#ruralau

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 13

Part 12 , next

This au is owned by @angelpuns, Aya belongs to me this is a fan work of the au! The au is really cool so go check them out!

Tw/cw: panic, fire, violence, vivid descriptions of gaining a concussion, fighting with intent to harm

I think that's all the warnings needed?

The village only had one soup kitchen, open from mid morning to an hour after sunset. Manned by one, great ino san. A small green furred yokai, well respected among his peers. The man had many customers, some annoying, some kind, some needing a good whack with a stick.

But every night he has one person, not a customer but a guard. As soon as he closes up and starts sweeping he hears it, hoof on wood knocking. He doesn't have to turn around to see who it was. "Aya"

"Aye boss." The goat yokai turns and faces away from the shop, looking amongst the dying lanterns on the two tables outside the shop.

He grabs a bowl and pours the leftover soba and sets it on the counter.

Aya glances at it once then twice before looking away from it. "I can't pay."

"Aya, eat. You work every night when I close up. It will waste anyway" he scolds before going back to sweeping.

She glances at it again before hesitating and then she grabs it, lifting it to her snout and drinking it, turning her head back.

Aya chews the noodles and sets it aside. "Thank you…it was very good.." she lets out a satisfied sigh as her head thumps against the wood.

"Oh please, it was seasoned completely wrong." Ino san rolls his eyes.

Aya shrugs and glances around slightly. "I think it was seasoned good.."

"Do you know what seasonings are?" He turns to look at her before sighing and walking to the back slightly.

Aya watches the shadows before flinching at the soft tok sound of a bowl on the counter.

Ino san looks at him. "Aya, watch me"

Aya turns her head away to watch the wooden fence. "Boss-"

"Aya" his tone switches to something stern. Aya tenses and slowly turns to look at him then at two bowls of water. "...."

"Watch" Ino San adds seasonings to the two bowls. "Watch the color"

Aya looks away. "Ahm supposed to be watchin-"

"Aya I want you to watch the color of the water" Ino San states, she turns back to watch.

Her ears slowly raise when the colors change two different colors. She couldn't tell what color they were, she just liked them.

"Try them" Ino San nudges them forward.

"can't p-"

"It's water I don't want you to pay" Ino San nudges them again.

Aya takes a sip of one and smiles, her tail wiggling slightly "i like tat one" she sets it down before trying the other. "Tis one tastes good too, like the soba ya gave me"

"See how different they taste? One is wrong and one is proper" Ino San smiles as Aya nods. Aya smiles "aye wish i could cook"

"Tell you what, you learn the difference between right and wrong tasting soba and I'll teach you how to make it, deal?" Ino San crosses his arms and smiles.

Aya lights up "really?...for real?...deal! Deal! No take backins!"

"Wouldn't dream of it, unless you burn the shop down" he lightly scolds.

Aya nods and smiles before standing guard, when Ino San finished the two went separate ways.

This was like clock work, as soon as Ino San closed she popped up, she never came during the day and never when there was a customer. On nights it was raining, on clear nights, snowy nights.

One night Ino San had his last customer leave when Aya comes running, stumbling down the pathway before running over. She slipped on some mud and hit the side of the shop with a loud thump and a shout as something definitely popped.

Ino San whips his head around "Aya!? Don't break the damn shop- what are you even-"

Aya barely dodged when a dog yokai slams his fist right where her head was, cracking the wood. Aya kicks his leg out from under him and she stands guard over the open doorway of the shop, tugging a rope and causing the wooden shutters to slam over the counter, concealing Ino San in.

Ino San grabs the stick from under the counter and runs out the door as Aya lunges at the dog yokai, the dog yokai stumbles into the table and knocks over a lantern, setting the dry summer grass on fire.

Ino San's eyes widen as he hits the fire with the stick, Aya tussling to the ground with the dog yokai. She let out a guttered growl as she slams the yokai's head to the ground. "You will NOT!"

Ino San rushes back into the shop to fetch water as two more yokai, a cat and a alligator rush Aya, the gator tumbling with her and rolling into the wooden fence.

Aya let's out a shout of pain as her hurt arm hits the wooden fence. She lifts her head only for it to be slammed back down by the Gator's claws.

She huffs and grunts as she pushes her palms against the grass, feeling the sun in her eyes as the hand squeezed her head. She felt like his hands could crush her skull.

She looks to the side and her eyes widen realizing it wasn't the sun but the entire yard on fire, the sun having had set already.

Her breathing quickens as she saw the look on Ino San's face, the fear…the panic. How the fire casted shadow across his face, the horrible mix of yellow light and green fur.

"B-bo-" she strained as she tries to talk, the force of her head being held to the boss making it hard to talk. She growls and swings, elbowing the gator in the face.

The gator winces and let's out a throated hiss before grabbing her head and slamming it against the ground, she swore she could feel her brain disconnect as the world spun. She slowly blinks once, twice. And then she became very aware of how the three yokai were gone, the soba shop on fire, the tables cooking to a nasty charcoal. She slowly sits up hearing ringing in her ears as hot tears bubbled up and the wave of pure guilt crashed over, swallowing her whole.

She slowly rose to her feet, looking around for the smaller yokai. "Boss!" She shouts as a crowd had gathered. She couldn't see who they were from the smoke and flames.

She looks around, listening to the crackling of the fire, her ears feeling singed as she backs away from the rising flames. Hot tears staining her already warm fur as she backs up. Her eyes scanning for green.

She looks at the shop and without hesitation she ran for it, stumbling on broken charred tables, wincing as the flames lap at her legs.

She grabs the doorframe to help herself slide into the shop, looking around as her eyes burn from the heat and brightness. "Boss!" She shouts, hearing the roaring of the fire, the crackling of it.

