Raphael had been injured often, sometimes enough to be at death's doorstep. This was possibly the most irritating injury he'd ever had to deal with. Not being able to see out of one eye would have been annoying enough, but manageable. The medic had instead chosen to cover both eyes so he wouldn't be able to look around and further injure it. Being deprived of his sight not only made him feel vulnerable, but also left him nothing to do but think. After only two days he'd been bored enough to actually sit his ass down and meditate, not exactly an activity he enjoyed but it was something he could do. Of course the old turtle luck was true to form and no sooner had he finally managed to focus that he'd felt the familiar presence of his father. He hadn't even bothered to wait and sense wether his father was disappointed with him before he'd stopped his meditation short.

When Karai wasn't attending to the needs of the Clan or doing a mission for him she was at his side. If she wasn't, one of his foot soldiers would always be present to keep him company. It was always the same one and it was now, on the last day of his forced week of blindness, that he realized he didn't even know him.

"Never did ask for your name."

"Arashi, Master Shredder."

"Well, thanks for stickin' around." He muttered, crossing his arms over his armored chest. "Some leader I'm turning out ta be."

"It is of the highest honor to serve you, Kishin, regardless of the circumstances."

Karai had been teaching him Japanese over the many months he'd been here as well as helping him with abandoning his accent, even more in the last week to keep him occupied, but this word he didn't know. Raphael was about to ask what it meant when there was a knock at the door. He snapped his mouth shut and managed a passable attempt at a glare in the general direction of the door. He heard Arashi head over to answer, purposefully making noise so Raphael knew where he was. There was some quick conversation between Arashi and the newcomer before the door was closed and he returned to Raphael's side.

"It is time for these bandages to come off." Raphael did a quick feel when something was placed in his hands, confirming that it was his helmet. "The medic has requested it be done in the medical ward."

Raphael slipped the helmet on, even if it was a bit of a tight fit with the bandages in place. A quick adjustment by Arashi told him he'd probably put it on wrong, not that he could see what he was doing anyway. He got up and Arashi carefully guided him, but unlike Karai he didn't cling to his arm and only prodded him towards the direction he needed to go, otherwise letting him navigate on his own. This he was grateful for since he hated being vulnerable, more so when it was glaringly apparent. The sound of the automatic doors of the medical ward alerted him that they'd reached their destination, thankfully with no awkward accidents on the way. Even with someone guiding him as he sat down, Raph still did so slowly.

The helmet was removed, then someone tilted his head up slightly and began to remove the bandages around his neck. Once done with that the medic ran his fingers where the blade had cut him, putting some pressure as he did to make sure there was no lingering pain. "There's a scar, but it's healed nicely."

Raph felt those hands begin to remove the ones around his head that covered his eyes. "Someone dim the lights, his eyes will be sensitive." There was a short pause before the remainder of the bandages were removed, then the gauze that had been taped over the left eye to keep it shut was carefully peeled away. Though he'd been through this several times so the medic could tend the injury and replace his bandages, the entire process still annoyed him.

"Very well, you can open your eyes, slowly."

Raphael did as he was told and began to open them, but even with the lights dimmed it was still uncomfortable. He didn't notice Karai suddenly give the medic an alarmed glance before moving closer to him.

"How do they feel?" She asked, giving him a weary look that he didn't like very much.

"Weird." Raphael replied, not really sure what to make of the situation. He wasn't sure if it was the look in her eyes or something else, but he couldn't deny that something was wrong.

The medic stepped closer to him, tilting his head to get a better look at his left eye. Eventually he frowned and stepped back again. "Close your right eye and follow my hand with your left."

Raphael did as instructed, but the moment his right eye was closed he couldn't see anything. "Is this normal?" He asked, his grip on the chair increasing.

"What is the matter?" Karai asked and he felt her fingers brush the left side of his face.

"I can't see anything." He rumbled, feeling a twist in his gut as he said so.

"Do you see blurry shapes and colors or nothing at all?"

"Nothing."

There was a tense silence afterwards and he could imagine everyone looking at the medic. He opened his right eye and glanced around, confirming his suspicions and the medic seemed to fidget uncomfortably.

"Explain." Karai ordered, placing a hand on his arm as she did so.

"Corneal scarring. I'd hoped it wasn't severe enough to cause lasting damage." The medic replied, crossing his arms and looking pensively at Raphael. "Obviously I was wrong, though you're still quite lucky."

Raphael glanced sharply at Karai. "Get me something to see with." He barked, turning his attention back to the medic even as she hurried across the room. "I don't see how this is lucky." He snarled, narrowing his eyes.

"Well, you could have ended up with no eye at all."

"Oh sure, because not bein' able ta see out of it is any better."

The medic said nothing at this as Karai came over to him once more, holding something akin to a mirror and handing it to him. Raphael snatched it from her and brought it up, tilting it this way and that until he found a comfortable angle. Although it was still possible to make out the piercing yellow of his eye, it was milked over as though a white film had been placed over it.

