AUTHOR NOTE: I wrote the first 7 or so paragraphs of this when I was soooo sleepy I barely remember writing it. I think it turned out almost better than most of the stuff I write when coherent. So maybe I should write sleep deprived more often, eh? Anyway, enjoy chapter 3!

The moon hung high in the sky, full and glowing like a single pearl placed on raven black silk. Phoenix crouched on the edge of an apartment complex, balanced on the balls of her feet, staring up at it's pure beauty. She hated the moon when it was full. Shadows were fewer, less complete. It was harder to hide with a full moon. Harder to disappear but she hadn't let it affect her mission. Already she had robbed a liquor store and a hardware store. They weren't blind robberies though, Phoenix did her homework. The liquor store was just a front, a partner in a money laundering scheme that so far had gone undetected by the police. The hardware store was the base of operations for a small group of muggers that had been plaguing parts of Brooklyn for going on six months with the police picking up no leads, seeing no connections. Phoenix left little clues at each site that would lead the police to arrest those involved and give them a case that would be hard put to ignore in court. At each location she also left a piece of white cloth with a red and orange embroidered phoenix.

It would be a surprise indeed if word of that cloth didn't spread like wild fire. It seemed the harder the cops tried to hide a fact, the more people wanted to talk about it. The turtles would hear from their reporter friend, April O'Neil, about her little calling card and before long, they'll be stalking the streets, combing every seedy avenue and dark alleyway looking for the Phoenix. If they weren't already. She smiled a little then, imagining them turning over garbage cans and looking under cars while she watched from a safe roof top. Of course, she knew it wouldn't be like that. The turtles were smart, if naive. She would have to be careful, every step would have to be calculated and recalculated. Luckily, her Master was very wise. She'd trust his judgement and follow his instructions.

Her stomach turned, lurching at the thought of her Master. It unnerved her. The feeling had started the night she lured the red banded one, Raphael, into the trap that won her the sword. She wasn't sure what it meant, whether it was just nerves from finally fulfilling the purpose her Master chose her for, or if it was something else. She knew what guilt felt like from the few memories she still held of her childhood before her Master. This fluttering in her stomach was strangely close to that remembered feeling.

Frustrated with herself, she stood, a light breeze playing with her hair. It was only just past midnight and she wanted to cause as much stir in the city as she could before the sun rose to put a stop to her plans. Her Master hadn't set a timeframe for her to draw out the turtles for the second time, but she wanted desperately to please the man that cared for her when no one else did. Distracted by her inner thoughts, she almost didn't hear the soft sounds of someone approaching her from behind. She made no outward sign that she knew, but suddenly her senses were focused. It was a man, she knew that instinctively. Taller than her, but not by much. Her breath caught in her throat as she realized who it was. Not Raphael, he wouldn't waste time sneaking up on her. The steps were tentative, unsure. It was the youngest one, the orange banded one.

"Michelangelo." She said sadly, her eyes a mask of sorrow as she turned to face him. She was right. He stood there, dumbfounded barely five feet from her. He held nun-chaku in his left hand, but his right hand was empty. She was almost sure he wouldn't have attacked her. "I had hoped to see you again. But I didn't think I'd be allowed to."

"Uh Phoenix. I uh... Hi." He stammered in an almost endearing, child like way. "I didn't think I'd run into you here."

She chuckled, the deep, breathy laugh she had used at the museum. "I guess no one really expects to run into another person on a roof top this late at night." She smiled beneath the tenugui, surprised with herself at how genuine it felt. "It's good to see you. I just wish..." Her words trailed off, leaving her wish unspoken as she turned her head from him and closed her eyes.

"What?" He asked, taking a step towards her. "Hey what's wrong?" The concern in his voice sounded real enough to her, and that odd fluttering started to creep into her stomach again.

"It's nothing." She shook her head slowly, eyes still closed. She sensed someone else coming from the side, shielded by the small structure of brick with the door leading into the building and off the roof. His footsteps were heavier than Michelangelo's and though Phoenix wasn't positive, she guessed who it was. "I should go."

"Wait! Can't you stay?"

"No. I shouldn't. He'll be angry if he knew I was talking to you." She shifted her weight, placing her foot very close to the edge of the building.

