing. She stared at it surprised. She had gone shopping not even three days ago.
”Michelangelo used everything,” Splinter hummed.
Himari sighed. “Well. You could have said something. I would have gone shopping again.”
It wasn’t like this was uncommon. Mikey would use ingredients to make god knows what. He must have done it again. And Himari didn’t notice. Cause she didn’t look in the fridge.
Sighing, she closed the fridge and took her seat beside their father. Great, now her brothers were eating algae and worms instead of real food on their birthday.
And they didn’t exactly seem to be enjoying it. Leo and Raph kept themselves collected, whole Donnine’s face kept scrunching up in distaste, though he didn’t voice his complaints. Himari wouldn’t be able to stomach the “food” anyways, so she didn’t bother making herself a plate.
They sat there for a moment, Himari just watching. “There’s a bit more algae and worms if anybody wants it,” Mikey sang, holding the pot of “food”. The other three boys were quick to respond.
“No thanks.”
“I’m good.”
“All yours.”
Himari chuckled behind her hand, amused. Mikey simply smirked. “Well I guess no one left room for…cake!”
Lo and behold, Mikey brought out a rather large cake, with some candles on it. It was green and sloppy with some white here and there dripping from the top. Himari assumed it was supposed to be frosting. It was a cake alright.
“Made of…algae…and worms.” Raph groaned out, with Leo asking what the frosting was made of, to which Mikey responded with “you don’t wanna know.”
As the boys cheered “Happy Mutation Day”, Himari slipped back into the fridge, grabbing the container. At least Mikey hadn’t grabbed it before. It was a batch of cupcakes with color coordinated icing for each brother. She began to pass out the birthday treat, earning grateful looks from the three elder boys, as Splinter began to tell, for the hundredth time, the story of how their family came together, per Mikey’s request.
Himari could recall it like it was yesterday, despite the years that passed. Splinter, who at the time went by Hamato Yoshi, had taken Himari to the pet store, promising a companion for her. She had excitedly picked out the four baby turtles.
Things took a turn when they were leaving, and Splinter had noticed a strange man. He followed, and as such, Himari followed behind, too occupied by her new baby turtles to notice anything. In fact, she didn’t notice anything at all until one of the men grabbed her, causing her to drop the turtles. She was lifted off the ground, above the green oozy substance that changed her father and affected her now brothers.
That day, she hadn’t touched the mysterious substance in the canister Splinter had kept, therefore, she didn’t change. She was still human.
“That was the beginning of our life together,” Splinter finished up, holding the broken canister. Mikey called it mom.
Himari hummed amused, patting her youngest brother’s back, before her eyes caught Leo’s blue ones. He was looking at her, expectedly, which just made her sigh. She shook her head, but did nothing to stop him.
“So Sensei,” he started. “Now that we’re fifteen, I think we’re finally ready to go up to the surface, don’t you?” Leo suggested, glancing at the rat man, who simply hummed. Himari too turned her gaze to Splinter, waiting for his response.
“Yes…and no.”
Himari sighed. Of course. This was something he usually did. It annoyed her brothers to no end. Himari has had her fair share of “Yes and No”, and even now, it annoys her. Especially now that she's an adult, and Splinter still pulls these things on her.
Her brothers went on trying to convince Splinter to let them go up top. Eventually, he agreed. On one condition.
“Himari shall go with you.”
“What!”
“Really!”
“OK!”
“That’s fine!”
“Yes!”
“No!” Himari argued. She looked from her brothers to their father. “Wait, wait, wait! Come on, I just got home! You can’t be serious,” she pleaded. Splinter merely shook his head. “It will ease my soul if you accompanied your brothers.”
Himari stared at her father in disbelief before looking at her brothers. Who stood before her, with the same puppy dog eyes they gave Splinter. Now, usually she was strong, able to deny them even when they pulled this kind of thing. But god….
“Ugh….fine.”