We start off with some stances and stretches to warm up our muscles. I constantly glance at Raph, he seems distant. I try focusing fully but even Master Splinter gives me a look that asks, "What's wrong with Raphael?" I shrug my shoulders, showing I don't know.
    "Raphael." Raph's head stays down but he stands straight, only his shoulders are slumped a little, "My son is everyth-"
    "I'm fine... I'm fine Sensei." Master Splinter nods, then continues our practice.
    "Sparring, Leonardo and..." He pauses a moment, looking from Raph who is pretty oblivious and then to us, "Donatello. Michelangelo with Raphael." He nods and we move, getting into position.
    Donnie and I fight, it doesn't take long before he's down, I'm generally a better fighter than Donnie, and he's leaner, taller, making him a little bit more vulnerable of his size. I wait for Mikey and Raph to finish, normally Raph would be waiting for me already, he's the best fighter, maybe doesn't have the greatest technique but he takes Mikey out in the blink of an eye, not because he's Mikey, but because Raph is just Raph. And I'm not saying Mikey's a bad fighter, don't get me wrong, but it's like putting an ant up against a stampede, nope, can't see that happening. Donnie and I watch Raph and Mikey fight. It's impossible! Mikey's winning! By this point even Mikey knows there's something seriously wrong!
Raphs movements are stiffer, more hesitant than usual, he's caught often flat footed, and doesn't have his normal smirky fire. Like he's simply a dying ember, flames all out, an all that remains is ash.
Mikey hesitates when he shoves his older brother and Raph retreats a bit, Raph never retreats! Just then there is a pause, and we actually get the first good look at Raph's face... An undesired gasp escapes my mouth.
Its like he's part raccoon! With those big black bags under his darkened eyes, he almost looks like a zombie, his muscles seem too heavy, like his own weight is an immense burden. His feet drag when he steps, his features all pale and Raph almost looks somewhere between passing out, throwing up, or some worse possibility that I just refuse to think of...
Mikey doesn't really know what to do, for a moment we all just stand in the sound of silence. My youngest brother knows what he has to do but doesn't want to... He doesn't want to beet Raph. Not like this, not like this...
But he has to, and as he jumps up, Raphs eyes widen in terror, the terror that Mikey is going to beat him, but something else, what does he see that we do not? He's frozen in fear and I can't see why, I don't understand what's happening, he won't talk...
BOOM!
Raph is sent skidding along the ground, sais flying, landing with a series of clanks. He hits the wall with an extra "bang" and stays there a few moments, facing away, back heaving with the rapidness of his breath.
To all of our surprise, he grunts as he pushes himself up, walks over with his head down, to Mikey and says, "Congratulations." Without any emotion, not the slightest hint of anger, more sadness than any other emotion, I think he's tearing up because he sniffs and then rushes out of the dojo as fat as he can trying to look least suspicious that somethings wrong. Yet we all know... Because Mikey just beat Raph... Mikey just beat Raph!