Author's Note: Re-did a whole chunk of this chapter. I really didn't like how it came across, so I changed it. Tell me what you think! Did I mention that this is based off the Movie-verse? This story, in it's whole, is an NC-17 rating, but I toned it down to put it here. Hopefully I can find a way to show you the unedited version, but I dunno how yet, LOL. Thanks again for all the comments:3 Oh, and just to clarify something – ppl speak Japanese in this, and so you dun get confused, text will be put in "(())" when ppl are speaking in Japanese.

Rating: PG-13, for violence and language. :3

Chapter One: Rain, Movies, and Martial Arts

He watched with sleep heavy eyes as the bright movie screen flickered in front of him, leaning a leather-padded elbow on the plastic armrest of his chair, his green palm cupping his chin. Hidden behind the worn out red of his thin mask was a jaded expression, the movie unable to hold his attention as his thoughts drifted. Hearing the shuffle of someone squeezing down his isle, the Turtle quickly tucked his chin into this chest and tipped his hat downward, his gesture being more secretive than polite as he grunted out a reply, barely hearing an embarrassed apology from the two people who scooted passed him. With a twist of his thumb and forefinger he flipped his coat collar up, the tips of his neckpiece peeking out in his peripheral vision just above his mouth. Out of the corner of his eye he followed the couple's dark outline, their silhouette fading as they moved to the far end of his row, the young man setting what looked like a large buttered popcorn in his lap while he wrapped an arm around his female partner's shoulder.

The Turtle sighed.

He had found that over the pasted few months, he had been visiting this theater often, but the movies he attended didn't interest him in the least. Sappy, over-dramatic romance films were never his favorite, neither were those gory, horror movies about psychos stalking beautiful women. He realized he had been coming to these movies to watch the people, specifically the couples that like these movies. How their behavior fascinated him, how they took their freedom to be with another gender, another lover so lightly…it amazed him, it bothered him.

Oh, but how he envied them.

He would never say such a thing out loud of course, or ever speak to one of his brothers about it. This feeling was even difficult to admit to himself at first, for he needed no one…or so he made it seem. With the name Raphael came the obligation to be the loner; the outsider. But he was sick of that title. The thought of having someone, a special someone…to hold, to talk to…the idea really appealed to him.

Briefly his eyes tore away from the couple, glancing coldly at the theater screen as a man with a knife chased a big-busted girl through the corridors of a large empty house, causing Raphael to snort insensibly before turning back to watch the couple's reaction. The girl shrank into her male friend's arms, oblivious to the eyeful she gave him as her cleavage pushed up against his body, an excited smile curving his lips. Slowly he crept a hand up her thigh, the girl gradually realizing the innocent passes he was making at her before pressing her lips against his, performing a hormonal dance that was anything but tender.

Chewing his lower lip subconsciously, Raphael gazed at them with glossy, distant eyes, a longing that he kept hidden away deep inside surfacing, his stomach feeling as if it were tying itself in knots. Damn, he thought bitterly, damn! Why should he feel so different when he watches this? Why should he feel such a pitiful longing? He was a ninja, master of the martial arts and had complete control of his body. Such bullshit like love shouldn't even faze him. How could he be so weak as to wish for something so trivial?

Two fingernails dug into his palm as he clenched his fist, the mild jealousy he had felt turning into white-hot anger. He hated the way he thought like this, the way he felt. He hated it.

Pounding the cheap arm rails of his chair, Raphael rose to his feet, gritting his teeth when he felt several pairs of eyes burn into his turned back. Why should he care though? Their just people, people who enjoy taunting him and his loneliness, people who were too shallow to accept him for who he is, and not what he looked like. Pushing thought the narrow isle roughly he cussed under his breath, knocking a sweating drink from its wobbly holder, spilling its contents all over the stairs next to him.

"Hey! Why don't chu watch where yer going next time, asshole!"

