A/N: This is (obviously) a Christmas story. Unlike some, there is no 'moral to the story' or really any other reason for it to be a Christmas story other than it is set around that time. I sat down to write the next chapter of "In the Clutch of Evil," but this is what came out instead. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT, the lyrics to "I'll be Home for Christmas," the Srgnt. Frog manga series, Radio Shack, or Ghost Busters.

Steel.

Forged from the depths of fire – pounded, folded, and pounded again until it is just right. It is made into two parts, the inner and the outer. Inside is soft and flexible; outside is hard and strong. Together, the two parts form a blade so strong and sharp that it could be considered to be invincible.

It is so like him in so many ways. I used to think I loved him, but oh so fine is the line between love and hate. Therefore, I am now planning his destruction.

Karai stared blankly down at the page before her. She knew the result that she desired, but had only a few random ideas about how to obtain it floating around in her mind. Unfortunately, not one of the ideas was worth a snap. She could easily see their failed outcomes. She refused to waste precious resources on a plan that she knew would only be doomed to failure. She looked up, staring aimlessly out of her limousine's window as it drove her from another boring business meeting back to the Foot Headquarters.

It was only a day after Thanksgiving and all of New York City was already preparing to celebrate Christmas. She hated that these Americans could so easily turn another holiday meant for bringing families together into another retail rush of madness. But then again, her native people did the same thing. So did almost the entire world.

Absentmindedly, Karai began twirling a strand of hair around her forefinger. A much more substantial plot began forming in the back of her mind. Christmas.She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that her most hated enemies celebrated that holiday. And she had just figured out how to use that to her advantage.

Oh, I'll be home for Christmas.
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree.

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams
Yeah I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.

Leonardo walked around, humming and singing softly to himself. He loved Christmas. In fact, his entire family did. Around this time of year, Donatello always had some sort of gleam in his eye and banned everyone from his work room where he was usually creating some wonderful surprise for them. Michelangelo became even more excited and talkative, but somehow less annoying. Even Raphael was friendlier towards all of his family. Leonardo himself didn't really care about the actual holiday. He was happy because his family was happy. And if his family was happy, that was all that mattered.

He readjusted his deep blue scarf as he continued walking along in the snow. That was one nice thing about the American North-east. All this snow meant that everyone else was bundled up as much as he was, making him much less conspicuous. And thank goodness, too, or he'd never get any of his shopping done. Like all of the turtles, Leo rarely had very much – if any – money. However, he usually saved what he did have in order to find just that right gift for his brothers and sensei. This year, he would try to find something for April and Casey as well. The turtle smiled happily to himself as he walked into the mostly empty mall. At twenty minutes before closing, he didn't have much time. However, there were not very many people at that time either.

He would start with Michelangelo since he was the easiest to buy for. Leo walked into a game and comic book shop, hoping to find something that would fit in his price range. He was the only customer in the shop.

"So, can I help ya, dude?" the kid behind the counter asked.

"Oh, um, yes," the disguised turtle replied, doing his best to keep the kid from seeing the strip of green skin between the hat and the scarf. "Do you carry any of the Justice Force comics?"

The kid leaned back in his chair behind the counter. "Sorry, man, we're fresh out. Those always go first, y'know? An' I know for a fact that all the other stores're out too. Sorry 'bout that."

Leonardo sighed in disappointment. "Do you know when you'll be getting any more in?"

"Not until January's issue comes out."

The turtle winced. "Then can you recommend another comic that's just as good?"

"Dude, there aren't any comics that are as good as the Justice Force, but maybe you'd like to try some manga?"

"Japanese comics?"

"Yeah, that's right. Have you read any?"

"Nope. I'm just trying to find something for my little bro."

"Ahh. Gotcha," the clerk responded with a wink. "I'd suggest this one, then. It's really funny." He handed a small book to Leonardo.

"Sergeant Frog?" the turtle read off of the cover. "It's perfect. I'll take it."

"M'kay, dude. That'll be five bucks."