She. Starts overturning anything that wasn't already on fire, hearing cracking from above. Her ears drop as she looks up, quickly moving back as a support beam falls. She looks around and at the door, the haunting realization that she couldn't get back out.

So she did the only thing she thought was reasonable, she pulled the crate of seasonings to a corner under the counter Ino San prepared everything and curled up, laying her body over the seasonings. "I'm sorry..I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry.."

It was dawn before the fire went out, Ino San surveying the damage as the village guards usher the last stragglers away. He uses his stick to push around the broken wood, the air smelling of burnt wood and grass.

The devastation was immeasurable..but he would pick it back up and try again. This was his livelihood.

He lifts up broken bowls and pots. He looks over the burnt ingredients. Everything was burnt, everything was destroyed. He sighs heavily, not allowing himself to cry.

He closes his eyes and leans back, running his paw across his eyes before he hears a small whimper and the shift of bottles clinking together. He turns around to spot the young goat yokai, slowly lifting her head, her fur covered in black soot, his eyes red from the smoke. Her arms trembling as she pushed herself off the seasonings she had kept safe.

He stares at her, his eyes widening as he processes the sight in front of him. Aya looks at him tiredly before smiling weakly "I protected ta seasonins boss…"

Ino San slowly walks over, putting a hand to her fur and gently wipes away the soot around one eye. "Aya..that was completely reckless!" He scolds, he had every right to raise his stick to her but his gaze softens seeing her weak smile and how she holds back hiccups as tears fall down her face.

Aya slumps back over the seasonings "I tried so hard…I failed you"

Ino San sighs. "Get up Aya. We got cleaning to do."

Aya slowly looks at him with confusion before nodding. "Okay…" she didn't hesitate, this was her job.

"You did good protecting…but I did tell you if you burnt down my kitchen!" He points a finger at her. She stares before frowning "no learnin to cook?"

"Nope, you are grounded" he scolds and starts picking up the pieces of his shop. Aya stands up and with weak knees she starts picking up the heavier stuff. The morning was quiet, and the mess was plenty. But they could handle it.

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

Hey. Hey you. You should draw Grandpa Flint 🥺 /np but I wanna see him :)

Here have some out of context lore

With young grandpa Flint

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

Okay let's try again- aauaueueeyu

Cw for blood and arguing!

This is heavily inspired by late night ramblings about rural au with @angelpuns about the village drabbles!

Let's hope this works-

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 12

Part 11 , part 13

This amazing au is yet again made by the lovely @angelpuns

Keep in mind my work is a fan work of their amazing au! Please go read it! All characters belong to them except for Aya and Grandpa Flint who are fan characters

Cw: stalking yet again- and themes of violence/fighting and choking

It was trial and error, over the course of the next few days they tested the stalker. First with all of them, the person wouldn't come out unless they split up, the game plan was to always meet up every 5 minutes, but they were smart about it after the first meet up that day, keeping an eye on Mikey and then fleeing before they could spot them.

The next day, they tried Mikey and raph..they didn't come that day, for a split second Mikey could have sworn he saw them in behind a group of three Yokai boys carrying logs to the village but he didn't see or feel the eyes their entire trip.

Leo recruited Yuichi that day as well, he busted down the door shouting for him, apologizing to his aunt before hunting down Yuichi himself.

"...a stalker? In our village" Yuichi didn't seem to pleased about this information.

"yeah and they are after Mikey, so far they won't come near if we are around him, we've tried together and with Raph." Leo crosses his arms, pacing back and forth.

Yuichi grabbed Leo's shoulder, Leo feeling a bit of warmth in his chest at the action. "Count me in"

The following day they tried to test Leo and Mikey, to start Mikey said he felt they were near, but his looking around scared them off..they didn't catch them that day either..but they did pay a visit to Flint, not telling him about what was happening. Mainly due to Flint not being able to help as much.

The following day Donnie went to the village to pick up more paper and a new vial of ink, leaving Mikey so he could catch a break. Mikey had been staying with either Leo or Raph the past few nights out of fear they would run up into the house.

Donnie didn't feel like dealing with it today either but as soon as he got past the first house he felt it, the feeling that Mikey described. He glanced around, he didn't see anyone out of the ordinary. So he fixed the glasses on his head before heading on.

When he got there he had to resist the urge, get the ink he has been using or spend a few extra to get some of the best ink he has ever laid eyes on...what the others didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

He shelled out the rest before taking what he needed. He was too proud of himself for indulging in something so simple yet so important that he didn't notice the ambush until it was too late.

A dog Yokai held up a blade to him. "Give us the rest of your money! And don't try and trick us out!"

Before Donnie could react besides a sputter, someone grabbed his arm and shoved him back, wedging themselves between him. A goat Yokai.

Donnie instantly picked up on the feeling of being watched disappearing as soon as she got in front of him.

Her back was turned but the fur on her back and the back of her neck darkened as it stood on end, standing between the two of them she was small, smaller than Mikey but with the stance of someone who believed they were 10 feet tall.

"you should go" she only glanced at him, he felt unease at her eyes but other than that he listened. He took a few steps back before heading the other direction, hearing the sound of scuffling and a fight behind him. He didn't look back.

When he got to the house, his brothers and yuichi were all gathered in the kitchen, snacking on an apple. Mikey looked exhausted but his eyes lit up seeing Donnie. That is until he saw his face. Now Donnie wasn't the best at hiding his more serious emotions so he could he only guess he wasn't hiding it well.

The others picked up on it as well. "Don-" Leo starts before Donnie sets his papers and ink vial down.

"they aren't going to hurt you Michael" he crosses his arms, his mouth drawn back in a thin line.