A teenaged girl snapped at him rudely, breaking the tango of tongues she was sharing with her male friend, obviously the owner of the spilled soda. Raphael felt his cheeks grow hot from embarrassment, but growled out an insult in reply, slipping out of the isle and slinking quickly toward the exit.

Bursting thought the heavy steel doors he let loose a loud obscenity, stepping into the alley alongside the theater.

"Fuckin' braud! Bite me, alright?"

Seething, he stormed blindly down the darkness of the narrow, abandoned street, stuffing his hands stiffly into the pockets of his long coat.

"Asshole…Asshole! Mebbe if she wasn't so busy sucking the tongue outta her boyfriend's mouth, she coulda seen me comin'! So damned caught up in makin' out! Kissing…touching…"

His shoulders slumped as he slowly dragged his feet, stopping just before a shallow puddle of muddy water. A reflection of a sullen turtle peered wearily up at him from the small pool of liquid, the young face marred with lines of hurt, exhaustion and depression. Is that what people saw when they looked at him? Does he really look so…morose? A burning in the back of his throat made him swallow hard, watching somberly as his reflection pursed together its lips, its chin wrinkling as a frown pulled the corners of his mouth downward.

A grimace of sadness.

Slowly, his tortured reflection disappeared; large drops of water falling randomly from the sky breaking up his image in the puddle. Lifting his head, Raphael stared solemnly up at the clouded night sky, the heavy, cool droplets spattering and moistening his freckled green flesh, mixing it's fluids with the hot, salty tears that now began trickling down his face. If only his emptiness, his depression…could be washed away with the rain.

His eyes sliding closed, Raphael pulled his arms free from his pockets, opening them up and turning his palms upwards, embracing the comfort this evening's shower brought. How alone he felt. Even with his brothers he felt it. Alone. Why does he continue to be tormented by this loneliness? What had he done to be so burdened by it? He stuttered a silent sob, letting his arms fall limply to his sides, the rain still decorating his clammy skin with messy splashes of water. Could he be the only person suffering like this? Surely there were others who felt like this, others who have felt the aching pull of loneliness. The numb feeling of complete solitude. He couldn't be the only one—.

His thoughts ended instantly when he heard a shrill scream. He strained his ears for the noise again, hearing what sounded like a scuffle coming from the edge of an almost empty parking lot opposite the alley. Immediately he broke into a jog, using the long shadows casted by deserted buildings and trees for cover, his bare feet carrying him quickly and silently toward his destination. Plastering himself against the side of a one-story building, he cradled the handle of his sai, peeking out just enough to see what was causing the commotion.

There were two men and a young girl – an obvious unfair fight. One of the men stood apart from the other two, dressed crisply in an all black suit, fingering the bridge of his glasses, the lenses glinting dangerously in the light of a street lamp nearby. He appeared to be monitoring the conflict, an aloof smile playing on his lips while his hands folded neatly across his chest; his posture alone letting on that he was a leader of some sort.

His accomplice was also in black attire, from head to toe, only his was more of a casual wear, his bare, chiseled shoulders and biceps gleaming in the glow of the lamp above. The only thing that stood out from the man, aside from his tremendous size, was an odd design that adorned his thick neck, the curves and spirals of the tattoo disappearing behind his tiny ears. His demeanor was arrogant and offensive even while he stood perfectly still, one of his massive paws beckoning the girl forward, challenging her. She hissed out something inaudible in immediate response, two long, slender legs bending slightly at the knee supporting her as she took a step toward the two men, her shapely body exhibiting a fearlessness that rivaled her assailant as she clutched something to her chest. Lengthy hair colored a brilliant and unusual shade of blue streaked with a raven black spilled down her back and over her shoulders, hiding most of her face.

Raphael couldn't help cocking an eyebrow at this peculiar scene, tearing off the hat nestled snuggly on his head and tossing it aside, his trench coat following suit as he unsheathed both sais. Stepping away from the concealment of the building, he carefully skulked toward the trio, working his way around and behind them while he watched the conflict unravel before him.

