Love and Hate

Chapter 6

Debates

Raphael jumped the pasture fence and headed to her. She lay on the ground, shivering from the cold. The horse she was holding stood quietly and allowed Raph to come near them. He touched her lightly and she flinched.

" Go away . . . I can make it . . . on my..own." She said through chattering teeth.

" No, you can't." He grabbed her, causing her to cry out and frighten the horse. The filly side stepped, but returned when she saw no real danger. Raphael realized that her skin was now very sensitive. He gently came close to her and lifted her into his arms. He pulled her close and she wrapped her arms around him.

" Can this horse be ridden?" She shook her head.

" Too . . . young." She said softly. His body was warm against hers and she cuddled closer to him and gripped him tighter. She then reached out for the filly's halter. He started walking and the filly was close behind them.

When they made it to the barn, Vicky realized that the filly was the only horse out. Raphael carried her into the yearling barn like she said and she slowly stepped on the ground. The aisle floor wasn't that warm, but the heater in the barns made it a little better. She led the filly to her stall and settled her in for the night. There was already food in their buckets so she locked up and walked slowly to the house.

She felt Raphael scoop her up into his strong arms and walk to her house. He opened the front door and went to her living room. He looked around for a moment before setting her down. She trembled as she tried to get warm. He went to the corner where the heater switch was and turned it on. He came back and looked at her half naked body. He hadn't paid much attention to it, but now he couldn't take his eyes off her.

" Where is your room?"

" Upstairs. Last door on . . . right." He came and picked her up again and started up the stairs. He walked down the hallway and to her room where he set her down on the bed. Her room had horse statues and posters all over it. It was almost like some kids room. He went to the dresser and looked through the drawers. He pulled out a pair of her panties and looked at it with wide eyes. It was bright red with a thong back. He looked at her.

" You wear this?" She looked at it and her eyes widened.

" Put that away!" She got up and came over. She was warming up more now and was regaining her strength. She took the panties out of his hand and put them back in the drawer. She pulled out a shirt and while she was pulling it over her head, she felt his hands suddenly touch her back.

She startled and looked at him. His gentle look went cold.

" If you don't like to be touched, then don't touch me." He turned to leave, but she grabbed his shoulder.

" Where are you going?"

" Home." Then it dawned on her that he lived in that cave and that it was he that had eaten the coyote. She quickly pulled her shirt on and got in front of him.

" Don't go." He looked at her strangely.

" I'm not staying with any human." He growled and tried to push passed her.

" No . . . please Raphael, stay here with me! I don't want you to leave."

" Why not?!"

" Because I don't feel like being alone. Besides I can repay you for helping me even though I tried to kill you." She turned away, feeling bad for doing that. He heaved a sigh and relented.

She took his hand and led him back down the stairs. She had no idea why she even trusted him. She felt bad for what he had to go through. Obviously people had treated him harshly and he didn't want to trust again. She wanted to prove that even one human could be good.

Don starred at his computer screen and at the picture of the man who had killed his Master. He hated that man with a passion. Raphael had killed him with one blow, but it didn't matter. It didn't stop the pain that seared through him. He began to think about Raphael. Would he have grown up to become more mature or would he have stayed like the same old Raph always starting a fight? He didn't know how he had made it that far, but it was strange. He missed them all so much, but he managed to survive through it all.

" I just wish we were all together again."

Vicky glanced at Raphael to see him chowing down the dinner she had given him. It was two chicken legs, three wings, one thigh, a bowl of peas, french fries, a coke, and half of a chocolate cake with whipped cream. She was surprised to see him eat everything there. He belged loudly and looked at her. She gave a weak smile and went to her living room. He got up and followed, sitting next to her on the couch. He took his cape off and relaxed. She noticed that he was naked, somewhat. She glanced down, but didn't see anything. To her relief of course.

He looked around and heaved a sigh. He remembered his old home in New York. It was in the damp, smelly sewers. That was another reason he hated humans. They had such nice homes and cars, some didn't and it made him angry to see humans treat their own kind so cruelly. That's how he knew that if humans couldn't live with their own kind, then they would never be able to deal with them. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the pictures on the wall. There were horses and people and the lord knows what else. He looked at the ribbons on the wall and the pictures above the fire place. One caught his attention and he got up to look at it. It was a certificate for saving wildlife. Specifically; sea turtles. He turned to look at her.

" How did ya get this thing?" She looked up at it.

" Oh that was almost three years ago when a whole bunch of sea turtles were injured because of boats and nets. There were almost 300 turtles that beached that day and I helped save 267 of them. The others were dead." He looked at her evenly.

" Well at least you give a damn." He growled.

" Some of us actually do." She said looking him in the eye.

" Ya well, some might, but the majority don't." Vicky didn't feel much like arguing with him so she kept her mouth shut on that.

" What do you do out in those woods?" He looked at her and again she could see the coldness in his eyes.

" I hunt, eat, workout and sleep. Sometimes I go out to see things. Why?"

" I don't know. I have never seen you before, until I went riding that one day."

" I'm surprised you didn't take a shot at me then." He said gruffly.

" Raphael I am SORRY!" He looked at her expressionlessly.

" Can we try to get along?"

" No." She gave him a shocked look and her mouth practically fell.

" Why not?!"

" Your human."

" WHAT?! I know you must have had some rough times with humans, but will you please stop acting this way with me?!"

" I don't think you should yell at me. This may not be my house, but my manners are gone now and I don't care what I do to hurt you." She looked away. He turned to look at some of the pictures and she looked back at him. Her eyes traveled down his body in amazement. His muscles bulged and he had so much detail in his shell. His arms were built and veins stuck out, showing that he was fit and strong. She also noticed that the dents in his shell were deep.

" Where did you get those dents in your shell?" He looked at her solemnly.

" Many fights me and brothers used to get into. For some reason I was always the one to get these marks."

" Oh. Do you and your brothers know how to fight?"

" Yes. Ninjitsu is what we were taught."

" What's that?" She knew a little about it, but she wanted to keep pressing him on.

" It's a style of fighting. We used it to kill people." She backed up in surprise.

" Well! That's always great." He glanced at her to see her nervousness.

" I hope I won't need to kill you if you keep your mouth shut." She looked at him. It amazed her at how he could just say these words so bluntly and not give a damn how he made others feel.

" Do you have any sisters?" He laughed lightly.

" No. Just three brothers."

" Then . . . are there any females of your kind?" He turned to face her now and he starred into her eyes.

" No there isn't. Why?"

" Well I was just wondering . . . I mean when you and your brothers are gone . . . wouldn't that be the end of your kind?"

" Yes and I don't think it matters."

" Why not?"

" Because if I ever had children that had to grow up in this world with humans, I'd kill them myself." She gasped. He picked up his cape and spear and started for the door.

" Where are you going?"

" Home. Thanks for what you gave me, but I don't want to stay. I want nothing to do with humans or you, so make sure that you stay away. If you tell anyone about me or come near my home, I will kill you. That's a promise." He walked out the door and she went after him, but when she looked outside, he was gone.