"how do you know!" Leo snaps, standing up. "This dude-"

"girl"

"gir-...women can be abusive too-" Leo puts his hands on his hips, always quick to a comeback.

"I didn't say they weren't nardo...but I got a plan. I think I know why she is following him and I think I know how to prove it" he looks at Yuichi and Leo "can you two get into disguises?"

The following day they left to the village on a mission, leaving Raph to stress in his orchard, as they needed someone to watch the house if it gets too far.

Leo and yuichi dressed in face coverings and bagging close that hid their features, looking bigger than they actually were.

Donnie would watch from on top of Grandpa flint's roof, he could see the whole village from it. And he got free tea so it was a win-win for him.

And Mikey was the bait, walking slowly through town, a few of the villagers wave at him and he waved back before fiddling with his shirt. Donnie said the stalker- wouldn't hurt him...but it didn't make him any less wanting to hide in his shell from all the danger.

He mustered up the courage before speaking "oh what a LOVELY day. Sure hope no bandits come and- and steal- from me-" halfway through his sentence his felt the eyes on him again. This time out of the corner of his eye he could see her, she had a black eye and red stained to her hands and bandages she had wrapped around her hands and up her arms. He wondered for a split second wither she was actually hurt underneath or that the red came from someone else.

He didn't have time to question as Leo jumped out behind him. "Come here little boy! For I! A bad guy- aaaAAA-" he screamed as immediately the goat yokai went for him. All he saw was the blur of light grey fur and the fury of a thousand soldiers in the little blur. He took off running as Mikey started running away.

Yuichi rounded the corner scaring Mikey who screamed and all but got the attention of the goat yokai. Who turned and went after Yuichi.

Now Leo and yuichi usually can hold their own but something about a tiny ball of anger with the kick of damn near a horse hurt yuichi's shin. It felt like someone threw a rock and it hit his bone so hard he thought it might have broke. It didn't but it sure felt like it.

Yuichi toppled over and Leo rejoined the fight, Mikey taking off to the woods as Donnie started climbing down the roof to join him.

The goat yokai followed Mikey, Leo looked between her and yuichi on the ground. "I-..I'll be right back yuichi!"

Yuichi, through the tears, still holding his leg shouted back "get her! Don't let her get Mikey!"

And that sure did fuel the other brother, running to his brothers aid he was able to catch up with the yokai. She was fast but she wasn't fast in the woods like he was. He noticed as soon as she started to trip over the roots. Leo grabbed the back of her neck scruff, tugging her back to him.

She kicked his leg making him let her go before she swung a hefty right hook, missing as Leo moved his head to the sides grabbing her wrist he flipped her over him hearing a nasty crack as something of hers hit a root.

But she didn't seem all that bothered, she seemed hellbent on his demise as her eyes were filled with rage and hunger.

He didn't think he would know what the urge to fight would look like in someone's eyes before. But it sure seemed fitting to use that word...hunger.

Like if she didn't fight with all her might she would be starving, but she didn't let down. She grabbed his leg and sat up, pulling him down as she did. She turned around and got ontop of him, grabbing his neck. She showed all her blunt teeth with a scowl of pure rage.

"you will NOT- HURT HIM!" Her voice was filled with hate, he couldn't understand why she had it. What could make her hate him so much that she-...right he was kinda dressed like a bandit-.

Her grip tightened which made it hard to breathe, he reached up to grab her arms, which caused her to breathe in sharply and let go, allowing Leo to throw her off him.

She let out an angered shutter before noticing Mikey was no longer there. Only then did she turn and flee back to the village.

Leo sat up, rubbing his throat as bruises started to form. He turned to look at Donnie who looked at him. "My theory was correct."

"care to let us in...on...on this theory?" He looked up at him as Donnie crouches beside him, running his fingers over his throat gently. "...she's protecting."

"no shit dontron...she's a stalker-" he winces as he spoke.

"no...she's protecting...like Raph...and dad.." Donnie spoke softly, making Leo pause and look up at him. The two share a look before Yuichi runs up.

"did you get her!?" He pants, out of breathe from running.

Leo shakes his head. "No...but let's make a game plan...we are going to catch her. One way or another"

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 11

Part 10 , part 12

The amazing rural au is made by the yet again lovely @angelpuns

Now last time we got a pov from Aya..now I love a good unreliable narrator but I'm going to play with something I'm GOOD at. The know it all narrator!

Heavily inspired by binging the fanfiction for the rural au which is in the style of the know it all narrator where it's third person on one character (Leo) but it knows all his feels and all his thoughts I highly recommend going over to AO3 for it! It's amazing so without further rambling...let's A-GO

Also! Cw/tw for stalking

On days like this, everyone has their own chores and duties. Leo with the water, raph with the garden, Donnie with the paper and house and Mikey with fetching necessities and a treat that the other brothers don't need to know if he got.

The village loved the boys, and Mikey's smile always brought a bit of warmer sunshine to wherever he went in the eyes of the villagers but today Mikey's smile held unease.

See for a while now he had the idea that eyes were watching him, yes, yes the villagers looked at him when he came bounding about loud and clear but...this was different. It was like the eyes dug to the center of his very being, like a wolf watching a sheep ready to snatch him away forever.

Just about every time he went into the village he felt it for the past few weeks, it didn't start until he was a little bit into the village. He's done everything to avoid it from entering in a different way to going with Donnie or Leo but it's still there.

This time it started as soon as he stepped in, he could feel it in the back of his neck, it started from the front and then at his back as if he walked past them and it didn't leave. He had a small list today so it wouldn't be too long before he could leave.

He could ask Grandpa Flint about it but he wasn't there today, and even if he was Leo said he couldn't see well anymore.