"((Give me…the vile.))"

Ears perked, Raphael bristled as he noticed the suited man's husky voice was Japanese, his menacing tone reminding him of one of his first enemies – Oroku Saki. That name, that memory…brought with it the old feeling of ire he once had, the feeling of abhorrence. As if acknowledging the evil that the Shredder represented, the rain stopped with a rumble of thunder from the billowing clouds above, a deafening silence taking place of the pitter-patter from the rain.

Wiping his glistening forehead, Raphael listened intently to their conversation, trying his best to translate what was being said.

"((No.))"

This voice was a threatening murmur with a high, silvery twist to it that could only belong to the girl. Without so much as a glance in her direction Raphael could tell she wasn't too fond of these gentlemen, hearing the venom in her voice when she spoke through her teeth.

"((No? Perhaps you don't understand, so let me make myself very clear; Give me the vile and I assure you your death will be as painless as possible. I can't say the same for your comrades, however.))"

The man who had spoken before now stepped forth and into the light of the street lamp, holding out a hand, ready to receive what he had asked for. He seemed extremely confident and a little bit too calm for the situation.

Perched atop a tree branch just above the three people, Raphael raised his eyebrows as he saw the girl's grip tighten on the item she held closely to her body, spitting fiercely into the man's open palm.

"((…No.))"

That palm, now smitten with hot saliva and hatred, closed very slowly, the man attached to it showing mild amusement, his indifference from before never wavering. Almost too casually he pulled a folded handkerchief from his pocket, wiping her insult off thoroughly as his wide shoulders now rippled with an unintelligible chuckle, tucking the cloth back into the chest pocket of his jacket.

"((You are bold, and have an admirable determination. But unfortunately, you're very stupid. You leave me no choice…))"

Raphael still couldn't see the girl's reaction, her back to him while the two men faced his direction. He watched as the suited man straightened out the curve of his sneer, narrowing his Asian eyes at her before nodding at his associate, spinning on his heels as he walked back into the shadows.

"((Do what you like – but keep her alive. She still needs to provide the information of her friends whereabouts.))"

Now the brawny man shot her a crooked, cruel smile, those beady gray eyes laughing at the girl as he sauntered toward her, the wide hands at his sides balling into impending fists, growling out at her disdainfully.

"((I warned you about this. I told you what would happen…but you wouldn't listen to a friend's wise words.))"

Languidly the large man pulled something from the side of his waist, the long object shining bright silver in the gentle radiance of the florescent light above, his voice gruff and cold. His ominous approach didn't look to intimidate the girl at all, however, who compared to him, looked liked a child.

"((A friend? You were nothing but a traitorous snake...ever since the revolution. You can't think for yourself…which makes controlling you easier for the Oppressors.))"

Something flickered across the man's expression, like a nerve ending snapped, and he froze, his thick brow furrowing. He twirled his sword nimbly in his hand, falling into an offensive stance. Raphael at once recognized the skill; this man was apparently friendly with a katana.

"((Such fierceness…too bad it won't save you against my wrath!))"

With every syllable his voice rose, filling with rage as he lunged forth, his weapon slinging out and slashing multiple times at her, his teeth bared in blind rage.

Wwffhhh.

Ffwwwhhh.

Wide-eyed, Raphael looked on dumfounded as this girl, looking no more that seventeen expertly dodged each swipe that her attackers sword made at her, the sound of a metal blade slicing through the air echoing in the night's silence. Her reflexes looked faster than humanly possible, and to add to her skill, she struck the large man several times with her small offensive attacks, knocking him off balance each time.

Blinking away his shock, the Turtle knitted his brow together, leaping agilely out of the cover of the trees' branches and down to the pavement, his sais held ready in each hand. He hadn't interrupted the fight like he had planned, but the man standing off from where the combat was taking place immediately took notice of the large Turtle, barking out at his accomplice.

