A/N: Hello Everyone this is just a little story one of my friends has inspired me to write using some original characters the two of us have constructed. It will follow the TMNT 2012 series and I hope anyone that cares to read enjoys. I'd also appreciate any feedback given but this story is mostly just for my own amusement as well as that of my friends. I own nothing but my original characters.
Chapter 1. The Ooze
A short burst of wind gusted down the dank New York City side street rustling abandoned newspapers, fast food wrappers, and the short black locks of the street's lone inhabitant. The girl stuffed her hands in the pockets of her faded denim jeans as she shuffled her sneaker clad feet down the sidewalk deftly kicking a can along. She looked relaxed, but her eyes scanned the surrounding rooftops and alleyways searching for any movement.
A shadow flitted briefly overhead, but the teen paid it no mind. She reached the end of the street and casually glanced side to side. She had already started right towards a dingy diner that displayed a flickering neon open sign, when movement from a distant alley caught her eye. She watched the three thugs taking in their purple and black attire as well as brutish demeanor for just a moment before quickly dismissing them and entering the diner.
A few moments later the bell over the door chimed as she exited back onto the street holding two styrofoam cups of steaming coffee in each hand. She lifted one to her lips and sipped at it slowly as she walked along. As she passed the next alley she reached out and gently placed the other cup atop a trashcan that sat at the alleys mouth never breaking her leisurely stride as she went.
A second later a smile graced her features as she heard the slightest rustling behind her. She knew that if she were to take just a second and glance behind her the lid of the trash can would be bare, but she didn't bother. The wind gusted again causing the girls green and black flannel shirt to flutter behind her. She frowned against the flow of air and paused to readjust the bandanna tied around her forehead where the not so gentle breeze had tousled her bangs free and into her eyes. She scowled up in the direction she knew her personal roof-shadow would be hiding, knowing the obscured figure was undoubtedly snickering at her minor irritation.
She snorted before draining her coffee and tossing the empty container into the next grungy dumpster she passed. Tomorrow she would be taking the roof and her friend could walk the grubby streets of New York City. This city that was so unlike their hometown of Kyoto or even the sprawling metropolis of Tokyo. There the two had always ran alongside each other as the dashed across the rooftops already familiar with the major hubs and local hotspots of shinobi activity. Here they were simply combing through the huge urban jungle block by dirty block hoping for some evidence of the Foot Clan. So far they had only run across petty criminals and a few gang bangers of no significance.
When they went the first week in Tokyo with no activity they had been concerned, after the first month they had been scrambling through the city for any sign of their arch nemesis. By the fourth month they had been at their wits end when she had caught a few seconds of a news broadcast in Tokyo paralleling a new crime syndicate in New York City to the infamous Tokyo Foot Clan. Those brief seconds of footage has been all she needed and less than a week later they were aboard an international flight bound for the "big apple."
Thus, they were here, she scoping the streets as a civilian while her companion shadowed her from above. Their hope was that a young teenage girl walking alone down the dirty city's back streets in the dead of night where even the bravest boys in blue feared to tread might draw attention from the wrong sort... the wrong sort with the right information. Alas, nearly a month after they had first landed on American soil and she was still walking around with zero information, zero leads, and a particularly painful callous forming on her left pinky toe courtesy of her trendy high top sneakers.
The girl slipped her cell phone from her pocked glancing at the time glaring back at her from the reflective touch screen, 2:16 a.m. "We're going home now." She declared aloud mostly to herself as she took a left down a dark alley that cut back towards the small apartment they were renting. After a few minutes, and a few more shortcuts, the girl and her invisible partner were only three blocks from their current home when she turned down what would prove to be the most significant alley of their lives.
She was more than halfway down the alleyway when another blast of wind rustled some cardboard that had been piled beside a nearby dumpster. The sound of the shuffling cardboard caught her attention, but what would have been merely a cursory glance became an intense stare as she caught sight of a slight greenish-blue glow peeking out from beneath the pile of refuse.
She took a few cautious steps toward the pile casting careful glances to both entrances of the small side street to assure herself she was still alone. When she reached the suspicious pile she stood in front of it silently assessing it with a small frown marring her features. She considered how strange she would look to any passerby just staring at a pile of waste next to a dumpster that overflowed seemingly long forgotten by any local trash pick up. Gingerly, she reached out one sneakered foot and gently lifted the edge of a large piece of cardboard with just the toe of her shoe.
The large glowing and bubbling canister that was revealed caught her completely off guard and caused her to take a cautionary step backwards allowing the cardboard to cover the strange tube yet again. A heartbeat later found the girl crouching and softly lifting the cardboard with one hand. Almost mesmerized by the bright tube, she reached down and grabbed the container with her free hand holding it carefully as she inspected the viscous fluid that sloshed around inside. She swiftly returned to an upright position as she slowly twisted the lid off and sniffed delicately at the ooze inside. Her nose instantly wrinkled at the acrid scent that pervaded her nostrils and brought gooseflesh to her arms. Face still scrunched in distaste she hastily replaced the lid and shook her head to dispel the unpleasant odor. That was definitely not the scent of wax in a lava lamp that she had convinced herself she would find; it was pungent and most decidedly chemical in nature.