Besides the feeling of the eyes on him the day was really nice, the warmth of the sun on his skin and the nice breeze to cool him. There was the smell of food in the air and laughter from friends. Little kids running around giggling and shrieking. He would join but he didn't want to get lost in it and the eyes get him.

So he carried on and grabbed a new wooden spoon after he and Donnie were cooking last theirs broke. He went up to the stall, greeting the nice newt lady. "Hi! I need a new spoon please"

"a new one? Was something wrong with the old one young Michelangelo?" The newt tilts her head to the side showing off her teeth with a smile, not a scary one but one of those people who put their heart on their sleeve..with water colored eyes and teeth beaming from every smile.

"we got too excited cooking last night! I was stirring the pot and it broke- and our dinner got sorta all over the place" Mikey rubs the back of his head smiling happily.

The Newt grabs one of her hand carved spoons and held it out. "2 coin, be careful with the spoon dear"

Mikey took it and placed the 2 coins in her hand, smiling at the little carvings of song birds in the handle, swirls wrapping around it to the base of the spoon.

He waved bye to her and ran off, alright 1 down, 2 to go. The next one was easy, it was already payed for, he just needed to pick up the basket that Raph ordered, strong enough to carry all the potatoes to the house from the potato patch after it broke last week.

Then he had to pick up medicine for Donnie, stopping at a wooden box that had a drop for money and then a door that opened to get the medicine, as soon as he picked up the bag for the medicine he saw it.

The eyes.

He visibly paled seeing out the corner of his eyes a goat Yokai, no bigger than him, a little shorter, watching him, their grey fur on their arms and face stained with something red and a look of focus in their eyes. Every few seconds their eyes flickered to someone else but every time it landed back on him. They had no expression on their face just....a look of focus.

Their ears went back slightly before they got closer. And at that moment he took off, his feet moving faster than his brain could catch up as he didn't check to look back. He heard them though, the sounds of their hooves on the dirt and grass but as soon as he got into the trees surrounding the village they stopped. He scrambled through the branches and roots, not caring to look back as he made his way home. When he could see the house he shouted for his brothers. His adrenaline catching up and allowing tears to spill over as he made it to the clearing.

Leo and Raph where the first out the door, running to Mikey who hid against Raph. Digging his face into the older's carapace as he let out a sob, his chest tightening from the run and the fear.

Leo looked at the woods where he came from before looking at Raph. "I'll go check it out.." he went into the woods, he stayed there for 30 minutes combing through it before coming back. By then Raph, Donnie and Mikey all gathered in the kitchen.

"Leo did you know about this?" Donnie looked at him as soon as he walked in.

"no! I told you already nobody knew!" Mikey cried, tears stained to his face.

"know about what?" Leo looked between the three.

"our dear brother Mikey here has a been followed by someone every time he's gone to the village" Donnie crosses his arms, the feeling of defense and anger filling them all.

"Mike, how long has this been going on?" Leo turned to his little brother who shrugged and rubbed his face. "a while now- I didn't know what they looked like until today"

"well, we will get it handled..what do they look like?" Leo sat beside Mikey, pulling him into a hug. Mikey bundled and hid against his side, hiding back the sniffles. "I don't know..grey fur? Scary?..they had red on their fur...maybe a goat I don't know-"

Leo turns to look at Donnie. "Don't worry, tomorrow..we are gonna catch em"

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

I just wanted to bring up that Grandpa Flint and Aya are both unreliable narrators, so if the story gets confusing it's because of them!

I have some out of first person things going to happen because I do want details to be known but the two are not giving everyone the details

Grandpa Flint focuses on people and their emotions, he's not responding to the rest, he also has poor memory (his povs are all past tense) it's all about what he remembers

And Aya is both talking to the audience and focused on making herself seem cool, certain parts of her first debut was very misleading (aka: the knocking over baskets) she was panicking and tripped but she made it sound cool!

I just wanted everyone to know how unreliable they are as povs :]

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 10

Part 9 , part 11

This amazing au is made by the lovely @angelpuns

Keep in mind that what I make is not canon to the story! It's just something fun to play with!

So far we've had just Grandpa Flint, and his husband and now we have a new contestant!

This story isn't from the pov of the amazing Grandpa it is from a lovely little goat Yokai named Aya

You ever think about how the brown is rough and the green is soft? No?

That's fine, I don't understand what I'm talking about either. There is too much noise in the village, the people talking about whatever they want, about what they work on, about others, about their status and coin.

But, here is the fun part! They never talk about what they miss.

There is a farm, with a bunch of trees. They make something called an apple, and they are delicious. So just like any other day, or well night. I stay on the edge, watching, picking out my target.

See, they have a guard but it isn't very good. You just have to bring scraps from the outside of people's house and it's happy. Like fish. I've affectionately named it the moon! Because what is better than some big ball in the sky!

Nothing that's what!

Everyone talks about how great you are and how pretty you are! It must be great to be the moon. I wonder if they hear us talk about them.

Once the glow from inside the house goes out that's when I take my chance. I've always been fast, but to snag a few apples you gotta be really really fast. Especially when the big scary one is being a rotten soba.

Sometimes I miss the apples and there goes my chance. However tonight I'm not gonna miss!

I was really fast tonight but not fast enough before the scary one barely broke the door down to get out it was so loud! Like does he know that he needs to have coin to break a door?

Either way I snagged a big apple and kicked over a few baskets left in the bunch of trees that day and ran into the woods. Like I said, I'm fast! I'm the fastest!

It's hard to see without the moon, but the moon is my friend. I trust them to lead me out of the dark, and they did! I found a nice open space to sit and eat the apple. I held it to them but they must be too far away or too tired to eat today again.

But that's okay, they can eat the next time I can snatch something. The grass is soft, the green is soft. I fell back and stared at the moon, finishing all the apple, because it can't go to waste!

