Chapter 4: Confrontation and Realization

"You brought her here? Ralph, what the shell were you thinking? "Leonardo shook his head in both disbelief and extreme disappointment.

"Look Leo, I-"

"Enough!" He snapped, silencing the younger. "You have done so many stupid things, but not like this, this is on a whole new level. What with you? Can't you see our main priority is to protect the family? Raphael you have official gone way too far." The younger fell silent, earning no response, the older sibling retreated to the back of the den, venting out in disgust. Their master shook his head and let out a sigh and instructed Donatello, his middle son to take care of the bleeding girl, much to Raph's relief.

"Thanks." He muttered to the two. They didn't answer, nor did they look up to him as they were concentrating solely on the task at hand. The orange masked turtle known as Michelangelo sought to help out as well, only to be turned kindly away. Raph let out a grunt as the recent events played in his mind, deciding it was too much, he left the underground home, cursing under his breath.

"To shell with it."

A Certain Someone's Conscious

"…."

'What?' She thought as she blinked her eyes hazily, adjusting them to the sudden brightness. "It's…Its white." She whispered.

"Gee you're smart." She sat up with a start. 'That voice; I could never forget that voice. His voice.'

She turned to face the direction the sweet sound protruded from. The girl blinked twice, falling back startled as blue eyes met crimson.

"K-Ka-?" He tilted his head and let out a smirk of victory.

"..-..?" He mimicked. 'My name….?'She thought as he let out a laugh.

"So you call yourself Yuki now?" The young teen nodded still in shock as he knelt beside her, eyeing her amusingly.

"I like your real name better, why do you hate it?" She pulled her knees to her chest, biting her bottom lip in discomfort.

"I-it's not like I don't like it." She began.

"But?"

"But, with the life we live now, it's the only thing I can hide, I don't want anymore of myself taken." The man broke as he threw his head back in laughter, she blushed as her brows furrowed in anger.

"S-shut up! Damn you, you stupid prick." He rubbed away a tear, patting her head gently.

"I'm sorry '…' you're just so adorable you know?"

"Ha right."

"It's true, besides, if you're so worried you'll lose yourself, then do what I do, wear your name, true and proud, not August, Anastasia, Yuki, Courtney, Crystal, not even Ace. Do what I do, loud and proud, say my name is '…'!" She smiled softly as she leaned her head against her companion's shoulder.

"And what about you?" she questioned teasingly. "Do you like being '…'?"

"Course I do! You know it means successful, thousand, da' boss." He grinned even wider as he threw an arm around the smaller being.

"Sure it doesn't mean egotistical?" They rejoiced in a serenade of laughter.

"You're mean, doesn't your name mean laborious, or great?"

"It does, why what of it?" He turned his red eyes to hers and looked on admiringly.

"You need a vacation sweetie." She blushed harder, punching him lightly on the shoulder. The taller male shook his head, standing he reached a hand to her which she graciously accepted. Her face happy, and everything warm.

"We'll be alright, I promise." She nodded, shutting her eyes as he pulled her into a loving embrace. She looked up at him.

"Together forever righ-" Her face twisted into a sickening shock as the older teen's flesh fell from his face, still smiling he kissed her forehead. The girl stood unmoving as ice cold lips pressed against her temple, her eyes widening in fear as the boy began to bleed from many wounds that opened suddenly.

"Y-you're-"she began painfully, however, he payed no attention to her comment, as the blood poured from his ghastly wounds. He became further away, the smile never leaving his half torn face. He got farther, as she reached desperately for him, calling him in anguish. His body began to fall apart as the sky turned a blood red. She gapped as she herself began to fall apart, unknowing to her, her eyes trained on the man in the distance. The dying man, the dead man. With one final strained cry, she screamed his name.

"….!"

Reality

Yuki bolted upright, her eyes meeting a stone room. She panted, body drenched in a cold sweat, her eyes wide with an indescribable fear. A series of tears slipped down her pale cheeks as she brought her hands to her face, pulling her hair harshly, weaving in and out of the midnight tresses. She sobbed, hardly making a sound as she tried to catch her breath, after a few minuets, she succeeded. Leaning back against the metal head board, she let the crushing migrane slip. Her face still wet with fresh tears.

"J-just a bad dream."

'But you killed him.' Yuki inhaled sharply, starting forward into a lurch. A dark, taunting voice emanating within her head, a voice very familiar, it was her own.

"I did not." She said sternly.

'Oh, but you did. You saw it, as the bullets ricocheted into his body and the blood flew. It's all you're fault; you kill your best friend. And you loved it.' Yuki shook her head several times, tears threatening to make an appearance once again.

"No! Stop it! I didn't kill him! He-"She leaned back, as she denied the voice in her head over and over again. It let out a maniacal laugh as the teen prayed for the torment to end. As if heaven heard her, the voice stopped, and all was silent. Until a rat like figure appeared. He inched towards her, a hand carrying water outstretched. Yuki glanced out of the corner of her eye, pulling herself together; she turned to greet the rat, offering him an earnest smile. He returned it in his own way and offered her the cup, which she gladly took.

"Thank you." He nodded, taking a seat by her bed side.

"Are you alright?" She nodded, feigning truth as she hid her face. He reached for her and took her face in his hands.

"You've been crying, tell me little one, what troubles you?" She placed a pale hand over his furred one and shook her head.

"I'm fine." She lied. "I'll be okay."

Chapter 4: Confrontation and Realization