She scrutinized the tube thoughtfully for another moment before tucking it under her arm and continuing back towards their cheap little apartment. A bit later she was topping the fire escape and crawling through a dirty window. She set the mysterious chemical goo on the coffee table and was untying her green paisley bandanna when there was a flurry of movement by the fire escape window she had left ajar. She smiled softly at her friend watching as the other girl stepped through the opening and smoothed out her flowing black and red outfit.
"Thanks for the coffee." The girl grinned as her green eyes twinkled beneath her vibrant red bangs. "It really hit the sp— Saya what the heck is that?" The girl in green, Saya didn't even have to turn to know her roommate was pointing at their new, and potentially radioactive, centerpiece currently taking up residence on the scuffed coffee table.
"Well," Saya frowned, as she plopped down none to gently on the soft leather of the worn old sofa, still eyeing the the swirling ooze with a thoughtful expression. "I'm not really sure what it is Karina. I found it behind one of those abandoned buildings. I can't shake the feeling there's something... wrong with it and I didn't feel like it should just be lying out there on the street."
A twin frown graced Karina's features as she dropped down and squatted on her heels eyeballing the the glowing container. "Foot Clan?" she questioned thoughtfully.
"I doubt it." Saya shook her head. "Chemical compounds feels a little too science-forward for Shredder."
"Yeah," Karina agreed as she stood and began to let loose her long hair from its thin intricate braid. "he's more of a weapons-dealing, syndicate-leading, generic badass-shinobi warlord."
Saya blinked owlishly before bursting into laughter. "That's the best observation I've ever heard."
"Of course." Karina grinned as she unhooked her thick choker. "I do have a way with words."
"Oh yes," Saya snorted, "you're quite eloquent sister of mine. Now, let's go to bed. We can deal with our nightlight in a few hours."
Karina stretched and nodded in agreement before sauntering towards the bathroom for a quick shower. Saya stood from the couch and twisted her hips to pop her spine before carefully scooping up the glowing tube and crossing the living are to the bedroom. She placed the jar on her dresser before slipping into pajamas and sliding beneath the sheets. Tomorrow was going to be a full day she was sure.
The next morning found Karina carelessly balancing the canister on the toe of one of the black military style boots she had become increasingly fond of lately as Saya styled her recently straightened short locks back into the intended A-line bob she had it cut for. Karina puffed out a short breath as she hopped up, skillfully kicking the tube into the air as she did. Saya deftly caught the tube as it soared towards her never even glancing in Karina's direction.
Saya smiled as she placed the goo back on the dresser and quickly applied some eyeliner. Karina was already waiting for her leaning against the door frame with her backpack slung carelessly across one shoulder. In seconds Saya was next to her adjusting her matching black pack and the two slipped out the door and bounded down the stairs taking them two and three at the time. The two girls cast large grins and waved as they dashed out the front door of the small China Town pet shop their apartment was located above. Miss Jun, the middle aged Chinese woman who owned the building, waved back and called out a fond "Zài jiàn!" in farewell to which the girl replied with cheerful "Sayonara!" The two couldn't suppress their giggles as they passed by the ornate Dragon Gate that marked the entrance of China Town. The subtle irony of the two half-Japanese girls settling in the center of the Chinese community always inspired a smile. Still, it was an undeniably all around efficient living system. Miss Jun allowed them to live in the rental apartment above her own unit and also allowed the girl to work in the store to pay their rent. Miss Jun would open the store at 9:00a.m. sharp every morning and the girls took over at 3:00p.m. and locked up at 9:00p.m. sharp allowing them all the time at night they wanted to pursue their other interests as well as essentially free rent and unlimited cute fuzzy fur babies to love.
Karina grimaced slightly as she contemplated their current destination... American high school. It had actually been Miss Jun who insisted the girls attend the local school despite their protests and assurances they could enroll in a homeschooling program. Eventually Saya had caved first and even admitted some interest in the prospect. So after some forged documents and smooth talking they worked out a system with the school where they only attended a half day of classes and were released at lunch. Something they called a "work study" program. Personally, Karina would have been just fine with working at the store all day, or just using the day to nap so they could have more rest for their nightly patrols. She couldn't fathom a single reason a kunoichi would need to attend high school. They had already learned all they would need in basic studies years ago and had thrown themselves headlong into training, but Saya was admittedly interested in seeing the day to day activities of the "normal" teens, so she went along with it.