Soon the moon gets tired and has to go to sleep, that's when the sun comes up..but this time someone joined us, it was like a bird but not a bird?

Instead of a making nice sounds it made a loud...growl? And it would flap its wings.

"hey! Bird!" I shouted but it didn't seem to listen. I didn't like the feeling I got..maybe this bird isn't a friend...that's okay, sometimes it's okay not to make a friend. I have the moon, and that's all I need.

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 9

Part 8 , part 10

This amazing au is yet again made by the amazing @angelpuns

We are getting into the fun part! In the next few parts we are going to have new writing styles and new characters to follow along keep in mind my work is a fan work of their au nothing in my work is canon! So I highly suggest going and looking at their stuff about the au! It's really really great!

Possible cw/tw for child being hungry?

I raised the boys with the help of others in the village, but I mainly left them to the yuichi boy and his Aunt. My health dwindled and taking care of my own home was becoming a burden. Splinter was gone and so was my husband in the blink of an eye.

Of course I still went to see them when I could manage it, they also came to the stall sometimes. Other times I could see Leo hanging around that yuichi boy with a light inside his eyes that I know all too well.

The boys started growing food at their houses, I offered to help get them a stall to sell some of it once it got going. With their food I was able to make them new recipes, apple pie, stews.

By the time the first anniversary of the two leaving the sky had turned greyish, like something was wrong with it. Sometimes there was tremors in the ground. I was fortunate enough to always see the blue sky, as now my eye sight has decided to fail me.

Of course though, as I sit at my stall I recognized the boys. Or well, specifically Leo shouting my name as he ran up. I couldn't see his face anymore but I could tell he was smiling through his voice.

"check it out! Raph and I found this in the garden!" He placed a tomato in my hand, hefty and barely able to fit in two of my hands. My hands were smaller than a few but it was still exciting non the less.

"it's huge, what will you make with it Leonardo?" I smiled at him.

"uhh..I don't know, I think maybe you should have it?...for your tomato soup! And then we can all eat together tonight? With yuichi too! Of- of course-"

I smiled and nodded to him. "Go and fetch yuichi, I'll start cooking and bring over the pot around an hour to sundown. I don't want you kids in the dark."

"yes grandpa!" I could hear the smile in his voice again before he ran off.

I put the tomato to the side and sighed, it would have made Splinter proud to see how much his boys had grown in less than two years. They have grown into something truly special.

After a sale I heard the sound a parent is all too knowing of. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine, old man" a girl's voice sounds out, her voice filled with exhaustion.

I couldn't see more than a blur but I could tell she wore tattered clothes and dawned dirt on her face.

"dear, you don't have to lie." I grabbed the tomato and held it out. "Here, you need it more than I do"

"...are-..are you sure?" She slowly took it before I could hear the pop of the tomato being bit into, and the satisfied relief huff from her nose, her body slacked a little.

"you really did need it didn't you dear, when was the last time you ate?" I tried to get a better look of her, but of course I couldn't see any better.

"...I don't have any coin to give you-" she started before I cut her off. "I wasn't asking how much you had, I asked when you last ate."

"...i-..hm...a-... it's not important" she shook her head. "My family will make coins soon so it won't matter too long" her voice was sorrowful.

"if you ever need food or help, you can come to me.."

"you have a few kids to worry about yourself-" oh so she knew me? I didn't recognize her at all. I still don't.

"...thank you for the tomato.." she held her hand to her mouth but I couldn't tell what she was doing before she walked away.

I sat back and sighed, I could technically add another kid to the roster... A daughter, two sons, a Splinter, Yuichi and his sister, 6 grandsons and 3 grand daughters...what's another kid to that?

After all, that's what I do best.

That night we did in fact enjoy tomato soup and bread, however the boys were rather distraught about the legendary tomato ending up on squished by a passer-by.

We would however, the following week enjoy a soup made of several legendary tomato's.

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

I DID IT! ITS LIKE 3:30 AM BUT I DID IT! AHAHAHA!!

I FINISHED IT BOSS MAN!!

@angelpuns

GRANDPA FLINT AND SPLINTER BACK AT IT IN THE KRISPY KREME

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 6

Part 5 , part 7

The amazing rural au is by @angelpuns

These next few parts will be from the exact same day starting at dawn to dusk, if it's formatted wonky I had to segment the original because it reached the word limit

Uhhh content warning! For a brief few paragraphs about the battlefield of war from the perspective of someone who has never seen one before!

There is barely any Splinter/Yoshi in this because like I said it was originally all in one piece so I'm sorryyyyy,

It had been years since I met a tired scarred human. We started as strangers, to neighbors..then to what I would like to say friends and family. Though I'm not completely sure how he sees it.

... however, today would be much different than the rest.

I remember I dreamt I was standing in a field, the skys a shade of orange and green, smoke all around. The ground was covered in trash and trees in splinters and bits.

I remember hearing loud noises, I couldn't describe it but every sound that was made buried fear into the pit of my stomach. I could hear people screaming all around, shouts of anger, of pain, of mourning, names screamed out in desperation.

The air smelt burnt, like the air itself was dying, looking around did nothing. That was until I turned to face my friend, Splinter. Dressed in clothes I've never seen him wear, holding something I've never seen before. It was made of wood, but not like any branch I ever seen. He held it with two hands, holding it forward with a look I never seen in his eyes.

It was as if everything went silent, then there was the whistle and a rock fell at my feet. I only had enough time to look down at it before the rock split into many pieces, as if a dramatic child who fell just realized he scrapped his knee.

I remember how bright it was when I shot up out of my sleep, I remember the burning in my throat before my husband slid into the room, dressed up in a button up, sleeves rolled just how I liked them, and those damned pants he hated so much. I remember seeing the look in his eyes as he cupped my face, asking or begging if I was hurt.

