Box

Donatello and Casey had gently laid the box into the hole in the ground beneath the shade of a tree. With a grunt, they two released their hold and stepped back to look at the box, equally and peacefully placed into the ground perfectly.
All eyes were set on the box, nothing speaking but the silent apology of the wind. A sniff had come from April and she quickly wiped at her nose with a tissue she kept clutched in her fist.
The box.
The rat in a maroon colored kimono had taken a deep breath before slowly exhaling, his tired weary eyes hooded from dried tears and pictures.
The box.
He spoke his gentle and soft words before everyone else did, sniffs passed around the band of mutants and humans. All but one just stared at the box.
The box.
His blue mask tails gently floated on the air and his gaze kept locked on the wooden box that held something so dear to him. Something that would make his blood boil. Something that would make him laugh and smile. Something that sang with him when they were alone in the ShellRazor on their way to the farmhouse.
The box.
Why? Why did it have to happen? It was going so well until he-
The box.
His gaze fixed onto the shovel stuck in the ground. Soon after the family had finished with their words they'd bury the box. The something so dear to him. Underground. Buried. Gone.
Splinter was the one to put the first heave of dirt ontop of the box, then they passed the shovel around. Their sad eyes saying 'I'm sorry' or 'forgive me'.
As they moved around to put yet another pile of dirt on the box, Leonardo had seemed to grow roots and spread them around underground, clamping him in place. His glassey eyes watching the box disappear.
The box.
He looked up to see Donatello holding out the shovel for him to put the last load of the dirt. Once he took the shovel with slow hands he hauled the last scoop of dirt onto the box, before stabbing the stick with a name tied to it.
The group stared at the site for a long and silent minute before heading to the farmhouse, walking like the living dead. Donatello had stopped Infront of Leonardo and opened his mouth to speak but had closed it and gave Leonardo a knowing look they had a sad meaning behind it.
Leonardo stayed staring at the stick for a couple minutes to make sure the family had retired into the house before falling to his knees with a wail. He hugged himself and hunched over as a sob shook his whole body, tears quickly filling his eyes. He sobbed and his body jerked, a tear slipping into the dirt that had just buried the box.
The box.
He took in a shivering breath before releasing it as a choked sob once again and a another shake and jerk of his body. He stared at the sign with the name carved into it that was tied to the stick. He reached out his shaking hand before covering his eyes with it.
Sobbing felt like a pain reliever, one that could last on for days and never stop. He felt so empty now that the box was covered. If only he had been quicker. If only he hadn't left. If only he were perfect.
He wouldn't be in the box.
Sobs filled the air and eyes peeked through the window curtains to see the state of their Unbreakable leader. They gave a regretful look before closing the curtain and walking into the shadows of the house.

2

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The birds sang and the sun filled the clear air. All the windows and doors were wide open and made the curtains dance with the gentle breeze. The two turtles say on the front porch of Aprils farmhouse, silent and staring out into the trees. Leonardo was sitting on the fame of the door on the floor, his leg across the frame and Donatello sat on the first step of the porch.
"You okay?" Donatello asked, his eyes never once leaving the field. Leonardo only silently sighed before slightly raising an eye ridge.
"Yeah."
Silence filled the air once again and the whistle of Casey from inside eased the tension.
"I'm sorry- for- you know- what uh-" Donatello sighed through his nostrils and moved his gaze to his hands, "everything"
Leonardo looked at his younger brother and sighed out loud. He closed his eyes and thought about what had happened that day, why the box was buried. Why everything- anything- happened that day. Shuddering, he opened his eyes back open and bit his lip before answering.
"It's not your fault."
He cringed. Bad idea.
Donatello didn't respond and kept his eyes to his hands, opening them before closing them again, his eye ridged furrowed and knitted tigers in thought.
It's not your fault? Yeah right.
"It's not about who's fault it is," Donatello sighed, "it's about how it happened."
"We all know how Donnie-"
"Yup"
"He was- he was- he-" Leonardo hung his head. He couldn't do it. Say it rather. It was too painful to bare. Too much.
"But," Leonardo cut back in, "it's not fair. It didn't have to happen. To us... To him."
"I knew Leo. I really do. But, I don't know," Donatello hung his head as well. His tongue had and knew a lot of words but saying, 'it's not your fault! It was a cat!' Isn't something he's quite fond with. Besides, if it was a cat he would've probably gotten the cat and took it by now.
The two just shut up for a while and let nature play its melody. Leonardo sighed silently again and looked back up to his and his ginger brothers favorite tree. He smiled as he remembered the memories before tracing his eyes down the bark of the tree, landing on the stick.
The laughter and smile of him. The fire and challenge in his eye. His voice that sang with him in the ShellRazor.
His smile slightly faded as the name came up in bold letters.
'Raphael Hamato'
The box.

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