"Again, Raphael!"

"Again, Raphael!"

"Again!"

"Again!"

"Again!"

After the seventh repetition of the same kata, Raphael abruptly stopped and crossed his arms, assuming what Splinter often thought of as his "typical-teenager" position. He took a deep breath and prepared for the familiar routine of Raphael's attitude versus his patience.

"Enough, already!" Raph protested. "I've done this over and over, I know in and out!"

Splinter resisted the urge to smile. "Then why was your execution slower this time?"

"'Cause I'm getting tired of it!" Raph snapped. "You're wearing me out with all these dumb katas."

"Then perhaps the routine is not the only reason you must practice again," Splinter pointed out. "You must build up your endurance."

"I got plenty of endurance when I fight."

"Bursts of adrenaline are no substitute for a strong constitution," Splinter said, leaning one hand on his cane. "Once your body tires, you will be left helpless to any opponent, unless you choose one of two solutions."

Curiosity peaked but wary that Splinter might be leading him into a verbal trap, Raphael narrowed his eyes. "What two solutions?"

"You can either train hard, so that when your strength leaves you, you will still be able to fight. Or when you can no longer stand, you can lay down and wait for the enemy's killing blow." Splinter's whiskers twitched ever so slightly. "From my perspective, you seem to have chosen the latter."

Raphael's ire was obviously irked. Narrowing his eyes, he growled low in his throat. Splinter didn't react, knowing Raphael meant no harm by it and that the response was just normal for him when he was angry.

"I'm not lazy," Raph muttered.

"I did not say you were," Splinter said. "However, you are impatient with your studies, which can only lead you to rash actions and foolhardy moves in real combat."

"Gah! You sound just like Leo sometimes!" Raph cried, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Leonardo should practice what he preaches," Splinter sighed before he could stop himself.

Raphael immediately picked up on that comment. "Huh? Whaddaya mean?"

Best to be honest, Splinter told himself, but he knew Leonardo would probably hear about this in not so pleasant terms from his sibling. "You and he seem like opposite sides of the same coin at times. He has the patience and nerves to last through hours of combat, but sometimes he seems to choose the most insane battles..." He sighed and cast the thought from his head. Raphael's problems needed tending at the moment, not Leonardo's. "You, however, are impatient, unable to control your emotions at times, and though you rarely match yourself up against impossible odds, you have an immature desire for the thrill of the fight. No discipline."

Raph just groaned and shook his head. "Y'know, I've heard this speech so often I think I could give it. I'm sick of these endless routines, and I'm hungry. I'll do this after lunch."

Splinter's tail bristled at Raphael's disrespectful tone, even if he was used to it by now. "Oh, so you have decided practice is finished, eh, Master Raphael?"

"Yeah, why not?" Raph almost snarled. What the hell, I'm in for it anyways now, might as well enjoy the trip down. He started to walk past Splinter, who brought his cane towards Raphael's head. The blow would not be cruel or even hard, just a strong tap to regain the student's attention. Instead, Raphael turned and blocked, but he overcompensated and the wooden cane splintered in half.

Splinter resisted the urge to laugh, but it was a hard battle. It was just a cane, he had plenty of them, but the look of frightened surprise on Raphael's face...As the other end of the cane fell to the floor, Splinter could actually see the silent yet horrified groan as Raphael realized what he'd done. His eyes took on a look that Mike would have called the "oh-shit-I'm-really-in-for-it-now-and-I-didn't-mean-to-do-that-but-apologizing-won't-work-now-I-wonder-if-I'll-survive-this-one" look. For a moment, nothing was said.

Then Splinter smiled wryly. "Perhaps you are correct. Let's break for lunch. And I think you'd best stay home until you are well rested from your arduous practice, say, for a week?" And while Raphael just stood and nodded once, accepting the punishment mutely, Splinter sauntered out.

Once the master was gone, Raphael leaned back with a curse. "Damn, that guy can be brutally sarcastic sometimes."

The End