"i-im...I'm okay-..I'm okay-" when I blinked I could feel the tears rolling down my face, touching them with my hands and only then did I realize what i was doing.

"was it another one of those spells?.." his thumbs wiped the tears from my eyes, his hands were warm. "It's been a while since you had one of those..."

I shook my head, looking at him and I could tell there was fear in his eyes. He knew it was a bad one.

"you are not a bad omen dear..you were given a gift..." His voice was soft and soothing, the way his hands ran up the back of my head, I could feel the cracks and calluses in his fingers.

"you know they are never shown to me unless they are bad..." My voice was no louder than a whisper, but I could tell it stung him not a bit duller than a sharpened sword.

"what about the time with the harvest festival? That one wasn't bad" he was trying to make me feel better, but he never knows the truth of how bad it truly is.

"why are you wearing those pants-" I couldn't help but laugh when i asked, he couldn't help but laugh as well. "You hate those pants-" I gave him a smile, he didn't seem to press any further.

To my surprise he made breakfast, I slept in. He made my favorite, two eggs, runny, over rice. It was something quick and easy to make, especially since prices have gone up it was also decently cheap.

He poured the milk, pulled out my chair, sat across our small wooden table.

He reached across and held my hand, flinching when a splinter snagged his arm. He was never the best in wooden craft, but he was decent in others. Our table was washed up drift wood that splinter helped me drag home.

After we ate we left to the porch, we couldn't afford the market stall this week so I settled on my rocking chair with a batch of fabric and a needle and got to work. Meanwhile my husband was cutting up wood for the fire tonight, every chance he got he tried to show off how big and strong he was, and I tried to pretend to ignore him, but that smile on his face always made me feel all warm inside.

He retired his work after he whistled in my direction and showed off the muscle in one of his arms, putting a hand on the log, only the log slipped under the weight and he went down with it.

"you are such a dork" I smiled as he walked up the steps, his shoulders slumped as he rubbed his face, grabbing the scruff of his chin I left him a kiss on the bruise. "All better?"

He smiled the same way he did when he tried to ask for my hand the first time we met, a smile with all his teeth, one ear flopped to the side and the other sticking straight up.

I held up the fabric, placing it in his hand. "I made you something" I couldn't help but squeak in excitement. There is something about loving someone for as long as we have, that you would think the spark would die down but it never did. The feeling of excitement giving him gifts knowing his reaction was one of pure joy..that never goes away.

He unfolded it, as careful as he could as if it was glass. "You finished it?" He whipped his head up, clasping the fabric around his neck and over his shoulders.

"well, since you are gone for so long every day I figured you would need a new cloak...to keep you warm" I pulled at my fingers as nervously as I could, though I knew he would love it there was always that voice.

He smiled wider if that was even possible and scooped me out the chair, swinging us around as if we were dancing. "I will cherish it forever! There won't be a single tear! Not a speck of dirt!" And when the spinning ended, it ended with a kiss.

By lunch we sat on the couch, him reading a book while I varnished his leather gloves and his knife holster. It needed to be cleaned. His legs ended up in my lap and before long I ended up in his, using his stomach as my working table while he layed on the couch.

He was never a fan of the shirt anyway, but he still pouted when some of it got on his shirt, giving me a pout that the only remedy being a kiss on the nose.

"don't forget we have dinner over at Splinter's tonight" he spoke, closing the book slightly. I stopped what I was doing, the process only took a few seconds before I looked up at him "is that why you wore those pants?"

He burst into laughter, I could only join. His laugh was infectious, and one I would never want to let go.

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 5

Part 4 , part 6

IM COMING TO GET YOU @angelpuns

Rural au made by the LOVELY lovely angel puns above-

I broke your heart once I'll do IT AGAIN WATCH ME-

Shrieking filled the air, the ground rumbled with the force of a thousand feet. A monsterous beast rose above the mountains and-

"AAHAHA!" Little Leo took off running as I chased him, Mikey screams as Leo tries to use him as a human shield.

"I'm going to eat ya!! Raaa!!!" I stomped towards them, hands held in the sky like a ferocious beast. Raph gets in front of them, legs shaking but a face of determination.

"you dare challenge the DESTRUCTOR-"

"no- no! Wrong name!" Mikey squeaks, cheeks puffed.

"oh uh-" I drop my arms trying to figure out the right name.

"you are da uh...da uh..." He looks around, spotting a few things.

"uh...wood-...grass...cloud-...Donnie!!" He lights up "the wood grass cloud Donnie!!"

Donnie from the porch screech's a little, wrapped in a blanket on a chair, dropping his book. "Why me!?"

"because you didn't share!" Mikey sticks his tongue out before shrieking as I ran towards them, the three kids taking off around the yard much faster than I can even walk.

I laugh evilly and roar out as best as my old voice could speak. "I'm coming to get you!! I am the terrible wood grass cloud Donnie and I shall have my revenge!!"

There were few days I had like this, the stall prices have gotten higher, so has everything. I hate being couped up in the house all day, sure I have my husband but lately he has been at work more and more.

------

"darlin," he told me, face turned to the window, wrapping cloth around his hands. "I'll be busier now, but do not worry, I don't need you to stress"

I looked up from my tea, setting the cup down as I turned to look at him "..may I ask why..?"

"...it doesn't concern you but, I've been asked to patrol the outside of the village" he looks over. "It will make double the money, it will be sent to you ever 10 days." He turned towards me, while he gave me a smile with not a single bit of worry..he is my husband. I could see the fear in his eyes, the way his ears went flat against his head.

"...promise me, you are not going to be in danger?" I turned towards him, letting his hands rest on either side of my face.