It was also easier than drawing unnecessary attention to the two foreign teens not enrolled in school without having to go through potentially countless confrontations with local truancy officials and child protective services. Besides, most of the teens at the school steered clear of the two transfer students, which Karina was just fine with. Though she did wonder if it was her scowl or mostly black attire that kept the curious locals at bay. The school came into view just as the first bell rang causing the girls to curse softly and spring the last block blurring past the throng of scrambling teens and dashing into their first class with seconds to spare. The day actually passed by pretty quickly and the lunch bell was soon signaling the end of their day. Karina couldn't help the little whoop of excitement that escaped her as she rushed to her locker. She hummed an upbeat tune as she filled her backpack with the few books she would need for dreaded homework. Then, she felt it. A gentle but definite tugging on her scalp... someone was pulling her hair!
Her body went into auto pilot as she twirled around and tossed her full pack straight into the chest of her assailant. While the hair-puller fumbled with the bag she swiftly crouch and gave a quick leg sweep. Even as the unknown attacker tumbled backwards Karina was already back on her feet and plucking her bag from the air before it hit the ground. The whole event was over in less than three seconds and Karina was left glaring at a dazed boy with black hair and matching black attire. Her voice was nearly a hiss as she scolded the boy. "Don't pull my hair..."
Said boy only blinked in confusion before a wide grin stretched across his face. "Yeah sorry about that," He began in a voice that sounded less than apologetic, "but it was so long I thought it was some crazy wig like a cosplay prop or something. Forget that though! That was some crazy kung fu you just pulled there like some Street Fighter stuff!" By this time the boy had already scrambled to his feet and between his missing front teeth and the quick string of dialogue Karina was too thrown to respond.
She felt her mouth open and close a few times before noticing Saya was now standing next to her and was glancing between Karina and the boy with a bemused grin. Karina snapped her jaw shut and leveled first her friend and then the boy with with with a harsh glower. Just as she was prepared to give the boy a fierce tongue lashing two more girls showed up and flanked him on either side.
"Casey," Began the redhead with an exasperated sigh, "your math work isn't going to learn itself. If you really need my tutoring then you have to show up when you say you will. Like how you were supposed to meet me and Irma twenty minutes ago in the library for instance."
"Aw Red," The boy, Casey, replied with a lopsided grin as he slung an arm over "Red's" shoulder I was on my way to meet you guys I swear. I was just taking a chance to meet the new chicks." As he finished his excuse he waved his free arm in the direction of said girls. The red head and her bespectacled friend both glanced at them skeptically.
Saya bit her lip to suppress her mounting giggles and gave the two a little finger wave. Karina could feel her scowl deepen as she turned on her heel and marched towards the front door muttering under breath the whole way. Saya felt her the corners of her own lips twitch a few times as she watched Karina stomp away. "You'll have to excuse my sister," she began with a slightly apologetic smile, "she's very particular and she really really doesn't like to have her hair pulled. I think it's some suppressed childhood pigtail memories... Anyway, it was nice chatting with you but I better go catch up to her. Ja ne!" Saya nodded at the teens before turning and jogging after her still miffed sister.
April frowned thoughtfully as she watched the two new girls exit out the school's front doors. "What did she mean about her sister's hair?"
"Well..." Casey began as he scratched the back of his head. "I may have pulled it... a little."
"What?!" April exclaimed looking at Casey, her jaw practically on the ground. "Casey, you can't just pull people's hair!"
"I thought it was fake!" he cried waving his hands in a flourish in front of him as if he were defending the perfect excuse to pull someone's hair. April just continued to gape at him for another moment before the next bell rang signaling the free lunch period was over. "Where did they go anyways?" Casey asked as the three began to hustle back to his dreaded trig class.
"Well," Irma began as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and flashed Casey a smug, knowing smirk. "Apparently they're way ahead of us in several subjects at their school in Japan and they work somewhere; so the school worked out a half day schedule for them. Pretty lucky if you ask me."
"How did you know that Irma?" April queried as she settled into her desk struggling to even remember the girls' names. They hadn't exactly made a point to socialize with anybody since they had arrived. Well, it wasn't like she had exactly gone out of her way to meet them either. With the mutagen fiasco, the Krang, the Foot, her struggling friendship with the turtles, tutoring a certain hockey stick wielding punk, and her dad... well she wasn't exactly swimming in free time here.
"I may or may not have gone through their transfer files." Irma admitted without a hint of guilt as she flipped through her textbook not even sparing April's slack jawed face a glance.
"Irma!" April scolded with a gasp. "That's a total invasion of their privacy!"
"Eh." Her purple haired friend shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing too amazing in there so no harm no foul. Besides I look up a lot of peoples files." Without another word Irma began scribbling in her notebook. April and Casey shared an unsettled look before pulling out their own texts both wondering exactly what Irma knew about each of them.