AN: entity9silvergen: Thank you so much for your review! I'm deeply honored.

Nutella Swirl: Hi! Well, that way you have more chapters to read. :D Welcome on board and thanks for your reviews! I love these little things.

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Absence

Michelangelo put his joystick down. Another highscore for the best player in video game history! The orange-clad turtle took the time to enjoy his victory before standing up and making for the kitchen.

His iron stomach had already digested the pizzas he had shared with his brothers, Casey and April a few hours ago, and he needed some food. He opened the freezer and served himself a generous portion of the stew he had cooked up for Leatherhead the day before. Sitting at the kitchen table, he began eating with appetite.

"You're a bottomless pit."

Michelangelo turned his head to the newcomer. Donatello was standing in the kitchen doorway, looking at him with a half-amused and half-resigned look. The orange-clad turtle grinned at his brother.

"I'm in full growth. I need to eat accordingly. You said so yourself."

Donatello shook his head.

"You already ate four pizzas and a half tonight. How can you still be hungry?"

"Another mystery science is unable to solve," Michelangelo replied, winking at his brother.

He indicated his plate.

"Do you want some?"

"No thanks," Donatello answered, sitting next to Michelangelo.

The orange-clad turtle went on eating, unfazed.

Donatello leaned on his elbow and watched him pensively.

"One dollar for your thoughts, Donnie," Michelangelo chirped.

"Mikey, you don't have one dollar."

"One metaphorical dollar, then. Seriously, bro. What's the big moody face?"

Donatello raised his head and shrugged.

"I keep thinking about the girl you met. The kunoichi."

"Karai?"

"Yes. I've made some research, and I still don't know who her clan is. It's as if she is the only one."

"Master Splinter always says that ninja are best pals with shadows. Maybe they don't want to be noticed?"

Donatello watched his brother with amusement.

"It's a rather approximate quote, but I get the idea. Yes, it would make sense, but someone should still have seen something."

"Maybe it's a small clan. If that's bothering you this much, why don't you go ask her? I've been told that she often hangs out in the mutants' hideout."

"I don't know, Mikey. I don't want to appear suspicious or unwelcoming. Maybe I'm just getting the wrong idea and there is nothing to worry about. Maybe…"

Donatello hesitated.

"Maybe what?" Michelangelo inquired, his mouth full of stew.

"Maybe I'm just troubled because she reminds me of the last time we met other ninja in New York City," Donatello finished his sentence softly.

The two brothers exchanged a meaningful glance. The last ninja they had encountered had been their counterparts from another universe, including a Leonardo in great form. At the time, they hadn't been aware that they were supposed to be four, and adjusting to the existence of this ninja turtle pretending to be their brother in another universe had been challenging – especially for Raphael. Then the truth had come out, and Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello had learned that they had another brother too. In the end, they had learned a lot from Leonardo and his brothers, but the memories were tainted by the pain of the loss of their own Leonardo.

Michelangelo put his spoon down and put his hand on Donatello's.

"I know, Donnie," Michelangelo whispered softly.

Donatello squeezed Michelangelo's hand. From the three of them, his orange-clad brother was probably the one who missed the other turtles the most.

"I know it's pointless, Michelangelo began. "But I can't help wondering if our Leo would have resembled theirs. If he had grown up with us."

"Me too, Mikey," Donatello answered. "Me too."

%%%%%

Raphael was rolling down the ill-lighted streets alongside his best friend Casey Jones. When April had decided that it was time for her to go to sleep, Donatello and Michelangelo had seen her safely home – despite her protests that she could take care of herself – before going back to the lair. For Raphael and Casey, however, the night was still young. There were thugs in the streets that needed to be stopped, and the two hotheads were more than happy to do so.

However, their favorite targets were nowhere in sight.

"No Purple Dragons tonight," Casey remarked disappointedly. "I feared this day would come. Nobody to beat down for Raphael and Casey Jones."

Raphael shook his head.

"Nah. We'll just have to push further. The Purple Dragons aren't the only street gang in this city."

Casey perked up.

"You're right! That's talking. Let's try another area."

They skated past a brand new noodle shop which didn't retain their attention - after all, it wasn't as if Raphael or his brothers could have lunch in a human restaurant – and arrived in another neighborhood. Raphael surveyed his surroundings, suddenly nervous – he had a feeling that they weren't alone.

At his side, Casey Jones poked him with his hockey stick.

"Looks like we're arriving just in time to stop a robbery."

Raphael focused his attention back on the street in front of him and realized that Casey was right. Unless the owner of this cell phones' shop had invited friends to have fun breaking his own window, there was indeed a robbery going on.

The red-clad turtle grinned in anticipation and unsheathed his sai.

"What are we waiting for? Let's stop them."

With a grin matching Raphael's, Casey accelerated and overtook his friend to be the first to land a blow on the thieves. They were only three, so Raphael had to hurry if he wanted to participate in the upcoming fight. The red-clad turtle huffed and was about to join Casey when a move behind him made him turn around just in time to block the edge of a sword.

"What the…" Raphael exclaimed, trying to discern who had so stealthily attacked him.

The shadows in front of him were moving too strangely to be a normal part of the dimly light alleyway, and Raphael could see flashes of naked steel. The red-clad turtle moved to the left to avoid another blow, and tried to disarm his adversary. But whoever was fighting him knew his art well and expertly blocked the blow.

"Who are you?" Raphael shouted.

"People who don't appreciate boys messing with their important business. You should stay away from us."

