Ten years ago…
Two girls were in a shade of a large tree. In it, April was lying on the grassy fields. The other girl walked up to her and looked down on her from above. This was Hitomi and they were glad to be with each other.
"Oh, it's you, Hitomi," April looks glad. "How are you doing? You're okay, right?"
"Yes, I'm okay. It's just that... um..." her friend can't find the right words to say for the question.
"What's the matter? What, you get in another fight with Nemissa?"
"Yes, I did, April," Hitomi replied as her smile turns into a frown.
"Geez, you two need to learn how to get along. Seriously," the redhead looks bothered for their relationship.
"I'm hoping she's learning," the brunette stated.
"Let's hope so."
This is a dream that Hitomi couldn't forget as she wakes up from it. As she did, she takes a look at April sleeping next to her. Seeing a reunion like this is enough to make her smile and thinking about what happened last night is heartwarming for both of them.
"Thank you, April, for accepting me even when I look like Nemissa," Hitomi whispered to her friend before she gives a kiss to her cheeks.
She reaches to her suitcase to get her toothbrush and toothpaste so that she can brush her teeth. As she reaches the bathroom in the lair, she washes her face. Then she brushes her teeth. As she stopped, she turns her attention to her reflection to look at her new face with a sign of dismay.
Why did those two have to fight each other? she sighed as she thought on the conflicting sisters.
"I see you look troubled on their sibling rivalry, Hitomi," Splinter arrived from behind her.
"Splinter!" the girl is surprised to see him as she looks from behind.
As soon as they get to the dojo part of the lair, the rat master has something to tell her, and they were sitting on the floor for the conversation.
"I'm sure you have questions to ask me, young lady," he started.
"Yes, I do. Like how do you know who I am? Who are you, really?" his guest asked.
"For the first question, I've been watching your moves. Second, here's the secret. My name is Hamato Yoshi, and I'm a fan of your group."
Hearing the answer to the second question gives the girl a hint.
"Wait, did you say you're Hamato Yoshi? The Hamato Yoshi? That ninjutsu master whose home in Japan was burned down and loses his wife and daughter?"
"Yup, that's me," was the reply.
"I'm so excited! I'm a big fan, and I read a lot about your work. Can I have your autograph?" Hitomi looks really excited and pulls out a small notebook and pen.
"Sure, why not?" Splinter agreed and signed to the notebook before giving the items back to her.
"I see you survived, but how did you become like that and having a family of four turtles?"
"That's the story you're so going to hear."
He told her of the story of how he turned into an anthropomorphic rat when he got some mutagen spilled on him after he got into contact with some rat. As for the turtles, they mutated into the way they are. Realizing he could no longer live a normal life, he lived in the sewers to train them in the art of ninjutsu.
"That is quite a story," Hitomi commented.
"Same here," April appeared by the doorstep of the dojo before sitting next to her best friend.
"April, just in time," Splinter commented before continuing on. "To start off, I know about the demon inside you, Hitomi."
"You mean Nemissa? How so?" the now silver-haired girl asked.
"Let's just say she's an ally of mine one time before I became like this," was the rat's reply. "I never thought about she's the one April's after."
"It's a long story you're so going to hear."
Hitomi told him of how April and Nemissa are two sisters living in harmony with each other. That is until a figure named Naomi has manipulated the latter as they burned down their home and leave April to die.
"Quite a tragedy. Reminds me of what happened to me back then," Splinter commented. "Anyway, April, you shouldn't be fighting Nemissa out of revenge on that day."
"Why not?" the redhead asked with her arms crossed, still couldn't let go of her grudge on her demon sister.
"Because it won't make you feel better. You'll just be empty. Besides, you remind me of someone who is like that."
"Who?" April looks curious on the matter.
"It's Karai, or should I say, Miwa."
The revelation has put the girls into shock.
"Miwa? As in your own daughter?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes, that Miwa," Splinter replied, then added. "She thought I killed her own mother when it was Shredder's doing. The point is, April, you shouldn't take your grudge on that devil too much. If you think about doing I think you're doing, then you're empty. You'd be just like Miwa. Never take everything out on your own. If you do that, then you'll fail. What makes a good kunoichi is being an empath who can sense an individual's mental or emotional state. Never forget your friends, and never run away from your destiny."
"I'll remember that..." April said.
"At least you're lucky you didn't try to kill your own sister possessing your friend's body. With this, despite the bad things she has done to you, you're still protective of her. Keep that in mind."
"I'm glad you sensed that feeling."
April then leaves the room, unsure on what she will do next.
"I'm sure she has got what it takes to stop my own daughter. Take care of her, Hitomi Tono. I'm counting on you," Splinter told her friend.
"Yes, I will gladly accept the request. Besides, I can put up a fight as well," the transformed girl agreed to the task.
"Really? Show me what you've got."
It is then they stand up from the floor and put up fighting stances. As they charge, Splinter makes his move by landing a punch, but Hitomi grabbed it and lands a punch on her own. Despite this, he sends a barrage of punches and a kick, but she dodges them and goes behind him to send a kick to his back. He sends a kick from below, and the transformed girl jumps to dodge it and as she punched, he blocks. Luckily, she is using this as a distraction to send a kick to his stomach and a punch that throws him to a wall.
"Well, that's good. I believe you can fight. What, can't you fight in a video game, but can fight in a book?" he commented.