"you won't have to work another day my dear, if it means you will not stress.." he smiles, but he dodged my question...

----

It had been several weeks since that conversation, to keep my mind busy I've spent more time with the Turtle boys than at my own home. It was rare my husband would come back home, letters about animals and people he has met, about people he calls his brothers..."uhhh...Mr Flint?" Leo was about 2 feet in front of me, Mikey and Raph slowly approaching from both sides. The worry on their faces, they didn't understand.

I smiled at them, putting on a big smile "it's okay, don't worry, I was uh... trying to figure out how to be uh... scary?"

They didn't believe it.

"you are a terrible liar, Flint" Splinter approached us from the village, carrying a few paper wrapped items.

The kids shouted and gathered around him, smiling and giggling. I couldn't help but smile at them, taking a step forward before I saw the look on his face. It sent a rotted pit into the bottom of my stomach.

It was the face of a man who had more on his mind, like when he would space out...like when he was listening to his thoughts that were only talking for him. Taunting him.

Something... something is very wrong.

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family part 4

Part 3 , part 5

Rural au, once again, by the amazing @angelpuns

Tw: this short contains descriptions of late stage hyperthermia and brief hints at death during a talk

My husband has 3 rules during the winter. "Wear warm clothes, don't drink or eat anything cold, and do not walk outside unless you can see light".

Well, one fine winter my husband fell sickly ill, along with my youngest. Not only where they on my mind so where the young turtles, little Leo would wander from the rest, Mikey as excited as ever to be in town, so much so his eyes where a guide that never stayed on path...little Donnie whose own body couldn't stand on its own and little raph as head strong as a bull.

The last thing I remembered before stepping into the snow storm was shoving my feet in my boots, I had no time for socks. Throwing on my coat, I had no time for layers. The slam of the door as the wind argued it's point against me, but I would not listen. I was out of medicine and time.

Then there was cold, and wind, and white everywhere. I couldn't see more than two feet ahead, we didn't have many storms in the winter.

I could barely make out lights of lanterns inside houses, stumbling as my feet sunk into the snow. At some point I remember tripping a lot, feeling like hands were grabbing at my ankles, wrapping around my boots.

I don't remember much, but I do remember hearing shouting not far from me. I remember when the cold started to warm. And then it got hotter...and hotter. My cloak was too warm, I was wearing too much. I would roast in this weather.

I remember just barely pulling off my cloak before it got snatched right back over my head, a gruff and angered voice shouting at me to keep it on. Burning hot hands touching both sides of my face. "let go-!"

I don't even think I could hear my voice clearly, but I heard his just fine. "no! You are coming inside with me!" It was a demand, no room for argument, stomping of feet and creaking of wood I knew to be a porch, a specific porch with specific creaky spots.

I remember how i barely felt being lifted, I could barely feel the shoulder I was on if it wasn't for how warm it was. I barely remember the chatter of the turtle boys.

Then, time went past with every blink.

The bright of fire, the crackling, the burning feeling.

The way the kids looked as I kicked and fought their father over a blanket, shaking and biting. The way metallic tasted on my tongue as I snagged his hand.

I would blink again and I had a cup in one hand, Mikey's in the other, Splinter pulling away snow from my fur with gloves, tossing it into a bucket that Raph watched from behind. "I know it's hot, it's okay, let it burn. I know it's burning let it burn" I could barely feel the tears that froze to my face pulling off my fur.

I would blink again and now Donnie and Leo where at another side, rambling about some book from the market, Splinter's warm hands cupped around my ears. "Pay attention to those words Flint!" A snappy voice laced with anger and fear. A demand, a protest.

And then it was as if time got slower, the boys all curled up asleep and Splinter staring at me, sitting on the floor. "...your eyes. You paying attention?"

"mm.." i barely moved my head and the room was blurring again, tears building up.

"alright...keep...keep talking to me...keep on talking.." he got up and then I felt warm on the side of my face. I couldn't help the noise that came out, or the burning hot tears that flooded out afterwards.

"I know..I know it burns.."

"augh!" It felt like I was boiling from the inside and burning from the outside, the heat from the fire, the boys and Splinter was uncomfortable..even more uncomfortable once I saw my fingers move but I couldn't feel it.

"s-splin-..splin-ta-..I- I can't-" it felt like my throat was tightening, but Splinter sat beside me and pulled me into his side. He didn't say another word, not until my crying had stopped and all I could let out was Shakey breaths.

"...you really are an idiot..." Splinter spoke, not with anger but something I've never heard in his voice before.

"wh...what?" When I turned to look at him, his eyes were lost from reality...really...glossy and sad looking.

"why did you go out...? It's storming and you are little- not only that you-..you nearly froze-"

"...my family is sick..your boys c-could have gotten sick...I-i was out of medicine.." the shame flickered inside my chest, only to be drowned out but a laugh. One of both mockery and disbelief. Eyes wide and filled with shock in this human's eyes.

"Flint, you sound like a buddy of mine..." His voice was filled with anger and mournfulness. "you know, I was a soldier..." He starts, glancing to see if I was paying attention, of course I was. I could listen to him forever.

"...we had a mission, one day. It was snowing that day, we had to rescue our medics.." He went silent, then he shook his head slightly, blinking away at some thoughts that I would never get to hear. "...they got too warm, just like you. We didn't bring back our medics"

"...I don't...i-.." it clicked and the cold that washed over was worse than anything I had felt before. The more I think about it the more I realize I barely know Splinter. He's my neighbor, I help with his kids and he built me a pump for water. We learned to cook for our family, yet we never shared stories...well. I did, Splinter didn't.

There was more to him than I would ever understand, but...for now....