Leonardo handed over the money and took the bag with the book. He headed out and to the next store. Glancing quickly at a clock hanging in the back of one of the stores he was passing, Leo saw that he only had fifteen minutes left and he had no idea what he would get for anyone else.

He walked passed a Radio Shack. Maybe I could find something for Donnie in there. Keeping his head down, he entered the electronics store. After several minutes of looking, Leo was beginning to think that he wouldn't find anything within his six-dollar budget. He walked down one last aisle, ready to give up on this store and try the next. Suddenly, he spotted a bunch of small gadgets in a bin marked "Sale." He rummaged through it quickly and pulled up a laser pointer. The tag on it said that it was on sale for five-twenty-five. Adding the sales tax would put it just under the turtle's meager budget. Quickly checking out, he glanced at the wall of atomic clocks and was dismayed to see that the mall would only be open for another three minutes. Oh well. I usually don't get it all done in one day, anyway.

Holding his two precious bags tightly, he hurried through the mall only a minute before closing. The cold winter air felt frigid when blasted up against him as he stepped from the heated building and onto the sidewalk. That, he assumed, was the cause of the sudden prickling on the back of his neck.

Leonardo walked along under the strands of lights that were strung from one side of the street to the other. As a ninja, he should have cared that he was far from the protection of the shadows; but as a simple teenager, he felt as though for at least one night the world could take care of itself. A light snow began to fall and the prickling at the back of his neck returned. The turtle tensed. That sensation was kind of like an early warning system for him, even if his mind wasn't paying complete attention. He glanced around and saw nothing on the ground or on the rooftops. The falling snow seemed to be deadening the harsh sounds that normally filled this part of the city at night. Unfortunately, Leonardo realized, it also quiets footsteps. He picked up his pace. The sooner that he could be home, the better.

He took one last glance behind him as he slipped into a small, dark alley. He knelt down and pried open the manhole cover. There was a soft thud and Leonardo looked up. He was surrounded by dozens of Foot as well as the leader of the Foot Elite.

"How nice of you to drop in," the turtle growled. He made ready to escape into the sewers when he noticed that there was another swarm of the enemy ninjas waiting for him below.

"Just like old times; but this time it's going to end much differently," he said, thinking back to the night when the Shredder had ambushed him.

"That's what you think!" The Elite lowered his weapon towards the turtle. "ATTACK!"

Leonardo unsheathed one of his katana as the human clothes fell off of him, giving him more flexibility. He tucked the shopping bags into his belt and charged forwards, ducking under a shurikin while drawing his second sword.

"Sorry I didn't have time to buy you a present. You'll just have to be satisfied with these!"

He swung around, knocking the swords out of some of the approaching ninja's hands. He then sprang backwards, embedding his swords in the ground. From there, he sprang back forwards, using the katana tsuka and tsuba for leverage as he propelled himself into the ninja's chests. Yet as those ones fell back, more came forwards. They were wearing some sort of tank on their back and were wielding long, clear tubes. Leo looked at them pityingly.

"What happened, you got tired of the Foot and decided to become Ghost Busters or something?"

The turtle could tell that the Elite was smiling wickedly as he lunged at him. As he parried the blow, the Elite replied, "Ghost Busters? No. Turtle Busters? Yes."

Leonardo kicked the Elite back into the alley's brick wall. The enemy ninja crumpled and slid to the ground. For a moment, the Foot stepped back from him, but still stood surrounding him in a large circle. Then the turtle noticed with horror that they were each wearing the strange packs and each had leveled their tubes at him. That was when he realized that they had not stepped back out of fear.

Leo leapt to attack, but as he moved to slice, they fired the strange weapons. A blast of coldness slammed into the turtle. He surged forwards, but could feel his strength slowly ebbing away. He managed to disable one of the ninja, but more were waiting to take that one's place. Blast after icy blast hit the turtle and he was now struggling just to remain conscious. He mentally cursed being cold-blooded as his eye-lids sagged and his body limply tumbled forwards. Numbly, his brain faintly registered many hands grabbing him as he slipped out of consciousness.

tsuka--hilt
tsuba--hand guard
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