Raphael gritted his teeth and launched another attack. Behind him, he heard Casey calling his name. He hoped that his friend was doing okay. The red-clad turtle focused back on his opponent. He's good. I should call Donnie and Mikey, even if the lair is probably too far away for them to arrive in time. Raphael tried to grab his phone, but before he had a chance to achieve his goal, a vicious blow sent him flying into the wall and he let go of his weapons. He doubled over in pain and picked himself up, only to be pinned to the floor by an armored foot.

"A mutant ninja?" A voice said in surprise somewhere on his right.

"He has some skill," a cold voice stated above him. "His weapons aren't only for the show, as we previously thought. I'll have to report this to our master."

"Your master?" Raphael spat. "And who would that be?"

"You're not worthy of learning his name, mutant," the voice said disdainfully. "Tell me. Who trained you?"

Raphael tried to break free, but stopped when the tip of a sword stroked his throat. He held his breath.

Police sirens suddenly echoed in the streets, and the shadows surrounding him moved away and disappeared, leaving him panting on the concrete. Casey was at his side one second later.

"I called the cops," Casey muttered, helping Raphael to stand. "Can you walk?"

Raphael rebuffed him, ashamed.

"Yes. I was just… taken by surprise, that's all. What about the thieves?"

"Another street gang, nothing I couldn't handle," Casey shrugged. "What happened to you? Who were these guys?"

"Ninja," Raphael muttered. "They were the real threat."

The red-clad turtle moved his limbs, relieved that he had nothing sprained nor broken.

"Come, let's go before the police arrive."

Casey nodded and the two teenagers quickly escaped the fight scene.

"Ninja," Casey whispered pensively. "And this time, not of the good kind."

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Master Splinter was sitting cross-legged in the dojo, meditating in front of the small shrine his sons had wanted to build for their lost brother. After all these years, the ninja master was relieved to finally have a dedicated place to honor Leonardo's memory.

His concentration was broken by shouts in the living room. Master Splinter frowned and stood up to inquire about the commotion.

His three sons and Casey Jones where standing in the living room. Splinter's heart missed a beat when he took in Raphael's appearance. His red-clad son was covered in bruises.

"Raphael! What happened?" Splinter exclaimed, hurrying to him.

"Raph had a bad encounter," Casey explained wearily, letting himself drop on the couch while Donatello ran to the kitchen to bring some ice.

"Why didn't you call us for reinforcements?" Michelangelo exclaimed, upset.

"I didn't have time," Raphael growled, ashamed and in pain. "It happened too fast."

Splinter frowned.

"We were about to stop a robbery," Casey explained. "When strange shadows surrounded Raph and beat him up. I hadn't even known they were there."

"They were ninja," Raphael brusquely said, grasping the towel filled with ice that Donatello was giving him and putting it against his bruised skin. The cold was welcome. "I had never seen them before."

"Another ninja clan in New York?" Splinter felt his anxiety rise. The only other ninja clan he knew was ruled by a man who hated him. But it was in Japan, halfway around the world. "Were they wearing any distinctive sign?"

"I don't know, Sensei," Raphael replied with all the respect he could still muster in his humiliated state. He wasn't accustomed to losing so utterly. "I was busy fighting for my life. All I can tell you is that one of them at least was really good."

Michelangelo tried to put a hand on his brother's arm to soothe him, but Raphael waved it away. Shaking his head, the orange-clad turtle ran away from the room. He knew someone who could appease his brother's hurt feelings.

A few seconds later, he came back with Spike in his hands. Raphael gruffly took his pet turtle and moved him to his shoulder.

"Do you think they are of the girl's clan?" Michelangelo asked.

Splinter turned sharply to him.

"Who are you talking about, Michelangelo?"

"I met a kunoichi the other day," the orange-clad turtle answered uneasily. "Her name is Karai. I don't know much about her, really. She seemed… uh… competent."

Splinter looked at his son pensively. Michelangelo usually described his new acquaintances with more enthusiasm.

"Why didn't you tell me about it?" He finally asked, frowning. "This is important news."

"We didn't have any problem with her until now," Donatello answered in Michelangelo's place. "Technically, we still don't. We don't even know if she's from the clan who attacked Raph."

"Of course she is," Raphael growled. "Next time I meet her, or anyone of her clan, I'll…"

"You will think before you act, Raphael," Master Splinter stated calmly. "We don't want to give them a reason to chase us."

"But what if they do, Sensei?" Raphael retorted, stroking Spike's head carefully.

Master Splinter sighed.

"We will see if it comes to that," he answered cryptically.

He looked at his three sons.

"In any case, this is extremely unsettling. I'll increase your training. And you're not allowed to leave the lair alone. Stay together at all times."

Raphael bit his lip. He hated when his freedom was restricted.

"But Master Splinter, surely you don't need to take such measures. They just got me by surprise. Next time I'll be ready, and they won't win so easily."

"I certainly hope so, Raphael," his father told him sternly. "And I'll do everything in my power to help you achieve that. But you're still not allowed to leave the lair on your own, or to hang out solely with Mr. Jones. No offense, Casey," he added to the teenage boy still lying on the couch.

"None taken, Master Splinter," Casey answered generously.

"The same goes for both of you," Master Splinter went on, looking at Donatello and Michelangelo. "Until we know more about these new ninja, you'll have to be extremely careful."

"Hai, Sensei," Donatello and Michelangelo answered respectfully.

Raphael huffed and turned around, leaving in search for lettuce leaves to feed Spike. Michelangelo sat on the couch next to Casey in order to listen to his detailed description of tonight's events. Donatello muttered something about information search and made for his lab.

Master Splinter went back to the dojo, his heart filled with concern. He hoped that this new ninja clan was only here by coincidence and had nothing to do with his old enemy. He couldn't bear the thought of his beloved sons being caught in their feud.

Walking past Leonardo's shrine, he glanced at the picture of the infant turtle.

He couldn't lose another child.