I felt him jump as I put my head against his side, moving my tail to cover his hand, situated in his own lap...now that I saw it, it was soaked, and trembling..or well I was trembling...but it was nothing compared to the slump that Splinter gave. One that meant he understood the gesture.

That no matter what I would always, be here to listen.

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

Okay it took me uhhhh exactly... uhhhh 2 hours and 2 minutes

ALSO THE CLOAK IS HIS WINTER COAT

BUT GRANDPA FLINT FROM THE IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A FAMILY STORY!

From the RURAL AU @angelpuns

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family: part 3

Part 2 , part 4

I am...so attached and brain rotted to this villager man- he is getting his own tag as grandpa flint because I love him that much

Rural au yet again by the amazing @angelpuns

At some point they are gonna get mad at all the pings lmao

The river runs cold in the spring, when the streets are making fruit and the leaves are the prettiest of green, pinks, and blues. The prettiest rocks are embedded in sand, just treasures to find. Sometimes I'll find something pretty, sometimes I won't.

But today I found something shiney, and golden. It wasn't very thick, it wasn't that long either. It was flat on one end and round on the other with letters on the flat side in a circle. I've never seen anything like it before. It was so pretty.

Of course I put it on my stall, but that's not the important part today. Today a festival was to be held, more importantly a cooking contest. I rolled the paper up and closed down my stall, scurrying to the outside of the village, through the woods. The trees barely let sun peek through, leaving the wonders of butterflies that pass under the little bits of light all the more pretty.

My dear husband always told me to look for the little things....well I know the human splinter is a bit of a sour crab apple. So I might as well cook with him.

He wasn't very happy to open the door to see me, even more when I walked around him inside. "Come on get your pans and whatever cooking stuff you have and let's get cooking!"

"excuse me? We are not cooking-" he slammed the door and follows me into the kitchen, paying him no mind I pulled a few pots out.

"yes we are, you will not become a sour raisen at this age-" I slid the pots onto the counter, hearing him sputter.

"I am not a sour raisen!" He pushed the cabinet door closed and glares. "We are not cooking"

"...yes we are" I held out the paper and popped his nose slightly, watching the anger fill his eyes before he snatched the paper, looking it over. ".....yeah okay I could use that money-"

"exactly, now let's get to cooking" I look around and realize this man has not one apron. "...okay we need kitchen equipment-"

"we have kitchen equipment- we have the necessities-" splinter grumbles, getting out a cook book. "You are one demanding little racoon"

I couldn't help but grin at him as he sits on the ground, opening it up. "Okay if we are going to do this, I have a few demands...1 don't be a rude little shit, 2 we have to be quiet the kids are down for a nap and 3 we split the earnings 20/80"

"done deal! Ooo pie, Im going to try that!" I hit the page, grinning with all my teeth.

"alright..I'll uh...do a basic soup I guess?" He stands up and before I could register what happened he grabbed me by my scruff and put me on the counter. "Alright racoon, let's do this"

"HAHAA!! yes!"

With a few mishaps and a few changes to the ingredients like instead of flour we used baking soda, instead of sugar we used salt..you know the good substitutes....we made a mess.

With the two of us standing at the cook out table, with my pie a burnt, bubble, uncooked mess and with splinter's halfway untasteful soup we locked ourselves in 8th and 9th place.

I think that's a win

[3mutantsinatrenchcoat]

It takes a village to raise a family: part 2

Part 1! , part 3

This is a story based in the rural au made by @angelpuns

It would be another two weeks before I saw the human again. My hands are weary and no longer strong like they once where, carrying my pale of water back to my stall proves difficult. I almost dropped it and fell if it wasn't for the human.

He caught the hand of the bucket and myself with his leg, keeping me from an even bigger mess.

"racoon, you should be more careful" he put my bucket down on the ground and helped me steady myself, even though I'm sure his back must hurt, I am rather small compared to him.

"I'm sorry to inconvenience you, splinter. The bucket was...heavier than expected." Looking up at him his face was unreadable. No wonder the other yokai are afraid of him.

"....I'll carry your bucket for you as payment for helping purple." He scooped up my pale and started walking. I couldn't help but smile as I followed after.

"how is Donnie doing?" I turn to face him only to get back a snide remark. "Your neck is going to break if you keep looking up at me"

"ha! I look up to people all my life, it wouldn't hurt to look more....are..are you dodging the question?.." worry filled my chest something I couldn't bear, a child that ill scared me relentlessly.

"he is doing much better..he was able to hold down his food after a few days." He smiles, only slightly. But he does. It's a funny thing people do, where they try to hide their emotions but sometimes it's easier to tell than they think.

The way Splinter drew his mouth back a little to hold back but failing even still only a little. It was a smile of relief. One I saw my own husband have once our oldest survived falling into the lake one day.

"I'm glad I could help...I only sell trinkets and small things but..if you ever need my help I'm here for you and the boys. The yokai weren't as welcoming to us either to start with" though my head held high, it hurt to not be welcomed.

"...how come"

"I was born in America and my husband was born here, he brought me back to here with him after we were discovered underground, I was new, a stranger to them." I caught myself twisting the wrist of my sleeve, letting my hands fall to my sides, however they had a mind of their own, clenching and unclenching.

It was silent the rest of the few minutes it took, as soon as the bucket was sat by my chair Splinter turned to face me.

"be careful next time." Splinter nods at me before he started his way back to his residence.

"wait...but that's out of town-..." I mumbled before turning to face him. "Wait-"

He lifted his hand, not even a second glance towards myself. "Couldn't bare to watch you struggle"

I couldn't help but smile at that...I couldn't help but smile more the day after the next when I sat on the river bank, debating to test the current's strengh before Splinter came over, wood in his arms and a few tools. "Let's make you a water pump, okay?"