The burly man spun to face Raphael, his eyes widening in surprise as he realized just what he was looking at, the Turtle feeling dwarfed by the great height difference between he and the huge man.

That surprised expression on the man's face melted gradually into fury as his blade swung out at his new adversary, forgetting his current conflict with the girl as he charged forward. Barely keeping up with the barrage of sword swipes, Raphael knocked away each attempt to severe one of his limbs with his sais, the loud ting of metal on metal piercing his ears, a hot anger beginning to burn deep inside his chest as he fought off the brutish man.

In a split second decision the Turtle ducked one of the attacks, whipping a green leg out and sweeping the man's legs out from under him. Remarkably he was knocked off his feet very easily, his broad back hitting the pavement with a crack, his weapon falling free from his strong grip as he let loose a surprised yelp.

Towering over him, Raphael delivered a swift kick to the man's abdomen, watching through narrowed eyes as the man curled up, his hands holding the place where the Turtle's foot met his stomach. A starved wheezing escaped the man; his mouth opened wide and eyes squeezed shut while he gasped for the breath that had been knocked from him.

"((Since when is a fight of two-to-one fair, huh?))"

The Turtle took a step back, letting the man struggle to his feet as he fixed a fierce glare on him. The kick really did some damage, for the man had trouble walking, but pushed himself to stumble toward him, still desperate for air.

Without warning the girl suddenly charged the man approaching Raphael, leaping up high in the air and into a tight flip, her supple legs extending out as the flip escalated into a hands free cartwheel. Stepping back, the Turtle tensed, weary of any attack she might have up her sleeve while the rugged man limping toward Raphael noticed nothing, still red faced from rage and pain.

"((Why you fu—))"

The large man was cut short and knocked face first to the black top, the girl's heel connecting promptly with the back of his head just before her split second aerial assault ended, accomplishing a lethal attack and graceful maneuver at the same time. Landing softly beside him, the girl gave Raphael an attentive sideways glance, kneeling down briefly and pinching a nerve in her assailants' neck, the man uttering a small cry before he relaxed into forced unconsciousness.

"((Well, well…))"

The girl whirled around to face the voice behind her, taking a step closer to Raphael as her dark-colored lips pulled back to bare her teeth. Noticing her acceptance of he and his help, the Turtle took his combat stance next to her, spinning his sais freely on his fingers before tucking them away.

"((So you have help now, hmmm? Your little green friend stepping in to save you? It won't matter; you're both freaks and you're both going to die.))"

Instantly he threw his hand behind him, pulling out an ebony revolver, the bullet chamber protruding out into the long shaft of a silencer. His right leg slipped from under him and he dropped deftly to one knee, his gun now level with his eye as several dulled rounds fired out.

Without so much of a second thought Raphael dropped to his stomach, his hand finding the dip of the girl's back before bringing her down with him. Steadily, with the girl held tight underneath him and shielded from the flying lead bullets, the Turtle began to roll, desperate to get out of range. The girl, however, broke free of his sheltering grip, springing to her feet before launching something in her attacker's direction, the object hitting the gunman square in the chest. He cried out, slumping over moments after, his body held up at a gross angle by the thing that struck his torso.

Gradually climbing to his feet, Raphael cautiously made his way over to the fallen man, his body and senses still high-strung from moments ago. He hesitated to touch it at first, fear and apprehension nagging at the back of his mind, but grimly tucked those feelings away, scolding himself for being so anxious. Dropping to one knee, he suspiciously began to turn the limp body onto its back, a sound like metal scraping against stone causing him to arc an eyebrow, immediately drawing back as he saw one of his own sais protruding from the man.

Absently, his hand reached back to touch were he kept his sais, an empty spot in his left holster confirming that this weapon was one of his. The girl must have grabbed it from him while he was rolling, he assumed, the tip of it set deep into the man's chest, his satin black shirt stained with crimson as the liquid spread and seeped out onto the pavement in sick, rhythmic throbs.

