Spellbound

Chapter 1: Forbidden Friend

A/N: This is a plot bunny that has brewing in my head ever since Shinigami was introduced to the show. I'm a huge fan of her and I love how she and Karai have been friends. So I thought it would be cool to do a story about their friendship and how it has evolved over time until she comes back to see Karai. I hope that you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon. I only own the plot and nothing more than that.

Summary: Karai never really had any friends until she met Shinigami. A group of one shots about the friendship between Karai and Shinigami and how it evolves over time.

Karai was walking along thinking about the latest training session. It hadn't gone as well as she had wanted it to, but she had done her best. She just wished Father would have reacted better instead of yelling at her and forcing her to repeat the move until she got it right. Her limbs were still sore, and she hated it.

"Are you all right?" a voice asked.

Karai instantly turned around and crouched into a defensive stance. In front of her was a girl who looked to be about a year younger than she was. She had short black hair and seemed to be worried about her which was different for Karai.

"I had a difficult training session," Karai answered. "Why do you care?"

"Because I understand how it can be hard not to succeed," the girl answered. "My name is Shinigami. Who are you?"

"I'm Karai," Karai replied. "Oroku Saki is my father."

"I see. And he trains you?"

Karai nodded. "He's training me to be a kunoichi, a female ninja."

Shinigami smiled. "How interesting! My mother is training me to be a witch."

Karai was a bit startled at this news. "Your mother is a witch?"

"Yes, and she wants me to be one too."

"Do you want to be a witch?"

"I think it would be interesting to learn to cast spells and such. Do you want to be a kunoichi, or do you feel your path lies elsewhere?"

"I never really thought about it, but I guess I've always wanted to be a kunoichi. I always felt it was expected of me to pass on my father's legacy."

"Perhaps so, but I feel you would make a good witch, too."

"How can you tell?"

"You seem very crafty and cunning, Karai. I feel that being a witch will suit you."

Karai smirked. "Well, I think you would make a good kunoichi like me. I think you could learn to fight."

"Would you teach me?" Shinigami asked her.

Karai nodded. "I'd love to teach you. How old are you anyway?"

"I'm six years old."

"I'm seven years old so that's not too big of a difference. But if I teach you, you have to do everything I say."

"I can do that," Shinigami said. "And if you want, I can teach you how to cast spells."

"I would like that."

"Good. We can meet at my house tomorrow if you're free."

"I think I can arrange that. See you then, Shinigami."

"Sayonara, Karai."

Karai smiled as she made her way back home. She was so happy that she had made a friend who understood her, and she couldn't wait to tell her father about Shinigami.

She found him in his office poring over papers. She was about to turn away when he sensed her in the doorway.

"Where were you, Karai?" he demanded.

"I was out on a walk," she answered. "I met this amazing new friend too."

"I see. Who is he?"

"Her name's Shinigami."

Saki's face darkened at the sound of the name. "You befriended the daughter of a witch?"

"Yes, and she's really nice."

"You are not to associate with this girl again!" Saki ordered. "That family is tainted and we do not want to be around such company."

Karai was shocked and thought that maybe her father would think that Shinigami was a nice person. Why was he saying such horrible things? "But, father, Shinigami is very nice!" she protested. "She would never hurt me in any way."

"I will hear no more of this, my daughter. You are not to associate with this girl anymore. Do you understand?"

Karai wanted to argue further, but she knew it was futile. She hung her head in supplication. "Hai, Father."

"Good. Now, run along and finish your schoolwork."

Karai did as she asked, but as she tried to concentrate on the work she had been given earlier, her thoughts kept turning to Shinigami. Father was wrong about her. She wasn't bad and would do nothing to hurt her. Karai had never had any real friends until now, and she was determined that her father wasn't going to ruin this for her. She was going to continue to be friends with Shinigami whether her father liked it or not!

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Shinigami walked home with a smile on her face. Karai was definitely an interesting friend and a nice person. She hadn't made friends with a lot of people mainly because of her mother and what she was. No one wanted to be friends with someone whose mother was a witch and that hurt Shinigami so much. But now she felt she could have that type of friendship with Karai, and that was the best thing ever.

She skipped inside her house and found her mother in the kitchen. Shinigami only had her mother to take care of her as her father had deserted the family when Shinigami was just three years old. Her mother looked up at her and smiled.

"Did you have a nice walk?" she asked her daughter.

"Hai, Mother," Shinigami answered. "I made a new friend, too."

"How interesting. Who did you meet?"

"Her name is Karai and she said Oroku Saki is her father."

Haru Gowari's face darkened at the mention of Saki's name. "That man is bad news, Shinigami. You have no business associating with anyone in the Oroku clan."

"But Karai is a very nice girl!" Shinigami protested. "She didn't seem evil when I talked to her."

"I am sorry, my daughter, but you cannot see her anymore. Now, go get ready for dinner."

Scowling, Shinigami did as she was told. But as she prepared herself for dinner, she kept thinking about Karai and how interesting she was. Why did her mother hate Karai's father so much? Did they have a past together, or was this just prejudice because of who her mother was? Regardless of this, Shinigami was determined not to let her mother control her life. She was going to be friends with Karai anyway, and if her mother didn't like it, then too bad.

A/N: And that's the end of the first chapter of this story. I really hope you liked it. I just figured that Karai and Shinigami had an age difference and felt that one year would do for them since Karai will be her sensei. Feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.