"I think I have an eyepatch lying around somewhere you can cover it up with." He heard the medic say and he casually handed the mirror to him. "I can also do some research and see if I can reverse the damage."

"No."

"N-No?"

Raphael got up and headed towards the door. "Leave it."

"Wait! At least let me give you some drops to put in it." The medic said, hurrying to a cabinet and taking something from inside before returning again. "Eyes take longer to heal fully, put these twice a day until I tell you otherwise."

He glanced at the bottle in his hand, frowning as he slipped it under the red fabric of his belt. "Fine, Karai come with me."

Raphael didn't wait as he left the medical ward, turning sharply and storming down the corridor with Karai hurrying to remain at his side. "Was your mission a failure?" He asked, glancing sideways at her.

"No, in fact it was a great success."

"Then why didn't you report?" Raphael growled, glaring at her.

"I didn't feel it was appropriate while you were recovering."

Raphael narrowed his eyes and looked where he was going again, only just managing to avoid walking into one of the display pedestals along the corridor that hadn't seen. "Don't let it happen again."

"Yes, Master." She said, stepping nimbly away from him so he wouldn't bump into her. "I eventually came across your brothers at Miss O'Neil's place."

At this Raph glanced over to her for a moment before returning his attention ahead again. "Were they...talking about me?"

"They were." She replied softly, giving him an almost apologetic glance.

Raphael stopped in his tracks and Karai did the same and he watched as a small group of foot soldiers walked past, only stopping long enough to give him a bow and inform them that there was no trouble before continuing their patrol. "Go on."

For a moment she studied him before lowering her eyes to the helmet she was holding. "I could not catch the entire conversation, but it was enough." She began, looking at him once more. "They are happy...without you."

Raphael sighed and turned his head away, looking at the grey bowl on the display nearby. It had once been broken, but had since been repaired in an art form Karai said was called kintsugi. At first he had thought it was stupid to keep broken things around, but eventually they'd grown on him. Sometimes at night when he wasn't able to sleep he walked the halls and looked at the various things on display; his favorite being this very bowl. Carefully he lifted it from it's dais so he could better look at it, turning so he could examine every repaired crack. No matter how often he looked at it, he never got bored of this one.

"Leonardo knew it was you, says you deserved what he did."

Raphael put the bowl back down a little harder than intended. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply like Karai was teaching him to try and keep his temper under control. Only once he wasn't looking did Karai reach out and quietly moved the bowl so it was in the center, rather than part of its base hanging over the edge in a precarious position. Though he seemed calm about the matter of his blinded eye, that was by far no indicator. If Karai had learned anything it was that Raphael's temper was on a short fuse and it was nearly impossible to tell what would light it.

He opened his eyes again and looked at her, reaching out and taking the helmet so he could put it on. It was rare for him to wear it within the tower, a habit she was beginning to think he would never grow out of. The hurt in his gaze hadn't escaped her notice and she followed in silence as they continued. It was only once they entered the engineering section that Raphael broke the silence, clearing his throat to get someones attention.

"Master Shredder!" Chaplin exclaimed, giving him a swift bow. "How may I be of service?"

"Have you finished what I asked for?"

"Yes, I've drawn up a few concepts." Chaplin answered, picking up several sheets of paper and walking over to deposit them on a nearby table, pushing aside some wayward pieces as he did so.

Raphael sat down and went through each of them one by one. Occasionally he would give an approving nod and set one of the blueprints aside before continuing with his perusal.

"Can you combine some of these together?" Raphael asked, glancing up to regard the scientist.

"Given enough time and the proper modifications nothing is impossible."

"I want these two combined then." He rumbled, pushing two of the blueprints forward and pointing at the gauntlets. "Both retractable, but I want them working separately." Raphael glanced at him then looking at them again once he received a confirming nod. "I want two chains inside this, similar to my Nightwatcher manriki but with a more bladed end. Make it so they don't catch in the cape." He continued, pointing at a modification meant for the shell covering.

"You won't be disappointed."

"Good, let me know once you have everything figured out." He said, getting up from the table. "The blades I'll forge myself, I have a pair of sai just waiting to be melted down." He snarled as he turned to make his way to the door. "Karai, I'll be in my room. Don't bother me unless it's an emergency."

"As you command."

Both watched him exit the room even as Chaplin began to jot down notations on the two blueprints. "You realize you're playing with fire lying to him like this." He mumbled, giving her a sideways glance.

"His family is a liability." Karai replied, looking with interest at his notations. "They jeopardize Sato and Oshi's vision and all they have done in preparation for his return. Raphael will bring about a new world order, with him as its ruler and the Foot as his trusted enforcers." She said, turning on her heels and walking to the door. "If I must play with fire to pave the way for his ascension, then so be it."

Chaplin continued to stare a few moments after she left before shaking his head and looking down at his sketch. "Right, and I'm sure it has nothing to do with your own personal vision." He muttered to himself as he sat down, tongue sticking out as he continued sketching. "I don't want to be in the same building if he finds out."