He's dead. Raphael scowled at the body; as much as he didn't like this guy, he wasn't planning on killing anybody. Not tonight. He felt foolish for letting one of his weapons get away from him.

"((Oohh-hh…God…))"

Raphael tensed ever so slightly, forgetting just for a moment that he wasn't alone out in the parking lot. Before he turned to the girl, he located his exits: a manhole in the sidewalk along the closest building and one in the center of a parking lot one building over. Wiping the cusp of his sai off on the coattail of the man's suit, Raphael debated slipping away and into the sewer. It would be safe to disappear, and she was attacker-free for the time being. Besides – he still had a bit more sulking to do.

The rain from earlier started slowly again, and he watched her sit silently in its' cooling curtain, unmoving. After a few more moments of internal struggle, he meandered across the wet black top of the parking lot to the girl. Ta hell with secrecy – she had already seen him. Wouldn't hurt to make sure she was okay.

"((You okay…?))"

The girl, leaning awkwardly on one hand with her slender legs folded under her, went rigid; his presence so close to her crumpled form startling her. She gradually turned her head toward him, pausing briefly when she caught sight of the vile still held tight in her hand before crooking her neck back smoothly, her rain-soaked hair matting itself down about her round face. The shape of her soft, slanted eyes widened when her eyes locked onto the stoic gaze of his, some of her expression hidden behind locks of wet hair.

Her eyes made him double-take. A striking color of rich violet, he couldn't help but stare. Gingerly, he brushed the loose strands of damp hair aside, catching sight of a small welt that colored her pale flesh purple, the bruise an oblong circle just under her cheekbone. Pulling her hair completely away from her face, he let it fall freely through his fingers, its heavy silkiness tickling the sensitive nerves on his fingertips. How exquisite it felt, to touch something so soft, so unlike what he was used to…

The realization that he had been holding her gaze for far too long finally caught up with him, and with a quick shake of his head he drew away from her, pretending he saw something off in the distance, his hands settling nervously into his lap.

That was embarrassing.

He decided to repeat his question, make this uncomfortable situation more casual.

"((You okay, kid?))"

Turning her body slightly, she lifted her elbow up, bringing Raphael's attention to a dark red gash on her forearm. The blood was running a steady line down the curve of her arm and into her lap, the rain deluding the small forming puddle.

"Ah shit…"

His fingers wrapped around the thin shape of her wrist, pulling her arm carefully toward him and lifting it, his large brown eyes squinting as he examined her wound, tugging the rather long glove she wore off. He felt her eyes on him as he worked, felt her dissecting him with those violet orbs. As he dressed her injury with the glove she was wearing, he noticed her fair skin contrasted so diversely with his own dark colored flesh, they were so different…and briefly, the sorrow-filled emotions he had been feeling earlier flickered across his memory, making him frown inwardly. Raphael felt so monstrous compared to her. He couldn't help but feel ugly, looking from his green, speckled palm to her pallid smooth hand. He could only imagine what was running through her head.

Knotting the bandaged up he released her elbow, pushing the negativity threatening to sour his mood down into his bowels, looking up at her stolidly.

"((You speak English?))"

She nodded slowly.

"Good. Your arm'll be all right. The hospital wil—"

"No."

He saw her tense, the hand held tight around the tiny glass container clenching slightly.

"You need it kid—"

"No. I can't go…to a hospital. I can't go there."

She kept her eyes focused on her knees, staring down at a rip in her stockings, her voice curt, but slipping into a whimper at the end.

"I thank you for your help…but you shouldn't have. You shouldn't have gotten involved."

A scowl fell on to his face. This girl's got a great way of showing gratitude…

"No way you coulda taken out both guys. You needed help. A 'thank you' would be nice, ya know."

"I didn't need help. It was a mistake to get caught with them out in the open. You didn't have to help me."

