Author's notes- I don't own the TMNT, any of their friends or enemies. I do own four little girl turtles called Meiyo, Kibou, Karma and Shinrai, a little black kitty cat by the name of Theo and the girl's dead/spirit brother Ai.

Well, I just couldn't keep away. I did want to hold my new story off for a while but I just can't, i'm actually really excited about this story. I haven't had as long to think about it as the rest of my storylines, so this is a little new to me too. I promise something a lot different for this story and I also promise Karma is the same lovable, slightly grumpy, badass kunoichi as she always was. As for the new girls, well, i'm hoping I develop their characters well enough so if you think i'm not doing it too well or I am, please let me know, feedback only helps me improve.

I know I don't normally do prologues but I don't really see this as a proper chapter. It picks up almost directly from where the last ended; the first part happens as the second part does, so they're in a parallel timeline. It is very puzzling, but it will eventually all make sense. I'm rambling I know, I only have a few last things to say: I think i'll be writing completely in third person but i'm not 100 percent sure yet, I might slip in the odd personal viewpoint from the new girls so you get to understand them a bit better and I have to give a big thanks to The Light Of Reason. She's helped me with this storyline a lot, so you know where to send the pitchforks if you don't like it ;)

One last thing (FINALLY), just for reference, ansatsusha means assassin. Enjoy!

Prologue

"Ansatsusha."

A lone figure stepped forward, dropped to his knee and bowed his head in respect of the person looming in front of him. The room bounced with shadows as the few candles flickered nervously and the assassin opened his eyes, watching the shadow on the red carpet creep towards him. Heels clicked dully on the carpet and the shadow swallowed him.

"Yes Master?"

"Do you feel ready for your task?"

He curled one hand into a fist and wrapped his other around it, making his bow deeper. The black tails of the ninja mask trailed over his shoulder and he kept his deep ocean eyes trained on the floor.

"Yes Master."

The candlelight danced over the figure and Karai was revealed. She twisted to gaze through a window, watching over the slumbering city she called home. Her movement was careful as she was cautious of the scars underneath her clothes which had been awarded to her during her last fight with the turtles and ruined her previous flawless, porcelain skin. She looked towards her newly trained ninja and felt glad of the tests her father had ordered upon the female turtle; a strength serum had been concocted which helped the Foot train much faster than previously. The ninjitsu master was sure her knew trainee was her best and her last resort; if this failed, she knew she would never seek revenge upon the turtles.

"Remember, my father saved your life for a reason, something I could easily correct."

A strong arm was brought to hug the assassin's middle and trace the deep puncture wounds in his side that had almost ended his life merely two years ago. He was grateful that Master Shredder had given him a second chance to live; to correct the mistakes he had made and correct the ones who had wronged him.

"Yes Master Karai, I understand."

She placed a katana decorated with intricate red patterns on the hilt into his hands and briefly touched his shoulder, not in a sign of affection, but as an unspoken acknowledgement that he was to leave. She returned to her place by the window to watch lights flicker off as the morning awakened and he slowly stood.

"No matter what they say, they are lying. I am the only family you have now."

He nodded, carefully carrying the katana before disappearing out of the chambers of his master.

"You took so much from me, Karma, now I will destroy your world and leave you alone. You will know how much it hurts to have your family taken from you before your very eyes and to live alone…" The kunoichi lowered her voice to a sad whisper, "Like myself."

"Karm? Y'alright?"

"Huh?"

The green-banded turtle blinked back at her partner, shaking off the haunting thoughts the brief chill had pushed into her mind. Her black cat, Theo, rubbed up against her legs, wishing to be picked up and the girl turtle obliged before realising Raph was still waiting for an answer.

"Oh, yeah, sorry," She rearranged the cat in her arms, careful of her cast, "I'm fine."

"Ya've been standin' up here fer the past 20 minutes, ya gonna help us pack or not?"

She returned his smile and looked down to the cat contently purring in her arms. He looked up with glinting green eyes then closed them happily, Karm only wishing that life were so simple for her that a cuddle could fix anything.

"Sorry, I've just been thinking."

"What 'bout…?"

The amber-eyed turtle crossed his strong arms across his broad chest, his girlfriend unable to resist stealing a quick glance at him before sobering.

"Ai. He… I haven't been in contact with him since he told me about Shredder's plan and that was months back. I couldn't get through to him when…" She swallowed hard, "When Bishop had me. I'm worried."

"Look girl, there's no need ta worry, I mean, what coulda happened to him?"

The female turtle frowned, "Nothing."

"'Xactly. Nothin' can touch him, he's safe, ya've prob'ly jus' been too stressed ta meditate."

Not wishing to talk about it anymore, Karma merely nodded, trying to convince herself that Raphael was right but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"And I was thinking about… my mother."

"Ya had a mom…?" He frowned.

"Yeah. I-I had a mom Raph," The girl's eyes softened with sadness, "She was so kind and caring…"

She shook her head sadly, as if she were trying to shake away the tears. Raph moved to put an arm around her and even Theo, who most of the time was oblivious to everything, stopped purring.

"I'm sorry, Bishop brought back so many memories, so much pain, I'm finding it hard to cope with everything. I miss Ai and I miss my mom, having my sister's here just reminds me of that."

The emerald skinned turtle swallowed hard. He knew Bishop had treated her badly, Stockman even worse, but he didn't know how to react.

'I-… I know I could be mad, shell, I am mad, but… that won't help an' I dunno what will.' He exhaled heavily. 'She hurts so much an' she needs somebody ta help. I wanna help, but I dunno how.'

He said the only thing he could think of, "Karm… I love ya girl. A lot."

Thankfully, she smiled, at least a little.

"I love you too Raph, I'm sorry, I shouldn't burden you with this-"

"No, don't say that. This ain't your fault, 'kay? Ya can talk ta me 'bout this but when we get ta the Farmhouse. Ya've been through a lot, 'specially the past few days so jus' rest up in the trailer on the way there, we got plenty of time ta talk."

"Okay Raph. Thanks."

"C'mon, we better get everythin' packed before Mikey changes his mind on what comics he wants to take, again."

Karm still wasn't entirely happy or convinced but she followed him downstairs all the same, her black cat purring loudly all the way.