"Who'll be angry?" Mikey asked innocently.

"I can't." She shook her head sighing heavily. "I just can't... But... Michelangelo?"

"Yeah?" He was leaning forward now, hooked on her words.

"Tell Raphael I'm sorry, please. I... I was only doing like I was told."

"Tell him yourself." The one who had been hiding said, stepping into the light of the full moon.

"Raphael." Phoenix gasped in feigned surprise. She had hoped it was him, but it very well could have been their cautious leader. "I... I didn't know you were there."

"You're lying."

"No!" Phoenix shouted, surprised with herself for the outburst. She needed to calm herself, to ignore the fluttering in her stomach and concentrate on making them believe her. She had been taught to lie at an early age by her Master and had been severely punished when caught using her skill with out permission. She took a deep breath, letting her shoulders slump and her head hang slightly. "Alright. I knew you were there. I just... Wanted you to know that what I did last night... I didn't want to hurt you."

"Heh." He scoffed, crossing his arms. "Coulda fooled me."

"C'mon Raph. She had a good reason for doin' what she did." The orange one turned his large eyes on her and she saw the absolute need in them for her to be on their side. Mikey wanted her to be good, and that confused her. She wasn't bad, was she? "There's a reason, right?"

Phoenix shook her head and shruged. "It's not my place to ask his reasons. Only to do what I'm told."

"I ain't buyin' it." He drew both sais and stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "You and me Phoenix. We're going to finish this."

He was challenging her, that much was plain. But whether to a fair fight, or whether he intended for his brother to join, Phoenix couldn't be sure. Her sense of honor told her that Raphael intended this to be one on one. It also told her that she should stand her ground and accept his challenge. She knew she couldn't, knew that she should follow her Master's wishes. She was not supposed to engage them in battle, not yet. Even with all of her training and years of instruction, she was no match for the turtles. She might be able to hold her own long enough to find a path to safety, but in honorable combat she would lose. She couldn't risk that right now.

"Someday, I hope you'll understand." She smiled sadly, a small upturning of the corners of her mouth. Closing her eyes, she let herself fall backwards off of the roof.

"Wait!"

She heard Raphael yell, and Michelangelo gasp. A second was all she had to imagine the shocked and horrified looks on their faces before she felt the fire escape rushing past her. Turning a backflip in mid air, she opened her eyes and reached out in front of her. Her hands connected with the metal railing and she held on just long enough to slow her fall but not stop it. The force of the impact still jarred her shoulders and upper arms and made her cringe with the pain that would only be worse in the morning. Her feet touched the railing on the level below her and using the momentum from her fall she kicked out, turning another back flip to land on the fire escape on the building across the narrow alley on the next floor down. From there it was an easy jump to the dumpster below and a small leap to the ground.

"Phoenix!" Raphael yelled, anger and frustration in his voice. It made her cringe and she took a second she should not have taken to look back up at him.

He stood with one foot on the edge, looking as if he was unsure whether to follow or not. Before he could make that decision, she took off. She ran until every breath had to be forced through searing lungs and only then did she stop, pressed into the shadow created by two adjacent builds. What just happened was good, she knew that. More doubt had been drilled into the youngest turtles mind and that doubt would just dig further and further. His brothers would have a very hard time convincing him that she was a bad guy. Her Master would be proud.

Then why did she feel so bad about it?

Raphael watched her go, his fists clenched tight around the grips of his sais. He had wanted to face her, to oust her as a dirty fighter and a fake. What she was doing to Mikey, praying on his innocent nature, pissed him off. Their Master preached the importance of loving each brother equally, but Raph had to be honest. Mikey was his favorite brother. Their relationship was just easier, without any of the strain that was so often present between him and his older brothers. Phoenix was threatening that ease.

"Raph, what do we do?" Michelangelo's question was simple enough, but the answer tricky. They could go after her, try to track her, but likely they wouldn't find her and end up searching all night.

"We go back ta the lair." Raphael answered after a few moments of thought. "And we don't tell anyone what happened." His brother looked confused, but happy, so Raphael decided to leave his decision unexplained. Run all you want, Phoenix. I'm gonna cage you yet.