She shot him a fiery glare, her eyes fixing on his again. Gritting his teeth, he felt frustration rush his body and with a slow intake of breath he tried to subdue it. She was being stubborn…and for some reason he couldn't bring himself to walk away. Not yet. He could tell she was distressed, but the hostility he saw in her eyes was only to mask something deeper, more painful behind it. He furrowed his steep brow.

"The hell it was; they jumped you."

"I should have seen it coming—"

"Don't think so. You needed help."

"I don't! I don't need help! I don't someone feeling sorry for m—"

Her voice broke, that familiar crease of a frown and the wrinkles of her chin showing just how upset she was, turning away from him and staring at the hole in her thigh-highs again. After a few moments of a rain-filled silence, she took a deep breath, her eyes closing.

"…You don't know what you're getting into."

"Mind tellin' me?"

He was answered by another glare as she stood up quickly, walking away from him. He climbed to his feet and followed her, determined. This was such a challenge…but he'll be damned if he couldn't make this girl recognize some reason. After several minutes of listening to the click of her heels and the pit-pat of the rain, she spun around to face him.

"Why are you following me?"

"Still waiting on that 'thank you'."

She glowered at his tone through the rain.

"I don't need someone to save me!"

"Didn't look that way to me…"

She dropped her head and hid her face in her hands, struggling with her emotions. He watched her body tremble fiercely under the building rain before she gave a short sigh, lifting her head to him. Despite the rain drenching her face, he knew it was tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.

"Just leave me alone."

She turned and began walking, still cradling her wounded arm and the vile. Raphael watched her intently, his urge to make a point unwavering. He called out to her.

"You really want that?"

She stopped, only a few feet from the end of the alley. She remained silent, letting the rain drizzle down on her. She spoke up, but kept her back to him.

"It's safer for you if you leave me alone."

He cocked an eyebrow, measuring her words. Carefully, he approached her, making sure he kept a comfortable distance from the lamp on the side of the building. He didn't mind if she'd already seen him, but he didn't want anyone else to. He stopped only a few steps from her.

"Is it safer for you?"

Her shoulders dropped and he watched her hug herself, any sobs that may have slipped from her lips muffled by the rain. She turned to him, her lower lip quivering as she fought her tears. He could tell she was frustrated, but it appeared it was more with herself than him. She finally stuttered out a sob, bringing a hand up to hide her eyes.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

His forehead crinkled with creases of concern, realizing she was in worse shape than she had originally let on. Raphael studied her, trying to find a way to articulate his point.

"You need help. Real bad. And I know that tryin' push people away ain't the smartest thing to do."

"Then what do you suggest I do!"

Again, sobs tried desperately to spill from her eyes and mouth as she yelled at him, but she fought them back, sniffing loudly. He stared at her, fighting with feelings. It would be safer for him to just leave her alone, yes…he didn't know anything about her. But he knew what it felt like to go it alone…and then be forced into a corner that you have to claw your way out of. Memories of the rooftop at April's old shop came to mind, and with a growing resolve he spoke up.

"Lemme help."

Taking deliberate steps closer, her eyes search his, full of desperation and suspicion. Her gaze was intense and piercing, but he didn't blink. This was the right thing to do. He didn't know how, but it was. The tears blanketing her violet orbs finally leapt from her eyes, and with a whine she fell to her knees, sobbing softly.

"Then please help me…"

She was in his strong grasp moments after, his jacket draped over her body and his hat on his head. She clung to him weakly, blood loss starting to slowly affect her. The rain hissed louder as it began to downpour, and silently he headed toward the nearest manhole. Raphael knew that doing something as noble as this was highly unlike him, but the instinct to protect something weaker than him was almost over powering. She was a stranger…but somehow he felt it his responsibility to protect her.

She leaned into him, still struggling with her sobs. As Raphael descended into the sewers, she whispered into his ear:

"Thank you."