Ch 1 Foreboding

In the lair of the Mutantanimals, Shinigami stepped out of her room and made her way to the kitchen intending to make some dinner. But as she crossed the threshold from her room to the living room, she stopped and looked over at her friend Karai with a perplexed expression. Immediately, she noticed the young kunoichi, who was sitting in the middle of the living room area, was staring intently at something she held tightly in her hands. The Kuro Kabuto, the Shredder's helmet gleamed forebodingly in the low light of the lair and for some reason Shini could not be certain of, Karai seemed to be almost mesmerized by it.

"Karai," She called to her but Karai would not turn around, "We've been back in New York for almost a week and we have yet to visit your family or friends," When Karai still would not turn to face her, Shini took a deep breath and started toward Karai, "How bout we go out for some dinner?" She asked as she came up behind her, "We can get pizza and bring it to the turtles," She suggested, "Or maybe we can go to the noddle place and…"

"I don't believe he's gone," Karai stated in a matter-of-fact tone. She stood up and walked over to the kitchen and placed the helmet on a table. She looked down at the helmet for several moments before turning to Shini, "I keep feeling like he's going to come back and try to kill me and everyone I care about….The Mutanimals, April, Casey and the turtles…." She looked away from Shini with shame in her eyes, "As well as Splinter," She told her, "And I can't help but feel like I'm going to be responsible for it all."

Shini looked at her friend with concern, "Karai, you must try to let Saki go and move on with your life," She insisted as she picked up the helmet and placed it in a supply closet, "Saki, the Shredder, has been dead for almost a year now and you are free of his terror." She brought Karai into a hug, "The turtles made sure of that and you have nothing to feel guilty about." She pulled her back and smiled tenderly at her, "Come now, let's go get some dinner."

Karai looked over at the closet where the Koru Kabuto had been placed; she turned back to Shini and, with a small smile, gave a light nod then followed her friend out of their lair.

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"What's for dinner Mikey?" Raph asked as he and the other two turtles walked into the kitchen. They watched in amusement as Mikey danced from one end of the kitchen to the other, happily humming an upbeat tune while placing a variety of ingredients into a large frying pan, he then grabbed floured covered dough and began to knead it.

"I'm making pizza calzone for everyone," He announced proudly.

"Sounds good," Donnie said, walking over to his designated seat at the table, he took out his laptop, quickly opened it and within moments he began to type, "But can you make it a simple one?" He asked, "You know I don't like a lot of stuff in my calzone."

"Too late Brah," Mikey told him as he began to take a variety of foods out of the refrigerator.

Looking at Donnie in contemplation, Leo turned his attention to what Mikey was doing, "What kind of calzone were you thinking of making Mikey?" Leo asked as he sat next to Donatello.

"Extra cheese, with pepperoni, onions, sausage…."As Mikey was going over his list of ingredients, a sudden buzzing noise sounded throughout the room.

Relieved at the sudden interruption, Leo quickly grabbed his phone and beamed with excitement upon seeing Karai's name light up on the screen, "It's Karai," He told the others, "Hey Karai," Leo greeted, turning slightly away in annoyance from the others as they glanced at him with sly looks and snickered behind their hands not so quietly, "Wanna come over and have din…"

"LEO!" Karai's voice sounded frantic as she cut him off mid-sentence, "He's back!"

"Who's back Karai?" Leo demanded in concern.

"Shredder, he's back and he's trying to kill me!" She shouted in between gasps. It was clear to Leo she was running hard, "He's back and he just grabbed Shini, he took her somewhere and I'm afraid he's going to come after me!"

"But that's not possible," Leo said in disbelief, he looked at his brothers who were now staring at him in concern, "We took him down, I sliced his head off!" Leo furrowed his forehead in disbelief, "He's been dead for a year so he's got to be dead!" He looked from the phone back to his brothers, "Doesn't he?" He demanded.

Karai took a deep breath, "Maybe you think you killed him Leo," She told him, "But I'm telling you he is back and he's coming after me and he'll probably go after you and the others next!" Leo heard Karai start to sob, "I'm heading back to the Mutanimal's lair now, please Leo, you've got to believe me!" She yelled out, "He's here and I need your help!"

"Hang on Karai!" Leo shouted into the phone, "We'll be at the Mutanimal's lair in five minutes," He hung up his phone and looked from one brother to the other, "Karai's in trouble," He told them, "Let's go!" He turned and started out the kitchen but stopped short as a figure loomed over him.

"Leonardo?" Leo looked up into the eyes of his sensei, "What is going on?" Noting the concern in his sons' eyes, he quickly picked up on the seriousness of the situation, "What has happened?"

"It's Karai….Miwa, Sensei," Leo told him as he and the others began to move toward the turnstiles, "She's back in New York and she's in trouble!"

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Ah yeah, Splinter never dies in my universe! So time for a new story, please R&R and let me know what you think, good or bad I love reading reviews. :) peace.